The historical pedigree of globalisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

The historical pedigree of globalisation - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that for many, globalization has been a defining characteristic, or even the defining characteristic, of the post-war period. However, as we will see, it is not so easy to rope off globalization as an exclusively post-war, or even exclusively modern phenomenon. Furthermore, it has been a Eurocentric phenomenon, as reinforced by Marxist and Classical Liberal theories, with the Eastern peoples merely the passive objects in the story. For many scholars in recent centuries, the global narrative since Columbus reached the Americas in 1492 has been one of the steady growth of Western power and influence across the world, culminating in a Western dominance of a globalized economy after the Second World War. Such theories have also worked on the assumption that Europe, uniquely, always had the potential to take the lead on the global stage, and to develop further and faster than other regions, largely because of its native urge towards a Capitalist economy, and liberal institutions. We shall see that this is not only not the full picture, but that it is a deeply flawed and misleading picture. Globalisation is not new, but Western dominance in globalizing processes is new. While Eurocentric theories were once the norm in academic discourse, they have undergone serious challenges in recent decades. Edward Said’s â€Å"Orientalism† shook historians’ complacency about the European boundaries of their work.... Notably, Abu-Lughod (1989) argued for the centrality of the Middle East in world history and global exchange, while Gunder Frank (1998) posited the importance of East and Southeast Asia in truly global trading networks. Notions of globalisation which played up the importance of the Western world were generally focused on the post-1945 era, but much of the above literature has rethought globalisation as a much longer-term phenomenon, as well as one which started in the East. A key reason why Western scholars were long unable to recognise that globalisation predated the 20th century was that they have long viewed it in terms of the rise of Western Capitalism. As Hobson (2007) points out, none of the leading economies between 500 and 1800 CE were Western. Globalisation in past centuries was largely fuelled by the wealth and communications of industries and markets that stretched across Asia, and China and India stand out as particularly important global players for much of recorded hist ory. In the 18th century, China accounted for an astonishing 25% of the world’s population, compared to 20% today (Flynn and Giraldez 2006, p. 239), and when European merchants first moved East in search of new opportunities, they should not be regarded as the first signs of an emerging European dominance, but rather as an attempt by a less economically productive region to gain footholds in the trade with the world’s economic powerhouse. Hobson (2007) maintains that China maintained a dominant role in the global economy even later than suggested by Gunder Frank. He states that it continued to outstrip Britain in its share of world manufacturing input

How Does Sheriff Present Disturbed Characters in.Doc Essay Example for Free

How Does Sheriff Present Disturbed Characters in.Doc Essay Out of the characters I find that the most disturbed people after Stanhope is Hibbert and Trotter. The reasons why I think this are explained in the following paragraphs. The first character that I see as being most disturbed after Stanhope is Trotter. Trotter is an officer in Captain Stanhope’s company and seems to be the most optimistic person in the play. He seems to constantly be upbeat compared to the other officers in the company. He tells Stanhope to ‘cheer up’ during a war and never seems looks on the dull side of life in the reader’s perspective. Sherriff suggests that he is disturbed as many soldiers go mad because of the war whilst he seems to be very happy and optimistic. Another reason why it may seem he’s disturbed is the fact that he doesn’t have to drink to take his mind of the war. During WW1 all soldiers were given 2 ounces of rum daily to help get over the war. It shows that drinking during the war was very common. Sherriff must have added in this detail based on his experiences of WW1. In act 3 scene 2 both Stanhope and Hibbert have drunk ‘whisky on top of champagne’ to the point that they have become drunk. Trotter doesn’t seem to be a heavy drinker and seems to be surprised that Stanhope is drinking whisky after drinking champagne. In this case they drink to get over the war and to think about girls and legs but Trotter seems to be able to talk about this without much drink. This may suggest that he has no feelings about the war so he doesn’t need to drink which implies that he is disturbed. Another reason why I think that Trotter may be disturbed ,which links to the last line above, is the idea that Trotter has little feelings or emotions that are visible. Although he does say in act 3 scene 2 that he does have emotions when he’s questioned by Stanhope, it could be seen that he is lying. We know that Stanhope, Trotter and Osborne seem to get along with each other showing that they have known each other for a while meaning that they must know a bit about each other’s character. In act 2 scene 1 we see Stanhope and Osborne discussing Trotter’s lack of imagination. It shows that he doesn’t seem to have feelings. Sherriff could be suggesting that this is what happens to people during the war. They lose their feelings and imagination. Another character that I see as being disturbed is Hibbert. Throughout the play Hibbert continuously goes on about having neuralgia. Neuralgia was a common illness that affected many soldiers which was an intense pain along the course of a nerve especially in the face. He tries to use this as an excuse to leave the war before the big attack by the Germans. It could be seen that he is being cowardly as he is trying to escape the war which could count as deserting the army. We can tell that he is also homesick when he states that ‘I shall die of this pain if I can’t’ leave. It shows his disturbed state of mind and his feelings of being tormented by war. However, Stanhope sees through his disguise and tells Hibbert that he will be shot for deserting. Deserting was a slight problem during WW1 as 346 British soldiers were executed for either desertion, cowardice or striking a superior officer. Hibbert commits every single one of these crimes showing he is one of the few people that have become so disturbed that they rather die than stay in the trenches. This is shown when he swears that he will ‘never go into these trenches again’ and encourages Stanhope to ‘Shoot! ’. He also has come to the point where he dares to strike a superior officer which is shown as he tries to leave for the doctors Stanhope stops him and Hibbert ‘strikes blindly’ at him. These actions show that he is disturbed and should be executed for multiple offences. Another reason why I believe that Hibbert is disturbed is because of the pictures that he carries around with him. In act 3 scene 2 we see Stanhope, Trotter and Hibbert drinking champagne and talking about women. Hibbert later on pulls out a couple of erotic pictures of women and shows them to the other officers. This shows that he may b slightly disturbed to carry around pictures like that. We would usually expect a soldier to bring a picture of this family or of their fiance or wife like Stanhope did in act 1. We do not expect someone to have those inappropriate pictures with them especially when it is against the law. Having multiple pictures of women that he had affairs with may suggest that he is disturbed. Sherriff could be using his type of behaviour to describe what his fellow soldiers brought around and talked about in WW1. Overall, I believe that Sheriff presents the disturbed characters based on his experiences of war and how he saw his fellow soldiers behave like. He presents the characters as either cowards or as people who have no or little emotions visible. He shows the true reality of war and how people think and act during it. Words: 971

Quest for Self-Determination in I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Lak

Quest for Self-Determination in I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Lakota Woman      Ã‚  Ã‚   During their growing up years, children struggle to find their personal place in society. It is difficult for children to find their place when they are given numerous advantages, but when a child is oppressed by their parents or grandparents, males in their life, and the dominant culture, the road to achieving self-identity is fraught with enormous obstacles to overcome. Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Mary Crow Dog's Lakota Woman depict the two women's "triumph over formidable social obstacles and [their] struggle to achieve a sense of identity and self-acceptance" (Draper 1).    Both women grew up in segregated societies: Mary Crow Dog on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota, and Maya Angelou in the black community of Stamps, Arkansas. As is common with minority children, they spent most of their childhood living with their grandparents. Both women also experienced oppression by their parents and grandparents, who are the first contact with other people that children have. Even though Mary's mother and grandmother spoke the Lakota language, they refused to teach it to Mary. They told her that "speaking Indian would only hold you back, turn you the wrong way" (Crow Dog 22). They wanted Mary to have a "white man's education" (Crow Dog 22).    In contrast, Maya was denied a white man's education, not only by the dominant culture but also by her grandmother. Maya attended the Lafayette County Training School, which was the school for blacks. In addition, Maya's grandmother forbade her from reading books by white authors. This restriction is exemplified in the following passage:    Bail... ...e barriers blocking their chosen path and achieve the power to lead their lives as they see fit.      Works Cited Angelou, Maya. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. New York: Bantam, 1993. Crow Dog, Mary. Lakota Woman. New York: HarperPerennial, 1991. Draper, James P., ed., et al. Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vol. 77. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1993. Mahtowin, "Mary Crow Dog: Real Life Hero." New Directions for Women, Vol. 21, No.2, March-April, 1992, p. 28. Narins, Brigham, and Deborah A. Stanley, eds., et al. Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vol. 93. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1996. O'Neale, Sondra. "Reconstruction of the Composite Self: New Images of Black Women in Maya Angelou's Continuing Autobiography." Black Women Writers (1950-1980): A Critical Evaluation, edited by Mari Evans, Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1984, pp. 25-37.    Quest for Self-Determination in I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Lak Quest for Self-Determination in I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Lakota Woman      Ã‚  Ã‚   During their growing up years, children struggle to find their personal place in society. It is difficult for children to find their place when they are given numerous advantages, but when a child is oppressed by their parents or grandparents, males in their life, and the dominant culture, the road to achieving self-identity is fraught with enormous obstacles to overcome. Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Mary Crow Dog's Lakota Woman depict the two women's "triumph over formidable social obstacles and [their] struggle to achieve a sense of identity and self-acceptance" (Draper 1).    Both women grew up in segregated societies: Mary Crow Dog on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota, and Maya Angelou in the black community of Stamps, Arkansas. As is common with minority children, they spent most of their childhood living with their grandparents. Both women also experienced oppression by their parents and grandparents, who are the first contact with other people that children have. Even though Mary's mother and grandmother spoke the Lakota language, they refused to teach it to Mary. They told her that "speaking Indian would only hold you back, turn you the wrong way" (Crow Dog 22). They wanted Mary to have a "white man's education" (Crow Dog 22).    In contrast, Maya was denied a white man's education, not only by the dominant culture but also by her grandmother. Maya attended the Lafayette County Training School, which was the school for blacks. In addition, Maya's grandmother forbade her from reading books by white authors. This restriction is exemplified in the following passage:    Bail... ...e barriers blocking their chosen path and achieve the power to lead their lives as they see fit.      Works Cited Angelou, Maya. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. New York: Bantam, 1993. Crow Dog, Mary. Lakota Woman. New York: HarperPerennial, 1991. Draper, James P., ed., et al. Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vol. 77. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1993. Mahtowin, "Mary Crow Dog: Real Life Hero." New Directions for Women, Vol. 21, No.2, March-April, 1992, p. 28. Narins, Brigham, and Deborah A. Stanley, eds., et al. Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vol. 93. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1996. O'Neale, Sondra. "Reconstruction of the Composite Self: New Images of Black Women in Maya Angelou's Continuing Autobiography." Black Women Writers (1950-1980): A Critical Evaluation, edited by Mari Evans, Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1984, pp. 25-37.   

Recommendation Letter Essay

Z, one of the most outstanding students at our school I have ever had, is definitely brilliant enough to be admitted to most prestigious universities in China such as Peking University and Tsinghua University. He is the top student in the honor class, which taught top students the most rigorous and advanced courses. He ranked the top 20 out of 1650 during final examinations and kept 4. 0 GPA. Now that he is determined to apply to American university, I will be more than willing to write the recommendation letter in support of him. As a top student that had much insight in learning new theories or problems, he could always put forward certain good questions when I was giving lectures. Though the answer to these questions are often exactly the points that I would put forward later even if he didn’t ask them, the effect of interaction-based learning is much better than one-way teaching because through interaction students will have deeper impression and understanding in the knowledge they learned. He also enhanced the academic excellence in class by competing friendly with other top students. I was impressed when he competed with his friend in becoming the first student that arrived in classroom to study every morning and avoid lie-in. Their competence invoked other students to get up earlier too and create a better studying atmosphere. He was also excellent in group works, especially in which he worked together with students who fell behind. I could always see him explain questions patiently to other students and assigned the work mission in an appropriate way that everyone had the ability to finish theirs while also learn something useful. On the whole, George is student who can not only top in study himself but also inspire others to work together and create academic excellence, so I sincerely offer you my highest recommendation of him and hope that he will be admitted by his dream school, your university. And I also expect he will work hard as usual to make further achievements and to bring a credit to his teacher and the school. Sincerely yours, Head Teacher

Russian History Questions

Name _________________________________ Date __________ Period ___________ Researching Russia Directions: Using the reference materials (including but not limited to the Internet, almanacs, atlases, encyclopedias, and books), research the answers to the following questions. The Internet is a useful source but you should make use of other resources should it not be available! 1. On November 1, 1993, the parliament of the Russian Republic of the USSR granted Russian President ______________________ broad power to begin radical economic reforms. 2. In 1991, the population of Russia was estimated at ________________________. 3. In the ninth century, Scandinavian chieftains established the first Russian state, centering it on ___________________ and Kiev. 4. When did Lenin die? _____________ How did he die? _____________________ 5. The ‘900-day siege’ of Leningrad lasted from June 1941 until January ___________. 6. When did Stalin die? ________ How old was he? _______ 7. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, massive Soviet military aid to __________________ helped assure communist victories throughout Southeast Asia. 8. Russia comprises over ________% of the total area of the former USSR and has ____________________ square miles, making it the largest country in the world. 9. What is the current life expectancy for Russian males? 10. The Russian monetary unit is the _________________. 11. The breed of cat known as the Russian blue is distinguished for its vivid ___________ colored eyes and the _____________ quality of its blue-gray coat. 12. Who is the author of War and Peace? 13. Who is the author of The Brothers Karamazov? 14. Which Russian author was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for Doctor Zhivago but declined the prize? 5. Leningrad’s St. Isaac’s Cathedral on Decembrists’ Square was designed by French architect ______________________ and built between 1819 and 1858. 16. The _______________, or Russian wolfhound, was first imported into the United States in 1889. 17. In 1854, British poet Alfred Lord Tennyson made Balaklava famous in his poem _______________________ ________. 18. On January 22, 1904, George Melitonovich Balanchivadze was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. He gained a reputation for the foremost representative of neoclassicism ballet. His professional name was __________________________. 9. Russian physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov is best known for what experiment? ____________________________________________________________ _________ 20. In 1910, Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova made her American debut with Russian dancer ______________________ at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. 21. Which Russian chemist compiled the ‘periodic table of elements? ’ ______________________________________ 22. On what date was the Russian Sputnik I put into orbit? ______________________ 23. On what date was the Russian Sputnik II put into orbit? ______________________ 24. September 17, 1957, was the 100th anniversary of the birth of Russian rocket pioneer Konstantin E. _________________________. 25. On January 2, 1959, unmanned interplanetary flight was proved feasible when the Soviet Union’s Mechta entered into orbit around the sun. 26. The Volga River is ________ miles, or ________ kilometers long. 27. What was the name of the imperial family that ruled Russia from 1613 until 1917? _______________________________ 28. The age of romanticism in Russian literature is from the late _________ until the early 1840s. 29. Who wrote The Twelve (1918)? __________________ 0. During World War II, the Soviet Union and Finland fought each other in two wars. The ‘Winter War’ was from 1939 to __________________. The ‘Continuation War’ was from 1941 until ______________. Who lost both wars? 31. When did the Russo-Japanese War begin? ____________ 32. When did the Russo-Japanese War end? ___________ 33. Catherine the Great (1729-96) ru led Russia for _________ years. 34. In what year did construction of St. Basil’s Cathedral begin? 35. The breed of dog known as the borzoi originated in Russia in the 1600s. Its average weight is __________ to ___________ pounds. 36. When World War I broke out, Russian-born composer Igor Stravinsky settled in what country? _______________________ 37. In which direction would you travel if you drove from Tula to Moscow? __________ 38. The island Great Lyakhov is in the _____________ Sea. 39. Who wrote Boris? _____________________________ 40. The ‘900-day siege’ of Leningrad during World War II caused ____________ deaths. 41. Russia is ____________ times the size of the United States but has a population of less than _______% percent of the people in the United States as of 2000. 42. What is the per capita Russian income? _____________________ 43. What is the life expectancy for Russian females? _____________ 44. In 1967, the Soviet government produced a film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace in commemoration of 50th anniversary of the Revolution. The Russian language version of the film ____ hours and _____. 45. ____________________ delivers gifts to Russian children on New Year’ s Eve. 46. In which direction would you travel if you drove from Moscow to St. Petersburg? __________________________ 47. The ________________ Mountains form a dividing line between Asia and Europe. 48. The _____________________ Strait separates Russia and Alaska. 49. Tsar Nicholas II was married to the granddaughter of Queen _____________ of England. 50. Name the son of Tsar Nicholas who suffered from hemophilia. _______________ 51. Twenty-three of the _________________ volcanoes on Kamchatka Peninsula are active. 52. The Caucasus Mountains are composed of limestone and ______________ rocks with some volcanic formations. 53. The Caspian Sea has a surface area of about ________________ square miles. 54. In December, Moscow averages _______________ days with overcast skies. 5. St. Isaac’s Cathedral is located on ______________ Prospect, a famous thoroughfare in Leningrad. 56. In the late 1980s, the population density of the USSR was _______ persons per square mile. 57. In the mid-1980s, the population density of the USSR was _______ persons per square mile. 58. The State _______________ Museum in Leningrad is considered to be one of the world’s great museums. 59. Valent ina V. ___________ was the first woman to orbit the earth. 60. The ___________________ Railroad runs north of the Trans-Siberian Railroad. USS

What Caused The Revolutionary War †History Essay

What Caused The Revolutionary War – History Essay Free Online Research Papers What Caused The Revolutionary War History Essay One of the most important facts of any revolution is violence. This is often a response to the heightened repression or other intolerable demands from the government against its people. The American Revolution is no exception. Following the Seven Years War, England need to recover some of their finances which were lost due to the war. England passed many Acts that were ill conceived and had long term effects on the relationship between England and the colonies. The most controversial of these were direct taxes. The last time Parliament had tried a direct tax was as recent as 1765, when Lord Greenville enacted the Stamp Act which forced the colonists to pay for stamps on printed documents, the Stamp Act. The Stamp was passed in November of 1765. This taxed all paper documents It also stated that all legal documents had to be stamped or contained a British seal. The actual cost of the Stamp Act was relatively small. What made the law so offensive to the colonists was not so much its immediate cost but the standard it seemed to set. In the past, taxes and duties on colonial trade had always been viewed as measures to regulate commerce, not to raise money. The Stamp Act, however, was viewed as a direct attempt by England to raise money in the colonies without the approval of the colonial legislatures. If this new tax were allowed to pass without resistance, the colonists reasoned, the door would be open for far more troublesome taxation in the future. This help lead to the war because the colonists finally realized the intent of the British Royalties. In 1773 the Tea Act was passed. The Tea Act not only put a three penny per pound tax on tea but it also gave the British East India Company a near monopoly because it allowed the company to sell directly to the colonial agents avoiding any middlemen. In Boston the colonists held a town meeting to try to get their Tea Agents to resign. The Tea Agents would not resign and a few months later angered Bostonians dressed as Indians boarded three tea ships and dumped it all into Boston Harbor. This was also a leading cause in the war for independence because the colonists first acted out against the Crown. This infuriated the crown because one of its biggest money makers were going down hill and this was the only source of income. The Stamp was passed in November of 1765. This taxed all paper documents It also stated that all legal documents had to be stamped or contained a British seal. The actual cost of the Stamp Act was relatively small. What made the law so offensive to the colonists was not so much its immediate cost but the standard it seemed to set. In the past, taxes and duties on colonial trade had always been viewed as measures to regulate commerce, not to raise money. The Stamp Act, however, was viewed as a direct attempt by England to raise money in the colonies without the approval of the colonial legislatures. If this new tax were allowed to pass without resistance, the colonists reasoned, the door would be open for far more troublesome taxation in the future. This help lead to the war because the colonists finally realized the intent of the British Royalties. The Americans had felt the taxes of Lord Greenville were a deliberate aim to disinherit the colonists by denying them the rights of the English. The first of these acts were the Townshend Acts. The Townshend Acts were passed in 1767 and placed new taxes on paper, paints, tea, lead and, glass. The new taxes would be used to pay for British officials in the American service. These acts infuriated the colonists because they believed that Parliament had the right to put taxes on the trade of the colonies but could not place taxes directly on the colonists to raise revenue. This help cause the war because the colonist were tired of paying those over them who did nothing to help them. Then in 1764 the British parliament passed the Colonial Currency Act. This act took away the right of any colony to issue its own paper money. This lead to increased poverty and hardship after the French and Indian war. The people opposed it because if more money was in circulation the economy would of been better. This help lead to the Revolutionary war because it caused the colonist to become impoverished which made them fight against everything said and done by the English Crown. The Sugar act passed in 1764 was also a cause in the revolutionary war. It put a three cent tax on all refined sugar and indigo, coffee, and etc. This caused local production to go up in the colonies. This was a cause in the war only because it caused the British to become upset that the English Colonies were gaining more money than the Country itself. Research Papers on What Caused The Revolutionary War - History EssayQuebec and Canada19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2The Effects of Illegal ImmigrationGenetic EngineeringTwilight of the UAWPETSTEL analysis of IndiaBringing Democracy to AfricaDefinition of Export QuotasStandardized Testing

An Introduction to Loving Kindness Essays - Meditation, Self

An Introduction to Loving Kindness Essays - Meditation, Self An Introduction to Loving Kindness from Guided Meditation, Explorations and Healings Blueprint for a meditation - one that promotes the compassion of the heart. AN EXPLORATION OF THE HEART The practice of exploring the mind and that which lies beyond, begins and ends with the heart. The first step in our liberation is the cultivation of the heart's natural compassion. Meditation begins with the practice of non-injury, a deep willingness to end the suffering in the world and in ourselves. In truth it may be impossible to be alive in a body without causing pain to other beings and species, but our intention can be to create as little pain as possible and to use this life for the benefit of others. Non-injury is an intention, a guideline for the mind from the nature of the heart. We eat. We love in confused manners. We trip and fall over states of mind. And we learn the art of balance. [To support the changes, the heart suggests "without becoming aggressive toward the mind."] We are learning to live in a sacred manner. What is called for is neither force nor acquiescence, but an active participation in the moment. It is an opening to let in healing. When Mahatma Gandhi was asked about the "passive resistance" he was teaching all over India, he replied, "There is nothing passive in my resistance. It is just non-violent." Gandhi's "non-violence" is a skillful means toward a peaceful mind and world. Violence originates from the mind. Healing from the heart. So the heart and its "still small voice within" is taken as teacher on the path of liberation. And non-injury is its most obvious quality. Non-injury ranges from self-forgiveness to the end of world hunger. When we begin to practice non-injury, the judging mind, which gets so exasperated with our "trying," is not allowed its abusiveness without a deep response from a merciful awareness. Non-injury means to treat othersand ourselvesas the subject of our heart instead of an object in our mind. This is not the judgment-inducing dictum of the Ten Commandments. This is a commitment to healing and purification a will toward clear action. As with Buddhist precepts such as non-killing, non-stealing, non-lying, non-sexual misconductnon-injury and compassion are not divine rules carved in stone, but simply reflections in the mind of the nature of the heart used to reinforce stability and balance on the path. They are gentle reminders, teaching guides, along the shining path between what seem at times glaring opposites. This is not the self-hating morality which turns the pain to my pain. It is rather "a sense of the appropriate" which rises naturally from levels of awareness deeper than our masks and posturings, deeper than the personality, or even the acquired self. Entering directly our essential being the heart of the matter our "natural goodness" is manifest unceasingly. Clear action clears the way for clearer actions. Kindness calms the mind. An Introduction to Loving Kindness ...By cultivating loving kindness in that aspect of mind that usually lives life as an afterthought, we change the context of our existence. We begin to live directly. We awaken. The meditation that follows uses the conceptual, word-oriented mindscape in perhaps its most skillful manner. It turns a hindrance into an ally. The difference between receiving thought in a merciful awareness and being lost in thinking is the difference between liberation and bondage. Loving kindness deepens the responsive while softening the reactive. Loving kindness is not unique in its ability to be cultivated. We can cultivate any mental quality. Most of us have intensified our fear and anger by holding so often to the contents of the mind as being all we are. Practice indeed perfects, and we have perfected our fear to a frightening degree. Practicing envy or anger cultivates the re-arising of indignation and resentment. Practicing loving kindness encourages the recurrence of mercy and awareness and the letting go of the hindrances to the heart the self-interest, the fear, the separatism, the judgment, which limit our direct participation in the mystery. In the acquired mind there floats a thought-bubble called "me" and a thought-bubble called "you," but in reality there is

Solubility Rules for Inorganic Compounds

Solubility Rules for Inorganic Compounds These are the general solubility rules for inorganic compounds, primarily inorganic salts. Use the solubility rules to determine whether a compound will dissolve or precipitate in water. Generally Soluble Inorganic Compounds Ammonium (NH4), potassium (K), sodium (Na) : All ammonium, potassium and sodium salts are soluble. Exceptions: some transition metal compounds.Bromides (Br–), chlorides (Cl–) and iodides (I–): Most bromides are soluble. Exceptions: salts containing silver, lead, and mercury.Acetates (C2H3O2–): All acetates are soluble. Exception: silver acetate is only moderately soluble.Nitrates (NO3–): All nitrates are soluble.Sulfates (SO42–): All sulfates are soluble except barium and lead. Silver, mercury(I), and calcium sulfates are slightly soluble. Hydrogen sulfates (HSO4–) (the bisulfates) are more soluble than the other sulfates. Generally Insoluble Inorganic Compounds Carbonates (CO32–), chromates (CrO42–), phosphates (PO43–), silicates (SiO42–): All carbonates, chromates, phosphates,  and silicates are insoluble. Exceptions: those of ammonium, potassium and sodium. An exception to the exceptions is MgCrO4, which is soluble.Hydroxides (OH–): All hydroxides (except ammonium, lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium, rubidium) are insoluble. Ba(OH)2, Ca(OH)2 and Sr(OH)2 are slightly soluble.Silver (Ag): All silver salts are insoluble. Exceptions: AgNO3 and AgClO4. AgC2H3O2 and Ag2SO4 are moderately soluble.Sulfides (S2–): All sulfides (except sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium, calcium,  and barium) are insoluble.Aluminum sulfides and chromium sulfides are hydrolyzed and precipitate as hydroxides. Table of Ionic Compound Solubility in Water at 25 °C Remember, solubility depends on the temperature of the water. Compounds that dont dissolve around room temperature may become more soluble in warm water. When using the table, refer to the soluble compounds first. For example, sodium carbonate is soluble because all sodium compounds are soluble, even though most carbonates are insoluble. Soluble Compounds Exceptions (are insoluble) Alkali metal compounds (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+) ammonium ion compounds (NH4+ Nitrates (NO3-), bicarbonates (HCO3-), chlorates (ClO3-) Halides (Cl-, Br-, I-) Halides of Ag+, Hg22+, Pb2+ Sulfates (SO42-) Sulfates of Ag+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Hg22+, Pb2+ Insoluble Compounds Exceptions (are soluble) Carbonates (CO32-), phosphates (PO42-), chromates (CrO42-), sulfides (S2-) Alkali metal compounds and those containing the ammonium ion Hydroxides (OH-) Alkali metal compounds and those containing Ba2+ As a final tip, remember solubility is not all-or-none. While some compounds completely dissolve in water and some are almost completely insoluble, many insoluble compounds are actually slightly soluble. If you get unexpected results in an experiment (or are looking for sources of error), remember a small amount of an insoluble compound may be participating in a chemical reaction.

At the end of June 2003, the Federal Reserve cut interest by a Essay

At the end of June 2003, the Federal Reserve cut interest by a quarter-point to 1.0 per cent, their lowest level in 45 years. Explain the three main channels by - Essay Example f the aggregate demand in the economy, - consumption, investment and government spending, these appear to be the three main channels, through which interest rate influences aggregate demand. The decrease of the interest rates accounting other factors being stable, leads to the increase of the new equipment among firms, which they plan to purchase, it also increases the number of new houses, and the goods of long-term use. Changes in the price levels through the impact on the amount of money in use also influence interest rates. Changes in the interest rates, caused by the changes in the price levels, changes the aggregate demand on goods and services; however, in graphic form this does not make the aggregate demand curve shift; it only reflects the movement along the already existing line. (Handa: 2000) However, interest rates also create another impact. No matter what may be the reason of the interest rates change, their level impacts aggregate demand as a whole. Separately from the price level change, the aggregate demand curve shifts with the changes in interest rates. For example, if the government comes down to the higher expenditures and loans to cover the deficit, with the other conditions stable it leads to the increase of interest rates and negatively influences the plans of expenditures for the firms and individuals. If the supply of the finances for loans increases abroad, the interest rates stay stable, keeping aggregate demand from decrease. (Handa: 2000) Consumption is the most considerable part of the aggregate demand, and it is wise to start the discussion of the interest rates decrease with the impact it creates on consumption. Individuals acquire their incomes in the form of salary, and the capital profits. A portion of the income is spent for paying taxes to governmental structures. On the other hand, government also provides individuals with subsidies (social insurance, unemployment payments, etc.). The decision about consumption lies in the

Online Writing Lab Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Online Writing Lab - Essay Example You, I believe, would also be experiencing the same difficulties with language and culture that all people coming from other countries face during the early days adjusting in the new environment. The matter doesn't get any easier especially for an immigrant coming from a developing and a Muslim country like Pakistan in our case. Locals looking at us with a suspicious eye, jobs not easy to secure, investigation teams just around the corner waiting for us to make a wrong move etc are some of the problems that we have to cope up with. Apart from this there comes the problem of communication gaps that exist between the locals and people like us who use English as a second language. Writing applications, interview letters, and even writing and speaking simple words may elicit negative and undesired feedback due to inappropriate usage of grammar. Sometimes using correct sentence composition may land us in trouble since the usage did not convert to the same context in the local's minds due to cultural differences. Having experienced these issues myself, I have some encouraging news for you about how to avoid landing into tricky situations in front of your peers. Leafing through my computer files yesterday I found my solution to the cultural and language problems I had faced during my initial days in the United States. The solution was a simple Online Writing Lab called 'OWL' for short. An OWL is an always available facility which provides you free writing resources and instructional material on the internet. It is a portal where students, members of the community, and global users can find information to assist them with many writing projects while teachers and trainers can use the material for in-class and out-of-class instructions. Every country has its own set of rules and expectations about the ways to communicate in a business setting. In some countries, they may place less emphasis on written materials and more emphasis on verbal communication. However, in the United States, memos, letters, and emails are important and play a role in creating a person's business reputation. The 'OWL at Purdue' has a special section relating on how Non-Americans should go about writing for a business audience. It includes information on how to approach a topic by getting to the point, to keep the message simple, how and when to use active and passive voice with special emphasis on nondiscriminatory language, and a guide on using verbs rather than keeping the message vague. The best part of the Online Writing Lab is that it provides a teacher-student relationship as in a school yet a completely professional online environment just like in the case of distance learning. You can write a letter for your business purpose, but send it first to your teacher at the OWL from where you will receive instructions and training on how to improve your business writing. As a result you can then send the convincingly written revised letter for the business purpose you initially intended and get a firm response. Not only this, there is a lot more available on their website including basic formatting and referencing styles for business reports, demo letters and memorandums, and writing guidelines. Your reputation remains safe while all the time you learn how to make your writing skills even better. And while your writing skills improve, you are assured that your spoken language gets better. Your convenience is the key here. You can send emails, write letters or memos, and make corrections and revisions all at a

The Improving Economy of Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Improving Economy of Middle East - Essay Example Publications of the web and science database indicate the standard economic growth of Middle East to be almost faster than that of the world by four times (specifically Turkey and Iran). His name is XX. His area of interest in global studies is the economics and how regional integration affects it. Over the years, we have witnessed the adverse effects of a nation that is divided. States that work in collaboration with others benefit from a broad base of knowledge as well as subsidized trade duties. They also enjoy the benefit of foreign aid and trade from the other states with whom they are partnering with. It also promotes a peaceful co-existence among the nations that are integrated. Most of all, they advance their economies of scale and advice one another on the best ways to make their individual state economies to grow. Of particular interest to this member is the economic growth pattern of the Middle East over the years. He believes though the economy was quite influential sometime back, it experienced some setbacks and stumbled a little. Besides the issue of national and economic integration, his argument is that a states organization of its political economy is very key if the state is to realize sustainable economic growth (Alan & John). This member by the name YY believes a state’s economy is dependent on a number of factors. He is particularly interested in studying the demographic trends of states in order to unveil the linkages between demographic change, food, water, urban life, and regional economic integration and the state’s economy. In demographics, he focuses on the literacy levels of the natives, income per capita, population growth rates, and employment opportunities among others. These issues he argues that, are of prime importance as they are directly linked to the economy of the state.

Southeast Asian in the US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Southeast Asian in the US - Essay Example It is important to understand the term Secondary Migration because it clearly defines why a South East Asian parentage child would consider himself purely American instead of a product of what they commonly term â€Å"the old world† of their parents. Midway to nowhere on the other hand, defines the state of mind that a refugee who fled his homeland in a panic oftentimes has. Refugees in this state of mind arrive in their country or place of asylum without any concrete plans and is forced to choose among three choices for his future. The first choice is to return home. Second, remain where he landed in his quest for asylum. Or third, Accept the offer of other countries for refuge in his quest for asylum. All these choices face a person who left his land without any solid plans except to survive which is he, later on in his life, sometimes exhibits regret in his final decision. This is an experience usually shared by the Viet refugees in America. It is a decision that has them always thinking about the old world and sometimes, sees them taking the secondary migration family members back to their country of roots in order to relive their past

Overweight, Underweight, and Obesity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Overweight, Underweight, and Obesity - Assignment Example To begin with, people should consider eating foods that have low concentration of fats. When a person has high fat intake there is a high possibility that they will have heart related complications. The fat settles on the outer lining of the heart, which leaves little room for the heart’s activities. With limited space of expansion, the heart does not function accordingly. As such, the person will have difficulties especially when the heart does not give the body enough blood supply due to limited space. This is closely connected to obesity where the body needs massive supply of blood. Similarly, the fat in the body builds the lining of arteries and veins. This leaves little room for blood flow in the body. This leads to high pressure in the blood vessels which later leads to hypertension (Sizer and Whitney, 2012). Therefore, reduction of fat consumptions helps the body to function accordingly. When a person needs to reduce the fat in the body, they are advised to work out eve ryday for a minimum of 15 minutes. Similarly, it has been discovered that the growth of cancer cells can be minimized by healthy eating. These foods help increase the immunity of the body to any attacks, for example garlic. It is known that people who maintain healthy eating habits have lesser chances of attacks from hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Therefore, it is prudent to observe healthy eating habits and exercise on a daily

Should United States governors balance their budgets by raising taxes, Research Paper

Should United States governors balance their budgets by raising taxes, cutting spending, or a combination of both - Research Paper Example It is only natural to realize that some things that have happened in the past will directly affect what happens in the future. Therefore, one has to consider specific scenarios that have occurred in the United States which began in the 1980s with the mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, and buy-outs. Nothing happens without future consequences. Mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, and buy-outs are all a part of the business â€Å"game.† It’s merle an exchange of ownership that commonly involves stocks and assets that are transferred to another owner in exchange for up front cash or stock options in most cases that benefit high level executives. The â€Å"game† presents no investment in the future of the company or corporation, its merle an exchange of wealth. This scenario contributes many problems to the current operating business atmosphere. Mergers bring about immediate economic problems that include, loss of markets to foreign competitors, continuing trade deficits, inadequate operating capital, declining productivity, debt heavy corporations, and loss of many jobs. The debt is due mainly to financing in order to carry out the merger. These problems plus lagging research and development add to the complications of business operations after the merger is finalized.Another factor that has played a significant role in the situation of state and federal government budgets now are government financial bailouts. The first of these was the Savings and Loan Bailout of 1989 due to more than half of America’s Savings and Loans failing between 1986 and 1989. This was primarily due to lax government lending policies. These business bailouts have directly affected the budget, deficits, and economic stability of our federal and state governm ents. The US passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act in October 2008 for a $700 billion financial sector bailout. This resulted in the bank rescue of 2008, which called for a $250 billion cash infusion into the banking system. The bailout of Bear Stearns in April 2008 ended in lending the firm $29 billion to JP Morgan to buy the troubled firm. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac collapsed in the late summer of 2008. The federal government committed up to $200 billion to save both these giant mortgage lenders. Also $100 billion in cash credits was guaranteed to each of them to prevent bankruptcy. In September 20089 the federal government took control of American International Group (AIG), who was one of the largest insurance companies in the world. The government took control of the company and guaranteed them $85 billion in loans. In addition, the government took a 70.9 percent equity position in AIG, making this the first time in history that the government controlled a private insu rance firm. These are all major contributors to the economic environment of today. Can the government continue to bail out troubled businesses and over-extend themselves’ with even more debt? Economics is unpredictable and no one can say what the future holds. But within this scenario, the federal and state budgets and deficits have to be controlled by some means. With these factors in mind, would an increase of taxes on a federal and state level fuel the growth of the economy? In retrospect the government must look for ways to cut budget spending with little or no detrimental feedback to private businesses and corporations. It’s the common public consensus that government, both federal and state, need to make cuts; and unnecessary government spending seems to be one option. There are several arguments about government bureaucracy, but its obvious that there is a great set up for civil servants. When hired, they are put on probation for one year, after that they are gr anted tenure unless they do something illegal or make an unforgiveable error; their job security is all but ensured. This alone, would prevent federal and state representatives from

Overweight, Underweight, and Obesity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Overweight, Underweight, and Obesity - Assignment Example To begin with, people should consider eating foods that have low concentration of fats. When a person has high fat intake there is a high possibility that they will have heart related complications. The fat settles on the outer lining of the heart, which leaves little room for the heart’s activities. With limited space of expansion, the heart does not function accordingly. As such, the person will have difficulties especially when the heart does not give the body enough blood supply due to limited space. This is closely connected to obesity where the body needs massive supply of blood. Similarly, the fat in the body builds the lining of arteries and veins. This leaves little room for blood flow in the body. This leads to high pressure in the blood vessels which later leads to hypertension (Sizer and Whitney, 2012). Therefore, reduction of fat consumptions helps the body to function accordingly. When a person needs to reduce the fat in the body, they are advised to work out eve ryday for a minimum of 15 minutes. Similarly, it has been discovered that the growth of cancer cells can be minimized by healthy eating. These foods help increase the immunity of the body to any attacks, for example garlic. It is known that people who maintain healthy eating habits have lesser chances of attacks from hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Therefore, it is prudent to observe healthy eating habits and exercise on a daily

Informal Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Informal Report - Essay Example The future job outlook for this occupation is expected to grow because of an increased emphasis on preventive care due to the aged and some illnesses such as diabetes, which require special nursing services. The typical salaries for this occupation include an hourly rate of $31.48 or an annual salary of $65470. Examples of the companies where one can apply are the Prime healthcare and Johns Hopkins hospital was opened in 1889 and cares for patients with different illnesses such as Arthritis, lung disorders, knee replacement surgery and many more. The hospital makes earnings of about $1,891,059,968 annually from patients’ revenues. It has employed over 10,000 employees who work in the hospital. The main duties for a registered nurse in this hospital include recording patients medical histories and symptoms, giving patients medicine and treatments, staying with patients and observing patients medical progress (Perry pg 300). This is a good occupation which involves caring for patients, and it has a good income and it is an interesting career to take for people who like caring for the sick. It also involves staying with patients and giving them advice on how to live after they have been discharged from

Lobbying in Alcohol Industry Essay Example for Free

Lobbying in Alcohol Industry Essay 1. Alcohol industry in EU The economic role of the alcoholic drinks industry is considerable in many European countries. Alcohol excise duties in the EU15 countries amounted to â‚ ¬25 billion in 2001, excluding sales taxes and other taxes paid within the supply chain – although â‚ ¬1.5 billion is given back to the supply chain through the Common Agricultural Policy. Due to the relative inelasticity of the demand for alcohol, the average tax rates are a much better predictor of a government’s tax revenue than the level of consumption in a country. 1.1 Alcohol and the economy of Europe Europe plays a central role in the global alcohol market, acting as the source of a quarter of the world’s alcohol and over half of the world’s wine production. Trade is even more centred on Europe, with70% of alcohol exports and just under half of the world’s imports involving the European Union (EU). Although the majority of this trade is between EU countries, the trade in alcohol contributes around â‚ ¬9billion to the goods account balance for the EU as a whole. Price differences play more of a role in the level of legitimate cross-border shopping, where individuals legally bring back alcohol with them from cheaper countries. At least 1 in 6 tourists returns from trips abroad with alcoholic drinks, carrying an average of over 2 litres of pure alcohol per person in several countries. The economic role of the alcoholic drinks industry is considerable in many European countries. Alcohol is also associated with a number of jobs, including over three-quarters of a million in drinks production (mainly wine). Further jobs are also related to alcohol elsewhere in the supply chain, e.g. in pubs or shops. However, the size of the industry is not necessarily a good guide to the economic impact of alcohol policies – for example, trends in alcohol consumption show no crude correlation with trends in the number of jobs in associated areas such as hotels, restaurants, and bars, suggesting that the effect of changes in consumption may be relatively weak. A reduction in spending on alcohol would also be expected to free consumer funds to be spent on other areas, with the economic impact depending on the exact nature of the new expenditure. While further research needs to be done on this issue, current evidence from alcohol and other sectors suggests that declining consumption may not necessarily lead to job losses in the economy as a whole. Based on a review of existing studies, the total tangible cost of alcohol to EU society in 2003 was estimated to be â‚ ¬125bn (â‚ ¬79bn-â‚ ¬220bn), equivalent to 1.3% GDP, which is roughly the same value as that found recently for tobacco. The intangible costs show the value people place on pain, suffering and lost life that occurs due to the criminal, social and health harms caused by alcohol. In 2003 these were estimated to be â‚ ¬270bn, with other ways of valuing the same harms producing estimates between â‚ ¬150bn and â‚ ¬760bn. While these estimates consider a number of different areas of human life where alcohol has an impact, there are several further areas where no estimate has been made as it was impossible to obtain data. Similarly, while the estimates take into account the benefits of alcohol to health systems and loss of life (valued intangibly), there is no research that would enable the other social benefits to be evaluated. 1.1 The use of alcohol in Europe The EU is the heaviest drinking region of the world, although the 11 litres of pure alcohol drunk per adult each year is still a substantial fall from a recent peak of 15 litres in the mid-1970s. The last 40 years has also seen a harmonization in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Most Europeans drink alcohol, but 55 million adults (15%) abstain; taking this and unrecorded consumption into account, the consumption per drinker reaches 15 litres per year. Just under half of this alcohol is consumed in the form of beer (44%), with the rest divided between wine (34%) and spirits (23%). Within the EU15, northern and central parts drink mainly beer, while those in southern Europe drink mainly wine (although Spain may be an exception). This is a relatively new phenomenon, with a harmonization visible over the past 40 years in the EU15. Around 40% of drinking occasions in most of the EU15 involve consuming alcohol with the afternoon/evening meal, although those in southern Europe are much more likely to drink with lunch than elsewhere. While the level of daily drinking also shows a north—south gradient, non-daily frequent consumption (i.e. drinking several times a week but not every day) seems to be more common in central Europe, and there is evidence for a recent harmonization within the EU15. While 266 million adults drink alcohol up to 20g (women) or 40g (men) per day, over 58 million adults (15%) consume above this level, with 20 million of these (6%) drinking at over 40g (women) or 60g per day(men). Looking at addiction rather than drinking levels, we can also estimate that 23 million Europeans (5% of men, 1% of women) are dependent on alcohol in any one year. In every culture ever studied, men are more likely than women to drink at all and to drink more when they do, with the gap greater for riskier behaviour. Although many women give up alcohol when pregnant, a significant number (25%-50%) continue to drink, and some continue to drink to harmful levels. Patterns in drinking behaviour can also be seen for socio-economic status(SES), where those with low SES are less likely to drink alcohol at all. Despite a complex picture for some aspects of drinking (with some measures showing opposite trends for men and women), getting drunk and becoming dependent on alcohol are both more likely among drinkers of lower SES. Every country in the European Union (EU) has a number of laws and other policies that set alcohol apart from other goods traded in its territory, often for reasons of public health. Despite the ubiquity of alcohol policies, just under half the EU countries still do not have an action plan or coordinating body for alcohol. Even so, most countries have programmes for one aspect of alcohol policy, of which school-based education programmes are the most common throughout Europe. All countries also have some form of drink-driving restrictions, with everywhere except the UK, Ireland and Luxembourg having a maximum blood alcohol limit for drivers at the level recommended by the European Commission (0.5g/L). However, many European drivers believe that there is only a slim chance of being detected a third overall believe they will never be breathalyses, although this is lower in countries with random breath testing. Sales of alcohol are generally subject to restrictions in most EU countries, in a few cases through retail monopolies but more often through licences, while the places that alcohol can be sold are frequently restricted. Over one-third of countries (and some regions) also limit the hours of sale, while restrictions on the days of sale or the density of off-premise retailers exist in a small number of countries. All countries prohibit the sale of alcohol to young people beneath a certain age in bars and pubs, although four countries have no policy on the sale of alcohol to children in shops. The cut-off point for allowing sales to young people also varies across Europe, tending to be 18 years in northern Europe and 16 years in southern Europe. Alcohol marketing is controlled to different degrees depending on the type of marketing activity. Television beer adverts are subject to legal restrictions (beyond content restrictions) in over half of Europe, including complete bans in five countries; this rises to 14 countries for bans on spirits adverts. Billboards and print media are subject to less regulation though, with one in three countries (mainly in the EU10) having no controls. Sports sponsorship is subject to the weakest restrictions, with only seven countries having any legal restrictions at all. The taxation of alcoholic beverages is another consistent feature of European countries, although the rates themselves vary considerably between countries. This can be seen clearly for wine, where nearly half the countries have no tax at all, but one in five countries has a tax rate above â‚ ¬1,000, adjusted for purchasing power. In general, the average effective tax rate is highest in northern Europe, and weakest in southern and parts of central and eastern Europe. Four countries have also introduced a targeted tax on alcopops since 2004, which appears to have reduced alcopops consumption since. When the different policy areas are combined into a single scale, the overall strictness of alcohol policy ranges from 5.5 (Greece) to 17.7 (Norway) out of a possible maximum of 20, with an average of 10.8. The least strict policies are in southern and parts of central and eastern Europe, and the highest in northern Europe – but the scores do not all decrease from north to south, as seen in the high score in France. This picture of alcohol policy is very different from the one visible fifty years ago, with the overall levels of policy now much closer together, largely due to the increased level of policy in many countries, particular in the area of drink-driving where all countries have a legal limit. Marketing controls, minimum ages to buy alcohol, and public policy structures to deliver alcohol policy are also much more common in 2005 than in 1950. Main interest groups in the industry and their leader in lobbying activities Eurocare: Who we are and what we do Eurocare, is an alliance of around 50 voluntary and non-governmental organizations across Europe created in 1990, working on the prevention and reduction of alcohol-related harm2 . One of the main goals is to promote the prevention of alcohol-related harm in European Union decision-making; this is achieved by monitoring all EU level policy initiatives, and carrying out advocacy campaigns directed at the European Commission (EC) and the European Parliament (EP) to ensure that alcohol issues are included in relevant policy discussions. The catalyst of our work in recent years (and the concrete result of fifteen years of lobbying) has been the â€Å"EU Strategy to Support Member States in Reducing Alcohol Related Harm†, published by the Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection (DG Sanco) of the European Commission in October 20063. A cornerstone of this strategy is the recently launched Alcohol and Health Forum, a multistakeholder platform bringing together the industry and well as NGOs4 pledging to commit to concrete actions to reducing alcohol-related harm. The cross-sectoral nature of alcohol policy includes the Television Without Frontiers Directive (concerned with young people’s exposure to alcohol advertising), Minimum Excise Duties (a report from the EP proposed to scrap these in order to avoid cross border trade and smuggling), and Labeling (the EC is to present a draft Directive on labeling at the end of the year).For Eurocare, lobbying on alcohol presents several difficulties: first the EU has limited competence to legislate in the domain of public health5. DG Sanco’s Alcohol Strategy is thus useful for advocacy in Member States; at EU level, it has allowed alcohol to secure a place on the political agenda, despite being weakened by the influence of the Commission’s more powerful â€Å"big brothers† (DG Trade, DG Market, DG Agriculture, etc.) (Ulstein 2006). Second, at European level, the aim of reducing alcohol-related harm is competing against other strong public health discourses for example in the field of tobacco, nutrition and physical activity, the latter exemplified in the EU Platform for Diet, Physical Activity and Health on which the Alcohol and Health Forum is modeled. Roizen and Fillmore (2000) articulate this from the researchers’ perspective, but it is also true for advocates that â€Å"our consumerist or dangerous-commodity orientation to alcohol (†¦) obliges us to compete in a public-health-information-offering market place already crowded with health warnings of many kinds†. The specificities of alcohol serve to further complicate the picture; parallels with tobacco or junk food are obvious: indisputable public health burdens; links with social inequalities, and of course, powerful industries. What sets alcohol apart though, is the highly problematic, misunderstood and misused evidence on the â€Å"benefits of alcohol consumption†; like it or not, the â€Å"ambiguous molecule† alcohol forms an integral part of most cultures across Europe, â€Å"causing deaths while saving lives, inflicting pain while producing pleasure† The alcohol industry: no ordinary stakeholder The alcohol industry is undeniably a rival voice in the political process of â€Å"weighing up the evidence†; a strong economic asset, with increasingly visible corporate social responsibility policies, the industry represents a valid stakeholder. Alcohol producers unite underâ€Å"legitimate fronts† through social aspects (SA) organisations6, such as the International Centre for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) or the European Forum For Responsible Drinking (EFRD), both of which are participating in the Commission’s Alcohol and Health Forum. Under these banners, research, policy analysis and of course, lobbying are carried out: in fact, it has not been uncommon to find such groups walking the same corridors of power as ourselves. To the layperson, the â€Å"research† and â€Å"policy analysis† (e.g.: ICAP Blue Book) carried out by these organisations may appear methodologically sound, and conclusive, and the (simplistic) models as comprehensive and logical. For example, that â€Å"patterns of drinking are the best way to understand the place of alcohol in society†; that â€Å"targeted interventions are most sensitive to cultural differences†, and that â€Å"partnerships offer the best opportunities to develop policies†. Funnily enough â€Å"Drinking in Context: Patterns, Interventions and Partnerships†, an ICAP collaborative publication (Stimson et al. 2006) was recently publicised at a lunch meeting held in the European Parliament, hosted by German MEP Renate Sommer. Staff from the Eurocare Secretariat attended this lunch; the event was reminiscent of the spirit of the film â€Å"Thank You For Smoking†8; a sequel named â€Å"Thank You For Drinking† should be considered, and would be highly entertaining. This example highlights the tensions involved in the political process, and how apparently sound and legitimate evidence can be put forward by the industry, in order to counter what is regarded by the public health community as â€Å"legitimate† evidence. When the Institute of Alcohol Studies published the Alcohol in Europe report, the British Beer and Pub Association (also participating in the Alcohol and Health Forum) attempted to undermine its scientific objectivity by â€Å"denouncing† vested interests, namely, links to temperance; they likened this to â€Å"vegetarians writing a report about the benefits of eating meat†. The EFRD’s view (in Baumberg Anderson 2007) was that those advocating a stronger EU alcohol strategy â€Å"had a biased view of the evidence base†. It is precisely through the use of â€Å"evidence† and their engagement in research, policy analysis and lobbying (activities mirroring our own work) that the industry tries to secure a place at the policy table, which may be potentially difficult for the public health community to fight off. The WHO (2007) stresses the â€Å"importance of the participation of civil society organisations without the conflict of interests in alcohol policy development, as a counter influence to the vested trade interests, which might otherwise dominate political decision making†.

Edgar Allan Poe Biography

Edgar Allan Poe Biography Edgar Allan Poe was an important writer of the 19th Century. His imaginative storytelling led to literary innovations and earned him the nickname Father of the Detective Story' (Bio.com). His short story, The Murders in the Rue Morgue is the first example of detective fiction. His writings were often dark and scary. He was an early writer of the horror story. Poe had a rough childhood, depression and dark moods as an adult, and a bad early death. Poes life and writings can be compared to the modern writer of horror, Stephen King. There are things that are alike about the two authors and things that are different. Poe was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. He never knew his parents, who were actors. His father, David Poe Jr., left the family and died in about 1810 or 1811. His mother, Elizabeth Arnold Poe, died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty four in 191. Poe was three at the time, and her death may have warped Poe for the rest of his life. He always remembered more or less unconsciously-his mother vomiting blood and being carried away from him forever by sinister men dressed in black (Asselineau 409). She had 3 three children, and Edgar was separated from his brother and sister. His brother, William, died young, and Rosalie lost her mind. Edgar was taken in but not adopted by John and Frances Valentine Allan. Edgar was close to Frances, but not to John. John was a prosperous tobacco merchant in Richmond Virginia, and wanted Edgar to join him as a clerk in his business. Frances was probably responsible for taking Poe in. He was a good poet by the time he was thirteen, but his headmaster and John discouraged his poetry. Sometimes they were nice to him and sometimes not. The family moved to England in 1815 where Poe attended a classical academy until 1820. Then they came back to Richmond where Poe attended the school of Joseph H. Clarke and wrote several poems in honor of local schoolgirls. Edgar was in love and secretly engaged to Elmira Royster when he went to the University of Virginia 1826. The engagement fell through. Edgar did well and made good grades, but John did not give him much spending money so he got lots of gambling debts. Some scholars think that Poe drank heavily during that time, but others say that even small amounts of alcohol had a bad effect on him. John refused to pay the debts, so in 1927 Poe joined the army. He came back two years later when he learned that Frances Allen was dying of tuberculosis, but she died before he came home. In 1930 Allan got him into WestPoint, but he was expelled for poor handling of his duties, so in 1831 so Allan disowned him. Historians also know that John Allan had gotten married again without telling him, so they fought. Some people think that Edgar got expelled on purpose to get back at John. When John died, he didnt leave any money to Edgar, but he did leave money to an illegitimate child Edgar had never met. Duri ng this time, Poe wrote several volumes of poetry including Tamerlane and Other Poems (1827), and Poems (1831). Historians do not know much else about his life during this time, but in 1832 he was working in Baltimore writing short stories. By 1833 he was living with his fathers widowed and poverty-stricken sister Mrs. Clemm in Baltimore and won a $50 prize for the story MS Found in a Bottle in a short story contest in The Baltimore Saturday Vister. He also started working on a play, Politician, which he never finished. He began working for the Southern Literary Messenger of Richmond and by 1835 was its editor. For most of the rest of his life he worked for various magazines but was usually fired because of his strange behavior made worse by alcoholism. He wrote many poems, stories, and articles which got him a little money and lots of criticism. They also made him well-known. His poems always had an easy, unforgettable rhythm, and his stories were always weird and concerned with death. He still lived most of the time with Mrs. Clemm, and married his 13-year-old cousin Virginia Clemm in 1836 who was his literary inspiration as well as his love interest (Biography.com). She was pale and fragile, like many of Poes characters. He was very devoted to her, but in 1842 she broke a blood vessel while singing. She recovered somewhat, but died in 1847 of tuberculosis. Her death caused him to ruin his life. Some historians believe that his alcoholism got worse and he took a lot of drugs. Others believe that he became ill and because of a brain lesion in his youth, had manic and depressive moods. He also began to give attention to other women and became engaged again to Elmira Royster Shelton who was now a widow. He continued to write and publish many stories and poems throughout this time. Historians do not know exactly what he did for the last of his life, and his final days remain somewhat of a mystery (Biography.com). He continued to be very distraught over Virginias death. On September 28, 1849 he attended a birthday party in Baltimore, drank wine, and went on a drinking spree. He was found ill in a Baltimore gutter on October 3, 1849. He was taken to Washington College Hospital where he died on October 7. His last words were Lord help my poor soul (Biography.com). He was buried in what is now Westminster Churchyard on October 8, 1849, and a monument was built to him later. Mrs. Clemm and her daughter are buried next to him. Edgar Allen Poes stories often have dark themes of death, lost love, or dying. His characters are often alcoholics or have drug addictions. They are not happy stories and his characters sometimes seem insane. A modern person who is like Edgar Allan Poe is the horror writer Stephen King. Both authors had a hard early life and were abandoned by their fathers when they were very young. They were both good students in elementary school and started writing when they were young. Both moved around a lot as children and were outsiders in high school. In college both of these writers started drinking. Also, both of them worked hard to make it where they got. Poe worked so hard that when he was 16, he swam 7 miles across the James River to prove himself, emulating Lord Byrons swimming across the Hellespont, as a physical expression of his determination to make a name for himself, to be a great writer (Hoffman 323). Both of the authors wrote about characters that had drug and alcohol problems. Stephen King has also written a lot of stories and is an important writer. Unlike Poe, Stephen King has had a long and successful career, is very famous and has made a lot of money. He is about sixty-five year s old and he is still writing. Edgar Allan Poe wrote many stories, poems, and other things. He was a very important writer of the 19th century and is still recognized as one of Americas most influential writers. Even though he wrote almost 200 years ago, his stories and poems still, shock, surprise, and move modern readers (Biography.com). However he never made very much money, was mostly unrecognized during his life time and died young. He will always be remembered for his fascinating and gruesome works. Bibliography Asselineau, Roger. Edgar Allan Poe. American Writers: Volume 3. Ed. Leonard Unger.  New York: Scribner, 1974. Hoffman, Daniel. Edgar Allan Poe. World Poets: Volume 2. Ed. Ron Padgett. New York:  Scribner, 2000. 323-331. Print. Perkins, George, Barbara Perkins, and Phillip Leininger, eds. Poe, Edgar Allen. Benets Readers Encyclopedia of American Literature. New York: Harper and Row, 1991.  853-6. Print. Unger, Leonard. American Writers: A Collection of Literary Biographies. New York: Scribner, 1974. 409-432. Print.

Lebanon Essay -- essays research papers

Lebanon Lebanon, a nation that once proudly called itself the Switzerland of the Middle East, is today a country in name only. Its government controls little more than half of the nation's capital, Beirut. Its once-vibrant economy is a shambles. And its society is fragmented - so fragmented, some believe, that it may be impossible to re-create a unified state responsive to the needs of all its varied peoples. Lebanon lies on the eastern shore of the Mediterranea n Sea, in that part of southwestern Asia known as the Middle East. Because of its location - at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa - Lebanon has been the center of commerce and trade for thousands of years. It has also been on the route of numerous conquering armies. With an area of 4,015 square miles, Lebanon is one of the smallest countries in the Middle East. It is smaller than every state in the United States except Delaware, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Lebanon is sandwiched between Syria in the north and east and Israel in the south. The maximum distance from the nation's northern border to the southern one is only 130 miles. And the maximum distance from the Mediterranean Sea to the Lebanon-Syria border is 50 miles. In the south, along the border with Israel, Lebanon's eastern border is only 20 miles from the sea. Although a tiny land, Lebanon boasts a great diversity in its landscape which makes it one of the most picturesque countries in the world. The coast line is br oken by many bays and inlets of varying size. At some points, the mountains wade silently right into the sea - then climb suddenly tier on tier away from the Mediterranean to the sky. Because of the limitation of flat agricultural land, all but the steepest hillsides have been patiently and neatly terraced and planted with garlands of twisted grapevines. The mountains lend a great variety of hues - pale pink, rosy red, forest green or deep purple - to the landscape. Depending on the time of day, they never appear the same twice, and from time to time whipped white clouds hide all except their snow-capped peaks. Even on the darkest night, the lights of the villages perched on the mountains shine in small clusters as a reminder of their presence. On c loser view, the mountains become a jumble of giant gorges, many of them over a thousand feet deep, with rocky cliffs, steep ravines and awesome valleys. These unassa... ...anon. This system worked well enough for fifteen years. From 1943 until 1958 the nation's economy boomed and Beirut was transformed into the showcase city of the Mediterranean. The government seemed stable enough, but th ere were problems boiling beneath the surface and in the mid-1950s the system began to come apart. For one thing, the Moslems, especially the poorer Shiites, had a substantially higher birthrate than the Christians; many people believed that the Shiites had surpassed the Maronites in population. But the Christians would not allow a new census to be taken, for this would have meant a reallocation of the nation's political power, with the Moslem sects gaining at the expense of the Christians. With their hopes for political gains dampened, the Shiites became disenchanted. Why is this once prosperous nation on the verge of total collapse? There are a number of reasons, but the primary one is that the Lebanese people belong to at least fifteen differe nt religious sects and their loyalty to these sects is greater than their loyalty to a united Lebanon. Had the people's sense of nationhood been stronger, they would not have suffered the destruction of the past decade.

African americans and Native americans Essay

African Americans and American Indians or Native Americans are two of the major subordinate groups in America today. They face many forms of oppression from the dominant group and have many things in common when it comes to this oppression. I would like to focus on five specific types of oppression they face: stigmatization, segregation, ethnocentrism, prejudice, and discrimination. African Americans are facing stigmatization far less these days, but if one looks back a half-century, they will find countless examples. Stigmatization can include the de-humanization, labeling, characterizing, and degrading of a group. During slavery, blacks were stigmatized into the happy and carefree characters Mammy and Sambo. This was done to show that slavery was good and blacks probably wouldn’t be able to function in free society. When slaves were freed, blacks were painted as savages that could not be trusted to live normally. Caricatures of blacks with exaggerated features and portraits of the characters Sambo and Mammy still exist today. For Native Americans, stigmatization is far worse. Countless sports teams have a Native American as their mascot, some having very derogatory names such as the Washington Redskins. â€Å"Indians† were also portrayed as evil in countless western movies and as ruthless savages in others. These stigmatizations make â€Å"Indians† seem more like fantasy characters than real people. Many people do not realize that these stigmatizations are very hurtful and detrimental to society. Segregation, the separation of two or more groups based on physical characteristics, is another issue that still plagues African Americans and Native Americans. From the moment Europeans set foot on what is now America, they have been forcing â€Å"Indians† farther and farther west. The American government created reservations for the â€Å"Indians† so that they could have the valuable resources that they â€Å"needed†. Treaties were signed and broken, and the â€Å"Indians† moved farther along the Trail of Tears. Reservations still exist today and for the most part Native Americans have are not integrated into American society. Most would like to think that after the Supreme Court case Brown vs. Board of Education, segregation no longer exists for African Americans. Sure it’s not like we still have separate drinking fountains, but by and large blacks and whites are separate. In all major cities large housing projects have been created for low-income persons. The vast majority of the people living there are black. Most inner city schools are almost entirely made up of minorities. Legal segregation is no longer a problem anymore, but social segregation is still a major problem in society today and something needs to be done. Ethnocentrism is the feeling by one group that they are superior to another based on ethnic background. Native Americans have always been the victims of this. They were forced to leave their homeland by the â€Å"superior† Europeans and thought not good enough to live among them. Native Americans still live mostly separate and many people still degrade them and think of them as inferior both mentally and physically. Most people have not been exposed to them yet judge them anyways. This is very sad and disturbing. African Americans were thought of as the lowest, stupidest, least civilized people on earth. The whites thought they were far superior and showed this by literally stealing African Americans from their homeland of Africa and forcing to into slave labor. Even after slavery, white supremacy groups such as the KKK still exist and continue to be a proponent for the inferiority of African Americans. Many think of blacks as being less far less intelligent and civilized even today. Prejudice and discrimination are two of the biggest problems facing African and Native Americans today, and the two go hand in hand. Prejudice involves negative attitudes towards ethnic groups, which can include beliefs, thoughts, and stereotypes. Discrimination is taking action on these prejudices by denying certain rights and opportunities to these groups. Prejudice leads to discrimination of these groups. African Americans as well as Native Americans are discriminated against in employment opportunities, housing options, public school resources, and countless other ways. They are  discriminated against because of these prejudices and stereotypes.For example, say a black man walks into a store with his white friend. The employees of the store are more likely to offer service to the white man and will probably follow the black man to make sure he is not shoplifting. The prejudice views they hold cause them to discriminate against the black man. These problems are very real even today and unless society as a whole addresses them and ways to stop them, they will continue to destroy the fabric of our country.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Fifty-five

Catelyn It was too far to make out the banners clearly, but even through the drifting fog she could see that they were white, with a dark smudge in their center that could only be the direwolf of Stark, grey upon its icy field. When she saw it with her own eyes, Catelyn reined up her horse and bowed her head in thanks. The gods were good. She was not too late. â€Å"They await our coming, my lady,† Ser Wylis Manderly said, â€Å"as my lord father swore they would.† â€Å"Let us not keep them waiting any longer, ser.† Ser Brynden Tully put the spurs to his horse and trotted briskly toward the banners. Catelyn rode beside him. Ser Wylis and his brother Ser Wendel followed, leading their levies, near fifteen hundred men: some twenty-odd knights and as many squires, two hundred mounted lances, swordsmen, and freeriders, and the rest foot, armed with spears, pikes and tridents. Lord Wyman had remained behind to see to the defenses of WhiteHarbor. A man of near sixty years, he had grown too stout to sit a horse. â€Å"If I had thought to see war again in my lifetime, I should have eaten a few less eels,† he'd told Catelyn when he met her ship, slapping his massive belly with both hands. His fingers were fat as sausages. â€Å"My boys will see you safe to your son, though, have no fear.† His â€Å"boys† were both older than Catelyn, and she might have wished that they did not take after their father quite so closely. Ser Wylis was only a few eels short of not being able to mount his own horse; she pitied the poor animal. Ser Wendel, the younger boy, would have been the fattest man she'd ever known, had she only neglected to meet his father and brother. Wylis was quiet and formal, Wendel loud and boisterous; both had ostentatious walrus mustaches and heads as bare as a baby's bottom; neither seemed to own a single garment that was not spotted with food stains. Yet she liked them well enough; they had gotten her to Robb, as their father had vowed, and nothing else mattered. She was pleased to see that her son had sent eyes out, even to the east. The Lannisters would come from the south when they came, but it was good that Robb was being careful. My son is leading a host to war, she thought, still only half believing it. She was desperately afraid for him, and for Winterfell, yet she could not deny feeling a certain pride as well. A year ago he had been a boy. What was he now? she wondered. Outriders spied the Manderly banners—the white merman with trident in hand, rising from a blue-green sea—and hailed them warmly. They were led to a spot of high ground dry enough for a camp. Ser Wylis called a halt there, and remained behind with his men to see the fires laid and the horses tended, while his brother Wendel rode on with Catelyn and her uncle to present their father's respects to their liege lord. The ground under their horses' hooves was soft and wet. It fell away slowly beneath them as they rode past smoky peat fires, lines of horses, and wagons heavy-laden with hardbread and salt beef. On a stony outcrop of land higher than the surrounding country, they passed a lord's pavilion with walls of heavy sailcloth. Catelyn recognized the banner, the bull moose of the Hornwoods, brown on its dark orange field. Just beyond, through the mists, she glimpsed the walls and towers of Moat Cailin . . . or what remained of them. Immense blocks of black basalt, each as large as a crofter's cottage, lay scattered and tumbled like a child's wooden blocks, half-sunk in the soft boggy soil. Nothing else remained of a curtain wall that had once stood as high as Winterfell's. The wooden keep was gone entirely, rotted away a thousand years past, with not so much as a timber to mark where it had stood. All that was left of the great stronghold of the First Men were three towers . . . three where there had once been twenty, if the taletellers could be believed. The Gatehouse Tower looked sound enough, and even boasted a few feet of standing wall to either side of it. The Drunkard's Tower, off in the bog where the south and west walls had once met, leaned like a man about to spew a bellyful of wine into the gutter. And the tall, slender Children's Tower, where legend said the children of the forest had once called upon their nameless gods to send the hammer of the waters, had lost half its crown. It looked as if some great beast had taken a bite out of the crenellations along the tower top, and spit the rubble across the bog. All three towers were green with moss. A tree was growing out between the stones on the north side of the Gatehouse Tower, its gnarled limbs festooned with ropy white blankets of ghostskin. â€Å"Gods have mercy,† Ser Brynden exclaimed when he saw what lay before them. â€Å"This is Moat Cailin? It's no more than a—† â€Å"—death trap,† Catelyn finished. â€Å"I know how it looks, Uncle. I thought the same the first time I saw it, but Ned assured me that this ruin is more formidable than it seems. The three surviving towers command the causeway from all sides, and any enemy must pass between them. The bogs here are impenetrable, full of quicksands and suckholes and teeming with snakes. To assault any of the towers, an army would need to wade through waist-deep black muck, cross a moat full of lizard-lions, and scale walls slimy with moss, all the while exposing themselves to fire from archers in the other towers.† She gave her uncle a grim smile. â€Å"And when night falls, there are said to be ghosts, cold vengeful spirits of the north who hunger for southron blood.† Ser Brynden chuckled. â€Å"Remind me not to linger here. Last I looked, I was southron myself.† Standards had been raised atop all three towers. The Karstark sunburst hung from the Drunkard's Tower, beneath the direwolf; on the Children's Tower it was the Greatjon's giant in shattered chains. But on the Gatehouse Tower, the Stark banner flew alone. That was where Robb had made his seat. Catelyn made for it, with Ser Brynden and Ser Wendel behind her, their horses stepping slowly down the log-and-plank road that had been laid across the green-and-black fields of mud. She found her son surrounded by his father's lords bannermen, in a drafty hall with a peat fire smoking in a black hearth. He was seated at a massive stone table, a pile of maps and papers in front of him, talking intently with Roose Bolton and the Greatjon. At first he did not notice her . . . but his wolf did. The great grey beast was lying near the fire, but when Catelyn entered he lifted his head, and his golden eyes met hers. The lords fell silent one by one, and Robb looked up at the sudden quiet and saw her. â€Å"Mother?† he said, his voice thick with emotion. Catelyn wanted to run to him, to kiss his sweet brow, to wrap him in her arms and hold him so tightly that he would never come to harm . . . but here in front of his lords, she dared not. He was playing a man's part now, and she would not take that away from him. So she held herself at the far end of the basalt slab they were using for a table. The direwolf got to his feet and padded across the room to where she stood. It seemed bigger than a wolf ought to be. â€Å"You've grown a beard,† she said to Robb, while Grey Wind sniffed her hand. He rubbed his stubbled jaw, suddenly awkward. â€Å"Yes.† His chin hairs were redder than the ones on his head. â€Å"I like it.† Catelyn stroked the wolfs head, gently. â€Å"It makes you look like my brother Edmure.† Grey Wind nipped at her fingers, playful, and trotted back to his place by the fire. Ser Helman Tallhart was the first to follow the direwolf across the room to pay his respects, kneeling before her and pressing his brow to her hand. â€Å"Lady Catelyn,† he said, â€Å"you are fair as ever, a welcome sight in troubled times.† The Glovers followed, Galbart and Robett, and Greatjon Umber, and the rest, one by one. Theon Greyjoy was the last. â€Å"I had not looked to see you here, my lady,† he said as he knelt. â€Å"I had not thought to be here,† Catelyn said, â€Å"until I came ashore at White Harbor, and Lord Wyman told me that Robb had called the banners. You know his son, Ser Wendel.† Wendel Manderly stepped forward and bowed as low as his girth would allow. â€Å"And my uncle, Ser Brynden Tully, who has left my sister's service for mine.† â€Å"The Blackfish,† Robb said. â€Å"Thank you for joining us, ser. We need men of your courage. And you, Ser Wendel, I am glad to have you here. Is Ser Rodrik with you as well, Mother? I've missed him.† â€Å"Ser Rodrik is on his way north from White Harbor. I have named him castellan and commanded him to hold Winterfell till our return. Maester Luwin is a wise counsellor, but unskilled in the arts of war.† â€Å"Have no fear on that count, Lady Stark,† the Greatjon told her in his bass rumble. â€Å"Winterfell is safe. We'll shove our swords up Tywin Lannister's bunghole soon enough, begging your pardons, and then it's on to the Red Keep to free Ned.† â€Å"My lady, a question, as it please you.† Roose Bolton, Lord of the Dreadfort, had a small voice, yet when he spoke larger men quieted to listen. His eyes were curiously pale, almost without color, and his look disturbing. â€Å"It is said that you hold Lord Tywin's dwarf son as captive. Have you brought him to us? I vow, we should make good use of such a hostage.† â€Å"I did hold Tyrion Lannister, but no longer,† Catelyn was forced to admit. A chorus of consternation greeted the news. â€Å"I was no more pleased than you, my lords. The gods saw fit to free him, with some help from my fool of a sister.† She ought not to be so open in her contempt, she knew, but her parting from the Eyrie had not been pleasant. She had offered to take Lord Robert with her, to foster him at Winterfell for a few years. The company of other boys would do him good, she had dared to suggest. Lysa's rage had been frightening to behold. â€Å"Sister or no,† she had replied, â€Å"if you try to steal my son, you will leave by the Moon Door.† After that there was no more to be said. The lords were anxious to question her further, but Catelyn raised a hand. â€Å"No doubt we will have time for all this later, but my journey has fatigued me. I would speak with my son alone. I know you will forgive me, my lords.† She gave them no choice; led by the ever-obliging Lord Hornwood, the bannermen bowed and took their leave. â€Å"And you, Theon,† she added when Greyjoy lingered. He smiled and left them. There was ale and cheese on the table. Catelyn tilled a horn, sat, sipped, and studied her son. He seemed taller than when she'd left, and the wisps of beard did make him look older. â€Å"Edmure was sixteen when he grew his first whiskers.† â€Å"I will be sixteen soon enough,† Robb said. â€Å"And you are fifteen now. Fifteen, and leading a host to battle. Can you understand why I might fear, Robb?† His look grew stubborn. â€Å"There was no one else.† â€Å"No one?† she said. â€Å"Pray, who were those men I saw here a moment ago? Roose Bolton, Rickard Karstark, Galbart and Robett Glover, the Greatjon, Helman Tallhart . . . you might have given the command to any of them. Gods be good, you might even have sent Theon, though he would not be my choice.† â€Å"They are not Starks,† he said. â€Å"They are men, Robb, seasoned in battle. You were fighting with wooden swords less than a year past.† She saw anger in his eyes at that, but it was gone as quick as it came, and suddenly he was a boy again. â€Å"I know,† he said, abashed. â€Å"Are you . . . are you sending me back to Winterfell?† Catelyn sighed. â€Å"I should. You ought never have left. Yet I dare not, not now. You have come too far. Someday these lords will look to you as their liege. If I pack you off now, like a child being sent to bed without his supper, they will remember, and laugh about it in their cups. The day will come when you need them to respect you, even fear you a little. Laughter is poison to fear. I will not do that to you, much as I might wish to keep you safe.† â€Å"You have my thanks, Mother,† he said, his relief obvious beneath the formality. She reached across his table and touched his hair. â€Å"You are my firstborn, Robb. I have only to look at you to remember the day you came into the world, red-faced and squalling.† He rose, clearly uncomfortable with her touch, and walked to the hearth. Grey Wind rubbed his head against his leg. â€Å"You know . . . about Father?† â€Å"Yes.† The reports of Robert's sudden death and Ned's fall had frightened Catelyn more than she could say, but she would not let her son see her fear. â€Å"Lord Manderly told me when I landed at White Harbor. Have you had any word of your sisters?† â€Å"There was a letter,† Robb said, scratching his direwolf under the jaw. â€Å"One for you as well, but it came to Winterfell with mine.† He went to the table, rummaged among some maps and papers, and returned with a crumpled parchment. â€Å"This is the one she wrote me, I never thought to bring yours.† Something in Robb's tone troubled her. She smoothed out the paper and read. Concern gave way to disbelief, then to anger, and lastly to fear. â€Å"This is Cersei's letter, not your sister's,† she said when she was done. â€Å"The real message is in what Sansa does not say. All this about how kindly and gently the Lannisters are treating her . . . I know the sound of a threat, even whispered. They have Sansa hostage, and they mean to keep her.† â€Å"There's no mention of Arya,† Robb pointed out, miserable. â€Å"No.† Catelyn did not want to think what that might mean, not now, not here. â€Å"I had hoped . . . if you still held the Imp, a trade of hostages . . . † He took Sansa's letter and crumpled it in his fist, and she could tell from the way he did it that it was not the first time. â€Å"Is there word from the Eyrie? I wrote to Aunt Lysa, asking help. Has she called Lord Arryn's banners, do you know? Will the knights of the Vale come join us?† â€Å"Only one,† she said, â€Å"the best of them, my uncle . . . but Brynden Blackfish was a Tully first. My sister is not about to stir beyond her Bloody Gate.† Robb took it hard. â€Å"Mother, what are we going to do? I brought this whole army together, eighteen thousand men, but I don't . . . I'm not certain . . . † He looked to her, his eyes shining, the proud young lord melted away in an instant, and quick as that he was a child again, a fifteen-year-old boy looking to his mother for answers. It would not do. â€Å"What are you so afraid of, Robb?† she asked gently. â€Å"I . . . † He turned his head away, to hide the first tear. â€Å"If we march . . . even if we win . . . the Lannisters hold Sansa, and Father. They'll kill them, won't they?† â€Å"They want us to think so.† â€Å"You mean they're lying?† â€Å"I do not know, Robb. What I do know is that you have no choice. If you go to King's Landing and swear fealty, you will never be allowed to leave. If you turn your tail and retreat to Winterfell, your lords will lose all respect for you. Some may even go over to the Lannisters. Then the queen, with that much less to fear, can do as she likes with her prisoners. Our best hope, our only true hope, is that you can defeat the foe in the field. If you should chance to take Lord Tywin or the Kingslayer captive, why then a trade might very well be possible, but that is not the heart of it. So long as you have power enough that they must fear you, Ned and your sister should be safe. Cersei is wise enough to know that she may need them to make her peace, should the fighting go against her.† â€Å"What if the fighting doesn't go against her?† Robb asked. â€Å"What if it goes against us?† Catelyn took his hand. â€Å"Robb, I will not soften the truth for you. If you lose, there is no hope for any of us. They say there is naught but stone at the heart of Casterly Rock. Remember the fate of Rhaegar's children.† She saw the fear in his young eyes then, but there was a strength as well. â€Å"Then I will not lose,† he vowed. â€Å"Tell me what you know of the fighting in the riverlands,† she said. She had to learn if he was truly ready. â€Å"Less than a fortnight past, they fought a battle in the hills below the Golden Tooth,† Robb said. â€Å"Uncle Edmure had sent Lord Vance and Lord Piper to hold the pass, but the Kingslayer descended on them and put them to flight. Lord Vance was slain. The last word we had was that Lord Piper was falling back to join your brother and his other bannermen at Riverrun, with Jaime Lannister on his heels. That's not the worst of it, though. All the time they were battling in the pass, Lord Tywin was bringing a second Lannister army around from the south. It's said to be even larger than Jaime's host. â€Å"Father must have known that, because he sent out some men to oppose them, under the king's own banner. He gave the command to some southron lordling, Lord Erik or Derik or something like that, but Ser Raymun Darry rode with him, and the letter said there were other knights as well, and a force of Father's own guardsmen. Only it was a trap. Lord Derik had no sooner crossed the Red Fork than the Lannisters fell upon him, the king's banner be damned, and Gregor Clegane took them in the rear as they tried to pull back across the Mummer's Ford. This Lord Derik and a few others may have escaped, no one is certain, but Ser Raymun was killed, and most of our men from Winterfell. Lord Tywin has closed off the kingsroad, it's said, and now he's marching north toward Harrenhal, burning as he goes.† Grim and grimmer, thought Catelyn. It was worse than she'd imagined. â€Å"You mean to meet him here?† she asked. â€Å"If he comes so far, but no one thinks he will,† Robb said. â€Å"I've sent word to Howland Reed, Father's old friend at Greywater Watch. If the Lannisters come up the Neck, the crannogmen will bleed them every step of the way, but Galbart Glover says Lord Tywin is too smart for that, and Roose Bolton agrees. He'll stay close to the Trident, they believe, taking the castles of the river lords one by one, until Riverrun stands alone. We need to march south to meet him.† The very idea of it chilled Catelyn to the bone. What chance would a fifteen-year-old boy have against seasoned battle commanders like Jaime and Tywin Lannister? â€Å"Is that wise? You are strongly placed here. It's said that the old Kings in the North could stand at Moat Cailin and throw back hosts ten times the size of their own.† â€Å"Yes, but our food and supplies are running low, and this is not land we can live off easily. We've been waiting for Lord Manderly, but now that his sons have joined us, we need to march.† She was hearing the lords bannermen speaking with her son's voice, she realized. Over the years, she had hosted many of them at Winterfell, and been welcomed with Ned to their own hearths and tables. She knew what sorts of men they were, each one. She wondered if Robb did. And yet there was sense in what they said. This host her son had assembled was not a standing army such as the Free Cities were accustomed to maintain, nor a force of guardsmen paid in coin. Most of them were smallfolk: crofters, fieldhands, fishermen, sheepherders, the sons of innkeeps and traders and tanners, leavened with a smattering of sellswords and freeriders hungry for plunder. When their lords called, they came . . . but not forever. â€Å"Marching is all very well,† she said to her son, â€Å"but where, and to what purpose? What do you mean to do?† Robb hesitated. â€Å"The Greatjon thinks we should take the battle to Lord Tywin and surprise him,† he said, â€Å"but the Glovers and the Karstarks feel we'd be wiser to go around his army and join up with Uncle Ser Edmure against the Kingslayer.† He ran his fingers through his shaggy mane of auburn hair, looking unhappy. â€Å"Though by the time we reach Riverrun . . . I'm not certain . . . â€Å" â€Å"Be certain,† Catelyn told her son, â€Å"or go home and take up that wooden sword again. You cannot afford to seem indecisive in front of men like Roose Bolton and Rickard Karstark. Make no mistake, Robb—these are your bannermen, not your friends. You named yourself battle commander. Command.† Her son looked at her, startled, as if he could not credit what he was hearing. â€Å"As you say, Mother.† â€Å"I'll ask you again. What do you mean to do?† Robb drew a map across the table, a ragged piece of old leather covered with lines of faded paint. One end curled up from being rolled; he weighed it down with his dagger. â€Å"Both plans have virtues, but . . . look, if we try to swing around Lord Tywin's host, we take the risk of being caught between him and the Kingslayer, and if we attack him . . . by all reports, he has more men than I do, and a lot more armored horse. The Greatjon says that won't matter if we catch him with his breeches down, but it seems to me that a man who has fought as many battles as Tywin Lannister won't be so easily surprised.† â€Å"Good,† she said. She could hear echoes of Ned in his voice, as he sat there, puzzling over the map. â€Å"Tell me more.† â€Å"I'd leave a small force here to hold Moat Cailin, archers mostly, and march the rest down the causeway,† he said, â€Å"but once we're below the Neck, I'd split our host in two. The foot can continue down the kingsroad, while our horsemen cross the Green Fork at the Twins.† He pointed. â€Å"When Lord Tywin gets word that we've come south, he'll march north to engage our main host, leaving our riders free to hurry down the west bank to Riverrun.† Robb sat back, not quite daring to smile, but pleased with himself and hungry for her praise. Catelyn frowned down at the map. â€Å"You'd put a river between the two parts of your army.† â€Å"And between Jaime and Lord Tywin,† he said eagerly. The smile came at last. â€Å"There's no crossing on the Green Fork above the ruby ford, where Robert won his crown. Not until the Twins, all the way up here, and Lord Frey controls that bridge. He's your father's bannerman, isn't that so?† The Late Lord Frey, Catelyn thought. â€Å"He is,† she admitted, â€Å"but my father has never trusted him. Nor should you.† â€Å"I won't,† Robb promised. â€Å"What do you think?† She was impressed despite herself. He looks like a Tully, she thought, yet he's still his father's son, and Ned taught him well. â€Å"Which force would you command?† â€Å"The horse,† he answered at once. Again like his father; Ned would always take the more dangerous task himself. â€Å"And the other?† â€Å"The Greatjon is always saying that we should smash Lord Tywin. I thought I'd give him the honor.† It was his first misstep, but how to make him see it without wounding his fledgling confidence? â€Å"Your father once told me that the Greatjon was as fearless as any man he had ever known.† Robb grinned. â€Å"Grey Wind ate two of his fingers, and he laughed about it. So you agree, then?† â€Å"Your father is not fearless,† Catelyn pointed out. â€Å"He is brave, but that is very different.† Her son considered that for a moment. â€Å"The eastern host will be all that stands between Lord Tywin and Winterfell,† he said thoughtfully. â€Å"Well, them and whatever few bowmen I leave here at the Moat. So I don't want someone fearless, do I?† â€Å"No. You want cold cunning, I should think, not courage.† â€Å"Roose Bolton,† Robb said at once. â€Å"That man scares me.† â€Å"Then let us pray he will scare Tywin Lannister as well.† Robb nodded and rolled up the map. â€Å"I'll give the commands, and assemble an escort to take you home to Winterfell.† Catelyn had fought to keep herself strong, for Ned's sake and for this stubborn brave son of theirs. She had put despair and fear aside, as if they were garments she did not choose to wear . . . but now she saw that she had donned them after all. â€Å"I am not going to Winterfell,† she heard herself say, surprised at the sudden rush of tears that blurred her vision. â€Å"My father may be dying behind the walls of Riverrun. My brother is surrounded by foes. I must go to them.†