Alexander the Great Strenghts and Weaknesses as a Person,...

For centuries, Alexander the Great has held an eminent place in history. Arguably one of the greatest men the world has ever known, the Macedonian King accomplished many great feats in his short, but glorious life. During his reign, Alexander played several roles in the process of conquering the Persian empire, and in the assessment of his character, aspects of Alexanders capabilities of both strengths and weaknesses must be explored in him as a person, a statesman and a leader. Alexander was a complex, inscrutable man of passion and iron-will . The King possessed a keen intellect, with an ability to make quick decisions. He had supreme courage and excellent leadership skills , which contributed significantly to his greatness as a†¦show more content†¦The King also had an erratic and dangerous temper, which was almost maniacal. Alexander often succumbed to the terrible and fervent outbursts of rage and to combine this with the influence of wine which he drank heavily, could lead to the most terrible of tragedies. The extreme instance of this is the death of Cleitus the Black, who was murdered by Alexander in a drunken fit of rage. Nonetheless, Plutarch and Arrian, claimed that Alexanders heavy drinking was merely and impression that developed from the Kings long conversations with friends, and the lingering over his drink. It is particularly difficult to assess Alexander as a statesman, for his views as a statesman were in a state of flux when he died. His political creations were still in a developmental stage and had as yet take definite shape, but Alexander did display political wisdom by separating financial, civil and military power. One of his great achievements was his financial measure in reforming the coinage and bringing into line with each other the decimal currency of Persia with the duodecimal system of Macedonia. This was not only a great contribution to economic prosperity throughout the empire, but also impeded Athens as competition and involved her as a trading partner instead. Alexander also entertained a grandiose plan for uniting the East and the West in a world empire of racial equality. Unfortunately, this did not succeed as he planned. Nevertheless, the Kings conquest and findings of

The Last Duchess By Robert Browning - 865 Words

Art is not just a form of beauty but also a form of power. In it lies deep meaning and value and often tells a story. Robert Browning’s poem â€Å"The Last Duchess† portrays this power of art, which is evident in how the Duke captures more than just the image of his former wife in the painting. To him the painting represents his control and power and tells the tale of his former wife in the way he speaks of the painting. An analysis of the poem â€Å"My Last Duchess† will reveal how the Duke uses art to further the narrative of this poem through symbolism, reveal the relationship with his former wife and control others. The writer of this poem Robert Browning is a master at captivating the potential of the dramatic monologue, here art is expressed by symbolism and it is used as a structure for the poem. The speaker of this poem who is the Duke holds himself in high esteem and loves the control his position gives him as an authority. Accordingly, the Duke shows admiration for his former wife who he killed when he says â€Å"that’s my last duchess on the wall† (line 1). Here he admires her more as an object of art than he did in reality. The Duke uses art as an image that symbolizes his control and dominance over his former wife; more so he not only uses the painting of his wife to express his control but also the sculpture of Neptune â€Å"taming a sea-horse† (line 55) as an image at the end to emphasize and make his point clear that he is very controlling and possessive. Aside from theShow MoreRelatedThe Last Duchess By Robert Browning940 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Art is an e xpression of human creative skill and imagination† (google) Paintings are works of art created to express or let out a person’s creativity or feelings towards a certain subject. In Robert Browning’s dramatic monologue, â€Å"The Last Duchess†, he uses the painting as a symbolism of the Duke’s relationship with his former wife. Therefore, as the Duke tries to impress people with his wealth through the painting of Fra Pandolf, he instead unintentionally displays his true personality to othersRead MoreMy Last Duchess by Robert Browning693 Words   |  3 Pages‘My Last Duchess’ is all about control and jealousy. Written by Robert Browning in 1842 (the Victorian era), the dramatic monologue is set in 16th Century Italy where the Duke of Ferrara is talking to a Count’s emissary about a prospective marriage with the Counts daughter. The poem conveys the controlling nature of the Duke by the use of one stanza in the entire poem. It demonstrates this, as there is no interruption from the servant and no break whilst the Duke is talking. Any pauses in the poemRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning886 Words   |  4 Pages My Last Duchess The dramatic monologue â€Å"My Last Duchess† was penned down by Robert Browning. In this poem, the narrator is the Duke of Ferrara, and the listener is the count’s agent, through whom the Duke is arranging the proposed marriage to a second duchess. The poem is ironical and reveals its rhetorical sense, gradually. In the later part of the poem, the Duke claims that he does not have a skill in speech, but his monologue is a masterpiece of subtle rhetoric. While supposedlyRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning951 Words   |  4 PagesMy Last Duchess by Robert Browning Robert Browning was born May 7, 1812 in Camberwell, London. His father was a senior clerk in the Bank of England. His mother was a pianist. His love for writing dramatic monologues came from his father who gave him the love Browning had for art and literature. Browning attended the University of London for half a year before returning home to read in his father s library. His first work, Pauline: A Fragment of a Confession, was first issued in 1833. It was hisRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning Essay1058 Words   |  5 PagesMy last duchess by Robert Browning Quote Analysis My Last Duchess by Robert Browning is a mysterious monologue about a duke who is showing a portrait of his former wife or last duchess to a visitor at his palace. While showing this portrait of his former wife, the duke begins to demean the duchess character and their life together. Although the duke is very well spoken and chooses his words carefully as he describes the duchess, he ends up reveling more about himself than his last duchess. By doingRead MoreMy Last Duchess by Robert Browning1795 Words   |  7 PagesIn My Last Duchess, Robert Browning takes poetic license with a real historical character from within the Italian Renaissance: Alfonso II, the last Duke of Ferrara. The Duke married a young bride, Lucrezia de’ Medici; however, their marriage ended mysteriously after just three years (Bloom 16). Within My Last Duchess, Browning uses the character and voice of the Duke to pass comment upon some of the themes of the Italian Renaissance, particularly the juxtaposition between aesthetics and moralityRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning1492 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"My Last Duchess† The poem â€Å"My Last Duchess† is a masterful example of a dramatic monologue written by Robert Browning. In this poem the narrator is a duke who is discussing his murder of his last duchess with a man with whom he is arranging his marriage to a count’s daughter. As it is a monologue, the man being spoken to does not say a word. It is believed by many that this character is based on the Italian Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso II, who sought out the marriage of a count’s daughter followingRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning1529 Words   |  7 PagesGentle Into That Good Night, Havisham, The Laboratory, My Last Duchess and On My First Sonne have all crafted very emotion based poems, all 6 present strong feelings. Some through manic speech and rhythm, others through a deeper meaning. I would say the majority of these poems (Havisham, Duchess, Laboratory and Photographer) all feature protagonists with mental disorders, after or during certain situations. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning is about a pretentious man looking back on the fate on hisRead MoreSummary Of My Last Duchess By Robert Browning1164 Words   |  5 PagesProfessor Newberry 13 February 2017 A Reader’s Guide to Robert Browning â€Å"My Last Duchess† Title and Author Robert browning was born on May 7,1817 in Camberwell, England. To and accomplished pianist and a bank clerk. It is said by the age of five he was already proficient of writing and reading. At the age of twelve he wrote a volume of Byronic verse entitled Incondita, which his parents attempted to have published. By thirteen birthday Browning had received the rest of Shelly’s work, and declared himselfRead MoreAnalysis Of My Last Duchess By Robert Browning1523 Words   |  7 PagesZografakis English Period 8 7 November 2014 Throughout history, gender roles have been an important barrier in society. Women are forced to satisfy expectations established by men and society. â€Å"My Last Duchess,† by Robert Browning, focuses on the powerful Duke establishing certain expectations of the Duchess, and attempting to control her. Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, concentrates on Laertes establishing certain expectations of Ophelia, and seeking to control her. A Room of One’s Own, by Virginia

Persuasion Techniques For Tourism Website -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Persuasion Techniques For Tourism Website? Answer: Introduction The purpose of this essay is to analyze a travel website considering the websites user-friendliness and design. The chosen travel website for this essay is thomascook.in. This is an India based travel website. The factors that will be considered for reviewing this website are the organizational goals of the website, design, opportunities of communication, mode of providing services, communication and management of the website (Stouffer, Stouffer Fink, 2013). Planning The thomascook.in website aims to serve as the travel partner of the tourist rather than the travel agency. The website offers the travel enthusiasts with the best possible deals. In order to make the tour memorable the thomascook.in website provides customized deals ("Buy Online - Holidays, Forex, Visa, Flights, Hotels - Thomas Cook", 2018). (refer to appendix 1) Yes, the website thomascook.in definitely aligns itself the operations branding and the integrated communication plan of the organization. Regarding the integrated communication marketing plan it stands extremely in position in persuading the people to believe that they provide the cheapest rate and best deals (Krcher, 2013). All the sections in the site are provided with proper sub sections such as the Holiday section will provide with different varieties of holiday segments available. The flight section provides all the relevant information regarding the flight booking and the hotel section provides information and aids in hotel booking. The information in the website is well organised providing easy access for the users. Eye-catching pictures are incorporated in the thomascook.in website depicting the perfect holiday destinations, which also gives the website an aesthetic rich value. The website lacks the key word rich content. The layout of the website is consistent and continuous providing easy access to the users (Ibrahim, Shiratuddin Wong, 2013). The thomascook.in website is well acquainted with mobiles and desktop browsers. The website is well supported in both the mobile and browsers. The website runs in equal precision with both the mobile and desktop browsers. Integration The Contact Us section of the website provides easy access to the customers to the customer support team. The section provides an online help line number for assistance. The website also comprises of the Feedback section. There is also an option for the asking further assistance if the customers queries are not met. The website thomascook.in properly integrates itself with outside resources as well. The website gives the users information about the temperatures and weather conditions of the place he/ she is planning to visit. Such information aids the users to plan another location visit if that particular place is unsuitable for them (Glickman, 2014). (refer to appendix 2) Delivery The layout of the website is simpler. The Home section presents the eye-catching offers that are available. A section in the home page enables the user to budget plan their vacation. All the sections in the website are well organized. The picturesque provided in the websites regarding the deals and destinations are easy to understand (Curty Zhang, 2013). The website has its privacy policies. The website contains no grammatical errors. The sentences are well-constructed in order to catch the users attention. The website provides customized section for different travelling categories. The Holiday section of the website provides categories of holiday planning that an individual can wish. There are categories for International holidays, Weekend holidays, Gateway holidays, Couple destination. Management The analysis of the website suggests that the website is updated regularly and is well maintained. Links of the website is available in many review websites, which increases the website traffic to some extent. Certain keywords drive traffic to this website such as euro to inr, thomas cook india are some of the keyword (Dickinger Stangl, 2013). Most of the information available in the website are well explained without broken links. As per the result from the Alexa tool, The global rank of Thomas Cook in the month of February 2018 is 37,342 and daily page views in the month of December, 2017 was 2.84 and the daily traffic on the website is 4:20. The maximum percentage of visitors is from India (Hung, Hu Lee, 2013). Conclusion In conclusion, it can be said that the Thomas Cook website provides easy access of information to the users and serves the users with lucrative deals. The holiday packages in the websites are appropriately customized. Although the Thomas Cook website provides easy access of information and is simpler but certain modifications can be incorporated in the site to attract more users. The theme colour of the website can be made more vibrant rather than the pale white colour. Other than this, the communication system can be upgraded as the helpline number remains open for 12 hours a day. Options for more precise query posting can be made available in the website. The website lacks proper key words. The website can start providing holiday suggestion as per the users request. This may attract more number of users in the website. References Buy Online - Holidays, Forex, Visa, Flights, Hotels - Thomas Cook. (2018).Thomascook.in. Management 18 February 2018, from https://www.thomascook.in/ Curty, R. G., Zhang, P. (2013). Website features that gave rise to social commerce: a historical analysis.Electronic commerce research and applications,12(4), 260-279. Dickinger, A., Stangl, B. (2013). Website performance and behavioral consequences: A formative measurement approach.Journal of Business Research,66(6), 771-777. Glickman, O. (2014).U.S. Patent No. 8,700,543. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Hung, Y. H., Hu, P. C., Lee, W. T. (2013, August). Improving the design and adoption of travel websites: An user experience study on travel information recommender systems. In5th IASDR International Conference, Tokio, Japan. Ibrahim, N., Shiratuddin, M. F., Wong, K. (2013). Persuasion techniques for tourism website design. InThe International Conference on E-Technologies and Business on the Web (EBW2013)(pp. 175-180). The Society of Digital Information and Wireless Communication. Krcher, K. (2013).Reinventing the Package Holiday Business: New information and communication technologies. Springer-Verlag. Stouffer, S. A., Stouffer, M. D., Fink, J. C. (2013).U.S. Patent No. 8,447,751. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Sailing to Byzantium (1927) by William Butler Yeats Essay Example

Sailing to Byzantium (1927) by William Butler Yeats Essay The poem â€Å"Sailing to Byzantium† was written by William Butler Yeats in 1926, and it was part of a collection called Tower. The title of the poem refers to the ancient city of Byzantium in Turkey that is presently known as Istanbul. It is the first of two poems known together as the Byzantium series. The poem has four eight-line stanzas that are metered in iambic pentameter (Brittanica, Para 2). The poem is prismatic in nature and viewed in the right angle reveals a spectrum of meanings and emotions.   It is through the use of many literary devices that the poet is able to convey these multiple meanings. Yeats, drawing from his personal life experiences, effectively dwells on the themes of escape from the world’s troubles and a search for immortality. Through his meticulous choice of words Yeats brings out the frustration and intense need for escape and immortality that many people feel in their moments of desperation (Ensminger para 1). The poem opens with the line: â€Å"That is no country for old men.† Thus the poet expresses his deep concern for ‘old age’ while in a subtle manner; he also implies that it is a country that is meant for the young and lively things. These youthful things and abundance of life are well brought out by the poet by references to the ‘the young in one anothers arms’ ‘birds in the trees† ‘the salmon-falls’ and ‘the mackerel crowded seas’ (Yeats 2-4). This is followed by the line â€Å"Whatever is begotten born and dies.† This shows the frustration of the poet at the inevitability of mortality. Yeats rues the fact that the society tends to focus only on the sensual things of the present world and ignores more substantial things such as wisdom and intellect: â€Å"Caught in that sensual music all neglect/Monuments of unageing intellect† (Yeats 7-8). We will write a custom essay sample on Sailing to Byzantium (1927) by William Butler Yeats specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sailing to Byzantium (1927) by William Butler Yeats specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sailing to Byzantium (1927) by William Butler Yeats specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The second stanza begins with the description of an old man as a paltry thing, / A tattered coat upon a stick (Yeats 9-10). These lines seem to reflect the poet’s own physical inability and old age. The poet says that the only thing that can give life to such an old man is the ability to sing through his poetry. The poet holds that poetry is the magic potion that can He believes that his poetry can help him to overcome the transience of time and old age. â€Å"For every tatter in its mortal dress† (Yeats 12)refers to the human body that is suffering from many physical inabilities. The poet reflects that there is no ‘singing school’ implying that poetry cannot be taught. It needs to be studied and that is why the poet travels across the seas and decides to arrive at the â€Å"holy city of Byzantium†: the holy city is a sort of paradise that the poet holds in his mind (Kennedy and Gioia 866-67). Here, the writer uses symbolism. His reference to sailing to Byzantium seems to be metaphorical voyage to a land where art and intellect are valued as things of magnificence and permanence. The third stanza expresses the intense plea of the poet to the divine sages of Byzantium to save him from death. He calls out to them â€Å"O sages standing in God’s holy fire† (Yeats 17). He wants them to come from the holy fire and allow him the gift of creating poetry. This is what the poet expresses through the lines: â€Å"Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre/And be the singing-masters of my soul† (Yeats 19-20). He wants poetry to rule his heart which has no identity of its own: â€Å"It knows not what it is;† (Yeats 23) At this point, the poet once again refers to his aging body and his desires trapped in the aging body through the lines â€Å"sick with desire/And fastened to a dying animal. Through the gift of poetry, the poet firmly believes, the sages can save him from mortality and enter the â€Å"artifice of eternity† (Thorndike 1852). In the final stanza, the poet says that once he has escaped mortality, he will not desire to take any natural form as all natural forms are bound to die one day or other. Instead he desires to be a beautiful gold bird. This gold bird would be one like those made by â€Å"Grecian goldsmiths/ Of hammered gold and gold enamelling† (Yeats 25-26). He might in the form of this beautiful golden bird would then enjoy the power â€Å"To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;† He might also be â€Å"set upon a golden bough to sing/To lords and ladies of Byzantium/Of what is past, or passing, or to come† (Yeats 31-32). In this final stanza the poet refers to the fact that true immortality can be acquired only through an intellectual permanence of poetry. The poet feels through his poetry â€Å"the golden bird†, he will be able to â€Å"sing† to many people about â€Å"the past, the present and the future†. This reference to the past, the present and the future in dicates the permanence and timelessness the poet believes can come through poetry. The poet uses symbolism widely in this poem. He refers to a bird in each stanza and the meaning of the bird as one that represents immortality and freedom from physical inabilities is found in the last stanza. The bird is not a natural bird but rather a golden bird and one that is artistically made. This means that the bird is not mortal and cannot die. The fact that it is artistic shows that only through poems considered works of art in literature- the poet can achieve that immortality. The metaphor of singing that the poet uses throughout the poem refers to the ‘music’ in poetry.   In the opening stanza the song is that of the birds in the trees, in the second and third stanzas, it is about a ‘singing school’ and finally the poet refers to the song of the golden bird. According to him, only by reading poems he can learn to step into that world of immortality (Thorndike 1853). It has been found that Yeats has used personal experiences to color his poem in a brilliant manner. He was exposed to Byzantine art twenty years prior to writing Sailing to Byzantium. He has described Byzantine mosaics for imagery in the third stanza.   When Yeats was nearly sixty years old, he saw Mediterranean mosaic works that compared the permanence of art with the transience of nature. The impact can be felt in the lines: Once out of nature I shall never take / My bodily form from any natural thing, / But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make (25-27). Yeats, during that period was suffering physically and was old. His depressed feelings at home made him desire travel.   It is probably this desire that is expressed through the metaphoric voyage in the poem. (Allen 3728). In the third stanza, the poet refers to a particular painting he saw in a Ravenna church, which shows martyrs being burned for their faith. The phrase â€Å"perne in a gyre† (Yeats 19) refers to a spi nning wheel such as those Yeats would have seen during his youth in Sligo. Yeats refers to the words associated with mortal life in monosyllables such as â€Å"fish, flesh, fowl† and â€Å"aged man†. But he uses polysyllables to express the permanence of intellect such as â€Å"Monuments of unageing intellect† And â€Å"Of hammered gold and gold enamelling.† This technique allows an undercurrent of the superiority of art over human life to flow through the poem. The poem can be taken as a metaphor for the poet’s journey to an ideal afterlife, or as a commentary on the permanence of artistic achievement or both. However, one finds through the use of metaphors, and symbolic language, the poem â€Å"Sailing to Byzantium† is kaleidoscopic and offers multiple ways of interpretation. Moreover, it has become a poem that can be included in comparisons with other poems in the realm of travel, age, nature, birds as symbols and afterlife.   It is mostly due to its multiple interpretive capabilities that this poem has reached the permanence and timelessness the poet sought during his lifetime.

Being and Been

Being and Been Being and Been Being and Been By Maeve Maddox Saad Khan asks to know the difference between being and been. Been is the past participle form of the verb to be. It is used with the auxiliary verbs has, have, and had to form perfect tenses: How long has it been since you were in Paris? He had been writing that novel for thirty years when he died. How long have you been living here? Being is the present participle form of the verb to be. It is used with the auxiliaries is, are, was, and were to form continuous tenses: Mary is being difficult. The letter is being written. It is used as a verbal, a word that partakes of both verb and noun: Being polite is more productive than being rude. The word being can also be used a noun meaning â€Å"creature.† No human being should be homeless. I watched a movie about a being from outer space. Being can also mean â€Å"existence.† We are called from nothingness into being. In the expression â€Å"for the time being,† it means â€Å"the present.† We’ll leave him in charge for the time being. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:85 Synonyms for â€Å"Help†Excited ABOUT, not "for" Grammar Review #1: Particles and Phrasal Verbs

Capital Punishment Ethics Essay Sample

Capital Punishment Ethics Essay Sample Capital Punishment Ethics Essay Capital punishment comprises of execution of a criminal. It is justifiable under the law to counter social ills that affect human life through depriving the criminal the right to life. Moral philosophy under different scholars gives differing views on this form of punishment. The general views either indicate the moral impermissible nature of the punishment as it deprives human life. The second view justifies the existence of it. Your essay has to outline some of the philosophical views on capital punishment. Capital punishment (CP), a retributive form of justice seeks to provide punishment in the same measure as the wrong done by the offender. Stuart Mill, a proponent of the consequentialism ethics states that utility is the standard measure for judgment. The utility also called ’Greatest Happiness Principle’ brings happiness through minimizing any pain. Therefore, consequentialism punishment looks at the net benefits in the future as the reform of the offender, deterrence of similar offenses and safeguarding society. The ultimate goal of CP should be in promoting social utility. In essence, it does the minutest harm with an aggregate of doing the most good to all concerned. CP is, therefore, permissible as a just mechanism based on the social achievement of the desired happiness. Utilitarian looks at the means to an end and not the end alone. Hence, a death penalty may not necessarily be morally permissible based on retribution as deterrence. They further argue that the level of effectiveness of the deterrence arising from a death sentence is not justifiable. Therefore, CP may not be a legitimate mechanism of punishment as the social utility inherent is not warrantable. Additionally, CP only adds up to inhumanity to humanity. In fact, it never erases murder crimes making death penalty an unfair way of administering justice. The second philosophical view borrows from the deontological theories of ethics. These theories stipulate that an act is either wrong or right relative to judicial guidelines. For example, the virtuous ethics which is an act-based theoretical framework promotes the rule of law going contrary to the common good of the people. Underlying its justification for CP is the disposition of good morals to individuals which positively impact on society. Dispositions are cultivated over time which form habits to do right hence, exposition of desirable character. In a way, it deters any form of delinquent behavior in communities. The proponents of the deontological theories such as Aristotle stipulate that retributivism in itself constitute morality. A punishment is therefore meant to serve the moral good in itself. Essentially, a punishment exists not to justify a crime but as a moral commitment as deserved for the wrongdoing. Under Kant’s work on ‘Groundwork of The Metaphysics of Morals (1785),’ he rejects the consequential idea of the achievement of social utility. Kant asserts that crime merits punishment and guilt are necessary and sufficient for judicial punishment. Moral ethics advocates for the good of all people. A death penalty deprives an individual the will to live. Despite the crime done, the punishment should be outlaid with the same weight which does not necessarily mean death. Life imprisonment is one form that can substitute CP yet serve the same purpose. Conquering with the utilitarianism, the punishment should be administered to correct and maintain social utility. CP is unjust when an innocent life gets involved. Life is irreversible and morality calls for just acts that promote human dignity.

The Strategic Position of Apple Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

The Strategic Position of Apple - Assignment Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that the major objective of the Apple Company has been to add a new phase of technology to the era. Apple is ranked as third in terms of producing mobile phones in a global context. The company also sells various sorts of third-party compatible products that include iPad, iPod and iPhone comprising accessories and software via retail outlets or online stores. The company thereafter sells its products to the customers as well as big or small business houses. The company has been identified to generate annual revenue of about US$ 182 billion. Moreover, the company supplies applications through App Store, iBooks Store, and iTunes Store among others. In order to enlarge and expand the business capacity, the company continued to invent as well as deliver new products with innovative specifications. Recently, Apple has launched a new handset i.e. Apple iPhone 6 or 6+ in the market with different innovative features. Apple iPhone 6 is power efficien t with HD quality display. The company provides a high quality of electronic products with efficiency. The phone undertakes certain features such as fast and unmatched wireless technology and superior quality of Wi-Fi. It gets connected to every network widely. All these factors enabled in fast accessing of iPhone 6. Apple’s strategy to enlarge its business goal is unmatched. The company develops as well as enhances its designs in relation to hardware and operating systems, application of software to add new and exclusive electronic items and accessories among others. Moreover, the factors provided the customers to utilize the products with an ease. The applications, as well as the advanced techniques present in the smartphone of the company, are identified as safe in terms of utility. This criterion attracts the customers towards the iPhones that the company has launched.

Socioeconomic status of Afro Brazilians in the favelas of Brazil Term Paper

Socioeconomic status of Afro Brazilians in the favelas of Brazil - Term Paper Example It was during this period that Brazil was known as one of the countries known for its involvement in the slave trade the slaves were Africans, which were the blacks. These slaves were to work for the whites both in their farms and in homes, and they were exposed to humiliating roles. These discoveries trace its origin to archeological finding resulting from recent excavation, which was carried out during the preparation for the Olympics and the world cup football competition (Stanley, 2005). These African slaves multiplied and thus increasing in number until they constituted to half the population of Brazil, which are mostly found in places meant for the poor in the society. Social segregation witnessed in Brazil was contributed by the delay in the abolishment of the slave trade in the country; Brazil was the last country in America to abolish the trade. Slavery in Brazil is, however, different from the rest of the US this is because they were treated differently. Brazilian slaves ha d an opportunity to exercise their freedom, which involve purchasing for their freedom whereby the already freed blacks will assist to free other slaves through the collection of money. Freed blacks who work in gold mines as gold miners and merchants in Ouro Preto would build expensive baroque churches as a way of thanking God for their excellent fortune. Brazilian government passed out a law in favor of children of slaves to be freed and allowed to attend schools just like those of the whites, which is contrary to what was happening in the US (Bernardo, 2008). Effects of the slave trade in Brazil and delay to abolish the slave trade in the country has contributed significantly in defining Brazilians status even in the recent society. Slave trade contributed in the definition of a given society in the recent time with such a society being characterized with firm social segregation seen in the society. Brazil is viewed in the recent times as a country characterized by inequality evid ent between the rich and the poor. The society consists of two groups that are the middle class and the bottom class, the white fall in the high class while the blacks are the bottom class (Carl, 2001). This form of segregation characterize Brazil in the recent times, which can be changed through advancing for affirmative action and instilling quotas during admission of both blacks and whites in public universities. Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro the capital city of Brazil, the city consist of two distinct classes that are the poor and the rich thus a preferred city of choice for the study of segregation. The rich and the poor in Rio de Janeiro live nearest to each other; the rich who are the whites live in magnificent homes while the blacks live in slums commonly referred to as Favela. The living style of these groups are different hence has contributed to distinction and discrimination, which is evident and has contributed to insecurity, theft and other cases of crimes usually perc eived to be performed by the blacks (Carl, 2001). Significant disparities exist between the rich and the poor in the city with one fifth of the inhabitants reside in slums (favelas), which consist of poorly regulated houses. The city of Rio has both blacks and the whites, but unlike other cities in America, the blacks are not given an opportunity to serve any position in leadership. Socioeconomic activities are significant in improving the living standards

Discussion Week 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Week 1 - Assignment Example It implies that, in regards to the earning status of the numerator at the same time as the earnings status in the numerator also when depressing the terms of shareholders equity status in the denominator can be boosted when calculating the return on equity ratio artificially. The cash return on an actual equity is actually the consequential figure (Condon, 1999). The accounts analyst relies on guidance from companies to outline their forecasts which guides to a lower number. The price of missing quarter can go up sharply from an exceptional interplay, among the stocks which are highly priced. Fox (1997) further state that, if you don’t have an extra penny to keep Wall Street happy, as a result your company will be at stake since it will send your stock to reduce, saving the those earnings for next quarter is better than missing a dime or two. This concept is of significance to the companies. As the companies play the earning game they are able to anticipate whether the revenue will fail. Conversely, in case of any prospects that are on a quarter of a particular stated stock, best businesses will ultimately see the mainly equity value approval. Mutually, companies should not much care about the earnings of a given quarter, since profit from the markets behaviors to both earnings drop and hits is what they seek every day. Further, companies in play, when the stock price immensely goes down compared to its basic value, there are chances of going out or private. Thus a company deserves to be valued accordingly based on its own future financial cash flow (Nelson, 2011). Condon, B. (1999).Creative Accounting. Retrieved on 19th Aug 2014 from: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:iE18IruxKaIJ:www.oocities.org/wallstreet/district/9390/links3.htm+&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk&client=firefox-a Fox, J. (1997). Learn to play the earnings game (and Wall Street will love you) the pressure to report smooth, ever higher earnings

Water Rocket Dominant Modification Factors

Water Rocket Dominant Modification Factors Bryan Conston Water rockets tell the story of a wet launching period: the liftoff, height climax (apogee), and the momentous landing all are viewed at an observer’s glance. Of course, some â€Å"stories† come out to be more surprising and startling than others because of the ingredients. In a perfect physics world, about any rocket could soar to its maximum potential. Truly this is not the case for the real world, where wind and weather could mean the difference in a water-limited rocket’s success or failure. Water may leak out of the rocket. The bottle may explode suddenly due to hot air or the amount of pressure fixed in its frame. Though anything can hinder a rocket from it’s planned altitude, there are ways through applying water rocket knowledge to counteract it for good: adding modifications to the rocket. As the question was answered about whether modifications to a two-liter bottle would be beneficial to flight altitude—it is absolutely necessary—the real question springs forward: â€Å"What modifications can we use to a plastic bottle?† There are countless variables regarding water rocket propulsion, such as how much water should be applied. Necessity is the mother of invention for designing water rockets, so with basic adjustments to the bottle rocket, testing the improvement would be much easier. Still, though, some modifications may hurt the condition of the rocket. For several pieces of a water rocket design, nifty and thoroughly examined modifications of fins, nozzles, and the bottle itself will be a key factor in its success. In the livelihood of summer, water makes way for an awe-inspiring experience: water rocket launching. Feeding the excitement of several teachers, children, and parents, water rockets fascinate schools and colleges with its handy demonstration of physics. The process of constructing a water rocket requires a little more than a bottle, nozzle fins, and a creative mindset. However, most participating in the mechanism would hope to watch the rockets as they â€Å"send them skyward†, as water rocket enthusiast Barbara Wolcott encourages (screen 1). How does this specific journey of the rocket—its propulsion—take place? There are always things to consider about constructing a rocket, for with everything there is ways to improve the rocket’s condition. The pounds per square inch (PSI) should be a level pressure for the water to cooperate with Newton’s third law of opposite reaction, and the water needs to maintain a flow with the nozzleand so on. The launch depends on several variables and add-ons that would enhance the flight experience, such as nose cones. The most dominant components of the rocket launcher—the nozzles, fins, and bottle—act as a major collective force for influencing the rocket’s successful propulsion, protection, and flight height. One of the most dominant modifications that should be made to all rockets is the nozzle. Brad Calvert claims that a good nozzle produces rapid but brief acceleration, at times lasting â€Å"only a few hundredths of a second.† (Calvert 5). A nozzle is simply a mechanical device used for controlling the fluid of the water rocket to allow it to build launching energy. While we may need fins, a durable bottle, and a dependable launcher, a rocket without a nozzle is one that will cause excessive errors like leakages. Thrust, the rocket’s force of action between the water and the bottle, is generated primarily by the nozzle. Truly, the big factor is the nozzle type. Restricted nozzles provide longer flight duration, while an open neck nozzle allows it nearly any time to pressurize, thus creating a problem for some launching tubes.. Also, nozzles depend on length and diameter. For instance, a full bore bottle is the standard neck opening of a PET bottle that is 22 mm long. Oth er modified nozzles include a Gardena nozzle with quick connectors or a Maxi-Flo nozzle with a large aperture. With these nozzles, the propulsion depends on the nozzle size: larger nozzles run the risk of leakage, thus weakening any chance of a high altitude. A modified nozzle is an excellent start towards a high-quality rocket. Even a bare bottle can launch off, but countless avenues of error could easily tamper the flight as a whole. This because rockets follow the rules of aerodynamic stability. According to Brad Calvert, the stability of the water rocket depends on the next dominant factor: fins. With overly restricted nozzles, larger fins at the rocket’s rear â€Å"are required to counteract the turning forces created at the front† (Calvert 6). Without fins, the rocket cannot balance it’s weight end to end, ruining any chance at a successful air travel. Moreover, if the fins are to be the power of stability, then they must be used correctly. Once the fins’ drag is minimized, they do all the necessary flight work by giving the rocket a nice, straight flight (often the flight will fall nose down as well). Fins make for the most important modification as far as safety goes. Without them, the rocket could ricochet somewhere and cause bodily injury to bystanders. Fins come in many sizes and shapes, and light tape works great as an adhesive. The ultimate goal of fin construction is minimizing the drag they create by keeping them small and thin. Manilla folders, soft cardboard, and other sturdy materials would work for fins effectively. A cylindrical fin may be â€Å"the easiest way to achieve stability with a restricted nozzle rocket† (Calvert 7). Truly, the fins embody a powerhouse for the stability and convenience of a bottle rocket. The classification of the bottle is critical to the success of the flight also: determining the brand, weight, and dimensions play collectively among other factors to produce the greatest apogee. As water forces out of the rear, the rocket’s weight slowly decreases as a function of time. The air shoving the water forces both the water and air outside the nozzle and creates a force that is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction, propelling the rocket upwards. This would not work effectively without an evaluation of the weight. Adding weight should be a caution—the lower the rocket weight with a constant water supply, the better launch. Extra mass should be attached to precise areas (such as fins should be placed lower on a larger rocket) for a balanced center of mass. Lightweight adhesives should be applied, but no hot glue should be used as it rips through and softens the bottle’s plastic frame. Using additional water should be a concern as well.. As Leo Singleton put it in his Bottle Rocket Handbook, â€Å"water is thrust, but it also adds excess weight† (Singleton 16-17). Balancing between thrust and weight is the best option. Usually 50% of the rocket should be filled with water, regardless of dimensions. Most people would of course use a two liter bottle for a water rocket base. This brings a higher concern for the fins’ shape. A two liter bottle has a relatively small distance end to end but a relatively large diameter compared to other successful rocket bottles. It is often said that long and thin water rockets â€Å"are easier to make stable† than â€Å"short and fat ones† (Water- Rockets Science for Hobbyist, Students, and Teachers of All Ages 1). This would be explained through several simulations showing a trend in rocket length and apogee, with increasing length without other modifications. Usually, the water rocket length will be manpower for the flight height, bringing positive correlation to the rocket’s trajectory. Also, the bottle’s brand would need to be carefully observed. Several experiments from multiple expert rocket launchers, including research done at college sites, yield that generic bottles cause more excessive leaking than brand name bottles. Leakage greatly reduces flight command, and bottles like Dr. Thunder and Mountain Lightning were shown to leak heaps of water (sometimes to its entirety) due to a larger nozzle opening. It’s best to use bottles that are made to contain carbonated drinks, for other bottles are not made to cope with the pressure used. Broken bottles should never be used. They are easier to explode randomly, so making sure the bottle is firm to the touch and durable is a sure way to increase safety to launching. Undoubtedly, the main factors that would make or break a water rocket’s success would be the fins, the nozzle, and the bottle type. The fins act as a buffer for any unstableness and lower the chances of a crash-worthy bottle. Even more, the nozzle plays the role of controlling the ignition of the rocket. The dominator of the rocket—its bottle frame—is the basis for the concept of water rocket launching. For several water rocket enthusiasts, starting with these modifications would make the best of any experiment of water rocket propulsion and the physics behind it. Works Cited Calvert, Brad. Water Rocket Book. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 June 2014. Singleton IV, Leo C. Bottle Rocket Handbook. N.p., 2001. Web. 27 Jan. 2015. Welcome. Water-rockets Science for Hobbyist, Students, and Teachers of All Ages. N.p., 1997.  Web. 06 Feb. 2015. Wolcott, Barbara. ReadySetLaunch!! Scouting Magazine. Boy Scouts of America, 2006.  Web. 25 Jan. 2015.

Epiphany of Elisa in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums :: Literature Steinbeck Chrysanthemums Essays

Epiphany of Elisa in John Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums John Steinbeck described Elisa Allen in "The Chrysanthemums" only with her language and actions. From these, the reader gathers that Elisa is strong, lean, and eager; the way she talks confidently about her chrysanthemums not only shows her confidence, but her way of filling the void of intimacy in her marriage. However, by the end of the story, the reader finds Elisa completely different, signifying the toll her epiphany has had on her. When the peddler arrives at Elisa's house, he seems very avid to do some work for her; she becomes irritated with his persistence, but soon changes. Once he begins to act interested and appreciative of her chrysanthemums (even requests for some sprouts), she begins to feel appreciated by him and lets her guard down. Removing her bulky clothes and transforming into a feminine woman in time to go out with her husband proves this change has occurred. Some people might think this was the place Elisa had her epiphany. I think differently Not far down the road, she discovers the sprouts she gave graciously to the peddler on the ground. During those crucial moments of telling herself why he threw them out and purposefully ignoring the peddler's caravan, Elisa has several sudden revelations: epiphanies. She realizes the man she thought truly valued her flowers simply feigned this interest to get what he wanted and then threw them out, causing her to feel thrown out and used. His disrespect for beautiful things also crosses her mind and she discovers she may never find someone to share the feelings she has for beauty. And finally, just as her chrysanthemums never made it far from the ranch, she knows her own desires to roam beyond the limitations of her home, perhaps even her marriage, are destroyed.

Fluke, or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings Chapter 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Could Be Worse, Could Be Dog Years â€Å"Evidently,† said Nate, â€Å"where we screwed up was killing the whales.† â€Å"No way,† said Amy. â€Å"We tipped our hand.† â€Å"About being meme machines, right?† â€Å"Yeah. Are you sure you're not spying for him?† â€Å"Nope. Know how you can tell? When I was spying, did I ever touch you here?† â€Å"No. No, you did not.† â€Å"And did I ever let you touch me here?† She moved his hand for him. â€Å"No, you did not. Especially not in public.† â€Å"Yeah, we should probably go back to your place.† She had called him on his buzzy, bug-winged speaky thing, about which he made a mental note to ask what the name of it was at his first convenience. They'd met for coffee at a Gooville caf that catered to whaley boys. She'd assured him that no one would notice them, and, strangely enough, the whaley boys had completely ignored them. Maybe he was no longer news. â€Å"If they say anything, I'll just tell them that we're having sex,† Amy said. â€Å"But you said you didn't think I should tell the Colonel I'd seen you.† â€Å"Yeah, but that was before he let you in on his secret plan.† â€Å"Right.† â€Å"Although I'm a little ashamed of how old you are. We should talk about that.† â€Å"So should I move my hand?† â€Å"Yeah, down and a little to the right.† â€Å"Let's head back to my place.† Back at his apartment, standing in the kitchen, he said, â€Å"Hey, what do you call this thing?† He pointed to that thing. â€Å"The phone.† â€Å"No kidding?† He nodded as if he'd known that all along. â€Å"So where were we?† â€Å"Killing whales was where we went wrong?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Or how old you are?† â€Å"So,† he continued, â€Å"killing whales was a big mistake.† â€Å"Which you knew, because that's what made you want to become a nerd in the first place.† â€Å"No, that's not right.† † ‘Scuse me, action nerd.† â€Å"You want to know how I got into this field, really?† â€Å"No. I mean, sure. You can tell me about the destruction of the human race later.† â€Å"You have to promise you won't laugh.† â€Å"Of course.† She looked incredibly sincere. â€Å"My sophomore year at the University of Sasketchewan in the Sticks – ; â€Å"You're kidding.† â€Å"It's a good school. You promised you wouldn't laugh.† â€Å"Oh, you meant even this early in the story I'm not supposed to laugh? Sorry.† â€Å"I mean, I'm sure it doesn't measure up to Gooville Community College –  » â€Å"Not fair.† â€Å"Home of the Gooville Fighting Loogies – ; â€Å"Okay, you made your point.† â€Å"Thank you. So a friend and I decided that we're going to go to break out of our boring small-college lives, we were going to take some risks, we were going to –  » â€Å"Talk to a girl?† â€Å"No. We decided to drive all the way to Florida for spring break just like American kids, where we would then drink beer, get sunburned, and then talk to a girl – girls.† â€Å"So you went.† â€Å"Took almost a week to get there, but yes, we drove in his dad's Vista Cruiser station wagon. And I did indeed meet a girl. In Fort Lauderdale. A girl from Fort Lauderdale. And I talked to her.† â€Å"You dirty little tramp. Like, ‘How's it going, eh?  » â€Å"Among other things. We conversed. And so she invited me to go see a manatee.† â€Å"He shoots! He scores!† â€Å"But I thought it was an American way of saying matinee. I thought we were going to a movie. You know, you don't think about those things as being real.† â€Å"But it was.† â€Å"She did volunteer work for a rescue hospital for injured marine mammals, mostly manatees that had been hit by boats. They had a bottlenose dolphin, too. We stayed there for hours, caring for the animals, her teaching me about them. I was hooked. I hadn't even picked my undergrad major, but as soon as I got back to school, I went for biology, and I've been studying marine mammals ever since.† â€Å"Oh, my God, you didn't get laid, did you?† â€Å"I found a passion for life. I found something that drives me.† â€Å"I can't believe I fell for such a pathetic loser.† â€Å"Hey, I'm pretty good at this whale stuff. I'm respected in my field.† â€Å"But you're dead.† â€Å"Yeah, before then, I mean. Hey, did you say that you fell for me?† â€Å"I said I fell for a pathetic loser, if the shoe fits†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He kissed her. She kissed him back. That went on for a while. They both found it excellent. Then they stopped. â€Å"You said you wanted to talk about our age difference,† Nate said, because he always picked women who broke his heart, and, figuring that his heart was now into this whole thing far enough to be broken, he wanted to get on with it. â€Å"Yeah, we probably should. Maybe we should sit down.† â€Å"Couch?† â€Å"No, at the table. You might want a drink.† â€Å"No, I'm okay.† Yep, heartbreak, he thought. They sat. â€Å"So,† she said, curling her legs up under her, sitting like a little kid, making him feel ever more the creepy old guy leching on the young girl, â€Å"you know that the whaley boys have been pulling people in here from shipwrecks and plane crashes for years, right?† â€Å"That's what Cielle said.† â€Å"She wants you, I can tell, but that's beside the point. Do you know that they pulled whole crews off sunken submarines, plus they've yanked sonar guys out of port for years?† â€Å"I didn't know that.† â€Å"Doesn't matter, has nothing to do with what I'm telling you. So you realize that some people who have been lost at sea, like the crew of the American sub Scorpion that sank back in 67, actually ended up here?† â€Å"Okay. That makes sense. More of the Goo looking out for itself. Gaining knowledge.† â€Å"Yeah, but that's not the point. I mean, those guys helped put together a lot of the technology you saw on the whale ship, the human technology, but that doesn't matter. The important part is that the world thinks that the crew of the Scorpion is at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, even though they're not. Got it?† â€Å"Okay,† Nate said, really slowly, the way he had spoken to the Colonel when he was losing the point – much the way he was waving in the conversational wind right now. â€Å"And you realize that when I applied with you and Clay, that I gave my real name, which is Amy Earhart, and that Amy is short for Amelia?† â€Å"Oh, my God,† Nate said. â€Å"Ha!† Amy said. The ship broker found Clay's ship in the Philippines, in Manila Harbor. Clay bought it based on faxed photographs, a spec sheet, and a recent hull certification for just under $2 million of the Old Broad's money. It was a 180-foot-long U.S. Coast Guard fisheries patrol vessel built in the late fifties. It had been refitted several times since then, once in the seventies for fishing, once in the eighties for ocean survey, and finally in the nineties as a live-aboard dive boat for the adventure tourist. It had plenty of comfortable cabins as well as compressors, dive platforms, and cranes to raise and lower support vessels onto the rear deck, although, except for the lifeboats, it came with no support craft. Clay thought they could use the rear deck as a helicopter-landing pad, even if there wasn't a budget for a helicopter, but – you know – someone with a helicopter might want to land there, and it helped no end to have a big H painted on the deck. There was a budget for painting a big H. The ship had efficient, if not quite state-of-the-art, navigation equipment, radar, autopilot, and some old but functioning sonar arrays left over from its days as a fishing ship. It had twin twelve-hundred-horsepower diesel engines and could distill up to twenty tons of freshwater a day for the crew and passengers. There were cabins and support for forty. It was also rated a class-three icebreaker, which was a feature that Clay hoped they wouldn't have to test. He really didn't like cold water. Through another broker Clay hired the crew of ten men, sight unseen, right off the docks of Manila: a group of brothers, cousins, and uncles with the last name of Mangabay, among whom the broker guaranteed that there were no murderers, or at least no convicted murderers, and only petty thieves. The eldest uncle, Ray Mangabay, who would be Clay's first mate, would sail the ship to Honolulu, where Clay would meet them. â€Å"He's going to be driving my ship,† Clay said to Clair after he'd gotten the news that he had a crew and a first mate. â€Å"You have to let your ship go, Clay,† Clair said. â€Å"If he sinks it, it wasn't really yours.† â€Å"But it's my ship.† â€Å"What are you going to call it?† He was thinking about the Intrepid or the Merciless or some other big-dick, blow-shit-up kind of name. He was thinking about Loyal or Relentless or the Never Surrender, because he was determined now to find his friend, and he didn't mind putting that right on the bow. â€Å"Well, I was thinking about – ; â€Å"You were thinking deeply about it, weren't you?† Clair interrupted. â€Å"Yes, I thought I'd call her the Beautiful Clair.† â€Å"Just the Clair will be fine, baby. You don't want the bow to look busy.† â€Å"Right. The Clair.† Strangely enough, on second thought, that pretty much encompassed Intrepid, Merciless, Relentless, and Loyal. Plus, it had the underlying meaning of keeper of the booty, which was sort of a bonus in a ship name, he thought. â€Å"Yeah, that's a good name for her.† â€Å"How long before she gets here?† â€Å"Two weeks. She's not fast. Twelve knots cruising. If we have somewhere to go, I'll send the ship directly there and meet it at a port along the way.† â€Å"Well, now that she's called the Clair, I hope they bring her in safe.† â€Å"My ship,† Clay said anxiously. â€Å"So,† Nate said, â€Å"You're what, in your nineties? A hundred?† â€Å"Don't look it, do I?† Amy posed: a coquettish half curtsy with a Betty Boop bump at the end. Indeed, it would have been a spry move for a woman in her nineties. Nate was really glad he was sitting down, but he missed the sensation he would have had of needing to sit down. â€Å"Your whole attraction was based on my age, wasn't it?† She sat across from him. â€Å"You were working out your male menopause on the fantasy of my young body. Somehow you were going to try to recapture your youth. Once again you'd feel like more than a footnote to humanity. You'd be virile and vital and relevant and all alpha male, just because a younger – and decidedly luscious, I might add – woman had chosen you, right?† â€Å"Nuh-uh,† Nate said. She was wrong, right? â€Å"Wow, Nate, were you on the debate team at Moose Dirt U? I mean, your talent –  » â€Å"Sasketchewan in the Sticks,† he corrected. â€Å"So the age thing? It's a problem?† â€Å"You're like a hundred. My grandma isn't even a hundred, and she's dead.† â€Å"No, I'm not really that old.† She grinned and reached across the table, took his hand. â€Å"It's okay, Nate. I'm not Amelia Earhart.† â€Å"You're not?† Nate felt his lungs expand, as if a steel band around his chest had broken. He'd been taking tiny yip breaths, but now oxygen was returning to his brain. Funny, he was pretty sure that none of the other women he'd been with had been Amelia Earhart either, but he didn't remember feeling quite so relieved about it before. â€Å"Well, I should have known. I mean, you don't look anything like the pictures. No goggles.† â€Å"I was just messin' with you. I'm her daughter. Ha!† â€Å"Stop it! This isn't funny, Amy. If you're trying to make a point, you've made it. Yes, you're an attractive young woman, and maybe your youth's a part of why I'm attracted to you, but that's just biology. You can't blame me for that. I didn't make a move on you, I didn't harass you when we were working together. I treated you exactly as I would have treated any research assistant, except maybe you got away with more because I liked you. You can't ridicule me for responding to you sexually down here when you came on to me. The rules had changed.† â€Å"I'm not ridiculing you. Amelia Earhart really is my mother.† â€Å"Stop it.† â€Å"You want to meet her?† Nate searched her face for signs of a grin or a tremble in her throat that might indicate the rise of an Amy Ha! Nothing there, just that little bit of sweetness that she usually tried to hide. â€Å"So somehow, living down here, you haven't aged. Your mother?† â€Å"We age, but not like on the surface. I was born in 1940. I'm about the same number of years older than you than you were older than me a half hour ago – kinda sorta. You going to dump me?† â€Å"It's so hard to believe.† â€Å"Why, after you've seen all this? You've seen what the Goo can do. Why is it so hard to believe that I'm sixty-four?† â€Å"Well, for one, you're so immature.† â€Å"Shut up. I'm young at heart.† â€Å"But for a second there I was so sure we were doomed.† Nate rubbed his temples – trying to stretch them, maybe – to make his head bigger to hold the whole concept of Amy's being sixty-four. â€Å"No, it's okay, we just haven't gotten to that yet. We're still doomed.† â€Å"Oh, thank goodness,† Nate said. â€Å"I was worried.† Later, after they had pushed the world away for a while, made love and napped in each other's arms, Amy made a move to start another round, and Nate awoke to an immediate and uncertain anxiety. â€Å"Are we really doomed?† he asked. â€Å"Oh, goddamn it Nate!† She was straddling him, so she was able to get a good windup before thumping him hard in the chest with her fist. â€Å"That's just un-fucking-professional!† Nate thought about how the praying mantis female will sometimes bite off the male's head during copulation and how the male's body continues to mate until the act is finished. â€Å"Sorry,† he said. She rolled off him and stared up at dim strips of green luminescence on the ceiling. â€Å"It's okay. I didn't mean to bite your head off.† â€Å"Pardon?† â€Å"Yes, we're probably doomed. We're doomed for the same reason that I look the way I do, that most of the Goos look much younger than we really are. Turn a gene on, you age; turn it off, you don't. I've even seen some people down here who seem to get younger. Flip a switch, pancreatic cancer at age twenty-two; flip another, you can smoke four packs a day and live to be a hundred. If the Goo thinks that the human race is a danger to it, it just has to flip a switch, pick a gene, make a virus, and the human race would blink out. I hadn't really thought about it as a threat before. My whole life I've worked for the Goo. Service, you know? It takes care of us. It's the source.† He didn't know what to say. Did he need to actually take the Colonel's request for help seriously? Did he need to help find a way to kill this amazing creature in order to save his own species? â€Å"Amy, I don't know what to do. Two days ago I just wanted to get out of here. Now? The Colonel and you both said I was lucky to be alive. Has the Goo killed people who were close to finding out about it?† â€Å"Honestly, I don't know. I've never seen it or heard of it happening, but I – we – each just do our own part down here. We don't ask a lot of questions. Not because we're told not to or anything – it's just that you can live a long time without asking yourself big questions when your needs are looked after.† For the first time Nate could see the experience of years in Amy's face, marked not by wrinkles but by a shadow in her eyes. â€Å"I'm asking,† he said. â€Å"Do I think the Goo is ethically capable of killing the human race?† â€Å"I guess.† â€Å"I don't even know if the Goo has ethics, Nate. According to the Colonel, it's just a vehicle for genes and we're just vehicles for memes and nature says that a head-on collision is inevitable. What if it's not? This battle has supposedly gone on for millions of years, and now the Colonel wants to force an endgame? What I do know is that you've got to talk him out of trying to kill it.† â€Å"But he's your leader.† â€Å"Yeah, but he didn't tell any of us about this. I think he's doubting his own judgment. So am I.† â€Å"But you said that it could kill everyone on the planet at the flick of a switch.† â€Å"Yeah.† She rolled over and propped herself up on her elbow. â€Å"You hungry? I'm hungry.† â€Å"I could eat.†

Networking Essays - The Pearl, John Steinbeck, Pearl, La Perla

Networking Essays - The Pearl, John Steinbeck, Pearl, La Perla Networking THE PEARL by John Steinbeck. Written in 1940 and published in 1947, The Pearl is another of Steinbecks novels, which tells the great American dream. The English he uses, as in most of his books, is fairly simple. The message that he attempts to put through to the reader, which makes this short and effortlessly understandable. Steinbecks protagonists comprise of Kino, a young Mexican fisherman, and his poverty-stricken family, consisting of Juana (his wife) and Coyotito (his baby boy). The story begins set in the bare darkness of the interior of Kinos mud hut, where the family awakens before the dawning of each day to perform their retual of preparing and eating corn cakes-the familys staple. Their living quarters is situated next to the Gulf of Mexico, where Kino would go out to dive for oysters and catch his familys next meal. Every single day he dreams of finding the great pearl, whom everybody believes, will make him rich. It is the incident of his sons illness that puts the fire and sense of urgency in his h eart to search for the prized object. The author drawn comparison to the American dream: To gain material wealth, obtain success. Ironically, when Kino does find the Pearl, it is to his great disappointment, too large and virtually worthless. Kino, as a character, is represented by Steinbeck, as the general American public of his day, where innocent victims compromise their moral values. His dream blinds him to greed and suspicions of his neighbors. Even Juana, is unable to temper his obsession and the events leading to tragedy. Kino eventually comes to realize that material wealth is nothing when you vision of good and evil. John Steinbeck was able to write The Pearl in the style of a folktale by keeping it short. By doing that, he made it is easier to keep in the memory, to pass it down to the next generation. Storys characters are common everyday people. They are not in the upper class, but they are hard working-class laborers, it makes the story closer to people. They are able to relate to the characters and how the characters feel. Also it provides a moral lesson which gives parents a reason to pass it down to their children. Steinbeck himself said that in The Pearl, ...perhaps everyone takes his own meaning from it and reads his own life into it. That means that it does not matter who hears the story, they will each get something out of it. Steinbeck made it exciting, which appeals to the listener and keeps them focussed on the story and wanting to hear more. By using these simple techniques, Steinbeck achieved his goal in writing a true folktale. In The Pearl, Steinbeck kept referring to songs. These were songs that Kino learned as a boy in the camp that they created for everything they saw, thought or did. There were songs for every aspect of his life: family, evil, the enemy, and eventually the pearl. They represented the good and the evil. But the Song of the Pearl was different. At the start of the story Kino said, but no new songs were added. However, the Song of the Pearl was added, and Kino placed in it whatever he could see in the pearl. At the start he saw in the pearl his family and all the things he could buy for them when he sold the pearl. So because of what he saw, the Song of the Pearl became the same as the Song of the Family. But soon the song changed. As Kino began to doubt and became afraid after he could not sell the pearl, the Song of Evil slowly took over and replaced the Song of the Family inside the pearl. Kino could not even see his own nice visions in the pearl, but all he saw was his own death. Evil was brought into the story very early on as the scorpion stung the baby. Good won over again as the swelling diminished with Juanas love and the seaweed remedy. After Kino found the pearl, evil began to take over. Greed, jealousy, arose in the town as everyone wanted the pearl and its money

Simile and metaphor Essays

Simile and metaphor Essays Simile and metaphor Paper Simile and metaphor Paper The speakers anger is a central to the whole poem. In stanza two Afrika achieves a shocking intensity by his line arrangement and repetition. The repetition of and(12-15) gives the impression of deep familiarity with the bureaucratic sounding District Six (9) and we can understand the sentiment amiable weeds(8) more clearly. The listing effect establishes a rhythm and a pattern, which the reader anticipates. This means that when and(15) turns into anger(16) it comes as a shock. The stanza also concentrates on the sensitive parts of his body, skinlungseyes(13-16) all, which are subject and vulnerable to hurt. Anger is also associated closely with heat and fire. It is the hotanger of his eyes(15-16); the sign of the restaurant is flaring(18) and his hands burn(45). The image of glass(17, 30, 41, 47) is very important in the poem (the word appears four times) as well as a reference to clear panes(28). It is glass which shuts out the speaker in the poem. It is a symbol of the inequality between whites and blacks, rich and poor. The glass symbolises the exclusion of the blacks from the whites world. But in the glass as well as looking in on outside, one can also see a reflection of oneself. The glass acting as a mirror means that it brings about a double traumatic experience . The speaker sees the standard of living that he has, the stains of bunny chow on his jeans, but he also sees the higher standard of living being enjoyed by his (now) equal countrymen. It is this injustice, which causes the speaker to yearn, for a stone, a bomb, to shiver down the glass(46-47). It is not the actual glass that he wants to smash; it is the racist mentality of those in power that he wants to shatter. The poems title and last line suggests, Nothings changed(48). The speakers familiarity with this environment has not changed. Although there is no sign there, the poet can feel that he is in District Six, my feet know/and my hands.(11-12) The gap in the standard of living has not shortened between the black and white people. There is still that element of exclusivity, no sign says it(25) as the apartheid is over, but there is a guard at the gatepost(23). The poet still feels the anger and violent rage towards those that exclude him. The title in this sense is ironic, physically everything has changed, the Port Jackson trees(21) threaten to take over and there is new restaurant whose patrons are exclusively white. However deep down the important matters and worthwhile changes have not taken place. This leads to a sense of disappointment because an expected change has not happened. District Six has changed, but the speakers feelings have not because the new South Africa operates apartheid based on wealth. The poet reflects that despite the changing political situation, there are still huge inequalities between blacks and whites. The poem is a protest about the injustices of a system that allowed apartheid in the first place, but now does so little to improve the lives of the non-whites. Those in powerful and influential positions resist progress and deny justice to the common people. The title, Inglan is a Bitch is repeated as a refrain throughout the poem. The word bitch has many connotations, all of which are negative, so straight from the beginning the reader can intelligently guess that the poem criticises England. Black immigrants were brought to England to help alleviate the labour force after the Second World War; it was labelled as a country of many opportunities, a promise that turned out to be false. Literally a bitch is a female dog and they are noted for their hardworking nature. This could signify that in order to survive in England you have to be diligent also. In Linton Kwesi Johnsons, Inglan is a Bitch the narrator is black immigrant worker, who describes his work history in England. He has worked in the andahgroun(2); has had a lickle jab in a big otell(11) and in a crockery factory. All his jobs have been hard labour and menial work even at the age of fifty-five(42). He tells the reader that he was doing well while he was working as a dish-washa(11). This type of employment is quite unskilled and a job that most white Britons would consider beneath them. The poem dispels the myth that England has good economic prospects for everyone. Not only are the immigrants working very hard for a lickle wage packit(17), they are forced to pay high taxes also. (Employment) In the 1950s and 1960s people from the Caribbean migrated to Britain in relatively large numbers. Most of these settled in cities, especially in the large English cities, and in most of these communities people from Jamaica were more numerous than people from other parts of the Caribbean. Although the Caribbean is made up of many different islands and mainland territories, including many where an English Creole is not spoken, British Black English is most similar to Jamaican Creole, because of the larger number of Jamaicans who settled in this country. (Sebba, Creole English and Black English) The most striking element of this poem I felt was the sound of the poem. Written in a Street Creole variety of dialect it forces the reader to read the poem with a different tongue; London is written as Landan(1). However this may also cause a problem with communication. It is hard in some sections to decipher what the poet is actually trying to say. A language barrier is formed. The tone of the poem is conversational, but it also has a musical, song-like quality. The rhyme scheme, rhythm and the beat all contribute to this Caribbean musical quality. There is also a refrain or in the context of a song, a chorus. The aural nature of the poem functions as a mirror for cultural identity. The style and speech represents Jamaica, but the context is in England. The refrains in the poem are very interesting, deres no escapin it(5) is repeated in every other stanza along with Inglan is a Bitch. The speaker wants to escape, but cannot. The tone is resigned and there is not much hope. Because he has lived in England, he cannot even go back. This could be due to a fused identity and now he does not fit in either culture. noh baddah try fi hide fram it(16) The poet feels oppressed and has accepted defeat. The discrimination is ever-present. This next line is important, a noh lie mi a tell, a true(24) the speaker explains to the reader that he is not moaning or exaggerating, but is giving a accurate representation of his problems. yu haffi know how fi suvvive in it(32) The verb used is survive, a harsher substitute for live. The speaker explains that life is not easy and the basics are hard to come by. yu bettah face up to it(40) echoing line 16 the speaker tells us and tells himself to just accept the hardship. There is no point in denying or trying to change something more powerful. He has no options, as no one will even listen to his problems. This is why he is writing the poem, hoping this medium will reach out to those who can help him and understand his despair. is whey wi a goh dhu bout it?(56) The last line seems to invert the vibe given out in the lines above. There is a positive emphasis as the speaker asserts this question to his audience, who may be influential black people or sympathetic white people. The wi (we) is also only seen in the last line. It signifies collectiveness and unity for a particular purpose. On his own he is nothing, but through his poetry he may find people in similar predicaments and together they can bring about a change. Ending the poem with a question means that the poet is leaving the reader to make up his mind on the situation. The poem as well as reflecting the cultural identity of the black immigrants in England, also creates a mirror for national identity. It depicts to those in power what the condition of the Afro-Caribbean contingent is. It is sweet and glorious to die for your country. This is the full translation of the phrase Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori. Which comes from Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen. The title of the poem is ironic. The poem does not so much induce pity as it does shock, especially for the civilians at home who believed war was noble and glorious. Owens war poems are for civilians to make audible to them the authentic experiences of the arm. (Kerr, p.219) The soldiers are trudging back from the battle, a daunting depiction expressed through simile and metaphor. The mens wretched condition is compared to old beggars(1), hags(2). The young men have grown unnaturally old and decrepit (Kerr, p.276). They cannot walk straight as their blood-shod(6) try to negotiate the mud. The words that Owen uses have different meanings beyond the real meaning and exploit ambiguity, for example, distant rest(4), what kind of rest? In line 8 the rhythm slackens as a particularly dramatic moment approaches.

DNA Fingerprinting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

DNA Fingerprinting - Essay Example These four bases pair with each other in a unique manner i.e. Adenine-Thymine and Guanine-Cytosine to form the unique DNA structure of every living thing. These bases are also attached to a sugar backbone that twists and turn in a double helix manner and give the molecule of its shape (Crocket 2001). Implications DNA fingerprinting, as the name implies is a technique used for the purpose of identification in many fields of science. Since fingerprints of not two individuals have been found to be similar, it has been proved that just like fingerprints, DNA sequence of every individual is also different and identity of a person in many cases can be found out by using this technique. Although many moral and ethical issues have been raised on the use of this technique but it has been found to be very helpful in the identifying individuals in many cases where it was almost impossible to attain hundred percent identity mainly because only remains of individuals were found or in mass disaste rs where the bodies were totally destroyed that obtaining fingerprints was almost impossible. For example in a mass disaster, the DNA samples of the relatives i.e. parents, siblings or offspring of the victims are taken and then the DNA sequence is matched with that of the victims and identities are generated on the basis of matching of base pairs. Also DNA fingerprints have been used in solving the cases of disputed paternity, identifying a rapist in cases of sexual assault and identifying the species in cases of fragmentary remains. Types and Techniques: The three main types of DNA Fingerprinting are: RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) VNTR (Variable Number Tandem Repeats) STR ( Short Tandem Repeats) RFLPs are the oldest type of DNA fingerprints. For this process, a sample from any part of the body is collected since all the nucleated cells of the body contain DNA. After the sample is collected, DNA is extracted from the sample by using restriction enzymes(Crocket 200 1). Restriction enzymes are highly specific enzymes for specific sequences of DNA and they act on and cleave only the sequences they are programmed for. After the DNA samples are properly extracted, specific band patterns are generated in agarose gel by using the process of Electrophoresis. This is a process in which electric current is applied to each side of the sheet containing the extracted DNA on a sheet and movement of particles is observed which creates a band pattern (Burke 1991).  Ã‚  

Fallingwater Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fallingwater - Essay Example In order to prove this thesis I visited Fallingwater and now I want to share my experience and substantiate my point of view. Fallingwater, also known as the Edgar Kaufmann house, is a building on the Bear Run at the address P.O. Box R, Mill Run, Pennsylvania 15464, in southwestern Pennsylvania in the Appalachians. Edgar Kaufmann Sr. was a successful Pittsburgh businessman and an owner of some property in the countryside with a waterfall and some cabins. When the small houses at their camp had been destroyed to the point that something had to be rebuilt, Edgar Jr. persuaded his father to hire the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Fallingwater is famous; from all over the world lots of visitors come each year to its faraway site. Fallingwater has taken pleasure to many people over the years; as an energizing weekend retreat for the Kaufmann himself and his relatives, as a source of pride to Wright and his assistants, and now--cared for by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy--as an remarkable experience for visitors from near and far.... When Wright came to the site he enjoyed the powerful sound of the falls, the vital verdure of the young forest, the dramatic rock ledges and boulders; these were elements to be reconstituted with the tenderly soaring spaces of his structure. But Wright's insight cameto the depths. He realized that people were creatures of nature, thus an architecture which suited nature would conform to what was basic in people. Forinstance, though all of Fallingwater is opened by wide bands of windows, people inside are 'safe' as in a deep cave, secure in the sense of hill behind them.The attention is paid to the outside by constructing low ceilings; no luxury in the hall but, instead, the light textures of the woodland, enframed in a great harmony. The colour of the building reminds the colorings of trees and rocks.'Occasional accents are provided by bright furnishings, like wildflowers or birds outside. The paths within the house, stairs and passages, meander without formality or urgency, and the house hardly has a main entrance; there are many ways in and out'(Fallingwater,2004 The official site of Fallingwater). Communication and privacy are both possible, as are the properties of home and the adventures of the seasons. So the trip was refreshing and I felt relaxed and calm. The active watercourse, immediate surroundings and cantilevered design of the house are considered to be in harmony, in line with Wright's interest in making buildings that were more "natural" and which therefore seemed to be more connected with their surroundings. It is important and significant as it has a large historical and aesthetic value and is an example of Modernist trends in architecture. The house represents the culture of American Modernism, and it was very interesting to dive into the epoch of the first half of 20th century. The building is connected with nature, which surrounds it and its significance is determined by symbolic meaning of eternal connection between human and nature. People who lived there or spent there weekends felt really refreshed, and as, for me, I really felt that spirit of

Sustainable Hospitality Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Sustainable Hospitality Management - Essay Example Under such circumstances, the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be conducted at New Delhi, just few less than 1000 days away from inaugural, considered to be pride of India, the development has started at the banks of Yamuna River, will be the biggest and most expensive sports event to ever be held in India. But is it necessary that for merely conducting 15 days of play, the livelihood of thousands of villagers living around should be disturbed and turn them into immigrants and incur them huge losses, financially, socially and psychologically. New Delhi promises to present a next biggest stadium in the world, which will host the games and accommodation for participating players in the mega event for 15 days, but at the cost of poor indigenous peoples. As per the Brundtland Commission, "sustainability is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".1 Sustainable development is an assorted concept, as a wide array of views fall under its umbrella. The concept has included notions of weak sustainability, strong sustainability and deep ecology. Different conceptions also reveal a strong tension between ecocentrism and anthropocentrism. One of the first and most oft-cited definitions of sustainability, and almost certainly the one that will survive for posterity, is the one created by the Brundtland Commission, led by the former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland. The Commission defined sustainable development as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."2The Brundtland definition thus implicitly argues for the rights of future generations to raw materials and vital ecosystem services to be taken into account in decision making. People talked about living conditions, resources, population pressures, international trade, education, and health. Environmental issues were related to all of these, but there was no hard and fast division separating environmental issues, social and economic issues. All the problems were intertwined. There were links among the environment, the economy and society that caused problems in one of these areas to affect the other areas. Sustainable development does not focus solely on environmental issues. More broadly, sustainable development policies encompass three general policy areas: economic sustainability, environmental sustainability and social sustainability as mentioned in the diagram below at figure 1. In support of this, several United Nations texts, most recently the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document, refer to the "interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars" of sustainable development as economic development, social development, and environmental protection. Figure 1: Scheme of sustainable development: at the confluence of three constituent parts The Indian capital New Delhi gets ready to host the mega single event of Commonwealth Games in 2010 for the first time. The Government of New Delhi has implemented a strategy to construct a 'New Delhi Games Village" just for hosting 2010 Commonwealth Games. It is definitely a pride issue for all the Indians,

Arthur Conan Doyle Essay Example for Free

Arthur Conan Doyle Essay A critical account of The Speckled Band and The Engineers Thumb by Arthur Conan Doyle  In the story of The Speckled Band a woman called Helen Stoner arrives at Holmes rooms in a state of terror. She is the stepdaughter of Dr Grimesby Roylott, a violent man who spent five years in India and associates only with gipsies, and has such exotic pets as a baboon and a cheetah. Helens mother is now dead, and two years previously her sister died in mysterious circumstances: a strange whistling disturbed her in her sleep for some nights, and on the night of her death she appeared transfixed, able only to shriek, the speckled band! she had been about to marry and now Helen is planning to do the same; her stepfather has moved her to her sisters bedroom next to his and the whistling has recurred. Despite a warning from the maniacal Dr Roylott, Holmes and Watson head for Stoke Moran, examine the house and wait the night in Helens bedroom. Holmes deduction proves correct: Dr Roylott sends a swamp adder (the speckled band) through a ventilator to kill Helen, Holmes cane drives it back and the murderer is poisoned. The main characters in the story consist of: Helen stoner who is the main client. She arrives at Sherlock Holmes rooms in Baker Street to ask him for help. The character of Helen Stoner sets the tone of the story: shivering with fear, her face all drawn and grey, with restless frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. She is obviously a sensible and levelheaded woman: therefore there must be a reason for her terror. The character of Sherlock Holmes in the story appears to be that of an appealing eccentric. In this story he uses his powers of deduction to identify minute details with which to solve the final mystery, for instance he knew you must have started early, and yet you had a good drive in a dog cart, along heavy roads before you reached the station. Through the story he displays elements of humour, after doctor Roylott threatened with a poker he replies, he seems a very amiable person. Subtly alluring to his own physical power by, he picked up the steel poker and with a sudden effort straightened it out again. Whilst examining the premises of Stoke Moran, he threw himself down upon his face with his lens in his hand, and crawled swiftly backwards and forwards, examining minutely the crack between the boards. This illustrates Holmes minute attention to detail. Dr Watson is the ideal narrator of this story. His ability to perceive and describe details is as important as his inability to deduce from them what Holmes can. He says, Holmes, I seem to see dimly what you are hitting at, after Holmes had described the position of the ventilator and the rope. The relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson is one of an intimate friend and associate. In contrast to Holmes, Dr Watson makes the sensible deductions and assumption of the of the ordinary intelligent man. He is portrayed as an amiable man as well as the devoted recorder of Holmes achievements. A vivid description is built up of Dr Roylott by the description of Helen stoner. We know that he came from an aristocratic background. However successive heirs had squandered the money. After taking a medical degree he went to India, where he spent some time in prison from murdering a native servant. She describes his violence of temper approaching to mania.  We are also told that he likes to associate with gypsies and also keeps exotic animals, for example, a cheetah and a baboon. In another passage Dr Roylott enters Holmes room and is described as a huge man with a face marked with every evil passion. He is said to resemble a fierce old bird of pray. We are led also to believe that Dr Roylott is violent towards his Stepdaughter when Homes sees burses on her wrists. The story is set during the Victorian era with the backdrop of the decaying grandeur of Stoke Moran this help this links closely to the character of Dr Roylott as a fallen aristocrat and also helps to create a mysterious atmosphere. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone with a high central portion, and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were broken, and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly caved in, a picture of ruin.

I’m Not Chinese Anymore and I’m Never Going to be an American Essay

I’m Not Chinese Anymore and I’m Never Going to be an American I could open this piece with a clear statement, a thesis or controlling idea of some sort—a brief preview for you, my reader, of what is to come and what is to be told. However, I won't. Instead, please close your eyes for a minute—just for a minute—and imagine yourself sitting before a young East Asian girl. You know she's East Asian because of her black hair, off-white skin, a pair of ebony eyes and a nose that is just a bit too flat to be mistaken for an Indian. Sitting in an armchair with her left arm supporting her cheek, she stares at you for a little while then starts to speak—slowly, thoughtfully, almost tonelessly: "I was born in China and came to United States about four years ago, when I was thirteen. I had no idea what the world was then, even though I thought I did. And this very moment, four years later, I still have no idea what the world is. I've seen more parts of it, true. But the puzzle pieces refuse to come together somehow. People often ask me if I'm a Chinese living in America or an American born in China. An unanswerable question, yet how can you hope to understand life without knowing who you are? I am not Chinese anymore; there is no purpose in denying it. But I am not—and I don't want to be—an American. Not completely†¦not like this." Now open your eyes, silently think for a few moments about what she said, and return to my words—or rather, echoes of someone else'. "†¦Being Mexican-American is tough. The Anglos jump all over you if you don't speak English perfectly. Mexicans jump all over you if you don't speak Spanish perfectly. We gotta be twice as perfect as everyone else," so said a character from the 1997 hit movie "Selena."... ...n prom queen: A bookish girl, I've always been awkward in crowds, and people's first impression of me usually is that of a nervous, withdrawn little creature. An unfortunate gift from the past, you may call it, shaped by years of stern guidance and harsh social opinions. But all those years are gone, no matter how happy or gloomy they may be. I don't seek to relive the past, I simply need to make peace with it and somehow move on, as myself, under the sunlight of Manhattan and the shadows created by its glorious skyscrapers. Works Cited Cofer, Judith Ortiz. "Silent Dancing." Encounters: Essays for Exploration and Inquiry. Pat C. Hoy II and Robert DiYanni. New York: McGraw-Hill. Golden, Arthur. Memoirs of a Geisha. New York: Random House. 1999. Selena. Dir. Gregory Nava. Pref. Jennifer Lopez. Becky Lee Meza. Edward James Olmos. Warren Brothers. 1997.

Character Analysis for Maus by Art Speigleman

Character List- round or flat Art Spiegelman- r * Art Spiegelman is the author and narrator of Maus, and also one of the story's main characters. * Born in Stockholm after the Holocaust, he is the only surviving child of Vladek and Anja Spiegelman. * He is married to Francoise, a French woman who converted to Judaism upon their engagement. * Maus centers around two primary narratives: Vladek's experiences as a Jew in World War II Poland, and Art's relationship with his aging father. * When the story opens, Art lives in New York and does not see his father very often, though he lives only a short distance away in Queens. But as Art begins to draw this story about Vladek's Holocaust experiences, he begins to visit his father more and more frequently. * Their relationship is strained, as Vladek's gruff demeanor and unwillingness to spend money routinely infuriate his son. * Art is filled with complex feelings towards his father ranging from admiration for his survival in Auschwitz, to f rustration towards his aggravating tendencies, and guilt for his own neglect of a father who has lived through so many difficult times. * Art also has complex emotions towards the Holocaust.Though he did not live through it personally, he feels that he is constantly affected by it. * His father's personality was largely formed from his experiences in Auschwitz, and this personality in turn directly affected the way in which Art was raised. Vladek Spiegelman- r * Vladek is Art Spiegelman's father. * He grew up in pre-war Poland, and much of Maus traces his experiences in the Holocaust, as told in his own words to his son. * As the story opens in 1978, he is married to his second wife, Mala. The couple does not get along * Vladek's personality is largely dominated by his Holocaust experiences. During the Holocaust, he exhibited a spectacular resourcefulness, work ethic, and presence of mind that often enabled him to secure food, shelter, and safety for himself and his family. * He was a shrewd businessman, and in the most troubling times he saved everything of use. In 1978, he still saves everything and tries to exchange those things that he no longer needs. * Once so resourceful and competent, he is still constantly working on small projects, some of which he is incapable of completing. Anja Spiegelman- r * Anja is Art's mother and Vladek's first wife.The couple meets in Poland while Vladek is in a long-term relationship with another woman, Lucia Greenberg. * Always an anxious woman, she suffers an acute depression shortly after the birth of her son and spends three months recovering in a sanitarium. * She survives the Holocaust with her husband, and they immigrate to the United States a few years after the war. * Anja commits suicide in 1968, leaving both Art and Vladek in emotional turmoil. * Art's last memory of his mother is recorded in a comic called â€Å"Prisoner on the Hell Planet,† in which she enters Art's room and asks him if he still loves he r.His response, a terse and dismissive â€Å"sure,† haunts him for years. Lolek- f * Vladek's nephew and Uncle Herman's son. * Lolek lives with Anja's family for much of the initial German occupation, first at Anja's father's house and then in the Srodula ghetto. * When the situation deteriorates and Vladek makes preparations to hide in a shelter until the Nazis have evacuated the town, * Lolek tells his uncle that he is tired of hiding, and he is soon transported to Auschwitz. He survives the camps and eventually becomes a college professor. Richieu Spiegelman- f Richieu is Vladek and Anja's first child, born in Poland in 1937. * In 1943, Vladek and Anja send him to live under the protection of Uncle Persis, where they think he will be safer. * Richieu travels with Anja's sister, Tosha; * But soon after, Zawiercie is liquidated by the Nazis. Rather than be taken to the gas chamber, Tosha poisons herself and the children under her care, including Richieu. * After his death, V ladek and Anja keep a photograph of their first child hanging on the wall of their bedroom. Mala Spiegelman- f * Mala is Vladek's second wife, and a friend of his family from before the war. The couple does not get along. * Mala is consumed with frustration towards Vladek's inability to part with money, while Vladek views his wife with considerable distrust and accuses her of trying to steal his money. Francoise- f * Art's wife. * She is French and converted to Judaism in preparation for their marriage to please Vladek. * She is intelligent, kind, and opinionated, and their relationship is strong. * She plays a relatively minor role in the story, serving mostly as a means for Art to discuss his relationship with his father and the Holocaust. Mr. Zylberberg- f Anja's father. * Before the war, he is a wealthy manufacturer who owns a factory. * When Vladek and Anja are married, he provides Vladek with a factory of his own. * He survives with his family in German-occupied Poland, until the family is captured and sent to await transport to Auschwitz. * By bribing his cousin, Haskel, Vladek is able to arrange for the release of himself and Anja. Orbach- f * A friend of Vladek's family in Poland. * When Vladek is a prisoner of war, Orbach claims him as a cousin, so that Vladek is released into his custody and eventually returns home to Sosnowiec.Vladek's father- f * Vladek's father is a tough and deeply religious man. * His wife dies of cancer before the worst of the Holocaust. * Before the war, Vladek's father intentionally starves his son so that he will be declared unfit for the army. * Later, the Nazi grip tightens, and all Jews are made to register in a nearby stadium. Those who are fit to work are sent to one side, while the elderly and women with many children are sent to their deaths at the concentration camps. By registering at a table manned by his cousin, Mordecai, Vladek's father is spared. Before he leaves the tadium, however, he sees his daughter, Fela (Vladek's sister) and her four small children standing with those destined for Auschwitz. He crosses over to be with her, and all die in the camps. Uncle Herman- f * Anja's brother. * Along with his wife, Hela, he is visiting the New York World's Fair when the war begins, and they remain in the United States to escape the horrors abroad. Tosha- f * Tosha is Anja's older sister. * At the beginning of the German occupation of Poland, she lives with Anja's family in her father's house, along with her husband, Wolfe, and their small daughter, Bibbi. As the situation deteriorates Uncle Persis offers to keep her safely in nearby Zawiercie ghetto, where he is a prominent member of the Jewish Council. * She agrees, and leaves with Wolfe, Bibbi, and Vladek's son Richieu. Soon, though, the Germans slaughter the Jewish Council and begin to evacuate the Jews of Zawiercie to the camps. Rather than be sent to the gas chambers, Tosha poisons herself, her daughter, Herman's daughter Lonia, and Vlad ek's son Richieu. Mr. Ilzecki- f * A former customer of Vladek's from before the war. The two meet again after the German occupation and begin conducting business on the Sosnowiec black market * Mr. Ilzecki has a son about the same age as Vladek's, and he offers to send Richieu along with his own son to a Polish friend to hide until things get better. Nahum Cohn- f * A friend and business partner of Vladek's during his black market days in Sosnowiec. * Nahum is arrested along with his son for selling goods without coupons. * The Nazis decide to make an example of them and they are hanged in a well-know black market center and left there for a full week. Anja's Grandparents- f During the initial period of the German occupation, they live in Anja's father's house with the rest of the family. * Later, they are told to relocate to a â€Å"community better prepared to take care of the elderly. † * The family hides them for over a month, until the authorities arrest Anja's father a nd threaten to arrest more of his family if the grandparents are not given over to the Germans. * Anja's grandparents are taken away to Auschwitz, where they are killed. Haskel Spiegelman- f * Haskel is Vladek's cousin, and chief of the Jewish Police in the Srodula ghetto. He is the brother of Miloch and Pesach. He is what Vladek calls a kombinacya, or â€Å"schemer. † * While he is a rather unsavory character, he is a good person to know in the ghetto. * When Vladek's family is discovered in the â€Å"chandelier† bunker and sent to a compound to wait for transport to Auschwitz, Haskel arranges for Vladek, Anja, and Lolek to be released in exchange for valuables. Miloch Spiegelman- f * Miloch is Vladek's cousin, and brother to Haskel and Pesach. * He is Vladek's supervisor at the shoe repair shop in the Srodula ghetto, and an honorable man compared to the scheming Haskel. When the Germans make plans to eliminate all Jews in the ghetto, he prepares a hidden shelter behi nd a pile of shoes at the shop, where Vladek, Anja, and 15 other people hide for days. Pesach Spiegelman- f * Pesach is Vladek's cousin, and brother to Miloch and Haskel. * Like Haskel, he is a schemer and a rather unsavory character. * His most significant involvement centers on a scheme to sell cake to the inhabitants of the ghetto. * He makes a fortune, but everyone who eats it becomes sick – the cake was accidentally made with laundry soap in addition to flour. Mr. Lukowski- f The janitor at Anja's father's house. * When Vladek and Anja escape from the Srodula ghetto, they knock on his door and he allows them to stay in a shed behind his house. Mrs. Kawka- f * Mrs. Kawka is the owner of a small farm on the outskirts of Sosnowiec, and for a price she allows Vladek and Anja to hide in her barn. * Mrs. Kawka is the person who tells Vladek about the smugglers who can take him to Hungary. Mrs. Motonowa- f * Vladek befriends Mrs. Motonowa at the Sosnowiec black market after the liquidation of Srodula, and she offers to hide him and Anja at her farm, with her seven-year-old son. She is a kind woman, and the house is comfortable, except for a ten-day period in which Mrs. Motonowa's husband returns home from Germany on vacation, and they are forced to stay in the basement. * After Vladek and Anja attempt to escape to Hungary, she shelters Miloch and his family for the remainder of the war. Mandelbaum- f * Before the war, Mandelbaum owned a pastry store in Sosnowiec where Vladek and Anja often shopped. Abraham- f * Abraham is Mandelbaum's cousin. * He agrees to accompany the smugglers, and promises to write Mandelbaum and Vladek if he arrives safely in Hungary. He is betrayed, however, and forced at gunpoint to write the letter anyway. The Karps- f * The Karps are Vladek's neighbors at his Catskills bungalow. * When Art visits his father there, they take him aside and tell him that Vladek cannot possibly take care of himself. Vladek's Kapo- f * A â€Å"kapoà ¢â‚¬  is a Polish supervisor at a concentration camp. * Soon after Vladek arrives at Auschwitz, Vladek's kapo asks the Jews in the barracks if anyone there can speak English. Pavel- f * Pavel is Art's psychiatrist. * Like Art's father, Pavel is a survivor of the Holocaust. Art sees him once a week, and the sessions always seem to make him feel better. Mancie- f * Mancie is a female Hungarian Jew at Birkenau with Anja, * has higher status as a result of an affair with S. S. guard. * She acts as a go-between for Vladek and his wife, carrying notes and food. The Frenchman- f * After Vladek is transferred from Auschwitz to Dachau, he befriends a Frenchman with whom he converses in English. * Because he is not Jewish, the Frenchman is able to receive packages of food through the Red Cross, which he shares with Vladek, probably saving his life. http://www. gradesaver. com/maus/study-guide/character-list/