Criticism of Mel Gibsons Hamlet, How well did he maintain the character Essay Example

Criticism of Mel Gibsons Hamlet, How well did he maintain the character Essay Example Criticism of Mel Gibsons Hamlet, How well did he maintain the character Paper Criticism of Mel Gibsons Hamlet, How well did he maintain the character Paper Essay Topic: Hamlet The aspects of Hamlets character that Mel Gibson played up, in the movie production in which Gibson was acting in, were the characteristics of Hamlets strong affections for his mother, Gertrude, along with his subsequent hatred and deep resentment of his step-father, Claudius. Also, his fear and subservient reverence for the ghost of his late father, his scholarly, perceptive, sometimes introspective mind, and his charisma, to the extent of the Castle Ellsinore, for the peoples love for him is mentioned in a few instances, but there is not much advancement on this apparent love, or what Hamlet himself did to be awarded it, save a few laughs at jokes he makes. Gibson plays the Hamlet afflicted with the oedipal complex quite blatantly. This passionate affection is displayed in many of the scenes between Hamlet and his mother, as they are very physical with each other, more so than in a normal mother-and-son relationship, with a lot of touching faces with their hands, and full-lip kissing. In the pictures scene (III. 4) Hamlet becomes very indecently physical with his mother, almost as if he is raping her. I personally felt that the oedipal aspect had been taken a bit too far at that point, but those actions did serve to illustrate that Hamlet may indeed have been confused in the context of sexuality, or it may have helped to emphasize the fact that Hamlet is indeed mad, if you chose to take that stance towards his character. This oedipal aspect of Hamlets character was probably derived from the text, by Gibson, the many references to Claudius and Gertrude in bed and the many sexual allusions he makes when he thinks or talks about them. Why, she would hang on him as if increase of appetite had grown on what it fed on. O, most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets! At the same time that Hamlet is talking about his mother, he makes many hateful references to Claudius, and this aspect was much emphasized by Gibson throughout the movie, but a memorable moment was directly after the players had enacted the scene where the player king was killed in exactly the same way as Claudius had done to old Hamlet, and Claudius becomes frantic and starts calling for lights. We see Hamlet running and jumping about, singing ecstatically and almost reveling in the fact that his uncle had given himself away by his actions. In other scenes, especially in ones where Hamlet is talking face to face with Claudius, he doesnt make any effort to conceal his feelings about his uncle, as he is either sarcastic or seething through his teeth. I thought that these methods of expressing his anger, and also the outburst of happiness and delight in his uncles suffering were appropriate, as sarcasm would serve to emphasize not only his hatred, but also his wit and cunning with words. Excellent, ifaith; of the chameleons dish. I eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so. In the act three, scene four, I felt that Hamlets outburst of happiness was appropriate, because his hatred for the uncle that had murdered his father had been so great that he became absolutely ecstatic when his uncle became subjected to torment of guilt, and this action was a kind of revenge. Hamlets monologue scenes are well done in the movie. The setting of an actual castle gives the audience a more realistic and cold, hard setting, and helps to emphasize the mood of his speeches. For example, in the To be or not to be monologue, a suicidal and deathly mood or air was emphasized by Hamlet staring into the eye sockets of a skull, surrounded by more skulls and more symbols of death such as tombs and even the cold, dark, stone walls. Hamlets speech at the end of act three, scene three is also greatly emphasized by the dark and gloomy night, with the castle towering in the background. These scenes could, of course, be done just as well on stage, but the authentic setting of a real castle adds an extra layer of realism and atmosphere to Mel Gibsons carrying of the monologue that would be hard to replicate on a stage.

Cheating Your Way Through Exams Best Tricks

Cheating Your Way Through Exams Best Tricks Everyone knows that cheaters never prosper, but that doesn’t stop people from trying. In fact, some students are willing to put in more effort in finding ways to avoid learning than it would ever take them to actually study. Here are some of the more amusing ways that college students have invented to cheat their way through school. The Water Bottle Trick If your exam room has an open food and drink policy, this is one of the more creative options. Simply take the label off of a water bottle the night before your test. You can write your notes and answers on the white portion of the bottle and then stick it back on. Whenever you need an answer, all you have to do is take a drink. Of course, spending most of class gazing longingly at your water bottle may also make you look like a psycho. Beauty School Dropout For women, cheating can be as easy as writing infinitely small words on your fingernails. All you have to do is find a tiny pen or pencil, whittle it down to the size of a human hair, and then write your notes. Okay, so maybe it’s not so easy. Also, if you have the patience and determination to write the Pythagorean Theorum on your nails, maybe you should consider putting all that effort into studying. Hats Off to Cheating Another great way to cheat is to write your notes on the inside brim of a baseball cap. When your head is down looking at your desk, your teacher can’t see that your eyeballs are actually faced up towards the ceiling. But remember: if you don’t normally wear a baseball cap, it will look weird if you start on the day of your test. Also, anyone sitting next to you will be able to see your notes and nark you out. Sitting Pretty If you know where the exam will take place, go ahead of time and write the notes you need on the desk or the chair in front of you. This is a great option if your classroom is left unlocked and there is no chance for passersby to see you modifying the desk like a creeper. Also, you run the risk of the teacher seeing and erasing your hard work before the test even starts. Legstravagant Although this tactic can work for guys, it’s most effective for girls who don’t look weird lifting up their skirts in public. For this creative cheating method, you write the answers on your knees or thighs. Then, when you get stuck, you lift up your skirt to check the answer. While this can be a great method if you have a lot of information to review, this method often captures the attention of both the teachers and the distracted guys sitting next to you. Keeping It Kleenex If acting is your forte, the Kleenex notebook is the way to go. You can write your notes ahead of time on a single sheet of Kleenex and then stuff it in your bag. When you come into class, sniffle, cough, and sneeze your way to an A. Just be careful not to use your Kleenex for real – at least, not unless you want the answers all over your face. Sticky Situation Writing on your hands, legs, or ankles has the unpleasant side effect of not being easily removed when your teacher asks to see them. An alternative is to write your notes on a piece of clear tape and then attach it to your clothing. When you’re done, you can just throw away the evidence. That is, assuming you can still find it. Lasting Impressions If your teacher usually gives out a piece of scratch paper, this trick is perfect for you. The night before, write out your notes on a piece of paper with the blank piece underneath. Although your paper will look blank from far away, you’ll be able to read the impressions easily. But, test it first. Your teacher will get concerned if you’re randomly staring and mumbling at a blank piece of paper. Mirror Glasses Anyone who wears glasses knows that you can catch a reflection in the very upper corners if you try. You can make this even more pronounced by cutting up a small mirror and sticking two little pieces in the corners. But, make sure you sit next to someone who knows the answers. Otherwise you’ve ruined a perfectly good pair of glasses for a â€Å"D†. Cheating isn’t going to make you smarter or more capable in the long run. It can lead to failure and potential expulsion, not to mention the loss of respect of your peers and professors. But, if you truly have nothing left to lose, it can be fun to see what you can get away with! Have you ever cheated? Do you know some funny cheating tricks? How do you feel about cheating in general? Were looking forward to your comments! Feature Image Credit: Oxfordlearning

The Ultimate Reality of the Good God Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Ultimate Reality of the Good God - Essay Example The Ultimate Reality of Good and Bad Taoism proposes that Yin Yang is the cosmic symbol of primordial unity and harmony and manifest phenomenal quality; the two great regulating forces of cosmic order in the unparalleled world. If Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism, is correct in his notion as regards the coexistence of good and bad in one body to attain balance, God then is not wholly good, or rather God does not manifest balance. God is good can be understood as a twofold claim: â€Å"God is wholly good—there is no defect or blemish in God or in his actions for He never does anything which is ultimately wrong or evil, and God is necessarily good because He is utterly invulnerable to evil† (Morris 48). As each of us perceives good and evil differently, there can be no definite meaning to both. What one sees as good can be evil in the eyes of another, or what appears to be a bad inception can yield a good result. Nonetheless, man has the tendency to accept a thing as good only if it satisfies his desires. God at times relates to man in ways that cannot be deduced by an ordinary mind, yet His purpose is incontestably good however it affects man. God gives us opportunities to rejoice and grieve, to triumph and suffer defeat, to love and hate for reasons that do not often come out on the surface. As in the story of Job when he was sardonically urged by his wife to curse God for all the mishaps that b efell him, he retorted â€Å"Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?† (Job 2:10 NIV). ... As in the story of Job when he was sardonically urged by his wife to curse God for all the mishaps that befell him, he retorted â€Å"Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?† (Job 2:10 NIV). Good and bad are â€Å"at one and the same time a division and reunion, and if they are spoken of as contending forces, they are also co-operating powers and the tension in which they are held is that of harmony, of the mutual play of creation, not of conflict† (Cooper, Fitzgerald and Stoddart 20). Apart from the nature of God, this is also evident in the way children are reared. The intention of a mother is constantly disposed at what begets good for her offspring, thus will put into practice again the approaches that proved favourable on her first. Despite growing up under the same roof and direction though, children do not grow to be identical in character, nor in fate. Good and bad demonstrates balance in the art of healing. Patients suffering from the same illness may be prescribed different doses of medicine, or different types of medication, for that matter. While a certain remedy benefits one, does not create a firm basis that it will not harm the other. It is true that good and bad are in two distant poles; yet the poles are not separate but bent towards each other to form a connection; that without the combined perception of good and bad, there lies no success in an endeavour. Balancing Reality in Pursuit of Holism Author Brian Luke Seaward (146) states that balance does not necessarily mean a 50/50 ration with whatever sits on either side of the scale. Rather, it might be proportional to a 60/40, 30/70 split, or any combination that equals to a whole (146). The opposites which Taoists suppose as contents of a whole are but merely stages in

Gun Control Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Gun Control - Research Paper Example Crime rates have gone up drastically due to easy access to all manner of handguns, rifles, and automatic weapons. California has recorded a drastic increase in drug-related crimes, robberies, and rape in the past years due to gun possession. Moreover, gun owners feel they have the right to threaten, control, and mishandle other citizens using their weapons. Thus, is it necessary to illegalize possession of guns in California because they cause unnecessary deaths, more crimes and lawlessness, and increased violence in the society. Misuse of weapons leads to 50% of gun related incidences in the form of crimes and gun related lawlessness. In 2009, robbers, burglars, rapists, and drug criminals had easy access to weapons, leading to gang violence, intimidation, breaking of laws, and controlling the other people (Editorial 3). Citizens lived in fear due to rowdy criminals who can access handguns easily and threaten people’s lives. Massive access to different types of handguns, automatic rifles, and machine guns, has made it hard for police to keep up with combating crime in the state of California. Crimes happening in homes, schools, places, of work and on the streets due to guns increased by the day before enforcement of gun laws. Moreover, some gun owners take advantage of the situation and believe they have the right to end someone’s life, cause harm, and intimidate the person on the slightest provocation. Additionally, once guns are in circulation, they end up in the possession of wrong people w ho do not hesitate to use them on innocent citizens. Furthermore, once in possession of guns, criminals gain power over their victims and can inflict all sorts of harm including rape, and death. This power also has resulted in increased organized crimes as the criminals take advantage that they have guns to protect themselves and kill anyone against them. Nevertheless, misuse of weapons has decreased rapidly

The VARK Questionnaire Essay Example for Free

The VARK Questionnaire Essay Choose the answer which best explains your preference by placing a check on the squares next to the choices. You may have two answers per item if a single answer does not match your perception. Leave blank any question that does not apply. A group of tourists want to learn about the parks or wildlife reserves in your area. You would: give them a book or pamphlets about the parks or wildlife reserves. talk about, or arrange a talk for them about parks or wildlife reserves. take them to a park or wildlife reserve and walk with them. show them internet pictures, photographs or picture books. You have to make an important speech at a conference or special occasion. You would: gather many examples and stories to make the talk real and practical. write out your speech and learn from reading it over several times. write a few key words and practice saying your speech over and over. make diagrams or get graphs to help explain things. You want to learn a new program, skill or game on a computer. You would: use the controls or keyboard. follow the diagrams in the book that came with it. read the written instructions that came with the program. talk with people who know about the program. You have finished a competition or test and would like some feedback. You would like to have feedback: using examples from what you have done. using a written description of your results. from somebody who talks it through with you. using graphs showing what you had achieved. Do you prefer a teacher or a presenter who uses: demonstrations, models or practical sessions. question and answer, talk, group discussion, or guest speakers. handouts, books, or readings. diagrams, charts or graphs. You are helping someone who wants to go to your airport, town centre or railway station. You would: write down the directions (without a map). go with her. draw, or give her a map. tell her the directions. I like websites that have: audio channels where I can hear music, radio programs or interviews. things I can click on, shift or try. interesting written descriptions, lists and explanations. interesting design and visual features. You are planning a holiday for a group. You want some feedback from them about the plan. You would: phone, text or email them. use a map or website to show them the places. describe some of the highlights. give them a copy of the printed itinerary. You are going to choose food at a restaurant or cafe. You would: listen to the waiter or ask friends to recommend choices. choose from the descriptions in the menu. choose something that you have had there before. look at what others are eating or look at pictures of each dish. You are about to purchase a digital camera or mobile phone. Other than price, what would most influence your decision? Trying or testing it The salesperson telling me about its features. It is a modern design and looks good. Reading the details about its features. You are going to cook something as a special treat for your family. You would: use a cookbook where you know there is a good recipe. ask friends for suggestions. cook something you know without the need for instructions. look through the cookbook for ideas from the pictures. Other than price, what would most influence your decision to buy a new non-fiction book? It has real-life stories, experiences and examples. Quickly reading parts of it. A friend talks about it and recommends it. The way it looks is appealing. Remember a time when you learned how to do something new. Try to avoid choosing a physical skill, eg. riding a bike. You learned best by: watching a demonstration. diagrams and charts visual clues. written instructions – e.g. a manual or textbook. listening to somebody explaining it and asking questions. You are not sure whether a word should be spelled `dependent or `dependant. You would: find it in a dictionary. write both words on paper and choose one. see the words in your mind and choose by the way they look. think about how each word sounds and choose one. You have a problem with your knee. You would prefer that the doctor: used a plastic model of a knee to show what was wrong. gave you a web address or something to read about it. described what was wrong. showed you a diagram of what was wrong. You are using a book, CD or website to learn how to take photos with your new digital camera. You would like to have: diagrams showing the camera and what each part does. a chance to ask questions and talk about the camera and its features. clear written instructions with lists and bullet points about what to do. many examples of good and poor photos and how to improve them. Please fill in this form so that your results can be included in our research Are you     male or     female? Are you: 18 or younger, 19 to 25, 26 to 34, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, 55 or over? Where do you live? USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Asia, South America, Oceania, Africa, Middle East Is this the first time you have filled in the VARK questionnaire? Yes, this is the first time, No, I have filled it in previously Which of the following best matches your perception of your VARK results? That looks just like me Im not much like that Im not sure Are you involved in education (as a faculty member or as a student)?   yes     Ã‚  no Are you a: student? teacher? Which level of education are you involved at? High school Two-Year College Four-Year College University Other What is your main area of study? Humanities Social Sciences Science Applied Science Business Education Performing Arts Other This questionnaire critique is an evaluation of the VARK questionnaire which measures the learning preferences of individuals. VARK stands for the four types of learning preferences which are visual, aural, read/write and kinesthetic. The questionnaire is geared towards determining how individual take in and give out information in the learning context. It is not similar to learning styles but is a necessary component of the learning style of an individual. The questionnaire contains 16 items only with four choices per item. The four choices correspond to the four different learning preferences (visual, aural, read/write and kinesthetic). The questionnaire is designed to identify which learning preference category the individual highly favors based on his/her responses on the 16 items. The questionnaire is online; therefore it is accessible to a wider range of individuals.   The sampling of respondents is not limited to a certain group since it is online and anyone who comes across the website can take the questionnaire. Moreover, the distribution of the questionnaire occurs only if the questionnaire used was the printed version, but if the online questionnaire is used, it only waits for people to complete the survey. The collection of the data or the responses is automated, it is already programmed and this is added to the database of responses which have been used to establish the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. The demographic data is then asked after the taker has completed answering the questionnaire. The demographic questions include gender, age, location, status and field of expertise. The demographic data are then used in the research conducted by the authors of the VARK. The demographical details required in the questionnaire are standard and usually the most commonly asked in questionnaires. The VARK questionnaire was designed appropriately; the questionnaire is short and yet contains all the information needed to make a good assessment of what learning preference the individual has. The questions are straightforward, it asks about a specific event or situation and the choices are related to the questions and can be an accurate answer to the question whichever the individual chooses it to be. The directions however are not very clear, in the online version, the instruction is to encircle the letters beside the choices, but there was no letters to encircle instead it was an online program that is to be clicked on by the test taker. This may provide confusion to those who may have to use the print version of the questionnaire. The results are immediately processed after the individual hits complete and it can be saved in the website for later use and for the use of the authors to gather as many respondents as they can to validate the questionnaire. The items in the questionnaire can be easily read and understood, there are no jargon or complex words and it makes use of situational events that makes answering the questions more believable and comfortable for the respondents. However, a problem may still arise when the taker is not well versed with English or those who have different cultural backgrounds which limit their knowledge of the different situations presented in the questionnaire. The questions also do not have double meanings or measures two things in one question; instead it places the taker in a certain context and is then asked to respond using the four choices. There are no negatively stated items which are therefore more psychometrically easier to collate and analyze as there are no reverse scores. The structure of the VARK questionnaire is just average, the questions are different from each other, and the choices follow a certain order that reflects the four different learning preferences. Although, these are easier to score and to determine which learning preference the taker uses in the different situations that are being presented in the questionnaire the obvious arrangement of the items and the choices may bias the taker or lead his/her answer to the most favorable one. The demographic data is then surveyed after the taker finishes with the main questionnaire and the results are presented instantly, since the questionnaire is online, the individual is somewhat rewarded with his/her score and has the option to volunteer the information needed for the research part of the questionnaire or not. However, some takers may not take too well with volunteering personal information and may opt not to complete the demographic questions which would be a setback for the authors as it would mean a lesser number of respondents to be used to validate the instrument. This is in keeping with the ethical guidelines of using human respondents in the conduct of surveys and questionnaires for research or other purposes. The online survey is also administered in the same way each time since it is in electronic form and is online and has been programmed to interact with the respondent in the same way each time. However, what the authors has to risk is the varied situations that the respondent comes across the questionnaire, others may be in a crowded cafà © with too much noise and distractions, others may also not read the questionnaire very well and just click on the circles while others may choose not to complete the survey.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In general, the VARK questionnaire has been designed excellently, this could be due to the fact that the questionnaire has undergone a number of revisions and upgrades and that the questionnaire had been first published in 2001. The responses to the VARK had provided the author with the information on how to improve the questionnaire and to improve its reliability and validity. Therefore we could say that with time and scientific tools, the VARK is a good example of a well designed and effective questionnaire despite its weaknesses which may be again improved as time wears on. Reference Fleming, N. (2007). VARK Questionnaire, Retrieved November 10, 2007 from http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire

Roman City Planning Essay -- Rome History Roman Historical Essays

Roman City Planning   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The design and structure of a city is as important as the people who dwell within her walls. The placement of streets and the structures built there are carefully plotted for optimal use. Foot and cart traffic, fire hazard, and access to water were all key factors in city planning. Eventually the Romans had fine tuned their design principals in such an advantageous way that they molded all of their city states similarly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rome developed from the combination of small farming communities around a hilltop fortification. The city, which was founded before regularized city planning, consisted of a confusing maze of crooked and gnarled streets. The focal point of which was the city’s forum, the main meeting place and site of the many religious and civic buildings such as the Senate house, records office, and basilica. (Rich, 20) Augustan Rome, with a population estimated at between 700,000 and one million, was the only megalopolis in the West. Rome’s street plan, which at its greatest extent had 85 km of road, was an irregular maze. Most streets were footpaths or could accommodate only one cart at a time. The central city had only two viea (streets on which two carts could pass each other), on opposing sides of the main forum. (Nicholas, 6) A law passed under Julius Caesar, which was still in force well after his death, stated that carriages were forbidden to use these streets by day, since it was found that there was not room in them both for wheeled vehicles and pedestrians. Public streets would be decorated with marble and stone, some houses, as they decayed, have revealed alleyways and passages that existed before reconstruction. (Bowra, 34) Main streets were often designed carefully to accentuate the housing and monuments that would appear on any given street. Side streets would often be no more than passages, with flights of steps, and sometimes scarcely broad enough for two people to pass in comfort. Many streets were colonnaded; a Roman technique intended to bring shape to shadow and direct light through the streets. Earlier centuries used the stoa, or free-standing portico, to give effects of light and shade to their constructions. It is suggested that the colonnaded street developed out of the stoa; and partly also, perhaps, out of the thrifty use of available space, with the upper stories of houses jutting forw... ...ordinated plan of the city. The main streets led directly from the center of town to the gates, and the pomerial road ran around the city immediately inside the walls. (owens, 150) Rome was a living organism constantly changing and evolving as all cities do. However, the design and structure of Rome was born out of knotted roots. The placement of streets and the structures grew from dirt roads to paved passage ways meant to convey movement and beauty. Key factors in city planning revolved around the citizens and their needs. The Roman design principals forged a template by which all of their city states were similarly molded. Works Cited Bowra, Maurice Et. Al. Golden Ages of the Great Cities. London, England: Thames and Hudson, 1951. Morris, AE. History of Urban Form. London, England: George Godwin LTD, 1972 Nicholas, David. The Growth of Medieval City: From late Antiquity to Early Fourteenth Century. New York, NY: Longman Publishing, 1997. Owens, E. J. The City in the Greek and Roman World. London, England: Routledge Publishing, 1991. Rich, John & Wallace-Hadrill, Andrew. City and the Country in the Ancient World. London, England: Routledge Publishing, 1991.

4 Day Work Week

English 112 Monday 12/06/10 Proposal: Four Day Work Week I propose that we implement a four day work week over the conventional five day work week. 1938 was the year that the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed. This act stated that there was a need for a standardized work week, and that the new standard work week was to be eight hour days, five days a week. There need for this act stemmed from employers taking advantage of their employees and working them to many hours a day and to many days a week.The basis for the eight hour work day was really on nothing other than an idea that a twenty four hour day divided into three assumed eight hour segments sounded logical. One eight hour segment was for sleep, the second for work, and the third for recreational time. As for the idea of working five day work weeks with a two day weekend, who knows? There are a lot of reasons for switching to 4 day work week. All of these reasons promote the better well-being of the government and economy, t he businesses involved, and the individuals themselves. There would be less traffic on the roads.You could assume that with a third day off that more people would opt to stay home that day, or that if people went out it would not be in rush hour traffic at least. With less traffic, the pollutants that cars emit into the air would be lessened, which is also good for keeping tree hugging hippies off our backs. The fewer cars driving throughout the week would also help keep down the amount of road work that would need to be done. Paying for the labor, materials, and equipment necessary to maintain roadways is very expensive, and quite a lot of money could be saved if there were fewer cars out terrorizing road surfaces.With less traffic and fewer people driving throughout the week it is predicted that the number of auto accidents would decrease. This would inevitably lower insurance rates, both auto and medical, which would be more money in your pocket. Probably the most important and m onetarily valuable reason, as far as cars and travel are concerned, is the money that would be saved on oil and fuel consumption. Not just for individuals but for the American economy also as calculated: There are about 133 million workers in America. Around 80% of them get to work by driving alone in a car. The average commute covers about 16 miles each way.So let’s stop and do some math: 133,000,000 workers X 80% who drive alone = 106,400,000 single driver commuter cars each day. 106,400,000 X 32 miles round trip = 3,404,800,000 miles driven to work each day 3,404,800,000 / 21 mpg (average fuel efficiency) = 162,133,333 gallons of gasoline each day Each barrel of crude oil produces, on average, 19. 5 gallons of gas. (It is important to note that other products like kerosene and asphalt are produced from that same barrel) 162,133,333 / 19. 5 = 8,314,530 barrels of oil each day. What this shows is the impact a 4 day work week could have on crude oil imports.I’m talking about a 40% reduction in the amount of oil we need Monday through Friday simply by rearranging our work week (Newton, para. 2). The implementation of the four day work week would also have some healthy side effects in the workplace. Less people would take off work. By having a 4 day work week it could mean less absenteeism. The long weekend could mean less faux sick days on Mondays, it can also mean an extra day of rest if an employee is in fact falling ill. The overall pros for a 4 day work week reflect lower turnover, and a happier, less stressed work force (Magas, para. , 8). With a three day weekend you would have almost an equal amount of days off as spent at work. With such a system in place, people would be much happier. It would be better for the individuals as this would lower stress from their jobs, and better for the companies because content workers are better for business. An individual who is happier will be more productive at work. â€Å"As a result of the alternati ve schedule, researchers found that 60 percent of employees reported higher productivity, and 60 percent of residents reported improved citizen access. In terms of employee morale, there seems to be a very strong benefit,’ Facer said† (Peterson, para. 2). This would also lower employee turnover rate. People who are happy with their jobs do not quit them. These companies would not only make more money because of the increased productivity from happier employees, but from the money that would be saved not having to pay for cost of operation for five days. If businesses were only open four days a week then that would be one day that the lights, heat, and computers would not have to be turned on. The money made, and saved, by these businesses could e put back into the companies to help keep employees even happier. Some of the things they could provide with said money are better benefits, such as retirement plans and health insurance, more comfortable work environment, or ev en have things like at work childcare like some of the Japanese have done. Christopher Byron states in Time Magazine, â€Å"Though the way Japan manages its affairs is, in many respects, the unique outgrowth of the country’s historical experience, certain of its lessons can be applied in industrial economies everywhere, and particularly in the U.S† (para. 58). For companies needing to be open six or seven days a week they could have an overlapping schedule. An example of this would be Joe working Monday through Thursday, Sally working Wednesday through Saturday, and Eduardo Philippe Jr. working Friday through Monday. This overlapping schedule would allow for businesses to remain open up to seven days a week if needed while still allowing a four day work week for employees. Other business that do not follow the standard â€Å"nine to five† work week such as restaurants, would continue to run as they normally do.With a three day weekend, people would have more per sonal time. This time could be used to run errands that could not normally be done due to being at work. They could use this time to spend with their families. Keeping their kids out of daycare for that day they are not working could save them money. If they disliked their offspring, they could use a probably well-deserved break from the little terrorists. This time could be spent doing chores around the house, or just lounging around getting fat. In 2008 Utah implemented a four day work week for eight-teen thousand of its employees.They saw an increase in employee happiness as well as productivity as noted in Inc. : Two years ago, the state of Utah ordered 18,000 of its state employees to work four days a week, 10 hours a day, and to take Fridays off. More than three-quarters of employees reported a positive experience a year into this ‘4/10' program, according to a study by Brigham Young University management professors Rex Facer and Lori Wadsworth. They observed fewer sick days, reduced overtime costs, and savings on energy bills. Employees experienced fewer conflicts between work and family commitments, so their morale shot up.And they knew they only had four days instead of five to get their work done, so they became more productive (Vanden Bos, para. 1). We too could have this four day work week implemented. The first thing to do if you think this could be beneficial to your company is to see if your co-workers are on board with the idea. If so then the next step might be to see how this would align with your customers’ needs. Then you could devise a plan that would explain the benefits and drawbacks of implementing a four day work week, as to answer any potential questions your boss might have.You could write congress. Enough interest shown in changing the arbitrary standard work week could turn the heads of the government that makes these decisions. The last reason, which I saved for the end, even though out of place, is that a four day wo rk week would be badass. Who doesn’t want to have a three day weekend? I think Americans are tired of running themselves ragged every week just to get two days to recover in this flawed system. I say we implement the four day work week so that we can quit living to work, and start working to live. Works Cited Byron, Christopher. How Japan Does It. † Time Magazine. 30 Mar. 1981. Web. 2 Dec. 2010. Magas, Glenn. â€Å"Pros and cons of the four day workweek. † Helium. 2010. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. < http://www. helium. com/items/1676495-pros-and-cons-of-the-four-day-workweek> Newton, Aaron. â€Å"The 4 Day Work Week. † GroovyGreen. 20 Sep. 2007. Web. 3 Dec. 2010. Peterson, Janice. â€Å"Study finds four day work week optimal. † DailyHerald. 9 Jun. 2008. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. Vanden Bos, Peter. â€Å"How To Implement A Four-Day Work Week. † Inc. 7 Apr. 2010. Web. 3 Dec. 2010.