Storytelling In A Modern World Essays - Oral Literature, Spoken Word

Storytelling in a Modern World We humans are all storytellers, or story-listeners, or both. That's a crucial element of our humanity. Passing down the generations, constantly changing under the pressure of altering circumstances, stories link humanity together in chains of narrative. Odysseus sets out on the wine-dark sea, fights ferocious monsters, endures endless hardships, and eventually finds his way home; and so does Tim O'Brien in The Things They Carried; and so do many thousands of other heroes conceived in the 2,900 years between Odysseus and O'Brien. Storytelling has been, since the earliest times, the way people have ordered their reality. It is the fundamental use of language, that which creates and defines reality. As James Baldwin said in his essay, If Black Language Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me What Is?, "People evolve a language in order to describe and thus control their circumstances, or in order not to be submerged by a reality that they cannot articulate. . .What joins all languages, and all men [sic], is the necessity to confront life, in order, not inconceivably, to outwit death" (37). Baldwin's understanding of the use of language can be extended to the purpose of storytelling. By telling a story, not only do we create reality, we defeat death. This concept of stories as constructing reality is not unique to Baldwin. In Narrative Means To Therapeutic Ends, by Michael White and David Epston, the same ideas of storytelling are enumerated, "In striving to make sense of life, persons face the task of arranging their experiences of events in sequences across time in such a way as to arrive at a coherent account of themselves and the world around them. . .This account can be referred to as a story..." (47) Ours has been the storytelling century: never before have so many of us had the chance to absorb so many stories. Earlier centuries heard stories face-to-face, figured them out from pictures on the walls of caves or cathedrals, read them in manuscripts, and finally (from the 15th century onward) read them in printed books. The 19th century industrialized storytelling through popular novels and magazines. The 20th century made stories pervasive. Now, they are installed as constant elements in our lives, delivered through movies, radio, television and the Internet, all of them machines of narrative. The 21st century will find new ways of telling the old stories and developing new ones. So far, no one claims excellence for literary experiments on the Internet-but then, the novel at its birth was thought to be frivolous and the movies, when new, were no more than a toy. But there is a danger in this swell of story-telling. There was a time when the story-teller was revered. Story-tellers were considered to be prophets, shamans, visionaries. Today, there are two kinds of storytellers, the money makers, and the outcasts. The outcasts, like Thomas Builds-the-Fire in Sherman Alexie's novel, The Lone Ranger and Tonto fistfight in heaven, are telling the stories of the dispossessed. The stories which do not get told in Hollywood, at least, they rarely get told. We might have expected that humanity would at some point have resisted this swelling ocean of stories, would have been repelled by so much narration, so many ingenious plots, so many satisfying resolutions. But no: it appears we can never get enough. We thirst after stories of all kinds-epics, tragedies, comedies, anecdotes, parables. We are insatiable. Many of us are so enchanted we go back to the same story again and again, searching for fresh meaning. Some people watch Casablanca every chance they get. I used to read The Chronicles of Narnia until I wore the pages out, and I've already burned through four copies of Shogun. There are those who believe Christmas incomplete without A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Given a chance, we convert real tragedy into stories and then makes stories into parables, or life-lessons, which we use as the beginnings of wisdom. The Vietnam War was a tragic time in American history. Boys lost their innocence, lost their lives, and the country was split down the middle because of it. Then, in our stories, it became a metaphor for all wars, for all loss and schisms. It became a profound

Jeanne la Pucelle Essays - Joan Of Arc, Jacques DArc, Domremy

Jeanne la Pucelle Essays - Joan Of Arc, Jacques DArc, Domremy Jeanne la Pucelle History Jeanne la Pucelle (Joan the Maid) 1412, it is in the last half-century of the Hundred Years' War in which the French attempted to attain freedom from English rule by fighting to eradicate English strongholds. An unusually strong, healthy, and possibly clairvoyant girl is born to Isabelle Rome and Jacques d'Arc in the small village of Domremy, France. Her mother is from the town of Vouthon, which is west of Domremy. Her surname concurs that either she or a family member has visited Rome. Her father was born in a village called Ceffonds in the province of Champagne. His last name indicates a connection with Arc-en-Barrois, a small town fifty kilometers north of Ceffonds. She had a somewhat wealthy family as you can tell from their home with a stone construction. You can still visit her home today. It has since been used as a wine cellar, a wine press, and a stable. She was one of five children: Jacques, Catherine, Jean, Joan, and Pierre. Their wealth came from their farming of wheat, flax, beet hemp, and colza. They also bred livestock, spun wool and tow, and kneaded their own bread. She was baptized by Jean Minet in the Church of St. Remy. She is admired by patriots, women's rights activists, paranormal investigators, and playwrights. The woman I am talking about is commonly known as Joan of Arc. When Joan was 13 she began to see visions and hear voices who she later determined to be Saints Catherine, Margaret, and Michael. They convinced her that she was chosen by God to help the dauphin, Charles VII free France and take his seat in the throne. At age 17 in 1429 she gained access to the King through the military commander in Vaucoulaurs. Charles was desperate because the English had captured almost half of France including Paris. When Joan told him of her visions of the Saints he was doubtful so he set up two tests for her. In the first he disguised himself as a courtier, but she pointed him out immediately. For the second test he asked her what he prayed to God for the night before she arrived; she told him exactly. Some of the clergy believed her to be Satanic, but Joan was approved. Charles fitted her with armor and gave her command of the military. Soon after she set out to free Orleans from a brutal siege. The other French commanders hesitantly followed orders, but soon they obeyed her whole-heartedly. Under Joan's command the siege was broken after only ten days and the English fled. She was given the everlasting title "The Maid of Orleans". Joan convinced Charles to undergo a formal coronation in the Cathedral at Reims. While escorting Charles, Joan and her army won several battles with the British along the way. She was at his side when Charles took the throne on July, 17 1429. During a minor battle in September, 1429 where Joan tried to free Paris, she was injured. Eight months later she was captured by a troop of Burgundians who wished to sell her for ransom. Instead she was sold to the English for a lot of money. The English believed her rumored visions Satanic so they tried her on accusations of witchcraft and heresy. Despite constant badgering she never swayed from her belief that her visions her from God. A French clergy sympathetic to the English convicted and sentenced Joan to death. On May, 30 1431 in the town square at Rouen she was burned at the stake. Due to her bravery in death people thought they had witnessed martyrdom of a Saint. Much to her family's regret she was not allowed a Christian burial as her ashes were thrown into the Seine River. In 1455 Joan's family requested a retrial for her and a hearing was granted by Pope Callistus III. One year later she was found innocent. Joan was beatified by Pope Pius X in 1909, and in 1920 she was canonized as a Saint. You can celebrate her feast day on May 30. "Joan of Arc, the maid of Orleans, was neither a witch nor a saint, but by curious circumstances her life and death fulfilled the requirements of both." -From Jeanne La Pucelle and The Dying God by James L. Matterer

Vsphere 4.1 and the security enhancements of it Essay

Vsphere 4.1 and the security enhancements of it - Essay Example However, the network security remains a topmost consideration for manager at all levels and a solution viability and dependability proportionate the level of security it ensures. Specially, the threat of hackers requires extra bit of security and guard to ensure the cyber security in various implementations of virtualization. Therefore, the security aspect of virtualization software has become an important feature to lookout while determining its worth. vSphere â„ ¢ 4.1 VSphere â„ ¢ 4.1 is a virtualization platform provided by the VMware, a pioneer firm in the field of virtualization. The platform is used extensively in the industry for deployment of numerous servers and host in cloud infrastructures. The basic theme is to increase the utilization by exploiting the flexibilities of computing power of a server machine while incorporating effective security controls at various layers of a cloud network. The challenges faced by the platform include the higher availability of the n etwork resources, solid integration of various virtualized servers and ensured directory level security. VSphere â„ ¢4.1 has distinct security feature for various level including Enterprise, DMZ and Specialize Security Limited Functionality (SSLF). VSphere â„ ¢4.1 has come up with newer feature to introduce and incorporate these and many other built-in security controls and features. Some of these security enhancements are discussed in the following paragraphs. Operating System Hardening VSphere â„ ¢4.1 provides various OS hardening features at various levels of the infrastructure. This includes numerous Virtual Machine (VM) Management APIs which enables system administrators to write programs and scripts both for VM operations and guest operating systems. Management APIs provide extended flexibility to server administrators and managers to incorporate a tailor made model of security into cloud infrastructure. vMotionTM The agile and quickest response of a resource is the p rime objective of higher availability in virtualized network infrastructures. The vMotionTM feature of vSphere â„ ¢ ensures the five times faster migrations of servers within platform with an added benefit of eight parallel vMotionTM events. This fast response time and parallel computing support is an important enhancement when compared to previous versions of the software. A network environment is considered as much secure as much it ensures the failover and backup capabilities. High Availability In today’s cyber world when your private network have to have an external face for integration with external private and public networks, the implementation of security measures, diagnostic routines and continuous health checks become indispensable and crucial for hackers prevention and cyber security. vSphere â„ ¢ 4.1 has several feature and algorithms to ensure high availability of your network through on the fly health checks and diagnostic utilities. â€Å"Deeper diagnost ic and health check capabilities further enhances application availability in virtual machines† (VMware, 2010). Active Directory Integration Authorization and authentication of legitimate users and administrators is a core security concern in business domains where remote access encounters an ever present hacking and other cybercrimes threat. This concern grows even deeper when you have several servers

Child development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Child development - Essay Example In 1901, England and Wales agreed to enroll the child who become half of three years old (OECD 2000). In the subsequent pages of this document, we will discuss and compare the education systems of two countries a) Australia and b) Italy with the Educational System of England. We will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Italian Early Childhood Education and Care System along with Australian style of early education. Education System of England The prime areas of EFYS of 2012 comprise a) Physical Development b) Personal, Social and Emotional Development c) Communication, Language and Literacy e) Mathematics f) Expressive Art and Design and g) Understanding the World (Department of Education 2012b). In the initial periods, practitioners have to play an important role in working with parents to support their young kids. It includes identifying learning needs for a quick response of the problem. When need arises, practitioners have to work with professionals of other agencies in the areas of community health and social services in order to provide exemplary learning opportunities for children. In special circumstances Partnership working is beneficial. It is important to provide necessary information about the on going activities of children on a regular basis through different modes like wall displays, photographs to the parents or children’s work. ... t b) Communication, language, and literacy c) Mathematical development d) Knowledge and understanding of the world e ) Physical development and f) Creative development (Walker 2005). Further, All educational institutions in England have to abide by the National Curriculum comprising twelve subjects. Out of which English,  Math  and  Science are compulsory subjects for all students. Below mentioned subjects are compulsory at a later stage: a) Physical Education b) Music c) Information and Communication Technology d) Foreign languages e) History and Geography f) Art and Design and g) Citizenship (Walker 2005). With regard to higher education, it requires a three-year  bachelor's degree. Students may have the postgraduate degree in two ways, either by taught or by research. The doctorate degree usually spans up to three years (Kubow and Fossum 2006). Apart from the above, non-statutory programs are also taught which includes Religious, Sex, Career and work related education in d ifferent phases. However, parents may withdraw their kids from the lessons of Religious and Sex education (Moyles 2007). It is agreed by all walks of life that the transitory period of a child in terms of early childhood education and onward schooling are important chapter for self and family. This opens up the door for a child for long term educational and occupational achievement (Alexander 1964). The successful completion of transitory period in a child’s life is heavily dependent on his or her personal / community characteristics, parents’ attitude and maternal education. In the initial period of child’s schooling, it is necessary for a child to understand the routines and practices. (Moyles 2007). For the last three years, government is putting in valuable efforts to improve, enhance and

Termination Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Termination Report - Essay Example Since this was a termination session, the most important part of informed consent was asking them if they agree and are comfortable with the termination. They stated that they felt much better and have noted great improvement in their relationship, thus, had no objection to the termination. I initiated the termination process having noted that the couple had made a lot of progress in their therapy. It was clear that both parties had gained enough insight to deal with conflicts and any future issues that may occur in their relationship. The termination session was smooth having discussed it with them earlier in the counseling process. The couple did not resist the session, and this means that they were also satisfied with the progress. However, I noticed some negative facial and body expressions, which could have come from the thought of ending a close relationship that we had built. I felt the same way too because I had bonded well with the couple, and because of their enthusiasm to share, I found it easy to talk and relate with them. Nevertheless, I felt happy because, at this point, the goals of the therapy had been achieved. At the beginning of the termination process, I handed the couple pieces of paper each and asked them to write down any concerns of anger and anxiety regarding the end of the counseling process. They noted that they noted they were satisfied, but were a bit anxious on how they were going to maintain the progress that they have achieved in their relationship since the start of counseling. This kind of reaction is normal in most counseling exercises, and it does not raise any alarm so long as the clients are not angry at the counselor for terminating the process. Hence, it was a mature decision to terminate the process since I did not witness any negative reactions against the decision. In addition, I also asked each of them to narrate what has been most beneficial to them that they will take a way from the process. Though they both gave a

Concepts Of Appropriation Under The Theft Act Law Essay

Concepts Of Appropriation Under The Theft Act Law Essay The Theft Act 1968  [1]  was legislated as a result of complicated, confusing and highly technical prior statutes and case law. Antiquated terminology like larceny, embezzlement and false pretences were to be replaced by a simple and short Act that was aiming towards codification of the criminal law. The Criminal Law Revision Committee advised on the recommendation, which as a result fully transpired. The report affirmed larceny, embezzlement and fraudulent conversion should be replaced by a single new offence of theft. The important element of them all is undoubtedly the dishonest appropriation of anotherers property.  [2]  Unfortunately the courts interpretation of the Theft Act has not went as smooth as anticipated; it became highly disputed as the House of Lords reached contrasting outcomes on several cases. Parliament was possibly at fault to some extent due to the Act being formulated very simplistic, the consequence was that judges had to work out exactly what the law was. My purpose will be to chronologically evaluate the crucial case law, academic opinion, as well as objectively conclude from a theoretical and practical perspective. The definition of The Theft Act 1968 is A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it; and thief and steal shall be construed accordingly.  [3]  This section is pivotal and fundamental as the whole Act is structured around this definition. Dispute surrounds the element of appropriation. Academics and lawyers have and still are extensively contesting on whether consent should be relevant or irrelevant for an individual to appropriate property. The Criminal Law Revision Committee which prompted the Act stated We hope and believe that the concept of dishonest appropriation will be easily understood even without the aid of further definition.  [4]  This lack of further definition in hindsight, demonstrated poor judgment from the Committee as cases will illustrate that interpretation of appropriation has led to difficulties even in straightforward circumstances. In Lawrence  [5]  an Italian student who was unfamiliar with the currency opened his wallet to a taxi driver to allow him to acquire the fare. The driver took money which was well over the excess of the fare. The driver disputed that his conduct could be appropriation because the student consented. The House of Lords held that it was irrelevant the student consented and dismissed the defendants appeal; the drivers conviction was upheld. This case concluded that appropriation can occur even when the victim has consented in handing over their property. Under the old Larceny Act 1916 a requirement for appropriation was without the consent of the owner  [6]  . Viscount Dilhorne highlighted this contrast in his judgment as he quoted Parliament by the omission of these words has relieved the prosecution of the burdon of establishing that the taking was without the owners consent  [7]  . Furthermore, Lawrenece means that certain crimes of deception may also be identical to crim es of theft, due to consent being irrelevant. Surely Parliaments intentions were not to have it amalgamated with s15 Obtaining Property by Deception. P. R. Glazebrook brought up this illogical consequence as he wrote Should it matter tuppence whether a crook snitched his victims property or tricked him out of it? Parliament thought not.  [8]  I myself find it hard to comprehend that Parliament enacted a meaningless provision but this is a practical and theoretical effect of the courts verdict. Shute and Horder also disagreed with the crimes being amalgamated by writing in a journal The label thief does not carry the same moral import as the label conman;  [9]  they also went on to say The nature of the wrongdoing in theft has a separate moral foundation from that of obtaining by deception. There is no doubt that these crimes are entirely different in reality and should be treated entirely different by the law; the outcome of Lawrenece does seem to question the merit and prac ticality of the Theft Act. The House of Lords in the case of Morris  [10]  casted uncertainty on this proposition as they held that the defendant must have done something objectively criminal for appropriation to occur. The facts involved the defendant exchanging labels on goods in a supermarket in order to pay less for the item; he was seized before paying and charged with theft. His council submitted that he could not have appropriated the item as he had handled the item in the supermarket with implied consent of the owner. Judging on Lawrence the defendant should have been convicted but the court completely opposed. Lord Roskil quoted appropriation in my view involves not an act expressly or impliedly authorised by the owner but an act by way of adverse interference with or unsurpation of those rights.  [11]  So on this judgment, a consensual acquirement of property would not be theft since the element of appropriation is absent. For the next eight years until R v Gomez  [12]  , this case was us ed in preference to Lawrence. The facts of Gomez involved the defendant who was an employee of a store in. He convinced the manager to sell goods to an accomplice and accept payment by cheques. He told the manager that the cheque was as good as cash but was aware that they were stolen. Gomez was convicted of theft at the trial court. The defendant appealed to the Court of Appeal, Lord Lane CJ was very clear on his position and stated anyone who obtains goods in return for a cheque which he knows will be dishonored on presentation, or indeed by way of any other similar pretence, would be guilty of theft  [13]  . He then went on to say that appropriation never occurred as There is no appropriation at the moment when he takes possession of the goods because he was entitled to do so under the terms of the contract of sale.  [14]  Lord Lane expressed that this conduct should not fall within the Theft Act as in practice it expands it enormously. Professor Shute obviously agreed with Lord Lanes reasoning as he w rote To create a new offence of theft to include conduct which ordinary people would find difficult to regard as theft would be a mistake.  [15]  Lord Lane also stressed that by making consent irrelevant created a clear conflict between civil and criminal law. Gomez was appealed to the House of Lords. The house had to clarify if consent was relevant and if appropriation involvedadverse interference with, or usurpation of, some right of the owner  [16]  The lords concluded 3:2 in favor for Lawrence against Morris and decided that consent is irrelevant to appropriation. Lord Keith quoted in the leading judgment Belief or the absence of belief that the owner had such knowledge is relevant to the issue of dishonesty, not to question whether or not there has been an appropriation.  [17]  This decision was of vast importance and had extensive implications to the offence of theft. In practical situations it could determine the point of arrest, for example, an individual can in theory be arrested in a shop for simply touching an item, perhaps just looking at the ingredients, if the law enforcement suspect the individual is planning to steal this item then in theory then they can be arrested. In practice this seems completely absurd; in add ition it means the law authorities have enormous arbitrary powers resulting from this legislation. Although in practice I doubt this example would occur often but arbitrary powers this broad should be taken very seriously as it may contravene human rights, the rule of law and the manifest criminality rule  [18]  that George Fletcher discusses. This rule maintains the notion that a reasonable person should identify the theft that has occurred. To some degree criminal activity like theft should be obvious to the objective observer. Alarmingly, by omitting the consent element for appropriation means that it practically vanishes the necessity to have an actus reus for a conviction. Also, there is no doubt that in certain cases consent will distinguish if the defendants conduct was dishonest or not. By dismissing consent the law is virtually relying on the entire mens rea element. Lord Lowry dissented in Gomez cited a dictionary definition of appropriate, he quoted take possession of, take to oneself, especially without authority.  [19]  He concluded that consent was relevant and there had to be some sort of adverse interference, which I do believe should be an element of appropriation. Later on in the 1990s, appropriation was at the centre of a further legal concern. The question the courts had to address was; could a recipient of a valid gift in civil law have appropriated property and be charged with theft if there was no deception? Again, consent was questioned. There were several cases with similar facts but it was R v Hinks  [20]  which resolved the issue. The defendant befriended a man of limited intelligence and naivety although he was mentally able of understanding the concept of ownership and a gift. The defendant encouraged the man to withdraw sixty thousand pounds and deposit it in her account. The Court of Appeal held that it was irrelevant the gift was valid in civil law and the question was certified to the House of Lords. Hinks defence submitted sound reasoning on why it would be wrong to hold a valid civil gift as appropriated, they referred to numerous examples of when contractual problems under such a expansive definition of appropriation whic h could now become theft. The defence also highlighted that it would create disharmony and a blatant conflict with civil law. Lord Steyn countered this issue as he quoted The tension between the civil law and the criminal law is therefore not in my view a factor which justifies a departure from the law as stated in Lawrence and Gomez.  [21]  In addition, on the matter of consent and authority he said this was immaterial.  [22]  The court appeal was dismissed as the gift was appropriated, only with Lord Hobhouse dissenting. Therefore in practice if there is an acquisition of property through dishonestly then the gift will have been appropriated and stolen. There are several consequences of the final decision in Hinks. First of all it means that there is no longer any distinction between fraud and theft, which does not seem to be logical as they are entirely different crimes. Lord Steyn discarded appropriation as being narrow due the number of unjustified acquittals that may be the consequence. Although this is a convincing justification and I can see the logic due to the defendants unconscionable conduct, but I believe this should not be the criminal law. The contrast with civil law could been evaded by perhaps declaring the gift voidable due to undue influence. The court asserting the legitimacy of the gift as irrelevant was perhaps unconvincing. J.C Smith strongly disapproved as he wroteWho ever heard of ordinary literate people describing the receipt of a gift as an appropriation?  [23]  Numerous academics have agreed with Smith and understandably criticized the courts decision. Clarkson and Keating have described Hinks decision in particular as lamentable  [24]  as the House of Lords do not identify what actually constitutes appropriation. J.C Smith emphasized how expansive appropriation is currently, the commentary stated Millions of employees are appropriating their employers property, millions of customers are appropriating the property of shopkeepers, husbands are appropriating the property of their wifes and vice versa every hour of the day  [25]  , therefore if mens rea is perceptible then these examples can all be theft. Reflecting on the judgments, journals and commentary, I believe adverse interference should be present in the definition of appropriation. Perhaps the negative aspect is there may be an undeserved acquittal but better this than innocent individuals convicted due to the law being so expansive. It is simply more practical and just for adverse interference to be an element in of the Theft Act. Adverse iterference establishes the progress from actual guilty contemplation or consideration to which should be the full mens rea of theft. Individuals with criminal thoughts and ideas should not be liable for theft if the criminal act has not been executed. Unfortunetly due to adverse interference being ommitted from the requirement of the Theft Act, thoughts and ideas can be criminal in the present law which in my opinon is completely unsound and dangerously premature for a justifiable conviction.

The Rich Brother by Tobias Wolff Essay -- Sibling Rivalry, Rich Brothe

The short story, "The Rich Brother," by Tobias Wolff represents the same concept that everyday people all over the world encounter. This portrays how having siblings can be an enormous part of a persons life. The rivalry between siblings is often very competitive, but at the same time similar to magnets. When they are not connected it may seem they are independent and whole, but when examined closely it is obvious they are really relying on each other to function properly. Although Pete and Donald's life are separate and completely different, they are in fact very dependent on each other. The meaning of dependence is the act of being influenced, relying on, or needing someone for aid or support. Dependence is one of the main characteristics that both Pete and Donald portray without it being easily comprehended. Pete needs Donald as much as Donald needs Pete on an emotional level. Throughout this short story Donald is the one that seems to have a life incomparable to Pete's but both brothers are missing something, and that something is each other. The story begins with Wolff describing the two brothers, Pete is the conceited successful brother with a life people dream about, and Donald is the younger brother who attempts to do something for everyone else when he could. Donald had made odd decisions, such as going to live on a farm in which members of his community had bought to form a family of faith. When Donald became unhappy he became dependent on Pete because he had no where to go, no car, and no money. Pete took action and drove out to pick him up to bring him ba ck to his house. If Pete did not care about Donald, even though they are brothers, he would have made Donald be independent and live in the real world. Pete's a... ...e this unfair life for Donald to come out ahead in the end." Donald had invested the one hundred dollars the Pete gave him on what Pete thought was extremely outrageous then got worried when he felt Donald would do something to out smart him. In conclusion, co-dependency and rivalry is very common in the world today. Though it is not a big issue out in the open, it is an emotional attachment that only one can define. In this short story the two main aspects of having siblings is the theme which revolves around codependency and rivalry. Having siblings is a part of everyday life and problems do occur which sometimes makes a person, or changes a person in ways. In this situation, Pete and Donald are completely different people but they are in fact very dependent upon one another. Work Cited Wolff, Tobias. â€Å"The Rich Brother.† Back in the World. New York: Bantam.