25 Writing Tips From Famous Writers - Freewrite Store

25 Writing Tips From Famous Writers - Freewrite Store 25 Writing Tips From Famous Writers 25 Writing Tips From Famous Writers - Freewrite Store 25 Writing Tips From Famous Writers It’s such a liberating thought that there is no one way to express your creativity as a writer. As fast as this feeling comes, it’s replaced by the daunting task of putting pen to paper. Everybody has a story to tell. A story that the whole world needs to hear. If you’re struggling to get those words out, or you just want some inspiration, this collection of thoughts, musings, and writing tips should help. "Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone is a writer. Some are written in the books, and some are confined to hearts." -Savi Sharma We collected 25 time-tested writing tips from bestselling authors from today and days past. 25 Writing Tips From Famous Writers 1. â€Å"Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too.† -  Isabel Allende The works of Isabel Allende have sold over 70 million copies and been translated into 35 different languages. The Chilean writer is famous for novels such asThe House of the Spirits (1982) andCity of the Beasts (2002). She brilliantly weaved together elements of myth and realism, often relating to her personal experiences as a woman. Allende went on to say, â€Å"I need to tell a story. It’s an obsession. Each story is a seed inside of me that starts to grow and grow, like a tumor, and I have to deal with it sooner or later.† 2. â€Å"This is how you do it: you sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy, and that hard.† - Neil Gaiman Source:Pens, Rules, Finishing Things And Why Stephin Merrit Is Not Grouchy Following the advice of Allende, Neil Gaiman suggests putting one foot in front of the other. When a young writer asked the author how to take the last steps towards finish his stories, Gaiman offered this advice, â€Å"How do you finish them? You finish them.† Gaiman’s work has been honored with many awards including the Newbury and Carnegie Medals. 3. â€Å"If you’re using dialogue, say it aloud as you write it. Only then will it have the sound of speech.† -John Steinbeck A Pulitzer Prize winner and Nobel laureate John Steinbeck has written a plethora of wisdom. Even if you’re not an avid reader, you’re probably familiar with Steinbeck’s most significant works. His novels,The Grapes of Wrath andOf Mice and Men defined the American Great Depression. Reading your text aloud to yourself helps to ensure that it flows like a conversation. 4. â€Å"If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.† -Elmore Leonard Steinbeck and Leonard share similar writing wisdom. Whether you choose to read it aloud or rewrite it, take their advice and find a way to make your writing sound less like†¦ writing. 5. â€Å"Protect the time and space in which you write. Keep everybody away from it, even the people who are most important to you.† -Zadie Smith As writers, it’s crucial that we protect our personal space from the multitude of distractions we are faced with every day. Roommates, friends, family, work, and the neighbor's dog all can make it difficult to produce your best work. If you’re available to everybody and everything, you will feel drained and fatigued. When it comes to your work, you're not in the wrong for protecting your personal space. 6. â€Å"In the planning stage of a book, don’t plan the ending. It has to be earned by all that will go before it.† -Rose Tremain Many writers will disagree with this quote. If you start with the end in mind, and that works for you, then maybe this advice isn’t for you. Rose Tremain, the English novelist suggests you earn the ending based on what you've developed beforehand. 7. â€Å"Always carry a notebook. And I mean always. The short-term memory only retains information for three minutes; unless it is committed to paper you can lose an idea for ever.† -Will Self Will Self has authored ten novels, five short stories, three novellas, and five collections of non-fiction writing. The English novelist isn’t the only writer to carry a notebook at all times. Never forget that fleeting idea that could be your next great novel. Without writing them down, those forgotten thoughts will only come back to distract you and hold your mind prisoner. Self is in good company. Richard Branson, the English business magnate, carries a notebook everywhere he goes. The billionaire considers himself a student of life. 8. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." –Leonardo Da Vinci You can find  hundreds of writers who elect to use more straightforward language to get their point across. Sometimes, we assume that a bigger vocabulary means better writing, but that’s simply not true. Here are a few more quotes to get the point across. â€Å"Writing isn’t about using words to impress. It’s about using simple words in an impressive way.† - Sierra Bailey â€Å"If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.† - Albert Einstein 9. "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." - Ernest Hemingway The goal of every writer is to find their flow state AND stay there.   The Freewrite is a manifestation of Hemingway’s idea. Ernest Hemingway suggests you sit down at your writing device and, figuratively, bleed. Let the thoughts flow, regardless of how difficult that may be. Leave the editing for later. 10. â€Å"You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.† -Jack London Jack London went on to say, â€Å"and if you don’t get it, you will nonetheless get something that looks remarkably like it.† Jack London, an avid adventurer, found inspiration in all of his travels. He inspired generations of people to leave the comfort of home and explore the world. Don’t just sit back and wait for an idea to hit you. Go after it, and don’t forget your club! 11. â€Å"Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.† -Henry Miller How many unfinished novels do you have sitting on your hard-drive, aging like fine wines? We all do this. Dream up a brilliant idea, get a few thousand words into it, only to be whisked away by the next distraction. We all like to think that we’re capable multitaskers. However, multiple studies have shown that handling various tasks at once is not only damaging to the brain but also your career. Put your full creative energy into one project at a time. 12. â€Å"If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time - or the tools - to write. Simple as that.†Stephen King Stephen King has published a whopping 56 books as of today (5/7/18). The award-winning author still finds the time to read 70 books a year. He takes advantage of every idle moment in lobbies, waiting rooms, and checkout lines. What’s Stephen’s trick? Teach yourself to read in small sips as well as in long swallows. Source:Stephen King: The Craft Of Writing Horror Stories 13. â€Å"Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.† -Anton Checkhov I want you to close your eyes. Now imagine two scenes: 1. The moon is shining. 2. A glint of light from the moon shines on the broken glass. Now, which one is more descriptive? Which scene is more enticing? I’d choose the latter, and I’m sure you would too. This quote is a classic case of â€Å"show, don’t tell.† Showing makes your writing far more interesting to read. Help move the reader along by adding some imagination and color to your passages. 14. "Never use a long word where a short one will do." -  George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English writer famous for the novels1984andAnimal Farm. In the absence of skill, using long words makes you look pretentious. They also are awkward to read and interrupt the reader's flow. 15. "A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it." -Edgar Allen Poe Edgar Allen Poe is most noted for his poem, "The Raven." In books, you have time to let the story develop and breathe. You can risk adding details that you deem necessary. When writing short stories, you  must condense an entire story into a few pages. There isn’t any room for sentences that don't lead to the ending. 16. "Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you're doomed." -  Ray Bradbury   When I was 16 years old, I decided that I wanted to work in content creation and online marketing. I took it upon myself to watch every video and read every book  pertaining to writing and copy-writing. Eventually, I stumbled upon a video of Seth Godin offering advice to young college graduates. He left me with a lesson that I will NEVER forget. He said, â€Å"move fast and break things.† That inspired me to start my first blog. It quickly grew to 5,000 monthly page views. My first blog posts were horrendous, but I quickly learned what worked and what didn’t. Bradbury offers similar advice. Spend every free minute writing, even if you don’t plan to share it with the world. 17. â€Å"Every sentence must do one of two things reveal character or advance the action." -Kurt Vonnegut In his 50-year writing career, Vonnegut published 14 novels, three short story collections, five plays, and five works of non-fiction. Combine Vonnegut’s and Poe’s advice into a single statement, every sentence of a short story must do one of three things reveal character, advance the action, or build towards a single mood. 18. â€Å"The historian records, but the novelist creates.†E. M. Forster Great novelists have the unique ability to invent their reality. E.M Foster, an English novelist, examined class difference and hypocrisy in early 20th century British society.A Room With A View, one of his most famous works, was turned into an award-winning movie in 1985. 19. â€Å"Read, read, read. Read everything - trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window.† -William Faulkner If I could offer you only one piece of advice for becoming a better writer, I would suggest this - read and write a lot. As you read and write more, you develop a better understanding of what is good and bad writing. William Faulkner, an American writer and Nobel Prize laureate had an insatiable drive to keep writing and was never completely satisfied with his work. 20. "You can fix anything but a blank page.† -Nora Roberts Putting pen to paper is a recurring theme in this article. We’ve heard Hemingway, Faulkner, Bradbury, and now Roberts offer similar advice. One of my favorite mentors, Jim Rohn, said, â€Å"Success leaves clues.† People who produce outstanding results do specific things to create those results. As writers, there are many ways to skin a cat, but the commonalities of successful writers remain. 21. â€Å"You have to get to a very quiet place inside yourself. And that doesn’t mean that you can’t have noise outside. I know some people who put jazz on, loudly, to write. I think each writer has her or his secret path to the muse.† -Maya Angelou I know I’m not the only one to struggle with finding a quiet place inside myself. I’ve tried everything from locking myself into a dark room, to hiding my cell phone, and listening to my favorite music. My secret path to the muse is listening to Binaural Beats. As I write this article, I’m listening to the soothing sound ofDelta Waves for Deep Healing Sleep. 22. â€Å"When you’re stuck, and sure you’ve written absolute garbage, force yourself to finish and THEN decide to fix or scrap it - or you will never know if you can.† -Jodi Picoult Jodi Picoult, an American writer, has sold over 14 million copies of her 24 novels. Until you push your own self perceived boundaries, you'll never know how far you can go. Source:Jodi Picoult: The million-selling novelist on carving out time for writing and the influence of Gone With the Wind 23. â€Å"You have to actually write. Daydreaming about the book you’re going to write someday isn’t writing. It’s daydreaming. Open your word processor and start writing.† -  Andy Weir Les Brown, a world famous motivational speaker, has in my mind one of the most inspirational quotes of all-time. â€Å"The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.†   - Les Brown If you want to be a writer, you have to write and write and write. It starts with one. One character, one word, then one page. They key is, you have to start. 24. â€Å"I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged.†-Erica Jong Erica Jong is an American novelist and poet best known for her 1973 novel,  Fear of Flying.She shared her battle with finishing her work. For many writers, their works are their most personal possessions. Take solace in the fact that there is somebody out there who needs your writing. Why take a chance that they may never get to read it? 25. â€Å"Ignore all proffered  rules and create your own, suitable for what you want to say.† -Michael Moorcock Source:Michael Moorcock’s rules for writers A few years back, The Guardian asked some of the most esteemed contemporary authors for any golden rules and writing tips they bring to their practice. Michael Moorcock isn’t the first writer to operate under the idea of â€Å"writing what you want†.   First, make yourself the audience by telling a story you would want to read. This is a fitting quote to leave for the end. Perhaps Mr.Moorcock has written the final rule on succeeding as a writer. Did you find these writing tips useful? Now it’s your turn to take this inspiration and make it your own.    Carlton Clark loves to write about business, baseball, and popular culture. A writer, marketer, and entrepreneur. At the age of 14, he founded the media company  ballplayerplus.com. Currently, Carlton helps businesses share their stories through social media and blogging. When he’s not writing or creating content, Carlton coaches youth baseball at his local high school and plays guitar. You can find him online on Instagram @itscarltonclark, and on Twitter @carlton_mukasa

The History Behind the Invention of the Digital Camera

The History Behind the Invention of the Digital Camera The history of the digital camera dates back to the early 1950s. Digital camera technology is directly related to and evolved from the same technology that recorded  television  images. Digital Photography and the VTR In 1951, the first  video tape recorder  (VTR) captured live images from television cameras by converting the information into electrical impulses (digital) and saving the information onto magnetic tape. Bing Crosby laboratories (the research team funded by Crosby and headed by engineer  John Mullin) created the first early VTR and by 1956, VTR technology was perfected (the VR1000 invented by Charles P. Ginsburg and the Ampex Corporation) and in common use by the television industry. Both television/video cameras and digital cameras use a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) to sense light color and intensity. Digital Photography and Science During the 1960s, NASA converted from using analog to digital signals with their space probes to map the surface of the moon (sending digital images back to earth). Computer technology was also advancing at this time and NASA used computers to enhance the images that the space probes were sending. Digital imaging also had another government use at the time that being spy  satellites. Government use of digital technology helped advance the science of digital imaging, however, the private sector also made significant contributions. Texas Instruments patented a film-less electronic camera in 1972, the first to do so. In August 1981, Sony released the Sony Mavica electronic still camera, the camera which was the first commercial electronic camera. Images were recorded onto a mini disc and then put into a video reader that was connected to a television monitor or color printer. However, the early Mavica cannot be considered a true digital camera even though it started the digital camera revolution. It was a video camera that took video freeze-frames. Kodak Since the mid-1970s, Kodak has invented several solid-state image sensors that converted light to digital pictures for professional and home consumer use. In 1986, Kodak scientists invented the worlds first megapixel sensor, capable of recording 1.4 million pixels that could produce a 5x7-inch digital photo-quality print. In 1987, Kodak released seven products for recording, storing, manipulating, transmitting and printing electronic still video images. In 1990, Kodak developed the Photo CD system and proposed the first worldwide standard for defining color in the digital environment of computers and computer peripherals. In 1991, Kodak released the first professional digital camera system (DCS), aimed at photojournalists. It was a Nikon F-3 camera equipped by Kodak with a 1.3-megapixel sensor. Digital Cameras for Consumers The first digital cameras for the consumer-level market that worked with a home computer via a serial cable were the  Apple QuickTake 100 camera  (February 17 , 1994), the  Kodak DC40  camera (March 28, 1995), the Casio QV-11 (with LCD monitor, late 1995), and Sonys Cyber-Shot Digital Still Camera (1996). However, Kodak entered into an aggressive co-marketing campaign to promote the DC40 and to help introduce the idea of digital photography to the public. Kinkos and Microsoft both collaborated with Kodak to create digital image-making software workstations and kiosks which allowed customers to produce Photo CD Discs and ​photographs and add digital images to documents. IBM collaborated with Kodak in making an internet-based network image exchange. Hewlett-Packard was the first company to make color inkjet printers that complemented the new digital camera images. The marketing worked and today digital cameras are everywhere.

Financial Markets & Risk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Financial Markets & Risk - Essay Example According to this act, FSA is responsible for the authorisation and prudential supervision of banks and building societies. It is also responsible for the supervision of following agencies: It is also entrusted with the supervision of financial markets, securities listings and of clearing and settlement systems. At the same time, it may be responsible for conducting operations in response to problem cases influencing firms, markets and clearing and settlements systems under situation when the nature of the operations was agreed according to the provisions of the tripartite Memorandum. It is also responsible for regulatory policy in these areas, including that aimed with an objective to promote the resilience to operational disruption of authorised firms and Recognised bodies. It has also advisory responsibility and hence it should guide on the regulatory implications for authorised firms and recognised bodies of developments in domestic and international markets and of initiatives, both domestic and international level. Global financial problems may come at an unexpected intervals and hence they are equipped with necessary flexibility in their duties. For example, under exceptional circumstances FSA has responsibility to undertake official financial operations to limit the risk of problems in or influencing particular institutions spreading to other parts of the financial system. It should also ensure proper communication with standing Committees of the Bank of England and HM treasury to co-ordinate the response to a crisis. Like FSA, the Bank of England was also entrusted with huge responsibilities to bring financial stability in United Kingdom. The Bank of England is responsible for the predicting unforeseen challenges of the financial system as a whole. It also ensures the stability of the monetary system as part of its monetary policy functions. It should act in the markets to deal with fluctuations in

Defoe's Robinson Crusoe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Defoe's Robinson Crusoe - Essay Example However, Robinson Crusoe does not heed these warnings and sets out twice more on the sea. The first of these trips is to Brazil (without incident). The second and fateful trip which ultimately lands him on the desert island is the trade mission he engages upon to Guyana in Chapter 5 (Defoe, 1982). Once shipwrecked, without any shelter, dwelling, friends, comrades, family, amenities of a comfortable life, or supplies to speak of, Crusoe comes down with a high fever during a monsoon. This parallel to hubris and the utter humiliation of mankind’s best efforts is a direct parallel to the Greek writers nearly two thousand years prior to Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. In this way, Crusoe experiences a Job like conversion and understands his hubris; therefore, he confesses his many sins of this life and sets out to read and study the New Testament with a renewed vigor. With the modern connection as it relates to Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, the most obvious connection is to the film Castaway. Although the obvious connection is both works center around individuals who find themselves alone on a desert island, the parallels are far greater. The fact is that the underlying character development of both Castaway and Robinson Crusoe hinges upon the moment immediately following despair, self-loathing, hopelessness, and contemplations of death when the protagonists realize that this is their moment to define what they will do and how they will survive under difficult circumstances. Robinson Crusoe experiences a high fever accompanied by severe weather and a hallucination in which God speaks to him. On the other hand, Chuck Noland’s epiphany only comes after he opens the â€Å"forbidden fruit† of the FedEx packages washed ashore with him and finds useful items that can aid him in his quest for survival. In this way, both characters experi ence

Democratization in the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Democratization in the Middle East - Essay Example The information revolution is seen as a leading factor of political instability in the region and as a result, it impacts on the democratization process in a negative way. This is owing to the fact that the improved infrastructure from the Persian Gulf to North Africa facilitates the effectiveness of opposition movements and terrorists. For example, Islamists in Tunisia and Saudi Arabia use recent developments in communication to fight against the current regimes. The cumulative effect of this development is a decline in democratization. The second challenge to the process of democratization is the forces of Islam and nationalism. These are known as the two most influential forces in the region. The development of Islamist factions has serious implications on the democratization process in the region as well as the relationship between Islam states and the rest of the world. For example, countries such as Algeria where Islamist regimes exist but are in their early stages may experien ce a long-term struggle that impacts democratization.Thirdly, the concept of democracy is unfamiliar in the foundations of Islam which is the main religion in the region. In other terms, democracy is irreconcilable with the Muslim religion. This can be supported by the fact that among the number of countries with an Islamic majority only twenty-three percent of them have democratically elected regimes. In fact, only one Muslim nation across the world is considered as democratic.

Principles of Maritime Administration and Policy

Principles of Maritime Administration and Policy I. Introduction Clearly stated in Article 94 UNCLOS 1982 that one of the duties of flag state is to take such measures for ships flying its flag as are necessary to ensure safety at sea, which required to conform to generally accepted international regulations (UNCLOS, 1982). Having consider that States should not only become party to the convention, but also fully implemented their obligations, IMO establish Resolution A.996(25) Code for the Implementation of Mandatory IMO Instruments. Based on this code, there are strategies that should be developed by the States in order to achieve objective of the code, which is enhancing global maritime safety and protection of marine environment (IMO, 2007). Indonesia through its maritime administration should establish system which develop this strategy to fulfill their duty as flag state. This paper try to compare four strategies mention in Resolution A.996(25) with system established in Indonesia in general; and specifically explore the consequence of the c ode for Indonesia in terms of casualty investigation. II. Strategy for enhancing maritime safety and protection of marine environment Based on Resolution A.996(25), there are 4 strategies should be developed by the States. First strategy, implementation and enforcement of IMO convention; Implementation of flag state responsibility cover many aspect, such as convention interpretation, education and manning, flag state inspection, certification issues,   authorization and monitoring RO, and casualty investigation. However, these implementation and enforcement are fully depends on ability and willingness of member parties. Contracting Governments enforce the provisions of IMO conventions as far as their own ships are concerned and also set the penalties for infringements, where these are applicable (IMO, 2009). Ratify a Convention and bring it into full and complete effect through internal law is not easy for contracting government. To establish effective maritime legislation, after set it up, it should be easy to change and keep updated with IMO change, set up IMO legislative tracking, attend IMO meeting and m aintain effective communication with other parts of government (Belcher, 2009). Survey and certification is one of the ways to enforce standard developed by administration. In some cases, countries which are lack of expertise and experience have found convenience in delegating their functions to Recognized Organizations (Villanueva, 2004). Many developed administrations also decided to delegate part of their function to RO, in order to effectively expand their capabilities on worldwide basis. RO such as classification society have believed as professional solution for global surveyor network and technical expertise (Schlott, 2009). However, some problems arise regarding statutory work delegation. For example, audit of Denmark shows the needs of more effective monitoring of statutory survey record held by RO (VIMSAS-Denmark, 2007). Therefore in term of authorization, Maritime Administration should fully refer to Resolution A.789(19) â€Å"Specifications on the survey and certification functions of recognized organizations acting on behalf of   administrat ions† and Resolution A.739(18) â€Å"Guidelines for the authorization of organizations acting on behalf of the administration† (Schlott, 2009). Second strategy, adherence to international recommendations; apart from Mandatory instrument such as Load Lines, SOLAS and COLREG, flag state should also refer to international recommendation such as IMO resolution or circular which contain guidelines or other non mandatory code. Thirdly is continuous review and verification of international obligation compliance effectiveness. One way of review is by evaluating port state control statistics. PSC usually published annual reports that contain statistics on the performance of flag States and RO. Casualty statistics also can give picture of compliance effectiveness. In addition, comprehensive measurement of flag State ability to enact and effectively enforce maritime legislation is through Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme. The importance of VIMSAS in verification of flag State compliance is emphasized by IMO (Mansell, 2009). Purpose of VIMSAS is not to shame or point a finger at a state, but to assist them in fulfilling their duties and obligations which promotes flag State performance. The result of this audit is known only to the State concerned, auditors and IMO secretariat, and reports from audits are published as anonymous (Franson, 2009). Last strategy is achievement, maintenance and improvement of overall organizational performance and capability. Human resource development will influence organizational performance; and good quality system can assure achievement and maintenance of organization performance. Administration can apply ISO 90001 or other equivalent quality system. Furthermore, improvement can be done through introduce new public management principle. It is move away from administration to achievement of result, change from classic bureaucracy to flexibility and defines organizational and personal objectives through measurable performance indicator (Schrà ¶der, 2008). Although almost impossible to implement all of NPM strategies, many administration in developing countries are implementing selected aspects of NPM notably granting more autonomy to public sector organizations, emphasis on results, accountability for performance and results, introduce competition, contracting, and customer orientation (Singh ,2001). Multi-state cooperation for capacity-building is one example of new public management implementation to overcome the limitation of organization through international cooperation (Manuel, 2009). III. Flag state implementation in Indonesia Indonesia is a huge Archipelago country comprised of 17508 islands, with 5.8 million square kilometres total area of sea and 95181 km length of coast line (Indonesian Maritime Committee, 2008). This given condition generates high dependency on maritime transportation and also obstacle to develop high qualified and reliable maritime transportation system. Three main strategies in maritime transportation development of Indonesia for 2009 are improvement of national transportation service, improving safety and security of maritime transportation and improving quality of human resources (Ministry of Transportation, 2009). Indonesia also published long term development strategies 2005-2025 for maritime safety, inter alia, maintain traffic scheme, monitoring seaworthiness and vessel status regularly, assessment of technical aspect and operational of vessel, controlling implementation of planned maintenance systems, developing crew career, monitoring environmental protection and improving S AR operation (Ministry,2008a). Specific short term target are explained in roadmap of maritime transportation safety improvement for 2006-2009 plans which include facilities, law enforcement, regulation, restructure organization, human resource, institution revitalization and community socialization (Ministry,2008b). Specifically as a flag state, Indonesia is bound to the obligation of flag state duties as mention in UNCLOS. Based on Transportation Information Book 2007, Indonesia has 7,237 national fleets in 2007 (Ministry, 2008c). Compare to the world, Indonesia is in number 11 in merchant marine with 971 vessels in 2008 (CIA,2009). To maintain and assure that all vessels have fully complied with regulation is not easy task for Indonesia. As 4 strategies mentioned in Resolution A.996(25) which should be established, some are fulfilled and some are not yet accomplished. a. Implementation and enforcement Indonesia already ratify several conventions such as SOLAS 74 protocol 78, Load Line 66, Tonnage 69, COLREG 72, STCW 78, MARPOL 73/78 Annex I/II and some other convention such as CSC, STP, Facilitation and INMARSAT (IMO,2009a). Ratification processes are take time since it has to be legalizing through parliaments. However, although there are some conventions, protocol or annex not yet ratified, Indonesia always try to keep in track to recent important regulation development. For example, as mention in roadmap of maritime transportation safety improvement, Indonesia has continuous improvement in ISPS and ISM implementation (Ministry, 2008b). In terms of classification, Directorate General of Sea Transportation give authority to Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia regards hull construction, electrical and machinery. Other aspect such as radio communication and safety equipment are inspected by Directorate through their Marine Inspector (Rusdi,2009). This multiple classifications should not be a problem if every part of regulation is strictly implemented. However, often people argue that BKIs position is not helped by its close links with the Ministry of Transportation, where decisions are often described as politically-motivated (Indonesian Class, 2007). Indonesia also tries to improve law enforcement such as technical audit to passenger vessel and ro-ro ferry, sanction for careless harbourmaster and marine inspector, licence revocation for negligent operator and condition assessment survey for safety requirement in ro-ro ferry which older than 25 years. In 2007, there are 4 official and 1 operator were sanctioned (Ministry, 2008b). Unfortunately, in several cases, inadequate safety equipments are still founded. For example, in KM Levina accident case, it was proved that the sprinkle can not work. Ironically, for safety equipment certificate, the ship have complete certificate. There are possibilities that safety equipment not carefully inspected (Rusdi, 2009). As Gunther, chairman of interferry, comments that many problem are caused by poor operator administration (High waves, 2009). This problem should be cover by port clearing requirement; therefore, law enforcement should be much stricter. b. Adherence to international recommendations Overall, Indonesia has trying to implement and enforce mandatory instrument; however, Indonesia should more pay attention to international recommendation. Although ISPS are not cover in Resolution A.996(25), ISPS code including Part B which is not mandatory is one example of recommendation that already implemented in Indonesia.   Indonesia already established International Ship and Port Facilities Security since 1st July 2004 (Ministry, 2008a). c. Review and verification of the effectiveness Port state control data, accident statistics and audit are the ways to review and verify flag state implementation effectiveness.   Unfortunately, port state control statistic for Indonesian vessel not gives good news. In Tokyo MoU annual report 2008, Indonesia is in 6th place in highest detention report with 19.14% or 40 detentions. With 634 inspections from 2006 to 2008 there are 123 detentions which put Indonesia in black list.   However, Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia can prove that they have better performance, which in Tokyo MoU, BKI has medium performance level (Tokyo MoU, 2009). Number of vessel accident in Indonesia also relatively high. Figure 1 shows the statistics from 2003 to 2008. It tends to increase from 2003 to 2007 and the highest number occurs in 2007 with 145 accidents. However it shows good progress when in 2008, number of accident sharp decrease to 44 accidents. This probably prove that after second biggest ferry disaster in Indonesia, Senopati   Nusantara, happened at the end of 2006, government trying hard to improve vessel safety in Indonesia. Furthermore, Indonesia has not yet volunteered for VIMSAS. Apart of realizing that some obligation not yet fulfilled, one of the problems is probably cost which should be afforded for the audit. However this problem should not be as a reason to refrain from applying the audit. Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme (ITCP) can provide assistance to prepare audits and/or implement corrective measures in response to audit findings and, if necessary, funding part of the cost for the audit (Franson, 2009). Considering benefit of this audit, applying VIMSAS could be the starting point for Indonesia to find the right solution. d. Achievement, maintenance and improvement of overall organizational performance and capability In order to ensure achievement and maintenance of organizational performance, Indonesia realized urgency of improving human resource development. Since 2006, each year Indonesia trained approximately 600 people in various training such as marine inspector, hydrographic, Global Marine Distress Safety System, SAR, ISPS-Code, Port State Control Officer, Advance Fire Fighting, ISM Code and Radar Simulator Arpa Simulator. In terms of organization improvement, Directorate General of Sea transportation determined tasks based on competence based evaluation. Indonesia also planned to restructure and reform Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia to be more independent and professional (Ministry, 2008b). Although we can categorized Indonesian Maritime administration has traditional public administration style with its classic bureaucracy, Indonesia has implemented some element of new public management. Authorization of Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia for ISM audit also shown Maritime administration orientation in result, with realized their limited capability for doing too much task. Directorate has also published minimum standard of services which mention performance indicator (Directorate, 1999). Certainly, all deficiency should be overcome, one of the solution is by implementing the code in Resolution A.996(25). However, there are many possible consequences have to be faced by Indonesia in order to fully implement the code. One example of important parts is regarding casualty investigation. IV. Consequence of the code for casualty investigation in Indonesia As part of the strategy, casualty investigation is one of flag state responsibility that should implement.   Resolution A.996(25) point out that flag state should carried out investigation following a marine casualty or pollution incident. Three consequences that should considered regarding casualty investigations are provide qualified investigators, publish the result for certain cases, and report to IMO according to the guidelines (IMO,2007). Wherever the location of casualty or incident, flag State should be prepared to provide qualified investigators. Individual investigators should have working knowledge and practical experience in those subject areas pertaining to their normal duties. Additionally, in order to assist individual investigators performing duties outside their normal assignments, flag State should ensure ready access of various expertise such as expertise in navigation and Collision Regulations, causes of marine pollution, interviewing techniques, evidence gathering, and evaluation of the effects of the human element (IMO,2007). High qualified investigator can conduct good investigation which finds not only the direct causes but also the root causes to avoid the reoccurrence. In terms of investigator, Indonesia only has 6 individual investigators. As Karmoyono, head of maritime transportation sub committee NTSC said, to promptly deal with all accident happen in Indonesia at least 30 individual investigato rs is needed, with 1 investigator for each province (Yunita,2008). Addressing this problem, Indonesia can try to develop its capability through program offered in UNDP; as long as conform to UNDP global mandate and follow the process, Common Country Assessment, United Nations Development Assistance Framework and Common Country Programme Action Plan (Jopap,2009). Along with developing internal capability, Indonesia can also explore possibility to take advantage of multi state cooperation with get professional expert from other country. Moreover, the investigation result should be informed to every party involved as input for improvement.   According to Smith and Schmidt, â€Å"When investigating accident, success is measured by the degree to which the party efficiently receives the information it needs and is able to act in its own best interest based on that knowledge† (Smith Schmidt, 2005, p.210). It is fits to requirement of the code, which is to publish the result of investigation to the public, especially any accidents involving personal injury necessitating absence from duty of three days or more and any deaths resulting from occupational accidents and casualties to ships. In 2008, among 44 accidents, 4 accidents which considered as major accident were investigated by National Transport Safety Committee, and 40 were investigated by Directorate General of Sea Transportation (NTSC, 2009a). Among this 4 major accident only 2 of the report are published in NTSC website (NTSC, 2009b). Last consequence is requirement to report in accordance with MSC/Circ.953-MEPC/Circ.372, Reports on marine casualties and incidents, and revised harmonized reporting procedures which is reports required under SOLAS regulation I/21 and MARPOL 73/78 articles 8 and 12. V.Conclusion Strategies mentioned in Resolution A.996(25) has give comprehensive measure to implement IMO convention. Indonesia as flag state has developed short term and long term strategic plans which in line with some part of the code. Indonesia also conducted the strategy; however, there are still many deficiencies occurred, especially in enforcement, adherence to the international recommendation, and verification of effectiveness. Realizing the benefit of the code, it is every hope that all possible consequences which arise from implementing the code in Indonesia can be managed.

Contemporary Australian Cultural Issues in the works of Harper Lee Essa

Harper lee examines key cultural issues in her novel to kill a mockingbird, such as racism, socio-economic status and prejudice. These issues are still relevant to contemporary Australian society. She examines these issues throughout her book in many different ways, from many different points of view and from many different opinions from the characters in the book. The book is set in a small town called Maycomb in America and takes place during the depression years. The town of Maycomb is a town which is old and is not well looked after and is described as dirty in the book. The people who live in and around Maycomb on farms are poor people, as a result of the depression. The main characters of the book are the finches. The Finch family comprises of Atticus the father and his two kids Jem and scout who narrates the story. The story is about life in maycomb seen through the eyes of children. Life in Maycomb is full of issues such as racism, socio-economic status and prejudice. Racism and socio-econic status are easily the two most noticeable issues that the book revolves around. These issues are relevant to contempory Australian society in many different ways. Socio-economic status is the main theme at the start of the book. A good example of this issue is when Jem invites Walter Cunningham to have lunch with himself, Scout and Atticus, because he does not have any lunch money as his family is too poor to afford it. They sit down for lunch and Walter drenches his food with syrup and scout thinks this is ungrateful and rude so she remarks by asking him what the Sam hill he is doing. Walter was embarrassed and Atticus shakes his head at her and she protests â€Å"but he has gone and drowned his dinner with syrup,† â€Å"he’s poured it al... ...ou only have to look at the wars going on over in the Middle East. They are all fighting over different religion which is racism. Terrorist attacks are also based on racism because a group of fanatics from all over the world do not like westerners this is racism. On a more local level you see it even at school where racism is big because Griffith High School is such a Multicultural community, all the different groups of people are grouped together for example the Afghans and the Islanders, this starts fights and arguments between different races. Socio-economic status and racism are only two issues that Harper Lee examines, as there many more which include prejudice, maturity and growing up. Harper Lee’s issues that are discussed in her book to kill a mockingbird are still contemporary issues in Australia, because they affect us and have a significant impact on us.