The PHYSICS of BASEBALL essays

The PHYSICS of BASEBALL essays The Physics of Baseball by Robert K. Adair was a very interesting book, which revealed some fascinating information about the relationship between physics and the sport of baseball. Robert K. Adair revealed and uncovered so many interesting facts and observations about the sport. The book gave you some of the most unbelievable tidbits of information you will ever hear, and to think that they are backed up with a science is practically unfathomable. In 1987, Bart Giamatti, who at the time was the president of the National League, to become the Physicist of the National League, asked Robert K. Adair. Adair was a professor of physics at Yale, and was the only one selected. Adairs job was to research many of the original and most heated arguments of the physics and actual technicalities of baseball. Adair took to the field, but first brushed up on his baseball knowledge. Then Adair took off to study baseball, perform experiments, and write a report for the president of the National League, Mr. Giamatti. This was his dream job, and he drew up what he thought were the right calculations for many of the largest questions of baseball. Then when he reported it to Mr. Giamatti he was asked to make it a book, which he did. This book was a great book, and was it not for this research far less people would be aware of some of the more basic principles of physics. Not only did was I interested in The Physics of Baseball, but it also taught me a great deal of information for physics that I can use in real life situations and in physics class. The Physics of Baseball had lots of controversial information in it. For instance, just with the ball alone, so many people argue that a curve ball breaks 12-14 inches, but it is really just an optical illusion. However much you tell them they still wont believe you. It was also interesting to learn that a ball exceeding the speed of 100mph or below the speed of 50mph...

How to Request a Bug Identification

How to Request a Bug Identification There are lots of insect enthusiasts, both professional and amateur, on social media today, and based on my own experience, most of them are probably getting inundated with bug identification requests. While I appreciate everyones interest in learning about the insects and spiders they encounter, and I really do wish I could answer every ID request, its simply impossible for me to do so. Lately, Ive been receiving dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of ID requests per week, by email, by Twitter, on Facebook, through instant messaging, and even by telephone. Because I can only answer very few ID requests myself, I thought it would be helpful to readers if I provided you with information on where you can get mystery bugs identified by reliable experts (who have more time to do so than I do). How to Submit a Bug Identification Request First things first. There are, by most expert accounts, several million kinds of bugs living on our planet. If you send me a photo of a bug you found in Thailand, theres a good chance I wont know what it is, beyond the basics (Looks like a sphinx moth caterpillar.). Find the expert in your own area, if possible. If you want a bug identified, you will need to provide either the bug itself, or several good photos of the bug you encountered. Its very difficult (and sometimes impossible) to identify insects or spiders from photographs, even good ones. Bug photos should be: Taken close-up (macro photos).Clear, not blurry.Well-lit.Taken from different angles: dorsal view, side view, ventral view if possible.Taken with something in the photo to provide scale and size of the insect. Accurate bug identification may require the expert to get a good look at the subjects feet and legs, antennae, eyes, wings, and mouthparts. Try to get as much detail as possible. If you can, place something in the frame of the photo to give some perspective regarding the size of the bug – a coin, a ruler, or grid paper (and please report the size of the grid) all work well. People often overestimate the size of bugs they see, especially if they are phobic, so having an objective measurement is helpful. Its also important to provide as much information as you can about where you found the mystery bug. Include specifics on the geographic location and habitat, as well as the time of year when you caught or photographed it. If you dont mention where and when you found the bug, you probably wont even get a reply. A good insect identification request: Can you identify this insect I photographed in Trenton, NJ, in June? It was on an oak tree in my backyard and appeared to be eating the leaves. It was about a half inch long. A poor insect identification request: Can you tell me what this is? Now that you have good photographs and a detailed description of where and when you found your mystery insect, heres where you can go to have it identified. 3 Places to Get Mystery Bugs Identified If you need an insect, spider, or other bug from North America identified, here are three excellent resources available to you. Whats That Bug? Daniel Marlos, known to his loyal fans as The Bugman, has been identifying mystery insects for people since the 1990s.  After responding to bug ID requests for an online magazine in the early years of the Internet, Daniel launched his own website called Whats That Bug? in 2002. Hes identified well over 15,000 mystery insects from all over the world for readers. And if Daniel doesnt know what your mystery insect is, he knows how to reach the right expert to get your answer. Daniel cant respond to every ID request, but when he does, he provides a short natural history of the bug in question. Ive often been able to identify insects just by using the search feature on the Whats That Bug? website, by entering a short description (large black and white beetle with long antennae, for example). His site also features a sidebar menu where hes grouped previous IDs by type, so if you know you have a bumblebee but arent sure which one, you can try looking at his past bumblebee identifications for a match. To submit a bug ID request to the Bugman, use the Ask Whats That Bug? form. Bugguide Anyone who has even a remote interest in insects knows about Bugguide, and most of those insect enthusiasts are registered members on this crowdsourced, online field guide to North American arthropods. The Bugguide website is hosted by Iowa State Universitys Department of Entomology. Bugguide posts a disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. These naturalists may be volunteers, but I can tell you from my experience using Bugguide for many years that they are some of the most knowledgeable arthropod enthusiasts on the planet. To submit a bug ID request to Bugguide, youll need to register (for free) and log into the site. Then add your photo to the ID Request area of the database. Bugguide volunteers also run a Facebook group where you can submit ID requests. Cooperative Extension Cooperative Extension was created in 1914 by the passage of the Smith-Lever Act, which provided government funding for a partnership between the US Department of Agriculture, state governments, and land-grand colleges and universities. Cooperative Extension exists to educate the public about agriculture and natural resources. Cooperative Extension provides research-based information about insects, spiders, and other arthropods to the public. Most counties in the U.S. have a Cooperative Extension office that you can call or visit if you have questions about bugs. If you have a bug-related concern or question, I highly recommend that you contact your local Extension office. Their staff know the insects and spiders specific to your area, as well as the right way to address pest problems in your region. To find your local Cooperative Extension office, use this interactive map from the USDA. Simply choose your state and Extension in the Type field, and it will take you to your states Cooperative Extension website.

Article Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Presentation - Article Example Delving into influence borne by the dollar deficit with respect to the nation’s trade adjustment we see that there exist three main pillars: Invoicing international transactions, High US distribution cost and Market share concerns of foreign export (Goldberg and Dillon, 5) A consolidated view on the invoicing aspect clearly reveals that the import invoiced in dollars s just as the export, hence a dollar deficit acts as a saw that cuts both sides. Furthermore, the dollar deficit in a way results to high marketing and distribution costs that are subsequently relayed to consumers in form of high prices on goods. Consequently, a low trade exchange is experienced between the US and here trade partners and most devastating is that there arises an unparallel trade system for example due to the dollar deficit European goods Marketed to the US on a Euro basis upper hand. Therefore, the power of controlling the profit margins is subsequently lost and is vested on the trading currency of the European nation- the result is abnormally high prices of goods (Dillon,

The Miracle of Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Miracle of Life - Essay Example Life's Greatest Miracle takes the mystery out of reproduction, but leaves plenty of awe in its place. This film is an appropriate scientific adjunct for birds-and-bees discussions with children and teenagers. However, parents may want to preview the birth scene which, although sensitively filmed, may be too intense for younger viewers. The Miracle of Life records human conception for the first time on film, and much more. Living, functioning reproductive systems are laid bare to the camera, and there is so much to explore and absorb that Nova's expert guidance is much needed and appreciated. The viewer is also able to follow an egg from its follicular development in an ovary, through the delicate, flowery fallopian tube for fertilization, and on to the uterus for development and eventual birth. Likewise, the audience follows the shorter journey of millions of sperm as they develop and strive mightily to reach the egg. Among the stunning sequences shot by the photographer is the incredible voyage of the sperm toward the egg.

Shakespeares Othello Essay Example for Free

Shakespeares Othello Essay Othellos destruction by Iago is inevitable due to a combination of Iagos plotting and Othellos character flaws. Iagos cunning character in Shakespeares play has identified Othellos vulnerability through flaws of jealousy, trust, poor judgement, naivety and love for the fair Desdemona. Iagos pure hate for the Moor leads to the success of Othellos downfall through Iagos manipulative and conniving plotting. Perhaps without Iagos clever plotting Othello might have had a chance to communicate with and learn to truly know Desdemona before his weaknesses were ignited. However the reality is that Iago did successfully plot Othellos downfall and is simply unavoidable with the combination of both the scheming and Othellos flaws. Othellos love for Desdemona is so pure and new that the slightest presumption of dishonesty, planted by Iago, is manipulated and exaggerated to turn Othellos love for her into madness and murder. Act I, scene ii, 24-28, For know, Iago, but that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my undousà ¨d free condition put into circumscription and confine for the seas worth. He describes the greatness of his love for Desdemona and how he wouldnt give it up for all the riches in the sea. The greatness of Othellos character in the beginning leads the audience to honour him and convinces them he is strong enough to endure the evilness of his tragic fate. His greatness is partly if not solely why Desdemona fell in love with him, Act I, scene iii, 166-167 She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them. She thought he was a great man and thus she fell in with him for his heroic and strong nature. Desdemona is not the only one who admires and acknowledges Othellos greatness, the Duke, Lodovico, the other soldiers and many more. Its not only his heroics and courage that make him great; he is also very respectful, honest, noble and sincere, and these qualities truly portray him to be admired and thus great. However Iago sees through this strength and breaks him through his love for Desdemona. Just like he says in Act I, scene iii, 365-386, here he first plots against Othello and even admits he will be a great husband and so knows to get his vengeance on Othello through his  love for Desdemona. As mentioned previously Iagos plotting commences at the end of Act I, throughout the second act he plots and sets up circumstances, such as Cassios dismissal as lieutenant, to assist his revenge and scheming, resulting in helping him to gain Othellos trust. Othellos strong will and mind break down during Act III, where his weaknesses are ignited by Iago. During Act II Iago gains Othellos trust by making Cassio the culprit, therefore throughout Act III Othellos trust thickens, firing his naivety and his jealousy of Cassio. At first Othello doesnt believe Iago, but Iagos tiny thoughts and assumptions grow on Othello, who begins to suspect his wife of adultery. Othellos sanity partly withers as he makes comments on suicide, If there be cords or knives, poison or fire or suffocating streams, Ill not endure it. (Act III, scene iii, 388-391). He claims how he wont believe a thing without ocular proof until Iago informs him of Cassios dream of Desdemona. With this news the audience can see Othellos first outburst of a murderous inclination, Ill tear her to pieces! (Act III, scene iii, 33) He Jealousy becomes obvious through that remark and even more so in Act III, scene iii, 272-275. I had rather be a toad and live upon the vapour of a dungeon than keep a corner in the thing I love for others use. Here hed rather live almost in a hell and torturous life than to slightly keep his wife, tainted by others. Throughout Act III until the end, Othellos jealousy grows more and more destructive. He cannot talk to or look at his wife normally, he even hits her and Lodovico can see that he is not the same noble character he once was, Act IV, scene I, 255-259, Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate call all-in-all sufficient? Is this the nature whom passion could not shake? Whose solid virtue the shot of accident nor dart of chance could neither  graze nor pierce? Iago has this tremendous plan to seek vengeance on Othello and somewhat Cassio. It is obvious he is trying to create a hell and make all this evil occur, where in fact he just makes them seem real. He doesnt lie nor tell the truth, he tells Othello what he thinks, the worst lie of all, partly the truth. Act V, scene ii, 175, I told him what I thought, and told no more. Iago knew exactly how to affect Othello by power of speech. He knew that small observations would trigger Othellos jealousy, and then brushing them off as if they were nothing to worry about, playing the innocent act. This made Othello perceive things differently, with the state of mind that it was true and thus seeing and understanding situations in a jealous perspective. At the beginning of Act III Iagos observations and whispers first get to Othello and change him by the end of the act. He takes a psychological approach to make Othello question Desdemonas honesty and loyalty. Iago truly is the villain of this tragedy, the fall of the great Othello. With his conniving scheming he makes it inevitable for Othello to triumph, and in the process ignites all of Othellos flaws into a burning hell on earth, leading him to madness and murder. His love for Desdemona made him so happy and yet destroyed both hers and his life by the green-eyed monster. Probably if communication between the two was stronger our hero may have won, if he was not so trusting he may have seen the truth and if Iago had somewhat of a heart and patience, his time for lieutenant may have come, and this tragedy would seise to exist.

The New Deal Essay examples -- U.S. History

Do you know what it’s like to live in a cardboard home, starve, and raise a family in poverty? Unfortunately, most Americans in the 1930s went through this on a day-to-day basis. In 1929 the stock market crashed. Many people lost their life savings; they invested everything they owned in a failing stock market. The country was falling, everyone needed strong leadership and help from the government. Devastation and desperation started on Thursday, October 24, 1929. There was a strong sense of panic in the air at the Stock Exchange. The stocks were dropping, alarmingly fast; the worried American tried desperately to keep their savings. Markets began to steady again on Friday and Saturday only to sweep back down the following Monday. By Tuesday the twenty-ninth all doubt was erased, many Americans lost everything they had on Black Tuesday (Andrist and Stillman 190). President Herbert Hoover made a decision and refused to provide emergency relief. Hoover believed that it was â€Å"strictly a state and local responsibility.† Most local organizations were far too small to handle this big of a situation (Andrist and Stillman 193). America needed a change, a change that would come at the next election time. Immediately following Herbert Hoover in the presidency line, Mr. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) became America’s 32nd president. This democrat, inaugurated on March 4, 1933, won the 1932 election against Hoover by a landslide. The new president made a promise to his citizens, â€Å"I pledge you, I pledge myself, a new deal for the American people.† He reassured Americans that he would change their lives. He promised to get people back to work and back in their homes (â€Å"New Deal Timeline 1). For the hundreds of thousands of unemployed work... ... still be living in a time very similar to the Great Depression. However, the New Deal did help to solve America’s problems, it did not end the depression, unemployment, or poverty; it did provide a sense of security to American citizens, and insure hope in their country (â€Å"New Deal† 3). Works Cited Andrist, Ralph K., and Edmund O. Stillman. The American Heritage History of the 1920s & 1930s. New York: American Heritage/Bonanza, 1987. Print. "Franklin D. Roosevelt - American Heritage Center, Inc." FDR Heritage. Web. McElvaine, Robert S. The Depression and New Deal: A History in Documents. New York: Oxford UP, 2000. Print. "New Deal." The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History. Ed. Wilma Mankiller, Gwendolyn Mink, Marysa Navarro, Barbara Smith, and Gloria Steinem. n.p. Web. 6 Mar. 2012. "New Deal Timeline." Xroads.virginia.edu. Web. 9 Mar. 2012.

Prada Case Analysis Essay

â€Å"FINANCE† Course â€Å"PRADA: TO IPO OR NOT TO IPO: THAT IS THE QUESTION, AGAIN† case analysis Brief summary of the case with the emphasis on managerial problems that Prada faces. Prada currently requires a significant amount of capital both to re-finance debt that is maturing in the next six to twelve months and to finance its intended growth into the Asian (especially Chinese) markets. Since financial markets are aware of Prada’s pressing need to raise capital, it is important for the board of directors to develop a credible strategy for raising the necessary capital of at least â‚ ¬1 billion. Although the press has been suggesting that Prada will do an initial public offering, the company has tried this several times in the past with no success, mainly because of bad timing (9/11, the SARS outbreak, and the ongoing global financial crisis and European sovereign debt crisis). The board has approached Guido Santini of the investment bank Grupo Capo Milano to come up with a number of credible alternatives and a strategy for raising the needed capital. 1. What is the current and future outlook for the luxury goods segment over the next couple of years? How should Prada position itself to prosper in this market? Luxury goods segment proved to be resilient to the economic crises and had consistently grown from 1994 till 2010.The luxury industry grew approximately by 2% per year until 2007, and by 1% per year from 2007 to 2010.  Beginning from 2010, the global luxury goods market started a new growth phase driven by emerging markets. This was a significant change as growth was usually driven by the developed markets, especially the US. Prada needs to support a global portfolio of leading luxury brand. Following the series of acquisitions and consistent with its attempt to become one of the top global brands Prada consistently worked on expanding its global footprint by opening and running its own stores around the world. 2. What should be Prada’s priorities in determining the best way to raise capital now? What are Prada’s priorities in evaluating different ways of raising the funds it requires? How do these relate to Prada’s strategy? I choose IPO over Debt and Strategic partnership. Compare to issuing debt, an IPO will not add any more burden to the company’s balance sheet, which for Prada, was already showed a sign of insolvency and over leveraged. Another issue is that no firms in this industry have ever raised  money in US bond market. Although â€Å"dim sum bond† – a Chinese Yuan denominated bonds issued in Hong Kong could be the best alternative to this situation, however, the short life and the exchange risk it involved are its most disadvantages. How about sale some portion of the firm to the private equity firms to raise capital? For this deal, it seems that they will not only offer a sizeable premium to the family, but also to offer some important positions on the board too. But, compare to IPO, it will not increase Prada’s publicity through this method. And also, an IPO in Hong Kong will give the company more opportunity to expand their Asia market, especially in China and Japan. Choosing a Strategic Partnership would be just like giving that huge potential profit away. 3. What are the different sources of capital that Prada should consider? Should there be a preference for debt versus equity? Should there be a preference for raising capital in one country relative to another? Should there be a preference regarding the types of investors? How would these influence the attractiveness of the different available sources of capital for Prada? Equity IPO in HK 1.higher valuation than listed in Europe 2. aim to the Asia market 1.HK market has lower liquidity (page 7. Sect. 2) 3.potential tax problem HKDR 1. listed in Milan but also can be bought and sold by investors in HK. 2.help future negotiation in China 3. may have lower valuation than IPO in HK 4. higher cost than IPO Strategic partnership 1.current price for PE transaction is attractive 2.higher premium 1. higher cost than other alternatives 3. may cause partially loss of control of the corporation Debt Traditional corporate bond 1. easily priced 2 2. further potential financial problem 3. higher leverage ratio 4. How would you recommend the board of directors proceed? One of the best solutions for Prada to solve this problem is to raise capital in the stock market, which we could refer as IPO. Given the current market conditions, listing in Hong Kong might appears to be the best choice after all.

Analysis of the Short Story: Super Toys Last All Summer Long Essay

What is real? I have been trying to answer this question since we started our project about robots. It’s a very complex question. The classical sense of what is real is something natural, something that is not man-made, for example the nature or the universe. But the world isn’t the same as it was for hundred years ago and the reality concept has moved in time with the technology. For instance I read an article where computers had been taken over the stock trading instead of real manpower. The robots are mechanical artificial agents and because of the advanced technology they’ve become much more real. They become more and more like us, and if computers can take over the stock trading what can robots, who look and act like humans, do to the world? But there must be a limit to how much robots can do if they’re still being seen as machines. In my point of view you are only real if you can feel and think on your own. In that way a robot isn’t real even though they’ve been supplied with human abilities like thinking and feeling by the aid of a programming from a computer. Having said that the robots are still in power to create real emotions in the recipient. This is demonstrated in form of Paro who is a little robot seal designed with the purpose to comfort lonely people. The problem with my definition of real is that love and feelings are artificial as well because it is a chemical reaction in our brain. So what if the robots were added the ability to feel and think would that make them just as real as us? The short story is written by Brian Aldiss in 1969. The story is fiction and an imaginary story of future time in an overcrowded world. The literary genre is science fiction, which is characterized by a fictive environment that has experienced innovations in science or technology, which has a big impact on the society and the individuals in it. This definition is consistent with the short story. There are two places of action and the structure is a pendulum composition because it swings back and forth between the two physical settings. The one setting is at home with Monica Swinton, David and Teddy, and the other setting is at lunch where Synthank celebrates the launching of their new developed and improved robots â€Å"The directors of Synthank were eating an enormous luncheon to celebrate the launching of their new product†, where Henry Swinton makes a speech. These crossovers from the one setting to the other are shown with a star â€Å"*†, which makes it clear for the recipient that we are having a change of place. The story begins with a presentation of Mrs. Swinton’s garden and afterwards we get a presentation of the involving characters. The short story’s many events happen in a chronological order and it follows the common thread through the story from the beginning to the end. The story is told in past tense and the narrator is a third person narrative. The narrator is an omniscient narrative because the narrator knows everything about the characters and their surroundings. The narrator creates sympathy for David because the omniscient narrative makes us identify with the robot and we get inside of his head and can see his good â€Å"heart† and understand his love, the love that know one else can see and understand. The language creates a very detailed description of the events and the surroundings. The language describes the surroundings with the use of adjectives â€Å"The lovely almond trees stood about it in perpetual leaf. Monica Swinton plucked a saï ¬â‚¬ron-colored rose and showed it to David. â€Å"Isn’t it lovely?† she said† and the events by using verbs, which creates thrill and excitement. The excitement is for example seen in line 7 – 10 on page 1 â€Å"Seizing the ï ¬â€šower, he ran with it across the lawn and disappeared behind the kennel where the mowervator crouched, ready to cut or sweep or roll when the moment dictated. She stood alone on her impeccable plastic gravel path. She had tried to love him†. The sudden action makes you believe that he’ll destroy the beautiful rose. This reaction from David is the reason why Monica is so despairing and disappointed. Further more the language isn’t readily accessible but manageable. There is in between some difficult words, which is an obstacle for the understanding of the text, for example â€Å"Lambent, engrossed, moist and mowervator†. The short story is written in 1969 so the choice of words is old and not always so familiar â€Å"Henry, Henry – oh, my darling, I was in despair . . . but I’ve just dialed the afternoon post and – you’ll never believe it! Oh, it’s wonderful!†. The environment in the story is very beautiful, almost perfect. The garden is described with positive words and it makes associations to paradise, for example â€Å"In Mrs. Swinton’s garden, it was always summer†. The Swintons’ house lies in a rich part of the city with no windows. The house and their belongings are very advanced and technical, and it’s clear that there has been a big technological development, for example Monica has her phone on her wrist â€Å"She punched the Post Oï ¬Æ'ce number on the dial on her wrist but nothing came through† and â€Å"The Swintons lived in one of the ritziest city-blocks, half a kilometer above the ground. Embedded in other apartments, their apartment had no windows to the outside; nobody wanted to see the overcrowded external world. Henry unlocked the door with his retina pattern-scanner and walked in, followed by the serving-man†. It seems like they don’t really have contact to the outside wo rld and live in a small bubble of isolation. The humans are described so stunning that they almost seem inhumane, which is quite ironic. â€Å"Their wives were elegantly slender, despite the food and drink they too were putting away. An earlier and less sophisticated generation would have regarded them as beautiful people, apart from their eyes†. Eyes are the human sign of a soul and if there is no life in their eyes is there life at all? In this quote the question about who is real yet appears. The atmosphere in the first setting, the home, is filled with unspoken words and questions, â€Å"â€Å"If she loved me, then why can’t I talk to her?†. They also seem very shallow because they do everything to look good; they use a machine that makes them slender no matter how much food they’ve eaten. There is a tense atmosphere between Monica and David because they aren’t able to communicate with each other and something in their mutual understanding has broken down. Monica misunderstands David’s intensions for example the episode with the rose and the fact that she thinks David is hiding away from her and avoiding her but when David comes down in the living room to see her she is the one who turns away and avoids David â€Å"His mother stood in the middle of the room. Her face was blank; its lack of expression scared him. He watched fascinated. He did not move; she did not move. Time might have stopped, as it had stopped in the garden. At last she turned and left the room. After waiting a moment, David tapped on the window†. David and Monica are both shortcoming because they can’t find a way to express their caring for each other, which makes them unable to reach each other. They are suffering from loneliness and isolation even though the world is overpopulated and the technology is more advanced than ever before â€Å"She remained alone. An overcrowded world is the ideal place in which to be lonely†. The robots are partial developed to avoid this loneliness but instead they increase it. â€Å"You’re being silly, David. Mummy’s lonely. That’s why she had you†. â€Å"She’s got Daddy. I’ve got nobody ’cept you, and I’m lonely†. David is three years old â€Å"At the age of three, he showed no fear of the ultrasonic dryer in the kitchen†. David’s verbal communication is malfunctioning and he has a hard time finishing his sentences and expressing his love. In spite of the defection he loves his mother very much which is expressed in the text several times, for example David’s letters â€Å"Darling Mummy, I’m your one and only son and I love you so much that some times –†. In these messages David also expresses a hate for Teddy because he feels that Teddy is taking his place as the Swintons’ son. Even though David has feelings like a human and other human abilities such as talking, thinking, painting and running, he is a robot, which is told in the ending. I assume David is one of those robots Henry is talking about with synthetic flesh and a mini computer for brain. David tries to define what is real but even though he feels like a boy of flesh and blood he ques tions it because his surroundings make him feel unreal â€Å"I hate that old psychiatrist—he makes me feel like I’m not real†. The other robot in the family is Teddy. The name Teddy gives associations to a little bear. There are many signs that indicate that Teddy is a robot for example â€Å"The speech pattern of his master’s voice activated him† and â€Å"Why waste time talking to this machine†. Teddy sees Monica as his mother but when she refuses this relation he doesn’t seem hurt like a human would have been. Teddy is very helpful when David needs him, for example when writing the letters to their mother. Teddy is also patient, kind, attentive, comforting and listening â€Å"The bear’s eyes regarded the boy unï ¬â€šinchingly. â€Å"You and I are real, David.† It specialized in comfort†. Teddy’s abilities are properly the abilities he is programmed to have; therefore the circuits of teddy’s brain and its capacity are limited. In the text Teddy is categorized as a super toy which is a robot with a computer for brain and without life â€Å"There have been mechanicals on the market with mini-computers for brains—plastic things without life, super-toys—but we have at last found a way to link computer circuitry with synthetic ï ¬â€šesh† Monica Swinton is married to Henry Swinton and is twenty-nine years old, has lambent eyes and a grace full shape. Monica paints â€Å"She could take up her painting†. She desperately wants a child and when Teddy and David haven’t satisfied her needs she is still very lonely and the desperation for a child of her own is even bigger. This desperation finds expression in the choice of replacing her robot child with a biologically child. She has tried to love David but she has given up because he can’t reciprocate her love, and when she can’t understand him and his way of loving she can’t find a way to love him. Monica doesn’t like time very much because it goes by her because she feels it is a waste of time living in this world and it seems like the only thing that can save her is a baby. â€Å"I don’t think Mummy likes time very much. The other day, lots of days ago, she said that time went by her. Is time real, Teddy?†. Henry Swinton is Monica’s husband and the managing Director of Synthank. He is very successful and he only cares for the development of the robots, not the ethics or the consequences of his development. His relationship with David doesn’t seem very strong because David only talks about his mother and Henry appears as a career father who is very busy with his work. He wants, like his wife, a child of their own. The most important symbol in the short story is the rose. The roses appear several times and have a common importance â€Å"Monica Swinton plucked a saï ¬â‚¬ron-colored rose and showed it to David. â€Å"Isn’t it lovely?† she said†, â€Å"Roses occasionally suï ¬â‚¬er from black spot†. â€Å"These roses are guaranteed free from any imperfections† and â€Å"First I’m going to have another rose!† Plucking a bright pink ï ¬â€šower, he carried it with him into the house. It could lie on the pillow as he went to sleep. Its beauty and softness reminded him of Mummy†. A rose symbolizes love, which is the feeling David and Monica can’t show to each other, and the key to the shortcoming. Love is also of crucial importance when defining what is real. The quote from line 42-43 on page 4 the rose symbolize the robots because it says roses occasionally suffer from black spot, meaning they aren’t perfect but Henry replies â€Å"These roses are guaranteed free from any imperfections†, meaning the new developed robots are perfect. But for me this perfection is artificial. The people at the luncheon with Henry also seem artificial because their eyes are without life and they wear plastic face-masks to look pretty â€Å"Some of them wore the plastic face-masks popular at the time†. So maybe the humans have become just as artificial as the robots. Another symbol is the crayons, which Teddy suggests David to use on his letters â€Å"Why not do it again in crayon?†. The crayons help David coloring his letter in a figurative sense and when David can’t express his feelings verbally he can express them in the aid of colors. It also symbolizes that life isn’t in black and white but much wider. The theme of the story is not only one thing but several things. In my point of view an appropriate theme is unreal vs. real because the story’s main focus is on the question: What is real and what isn’t. Another theme is love, which plays a big role between the characters and in the story in general. Technology and the future are also themes in this story because the plot criticizes a possible future where the technology is very advanced, and instead of making the world better it makes it worse and depressing. This brings us closer to the author’s messages. Brian Aldiss criticizes the society for being to technological, which makes the society and the individuals artificial and shallow. It takes away the focus on the things that matter, for example love and caring for each other. Brian Aldiss doesn’t believe that we should have relationships with robots because they’ll never replace the connection between two humans. I don’t believe that there is one definition on what is real but many definitions. In this story the scientists have found a way to develop a robot with intelligence by having a computer working just like a human brain and synthetic flesh so it also looks like a human. These robots are invented with the purpose to reduce the loneliness and isolation that are raging the overcrowded population. â€Å"Personal isolation will then be banished forever!†. I’m a bit skeptical about robots and their future role in our society for example the possible unemployment, an artificial lifestyle and what the advanced robots’ existents will do to the individuals in the society as seen in the story. The fact, that in Japan they have already developed these robots, which look like us, really creeps me out. But will robots ever be able to replace another human being and the connection there exists between two humans? I think the situation with Monica and David is a clear example of this is not the case even though the robots are added human abilities.

Surface Tension Definition in Chemistry

Surface Tension Definition in Chemistry Surface Tension Definition Surface tension is a physical property equal to the amount of force per unit area necessary to expand the surface of a liquid.  It is the tendency of a fluid surface to occupy the smallest possible surface area.  Surface tension is a principal factor in capillary  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹action.  The addition of substances called surfactants can reduce the surface tension of a liquid. For example, adding detergent to water decreases its surface tension. While pepper sprinkled on water floats, pepper sprinkled on water with detergent will sink.Surface tension forces are due to intermolecular forces between the liquids molecules at the liquids outer boundaries. The units of surface tension are either energy per unit area or force per unit length. Examples of Surface Tension Surface tension allows some insects and other small animals, which are denser than water, to walk across its surface without sinking.The rounded shape of water droplets on a surface is due to surface tension.Tears of wine form rivulets on the glass of an alcoholic beverage (not just wine) due to the interaction between the different surface tension values of ethanol and water and the faster evaporation of alcohol compared with water.Oil and water separate because of the tension between two dissimilar liquids. In this case, the term is interface tension, but it is simply a type of surface tension between two liquids. How Surface Tension Works At the interface between a liquid and the atmosphere (usually air), the liquid molecules are more attracted to each other than they are to the air molecules. In other words, the force of cohesion is greater than the force of adhesion. Because they two forces are not in balance, the surface may be considered to be under tension, like if it was enclosed by an elastic membrane (hence the term surface tension. The net effect of cohesion versus adhesion is that there is an inward force at the surface layer. This is because the top layer of a molecule is not surrounded by liquid on all sides. Water has an especially high surface tension because water molecules are attracted to each other by their polarity and able to engage in hydrogen bonding.

History of Olmec Art and Sculpture

History of Olmec Art and Sculpture The Olmec culture was the first great Mesoamerican civilization, developing along Mexicos Gulf coast from about 1200-400 B.C. before going into a mysterious decline. The Olmec were very talented artists and sculptors who are today best remembered for their monumental stonework and cave paintings. Although relatively few pieces of Olmec art survive today, they are quite striking and show that artistically speaking, the Olmec were far ahead of their time. The massive colossal heads found at four Olmec sites are a good example. Most surviving Olmec art seems to have had a religious or political significance, i.e. the pieces show gods or rulers. The Olmec Civilization The Olmec were the first great Mesoamerican civilization. The city of San Lorenzo (its original name has been lost to time) flourished around 1200-900 B.C. and was the first major city in ancient Mexico. The Olmecs were great traders, warriors, and artists, and they developed writing systems and calendars which were perfected by later cultures. Other Mesoamerican cultures, such as the Aztecs and Maya, borrowed heavily from the Olmecs. Because the Olmec society went into decline two thousand years before the first Europeans arrived in the region, much of their culture has been lost. Nevertheless, diligent anthropologists and archaeologists continue to make great strides in understanding this lost culture. The surviving artwork is one of the best tools they have for doing so. Olmec Art The Olmec were gifted artists who produced stone carvings, woodcarvings and cave paintings. They made carvings of all sizes, from tiny celts and figurines to massive stone heads. The stonework is made of many different types of stone, including basalt and jadeite. Only a handful of Olmec woodcarvings remain, busts excavated from a bog at the El Manatà ­ archaeological site. The cave paintings are found mostly in mountains in the present-day Mexican state of Guerrero. The Olmec Colossal Heads The most striking pieces of surviving Olmec art are without a doubt the colossal heads. These heads, carved from basalt boulders mined many miles away from where they were eventually carved, depict enormous male heads wearing a sort of helmet or headdress. The largest head was found at the La Cobata archaeological site and is nearly ten feet tall and weighs about 40 tons. Even the smallest of the colossal heads is still over four feet high. In all, seventeen Olmec colossal heads have been discovered at four different archaeological sites: 10 of them are at San Lorenzo. They are thought to depict individual kings or rulers. Olmec Thrones Olmec sculptors also made many enormous thrones, great squarish blocks of basalt with detailed carvings on the sides thought to have been used as platforms or thrones by the nobility or priests. One of the thrones depicts two pudgy dwarves holding up a flat tabletop while others show scenes of humans carrying were-jaguar infants. The purpose of the thrones was discovered when a cave painting of an Olmec ruler seated on one was discovered. Statues and Stelae Olmec artists sometimes made statues or stelae. One famous set of statues was discovered at the El Azuzul site near San Lorenzo. It consists of three pieces: two identical twins facing a jaguar. This scene is often interpreted as depicting a Mesoamerican myth of some sort: heroic twins play an important role in the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya. The Olmecs created several statues: another significant one found near the summit of the San Martà ­n Pajapan Volcano. The Olmecs created relatively few stelae - tall standing stones with inscribed or carved surfaces - but some significant examples have been found at the La Venta and Tres Zapotes sites. Celts, Figurines and Masks All in all, some 250 examples of monumental Olmec art such as colossal heads and statues are known. There are countless smaller pieces, however, including figurines, small statues, celts (small pieces with designs roughly shaped like an ax head), masks and ornaments. One famous smaller statue is the wrestler, a lifelike depiction of a cross-legged man with his arms in the air. Another smaller statue of great importance is Las Limas Monument 1, which depicts a seated youth holding a were-jaguar baby. Symbols of four Olmec gods are inscribed on his legs and shoulders, making it a very valuable artifact indeed. The Olmec were avid mask makers, producing life-sized masks, possibly worn during ceremonies, and smaller masks used as adornments. Olmec Cave Painting To the west of the traditional Olmec lands, in the mountains of the present-day Mexican State of Guerrero, two caves containing several paintings attributed to the Olmec have been discovered. The Olmec associated caves with the Earth Dragon, one of their gods, and it is likely that the caves were sacred places. Juxtlahuaca Cave contains a depiction of a feathered serpent and a pouncing jaguar, but the best painting is a colorful Olmec ruler standing next to a smaller, kneeling figure. The ruler holds a wavy-shaped object in one hand (a serpent?) and a three-pronged device in the other, possibly a weapon. The ruler is clearly bearded, a rarity in Olmec art. The paintings in Oxtotitln Cave feature a man with a detailed headdress styled after an owl, a crocodile monster and an Olmec man standing behind a jaguar. Although Olmec-style cave paintings have been discovered in other caves in the region, the ones at Oxtotitln and Juxtlahuaca are the most important. Importance of Olmec Art As artists, the Olmec were centuries ahead of their time. Many modern Mexican artists find inspiration in their Olmec heritage. Olmec art has many modern fans: replica colossal heads can be found around the world (one is at the University of Texas, Austin). You can even buy a small replica colossal head for your home, or a quality printed photograph of some of the more famous statues. As the first great Mesoamerican civilization, the Olmec were extremely influential. Late-era Olmec reliefs look like Mayan art to the untrained eye, and other cultures such as the Toltecs borrowed stylistically from them. Sources Coe, Michael D., and Rex Koontz. Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs. 6th Edition. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2008Diehl, Richard A. The Olmecs: Americas First Civilization. London: Thames and Hudson, 2004.

Procter nd Gmble nd 'Orgnistion 2005' Case Study

Procter nd Gmble nd 'Orgnistion 2005' - Case Study Example HÐ °lf the brÐ °nds were mÐ °rked with potentiÐ °l the growth while the rest were frozen. In Ð ° retÐ °il business more Ð °nd more occupied by privÐ °tely owned lÐ °bel goods, P&G’s top products were hÐ °ving difficulty competing. More Ð °gile competitors were left P&G behind the mÐ °rket by lÐ °unching products, executing mÐ °rketing plÐ °ns better Ð °nd finÐ °lly by fÐ °ster product innovÐ °tion. It wÐ °s Ð °lso thought thÐ °t P&G’s profitÐ °bility wÐ °s being slowed down due to increÐ °sing dominÐ °nce of retÐ °ilers like WÐ °l-MÐ °rt, who controlled the point-of-sÐ °le.In Ð °n Ð °ttempt to reinforce the growth, P&G Ð °nnounced Ð ° corporÐ °te restructuring progrÐ °m, cÐ °lled OrgÐ °nizÐ °tion 2005, in September 1998. The objective of the progrÐ °m wÐ °s to improve P&G’s competitive position Ð °nd generÐ °te operÐ °ting competences through more Ð °mbitious goÐ °ls, enhÐ °ncing greÐ °ter innovÐ °tions Ð °nd dimi nishing time-to-mÐ °rket. This wÐ °s to be reÐ °ched by considerÐ °ble redesign of compÐ °ny’s orgÐ °nizÐ °tionÐ °l structure, work processes, culture Ð °nd pÐ °y structures. OrgÐ °nizÐ °tion 2005 design Ð s it wÐ °s Ð °lreÐ °dy mentioned, OrgÐ °nizÐ °tion 2005 is the lÐ °test initiÐ °tive by Procter & GÐ °mble (P&G) worldwide Ð °nd the one thÐ °t defined the next phÐ °se of orgÐ °nizÐ °tionÐ °l development Ð °nd growth. ... 2) Plcing Compny's Globl Business Services to stndrdize systems, reduce internl opertions nd better serve customers worldwide; 3) Simplifying Compny's orgniztionl structure to reduce hierrchy nd hurry up decision mking. From the words of P&G Chief Executive Durk I. Jger, the compny ws ment to redesign orgniztionl structure completely, struggle for constnt innovtions through work process, substntil finncil benefits, fster speed of mrket nd greter growth. Under Orgniztion 2005, P&G is chnging from four business units bsed on territoril regions to seven Globl Business Units (GBU) bsed on product lines. This chnge is designed to drive greter innovtion nd speed by emphsizing strtegy nd profit responsibility globlly on mrkets, rther thn territories. P&G lso estblished eight Mrket Development Orgniztions (MDO), the regions whose objective ws to tilor globl mrketing progrms to locl mrkets nd develop mrket strtegies to build compny's entire business on superior consumer nd customer knowledge. Within Orgniztion 2005, P&G lso lunched Globl Business Services (GBS). Its overhed functions such s humn resources, ccounting, order mngement, nd informtion technology were consolidted from seprte geogrphic regions to one corporte orgniztion tht would serve ll GBUs. Finlly, P&G redefined the role of Corporte Functions. Most of the corporte stff were trnsferred to one of the new business units, with the remining stff refocused on developing cutting-edge new knowledge nd serving corporte needs. Costs of the Progrm Orgniztion 2005 involved substntil costs. Of the pproximtely $1.9 billion in costs, $400 million were plnned for 1999, $1 billion over the next two fiscl yers,