Quotes from Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

The Metamorphosis is a famous novella by Franz Kafka. The work centers around a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning to realize hes turned into a bug. The absurdist story was considered to be part of the Dada art movement. The Metamorphosis Quotes When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin. He was lying on his back as hard as armor plate, and when he lifted his head a little, he saw his vaulted brown belly, sectioned by arch-shaped ribs, to whose dome the cover, about to slide off completely, could barely cling. His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, were waving helplessly before his eyes. (Chapter 1) Why was only Gregor condemned to work for a firm where at the slightest omission they immediately suspected the worst? Were all employees louts without exception? Wasnt there a single loyal, dedicated worker among them who, when he had not fully utilized a few hours of the morning for the firm, was driven half-mad by pangs of conscience and was actually unable to get out of bed? (Chapter 1) And now he could see him, standing closest to the door, his hand pressed over his open mouth, slowly backing away as if repulsed by an invisible, unrelenting force. His mother—in spite of the managers presence she stood with her hair still unbraided from the night, sticking out in all directions—first looked at his father with her hands clasped, then took two steps towards Gregor, and sank down in the midst of her skirt spreading out around her, her face completely hidden on her breast. With a hostile expression, his father clenched his fist, as if to drive Gregor back into his room, then looked uncertainly around the living room, shielded his eyes with his hands, and sobbed with heaves of his powerful chest. (Chapter 1) Those had been wonderful times, and they had never returned, at least not with the same glory, although later on Gregor earned enough money to meet the expenses of the entire family and actually did so. They had just gotten used to it, the family as well as Gregor, the money was received with thanks and given with pleasure. (Chapter 2) Hardly she entered the room than she would run straight to the window without taking time to close the door—though she was usually so careful to spare everyone the sight of Gregors room—then tear open the casements with eager hands, almost as if she were suffocating, and remain for a little while at the window even in the coldest weather, breathing deeply. With this racing and crashing, she frightened Gregor twice a day; the whole time he cowered under the couch, and yet he knew very well that she would certainly have spared him this if only she had found it possible to stand being in a room with him with the window closed. (Chapter 2) Into a room in which Gregor ruled the bare walls all alone, no human being beside Grete was ever likely to set foot. (Chapter 2) Gregors serious wound, from which he suffered for over a month—the apple remained imbedded in his flesh as a visible souvenir since no one dared to remove it—seemed to have reminded even his father that Gregor was a member of the family, in spite of his present pathetic and repulsive shape, who could not be treated as an enemy; that on the contrary, it was the commandment of family duty to swallow their disgust and endure him, endure him and nothing more. (Chapter 3) What the world demands of poor people they did to the utmost of their ability; his father brought breakfast for the minor officials at the bank, his mother sacrificed herself to the underwear of strangers, his sister ran back and forth behind the counter at the request of the customers; but for anything more than this they did not have the strength. (Chapter 3) I wont pronounce the name of my brother in front of this monster, and so all I say is: we have to try and get rid of it. Weve done everything humanly possible to take care of it and to put up with it; I dont think anyone can blame us in the least. (Grete, Chapter 3) Growing quieter and communicating almost unconsciously through glances, they thought that it would soon be time, too, to find her a good husband. And it was like a confirmation of their new dreams and good intentions when at the end of the ride their daughter got up first and stretched her young body. (Chapter 3)

Essay about Depression and Anxiety in Persons with...

Depression and Anxiety in Persons with Divorced Parents In the recent years, divorce rates have been continually trending upwards (Reiter, Hjorleifsson, Breidablik, Meland, 2013). It is factual that children who have parents that have divorced typically face more obstacles in numerous aspects of life than children who have married parents. Children that experience divorce have up to a 300% increase in probability to be impacted by issues in mental wellbeing than their peers without an incident of divorce in their parental structure (Shifflett Cummings, 1999). These issues can arise due to the various conflicts that may come into play throughout the divorce process, or even the mere experience of parental divorce for the child. The†¦show more content†¦Whether moderate or severe, divorce serves long-term contributions to depression and anxiety in children regardless of age (Chase-Lansdale, Cherlin, Kiernan, 1995). Mental and Emotional Adjustment in Divorce with Age Numerous factors come into play pertaining to the age of a child that undergoes the experience of parental divorce. As time passes, most research states that both anxiety and depression impact children of divorce rather steadily. However, even after adjusting, these emotional impacts are extremely consistent throughout the progression of life (Stà ¸rksen et al., 2005). Due to the inability to cognitively process and identify reasons that lead to divorce, kids around the pre-kindergarten age range are naà ¯ve to the situation. Around this age, children depend on parental support in daily life to carry out tasks. This alteration of family structure will impact smaller children more than older children, as the older child will have more outlets to channel their mental tension (Reiter et al., 2013). According to data, children may not adjust well emotionally and display bouts of anxiety, which may develop into depression at late r ages (Kline, Johnston, Tschann, 1991; Vousoura, Verdeli, Warner, Wickramaratne, Show MoreRelated Effects Of A Non-Traditional Family On Children Essay1735 Words   |  7 Pagesmold each person into who they eventually will become. The family is a guide for the success of a childs future. The stability of family creates a building block for how the child will progress throughout life. When parents divorce, the children are left with no stability causing them to lose basic concepts of childhood that may carry with them throughout life. Children of divorced parents have less success and happiness creating less productive citizens in our nation. Watching parents take a homeRead MoreEffects of a Non-Traditional Family on Children1745 Words   |  7 Pagesmold every person into who they eventually will become. The family is a guide for the success of a childs future. The stability of family creates a building block for how the child will progress throughout life. When parents divorce, the children are left with no stability causing them to lose basic concepts of childhood that may carry with them throughout life. Children of divorced parents have less success and happiness creating less productive citizens in our nation. Watching parents take a homeRead MoreEffects Of Parental Divorce On Adolescents1273 Words   |  6 Pagesaccounted for by parental psychological distress. The key objectives of this study include 1) the school problems associated with parental divorce on adolescents. 2) Symptoms, which will most probably be evident in such cases, which include anxiety and depression. 3) The subjective well/being of adolescents especially in regards to parental divorce 4) the distress occasioned by such occurrences on adolescents. 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The families of patients with PTSD have many obstacles to overcome and divorceRead MoreCauses of Teenage Depression1538 Words   |  7 Pagesbooklet or website or whatever they list depression among the side effects of cancer. But, in fact, depression is not a side effect of cancer. Depression is a side effect of death (â€Å"The Only Thing Worse†).† Occasional bad moods or acting out is to be expected, but depression is something different. Depression can destroy the very essence of a teenager’s personality, causing an overwhelming sense of sadness, despair, or anger (â€Å"A Guide for Parents†). The depression rate in the teen’s generation is risingRead MoreDivorce Is A Poor Attitude Toward Marriage Essay1458 Words   |  6 Pagespartner. Children should not also be reared in a violent relationship because that will inevitably affect their psychological wellbeing and corrupt them as future parents. Divorce s negative effects harm women more than men. Here are few psychological effects that women go through after divorce: guilt feeling, experiencing depression, anxiety etc. these are post-divorce effects that affect women psychologically. According to Cindy Holbrook, â€Å"The psychological effects of divorce on women are far-reachingRead MoreBrittney Pugh. Fowler. English 101. 3 March 2017. Is Marriage1381 Words   |  6 PagesBrittney Pugh Fowler English 101 3 March 2017 Is Marriage Good for Us? Not one person could say that they enjoy being alone 24/7 without having another individual to look to for support. According to Merriam-Webster, marriage is defined as â€Å"the state of being united as spouses in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.† Marriage, however, is more than just a piece of paper confirming that the â€Å"two have become one.† Marriage consists of trust, honesty, and commitment. Even thoughRead MoreDivorce : A Legal Issue982 Words   |  4 PagesDivorce legalize a state of discord between the couple, it leads to a release of the climate of dispute and creates new domestic structures of coexistence between parents and children. Recovering from a divorce is a separate process, not only for each individual but also for each sex. Women are twice as likely to initiate divorce because they are more likely to recognize problems in the marriage. Most divorcing couples expect to go through a difficult adjustment period immediate ly after the marriage

Healthy Aging Promotion in Australia

Question: Discuss about the Healthy Aging Promotion in Australia. Answer: Introduction: The essay is about the increase in proportion of ageing population in Australia and its influence on nursing practice. The statistics on ageing in Australia demonstrate how and why Australia's population is ageing. The data on the increase in life expectancy among Australian citizens in the past and their comparison with present statistics reveal how life expectancy has increased, and people are living for longer time. It analyzes the factors that have lead to ageing of population in Australia. It reveals that technological advancement in surgery technological interventions, improved housing, better workplace environment and improved sanitation has helped to reduce mortality rate and fertility rate. Besides this migration of baby boomers generation has further increased the expected duration of life of individuals. The number of people above 65 years of age is continuously increasing in Australia. The ultimate impact of this trend will be that demand for health and geriatric service will increase in the future. In the event of this change, it will be vital for nurses to understand the skills required for assessment of older people. Proper holistic care will be possible with effective assessment of older population. This essay further emphasized the role of strength based approach in nursing older adults and how this approach could help in improving health status in individual. According to Australian Government, people above 65 years are considered to be ageing. However, this figure differs for indigenous Australians because of their vulnerability to chronic disease. The ageing trend is seen mostly in the baby boomer generation. Baby boomers were born in 1947, and this group of people will move to the old old' category of elderly population-those aged above 85 years (Buckley et al., 2013). Today's older Australians are living healthier and longer than previous generations. In 1960 the life expectancy at birth was 74 years for girls and 67 for boys, but now girls are expected to live longer till 84 years and men till 80 years ("About ageing in Australia (AIHW)", 2016). In Australians, life expectancy for people above 64 years in 2012 was 84.1 for males and 87.4 for females (CDU Library eGateway Login, 2016). The number and proportion of older population in Australia are growing steadily. It is evident from the fact that about 15% of Australian were above th e age of 65 years in 2014 while in 1964 it was just 8%. The proportion of individuals above 65 years is expected to double in the next thirty years ("About ageing in Australia (AIHW)", 2016). The increase in ageing population has occurred because of changes in population's fertility, mortality and migration. The mortality rate has decreased because of invention of antibiotic, vaccination, improvement in housing. The major death due to childbirth has decreased significantly. The fertility rate has declined over the years leading to fewer birth every year and increase in proportion of aged people. Sanitation, workplace health and safety, and development in pharmacological interventions have helped in reducing death due to chronic disease. Technological advances in surgery, decrease in infection rate and better understanding about progression of illness has helped a lot in improving health status (Mathers et al., 2015). Secondly, stability in mortality rate is another reason for population ageing in Australia. Aged people are now living for a much longer age time compared to those in the past. Earlier 74% people expected to reach the age of 65 years and then this group expec ted to live till 79 years (CDU Library eGateway Login, 2016). The Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that about 23% people will be above 65 years, and 5% will be above 85 years by 2064 ("About ageing in Australia (AIHW)", 2016). Thirdly ageing population has increased due to the effect of migration. The influx of migratory people who are member of postwar Baby Boom cohort has further added to the ageing population Australia. They will continue to have an impact on the size of the population (Martel et al., 2013). The ultimate consequences of the ageing population will be that it will have an impact on health care services. The reliability of medical service will increase among the older population. The demand for living independently at home and managing things on their own will increase, and increase number of aged care service will be required (Lewin et al., 2014). Therefore the major impact will be on government health and welfare expenditure. They will have to invest more in aged care and disability services to provide residential care from their home or hostels. With the increase in ageing population, the healthcare staff will require holistic skills on assessment of older people. Often they confuse between normal changes associated with ageing and the disease process. Therefore better understanding is needed about the mechanism of ageing and symptoms of chronic diseases among this age group. The leading disease mostly prevalent in older age group is arthritis, dementia, cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory illness, diabetes, osteoporosis and many others. The assessment of older adults includes assessment in different levels of chronic disease care, acute care, and primary care. The major focus should be on person-centered care to understand patients perspective of problem. A health care staff must have the skills to identify patients strength and weakness to provide them appropriate care. They need to have clear ideas about ageing and disease process (Fillenbaum, 2013). For example, the symptoms of dementia and ageing are very similar. Often people ignore the symptoms of dementia as they consider it to be a normal ageing process. The assessment in older adults is complicated. The nurse must adopt holistic approach to care. In normal aging, mental flexibility is lost, and memory changes occur while in dementia, mental decline is severe enough to disrupt daily life activities. It affects the core functions of the brain like memory, language, visuospatial function and ability to focus on any task (Lpez-Otn et al., 2013). Health staff mu st have the skills to differentiate between dementia and normal aging process to plan effective intervention for aged population. They must have the clinical judgment to enable older adults to cope with their problems (Gold, 2012). Stress, loneliness, and negativity also affect older adults a lot. They also have obscure manifestations of disease which is difficult to detect and by the time the actual problem is detected, major complications take place in older people. The knowledge about cognitive assessment in older people is essential for nurses and health care staff. It would help clarify the presence of one or more symptoms of dementia or depression. Firstly close observation of patients is necessary to determine whether symptoms represent dementia, delirium or depression. Often this condition is caused by the effect of taking certain drugs. So medication review will be extremely important part of older people assessment. They complete health checkup should involve monitoring their nutritional status, signs of chronic diseases, vital signs observation, physical and neurological examination (Klepin et al., 2013). Assessment of older people will require physicians and nurses to have broad knowledge about physical, biological, psychosocial, functional and psychological assessment of individuals. The patient's social network, religious and occupational pursuits are also important. The restorative approach should be taken to maximize independence and functional ability of older adults. This can be achieved by the focus on rehabilitation that enhances older people's independence in daily activities. Before dealing with any patients, they must always be aware of their current health status (Zarit Zarit, 2012).The first level of assessment looks at functional activities, and patients care, the second level of assessment monitors patients independence in life activities like self-medications, routine activities, shopping and other. The final level of evaluation will look after advance activities of life such as occupational and recreational activities. The goal should be to maximize life potential, prevent disease symptoms and stress due to it and promote maintenance of health by improving personal hygiene, nutrition, mobility and motivation level in patients (Curtis et al., 2013). Strength-based approach to nursing older adult is a process that values the capacity, skills, knowledge and potential of individual. It encourages practice that focuses on people potential and strength rather than their limitations. In strength-based approaches, older adults strength are used as building blocks to plan major interventions. Secondly, it works to make sure that required assets and resources are available to enhance patient health outcome. It relies more on capacity and intention of older adults to recover. To implement this approach, nurses acknowledge contribution of patients and focuses on personal relationship. It is a method to invite meaningful participation, providing opportunities for skill-building and concentrating on potential of older adults (Moyle et al., 2014). Strength based approach is beneficial in helping older adult do things themselves and improving retention in treatment regimen. It also develops social networks and enhances well being of person. With the increase in older adults populations, self-management of disease will be essential to resolve their problems and deliver long-term therapeutic care. Deployment of personal strengths aids recovery and empower patients self-esteem and motivation in life. It will also minimize the burden of health services as it focuses on prevention of disease and independence (Hirst et al., 2013). As reported above, Australian demographics showed gradual increase in geriatric population in Australia. The consequences are more demand for health care and residential care to treat older population. Disability and mental health disorders will be a major factor influencing aged person quality of life. Different strength based assessment tool useful in nursing older adults are the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale (BERS) and Care Receiver Efficacy scale (CRES). The BERS scale is used to measure strength of older adults and rate their improvement with time (Wetherell et al., 2013). The CRES tool assesses the self-efficacy in older patients and it is structured to improve their self-efficacy in receiving care. In this case, nurse may monitor their ability to cope with diseases and tries to know their perception of independence (Alves et al., 2016). For example strength based approach can be used to improve cognitive impairment in older adults with dementia. It may involve sessions on interacting with patients and teaching them ways to improve their cognitive skills. Greater ability to cope with illness and managing medications themselves will increase satisfaction level of older people and promote speedy recovery. For persons coping with dementia, nurses can work to teach them new skills and enhance their existing strengths. The programs will include a guided session to educate patient about dementia and aid in recognizing emotions and behaviors (Geldmacher Kerwin, 2013). A solution focused therapy could be done on patients to identify the issues faced by older populations and guide them to manage situation. It starts by asking relevant question like problems that trouble them in life and then tries to identify the patient response to understand their strength and weakness. This therapy helps to separate problems from patients and aids them in following a solution focused pathway on improving health outcome. This approach is used in mental health setting to guide patients to deal with challenges they face due to cognitive and mental disorders. It may help in identifying depressive symptoms in patients and engage them in activities that relax and relieves them from their illness (Gingerich Peterson, 2013). From the essay of ageing in Australia, it can be concluded that appropriate preparedness of health care department is required to tackle and treat older population in the futures. The demographics and statistics on ageing population into Australia bring into focus the alarming rate at which Australia is moving towards an ageing population. The increase in Proportion of an ageing population will mean introducing greater competency and frequency in health care access. Geriatric care would be essential then to tackle health issues of ageing population. The assessments of older people demonstrated what are the skills required by a nurse to undergo complete assessment. It stresses on the need to differentiate between normal ageing process and chronic disease process. Certain symptoms of disease like dementia, delirium and ageing are often confused by nurses. So having accurate competent in assessing all necessary details of patients helps in planning effective intervention plans. Finally, the essay demonstrated how the use of strength-based approach could be beneficial in nursing older adults and increase independence in their life. Reference Alves, S., Teixeira, L., Azevedo, M. J., Duarte, M., Pal, C. (2016). Effectiveness of a psychoeducational programme for informal caregivers of older adults.Scandinavian journal of caring sciences,30(1), 65-73. Buckley, J., Tucker, G., Hugo, G., Wittert, G., Adams, R. J., Wilson, D. H. (2013). The Australian baby boomer populationFactors influencing changes to health-related quality of life over time.Journal of aging and health,25(1), 29-55. Curtis, J. R., Back, A. L., Ford, D. W., Downey, L., Shannon, S. E., Doorenbos, A. Z., ... Arnold, R. W. (2013). Effect of communication skills training for residents and nurse practitioners on quality of communication with patients with serious illness: a randomized trial.Jama,310(21), 2271-2281. Fillenbaum, G. G. (2013).Multidimensional functional assessment of older adults: The Duke older Americans resources and services procedures. Psychology Press. Geldmacher, D. S., Kerwin, D. R. (2013). Practical diagnosis and management of dementia due to Alzheimers disease in the primary care setting: an evidence-based approach.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord,15(4), 1-14. Gingerich, W. J., Peterson, L. T. (2013). Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy A Systematic Qualitative Review of Controlled Outcome Studies.Research on Social Work Practice,23(3), 266-283. Gold, D. A. (2012). An examination of instrumental activities of daily living assessment in older adults and mild cognitive impairment.Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology,34(1), 11-34. Hirst, S. P., Lane, A., Stares, R. (2013). Health promotion with older adults experiencing mental health challenges: A literature review of strength-based approaches.Clinical Gerontologist,36(4), 329-355. Klepin, H. D., Geiger, A. M., Tooze, J. A., Kritchevsky, S. B., Williamson, J. D., Pardee, T. S., ... Powell, B. L. (2013). Geriatric assessment predicts survival for older adults receiving induction chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia.Blood,121(21), 4287-4294. Lewin, G., Allan, J., Patterson, C., Knuiman, M., Boldy, D., Hendrie, D. (2014). A comparison of the homeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ care and healthcare service use and costs of older Australians randomised to receive a restorative or a conventional homeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ care service.Health social care in the community,22(3), 328-336. Lpez-Otn, C., Blasco, M. A., Partridge, L., Serrano, M., Kroemer, G. (2013). The hallmarks of aging.Cell,153(6), 1194-1217. Martel, C., Carson, D., Taylor, A. (2013). Changing patterns of migration to Australia's Northern Territory: Evidence of new forms of escalator migration to frontier regions?.Migration Letters,10(1), 101. Mathers, C. D., Stevens, G. A., Boerma, T., White, R. A., Tobias, M. I. (2015). Causes of international increases in older age life expectancy.The Lancet,385(9967), 540-548. Moyle, W., Parker, D., Bramble, M. (2014).Care of Older Adults: A Strengths-Based Approach. Cambridge University Press. Wetherell, J. L., Petkus, A. J., White, K. S., Nguyen, H., Kornblith, S., Andreescu, C., ... Lenze, E. J. (2013). Antidepressant medication augmented with cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder in older adults.American Journal of Psychiatry,170(7), 782-789. Zarit, S. H., Zarit, J. M. (2012).Mental disorders in older adults: Fundamentals of assessment and treatment. Guilford Press. About ageing in Australia (AIHW). (2016).Aihw.gov.au. Retrieved 18 August 2016, from https://www.aihw.gov.au/ageing/about/ CDU Library eGateway Login. (2016).Search.informit.com.au.ezproxy.cdu.edu.au. Retrieved 18 August 2016, https://search.informit.com.au.ezproxy.cdu.edu.au/fullText;dn=395422637064551;res=IELAPA

Oil and Gas ManagementBusiness Economics

Question: How oil prices affect the AD or AS of an economy? Answer: Introduction: The oil industry had always been a subject of booms and busts but recently it has witnessed a new downturn. There are several companies that had previously earned record profits but they are eventually forced to decommission rigs and sharply decrease their investment in the exploration and production. In this regard, there was a loss of jobs by more than 100,000 of the oil workers and there was a reduction in the manufactures of drilling and production equipment. The international benchmark for the Brent crude was around $55 per barrel and that of the American benchmark is at $49 per barrel. Since 2010, the Brent crude price was as high as $155 per barrel and it remained high till the mid June 2014, thereafter there was a sharp decline in the oil price which was more than half of the previous oil price of about $49 per barrel. The drivers of oil price increase include the oversupply of oil by the US and strong US dollar (BBC News, 2015). There was significant impact by the US negotia tion for the possible nuclear deal with Tehran which would again increase the oil exports by the Iran into the global oil market. This caused oversupply of oil in the market and lowered the oil price. This paper helps to understand the causes and impact of the sharp decline in the global oil price. In this context, the impact of oil price drop on the Chinese economy is also evaluated with the help of the Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply curve (The Economist, 2015). Drivers of sharp decline in Global Oil Price: The reasons for the sharp fall in the oil price are primarily two fold. To understand the economics of the oil market, it is important on to derive the demand and supply and the market structure of the global oil industry. Initially, the global oil market depicted and followed the characteristics of oligopoly but with the increase in the oil producing countries the competition increased and the oil market started depicting the characteristics of the competitive market. Some of the features include that there are many number of buyers and sellers of oil, the sellers of the oil market are price takers, there is complete freedom of entry and exit in and out of the market and the sellers maximizing their profit. The demand and the supply curves of the oil are inelastic in nature (Hartley, 2015). This is because large changes in the price of oil will have little impact on the quantity of oil demanded and quantity of oil supplied. The diagram is attached in appendix 1 (Smith, Round and Per loff, 2014). The two primary reasons behind the oil price fall is the weak demand by the emerging markets like China which lowered the demand for oil and automatically driving the situation to excess supply of oil and this caused the sharp fall in the price of oil. This phenomenon is explained with the help of diagram attached in the appendix 2. The next reason behind the fall in the global oil price is the OPECs refusal to decrease the oil production. OPEC contributes around 60% of the worlds total supply of oil which means that OPEC has substantial power to fluctuate the price of oil by increasing and decreasing the oil supply (Imf.org, 2015). OPEC is the oil cartel consisting of 12 oil producing countries which held a meeting where countries like Venezuela and Iran proposed on lowering the oil production so that the oil price remains stable in the global market but Saudi Arabia which is the second largest oil producer refused to cut down the production so that the price of oil is lowered. This is shown by the diagram which is attached in the appendix 3. The sharp decline in the global oil piece has significant impact on the oil exporters and oil importers which means that there are winners and losers in this circumstance (Liu et al., 2014). The fall in the oil price positively impacted the oil importers as they have to pay less for the same amount of oil purchase and thus, their disposable income has increased. They can now purchase more of other goods and increase their consumption. In this case, India had been implementing disinflationary pressure and derived positive effects from the oil price fall. It is evident from the survey by IMF that if there is 30% fall in the oil price then there is 0.8% hike in the economic growth in these countries (Forbes, 2015). Thus, it can be said that the oil importing countries are winners (Salisu, 2014). In the case of the oil exporting countries, the low oil price implies that there is a reduction in their oil revenue which will pose as a constraint in the economic growth and development of the se countries. For example, Venezuela had to decrease 20% of its government expenditure to combat the budget deficit which can be attributed to the fall in the oil price. Thus, the oil exporting counties are losers in such circumstances. Impact of fall in global oil price on the oil importers: The fall in the global oil price will positively impact the oil importing counties as they can now have to pay less for the same level of purchase of oil. This enables the consumers of the oil importing countries to increase their personal disposable income. This helps the consumers to demand and consume more commodities than before. This will increase the aggregate demand of the importing countries. The second impact that affects the oil importing countries is the decrease in the cost of production of the final goods which will increase the profit and thereby the investment (Silverstein, 2015). The third significant impact is on the inflation rate. The price of oil has the ability to affect the price of other commodities and thus, create a situation of low inflation which lowers the real interest rate. The oil importing countries have the ability to reduce the energy subsidies with the advent of low oil prices. Since the oil importing countries increases the consumption within the e conomy, this will increase the aggregate demand of the countries and shift the curve to the right. This is shown by the diagram attached in the appendix 4. Impact of global oil price on China and the aggregate demand: The dramatic changes in the global oil market had impacted the Chinese Economy substantially. The low oil price has positive impacted the Chinese economy which can be explained by the decrease in the imports of the oil in dollar amounts have increase the current account surpluses. In 2014 China had imported 6.2 million barrels per day whereas in 2015 China imported 6.5 million barrels per day of crude oil (Fang and You, 2014). The next impact is on the economic growth of China. The low oil prices have the potentiality to augment economic growth in the economy by increasing the GDP of the country which is shown by the chart attached in the appendix 5. The oil price decline will support the government of China to reform the tax and fiscal systems of China (Financial Times, 2015). There is also a significant negative impact which is the continued trend of falling price of oil will influence the price of other commodities and can cause deflation whereas there will be significant negative impact on the investment in domestic energy and oil and gas production which will lower the contribution of these sectors to the GDP of the country (Basnet, Vatsa and Sharma, 2014). The concept that the low oil price will increase the real income of the consumers of China is directed towards the aggregate demand. As the real income of the consumers has increased, it implies that the consumers can purchase more of other goods and increase the consumption expenditure of the economy. Since the aggregate demand consists of consumption expenditure which when increased will increase the aggregate demand and shift the curve to the right which will increase the real GDP of the Chinese economy (Wang and Zhang, 2014). This phenomenon is shown by the diagram attached in the appendix 6. Conclusion: The global oil price is always experiencing booms and busts in the past and recently there was a sharp decline in the global oil price which impacted both the oil importers and exporters. There are mainly two reasons behind the fall in oil supply which are the weak demand for oil from the emerging economies like India and China and the next is the refusal of OPEC to reduce the oil production. Both the situation caused an excess supply within the oil market which lowered the oil price to equilibrate the market. In this paper, the focus is on the oil importing countries and the evaluation of the impact of the fall in the global oil price. In this context the third largest importer of Oil which is China is considered (Zhang and Chen, 2014). There was significant positive impact of the fall in the global oil price on Chinese economy like economic growth, inflation rate and the reform in the tax and the fiscal structure but there is also a significant negative impact on the economy throug h the threat of deflation (Zhao et al., 2014). References Basnet, H., Vatsa, P. and Sharma, S. (2014). Common Trends and Common Cycles in Oil Price and Real Exchange Rate.Global Economy Journal, 14(2). BBC News, (2015).Falling oil prices: Who are the winners and losers? - BBC News. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-29643612 [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015]. Fang, C. and You, S. (2014). The impact of oil price shocks on the large emerging countries' stock prices: Evidence from China, India and Russia.International Review of Economics Finance, 29, pp.330-338. Financial Times, (2015).China price controls blunt impact of rising dollar and falling oil - FT.com. [online] Available at: https://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/9efc5b66-9711-11e4-845a-00144feabdc0,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F9efc5b66-9711-11e4-845a-00144feabdc0.html%3Fsiteedition%3Dintlsiteedition=intl_i_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.in%2F#axzz3ghphkZNW [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015]. Forbes, (2015).How Will The 2014 Drop In Oil Prices Affect The World Economy And Geopolitics?. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2015/01/06/how-will-the-2014-drop-in-oil-prices-affect-the-world-economy-and-geopolitics/ [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015]. Hartley, J. (2015).The Economic Impact Of Falling Oil Prices: 'Expansionary Disinflation'. [online] Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonhartley/2015/01/12/the-economic-impact-of-declining-oil-prices-expansionary-disinflation/ [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015]. Imf.org, (2015).IMF Survey : Global Implications of Lower Oil Prices. [online] Available at: https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2015/int071415a.htm [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015]. Liu, Q., Shi, K., Wu, Z. and Xu, J. (2014). Oil price stabilization and global welfare.Journal of Development Economics, 111, pp.246-260. Salisu, A. (2014). Modelling oil price volatility before, during and after the global financial crisis.OPEC Energy Review, 38(4), pp.469-495. Silverstein, K. (2015).How Falling Oil Prices Will Impact Economy--And The Keystone Pipeline Debate. [online] Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2015/01/09/falling-oil-prices-impact-economy-and-the-keystone-pipeline/ [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015]. Smith, R., Round, D. and Perloff, J. (2014).Microeconomics. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Australia. The Economist, (2015).Everything you want to know about falling oil prices. [online] Available at: https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/03/economist-explains-14 [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015]. Wang, X. and Zhang, C. (2014). The impacts of global oil price shocks on ChinaÃâ€" ³s fundamental industries.Energy Policy, 68, pp.394-402. Zhang, C. and Chen, X. (2014). The impact of global oil price shocks on Chinas bulk commodity markets and fundamental industries.Energy Policy, 66, pp.32-41. Zhao, L., Zhang, X., Wang, S. and Xu, S. (2014). The effects of oil price shocks on output and inflation in China.Energy Economics.

Water Polo a Sport Like Any Other free essay sample

Under pressure, the clock is ticking and they either need to pass the ball or shoot. No one is open so they push off of their defender, pull up above the water with the ball in their hand. They look at the goalie, and fake that they are going to throw the ball with a few quick flicks of their wrists and their poker faces on, finally, they extend their arm back like a boomerang, within a blink of an eye, they hurl the ball with all their force and THUD! That’s the sound of the ball hitting the back of the goal at approximately fifty miles per hour. Football, Basketball, and Baseball are the most popular sports in America. Water polo is a combination of swimming, basketball, and football; but played in water, yet water polo is not among the most respected. In fact, people forget about it all together. We will write a custom essay sample on Water Polo: a Sport Like Any Other or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Land sports are considered the toughest and most physically demanding sports, but why not water polo? Water polo is just as grueling and aggressive maybe even more, so why is it the most underrated sport? It has all of the added elements in most popular land sports, with an x factor because you also have to be able to keep yourself afloat all while navigating yourself and the ball through the water. Anyone who thinks this is inferior to land sports is clearly fooling themselves. From afar, the players seem to drift effortlessly through the water, and this could be why people don’t think twice about water polo; but when you move up close you can hear the grunts and gasps of exertion. You see waves of water moving aggressively crashing back and forth. As players rise from under the water they reveal scrapes and cuts all over their arms and at least a few players may be sporting impressive black eyes, and the players view these injuries as their badge of courage. It doesn’t look like kids playing in the pool, it looks like a battle field, with each player doing everything they can to survive their opponent’s attempt to drown them. You see that after every goal,missed shot, there is a turnover, and that means a sprint back down to the other side of the pool. After 4 quarters of this, even the most fit of players are exhausted. Three times a week, I would wake-up at 5 in the morning and hop into a pool and work out until my legs could not hold me above the water anymore. Then, I had to swim a mile and a half up and down the pool, while trying to steer the ball in front of me. We practiced some techniques such as dribbling and shooting, it definitely wasn’t as easy as it looked. I was only allowed to touch the ball with one hand at a time. The ball was wet and slippery making the techniques I was learning very difficult to perform. When shooting, I couldn’t touch the ground with my feet which made it more difficult to aim and throw hard. I am constantly treading water, rising up into the air to shoot and block shots. So you can image how upset I get when this sport doesn’t get the same respect as other sports do. This sport is like most land sports, but in water; which in my book makes it a lot more exciting and fun to watch. You will be on the edge of your seats from start to finish. This sport is fast pace and unpredictable. Anything can happen. You watch each player each player working together as a team to get that ball past the goalie. You hear the players screaming at each other, calling out for the ball, moving around, trying to get pass the other player. Like basketball, you see each player constantly under pressure from the ticking of the shot clock, and the reliance of their teammates and coach on making the right move throughout the game. This game is one that you need to be there physically as well as mentally. It is like all other sports a game where work and determination is needed as well as fitness and athletic ability.

Functional hallux limitus Essays - Podiatry, Foot, Arthropathies

Functional hallux limitus Essays - Podiatry, Foot, Arthropathies Functional hallux limitus Functional hallux limitus is generally defined as a deformity of the first metatarsophalangeal joint that acts to restrict the range of movement of dorsiflexion during the propulsive phase of gait. (Chapman C.,1997) Different authors refine this basic definition further, some adding a further qualification that it is defined by a reduction of the range of dorsiflexion to less than 65 degrees. (Camasta C A.,1996). If the range is reduced to less than 5 degrees then the term Hallux rigidus is generally applied and is a subdivision of the clinical spectrum of functional hallux limitus. For the sake of completeness we should record that the normal range is generally 65-75 degrees of dorsiflexion. We should also define the difference between the structural and functional varieties of this condition. The functional variety of the condition is diagnosed only if the restriction in the range of movement is apparent during weightbearing (and by definition is not present during passive, non-weightbearing movement). The structural variety exhibits a restriction of movement in both eventualities. (Dananberg H J et al 1996), The assessment and diagnosis of functional hallux limitus is made either on clinical examination and history or with the assistance of formal gait assessment. As far as the latter is concerned, it is manifest as a biomechanical disability that has the predisposition to result in a comparatively ineffective propulsive mechanism (of varying degrees of severity) during the toe-off phase of the gait cycle. It can be accompanied by forefoot metatarsalgia together with other abnormalities of gait pattern (Townley and Taranow, 1994) The definition of a successful treatment is :To eliminate pain, restore motion, and maintain the strength and stability of the great toe, but must also reconstitute the normal distribution of weightbearing stresses sustained by the transverse metatarsophalangeal arch of the forefoot. (Townley and Taranow, 1994, p.575). Aetiology of the condition This is, to some extent a matter of controversy, as there are thought to be a number of independent but not mutually exclusive theories on the issue. (Laing P.,1995). Many authorities agree that the basic pathology stems from first ray hypermobility which, in itself is secondary to abnormal pronation. (Jahss M.,1982) In lay terms this means that the ray is moving when it should be stable. The fundamental issue here is one of abnormal pronation. During propulsion the subtalar joint is pronated and the midtarsal joint is mobile when it should be locked. This allows the first metatarsal to be hypermobile.. this results in the first metatarsal dorsiflexing when it should be plantarflexing. The less the ability of the first metatarsal to plantarflex, the less becomes the ability of the first metatarsophalangeal joint to move and the greater becomes the need for compensatory mechanisms to come into play. How the condition affects the gait cycle The restriction of flexion in the movement of the of the first metatarsophalangeal joint manifests itself in a number of ways that can be either directly attributable to the condition or also compensatory mechanisms that allow for normal propulsive gait to be accomplished. At the most basic level, the condition affects the ability of the foot to move fully over the hallux when the forefoot is planted on the ground. The degrees of impairment are variable (right up to hallux rigidus) and tend to progress with both age and length of time that the condition has been present. (Root M L et al 1987), Typical signs associated with functional hallux limitus can be pronation of the feet while standing and walking. They will have varying degrees of reduced propulsivity from their gait. They can have either an abductory twist during the gait cycle or can demonstrate an abnormally abducted angle of gait and associated delay in the heel off segment of the gait cycle. (Light M R.,1996) The early stages of the condition (typically in the younger patient) can go unnoticed and undiagnosed but as the condition becomes more advanced and obvious, compensatory changes in the gait cycle can become more apparent and pronounced. Progressive hypopropulsion, varying degrees of pelvic tilt and rounded shoulders are the more progressive accompaniments of the severe condition as the body attempts to compensate for the mechanical disadvantage of the condition. (Dananberg. HJ 1993) The use of orthoses for functional hallux limitus Because we have presented evidence

Review of the movie Waiting for Superman Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Of the Waiting for Superman - Movie Review Example The film was an exhaustive documentary about how America’s public school has degraded which in part can be attributed to policy maker’s neglect and the teacher’s recalcitrant stance against any progressive suggestion that could improve America’s public school system as it now lags behind in terms of STEM performance (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) among developed countries. This sorry state of America’s educational system is narrated against the backdrop of America’s policy of No Child Left Behind which was supposed to provide quality education and opportunity to every child in America. To highlight the disconnect between policy and actual sorry state reality of America’s educational system, the story followed the story of five children as they attempt to get a decent education from good schools – which are the charter and magnet schools. These charter schools provide quality education with the right assistance for the learner only that it is not provided to every child in America. In fact, it has to be won through a lottery which in effect, the film depicted that the children’s future in America, especially those who are underprivilidged, rest not on the putative policy of No Child Left Behind but rather on chance depending on the bingo caller’s reel or randomized computer program which made the whole situation not only disgusting but sad. (Prisco). This is the situation where Geoffrey Canada and Michele A. Rhee came where they have to put up against reactionary system and hostile union to do what is right for America’s public school system, at least in their respective jurisdictions, to improve them. Mr. Canada was an untiring educational reformer who was not discouraged by the surrounding of Harlem to put up a school that provides quality education and sends students into college. It was difficult but through persistence and standing against all odds, Mr. Canada was able to overcome funding difficulties to make the Harlen Children’s Zone school operational. Ms. Rhee equally did a daunting task being the Chancellor of Washington D.C. public school system where she vehemently challenged the current status quo of America’s educational system. Doing the right thing with her job meant making unpopular decisions and standing up against the deeply entrenched teacher’s union. In carrying out these tough decision, she has to make a very unpopular decision of closing ineffective schools who are described in the film as â€Å"academic sinkholes† and â€Å"drop out factories† (Waiting for Superman). This was to give way to performing schools to have more resources and provide quality education for children. She also has to stand up against the union who would vilify her because the teacher’s union exalt teachers no matter how ineffectual nor incompetent they are to be heroes and therefore they should not be fired even if they underperform. Ms. Rhee was just a single person but she had to put against an organized union that made up virtually impossible to fire a teacher who had gained tenure after two years of teaching. This system of making it impossible to fire incompetent teachers after gaining tenure is one of the reasons why America’s public school system is deteriorating. If the education system has to improve, this meant standing up against them. They are so protective of their tenure even if it contributed to the deterioration of the public school system that when a proposal was offerred to exchange tenure for merit that would enable teacher’s higher pay, the Washington Teachers’

The Rejection of the Conflict Thesis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Rejection of the Conflict Thesis - Essay Example The two men provided evidence of their theory through various examples of when scientists clashed with Catholic authorities or Christendom. Interestingly enough, it has been discovered that most of the evidence presented in these two books was either inaccurate or downright falsified in an effort to prove the theory. For this reason, and the fact that other historical evidence points against this theory, most (if not all) of the scientific community today has just about rejected this Thesis. Holding that cases where religion and science are directly in opposition are rare, and the exception rather than the rule, most of the scientific community considers the Conflict Thesis to be inaccurate. While accepting that there may be a few cases where religion and science may be opposed, this paper contends that there is no intrinsic conflict between the two, thus the rejection of the Conflict Thesis by the scientific community is all but natural.... Written by Andrew Dickson White, who also happens to be one of the co-founders of Cornell University, the book asserted that no matter how honorable and good the â€Å"intention† of religion (or religiously affiliated people), their interference with science always gave a wicked result. White, while supporting the thesis put forward by Draper, put forward a seemingly scholarly piece of work, which seemed properly documented with scholarly looking footnotes. This Theory can be termed to be the reason behind the negative image of religion laymen as well as scientists hold, even to this day. The Theory, though based on false assumptions and outright fabrications, seems to oversimplify the relationship religion has with science. Religion and science have had a complicated relationship that can in no way be termed one-dimensional. In fact, in most cases religion has fostered science and scientific knowledge. Though at times religion or religious authorities have been reluctant to e mbrace science in its entirety, however, it is not true to think that this was the norm. Moreover, agreeing that there have been times when religion and science have come head to head, the conflict between the two has been short lived. Such a conflict is more of an exception than a norm, and the contention of a constant conflict between the two is false and oft exaggerated (take for example the falsified story of Christians proclaiming the earth to be flat, which unfortunately is still thought to be true by many). To say that religion is the cause for the slow growth of science (of for its suppression) is to ignore other factors that have played a part in this regard.

Gentlemans Agreement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Gentlemans Agreement - Essay Example For example, if an employee at a company says they will get you a job and you have nothing to worry about, this is an example of a gentleman's agreement. However if they are unable to get you the job then you have no legal recourse" (Free Dictionary, 2008, pg. 1). The Law Encyclopedia (2008, pg. 1) says that "Although agreements between individuals often create legally binding commitments, instances may arise in which mutual promises yield no legally enforceable agreement. Sometimes called "gentlemen's agreements," parties may honor them because moral obligations compel observance or because future relations will be more difficult if the present arrangement is broken. International organizations likewise may depend on such informal arrangements so as to maintain comity among members" and that "Occasionally the enabling treaties that create an international organization will leave some procedural or voting matter unresolved. Rather than amend the formal document, which is usually a difficult task, an informal working agreement will develop to resolve a particular problem.

Hanoi: History and Culture

Hanoi: History and Culture HANOI A, Introduction about Hanoi Chapter 1: History 1, Modern History As it had under Chinese rule, Vietnamese nationalism simmered quietly throughout the country, waiting for an opportunity. Young Nguyen Tat Thanh, better known by his alias Ho Chi Minh, thought that the end of WWI was a good opening, so he tried to present a plan for an independent Vietnam to US president Woodrow Wilson at the 1919 Versailles Peace Conference. Evidently, self-determination was for Europeans alone. When France fell to Nazi Germany in 1940, the Vichy government allowed the Japanese to put troops in Vietnam. The United States knew enough not to count on any French resistance, instead opting to pump arms and funding into the communist-dominated Viet Minh forces. Our leader, Ho Chi Minh, graciously accepted and began harassing the Japanese mercilessly. After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Uncle Ho called for a general uprising known as the August Revolution, and on September 2, 1945, Ho Chi Minh and his National Liberation Committee (with US officials at his side) declared the Democratic Republic of Vietnam independent at a rally in Ba Dinh Square. The French were not pleased, and fought the Viet Minh tooth and nail for eight years, despite a massive military aid package from the USA and formal recognition by both China and the USSR. On May 7, 1954, the French threw in the towel and surrendered North Vietnam to the Viet Minh. Fiercely anti-communist leader Ngo Dinh Diem was elected (more or less; a lot of dead people voted in that election) president of South Vietnam. Soon afterward, the USA closed its consulate in Hanoi. In 1959, Southern cadres asked that the North Vietnamese join them in armed struggle against the Diem regime. Hanoi responded by agreeing to help the National Liberation Front (NLF), also known as the Viet Cong, who were mainly communist South Vietnamese resisters with little training. Without French troops, however, the South Vietnamese army was incredibly weak, and the Western world looked on nervously as Diem began losing control of the situation. The USA sent 2000 military advisers to South Vietnam in 1961, the number swelling to 23,000 by 1964. By then, Hanoi was no longer helping the NLF out with guns and training; they were sending trained North Vietnamese troops across the border. Despite small victories, Hanois war didnt seem winnable until the 1968 Tet Offensive, when Hanoi gained the upper hand. The USA continued to throw warm bodies to the tune of 3.14 million men and women at the increasingly bloody conflict until the 1973 cease-fire. The USA evacuated almost all troops out of Vietnam in return for Hanois commitment to keep communism above the 17th parallel. They also cut off most financial and other aid to South Vietnam. By 1975, the southern half of the country was r unning on fumes. North Vietnam launched a massive attack on the South on January 1975; Saigon surrendered in April. No one, least of all the leadership in Hanoi, was prepared for reunification. At least two million Vietnamese had died in the conflict and scars ran deep; the environment and economy were shambles. The violence wasnt over, either: In 1979, answering for Vietnams 1978 invasion of Cambodia, China attacked Hanoi. The Chinese were repelled within 17 brutal days. The 1980s witnessed a devastating famine that left Hanoi with rice shortages and strict rations, a continuing guerrilla war with the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and the opening of European communism. Surprisingly, Vietnam finished the decade in much better shape than it started. In February 1990, the government called for more openness and criticism, but was unprepared for the seething discontent behind the floodgates. Hanoi backtracked, but began allowing more economic openness while keeping government structure (and media access) in a lockbox. In 1992 Vietnam signed a peace treaty with Cambodia, and in 1994, the USA lifted economic sanctions on the country. The two former enemies now maintain diplomatic relations. 2, Recent History As the economy continues to open to foreign investment and private ownership, Hanois leadership remains in the hands of hard-line communists. The economys command structure insulated Vietnam from the worst of the Asian economic crisis (though its currency was devalued twice); the crisis actually increased confidence in the Communist Party. The growing private business sector in the city makes it obvious; however, that capitalism is making sturdy inroads into Vietnam. While the government is eyeing Most Favored Nation status with the US and, eventually, membership of the WTO, its human rights record is bound to be a stumbling block. 3, Pre 20th Century History Human habitation of Northern Vietnam goes back about 500,000 years according to archaeological evidence. The site of present-day Hanoi has been populated for at least 10,000 years. These first inhabitants formed a feudally organized society that first relied on hunting, fishing and gathering, later developing animal husbandry and agriculture. These tribes developed in relative isolation until about 2000 years ago. The Han Chinese set up a military garrison near present-day Hanoi in 214 BC, using it as a base of operations that would eventually control most of modern Vietnam. The next 1000 years of Chinese rule introduced important technological innovations to the Vietnamese, including ploughs and irrigation systems. But rebellion simmered in every town, and the millennium was punctuated by revolution and resistance. This tradition of rebellion shaped Vietnams national character. Vietnamese rebels saw their chance when Chinas Tang dynasty collapsed. In 938, revolutionary leader Ngo Quyen gave the Chinese a sound whipping and established an independent Vietnamese state, but after his death the region fell into anarchy. In 980, Vietnam became a semi-independent client state of China, stabilizing the situation all for the cost of a biannual tribute. For the next 400 years, the site of present-day Hanoi served as the administrative seat for all of Vietnam. The Grand Royal enclosure, now the citys Old Quarter, was constructed and the nations first university, the Temple of Literature, was founded during the first century of home rule. Attacks by the Khmers, Chinese and even Kublai Khan were repelled by national forces. All this was done with little Chinese interference. The Chinese never forgot their plum province, however, and in 1400 they captured Hanoi again. National hero Le Lois guerrilla tactics and peasant support eventually reclaimed Vietnamese independenc e. A period of nationalism and renewed interest in Confucianism followed a reaction to increased discontent with Europeans, their values and their missionaries. The missionaries didnt take the hint, however, and in 1858 several were killed. The French had an excuse to invade, and by 1867 South Vietnam was a French colony. Hanoi was captured in 1874. The impotent imperial court was allowed to remain, indulging itself in various coups and capers, but the French controlled the nation. Chapter 2: Geography and climate Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. It is located at 20Â °25 latitude North and 105Â °30 longitude East in the plains of North Vietnam. There are many rivers flowing eastwards to the sea. This is a convenient transport cluster for all the Northern provinces. The climate is tropical and affected by monsoons. There are four seasons in Hanoi, there are: Spring; it starts from February to April; average temperature is from 15Â ° to 20Â °C (59Â ° -68Â ° F), drizzle is frequent with wet weather. This is the season of the Lunar New Year holiday and many folk festivals. Summer; it starts from May to August; average temperature is from 30Â ° to 36Â ° C (86Â ° -97Â ° F). There is much rain and sunshine. Autumn; it starts from September to November; average temperature is 25Â ° to 36Â ° C (75Â ° 97Â °F). It is cool, clear and dry. This is the best season in Hanoi, but it is short, lasting no more than 50-60 days. Winter; it starts from December to January; the lowest temperature is from 10Â ° to 15Â °C (48Â ° -59 Â °F). The weather is cloudy and wet. The monsoons c ause many phases of cold. The annual average rainfall in Hanoi is 1800 mm. In the past, many rivers flowed through Hanoi, but they changed their currents from time to time, therefore the ground is mainly deposited by alluvium and there are many lakes. These rivers and lakes give Hanoi a natural beauty. In the flood season, the water level of the largest rivers flowing through Hanoi (the Red River, the Duong, Nhue, Day Rivers) rises very high. During ancient times, the Vietnamese people have built thousands of kilometers of dykes by the river banks. Nowadays, in the city, some sections of the ancient dykes have become traffic roads Chapter 3: Administrative zones At the present time, Hanoi comprises 7 inner districts and 5 suburban districts. Nevertheless, districts may be increased in number as the capital is developing fast together with the country. The 7 inner districts of Hanoi are: Hoan Kiem district: This is a trade, cultural and administrative centre. The Municipal Peoples Committee, the Central Bank and important state offices are located in this district. It also includes theatres, railway stations, markets and busy commercial streets. There are two bridges link Hoan Kiem district with the other side of the Red River. Hoan Kiem Lake in the centre of the district is considered as the heart of the capital. Its ancient streets still keep deep imprints of Hanois millenary history; therefore they should be protected as historical relics. The Hoan Kiem lake description will be explain further in next chapter. Ba Dinh district: Ba Dinh district is located at South of West Lake, a zone where many highest state bodies and diplomatic office s are located. The Mausoleum and Museum of Ho Chi Minh and the Hanoi old citadel are also located in this district. The Western part of this district is being reconstructed through large projects. Hai Ba Trung district is situated of Hoan Kiem Lake including trade and administrative zones. It is developing southwards, covering some industrial and population localities between the National Road 1 A and the Red river. Dong Da district. This is a Southwest expanded part of the city including many common living quarters, colleges, hospitals and factories built in the 1960s and 1970s. Large transport routes and multi-storey buildings are now under construction in this district in the Southern part of Dong Da lake. Recently, the districts of Tay Ho, Thanh Xuan and Cau Giay have been formed on the territory of the old districts and precincts to satisfy the development demands of the city. In these new districts, the construction tempo has increased on the basis of the better planning. The suburban districts of Tu Liem and Thanh Tri are located in the South of the city; Dong Anh and Soc Son districts are in the North; and Gia Lam districts are in the East. Formerly, these districts were agricultural areas, providing the capital with food and vegetables. At present, new factories, industrial and export processing zones are being established in this district. http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/learn_about_vietnam/geography/ha_noi/ Chapter 4: Hanois people There was a long period in the northern part of the country of relative isolation from the west. Thus Vietnamese in Hanoi and its surrounding areas tend to be quite curious about westerners. Travelers should expect to be watched and commented on, and to be asked questions considered somewhat intrusive by western standards (how old are you, are you married, how much money do you make, why do you have those children, etc.). None of this is meant to cause offense; it is just a simple curiosity. Vietnamese live much more out in their neighborhoods than do typical westerners, who live and work in closed-up buildings and travel everywhere by car, and are avid observers of (and commentators on) life around them. Hanoians are overwhelmingly honest and good-natured people. There is no animosity toward Americans left over from the war. People tend to be forward-looking and prefer not to dwell on the past; they are pragmatic, down-to-earth, and extremely hard-working, particularly women. Adults almost universally dote on children. Travelers can expect to have their babies taken away to be held, and their children of all ages entertained in shops, restaurants, and hotels. Merchants and peddlers do see western travelers as great sources of income and relatively easy marks. They bargain aggressively and overcharge without mercy (but will scrupulously count change when the bargain is struck). Small children selling postcards and shoe shining services can be quite ruthless. People asking for hand-outs are very persistent and at times unpleasant. Travelers who walk purposefully, say no firmly to unwanted offers, and make minimal eye contact are fare best. * * * B. Special features in Hanoi Chapter 1: Hanoi 36 streets 1, History of Hanois Old quarter As the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam, Hanois Old Quarter has a history that spans 2,000 years and represents the eternal soul of the city. Located between the Lake of the Restored Sword, the Long Bien Bridge, a former city rampart, and a citadel wall, the Old Quarter started as a snake and alligator-infested swamp. It later evolved into a cluster of villages made up of houses on stilts, and was unified by Chinese administrators who built ramparts around their headquarters. The area was named Dominated Annam or Protected South by the Chinese. The Old Quarter began to acquire its reputation as a crafts area when the Vietnamese attained independence in the 11th century and King Ly Thai To built his palace there. In the early 13th century, the collection of tiny workshop villages which clustered around the palace walls evolved into craft cooperatives, or guilds. Skilled craftsmen migrated to the Quarter, and artisan guilds were formed by craftsmen originating from the same village and performing similar services. Members of the guilds worked and lived together, creating a cooperative system for transporting merchandise to the designated streets in the business quarter. Because inhabitants of each street came from the same village, streets developed a homogeneous look. Commoners homes evolved out of market stalls, before streets were formed. Because storekeepers were taxed according to the width of their storefront, storage and living space moved to the rear of the buildings. Consequently, the long and narrow buildings were called tube houses. Typical measurements for such houses are 3 meters wide by 60 meters long. The Old Quarter has a rich religious heritage. When the craftsmen moved from outlying villages into the capital, they brought with them their religious practices. They transferred their temples, pagodas and communal houses to their new location. Each guild has one or two religious structures and honors its own patron saint or founder. Therefore, on each street in the Old Quarter there is at least one temple. Now, many of the old temples in the Old Quarter have been transformed into shops and living quarters, but some of the old buildings religious roots can still be recognized by the architecture of their roofs. Although the old section of Hanoi is often called the 36 Old Streets, there are more than 36 actual streets. Some researchers believe that the number 36 came from the 15th century when there might have been 36 guild locations, which were workshop areas, not streets. When streets were later developed, the guild names were applied to the streets. Others attribute the 36 to a more abstract concept. The number nine in Asia represents the concept of plenty. Nine times the four directions makes 36, which simply means many. There are now more than 70 streets in the area. Some streets have achieved fame by their inclusion in popular guidebooks. Han Gai Street offers silk clothing ready-made and tailored, embroidery, and silver products. Hang Quat, the street that formerly sold silk and feather fans, now stuns the visitor by its brilliantly colored funeral and festival flags and religious objects and clothing. To Thinh Street connects the above two and is still the wood turners street. Hang Ma glimmers with shiny paper products, such as gift wrappings, wedding decorations and miniature paper objects to burn for the dead. Lan Ong Street is a sensual delight of textures and smells emanating from the sacks of herbal medicinal products: leaves, roots, barks, and powders In the early 13th century, the collection of tiny workshop villages which clustered around the palace walls evolved into craft cooperatives, or guilds. The Old Quarterbegan to acquire its reputation as a crafts area when the Vietnamese attained independence in the 11th century and King Ly Thai To built his palace there. In the early 13th century, the collection of tiny workshop villages which clustered around the palace walls evolved into craft cooperatives, or guilds. Skilled craftsmen migrated to the Quarter, and artisan guilds were formed by craftsmen originating from the same village and performing similar services. Members of the guilds worked and lived together, creating a cooperative system for transporting merchandise to the designated streets in the business quarter. Because inhabitants of each street came from the same village, streets developed a homogeneous look. Commoners homes evolved out of market stalls, before streets were formed. Because storekeepers were taxed according to the width of their storefront, storage and living space moved to the rear of the buildings. Consequently, the long and narrow buildings were called tube houses. Typical measurements for such houses are 3 meters wide by 60 meters long. The Old Quarter has a rich religious heritage. When the craftsmen moved from outlying villages into the capital, they brought with them their religious practices. They transferred their temples, pagodas and communal houses to their new location. Each guild has one or two religious structures and honors its own patron saint or founder. Therefore, on each street in the Old Quarter there is at least one temple. Now, many of the old temples in the Old Quarter have been transformed into shops and living quarters, but some of the old buildings religious roots can still be recognized by the architecture of their roofs. Although the old section of Hanoi is often called the 36 Old Streets, there are more than 36 actual streets. Some researchers believe that the number 36 came from the 15th century when there might have been 36 guild locations, which were workshop areas, not streets. When streets were later developed, the guild names were applied to the streets. Others attribute the 36 to a more abstract concept. The number nine in Asia represents the concept of plenty. Nine times the four directions makes 36, which simply means many. There are now more than 70 streets in the area. Some streets have achieved fame by their inclusion in popular guidebooks. Han Gai Street offers silk clothing ready-made and tailored, embroidery, and silver products. Hang Quat, the street that formerly sold silk and feather fans, now stuns the visitor by its brilliantly colored funeral and festival flags and religious objects and clothing. To Thinh Street connects the above two and is still the wood turners street. Hang Ma glimmers with shiny paper products, such as gift wrappings, wedding decorations and miniature paper objects to burn for the dead. Lan Ong Street is a sensual delight of textures and smells emanating from the sacks of herbal medicinal products: leaves, roots, barks, and powders. 2, Some streets in Old Quarter -Hang Bac Street A majority of the street names in the Old Quarter start with the word hang. Hang means merchandise or shop. The guild streets were named for their product, service or location. Hang Bac, one of the oldest streets in Vietnam, dates from at least the 13th century. Bac means silver, and appropriately, this street started as a silver ingot factory under the reign of Le Thanh Tong (1469-1497). Village people, called the Trau Khe silver casters, were brought into the capital to cast silver bars and coins. After a ceremony to transfer their craft from their village of Trau Khe to Hanoi, they set up two temples to honor the founders of their craft. At one communal house, the silver was molten and poured into molds. At the other communal house, the molds were further processed for delivery to the Prime Minister. The crafters went to great lengths to keep their methods secret to avoid counterfeit products. At the turn of the 18th century, the street took on more varied functions. In addition to the casting of silver ingots, the street attracted more jewelry makers and money exchangers. Money exchangers thrived, since in the old days, paper money was not used. Instead, currency consisted of bronze and zinc coins and silver ingots. When merchants needed a large amount of money for business transactions, they would exchange the heavy metal bars on Hang Bac. During the French time it was called Exchange Street. Although paper currency was later used, the word for it included the word bac. Hang Bac also has jewelers of different types: engravers, smelters, polishers, and gold-leaf makers. The first jewelry makers were the Dong Cac guild, which settled during the Le dynasty (1428-1788). They founded a temple dedicated to three brothers who learned their art in China in the 6th century, and who are considered the patron saints of the Vietnamese jewelry making profession. There are several famous buildings on this street. In the communal house on Hang Bac, there is a stone stele, built in 1783, telling about a Mandarin who forcibly took over the communal house. The locals took him to court and won back their building. The Dung Tho Temple is dedicated to Chu Bi, a Taoist deity. At the end of the French colonial period, this temple had been named Truong Ca, after a person who watched over the temple and served the best noodle soup. One building on this street is the pride of contemporary history-the Chuong Vang (Golden Bell) Theater, which still hosts traditional Vietnamese theater performances. The former traditional-venue theater, the To Nhu (Quang Lac) Theater built in the 1920s, also is on this street but has been transformed into apartments. -Hang Be Street In the mid-19th century, the guild of bamboo raft makers was located on this street outside the My Loc gate, one of the many sturdy gates to the city. The cai mang raft consisted of 12 to 15 large bamboo poles lashed together by strips of green bamboo bark. Their anterior was slightly raised by heating the wood, and the aft was rigged with three quadrangular sails made of coarse linen dyed with extracts of sweet potato skins. Bamboo rafts were sensible for Hanois shallow rivers, lakes and swamps, which can not provide solid anchorage or natural shelter from storms. The flat design better weathered the seasonal typhoons that lash the northern part of Vietnam, and is better adapted to coastal and river fishing. The bamboo poles from which the rafts were constructed were sold one block east on Hang Tre Street. -Cau Go Street Meaning Wooden Bridge, Cau Go Street is located one block north of the Lake of the Restored Sword, and was in fact the location of a wooden bridge. About 150 years ago, the bridge crossed a thin stream of water connecting the Thai Cuc Lake with the Lake of the Restored Sword. Dyers from the neighboring Silk Street set out their silk to dry or bleached their fabric beside the bridge. Under the French occupation, the lake and stream were filled as health measures and to increase buildable land. The little wooden bridge became a regular street. On the edge of the lake, women in wide brimmed hats once sold armfuls of flowers to the French for a few coins. Today a flower market exists where the Cau Go alley intersects with the main street. Other historical sites on Cau Go are the secret headquarters and hiding place of the 1930-45 Love the Country resistance movement. Cau Gotoday is a commercial street specializing in womens accessories. -Hang Dao Street This street is one of Vietnams oldest streets. It serves as a main axis running from north to south, cutting the Old Quarter in half. In the French Colonial time, Hang Dao Street was a center for the trading of silk products. On the first and sixth days of the lunar month, there were fairs for the sale of silk items. Shops also sold other types of fabric such as gauze, brocade, crepe, and muslin. Almost all the non-silk products were white. In the beginning of the 15th century, this street was the location of the silk dyer guild from the Hai Hung Province, which specialized in a deep pink dye. Dao, the name of the street, refers to the pink of apricot blossoms, which are symbolic of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The demand for this special color was so high that the fabric had to be dyed at other locations as well. Hang Thiec is the street of tinsmiths. The craftsmen originally produced small tin cone-shaped tips which were used to preserve the shape of the traditional conical hats By the 18th century, the dye colors diversified. In the 18th-century work Notes About the Capital, the author wrote that Hang Dao guild does dying work. It dyes red as the color of blood, black as Chinese ink, and other beautiful colors. In the 19th century, Hang Dao was lined by about 100 houses, of which only 10 or so were constructed of bricks. The rest were of thatch. On the side of the street alongside the now filled-in Hang Dao Lake, the foundations of the houses have visibly sunk lower than the road. By the turn of this century, Indian textile merchants opened shops for trading silk and wool products imported from the West. This street now specializes in ready-made clothing. -Dong Xuan Street/ Market Street This street originally belonged to two villages-the even numbered houses were occupied by the Nhiem Trung village, and the odd numbered houses were occupied by the Hau Tuc village. The Dong Xuan market, Vietnams oldest and largest market, occupies half of the street. River networks formed the economic hub of Hanoi by providing a system of waterways which fed the city and markets. Located at the confluence of the To Lich and Red Rivers, the Dong Xuan market was once one of the busiest urban areas in Southeast Asia. The French required merchants to bring their goods inside the fenced perimeter of the market in order to facilitate tax collections. When the number of merchants swelled, the market was enlarged. In 1889, a structure was built over it, and five gates were built leading to it. Each of the five market gates was used only for specified goods. In 1992, the market was renovated and a new facade erected. -Hang Mam Street Hang Mamis the union of two old streets: an eastern offshoot called Hang Trung and the original Hang Mam. The name is derived from the various kinds of mam, or fish sauces, that are produced and sold here, as well as other sea products. The street was originally on the riverside, close to the days catch. Nuoc mam, or fish sauce, is made from fish that are too small to be sold individually which are placed in clay vats with water and salt. Boiled water is poured over the fish and weights are placed on top of the mixture to compress it. The concoction distills for days, and the result is a clear amber juice that is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. With aging, the fierce ammoniac odors of the fish become mellow, and like brandy, the flavor improves. The first pressing, which is the clearest and purest, is called nuoc mam nhi, or prime. The sauce was stored in barrels made on adjacent Hang Thung Street. In the 1940s, new specialties appeared on the street. A small ceramics industry appeared along with those of memorial stone etching, coffin, and tombstone manufacturers. -Ma May Street This street also is a union of two old streets. Hang May sold rattan products, and Hang Ma sold sacred joss (paper replicas of money, clothing, even stereo sets) to burn for the dead. Ma is burned in front of the altar of ancestors accompanied by prayers. Around the turn of the century, the streets became one: Ma May. On the edge of the lake, women in wide brimmed hats once sold armfuls of flowers to the French for a few coins. In the French time, this street was called Black Flag Street because the soldier Luu Vinh Phuc had his headquarters here. Luu was the leader of the Black Flags, a bandit unit operating around Hanoi in the late 19th century. They were essentially pirates who made a living robbing villagers and merchants. In the 1880s, the Black Flags cooperated with the Vietnamese Imperial Forces to resist the French who were attempting to gain military control of Hanoi. In the middle of the street is the Huong Tuong temple, established in 1450, which honors Nguyen Trung Ngan (1289-1370), a governor of Thang Long, the former name of Hanoi. -Hang Thiec Street Hang Thiecis the street of tinsmiths. The craftsmen originally produced small tin cone-shaped tips which were used to preserve the shape of the traditional conical hats. A neighboring street, Hang Non, made the hats, and both streets comprised the Yen No hamlet. Hang Thiec Street also produced oil lamps, candle sticks, and opium boxes. Tin shops sold mirrors, which they still do today, along with sheet metal, zinc, and glass. The street echoes busily with the clanging of hammers against the sheet metal. Workers spread out on the sidewalk shaping metal storage boxes and other objects to custom order. -Hang Thung Street In the old days, on this block inside the Dong Yen gate, barrels were manufactured. The barrels were used for storing and carrying water and fish sauce. The communal house and the temple of the barrel makers guild is located at 22 Hang Thung, but is hidden behind newer buildings. The street is shaded by the leaves of the xoan tree which has a fluffy cream colored cluster flower and bright red berries. The tree has various English names: Margosa, Bead, or China Berry tree. In May, the tiny flowers fall to the ground like yellow confetti. The furrowed bark is often scraped off by local residents, who dry and boil it to make a medicinal infusion as a vermifuge. The Old Quarter is a precious legacy of Hanois ancient past, but the area is challenged by rapid changes. Today, handicraft production is increasingly replaced by restaurants, repair shops, and mini hotels. Historic buildings have become mass living spaces and schools as the population increases. Craft workers now constitute nine percent of the neighborhood. Traders make up 40 percent.With the new economic policies, a dramatic building boom has begun, threatening the charm of the district. Local, national, and international agencies are now formulating plans to preserve the historic ambiance of the Old Quarter. Meaning of the 36 streets (just old name but in fact more than there) Street Name: Description: Bat Dan Wooden Bowls Bat Su China Bowls Cha Ca Roasted Fish Chan Cam String Instruments Cho Gao Rice Market Gia Ngu Fishermen Hai Tuong Sandals Hang Bac Silversmiths Hang Be Rafts Hang Bo Basket Hang Bong Cotton Hang Buom Sails Hang But Brushes Hang Ca Fish Hang Can Scales Hang Chai Bottles Hang Chi Threads Hang Chieu Mats Hang Chinh Jars Hang Cot Bamboo Lattices Hang Da Leather Hang Dao (Silk) Dyer Hang Dau Bean

First time :: essays research papers

The first time event that I remember best is my first time in Blue Water. It was a life altering event for me, and I am thankful for it. I forgot what the most important thing in life was, and I became a bad person and I did bad things, in turn ended me up in jail. I have to admit it at first I was scared so bad I was sick to my stomach. I remember the thoughts that were going through my head. I kept thinking about all the movies I have seen about jail, that just made it worse, and it really bothered me that I would have to get a strip search.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Once I was there, it had a smell that I could never forget; it was a sterile smell but at the same time grungy. I had to strip in front of a guard. He took my clothes and gave me burgundy shirt and sweat pants. After your search they take you to the doctors to look at you and see if you have any problems. Then a guard will take you to the admission house, it was called Trent House. Trent has 18 hour lock up and half an hour outside time. When you are in that house it has very limited privileges, also it has big, thick metal doors that have huge locks on them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When I walked into the range I was scared, but I was trying to look like I wasn’t. When I got out of my room, I had one guy come up and tell me to fight someone, and told me if I didn’t that him and three other guys would jump me. The way people handle things in there is extremely different then the way people do in society. You have to fight for your respect, and that’s all that counts. I found myself not as afraid once you have some respect. Its not exactly like real jail, people don’t get raped or killed, but in a way it is in the fact fighting solves all problems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When I was transferred to Georgian House I got that feeling in my stomach again, because Georgian held people that have worse crimes and have been there longer. It was the exact same, fight and people won’t bother you. We showered alone, and we only got a little paper cup of shampoo and a little bar of soap.

My Elder Sister who is My Personal Leader Essay

When I started this class on Leadership I used my own Elder Sister as an example of a leader because when I think of some of the positive characteristics of organizational leaders my elder sister keeps coming to my mind. She is brave and courageous facing challenges most would have given up on. She is giving and caring, encouraging and supportive. She wants only the best for our family, helping us face life by teaching us skills and lessons. My Elder sister listened deeply to our joys, struggles, and achievements- never judging, simply being there. We could count on my elder sister to pull our family together, to connect us. She planned and organized incredible events and let us all shine in the process. My Elder sister was my tutor and the first leader in my life. The space she carved out for us in the world is what gave us room to grow. the reason of that in our family we are five sisters and one brother and our grandparents were staying with us that’s why some of our relati ves always present in our house. So it’s very difficult for my mother to maintain that entire situation without a strong helping hand and that hand name is my elder sister. She always plays a supportive role for my mother. My father was a businessman and also a too busy person who had no specific time for his family and children. Since my mother worked hard all the time and never really had time for us, she used to leave us with my elder sister and she looked after us like her child. Basically when my sister was 15, my mother trusted her enough to take care of us and make decision for us and she achieves this trust with doing her responsibility properly. When we were sad as little kids we could run to my elder sister and it would be all better. As we are growing up and in our teen years we still need someone to talk to sometimes and we need to listen. She always listens and gives us good advice. My elder sister knows us better than anyone. She knows how to make us cry, how to make us happy. She knows all of our strengths and weaknesses. My elder sister is courageous and knows how to take control. She can make things fun but at the same time gets the job done. She knows what has to be done and gets it done on time. My elder sister is like the leader of my family because when things need to get done she takes control and gets them done. People need to learn to make the right decisions. That is one of the most important qualities a leader can have. As her sister, I would like to tell everyone that my elder sister taught us how to make the right decisions. My elder sister appears to always make the right decisions. As a teenager, it might not appear like she is right, but when looking back on the situation I realize that the right decision was made. She is open to ideas of other people she will always listen to our ideas and considers them when making decisions. A leader is someone who shows admirable qualities that people would want to follow. A leader can also be a person that is the head of some organization. My personal leaders are my elder sister. Some people might question that, but my elder sister has all the qualities of a leader. Some of the qualities she have are that she know when to say no, they always seem to make the right decisions, As I read through my notes which I got in this leadership class, I wasn’t surprised to find that my reflections revealed that my Elder sister is a natural born leader. Although she has never been a CEO of a company, she possesses many of the most significant qualities inherent in many of our best. She has been fair and even-handed, positive and persuasive, hard working and determined. But most of all, she knew how to draw out the best in each one of her family members. My elder sister could always see the shining ray of hope in all situations. When I would talk to her about personal or professional challenges she would say that life has it’s â€Å"ups and the downs†, and that the most important thing to find the balance and inner-peace within. I feel blessed to have inherited some of my Elder sister’s innate sense of optimism, sensibility and courage. It is clear to me that create a confidant that I am today, mostly due to the positive beliefs that were inspired upon me as a young sister. Words of wisdom from my Elder sister that I always carry with me are: â€Å"This too shall pass†. As leaders, my Elder sister’s advice implies that we must learn how to â€Å"let go† and trust. This means we can’t control everything around us. It means asking others for help. It means not giving up. From this place of trust, humility and hope, we can honestly discover how to serve one another. And so, as I move forward in life, I can only hope that I have received even a small portion of her elegance, wisdom and self-respect as I proceed with my life. At last I want to Thank my Elder sister for leading the way†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦

What do Women Writers Want from an Editor

What do Women Writers Want from an Editor What do Women Writers Want from an Editor? Laurie Garrison, Ph.D.  is the director of Women Writers School, a blog and course provider that works mainly with female authors. She has recently self-published a manifesto for her business, Women Writers in the Twenty-First Century. Previously, she was a university lecturer, an internationally renown critic of Victorian literature and the author of the book,  Science, Sexuality and Sensation Novels: Pleasures of the Senses.The online world is bursting with free advice for writers. Everywhere I look I see articles geared toward helping the writer shape her emails, pitches, proposals, synopses and, above all, her manuscripts into something an agent, editor or publisher wants to see. When the time comes to approach our target reader (whether they're an agent, editor or publisher), we must tread very carefully indeed. We must make no approach until we have completed the necessary research on titles, authors, style and interests (not our own but those of our target reader).When we make that first contact, we must be concise and get straight to the point. Our reader has very little time to spare. We must list our achievements with confidence but not boast too much, lest we irritate our reader before the attachment is even opened. We must choose the perfect comparison titles, but only those that strongly resonate with our intended reader, and we must get this right or a door will slam in our faces. We must be keen but not so keen that we ever chase for a response because, unless successful, a response is just too much to expect.Publishing Advice and Women’s Experience: Is Change Afoot?This detail-oriented, anxiety-ridden, almost desperate determination to shape oneself into whatever it is the recipient on the other end of the email journey wants is familiar to a lot of women, not just in publishing but in other competitive professional situations as well. The question of whether a woman should mold herself to fit the world around her (what I’d cal l the 'Lean In' approach) or whether it is the outside world that needs to change (what I’d call the 'Lean Out' approach) is a subject of much debate in modern feminism. Clearly, the majority of us in publishing are taking the 'Lean In' approach, not least because sometimes we just want to get published and will have to reform the world at another time.However, we are operating at a time where things are changing quickly. I wonder if a changed world, where agents, editors, and publishers cater more to the needs of writers, might not be so far away after all. In recent years, the rise of ebooks, the social web, and self-publishing have turned traditional publishing on its head. Dedicated independent authors can now sell as many books as authors from the Big Five. In the new status quo, it matters much, much more what the audience thinks than what the agent, editor or publisher thinks. "In the new status quo, what readers think matters MUCH more than what agents or publishers do" Add to this that women are experiencing a disproportionate amount of success in self-publishing, and I would very much like to ask, will there be a time where agents, publishers, and editors must cater not just to writers, but to women writers? What would the profession look like if it was shaped to suit the needs of female writers rather than the schedules and budgets of the publishing industry? For the sake of discussion, I propose that it would look very different from the world currently represented on publishing advice websites. That is where a writer is encouraged to mold every detail of herself and her work to fit what a hypothetical agent, editor or publisher is looking for -   whether the idea of that agent, editor or publisher is realistic or not. "What would publishing look like if it was shaped to suit the needs of female writers?" A New Kind of Writer-Editor RelationshipI’m going to propose a more equal relationship between writer and editor. It's a kind of relationship that represents what I think a woman wants from an editor. I can’t speak for all women, but I do speak from experience. I’m basing my description on many years of teaching mainly female students, supervising the work of postgraduate students (again, mostly female), working as an editor, teaming up with colleagues to act as co-editors and working with commissioning editors, peer reviewers and journal editors on my personal list of publications. I’m using ‘editor’ as a catch-all to mean anyone who takes part in a developmental editing process, so I think some or all of this could apply to agents, editors, and publishers.I believe there are three qualities to writer-editor relationships that work best for women. There needs to be a sense of shared responsibility for the quality of the work (as opposed to a top-down or competitive atmosphere), lots of personal interaction in the form of frequent communication, and the development of a long-term relationship where trust and familiarity can develop. Here’s what I think this would look like in practice.1. The process of editing and revising a manuscript would be a  team effortIn my best editing relationships, the editor reads the writer’s work with the intention of making the manuscript better, not with prescriptive solutions but with questions and pointers where the writing has become loose. After all, it should be the writer’s responsibility to come up with the solution. This type of back and forth between editor and writer is especially crucial when complex ideas are involved: spelling them out enough to engage the reader engages while avoiding the pitfall of being too pedantic. In my experience, this kind of collaboration works best through conversations, not email or comments on manuscripts. If there are multip le ways of improving particular portions of a text, a conversation is often the most successful means of working this out. "Editing often works best through conversations, not emails or comments on manuscripts." 2. The editor would be able to judge the right time to empower the writer to take charge of editorial decision-makingEvery manuscript is different, and every subject is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for any editing challenge. If the editor is acting as an expert on structure and style, then the writer should be the expert on content and whether or not proposed changes work with the content. I have done developmental editing on manuscripts about subjects as disparate as eighteenth-century phrenology and the US-UK special relationship in James Bond novels. My role as editor in these situations has been to think creatively about how that unique subject would be best presented to an audience, bearing in mind that the final say has to go to the author as the person who knows more about the subject than anyone else.Very often, editorial decisions will depend on subject matter expertise. At these times, pointing out where there are decisions to be made is a better course of action than trying to work out a solution.3. There would be a balance of positive and negative criticismThe process of editing focuses so much on negative criticism (with the best of intentions) that it is easy to forget that a writer also needs to know what works well in a manuscript and which are the stand-out points that should be kept at all costs. There have been times when I have got the distinct feeling that my editor was desperately searching for corrections to make. I mean, for example, lots of unnecessary fiddling with word choice when the edit was supposed to be a big picture view of the manuscript. Sometimes a manuscript doesn’t need much work, but an editor wants to feel like they’re doing their job. Not just in these situations, but in any editing task, we should seek to fill up at least some of the space with positive criticism because it can be equally helpful for honing technique and developing confidence. "The editing process often focuses too much on negative criticism" #amediting w. @lauriebg_ 4. There would be regular, enjoyable communication between editor and writerI have had a number of editing relationships where I really looked forward to the conversations I would have with my editor or with the writer. But I have had an equal amount where there was no possibility of having any conversation at all and I had to make my best guess at exactly what the editor was asking me to do when the comments were unclear. I just don’t think an editor-writer relationship can be completely successful if there is no possibility for conversations between the editor and writer, at the very least to get clarification on some of the comments. When communication has been at its best in my relationships of this type, discussing the manuscript is more of a brainstorming activity than an exercise of passing information back and forth.5. Both editor and writer would improve their own writing as a result of the writer-editor relationshipIn my best writer-editor relationships, the process of working so closely with another writer results in a transformation in my own writing in future manuscripts as well as the one at hand, regardless of which role I’m taking. This is what happens when you spend a large amount of time working on someone else’s writing, which can be a bit of an exercise in being in another person’s head. If you find someone you can work with on this level, hang on to that relationship, but also keep looking for others. Multiple relationships like this can open up all sorts of possibilities for experimenting with new styles and approaches. There are so many different ways a writer’s work can transform over the years of a career, and I think editing relationships have everything to do with this.This is what I think women want from an editor. I would love for this piece to start some discussion. Is this the way you imagine an ideal writer-editor relationship working, either for men or women? Or is there another way that works best for you? Leave me a comment in the box below, and I'll do my best to answer.