Free Essays on Facing Reality

Facing Reality Have you ever thought about all the pressure family brings upon you? How about the days when you decide to take a risk, defy the odds, and stand up for what you believe is right? In the stories, â€Å" A & P†, by John Updike and â€Å"Marriage Is A Private Affair†, by Chinua Achebe, Sammy and Nnaemeka both face these obstacles. They both desire to make a change and have other see their own point of views. In â€Å"Marriage Is A Private Affair†, Achebe’s character, Nnaemeka, defies his father’s beliefs. Nnaemeka’s father, Okeke, has set up his son to be married to a local Ibo girl. Okeke has a very strong stance on people from Ibo marrying one another. Nnaemeka has found someone who he loves, but the dilemma between this is she is not an Ibo woman. He has to face his father and tell him that the woman he is choosing to marry is not a local. At first Nnaemeka is hesitant to tell his father. But after much persistence from his fiancà ©, he went to tell him face to face other then just a letter. As Nnaemeka told his father what he had chosen, Okeke face was in disbelief. As stated in the story, â€Å" His father’s silence was infinitely more menacing than a flood of threatening speech.† He couldn’t except that his own son would disgrace the family in such a manor. For about eight years after that, Okeke still had not talked to his son. He didn’t want any part to Nnaemeka and Nene, Nnaemeka’s wife. This story represents how a young man stood up to his father. Nnaemeka knew that his father would never accept the fact that he married someone other then an Ibo woman. He wanted to make his father realize that not all marriages had to be within the tribe. Nnaemeka took a major risk in loosing a relationship with his father. The family pressures of Nnaemeka marrying an Ibo woman didn’t alter the fact that he wanted to marry someone he cared for and loved. Although in the Ibo tribe marriage wasnï ¿ ½... Free Essays on Facing Reality Free Essays on Facing Reality Facing Reality Have you ever thought about all the pressure family brings upon you? How about the days when you decide to take a risk, defy the odds, and stand up for what you believe is right? In the stories, â€Å" A & P†, by John Updike and â€Å"Marriage Is A Private Affair†, by Chinua Achebe, Sammy and Nnaemeka both face these obstacles. They both desire to make a change and have other see their own point of views. In â€Å"Marriage Is A Private Affair†, Achebe’s character, Nnaemeka, defies his father’s beliefs. Nnaemeka’s father, Okeke, has set up his son to be married to a local Ibo girl. Okeke has a very strong stance on people from Ibo marrying one another. Nnaemeka has found someone who he loves, but the dilemma between this is she is not an Ibo woman. He has to face his father and tell him that the woman he is choosing to marry is not a local. At first Nnaemeka is hesitant to tell his father. But after much persistence from his fiancà ©, he went to tell him face to face other then just a letter. As Nnaemeka told his father what he had chosen, Okeke face was in disbelief. As stated in the story, â€Å" His father’s silence was infinitely more menacing than a flood of threatening speech.† He couldn’t except that his own son would disgrace the family in such a manor. For about eight years after that, Okeke still had not talked to his son. He didn’t want any part to Nnaemeka and Nene, Nnaemeka’s wife. This story represents how a young man stood up to his father. Nnaemeka knew that his father would never accept the fact that he married someone other then an Ibo woman. He wanted to make his father realize that not all marriages had to be within the tribe. Nnaemeka took a major risk in loosing a relationship with his father. The family pressures of Nnaemeka marrying an Ibo woman didn’t alter the fact that he wanted to marry someone he cared for and loved. Although in the Ibo tribe marriage wasnï ¿ ½...

The Halloween Storm of the Century in 1991

The Halloween Storm of the Century in 1991 The Perfect Storm was a rare monster storm with an unnamed hurricane in the center of the tempest. The perfect storm was a nickname given  to this storm by Bob Case, a retired NOAA meteorologist. The storm began as an extratropical low on October 28, 1991 and became famous as author Sebastian Junger profiled the sinking of the swordfishing boat the ​Andrea Gail in the novel The Perfect Storm. The storm would eventually produce 100-foot ​rogue waves. October Weather Conditions In October, most of the United States moves towards the cold winter months as the country slowly cools down from the summer heat. Ocean water has a high heat capacity meaning the landmasses of North America cool at a more rapid rate than the ocean waters. The heat retained in the Atlantic will often create massive storms in the still-warm waters. Because air masses retain the characteristics of their source, the continental air masses from the cooler land will often meet the maritime air masses of the warmer ocean creating large storms known as a Noreaster. Predicting the Perfect Storm Forecasters had a rough time forecasting this Halloween storm. The storm happened when a high-pressure system, a low-pressure system, and the remnants from Hurricane Grace collided in a trilogy of terror. The resulting waves and high winds hit many parts of the Eastern United States causing the famed sinking of the Andrea Gail and the death of her six passengers. An interesting aspect of the huge system was its retrograde motion (east to west)- not away from the New England Coast, but toward it. Even while New Englanders were enjoying clear bright blue October weather, forecasters were warning of this immense storm. A Rare Weather Event According to Bob Case, the set of meteorological circumstances leading to the storm happen only every 50-100 years. Much like the Fujiwhara Effect, several weather events (detailed at the bottom of the page) did a strange meteorological dance around each other. Storm damage hit as far south as North Carolina, Florida, and the Northern coast of Puerto Rico. The storm caused millions of dollars in damages to beaches and homes, including the seaside Kennebunkport, Maine home of former President George Bush. An Unnamed Hurricane A remarkable event occurred when a hurricane formed inside the Halloween Noreaster. Wind speeds topped 80 mph inside of the intense Halloween storm, making the storm of hurricane strength on the Saffir-Simposon Scale. This particular hurricane was never named as most tropical cyclones are named according to a pre-set list of hurricane names. Instead, it would become known as the Unnamed Hurricane of 1991. The storm finally broke up over Nova Scotia, Canada, on November 2, 1991, and remains only the 8th hurricane never to be named since the naming practice began in the 1950s. Why Wasnt the Hurricane Named? There is a difference between the Halloween Storm of 1991 and the hurricane that formed inside the storm. At the time of the storm, emergency officials and the media were scrambling to get more information on the storm damages and well as any forecasts for future problems. It was decided that the hurricane would be short-lived and should remain unnamed so as not to confuse people. Storm Records Broken Many locations up and down the Atlantic coast saw tide, flood, and storm surge records broken. In Ocean City, Maryland, a record high tide of 7.8 feet occurred beating the old record of 7.5 feet recorded during a March 1962 storm. Damages in Massachusetts topped $100 million dollars. Other specific facts are available from the National Climatic Data Center Damage Summary for the Perfect Storm. Causes of the Storm of the Century Hurricane Grace - On October 27, 1991, Hurricane Grace formed off the coast of Florida. As Grace moved north on October 29, an extratropical cyclone formed over Canada. The counterclockwise motion of this low-pressure zone left a trailing cold front over much of the Northern Atlantic coast. The cold front would later catch up with the dying hurricane. Grace would later make the retrograde turn to the east in response.A Low-Pressure System - The low-pressure system formed over Canada and ran into Hurricane Grace off the coast of Nova Scotia, tearing the already downgraded hurricane apart. There was intense wind shear that acted as a hurricane-breaker, but the low-pressure system absorbed much of the energy of Hurricane Grace. The low-pressure system reached a peak intensity of 972 millibars of pressure and maximum sustained winds of 60 knots on October 30. The later movement of this low-pressure system over warmer 80 degree Gulf Stream waters served to intensify the storm in the same way tropical storms are intensified by warm ocean waters in the tropics. A High-Pressure System - A strong high-pressure center extended from the Gulf of Mexico northeastward along the Appalachians into Greenland. Strong winds were generated from the tight pressure gradient between a strong high high-pressure in eastern Canada (1043 mb) and the surface low.

Tourism policy paper -crowding management in tourism Research

Tourism policy -crowding management in tourism - Research Paper Example Crowd management, as the name implies, is defined as management of the crowd, where management includes but is not limited to planning, accommodation, and administration of the crowd in a particular setting. Safety and well-being of the tourists is the matter of prime concern in any kind of tourism service. Crowd management is intrinsically about ensuring the delivery of best service to the tourists. Inadequate crowd management in tourism causes loss of profitability of the tourism business in addition to more severe consequences including loss of life and property. Inappropriate crowd management incurs bad reputation to the organizers in the market and tourists’ confidence in them is shattered. This reduces their client base, affects the profitability of business, and many legal implications have to be faced (Rahmat, 2009). A potential reason of inadequate crowd management is poor estimation of the size and needs of the crowd in a particular location. Poor estimation and scheduling is often an outcome of lack of experience. Rahmat, NB 2009, The relationship of crowd management strategies and safety performance among sport tourism event venue organisers in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Universiti Teknologi Mara, [Online] Available at http://eprints.uitm.edu.my/5722/1/NORAZLINA%20BT.RAHMAT%2009_24.pdf [accessed: 7 May

Cultural context on mobility, networks, consumer urbanism Essay

Cultural context on mobility, networks, consumer urbanism - Essay Example The fundamental concepts and ideas will be used to explain how the consumption systems of space relates to tourism. Literature Review Consumption relates to the use of natural resources and this is seen in relation to renewable and non-renewable resources (Armstrong, 2012 p328). This means that consumption relates to benefiting from a given resource either in the notional or tangible manner. In this case, 'space' can be seen as a 'consumable' resource that can be put to various uses which can bring varying degrees of satisfaction. De Carteau (1984) attempted to define the concept of 'space' in relation to the concept of 'place' in the quest to describe this abstract concept. In the bid, he stated that: â€Å"a place (lieu) is the order (of whatever kind) in accordance with which the elements are distributed in relationships of coexistence† (p117). This means that a place is defined in relation to the positions and other related things that are located close to a given area. On the other hand, he states that â€Å"a space exists when one takes into consideration the vectors of direction, velocity and time variables... in short space is a practical place† (De Carteau 1984 p117). This means that a space is a defined premises or unit within a given area that has certain laid down features that defines it (Williams, 2009). â€Å"Consumption of space relates to the relationship between the built environment and the organisation of space† (Kent, 1993 p1). The relationship between the built environment in a given area defines the consumption of space in the field of architecture. This is because the work of the architect is chiefly in relation to how the environment is ordered and how a given space is utilised to enhance human interaction and the interaction of the various members of the national environment. The legendary architect, Thackara defined 'space' from three main facades (1997): architectural space, operating environment and telematic sp ace. Architectural space relates to the familiar concepts of dimensions, divisions and the design of structures to that are built on a given piece of land. Operating environment involves a given area where the core activities of the builder is carried out. In the case of Thackara's journal, the main area under discussion was an airport. Thus, the operating environment was the area where aviation activities were carried out. The third component, which is telematic space relates to the area of a given space where electronic communication systems and structures were situated. This gave room for the users of the 'space' to undertake communication through modern gadgets and telecommunication systems like Internet, radars and other things. In Robinson's descriptions, put forward by Kieller (1999), space consumption was seen to be varied in relation to its economics. In his descriptions, Robinson indicated that the dynamics of the use of space relates to changes in economic conditions and demand influenced by the economic gains which are attached to the satisfaction attained. Using the Port Statistics as a yardstick, the fictional Robinson indicated that port traffic in one of Britain's major ports had changed steadly since 1965. This was accelerated rapidly in the 1970s when the North Sea oil was first exploited and imports fluctuated. Due to this, the space of the part had to be varied over and over again to ensure that the changes in the land

U.S. counterinsurgency operations in Cuba and the Philippines Essay Example for Free

U.S. counterinsurgency operations in Cuba and the Philippines Essay In January 2002, The United States Special Operation Commands, Pacific (SOCPAC) took on an arduous task of assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with a specific mission for ousting the terrorists forces of Al Qaida, Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf Group(ASG) and to carry the humanitarian operations in the islands of Basilan which was considered as the most dangerous place. The United States Special Forces (SP) unit along with the specially equipped forces and scout rangers of the AFP formed the Light Reaction Company. This Light Reaction Company along with the SOCPAC were deployed at Basilan with the sole motive to reject the ASG sanctuary, undergo surveillance on the key positions, support the villagers, conduct regular training to boost the morale of the AFP and support the strike forces of AFP and assist in the civil affairs operations. This was the part of the Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines (OEF-P). In this operation, 350 operating personal were deployed and other 750 were providing logistics support to the headquarters in Zamboanga on Mindanao. The main purpose of the Mission was to help AFP in curbing the stronghold of Abu Sayyaf and as a result, the declared members of the Abu Sayyaf group reduced to 80 from 700. Another project that took place was Operation Smiles, a program to give medical aid to the local civilians of Basilan where the intensive fighting was taking place. The result of this operation was the establishment of 14 Schools, seven clinics, three hospitals and more than 20 fresh wells. Fighting again resumed in 2005 and 2006 between the government forces and the Abu Sayyaf group who was aligned with the New People’s army. By the end of 2006, hundreds of guerillas and soldiers were killed, and NPA was left with 7,000 fighters whereas Abu Sayyaf with 2,000. United States took up a different approach in Cuba by interfering in their internal private affairs. When the United States felt threatened by the Cuban revolution in 1959 and rise of communism under Fidel Castro, they formed a special committee to launch an attack on Cuba. They faced the danger of the coercion of the communist parties in Cuba that they would unleash their communist movements in America. They formulated the plan to infuse the anti-regime spirit and overthrow the government. They made thirty different plans to over throw the government and disrupt their economy. Among these were included the use of American Green Berrets, destruction of their sugar crops and mining of harbors. To overcome the crises, Cuba began to establish the trade relationships with Soviet Union. On April 17, 1961, United States conducted air strikes across the island to eliminate the Cuban air force, and enabling the Brigade 2506 to have a complete control over the island much before their actual landing at the Bay of Pigs. This failed because the invasions were not conducted as planned and Fidel Castro even resisted an armed invasion of 1,500 CIA trained Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs. This was another excuse for America to increase their propaganda against the Cuban government. In 1962 Operation North wood, plan was initiated with the intention to use false flag as an excuse to attack Cuba. Every month since 1962 there was one plan or the other to destabilize the communist regime either in the form of publishing views against Castro, equiping militant opposition groups with armaments, helping them in establishing guerilla bases and preparing them for their military interventions in Cuba in October. Many of the plans were devised by the CIA with the sole purpose to assassinate Fidel Castro which included the use of hair removal powder to fall the Castros beard, a poisoned wetsuit, the exploding cigars and the placing of explosive seashells in Castros favorite places including the place where he used to go for diving. This project was originally decided to put into action in October 1962 with an open revolt and ultimately to the overthrow the Communist regime. This action was planned when the Cuba was at the peak of the Cuban Missile crisis due to the Soviet Unions’s presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba, and could have led to the nuclear war between Soviet Union and United States. Therefore on 30th October the operation was suspended, but they had already deployed three of ten six-man sabotage teams in Cuba. One team infact was successful in blowing Cuban industrial facility on 8th November, 1962. This whole Cuban Project was known as Operation Mongoose. United States broke all the diplomatic relations with Cuba and imposed sanctions against it in 1962. The relationship between the two nations improved in 2000-2001 but again deteriorated when George W Bush came to power. Bush termed Cuba as an outpost of tyranny and his undersecretary to the U. S. State Department John R. Bolton levied accusations against Cuba of keeping and maintaing bioweapons program. Bolton even declared that Cuban leader had visited US enemy countries like Libya, Iran and Syria. Cuba was also declared as a State Sponsor of Terror by the United States department of State but Cuban government in turn accuses America for sponsoring terrorism against Cuba. Thus American Government again started their activities towards overthrowing the Cuban government and through the media propagated against the government to the extent that the opposition parties, supporting United States in Havana started displaying messages on a scrolling â€Å"electronic billboard† and to counter these Cuban government constructed large number of poles, carrying black flags with white stars, to obstruct these messages. On 12th September, 2006, the United States formed five interagency working groups to monitor Cuba and to carry their policies. These groups were set up quitely in War like rooms. According to the U. S. officials, three of these created groups; diplomatic actions; strategic communications and democratic promotion are headed by the State Department. One more group which coordinated humanitarian aid to Cuba is run by the Commerce Department, and the fifth group tackles migration issues, is being run jointly by the National Security Council and the Department of Homeland Security. These prcocess is being undertaken to restore democracy. Thus the counter insurgency operations with Philippines was to help the Philippine regime to crush the terrorists activities of the Al Qaida, Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf Group(ASF) whereas the United States Policy towards Cuba was to eliminate the Communist regime by supporting the opposition parties and to counter the Russia’s missiles in Cuba. United States Counter Insurgency operations in Philippines were over and all successful, and the reasons behind these successful efforts were the comprehensive operations, adopting strategy of attacking the enemys line of attacks and disrupting their alliances and this was achieved by strengthening the Philippine government institutions and local security so that the daily lives of the people can move on smoothly. The measures were also undertaken for civic development to provide necessary amenities to its population. These operations being carried out in Basilan led to the ousting of the ASG from the island simply because they lost the support of the population and lost the combat operations as well as bases. But, there were certain strategic errors that led to again the emergence of ASG who â€Å"Lived to fight another day with the sole help from the JI and MILF. The ASG is again rising on the southern islands of Jolo and Tawi Tawi where Forces of the United States are not allowed to give assistance to AFP. This situation arises due to the certain strategic errors by the United States. The first strategic error was inability of the OEF-P, American leaders to fruitfully understand their own forces. They could not understand the basic traits of SF in an arena of employment and their capabilities to take out the combat advisory mission during unconventional warfare. Instead of fully understanding the situation, combatant commander and the Secretary of Defense imposed restrictions on SF soldiers. Over and above, the restrictions were also imposed on these SF advisers to operate at battalion level with their AFP counterparts but were not disallowed to operate at lower tactical echelons. U. S. leaders at the highest levels also could not able to comprehend fully the unconventional warfare. This led to the second strategic error and that is over-reliance on technical reconnaissance assets. The Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the Navys P3 Orion began to be used for locating the ASG and the hostages on Basilan. These they used again for protection minimizing the risks to U. S. personnel. These though reduced the patrolling in remote areas, but this kind of surveillance was unconventional, and the forces on the ground were not allowed to use these reconnaissance assets. The third reason cited because of the prohibition of the U. S. leaders to assist the SF units because the negotiations were going on between the AFP and MILF, so forces were removed from MILF and because AFP was desperate to take the advice and assistance from U. S. Military, AFP troops were shifted from MILF-controlled areas. This led to the creation of de facto ASG sanctuaries giving boost to the ASG and MILF strong relationship. Many people staying in the area are also the members of these two organizations. (Tzu Sun, May-June 2004). The United States strategy in Cuba did not get desired results. The CIA wrote an internal report that blamed the internal incompetence on failure. The administration thought that the troops could retreat to mountains and conduct guerrilla war if they lost in open battle. But they did not realize that the troops could not reach the mountains by foot. The second reason was that the troops were deployed in swampland, where they were easily surrounded. The third biggest fault was their thinking that Cubans would be great full to them to give them liberation from Fidel Castro and would join in the battle, but the Americans could not gain the support of the population. It was basically due to the agencys weak positions on the ground in Cuba. CIA’s witnessed the mass support of Castro and those who were against the Castro were rounded and arrested by him. (Bay of Pigs invasion, encyclopedia) Looking at these failures and strategies the soldiers in order to win the war against terrorism first of all should analyze the ground situation where the war is to be fought, take the local population into confidence, never underestimate the enemies, and use the reconnaissance assets at the appropriate situation and at the appropriate moment. WORKS CITED 1. Bay of Pigs Invasion All Experts: Encyclopedia Retrieved April 5, 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://en. allexperts. com/e/b/ba/bay_of_pigs_invasion. htm 2. Maxwell S. David (May-June 2004) Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines: What Would Sun Tzu Say? The U. S. Army Professional Writing Collection Retrieved April 5, 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://www. army. mil/professionalwriting/volumes/volume2/june_2004/6_04_3. html

Comparison of Electoral Politics :: essays research papers

Comparing the electoral politics of most Western and Eastern European countries is like comparing night and day. While most of Western European countries have a strong political system, thriving economy, and a developed government†¦most Eastern European countries have just started this idea of a democratic nation. Most governments are corrupt and the political officials are not very trustworthy. The economy is also struggling and there is unrest with the people. This transition from communism is giving Eastern Europe a lot of problems. This is the case when comparing the Republic of Ireland and the Republic of Albania. Republic of Ireland The Republic of Ireland has been recognized as an independent state since 1921 resulting from a powerful revolutionary movement led by the Sinn Fein (â€Å"Ourselves Alone†), currently the political arm of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Once very influential in the Irish government the original Sinn Fein was formed in 1905 to promote Irish independence and led the movement that helped produce a free Irish State. Presently their political aim remains unchanged-â€Å"the right of the Irish people as a whole to attain national self-determination†(Local Ireland). Wanting to achieve a United Ireland ‘by whatever means necessary’ (Local Ireland). Government The Irish government is a parliamentary system with a bicameral legislature. The Executive branch consists of The chief of state, President Mary McAleese (Fianna Fail) was elected in 1997 to a seven year term and is basically a figure-head with no executive powers. The Head of the Government is the Prime Minister Bertie Ahern (Fianna Fail) nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president. The president appoints the Cabinet with previous nomination by the Prime Minister and approval of the House of Representatives. In elections the president is elected by popular vote. The president also appoints the Supreme Court judges on the advice of the government. The Irish Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of the Senate (Seanad Eireann) and the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann). The Senate consists of 60 seats, 49 elected by the universities and from candidates put forward by five vocational panels, while the other 11 are nominated by the Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern. The members serve five-year terms. The House of Representatives has 166 seats elected by direct popular vote and in most counties a proportional representation system calls the single transferable vote system (STV) is used. This complicated system is very rare and is only used in the small Mediterrianian Island of Malta.

Importance of Ego

The Importance of Ego In the novella Anthem by Any Rand, the last two chapters play an important part in bringing together the text as a whole. The narrator transitions from third to first person narration after his escape from the dismal â€Å"utopian† society. Prometheus, the aforementioned narrator, recounts the history of man and his struggle to overcome oppression by greater forces and authoritarian figures. The author chooses to repeat symbols and words of individuality and the benefits of singular work.Any Rand uses her novella Anthem to promote the importance of individuality in all aspects of life. In her early life, the author, Any Rand, was exposed to brutal oppression and collectivist thinking. Any Rand, born â€Å"in SST. Petersburg, Russia in 1905† soon before the communist revolution occurred in 1917. Growing up she detested the institution she lived under, so she immigrated to America in 1926. Any Rand was educated in the USSR which gave her an upper han d that other American novelists didn't have. She had first-hand experience with communism which drove her to oppose It entirely.According to Rand, â€Å"no outside power has the right to demand† anything from an Individual or the work they can produce. In her lifetime, Rand wrote Atlas Shrugged, We the Living, the Fountainhead, and Anthem. Among other less popular works by the end of her writing career. These fictional books advocate Individualism and bravery in a despotic society. Any Rand died in New York City, NY in 1982, leaving behind her a legacy which fueled more complex and innovative thinking in future generations of readers and philosophers.The style of Any Rand's writing impacted the world of literature from the beginning. She â€Å"[defied] cultural and political trends† and â€Å"established a unique place† among fellow authors. According to Danna, â€Å"[Any Rand's] mind was utterly first handed† which proved to be very successful. Although at first she was misunderstood and deemed â€Å"immature† in a psychological sense, Any Rand became a reputable author through explanation of her philosophy: Objectivism. According to Stephen Cox, â€Å"Rand could not find a philosophy that reflected her beliefs† so she created a new philosophy entirely.The success of Objectivism was long lived by Any Rand thanks to her persistence and unconditional belief in the individual mind. Her â€Å"[works are] a protest to individual submission† and they â€Å"reject distinction† just as the Objectivism theory does. This is why in her works she focuses â€Å"inside the head† of the narrator rather than the importance of a solid plot. The psychological aspect of her philosophy is seen especially in Anthem where the mind of one man has been destroyed by the foundation which raised him.In Anthem there is no sense of religion, either, which was Any Rand's purpose In all of her novels. According personally to An y Rand, â€Å"religion Is nothing but a brutal attempt to subjugate the Individual mind† and individual goals each man should achieve. Objectivism Is solely a belief In one's own self. There Is no delve power or authoritarian force that can sway a person's decisions or thoughts to work for or against others. Individual power Is higher than corruption and collectivist ideology. Electives ideologists. In Anthem there is no distinct malevolent force, but citizens who have different hardwiring in their minds than Prometheus does. There is no villain, only â€Å"good against good-different† since villains are deemed irrelevant. For objectivism, it is more important to focus on the protagonist and their inner struggles ether than the community and how an antagonist may impair them. One of the most important aspects of Anthem is its connection to the younger audience.Prometheus is a young adult trying to find his place in a society where he does not fit. According to Karen Go uld ‘any young adult would benefit from Promethium's struggle with identity because it is so easily relatable to them. Anthem, being one of â€Å"Rand's simplest novels†, explains objectivism using â€Å"inner psychological states† which is a both practical and pleasing style of writing for any reader interested in studying Objectivism works. Effortlessly, Anthem brings together both a pleasing plot packed with Objectivism morals and ideas.The novel brings â€Å"the kind of intensity' a reader would think â€Å"could [change] the course of history': exactly what Any Rand imagined her work to do. The protagonists â€Å"never give up† their beliefs and â€Å"assert their†¦ Stubborn views† on their world. These morals are synonymous with the ideas of objectivism: to never give up an individual thought, or decision because of outside forces. Anthem promotes â€Å"outstanding moral character† and individuality simply and with intensity, not to bore young readers, but to draw them towards eating more complex objectivism works, such as the Fountainhead.Unlike many novels of the time, Any Rand chose to create an inner struggle for Prometheus to battle throughout the novel. The beginning shows his unwillingness to think other than â€Å"the individual cannot exist apart from the collective† society, regardless of his sinful thoughts. With each chapter a new part of individualism is revealed to Prometheus, but it is up to him to fit the pieces together. The â€Å"evil† that he is doing â€Å"does not bring him a†¦ Punishment† rather a â€Å"psychological reward† for thinking as a singular person.Closing out the book, Prometheus fully understands that â€Å"ego is†¦ A cause of splendor† for man. The last two chapters of the novel represent the anthem of people Just like Prometheus and Gaga. Each paragraph can be read as a hymn or chant of people who believe in the individual mind , the people of Objectivism. Prometheus reflects on the history of man being â€Å"enslaved by the gods† and â€Å"enslaved by other men† and how detrimental this was to the ego of man. In his lifetime, the authority oppressed his society, and completely erased any evidence of first person.The summary of the wow-chapter anthem is that the only freedom left for men is taken away only by other men' and each person has the ability to create the life they want, no superior being can control the fate of a person. Unlike the aforementioned critics, it can be speculated that Any Rand used religious symbols and illusions to make fun of religion as a whole. Ego is â€Å"[the] god that will grant [men] JOY' and Prometheus and Gaga are very similar to the biblical Adam and Eve. The use of gods and religious symbols in this book further supports Objectivism ideas. To worship the ‘Ego god' is to worship oneself.There is no god to worship but the power inside oneself. Many cr itics believe that because Any Rand was atheist, that the religious symbols in her books happened by mistake, or were In reality and in fiction, Any Rand was a strong believer in the individualist mind and the power of one. Compiling her complex background, the breakthrough philosophy of objectivism, and lack of religious beliefs, each of Rand's novels proclaim the values and ideas of objectivism starting with the most basic Anthem. Even after her death, Any Rand still makes a very large impact on modern society and advanced philosophy today.

Importance of Beauty Industry and Ethical Issues

Cosmetic improvements can make people feel better about themselves but can also make others that cannot afford or obtain such services feel worse. However, the debate as been raging as to whether or not the billion dollar beauty industry is worthwhile in the modern society. The beauty industry is very diverse and has multiple players.Players involved in this diverse industry include the dealers in the beauty products, the cosmetics, services for improving appearance like exercise machines, nutritional beauty products and above all the end users of all these products (Simms, 1998).Considering the rate at which the beauty industry has been growing, it would be important to analyze whether it impacts the current society positive or not. My analysis will examine the importance of the industry to the players and the society in general. In addition I will look at the various ethical concerns presented by the beauty industry and how possibly they should be solved in order to have the indust ry continue benefiting the society. The highest number of consumers of the beauty products in the current world and in deed over the centuries is undoubtedly women.Women generally adopt the idea of self-grooming at a very tender age (Gillespie, 1996). Unlike men, women have a natural interest in their looks and physical presentation and in most cultures; they believe that good looks and physical attraction is expected of them. Women therefore find it hard to escape such sociocultural norms and as they grow up they internalized the norms such that they simply become unaware of their motivations to seek beauty (Black, 2004). Nevertheless, the modern man has been quite conscious of his looks and physical appearance (Sullivan, 2001).The motivation behind men’s growing interest in physical attraction is a debate for another day; however, the importance of beauty products and services to these users is clear. The users of beauty products and services always want to experience body empowerment, pleasure as well as freedom from appearance (Haiken, 1997). Society associates good looks and great physical attraction to power and therefore those who possess such qualities would avert competition in marriage and other social spheres of life. The pleasure of having a good body elevates one’s esteem.The beauty industry therefore provides an opportunity for those who feel bad about their physical looks to transform it according to one’s own societal ‘standard’ (Morgan, 1992). Apart from the freedom it offers the users to improve their looks; the aesthetic industry is currently a multibillion dollar industry. From the manufacturers of various beauty products, to millions of users across the globe, the beauty industry is considered one of the top revenue earners in various economies around the world and therefore justifies its existence in toady modern world (Hiscock & Lovett, 2004).Despite the importance of the beauty industry to the various p layers and economies, the industry has been receiving criticism for its unethical practices (Brumberg, 1997). There has been a growing public outcry with regards to the industry’s unsustainable business practices especially with respect to the environment. Manufacturers of beauty products have always faced criticism for testing their products on animals, unsustainable sourcing for raw materials as well as for causing chemical pollution.But due to consistent pressure from the media, the consumers and the retailers, aesthetic industry especially the cosmetic companies are shaping up to be counted as good corporate citizens. Many corporate bodies in the aesthetic industry are investing a lot in CSR programs as well as in other sustainability initiatives. For example, the Body Shop has been embarking on ethical sourcing while others like Yves Rocher have been focusing on preservation of biodiversity (Organic Monitor, 2010).A number of beauty companies have opted to take holistic approach to the issue of ethics and sustainable business practices. These companies are now reducing the environmental effects of their products by opting to greener formulations, decreasing packaging of most of their products and also reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as water and energy consumption. In addition, they are also considering the social dimension of their businesses and operations. These include ethical supply from their supplies and social responsibilities through corporate philanthropy.In its recent strategic report, Organic Monitor (2010) found that most companies are investing in greener formulations and sustainable packaging in order to reduce the environmental footprint caused by the various cosmetic products. The report suggests that packaging is getting high interest because most companies in the aesthetic industry have realized the high environmental impact most of their cosmetic products have had on the environment. As a result companies are now looki ng for biodegradable plastics, recyclable materials as well as other innovative ways to lower environmental degradation (Brandweek, n. d).ConclusionThe beauty industry has more to offer to the modern society in terms of monetary value and desired body image. Although, some may not be able to access or afford the most expensive cosmetic products like plastic surgery, the benefits far outweighs the concerns of the minority who would have to contend with their natural looks. But even as the industry remains relevant and beneficial to the current society, it has to treat the ethical issues raised as a matter of urgency.A sustainable business practice would not only benefit the consumers and the society but also ensure a continued operation by the cosmetic companies within a sustainable environment. Although, a few companies have seen this importance of this, more need to be done.ReferencesBlack, P. (2004). The Beauty Industry: Gender, Culture, Pleasure, Routledge: New York. Brandweek, ( n. d). Study: Natural Beauty Products Flooding the Market. Retrieved on August 21, 2010, from http://www. brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/packaging-and-design/e3id5cad753451dc1bfe073efb89ddb9730 Brumberg, J. (1997).The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls. Random House: New York. Gillespie, R. (1996).Women, the Body Brand Extension in Medicine: Cosmetic Surgery and the Paradox of Choice. Women and Health Vol. 24. Haiken, E. (1997).Venus Envy: A History of Cosmetic Surgery. Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore. Hiscock, J. & Lovett, F. (2004).Beauty Therapy, 2nd Heinemann: London Organic Monitor, (2010, May 19).CSR & Sustainability: How the Beauty Industry Is Cleaning Up. Retrieved on August 21, 2010, from http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:WvoQqIjRJqcJ:www.npicenter. com/anm/anmviewer.asp%3Fa%3D27277%26z%3D2+Beauty+Industry+Ethics&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ke&client=firefox-a Morgan, K. (1992).Women and the Knife: Cosmetic Surgery and the Colonization of Women's Bodies. Hypatia Vol. 6: 25-53. Simms, J. (1998).A Practical Guide to Beauty Therapy for Nvq Level 2, 2nd edition, Nelson Thomes: New York. Sullivan, D. (2001). Â  

Imperfections- an Explication of An Author to Her Book by Anne Bradstreet

Imperfections- an Explication of An Author to Her Book by Anne Bradstreet I've included the full text of the poem as well as my explication of it. Enjoy!The Author to Her Bookby Anne BradstreetThou ill-form'd offspring of my feeble brain,Who after birth did'st by my side remain,Till snatcht from thence by friends, less wise than true,Who thee abroad expos'd to public view,Made thee in rags, halting to th' press to trudge,Where errors were not lessened (all may judge).At thy return my blushing was not small,My rambling brat (in print) should mother call.I cast thee by as one unfit for light,Thy Visage was so irksome in my sight,Yet being mine own, at length affection wouldThy blemishes amend, if so I could.I wash'd thy face, but more defects I saw,And rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw.I stretcht thy joints to make thee even feet,Yet still thou run'st more hobbling than is meet.In better dress to trim thee was my mind,But nought save home-spun Cloth, i' th' house I find.In this array, 'mongst Vulgars mayst thou roam.In Critics' hands, beware thou dost no t come,And take thy way where yet thou art not known.If for thy Father askt, say, thou hadst none;And for thy Mother, she alas is poor,Which caus'd her thus to send thee out of door."Imperfections"ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ As shown in "The Author to Her Book" by Anne Bradstreet, perfectionism is not a new phenomenon. The speaker of the poem uses diction, imagery, and tone to display her insecurities about, and dislike of, her own work, resulting from the human imperfections that have created an inadequate piece of literature.ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ The choice of words in this poem reveals that while admitting a close and intimate relationship with it,

Gallium Facts (Atomic Number 31 or Ga)

Gallium Facts (Atomic Number 31 or Ga) Gallium is a bright blue-silver metal with a melting point low enough you can melt a chunk in your hand. Here are interesting facts about this element. Gallium  Basic Facts Atomic Number: 31 Symbol: Ga Atomic Weight: 69.732 Discovery: Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran 1875 (France) Electron Configuration: [Ar] 4s2 3d10 4p1 Word Origin: Latin Gallia, France and gallus, a Latin translation of Lecoq, a cock (name of its discoverer was Lecoq de Boisbaudran) Properties: Gallium has a melting point of 29.78 °C, boiling point of 2403 °C, specific gravity of 5.904 (29.6 °C), specific gravity of 6.095 (29.8 °C, liguid), with a valence of 2 or 3. Gallium has one of the longest liquid temperature ranges of any metal, with a low vapor pressure even at high temperatures. The element has a strong tendency to supercool below its freezing point. Seeding is sometimes necessary to initiate solidification. Pure gallium metal has a silvery appearance. It exhibits a conchoidal fracture that it similar to a glass fracture in appearance. Gallium expands 3.1% on solidifying, so it should not be stored in a metal or glass container that can break upon its solidification. Gallium wets glass and porcelain, forming a brilliant mirror finish on glass. Highly pure gallium is only slowly attacked by mineral acids. Gallium is associated with a relatively low toxicity, but should be handled with care until more health data has been accumulated. Uses: Since it is a liquid near room temperature, gallium is used for high-temperature thermometers. Gallium is used to dope semiconductors and for producing solid-state devices. Gallium arsenide is used to convert electricity into coherent light. Magnesium gallate with divalent impurities (e.g., Mn2) is used to make commercial ultraviolet-activated powder phosphors. Sources: Gallium may be found as a trace element in sphalerite, diaspore, bauxite, coal, and germanite. Flue dusts from burning coal may contain as much as 1.5% gallium. The free metal may be obtained by electrolysis of its hydroxide in a KOH solution. Element Classification:Basic Metal Gallium Physical Data Density (g/cc): 5.91 Melting Point (K): 302.93 Boiling Point (K): 2676 Appearance: soft, blue-white metal Isotopes: There are 27 known isotopes of gallium ranging from Ga-60 to Ga-86. There are two stable isotopes: Ga-69 (60.108% abundance) and Ga-71 (39.892% abundance). Atomic Radius (pm): 141 Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 11.8 Covalent Radius (pm): 126 Ionic Radius: 62 (3e) 81 (1e) Specific Heat (20 °C J/g mol): 0.372 Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 5.59 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 270.3 Debye Temperature (K): 240.00 Pauling Negativity Number: 1.81 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 578.7 Oxidation States: 3 Lattice Structure: Orthorhombic Lattice Constant (Ã…): 4.510 CAS Registry Number: 7440-55-3 Gallium Trivia: Galliums discover, Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran named the element after his home country France. The Latin word gallus means both Gaul which is an older name for France. It was believed he also named the element after himself because gallus also means rooster (or Le Coq in French). Lecoq later denied he named gallium after himself.The discovery of gallium filled a spot predicted by Mendeleevs periodic table. Gallium took the place of the placeholder element eka-aluminum.Gallium was first identified using spectroscopy by its distinct pair of violet spectral lines.Galliums melting point (302.93 K) is low enough to melt the metal in the palm of your hand.Gallium is the element with the highest range of temperatures for its liquid phase. The difference between galliums melting and boiling point is 2373  °C.Gallium is one of five elements with a melting point near room temperature. The other four are mercury, cesium, rubidium and francium.Gallium expands as it freezes like water. Gallium does not exist free in nature.Gallium is obtained as a byproduct in the production of zinc and aluminum.Most gallium produced today is used in electronics.Gallium nitride semiconductors are used the blue diode lasers of Blu-rayâ„ ¢ players.Gallium arsenide is used to produce ultra-brite blue LEDs.Liquid gallium is known for its ability to wet glass, porcelain and skin. Gallium forms a very reflective surface on glass making an excellent mirror.An amalgam of gallium, indium, tin is used in medical thermometers in place of the more traditional and toxic mercury thermometers.Gallium Beating Heart is one of the fun and easy chemistry demonstrations for chemistry students. Gallium Fast Facts Element Name: GalliumElement Symbol: GaAtomic Number: 31Group: Group 13 (Boron Group)Period: Period 4Appearance: Silver-blue metalDiscovery:  Lecoq de Boisbaudran (1875) Sources de Boisbaudran, Lecoq (1835–1965). Caractà ¨res chimiques et spectroscopiques dun nouveau mà ©tal, le gallium, dà ©couvert dans une blende de la mine de Pierrefitte, vallà ©e dArgelà ¨s (Pyrà ©nà ©es). Comptes rendus. 81: 493.Weast, Robert (1984). CRC, Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Boca Raton, Florida: Chemical Rubber Company Publishing. pp. E110. ISBN 0-8493-0464-4.

Taoism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Taoism - Essay Example without trying to preach what he found bad, and returned with some pages written for characters for developing humanity and titled as ‘Tao Te Ching’. He was back there for just three days and left again. This is an inspiring part of his figure as he was not back to earn fame, but to deliver well; he had, to the people. The Taoism ultimately describes characters provided by Lao Tzu regarding the art by which nature is driving changes and the paths/ways through which one can find peace within himslef and be content and happy. Combining the reality, the nature and the human ways, Taoism deals with domains of philosophy and religion in order to portray a prosperous and contended life. The philosophical Taoism based on the attitude towards life drag one to live life wisely and at the same time, Taoist ‘adepts’ entail one towards practises/exercieses to gain vital energy and boost life. Taoism also covers the effects of religion on one’s life to an extent which crosses mysterious/magical limits and ensures trust on high powers for the maintaince of health or end of