Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Rise And Continuation Of The Pro-Choice Movement Essays

The Rise And Continuation Of The Pro-Choice Movement On January 22, 1973, the movement to legalize abortion achieved its greatest victory with the Roe v. Wade ruling. This paper will analyze the rise and continuation of this movement over the course of the past forty years. Unlike other social movements, the Pro-Choice movement as maintained its power even after apparent victory was achieved. Due to this, the abortion argument continues today and will probably continue into this century and beyond. The emergence of the Pro-Choice movement did not occur via the usual social movement routes. Most social movements emerge from within established institutions, with support from elites, or with origins that involved professional movement organizers. The early Pro-Choice movement, however, emerged as a collection of concerned physicians and professionals who wanted to help legalize abortion and keep it safe. In the 1950s and 1960s several published articles appeared that suggested needed reforms to the abortion laws and this began public attention on this issue. Two events occurred during the 1960s that also brought media attention to this emerging movement. The first was the highly publicized case of Sherri Finkbine, a woman who attempted to get a legal abortion in the United States after learning that a drug she had taken, thalidomide, could cause fetal defects. This incident caused nationwide concern about the drug as well as sparking a nationwide debate over abortion. The second event was the epidemic of rubella measles that occurred in the United States. This disease can cause fetal defects when contracted by a pregnant woman. Both of these events gave a rise to the movement by influencing public opinion toward the reform of abortion law. These events forced doctors to confront the differences within their profession over abortion. This caused some liberal doctors to support the reform of the abortion laws. The Association for the Study of Abortion (ASA) was formed as a result of the professional interest in this issue. This association was formed in 1964 by Dr. Alan Guttmacher of Planned Parenthood as an educational association. Only twenty active members, consisting of doctors, lawyers and other professionals, were actively involved in this group. However; the ASA was important in lending credibility and authority to the abortion movement in the early years when this support was badly needed. It should be noted that in the early years the ASA was not in the forefront of the movement as it refused to support aggressive measures to change the abortion laws. The ASA was crucial in bringing together activists who disagreed with the ASAs cautious approach. These activists later worked together to found the National Association for Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL). Lawrence Lader, NARAL founder, had become a ASA boardmember as a result of his research on abortion. Ruth Smith, another NARAL founder, had served as executive director of the ASA. Also, Dr. Lonny Myers was crucial to the founding of NARAL and Lader contacted her through his ASA contacts. Early organizers used their connections to recruit professionals who would lend this movement prestige and influential power. The early Pro-Choice movement also benefited from other social movements of the era. Women, college students and other young people who were activated by earlier movements of the 1960s became the grass-roots constituents of the movement to legalize abortion. These constituents were available and also felt very strongly about the issues at hand. The population organizations of the time also aided the early Pro-Choice movement. The Association for Voluntary Sterilization (AVS) and Zero Population Growth(ZPG) shared members with NARAL. ZPG, especially, had local chapters that were heavily student influenced. These local chapters became deeply involved in the mobilization of the movement. The womens movement was emerging as the abortion movement was getting off the ground. The National Organization for Women (NOW) endorsed abortion appeal, although narrowly, at the second national convention in 1967. NOW participation in the abortion movement was minimal in the early years, but was there nonetheless. NOW was loosely organized in the beginning and was unable to promote grass-roots participation on the issue. The organization did form a national committee to deal with abortion but lacked an ample supply of resources. Other womens groups were also emerging at this time. The ones that had memberships almost solely comprised of younger women, especially those in college, had the most to offer the abortion movement. Many of these young women became key players in the mobilization in these early years. Not only did the emerging abortion reform movement have the advantage of the preexisting organizational bases and concerned

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Lord Curzon Essays

Lord Curzon Essays Lord Curzon Essay Lord Curzon Essay George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston,  KG,  GCSI,  GCIE,  PC  (11 January 1859 – 20 March 1925), known as  The Lord Curzon of Kedleston  between 1898 and 1911 and as  The Earl Curzon of Kedleston  between 1911 and 1921, was a  British  Conservative  statesman who wasViceroy of India  and  Foreign Secretary. The  Curzon Line  was named after him. - Early life Curzon was the eldest son and second of 11 children of Alfred Curzon, the 4th  Baron Scarsdale  (1831–1916),  Rector  of  Kedleston  in  Derbyshire, and his wife Blanche (1837–1875), daughter of Joseph Pocklington Senhouse of Netherhall in Cumberland. He was born at  Kedleston Hall, built on the site where his family, who were of  Norman  ancestry, had lived since the 12th century. His mother, worn out by childbirth, died when George was 16; her husband survived her by 41 years. Neither parent exerted a major influence on Curzons life. The Baron was an austere and unindulgent father who believed in the long-held family tradition that landowners should stay on their land and not go roaming about all over the world. He thus had little sympathy for those travels across Asia between 1887 and 1895 which made his son one of the most traveled men who ever sat in a British cabinet. A more decisive presence in Curzons childhood was that of his brutal governess, Ellen Mary Paraman, whose tyranny in the nursery stimulated his combative qualities and encouraged the obsessional side of his nature. Paraman periodically forced him to parade through the village wearing a conical hat bearing the words  liar,sneak, and  coward. Curzon later noted, No children well born and well-placed ever cried so much and so justly. [1] He was educated at  Eton College[2]  and  Balliol College, Oxford. At Eton he was a favorite of  Oscar Browning, an over-intimate relationship that led to his tutors dismissal. [3][4]  While at Eton, he was a controversial figure who was liked and disliked with equal intensity by large numbers of masters and other boys. This strange talent for both attraction and repulsion stayed with him all his life: few people ever felt neutral about him. At  Oxford  he was President of the  Union  and Secretary of the  Oxford Canning Club. Although he failed to achieve a  first class degree  in  Greats, he won the Lothian and  Arnold Prizes, the latter for an essay on  Sir Thomas More  (about whom he confessed to having known almost nothing before commencing study, literally delivered as the clocks were chiming midnight on the day of the deadline). He was elected a prize fellow of  All Souls College  in 1883. A teenage  spinal injury, incurred while riding, left Curzon in lifelong pain, often resulting in insomnia, and required him to wear a metal corset, contributing to an unfortunate impression of stiffness and arrogance. While at Oxford, Curzon was the inspiration for the following  Balliol rhyme, a piece of doggerel which stuck with him in later life: My name is George Nathaniel Curzon, I am a most superior person. My cheeks are pink, my hair is sleek, I dine at  Blenheim  twice a week. - - Early career and Parliament Curzon became Assistant Private Secretary to  Lord Salisbury  in 1885, and in 1886 entered  Parliament  as Member for  Southport  in south-west  Lancashire. His  maiden speech, which was chiefly an attack on  home rule  and  Irish nationalism, was regarded in much the same way as his oratory at the  Oxford Union: brilliant and eloquent but also presumptuous and rather too self-assured. Subsequent performances in the Commons, often dealing with Ireland or reform of the House of Lords (which he supported), received similar verdicts. He was  Under-Secretary of State for India  in 1891-1892 and  Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs  in 1895–1898. [citation needed] In the meantime he had travelled around the world:  Russia  and  Central Asia  (1888-9), a long tour of  Persia  (1889–90),  Siam,  French Indochina  and  Korea(1892), and a daring foray into  Afghanistan  and the  Pamirs  (1894), and published several books describing central and eastern Asia and related policy issues. A bold and compulsive traveller,  fascinated by oriental life  and geography, he was warded the gold medal of the  Royal Geographical Society  for his exploration of the source of the  Amu Darya  (Oxus). Yet the main purpose of his journeys was political: they formed part of a vast and comprehensive project to study the problems of Asia and their implications for  British India. At the same time they reinforced his pride in his nation and her imperial mission. Viceroy of India (1898–1905) Lord Curzon-Procession to  Sanchi  Tope, 28 Nov 1899 In January 1899 he was appointed  Viceroy of India. He was created a  Peer of Ireland  as  Baron Curzon of Kedleston, in the County of Derby,[6]  on his appointment. This peerage was created in the Peerage of Ireland (the last so created) so that he would be free, until his fathers death, to re-enter theHouse of Commons  on his return to Britain. Reaching India shortly after the suppression of the frontier risings of 1897–1898, he paid special attention to the independent tribes of the north-west frontier, inaugurated a new province called the  North West Frontier Province, and pursued a policy of forceful control mingled with conciliation. The only major armed outbreak on this frontier during the period of his administration was the  Mahsud-Waziri  campaign of 1901. In the context of the  Great Game  between the British and  Russian Empires  for control of  Central Asia, he held deep mistrust of Russian intentions. This led him to encourage British trade in  Persia, and he paid a visit to the  Persian Gulf  in 1903. At the end of that year, he sent a  British expedition to Tibetunder  Francis Younghusband, ostensibly to forestall a Russian advance. After bloody conflicts with  Tibets poorly-armed defenders, the mission penetrated to  Lhasa, where a treaty was signed in September 1904. No Russian presence was found in Lhasa. Lord Curzon and  Lady Curzonarriving at the  Delhi Durbar, 1903. Within India, Curzon appointed a number of commissions to inquire into education, irrigation, police and other branches of administration, on whose reports legislation was based during his second term of office as viceroy. Reappointed Governor-General in August 1904, he presided over the  1905 partition of Bengal, which roused such bitter opposition among the people of the province that it was later revoked (1911). He also took an active interest in military matters. In 1901, he founded the  Imperial Cadet Corps, or ICC. The ICC was a corps delite, designed to give Indian princes and aristocrats military training, after which a few would be given officer commissions in the Indian Army. But these commissions were special commissions which did not empower their holders to command any troops. Predictably, this was a major stumbling block to the ICCs success, as it caused much resentment among former cadets. Though the ICC closed in 1914, it was a crucial stage in the drive to Indianise the Indian Armys officer Corps, which was haltingly begun in 1917. Military organisation proved to be the final issue faced by Curzon in India. A difference of opinion with the British military Commander-in-Chief in India,  Lord Kitchener, regarding the status of the military member of the council in India, led to a controversy in which Curzon failed to obtain the support of the home government. He resigned in August 1905 and returned to England. During his tenure, Curzon undertook the restoration of the  Taj Mahal, and expressed satisfaction that he had done so. Lord and Lady Curzon on the elephant Lakshman Prasad, 29 December 1902

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Outline the basic principles of archaeological excavation Essay

Outline the basic principles of archaeological excavation - Essay Example It is at this stage also that the permits to excavate a certain place have to be acquired. The process cannot just happen without the consent of the in charge bodies (Balme & Paterson, 2006 p98). This particular stage involves figuring out what procedures to be used in the excavation progression. There is a wide range of processes ranging from the simple to complex methods. The equipment to be used to excavate should also decide at this juncture and ensure that it will get the work done (Balme & Paterson, 2006 p9106) These should be set up to provide proper working areas to examine the discovered artifacts. This ensures that the transport of discoveries that might damage them or lead to loss of important information is totally avoided. This phase involves putting together all the content of the whole process and sorting it out. This stage finally makes sense of the entire excavation process by organizing and placing all the information in a manner that is easily comprehensible (Balme & Paterson, 2006 p113). This is the final stage in the excavation process. After all the data has been analyzed and put in order, the final verdict can be given about what was discovered. In conclusion, in order to achieve the desired results, the excavation process must follow a series of steps and ensure everything is done

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Hinduism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 8

Hinduism - Essay Example Although I have always been interested in this subject but never had the time to learn more about it from books. This visit gave me a short course on the history of Hinduism. My expectations were met, and I had a fun learning time. I want to find out more through this interactive way about every topic. I took notes while I was there. They will surely help me in my studies. The hierarchical structure of Hindu Gods surprised me. I was aware that there are many Gods in Hinduism, but ranks and power structures came to me as a surprise. In addition, I was also interested in the use of colors in pictures and statues of Hindu Gods. For instance, blue color is extensively used. Hindus paint their idols (statues) blue or make their paintings and images. Their Gods also transform into other creatures or appear in some other manner than the regular ones. For instance, the Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection has a painting by Catherine Roche (see figure 1) where Vishnu, is painted blue, in the form of a boar and holding Lakshmi on his tusks. The sounds of temple bells and chanting of religious heads were the most prominent sounds. The mood of the gathering was very serious. Some people seemed to be meditating while some were whispering prayers. It was clearly visible how much they believed that their Gods were listening to their prayers. It was evident to see that their religion meant so much to them. They seemed to find comfort in their chanting. My personal reaction to Hindu practices and rituals is very objective. Religions, belief systems, self-esteem, and opinions are very sensitive subjects. They hold very high values for their followers. I observed Hindu practices and paintings as if I am discovering a new culture. Their philosophy of life and their Gods stand different from the Greek mythology. For instance, Hindus worship many idols. There are Gods with different powers and appearances but in the end they are all part

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Ethical case study to student in HRM class Essay

Ethical case study to student in HRM class - Essay Example Mr. Hady shall obey to boss. Since the decision has to be taken on time therefore, obeying this will benefit the company, Mr. Phill and himself. This decision will be harmful in two areas; first, Mr. Hady would not be able to satisfy himself for doing this wrong thing and in case this act causes competitor to lose the opportunity mainly due to crucial information exposed to their competitor i.e. Mr. Phill. This decision will be based solely on the discretion of Mr. Hady and without mutual consent of everyone involved. Mr. Hady can give the benefit of doubt of competitor’s incapability to convince SAGA Engineering management as Mr. Phill will extract information after that day’s presentation is over and competitor already had the chance to present their high points. Avoiding obeying this order would benefit all, though of course may not be in short term. This will satisfy Mr. Hady for not indulging in wrong act. There are chances that they may lose this deal, but will allow the deserved one to take it; hence, securing everyone’s right. Mr. Phill will get a chance to identify areas to polish his skills as nobody is perfect. This will also benefit Mr. Phil with secured standing in long term as successful person which will always be at risk anytime if such activity is disclosed. Firm will also be able to secure long term benefit with identification of their capacity to secure certain deals and in case Mr. Phills practice is disclosed it will question firm’s entire conduct. Moreover, it would be subjugation of MT’s right to deal if rival would have done something of the sort. Avoiding obeying this decision will ensure equal rights given to all. Both firms’ representatives are given equal chance to present their bid. Hence, winning or losing bid will solely on the basis of one’s expertise. In fact, overall, MT or Mr. Phill is in better position as time assigned to them for presentation is double

Friday, November 15, 2019

Using Lime As A Construction Material

Using Lime As A Construction Material Lime is a material comprising any physical and chemical forms under which calcium and/or magnesium oxide (CaO and MgO) and/or hydroxide (Ca(OH)2 and Mg(OH)2) can appear. Lime plays an important role as a construction material. The main uses of lime are as follows: In soil treatment and stabilization to provide a platform for heavy construction such as roads, earthen dams, airfields, and building foundations. As an additive in asphalt, lime improves the cohesion of asphalt, reduces stripping, and retards the aging process. As a binder in the productions of bricks, aircrete, fire resistant board and concrete. Lime is also a key ingredient in mortar and plaster. BUILDING LIME STANDARD For the preparation of mortar for masonry, rendering and plastering and production of other construction products using lime is outlined on BS EN 459-1. 2.1. BUILDING LIME TERMINOLOGY    Air limes: limes mainly consisting of calcium oxide or hydroxide which slowly harden in air by reacting with atmospheric carbon dioxide. Generally they do not harden under water as they have no hydraulic properties. They may be either quicklimes or hydrated limes. Quicklimes: air limes mainly consisting of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide produced by calcinations of limestone and/or dolomite rock. They have an exothermic reaction when in contact with water. They are offered in varying sizes ranging from lumps to ground powder materials. They include calcium limes and dolomitic limes. Hydrated limes: air limes, calcium limes or dolomitic limes, resulting from the controlled slaking of quicklimes. They are produced in the form of a dry powder or putty or as a slurry. Calcium limes: limes mainly consisting of calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide without any additions of hydraulic or pozzolanic materials Dolomitic limes: limes mainly consisting of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide or calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide without any additions of hydraulic or pozzolanic materials. Natural hydraulic limes (NHL): limes produced by burning of more or less argillaceous or siliceous limestones with reduction to powder by slaking with or without grinding. They have the property of setting and hardening under water. Atmospheric carbon dioxide contributes to the hardening process Hydraulic limes: limes mainly consisting of calcium hydroxide, calcium silicates and calcium aluminates produced by mixing of suitable materials. They have the property of setting and hardening under water. Atmospheric carbon dioxide contributes to the hardening process 2.2. CLASSIFICATION Air limes shall be classified according to their (CaO + MgO) content and hydraulic limes according to their compressive strength given in Table 1. SOIL TREATMENT STABILISATION USING LIME Lime can be used to treat soils in order to improve their workability and load-bearing characteristics in a number of situations.   Quicklime is frequently used to dry wet soils at construction sites and elsewhere, reducing downtime and providing an improved working surface.   An even more significant use of lime is in the modification and stabilization of soil beneath road and similar construction projects.   Lime can substantially increase the stability, impermeability, and load-bearing capacity of the subgrade.   Both quicklime and hydrated lime may be used for this purpose.   Application of lime to subgrades can provide significantly improved engineering properties.    Lime is an excellent choice for short-term modification of soil properties.   Lime can modify almost all fine-grained soils, but the most significant improvement occurs in clay soils of moderate to high plasticity.   Modification occurs because calcium cations supplied by hydrated lime replace the cations normally present on the surface of the clay mineral, promoted by the high pH environment of the lime-water system.   Thus, the clay surface mineralogy is altered, producing the following benefits: Plasticity reduction; Reduction in moisture-holding capacity (drying); Swell reduction; Improved stability; and Ability to construct a solid working platform. Soil stabilization occurs when lime is added to a reactive soil to generate long-term strength gain through a pozzolanic reaction.   This reaction produces stable calcium silicate hydrates and calcium aluminate hydrates as the calcium from the lime reacts with the aluminates and silicates solubilized from the clay.   The full-term pozzolanic reaction can continue for a very long period of time, even decades as long as enough lime is present and the pH remains high (above 10).    LIME IN MORTARS Lime in one form or another has been a binder in mortars for centuries, well before cement was invented. Lime today is still used as the primary binder in many mixes. usually in the form of lime putty or Hydraulic lime. Hydrated lime is used in modern cement based mortars mainly for its properties as a plasticiser. Lime mortar has important characteristics. These are: High workability Water retentivity very high. This makes it particularly suitable for use with some applications. The lime in the mortar improves adhesion (bonding strength) and reduces rain penetration. (Thereby reduces frost damage to unprotected masonry wall tops) In mortars containing lime, carbon dioxide dissolves in water and reacts with lime to produce insoluble calcium carbonate crystals. These crystals form in spaces such as cracks and grow, thereby sealing the cracks. This self-sealing characteristic reduces water penetration and increases durability. Especially in areas where masonry work is prone to frost damage. The rate of carbonation is dependent upon several environmental conditions. High plasticity, which allows the user to produce a flexible masonry structure, capable of contending with movement resulting from both, thermal and moisture content changes without cracking. Movement joints are not required since the lime mortar can absorb the expansion. This reduction in the risk of cracking reduces problems related with water penetration. Lime mortar has a lower structural strength than Portland cement but it insures a lasting durability, as many old historical building and medieval castles prove. TYPES OF LIME USED IN MORTARS Air Lime Air Lime gains strength slowly, by combining with atmospheric carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate (as per the lime cycle). Air Lime, or high calcium lime does not have any hydraulic component. It can be quicklime for slaking or hydrated lime. Several grades of Air Lime are identified in EN459-1 the European standard for Building Lime. Hydrated lime Hydrated lime is NOT hydraulic lime and will not set in contact with water; hydrated lime is added to cement mixes to give the benefits listed above under Benefits of using lime mortars. CL90 Q CL90 S Grades of air lime for building as described in EN459 the European standard for Building Lime. CL90 Q is the purest grade of building quicklime and CL90 S is the purest grade of hydrated lime for building. Several grades of air lime are identified in EN459 the European standard for Building Lime. Lime with Hydraulic Properties Lime with hydraulic or cementitious properties which will set when exposed to moisture. Several grades of Lime with Hydraulic Properties are identified in EN459-1 the European standard for Building Lime. Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) Hydraulic lime which does not contain any performance enhancing additives. Its properties are as a result of the mineralogy of the calcium carbonate stone which is quarried for burning. Formulated Lime Lime with Hydraulic Properties based on NHL or Air Lime, which is a designer blend of constituents from a designated list. Formulated Lime may contain cement or clinker, pozzolana, ground granulated blast furnace slag or other performance enhancing additives. It is blended to give the required performance characteristics. Any additions are identified by the manufacturer. Hydraulic Lime Hydraulic binder which can contain many performance enhancing additives, including cement and clinker. There is no requirement for the manufacturer to notify the customer of its composition. PLASTER Internal plastering is used to cover up differences in level and to provide a surface which is suitable for the final decorative finish. The use of lime with cement nowadays provides a quick, strong and easily applied process of coating durable plaster. Other benefits are described as follows: The high water-retentivity of lime based plasters, coupled with their high workability, ensures a good bond to the background material. The ability of lime to promote the healing of cracks helps to ensure its durability by reducing water penetration. The high alkalinity of the plaster inhibits the growth of mould and the corrosion of iron and steel. In general the benefits raised from the addition of lime in the plaster, far outweigh the small increase in raw material costs. AERATED CONCRETE BLOCKS Quicklime is mixed with cement, sand, water and aluminium powder to give a slurry which rises and sets to form honeycomb structured blocks which have excellent thermal and sound insulation properties. The heat generated when quicklime reacts with water and the alkaline conditions combined with aluminium powder generates hydrogen bubbles which cause the blocks to rise. The heat generated subsequently causes the slurry to set. The blocks are then heated in an autoclave, which promotes reactions between calcium and silicates in the sand or PFA and gives extra strength. Dolomite lime and/or modified quicklime can be added to reduce excessive shrinkage or cracking, an issue which is increasingly useful for highly stressed materials, such as busy road junctions. LIME CONCRETE Lime concrete or limecrete is made by mixing controlled amounts of sand, aggregate, binder and water. Portland Cement is normally used as the binder, although nowadays hydraulic lime or hydrated lime can also be used. This type of concrete is used all over the world, including almost every type of transport surface from roads, runways, bus and rail tracks to the construction of buildings and even large dams. LIMEWASH Limewash is a traditional method of painting walls with a colour base that allows the masonry to breathe, providing both protection and aesthetic appeal. Limewash is also widely used in agricultural buildings due to its germicidal qualities coupled with its extreme ease of application and low cost. ASPHALT Hydrated lime can be used as an additive to hot mix asphalt used for road surfacing. The addition of lime increases the resistance of the asphalt to water stripping, allowing it to maintain strength and provide good resistance to heavy stress i.e. for road surfaces prone to regular traffic or congestion. Lime also acts as a mineral filler which increases the viscosity of the binder, increasing the stiffness, tensile strength, compressive strength and resistance to water stripping. Asphalt is currently used for the majority of road networks throughout the world. Infrastructure is often dependent on the quality of road surfaces, and without its superior materialistic properties, roads would be more hazardous and all types of vehicles would be prone to damages and accidents. (https://www.eula.eu/construction-civil-engineering) Find out more in the  technical section. Asphalt Hot Mix Asphalt Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) is a composite material comprised of two major ingredients; aggregate and binder. The aggregate is usually obtained from quarry operations (or through recycling) and the binder is a petroleum product, sometimes occurring naturally but usually the by-product of refining crude oil. The function of the binder is to basically coat the aggregate, creating a stable mixture of aggregate and asphalt that can resist numerous stresses induced by highway traffic and the environment. Asphalt pavements are a crucial part of the UKs strategy for building a high performance transportation network for the future. Asphalt construction is fast and relatively simple; it is economical, safe, quiet and the most sustainable solution to the future aspirations of the UK road network. Hydrated lime can be used as a modifier that improves performance in multiple ways to create high performance asphalt pavements. The benefits of lime A growing use for hydrated lime, particularly in the United States, is as an additive to the aggregates that can be applied either in a dry or slurry state. Hydrated lime tends to change the surface chemistry or molecular polarity of the aggregate surface, resulting in a stronger adhesion at the interface between the aggregate and asphalt binder. This is a particularly important factor for HMAs which are constantly subjected to changing environmental conditions and traffic wheel loads. The environment plays an important role in conditioning the pavement due to the presence of moisture, the fluctuations in temperature, and the ageing of HMA mixtures. Combining this with the stresses from repeated traffic loads, a physical separation between the asphalt binder and aggregate may begin to occur. As the binder is displaced, moisture moves in to capture the aggregates surface, a process which is known as water stripping or water sensitivity.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€ šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   The performance of an HMA mixture is primarily measured in terms of its resistance to rutting, fatigue, low temperature cracking, and ravelling. The resistance of HMA to these distresses can to some degree be evaluated using performance tests and the measurement of its susceptibility to moisture and temperature. In order to compensate for the problem of moisture damage, many manufacturers use anti-stripping agents, which may include lime. Experience in the US has shown us that lime is currently the most suitable additive for the widest range of aggregates and asphalts. Hydrated lime addition levels of 1.0 to 1.5% by weight of the aggregate are usually sufficient to reduce water stripping. In addition, hydrated lime added as a mineral filler, has been shown to increase viscosity of the binder, as well as increasing the stiffness, tensile strength, compressive strength and resistance to rutting, all of which increase the durability of the mix. Rutting is permanent deformation of the asphalt, caused when elasticity of the material is exceeded. Unlike most mineral fillers, lime is chemically active rather than inert. It reacts with the bitumen, removing undesirable components at the same time that its tiny particles disperse throughout the mix, making the pavement more resistant to rutting and fatigue cracking. Hydrated lime also has the ability to reduce cracking that can result from causes other than ageing, such as fatigue at low temperatures. Cracking often occurs due to the formation of microcracks. These microcracks are intercepted and deflected by tiny particles of hydrated lime. Lime tends to reduce cracking more than inactive fillers due to the reaction between the lime and the polar molecules in the asphalt cement, which increases the effective volume of the lime particles by surrounding them with large organic chains. Consequently, the lime particles are better able to intercept and deflect microcracks, preventing them from growing together into large cracks that can ultimately end in pavement failure. Overall, the broad array of benefits that result from the addition of hydrated lime to HMA work together to produce a superior high performance product. Although the benefits here have been described individually, they all work synergistically, contributing in multiple ways to the improvement of the final product. Synergistic benefits also occur when lime is used in conjunction with polymer modifiers, and recent research has shown that in certain circumstances lime and polymers when used together can in fact produce improvements greater then each of them used alone. Adding Hydrated Lime to Hot Mix Asphalt Hydrated lime can be added to HMA in a number of ways. This can be done as part of a mixed filler aggregate or through a separate system. Adding hydrated lime to HMA is a simple process, on which BLA members can advise. A general rule of thumb for the application rate tends to be one percent by weight of the mix, though in cases where severe stripping is anticipated the application may increase. Both powdered hydrated lime and milk of lime meeting the requirements of Types CL 70, 80 or 90 are most suitable, along with Type S dolomitic limes. The future of Lime in Asphalt: Hydrated lime has been recognised for many years as the premier asphalt modifier to correct water stripping problems. As its use has grown worldwide (particularly in the US) many other benefits have been identified, both in the laboratory as well as numerous field projects. The need to produce high performance asphalt pavements increases the importance of lime as a multi-functional asphalt modifier. Transport professionals and the public demand high performance asphalt pavements and hydrated lime provides an important tool to help meet those demands. CONSERVATION / HERITAGE Buildings pre 1900 would not have been built with cement but with a lime mortar. Therefore in order to conserve these buildings it is essential to use similar materials when doing so. To introduce cement or cementitious mortar would cause decaying due to the difference in chemical composition of cement and inevitably result in irreversible damage. Hydraulic lime mortars, hydraulic lime plasters and renders and lime putty are therefore all used for the restoration of the UK and the majority of Europes built heritage. The restoration of these buildings is often important for surrounding communities, providing them with lasting historical and cultural heritage, prolonging the buildings use as a tourist attraction, and often even increasing the aesthetic appeal of the local area. HOW LIME IS MADE Where it all begins Limestone / chalk is a naturally occurring mineral that consists principally of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It occurs widely throughout the world with the UK being no exception. The whole process of making any type of lime all begins back at the limestone quarries. After gaining planning permission to quarry the area, careful surveys and preparation is carried out into locating and drilling holes behind the rock face into which explosives are placed. When detonated, the explosion dislodges up to 30,000 tonnes of stone each time. This is then picked up at the quarry face by huge, mechanised excavators which work along a bench of rock. Typically these benches have rock faces about 20 metres high. The excavators then either load the stone into equally large tipper trucks, each carrying up to 100 tonnes of stone per trip or on to a conveyor system. The limestone / chalk is transported across the quarry to begin its processing. Crushing The trucks then tip the limestone into a large primary crusher which usually relies on either impact or compression to break the rock. Depending on the size of the feedstone required and the kiln in which it will fed into, the same stone can go through a second and even tertiary crusher to reduce its mass even further. The stone is then screened into a wide range of different sizes from 125mm kiln stone all the way down to dust. Some of the stone at this point is washed to remove any clay particles that may remain. Kiln zone This processed stone is then transferred by conveyors to the lime kilns. The lime burning process within the kilns requires enough heat to be transferred to the limestone in order to decompose the calcium and magnesium carbonates. Heat transfer for lime burning can be divided into three main stages: Preheating zone  -  limestone is heated to approximately 800 °C by direct contact with gases leaving the calcining zone. Calcining zone  -  fuel is burnt in preheated air from the cooling zone. This produces heat at above 900 °C and turns limestone into quicklime and CO2. Cooling zone  -  quicklime leaving the calcining zone at 900 °C is cooled by direct contact with cooling air. There are currently three distinct types of kiln operating in the UK, these include; shaft kilns, rotary kilns and twin shaft parallel flow regenerative kilns. Each kiln is selected depending on the nature of the feedstone used and the quality of quicklime required.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Shaft kilns Residence time approx 36 hours. Produces medium carbonate / medium reactivity quicklime (Ca0). Used mainly in steel industry processing. Major feed for hydrated lime manufacture. Shaft kilns can use limestone from a minimum of 20mm up to 175mm. Some shaft kilns can be operated on natural gas, liquid and solid fuels. This type of kiln tends to produce medium reactivity quicklime which can then be used in a number of industrial processes including the manufacture of iron and steel, and aerated concrete blocks. Quicklime from shaft kilns is also processed into hydrated lime (see Hydrate zone).    Rotary kilns Residence time approx 5 hours. Extremely flexible processing. Quick change-over to different specifications within 3/4 hours. Low carbonate grades for stainless steel processing. Can be fired on coal or gas.    The rotary kiln consists of a rotating cylinder inclined at an angle of 3 to 4 degrees to the horizontal. Limestone or dolomite is fed into the upper back end, and fuel plus combustion air is fired into the lower front end. The product is then discharged from the kiln into a cooler, where it is used to pre-heat the combustion air. Kilns of this type are usually fed with stone ranging in size from 15mm to 40mm and are fuelled by a range of fuels including coal, petroleum coke, natural gas and recycled materials. They are used to produce dolomitic lime, and highier purity quicklime used for the manufacture of low-carbon steel, fibreglass and healthcare products. Rotary kilns are also used to fire dolomite at high temperature to produce sintered dolomite for the production of dolomitic refractories. Twin Shaft Parallel Flow Regenerative kilns Residence time approx 18 hours. Flexible and controllable. Produces medium and low carbonate / high reactivity quicklime (CaO). Twin shaft operation gives good thermal efficiency. Uses: steel industry processing, ground into fine powders for concrete block production and environmental effluent treatment markets. Twin shaft parallel flow regenerative kilns have two inter-connected, vertical shafts which are fired in sequence to achieve excellent energy efficiency. The limestone size used by these kilns is usually between 90mm and 125mm. They are on the whole fuelled by natural gas and produce high reactivity and high purity quicklime which is often used in industrial effluent treatment, domestic sewage treatment, manufacture of aerated concrete blocks, steelmaking and soil stabilisation. Hydration plant Quicklime can be processed even further into hydrated lime. Depending on the facilities at the quarry, this can occur either on site or by transporting the lime to a separate hydrating plant. A basic hydrating plant consists of four stages: Quicklime handling and crushing Hydration Classification Storage and despatch Sophisticated control and monitoring systems maintain end-product purity, consistency and quality. Flexibility of using quicklime feed from different kilns to give specific characteristics to meet customers requirements. Quicklime can be processed even further into hydrated lime. Depending on the facilities at the quarry, this can occur either on site or by transporting the lime to a separate hydrating plant. A basic hydrating plant consists of four stages: Quicklime handling and crushing Hydration Classification Storage and despatch Handling and Crushing Where the removal of impurities in the hydrating plant is not important, the quicklime is often reduced in size using impact breakers. In other circumstances, rolls and jaw crushers, or cone mills may be used. Hydration: Hydrators usually consist of three main sections prehydrator, hydrator and finishing stage. The plant consists of numerous paddles that help to mix the water and quicklime quickly and efficiently from start to finish. The plant is kept under slight suction to prevent any dust emission throughout the process. The final moisture content of the raw hydrate after the finishing stage is usually about 1%. Classification: The raw hydrate is then taken from the hydrator to the classification plant. Depending on the customers specification, the raw hydrate can be adjusted and cut even further to meet their requirements. Storage and despatch: Finished products, whether they be dolomitic lime, quicklime or hydrated lime, can be either stored on site prior to dispatch by rail or road, or alternatively can be packed into bags which are then purchased by a range of customers, including steelmakers, DIY stores and builders merchants. The Application of Lime in Building Lime is in its original state, calcium carbonate. It is anti-bacterial, resistant to ultra-violet light, and will allow moisture to release from surfaces from the inside out, rather than trapping moisture, as some other modern coatings can do. It allows the moisture in, but unlike other compounds, allows it out again. When worked into a plaster form, lime absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and then forms a strong yet permeable coat of limestone. Lime plasters are known for being very slow-drying, which allows them to gain strength over a few days, rather than setting very quickly. This can allow the lime plaster to be re-worked if necessary. The forms that lime can be used in are as follows: Lime putty Lime mortar: this is lime putty mixed with sand. This can be used to bed in masonry, and is also used in pointing or rendering brickwork, and for general plastering use. Lime wash: this is lime putty diluted in water. This is used to paint internal and external walls. A pigment can be added to create a colour wash. The National Lime Association recommends adding a small amount of cement with lime and sand in a 1:2:9 mix to make a really tough mortar or plaster mix. However, there are several brands offering cement-free ready mixes available on the market, including quicklime which needs Prickly Pear Cactus Gel (Nopal) added as a binding agent, and many builders will naturally work to their own mixes, or work with a client or architect on creating the right blend for each specific job.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

John Locke: Property Rights :: Empiricists, Empiricism

One of most historically influential political thinkers of the western world was John Locke. John Locke, the man who initiated what is now known as British Empiricism, is also considered highly influential in establishing grounds, theoretically at least, for the constitution of the United States of America. The basis for understanding Locke is that he sees all people as having natural God given rights. As God's creations, this denotes a certain equality, at least in an abstract sense. This religious back drop acts as a the foundation for all of Locke's theories, including his theories of individuality, private property, and the state. The reader will be shown how and why people have a natural right to property and the impact this has on the sovereign, as well as the extent of this impact.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Locke was a micro based ideologist. He believed that humans were autonomous individuals who, although lived in a social setting, could not be articulated as a herd or social animal. Locke believed person to stand for, â€Å"... a thinking, intelligent being, that has reason and reflection, and can consider itself as itself, the same thinking thing in different times and places, which it only does by that consciousness which is inseparable from thinking.† This ability to reflect, think, and reason intelligibly is one of the many gifts from God and is that gift which separates us from the realm of the beast. The ability to reason and reflect, although universal, acts as an explanation for individuality. All reason and reflection is based on personal experience and reference. Personal experience must be completely individual as no one can experience anything quite the same as another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This leads to determining why Locke theorized that all humans, speaking patriarchially with respect to the time â€Å"why all men,† have a natural right to property. Every man is a creation of God's, and as such is endowed with certain individual abilities and characteristics as gifts from God. Not being able to know God's exact wishes for man, Locke believed that all men have an obligation to develop and caress these gifts. In essence, each man was in charge of his own body and what was done with his body. Of course, for Locke, each man would do the reasonable thing and develop his natural skills and potentials to the best of his abilities, in the service of God.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The belief in God given abilities and the obligations that follow are not totally deterministic. Man, endowed with reason, could choose not to develop these abilities.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Military Spending in the US Essay

The majority of college students in the US today, do not know what it is like to live in a nation that is not at war, and this is no different for myself. One of my own memories in elementary school was the attack on the world trade center on 9/11. I am sure that I share that memory with many others. Throughout our lives, we have known our country to be one that is constantly fighting with another. As I grow older, I realize how surrounded we are by issues concerning our military presence in other countries. I also begin to feel the consequences of our actions as a country. Much of our politicians’ time and effort is put into figuring out how to â€Å"bring our troops home† or how to â€Å"support our troops† while still keeping taxes down. In the end it is the American public who are funding our war with our taxes as well as paying the consequences with things such as raised oil prices. For my research paper I am going to discuss American military economics; it’s effects on the American public, and our current presidential candidates’ stances on military spending. The military budget is a portion of the United States’ federal budget. It is used to pay the salaries, training, and health care of military personnel. It is also used to maintain arms, equipment, facilities, funds operations, and develops and buys new weapons. According to the Department of Defense Budget for the 2010 fiscal year, the president’s base budget for spending on overseas operations was $663. 4 billion. The 2009 U. S. military budget accounts for approximately 40% of the total global arms spending. The US’s 2012 budget is 6 to 7 times larger than the $106 billion of the military budget of China. It is greater than the next twenty largest military spenders combined. Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts claims â€Å"if we do not make reductions approximating 25 percent of the military budget starting fairly soon, it will be impossible to continue to fund an adequate level of domestic activity†. Some argue that now is not the time to cut military spending. Republican historian Robert Kagan argues, â€Å"A reduction in defense spending this year would unnerve American allies and would be taken by the world as evidence that an American retreat has begun. The increased military spending since 9/11 has stimulated the US economy to a degree. However the jobs and income that it has created is offset by the massive increase in debt created. According to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, the defense budget has increased from $432 billion in 2001 to $720 billion in 2011, an increase of around 67 percent. Increased military spending has been funded almost en tirely by borrowing. There are many reasons why the debt has grown so much since 2001. These reasons include tax cuts, increases in other government spending, and the largest postwar recession the US has experienced. However, military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have raised annual deficits by about 1 percent of GDP, a trend that is expected to continue through 2020. Since we decided to borrow money instead of increasing taxes or cutting other spending, if war spending continues as forecasted, the country can expect to have paid about $1 trillion in interest by 2020. If the investments in the military over the last decade had been made in U.  S. education, it would represent an 18. 5 percent boost in terms of capital improvements nationwide. This would finance the investments in public school facilities required to return the country’s schools to good condition. Traditionally the Republican Party has been the more inclined towards increased national security and previous presidential candidate Mitt Romney described Obama’s plan as a â€Å"hollowing out† of the military. 2012 running mates Ryan and Romney make the point that it is Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security that are the majority of the deficit. Though they are right, the American public still wants to cut spending even more than the $487 billion already cut by the Obama administration. Romney and Ryan had a plan to go in the exact opposite direction if they had won the election. They planned to boost defense spending by $100 billion, or nearly 20% in 2013. The Republican Party, otherwise known as the grand old party or GOP, traditionally follows Ronald Reagan’s stance on national defense. That stance is represented by the motto of peace through strength. Today, that means protecting America’s homeland by confronting terrorism and maintaining a defense against arising threats of nuclear power. The Republican Party is fully committed to America’s Armed Forces to make sure that they are prepared for any challenges they may need to face. While the United States is involved in various international organizations, which serve the cause of peace and posterity, the Republican Party argues that these organizations must never substitute for principled American leadership to protect our vital national interests. All of the information I gathered about the GOP’s stance on national defense was pulled directly from their official website, www. GOP. com. Current president Barack Obama has sought to end the war in Iraq and accelerate the transition in Afghanistan in part to lower defense costs. He has proposed a number of defense cuts over the next decade. Rather than following the words of a president who was in office over 20 years ago and during the cold war, the Democratic Party feels that as our threats have evolved over the years, so too should our ability to respond to them. President Obama has made significant steps to restore America’s image around the world by rebuilding strategic alliances with countries that share our values and face common threats. As far as the situation overseas, the President plans to bring home 10,000 troops by the end of this year, 33,000 by next summer, and complete the transition by 2014. Just as I did for the Republican Party, I got all of this information directly from the official website, www. democrats. org. What originally inspired my interest in this subject is when I began to notice issues such as how much our educational system is suffering across the nation. Also, with a little bit of research, I learned that the NASA budget has been cut about a billion dollars in the last three years. Yet, at the same time, the military budget is increase by about the same amount as the entire NASA budget. Maybe it’s just my nature, but I feel that it is a huge waste of time and assets to be spending most of our money fighting other countries, when we could be exploring and making discoveries for the betterment of mankind. As I mentioned earlier, the US has funded all of our wars solely on borrowing, and we have racked up quite a large amount of interest in doing so. On the other hand, a paper written by Douglas A. Camstock, Director of Innovative Partnerships Office, NASA Headquarters, and Daniel P. Lockney of Innovative Partnerships Office, NASA Headquarters, the return rate for NASA research can be as high as 32 times the initial investment. At the very lowest, they estimate that for every dollar invested in NASA, there is a return of at least seven dollars as a result of technological advances. Not only is the lack of support for research a shame for the curious minded, but it is bad fiscal planning as well. Single bombs can cost the military about one million dollars each. Here in the state of California, an average teacher’s salary is about $40,000 a year; this is one of the states with the highest averages. For the price of one bomb or missile, twenty-five teachers can be paid to work for a full year. It doesn’t take a professional economist to tell you that investing in education is well worth it. Educated adults grow up to become working, contributing members of society. Politicians seem to always be looking for ways to create jobs. What better way than for an educated individual to go out and become an entrepreneur, start a business, and hire people to work for them? A study from the University of Massachusetts in 2011 says that for every billion spent in education, about 26,700 jobs are created. Among the different departments that were researched were health care, clean energy, tax cuts, and of course education and defense. Of those five, the military had the least amount of jobs created per billion spent at 11,200 jobs. Once again, it doesn’t take an economist to recognize a poor investment. Over the course of my research paper, I learned about the details of our defense budget and military spending trends in the US as well as our overall deficit. I also found the effects that war has had on the American Public as well as on our economy. During the election I paid close attention to our current presidential candidates and their plans for our defense budget. Only the future will tell if these trends continue or whether our president will take action against our deficit and the fate of national security. I was also able to look into what sparked my interest on the topic in the first place. I got to compare our spending on the military with other departments like education and NASA research. With the President’s plan to begin our transition out of the Middle East in these upcoming years, we will see if we begin a shift to a more progressive, intellectually motivated America. As a member of our educational system as well as a proud American, I sure hope we do.

Friday, November 8, 2019

U.S. States With No Income Tax

U.S. States With No Income Tax While individuals and businesses in all 50 states pay federal income tax, residents in 41 states also pay state income tax. Seven states have no state income tax  at all: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. In addition, the states of New Hampshire and Tennessee tax only the interest and dividend income of their residents gained from financial investments.   Of particular interests to retired persons or those nearing retirement, while federal taxes still apply, there is no additional state income tax on Social Security benefits, withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)s, and payouts from pensions in these nine states. State income tax is typically based on the taxable income or adjusted gross income reported on the taxpayers annual federal income tax return. Key Takeaways The states of Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming do not tax the incomes of their residents.The states of New Hampshire and Tennessee tax only income from interest, dividends, and financial investments.Due to the needs of these nine states to provide services and maintain infrastructure, other non-income taxes, such as sales taxes, property taxes, and fuel taxes can be higher than in states with income tax. Not Always Cheaper to Live There The fact that a state does not have an income tax does not necessarily mean that its residents pay less in taxes than residents of states with an income tax. All states must generate revenue and they do so through various taxes including income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, license taxes, fuel taxes, and estate and inheritance taxes, just to name a few. In states without state income tax, higher sales, property and other assorted taxes can exceed the annual cost of a state income tax. For example, all states except Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon currently charge sales tax. Food, clothing,  and prescription drugs are exempt from sales tax in most states. In addition to states; cities, counties, school districts, and other jurisdictions impose real estate and sales taxes. For cities that do not sell their own utilities, like electricity and water, these taxes represent their main source of revenue. Still, it is worth noting that during 2006 and 2007, the seven states with no income tax whatsoever, Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming, led the nation in net population growth. However, the nonpartisan  Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has reported  that a states income taxes have little influence over whether people ultimately decide to live there. How Do These States Get By Without Income Tax? Without revenue from income tax, how do these states pay for the basic functions of government? Simple: their citizens eat, wear clothes, smoke, drink alcohol, and pump gasoline into their cars. All of these and more goods are taxed by most states. Even states with income tax tend to tax goods and services in order to reduce their income tax rates. In states without an income tax, sales taxes and other fees, such as vehicle registration fees, tend to be higher than in states with income tax. For example, Tennessee, where only investment income is taxed, has the highest sales tax in America. When combined with local sales taxes, Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax results in a combined effective sales tax rate of 9.45%, according to the independent and bipartisan Tax Foundation. That’s more than twice the combined sales tax rate in tourist-laden Hawaii. In Washington, gasoline prices are usually among the highest in the nation, largely due to its gasoline tax. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Washington’s gas tax, at 37.5 cents per gallon, is the fifth-highest in the country. Non-income states of Texas and Nevada also have higher-than-average sales taxes, and according to the Tax Foundation, Texas also has higher-than-average effective property tax rates.   And So, Higher Costs of Living for Some Those extra taxes help to result in higher-than-average costs of living in some of the non-income tax states. Data from the independent Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness, Florida, South Dakota, Washington, and New Hampshire all have higher than the median costs of living than in most states with an income tax. So the bottom line is that there is just not enough concrete evidence to say whether or not it is really cheaper to live in a state with no income tax.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Living World essays

Living World essays How often is the soul of man, especially that of the child, deprived because one does not put him in contact with nature. There is no description, no image in any book that is capable of replacing the sight of real trees, and all the life to be found around them, in a real forest. Something emanates from those trees which speaks to the soul, something no book, no museum is capable of giving. The wood reveals that it is not only the trees that exist, but a whole, interrelated collection of lives. And this earth, this climate, this cosmic power is necessary for the development of all these lives. The myriad lives around the trees, the majesty, the variety are things one must hunt for, and which no one can bring into the school. -Dr. Maria Montessori, MD This just reminded me about my life growing up in a farm far away from the city. I lived there with my grandmother until I had to move with my father to a small town so I could go to school. I really did know that television existed until I was about seven years old, but I certainly knew that I had to wait about 21 days to see little chicks hatching out of their shells. I could see that it took longer for a cow to have a baby, that it was usually no more than one baby and that it was born in a different way. It was amazing and very exciting for me. I could see how important was to take care of the animals as well as the plants. I knew that if wanted to see another mango or an avocado tree I had to first plant a seed. I could see how nature was part of me. It was an amazing experience in my life that not book has given to me. I think that as teachers, even though living in big cities, we still can help our children to have those experiences that come from nature so that they can de velop that relationship with it. Biology is about the world of living things. The first question is, why we teach biology? By studying biology we can satisfy much of the curiosity our ...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

The Influence on Identity of Changez in the Novel The Reluctant Essay

The Influence on Identity of Changez in the Novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Essay Example However, it worked to his advantage in the co-operative world of Manhattan-based Underwood Company. Because he was always top of his class, Jim the person that employs him shortly takes keen notice of him. The notice is mainly because of two things which include the fact that they shared the same education background at Princeton and same economic background that was coupled with financial hardships (Hamid, 34). The discussion that is advanced in this paper looks at the indecisive nature of the protagonist and how this aspect has been affected by other characters in the novel especially Jim and Juan. It opines that despite the fact that Changez has a high level of education, much of his actions are deviated by the characters in the novel. It is therefore difficult to identify his own standing in the main issues that the writer tries to project through him. In this perspective, the author tries to show that the influence of many factors put together like environment add to the persona lity of an individual and direct the position taken. The input of education is important in one’s life. The protagonist goes through a high level of education but several instances indicate that the person is motivated by his previous environment. Ailing from a poor background, Changez is forced to live in a society of the elite in order to receive an education. He has to cook his own meals just to sustain his livelihood while receiving the education. The identity that is being built here is resilience. He has to survive in a totally new environment despite the fact that his previous environment does not fit this lifestyle. Poverty forces him to come up with techniques to survive and in this case, he has to make do with the little he has. We are also informed of the cases in the novel that he is footing much of his educational bills by aids.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Comparison of the entrepreneurial journey made by Skype and Groupon Essay

Comparison of the entrepreneurial journey made by Skype and Groupon - Essay Example Microsoft Corporation most recently acquired the company in 2011. It has operated as their wholly owned subsidiary system since then. However, the licensing and operations of the software continue to be provided by Skype Technologies (Markovich and Krieger, 2010). The company is a limited liability company. Skype was originally developed to offer voice over IP services (VOIP) from the first release in 2003. This provided users a means to make calls over the internet, computer to computer or from computer to telephone at reduced call rates. The company also offers services such as calling landline/mobile phones to and from Skype by offering a Skype Number to their users. The services offered are the main source of Skype’s revenue. Groupon is a globally known e-commerce marketplace, which connects millions of their subscribers with local merchants. This is done by offering a range of business activities, travel opportunities, sales of goods and services in more than 47 countries. The company was launched in November 2008 in Chicago. By October 2010, the company had over 35 million users (registered). Andrew Mason created the original idea behind Groupon. Groupon, Inc. is the world’s largest online coupon provider currently. Both companies have received numerous takeover offers but not all have responded the same.