Tinnitus: Causes and Treatments

Tinnitus: Causes and Treatments What is Tinnitus? Tinnitus is one of the most common conditions, 1 of every 5 persons suffers from it, but despite of popular belief it is not a disease. So, what is really tinnitus? Tinnitus is a condition that makes the patient hear a sound like ringing, buzzing, hissing or other sounds, when they aren’t really made by any exterior factors. The noise can have different levels of volume, and it is usually easier to notice in a silent environment when there are no other sounds. Most people are concerned that this condition could cause hearing loss. The people who have this condition have no hearing problems; in rare cases some of the people even develop a hypersensitive sense of hearing. Tinnitus can be persistent or it can come and go, it can affect just one ear or both. Even though it doesn’t cause hearing loss and it is not a serious condition, it still is a matter of concern for some people, sometimes they find it hard to concentrate because of the high-pitched noise they hear, and it even interferes with their sleep. When the condition reaches a level when it affects the patients sleep and concentration the patient must definitely take action. The causes of tinnitus are many, but the condition manifests when the inner cells of the ear are damaged. One of the most commonly experienced causes for tinnitus is the loud noise/sound exposure. Depending on the period of the loud noise exposure, the tinnitus can last from a few hours to many days, weeks, or until treated if a person has been exposed to loud noise for a long amount of time. Another common cause for tinnitus is the hearing loss due to age. Yes, even though tinnitus doesn’t cause hearing loss, hearing loss can cause tinnitus, especially amongst elders. The blockage of the earwax is also a common cause for tinnitus. The earwax is produce naturally by the ear for protection, but sometimes, it forms a blockage that can irritate the eardrum, or cause hearing loss, both of them leading to tinnitus. The good news in this case, is that if the tinnitus is caused by blockage, it can be easily taken away with a visit to the doctor. The first step toward healing the tinnitus is a visit to the doctor. Because it can have many causes, it is important to pay a visit to the doctor, and not just visit the pharmacy. Only the doctor can determine the cause of the condition and offer proper medication for it. The doctor can also provide more information about the condition according to the patient’s questions. Signs and symptoms of tinnitus Tinnitus is not a serious condition but it can cause complication on some patients, mostly because in some cases it affects the sleep or the concentration. Even if it does not cause hearing loss, it is very important to treat it, and the first step towards treatment is knowledge. The first thing everyone should know about tinnitus is how to recognize the signs of this condition. Knowing the signs may help determine earlier if the condition exists and get treatment. One of the earlier signs of tinnitus, and the most easily to notice is a ringing sound the patient hears. Most of the time the ringing can be a high pitched sound, but it can also be a low pitched sound. It can sound as a buzz, a hiss, a ringing or a whooshing. The sound can be persistent or not, it may progress or begin suddenly and it can best be observed in quiet places, when no other sounds interfere. Another sign of tinnitus is sleep deprivation and lack of concentration, all of this being caused by the noise the patient hears, regardless of the fact that the patient is or not fully aware of it at all times. The symptoms of the tinnitus depend on the type of tinnitus the patient has. There are two types of tinnitus: subjective and objective. The subjective tinnitus is very common, 95% of the patients suffering from tinnitus have this type of condition. The symptoms of the subjective tinnitus are often associated with many other ear afflictions and disorders. The most common symptom is the hearing of a buzzing, hassle or ringing but there are other symptoms as well, which may vary from one patient to another, according to their condition and the patient’s reaction to it. Therefore, a patient with subjective tinnitus may also have some of the following symptoms: stress, inducted by the lack of sleep or lack of concentration and in some cases even anxiety. The other type of tinnitus is the objective tinnitus, and this type is only affecting 5% of the persons who suffer from tinnitus. This type of tinnitus is rare and it is often related to a muscular disorder or a vascular disorder. The patient suffering from objective tinnitus can be cured; this type may be observed by the doctor, who can hear with the stethoscope the ringing or buzzing in the patient’s ears. In some cases a sign of objective tinnitus is observed when the ringing sound in the ears is synchronized with the patient’s heartbeat. In both the cases of tinnitus, the signs and symptoms vary from one patient to another, which is why a person should visit the doctor at the first sign of ringing in their ears, in order to determine what condition they have. Learn how to treat tinnitus in a few steps Tinnitus is most of the time nothing serious and it is in fact a condition, not a disease. Tinnitus is, in many cases the condition of another underlying condition and it can be easily cured. There are a few simple steps which every patient has to follow in order to get better: The first and most important step towards healing tinnitus is a visit to the doctor. By taking this step the patient is going to find out the cause of the tinnitus and the underlying condition and get the proper treatment for it. Counseling. Regardless of the cause and treatment for tinnitus, a patient should get counseling from a specialist, to understand tinnitus, talk about it and learn how it affects them as well as how to cope with the condition. Sound. Since tinnitus is most easily observed in silent environments, sound therapy has been proved to be a very efficient way to deal with it. The patient can use a sound generator to be able to sleep, or a distraction from the tinnitus. Relaxation. The patients who suffer from stress because of tinnitus may find it helpful to do some meditation, exercise or even take yoga classes to relax and take their mind of the condition. Earwax removal. There are many cases of tinnitus caused by excessive earwax, and fortunately this can be easily cured with a quick visit to the hospital. Once the earwax is removed the tinnitus will go away, if earwax is the only cause for it. Medication. The tinnitus condition has no known medication cure, but depending on the cause of the condition, some medication can be taken to ease the symptoms. For example, if one of the symptoms is depression, the doctor will recommend antidepressants. Avoid certain substances. If one of the causes for tinnitus is blood flow associated, the patient must avoid substances rich in caffeine and alcohol. Supplements and vitamins. There are some supplements and vitamins that are known to ease the tinnitus symptoms such as magnesium, zinc and B vitamin. The doctor can recommend on or more of them, according to the patients needs. Music. A pleasant and simple way to make the tinnitus less disturbing is music. It can calm and relax the patient, as well as help with sleep and meditation. Avoid loud sound. Whenever possible, loud sound must be avoided, for it is one of the main causes for tinnitus. Even though not all of the patients suffering from tinnitus can be cured, there are a lot of ways to deal with the condition. The treatment is different for every patient, which is why a visit to the doctor is a must in order to get proper care. Learn to prevent tinnitus Tinnitus is not a serious condition, and it can sometimes be cured, by dealing with the underlying health problem that caused it, but it is always easier to prevent than deal with, which is why is important to learn how to prevent tinnitus. There are a few methods and precautions that can be used to prevent the tinnitus. Hearing protection. One of the most common causes for tinnitus is exposure to loud noise, which is why in order to prevent tinnitus one must wear protection when exposed to loud noises. Check your medicine. Some medicines have been known to have tinnitus as a side effect, so a patient must ask their doctor to check the medicine their using. There have been cases when the patient’s tinnitus has been cured when their medication was changed, because the tinnitus was only a side effect of the previous medicine. Stay healthy. Tinnitus is often a condition associated with blood vessel disorders, so a way to prevent tinnitus is to stay healthy with proper exercise, meditation and nutrition. Lower the headphones volume. It is well-know that many people use headphones for music, phone conversation, and radio and so on. Long exposure to loud volume can damage the hearing, thus causing tinnitus. The proper way to use headphone without getting tinnitus and hearing problems is to set the volume as low as hearing what goes around you as well. Avoid places with loud sound or loud music. Exposure to loud sounds and music can cause tinnitus. In most cases the tinnitus induced by loud sound exposure is temporary, but if the ears are exposed to loud sound for large periods of time, then the tinnitus may become permanent. Ease up on caffeine and alcohol. If a person has a blood vessel condition that person is more likely to develop tinnitus when consuming large amounts of caffeine and alcoholic beverages. Hearing aids. Most of the persons who have hearing problems may develop tinnitus, so that case it is important to use hearing aids for tinnitus prevention. Watch your weight. Tinnitus is more likely to develop if the person is obese because obesity is often related to heart problems. Proper alimentation can help maintain a healthy weight, as well as exercise. Tinnitus may not be a serious condition but it is, however unpleasant, and in certain cases it can be complicated, which is why it is better to prevent it. A healthy lifestyle and alimentation, exercise and proper care will definitely help you prevent tinnitus. All you need to know about tinnitus Tinnitus is a very spread condition. Despite to popular belief it is not a disease, but a condition often induced by other health problems. Most of the time the health problems that induce the tinnitus condition are ear related or blood vessel related. Even though in most of the cases the tinnitus is not a serious problem, it is important to stay informed and learn about it. One of the most important things to know about tinnitus is that up to this day there is no cure or medicine for it. However, depending on the case, the tinnitus can go away. If the tinnitus is cause by an earwax blockage, once the blockage is removed, the tinnitus will fade. Also if the cause of the tinnitus is another health issue, when that issue is solved the tinnitus may disappear as well. When the tinnitus cannot be healed, it is imperative to know that its symptoms can be diminished. Depending on the type and cause of the tinnitus, a set of measures may be taken to relieve the patient’s symptoms and help him cope with the condition. If one of the patient’s symptoms is depression, antidepressants may help with the condition, as well as meditation and exercise may help in case of stress. Another important thing to know about tinnitus is that every case is different, so a visit to the doctor should be the first thing on the list. The doctor can set the diagnosis, find the cause of the tinnitus, and cure it in case it is possible, or provide methods of help in case the condition cannot be cured. Preventing is easier than curing, so it is important to know that tinnitus can be easily prevented by following a few steps: avoid loud noise exposure or use hearing protection when exposed to loud noise, avoid long term use of the headphone with a loud volume, exercise, eat healthy, prevent obesity. It is vital to know that tinnitus is not a serious condition and that it can’t affect your life, abilities or personal relationships. Many people have had complications with tinnitus because they worried too much about it, instead on learning how to cope with it, thus leading to depression, stress and lack of sleep. Tinnitus can be easily prevented, however if you do get it remember that even if it can be cured all you have to do is be calm about it and remember it is not a serious issue and it can be easy to deal with. Country Comparison of Prices: Rice and Cocoa Country Comparison of Prices: Rice and Cocoa Surname: KAREKLA Name: MARIA Subject 1: As noted by Thompson (2001) absolute advantage occurs when a good is produced with the lower labor input per unit and comparative advantage â€Å"when relatively less of other goods must be sacrificed to produce a unit of the specialized good†(1). So, in this case, the amount of labor requirements per unit of output are: RICE COCOA NORWAY 1 1/3 ARGENTINA 3/2 3/2 So, Norway has an absolute advantage in producing both products, since its labor requirements are lower both in rice, 1 Furthermore, in the following table Opportunity cost table RICE COCOA NORWAY =3 =1/3 ARGENTINA =1 =1 it is shown that for Norway the opportunity cost for producing 1 ton of rice is =3 tons of cocoa and the opportunity cost for producing 1 ton of cocoa is =1/3 tons of rice. In Argentina, the opportunity cost for producing 1 ton of rice is =1 ton of cocoa and the opportunity cost of producing 1 ton of cocoa is =1 ton of rice. So, Norway has a comparative advantage in producing cocoa, since it has a lower opportunity cost in producing it (1/3 b) In autarky the Production Possibility Frontier (PPF) is the same with the Consumption Possibility Frontier(2). So, henceforth, LN and LA is the labor endowment in Norway and Argentina respectively, aNLR, aNLC and aALR, aALC is the amount of labor per unit of rice and cocoa in Norway and Argentina respectively, R and C is the quantity of rice and cocoa respectively(3). In Norway the PPF is: LN=aNLR ·R+aNLC ·C 130=1 ·R+1/3 ·C It takes 1 worker to produce a unit of rice and 1/3 to produce a unit of cocoa. As noted by Thompson (2001) employment in rice production plus employment in cocoa production sums the labor force of Norway(3). If 0 cocoa is produced: 130=(1 ·R)+(1/3 ·0) R=130/1=130 If 0 rice is produced: 130=(1 ·0)+(1/3 ·C) C==390 So, the autarky PPF,CPF diagram of Norway is as follows: As noted by Thompson (2001) Norway produces at the two endpoints of the PPF, (130,0) or (0,390) or at any other point between them(3). In the same way, in Argentina the PPF is: LA=aALR ·R+ aALC ·C 390=(3/2 ·R)+(3/2 ·C) If 0 cocoa is produced: 390=(3/2 ·R)+(3/2 ·0) R==260 If 0 rice is produced: 390=(3/2 ·0)+(3/2 ·C) C==260 So, the autarky PPF,CPF diagram of Argentina is as follows: Furthermore, the relative price of rice in Norway is 3 and of cocoa is 1/3, the opportunity cost of one relative to the other. The relative price of rice and cocoa in Argentina is 1 for each one of them. So, in autarky cocoa is relatively cheaper in Norway, since 1/31. Consequently, as noted by Agiomirgianakis, and Vlassis (2005) the international relative price of rice will be between 1 and 3. If it’s above 3 both countries produce rice. If it’s below 1, both countries produce cocoa. Since the international relative price of rice is 3/2, between 3 and 1, Argentina specializes in rice, producing 390.000.0001=390.000.000 tons of rice, and Norway in cocoa, producing 130.000.0003=390.000.000 tons of cocoa(4). Continuing, in free trade and since the world equilibrium price of rice is Pr/Pc=3/2. This is the Norway’s new Consumption Possibility Frontier(5): PrΆ¡qr+PcΆ¡qc=PcΆ¡390 (PrΆ¡qr+PcΆ¡qc)/Pc=390 (PrΆ¡qr/Pc)+(PcΆ¡qc/Pc)=390 [(Pr /Pc)Ά¡qr]+qc=390 qc=390-[(Pr /Pc)Ά¡qr] and since Pr/Pc=3/2 (the world equilibrium relative price of rice) qc=390-(3/2Ά¡qr) The slope of the free trade CPF is -3/2 and the diagram as follows: This is the Argentina’s new Consumption Possibility Frontier(5): PrΆ¡qr+PcΆ¡qc=PrΆ¡260 (PrΆ¡qr+PcΆ¡qc)/Pr=260 (PrΆ¡qr/Pr)+(PcΆ¡qc/Pr)=260 [(Pc /Pr)Ά¡qc]+qr=260 qr=260-[(Pc /Pr)Ά¡qc] and since Pr/Pc=3/2 and Pc/Pr=2/3 qr=260-(2/3Ά¡qc) The slope of the free trade CPF is -2/3 and the diagram as follows: As noted by Karagiannis, Katranidis, Palivos and Stoforos (2014) under free trade both countries can â€Å"consume combinations of the two goods that are not produced within the country†(5). c) As noted Karagiannis, Katranidis, Palivos and Stoforos (2014) the wage rates in Argentina can be calculated by WA=Pr/aALR and the wage rates in Norway by WN=Pc/aNLC. So, the wage in Argentina relative to wage in Norway can be calculated as WA/WN=(Pr/Pc)x(aNLC/aALR)=3/2x=x==1/2.(6) So, the wages in Argentina are the  ½ (half) of the wages of Norway and Argentinian workers would want to immigrate to Norway. Furthermore, as noted by Agiomirgianakis, and Vlassis (2005) one of the factors that affect the wage rates of the countries is the terms of trade, which is actually the world equilibrium price of the traded goods(7). d) As explained by Thompson (2001)(8) when a country opens to free trade and due to comparative advantage specializes in one good, importing another, the domestic firms that produced this other product in autarky but at higher prices than the world price, would have reasons to object to free international trade, since they would go out of business. Their stockholders and investors would strongly oppose to such an opening to free trade since they would lose their money. Also, a lot of specialized workers would also object to free international trade since they would have to retrain to find a job in the firms of the good their country specializes from now on. However, even though the cost of retraining workers and reforming the firms to the new specialised market will be considerable, it will also be temporary and the economy, after a small transition period, will readjust to the new conditions and in long term the gains from free trade will prevail. The producers will see their market and income increase and consumers will enjoy more cheaper goods. SUBJECT 2(9): a) In autarky the equilibrium price and quantity is where the supply and demand curve intersect, where Qs=Qd. So, Qs=Qd 2P=600-P 2P+P=600 3P=600 P=600/3=200 â‚ ¬ is the autarky equilibrium price. Having found the price, we can find the equilibrium quantity: Qd=Qs=2P=2200=400 b) On free trade the world price is Pw=125, the quantity supplied (QSw) and demanded (QDw) in the country is: QDw=600-P=600-125=475 QSw=2P=2125=250 The country’s quantity demanded of steel is 475, which is less than the quantity supplied (250), and consequently there will be QDw-QSw=475-250=225 imports. c) Tariff=T and price under the tariff is the world price plus the tariff: P2=Pw+T So, the new quantities supplied(Qs2) and demanded(Qd2) are: Qs2=2P2 Qs2=2x(Pw+T) Qs2=2x(125+T) Qs2=250+2T Qd2=600-P2 Qd2=600-(Pw+T) Qd2=600-(125+T) Qd2=600-125-T Qd2=475-T The amount that the government wants to raise, 3,750 Euros, equals the tariff times the imports(10), which are the quantity demanded(Qd2) minus the quantity supplied(Qs2), 3,750=T x (Qd2-Qs2) So, T=3,750/(Qd2-Qs2) T=3,750/[(475-T)-(250+2T)] T=3,750/(225-3T) T x (225-3T)=3,750 -3T2+225T-3,750=0 [With Δ=2252-(4 ·-3 ·-3,750)=50,625-45,000=5,625 and since it is positive:] T1=(-225-) /(2x-3)= -300/-6=50 T2=(-225+) /(2x-3)= -150/-6=25 So, the government can raise 3,750 â‚ ¬ by imposing a tariff on imports of either T1=50 or T2=25. Which one the government should choose depends on the consumers and producers gains and losses and the net effect of each tariff, relative to which part its politicians wants to protect the most. So, for tariff T1: The new price is PT1=PW+T1=125+50=175 and the quantity supplied and demanded is: QST1=2PT1=2175=350, QDT1=600-PT1=600-175=425. So, the change in consumer surplus is the difference between consumer surplus with the tariff minus the consumer surplus on free trade and can be seen on the diagram as -(a+b+c+d) areas(9). So,{[(600-175)x425]/2}-{[(600-125)x475]/2}=90,312.50-112,812.50= -22,500 â‚ ¬ the money consumers lose due to the tariff. The change in producers surplus is the difference between producers surplus with the tariff minus producers surplus on free trade and can be seen on the diagram as the scheme a(9). [(PT1-PW) ·QST1]–([(PT1-PW) ·(QST1-QSW)]/2}=[(175-125)x350]-{[(175-125)x(350-250)]/2}=17,500-2,500=15,000 â‚ ¬ the producers gain. The net effect of tariff T1=50 can be seen on the scheme by the two triangles b and d and is calculated as –(b+d), being actually the deadweight loss for society(9): -(b+d)= -{{[(QST1-QsW)xT1]/2}+{[(QDW-QDT1)xT1]/2}}= -{{[(350-250)x50]/2}+{[(475-425)x50]/2}}=-(2,500+1,250)= -3,750 â‚ ¬ the net effect. So, for tariff T2: The new price is PT2=PW+T2=125+25=150 and the quantity supplied and demanded is: QST2=2PT2=2150=300, QDT2=600-PT2=600-150=450. So, the change in consumer surplus is, as can be seen on the diagram, -(a+b+c+d) (9). So,{[(600-150)x450]/2}-{[(600-125)x475]/2}=101,250-112,812.50= -11,562.50 â‚ ¬ the money consumers lose due to the tariff. The change in producers surplus is the difference between producers surplus with the tariff minus producers surplus on free trade and can be seen on the diagram as the scheme a(9). [(PT2-PW) ·QST2]–([(PT2-PW) ·(QST2-QSW)]/2}=[(150-125)x300]-{[(150-125)x(300-250)]/2}=7,500-625 =6,875 â‚ ¬ the producers gain. The net effect of tariff T2=2 is as before –(b+d) (9): -(b+d)= -{{[(QST2-QSW)xT2]/2}+{[(QDW-QDT2)xT2]/2}}= -{{[(300-250)x25]/2}+{[(475-450)x25]/2}}=-(625+312.50)= -937.50 â‚ ¬ the net effect. Consequently, if the government wants to protect the consumers more than the producers, it should impose tariff T2=25 since consumers will lose less and the net effect is smaller, but if it prefers to protect producers it should impose tariff T1=50 since they gain more with it (15,000>6,875), even though the net effect is bigger. d) As noted by Thompson (2001) â€Å"a quota is a quantitative restriction on the level of imports†(10). So the quota is the difference between the quantity demanded and the quantity supplied under new price. Quota =QDq-QSq and the new price under the quota is the world price plus q: Pq=Pw+q So the new quantities supplied and demanded are: QSq=2Pq =2 ·(Pw+q)=2 ·(125+q) QSq=250+2q QDq=600-Pq=600-(Pw+q) QDq=600-(125+q) QDq=475-q The amount that the government wants to raise, 3,750 â‚ ¬, equals q (the price raise due to the quota) times the imports [the quantity demanded (QDq) minus the quantity supplied (QSq)], 3,750=q ·(QDq-QSq) So q=3,750/(QDq-QSq) q=3,750/[(475-q)-(250+2q)] q=3,750/(225-3q) q ·(225-3q)=3,750 -3q2+225q-3,750=0 [With Δ=2252-(4 ·-3 ·-3,750)=50,625-45,000=5,625 and since it is positive:] q1=(-225-) /(2x-3)= -300/-6=50 q2=(-225+) /(2x-3)= -150/-6=25 With q1=50, Pq1=125+50=175, and QSq1=2Pq1=2175=350, QDq1=600-Pq1=600-175=425 and so the Quota=QDq1-QSq1=425-350=75 With q2=25, Pq2=125+25=150, and QSq2=2Pq2=2150=300, QDq2=600-Pq2=600-150=450 and so the Quota=QDq2-QSq2=450-300=150 As in the previous answer (c), the government can choose between a quota of 75 and 150 imports, with the same result for its income. If the government wants to protect its consumers, it will impose a quota of 150 imports since it will set a smaller price than with a quota of 75 imports (150425. But if the government wants to protect producers it will impose a quota of 75 imports, since with it the producers sell more (350>300) and gain more (350175=61250 > 45000=300150)]. Subject 3: a) In autarky the equilibrium price (P) and quantity (Q) can be found setting quantity supplied and demanded equal: QD=QS 180-30P=20+10P 180-20=30P+10P 160=40P 160/40=P Since P=4, quantity is Q=QD=QS=20+10P=20+(104)=60 On free trade price=Pw=2 and the quantities supplied(QSw) and demanded(QDw) are: QDw=180-30Pw=180-(302)=120 QSw=20+10Pw=20+(102)=40 The export subsidy would put the price Ps=PW+2.5=2+2.5=4.5 â‚ ¬ and the quantities supplied and demanded: QDs=180-30Ps=180-(304.5)=45 QSs=20+10Ps=20+(104.5)=65 On free trade 40 units are supplied but 120 units are demanded, so (120-40=) 80 units are imported. The price is the world price, 2 â‚ ¬. With the export subsidy 65 units are supplied but only 45 are demanded in the country, so (65-45=) 20 units are exported. The new price is 4.5 â‚ ¬. Consumers consume less units that are more expensive. The consumers lose from the export subsidy and their income decrease can be calculated by ΔCS= -(a+b+e+f+g) areas of the diagram(11): a+e=(PS-PW)xQDS=(4.5-2)x45=112.5 b+f+g=[(PS-PW)x(QDw-QDs)]/2=[(4.5-2)x(120-45)]/2=187/2=93.75 So, -(a+b+e+f+g)= -(112.5+93.75)= -206.25 â‚ ¬ Producers gain from the export subsidy. On free trade they sell 40 units for only 2 â‚ ¬, but with the export subsidy they sell 65 units, (65-40=) 25 units more, for 4.5 â‚ ¬. The producers gain (income increase) can be calculated by ΔPS=a+b+c areas on the diagram(11): [(PS-PW)xQSs]–{[(QSs-QSW)x(PS-PW)]/2}=[(4.5-2)x65]-{[(65-40)x(4.5-2)]/2}=162.5-31.25=131.25 â‚ ¬ The government loses from the export subsidy. Its loss is the budget effect and can be calculated by –(b+c+d+f) areas of the diagram(11): –(b+c+d+f)= -[(PS-PW)x(QSs-QDs)]= -[(4.5-2)x(65-45)]= -50 â‚ ¬. The net effect, the deadweight loss of society, can be calculated by adding consumers lose+producers gain+budget effect= -206.25+131.25-50= -125 â‚ ¬ b) With the production subsidy the producers gain 2 (the world price) +2.5 (the subsidy)=4.5 â‚ ¬ per unit of output, which is the new price (PS) for them only(12). Consumers buy still at 2 â‚ ¬. The new quantity produced with the new price is Qs=20+10P=20+(104.5)=20+45=65. The quantity demanded didn’t change(120), so if there in no imports prohibition, consumers buy 65 from the country’s producers and (120-65=)55 are imported, all for 2â‚ ¬. So, consumers have no gains or loss from the production subsidy(12). The government loses the amount of the subsidy: 65unitsX2.5â‚ ¬= -162.5 â‚ ¬, the –(a+b+c+d) areas of the diagram(12). The Net effect can be calculated by the –(c+d) areas of the diagram(12): -(c+d)= -{[(QS-QSw)x(PS-PW)]/2}= -{[(65-40)x2.5]/2}=-(62.5/2)= -31.25 â‚ ¬ Producers gain from the production subsidy and their gains can be calculated by the a+b areas of the diagram(12): a+b= (a+b+c+d)-(c+d)=162.5-31.25=131.25 â‚ ¬ Subject 4: Several politicians in developed countries are in favor of free trade of goods between countries but strongly against immigration and free exchange of workers among countries. The question is whether one can be in favor of the first and against the second, especially since they are actually against free trade of the production factor of labor. According to the supporters of the above, immigration is created due to the differences of wages among countries and a certain equalization of wages would eliminate that reason, ignoring actually that a large part of immigration is due to asylum seekers. Continuing, according to them, free trade of goods between countries can provide the less developed ones with a really large market, the international one, to which they could export the goods at which they have a comparative advantage due to cheap labor, creating the conditions for the price of those goods to rise in a long term base due to the increasing demand for the exporting good. Increased demand for the good leads to an increased demand for labor and consequently, a raise on wages. In that way, free trade would eliminate the abovementioned reason for immigration. Based on that, for example Mundell (1957) sees free trade and immigration as substitutes, arguing that restrictions on free trade create immigration and restrictions of labor factors promotes free trade (13). According to the supporters of the above idea, immigration also reduces the labor endowment of the home country of the immigrants, and consequently the number of consumers. The market of the home country is in other words shrinking. In the same time, immigration increases the host country’s costs for health, security and other public services. Finally, some support that a large amount of foreign workers in a country might create serious unemployment problems to its citizens(14). However, the above arguments are not generally accepted. Markusen (1983) has proved that free trade and immigration are actually complements in cases where international trade is created for example due to differences in technology, preferences or lack of perfect competition(14). There are also others who argue that immigrants in a free trade environment create a whole new market for trade with goods for which there was no demand before immigration(15). Immigrants also pay taxes in the host country(14). In conclusion, the idea that a country should promote free international trade and prohibit immigration isn’t always the best solution, since it can be beneficial only under certain circumstances that are not always attainable. BIBLIOGRAPHY: (1) THOMPSON, H. (2001) â€Å"International Economics: Global Markets and International Competition†. Singapore: World Scientific, p.29,48. (2) KARAGIANNIS, G., KATRANIDIS, S., PALIVOS, T., STOFOROS, C. (2014) International Economics. 2nd Tutorial Meeting, MBA50: Economics for Managers, Hellenic Open University, 6th December 2014,p.10. (3) THOMPSON, H. (2001) â€Å"International Economics: Global Markets and International Competition†. Singapore: World Scientific,p.29,40-41. (4) AGIOMIRGIANAKIS, G.M., VLASSIS, M. (2005) Economics for Managers: Volume 1 International Economic Environment. Patras: Hellenic Open University, p.41. (5) KARAGIANNIS, G., KATRANIDIS, S., PALIVOS, T., STOFOROS, C. (2014) International Economics. 2nd Tutorial Meeting, MBA50: Economics for Managers, Hellenic Open University, 6th December 2014,p.15. (6) KARAGIANNIS, G., KATRANIDIS, S., PALIVOS, T., STOFOROS, C. (2014) International Economics. 2nd Tutorial Meeting, MBA50: Economics for Managers, Hellenic Open University, 6th December 2014,p.18-19. (7) AGIOMIRGIANAKIS, G.M., VLASSIS, M. (2005) Economics for Managers: Volume 1 International Economic Environment. Patras: Hellenic Open University, p.45. (8) THOMPSON, H. (2001) â€Å"International Economics: Global Markets and International Competition†. Singapore: World Scientific,p.89-91. (9) THOMPSON, H. (2001) â€Å"International Economics: Global Markets and International Competition†. Singapore: World Scientific,p.117-8. (10) THOMPSON, H. (2001) â€Å"International Economics: Global Markets and International Competition†. Singapore: World Scientific,p.121-2. (11) KARAGIANNIS, G., KATRANIDIS, S., PALIVOS, T., STOFOROS, C. (2014) International Economics. 2nd Tutorial Meeting, MBA50: Economics for Managers, Hellenic Open University, 6th December 2014,p.39. (12) SURANOVIC, S.M., (2003) International Trade Theory and Policy. [Online], Chapter 95-1B, Available from: http://internationalecon.com/Trade/Tch95/T95-1B.php[Accessed: 9th January 2014]. (13) AGIOMIRGIANAKIS, G.M., VLASSIS, M. (2005) Economics for Managers: Volume 1 International Economic Environment. Patras: Hellenic Open University, p.138-150. (14) SCHIFF, M., Migration, Investment and Trade: Substitutes or Complements?.[Online] Agent Franà §aise de Dà ©veloppement. Availlable from: http://www.afd.fr/webdav/shared/PORTAILS/PUBLICATIONS/EUDN/EUDN2006/Schiff.pdf[Accessed: 14th January 2015]. (15) MARJIT, S., BELADI, H. Complementarily between Trade and Factor Movement: Revisiting Mundell-Markusen Propositions. KeiO Associated Repository of Academic Resources. Available from: http://koara.lib.keio.ac.jp/xoonips/modules/xoonips/download.php/AA00260492-20020001-0057.pdf?file_id=28397[Accessed: 14th January 2015].

Beowulf Good vs. Evil

Reading the poem ‘Beowulf’, many ideas, related to the forces of good fighting those of evil, are present within its structure and within its events. The main character in this story is Beowulf who stands for all that is good in a epic battle against Grendel, the monster, who represents evil, death, and pure darkness. â€Å"They called him Grendel, a demon grim / Haunting the fen-lands, holding the moors / Ranging the wastes, where the wretched Wight / Made his lair with the monster kin† (61-64).In a way, the reader can understand that the poem is simply the reflection of an idea that is old as man himself: God and the devil, one against the other. The poet attempts to explain an idea regarding the powers of good and evil within each one of us, the two powers are not only opposite to one another, but also in an endless fight between them. Beowulf is the one who is able to do good and to perform what is of good nature and to help others without thinking of himself. The poem highlights the idea that evil can cleanse the world of evil.Gendel, on the other hand, along with his mother, and the dragon are those desiring to cause harm (and effectively causing that harm) to people. Beowulf was the only one who decided to save those people who were in need, he went to save the people in other lands and to fight a monster that was causing them the suffering and that was capable of destroying any human being in a few seconds. He chose to risk his life in the face of that monster for the good of the others; this is why we find certain reference to him, such as the Prince of goodness; â€Å"the peerless hero, the honored prince† (89).He was the chosen one to save and protect the world from evil. Beowulf declares himself as the good fighter when he informs King Hrothgar that he wants to kill Grendel. Beowulf says â€Å"With hand-grip only I'll grapple with Grendel / Foe against foe I'll fight to the death / And the one who is taken must trust to G od's grace / If death shall call me, he'll carry away† (342-345). Here, Beowulf declares that he will slay the evil creature and that he is not afraid of death because he is fighting for a good cause against a dark enemy.Grendel, as a symbol of evil, attempts to destroy all people and all things around him. Grendel moves in the dark, in a way to show that he is the dark messenger of evil, before to go to the land of Heorot looking for the warriors. When he finds them, he seizes thirty of the men during their sleep, and then kills them all. The next night, Grendall tries to do the same again; the poem explains how he was determined to commit more crimes because one for him was never enough and because one act of evil is far less than what he desired.He kills everyone simply because he enjoys taking the life of someone, and this is another indication to that fact that the fight was not only between two sides, but between moral and immoral, good and bad, and between darkness and light. Grendel’s main purpose was to enter the land and to eliminate everything that represented the joy and happiness that were one of the qualities of that land’s people. Gendel’s home is portrayed to represent hell, in many ways, and he is described to be the offspring of slime in which he lived in always.Then, After he becomes the king of Geatland, he demonstrates his great skills and agility for a good cause when he pledges to slay the fire dragon. Beowulf, as the story goes, pledged to kill the dragon, which has caused a trouble and misery to many of the king’s people. The selfless actions put forward by Beowulf prove many aspects of the hero’s characteristics in what concerns goodness and love of justice.Another case is evident in the following action of Beowulf: â€Å"The she-wolf bore / The ring-prince down through the watery depths / To her den at the bottom; nor could Beowulf draw / His blade for battle, though brave his mood† (10 01-1004). The side of Goodness is also portrayed by the ability of the hero to eleminate the evil and cleanse the land of Heorot. Not only that, but by destroying both Grendel and his mother, Beowulf has purified the hall of Hrothgar of all evils. The fight is between good and evil because it is stated by Beowulf when he announced that he would rid Heorot of evil.Beowulf says, â€Å"That I may alone with my loyal earls / With this hardy company, cleanse Hart Hall / I have heard that the demon in proud disdain / Spurns all weapons; and I too scorn / May Hygelac's heart have joy of the deed / To bear my sword, or sheltering shield / Or yellow buckler, to battle the fiend† (355-341). The great skill of the good hero must be able to purify the land of the evils left by Grendel. Before Grendall was killed, we find that his previous evil actions and killings allowed hatred hate to triumph.Another evil quality that the good hero should be aware of is pride; in the poem, we find the king Hrothgar warning Beowulf of such a quality: He gives him advices that will make goodness remain with him: â€Å"I wish you wealth to your heart's content / In your days of glory be good to my sons! / Here each hero is true to other / Gentle of spirit, loyal to lord / Friendly thanes and a folk united† (784-788). Other indications concerning the side representing good can be found in different parts of the poem. The poem ‘Beowulf’ clearly describes many elements related to the values that society treasured and believed in.The first value was the courage and bravery that are declared by the same person who claims to have them; this is clear in the statement of Beowulf himself when he said: â€Å"I count it true that I had more courage, more strength in swimming than any other man† (508-509). Then comes altruism when Beowulf decides to fight the monster without his sword just to be able to save the others: â€Å"With hand-grip only I'll grapple with foe against foe I'll fight to the death, and the one who is taken must trust to God's grace† (342-344).In this last statement, we can find another value which is the strength of the belief in fate in the culture of that society. Another value was that honor comes as result of someone's actions and good doing during his life, while in Christianity, for example, honor and glory can only be received in the life after death. In another element that can be contested according to today’s values is that Beowulf represented a warrior culture which stated that it was better to get revenge than to grieve those who died: â€Å"Sorrow not, brave one!Better for man to avenge a friend than much to mourn: All men must die; let him who may Win glory ere death† (896-899). One of the most important factors that are clear is the great value that was placed in kinship. Those who are considered related through family were of a certain importance and closeness that if one of them was kil led, it should become a duty for his relatives to vindicate his death and punish the perpetrator. Other values of Beowulf’s society are loyalty, honesty, justice, and generosity.Even though Beowulf and Achilles had many common heroic qualities such as courage and strength, there were many differences between them. To understand the differences we must take a closer look at the motivations of each of them; Achilles was a great warrior that sought glory and fame through revenge, social status and through the pursuit of power, while Beowulf sought glory through a different path; his main concern was to save and protect his people and his soldiers. Achilles was capable of anything to reach his goals, while Beowulf followed his higher values in all cases; those values were loyalty, pride and courtesy.The evil character presented by the story is the typical one that possesses tremendous powers and that has the most horrendous of looks. It is the one that can be found in many ancien t stories (and in some cases, many fairytales) that aim at giving a clear image of evil and of its deeds and of its objectives, which are mostly to cause harm and pain to everyone around him. The evil character, in this story, has no further goals to obtain through the killing and the terror caused, because those means are the same as the ends.While the good character, Beowulf, is pure and courageous. He is willing to do anything to prevent any more harm and to stop the evil forces that are working in the world around him. He chooses to kill the monster, not because of the joy of killing, but to save the people and the city. And he does not choose to do so because he wants to be considered a hero, but because he is really a hero who does not expect anything in return for his actions. The confrontation, as portrayed throughout the poem, is the one that is mentioned in different stories (in some cases, religious stories).Evil, no matter how powerful and no matter how fearless, will ha ve to face the powers of good and only the chosen one, who has all the required physical and mental tools, will be able to stop and defeat the powers of evil and to purify the world and will bring justice, love and happiness. In his attempt to give us a clear idea of the various factors related to the fight between good and evil, the poet manages to describe the whole story in a way that can be used in any time and for any culture; because this specific fight is always valid.The dreams and aspirations of people are the same as they have never changed, and most probably, they will never change: To be able to have a peaceful life, to be able to offer good life to their children, and to be able to have justice and equality. Beowulf is simply the hero that everyone wishes to have in order to realize those dreams and aspirations. Reference Beowulf. Translated by Charles Kennedy. Retrieved July 7, 2006 from the world wide web: http://www. wise. k12. va. us/dlp/English/beowolf. htm

The Hidden Gem of Simple Argument Essay Topics

The Hidden Gem of Simple Argument Essay Topics A good deal of individuals find it tough to reach their aims. You don't need to select your real opinionjust the stance you're able to argue most convincingly. In addition, the paragraph doesn't support the notion that polite speech conveys tone online as it primarily focuses on the absence of polite speech on some sections of the web. Although there are just two short paragraphs, there's a great deal of room for confusion here. You see, the conventions of English essays are somewhat more formulaic than you may think and, in various ways, it can be as easy as counting to five. Thus, for your coursework, you are going to want to have the very best ideas. A trusted writing services business can assist you with all that. To score no less than a 3, students would be smart to use pertinent references from the text. The Simple Argument Essay Topics Game After that, choose your top three or four, and formulate a succinct outline befo re you begin your essay. Essay allow might be found in a lot of forms. The essay ought to have a tiny structure, unlike a usual essay. Because the GRE Argument essay involves critiquing somebody else's argument, as opposed to building your own, it might be hard to see at first how you may keep your essay organized. Specific characteristic of the topic presentation lies in some specific peculiarities of the essay outline. The multiple topics could be found, for instance, in the dissertation abstracts international database. There are 176 possible topics you are going to be requested to write about on the GRE Argument essay, and they all are offered for free internet. There are a few great topics to take into account when selecting topic for your argumentative essay. Simple Argument Essay Topics Fundamentals Explained Make certain you articulate a very clear position in your paper and that you adhere to it from beginning to finish. It's essential not just to supply the evidence to strengthen your position but also to refute that of your opponents. For each prompt you opt to outline, come up with three or more points of analysis and a couple sentences to explain the value of each point. Emphasize your position is the very best by summarizing the principal points of your argument. In each one of the 3 body paragraphs of your essay, you should go over the 3 main elements of the argument that go to show your point. Though the conclusion paragraph comes at the conclusion of your essay it shouldn't be regarded as an afterthought. The upcoming few paragraphs will constitute most of your essay. The very first body paragraph should concentrate on a single side of the argument, and the second paragraph should concentrate on the opposing side. What You Don't Know About Simple Argument Essay Topics After you've given yourself a good foundation to work with, you can start to craft your essay. Remember that the period of your essay is dependent upon the assignment provided to you. Writing argumentative essays requires plenty of time to finish, especially when you don't have an assigned topic. Writing an argumentative essay can sometimes be confusing as you don't necessarily know how to compose a persuasive argument. In the event the answer is yes, attempt to structur e your argument in order for your points build off one another. Arguments are normally not well-supported or can be readily refuted, therefore, your very first sentence can produce the point that the argument isn't well-reasoned, as it leaves out factors that would want to get considered. Attempt to choose the best devices to back up your argument that you are able to. Think of another issue with the argument. What Everybody Dislikes About Simple Argument Essay Topics and Why An argumentative essay is a kind of academic papers that students write in the center school. You should also pick issues that you've got a terrific interest in. You might become a prosperous person without having a great education. Ask students to describe the characteristics of every type of essay. In the event that you prefer to find the best deal for this money your paper needs to be ordered by then you mainly because we'll produce you the absolute most useful results straight away. If do not hav e any urge to waste time on choosing the best topic and writing the entire argumentative essay from scratch, don't forget you've a loyal group of professionals by your side. Afterwards, you should explain the explanations for which you support that side. Thus, research paper topics are often occupied by a great deal of women and men. Why Almost Everything You've Learned About Simple Argument Essay Topics Is Wrong You may continue to keep your argumentative essays for your upcoming job portfolio in case they're highly graded. Never perpetrate the error of picking a book that you presume, will most likely be exceedingly simple to study. Possessing a few minor errors in your essay is fine, so long as the errors don't ensure it is impossible to comprehend what you're attempting to say. You are unable to defend any point without a great understanding of your subject. What to Expect From Simple Argument Essay Topics? This kind of essay requires a good framework and exceptional s upport. When you choose a topic, you must answer the query and after that substantiate your response with three or more motivations as to why you think like that. Tie every claim you make to a bit of evidence to make sure the very best essay possible. You have to come across good evidence to back up your ideas in addition to examples to illustrate the evidence. Most Noticeable Simple Argument Essay Topics Bear in mind that you may make funny argumentative essays if you do a few things. The expression Rogerian essay can throw off lots of people. It's not sufficient to pick a topic which everybody agrees on. When you have the topic, answer the question and after that support your answer with three or more explanations for why you believe it.

Slaughterhouse Five, By Kurt Vonnegut, Billy Pilgrim And...

Could the cruelest, most punishing soldier and a peaty chaplain’s assistant be at all alike? How are they different? When reading Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut, Billy Pilgrim and Roland Weary are some of the first characters you will meet. One is a no-life and the other a die hard army man. The characters are different yet very similar. Billy and Roland are similar even if they don’t realize it. Both characters, Billy Pilgrim and Roland Weary, are imaginative. Billy has a different type of imagining than from Roland. Billy’s way of thinking is to be more â€Å"out of the box† or fantasy. Kurt Vonnegut wrote in the book, â€Å"Slaughterhouse-Five,† about Billy Pilgrim saying, â€Å"And then Billy swung into life again, going backwards until he was†¦show more content†¦Right? A slit closes up. Right?’ ‘Right.’ ‘Shit. What do you know? What the hell they teach in college?’ ‘I wasn’t there very long,’ said Billy, which was true† (Vonnegut 37). As you can tell after reading that quote, Billy isn’t exactly the brightest bulb in the bunch. Not only does he not understand a word Roland is saying to him, but he also responds with the simplest and easiest answer every time Roland questions him, even if it’s rhetorical. Roland is his own brand of stupid. As quoted in this line  "He had been unpopular because he was stupid and fat and mean†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Vonnegut 35). Though they are very similar, Billy Pilgrim and Roland Weary also have many differences between themselves. An example of a difference is Billy doesn’t care about life while Roland does. Roland Weary is always trying and nothing matters to Billy Pilgrim. Roland’s life in the war is described as, â€Å" ...There was a big German attack, and Weary and his anti-tank buddies fought like hell until everybody was killed but Weary. So it goes. And then Waary tied in with two scouts, and they became close friends immediately, and they decided to fight their way back to their own lines† (Vonnegut 42). Roland Weary does care about life though. He has a set purpose in life, to be part of the â€Å"famous† â€Å"Three Musketeers†. â€Å"‘Yes, sir,’ said one of the scouts. ‘We’d like to stick together for the rest of the war, sir. Is there some way you can fix it so nobody will ever break up the ThreeShow MoreRelated Comic and Tragic E lements in Kurt Vonneguts Slaughterhouse Five1485 Words   |  6 PagesComic and Tragic Elements in Slaughterhouse Five    Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., is the tale of a World War II soldier, Billy Pilgrim. His wartime experiences and their effects lead him to the ultimate conclusion that war is unexplainable. To portray this effectively, Vonnegut presents the story in two dimensions: historical and science-fiction. The irrationality of war is emphasized in each dimension by contrasts in its comic and tragic elements. The historical seriousnessRead MoreSlaughterhouse Five Essay example1842 Words   |  8 Pagesequipped to enter war. Kurt Vonnegut portrays the horrors of war in Slaughterhouse Five, through the utilization of satire, symbolism, and imagery. The main occurrence in the novel was the nonsensical bombing of the culturally enriched and beautiful city in Dresden, Germany. On February 13, 1945 amidst World War II this city was attack and recorded among the worst air attacks in history with a casualty of approximately 135,000(Cox). The main character in the novel, Billy Pilgrim, witnesses the bombingRead MoreMorality Of The Youth In Kurt Vonneguts Slaughterhouse-Five1088 Words   |  5 Pagesequality, both of the genders and of the races. Kurt Vonnegut writes about the youth in Slaughterhouse-Five and their mission. Yet these motivational sources differ a large amount from those of the current day. Their task, war. The youth in Vonnegut’s novel are naive children, sheep following their shepherd. Without these misguided young adults, the machinery of war would grind to a halt. In Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five youth such as Billy Pilgrim, the protagonist, make up the main cannon fodderRead MoreKurt Vonnegut Analysis1239 Words   |  5 PagesKurt Vonnegut The Nonsense of War and Billy Pilgrim The firebombing of Dresden by the Allies took as many as 135,000 innocent lives (AE). Among those firebombed, there was Kurt Vonnegut, a U.S. POW during World War II being held captive by the Nazis (AE). Strategically, the firebombing was senseless (AE). Many have speculated that the purpose of the bombing was to disrupt the Nazi war machine, which would make sense if it wasn’t for the fact that Dresden contained no heavy industry (AE). TheRead MoreSlaughterhouse Five And The Comforts Of Indifference By Barry Chabot2680 Words   |  11 Pagesthere is none. The story doesn’t morally make any sense, and thats the conclusion Vonnegut is trying to guide the reader towards. The literary criticism of ‘Slaughterhouse Five’ and the Comforts of Indifference, written by Barry Chabot is a critical essay that explores deeper into the meaning behind the eccentric story of Billy Pilgrim, and its creator Kurt Vonnegut. Billy Pilgrim’s indifference is an extension of Vonnegut attempting to come to terms with the violent nature of man. However this â€Å"comfort†Read MoreSlaughterhouse Five By Kurt Vonnegut1381 Words   |  6 PagesKurt Vonnegut seems to portray the protagonist of Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim, much like himself, a war participant and truth seeker. In the novel Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut characterizes Billy Pilgrim as a war survivor with PTSD(Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). In doing so, Vonnegut uses tone to reveal the extremely violent and unruly nature of war and flashbacks to show how war causes Pilgrim to lose touch with reality. Throughout the story, Pilgrim goes back and forth through timeRead MoreKurt Vonnegut S Slaughterhouse Five A Good Anti War Novel?1086 Words   |  5 PagesKevin Amoah Ms Wrotten Honors World Literature 06/06/16 IS KURT VONNEGUT’S SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE A GOOD ANTI WAR NOVEL? Mostly, not all soldiers are affected by the negative aspects of war like injures or death. However, more than half of these soldiers who come back from war mostly suffer from Post Traumatic Stress. In Kurt Vonnegut’s slaughterhouse five, Vonnegut, the author, ues enormous flashbacks, disorder shifts in time, and the use of short phrases, â€Å"so it goes† to convey the idea of lackRead MoreSlaughterhouse Five : The Atypical Novel1044 Words   |  5 PagesSlaughterhouse Five: the Atypical Novel Most great novels traditionally have one dynamic character with a strong personality that embarks on a prolonged pilgrimage. This character s demeanor or life is changed forever as a result of an event or obstacle they are forced to overcome. However; Kurt Vonnegut s Slaughterhouse Five breaks the mold of a traditional novel and blazes forward in a new and bizarre path. He uses a diverse cast of subordinate characters to make certain symbolic representationsRead MoreSlaughterhouse Five, By Kurt Vonnegut941 Words   |  4 Pageshistory. Just as in all largely fatal events, the survivors reflect upon the unbearable guilt and emotions they have experienced. Billy Pilgrim, the main protagonist In Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Slaughterhouse-Five, serves as Vonnegut’s vehicle to communicate his feelings and contemplations as a survivor. Throughout the story, Pilgrim, or the reader encounters an animal that Vonnegut uses to convey the range of emotions and incidents that humans are subject to as a result of war. In the novel, a mysteriousRead MoreInsanity of War in Slaughterhouse Five1504 Words   |  7 PagesSlaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., is the tale of a gawky World War II veteran/soldier, Billy Pilgrim. His wartime experiences and their effects lead him to the ultimate conclusion that war is unexplainable. To portray this effectively, Vonnegut presents the story in two dimensions: historical and science-fiction. The irrationality of war is emphasized in each dimension by contrasts in its comic and tragic elements. The historical seriousness of the Battle of the Bulge and the bombing of