Thursday, October 31, 2019

Explain How Helicopters Fly Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Explain How Helicopters Fly - Essay Example Its flight features allow movement in all direction: upwards, downwards, sideways, forward as well as in reverse direction. This flexibility allows the helicopter to be flown in small and congested areas where it is not possible to land the airplanes. Since it can fly in any direction, it has a lot of parameters to take care of while flying. Therefore, the pilot needs to be very skilled and capable and must give full attention while flying. Helicopters not only move in all three dimensions but can also rotate and hover at one point in air. These features, although, make it a unique mode of transport, also make it a very complex machine to understand as well as to pilot. The main parts of helicopter are: ïÆ'Ëœ Main Rotor – The vertically mounted rotor in center ïÆ'Ëœ Fuselage – The main body of helicopter ïÆ'Ëœ Transmission system – Speed control mechanism of rotors ïÆ'Ëœ Tail boom – Rear portion on which the tail rotor is mounted ïÆ'Ëœ Tail rotor – Small horizontal axis rotor at the rear ïÆ'Ëœ Engine – Main engine used to spin the shaft To understand the flight of a helicopter, we can begin from the simple vertically up and down motion. For a helicopter to move upwards, it needs wings that have air moving on its surface in one direction. In case of an airplane, the wings are fixed and the whole plane moves forward for the air to move on the surface of wings and generate lift. However, in case of helicopter we keep it on the same spot. Instead, the wings are rotated to generate the desired lift effect. Wings are shaped in such a manner that they deflect the air downwards and as a reaction, the helicopter is lifted. This shape of the wings is called airfoil. Two or more wings are mounted on a shaft and the shaft is made to rotate thereby, giving a continuous motion to the wings. This rotating wings and shaft are collectively called the main rotor. The main rotor is the most important part of any helicopter. It not only generates the lift force required for the helicopter to fly but also provides for the lateral moveme nt, spinning and changing the altitude. The rotor has to be very strong as it supports all the forces on the helicopter and its weight. The wings have a swivel mechanism at the point where they connect to the rotor. This swivel functionality allows for changing the angle of blades, which changes the path of air. To affect lift, the angle of blades needs to be altered with respect to the oncoming wind. This is known as the angle of attack. The angle alteration mechanism for all wings is collectively called the hub. A device known as the swash plate assembly makes the adjustment of the angles of the rotor blades. The swash plate assembly has two plates, fixed swash plate and a rotating swash plate. The swash plate assembly has two main functions: Firstly, it changes the angle of all the blades simultaneously. It increases the overall lift, thereby gaining or losing altitude. Secondly, the swash plate can change the angle of individual blades while revolving. This gives the flexibility to a helicopter to move in any direction. This alteration of angle, called pitch, is carried out by means of the pitch control rods, which control the function of rotating swash pl

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Urban Sprawl Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Urban Sprawl Analysis - Research Paper Example Suburbanization is defined as â€Å"a process involving the systematic growth of fringe areas at a pace more rapid than that of core cities, as a lifestyle involving a daily commute to jobs in the center†. Suburban life is characterized by the icon of the ‘soccer mom,’ whose life is spent in her minivan as she shuttles her child to and from activities, while they await the arrival of the suburban dad, whose commute to work takes him away from the center of family life. When you understand our history, the attraction to the suburbs is clear. We’ve long been driven to own and improve upon land. Cronon writes of the colonists’ argument for taking land from the Native Americans: â€Å"their supposed failure to ‘improve’ that land was a token not of their chosen way of life, but of their laziness† (55). We’re infused with the notion that land is not precious unless someone owns and builds something on it. Beyond that, we have begun to associate owning single-family residences in the suburbs with moral superiority. In Russell Conwell’s popular lecture, â€Å"Acres of Diamonds,† he asserts: â€Å"drive me out into the suburbs of Philadelphia, and introduce me to the people who own their own homes around this great city†¦and I will introduce you to the very best people in character as well as enterprise in this city†¦ A man is not really a true man until he owns his own home† ... We worship the new, the exclusive, and the private. Our sprawl entails new buildings where people flee to avoid looking at the old buildings they abandoned. The cost of such configuration, however, is quite high. It costs not only in dollars and cents, but resources, and socio-culturally as well. Sprawl is costly in terms of dollars and cents. Burchell points out that there is a budget â€Å"deficit projected under the sprawl growth scenario† (80). Local governments begin to strain under the burden of maintaining existing structures while providing new roads and services to new buildings. Suburban sprawl is extremely costly in terms of our natural resources. â€Å"In the decade between 1982 and 1992, over 13 million acres in the 48 contiguous states of the United States and Hawaii changed from forests, fields, and rangeland to urban use† (qtd. in Pendall 555). There is a finite amount of resources and sprawl does not make efficient use of them. Hayden elaborates on spra wl as â€Å"careless new use of land and other resources as well as abandonment of older built areas† (7). Something sprawl takes from the individual is the sense of community. â€Å"A cost of development that is truly impossible to measure is how much a neighborhood, town, or city contributes to or denies people a sense of place and community† (Burchell 110). Suburban sprawl creates homogenous spaces that lack character or uniqueness. People come and go in their cars and neighborly bonds are often simply not formed. Part of the reason is that suburban spaces are built around automobiles. Hayden refers to the tract-housing, common to suburban developments, as â€Å"automobile-oriented buildings† (8). Rather than being able to

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Secondary Air Damper Control in Boiler

Secondary Air Damper Control in Boiler In this proposed work, design and development of controlling Secondary air dampers in a draft system of a power plant which is presently working on DCS technique has been accomplished by using high computing software ARDUINO and results has been shown with suitable simulation in VISUAL BASICS. The goal of this work is to control the air dampers in a different way according to the unit load thereby increasing the boiler efficiency and to reduce the pollution. A set of six interlock conditions were provided for this purpose. Since DCS is applicable only for big system not less than 5000 input and output but this is costly. It consists of separate server, processor and computers where as ARDUINO does not require a separate processor, no workstation, no operator station here directly connect interfacing card with computer itself. Keywords- Secondary air dampers, Draft system, ARDUINO, Power plant (TTPS), Software control. I. INTRODUCTION In power plant boilers, the draft is obtained by means of fans namely Forced draft and Induced draft fan. The FD and ID fans develop enough draft to move the tremendous volume of air and gases through the flue gas ducts and stack to atmosphere maintaining a balanced draft in the furnace. The secondary air for combustion primarily enters into the windbox. The wind box assembly is a tall structure divided in its height into thirteen compartments which houses 6 no. of Coal nozzles and 5 auxiliary air nozzles alternatively at different elevations from top to bottom. Louvre dampers named as secondary air dampers each of which is operated by an individual damper drive cylinder located at the side of the wind box. The coal nozzle elevations are designated as A,B,C,D,E,F elevation from bottom to top, the bottom end air and top end air elevations as AA and FF respectively. The auxiliary air nozzles in between coal elevations are designated as elevations AB,BC,CD,DE,EF. The furnace corners are designated as corner 1, 2, 3 and 4 in clockwise direction. The heat released in the furnace is received by the Water/steam/air to the maximum extent to have boiler efficiency of the order of 86%. II. OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE OF SECONDARY AIR The operation of the auxiliary and fuel air dampers in the windbox assemblies are affected by the FSSS. A. Auxiliary air dampers: During the furnace purge period and initial operations up to 30% boiler loading all elevations of auxiliary and end air dampers modulate to maintain a predetermined (approx. 40 mmWC) set point differential pressure between windbox to furnace. 30 to 40% of total air flow to have an air rich furnace will be supplied during the above period to avoid unhealthy furnace conditions. When the unit load exceeds 30% MCR, the differential pressure set point is changed and ramps to a higher setting (approx. 100 mmWC). Simultaneously, the auxillary air dampers associated with coal or oil elevations not in service close in timed sequence starting with the upper elevation of dampers and progressing to the lowest elevation. When the unit loading is reduced below 30% loading, the auxillary air dampers open in a timed sequence starting with the lowest elevation of dampers. Simultaneously, the differential set point changes to its lowest setting. All the auxillary air dampers maintain the status quotient upon a boiler trip and will open fully when both the FD fans are off. The bottom end air damper is normally kept open to a fixed predetermined position to reduce unburnt coal dust fall out. B. Fuel (oil) air dampers: Elevation AB, CD and EF dampers modulate according to the oil header pressure when heavy oil is being fired. Otherwise they open and close with the rest of the aux air dampers. Elevation AB dampers are kept at a fixed opening when light oil is being fired. C. Fuel (coal) air dampers: Their operations are independent of Boiler load. All coal air dampers are normally closed. They open fifty seconds after the associated feeder is started, and modulate as a function of feeder speed. Fifty seconds after the coal feeders are removed from service, the associated fuel air dampers close. The fuel (coal) air dampers open fully, when both FD fans are off or when the boiler trips on master fuel trip. Importance of secondary air: Protect Boiler Equipments Control the Pollution Improve the Efficiency of the Boiler III.METHODOLOGY This project is to automatically control the air inlets that are termed as dampers which are operated using pneumatic valves. The pneumatic valves are controlled by sensors depending on the windbox to furnace differential pressure. Thus this project controls dampers based on arduino coding And its visually displayed in visual basics. This forms the basic methodology for this project. A. Hardware Description: The hardware components consist of 4potentiometers of range 10kà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦. These are assumed to be the coal mills/diesel input i.e. inputs for coal. Secondary air dampers are present near all coal and diesel elevations. The percentage opening of a damper depends on the amount of coal/diesel input. Therefore variation of potentiometers indicate amount of coal/diesel input. The damper opening depends on the variable point of the potentiometers. 4 potentiometers are so connected for explanation and they are connected to the A/D convertor pins of AT MEGA 8.0 controller. Then the freeduino board in which the AT MEGA 8.0 is fixed is connected to PC and arduino coding is uploaded in the controller. Then VB shows graphical representation of percentage of damper opening and all other factors. B. Software Description: The software coding was developed based on several conditions on which the secondary air damper openings depend. These form the base for developing a program. These conditions are based on some fixed values and formulas. As already mentioned the percentages of secondary air damper opening depend on the amount of fuel input to the furnace. The algorithm for visual basics coding are as below. 1) Operation Of Coal Elevation Dampers: (A, B, C, D, E, F) The coal dampers at elevations A, B, C, D, E and F will be fed with coal depending on the load of the power plant. Feeding (30 tonnes per hour) any three of these coal elevations is sufficient enough to supply the predetermined full load (210 MW) of the unit. All dampers always have a minimum opening of 30%. In general,less than 20% of the secondary air to the fireball will maintain substoichiometric combustion which limits the flame temperature of the fireball and provides the curtain of secondary air over the walls. The curtain of secondary air militates against the formation of slag on the furnace walls. All this proportioning of the air requires tools of adjustment available to the furnace operator. The dampers modulate according to coal input in three different ways as: When coal is fed into a particular(own) elevation ,the corresponding air damper starts modulating based on the fuel input to let the secondary air required for the combustion of given input. Rather when coal is fed into an (auxillary) elevation adjacent to a particular damper, the damper modulates to maintain the windbox to furnace differential pressure, thereby controlling the constant negative pressure essential to create swirling fireballs of combustion in tangentially fired boilers. When the condition of tripping the whole unit arises, all the six coal elevation dampers are opened to100 % (maximum). When there is no fuel input in any of the above elevations then the dampers will be in minimum opening position. (0%) 2) Operation of oil elevation dampers (AB, BC, CD, DE, EF): Oil is used as fuel input during startup and during scarcity of coal. Each pair of coal nozzle elevations is served by one elevation of oil burners (4 nos. /elevation) located in the auxiliary air nozzle. Thus 12 oil guns, non retractable type, are accommodated in the three elevations AB, CD and EF. Heavy fuel oil can be fired at the oil guns of all these three elevations, whereas light fuel oil (High speed diesel oil) can also be fired at AB elevation. Each oil gun is associated with a retractable high energy arc (HEA) igniter, arranged at the side of the oil gun in the auxiliary air compartment and they directly light up the oil guns. The dampers modulate according to oil input in three different ways as: When oil is fed into a particular(own) elevation ,the corresponding air damper starts modulating based on the fuel input to let the secondary air required for the combustion of given input. When steam input is higher than 30% with adjacent elevation opened then windbox to furnace differential pressure is maintained. Rather when oil is fed into an (auxillary) elevation adjacent to a particular damper, the damper modulates to maintain the windbox to furnace differential pressure, thereby controlling the constant negative pressure essential to create swirling fireballs of combustion in tangentially fired boilers. When the condition of tripping the whole unit arises, all the oil elevation dampers are opened to 100 % (maximum). When there is no fuel input in any of the above elevations then the dampers will be in minimum opening position. (0%) 3) Operation of AA, FF elevation dampers: The AA elevation of air damper is always fully (100%) opened and the FF elevation is always closed to enhance combustion. Thus the coding for the project is developed based on  the conditions of the coal and oil inputs. IV. SEQUENCE OF OPERATION The opening of dampers depends on the load and coal input. The above table I illustrate the percentage of coal input in each mill for given percentage of load. Here 30 Tonnes/Hr of coal is the 100% input and 10 Kg/cm2 of oil is the 100% input of oil. When unit load is 50%, then coal mills A, B are in full operation and C mill operates 10% with AB elevation having oil. For a load of 60%, coal mills A, B, C will operate till 30% and mill D has 10% input. AB oil elevation is fed with full percentage of oil. If the load is 70%, then there is no need for oil but coal mills A, B, C, and D are fed with maximum input. For 90% ,there is no need for oil but the coal mills A, B, C, D is fed with maximum input and E with 20% of fuel input. For 100% load, all the coal elevations are fed with maximum input. V. SIMULATION RESULTS Visual Basic is a third-generation event-driven programming language and integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft for its COM programming model first released in 1991. Visual Basic was derived from BASIC and enables the rapid application development (RAD) of graphical user interface (GUI) applications, access to databases using Data Access Objects, Remote Data Objects, or ActiveX Data Objects, and creation of ActiveX controls and objects. VBA is effectively the same language as Visual Basic but VBA-code is tied to Microsoft Office and can only run within that environment. A programmer can put together an application using the components provided with Visual Basic itself. The four fuel inputs are received via the potentiometer to the AT MEGA 8 microcontroller. The variation of potentiometers indicate amount of coal/diesel input. The damper opening depends on the variable point of the potentiometers. The controller board is connected to PC and arduino coding is uploaded in the controller. Then VB is used for graphical representation of damper opening. The simulation results showing the air dampers status variation according to the various input set points is as follows: The amount of coal input given is shown in the above fig 5. This show the percentage of input given, timer, coal mill that is active, amount of load, steam input set point and steam input in percentage. This form shows all the elevation of dampers and denotes the damper that is open and the percentage of damper opening is also shown. In addition to that reactive power produced for corresponding load is also calculated. VI CONCLUSION Based on the graphical programming language and the data stream operating mode, the software instead of apparatus, the use of virtual instrument technology has opened up our new field of control. Compared to the traditional control it has obvious advantages. Programming is simple by the graphical programming language. A form of visual basics personalizes button design and layout, with the virtual knobs and switches to struck the friendly human, intuitive control interface makes vivid, so that the operators are involved in the operation easier to control the process and results at a glance. The main advantage of controlling secondary air dampers by using arduino is lesser cost as compared to DCS technique, since the interfacing of inputs and outputs are directly given to the PC (which works as work station i.e. block panel and operator station i.e. front panel) .This paper was made in a Coal Based Thermal power plant at tuticorin, TTPS as the existing is running on DCS system. VII ABBREVIATIONS: DCS Distributed Control System FSSS Furnace Safeguard Supervision System FD fan Forced Draft Fan ID fan Induced Draft Fan ADC Analog to Digital converter PC Personal Computer VB Visual Basic 6.0 Draft difference of pressure causing flow of air Elevation -position of dampers Windbox -secondary air storage compartment between FD fan and furnace.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Atomic Bomb Essay -- Essays Papers

The Atomic Bomb The aftermath: Humanity, the Earth, Nature Some people often hear the word "Atomic Bomb" or hear about the cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki and picture a war torn city and a bomb that killed many. While they are right in connecting the two, the aftermath of the atomic bomb goes much deeper than that. By simply stating that it killed and injured thousands of people is an understatement. The damage from the bomb ranged from high temperature fires that scorched the land to the killing of fetuses due to in-utero radiation exposure. The atomic age, composed of complex and controversial issues, has forever changed the world and the way in which we live. The following is intended to illustrate that the bombing has changed the world and the immediate lives of the many killed and hurt in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The illustrations are an attempt to show the immense strength of one explosion and its ability to totally wipe out any given area. By showing all of the possible injuries that can occur from a nuclear e xplosion, it becomes visible that an atomic bomb is very complex in its destruction. Showing to be the fastest slaughter that we have ever observed, the bomb in Hiroshima killed about 280,000 civilians and 40,000 members of the military. For those not killed by the immidiate consequences of the bomb, radiation destroyed cells within the human body and still claims the lives of people today. It was estimated that by December 1945, around 140,000 people died from radiation related illnesses. One factor that created much immediate damage was the spread of the blast and its shock waves. In only ten seconds after the landing of the bomb i... ...about. In addition, the site provides a list of outside sources that are written about the atomic bombings. - Grolier Interactive Encyclopedia www.grolier.com/ History: WWII This on-line encyclopedia gives a very descriptive history of the atomic bomb. It shows the work that led up to the construction of the bomb and the several projects that led to the actual bombings. Finally, it tells the effects of an explosion and the significanse that the bombs played on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. - Hiroshima C-Das www.hiroshima-cdas.or.jp/ C-Das Major effects of atomic bomb This site provides yet another very informative array of facts. It was one of the most useful as it had a file that was almost a direct answer to the question that this paper applies, what were the major effects of the atomic bomb.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Athena in Greek Mythology Essay

ii Outline Thesis: Athena is regarded as a powerful female figure within Greek mythology; however there are obvious contradictions between the perception of Athena and the reality of how the goddess is represented within Greek Literature and these contradictions need to be examined given Greek Literatures foundational role in molding our perceptions of a heroine. I. Description how women were viewed in Ancient Greece II. Common perception of Athena in Greek Mythology a) Goddess of War b) Powerful c) Equal to Zeus III. Role that Athena truly played as Zeus’s daughter a) Non threatening: enable the end of Kingship of Heaven b) Virgin daughter, purity IV. Examples supporting the repositioning of Athena as a determent to women within Greek culture a) Athena and Poseidon clash over Athens b) Athena’s mothering role in Odyssey c) Athena’s role within Aeschylus’s Eumenides V. Athena’s representation within Greek Mythology has proven to be a false icon for the empowerment of women. iii Abstract Athena is regarded as a powerful female figure within Greek mythology; however there are obvious contradictions between the perception of Athena and the reality of how the goddess is represented within Greek Literature and these contradictions need to be examined given Greek Literatures foundational role in molding our perceptions of a heroine. The undercurrent of conflicting messages between Athena’s iconic state as a powerful goddess and the general oppression of Greek woman supports the notion that there might be more to Athena then first meets the eye. Common myth and two great works of ancient Greek literature are used to support the thesis that Athena may have been a tool of oppression used against the women of ancient Greece. 1 The Importance of Athena in Greek Mythology The foremost powerful female figure in Greek Mythology was Athena, the grey eyed goddess. She is often hailed as being an icon for female power within Greek literature. This misperception adds to the mystic that Greek civilization was socially evolved beyond it’s time. By taking a closer look at how Athena was immortalized within the Parthenon, the role that the Goddess played in Homer’s Odyssey , and her role in Aeschylus’s Eumenides it quickly becomes clear that we have been romanticizing Athena’s power. By pulling back the curtain on the obvious and revealing what resides just below the surface a new pictures comes into focus. Athena is regarded as a powerful female figure within Greek mythology; however there are obvious contradictions between the perception of Athena and the reality of how the goddess is represented within Greek Literature, and these contradictions need to be examined given Greek Literatures foundational role in molding our perceptions of a heroine. To begin with it is important to come to a agreement regarding the daily life of an Athenian woman in Ancient Greece. Based upon the reading that I have done, there is little dispute that the women of that time had virtually no rights. The Ancient Greek society in many ways mirrors today’s modern conservative cultures of the middles east, as it pertains to women’s rights. The Greek culture was highly patriarchal. Ancient women were considered property of their fathers at the time of their birth, and then transferred to become the property of their husbands directly after marriage. Young women were often forced to marry men twice their age, whom they had never met. Women, of course, had no right to vote, no right to own property and oddly enough were not allowed to watch the iconic Olympic games. However, the most mind numbing realization for me was that women were not allowed to leave the house without permission. Women were not permitted to wonder in public unless they had an explicit reason approved by their husband. It is suspicious to me that given all of these widely accepted facts that we would so easily accept that Greek men were creating characters of power as great as Athena’s perceived power. If anything, I do give these Ancient Greek author’s credit for being sly. They created a goddess whom Greek men could idealize as the ‘perfect’ woman, fearing her power, while at the same time defining an all powerful goddess who was submissive to men. 2 A general definition of Athena provides us with an example to contrast against the â€Å"average† Athenian woman. Harris and Platzner provide a general description of Athena’s power in Classical Mythology Images & Insights. A powerful description is levied by the authors, â€Å"Athena, a potent manifestation of her father’s creative intelligence† (82). Athena is widely known as the goddess of wisdom and war. She is hailed as the protector of Athens and the equal to the omnipresent Zeus. However, and this is a big however, that is only upon first glance. As we dig deeper into Athena’s story a new spin begins to present itself. First, the legend of Athena’s remarkable birth, which in actualization is only a reflection of Zeus’s greatness. Athena is said to have sprung from Zeus’s head. The depiction of her birth is on the east pediment of the Parthenon, which ensures its role in the daily lives of Greek men. Zeus in an effort to deny the prophecy that Metis would someday bore a child who would overthrow his power; he ate Metis. By ingesting Metis he also ingests her powers and Athena his unborn daughter. In concept Zeus then gives birth, the ONLY uniquely female power that existed in Ancient Greece. Athena, now being directly ‘sprung’ from the body of her father is forever faithful, as he is now part of her. In this one sweeping myth Zeus outwits Metis, overcomes his fate, gives birth and creates an equal virginal partner whom has an undying faithfulness to her father. Even the focus on her virginal state, associates her with the traditional concept of ‘ownership’ by a woman’s father until she is married. Athena’s very birth contributes to increasing Zeus’s greatness and defining women as submissive. The second key piece of important information regarding why Athena was born a woman, is simple and calculated. The fact that Athena is a woman ends the tradition of The Kingdom of Heaven, and ensures Zeus’s dominate rule. If she were born a man, there would be threat of usurpation. Ss a woman; with no husband she serves no threat. Again, a myth calculated to support the greatness of Zeus. 3 The west side of the Parthenon serves as another example of how a myth, at first glance, appearing to support the great wisdom of Athena but in the end this myth serves the purpose of Greek men, and serves to repress Greek women. The west pediment depicts the contest between Athena and Poseidon for the ‘sponsorship’ of Athens. Athena is said to have won the favor of the Greeks by offering an olive tree to the people of Athens. Poseidon offered the city a salt water spring which was rejected, thus offending Poseidon. Multiple points jump from the life of this myth. First, the obvious, by choosing Athena over Poseidon the Greek men have a direct link to Zeus. She is chosen because she is well connected! Secondly, and more manipulatively, in order to appease Poseidon’s wrath Greek woman are continued to be punished and not given the right to vote. The first advancement of a woman into a powerful position generates a backlash that will ensure that no woman is ever given any REAL form of power within Greek Culture (Harris and Platzner 9). The irony in this is so deep that it is almost comical. We have now established that the two key myths used to define Athena’s power are in actuality undermining her power. If anything, we begin to view her as Zeus’s public relations consultant. Now by looking at the way that Greek writers have translated Athena’s powers into actions, we can see that these nuances did not go unnoticed by Greece’s creative thinkers. A subtle example exists within Homer’s depiction of Athena in The Odyssey. Athena plays a motherly role to both Odysseus and Telemachus. She never gets directly involved in any conflict, she only provides guidance and support for the men. She is fulfilling the nurturing traditional role of a mother. In the stories opening when Athena disguises herself as Mentor (a man) to gain the trust of Telemachus her purpose is only to guide him on his path to manhood. She encourages him to take a stand on the issue of his mothers’ disrespectful suitors and to go on a rite of passage journey to find his father. The book is riddled with examples of how Athena provides a soft touch is supporting the advancement of Odysseus’s cause. She organizes the ship for Telemachus’s journey. She pleads with Zeus on their behalf in Book 5, she appears in a dream to Phaeacian urging her to be at the river to help Odysseus when we washes to shore. The list goes on and on, in Book 20 Athena helps Odysseus in his plot to overtake the suitors by ensuring the suitors antagonize the disguised Odysseus, which feeds his desire to win back Penelope. All of these actions mirror that of a mother, trying to encourage the best for and from her children. This further supports the notion that women in Athens are supposed to be the household support, and support the success of their fathers, and then their husbands. 4 The most glaring example of misuse of Athena’s perceived power occurs in Aeschylus, Eumenides. A jury is organized to judge Orestes for killing his mother and his father’s murder, Aegisthus. It is agreed that if the jury cannot come to an agreement of Orestes’ guilt then Athena will make the final decision. Athena’s ultimate verdict reads as follows, â€Å"The final judgment rests with me, and I Announce that my vote shall be given to Orestes. No mother gave me birth, and in all things Save marriage I commend with all my heart The masculine, my father’s child indeed. Therefore I cannot hold in higher esteem A woman killed because she killed her husband. If the votes are equal, Orestes wins. Let the appointed officers proceed To empty the urns and count the votes† (H & P 636). Athena says she is the servant of her father in this speech. Here is a son who has killed his own mother, and Athena explicitly states that she values the life of Orestes’ father greater than the life of his mother, Clytemnestra. Even when the literature explicitly gives Athena power, she only uses it to further confirm the dominance of men within Greek society. I am positive that there are numerous other examples that support my notion of a dual sided Athena. Every example that I found of Athena within Greek literature allows for a theoretical positioning of Athena as a Greek tool of female oppression. Athena is the Ancient Greek’s version of the women in the girdle commercials in the 50’s, Cindy Brady in the 70’s, or even more accurately the 5 Britney Spears of today. At first glance one thinks it’s nice to see positive imagines of women, but when you begin to look a little closer one can clearly see the shackles. 6 Working Bibliography Graham, Casey, â€Å"Ancient Athenian Women. † http://www. angelfire. com/ca3/ancientchix/ Harris, Stephen L, and Platzner, Gloria. Classical Mythology Images and Insights. 5th Edition. McGraw-Hill. 2008. â€Å"Role of Women in Ancient Greece. † http://www. factsmonk. com/role_of_women_in_ancient_greece Stebbins, Elinor. â€Å"Pallas Athena, Goddess of Wisdom. † < http://www. arthistory. sbc. edu/imageswomen/papers/stebbinsathena/athena2. html>

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Symbolisms in Kate Chopin’s “The Storm”

Symbolisms in Kate Chopin's â€Å"The Storm† Kate Chopin's â€Å"The Storm† is a short story written in 1898 but was not published until 1969. The story explores an excess of turbulent emotions of the protagonists in the backdrop of unexpected storm. Chopin effectively confronts the brewing conflict of the story by her unflinching depiction of the story through symbolisms. The symbolisms most evident in â€Å"The Storm† includes: the storm itself, Assumption, a small town in which the protagonists first met and whiteness as mentioned many times in the story.Chopin opens the first part of the story by using the illustration of the threatening storm with Calixta's husband, Bobinot: â€Å"Bobinot, who was accustomed to converse on terms of perfect equality with his little son, called the child's attention to certain somber clouds that were rolling with sinister intention from the west, accompanied by a sullen, threatening roar† (123). The storm is one of the obvious themes of the story. It is involve in practically every element of the plot.The text above describes the impending change of weather that is about to come, foreshadowing the series of events that is about to unravel. Bobinot then, decides to wait at the general store with their son, Bibi until the storm evens out. This waiting out or avoidance from the storm suggests that he also avoids the storm of passion that his wife had expected of him. Bobinot's less passionate nature becomes more evident on how he is described later in the story: â€Å"Then he returned to his perch on the keg and sat stolidly holding the can of shirmps while the storm burst† (123).The text gives an insight on Bobinot's general behavior or nature as an individual describing him as stolid, meaning having or revealing little emotion or sensibility or it could also means not easily aroused or excited. After this, the readers are introduced to Calixta at their home who is at first â€Å"unaware of the storm coming† because she is occupied with sewing and doing other mundane chores (124). The story introduces the female protagonist as a dedicated homemaker sewing furiously and gathering her usband's Sunday clothes put out to dry before huge drops of rain wet them. This behavior potrayed by Calixta in beginning story implies that â€Å"her sexuality is repressed by the constraints of her marriage and society's view of women, represented in this passage by the housework† (121). Chopin efficiently compares the storm brewing in nature with the storm within Calixta as she encounters Alcee in her home alone: â€Å"As she stepped outside , Alcee Laballiere rode in at the gate.She had not seen him very often since her marriage, and never alone† (124). The text displays Calixta's surprise reaction upon seeing a past lover right through her door. Out of courtesy, she then let Alcee in her house more so, since the rain is starting to get stronger: â€Å"He expressed an intention to remain outside, but it was soon apparent that he might as well have been out in the open: the water beat in upon the boards in driving sheets, and he went inside, closing the door after him† (125).The text describes the growing intensity of the storm. It also foreshadows the growing storm of passion that is building up between Calixta and Alcee. Chopin's description of the intensity of the storm that is starting to build as the story progress is parallel to the tension raging between Calixta and Alcee: â€Å"The playing of the lightning was incessant. A bolt of lighning struck a tall chinaberry tree at the edge of the field† (124). The text describes the violent temperament of nature. This draws Calixta and Felix physically closer together.Calista, being scared of the raging storm is comforted by Alcee: â€Å"Alcee clasped her shoulders and looked into her face. The contact of her warm, palpitating body when he had unthinkingly drawn her into his arms, had aroused all the old-time infatuation and desire for her flesh† (125). The text explores the passion waging in Calixta's heart suffused with the raging of the storm outside. This also reminds her of the past flirtation they shared a couple of years ago in a place called Assumption. Storms as we know it is useful.Storms is also known for its destructive effects. And lastly storms usually occurs briefly. The storm of passion that takes over Calixta and Alcee is depicted in the story as something beautiful and significant: â€Å"When he touched her breasts they gave themselves up in quivering ecstacy, inviting his lips. Her mouth was a fountain of delight. And when he possessed her, they seemed to swoon together at the very botherland of life's mystery† (125). The text explores the beauty of abandon within the rage of their passion Calixta and Alcee discovered.The symbolism â€Å"The Storm† in the story is intended to reflect Calixta's sub-conscious sexual longin g as a result of her inadequate conjugal relationship with her husband. Just as the climatic storm takes in the characters in the story by surprise, the emotional storm of sexual fulfillment takes her by surprise. She realizes this arousal only after it passed and after the fact (121). Going back to the fact that they were both married to another people, the readers are prompted to question the morality aspects of what happened between Calixta and Alcee.However, such question is dismiss quickly by the story's plot. As quickly as the storm passes by the town where the characters are, so as passion that took over Calixta and Alcee: â€Å"The rain was over; and the sun was turning the glistening green world into a palace of gems. Calixta, on the gallery, watched Alcee ride away† (125). Although Calixta gives in to Alcee's advance, there is no suggestion by the author that the act was one of love making. The whole affair was not so much one of Calixta's love for Alcee, but one of her love for herself.Hence, from a technical point of view this is not a story of romance, but one of human nature. Though acclaimed now, this work was published after Chopin's death as she knew it was in direct oposition to societal norms of her times (433). After the spontaneous sexual encounter between Alcee and Calixta, the storm subsides. The sexual act was not to be forgotten and buried out of consciousness. Both of them have to put it in the context of their lives. While the reader would expect feelings of remorse and guilt from the two, they instead feel rejuvenated and relieved.Chopin captures the state of their minds using the following words: â€Å"So the storm passed and everyone was happy† (126). The tone of ending of the story suggests that everything works out for everyone's benefit. Calixta and Alcee's secret is officially safe, dissipating as the storm itself has. Another symbolism that is evident in the story is Assumption or the small town where Calixta an d Alcee met up and shared kisses five years ago: â€Å"Do you remember– in Assumption, Calixta?Oh, she remembered; for in Assumption he had kissed and kissed her; until his senses would well nigh fail, and to save her he would resort to a desperate flight† (124). The text describes the passion they once shared in Assumption although it does not lead to sex because Alcee would leave Calixta in heights of their passion so as to save her purity. The name Assumption has religious connotations that reminds us of virginity and chastity. In Christianity, it refers to a specific event: the Virgin Mary's ascent to heaven after she dies.Instead of having sex in a place associated with chastity, the place where Calixta and Alcee consumate their feelings for one another is Calixta's home. However, it is the memory of their time in Assumption: a place that reminds them of chastity, where they could not be together that sparks a more mature interlude between them. Another symbolism that Chopin examines in the story is the repeated mention of â€Å"whiteness†. While usually white symbolizes purity or chastity, the story twists it around to represent sexual desire and longing: † She was a revelation in that dim, mysterious chamber; as white as the couch she lay upon.Her firm elastic flesh that was knowing for the first time its birthright was like a creamy lily that the sun invites to contribute its breath and perfume to the undying life of teh world. The generous abandon of her passion, without guile or trickery, was like white flame which penetrated and found response in depths of his own sensuous nature that had never been reached† (124). While this whiteness in literature would traditionally refer to a body the male character could not access, this text transform the meaning of purity into desire and sexuality.The â€Å"flame† of Calixta's â€Å"passion† is â€Å"white†; her body in all its ecstasy is â€Å"like a cre amy lily. † In this story, the color white might almost be better understood as red-hot. It means giving in, not holding back. Works Cited Farca, Paula Anca. â€Å"Foucault Informs Kate Chopin's Short Fiction. † Academic Exchange Quarterly 11. 1 (2007): 120-24. Print. Manning, S. L. â€Å"Kate Chopin Reconsidered: Beyond the Bayou. † The Review of English Studies (1995): 433-442. Print. Kennedy, X. J. , and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. Print.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Language and Citizenship

Language and Citizenship Language and Citizenship Language and Citizenship By Maeve Maddox Most countries have an â€Å"official† language. Several have more than one. Government business and schools are conducted in the official language. Official documents are printed in the official language. Knowledge of the country’s official language is usually one of the stated requirements for citizenship. For example, here are some language requirements I found in naturalization guidelines available on the web: Canada Be able to communicate in one of Canada’s official languages. France Provide proof of adequate knowledge of the French language. Germany Be able to speak German to B1 standard in the Common European Framework of Reference. Mexico Prove knowledge of Spanish and Mexican history. UK Be able to communicate in English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic to an acceptable degree. USA Pass an English test Just how stringently the language requirement is enforced varies from place to place. Knowledge of Japanese is not specifically mentioned in the guidelines I found on line, but because an applicant for citizenship must complete the process entirely in Japanese, it’s unlikely that anyone could achieve citizenship without considerable fluency in the language. The UK has only recently required applicants for citizenship to provide proof they can speak the local language at the B1 level; the outcry against the stiffer requirements is still in progress. A speaker at the B1 level can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. can deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling in an area where the language is spoken. can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest. can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. Under a new rule, Canada now requires something similar to the European B1: â€Å"applicants [for citizenship] must provide objective evidence that they meet the language requirement, achieving the Canadian Language Benchmark/Niveau de compà ©tence linguistique canadien 4 speaking and listening, when they file their application.† The United States government, on the other hand, is not only very generous in providing test waivers, but it doesn’t provide much of a test to those who can’t claim exemption. A new citizen commenting at the Business Week site describes his experience: I prepared for three months for this exam. [] For the reading part of the exam, I was asked to read the following sentence: Today is a sunny day. For the writing part of the exam, I was asked to write the following words: Today is a sunny day. [] I was flat out insulted. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to expect immigrants who plan to spend the rest of their lives in a country to learn to speak the country’s language of government and education. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Synonyms for â€Å"Leader†Story Writing 101Words That Begin with Q

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on Swimming

"Swimming" In swimming there is no stroke harder to learn then the Butterfly stroke. This is the stroke where the swimmer swims kicking like a dolphin and pulling with his or her hands at the same time under the water and recovering for the next stroke above water with both arms at the same time in an almost circular motion. There are many steps in learning how to execute this stroke correctly. These steps are called drills, when you perform them in the pool. The first drill you should learn is the Kick drill. In this drill you learn to kick with your feet like a dolphin, making sure not to flutter kick with your feet, to move smoothly through the water with your head connected with your spine; this is the position your head is in when you stand with good posture, and make one smooth motion with your arms at your side thrusting only your hips, making a smooth relaxed shallow rolling motion through the water. Also, only one part of your body at a time should be slightly out of the water, starting from the back of your head, and continued down your back to your feet. The next drill to learn is the balance drill. This drill, to me, was extremely difficult to do. The balance drill is almost the same as the kick drill, only the swimmer puts his or her arms out in front of them with one hand on top of the other squeezing his or her head with their arms just behind the ears, remembering the kick drill to keep your head connected with your spine. Make the same smooth rolling motion only this time making sure your fingers are always pointing perpendicular to the wall of the pool, beginning with the back of your arms and head slightly out of the water. Continued down your back and to your feet. When trying this drill, I always moved my hands up and down as I did the rolling motion and it did nothing but make me dive deeper under the water then I wanted to, thus making me go slower. When you can ... Free Essays on Swimming Free Essays on Swimming "Swimming" In swimming there is no stroke harder to learn then the Butterfly stroke. This is the stroke where the swimmer swims kicking like a dolphin and pulling with his or her hands at the same time under the water and recovering for the next stroke above water with both arms at the same time in an almost circular motion. There are many steps in learning how to execute this stroke correctly. These steps are called drills, when you perform them in the pool. The first drill you should learn is the Kick drill. In this drill you learn to kick with your feet like a dolphin, making sure not to flutter kick with your feet, to move smoothly through the water with your head connected with your spine; this is the position your head is in when you stand with good posture, and make one smooth motion with your arms at your side thrusting only your hips, making a smooth relaxed shallow rolling motion through the water. Also, only one part of your body at a time should be slightly out of the water, starting from the back of your head, and continued down your back to your feet. The next drill to learn is the balance drill. This drill, to me, was extremely difficult to do. The balance drill is almost the same as the kick drill, only the swimmer puts his or her arms out in front of them with one hand on top of the other squeezing his or her head with their arms just behind the ears, remembering the kick drill to keep your head connected with your spine. Make the same smooth rolling motion only this time making sure your fingers are always pointing perpendicular to the wall of the pool, beginning with the back of your arms and head slightly out of the water. Continued down your back and to your feet. When trying this drill, I always moved my hands up and down as I did the rolling motion and it did nothing but make me dive deeper under the water then I wanted to, thus making me go slower. When you can ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Akhism, Guild system in the ottoman empire

Akhism, Guild system in the ottoman empire GUILD SYSTEM IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE: FROM AKHISM TO GEDIK SYSTEM Akhism which is an organization founded by the Turkish people in Anatolia, is an important guild system for the Ottoman State when we take its regulatory role (of the social order) into consideration. In this paper, I will give detailed information about Akhism until its removal, including its origin, its importance, its guild organization, its norms and its roles in the society. Akhism; being an Arabic word which meant â€Å"brotherhood†, was the name given to the unions of artisans (esnaf) and craftsmen (zanaatà §Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ±) between the 13th and 20th centuries. Akhi organizations were the associations which have been training their own craft members, which have been organizing and controlling the economic constitutions of the society (ÇaÄÅ ¸atay, 1989:1) and as in all pre-capitalist societies, in Ottoman State, production was organized within the guild organization which had four levels as â€Å"er rand boy† (à §Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ±rak), â€Å"apprentice† (yamak), â€Å"qualified workman† (usta), and â€Å"master† (Belge, 2005:312). Western orientalists say that the origins of the Akhism go back to the Islamic Futuwah tradition. The Arabic word Futuwah means youthful qualities. These youthful qualities are courage, generosity, hospitality and being skilled in all kinds of physical exercises (ÇaÄÅ ¸atay,1989:2-3). Although some Western social scientists think that Futuwah and Akhism have the same meaning and the same role, Ã…Å ¾anal and which is existing within the society, not being separated from it. Akhi organization which is based on the rules put by Islam scholars tries to provide ethical and well-behaved lifestyle to the artisans; and to ameliorate their craft level to a certain degree to protect standardization. Akhism is seen as the consequence of the service lacks of the state such as supplying security to the individuals, to their proper ties and to their honor; altering communication and education system, and providing equality of rights where there is not a strong juridical system. It is said that in Anatolia, Turkish people shaped and developed Futuwah organization and formed Akhism which is more different than Futuwah and which is proper to Turkish people. Although Futuwah tradition was more authoritarian about religion; and was commanding to the artisans to obey to the Islamic authority; Akhis had a big deal at the issues of economy and politics besides the morality. While Futuwah tradition gave more importance to the individual virtues and military characteristics; Akhism was an organization which helped Ottoman State to put military and administrative institutions in order and which constituted artisan and craftsmen corporations (CaÄÅ ¸atay, 1989: 1). The contribution of the guild system in the Ottoman State’s foundation period may not be despised (Belge, 2005:312). In Anatolia, the foundation of the Akhi organizations was the result of political and socio-economical necessities. At the 13th century, Turks who arrived in Anatolia from Turkestan for escaping from Mongolian invasion formed craft and commercial organizations among themselves to protect their solidarity and to survive amongst the native Byzantine craftsmen. They thought that they could exist only if they sell high quality and standard goods, in a sense by improving their own craft and commercial organizations. The organizations adopted the futuwwatnamas’ religious and moral rules as their laws and this led to the foundation of Akhism with the leadership of Akhi Evran and Abul-Hakaik Mahmud. Later, Akhi organizations were divided into 32 main branches of trade or art and fixed 740 Principles in their futuwwatnamas to form the moral and religious life. Every Akhi had to know 124 necessary Principles (Cagatay, 1989:48-51).

Friday, October 18, 2019

Superman in Sixties and Pop Art Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Superman in Sixties and Pop Art - Research Paper Example Superman in the Sixties has got both pictures and texts that accompany the pictures. This has made it akin to the "narrative literary texts†. This has been one of the factors that made it popular within young and old aged people. The use of both images and texts make the comic to elaborate the happening efficiently and effectively. Superman in the Sixties is a form of comic that narrates a story to the audience. There is an interconnection of the images and the word in the book. The Superman in the Sixties as a series showcases the work of several artists in the book. The artists identified include the pencillers and the inkers and offers comparison elements with other works. The comic employs the use of speech balloon, caption, thought balloons, tier of panels, balloon tail, and sound effects among others. Furthermore, the readers can see them from the beginning to the end of the comic book. In addition, there is also use of cartooning in the book to pass the information. The authors use cartooning to give the information in relation to the characters: Jonathan and Martha, Clark, and Lana Lang among others. This made it possible to include non- diegitic symbols. There is also use of caricature in the comic book, for example, the authors describe Superman as someone with huge chest as a symbol of his strength. The comic also promotes the use of feathering in some parts. The book also entails the use of various inflicted lines in different areas of the book. There is also use of emanate in the comic book.

Film Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Film Studies - Essay Example Casablanca and Singin' in the Rain may be the ultimate examples how the idea that only one approach to mise-en-scene is representative of classic Hollywood narrative ideology. Both films are iconic examples of a traditional Hollywood studio production from the era when everybody involved in filmmaking was under contract to just one company. The studio executives, and not the director, determined the final result, which had to be created while facing obstacles such as star demands, daily rewrites, and an eye toward the bottom line of profits. As a result, both movies possess such typical Hollywood narrative elements as a protagonist, an antagonist and a clearly defined plot that utilizes such narrative concepts as rising and falling action. The opening sequence follows the cinematographical template that marks most Hollywood films by commencing with a series of establishing shots and signals intended to promptly inform the audience of such necessary elements in mainstream storytelling as setting and time, pointedly eschewing irony and non-diagetic distancing devices. The opening sequence of Casablanca also serves the more subtle means of establishing ideology and lends credence to the suggestion that setting can "dynamically enter into the narrative action". 2. The exotic locale of the city of Casablanca with which the majority of filmgoers are doubtlessly unfamiliar is effortlessly exploited to heighten the sense of chaos and disorder that will shortly become vital to both the narrative and message that the movie is meant to convey. The film moves quickly to follow the logical cinematic progression that tracks from universal to the personal. After successfully introducing Casablanca as a foreign port on another continent that seems to have little to do with the interests of its American target audience, the link is made explicit as the city is revealed to be a vital point on the route of those attempting to escape the Nazis by fleeing to America. The lighting i s low key, dominated by shadows that reflect the shadowy world of shifting allegiances and ambiguous morality. Those shadows work effectively to symbolize the idea of the shadow of fascism lurking over the rest of the civilized world while also intensifying the realism that is a necessity in a propagandistic film3. The mise-en-scene choices behind the entirety of the opening sequence of Casablanca is motivated by the narrative functions associated with imparting to the audience such vital information as the time and historical context of the film for its ideological message while simultaneously creating the necessary mystery that surrounds the character of Rick Blaine and the activities that take place inside his cafe. Likewise, despite the rapidity with which the film has moved from its

Ralph Nader's book unsafe at any speed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Ralph Nader's book unsafe at any speed - Essay Example The book itself outlines in the title that people are unsafe at any speed they drive at. What is notable strange in the act of taking these safety measures is that even though others are effective, others are not effective at all; or even liked to the occurrence of accidents. Automobile industry is made up of profit making companies. For this to be possible revenue must be maximized, and costs must be minimized. Installing inbuilt features to add safety to drivers, especially in a case that they were not incorporated in the previous designs, meant that it was a move that only added cost to the production. No manufacturer embraces added costs and if it obliged, the companies had to look for other measures to cub the cost. According to this fact, the reason to some feature’s ineffectiveness is the use of cheap material and technology to design and manufacture them. Companies only make cheap safety features that only appealed the buyer’s perception but having little to protect them in case of accidents. The worst part of it all is that the customers trust the features and are not ready to take extra precautions, which further put the in more risk with accidents. Safety features in motor vehicles alone cannot help in reducing the general prevalence of deadly accidents. There are other factors that need to be observed in order to compliment safety measures in providing safety to both motor vehicle occupants and non-occupants (National Academy, 2000). Rules and policies should be enacted in respective countries to help cub motor vehicle accidents. When people only depend on safety measures to give them road safety, they are not doing themselves any favours, but exposing themselves to even more accidents. Relevant authorities should look into this issue other than only supporting the use of safety measures. Road accidents do not always involve single sides, but are

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Law Master Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Law Master - Essay Example (ii) to remove a temporary surplus of the like domestic product, or, if there is no substantial domestic production of the like product, of a domestic product for which the imported product can be directly substituted, by making the surplus available to certain groups of domestic consumers free of charge or at prices below the current market level; or (iii) to restrict the quantities permitted to be produced of any animal product the production of which is directly dependent, wholly or mainly, on the imported commodity, if the domestic production of that commodity is relatively negligible. Any contracting party applying restrictions on the importation of any product pursuant to subparagraph (c) of this paragraph shall give public notice of the total quantity or value of the product permitted to be imported during a specified future period and of any change in such quantity or value. Moreover, any restrictions applied under (i) above shall not be such as will reduce the total of imports relative to the total of domestic production, as compared with the proportion, which might reasonably be expected to rule between the two in the absence of restrictions. In determining this proportion, the contracting party shall pay due regard to the proportion prevailing during a previous representative period and to any special factors* which may have affected or may be affecting the trade in the product concerned. Brief Explanation of the Article XI: As the title suggests Article XI is concerned with the General Elimination of Quantitative Restriction from Trade. It goes on to say that a contracting party whether importing goods or exporting them shall maintain no prohibition or restrictions on them except in the form of duties, taxes and other charges that can be effective through quotas, import and export licences or other measures, Article XI advocates for the tariff regime to be put in place as trade measures. It further puts prohibition on either of the contracting parties for introducing fresh quotas and they are also required to eliminate the existing ones. However, it also lays a exception to the quantitative restrictions in case of certain domestic agricultural programs. I found the text of the Article XI by accessing the WTO website and in it the legal documents section of WTO. The URL that I accessed is 2) The cases decided by the WTO Dispute Panels and Appellate Body relating to the interpretation of Article XI are the following : Turkey - Textiles EEC - Imports from Hong Kong. India - Quantitative Restrictions US - Wool Shirts and Blouses EC - Hormones Canada - Periodicals US - Shrimp EC - Asbestos United

Should private schools be banned Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Should private schools be banned - Essay Example It therefore seems so from these arguments that in today’s world, education has been used to perpetrate inequality and division of social classes based on economic status because of the existence of higher education meant for the rich and wealthy in the society. Those calling for the closure of private schools believe in the fact that the current education systems institutionalises inequality and unfair treatment of education seekers just because they can’t afford the high cost of private institutions. It is interesting to note that out of the total number of school going children about 90% attend public schools while 10% attend private schools (Caldwell, 2008). Those who attend public schools have the potential of better performance as compared to their public counterparts contributing a larger percentage of students who qualify for university education in leading universities such as Cambridge and oxford. This is the highest degree of inequality as it implies that tho se who will eventually qualify for top positions in industry are those who hail from wealthy families who parents were able to sponsor their education on very expensive private institutions. In addition to this fact, the current society is typical of what can be termed as cultural capitalism and social shutting where the wealthy and privileged give their children gigantic advantages whereas the poor ones struggle in poorly managed and funded systems where only the lucky ones strive for excellence. The survival is typically of the law of the jungle where the fit survive and the weak succumb to academic death. It is vital to stress the need for all to give every child... Thi essay approves that it is in the view of this discussion that private schools tends to widen the gap between the haves and the not haves. This is because private schools exist and continues to provide better education than public schools owing to the fact those who educate children in the schools pay huge amounts of money as fees. This may not be possible for middle and low income earners as a result natural selection occurs where rich families get the opportunity to educate their young ones in private schools while the poor do not. In addition, such schools would present conditions for better performance against the state owned schools owing to their ability to employ and motivate qualified teachers, provide basic facilities and sizable classes. This report makes a conclusion that if all private schools were banned, it would give the rich an incentive to fund state owned ones since their children will to be attending alongside children from poor backgrounds. This will be a fairer way to deal with the rising difference between the rich and the poor. On the contrary, some argue that private schools offers impeccable education which may not be possible to access in state owned schools where there is limited access to resources, support persons and facilities. This is a fact that is discredited by failure by the government to fund state owned schools to the level of private schools. Therefore, it is justifiable to say that private schools should be banned. This is because private school is a major impediment to equity and valuable education for all.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

QATAR AIRWAYS swot analyses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

QATAR AIRWAYS swot analyses - Essay Example For this reason, the company’s human resource is essential in supporting the company in achieving its mission and vision. Primarily, the company’s HR department is in charge of planning strategies to hire excellent employees and supervising projects that help Qatar Airways in achieving its goals. A company’s HR department is in charge of the staffing process and developing employees’ capacity in line with the company’s objectives. For Qatar Airways, the HR policy should focus on achieving excellence according to the company’s mission statement. One way of doing this is to ensure that HR implements procedures aimed at promoting employee-job satisfaction while improving their skills, which consequently increases productivity and growth in the company. Besides, the company’s staffing policy should focus on identifying employees who would help the company achieve its objectives. Since employees who best understand the company can help the company achieve excellence, the HR department at Qatar Airways has to measure the attitudes of its employees towards their jobs. This can be done by encouraging employees to take part in annual surveys that measure job satisfaction and other areas related to their jobs. In effect, the feedback obtained from these surveys will help the HR department to identify areas that required to be improved for the company’s overall achievement of excellence. The HR at Qatar Airways is in charge of project management, which helps Qatar Airways remain organized by listing the project goals, assessing the risks of the project and measuring the expenses and profit. With regard to IT, HR should ensure that the company had an integrated information technology system that enhanced all company’s process from one command center in order to ensure the achievement of a common

Should private schools be banned Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Should private schools be banned - Essay Example It therefore seems so from these arguments that in today’s world, education has been used to perpetrate inequality and division of social classes based on economic status because of the existence of higher education meant for the rich and wealthy in the society. Those calling for the closure of private schools believe in the fact that the current education systems institutionalises inequality and unfair treatment of education seekers just because they can’t afford the high cost of private institutions. It is interesting to note that out of the total number of school going children about 90% attend public schools while 10% attend private schools (Caldwell, 2008). Those who attend public schools have the potential of better performance as compared to their public counterparts contributing a larger percentage of students who qualify for university education in leading universities such as Cambridge and oxford. This is the highest degree of inequality as it implies that tho se who will eventually qualify for top positions in industry are those who hail from wealthy families who parents were able to sponsor their education on very expensive private institutions. In addition to this fact, the current society is typical of what can be termed as cultural capitalism and social shutting where the wealthy and privileged give their children gigantic advantages whereas the poor ones struggle in poorly managed and funded systems where only the lucky ones strive for excellence. The survival is typically of the law of the jungle where the fit survive and the weak succumb to academic death. It is vital to stress the need for all to give every child... Thi essay approves that it is in the view of this discussion that private schools tends to widen the gap between the haves and the not haves. This is because private schools exist and continues to provide better education than public schools owing to the fact those who educate children in the schools pay huge amounts of money as fees. This may not be possible for middle and low income earners as a result natural selection occurs where rich families get the opportunity to educate their young ones in private schools while the poor do not. In addition, such schools would present conditions for better performance against the state owned schools owing to their ability to employ and motivate qualified teachers, provide basic facilities and sizable classes. This report makes a conclusion that if all private schools were banned, it would give the rich an incentive to fund state owned ones since their children will to be attending alongside children from poor backgrounds. This will be a fairer way to deal with the rising difference between the rich and the poor. On the contrary, some argue that private schools offers impeccable education which may not be possible to access in state owned schools where there is limited access to resources, support persons and facilities. This is a fact that is discredited by failure by the government to fund state owned schools to the level of private schools. Therefore, it is justifiable to say that private schools should be banned. This is because private school is a major impediment to equity and valuable education for all.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

The Story of an Hour Essay Example for Free

The Story of an Hour Essay The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is an impressive literary piece which touches a readers feelings as well as mind. Although the story is really short, it is very rich and complete, and every word in it carries deep sense and a lot of meaning. The events take place in the 19 century in the house of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard. Speaking about the plot and suspense of  « The Story of an Hour  » we may define such its elements as the exposition, the narrative hook, crisis , the main climax, and the denouement. The plot novel contains all these elements so we can speak of a closed plot structure. In the beginning we find out that Mrs. Mallard is afflicted with heart trouble, and news about her husbands death is brought to her as gently as possible, the second sentence introduce characters to the readers † It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. Her husbands friend Richards was there, too, near her. It was he who had been in the newspaper office when intelligence of the railroad disaster was received, with Brently Mallards name leading the list of killed. These sentences are the exposition of the story. When Mrs. Mallard finds out about the death of her husband starts the complication in The Story â€Å"She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sisters arms. † The narrative hook marks the beginning of the collision mentioning some queer changes in Mrs. Mallard’s feelings: â€Å"There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air†. The rising action which adds complication to the story can be found in the part of the novel when â€Å"she was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will—as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been. When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: free, free, free! The main climax is expressed by breaking the narrative in a fragmentary sentence â€Å" Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered†¦ . † In the falling action we find out that â€Å"He had been far from the scene of accident, and did not even know there had been one. He stood amazed at Josephines piercing cry; at Richards quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife. † The denouement indicates the moment when the doctors state Mrs. Mallard’s death – â€Å"When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease—of joy that kills. † As for the conflict, it may be pointed out that it is mental or inner between freedom and grief The character of the story are Mrs. Mallard a young woman, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength, Richard her husband friend and Josephine . Mrs. Mallard is the protagonist, her character is dynamic and round as she is the one who goes through a change in one moment. In the beginning, Louise is emotional about the death of her husband, Brently. However, Louise is emotional until she reflects on the death of her husband. Louise departs to her room and reflects on the situation. She sets her feelings aside and analyzes the circumstances. â€Å"She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . She realizes that she does not have to share her life, anymore. Louise is sad about Brently’s death but imagines her life without her husband â€Å"Free!  Body and soul free! †. Louise realizes she does not have to wait on her husband for anything. She can think for herself and say what is on her mind. The narrator describes her emotions in vibrant and powerful words. When Louise’s emotions are described regarding something she is thrilled about, the language becomes lively and rich with color and vibrant images. This stands in sharp contrast to the sections in which she seems indifferent or emotionally unattached. For instance â€Å"And yet she loved him—sometimes. Often she did not† which demonstrates emotional passivity, but as the short paragraph continues and her true emotions come to the forefront, the language comes alive along with her character. â€Å"What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being! † It is important to notice not only the language comes to life with the use of words like â€Å"mystery,† â€Å"possession,† and â€Å"impulse† but the very phrasing changing. The initial thoughts in which she was indifferent are short tidy sentences, but as soon as she begins to feel an emotion, the sentences expand and the whole of one massive thought about â€Å"her being† becomes one very long sentence to stand in contrast to the previous one. When her emotions become overwhelming, so do the sentences and language. â€Å"There would be no one to live for in those coming years; she would live for herself† begins the paragraph. There are no lively words, just a matter of fact, unemotional statement without the slightest hint of sadness. In fact, almost as though she suddenly realizes again that she doesn’t need to be sad—that marriage is an unhappy institution for her, she comes to life again through language and sentence structure as seen in a meaningful passage such as, â€Å"There will be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature. † Phrases such as â€Å"powerful will† and â€Å"blind persistence† are much more descriptive and full of energy than any she uses to describe the fact that she had no one to live for. Her emotions goes from calm and passive to wild. Through contrasting language and sentence structures to reveal the emotions of Louise, the reader is able to enter her wild mind just as easily if her every thought was described in an itemized list. The reader is forced focus on her inner-life, which depicts a sad portrait of marriage, indeed. The author doesn’t tell a lot about Richards. Just only that he was a friend of Mr. Mallard. Josephine is a typical sister. She’s extremely worried when it comes to exposing Louise’s fragile heart to pressure and sudden shocks and surprises, which generally shows that she loves her sister wholeheartedly, and doesn’t want something bad to happen to her. But she doesn’t understand that her sister was unhappy in marriage. Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhole, imploring for admission. Louise, open the door! I beg- open the door-you will make yourself ill. What are you doing, Louise? For heavens sake open the door. The story is written from the omniscient point of view. Therefore we know all thoughts and experiences of the main character. We can hear the authors voice through the inner monologue. â€Å"There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air†, â€Å"She did not stop to ask if it were or were not a monstrous joy that held her. A clear and exalted perception enabled her to dismiss the suggestion as trivial†, â€Å"No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window. Her fancy was running riot along those days ahead of her. Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own. She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. The tone of the story shifts from emotional gloomy to ironically and melancholy tone The story comes off as subtly cruel in that Louises reaction to the death of her husband. She comprehends the news only later, and author shows us little by little how she comes to realize it and what helps her to understand it. She goes to her room, and there stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. Into this she sank (788). Reading these words, the readers suddenly realize that something turns the story to a more positive, reassuring way. What makes us, readers, to think so? Here we see two things, which make us to feel that way a comfortable, roomy armchair as a symbol of security and comfort in spite of her husbands death, and the open window, which here symbolizes connection to the world, to life. The next, fifth paragraph, emphasizes these ideas even more and carries more details and fresh elements of the new, positive turn of the story. Through the open window she can see the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves (788). All these parts of this paragraph show us that Mrs. Mallard gets in touch with life, starts to hear sounds and to smell scents which she didnt feel before. Why? What happened? Does she really start to notice it all only after her husbands death? Yes, and the author gives us even more details, emphasizing it, not yet giving the answer why she starts to feel this way. However, a care ful reader understands the deep sense of the words about patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds . These words didnt appear in the story with no reason. All these details make us to feel the growth of Mrs. Mallards excitement and make us to understand the sign of the meaning of the blue sky a symbol of freedom and future life. In paragraph eight, Mrs. Mallard, young, with a fair, calm face, is sitting in the armchair with a dull stare in her eyes, which indicated a suspension of intelligent thought. (789). Reading these lines, the readers understand that something is going on in Mrs. Mallards head; something is changing everything in her mind. What is it? Mrs. Mallard still doesnt realize it, but she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air (789). We understand, that her soul starts to fill with happiness of freedom; freedom, which is in everything in sounds and beautiful trees around, in blue sky and in songs of the birds. However, for one moment she gets afraid to allow herself to be happy about her freedom she was striving to beat it back with her will (789). This shows us that Mrs. Mallard is a product of her time and has to be dependent on society rules. She realizes that society would determine her thoughts of freedom inappropriate, but she cant stop herself to feel that way. A calm soul is necessary for a human being and is more important than society standards. Feeling happy she just proves this thought. However, she knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death (789) but its just a reaction, which society expects her to have. What can compare to a long procession of years that would belong to her absolutely (789)! Here the author finally opens a reason why Mrs. Mallard feels this way about her husbands death. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature (789). These words show the picture of Mrs. Mallards family life. She was unhappy with her husband; she couldnt have her own opinion and couldnt show her own will, thats why she is happy to be free! Back then society didn t accept a divorced woman, but it accepted widows, and we realize that being a widow it is the only way for Mrs. Mallard to get free. Free! Body and soul free! (789). We read these words and share with Mrs. Mallard her feelings, her excitement and hopes. At this point Mrs. Mallards sister Josephine is looking ridiculous, with her words Louise, open the door! you will make yourself ill. (789) Because practically, Mrs. Mallard, who is a woman, who had numerous years under her husbands will, finally gets an absolutely freedom, a miraculous freedom, which she even didnt hope to get the day before. However, her sister is far from understanding it. Expecting spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own (790), Mrs. Mallard goes out of the room as a goddess of Victory. 790) From the first look, this point of the story seems as the highest culminating moment of the whole story, and here is the irony. The author prepared the main strong culmination right in the end, in three final paragraphs. Mrs. Mallards husband opens the front door with a latchkey (790). He enters composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella (790). He is carrying it composedly, because he doesnt even know about the accident and that his name is on the list of those who died. Even more ironical here are Josephines piercing cry and Richards quick motion to screen (790) Brently Mallard from his wifes eyes. Mrs. Mallard dies of joy that kills (790). These words carry the absolutely opposite meaning, than they read. We understand, that the doctors are wrong, thinking that she dies from happiness of seeing her husband again. She chooses rather to die than to live again under her husbands will, especially after experiencing freedom, even just for one hour. This hour in a comfortable armchair in front of the open window made her feel happy and free, made her to understand the sense of her being, and it was the only real hour of her life.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Prescriptive and emergent approaches for developing strategies

Prescriptive and emergent approaches for developing strategies Introduction The concept of corporate strategy battles with the perennial issue of determining the overall purpose and scope of an organisation. From a contemporary perspective, it involves the specification of long-term goals and objectives that will add value to the business and cope with the uncertainty of modern times. As a practice, it consists of adopting courses of action and allocating resources in ways necessary for carrying out the overall objectives. Widely recognised as the most principal theories for strategy development, the prescriptive and emergent approaches must be examined within the context of an increasingly dynamic, highly competitive and global business environment. Powerful external forces are driving organisations to reduce costs, enhance processes and identify new opportunities for growth. Many businesses are compelled to make dramatic improvements not only to compete and prosper but also merely to survive. This brings to the fore the importance of determining how effectively the prescriptive and emergent approaches can meet the needs of todays businesses when formulating strategy. The Prescriptive Approach The prescriptive approach regards strategy development as a systematised and deterministic process where analysis of the organisation, its performance and external environment leads to the formation of a rational, long-term plan. Senior management is in charge of defining the final objectives and the plan is then put into action through the successive layers of the organisation. Techniques which feed this process include Porters heavily structured Five Forces model for analysing industry and Value Chain Analysis which highlights existing capabilities as a solid basis for competitive advantage. It is pointed out by Ansoff that firms in fast-paced, competitive environments who use a systematic process for strategic planning very often go on to dominate their marketplace. Their logical, analytical approach allows them to devise predictive and pre-emptive strategies from which they can meet new opportunities head on. For instance, in 1995 EasyJet used incredible foresight to introduce low cost flights allowing it to take advantage of a more cost-conscious European Market. Whats more, this approach makes it possible to organise complex activities and exercise a greater degree of control over different business units. For example, Tescos planning process resulted in well defined long-term goals and clear boundaries for its UK core business, retail service, non-food and international sectors. It has succeeded in achieving consistent growth and profit in all of these areas over recent years. Strategy formation which places a lot of weight on existing capability strengths is thought to be a secure basis on which a firm should define itself and optimise its position, particularly in times of rapid and turbulent change. For example, Motorola has successfully met the needs of emerging markets by using its fundamental technological strengths in electronic components to progress from supplying TVs and car radios to offering telecommunications services. From a contrary perspective,ÂÂ  Johnson states that the prescriptive model contains many assumptions that are unsustainable in todays business world. The logical approach implies that strategy development is always deliberate and that strategies are realised according to plan. However, empirical research by Mintzberg discounts this, highlighting that realised strategy tends to be only 10 to 30 percent of the intended strategy. This is mainly because unpredictable events, such as the introduction of new regulations or technologies, will regularly act to force the original strategy off its course. Additionally, the prescriptive approach to planning falls short in allowing for any learned elements to be absorbed into the strategy and so can limit an organisations ability to respond flexibly in todays rapidly changing environment. The narrow-minded manner in which it focuses on established areas of business and capabilities can hinder serious transformational change where reinvention is required. A further criticism is that the prescriptive model fails to complement modern organisational cultures where employees at lower levels are included in the decision making process. This type of involvement is frequently found in small or medium sized businesses. As a result, organisational creativity can be stifled and employee dissonance may occur as it is at these levels that work processes are most fully understood. The Emergent Approach Mintzberg put the idea forward that strategies can be unplanned, developing incrementally over time as a businesses actions adapt to a changing reality. Instead of meeting a premeditated plan, he argued that strategy evolves through a process of learning, adjustment and experimentation. Formulation of strategy runs parallel to implementation and managers at multiple organisational levels have a key input into the actual strategies pursued by the organisation. This models emphasis on learning underlies more recent theories which focus on the value of knowledge as a core organisational competence for gaining competitive advantage. An emergent approach leads to more creative and responsive strategy making which is well suited to the hyper-competitive and unpredictable environments of today. Interestingly, Hamel and Prahalad pointed out that the most successful firms in the world such as Microsoft and Apple Macintosh do not tie themselves down to mission, goals and objectives or the predetermined plan. In contrast with the prescriptive approach which focuses on creating a fit between established strengths and emerging opportunities, the emergent approach challenges the status quo by intentionally creating a misfit between these factors. Hence, it is more suited to instigating positive, transformational organisational change such as diversification or restructuring. It also has the added benefit of helping to reduce resistance to change as it allows time to build employee support while the strategy is taking shape. On a negative note, when formulation and implementation occur simultaneously there is a risk that strategy development becomes too slow and jumbled a process. This means that valuable opportunities may be missed along the way. Also, conflicting objectives from different groups can hinder strategy development, particularly when there are power shifts taking place during a major strategic change such as a merger. Without strict analysis and identifiable targets, objectives can lack clarity and there may be no real basis for evaluating performance. Indeed, it was pointed out by Brews and Hunt that an over-reliance on emergent strategy formation could result in underperformance. Conclusion Within the framework of an environment which is by and large unpredictable, many organisations are forced to become more flexible and adaptive to change. This supports the adoption of an emergent approach to strategy development which invokes a more intelligent capacity to respond to new opportunities. Nonetheless, such a strategy can preclude control over actions and may risk a lack of direction. A greater use of strategic planning tools for internal and external analysis would certainly facilitate improved organisational learning and enhance strategic thinking even while following an emergent approach. This recognition that the prescriptive and emergent processes, rather than being mutually exclusive, can be complementary approaches that reinforce each other is being highlighted in more recent theories such as the Logical Incrementalism approach proposed by Quinn. All in all, most viable strategies in todays business world should have customised elements of prescriptive and emergent characteristics in order to manage the complexities of their business and still triumph over changing circumstances.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

courage :: essays research papers

Courage Courage is moral strength that allows us to withstand hardships and fear. People believe that courage implies firmness of the mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty. Muhammad Ali the famous boxer jumped over all the hurdles that were in his way to his success, and he did not give by keeping is courage. Courage allows us through many difficulties and helps us get over our fear. Many times in life we find ourselves entangled in many problems, and the solution to that is courage. Few years back I felt very troubled because of personal problems. I was aggravated and I thrust my head into my hands and wept. I kept repeating to myself , â€Å"I can’t do it,† but another voice screamed in my head , â€Å" Yes you can,† and I realized that it was my courage speaking. I rose up looking very ambitious because I knew that I would face my problems head on. Stephen writes,â€Å"Still he climbs and you start to understand how Erik learned to face the world.† Despite all the limitations Erik faced, he continued with his desires and didn’t back down. Even though he was physically limited, he did not let himself feel dejected. I can understand the difference Erik made for himself by not letting others put him down. I felt the difference just like Erik did because I to, didn’t let the bad situations get to me, and I also used my cou rage like Erik did. Fear is something that we often find ourselves associated with, and courage helps us surpass it. I have always been afraid of swimming, and one day I found myself in a situation in which I had to go into a pool. I slowly made my way down as I counted, â€Å"first step, second step, third step†¦ oh, my gosh, I can’t believe I’m doing this.† Slowly, I found myself enjoying my short swim, and I had fantastic time because I conquered my fear by using courage. Teresa says, â€Å"I want to jump†¦and swim somewhere, safe.† Teresa was afraid of what people say about her disability and that’s why she felt ashamed in front of Jaime’s presence.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

John Updike :: essays research papers

â€Å"But for a few phrases from his letters and an odd line or two of his verse, the poet walks gagged through his own biography.† John Updike, for one of the most famous and creative poets in the world, has had a very normal life. His biography and life story as a person is not all too interesting besides the fact that it expresses his utter genius and complete intelligence in almost everything he has ever done and his determination to succeed in the tasks he sets before himself. For the man who has a quote for just about everything and an IQ above many, there is little to be said about the events in his own time, but it is an existence full of accomplishments. John Hoyer Updike was born on March 18, 1932 in Reading, Pennsylvania. He was son of Linda Grace (Hoyer) and Wesley Russell Updike and raised Presbyterian. In 1932 he began attending school at Shillington. John remained in school there from 1932 until 1950. In 1945, on Halloween day, he moved to an 80-acre farm in the country, near Plowville, Pennsylvania where his mother was born. It was eleven miles from Shillington. He stayed at the same school where his father was teaching junior and senior high school mathematics. In 1950 he graduated president and co-valedictorian of the senior class at Shillington High School. The next summer and the two following summers, he worked as a copy boy for the Reading Eagle, writing a few feature stories for money. In the fall he entered Harvard University on a tuition scholarship. He then began drawing and writing at the same time for a humorous magazine called the Harvard Lampoon. He was eventually elected president of the magazine. Shortly after this he received his major in English Literature. While enrolled in Harvard he met Mary E. Pennington, a fine arts major from Radcliffe, and on June 26, 1953 they decided to get married. In September of that same year, sadly, his close maternal grandfather, John F. Hoyer, died. John’s senior year he wrote a paper on Robert Herrick, the seventeenth-century English poet: "Non-Horatian Elements in Robert Herrick's Imitations and Echoes of Horace." He graduated in 1954 as summa cum laude from Harvard. In one of his most famous quotes he states, â€Å"Four years was enough of Harvard. I still had a lot to learn, but had been given the liberating notion that now I could teach myself.