Does Democracy Facilitate Economic Reforms Essay

Does Democracy Facilitate Economic Reforms - Essay Example Moreover, human rights protection, secularism, freedom of expression, lack of censoring etc are some other characteristics of Indian democracy. On the other hand, India’s neighbouring countries like Myanmar/Burma, North Korea, Pakistan, Afghanistan etc are struggling to mobilize their internal resources because of the lack of democracy in these countries. These countries have severe internal problems which retard their efforts to attain economic growth. Pakistan and Afghanistan are believed to be the major contributors to global terrorism and they are facing the consequences of it now. Burma and North Korea don’t have any belief in freedom, liberty and human rights and their slow economic progress underlines importance of democracy in maintaining economic progress. Pakistan is considered as a democratic country by the Pak government and the Pak people; however, external political observers have strong disagreements. In a true democratic country, judiciary, executive and parliament will combine well and function together for the progress of the country. In Pakistan, these democratic institutions often clash each other. We have witnessed the removal of Pak Supreme court judge by the former Pakistan president Pervez Musharaf and the subsequent problems in Pakistan. â€Å"An independent judiciary prospers only in countries where democracy, human rights and in particular a free press, set a general framework stabilizing the rule of law† (Tomuschat, p.308). Judiciary is considered as an independent body functioning in a democratic country. Normally a democratic government will respect the rulings of the Supreme Court in that country even if they have different opinions. It is the duty of... This paper approves that democratization puts in place a system of checks and balances that penalizes self-interested leaders, and creates an atmosphere conducive to economic liberalization policies whereas communism encourages the legacy of exploitation. In most of the nondemocratic countries, the power rested entirely on the shoulders of some dictators. These dictators may not have much interest in the development of the country because of the absence of any objections against their policies. In the absence of democratic institutional reform, it is nearly impossible to implement liberalisation policies that seek to de-monopolise the economy, and open it to competition. Healthy competition is necessary for the implementation of the economic reformation process. In the absence of competition, nobody will take much interest in seeking new ways to improve their productivity or competing power and the hence the economy will never grow. This report makes a conclusion that without doubt or second thoughts, we can say that democracy facilitates economic reforms. Except China, most of the other countries which implemented economic reforms and achieved growth are democratic countries and hence the importance of democracy in stimulating economic growth cannot be neglected. China’s success in implementing economic reforms can be attributed to their readiness in borrowing and implementing some of the core principles of democratic administrations. In short, democracy and its principles definitely facilitate economic reforms.

The films Rush Hour and Rush Hour 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The films Rush Hour and Rush Hour 2 - Essay Example Rush Hour – The Scene When Carter and Lee Meet for the First Time The first scene that will be examined will be the scene in Rush Hour, where Jackie Chan’s character, Chief Inspector Lee, is getting off the plane to meet Carter, played by Chris Tucker, for the very first time. The scene opens with an overhead shot of Carter sitting on the roof of a black car, with the words â€Å"Snake Boss 24† overlaid on the scene in large red letters. The scene then cuts to a medium shot of a plane that is coming in on the runway. Then, a medium shot of Carter, in a full length body shot, as he checks his watch. After this shot is a long shot of the same plane that was shown in the very first shot, but, this time, the plane is shot through a window pane, and the plane is seen down below. The words â€Å"is back with† is overlaid on the window pane, in red, in the same writing as â€Å"Snake Boss 24† as the plane coming in on a long shot on the other side of the window pane. These three shots are edited and cut so that they are very c lose together – the original shot of the plane, which was the medium shot, was about seven seconds long, the shot of Carter checking his watch was about three seconds long, and the long shot of the plane was also about seven seconds long. ... The next shot is a close up of Inspector Lee, as he looks around, with the words â€Å"Rush Hour† overlaid on that shot, then a medium shot of Lee as he descends the stairs. When he gets to the bottom of the stairs, the camera cuts immediately to Carter, in a medium shot, as he is walking towards Lee. The shot of Carter walking towards Lee is about three seconds long. The shot after the shot of Carter walking towards Lee, is another medium shot of Lee, who is looking towards Carter, then turns to a woman next to him and speaks Chinese. During this entire sequence, there is no speaking, until Lee greets the Chinese woman next to him – rather, there is music that sounds Chinese. The pacing of this sequence is extremely rapid, as there is cutting away to show different parts of the shot – the plane, Carter, the plane, Carter, and the plane. After Carter reaches Lee, the first dialogue is spoken in the scene, while a bass guitar plays in the background. When Carter f irst reaches Lee, he is shot from the back, then the camera immediately cuts to a close up of Carter’s face, and now Lee is being shot from the back. This shot alternates between a close up of Carter, as he is talking to Lee, thinking that Lee doesn’t speak English, and a close up of Lee’s face, which first looks perplexed, then he is smiling, then back to Carter close up, then back to Lee closeup, then a medium shot of both of them as Carter is turning towards the camera. The camera is of the two men in a medium shot, from the waist up, as Carter talks about how he can’t believe that he got stuck with this assignment. This shot, where Carter is facing the camera and talking to himself is the slowest shot of the sequence, as this shot is around 12 seconds long.

Trends in Healthcare Essay Example for Free

Trends in Healthcare Essay In the history of the United States there have been an overall transformation of the way the public experiences health care. Paul Starr eloquently explains trends that have affected the health care system in his books The Social Transformation of American Medicine and Remedy and Reaction. An in depth overview of the history of medicine gives a greater understanding of the trends that shape the system we experience today. The first major trend that shaped medicine is the delivery of medicine to the public from the 1800s to present. In the early 1800s individuals received medical care by individuals that were not properly trained and did not have proper knowledge of sanitary care for patients. In the 1850s the invention of the stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, laryngoscope, microscope x-ray, and EKG provided a transforming medical community that began relying on technology of care to provide better diagnoses and care. With the invention of these medical devices, patients moved from caring for individuals in their homes to the hospital facilities and contributed to a higher survival rate. With the development of more hospitals to care for the sick, we also began to see the formation of multiple hospitals to tailor to multiple religious denominations. The next major trend discussed in the trend in the way we finance health care. Financing for health care in the private sector began to change in 1929 when Blue Cross was formed at Baylor University for school teachers in Dallas, TX. There was a dual purpose for this program. It provided coverage for individuals so that there would not be financial consequences as a result of hospital care. In essence it was a safety net to also ensure hospitals received payment for services rendered. The insurance company assumed the risk, based on the profitability of a claim. In 1939 another program was developed called Blue Shield. Blue Shield was designed by a group of physicians as a way of reimbursing physicians services and medical and surgical services. The coverage did not include coverage for pharmaceuticals. Monetary payment was made to an insured which could be assigned to a provider. We also saw the development of the Federal  Government third party payers such as Medicaid or Medicare. Especially today we are seeing the move toward more regulation and the possibility of requiring health coverage for all with a penalty if the coverage is not purchased. The third trend we see in health care is the utilization of health care. In the early 1800s care was primarily provided to patients who were likely facing a detrimental condition for which there was no care. Methods were not in place to provide surgeries that were sanitary and technology had yet to provide equipment to diagnosis conditions. In the 21st century we see a trend to move toward preventative care. More and more health insurance companies are offering incentives on deductibles as a way to encourage annual visits so as to possibly lower health care costs for major illnesses that could arise and could possibly be prevented in identified earlier. Health care is a field that is forever changing, and it could not be truer than when we turn on the news to see the latest headlines regarding Obamacare. There has long been a struggle on how to best provide coverage availability to Americans without infringing on their freedom of choice. Health care continues to be one of the most costly challenges we face, and as we have seen in the past decades, it is a topic that is ever transforming.

Smoking Cigarettes :: Argumentative Persuasive Example Essays

Cigarette smoking has been identified as the most important source of preventable morbidity and premature mortality worldwide. Smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 440,000 American lives each year, including those affected indirectly, such as babies born prematurely due to prenatal maternal smoking and victims of "secondhand" exposure to tobacco's carcinogens. Smoking costs the United States over $150 billion each year in health-care costs including $81.9 billion in mortality-related productivity loses and $75.5 billion in excess medical expenditures. In the United States, an estimated 25.6 million men and 22.6 million women are smokers. These people are at higher risk of heart attack and stroke. The latest estimates for persons age 18 and older show: Among whites, 25.1 percent of men and 21.7 percent of women smoke. Among black or African Americans, 27.6 percent of men and 18.0 percent of women smoke. Among Hispanics/Latinos, 23.2 percent of men and 12.5 percent of women smoke. Among Asians, 21.3 percent of men and 6.9 percent of women smoke. Studies show that smoking prevalence is higher among those with 9-11 years of education (35.4 percent) compared with those with more than 16 years of education (11.6 percent). It's highest among persons living below the poverty level (33.3 percent). Tobacco started growing in the Americas in 6000 BC. 100 BC, people started using tobacco leaves for smoking and chewing. Now it has grown in a nasty, hard to break habit. The first paper rolled cigarette was made in 1832. It is widely believed that Egyptians soldiers were the first to make this, now famous past-time. Other historians suggest that Russians and Turks learned about cigarettes from the French, who in turn may have learned about smoking from the Spanish. It is thought that paupers in Seville were making a form of cigarette, known as ‘papelette’, from the butts of discarded cigars and papers as early as the 17th century. In 1856, the first cigarette factory opened. It was in Walworth, England, and owned by Robert Golag, a veteran of the Crimean War. Four decades later, fears about the effects of cigarette smoking aroused in The Lancet. During World War I, smoking became hugely popular with soldiers in battlefields of northern Europe and cigarettes became known as ‘soldier’s smoke’. In 1964, the United States Surgeon General Luther Terry announced that smoking caused lung cancer. Shortly after, in 1965, the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act required US Surgeon General’s warning’s on cigarette packs.

Pros & Cons of Legalizing Marijuana

Pros & Cons of Legalizing Marijuana From Deborah White, former About. com Guide See More About:marijuanaobama policiescivil liberties Photo: John Moore/Getty Images Ads The Arcadia Spine Center www. TheArcadiaSpineCenter. com Specializing in holistic treatment for neck pain, and low back pain Alcohol Abuse Solutions www. AskListenLearn. com Take The Pledge & Say No To Alcohol We'll Help You Achieve Your Goals. Is He Cheating On You? Spokeo. com/Cheating-Spouse-Search 1) Enter His E-Mail Address 2) See Hidden Pics & Social Profiles Now!More US Liberal Politics Ads Marijuana Juvenile Crime Statistics Cons Politics Weed Ads Find a Lawyer – Free www. LegalMatch. com Free, Confidential Lawyer Locator. Save Time – Describe Your Case Now! Free teeth whitening www. arcadiamaindental. com Cosmetic & Family Dentist Arcadia Please call or email for details (Continued from Page 1) Pros (See page one of this article for current developments and milestones in U. S. marijuana history. ) Primary reasons in support of legalizing marijuana are: Social ReasonsProhibition of marijuana is unwarranted government intrusion into individual freedom of choice. Marijuana is no more harmful to a person's health than alcohol or tobacco, which are both legal and widely used, and regulated by the U. S. Food & Drug Administration. Marijuana has proven medical benefits for cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other patients. Crime and violence, both within the U. S. and at the U. S. -Mexico border, are greatly increased due to illegal selling and buying of marijuana. Legalization would logically end the need for such criminal behavior.Law Enforcement Reasons â€Å"National statistics show 872,000 arrests last year related to marijuana, 775,000 of them for possession, not sale or manufacturing – sparking some critics to suggest that the resources of the criminal justice system, including the crowded state prisons and courts, might be better used elsewhere,† per the San Francis co Chronicle in 2009. Drug busts of youth for marijuana offenses often carry harsh penalties that can cause undue social harm with lifelong consequences. Fiscal Reasons Marijuana is one of America's top-selling agricultural products.One California politician estimates that marijuana sales in his state top $14 billion annually. New tax revenues from legalized marijuana sales could exceed $1 billion just for California. This rich new source of tax revenues nationwide would help lift the U. S. economy out of its worst recession in decades. â€Å"†¦ mainstream pundits like Fox News' Glenn Beck and CNN's Jack Cafferty have publicly questioned the billions spent each year fighting the endless war against drugs,† per the San Francisco Chronicle in 2009.If marijuana was legalized and regulated, an estimated $8 billion would be saved annually in government spending on enforcement, including for the FBI and U. S. -Mexico border security. Cons Primary reasons against legalizing mar ijuana are: Social Reasons Some Americans believe that marijuana ingestion is immoral, and that their moral standards should be required of all Americans. Long-term or abusive use of marijuana can be harmful to a person's health and well-being. Second-hand smoke from marijuana can be harmful to others. Many allege that regular marijuana use can lead to use of harder, more harmful drugs such as heroin and cocaine.Law Enforcement Reasons Some opponents of legalizing marijuana believe that individuals involved in illegal buying and selling of the drug are more likely than average to be involved in other crimes, and that society is safer with marijuana offenders incarcerated. Law enforcement agencies don't want to be construed as supporting drug use. There are no signficant fiscal reasons against U. S. legalization of marijuana. Where It Stands On June 23, 2011, a federal bill to fully legalize marijuana was introduced in the House by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Rep.Barney Frank (D-MA. ) T he bill would remove marijuana from controlled substance classification. Commented Congressman Frank to the Christian Science Monitor, â€Å"Criminally prosecuting adults for making the choice to smoke marijuana is a waste of law enforcement resources and an intrusion on personal freedom. I do not advocate urging people to smoke marijuana, neither do I urge them to drink alcoholic beverages or smoke tobacco, but in none of these cases do I think prohibition enforced by criminal sanctions is good public policy. â€Å"In November 2010, Californians will vote via state referendum whether or not â€Å"Californians over age 21 would be able to possess up to one ounce of marijuana, and grow their own plants on a plot up to 5 feet by 5 feet large. † Additionally, Washington, New Hampshire and Massachusetts state legislatures are slated to vote on marijuana legalization bills in 2010. And more than 20 other states are considering bills to otherwise loosen criminalization of marijua na use and possession. Will President Obama Move to Legalize Medical Marijuana?Esquire magazine reported in December 2008, after Obama's election but before his inauguration, â€Å"Turns out, with several drug-war veterans close to the president-elect's ear, insiders think reform could come in Obama's second term — or sooner. † Certainly, Obama may move to decriminalize marijuana for medical reasons. The San Francisco Chronicle reported in February 2009: â€Å"During one campaign appearance, Obama recalled that his mother had died of cancer and said he saw no difference between doctor-prescribed morphine and marijuana as pain relievers.He told an interviewer in March that it was ‘entirely appropriate' for a state to legalize the medical use of marijuana ‘with the same controls as other drugs prescribed by doctors. ‘† States Could Be Given Jurisdiction Over Marijuana If President Obama does move to support decriminalization of marijuana, look fo r him to do so by granting states the jurisdiction to decide this issue, just as states decide marriage laws for their

Jack Welch Icon Of Leadership - 1483 Words

Jack Welch was the former CEO of General Electric between 1981 and 2001. During his time at General Electric, the value of the company grew 4000%, making it the most valuable company in the world at the time. In the movie, â€Å"Jack Welch: Icon of Leadership,† Jack discussed his experiences as CEO of General Electric and shared valuable insight into his management practices which he implemented throughout his career. While listening to Jack, I felt the most important aspects of his managing practices included being a proper leader, picking the right people for the job, and having integrity. As a leader of any organization, you have to have an edge, be energetic and energize others through good or bad appraisals and motivation, have an edge and execute plans. Jack called this the 4E’s of Leadership. Being a leader also involves choosing the right person for the right job, or releasing someone not fitting in. As a leader, Jack showed integrity throughout his career. He w as honest, a good character, righteous, ethical, moral, etc. These are all very good characteristics and practices of a successful leader. One of the most fundamental and important roles of being a leader is choosing the right person to fill a position. Human capital is an important factor for any company to succeed and grow. Finding the right person to hire is a key aspect of a leader. To quote Jack, â€Å"If you pick the right people and give them the opportunity to spread their wings and put compensation as aShow MoreRelatedGeneral Electric Company ( Ge )1394 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican company has been stayed in business because of the many great leaders who have led the success for GE. Leader s such as, Jack Welch and Jeff Immelt, have brought many changes at GE bringing the company into the 20th century. Jack Welch and Jeff Immelt have been very successful at changing GE and making it a more highly profitable company, due to their leadership styles and corporate culture. General Electric Company would not be here today, if it were not for one of America s most brilliantRead MoreJack Welch1492 Words   |  6 PagesErica Walker Jack Welch Dr. Kim 6 February 2014 Jack Welch: Icon of Leadership Jack Welch has been named the â€Å"Manger of the Century† and has made innovative changes to management practices. He was born as John Francis Jr. on November 19, 1935 in Salem, Massachusetts. He attended Salem High School and then after graduating went to the University of Massachusetts. At the University of Massachusetts, Jack Welch received Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering. After gettingRead MoreGeneral Electric Under Jack Welch1117 Words   |  5 PagesGeneral Electric Under Jack Welch                   In 1980 right before Welch took the position as CEO of General Electric, GE s organizational rigid structure, resistance to change, and bureaucratic climate made it impossible to perceive important environmental changes. Furthermore, the organizational structure, decision-making process and information management procedures no longer fit the organization s needs. In 1981 Jack Welch was not considered a leading contender for GE s top job. HoweverRead MoreLeadership, Corporate Icon And Management Theorist1020 Words   |  5 PagesWhen Jack Welch took over GE in 1981 and became the youngest CEO in GE’s history, the well-known leader had determination to change GE into the world’s most competitive enterprise. Welch is a strategic thinker, business teacher, corporate icon and management theorist. With his exclusive leadership style and character, Welch made history during his long journey at GE. While most leaders talk a noble game on leadershi p, he lived it. Welch said to lead, do not manage. Welch did not like the word ‘manage’Read MoreEssay on Leadership (Jack Welch)2523 Words   |  11 PagesI have learned many lessons from Jack Welch on leadership. Jack Welch has been with the General Electric Company (GE) since 1960. Having taken over GE with a market capitalization of about $12 billion, Jack Welch turned it into one of the largest and most admired companies in the world by the time he stepped down as its CEO 20 years later, in 2000. Jack Welch used his uncanny instincts and unique leadership strategies to run GE, the most complex organization in the world and increased its marketRead MoreThe General Electric ( Ge )1275 Words   |  6 Pagesin most countries in the world. General Electric (GE) Widely regarded as a leading global corporation in the 20th century with operations in over a hundred and seventy countries and over three hundred thousand workers, General Electric remains an icon in best management practices. With its operations in power, appliances, energy management, aviation, oil gas, and transportation among others is ranked as among the top leading firms in the US. It is also a global leader in the digital industry withRead MoreBook Review: What the Best CEOs Know1098 Words   |  5 PagesUniversity Leadership and Management Development, MGMT 5306-VC01 Submitted to Dr. Kelly Warren September 10, 2011 What the Best CEOs Know was chosen by this reader due to Jeffrey Krames’ reputation, prior writings, and the fact that several of these CEOs are considered shining examples of the modern CEO. Krames takes an in-depth look at the modern icons of business leadership: Michael Dell of Dell Computer, Bill Gates of Microsoft, Andy Grove of Intel, Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines, Jack WelchRead MoreA Leadership Crisis Looms And Great Leaders3086 Words   |  13 PagesA leadership crisis looms and great Leaders are in short supply because of the lack of understanding of what makes great leadership. The question is what distinguishes a great leader from a good leader. I knew this question can be answered if I dig deep and get a solid understanding of the secret mantra behind great leadership. I achieved this by studying the leadership of five of the greatest Management Gurus of my time. These leaders made significant contribution across different industries andRead More HW2 Case Studies Classic Executive V2 4 Essay6307 Words   |  26 Pageswill be your IT strategy Matrix for this company CASESTUDY1. Can GE Remake Itself as a Digital Firm? General Electric (GE) is the worlds largest diversified manufacturer. Fortune named GE Americas Most Admired Company in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Jack Welch, GEs CEO and chairman since 1981, is often cited as the most admired CEO in the United States. Headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, the company consists of 20 units, including Appliances, Broadcasting (NBC), Capital, Medical Systems, and TransportationRead MoreCase - Alibaba Group7315 Words   |  30 PagesAlibaba Group At Alibaba, strategy and organization go hand-in-hand. Every year we change the organizational structure in tandem with changes in strategy. Jack Ma, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group, stared through the fog at the cable stays of the Hangzhou Bay Bridge whistling past on his drive to the offices of Taobao (hunting for treasures), Alibabas online marketplace for Chinese retailers and consumers. The longest transoceanic bridge in the world had a long gestation period:

Language And Communication Researchs on Vikings and Anglo Sexons

INTRODUCTION Various contributions have been made towards the development of the English Language. The development has been a process and has taken quite a long time, and still, continues up to date. There are three stages in this development; however, this work is concentrated on the initial stage in the development of the English language. In this research, I have considered the impacts of the Vikings and Anglo Saxons. A brief history of the Vikings and Anglo Saxons as well as their contribution towards the modern English language has been covered at length. Aim The contribution of the Vikings and Anglo Saxons in the development of modern English language is so great. The main objective of this study is to identify the contributions of the Vikings and the Anglo Saxons towards the development of English Language. Scope In attempting to meet the above objective, this work reviews the history of the Vikings and Anglo Saxons, and their modes of communication. It also covers the contributions of these groups, depending on the dialects and words borrowed. Major emphasis is laid on the pronouns and verbs. LITERATURE REVIEW The old English, formally known as the Anglo-Saxon, was established at around 450 AD to 1100 AD when the Anglo Saxons started to settle in Britain (Blake 1996). The Anglo Saxons included the Angels, Saxons, Frisians and the Jutes who moved to Britain after the Roman occupation. During this period, the Viking was a term used to refer to raiding. The raiders or the Viking were from the north and recognized themselves depending on the areas they originated from. They included the Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians (Baugh and Cable 92).   This period forms the first stage in the development of the English language. The second stage was established at around 1100 AD to 1500 AD and the final stage dates from about 1500 AD to date. English language historians view Vikings language positively as a great contribution towards the development of modern English language. This old English was spoken by the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and the Frisians of the current Northern Germany and Southern Denmark who migrated to Britain and drove away the Britons to the west and north (Thomas and John 1992). Regional dialects then developed. These dialects included the Kentish for the Jutes, West Saxon for a branch of the Saxon, Northumbrian and Mercian spoken by Angles. The first ruler of all England and the King of West Saxon, King Alfred, ensured that West Saxon was prevalent in prose literature by ninth century. The greatest part of poetry used a Mercian mixed dialect like the contemporary elegiac poems. The old English was characterized by verbs that were weak and strong; there were more than one number of pronouns indicating dualism, adjectives had various different declensions; nouns had four different declensions; and different distinctions of gender. Old English had limited vocabulary but was very wealthy in world building. The Vikings contribution in the old English was also substantial. The Vikings, also known as the Norsemen, introduced about forty Old Norse words (Scandinavian words) into the Old English. These words included: law, are, and cut, take, ugly, ill, and take. These words were derived mainly from the sea battle (Peter 2001). It is quite uncommon for a language to borrow grammatical words from other languages. However, old English had a lot of borrowings from the Viking language. For instance, the plural of the third person pronouns was borrowed and formed the singular of the third person pronouns in old English. This similarity also extends in the modern English. However, there is rear borrowing of pronouns by the modern English. The reason for this was the confusion in identifying the similar singular and plural forms experienced by Viking invaders hearing and speaking Old English (Baugh and Cable 102). Old English borrowed various forms of verbs from the Vikings. The borrowings included the plural form of the verb â€Å"to be† in Wessex (which was the most powerful kingdom in the Anglo-Saxon during the Viking invasion) which was syndon (Baugh and Cable 102). The present plural and second person singular are is also of Scandinavian origin (Baugh and Cable 102). REFERENCE Baugh, Albert C. and Thomas Cable (2002) A History of the English Language. 5th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. In this book, Albert and Thomas have explained a vivid history of the English language with emphasis on the contributions of the different groups including the Vikings and the Anglo Saxons. Blake, N.F (1996). A History of the English Language. Palgrave Macmillan, Blake is an eminent historical linguist. In this book he has given an accessible and modern discussion of the growth of English. Thomas Pyles and John Algeo (1992).   The Origins and Development of the English Language. Thomas Learning. This book is organized into several sections that give a comprehensive guide to the evolution of English. Peter Sawyer (2001). The Oxford Illustrated History of the Viking. Oxford University Press. Peter Sawyer has given a brilliant and interactive discussion of the lives and activities of the Vikings.