Impact of the Federal Government Shut Down - 790 Words

The federal government shutdown that happened for two weeks in October of 2013 had a big impact on the economy. Congress failed to pass legislation that that funds government spending in which the impact affected businesses, jobs, and billions of dollars that were lost during the event. Many people dealt with the hardship of the shutdown due to the fact that the money that was stalled provided their necessities of life. The federal employees were furloughed which left hundreds of thousands of people on a leave of absence without pay. That is a big factor because without pay people without a check couldn’t feed themselves or their family let allow afford to pay their bills. It could of pose a major problem for some because not all bill†¦show more content†¦With the Department of Education having neither a budget nor a full staff, ongoing and proposed scientific research are not a priority.† College students who rely on grants from the federal government to atten d school affect them which stall their process of furthering their education and developing careers. Import and export have been affected by the situation since the licenses and applications were put on hold causing an influence on trades. According to the Wall Street Journal, â€Å"More than 40 government agencies, including the EPA, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce, are involved in trade shipments, U.S. technology companies cant fill overseas orders because they cannot obtain U.S. Department of Commerce authorization to export. Steel imports are stranded at customs-clearance warehouses awaiting paperwork.† Things that required special authorization from government agencies for international shipping such as certain electronics and other goods have been delay causing businesses to slow down production. Furthermore, stating that trading is an important asset to the economy and more than 10 million people jobs that were supported by exports. Nat ional parks and monuments that depended on the government were closed. Millions of dollars were lost because tourists were unable to explore the attractions which halted money that could have been spent at the parks and surrounding businesses as well. Hotels andShow MoreRelatedMake a Wall1122 Words   |  5 PagesBorder Patrolling. During the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Border Patrol and other federal agencies merged were called into a new U.S. Agency Customs and Border Protection. By tradition, the mission of U.S. Border Patrol has always been the protection and prevention of the illegal entry of aliens and smuggling of illegal contraband into the U.S. The federal agencies US Border Patrol is charged with the responsibility to protect the U.S. not because of the influx of immigrantsRead MoreNo Bank Is Too Big For Jail, But None Of The Executives Faced Any Prison Time912 Words   |  4 Pageswould have very little impact on their performance.  "To me, a fundamental tenet of justice should be the wrongdoer should pay the penalty, and in this case the shareholders are paying the penalty instead of management,† said Mark Calabria, Director of Financial Regulation Studies at the Cato Institute. It’s ironic that Wall Street continues to get free reign with laundering drug money because the drug war’s strongest supporters in the Republican Party typically favor trickle down economics. The basicRead MoreThe Progresive Reform Movement Essay examples945 Words   |  4 PagesThis was achieved through a series of left-leaning governments which established regulations and began to act as a check on corruption. In order to combat political corruption the American government passed several amendments to the constitution. Two of these amendments were the 17th amendment and the 19th amendment. The 17th amendment created the direct election of Senators. Prior to the 17th amendment, the Senate was a corrupt house of government. Instead of representing its constituents, SenatorsRead MoreDr. Sharon Hertz is a trained neurologist who is currently a supervisory medical officer with the1200 Words   |  5 Pagesaway from clinical practice by the demands of for profit insurance companies, which she considers â€Å"the blight of healthcare and the antithesis of good public health policy.† Fighting day after day with such companies over the same issues began to wear down her desire to continue her clinical practice. In finding a job at the FDA, she believed that one day she would go back to clinical practice, but today is very satisfied working on large-scale public health projects. Daily, Dr. Hertz’s job dutiesRead MoreShould The North Dakota Pipeline Lead A Negative Ecological Impact? Essay1467 Words   |  6 PagesPipeline If the North Dakota pipeline continues to be built, will it have a negative ecological impact? A part of the pipeline is routed to be underneath a part of the Missouri river known as Lake Oahe, the Standing Rock Indian Reservation’s main water supply. If the pipeline were to leak it would contaminated the river and surrounding areas. Pipes will eventually leak; the Dakota Access pipeline should not be built so close to bodies of water of any kind. The pipeline belongs to the Texas-basedRead MoreEssay about Case – The U.S. Airline Industry Public Support1379 Words   |  6 Pages2013 Arguments In Favor of the Federal Government Providing Support to the U.S. Airlines â€Å"To preserve the continued viability of the United States air transportation system† is the title of a bill introduced before congress, by Rep. Don Young (R-AK), September 14, 2001, in response to the September 11 attack. The title of the bill is the overriding argument justifying federal support to the U.S. airlines. â€Å"If planes don’t fly, the whole economy shuts down,† said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)Read MoreWhy Should Your Government Keep Secrets?1310 Words   |  6 PagesWhy should YOUR Government keep secrets? In the United States of America, there are 318.9 million people living within the 50 states, and out of those 318.9 million, nearly 5 million have some type of government security clearance. Some citizens of the United States believe the Federal government should release these classified documents to the people; however, the government should not release them because it would cause pandemonium among the people of the United States, lead to irrational thinkingRead MoreA Social Problem That Is Currently Occurring Is Rather1748 Words   |  7 PagesA social problem that is currently occurring is rather federal funding should continue to keep Planned Parenthood open. Donald Trump has recently joined other Republicans in their vow to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood, solely based on the idea that Planned Parenthood health care services provide for patients to receive an abortion. The percentage of abortions that Planned Parenthood actually does are less than 3% (Planned Parenth ood Statistics). Taking funds away from Planned ParenthoodRead MoreAs Hurricane Sandy approached New York on October 28, 2012, and President Obama declared a state of1300 Words   |  6 Pagesstate of emergency for the region, federal state and city authorities moved into emergency mode. The president directed Fugate, administrator of FEMA, to make all resources available to affected states and responders. The Department of Energy worked with FEMA to provide assistance to electric industries and potential power restoration efforts. Governor Cuomo ordered the Metropolitan Transport Authority to shut down by Sunday 7pm. Most bridges and tunnels were shut down, along with the Metro-North, LIRRRead MoreThe Functional Equivalent Of The Border And The Fourth Amendment1673 Words   |  7 PagesThe functional equivalent of the border and the Fourth Amendment closely tie together in the fact that although the government has the power to conduct warrantless border searches, in the essence of the law, the Fourth Amendment strictly prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and requires a warrant to be present to conduct the search. Understand when mentioning â€Å"functional equivalent†, this means the final port of entry after persons and property have entered the United States. The Fourth Amendment

School Physical Plant Management Free Essays

School Physical Plant Management What do you understand with the term school plant? The school plant is the totality of all things that make up a school system. It involves the physical and material facilities in form of buildings, school site and the environment that embody the school. Moreover, a school plants include the site, the building and equipment and this include the permanent structures like workshop, libraries, classrooms, laboratories and semi permanent structures like the educational system itself. We will write a custom essay sample on School Physical Plant Management or any similar topic only for you Order Now The school facilities consist of all types of buildings for academic and non-academic activities, equipment for academic and non- academic activities, areas for sports and games, landscape, farms and gardens including trees, roads and paths. Others include furniture and toilet facilities, lighting, acoustics, storage facilities and packing lot, security, transportation, ICT, cleaning materials, food services, and special facilities for the physically challenged persons. Describe the 2 major functions of school plant? An Environment to Facilitate Learning The primary purpose of the teaching and learning process is to bring about in the learner desirable change in behavior through critical thinking. This process does not take place in a vacuum but rather in an environment structured to facilitate learning. Hence, this environment of an organization as all elements relevant to its operation and they include direct and indirect action elements. School facilities, constitute the major components of both direct and indirect action elements in the environment of learning. Feature Article –Â  Country School – Allen Curnow These facilities play pivotal role in the actualization of the educational goals and objectives by satisfying the physical and emotional needs of the staff and students of the school. Knezevich (1975, p. 563) emphasized that the physical needs are met through provision of safe structure, adequate sanitary facilities, a balanced visual environment, appropriate thermal environment, and sufficient shelter space for his work and play. His emotional needs are met by creating pleasant surrounding, a friendly atmosphere, and an inspiring environment. The educational system has undergone tremendous changes in the form of its philosophy, broadened goals and objectives, new approaches to service delivery and architectural design, quantum leap in school enrolment, multiplicity of curricula programmes and extra-curricula activities, introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and expanded academic support services such as guidance services to students, teachers and the community, integration of the school and community. 3. In what ways does instructional program influence the nature of school plant? Schools exist for the purpose of teaching and learning. Human and material resources are deployed for this purpose. School facilities are the material resources provided for staff and students to optimize their productivity in the teaching and learning process. The realization that the transfer of knowledge does not only take place in the four walls of the classroom from the teacher to the students but rather that learning takes place through discovery, exploration, interaction with the internal and external environment has necessitated the creative and innovative development of teaching and learning facilities that reflect these changes. Schools exist to serve socio-economic and political needs of the ever-changing society, consequently, they are in constant interaction with their external environment. They receive inputs from the external environment in the form of human and material resources, processes them and empty same into the society as finished products and services. The quality of the products bears a direct relationship with the quality of the facilities deployed in the process of the production. This demands that state of the art facilities are provided in schools to prepare school leavers for life in the global village. Several studies have shown that a close relationship exists between the physical environment and the academic performance of students. Nwagwu (1978) and Ogunsaju (1980) maintained that the quality of education that children receive bears direct relevance to the availability or lack thereof of physical facilities and overall atmosphere in which learning takes place. For example, research findings have shown that students learn better when a combination of methods and materials are employed during teaching. Furthermore, emphasis has shifted towards giving individual attention to students as against teaching large classes which presupposes that all students in a class have the ability to learn at the same pace. The implication of the foregoing is that in designing school plant, provision should be made for individual and small group interaction and for large groups for academic and social activities. How to cite School Physical Plant Management, Essay examples

Macroeconomics The Normal Price of the Goods & Services

Question: Describe an economic scenario, where the normal price of the goods services use to get decrease constantly over a certain period of time. Answer: Definition of Deflation:- According to the economists, deflation can be described as an economic scenario, where the normal price of the goods services use to get decrease constantly over a certain period of time. It is the opposite economic condition of inflation. During deflation, the real value of the money or the currency value of the country goes higher, which allow the people to purchase more products or services with a certain amount of money in comparison to the previous periods (Selgin, 2015). Deflation in Australia:- Reasons for Deflation in Australia:- The economists and researchers have analyzed various market scenarios very carefully to detect the actual reason for the deflation. As per the economists, the major factors, which use to control the value of money or currency are, Aggregate Demand Supply of Labor, Products Services, and Circulation of Money in the Market It has been observed that when the aggregate supply suddenly take a hike and the aggregate demand became lesser, the value of the money use to get down (Thirlwall, 2015). The following graph is presented to describe the situation:- Further, the aggregate demand supply and the circulation of money depend on various aspects of market. The aspects, which are responsible for the higher supply and lower demand in the Australian market and directly related to the deflation, are discussed in detail below:- Weak Demand:- Weak demand of the products and services are, mainly, developed due to decrease in the purchasing capability of the consumers, caused by the constant increase in the market price level. It may be also caused if the customers use to focus more on savings than consumption, due to various government policies. On the long run, such changes in the consumption pattern leads to the fall in aggregate demand of the products and services (Egle, 2015). Excessive Supply:- It is a very common trend of the market that whenever the supply of any product increases drastically, the producer uses decrease its price to increase the sales volume according to supply. If the producers producer use advanced technology greatly for additional production, then the income of labors, who are, directly or indirectly also the consumers of the products, do not change too much. In some cases, it may decrease also. In such condition, due of lack of extra income, the consumers cannot consume the excess supply and the producer have to cut the prices so that the consumers can buy it more with their unchanged income (Ball et al., 2015). Lower energy price:- Apart from the material and labor, the producers use to bear a huge amount for energy. Due to lower energy prices, the producers can consume more energy with the same amount of money, which they use to incur earlier for consuming lesser energy. Therefore, they can produce more units, which will ultimately lead to excessive supply. Flat wages:- Flat wages can create two types of consequences. If the market price level increase and the rate of wages remain constant, the labors cannot maintain the same consumption level as earlier. As discussed above, it causes lesser demand and excessive supply. It should be noted that all the reasons described above, are the consequences of subdued inflation. Therefore, it can be stated that the deflation, aroused in Australia, is the nothing but the aftermath of worldwide inflation and the control strategies applied for dealing with the inflation (Panic, 2015). Problems for Deflation:- The major economical problems, which Australia has to face due to deflation, are discussed below:- Reduction in Production:- As the supply of products and services rises at an abnormal rate, the volume of unsold products also increases drastically. It leads to decrease in the rate of profit. Due to lesser profits, the producers began to reduce the amount of production. Increase in Unemployment Rate:- When the volume of production declines, producers use to curtail in the labor quantity. It begins to increase the unemployment rate of the country. Fall in the Income Level:- If the total production level begins to decline, then the consumption level of raw material, energy and labors also follow the trend and the total income, generated from these items begins to fall down drastically over the period. Inequality in the Wealth Distribution:- Like the inflation, deflation also causes unequal distribution of wealth. As the value of currency use increase constantly, the creditors or moneylenders use to get more advantages and the debtors use to suffer losses. In the period of deflation, the earning groups, who use to earn at fixed income rates are the gainers and whose amount of income use varies from period to period use suffer the most (Korinek Mendoza,2013). Gross Domestic Product or GDP of a country is the total monetary amount of total products or services, produced in that country within a fiscal year. The aggregate supply and aggregate demand of products and services are one of the major factors, which use to control the amount of the GDP of a country. The production of any product or service use to change in the same proportion with the aggregate demand, where as it use change in a reverse ratio with the aggregate supply. During the deflation, due to the fall in price levels, the consumers use to consume more quantity of products but the amount of money, spend for the products, remains unchanged. Hence, the additional consumption cannot generate excess earnings. It implies that the aggregate demand of products only increases in terms of quantity not in terms of money. Moreover, when the profit margins of the producers begin to reduce due to excessive supply and lower price levels, they become unable to invest in productions more. Ins such scenario, though the quantity of consumption increases, the GDP do not increases accordingly, as because the GDP is ascertained on the value of the products. On the other hand, when the production decreases for the shortage of investments, the total production also goes down and cause drastic downfall in the GDP level (Fleckenstein et al.,2013). Health, education, insurance and other financial products belongs to the service sector. Unlike primary sector and secondary sector, the service sector use to affect the economy of a country indirectly. This sector provides support for developing proper infrastructure for the primary and secondary sectors. Therefore, initially, the service sectors do not get effected by any changes in the economy too much. But, it should be also noted that the products and services, required for the business operations in the service sectors use to be produced by the primary and secondary sectors. Therefore, if these two sectors get affected by the deflation, it would ultimately affect the service sector too. Moreover, when the currency price use to fall down nationally, various industries from service sectors also use to earn lesser profits. But, as some of the services, like health, education etc., are very essential for the consumers, the profit margins of these industries do not reduce at a very high rate. The service sectors use to acquire the smallest share in the total GDP. Therefore, the increase rate of this sector cannot save the GDP from the clutches of deflation. It can just slower down the falling rate of GDP. Moreover, if the deflation continues in the long run, the service sector will get affected by it and will begin to suffer from lower profit rates. Then it will amplify the reduction rate of GDP (Lavoie, 2014). Reference List:- Ball, R., Gerakos, J., Linnainmaa, J. T., Nikolaev, V. V. (2015). Deflating profitability.Journal of Financial Economics,117(2), 225-248. Egle, W. P. (2015).Economic Stabilization: Objective, Rules, and Mechanisms. Princeton University Press Fleckenstein, M., Longstaff, F. A., Lustig, H. (2013).Deflation risk(No. w19238). National Bureau of Economic Research Korinek, A., Mendoza, E. G. (2013).From sudden stops to fisherian deflation: Quantitative theory and policy implications(No. w19362). National Bureau of Economic Research Lavoie, M. (2014).Post-Keynesian Economics: New Foundations. Edward Elgar Publishing Panic, M. (2015).National Management of International Economy. Springer. Selgin, G. (2015). Synthetic commodity money.Journal of Financial Stability,17, 92-99 Thirlwall, A. P. (2015). Keynes, economic development and the developing countries. InEssays on Keynesian and Kaldorian Economics(pp. 149-177). Palgrave Macmillan UK.

Antony And Cleopatra Essays - Cultural Depictions Of Cleopatra

Antony And Cleopatra Essays - Cultural Depictions Of Cleopatra Antony and Cleopatra In Shakespeare's tragedy/history/Roman play Antony and Cleopatra, we are told the story of two passionate and power-hungry lovers. In the first two Acts of the play we are introduced to some of the problems and dilemmas facing the couple (such as the fact that they are entwined in an adulterous relationship, and that both of them are forced to show their devotion to Caesar). Along with being introduced to Antony and Cleopatra's strange love affair, we are introduced to some interesting secondary characters. One of these characters is Enobarbus. Enobarbus is a high-ranking soldier in Antony's army who it seems is very close to his commander. We know this by the way Enobarbus is permitted to speak freely (at least in private) with Antony, and often is used as a person to whom Antony confides in. We see Antony confiding in Enobarbus in Act I, Scene ii, as Antony explains how Cleopatra is "cunning past man's thought" (I.ii.146). In reply to this Enobarbus speaks very freely of his view of Cleopatra, even if what he says is very positive: ...her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love. We cannot call her winds and waters sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacs can report. This cannot be cunning in her; if it be she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove. (I, ii, 147-152) After Antony reveals that he has just heard news of his wife's death, we are once again offered an example of Enobarbus' freedom to speak his mind, in that he tells Antony to "give the gods a thankful sacrifice" (I.ii.162), essentially saying that Fulvia's death is a good thing. Obviously, someone would never say something like this unless they were in very close company. While acting as a friend and promoter of Antony, Enobarbus lets the audience in on some of the myth and legend surrounding Cleopatra. Probably his biggest role in the play is to exaggerate Anthony and Cleopatra's relationship. Which he does so well in the following statements: When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus. (II.ii.188-189) The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne, Burned on the water: the poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfumed that The winds were lovesick with them; the oars were silver, (II.ii.193-197) And, for his ordinary, pays his heart For what his eyes eat only. (II.ii.227-228) Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety.... (II.ii.237-238) In these passages, Enobarbus turns Antony's and Cleopatra's meeting into a fairy tale and leads the audience into believing the two are inseparable. His speeches in Act II are absolutely vital to the play in that this is what Shakespeare wants the audience to view Antony and Cleopatra. Also, in these passages, Cleopatra is described as irresistible and beautiful beyond belief another view that is necessary for us to believe in order to buy the fact that a man with so much to lose would be willing to risk it all in order to win her love. Quite possibly, these passages may hint that Enobarbus is himself in love with Cleopatra. After all, it would be hard to come up with such flowery language if a person were not inspired. Enobarbus may be lamenting his own passions vicariously through the eyes of Antony. This would be convenient in questioning Enobarbus' loyalty, which becomes very important later on in the play (considering he kills himself over grief from fearing he betrayed his leader). The loyalty of Enobarbus is indeed questionable. Even though we never hear him utter a single disparaging remark against Antony, he does admit to Menas that he "will praise any man that will praise me" (II.iii.88), suggesting that his honor and loyalty may just be simple brown-nosing. Shakespeare probably fashioned Enobarbus as a means of relaying information to the audience that would otherwise be difficult or awkward to bring forth from other characters (such as Cleopatra's beauty and the story of her betrayal of Caesar), but he also uses him as way to inject some levity and humor in the play, showing the characters eagerness to have a good time. Evidence of this comes in Enobarbus' affinity for drunkenness. In both Act I and Act

Quotes About Being Aloneâ€but Not Lonely

Quotes About Being Alone- but Not Lonely Some people find it unnerving to be left alone when there are far too many uncomfortable dimensions to the solitude. Yet being alone does not necessarily mean being lonely. For instance, assume you are left alone with your thoughts. If you find peace in solitude, your time alone may be a blessing, a welcome respite from the cares of the world. The right quotes show that being alone- far from being lonely- provides a chance to reflect on life. Buddha All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else. Henry David Thoreau I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude. Ann Landers It is far better to be alone than to wish you were. Warsan Shire My alone feels so good, I’ll only have you if you’re sweeter than my solitude. Marilyn Monroe I restore myself when Im alone. Its better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone- so far. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone. Julie Delpy Too many women throw themselves into romance because they’re afraid of being single, then start making compromises and losing their identity. I won’t do that. Thomas Merton If we seek paradise outside ourselves, we cannot have paradise in our hearts.Wayne Dyer You cannot be lonely if you like the person youre alone with. John Steinbeck All great and precious things are lonely. Blaise Pascal All mens miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone. James Dean Being an actor is the loneliest thing in the world. You are all alone with your concentration and imagination, and thats all you have. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying. George Washington It is better to be alone than in bad company. Dr. Seuss All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something youll be quite a lot. Dalai Lama Spend some time alone every day. African Proverb It is better to travel alone than with a bad companion. Jules Renard If you are afraid of being lonely, dont try to be right. Suzanne Gordon To be alone is to be different, to be different is to be alone. Charles Caleb Colton To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than their own hearts in their closet. Alain de Botton Booksellers are the most valuable destination for the lonely, given the numbers of books that were written because authors couldnt find anyone to talk to. Georg Trakl For whoever is lonely there is a tavern. Paul Tillich Language...has created the word loneliness to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word solitude to express the glory of being alone. Jose Garcia Villa No more truth. Bells ring no more in me. I am all alone singly. Lonely rests my head. O my God! I am dead. Pearl S. Buck The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart. His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration. Vicki Baum Fame always brings loneliness. Success is as ice-cold and lonely as the North Pole. Anonymous I think Id do better on my own, no friends, no fights, just me alone. Christopher Morley Beauty is ever to the lonely mind a shadow fleeting; she is never plain. She is a visitor who leaves behind the gift of grief, the souvenir of pain. Hafiz of Persia â€Å"I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being.† Ancient Chinese Proverb â€Å"An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless or time, place, and circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle. But it will never break.† Mandy Hale â€Å"A season of loneliness and isolation is when the caterpillar gets its wings. Remember that next time you feel alone.† Dr. Wayne Dyer You cannot be lonely if you like the person youre alone with. Joseph F. Newton â€Å"People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.†

Humancomputer interaction Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Humancomputer interaction - Assignment Example The mental model encompasses operations that work in just like the computer. Most of the computer interfaces developed for visually impaired individuals are designed for those who have not lost their sight completely. Many HCI use several other types of feedback such as haptic and tactile feedback system. However, these interfaces are normally supplemental to the visual communication. As such, it is essential to note that those who have not lost their sight completely will be in an enhanced position to access several computer applications based on the haptic and tactile system, Clifford (2008). When interacting with the computer, some of the critical movements very useful include movement aside (Fig. 1a), pressure (Fig. 1b), static contact (Fig. 1c) and encircle and follow object contour exploration procedures Individuals with no sight or with reduced sight use these model in an analogous way. A significant constituent of the ability to create cognitive models for features in the physical world is closely correlated to the sense of feeling or touching. Touching is the only sense that allows simultaneous input and output interaction with the computer in two directions. The usual interfaces for normal people use only one

Adoration of the Shepherds and The Holy Family with the Shepherds Term Paper

Adoration of the Shepherds and The Holy Family with the Shepherds - Term Paper Example This obsessive attention to detail is a signature too of the Mantegna style and imprint, already fully formed at the time of the commissioning of the painting, completed when he was barely out of his teens. The descriptions of the painting include precision, hardness, a sense of clarity of the image and of the vision that was unique and spectacular during its time, and the refinement and the purity in the colors that were employed. In the Adoration of the Shepherds the clarity of the detail, the use of colors that are pure, and the sharpness and the overall sense of exactness of the composition is said to extend all the way to the background, where even the landscape far away from the scene in focus is described in such a level of detail that critics then and now consider with awe and astonishment. The emphasis on detail reflects tool, an aesthetic that focuses on reality, realistic depictions, even if in the case of the shepherds there is a lack of a tendency to idealize and beautif y their presences, and instead they are depicted in the painting in the full reality of the coarseness of their appearance and the drabness of the colors of their clothing. In contrast, Joseph's clothing, and his presence and appearance, are vibrant and serene at the same time, starkly in opposition to everything else, especially with regard to the yellow garb of Joseph. Mary's muted blue and red garb blends more with the surrounding environment, meanwhile, and it is noteworthy that the focus of attention of the shepherds is not Jesus and Mary, but in the painting it is Joseph they are facing and bowing to (Kren and Marx; Louvre; Abrahams). The Holy... See in the painting the shepherds look more like angels than human beings, in the handsome quality of their faces, the serenity and lack of human sin in the way their faces are depicted, and in the way their smiles and their presences encouraged further intimacy of spirit among the shepherds and the holy family. There is nothing at all that is course or reflecting toil and hardship in this painting. The composition is idealized too, in the way the lighting is so crafted so that the virgin mother and the infant Jesus take center stage in the painting, with the baby Jesus as the focal point of the attention of all the people in the painting, a deliberate staging of the painting so that mother and child, and child in particular, are the most important figures in the painting. The child Jesus is the focus of the love and attention of the shepherds, as well as of the virgin mother Mary. In contrast to the softness and the idealization that are the hallmarks of the painting by Jordaens, th e painting of Mantegna puts sharp focus on the outward physical reality of the scene, with the shepherds depicted not as idealized, angel-like figures but as very human, and as shepherds who toil and who are nomadic in their ways are expected to look at. Where Jordaens idealizes and softens the scene to evoke warmth and closeness, Mantegna offers stark reality, and detailed depictions of that reality. There is nothing at all that is course or reflecting toil and hardship in this painting, angel-like figures but as very human.