Agriculture in the Uae Essay Example for Free

Agriculture in the Uae Essay Agriculture in the UAE Lying in the heart of the worlds arid zone, the UAE has little rainfall and one would expect it to be a barren place. Barren places there certainly are, but the process of desertification has very largely been arrested in the country. It is now possible to see forests, fields of grass and wheat where once there were only desert sands and winds. The UAE has a long tradition of agriculture in its oases where crops have been grown for 5000 years. Underground water was chandelled to palm groves and small fields and the technique is still used today. Since the formation of the UAE in 1971, this small scale traditional farming has been complemented by investment that has seen thousands of hectares being cultivated. In the past 25 years, the countrys population has increased ten-fold and agricultural production has kept pace with this growth. The country is self-sufficient in salad crops and poultry for much of the year and even exports crops to markets in Europe. Most of the UAEs agricultural production comes from four areas: from in and around Al Ain, from a narrow but fertile strip along the east coast, from the oasis of Dhaid east of Sharjah and from the gravel plains in Ras al Khaimah. According to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, agricultural production stands at over Dh 2 billion per year. An average crop season yields over 600,000 tons of crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, lettuce, cabbage and animal feed. Studies have shown that much of the countrys soil can be cultivated provided there is water and as a result, there has been an extensive programme to drill water wells. The government will prepare land for local farmers which they are then given free along with seeds, machinery and advice on pest control. There is also government-funded research on different crops to see how they adapt to the local climate. In an attempt to conserve and use as much water as possible in as many ways as possible, the government has embarked on a three-part programme designed to make the most advantageous use of this scarce resource. First, farmers are given advice on how to reduce their consumption of water, mainly through trickle irrigation. Desalinated water as well as recycled and purified sewage effluent is used. Second, with the help of the United States Geological Survey, the government is searching for ew aquifers and monitoring current rates of extraction. Third and last, to prevent the waste of valuable rainwater, retention dams have been constructed in many areas. These store the water until it can be used for irrigation. Tens of millions of gallons of rainwater are being retained by the dams already built throughout the Emirates. In the long run, of course, it is realized that desalinated water will provide the bulk of agricultural water. There is more to agriculture than simply growing crops. One area that has seen dramatic growth is the keeping of poultry for meat and eggs. The same is true of dairy products. Herds of imported cattle have adapted to the climate and are now producing milk, cheese and yogurt for the local market. The presence of trees and gardens in the UAE is always noticed and commented upon by visitors. Over 10 million trees have been planted plus more than 18 million palm trees. In all the cities and towns of the UAE, there have been beautification campaigns with the creation of parks and gardens for the local people. Any householder, even those in flats, can get free plants from the Municipality under a programme that distributes thousands of plants annually. Besides the greening of the cities and towns there has also been a massive programme in the desert and it is here that most of the trees have been planted. Flying over the desert, one now sees great patches of green where formerly there was only sand. All kinds of arid region plants, both local and imported, have been planted and as they grow to maturity, their roots reach down to the natural water supply. When this happens, they will be able to survive with little care and attention. The face of the land and the environment too have been changed. Wildlife flourishes as do native plants and animals. The UAE was never purely and simply a desert. Today it has become a place where greenery can be seen in both urban and rural areas. Twenty years of dedicated commitment have made the point that the process of desertification is reversible. And given time and money, that is exactly what has happened and is continuing to happen.

Is Abortion Considered The Taking Of Human Life Philosophy Essay

Is Abortion Considered The Taking Of Human Life Philosophy Essay An abortion refers to the premature termination of a pregnancy. (Thiroux Krasemann 2009, p254). Many ethical issues arise from abortion, however the main ones to be discussed are regarding whether or not abortion is considered the taking of human life, and whose decision is it to determine whether or not they should be permitted. Ultimately, the most significant concepts surrounding abortion relate to the Value of Human Life and The Principal of Individual Freedom. The Value of Life refers to the idea that our lives are a basic possession. Every person experiences their own lives in a unique way, and no-one can truly live anothers life. Each individual must be treated as unique, however this does not discard the concept that ending of a human life cannot be justified, rather it is believed it should not be ended without very strong justification. Consequently, it is deemed morally wrong to end a persons life against their will. The Principal of Individual Freedom basically states that as individuals, we must possess the freedom to choose our own ways and means of being moral within the framework of the other four principals. Because no person or situation is exactly like another, there must be some freedom for those people to deal with these different circumstances in a manner that best suits them (Thiroux Krasemann 2009). Pro-Life and Pro-Choice There are two extreme views concerning abortion, and these are the ones of pro-life (against abortion), and pro-choice (permit abortion). The first view is that of Pro-Life, who ultimately believes that the conceptus has an absolute right to life, and this is where the Value of Life Principal arises. There are certain key stages in the conceptuss development which reinforce this belief, these include the following; By the third week, the embryo is developing various parts and a week later its heart begins to beat. Continuing to week five, divisions of the brain occur and the development of eyes and limb buds appear. By the seventh and eight week, sexual characteristics can be recognised, there is some lower brain anatomy and the fetus has developed some reflex reactions. Therefore, since ultimately their genetic view that life begins at conception, abortion is associated with murder, as it is the act of taking human life. Pro-lifes arguments are based on the value of life, that is, the right to life is absolute, especially the right of unborn life and its innocence. Thus, every unborn child should be regarded as human and receive all rights deserved from the moment of conception onwards (Thiroux Krasemann 2009). Whether we believe that the fetus is a person or not, its debatable that a woman has some sort of ethical responsibility to the fetus. Also, abortions further along in the pregnancy are even more heavily concerned with the assumption of taking a human life because they feel there is something very human about the fetus as its development has continued (Ethics of Abortion 2010). There are a number of other issues concerning abortion, for instance, the medical and psychological effects of abortion on women are harmful, the dangers of pregnancy are almost irrelevant because of technological advances therefore abortions are unnecessary, there are alternatives to an abortion such as adoption, and the belief that women must accept full responsibility for their actions and innocent life cannot be sacrificed if they fail to do so through their own carelessness. Even when it comes to rape, destruction of innocent unborn human life is still not justified. (Thiroux Krasemann 2009, p262). Pro-life believe that if women want complete control over their body, then control should include using contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Therefore, if a woman fails to use these measures and falls pregnant, she must bear the responsibility and consequences for her actions, rather than sacrificing human life (Women Issues 2010). The second extreme view is that of Pro-Choice, who are greatly in favour of abortion on request by the woman. Pro-choice believe that woman have absolute rights over their bodies, and the conceptus is part of a womans body until birth. (Thiroux Krasemann 2009, p272). Therefore, how can the conceptus be considered a human life before birth? This is where The Principal of Individual Freedom arises, where people should have a choice to determine what is best for them in their own circumstances. The argument continues with concerns of those fetuss which have been diagnosed with deformities, and therefore pro-choice believes that deformed children should not be brought into the world because of their burden on the health care system and ultimately society. This is also relative to children who are unwanted. Why bring a child into the world who is unwanted? What benefit does that place on the mother and also society? Especially if a woman is potentially an unfit mother, what kind of life would that leave for the child? (Thiroux Krasemann 2009). Adoption is considered an alternative to abortion by pro-life, however adoption is not always a solution and certainly are not as honourable as depicted. There are a number of adoption agencies that are down-right inhumane and surely no place for young children. In addition, when pregnancy results from rape or incense, the woman should never have to go through the birth because of the circumstances of the conception. Forcing a woman to go through the pregnancy as a result of such a violent act will just cause more psychological harm, and the child may be neglected and a reminder of the trauma endured (Women Issues 2010). It is difficult to relate to why people choose abortion if you dont have personal experience, or are personally associated with someone who does, therefore who are you to say they cannot have one? Pro-life are basically asking us to consider real life situations rather than vote on abstract potentially uninformed beliefs. (The Sydney Morning Herald 2010). Ultimately, abortion must be totally a matter of the womans choice and private decision and no one else should be able to interfere (Thiroux Krasemann 2009). Utilitarianism Applied to Abortion Utilitarianism refers to the ethical theory that everyone should perform that act or follow that moral rule that will bring about the greatest good (or happiness) for everyone concerned. (Thiroux Krasemann 2009, p42). When concerning abortion, it would seem to best apply the rule-utilitarianism, which refers to setting up a series of general morals and rules which can be applied to every moral question based, and when followed, yield the greatest good (Abortion: Ethical Analysis 2010). When this is applied to abortion, it can be argued that abortion is a completely ethical entity that will provide the most amount of happiness for the majority of people. This is reinforced by the statistics from the related newspaper article, which states, A survey of 1050 Australians investigating attitudes to early and late abortion published in the Medical Journal of Australia shows remarkably strong public support for women being able to access abortion at all stages of pregnancy, including after 24 weeks. (The Sydney Morning Herald 2010). An example of this view, is relative to a woman who may end up being an unfit mother to a child. If a 16-year old drug-addict were pregnant, would it not be in everyones best interest protect the child from the possibility of psychological and physical abuse, and ultimately a suffering lifetime? Pro-life views the situations concerning the fetus, where an abortion causes pain to the fetus and ultimately results in killing. However, from a utilitarian viewpoint, this focus on the fetus is unnecessary because its believed that the suffering involved can be avoided by an early abortion, that is before the fetus can develop the capability to undergo pain. Generally, the suffering of the fetus cannot be considered a strong argument against abortion (Utilitarian Org. 2010). In contrast, another view of utilitarianism is that the future life of the fetus would have had a probable balance of happiness over suffering, which is a definite argument against abortion, although not a dominant one. Another contrasting aspect is concerned with population size. If population decreases, utility will prescribe reproduction in order to increase it once again. This would create a shift will create the greatest of happiness to the most people. In this case, utility will generally oppose abortion. As a result of the views of a utilitarian, a general prescription either for or against abortion is extremely difficult to justify, as each case has its own significant and specific features (Utilitarian Org. 2010). Kants Categorical Imperative Kants Categorical Imperative basically emphasises that an act is immoral if the rule that would authorise it cannot be made into a rule for all human beings to follow. (Thiroux Krasemann 2009, p58). This is the belief that an act is considered to be moral solely because it adheres to a rule, therefore creating some sort of moral authority (Inquisitive 2010). A relative aspect of this theory concerns killing another human being. According to Kant, a person cannot kill another person being without violating a moral absolute. Therefore, killing is immoral and contradicts the Categorical Imperative, because essentially the meaning of life is to live (Thiroux Krasemann 2009). Kant also believes there must a universal morality that must be capable of being applied to every situation without exception (Inquisitive 2010). When Kants Categorical Imperative is applied to abortion, it is looking for the moral authority. According to this theory, Kant would state that, abortion is murder, rather than if you have an abortion, you are committing murder. However, Kant also believes in Good Will, which emphasises in doing the right thing, and consequences are irrelevant (Inquisitive 2010). Therefore, who is it to say that abortion is not doing the right thing under certain circumstances? In a number of different circumstances, as noted before, there are a number of situations where abortion may be the best and/or right thing to do. This may be relevant to women who are in danger if they continue with the birth, and the safer option would be to have an abortion. However, through this theory it is believed that if we condone abortion, then we are ultimately suggesting that killing is moral. Consequently, Kant is in favour that killing is moral and only under extreme consequences can it be justified (Thiroux Krasemann 2009). Conclusion In conclusion, the issues surrounding abortion are vast and there will always be those strongly opposed and in favour of the practice of it. With Kants Categorical Imperative, if everyone considered that abortion is moral, then we are condoning that essentially murder is moral. However, this encroaches on the rights we have as humans. Ultimately we believe we have control over our own bodies, therefore, who is it to say what we choose and believe is the best in our own interests? In my personal belief, I am ultimately on the side of pro-choice, as there could be detrimental effects if it ever became illegal. From a moral view, it is seen to be killing another person, however, there are certain circumstances that abortions are necessary or would be the best option concerning those involved. Especially with the circumstances of rape, I believe no one has the right to force an unwanted pregnancy that resulted from a traumatic experience. In addition, The Principal of Individual Freedom has the most effect as we all have our individual lives and what we consider to be most beneficial to us, should ultimately be established and not influenced or forced otherwise.

Neurobiology of Harmony :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Neurobiology of Harmony How sound waves produced by instruments become sensible representations in the brain, and how the perceptions become meaningful are interesting questions for neurobiology to ask, as well as necessary ones if knowledge of the brain is to account for all behavior. The brain is able to discern harmony because the inner ear is capable of differentiating between different frequencies. The brain's differentiation between pitches and chords corresponds to the physical, "real," differences between notes and chords, although our sense of music built from perception of harmonies through time, is more subjective and variable. Our faculty of hearing derives from the anatomy of the inner ear and the brain, as well as from the existence of external stimuli in the outside world. Sound is both the mechanical energy of waves and the sensation produced by receptors in the brain (1). Each wave has an amplitude and a frequency. The amplitude of a vibration corresponds to its volume and is measured by decibels on a logarithmic scale. Frequency is logarithmic, as well, but corresponds to differences in pitch. Greater frequency results in a higher pitch. Mathematically, pitch is represented as the number of vibrations per second (1) (2) . Vertebrates hear sound through their neurobiological makeup. The ear's tympanic membrane, or eardrum, vibrates as a result of being subjected to sound waves. The waves then travel to the inner ear or cochlea which is the site of sound's transduction into chemical energy. Within the cochlea, sound waves travel through fluid which stimulates the stereocilia, small hair-like projections of hair cells along the basilar membrane. The actions of the stereocilia cause the release of K+, potentially depolarizing the cell (1). The flexibility of the basilar membrane allows stereocilia to move back and forth in response to the waves in the Cochlear fluid. Each stereocilium is linked to another through structures called "tip links" (1) , (3) As the stereocilia move towards the tallest ones, the tip links cause ion channels to open, depolarizing the cell and allowing free K+ to move into the cell (1). Importantly, the stereocilia move in direct response to the sound waves and are cumulative rath er than spiking. Neurotransmitter release corresponds to the frequency and amplitude (pitch and volume) of a sound input. Sounds must be sufficiently loud and within a given range in order to cause action potentials. Different sounds will produce different outputs, allowing for discrimination of harmony on a neural level (1).

Adrenoleukodystrophy and Myelin Essay -- Biology Essays Research Paper

Adrenoleukodystrophy and Myelin: Where's the Connection? Adrenoleukodystrophy. Also known as ALD. Ten years ago many people would not be familiar with this extremely rare childhood disease. But now awareness has increased as a result of the 1992 MCA Universal film, "Lorenzo's Oil". This true story movie shows the struggles of a family whose son is dying from this disease and their fight to try to save him and children like him. After seeing this movie myself I became very interested in ALD and the possible ways to cure or treat it. In the last decade there has been some amazing research done in conjunction with this disease and the few others who, like it, occur as a result from the breakdown or loss of myelin in the brain. The first step in understanding adrenoleukodystrophy is to ask what it is and how it works. According to the fact sheet put out by the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD in 1997, "ALD is a rare, genetic disorder characterized by the breakdown or loss of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells in the brain and progressive dysfunction of the adrenal gland" (1). This disorder affects fatty acid metabolism which causes the dysfunction of the adrenal glands, the nervous system, and the testes (2). This leads to progressive neurological disability and death (3). Physical symptoms include, but are not limited to, visual loss, deafness, learning disabilities, seizures, dysarthria (poorly articulated speech), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), strabismus (crossed eyes), fatigue, disturbance in gait and coordination, vomiting, paralysis, blindness, melanoderma, and dementia (1) (2) (4). But this disease does not stop with merely physical changes, there are many behavioral changes which are parti... ...gs are almost never what you think they are. WWW Sources 1)Adrenoleukodystrophy, http://www.ninds.nih.gov/HEALINFO/DISORDER/Adrenoleukodystrophy/adrenoleuko.html 2)Adrenoleukodystrophy, http://www.healthanswers.com/database/ami/converted/001182.html 3)NCBI: Adrenoleukodystrophy, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disease/ALD.html 4) ADRENOLEUKODYSTROPHY , http://www.kid-med.org/pedbase/adrenole.htm 5)The Myelin Project , http://www.myelin.org/ 6)TMP Newsletter , http://www.myelin.org/112698pr.html 7)Virtual Hospital: Radiology Resident Case of the Week Adrenal Leukodystrophy (ALD) , http://www.vh.org/adult/provider/radiology/RCW/012696/012696.html 8) Neurodegenerative Disorders of Childhood- Dr. Greene's House Calls , http://www.drgreene.com/21_525.html 9) Metachromatic Leukodystrophy , http://www.duke.edu/~pdrh/MLD.html

Androgyny in James Baldwins Here be Dragons Essays -- Here Dragons

Androgyny in James Baldwin's Here be Dragons The piece by James Baldwin titled â€Å"Here Be Dragons† was amazing and I definitely recommend reading it. Baldwin’s piece is mainly a plea for understanding. He argues that within every person there is a little bit of the opposite; for instance, inside every male is a little bit of femininity, just as there is some masculinity within every female. Baldwin also mentions how, many times, the things we fear are things present inside of ourselves that we wish were not. In several instances Baldwin discusses how he was made fun of by men standing in large groups and then once alone the men would try to get Baldwin to have sex with them. I believe those men clung to Baldwin because they felt the homosexual impulse within themselves, and felt that ...

The Characters’ Conformation to Social Restrictions in the stories The Gilded Six-Bits and The Waltz

In the stories The Gilded Six-Bits by Zora Neale Hurtson and The Waltz, by Dorothy Parker, the main characters find themselves acting under the tight social constraints that society projects on them. Their gender, race and class all dictate how they see themselves and how others see them, and therefore how they must act. Missie May, Joe and the narrator of The Waltz are all puppets to convention, although not always conscious of it. Through this essay I will demonstrate the social restrictions and rules that existed for people of color and women in the early 1900s, with evidence from the text. The Gilded Six-Bits is a moving story of frustration and greed. In the home of a poor young black couple in the southern states is where our scene takes place. As we find out, Missie May is an attractive black newly married homemaker who takes pride in her husband's hard work and in her own work around the house. Her husband who works at a fertilizer company adores her, and puts her on a pedestal and yet expects her to stay in her role as a subservient homemaker. As is demonstrated in the story, Missie May struggles with her social restrictions and expectations. Firstly, the color of her skin decrees of what class she is. She is of color, meaning she is lower than even the lowest white folk and also dictates what part of town she must live, at what level she must marry, and where she is to work, but most importantly, it defines how other (white) people treat her. Not only is Missie May black, but also a woman. This puts her at a double disadvantage, since even white women were still struggling to be recognized as valued human beings at this time. White women were just achieving the vote and had just finished proving to the world that they were valuable commodities, during the First World War, when they were made to do men's jobs to keep society going. Opinion of women at this time is very low. Women's main role was still to marry and have children. In The Gilded Six -Bits, the first example of role playing is during Missie and Joe's little game. Every Saturday Joe throws silver dollars onto the floor where Missie stands, and then she must catch him and go through his pockets to find the coveted candy kisses. This is a fun routine they go through every week when Joe is paid, and both parties look forward to it. Missie May goes through the motions of the game: â€Å"Nobody ain't gointer be chunkin' money at me and Ah not do 'em nothin',† she shouted in mock anger.† (p. 1439) Hence, the first role Missie plays is as a predator in a friendly game with her husband. Although society doesn't impose what she is supposed to do in that instance, it is her husband's expectations that are imposed on her. Joe insists on playing this game every week, and therefore she must play her character with him every time. Although it is ‘just a game', it is very representative of their relationship in that he requires her to take her role as he takes his. Next, we see Missie in her predictable role, as a wife and as a woman. We hear from Joe that â€Å"Woman ain't go no business in a man's clothes nohow. Go away.† (p.1440) And later he puts her in her place by denouncing the fact that she is hungry: † ‘You ain't hongry, sugar,' Joe contradicted her. Youse jes' a little empty. Ah'm de one whut's hongry.† Next, Joe gives Missie an order that insults her since she knows how to do her business: â€Å"Have it on the table when Ah git out de tub.† She resentfully comes back with her declaration that she is indeed an excellent wife: â€Å"Ah'm a real wife, not no dress and breath.† As you can tell, Missie accepts her role as a woman and as a wife, and also accepts her subservient role with her husband. She follows the guide lines he sets for her. An interesting observation is that the rules differ as soon as they enter the home. During their little game, Missie and Joe are equals, but as soon as they set foot in the home setting, Missie becomes servile and Joe becomes demanding. Joe is the hard working husband, who brings home the money and supports his wife. He treats his wife well, and ‘adores' her and yet expects her to be obsequious. â€Å"Ah'm satisfied de way ah is so long as ah be yo husband, ah don't keer bout nothing else.† (p.1442). He is proud that she is very attractive and treats her as an object and feels he owns her. â€Å"Ah ain't never been noewhere and Ah ain't got nothin but you.† (p.1441) Joe also feels the need to parade Missie around to show off what he's got: â€Å"Go ‘head on now, honey and put on yo' clothes. He talkin' 'bout his pritty womens – Ah want ‘im to see mine.† (p.1442) Another instance of keeping in the role of a lady is when Joe refuses to give Missie a second helping of the tater pone: â€Å"Nope, sweetenin' is for us men-folks. Y'all pritty lil frail eels don't need nothin' lak dis. You too sweet already.† (p.1440) I interpret this to mean he doesn't want her to take more because it isn't lady-like to have seconds and he wants her to keep her nice figure so he can show her off. His possessive attitude changes when he catches Missie May in bed with Otis D. Slemmons. His attitude towards her changes immensely. She no longer has ‘marital duties', but still must maintain the cleaning and cooking. This makes her more of a slave than a wife, because she is supposed to do these things as a wife, but once the intimacy is gone, what is left is the bare bones of being a wife, which is to cook and to clean for the husband. After she is caught in bed with Slemmons, Missie laments her loss of menial duties: â€Å"It was day. Nothing more. Joe wouldn't be coming home as usual. No need to fling open the front door and sweep off the porch, making it nice for Joe. Never no more breakfast to cook; no more washing and starching of Joe's jumper-jackets and pants. No more nothing, So why get-up?† (p.1444) I find it very interesting that as soon as her husband finds out about her affair, she mourns not the loss of trust, or ‘good times', but she mourns the work that she did for him. She laments that she can no longer serve him the way she used to. Missie May took her role as being a wife very seriously and when she thought there was no need for her ‘services' anymore, she decided there wasn't much to live for, which is quite shocking. Missie May was so involved in her role with her husband, that she had no other identity. â€Å"He had both chance and time to kill the intruder in his helpless condition – half in and half out of his pants – but he was too weak to take action. The shapeless enemies of humanity that live in the hours of Time had waylaid Joe. He was assaulted in his weakness. Like Sampson awakening after his haircut. So he just opened his mouth and laughed.† (p.1143) This last scene describes a time when Joe does not know how to act or what to do. There is not a specific protocol for poor blacks or rich whites of what to do when one catches one's wife cheating. He is not sure what he feels or whether to laugh or cry. He is not clear as to what his role in this situation is. Does he kill the intruder? Does he beat his wife? Joe is caught in a brutally complicated situation, where society has no specific guidelines to follow. Fortunately, Joe, being the good soul he is, hits Slemmons, and comforts his wife, not following convention in the least with those actions. The narrator in The Waltz by Dorothy Parker takes a humorous look at women's etiquette in society. The Waltz is about a woman who is trapped in the conventions of her high class society. She must conform to the ‘rules' of her status. In this case, she is asked to dance by a man whom she detests and does not want to waltz with. For pages, she condemns the man with whom she dances while outwardly ‘enjoying' herself. The narrator (whom we shall refer to as Mary) ironically points out how women are supposed to be passive and receptive to men. The rules of convention dictate that she must not only dance with him, but forgive his clumsiness and invite him to continue dancing with her, all the while, inside damning his every word and motion. â€Å"There was I, trapped. Trapped like a trap in a trap.† (p.1463) Although Missie May and ‘Mary' differ greatly in their social class and their race, they share a common bond of both being women in the early 1900s. Here we have Missie May, at the very bottom of the social totem pole, being a black woman, and then we have Mary, who is of the highest social ranking, and incredibly, both suffer from the constraints of society. In the next quotation, we see the two facedness of Mary; the contradiction between her thoughts and her actual speech: â€Å"Ow! For God's sake, don't kick, you idiot; this is only second down. Oh, my shin. My poor, poor shin, that I've had ever since I was a little girl! ‘Oh, no, no, no. Goodness, no. It didn't hurt the least little bit. And anyway it was my fault. Really it was. Truly. Well, you're just being sweet, to say that. It really was all my fault.' Die he must and die he shall, for what he did to me. I don't want to be the over-sensitive type, but you can't tell me that kick was unpremeditated†¦but when it comes to kicking, I am Outraged Womanhood. When you kick me in the shin, smile.† (p.1463) Mary apologizes profusely, and is always saving the man's embarrassment, always cradling the man's ego. This high-class woman is expected to stay mute about her opinions and stoop to pleasing the man. Even though she is not serving a man directly as Missie May serves Joe, Mary is in a sense serving under male society's laws. She serves men by not outwitting them, by not broadcasting her opinions and by ‘smiling'. Mary is just as servile as Missie May in that she obeys a man based society. The three characters discussed in this essay, from The Gilded Six-Bits and The Waltz, all deal with the challenges of their roles in society differently. Missie May accepts her role graciously, until she lashes out and has an affair, Joe gets caught in a moment when he does not know what to do, and therefore laughs, and ‘Mary' talks to herself, but never exposes her inner thoughts. No matter the class, race or gender they all found ways to cope with the roles society had imposed on them.

Service Tax

Service Tax is a form of indirect tax imposed on specified services called â€Å"taxable services†. Service tax cannot be levied on any service which is not included in the list of taxable services. Over the past few years, service tax been expanded to cover new services. The objective behind levying service tax is to reduce the degree of intensity of taxation on manufacturing and trade without forcing the government to compromise on the revenue needs. The intention of the government is to gradually increase the list of taxable services until most services fall within the scope of service tax. For the purpose of levying service tax, the value of any taxable service should be the gross amount charged by the service provider for the service rendered by him. Service Tax was first brought into force with effect from 1 July 1994. All service providers in India, except those in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, are required to pay a Service Tax in India. Initially only three services were brought under the net of service tax and the tax rate was 5%. Gradually more services came under the ambit of Service Tax. The rate of tax was increased from 5% to 8% w. e. f 14 May 2003. From 10 September 2004 the rate of Service Tax was enhanced to 10% from 8%. Besides this 2% education cess on the amount of Service Tax was also introduced. In the Union Budget of India for the year 2006-2007, service tax was increased from 10% to 12%. On February 24, 2009 in order to give relief to the industry reeling under the impact of economic recession, The rate of Service Tax was reduced from 12 per cent to 10 per cent.