Earthquake located on the San Andreas Fault line Essay

An Earthquake that registered 7.8 on the Richter Scale which lasted approximately 1 minute caused catastrophic damage to the City of Berkeley and LPHG. As a result of the Earthquake 31 employees perished including 1 as a result of the H1Z1 virus which had an outbreak in the wake of the catastrophe. The damage and loss of life has caused significant delays to the release of LPHG’s release of EFHG. DRP Documents: (e.g., disaster  recovery plan, backup plans etc.) Include specific details about the documents, including completeness. The Disaster Preparedness plan was not written as thoroughly as possible and left little direction to the disaster recovery team. it was missing major information, such as a list of critical services, Employee contact information and vendor contact information. see more:summary of san andreas movie The Business Impact analysis for this type of scenario or any disaster was never completed so there was little information to help the disaster preparedness team as far as how this disaster will impact the organizations operations. The Backup Policy was written thoroughly and included information on the backup schedule and storage locations. It also listed the backup methods used and the length of time full backups were kept for. The document also included instructions to restore data from both differential and full backups, but did not address what to do in a disaster scenario such as this. Lastly, the document does not address data storage at an offsite location, which would be beneficial if the whole campus is lost during an emergency. Post-Disaster Response Summary: Because the DRP was not completed properly there was not enough information available to employees, and they were not able to respond properly. They had to find employees names and addresses on their own since this information was missing from the DRP. Since no Business Impact analysis was done for this type of situation there was no relevant information available to help the DR team members through this specific situation. One bright spot is that they organizations data has been protected. Strengths of Disaster Response EVALUATION Strength #1: Strength Details: Summary of Strength: The Backup plan was set up and in place and data was protected and stored in multiple locations to ensure its safety. Additionally, the data retention policy made sure that full backups were kept for a period of at least 2 weeks and that differential backups were used in addition to full backups.  Contributing Factors: Plans There was a data backup plan in place Policies Policies were clearly outlined in the Backup and Recovery Policy document, and were being followed Documents The Backup and Recovery Policy was able to provide enough documentation to explain procedures for backing up data. Positive Consequences: Because the Policy was in place and was being followed, the Organization was able to retain all of its data through this disaster. once normal operations resume that data can be restored. Ways to Improve: The locations of data storage should be revised to allow for an offsite storage location. currently both data storage locations are located on campus. At least one of these locations needs to be changed to an offsite location to allow for greater chance of data retention in case a disaster strikes that wipes out the whole campus. Strength #2: Strength Details: Summary of Strength: Data recovery plan was written and procedures were in place to restore data in case of emergency. Since this was prepared the organization can restore operations successfully and resume work when normal operations begin again Contributing Factors: Plans Data restoration plan was written and in place Policies Policies were clearly defined in Backup and recovery policy document. Documents Backup and Recovery document provides clear instructions to follow in case of emergency and outlines step by step process to restore data Positive Consequences: Since the Backup and recovery document was in place and provided clear instructions this allows for a quicker recovery time to restore data once normal operations resume. Ways to Improve: The Data recovery document should be refined to include the priority of data restoration when all business functions have been compromised Strength #3: Strength Details: Summary of Strength: Disaster Recovery team had previously prepared Disaster preparedness plan, a Backup and Recovery Policy, and a Business Impact Assessment. Contributing Factors: Plans Having these plans in place give the Disaster Recovery team the instructions they need when disaster strikes Policies There were policies in place for the Disaster Recovery team to follow these documents Documents Documents were readily available and helped provide basic guidance to Disaster recovery Team Positive Consequences: Having the documentation available helped the Disaster Recovery team kick off the process to restore the organization to operational status. Ways to Improve: These documents need to be thoroughly reviewed after the organization is restored to operational status. When they are reviewed they need to be more thoroughly filled out and include any lessons learned from the current disaster. Areas for Improvement of Disaster Response EVALUATION Area for Improvement #1: Area for Improvement Details: Summary of Area for Improvement: Documentation needs to be improved and completed. The Documentation that existed, though helpful did not provide any comprehensive guidance to the disaster recovery team. Contributing Factors: Plans The Disaster Preparedness plan and the Business Impact analysis were not completed properly. Policies Policies for developing proper disaster recovery documentation were not in place and as a result the documentation to support it was not correctly done Documents Disaster recovery documentation was not complete and did not give employees enough information to used during the disaster recovery process Consequences: There are multiple scenarios that can be created from the lack of preparedness. At the very least the lack of documentation and foresight into planning can cause a delay in the recovery process for the organization. On the more extreme side this can put the organization out of business because the organization can take an extraordinary amount of time to return to normal operating conditions Ways to Improve: Review existing documentation and ensure that is it done completely. This is an incredibly important and clearly necessary approach. Additional documentation will have to be created in order to assist the Emergency Response team in the future. Area for Improvement #2: Area for Improvement Details: Summary of Area for Improvement: Data storage and Business Continuity plan did not identify the need for an off campus site to store data backups and allow for restoration of IT services in case of emergency Contributing Factors: Plans A plan needs to be developed that involves identifying an off campus site in case of emergency Policies Policies will need to be created to identify when an alternate site is needed to be used and how to go about restoring services from that site. Documents Documentation will have to be written to support proper procedure for bringing alternate site up during emergency situations. Consequences: Without an off campus secondary site, the organization runs the risk of total destruction should an emergency happen that destroys or compromises the main campus. Ways to Improve: A secondary site with proper equipment that is far enough away from main campus could enable the organization to continue operations even if the main campus is compromised. Area for Improvement #3: Area for Improvement Details: Summary of Area for Improvement: There is no process in place to validate and review the various documents for the Disaster Recovery Plan. Additionally no Disaster response teams have been identified to review and execute these plans when needed. Contributing Factors: Plans All Disaster Recovery documentation should be completed and review periodically. A process to validate and test the plan should be put into place. Policies Policies and procedures should be created to ensure that documentation is completed and reviewed Documents All documents involving Disaster Recovery need to updated and reviewed on a regular basis. Consequences: Since the documentation was done so haphazardly, the ability to return to normal operation status in a timely manner is put in jeopardy. Even worse, this can cause the organization to cease to exist. Ways to Improve: Create a Disaster Recovery team and put them in charge of documenting and planning all facets of disaster recovery. Have them update and add the required documentation and have disaster recovery drills to verify the plans. Additionally, the team should take their findings from testing and continually update and try to improve the policy.

Chevron Oil Industry Analysis

http://factsanddetails. com/world. php? itemid=1541&catid=51&subcatid=326 Chevron: Industry Analysis Threat of New Entrants The threat of new entrants is extremely low due to several factors. First, the oil industry which consists of thousands of oil and oil service companies throughout the world is an extremely large market. â€Å"According to the Department of Energy (DOE), Fossil fuels which include coal, oil, and natural gas make up more than 85% of the energy consumed in the U. S. as of 2008† (investopia). The fact that it is such a large market, make it very competitive for new entrants.Also, the oil industry is already in the mature stage, dominated by many major players including Chevron that has been around for a long period of time with various locations worldwide. This shows that they have an established reputation that is hard to compete with. Also, there are several barriers to entry which make it a very competitive market. These challenges include high capital co st, economies of scale, distribution channels, technology, environmental and governmental regulation as well as high levels of industry expertise.According to the Turnkey Analyst, â€Å"it is very difficult to build sustainable competitive advantages in the energy industry where oil’s commodity nature inhibits pricing power within the industry. Market participants are constantly required to invest capital to maintain cash flows and market share. † Therefore, these barriers to entry make it hard for new players to enter the market. http://turnkeyanalyst. com/2012/06/turnkey-research-note-chevron-corporation-nyse-cvx/ Rivalry among Existing Firms The oil industry is different from other due to the high demand for oil.Despite being a national company, Chevron has many competitors including regional as well as independent companies. Chevron is among the second largest oil companies in the world. Its competitors are Exxon, Royal Dutch Shell and BP. (chevron). Since oil is a commodity, the rivalry among existing firms is low. This is because there is not much of a differentiation. Threat of Substitute Products The threat of substitute is low. Substitutes for the oil industry would be alternative energy such as solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity or perhaps nuclear energy.However, due to factors such as â€Å"government regulations and environmental issues, nuclear and hydroelectric energy sources are not a threat within the next. Further, photovoltaic sources are limited by technological issues and geothermal sources are limited by geographic availability† (Miller). These might be a potential threat in the future due to emerging technologies and innovation that may lead to less consumption of oil-based fuel. An example would be hybrid cars that will result in less dependency on oil services.However, this shift in a more sustainable supply chain seems to be in the long term due to certain barriers such as high costs such as investments in n ew facilities. According to Chevron, â€Å"fossil fuels will continue to have a prominent role in the world’s economy for decades to come in both transportation and electricity generation. According to the International Energy Agency, renewable energy will account for less than 20 percent of the energy mix in 2035. † They believe that there will always be a demand for their products due to growth of the global economy and alternative energy sources do not seem to be a serious threat.Another factor that shows that alternative energy is not a serious threat is the fact that there is not enough support from the government. â€Å"Even though governments throughout the world are vowing to expand to green energy, they continue to give far more subsidies to fossil fuel than renewable – 10 to 12 times more, according to recent reports† (Wood). http://www. chevron. com/documents/pdf/ChevronApproachtoAssessingClimateRegulationImpacts. pdf http://www. renewableenerg yworld. com/rea/news/article/2010/12/oil-and-renewables-slicing-up-the-subsidy-pie Bargaining Power of SuppliersWithin the global industry exist many companies but is dominated by a few major players. Due to large capital investment in these companies, they â€Å"Supplier power is high because OPEC controls 40% of world’s supply of oil and, thus, has a strong influence on the price of oil† (Miller). Inspite of its size and scope, the oil industry is one of the most powerful in the world. Large companies such as Chevron control each aspect of the supply chain such as producing, refining, and drilling. Due to capital investments, it allow for these oil companies to acquire and own each part of their supply chain.The fact that they are their own customers give them more power allowing them to be more efficient. With all the their capital assets, they are able to obtain the resources such as operating their own macturing facilities, distribution channel giving them more co ntrol in this aspect. This shows that they have a high bargaining power. Their only supplier would be the oil reserves from oil producing countries. Bargaining Power of Buyers The bargaining power of buyers (individual) is low because oil is a commodity. Despite rise in prices, people will continue to buy it in order to fulfill their needs such as driving.With the lack of substitutes for oil, it gives little power to buyers who rely heavily on this resource. The cost of switching to another energy source is too high. Therefore, there is a high demand for oil which determines the market price. Industrial buyer power is also low because their supply can be limited by upstream suppliers. (Miller) To conclude, the overall attractiveness of the oil industry is high because there is low threat of new entry as well as buyer power and threat of substitutes. Also, the fact that supplier power is high is a favorable since the few major players in the industry are both suppliers and buyers.

Case 6.11 whitewater west industries limited Study

6.11 whitewater west industries limited - Case Study Example In order to meet their demand, relatively larger area of at least 6,040 to 6,970 square meters is required. Upon the analysis of WhiteWater West Industries Limited, three production sites are investigated. Further analysis is required as to which production site needs to be acquired which must fulfill the company’s strategic objectives. Due to increase in the demand in volumes for the fiber water slides, WhiteWater West Industries Limited needs a production facility of around 6,040 to 6,970 square meters. In order to acquire that much place, three different site locations namely Hiram-Walker, Build Option and Abbotsford Site were narrowed down by the management of WhiteWater West Industries Limited. In the following paragraphs, each site will be analyzed briefly. This site is not too far from the existing production site. In nine months time, this location can be prepared for the commercial production of the fiber water slides. This site benefits that in future if expansion is required, this site can provide more area to expand the production plants and facilities. Cost totaling around $1,571,875 will be required to avail this production facility. This option requires WhiteWater West Industries Limited to build a manufacturing factory, which is perfect in every sense. However, in order to find such site which is so perfect, is a hectic matter which could cause substantial time of around one year and a total cost of $,4464,425. This site has its own benefit of being near Vancouver, Seattle and Portland markets, so the customers from those areas can be catered easily if this site is selected. However, some drawbacks also pertain to this site such that hardships in mobilizing the labor from the existing place to this place. For those workers who do not want to work on this place, need other financial assistance causing more cost to WhiteWater West Industries Limited. Along with this, this site will not provide any

The mysterious series 3 problems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The mysterious series 3 problems - Essay Example The length X width is simply the area of the inner box diagramed above. The height is simply x. Thus the expression for the volume of the box is the following: 3. Billy bob has 200 yards of fencing material, and he wishes to build a rectangular kennel with four sections, as shown below. Find the dimensions of the individual pens if the total enclosed area is to be as large as possible? Prove that you have accurately determined the total maximum area. Let x be the width of each individual pen. If the total fencing is 200 yards, the resulting length of the whole pen would be (200-5x)/2 and the area of the whole pen would be [(200-5x)/2](x). The formula for the area of the whole pen would be: To maximize the area, derive the formula for the area, equate to zero and then solve for x. The derivative would then be 100-5x=0, thus x=20. Substituting back into the equation, the length of the whole pen would be 50 yards and the width of the pen would be 20 yards. If individual pens were to be measured, the length would be divided by 4, thus the length of each individual pen would be 12.5 yards. Since the width of each pen is 20 yards, each pen would have an area of 250 square

Read Abigail Solomon-Godeau's essay on Gauguin and answer the Assignment

Read Abigail Solomon-Godeau's essay on Gauguin and answer the questions - Assignment Example This lead to oppression. Gauguin escaped European civilization and technology and took refuge in Tahiti. This action made him live a simple and natural lifestyle. His desire for sexual freedom was manifested in his paintings. He viewed Tahiti as the earthly arcadia of love, naked nymphs and gentle climate to mark it all. He also extended the academic pastoral to include all other non-European models. He believed in celebrating the society of his adoption against colonialism (Solomon-Godeau, 127). What undermined him as primitive is that he took adolescent mistresses as young as fifteen years. He also saw sexual freedom from the male point of view. It concludes that elements of primitivism involves interweave of race, sexual fantasies and power (Solomon-Godeau 130). In the end, he victimized the Tahitians because he regarded them as

Reflective review 'Making informed decision' Essay

Reflective review 'Making informed decision' - Essay Example Research and practical assistance are provided in this reformation center to strategize its intervention for those needing its assistance and support. To realize its programs, quality staffs are hired to provide quality services for children under its care and custody. Child protection and welfare topped as its priority agenda, especially those serving their sentences as child offenders based on the national policy and the enforcement of international rights of the child. The justice center is likewise in observance to the juvenile justice system which limits the standard age of child’s criminal liability at ten years old but the state qualified that those children between 10 to 14 years old, there is a refutable presumption that they are incapable of forming criminal intent to make them instantly guilty of committing a crime (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012, p. 1) This is handled and managed by separate laws, process and court jurisdiction for children. Child ren are therefore brought under the custody of the Justice Center in relation to the result of the judgement rendered following their prosecution out of the offense committed or they are subject for alternative proceedings based on the nature of the allegations and the capacity of the child to respond to the case (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012, p. 1). Aside from this, the justice courts also afford child protection, like in cases when they suffer from abuses or if the child is the lone witness to criminal cases. This is a mandatory function of the center to ensure the child’s welfare and to veer them from significant harm (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012, p. 1). This includes children who are suffering from severe problems on trafficking, slavery, sexual servitude, deceptive recruiting and exploitation (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012, p. 1). As of these days, the institution is challenged with the increasing number of juve niles under its custody and the limited number of quality staff that can provide responses to their needs. Thus, the management proposed to purchase monitoring technology and to mount these in the bedrooms of the children. So how does informed decision-making be done in this case? As of 2012, the statistics of juveniles in Australia sentenced by court has reached the figures of 2,537 in New South Wales, 737 from Victoria, 815 in Queensland, 532 from South Australia, 108 in Tasmania and 154 in Australian Capital Territory (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012, p. 1) . There are no records from Western Australia and in Northern Territory. Data further bared that the detention rate per 1,000 children aging 10-17 years old are 3.2 in New South Wales, 0.8 in Victoria, 1.7 in Queensland, 3.0 in South Australia, 1.8 in Tasmania and 4.3 in Australian Capital Territory (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012, p. 1). In an average rate, Australia has 2.5% youth rate dete ntion. The rate of indigenous children under detention is also different. In New South Wales, there are 29.5 rate per 1,000 children are detained as of 2012, 11.6 in Victoria, 14.4 in Queensland, 33.7 in South Australia, 5.6 in Tasmania and 57.0 from Australian Capital Territory (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012, p. 1). Considering these figures, staffs of the Judicial Center will certainly find exhausting difficulties in

Poverty, Hunger, and Homelessness Research Paper

Poverty, Hunger, and Homelessness - Research Paper Example Poverty, Hunger, and Homelessness According to Nelson, the climate change is one of the roots of poverty among communities. This is because it results in hunger, droughts, and floods. Lack of shelter is a global challenge and comes from an inadequate income which does not allow people to afford the available housing. Conflicts, overpopulation, natural disasters are among the factors that lead to hunger, poverty, and homelessness in underdeveloped countries. Criteria of Poverty and Homelessness Poverty may not always refer to the lack of financial resources only. Poverty goes beyond the amount of money that one owns. Several measures that constitute the criteria for identifying poverty among people have come up. The measurement and analysis of the poverty level proves its significance for analytical, cognitive, and policy-making purposes, as well as for evaluating and monitoring purposes. Various concepts of well-being exist, and this report focuses on three of its aspects. Firstly, the poverty state where an individu al possesses inadequate resources to meet their daily needs. It is based on the comparison of individual’s income, consumption, education, and other constituents. Secondly, this report focuses on inequality in the distribution of income among the population. This argument is based on evaluating the premise that in the society individuals occupy different positions. Finally, the welfare-being evaluation of the overall level of inequality, in terms of monetary and non-monetary dimensions of the population, shows the poverty level (Coundouel 77). The World Bank estimates that in developing countries, millions of families survive on 1.25 dollar a day or less. In addition, it indicates that poverty and hunger results from poor economic and political systems in a country. The federal government uses the income threshold to establish the poverty level in a community. The Census Bureau for Statistical Purposes uses the thresholds to establish poverty. According to Coundouel (78), the government classifies people according to â€Å"their residence, ethnicity, and other demographic characteristics†. A state of homelessness is when a person does not have a permanent residence. Poverty Level in Terre Haute According to the United States Bureau of Statistics and Census, the poverty level in Terre Haute is estimated at 25.2%. Indiana ranges around 14% when compared to the national poverty level of 15%. According to Nelson (24), the poverty level in Terre Haute exceeds Indiana’s average and the national average. The Indiana’s government uses a below the poverty line as an economic benchmarking and a poverty threshold. This shows that a majority of the population lives in poverty. Homelessness Level in Terre Haute Homelessness in Terre Haute is at seven percent with Indiana’s homelessness at eleven percent. The high rate of homelessness is immensely contributed to by inadequate finances and inadequate incomes which do not allow people to aff ord building of good housing. The National Shelter Shelter rate comparison between Terre Haute and Indiana shows that Indiana rates exceed those of Terre Haute. Fifty eight percent of homeless people in America live in shelters and makeshift housing. The financial and economic crisis in America has led to the increasing rate of poverty and hunger. In 2011, over seventeen million people faced a crisis of food shortage. Arguably, the poverty level in America ranged around fifteen percent in the same year of 2011. The United

Terrorism Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Terrorism Assignment - Essay Example Al Qaeda has, despite its being weakened through the efforts of the United States and its allies, still has the ability to target a diverse number of locations all over the world, and these mainly tend to be American interests. One of the reasons why al Qaeda has continued to survive and remain a threat to America is because of the sectarian divisions in the Middle East (Poole, 2010), which has made it easier for it to gain some political support from some prominent members of government who sympathize with them. This has ensured that members of the organization have safe places where they can operate without any interference from their respective government. It can be suggested that the presence of external forces in the Middle East, such as NATO’s military presence, have helped strengthen the organization because the former is seen as an invading force targeting Muslims instead of terrorists. Furthermore, the power vacuum left from the ousting of Saddam Hussein in Iraq ensur ed that the presence of Al Qaeda was expanded to this country. The fact that al Qaeda is still a threat to the United States has called to question its ability to protect its civilians from any potential attacks from this organization especially after the catastrophe in 2001. The security posture of the United States before the September 11 attacks is very different from the one which came after these attacks. Before these attacks, the federal government played an extremely restricted role in the internal security of the nation and most of the security matters were left in the hands of the state and local governments. Since the responsibility for internal security was left to the latter, one would surmise that they concentrated more on the domestic threat than on any potential one from outside the United States (Borch, 2003). In addition to this, most of the security agencies at the federal level were not on a high alert for any foreign attacks on the United States because such threats were considered to be non-existent. All these changed after the attacks as the United States moved to swiftly secure itself from the new external threat, al Qaeda (Chau, 2008). The activation of the American security apparatus has worked well towards ensuring that no furthe r attacks on the United States on the same scale as September 2001 have yet to occur again. The intelligence services, which once jealously guarded their jurisdictions from each other have seen an unprecedented level of cooperation between them, and these has been facilitated by the development of fusion centers as points through which they have come to share intelligence. The fact that these agencies are now sharing information, has ensured that they have become more effective in their fight against al Qaeda both at a local and international level and many potential strikes by this organization have been pre-empted (Sales, 2010). The American military has bases all over the world in allied countries and these have been put in place to protect American interests in these respective regions. Among the most prominent military bases can be found in the Middle East where they have been continuously used to fight terrorism in this region (Crook, 2006). The military has been an effective tool in dealing with the threat to the United States from al Qaeda. One of the most notable acts of the military was when Navy Seals attacked and killed the former al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, dealing a massive blow to the terrorist organization (Soherwordi et al, 2011). Furthermore, the military has used drones to strike at specific targets within al Qaeda who have been found to be a threat to the national security of the United States. Because of this drone strikes (Hudson, et al, 2012), many prominent al Qaeda leaders have been

Tuition Fees in British Universities Essay Example for Free

Tuition Fees in British Universities Essay Review   all   the   arguments   for   and   against   the   introduction   of   Tuition   Fees   for   entry   into   British   Universities   as   reported   in   the   media. Introduction British   higher   education   enjoyed   the   golden   days   of   70s   –   80s   when   the   generous   support   of   taxpayer   was   even   protected   from   the   intrusion   of   the   Government   by   the   autonomous   University   Grants   Committee.   During   this   period,   not   only   there   were   no   tuition   fees   but   there   was   also   a   generous   means-tested   mandatory   grants   enjoyed   by   most   of   the   students. However,   these   generous   facilities   could   not   be   maintained   since   the   beginnings   of   1980s   and   the   gradual   abolition   of   support   started   with   eliminating   the   overseas   students’   subsidies,   limitations   in   the   eligibility   for   general   social   welfare   grants   and   the   freezing   of   mandatory   grants.    Eventually   grants   were   totally   abolished   in   1997   and   were   replaced   by   loans.   (Johnstone,   2004)   The   Labour   party   represented   by   Mr   Charles   Clarke,   Secretary   of   State   for   Education,   proposed   legislation   for   top-up   fees   which   became   law   in   the   Higher   Education   Act   2004,   though   it   will   be   implemented   in   the   2006   –   2007   academic   year. Previously   the   undergraduate   fees   in   most   universities   were    £1,050.   However,   by   the   implementation   of   differential   fees   or   top-up   the   universities   will   be   able   to   charge   much   more.   According   to   the   Guardian   (2002)   â€Å"The   new   proposals   would   mean   that   universities   could   charge   nearer   the   real   cost   of   studying,   thought   to   be   an   average   of    £5,000   in   the   UK.   But   depending   on   the   institution,   department   and   course,   it   could   be   much   more.   More   loans   would   be   available   to   allow   students   to   pay   fees   up   front.† This   issue   has   been   debated   by   different   parties   and   is   still   facing   a   lot   of   opposition   despite   the   fact   that   it   is   meant   to   be   implemented   in   the   academic   year   2006   –   2007.   In   this   paper   I   am   going   to   study   the   arguments   for   and   against   under   the   following   headings: The Political   Debate Universities and   Students’   Point   of   View Conclusions The   Political   Debate The   Government’s   debate   for   top-up   tuition   fees   originates   from   describing   the   role   and   mission   of   universities   and   the   challenges   they   face   to   accomplish   their   goals.   Mr   Clarke   summarises   the   ambitions   that   the   Government   is   planning   to   achieve   by   the   proposal   in   his   white   paper   as: â€Å"First,   our   universities   have   to   make   better   progress   in   harnessing   our   knowledge   to   the   process   of   creating   wealth. And,   second,   they   have   to   extend   the   opportunities   of   higher   education   to   all   of   our   population,   irrespective   of   their   personal   and   economic   background†Ã‚   (Clark’s   White   Paper   Speech) Then   he   further   states   the   role   of   universities   nationally   in   adapting   to   the   changing   world   and   effecting   change   rather   than   being   affected   by   it. â€Å"In   short,   in   a   world   of   accelerating   change,   we   all   need   to   understand   that   our   societys   principal   weapon   in   ensuring   that   we   master   change,   rather   than   surrendering   to   it,   is   our   education   system,   and   principally   our   universities† Then   he   identifies   the   missions   of   the   universities:   â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚   are   research,   knowledge   transfer   and,   perhaps   most   important   of   all,   teaching†Ã‚   (Clarke,   White   Paper   Speech)   Then   he   describes   the   challenges   universities   face   to   achieve   these   missions   and   argues   for   an   ‘endowment’   device   as   the   best   solution   for   creating   ‘a   financial   regime’.   However,   this   will   take   a   long   time   before   it   becomes   a   reliable   resource.   Therefore   he   argues   for   the   short   term   funding   and   concludes: â€Å"As   countries   throughout   the   world   have   discovered,   requiring   students   to   contribute   to   the   cost   of   their   education   is   the   only   realistic   alternative.† The   Government’s   justification   is   that   this   is   only   fair   since   graduates   earn   double   the   earnings   of   non-graduates   and   therefore   should   contribute   to   the   system   producing   the   considerable   economic   benefits   they   will   enjoy   as   graduates.   It   is   also   pointed   out   that   the   taxpayer   will   rightly   make   a   comparison   and   ask   what   they   benefit   from   their   support   of   the   system. The   Secretary   of   State   for   Education   announced   the   details   of   the   Government’s   proposal,   which   can   be   summarised   in   the   following   points: Universities will   be   able   to   vary   fees   from    £0   to    £3,000      but   fees   can   vary   between   courses,   not   just   between Disadvantaged students   will   get   financial   support   to   study   what   they   want   when   they All students   will   also   protect   by   abolishing   up-front      This   means   no   student      or   their   family      has   to   find   tuition   fees   before   they   start   their   course. Students will   be   helped   further   by   increasing   the   student   loan   in   line   with   living      Students   shouldnt   have   to   rely   on   credit   cards   and   commercial   debt. The bursary   system   will   also   be   fair   on   both   students   and   the   universities,   who   will   use   some   of   their   extra   income   to   provide The   immediate   criticism   made   was   that   the   Labour   Party   effected   the   legislation   though   their   manifesto   promise   regarding   tuition   fees   reads:   â€Å"We   have   no   plans   to   introduce   University   top-up   fees,   and   have   legislated   to   prevent   their   introduction.   The   defensive   rebuttal   made   by   the   Labour   Party   is   that   the   legislation   will   not   take   effect   during   2001   –   2005   Parliament   which   angered   even   the   supporters   of   the   Labour   Party   who   did   not   like   this   mechanism   of   defence. On   the   other   hand,   the   Liberal   Democrats   Party   has   a   strong   counter   debate   based   on   a   number   of   points.   Firstly   they   think   that   top-up   fees   are   unfair   for   a   number   of   reasons: They claim   that   tuition   fees   widened   the   gap   between   social   classes   the   evidence   for   which   is   provided   by   the   independent   National   Audit   Office,   which   belongs   to   the      In   their   research   report   in   the   Student   Income   and   Expenditure   Survey   2002-2003   they   conclude   that   â€Å"The   social   class   gap   among   those   entering   higher   education   is   unacceptably   wide   and   has   widened. Tuition fees   have   been   a   strong   disincentive   for   access   to   higher   education;   and   now   with   the   top-up   fees   this   situation   will      In   fact,   this   is   the   conclusion   of   Professor   Claire   Callender   of   South   Bank   University   who   conducted   a   research   for   the   Government.   He   concludes:   Top-up   fees   of    £3000   will   put   even   more   poor   students   off   university. The poorest   students   are   affected   most   of   all   by   the   debt      This   is   evidential   in   the   Student   Income   and   Expenditure   Survey   which   reports   that   in   2002-2003,   the   poorest   students   affected   by   the   burden   of   debt   were   43%   more   than   the   rich   students.   More   evidences   were   provided   by   Barclay   in   a   survey   conducted   in   2004   (Annual   Survey   of   Expected   Student   Debt)   which   revealed   that   the   projected   average   debt   on   graduation   is    £12,069   (up   10%   on   the   previous   year).   Barclays   surveys   also   predicted   that   debt   on   graduation   will   triple   by   2010,   to    £33,708. Another point   indicating   social   classes   gap   is   the   fact   that   poor   students   take   longer   hours   of   paid      Statistics   of   Students   Income   and   Expenditure   Survey   of   2002-2003   report   that   58%   of   students   took   paid   work   during   term   time   while   this   was   47%   in   the   survey   of   1998-1999.   This   situation   is   particularly   bad   for   students   on   longer   courses,   e.g.   medical   students According to   their   ‘Sign   the   Petition’   article   titled   â€Å"Scrap   Tuition   Fees   and   Top-up   Fees†Ã‚   the   repayment   system   is   also      In   their   own   words: â€Å"The   post-graduation   repayment   system   will   impose   what   amounts   to   a   very   high   marginal   rate   of   income   tax   (higher   than   the   rate   paid   by   a   millionaire)   on   those   least   able   to   pay      young   graduates   just   out   of   college   and   those   working   in   lower   paid   jobs   in   the   public   services   and   voluntary   sector   (disproportionately   women   and   from   the   ethnic   minorities).   The   House   of   Commons   Library   concludes   that   graduates   earning   as   low   as    £35,115   are   already   paying   a   marginal   tax   rate   of   50%,   as   they   pay   off   their   student   loans.   They   will   be   doing   so   for   a   great   deal   longer   to   pay   off   much   greater   debts   if   top-up   fees   are   introduced   as   the   Government   proposes.   The   Library   figures   also   reveal   that   graduates   earning   as   little   as    £15,000   will   pay   a   marginal   tax   rate   of   42%,   more   than   the   current   marginal   rate   for   the   very   highest   earners.† Secondly,   the   Liberal   Democrats   claim   that   top-up   fees   will   not   solve   the   funding   problem.   While   there   is   no   question   that   universities   need   money,   the   important   question   is   where   this   money   should   come   from.   The   Government’s   argument   in   support   of   top-up   fees   is   that   it   will   create   â€Å"a   more   sustainable   funding   regime†,   the   same   justification   of   for   tuition   fees   which   did   not   sort   out   the   funding   problem   for   universities.   Similar   results   are   expected   with   top-up   fees. Top-up   fees   will   not   solve   the   funding   problem:   Everybody   agrees   that   universities   need   more   money.   The   question   is,   where   should   the   money   come   from?   The   Government   says   that   top-up   fees   are   needed   in   order   to   create   a   more   sustainable   funding   regime.   But   exactly   the   same   argument   was   used   to   justify   tuition   fees.   Instead,   funding   per   student   by   the   taxpayer   was   cut   during   Labours   first   term   in   office   and   tuition   fees   merely   plugged   the   gap,   leaving   universities   no   better   off.   The   same   is   likely   to   happen   with   top-up   fees. Thirdly   the   Liberal   Democrats   believe   that   the   Government’s   scheme   is   inefficient. â€Å"The   Government   is   switching   from   up-front   fees   to   post-graduation   repayment   via   the   student   loan   system.   The   cost   to   the   taxpayer   of   financing   this   debt   will   be   substantial.   The   Explanatory   Notes   published   alongside   the   Higher   Education   Bill   indicate   that,   in   order   to   raise    £1   billion   for   universities   in   top-up   fees   income,   the   cost   to   the   taxpayer   will   be   in   the   region   of    £445   million†Ã‚   (Scrap   the   Tuition   Fees   article). Finally   the   liberal   Democrats   are   of   the   opinion   that   education   should   be   free   and   nobody   should   be   denied   access   to   learning   because   of   their   financial   abilities.   This   cannot   be   achieved   unless   tuition   is   free. The   Liberal   Democrats   are   challenged   by   a   valid   question:   What   would   you   do?   They   promise   that   they   would   abolish   all   tuition   fees.   In   other   words   they   would   cancel   the   present    £1125   and   make   sure   that   no   other   charge   will   be   considered. In   addition   they   would   assist   the   low-income   students   by   reintroducing   maintenance   grants   to   meet   living   costs   and   restore   the   students’   right   to   housing   and   unemployment   benefits   during   summer.   The   assistance   will   not   be   limited   to   students   it   will   also   be   extended   to   universities   by   providing   more   resources   that   will   enable   them   to   recruit   and   retain   good   staff   and   improve   the   quality   of   services   in   terms   of   buildings   and   libraries   etc.   A   more   ambitious   resolution   is   the   following: â€Å"Develop   a   21st   century   higher   education   system   which   would   bring   together   universities,   further   education   and   e-learning,   open   up   routes   to   technical   and   vocational   as   well   as   academic   qualifications   and   make   it   easier   for   those   who   wish   to   study   part-time†Ã‚   (Scrap   Tuition   Fees   article† However,   how   is   this   going   to   be   achieved?   The   Liberal   Democrats   say   that   these   commitments   can   be   funded   by   their   proposed   50%   income   tax   for   those   who   earn   more   than    £100,000.   Whether   this   would   be   sufficient   or   not   is   another   question   to   be   answered. Universities   and   Students’   Point   of   View Universities   UK,   a   body   representing   vice-chancellors,   is   of   the   opinion   that   the   Education   Bill   (which   is   now   a   law)   is   necessary   and   fair.   (Brown,   2003)   Brown   emphasises   the   need   for   increased   funding   for   university   teaching,   which   had   been   reduced   over   the   last   two   decades   resulting   in   universities   facing   difficulties   to   achieve   their   main   goals.   He   asserts   that   â€Å"we   risk   losing   our   international   reputation   for   the   quality   and   effectiveness   of   our   higher   education   system.† Another   Universities   UK   authority   asked   to   comment   by   the   BBC   News   commented   as   follows: â€Å"Lets   look   at   what   is   actually   being   proposed   in   the   UK.   The   package   here   offers   students   no   up-front   fees,   loan   forgiveness   at   25   years,   no   real   rate   of   interest,   a   generous   grant   and   bursary   system   and   a   cap   on   the   fee   itself.   By   these   means,   the   UK   scheme   seeks   to   avoid   the   problems   which   others   have   found   elsewhere.   What   is   being   proposed   in   the   UK   will   ensure   that   the   poorest   students   will   be   better   off   while   studying   under   these   arrangements   than   they   are   now      and   they   are   also   effectively   indemnified   against   low   earnings   after   graduation.† Therefore,   we   can   conclude   that   universities   support   the   Government’s   proposal   and   see   it   as   the   most   appropriate   solution.   Brown   in   his   articles   dismissed   the   counter   argument   of   the   Conservatives   and   concluded   that   the   Government’s   proposal   is   fair   and   offers   a   sustainable   solution: â€Å"Universities   are   asking   for   a   major   increase   in   funding,   partly   from   public   funds   and   partly   from   individuals.   Given   the   scale   of   the   funding   gap,   Universities   UK   thinks   it’s   fair   to   ask   those   who   benefit   most   from   higher   education   –   graduates   –   to   contribute   proportionally   more   to   its   costs.   While   the   higher   earnings   of   graduates   mean   that   the   majority   of   UK   taxpayers   who   earn   over    £100,000   have   benefited   from   higher   education,   a   significant   proportion   of   this   group   have   not.   We   therefore   consider   this   solution   to   be   a   relatively   poorly   targeted   way   of   raising   the   necessary   money,   compared   with   the   form   of   progressive   taxation   offered   by   the   Government   proposals   which   targets   only   those   who   have   been   to   university.† On   the   other   hand,   students   represented   by   National   Union   of   Students,   seem   to   be   against   the   to-up   fees   scheme   and   are   pointing   out   the   fall   in   applications   for   universities   which   they   describe   as   â€Å"extremely   worrying†.   In   the   words   of   NUS   president   Kat   Fletcher,   â€Å"The   drop   in   applications   is   extremely   worrying,   and   suggests   that   top-up   fees   and   the   debt   they   represent   are   deterring   potential   students. According   to   Mandy   Telford,   National   Union   of   Students   president: â€Å"If   top-up   fees   come   in,   then   more   and   more   students   will   be   forced   to   choose   their   course   based   on   its   cost   and   therefore   put   themselves   at   a   disadvantage   before   they   even   graduate.   Increased   fees   will   mean   some   employers   will   look   at   the   cost   of   a   course   rather   than   a   graduates   ability.   Furthermore,   if   the   Government   does   not   provide   a   decent   student   funding   package,   then   those   students   forced   to   work   long   hours   in   paid   work   will   be   unable   to   get   involved   in   CV-enhancing   extra-curricular   activities.   This   will   further   widen   the   gulf   between   the   haves   and   have-nots   on   campus   and   after   grad uation.† It   is   obvious   that   the   students   are   against   the   scheme   and   are   worried   about   consequences   they   portrait   whether   they   are   actual   or   assumed   ones. Conclusions It   is   definite   that   the   scheme   proposed   by   the   Government   is   facing   a   lot   of   opposition   mainly   from   obviously   the   Liberal   Democrats,   the   UK’s   well   organized   National   Student   Unions,   the   Labour   Party’s   vocal   political   left.   This   is   so   despite   the   fact   that   some   parts   of   the   Government’s   proposal   seem   fair   and   plausible. It   would   have   been   in   the   interest   of   all   parties   concerned   to   remove   the   issue   from   the   political   agenda   and   refer   it   to   professionals   to   study   and   recommend   feasible   solutions. References Johnstone, D. Bruce (2004) – Fear and Loathing of Tuition Fees: An American Perspective on Higher Education Finance in the UK – downloaded on 12 December from: http://www.gse.buffalo.edu/org/inthigheredfinance/Publications/Fear%20and%20Loathing%20of%20Tuition%20Fees%20PDF.pdf Liberal Democrats (scraptuitionfees.com) – Why do the Liberal Democrats oppose tuition fees and to-up fees? – downloaded on 11 December 2006 from: http://www.scraptuitionfees.com/pages/Why.phtml Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia – Top-up fees – downloaded on 11 December 2006 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top-up_fees Curtis, Polly – Clarke comes out fighting over fees -Guardian Unlimited (November 26 2003) – downloaded on 11 December 2006 from: http://politics.guardian.co.uk/queensspeech2003/story/0,13994,1093724,00.html Newspaper Article Students Want Top-Up Fees Looked at as Applications Fall The Birmingham Post February 16, 2006. Newspaper Article – Charles Clarke’s statement to the Commons – Guardian Unlimited (January 22 2003) – downloaded on 11 December 2006 from: http://education.guardian.co.uk/specialreports/tuitionfees/story/0,,880051,00.html Nigel Brown (2003) – What’s it worth? The case for variable graduate contributions: A report for Universities UK – Universities UK BBC News Viewpoints: Tuition fees – downloaded on 11 December 2006 from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3583401.stm Webb, Steve –Liberal Democrat MP (11 August 2003) – Current Features: Top-up Fees Cause Universal Concern – downloaded on 11 December 2006 from: http://www.libdems.org.uk/parliament/feature.html?id=5133navPage=features.html Guardian Unlimited (November 26 2003) – Paying the price in education – downloaded on 11 December 2006 from: http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/tuitionfees/story/0,12757,1093673,00.html Sing Gill, Parmjit MP (25 January 2005) – Adjournment Debate: University top-up and tuition fees – downloaded on 11 December 2006 fro: http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/parliament/showBriefing.asp?id=20

The Education of Henry Adams Essay Example for Free

The Education of Henry Adams Essay Henry Adams wrote a short preface to his landmark autobiography The Education of Henry Adams, which provides crucial clues at to what the book aims at. The first question mark is concerning whether it is an autobiography at all, and according to the admission of the author it is not so in the conventional sense. He tells us that the theme is education, and specifically it searches for a new mode of education that is appropriate to the age of science and mechanization. If he is telling the story of his life, it is as if he is putting himself forward as a manikin in order to expose the misfit of a garment, which here denotes traditional education. Adams wants to demonstrate to us that conventional education has not prepared him for the modern world, and this is the first aim we identify in the preface. The second, and related, aim is to show that such education did not â€Å"educate† his fathers either, despite their smug assurances that it did. The third aim is to demonstrate that all education is self-education. A student cannot ask of his teacher to provide him with an â€Å"education†, but only a mastery of the tools of education. A young man with a keen mind is described as a bundle of energy, but which is liable to go to waste without economical application. The teacher shows him how to use the tools, and thereby how to economize his force. Once the tools have served their purpose they must be discarded, and to demonstrate why this is so is the fourthly stated aim. If the student does not discard the baggage of his education he is liable to be burdened with â€Å"inert facts†, which becomes deadweight to him (Adams 379). The fifth and final aim concerns the vitality of the manikin. To introduce the analogy of the manikin in the first place may suggest that the subject of the autobiography is not really a person at all. Whether he is or not, the manikin must be treated as a real person, for if this is not done the garment of education cannot be tested on the manikin at all. What Adams is really saying is that, although we should distrust the â€Å"I† of the autobiography, because it is a pretentious and largely fictional being, we should empathize to an extent, because autobiography is bound to contain a measure of truth Because he distrusted the autobiographical â€Å"I†, Adams finds an alternative use of the subject of his autobiography, which is as a manikin doll to test suitably of conventional education, and whether it has prepared him for the world. He states that this act of self effacement is a trend started by Jean Jacques Rousseau, whose semi-autobiographical Emile is really an educational tract. Adams is suggesting that autobiography is automatically a narrative of one’s education, and the narrator is simply the means by which this is accomplished. If this is the case, he prefers to do the deed expressly, calling the described character of Henry Adams a manikin doll, and education being the real subject matter. This does not mean that he becomes detached from the character, but he does avoid the â€Å"I† throughout, and narrates the story of Henry Adams strictly in the third person. The central concern of Adams is that conventional education is completely out of touch with the real world. There is no doubt that he gets the best available education for his age, attending the prestigious Harvard College. But his complaint is a fundamental one. Regarding his Harvard education he says: It taught little, and that little ill, but it left the mind open, free from bias, ignorant of facts, but docile. The graduate had few strong prejudices. He knew little, but his mind remained supple, ready to receive knowledge. (Ibid 55) In spite of being fiercely critical of Harvard at all time, what he describes of it, as evidenced in the above passage, is exactly what he states elsewhere that education should be. It is to have mastery of the tools and a remnant of an open mind, so that self education can proceed from thence onwards. Therefore, the point of his attack is not entirely clear. We can understand the criticism, though, from the point of view of the education being anarchic and nihilistic, but this was an indictment against the American educational system as a whole, and not just Harvard. For this he puts science on the dock, saying that if it does not promote a unity in vision. The modern search for scientific truth he relates to the worship of the dynamo, and he contrasts this to the worship of the Virgin, the iconic goddess of traditional Christianity. The worship of the Virgin promoted unity, and for which reason the Catholic Church was able to hold European civilization together in the Middle Ages. Science challenged this vision and overcame it in the end. Science also promised unity. When Francis Bacon propounds the experimental method of observation and induction in the 17th century, his hope was that scientific knowledge may arrive at unity, and one superior to the religious vision of unity because it eliminates mystery, and brings all knowledge into the clear light of day. But the promise of science has been proved to be erroneous, and after 300 years of unfettered science, multiplicity has come to be established as the regular mode of scientific knowledge. Adams maintains that such a situation cannot be dismissed lightly, and the American establishment certainly seems to do so. This is a failure of education, says Adams. Bacon had a clearly set goal of unity before him. But the typical American, confronted with multiplicity, failed to even recognize that there was a problem and â€Å"an elderly American in 1900 knew neither the formula nor the forces† (Ibid 379). The education system is to blame, he says, because it has turned learning into a merely mechanical process, and the learner is not even aware of the underlying purpose anymore. This purpose must be unity, for chaos is never a goal. The modern educated happily tread the path of anarchy and nihilism in learning, not even aware of the paradox that they create for themselves. The implication of Adams is that modern education must teach how to deal with multiplicity. But Adams fails to recognize that the seemingly indifferent American may indeed be well-adapted. He even admits this much when he describes the typical educated American as a â€Å"Christian anarchist†, and says that this faith is â€Å"national, racial, geographic† (Ibid 408). Such a Christian is different from the traditional one in that his belief in Christ does not lead to a unified communal vision, but rather to a personal one, and therefore one tending towards anarchy. Regarding such an American he says: He never had known a complete union either in Church or State or thought, and had never seen any need for it. The freedom gave him courage to meet any contradiction, and intelligence enough to ignore it. (Ibid) This describes someone well adapted to multiplicity. This faith may be fundamentally American, but it cannot be maintained without the complicity of the educational system. The American adopts diversity and multiplicity as a God-given right, but the faith itself unifies the American nation. If the nation is unified, then the goal is none other than unity. In this sense the American educational system offers the best preparation to deal with multiplicity. If Adams feels helpless before multiplicity, it is only because he has not sufficiently imbibed the American faith. And if this is so then we can only say that the American educational system has failed in his instance. Contemplating the theme of unity, Adams judges that history has a direction. If this were not so, and multiplicity was an end in itself, the chaos is the only result. This is a prelude to his â€Å"dynamic theory of history† which he develops later on in the Education. According to this theory, all life is motion, and this motion can either be chaotic or purposeful. Science describes only the chance collision of atoms and molecules, which is but one more way to describe chaos. The historian tries to be scientific in his approach, but fails to notice that the philosophy of science is not conducive to his practice. â€Å"Historians undertake to arrange sequences, called stories, or histories assuming in silence a relation of cause and effect,† he says (Ibid 382). Without realizing it the historian is telling a story that has a moral lesson attached to the end of it, and he does so because he realizes subconsciously that history is dynamic and has a direction. It is Adams purpose is to reform the practice of history, so that the historian becomes conscious of the unity that he is striving for, and does not just blindly tag along with science. But Adams fails to realize that this is exactly how the philosophy of history has progressed along with the advance of science, and found culmination of a sort with the German philosophers and historians, especially through Kant, Hegel and Marx. At one stage he dismisses German philosophy as primitive and faddish, without realizing that his own goals coincide with theirs, and that in relation to them he is far lagging behind. Because dynamism is the lifeblood of history, inertia is the one and only barrier to it. Adams sees America at the forefront of the thrust of history, but he also notices huge swathes of inertia around the world, and he draws attention to the enormous body of China as clinging on to the past. Surveying the political situation, he soon gives up hope that China will ever overcome its political inertia, and shifts his hope towards Russia, which is undulating between the East and West. Russia is also a body enormous inertia, but Adams pins hope on it eventually overcoming this barrier and joining the march of progress. But if history is all encompassing as Adams makes it out to be, then it cannot exclude inertia either. History has a place for both liberalism and reaction. Hegel’s â€Å"grand synthesis† is able to deal with this, whereas Adams’ one dimensional theory of dynamism cannot. A bigger threat than political inertia is sexual inertia. Reproduction and homemaking lies at the root of human existence, and is the perpetual domain of the female. But the new dynamism ushered in by science wants to mechanize all tasks, and to collectivize all people. And to do this he leaves the home and denies sexual identity. Adams describes the plight of the modern man thus: He could not run his machine and a woman too; he must leave her; even though his wife, to find her own way, and all the world saw her trying to find her way by imitating him. (Ibid 445) One could overcome political inertia with difficulty, but overcoming sexual inertia entails the extinction of the race. â€Å"[Y]et an immense force, doubling every few years, was working irresistibly to overcome it,† he says (Ibid 448). In response to this enormous onslaught against her, the woman fights back, for the sake of her own survival and that of the race, by coming out into the man’s world and matching him in deed. This is no doubt a profound and accurate appraisal of woman’s emancipation. But it is also a serious indictment of his own dynamic theory of history, because it then seems to run counter to the female instinct. It also seems to imply that human history is suicidal. In conclusion, Adams proposes a reform of education so that it teaches how to cope with multiplicity, which is the inevitable consequence of the advance of science. Such an education must be based on the dynamic theory of history, which posits that history has a purpose and direction even amidst multiplicity. According to the theory, the only barrier to dynamism is inertia, which may be either political or sexual. This essay has dealt with the ramifications of Adams’ ideas. Works Cited Adams, Henry. The Education of Henry Adams: An Autobiography. Contributor Donald Hall. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books, 2000.

Did Hitlers Foreign Policies Make WWII Inevitable?

Did Hitlers Foreign Policies Make WWII Inevitable? Ultimately Hitlers determination to transform European society brought war and destruction to Europe in 1939. Though not necessarily the war he was planning for; evidence suggests that Hitler was preparing Germany for conflict with Russia. This indication would consist of economic output towards the end of the 1930s for example, according to Anthony Wood in Europe 1815-1945, the output of steel in 1935 stood at 16.1 million metric tonnes; this by far out produced the superpowers steel industry and could imply the planning for military conflict. Hitlers policies based on lebensraum and the establishment of a racial empire on East European and Russian soil were without doubt ruthless, but did they make the Second World War unavoidable? The extent to which Hitlers foreign policies made the Second World War inevitable has constantly been under contention. A J P Taylor argues Hitler was just an average western leader, and the Second World War was at the fault of many rather than solely Hi tlers foreign policy. According to Ian Kershaw, Hitler defines his foreign policy as the art of securing for a people, the necessary quantity and quality of lebensraum  [1]  Deflated from the effects of The Treaty of Versailles, German economy was crippled, the army was reduced, and they suffered from loss of Land. Germany was desperate to revoke the Treaty which brought it to its knees, and unite all German speaking countries. In protest, Hitler began a course of secret conscription, written in Mein Kampf, Hiter justified this action, Especially your people, doomed to languish along unarmed beneath the thousand eyes of the Versailles peace treaty'  [2]  This action can be seen as a trigger, contributing to making the Second World War inevitable as surrounding countries felt threatened by Hitler and his determination to reverse the damages of the Treaty of Versailles. Another breach of the Treaty Hitler was able to embark on was his creation of the Air force the Luftwaffe, Taylor agrees that the treaty is a cause of the war, Second world war was cause by the first world war, the armistice, or the Versailles treaty.  [3]  Mein Kampf is a crucial element into understanding the reasons behind Hitlers foreign policy, and being able to assess if they made the Second World War inevitable. Introduced within the text, Hitler establishes the need to achieve aims in which he sees as vital to the success of th e Third Reich. Hitler sought to destroy the Treaty of Versailles imposed on Germany after the defeat in World War One. Hitler felt the Treaty was unfair and most Germans supported this view. Uniting all German speakers together in one country would strengthen Germany, as after World War One there were Germans living in many countries spread across Europe. Hitler hoped that by uniting them together in one country he would create a powerful Germany or Grossdeutschland.   Finally, Hitler wanted to expand his ideology and population into the East to gain land and vital resources for Germany, for example the tank producing factories in Czechoslovakia would prove vital if Hitler was planning for war. By signing non-aggression pacts, Hitler gave the impression he had peaceful intentions which would prevent a war. For example the alliance with the Poles, who felt threatened should Germany attempt to win back the Polish Corridor. This could suggest a triumph for Hitler, as it was evidence of peaceful negotiations which would give reason for Britain to follow a policy of appeasement. Moreover this ensured Hitler was guaranteed Polish neutrality whenever Germany should move against Austria and Czechoslovakia. However, according to John Weitz in his book Hitlers diplomat, Hitler had mentioned a definite solution to the Donzig and corridor problems.  [4]  This questions if Hitler had an overall plan to attack Poland. Neville Chamberlains policy of appeaseme nt could be seen as a mistake which eventually contributed to the Second World War as, Appeasement was partly the result of a history lesson too well learned.  [5]  After The First World War, Europe was left devastated. Chamberlain was keen to avoid another war and sympathised with Hitler and the severity of the Treaty of Versailles upon Germany. Hitler was able to exploit Britain, as he knew they would appease and compromise with Hitler to avoid another War. Thus Hitler could fulfil his aims without the threat of immediate military intervention, Taking full advantage of appeasement the Nazis moved swiftly to annex German Austria in March 1938.  [6]  The naval agreements between Britain and Germany reiterate the failure of appeasement and its role in contributing to the Second World War, Both Britain and France were reluctant to take stronger stands against German rearmament for fear that this would give the Germans all the more reason to refuse to cooperate in international efforts to maintain peace.  [7]  Hitler was able to build up strength of the Navy and the Air Force. Foreign Policy encompassed the importance of racial purity and the need for a nation to be prepared to compete with its neighbours in a fierce, uncompromising and constant struggle to survive and expand into Eastern Europe. Present in Mein Kampf, this expansion was to give extra living space to the Aryan Master Race. For example, Hitler discusses that Germany must find the courage to gather our people and their strength for an advance along the road that will lead this people from its present restricted living space to new land and soil The occupation of Russia would ultimately give him living space which would provide resources for the German population and an area, in which the excess German population could settle and colonise. An additional advantage Hitler saw was that communism would be destroyed. Most historians are in cohesion that Hitler and his foreign policy caused the Second World War, However, A.J.P. Taylor, claims that Hitler never intended a major war and at most was p repared for only a limited war against Poland. However this claim is widely rejected throughout the differing interpretations. Germanys constant rhetorical on Russia is crucial to the debate. Russia was rich in raw materials such as oil which is vital for any country planning to wage war. Through realisation that Russia would solve internal problems, strengthen it militarily, and enable Germany to become economically self-sufficient by adding food and other raw material sources, The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact is essential within this argument. The Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union had its advantages for both countries involved. The pact meant that Germany was safe from threat of Russia and communism, but in a secret appendix Eastern Europe was divided into German and Soviet spheres of influence, fascism was safe from destruction whilst this bided time for Russia to prepare for a war. Realising the strength of the French Empire and their colonies, Hitler saw Russia as a temporary ally, until this pact was broken when Hitler invaded Russia in 1941. Another alliance signed was the Rome-Berlin Axis, surrounding countries such as Poland were threatened as the aims of this threatened as territorial expansion and foundation of empires based on military conquest and the overthrow of the post-World War I international order; and to stop the spread of communism throughout Europe. The occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany revealed to Hitler the weaknesses of the allies decision making and tested how far they would be pushed before they would intervene with military action.   The events leading up to the union revealed fragments in the Foreign policy of Britain and France who yet again did nothing to protest Hitlers aggressive foreign policy British attitudes were a key factor in the other problem Taylor cites, unity.  [8]  It also it dealt a severe strategic blow at Czechoslovakia which could now be attacked from the south as well as from the West and North. Another example in which Hitler recognised is the Abyssinian crisis which Britain and France failed to react towards Mussolini It had already been manifested in their reluctance to wage a full scale economic war on fascist Italy during the Abyssinian crisis  [9]  , this gave Hitler the opportunity to remilitarize the Rhineland, free from threat from the other western powers, Hitlers coup in the Rhineland the vacillating recognisable pattern of weakness  [10]  Hitler had given the instruction that if they met any resistance, to withdraw however none was met, And France made no move  [11]   . This shows the allies as inconsistent, and seemed to be more interested in their own domestic policy rather than foreign policy, most people had the failures of their own government and the everyday worries of trying to cope with economic misery  [12]  . The Hossbach Memorandum can be used as evidence that Hitler had planned for war and revenge, which would therefore suggest that Hitlers hostile foreign policies made the Second World War inevitable. Through this memorandum Hitlers motives becomes clear.   The aim of German policy was to preserve the racial community and gain space; this is mentioned within his works, Mein Kampf. Germany used an aggressive foreign policy force to secure the goals, his successes in foreign policy down to 1938 derived in the main from this bullys intuition, coupled with his instinctive gamblers risk  [13]  This memorandum has two confliction interpretations, There have been two interpretations of this memorandum, Hugh Trevor-Roper suggest that this was Hitlers scheme for war, The Second World War was Hitlers personal war in many senses. He intended it, he prepared for it, he chose the moment for launching it  [14]  whereas A.J.P. Taylor disagrees and suggests Little can be discovered so long as we go on attributing everything that happened to Hitler In conclusion, the extent to which Hitlers foreign policies made the Second World War inevitable is open to much debate. A J P Taylor argues Hitler was just an average western leader and the foreign p olicy he shaped would have been similar to that of any other German leader. The Treaty of Versailles acted as a catalyst which ultimately created more problems than in solved. Taylor argues that it was the fault of many events and different leaders, whereas other historians such as Hugh Trevor-Roper suggest that Hitlers foreign policy was fully intent on making the Second World War inevitable. The allies took a stance of non intervention, which could be argued as too little action too late, their policy of appeasement had failed and with it the League of Nations. The evidence put forward would suggest that the aggressive stance in foreign policy that Hitler portrayed was ultimately the last straw in a series of events and different circumstances which led to the destruction of the Second World War.

How the Elderly Cope with the Death of a Spouse Essay -- Spousal Berea

Ever noticed an elderly couple performing normal daily activities and think to yourself, what would they do without one another? Many of us have elderly relatives who are either married or have someone with whom they have a tight bond with, such as a best friend, and we believe they keep each other alive. We are all born to die, but how we cope with death is different. When someone dies, persons affected may feel depressed, sad and even angry. Looking at death from a different perspective, such as a loved one going to a better place, instead of a loss can cause relatives to celebrate. This is usually the case when the cause of death is natural. When death of a spouse is because of a traumatic event, love ones are left with many questions that they can live with for the rest of their lives. We may continue to live normal lives once the emotional pain is suppressed. I use the term suppress, because it is not clear that anyone ever "gets over" the death of a loved one . Bereavement in the elderly can cause the partner to become lonely, fall ill, and often times die soon after. When an older adults life long partner dies, what is their mental state? According to Lund, the mental health of many older spouses is not as devastating as expected, although loneliness and problems associated with the tasks of living are the most common and difficult adjustments of the adult (Meiner, 2011). Research reported to Journal of Gerontologic Nursing (JOGN) indicates that the assessment tool, Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG), can asses the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with separation distress including †¦ excessive loneliness (Barron & Minton, 2008). Additionally, another test can be done to assess the pro... ... to make the person feel better too quick. Instead you should assist the older person through the grieving process which is normal and healthy (Meiner, 2011) Works Cited Barron, C., Minton, M. (2008). Spousal Bereavement Assessment: A Review of Bereavement- Specific Measures. Journal of Gerontologic Nursing, Vol. 34, No.8, 34-48. Retrieved from EBSCOhost Elwert, F., & Christakis, N. (2008). The Effect of Widowhood on Mortality by the Causes of Death of Both Spouses. American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 98(11), 2092-2098. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Howie, L., Mcintyre, G. (2002). Adapting to Widowhood Through Meaningful Occupations: A Case Study. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, Vol. 9, 54-62. Retrieved from EBSCOhost Meiner, S. (2011). Loss and End-of-Life Issues. In P. Burbank and J. Miller (Eds.), Gerontologic Nursing (pp. 351-365)

Polite Society Gone with the Wind in A Good Man is Hard to Find :: A Good Man is Hard to Find

Polite Society Gone with the Wind in A Good Man is Hard to Find A Good Man is Hard to Find is consistent with Mary Flannery O'Connor's view that contemporary society was drastically changing for the worse. O'Connor's obvious displeasure with society at the time has often been attributed to her Catholic religion, her studies in the social science field, and the fact that the celebrated lifestyles of the elite southern whites were "Gone with the Wind." Evidence of society's "demise" is woven into the story, and presented through an interesting generation gap. The grandmother is representative of godliness and Christianity which O'Connor apparently believed to be more prevalent in the "glamorous" Old South: The old woman settled herself comfortably, removing her white cotton gloves and putting them up with her purse on the shelf in front of the back window. The children's mother still had on slacks and still had her head tied up in a green kerchief but the grandmother had on a navy blue straw sailor hat with a bunch of white violets on the brim and a navy blue dress with a small white dot in the print. Her collar and cuffs were white organdy trimmed with lace, and at her neckline she had pinned a purple spray of cloth violets containing a sachet. In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once she was a lady. (2148) The parents pay little attention to the grandmother and when they do, they are often quite rude. The unruly children are representative of the breakdown of respect, and discipline, and are consequently a forecast of future generations. The Misfit represents evil. At one point the Misfit likens himself to Christ, in that they both were punished for crimes they did not commit. Christ accepted death for the sins of all people, however, and not only did the Misfit not do that, but he also killed other innocent people. Near the end of the ordeal, the grandmother recognizes the shirt the Misfit has put on as her son's shirt.

Summary of Project Feasibility

Summary of Project Feasibility Assessing the feasibility of Expanding Services (Revenue Increase), Frequent Shopper Program (Revenue Increase), and Increasing Efficiency enhancements are important for Kudler Fine Foods that will determine the success for the project. A â€Å"feasibility study focuses on helping answer the essential question of should we proceed with the proposed project idea? † (Hofstrand & Holz – Clause, 2009). Operational, technical, and economic feasibilities are what specify the project feasibility analysis. Operationally, the Expanding Services will increase the loyalty and profitability of consumers by providing contest, and cooking classes. This program should integrate into the existing workflow without possessing to make any type of tremendous problems to the operations. The extra advertising should help Kudler Fine Foods revenue to increase by drawing in more consumers. The Frequent Shopper Program would only require little user training therefore, no major issues of computer illiteracy should occur. Frequent Shopper Program will provide high value incentives through a partnership with loyalty points program (Virtual Organization, Kudler Fine Foods, Sales and Marketing). This will enhance the attitudes at the point of sales. Kutler Fine Foods already use a POS server that would be a staging ground for the Frequent Shopper database. Kudler’s operations are to increase efficiency by benchmarking Nordstrom department stores. Employee training programs and integration of new software system will facilitate the effort. Increasing efficiency has developed supplier relations program and has solicited the help of marketing to help roll out the program. The various types of proposed requirements that should be taken into consideration are the hardware and software. Hardware relates to the development of the system and software is for the information database and tracking. TPS/Transaction processing system will capture and record information about the transactions that take place at Kudler’s. MIS/Management information systems will produce reports that management needs for planning. Executive information systems will provide the executives information that will be used for monitoring the competitive environment. Centralize management system hardware, front end web server, loyalty card and store server hardware will help assist the â€Å"Frequent Shopper Program. Economic feasibility is the cost/benefit analysis or CBA. CBA helps to give the project team/management in determining whether or not the proposed program is beneficial to the organization. Because the programs are not going to cause a dramatic increase in cost the company will benefit and be very successful. Reference Hofstrand, d. & Holz – Clause, M. (2009,). What is Feasibility Study? Retrieved April, 2010, from extension. iastate. edu

British Colonization to India

The first European power to arrive in India was the army of Alexander the Great in 327-326 BC. The satraps he established in the northwest quickly crumbled after he left. Later, commercial trade was carried between Indian states and the Roman Empire by Greco-Roman sailors that reached India by sailing on the Red and Arabian Seas. ?The Portuguese sailor, Vasco da Gama, was the first European to arrive in India solely by navigating the sea, at the end of the 15th century.Having arrived in Calicut, which by then was one of the major trading ports of the eastern world, he obtained permission by Manavikraman Raja to trade in the city from Saamoothiri Rajah. (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/British_Empire). British empire has been in India since the early 1600's, when the East India Company started trading and British missionaries first began their efforts. A large number of Christian schools providing English education were set up trough out India by the early 1800's. The process of produc ing English-speaking natives in India began with the â€Å"Minute† of 1835, which officially endorsed T. B.Macaulay's goal of forming â€Å"a class who may be interpreters between us and the millions whom we govern – a class of persons, Indians in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinion, in morals and in intellect† (quoted in Kachru 1983, p. 22). English became the official and academic language of India by the early twentieth century. Direct administration by the British, which began in 1858, effected a political and economic unification of the subcontinent. The rising of the nationalist movement in the 1920's brought some anti-English sentiment with it — even though the movement itself used English as its medium.Once independence was gained and the English were gone, the perception of English as having an alien power base changed; however, the controversy about English has continued to this day. Kachru notes that â€Å"English now has nation al and international functions that are both distinct and complementary. English has thus acquired a new power base and a new elitism† (Kachru 1986, p. 12). Only about three percent of India's population speak English, but they are the individuals who lead India's economic, industrial, professional, political, and social life.Even though English is primarily a second language for these persons, it is the medium in which a great number of the interactions in the above domains are carried out. Having such important information moving in English conduits is often not appreciated by Indians who do not speak it, but they are relatively powerless to change that. Its inertia is such that it cannot be easily given up. This is particularly true in South India, where English serves as a universal language in the way that Hindi does in the North. Despite being a three percent minority, the English speaking population in India is quite large.With India's massive population, that three per cent puts India among the top four countries in the world with the highest number of English speakers. English confers many advantages to the influential people who speak it — which has allowed it to retain its prominence despite the strong opposition to English which rises periodically. When British rule came to an end in 1947, the subcontinent was partitioned along religious lines into two separate countries—India, with a majority of Hindus, and Pakistan, with a majority of Muslims; the eastern portion of Pakistan later split off to form Bangladesh.Many British institutions stayed in place (such as the parliamentary system of government); English continued to be a widely used lingua franca; and India remained within the Commonwealth. Hindi became the official language (and a number of other local languages achieved official status), while a vibrant English-language intelligentsia thrived.

How Mass Media Affects Adolescents

We’ve all heard the expression, â€Å"Well if your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump, too? † from our parents, or other adult figure-type person. In today’s society, adolescents seem to be taking this phrase to a new level. As the media continues to abuse the popularity of the too-thin actors and actresses, exploit famous persons’ suicides, and portray ‘problems’ in general as being ‘cool’ with TV shows focused on rehab circles featuring those popular people our culture knows and loves, more and more young people are finding reasons to copycat these problematic ‘role models’, resulting in a crisis within the youth. The depression, low self esteem, eating disorder, and suicide rate disaster within the youth can all be traced back to the media, which tends to glamorize such problems, so that they appeal to adolescents as being the next ‘in’ thing. Suicide is a tremendous issue that is heavily influenced by the media. Yourannual List of Ins and Outs, an article which periodically lists tends and fads, listed one year suicide as an â€Å"in†. â€Å"The ‘In’ Way to Look for Help†, 1) Most emotionally secure people would understand that the listing of suicide as an â€Å"in† was a joke and not take it seriously – but mental health practitioners like David Shaffer of Columbia University of Physicians and Surgeons, have done research to prove that the â€Å"adolescent suicide rate may rise when the media glamorize suicide†. (â€Å"The ‘In’ Way to Look for Help†, 1) Suicide is a serious issue, and although this was meant as a joke, there are some children who actually take things like the previously mentioned article literally. Although such people/youth may be emotionally unstable already, this bit of â€Å"pressure† from society adds to the imbalance. The media has also taken advantage of the celebrities who have killed themselves, making them seem â€Å"chic†, or â€Å"cool†. Exploitation of such events gives some less stable individuals the impression that these sort of actions are socially acceptable, and that if they feel the need to â€Å"escape†, they may commence with taking their lives while seeming â€Å"hip† at the same time. In a study done at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, a study was done to find what the youth believed the leading cause of suicide to be was. The â€Å"most frequently cited cause was pressure to conform and/or perform†¦as a consequence of peer pressure†. (Edna Heled, 1) Later, when the subjects were asked to specify the degree of their agreement with 29 possible reasons, two of the most agreed upon items were hearing a lot about suicide in the media, and believing that suicide is acceptable or cool. Edna Heled, 3) When asked for possible solutions to reduce the rate of suicide, there were no suggestions to lessening the coverage of suicide in the media. The adolescent view on body image has become a tricky subject. Television, magazines, and the general media have set a standard for both male and females that is difficult for most to achieve. It is now popular for girls to be scary-skinny, and â€Å"straight as a board†. In a study by Hargreaves and Tiggermann, it was found that watching appearance-related commercials â€Å"heightened appearance schema activation in early adolescent girls†. In another unnamed experiment covered by Meghan Sinton and Leann Birch, it was found that some girls – although not a large percentage of them – were found to be very affected by the commercials. In the same experiment, it was discovered that mass media was especially influential with girls who were already body self-conscious.

From your characters point of view Essay

I knew that big Bastard was trouble as soon as I saw him in the office that first day they both arrived on the ranch. When I saw him turned away from me I knew what his sort was like, big guys who thought they owned the place jus’ cos of their size. An’ he didn’t even answer my question, jus’ stood there like a big lump staring at me. I knew they was gonna cause trouble. I heard from the other guys that Lennie was a good worker I give him that but he still was odd, never was with the guys always by himself, with George or with that damn pup that Slim gave him. Carlson always said he never said a word unless George was there or if he allowed it, stupid Bastard. I mean I heard things about guys like that who were big and smart but this guy, Lennie, was different altogether he was almost like a child I didn’t know he was capable of mangling my hand, let alone kill my wife. But you never know looks can be different than what is genuine, you get to know these things when you see these bastards come work and then leave, you see it all the time. Since Lennie first come to the ranch I had a hunch, and when he did what he did to my hand I knew that he was not only mean but he was dangerous. I never told about my hand before, I know what the other guys on the ranch would say, Me, the bosses son being beat up by some guy who couldn’t put two and two together, I Wasn’t gonna let em’ know, I wasn’t gonna let my wife know that her husband got beat up by that Bastard. Them only been on the ranch couple o’ weeks and Slim letting em’ getting away with it, I wasn’t gonna say Nothing. Slim has a way with words, all the guys trust him. So when my hand got busted by Lennie I was real furious, it made me real mad. I was Jus’ looking for my wife when it began I spose, so she has something to do with it, She is always going’ off and when I’m looking for her I could never find her. Not knowing where your wife is can ruin a man. An’ people were sayin’ things about her. Made me wonder I spose so I go looking for her in the barn where it been mentioned she was and Slim said to be in there too. My wife had been looking at Slim for a while so I was mad and made my way to the barn. Slim was there but not my wife, so we have an Argument and it ends up with my hand being busted. I mean what’s a guy spose to think when his wife is looking around at the men? An’ Slim would be what you call a good catch I spose, But that means that he aint no better than me. When I started on him I never thought about what he could do to my hand, he always was so quiet and looked like he could never hurt anything even though he was a big bastard. The look in his eyes when he just grabbed my hand, I had never seen it in a guy before an’ I wont wanna be seeing it again too soon I can tell ya. I haven’t seen a guy so mad before, sure I have got a temper I get mad a lot, but this Lennie was just mental. He jus’ had this look of hate in his eyes, I was angry but for a big guy like that to take advantage of his size is out of order. He had no right to jus’ do that kind of shit to me. He just took hold of my hand and then crushed it within his own palm, the pain was unbelievable and the other guys jus’ stood there watchin’ him do it. Before he fought back I heard George in the background tellin’ him to do it. I knew they travelled together but I didn’t think that that they was that close, I was proven wrong, Lennie always did what George told him to and that time was no exception. His grasp on my hand grew tighter and I was in pain, I couldn’t think about anything else but the feeling in my hand, and what I must have looked like to the other guy’s but then after it got to its worse all I could think about was what would be left of my hand after the big bastard had finished. An’ If only George hadn’t told him to do it, It wouldn’t have happened, he still makes me mad the way he is still here working on the ranch with Slim. I could feel the bones in my hand breaking, I never had thought of pain like that before. My hand still is now messed up. Don’t think it’s ever gonna be the same, and neither is he. As soon as I saw him I had it in for him, but after him mangling my hand I wanted revenge. Things weren’t so good between me and my wife but that was no excuses for her death. The Dumb bastard was out for me too, and he got me, twice. I knew the way he spent all that bloody time with that pup that he was strange, I had warned her about spending time with the guys on the ranch, her being the only woman was dangerous but he was the last guy I woulda thought would take advantage. He never was interested in things like that, he didn’t come to town with us ever, and jus’ stayed in the barn with that pup. I had said for her to stay in the house, but for a woman to do what she is told is something that doesn’t happen easily. I spose it was also her fault stupid bitch going where she aint wanted gettin’ herself into trouble; something was gonna happen sooner or later. The guys was just out in the yard playing horseshoes, I wasn’t gonna join in and be humiliated by them all laughing at my hand. I jus’ sat down an watched didn’t know what was going on else where. The next thing I know old candy is calling from outside the barn saying for us to come quick. She was jus’ there face down on the straw, I had never seen her be so still. But then I thought and knew what had happened, me an’ Slim rushed up to her and Slim jus said she was dead. I knew at once that the big bastard had been in there with that damn pup. I knew it was him form the start, he couldn’t help himself, He wanted to make trouble and this was the last time I was going to be humiliated he had gone one way too far. I wasn’t disturbed by her death really bad, I was jus’ mad with the Bastard I knew it was him an’ I was gonna do something about it. Carlson knew it was him too, an’ I could see it in George’s eyes that he also knew what was going on. I wasn’t gonna let Lennie get away with it either. My wife was a slow bitch but it was Lennie who took her life and he wasn’t gonna get out of this one by the other guys keeping ’em Quiet. I had done that already once, when I could have got him canned, but I didn’t for my pride now he had the life of my wife. But George was his friend, regardless of this he still went looking for him. I was suspicious though, I mean they travelled together and how did I know that he wasn’t gonna help Lennie get away and escape. But I Spose the dumb bastard wouldn’t make it on his own without some other guy helping him out or getting’ him outa shit. When me and the guys saw Lennie lying on the floor next to George I was livid, I hadn’t killed the crazy Bastard myself, I was gonna make him suffer the way I had. I don’t know everything that went on but what I do know is that Lennie was to blame for the death of my wife and my hand was never gonna be the same cos of him being a crazy Bastard. I could see that they were gonna mess things up, an’ I was right.