Government policies Essay

Describe, with examples, the impact of government policies on different public services P5 Identify how society is affected by government policies In the UK, policies are in place in order to protect us and help enforce diversity and equality. Sometimes they are not always positively impacted on our society and public services; they can be negative as well. In this assignment, I will cover both the impacts of government policies on the public services and how society is affected. Human Rights The most commonly known policy that has affected all of the services is the human rights policy. This act was passed in the UK in 1998 which protected us and gave us the right to life, education, liberty and security and freedom of expression. Whenever these rights are violated, the victim may take the service or person to take and challenge the actions of the violator. A Police Officer was accused of violating someone rights after hitting a student (Tony Jones) in the face. They violated freedom of assembly and association, freedom of expression and freedom of thought. Just like many cases- This one was also dismissed and the Officer wasn’t charged for the suspected violation. Equal Opportunities Very similar to Human Rights- Equal Opportunities also protect us. While this has been around for a while, the equality act was republished in 2010 which terminates any discrimination against â€Å"age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.† If for example you are applying for the Public Service and you are bisexual then the service cannot refuse your application because of your sexual orientation. If you are a male Sikh and you wanted to join the Force, you are allowed to wear a blue police turban with the badge of your force being displayed. This policy stops people from becoming more ‘important’ than others which allow everyone to be treated fairly and not the same. Civilianisation As part of the financial cut back on the Public Services, more civilians are doing non-operational work. This includes more civilians working in the  communication control centre which dispatches emergency services to 999 calls. A key reason for civilianisation is because it is a lot cheaper than employing trained employees who can do the same but with little training or experience. Fire Station Closures Fire Station closures is apart of the Government’s plan to increase savings. In London alone, 10 Fire Stations have been forced to shut down which has led hundreds of Firefighters jobless. Even the oldest serving Fire Station in Clerkenwell has been shut down. This means- For anyone who dials 999 and asks for the Fire and Rescue service, the fire fighters will take longer to arrive to the scene compared to before where there might have been a Fire Station nearby. As a consequence, Communities are not feeling safe which results in protests. Increased use of Technology The use of advanced technology being used during modern warfare has not only saved our armed services from being killed or injured, it also allowed us to get surveillance over areas that we would have never been able to. Drones and satellites have allowed us to spy over our enemies and also kill them. Metal Detectors allowed the frontline to find improvise explosive device (IED) which would have saved hundreds of lives alone. Unfortunately, it isn’t always as expected. Drones are also responsible for thousands of civilians’ life during the Afghanistan War and they have even taken our lives (Green on Blue). In the UK, increase use of technology has also saved lives and helps prosecute criminals. The increase of CCTV in the UK allowed us to record and catch criminals and serves them justice. While some people believe they violate their privacy, some people feel a lot protected within communities. Examples of society affected by Government Policies They’re many policies that affect us both positively and negatively. Examples of a few are; Tuition fees VAT rises Sales of Council Houses Tuition Fees Tuition fees are probably one of the negatives about attending  further-education. If you’re attending University then expect an expensive fee after your course that you are required to pay back each month. Many graduates are still paying their fees even after 5-10 years. The main reason why society is affected by the fees is because less people are attending university purely because it’s too costly. Even after graduation, you are not guaranteed a job so some people become jobless while having to pay back the debt. VAT rises Every item you purchase legally has a VAT which increases the overall cost of the item. This is normally a 20% increase which is quite costly- depending on the item. If you were to buy a computer for  £500(no VAT) then the final price would be  £600. This means many families are forced into poverty while they have to struggle on surviving on minimum wage. Sales of council houses Selling of council houses is becoming an increasing issue in the UK as people and even businesses are buying the house out. This means hundreds of family homes are now owned by private landlords or individual people. As a consequence, families are finding it difficult to find family-homes to live in. How Society is affected by Government Policies When Society does not agree with a new policy that the Government put into place, it normally results in protests near Governmental Buildings with signs criticising the work of Government. However, protests are both peaceful and violent. There are several types of protests such as: -Sit-ins -Marching -Legal Action -Striking -Violating Laws Sit in This is one of the common types of protests. This means staying in one location while refusing to leave. An example of a previous sit-in is the protest outside the United Nations (U.N). Marching This involves walking from different locations while holding signs and normally shouting. One of the most famous marching was led by Martin Luther King in 1963. This protest was to promote civil rights and equality for the ethnic minority. Legal Action Though this isn’t a mass-protest, it is still a form which people still use. This involves taking a person or company to court in order to press legal charges against them. In 2012, the Democratic Party sued Florida because of the presidential election results. Striking This is commonly scene among Teachers who believe they are not paid enough or the Government plan on cutting their pay check. Striking means refusing to cooperate with your employer till your demands are met. This is normally a mass-protest since you are highly likely to be fired if you general didn’t listen to your Boss. Violating Laws (Riots) Riots are normally as a result of the Public feeling angry against the Government’s decision. Riots involve people burning down buildings, looting, criminal damage and even murder. During the 2011 Riot, 5 people were murdered, over 100 Police Officers injured and over 10 protesters injured.

Domain Names as Internet Properties Essay

What are your long term plans for your domain name? Do you expect to convey the name and the goodwill associated with it to an interested buyer or bequeath it your heirs? Perhaps you intend to use the domain name to secure a loan for a business expansion or for your child’s college tuition. You may be in for a surprise. The intellectual property community asserts that domain names, as source indicators, are akin to trademarks. However, trademark law cannot be effectively grafted on to domain names because of the discrepancies over geographical boundaries and context-sensitive use. In order for a trademark registration to issue, the mark must be used in interstate commerce to identify the source of a class of goods or services. Identical trademarks can co-exist so long as they are associated with non-competing types of goods or services or are used in different geographic areas. Domain names are registered on a first-come, first-served basis. The first individual or company to complete the registration template for an available name gets the sole right to be associated with it. For a reasonable fee, currently hovering at $10 a year, the registrant can brand and propagate the name in a worldwide marketplace. The registrant receives the exclusive right to use that name for a website presence, global e-mail, and network file transfers. But every domain name must be unique, and it is this technical requirement that makes domain names potentially valuable resources which are substantively different from trademarks. Compaq Computer Corp paid $3. 35 million in July 1998 for rights to ALTAVISTA. COM, purchased from a California start-up called Alta Vista Technology. The transaction included existing traffic of a half million visitors a day who were already expecting to find the Alta Vista search engine at that domain name. As the price bar for domain names rises, NSI’s customers may resist being subject to the vagaries of the registrar’s feudal regime. Simple and unencumbered ownership endows the registrant with a type of predictable, if limited, sovereignty. Through legislation and judicial acknowledgment, registrants who meet certain individual responsibilities should be allowed a perpetually renewable and assignable right to enjoy this new source of wealth. Many domain names have become the cornerstone of multimillion-dollar business plans. In the fall of 1999, VirtualVineyard of Palo Alto, California, acquired Wine. Com of Napa, primarily for its domain name. While the $3. 3M-plus acquisition included an operating business, the CEO of Wine. Com estimated that about 70 percent of his company’s value was its name. The current controversies over domain names highlight the interplay of technology, law, economics and politics. Court opinions trail society’s changes and conundrums resulting from technology of recent vintage. Yet, nearly everyone agrees on one point: domain names are caught in a legal thicket. If domain names are property, then existing contracts such as NSI’s harsh Service Agreement must be rewritten. Although the implications of the Umbro decision are yet to be fully assessed, and NSI’s appeal remains to be heard, the magistrate recognized that each knotty domain name dispute before the court may be breaking new legal ground. References Unknown (1999). ‘Mortgages’ for domain names. BBC Sci/Tech News. Retrieved November 26, 2006 from http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/science/nature/533455. stm Oppedahl, C. (1997). Remedies in Domain Name Lawsuits: How is a domain name like a cow? Patents. com. Retrieved November 26, 2006 from http://www. patents. com/pubs/jmls. htm

Analysis Harold and Kumar

This is what really sets â€Å"Harold and Kumar† apart not just from â€Å"Stoner films† or the entire Comedy genre, but from every film ever made. Casting two â€Å"minorities† in the leading roles. The opening scene involves two â€Å"higher ups†, who we assume are Harold’s bosses, at an accounting firm who are trying to get out of doing their work for a night out. They pass the work on to our unsuspecting Harold, who reluctantly accepts the new task load because his job was threatened. This opening scene sets up Harold’s personal problems that at the end of the ovie, he over comes. This scene cuts between multiple shots of Harold’s bosses standing over Harold, and Harold looking up at them. They loom over Harold, looking down on him as a workhorse that they can pass their work loads to. Harold sits in his chair looking up at his two bosses, bewildered and somewhat frightened to stand up for himself. His two bosses are dressed in black suits which communicates to the audience that they are not only dominant but authoritative and for lack of a better term, evil. They are the first protagonists we see in the film. As they blast out of the office parking lot in their convertible, they justify their actions by saying that â€Å"those Asian guys love crunching numbers†. We quickly get the response to this with a cut of Harold standing in the office looking out the window the speeding convertible, angrily saying â€Å"Fuck†. From this we cut to a scene of Kumar being interviewed for acceptance into a medical school program at an undisclosed prestigious university. Kumar blatantly doesn’t care about the interview, or as we discover later, becoming a doctor like his father wants him to be. Kumar sits in the interview dressed in a disheveled suit and slouches in his chair. From these two scenes we are introduced into the typical roles that normally see in Hollywood movies. The quiet Asian being pushed around and the Indian guy trying to become a doctor. Each time though we see the problems that the characters have with both of these situations, this is the side that we don’t normally see in films. Harold hates his job because he feels like he isn’t respected, it is also learned later in the film that he basically fell into his job because that’s just how it went. Until the end of the film when Harold begins to take charge and stand up for himself, the audience has no problem believing that Harold just went with the motions and became an accountant. Kumar on the other hand is basically Harold’s polar opposite, yin and yang type situation, and resists falling into his â€Å"natural† role in society of becoming a doctor even though he is obviously very skilled in the field, by living off his fathers money (who is a doctor) and spending most of his days smoking pot. Throughout the movie there are scenes where a character is presented with a problem that in some way relates to a stereotype about their ethnicity. The movie deals with this in a joking manner, but the best part is that the character encounters it in a positive manner. Take for instance the character of Kumar, after visiting his father working in the hospital he steals an access card to steal medical marijuana, in the process of locating the marijuana, the duo find scrubs to disguise themselves in and in a mix up are confused as surgeons who are to operate on a gun shot victim. Kumar’s â€Å"natural† ability in health and medicine allows him to successfully operate on the victim and save his life. This ends up being the turning point in the film for Kumar where he decides to stop resisting his father and the typical role society expects of Indians, and become a doctor. For Harold, his turning point occurs at the end of the film when he stands up for himself at his destination, white castle. His two bosses show up at the White Castles from their night out with a pair of women, their attire has changed slightly, one has shed his black coat and the other is completely disheveled in his suit. Harold stands now, face to face with both of his bosses with a visibly angry face. He confronts his bosses and lets them know that he won’t take their bullying any longer. The two men look scared and are speechless since they were caught in a lie and that Harold has literally stood up to them, a contrast from the first scene of the film. About halfway through the film there is a scene where Neil Patrick Harris has stolen the car and leave Harold and Kumar stranded. The two are attempting to walk across the street at a completely vacant intersection. Kumar urges Harold to just walk across and disregard the street sign because there is no one around. As Harold takes his first step to cross, he is stopped by a police officer. The officer harasses the two of them and in a sign of blatant racism, he mocks Kumar and Harold’s ethnicities by asking if they have strange names. He asks Kumar if his name has â€Å"like five O’s or two U’s†. At this scene Kumar stands up for himself by belittling the officer and telling him he was loser in high school and is still one now. Although the officer has a much bulkier body type than Harold and Kumar, Kumar still stands face to face with the officer, representing his courage to go against someone he knows could take him to jail. I have seen â€Å"Harold and Kumar go to White Castle† MANY times before this paper and usually only watched it as it was presented, I laughed at the funny parts and would promptly move on to something else. Until this paper I had never thought to consider the representations the film portrayed of Harold and Kumar. I had never even noticed that the two leading roles were â€Å"minority† ethnicities. The way the film acknowledges the stereotypes that come bundled with the two characters and destroys them whilst making a completely mockery of them is quite fascinating. One of the more interesting facts is that the film was written by two Jewish men, and directed by a Caucasian man. They obviously didn’t want to make a comedy like any other with a white lead, they casted two very different men together and made an incredibly successful film. The film has spawned two sequels and each did very well in the box office. I would personally love to see a film cast more â€Å"minority† ethnicities in the lead roles, not just comedies but every film genre. I think that day is not too far ahead. Rangwala, Shama. Issue 5: Film Reviews.   Scope. Http://www. scope. nottingham. ac. uk/. Web. 06 Mar. 2012. lt;http://www. scope. nottingham. ac. uk/filmreview. php? issue=5gt;.

Fianl report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Fianl report - Essay Example His deep insight into the need for electrical products for the people of his era motivated him to set up business for his electrical products. By 1876, Edison remained busy in the research activities of electrical products and established a laboratory for it. This laboratory was founded in New Jersey, USA. In order to make the world realize the importance of his products, he formed a business company named as Edison General Electric Company. Under this name, he united all his inventions and started marketing them. During the same period, a competitor organization named as Thomson Houston Company emerged. With the passage of time, both the competitors realized that it is almost impossible to survive as competitors because the products from both companies were increasingly becoming supplementary for each other. After successful negotiations, they merged together and one organization emerged who was named as General Electric Company. GE has vast product line and it is interesting to mention here that many of these products were part of the business even when the business started. It is regarded as an achievement of Thomas Edison that his inventions were present in many fields related to medical health care, transportation, consumer electronics, industrial equipments and power transmission etc. GE has established its GE brands with its rich product line and all the sub organizations are headed by dedicated CEO and Chairman. GE is a successful name when viewed from the perspective of business owners, customers and employees alike. Customers prefer buying GE products because of their guaranteed performance and reliability. The customer’s loyalty paves the way for profitability of GE and pays favorable returns against the investment of owners. GE is ranked among the top employers of the choice which attracts high talent at high compensation rate. The secret of GE’s success is its strategic management techniques.

Student's Musical Experience in the EKU Center Essay - 2

Student's Musical Experience in the EKU Center - Essay Example One song the reporter chooses is â€Å"Shortcut Home† by Dana Wilson composed in 1946. The tempo was very fast with a strong influence of the brass instruments. Heavy percussion was included. The tune then switched to something a little softer but then picked up speed again. It continued to go back and forth but the underlying tempo maintained a fast speed while some of the other instrument sections played over the top of it. The end was very powerful and most of the time it was played very loudly. Toward the end, the song had a sinister twist. There was more use of bells and the triangle at the end. â€Å"Shortcut Home† is a fanfare style song and each ensemble had its own special portion where it was featured within the song. The style was made of several different jazz styles. The music is profound in some areas and cascades until the final C Major chord. Hearing this song in person versus hearing songs in class was very arousing. There was just a vision that he coul d associate with how it made me feel. Since it is called â€Å"Shortcut Home† I think that it is a piece about someone who is frantic to get home and all of a sudden they find a shortcut, go scurrying, and then, at last, they are at home. The other song he chooses is â€Å"Cloudburst† by Eric Whitacre in 1970. It was interesting because it had audience participation. The music started out with the horns blaring at a slow pace, followed by woodwinds and then a short brief silence until all of the ensembles came together to perform. The sound of the cymbals would lead the first section to a climax. Then it was almost a dark thundercloud was lingering as the deeper brass instruments began to play their low haunting tune. Based on the slow tempo and the crashing cymbals, the reporter thinks that â€Å"Cloudburst† was about a thunderstorm. It was very soft and mellow at many points and then there would be a light crashing of the cymbals again.

Comparison of Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha and the Parable of Essay

Comparison of Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha and the Parable of the Lost Son - Essay Example In The Teachings, the father’s wealth was greatly focused upon and stressed as an important part of the story. The father had many jewels about him, and acquired many riches, while his son was laboring in a poor hamlet for low wages.1 The Buddhist account is a tale which truly focuses on how the father was living in lavish luxury—while his own son was very poor, as he had left the household in search of adventure and spent much of his own fortune. What is most troubling about the difference between the Buddhist and the Christian accounts is how much the Buddhist teaching focuses on telling the story in such an elaborate fashion—detailing the every luxury of the father’s house, whereas the Christian account is a rather, how shall one say, ‘unvarnished’ tale. The Biblical account, while very similar in terms of talking about the father’s wealth—also mentions the fact that, like in the Buddhist account, the son is poor and working a s a hired hand on his own father’s land. ... gs, it says, â€Å"The father [was] struck with compassion [for his son, who was working hard in the field as a day-laborer.†3 In the Biblical account, it says, â€Å"But while he [the son] was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him...†4 This demonstration of compassion is something that everyone can relate to, as a parent’s compassion for a child is something that is unbelievably generous and tender. This is related well in both accounts of the actual story’s own retelling. IV. The Father Sought Communication With His Son It is natural for any parent to want to have communication with his or her child. This father, in both accounts, was so desperate to have his son back home that not only did he go out of his way to be close to his son—but, that, in the Biblical account, the father slaughters the fatted calf in order to celebrate his homecoming. In The Teachings, The father dressed himself in rough cloth and put dust on himself just to go about into the field where his son was working.5 He just wanted to be near him. It was like a father painfully watching his son be homeless and volunteering at a homeless shelter just to have interaction with him. Similarly, in the Biblical account, the father goes to his son—but in this case the father has physical contact and gets to hug his own son. â€Å"[The father] ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.†6 There is something powerful about the relationship of the father and son that is evidenced through both of these very insightful, endearing readings. V. Conclusion Of course, no love can match that of a parent’s love for his or her child—except possibly that of a lover for his or her partner. However, what is amazing is that both of these accounts of the

Module 3 and Journal Article Review 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Module 3 and Journal Article Review 3 - Essay Example The aging population of Germany, Romania and Sweden causes economic and social stir while each country has their own face of the problem and significant ways on solving it. Germany, Romania and Sweden share a common problem: a rapidly increasing aging population and its implications on the economic and social sector of their respective communities. However, they differ from the kind of effect this problem has done and the approach to meet the rising demand of the elderly care. Germany, as the most populous country in the European Union ironically faces a problem of birth rate decline and higher life expectancies (Weaver, n.d.a). In response, the country strengthened the rules on elderly care with the aim of providing the elderly a high quality of life. The extensive German healthcare systems provide a successful implementation of the German health care for the elderly laws. In fact, the German welfare system is one of Europe’s most comprehensive (Weaver, n.d.a). The countryâ⠂¬â„¢s increasing aging population is projected to have an effect on the country’s economy with a direct impact on the supply of human resource. Germany’s rules are comparable to that of the Sweden. ... nt concerns the disproportionate ratio between the pensioners and the total working force; the pensioners are 6 million while there are only â€Å"4.5 million who are actively employed. This is not just a major economic burden but also has subsequent social impact. If this trend would continue for several years more, the working population would be burdened with taxes. Consequently, the effect is a possible discrimination against the elderly as impotent and costly sector of the community. While Germany and Sweden aim for a high quality of life for its elders, Romania is on a struggle of compensating the needs of their aging population. The two countries mentioned may be fortunate than Romania but their effects would not be least destructing as it would still affect the future workforce. The most probable solution is the import of human resource from less developed countries. Journal Review 3 Germany: Family diversity with low actual and desired fertility--analysis An alarmingly low fertility rate is a demographic holocaust suffered by most developing countries nowadays. In the European nations, Germany is one of the countries to experience this kind of demographic problem and has anticipated adverse effects on the economy despite of its economic achievements. Two contrasting events suffer the demographic situation of modern Germany: first, is the baby boom in the 1960’s and the decline of birth rates in the succeeding decades. Germany is currently facing a challenge on the increasing ageing population with direct effects â€Å"giving rise to a threat to the social security systems† (Dorbritz, 2008). In the article by Jurgen Dorbitz, the writer explores on the core cause of Germany’s ageing population, its reasons and effects on the future of German Economy. Summary

Mobile Phone Buying Behaviour in the UK Research Paper

Mobile Phone Buying Behaviour in the UK - Research Paper Example This study looks at the buying behaviour of mobile phone customers in the U.K. using analysis of secondary research data to test the hypothesis that such behaviour is rational. Based on findings from the latest annual industry survey conducted by the Communications Management Association of the U.K., feedback on a consumer website (www.ciao.co.uk), and a review of relevant literature on mobile phone buying behaviour, the study concludes that U.K. consumers exhibit predominantly rational characteristics. Buying decisions, however, are affected by hedonic factors that are emotional in nature, and also by other considerations such as age group, financial capability, and the capabilities and image of the mobile phone model being offered. Consumer decision-making therefore combines the rational assessment of the phone plan, the perceived service quality, and the phone's technology.2. To determine which of the following features have greater influence on the customer's decision to buy a mo bile phone: the plan (tariffs, free minutes, network coverage, etc.), the phone itself (capabilities, image, or advertising), customer service, or a combination of any or all three factors.Conventional marketing theory predicts that buying behaviour of mobile phones follows a rational process because a mobile phone is a high-technology product, it is useful, and it is a personal item that a consumer has close at hand for many hours during the day. The study aims to test the hypothesis that the mobile phone buying behaviour is rational. Proving our hypothesis would mean that customers who buy mobile phones follow a rational decision-making process that marketing theorists summarise as a five-stage process of Awareness Interest Evaluation Trial Adoption. In order to determine whether the buying behaviour is rational, this study looks at each stage of the buying process according to a set of basic rational and emotional factors as shown in Tables 1 and 2. Using secondary research based on U.K. consumer data and their decision to buy a mobile phone service, it would be possible to compare responses with the rational and emotional factors and test our hypothesis based on the results. The hypothesis can be confirmed if the results show that rational factors consistently score higher than emotional factors. Otherwise, the hypothesis is false. Research Methodology and Literature Review The research study used three secondary data sources. The first data source is the latest annual survey of the Communications Management Association (CMA, 2006), a U.K.-based professional organisation of companies in the telecommunications sector, which includes mobile phone suppliers such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and Motorola; and mobile service providers such as Vodafone, Orange, O2, T-Mobile, and Virgin. The CMA has been conducting an annual survey since 2003 and publishing the results on its website (www.thecma.com). The CMA conducted its last annual surveys in 2006, and part of the data gathered from the survey are the factors that make up consumer decision-making and satisfaction, consumer concerns, and image perceptions towards mobile phone suppliers and mobile service providers. The second source of data is ciao.co.uk, a shopping intelligence

(business information system) DIRECT LINE reviews and system Essay

(business information system) DIRECT LINE reviews and system aquisition - Essay Example Beal’s (the IT director for the company) strategy the company focuses on building software systems in house rather than outsourcing the development. Therefore, according to his vision the company can do much better by developing products in house. It enables them to get a better understanding of the work domain and the exact requirements of the product. Similarly, in house development will also help in reducing non functional errors, as most of the performance related metrics would be known prior to the coding phase. On the other hand, recently the company has diverted from its long followed strategy of custom made in house products to buying vendor made products. Hence, the company has started to consider outsourcing as an option for the system development and acquisitions. The outsourcing of software products is proven from the fact that Mr. Beal purchased CRM software named Chordiant from a US supplier. Hence, the two system acquisition techniques by Direct Line are classified as in house development and outsourcing. Both have their pros and cons, their importance can only be justified when both the techniques are applied to a business problem. Sometimes it may seem feasible to adopt in house development while in others outsourcing might prove to be more efficient. There are numerous reasons for employing the in house development approach for software systems. These include efficient use of the programming and IT staff. By ensuring that products are developed in house the IT staff is not episodically involved rather they are involved throughout the development process and later in the support process. Other reasons include a better understanding of the problem domain and the associated work areas. Therefore, by developing systems in house the IT department can solve the problem more efficiently. Another benefit from in house development to the company is that the development is incremental and it can be easily integrated with the existing

Robert Frost A Road Not Taken Essay Example for Free

Robert Frost A Road Not Taken Essay Robert Frost ever timeless poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken† has spanned all time because of its ability to appeal to the basic and inevitable necessities of adulthood –making tough decisions and living with the consequences of said choices in the quest for happiness. Robert Frost used the symbol of two roads to show a young man’s need to make a very difficult decision. In breaking the poem down in terms of reading and re-reading the poem in its entirety, one can’t help but be immediately placed in the shoes of the speaker in terms of one’s own life choices. The poem begins with th speaker standing in the middle of two roads. The imagery used in the poem â€Å"diverged in a yellow wood† (Frost, 1916), leads the reader to believe the poem takes place in the fall probably when the leaves are turning yellow. He then proceeds to say that he wishes that he could travel both roads, but of course that is physically impossible. He stands for a long time trying to decide which road to take. He looks down the path in attempt to see where it leads. This is so symbolic of one’s own â€Å"paths†. No one of course can see the outcome of the impending choices that we make or are about to make. In the next stanza, he chooses a path that he wishes to take. â€Å"Then I took the other, as just as fair, Because it was grassy and wanted wear,† (Frost, 1916). Breaking down the story, both the author and thereby the speaker would have the reader believe that the two roads, in terms of their appearance, are both equally pleasing to the eye. But in the line, â€Å"as just as fair† (Frost, 1916), he wants the reader to believe that the two roads and thereby the two choices are different, but could be equally just as good. The speaker is still unsure as to which path he really wants to take. He describes the path as being â€Å"perhaps† better. Nevertheless, it looks as though it hasn’t been used as often as the other. Frost used the alliteration, â€Å"wanted wear†. This actually meant that it lacked used. The speaker becomes incredibly indecisive. Just when the reader thinks that the speaker has made a decision, he says again how the roads are almost the same. The phrase â€Å"the passing there† (Frost, 1916) meaning traffic, could mean people who are walking like him. We then get a glimpse into the time of day in which this decision making is taking place in the line â€Å"And both that morning equally lay, In leaves no step had trodden black† (Frost ,1916), and also that in the area in which he stood, the leaves that have fallen, have not been stepped on and thereby had not changed color on the ground. The speaker seems to poke fun at his need to make this decision with the line â€Å"Oh! I kept the first for another day† (Frost ,1916) He says that he will go back to the road that he is seemingly choosing not to take, another day. Here is another example of how this poem has transcended time. One always thinks or hopes that the choices that we make can somehow be undone. The notion that once we get to a certain point, if we for some reason do not like the way that things are going, the road that we are taking if you will, that we can always turn around and go back if our initial decision has failed. Then he seems to say just that in the line† Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back†(Frost, 1916). He realizes that the idea of coming back to this initial spot, is ridiculous. One never knows how one decision can lead to another and another and yet another leading us so far away from the first decision, that we would not be able to s ee from whence we began and essentially not being able to go back. The speaker moves forward in time; many years from the primary decision. This allows the reader to infer that the choice that the speaker is making or has already made, is one of great import, one that could possibly impact him so much that he will be talking about it for years to come. When the speaker says â€Å" I shall be telling this with a sigh, Eleanor Sickels is quoted to say that â€Å"the poem is about the human tendency to wobble illogically in decision and later to assume that the decision was, after all, logical and enormously important, but forever to tell of it with a sigh as depriving the speaker of who-knows-what interesting experience. (www.wikipedia.org. October 2011) As we reach the conclusion of the poem, the speaker repeats the first line of the poem, and now we know which path he chose â€Å"and I—Took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.† (Frost, 1916). The speaker has made the decision to take the road that few others have taken, one that could either positively or negatively impact his life forever. The conclusion of the poem does not however tell us whether or not the speaker was a failure or a success. It could possibly depend on whether the reader is a pessimist or an optimist. The theme of this story is choices. Frost uses symbolism and imagery to paint a perfect picture of how one generally makes decisions. In the beginning of the poem we are placed in a glowing yellow wooded area in the early morning along with a young man, forced to make a decision that will change him forever. Wow! The power of the pen! The power to automatically be beamed into a situation that is so reminiscent of our own struggle, is one that has been mastered time and time again, yet this poem probably has more meaning today than it did in 1916 when it was written. So many in the U.S., due to lack of money, experience, or drive, have been forced to make decisions that have left many only one paycheck away from homelessness. Did Mr Frost know at the time how much of an impact this poem would have on the world? Did he know that after almost one-hundred (100) years that he would be written about in terms of great literature? One can only hope that, with all of his many works, Mr. Frost knew that his poems and short stories would solidify his place in English literature forever. References: â€Å"The Road Not Taken† Robert Frost 1916 Bridgepoint Education 2010 Journey Into Literature R. Wayne Clugston www.wikipedia.org

World Cuisines In Kerala Cultural Studies Essay

World Cuisines In Kerala Cultural Studies Essay Kerala was and is known all over the world for its rich spices. Hence from ancient times many people from the West and East came to Kerala in search of the rich and rare spices. This impact with the rest of the world had its effects on the culture, food and religion of the people of Kerala. Gradually the pure vegetarians became non-vegetarians. But they adopted their cooking of meat and fish to suit their convenience, palate and the availability of the ingredients around them. Thus they slowly evolved an indigenous cooking of their own which is a combination of distinctive cuisines and a harmonious fusion of many cultures and religions (Mathew, 2008). Owing to many reasons, much has changed in the culinary scenario of Kerala in the past four decades. The research looks to understand these changes and to obtain a clear picture of the dining trends and various aspects of the foods prepared in the households of Kerala today. 1.2 Aim of the Research The aim of the research is to analyse the changes in Kerala in the past four decades from a culinary perspective in terms of food, food preparation, eating and dining preferences of the natives. Change is inevitable and has many causes and effects. Over the last forty years, the economy of India has boomed. This is very evident in the state of Kerala. The migration of the natives to other states of India and other countries in search of better jobs and incomes has reflected upon the growth in the economy of the state as well. This led to major changes in lifestyle and also saw significant improvements in the items and provisions available on the market. All this has left the people of Kerala with better living conditions and a greater disposable income. This has also resulted in social exposure and cultural exchange to a great extent. Both partners in a married family doing jobs to support the family members is now common across the world, and it is no different in Kerala. This means that the availability of time to prepare meals at home is lesser. As a result of this people tend to use packaged ingredients to prepare food. Some even buy readymade dishes to have at home and many prefer to dine out since they cannot find enough time at home to cook meals. The research will examine all such changes in Kerala. 1.3 Motivation of the Research Gastronomy has become a major field of interest and study in the world today. People across the world are not only interested in their own cuisine and culture, but also that of other regions across the world. Being a student of Gastronomy, the researcher is keen to study the major changes in Kerala regarding the kind of food prepared in households and the changes in dining trends. The researcher would like to understand the religious and cultural taboos present in Kerala with regards to the type of food consumed and find out whether such ideologies are still being followed. 1.4 Objectives The researcher will be concentrating on understanding certain changes that took place in Kerala pertaining to the culinary world. To begin with, the researcher would examine the changes that have taken place in the way foods are prepared in households, i.e. how the preparation of ingredients have changed, how the utensils used to prepare food have changed and whether the dishes prepared in households are similar to what they were before. The researcher will also study the change in the dining trends in Kerala with a focus on the current dining trends in the major cities of Kerala including Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. 1.5 The Reach and Inadequacy of the Research This research in many of its aspects tends to obtain only a generalised view of the current culinary scenario of the state of Kerala. The study of the current dining trends is restricted to three major cities of Kerala. The research does not cover the cuisines of the minor communities present in the state. The time given for primary research is inadequate as there are many attributes to be covered in this study. The resources available for secondary research on this topic are few. 1.6 Research Structure The study has been divided into four chapters to provide a systematic representation of the research. The first chapter covers the aim and objectives of the research apart from an outline of the various cuisines of Kerala, festive foods and the major utensils used to prepare food in household kitchens across Kerala. Chapter two examines the research methodology where the qualitative method of research is a collection of data which is generated in verbal form. Observational surveys, depth interviews, open ended questionnaires, expert discourses and discussions are studied. The design of the research and methods of data collection and data analysis are discussed. In chapter three, the data obtained from primary research are analysed and interpreted to better understand the outcomes of the research. Chapter four summarises the findings, details the thoughts and opinions of the researcher and determines the scope for future research. At the end of the research, the researcher provides a bibliographical collage of notable works cited and referred to in the process of carrying out this study. 1.7 Kerala A Melting Pot of Cuisines Kerala cuisine as experienced today is an amalgamation of three different traditions Muslim, Christian and Hindu. Though all of them are made up of sub-denominational and regional practices and tastes, the Hindu tradition also has caste differentiations and overtones. 1.7.1 Moplah Cuisine The Malabar region of northern Kerala is the birthplace of the distinctive cuisine of the Moplahs, the Muslims of Kerala. The term Moplah derives itself from Mapillai, which means bridegroom or from Mahapillai which means a person held in high esteem. These Muslims are descendants of Arab traders who married local Kerala women, later expanding their ranks by conversion (Achaya, 2007). Majority of the Moplah population are settled in the northern districts of Kerala including Malapuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod. The Moplah cuisine is noted for its liberal use of a wide variety of spices. 1.7.1.1 Dietary Laws Meats eaten by the Muslims are halal. They also abstain from consuming pork and alcohol as they are forbidden in Islam. 1.7.1.2 Specialities of the Cuisine This cuisine includes many kinds of biryanis and pilafs, not simply combining rice with meat and chicken, but also with many kinds of fish a natural development of a coastal state. Instead of using the long grained basmati that is the standard for biryanis and pilafs in northern India, Moplahs use kaima rice, a local short-grained variety. The Moplah biryani is made by cooking the rice, and meat or fish separately, arranging them in alternating layers, and baking with live coals from above and below. The mutton is cooked tender, and the rice is flaky. It is skilfully spiced with the right proportions of condiments. One difference between the Moplahs and the other Muslims of India is that the Moplahs do not make kebabs. Instead they have meats in a dry form or in rich gravies. Among their specialities is roast chicken made on the stovetop, instead of in a conventional oven. The chicken is stuffed with spices and a hard-boiled egg and slowly fried over a very low heat in a deep pot. Also, wheat and meat are combined in various ways. Wheat is coarsely ground for a porridge called aleesa, or it is left whole and combined with minced meat, for a dish called kiskiya. There are some exquisite dishes that are solely the product of Moplah imagination. One of the best known and most delicious dishes among the Moplahs is neichoru, which is rice fried in ghee with onions, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom. During the fasting month of Ramadan, the evenings dinner often consists of pathiri, and meat and chicken dishes. Pathiri is a bread made from rice flour. Some are thin like a chapati, some thick, and some are deep fried. After preparation it is sometimes soaked in coconut milk to keep it soft and to improve the flavour. The word pathiri comes from the Arabic word fateerah, which means pastry. Variants of pathiri include neypathiri which is prepared with ghee, poricha pathiri which is fried, irachi pathiri which is stuffed with meat and meen pathiri which is stuffed with fish. One of the most famous Moplah dishes is a dessert called mutta-maala, the literal meaning of which is A garland of eggs. Egg yolks are cooked in syrup until they form long strands. They are then removed from the syrup and spread out on a plate. An accompanying dessert, a snow-like pudding called Pinnanthappam, is then made by beating the egg whites until fluffy, blending them with the leftover syrup, and then cooking the mixture in a steamer. The soft, white confection is cut into diamonds and served with the yellow egg strands. The Kozhikode halwa is another famous dessert of the Moplahs. The Malabar Muslims have a distinguished culinary culture that flaunts tastes and flavours bearing strong influences of Arab, Mughal and local Kerala cuisine. 1.7.2 Syrian Christian Cuisine Christianity is believed to have reached Kerala in 52 A.D., much before it reached many European countries. Syrian Arab Christians fleeing persecution at the hands of the Muslims took refuge under the king of Kerala. They left a heavy influence on the cuisine of Kerala, which might explain why Keralian food is so different from its neighbouring Tamilian cuisine. It also explains the prevalence of non-vegetarian food in Keralian dishes. Kerala Syrian Christian Cuisine is basically the name given to the unique culinary style of the Syrian Christians, who live mainly in areas like Kottayam and Pala in Kerala. 1.7.2.1 Dietary Laws The most interesting feature of the Christian eating style is that the Christians do not have any dietary restrictions. All kinds of meats and alcohol can be consumed by them. All other non-Christian communities in India have certain restrictions on what they can eat or drink. 1.7.2.2 Specialities of the Cuisine The Syrian Christians have created a whole slew of recipes for meat including beef, pork, duck and chicken. Their best known dish is a Stew which combines pieces of meat with potatoes and a few other vegetables like carrots, beans and green peas in a lightly seasoned broth containing coconut milk. The stew is usually served with Appams, which are rice flour pancakes with white and thick but spongy centres, and golden, thin and crisp lacy edges. It can be a starter at an elaborate formal meal, or it can even be eaten at breakfast. According to late Ms. Thangam Philip, the Appam is a variation of the Dutch pancake with coconut milk, while Acchappam is a derivation of Dutch cookies (Kannampilly, 2003). Idiappam is another breakfast dish of cooked rice noodles, eaten with sweetened coconut milk or a meat or chicken curry. There are many types of Appams in Kerala. While the basic ingredient for any Appam is rice flour, the other ingredients, size and shapes vary. Among other Syrian Christian dishes there are several mouth-watering preparations. Chicken is cooked either in a spicy sauce made with both red and green chillies, star anise, and crushed cashew, or with grated and fried coconut. Duck is gently simmered with coconut milk. Beef Ularthiyathu has chunks of beef which are combined with large pieces of coconut and fried together with spices. This served with Kerala Parotta is also one of the most common meals at any thattukada. Thattukadas are the Kerala version of fast food joints. Other well known preparations include beef cutlets with Sallas (a salad made of sliced onions, green chillies and vinegar), Meen Peera a dry dish of fish with grated coconut, Meen Mulakittathu a fish preparation cooked in spicy red chilly gravy, and duck roast. Kappa Vevichathu is a mashed tapioca dish made by boiling pieces of tapioca combined with ground coconut and a variety of spices. It is tempered with mustard, curry leaves, brown onions and red chilli es. It is accompanied by Meen Mulakittathu. Other popular fish preparations include Meen Moilee and Meen Mappas, both of which are cooked in coconut milk. The Syrian Christians also brought with them their love for wild game including duck, and rabbit. The incorporation of these meats with the spices and cooking techniques that existed in India already created some very masterful dishes, including the stuffed, roasted duck that is eaten as part of a traditional Christmas feast. These people have made Kerala as well known for its variety of meat dishes as for its seafood dishes. 1.7.2.3 Savoury Dishes The main snack items include Acchappam, Neiappam, Unniyappam, Vattayappam and Avalose. Acchappam is a deep-fried rose-cookie made of rice, the name coming from the frame required to make it. It is a common snack item. Neiappam is a deep-fried, chewy dark doughnut made from toddy-fermented rice and jaggery. Unniyappam is made using rice flour, bananas, and jaggery in a special type of vessel called unniappa chatty. Its shape is somewhere between a small ball and a muffin. Vattayappam is a sweet, thick pancake made with rice flour, coconut milk, semolina and sugar. Resins and cashew nuts are also added for flavour. Avalose is a dish that uses a rice-coconut combination. The rice is fried in this. It can be eaten with jaggery, coconut and bananas. It can also be mixed with jaggery syrup and rolled into a ball, the size of a lemon, and is called Avalose unda. Wine is an important part of Kerala Syrian Christian cuisine. Another attractive trait of this cuisine is the liberal use of coconut oil, coconut milk, curry leaves and mustard seeds. 1.7.3 Hindu Cuisine The Hindus were the original natives of Kerala. Their cuisine primarily consisted of vegetarian dishes earlier, although some castes included certain non-vegetarian items in their cuisine. Majority of the Hindu population are settled in the southern and central districts of Kerala including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakad. The Hindus of Kerala constitute primarily of three castes, including Ezhavas, Nairs and Nampoothiris. 1.7.3.1 Dietary Laws Consumption of beef and alcohol is strictly prohibited among all Hindus of Kerala and doing so often resulted in violence or excommunication during the pre-independence era. The Nampoothiris are strict vegetarians and avoid the use of garlic and onion. 1.7.3.2 Specialities of the Cuisine The Ezhavas form the largest Hindu community in Kerala. Appam and stew are the common breakfast items. The stew varies from fish in coconut milk with bits of mango, mutton in coconut milk, or merely sweetened coconut milk. A bread speciality is nai-patthal, in the shape of a starfish. Pachadi, a curd based dish made of finely chopped and boiled vegetables with coconut, green or red chillies and tempered in oil with mustard seeds, ginger and curry leaves is a famous dish of the Ezhavas. Desserts include various types of Pradhaman, which is prepared by boiling a certain main ingredient like green gram, banana, jackfruit or cooked rice flakes in coconut milk and flavouring with palm jaggery, cardamom and ginger powder and tempering with fried cashew nuts, raisins and coconut chips. The Nairs form the second largest Hindu community in Kerala. Traditionally, majority of Nairs were non-vegetarians as consumption of fish was permitted, while some sub-castes were strict vegetarians. Chicken and mutton dishes are also prepared in many Nair homes nowadays, but they were prohibited earlier. Breakfast items include Puttu, which is a steamed rice cake. Rice powder is moistened and layered with fresh shredded coconut and steamed in a special utensil called a puttu kutti. It is accompanied by either kadala (chickpea) curry, bananas, sugar, papadam, egg curry or boiled green lentils. Certain vegetable varieties though eaten by all Keralites, have special Nair associations. Popular dishes include Sambhar, Aviyal, Kaalan and Olan. Aviyal is a mix of a variety of vegetables including beans, carrot, yam, drumstick, etc. which are cooked with curd, ground coconut, shallots and turmeric powder and seasoned with coconut oil. Kaalan is prepared using plantain, curd and coconut. Olan is a dish of white pumpkin and dried beans cooked in coconut milk and coconut oil. Ada Prathaman and Paal-Payasam are common dessert items. The domestic cooking of meat and chicken by the Nairs is spiced and uses a great deal of coconut and coconut milk which tempers the dish to mildness. The Nampoothiris are Brahmins. Thoran is a chief dish of Nampoothiris. It is a dry dish made by stir frying vegetables with coconut and some spices. There are a variety of thorans, including cabbage thoran, carrot and beans thoran, ivy gourd thoran, etc. Thorans can be made with almost every vegetable. 1.8 Onam Sadya Onam is the most important festival of Kerala and is celebrated by all Keralites. It occurs during Chigam, the first month of the Malayalam calendar, which is between August and September. It marks the homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali. At the core of the festival is the Onam Sadya or Onasadya, a feast of almost 13 to 15 dishes. This can go up to 30 dishes at sadyas served in hotels and temples. Some of the main dishes include Sambar, Erisseri, Parippu, Thoran, Olan, Kaalan, Pachadi, Injipulli, Aviyal, Plantain Chips, Sharkara Varatti, pickle and Pappadam. Desserts include Paalada Pradhaman and Parippu Pradhaman. The sadya is always served on a banana leaf and is a completely vegetarian meal. 1.9 Earth, Stone and Metal The Cooking Utensils of Kerala The best known Malayali cooking utensil is the uruli made of bell metal. It is circular, squat and wide-mouthed and comes in many sizes. The other metallic utensils are the charakku, a large round cauldron with handles on either side of the rim, and the vaarpu, a large pan made of bronze. All these utensils are used to make payasam, sambar and curries, except kalan, pachadi, chutneys and pickles as they are sour. These dishes are made in a kalchatti, a utensil carved out of soft stone, with a mouth wider than its base. Generally a kalchatti is tall with the height being more than the circumference. The uruli, charakku and kalchatti get hot gradually and retain heat for some time, hence they are used for cooking everything except rice. The cooking of rice is done in a chembu, a low, wide-mouthed utensil made of copper a metal that heats quickly. Various long-handled metal spatulas of different types are used for stirring payasam and different types of gravy items. Generally wooden ladles are used for the vegetables so as not to bruise them and to transfer rice from the chembu into the serving baskets. Fish is cooked in a flat-bottomed, open-mouthed terracotta vessel called the meenchatti (meaning cooking utensil for fish). The Kerala style of preparing fish generally calls for slow cooking. This leads to two problems. The curry could easily brown and stick to the base of the vessel and stirring it could lead to the disintegration of the fish. Holding the rim of the vessel with both hands and swirling the curry around prevents these mishaps. The structure and design of the meenchatti allows for all these. It retains heat inside for a long time, thus aiding in slow cooking, and remains just warm enough on the outside, to permit the gentle swirling. The kadhai is used for all stir-fried dishes and for deep frying. In Malayalam, the kadhai is called cheenachatti. The appachatti is used for making Appam, the sevanazhi or idiappam press for Idiappam, and the puttukutti for puttu.

Essay --

Formal Analysis Paper Claude Oscar Monet (1840-1926) was a French painter known for his use of bold color and unusual subject matter. In the 1860’s, Monet joined like-minded artists such as Edgar Degas; to create the movement that became known as Impressionism. Edgar Degas (1834–1917) was also French but born to a wealthy family. He benefitted from traditional training and was not comfortable with the label â€Å"Impressionist† due to this training. This paper intends to analyze Claude Monet’s "The Walk, Woman with a Parasol"(fig. 1), and Edgar Degas’ â€Å"The Little Fourteen–Year–Old Dancer† (fig. 2), through a consideration of composition, use of color, perspective, and brush strokes. Capturing the natural play of light and shadow was a signature theme in all of Monet’s work. In this painting, he positions the light to the right of the woman and boy which leads the viewer’s eye up. He then uses shadows in the parasol, the woman’s face and on the ground to lead the viewer’s eye back down the painting. The deliberate placement of the light and shade is an effective tool that he uses with a lighter touch in the boys clothing, the clouds and notably the grass. This piece showcases Monet’s use of color, which was another one of his signature themes. He uses cool colors to give the painting a tranquil feeling and to help emphasize his subjects, the woman and boy. He stays with the cool color pallet with use of blue in; the sky, the woman’s clothes, the grass and the boy’s clothes. He then incorporates warm colors into the piece with the use of white in the clouds, and in the models’ clothes, the parasol, an d even in the grass. Monet used the highlights of yellow and white to serve as focal points as well as natural highlights... ...al cloth. While the corset appears to be tailored loosely, the tutu seems to fit but it lies limp against the figure’s legs. Despite the use of mixed media, the dancers tights are actually sculpted, not fabric. The ballet slippers are actual shoes coated with wax; the same wax covers the entire sculpture, preserving her and the fragile elements. In Monet’s painting, "The Walk, Woman with a Parasol", the viewer is led through a journey of expressive brushstrokes, color, and the playfulness of light and shadows. He successfully uses his impressionistic brushwork to grasp the viewer’s attention and keeps their interest with his balancing of warm light and the shadowing cool colors. Degas uses his knowledge and study of the human figure to grab the viewer’s attention; he then follows up with his unconventional use of bronze and mixed media to keep their intrest. â€Æ'

Street Racing Essay -- Research Racing Safety Cars Essays

Street Racing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To race or not to race, what will keep you safe? Racing can be safe but not always if you race illegally. There are a lot of safety items that some racers don’t even use, I mean they keep you safer but they don’t spot the buck for the equipment. They spend so much money on their cars to make them faster, yet most of them don’t spend money towards safety. I know what you’re thinking, THIS IS LUDACRIS but it is the truth and you will learn more by reading below.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Safety is a very important thing when you are in an object that weighs over a ton and could do over 100mph or more. A lot of racers do not spend enough money on safety, yet a surprising majority of racers do. Racers can have different combinations of these safety items; racing seats, racing harness, fire extinguisher or in some cases a roll cage (to prevent being crushed in a roll or flip). A racing harness goes hand in hand with a racing seat to keep you held to the very durable (usually aluminum) yet comfortable (padded) seat, also the fire extinguisher in case of a fire. A roll cage is in the more serious racers car to prevent the car from crushing you or being crushed in a flip or roll.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many different types illegal racing, there is drag racing, stoop light races, and point to point races. Drag race is simply when cars line up and race a short distance usually between  ¼ mile and one mile. A stoplight race is something you could see on the road any time. This is when t...

Falsely Accused :: essays research papers

Falsely Accused   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What has to happen before the media quits jumping to conclusions about news stories ? It makes you wonder about the possibility of legal restrictions on the amount of information that the media can put out before the actual case is proven and solved. I mean after all in the case of Richard Jewell , there was a definite issue of false accusations . This man was treated unfairly under the false assumption that he was guilty of a crime that he did not commit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I think that Jewell should defiantly be compensated for the anguish that he had to go through for over three months after that bombing. It was not bad enough that he had to see his co-workers and hundreds of innocent people endangered and injured by the terrible incident in Atlanta. He also had to go through being accused of being behind the whole thing . How much worse could it get? I mean what should people start to think ? He said that he felt like an animal being stalked , just waiting to be killed . Now who are we to listen to ? This innocent man or the media , who obviously will print what it takes true or untrue , to make a story .   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I think that we as Americans owe the accused of there legal right of innocent until proven guilty before we can start accusing them publicly. There is no reason to believe what is being said in the media until there is some definite truth in the case . I mean just because the cops may have beliefs that there is guilt means nothing . After all the FBI gave the media information and it was plain and simply wrong . The way the FBI handled the case was atrocious and intolerable. Who can we the public trust if we can't even trust a government legal authority? Who are we to go to at that point when the government agencies are falsely accusing us ? I guess that Richard Jewell was just lucky enough to have a brave lawyer that cared and new there was nothing right about the way this man was being treated. I just think that is a serious problem , there have to be some better laws or restrictions .   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  So in my belief we the public have the right to not be harassed by the media any time previous to the proven guilt in the crime we are accused of .

Fundamentalist: the Fine Line Between Religion and Cult Essay

In the case of the Church of Latter Day Saints, fine lines are drawn in the societal perception of this group of people. Their doctrines and practices make the American public debate whether they are a religion or a cult. The largest factor in the decided public perception lies mainly in their belief of polygamy. While the Church of Latter Day Saints denounced the practice in the 1890s, fundamentalist sects formed over the subject continuing to perpetuate the connection between Mormonism and polygamy. This fundamentalist practice, along with a few doctrines, continues to keep the Mormon faith as an â€Å"outside religion† in the eyes of the general American public. The practice of polygamy is central to the tenants of Mormon faith, extending back to the founder, Joseph Smith. Smith was not the first religious leader to support multiple wives. The Oneida perfectionist supported the practice of polygamy in backlash against the changing family norms due to industrialization (White). Families no longer needed to be large in size to help in a rural farm setting. Smith, being of a displaced farm family, soon craved a change in family life. According to White, Jr. , Smith’s â€Å"personal experience of economic insecurity, death of siblings, and fragile community structure also reinforced his quest for renewing the kinship and community bonds† (White). In some sort of subconscious need for a sense of community stemming from childhood experiences, Smith begins the practice of taking multiple wives. His reasons, according to the faith, are sound. His primary argument is that it was revealed to him by God. The belief in revelations is highly respected by Mormons and is one of the most distinguishing traits of the faith (Perry). It will be discussed in further detail later. Smith also called attention to multiple Old Testament passages that promote polygamy. Yet, his final argument is what upholds this practice today, procreation. Smith argued that, â€Å"man’s righteousness is measured by the size of his family† (Anderson). A proper Mormon man was expected to extensively multiple his family in order to provide more individuals to spread the faith. After social disagreements in several states, many members of the Church of Latter Day Saints fled to western territories hoping to find; â€Å"geographical, social, and cultural isolation required to implement their radical social agenda† (White). However, as the nation grew smaller and assimilation to the mainstream culture became desirable, in addition to persecution by the Federal Government, the Church of Latter Day Saints changed one of their founding principles. Essentially, in the fight for Utah territory statehood, the Mormon Church traded their practice of polygamy. This trade caused dissention among the ranks and multiple fundamentalist sects formed, continuing their practices in even more isolated communities. Joseph Musser, a prophet of the faith, established a fundamentalist community at Short Creek, Utah, that still exists today. There, families live in multi-wife homes where the domestic work is divided between eight or nine women, sometimes many more. The polygamous relationships are consensual and most women have little complaints about their situations. There are many reasons why the women choose to stay. Mainly, they don’t know anything else (Anderson). The religious beliefs they were raised with have been preparing them to be a plural wife. Rowenna Erikson, a plural wife who was excommunicated after speaking out against the treatment of women, says that growing up she; â€Å"sensed that [she] was supposed to be a plural wife mostly because [her] mother guided [her] in that direction. [She] didn’t really want to marry this way but [she] felt pressured and thought that this is what [she] had to do† (443). However, unlike Erikson, there are many women who enjoy their polygamous contract. To them, there is a sorority sense of community, their children are always cared for. During his stay at Short Creek, National Geographic journalist Scott Anderson also noticed a strange power that came with being a woman in the Mormon faith. Women are sought after in the community due to the need for reproduction creating a larger need for men to prove themselves as acceptable partners (Anderson). Brigham Young, another fundamentalist sect leader, also argued that polygamy allows all women the equal opportunity for marriage and, â€Å"†¦eliminates prostitution, economic exploitation and abandoned children† (White). Fundamentalist still argue procreation as a necessary reason for polygamy in the community. However, the main reasons fundamentalist broke off from the Church of Latter Day Saints were the revelations of new prophets. Both Brigham Young and Joseph Musser had revelations from God ordering them to take multiple wives and reproduce, and they weren’t the only ones. Fundamentalists refused to give into the assimilation of their religion. It is these radical, fundamental sects of the Church of Latter Day Saints, like Colorado City, Utah (formerly the Short Creek Community) that continue to tie the Mormon faith to the practice of polygamy. In doing so, along with ample aid from the American media, Mormonism is still considered by the mainstream to be â€Å"lumped into a category of ‘the religious outsiders’† (Perry). Yet, it is not only the practice of polygamy in these sects that support societies’ view. Several other practices continue to perpetuate their perception as part of the odd; some keep Mormons in isolated communities, some condone violence, and others speak out against the American government. Firstly, the practice of polygamy not only ostracized fundamentalist from the United States Government and mainstream, but also from the central Church of Latter Day Saints. Fundamentalist were heavily persecuted by elders of the church in the 1940s and 1950s culminating in the Short Creek Raid of 1953. American media broadcast children being ripped from mothers’ hands right into mainstream America’s living rooms. Decades of persecution and media misrepresentation only supported Mormon practices that led to communal isolation. One of these is the idea of The Gathering. Mormons believe that second coming of Christ is constantly near and that it is their duty to be ready no matter when it happens. Therefore, they live in tight knit communities that seek to prove their righteous existence to Christ. Secondly, their community is slightly communistic. There is the Law of Consecration that allows all property to be held in common and distributed (LeBaron). Additionally, United Order is the Mormon economic system of self-sufficiency (LeBaron). Both of these beliefs keep member separate from the mainstream and make it difficult to leave since they don’t have the rights to their own property. Additionally, many Fundamentalist believe in Blood Atonement established by Joseph Smith and Oaths of Vengeance. Blood Atonement is the basic belief of an eye for an eye. Smith preached that those who commit acts against Mormon should be punished with bloodshed for their sins. The Oath of Vengeance developed after the assassination of Smith stating that all Mormons are to pray for the sins committed against the prophet and should taught through lineages (LeBaron). Both of these practices have been used for justification for murder between sects. Murder justification has also come from the practices of personal revelation and heavenly visitations. As mentioned before, revelation is extremely important to the Mormon faith due to that fact that it is what the Church was founded on and from where most doctrines are derived. Personal revelations are the wishes of God and should be acted upon by faithful practitioners, yet, they give the prophet the okay from God to do whatever they want, even kill if needed (LeBaron). Obviously, murder is illegal in the United States, so how were the Mormons able, beyond personal revelation, to justify to their behavior in the court system? Fundamentalist practices believe in the triumph of God’s Law over Man’s Law. Due to their beliefs that they are forming a community for the return of Christ, Mormons believe they live in a theocratic society separate from Federal Government rule. Therefore, the rules set in place by God reign higher than those set in place by the state. Mormon belief justifies most actions, even murder, by claiming it as a personal revelation and an act of God’s will. Finally, in a religion where the members’ ultimate goal is to prepare for the end, Fundamentalist in the Church of Latter Day Saints awaits the fall of the United States Government. This belief, fueled by bitterness from lack of Federal aid in the 1820s, only reinforces the view that there is superior judgment than the United States Court system. While separation of church and state exists in the United States, Mormon religious beliefs, to a certain extent, defy that right claiming religious rule over states. There were several acts of violence that took place over the last forty years, all justified by different Mormon doctrines. Ervil LeBaron, a Fundamentalist prophet, used personal revelation for the reason he killed his brother in 1972. He then proceeded, with the same justification to kill dozens of others. LeBaron wasn’t finished when he was finally sent to jail. While in Utah State Penitentiary, LeBaron wrote the â€Å"The Book of New Covenants† ordering the deaths of members on God’s Will (LeBaron). His children then proceeded to follow his will working their way down his list. Ervil wasn’t the only one searching for power over the sects; the Lafferty brothers had similar problems in the 1980s. These events perpetuate public stereo types of the Mormon religion and polygamy. A survey I conducted of 25 people showed 100% of them still believe the Mormon Church officially sanctions polygamy and a cult like lifestyle (Venzen). It is these acts of violence based on God’s will that raise mainstream America’s eyebrows at the true classification of this faith. The violence stemming from radical sects also calls attention to Mormonism as an â€Å"other† in society and religious beliefs and raises questions to the credibility of the religion. Fundamentalist don’t only tie the Church of Latter Day Saints with polygamy. Acts of violence based on the will of a high power is often associated with cults as, â€Å"murder and suicide have been inseparable on other [cult] occasions† (Lamberg 2). Additionally, Rowenna Erickson considered her upbringing as a plural wife to be â€Å"brainwashing†, another cult practice, and even outwardly claims Mormonism as a â€Å"polygamist cult†. According to cult studies, the sought out isolation of the Fundamentalist communities only reflects that the, â€Å"†¦cult seeks to control disciples’ entire environment, not only externally but also reaching internally, as if reality were the group’s exclusive possession† (Lamberg 1). The question then remains. Is the practice of Mormonism, the Church of Latter Day Saints, an organized religion or a cult? The practice of polygamy leads the public to view the Church and its Fundamentalist counterparts as one. Therefore, can the debate of organized religion versus cult be separated by the central Church of Latter Day Saints and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints?

Efficiency Increasing System by Using Preheating Method Essay

EFFICIENCY INCREASING SYSTEM BY USING PREHEATING METHOD METHODOLOGY The concept of increasing the fuel efficiency of a petrol engine in this project, is to pre-heat the intake air which is flowing through the carburetor. The humidity in the atmospheric air affects the petrol vapourisation in the carburettor. Therefore, by pre-heating the inlet air to the carburettor for a considerable amount, the vapourisation can be ease and in turn complete combustion is achieved. Moreover by reducing the water vapour to the engine, the steam formation in the engine can be reduced pitting of the engine cylinder, piston and exhaust pipe. Reference: http://seminarprojects.com/Thread-efficiency-increasing-system-by-using-preheating-method#ixzz2elrJlavP Most of the cars in today’s market give a maximum of 30 to 40 miles per gallon and hybrid cars giving upto 50 miles per gallon. The efficiency of Internal Combustion Engines used for this purpose is very low, about 25%. The heat generated during the combustion of fuel is converted into work to drive the car is wasted to the atmosphere, as anti-freeze(Ethylene Glycol) is used to cool the engine and circulated through a radiator which transfers the heat to the atmosphere. The heat generated by combustion of fuel such as gasoline or diesel is converted into the work because of the pressure created by the combustion process. In this invention, the heat is recovered by pre-heating/pressurizing the fresh air used for the process of combustion. The temperature of the pre-heated fresh air used for combustion is increased to above 1400 degrees Fahrenheit by passing through a heat exchanger to recover heat from combustible gases. Fresh air for combustion is heated to about 1400 degrees Fahrenheit. According to Thermodynamic Laws, by heating the air in a closed space with constant volume at room temperature to 1600 degrees F., the pressure is increased about to 50 psi. In order to have a higher pressure, the fresh air is first compressed upto 100 psi before passing through a heat exchanger. This will give the available working pressure of about 350 psi before

Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo Essay

Alexander Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo is founded upon historical events and political intrigue. He not only uses historical facts to help the reader understand, he also weaves such details into the story to make it possible for his reader to have an understanding of the current events that were taking place in France, during that time (from approx. 1815 through 1838). Dumas would want his readers to be familiar with French history, and to have it in their mind as they read his beloved tale. In the 1800’s Marseilles was one of the largest ports in the south of France with a â€Å"population between 93,000 and 110,000†, thus trade flourished and it was home to many merchants, and businesses (Marseilles). This is where our story of revenge begins. Marseilles was the hometown of Edmond who we meet as a naà ¯ve sailor who is later to become imprisoned as a political criminal, and altered for life. Marseilles was also the home to both Edmond’s father who dies of hunger soon after his son was imprisoned, and Edmonds beautiful, and noble fiancà © Mercedes who was a poor, Catalan. After Dantes’ imprisonment Mercedes cared for his father until he passed. She lost faith of Dantes ever being released from prison and back by her side, there for she felt she had no choice but to marry Fernand Mondego when he asked for her hand in marriage. Fernand Mondego was the jealous fisherman who also betrayed Dantes because he too was in love with Mercedes. Mondego saw, and seized the opportunity to thwart their love for one another. Military success brought Mondego a fortune, which allowed him to change his name to Count de Morcef, making Mercedes the Countess. The Morrel family (the owners of the ship, Pharaon), were also residents of Marseilles. Mr. Morrel felt a great deal of compassion for Dantes’ family which compelled him to not only invest with great effort, his time and money in an attempt to keep Dantes from an un-warranted life in prison but, he also paid for Dantes’ father’s burial. The cards were stacked against Dantes, and even with the assistance of M. Morrel, his future was written. Once Edmond escaped from prison he visited M. Morrel who was in the depths of despair, and contemplating thoughts of suicide because he could no longer support him self financially. Dantes seeing him as a righteous man who had once gone to great lengths, and knowing the efforts taken by Morrel in attempt to save him from prison, Dantes felt compelled, and anonymously made a financial contribution to Morrel, which, saved him from ruin. While Dantes never revealed himself as the contributor Morrel suspected that it was he, and on his deathbed Morrel explains to his family that he believes that their finical savior was indeed Edmond Dantes. The prosecutor of Marseilles, who was ultimately responsible for Dantes’ incarceration, was Monsieur de Vellefort. Vellefort’s father was a known Bonapartist. Vellefort who disagreed with his father’s stance, and as the prosecutor decidedly took an extremely harsh stance on his policy in dealing with Bonapartist conspirators. Vellefort sought to protect his own name by placing Edmond in prison as a political conspirator because he knew, and feared the letter Dantes carried could be traced back to his (Vellef ort’s) father so, he used his power in a misguided manor to which he would later suffer at the hands of Dantes. Danglars was a man driven by non-other than jealousy who also lived in Marseilles at the time. He despised that Dantes had been advanced to Captain of the Pharaon instead of him, and sought out a plot in which Dantes could be caught with the letter to tarnish his name, leaving Danglar’s the only choice to fill his role as captain. After Edmond’s imprisonment Danglars indeed became the captain and eventually graduated his position to a banker. As a banker he was able to acquire an incredible fortune where he then became a Baron. In the end Monte Cristo destroyed Danglars by destroying his fortune. Dumas purposely created each of these characters to have beginning in a position of poverty, showing us how they were either villainous in their rise to fortune, and would ultimately be ruined by Dantes’revenge. Or, Dumas showed the character to be virtuous with their fortune, and power eventually to be saved, or spared by our protagonist. He also showed us these characters progression from the bottom of the socioeconomic structure, eventually prospering into wealth, their bye showing us, [the reader] there were no misgivings of old money or new during these times in France. Each of these characters rose in the echelons, and were afforded the ability to acquire a title and were able re-create themselves within society in a manner to which they deemed worthy of their amassed fortunes. This ability for one to somewhat procure a title gives us a great sense of the changes that were taking place during that time, it was no longer about being of royal blood that gave you credibility, or worthiness, but about how hard one worked to further themselves and gain their fortune. In the opening scenes of the story Danglars, who is the ships â€Å"supercargo† reports to the ships owner once they docked in Marseilles, that Edmond, acting on what was the last dying wish of his captain, had stopped at the island of Elba to retrieve a letter that was addressed to Noirtier (Dumas 5). In fulfilling his captains last dyeing wish, Edmond’s unknowingly retrieved a letter from Napoleon personally, making it appear as though he was conspiring with the then exiled Napolean, and that he himself was a Bonapartist. Napoleon had been a soldier and then went on to become Emperor of France in the early 1800’s. It was after the French Revolution that Napoleon was elected First consul of France. Napoleon made many great changes for his country. He brought much needed structure back to France. He began by implementing better education, paying off France’s debt, and changing the structure of his army. He allowed not only the affluent to rise within the ranks, but affording the impoverished the same opportunity of growth within the ranks as they proved their worth, and showcased their talents. Napolean’s army was no longer based upon economic stature, but one that afforded an equal playing field to every man (as long as they were anglo). Napoleon also applied this same thought process into the civilian realm of France as well. In an attempt to expand France’s territory he invaded Russia. This invasion turned out to be one of Napoleon’s greatest defeats. During this great siege Napoleon was out maneuvered by Russia’s Alexander I, this resulted in a defeat, and a loss of almost 500,000 French troops. Soon after he stepped down as consul and was banished to the island of Elba. During this time, there were citizens who still loved and supported what he had done for France; these people were considered to be Bonapartist’s. There were also members of the French nobility (and much of Europe’s) who despised Napoleon, they wanted nothing more than to see him removed; they called themselves royalists. Dumas wanted this clearly defined so the reader would feel the internal power struggle between Bonapartist and Royalists. One of these royalists was a man named Villefort. He happened to be the prosecutor Edmonds faced in Marseilles. Villefort knew full well that Edmond was an innocent man, and not a Bonapartist, but made a calculated decision to protect his own ambitions, because it was his (Villefort’s) fathers name that was mentioned in the letter that Edmonds had carried back from Napoleon. His father was a known Bonapartist, so in an effort to show support to the royalists, and put a damper on the Bonapartist efforts, Villefort secretly sentenced Edmond to the political prison of Chateau d’if. Dantes was thrown into Chateau d’ if, and forgotten for fourteen years. During the first few years of his imprisonment Dantes’ father died of starvation, and Mercedes married Fernand; both of which he is completely unaware of. As time passed he became more and more delusional, and even began to contemplate suicide. All the while, his former employer Morrel made efforts to locate Dontes in an attempt to try to have him released, but was unable to find his location. The Chateau d’if, where our fictional character Dantes was imprisoned, was in fact an actual prison fortress. It was â€Å"built by the French King Francis I in 1524† on an island in the bay approximately one mile off the coast of Marseille (Chateau d’if). It’s was originally designed and was intended to be a defense mechanism against would be attackers of Marseille, but soon became the home to, â€Å"3,500 Huguenots (French Protestants) who earned their keep as galley slaves†(Marseille-Provence). This rocky, beach front setting is where Edmond Dantes was doomed to carry out his unwarranted sentence, and spent fourteen long years of his life; just a stone throw away from Marseille, yet no one could locate him. Many of the chateau’s actual guests seem to have had the common theme of being unwarranted prisoners. It was not unusual during the time for individuals to be â€Å"imprisoned without trial under so-called lettres de cachet, supposedly signed by the King, for minor misdemeanors (a popular ploy used by moneyed families to get rid of unruly offspring without causing a public scandal)†(Marseille-Provence). Funnily enough, one of Napoleons Civil Codes warranted it legal for a father to imprison a child for up to 1 month. Many of the Chateau’s inhabitants were lost in the shuffle, and locked up for as long as the family desired. This island for misfits, and unwanted relatives is also the location where Dantes befriends Abbe Faria, who was also a political prisoner. The two prisoners meet when the Abbe was attempting to tunnel his way to freedom; however, a miscalculation brought him directly into Dantes’ cell, instead of out to the freedom he had desired. The two newly found friends spent the next few years passing their time. Abbe dedicated himself to the task of educating Dantes in science, literature languages. He also helps Dantes figure out whom it was that played key parts, and were ultimate responsibility lie for his incarceration. At some point Abbe began to think of Dantes as the son he never had, and confided in Dantes the location to the hidden fortune. Together the two began planning their daring escape, knowing all the while that any escape plan would be difficult, if not impossible due to the fact that the prison is completely surrounded by water, and much of the island had vertical cliff walls that would raise the likelihood of injury if not death, while escaping. Fortunately for the pair, they had nothing but time. During this era in France, prisoners with wealth and title (like the Abbe) could request certain items to make their stay a bit more comfortable. The Abbe used this to their advantage, and was able to order some tools and trinkets for his cell. The same reason Abbe was able to order trinkets is the reason Edmond had none; he was penniless, and unable to purchase items. This was also quite indicative of the times; if you were higher up in society, you were able to purchase more benefits in prison, as well as in life. The Abbe died before the two were able to act out their escape plan. Thinking quickly on his feet, Dantes was able to replace his own body in the Abbe’s body bag, solidifying his own escape. The hopes Dantes held onto, and that drove him to be victorious in his escape were gone. When he did finally gain his freedom he was faced with the fact that his loved ones were either dead, or had moved on, and it was no longer a possibility to be a part of their life, or the one that he had left behind. He was a man who must decide what it was he was going to become, and do with the life that he regained. During this time it is made clear that Dantes was struggling with his purpose in life, and felt lost. It was said that he felt, â€Å"that he belongs to no country, no land, even to the point where he feels more at ease while on the ocean† (D’Ammassa). While contemplating what he was to become and what to do with his life, now that he was a free man Dantes spent some time onboard a ship as a smuggler in the Mediterranean. Where he could confront his feelings, and decide what is was he wanted to do. During one such smuggling trip Dantes had the opportunity to go to the Island of Monte Cristo where he resigned his position a smuggler and proceeded to find the treasure Abbe entrusted him with. The Island of Monte Cristo is indeed an actual island. It is located in the â€Å"Archipelago Toscano National Park† but, is not accessible to people and is now an animal refuge (Montercristo Island). It is presumed that Dumas had visited this remote island in 1842 and thought it perfect for the use as the setting in one of his novels; however, the actual island bears little resemblance to the one portrayed in his tale. In the story Edmond finds the treasure that Abbe Faria entrusted to him, on this island. The resources from the treasure will eventually allow him the opportunity to manifest himself into a count, and begin his ascent into righting the wrongs done unto him. Once his visit to the island of Monte Cristo has ended he proceeds to Rome where he stays for a while rejuvenating himself in upscale hotels, and taking beautiful women to the opera. During his stay there Dantes met Valentine, Villefort’s daughter; this act strikes a chord deep within Dantes and spurs his retribution into action. Dantes also meets Albert de Morcerf in Rome, where he aides in Alberts release from kidnappers. To return this life saving favor Dantes asks Albert to familiarize him with the Parisian aristocrats. For those of us with an appetite for a great revenge novel, this is where you can feel the plot begin to thicken, and Dumas has you flipping through the pages. With Albert as his guide, Dantes makes his way to Paris where the intrigue intensifies as Dantes began to pick off his prey one by one. During the time when Dumas’ tail was released, Paris was the metropolitan center of France, 600,000 people lived there. It was the mecca for European culture, and sciences, and also where many of Dumas’ readers would have been located making Paris an obvious choice to set such a tale; the sale of his writings to readers in the city were booming. Paris was left in shambles until Napoleon became first consul. At which time he began to re-model the city, giving it qualities you might have seen in a more up to date Rome. He added sewers, sidewalks bridges, and wharves. These additions not only brought about a better economy, but better living conditions for many. This city full of Parisian culture was also where the Villefort, the Morcerf, and the Danglars families had all settled. These families migrated to Paris, and with their newly acquired wealth began lavishing them selves in a life of luxury. Once in Paris, and with help the Count finds his way into the midst of each of the families, becoming a most welcome guest. It is from this calculated position that Dantes is able to initiate his plan and ultimately unravel the successes, and happiness of each of the men who had at one time or another plotted against him. Dumas, was able to give his reader an understanding of the setting in The Count of Monte Cristo with ease, he simply embellished upon of the historical occasions that were taking place before his eyes. Dumas expertly tied together the political struggle between Napoleon and the Royalists. By expounding upon well-known, and heavily populated cities such as Marseille, he was able to bestow a bit of history, and expand his reader’s minds, while also adventuring with them to isolated, dangerous places like the Chateau d’if or even Monte Cristo Island. He solidifies the intrigue, danger, and of course revenge in his literary work of art, which is sure to continue to captivate readers for many generations to come. Works Cited â€Å"Chateau d’If†. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2012 This article describes Chateau d’if the small Mediterranean island off the port of Marseille. I hope to be able to give a more accurate development of the scene where Dumas’ main character spent a great portion time. This article came from the Encyclopedia Britannica online. D’Ammassa, Don. â€Å"The Count of Monte Cristo.† Encyclopedia of Adventure Fiction. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom’s Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. 15

Design for a Deep Space Communications System

The communication system will comprise of a redundant dual-band transmission channel, namely an S-band system and an X-band system. The S-band system will be designed specifically for providing tracking, telemetry and control, while the X-band will be used exclusively for telemetry and scientific data. These systems will operate within their specified ranges (S-band: transmit – 2290-2300 MHz, receive – 2110-2120 MHz, X-band: transmit – 7145-7190 MHz, receive – 8400-8450 MHz[1]) as would be specified by the ____Governing body____. The basic mission requirements and assumptions have changed since the general specifications laid out in Assignment 3, primarily that the satellite must land on, or come in contact with, the comet at some point rather than perform a fly-by. With this in mind, the individual components that will be used on the communications system are detailed in the following sections Antennas: There will be both an omnidirectional S-band helical antenna[2], specifically designed for telemetry and commands, as well as a 2.2 metre high-gain antenna[3], akin to the Rosetta satellite antenna. This antenna has optimal performance within both S- and X-band frequencies and both are manufactured by RUAG Space AG, based in Switzerland. Transponder: The system will incorporate two redundant small deep-space transponders (SDST’s) [4], developed by General Dynamics and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This device combines a number of communication functions – receiver, command detector, telemetry modulator, exciter, beacon generator and control functions all into one package. This transponder has Ka-band capability as well for future missions, which comprises of a second X-to-Ka band multiplier. Envelope Size: 7.13†L x 6.55†W x 4.50†H Mass: 7.0 lbs (3.2 kg) Input Supply Power: Receiver Only: 12.5 W Receiver + X-band Exciter: 15.8 W Amplifiers: Two 17 W, 8.4 GHz solid-state power amplifiers[5], manufactured by General Dynamics will be implemented as smaller, lighter and less expensive alternative to the traveling-wave-tube X-band amplifier. These amplifiers are designed for use as a ‘companion unit’ to the SDST and can supply telemetry signals that can be connected directly to the SDST to make a complete transmitter/receiver with a single data interface. Maximum dimensions: 6.85†L x 5.275†W x 1.85†H Mass: 3.02 lbs (1.37 kg) Data interface: MIL-STD-1553B data interface Other components: Other smaller components include a diplexer, attached to the high-gain amplifier, which will allow the S- and X- band transmitter to use the same antenna, as well as allowing the antenna to be used for transmissions on one band and receive on another band. The system will also require a coupler to assign the amplifiers to the respective antennas as well as a hybrid coupler between the amplifiers and the transponders to allow either transponder to drive either amplifier without requiring active switching. Issues in Deep Space Communications: Compared with normal satellite communications, deep-space communications present a significant challenge – specifically from the distance resulting in low signal-to-noise ratio, propagation delays, corruption as well as environmental factors such as temperature variations and electromagnetic radiation. The satellite will be passing behind the Sun for a period of time, it is important to note that communication will be masked for a substantial period of time. One possible solution is to take advantage of NASA’s STEREO (Solar TERrestrial Relations Observatory) satellites in orbit around the sun to provide a link between the satellite-comet intercept point and Earth while the satellite is obscured.