Friday, December 27, 2019

Entrepreneurship Is An Integral Part Of Our Economy

Introduction: Entrepreneurship can best be defined as a way of managing that involves pursuing opportunity, assembling resources, implementing action plans, and harvesting rewards in a timely and flexible way (Shalman Stevenson). Those who find passion and purpose in the management, and conceptual thinking of entrepreneurship are known as entrepreneurs. This type of management involving entrepreneurs has become an integral part of our economy in the United States, and globally since the beginning of the modern era, impacting billions of people in its wake through many different social and political facets. As entrepreneurs set out on these ventures in growing small businesses that have changed so much about the world, there are always factors that can prohibit or hinder growth, and also those which encourage and grow entrepreneurial businesses. The shift from small businesses from their domestic markets into large international corporations comparatively shows just how different imp acts of entrepreneurial businesses can be from one to another. The backbone of what ultimately defines the entrepreneurial business and the entrepreneur themselves however is the political entity and economy from which the business originates. Defining the Entrepreneur: Before diving into the factors of how entrepreneurial businesses impact the world and vice versa, the entrepreneur themselves must be studied, because the businesses and ventures that make impacts are in fact thoseShow MoreRelatedEntrepreneurship Is An Integral Part Of Our Economy1765 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction: Entrepreneurship can best be defined as a way of managing that involves pursuing opportunity, assembling resources, implementing action plans, and harvesting rewards in a timely and flexible way (Shalman Stevenson). Those who find passion and purpose in the management, and conceptual thinking of entrepreneurship are known as entrepreneurs. This type of management involving entrepreneurs has become an integral part of our economy in the United States, and globally since the beginningRead MoreThe Contributions Of Immigrants From The American Economy1569 Words   |  7 PagesThe Contributions of Immigrants to the American Economy The United states is made up of immigrant from different religious, social, cultural and economic background around the world.In the big cities like New york and Los Angeles, there is a higher percentage of immigrant who are all making a massive impact on the American economy. Today, the issue of Immigration has become a major topic of discussion in America. The immigrants populace contribute a greater share of the total American populationRead MoreHow Skilled Immigrant Entrepreneurs Are Beneficial?1510 Words   |  7 Pagesrecent years, debates regarding policy have focused heavily on the topic of immigration in the United States. Despite all of the attention that this topic has gained, it seems that skilled immigrants is one group that has been overlooked. In large part, this particular group is becoming more prominent due to the fact that many are becoming entrepreneurs, especially in the Silicon Valley. Thus, I am interested in finding out how skilled immigrant entrepreneurs are beneficial in numerous aspects suchRead MoreThe Business Case Of The United States Economy1355 Words   |  6 PagesQuestion 1: During the nineteenth century the United States economy quickly shifted to an industrial goods based economy which was in many cases driven by entrepreneurial businessmen who created industrial empires and grew very wealthy. Capitalism has survived for hundreds of years due to natural resources that were inexhaustible. Today there aren’t enough resources. Capitalism must again evolve due to â€Å"more global competition, a declining economy, faster technological change, and pressure to preserveRead MoreSoftware in the ‘New’ Middle Class in the ‘New India’ by Carol Upadhya810 Words   |  3 PagesSoftware in the ‘New’ Middle Class in the ‘New India’ by Carol Upadhya In our reading this week, Carol Upadhya writes about the emergence of a â€Å"‘new’ middle class in the ‘New India’† It emphasizes about how India’s old middle class has given way to the new middle class in the past 15 to 20 years. The new middle class has become the center of attraction in the consumer market in Indian cities due to the rising incomes. The landscapes of many metro cities in India have changed dramatically overnightRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility Of India Essay1669 Words   |  7 Pagesresponsible component of the ascendancy of India, is poised now to take on the leadership role in the challenges of our times. It is recognized, world over that integrating social, environmental and ethical responsibilities into the governance of businesses ensures long tern success, competitiveness and sustainability. This approach also reaffirms the view that businesses are an integral part of society, and have a critical and active r ole to play in the sustenance and improvement of healthy ecosystemsRead MoreIntroduction A system is a network of parts which interlock to form an overall pattern. An economic1500 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction A system is a network of parts which interlock to form an overall pattern. An economic system is a pattern of organisation which is aimed at solving the three central questions discussed in the previous sections. Economic systems do not always work well, but they are often so vast and complicated that it is quiet marvellous that they work at all. Mohr Fourie.(2008. P42). Scarcity is the fundamental challenge confronting all individuals and nations. We cannot always get what we wantRead MoreIssues and Challenges for Women Entrepreneurs in India3420 Words   |  14 Pageshas brought out a radical change that had comprehensive impact on the economic scenario of the developed and developing economies of the World. India, hitherto under umbrella of protectionism, had no choice except to fall in line with these changes. With new policies of economic liberalization, globalization and privatization initiated by the Government of India, the Indian economy has been witnessing a comprehensive change. Entrepreneurial potential in India is huge. At present, women involvementRead MoreThe Entrpreneurship5905 Words   |  24 PagesTHE CHALLENGE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP The Foundations of Entrepreneurship ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Part One: Learning Objectives 1. Define the role of the entrepreneur in business in the United States and around the world. 2. Describe the entrepreneurial profile and evaluate your potential as an entrepreneur. 3. Describe the benefits and drawbacks of entrepreneurship. 4. Explain the forces that drive the growth in entrepreneurship. 5. Explain the culturalRead MoreThe Entrpreneurship5916 Words   |  24 Pages1 THE CHALLENGE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP The Foundations of Entrepreneurship ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Part One: Learning Objectives 1. Define the role of the entrepreneur in business in the United States and around the world. 2. Describe the entrepreneurial profile and evaluate your potential as an entrepreneur. 3. Describe the benefits and drawbacks of entrepreneurship. 4. Explain the forces that drive the growth in entrepreneurship. 5. Explain the cultural

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Compare and Contrast Film Excalibur to Sir Thomas Malory’s...

Compare and Contrast Film Excalibur to Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur Literary works on the story of King Arthur and his cohorts is a story that had been narrated in several books and even modified in movies which typical illustrates the lives of the Arthurian legends. The story â€Å"The Excalibur† cannot be compared with any of the other versions of the Arthurian tales ever in history. Sir Thomas Malory’s version of the Arthurian tale took a French style and name in which some elements of the movie are quite different from the original versions of the tale. Nonetheless, the significance of the story was never reflected in any of the versions of the tale that had been told. Attempts had been made in reconstructing the historical†¦show more content†¦The source of the sword is also another point of divergence in the two stories. In the Excalibur, the source of the sword was not recognized but the account was made concerning his return into a stone (Lucy 257). But in Le Morte d’ Arthur, the source of the sword accounted for as it was given to King Arthur by the lady of the lake and it marks a symbol of authority to unify the empire after the demise of King Uther (Malory). Lancelot was compared in both versions of the tale. In the Excalibur, he took the centre stage due to his impact during the battle between the armies of Arthur and that of Mordred. But in Malory’s Le Morte d’, Arthur could be seen more as a traitor who wants to lure Guinevere into marrying by proposing to her after Arthur had engaged her hands in marriage. Arthur could be seen as the hero in both versions as the future of the kingdom solely rest upon his shoulders coupled with the support of the Lady of the Lake. However, some people argue that Lancelot is the hero due to his bravery. The events that were recorded in both stories differ in its interpretations. The issue of land disputes between King Arthur and Mordred was recorded differently. In the Excalibur, King Arthur was reluctant in allocating his share of the empire to Mordred and this led to series of dispute between both of them, While in Le Morte d’ Arthur, it was accounted that King Arthur was willing to voluntarily allot his share of the empire toShow MoreRelated Comparison of Two Films About King Arthur Essay3985 Words   |  16 Pagesas that of King Arthur and his round table, forever retold by each generation. Without question, the defining work of Arthurian Literature is Sir Thomas Malorys Le Morte dArthur. Morte dArthur is a compilation of all the King Arthur legends that existed before Malory. Malory tried to bring all the stories together into one cohesive whole. Morte dArthur is a trove of stories about magical encounters and various quests that is loosely centered on the rise and fall of King Arthur. Since it was

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

We Will Not Be Shaken free essay sample

The writing titled â€Å"We Will Not Be Shaken,† written by Natalie A., talks about Christian Music. Her writing left me feeling refreshed and content. Natalie A. perfectly describes â€Å"We Will Not Be Shaken† by Bethel Music in this article. I can relate a lot to this article. I have listened to so many songs mentioned and I love how Natalie provided lyrics from some of the songs. For example, I found it very helpful when Natalie explains some of the lyrics to â€Å"Reckless Love† by saying, â€Å"The song references the parable of the lost sheep, where a shepherd leaves his herd of 99 sheep in order to find the one sheep that is lost.† As I read the lyrics she provided, it was as if I could hear Cory Asbury singing them himself. I also love how Natalie says, â€Å"At the end of the race we will be embraced by all of God’s love. We will write a custom essay sample on We Will Not Be Shaken or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † I feel that’s a beautiful message everyone should be aware of.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Osteopathic Medicine and its View of Human Nature Essay Sample free essay sample

Introduction Osteopathic Medicine is a categorization of wellness attention that is presently being practiced by Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine ( D. O. ) . Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine along with allopathic doctors ( M. D. ) are the lone doctors that are wholly trained and licensed. authorized to urge medicine and transport out surgery. Osteopathic Medicine is a system of medical attention that is theoretically taken to be a sub-category of â€Å"Alternative Medicine† . It was founded on the theory that turbulency in the musculoskeletal system influences other parts of our organic structure. which in bend causes many confusions that can be corrected by a assortment of commanding techniques in combination with other curative processs. In wide footings. osteopathic medical specialty. â€Å"is one of the fastest turning healthcare professions in the U. S. and brings a alone doctrine to traditional medical specialty. With a strong accent on the inter-relationship of the body’s nerv ousnesss. musculuss. castanetss and variety meats. We will write a custom essay sample on Osteopathic Medicine and its View of Human Nature Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page physicians of osteopathic medical specialty. or D. O. s. use the doctrine of handling the whole individual to the bar. diagnosing and intervention of unwellness. disease and injury† ( About Osteopathic Medicine. 2003 ) . This field of medical specialty was foremost introduced by a really celebrated doctor by the name of Andrew Taylor Still. who introduced this field of medical specialty as a complete rejection of the old system of medical idea that continued since the 19Thursdaycentury. Osteopahtic medical specialty has now become so popular that it has made its manner so near to mainstream medical specialty that it is by and large no longer considered to be an alternate medical specialty. Basically the name â€Å"Osteopathy† was thought of by Dr. Still as a means to take attention of patients holistically. which means that it would look at patients with all features of wellness such as head. organic structure. and spirit. It is a medical field. which fundamentally focuses on happening the beginning of jobs alternatively of handling indicants. The conventional osteopath realizes that the organic structure has an natural capacity to bring around itself and works to grok. both pedagogically and perceptually. the manner the organic structure works non merely when it is in a normal province. but besides the manner it functions when it is in a morbid province to organize with wellness and help the patient to mend. It is said that. â€Å"Osteopathic medical specialty provides all of the benefits of modern medical specialty including prescription drugs. surgery. and the usage of engineering to name disease and evaluate hurt. It besides offers the added benefit of hands-on diagnosing and intervention through a system of therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine† ( Osteopathic Medicine. 2007 ) . What is more is that this field and subject of medical specialty emphasiss on assisting each individual attain a high degree of goodness by focus oning on wellness instruction. hurt turning away and disease bar. The basic drawback of osteopathic medical specialty is that the osteopathic limelight is that all of the distinguishable variety meats are interconnected. It is believed that one organ can non be treated without impacting another organ. This means that for a individual intervention the patient would hold to be examined with consideration to the environment. background. household and general state of affairs he/she goes through everyday and so it comes down to analyze his/her organic structure. Decision In the visible radiation of the above treatment we can hereby climax that even though osteopathic medical specialty is comparatively new. but it is still deriving popularity and is a secure and natural progress towards health care. Peoples of all ages can do usage of osteopathic medical specialty. runing from new born babes to the aged. Bibliography About Osteopathic Medicine. ( 2003 ) .American Osteopathic Association.2003. Pp. 1. Retrieved from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. osteopathic. org/index. cfm? PageID=ost_main Osteopathic Medicine. ( 2007 ) .AACOM.2007. Pp. 1. Retrieved from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. aacom. org/om. hypertext markup language

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Free Essays on The Old Man And The Great DiMaggio

both are physically impaired yet never give up their passion for their craft. To further illustrate Santiago’s considerable respect for and connection with DiMaggio; he often wonders what â€Å"the great DiMaggio† would think of Santiago as illustrated when he kills the first shark. DiMaggio is never mentioned again after Santiago has been defeated by the sharks, demonstrating Santiago’s acknowledgement that he has failed in his life. The manner in which Hemingway compares Santiago and DiMaggio is a brilliant execution of metaphor. As Santiago is the great fisherman, strong, capable, and full of life, so too is Joe DiMaggio the great ballplayer, son of a fisherman, who like Santiago is a symbol of resilience and courage.... Free Essays on The Old Man And The Great DiMaggio Free Essays on The Old Man And The Great DiMaggio The Old Man and the Great DiMaggio In Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago is an old fisherman who lives in a small village near Havana, Cuba. His entire life revolves around three things: fishing, a young boy, Manolin, who is his only friend, and American baseball. Santiago is fascinated by American baseball and with Joe DiMaggio in particular. Each evening he and Manolin go over the daily newspapers to review the latest news about the New York Yankees. Santiago has great respect for Joe DiMaggio. In fact, it appears that DiMaggio is Santiago’s â€Å"hero†. When one stops to consider the relationship between Santiago and DiMaggio it becomes apparent that DiMaggio is a symbol for Santiago’s inner strength and great passion for living. Although Santiago is old and weathered, he still has a fighting spirit as exemplified in his three days at sea and his struggle with the great fish whereas DiMaggio has a physical injury in his left heel that hindered his baseball career for one seas on only to make a glorious comeback the next season. In other words both are physically impaired yet never give up their passion for their craft. To further illustrate Santiago’s considerable respect for and connection with DiMaggio; he often wonders what â€Å"the great DiMaggio† would think of Santiago as illustrated when he kills the first shark. DiMaggio is never mentioned again after Santiago has been defeated by the sharks, demonstrating Santiago’s acknowledgement that he has failed in his life. The manner in which Hemingway compares Santiago and DiMaggio is a brilliant execution of metaphor. As Santiago is the great fisherman, strong, capable, and full of life, so too is Joe DiMaggio the great ballplayer, son of a fisherman, who like Santiago is a symbol of resilience and courage....

Saturday, November 23, 2019

History of Ecuadors San Francisco De Quito

History of Ecuador's San Francisco De Quito The city of San Francisco de Quito (generally simply called Quito) is the capital of Ecuador and the second-largest city in the nation after Guayaquil. It is centrally located on a plateau high in the Andes Mountains. The city has a long and interesting history dating from pre-Colombian times to the present. Pre-Colombian Quito Quito occupies a temperate, fertile plateau high (9,300 feet/2,800 meters above sea level) in the Andes Mountains. It has a good climate and has been occupied by people for a long time. The first settlers were the Quitu people: they were eventually subjugated by the Caras culture. Sometime in the fifteenth century, the city and region were conquered by the mighty Inca Empire, based out of Cuzco to the south. Quito prospered under the Inca and soon became the second most important city in the Empire. The Inca Civil War Quito was plunged into civil war sometime around 1526. Inca ruler Huayna Capac died (possibly of smallpox) and two of his many sons, Atahualpa and Huscar, began to fight over his empire. Atahualpa had the support of Quito, whereas Huscars power base was in Cuzco. More importantly for Atahualpa, he had the support of three powerful Inca generals: Quisquis, Chalcuchima, and Rumià ±ahui. Atahualpa prevailed in 1532 after his forces routed Huscars at the gates of Cuzco. Huscar was captured and would later be executed on Atahualpas orders. The Conquest of Quito In 1532 Spanish conquistadors under Francisco Pizarro arrived and took Atahualpa captive. Atahualpa was executed in 1533, which turned as-yet unconquered Quito against the Spanish invaders, as Atahualpa was still much beloved there. Two different expeditions of conquest converged on Quito in 1534, led by Pedro de Alvarado and Sebastin de Benalczar respectively. The people of Quito were tough warriors and fought the Spanish every step of the way, most notably at the Battle of Teocajas. Benalczar arrived first only to find that Quito had been razed by general Rumià ±ahui to spite the Spanish. Benalczar was one of 204 Spaniards to formally establish Quito as a Spanish city on December 6, 1534, a date which is still celebrated in Quito. Quito During the Colonial Era Quito prospered during the colonial era. Several religious orders including the Franciscans, Jesuits, and Augustinians arrived and built elaborate churches and convents. The city became a center for Spanish colonial administration. In 1563 it became a Real Audiencia under the supervision of the Spanish Viceroy in Lima: this meant that there were judges in Quito who could rule on legal proceedings. Later, administration of Quito would pass to the Viceroyalty of New Granada in present-day Colombia. The Quito School of Art During the Colonial era, Quito became know for the high-quality religious art produced by the artists who lived there. Under the tutelage of Franciscan Jodoco Ricke, the Quitan students began producing high-quality works of art and sculpture in the 1550’s: the â€Å"Quito School of Art† would eventually acquire very specific and unique characteristics. Quito art is characterized by syncretism: that is, a mixture of Christian and native themes. Some paintings feature Christian figures in Andean scenery or following local traditions: a famous painting in Quito’s cathedral features Jesus and his disciples eating guinea pig (a traditional Andean food) at the last supper. The August 10 Movement In 1808, Napoleon invaded Spain, captured the King and put his own brother on the throne. Spain was thrown into turmoil: a competing Spanish government was set up and the country was at war with itself. Upon hearing the news, a group of concerned citizens in Quito staged a rebellion on August 10, 1809: they took control of the city and informed the Spanish colonial officials that they would rule Quito independently until such a time as the King of Spain were restored. The Viceroy in Peru responded by sending an army to quash the rebellion: the August 10 conspirators were thrown in a dungeon. On August 2, 1810, the people of Quito tried to break them out: the Spanish repelled the attack and massacred the conspirators in custody. This gruesome episode would help keep Quito mostly on the sidelines of the struggle for independence in northern South America. Quito was finally liberated from the Spanish on May 24, 1822, at the Battle of Pichincha: among the heroes of the battle were Field Marshal Antonio Josà © de Sucre and local heroine Manuela Senz. The Republican Era After independence, Ecuador was at first part of the Republic of Gran Colombia: the republic fell apart in 1830 and Ecuador became an independent nation under first President Juan Josà © Flores. Quito continued to flourish, although it remained a relatively small, sleepy provincial town. The greatest conflicts of the time were between liberals and conservatives. In a nutshell, conservatives preferred a strong central government, limited voting rights (only wealthy men of European descent) and a strong connection between church and state. Liberals were just the opposite: they preferred stronger regional governments, universal (or at least expanded) suffrage and no connection whatsoever between church and state. This conflict often turned bloody: conservative president Gabriel Garcà ­a Moreno (1875) and liberal ex-president Eloy Alfaro (1912) were both assassinated in Quito. The Modern Era of Quito Quito has continued to slowly grow and has evolved from a tranquil provincial capital to a modern metropolis. It has experienced occasional unrest, such as during the turbulent presidencies of Josà © Marà ­a Velasco Ibarra (five administrations between 1934 and 1972). In recent years, the people of Quito have occasionally taken to the streets to successfully oust unpopular presidents such as Abdal Bucaram (1997) Jamil Mahuad (2000) and Là ºcio Gutià ©rrez (2005). These protests were peaceful for the most part and Quito, unlike many other Latin American cities, has not seen violent civil unrest in some time. Quito’s Historic Center Perhaps because it spent so many centuries as a quiet provincial town, Quitos old colonial center is particularly well-preserved. It was one of UNESCOS first World Heritage sites in 1978. Colonial churches stand side-by-side with elegant Republican homes on airy squares. Quito has invested a great deal recently in restoring what locals call el centro historico and the results are impressive. Elegant theatres such as the Teatro Sucre and Teatro Mà ©xico are open and show concerts, plays and even the occasional opera. A special squad of tourism police is detailed to the old town and tours of old Quito are becoming very popular. Restaurants and hotels are flourishing in the historic city center. Sources: Hemming, John. The Conquest of the Inca London: Pan Books, 2004 (original 1970). Various Authors. Historia del Ecuador. Barcelona: Lexus Editores, S.A. 2010

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Choose any prodect and put it as a topic of the paper Essay

Choose any prodect and put it as a topic of the paper - Essay Example We mainly use the social media for BambooHR’s brand marketing and validation. The company uses video marketing in the social media, which also offers a platform for customer education. Pronto Marketing Company has been the major marketer of BambooHR products. The company partners with cloud store. Currently, we have four client companies using BambooHR’s services. Time-off management involves overseeing of enhancement of all the policies surrounding off-duty time(BambooHR LLC, p. 7). Time management involves such as waiting periods, carryovers, and accrual levels. The program allows this to ensure maintenance of uniqueness between various companies. Despite the customized reports, the program provides for the generation of reports using standard reports. The standard reports are in the report library, include age profile, birthdays, additions and terminations, and benefit eligibility. This functionality involves control of information sharing by ensuring that only authorized individuals have access. BambooHR software enables customization of access depending on the role of employee. The program also allows for the control of the type of information obtained by various job description. The program also supports a notification system, software development kit and standard appraisal forms (Fetaji & Majlinda, p. 234). †¢ TribeHR program. This program allows human resource administrators to focus on aspects that are of more value addition to the business. The program has tools essential for recruiting and managing time, attendance and talent of employees. Fetaji, Bekim, and Majlinda,Fetaji. "Designing and Developing Performance Measurement Software Solution." International Journal of Computer Science and Electronics Engineering (IJCSEE) 1 (2013): 234-238. Web. 1 March 2015. BambooHR LLC. â€Å"Why and When to Get out of Spreadsheets and into HR Software: And what to look for when you’re

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Sankofa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sankofa - Essay Example However, white man preferred the strong men who were able to work in the fields for long hours. After their capture they were tied together with chains to prevent them from escaping, those who tried to escape were either killed or whipped ruthlessly in front of others, this act helped to instill fear to others who had thought of either being resistant or either escaping. Caravans which consisted of long distance traders and a white man riding on a horse travelled to the coast and the latter to where there were big holding places for the staves. These slaves stayed in this holding place and waited for a merchant who would select them for travel. Women were mainly house slaves while men were field slave. The character of Nunu who was an African native with freedom experience though later sold to slavery is used to represent a true African character. As depicted by the character of noble Ali, Africans themselves were against the slave trade and the ruthless treatment the white men who used on Africans. Additionally, Africans were used against each other, when Master Lafayette who is the plantation owner instructs Noble Ali to whip a fellow slave Ali defy on the claim that he cannot be able to handle whipping and counting at the same time. The story in the film creates a huge reality of what happened during the Trans Saharan and Trans African slave trade. We are shown how Africans were subjected to untold mistreatment, when they were captured, dragged all the way to the coast tied with metallic chains. On arrival at the coast, they were placed in the dungeons tied up, upon arrival to the new world they were forced to leave their way of life and adapt the Christianity this created a religious conflict between the white man’s and the black man’s god. Women on the other hand, were mistreated through rape, which was done on public. During Mona’s transition into shoal, she claims that she dint know

Sunday, November 17, 2019

What is a monopoly Essay Example for Free

What is a monopoly Essay Monopoly is at the opposite end of the spectrum of market models from perfect competition. A monopoly firm has no rivals. It is the only firm in its industry. There are no close substitutes for the good or service a monopoly produces. Not only does a monopoly firm have the market to itself, but it also need not worry about other firms entering. In the case of monopoly, entry by potential rivals is prohibitively difficult. A monopoly does not take the market price as given; it determines its own price. It selects from its demand curve the price that corresponds to the quantity the firm has chosen to produce in order to earn the maximum profit possible. In assuming there is one firm in a market, we assume there are no other firms producing goods or services that could be considered part of the same market as that of the monopoly firm. The result is a model that gives us important insights into the nature of the choices of firms and their impact on the economy. There are some Advantages of a Monopoly. The Monopolies avoids duplications and hence wastage of resources. Enjoys economics of scale, due to it being the only supplier of the product or service in the market, makes many profits and be used for research and development to maintain their status as a monopoly. They also use price discrimination to benefit the weaker economic section of society. To avoid competition, they can afford to invest in the latest technology and machinery. There are some Disadvantages of a Monopoly. Monopolies have poor levels of service, there is no consumer sovereignty, the consumers are charged high prices for such low quality goods, and lack of competition could lead to low quality goods, as well as out dated goods. First off, any market type can see super normal profits in the short-run. What is more important is what happens in the end. Pure monopolies are not the only monopoly that can make profits. Natural Monopoly or a price discriminating monopoly can make profits as well. The only difference between them is â€Å"why† they are monopolies to begin with. Oligopolies are not monopolies, although they do tend to make above normal profits. Monopolistic competition does not yield these types of profits in the end. Economic profit goes to zero here in the end because there is a lack of barriers here to prevent competition from entering.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Abraham Lincolns Abuse of Power :: American America History

Abraham Lincoln's Abuse of Power Lincoln's use of executive authority during the civil war is many times illegal and unjust; although his issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation may seem justified, Lincoln blatantly abused his power regarding civil rights. He did things like institute an unfair draft, suspend Constitutional rights, allocate military spending without Congress, and institute emancipation. Although some may justify these actions, they stomped on the Constitution. Lincoln found powers in the constitutional clause making him "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states." He said that because of this clause, he had the right to use any means necessary to defeat the enemy. With this justification, he issued many executive orders before Congress even convened. Lincoln summoned the militia, ordered a blockade of the Confederacy ports, expanded the regular army beyond its legal limit, and directed government funds before congressional allocation. of these powers were granted to him in the Constitution. Lincoln also abused his power with the draft. Prior to the draft, the Union depended on the states to fill assigned quotas with volunteers. But then Lincoln instituted a new draft. By its terms, all men between the ages of 20 and 45 were liable to military service. However, any man who was called for the draft could avoid it by hiring a substitute or paying $300 dollars to the government. Many groups rightfully denounced these acts, called the conscription acts, as a rich man's law. Indeed, many wealthy men were able to bribe poorer men into taking their place in The most blatant abuse of Lincoln's power was his suspension of habeas corpus. The suspension of this constitutional guarantee, by which a person could not be imprisoned indefinitely without being charges with some specific crime, around much opposition throughout the country. Although Lincoln himself made no concentrated efforts to suppress political oppositions, the repeal of habeas corpus enabled overzealous civil and military authorities to imprison thousands of people who were vocal in their opposition to the war against the South. During the war, in the case Ex parte Merryman, Chief Justice Taney ordered Lincoln to grant a writ of habeas corpus to a Southern agitator who had been arbitrarily jailed by military authorities in Maryland. Lincoln ignored the order. After the war, in the case Ex parte Milligan, the Supreme Court ruled that president could not suspend habeas corpus without the consent of Congress.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Current Applications Of Software Agents Essay

If you have made a purchase at Amazon, you would have noticed that as soon as you complete your purchase procedures, Amazon presents you with a list of books that customers who purchased the same item as you did also bought along with this item. During your next visit, you will find a list of books that are similar to the ones you purchased previously that you might be interested in buying. Another popular site eBay displays a list of similar products that other customers who did the same search looked at. The above two sites are examples of two ways of implementing software agents. A software agent is a computer program that is capable of intelligently and autonomously executing a given task based on the instructions provided by the user. It basically operates on behalf of its owner. The goal of a software agent is to maximize the owner’s interests which it does by maximizing a particular utility function. Most software agents can learn from experience and adapt themselves based on the feedback obtained from the environment thus making it an autonomous process with no human intervention. A multi-agent system involves multiple software agents. Software agents are ideally suited for a wide variety of applications, in particular, process and workflow automation, electronic commerce, distributed problem solving and Internet applications (Acronymics, Inc. 2004). Some application examples include agent-based supply chain management, personal or user agents, e-business systems, e-market, e-banking, and e-investments, etc. Merchandise management in the retail industry is one area of application of the software agent. Merchandise management involves selection of desirable merchandise, disposal of slow-selling ones and ordering and distributing them appropriately. The competition is fierce with the eCommerce making it even more difficult due to diverse customer preferences low merchant loyalty. The only way to tackle this problem is by understanding the changes in customer demands quickly and responding appropriately through merchandise management. However, due to the sheer number of merchandise and brands, managing merchandise effectively becomes an impossible task. This is where software agents are helpful by performing the merchandise managers’ jobs autonomously, continuously and efficiently. These software agents help in evaluating and selecting merchandise and predicting seasons and building purchase schedules autonomously. An effective merchandise management helps reduce the inventory level while increasing sales and profits. (Jae Heon, P. , Sang Chan P. 2003) Rob Meijer describes the following commercial applications in his article: 1. Watcher agents – These autonomously look for the specified information and provide personalized versions based on the end-user’s preferences, an example is personalized versions of newspapers. To generate a personalized paper, a user must first provide with relevant personal information, preferences, and special interests. The agent then provides personalized news based on these details. With each visit, the agent improves and provides personalized newspaper without much human intervention. Fishwrap (MIT) and Newshound are examples of Watcher agents. (Meijer, R. 2005) 2. Learning agents – Based on the behavior of their user, they can learn to tailor their performance. Examples of the same are Firefly, Similarities Engine, WegHunter, Open Sesame, and InterAp. Similarities Engine was a Web-based music recommending system that worked similar to Amazon’s recommedations of new books; the technology has now been purchased by Microsoft. (Meijer, R. 2005) 3. Shopping agents – These agents are capable of comparing and finding the best price for an item. BargainFinder is an example of Shopping agents that searches the inventory of vendors on the internet to find the lowest prices on the desired product helping you save both time and money. (Meijer, R. 2005) 4. Information retrieval agents – These agents search for information intelligently and are capable of summarizing the information as well. Netsumm is an example that can provide an abstract of the most important sentences of a web page. (Meijer, R. 2005) The Intelligent Software Agents Lab (The Robotics Institute – Carnegie Mellon University) has created an information retrieval agent for Aircraft Maintenance. Considering the searching of relevant information along with time constraints, the mechanics are provided with wearable computers based on RETSINA infrastructure. When a discrepancy is encountered, all he needs to do is fill out a form on his computer and the agents would seek relevant information. â€Å"The advantages of wearable computers with agents include automatic location and retrieval of information relevant to repairs, utilization of historical repair data, increased efficiency of access to information from manuals, and reduction in average time for repair. The overall result is timely, quality maintenance. † (The Intelligent Software Agents Lab, 2001-2009) Another example on their site is WebMate which is a personal digital assistant that â€Å"provides URL recommendations based on a continuously updated user profile; offers ever more relevant web documents based on the ‘Trigger Pairs Model’ approach to keyword refinement; responds to user feedback by selecting features from documents the user finds relevant and incorporating these features into the context of new queries; compiles a daily personal newspaper with links to documents of interest to the user. † (The Intelligent Software Agents Lab, 2001-2009) 5. Helper agents – These are generally used for network management and standard maintenance functions. LANAlert is an example of Helper agent. (Meijer, R. 2005) Agents can also help automate the bargaining process i. e. based on the user preferences, products and services along with related conditions (like warranty and delivery time) can be made flexible to meet the client’s expectations. (Gerding, E. H. 2004) Google AdWords is an example of such an agent. On typing search keywords, it provides recommendations to users as sponsored links. First of all, there are limited ads that can be displayed on a search result page. The ads are displayed only on certain keywords selected by the advertiser. Also, since limited ads are there and also the order of displaying the ads (from top to bottom) makes a difference, advertisers have to compete for these spaces. This is done by choosing the best keywords based on the information provided by Google regarding search counts and setting an upper limit on the amount that you would pay if you have a visitor. The advertiser with the highest bid wins in this case. Gary Anthes provides the examples of the following companies who have been successful in utilizing software agents for complex processes: †¢ Procter & Gample Co. (P&G) used software agents to convert their supply chain management into a supply network connecting to 5 billion consumers in 140 countries saving $300 million annually. (Anthes, G. 2003) †¢ Southwest Airlines Co. optimized cargo routing using software agents. †¢ For Air Liquide America LP, software agents helped reduce both production and distribution costs. (Anthes, G. 2003) †¢ Software agents helped Merck & Co. find more efficient ways to distribute anti-HIV drugs in Zimbabwe. (Anthes, G. 2003) †¢ Simulation of buyer preferences using software agents helped Ford Motor Co. come up with car options that â€Å"optimized the trade-offs between production costs and customer demands†. (Anthes, G. 2003) †¢ Software agents helped Edison Chouest Offshore LLC to optimize service and supply vessels deployment in the Gulf of Mexico. (Anthes, G. 2003) Supply Chain Management through software agents not only help save costs but also help in inventory management through reduced inventory, and improved customer service. (Anthes, G. 2003) Gary Anthes also explains how software agents have helped P&G. Basically, each component of the supply system from trucks to drivers to stores was represented by a software agent. Using rules, they defined the behavior of each component that represented its actual behavior such as â€Å"Dispatch truck when full†. P&G then used the simulations to perform what-if scenarios and checked out inventory levels, transportation costs and in-store stock-outs. Many alternate rules were considered such as on ordering and shipping frequencies, demand forecasting etc. (Anthes, G. 2003) Through the use of these agent-based models, P&G realized that while sending trucks with less than full loads increases transportation costs, frequency of in-store stock-outs often resulting in lost sales is reduced. Similarly P&G relooked into many of its rigid rules and relaxed them to improve the overall performance of the supply chain. They also had to be more flexible in manufacturing – instead of one product at a time, they had to be able to produce every product every day, reducing stock-outs. Flexibility in distributing products within 24 hours instead of the customary 48 to 72 hours was another change that software agents helped P&G realize and change. (Anthes, G. 2003) References Jae Heon, P. , Sang Chan P. 2003. Agent-based merchandise management in business-to-business electronic commerce. In Decision Support Systems (Volume 35 , Issue 3 , June 2003). Elsevier Science Publishers B. V. Amsterdam. http://portal. acm. org/citation. cfm? id=794070 This article explains how an agent-based merchandise management system can help retail companies better manage their merchandise. Gerding, E. H. 2004. Autonomous Agents in Bargaining Games: An Evolutionary Investigation of Fundamentals, Strategies, and Business Applications. PhD thesis, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven. http://eprints. ecs. soton. ac. uk/15640/ This article explains how autonomous software agents could be used in the bargaining process and some of its applications. WebMate. The Intelligent Software Agents Lab. The Robotics Institute. Carnegie Mellon University. http://www. cs. cmu. edu/~softagents/webmate. html This article explains WebMate, a personal digital assistant, a real-life application of software agents. Aircraft Maintenance. The Intelligent Software Agents Lab. The Robotics Institute. Carnegie Mellon University. http://www. cs. cmu. edu/~softagents/aircraft. html This article explains how the aircraft maintenance issues have been resolved using software agents. Anthes, G. 2003. Agents of Change. In Computerworld. http://www. computerworld. com/action/article. do? command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=Software+Development&articleId=77855&taxonomyId=63&pageNumber=1 This article provides examples of successful implementation of software agents by several companies and how it has helped them improve their processes as well as their thinking. Meijer, R. 2005. Intelligent Software Agents: Perspective for business. In The IPTS Report (Issue 5). http://ipts. jrc. ec. europa. eu/home/report/english/articles/vol05/art-it1. htm This article provides types of commercial applications of software agents along with implemented examples. Acronymics, Inc. 2004. Why, When, and Where to Use Software Agents. http://www. agentbuilder. com/Documentation/whyAgents. html This article provides an overview on software agents.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Arabian Nights: Sinbad the Porter and Sinbad the Sailor Essay

Sinbad the Porter and Sinbad the Sailor Like the 1001 Nights the Sinbad story-cycle has a frame story, which goes as follows: in the days of Haroun al-Rashid, Caliph of Baghdad, a poor porter (one who carries goods for others in the market and throughout the city) pauses to rest on a bench outside the gate of a rich merchant’s house, where he complains to Allah about the injustice of a world which allows the rich to live in ease while he must toil and yet remain poor. The owner of the house hears, and sends for the porter, and it is found they are both named Sinbad. The rich Sinbad tells the poor Sinbad that he became wealthy, â€Å"by Fortune and Fate†, in the course of seven wondrous voyages, which he then proceeds to relate. A sailing port in the Arabian Sea. The First Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor After dissipating the wealth left to him by his father, Sinbad goes to sea to repair his fortune. He sets ashore on what appears to be an island, but this island proves to be a gigantic sleeping whale on which trees have taken root ever since the world was young. Awakened by a fire kindled by the sailors, the whale dives into the depths, the ship departs without Sinbad, and Sinbad is saved by the chance of a passing wooden trough sent by the grace of Allah. He is washed ashore on a densely wooded island. While exploring the deserted island he comes across one of the king’s grooms. When Sinbad helps save the King’s mare from being drowned by a sea horse—not a seahorse as we know it, but a supernatural horse that lives underwater—the groom brings Sinbad to the king. The king befriends Sinbad and so he rises in the king’s favour becoming a trusted courtier. One day, the very ship on which Sinbad set sail docks at the island, and he reclaims his goods (still in the ship’s hold). Sinbad gives the king his goods and in return the king gives him rich presents. Sinbad sells these presents for a great profit. Sinbad returns to Baghdad where he resumes a life of ease and pleasure. With the ending of the tale, Sinbad the sailor makes Sinbad the porter a gift of a hundred gold pieces, and bids him return the next day to hear more about his adventures. Sindbad the Sailor and the valley of the Diamonds. The Second Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor On the second day of Sinbad’s tale-telling—but the 549th night of Scheherazade’s, for she has been breaking her tale each morning in order to arouse the interest of the homicidal king, and make him spare her life for one more night—Sinbad the sailor tells how he grew restless of his life of leisure, and set to sea again, â€Å"possessed with the thought of traveling about the world of men and seeing their cities and islands.† Accidentally abandoned by his shipmates again, he finds himself stranded in an island which contains roc eggs. After attaching himself to a roc, he is transported to a valley of giant snakes which can swallow elephants, and a roc which preys upon them. The floor of the valley is carpeted with diamonds, and merchants harvest these by throwing huge chunks of meat into the valley which the birds then carry back to their nests, where the men drive them away and collect the diamonds stuck to the meat. The wily Sinbad straps one of the pieces of meat to his back and is carried back to the nest along with a large sack full of precious gems. Rescued from the nest by the merchants, he returns to Baghdad with a fortune in diamonds, seeing many marvels along the way. The Third Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor Restless for travel and adventure, Sinbad sets sail again from Basra. But by ill chance he and his companions are cast up on an island where they are captured by, â€Å"a huge creature in the likeness of a man, black of colour, †¦ with eyes like coals of fire and eye-teeth like boar’s tusks and a vast big gape like the mouth of a well. Moreover, he had long loose lips like camels’, hanging down upon his breast and ears like two Jarms falling over his shoulder-blades and the nails of his hands were like the claws of a lion.† This monster begins eating the crew, beginning with the Reis (captain), who is the fattest. (Burton notes that the giant â€Å"is distinctly Polyphemus†). Sinbad hatches a plan to blind the beast (again, obvious parallels with the story of Polyphemus in Homer’s Odyssey), with the two red-hot iron spits with which the monster has been kebabing and roasting the ship’s company. He and the remaining men escape on a raft they had constructed the day before. However due to the Giant’s mate most of the escaping men are hit by rocks and killed. After further adventures (including a gigantic python from which Sinbad escapes thanks to his quick wits), he returns to Baghdad, wealthier than ever. The Fourth Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor Sinbad and the giant roc. Impelled by restlessness Sinbad takes to the seas again, and, as usual, is shipwrecked. The naked savages amongst whom he finds himself feed his companions a herb which robs them of their reason (Burton theorises that this might be bhang), prior to fattening them for the table. Sinbad realises what is happening, and refuses to eat the madness-inducing plant. When the cannibals have lost interest in him, he escapes. A party of itinerant pepper-gatherers transports him to their own island, where their king befriends him and gives him a beautiful and wealthy wife. Too late Sinbad learns of a peculiar custom of the land: on the death of one marriage partner, the other is buried alive with his or her spouse, both in their finest clothes and most costly jewels. Sinbad’s wife falls ill and dies soon after, leaving Sinbad trapped in an underground cavern, a communal tomb, with a jug of water and seven pieces of bread. Just as these meagre supplies are almost exhausted, another coupleà ¢â‚¬â€the husband dead, the wife alive—are dropped into the cavern. Sinbad bludgeons the wife to death and takes her rations. Such episodes continue; soon he has a sizable store of bread and water, as well as the gold and gems from the corpses, but is still unable to escape, until one day a wild animal shows him a passage to the outside, high above the sea. From here a passing ship rescues him and carries him back to Baghdad, where he gives alms to the poor and resumes his life of pleasure. (Burton’s footnote comments: â€Å"This tale is evidently taken from the escape of Aristomenes the Messenian from the pit into which he had been thrown, a fox being his guide. The Arabs in an early day were eager students of Greek literature.†) Similarly, the first half of the voyage resembles the Circe episode in The Odyssey, with certain differences: while a plant robbed Sinbad’s men of their reason in the Arab tales, it was only Circe’s magic which â€Å"fattened† Odysseus’ men in The Odyssey. It is in an earlier episode, featuring the ‘Lotus Eaters’, that Odysseus’ men are fed a similar magical fruit which robs them of their senses. Sindbad’s fifth voyage The Fifth Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor â€Å"When I had been a while on shore after my fourth voyage; and when, in my comfort and pleasures and merry-makings and in my rejoicing over my large gains and profits, I had forgotten all I had endured of perils and sufferings, the carnal man was again seized with the longing to travel and to see foreign countries and islands.† Soon at sea once more, while passing a desert island Sinbad’s crew spots a gigantic egg that Sinbad recognizes as belonging to a roc. Out of curiosity the ship’s passengers disembark to view the egg, only to end up breaking it and having the chick inside as a meal. Sinbad immediately recognizes the folly of their behavior and orders all back aboard ship. However, the infuriated parent rocs soon catch up with the vessel and destroy it by dropping giant boulders they have carried in their talons.[8] Shipwrecked yet again, Sinbad is enslaved by the Old Man of the Sea, who rides on his shoulders with his legs twisted round Sinbad’s neck and will not let go, riding him both day and night until Sinbad would welcome death. (Burton’s footnote discusses possible origins for the old man—the orang-utan, the Greek triton—and favours the African custom of riding on slaves in this way.[9]) Sinbad during sixth voyage Eventually, Sinbad makes wine and tricks the Old Man into drinking some, then Sinbad kills him after he has fallen off and escapes. A ship carries him to the City of the Apes, a place whose inhabitants spend each night in boats off-shore, while their town is abandoned to man-eating apes. Yet through the apes Sinbad recoups his fortune, and so eventually finds a ship which takes him home once more to Baghdad. The Sixth Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor â€Å"My soul yearned for travel and traffic†. Sinbad is shipwrecked yet again, this time quite violently as his ship is dashed to pieces on tall cliffs. There is no food to be had anywhere, and Sinbad’s companions die of starvation until only he is left. He builds a raft and discovers a river running out of a cavern beneath the cliffs. The stream proves to be filled with precious stones and becomes apparent that the island’s streams flow with ambergris. He falls asleep as he journeys through the darkness and awakens in the city of the king of Serendib (Ceylon, Sri Lanka), â€Å"diamonds are in its rivers and pearls are in its valleys†. The king marvels at what Sinbad tells him of the great Haroun al-Rashid, and asks that he take a present back to Baghdad on his behalf, a cup carved from a single ruby, with other gifts including a bed made from the skin of the serpent that swallowed the elephant[10] (â€Å"and whoso sitteth upon it never sickeneth†), and â€Å"a hundred thousand miskals of Sindh lign-aloesa†, and a slave-girl â€Å"like a shining moon†. And so Sinbad returns to Baghdad, where the Caliph wonders greatly at the reports Sinbad gives of the land of Ceylon. The Seventh and Last Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor â€Å"The Caravan† from â€Å"Sinbad’s Seventh and Last Voyage.† The ever-restless Sinbad sets sail once more, with the usual result. Cast up on a desolate shore, he constructs a raft and floats down a nearby river to a great city. Here the chief of the merchants weds Sinbad to his daughter, names him his heir, and conveniently dies. The inhabitants of this city are transformed once a month into birds, and Sinbad has one of the bird-people carry him to the uppermost reaches of the sky, where he hears the angels glorifying God, â€Å"whereat I wondered and exclaimed, ‘Praised be God! Extolled be the perfection of God!'† But no sooner are the words out than there comes fire from heaven which all but consumes the bird-men. The bird-people are angry with Sinbad and set him down on a mountain-top, where he meets two youths who are the servants of God and who give him a golden staff; returning to the city, Sinbad learns from his wife that the bird-men are devils, although she and her father are not of their number. And so, at his wife’s suggestion, Sinbad sells all his possessions and returns with her to Baghdad, where at last he resolves to live quietly in the enjoyment of his wealth, and to seek no more adventures. Burton includes a variant of the seventh tale, in which Haroun al-Rashid asks Sinbad to carry a return gift to the king of Serendib. Sinbad replies, â€Å"By Allah the Omnipotent, O my lord, I have taken a loathing to wayfare, and when I hear the words ‘Voyage’ or ‘Travel,’ my limbs tremble†. He then tells the Caliph of his misfortunate voyages; Haroun agrees that with such a history â€Å"thou dost only right never even to talk of travel†. Nevertheless, a command of the Caliph is not to be gainsayed, and Sinbad sets forth on this, his uniquely diplomatic voyage. The king of Serendip is well pleased with the Caliph’s gifts (which include, inter alia, the food tray of King Solomon) and showers Sinbad with his favour. On the return voyage the usual catastrophe strikes: Sinbad is captured and sold into slavery. His master sets him to shooting elephants with a bow and arrow, which he does until the king of the elephants carries him off to the elephants’ graveyard. Sinbad’s master is so pleased with the huge quantities of ivory in the graveyard that he sets Sinbad free, and Sinbad returns to Baghdad, rich with ivory and gold. â€Å"Here I went in to the Caliph and, after saluting him and kissing hands, informed him of all that had befallen me; whereupon he rejoiced in my safety and thanked Almighty Allah; and he made my story be written in letters of gold. I then entered my house and met my family and brethren: and such is the end of the history that happened to me during my seven voyages. Praise be to Allah, the One, the Creator, the Maker of all things in Heaven and Earth!†. In some versions we return to the frame story, in which Sinbad the Porter may receive a final generous gift from Sinbad the Sailor. In other versions the story cycle ends here, and there is no further mention of Sinbad the Porter.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Early History of African American Inventors

Early History of African American Inventors Thomas Jennings, born in 1791, is believed to have been the first African American  inventor to receive a patent for an invention. He was 30 years old when he was granted a patent for a dry-cleaning process. Jennings was a free tradesman and operated a dry-cleaning business in New York City. His income went mostly to his abolitionist activities. In 1831, he became assistant secretary for the First Annual Convention of the People of Color in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Slaves were prohibited from receiving patents on their inventions. Although free African American  inventors were legally able to receive patents, most did not. Some feared that recognition and most likely the prejudice that would come with it would destroy their livelihoods. African American Inventors George Washington Murray was a teacher, farmer  and U.S. congressman from South Carolina from 1893 to 1897. From his seat in the House of Representatives, Murray was in a unique position to bring into focus the achievements of a people recently emancipated. Speaking on behalf of proposed legislation for a Cotton States Exhibition to publicize the South’s technological process since the Civil War, Murray urged that a separate space be reserved to display some of the achievements of Southern African Americans. He explained the reasons why they  should participate in regional and national expositions, saying: Mr. Speaker, the colored people of this country want an opportunity to show that the progress, that the civilization which is now admired the world over, that the civilization which is now leading the world, that the civilization which all nations of the world look up to and imitatethe colored people, I say, want an opportunity to show that they, too, are part and parcel of that great civilization. He  proceeded to read the names and inventions of 92 African American  inventors into the Congressional Record. Henry Baker What we know about early African American innovators comes mostly from the work of Henry Baker. He was an assistant patent examiner at the U.S. Patent Office who was dedicated to uncovering and publicizing the contributions of African American inventors. Around 1900, the Patent Office conducted a survey to gather information about these  inventors and their inventions. Letters were sent to patent attorneys, company presidents, newspaper editors and prominent African Americans. Henry Baker recorded the replies and followed up on leads. Baker’s research also provided the information used to select those inventions exhibited at the Cotton Centennial in New Orleans, the World’s Fair in Chicago and the Southern Exposition in Atlanta. By the time of his death, Henry Baker had compiled four massive volumes. First African American Woman to Patent Judy W. Reed may not have been able to write her name, but she patented a hand-operated machine for kneading and rolling dough. She is probably the first African American woman to obtain a patent. Sarah E. Goode is believed to have been the second African American woman to receive a patent. Race Identification Henry Blair was the only person to be identified in the Patent Office records as a colored man. Blair was the second African American inventor issued a patent. Blair was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, around 1807. He received a patent on October 14, 1834, for a seed planter, and a patent in 1836 for a cotton planter. Lewis Latimer Lewis Howard Latimer  was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, in 1848. He enlisted in the Union Navy at the age of 15, and upon completion of his military service he returned to Massachusetts and was employed by a patent solicitor where he began the study of drafting. His talent for drafting and his creative genius led him to invent a method of making carbon filaments for the Maxim electric incandescent lamp. In 1881, he supervised the installation of electric lights in New York, Philadelphia, Montreal, and London. Latimer was the original draftsman for Thomas Edison and as such was the star witness in Edison’s infringement suits. Latimer had many interests. He was a draftsman, engineer, author, poet, musician and, at the same time, a devoted family man and philanthropist. Granville T. Woods Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1856,  Granville T. Woods  dedicated his life to developing a variety of inventions relating to the railroad industry. To some, he was known as the Black Edison. Woods invented more than a dozen devices to improve electric railway cars and much more for controlling the flow of electricity. His most noted invention was a system for letting the engineer of a train know how close his train was to others. This device helped cut down accidents and collisions between trains. Alexander Graham Bell’s company purchased the rights to Woods’ telegraphony, enabling him to become a full-time inventor. Among his other top inventions were a steam boiler furnace and an automatic air brake used to slow or stop trains. Wood’s electric car was powered by overhead wires. It was the third rail system to keep cars running on the right track. Success led to lawsuits filed by Thomas Edison. Woods eventually won, but Edison didn’t give up easily when he wanted something. Trying to win Woods over, and his inventions, Edison offered Woods a prominent position in the engineering department of Edison Electric Light Company in New York. Woods, preferring his independence, declined. George Washington Carver When you can do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.   George Washington Carver. He could have added fortune to fame, but, caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world. George Washington Carver’s epitaph sums up a lifetime of innovative discovery. Born into slavery, freed as a child and  curious throughout life, Carver profoundly affected the lives of people throughout the nation. He successfully shifted Southern farming away from risky cotton, which depletes the soil of its nutrients, to nitrate-producing crops such as peanuts, peas, sweet potatoes, pecans, and soybeans. Farmers began rotating crops of cotton one year with peanuts the next. Carver spent his early childhood with a German couple who encouraged his education and early interest in plants. He received his early education in Missouri and Kansas. He was accepted into Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, in 1877, and in 1891 he transferred to Iowa Agricultural College (now Iowa State University) where he earned a bachelor of science in 1894 and a masters in science in 1897. Later that year, Booker T. Washingtonfounder of the Tuskegee Instituteconvinced Carver to serve as the school’s director of agriculture. From his laboratory at Tuskegee, Carver developed 325 different uses for peanutsuntil then considered lowly food fit for hogsand 118 products from the sweet potato. Other Carver innovations include synthetic marble from sawdust, plastics from woodshavings and writing paper from wisteria vines. Carver only patented three of his many discoveries. God gave them to me, he said, How can I sell them to someone else? Upon his death, Carver contributed his life savings to establish a research institute at Tuskegee. His birthplace was declared a national monument in 1953, and he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1990. Elijah McCoy So  you want the real McCoy? That means you want the real thing- what you know to be of the highest quality, not an inferior imitation. The saying may refer to a famous African American inventor named  Elijah McCoy. He earned more than 50 patents, but the most famous one was for a metal or glass cup that fed oil to bearings through a smallbore tube. Machinists and engineers who wanted genuine McCoy lubricators may have originated the term the real McCoy. McCoy was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1843the son of slaves who had fled Kentucky. Educated in Scotland, he returned to the United States to pursue a position in his field of mechanical engineering. The only job available to him was that of a locomotive fireman/oilman for the Michigan Central Railroad. Because of his training, he was able to identify and solve the problems of engine lubrication and overheating. Railroad and shipping lines began using McCoy’s new lubricators, and Michigan Central promoted him to an instructor in the use of his new inventions. Later, McCoy moved to Detroit where he became a consultant to the railroad industry on patent matters. Unfortunately, success slipped away from McCoy, and he died in an infirmary after suffering a financial, mental and physical breakdown. Jan Matzeliger Jan Matzeliger  was born in Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana, in 1852. He immigrated to the United States at age 18 and went to work in a shoe factory in Philadelphia. Shoes then were handmade, a slow tedious process. Matzeliger helped revolutionize the shoe industry by developing a  machine that would attach the sole to the shoe in one minute. Matzeligers shoe lasting machine adjusts the shoe leather upper snugly over the mold, arranges the leather under the sole and pins it in place with nails, while the sole is stitched to the leather upper. Matzeliger died poor, but his stock in the machine was quite valuable. He left it to his friends and to the First Church of Christ in Lynn, Massachusetts. Garrett Morgan Garrett Morgan  was born in Paris, Kentucky, in 1877. As a self-educated man, he went on to make an explosive entry into the field of technology. He invented a gas inhalator when he, his brother and some volunteers were rescuing a group of men caught by an explosion in a smoke-filled tunnel under Lake Erie. Although this rescue earned Morgan a gold medal from the City of Cleveland and the Second International Exposition of Safety and Sanitation in New York, he was unable to market his gas inhalator because of racial prejudice. However, the U.S. Army used his device as gas masks for combat troops during World War I. Today, firefighters can save lives because  by wearing a similar breathing device they are able to enter burning buildings without harm from smoke or fumes. Morgan used his gas inhalator fame to sell his patented traffic signal with a flag-type signal to the General Electric Company for use at street intersections to control the flow of traffic. Madame Walker Sarah Breedlove McWilliams Walker, better known as  Madame Walker, together with  Marjorie Joyner  improved the hair-care and cosmetics industry early in the 20th century. Madame Walker was born in 1867 in poverty-stricken rural Louisiana. Walker was the daughter of former slaves, orphaned at the age of 7  and widowed by 20. After her husband’s death, the young widow migrated to St. Louis, Missouri, seeking a better way of life for herself and her child. She supplemented her income as a wash woman by selling her homemade beauty products door-to-door. Eventually, Walker’s products formed the basis of a thriving national corporation employing at one point over 3,000 people. Her Walker System, which included a broad offering of cosmetics, licensed Walker Agents, and Walker Schools offered meaningful employment and personal growth to thousands of African American women. Madame Walker’s aggressive marketing strategy combined with relentless ambition led her to be labeled as the first known African American woman to become a self-made millionaire. An employee of Madame Walker’s empire, Marjorie Joyner, invented a permanent wave machine. This device, patented in 1928, curled or permed women’s hair for a relatively lengthy period of time. The wave machine was popular among women white and black allowing for longer-lasting wavy hairstyles. Joyner went on to become a prominent figure in Madame Walker’s industry, though she never profited directly from her invention, for it was the assigned property of the Walker Company. Patricia Bath Dr.  Patricia Bath’s  passionate dedication to the treatment and prevention of blindness led her to develop the Cataract Laserphaco Probe. The probe, patented in 1988, is designed to use the power of a laser to quickly and painlessly vaporize cataracts from patients’ eyes, replacing the more common method of using a grinding, drill-like device to remove the afflictions. With another invention, Bath was able to restore sight to people who had been blind for over 30 years. Bath also holds patents for her invention in Japan, Canada, and Europe. Patricia Bath graduated from the Howard University School of Medicine in 1968 and completed specialty training in ophthalmology and corneal transplant at both New York University and Columbia University. In 1975, Bath became the first African American woman surgeon at the UCLA Medical Center and the first woman to be on the faculty of the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute. She is the founder and first president of the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness. Patricia Bath was elected to Hunter College Hall of Fame in 1988 and elected as Howard University Pioneer in Academic Medicine in 1993. Charles Drew - The Blood Bank Charles Drew- a Washington, D.C., native- excelled in academics and sports during his graduate studies at Amherst College in Massachusetts. He was also an honor student at McGill University Medical School in Montreal, where he specialized in physiological anatomy. It was during his work at Columbia University in New York City where he made his discoveries relating to the preservation of blood. By separating the liquid red blood cells from the near solid plasma and freezing the two separately, he found that blood could be preserved and reconstituted at a later date. The British military used his process extensively during World War II, establishing mobile blood banks to aid in the treatment of wounded soldiers at the front lines. After the war, Drew was appointed the first director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank. He received the Spingarn Medal in 1944 for his contributions. He died at the early age of 46 from injuries suffered in a car accident in North Carolina. Percy Julian - Synthesis of Cortisone Physostigmine Percy Julian  synthesized physostigmine for treatment of glaucoma and cortisone for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. He is also noted for a fire-extinguishing foam for gasoline and oil fires. Born in Montgomery, Alabama,  Julian had little schooling because Montgomery provided limited public education for African Americans. However, he entered DePauw University as a sub-freshman and graduated in 1920 as class valedictorian. He then taught chemistry at Fisk University, and in 1923 he earned a master’s degree from Harvard University. In 1931, Julian received his Ph.D. from the University of Vienna. Julian returned to DePauw University, where his reputation was established in 1935 by synthesizing physostigmine from the calabar bean. Julian went on to become director of research at the Glidden Company, a paint and varnish manufacturer. He developed a process for isolating and preparing soybean protein, which could be used to coat and size paper, create cold water paints and size textiles. During World War II, Julian used a soy protein to produce AeroFoam, which suffocates gasoline and oil fires. Julian was noted most for his synthesis of cortisone from soybeans, used in treating rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. His synthesis reduced the price of cortisone. Percy Julian was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1990. Meredith Groudine Dr. Meredith Groudine was born in New Jersey in 1929 and grew up in the streets of Harlem and Brooklyn. He attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and received a Ph.D. in engineering science from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Groudine built a multimillion dollar corporation that is based on his ideas in the field of electrogasdynamics (EGD). Using the principles of EGD, Groudine successfully converted natural gas to electricity for everyday use. Applications of EGD include refrigeration, desalination of seawater and reducing the pollutants in smoke. He holds more than 40 patents for various inventions. In 1964, he served on the President’s Panel on Energy. Henry Green Parks Jr. The aroma of sausage and scrapple cooking in kitchens along the east coast of America  has made it a little easier for kids to get up in the morning. With quickened steps to the breakfast table, families enjoy the fruits of the diligence and hard work of Henry Green Parks  Jr. He started the Parks Sausage Company in 1951 using distinctive, tasty Southern recipes he developed for sausage and other products. Parks registered several trademarks, but the radio and television commercial featuring a child’s voice demanding More Parks Sausages, mom is probably the most famous. After consumer complaints about the youngster’s perceived disrespect, Parks added the word please to his slogan. The company, with meager beginnings in an abandoned dairy plant in Baltimore, Maryland, and two employees, grew into a multimillion-dollar operation with more than 240 employees and annual sales exceeding $14 million. Black Enterprise continually cited H.G. Parks, Inc., as one of the top 100 African American firms in the country. Parks sold his interest in the company for $1.58 million in 1977, but he remained on the board of directors until 1980. He also served on the corporate boards of Magnavox, First Penn Corp., Warner Lambert Co. and W.R. Grace Co., and was a trustee of Goucher College of Baltimore. He died on April 14, 1989, at the age of 72. Mark Dean Mark Dean and his co-inventor, Dennis Moeller, created a microcomputer system with bus control means for peripheral processing devices. Their invention paved the way for the growth in the information technology industry, allowing us to plug into our computers peripherals like disk drives, video gear, speakers, and scanners. Dean was born in Jefferson City, Tennessee, on March 2, 1957. He received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee, his MSEE from Florida Atlantic University and his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Early in his career at IBM, Dean was a chief engineer working with IBM personal computers. The IBM PS/2 Models 70 and 80 and the Color Graphics Adapter are among his early work. He holds three of IBM’s original nine PC patents. Serving as vice president of performance for the RS/6000 Division, Dean was named an IBM fellow in 1996, and in 1997 he received the Black Engineer of the Year President’s Award. Dean holds more than 20 patents and  was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1997. James West Dr.  James West  is a Bell Laboratories Fellow at Lucent Technologies where he specializes in electro, physical  and architectural acoustics. His research in the early 1960s led to the development of foil-electret transducers for sound recording and voice communication that is used in 90% of all microphones built today and at the heart of most new telephones being manufactured. West holds 47 U.S. and more than 200 foreign patents on microphones and techniques for making polymer foil-electrets. He has authored more than 100 papers and contributed to books on acoustics, solid state physics, and material science. West has received numerous awards including the Golden Torch Award in 1998 sponsored by the National Society of Black Engineers, the Lewis Howard Latimer Light Switch and Socket Award in 1989, and was chosen New Jersey Inventor of the Year for 1995. Dennis Weatherby While employed by Procter Gamble, Dennis Weatherby developed and received a patent for the automatic dishwasher detergent known by the trade name Cascade. He received his master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Dayton in 1984. Cascade is a registered trademark of the Procter Gamble Company. Frank Crossley Dr. Frank Crossley is a pioneer in the field of titanium metallurgy. He began his work in metals at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago after receiving his graduate degrees in metallurgical engineering. In the 1950s, few African Americans were visible in the engineering fields, but Crossley excelled in his field. He received seven patents- five in titanium base alloys that greatly improved the aircraft and aerospace industry. Michel Molaire Originally from Haiti, Michel Molaire became  a research associate at the Office Imaging Research and Development Group of Eastman Kodak. You can thank him for some of your most treasured Kodak moments. Molaire received his bachelor of science degree in chemistry, a masters of science degree in chemical engineering and M.B.A. from the University of Rochester. He has been with Kodak since 1974. After receiving more than 20 patents, Molaire was inducted into Eastman Kodak’s Distinguished Inventor’s Gallery in 1994. Valerie Thomas In addition to a long, distinguished career at NASA, Valerie Thomas is also the inventor of and holds a patent for an illusion transmitter. Thomas’ invention transmits by cable or electromagnetic means a three-dimensional, real-time imageNASA adopted the technology. She  received several NASA awards, including the Goddard Space Flight Center Award of Merit and the NASA Equal Opportunity Medal.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Free Essays on Everyday Stalinism

Book Critique on Everyday Stalinism In Shelia Fitzpatrick’s Everyday Stalinism, life in Soviet Russia during the 1930s is described in a variety of ways. After the revolution of 1917 and the change in the regime, life for ordinary Russians took a very different course. Agriculture was no longer a private entity, but a state-ran operation. Industrialization was given top priority, and even as people were starving and suffering sever economic hardships, the state continued to build railways and new factories in its hopes to make Russia completely self-sufficient. More than anything else, â€Å"normal† everyday life had been dramatically altered. Citizens now worked for the state, laws and legal procedures were held in low regard; food, clothing, shelter and other basic human needs were scarce. The state ruled by terror, arresting people on suspicion of not conforming to the states belief system. Citizens were watched, spied on and were basically at the mercy of the high-ranking communist officials. The 1930s were truly a time of hardship and terror for many living in Soviet Russia. This book critique will seek to give a brief synopsis of Everyday Stalinism, how reading this book enhanced my own personal understanding of Soviet history, and I will comment how the author presented her arguments. In Everyday Stalinism, Fitzpatrick seeks to paint a vivid picture of everyday life under Stalin’s reign. First, Stalinism can be defined as â€Å"Communist Party rule, Marxist- Taylor 2 Leninist ideology, rampant bureaucracy, leader cults, state control over production and distribution†¦police surveillance, terror†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Fitzpatrick, 1999, 3). Lenin had understood that pure communism was only hurting Russia, not making it the promise-land that everyone had originally anticipated. He passed the New Economic Policy, which allowed for the reversion back to some private enterprises. When Stalin took power several years ... Free Essays on Everyday Stalinism Free Essays on Everyday Stalinism Book Critique on Everyday Stalinism In Shelia Fitzpatrick’s Everyday Stalinism, life in Soviet Russia during the 1930s is described in a variety of ways. After the revolution of 1917 and the change in the regime, life for ordinary Russians took a very different course. Agriculture was no longer a private entity, but a state-ran operation. Industrialization was given top priority, and even as people were starving and suffering sever economic hardships, the state continued to build railways and new factories in its hopes to make Russia completely self-sufficient. More than anything else, â€Å"normal† everyday life had been dramatically altered. Citizens now worked for the state, laws and legal procedures were held in low regard; food, clothing, shelter and other basic human needs were scarce. The state ruled by terror, arresting people on suspicion of not conforming to the states belief system. Citizens were watched, spied on and were basically at the mercy of the high-ranking communist officials. The 1930s were truly a time of hardship and terror for many living in Soviet Russia. This book critique will seek to give a brief synopsis of Everyday Stalinism, how reading this book enhanced my own personal understanding of Soviet history, and I will comment how the author presented her arguments. In Everyday Stalinism, Fitzpatrick seeks to paint a vivid picture of everyday life under Stalin’s reign. First, Stalinism can be defined as â€Å"Communist Party rule, Marxist- Taylor 2 Leninist ideology, rampant bureaucracy, leader cults, state control over production and distribution†¦police surveillance, terror†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Fitzpatrick, 1999, 3). Lenin had understood that pure communism was only hurting Russia, not making it the promise-land that everyone had originally anticipated. He passed the New Economic Policy, which allowed for the reversion back to some private enterprises. When Stalin took power several years ...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Capitalism at its best Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Capitalism at its best - Essay Example Once the insurance policies are cashed in, they are set to be invested in by a third party. This party continues to pay the required insurance policy premiums for the policy that he/she invests in. In so doing, the original beneficiary of the insurance policy gets to utilize his/her resources before death come knocking. On the other hand, the viatical settlement company profits from such operations by getting a percentage face value of the policy transacted under viatical settlement. After the original insurance policy holder dies, the settlement company or the third party that invests in the cashed in policy becomes the beneficiary. From the cashing in of the insurance policy to the sale of that policy to a third party, all the transactions involved are privately undertaken. On the same note, viatical settlement companies are private entities that operate alongside other private players in the economy setting. As a result, viatical settlement companies exhibit private ownership of resources, and consequently capital in their operations. These factors are the most critical when it comes to the definition of capitalism. Capitalism continues to be portrayed at its best in respect to the risks that viatical settlement companies take in allowing terminally ill patients to cash in their insurance policies. Viatical settlement practices are highly complex and critically prone to ethical issues Accountability is a critical factor to account for in the process of undertaking viatical settlements. The legal system regulates and governs viatical settlement transactions, thereby allowing players in that market to coexist and engage in healthy competition. The competition factor in viatical settlements further presents the capitalism aspect. Viatical settlement companies are not immune to the legal provisions that streamline business operations. Failure to comply with the set laws results in legal actions against the

Friday, November 1, 2019

Week 7 hw Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Week 7 hw - Essay Example Adultery is an act that violates these values is wrong. Moreover, adultery betrays faithfulness in marriages, a core value of the institution. It also goes against the spiritual teachings of purity. Adultery hampers honesty and trustworthiness in relationships. In addition, adultery does not respect the feeling of a partner. Furthermore, it breaks the vows committed during marriage proceedings. This hurts most of the marriage couples and it may result in to breakups. 3. Prostitution is wrong according to religious and societal values. First and foremost, religious books like the bible are against this act of selling the flesh. They describe the body as the temple of God which should be kept clean always. Secondly, all societies do not advocate for prostitution. In most societies, prostitutes are outcasts and are people looked at with very little respect. Finally, prostitutes destroy other people’s marriages. 4. Any society or country is not complete without prostitutes. Prostitution will always manifest itself whether we like it or not. Therefore, prostitution should be made legally permissible and regulated to protect both prostitutes and their customers. Permitting prostitution will help in training the prostitutes on safe sex practices. Also, the prostitutes will not be mistreated by clients. Prostitutes are human beings too. Legal permission of prostitution will ensure respect of their rights and freedoms. In case of any violation, the natural course of justice takes effect immediately. 5. Internet pornography should be forbidden because of its many negative impacts. First of all, it shatters relationships between wives and husbands. Some couples visit the porn websites for self-satisfaction purposes. Consequently, some end up masturbating. When one of

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Retail Industry in the UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Retail Industry in the UK - Essay Example In the year 2010, the industry was responsible for the creation of additional 12,750 full time jobs and the total number of jobs increased by 2.1% in comparison with the previous year. The total number of people employed by the industry in the year 2010 was 2.9 million which roughly accounts for the 11% of the total workforce in the UK. From this fact, it can be inferred that the retail industry holds a very prominent position in the economy of the UK. From economic activity to employment, the retail industry affects a number of factors in the economy of the UK. In 2010, there were 286,680 retail outlets in the UK and the number has grown in the year 2011. More than a third of the total consumer spending the region goes through shops. Retail industry generates around 5% of the Gross Domestic Product of the UK. Consumers are also taking interest in shopping over internet and the sales over internet account for around 7% of the total retail sales and the number is estimated to grow sig nificantly. FINDINGS Retail industry is one of the strongest industries in the UK. The industry has witnessed significant growth in the recent years. Every industry is influenced by certain economic and social factors and in case of retail industry the most important economic factor is inflation. With the rise in inflation, the prices of consumer products also rise. Thus the consumers refrain from buying and the overall retail sales go down. Other social factors that may influence the retail industry may be the prevailing trends in clothing and the weather conditions. Such are the indicators that help the retailers take steps proactively in order to save themselves from any significant impact. The following review of the retail industry in the UK would also focus on the impact of such economic and social factors in the last quarter of the year 2011.... With the rise in inflation, the prices of consumer products also rise. Thus the consumers refrain from buying and the overall retail sales go down. Other social factors that may influence the retail industry may be the prevailing trends in clothing and the weather conditions. Such are the indicators that help the retailers take steps proactively in order to save themselves from any significant impact. The following review of the retail industry in the UK would also focus on the impact of such economic and social factors in the last quarter of the year 2011. REVIEW OF RETAIL INDUSTRY FOR THE LAST QUARTER OF 2011 The start of the last quarter of 2011 was slow for the retail industry in the UK however the sales grew significantly towards the end of the quarter. There were a number of economic and other factors responsible for the trend of sales observed in the last quarter of 2011. One of the most important factors behind this trend of sales volume was Christmas which always impacts the retail industry positively. A boost in the internet sales was also witnessed in this quarter. Following is the month by month review of the retail industry in the UK for the last quarter of 2011. Retail Industry in October 2011 The overall retail sales volume increased by 0.6% in the month of October as compared to the previous month. This increase was higher than what was expected by the economists. The absence of any social factors to cause an increase in the sales volume led the economists to estimate a decline in the sales volume in comparison with the previous month but the sales volume increased. The benefit of this increase in sales was enjoyed mostly by the small retailers while the large stores had to lose their overall sales

Monday, October 28, 2019

Tim OBrien’s The Things They Carried Paper Essay Example for Free

Tim OBrien’s The Things They Carried Paper Essay Introduction The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien is replete with several themes in the story but this paper will tackle the particular â€Å"things† that O’Brien’s characters carry, whether literal or figurative. As one reads through the novel, the reader sees the different emotional load that each of the character carries and which become hindrances to the way they behave in battle and even after they go back to their own homes. Theme In particular, this paper looks into the theme of mental luggage that each man brings into the war, whether they are objects or beliefs, which basically hinder them from functioning effectively in battle. III. Characters’ Burdens and Anxieties   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Starting off with Henry Dobbins, who may be just a minor character who even exhibits a kind and gentle spirit, yet is found to be superstitious as he carries his girlfriend’s pantyhose around his neck. This can be funny as one reads it first, but there is this firm belief on his part that this practice will protect him wherever he goes. The pantyhose, thus, becomes a thing that literally is carried by Dobbins all throughout the novel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One main character that ends up tragically because of the emotional burdens that he carries is Norman Bowker. He is portrayed as a quiet soldier, keeping things to himself, aggravated when Kiowa dies, prompting him to return to his hometown aloof and restless. He puts up a front, as if nothing is wrong with him, but this is where he succumbs in the end. His only alternative to unburden himself is when he is able to tell his story, even asking Tim to write his story for him the travails of his life at war. Yet, when the story ends up unsuccessful, Bowker finds no meaning in life at all and eventually kills himself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another character who carries a burden is Jimmy Cross. This time is starts with a mental burden of thinking about Martha, a girl he loves deeply back in New Jersey. Martha does not return this love at all, yet Cross carries this to war and because of the distraction that this entails, he is not able to save a man who died. Thinking that it was because his mind was preoccupied with the thought of Martha, Cross never forgives himself because of this incident and how irresponsible he is to his men. He tries to come to terms with Ted Lavender’s death and seemed forever burdened with this even if he was no longer fighting in the war. He also literally carries compasses and maps during the war. Effect of Emotional Burdens   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The author demonstrates how silently carrying one’s burdens like painful memories can hinder one from enjoying life to the fullest. Cross’ character is shown to even suspect that the â€Å"Love† signed at the end of Martha’s letters is just a figure of speech. Lavender’s death is imprinted in Cross’ mind and heart and this is aggravated again by the fact that Cross discovers that in reality, Martha never really cared for him at all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even Ted Lavender carries his anxieties with him in war as he smokes marijuana and takes tranquilizers. In fact, the men in this war carry their anxieties and fear with them, just repressing them because they are in battle. But the preoccupations of their minds and hearts are sometimes even bigger than the battle at hand. In sum, these soldiers have a difficult time in telling their experiences and the repression of their experiences are carried long after the war has been fought. The tragedies and horrors of the war are carried back to their own homes, leaving them distraught all the more. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Indeed, the story emphasizes the havoc that war brings after they go into battle. These men â€Å"carry† emotional burdens that continue long after they go back to their own homes after the war. The conflicts in their minds continuously eat away on their victims’ minds for the rest of their lives. Work Cited OBrien, Tim. The Things They Carried. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Graffiti - The Unlawful Art :: Urban Art

One day in the afternoon while I was surfing on the Internet, one of my friends forwarded a really interesting website addressed www.stillfree.com to me. At the beginning, I thought it was some kind of shopping promotional website but after clicking on it, an interesting video popped up. I saw a man being video recorded while he was climbing up a fence of a military airport. Then, he ran quickly towards the Air Force One, which is the personal aircraft of the President of the United States, and tagged a graffiti drawing on the jet. It gave me a big shock after watching the video because that man actually sneaked in to the US military airbase and tagged the Air force One aircraft. The event was being broadcast on some major TV channels. After making everything clear, I realized that video was not really took place at the US airbase and it was actually made up by a prominent fashion designer Marc Ecko. The whole process of the video was so real, but it came up as a campaign video to promote the art of graffiti. There are many different points of view on graffiti and it has always aroused arguments on its legalization. Graffiti can be recognized as a form of art, or crime. Graffiti consists of inscriptions, slogans and drawings scratched, scribbled or painted on a wall or other public or private surface. According to The Dictionary of Art, the word "graffiti" is derived from the Greek term "graphein" (to write) and the word "graffiti" itself is plural of the Italian word "graffito." Graffiti is also a form of self-expression. It is the means used to express the artist's identity, feelings, and ideas. The art of graffiti is also a kind of communication that links people regardless their cultural, lingual, or racial differences. When graffiti was first becoming popular, the tools being used were mostly wide tipped markers and spray cans. Graffiti can also be analyzed according to the elements of lines, color, and structures that are present in the work in order to produce a narrative about it. The graffitist first does a sketch, and then he or she plans out characters and selects colors. Next, the artist selects his or her surface and does a preliminary outline, followed by a filling in of colors and ornamentation, and then the final outline is completed. However, graffiti is not readily accepted as being art like those works that are found in a gallery or a museum.