The Lost Symbol Chapter 132-133

CHAPTER 132 Katherine Solomon's heart felt light as she hurried up the hill toward the base of the Washington Monument. She had endured great shock and tragedy tonight, and yet her thoughts were refocused now, if only temporarily, on the wonderful news Peter had shared with her earlier . . . news she had just confirmed with her very own eyes. My research is safe. All of it. Her lab's holographic data drives had been destroyed tonight, but earlier, at the House of the Temple, Peter had informed her that he had been secretly keeping backups of all her Noetic research in the SMSC executive offices. You know I'm utterly fascinated with your work, he had explained, and I wanted to follow your progress without disturbing you. â€Å"Katherine?† a deep voice called out. She looked up. A lone figure stood in silhouette at the base of the illuminated monument. â€Å"Robert!† She hurried over and hugged him. â€Å"I heard the good news,† Langdon whispered. â€Å"You must be relieved.† Her voice cracked with emotion. â€Å"Incredibly.† The research Peter had saved was a scientific tour de force–a massive collection of experiments that proved human thought was a real and measurable force in the world. Katherine's experiments demonstrated the effect of human thought on everything from ice crystals to random-event generators to the movement of subatomic particles. The results were conclusive and irrefutable, with the potential to transform skeptics into believers and affect global consciousness on a massive scale. â€Å"Everything is going to change, Robert. Everything.† â€Å"Peter certainly thinks so.† Katherine glanced around for her brother. â€Å"Hospital,† Langdon said. â€Å"I insisted he go as a favor to me.† Katherine exhaled, relieved. â€Å"Thank you.† â€Å"He told me to wait for you here.† Katherine nodded, her gaze climbing the glowing white obelisk. â€Å"He said he was bringing you here. Something about `Laus Deo'? He didn't elaborate.† Langdon gave a tired chuckle. â€Å"I'm not sure I entirely understand it myself.† He glanced up at the top of the monument. â€Å"Your brother said quite a few things tonight that I couldn't get my mind around.† â€Å"Let me guess,† Katherine said. â€Å"Ancient Mysteries, science, and the Holy Scriptures?† â€Å"Bingo.† â€Å"Welcome to my world.† She winked. â€Å"Peter initiated me into this long ago. It fueled a lot of my research.† â€Å"Intuitively, some of what he said made sense.† Langdon shook his head. â€Å"But intellectually . . .† Katherine smiled and put her arm around him. â€Å"You know, Robert, I may be able to help you with that.† Deep inside the Capitol Building, Architect Warren Bellamy was walking down a deserted hallway. Only one thing left to do tonight, he thought. When he arrived at his office, he retrieved a very old key from his desk drawer. The key was black iron, long and slender, with faded markings. He slid it into his pocket and then prepared himself to welcome his guests. Robert Langdon and Katherine Solomon were on their way to the Capitol. At Peter's request, Bellamy was to provide them with a very rare opportunity–the chance to lay eyes upon this building's most magnificent secret . . . something that could be revealed only by the Architect. CHAPTER 133 High above the floor of the Capitol Rotunda, Robert Langdon inched nervously around the circular catwalk that extended just beneath the ceiling of the dome. He peered tentatively over the railing, dizzied by the height, still unable to believe it had been less than ten hours since Peter's hand had appeared in the middle of the floor below. On that same floor, the Architect of the Capitol was now a tiny speck some hundred and eighty feet below, moving steadily across the Rotunda and then disappearing. Bellamy had escorted Langdon and Katherine up to this balcony, leaving them here with very specific instructions. Peter's instructions. Langdon eyed the old iron key that Bellamy had handed to him. Then he glanced over at a cramped stairwell that ascended from this level . . . climbing higher still. God help me. These narrow stairs, according to the Architect, led up to a small metal door that could be unlocked with the iron key in Langdon's hand. Beyond the door lay something that Peter insisted Langdon and Katherine see. Peter had not elaborated, but rather had left strict instructions regarding the precise hour at which the door was to be opened. We have to wait to open the door? Why? Langdon checked his watch again and groaned. Slipping the key into his pocket, he gazed across the gaping void before him at the far side of the balcony. Katherine had walked fearlessly ahead, apparently unfazed by the height. She was now halfway around the circumference, admiring every inch of Brumidi's The Apotheosis of Washington, which loomed directly over their heads. From this rare vantage point, the fifteen- foot-tall figures that adorned the nearly five thousand square feet of the Capitol Dome were visible in astonishing detail. Langdon turned his back to Katherine, faced the outer wall, and whispered very quietly, â€Å"Katherine, this is your conscience speaking. Why did you abandon Robert?† Katherine was apparently familiar with the dome's startling acoustical properties . . . because the wall whispered back. â€Å"Because Robert is being a chicken. He should come over here with me. We have plenty of time before we're allowed to open that door.† Langdon knew she was right and reluctantly made his way around the balcony, hugging the wall as he went. â€Å"This ceiling is absolutely amazing,† Katherine marveled, her neck craned to take in the enormous splendor of the Apotheosis overhead. â€Å"Mythical gods all mixed in with scientific inventors and their creations? And to think this is the image at the center of our Capitol.† Langdon turned his eyes upward to the sprawling forms of Franklin, Fulton, and Morse with their technological inventions. A shining rainbow arched away from these figures, guiding his eye to George Washington ascending to heaven on a cloud. The great promise of man becoming God. Katherine said, â€Å"It's as if the entire essence of the Ancient Mysteries is hovering over the Rotunda.† Langdon had to admit, not many frescoes in the world fused scientific inventions with mythical gods and human apotheosis. This ceiling's spectacular collection of images was indeed a message of the Ancient Mysteries, and it was here for a reason. The founding fathers had envisioned America as a blank canvas, a fertile field on which the seeds of the mysteries could be sown. Today, this soaring icon–the father of our country ascending to heaven–hung silently above our lawmakers, leaders, and presidents . . . a bold reminder, a map to the future, a promise of a time when man would evolve to complete spiritual maturity. â€Å"Robert,† Katherine whispered, her gaze still fixated on the massive figures of America's great inventors accompanied by Minerva. â€Å"It's prophetic, really. Today, man's most advanced inventions are being used to study man's most ancient ideas. The science of Noetics may be new, but it's actually the oldest science on earth–the study of human thought.† She turned to him now, her eyes filled with wonder. â€Å"And we're learning that the ancients actually understood thought more profoundly than we do today.† â€Å"Makes sense,† Langdon replied. â€Å"The human mind was the only technology the ancients had at their disposal. The early philosophers studied it relentlessly.† â€Å"Yes! The ancient texts are obsessed with the power of the human mind. The Vedas describe the flow of mind energy. The Pistis Sophia describes universal consciousness. The Zohar explores the nature of mind spirit. The Shamanic texts predict Einstein's `remote influence' in terms of healing at a distance. It's all there! And don't even get me started about the Bible.† â€Å"You, too?† Langdon said, chuckling. â€Å"Your brother tried to convince me that the Bible is encoded with scientific information.† â€Å"It certainly is,† she said. â€Å"And if you don't believe Peter, read some of Newton's esoteric texts on the Bible. When you start to understand the cryptic parables in the Bible, Robert, you realize it's a study of the human mind.† Langdon shrugged. â€Å"I guess I'd better go back and read it again.† â€Å"Let me ask you something,† she said, clearly not appreciating his skepticism. â€Å"When the Bible tells us to `go build our temple' . . . a temple that we must `build with no tools and making no noise,' what temple do you think it's talking about?† â€Å"Well, the text does say your body is a temple.† â€Å"Yes, Corinthians 3:16. You are the temple of God.† She smiled at him. â€Å"And the Gospel of John says the exact same thing. Robert, the Scriptures are well aware of the power latent within us, and they are urging us to harness that power . . . urging us to build the temples of our minds.† â€Å"Unfortunately, I think much of the religious world is waiting for a real temple to be rebuilt. It's part of the Messianic Prophecy.† â€Å"Yes, but that overlooks an important point. The Second Coming is the coming of man–the moment when mankind finally builds the temple of his mind.† â€Å"I don't know,† Langdon said, rubbing his chin. â€Å"I'm no Bible scholar, but I'm pretty sure the Scriptures describe in detail a physical temple that needs to be built. The structure is described as being in two parts–an outer temple called the Holy Place and an inner sanctuary called the Holy of Holies. The two parts are separated from each other by a thin veil.† Katherine grinned. â€Å"Pretty good recall for a Bible skeptic. By the way, have you ever seen an actual human brain? It's built in two parts–an outer part called the dura mater and an inner part called the pia mater. These two parts are separated by the arachnoid–a veil of weblike tissue.† Langdon cocked his head in surprise. Gently, she reached up and touched Langdon's temple. â€Å"There's a reason they call this your temple, Robert.† As Langdon tried to process what Katherine had said, he flashed unexpectedly on the gnostic Gospel of Mary: Where the mind is, there is the treasure. â€Å"Perhaps you've heard,† Katherine said, softly now, â€Å"about the brain scans taken of yogis while they meditate? The human brain, in advanced states of focus, will physically create a waxlike substance from the pineal gland. This brain secretion is unlike anything else in the body. It has an incredible healing effect, can literally regenerate cells, and may be one of the reasons yogis live so long. This is real science, Robert. This substance has inconceivable properties and can be created only by a mind that is highly tuned to a deeply focused state.† â€Å"I remember reading about that a few years back.† â€Å"Yes, and on that topic, you're familiar with the Bible's account of `manna from heaven'?† Langdon saw no connection. â€Å"You mean the magical substance that fell from heaven to nourish the hungry?† â€Å"Exactly. The substance was said to heal the sick, provide everlasting life, and, strangely, cause no waste in those who consumed it.† Katherine paused, as if waiting for him to understand. â€Å"Robert?† she prodded. â€Å"A kind of nourishment that fell from heaven?† She tapped her temple. â€Å"Magically heals the body? Creates no waste? Don't you see? These are code words, Robert! Temple is code for `body.' Heaven is code for `mind.' Jacob's ladder is your spine. And manna is this rare brain secretion. When you see these code words in Scripture, pay attention. They are often markers for a more profound meaning concealed beneath the surface.† Katherine's words were coming out in rapid-fire succession now, explaining how this same magical substance appeared throughout the Ancient Mysteries: Nectar of the Gods, Elixir of Life, Fountain of Youth, Philosopher's Stone, ambrosia, dew, ojas, soma. Then she launched into an explanation about the brain's pineal gland representing the all-seeing eye of God. â€Å"According to Matthew 6:22,† she said excitedly, † `when your eye is single, your body fills with light.' This concept is also represented by the Ajna chakra and the dot on a Hindu's forehead, which–â€Å" Katherine stopped short, looking sheepish. â€Å"Sorry . . . I know I'm rambling. I just find this all so exhilarating. For years I've studied the ancients' claims of man's awesome mental power, and now science is showing us that accessing that power is an actual physical process. Our brains, if used correctly, can call forth powers that are quite literally superhuman. The Bible, like many ancient texts, is a detailed exposition of the most sophisticated machine ever created . . . the human mind.† She sighed. â€Å"Incredibly, science has yet to scratch the surface of the mind's full promise.† â€Å"It sounds like your work in Noetics will be a quantum leap forward.† â€Å"Or backward,† she said. â€Å"The ancients already knew many of the scientific truths we're now rediscovering. Within a matter of years, modern man will be forced to accept what is now unthinkable: our minds can generate energy capable of transforming physical matter.† She paused. â€Å"Particles react to our thoughts . . . which means our thoughts have the power to change the world.† Langdon smiled softly. â€Å"What my research has brought me to believe is this,† Katherine said. â€Å"God is very real–a mental energy that pervades everything. And we, as human beings, have been created in that image–â€Å" â€Å"I'm sorry?† Langdon interrupted. â€Å"Created in the image of . . . mental energy?† â€Å"Exactly. Our physical bodies have evolved over the ages, but it was our minds that were created in the image of God. We've been reading the Bible too literally. We learn that God created us in his image, but it's not our physical bodies that resemble God, it's our minds.† Langdon was silent now, fully engrossed. â€Å"This is the great gift, Robert, and God is waiting for us to understand it. All around the world, we are gazing skyward, waiting for God . . . never realizing that God is waiting for us.† Katherine paused, letting her words soak in. â€Å"We are creators, and yet we naively play the role of `the created.' We see ourselves as helpless sheep buffeted around by the God who made us. We kneel like frightened children, begging for help, for forgiveness, for good luck. But once we realize that we are truly created in the Creator's image, we will start to understand that we, too, must be Creators. When we understand this fact, the doors will burst wide open for human potential.† Langdon recalled a passage that had always stuck with him from the work of the philosopher Manly P. Hall: If the infinite had not desired man to be wise, he would not have bestowed upon him the faculty of knowing. Langdon gazed up again at the image of The Apotheosis of Washington–the symbolic ascent of man to deity. The created . . . becoming the Creator. â€Å"The most amazing part,† Katherine said, â€Å"is that as soon as we humans begin to harness our true power, we will have enormous control over our world. We will be able to design reality rather than merely react to it.† Langdon lowered his gaze. â€Å"That sounds . . . dangerous.† Katherine looked startled . . . and impressed. â€Å"Yes, exactly! If thoughts affect the world, then we must be very careful how we think. Destructive thoughts have influence, too, and we all know it's far easier to destroy than it is to create.† Langdon thought of all the lore about needing to protect the ancient wisdom from the unworthy and share it only with the enlightened. He thought of the Invisible College, and the great scientist Isaac Newton's request to Robert Boyle to keep â€Å"high silence† about their secret research. It cannot be communicated, Newton wrote in 1676, without immense damage to the world. â€Å"There's an interesting twist here,† Katherine said. â€Å"The great irony is that all the religions of the world, for centuries, have been urging their followers to embrace the concepts of faith and belief. Now science, which for centuries has derided religion as superstition, must admit that its next big frontier is quite literally the science of faith and belief . . . the power of focused conviction and intention. The same science that eroded our faith in the miraculous is now building a bridge back across the chasm it created.† Langdon considered her words for a long time. Slowly he raised his eyes again to the Apotheosis. â€Å"I have a question,† he said, looking back at Katherine. â€Å"Even if I could accept, just for an instant, that I have the power to change physical matter with my mind, and literally manifest all that I desire . . . I'm afraid I see nothing in my life to make me believe I have such power.† She shrugged. â€Å"Then you're not looking hard enough.† â€Å"Come on, I want a real answer. That's the answer of a priest. I want the answer of a scientist.† â€Å"You want a real answer? Here it is. If I hand you a violin and say you have the capability to use it to make incredible music, I am not lying. You do have the capability, but you'll need enormous amounts of practice to manifest it. This is no different from learning to use your mind, Robert. Well-directed thought is a learned skill. To manifest an intention requires laserlike focus, full sensory visualization, and a profound belief. We have proven this in a lab. And just like playing a violin, there are people who exhibit greater natural ability than others. Look to history. Look to the stories of those enlightened minds who performed miraculous feats.† â€Å"Katherine, please don't tell me you actually believe in the miracles. I mean, seriously . . . turning water into wine, healing the sick with the touch of a hand?† Katherine took a long breath and blew it out slowly. â€Å"I have witnessed people transform cancer cells into healthy cells simply by thinking about them. I have witnessed human minds affecting the physical world in myriad ways. And once you see that happen, Robert, once this becomes part of your reality, then some of the miracles you read about become simply a matter of degree.† Langdon was pensive. â€Å"It's an inspiring way to see the world, Katherine, but for me, it just feels like an impossible leap of faith. And as you know, faith has never come easily for me.† â€Å"Then don't think of it as faith. Think of it simply as changing your perspective, accepting that the world is not precisely as you imagine. Historically, every major scientific breakthrough began with a simple idea that threatened to overturn all of our beliefs. The simple statement `the earth is round' was mocked as utterly impossible because most people believed the oceans would flow off the planet. Heliocentricity was called heresy. Small minds have always lashed out at what they don't understand. There are those who create . . . and those who tear down. That dynamic has existed for all time. But eventually the creators find believers, and the number of believers reaches a critical mass, and suddenly the world becomes round, or the solar system becomes heliocentric. Perception is transformed, and a new reality is born.† Langdon nodded, his thoughts drifting now. â€Å"You have a funny look on your face,† she said. â€Å"Oh, I don't know. For some reason I was just remembering how I used to canoe out into the middle of the lake late at night, lie down under the stars, and think about stuff like this.† She nodded knowingly. â€Å"I think we all have a similar memory. Something about lying on our backs staring up at the heavens . . . opens the mind.† She glanced up at the ceiling and then said, â€Å"Give me your jacket.† â€Å"What?† He took it off and gave it to her. She folded it twice and laid it down on the catwalk like a long pillow. â€Å"Lie down.† Langdon lay on his back, and Katherine positioned his head on half of the folded jacket. Then she lay down beside him–two kids, shoulder to shoulder on the narrow catwalk, staring up at Brumidi's enormous fresco. â€Å"Okay,† she whispered. â€Å"Put yourself in that same mind-set . . . a kid lying out in a canoe . . . looking up at the stars . . . his mind open and full of wonder.† Langdon tried to obey, although at the moment, prone and comfortable, he was feeling a sudden wave of exhaustion. As his vision blurred, he perceived a muted shape overhead that immediately woke him. Is that possible? He could not believe he hadn't noticed it before, but the figures in The Apotheosis of Washington were clearly arranged in two concentric rings–a circle within a circle. The Apotheosis is also a circumpunct? Langdon wondered what else he had missed tonight. â€Å"There's something important I want to tell you, Robert. There's another piece to all this . . . a piece that I believe is the single most astonishing aspect of my research.† There's more? Katherine propped herself on her elbow. â€Å"And I promise . . . if we as humans can honestly grasp this one simple truth . . . the world will change overnight.† She now had his full attention. â€Å"I should preface this,† she said, â€Å"by reminding you of the Masonic mantras to `gather what is scattered' . . . to bring `order from chaos' . . . to find `at-one-ment.' â€Å" â€Å"Go on.† Langdon was intrigued. Katherine smiled down at him. â€Å"We have scientifically proven that the power of human thought grows exponentially with the number of minds that share that thought.† Langdon remained silent, wondering where she was going with this idea. â€Å"What I'm saying is this . . . two heads are better than one . . . and yet two heads are not twice better, they are many, many times better. Multiple minds working in unison magnify a thought's effect . . . exponentially. This is the inherent power of prayer groups, healing circles, singing in unison, and worshipping en masse. The idea of universal consciousness is no ethereal New Age concept. It's a hard-core scientific reality . . . and harnessing it has the potential to transform our world. This is the underlying discovery of Noetic Science. What's more, it's happening right now. You can feel it all around you. Technology is linking us in ways we never imagined possible: Twitter, Google, Wikipedia, and others–all blend to create a web of interconnected minds.† She laughed. â€Å"And I guarantee you, as soon as I publish my work, the Twitterati will all be sending tweets that say, `learning about Noetics,' and interest in this science will explode exponentially. † Langdon's eyelids felt impossibly heavy. â€Å"You know, I still haven't learned how to send a twitter.† â€Å"A tweet,† she corrected, laughing. â€Å"I'm sorry?† â€Å"Never mind. Close your eyes. I'll wake you when it's time.† Langdon realized he had all but forgotten the old key the Architect had given them . . . and why they had come up here. As a new wave of exhaustion engulfed him, Langdon shut his eyes. In the darkness of his mind, he found himself thinking about universal consciousness . . . about Plato's writings on â€Å"the mind of the world† and â€Å"gathering God† . . . Jung's â€Å"collective unconscious.† The notion was as simple as it was startling. God is found in the collection of Many . . . rather than in the One. â€Å"Elohim,† Langdon said suddenly, his eyes flying open again as he made an unexpected connection. â€Å"I'm sorry?† Katherine was still gazing down at him. â€Å"Elohim,† he repeated. â€Å"The Hebrew word for God in the Old Testament! I've always wondered about it.† Katherine gave a knowing smile. â€Å"Yes. The word is plural.† Exactly! Langdon had never understood why the very first passages of the Bible referred to God as a plural being. Elohim. The Almighty God in Genesis was described not as One . . . but as Many. â€Å"God is plural,† Katherine whispered, â€Å"because the minds of man are plural.† Langdon's thoughts were spiraling now . . . dreams, memories, hopes, fears, revelations . . . all swirling above him in the Rotunda dome. As his eyes began to close again, he found himself staring at three words in Latin, painted within the Apotheosis. E PLURIBUS UNUM. â€Å"Out of many, one,† he thought, slipping off into sleep.

Best Buy Analysis Essay

Although Best Buy is an electronic consumer’s dream, they are facing two major threats: 1) The increasing number of competitors and, 2) The strong emergence of online retailing. I recommend that to address these issues Best Buy should close several â€Å"Brick and Mortar† stores and move to more of an online based strategy. Due to the low cost of online retailing, discount retailers such as Amazon, Wal-Mart and Target have been able to gain significant market share. Unlike Best Buy, Amazon does not have the overhead associated with â€Å"brick and mortar† stores, allowing them to significantly cut prices to challenge Best Buy in the consumer-electronics market. Best Buy has been called â€Å"Amazon’s showroom†, as consumers would often use Best Buy to sample products while ultimately buying them online. Closing â€Å"brick and mortar† stores and using the resources to push a broad cost leadership strategy would make Best Buy competitive against online retailers once again. Best Buy is the leader in customer satisfaction and the retail leader of its class. Since Circuit City went under, there is not a large, solely electronic retailer with showrooms creating more visibility. Increasing its brand value over 18% in 2009 alone, the prices must become more competitive so consumers will not take advantage of this and still buy elsewhere. Pushing an online based strategy to combat Amazon and Wal-Mart would lead to growth in the one facet of consumer electronics retailing in which Best Buy is lagging. Although human capital is a major asset for Best Buy, I recommend that expertise be moved to other areas of the company, such as Geek Squad, which has shown growth and profitability due to the increasing number of consumers who buy online and need assistance installing their electronics. In order for Best Buy to remain competitive in the future, allocating current resources effectively will be essential in cutting costs and developing a cost leadership strategy.

The subject of kingship wrote Macbeth in 1605/6 Essay Example for Free (#16056)

The subject of kingship wrote Macbeth in 1605/6 Essay ? William Shakespeare who had already written numerous plays on the subject of kingship wrote Macbeth in 1605/6. This play is a tragedy, much like that of Hamlet, which depicts the murder of a King and all the consequences that follow such a crime. This play was performed before King James VI of Scotland, I of Great Britain, who came to the English throne in 1603. There are all sorts of issues that can be drawn from this fact such as, King James had a fascination with witchcraft, which suggests that Macbeth might have been centred around witches to please the King. Shakespeare spent a lot of his time writing about Kings, especially English ones. The quotation is from Act IV, iii where Malcolm, son of Duncan, is testing Macduff to see whether he is a traitor or not and then, once it is established that Macduff is on Malcolm’s side, they start to plan how they are going to fight Macbeth. The quotation is a list of qualities that Malcolm says a King should have. Then he goes on to say that he has none of these qualities, but this is all part of the trickery he is playing on Macduff. Malcolm knows that Macduff is truthful to him because Malcolm says that he would not have one tyrant, Macbeth, replaced with another, Malcolm, which shows that Macduff is loyal to Scotland, therefore Malcolm, the rightful King, and not Macbeth. No, not to live! O nation miserable, With an untitled tyrant† (Act IV, iii, 103-105) This is the quotation with which Macduff proves to Malcolm his loyalty to him and not Macbeth. Our first encounter with a King in Macbeth is Duncan. The scene is that of a battlefield and the King is directed towards the Captain who is asked to give a report of the victory. The Captain does so and tells the King of the bravery and valour that Macbeth had shown. â€Å"For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name† (Act I, i, 16) Duncan then proceeds to give the title of Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth after the previous Thane had died during battle. This shows bounty in Duncan because he is giving out a reward to the correct man seeming as Macbeth had fought well in the fight and deserved the reward. Duncan also shows devotion to his people in this scene. At the end of the scene after the Captain had finished his report, because he was injured, Duncan tells his attendants to go and find medical help for the Captain. â€Å"They smack of honour both. Go get him surgeons.† (Act I, i, 45) Another show of this devotion comes at the end of Act I, iv where he is commending Banquo. â€Å"True, worthy Banquo; he is full so valiant, It is a banquet to me. Let’s after him Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome. It is a peerless kinsman.† (Act I, iv, 55-59) Duncan also has temperance and stableness as he never loses his temper and stays level-headed throughout the time he is on stage. He does not get angry and in a production that I saw at my school of Macbeth, Duncan was played as a calm, collected individual who took everything slow and who stayed stable throughout his performance. Also Duncan was played as a blind man, which was not an original idea, and there are uses of language throughout scenes with Duncan that see him refer to other senses such as the following: â€Å"This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses.† (Act I,vi, 1-3) There are also language points in the speeches that Duncan has that suggest he is blind too such as the following quotation: Conduct me to mine host. We love him highly, And shall continue ours graces towards him. By your leave, hostess.† (Act I, vi, 28-31) The language used in the first line of this quotation suggests that Duncan cannot walk alone and needs a guide to take him. In the performance I saw there was always somebody by his side guiding him places because he was being played as a blind man. There is another reference to Duncan’s blindness, â€Å"Who comes here?† (Act I, ii, 46). If Duncan was in fact blind, then he would be level-headed because I could guess that having one less sense has a considerable impact on how someone behaves. Duncan has these qualities: devotion, temperance, stableness and bounty, which suggests that Macbeth does support the claim by Malcolm because Duncan has a selection of the qualities suggested by Malcolm. Macbeth and Malcolm himself have other qualities that Malcolm suggests a King should have, which I will show later on in this essay. Duncan also seems to have the support and general feeling of his people, which would warrant him to be a good King. This is because if the people like a King then he is probably doing the right things that the general population want him to be doing. Therefore, for the people to like him, he must be acting correctly and not be doing things that would not appeal to the general consensus of the people. There is a suggestion of this in the play when Duncan meets Lady Macbeth he makes a little joke about the social problems that he faces being a King: The love that follows us sometime is our trouble, Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you How you shall bid God ‘ield us for your pains, And thank us for your trouble. (Act I, vi, 10-14) This speech by Duncan is based around the ancient customs of a guest asking something of their guest and then saying that they do not want to trouble them and then the host saying that it is their pleasure. By saying that his people’s love is sometimes his â€Å"trouble,† Duncan is saying that his loving people go to a great deal of trouble for him, and he is troubled by the fact that they take all that trouble. Nevertheless, when people take trouble for him, he knows that they do it because they love their king, so he thanks them for their love. Next, referring to himself royally as â€Å"us,† Duncan jokingly tells Lady Macbeth that he is saying all of this so that, instead of him thanking her for taking trouble, she will thank God and him for giving her trouble. In Machiavellian terms, a good King is one that guarantees the happiness of his people even if he himself is a murdering swine, for example. Also Machiavelli said that a King does not have to have all of the qualities laid out in the quotation. Therefore, Macbeth denies the claim because being a Machiavellian King is not included in the claim but it does make a King a good King. Macbeth is the second King that we come across in Macbeth. He comes to the throne only after committing treason by killing the rightful King in the first place, Duncan. His relationship with Lady Macbeth changes throughout the play. At first it is Lady Macbeth who is evil and persuades Macbeth to murder Duncan, but slowly as the play develops these roles reverse and Macbeth becomes the evil one killing a lot of people and Lady Macbeth becoming cowardly. Macbeth does not seem to have verity because he lies about things that he has done. The first sign of this is in Act II, ii where Macbeth goes along with Lady Macbeth’s plan of going back to their chambers and putting on their night gowns to lie about whether they had been asleep or not when everyone wakes up to find Duncan has been murdered. He lies several times in Act II but one stands out spectacularly, which is (Act II, iii, 105-15). This quotation shows Macbeth lying about his feelings and how he killed the guards in his anger. Macbeth is not at all temperate or stable either. He has momentary lapses into madness where he sees apparitions. Macbeth discovers that the ghost of Banquo is only visible to him and not the others: Why, what care I if thou canst nod! Speak, too! If charnel-houses and our graves must send Those that we bury, back, our monuments Shall be the maws of kites† (Act III, iv, 67-72) The language used by Macbeth suggests the erratic behaviour that Macbeth demonstrates at this point in the play. Macbeth is saying that if all that we bury return from the grave then we will have to feed their remains to birds of prey to eat. Macbeth does not have the qualities, stableness and temperance because Macbeth constantly goes into fits of madness, therefore, extreme personality levels, which is not what a stable and temperate person does, they stay level-headed. Macbeth does not either have mercy. This is obvious because Macbeth kills a lot of people in cold blood simply for his own self-good. Another sign of Macbeth having no mercy is when he kills the entire household of Macduff even though he only wants Macduff dead for being a traitor to him. Macbeth knows Macduff is a traitor because he ran away to England and did not come to the dining of all the Lords in the Kingdom. He tells Lady Macbeth of his spy in Macduff’s household, and in the same speech gives Lady Macbeth the impression that he will have Macduff’s family murdered: â€Å"I hear it by the way. But I will send. There’s not one of them, but in his house I keep a servant fee’d.† (Act III, iv, 129-131) The last line of this quotation shows us that he bribes a servant to spy on Macduff’s house. And further on in this speech Macbeth gives the reference of murdering Macduff’s family: Stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as to go’er† (Act III, iv, 134-137) Macbeth also murders Young Seyward in battle, which also shows Macbeth’s lack of mercy. Even if Macbeth kills Young Seyward in battle, Macbeth is still killing a child, which does not show mercy. Macbeth not having any of these qualities, verity, temperance, stableness or mercy, denies the claim of Malcolm’s that a King should have the virtues listed in the extract. Macbeth, on the other hand, does have lowliness. His attitude does change throughout the play from good to evil and it is when he is acting as a good person that he has lowliness. He admits that he is wrong several times after he kills Duncan: How is’t with me when every noise appals me? What hands are here! Ha-they pluck out mine eyes! Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red.† (Act II, ii, 57-63) Macbeth says that his hands are stained with the blood of Duncan, but what he really means is that Macbeth is now stained with the murder of Duncan and he will never be able to wash it from him even with all of God’s will and forgiveness. This reference to â€Å"Neptune’s ocean† actually refers to God but it was thought that God should not be spoken at the time this play was written. Macbeth has devotion in some respects but not in others. He does not have devotion to his country, which is what he should have, but he does have to his wife and to himself. At the beginning of the play Macbeth, however, is devoted to his King and country it seems because he fights and risks his life for them. For his bravery he was awarded Thane of Cawdor by Duncan. Macbeth then becomes a tyrant under the influence of his evil wife. Macbeth kills Duncan and this sets off a chain of events that leads to Macbeth, at the end of the play, being devoted only to himself and to his wife and not to his country, even though he is in command of it. This shows that a person can change and, therefore, maybe develop the qualities needed to be a King, some of which are shown in the quotation from Malcolm. Macbeth in Act III shows perseverance. This is when he says: Stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go’er.† (Act III, iv, 135-137) Macbeth is saying that he has already killed a large number of people, he might as well kill a few more because if he stops then people will find out he has been murdering and he will be killed. This shows Macbeth persevering to try to get away from the trouble that he is in, although it is not a very good way of doing it. Macbeth has, lowliness, devotion (in some ways and times) and perseverance. Having these merits supports Malcolm’s claim that a King should have the virtues stated in the extract. In Machiavellian terms Macbeth is not a good King at all because he does not satisfy the greater happiness of the greater number. This is illustrated by everyone in Scotland, by the end of the play, turning against Macbeth and disliking him when Ross says what he does in Act IV, iii, 164-173). The third King in the play is Malcolm. The audience do not see him rule Scotland for very long but there is still a lot of information in Act IV, iii about Malcolm that we, the audience, can extract and analyse. Malcolm comes to the throne of Scotland by turning the grief of Macduff’s into anger so that he could kill Macbeth for Malcolm because Malcolm knew that Macduff was the only man who could kill Macbeth, as he was not born of woman, like the witches told Macbeth. The following lines spoken by Malcolm show this: Let’s make us medicines of our great revenge To cure this deadly grief† (Act IV, iii, 213-215) Malcolm’s first lines in this scene show him as very cowardly and do not give a very good impression of him at first glance. â€Å"Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there Weep our sad bosoms empty.† (Act VI, iii, 1-2) One gets the impression from the phrases, â€Å"desolate shade† and â€Å"Weep our sad bosoms empty† that Malcolm just wants to hide from all the bad things and cry. This is not what a brave man should be doing. Malcolm should be a strong King who would want to fight: Macduff’s first lines are what he should be saying: Hold fast the mortal sword: and like good men Bestride our down-fallen birthdom.† (Act VI, iii, 3-5) By this Malcolm does not seem to be a very courageous King but, as the audience and with the benefit of hindsight because I have read and seen the play, I know that Malcolm is much more of a strategist than a soldier. This shows that Malcolm does not have fortitude because he cannot fight but it does show that Malcolm has intelligence. This means that a King should have intelligence so it denies the claim he makes. Malcolm also has patience because he bides his time with Macduff to make sure that he is dealing with someone loyal to him. This again shows his intelligence and strategic mind as he plays a game with Macduff by saying he would make a bad King and that a King should have the comments made in the claim and that he has none of them. He then knows that if Macduff said, â€Å"don’t worry you should still be king†, then Malcolm knows that Macduff is a traitor to him; whereas if Macduff says, â€Å"fine if you are that bad then do not be King†, Malcolm knows that Macduff is loyal to Scotland, therefore him, because it demonstrates that Macduff does not want to replace one tyrant with another. This takes a lot of time and Malcolm has the patience to do this. The uncovering of Malcolm’s plan is in Act IV, iii, 100-138. Justice is also a quality that Malcolm possesses because he is looks and wants to solve the problems in Scotland, under the leadership of Macbeth. â€Å"But Macbeth is† (Act IV, iii, 17-18) These two lines show that Malcolm knows Macbeth is a bad person and ruler and therefore he wants to bring justice to Scotland by bringing Macbeth down. This quality supports the claim. Malcolm, at the end of the play, says: Henceforth be earls, the first Scotland In such an honour named.† Act V, vi, 101-103) This shows bounty in Malcolm because he rewards all of his loyal people, who helped him defeat Macbeth, the right to be called earls. Malcolm rewards the right people in this case just like Duncan does to Macbeth at the beginning of the play. Malcolm also shows devotion from Act IV on. He shows devotion to his country, Scotland, by wanting to save it from the rule of a tyrant, Macbeth. The evidence is the quotation, Act IV, iii, 115-137). Malcolm gathers up an English army and spends a lot of time testing Macduff all to save Scotland from Macbeth’s murderous terror. Malcolm by having, devotion, bounty, patience and justice, supports the claim that Malcolm himself says in Act IV because he becomes King and he has some of the qualities that he mentions. He could also have temperance and stableness but there is some evidence to suggest that he gets a little mad towards the end of Act IV, iii: â€Å"Be this the whetstone of your sword; let grief Convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.† (Act IV, iii, 227-228) â€Å"Enrage it,† suggests that Malcolm is getting angry so that when he comes to fight he can let that anger go and perform well. Malcolm also has intelligence, which in my opinion, is also a quality that no King should be without. I think this because if the leader of the country does not possess intelligence then he will most probably not know how to rule the country and therefore, be a bad King who, in Machiavellian terms, will not provide the greater happiness of the greater number in his Kingdom. This denies the claim that a King should only have these qualities because intelligence, in my opinion, should be the most important merit. In a few of Shakespeare’s plays there is a good, rightful saint-like King, who is no good at ruling. This is the same as Edward the Confessor, who was seen as the holiest of Kings that could heal people’s illnesses by simply touching them, but who ruined his Kingship by bringing his dynasty to the ground. Edward is held up, in Macbeth, as a figure for comparison. Being a holy King is a good thing but the King must be able to find a dynasty and rule his people to guarantee their greater happiness. In that way, Edward is a really holy and religious King, which is a good thing to be, as well as others, but this quality is not on the list. The following is a quotation from Macbeth that gives a direct reference to Edward, King of England at the time. â€Å"There are a crew of wretched souls That stay his cure. Their maladies convinces The great assay of art; but at his touch, Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand, They presently amend.† (Act IV, iii, 141-145) In this way, Macbeth demonstrates to the audience that it is good to be a holy King, along with other merits, but this quality is not on the list so it shows that Macbeth is denying the claim because there are other qualities that a King should have other than those that Malcolm states. Using all of this analysis of the play, Macbeth, I can come to the conclusion that Macbeth denies the claim made by Malcolm. Malcolm says, in this quotation, that a King should have the qualities that he lists. The Kings in Macbeth do have all of the qualities he lists between them but they also have other qualities that are important to being a King and there are also other qualities that the Kings do not have and that aren’t listed that I think a king should have, such as intelligence and being religious. Some people might say that because the Kings in Macbeth do have the qualities described in the extract that Macbeth supports the claim. This is, however, wrong in my opinion because the Kings, in Macbeth, have other qualities that a suitable King should have that need to be thought of in answering this question and, as I have said, there are other virtues a King should have to rule a kingdom. Macbeth, William Shakespeare, ed. G.K. Hunter, Penguin, 1967 The subject of kingship wrote Macbeth in 1605/6. (2017, Oct 21).

Biology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Biology - Assignment Example The number of cups of coffee should also depend on how much the escort and the professor can wager. 4. I believe the cups should not be identical. Perhaps there should be 3 designs and 4 pieces each, so 12. Maybe the design can affect the result of the experiment. I believe one kind of design is glass, another is plastic and the other is ceramic, because the coffee or milk might taste different with different material of the cup. If possible, I would like to prepare some cold and some hot, because it is possible that temperature might also affect the taste of the coffee or milk. 5. The order that the cups should be presented must be random so the only way I could think of is by jumbling the arrangement of all 12 cups but the escort and professor should take note which cup has milk or coffee added first. After that, any random cup from the group of 12 cups can be given to the model until she finishes tasting everything. 6. I think if she has guessed at least 75% of the cups correctly (minimum of 9), then we can say that the hypothesis is true. If we decide only after 50%, then maybe it is not enough and maybe she is just a good guesser. 1. The hypothesis I chose was different because it was a practical hypothesis. According to Fisher, if we use a null hypothesis we can exclude the possibility that the order of the cups has an influence on the results. However, if we use another hypothesis, then there might be confusion. So it is better to say that the order of the cups and other factors have no effect on the ability of the model to distinguish whether coffee or milk was added first. 2. My answer was the same as Fisher’s. I thought that â€Å"if only two cups are given to the model, then she will be able to simply freely guess whether the first cup had milk added first or if it is the second one.† According to Fisher, if only 3 cups can be chosen, then complete success can be achieved by pure chance. 3. I said the

Online Gambling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Online Gambling - Essay Example In Australia, gaming machine gambling turnover is a major one across all the gambling forms; the turnover is around $ 107,924 million. The essay aims to provide an insight into the internet gambling in Australia with a discussion of its advantages and disadvantages. This essay starts with an introduction to the Australian online gambling industry. A conclusion has been inferred from the analysis part. Online Gambling in Australia: The roots of the same Ever since the first European settlers had arrived on shore, gambling has become an inherent part of Australian culture. British influence has given considerable contribution to give gambling a firm ground for its establishment and enlargement. Quickly it became significantly popular form of entertainment in Australia. In the 1980’s, in Australia, gambling was present in a number of organised forms. So, it was quite natural that Australia would emerge as one of those first countries who would get their hands on these newly intro duced technologies, allowing them to get indulge into internet gambling. On 8th April, 1999, Australia became the first country across the globe to legalize the online gambling. â€Å"Not only was Australia the first country to legalize online gambling under a fully regulated jurisdiction, but Lasseters Online is also the world's first internet casino to be operated by a land-based casino, situated in the Northern Territory† (Online Casino Archives, 2008). Lasseters had its belief in the online gaming industry. From day one, the company realised the prospectus of the international gambling. Even before other Australian states, it has opened its doors to the international customers. The Australian government swiftly appreciated the potential market success... The public and legal gambling history of Australia began in the early period of nineteenth century. The history started off with gambling on horse racing. In the year 1810, the first publicly organised race meeting was held in New South Wales. In the year 1861, the Melbourne cup, a globally recognised race, was first introduced in Victoria. In the early twentieth century, lotteries were introduced. In the year 1920, the Golden casket lottery was established by the Queensland Government. The very first regulated online casino started off in the year 1999. Since the 1990s, the expansion of gambling has experienced a considerable growth; this has been true for Australia and several other countries. At this time, the electronic gaming machines had been introduced in the hotels and casinos across Australia. In the year 1956, these were introduced in the Australian clubs. At the first stage, gaming machines were not originally introduced in the hotels as these do not have the same communit y focus or the same types of community engagements as the Australian clubs. For the clubs the gambling was the most significant activity to earn revenue while in hotels and casinos the trend was to serve beer and other alcohol. In this new era, the gaming machines have developed a lot to introduce a highly sophisticated computer programmed machines. The modern and technically enhanced gaming machines can be programmed to offer small wins to maintain the excitement.This also helps the participants to be hopeful of large wins. Presently, Australia seems to be one of the most attractive online gambling location in entire Oceania as the country got several licensed internet gambling sites. Gambling has a very long history. Since the inception, gambling has emerged as a controversial issue.

Competency Training (Fire Service) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Competency Training (Fire Service) - Essay Example Fire fighters need up-to-date, comprehensive training materials to thoroughly prepare for any situation that may arise. The mission is to provide leadership to career and volunteer chiefs, chief fire officers, and managers of emergency service organizations through vision, information, education, services, and representation to enhance their professionalism and capabilities [2]. The main goal is that the firefighters in the operation department would execute their duties professionally, and with confidence, which would result in reduction of property loss and damage, subsequently re-instating stakeholder confidence in the Fire Department to carry out its mandate. One of the major challenges today to attain this goal is that a number of independent systems of training and education staggers fire service professionals. Besides, as the professional qualification series has grown, it is becoming increasingly difficult for firefighters or departments to find the necessary time to accomplish these levels of competency [3]. Efficient training systems are those that identify what they do well and take advantage of the strengths and opportunities provided by other systems to supplement their efforts. There should be a national system for fire service training and education because, as with other professions, a theoretical core of academic courses should be a prerequisite for entering these fields. The fire and emergency services should move towards becoming a full-fledged profession just like doctors, lawyers, nurses and other professions [4]. In theory providing emergency fire service is a ‘portable’ skill. Right now, there is no one un iversally recognized and reciprocal system to acquire the knowledge and skills required in the Fire and Emergency Services. The Fire Service training has important roles to play in the reform agenda. They should be re-modeled in order to be more effective. There is a need for

Social Work Program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social Work Program - Essay Example My dad saw me and waved, that I didn’t â€Å"see† either. My dad was, however, quite enthusiastic and cool about the whole thing, though he never actually discussed it with me, since he could see I was ashamed of what he did. The turning point came the day when he left his court, it was freezing and mum decided to drive to him and, I agreed to accompany her. I was disappointed in a way, I expected to find hordes of desperate uneducated and hopeless people at the shelter, a few appeared that way, but several of those I talked to seemed reasonable and sane enough for me to wonder what they were doing in shelters. A young man, who told me of his dream to join college, was shattered by addiction to drugs, and he left home because he could not face his parents. He still hoped to pull himself out of the situation; that night I plucked the courage and asked dad to tell me about what he did. By the time he was done, my perspective had undergone a paradigm shift, and when I aske d him why, he told me a story about his past, which I was not familiar with. For three years in his youth he had struggled with drugs and ended up in a shelter where he spent 6 months. Someone helped him get back on his feet again, but he had decided he would always show his appreciation for as long as he could. Therefore, my dad, a hotshot banker, once depended on a shelter from sustenance, now I was ashamed, not of his past, but my closed-mindedness. From that point on, I tried to learn as much as I could about social work from my dad and my teachers. Now I can say that my dad’s example influenced me a lot and I appreciate the chance to have helped me find my true vocation. My key values in live are honesty, fairness and compassion for everyone, I believe everyone deserves a second chance, and nobody should be judged because of their current situation, since it is important we try to find out how someone has got there. I also avoid judging or criticizing people because I be lieve until you know all about someone’s problems and the background circumstances, you are ill-equipped to decide if he/she is willing to change his/her life or not. Everyone should be listened to, supported and given the benefit to doubt his or her social status (Arwen, 2012). The main strength that may enable me to become a good social worker is that I have a compassionate nature. Besides, I am an adept at compartmentalizing my issues; that is to say, if someone makes me angry at some point I will not project it on the next person I meet, since I deal with issues independently. I believe this is particularly crucial, since many of the people social workers need to face are not easy to deal with and require infinite amount of patience. I may not have it in infinite quantities, but I have enough to deal with most of the challenges a social worker is expected to deal with. Communication skills are vital for any social worker, and I have excellent communication skills, I am a good listener who can easily assume the other person’s perspective, hence, understand their situation better. Social work requires emotional maturity and experience; in the past, I have spent many hours volunteering and, as such, I consider myself modestly experienced. I hope to join the

Difference in athletic funding behind women's sports in the ACC Research Paper

Difference in athletic funding behind women's sports in the ACC conference and NCAA - Research Paper Example The ACC is acknowledged to be one of the six university power gatherings, all of which appreciate impressive media scope and immediate fitting the bill for their football champion into the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). With the appearance of the College Football Playoff in 2014, the ACC will be one of five gatherings with a contractual tie-into a "right to gain entrance bowl", the successors to the BCS (Adams, 2004). My present objectives for this research are to uncover the different wellsprings of subsidizing for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the National Collegiate Association (NCAA), the challenges that this two real affiliations confront and how they can beat their everyday issues regarding operation and part enlistment, financing and extension arranges and methodology. My present contention here is that these two companionships might as well accept the time and consideration that they merit by the neighborhood government to lure more young people, offer more grants and fiscal support to learners consequently making them succeed towards the right way. Literature Review Consistent with a report recorded by Boston College in agree-ability with the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, varsity male sports members appropriated $1.7 million progressively in physically identified understudy help than female members did throughout the 2011-12 season, notwithstanding there being one and only more male than female member. This hole brings about male competitors gaining a normal of $25,000 yearly, while female jocks get a normal of $20,000 every twelve-months (Heights Editorial Board, 2013). Although from the start, it look like this student aid appears to be alarmingly vast, in examination with comparable schools, it is less so. For instance, at the University of Miami, male jocks on normal gain $39,000 every twelve-months, while female players accept just $30,000 yearly, a crevice of $9,000 in correlation to Bc's hole of about $5,000. At Wake Forest Univ ersity, the hole is about $6,000 energetic about ladies (Heights Editorial Board, 2013). These schools are less great in keeping the amount of male and female members equivalent, then again. At Wake Forest, there are 238 male sports members and just 124 female members. Duke University has a crevice of just about $2,000, however correspondingly to Wake Forest has a vast hole in members 374 men to 274 females (Pittsburgh, 2010). It appears that the Athletic Department is giving equivalent chances for male and female contenders, anyhow to a more terrific degree than comparative ACC schools. In the most recent 10 years, the amount of male and female members has never contrasted by more than 30 sportspeople in either bearing, and frequently switches between additional men and more ladies. While the $1.7 million aid is not to a great degree shocking, we are concerned by what amount of an expansion this is from past years(Keating, 2012). For instance, in 2010, when there were 16 more male members, the money was just $940,000, consistent with the report. In 2009, the year with the following

Materials Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Materials Engineering - Essay Example Ferrous metals are those metals that contain iron as a considerable constituent in it whilst non ferrous metals are free from iron metal. Ferrous metals are magnetic in nature therefore these are used in different applications that involved the usage of electro magnets. Iron is usually present in diverse ores structure. Therefore the ore is treated to yield iron metal and normally it is done by melting the ore in a blast furnace. Non Ferrous metals include a long list of metals some of these metals are copper, aluminum and lead etc. Copper metal is widely used in electrical wires due to its high conductivity for electric current. Copper is generally really very soft and can be drawn into wire easily. Aluminum is also a metal which is relatively similar to copper in its properties because it is also very soft and malleable just like copper, mainly aluminum is utilized in aluminum sheets and foils. Unlike iron aluminum has a lower melting point of 659 degree centigrade while that of ir on is about 1530 degree centigrade. Aluminum can be easily manipulated through machining, casting, drawing and extrusion. Lead is a special type of heavy metal; it is a bluish-white metal that has insufficient conductivity of electrical charges when evaluated against the majority of other metals. But due to lead’s ductility, malleability and softness it is mixed with other metals to make them ready for machining operations. Polymers are also recognized as macro molecules which are composed of recurring molecular structures. Polymers are based on very long plastic ranges. Polymers cover different mechanical properties that include extensive levels of strength, toughness and hardness. There are mainly three types of polymers, these are thermoplastics, thermosetting and fiber reinforced plastics (FRPs). FRPs are also replacing some metals in various applications for better. Since FRPs are of high strength, durability and furthermore these are flexible and light weighted therefor e the rear and front body of heavy automobiles like buses are contemporarily replaced by these FRPs in place of a metallic sheet. Ceramic is a substance which is manufactured from inorganic and nonmetallic constituents. The constituents are subjected by the application of heat and consequent cooling. Ceramics are extraordinarily hardened, thus types of ceramics are used as manipulative tools for example as in the case of grinding wheels. Ceramics have high melting point therefore ceramics are used in furnace linings and other high temperature applications. Ceramics are high heat absorbers therefore these are also used in storage heaters. Ceramic balls are also manufactured to substitute steel in ball bearings. The higher hardness of ceramics explicates that these are slighter disposed to wear out and can be more durable that steel ball bearings. The distortion phenomenon under load in ceramics is also reasonably small as compare to metals. In greater speed, heat from abrasion during rolling can originate troubles for metal bearings, which can be minimized by ceramics. Ceramics are additionally chemically insolent and can be utilized in wet condition where steel bearings could oxidize. The main shortcomings in ceramics are considerably sophisticated cost and vulnerability to break under shock loads. 1. Test Procedures for Material Properties Material testing procedures are actually governed by American Society for

The only way to cope with a changing world is to keep learning. (Dixon Essay

The only way to cope with a changing world is to keep learning. (Dixon 1998) Critically discuss the Dixon quote in relation to the way that SST can develop an organisations intellectual capital - Essay Example This paper has tried to capture the main aspects of organizational learning which are essential for the growth of an organization. The organizational learning is directly correlated to the growth and development of the intellectual and social capital of the organization, which are generally referred to as the wealth of any organization (Alavi and Leidner, 2001). There are many ways of improvement and growth of social and intellectual capital of an organization. Some of the ways explored in this paper are communities of practice and soft system thinking. The communities of practice have a direct relation with development of social capital of an organization. The soft thinking methodology is generally applied by organizations to develop the intellectual capital with the organization. The main objective of the paper is to emphasise the importance of learning the changes in the current scenario for organizational growth. The paper also aims to throw some light on the concepts that can le ad to improvement in organizational learning like improving intellectual and social capital (Wong, 2005). Learning in an organization is directly proportional to the growth and development of intellectual and social capital of the organization. The most important aspects of improvement in intellectual capital of an organization are through soft system thinking (Yeo, 2002). The systems thinking is one the components described in the learning organization theory. The concept of soft systems thinking is the key which holds all the other concepts of the learning organization together. The soft systems thinking framework is a conceptual set of knowledge and tools which have been developed in the course of over 50 years. The origin of soft system thinking lies in the field of systems dynamics where it is used to make patterns clearer and also helps to change them effectively (Gao, Li and Nakamori, 2002). The system in the soft system

Theseus and the Minotaur by Antoine-Louis Barye Essay Example for Free

Theseus and the Minotaur by Antoine-Louis Barye Essay The idea of Theseus fighting the Minotaur was a popular neo-classical subject among sculptors. Although, Antoine-Louis Barye (1796-1875) finished his sculpture about 1850 that is in the late part of what is meant by neo-classicism, Baryes modelling of the surfaces has a vibrancy and movement characteristic of the French romantic sculpture. Barye is well-known for his animal production and Theseus and the Minotaur is only one of a series produced by Barye from the early 1830s onwards. The sculpture reproduces King Aigeus and the god Poseidons son, Theseus, they both visited princess Aithra the very same night, that is Theseus had two fathers holding his knife over Minotaur, a monster having the head of a bull and the rest of the body human, devouring human flesh. However, according to tradition Theseus killed Minotaur by means of King Minos daughter Ariadne. Add to this that Minotaurs mother was King Minos wife his father a bull. CONFUSED!!! However, tradition says that Minotaur was locked up in a maze in Knossos on Crete. He was nourished by a compulsory tribute of young men and women from Athens. Therefore Theseus and Ariadne decided to kill him. Now, why did I choose to write about Theseus and the Minotaur? Well, first of all Victoria and Albert Museum is big very big! I therefore had to decide by which department I wanted to improve my knowledge. In many ways the 19th century was a time of unrest and upheaval: a neo-Platonic philosophy of life arose, an interest for classical antiquity penetrated, citizens acquired a considerable place in society etc. Consequently I darted into the department containing subjects from America and Europe in the period 1800-1890. Though I had now reduced my options I still didnt know exactly what to go more thoroughly into. Nevertheless, I know a little of Greek mythology a very little! so I determined to deepen with Theseus and the Minotaur. Greek mythology was a very common subject for scultors and artists in general in the Romantic Movement. In fact reproducing old classical  subjects is very significiant to Romanticism. Where the 18th century attached importance to common sense, the 19th century that is the first part of the century set great store by feeling. We see this in the sculpture: The feelings for tradition, old things etc. is obvious. On the other hand it isnt very reasonable to make sculptures of antiquated things.

Coney Island and Victorian Culture Essay Example for Free

Coney Island and Victorian Culture Essay Coney Island at the turn of the century was a bustling and growing place. People of all classes traveled from New York City as well as other parts of the world to take part in the famous amusements that helped to loosen the tight corsets of Victorian gentility. Inspired by the Columbian Exposition in 1893 George Tilyou began to build a park on Coney Island beginning with the Ferris Wheel similar to that featured at the exposition which was designed by the Pennsylvania Steel Company. By 1895 Tilyou opened Steeplechase Park and began to fill it with acts and side shows thus inspired by his travels a few years prior. While concentrating on the appeal to all walks of life Tilyou acquired A Ride to The Moon from Fredric Thompson and Elmer Dundy who built the ride specifically for the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. A short season later in 1902 Thompson and Dundy left Steeplechase to create Luna Park taking the amusement with them. Playing off the most popular sport on Coney Island, Tilyou obtained a mechanical horse race that took riders on a thirty second ride around a track complete with hills and sharp turns. Other attractions added to the park included the Human Roulette Wheel which threw riders in all directions and Earthquake Stairs which jostled climbers and challenged them to descend a shaking stair case. These attractions as well as the wild side shows caused people to throw off all conventionality and made them rub elbows with other classes while having unrestricted fun. While Steeplechase drew visitors to the peninsula it also increased in the popularity of swimming or bathing as it was referred to in Victorian speak. People on a hot New York day adventured to Steeple Chase and the beach by various means of transportation. Donning the latest in bathing fashions people enjoyed more unrestricted fun regardless of any class system in the water. Although Victorians looked down their noses at the amusements and public bathing, people still flocked to the beaches and splashed in the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Ruckus rides and the ability to socialize appealed to the younger generations looking to toss off the oppressive garbs of Victorian gentility and just have plain unrestrictive fun. In 1907 tragedy struck Steeplechase as fire ravaged the park leaving a smoking ruin. In the efforts to still turn a dollar Tilyou charged admission to the ruins of the once great park. During the rebuilding, Luna Park benefited from the loss and treated guests to a modern park with rides to thrill everyone. The â€Å"old-fashionedness† of Steeplechase was challenged as Luna Park, the most modern of it’s time dazzled park goers with electric lights and tall white towers bathed in bright bulbs. This enabled the park to operate at night. But still people remained loyal to the original amusement park they knew so well even though built anew from smoldering ruins. George Tilyou sadly passed away in 1914 after seeing his park through another fire in 1911 which claimed Dreamland. Luckily enough the winds shifted and spared his park from a second disaster. By 1914 the amusement park began to fall out of favor. The once well loved and most visited park suffered a loss in the visitors during the hot New York summers. Steeplechase continued to operate and help people socialize and essentially come out of the tight bonds of gentility by offering a carefree time with out restrictions. Then on New Year’s Eve 1964 the last light was turned off for the final time at the ill fated old fashioned park. Luna Park on the other hand was not as popular as the original park but provided new wonders for those curious and daring enough to seek it out. Created after the Beaux-Arts movement of the time Thompson an erratic architect began to design the park as a world where someone could be lost in fantasy. By opening day on May 16th 1903 Luna Park opened its doors to the wonderment of many people seeking out entertainment and new amusements to help them shed the conventionality of the structured Victorian world. Here we can clearly see where still Steeplechase was cherished like a child hugs a ragged teddy bear but the new adventure which was named Luna was embraced for its latest technologies that Steeplechase clearly was lacking. With over 1 million lights, long distance telephone service, telegraph and radio services Luna Park became a city with in a city. With Thompson and Dundy’s success in creating illusion rides for the park guests they still relied on others as well. When they left the employment of Tilyou after the 1902 season they brought their famed â€Å"Ride to the Moon† amusement with them. Counting on its fame from Steeplechase park and the illustrious past of being featured at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 the creators hoped it would bring the crowds in. With more and more people seeking a day at the park and on the beach both parks helped make Coney Island known world wide and soon became a top tourist destination. At a time when high society still held restrictions of how men and women should act in public in high regards, more and more people used these parks as a way to shed the restrictions of society and seek titillating amusements and fill curiosities each other had that Victorian culture had suppressed over the years with rules and barriers against those who dared to go against the prim and proper societies. Technology in these times were changing and what better place to display these but at amusement parks and expositions. Younger Victorians embraced these changes and viewed them as a move toward the future. We can clearly see where walls were broken down between classes while all walks of life frolicked on the beaches of Coney Island, screamed on the same rides, and traveled faster than they ever had in their lives. Luna Park and Steeplechase side by side were wonderful examples of old an new. While people still embraced the old curious onlookers sought out attractions that displayed futuristic gadgets. By the creation of the final park Dreamland in 1904 tourism and the shedding of Victorian genteel ways were in full swing. Dreamland brought more pleasure seekers to the peninsula and more bathers to the sea shore. The park was built by William Reynolds who is best known for his crooked dealings with Tammany Hall. Dreamland became the park to rival the other 2 on the peninsula. It is said that the park would be anything unlike the modern world has seen. The main tower of Dreamland had a beacon that shined out to sea and confused many ships coming into port. The amusement park sparkled as guests promenaded through the many attractions and thrill rides. With Dreamland promising amusement in a more dignified way the creators tried to offer Culture to those who visited the park. Providing a grand ballroom and upscale restaurants from around the world Dreamland attempted to cater to the upper class leaving lower classes to attend the older less dignified parks. The developers still provided rides and attractions that rivaled the other parks and even stole ideas from them as well. Americans were fascinated by disasters. Fighting the Flames was a good example of this as New Yorkers were most familiar with tenements catching fire and many people dying. People could identify with this ride. As tenement style buildings covered in asbestos were set ablaze, firefighters came to the rescue of the tenants who jumped to their safety in huge nets below. With rides like Shoot the Chutes guests at Dreamland were still treated to rides that caused them to throw off all conventionalities. Dreamland with its intentions to preserve all that is roper and dignified still provided outrageous outlets that caused people to smile and scream like they never had before. Sideshows still prevailed like Bostock’s Circus and Captain Bonavita’s Lion Show. They treated guests to clowns, wild animals, and daring stunts which caused people to gasp and look on in awe. Dreamland gave people a look at the world in their own backyard. Rides like Touring the Alps which provided ride rs with a simulated ride through the Alps complete with blasts of cold air to the Japanese Tea Room which gave people a look at cultures foreign to their own. The achievements of creating an atmosphere of wonderment and awe like that of the previous expositions held in Chicago and Buffalo, Reynolds achieved ultimate success in helping people question their hum drum ways and rules that bound them tightly. On May 27 1911 the wonderment that was known as Dreamland came to an end when it burned to the ground. Complaints by the fire departments that fought the flames were low water pressure. It was said that Reynolds built the park so fast that he built over fire hydrants. The mistakes and rush to greed cost him his park only seven short years later. The fire although sparing because of the winds did not leave Thompson’s railway alone. Sadly but fortunately that was one of a few external victims of the fire caused by greed. Fred Thompson found General Manager Samuel Gumpertz staring blankly at the ruins. Reynolds decided not to rebuild the park and Gumpertz opened a freak show in a large tent. This was the beginning of the end of Coney Island, the most famous playground of the early 20th century. Luna Park and Steeplechase continued to operate through many changes of attractions. The 1920’s ushered in rides like The Wonder Wheel and The Cyclone. It is joked immigrants who came to this country saw The Wonder Wheel first before seeing the Statue of Liberty. Still The Wonder Wheel is a wonderful example of freedom through good times and laughter and the shedding of old ways to a new life. By the close of the season of 1946 Luna Park could no longer afford to keep its gates open to the dwindling visitors. That which was new and exciting became old and worn out. Steeplechase continued to operate and pride itself of being risen from the ashes still provided visitors with aging and familiar rides. By the opening of Astro Park in 1962 this began to spell the end of the turn of the century amusements. At the stroke of midnight New Years Eve 1964 the last light was turned out on the oldest amusement park of the time leaving behind a legacy of fun and a little known waltz written for the opening of Dreamland entitled â€Å"Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland†. By looking at the amusement parks of the early 20th century we can clearly see where proper Victorians were given the opportunity to shed the constrictions of a culture that forced them into a protected part of society. Here creators of parks provided a person all types of amusements and bathing which for proper Victorians swimming with people of the opposite sex was just scandalous. Many of the older generations still held fast to their convictions of manners and proper ways. In many ways Coney Island was a petrie dish for societies and cultures. Could they truly leave behind the tight corsets and stiff collars to have fun with all folks of all classes with out concern for class stratification due to wealth, power or even dress? The writer of this believes yes. This was a place where society began to leave behind their constrictions and just have plain fun. Therefore unmaking Victorian culture as it was known.

Representations of Masculinity in Film

Representations of Masculinity in Film Representations of Masculinity in Film Real men don’t cry. Men who show emotion are seen as pathetic and weak, whereas society want men to be strong, athletic and powerful. This assignment will include an identification and analysis, in the film American Pie (American Pie, 1999) of the six different representations of masculinity and their impact on the story and the audience. The analysis will comply of the identification of six specific characters that embody the male gender stereotypes, or their subversions. The six male gender stereotypes are: the Joker, the Jock, the Strong Silent Type, the Big Shot, the Action Hero and the Buffoon. These are important to identify because they appear in all movies which we tend to be oblivious to at times. Knowing the different types of stereotypes help you gain a better understanding of the film. â€Å"The Jock is always willing to compromise his own long-term health; he must fight other men when necessary; he must avoid being soft; and he must be aggressive (NMMU, 2014). By demonstrating his power and strength, the jock wins the approval of other men and the adoration of women.† The function of a jock in a film is to create a social structure in a school and to give the image of an ideal American teenager. In the film American Pie there are a few protagonists that resemble the jock stereotype. Chris â€Å"Oz† Ostreicher is one of the characters in the movie that portrays this stereotype. Oz is a great representation of a jock as he embodies all the characteristics. Oz is a typical all American male teenager who plays football and lacrosse, manages to swoon the ladies and he is at the top of the social hierarchy at school. Oz is a well groomed man where his good looks far surpass his academic abilities. A prime example of this in the film is when Oz tells all hi s friends that he has been seeing a collage girl and that soon they will be moving onto the next level in their ‘relationship’. This is done to acquire the approval from all his friends, especially from Steven Stifler, and the other popular males. Another character that embodies the jock stereotype is Steven â€Å"Steve† Stifler. Steve is an egotistical big-headed sports driven high school student. The evidence in the film that he is a jock are proven because he plays lacrosse and football with Oz. When Steve is faced with situations that could place any damage on his reputation he tends to react in an aggressive manner. Another instance of the jock stereotype is highlighted when Steve has a house party at his residence. Everybody from school who is popular enough to be invited inside is there. Then the doorbell rings during the party and the whole musical band from school are standing outside his door. Steve refuses to let them inside because they are not cool e nough and might ruin his reputation. This shows that Steve has a desire to main supreme amongst the rest of the jocks. When it comes to the ladies, Steve only uses them for his benefit and gain. Steve takes a girl to his room but she refuses to kiss him as she does not want him to go around joking about her with his friends the very next day. Steve lies and tells her that he would never do that just so that she could feel better. He even gives her false compliments just so that she would become putty in his hands allowing him to take advantage of her. To analyse the above stereotype both of the protagonists personify the characteristics of a typical high school jock. Although Oz and Steve are both the popular boys at school they have a very different way of showing it. Oz is much friendlier and kinder whereas Steve is arrogant and aggressive. These characters are driven by their sporting talents because for them sport is the only thing that makes you a real man. They see woman as ob jects and not as human beings. Therefore the film American Pie excels at representing the jock stereotype in the movie. â€Å"The Joker is a very popular character with boys, perhaps because laughter is part of their own mask of masculinity. A potential negative consequence of this stereotype is the assumption that boys and men should not be serious or emotional† (NMMU, 2014)The function of a joker in a film is to allow for comedic relief and to create a relaxed atmosphere as well as making inappropriate jokes at times. Stifler is the joker in the film as he is constantly making comments throughout the movie that makes people laugh. A joker is popular among males which makes Stifler one of the most popular boys at East Great Falls High. Stifler makes every serious situation a joke and does not allow for emotions to come into play. Another example of the joker stereotype in the film is when Stifler pours laxatives into Finch’s drink as he knows Finch does not use the school’s toilets. Stifler has everybody laughing at this prank. This character was effective because Stifler is a ve ry dominate character and so he makes up a lot of different stereotypes because of his personality. He never shows emotions and is never serious about anything. Stifler is only worried about, Lacrosse, woman and his popularity. â€Å"The Strong Silent Type focuses on being in charge, acting decisively, containing emotion, and succeeding with women. This stereotype reinforces the assumption that men and boys should always be in control, and that talking about one’s feelings is a sign of weakness† (NMMU, 2014).The function of this type in a film is to allow for those characters that are dominant and strong yet who show emotion to have a role in the film. Although Oz is a jock in the film he also starts to display characteristics of a strong silent type. Oz and his friends made a pact that by the end of high school they should all have lost their virginity. Oz believes that it is a good idea to join the choir as the girls are perceived to be naà ¯ve and innocent and would be easy prey. Oz decides that he is now going to try get rid of his reputation of being an insensitive jock and become more caring and sensitive towards ladies. He meets a girl named Heather, who sings in the choir, and he imme diately feels an attraction towards her. For now he can only think of the pact his friends made and how he can use Heather as his victim to fulfil the deal. Steve, Kevin and Jim are all watching Oz while he sings and so after the choir practice Stifler asks Oz what his game plan is for joining the choir. Oz validates himself saying that he needs to find a girl to complete the deal they all made. â€Å"Chris Oz Ostreicher: [On being sensitive] You ask them questions, and listen to what they have to say and s**t. Steve Stifler: I dunno, man, that sounds like a lot of work† (IMDb, 1990-2014). This is the first glimpse of evidence that there is a slight start to showing emotion and care for Heather. As the film continues there is a complete change in Oz as he starts to focus more on Heather than his sport. He even leaves in the middle of the most important lacrosse game of the season to go and sing in a choir competition. When he arrives at the auditorium where the competition is taking place he grabs Heather in a passionate embrace and kisses her. This highlights that he has grown true and honest feeling for her. Heather and Oz end up breaking their virginity on prom night but promise to not tell anybody. At the end of the movie Oz believes that he is starting to fall in love with his girlfriend, Heather. Kevin Myers is also a strong silent type but it is not as obvious as in Oz’s case. The reason why Kevin falls under this stereotype is because he loves to take control and dominate the group. He even comes up with an idea that Finch, Oz, Jim an himself must lose their virginity before graduation from high school. They all make a pact and agree upon it. Kevin is the main instigator and inventor of this pact, and so all the drama that occurs as a result of the plan is because of Kevin’s idea. Another reason why he is the strong silent type is because he succeeds with woman and is a ladies man. He hides all his emotion about his feelings for hi s girlfriend away from her. When Kevin’s girlfriend tells him that she loves him, he is stunned and speechless. He doesn’t know how to express himself because he does not want to lose his credibility as a man if he is seen as emotional. Kevin eventually tells his girlfriend that he loves her before they have sexual intercourse. This can be seen as a way of manipulating his girlfriend into sleeping with just so that he can abide by the pact. This stereotype is well portrayed in Oz’s case. They show the transition from a sport crazy jock to becoming a choir singing sensitive man. It is very effective as it shows that men are allowed to show emotion and feelings, they don’t always have to be as hard as bricks. Although showing emotion for a male is seen as weak, Oz shows emotion in such a way that it doesn’t affect his jock status it only makes himself look like a better person. Kevin is also portrayed effectively although he is not as clear as Oz, he is still a strong silent type. Kevin portrays more of a dominate role in this case than Oz does. Both roles have been displayed accurately and in an effective manner. â€Å"The Big Shot is defined by his professional status. He is the epitome of success, embodying the characteristics and acquiring the possessions that society deems valuable. â€Å" This stereotype suggests that a real man must be economically powerful and socially successful† (NMMU, 2014).The big shot stereotype includes a number of characters. Stifler is a big shot as he believes that he rules the school and everybody in it. He is arrogant and insensitive to others. Stifler loves to have parties and drink alcohol which high school students consider to be enjoyable. Stifler has no respect for woman at all. He believes that they are only there to satisfy his personal needs. Chuck Sherman also embodies this stereotype as he makes all his ‘friends’ believe that he is going to sleep with a beautiful girl. The very next morning when these men wake up they witness Sherman coming downstairs with this girl. He then proceeds to lie to his friends and tell them that the y were busy the entire night. Meanwhile they had been having an in-depth conversation with one another instead. At prom the truth about this incident is revealed when this girl, who Sherman claimed he had sex with, tells everybody that he is a liar and that it never happened. Paul Finch is the third character to portray a big shot, he does this by the way he behaves and speaks. An example in the movie is when they are at Stifler’s house party after prom. Finch has no date and decides to walk around the house until he comes across a room that he is out of bounds. Inside the room he finds Stifler’s mother drinking and smoking. His attitude changes immediately and acts much older than he really is. He starts to seduce Stifler’s mother by means of his big shot personality. He drinks whiskey with her which is regarded as an adults drink, but Finch believes he is far more mature than the young boys downstairs. Finch then sleeps with Stifler’s mother which cause s problems the next morning. Kevin is the last big shot character in the film. Kevin says that â€Å"[o]ur very manhood is at stake† (American Pie, 1999) with regards to their lack of sexual encounters. Kevin has formed a pact with his friends which states that they have to lose their virginity by the time they graduate. Kevin becomes a jerk at Stifler’s house party when he wants to have sex with Vicky, his girlfriend, but she is not willing. He almost becomes forceful during the movie when she does not want to give it to him. His big shot personality is seen when he is walking downstairs at the party and says to Jim â€Å"enough with the blowjob bull s**t, I gotta get laid already† (American Pie, 1999).Vicky over hears this and is distraught. He is a big shot in the terms that he just wants to lose his virginity and thinks that he can take control and force Vicky into it. All these characters were portrayed exceptionally well. They were very easily spotted in t he film as their characteristics matched those of the big shot stereotype. The big shots are those that have power and require things that society believes is valuable which are women, sex and popularity. They manages to use their power to seduce the woman in order to acquire what is important to them, which is to lose their virginity. â€Å"The Action Hero is strong, but not necessarily silent. He is often angry. Above all, he is aggressive in the extreme and, increasingly over the past several decades, he engages in violent behaviour† (NMMU, 2014). In the film American Pie the best example of an action hero is the character Steve Stifler. He embodies many different types of stereotypes. He is your typical big cheese, know it all type of guy. If he has been humiliated and embarrassed by somebody he will use force to take his revenge on them and is very aggressive when things do not go his way. His anger is his form of a mask that covers and hides his emotions from the world. An example would be when Steve Stifler finds out that Finch is spreading rumours about himself. A rumour involving Steve had been spread around campus which was that Finch had beaten Steve in a fist fight. Steve was overwhelmed with anger when he heard the rumour, as it embarrassed him and hurt his creditability. Steve reacted to this s eeking revenge, he then decides to put a high dosage of laxatives into Finch’s regular mochacchino. The outcomes of Steve’s joke allowed for the embarrassment and rumours about his weakness to be forgotten and for all the good attention to be drawn back to him and for all the laughter to be focused on someone he sees as lower than him. This allows the audience to view his aggression and low self-esteem issues. In analysis to the character of the action hero in the film it is extremely well portrayed as the character is your typical big man on campus. This character shows that there is much more to him then he allows you to see, and is prepared to reveal to the public. This allows the audience to understand the character and his feelings better. This gives the viewer the chance to see another side of the character. This makes Steve seem strong and intimidating on the outside but in fact he is a normal human with feelings just like everybody else on the inside. â€Å"The Buffoon commonly appears as a bungling father figure in TV ads and sitcoms. Usually well-intentioned and light-hearted, these characters range from slightly inept to completely hopeless when it comes to parenting their children or dealing with domestic (or workplace) issues† (NMMU, 2014). The function of a buffoon in a film is to add entertainment and light hearted laughter. Noah Levenstein is the perfect example of a buffoon in the film, as he has no idea of how to raise his son properly when it comes to teenagers’ problems. It is evident in the film that Noah is a buffoon. The film starts with Jim, his son, watching a bad quality porn movie. Noah then helped his son by agreeing with him. This is the first sign that the father is going to be a funny and laid back father. Later in the film Noah visits Jim in his room and decides to have a conversation about sex. He tries to give his son sexual advice and brings him pornographic magazines. Further along in the film Noah comes home to his son performing sexual acts to an apple pie that his mother had baked. The father then helps Jim to clean up the kitchen and he then comes up with the idea that they will tell his wife that they had eaten the pie. Noah decided to help cover up Jims actions so that he would not get in trouble with his mother. â€Å"We’ll just tell your mom we ate it† (American Pie, 1999). In the end of the movie Noah opens his son’s bedroom door and sees Jim dancing in a sexual manner. Noah smiles at what he sees and starts breaking into very similar dance moves and shouts for his wife saying â€Å"Sweetheart† (American Pie, 1999). The use of the buffoon is very effective in the overall film. The character was portrayed perfectly and so it made identifying the buffoon very easy. Noah embodies all the characteristics a buffoon usually expresses. The protagonist is portrayed accurately in this film and allows for people to easily connect with the c haracter. Analysing the above character makes it clear that the buffoon is one of the main sources of comedy in a movie. It is an effortless yet at times awkward. To conclude, in this film it is evident that male stereotypes are rife. In society, males are meant to be strong and unbreakable whereas not every man is the same. This allows for the different stereotypes to be formed as some males fall under the popular category while others are more emotional. [2989] Reference list American Pie. 1999. [Film] Directed by Paul Weitz. United States of America: Universal Pictures, Zide-Perry Productions, Newmarket Capital Group, Summit Entertainment. IMDb, 1990-2014. Quotes for Chris Oz Ostreicher. [Online] Available at: http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0002450/quotes [Accessed 13 May 2014]. Janelle Vermaak NMMU course notes 2014

Japanese American Internment: The Economic Consequences Essay example -

United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt once proclaimed that the Pearl Harbor bombings that took place on December 7th, 1941 is, â€Å" a date which will live in infamy.† The events that unfolded that fateful morning not only resulted in a U.S declaration of war against Japan the next day (subsequently promoted Germany/Italy to declare war against U.S three days later), but also proved to be a traumatic landmark event in the history of Japanese Americans. The aftermath of the Pearl Harbor bombings prompted Franklin D. Roosevelt to authorize Executive Order 9066 on February 19th, 1942, which consequently cleared they way for Japanese American internment. In Hawaii, where Japanese Americans made up one-third of the population, only 1200 to 1800 were interned. On the mainland (specifically the West Coast) over 100,000 Japanese Americans were interned. Despite widespread outcry in Japanese American communities, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of these exclusio n orders in the 1944 landmark case Korematsu v. United States. The horrors of internment continued until January 2, 1945 when the exclusion order was nullified, and in 1946 the last internment was closed. Despite being released the hardships and material loss suffered by Japanese American internees were far from over. Many internees who survived this traumatic ordeal not only suffered from psychological problems, but also lost their properties and incomes. Although the U.S. government issued a public apology and compensated surviving former internees under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, it is still unclear if this adequately compensates former internees for the long-term economic hardships that followed as a result of internment. An estimated 110,000 Japanes... ...oney can bring back deceased family members or reverse the deep psychological scars that remain with some for the rest of their lives. The internment of Japanese Americans in the end teaches us that, â€Å"we are all people, no matter what color or race.† Bibliography 1. â€Å"Life after the nightmare.† Oracle ThinkQuest, 2011. Web. . 2. Chin, Aimee. â€Å"Long-Run Labor Market Effects of Japanese American Internment.† Houston: Department of Economics, University of Houston, 2004. 1-25. Print. 3. Rawls, J. J., & Bean, W. (2008). California: An Interpretive History (9th ed., pp. 189-276). San Francisco, CA: McGraw Hill. 4. Wright, Steven. â€Å"The Civil Liberties Act of 1988.† Dartmouth Education, n.d. Web. .