Look closely at II.1.1-60 and discuss how the Duke and Jacques present the Forest of Arden.

Look closely at II.1.1-60 and discuss how the Duke and Jacques present the Forest of Arden. Jacques and Duke Senior both have extremely different views concerning the Forest of Arden, and the language and tone Shakespeare uses to accentuate these views differs accordingly.The Duke, who has been usurped by his younger brother and exiled to the Forest of Arden, seems determined to find no fault with the forest and regard it as their sanctuary and not their place of banishment. He uses words like 'sweet' 'smile' and 'good' to illustrate that their situation is not unpleasant or distressing, and to try and keep up the spirits of his followers. He presents the forest as a refuge and tries hard to make his lords feel this too, as they must live in contentment, and not suffering. This he succeeds in since his lords are adamant about the conditions of the Forest, declaring that they 'would not change it'. The language the Duke uses is always positive, and even when he has harsh words to say about some aspects, for example the 'chiding of the winter's wind', he balances it with posi tive words such as 'smile', and positive comments; 'this is no flattery'.[Portrait of Duke Ellington, Junior Raglin, Juan T...He also uses references to the restricted and intolerable lifestyle they led at the Court and contrasts this to life in the Forest. He refers to the life at the Court as 'painted pomp', meaning everything was false and everyone untrustworthy, with egotistical and boastful people inflated by their own self-importance leaving no room for values such as integrity and truth. This contrast highlights the independence and freedom they enjoy in the Forest, untouched by the vanity of the Court. The Duke uses many rhetorical questions when comparing Court life to forest life, and these rhetorical devices show that the Duke clearly believes that the forest is better.'Hath not custom made...

John McClernand Civil War Union Major General

John McClernand Civil War Union Major General John Alexander McClernand was born May 30, 1812, near Hardinsburg, KY. Moving to Illinois at a young age, he was educated in local village schools and at home. First pursuing an agricultural career, McClernand later elected to become a lawyer. Largely self-educated, he passed the Illinois bar exam in 1832. Later that year McClernand received his first military training when he served as a private during the Black Hawk War. A devout Democrat, he founded a newspaper, the Shawneetown Democrat, in 1835 and the following year was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. His initial term lasted only a year, but he returned to Springfield in 1840. An effective politician, McClernand was elected to the US Congress three years later. The Civil War Nears During his time in Washington, McClernand violently opposed the passage of the Wilmot Proviso which would have banned slavery in the territory acquired during the Mexican-American War. An anti-abolitionist and staunch ally of Senator Stephen Douglas, he aided his mentor in passing the Compromise of 1850. Though McClernand left Congress in 1851, he returned in 1859 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative Thomas L. Harris. With sectional tensions rising, he became a firm Unionist and worked to advance Douglas cause during the election of 1860. After Abraham Lincoln was elected in November 1860, Southern states began leaving the Union. With the beginning of the Civil War the following April, McClernand commenced efforts to raise a brigade of volunteers for operations against the Confederacy. Eager to maintain a wide base of support for the war, Lincoln appointed the Democratic McClernand a brigadier general of volunteers on May 17, 1861. Early Operations Assigned to the District of Southeast Missouri, McClernand and his men first experienced combat as part of Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grants small army at the Battle of Belmont in November 1861. A bombastic commander and political general, he quickly irritated Grant. As Grants command was expanded, McClernand became a division commander. In this role, he took part in the capture of Fort Henry and Battle of Fort Donelson in February 1862. At the latter engagement, McClernands division held the Union right but failed to anchor its flank on the Cumberland River or another strongpoint. Attacked on February 15, his men were driven back nearly two miles before Union forces stabilized the line. Rescuing the situation, Grant soon counterattacked and prevented the garrison from escaping. Despite his error at Fort Donelson, McClernand received a promotion to major general on March 21. Seeking Independent Command Remaining with Grant, McClernands division came under heavy attack on April 6 at the Battle of Shiloh. Helping to hold the Union line, he took part in the Union counterattack the next day which defeated General P.G.T. Beauregards Army of the Mississippi. A constant critic of Grants actions, McClernand spent much of the middle of 1862 conducting political maneuvering with the goal of either displacing Major General George B. McClellan in the east or obtaining his own command in the west. Obtaining a leave of absence from his division in October, he traveled to Washington to lobby Lincoln directly. Desiring to maintain a Democrat in a senior military position, Lincoln ultimately granted McClernands request and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton gave him permission to raise troops in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa for an expedition against Vicksburg, MS. A key location on the Mississippi River, Vicksburg was the last obstacle to Union control of the waterway. On the River Though McClernands force initially only reported to Union General-in-Chief Major General Henry W. Halleck, efforts soon commenced to limit the political generals power. This ultimately saw orders issued for him to take command of a new corps to be formed out his current force once he united with Grant who was already operating against Vicksburg. Until McClernand rendezvoused with Grant, he would remain an independent command. Moving down the Mississippi in December he met Major General William T. Shermans corps which was returning north after its defeat at Chickasaw Bayou. The senior general, McClernand added Shermans corps to his own and pressed south aided by Union gunboats led by Rear Admiral David D. Porter. En route, he learned that a Union steamer had been captured by Confederate forces and taken to Arkansas Post (Fort Hindeman) on the Arkansas River. Re-routing the entire expedition on Shermans advice, McClernand ascended the river and landed his troops on January 10. Attackin g the next day, his troops carried the fort in the Battle of Arkansas Post. Issues With Grant This diversion from the effort against Vicksburg greatly angered Grant who saw operations in Arkansas as a distraction. Unaware that Sherman had suggested the attack, he complained loudly to Halleck about McClernand. As a result, orders were issued allowing Grant to take complete control of the Union troops in the area. Uniting his forces, Grant shifted McClernand into command of the newly-formed XIII Corps. Openly resentful of Grant, McClernand spent much of the winter and spring spreading rumors regarding his superiors supposed drinking and behavior. In doing so, he earned the enmity of other senior leaders such as Sherman and Porter who saw him as unfit for corps command. In late April, Grant elected to cut loose from his supply lines and cross the Mississippi south of Vicksburg. Landing at Bruinsburg on April 29, Union forces pressed east towards Jackson, MS. Turning towards Vicksburg, XIII Corps was engaged at the Battle of Champion Hill on May 16. Though a victory, Grant believed that McClernands performance during the battle was lacking as he had failed to press the fight. The next day, XIII Corps attacked and defeated Confederate forces at the Battle of Big Black River Bridge. Beaten, Confederate forces withdrew into the Vicksburg defenses. Pursuing, Grant mounted unsuccessful assaults on the city on May 19. Pausing for three days, he renewed his efforts on May 22. Attacking all along the Vicksburg fortifications, Union troops made little headway. Only on McClernands front was a foothold gained in the 2nd Texas Lunette. When his initial request for reinforcements was declined, he sent Grant a misleading message implying that he had taken two Confederate forts and that another push might win the day. Sending McClernand additional men, Grant reluctantly renewed his efforts elsewhere. When all of the Union efforts failed, Grant blamed Mc Clernand and cited his earlier communications. With the failure of the May 22 assaults, Grant commenced a siege of the city. In the wake of the assaults, McClernand issued a congratulatory message to his men for their efforts. The language used in the message sufficiently angered Sherman and Major General James B. McPherson that they lodged complaints with Grant. The message was also printed in Northern newspapers which was in contravention of War Department policy and Grants own orders. Having been constantly annoyed with McClernands behavior and performance, this breach of protocol gave Grant the leverage to remove the political general. On June 19, McClernand was officially relieved and command of XIII Corps passed to Major General Edward O. C. Ord. Later Career Life Though Lincoln backed Grants decision, he remained cognizant of the importance of maintaining the support of Illinois War Democrats. As a result, McClernand was restored to command of the XIII Corps on February 20, 1864. Serving in the Department of the Gulf, he battled illness and did not take part in the Red River Campaign. Remaining in the Gulf for much of the year, he resigned from the army due to health issues on November 30, 1864. Following the assassination of Lincoln the following year, McClernand played a visible role in the late presidents funeral proceedings. In 1870, he was elected circuit judge of the Sangamon District of Illinois and remained in the post for three years before resuming his law practice. Still prominent in politics, McClernand presided over the 1876 Democratic National Convention. He later died on September 20, 1900, in Springfield, IL and was buried at citys Oak Ridge Cemetery. Selected Sources History of War: John A. McClernandUS Congress: John A. McClernandMr. Lincoln Friends: John A. McClernand

Canada's Immigration Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Canada's Immigration Policy - Essay Example There is also apparent shift in the profile of immigrant source countries in the past several years. Added to this is the fact that more and more people are moving from one place to another worldwide and the perceptible competition in the international economy to attract skilled workers. Movement of people across continents has been a global trend during the advent of long distance travel. Reasons behind this phenomenon are various. These include escaping political, economic, environmental persecution and problems. For some families, the more pressing reasons can be search for better opportunities and safer, more secure living conditions. Given the availability of manpower resources in the different parts of the world and the surplus of families applying immigrant status in Canada, the problem of sustaining the country's economy seems to be solved. However, the process of immigration is not as simple. There must be appropriate and efficient governmental and provincial policies to facilitate this process. This is the function of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada: to draft a structural framework and policies for handling immigration issues of the country. This paper aims to assess these immigration policies and their i... Section 7 (2) of Canada's Immigration Act of 1978 provides an estimate of the total number of immigrants, refugees and other non-immigrants status who will be given permission to settle in Canada. The responsibility of selecting immigrants and refugees and their number for every province, except for Quebec which has the only selection powers, lies on this annual immigration plan (CIC "Laws and Policies"). The proposed Immigration and Refugee Protection Act called Bill C-11 will provide the Citizenship and Immigration Canada the needed implements to ensure public safety and security in relation to the admission of immigrants in the country. This can be achieved by setting new admission criteria and delegating authority to arrest law-breakers and security threats (CIC "The Immigration System"). The other side of the above provisions is the important delivery of the following commitments of facilitating entry to legitimate immigrants and refugees. First is the change of selection priority using the assessment of skills and experience of workers over their current occupations. Second is the focus on reunification of families and protection of refugees. Third is the improved Temporary Foreign Worker Program for the simplification and efficiency of processing of skilled workers and permission of spouses to work. Last is efficient transition of qualified temporary workers from temporary to permanent residents (CIC "Laws and Policies"). The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of Canada or IRPA was established in 2001. The act has a provision for a consultation between the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the provincial governments regarding refugee protection policies and programs to include the determination of the number of foreign nationals

Strategy -Asos Case 6 Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Strategy -Asos 6 - Case Study Example Apart from its wide range of products, the company attracts over 3.3 million shoppers each month. Given such obscene numbers, it is imperative that the online store implement a very effective operation to meet its commitments to its customers such as providing customer service, and fulfilling orders from the customers. The company has done well in a very competitive business. E-commerce is a very dynamic industry; more so for the fashion business. Given the rise in demand for goods online each year, the company managed to structure its management and proprietorship in such a manner that the right decisions were made at the right time; for the good of the business. When the company started, its staff was considerably small, but it has grown, and so has its warehouse size. Adequate space is required for storage. The company has managed to position itself well to capture market share that it did not command before through a number of creative ways. The primary tool of achieving success is a motivated staff; and proper internet marketing tools. Communication has also been at the center of action; as proper modes and channels of communication have become necessary given the increase in size of the company. Planning, resources, communication, and keeping in touch with the needs of the customers are the tools that have spurred asos.com to

Charles Dickens :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is one of the greatest and most popular writers in the history of literature. In his novels, Dickens combines masterly storytelling, humor, pathos, and irony with sharp social criticism and acute observation of people and places, both real and imagined. On February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, England, Charles Dickens was born to John and Elizabeth Dickens. Charles was the second of eight children. He spent most of his childhood in London, the setting for many of his novels. He lived in a middle-classed family that, but his father was incapable of managing his own finances. Dickens started school at the age of nine, but his education was interrupted when his father was imprisoned for debt in 1824. He was then forced to work at Warren’s Blacking Factory, a shoe-polish factory, to support himself. His experiences of trying to survive in the slums of England haunted him all of his life, and he would later devote many of his books to the retelling of his experiences. Dickens was saved from this situation when his father was released from prison. From 1825 to 1827, Dickens again attended school for two years of formal schooling at Wellington House Academy in Hamstead. For the most part, however, he was self-educated. In 1827, dickens took a job as a legal clerk. By 1829, he had become a free-lance reporter at Doctor’s Commons Courts. He had become a very successful shorthand reporter of Parliamentary debates in the House of Commons and began work as a reporter for a newspaper, in 1832. During his time as a reporter he would develop his skills to write very detailed and factual-like stories. In 1833, Dickens published his first of a series of original descriptive sketches of daily life in London. By 1834, he and adopted the pseudonym â€Å"Boz.† His Sketches by Boz was published in 1836. During that year he would marry Catherine Hogarth on April 2, 1836. In 1836, Charles dickens published his first novel The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. The success of the Pickwick Papers made him famous. At the same time it influenced the publishing industry in Great Britain, being issued in an unusual form, that of inexpensive monthly installments that would run in literary magazines.

Death Penalty Research Paper Essay

I. Introduction The death penalty in the United States is a constant source of controversy. Efforts to abolish capital punishment in America date back to over 100 years and continue to expand in present-day. In addition, all 50 states vary in their retention and application of the death penalty. Currently, the death penalty is legal in 32 states, the distribution of the actual executions however, is quite wide. The five states with the highest number of executions performed account for approximately 65% of the total executions in the country since the US Supreme Court re-affirmed and reinstated the death penalty in 1976. The state of Texas alone is responsible for almost 37% of the country’s executions. In contrast, 14 states have executed five or fewer prisoners since 1976. II. History Since the earliest societies, capital punishment has been used as a method of crime deterrence. Historical archives show that the even the most primitives tribes utilized methods of punishing culprits that often included taking their lives in order to pay for the crimes they committed. Murder most often warranted this ultimate form of punishment. As tribal societies formed social classes and man-kind developed its own self-governed republics, capital punishment became a usual response to a variety of crimes, such as sexual assault, military offenses and treason. Written rules were created to alert the people of the penalties that could face them should they participate in any wrongdoing. One of the earliest written documents observed that supported the death penalty was the Code of Hammurabi, written on stone tablets around 1760 BC. The code contained approximately 282 laws that were proposed by the Babylonian King Hammurabi and included the theory of an â€Å"eye for an eye.† Several other ancient documents were also supportive of the death penalty; these included the Christian Old Testament, the Jewish Torah, and the writing of Athenian legislator Draco, who was a proponent of capital punishment for a large number of offenses in Ancient Greece. The earliest forms of the death penalty were intended to be painful, slow and torturous. Some ancient cultures employed methods of crucifixion, stoning, and being burned at the stake among others. Later civilizations found these methods to be cruel, unusual forms of punishment and thus opted for more humane practices. During the 18th and 19th centuries, legislators found less painful and faster  approaches to execution, which included beheading by the guillotine and hanging. These practices were typically large public spectacles and were not any less bloody or violent but death was almost always instantaneous, so they were perceived as being more compassionate. III. In the United States Capital Punishment in the United States dates back to the founding of the original colonies, and was used for a variety of crimes such as burglary, treason, counterfeiting and murder. During the American Revolution, legislators in the United States began to examine and revise policies behind the death penalty. In 1971, the constitution was amended to prohibit any form of punishment deemed â€Å"cruel and unusual.† Although the amendment did not intend to ban capital punishment, it did start a movement towards performing more human executions. Currently, 32 states in the US allow the death penalty, although the greatest number of death row inmates and actual executions occur in only a few of those. California is the state with the largest death row population of 625 inmates, but they do not perform executions frequently. In fact, in the last three years, only two people have been put to death. In contrast is Texas, while also having a large number of offenders on death row (453 ), Texas follows through with executions, executing more people each year than any other state. Their executions constitute 46% of all executions performed in the year 2002. IV. Eligibility Eligibility for the death penalty and determining what criteria qualifies a crime for the death penalty varies by jurisdictions. No† automatic† sentence exists for any crime. The death penalty is assigned to crimes that contain aggravating factors, and are â€Å"monstrous or horrific† in nature. Examples of aggravating factors include intentional, premeditated murder, and murder that results from the commission of certain violent felonies such as robbery, rape, kidnapping, burglary and arson, even if the death results as an accident. These vary by state and in some the list of aggravating factors is lengthy and not well defined which can mean a lot of crimes can potentially be classified as â€Å"capital.† Prosecutors of the jurisdiction in which the crime has occurred make the decision of whether to seek the death penalty in each case. Critics allege that prosecutors are influenced to  consider factors when seeking the death penalty that should not be rel evant, such as the race of the victim and offender, for example. Community and public outrage as well as media attention can also impact the process of seeking the death penalty. (Marcus, 2007) V. Trials Trials for death penalty cases differ from other trials in that they are more intensive, expensive and much more complicated, after all, the outcome could end or spare someone’s life. They attract wide-spread and sometimes sensational media attention that can become distracting and unfavorable for the defendant as well as the other parties involved in the case. Political and public pressure is placed on the judge and prosecutors to secure a conviction and death sentence. Defense lawyers too face a great deal of pressure to save their client’s lives. Another aspect of capital case trials that sets them apart from regular cases is the selection of the jury. Potential jurors in capital cases must undergo a somewhat extensive process before being qualified to participate. The most important criteria they must meet however revolve around the individuals personal views on the death penalty. Qualified jurors must be in support of capital punishment and willing to impose it, th ose that cannot abide by that requirement are excused from jury service. Capital trials are separated into two sections, in the first only evidence and defenses are heard, this is referred to as the guilt phase. At the close of the guilt phase while the jury does not yet deliberate about a sentence, they do however decide to convict or acquit the defendant. Should the defendant be convicted, the penalty phase of the trial begins, during this phase the jury hears arguments and evidence concerning sentencing options. At this time, prosecutors will argue for a death sentence and must present aggravating factors associated with the crime. They will also attempt to stir the jury away from feelings of sympathy for the defendant, by stating past criminal charges or lack of remorse about the crime. In contrast, defense lawyers will argue against the death penalty, trying to persuade the jury to sentence their clients to life imprisonment instead. To do this, defense attorneys introduce mitigating factors such as the defendant’s age, absence of a criminal record, relationships with family members, and  character. In some cases, they may use evidence that could facilitate understanding of why the defendant committed the crime, some examples being mental illness, abuse or neglect as a child, etc. Sometimes family and friends of the defendant can testify for them, this is also permitted for families of the victim, which often take this time to speak about their loss and state their preference for a life or death sentence. After all evidence has been presented and following any testimonies, the jury is excused to deliberate once more, this time deciding on a sentence. VI. Appeals The idea of â€Å"swift justice† is thought to be lost in capital punishment cases. Usually, it takes several years from the time a person is convicted of a crime to the actual execution. One of the aspects of death penalty cases that make them so extensive is the appeals process. Generally, following conviction, a defendant has the right to an automatic or â€Å"direct† appeal to the state appellate court. Courts are required by law to look at these cases. Evidence presented in a direct appeal is very limited, typically dealing with whether objections were sustained or overruled correctly. Within a year of the direct appeal, death row inmates must file again in order to secure their rights, failure to do so would mean the defendant has chosen to waive their appeals. Incompetency on the part of an attorney or lack of one has resulted in many death row defendants missing appeal deadlines, while some may not even be aware of this procedural right. There is no second oppor tunity to file for an appeal once the deadline has been missed, regardless of the circumstances. The next step in the appeals process is referred to as state post-conviction. The defendant will use this appeal to present any state constitutional claims and any evidence to challenge their conviction. Some of the more prevalent claims made in post-conviction appeals include improper and unprofessional conduct on behalf of the police or prosecution, race discrimination, mishandling or inconsideration of pertinent evidence and inadequate representation on behalf of the defense attorney. Evidence that has been newly discovered or was not available at the time of trial is admissible during this phase of the appeals process. Post-conviction relief is not easy to obtain, an in-depth investigation of the case and all  evidence from the trial must be conducted by the defense lawyers. This can be expensive, time consuming and for the many inexperienced and poorly-resourced lawyers that represent these types of inmates, it becomes a challenging task. The inability of the defense counsel to provide sufficient mitigating factors and thoroughly investigate a case is the most prevailing failure observed in capital punishment cases. While it is true that many defendants receive inadequate representation, it is very difficult to obtain relief based on ineffective legal assistance. If the court determines that the defendant would have been convicted and sentenced to death regardless of poor legal representation, then there is no entitlement to relief. Should a death row inmate be denied relief in post-state conviction, he can proceed with a final appeal which is now handled by Federal courts, this is referred to as federal habeas. When a defendant has exhausted all appeals, the last option is to ask for clemency from the governor or President, depending on if it is a state or federal death penalty case. Clemency has been known to only be granted in extraordinary cases and is becoming more and more uncommon. (capitalpunishmentincontext.o rg) VII. Methods 1. Lethal Injection Today, all of the states that have the death penalty employ the lethal-injection. Oklahoma became the first state to adopt this method of execution in 1977, with the first person being executed by lethal injection being Charles Brooks 5 years later in 1977. (deathpenaltyinfo.org) In preparation, the inmate to be executed is permitted a shower, a change of clothing and a final meal of their choice. At the time of the execution, the prisoner is taken to the execution room and where two IV tubes are inserted into his arms, following, a harmless saline solution is started immediately. Then, when the prison warden gives signal, a curtain is raised exposing the inmate to witnesses in an adjoining room. At this time the prison is allowed his final statement. At the conclusion of the inmate’s last words, the execution begins with the drugs being administered as follows: Sodium thiopental: This drug, also known as Pentathol is a barbiturate used as a surgical anesthetic. In surgery, a dose of up to 150mg is used. In execution, up to 5,000 mg are used. This is a lethal dose. From this point on if the prisoner is still alive, he should feel nothing. Pancuronium bromide: Also known as Pavulon, this is a muscle relaxant given in a strong  enough dose to paralyse the diaphragm and lungs. This drug takes effect in 1-3 minutes. A normal medical dose is 40 – 100mcg per kilogram; the dose delivered in an execution is up to 100mg. Potassium chloride: This is a toxic agent which induces cardiac arrest. Not all states use this as the first two drugs are sufficient to bring about death. Saline solution is used to flush the IV between each dose. A minute or two after the final dose is administered, a doctor declares the prisoner dead. The body is then sent to the coroner for verification, an autopsy is sometimes performed. Finally, the body is released to family for burial. 2. Electric Chair The electric chair was an invention by Harold P. Brown who was an employee of Thomas Edison, the sole purpose was to investigate the uses of electricity in executions. The chair was first adopted in 1889 and the first execution took place in 1890 in New York. In execution by electric chair, the prisoner is strapped to the chair with metal straps and a wet sponge is placed in his head to aid conductivity. Electrodes are placed on the head and legs to create a closed circuit. Depending on the physical state of the prisoner, two currents of varying level and duration are applied. This is generally 2,000 volts for 15 seconds for the first current to cause unconsciousness and to stop the heart. The second current is usually lowered to 8 amps. The current will normally cause severe damage to internal organs and the body can heat up to 138  °F While unconsciousness should occur within the first second or two, there have been occasions where it has taken much longer, leading people to highly oppose this method of execution. Clean up post-execution is unpleasant, skin has been found melted on the electrodes and the person can lose control of bodily functions, burning of the skin occurs often. 3. Firing Squad Many consider the firing squad to be the most honorable method of execution. The carrying out of firing squad executions can vary, but generally the inmate is blindfolded and restrained. A group of men then fire a single  bullet into the heart of the condemned. In some cases, one of the shooters is given a blank in order to feel less guilt afterwards. However, none of the shooters know who holds the blank, or if any of them do. Currently in the US, only two states are permitted performing of executions using this method: Idaho and Oklahoma. 4. Gas Chamber The gas chamber as a method of execution has been used in a considerable number of cases. It was first made popular from its use in German prison camps during World War II where it was used to execute millions in one of the worst genocide cases of the 20th century. Although five states in the US still allow its use, death row inmates in all of those states are given the option to choose the lethal injection instead. In gas chamber executions, the executioner prepares the chamber by placing potassium cyanide pellets into a small compartment beneath the execution chair. The prisoner is then brought in and secured to the chair. The chamber is sealed and the executioner pours a quantity of concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) through a tube which leads to a holding compartment in the chair. The curtains are drawn back for witnesses to see the execution and the prisoner is asked to make his last statement. After the last statement, a level is thrown by the executioner and the acid mixes with the cyanide pellets generating lethal hydrogen cyanide (HCN) gas. The prisoners will generally have been told to take deep breaths in order to speed up unconsciousness, but in most cases they hold their breath. Death from hydrogen cyanide is painful and unpleasant. (aclu.org); (clarkprosecutor.org) VIII. Deterrence In American society, deterrence has always served as a justification for support of the death penalty. Numerous studies conducted have failed to indicate a conclusive deterrence effect. For ex, if the death penalty was truly a crime deterrent, then the states that do not have the death penalty would be expected to have higher murder rates. However, it is just the opposite, states that do not employ the death penalty show consistently lower murder rates. In addition, the United States significantly higher murder rates than European countries who do not allow the death penalty. (Fagan) IX. Conclusion Overpowering evidence leads to the conclusion that the death penalty system in the United States is broken and undeniably flawed. Incompetency in representation, racial prejudice, inadequate funding and human mistake all contribute to a dark reality of the death penalty that is wrongful convictions and inequity. In a system teeming with error, the risk of executing the innocent is authentic. Reform in our death penalty process and procedures is necessary and urgent. It is our provocation to work towards a systematic change that will guarantee fairness and equal access to justice, due process for all persons facing the death penalty. References 1. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/ 2. https://www.aclu.org/capital-punishment/execution-methods 3. Paul Marcus, 2007. William & Mary Law School. Capital Punishment in the United States, and Beyond. http://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1068&context=facpubs 4. http://www.capitalpunishmentincontext.org/resources/dpappealsprocess 5. Jeffrey A. Fagan. Columbia Law School. Capital Punishment: Deterrence Effects and Capital Costs. http://www.law.columbia.edu/law_school/communications/reports/summer06/capitalpunish

Pliopithecus - Facts and Figures

Name: Pliopithecus (Greek for Pliocene ape); pronounced PLY-oh-pith-ECK-us Habitat: Woodlands of Eurasia Historical Epoch: Middle Miocene (15-10 million years ago) Size and Weight: About three feet tall and 50 pounds Diet: Leaves Distinguishing Characteristics: Short face with large eyes; long arms and legs    About Pliopithecus One of the first prehistoric primates ever to be identified--naturalists were studying its fossilized teeth as far back as the early 19th century--Pliopithecus is also one of the least well understood (as can be inferred from its name--this Pliocene ape actually lived in the earlier Miocene epoch). Pliopithecus was once thought to be directly ancestral to modern gibbons, and hence one of the earliest true apes, but the discovery of the even earlier Propliopithecus (before Pliopithecus) has rendered that theory moot. Further complicating matters, Pliopithecus was only one of more than two dozen similar-looking apes of Miocene Eurasia, and its far from clear how they were all related to each other. Thanks to later fossil discoveries from the 1960s, we know a lot more about Pliopithecus than the shape of its jaws and teeth. This prehistoric ape possessed very long, equally sized arms and legs, which makes it unclear whether it brachiated (i.e., swung from branch to branch), and its large eyes didnt quite face fully forward, casting doubts on the extent of its stereoscopic vision. We do know (thanks to those ubiquitous teeth) that Pliopithecus was a relatively gentle herbivore, subsisting on the leaves of its favorite trees and probably spurning the occasional insects and small animals enjoyed by its omnivorous relatives.