Writing about Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Writing about Literature - Essay Example It allows exploration of diverse innate capabilities of an individual such as to sympathize, investigate, laugh, learn/absorb and wonder (Clugston, 2010). It lets a person reflect on the importance of life’s common human experiences by highlighting common place practices and recognizing shared human interests and emotions. It helps in linking feeling to thinking and safeguarding a vision of the ideal, thus, enabling a connection between intellect and imagination (Clugston, 2010). It restores the past and serves as compendium of history since writers usually incorporate the traditions, norms, societal conditions and complexities of their society in their writings (Clugston, 2010). This helps future generations to realize the kind of situations that existed. For instance, war time literature informs modern-day readers about the negativities of war and this is why wars are avoided now. Most importantly, it simulates human imagination, since writers can easily let readers see things clearly by using a variety of visual elements such as factual descriptions, exquisite details, expressions and word pics. This course will develop the skills of understanding human nature and emotions, addressing the innate urge to seek ideals and recognizing the most effective way of sharing personal experiences and impressions with the world. It can develop the skill of making a fair and worthy comparison between the real and imaginative world. It will encourage the ability of using critically important elements like metaphor, simile and use of persona in order to formulate an effective piece of literature (Clugston, 2010). Literature writers aim to help the reader create an intentional imaginative connection with the writer’s world, which can only be achieved through these elements. It will help in differentiating between the writing styles of various literary geniuses. Lastly, it will help in exploring the indispensable but

Benefits of immigration Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Benefits of immigration - Research Paper Example ds that may lead to influx of population, additional spending on the welfare in order to provide them housing, employment, education and other basic facilities. Coppel, Dumont and Visco (7) mentioned that United States is the major country that is receiving immigrants in huge numbers among the OECD countries. Most of migration policies accept immigrants in form of visitors, family reunion allowing the family members to stay permanently, asylum seekers; skill based migration and on the basis of naturalization rules. The policies defined by the nations not only allow migration of people but also benefits the host country economically and culturally which is analyzed in the present paper. Most of the policy makers debate upon the role of immigration that can ease the economic and budgetary impacts of declining and ageing OECD populations and addressing skilled labor shortages in various sectors (Coppel, Dumont and Visco, 4). Most of the nations would benefit from the immigration as it will lead to inflow of people into the market benefiting the native born population. Immigrants will buy goods and services from the native industries resulting in increased profit to the native firms and people (Novelguide.com, 14). According to recent report by Dr. Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, it is found that comprehensive immigration reform will enable future flow of legal workers resulting in large economic benefit of $1.5 trillion in US GDP over the next 10 years (Immigration Policy Center, 1).The benefits of additional GDP growth would be spread throughout the US economy and higher earning power of newly legalized workers will result in the increase of tax revenues of $4.5 to 5.4 billion and will stimulate the economy giving rise to services in banking sector, housing and business. United Kingdom, too, witnessed growth in its GDP due to immigration and allowing the employers greater choice in a wider labour market and to find better match between vacancies and available labour (UK

Directing Hamlet Essay Example for Free

Directing Hamlet Essay If I were to have the pleasure of directing Hamlet I would first think about how and where the scene would be set. I would have the scene set in the suburbs of Italy where the gangsters are, because the portrayal of gangster Italy, on television (which the audience may be familiar with) is like the situation in Hamlet. Where revenge must be taken by the son, also upholding the family honour and such family situations. Also the portrayal of Italians is that they are very religious and that they tend to be Catholics, so the religious aspect of this scene (trying to pray and having the need to be forgiven by god) would fit in with my version and Shakespeares. I would have this scene set in a Roman Catholic Church to support the fact that Claudius wishes to pray here and that he is Catholic. I would like the church to echo the voices to show that Claudius heart must be empty for him to have committed this evil crime, so all he hears is the voices of his head, telling him what he thinks is the right thing to do, for example to pray for forgiveness. However his heart would be telling him to give up the things that he killed for, which Claudius himself mentions, since I am still possessd of those effects for which I did the murder. I would like the lighting to be an orangey afternoon colour, like when the sun sets. I imagine churches to be empty around early sunset time and if Claudius really felt guilty he would not want people o see that he is unable to pray I would not have any sound effects as the church would echo and I would like the audience to focus on what the actors were saying. Also silence between lines tends to create a sense of atmosphere. It would make the audience feel tense as though something was about to happen. I would like Claudius to look into the mirror when he is talking to himself throughout most of the scene. Except when it is inappropriate, for instance when he goes to pray. I would like the audience to feel more relaxed by this, as Claudius does not seem to be very emotionally at thins. I would like the audience to feel quite angry with Claudius. I would like them to feel this as they can see that he is not mentally disturbed by the goings on. However when Hamlet goes to talk to himself I would like to have him talking to the audience to show that although Hamlet said in an earlier scene that he would pretend to go mad, How strange or odd someer I bear myself-As perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on all the frustration about getting revenge and his fathers murder may have actually driven him mad. I feel that having Hamlet talk to the audience shows this, as the other members of the play do not seem to be able to see the audience (King Claudius talking to himself in the mirror). I would like the audience to be shocked, by this and feel on edge as this scene is all about whether Hamlet will kill the king or not which is very tense. Since Claudius is a King in Shakespeares Hamlet I would like him to play someone of high importance, so I would have him being played as a gangster leader. The outfit I would like him to wear would be a grey Armani suit, a waistcoat, blue collared shirt, and patent leather shoes. I would like him to have square framed glasses and for him to wear lots of gold jewellery, but especially a gold signant ring to symbolise that he is the leader of a gang, which has resemblance to the fact that he is a king (monarchs wear a ring to show that they are married to their country). I would like Hamlet to be wearing rather informal clothes to show that he may have gone slightly mad. I would have him wearing a plain black shirt, which would be reasonably tight. I would then have him wearing a black Hawaiian shirt with a thatched pattern on it. I would also like him to be wearing dark blue jeans. The dark clothes would be symbolising that Hamlet is still in mourning for his fathers death. I would like Hamlet to be wearing a silver Saint Christopher around his neck, to show that Hamlet may need guidance for the revenge of his fathers death. I would like to keep the language the same as I feel that if the text were to be converted into modern language the impact of the rhythm and words would be lost. Such as when Claudius says, It hath the primal eldest curse upont, means Its like when the first murder happened in the bible. These words do not have nearly as much effect as the original line. The original line provides some atmosphere. The word curse suggests evil, as witches were thought in Shakespeares time to send curses. Also as people were more religious in Shakespeares time the fact that Claudius has committed the worst sin n the bible they may have been horrified by Claudius crime. This wouldnt have as much effect on a modern day audience however I feel that the words too tend to portray that Claudius shows disgust towards himself. Some of the words in this scene are quite difficult to interpret so I would have to make some sort of gesture in order to make it more obvious what the two actors mean. I think that obvious hand or body gestures would make it more obvious. For example when Hamlet says, Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent I think that Hamlet should, lift his sword and then approach Claudius. This would make the true meaning of the sentence clearer. A few lines in this scene make it so enjoyable to watch, but it all depends on the actors interpretation and delivery of the line. When Claudius says, O, my offence is rank This line needs to be emphasised as it shows that Claudius may be feeling regret for what he did. So he could show this by shouting the line, which displays the anger that he may be feeling with himself. Also a brothers murder must be emphasised as this is the reason to Claudius guilt, and why he is so angry with himself. He could portray this to the audience by saying it slowly, and going into an audible whisper as if someone may hear. Claudius should also emphasise when he says, Forgive me my foul murder! as this shows that maybe he does truly repent and feel guilt. He could shout this line to the ceiling as if he were talking to god. When Claudius talks of the things he does not wish to give up, My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. The should be said in a low husky tone, to show that Claudius although in this scene he may seem to be wanting forgiveness, he does not truly want it as he would give up these items that he killed his brother for. When Claudius is describing how in the criminal world he can buy himself out of trouble, In the corrupted currents of this world. This line and the following three lines should also be delivered in the same low husky tone to show that Claudius is still evil as to mix himself with criminals, who were also known as sinners in Shakespeares time. Also when Claudius talks to his knees, telling them to, Bow stubborn knees he should speak softly as though here were speaking to a child. This would emphasise the line and show that Claudius is encouraging himself to pray; just a children are encouraged when spoken to in a soft voice. The line he says, All may be well should also be softly as he trying to convince himself that everything will be all right. It is the final two lines that should be emphasised the most as this show the true irony of the whole scene. Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius, as he believes that Claudius is praying and would go straight to heaven. Here when Claudius says, My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thought never to heaven go. We learn that he was unable to pray anyway so Hamlet could have killed Claudius, only Hamlet did not know this. His line could be emphasised with pauses in between up and my, and in-between thought and never. When Hamlet says And now Ill do it. I think here the actor should raise his sword above his head and increase the volume of his voice to a shout. Hamlet should then approach Claudius and let out a war like cry to emphasise this line. This I feel is effective as it emphasises this line and the silence that would follow would also emphasise the next line, and so a goes to heaven. I think that those two lines are very important as they show that Hamlet is about to kill Claudius until he decides that hell wait. I also think that when Hamlet is talking about the death of his father, A took my father grossly, he should speak through his teeth, in a low tone. I feel that Hamlet would be feeling very angry, as he cannot yet revenge his fathers death. So I feel that that talking through his teeth would portray that anger to the audience. This also emphasises the line as the audience would listen to what he was saying as him talking through his teeth would be obvious to them. Hamlet, however should speak with joy when he talks about what kind if thing Claudius will be doing when Hamlet could kill him, When he is drunk asleep, or in rage; Or in th incestuous pleasure of his bed; At game, a-swearing, or about some act. I feel that Hamlet would be imagining Claudius being killed and going straight to hell, which would make him very happy. I then think that when Hamlet delivers this last line, this physic but prolongs thy sickly days. It must be emphasised as Hamlet would be feeling quite sad and angry that he has Claudius in very vulnerable position yet he feels that he cannot kill him, as that would not give him true revenge. I feel that sadness and anger can be portrayed by Hamlet having a pause between physic and but. Also the actor should speak in a low tone to get the audience attention as this line displays the irony as Claudius is unable to pray. This scene is only effective because the audience knows what happened in the previous scene. They know that Claudius has portrayed his true guilt to Hamlet, confirming Hamlets beliefs that Claudius killed his father. The way in which he did show his guilt, (When the players put on a play with a murder committed the same way that he killed his brother) would be more effective in Shakespeares time as then all people who committed murder were believed to go mad, and be affected by the site of their crime. When Claudius views his crime he horrified by himself and feels the need to be forgiven which explains his sudden desperate need to pray. I feel that this scene gives Hamlet its edge of tenseness. The rest of the play is an unwinding tale leaving the audience wondering right until the last scene, will Hamlet kill Claudius?

Alain Robbe-Grillet and The Secret Room :: essays research papers fc

Alain Robbe-Grillet and The Secret Room   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On page 2032 of the class’s anthology, there is a work by Alain Robbe-Grillet entitled â€Å"The Secret Room†. What interests me about this work is that I thought that this topic or story is deep and hard to get the idea. So, I wanted to know about Alain Robbe-Grillet and wanted to get the idea. In this connection, the question that I want to research is who Alain Robbe-Grillet is and what is this story about.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First of all, Robbe-grillet, he was born in Brittany, France, where was the place for scientists and engineers. At first, he was not a writer. He earned the degree in mathematics and natural science. He started working at National Institute of Statistics and published an article on livestock possibilities before deciding to work part time in his sister’s biology laboratory and write a novel. The first novel he wrote was â€Å"A Regicide† in 1949. But, it didn’t published until 1978 which was the time after he became a successful novelist. Robbe-Grillet was one of the foremost filmmakers and the novelists of the French new novel, of the twentieth century. Frustrated about the lack of progress and innovation in the art of the novel since the nineteenth century, Robbe-Grillet and Nathalie Saurrate began to write complex novels that interrogated and challenged conventional narrative modes, novels that altered or abolished fictional elements such as character, plot, setting, point of view, and chronological time in favor of repetitions, an absence of emotion, minute objective and sometimes geometric descriptions, the lack of authorial analysis, and the deconstruction of time. His films also reflect his desire to challenge the conventions of filmmaking, but he is recognized principally as a novelist. The novels of Robbe-Grillet all challenge their readers to reevaluate the way they read, the way they think, and the way they visualize the world around them. The novels are vastly different from each other. â€Å"The Erasersâ€Å" concerns a police inspector, Wallas, and his search for a man who has supposedly killed another man who, in actuality, was not killed. The novel is set in a small Belgian city, a city with a considerable network of canals and bridges and boulevards that all look the same; throughout the novel, the city becomes a type of labyrinth, adding an ambiguous complexity of space to the novel's non linear chronology.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Erasers† is more accessible than his later novels like â€Å"Jealousyâ€Å" and â€Å"In The Labyrinth†, both penultimate examples of the New Novel.

Revenue Assessment Essay

Thank you for the opportunity to assess your sales data in order to provide recommendations for increasing your sales. The analysis and recommendations below are based on the data you provided, which covers a period from May 2004 through June 2006. The analysis below is based on this data alone. Therefore, our recommendations should be tempered by your knowledge of business realities and your market. Please let us know if we can answer any questions concerning the analysis or the recommendations provided. ANALYSIS 1: Total Sales by Country Analysis As an American based country one expects the highest income to be within a company’s home country. Well, in the case of Northwind Traders, that is the case. The USA has the highest gross net sales, to be followed closely by Germany and then Austria and Brazil. Sales are above 100,000 over the past two years. If you notice, all of the top selling companies are offered a discount whereas the lower selling countries are offered now discount at all. Graphic Recommendation Based on my analysis I think it would be wise to entice lower income countries to buy more products by offering a discount if they reach a certain amount of product ordered. I also recommend sending surveys to the largest purchasing companies to see what products they would like to see discounts offered on if larger volumes are purchased. Also taking special care to cater to the products higher volume countries are requiring. ANALYSIS 2 : Net Income by Sales Rep Analysis I was given two full years of sales data, and took a look at the net revenue of each of your sales representatives. At first glance it looks like 2005 might have been a more profitable year, but bear in mind that 2005 is the only year we all four quarters accounted for. Keeping that information in mind, it looks like 2006 is getting off to an amazing start, as several of your sales reps have already passed their totals from 2005 in the first quarters. Also take careful attention to notice the difference in the two quarters from 2004 and 2006. It looks like a majority of your sales representatives are making solid revenue for the company. Graphic Recommendation My recommendation would be for starters, enroll every sales rep in a sales training class. Upon completion of I would set a goal that each sales rep must contribute at least 10% of the net income for the company. Since there are 9 sales reps this leaves some room for extra. This will not only force the sales reps to work together, and encourage friendly competition. I also recommend you elect a sales representative team leader (for example Miss Peacock who is consistently your top sales person) and empower her to encourage, coach and teacher the other sales reps in her methods and tricks. ANALYSIS 3: Total Revenues by Month in 2005 Analysis After careful consideration, I decided to look at the yearly trend of just 2005 since we have all the data from that year. If you will notice, October is by far the biggest selling month, whereas July is the lowest, but mostly the trend is pretty consistent across the year. Graphic Recommendation I recommend that we find out what about October spikes sales, and try to apply it to the rest of the year. Also, I’d consider adding special sales and discounts in March and April, the lowest sales months of the year, that should help perk up sales in the slower months. SELF ASSESSMENT From completing the Excel project, I learned so much about excel. At the beginning of this class I was very confident and nearly cocky about my knowledge in excel, but boy oh boy have I learned a LOT of neat new tools to add to my bag of tricks. I learned specifically about pivot tables which are beyond helpful for organizing data in a more readable way, and see the things that you want to see. I also learned a lot of new ways to sort and organize information in clean and easily read ways. This was a tough project to tackle at first, but I feel a lot better about the things I have learned in excel since finishing it.

Baby-boomers and the U.S. Health Care System

For the past few decades the term â€Å"baby-boomers† has never left the headlines. There are many reasons why this generation of Americans always attract the spotlight. First of all this generation comprises a significant chunk of the U. S. population. Furthermore, children born to this group were the ones who grew up and became involved in the cultural-changing events of the 1960s. This is the same generation that provided volunteers and soldiers to the infamous Vietnam War.In order to fully appreciate the impact of this generation to current history it must be noted that former president Bill Clinton as well as incumbent president George W. Bush belong to this demographic. In recent times the baby-boomers are again in the glare of publicity because this segment of the population is threatening to negatively impact the U. S. health care system. The following four articles provide differing views on the said subject matter. This paper will take a closer look at the baby-boome r generation and its impact on the healthcare system.This can be achieved by comparing and contrasting four articles taken from New York Times and MSNBC News. The four articles reveal important information about this demographic while at the same time supply necessary data that will help readers get an overview of the problem as well as possible solutions. The world’s media is painting a grim picture of the future, that baby-boomers are to blame for the impending crisis that will wallop the U. S. health care system. Is there truth to the claim or is there another way to read the facts?The following articles provide different perspectives on the subject of baby-boomers in relation to the health care system. For the first article that will be examined, MSNBC’s Tracie Potts wrote a report entitled â€Å"Boomers to flood medical care system. † There is simply no way to misinterpret what she meant by that. For a long time now the United States of America is bracing f or a coming storm. In a few more years there will be a significant number of aging Americans who will retire and come looking for the long promised retirement benefits and a major part of it is access to quality health care services.Tracie Potts asserts that there is a strong possibility that many of those who will retire is in for a big disappointment and she even declared that if things will not be corrected in the near future then America should be ready for an impending crisis. Michelle York on the other hand wrote that aside from the usual problems of lacking proper medical insurance and the impact due to sheer numbers of baby-boomers that will be needing health care there is another related problem – the lack of medical practitioners that will be able to take care of them.Aside from facilities and medical supplies the most important part of the equation are the doctors. Now, everyone knows that doctors are in the business of providing care and just like other profession als they will not work for free. There maybe some rare instances where a doctor will be driven by compassion but even the most generous will realize that they have to pay back that huge loan incurred to pay tuition fees in medical school. They cannot be forced to go where there is greatest need; they will only consider moving into an area where they can also get the most out of their time and hard work.Now there is a problem when it comes to retirees. A person finally quitting the work force in order to enjoy doing the finer things in life will have to settle in areas where the cost of living is lower in order to stretch their retirement funds. That is a good plan the only problem is that in these places doctors are hard to find. The third piece that will be examined was written for the New York Times. O’Neill entitled the article this way, â€Å"Want to Retire Early and Hang a Shingle? It’ll Cost You.† In this report O’Neil discussed that baby-boomers ar e not stupid and that they work hard during their youth and pre-retirement years to save enough money so that they can afford not to work and yet lead quality lives. But O’Neil cautions that for those who will opt out of the work force before the age of 65, there is one more thing left to do and it is to set aside $100,000 or more to cover health insurance until they qualify for Medicare. Suddenly retirement is not as fun as one would think, especially for those who did not do their homework when it comes to long-term care insurance.There are just so many things that Medicare will not cover. Rick Lyman’s article significantly differs from the three already mentioned. His piece is the silver lining behind the clouds. He admits that baby-boomers will create a deep impact in American society but he believes that the doomsayers are exaggerating and therefore Lyman declared, â€Å"Census Report Foresees No Crisis Over Aging Generation’s Health. † The following pages will take a closer look at the said four articles. Boomers Tracie Potts warns that in the coming years there will be millions of baby-boomers that will flood the U.S. medical system. The problem according to her is that the health care system in this country is not yet ready for a sudden rise in the numbers of retirees. In order to understand the seriousness of the problem Potts reminded her readers that there are about 78 million Americans that will turn 65 years old soon. Seventy-eight million is already the population of a small country and realizing the size of this demographic can easily scare anyone especially if the one reading the report belongs to the younger generation tasked to work in order to sustain America’s current health care system.Potts reiterated her concerns, â€Å"We face an impending crisis as the growing number of older patients, who are living longer with more complex health needs, increasingly outpaces the number of health care providers with the knowledge and skills to take care for them capably† (2008). The report listed the following common problems associated with senior citizens who had a misplaced trust in Medicare and retiring without sufficient knowledge that having Medicare will not be enough as seen in the following facts: 1. There aren’t enough specialists in geriatric medicine; 2. Insufficient training is available;3. The specialists that do exist are underpaid; 4. Medicare fails to provide for team care that many elderly needs; and 5. Medicare may even hinder seniors from getting the best care because of its low reimbursement rates (Potts, 2008). Included in this report is another piece of bad news coming from the American Medical Association who provided the heads-up, â€Å"This July, the government will begin steep cuts in Medicare physician payments, and 60 percent of physicians say this cut will force them to limit the number of new Medicare patients they can treat† (Potts, 2008).In this article one can see the problems the great influx of senior citizens needing quality healthcare and the inability of the U. S. Federal government to provide for that need. This article is an important contribution in any study regarding boomers and their impact on the U. S. medical system. Potts was able to go into the nitty-gritty of the main issue. It was informative and well-balanced reporting. The reader can finish evaluating the article and come away with key points such as the inability of Medicare to cover all medical needs even if the person is already 65 years old and eligible for this type of medical insurance.Another major contribution of this article is in addressing the need for more trained specialists. The lack of trained specialists can easily increase the cost of health care expenses. Medical Professionals In a related article Michelle York focuses on the medical problems of baby-boomers living in the State of New York and she wrote, â€Å"At a time when the a ging baby-boomer population finds itself in need of more medical services, fewer young doctors want to work in many of the distressed cities and towns throughout New York State (2007).This is understandable because a medical professional has to earn a living too and there is no incentive that will entice them to choose to work in distressed cities and towns in dire need of medical professionals. The following figures describe a disturbing trend that although there is an increase in the number of licensed physicians this rise in numbers will not solve the problem outright and here are the explanations:†¢ In New York there is a 6 percent growth in the number of doctors practicing medicine from 2001-2005 – for a total of about 77,000 doctors – but the way they are spread throughout the state means there are many who will not have access to their expertise; †¢ There is a glut of doctors in richer areas like New York, Long Island, and Westchester and far few chose to practice in the upstate region. For instance in the Essex County in the Adirondacks, they lost 22 percent of its doctors as of latest count;†¢ The remaining doctors who chose to stay in distressed areas are also ready to retire – some are already 55 or older – but the problem is recruiting replacement is extremely difficult. Young medical practitioners find these areas non-viable and unattractive (York, 2007). This article is also very informative. It allows the reader to see the boomer issue from another angle. The usual points for discussion when it comes this topic usually centers on medical bills, expensive treatments, and expensive drugs. As a result there are laws that were passed specifically addressing the said problems.Lawmakers will continually strive hard to lower prices of medicines and find ways to build better hospitals. But York’s article diverts attention to these common problems and instead focuses on something that is far more challeng ing – there are no doctors in distressed areas. Now how can the federal government solve this problem? Lowering the price medicine can be considered a very easy feat as compared to convincing a very driven young doctor to live in areas where he knows he will not be able to pull as much money as he would have if he decides to live in the big city.Suddenly York made everyone sit-up and realize that this is a problem that requires a complex set of solutions and that the government should start working on it now because time will come when even old doctors serving in upstate regions and far flung counties will have to hang-up their hats and say adieu to the medical profession. High Cost of Retirement For John O’Neil the explanation for the impending crisis is simple. It is simply too expensive to pay for health care. There are so many factors that contribute to this reality.As mentioned earlier there are a limited number of specialists focusing on geriatric treatment. In s ome areas the problem is much simpler to identify – there are no doctors in sight. O’Neil adds another reason why it will be much harder for baby-boomers to immediately decide to hang their work clothes and go straight to their favorite fishing hole and he wrote, â€Å"The percentage of companies offering retirees health benefits has plummeted in the last decade, according to a recent report by the Employee Benefit Research Institute.From 1997 to 2002, the most recent year for which figures are available, the drop was especially steep†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2006). This means that even if baby boomers are still in the workplace they are no longer contributing to their healthcare plans. O’Neill cited Paul Fronstin, director of the institute’s health research and education program, who said that future retirees are not assured of medical insurance coverage unless they fall into one of the following categories: 1. high-level executive; 2. union worker in a large man ufacturing company; or 3. civil servant (O’Neil, 2006).There are those who did not belong to any of the categories mentioned above but they have spouses willing to keep working until they qualify for Medicare but there are many who are not as fortunate. O’Neil also pointed out that the saddest part is that many Americans, especially those who are going to retire soon are unaware that such problems exist. Many thought that they are covered and yet when they are out their on their own with no other means of support they will be in for a rude awakening because health care cost is not what they expect it to be.O’Neil’s article is a wake-up call for those who may have thought that retirement is the answer to all their problems. No more back-breaking work and all the money needed to spend for the things that one truly loves doing. O’Neil splashed cold water into the faces of those daydreaming about fly-fishing and endless hours at the golf course. No sir , retirement before the age of 65 means no access to Medicare and if the new retiree figures in an accident, long-term care insurance is way too expensive. It is also a good thing that O’Neill pointed out a fact that more and more companies are reducing their offer of retiree health benefits.It is high time to check if a potential retiree’s company is offering retiree health benefits or not before deciding to retire. No Crisis over Aging Rick Lyman’s article offers an alternative view. Although Lyman concedes that baby boomers will still tax the U. S. medical system because the following figures is undeniable, â€Å"In July 2003, there were 35. 9 million Americans over the age of 65, about 12 percent of the population. By 2030, federal officials predict, there will be 72 million older people, about 20 percent of Americans† (Lyman, 2006).Yet Lyman predicted that the outcome will not be as devastating because baby-boomers are aging well with fewer disabilit ies even as they turn 65. Lyman cited Richard J. Hodes – director of the National Institute on Aging – who asserts that this positive trend is due to an improved quality of life; today’s older Americans are better educated and more wealthy than previous generations which accounts for their ability to take care of themselves (Lyman, 2006). Yet Lyman also made a caveat that the growing obesity rate may neutralize the positive trend.This article by Lyman is not only significant because it offers a positive outlook of the current health care debacle but it also encourages many future retirees to be more vigilant when it comes to taking care of their health especially those that are prone to diabetes and obesity. It must be noted that Lyman’s assertions are based on the significant reduction in the number of senior citizens suffering from a form of disability. Due to the fact that many of the baby-boomers are enjoying great health there is a possibility that t he impact will be less disastrous.Yet it is also good to know that diabetes and obesity can easily reverse the trend because these two medical conditions can easily transform a perfectly healthy individual into an invalid irregardless if he a boomer or not. Compare/Contrast The four articles are in agreement on the following areas: 1. The significant number of baby-boomers will greatly impact the U. S. medical system. 2. Health care cost is rising. 3. There are other factors that contribute to the health care problem and not merely due to the size of the baby-boomer generation.Authors, Potts, York, and O’Neil are also in agreement that boomers will break the bank. It is only Lyman who offered a more positive outlook. Although Lyman acknowledges there is a problem he is sure that doomsayers are exaggerating and that actual figure show that boomers are adapting well. Lyman argues that due to the fact that boomers have a higher literary rate as compared to previous generations t his generation will be able to quickly understand and assimilate information regarding health issues and as a result they will be able to incorporate into their lifestyle practices that will ensure longevity and good health.On the other hand all four authors are unanimous when it comes to the idea of retaining the services of retirees and instead of pushing them out the door. There are a number of industries that require more experienced workers especially when it comes to the medical field it is very expensive to train specialists. So if a retired medical professional decides to work a few more years after retirement his expertise can be used without having to undergo further training. In this way more people will benefit from his services. ConclusionThere is no need to elaborate on the fact that baby-boomers comprise a significant percentage of the American population. Figures vary but it is estimated that there are at least 72 million boomers living in this country. This demograp hic can easily command the attention of various businesses but in the past few years it has gripped the attention of health care experts who are predicting a crisis if some issue will not be resolved soon. There is a good reason to be alarmed, 70 million people is roughly the size of a small country.Imagine a group this big and all of its members suddenly turning gray and opts to exit the workplace and as a consequence of age and other factors begin taxing the U. S. healthcare system. The four articles reveal at least three glaring facts as to why the aging of the boomer will create a force that will wallop America’s medical system. First of all, even without considering the boomers the U. S. health care system is already in shambles, meaning not everyone can afford medical insurance simply because it is downright expensive.It is expensive to pay for doctors, it is expensive to pay for specialists and it is even expensive to pay for caregivers that do not have any form of med ical degree. Secondly, there are simply not enough health workers that will be able to do the job. In the case of the boomers there is an added problem of needing more specialists especially those that specialize in geriatric medicine. Finally, the most disturbing fact of all is that there are many boomers who are unaware that they need to have more money in order to pay for their health care related expenses.It must be noted that those who retire before 65 will not be eligible for Medicare. And yet even if they have Medicare this type of health insurance will not be able to cover everything. All three articles agree that there is an impending crisis unless desperate measures are taken up. This includes enticing retirees not to become idle and instead allow themselves to be reabsorbed into the workforce. There is now an added bonus because retirees with their years of experience can ask for part time work or can choose only to do things that they love doing.There is only one author who disagree with the doomsayers. But even he gave some sort of tempered optimism because even with a wealthier and more educated boomer generation the rising rate of obesity can still offset the positive trend. All in all the four articles are informative and it allows the reader to get a good overview to one of the hottest social issue in America today. References Lyman, R. (2006). â€Å"Census Report Foresees No Crisis Over Aging Generations Health. † Retrieved 05 June 2008 from http://www. nytimes. com/2006/03/10/national/ 10aging. html?_r=1&sq=baby%20boomer&st=nyt&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&scp=4&adxnnlx=1213085688-UwMCjf6VJB3QAKV4jZVJ9A O’Neil, J. (2006). â€Å"Want to Retire Early and Hang a Shingle? It’ll Cost You. † Retrieved 04 June 2008 from http://www. nytimes. com/2006/04/11/business/retirement/ 11gap. html? _r=1&scp=21&sq=baby%20boomer&st=nyt Potts, T. (2008). â€Å"Boomers to Flood Medical Care System. † Retrieved 04 June 2008 from http:// www. msnbc. msn. com/id/24107916/ York, M. (2007). â€Å"Few Young Doctors Step in as Upstate Population Ages. † Retrieved 05 June 2008 from http://www. nytimes. com/2007/07/23/nyregion/ 23docs. html? scp=5&sq=baby+boomer&st=nyt

Industrialization Essays - Great Plains, Free Essays, Term Papers

Industrialization Essays - Great Plains, Free Essays, Term Papers Industrialization a. Why were the Indians treated so unjustly? (12) The American settlers greed was the basis for the injustice forced upon the Indians. At first the Americans simply wanted the land that could be used to grow or create products. Then the Indians were viewed as hostile enemies. This was unfair because the Americans were too greedy to give the Indians the supplies they were promised; therefore, the Indians attacked. The Indians also attacked because the Americans put them on reservations so the settlers could have the rest of the land. The hunters of the West were also forced serious injustice on the Indians. They killed the buffalo by the millions for their hides. The buffalo were the Indians source of food, consequently the Indians were forced to move to reservations. b. Why was the evolving cattle industry so profitable? (10) The low cost and high output of the cattle industry made it extremely profitable. Buffalo grass, which grew year round and through droughts, grew on the Great Plains, which made it unnecessary for ranchers to buy food for the cattle. Cattle could be used as food or a labor force. They could also be sold to the Indians who had no choices for food because they were stuck on the reservations. Cattle could be raised cheaply in the Plains and sold to the railroad workers and the troops guarding the workers. c. Why did farmers and sheep ranchers create problems in the West? (12) d. Why was the railroad essential there? (10) The lack of natural