City

Comparing Country and City Life Some people think that city life has more benefits than country life; however, some people agree that country life is a “real life”. Like hearing natures music, or seeing sights of the land and its natural beauty. Even though city living and country living might have their similarities, a broader perspective shows that they both have some differences in conveniences, life conditions, and people’s characteristics. The first similarity is convenience.

Most people argue that this is only a characteristic of city life, but that is not always true. For example, even though both have access to places such as hospitals, malls, restaurants, or church, still, they vary in time to commute to these facilities. While in a big city, the travel to the store might be further than in the country. It is also true that they have better schools in the city, such as colleges, universities, and even transportation, such as a metro, to these schools. Both the country and city have high, middle, and elementary schools.

Both living conditions offer conveniences, but they are reflected differently in time. Some people believe that life in the city provides better job opportunities than in the country. This is not wrong because you have a stronger population rise in the city, which calls for more companies with better salary earning. People in the city also have better options of how to spend their free time. For instance, people can visit various museums, cinemas, and libraries. People in the country do not have laundry mats, car washes, or beauty salons.

In contrast, there are plenty of these in the city. People living in the country feel themselves in safety. The crime rate in the country is way lower than in the city. Most people that live in the country are also very friendly. My cousin has lived in the country for three years and says that he has a bunch of friends there. Therefore, she never considers moving to the city. In the city, pollution surrounds people wherever they go, whether it’s on the streets or on the lawn of a large park.

Pollution could possibly cause health problems later on in life. In the country, pollution is scarce. Fresh air, rolling green hills, a few pieces of litter, but for the most part everything is cleaner. In the city, housing and food are expensive. Services such as transportation are also expensive, and almost mandatory. Worst of all, the most expensive component of life in the city is the toll it takes on your body through stress. Stress can be present in the city in almost any situation.

The crowds, traffic, or even tight work schedules. The country life is very peaceful. The night is quiet. No heavy traffic, no sirens, no rush of the “morning crowd”. Life is simple and calming. In conclusion, personally, I experienced both living in the big city, where I was born, and living in the small country, where I live now. In my opinion, life in the country is quiet and slow. Therefore, it is more suitable for children and old people. I prefer living in a big city, where I can have a vast amount of opportunities in front of me.

E Paul Auster has said that The New York Trilogy is centrally concerned with “the question of who is who and whether or not we are who we think we are. ” Use this remark as a point of departure for a discussion of the character Quinn –his presentation in the novel and his experience – in City of Glass.

In the City of Glass, Auster creates a sense of uncertainty around the identities of the different characters in the book. One does not really grasp who is who in the novel because of the complex and multiple layers of the story Austen creates. The City of Glass asks questions about identity and in this essay I will look at the protagonist (Quinn) and his search to understand himself and to discover his true identity which ultimately leads to his identity being changed with each new character role he takes on to forget his past self.

Daniel Quinn is a complicated character and our knowledge of him is limited because the narrator does not reveal much about him. Where he came from and who he was seem of little importance in the novel we are only told his age, that he was once married but his son and daughter are dead (a past which he seems to be running away from). He is writer of detective stories under the pseudonym of William Wilson (a name Quinn takes on to forget his past). William Wilson’s character mirrors Auster ‘s , the author, own life. Quinn creates his own character Max Work, a private eye narrator.

In his stories the protagonist Max becomes very real and moves away from merely being a fictitious character, subsequently causing Quinn himself to take on some of the characteristics of Max, thinking and behaving in a similar manner to him. Eventually Quinn “stopped thinking on himself as real. ”(Auster 10) So already Auster creates this sense of doubt about Quinn and his true identity and eventually Quinn is consumed by the persona of Max Work and “the more Quinn seemed to vanish, the more persistent works presence in that world became. (Auster 10). Quinn runs away from his ‘real’ life because he finds some form of attraction in the world of being a fictitious detective. Quinn finds the role of a detective appealing because it puts him in the role of an observer, analyzing the world much like a reader of a novel, and in essence he forgets himself and his reality by doing so. Max work is essentially an escape from Quinn’s life as a writer (William Wilson) and from his past life as the ‘real Quinn’.

By becoming the character he created (Max work) Quinn embarks upon seeking the truth and reality, which in a way is what Quinn is trying to do in terms of discovering an identity. Quinn becomes so consumed in the life of Max Work and the idea of being a detective that when he receives a phone call intended for the private detective Paul Auster, he impersonates him and begins to focus on Peter Stillman. Peter is a young man who feels threatened by his father who had been let out of prison.

So now Quinn, under the name of Paul Auster, places himself onto another story, another reality through which of he can further delve into the life a ‘real’ detective. Quinn at this point has already taken upon three identities, each of which has served its purpose and been forgotten. The question of who is who now begins to become raveled in layers and doubles so the reader and the character himself is unsure of whom the real protagonist of the story is. Quinn becomes obsessed with Stillman senior and his interest in the man deepens as every day passes, “he had lived Stillman’s life, walked at his place, seen what he had seen. Quinn becomes Stillman during the case in a way and so another character shift seems to be inevitable. Peter Stillman junior resembles Quinn’s deceased son (whose name was also Peter), Stillman junior had been locked up by his father for nine years in order to test whether ‘God’s language’ would resurface (that is the language uncorrupted by the world, it’s origin during the time of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. ) Roberta Rubenstein argues that Stillman junior is a representation of Quinn’s childhood, isolated from the world with a sense of loneliness.

When the two men disappear I creates a sense of anxiety for Quinn, he longs to be ‘non-existent’ as well and eventually he morphs into a mad street walker, homeless and in the end crazy. Auster uses this dilapidation of Quinn to emphasis the conflict within the character and how his ‘self forgetfulness’ leads to his eventual downfall and leaves the question of who he is and who he is meant to be unanswered. Peter Stillman is a character used by Auster the author as a way to further explore the different identities in the book.

Stillman junior, after having being isolated from the world has no clear grasp on his own identity, much like Quinn. In a conversation with Quinn he says, “I am Peter Stillman. That is not my real name. My real name is Peter Rabbit. ” Stillman junior is able to change his name to suit him much like Quinn has done throughout the book, and as seen in the quote Stillman loses the meaning of his name and loses his sense of identity. This quote shows how Auster is very obviously asking the question, who is who and are we who we think we are.

Stillman sums it up by saying, “I cannot say who I will be tomorrow. Each day is new, and each day I can be born again. ” The red notebook is the only thing in the book that keeps Quinn’s real name. He writes it in the book during the Stillman case for the first time in over five years and it is the only record or conception of himself that does not change. Quinn recognizes the importance of knowing who he is when he says, “most important of all: remember who I am supposed to be. ” And he later echoes the words of Peter Stillman Junior when he says, “all I can say is this: my name is Paul Auster.

That is not my real name. ” This shows that Quinn, like Stillman, is confused about his own identity. Because he is trying to be four people at once he loses the origin of his name and character, his true self. Therefore the question of who is who and whether or not we are who we think we are is not really answered in this book. Auster provides a multi layered and complex understanding of what identity is and how it is used. For Quinn, identity is used as a way of escape, perhaps from the past or from himself (the person he was and whom he grew tired of).

Although Quinn is the same person but under different names or aliases, he takes on different identities and makes them a part of his life which eventually leaves no definite answer to who the ‘real’ Quinn is.

Works cited

1. Auster, Paul. City of Glass. London: Penguin, 1990 Rubenstein, Roberta. Doubling, Intertextuality and the Postmodern Uncanny: Paul Auster’s New York Trilogy. LIT:
2. Literature Interpretation Theory, 9 (1998): 245. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. 08. 04. 2006.

The metropolis of Uruk was at its most influential from 4000-3000 BCE, and its rise and enlargement can be partly attributed to the absence of prestige stuffs in the southern alluvial sediment ( Joffe 1994, 512 ) . Low entree to these stuffs led to the desire for trade and the formation of extended relationships with other metropoliss, which, along with other factors, led to the enlargement of Uruk, an event which can be displayed by a rapid population addition and drastic societal alteration.

Previously, the belief that Uruk had low entree to raw stuffs was widespread, but this belief is baseless, as Uruk had about everything it needed but lumber. It has been observed that most local trees and reeds may hold served for Uruk’s demand for wood, demuring the edifice of big, monumental public architecture ( Joffe 1994, 514 ) . Though the alluvial field was fertile and rich, a premier topographic point for agribusiness, and so had most resources needed for endurance, Uruk’s entree to luxury stuffs was highly low. It has been argued that a chief stuff that drove the demand for trade was lumber, but this has been disputed by the fact that most monumental edifices in Uruk are composed of gypsum, which was a locally sourced rock, every bit good as the aforesaid beginning of local trees and reeds ( Joffe 1994, 513 ) . The cardinal thrust for trade was most likely the desire for luxury points such as semi-precious rocks and metals, objects which have been found within Uruk though they were sourced from rather far off. Evidence of this long-distance trade is found within entombments of a manner which moved off from that of the Ubaid period with the add-on of sedate goods ; objects such as mirrors and Cu axes were found within Gravess in Susa, the Cu imported from the mountains about 200 kilometers off ( Jennings 2010, 59 ) . Trade would hold ab initio been instituted near by, with colonies in close propinquity to Uruk, before traveling farther out to topographic points with more alien goods. These countries, along with supplying stuffs to another metropolis, would hold had a desire for the forte points being produced in Uruk with the addition of stuffs available. Artifacts of Uruk manner have been found from Egypt to topographic points every bit distant as Pakistan, with advanced clayware from Uruk traded for cherished rocks, gold, and other such stuffs ( Jennings 2010, 67 ) . As Uruk’s influence, as the trade Centre of the period, increased over clip, the desire to keep the flow of goods into the metropolis precipitated the enlargement of Mesopotamian dregss along the trade path with the constitution of trading outstations ; this development allowed goods to be ferried between colonies instead than over long distances, many of these outstations walled and supplying a safer path for the prestigiousness points ( Jennings 2010, 68 ) . The prevalence of trade made immediate the issue of travel between these outstations, and so along with the usual agencies of conveyance – by pes – more efficient agencies were discovered and put to utilize, such as boats and sleighs ; donkeys were introduced to the profession of trade, as were wheeled vehicles ( Jennings 2010, 69 ; Joffe 1994, 515 ) . Equally good as a more efficient agencies of travel, the first signifier of authorship was developed in Uruk ; this was economic, and developed because of the increasing prevalence of trade.

In response to the laterality of trade, Uruk underwent a monolithic enlargement of its boundary lines. Many colonies that have been identified by several historiographers as trading settlements were set up along common Uruk trading paths, and architecture characteristic to Uruk has been found in little communities along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, on the outskirts of Mesopotamia ( Algaze 1989, 571-608 ; Surenhagen 1986 ) . Some colonial outstations had become more than simple stop-overs for going bargainers, and had accumulated plenty wealth to justify protection by tall rock walls ( Jennings 2010, 68 ) . A chief cause of enlargement in Uruk was increased specialization in the production of goods. The increased handiness of prestige stuffs due to success in trade led to an inflow of people, both impermanent occupants – from trading colonies – and lasting occupants – from colonies that were incorporated into the metropolis of Uruk, under bid of the new-found elite. Equally good as external colonies, people were likely traveling into the metropolis with the hopes of thriving in their peculiar trade and providing to increased demand for luxury points. The alteration in the fabrication of fabrics, from flax to wool, is an illustration of the specialization that occurred, and is possibly one of the more important cases: woolly sheep were introduced from the North, and woollen cloths had many advantages, including the easiness with which they took dye ( Jennings 2010, 65 ) . The coloring of cloth was particularly of import in this new age of increasing societal stratification, and wool was besides far more convenient as it took far less attempt for laborers to bring forth ( Jennings 2010, 65 ) . Another root of the quickly increasing population of Uruk, unrelated to stuffs, is an inflow of refugees from fall ining city states in Sumer, but this can besides be attributed to the rise in power and influence of Uruk, its wealth and prosperity maintaining it afloat where other metropoliss failed ( Jennings 2010, 69 ) .

Equally good as trade and subsequent enlargement flowering from the desire for natural stuffs, a profound alteration in societal fortunes occurred. With a booming economic system within Uruk, as the Centre of trade during this period, societal stratification began to happen, with degrees being distinguished between the elite and the on the job category. The distribution of wealth was a major factor, those with the most holding places of power within the trading Centre. The development of composing farther separated the categories, as acquisition to compose would hold been something that was restricted to the elite, but what was most of import, as Algaze says, was economic distinction, as economic distinction leads to societal distinction ( 2001, 204 ) . There are many illustrations of differences between societal categories, one being a list of professions found widely, from Uruk to Ebla, ordered harmonizing to the rank of rubrics held by the elite ( Nissen 1986, 329 ) . This list names leaders of peculiar groups, from presidents, courtiers, and embassadors, to priests, nurserymans, bakers and throwers ( Nissen 1986,329 ) . Through this list and others like it – as it is the most extremely reproduced list from the period – it is possible to see the rigorous hierarchy that developed in Uruk with lifting wealth position. Another index of position can be seen in the grave goods, mentioned above. With the Uruk period came a move off from the old Ubaid period-style of entombments, and the inclusion of sedate goods began, which was another distinguishable symbol of position. With a more affluent civilization, more luxuriant entombments became common, and the more luxuriant the grave goods included, the higher the position of the resident of the grave. Another new thought displayed in this period was that of the person, and single ownership displayed by clay seals ; these were used to track traded goods and grade ownership, and this thought was non contained to Uruk. A broad assortment of seals have been found within Uruk and without, subsequently conforming to other social manners, their visual aspect altering circumstantially but keeping the original Uruk ideals ( Nissen 1986, 320 ) .

A metropolis can merely spread out to a certain extent, and this applies to Uruk. The thrust for trade through the desire for entree to raw stuffs created the chance for Uruk to spread out its influence, its population lifting with its wealth and complexness. Over clip, the lower categories in society were pushed to spread out agribusiness, which intensified to back up the lifting population of specializers who did non bring forth their ain nutrient. This led to over-irrigation, and the one time fertile, rich land of the southern alluvial field was subjected to environmental impairment, which finally led to the prostration of agribusiness ( Algaze 2001, 218 ) . Equally good as the terrible overburdening of the land, Uruk’s lessening in influence can be attributed to a supposed addition in ill will in Mesopotamia as colonies fought for connexions to the trading web ; ill will in the country can be seen in the copiousness of walled colonies, such as Habuba Kabira and Sheikh Hassan ( Jennings 2010, 60 ) . Even as Uruk declined, other countries had been influenced by Uruk’s thoughts, which travelled along with trade stuffs, and little colonies became involved in widespread trade, viing with each other for the more successful trading spouse with high entree to critical stuffs and making lifting force. Equally good as ill will, it appears that Uruk decided to turn away from its dependance on an early planetary economic system based on trade and external variables, from long distance relationships jeopardised by force and competition from and between other provinces, and towards the local economic system. Uruk’s local economic system was able to be managed in a much more efficient manner since the innovation of the authorship system, and so colonies were able to distance themselves from trading and the metropolis, and develop as their ain entities ( Jennings 2010, 71 ) . But even as Uruk’s methods were embraced by some, other countries such as Tepe Gawra rejected many of the rules which other topographic points were so eager to take up, and this is displayed by the low sum of Uruk-style clayware that was found in the country, while at the same clip in many other parts these types of goods were quickly go arounding ; this part besides maintained their ain distinguishable manner of entombment, non conforming to the new Uruk manner ( Jennings 2010, 72 ) .

Uruk was an country with low entree to raw stuffs, and it displayed an astonishing ability to accommodate to its fortunes and specify a new manner of life which would distribute across Mesopotamia. Trade provided it entree to the luxury stuffs it required, and this gave birth to a rapid period of enlargement and wealth, which created the first known grounds of social stratification. The limited entree to critical stuffs, though non the lone variable, was the trigger for the rise and eventual autumn of the metropolis of Uruk.

Casinos have become more and more popular nowadays. However, some cities and even countries, especially the Islamic ones, do not pass laws to set up casinos. This is because its benefits usually come with disadvantages. About benefits, first of all, casinos generates great revenue for cities. The law demands casinos’s owners to pay steep taxes in order to keep their operations. Then the city can use that money to ameliorate the infrastructure, hospitals, schools… and other cummunal utilities.

In addition, having a Casino in the city enhances tourism. These days, besides the traditional entertainments, people tend to find another way to relax and to enjoy themselves. Going to casinos is one of the new good choices. Nevertheless, there are just some cities have casinos, so if the people live in no-casinos places want to go there , they have to drive to the city that has one. This intensely improves the tourism of that city. However, everything has its pros and cons. Crimes are usually associated with Casinos.

Some people rob others to get the money to spend on casinos. Few may even kill their victim to get what they want. This cause the crime rates of cities increased. Moreover, a few ones who have unstable mental state may get too addicted to gambling. They may spend their money uncontrollably and be brought to ruin. Having a casino in the city can be a double-edged sword. It not only brings benefits but also disadvantages. If we can restrain the bad sides, casinos will be a great profitable element to contribute to our society.

University of the District of columbia| Strategic Audit Plan/ Case Analysis| Case 28 – Inner-City Paint Corporation| | [Type the author name]| 3/21/2013| Business Policy TR 5:30pm – 6:50pm Spring 2013 | I. Current Situation A. Current Performance 1. Poor financials 2. High account receivables 3. Very disorganized system of business 4. Lack of Customer Confidence B. Strategic Posture 1. Mission: To produce a paint that was less expensive and of higher quality than what has been used commercial buildings, etc. 2.

Reputation: Built on fast service; frequently supplies paint to contractors within 24 hours. 3. Primary Market: small to medium sized decorating companies 4. Policies: Walsh handles all mail, payments, and billings II. Strategic Managers A. Top Management * Consists of Stanley Walsh who handles all mailing/billing, payments, etc. * Office is managed by Mary Walsh (Walsh’s mother) with help of two part –time clerks * Plant Manager is an acquaintance of Walsh’s who only has experience as a painter III. External Environment (EFAS) A.

Societal Environment 1. Economic a. The slowdown in the housing market combined with a slowdown in the overall economy caused financial difficulty for Inner-City Paint Corporation (T) b. Now required to pay cash on delivery (C. O. D. ) for its raw materials (T) 2. Technological: Computers and Information Technology offers opportunity to better organize the business (O) B. Task Environment 1. Rivalry High: Larger orders usually go to larger companies due to lack of customer trust. (T) 2. Competitive Prices (O) 3. Threats of Substitutes High (T) IV.

Internal Environment (IFRAS) A. Corporate Structure 1. Thirty-five employees (20 part-time); most unskilled workers who lack training (W) 2. Lack of Delegation: lacks employee empowerment and too much of workload is carried by the business CEO/President, Mr. Walsh (W) B. Corporate Culture 1. Rumors abound that the company is in difficult financial straits, that it is unable to pay suppliers, and it owes a considerable sum for payment on back taxes (W) C. Corporate Resources 1. Marketing: Lacks a professional salesman other than the owner (W) 2. Finance . Current Ratio of . 92 indicates that the company has an issue paying its short-term liabilities b. Return on Assets of 5. 98% indicates that the company is asset-heavy 3. Facilities: Cheap Rent (S) 4. Inventory: Lack of a Consistent and Reliable Inventory System; owner mental keeps track of inventory (W) 5. Human Resources: The Plant Manager lacks experience or training as a manager. (W) 6. Information Systems: No computer system used for business, very disorganized as a result (W) V. Analysis of Strategic Factors (SWOT Analysis) A. Strengths . Competitive Prices b. Family Business with origin in community c. Fast Delivery for Small Orders B. Weaknesses a. No Financial and Inventory Controls b. Lack of Business Network/Computer c. No Inventory System C. Opportunities a. Hiring professional salesmen to ensure consistent growth and consultants to identify problems and provide solutions b. Attract more market share by raising customer perception of reliability D. Threats a. No Audit of Corporation b. Large Orders usually go to larger companies VI. Strategic Alternatives and Recommended Strategy

A. Strategic Alternatives 1. Management Improvement a. Mr. Walsh needs to learn employee empowerment and delegation. He lacks trust in his employees and therefore takes on too much of the business’ customer affairs. b. The plant manager needs to be trained in management due to his lack of experience. c. Public Relations specialist and marketing specialist needed to better handle business and consultations. 2. Facility Improvement: More equipment may be needed to ensure consumers that they won’t have to worry about orders not being ready or too large to handle.

B. Recommended Strategy 1. Salary Cuts for All or Cutback of Employees: The President’s six figure salary is too much for such a small business. 2. Find and Research new suppliers: The high Cost of Goods Sold is greatly reducing profits. 3. Greatly Improve management skills and create policies 4. Hire Salesmen to increase business market share 5. Collect Bad Debt from Clients; Take less credit accounts and more cash accounts because Account Receivables is too high. 6. Create an effective Inventory System that better tracks Inventory on hand.