Analysis of “Regret” by Kate Chopin

When It Is too Late â€Å"European and American women in the nineteenth century lived in an age characterized by gender inequality† (Bomarito and Hunter, pars. 1). Women's role in a society was limited to be wives and mothers. But as time went on, things began to change. Women started to have the right of higher education and working (Bomarito and Hunter, pars. 5). They became more independent in their lives without the need of men to support. But the question is that was this change good for women or not? The American author Kate Chopin gave an example of those independent women in her short story â€Å"Regret†.In the story, a woman called Mamzelle Aurelie lived alone in her farm. She has never got married and never had children. But one day the silence in Aurelie's life was broken as she carried the burden of looking after her neighbor's four children for two weeks. One might ask how could she manage to take care of these children since she never had one? In the story Chopin describes the difficulties Aurelie faced and how she finally managed to deal with the children, also how she felt after the children left her alone.In â€Å"Regret†, Chopin uses this description to explore the change in Mamzelle Aurelie's character before and after the arrival of the children and her regret at the past. At the beginning of the story, Chopin describes Mamzelle Aurelie in masculine terms. She was unmarried and never thought of getting married. She was a middle-aged woman with a rugged appearance. â€Å"She wore a man's hat about the farm, and an old blue army overcoat when it was cold, and sometimes topboots† (Chopin 1). She was strong and capable in her every day life.She had a â€Å"determined eye† (Chopin 1), and she lived quite alone except for her dog Panto. She even ran her own farm and supervised her workers. That shows how independent and hardened woman she was. All this description appeared in Aurelie's character before the arriva l of her neighbor's children. After the arrival of the children, Aurelie became aware of the missing part of her character which is womanhood. Those children had arose this suppressed character in Aurelie. At the beginning she did not know how to deal with these children.She treated them as if they were another variety of her farm animal. But soon she realized that â€Å"little children are not little pigs† (Chopin 2). Taking care of the children required the awaken of feminine and maternal aspects in Aurelie's nature that were dormant. Therefore she brought out her â€Å"white aprons† (Chopin 2) and â€Å"got down her sewing-basket†(Chopin 2) to mend the children's clothes. She washed their feet before bed. Told them stories, and even let the youngest sleep with her. At the end of the story, the children had to go back home and leave Mamezlle Aurelie alone again.After they had awaken her maternal instinct, they left her in a great sadness and regret. â€Å"The red sunset and the blue-gray twilight had together flung a purple mist across the fields and road that hid it from her view† (Chopin 3). She realized that the void left by the children could not be filled by her own at the age of fifty. She felt regret for banning herself from a great happiness; she might have done this because she wanted her independence or because she did not find a true love.Now after discovering all these things, â€Å"she let her head fall down upon her bended arm, and began to cry† (Chopin 3). In the short story â€Å"Regret†, the change in Mamzelle Aurelie's character caused her sadness and regret. In her past life, she hid some good aspects of her character  beyond her  appearance. She seemed to be strong and appeared in man's style. But when the children had entered her life, soft sides in her character appeared. At that period , she starts doing things she had never done before.She took care of the children, and spent most of her t ime with them as if she were their mother. In those two weeks, her kind heart and  maternity  instincts revealed. And when the children left her, she realized how much time of her life she had wasted without being a mother and  banning herself from this kind of happiness. Works Cited Primary Chopin, Kate. â€Å"Regret†. New York: The Century Company, 1895. Secondary Bomarito, Jessica, and Jeffrey W. Hunter, ed. â€Å"Women in the 19th Century – Introduction†. Feminism in Literature. Vol. 2. Gale Cengage, 2005. eNotes. com.

Language-rich classroom

It is necessary to admit that acquisition of new words shouldn’t be only particular stage in child development. Developing language skills is very important stage in literacy development of every child. Children acquire new words through everyday interactions with parents, friends and school teachers. Recent researches suggest that â€Å"number of words spoken to children in the first three years of life and the quality of the feedback they receive have a significant impact on their success in school†. (Lynn 1997) Many researchers and psychologists claim that children should be placed in language-rich environment to develop their skills better and faster. Language-rich environment at school is of great importance because children are provided with abundance of environmental print and text to practice reading, as well as they face written and oral language. Furthermore, children are allowed to ask for support of parents or caregivers. Such classrooms increase children’s awareness and help to develop alphabetic principles and enrich vocabulary. The role of a teacher in such classroom is integral as he/she supplies children with necessary textbooks and other materials. Distinguished feature of such classroom is that teachers don’t criticize their students; instead, they encourage them and involve in writing and reading activities. Conversation is an essential part of language-rich environment. The main characteristics of language-rich classroom are the following: 1.   teachers read books aloud every day because reading motivates conversation and, therefore, children develop new vocabulary, sentence structures, and they overcome fear to speak aloud; 2.   teachers encourage pretend talk and pretend play because opening â€Å"the frame of reference into the world of pretend gives additional opportunity for new vocabulary and predicting skills†; (What Are The Features 2006) 3.    teachers value children’ efforts and options meaning that teachers ask children to support their hypothesis or claim; it will help to develop though process and make children to defend their position and extend their thinking; 4.    children are treated as people with interesting and extraordinary experience meaning that children are encouraged during their mealtime or play time to discuss interesting moments with each other; (What Are The Features 2006) 5.    teachers introduce words – they can be written of every object in a classroom. There are many instructional strategies how to support language-rich environment. For example, teachers should speak slowly at first and shouldn’t distort their language. Nevertheless, two strategies seem to be of top priority in every classroom. Firstly, teachers should label every object in classroom because it will help newcomers to understand the meanings of the objects at school. Secondly, teachers school from the very beginning of the studies to assign classroom duties among all students because it will help them to consider themselves part of the classroom. Duties will also develop the sense of duty and responsibility. It goes without saying that all strategies suggest that students should be praised for their work, eve if the task is very simply. (Literacy Development 2004) Finally, parents and caregivers should be also interested and encourage taking part in children’s development. Researchers say that children who communicate with parents every day develop language skills better than children who don’t. Therefore, parent should understand that their children are interesting personality and they want to develop speaking, reading, writing and listening skills. Parents should talk to their children, firstly, about children’s everyday experiences and activities, ask them to describe object, relations with other students. Parent should consider that children are fond of pretend play and should make up stories and poems with them. Drawing and scribbling are the best ways to encourage writing. (What Are The Features 2006) References Lynn, Leon. (1997). Language-Rich Home and School Environments Are Key to Reading Success. Retrieved July 12, 2007, from http://www.edletter.org/past/issues/1997-ja/language.shtml   

A Study of Factors Contributing to the Lack of Success and Participation of African American in Males in Advance Placement Classes

Abstract The purpose of this research brief is to offer a brief review of those factors that contribute to the academic achievement gap between African American males. A sample of 25 8th grade, African American, male students from Dent Middle School will be identifyied as participates for the research. Although there has been research written about the achievement gap between African American and their counterparts, the literature is limited regarding strategies tailored specifically to address the achievement gap between African American males.Participant’s data will be collected in relation to sex, race, age group, and attending school. Subjects will responded to an unobtrusive open-ended survey instrument. A survey consisting of 10 qualitative questions and will be used to developed for analysis. Introduction Studies have found that the level of the success of African American male students in advanced educational program is lower rates than nonblack peers (Few, 2004).Succe ss in early exposure to advance classes has shown that it ultimately impacts students’ pre college experiences, such as career choice, level of success, and the nature of participation extracurricular activities (Williams, 2011). Very few black males take advanced classes, which are more in line with college entrance requirements (Few, 2004). Instead, they stick to classes that meet basic high school graduation requirements (Few, 2004). Poverty is another barrier that blocks African American male from participation in the AP program.Most schools require a fee for taking an exam in each subject area (Williams, 2011). AP courses are not as accessible for minorities as for White students because many low-income schools (often primarily populated by minority students) do not offer any AP classes (Watts Silvernail, 2010). With most African American families living well below the nation poverty rate paying addition school fees is unrealistic (Cross, 2006). Further, the lack of expo sure to participating in advance placement class is also an issue that arises with African American males (Watts Silvernail, 2010).Influenced for many years by widespread opinion that they have substandard academic abilities, African American male students in many instances do not consider enrolling in the AP program (Williams, 2011). Consequently, when African American males are not being identified as being academically high achieving and they receive tremendous peer pressure not to achieve, it is no surprise that few African American young males are in honors or advanced placement courses (Cross, 2006).Despite these data, research is still necessary to understand why African American male student demonstrate lack of success and participation in advance courses. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study is to examine the possible factors that contribute to the lack success and participation of African American males in advance placement classes by asking the following questio ns: 1. Are African American males encouraged to participate in advance placement classes? . What types of support in being offered to enhance participation for African American Males? 3. What influences are hindering participation in advance placement for African American males? Researchers have attempted to clarify the factors the contribute to the lack of success and participation of African American in males in advance placement classes, most of the discussion focuses on fundamentals such as poverty, discrimination, and availability.While there has been much written on the African American in males in advance placement classes, there are questions and problems that are fully or partially disclosed in the works of known scholars. Although there have been significant gains in the educational endeavors of African American students, the 1990s saw a reduction in the progress made with a significant widening of the achievement gap between African American and Caucasian students(Few, 20 04). According to the Education Trust, (2003), the black-white gaps are about 10 points wider than they were more than a decade ago .In addition to gaps in performance on achievement tests, gaps are found in grades, course selection, advanced placement (AP) course participation and test taking, high school graduation, and dropout rates (Legler, 2004). Theodore Cross was dedicated to the conscientious investigation of the status and prospects for African American males in higher education. In the journal article published in The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education Cross addresses educational limitation for African American males in regards to advance placement.While his research did reveal and address the fundamentals of the lack of participation in advance classes for African American males the article lacked objectivity. The focus of the article was centered on the racial scoring gap of advance placement and examined the significance of the interracial disparities between African American male. While is this a key component Jenel Few author of â€Å"The Odds are Against them: The Black Male Education Debacle† takes a stand on the lack of preparation is the leading factor that hinders African American males from partaking in advance classes.She discusses the teacher’s lack of preparation to education children from different social standing and educational standing as well. African American males tend to be underrepresented in advanced and honors courses and more likely to be placed in special education programs and suspended or expelled from school (Few, 2004). The article describes a singularity known as the stereotype threat, which impacts the way teachers view students and the way students view themselves.Stereotype threat influenced teachers’ low-achievement expectations for poor and minority students (Few, 2004). Watts Silvernail, (2010) An Examination of the Barriers and Supports to African-American Enrollment in Honors and Advance d Placement Courses doctoral dissertation examined the impact of teacher effectiveness on the learning of different types of students, from low to high achievers, illustrated the importance of quality teachers. In her studies she found that teacher’s quality has a â€Å"huge effect on how well students fare in school† (abstract).Silvernail discusses that there are many externally and internally generated factors that can influence African American male students' academic decisions to participate in AP classes. External factors include inaccessibility, socioeconomic status, and systemic barriers. Internal factors include cultural identity conflicts, learning style differences, and social isolation (abstract). Silvernail research determined that educational programs that promote equal access to higher education for traditionally underserved populations do exist among African American male.Her qualitative approach was used with the intention of using authentic voices Afri can American student voices to look for commonalities and differences between those students who choose the rigorous advanced track and those who do not (Silvernail, 2010). Method In this research study, The Factors Contributing to the Lack of Success and Participation of African American in Males in Advance Placement Classes will be examined. A qualitative method was chosen because it will offer a more purposeful sampling.The strength of qualitative research is its ability to provide complex textual descriptions of how people experience a given research issue (Robert, 1999). The main purpose of choosing qualitative method is the advantage of qualitative research is to provide a richer deeper understanding of a problem or question being observed. Qualitative methods are also effective in identifying intangible factors, such as social norms, socioeconomic status, gender roles, ethnicity (Robert, 1999). Each participant personified three characteristics: Black male, a student, and a v olunteer.Participants The participants of this study will include 40 African American male students in the grade to 8th grade at Dent Middle School in Columbia South Carolina who have reported not being successful or participating in advance placement classes. I chose Dent Middle School because of it diversity with students and teachers. In order to conduct a survey with students a paternal consent form was required do to the participants being under the age of 18 years of age. Survey Instrument Participants in this study will complete an survey that consists of 25 questions. see Appendix A) The survey was developed to collect data that will be used to analyze the reasoning behind the lack of success of African American males in advance placement classes. References Cross, T. (2006). There is both good news and bad news in Black participation in advanced placement programs. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, 50, 97-101. Retrieved from http://www. jbhe. com/features/59_apscor inggap. html Education Trust. (2003). African American achievement in America. Retrieved April 5, 2012 from http://www2. edtrust. org/NR/rdonlyres/ 9AB4AC88-7301-43FF-81A3 EB94807B917F/0/AfAmer_Achivement. df Few, J. (2004). The odds are against them: The black male education debacle. The Black Commentator, 89, Retrieved from http://www. blackcommentator. com/89/89_reprint_education. html Legler, R. (2004). Perspectives on the gaps: Fostering the academic success of minority and low-income students. Naperville, IL: Learning Point Associates. http://books. google. com/books/about/Perspectives_on_the_gaps. html? id=lM_zGwAACAAJ Robert , P. (1999). Qualitative methods: what are they and why use them?. Health Services Research, 34, 1101–1118. Retrieved from http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. ov/pmc/articles/PMC1089055/ Watts Silvernail, L. (2010). An examination of the barriers and supports to african-american enrollment in honors and advanced placement courses. (Doctoral dissertation, University of South Carolina)Retrieved from http://www. grin. com/en/doc/237000/an-examination-of-the-barriers-and-supports-to-african-american-enrollment Williams, R. (2011). More blacks are competing in advanced placement programs, but the racial scoring gap is widening. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, 13, 23-36. Retrieved from http://www. jbhe. com/features/59_apscoringgap. html

Communication, Writing and Professional Practice-The report of Essay

Communication, Writing and Professional Practice-The report of Workplace Communication in a large Supermarket - Essay Example Retail organizations, like most other organizations, to a larger extent are dependent on their employees for achieving outstanding success on their behalf. internal communication, may it be between peers or between supervisors and managers, forms a link between the people of an organization, which in the long run serves to improve their productivity. This report analyzes the effect that an appropriate communication strategy has on the performance of the employees of a large supermarket in Australia. The report also attempts to find out which communication processes are most effective in the context of a supermarket setting and tries to analyze the reason for their effectiveness. In most organizations, communications is controlled by a set of rules and norms which may be written down formally in the more centralized organizations, or may be communicated orally and informally in more decentralized work settings. It is essentially these rules, and their perception by the employees of a supermarket, that this essay plans on exploring. Gilsdorf (1998), notes that workplace communication and the rules which govern it, whether they are written, unwritten, formal or informal instruct the employees on how to act and what is expected of them. She also points out that having this knowledge maximizes both their effectiveness and the success of their organization because this knowledge helps these employees improve their performance. However, what is most crucial in making this statement is the fact that any sort of communication practice will only achieve its aim if the employees perceive it to be worthwhile. According to Gray and Laidlaw (2002),research literature confirms that organizational communication has been examined mainly from two perspectives; the first one being the process perspective and the second being the perception perspective. The perception perspective is based

Financial Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Financial Control - Essay Example It is mainly a measurement framework that adjoins measures that are not financial to conventional financial methods to offer a balanced feature of organizational performance. However, there has been a disbelief of this system in implementing it in small-medium manufacturing enterprise (SME). The disbelief concludes that Balanced Scorecard requires an organization with an advanced strategic planning process to realize its whole benefits. In demystifying that idea, this paper digs into the feasibility of applying the Balanced Scorecard process in the small-medium manufacturing enterprises (SMEs), its prospective benefits, the principal management process and the application of costing systems in SMEs. Introduction Businesses always establish a strategic planning that has connection with the performance of the business. This means that for a business to develop there must be growth in the planning of strategies to realize a better management system. It is at this point that essential st rategic management tools must be applied to a business (Brown, 2007, p.5). One of the tools in management processes of strategic planning is the Balanced Scorecard. However, it is important to understand that large organizations often exude a series of challenges in the application of the Balanced Scoreboard. This is because of the extensive coordination, communication and regulations operations in the organizations. The complex nature of large organizations always entangles the institutions in complex organizational operations that make it hard for the Balanced Scorecard to produce effectiveness (Biazzo & Garengo, 2012, p.40). The Application of balanced Scorecard system in SMEs SMEs always have similar objectives, missions and concerns in their operations. Primarily, the strategic management tenets of these SMEs are numerous. However, the crucial ones include the direction where the organization is headed. This is important since it challenges the SME on the achievements of the fi rm after a stipulated period of time. The other is the manager’s ability to understand business models. It is important to have a manager who is circumspect on the application of business models to maximize profits without exploiting consumers. The final one is the agility of the SME to adapt to new strategic management planning tools in the improvement of the enterprise. Lastly, an SME should be flexible to integrate fresh knowledge and skills into its strategic planning process (Blokdijk, 2008, p.10). Perspectives By digging into these issues, one realizes that there is a common goal of identifying, pursuing and achieving strategic goals and objectives. This is the recipe for the success of the SMEs’ performance and fulfilling their stakeholders’ expectations. The realization of the strategic goals is achievable by using four perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard as a component of a strategic management framework in an SME. These perspectives help the SME in viewing the organization in a broader way to execute the collection of data, analysis and development of financial metrics in the SME (Blokdijk, 2008, p.11). The first perspective is the learning and growth perspective. This perspective entails the training of employees in an organization integrated with the corporate cultural attitudes of improving oneself. It is important for the employees to acquire knowledge through training and developing of their attitude since they are the holders of knowledge in the

Information Technology Applications in Marketing Research Paper

Information Technology Applications in Marketing - Research Paper Example Gradually, in the month of March, 2010 the developers were provided with a monetary value of US$500,000 for developing the service. It was in this year that Josh Riedel joined the company, developing the first version of the program in January, 2011. He added hash tag providing the facility to discover and find each picture. It was in the same year that the company had also collected an amount of US$7 million valuing it at around US$25 million. It was in April, 2012 that the first version of Instagram was released. However, it was viewed that due to a lack of employees and funds to improve Instagram, the service was sold at US$1 billion to Facebook in cash and in stock (Geron, 2012; Hui, 2012). Reason for Growth/Decline The current features of Instagram can be considered to be the primary reason behind its rapid growth. Instagram is amongst those apps that provides seamless social integration to well-known social networking sites such as Facebook, Tweeter, Flickr and Tumbler. The sim ple interface can also be determined as another prime reason behind the success of the social service. Though there are numerous photo sharing apps available however Instagram is simple and it also provides digital edit options which make it separate from others. It is worth mentioning that though Instagram offers the facility of sharing photos or video taken in other social websites, users can also share their photos on it which makes it a social network platform on its own (Stratmann, 2011; Sengupta et al., 2012). Future The future of a social networking site directly relies on the way innovation is made in it. In this context, it has been viewed that Instagram has been a... This essay stresses that Instagram is recognized to be amongst those social network based services that has flourished within a short period of time. Firstly, it is believed that the business model of the Instagram is comparatively simpler than any other form of social app available in the market. Instagram aims at providing a user-friendly experience to its users by adapting innovative ways or features. Secondly, Instagram can be used as a live coverage tool which provides an opportunity for any user to keep updated of the places where they are at. It is worth mentioning that Instagram also aims at improving it series of functionalities with the growing demand of its users and marketers. Marketers can use Instgarm to share the images or videos of their offered products or services to create significant consumer awareness which in turn can enable them to draw a diverse range of consumers. This report makes a conlusion that the social media vehicle i.e. Instagram has been in continuous discussion amid different social networking gurus since its launch for public use. It has been viewed that Instagram has largely been able to attract a huge extent of user base because of its simplicity and uniqueness. With reference to the above stated discussion, it can be affirmed that though Instagram is considerably new in the social networking market however if it keeps on following its innovative ways of making new changes in the app, this social media vehicle would be able to maintain its eminent position.

Reserch paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reserch paper - Essay Example Obesity rates have doubled in the past two decades. There are several health risks that are associated with obesity such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of obesity in the US and in other countries can be attributed to the unhealthy eating habits of the generation today. People today are faced with two options, eat healthy or eat junk. The choice to eat healthy or junk starts from having to know what exactly is healthy food and what is junk food. Health and nutrition experts say that junk food is bad and healthy food is good. For non-nutritionists, junk foods are chips, processed foods, hamburgers, pizzas, French fries, doughnuts, sodas and candies (Unp.me). These are food that are very high in calories and loaded with unwanted fat (Unp.me). On the other hand, healthy foods are fruits, vegetables, and lean meat (Unp.me). So, how does one know the difference? The major difference between junk food and healthy food is the nutrient content. Junk food is referred to as â€Å"foods of minimal nutritional value† because they go through several processes, with high sugar, sodium and artificical additives content. Because of too much processing, which includes excessive heat and exposure to air, the food nutrients are lost. There are approximately 4000 artificial additives that may be found in different types of junk food. Additives may be artificial sweeteners and colors, preservatives and chemically-altered fake fats. Some of these additives have side effects while others are not yet fully-tested. Unlike healthy food, junk food does not help build one’s stamina. Junk food may give one the feeling of instant energy but in reality, an overdose of junk food results in a deficiency in energy (Unp.me). Eating junk food is disadvantageous to an individual because it leads to poor concentration unlike healthy food, which sharpens one’s concentration skills (Unp.me). A high cholesterol level is an end result of consum ing too much junk food. On the contrary, healthy food helps maintain the blood cholesterol level (Unp.me). Compared to healthy food, junk food is usually cheaper than healthy food. The reason behind this is because junk food is mass-produced, has a lot of preservatives & it can be stored for a longer period of time. Furthermore, the ingredients used in junk food may come from low quality food sources which are cheap. Healthy food is nutrient-rich and helps in preventing diseases. It should have a high fiber content, minimal added sugars, zero or low in saturated and trans fat and low in sodium. Pasta or bread, to be considered healthy should be composed of whole grain instead of refined wheat flour. When it comes to sugar in food, sugar in fresh fruit is always a better alternative than refined sugar or artificial sweeteners. Healthy food should be low in sodium; thus, eating canned or packaged food such as deli meats, soups, hotdogs and chips is equivalent to eating junk food. With regards to fat, healthy food should contain monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats that one can get from nuts, seeds and some fruits such as avocado. One category of healthy foods is organic food. Organic fruits and vegetables are those that did not use synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, and did not originate from other genetically modified seeds. These types of food are considered healthy food because less chemicals go into it; thus, less chemicals will also be absorbed by the body. Organic foods are therefore regarded as

Week2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Week2 - Essay Example diary or separate company is the most appropriate strategy as opposed to a branch because the mother company can transfer financial assistance to the separate company from a foreign financial institution in form of grant loans, which is not possible when labelled as branch office. Besides, the separate subsidiary would be able to return the financial favour in form of dividend or loyalty hence minimizing tax obligations(Barney, 2008; PWC, 2008). The IRS has their own strategies of detecting whether a corporation is remitting appropriate amount of tax either through office or field examination. The filed examiners would visit the business strategy and determine the amount of tax payable. During such visits, they conduct auditing interviews and running tax reports(Barney, 2008; PWC, 2008). If the addition tax is found, the team will inform the corporation and require them to sign the tax report. However, the corporation may decide to decline signing until they go through the report and verify the details. The tax policy is not prohibiting foreign investment but rather enhancing transparency in financial dealing. The USA tax policy especially on the transfers, states that every exchange of property must be subjected to taxation under the section 351 and 361(Barney, 2008; PWC, 2008). The corporations are required to declare in the form what details of the property is

Organizational stakeholders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Organizational stakeholders - Essay Example The external are those outside the organization but still has interest in the organization such as the regulatory agencies and the general public. It is important to understand the role of stakeholders so that the company can act responsibly to its various stakeholders. This understanding of the interest of the various stakeholders in the company can serve as a guide for the company as it craft its strategy and executes its operations making sure that these strategies and corporate acts are consistent with the interest of the various stakeholders of the company. The internal stakeholders have a direct interest in the success of the company but it must be balanced with the interest of the external stakeholders. Minding the interest of internal stakeholders alone may make the company short sighted in its pursuit of satisfying the interest of profit of its internal stakeholders. It should be balanced with the interest of the external shareholders to ensure the long term going concern of the company as it balances its interest for profit with social responsibility. "Understanding Organizational Stakeholders for Design Success."Â  Boxes and Arrows Understanding Organizational Stakeholders for Design Success Comments. 6 May 2004. Web. 8 Mar. 2015.

Strategic use of Design-Thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic use of Design-Thinking - Essay Example Design thinking is quickly emerging as the best method for strategizing on developing the future of a business or an organization and is gradually replacing the scientific method or analytical thinking or as a strategic method (Jones, 2008). Strategic design thinking as a method is emerging as one of the most influential techniques in the management and design of several programs that are geared towards improving the management operations. It is one of the most powerful tools for transforming the current operations of an organizations and creating strategies for future improvements in designs, programs, projects and business operations (Jones, 2008). Design thinking is solution focused or solution based and aims at producing practical and creative resolutions to emerging problems and improving future results of the organization’s operations (Kelly, 2006). Strategic design thinking starts with the goals or the objectives as opposed to starting with the problems. By focusing on both the present and the future aspects of the problem, all parameters of the issues at hand are explores simultaneously. Strategic design thin king mostly occurs in artificial or in the built environments such as in the artefact industry. The concept of design thinking is however also very important in management of large corporations that seek to maintain their market share and create new designs if their products as a way of maintain and attracting more customers as the companies move in to the future. One company that has benefited a great deal over the years from strategic design thinking is Apple Inc. Apple Inc is one of the leading multinationa ls in the technology industry, known for its computer brands such as Macintosh Computers or simply the Mac and mobile phone brands including the iPhone among a host of other technological brands (Fisher, 2008). Apple is the second largest technology firm in the world by revenue and is the world’s third largest manufacturer of mobile phones (Fisher, 2008). This places the company among the biggest firms in the world of technology amid immense competition from other established multinationals in the industry. In 2012, Apple was ranked by Fortune magazine as the most valuable brand in the world today (Fisher, 2008). The company’s position in the market requires a lot of innovation as it moves forward in to the future. The company has to keep producing the best designs for mobile phones and computers as well as coming up with other creative solutions that will keep the company alive in to the futur

Facebook wastes time Essay Example for Free

Facebook wastes time Essay I believe that facebook is bad. In this essay I will tell that Facebook wastes time, occupies the hosts mind and is not, no matter what people say is not the same as actual social interaction. Facebook is not my friend and neither should it be yours, My first reason why facebook is not my friend is because that it wastes everybody time. Now my argument is just armed at facebook, but also the people who make facebook games, Zynga is a major corporation that owns any and all good facebook is games. Facebook itself almost makes you check it, making you wonder what your friends are up to, the idea of a public diary almost, something that anybody can contribute to, a encyclopaedia of a persons life if you will. You could spend minuets, an hour maybe hours at a time just staring at a page when you could be doing something more important, maths homework perhaps? My second argument is that it occupies the hosts mind and doesn’t let anything else in. What I mean by this is that facebook is what some people always think about, they think how many likes they get, what people say about them through private messages and most importantly for some people, how many friends they have. There has been a term for people like these, facebook aholics, people that are always on facebook or worse, people who always think about facebook. There are times that I know that people lose their social life for a virtual life, people stop planning meetings and instead plan them on facebook, the days of not too long ago of RSVP’ing is no lost as almost every event is through facebook and that’s how people respond to them. Free thinking is gone, it is no more, everything on the internet is a reblog, a reblog of a reblog, and all of this is shared through facebook, people think what they are told, and they are told though facebook, nothing new nothi ng original. My last argument is that instant messaging through facebook is not the same as actual social interaction, face to face. The chat system on facebook is the most used one on facebook, pages, walls, games are all good and everything, but what really makes facebook great is the chat system on it, or so we think. There are 26 letters on the keyboard, 10 numbers, 13 symbols, and yet unbelievably this does not make the same level of interaction as talking to someone. When was the last time a person came up to you in the street, someone you know, and they said Heezzz howssss you doings if you can tell me a time of when that happened I would suggest finding some new friends. While people may express themselves differently from behind a computer screen I still find no excuse for people to talk likez thiss it makes them seem like an even bigger idiot then they are. People cloud their identity, pretend to be something or someone they arent, and that makes the entire socialisation, well pointless . Those are just some reasons you shouldnt use facebook, facebook is horrible, nobody should use it, it wastes time, fills your mind with nothing but junk and is far more unhealthy socially then going out and talking. Facebook is not my friend, neither is it yours, take a stand, unfriend facebook.

The World without Us by Alan Wiesman Essay Example for Free

The World without Us by Alan Wiesman Essay In Alan Wiesman’s book, The World Without Us, it is centered on the idea of what would happen to the world if only humankind were to disappear off the face of the earth. The purpose of this essay is to show how humankind are causing a modern world crisis, specifically focusing on plastic and how its ability to not decompose in the environment is having a negative effect on the wildlife as well as how humans are killing off many birds and bird species each year due to their careless human errors. Weisman through much research comes up with an estimated time of how long it will take the earth to recover from these human mishaps before the world can repair itself to how it was before humans controlled it. The Bialowieza Puszcza, puszcza being the Polish word for â€Å"forest primeval†, spreads between the borders of Poland and Belarus and stretches over half a million acres. In the 14th centaury, Wladyslaw jagiello, declared the forest a royal hunting reserve until many centuries later Russia dominated the Polish- Lithuanian union and proclaimed the Bialowieza as that of the tsars. The forest survived through World War 1 and in 1921 it was declared a Polish national park. Although this forest was supposedly protected there has been damage done to this primeval forest as forest ministries in Poland and Bulgaria have allowed management to cull and sell the mature hardwoods that would have become nutrients and a windshield for the forest. It is believed that before humans build their entire infrastructure and dominated the forest, the whole of Europe would have looked like the Bialowieza Puszcza. Andrezej Bobiec, a forestry student in Krakow, discovered the biodiversity in this forest was ten times more than any other forest. This forest is home to all nine species of the European woodpecker, which is not evident any other European forest, this forest is also home to the wisents, a specie which is nearly extinct, with only 600 in the world, most in this particular forest. This primeval forest is evidence of what Europe would look like without any human influence. It shows how human influence on other European forests have killed many species, driving them from their homes in order for humans to cut down the forest and use it for their own benefit without the consideration of the other species both animals and plants. It is estimated that Europe would need 500 years before a true forest would grow back and once again dominate most of Europe’s vegetation. Weisman uses the Bialowieza forest as an illustration of what part of the world, specifically Europe would look like without any human influence. This forest is seen as the lingering scent of Eden showing how it is seen as a primeval forest. Richard Thompson, studied at the University of Plymouth to become a marine biologist, in the 1980’s he would spend his time organizing the Liverpool contingent of Great Britain’s national beach cleanup whereby his 170 teammates would collect metric tons of rubbish along 85 miles of shoreline. Thompson started to realize over the accumulating years that the trash collected was becoming smaller amongst the usual bottles and tires. Thompson and another student would collect these and examine them under a microscope but they were usually to small to determined what source they came from. Once he had complete his Ph.D, Thompson started to compare this unknown matter to the database of known material using a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer, this device allowed for microbeams to be passed through a substance once this is completed the device compared its infrared spectrum to the database. Thompson found small material waste to be nurdles, these two-millimeter high plastic cylinders come in an array of colours and known to be â€Å"raw materials of plastic production† that are melted down to manufacture many plastics products. In the early 20th century, Alister Hardy the marine biologist of Plymouth, took many samples around the British Isles but only every second one was examined and the remaining samples were stored in a climate-controlled warehouse which decades later were discovered by Thompson who examined the samples. He found that during World War II plastic barely existed and was only evident in telephones and radio applications. In the 1960’s there was an increasing number of plastic particles and by the 1990’s, triple the amount of particles were present than three decades earlier. The evidence from these samples shows that the amount of â€Å"acrylic, polyester, and crumbs of synthetic polymers† in the water are increasing at a rapid rate and most of human kind are not even noticing. These small little plastic pieces mainly float and according to Hardy’s plankton recorder they are being caught about 10 meters below surface. Nurdles are now becoming smaller and smaller because of the friction from both the waves and rocks and therefore are being taken by global sea currents. The problem with these nurdles becoming smaller is that they are still not degrading and there is no sign of them ever being able to degrade. Plastic is very dangerous, once animals swallow it through mistaking it for edible food, the plastic causes a blockage in animals intestines and therefore causes constipation and later resulting in death. Animals also are strangled and caught up in fishing line, nets and polyethylene rings from six-pack drinks. Animals such as sea otters, gulls, sea turtles and fish are all prone to these fatal accidents. Ph.D student Mark Browne also discovered that in beauty products that contain exfoliants such as hand and body washes, body scrubs and face washers that do not contain 100% natural exfoliants are actually using polyethylene in a micro or bead form. These little plastic sizes can also be traces in paint and once they are disposed of and sent through the sewage system they will inevitably land up in the sea allowing for little sea creatures to swallow these bite size plastic portions which, does not have a positive effect. At the marine plastic summit, a senior research scientist at North Carolina’s Research Triangle, Dr. Anthony Andrady produced a long term prognosis compiling a 800 page tome on Plastic in the Environment. Andrady spoke of photodegrade when â€Å"ultraviolet solar radiation weakens plastics’s tensile strength by breaking its long, chain-like polymer molecules into shorter segments.† This means that because the strength of plastic lies in its length of polymer chains, the UV rays of the sun are causing these to break and therefore plastic starts to decompose. Problems that this theory face is that because most of the plastic waste is found in the ocean and water it takes the process of photodegrade much longer as well as its chemical nature will like wise be around for hundreds and thousands of years. Plastic is not having a positive effect on the environment mainly because it cannot decompose. In Weisman’s book he explains how nurdles, which are used to manufacture all plastic products, are being broken down in the sea but are not completely decomposing. This means that these little plastic pieces are being eaten and are causing blockage in sea creature’s intestines resulting in their death. It is not only nurdles but also fishing line, nets, toys and plastic bottles that are suffocating and trapping animals. Some human products mainly used for beauty are also harmful to animals in the environment as they contain small plastic exfoliants within the product that eventually find their way into the sea also causing harm for the sea creatures. Human’s need to find a better and safer way to get rid of their plastic waste so not to damage the environment. If humans were to disappear off the planet completely, plastic would probably still be evident in the world for hundreds of thousands of years before they may decompose due to photodegrade. Weisman also looks at the effects humans are having on the life of birds and how they are slowly causing them to become extinct. â€Å"Of more than 10 000 species that have coexisted with us†¦ about 300 have disappeared.† Of these 300, birds including the moas which were eliminated by the Polynesians within in two centuries of discovery, the dodo which in a hundred years was killed and eaten by the Dutch settles and sailors passing by, the great auk by hunters, the moa-nalo and the passenger pigeon in America. In the 20th century the passenger pigeon could have been classified as the â€Å"most abundant bird on Earth† but humans carelessly lead to their extinction. First humans cut off most of their food supply and destroyed their homes by cutting down most of the forests on the eastern plains of the USA. Because the forests were now being cut down, it made the birds easier prey as they were now spotted faster and more were being shot in a shorter period of time. Once humans realized what they were doing to the bird population, it only increased their need to kill the birds and by 1900 only a few were left surviving, mostly living in the Cincinnati zoo but due to the lack of care the last bird in 1914, leaving the passenger pigeon extinct. The passenger pigeon is a good example of how humans are carelessly allowing animals to become extinct through their own human actions, which can be controlled by law restrictions on hunting and killing. Radio-transmission towers are a huge treat to the different bird species because of their red blinking lights, which are used to warn aircrafts of their position. In Syracuse, Kansas in 1998, a snowstorm occurred at night and because of the fog the only visible thing to the Lapland longspurs was the red blinking lights from the radio-transmission tower which resulted in 10 000 birds lying dead, frozen on the ground. Not only are radio-transmission towers a problem but so are cell phone towers, which result in over half a billion of birds being killed each year. Birds that migrate and travel at night are most prone to the danger of these towers, birds from North America like the red-eyes vireos, Tennessee warbler and wood thrushes and those more rare like the red-cockaded woodpecker are at most risk. Another problem occurring for birds is the telephone and electricity lines. Most birds die from just simply colliding with these power lines resulting in a high amount of deaths each year. If a bird is perched on a power line it is safe as long as they do not circuit themselves with another line or the ground but birds such as hawks, eagles and herons have a problem as they can span across more than two lines. If a bird were to connect the circuit between 2 or more lines not only would their feather ignite but it is possible for their beaks and feet to melt as well. 60 to 80 million birds annually are reportedly killed from flying into windshields and windows. Muhlenberg College ornithologist, Daniel Klem, explains how birds do not recognize both clear glass and reflective pane windows as objects. Migrating bird are forever flying into high-rise buildings and breaking their necks. Klem worked out that over 1 billion birds in the United States alone are killed from flying into windows. Windows are another example or how humans are irresponsibly killing off many bird species. Although humans are quickly killing off birds with their hunting and man made equipment such as towers, power lines and windows there is evidence that birds do repopulate and do come back even after disasters. Ukraine was home to Chernobyl, nearly one of the biggest nuclear complexes on Earth. In 1986, there was a huge explosion due to a human error and landscapes were destroyed and the environment was left birdless. Yet in the following spring the birds returned showing that life does go on and that although there are disasters the environment does attempt to repair itself. Although it is said to believe that humans are killing off billions and billions of bird species all around the world there is one bird, the Attwater prairie chicken, which is questionably only alive due to human impact on the environment. Oil industry apparatus and the arrival of both petroleum and the Chinese tallow tree (a â€Å"cold weather specie coated it seeds with harvestable quantities of wax to guard against winter†) has help keep the Attwater prairie chickens habitat alive. Due to the annual burning in the Nature Conservancy, humans are maintaining the artificial wilderness that these birds need to keep alive and to repopulate in. In the first year of humans disappearing billions of birds would flourish as radio and connection warning lights would cease to blink, the high-tension wires would go cold and birds would once again return to nuclear reactor sites. Humans are having a very negative impact on bird species through out the world and if they are not careful it will result in many more extinctions. Humankind are quickly emerging themselves in a world crisis. Through their plastic waste and carelessness they are causing major problems for mostly the sea wildlife as these nurdles and small plastic particles are being digested and blocking sea creatures intestines resulting in a fatal problem. Plastic, because it is not biodegradable, will be left in the world hundreds of thousands of years after humans disappear. Although there are few species that depend on humans for their survival like the Attwater prairie chicken, humans are having more of a negative impact on birds. Because of their careless hunting and human inventions such as towers, telephone and power lines and windows, billions of birds are dying each year. If humans were to disappear completely it would only take birds one year to flourish and populate over a billion birds more than the previous year. The world varies on how long it takes to eliminate the problems humans are leaving it but over many centuries the world will finally mend itself to look as if humans never existed.

3D Printing †Applications for Space Exploration

3D Printing – Applications for Space Exploration Puneet Bhalla 3D Printing or Additive Manufacturing (AM) was first tested in 1983 by inventor Chuck Hull. Conventional subtractive manufacturing involves carving out items from a single block of material, whereas AM involves adding plastic or metal layer by layer according to a computer generated design to manufacture a product. Over the years a number of processes that differ in the method of depositing of layers and their binding have been developed. The technology in the earlier years did not evolve enough for it to find mainstream support and its use was restricted to production of computer generated models and prototype research. Advances in metallurgy, miniaturisation and processing have now made it a more viable competitor to conventional manufacturing. It is even being called the third industrial revolution. Commercial enterprises having recognised the transformative potential of 3D printing, both in designing and manufacturing, are increasingly investing in it. It allows faster design iterations, providing flexibility for refinements and variations and produces more accurate 3D scaled models for testing. This helps in accelerating product development and manufacturing with corresponding cost benefits. It helps overcome constraints of conventional manufacturing and allows for more precision in manufacturing to produce more complex parts. The process allows for more cohesive structures and components can be constructed using much fewer parts, making them lighter, sturdier and more efficient. Large factories with their assembly lines can also be done away with. Existing parts can now be redesigned and designers can be more audacious in their pursuits, stepping beyond the constraints of conventional design and manufacturing, while seeking innovative solutions or entirely new capabilities. T he manufacturing process requires less material, reduces wastage during production and is more energy efficient, making it potentially more environment friendly. Objects can be created on demand, thereby eliminating costs, logistical complexities and wastages related to surplus inventories. Initial printers were capable of handling single materials only but the multi-jet technology is allowing combining of materials to produce varied material properties – mechanical, thermal and chemical. Nanotechnology coupled with 3D printing promises exciting opportunities in the future. Already, availability of cheaper printers has made the power of designing and producing publicly available. This democratising of manufacturing has the potential to revolutionise innovation. Market researcher Gartner forecasts that worldwide spending on 3D printing will rise from $1.6 billion in 2015 to around $13.4 billion in 2018.[1] Despite the excitement, there are experts who say that the technology m ight only evolve to supplement the conventional mass manufacturing methods that will continue to be faster and cheaper. They instead favour its suitability for niche and customised production. Space exploration has always been costly due to its requirement of low volume, customised and at times unique components. 3D printing is being seen by the space industry as enabling to the development of future space infrastructure. Various RD efforts both for ground based as also in orbit manufacturing are being supported with an aim to develop parts that could meet the stringent high performance and high reliability criteria required for space operations. NASA along with US rocket engine maker Aerojet Rocketdyne has successfully tested a rocket engine injector and an advanced rocket engine thrust chamber assembly using copper alloy materials, in different configurations.[2] The components proved themselves in tests where they were subjected to pressures of up to 1,400 pounds per square inch and temperatures up to 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit to produce 20,000 pounds of thrust.[3] NASA has claimed that 3D technology enabled designers to create more complex injectors while at the same ti me reducing the number of parts from 115 to just two.[4] This resulted in more efficient processes and also provided better thermal resilience. While the traditionally constructed injectors cost about $10,000 each and took six months to build, the 3D printed versions cost less than $5,000 and reached the test stand in a matter of weeks.[5] These tests have provided confidence in the technology and paved the way for its use in replacing other complex engine components. Already, many small 3D produced parts are flying in space onboard US and European satellites and more are being developed. ESA and European Commission’s Additive Manufacturing Aiming Towards Zero Waste Efficient Production of High-Tech Metal Products (AMAZE) project, has 28 European companies as partners that are looking at perfecting 3D printing of high quality metal components for aerospace applications. NASA is also evaluating using the technology for manufacturing composite CubeSats. China has also started investing in this technology and on its last manned space mission in 2013, their taikonauts occupied customised 3D printed seats. In December 2014, Chinese scientists have claimed to have produced a 3D printing machine, which could be used during space missions. Private companies the world over are investing heavily in the technology for aerospace applications.Japanese Space Agency JAXA along with Mitsubishi is working at producing 3D components for a new large-scale ro cket that the two are expected to develop by 2020. Swiss company RUAG Space has built an antenna support for an Earth observation (EO) satellite that will replace a conventionally manufactured one after tests. The engine chamber of SuperDraco thruster to be used on the crew version of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, capable of producing 16,000 pounds of thrust, is manufactured using 3D printing. A team of engineering students from the University of Arizona, with help from 3D printing company Solid Concepts, recently assembled a 3D printed rocket within a day and successfully tested it. Planetary Resources, a private company seeking space exploration and asteroid mining has collaborated with a company, 3D Systems for developing and manufacturing components for its ARKYD Series of spacecraft using its advanced 3D printing and digital manufacturing solutions.All these efforts are providing solutions that are cheaper, have lesser parts and have comparatively shorter developmental tim elines. In the future, the technology could be used for entire structure fabrication that would involve integrating many of the system’s geometries into structural elements during production. This would reduce the number of parts, eliminate most joints or welds, simplify the design and production, reduce the number of interfaces and make the system more efficient and safer. Such vehicles would better sustain the rigours of launch and space exploration. Integrated structures would even enable reconceptualising space architectures, impacting on their design, sizes and functionality. The most exciting opportunity is 3D printing of objects in space – an idea that has the potential to cause a paradigm change in the way we look at space exploration. The concept has been debated for decades and NASA has also conducted some experiments since theSkylab space stationof the 1970s. In 2010, it collaborated with a US company Made in Space to develop and test a 3D printer that could operate in microgravity aboard the International Space Station. The microwave oven sized printer, previously tested on suborbital flights, was installed on board the station on 17 November. After two calibration tests, on 24 November 2014, on command from the ground controllers, the printer produced the first 3D object in microgravity. The object was a faceplate of the printer itself, demonstrating that the printer could make replacement parts for itself. Initial results have shown that layer bonding might be different in microgravity, but this would have to be substantiated by further te sting on more such produced parts in the future. These parts will subsequently be returned to Earth where they will be compared with similar samples made by the same printer before launch and also analysed for effects of microgravity on them. This would help in evaluating the variance and possible advantages of additive manufacturing in space and in defining the roadmap for future developments. Meanwhile, Europes POP3D Portable On-Board Printer designed and built in Italy is also scheduled for installation aboard the ISS next year. Producing parts and structures in space potentially provides a host of benefits. Structures being constructed on Earth have to be built in an environment that is different from where they would operate. These parts also have to survive the vibrations and high ‘g’ stresses of launch. Freed from these constraints, novel space architectures, more optimised to the microgravity environment, can be imagined and developed. 3D printers in space would enable astronauts manufacture their own components and tools, undertake repairs, replace broken items and respond to evolving requirements without being dependent on support from Earth. This would bring down logistical requirements related to deployment of structures in space, while improving mission efficiency and reliability. NASA is even funding research into the possibility of making food in space using a 3D printer. This would overcome the current issues related to food shelf life, variety and nutritional requirements. It would be possible to have human missions of longer duration and venturing much further into space. Made In Space has an ongoing project R3DO that seeks to recycle 3D produced broken or redundant parts to create new ones, thereby helping reduce space waste. The technology in the future could be used for space based construction of large structures – even entire spacecraft in space. Another concept being envisaged is the use of 3D printing for construction of large housing structures, roads and launch pads using the resources available in-situ on celestial bodies. Concrete houses being produced through 3D printing have already been demonstrated. Both NASA and ESA are exploring printing of objects using Regolith, the powdery substance that covers much of the surface of the moon. Besides the huge savings in cost and time, such habitats would be more suited to the local hazardous environment. The printers could either be controlled from Earth or make use of automation technology on robots or artificial intelligence. These capabilities would be a great step forward for human interplanetary exploration. 3D printing is making rapid strides and its applications are being recognised by industry. Scientists are working to smoothen out the inefficiencies and shortcomings of the processes as also evaluating potential opportunities. Developments in the space domain are promising but these would have to be put through rigorous testing before being cleared for regular use. Qualification and verification standards that would eventually be defined for this new industry would have to be more stringent for use in space. More complex printers will have to be devised for construction of larger parts. Currently, most construction is focussed on building frames and structures but in the future would also require manufacturing techniques to producing working electronic components.[6] For production in space, bigger printers would bring forth issues of mass, volume and power requirements, each one of which is critical for space launch and operations. Some methods would also have to be devised to bring together the parts so produced. The new technology provides an avenue for space industries the world over to graduate to common standards of software as well as hardware. This would allow a larger pool of scientists and engineers coming together learning and benefiting from each other. At the same time, and the policy makers would also have to come up with requisite regulatory framework. In India, 3D printing technology is still in its infancy and its penetration is low among industry is low. Most institutions continue to use it for producing 3D Computer Assisted Design (CAD) models and for prototype testing. Some global additive manufacturing companies have gained foothold in India through collaborations and there are some indigenous initiatives too. Isolated research is being undertaken by some private and public sector entities including the DRDO. Private companies are collaborating with some engineering institutions like IITs to promote research. There is also the Additive Manufacturing Society of India (AMSI) that seeks to promote 3D printing Additive Manufacturing technologies. Applications for Defence and Aerospace are two important sectors that most companies are focussing on. ISRO chairman, after the successful Mars Orbiter Mission, mentioned 3D Printing as one of the technologies that he wishes to see Indian engineers build upon in the future. India has la gged behind in conventional manufacturing and metallurgy. It could leverage its advances in software technology and collaborate with international experts to initiate activities in this sunshine sector. While increased awareness and commercial benefits will drive industry to invest in the sector, space initiatives would require the government to play the vital supporting role while seeking participation from industry and academia. Investments would be required in planning and executing the supporting infrastructure required to enable fabrication processes, in creating knowledge and capabilities through education and training and for provision of adequate RD facilities. [1] â€Å"From earphones to jet engines, 3D printing takes off†, 09 November, 2014 [2] â€Å"3-D Printed Engine Parts Withstand Hot Fire Tests†, 14 November, 2014 [3] TheAerojet Rocketdyne RS-25engine powered NASA’sSpace Shuttleand will power the upcoming Space Launch System (SLS), a heavy-lift, exploration-class rocket currently under development to take humans beyond Earth orbit and Mars. [4] ww.space.com/22568-3d-printed-rocket-engine-test-video.html [5] http://www.space.com/22119-3d-printed-rocket-part-test.html [6] http://www.space.com/26676-3d-printing-international-space-station.html

Physics Essay -- Steer Wrestling Science Papers

Physics You can find a law of physics in everything that you do. It does not matter if you are doing complex scientific experiments, working as a laborer in a field, or enjoying your favorite pastime, you are involved in putting the laws of physics to work. I will try to demonstrate this as I discuss the laws of physics that are involved in my favorite pastime, which is steer wrestling. The art of steer wrestling is complex and simple all at the same time. To start, let’s define what exactly steer wrestling is. Steer wrestling is a rodeo event that is also known as bull dogging. This is the event where there are two mounted cowboys that run along the side of a steer. When they get close to the steer the cowboy on the left hand side climbs off onto the back of the steer, grabbing the steer by the horns. Keep in mind if you will that both the cowboys on the horses and the steer are running at full speeds while this dismounting is taking place. Once the cowboy has the steer by the horns, the cowboy must change the steer’s direction and wrestle him to the ground. Since this is a rodeo event and a competition, you have to do all of the above as fast as you can. Steer wrestling is a timed event that is started when the steer leaves the chute, and ends when the steer is lying on its side with all four feet facing the same direction. Now that we know what steer wrestling is, let’s tie it in with a couple of things that deal with physics. As I already mentioned above, the first step is crawling off of a horse that is running full speed onto the back of a cow that is traveling at its full speed as well. Any time you have masses traveling at speeds you have momentum. We will first discuss momentum and the changes in momentum th... ...ipetal force, and torque are just a couple of the many aspects of physics involved in this process. I believe that the use and understanding of physics can help in understanding why things work better then others, and how to be a more successful steer wrestler. A specific example is the fact that I now am more aware of where I locate my hands on a steer’s horn, and also I am more conscience is trying to be the center of mass. By being able to do this, I have taken my performance to a higher level and can back good ideas with proof from science. Bibliography 1.Kirkpatrick, Larry D. Wheeler, Gerald F. Physics: A World View. (Fourth Edition). Hartcourt, Inc. 2001. 2.Spence, Mike. â€Å"A Cowboy For All Eras† ProRodeo Sports News. 30 April, 2003. 3.Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo. Steer Wrestling. 20 August, 2002. http://www.bffairrodeo.com/rodeo/steerwrestling.html

The Message in Spike Lee’s Movie Do the Right Thing Essay -- Movies Fi

The Message in Spike Lee’s Movie Do the Right Thing In an attempt to enlighten audiences with a powerful message about the cancer that hate and violence can bring to a society; writer, director, Spike Lee brings Do the Right Thing to the screen. Fusing a powerful story with creative film making, Lee gives us an insider’s look at life on a blistering summer day in Brooklyn. To create an atmosphere that both looks and almost literally feels like possibly the hottest day of the year, Lee uses orange and yellow filters throughout the film. Objects, as well as people seem to glisten in the light. Even scenes shot indoors have beams of light coming through windows and doors. The use of lighting is only one technique Lee uses to create a realistic feel for this film, which is pertinent w...

Genital Mutilation In Sudan :: essays research papers fc

The lights are dim and the voices quiet. Tension fills the room where Nafisa, a six-year-old Sudanese girl lies on a bed in the corner. Her aunt, 25-year-old Zeinab, watches protectively as her niece undergoes the procedure now known as female genital mutilation (FGM), formerly called female circumcision. In this procedure, performed without anaesthesia, a girl's external sexual organs are partially or totally cut away. Zeinab does not approve. For the past year she has been trying to persuade her mother and sister to spare Nafisa from the procedure. She lost the battle with her family, but she will stay at her niece's side. She watches Nafisa lying quietly, brave and confused, and remembers her own experience. Zeinab underwent the procedure twice. At six years old she had the more moderate form of FGM, called Sunni, in which the covering of the clitoris is removed. When she was 15 the older women of her family insisted she have the Pharaonic form, which involves removal of the entire clitoris and the labia and stitching together of the vulva, leaving just a small hole for elimination of urine and menstrual blood. Zeinab still remembers the pain, the face of the women performing the procedure, the sound of her flesh being cut. She also remembers bleeding and being sick for weeks. This extreme form of FGM has been performed on 82 per cent of Sudanese women, according to a recent survey. Today, 85 to 114 million girls and women in more than 30 countries have been subjected to FGM. Female genital mutilation has long been performed to ensure chaste or monogamous behaviour by suppressing female sexuality. It is commonly -- although erroneously -- attributed to religious edict. In fact, neither Islam nor Christianity officially sanctions it. FGM is dangerous. It is estimated that untrained traditional birth attendants perform two thirds of the procedures. They typically have limited knowledge of health and hygiene and often use inadequately cleaned traditional instruments. Side effects of FGM include trauma, bleeding and haemorrhage; pain, stress and shock; infections (which can be fatal); painful and difficult sexual relations; obstructed labour and difficult childbirth; and psychological trauma. The effects can last a lifetime. The practice was declared illegal in the Sudan in 1941, but that did little to stop it. About 90 per cent of northern Sudanese women have had it done. Why does FGM continue? In surveys, the most common reason

Night World : Soulmate Chapter 11

Hannah stirred. She vaguely felt that something was wrong, something needed doing. Then she remembered. The car! She had to stay awake, had to keep the car on the road. . . Her eyes flew open. She was already off the road. The Ford had gone roving over the open prairie, where there was almost nothing to hit except sagebrush and tumble-weeds. It had ended up with its front bumper against a prickly pear, bending the cactus at an impossible angle. The night was very quiet. She looked around and found that she could see the light of Chess's house, behind her and to the left. The engine was off. Hannah turned the key in the ignition, but only got a grinding sound. Now what? Should I get out and walk? She tried to concentrate on her body, to figure out how she felt. She ought to feel terrible-after all, she'd lost blood and swallowed who knew what kind of poison from Thierry's veins. But instead she only felt strangely dizzy, slightly dreamy. I can walk. I'm fine. Holding on to her length of dowel, she got out of the car and started toward the light. She could hardly feel the rough ground and the bluestem grass under her feet. She had gone about a hundred yards toward the light when she heard a wolf howl. It was such a distinctive sound-and so incongruous. Hannah stopped in her tracks. For a wild moment she wondered if coyotes howled. But that was ridiculous. It was a wolf, just like the wolves that had attacked her at Paul's. And she didn't have anything made of silver. Just keep walking, she thought. She didn't need the cool wind voice to tell her that. Even in her lightheaded state, she was frightened. She'd seen the savagery of teeth and claws close up. And the part of her that was Hana of the Three Rivers had a gut-deep fear of wild animals that the civilized Hannah Snow could never begin to approach. She gripped her stick in a clammy palm and kept walking grimly. The howl sounded again, so close that Hannah jumped inside her skin. Her eyes darted, trying to pick objects out in the darkness. She felt as if she could see better than usual at night-could the vampire blood have done that? But even with her new vision, she couldn't spot anything moving. The world around her was deserted and eerily quiet. And the stars were very far away. They blazed in the sky with a cold blue light as if to show how distant they were from human affairs. I could die here and they'd go right on shining, Hannah thought. She felt very small and very unimportant-and very alone. And then she heard a breath drawn behind her. Funny. The wolf howls had been so loud, and this was so soft†¦ and yet it was much more terrifying. It was close-intimate. A personal sound that told her she definitely wasn't alone. Hannah whirled with her stick held ready. Her skin was crawling and she could feel a wash of acid from her stomach, but she meant to fight for her life. She was at one with the cool wind voice; her heart was dark and cold and steely. A tall figure was standing there. Starlight reflected off pale blond hair. Thierry. Hannah leveled her stick. â€Å"What's the matter? Come back for more?† she said, and she was pleased to find her voice steady. Husky, but steady. She waved her stick at him to show what kind of â€Å"more† she meant. â€Å"Are you all right?† Thierry said. He looked-different from the last time she'd seen him. His expression was different. His dark eyes seemed pensive again, the sort of expression a star might have if it cared about anything that was going on underneath it. Infinitely remote, but infinitely sad, too. â€Å"Why should you care?† A wave of dizziness went through her. She fought it off-and saw that he was stepping toward her, hand reaching out. She whipped the stick up to the exact level of his hand, an inch from his palm. She was impressed with herself for how fast she did it. Her body was moving the way it had with the werewolves, instinctively and smoothly. I suppose I had a life as a warrior, she mused. I think that's where the cool wind voice comes from, just the way the crystal voice comes from Hana of the Three Rivers. â€Å"I do care,† Thierry said. His voice said he didn't expect her to believe it. Hannah laughed. The combination of her dizziness and her body instinct was having an odd effect. She felt brashly, stupidly overconfident. Maybe this is what drunk feels like, she thought, her mind wandering again. â€Å"Hannah-â€Å" Hannah made the stick whistle in the air, stopping him from coming any closer to her. â€Å"Are you crazy?† she said. There were tears in her eyes. â€Å"Do you think that you can just attack me and then come back and say I'm sorry' and it's all going to be okay? Well, it isn't. If there was ever anything between us, it's all over now. There is no second chance.† She could see his face tense. A muscle twitched in ~ his tight jaw. But the strangest thing was that she could have sworn he had tears in his eyes, too. It infuriated her. How dare he pretend to be hurt by her, after what he'd done? â€Å"I hate you.† She spat the words with a force that startled even her. â€Å"I don't need you. I don't want you. And I'm telling you for the third time, keep the hell away from me.† He had opened his mouth as if he were about to say something, but when she got to ‘I don't need, you,' he suddenly shut it. When she finished, he looked away, across the shortgrass prairie. â€Å"And maybe that's best,† he said almost inaudibly. â€Å"For you to keep away?† â€Å"For you to hate me.† He looked at her again. Hannah had never seen eyes like that before. They were impossibly distant and shattered and still†¦ like the peace after a war that killed everyone. â€Å"Hannah, I came to tell you that I am going away,† he went on. His voice was like his eyes, bloodless and quenched. â€Å"I'm going home. I won't bother you again. And you're right; you don't need me. You can live a long and happy life without me.† If he expected her to be impressed, she wasn't. She wouldn't believe words from him anymore. â€Å"There's just one thing.† He hesitated. â€Å"Before I go, would you let me look at you? At your neck. I want to make sure that†-another fleeting hesitation-â€Å"that I didn't hurt you when I attacked you.† Hannah laughed again, a short, sharp bark of a laugh. â€Å"How stupid do you think I am? I mean, really.† She laughed again and heard an edge of hysteria in it. â€Å"If you want to do something for me, you can turn around and go. Go away forever.† â€Å"I will.† There was so much strain on his face. â€Å"I promise. I'm just worried about you getting indoors before you faint.† â€Å"I can take care of myself. I don't need any help from you.† Hannah was feeling dizzier by the minute, but she tried not to let it show. â€Å"If you would just leave, I'll be fine.† In fact, she knew she wasn't going to be fine. The gray spots were swarming in front of her eyes again. She was going to pass out soon. Then I'd better start for Chess's, she thought. It was insanity to turn her back on him, but it was worse insanity to stand here until she collapsed at his feet. â€Å"I'm leaving now,† she said, trying to sound clear and precise and unlike someone who was about to fall over unconscious. â€Å"And I don't want you to follow me.† She turned and started walking. I will not faint, I will not faint, she told herself grimly. She swung her stick and tried to take deep breaths of the cool night air. But tufts of grass seemed to be trying to trip her up with every step and the entire landscape seemed to rock every time she looked up. I †¦ will†¦ not†¦ faint. She knew her life depended on it. The ground seemed rubbery now, as if her feet were sinking into it and then rebounding. And where was the light that marked Chess's house? It had somehow gotten over to the right of her. She corrected her course and stumbled on. I will not faint†¦. And then her legs simply melted. She didn't have legs. The rest of her fell slowly toward the ground. Hannah managed to break her fall with her arms. Then everything was still and dark. She didn't go out completely. She was floating in darkness, feeling woozy even though she was lying down, when she sensed someone beside her. No, she thought. Get the stick. He'll bite you; he'll kill you. But she couldn't move. Her hand wouldn't obey her. She felt a gentle hand brush her hair off her face. No †¦ Then a touch on her neck. But it was only gentle fingers, running lightly over the skin where she'd been bitten tonight. They felt like a doctor's fingers, exploring to diagnose. She heard a sigh that sounded like relief, and then the fingers trailed away. â€Å"You'll be all right.† Thierry's voice came to her softly. She realized he didn't think she could hear him. He thought she was unconscious. â€Å"As long as you stay away from vampires for the next week.† Was that a threat? Hannah didn't understand. She braced herself for the piercing pain of teeth. Then she felt him touch her again, just his fingertips brushing her face. The touch was so immeasurably gentle. So tender. No, Hannah thought. She wanted to move, to kick him away. But she couldn't. And those delicate fingers were moving on, tracing her features one by one. With the lightest of touches that sent helpless chills through her. I hate you, Hannah thought. The touch followed the curve of her eyebrow, trailed down her cheek to her birthmark. Hannah shivered inwardly. It sketched the line of her jaw, then moved to her lips. The skin was so sensitive here. Thierry's fingers traced the outline of her lips, the join between upper and lower. The chills became a fluttering inside Hannah. Her heart swelled with love and longing. I won't feel this way. I hate you. †¦ But a voice was whispering in her mind, a voice she hadn't heard in what seemed like a long time. A crystal voice, soft but ringing. Feel him. Does this feel like that other one? Sense him. Does he smell the same, sound the same†¦ ? Hannah didn't know what to make of the words and didn't want to. She just wanted Thierry to stop. The fingers brushed over her eyelashes, thumb stroking over the fragile skin of her eyelids as if to keep them shut. Then she felt him bend closer. No, no, no†¦. Warm lips touched her forehead. Again, just the barest touch. Then they were gone. â€Å"Goodbye, Hannah,† Thierry whispered. Hannah felt herself lifted. She was being carried in strong gentle arms, moving swiftly and smoothly. It was harder for her to stay conscious than it had been before. She had a strange feeling of tranquillity, of security. But she fought to open her eyes just a crack. She wanted to see his hands. She didn't think there had been enough time for the pencil wound to heal completely. If the pencil wound was there. But her eyes wouldn't open-not until she felt herself being lowered and placed on solid ground. Then she managed to lift heavy eyelids and dart a glance at his hands. There were no marks. The knowledge burned through her-but she didn't have any strength left. She felt her eyes lapsing shut again. Dimly, very far away, she could hear the faint echo of a doorbell. Then a soft voice in her head. You don't have to be afraid anymore. I'm going away-and so is she. Don't go. Wait. I have to talk to you. I have to ask you †¦ But she could feel cold air all around her and she knew he was gone. A moment later she heard the door open, and the sound of Chess's mother gasping. She was on the Clovises' doorstep. People were shaking her, talking to her. Hannah wasn't interested in any of it. She let the darkness take her. It was when she let go completely that she began to dream. She was Hana of the Three Rivers and she was seeing the end of her own life. She saw the bruised and bloody figure of Thierry rising up to kill his torturers. She felt it as her turn came. She looked up and saw his savage face, saw the animal light in his eyes. She felt her life flow away. Then she saw the end of the story. The glimpse of the corridor through time, the recognition of her soulmate. The forgiveness and the promise. And then just shadows. But Hannah slept peacefully in the shadows until morning, unafraid. The first thing Hannah saw when she woke up was a pair of glowing green cat-eyes looking down at her. â€Å"How do you feel?† Chess asked. She was lying in Chess's bed. Sunlight was streaming in the window. â€Å"I †¦ can't tell yet,† Hannah said. Disjointed images were floating in her head, not quite forming a whole picture. â€Å"We found you last night,† Chess said. â€Å"You ran your dad's car off the road, but you managed to make it here before you collapsed.† â€Å"Oh†¦ yeah. I remember.† She did remember; the pieces of the puzzle suddenly clicked together. Maya. Thierry. The attack. The car. Thierry again. And finally her dream. Her own voice saying, â€Å"I forgive you.† And now he was gone. He'd gone home, wherever home was. She had never felt so confused. â€Å"Hannah, what happened? Are you sick? We didn't know whether to take you to a hospital last night or what. But you didn't have a fever and you seemed to be breathing fine-so my mom said you could just sleep a while.† â€Å"I'm not sick.† This was the time to tell Chess everything. After all, that was the reason she'd been running to Chess in the first place last night. But now†¦ now in the bright morning light, she didn't want to tell Chess. It wasn't just that it might put Chess in danger, either from Thierry or the Night World in general. It was that Hannah didn't need to talk about it; she could cope on her own. It wasn't Chess's problem. And I don't even know the truth yet, Hannah thought. But that is going to change. â€Å"Hannah, are you even listening to me?† â€Å"Yeah. I'm sorry. And I'm okay; I felt kind of dizzy last night, but now I'm better. Can I use your phone?† â€Å"Can you what?† â€Å"I have to call Paul-you know, the psychologist. I need to see him, fast.† She jumped up, steadied herself against a brief wave of giddiness, and walked past Chess, who was watching her in bewilderment. â€Å"No,† Paul said. â€Å"No, it's absolutely out of the question.† He waved his hands, then patted his pockets nervously, coming up empty. â€Å"Paul, please. I have to do this. And if you won't help me, I'll try it on my own. I think self-hypnosis should work. I've been doing a pretty good job of dreaming the past lately, anyway.† â€Å"It's†¦ too†¦ dangerous.† Paul said each word separately, then sank into his chair, hands at his temples. â€Å"Don't you remember what happened the last time?† Hannah felt sorry for him. But she said ruthlessly, â€Å"If I do it on my own, it may be even more dangerous. Right? At least if you hypnotize me you can be there to wake me up. You can throw a glass of water in my face again.† He looked up sharply. â€Å"Oh, yeah? And what if it doesn't work this time?† Hannah dropped her eyes. Then she raised them and looked at Paul directly. â€Å"I don't know,† she admitted quietly. â€Å"But I've still got to try. I have to know the truth. If I don't, I really think I may go insane.† She didn't say it melodramatically. It was a simple statement of fact. Paul groaned. Then he grabbed a pen and started chewing on it, glancing around the room. â€Å"What is it that you would want to know? Just presuming that I agreed to help you.† His voice sounded squashed. Hannah felt a surge of relief. â€Å"I want to know about this woman who keeps warning me,† she said. â€Å"Her name is Maya. And I want to know how I die in my other lives.† â€Å"Oh, terrific. That sounds like fun.† â€Å"I have to do it.† She took a deep breath. She wouldn't let herself look away from him, even though she could feel the warmth as her eyes filled. â€Å"Look, I know you don't understand. And I can't explain to you how important it is to me. But it is †¦ important.† There was a silence, then Paul said, â€Å"All right. All right. But only because I think it's safer for you to be with somebody.† Hannah whispered, â€Å"Thank you.† Then she blinked and unfolded a piece of paper. â€Å"I wrote down some questions for you to ask me.† â€Å"Great. Wonderful. I'm sure you'll be getting your degree in psychology soon.† But he took the paper. Hannah walked over to the couch and got herself settled. She shut her eyes, telling her muscles to relax. â€Å"Okay,† Paul said. His voice was very slightly unsteady, but Hannah could tell he was trying to make it soothing. â€Å"I want you to imagine a beautiful violet light†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 

Fresh Food and Canned Food Essay

Eating is most important activity in our life. Some people eat 2 times, 4 times, or some people in poor countries eat only 1 time a day. We live in a world where the variety of food is immense, and we are responsible for what we eat. We decide what we are about to eat and how it will affect our bodies. The three main differences between fresh food and canned food are flavor, health benefits, and cost. The most notable difference between these two kinds of foods is their flavor. Fresh food have great flavor and taste because they keep all their natural conditions. Canned food however, lack a lot of its flavor characteristics because there are some other chemical products added to the natural foods. Fresh food will have a greater taste and flavor when consumed just because of the time in which they have been prepared. Comparing both types of foods there is another difference. There is a health factor that affects both of them. Canned foods lose some of the original fresh food nutrients and vitamins when stored, and also it has to be tinned with many conservatives and chemical factors that prolong the shelf life and apparent freshness of the food but could also become toxic if consumed too often. Yet another difference between these two types of foods is the cost. Canned food are much more expensive than fresh foods. The benefit of buying tinned foods is that they are easier to find, for example, in a supermarket instead of the market like the fresh foods. When you look at the picture of the canned food it is so beautiful and it makes you buy it, but when you open it later you will see that they do not match and the taste is not good. Canned food requires less work than fresh food, even sometimes no work at all. If you decide to make food instead buying it ready you would have to spend at least 2 or 3 hours, but you will get delicious food that everyone will enjoy it. Fresh foods are always good for your health, but if you do not have enough time it is fine to get canned food. Eating canned food is not recommended, because it can make you sick and you might get diseases from that.

The Timeless Truths of Homer’s Iliad

James Hutchinson Ms. Spicer AP Literature 20 August 2010 Homer's Timeless Truths Is Homer's The Iliad relevant to today's society? Is this work a timeless parable depicting universal human truths transcending time and context or merely a superbly-crafted epic poem to be studied and admired for its stylistic brilliance? Has the text endured simply because of Homer's dramatic verse or because of the timeless human truths it conveys?Was it written to persuade readers to question the moral implications and savagery of war or simply to provide provocative entertainment? These questions have been posed for centuries yet rarely have been sufficiently answered. However, an astute student of contemporary politics, media, and entertainment cannot fail to notice that many Homeric themes, such as the celebration of war, the corruption of power, and man's desire for personal glory are as apparent in contemporary American life as they are within the pages of The Iliad.Though it is unknown whether or not the blind Greek poet intended to create a work that would have such an enduring impact on Western man, clearly the poem's underlying themes and the ominous questions it raises remain relevant in the twenty-first century. One of Homer's primary themes, the glorification of war and violence, is clearly relevant today. The celebration of war is omnipresent throughout The Iliad. To Homer's characters, battlefield courage, skill, and savagery are seen as both the ultimate means of serving one's country and of proving personal strength and integrity.War is depicted more as an opportunity to achieve a greater good and demonstrate individual valor than as a necessary evil to gain a larger political purpose. Homer's heroes focus more on the craft of battle itself than on the geopolitical goal they hope to obtain through the protracted bloody combat. In one scene, Hector responds to his army's reluctance to fight by proclaiming, â€Å"Fight for your country! That is the best, the only omen! You, why are you so afraid of war and slaughter? † (Homer 333) As a leader and a prince of Troy, Hector has been raised to embrace war as the only true chance for glory.For Hector, war brings honor to both his soldiers and the country for which they fight. Although he regrets the possibility of not living to see his son grow up, he believes that his purpose is to serve on the battlefield. Because of his integrity and willingness to die for Troy, Hector is the pride and joy of his family and of the Trojan army. His brother Paris, however, is widely scorned as a weakling and coward for his constant refusal to kill. At a time of war, pacifism is simply not an option.On high school campuses across the United States, we celebrate aggressive football stars and wrestlers far more than intellectual artists or peace activists. The parallels between Homer's depiction of a war-torn society and our own collapsing world are both unmistakeable and highly disturbing. There is, and alw ays has been, a human fascination with violence and sadism. Just as the ancient dramatist Homer depicts carnage with vivid detail and precision, contemporary Hollywood filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth, and Oliver Stone, while conveying the cost of war, also appeal to their audience's unquenchable blood lust.Despite their intentions or supposed â€Å"social commentary,† there is no denying that it is ultimately the gore that sells the tickets. The internet, television news programs, newspapers, and magazines garner far more advertising revenues depicting images of violence and destruction than anything with any sort of redeeming value. It is telling that two of the events from recent history that have sold the most books are the Holocaust and the Manson murders. In short: violence sells. The reprehensible slasher film â€Å"Saw† was a blockbuster.The family-oriented comedy â€Å"The Kids Are Alright† lagged in ticket sales. Without a doubt, we live in a culture in which violence is perceived not as a necessary evil for the greater good, but as a worthy and even heroic form of entertainment. Homer's Iliad also dramatizes the timeless truth that power corrupts. The arrogant, manipulative gods pulling strings from their plush thrones on Mount Olympus bring to mind modern-day politicians. They can be seen as archetypes of today's detached bureaucrats.Zeus and his fellow gods dispassionately toy with mortals, watching with amusement as they cut one another down on the blood-soaked battlefield of windy Troy. Shamelessly, like merciless puppeteers, they create tension between the mortals for their own personal entertainment, with little regard for the inevitable mayhem and carnage that ensues. Indeed, the ten-year conflict at Troy is indirectly sparked by the vain goddess Aphrodite's desire to be recognized as the â€Å"fairest† beauty among the goddesses, yet as soon as the fighting begins, she pleads neutrality.Similarly, Ze us himself shows little concern for the rampant slaughter among mortals taking place on his watch, even though initially he aids Achilles in his revenge against the Greeks. More than a few critics of the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have decried the dispassionate way in which U. S. â€Å"chickenhawk† non-combatants such as George Bush, Dick Cheney, and now Barack Obama have heartlessly made â€Å"strategic military decisions† from the safe environs of the White House that have had mortal consequences for U. S. troops on the front lines in Kabul and Baghdad.For many observers, the U. S. political elite bears more than slight resemblance to the gods of Mount Olympus. However, The Iliad shows not only how power corrupts on the broad, bureaucratic level but on the individual level as well. In fact, the poem's most self-serving and manipulative figure is without a doubt the mortal Agamemnon, who is only concerned about his own pleasure and personal gain. At the begi nning of the epic, he selfishly steals Achilles' war prize, the maiden Briseis, when he is forced to give up his own mistress.Outraged at this act of betrayal, Achilles exclaims that Agamemnon is â€Å"armored in shamelessness— always shrewd with greed! † (Homer 82) Although Agamemnon's actions seem unbelievably boorish and arrogant by today's standards, his behavior is not unlike that of any current leader who abuses his or her position of authority to achieve personal gain. On the local level, the city manager of Bell is now accused of looting his own very poor city's treasury of nearly one million dollars annually to purchase race horses and personal luxuries.Just as politicians and corporate CEOs pull strings and manipulate workers, so too schoolyard thugs and drug lords abuse the weak. The Iliad remains an unforgettable piece of literature not simply because it is beautifully-written, but also for its stark depiction of how the helpless are trampled by the strong. The third universal, timeless theme in The Iliad that is relevant today is how far men will go to attain personal glory. The main protagonist of the story, Achilles, seeks not merely wealth or vengeance against Troy, but also to be elevated to a god-like stature and leave behind an imperishable legacy.In this, he is not unlike any entrepreneur or world leader that hopes to â€Å"make a name for himself† by turning the tide of history, for better or for worse. Christian evangelist Billy Graham once declared, â€Å"The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. † (Graham 48) For Achilles, his legacy will be the ferocity with which he wields his sword, and the body count of soldiers he cuts down. He rejects a simple, comfortable life at home for a vicious, unpredictable life of war, serene in the knowledge that this shall earn him eternal glory and lionization – as indeed it did.The longing for men to be remembered after their deaths is not a strictly Homeric theme. We live in a culture in which martyrdom is often perceived as the greatest virtue, resulting in the iconic status of figures ranging from Jesus Christ to Che Guevara. Men like these are often praised not simply for the quality of their lives, but also because of their willingness to fight and die for a cause. In America, joining the military and dying in combat is romanticized as the greatest possible act of heroism, whether or not the war itself has any moral worth.An early death is viewed as a noble death. Even when a young man dies from simple recklessness or self-hatred, as James Dean or Kurt Cobain, we still embrace them as tragic heroes; saints of their generation. In short: this is why Achilles fights. He cares far more about how his story will be told centuries after he is gone than for his own life in the present. Though he briefly becomes disillusioned with his life as a warrior after his conflict with Agamemnon, he regains his moti vation to fight and possibly die when he feels he must avenge Patroclus.He expresses the difficulty of his choice between an obscure life and an honorable death when he proclaims, â€Å"If I hold out here and lay siege to Troy, my journey home is gone, but my glory never dies. If I voyage back to the fatherland I love, my pride, my glory dies†¦ † (Homer 265) Eventually, though it is never mentioned in The Iliad, Achilles does meet his fate, without ever living to witness the climactic sack of Troy. However, his life is indeed remembered as one of near secular ainthood, and, just as he had hoped, his name is never erased from history. In the final analysis, was the Trojan War a worthwhile conflict in Homer's eyes? No. The cause was trivial; the cost in lives was enormous. However, once the war was under way, his heroes wrested honor and nobility from the battlefield. The reason for battle is practically irrelevant, but the ferocity with which the battles are fought is leg endary. The relevance of this to today's events is indisputable.For example,when the primary reason for the Iraq war was revealed to be largely if not wholly erroneous – the alleged presence of weapons of mass destruction – many argued that it had to be waged for the sake of American â€Å"honor,† a Homeric theme if ever there were one. Overall, The Iliad's enduring appeal rests in the universal human truths it presents. Namely, Homer tells us that man honors war more than peace, power corrupts us all, and we all thirst for immortal glory. That is why even in the twenty-first century, The Iliad remains a transcendent and gripping morality tale for the ages.