Trident Submarine Case Study Essay Example for Free

Trident Submarine Case Study Essay In the fall of 1971, as President Nixon was attempting to convince The Soviet Union to include submarines and ballistic missiles in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), the US Navy was planning on introducing a new class of submarines called the Trident. The Trident submarines were to succeed the Polaris submarines, which was developed in the 1950s. The Trident submarines were not only physically larger than the Polaris submarines, they also possessed revolutionary propulsion components and weaponry. If the US could successfully launch the Trident program, Nixon felt it would generate progress in SALT by demonstrating the United States’ commitment to strategic submarines and missiles. However, if the Trident program was unable to deliver, Nixon would consider revamping the Polaris class, which could halt the Trident program indefinitely. In response to Nixon’s focus on the United States’ submarine capabilities, the Navy declared that they could assemble a Trident submarine just as quickly as building a Polaris. These bold claims introduced additional pressure on the people behind the Trident program, as the estimated build time had now been reduced. The updated time frame also shifted the discussion to the type of contract the Navy would use when dealing with contractors on the Trident. Instead of designing the contract to distribute risk equally and promote easy management, the Navy now needed a contract that would guarantee delivery of the first submarine within six years and would include strict controls over the project. The contract discussion quickly turned into a debate between the supporters for cost-reimbursement and fixed price contracts. A fixed price contract holds the contractor responsible for delivering a product that meets all of the performance specifications for an agreed price. A cost-reimbursement contract means that a contractor attempts to meet the customer’s performance, time, and cost requirements and will be reimbursed for the cost of the project. Both fixed-cost and cost-reimbursement contracts can be crafted in multiple forms. However, the Navy traditionally used fixed-cost contracts for products with known build times and little development effort. Cost-reimbursement contracts were typically used in first time development projects, where the time and costs could not be accurately estimated. The Navy has a history of using cost-reimbursement contracts on the first or lead ship and then using a fixed-cost contract for any additional ships. While the rationale behind using a cost-reimbursement contract on the lead ship in a class is understandable, I believe the Navy would benefit more from a fixed-cost contract in this situation. More specifically, by taking into account the shortened time frame, strict management requirements, and the desire to protect the government’s interests, I believe the Navy should use a Fixed Price Incentive (FPI) contract. A FPI contract establishes a final contract price that includes a target cost plus a profit adjustment. FPI contracts can use a formula to calculate the final cost allowing for an adjustment in profit if the cost and schedule changes. An FPI contract also contains a negative fee feature, which can be applied to adjust the profit of the contractor if the final cost or schedule exceeds the target cost or schedule. I believe the FPI is applicable because there is not enough information to set a firm target cost for the work, but there is enough information to establish initial target cost, initial target profit, and an initial profit adjustment formula. Moving forward after the lead ship is developed, the Navy can negotiate a firm-fixed-price contract when the actual cost is better defined. However, the fact remains that the Trident submarine is a new ship, and the shipbuilders could be faced with unrealized production challenges, such as mirror welds, which could slow down the build time and increase labor costs. These types of unexpected costs are the basis for the cost-reimbursement contract approach and remain a risk within every fixed cost contract. Fixed cost contracts also run the risk of reducing the quality of work in favor of remaining under budget. Considering the risks associated with a fixed-cost contract, I still believe that a fixed-cost contract in this situation will be more successful. It will allow the Navy to strictly enforce the contract, which will appease Admiral Rockover and bolster confidence in the House and Senate. The incentive portion of the contract is intended to ensure that the shipbuilders devote adequate time and resources to the Trident project as it directly impacts their profits. I also believe that risk associated with high development related costs is reduced by having the propulsion and weapons delivered to the shipbuilders as government furnished equipment (GFE), which are prefabricated systems that just require installation. The shipbuilders are experts in building submarines, so while the Trident ships will be larger the real development costs have already been experienced when creating the GFEs, so unexpected spikes in cost should be avoided.

Explain the origins of the term BRICS

Explain the origins of the term BRICS Submitted by: Full Name(s): Isabel Full Surname: Rodrà ­guez Rodrà ­guez THE ORIGINS OF THE BRICS Introduction Jim O ´Neill coined in 2001 a new acronym that could threat the established world order after the Cold War suggesting that four emerging economies will dominate it by 2050. These countries are Brazil, Russia, India and China shaping the word BRIC and, from 2011 South Africa, added an S to the term and becoming BRICS. The aim of this essay is to bring the reader closer to the creation of this aforementioned block so discussed in the past decade. I will argue that although in the beginning could be understood as a term merely associated with investment in the countries mentioned above, it had been changed into a block of cooperation with a common objective: have a stronger voice in the world ´s politics. In the first paragraph, I will explain the origin of the term BRIC by Goldman and Sachs, in the second I will do a brief analysis ofthe first summit of the group and the relevance of it and finally, in the third one I will argue that BRICS are not only meant for trade but also politics. Discussion The term BRIC appears for the first time in 2001 to refer to the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China in a paper called Building Better Global Economic BRICs[2] written by Jim O ´Neill and published by the American investment bank Goldman Sachs. In the text, Jim O ´Neill argues that we cannot underestimate the countries mentioned below because those will be the future world powers. These countries were selected because its impressive economic growth, therefore they will be crucial in world ´s GDP. According to the author, China and India will become the suppliers of services and technology while Brazil and Russia would do the same for raw materials.   In fact, even in the more pessimistic scenario (extrapolating the growing rate of 2000 in future years), in the following 10 years, the BRICs would reach a 12% in world ´s GDP, pushed by China that will be the fifth largest economy in the world. For this reason, BRICs must have more re presentation in international forums and reach a representative voting, in special in G7 (Germany, Canada, United States, France, Italy and the United Kingdom) suggesting that they should change in a G9 in order to guarantee a correct representation. Two years later, in 2003, Goldman Sachs published another paper called Dreaming With BRICs: The Path to 2050[3] claiming that BRICS would have a larger GDP than the G6 by 2050. However, the BRIC ´s hypothesis has critics that claim that the term was created to promote the emerging countries as solid economies for long-term investment through a new classification: from just developing countries to BRIC in the same way that is more attractive to say Asian Tigers than the name of the four countries themselves.[4] Even the acronym suggests the image of a brick: solid, compact and heavy that it is aligned with the title of the first above mentioned paper. The title of the second paper Dreaming with BRICS: the path for 2050 also sugges ts that readers imagine the potential profit for the emerging economies of BRICs[5]. It shows the interest of Goldman Sachs in their own business, that its sell financial services. Probably we will not know for sure if it was just a way to promote their products of emerging countries, but is it undeniable that it was used as a catalyser for the economies involved.[6] Although the Goldman Sachs paper was published in 2001, the first BRIC ´s summit was not held until 2009 in Yekaterinburg (Russia), despite the dialogue started in 2006 in New York[7]. It was attended by the leaders Lula da Silva (from Brazil), Medvedev (Russia), Singh (India) and Jintao (China). It is relevant the year, in the middle of the financial crisis they needed to show strength, stability, and confidence as President Lula claimed We stand out because in recent years our four economies have shown robust growth. Trade between us has risen 500% since 2003. This helps explain why we now generate 65% of world growth, which makes us the main hope for a swift recovery from global recession (Lula da Silva 2009). It is not difficult to understand why even if we would think the forecast of Goldman Sachs was not realistic it was highly relevant the first summit if we consider the data of the countries involved. First, there are big countries, they represent the 40% of the surfac e area of the world and lastly, there are in strategic positions. Second, there are countries with dense population, in fact, they are the largest countries by population having a 50% of the worlds population. Third, regarding economics there contribute with a 22% of the world ´s GDP, being relevant the impressive growth rates, especially the case of China that did reach almost a 15% of growth in 2007[8]. It is also to highlight the third summit in Sanya (China) in 2011 in which South Africa joined the BRICs, adding an S to the acronym and becoming BRICS. However, we cannot forget how different these countries are, as a matter of fact, they do not even share the same political ideology and they have some very diverse perspectives on topics such as nuclear weapons. Then, why would they want to cooperate? Cooperation creates less dependence of the West in terms of trade, especially because they were no longer indulgent with the previous agreement of the World Trade Organization that shows the influence of the United States and European Union[9]. Cooperation also promotes the trade between the members, in 2001 was 21 million dollars in contrast to 280.000 million in 2014, it is to say that the trade rose more than 13 times.[10] Also, together they have much more bargaining power to balance the hegemony of the West, the representation on the financial institution such as World Bank or International Monetary Fund is very low[11]. In fact, the reform of the IMF ´s quotas in 2010 could be seeing as a direct success for the BRICS altho ugh it became effective in 2016.[12] Others scholars believe that the real goal of the BRICs summit was a call for cooperation between the countries due to the similarities of their issues (poverty, health care or food security) that is to say the transition towards a middle-income status.[13] It is undeniable that the relationship between them is at least singular because they think that the BRICS is meant for cooperation and not for conflict, the guiding principles are non-interferenceand national sovereignty[14]. For instance, Brazil did not criticise Russias annexation of Crimea showing to the world a united front[15]. As evidence shows it is much more than an intra-cooperation, the Russian president said The global problemsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ cannot be effectively solved without the involvement of the BRICs countries[16] which give an idea of the political relevance that they wanted to achieve. The advantages of cooperation are not just relative to trade but also politics. Conclusion The BRIC was an acronym coined by Jim O ´Neill to refer to the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China. Although there is evidence that the term could help to promote financial products, it was also a catalyser for the economies involved. Although it took 8 years for the idea behind the BRICs to make true and another two years to became BRICS with a capital S standing for South Africa, the five countries have impressive figures in terms of population, GDP and growth which lead to a very successful cooperation. Despite that they do not share some core values (for instance, ideology) they cooperate showing to the world a united front thanks to the principle of no-interference. Together, they have the tools to promote trade between them but also to reach more bargaining power in order to balance the West in world ´s politics. The BRICS is not only a coalition for promoting trade or discuss domestic issues but also a way to make sure that their voice is heard. [1] Assignment Requirements Each participant is expected to submit a 2,000 word essay. The written piece should include a rigorous analysis of key issues raised and their validity; the text should be clear, readable, and follow standard academic publishing conventions, including appropriate quoting, footnoting and bibliographic referencing. Your essay can contain around 10% more or less words of the required word counting, i.e: around 100 words more or less than 2000. The following is a suggested format that you are expected to use: Font type and size: Arial at 11 point; Line spacing: 1.5; Alignment: Fully justified. Prior to typing in/pasting the contents of your assignment on page two of this document, please ensure that your text has been formatted in accordance with the above requirements as you wont be able to format it within this document. Prior to submission, please name the finalised and formatted document in accordance with the following pattern: Surname Name Module 1 Final Essay, e.g.: Doe John Module 1 Final Essay The deadline for submission of written piece is Thursday 23rd March before 17:00. Please submit your assignments via LSE GDP 2017 Custom Programme Moodle webpage. [2] Jim O ´Neill, Building Better Global Economic BRICs Global Investment Research, Goldman Sachs, 2001 Available at: http://www.goldmansachs.com/our-thinking/archive/archive-pdfs/build-better-brics.pdf [3] Dominic Wilson, Roopa Purushothaman Dreaming With BRICs: The Path to 2050 Global Investment Research, Goldman Sachs ,2003. Available at: http://www.goldmansachs.com/our-thinking/archive/brics-dream.html [4] Leon Wansleben, Dreaming with BRICs, Journal of cultural Economy 6, no.4 (2013)   p.4 doi:10.1080/17530350.2012.756826. [5] Ibid. [6] Ibid., p.6 [7] Oliver Stuenkel, Emerging Powers and Status: The Case of the First Brics Summit. Asian Perspective 38, no. 1. p.3 http://vex.com/vid/amerging-powers-status-brics-summit-494287502. [8] Data IMF. World Development Indicators Accessed 10 March, 2017 http://data.worldbank.org/datacatalog/world-development-indicators [9] Zaki LaÃÆ' ¯di, BRICS: soverignity power and weakness International Politics 49, no. 5 (2012): 614-32., p.5   doi:10.1057/ip.2012.17. [10]   WTO database Datos Comerciales y Arancelarios Accessed 10 March, 2017 Available at:   https://www.wto.org/spanish/res_s/statis_s/its2015_s/its15_highlights_s.pdf [11] Michael Cox, Towards a BRIC world? Lecture, London School of Economics Custom Programs, 7th march 2017 [12] Stuenkel, Emerging Powers and Status p., 2 [13] Stuenkel, Emerging Powers and Status p., 11 [14] Pedro Morazà ¡n et al., The role of BRICS in the developing world p., 5 (Luxembourg: EUR-OP, 2012) [15] Stuenkel, Oliver. Why Brazil Has not Criticised Russia over Crimea. The Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre. https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/180529/65655a04cd21b64dbcc9c8a823a8e736.pdf. [16] Oliver Stuenkel, Brics And The Future Of Global Order Lanham: Lexington Books, 2016.

Alvaro Siza Architecture Style

Alvaro Siza Architecture Style In this essay, I will be looking thoroughly into Alvaro Sizas projects, who became a well know Modernist architect during the 20th century in Europe. I will be discussing the range of influences that Alvaro Siza had studied and how they had influenced his projects. I will also complement this with a reflection on how Alvaro Sizas work engages with the surrounding. Alvaro Siza, was a Portuguese born architect, who is considered one of Portugals greatest modernist architects. His works are internationally known for their clarity and simplism, as Oriol Bohigas stated, Sizas work is always based on unity of space and volume an absolute coherence of function and form. Alvaro Siza is known for his wide range of influences of Modernist architecture, during Alvaro Sizas studies, he travelled around the world to study the Modern Architecture of the early generation which include Le Corbusier who at the time was one of the most successful Modernist architects, Alvar Alto, Adolf Loos and the Brazilians were also major influences. Alvaro Siza thoroughly studied the wide range of materials that the architects had used and studied the various forms and structures which later influenced his own projects. Although Siza has no particular style, his works are visually beautiful. His designs are all very different, as they all come from the site they are situate d in which ensures a very distinctive style each time. In many of Alvaro Siza projects, you can see the connection between Siza and Alvar Aalto which was also a successful Finnish Modernist architect. Alvar Aalto and Alvaro Siza both link their projects with the nature and in some sought, harmonize the landscape. They both look for a balanced connection between mans interventions with the existing nature which is what dominates in their design processes and works. Their design processes begin by examining the site which formulate their ideas. Boa Nova Teahouse (Figure 1 2), is one of Sizas earliest projects which was constructed in 1964, sits on the edge of a rocky environment looking out into the Atlantic Sea. The tea house was influenced by Alvar Aaltos project, with its organic form and the strong relationship with the topography of the surroundings. Free and natural way it becomes part of the landscape (Siza, 1964) The Teahouse was widely influenced by Aaltos Villa Mairea (Figure 3) which was constructed in 1940, who also focused on the topography of the nearby forest to determine the design. Siza took major influence from the range of materials that Alvar Aalto used to construct the Villa, concrete that was later painted white is seen in both projects as well as the use of wood in the exterior. When studying both of the projects, you can see the major commonalities throughout the projects and the colours are also very similar. Adolf Loos was also a major influence on Alvaro Siza, Adolf Loos was an Austrian and Czech architect who was widely known in Europe for his many Modern design theories. Most of his projects consist of plain white cube shaped massing houses, with plain white faà §ade with rich materials. Although the exterior is very plain, Loos ensures the interior is the complete opposite and creates elegant marble interiors which is also referenced in Sizas works. One of the projects where it is evident that Siza had taken much influence from Adolf Loos work was the large-scale project, Malagueira housing (Figure 4) which was constructed from 1977-1997 on the outskirts of Evora near Lisbon. The Malaguiera housing are white cube shaped which develop the geometry and repetition of the housing but still obtains a wide range of architectural diversity. They are completely plain and lack decoration of any sort. These characteristics are very common in Adolf Loos Moissi House (Figure 5), constructed in 1922, with the form being a plain white cube shaped house with a very balanced arrangement of the windows and no decorations throughout the building. Another building where there is clear influence of Adolf Loos in Sizas projects, is the Avelino Duarte House, situated in Ovar and completed in 1985. The Duarte House is again, a white cube shaped building, with equally proportioned windows and no other decoration, it is a very simplistic design for the exterior, however the interior is very elegant,  containing marble walls and surfaces. This project was particularly influenced bt Adolf Loos Steiner House, which is also a white exterior with marble interior. Alvaro Siza seeked reference from Le Corbusier who is a Modernist architect of French and Swiss descent who at the time of Sizas studies, was one of the most well-known and successful, early Modernist architect in Europe. Le Corbusier is a rationalist, which means he looks for naturalness through formulating a design theory which leads him to his final ideas. painting, architecture, sculpture are a unique phenomena of plastic nature in the service of poetic research (Corbusier, 1953) Although Siza and Le Corbusier produced their projects in complete different design processes, Siza managed to study Le Corbusiers projects and contextualise them in his own designs. Le Corbusier works mainly with elemental geometric forms and chiefly constructed his buildings using steel and reinforced concrete. In Alvaro Sizas project which is called Iberà ª Camargo (Figure 6 7) situated in Porto Alegre, Brazil and constructed in 2000 is an obvious comparison to Le Corbusier. The building was designe d using geometric triangular shapes and constructed with reinforced white concrete which can be seen on the exterior faà §ade. The Ibere Camargo Gallery is similar to Le Corbusiers Gymnasium in Baghdad (Figure 8) which has a very rich expressiveness of reinforced concrete and geometric shapes seen throughout the entire building. Siza has a very interesting way of designing his projects which ensures he never fails to attract the attention of visitors. The starting point for his design process is found in the site that the project is situated in but this is faced with an a priori theory, the project is emphasised either through thorough examination of the nature surrounding the site, seeking a similar proportion and simplicity of the nature, or it is found in the man-made work that is already in the surrounding. Alvaro Sizas designs complement and enhance the surrounding by the simplicity of the designs, which also contrast with the nature by otherness which is also complemented sometimes in the form of the design through the use of geometric shapes in the plans. Although Siza tries to soften this alterity and contrast between man-made and nature, by adding in plants and trees that grow across the buildings. Overall, Alvaro Siza has a unique and fascinating way of designing architecture. His wide knowledge of Modernist architects made an enormous impact on his designs which could be seen in many projects stated above. His interaction with nature makes his architecture influential and have a clarity to them. References: Castanheira, C (2014). à lvaro Siza; The Function of Beauty. London: Phaidon Press. p150-280. Frampton, K (2000). Alvaro Siza: Complete Works. 3rd ed. London: Phaidon Press. p50-570. Jodido, P (2014). Siza: Complete Works 1952-2013. London: Taschen. p130-340. Sampaio, C. (2015). Alvar Aalto and à lvaro Siza. The Link between Architecture and Nature in the Construction of Place. 1 (3), 14. Siza, A (2007). ÃÆ'lvaro Siza. Japan: TOTO Shuppan. p230-270.

Sophocles - Antigone Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Power of Choice Choices affect all of our lives. We are always faced with choices. What we do with those choices will determine how are lives will turn out, what destiny lies before us and even what will become of us. The choices we make are in our complete control. Whether we make choices during the heat of the moment or with an open mind there are going to be consequences that follow whether good or bad are can only be blamed on us. Sophocles's Antigone portrays human emotions and consequences that follow two distinct choices. We can broaden the spectrum by saying that Creon represents public policy and Antigone represents individual conscience. According to E.S. Shuckburgh we must examine which is more important 'state law or divine conscience';. (Shuckburgh xviii) Antigone is a story about two people who choose to make choices that each are passionate about and the consequences that follow. I can argue that the choice made by Antigone was noble and honorable because she was standing up for what she believed in. Antigone was trying to do what she felt was the right. She was standing up for her family. I think that many people would feel the same way in her situation. Antigone wanted to offer her brother the burial that she felt he deserved. Although it did not seem as though she agreed with what her brother had done she did believe in family loyalty.When Antigone approached Ismene with her proposal, Ismene said no. She justified her decision by telling Antigone that they were already punished and that there was no need to make matters worse for the two of them by defying Creon's law. Oh my sister, think- think how our own father died, hated,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mimi 2 his reputation in ruins, driven on by the crimes he brought to light himself to gouge out his eyes with his own hands- then mother…his mother and wife, both in one, mutilating her life in the twisted noose- and last, our two brothers dead in a single day, both shedding there won blood, poor suffering boys, battling out their common destiny hand-to-hand. ( Sophocles 60-69) Isemene tries to say ... ...always be a part of our life, what we so with those choices will determine our future as they did in the case of Creon and Antigone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mimi 5 Works Cited David Bender, Bruno Leone, Scott Barbour, Bonnie Szumski, Don Nardo, eds. Readings of Sophocles. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1997. Sir Richard C. Jebb, E. S. Shuckburgh, abs. Introduction. Antigone. By Shuckburgh. New York: Press Syndicate of the U of Cambridge, 1987 Sophocles. 'Antigone.'; The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Ed. Maynard Mack. New York: W.W. Norton & Compay, Inc., 1995. 632-667

Credebility of Hypnotherapy :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is the purpose of this paper to bring attention to the credibility of people in the field of Hypnotherapy (Hypnosis, Self-Hypnosis, and Guided Imagery). By reading through several websites it became apparent that no Ph.D. is necessary to be a Hypnotherapists. All that is required is that you pass and complete 200+ hours of Hypnotherapy training.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marla A. Sloane at the website www.marlasloane.com is a Member of the American Board of Hypnotherapy and a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists. Sloane is currently working on her Ph.D. She has shown in the past a strong drive in academics by completing high school at age 16, getting a college degree, and starting a corporation. The name of the Corporation however was not stated; nor was the college at which she obtained her degree. She is currently a Registered Hypnotherapist and claims to be able to â€Å"recreate your destiny.† She does have testimonials form people she has treated that support her claim. She sites hypnotherapy being used to help overcome Kevin Costner’s seasickness (which she did not assist in) and states that statistically it is the best way to stop smoking and lose weight. Sloane also sites a random experiment comparing two basketball teams where one was under hypnosis and did better overall.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chaplain Paul G. Durbin Ph.D. at the website www.durbinhypnosis.com has Professional Affiliations and Awards from numerous organizations. These awards and affiliations can be viewed at www.durbinhypnosis.com/bio.htm. Durbin was in the military, served as Special Assistant to Chief Chaplain, and had a title of Brigadier General. Durbin received his Bachelor of Arts from the College of Louisiana, his Master of Divinity from Emory University in Atlanta GA, his Ph.D. from the American Institute of Hypnotherapy in Irvine CA, and has completed 4 quarters of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed A.M.C., Washington D.C.. Durbin has been published in hundreds of times in magazines of Religion and Hypnotherapy. Durbin Has also written two books, one of which is out of print, and one of which is in it’s second publishing. Kissing Frogs: Practical Uses of Hypnotherapy published by Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company (educational 1st-college material) and received two awards. The awards were the Pen and Quill Award from NBHA and the Outstanding Performance Award from IMDHA. Durbin did not however have testimonials on his site to back his claims and he uses biblical passages to help promote his business.

Bartleby, the Scrivener Essay

The nameless narrator of the story starts off by introducing Bartleby to the readers as â€Å"strange†: But I waive the biographies of all other scriveners for a few passages in the life of Bartleby, who was a scrivener the strangest I ever saw or heard of (Melville 546). Throughout the entire story, the lawyer will go through numerous thought processes where he tries to reflect and explain why Bartleby is the way that he is but the lawyer never succeeds. We see that the narrator judges Bartleby not based on his limited knowledge of him but exactly because he knows nothing of Bartleby. He is strange because the narrator has never met anyone quite like him – bizarre, unyielding and utterly devoid of human emotions. He tries to pre-empt any true understanding Bartleby by justifying this young man’s strange behavior to himself. Perhaps this is because of the frustration of many attempts to try and reach out to the pale scrivener that ended up dismissed by an answer of â€Å"I prefer not to do so†. In the end, he just lets everything go with a rumor and a prayer. In the narrator’s first encounter with Bartleby, he would describe his impression is that of a true gentleman. In his mind, the narrator would compare the new copyist-to-be to the two presently employed copyists, Turkey and Nippers. In direct contrast to the two very colorful and volatile individuals, Bartleby was something novel. He was quiet, neat, and for some reason, he is described in their first meeting as forlorn. In answer to my advertisement, a motionless young man one morning, stood upon my office threshold, the door being open, for it was summer. I can see that figure now–pallidly neat, pitiably respectable, incurably forlorn! It was Bartleby (Melville 549). That Bartleby should be â€Å"motionless† further indicates Bartleby’s remove from the sphere of common humanity–in contrast to the activity and emotions of the lawyer and his employees, Bartleby is still, lacking in vitality and emotion, thing-like. He is not a â€Å"who,† but rather a â€Å"what† left like a basket on the lawyer’s doorstep. His motionlessness and thing-like nature is reinforced by the passivity of the construction â€Å"it was Bartleby.† (Weinstock) Although Bartleby’s manner suggests unhappiness or discontent, he never actually expresses any emotion in the entire story (Napierkowski). This character trait was merely attributed to him by the lawyer. Perhaps the narrator associates happiness with excitement and emotional outbursts that were characteristic of Turkey and Nippers. Some commentaries seem to suggest this. Throughout the whole story, the narrator’s impressions of Bartleby would be very eclectic. At first, the lawyer was impressed with how Bartleby worked so quickly without being distracted. The boy would work long hours and never have any need for breaks even for dinner. At this point, there was no reason for alarm. Bartleby did as he was told without any complaints. He was like a mechanized copy machine in an era where people had to copy their own documents manually. This was very advantageous in the lawyer’s line of work. However, in time the lawyer would be anxious about the bleakness and inhumanness of how Bartleby did his work. He was bankrupt of any emotions – never smiling – never engaging in conversation with his co-workers. At first Bartleby did an extraordinary quantity of writing. As if long famishing for something to copy, he seemed to gorge himself on my documents. There was no pause for digestion. He ran a day and night line, copying by sun-light and by candle-light. I should have been quite delighted with his application, had be been cheerfully industrious. But he wrote on silently, palely, mechanically (Melville 550). The conflict would arise the first time Bartleby refuses to check the documents he made for errors. This came as a shock to the lawyer because he was always with the understanding that he was the employer and Bartleby was the employee and as such, Bartleby had to follow his every bidding with regards to his official duties. Apparently, for the old lawyer, this behavior was unheard of for employees in his line of work. I looked at him steadfastly. His face was leanly composed; his gray eye dimly calm. Not a wrinkle of agitation rippled him. Had there been the least uneasiness, anger, impatience or impertinence in his manner; in other words, had there been any thing ordinarily human about him, doubtless I should have violently dismissed him from the premises. But as it was, I should have as soon thought of turning my pale plaster-of-paris bust of Cicero out of doors. I stood gazing at him awhile, as he went on with his own writing, and then reseated myself at my desk. This is very strange, thought I (Melville 550). The narrator thought that any other time and with any other person, he would have been outraged. But Bartleby’s passivity and serenity caught him off guard. Again, he would describe Bartleby as someone who was not ordinary. From his first refusal, the lawyer has placed Bartleby outside the realm of human possibilities. By his own admission, our narrator, a man of â€Å"virtuous expediency,† has been â€Å"strangely disarmed,† â€Å"touched and disconcerted† (Davis 183). He was confused about what to do with this odd copyist. He decided to just let it go for the moment and let the other two employees work on the examination. Many of these refusals would follow. Bartleby’s disobedience had no hint of resistance or rebellion. His responses were given merely as a matter of fact and this left the lawyer â€Å"unmanned†. Also, these were not mere mechanical or automatic refusals. According to the lawyer, Bartleby seemed to thoughtfully consider the requests before turning them down. †¦ It seemed to me that while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did (Melville 551). Bartleby apparently had no life outside the office. The only thing he knew was work and he never stopped working. They never saw him out of the office (until he was forced out) and they never asked him why. At this point in time, they were allowing the status quo to remain just as long as no real trouble would ensue. Some days passed, the scrivener being employed upon another lengthy work. His late remarkable conduct led me to regard his way narrowly. I observed that he never went to dinner; indeed that he never went any where. As yet I had never of my personal knowledge known him to be outside of my office. He was a perpetual sentry in the corner (Melville 551). There were several occasions when the lawyer would refer to Bartleby as property or valuable acquisition. As much as he wanted to get rid of the unexplainable employee, he was proving to be an asset. He was predictable, he worked very hard and he never had to stop. This dehumanization does not help him at all to understand the poor boy. This revealed the darker side of the narrator – the human side. As days passed on, I became considerably reconciled to Bartleby. His steadiness, his freedom from all dissipation, his incessant industry (except when he chose to throw himself into a standing revery behind his screen), his great stillness, his unalterableness of demeanor under all circumstances, made him a valuable acquisition (Melville 553). xxx It was rather weak in me I confess, but his manner on this occasion nettled me. Not only did there seem to lurk in it a certain disdain, but his perverseness seemed ungrateful, considering the undeniable good usage and indulgence he had received from me (Melville 555). This is another instance confirming the fact that Bartleby never went anywhere except the office. The lawyer discovered this later when he visited his office one Sunday when all other people were either at church or gathering for the recently concluded elections. He found that Bartleby was making his home in the same place where he worked. At this point, the lawyer felt sorry for Bartleby even if he was far from understanding this enigmatic fellow. Think of it. Of a Sunday, Wall-street is deserted as Petra; and every night of every day it is an emptiness. This building too, which of week-days hums with industry and life, at nightfall echoes with sheer vacancy, and all through Sunday is forlorn. And here Bartleby makes his home; sole spectator of a solitude which he has seen all populous–a sort of innocent and transformed Marius brooding among the ruins of Carthage! (Melville 553) After many other disagreements and stoic refusals, the lawyer would lose his patience with Bartleby and move his business to a different location, leaving Bartleby behind. Later on, Bartleby would turn out to be an inconvenience to the new tenants of the lawyer’s previous office. He would come to Bartleby’s rescue first with compassion by trying to explain to him that he had to leave and that he will be given employment somewhere else. Once again, the lawyer is frustrated by Bartleby’s stubbornness and disinterest in the otherwise attractive proposals of his former employer. The occupants of the office would have Bartleby arrested and locked up in jail. When the lawyer hears about this, he would immediately go to visit Bartleby. The lawyer then asks the jail personnel to be good to Bartleby because he is a good man no matter how strange he may be: The same day I received the note I went to the Tombs, or to speak more properly, the Halls of Justice. Seeking the right officer, I stated the purpose of my call, and was informed that the individual I described was indeed within. I then assured the functionary that Bartleby was a perfectly honest man, and greatly to be compassionated, however unaccountably eccentric (Melville 613). In describing Bartleby, the lawyer is actually revealing more of himself. He is revealing his biases and prejudices. He is revealing his materialism, pride and compassion. He reveals different aspects of his personality while Bartleby displays nothing at all. Some writers describe â€Å"Bartleby, the Scrivener† as a story wracked with Christian symbols and yet it falls short of Messianic value. Indeed, Melville’s story would seem to be a parody of the parable, as we see a self-professed â€Å"saved† Christian attempt the good deeds of the Biblical Samaritan but, ironically, still fall short of Christ’s â€Å"divine† injunction, spiritually hampered by his self-justifying, earthbound prudence. (Doloff 357). The lawyer was a good man who honestly wanted to help Bartleby. The was never unkind to Bartleby even in the times of his gravest impatience. However, it was his earthly prudence that kept bringing him back to rationalizing the situation in terms of how it would benefit him. His feelings for Bartleby undergo several changes in this short story. He would begin with curiosity, followed by amazement, then impatience, compassion, disgust, and finally friendship. This was a story about the limits of human understanding and compassion. That no matter how little the narrator truly knew about Bartleby, it was the fact that they were â€Å"sons of Adam† that created this instant connection and invokes true compassion. In the end, Bartleby was no longer a novelty or an object of fascination. The narrator would refer to him as a â€Å"friend†. Works Cited Melville, Herman. â€Å"Bartleby, the Scrivener.† Putnam’s monthly magazine of American literature, science and art Volume 2, Issue 11((Nov. 1853)): 546-550; 609-616. â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener.† Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 12 Jul 2006, 08:37 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 14 Aug 2006 . â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street: Bartleby.† Short Stories for Students. Ed. Marie Rose Napierkowski. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 1998. eNotes.com. January 2006. 14 August 2006. . Johnson, Claudia Durst. â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener.† Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 2006. Grolier Online. 14 Aug. 2006 . Woodlief, Ann. â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener Web Study Text.† Virginia Commonwealth University. 15 Aug. 2006 . Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock, â€Å"Doing Justice to Bartleby,† ATQ (The American Transcendental Quarterly) 17.1 (2003), Questia, 14 Aug. 2006 . Steven Doloff, â€Å"The Prudent Samaritan: Melville’s â€Å"Bartleby, the Scrivener† as Parody of Christ’s Parable to the Lawyer,† Studies in Short Fiction 34.3 (1997): 357, Questia, 14 Aug. 2006 . Todd F. Davis, â€Å"The Narrator’s Dilemma in â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener†: The Excellently Illustrated Re-statement of a Problem,† Studies in Short Fiction 34.2 (1997): 183, Questia, 14 Aug. 2006 .

Human Organ Donation Opinion Paper Essay

1. The progress and spread of transplant medicine and surgery nowadays makes possible treatment and cure for many illnesses which, up to a short time ago, could only lead to death or, at best, a painful and limited existence. This â€Å"service to life,†[1] which the donation and transplant of organs represents, shows its moral value and legitimizes its medical practice. There are, however, some conditions which must be observed, particularly those regarding donors and the organs donated and implanted. Every organ or human tissue transplant requires an explant which in some way impairs the corporeal integrity of the donor. 2. The present shortage of available organs for transplant has resulted in a number of propositions for improving the situation so as to preserve the life of those in danger of imminent death, and/or to improve the health of those who are suffering from various aliments. These propositions range from state-funding of more Organ Donation coordinators, to the establishment of a free market in organs. 3. Not all options, however, are morally acceptable. Moreover, every option must be subject to clear, coherent and rationally defensible ethical analysis. The approach used in this opinion is that of the authoritative moral teaching of the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church and the natural law tradition (specifically that articulated by the Magisterium). It does so on the basis that (a) all other approaches that purport to be based on reason alone are essentially deficient and ultimately incoherent; and (b) that the moral truth of natural law is, by definition, accessible to all. The Church thus rejects those approaches to morality, such as all forms of utilitarianism, that require people to engage in the epistemologically and intellectually impossible task of measuring and weighing all the certain and possible good and evil effects of an action.[2] To cite John Paul II, â€Å"How could an absolute obligation resulting from such debatable calculations be justified?†[3] Instead, the Catholic analysis of a policy’s moral dimension focuses upon asking whether an option is choice-worthy, or if it is excluded from upright choice by its opposition in some way to the human goods (bona humana) to which St. Thomas Aquinas says all people, religious or otherwise, are directed by the first principles of practical reasonableness,[4] the basic reasons for action which the encyclical letter Veritatis Splendor calls â€Å"fundamental human goods.†[5] 4. This opinion considers only one proposition: that is, â€Å"The Richard M. De Vos Position Paper on Financial Incentives for Organ Donation† (hereafter the Position Paper). This proposition involves the establishment of a tax incentive or an insurance benefit to be received by the designated beneficiary of a donor upon the successful transplant of the donor’s organs following the donor’s natural death. This policy encourages people to designate, unambiguously, if they wish to have their organs recovered after death with the object of an act being the saving of human life. 5. Should there be any change in the composition of the Position Paper, this opinion should be considered null and void until the author has had the opportunity to consider the ethical implications of the changes. 6. Should the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church pronounce authoritatively and specifically on the proposition articulated in the Position Paper or a similar proposition, then the author’s position should be henceforth assumed to adhere to that of the Church. The Catholic Position on Organ Transplantation and Compensation for Donation of Human Organs There are positive and negative dimensions to the teaching of the Catholic Church on organ transplantation and the question of compensation. Positive Dimensions 1. Transplantation between species, specifically from animal to human, in general, is not morally forbidden. â€Å"It cannot be said that every transplant of tissues (biologically possible) between two individuals of different species is morally reprehensible, but it is even less true that every heterogeneous transplant biologically possible is not forbidden and cannot raise objections. A distinction must be made between cases, depending on which tissue or organ is intended for transplant. The transplant of animal sexual glands to humans must be rejected as immoral; but the transplant of the cornea of a non-human organism to a human organism would not create any problem if it were biologically possible and advisable.†[6] 2. Transplantation from a corpse requires that the corpse be treated with the respect due to the abode of a spiritual and immortal soul, an essential constituent of a human person whose dignity it shared.[7] 3. Transplantation from a corpse to a living being is permissible. Physicians should not, however, be permitted to undertake excisions or other operations on a corpse without the permission of those charged with its care and perhaps even in the face of objections previously expressed by the person in question.[8] â€Å"Organ transplants are not morally acceptable if the donor or those who legitimately speak for him have not given their informed consent. Organ transplants conform with the moral law and can be meritorious if the physical and psychological dangers and risks incurred by the donor are proportionate to the good sought for the recipient. It is morally inadmissible directly to bring about the disabling mutilation or death of a human being, even in order to delay the death of other persons.†[9] 4. People may choose in their wills to dispose of their bodies after natural death for legitimate medical purposes.[10] 5. Organ transplantation from a live donor is also permissible. People are not, however, free to destroy or mutilate their members or in any other way render themselves unfit for their natural functions, except when no other provision can be made for the good of the whole body. This does not rule out live organ donation for transplantation, provided that the donor’s own health, identity, or adequate biological functioning is not endangered. â€Å"One can donate only what he can deprive himself of without serious danger to his life or personal identity, and for a just and proportionate reason.†[11] Vital organs may only be donated after death.[12] 6. Organ donation is neither a duty nor â€Å"an obligatory act of charity.†[13] But â€Å"a transplant, and even a simple blood transfusion, is not like other operations. It must not be separated from the donor’s act of self-giving, from the love that gives life. The physician should always be conscious of the particular nobility of this work; he becomes the mediator of something especially significant, the gift of self which one person has made—even after death—so that another might live.†[14] 7. Specifically regarding the issue of incentives for organ donation, compensation (financial or otherwise) is not in principle ruled out. â€Å"In advertising (for cornea donors) an intelligent reserve should be maintained to avoid serious interior and exterior conflicts. Also, is it necessary, as often happens, to refuse any compensation as a matter of principle? The question has arisen. Without doubt there can be grave abuses if recompense is demanded; but it would be an exaggeration to say that any acceptance or requirement of recompense is immoral. The case is analogous to that of blood transfusion; it is to the donor’s credit if he refuses recompense, but it is not necessarily a fault to accept it.†[15] Hence, while organ donation is commendable, acceptance of compensation may be permissible. Negative Dimensions 1. The following conditions would render compensation for donating human organs morally impermissible: (a) if the compensation were carried out in a manner that obfuscates, denies, or undermines the belief in the divine origin of human life or the dignity thereby due the corpse; (b) if the intention and object of seeking compensation for either oneself or others was an illegal, immoral, or irreligious end, or directly violated one or more of the fundamental human goods; or (c) the act of compensation amounted to merely instrumentalising the donor or the donor’s mere self-instrumentalization. 2. The transplantation of the sexual glands from animals to humans is to be rejected as immoral[16] because such a transplant would directly deny the sacred element in humanity and the goods of human love. 3. Society, specifically in the form of its political organization, the State, may not commandeer the organs of a deceased human being without the prior permission of that person or the consent of his family.[17] The relation of individual human persons to the body politic is moral, not organic. This rules out any form of coercive donation, including organ procurement strategies such as presumed consent in which, absent a specific refusal, one is presumed to have consented to donation. 4. It is forbidden for any form of organ donation, be it by a living donor or from a corpse, to involve any mere instrumentalization of the person from whom the organ is taken. This prohibition includes any mere self-instrumentalization by a living donor. John Paul II states, â€Å"The body cannot be treated as a merely physical or biological entity, nor can its organs ever be used as items of sale or exchange. Such a reductive materialist conception would lead to a merely instrumental use of the body and therefore of the person. In such a perspective, organ transplantation and the grating of tissue would no longer correspond to an act of donation but would amount to the dispossession or plundering of the body.†[18] Acceptance of compensation for oneself or others, as described above, however, need not proceed from a choice merely to instrumentalise oneself. 5. It is forbidden to engage in the commercial trafficking of bodies. â€Å"Also, in the case of dead fetuses, as for the corpses of adult persons, all commercial trafficking must be considered illicit and should be prohibited.†[19] 6. â€Å"Ethically, not all organs can be donated. The brain and the gonads may not be transplanted because they ensure the personal and procreative identity respectively. These are organs which embody the characteristic uniqueness of the person, which medicine is bound to protect.†[20]