Of The Cloth By William Trevor Essays - Grattan, The Reverend

Of The Cloth By William Trevor An Analysis of "Of the Cloth" William Trevor, "Of the Cloth," New York, New York, The New Yorker, March 09, 1999. "Of the Cloth" is a contemporary work of short fiction set in the remote Irish community of Ennismolach County during the early summer of the year, nineteen hundred and ninety seven. The greater part of the story takes place in a small, stone rectory nestled among the green valleys and pasturelands that lie below the Irish mountain slopes. The author describes solitary hillsides, peaks and valleys, and a remnant of what once was a town. He describes empty homes, tumbled into weed ridden ruins, as their former residents chose to leave, pursuing the promise of a more prosperous life in the city. The author depicts, in detail, long, winding country roads leading to the three small Protestant churches dotting the countryside, Hogan's Grocery, Bar and Petrol Pump, the only store within miles, and to the Catholic Church of the Holy Assumption, "solitary and splendid by the roadside, still seeming new, although it had been there for sixty years." The story was dominated by a single character, The Reverend Grattan Fitzmaurice, of the Ennismolach rectory. He was described as an elderly man, faithful, dutiful, and devoted to his church. He was settled in his life-long home, "out of touch with the times and what was happening in them, out of touch with two generations of change, with his own country and what it had become." He was a charitable man, providing employment, out of his own meager salary, for a disabled man, Con Tonan, who would later die. He was respected by those who new him; upright Mrs. Bradshaw who came for visits every Tuesday, Seamus Tonan, Conrad's son, and neighboring Catholic parishioners, Father MacPartlan and Curate Leahy. "Of the Cloth" concerns, mostly, the pensive reflections of an Irish Protestant reverend during a few long weeks in 1997. The reader visits the Reverend Grattan Fitzmaurice, in his home and enters in upon his personal musings and daily activities. Grattan leads a quiet life; his days are made worthwhile in his labour for the church. We enter in upon his thoughtful ruminations, broken only by Mrs. Bradshaw's occasional visits, as they met "exchanging scraps of news." The reverend frequently referred to his growing displeasure with the state of the Protestant church in Ireland and the generation that would soon inherit it. He would regard, suspiciously, the Irish Catholic Church, and look upon them as rivals to his cause. Grattan's solitude was broken, early one summer morning, as a red-haired youth arrived bearing unfortunate tidings. Grattan recognized the boy, Seamus Tonan, the son of a Catholic gardener formerly in his employment. Gratten had hired Corad, a disabled man, paying him out of his own meager salary. Seamus informed the reverend of his father's death and that the funeral would be held on Monday. Grattan was touched by the boy's thoughtfulness and offered him every possible courtesy, but Seamus declined and went quickly on his way. The next morning the reverend was visited by Mrs. Bradshaw, bearing the same news. They spoke fondly of the deceased Conrad Tonan and their admiration of the humble man. Later, following Conrad's funeral, Grattan was visited by two local Catholic priests, Fathers MacPartlan and Leahy of the Catholic Church of the Holy Assumption. Although he was courteous, he appraised them critically, ever suspicious of their motives. He feared that they had come in a spirit of disguised rivalry rather than good Christian charity and found himself shrinking away from conversation. As the afternoon wore on, the two fathers persisted in their attempts to insight a conversation with the reverend. Eventually, their words began to strike accord. As the three discussed their concerns for the future, Grattan began to recognize a mutuality of purpose. He realized that as the Irish population shrank from faith, each church struggled to keep their spark aglow. He knew now that each gift of kindness mattered, regardless of the source. The priests had come that evening to recognize his kindness to Conrad, and in his time of grief, he could now appreciate their gesture. "Of the Cloth" was a finely written piece of short fiction. It was well structured and cohesive, each piece of the story finely woven together by nearly ethereal threads of thought. The author approached his subjects truthfully, lending to each character a sincerity uncommon in contemporary American fiction. Through Grattan's concerns and reminiscence, the author affords the reader great insight into the mind of

Top 8 Jobs for Cat Lovers

Top 8 Jobs for Cat Lovers are you a cat person? cats are much more independent than dogs. cat lovers tend to be open-minded, and respectful of cats’ ability to think for themselves. cat lovers are often introverted, sensitive and intelligent. their jobs should allow them to work independently. of course, finding a perfect career isn’t as easy as picking a side on the dog person or cat person debate. but if you are a cat lover and would rather hang out with cats than people, consider these occupations:1. cat sitter[via imgur.com]people love their cats and they want the best cat sitter to look after their cats. it is not easy to find a good cat sitter. many pet sitters aren’t cat people and thus don’t understand cat’s little quirks. if you love spending time with cats, and want to be your own boss, consider starting your own cat sitting business.to become a responsible and professional cat sitter, you should definitely look into taking first aid and cpr courses. get liability insurance and bond if that’s a requirement in your state.make yourself visible in the community, spread the words. it is especially effective if you start sitting your friends and family cats, build up your resume. you could also post flyers at local veterinary offices, animal rescue centers, and pet stores. you can also start your social media channels. cats and pet lovers are all over instagram, facebook and pinterest.2. cat writer or bloggerif writing is your thing and you obviously love cats, become a cat writer or blogger! start your own blog, write about cat food, cat health or cat fun. you can also reach out to established pet blogs and offer to write for them. you never know where it might take you.kate benjamin started her blog, moderncat.com, in 2008 to share her favorite design finds for cat lovers. she has expanded her blog to include a design studio, a distribution business and an online magazine for design conscious cat people.check out cat writer association if you are interested in starting your career as a cat writer.3. cat cafà © ownerthe cat cafà © is finally trending in europe and the united states. the first cat cafà © opened in taiwan in 1998. cat lovers who cannot have their own cat can visit cat cafà ©. usually, it is so popular among locals and tourists, and it is usually fully booked a month or so in advance.people visit cat cafà © to play and relax with cats. playing with cats can be such a stress reliever, it is especially popular in dense cities. in addition to making a profit from food and drinks, you can also charge adminission fee. you can even turn your cafà © into a cat shop.4. catnip sellera catnip bag costs around $2, and you can make a huge profit from selling toys filled with catnip. catnip sellers are known as the drug dealer of the cat world! you can sell these on amazon, etsy or even start your own online store. you can get your supply from your local pet shop.5. professional cat catcheryou can actually mak e up to $80 – $100 an hour catching cats. if you trust your cat instinct and can catch a cat, then start your own cat-catching business. start by reading jordana’s serebrenik’s book.6. veterinaryveterinary is one of the most rewarding career choice for animal lovers. to become a veterinarian, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree that’s heavy in science and then go to a veterinary school to complete a 4 year doctorate of veterinary medicine.although it’s a long process before becoming a veterinarian, there’s plenty of opportunities after school. u.s. department of labor reports that veterinarian jobs are expected to grow by 36% from 2010 to 2020.7. veterinary technician / veterinary assistantif you don’t fancy school, then maybe become a veterinary technician or veterinary assistant. both jobs give you the same opportunity to work closely with cats.to become a veterinary technician, you’ll need to finish a postsecondary program in veterinary technology, which is usually 2 years. you’ll also need to be registered and licensed, depending on the state you want to practice in.if 2 years is still too long for you, you can become a veterinary assistant. many college offer comprehensive training programs that can be completed in under a year, and sometimes, employers offer on the job training, so you can skip school altogether.8. thinking outside of the cat boxif you don’t like any of the traditional career paths listed above, no worries, start thinking outside of the kitty box for ways to earn your living as a cat lover. your ideal cat profession might not exist yet. your purrfect cat career is just around the corner and your cat instinct might be your best career guide.

Laws of Thermochemistry and Enthalpy Equations

Laws of Thermochemistry and Enthalpy Equations Thermochemical equations are just like other balanced equations except they also specify the heat flow for the reaction. The heat flow is listed to the right of the equation using the symbol ΔH. The most common units are kilojoules, kJ. Here are two thermochemical equations: H2 (g)  ½ O2 (g) → H2O (l); ΔH -285.8 kJ HgO (s) → Hg (l)  ½ O2 (g); ΔH 90.7 kJ Writing Thermochemical Equations When you write thermochemical equations, be sure to keep the following points in mind: Coefficients refer to the number of moles. Thus, for the first equation, -282.8 kJ is the ΔH when 1 mol of H2O (l) is formed from 1 mol H2 (g) and  ½ mol O2.Enthalpy changes for a phase change, so the enthalpy of a substance depends on whether is it is a solid, liquid, or gas. Be sure to specify the phase of the reactants and products using (s), (l), or (g) and be sure to look up the correct ΔH from the  heat of formation tables. The symbol (aq) is used for species in water (aqueous) solution.​The enthalpy of a substance depends upon temperature. Ideally, you should specify the temperature at which a reaction is carried out. When you look at a table of heats of formation, notice that the temperature of the ΔH is given. For homework problems, and unless otherwise specified, the  temperature is assumed to be 25 °C. In the real world, ​the  temperature may be different and thermochemical calculations can be more difficult. Properties of Thermochemical Equations Certain laws or rules apply when using thermochemical equations: ΔH is directly proportional to the quantity of a substance that reacts or is produced by a reaction. Enthalpy is directly proportional to mass. Therefore, if you double the coefficients in an equation, then the value of ΔH is multiplied by two. For example:H2 (g)  ½ O2 (g) → H2O (l); ΔH -285.8 kJ2 H2 (g) O2 (g) → 2 H2O (l); ΔH -571.6 kJΔH for a reaction is equal in magnitude but opposite in sign to ΔH for the reverse reaction. For example:HgO (s) → Hg (l)  ½ O2 (g); ΔH 90.7 kJHg (l)  ½ O2 (l) → HgO (s); ΔH -90.7 kJThis law is commonly applied to phase changes, although it is true when you reverse any thermochemical reaction.ΔH is independent of the number of steps involved. This rule is called Hesss Law. It states that ΔH for a reaction is the same whether it occurs in one step or in a series of steps. Another way to look at it is to remember that ΔH is a state property, so it must be independent of the path of a reaction.If Reaction (1) Reaction (2) Reaction (3), then ΔH3 ΔH1 ΔH2

Peaceful Coexistence Policy and the Changing Personalities in Soviet Essay

Peaceful Coexistence Policy and the Changing Personalities in Soviet Leadership - Essay Example However, not all policies resulted in failure and devastating suffering (Allen 1964). One notable exception was the policy of Peaceful Coexistence instituted by Khrushchev. Until then, the country had been led by Josef Stalin. Under Stalin’s leadership, many oppressive and rigid policies were put in place. After his death, there was a significant incentive to revise them as they had weakened Soviet standing, both abroad and at home. The United States had outpaced the Soviet Union in the nuclear arms race (Mc Dougall 2000). The Soviet Union was surrounded by United States bases located all over Europe. As a result, the Soviet Union had to buy time so as to catch up with its rival. Peaceful Coexistence was the perfect resort. By declaring its interest in peace, the Soviet Union could fend off any likely attacks from the United States at its weakest hour. By no means was Khrushchev a radical departure from Stalin. However, small changes took place, and they were the embodiment of the policy of Peaceful Coexistence. These small changes and how the person at the top helped brought them about shall be at the centre of this writing. Stalin was a dictator. He used all means, mostly brutal, to achieve his selfish aims. He eliminated enemies at an alarming rate and with great ferocity. Its worth pointing out that the name Stalin means ‘man of steel’. His brutality was evident in the way that he expelled Trotsky from the Communist party. He subsequently organized for his murder even while in exile, in Mexico City. He did not believe in political competition (Allen 1964). He eliminated several of his close allies. When his son tried to commit suicide unsuccessfully all he could say was, â€Å"the idiot can not even shoot straight†. From this character, it would also be fair to assume that the Soviet Union would also take on a more aggressive attitude to international affairs. On the political front, the Soviet Union under Stalin dealt brutally wi th Poland. They corrupted the politics of Soviet member countries like Poland and Ukraine. Generally, the Soviet Union under Stalin was a reflection of the man himself, brutal. Enter Khrushchev; an extremely different man when compared to Stalin. He could tolerate a little competition. He closed the Gulag labor camps which had thrived under Stalin. He criticized Stalin as a brutal despot. His preference to indulge in negotiations is well documented. Taking after his character, the Soviet Union also adopted a more conciliatory tone with regard to international conflicts. When the fate of East Berlin was at stake, he issued a sixth month deadline which he subsequently withdrew in the interests of peace. His approach to the Cuban Missile Crisis is also worth mention. In the depth of the Cold War, he clandestinely stacked nuclear weapons in Cuba, a few miles off the United States border (Mc Dougall 2000). After this plan was unmasked by the Kennedy administration, he respectfully abided by the truce. These differing approaches to politics in the Soviet Union directly derive from the leader at the helm. This is very much in consonance with the Soviet maxim that the revolution begins at the top. With regards to economic affairs, the approach also depended on the attitude and character of the leader at the helm. Under Stalin, the Soviet Union depended entirely on agriculture. It was Stalin’

Comment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comment - Essay Example As we naturally breathe in and out to live, the animals hunt prey to survive. Natural law may not be clearly defined by boundaries and concrete concepts, however, it does exist. As human beings, we have the natural right to defend ourselves and our property; these are rights which exist with or without the state granting said rights. Natural law is a method of behavior; just as man naturally manifests certain behavior, so do the animals. â€Å"We must know nature in order to follow nature’s law: the universal law is the law of nature†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Crowe, 31). There is no quick and easy way to identify and recognize the mandates of natural law, but in knowing the natural and universal laws, it is possible to understand the principles that govern natural law. Natural law should play a vital role in society. It should help determine the rights we naturally have and the same rights we should recognize in others. According to Covey (p. 129), natural laws may be applied to different issues in society. These issues include educational, social, and political reform. By letting our lives and decisions be governed by our natural laws, â€Å"it is possible for our deep, inward sense of knowing-our own moral or ethical sense of natural laws or principles to-become changed, subordinated, even eclipsed by traditions or by repeated violation of one’s own conscience† (Covey, 130). In recognizing and following natural laws, members of society can live in harmony with each other, without being told by a specific law or mandate what to do and what not to do. Natural law should also help dictate the laws to be passed by our legislators. Our customs and traditions cannot be the only source of legislation. When something has been established a s acceptable practice through repeated usage, it does not mean that it should automatically be passed as a law. Customs and traditions can be immoral or against the natural laws of man and still be deemed as lawful.

Pilot Fatigue in Aviation Essay Example for Free

Pilot Fatigue in Aviation Essay Aviation transport is said to be the safest transportation method by man but is challenged by incidents and accidents that resulted to tragic loss of lives and damage to properties. One very important reason that is being looked upon by aviation and concerned authorities like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is of man’s physiological limitation which is fatigue. Pilot fatigue is highly blamed in most aviation accidents over the years. The risk of accident is said to be high if the pilot is deprived of sleep. Sleep is a vital physiological function, and obtaining even one hour less than required can increase waking sleepiness (Air Line Pilot, November 1994, page 22). Sleep loss can be acute and if continued over time may result in a cumulative sleep debt. Cumulative sleep loss and disruption of 24-hour biological, or circadian rhythms can lead to decreased waking alertness, impaired performance, and altered mood. Fatigue is the symptom often reported to characterize the sum of these negative experiences. Sleep-deprived personnel lose approximately 25% to 30% of their ability to perform useful mental work with each 24-hour period of sleep loss (Johnston III, S. L. , 2005). In fact, a 2003 study on the impact of fatigue on F-117 pilots revealed that 27-33 hours of sleep deprivation (1 night of sleep loss) degrade basic piloting skills by more than 40% below normal (Johnston III, S. L, 2005). For this reason, NASA and FAA has collaborated to do research programs on this safety concern. The NASA Ames Fatigue/Jet Lag Program (now the Fatigue Countermeasures Program) was jointly funded by the FAAs Human Factors Research Program for many years (Mann, M. B. , www. hq. nasa. gov). The results of its research have determined that fatigue is really needed to be addressed to maintain the safety of aviation personnel to prevent loss of lives and properties. How to address then fatigue as a safety concern? It is unfortunate that there is no one simple solution because fatigue has multitudes of causes. For NASA’s Fatigue Countermeasures Program, the approach is said to be multi-faceted and comprehensive yet must be an integrated approach. Accordingly, it should have at least the following components: education and training, hours of service, sound scheduling practices, effective countermeasures, incorporation of appropriate design and technologies, and research (Mann, M. B. , www. hq. nasa. gov). Education and Training. Education establishes the knowledge base for the successful acceptance of all other activities. In 1994, NASA has developed an education and training module on alertness management in flight operation. This module was in use by already at least 149 organizations reaching more than 116,000 crewmembers in 1998 (Mann, M. B. , www. hq. nasa. gov). Hours of Service. Principles and guidelines for duty and rest scheduling must be developed. The latest scientific research on fatigue must be incorporated and reflected to these guidelines and principles as needed. Sound Scheduling Practices. Sound scheduling practices should include scientific information about sleep, fatigue, and circadian rhythms, in addition to other factors, in creating and evaluating flight crew schedules. Countermeasures. An integrated approach calls for making full use of personal, corporate, and even regulatory countermeasure strategies. These strategies can be implemented preventively, using them before duty and on layovers to reduce the effects of fatigue, sleep loss, and circadian disruption during flight operations. As per study by the Fatigue Countermeasures Program, Flight crews receiving brief hourly activity breaks (involving mild physical activity and social interaction) showed improved physiological alertness for at least 15 minutes relative to a control group, while reporting significantly greater alertness for up to 25 minutes post-break. Design and Technology. The aviation industry must tap advances in design and technology to address this safety concern of fatigue. It is said that technology has changed or evolved dramatically over the past decades but man’s need for sleep did not. Good system design incorporates information about human physiology, its limitations and strengths, early in the process. Technological approaches that use this information can take many forms, including flight crew scheduling algorithms (i. e. , the methodology of choosing flight crews) and alertness monitoring/management systems (Mann, M. B. , www. hq. nasa. gov). . Research. Continues research on this area of concern must be done. More research is needed to fully understand the capabilities and limitations of the human sleep and circadian systems. With the advent of technological devices claiming to detect fatigue, a focused research is needed to ascertain the sensitivity, the reliability and the validity of these devices. Continued research is also essential to address regulatory, scheduling, and countermeasure questions. It has been said that decision making and policy is guided by a valid and empirical data obtained through research (Mann, M. B. , www. hq. nasa. gov). Pilot fatigue then in aviation, if not completely eliminated, is greatly reduced to obtain peak performance of pilots by integrating the above suggested components. With peak performance of pilots, safety in aviation is greatly improved. . References Air Line Pilot, November 1994, Fatigue in Aviation, page 22, by the Flight Management and Human Factors Division, NASA Ames Research Center. Retrieved June 9, 2009, http://cf. alpa. org/internet/projects/ftdt/alpmag/FATIGUE. html Johnston III, S. L. Societal and Workplace Consequences of Insomnia, Sleepiness, and Fatigue. (Sept. 29, 2005). Retrieved June 9, 2009. http://cme. medscape. com/viewarticle/513572_print Mann, M. B. , â€Å"Hearing on Pilot Fatigue†. Retrieved June 9, 2009 http://www. hq. nasa. gov/office/legaff/mann8-3. html

Alice Walkers Color Purple - Celies Quest for Self-discovery Essay

Celie's Quest for Self-discovery In Alice Walker's The Color Purple, Celie has many misconceptions of herself and her world. Due to her upbringing of pain and mistreatment, and her ignorance of a better world, Celie's image of herself and her own potential is very different from reality. The Color Purple, above all else, is the story of Celie's growth and self-discovery, which she achieves through her own commitment to herself and through the help of Nettie and Shug. Celie sees herself as ugly and stupid because she was told this by her father and her husband. In her young life, the only person who took the time to care for and encourage Celie was her younger sister Nettie. She took the time to teach Celie from her own schoolwork, after Celie had to leave school because her father had raped her and gotten her pregnant. As Celie says of her home education, as inadequate as it may have been, " Us both be hitting Nettie's schoolbooks pretty hard, cause us know we got to be smart to git away. I know I'm not as smart or as pre...

Role of Human Capital in New Ventures

ROLE OF HUMAN CAPITAL IN NEW VENTURES 1. INTRODUCTION With the increase in the rise of entrepreneurial ventures, it is necessary to understand the factors that determine success or failure of these ventures. One of such factors that have been considered by researchers is human capital (Bruderl, Preisendorfer and Ziegler, 1992). This report considers the function of the human capital element in a startup business.Based on a collation and analysis of previous research works on human capital in the entrepreneurial field, it was discovered that the various aspects of founder’s human capital have a role to play in attracting venture capital and improving the performance of the venture. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 2. 1 Human Capital Human capital refers to the skills, abilities, knowledge acquired through work and educational experiences (Baron and Shane, 2008).The concept of human capital has been underpinned by several theories among which the theory of entrepreneurship, resource-based t heory and human capital theory and these theories would be discussed. The theory of entrepreneurship places emphasis on the fact that the entrepreneur has the responsibility of decision making (Casson, 2005). Thus, the entrepreneur is to analyse relevant information which would be used in making business decisions (Ganotakis, 2012). The recognition of markets for the products and services are part of the decisions to be made and would therefore determine a firm’s progress and accomplishment.Casson (2005) further argues that entrepreneurs need to have the right professional skills and work experience as it is these competencies would impact upon performance. The resource based theory (RBT) places value on resources which is argued to be a source of competitive advantage for the firm (Barney, 1991). Human capital is identified as one of such resources. In particular, Barney (1991) argues that a firm’s management team can be indispensable, rare and imperfectly imitable an d has the capacity for producing a perpetual competitive advantage.Alvarez and Busenitz (2001) examine the relationship between RBT and entrepreneurship. They suggest that entrepreneurship necessitates the founder’s cognizance of opportunities, the ability to obtain the resources to utilize the opportunities and the ability of the firm to fuse homogenous inputs into heterogeneous outputs. They further identified that entrepreneurial awareness, perception, knowledge and the ability to organise resources as resources in their own right. These two theories therefore place significance on the capabilities and resources of the entrepreneur.A theoretical foundation of how these capabilities can be measured is provided by human capital theory which was pioneered by Becker in 1964. The theory implies that an individual’s human capital is the skills and knowledge that can be of use to an organization and as such, employees’ salaries/wages was viewed as a return on the in vestment in human capital. The theory provides claims that the entrepreneurial team who have more experience tend to perform much better than those with less experience (Shrader and Siegel, 2007).This theory categorises the characteristics of an entrepreneur into general and specific human capital. 2. 1. 1 General Human Capital General human capital refers to skills acquired through formal education, training and work experience which can be transferred to other jobs in the market. The educational level of founders has been considered to be vital for a firm’s performance (Ganotakis, 2012). Education can provide the entrepreneur with a professional foundation and greater self-assurance as it is supposed to provide scenarios which encourage creativity and problem-solving ability.However, other results showed a negative relationship with growth and performance (Haber and Reichel, 2007; Bosma et al, 2004 ; Dichon, Menzies and Gasse, 2008). According to Deakins (2005), education d oes not influence growth but it may assist in making critical decisions. As such, education could be assumed to be more important for younger entrepreneurs who may not have a lot of experience. It is argued by Shrader and Siegel (2007) that the experience of the founders would aid them in making informed choices. Experience is also seen to influence business ideas and increase efficiency (Deakins, 2005).In contrast, some research works have also found negative relationships between work experience and firm formation and also performance (Ganotakis, 2012; Diochon, Menzies and Gasse, 2008). Ganotakis (2012), claims that this could be as a result of an over-confidence of the founders in their knowledge restraining them from gathering more information. 2. 1. 2 Specific Human Capital These are those skills which are specific to a particular work context and thus it might not be transferred to other professions. As such, these skills can assist the entrepreneur directly with managing the new venture (Ganotakis, 2012).These include entrepreneurial experience, industry-specific experience, managerial capabilities and technical experience. Industry specific experience has been found to have a positive effect on performance and the development of new ventures (Bosma et al, 2004; Dimov, 2010; Gimmon and Levie, 2009). Capelleras et al (2010), claim that this experience positively impacts the creation of ventures, but has little influence on their growth. It is believed that founders with the same sector experience would have a better knowledge of the opportunities and can benefit from past business ties.Entrepreneurship specific experience implies that the entrepreneur should have a previous experience in starting a business, running a company or having membership of an entrepreneurial association (Bosma et al, 2004; Baron and Shane, 2008). This experience does not have a direct effect on new venture growth but can aid in the pursuit of opportunities (Dimov, 2010). Manage rial experience is usually linked with the ability to organise resources and make strategic decisions (Ganotakis, 2012). It has been found that there is a positive relationship between managerial experience and performance (Ganotakis, 2012; Gimmon and Levie, 2009).However, Deakins (2005) believes that those with prior managerial experience may have a higher level of income they desire and may be unlikely to set up their own business as there is an uncertainty of a constant income flow especially at the gestation stages of the venture. Technical experience is gained in a specialised field or profession. Though Shrader and Siegel (2007) placed emphasis on this experience as useful in strategy implementation, research carried out by Ganotakis (2012) revealed that technical experience did not have a positive effect on performance.Thus, such experience should be accompanied by managerial experience. 2. 2 Human Capital and the Entrepreneurial Venture The theoretical background and explana tion of key concepts above has provided an insight into the subject of human capital. From literature, the importance of human capital is highlighted and three roles of human capital in an entrepreneurial venture can be identified and these would be explored for this purpose of this paper. Firstly, human capital can enhance in making and executing strategic decisions.Secondly, human capital can improve the performance of the new venture. Bruderl, Preisendorfer and Ziegler (1992) argue that better human capital increases the ability of the firm to attract customers and capital. From this, a third role can be identified which is human capital can enhance venture financing. These would be discussed in relation to past research and relevant theories. 3. METHODOLOGY The research was carried out by reviewing and analysing past research works on the topic of human capital as it relates to entrepreneurial ventures.The selection criteria for the resource materials used were peer-reviewed sch olarly journal articles. The time frame selected was from 2000 to 2012. This criterion was used so as to get reliable and up-to date information on the subject matter. 4. DISCUSSION This section explores the three factors identified in the foregoing. Decision making is very vital to a new venture. The success of a firm depends on the decisions made. The strategies adopted by a firm would reflect its competencies and would determine its competitive advantage which is line with resource-based and theory of entrepreneurship.Industry specific and technical experience of the founding team is argued to be valuable in the formulation and implementation of strategies and as such, they can make more informed decisions (Shrader and Siegel, 2007). These aspects of human capital could enhance decision making as knowledge of the market and industry would imply that the founder(s) is conversant with the process of gathering the relevant information. This experience is likely to lead to faster dec ision making (Forbes, 2005). Managerial capabilities could also be said to influence decision making as the entrepreneur would have experience n managing a firm and identifying appropriate markets (Ganotakis, 2012). It is crucial for new ventures to acquire financing for their operations at the start of the business. A higher human capital has been believed to attract capital (Bruderl, Preisendorfer and Ziegler, 1992; Baum and Silverman, 2004). In particular high educational qualifications can give signals to venture capital investors (Behrens et al, 2012). The reason for this may be that the investors believe that the founders can use their educational knowledge in managing the company and therefore they judge that their prospects are better.Seghers, Manigart and Vanacker (2012) also found out that business education and prior experience in accounting and finance increases a founder’s knowledge of financing alternatives. As such, the founder is able to access different sourc es of funding based on such knowledge. Another factor that affects venture financing is the social network ties the founder has (Zhang et al, 2012). Such networks would enable the founding team encounter people who could give them the required funding. Industry-specific experience is also vital in developing broad networks.Investments in human capital are widely believed to impact performance (Unger et al, 2011; Bosma et al, 2004; Rauch, Frese and Utsch, 2011; Bruderl, Preisendorfer and Ziegler, 1992). An investment in industry specific and entrepreneurial experience increases the chances of success for a new venture. Entrepreneurship specific experience positively affects the profitability of the firm as the founder has acquired skills from previously owning a business and would be able to use these skills effectively in the new venture (Bosma et al, 2004).However, the research carried out by Haber and Reichel (2007) on high tech industries, highlights that education and previous e xperience had no effect on performance. As such, it may be argued that technical experience is more relevant to industries which use a more advanced technology as they require a high level of expertise and technical knowledge but as Ganotakis (2012) highlighted, technical experience should be complemented with managerial skills. Business education and management capability is thus very significant for the sustainability and survival of new ventures (Gimmon and Levies, 2009).Drawing on all that has been discussed, human capital characteristics especially industry specific and business skills would help in making more efficient strategic decisions which would also influence the venture performance. Business and finance skills could increase access to finance and good management of finance is crucial to profitability. Also, the social networks the founder has would enable him access finance and tap into knowledge of others which could affect the firm’s prospects. 5. CONCLUSION T his report examines the importance of human capital to the new venture.The contribution of this study is that it explored the effect of general and specific human capital attributes on the performance of new ventures, venture financing and strategic decision making based on review of past research works. An interesting finding is that industry-specific experience as opposed to general experience and managerial experience are found to play a major role in all three areas while education seems to be least relevant to decision making and performance but quite vital in attracting investors.The implications to prospective entrepreneurs are that they should enhance their business, managerial and commercial skills as this is vital to the survival of new ventures. Also, it is necessary for them to use their present organisation positions to build network ties as this can enable them tap into knowledge and gain access to finance. This study is limited as it focused on a narrow range of past research works and not only all human capital characteristics were considered. Future research should focus more on the impact of the all aspects of human capital most especially on strategic decision making.A meta-analysis of a wide range of research works could also be carried out. PERSONAL REFLECTION STATEMENT Entrepreneurship is an interesting subject and the reason for this is that at the core of entrepreneurship is the fact that something new is involved. It could be a new market or a new product. It generally involves starting a new business venture. I understood that in starting a new business venture, one of the first things to consider is the opportunities available. Opportunities arise from the environment and in this age, quite a number of them arise from advances in technology.It is necessary to consider the market for the product or service as for a product to sell in the market; it has to meet individual, societal or business needs. It is useful to take into considera tion the competitors that are currently there. Some ventures can be pushed out of the market by other stronger companies such as monopolies particularly in a mature market. One of the concepts I have come to appreciate is the personality of the entrepreneur. Firstly, entrepreneurs are risk takers.They are very determined and spontaneous individuals who are passion and vision driven. They require intelligence both practical and social. They should be social beings and have the ability to persuade others to commit to the venture. If a team of entrepreneurs wish to come together to create a new venture, they must have complementary skills and must be compatible. An entrepreneur would have to consider if there is a need to hire a few staff. They can take advantage of the opportunities that social networking presents in getting useful personnel and contacts.I learnt that finance is also a very important factor as one could start a business out of a brilliant opportunity and experience fi nancial shortages. An entrepreneur would need to consider if he has enough funding from the planning stage and actually taking the product to the market through to the product development. Also, there is the need to consider if the business would be profitable because many people start new ventures based on great ideas and inventions with delusions of grandeur without seeing the â€Å"business† in the ideas.There are some concepts that are particularly fascinating. One of which is the concept of effectual reasoning which opposes the usual entrepreneurship process and implies that entrepreneurs do not always have a predetermined goal but the goals are dependent on the resources available to them. This course was enlightening and transcends beyond just starting a new ventures. There are implications for me as a future manager because I am motivated to find new ways of solving problems and exploring opportunities that surround my organization.The concepts of business strategies and maintaining a competitive advantage are important not only in entrepreneurial startups but in other areas of business. Now I appreciate people as a crucial resource for both entrepreneur ventures and a rich source for identifying new markets, new processes, new ideas, new opportunities, new product that will lead to new and improved levels of productivity. References: Alvarez, S. A. and Busenitz, L. W. (2001) â€Å"The entrepreneurship of resource-based theory†, Journal of Management, vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 755. Barney, J. (1991) â€Å"Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage†, Journal of Management, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 99. Baron, A. and Shane, S. (2008) Entrepreneurship A Process Perspective 2nd edn. South-Western Cengage Learning. Baum, J. A. C. and Silverman, B. S. (2004) â€Å"Picking winners or building them? Alliance, intellectual, and human capital as selection criteria in venture financing and performance of biotechnology startups†, Journal of Business Venturing, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 411. Behrens, J. Patzelt, H. , Schweizer, L. and Burger, R. (2012) â€Å"Specific managerial human capital, firm age, and venture capital financing of biopharmaceutical ventures: A contingency approach†, Journal of High Technology Management Research, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 112-121. Bosma, N. , van Praag, M. , Thurik, R. and de Wit, G. (2004) â€Å"The Value of Human and Social Capital Investments for the Business Performance of Startups†, Small Business Economics, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 227-236. Bruderl, J. , Preisendorfer, P. and Ziegler, R. 1992) â€Å"Survival Chances of Newly Founded Business Organizations†, American Sociological Review, vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 227-242. Capelleras, J. , Greene, F. J. , Kantis, H. and Rabetino, R. (2010) â€Å"Venture Creation Speed and Subsequent Growth: Evidence from South America†, Journal of Small Business Management, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 302-324. Casson, M. (2005) â€Å"Entrepreneurs hip and the theory of the firm†, Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 327-348. Deakins, D. (2005) Entrepreneurship and small firms 4th edn. McGraw-Hill Education.Dimov, D. (2010) â€Å"Nascent Entrepreneurs and Venture Emergence: Opportunity Confidence, Human Capital, and Early Planning†, Journal of Management Studies, vol. 47, no. 6, pp. 1123-1153. Diochon, M. , Menzies, T. V. and Gasse, Y. (2008) â€Å"Exploring the Nature and Impact of Gestation-Specific Human Capital among Nascent Entrepreneurs†, Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 151-165. Forbes, D. P. (2005) â€Å"Managerial Determinants of Decision Speed in New Ventures†, Strategic Management Journal, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 355-366.Ganotakis, P. (2012) â€Å"Founders' human capital and the performance of UK new technology based firms†, Small Business Economics, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 495-515. Gimmon, E. and Levie, J. (2009) â€Å"Instrumental Value Theory and the Human Capital of Entrepreneurs†, Journal of Economic Issues (M. E. Sharpe Inc. ), vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 715-732. Haber, S. and Reichel, A. (2007) â€Å"The cumulative nature of the entrepreneurial process: The contribution of human capital, planning and environment resources to small venture performance†, Journal of Business Venturing, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 119-145. Rauch, A. , Frese, M. and Utsch, A. (2005) â€Å"Effects of Human Capital and Long-Term Human Resources Development and Utilization on Employment Growth of Small-Scale Businesses: A Causal Analysis†, Entrepreneurship: Theory & Practice, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 681-698. Seghers, A. , Manigart, S. and Vanacker, T. (2012) â€Å"The Impact of Human and Social Capital on Entrepreneurs' Knowledge of Finance Alternatives†, Journal of Small Business Management, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 63-86. Shrader, R. and Siegel, D. S. 2007) â€Å"Assessing the Relationship between Human Capital and Firm Pe rformance: Evidence from Technology-Based New Ventures†, Entrepreneurship: Theory & Practice, vol. 31, no. 6, pp. 893-908. Unger, J. M. , Rauch, A. , Frese, M. and Rosenbusch, N. (2011) â€Å"Human capital and entrepreneurial success: A meta-analytical review†, Journal of Business Venturing, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 341-358. Zhang, J. , Souitaris, V. , Soh, P. and Wong, P. (2008) â€Å"A Contingent Model of Network Utilization in Early Financing of Technology Ventures†, Entrepreneurship: Theory & Practice, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 593-613.

Distance Time Walking Relationship Experimentation

Physics Lab Report Distance Time Walking Relationship Experimentation For Mr. Williams SPH3U1-02 Sept. 13/10 Written by: Dong Chang, Gloria Chan, Sanjay Tanirige, and Waleed Shehzad Image credits Distance Time Walking Relationship Experimentation Purpose The purpose of this experiment is to determine the amount of time in seconds that it takes to walk a distance of 84 metres on the running track. In addition, the person that is the most reliable to perform this test will have to be determined. Hypothesis We hypothesize that it will take approximately 103. 7 seconds to run the 84 metre of track by an average person. This value was derived from the average time that it takes to walk one metre from the person with the most average walking speed out of the group. Procedure Materials and Apparatus: †¢ Metre Stick †¢ †¢ Method Part A: Finding most reliable walker 1. Place the metre stick on a sufficient space on the ground with some distance before and after it. Let the zero metre mark be the origin. 2. Start walking some distance before the origin (in the negative x-axis area).When the person’s stride is over the origin, the stopwatch is started. The person will keep on walking and maintain the same speed and heading with no acceleration until they have walked some distance past the 1 metre mark. Stop the stopwatch once the person’s stride is over the 1 metre mark. 3. Record the time that it takes to perform the action of walking 1 metre. Repeat Step 2 two more times so that you have three trials. Find the average time that it took the person to walk the 1 metre. 4. Repeat Steps 1-3 for each member of the roup. 5. Find the average that it takes for all members of the group to walk 1 metre by adding their averages and dividing by the amount of people in the group. Stopwatch with accuracy of 1/100 seconds Pre-marked area 84 metres long Distance Time Walking Relationship Experimentation 6. The person that has the closest personal average to the group average will be the most reliable walker for the group. Part B: Finding the time that it takes to walk 84 metres 1. Mark the 84 metre track with the start and the finish. 2.Using the most reliable walker found in Part A, start walking some distance before the start line in order to achieve a constant velocity and have zero acceleration. Start the stopwatch when the person’s stride is over the start line, and stop the stopwatch when the person’s stride is over the finish line. 3. Record the time that it takes the person to walk the 84 metre length of track. Observations Record of the amount of time in seconds for a person to walk one metre. Walker Time 1 (seconds) 0. 90 0. 93 1. 08 1. 28 Time 2 (seconds) 1. 23 1. 16 1. 10 1. 08 Time 3 (seconds) 1. 6 1. 16 1. 18 1. 18 Time Average (seconds) 1. 13 1. 08 1. 12 1. 18 Dong Chang Gloria Chan Sanjay Tantirige Waleed Shahzad Therefore, the total average of everyone’s time to walk one metre is: (1. 13s+1. 08s+1 . 12s+1. 18s)/4 =4. 51s/4 =1. 275s ?1. 3 seconds The person with the closest personal average is Dong Chang, with an average time of 1. 13 seconds.Therefore, he is the most reliable to run the test. Distance Time Walking Relationship Experimentation The average time of the most reliable person to walk one metre. Walker Dong Chang Time (seconds) 1. 21 1. 37 1. 19 1. 5 1. 17 1. 28 1. 18 1. 12 1. 21 1. 25 Therefore the average of the time to walk one metre is 1. 233 seconds. To estimate the time it takes to walk 84 metres: Let x be the estimated time to walk 84 metres x=time*distance x=1. 233 seconds * 84 metres x=103. 572 seconds x ? 103. 57 seconds Therefore we estimate it would take 103. 57 seconds in order to walk 84 metres. Actual result of test to walk 84 metres: 106. 75 seconds Distance Time Walking Relationship Experimentation Percent Deviation of Test [(experimental value – theoretical value)/theoretical value] * 100% [(106. 5s-103. 57s)/103. 57s]*100% =(3. 18s/103. 57s )*100% ?3. 07% Therefore the deviation is 3. 07% away from the hypothesis. Percent Difference of Trials (maximum difference in measurement)/average measurement * 100% [(1. 37s-1. 12s)/1. 233s]*100% =(0. 25s/1. 233s)*100% ?20. 3% Therefore the difference between the trials was 20. 3% Analysis 1. a) How did you choose the walker? We first had each person walk 1 metre three times each and timed them. An average time was assigned to each person based on their performance.Then we found the average that it takes for all members of the group to walk 1 metre by adding their personal averages and dividing by the amount of people in the group. The person that has the closest personal average to the group average will be the most reliable walker for the group because they are the most average. b) How did you design your classroom trials? We placed the metre stick beside the straight surface of the wall so that the walker can walk perpendicular to it as to not have any change in direction while conduction the trials.We set the 0 metre point of the ruler as the origin, and that was where we would start timing and we set the 1 metre point to where we would stop timing. The walker would start walking before the origin so they can maintain a constant velocity and have zero acceleration. When their stride is over the origin, we would start timing, and then their stride Distance Time Walking Relationship Experimentation is over the 1 metre mark, we would stop timing. We did this three times each for every group member to find who was the most reliable walker, and ten times more for the most reliable walker. . a) How did your classroom trials approximate the final verification? Our classroom trials help us obtain a proper hypothesis that was extremely close to our final test during the final verification.By using mathematical models and calculations with real world small scale measurements, we were able to predict the outcome of the experiment down to approximately 3% off. Howev er, such trials seem mundane for such a low scale experiment which would probably have been done a lot faster if the final verification was done earlier. ) Who was the most reliable walker? Why? Dong Chang was the most reliable walker because his personal average time to walk 1 metre of distance is the closest to the group’s total average to walk 1 metre. On average, the total group took 1. 275 seconds to walk 1 metre, with Dong’s time of 1. 30 seconds average the closest. 3. a) How accurate was your estimate? Our estimate was very accurate and only presented a 3. 07% deviation (see observations for calculations) from the final verification time. b) Area your results reliable to science?Our results are reliable to science due to the good design of our trials and experiments. We had a 3. 07% error, which is less than the 5% that would deem our results acceptable to science. Conclusion In physics, motion is a change in location or position of an object with respect to ti me. In this experiment, the walker exerts motion in order to change their position down a track. We were able to estimate the amount of time that it takes one to travel a certain distance with a set of scaled down trials. Distance Time Walking Relationship Experimentation

Jackson essays

Jackson essays Jacksons opinions were viewed by some as logical, while in fact they were quite irresponsible and unethical. These opinions and actions violated the United States Constitution, individual liberties, economic stability, and democracy among the public. Andrew Jackson had supporters and enemies that created controversy among parties. In the 1830s there was a case over land control of land west of Georgia controlled by the Cherokee Indians. The Cherokee Indians were being forces out of their land by Georgia. This is depicted in Document G, which shows a picture called the "Trail of Tears". Jackson went against the "supreme" ruling of the land, and also violated the Indians rights as a sovereign nation. Jacksons act clearly violated the constitution. Liberty can be defined as the condition of being free from restriction or control. In Document G, Andrew Jackson was not showing the Cherokee an equal say on their own freedom. Jackson was going against everything that this country was founded upon. Document E by Philip Hone, a New York businessman describes how violent riots had broken out all amongst Philadelphia. The police attempted to control the riots, but were unsuccessful. Daniel Webster, in Document C, reports that Jacksons Veto message was promoting prejudice acts between the classes. "It manifestly seeks to inflame the poor against the rich." Webster also states implies that liberty may be considered dangerous to uninformed people of the current circumstances. Harriet Martineau was a spectator unfamiliar with the United States. In document D she says that..."for the first time the absence of poverty, of gross ignorance, of all severity, of all insolence of manner cannot be exaggerated in description. Harriet w as a person who obviously believed Jackson was doing his duty to preserve liberty amid a tough city lifestyle. Document B is Jacksons veto to the national bank. ...

Heather Ale by Robert Louis Stevenson

Heather Ale by Robert Louis Stevenson The poem Heather Ale by Robert Louis Stevenson is a ballad about the legendary Pict precursors to modern era Scots. In mythology, they may also be identified with pech, who were pixie-like creatures. They brewed heather ale and battled the Scots. Certainly, it would be convenient to be able to turn the abundant heather into an alcoholic beverage. Among the curiosities of human nature, this legend claims a high place. The historical Picts were a confederation of tribes in eastern and northern Scotland in the late Iron Age through the early medieval periods. The Picts were never exterminated. Today, they form a  large proportion of the folk of Scotland: occupying the eastern and the central parts, from the Firth of Forth, or perhaps the Lammermoors, upon the south, to the Ord of Caithness on the north. Archaeological studies dont find the Picts to be much shorter than current-day Scots.   It may be a case of the victors writing the history. The last nominal king of Picts reigned in the early 900s AD. In fiction and motion pictures they are often depicted as tattooed, blue-painted woodland warriors. Did the elements of this legend stem from some ancestors who were small of stature, black of hue, dwelling underground and possibly also the distillers of some forgotten spirit? See Joseph Campbell’s  Tales of the West Highlands. Heather Ale: A Galloway LegendRobert Louis Stevenson (1890) From the bonny bells of heather  Ã‚  Ã‚  They brewed a drink long-syne,Was sweeter far than honey,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Was stronger far than wine.They brewed it and they drank it,  Ã‚  Ã‚  And lay in a blessed swoundFor days and days together  Ã‚  Ã‚  In their dwellings underground.There rose a king in Scotland,  Ã‚  Ã‚  A fell man to his foes,He smote the Picts in battle,  Ã‚  Ã‚  He hunted them like roes.Over miles of the red mountain  Ã‚  Ã‚  He hunted as they fled,And strewed the dwarfish bodies  Ã‚  Ã‚  Of the dying and the dead.Summer came in the country,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Red was the heather bell;But the manner of the brewing  Ã‚  Ã‚  Was none alive to tell.In graves that were like children’s  Ã‚  Ã‚  On many a mountain head,The Brewsters of the Heather  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lay numbered with the dead.The king in the red moorland  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rode on a summer’s day;And the bees hummed, and the curlews  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cried beside the way.The king rode, and was angry,  Ã‚  Ã‚   Black was his brow and pale,To rule in a land of heather  Ã‚  Ã‚  And lack the Heather Ale.It fortuned that his vassals,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Riding free on the heath,Came on a stone that was fallen  Ã‚  Ã‚  And vermin hid beneath. Rudely plucked from their hiding,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Never a word they spoke:A son and his aged father-   Ã‚  Ã‚  Last of the dwarfish folk.The king sat high on his charger,  Ã‚  Ã‚  He looked on the little men;And the dwarfish and swarthy couple  Ã‚  Ã‚  Looked at the king again.Down by the shore he had them;  Ã‚  Ã‚  And there on the giddy brink- â€Å"I will give you life, ye vermin,  Ã‚  Ã‚  For the secret of the drink.†There stood the son and father  Ã‚  Ã‚  And they looked high and low;The heather was red around them,  Ã‚  Ã‚  The sea rumbled below.And up and spoke the father,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shrill was his voice to hear:â€Å"I have a word in private,  Ã‚  Ã‚  A word for the royal ear.â€Å"Life is dear to the aged,  Ã‚  Ã‚  And honour a little thing;I would gladly sell the secret,†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Quoth the Pict to the King.His voice was small as a sparrow’s,  Ã‚  Ã‚  And shrill and wonderful clear:â€Å"I would gladly sell my secret,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Only my son I fear.â€Å"For life is a little matter,  Ã‚  Ã‚  And death is nought to the young;And I dare not sell my honour  Ã‚  Ã‚  Under the eye of my son.Take him, O king, and bind him,  Ã‚  Ã‚  And cast him far in the deep;And it’s I will tell the secret  Ã‚  Ã‚  That I have sworn to keep.†They took the son and bound him,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Neck and heels in a thong,And a lad took him and swung him,  Ã‚  Ã‚  And flung him far and strong,And the sea swallowed his body,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Like that of a child of ten;- And there on the cliff stood the father,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Last of the dwarfish men. â€Å"True was the word I told you:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Only my son I feared;For I doubt the sapling courage  Ã‚  Ã‚  That goes without the beard.But now in vain is the torture,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fire shall never avail:Here dies in my bosom  Ã‚  Ã‚  The secret of Heather Ale.†

The asylum and immigration act 2004 [uk] Article

The asylum and immigration act 2004 [uk] - Article Example Those who live in countries without fear need to recognize pain and suffering as a tradition unnecessary in civilized society. As such, the UK's Immigration and Asylum Act 2004 seeks to define itself as a hierarchy of needs unto itself. Such acts of self-preservation are not to be insulted without praise for their intent since we all realize the benefits of prevention in the face of terrorist attacks and inflated costs incurred from their aftermath of despair. What we need to reveal, however, is a true picture of an Act that offers little to those who seek its brilliance, and most to those who aim to halt claims by avoiding the most important issue: Human Rights. As a result of research, Amnesty International suspects that at least 27,000 and 25,000 people who had sought asylum at some stage were detained in 2003 and 2004 respectively for some period of time. This represents a very significant use of detention and immediately raises the question of whether such prolific use of detention is in compliance with international human rights law. (http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document Nov. 18, 2005, p 3). This reveals a disturbing fact about how we interpret the suffering of those who live in regions beyond our worst nightmares. Incarceration is being offered by the Home Office as a means of maintaining order for those claims which pose a potential risk to society. How risk is assessed, unfortunately, remains to be decided. Absconding and criminal destruction of personal identification are the two main threats believed controlled by an Act which seeks to hold each claim in contempt. Proponents of the Act use theoretical proofs as reality. They anticipate reducing the flow of claims through a process which speeds their denial and then revokes any privilege, regardless of its merit. Amnesty International's report United Kingdom: Seeking Asylum is not a Crime, Detention of people who have sought asylum, relates countless tales of misery during unnecessary detainment in prisons meant for dangerous criminals have been investigated through Amnesty International's pervasive and methodological research. The latter provides concrete interviews with asylum seekers, as well as well-demonstrated accounts of inhumane conditions in many detainment centres. Such scientific data need not be condemned by colloquial ads that propose solutions to a problem they have chosen to ignore. One such excerpt was a quote from The Home Secretary, David Blunkett, who said: The Act will speed up the appeals and removals process. Everyone benefits from a fair and decisive system and we need to make clear to those who have reached the end of the road and do not have a valid claim that they must leave. (Stansfield, Aug. 9, 2005, p.1). Regardless of the few who win asylum, the majority of claims are rejected and asked to return to the land they fled. Often, months of waiting reveal an end that