Monday, November 25, 2019

Book Summary, Notes, and Study Guide for Frankenstein

Book Summary, Notes, and Study Guide for Frankenstein Frankenstein  was originally written by English author,  Mary Shelley (1797- 1851). Its complete title is  Frankenstein: or, the Modern Prometheus. It was first published anonymously in London on January 1, 1818. The second edition, under Shelleys name, was published in 1823.  A third  edition,  which included  a preface by Shelley and tribute to her late husband  who drowned in 1822, was published in 1831.  The book is a  Gothic novel  and  has also been called the first  science fiction  novel.   Author Mary Shelley was born in London August 30, 1797. She  developed the story of Frankenstein while on a summer trip to Switzerland in 1816  when she was twenty years old and  was traveling with her then married lover, Romantic poet  Percy Bysshe Shelley.   The story arose out of a competition between herself, Percy Shelley and their companions, Lord Byron and Byrons physician, John William Polidori, to write a tale about a supernatural occurrence. Mary initially struggled with an idea, but eventually, through listening to conversations between Percy and Lord Byron about attempts to reanimate corpses, current news stories, a dream, her imagination and own life experiences, a story emerged. According to Francine Prose, author of the introduction to a new illustrated   Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus, in the New Republic: One night, still puzzling over Byron’s assignment and trying to sleep, Mary had a vision in which she saw â€Å"the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion.† She lay awake, trying to imagine a story that would frighten the reader as much as she had been frightened, then realized that she had found it. â€Å"What terrified me will terrify others; and I need only describe the spectre which had haunted my midnight pillow. On the morrow I announced that I had thought of a story,† and set herself to making â€Å"a transcript of the grim terrors of my waking dream.†    The book,  Frankenstein, was completed almost a year after their trip to Switzerland. Shortly after the  trip to Switzerland, Percy Shelleys pregnant wife committed suicide. Mary and Percy married soon thereafter, in 1818, but Marys life was marked by death and tragedy. Marys half-sister committed suicide soon after the trip to Switzerland, and Mary and Percy had three children who died in infancy before Percy Florence was born in 1819.   Setting The story begins in the icy northern waters where a captain is traveling to the North Pole. Events take place throughout Europe, in Scotland, England, and Switzerland. Characters Victor Frankenstein: The Swiss chemist who creates the monster. Robert Walton: The sea captain who rescues Victor from the ice. The Monster: The ugly creation of Frankenstein, who searches for companionship and love throughout the story. William: Victors brother. The monster murders William to punish Victor and sets the stage for more tragedy and torment for Victor. Justine Moritz: Adopted and loved by the Frankenstein family, Justine was convicted and executed for killing William. Plot Rescued by the sea captain, Frankenstein relays events that begin as he pieces together a man using old body parts. Once he manages to create the horrible being, however, Frankenstein regrets his action immediately and flees his home. When he returns, he finds the monster is gone. Shortly after, Frankenstein hears that his brother has been murdered. A series of tragic events follow as the monster searches for love  and Frankenstein suffers the consequences of his immoral act. Structure The novel is a frame story with a three-part structure. The Creatures story is the core of the novel, which is presented to us framed by Victor Frankensteins story, which in turn is framed by Robert Waltons narrative. Possible Themes This book raises many compelling themes and thought-provoking questions and is as relevant today as it was two-hundred years ago. The search for love reflects a strong theme in Shelleys own life. The monster knows he is horrid and will never be loved, although he attempts to find love several times. He is constantly rejected and disappointed. Frankenstein, himself, searches for happiness through love, but he meets with the tragic loss of several loves. Mary Shelley was the daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft, who was an early feminist.  Tragic, weak, women are portrayed in the story Frankenstein actually begins to make a second female monster, to provide companionship for his own first creation, but he then destroys it and dumps the remains in a lake; Frankensteins wife dies tragically, as does the accused Justine- but is this because Shelley actually believes women are weak or does their subjugation and absence send a different message? Perhaps it is because female autonomy and power are perceived as a threat to the male characters. Without the presence and influence of women, everything that is important to Frankenstein is destroyed in the end. The novel also speaks to the  nature of good and evil, what it means  to be human  and to  live morally.  Ã‚  It  confronts us with our  existential fears  and  explores the boundary between life and death. It causes us  to reflect on the limits and  responsibilities of scientists  and scientific inquiry, and to think about what it means  to play God, addressing human emotion and hubris. Resources and Further Reading How Frankensteins Monster Became Human, The New Republic,  https://newrepublic.com/article/134271/frankensteins-monster-became-human Its Alive! The Birth of Frankenstein,  National Geographic, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/archaeology-and-history/magazine/2017/07-08/birth_of_Frankenstein_Mary_Shelley/ Monstrosity and Feminism in Frankenstein, Electrastreet, https://electrastreet.net/2014/11/monstrosity-and-feminism-in-frankenstein/

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Micro Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Micro Economics - Essay Example ducts as good ones, buyers would take the quality to be uncertain and accordingly base their decisions on the average quality of the products leading to a decline on the average willingness to pay. As a result the products which were actually of good quality would not receive their deserved prices and would thus be driven out of the market and the market would be filled up with the worse quality products or â€Å"lemons†. Akerlof demonstrated his point by using the example of the market of used cars. Suppose there are both good quality used cars as well as bad or defective ones, i.e, the lemons, on offer in the market and the consumer is not able to infer before hand which type is being offered to him by any particular seller. He therefore assumes it to be of average quality and is prepared to pay equal to the price of the average quality used cars. The owner of a good quality car therefore will not get the deserved high price for it as the customer has no way of knowing that it is in quality higher than the average. Therefore this good quality car shall be withdrawn from the market and so will be all other good quality cars, leading to a fall in the average quality of cars in the market. As a result of this downward revision of average quality, moderately good cars shall also fail to earn sufficiently high prices and will thus be withdrawn. Recurrence of this mechanism finally leads to a situation w here only lemons are on offer in the market. To assess the validity of this proposition Bond (1982) attempted to empirically test it. In particular, the paper attempted to test the proposition that good products are driven out by bad products in the market for used pickup trucks. The amount of maintenance required on a particular truck was taken to be the measure of quality with the â€Å"lemons† being identified as used trucks that require significantly greater maintenance compared to the average. If the Akerlof argument is valid, then in this set up the result should

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

You choose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

You choose - Essay Example These emissions are from deforestation or from burning fossil fuels that tend to trap the heat that is meant to eventually escape from earth. (Archer, 2012). The Earths climate is often caused by the first 6 miles or so of the atmosphere. It contains most of the matter that make up the atmosphere (Weart, 2003). A close study of this layer shows how thin it really is. In fact, if one were to view Earth from space, the main part of the atmosphere would seem to be only thick as the onions skin. It is through the realization of this fact that makes it even more evident to make an assumption that human beings can change the climate. The greenhouse effect is one of the major factors that cause global warming. Hence, a study of the amount of greenhouse gasses that humans spew into the atmosphere makes the assumption even more plausible. Different researchers have over the years come up with several explanations of global warming to ensure the proper understanding of it to the general public. According to Johansen (2011), global warming is described as the observed century scale ascending of the earth’s average temperature in its climate system and the associated effects. Numerous results of the evidence by scientists show the gradual warming of the climate system (Weart, 2003). Since 1970, the additional energy that has been stored in the climate system has diverted to ocean warming. Only 10% of it has remained hence leading to melting of the ice, warming of the continents and the atmosphere (Weart, 2003). There have been many observed changes since 1950s to now hence the changes appear to be unprecedented in these decades. In the present time, it is clear that technology has developed as compared to ten years ago. The greater the technology, the more the scientific understanding of global warming is seen to increase. The world now cannot be

Monday, November 18, 2019

Critical evaluation of Steve Millar's approach Essay

Critical evaluation of Steve Millar's approach - Essay Example overseas business expansion, and decentralization of authority. Critical evaluation of Steve Millar’s approach: The above mentioned approaches of Miller had been reflected quite intensively in the decisions and strategies formulated by him. In order to be international, Miller had undertaken the route of merger and acquisition. For instance, in order to get entered within the market of France, the company acquired a century old Domaine de la Baume, which is well reputed winery brand with French market. Along with this, there are a number of different other important established domestic and exports French brand was acquired BRL Hardy for the purpose of expanding within France, in the year 1990. Six months later, the company acquired Italy’s oldest winery, named as Brolio de Riscoli for the purpose of clearing the way to get entered within the market of Italy. Along with this, UK is also one of the most prominent markets of the company in which the company earned quite i ntensive amount of profits. In this regard, the company established its direct subsidiary within the country. Moreover, the company undertook several crucial mergers and acquisition across Asian and American regions for the purpose of supporting it overseas diversification approach of Miller (Johnson, Scholes and Whittington 2011). This approach of Miller can be supported on the ground of growth related corporate level strategic orientation for the organization. As per this approach, business diversification at global level is one of the most efficient ways to reduce the impact of external business environment. This approach of Miller supported him to make an efficient portfolio for its business operations, which had proved quite helpful for the organization to diversify the external environmental risk (House et al 2004). For the long term perspective this strategy of Miller can be appraised. The concept of systematic risk mitigation also advocates the approach of Miller regarding b usiness expansion at international level. However, the case reflects that in order to be international, the disposition of the company in the domestic market was weakened due to international business expansion. This is one of the most critical issues associated with the international business expansion approach of Miller (Hill 2011). In addition to this, the second approach of Miller, for the purpose of making BRL Hardy as an international brand, was related to the decentralization of the management structure of the organization within its international business strategy of the organization. As per this approach Miller was the strong believer of providing some intensive power and authority to the local administration and management of its different business location. In the context of this strategy, he handed over all the power of making decisions and planning to Christopher Carson for the purpose of managing all the operations and business activities of its UK subsidiary. This str ategy of Miller was proved quite successful as UK subsidiary of the company made some intensive profits for the company in the year 1998. Miller wanted to have some intensive and deep involvement of Carson in the corporate planning and decision making for the company. However, the approach of Miller toward this decentralization was directed to align its European

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The Heritage Of Pakistan

The Heritage Of Pakistan Moen-jo-Daro is situated at a distance of some kilometers from Larkana. A civilization fourished there some 4000 years ago. It was discovered by Sir John Marshall in 1922. Moen-jo-Daro stands as most spectecular of all the excavate cities of the Indus Valley civilizaton. It is strange that at its glory, it was a beautiful city with brick walled houses, pillared halls, markets, baths, lanes, streets and public places. Every house had walls, drains and bathrooms inside it 2. Harappa Harappa is situated in the city of Sahiwal. Scientists and archaeologists believe that Harappa also belongs to the Indus Valley Civilization. Remains of this city were excavated in the 1920. 3. Gandhara It is comparatively a new civilization, the regions comprising Northern Punjab, Peshawar valley and Eastern Afghanistan was known as Gandhara. For a long time it remained the meeting place of various ancient cultures, as it was rule by many rulers. A distinctive art which is known as Gandhara Art took place from here and flourished during the 2nd and 3rd century of Christian era. Thousands monasteries and stupas were widely here Buddhas figures, shapes and monasteries all made prominent features of Gandhara Arts. 4. Buddhist Remains The Buddhist era ushered in some 500 years B.C. The Buddhist monastery Takht-I-Bahi is in N.W.F.P, it dates 2-5 century old. Some mounds were also found near Peshawar which represents Kanishkas mighty Pakistan. An impressive complex of Chapels, Stupas, quadrangles and monks cells are also found. The great Buddhist civilization is now forming the heritage of the present Pakistan Culture. 5. Taxila It was excavated in recent times near Rawalpindi. Taxila is the most popular name in history. It came into prominence during the Persian occupation. At its zenith, the city was the nucleus of religious and cultural activities. 6. Thatta The main town of Thatta is famous for specimens of Indo-Muslim architecture in the Sub Continent. Notable among them is the great mosque built by Shah-Jahan. The principle monuments of Thatta are located on the Makli Hill. 2.3.2 Architectural Heritage 1. Lahore Fort It is also known as the Shahi Qila. It was built by Akbar. The main structures inside the fort are the Moti Masjid, Diwan-e-Aam, Maktab Khana, the Shish Mahal and Nawlakha. The Hathi and Alamgir gates are also remarkable constructions. 2. Badshahi Masjid It was built by Aurangzeb. Its architecture is similar to the Jamia Masjid Delhi. The masjid has been built with red stones while the domes are in marble. 3. Jahangir Tomb This tomb was built by Shah Jahan. It is known as a fine building of Lahore. 4. Shalimar Garden It is situated on the Grand Trunk Road and is a magnificent remnant of Mughal Granduer. The garden constitutes of three terraces, one above the other. Besides there is an elaborate and beautiful reservoir, water channels and fountains. 5. Masjid Wazir Khan It is situated in Kashmir Bazaar inside the walls of the old city. It was built by Nawab Wazir Khan who was a viceroy of Punjab under Shah Jahan. 6. Golden Masjid It is situated near Masjid Wazir Khan. It was built during the rule of Mohammad Shah and it is also a very beautiful piece of architecture. 7. Mahabat Khan Masjid This masjid was built by a Governor of Peshawar, Mahabat Khan, during Shah Jahans reign. It has a fine massive structure with lofty minarets. 8. The Fort of Bala Hasar This fort was built on raised platform 92 feet from the ground level. There are two gardens near the fort. 2.4 Economy of Pakistan The economy of Pakistan is the 27th largest in the world in nominal terms and 47th largest in the world in terms of purchasing power parity. Pakistan has a semi-industrialized economy, which mainly encompasses textiles, chemicals, food processing, agriculture and other industries. Growth poles of Pakistans economy are situated along the Indus River; diversified economies of Karachi and Punjabs urban centers coexist with lesser developed areas in other parts of the country. The economy has suffered in the past from decades of internal political disputes, a fast growing population, mixed levels of foreign investment, and a costly, ongoing confrontation with neighboring India. Foreign exchange reserves are bolstered by steady worker remittances, but a growing current account deficit driven by a widening trade gap as import growth outstrips export expansion could draw down reserves and dampen GDP growth in the medium term. Stock market In the first four years of the twenty-first century, Pakistans KSE 100 Index was the best-performing stock market index in the world as declared by the international magazine Business Week. The stock market capitalization of listed companies in Pakistan was valued at $5,937 million in 2005 by the World Bank. But in 2008, after the General Elections, uncertain political environment, rising militancy along western borders of the country, and mounting inflation and current account deficits resulted in the steep decline of the Karachi Stock Exchange. As a result, the corporate sector of Pakistan has declined dramatically in recent times. However the market bounced back strongly in 2009 and the trend continues in 2011. Demographics With a per capita GDP of over $3000 in 2006 compared with $2600 in 2005 in 2005 the World Bank considers Pakistan a medium-income country, it is also recorded as a Medium Development Country on the Human Development Index 2007. Pakistan has a large informal economy, which the government is trying to document and assess. Approximately 56% of adults are literate, and life expectancy is about 64 years. The population, about 168 million in 2007, is growing at about 1.80%. Relatively few resources in the past had been devoted to socio-economic development or infrastructure projects. Inadequate provision of social services, high birth rates and immigration from nearby countries in the past have contributed to a persistence of poverty. An influential recent study concluded that the fertility rate peaked in the 1980s, and has since fallen sharply. Pakistan has a family-income Gini index of 41, close to the world average of 39. Employment The high population growth in the past few decades has ensured that a very large number of young people are now entering the labor market. Even though it is among the seven most populous Asian nations, Pakistan has a lower population density than Bangladesh, Japan, India, and the Philippines. In the past, excessive red tape made firing from jobs, and consequently hiring, difficult. Significant progress in taxation and business reforms has ensured that many firms now are not compelled to operate in the underground economy. In late 2006, the government launched an ambitious nationwide service employment scheme aimed at disbursing almost $2 billion over five years. Mean wages were $0.98 per manhour in 2009.Rate of unemployment is 25%. High inflation and limited wage growth have drawn more women into the workforce to feed their families, in spite of cultural resistance and domestic abuse over the issue. Tourism Tourism in Pakistan has been stated as being the tourism industrys next big thing. Pakistan, with its diverse cultures, people and landscapes has attracted 0.7 million tourists to the country, almost double to that of a decade ago. Pakistans tourism industry was in its heyday during the 1970s when the country received unprecedented amounts of foreign tourists, thanks to the Hippie trail. The main destinations of choice for these tourists were the Khyber Pass, Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, Swat, Quetta, Gwadar and Rawalpindi. The countrys attraction range from the ruin of civilization such as Mohenjo-daro, Harappa and Taxila, to the Himalayan hill stations, which attract those interested in winter sports. Pakistan is home to several mountain peaks over 7000 m, which attracts adventurers and mountaineers from around the world. The north part of Pakistan has many old fortresses, ancient architecture and the Hunza and Chitral valley, home to small pre-Islamic Animist Kalasha community claiming descent from Alexander the Great. The romance of the historic Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is timeless and legendary, Punjab province has the site of Alexanders battle on the Jhelum River and the historic city of Lahore, Pakistans cultural capital, with many examples of Mughal architecture such as Badshahi Masjid, Shalimar Gardens, Tomb of Jahangir and the Lahore Fort. Before the Global economic crisis, Pakistan received more than 500,000 tourists annually. Tourism in Pakistan is still a growing industry. Major attracti ons today include ruins of Indus valley civilization and mountain resorts in the Himalayas. Himalayan and Karakoram Range. 2.5 Currency System in Pakistan Rupee The basic unit of currency is the Rupee, ISO code PKR and abbreviated Rs, which is divided into 100 paisas. Currently the newly printed 5,000 rupee note is the largest denomination in circulation. Recently the SBP has introduced all new design notes of Rs. 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 denomination, while the design work of Rs.10,000 note is in progress which will help the banking industry in keeping few notes in saving accounts. The new notes have been designed using the euro technology and are made in eye-catching bright colours and bold, stylish designs. Dollar-Rupee exchange rate The Pakistani Rupee was pegged to the Pound sterling until 1982, when the government of General Zia-ul-Haq, changed it to managed float. As a result, the rupee devalued by 38.5% between 1982/83 many of the industries built by his predecessor suffered with a huge surge in import costs. After years of appreciation under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and despite huge increases in foreign aid the Rupee depreciated. Foreign exchange rate The Pakistani rupee depreciated against the US dollar until around the start of the 21st century, when Pakistans large current-account surplus pushed the value of the rupee up versus the dollar. Pakistans central bank then stabilized by lowering interest rates and buying dollars, in order to preserve the countrys export competitiveness. Foreign exchange reserves Pakistan maintains foreign reserves with State Bank of Pakistan. The currency of the reserves was solely US dollar incurring speculated losses after the Dollar prices fell during 2005, forcing the then Governor SBP Ishrat Hussain to step down. In the same year the SBP issued an official statement proclaiming diversification of reserves in currencies including Euro and Yen, withholding ratio of diversification. In October 2007, at the end of Prime Minister Shaukat Azizs tenure, Pakistan raised back its Foreign Reserves to $16.4 billion. Pakistans trade deficit was at $13 billion, exports grew to $18 billion, revenue generation increased to become $13 billion and the country attracted foreign investment of $8.4 billion. However, following the international credit crisis and spikes in crude oil prices Pakistans economy could not withstand the pressure and on October 11, 2008 State Bank of Pakistan reported that countrys foreign exchange reserves had gone down by $571.9 Million to $7749.7 Million. The foreign exchange reserves had declined more by $10 billion to an alarming rate of $6.59 billion. In July 2011, the State Bank of Pakistan reported reserves to hit an all time high of $18.25 billion. 2.6 Foreign Trade Investment Foreign direct investment in Pakistan soared by 180.6 per cent year-on-year to US$2.22 billion and portfolio investment by 276 per cent to $407.4 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2006, the State Bank of Pakistan reported on April 24. During July-March 2005-06, FDI year-on-year increased to $2.224 billion from only $792.6 million and portfolio investment to $407.4 million, whereas it was $108.1 million in the corresponding period last year, according to the latest statistics released by the State Bank. Pakistan has achieved FDI of almost $8.4 billion in the financial year 06/07, surpassing the government target of $4 billion. Foreign investment had significantly declined by 2010, dropping by 54.6% due to Pakistans political instability and weak law and order, according to the Bank of Pakistan. Pakistan is now the most investment-friendly nation in South Asia. Business regulations have been profoundly overhauled along liberal lines, especially since 1999. Most barriers to the flow of capital and international direct investment have been removed. Foreign investors do not face any restrictions on the inflow of capital, and investment of up to 100% of equity participation is allowed in most sectors. Unlimited remittance of profits, dividends, service fees or capital is now the rule. Business regulations are now among the most liberal in the region. This was confirmed by the World Banks Ease of Doing Business Index report published in September 2009 ranking Pakistan at 85th well ahead of neighbors like China at 89th and India at 133rd. Pakistan is attracting an increasingly large amount of private equity and was the ranked as number 20 in the world based on the amount of private equity entering the nation. Pakistan has been able to attract a large portion of the global private equity investments because of economic reforms initiated in 2003 that have provided foreign investors with greater assurances for the stability of the nation and their ability to repatriate invested funds in the future. Tariffs have been reduced to an average rate of 16%, with a maximum of 25%. The privatization process, which started in the early 1990s, has gained momentum, with most of the banking system privately owned, and the oil sector targeted to be the next big privatization operation. The recent improvements in the economy and the business environment have been recognized by international rating agencies such as Moodys and Standard and Poors. Society Of Pakistan 3.1 Islam Islam is adept by the majority of Pakistanis and governs their personal, political, economic and legal lives, among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening, Friday is the Muslim holy day. Everything is closed during the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk and are only permitted to work six hours per day. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing. 3.2 The Family The extended family is the basis of the social structure and individual identity; It includes the nuclear family, immediate relatives, distant relatives, tribe members, friends, and neighbors, loyalty to the family comes before other social relationships, even business. Nepotism is viewed positively, since it guarantees hiring people who can be trusted, which is crucial in a country where working with people one knows and trusts is of primary importance. The family is more private than in many other cultures. Female relatives are protected from outside influences. It is considered inappropriate to ask questions about a Pakistanis wife or other female relatives. Families are quite large by western standards, often having up to 6 children. 3.3 Hierarchical Society Pakistan is a hierarchical society. People are respected because of their age and position. Older people are viewed as wise and are granted respect. In a social situation, they are served first and their drinks may be poured for them. Elders are introduced first, are provided with the choicest cuts of meat, and in general are treated much like royalty. Pakistanis expect the most senior person, by age or position, to make decisions that are in the best interest of the group. Titles are very important and denote respect. It is expected that you will use a persons title and their surname until invited to use their first name. 3.4 Population density in Pakistan The Population density in Pakistan was last reported at 225.19 in 2010, according to a World Bank report published in 2012. Density of Population is defined as the number of persons per square kilometre. It is an important index of population which shows concentration of population in a particular area. That is, Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. According to present census, Karachi Division is the most densely populated division in Pakistan. Its density of population is more than 2000 persons per square kilometer. Baluchistan province is the largest according to area, but it is thinnest according to population. 3.5 Education Education in Pakistan is divided into five levels: primary which grades one through five; middle which grades six through eight; high which grades nine and ten, leading to the Secondary School Certificate; intermediate which grades eleven and twelve, leading to a Higher Secondary School Certificate; and university programs leading to graduate and advanced degrees. All academic education institutions are the responsibility of the provincial governments. The federal government mostly assists in curriculum development, accreditation and some financing of research. English medium education is to be extended, on a phased basis, to all schools across the country. Through various educational reforms, by the year 2015, the ministry of education expects to attain 100% enrolment levels amongst primary school aged children, and a literacy rate of 86% amongst people aged over 10. According to the Pakistan Social and Living Standard Measurement (PSLM) Survey 2010-11 and last PSLM 2008-09, the literacy rate for the population (10 years and above) is 58 percent during 2010-11, as compared to 57 percent in 2008-09 . Literacy remains much higher in urban areas than in rural areas and much higher for men than for women. Province wise data suggest that Punjab leads with 60 percent literacy followed by Sindh with 59 percent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 50 percent and Balochistan with 41 percent. The Gross Enrolment Rates at the primary level excluding katchi for the age group 5-9 years at National level during 2010-11 increased slightly to 92 percent from 91 percent in 2008-09. Amongst the provinces, Punjab shows a marginal increase from 97 percent in 2008-09 to 98 percent in 2010-11. Sindh remained stable with 84 percent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa improved from 87 percent to 89 percent and Balochistan declined slightly from 75 percent to 74 percent in 2010-11. The Net primary level enrolment rates at the National/Provincial level for the age group 5-9 years. The NER at the National level during 2010-11 slightly decreased to 56 percent from 57 percent in 2008-09. Punjab shows a decrease from 62 percent in 2008-09 to 61 percent in 2010-11. Sindh also shows decrease from 54 percent to 53 percent in 2010-2011, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed a decrease from 52 percent to 51 percent and Balochistan improved from 44 percent in 2008-9 to 47 percent in 2010-11. The overall number of enrolments during 2010-11 were 39900.3 thousands as compared to 38202.0 thousands during the same period last year. This shows an increase of 4.4 percent. It is estimated to increase to 41596.5 thousands during 2011-12. The number of institutes stood at 227.8 thousand during 2010-11 as compared to 228.4 thousand during the same period 2009-10. However, the number is estimated to increase to 228.3 thousand during 2011-12. The number of teachers during 2010-11 were 1409.4 thousand as compared to 1386.1 thousand during the same period 2009-10 showing an increase of 1.7 percent. This number is estimated to increase further to 1445.0 thousand during the year 2011-12. A total of 134,118 youth received vocational and technical training under the Presidents Funni Maharat Programme and Prime Ministers Hunermand Pakistan Programme. HEC is also playing its role in running different scholarship programmes to enhance the academic qualification at various levels on merit basis in line with requirement. During the period 2008-12 a number of 3996 scholarships were awarded under different programmes,3572 scholars proceeded to avail these programmes on merit basis and a number of 1650 scholars completed their studies. 3.6 Rural Society Pakistan is an agriculture country and 80% of its people form the rural population of the country. The villages, towns and small cities form the rural areas of Pakistan. Their main profession is cultivation and ploughing. The entire population of Pakistan is scattered and resides in villages, towns and big cities. They pursue different professions to earn their livelihood. Village is the most important and pivotal centre of rural life of Pakistan. Our villages badly lack in civic amenities. There is no proper system of drainage. The drinking water and electricity are not available in a large number of our villages. There are no hospitals, schools, post offices and markets in most of the villages making the life difficult and unhygienic. The village population, due to the difficult living environs in the villages, keeps on migrating to urban areas where better facilities of social life and brighter chances of earning sustenance are available. However, the Government is very much alive to the problems of rural areas. The Government is making sincere endeavours to improve the conditions of rural areas. Modern facilities of health and communication are being provided in the rural areas. Roads, dispensaries, schools, post offices and shopping centres have been provided at Government level. The facility of drinking water and electricity has been made available to a number of villages. 3.7 Urban Society Urban areas in Pakistan completely differ from rural areas in the life pattern. The urban areas are the centre of social life with greater facilities and amenities of life. The urban population of Pakistan represents about a third of the total. Two cities have a dominating position Karachi and Lahore. Since the 1960s, government policy has been directed towards the dispersal of industry, which had become heavily concentrated in Karachi. As a consequence, urban growth has been more evenly distributed among several cities. Rapid and unplanned urban expansion has been parallel by deterioration in living conditions, particularly in the housing conditions of lower income groups. Many urban households are unable to pay rent for the cheapest form of available housing and live in makeshift shacks. Water supply and sewerage system are inadequate, and in many areas residents have to share communal water taps. Inadequate urban transport is also a major problem. The urban areas, unlike rural areas, are well-planned and well-built with modern residential colonies. The big cities, which form the portion of our urban areas, are the centers of high modern education. A large number of prestigious educational institutions are situated in the big cities which attract the students from all parts of the country. The urban areas have become the centre of social activity because of their multifarious aspects of social life. The industrial progress and the location of Government and other departments in the urban areas have made these areas prosperous and progressing. 3.8 Difference between Rural and Urban Society of Pakistan Function Villages and towns differ in function. Villages are usually engaged in primary activities, including farming, animal keeping, lumbering, fishing etc. Towns are engaged in secondary and tertiary activities, like manufacturing, trade, transport, telecommunications, education, medical treatment and other activities. However, these two sets of activities are not exclusively confined to rural and urban areas. Shops, transportation services, educational and medical facilities are found in rural areas, too. Similarly, there are vegetable fields within Karachi, Lahore and other major cities. It is more a question of the predominance of one set of activities over the other. As a consequence, the line of distinction between a small town and a large village is difficult to determine. Lifestyle Some specialists believe that lifestyle is a distinguishing feature of villages and towns. According to them, close contact with other members of the community is a distinctive feature of rural life. The inhabitants of a village, for example, usually know each other personally. In urban areas, on the other hand, relationships tend to be impersonal; urban areas are so highly populated that most people do not even know who their neighbours are. This is case in large urban centres like Karachi. However, even in places like Karachi, there are pockets in the city where people who belong to the same community or village live. In such areas people know each other and have closer contact with their neighbours. In small towns, which are in reality overgrown villages, most people known one another as well. It is also argued that while village life is traditional, urban life is rational. This is not entirely the case in Pakistan. Most of the urban population in Pakistan has a strong rural background. Although the use of urban facilities changes their way of living, it does not change their way of thinking much. In Pakistan, the lifestyles of the rich and poor differ far more than the lifestyles of city and village dwellers. The objective application of lifestyle as a factor for distinguishing between villages and towns is therefore difficult. Population Another factor used to distinguish between villages and towns is population. Although this criterion is applied in many countries, there is no agreement on size. In Canada, for example, a settlement with a population of more than 1,000 is considered urban, in Japan more than 30,000 and in Pakistan, 5,000. In Pakistan, a settlement can also call itself a town if it has a two committee or cantonment that controls electricity, the water supply and drainage. For example, Ziarat in Balochistan had a population of 619 in 1998, but it was still classified as a town because it had these amenities. However, there are only ten towns with populations of less than 5,000 out of a total 478 urban centres in Pakistan. 3.9 The Status of Women in Pakistan In Pakistan the story of a womans deprivations start even before her birth, where most of the girl fetuses are aborted. The lucky ones who survive are mostly unwanted children. Their life is a journey of subordination. While being very young her parents, grandparents, elder family females, family males, and brothers decide for them on matters ranging from the very thinking to decisions and choices. The most women in Pakistan do not have any choices starting from choice meals to choice males. Before marriages they are under strict watching eyes and are always thought doubtful in character especially when ones are school going, smiling on other males. In this secondary status treatment and doubts their marriages are arranged by the families. After marriage, her husband and her in-laws get hold of her reins and decide matters on her behalf; like shall she or shall she not have a child every year, or whether she would produce only boys, or whether she can seek independent employment and so on. Finally when she becomes old and her husband gets weak or may have gone already, it is her son or sons who decide her fate in the declining years of her life. As if this is not enough, the whole society acts as an oppressor, browbeating her into obedience. Thus, the word woman in Pakistan is synonymous with endurance. She is simply forced to accept certain bare facts of life once she grows up to be a woman. Be it on streets, or for that matter in restaurants, a woman is first and foremost required to be alert. It is best to try and not notice, women are told. According to Hina Jilani, Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, the right to life of women in Pakistan is conditional on their obeying social norms and traditions. In addition to that, women in Pakistan face all kinds of gross violence and abuse at the hands of the male perpetrators, family members, and state agents. Multiple forms of violence include rape, domestic abuse as spousal murder, mutilation, burning and disfiguring faces by acid, beatings, ritual honor-killings, and custodial abuse and torture. According to a report by Amnesty International, several hundred women and girls die each year in so-called honor-killings in Pakistan, in a backdrop to government inaction. She is killed like a bird in family feuds to create evidence of illicit connections and cover them under the garb of grave and sudden provocation to escape severe punishment. The practice of Summary-killing of a woman suspected of an illicit liaison, known as Karo Kari in Sindh and Balochistan, is known to occur in all parts of the country. Karis (the females suspected of illicit relationships), remain dishonored even after death. Their bodies are thrown in rivers or buried in special hidden Kari graveyards. Nobody mourns for them or honors their memory by performing their relevant rights. Karos (the males suspected of illicit relationships), by contrast are reportedly buried in the communal graveyards. The promise made by the countrys Chief Executive in April 2000, that all honor killings would be treated as murders has yet to be converted into anything nearing reality. Women who report rape or sexual harassment encounter a series of obstacles. These include not only the police, who resist filing their claims and misreport their statements but also the medico-legal doctors, who focus more on their virginity status and lack the training and expertise to conduct adequate examinations. Furthermore, women who file charges open themselves up to the possibility of being prosecuted for illicit sex if they fail to prove rape under the 1979 Hudood Ordinance which criminalizes adultery and fornication. As a result, when women victims of violence resort to the judicial system for redress, they are more likely to find further abuse and victimization. As far as domestic violence is concerned, it is the most under-reported crime because it is generally condoned by social customs and considered as a private family matter. Culture Of Pakistan After the independence from Great Britain in 1947, took part of the land of India and created Pakistan as a separate Islamic nation its estimated that approximately 97 percent of population are Muslim but members of several minority religions live there including Hindus, Sikhs, parsi, and Buddhists. Culture of Pakistan is very diverse it stems it stems from the fact that what is now Pakistan has in the past been invaded and occupied by many people like as the white Huns, Persians, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, and various others groups. There are different in culture of Pakistan. Its among the different ethnic groups in matters in their dress food and religion and also pre Islamic customs differ from Islamic practices. Pakistan is the first region of south Asia to receive the full impact of Islam and developed Islamic identity. Pakistan geography is the mixture of south Asia, central Asia and west Asia so the culture of Pakistan is unique then the

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Computers Predicting the outcomes of cutting DNA :: Biology

The focus of this study is the interaction between DNA and I-Msol, an endonuclease. An endonuclease is a protein that cuts DNA at a certain sequence with a certain length; I-Msol cuts DNA at approximately 20-24 base pairs and is highly specific in what sequence it is designed to cut. The interaction between DNA and an endonuclease like I-Msol is difficult to determine just by looking at the amino acid sequence of the protein. The difficulty arises because of the many molecular interactions such as hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions are affected by how the protein specifically interacts with the DNA, 3-dimensionally. The best method of understanding these complexities is to create model that considers all these dynamics of the DNA/protein interaction. Thus, a I-Msol/DNA model was created in silico to study the areas of contact between the two macromolecules as well as what happened when changes were made to the base pairs of the DNA. In summary: * It is impossible to predict DNA and protein interaction by looking at the amino acid sequence * hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic interactions alter amino acid sequence * I-Msol is a endonuclease, which cuts DNA around 20-24 base pairs with high specificity * Preliminary testing resulted in determining many of areas of contact between I-Msol and the DNA molecule * The researches made base pair substitutions that affected the interaction of the protein with the DNA Results After the protein-DNA contacts were redesigned, then, in this complex, the amino acids that were likely to cause disruption were changed. These amino acids were categorized on affinity for the designed protein for the new site and the decrease in affinity for the original wild type I-Msol enzyme As from the table, the largest predicted change came from the -6C*G, + 6 C*G, because this automatically prevents direct hydrogen bonding. Different amino acids had different disruption predictions. Using a formula, the binding energies were calculated by using the value of the wild type and then subtracting the facilitate comparison. A difference map represented certain values such as electron density for the new amino acids. A gel electrophoretic shift was done to observe the binding specificity. As the experiment indicates the experimental changes in binding affinities differed from the predicted ones. The results indicate that the future looks very bright for medicine and biochemistry as the redesign of the of DNA complexes is predicted to allow us to make mass breakthroughs in the future.

Monday, November 11, 2019

My Antonia

The book, My Antonia, by Willa Cather is a superlative piece of realism and vivid storytelling. The novel relates, through the eyes of narrator, Jim Burden, the fact-based story of a Bohemian girl, Antonia Shimerda, thrown into rugged farm life. The colorful and sensible traits of the title character, combined with a memorable theme, endear this book to all who open its cover. The first of these traits is the virtue of caring. Antonia watched over the children of her employer as if they were her own. She frequently acquainted them with the vibrant stories from her childhood and comforted them in their time of trouble. Additionally demonstrating her loving qualities, she was never ashamed of her illegitimate child and was always an exceptional mother. Finally, Antonia fiercely defended her family against insult, even to the points of vowing never to again notice one of her friends. Clearly, Antonia was the epitome of this virtue. Perseverance is the next attribute which had been perfected by this young Bohemian. She always did the constant manual labor that was necessary to run the farm well. On the other hand, insisting to go to the â€Å"dances† every night, Antonia started neglecting her work. Also, she persisted in seeing boys whom she hardly knew; this habit eventually cost Antonia her job. Antonia is surely an example that persevering is not always a first-class quality of character. Another personality characteristic of Antonia is her naivety. She persisted in traveling to Denver to marry a flighty young man, who, shortly after, left her and their unborn child. Additionally, trying to fit in, Mrs. Shimerda began to always dress like the other girls. Through this sample, it is obvious that this Bohemian, although mature in some ways, was ignorant of the seriousness of life. My Antonia The book, My Antonia, by Willa Cather is a superlative piece of realism and vivid storytelling. The novel relates, through the eyes of narrator, Jim Burden, the fact-based story of a Bohemian girl, Antonia Shimerda, thrown into rugged farm life. The colorful and sensible traits of the title character, combined with a memorable theme, endear this book to all who open its cover. The first of these traits is the virtue of caring. Antonia watched over the children of her employer as if they were her own. She frequently acquainted them with the vibrant stories from her childhood and comforted them in their time of trouble. Additionally demonstrating her loving qualities, she was never ashamed of her illegitimate child and was always an exceptional mother. Finally, Antonia fiercely defended her family against insult, even to the points of vowing never to again notice one of her friends. Clearly, Antonia was the epitome of this virtue. Perseverance is the next attribute which had been perfected by this young Bohemian. She always did the constant manual labor that was necessary to run the farm well. On the other hand, insisting to go to the â€Å"dances† every night, Antonia started neglecting her work. Also, she persisted in seeing boys whom she hardly knew; this habit eventually cost Antonia her job. Antonia is surely an example that persevering is not always a first-class quality of character. Another personality characteristic of Antonia is her naivety. She persisted in traveling to Denver to marry a flighty young man, who, shortly after, left her and their unborn child. Additionally, trying to fit in, Mrs. Shimerda began to always dress like the other girls. Through this sample, it is obvious that this Bohemian, although mature in some ways, was ignorant of the seriousness of life.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Civil War Battle of Fort Pulaski

Civil War Battle of Fort Pulaski The Battle of Fort Pulaski was fought April 10-11, 1862, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Commanders Union Major General David HunterBrigadier General Quincy Gillmore Confederates Colonel Charles H. Olmstead Battle of Fort Pulaski: Background Built on Cockspur Island and completed in 1847, Fort Pulaski guarded the approaches to Savannah, GA. Unmanned and neglected in 1860, it was seized by Georgia state troops on January 3, 1861, shortly before the state left the Union. For much of 1861, Georgia and then Confederate forces worked to strengthen the defenses along the coast. In October, Major Charles H. Olmstead took command of Fort Pulaski and immediately began efforts to improve its condition and enhance its armament. This work resulted in the fort ultimately mounting 48 guns which included a mix of mortars, rifles, and smoothbores. As Olmstead labored at Fort Pulaski, Union forces under Brigadier General Thomas W. Sherman and Flag Officer Samuel Du Pont succeeded in capturing Port Royal Sound and Hilton Head Island in November 1861. In response to the Union successes, the newly-appointed commander of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida, General Robert E. Lee ordered his forces to abandon the outlying coastal defenses in favor of concentrating at key locations further inland. As part of this shift, Confederate forces departed Tybee Island southeast of Fort Pulaski. Coming Ashore On November 25, shortly after the Confederate withdraw, Sherman landed on Tybee accompanied by his chief engineer Captain Quincy A. Gillmore, ordnance officer Lieutenant Horace Porter, and topographical engineer Lieutenant James H. Wilson. Assessing Fort Pulaskis defenses, they requested that a variety of siege guns be sent south including several new heavy rifles. With Union strength on Tybee growing, Lee visited the fort in January 1862 and directed Olmstead, now a colonel, to make several improvements to its defenses including the construction of traverses, pits, and blindage. Isolating the Fort That same month, Sherman and DuPont explored options for bypassing the fort using the adjacent waterways but found that they were too shallow. In an effort to isolate the fort, Gillmore was directed to build a battery on swampy Jones Island to the north. Completed in February, Battery Vulcan commanded the river to the north and west. By the end of the month, it was supported by a smaller position, Battery Hamilton, which was constructed mid-channel on Bird Island. These batteries effectively cut off Fort Pulaski from Savannah. Preparing for the Bombardment As Union reinforcements arrived, Gillmores junior rank became an issue as he was to oversee engineering activities in the area. This resulted in him successfully convincing Sherman to advance him to the temporary rank of brigadier general. As the heavy guns began to arrive at Tybee, Gillmore directed the construction of a series of eleven batteries along the islands northwest coast. In an effort to hide the work from the Confederates, all construction was done at night and covered with brush before dawn. Laboring through March, a complex series of fortifications slowly emerged. Despite work moving forward, Sherman, never popular with his men, found himself replaced in March by Major General David Hunter. Though Gillmores operations were not altered, his new immediate superior became Brigadier General Henry W. Benham. Also an engineer, Benham encouraged Gillmore to quickly finish the batteries. As sufficient artillerymen were not present on Tybee, training also commenced teaching infantrymen how to work the siege guns. With work completed, Hunter desired to commence the bombardment on April 9, however torrential rains prevented the battle from commencing. The Battle of Fort Pulaski At 5:30 AM on April 10, the Confederates awoke to the sight of the completed Union batteries on Tybee which had been stripped of their camouflage. Assessing the situation, Olmstead was disheartened to see that only a few of his guns could bear on the Union positions. At dawn, Hunter dispatched Wilson to Fort Pulaski with a note demanding its surrender. He returned a short time later with Olmsteads refusal. The formalities concluded, Porter fired the first gun of the bombardment at 8:15 AM. While the Union mortars dropped shells on the fort, the rifled guns fired on the barbette guns before switching to reduce the masonry walls at the forts southeast corner. The heavy smoothbores followed a similar pattern and also attacked the forts weaker eastern wall. As the bombardment continued through the day, Confederate guns were put out of action one by one. This was followed by the systematic reduction of Fort Pulaskis southeast corner. The new rifled guns proved particularly effective against its masonry walls. As night fell, Olmstead inspected his command and found the fort in shambles. Unwilling to submit, he elected to hold out. After sporadic firing during the night, the Union batteries resumed their assault the next morning. Hammering Fort Pulaskis walls, the Union guns began opening a series of breaches in the southeast corner of the fort. With Gillmores guns pummeling the fort, preparations for an assault to be launched the next day moved forward. With the reduction of the southeast corner, Union guns were able to fire directly into Fort Pulaski. After a Union shell nearly detonated the forts magazine, Olmstead realized that further resistance was futile. At 2:00 PM, he ordered the Confederate flag lowered. Crossing to the fort, Benham and Gillmore opened surrender talks. These were quickly concluded and the 7th Connecticut Infantry arrived to take possession of the fort. As it was a year since the fall of Fort Sumter, Porter wrote home that Sumter is avenged! Aftermath An early victory for the Union, Benham and Gillmore lost one killed, Private Thomas Campbell of the 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Infantry, in the battle. Confederate losses totaled three severely wounded and 361 captured. A key result of the fight was the stunning performance of the rifled guns. Tremendously effectively, they made masonry fortifications obsolete. The loss of Fort Pulaski effectively closed the port of Savannah to Confederate shipping for the remainder of the war. Fort Pulaski was held by a reduced garrison for the rest of the war, though Savannah would remain in Confederate hands until taken by Major General William T. Sherman in late 1864 at the culmination of his March to the Sea.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Loophole Or A Conspiracy essays

Loophole Or A Conspiracy essays Virus, Hmmm I am sure that you have heard this word before. I am not talking about the living virus like an influenza virus. I am talking about the computer virus. According to the New York Times, Microsoft, Compaq, and Hewlett Packards computers are at a great risk. I wonder why we the consumer, are in this position? I cannot come up with one straight answer. However, I have a theory that maybe Microsoft is behind all of this. As you may know, Bill Gates (CEO, Chairman) of Microsoft has a business marketing agenda of his own. Bill Gates stated that he should sell his products cheap and affordable for the average consumer. After he sells the product to the public, the consumer will have no other choice but to purchase and use the Microsoft products. This is where Bill comes in for the kill. Bill is going to increase the price for the other products and cash in on the profits. Why do you ask, because majority of the computers in the world utilizes one or more of Microsoft's products a nd they have no choice but to use the other Microsoft's products because if everyone is using it and you will be out of the loop. The New York Times article reported that the software security breaches has been verified. This means that if one hacker has the knowledge of hacking through this loophole, then we are in great danger because everything you can imagine is stored in the computers and large databases. This article just proves my point on Microsoft's power to influence and danger our personal everyday lives. Did you know that there is a secret imbedded program called " The Hall Of Tortured Souls"? Yes, there is that secret program imbedded in the Microsoft's Excel 95. This program was written and implemented by the programmers of Microsoft. If Microsoft can do this sneaky program in all of their programs, the question of what other secretly imbedded programs are their in the other Microsoft's software. What can thes ...

Monday, November 4, 2019

3D Printer Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

3D Printer Technology - Essay Example The essay "3D Printer Technology" talks about the 3D printer technology also called additive manufacturing. A procedure involves the development of three-dimensional objects that are solid from a digital file. The essay also reflects on different types of printing technology, file types sent to 3D printed. This is an additive manufacturing technology. It is used in various applications namely production applications, modeling, and prototyping. The fused deposition modeling also is one of the methods employed in 3D printing. The technology has existed drawing back from 1980 by Scott cramp; the technology has proved effective over years by applying the additive principles in its operation. It works by laying materials in layers, and a metal wire or filament made of plastic is relaxed from a coil hence distributes materials to produce apart. The technology is termed as simple to explore and clean; it also supports thermoplastic grade product that is mechanically and environmentally stab le. The 4D printing entails a synergy created between Stratasys, MIT’S self-assembly lab and Auto desk. The 4D displays a radical shift in speedy prototyping. It involves multi- material prints produced by the Connex technology, and it can transform from one shape to the other right off the print bed. It brings the aspect of reality with complete functionality constructed directly into the materials. The multi-material technology by Connex permits researchers to organize various material properties into each of different particles.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Same Sex Marriage in California Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Same Sex Marriage in California - Essay Example Hence, the people wanted to pass this measure as a constitutional amendment to restore the definition of a recognized marriage in California as between a man and a woman. When the advocates of Proposition 8 presented their measure to the California Secretary of State in 2007 for permission to circulate, the ballot title that was given to it was the "California Marriage Protection Act". Prior to the passage of the Proposition 8, same-sex marriage was a constitutionally-protected right in California. The California Supreme Court Justices affirmed this understanding of the constitution in May 2008. Charlene Gomes (2005) argued that since that there is an increasing number of committed same-sex couples in the United States, there is a need for legal recognition of these relationships in order to foster the emotional and economic well-being of these families. Marvin Allison (2007) argued from a progressive religious perspective, which emphasizes justice at the heart of marriage, sexuality and family. He stated that justice means seeking abundant life for all. He then states that justice requires careful examination of social practices and institution that foster or forbid human flourishing. Furthermore, he stated that justice demands that we empower disenfranchised persons so they may lead their own life projects. A just society is one that allows people to fulfill their individual desires such as the capacity to enjoy various sexual partnerships. Several states such as Vermont, New York City, and foreign jurisdictions have passed laws allowing same-sex couples. These places cov er the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Sweden, Portugal, Greenland and the Basque region of Spain. The case of Vermont is particularly interesting since same-sex marriage had been promoted judicially by that state. It was on July 1, 2000, when the law allowing civil unions went into effect in Vermont. Civil Unions extend to gay and lesbian couples "all the same benefits, protections and responsibilities under law, whether they derive from statute, administrative or court rule, policy, common law or any other source of civil law, as are granted to spouses in a marriage" (15 V.S.A. [section] 1204(a)).Opponents of the same-sex marriage argue that it goes against the well-being of society. Glen Lavy of the Arizona legal defense group, Alliance Defense Fund stated that he opposes same-sex marriage since it fosters the well-being of children and society. He was pleased with the New York Court when it issued the statement that the government had a key interest in advancing heterosexual marriage as the social institution that best forges a linkage between sex, procreation and child reari ng. Social science researchers have come up with studies that reinforce stability of a heterosexual marriage as providing a positive environment for children to grow up and become responsible adults.Same-sex marriage goes against Christian tradition that has seen sexual love as a gift from God and a good in its own right. However, it also recognizes the dangers of undisciplined desire and its strong destructive potential.Several independent church groups have campaigned for the passage of Proposition 8. The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America headed by evangelical minister Rick Warren supported the passage of Prop. 8. The National Organization for Marriage and Focus on the Family campaigned and helped