Economic Transition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Economic Transition - Essay Example In addition, trade barriers are being lifted, the export portfolio is diversifying from oil to other products, and market forces are emerging as strong determinant of price and demand. The reasons behind this shift have their roots in the lessons, which the Saudi policy makers learnt from the crisis and recessions of 1980s due to fluctuations in the oil prices. Since then, slowly and gradually, the Saudi government has been trying to strengthen the oil sector and create a reliable banking system, which could provide credit facilities to the new foreign and domestic investors. Important here to understand that this transition is not complete yet it is had some impacts on the macroenvironment. Rather than controlling the country based on the feedback on family members and a few friends, the King has gone on to create a cabinet of ministers, which are experts of economic and financial affairs for policy making and suggestions. The administration has witnessed some retaliation from the s ide of the religious experts of the country because it is hard for them to digest that how can an Islamic welfare state adopt the western capitalistic policies but the administration has appeared firm on its decision to complete this smooth transition by the end of this decade (Ramady, 2010).

William Blake and William Wordsworth | Comparison

William Blake and William Wordsworth | Comparison William Blake and William Wordsworth are two poets that have a few very different views on life and the world. And quite a few close similarities, particularly their writing style, as in they way express their thoughts. William Wordsworth was born on 7 April 1770 in Cockermouth, Cumberland, in the Lake District. His father was John Wordsworth, an attorney. The country and beautiful landscape struck Wordsworths imagination and gave him that love of nature that he is now famous for. As a country poet he isnt used to the dark alleys of London like Blake was and rather than seeing cities as a mark on the landscape, he sees them as an addition. A thing of equal beauty This City now doth, like a garment, wear, The beauty of the morning; silent, bare. You can tell he was only visiting London as he compares it to all the natural metaphors and similies he is used to, and it is a surprise to write about cities, since most of his other poems were about nature. If he maybe had stayed a few months he would not have thought as much to it as he does in the poem, maybe because it is so different to the kind of landscape he is used to he sees it in a positive light. He visited France in 1790 and was influenced by the turmoil of the French Revolution he was also greatly affected by his brothers death in 1805. The oppressive rule of France and the chaos and bloodshed of the revolution that he witnessed hit hard on Wordsworths soft, emotional way of thinking. He had to reinvent a whole new understanding of the world and of the human mind in more solid terms. William Blake was born November 28th 1757, it is evident in his poems he had an awareness of the harsh realities of his life-In every voice, in every ban, the mind-forgd manacles I hear. Here Blake is talking about the oppression of the city of London and how the mind is chained-, which is metaphorical, but he is saying almost how the people of the city are losing their individuality. As a young boy he had a vision of seeing angels in the trees. These mystical visions returned throughout his life, leaving a mark on his poetry and outlook on life. His artistic talent was noticed by many and encouraged. At ten years old, he began engraving, he was very creative and he started his first poem 1773. Blake hated the church; he believed that the truth was learned by personal revelation, not by teaching. In the end he started to think that all religions were one and there wasnt any correct religion to follow. -Crying weep, weep in notes of woe; Where are thy father and mother, say? They are both gone up to the church to pray.- Quotes from The Chimney Sweeper this is where an innocent child having a hard life as a chimney sweep who wants to see his mother and father but has been turned away by them and the Church. Showing how evil and wrong the church is in Blakes opinion for turning away a poor boy that needs help. Wordsworths verdict after Blakes death reflected many opinions of the time: There was no doubt that this poor man was mad, but there is something in the madness of this man which interests me more than the sanity of Lord Byron and Walter Scott. Blakes style of writing was mostly pointing out a lot of negative aspects about things, relating many objects or places to political problems. In Blakes London- Blake has a very pessimistic and sad look on the city. Blake also used metaphors, similes and personification but referring to the political problems happening, as well as problems with the city- this could be not just London but all cities in Britain at the time. For example- every blackening church appalls this is not just skin deep as the church walls were actually black with pollution and dirt, but on a deeper level where he is talking about the corruption in the church. Wordsworth compares his version of London to beauty thats different from surface appearances, and he used imagery to describe Londons beauty comparing it to natural valleys, green countryside and trickling rivers and streams. For example-Never did the sun more beautifully sleep, in his first splendour valley, rock, or hill There he is being more philosophical and pensive; there is less description and more awe of the actual city. Many of his works at that time expressed the beauty of a pure nature, while Composed upon Westminster Bridge praised the way nature and civilization could coexist- how the city was just as beautiful as the countryside but in a different, deeper way. Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie, Open unto the fields, and to the sky. In many of his poems, Wordsworth begins to go more and more into his own mind, not actually looking at surface appearances but looking through that sometimes into an almost trance-like state. Of harmony, and the deep power of joy, We see into the life of things. He says that in one of his poems in Tintern Abbey. He starts this by looking at the beauty of the landscape, then his mind drifts into deeper things, like his understanding of life and the world around him; Until, the breath of this corporeal frame And even the motion of our human blood, Almost suspended, we are laid asleep, In body, and become a living soul. Blake however is quite different and is deep in a different way. But here he uses a very negative tone to help convey his point. The whole way through he continues his downbeatoppressive tone and describing everything thats wrong with London. And mark in every face I meet, Marks of weakness, marks of woe.- Commenting on how everyone in the city are the victims of an endless work, to keep the city running constantly, he describes how this is sucking out the souls of people the more they work. Blake also seems to use a downbeat negative tone to give an actual gloomy effect. He sayshow the youthful harlots curse, blasts the new-born infants tear. That line basically means that teenagers are forced into prostitution for money and how if they are impregnated without a father then that child is doomed to be the son of a prostitute. The child is born into a life of poverty and the cycle just keeps going on and on. Wordsworth- possibly because of a better upbringing, has a more positive outlook on life and can find it easy to see most things in their own kind of beauty. Unlike Blake who found it hard not to look at the landscape itself but see everything wrong with what it stood for- And the hapless soldiers sigh, Runs in blood down palace walls. From London instead of marvelling at the palace like Wordsworth would have done- he looks at it and reads between the lines- how soldiers are sent to their deaths, and how the city profits from it. In conclusion I think that Blake and Wordsworth are similar in styles on writing but believe very different things. Blake was thought mad by many but I think he just had strong thoughts coming from his own experiences. Wordsworth on the other hand was simply a very philosophical poet, in many of his poems going into a trance-like state seeing the inner beauty of things.

Charles Marlow: Narrating the Darkness Essay -- Joseph Conrads novella

In Joseph Conrad's novella, the Heart of Darkness (1899), Conrad effectively presents the character of Charles Marlow through the heavy usage of Marlow's personal narration throughout the novella. By using such a method of presentation, Conrad presents to the reader Marlow's character, most important of which, his hypocrisy throughout his expedition through Africa. Marlow’s change from an idealistic European seeking work into one who has seen the â€Å"heart of darkness† is illustrated well by using him as the principal narrator, guiding the reader through his descent into madness due his sensitivity to the â€Å"darkness†. Charles Marlow is introduced to the reader by an unnamed narrator, one of five men aboard the Nellie. Of note, he alone is given a physical description by the narrator, of â€Å"sunken cheeks† and â€Å"yellow complexion†, clearly someone who has experienced suffering, even evident in this short description. His physical appearance is not well, and the reader can infer that Marlow’s mental state is not much better, an implication that is soon confirmed by the novel. Shortly after being introduced, Marlow begins his tale, of how he sailed to Africa, comparing it to how the Romans may have felt when they went to the then uncivilized lands of modern London. He retells his experiences there as a member of the â€Å"noble† Company. In doing so, Marlow’s personality is described in great detail, more than the words themselves reveal. Conrad’s choice of using a frame narrative allows the reader to see Marlow’s perspective of events, and give a notable change in tone as the novella progresses. As he enters his story, Marlow tells the fate of his predecessor, a Dane named Fresleven, who â€Å"...went ashore and started to hammer the chief of ... ...searching for truth. As the narrator for the majority of Heart of Darkness, Marlow is recounting his experiences, and reliving his most horrible moments. As the Nellie sails down the Thames into the dark emptiness, Marlow can only see the same, none of the light and brightness means anything. Conrad’s choice of making Marlow the principal narrator telling his own story is an effective way of conveying his message to the reader. The reader will notice Marlow’s descent to madness, his conversations with others being the points of descent, and his thoughts being the indicators. Ultimately, Marlow’s tale makes it apparent that the idealism of anyone, regardless of how intelligent, educated or civilized, cannot survive in the all-consuming heart of darkness. Works Cited Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness and The Secret Sharer. New York: Signet Classics, 1997. Print.

Observing Toddlers Essay

Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are a number of places where toddlers could be observed unobtrusively—at the park, the playground, the mall, and the daycare center. For the purpose of this study, however, I chose to go to the park and observe parents and their toddlers play together. This way, I could easily observe unobtrusively as people would think I was simply there to write or to write down my thoughts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another benefit that the park has to offer is the lack of formal structures and relationships such as those found at daycare centers. At the park, parents and toddlers could interact easily and in a relax manner. That way, the true nature of the relationship between the parents and the toddlers will be easily observed and analyzed and the understanding of the interactions between parents and children will be better understood. This paper then seeks to look at such a relationship by presenting direct observations from families and toddlers that visit the park in our community. I had a small notebook with me and it is where I wrote down my observations, as well as the communication that went on between the parents and the children.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     The toddlers that I observed were approximately between 16 to 30 months old and appeared to be pampered by care by their parents. One the toddlers belong to an Asian-American racial stock while the other one to an American family. Although the parents brought strollers with them, the toddlers were walking and occasionally carried by their parents. Both of the families of the toddlers seem to belong to the middle class. Notably, the second toddler belongs to a mother without a father. Although the author could not exactly know whether she is a single parent or not, at least based on the observation at the park, the mother does not have any other company in visiting the park.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both toddlers appear to be enamored with their surroundings. They do notice the colors in the park and usually exclaim in delight when they see a butterfly or a bird. Apparently, they are already starting to recognize some of the features of the environment and their understanding of what they are is already being formed in the minds of the young kids. Toddler 1 The first toddler I observed is male. He displayed curiosity in his surroundings. While they were walking in the park, to the way where the family will sit down for an afternoon snack, the toddler was picking up sticks and leaves on the ground. He raised them to his eyes and offered them to his parents. The mother accepted the offer from the toddler and said that it was a leaf. She explained further that the leaf grows on the branch, which the toddler dutifully picked up and offered to her mother again. When the mother pronounced â€Å"leaf† and â€Å"branch†, the toddler also spoke up and attempted to pronounce the same words. A child is very much curious and interested in his surroundings. As part of his cognitive development, he notices the shapes, colors, and different sensations and wonders he encounter in his world. Even at such a young age, he is also being initiated into the process of socialization where he learns the views of his parents and of the larger society where he is located (Turner, 1991). The child, according to Piaget’s theory actively uses his senses to explore his environment and learn about them. Through the use of his senses, he is able to discern relationships among the actions he take and the behavior of the objects that he is viewing (Turner, 1991). Both the component of nature and nurture are at work in this seemingly simple process that the child is going through. He uses his eyes, his ears, his nose, and his whole body to discover the world and learn how it works. His efforts, because they are yet insufficient, are supplemented by his parents, more particularly by his mother, who tells him the names of objects and how they are being referred to in the world. Through the explanation of the mother about the nature of the relationship between leaves and branches, the child is then able to look at the relationship of different objects in his environment albeit in an incomplete fashion. The explanation of the mother regarding the relationship of leaves and branches may not be sufficient for the child to understand the relationship because most of the knowledge of a child advances through his actions and his interpretation about the consequences of the actions he make (Franz & White, 1985). Notably, the toddler was now engaging in eye-to-eye contact with his parents and occasionally asks them for what he wants. His father brought out a ball that the toddler apparently loved playing with. The father and the child started playing with the ball—they played catch, and sometimes they would race together to get the ball first. The toddler was delighted with such play with his father. Although this is the case, the child would also look at his mother and he asked her to come and join them. This is consistent with the theory of Erikson, which holds that the child’s relationship with his mother is perhaps the most important one during this stage of development (Franz & White, 1985). The child continued to play with the ball and when he saw other children in the park, he also went to them and offered to play the ball with them. Apparently, toddler one has good socialization skills to the point that he can mingle with other kids even when his parents are around. This points to the good relationship that the child is enjoying with his parents. Both his parents encouraged him to play with other children and watched him with other kids. True enough, when the child has strong relationships with his parents, he tends to be more socially responsive and socially amiable. In accordance with Psychosocial theorists, the child is displaying good emotional and social skills because his own relationship with his parents are also good and secure. Otherwise, he might become a recluse and refuse the company of people (Charlesworth, 2003). When Toddler one was playing ball with another child, there was an instance in which the other child managed to grab the ball more quickly than toddler one, so what he did was to forcibly claim the ball from his playmate and withheld it from the latter. Through this, the other child looked as if he was about to cry. It is at this moment that the mother of Toddler one intervened. The mother reasoned out firmly with the toddler in regards to sharing toys so that others would also learn how to share. The tone of the mother appeared to be negotiating instead of imposing. This display of authority on the part of the mother is remarkable and shows the secure connection between her and the child (Charlesworth, 2003). Toddler Two When I felt that I have sufficiently observed toddler one, I decided to turn my attention to another toddler playing with a dog not very far from the first toddler. The only companion of the toddler in the park is his mother and their Labrador. I had the impression, although this is difficult to verify, that the mother was a single parent. The mother was silently looking after her child who was playing with the Labrador. Apart from the toy truck and the Frisbee that the child had, there were no other toys that the mother had for the child. The mother appeared to be preoccupied with her own thoughts. When toddler was not busy with his toy truck, he would play with the Frisbee and the dogs with the strength and the capability that he has. The dog seems to act as a guard to the toddler. He does not socialize with other kids very much and he appears content to play by himself. The toddler, it seems is spending most of the time by himself. Although at first glance, this may seem to be a display of autonomy, yet in closer examination of the child, he does not enjoy the benefits that interaction with other kids and with his parent brings. These circumstances will therefore bring forth negative consequences in the development of the social skills of the child and he might find it difficult to relate with other people when he grows up (Keenan, 2002). When the child attempts to play farther from his mother, the latter would come after him and tell him not to move around too much. The mother actually uses her authority over the child to forbid him from going somewhere else. Apparently, the mother wants to keep the child in her sight most of the time. This kind of attitude might breed negative feelings in the child and will contribute to the insecurity of their relationship. Since the relationship of the child with his mother is of utmost importance (Charlesworth, 2003), then his cognitive, emotional and social development will suffer as a consequence. The child also develops a kind of mistrust in the outside world and he will not view the outside world as a safe place. Instead, he might develop the attitude that he always needs his mother to look after him. Erikson warned against this over-protectiveness of parents as it prohibits children to explore and become curious of their environment. Hence, instead of developing self-confidence and self-esteem, toddler two will instead feel shame and doubt (Franz & White, 1985). Toddler two cried when his mother forbade him to wander into the park. When the child cried, the mother responded by being firmer and she almost shouted to toddler two to stop. Instead of stopping, however, toddler cried even louder and displayed tantrums. At this time, the mother punished toddler two by spanking him three times. After several minutes, toddler two stopped crying and remained where he was instead. This display of authority may become inimical to the overall development of the child over the long run as the initiative and the natural curiosity of the child will be dampened and what he will remember most will be the fear associated with the parent’s discipline (Charlesworth, 2003). Toddler two recovered from the spanking after several minutes by turning his attention to the dog and his Frisbee. By distracting himself, he forgot about the incident and started to enjoy himself again. His mother, however, still issued a warning for him â€Å"not to move out of her sight.† According to Erikson, if the urge of the child to explore is removed, then the result would be a lower level of self-esteem on the part of the child (Franz & White, 1985). Toddler two is very much attached to her mother, however, he is not sufficiently developing autonomy. Through the reprimands and the stern warnings of his mother, he becomes dependent on his mother and unable to explore his environment and his surroundings. Over the course of time as he discovers the world further, he may not have sufficient curiosity and initiative to move away from the familiar and instead, he would keep in sight of whoever is looking after him. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Observing the two toddlers was a good experience for me. It was as if the concepts and theories discussed by Piaget and Erikson were coming to life. Indeed the role of the parents is very crucial in ensuring that a child receives the appropriate socialization and training even while he is young. The strength of the attachment of a child with his parents is very important for him to develop the necessary skills for socialization and in relating with others in his environment. If the relationship of a child with his parents is good as demonstrated by the first toddler I observed, then the child will greatly benefit from it. If, however, the nature of the relationship borders on the dysfunctional, then the socialization skills of the child will be negatively affected. As he grows up, he will have struggles in relating with different kinds of people in his environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By observing toddlers, numerous lessons can be gleaned and the nature of the relationship between child and parents will be assessed. Accordingly, intervention strategies could be arrived at so that the child will not suffer needlessly. Furthermore, parents, and everyone dealing with children, should be sensitive to the different levels of development of the child as demonstrated by Piaget and Erikson. By doing so, perhaps the manner of bringing up of children will be better and over the long run, the society will become a better one because of the good rearing of the children. Reference Charlesworth, R. (2003). Understanding Child Development: For Adults Who Work With Young Children. New York: Thomson Delmar Learning. Franz, C. E. & White, K. M. (1985). Individuation and attachment in personality development: Extending Erikson’s theory. Journal of Personality, 53 (2), 224-256. Keenan, T. (2002). An Introduction to Child Development. London: Sage Publications. Turner, P. J. (1991). Relations between Attachment, Gender, and Behavior with Peers in Preschool. Child Development, 62 (6), 1475-1488.

Character Sketch of Patrick Jane in The Mentalist

Character Sketch – Patrick Jane, The Mentalist Patrick Jane is the primary character on The Mentalist, a dramatic series that uses the homicide team of the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to showcase Jane’s talents. He has a reputation for his observation skills, which are highly useful when questioning suspects and witnesses, even though he can appear unfeeling when interacting with the recently bereaved. He frequently challenges his superiors, and does it in a mocking manner.Jane’s career prior to the CBI gig was as a charlatan, actually. He was the kind of entertainer that people in need actually believe in – they think he can speak to their dead relative and deliver messages. He was really just reading the audience members’ body language, and filling in the blanks from his imagination. In his interactions with his co-workers and suspects he comes off as quirky, but is quite often spot-on. Otherwise the series wouldn’t have lasted four years (so far).His has a great sense of humor, and is mischievous, even though he is still in mourning for his wife and child, who were murder victims. This creates a high degree of tension and may act as Jane’s motivation in his quest to find the murderer in each episode. Jane is a very attractive white male in his thirties. He’s of average height, with a slim build. His curly, light-brown hair is a little too long to be considered professional. While he always wears a jacket and usually wears a vest, he never wears a tie.Jane’s unconventional attire matches his apparent need to flaunt authority by baiting his superiors. When Jane is trying to work out a problem, he lies on the couch in the the detectives’ area, shuts his eyes, and lets the pieces fall into place. Quite often he sits on that same couch to have a cup of tea. We never see him drinking anything else. Jane is a round character, as we see his struggle to deal with his loss, to develop h is relationships with co-workers, particularly Lisbet. She may be, at some point, a love interest.There are flashbacks to illustrate (showing us) the horror he encountered when he discovered his family’s bodies, and we see that he’s getting emotionally healthier, though he still struggles. His character is dynamic in that regard, yet consistent in his appeal, his cockiness and his mockery of those who take themselves too seriously (telling us his personality traits). He is plausible to the degree that it is possible there’s a person like this – he isn’t superhuman, or anything. He’s just so charming, and so sympathetic, that it’s unlikely that any of us will meet anyone like this. It does work, though.