The History of Chemical Explosives

The History of Chemical Explosives An explosion can be defined as the rapid expansion of a material or device that exerts a sudden pressure on its surroundings. It can be caused by one of three things: a chemical reaction that occurs during conversion of elemental compounds, a mechanical or physical impact, or a nuclear reaction on the atomic/subatomic level. Gasoline exploding when ignited is a chemical explosion brought about by the sudden conversion of a hydrocarbon to carbon dioxide and water. The explosion that occurs when meteor strikes the earth is a mechanical explosion. And a nuclear warhead explosion is the result of the nucleus of a radioactive substance, like plutonium, suddenly splitting apart in an uncontrolled fashion. But it is chemical explosives that are the most common form of explosives in human history, used both for creative/commercial and destructive effect. The strength of a given explosive is measured that the rate of expansion it exhibits during detonation. Lets look briefly at some common chemical explosives. Black Powder It is unknown who invented the first explosive black powder. Black powder, also known as gunpowder, is a mixture of saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur, and charcoal (carbon). It originated in China around in the ninth century and was in wide use throughout Asia and Europe by the end of the 13th century. It was commonly used in fireworks and signals, as well as in mining and building operations. Black powder is the oldest form of ballistic propellant and it was used with early muzzle-type firearms and other artillery uses. In 1831, William Bickford an English leather merchant invented the first safety fuse. Using a safety fuse made black powder explosives more practical and safer. But because black powder is messy explosive, by the end of the 18th century it was replaced by high explosives and by cleaner smokeless powder explosives, such as what is currently used in firearm ammunition. Black powder is categorized as a low explosive because it expands and subsonic speeds when it detonates. High explosives, by contract, expand as supersonic speeds, thereby creating much more force. Nitroglycerin Nitroglycerin is a chemical explosive that was discovered by Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero in 1846. It was the first explosive developed that was more powerful than black powder, Nitroglycerin is a mix of nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and glycerol, and it is highly volatile. Its inventor, Sobrero, warned against its potential dangers, but Alfred Nobel adopted it as a commercial explosive in 1864. Several serious accidents, however, caused pure liquid nitroglycerin to be widely banned, leading to Nobels eventual invention of dynamite. Nitrocellulose In 1846, Chemist Christian Schonbein discovered nitrocellulose, also called guncotton, when he accidentally spilled a mixture of potent nitric acid on a cotton apron and the apron exploded as it dried. Experiments by Schonbein and others quickly established a means of manufacturing guncotton safely, and because it had a clean, explosive power almost six times greater than black powder, it quickly was adopted for use as means for propelling projectiles in weapons.   TNT In 1863, TNT or Trinitrotoluene was invented by German chemist Joseph Wilbrand. Originally formulated as a yellow dye, its explosive properties were not immediately evident. Its stablity was such that it could be safely poured into shell casings, and in the early 20th century it came into standard usage for German and British military munitions. Considered a high explosive, TNT is still in common use by the U.S. military and by construction companies around the world.   Blasting Cap In 1865, Alfred Nobel invented the blasting cap. The blasting cap provided a safer and dependable means of detonating nitroglycerin. Dynamite In 1867, Alfred Nobel patented dynamite, a high explosive that consisted of a mixture of three parts nitroglycerine, one part diatomaceous earth (ground silica rock) as an absorbent, and a small amount of sodium carbonate antacid as a stabilizer. The resultant mixture was considerably safer than pure nitroglycerine, as well as being much more powerful than black powder. Other materials are now used as the absorbent and stabilizing agents, but dynamite remains the premier explosive for use in commercial mining and construction demolition. Smokeless Powders In 1888, Alfred Nobel invented a dense smokeless powder explosive called ballistite. In 1889, Sir James Dewar and Sir Frederick Abel invented another smokeless gunpowder called cordite. Cordite was made of  nitroglycerin, guncotton, and a petroleum substance gelatinized by addition of acetone. Later variations of these smokeless powders form the propellant for most modern firearms and artillery. Modern Explosives Since 1955, a variety of additional high explosives has been developed. Created mostly for military use, they also have commercial applications, such as in deep drilling operations.  Explosives such as nitrate-fuel oil mixtures or ANFO and ammonium nitrate-base water gels now account for seventy percent of the explosives market. These explosives come in various types including: HMXRDXHNIWONC

An Overview of Basque Country

An Overview of Basque Country The Basque people have inhabited the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains around the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain and southern France for thousands of years. They are the oldest surviving ethnic group in Europe. Even so, scholars have still not determined the exact origins of the Basques. The Basques may be the direct descendants of the first hunter-gatherers that lived in Europe about 35,000 years ago. The Basques have prospered, though their distinctive language and culture were sometimes suppressed, giving rise to a modern violent separatist movement. History of the Basques Much of Basque history is still largely unverified. Due to similarities in place names and personal names, the Basques may be related to a people called the Vascones that lived in Northern Spain. The Basques get their name from this tribe. The Basque people had probably already lived in the Pyrenees for thousands of years when the Romans invaded the Iberian peninsula during the first century BCE. The Romans had little interest in conquering Basque territory due to the mountainous, somewhat non-fertile landscape. Partly due to the terrain of the Pyrenees, the Basques were never defeated by the invading Moors, Visigoths, Normans, or Franks. When Castilian (Spanish) forces finally conquered the Basque territory in the 1500s, the Basques were first given a great amount of autonomy. Spain and France began to pressure the Basques to assimilate, and the Basques lost some of their rights during the Carlist Wars of the 19th century. Basque nationalism became particularly intense during this period. Spanish Civil War Basque culture greatly suffered during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. Francisco Franco and his fascist party wanted to rid Spain of all heterogeneity, and the Basque people were specifically targeted. Franco banned the speaking of Basque, and the Basques lost all political autonomy and economic rights. Many Basques were imprisoned or killed. Franco ordered the Basque town, Guernica, to be bombed by the Germans in 1937. Several hundred civilians died. Picasso painted his famous â€Å"Guernica† to demonstrate the horror of war. When Franco died in 1975, the Basques received much of their autonomy again, but this did not satisfy all Basques. ETA Terrorism In 1959, some of the fiercest nationalists founded ETA, or Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, Basque Homeland and Liberty. This separatist, socialist organization has conducted terrorist activities to try to break away from Spain and France and become an independent nation-state. Over 800 people, including police officers, government leaders, and innocent civilians have been killed by assassinations and bombings. Thousands more have been injured, kidnapped, or robbed. But Spain and France have not tolerated this violence, and many Basque terrorists have been imprisoned. ETA leaders have claimed numerous times that they want to declare a cease-fire and solve the sovereignty issue peacefully, but they have broken the cease-fire repeatedly. The majority of Basque people do not condone the violent actions of ETA, and not all Basques want complete sovereignty. Geography of the Basque Country The Pyrenees Mountains are the major geographic feature of the Basque Country. The Basque Autonomous Community in Spain is divided into three provinces- Araba, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa. The capital and home of the Basque Parliament is Vitoria-Gasteiz. Other large cities include Bilbao and San Sebastian. In France, many Basques live near Biarritz. The Basque Country is heavily industrialized and energy production is particularly important. Politically, the Basques in Spain have a great deal of autonomy. While they are not independent, the Basques control their own police force, industry, agriculture, taxation, and media. Basque: The Euskara Language The Basque language is not Indo-European: it is a language isolate. Linguists have tried to connect Basque with languages spoken in North Africa and the Caucasus Mountains, but no direct links have been proven. The language Basque is written with the Latin alphabet and the Basques call their language Euskara. It is spoken by about 650,000 people in Spain and about 130,000 people in France. Most Basque speakers are bilingual in either Spanish or French. Basque experienced a resurgence after the death of Franco, and to get a government job in that region, one needs to speak and write Basque; the language is taught in various educational facilities. Basque Culture and Genetics The Basque people are known for their diverse culture and occupations. The Basques built many ships and were excellent seafarers. After explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed in 1521, a Basque man, Juan Sebastian Elcano, completed the first circumnavigation of the world. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order of Catholic priests, was Basque. Miguel Indurain has won the Tour de France multiple times. Basques play many sports like soccer, rugby, and jai alai. Most Basques today are Roman Catholic. The Basques cook famous seafood dishes and celebrate many festivals. The Basques may have unique genetics. They have the highest concentrations of people with Type O blood and Rhesus Negative blood, which can cause problems with pregnancy. Basque Diaspora There are approximately 18 million people of Basque descent around the world. Many people in New Brunswick and Newfoundland, Canada, are descended from Basque fishermen and whalers. Many prominent Basque clergymen and government officials were sent to the New World. Today, about 8 million people in Argentina, Chile, and Mexico trace their roots to the Basques, who emigrated to work as sheepherders, farmers, and miners. There are about 60,000 people of Basque ancestry in the United States. Many reside in Boise, Idaho, and in other places in the American West. The University of Nevada at Reno maintains a Basque Studies Department. Basque Mysteries Abound The mysterious Basque people have survived for thousands of years in the isolated Pyrenees Mountains, preserving their ethnic and linguistic integrity. Perhaps one day scholars will determine their origins, but this geographic puzzle remains unsolved. Sources and Further Reading Douglas, William, and Zulaika, Joseba. Basque Culture: Anthropological Perspectives. Reno: University of Nevada, 2007.  Trask, R. L. The History of Basque. London: Routledge, 1997Woodworth, Paddy. The Basque Country: A Cultural History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.

Psychological Impact of Retail Space on purchasing behavior Essay

Psychological Impact of Retail Space on purchasing behavior - Essay Example Moreover, the fixtures used for displaying the products can be arranged in such fashion to present a neat and powerful look to the outsiders visiting the store. The floor and the ceiling of the store space can be given the same or different color and thematic effects to produce different types of customer emotions. Retailers through the use of definite store imagery can manipulate the decisions of the customers by altering their moods in making buying decisions (Smith & Sherman). The focus on creating differential designs for the retail stores has gathered a great impetus from the previous days. Owing to the rise in cut-throat competition the retail firms operating in the same category have started producing products which act as substitutes to each other in terms of design and quality. Thus the potential of retail differentiation has shifted from product designs to store designs to reflect a differential pattern to the customer’s eyes. ... The retail designers must also endeavor to forecast the effects on consumer purchases and retail sales which would add commercial value to their designing ventures. Thus, the subject concerned with designing the interior of a retail firm encompasses a whole lot of factors pertaining to sociology, psychology, ergonomics, demand and sales forecasting techniques and an eye for supreme aesthetics. Henceforth, the function of retail design is in itself a multidisciplinary subject which needs people from different backgrounds to render true effectiveness to the activity conducted. A considerable amount of research has been conducted to understand the effects of each of the several factors or the disciplines listed above on the mode of altering the behavior of the consumers. (Katelijn, Jan & Cleempoel, 3487-3788). Aims and Objectives Aims The paper in presenting a discussion on the psychological impact of retail space on consumer behavior deals mainly with two topics. Firstly, the paper foc uses on the consumer buying patterns in the region of United Kingdom pertaining to three main segments viz. Fashion, Kids and Home and Leisure Segment. In the second part the paper focuses on the main theme relating to the effect of retail space or interior designs on the buying motives of the consumer. Objectives To understand the current purchasing behavior of the consumers based in the region of United Kingdom on fashion, kids and home and leisure items. To focus on the effect of interior designs of the retail outlets on the buying psychology of the different consumers. Literature Review Consumer Purchasing Behavior in United Kingdom Fashion In the economy of United Kingdom the consumer buying patterns

Global warming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Global warming - Research Paper Example This research essay will discuss about the origin of the global warming, how it has impacted, how to control it through a detailed analysis. Due to human activities, the atmospheric levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases have soared rapidly. Over the past century, the global average temperature soared about 10C in average, which is about 1.80 F and the sea levels have increased more than 15 cms (6 inches). Worldwide, glaciers are melting out and the huge ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland are frazzling at their peripheries. While summer heat waves have now become unbearable and rainstorms are escalating in many provinces while winters are less severe. At the same juncture, provinces of drought are turning to be more widespread, which resulted in the sharp increase in food prices. Species are witnessing risk of extinction due to the hostile atmosphere. Climate science comprises of study of the workings of the environment and ocean and of the interface between atmosphere and ocean and the other constituents of the mother Earth, namely fauna and flora. It also deals with the study of past climate namely paleoclimatology. Further, climate change is closely associated with the energy as future climate rests upon directly on our capability to maneuver emissions from fossil-fuel and to use eco-friendly renewable-energy sources (Mathez, 2013, p.xv). The origin of the global warming can be mainly attributed to human activities, particularly, the burning of coal, fossil fuels, oil & gas, adding together with large -scale deforestation and due to this , the gas CO2 emitted into the environment in higher quantities over the past two centuries and more significantly over the past five decades. Each year, there will be emission of CO2 into the atmosphere which will add to the CO2 which is already present in the

Bald Eagle, Great white shark and Siberian Tiger Essay Example for Free

Bald Eagle, Great white shark and Siberian Tiger Essay There are three types of animals around the world known to be endangered species. We can help and protect them by helping the people aware of this animal, so they will be able to know the importance of keeping the animals to live longer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Bald Eagle is not really bald; it actually has white feathers on its head, neck, and tail. Bald is a derivation of balde, and Old English word meaning white. The eagle was names for its white feathers instead for a lack of feathers. Bald eagles may use the same nest year after year, adding more twigs and braches each time. One nest found that had been used for 34 years and weighted over two tons. The bald eagle can fly 20 to 40 mph in normal flight and can dive at speeds over 100mph. Bald eagles can actually swim. They use an overhand movement of wings that is very much like the butterfly stroke. More than 80% of bald eagle population in the southeastern United States is concentrated within the state of Florida.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The great white shark is a streamlined swimmer and a ferocious predator with 3,000 teeth at any one time. This much-feared fish has a torpedo-shaped body, a pointed snout, a crescent-shaped tail, 5 gill slits, no fin spines, an anal fin, and 3 main fins: the dorsal fin (on its back) and 2 pectoral fins (on its sides). When the shark is near the surface, the dorsal fin and part of the tail are visible above the water.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Siberian Tiger (also called the Amur Tiger) is the largest member of the cat family. These huge, territorial cats are found in the Amur-Ussuri region of Siberia (in northeastern Russia) and in northern China and Korea. They live in mountainous conifer forests at elevations up to 3,000 feet. There are only about 400 of these magnificent tigers left in the wild; they are an endangered species. Male Siberian tigers are up to 10 3/4 ft (3.3 m) long and weigh up to 660 pounds (300 kg); females are up to 8 1/2 ft (2.6 m) long and weigh up to 370 pounds (165 kg). The fur is usually pale orange-brown with black stripes; they are paler than most other tigers. The fur on the belly and chest is white with black stripes. There is a white ruff around the neck.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the United States, Bald Eagle is a symbol of justice, strength, and fairness. Great white shark Carcharodon carcharias, also known as white pointer, white shark, or white death, is an exceptionally large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. Siberian Tigers are the biggest cats in the world. They live in steamy hot jungles as well as icy cold forest habitats. There are five different kinds or subspecies of tiger alive in the world today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Therefore, these are three animals are considered as the most endangered animals around the world. They also seek for love and care. As we people of god, our responsibility is to protect them out from danger.   Let them live with peace and harmony. References: Endangered Animals (1996) Bald Eagle. World Wide Web:   http://www.worldkids.net/eac/eagle.html 5k Enchanted Learning Software. Great White Shark. World Wide Web: http://enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/species/Greatwhite.shtml 25k Enchanted Learning.com. Siberian Tiger. World Wide Web: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/tiger/Siberiatigerprintout.shtml 9k

Carefully Reherse The Reasoning That Leads To The Paradox Of The Raven :: essays research papers

Carefully rehearse the reasoning that leads to the Paradox of the Ravens. Is there a satisfactory conclusion? Throughout the scientific history of the world there have been many changes in the way we think, in the way we perceive the world to work. Indeed theories that were held as unshakably true in the past now seem laughable, for example the theory that the universe revolved around the Earth was deemed true by all of the scholarly community of the time, until Galileo came along and proved otherwise. Such changes in thought have lead people to be a little more cautious before giving commitment to certain scientific theories incase ten or fifteen years on the are proven to be wrong. In at least some areas of science evidence is often fragmentary and inconclusive, therefore it would of benefit to be able to say more about the degree to which a given piece of evidence supports a given theory. In short to develop a quantitative account of the relationship between evidence and theory. Philosophy has sought to do this under the heading ‘confirmation theory’. They have tried understa nding to what extent various bodies of evidence ‘confirm’ different theories. They do this so that if we know a piece of evidence highly confirms a theory then we are relatively safe in believing it to be true; but should there only be a small degree of confirmation then we can moderate our trust accordingly. However, finding this intuitive notion of confirmation is not as straightforward as it may seem and one of the problems that stems from this is the Paradox of the Ravens. Starting with the assumption that there is a relationship of confirmation and that sometimes E confirms T, where E is some body of evidence and T is some theory. Then it seems logical to make the following two assumptions about confirmation: (1.)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  That generalizations are confirmed by their instances. Or If E = (Fa & Ga) and T= All Fs are Gs, then E confirms T. (2.)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If E confirms T, and T is logically equivalent to S, then E confirms S. At first glance these two simple statements of logic seem to be uncontentious, but they can easily be shown to generate a puzzle, as follows. (L) All ravens are black. (M) All non-black things are non-ravens. Notice that these two statements are logically equivalent. Now, take our evidence being the observation that: (I) That white thing over there is a shoe.

Functionalist theory of crime and deviance Essay

Many people over the years have tried to explain why there is crime in our society. Functionalists focus on the source of deviance in the nature of society rather than biological and psychological explanations. Every functionalist agrees that social control mechanisms e. g. the police are necessary to keep deviance in check and therefore protecting social order. A main contributor to the functionalist theory of crime is Durkheim. He believed that society is based on a value consensus and that all members of society share a common culture that is a set of shared values, norms, beliefs and goals. Durkheim suggested that by society sharing the same culture created social solidarity, thereby binding individuals together and telling them what to strive for and how to conduct themselves. According to Durkheim crime has 4 functions in society, the first being that crime and deviance is â€Å"inevitable and normal†. He suggested that crime is inevitable, normal and necessary for life. He said crime is inevitable because not everyone in society is going to be equally committed to the shared values and morals as we are all exposed to different influences. Durkheim gave the example of â€Å"even in a ‘society of saints’ with no crime at all, such high standards of behaviour would make even the smallest deviant act e. g. burping stand out†, this backs up his suggestion of deviance is inevitable and it will always be present in society. The second function that Durkheim outlined is that crime helps society to evolve. He said â€Å"yesterday’s deviance must become today’s normality†, Durkheim believed the crime helps society to review the way it does things so we can learn from the deviance and mistakes. Thirdly Durkheim outlined that crime is functional. He proposed that crime could be functional and only becomes dysfunctional when its level is unusually high or low. He said very low rates lead to stagnation, while high rates lead to social disorganisation and chaos. Durkheim believed that change was healthy and in order for society to change yesterday’s deviance must become today’s norm. Durkheim also stated that shared values and morals must be in moderate for their influence not to be strong on the population or deviance would occur as people would object. We can see this with the actions of Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King who have all objected to the shared values and morals that have been too strong. The last function Durkheim believed crime gave to society is â€Å"crime can be positive†. He came up with two features, â€Å"boundary maintenance† and â€Å"adaptation and change†. Durkheim said crime produces a reaction for society, uniting its members in condemnation of the wrongdoers and reinforcing their commitment to the shared norms and values. This is Durkheim’s way of describing punishment, which for him is to reaffirm society’s shared rules and reinforce social solidarity. Durkheim said this could be done though the courtroom which dramatises wrongdoing and publicly stigmatises the offender which reaffirms the values of the law-abiding majority and discourages others from rule breaking. The second feature is influenced by Durkheim’s belief that all change starts with an act of deviance. Durkheim believed there much be some wiggle room for individuals with new ideas, values and ways of living as way to challenge and change existing norms and values.

The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky

The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky is a short story by Stephen Crane which was written in the late 1890s. The plot is simple, the story brief, and the characters complex. Crane articulately explores the slow disappearance of the American Frontier. The American West, in legend and in truth, played an essential role in chiseling the character of the American spirit and nationalism.The American West created the first truly free man. The European Frontier was nothing more than people recreating â€Å"Old World values and deferring to authority†. (Burns 37) The frontier in America had no law, no authority, and men lived by their wits.America thinks of it’s frontier as being within the country not at the edge. There is no line which separates the frontier from settled land. America’s frontier was transient and terrestrial. As Crane explores in â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†, the American West could not stay â€Å"wild† forever. As the West became a place where adventurous individuals wanted to be, it became a place of less adventure – modernized by the East. While the short story can have many of the major characteristics of a traditional western, the plot, environment, and the narration are strikingly different.Crane, in â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†employs the setting, character development, names and narration to represent a time of change in the â€Å"West†. The plot events center around the Yellow Sky's The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky† is a short story by Stephen Crane which was written in the late 1890s. The plot is simple, the story brief, and the characters complex. Crane articulately explores the slow disappearance of the American Frontier. The American West, in legend and in truth, played an essential role in chiseling the character of the American spirit and nationalism.The American West created the first truly free man. The European Frontier was nothing more than people recreating â€Å" Old World values and deferring to authority†. (Burns 37) The frontier in America had no law, no authority, and men lived by their wits. America thinks of it’s frontier as being within the country not at the edge. There is no line which separates the frontier from settled land. America’s frontier was transient and terrestrial. As Crane explores in â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†, the American West could not stay â€Å"wild† forever.As the West became a place where adventurous individuals wanted to be, it became a place of less adventure – modernized by the East. While the short story can have many of the major characteristics of a traditional western, the plot, environment, and the narration are strikingly different. Crane, in â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†employs the setting, character development, names and narration to represent a time of change in the â€Å"West†. The plot events center around the Yellow Sky's The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky† is a short story by Stephen Crane which was written in the late 1890s.The plot is simple, the story brief, and the characters complex. Crane articulately explores the slow disappearance of the American Frontier. The American West, in legend and in truth, played an essential role in chiseling the character of the American spirit and nationalism. The American West created the first truly free man. The European Frontier was nothing more than people recreating â€Å"Old World values and deferring to authority†. (Burns 37) The frontier in America had no law, no authority, and men lived by their wits.America thinks of it’s frontier as being within the country not at the edge. There is no line which separates the frontier from settled land. America’s frontier was transient and terrestrial. As Crane explores in â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†, the American West could not stay â€Å"wild† forever. As the West became a p lace where adventurous individuals wanted to be, it became a place of less adventure – modernized by the East. While the short story can have many of the major characteristics of a traditional western, the plot, environment, and the narration are strikingly different.Crane, in â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†employs the setting, character development, names and narration to represent a time of change in the â€Å"West†. The plot events center around the Yellow Sky's became a place of less adventure – modernized by the East. While the short story can have many of the major characteristics of a traditional western, the plot, environment, and the narration are strikingly different. Crane, in â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†employs the setting, character development, names and narration to represent a time of change in the â€Å"West†. The plot events center around the Yellow Sky's town Marshal, Jack Potter.He is a quiet man in his early fifties who has been a lawman for several years. He travels to San Antonio, unbeknown to his fellow citizens to get married to woman his own age. In his absence the town drunk, Scratchy Wilson, show up in town looking for a fight and when the Marshall is no where to be found, he takes his boredom out on the town. The general impression of Wilson is that he is not necessary a threat but more of a pest, who is usually handled by Marshall Potter (Burns 36). The Marshall and his new wife travel home, by train, and when they arrive in Yellow Sky they are unexpectedly met by Wilson.Wilson immediately demands a duel and waits for Marshall Potter to draw his weapon. To Wilson's surprise, Potter has no weapon and insists that his â€Å"games† must cease. An often overlooked aspect of Crane's writing his unique uses of names and labels as applied in his stories. â€Å"The Brides Comes to Yellow Sky† is no home, by train, and when they arrive in Yellow Sky they are unexpectedly met by Wilson. Wilson immediately demands a duel and waits for Marshall Potter to draw his weapon. To Wilson's surprise, Potter has no weapon and insists that his â€Å"games† must cease.An often overlooked aspect of Crane's writing his unique uses of names and labels as applied in his stories. â€Å"The Brides Comes to Yellow Sky† is no exception. A close examination of the names in this short story reveal humor, symbolism, and commentary on the destruction of the American Frontier. While Crane utilizes characters names to perpetuate his representation of the easternization of the West, it is also typical of Crane's parody on the â€Å"western†. The Marshall is given the name of Jack Potter which comparatively different from the real life legendary Marshals of the West – Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill (Tietz 94).Crane's choses this name to make a statement about the kind of man Jack Potter is. He is not unique or charismatic as the Marshals of years past, whos e personality was just as wild and unforgiving as the Frontier once was. Jack Potter is a generic name, like his new bride who was never given a name. The name Potter evokes the idea of a Potter's Field, where the nameless and poor are buried. Yet, Crane, in writing this parody, describes Potter as â€Å"a man known, liked, and feared in his corner, a prominent person† (92).Marshal Jack Potter's foil, Scratchy Wilson, is also equipped with a name which parody's the western as well as comments on the migration of the eastern culture into the west. Scratchy is seen wearing red, with boots, red face â€Å"flamed in a rage begot of whisky† (94). Crane has designed the Scratchy character to appear as the devil. Satan, in old texts, are often referred to as Scratch (Tietz 90). However, Crane chooses not to call him Scratch but Scratchy. This simple name change shifts the evil outlaw to a kid-like character.

Swiss Army Knife for Writers

Swiss Army Knife for Writers Swiss Army Knife for Writers Swiss Army Knife for Writers By Maeve Maddox Until now, the only Thesaurus on my shelves was Rogets, and it was gathering dust because I quit using it years ago. I found it more useful to look up a word in a regular dictionary and see what synonyms were offered. Not ideal, but it gave me more options than Rogets. Now, however, Ive found a reference that is a thesaurus and then some: Oxford American Writers Thesaurus. 2nd edition. Compiled by Chrstine A. Lindberg. The title says it all. Its a writers tool that, for practical versatility, compares to a campers Swiss Army Knife. The main section contains about a thousand pages of entries. Unlike Roget, the OAWT gives the word in context before offering synonyms. Do you ever have a word on the tip of your tongue, but you cannot think of it? You cant even remember what letter it begins with, but youd know it if you saw it? Theres a section for that. In the Word Finder section words are arranged in categories: animals, architecture, food, music, etc. Then there are sections for Archaic Words and Literary Words. Maybe you want to remind yourself what a dangling modifier is, or review how to punctuate titles. Go no further than the Language Guide, nearly 50 pages of clearly presented rules of grammar, spelling, punctuation, plus tips for avoiding common errors. And, wait, as they say on the infomercials, theres more! Scattered among the entries in the main section are boxes containing helpful and entertaining notes on usage and connotation. Theres so much good stuff in this reference book that Ill probably want to tell you more in a future post. For now, a comparison of one entry in the Oxford American Writers Thesaurus with the same word in Roget will explain some of my enthusiasm. Rogets II, The New Theaurus, 1980 (the one on my shelf) aback adverb without adequate preparation unawares Rogets 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright  © 2008 by the Philip Lief Group. (online) Main Entry: aback Part of Speech: adverb Definition: taken unawares Synonyms: confused, surprised, thrown off, thrown off guard Oxford American Writers Thesaurus, 2nd edition aback adverb -PHRASES take someone aback everyone in the church was taken aback when the grooms ex-wife stood up and objected to the marriage: surprise, shock, stun, stagger, astound, astonish, startle, take by surprise; dumbfound, stop someone in their tracks; shake (up), jolt, throw, unnerve, disconcert, unsettle, bewilder; informal flabbergast, floor, bowl over. Click here to check Oxford American Writers Thesaurus on Amazon. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Book Reviews category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals8 Types of Parenthetical PhrasesIs Your Novel "Mystery," "Thriller," or "Suspense"?

Profile of the Roman God Jupiter

Profile of the Roman God Jupiter Jupiter, also known as Jove, is the god of sky and thunder, as well as the king of gods in Ancient Roman Mythology. Jupiter is the top god of the Roman pantheon. Jupiter was considered the chief deity of Roman state religion during the Republican and Imperial eras until Christianity became the dominant religion. Zeus is Jupiter’s equivalent in Greek Mythology. The two share the same features and characteristics. Due to Jupiter’s popularity, the Romans named the largest planet in the solar system after him. Attributes Jupiter is depicted with a beard and long hair. His other attributes include scepter, eagle, cornucopia, aegis, ram, and lion. Jupiter, the Planet The ancient Babylonians were the first known people to record their sightings of the planet Jupiter. The Babylonians’ recordings date back to the seventh century BC. It was initially named after Jupiter, the king of the Roman gods. To the Greeks, the planet represented Zeus, their god of thunder, while the Mesopotamians saw Jupiter as their god, Marduk. Zeus Jupiter and Zeus are equivalents in ancient mythology. They  share the same traits and characteristics. The Greek god Zeus was the top Olympian god in the Greek pantheon. After he took credit for rescuing his brothers and sisters from their father Cronus, Zeus became king of heaven and gave his brothers, Poseidon and Hades, the sea and the underworld, respectively, for their domains. Zeus was the husband of Hera, but he had many affairs with other goddesses, mortal women, and female animals. Zeus mated with, among others, Aegina, Alcmena, Calliope, Cassiopeia, Demeter, Dione, Europa, Io, Leda, Leto, Mnemosyne, Niobe, and Semele. He is king on  Mount Olympus, the home of the Greek gods. He is also credited as the father of  Greek heroes  and the ancestor of many other Greeks. Zeus mated with many mortals and goddesses but is married to his sister  Hera (Juno). Zeus is the son of the  Titans Cronus and Rhea. He is the brother of his wife Hera, his other sisters Demeter and Hestia, and his brothers Hades, Poseidon. Etymology of Zeus and Jupiter The root of both Zeus and Jupiter is in a  proto-Indo-European  word for the often personified concepts of day/light/sky. Zeus Abducts Mortals There are many myths  about Zeus. Some involve demanding acceptable conduct of others, whether human or divine. Zeus was enraged with the behavior of  Prometheus. The titan had tricked Zeus into taking the non-meat portion of the original sacrifice so that mankind could enjoy the food. In response, the king of the gods deprived mankind of the use of fire so they wouldnt be able to enjoy the ​book theyd been granted, but Prometheus found a way around this, and stole some of the gods fire by hiding it in a stalk of fennel and then giving it to mankind. Zeus punished Prometheus with having his liver pecked out every day. But Zeus himself misbehaves- at least according to human standards. It is tempting to say that his primary occupation is that of a seducer. In order to seduce, he sometimes changed his shape into that of an animal or bird. When he impregnated Leda, he appeared as a swan [see Leda and the Swan]. When he abducted Ganymede, he appeared as an eagle in order to take Ganymede to the home of the gods where he would replace Hebe as cupbearer; and when Zeus carried off Europa, he appeared as a tempting white bull- although why the Mediterranean women were so enamored of bulls is beyond the imaginative capacities of this urban-dweller- setting in motion the quest of Cadmus and the settling of Thebes. The hunt for Europa provides one mythological version of the introduction of letters to Greece. The Olympic Games were initially held to honor Zeus.

Close Reading Exercise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Close Reading Exercise - Essay Example n a room that was â€Å"well lighted with wax candles†, but where â€Å"no glimpse of daylight was to be seen†, the author was being indicative of the wealthy spinster’s closed-minded, hypocritical and spiteful nature. Much of the furniture in this room was of forms and uses â€Å"then quite unknown to Pip†. Because Pip was a boy with the â€Å"expectations† to become a gentleman. His life had not yet turned around. It’s an illustration that Dickens was extremely careful in the exercise of characterization. It’s in a tone of irony that Pip refers to the â€Å"fine lady† sitting at the dressing-table. His encounter, in fact, was not with a fine lady, but a â€Å"strange† lady, the strangest he had ever seen or he should ever see; a lady with â€Å"no brightness left†, an old desiccated lady more horrifying than â€Å"waxwork† and â€Å"skeleton†. The objects found scattered around in the room in a haphazard manner are once again a subtle indication of Miss Havisham’s complex nature. In an antithesis, Pip clarifies that â€Å"it was not in the first few moments that he saw all these things, though he saw more of them in the first moments†. These were the things that â€Å"ought to be white†, but were once-white, things that had lost their lustre, were faded and yellow. All of them are a grim pointer to Miss Havisham’s unpleasant past. The description of Miss Havisham’s appearance and the watch and the clock that had stopped at twenty minutes to nine have such a hair-raising visual and mental effect on the reader that one can expect it in few horror stories. â€Å"What will be conceded even by the most disputatious reader† is an illustration of such use of the language that requires even a language expert to take a second reading, to be sure. It’s not at all a coincidence if it reminds one of O. Henry’s writing style. When Miss Havisham commands Pip to play, the allusion to Mr. Pumblechook’s chaise-cart, and that he felt himself â€Å"unequal to the

LLM Human Rights -International criminal law Essay

LLM Human Rights -International criminal law - Essay Example ncy of international armed conflicts facilitated by the oppressive regimes has not only caused grave violation of fundamental human rights but has also radically spurred the rate of victimization. Although, according to reports, the number of deaths since World War II, has declined significantly, there are still several regions wherein such conflicts have caused wide spread damage and loss of life and property raising the death toll in the process, and all efforts to contain or restrict such conflicts have largely been reported to be unsuccessful1. Such victimization caused by international armed conflicts include genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, extra judicial carnages, persecution, and random arrest detainment etc, which amount to a grave violation of the international human rights law 2. Present-day armed conflicts, are more often than not, occur on account of strain between governments of different nations or in case of non international armed conflicts, between non state actors or minority groups and the governing authorities. The analytical report presented by the U.N. secretary general on the minimum humanitarian standards, state that modern day conflicts are most often, driven by conditions whereby a particular group or groups take up arms against the other in the quest for attaining their own political aspirations and goals, for instance, for seizing control, or creation of self – government for safeguarding the rights of their particular minority groups, or with a view to depose the existing ruling authority and establish their own regime. Some other characteristic factors which give rise to such conflict include situations where the present government has disintegrated or is rendered permanently incapacitated or is disinclined to arbitrate, impede or avert such violence between the armed groups3. Moreover, the types of human rights abuses which occur during such armed conflicts reveal that the civilian population in