My First Experience With Lectio Divina - 775 Words

My first experience with lectio divina began almost 2 years ago through a book called Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton. During that time I was trying to discern God’s call to ministry and where to attend seminary. With a brief summary of lectio divina and my devotion in hand, I Samuel 1, Hannah’s plea for a child, I was overtaken by a profound connection between Hannah and me and our need to give birth and nurture – a baby for her and my place in ministry for God. As I quickly learned, the hearing of God’s voice requires a significant effort to rid one’s self of life’s distractions to receive a message beyond the words that are read. Then and even now, after reading the full text of Magrassi, the most salient points of lectio divina to me are the four acts of reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation, with special emphasis on contemplation. As with many adults with families, jobs, school, etcetera, time is a precious commodity. Lectio divina is a beautiful reminder to not approach Scripture with the perfunctory, lackadaisical attitude of ‘just getting it done’. The four acts help to focus the reader, create space for contemplation, and also to give structure to that time with God. Magrassi stresses that the Bible is living, and therefore, gives life (p. 28). As such, we can come to Scripture with expectant heart intent on receiving a personal message from God. My prayed reading first involved an attempt to clear my mind as much as possible of all previous readingsShow MoreRelatedThe Confession And On The Trinity1672 Words   |  7 Pagesthe section titles the literal Meaning of Genesis in order to show Gods love through three visions of God. According to Duprà © and Weisman, â€Å" we experience three kinds of vision: one through the eyes, a second through the soul, and a third through the intuition of the mind (Duprà © and Weisman pg. 71).† Most humans in society are expected to understan d the first of all the visions. To see through the eyes as spiritual vision is expected for most humans. However, to see things in a corporeal way throughRead MoreA Study On Presence Centered Youth Ministry1445 Words   |  6 Pagesown transformational journeys, but that is the situation with Presence Centered Youth Ministry. Thesis for Presence Centered Youth Ministry One must really dig into the book to get to the thesis. That is not to say the introduction and the entire first chapter is ineffective, quite the opposite is true. It is necessary to understand the context and transformation of King’s life in order to appreciate the thesis. The thesis is on the final page of chapter 1 and like the rest of the book, it is notRead MoreThe Goals And Processes Of Inductive And Deductive Processes1791 Words   |  8 Pagesparticulars. Praying in Scripture Often called the Lectio Divina, this simply means that as we read His Word, we can also pray it. It is about integrating our prayer and Scripture life for greater spiritual stimulation that leads to greater understanding of our Lord and then greater application of His precepts. As we read God s Word, we can and should be praying to our Lord, too. This combines... (There is a more in-depth article, The Lectio Divina? on our Bible Study Methods channel.) Not onlyRead MoreSt. Teresa of Avila: The Unperfect Saint1417 Words   |  6 PagesContrary to common belief, saints are not perfect. Saints simply seek Christ more than anyone else. Saints understood the need for Christ in their own lives through their own experiences. St. Teresa of Avila did not live a perfect life, although she strived to after her conversion. St. Teresa, after living in the world, realized her desperate need for a personal relationship with God, but by no means was she perfect. Teresa Sà ¡nchez Cepeda Davila y Ahumada lived in Avila, Spain where she was bornRead MoreWhich Way to the Plain of Enlightenment? Essay2182 Words   |  9 Pagesmeditation. This is one of the most amazing parts of the conference a chance to truly learn another culture from which then they can be compared. To understand why meditation is so important one must embrace the history of Buddhism. It started with the first Buddah, named Siddhartha Gautama who was born into royalty in 563BC and from birth was prophesized to be a great religious leader. In his early twenties he came to understand what death, sickness, and old age were. Previous to this his father shielded

Biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - 2523 Words

Although Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is often regarded as just an author, he was much more. His works were inspired by the times and the people he met, and his literary influence remains relevant today. On May 22, 1859 Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland to Charles and Mary Doyle. He was their third child, and one of ten children all together. Charles Doyle was a political cartoonist and civil servant who earned only  £300 per year, so money was very tight in the household. Partially due to his father’s alcoholism and mental instability, he and Charles weren’t ever close. However, he and his mother were. Mary was passionate about books and was a gifted storyteller. Charles reflected on this in one of his biographies†¦show more content†¦He also encountered fellow artists such as James Barrie and Robert Louis Stevenson. Two years later, Arthur wrote a short story entitled The Mystery of Sasassa Valley, and it was accepted in the Chamber†™s Journal, an Edinburgh magazine. Soon after, he wrote the story The American Tale which was published in London Society. He said, It was in this year that I first learned that shillings might be earned in other ways than by filling phials. When Arthur turned 20 he was offered a job as surgeon on the whaling boat Hope. He loved the adventure and camaraderie on the barge saying, â€Å"I went on board the whaler a big straggling youth, I came off a powerful well-grown man.† and that the arctic â€Å"awakened the soul of a born wanderer.† These experiences influenced the story Captain of the Pole Star. He went back to the university in 1880 and acquired his Bachelor of Medicine and his Master of Surgery degree. Then he went on the Mayumba, serving as ship’s surgeon again, for his first gainful employment. It navigated between Liverpool and the West Coast of Africa. He found Africa â€Å"detestable† and quite as soon as they were back in England. Facing th e prospect of having to file for bankruptcy, he moved to Portsmouth to open his first practice. He struggled with trying to be a good doctor and become a recognized author. This earned him a fairly decent salary. Though he was busy with medicine and writing he married Louisa Hawking, whom he described asShow MoreRelatedArthur Conan Doyle1369 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"People who are in earnest are always interesting, whether you agree with them or not† (The Chronicles). Doyle may be known as the author of Sherlock Holmes, but there are other facets to his life. On account of some strange events that occurred, Doyle was persuaded into thinking that spiritual beings existed. As Doyle’s career advanced he drew the attention of many to himself. He succeeded both by gaining supporters and detractors. He built on his fame by giving lectures. These aspects of his lifeRead MoreThe Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 1090 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"His ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge† (British†¦). When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said this, he was not talking about himself, but the statement applied to him. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, and even though it was not known to his parents, on that day one of the greatest writers of his time was born. Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, to Mary and Charles Doyle. Arthur Conan Doyle had an interesting and eventful life, though he was born into a financially unstableRead MoreThe Man at 221B Baker Street Essay1518 Words   |  7 Pages221B Baker Street: Rough Draft Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born, May 22, 1859 (wikipedia.com). He â€Å"was, in fact, one of the most fascinating and complex people of his age. He was an adventurer, a scientist and physician, a crusader for an eclectic and often unpopular set of causes, a deeply spiritual lapsed Catholic, a loyal and faithful husband who waited until after his wife’s death to marry the woman he really loved, and an incredibly versatile writer not only of detective fiction but also ofRead MoreSir Arthur Conan Doyle - The Mastermind Writer1589 Words   |  7 Pages (Avva 1) Dhanush Avva White English 1 3 December 2015 Author Study: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - The Mastermind Writer The name of Arthur Conan Doyle has become synonymous with classic detective fiction. Doyle is the creator of two of the most well-loved and widely recognized fictional characters of modern literature—the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friendRead MoreThe Hound of the Baskervilles1303 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Baskervilles, various factors of Arthur Conan Doyle’s early life, popularity, perspective, and status were all expressed in multiple ways. Spiritualism played an crucial role in his life, greatly impacting his work, specifically â€Å"The Hound.† Additionally, his birthplace and upbringing, along with the time period, inveigled his writing. Furthermore, Doyle characterized the people in the story in along with real life scenarios. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had an interesting life, full of upsRead MoreThe Life Of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle1536 Words   |  7 Pageswrites an extensive biography The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. With a combination of the biography and Adler’s Individual Psychology one can paint a picture of who this famous man really was. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22nd of 1859 to Charles Doyle and Mary Foley in Edwardian England, he was the third child but first boy born to the young couple. Eventually they had 9 children in all, 7 of which made it into adulthood and 2 of those were male. Mary adored young Arthur and filled his headRead MoreDeveloping my Linguistic Skills with Sherlock Holmes542 Words   |  2 Pages I came to know about the book Sherlock Holmes. I was amazed by the way Sir Arthur Conan Doyle carried the stories. The Authors who had written romantic stories might have fallen head over heels for a guy/girl, the stories they heard from their friends/neighbors, happened in their friends/neighbours lives might have inspired them and provoked them to write romantic novels. The Authors who had written their own biography, perhaps spent some time alone recollecting their good old memories, theirRead MoreAnalysis Of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle1214 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the most popular authors of all time is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. His work is still used as a base for many different types of media made today. There are dozens of books, television shows, and movies patterned after his most well-known series starring Sherlock Holmes, who was first introduced in the book â€Å"A Study in Scarlet.† This character that he created has become a household name in not only his home country but the rest of the world as well. Unlike most past authors, Doyle’s work was popularRead MoreLiterary Figures Of The 20th Century1295 Words   |  6 PagesMacayla Jefferis Williams Writing 301 29 September 2015 Sherlock Holmes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is not the most well-known author, but his characters are perhaps some of the most iconic literary figures of the nineteenth century. Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson, Professor Moriarty, and even Mrs. Hudson are all familiar to readers and non-readers world-wide. Over the course of his career, Conan Doyle published more than 50 short stories and novels about the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes andRead MoreSir Arthur Conan Doyle Research Paper1893 Words   |  8 PagesSIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE’S LIFE AND SHERLOCK HOLMES Gabriel Bingei March 4, 2013 Mrs. Marie Thompson English In this paper, every OPINION from someone else has been acknowledged in a parenthetical citation. I realize that the mere presence of a parenthetical citation does not avoid plagiarism. If I have used the exact words, phrases, clauses, or sentences of someone else, I have enclosed that information in quotation marks; but I have stated those opinions in my own words. I have also introduced

Project Management Written Assignment 1 Free Essays

2012-02-MAN-435-OL009: Project Management Written Assignment 1 1. Discuss the principal reasons why project management has become such a popular business tool in recent years. Business has changed in the past 20 or so years. We will write a custom essay sample on Project Management Written Assignment 1 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Products are being produced more rapidly and with the introduction of globalization competition has become more abundant. There is a need to become more customer focused but at the same time quicker to market while still reducing cost. Doing business the old way is just not cutting it anymore. Project management gives companies the ability to focus on many things at once without losing focus on their core business model. Processes become projects that have a start and finish and can be tracked and quantified from beginning to end. Projects also give the company the ability to become more innovative by bringing people from different departments together. This promotes fresh thinking and upsets the status quo which is a good thing. 2. Suppose that you are in charge of a production line. What is expected of you as a process manager? Now suppose that you are assigned the task of making a radical change to the production process. What then would be expected of you as a project manager? As a process manager you are in charge of making sure the day to day operation is running smoothly and that you meet your immediate quotas. You are also in charge of managing people. Managing people includes disciplining workers when need and conflict resolution. A process manager, especially on the production line level is not involved in big picture thinking and only needs to be concerned with what is happening in their department. If I were tasked with revamping the production line my day-to-day would change drastically. My main focus would less about the process and more about the project. Instead of managing people directly it would be more about managing the project and the conflict resolution would be more focused on how to make the team members work together for the common goal. The project would probably be more big picture oriented instead of focused on just the task at hand. More would be expected of me than just meeting quota. 3. Describe the basic elements of the project life cycle. Why is an understanding of the project life cycle relevant for understanding project management? The project life cycle consists of the conceptualization phase, the planning phase, the execution phase, and the termination phase. Understanding the project lifecycle is important because it is the base of all project management. You take one phase out and the project will fail. You cannot start a project without a good scope, or blueprint. The project lifecycle is set up so that you cannot move on to the next stage in the cycle without going through the previous stage. I also want to mention the termination phase. This is where you terminate the project and put together a document that explains the delays and fixes that helped the project come to fruition. 4. Compare and contrast the three organizational structures discussed in the text: functional, project, and matrix. Provide examples that show the difference between the three, including some of the advantages and disadvantages of each. There are three main organizational structure types used in business today. They are functional, project and matrix. They each have their strong points and weaknesses. I will list the strengths and weaknesses of each while comparing them to each other. The functional structure is based around having similar activities grouped into departments. An example of this would be an accounting department. The strength of the functional structure is that you have a group of experts located in one department which makes choosing someone with a certain expertise more efficient. The weakness to this structure comes when you try to allocate people to projects. Their loyalty will always be to their function which usually puts the project on the back burner. The project structure takes some of the stress of the project managers by making it so they don’t have to be second to a functional manager. They get full access to their own people and the loyalty is always on the project. The downfall to this structure is that they may have a lack of expertise. Especially since project structures usually go to external sources when needing a specific type of expertise. Therefore they lose that expertise when the project is completed. The matrix structure is good in that it combines strengths from both the functional structure and the project structure by placing the functional and project managers on the same level. The downfall comes when there is disagreement on where the resources should be best allocated. This structure involves more negotiating and politics than the other structures and takes a special skill set to be an effective project manager. How to cite Project Management Written Assignment 1, Papers

Democracy and High Level Corruption free essay sample

Studies of the Effect of Democracy on Corruption Shrabani Saha and Neil Campbell Department of Applied and International Economics Massey University, Palmerston North New Zealand Corresponding author: Shrabani Saha Email: S. [emailprotected] ac. nz Phone: 64 (6) 350 5999 Extn. 2663 Fax: 64 (6) 350 5660 Prepared for the 36th Australian Conference of Economists ‘Economics of Corruption Session’ Tasmania, Australia, 24-26 September, 2007 Draft: Please do not cite without authors’ permission. 1 Abstract This paper studies the influence of democracy on the level of corruption. In particular, does democracy necessarily reduce a country’s level of corruption? The growing consensus reveals that there is an inverse correlation between democracy and corruption; the more democracy and the less corruption. This study argues that a simple ‘electoral democracy’ is not sufficient to reduce corruption. The role of sound democratic institutions, including an independent judiciary and an independent media along with active political participation is crucial to combat corruption. To illustrate the ideas, this study develops a simple model that focuses on the role of democratic institutions, where it assumes that the detection technology is a function of democracy. Under this assumption, the active and effective institutions lead to careful monitoring of agents, which increases the probability of detection and punishment of corrupt activities and reduces the level of corruption. Keywords: Corruption; Bribery; Democracy; Development JEL classification: D73; K42 2 1. Introduction Corruption is viewed as one of the most severe bottlenecks in the process of economic development and in modernizing a country particularly in developing countries. Recent empirical research on the consequences of corruption confirms that there is a negative relationship between corruption and economic growth. High level of corruption lowers the ratio of total and private investment to GDP, and, consequently, lower economic growth (Mauro, 1995). However, very little is known for sure what causes corruption and why some countries are more corrupt than others. This study attracts attention to the causes of corruption and in particular the focus is on the influence of democracy on the level of corruption. The growing consensus reveals that there is an inverse correlation between democracy and corruption; the more democracy and the less corruption. This study argues that a simple ‘electoral democracy’1 is not sufficient to reduce corruption. A simple ‘electoral democracy’ manifests multi-party system regularly competing for power through (relatively) free and fair elections but deficient in many important aspects that define a liberal democracy2. Many electoral democracies, under the mask of political participation political elites continue to manipulate the electoral process to legitimize their retention of power and use of the state machinery in pursuit of their own interests (Doig, 2000). The role of sound democratic institutions, including an independent judiciary and an independent media along with political participation is crucial to combat corruption, because the sound democratic institutions and healthy political competition can significantly contribute to accelerating anti-corruption reform. The histories of countries where once-high levels of corruption have fallen support this view. To illustrate the ideas, this study develops a simple model that focuses on the role of democratic 1 2 Tronquist, O. , Politics and Development (London: Sage, 1999), 98. Liberal democracy secures the rule of law, a separation of powers and protection of liberties. See the link: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Democracy. 3 institutions, where it assumes that the detection technology is a function of democracy. Under this assumption the active and effective institutions ead to careful monitoring of agents which increases the probability of detection and punishment of corrupt activities and reduces the level of corruption. In other words, well-functioning institutions where law and enforcement are a potential threat to corruption can restrain the level of corruption. The idea that democracy has a negative impact on corruption is indisputable. However, the degree of influence of democratic refor m on corruption levels is not straightforward and uniform. Early work on democracy and corruption shows the contradictory findings. The main reason for the disagreement among researchers resides in the multidimensionality characteristics of â€Å"democracy† or â€Å"democratization†. The empirical analyses mostly support the negative corruption-democracy association (Goldsmith, 1999; Sandholtz and Koetzle, 2000; Treisman, 2000; Montinola and Jackman, 2002; Sung, 2004; Bohara, Mitchell and Mittendorff, 2004). Yet, some of these studies differ in directions of the impact of democratic reforms on the level of corruption. Democracy viewed as freedom of speech nurtures an investigative journalism that exposes and deters corrupt public activities (Giglioli, 1996). Other studies find the non-linear relationship between corruption and democracy. Despite the eruptions of corruption among intermediate democracies, the consolidation of advanced democratic institutions eventually reduced corruption. Ultimately, the initial political conditions and the final democratic achievements determined the magnitude of political corruption (Montinola and Jackman, 2002; Sung, 2004). While the current degree of democracy was not significant, long exposure to democracy predicted lower corruption (Treisman, 2000). In contrast, Ades and Di Tella, (1999) find political rights had no significant impact on 4 corruption because countries like Hong Kong and Singapore experience very low corruption even though they have low political rights. The transformation from authoritarian regime towards democracy is complicated. Autocratic countries can not become mature consolidated democracies overnight. Democratization is a slow process. Moreover, intermediate regimes are the most conflictprone, which possess inherent contradictions as a result of being neither democratic nor autocratic (Herge, Ellingsen and Gates, 2001). Numerous observations of renewed corrupt practices induced by political liberalization in South East Asia and former Soviet Republic (Cohen, 1995; Harris-White and White, 1996) add disturbances in a linear and negative democracy-corruption association and provide evidences for high level of corruption during democratization. Examples of a negative connection between democracy and corruption abound. However, there are numerous examples where this negative correlation between democracy and corruption does not exist. Consider, for example, the case of India. India, the largest liberal democratic nation as well as one of the most corrupt nation in the world. According to Transparency Internationals report for 2001, India is the 72nd most corrupt country in the world, out of 90 countries surveyed. Democracy simply viewed as political participation does not ensure protection of liberties and public interest. Existence of high level of corruption in India can be explained by Gunnar Myrdal’s3 notion of India as a â€Å"Soft State† where, law is there but the enforcement is poor. In other words, lack of enforcement against corrupt activities flourishes corruption in India. On the other hand, country like Singapore, corruption was wide spread in the 1950s, but the situation is totally different today. Singapore is widely recognized as a squeaky clean government 3 Myrdal, G. (1968). Asian Drama: An Inquiry into the Poverty of Nations. New York: Pantheon, vol. I, pp. -66. 5 with very little corruption (Klitgaard, 1988). Singapore establishes representative democracy4, representatives retain the freedom to exercise their own judgment as how best to do so. However, the enforcement seems almost ludicrously strict, which accounts for Singapore’s success in controlling corruption. This study explores the hypothesis that a simple electoral democracy does not necessarily reduce a country’s level of corruption. Only well-functioning democracy with sound institutional background can deter corruption, where the probability of being caught acting corruptly is high. A fully-formed democracy is, of course, more than a democratically elected government. It requires effectively operating institutions particularly, judiciary, police force and press and active political participation. 2. Theory behind the democracy-corruption association Theoretically, autocratic systems are characterized by the monopolization of power in the hands of the small elite, with few or no constraints to prevent the small elite exercising their own interest and thus, the high level of corruption prevails in the autocratic regime. In contrast, democratic systems are characterized by diffuse authority, where the executive branches of government is balanced by an elected parliament and an independent judiciary, and where open elections allow actors alternate in power, which act as a threat to the corrupt political elites and has a lowering effect on the corruption level. The transformation from autocratic regime towards democracy through political liberalization is often presumed to reduce the level of corruption. However, the generally agreed increase in corruption levels in transition countries is not consistent with view that democracy has a negative impact on the level of corruption. The increased corruption Representative democracy involves the selection of government officials by the people along with few binding restrictions. See the link: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Democracy 4 6 evel in transition countries can be best described as ‘decentralized corruption’ by Shleifer and Vishny, (1993), where transformation towards democracy represents a transformation from joint monopoly power to individual monopoly power of the political elites. The transformation towards individual monopoly power increases the amount of bribe charged by each government official. Accordingly, countries in East Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe exper ience high level corruption during democratic transition the late 1980s and early 1990s. The weak institutional framework in the newly democratized countries also increases the opportunities of high level of corruption. The newly democratized countries are mostly categorized as electoral democracies and they are more likely to score in the low-end of ‘free’ category of nations as tracked by the Freedom House5. Dahl, (1971), argues that democracy without participation is an absurdity but participation without an effective institutional framework would be futile and chaotic. Democracy represents institutional arrangements to secure rule of law, participation of the people in the activities of the state, and, the institutional embodiment of a concern with the identification and realization of public interest (Doig, 2000). In democracies, government officials derive their authority from and serve the interests of the public, at least in principle. Furthermore, the citizenry possesses more, and more effective, means of detecting and punishing corruption in a democracy than it does in more autocratic forms of government. Basic democratic freedoms, like those of assembly, speech, and press, allow people and groups to uncover information, demand inquiries, and publicize their discoveries. Corrupt acts are by their nature secret, and secrets are harder to keep in an open society. Once the public is aroused over a corruption scandal, the organs of 5 See Freedom House (2003). 7 government have powerful incentives to prosecute and punish miscreants or at least to be seen to do so. A fully developed democracy is an ideal state with well-functioning and effective institutions along with active participation of the people. It describes a situation, where, combination of free media, an independent judiciary, an active and efficient police force, and people’s participation portray a viable threat to the corrupt behaviour which has a negative effect on corruption. Thus, the more extensive democratic freedoms and the more effective democratic institutions are the less the level of corruption. Accordingly, in well-functioning and institutionally consistent democracies rule of law and enforcement of law work side by side and leading to the dampening effect on corruption. Despite of the increase in the level of corruption in the early stage of democratization, a consolidated well-functioning democracy is able to reduce corruption level of a country. 3. The model To illustrate the ideas about the effect of the transformation from dictatorship towards a well advanced democracy has on the extent of corruption, the study considers the simple model of a bureaucracy regulating the private agents in the economy. The bureaucrat has the power either to issue new permits or licenses to operate private economic activities, or, regulating the conduct of private firms in the economy. The bureaucrat has the opportunity to restrict the quantity. If the bureaucrat is corrupt, then he collects bribes6 in return for providing the permits. Corruption, as defined here, is the amount of bribe Any extra payment on top of the actual price made to the bureaucrat by a private agent for getting permits or licenses will be termed a â€Å"bribe. † 6 8 payment demanded from the private agents for providing permits or licenses by the bureaucrats. We assume that the money associated with bribe b is defined as: b = k1 + k2 el (1) where k1, k2 ? 0. The bribe b is a function of level of corruption l and db/dl gt; 0. The level of corruption in a country reflects the corrupt behaviour (i. e. , bribes demanded by government officials and, or, bribes offered to government officials by the private agents) of that country. High levels of corruption mean greater overall rents extracted by the state. The level of corruption also varies with the bureaucratic hierarchy (RoseAckerman, 1978). At the low-level, because of more competition among bureaucrats the magnitude of bribes per decision or quantity is far less. In contrast, high-level bureaucrat faces less competition, which raises the magnitude of bribes per decision. The bribe function is structured to capture the existence of corruption even if the countries are declared as corruption free according to corruption perception index. Even though k1 is very small but still it is positive. Think of a country like New Zealand. Transparency International’s 2005 corruption index confirms the squeaky clean image of New Zealand as it scores 9. 6 and tied for the second place with Finland. The Corruption Index7 is constructed on a perceptions scale of zero to 10 with zero indicating the most corrupt and 10 indicating the most honest. However, despite the country’s reputation, cases involving bribery and corruption of officials continue to come before the courts8. The total volume of bribe m collected by the corrupt bureaucrat is the number of permits or licenses issued by the bureaucrat, n, times the amount of bribes collected per permit or license b, i. e. , m = n * b = n (k1 + k2 el) 7 8 (2) http://www. transparency. rg/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2005. New Zealand Herald Story, 16 September 2000. 9 Now, consider the key assumption of this analysis, that being the probability of detection ? increases with the advancement of democracy and once the corrupt bureaucrat is detected he gets punished immediately. For the purpose of this study, we think of a democracy index, d, that runs from 10 to 0, where 10 is full dictatorship and 0 is full democracy. In a situation of full dictatorship, there are no legal, or, other, constraints to prevent the dictator exercising his will. Thus, the probability that the dictator will be caught acting corruptly is negligible, even zero. In contrast, with full democracy, all institutions, associated with the modern democratic state, operate effectively. Thus there is a high probability even one, that a corrupt act will be detected and punished. Therefore, the probability of detection will be formalized by a function represented as: ? = c1 + c2 e – d (3) where, 0 ? d ? 10, and, 0 ? c1, c2 ? 1. The detection function is formulated based on the idea that the democracy index d mostly depends on independent judiciary (j), police (p), free and active media (m). The democracy index d can be expressed as: d = e1 j + e2 p + e3 m (4) where, 0 ? e1, e2, e3 ? 1, and, 0 ? j, p, m ? 1. The detection function ? also depends on an informed and educated population and the degree of political participation in the country. In other words, the detection of corrupt activities is determined by how likely that the population knows that corruption is occurring and how able they are to do something about it, which is captured in the detection function as c1. Now, we assume that the bureaucrat is paid the ongoing wage w. If corrupt, he receives his wage w plus the total volume of bribes income m with probability (1- ? ), and with 10 probability ? , he loses everything subject to the limited liability9. Hence, the utility of the corrupt bureaucrat is given by Ub = ( w + m ) ( 1- ? ) Substituting the value of m and ? , the utility function can be rewritten as: Ub = [ w + n ( k1 + k2 el )] ( 1- c1 c2 e d ) (6) (5) The utility of the corrupt bureaucrat depends on the level of corruption, as well as the level of democracy. For a given level of democracy, the utility ncreases with the level of corruption. Likewise, for a given level of corruption, the utility increases with less democracy. The relationships between utility and level of corruption and democracy are shown in figure 1: Figure 1: (a) Relationship between utility and level of corruption (b) Relationship between utility and democracy d=10 d=1 d=0 l=4 l=1l=0 l (a) (b) d The figure 1(a), shows the direct relationship between utility and level of corruption. For a given level of democracy utility level increases with level of corruption and as the 9 See Acemoglu and Verdier (2000). 11 values of d increases the curve shifts upward which indicates that for a given level of corruption utility level increases as democracy level decreases and the probability of detection decreases. Similarly, as democracy level decreases or d increases, the utility level increases in figure 1(b) and for higher levels of corruption the curve shifts upward to the left indicating that the higher the level of corruption the higher is the level of utility. The corrupt bureaucrat maximizes this expected utility function by choosing l with a given level of d. Thus, the bureaucrat’s expected utility maximization problem can be expressed as: Maxl,d [ w + n ( k1 + k2 el )] ( 1- c1 c2 e d ) (7) Now, one unit increase in the level of corruption and the democracy level changes the utility level of the bureaucrat which can be determined by the total differentiation of the utility function as follows: dUb = dUb / dd * (-? d) + dUb / dl * ? l (8) The negative sign of ? indicates a one unit increase in the democracy level, because the higher value of d represents the lower level of democracy. dUb = (w + n ( k1 + k2 el ))( c2 e- d ) * ( -? d ) + ( 1-c1 c2 e- d ) n k2 el * ? l The first order condition for maximization requires dUb = 0, which gives: ? l = [ w + n (k1 + k2 el )] ( c2 e- d ) ? d ( 1- c1 c2 e d ) n k2 el (10) (9) The sign of the numerator and the denominator is positive from the fact that the wage rate w and the number of c orrupt deals n cannot be negative. Therefore, the sign of (? /? d) is positive. The positive relationship between d and l follows from the fact that the less 12 democracy in a country, the more the corruption is. In other words, there is an inverse relationship between the democracy level and the level of corruption. The higher the democracy level, the lower the level of corruption, because the high level of democracy in a country provides less opportunity for the government officials to extract more bribes. However, the rate of change of level of corruption and democracy is not uniform. The slope of (? l / ? d) is given by the equation: ? 2l = [(1- c1 c2 e d ) n k2 el ] * [- d{w + n (k1 + k2 el )} ( c2 e- d )] [w + n (k1 + k2 el )] ( c2 e- d ) * (dc2 e d n ? d2 [(1- c1 c2 e d ) n k2 el ]2 k2 el ) (11) The sign of (? 2l / ? d2) is negative. The negative slope of (? l / ? d) indicates that the rate of change of corruption level decreases as d increases. For example, the change of corruption level at the high value of d, say, from d = 10 to d = 9 is negligible. In contrast, with a lower value of d, say, from d = 2 to d = 1, i. e. , at the high level of democracy the change of the level of corruption is big enough to reduce corruption of a country. Thus the situation expresses the view that when a country moves towards democracy from autocracy, the corruption level remains almost at the high level and democratization at the stage of bud does not help to reduce corruption at all, even the chaotic situation provides more favourable conditions to flourish corruption. However, with the continuous process of democratization a country can reach in a level of democracy, where all the institutions like judiciary, police force and press operate effectively and efficiently. Democratisation is thus not simply ‘electoral democracy’ where the visible and formal trappings of political participation mask the continuing control of the state by rulers and ruling elites who manipulate the electoral process to legitimize their retention of power and their continuing use of the state machinery in pursuit of their own interests. The purpose of democratization is to engage the participation of the public in the activities of the state, and ‘the state is seen as the institutional embodiment of a concern 13 with the identification and realisation of public interest, with a rational analysis of norms in a disinterested and benevolent manner’10. There may be no single checklist of a democracy, however, the common lists involve political legitimacy for the state through universal suffrage and regular elections, the peaceful transfer of power, an effective political opposition and representative government, accountability through transparency of decision making and the provision of information, separation of powers, human and civil rights, association, expression and movement, impartial and accessible criminal justice systems and the absence of arbitrary government power11. A fully-formed democracy with the above characteristics, where the value of d closes to zero, increases the probability of detection to almost one and only that state is capable of deterring corruption. 3. Democracy, Corruption and Income In examining the hypothesis on democracy-corruption association, it is important to focus on the average income of a country. In countries where incomes are relatively low, the economy generates minimal wealth for the fast majority of citizens. Low average incomes create certain structural incentives for corrupt behaviours. Countries where incomes are low, the marginal value of money is higher than it is in wealthy countries12. The high utility attached even to small income supplements affects both givers and takers of bribes: paying a bribe can be worth the expense and risk if it is likely to result in greater gains in income; receiving a bribe produces a direct boost in income. Indeed, a government job that offers the possibility of extra legal income supplements would be especially attractive. Thus government positions themselves can become the objects of 10 11 Dyson, K. F. The State Tradition in Western Europe (Oxford: Martin Robertson, 1980) 208, 275. Doig, A. , ‘In the State We Trust? Democratisation, Corruption and Development’, in A. Doig and r. Theobald, Corruption and Democratisation (London: Frank Cass, 2000). 12 See Sandholtz, W. and Koetzle, W. , (2000). 14 corrupt activities and the underpaid bureaucrats are more likely than well-paid ones to enrich themselves via corrupt tran sactions. Accordingly, it is expected that relatively low average incomes increase the propensity both to offer and to accept corrupt payments and thus average income will correlate inversely with the level of corruption. The equation (11) shows that a well-functioning democracy ie, when d moves towards zero, a country is able to deter corruption at the highest level. However, it also confirms that relatively higher value of w accelerates the rate of decrease of the level of corruption when a country moves towards well-functioning democracy. This typically implies that very high wages of the bureaucrats can be used as an incentive for deterring corruption. The Transparency International Perceived Corruption Index 200513, generally supports the theoretical expectations about the correlations among corruption, democracy and income. Almost without exceptions, the countries seen as least corrupt are those nations that are known to be well developed democracies with full functioning institutions, and are highly integrated economy. Nations that fall on this end of the corruption spectrum include Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, and Sweden. In contrast, the countries that are viewed as most corrupt are those traditionally seen as authoritarian and are less integrated economy. Examples of most corrupt nations include Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, and Nigeria. The country like Singapore is viewed as most developed and very low levels of corruption, in spite of the fact that Singapore does not have the same level of political freedoms found in many countries perceived as more corrupt. However, the well functioning institution and enforcement of laws made it achievable14. Unlike Singapore, 13 14 See Table 1 in the Appendix. See Klitgaard, R. (1988). 15 India, which has been a democracy for more than fifty years, is seen as quite corrupt due to low economic development and lack of enforcement of laws. It quite evident from the Table1 that countries those are known to be well developed democracies are also economically highly developed. The direct relationship between well developed democracies and economic development is straight forward. Low income countries do not have enough resources, which constrain the government’s ability to commit resources for the development and functioning of democratic institutions. Resource constraints restrain monitoring and detection activities in poor countries. In addition, high levels of corruption mean greater overall resources extracted by the state aggravate the economic situation of poor countries severely. 4. Conclusion This study examines the importance of well functioning institutions of democracy to deter corruption. It is hypothesized that a well-functioning democracy can deter corruption, where the probability of being caught acting corruptly is high. A fully-formed democracy is, of course, more than a democratically elected government. It requires effectively operating institutions particularly, judiciary, police force and press. Under the assumption that detection technology is an increasing function of democracy, the active and effective institutions lead to careful monitoring of agents which increases the probability of detection and punishment of corrupt activities and reduces corruption. The widely accepted axiom in Western Europe and the democratic world is: Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Democracy, may lead to lower levels of corruption. 16 References: Acemoglu, D. , Verdier, T. (2000). The Choice between Market Failures and Corruption. American Economic Review, 90(1), 194-211. Ades, A. , Tella, R. D. (1999). Rents, Competition, and Corruption. The American Economic Review, 89(4), 982-993. Bohara, A. K. , Mitchell, N. J. , Mittendorff, C. F. (2004). Compound Democracy and the Control of Corruption: A Cross-Country Investigation. The Policy Studies Journal, 32(4), 481-499. Cohen, A. (1995). Crime and Corruption in Eurasia: A Threat to Democracy and International Security. Washington, DC: The Heritage Foundation. Dahl, R. A. (1971). Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition. New Haven: Yale University Press. Doig, A. (2000). In the State We Trust? Democratisation, Corruption and Development. In A. Doig R. Theobald (Eds. ), Corruption and Democratisation. London: Frank Cass. Dyson, K. F. (1980). The State Tradition in Western Europe. Oxford: Martin Robertson. Freedom House. (2003). Freedom in the World 2003: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. New York: Freedom House. Giglioli, P. P. (1996). Political Corruption and the Media: The Tangentopoli Affair. International Social Science Journal, 48, 381-394. Goldsmith, A. A. (1999). Slapping the Grasping Hand: Correlates of Political Corruption in Emerging Markets. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 58, 865-883 Harris-White, B. , White, G. (1996). Liberalization and New Forms of Corruption. Brighton: Institute of Development Studies.

How does Alan Bennett make effective use of the dramatic monologue to hold the interest of the audience Essay Example

How does Alan Bennett make effective use of the dramatic monologue to hold the interest of the audience Essay A Cream Cracker under the Settee is a dramatic monologue. A dramatic monologue is a drama piece performed by only one person. By examining the characterisation, humour, timescale and pauses of this monologue this essay will look at the ways Alan Bennett holds the interest of the audience. Characterisation is shown through voices and memory. Doris is the central character in the monologue. She is a 75-year-old down to earth, Yorkshire widow. She is a conscientious lady who, throughout her life has taken a pride in keeping her home spotlessly clean and tidy. She disapproves of Zulema, her home help sent in by the council, doing household chores that she has always managed to do. Doris has high standards where cleanliness is concerned and she is upset that Zulemas work does not meet these standards. In Doriss opinion, Zulema only half dusts and Doris is upset to find things that she would never miss being missed. For example Doris finds dust on top of her wedding photo that has been missed by Zulema. Doris never did like untidyness even when she was younger. This is shown through her recollection of conversations with her late husband, Wilfred. We will write a custom essay sample on How does Alan Bennett make effective use of the dramatic monologue to hold the interest of the audience specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on How does Alan Bennett make effective use of the dramatic monologue to hold the interest of the audience specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on How does Alan Bennett make effective use of the dramatic monologue to hold the interest of the audience specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The reason for Doris not wanting a garden was because she thought the trees, plants etc would create mess by dropping their leaves. Wilfred wanting a garden complete with bush caused great debate. Is it a bush that will make a mess Doris asks. From hygiene point of view Doris would be happier with concrete. Although Wilfred argued that concrete lacked character Doris pointed out that it could be kept clean and tidy making Doris feel easy in her mind. Another way Bennett shows Doriss dislike for untidiness was when Wilfred expressed a desire to have a dog. Doris was against having a dog because of the mess it would make with all the dog hairs that would need cleaning up. During their marriage Doris unfortunately had a miss carriage. The midwife came and wrapped the baby in newspaper and Doris never saw him. Wilfred, she thought, just took it in his stride and it was after this he started talking about getting a dog. Doris wished shed had children particularly a daughter because a daughter would have looked after her and she wouldnt be where she was now. If she had had children she might not be as miserable or lonely. There is a strong battle of wills between Doris and Zulema. Doris wants to keep her independence and continue her own cleaning whilst Zulema wants her to forget cleaning and be a lady of leisure. Zulema takes harsh actions and bans Doris from dusting and using the Ewbank. However, Doris is stubborn and houseproud and pays no attention to Zulema. She climbs on to a buffet to examine the cleanliness of her wedding photo and subsequently falls hurting her leg. This makes Doris feel that Zulema is one up because she warned her that this would happen. While Doris is sat on the floor she notices a cream cracker under the settee. This makes Doris mad because she cant remember the last time that shed had cream crackers and obviously Zulema hadnt cleaned thoroughly under the settee. Doris keeps the cream cracker to show to Zulema the next time she lectures her about Stafford house. To get her own back on Zulema, Doris threatens to send it to, The director of social services and put Zulema in the unemployment exchange. Another character referred to in the monologue is Wilfred. Wilfred is Doriss late husband. When Doris reminisces about Wilfred she often add a small joke to help keep the audience interested in Doriss situation. Wilfred and Doris were different in character. Doris was the busy one keeping the home clean and tidy and Wilfred was very laid back with lots of little job to do that were never accomplished. Wilfred always told Doris not to worry when things needed doing, Hed put it on his list. However Doris never saw this list and consequently jobs never got done. A good example of this was the loose sneck on the gate and the allotment, which would allow them to become self sufficient in the vegetable department. Neither materialised. Wilfred and Doris didnt have any children so Doris was lonely after Wilfreds death. The way in which the language portrays Doriss age is when she refers to Wilfred. Doris calls Wilfred Dad, Wilfred calls Doris Mum, these terms are often used by the older generation as terms of endearment. Doriss attitudes towards folk in the neighbourhood also make it clear that she is from an older generation. Her attitude towards the younger generation is that they are disrespectful. For example she says, would you credit it when the boy uses her garden as a toilet. This means that she couldnt believe what she had seen. When Doris was younger marriage was considered to be a commitment were people stayed together for better or worse and every body in the neighbour hood knew each other. Doris looking out of her window noticed that she doesnt know any of her neighbours, not even the people opposite and half the couples together arent married. Doris comments, you see all sorts, then you loose track. The younger generation would not make these comments and would just accept the different types of people and relationships. Doris has a very down to earth sense of humour. This is portrayed through Doriss understanding of the irony of life. For example Doris says after Wilfreds death, Hes got his little garden now. This is ironic because when Wilfred was alive he never accomplished his goal of having the garden he wanted. Doris also shows humour through one-liners. After the glass on her wedding photo cracked she says, weve cracked Wilfred. This not only means that the glass has cracked around the picture, she implying that she might have cracked as well. Her Yorkshire dialect and her use of colloquialisms often portray Doriss humour. A good example of this is when the boy upsets Doris by using her garden as a toilet she says, Hes spending a penny her use of term makes the action humorous. Pauses are used through out the monologue. These are used for effect and to allow the audience time to make sense of Doriss situation. Longer pauses are used to make an impact on the audience and also allow the audience to reflect on Doriss situation and understand the impact this has on their own thoughts and feelings. In conclusion Alan Bennett uses four effective ways to keep the audiences interest. The characterisation of the monologue is effective. The characters recalled through Doriss memory are kept brief and this brings interest because the audience wants to know more. Doris has a good understanding of the irony of life, in her situation this is comical and interesting bringing in humour. The Yorkshire derelict and use of colloquialisms also adds amusement. By mixing the past and the present the interest of the audience is held and the pauses are used to good effect to build drama and give the audience time to take in what has been said.

Reading Comprehension Worksheet 1

Reading Comprehension Worksheet 1 In order to get really good at reading comprehension (understanding vocabulary in context, making inferences, determining the authors purpose, etc.), you need to practice. Thats where a reading comprehension worksheet like this one comes in handy. If you need even more practice, check out more reading comprehension worksheets here. Directions: The passage below is followed by questions based on its content; answer the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage. Printable PDFs: Escaping Adolescence Reading Comprehension Worksheet | Escaping Adolescence Reading Comprehension Worksheet Answer Key From Escaping the Endless Adolescence by Joseph Allen and Claudia Worrell Allen. Copyright  © 2009 by Joseph Allen and Claudia Worrell Allen. As 15-year-old Perry shuffled into my office, with his parents trailing tentatively behind, he glanced at me with a strained neutral expression that Id found usually masked either great anger or great distress; in Perrys case it was both. Although anorexia is a disorder most often associated with girls, Perry was the third in a line of anorexic boys I had recently seen. When he came to see me, Perrys weight had dropped to within 10 pounds of the threshold requiring forced hospitalization, yet he denied there was any problem. He just wont eat, his mother began. Then, turning to Perry as if to show me the routine theyd been enacting, she asked with tears in her eyes, Perry, why cant you at least have a simple dinner with us? Perry refused to eat with his family, always claiming he wasnt hungry at the time and that he preferred to eat later in his room, except that that rarely happened. New menus, gentle encouragement, veiled threats, nagging, and outright bribes had all been tried, to no avail. Why would an otherwise healthy 15-year-old boy be starving himself? The question hung urgently in the air as we all talked. Lets be clear from the outset. Perry was a smart, good kid: shy, unassuming, and generally unlikely to cause trouble. He was getting straight As in a challenging and competitive public school honors curriculum that spring. And he later told me that he hadnt gotten a B on his report card since fourth grade. In some ways he was every parents dream child. But beneath his academic success, Perry faced a world of troubles, and while he took awhile to get to know, eventually the problems came pouring out. The problems werent what Id expected, though. Perry wasnt abused, he didnt do drugs, and his family wasnt driven by conflict. Rather, at first glance, his problems would seem more like typical adolescent complaints. And they were, in a way. But it was only as I got to understand him that I realized the adolescent problems Perry experienced werent just occasional irritations, as theyd been for me and my cohort as teens, but rather, had grown to the point where they cast a large shadow over much of his day-to-day world. Id later come to realize that Perry wasnt alone in that regard. One big problem was that while Perry was a strong achiever, he was not at all a happy one. I hate waking up in the morning because theres all this stuff I have to do, he said. I just keep making lists of things to do and checking them off each day. Not just schoolwork, but extracurricular activities, so I can get into a good college. Once he got started, Perrys discontent spilled out in a frustrated monologue. Theres so much to do, and I have to really work to get myself motivated because I feel like none of it really matters... but its really important I do it anyway. At the end of it all, I stay up late, I get all my homework done, and I study really hard for all my tests, and what do I get to show for it all? A single sheet of paper with five or six letters on it. Its just stupid! Perry was gifted enough to jump through the academic hoops that had been set for him, but it felt like little more than hoop-jumping, and this ate at him. But that wasnt his only problem. Perry was well loved by his parents, as are most of the young people we see. But in their efforts to nurture and support him, his parents inadvertently increased his mental strain. Over time, they had taken on all his household chores, in order to leave him more time for schoolwork and activities. Thats his top priority, they said almost in unison when I asked about this. Although removing the chores from Perrys plate gave him a bit more time, it ultimately left him feeling even more useless and tense. He never really did anything for anyone except suck up their time and money, and he knew it. And if he thought about backing off on his schoolwork...well, look how much his parents were pouring into making it go well. Sandwiched between fury and guilt, Perry had literally begun to wither. Reading Comprehension Worksheet Questions 1. This passage is narrated from the point of view of(A) a college professor studying the effects of bulimia on young males.(B) a young male named Perry, struggling with the effects of anorexia.(C) a concerned therapist who works with struggling young adults.(D) a doctor who treats eating, compulsive, and sleeping disorders.(E) a college student working on a thesis about eating disorders in young males. Answer with Explanation 2. According to the passage, Perrys two biggest problems were(A) being an unhappy achiever and his parents increase of his mental strain.(B) his poor attitude toward school and his consumption of everyones time and money.(C) his fury and guilt.(D) drug abuse and conflict within the family.(E) his inability to prioritize and anorexia. Answer with Explanation 3. The primary purpose of the passage is to(A) describe one young mans struggle with anorexia and, in doing so, provide possible reasons a young person may resort to an eating disorder.(B) advocate for young males who are struggling with an eating disorder and the decisions theyve made that have brought them to that struggle.(C) compare one young persons fight against his parents and the eating disorder that is ruining his life to the life of a typical teenager.(D) relate an emotional reaction to the shock of an eating disorder, such as that of Perrys, a typical young adult.(E) explain how todays youth often develop eating disorders and other terrible issues in their overactive lives. Answer with Explanation 4. The author uses which of the following in the sentence starting paragraph 4: But beneath his academic success, Perry faced a world of troubles, and while he took awhile to get to know, eventually the problems came pouring out?  (A) personification(B) simile(C) anecdote(D) irony(E) metaphor Answer with Explanation 5. In the second sentence of the last paragraph, the word inadvertently most nearly means(A) steadily(B) monumentally(C) incrementally(D) mistakenly(E) surreptitiously Answer with Explanation More Reading Comprehension Practice

Forfeiture of Rockies Oil to its Interests in the Farmout Agreement Term Paper

Forfeiture of Rockies Oil to its Interests in the Farmout Agreement - Term Paper Example Rockies Oil should not forfeit its interest in the Farmout Agreement, as it is quite clear from current situation that Aussie Oil has succeeded in producing results and there are better chances in future, as the involved parties anticipate that Bigger Field will produce twice as much oil as expected. Previously Rockies Oil regarded that all their money got wasted because of failure of first two oil wells but with the recent success, the company has some hope in the newly drilled well and also the coming explorations. Therefore, the joint venture should be retained. As for now, Rockies Oil has not paid for the third well. Aussie Oil asked the company to pay $ 400,000 for the third well but it refused to pay because of previous failures. However, now, there can be some arbitration process hiring three arbitrators, one from Aussie Oil, one from Rockies Oil and one neutral to resolve the dispute so that Rockies Oil can get its share in the production of oil from the third well along with Bigger Field. Nevertheless, in this situation, the company has to bear the costs involved in digging the well and the coming costs for new tests. The fact should not be looked over that risks are involved in every business. MSOC (Molvanian State Oil Company) has refused to consent the assignment of Farmout interests to Rockies Oil because the company has not paid the costs for the third well and also refused to buy a new SUV to the Financial Officer of MSOC for inspecting Bigg and Bigger Fields. MSOC should be made to allow Rockies Oil to continue with the Farmout Agreement and for that, there should be some dealing with the company. A representative should be sent to sort out the issue with MSOC and the objections of the company should be notified and resolved accordingly. Rockies Oil after its merger with Scots Oil Co. can share the information about the third well because, after the merger, the new company will be its part then. Rockies Oil should  wait till the merger is finally done.