These Shining Lives A Play by Melanie Marnich

These Shining Lives revolves around  the real-life circumstances of women in the 1920s who worked in a watch factory painting watch faces  with glowing radium-rich paint. While the characters and company in These Shining Lives are fictitious, the story of the Radium Girls and the toxic and deadly levels of radium poisoning of over 4,000 factory workers is true. The real-life Radium Girls took their company to court and achieved a long-lasting victory over corporations with poor workplace conditions and worker’s compensation that is still in effect today. The Plot The women in These Shining Lives are delighted to find high-paying work in the early part of the century. They earn 8 ¢ for each watch face they paint and if they are fast enough and neat enough, they can earn over $8 a day. That kind of money could change the entire circumstances of a woman and her family in the 1920s. Catherine, also called Katie, is leaving home for her first day of work. She has twins and a loving and supportive husband. They are barely making ends meet and she sees the opportunity to work and bring home money as a huge boon to her family. At the factory, she meets her tablemates, Frances, Charlotte, and Pearl and learns how to paint the watches: Take the brush and twirl it between your lips to make a sharp point, dip it in the paint, and paint the numbers. â€Å"It’s a lip, dip, and paint routine,† Frances instructs her. When Catherine comments on how the paint glows and tastes, she is told that radium is medicinal and cures all kinds of maladies. She quickly becomes adept at the work and loves her new identity as a working woman. Six years later, however, she and every girl working on the watches have health problems. Many are fired for needing too many sick days. Some die. Catherine is afflicted with severe pains in her legs, arms, and jaw. Eventually, Catherine finds a doctor willing to tell her the truth. She and all the others have toxic levels of radium poisoning. Their condition is fatal. Instead of fading into the background, Catherine and her friends decide to risk their names, images, and reputations and take the watch company to court. Production Details Setting: Chicago and Ottowa, Illinois Time: 1920s and 1930s Cast Size: This play is written to accommodate 6 actors, but there are as many as 18 roles if the doubling recommended in the script is ignored. Male Characters: 2 (who also double as 7 other minor characters) Female Characters: 4 (who also double as 5 other minor characters) Characters That Can Be Played by Any Gender: 4 Content Issues: Negligible Production rights for These Shining Lives are held by Dramatists Play Service, Inc. Roles Catherine Donohue is a proud working woman. She is vibrant and competitive. Although she insists that her job is a temporary one, she enjoys working outside of the home and she is unapologetic about it. Frances has a keen eye for scandal. She loves the time and attention she gets from her work companions. The actress playing Frances also plays Reporter 2 and an Official. Charlotte is a tough taskmaster and a determined woman. She works hard at her job, doesn’t make friends easily and she doesn’t let go of the friends she has made or let them give up. The actress playing Charlotte also plays Reporter 1. Pearl is a shameless gossip who sees her work as an opportunity to know everything about everyone. Not a single symptom of scandal or sickness escapes her notice. The actress playing Pearl also plays the Daughter and Judge 2. Tom Donohue is Catherine’s husband. He is head-over-heels for his wife and family even though he is somewhat troubled by having a working wife. The actor playing Tom also plays Dr. Rowantree and Dr. Dalitsch. Mr. Reed is the boss at the factory. It is clear that he has information about the effects of radium poisoning but he abides by company policy and does not inform his workers. He wants to make the factory profitable. Although he is invested in his workers and their lives and even considers them friends, he knowingly allows them to continue to be poisoned and sicken and die. The actor playing Mr. Reed also plays the Radio Announcer, the Company Doctor, the Son, Judge, and Leonard Grossman.

A Deeper Look On The Alcoholic Environment - 1350 Words

A Deeper Look On The Alcoholic Environment Nowadays the exposition to alcohol consumption is becoming very common among adults and teenagers. Alcoholic addiction is developed in social environment such as living around heavy drinkers, people often are tempted to the taste of alcohol which then becomes an addiction. Either it is a party or a celebration, alcohol is most of the times available; however, there are concerns in society, since the consumption of this drug can bring dangerous consequences. An individual’s health is extremely exposed by alcoholic beverages, since they affect several areas of our brain, liver, heart and several other parts of our bodies. Along with health problems, the cognitive control is potentially affected;†¦show more content†¦As a result of these and other changes, brain mass shrinks and the brain’s inner cavity grows bigger.† This means that if a person creates an addiction for alcoholic beverages it will have a major impac t on the brain cells, as it slows down neurotransmitters. Also, the continuation of consumption of this drug makes the brain not to work in an adequate way, which will later bring changes in attitude such as depression and anxiety. There can be permanent damages in the brain if the consumption is not moderate, since it affects directly parts of the brain that are essential for reasoning. Comparatively to the effect that alcohol can have on the brain, it also develops liver problems that in several cases end up bringing lethal effects. The liver is another organ that is extremely exposed to be damaged by consuming excessive alcohol and is one of the major causes for death in alcoholic people. Since the liver is one of the largest organs of the body, it is crucial to maintain a constant care by taking precautions on things that could affect our liver. In addition, the main job of the liver is to maintain people’s body as healthy as possible by disregarding substances and breaking them down; however, according to NIH, as the liver breaks these substances it also liberates toxins that can be even more harmful. â€Å"Your liver works hard to keep your body productive and healthy. It stores energy and nutrients. ItShow MoreRelatedPersonal Statement : My Parlor1571 Words   |  7 Pagesvery quiet rich and affluent neighborhood of the city of Southlake. The main purpose of the store is to serve non-alcoholic beverages like coffee and yogurts to the people in my neighborhood who will have travel almost a mile to get to the nearest beverage store. My Parlor is a neighborhood beverages store where customers can bring their families to have a thirst quenching non-alcoholic beverages, especially during the summer season. The word MY was chosen to give customers a kind of sense of ownershipRead MoreAlcoholics Anonymous Meeting Observations Of A Interview1249 Words   |  5 PagesAlcoholics Anonymous Meeting Observations Per my customary tradition of attending anything for the first time I arrived early to survey the environment as well as obtain a seat that would provide the most optimum observation vantage point. The alcoholics anonymous (AA) meeting I attended was held at the House of Disciples Life Recovery Center, a ministry of Wiseman Ministries. Interestingly enough, it used to be a funeral home. 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The first thing that I remember was my brother and I being left unattended for a majority of the firstRead MoreWhen I Say That Biological Factors Play A Key Role In The1714 Words   |  7 Pagescomponent having to do with inheritance so research has found to be most promising through family history. â€Å"That is, it can be passed down from parent to child by way of genes.† (LEARN.GENETICS.UTAH.EDU) DNA comparison is key and what scient ists will look for are genes that are common among those who do suffer from the addiction disease and at the same time are less frequent among those who do not. The progress that has been made from research on addiction has come as far as it has with the use animalRead MoreThe Use of Performance Drugs in Sports Essay1024 Words   |  5 Pagesthe competitive drive to win can be fierce. 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As I walked into a surprisingly generous retirement community, I saw Carolyn coming down the stairs and greeting me. She showedRead MoreAustrali A Different Perspective On Australian History Past And Present985 Words   |  4 Pagesnon-education and not wanting to learn, alcoholics and ‘bad’ people. In fact, Aboriginal people are misunderstood due to the myths and stories that have been told in the past. A statement made by Marcia Langton (n.d), is â€Å"Most Australians do not know how to relate to Aboriginal people, they relate to stories told by former colonist†. Reading this marks a turning point for me, as I have questioned the validity of my own knowledge. This has inspired me to look further into the Aboriginal history pastRead MoreThemes in Destroying Avalon Essay1022 Words   |  5 Pagesbelonging. Belonging is depicted in this text, as Avalon a new girl has the need of belonging in her new school environment. Marshall, who is supposedly gay always feels the need to belong as he is being falsely tormented for his sexuality and just wants to be like the all the other boys. Kate McCaffrey’s choice of themes create the perfect novel for parents and teenagers to peruse to have a deeper perception of Bullying. â€Å"Destroying Avalon† reveals itself as a climax when things seem to get better

Hundreds Years War Essay Example For Students

Hundreds Years War Essay Hundred Years War The definition of the Golden Rule is that those with the gold make the rules. In other words, those with the gold have the power as well as those with the power have the gold. History books will discuss the general reasons for war such as freedom from adversity or freedom from religion. But the real issue for any war is the thirst for power and control; and the means to finance them are the economic issues. Nations will endure years of fighting for power and control. France and England fought each other for more than a hundred years to have control of the Channel trade routes. 1 This century of warring was known as The Hundred Years War and is the longest war in record history. It began in 1337 when King Edward III invaded Normandy and ended in 1453 when France won the Battle of Bordeaux. However, it was not a hundred years of constant battle; there were periods of truces in between. 2 One cause for the Hundred Years War was the claim to the French throne. The confl ict began when the direct line of succession died without a male heir and the nobles decided to pass the crown to a cousin, Philip of Valois. But this left two other male cousins equally deserving of the crown; Charles, King of Navarre and Edward III, King of England. 3 Edward III claimed that he himself was deserving of the throne because his mother was the sister of the late French king, while Philip VI was only a cousin. But according to French law, no women could inherit the throne, nor could the crown be inherited through a woman. 4 Philip of Valois chances of becoming King of France had been remote and he had not been brought up as the future lieutenant of God on Earth. Philip VI spent much of his resources on entertainment and finery with gay abandon. 5 This caused conflict with the kings subjects. Since the king was considered to be sacred and inviolable, neither cousin would challenge Philip VI. However, they would exploit the situation and King Edward III lost no time and invaded Normandy with an army of 10,000 men. 6 This leads to another cause for The Hundred Years War. The land along the Channel and Atlantic coasts was Englands first line of defense against an invasion. England held claim to this territory from the twelth century through the marriage of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. King Edward III was determined to gain control of the French coastline while providing himself with a bridgehead for future expeditions into France. 7 But the major cause of The Hundred Years War was the economic interest the revenues to be gotten from this rich territory. Wine was Gasgonys largest export product and major source of income to the vassal. Wool was Englands largest export product and the source of its wealth. English pastures produced fleeces that were the envy of Europe which Flanders depended on for its wool and linen market. 8 English sheep growers sold their long fine wool to weavers in Flanders, across the English Channel. Flemish weavers as well as English sheep growers depended on this trade for their business. In 1336, Philip VI arrested all the English merchants in Flanders and took away all the privileges of the Flemish towns and the craft guilds. Resulting in the Flemings revolting against the French control and making an alliance with England. 9 Consequently, the flourishing market of the industrial cities of Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp and Ypres were naturally coveted by the Kings of France and England. Moreover, the Bordeaux harbor was within the borders of English Gascony and was the center of the shipping and trading industry. Commodities such as grains, dairy products, dyes and salt would be shipped into Bordeaux via the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers and the merchants were charged a customs fee for these products. Also, Bordeaux would receive duties on wine, whether shipped-in or grown on Gascon soil. Consequently, the profits from the tolls and customs made Bordeaux the economic capital of Gascony. Furthermore , control of neighboring areas such as Guyenne .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb , .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb .postImageUrl , .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb , .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb:hover , .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb:visited , .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb:active { border:0!important; } .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb:active , .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9013dcc11248449531eb39da4160e9cb:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Advertising Education or Condemnation Essay

The Ataris - So Long Astoria free essay sample

With So Long Astoria, many changes by The Ataris are duly marked. Expectations among a large fan base are high, but perhaps higher than usual because this is their major label debut. This album could launch them into mainstream popularity, or cast them from their traditional roots, or a combination. Over the past few years, this quartet from Southern California has swept the country gaining fans at a greater rate than the typical punk band. With their tales of young love and heartbreak, and catchy riffs wrapped in a slightly pop punk sound, The Ataris have a sound that is truly their own. The zenith of their career thus far, Blue Skies, Broken Hearts Next 12 Exits, is the standard by which I measure most of their music. This album is in my top five of all time; it never loses its effect on me. But to compare So Long Astoria to Blue Skies somehow just isnt right. We will write a custom essay sample on The Ataris So Long Astoria or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I can definitely see growth in this album, but not as much in the music as in the presentation. This album gives me a sense of The Ataris as adults rather than their traditional adolescent quality. They have toned down their sound a little (Chris Knapp mellowed out his normally frantic drumming considerably) while still staying true to it, a key accomplishment in a good band. There is deeper content in these new songs, too. In My Reply, frontman Kris Roe tells of an overseas fan who is dying and writes his response to her final letter. And in The Saddest Song, he explains to his young daughter why he is barely around. There is also a great cover of Don Henleys The Boys of Summer and a new version of their I Wont Spend Another Night Alone. No review is complete without some criticism, and I think there are too many slow, mellow songs. Halfway through I tend to get bored and anxious; I wish there was at least one up-tempo song to break my sedated mood. This album lacks the well-rounded quality the band normally has. When most bands turn major label, their sound, and sometimes image, is butchered in the process, but I can thankfully say that this is not the case with So Long Astoria. Although it is not the best The Ataris have to offer, it is the logical next step, and still holds onto what makes them a great band. They get you to realize youre only young once, and should enjoy all the things most of us worry about. As a fan for many years now, I wish them the best of luck. They truly deserve it because they play their music with passion. Try seeing one of their shows or picking up an album, you wont regret it.

Mark Twain Writings Essays - Lecturers, Mark Twain,

Mark Twain Writings Mark Twain is regarded as one of the most prominent American authors. Twain was born Samuel L. Clemons several years prior to the Civil War in a small town of Hannibal, Missouri. Much of his boyhood was spent frolicking in the muddy brown waters of the Mississippi. After his fathers death early in his life, Twain was hired for his dream job as a Steamboat Captain on the Mississippi River. This chance was cut short by the start of the Civil War. Twain spent several years as a confederate volunteer, but this did not last either. Twain struck out for the west hoping to make a fortune as a silver prospector. The only richness Twain achieved searching for silver was plenty of experiences on which he could write. His first successful publication "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog" is a collection of stories Twain heard while living in the mining camp in Nevada. After his failed attempt at a quick fortune, Twain returned to the east. This is where he published his most famous works which included Tom Sawyer and it's sequel Huckleberry Finn. Twain was regarded as a humorist because of his lively imagination that sent his stories into the realm of outlandish. His most highly acclaimed novel Huckleberry Finn appears to be nothing more than a boys tale at first glance, but in actuality it is taught in college literature classes because of it's underlining satires and themes. It was even considered to be subversive at the time when it was written because of it's anti-government ideas. This story as it appears tells of a young boy, Huckleberry Finn, and his adventures as he travels down the Mississippi. Along the way he picks up a few passengers. The first of these is Jim, a runaway slave. Huck, as he is called for short, decides instead of turning Jim into the authorities, that he will help him get to the free state. Before long Huck and Jim are accompanied by to scam artists, the King and the Duke. The novel elaborates on the tales of these four completely different individuals as the float lazily down the Mississippi. Huck journey down the rivers is not only an adventure, but it is also a conversion from boyhood into an adult. Twain uses the cover of an adventurous boys tale to satirize many of the things that he found to be wrong with society. Although the book was published more than a decade ago, many of the problems that occurred in Twain's society are still prevalent today. One such topic that Twain satirizes heavily in the book is the institution of religion. This criticism of religion can be seen from the start of the book all the way through to the very end. A problem that Twain finds very disgusting about the institution of religion is the hypocrisy. An example of this is the Widow Douglas. The Widow Douglas is more concerned with the behavior of other people than she is of herself. In one case she tells Huck that he cannot smoke because it is dirty; God would not approve, but she herself dips snuff. Another thing that Mark Twain finds ridiculous about religion is the pure stupidity of it all. As in his short story "Letters From Earth" where Twain criticizes humans belief of heaven, Twain does so in a more light hearted manner in Huckleberry Finn: "she went on and told me all about the good place. She said all a body would have to do there was to go around all day long with a harp and sing , forever and ever. So I didn't think much of it. But I never said so." Although it doesn't seem like much of an attack on religion, Twain so cleverly does this many times throughout the story to make a vivid point. If Mark Twain were to write Huckleberry Finn today, there is no doubt that he would be quick to make these criticisms about religion again. Everyday people have to open there newspapers and turn on their televisions to news of Priests and ministers molesting young boys and stealing others money. If anything it has become worse of a problem than before. There are men that stand out on college campuses and on busy street corners yelling and screaming about the downfall of the sinner society of which many are a part of. The Brownsville Revival in Pensacola would no doubt be a critical point for Mark Twain if he were

Character Analysis of Hermia and Her Father

Character Analysis of Hermia and Her Father To deepen your understanding of William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream, here is a character analysis of Hermia and her father. Hermia, Believer in True Love Hermia is a feisty young lady who knows what she wants and does whatever she can to get it. She is even prepared to give up her family and way of life to marry Lysander, agreeing to elope with him into the forest. However, she is still a lady and ensures that nothing untoward goes on between them. She keeps her integrity by asking him to sleep away from her: â€Å"But gentle friend, for love and courtesy/Lie further off in humane modesty† (Act 2, Scene 2). Hermia assures her best friend, Helena, that she is not interested in Demetrius, but Helena is insecure about her looks in comparison with her friend and this somewhat affects their friendship: â€Å"Through Athens, I am thought as fair as she./But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so?† (Act 1, Scene 1) Hermia wishes the best for her friend and wants Demetrius to love Helena: â€Å"As you on him, Demetrius dote on you† (Act 1, Scene 1). However, when the fairies have intervened and both Demetrius and Lysander are in love with Helena, Hermia gets very upset and angry with her friend: â€Å"O me, you juggler, you canker blossom/You thief of love- what have you come by night/And stol’n my loves heart from him† (Act 3, Scene 2). Hermia is again compelled to fight for her love and is willing to fight her friend: â€Å"Let me come to her† (Act 3, Scene 2). Helena confirms that Hermia is a feisty character when she observes, â€Å"O, when she is angry she is keen and shrewd!/She was a vixen when she went to school./And though she is little, she is fierce† (Act 3, Scene 2). Hermia continues to defend Lysander even when he has told her that he no longer loves her. She is concerned that he and Demetrius will fight, and she says, â€Å"Heavens shield Lysander if they mean a fray† (Act 3, Scene 3). This demonstrates her unerring love for Lysander, which drives the plot forward. All ends happily for Hermia, but we do see aspects of her character that could be her downfall if the narrative were different. Hermia is determined, feisty, and occasionally aggressive, which reminds us that she is Egeus’ daughter, but we admire her steadfastness and faithfulness to Lysander. Headstrong Egeus Egeus father is domineering and overbearing to Hermia. He acts as a foil to the fair and even-handed Theseus. His proposal to bring the full force of the law on his daughter- the penalty of death for disobeying his orders- demonstrates this. â€Å"I beg the ancient privilege of Athens/As she is mine, I may dispose of her- /Which shall be either to this gentleman/Or to her death- according to our law/Immediately provided in that case† (Act 1, Scene 1). He has decided, for his own reasons, that he wants Hermia to marry Demetrius instead of her true love, Lysander. We are unsure of his motivation, as both men are presented as eligible; neither one has more prospects or money than the other, so we can only assume that Egeus simply wants his daughter to obey him so he can have his own way. Hermias happiness appears to be of little consequence to him. Theseus, Duke of Athens, placates Egeus and gives Hermia time to decide. Thus, the problem is resolved as the story unfolds, though this is no real comfort to Egeus. In the end, Hermia gets her way and Egeus has to go along with it; Theseus and the others happily accept the resolution, and Demetrius is no longer interested in his daughter. However, Egeus remains a difficult character, and  the story  ends happily only due to intervention by the fairies. Had they not been involved, its possible that Egeus would have gone ahead and executed his own daughter had she disobeyed him. Fortunately, the story is a comedy, not a tragedy.

The EU Budget Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The EU Budget - Essay Example The main principle is that EU funding has to be utilised only when sharing resources looks sensible to the Union's member countries. The EU's yearly budget totals to around '130 billion. This is approximately 1% of the economic wealth yielded by the member countries every year. The budget determines income and expenditure for the year, lists all the actions that are to be financed and also fixes total amount of money and staff obtainable for each. The budget also determines the amount of each payment and its authorisation. A ceiling on the expenditure limit is accorded by the member states' governments and parliaments. The limitation at present is set at 1.24% of the Union's gross national income. The budget in the year 2008 has apportioned 45% of its total expenditure to make the EU economy more aggressive and lively. This year the EU budget has plans to narrow the space between the rich and the poor member states and regions. Agriculture is apportioned with 32% of the budget which is also a major area of expenditure. Rural development and environment takes 11% and the total cost for the administrative to run the EU works up to 6% of the total expenditure. 2. An upper limit for expenditure which is agreed by the member states' governments and parliaments. ... The budget of the EU is dependent on 3 constraints: 1. The treaties, which influence the EU budget not to be in deficit which means that the total income has to cover the total expenditure. 2. An upper limit for expenditure which is agreed by the member states' governments and parliaments. This is the personal resources cap. This cap forms 1.24% of the Union's gross national income (GNI) which is to be used for payments. This amounts roughly to EUR 293 per EU citizen on average. 3. A fiscal structure established by the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission, would check the development of the EU budget set by expenditure category for a period of time. The present fiscal structure runs from 2007 to 2013. The EU has its individual resources to fund its spending. By law, these resources are of the Union. Member states who accumulate them in lieu of the EU and shift them to the EU budget. The 3 kinds of EU's own resources are: 1. Traditional own resources (TOR) which is made up of duties billed for imports from a non-EU state which approximated to around 15% of total revenue, in the year 2007. 2. Value added tax (VAT) is a consistent percentage rate which is applicable on each member state's harmonised VAT revenue forms yet another resource. This was around 15% of total revenue, for the year 2007. The gross national income (GNI) which is 0.73% and is applicable to the GNI of each member state. Even though it is a complementary item it is the prime source of revenue and amounted to around 70% of total revenue for the year 2007(http://www.eu2008.si/en/ About_the_EU /Budget/ index. html accessed on 4th June 2009). : Source: Commission of the European Communities Other sources of revenue are taxes paid by EU