Friday, August 21, 2020

Essay Topics - How to Create Your Own

Essay Topics - How to Create Your OwnThis article gives an overview of the Glass Castle essay topics and some tips on preparing for your essay. The essay topic has certain restrictions, so if you would like to include some of these restrictions on your essay, you should make sure that you work within those guidelines in order to have success. The details may vary from college to college, but these general guidelines are in most cases considered to be as follows:o Go for something unique. Not everything is within the scope of the essay. However, some subjects do not need to be covered in an essay, but may be appropriate to a journal, presentation, or report. Therefore, if you want to cover one of the many topics on the Glass Castle essay, you need to find out what these topics are, if they are not addressed, and then choose a topic based on what it was that you want to communicate.o It's the hard part! It's easy to get caught up in being overwhelmed by the Glass Castle essay topics. J ust remember that each topic can be explained in just a few sentences, and that you must carefully choose the subject to write about and the style of writing to use in order to make your point.o Start early and work hard! The essay topic can be a long process and you should work hard at writing a compelling essay. Taking a break is also very important in order to get your thoughts and ideas down on paper.o Practice the essay! There is no set writing style for the Glass Castle essay, so you will want to be sure that you practice the essay as much as possible before submitting it to the college of your choice. You should be certain that you find topics and sources that are appropriate for your essay. Be sure that you know where to go for information before you submit the essay.o Use the tools provided by the essay! One of the best tools you can use when writing the Glass Castle essay is a reference book that has a good selection of essay topics. Additionally, there are many resources available online that provide sample essay topics and sample essays. These can also prove very helpful in helping you write a better essay.o Check your grammar! The essays that colleges look for are as much of a reflection of the student's personality as the essay itself, so any problems with the grammar and writing skills will always hurt the essay.So remember, if you want to succeed in the Glass Castle essay topics, it is important to set your own rules for the essay and to make sure that you follow them. Make sure that you take breaks, practice the essay often, and make sure that you have a lot of fun with it. You can get around having to create your own rules by having someone else write a Glass Castle essay for you.

Monday, May 25, 2020

Teen Alcoholism Is Driven By Example - 1150 Words

Teen Alcoholism is driven by example. a teen sees someone else drinking, for whatever reason, and they imitate them to either save he or she’s pride and be â€Å"cool† or use is as e remedy to try to feel better about a situation they are in or to numb an unpleasant emotion they do not know how to deal with. affects the physical state of a young person, but also one’s current situations and relationships, and the outcome of he or she’s futures. â€Å"People who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence at some time in their lives compared with those who have their first drink at age 20 or older. It is not clear whether starting to drink at an early age actually causes alcoholism or whether it simply†¦show more content†¦And because many parents and other adults use alcohol socially-having beer or wine with dinner, for example alcohol seems harmless to many teens† (Ed. Joseph Tardiff) The affect of teen alcoholism can be emotional, physical, and psychological. One physical effect of teen alcoholism is withdraw. Withdraw can occur after having 4-5 drinks. Hangovers are a form of withdraw. â€Å"†¦as the body cells tat had to adjust to the presence of alcohol try to adapt to its absence.† (ed. Joseph Tardiff). This causes an imbalance of eternal affairs which can result in nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, anxiety, and jittery hands. Hangovers are usually more common when drinking a large amount of alcohol in a very short amount of time, opposed to a lot spread out into a larger amount of time. Delirum Tremus is a more serious form of alcohol withdraw. Alcohol cravings can consume a person. This would largely affect the responsibilities in he or she’s life such as school, relationships, friendships, sports, activates, jobs, etc. to say the least, the withdraw from alcohol is distracting. a teenager’s concentration is pulled away from the actions that will help further them and succeed in the future, and pull them into and unhealthy routine that can damage their body. Brain damage is another detrimental affect of teen alcohol abuse. â€Å"Giedd said. â€Å"Since the cement of the brain is still setting, if

Friday, May 15, 2020

History of WD-40

If youve ever used WD-40 to oil up something squeaky in your home, you may have wondered, just what does WD-40 stand for? According to the company that makes it, WD-40 literally stands for Water Displacement 40th   attempt. Thats the name straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who helped develop WD-40 back in 1953. Norman  Larsen  was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion, a task which is done by displacing water. Norms persistence paid off when he perfected the formula for WD-40 on his 40th try. Rocket Chemical Company WD-40 was invented by the three founders of the Rocket Chemical Company of San Diego, California. The team of inventors was working on a line of industrial rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry. Today, it  is manufactured by the San Diego, California-based WD-40 Company. WD-40 was first used to protect the outer skin of the Atlas Missile from rust and corrosion. When it was discovered to have many household uses, Larsen repackaged WD-40 into aerosol cans for consumer use and the product was sold to the general public in 1958. In 1969, the Rocket Chemical Company was renamed after its only product (WD-40). Interesting Uses for WD-40 Two of the craziest purposes for WD-40 include a bus driver in Asia who used it to remove a python snake which had coiled itself around the undercarriage of his bus and police officers who used WD-40 to remove a naked burglar trapped in an air conditioning vent. Ingredients WD-40s main ingredients, as supplied in aerosol cans, according to the U.S.  Material Safety Data Sheet  information, are: 50 percent aliphatic hydrocarbons. The manufacturers website claims this ratio in the current formulation cannot accurately be described as  Stoddard solvent, a similar mixture of hydrocarbons.25 percent  petroleum  base oil. Presumably, mineral oil  or light lubricating oil.12-18 percent low  vapor pressure  aliphatic hydrocarbon. Reduces the liquids viscosity so that it can be used in aerosols. The hydrocarbon evaporates during application.2-3 percent carbon dioxide. A propellant which is now used instead of the original  liquefied petroleum gas  to reduce WD-40s flammability.10 percent inert ingredients.​ The long-term active ingredient is a non-volatile viscous oil which remains on the surface to which it is applied, giving lubrication and protection from moisture.​ The oil is diluted with a volatile hydrocarbon to make a low viscosity fluid which can be aerosolized to penetrate crevices. The volatile hydrocarbon then evaporates, leaving behind the oil. A propellant (originally a low-molecular-weight hydrocarbon, now carbon dioxide) creates pressure in the can to force the liquid through the cans nozzle before evaporating. Its properties make it useful in both domestic and commercial settings. Typical uses for WD-40 include removing dirt and removing stubborn screws and bolts. It can also be used to loosen stuck zippers and displace moisture. Due to its lightness (i.e. low viscosity), WD-40 is not always the preferred oil for certain tasks. Applications that require higher viscosity oils may use  motor oils. Those requiring a mid-range oil could use  honing oil instead. Source Chemical safety in the workplace. Safety Data Sheets, WD-40 Company, 2019.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Geography of Japan Essay - 2320 Words

Japan is known for its contemporary culture and advancement in electronics and engineering. We could also learn from the traditions Japan can offer. From advancement in cars and electronic devices, Japan holds on to ancient arts and traditions that play a role in their daily life. Japan has various climates from tropical in the south to cooler temperatures in the north, and the famous tourist site of the active volcano Mount Fuji. Mount Fiji is the highest mountain in Japan, with a tundra climate the temperature is low and covered with snow causing. The average temperature is always below freezing, excluding the summer. Geography of Japan Japan is a country made up by a chain of thousands of islands on the Pacific Ocean. Japan†¦show more content†¦Chubu has the highest and most famous landmark of Japan Mount Fuji; some of the longest rivers in Japan are located along the Sea of Japan. Its three industrial areas, the first one Chukyo industrial zone are where Toyota Motors is located. The second industrial zone is called Tokai and is where Yamaha is located, and the third industrial location is called Hokuriku where chemicals, medicines, tourism, and a variety of rice is produced. Shikoku region is the smallest of the four main islands and has high steep mountains that do not allow much of farming. The climate is subtropical and is known for its large whirlpools. The Tohoku region located in the northeastern made of gigantic mountains. This area has short summers and long winters and is used for agricultural with over half of this land is rice fields. Kinki/Kansai region is where Osaka and Kobe are lo cated. Rice and citrus fruit are produced here allowed with fishing and lumbering: these industries are important for Japan and are the second most important area for Japan. Also in the Kinki/Kansai region is where one of the important ports for Japans trading. Kansai refers not to the location but to cultural and history of Kinki area. Kyushu and Okinawa are two different locations, but in the same region. They are the furthest south of the four major regions made up of more than 1,400 islands. Okinawa is an island by itself and theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Geography Of Japan464 Words   |  2 Pagesthan any other nation in the world, Japan is shaped by its geography to a tremendous extent. Technically classified as an archipelago, Japan is a curved chain of four islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, plus over a thousand smaller islands). However, it is first and foremost an island nation, a fact which isolated Japan from the rest of the world. The second largest i nfluence in Japanese geography is the size of the nation. The total area of Japan proper is a little under 143 thousandRead MoreJapan s Culture And Its Unique Geography Essay847 Words   |  4 PagesJapan’s culture began with its unique geography as an island that is separated and isolated from other East Asian countries. While there are many theories about modern’s Japanese ancestor; however, most Japanese archaeologists believe the first people that lived and colonized in Japan was the Ainu. The combined evidence of archeology, anthropology, and genetics have shown the indistinctive look between Ainu and the modern Japanese. In their overall genetic makeup, the Ainu are related to other EastRead MoreThe Geography 101 Course Essay Essay894 Words   |  4 PagesThrough the Geography 101 course, I have become increasingly familiar with certain concepts that are easily applicable to cities and countries that I am familiar with. These concepts help me fully understand t he geographic situation occurring in these locations. One location that has been brought up many times throughout the semester and I have increased with familiarity is Japan. This location is constantly changing and growing. It exports many different vehicle and machinery parts, and is at theRead MoreMKT 315 WK 6 QUIZ 4 CHAPTERS 8 91272 Words   |  6 Pagesused in the text to analyze markets in relation to channel design strategy consists of all of the following dimensions except: a. Market density. b. Market behavior. c. Market reputation. d. Market geography. e. Market size. 4. According to the text, the most complex market dimension is: a. Market geography. b. Market size. c. Market coverage. d. Market behavior. e. Market price. 5. It is the __________ that should drive channel design. a. structure of competitive channels b. level of costs c. needsRead MoreJapanese History and Culture Essay1013 Words   |  5 PagesJapan has always been an ever changing country. From the time when the emperor ruled and governed the country to the time when the emperor lost decision making power and became a symbol of national unity. Japans history is written throughout the world because of wars and trade especially with the United States. Japan is very isolated and lacking in essential resources, because of its relatively bad geography it is one of the biggest importers the world has ever known. Japan has very strong and uniqueRead MoreJap A Nation Of Many Countries1287 Words   |  6 PagesAdams, Matthew World Geography Mr. Koldoff 13 May, 2015 Japan: A Nation of Many Excitements Japan is one of the most interesting nations in the world. Many different cultures and religions exist in this country. Japan is a large archipelago of islands just east of Korea. Although the country is very often looked at as a country of many different and large cities, it is also full of grasslands and agricultural opportunities. Japan is also one of the leading electronic suppliers of the world. ThisRead MoreThe Attack on Pearl Harbor754 Words   |  3 Pagesbattle, where the battle was fought, what the geography was like during the battle, what the weather was like, what happened during this battle, how many casualties occurred, other things I learned about the battle, who won the battle, and how the battle was important to WWII. What countries fought in this battle. During this battle, the country of Japan attacked the country of the United States. Where was the battle fought? What was the geography like during this battle? The Japanese attackedRead MoreAp World History Essay: Comparing and Contrasting China and Japans Responses to Western Penetration in the 19th Century658 Words   |  3 PagesJapan and China had many contrasting responses to western penetration in the nineteenth century, including economic interaction - economically China suffered and Japan prospered, Japanese agricultural productivity increased while China’s did not, and China only accepted a small amount of goods while Japan accepted a wide range of goods- and political interaction - China went to war but Japan did not, Japan adopted western learning styles but China did not, and Japan heavily increased taxes on theirRead MoreWhat the World Eats, by Peter Menzel1750 Words   |  7 Pagesholds out a can of something altered and edible, and a young girl perched near her mother clutches a bag of potato chips to her chest as if claiming it as solely he r own. This is the scene depicted in a photograph of the Ukita family in Kodaira City, Japan as part of a series taken by Peter Menzel for the book â€Å"What the World Eats†. This series of photographs illustrates not only what people eat in different parts of the world, but also how their families, and lives as fellow humans can so closely resembleRead MoreFrom Chernobyl to Fukushima Essay1056 Words   |  5 PagesNot only will the world suffer emotionally from this tragedy emotionally but economically as well. We all know that geography is the ultimate reason behind the disaster. Japan is located at the junction of a web tectonic- plate, resulting in this island being particularly vulnerable to ground-shaking episodes, more than almost anywhere else (Winchester). Although, geography is not the only factor that played a role in this event. Topography greatly affected the death and disaster (Winchester)

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Economics and Quantitative Analysis Gross Domestic Product

Questions: 1. Explain why real GDP might be an unreliable indicator of the standard of living. 2. Why does unemployment arise and what makes some unemployment unavoidable? 3. Consider the following statement: When the average level of prices of goods and services rises, inflation rises? Do you agree or disagree? Explain. 4. What is the aggregate demand (AD) curve and why does it slope downwards? Explain. 5. What is the long run aggregate supply (LRAS) curve and why is it vertical? Why does the short run aggregate supply curve slope upwards? Answers: 1. GDP or Gross Domestic Product of an economy is the monetary measure of market estimation of all the final products and ventures produced within the boundaries of the country. The real GDPis the value of the final goods and services produced in a particular year when valued in the context of the price of an assumed base year. However, Mankiw(2014) argued that real GDP is not capable of portraying the true health of an economy. GDP has been used to determine the market value of the final goods and services since long back. Nevertheless, modern experts argue that the GDP is a narrow parameter to determine the overall health of the economy and its people. As opined by Evans and Honkapohja(2012), two problems arise while using the real GDP of an economy to measure the standard of living. The first problem is that while comparing the standard of living between two economies using real GDP, the real GDP of one country needs to be converted into the same currency as the other country. The second problem is that the goods and services produced in both the countries are to be valued at the same prices. Furthermore, real GDP is misleading as it does not include the household productions, and the productive activities carried out carried out in and around the house by the owners. The exclusion of these components creates a huge difference in the measurement. The real GDP does not even include the measurement of the health of the people, the life expectancy while these are important factors that affect the economic well being. 2. Unemployment in an economy can be defined as the situation where the individuals are actively seeking employment but are unable to find work. The different types of unemployment that occurs in an economy are cyclical, frictional and structural unemployment.The state of unemployment occurs in an economy due to several reasons. The main reason for the occurrence of unemployment is when the individuals leave their existing jobs in order to find a better option. Saez(2014) added that there are chances for unemployment when the skills of the workers and the income requirement do not match with the jobs available in the market. Unemployment further takes place in an economy when the workers move out for unrelated reasons. They prefer remaining unemployed until the time they find jobs in the new town. Unemployment cannot be totally removed from an economy, asthe economy is always changing and there are always some of the individuals entering into the labour force and searching for job at any point of time. Mian and Sufi(2012) mentioned that some firms in the economy constantly expand while the other shrinks. Moreover, some regions achieve faster growth than the other regions. Therefore, temporary unemployment occurs in the economy due to the transition of the workers between firms and regions. The government of the economy can implement fiscal policies to reduce unemployment. However, the measures are incapable of completely removing it. An example where unemployment is inevitable in an economy is the case of frictional unemployment. Due to the technical progress in the developing countries, the workers tend to quit their existing jobs in search of better job opportunities. This leads to some amount of unemployment in the country, which cannot be completely reduced. 3. Inflation can be depicted as the maintained increment in the general value level of the merchandise and services. The equilibrium cost of the products and enterprises in the market is dictated by the intersection of the demand curve and the supply curvefor the merchandise and ventures in the market.As the average level of the price for the goods and the services in the market increases, inflation rises. Weiss(2014) mentioned that the inflation is the rate of increase in the price level over a given period. Thus, an additional unit of price level than the average price level will increase the level of inflation in the economy. As the price level in the market raises, the average price of all the goods and services increases, this indicates that the inflation level in the economy also arises. As the inflation rises in the economy, the value of every dollar decreases and the consumers can purchase lesser amount of goods and services with the given amount of money. The increase in the average level of the price for the goods and the services gradually leads to hyperinflation in the economy. The hyperinflation can lead to the breakdown of the monetary system of the economy. Figure 1: Inflation (Source: As created by the author) The United States Department of Labour, Bureau of Statistics showed that a loaf of bread cost 59 in 1988, while the same loaf of bread amounted to $1.42 in 2013. In the time span of twenty-five years, there was an increase in the price level by 140%. Thus, the increase in the average level of price of bread caused the inflation level to rise. 4. The aggregate demand curve or AD curve is the curve that indicates the total amount of goods and services demanded in an economy at a given price level. ?ahinet al. (2014) expressed the aggregate demand curve as the total amount of money exchanged for the goods and services. The curve represents the total output at a given price level since the aggregate demand is measured through the market values. The Keynesian equation for the aggregate demand of an economy is AD= C + I + G + (NX), where C is the consumer spending, G is the government spending, I is the private investment spending for non-final capital goods, and NX is the net exports. The aggregate demand curve is as follows: Figure 2: Aggregate demand curve (Source: ?ahinet al. 2014) The aggregate demand curve considers that the money supply in constant in the economy. As the general price level in the economy increases, the purchasing power of the consumer decreases as the value of the money is lesser. Furthermore, as there is a decrease in the price level, consumers feel wealthier as they are able to purchase more with a given amount of money. Thus, the inverse relation between the price level and the total consumption as measured by the GDP causes the demand curve to be downward slopping. The aggregate demand curve is downward slopping because of the effect of the interest rate. The final factor that contributes in the downward sloping of the aggregate demand curve is the net export of the economy. As the price level increases, imported goods tend to be less expensive than the domestic goods. Therefore, the increase in the imported goods along with the decrease in the export goods reduces the net export. Hence, the aggregate demand curve is downward slopping. 5. The long run aggregate supply (LRAS) curve is a representation of the connection between the price level and the output of goods and services in the long run. As opined by Kline and Moretti (2013), the LRAS is possible output and is shifted by the factors that affect the potential output such as the capital available, entrepreneurship, capital and developments in technologies. The LRAS curve is vertical as it indicates the potential output. According to Sargent (2013), the long run aggregate supply curve is vertical because of the fact that the adjustments in the total demand cause impermanent change in the aggregate yield of the economy. Figure 3: Long run aggregate supply curve (Source: Sargent 2013) The short run aggregate supply (SRAS) curve represents the dissimilar quantities of real production in the short run that will be supplied into the market at the diverse level of prices. As the price rises, the quantity of supply also rises. Hence, there is a positive relationship between the price and the quantity supplied. The SRAS curve is upward slopping as in the short run the adjustments in the supply curve can be carried out to some certain extent. The producers are capable of increasing the production by running operational activities for the longer hour. Hansen(2016) further opined that in the short run, it is not possible for the firms to set up new plants and thus supply can be increased to a certain level. Figure 4: Short run aggregate supply curve (Source: Baumann and McAllister 2015) References Baumann, D. and McAllister, L., 2015.Inflation and string theory. Cambridge University Press. Evans, G.W., and Honkapohja, S., 2012.Learning and expectations in macroeconomics. Princeton University Press. Hansen, B., 2016.A Study in the Theory of Inflation. Routledge. Kline, P. and Moretti, E., 2013. Place based policies with unemployment.The American Economic Review,103(3), pp.238-243. Mankiw, N.G., 2014.Principles of macroeconomics. Cengage Learning. Mian, A.R. and Sufi, A., 2012.What explains high unemployment? The aggregate demand channel(No. w17830). National Bureau of Economic Research. Saez, E., 2014. Aggregate Demand, Idle Time, and Unemployment. ?ahin, A., Song, J., Topa, G. and Violante, G.L., 2014. Mismatch unemployment.The American Economic Review,104(11), pp.3529-3564. Sargent, T.J., 2013.Rational expectations and inflation. Princeton University Press. Weiss, A., 2014.Efficiency wages: Models of unemployment, layoffs, and wage dispersion. Princeton University Press.

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Fail States free essay sample

Nation-states fail because they are convulsed by internal violence and can no longer deliver positive political goods to their inhabitants. Their governments lose legitimacy, and the very nature of the particular nation-state itself becomes illegitimate in the eyes and in the hearts of a growing plurality of its citizens. The rise and fall of nation-states is not new, but in a modern era when national states constitute the building blocks of legitimate world order the violent disintegration and palpable weakness of selected African, Asian, Oceanic, and Latin American states threaten the very foundation of that system. International organizations and big powers consequently find themselves sucked disconcertingly into a maelstrom of anomic internal conflict and messy humanitarian relief. Desirable international norms such as stability and predictability thus become difficult to achieve when so many of the globe’s newer nation-states waver precariously between weakness and failure, with some truly failing, or even collapsing. We will write a custom essay sample on Fail States or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In a time of terror, moreover, appreciating the nature of and responding to the dynamics of nation-state failure have become central to critical policy debates. How best to strengthen weak states and prevent state failure are among the urgent questions of the twenty-first century. This book examines contemporary cases of nation-state collapse and failure. 1 It establishes clear criteria for distinguishing collapse and failure from generic weakness or apparent distress, and collapse from failure. It further analyzes the nature of state weakness and advances reasons why some weak states succumb to failure, or collapse, and why others in ostensibly more straightened circumstances remain weak and at risk without ever destructing. Characterizing failed states is thus an important and relevant endeavor, especially because the phenomenon of state failure is under-researched, hitherto with imprecise definitions and a paucity of sharply argued, instructive, and well-delineated cases. Further, understanding exactly why weak states slide toward failure will help policymakers to design methods to prevent failure and, in the cases of states that nevertheless fail (or collapse), to revive them and assist in the rebuilding process. States are much more varied in their capacity and capability than they once were. They are more numerous than they were a half century ago, and the range of their population sizes, physical endowments, wealth, productivity, delivery systems, ambitions, and attainments is much more extensive than ever before. In 1914, in the wake of the crumbling of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires, there were fifty-five recognized national polities. In 1919, there were fifty-nine nations. In 1950, that number had reached sixty-nine. Ten years later, after the attainment of independence in much of Africa, ninety were nations. After many more African, Asian, and Oceanic territories had become independent, and after the implosion of the Soviet Union, the number of nations jumped to 191; East Timor’s independence in 2002 brought that total to 192. Given such explosive numbers, the inherent fragility of many of the new recruits (fifteen of Africa’s fifty-four states are landlocked), and the inherent navigational perils of the post–Cold War economic and political terrain, the possibility of failure among a subset of the total remains ever present. Strength and Weakness Nation-states exist to provide a decentralized method of delivering political (public) goods to persons living within designated parameters (borders). Having replaced the monarchs of old, modern states focus and answer the concerns and demands of citizenries. They organize and channel the interests of their people, often but not exclusively in furtherance of national goals and values. They buffer or manipulate external forces and influences, champion the local or particular concerns of their adherents, and mediate between the constraints and challenges of the international arena and the dynamism of their own internal economic, political, and social realities. States succeed or fail across all or some of these dimensions. But it is according to their performance—according to the levels of their effective delivery of the most crucial political goods—that strong states may be distinguished from weak nes, and weak states from failed or collapsed states. Political goods   are those intangible and hard to quantify claims that citizens once made on sovereigns and now make on states. They encompass expectations, conceivably obligations, inform the local political culture, and together give content to the social contract between ruler and ruled that is at the core of regime/government and citizenry interactions. 2 There is a hierarchy of political goods. None is as critical as the supply of security, especially human security. Individuals alone, almost exclusively in special or particular circumstances, can attempt to secure themselves. Or groups of individuals can band together to organize and purchase goods or services that maximize their sense of security. Traditionally, and usually, however, individuals and groups cannot easily or effectively substitute private security for the full spectrum of public security. The state’s prime function is to provide that political good of security—to prevent cross-border invasions and infiltrations, and any loss of territory; to eliminate domestic threats to or attacks upon the national order and social structure; to prevent crime and any related dangers to domestic human security; and to enable citizens to resolve their disputes with the state and with their fellow inhabitants without recourse to arms or other forms of physical coercion. The delivery of a range of other desirable political goods becomes possible when a reasonable measure of security has been sustained. Modern states (as successors to sovereigns) provide predictable, recognizable, systematized methods of adjudicating disputes and regulating both the norms and the prevailing mores of a particular society or polity. The essence of that political good usually implies codes and procedures that together constitute an enforceable rule of law, security of property and inviolable contracts, a judicial system, and a set of values that legitimize and validate the local version of fair play. Another key political good enables citizens to participate freely, openly, and fully in politics and the political process. This good encompasses the essential freedoms: the right to compete for office; respect and support for national and regional political institutions, like legislatures and courts; tolerance of dissent and difference; and fundamental civil and human rights. Other political goods typically supplied by states (although privatized forms are possible) and expected by their citizenries include medical and health care (at varying levels and costs); schools and educational instruction (of various kinds and levels)—the knowledge good; roads, railways, harbors, and other physical infrastructures—the arteries of commerce; communications infrastructures; a money and banking system, usually presided over by a central bank and lubricated by a national currency; a beneficent fiscal and institutional context within which citizens can pursue personal entrepreneurial goals and potentially prosper; the promotion of civil society; and methods of regulating the 4 ROBERT I. ROTBERG sharing of the environmental commons. Together, this bundle of political goods, roughly rank ordered, establishes a set of criteria according to which modern nation-states may be judged strong, weak, or failed. Strong states obviously perform well across these categ ories and with respect to each, separately. Weak states show a mixed profile, fulfilling expectations in some areas and performing poorly in others. The more poorly weak states perform, criterion by criterion, the weaker they become, and the more that weakness tends to edge toward failure, hence the subcategory of weakness that is termed failing. Many failed states flunk each of the tests outlined above. But they need not flunk all of them to fail overall, particularly since satisfying the security good weighs very heavily, and high levels of internal violence are associated directly with failure and the propensity to fail. Yet, violence alone does not condition failure, and the absence of violence does not necessarily imply that the state in question is not failed. It is necessary to judge the extent to which an entire failing or failed profile is less or more than its component parts. Strong states unquestionably control their territories and deliver a full range and a high quality of political goods to their citizens. They perform well according to indicators like GDP per capita, the UNDP Human Development Index, Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, and Freedom House’s Freedom of the World Report. Strong states offer high levels of security from political and criminal violence, ensure political freedom and civil liberties, and create environments conducive to the growth of economic opportunity. The rule of law prevails. Judges are independent. Road networks are well maintained. Telephones work. Snail mail and e-mail both arrive quickly. Schools, universities, and students flourish. Hospitals and clinics serve patients effectively. And so on. Overall, strong states are places of enviable peace and order. Weak states include a broad continuum of states that are: inherently weak because of geographical, physical, or fundamental economic constraints; basically strong, but temporarily or situationally weak because of internal antagonisms, management flaws, greed, despotism, or external attacks; and a mixture of the two. Weak states typically harbor ethnic, religious, linguistic, or other intercommunal tensions that have not yet, or not yet thoroughly, become overtly violent. Urban crime rates tend to be higher and increasing.

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

A description of mythological creatures found in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis and their origin

A description of mythological creatures found in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis and their origin DwarfA dwarf (modern plural dwarfs, older variant is dwarves) is a short humanoid creature in Norse mythology as well as fairy tales, fantasy fiction and role-playing games. Dwarves are much like humans, but generally living underground or in mountainous areas. Here they have heaped up countless treasures of gold, silver, and precious stones, and pass their time in fabricating costly armour. They are famed miners and smiths although, like humans, they specialize in any number of trades. Generally shorter than humans, they are on average stockier and hairier, usually sporting full beards. Dwarfish smiths created some of the greatest and most powerful items of power in Norse mythology, such as the magic ribbon which bound the wolf, Fenris.SatyrsIn Greek mythology, satyrs are mythological half-man and half-goat nature entities that roamed the woods and mountains, and were the companions of Pan and Dionysus.Satyrs are most commonly described as having the upper half of a man and the lowe r half of a goat or, less commonly, the lower half of a horse.Brygos PainterThey are also described as possessing a long thick tail, either that of a goat or a horse. Mature satyrs are often depicted with goat's horns, while juveniles are often shown with bony nubs on their foreheads.They are described as roguish but faint-hearted folk subversive and dangerous, yet shy and cowardly. They are lovers of wine, women and boys, and are ready for every physical pleasure. They roam to the music of pipes, cymbals, castanets, and bagpipes, and love to dance with the nymphs (with whom they are obsessed, and whom they often pursue), and have a special form of dance called 'sikinnis'. Because of their love of wine, they are often represented holding wine-cups, and appear often in the decorations on wine-cups.