Ethan Frome Hidden Meanings Essays - Ethan Frome,

Ethan Frome: Hidden Meanings Ethan Frome: Hidden meanings Ethan Frome is the story of a family caught in a deep-rooted domestic struggle. Ethan Frome is married to his first love Zeena, who becomes chronically ill over their long marriage. Due to his wifes condition, they took the services of Zeenas cousin, Mattie Silver. Mattie seems to be everything that Zeena is not, youthful, energetic, and healthy. Over time Ethan believes that he loves Mattie and wants to leave his wife for her. He struggles with his obligations toward Zeena and his growing love for Mattie. After Zeena discovers their feelings toward each other, she tries to send Mattie away. In an effort to stay together, Ethan and Mattie try to kill themselves by crashing into the elm that they talked about so many times. Instead, Mattie becomes severely injured and paralyzed. The woman that was everything that Zeena was not became the exactly the same as her. In Ethan Frome, the author communicates meanings in this story through various symbols. One of the most significant symbols used in this story is the very setting itself. A symbol is a person, object, or event that suggests more than its literal meaning. Symbols can be very useful in shedding light on a story, clarifying meaning that cant be expressed with words. It may be hard to notice symbols at first, but while reflecting on the story or reading it a second time, the symbol is like a key that fits perfectly into a lock. The reason that symbols work so well is that we can associate something with a particular object. For example, a red rose symbolizes love and passion, and if there were red roses in a story we may associate that part of the story with love. Although many symbols can have simple meanings, such as a red rose, many have more complex meanings and require a careful reading to figure out its meaning. The first symbol that I noticed in Ethan Frome is the setting. It plays an important role in this story. The author spends much of the first few chapters describing the scene in a New England town Starkfield. When I think of a town called Starkfield, a gloomy, barren place with nothing that can grow comes to mind. As the author continues to describe this town, it just reinforces what I had originally thought. In the beginning of the story, while describing why Ethan looked the way he did, Harmon said guess hes been in Starkfield too many winters. Most of the smart ones get away(Wharton 2). This does not give the impression that this is an enjoyable or a healthy place to live. The winters seem so ruthless in this story that the narrator describes them as this phase of crystal clearness followed by long stretches of sunless cold and he could understand why Starkfeild emerged from its six months siege like a starved garrison capitulating without quarter(Wharton 3). Starkfeild seems lik e a very oppressive place to live. It is understandable why the smart ones get away. Deeper into the story, as the narrator gets to know Ethan, we get a description of Ethans house, which is very symbolic of the story as well. The narrator describes the house as one of those lonely New England farm-houses that make the landscape lonelier(Wharton 7). The house had a stunted look to it due to the absence of the L, a typical feature on New England farmhouses, which is an attachment that connects the house to the woodshed and cow-barn (Wharton 8). The L is symbolic of heart of the house, the chief source of warmth and nourishment. The absence of this L suggests that the livelihood of this household is nonexistent. Ethans family doesnt have what many families have, warmth, love, and children. The Frome family lacks the same strength and connectedness that is conveyed by the absence of this L. When Zeena goes out of town for medical treatment, Ethan and Mattie are alone together in the house for the night. The author uses this scene to introduce two other symbols that have importance in the story. The first is the housecat, which is symbolic of Zeenas presence even while she

Confucianism Essays - Chinese Philosophy, Confucianism, Confucius

Confucianism Essays - Chinese Philosophy, Confucianism, Confucius Confucianism Confucianism, the philosophical system founded on the teaching of Confucius, who lived from 551 BC to 479 BC, dominated Chinese sociopolitical life for most of the Chinese history and largely influenced the cultures of Korea, Japan, and Indochina. The Confucian school functioned as a recruiting ground for government positions, which were filled by those scoring highest on examinations in the Confucian classics. It also blended with popular and important religions and became the vehicle for presenting Chinese values to the peasants. The school's doctrine supported political authority using the theory of the mandate of heaven. It sought to help rulers maintain domestic order, preserve tradition, and maintain a constant standard of living for the tax paying peasants. It trained its followers in generous giving, traditional rituals, family order, loyalty, respect for superiors and for the aged, and principled flexibility in advising rulers. Confucius was China's first and most famous philosopher. He had a traditional personal name (Qiu) and a formal name (Zhoghi). Confucius's father died shortly after Confucius's birth. His family fell into relative poverty, and Confucius joined a growing class of impoverished descendants of aristocrats who made their careers by acquiring knowledge of feudal ritual and taking positions of influence serving the rulers of the many separate states of ancient China. Confucius devoted himself to learning. At the age of 30, however, when his short-lived official career floundered, he turned to teaching others. Confucius himself never wrote down his own philosophy, although tradition credits him with editing some of the historical classics that were used as texts in his school. He apparently made an enormous impact on the lives and attitudes of his disciples. Confucianism combines a political theory and a theory of human nature to yield dao, a prescriptive doctrine or way. The political theory starts with a Doctrine of political authority from heaven's command: the ruler bears responsibility for the well being of the people and therefore for peace and order in the empire. Confucianism emerged as a more coherent philosophy when faced with intellectual competition from other schools that were growing in the schools that were growing in the fertile social climate of pre-imperial China (400-200 BC). Daoism, Mohism and Legalism all attacked Confucianism. A common theme of these attacks was that Confucianism assumed that tradition and convention was always correct. Mencuis (372-289 BC) developed a more idealistic inclination to good behavior that does not require education. Xun Zi (313- 238 BC) argued that all inclinations are shaped by acquired language and other social forms. Confucianism rose to the position of an official orthodoxy during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). It absorbed the metaphysical doctrines of Yin (the female principle) and Yang (the male principle) found in the Book of Changes and other speculative metaphysical notions. With the fall of the Han Dynasty, Confucianism fell into severe decline. Except for the residual effects of its official status, Confucianism remained philosophically dormant for approximately 600 years. Confucianism began to revive with the reestablishment of the Chinese dynastic power in the Tang Dynasty (618- 906 AD). The Zen Buddhist, Chan felt that There is nothing much to Buddhist teaching. And, the education offered by Confucist teaching filled the intellectual gap. The Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 AD) produced Neo-Confucianism, which is an interpretation of classical Confucianism doctrine that addressed both Buddhist and Daoist issues. Its development was due mainly to Zhenglo (1032) and Zhengi (1033-1107), but for the orthodox statement of Neo-Confucianism, one turns to Zhu Xi (1130- 1200). His commentaries on the four scriptures of Confucianism were required study for the imperial civil service examinations. From the beginning of the 1200's to about 1949 and the communist era in China, Confucianism was the belief that told the peasants of China that the mandate of heaven said that emperors were to rule the Chinese Empire. Because of this philosophy, westerners often viewed the Chinese lifestyle as odd and referred to the Chinese officials as inscrutable.

Evaluation of the project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Evaluation of the project - Essay Example For example, if I would get a chance to redo the project, I would use different models to enhance uniqueness and variety and eliminate boredom. Additionally, I would increase the number of decorations and colors to the pictures, which would probably make them more attractive to female clientele. The LED lighting used within the studio helped a great deal in bringing out the best in the pictures. If I were to redo the pictures, I would definitely maintain the lighting because it helps in accentuating the color of the clothing and make up on the models. The lighting also made the pictures clearer, brighter and appealing. I would also like to take the pictures in an outdoor setting so as to make them more appealing by capturing outdoor scenery as a way to enhance aesthetic appeal. The project took a short time to accomplish, but if I were to redo it, I would opt to increase the project timeframe so that careful consideration can be given to every detail in the picture. This would offer sufficient time for consideration of details such as clothing, make up, accessories and lighting-just to mention, but a

Constitutional Law Master Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Constitutional Law Master - Essay Example There is no technical difference between ordinary statutes and law considered "constitutional law." Therefore the Parliament of the United Kingdom can perform "constitutional reform" simply by passing Acts of Parliament and thus has the power to change any written or unwritten element of the constitution. The constitution is based on the concept of all sovereignty ultimately belonging to Parliament (Parliamentary sovereignty), so the concept of entrenchment cannot exist. The lack of a central written constitutional document explaining the fundamental principles of the state and relationship between its institutions and between the people leads some constitutionalists to regard the United Kingdom as having "no (formal) constitution." The phrase "unwritten constitution" is sometimes used, despite the fact that the UK constitution incorporates many written sources, statutory law being considered the most important source of the constitution. But the case remains that the constitution re lies far more on unwritten constitutional conventions than virtually every other liberal democratic constitution. Conventions as a source of constitutional rules have been widely acknowledged. Regardless of whether a country possesses an unwritten1 or a written constitution, constitutional conventions usually play an important role in regulating constitutional relationships among different branches of government. A common definition of constitutional conventions is: "By convention is meant a binding rule, a rule of behaviour accepted as obligatory by those concerned in the working of the constitution."2 Law and constitutional conventions are closely related. Constitutional conventions presuppose the existence of a legal framework, and do not exist in a legal vacuum. For example, in the UK, the constitutional conventions of forming a Cabinet presuppose the laws relating to the Queen's royal prerogative, the office and powers of Ministers, and the composition of Parliament.3 A difference between law and constitutional conventions is that laws are enforceable by the courts, but constitutional conv entions are not enforced by the courts. If there is a conflict between constitutional conventions and law, the courts must enforce the law. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada, the courts acknowledge the existence of constitutional conventions as aids to judicial interpretation.4 Academics consider that such acknowledgement may at 1times appear to be similar to enforcement.5 The constitution ... is seen to consist of two different parts; the one is made up of understandings, customs, or conventions which, not being enforced by the courts, are in no true sense of the word laws; the other part is made up of rules which are enforced by the courts, and which, whether personified in statutes or not, are laws in the strictest sense of the term, and make up the true law of the constitution. This law of the constitution is, as we have further found, in spite of all appearances to the contrary, the true foundation on which English polity rests, and it gives in truth even to the conventional element of the constitutional law such force as it really possesses. First, as constitutional conventions can easily be adapted to new circumstances arising, they are therefore frequently used as a means of bringing about constitutional development, provided that those constitutional co

Construction law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Construction law - Essay Example Therefore, Anglo Synergy Solution is committed at conscripting conceptualize ideal procurement process that will be incomparable and acceptable to all. In the Mzansi Rail Shuttle project, the major stakeholders are Sandline Ventures with which has committed an investment of USD 120 billion, South African government and AUM Ventures. Sandline Ventures, the South African government and AUM Ventures expect a return on their investments. Hence, they must obtain the best procurement deal that will guarantee them high returns. Anglo Synergy Solution recommends that the Mzansi Rail Shuttle project should be procured by first ensuring that the authentic and fair competitions exist in responded to Prior Information Notice (PIN). Section 26(4A) of the railway Act, 1993, stipulate that advertisement should be made in both in the country and in the international journal, trade newspapers and other publication as this will eliminate political biases hence uplifting competency to handle the project (Crocker et al., 2010). It is very important to open-up communal procurement market as this will promote: Equal treatment- contracting authority must handle both potential and authentic tenderers fairly without prejudice. Contracting authority when stipulating requirement must avoid brand names which would eliminate particular providers, services and products. Transparency- advertising Prior Information Notice is central in establishing and encouraging transparency (LÃ ¦dre et al., 2006). It creates awareness of the condition for participation, selection criteria and the reason why some individuals were companies were not selected. Anglo Synergy Solution recommends AUM and Sandaline companies sponsoring the project to adjust the time restriction as time is an essential factor. Railway construction law does not specify duration for the accomplishment of the work by the contractors. The provision of services by contract is guided by

Calibrating a pressure gauge using an air-operated dead-weight pressure gauge tester for air gauges

Calibrating a pressure gauge using an air-operated dead-weight pressure gauge tester for air gauges INTRODUCTION: Calibrationis the set of operations that establish the relationship between the values of quantities indicated by a measuring instrument and the corresponding values realized by standards. The result of a calibration allows for the determination of corrections to be made with regards to the indicated values. It may also help in determining other metrological properties such as the effect of influence quantities. The results of a calibration are usually documented and referred to as calibration certificate or a calibration report. Necessary adjustments are made to the instrument after calibration so that it always indicates readings corresponding to given values of the quantity measured. When the instrument is made to give a null indication corresponding to a null value of the quantity to be measured, the set of operation is called zero adjustment . The Calibration Process The first thing to consider in calibrating an instrument is its design. In order to be able to calibrate an instrument, the design of the instrument has to be capable of measurements that are withinengineering tolerance when used within certain conditions and over a reasonable period of time. The criteria used for assigning tolerance values vary according to regions and according to type of industry. Manufacturers of instruments assign a general measurement tolerance and suggest the calibration interval as well as the optimum environment for use and storage of the instrument. The user of the instrument on the other hand assigns the actual calibration interval, on the instruments likely usage level. For example, if a manufacturer states that an instrument needs to be calibrated after usage for 8-12 hours of use 5 days per week is six months, that same instrument in 24/7 usage would generally get a shorter interval. The assignment of calibration intervals can be a formal process based on the results of previous calibrations. Calibration process versus cost Generally, the process of calibrating an instrument is a difficult and expensive one. As a rule of thumb, the cost for ordinary equipment support is generally about 10% of the purchasing cost of the instrument on a yearly basis. Exotic devices such asscanning electron microscopes,gas chromatographsystems andlaserinterferometerdevices can be even more expensive to calibrate. When the instruments being calibrated are integrated with computers, the integrated computer programs and any calibration corrections are also under control. The calibration paradox Successful calibration has to be consistent and systematic. At the same time, the complexity of some instruments requires that only key functions be identified and calibrated. Under those conditions, a degree of randomness is needed to find unexpected deficiencies. Even the most routine calibration requires a willingness to investigate any unexpected observation. Theoretically, anyone who can read and follow the directions of a calibration procedure can perform the work. It is recognizing and dealing with the exceptions that is the most challenging aspect of the work. This is where experience and judgement are called for and where most of the resources are consumed. THEORY Principles of Operation Of Dead Weight Testers Pressure is defined as force per unit area i.e. P=F/A F=M x g (product of mass and the acceleration acting on that mass) This simple principle is used by Dead weight pressure testers to generate a very stable and accurate pressure. A series of weights are loaded on to a piston unit which is housed inside a cylinder. In principle, the components of the above equations are as follows: A is the effective cross-sectional area of the piston unit M is the mass of the weights loaded on top of the piston unit in addition to the mass of the piston unit itself. g is the gravitational acceleration acting on the piston and mass set. For example, if a piston of area A = in2 (0.18cm2) weighing M = 12.5lb (5.67kg) is supported by a fluid in a cylinder, the pressure in the fluid is 12.5lb=100lb/in2 (7kg/cm2). The piston- cylinder and the weights are called a dead-weight balance. The effective area of the piston and cylinder unit is an approximation of the average of the areas of the piston and of the cylinder. The performance of a tester depends largely on the accuracy with which the piston and cylinder are manufactured. These should be straight and round and have a good finish. They are usually made from hardened and stabilised tool steels, however, on the air operated type, high chromium steel is used to prevent corrosion. They are protected from high pressure such that the piston would not leave its cylinder and if the weights are supplied without air- pressure, the piston will not be in compression. The accuracy can be illustrated by stating that a variation of 0.1ÃŽÂ ¼m on the effective diameter of a piston/cylinder unit would result in an area charge of 63ppm. The area of the piston-cylinder units are compared with NPL Standards. Two units can be compared by connecting them hydraulically (or on gas) under pressure; when they were in balance, the area say AD to be determined was found from the known area of an NPL unit say Ak, showing the weights applied to each say WD and Wk from the equation. When instrument accuracies are calculated, allowance is made for the fact that effective area of the piston/cylinder unit increases with pressure. These is negligible on low pressure testers but becomes significant on testers such as type 380D (600 bar) and 380H (1200 bar). For the 4000 bar type the weights for equal increments of pressure are greater as the pressure increases up to 4000 bar and weight must be applied in the correct sequence. The accuracy certificate of a tester takes into account the buoyancy of the piston immersed in liquid. When testing gauges on liquid it may also be necessary to allow for liquid head (1 cm corresponds to 1 mb). The datum levels of the hydraulic piston/cylinder units are marked with a groove on the outer diameter of the unit. The effect of heads could normally be ignored on air testers. The certificate also gives details of the corrections to be made for change in temperature of the unit from 20oC due to expansion of the piston/cylinder unit and also of corrections due to g varying from standard gravity. The hydraulic testers can have accuracies of 0.01% on 1/16 in2 piston/cylinder unit, 0.015% on 1/80 in2 and 0.02% on 1/160 in2 units. Apparatus: 1. A pressure gauge that could measure up to 100 lb/in2bar 2. A Budenberg an air-operated pressure gauge calibrator: Made with levelling screws at its base which is used to mount it on a bench, a 0.5 square inch piston-cylinder unit, two control valves, one 0.5 inch B.S.P gauge connection, some weights (each marked with corresponding pressures they exert). The apparatus can basically be divided into three elements: The piston and cylinder units The weights The testers. The Piston-Cylinder unit The effective area of the piston and cylinder unit is an approximation of the average of the areas of the piston and of the cylinder and is 0.5 in2. The weight exerted by the unit is 0.1 kg/cm2 or 0.1bar. The Piston-Cylinder unit is made from high chromium steel is used to prevent corrosion. It is also fitted with mechanical stops to prevent the piston leaving the cylinder housing if the applied pressure is excessive, and if the weights are supplied without air- pressure, the piston will not be in compression. There is a small gap between the piston and the cylinder so that when the piston rotates in the cylinder the pressure medium forms a bearing eliminating friction and metallic contact; any viscous forces are circumferential and so do not act in a vertical direction and so do not affect the accuracy of the balance. If the gap between the piston and the cylinder is too small, the piston will not rotate freely at low pressure long enough for a true balanced pressure to be attained. If the gap is too large, there will be a leakage between the two and the piston will fall in the cylinder. The piston will spin for a reasonable length of time at low pressure and will remain in its floating position for several minutes at high pressures. The Weights The weights used are DH-Budenberg, manufactured from series 300 austenitic stainless steel, which makes them highly resistant to corrosion and magnetic permeability. They are marked with the nominal pressure value that they will generate (in bar) when used with the piston-cylinder unit they are designed for. These weights have been manufactured to specific set of tolerances and according to National (NPL) standards to give an accuracy of 0.015% under all nominal conditions. They give the appropriate force when subjected to a gravitational acceleration of 9.80665m/s2(International Standard, g) and in an air of density 1.2 kg/m3. The Tester This is the last element of the dead-weight tester. This unit is generally called the pneumatic dead weight tester base. It is the unit that generates the pressure which is then applied to the piston-cylinder unit and the instrument under calibration. It is supplied with an incoming port where a clean dry non-corrosive source of gas is connected. The type 240 air-operated tester has two valves: one valve to admit air from a H.P. supply to raise the pressure and one to release air to the atmosphere. PROCEDURE 1. The gauge to be calibrated was properly cleaned to remove any dirt or chemical contamination that could contaminate the tester. Using a bonded seal at the joint the Gauge was screwed on to the calibration equipment. 2. Using the conversion table given, (see table 2) the weight required in bar to test a pressure indicated by the gauge (the one being calibrated) was checked and the dead-weight piston was loaded with weight equivalent to the desired pressure less the pressure of the Piston-Cylinder unit. For example, when it was required to test the 10 lb/in2 reading on the gauge scale, the amount of weight required was 0.69 bar (from the table). But the piston already weighed 0.1 bar so this was subtracted from 0.69 bar to get 0.59 bar. So only 0.59 bar of weight equivalent was loaded onto the piston. 3. Next, the left-hand valve which releases pressure from the tester was closed. 4. Then, to test for rising pressure, the right-hand valve which admits pressure to the tester was opened carefully. This admitted pressure into the tester and the rate of pressure rise was watched on the gauge under test. As the pressure approached the desired value to be tested, the weights were spun carefully, and as soon as the piston began to float half way between the two stops, the reading of the pressure gauge was taken. The release valve was opened and the admitting valve was closed. 5. Next, to test for falling pressure, the release valve was closed and the admitting valve was opened. As the pressure rose beyond the desired pressure, the admitting valve closed and the release valve was opened slowly to enable the pressure drop in the tester. As the pressure approached the required pressure, the weight was spun carefully and ss soon the piton began to float half way between the two stops, the reading on the gauge was taken. All the pressure was then released. 6. A new set of weights were loaded on the piston to test the next pressure reading. These steps were carried out for pressure readings of from 10 lb/in2 to 100 lb/in2 at intervals of 10 lb/in2. The readings obtained were tabulated in table 2. RESULTS The results obtained were tabulated as in below Pressure being tested (lbf/in2) Applied Load Minus 0.1 (bar) Actual reading Up pressure (lbf/in2) Down Pressure (lbf/in2) 10 0.69 10.5 9.50 20 1.38 19.50 19.00 30 2.07 29.50 29.00 40 2.76 39.00 39.00 50 3.45 49.50 49.00 60 4.14 59.50 59.00 70 4.83 69.00 69.00 80 5.52 79.00 78.50 90 6.21 89.00 88.50 100 6.9 99.00 99.50 Table 1 showing readings from calibration exercise. CONCLUSION The calibration of the pressure gauge using a dead weight tester was carried out; Based on the experimental results obtained a deviation in the calibrated reading was compared to the theoretical values. Therefore the pressure gauge on the downwards pressure was observed to be not appropriate for very low pressure levels; Especially when the supplied air pressure is low incapable of lifting the applied load this can be express mathematically as: Psa = W/Pd were W = Psa x Pd W = weight/load Pd = downwards pressure Psa = supplied air pressure Therefore applied load/weight is directly proportional to the obtainable pressure gauge calibration meter readings. Sources of Errors: Â · Possible air leakage from the valves. Â · Error due to parallax when reading the half way level mark. Â · Possible pushing down on the piston while spinning the weight. Â · Possible loss of pressure in the piston hydraulics. REFERENCE 1. N. E. Connor, Gas Quality Measuring Devices on Gas Measurement University of Salford, 1969 2. DH- Budenberg, An-Introduction-to-Dead-Weight-Testers @ http://www.scribd.com/doc/18933664 (25th Nov, 2009) 3. Wikipedia Encyclopaedia (www.wikipedia.com) 4. Practical Manual on pressure gauge calibration, 2009.

Personal Narrative: My Experience in AP US History Essay -- Narrative

â€Å"Your final exam will be in three parts: multiple choice, primary source analysis, and three major essays. I won’t be allowed within 2 miles of you when you take the exam.† The words of Mr. F, my AP US History teacher, reverberated between my ear drums. He either didn’t notice or didn’t seem to care: â€Å"The AP US History exam will be on a Saturday in mid May. It’s graded on a scale of 0 to 5. Zero being the lowest possible score, 5 being the highest.† A student in the front row raises her hand, interrupting our baptism by fire. Mr. F motions for her to speak. â€Å"Are you related to Stephen King?† I didn’t realize it at the time (because let’s face it, I didn’t voluntarily read anything that wasn’t a motorcycle magazine until my senior year of high school) but Mr. F bore an uncanny resemblance to the best selling suspense author. Even their eyeglasses were similar. â€Å"He’s my cousin.† the teacher nodded, pausing to recollect his thoughts. â€Å"The test is pretty simple, but it’s probably more difficult than anything you’ve taken before.† I had yet to learn the eccentricities of the oxymoron, but that fact didn’t hinder Mr. F as he grinned slyly while he mouthed the previous statement. â€Å"The Regents exams have 4 possible answers. The AP has 5, and they’re usually more difficult to discriminate between. The primary source section will be basically the same thing you run into on Regents Part 2s: political cartoons or other documents accompanied by a set of questions. The essays are probably going to be the biggest hurdle for you. You are required to write three instead of the usual one or two on a Regents exam. Like the Regents, you will be given a limited choice between essay topics to write on, and at least one of the essays will probably... ... feedback, he had to show me what the AP would think of my essay. Mr. F wasn’t flawed. The whole process was - pardon the shamelessly obvious pun - flawed (you had to see that coming since the first 2 lines of the paper). Especially after having read Peter Elbow’s book on the teacherless writing class, thinking about that year of AP US History is absolutely appalling. The whole writing process was turned on its head. It wasn’t about learning to write or how to improve writing. It was about what to do in order to pass. I can only imagine how a member of the Iroquois Nation must feel about living in 21st Century New York: join us or be left behind in poverty. Write this way. It is the only way. Indians are subhuman. Be a man: become an American. No, a real American. Write this way. It’s the only real way to write. And then again . . . maybe I just don’t like US history.

Comparison of Urban Sociological Theories Essay

Comparison of Urban Sociological Theories In order for an urban sociologist to discover â€Å"How urban societies work,† theories of â€Å"urban ecology† or â€Å"political economy† are used as a guide in their research. Urban ecology refers to the importance of social structure and social organization as shaping social life in the city. Urban ecologist concerns for social order, social cohesion, community ties and social differentiation offer key insight to how societies work (Kleniewski, 2001). Alternatively political economy stresses the use of power, domination and resources in the shaping of cities (Kleniewski, 2001). Urban sociologists’ theoretical approach to research questions is based on fundamental assumptions that they find most useful for understanding the operation of the social world. Therefore researchers using these different theories will ask different questions, examine different data and interpret their findings in different ways (Kleniewski, 2001). In the early years of 1910-1920, a time of social change and urban growth, urban sociologists in the United States, the Chicago School, were directly confronted by the diversity, liveliness and apparent fragmentation of urban life. The urban sociologists of the Chicago School drew a concern for order, cohesion and social relationships (Kleniewski, 2001). The founder of the Chicago School of urban sociology was Robert E. Park. He believed that cities are like living organisms, composed of interconnected parts and that each part relates to the structure of the city as a whole and to the other parts (Kleniewski, 2001). Park called his approach to urban life â€Å"human ecology,† a term used interchangeably with â€Å"urban ecology. Human ecology studies the â€Å"social norms† which are rooted in the relationship between human populations and the environment or territories they inhabit, stressing the orderly interaction of interdependent parts of social life in urban areas (Kleniewski, 2001). Human ecologist, Louis Wirth shared with the theoretical antecedents of urban ecology, Tonnies, Durkheim and Simmel, the notion that social interactions in cities were different from social interactions in rura l areas or small communities. He believed that social interactions in modern industrial cities were impersonal and fragmented. He believed that factors such as size, density, and heterogeneity were responsible for social relations found in cities (Kleniewski, 2001). This theory of human ecology was used to study human behavior such as, lives of gang members, homeless people and immigrants and to study changing land uses over time in order to show how the different populations of the city adapt to and compete for territories (Kleniewski, 2001. In comparison to urban ecology, political economy is concerned with how urban societies work. Although, political economist developed different understandings and interpretations of how urban societies actually work. In the 1970’s the city had many social problems which included welfare, unemployment and tax inflations. Theorist of political economy, Marx, Engels and Weber viewed the city as a site of struggle due to unequal distribution of resources (Kleniewski, 2001). Therefore in contrast to the urban ecology theory of humans being immediately dependent on their environment, the theory of political economy stresses that the city relies not only on its environment but its social arrangement, economic and political functions. Also in contrast to urban ecology, residential patterns are not only influenced by humans just adapting to their natural environment but by economic inequalities. This leads to competition. In contrast to urban ecology, competition not just among groups for space but among groups for control of economic resources. Political economists theorize that â€Å"social norms,† in contrast to urban ecology are not only influenced by size and density of the population but also influenced by the values of dominant groups (Kleniewski, 2001). These struggles or social forces help shape urban patterns and urban social life. Therefore, class, social status, political power, racial and ethnic conflicts also play a major role in shaping the city (Kleniewski, 2001). The Political Economy Perspective

Liminal Is Not a Fancy Word

Liminal Is Not a Fancy Word â€Å"Liminal† Is Not a â€Å"Fancy Word† â€Å"Liminal† Is Not a â€Å"Fancy Word† By Maeve Maddox The other morning I heard someone on NPR use the word liminal. He immediately referred to it apologetically as â€Å"a fancy word.† Granted, liminal is not an everyday word, but it is one that adult readers encounter if they progress very far beyond the Ayres List. (The Extended Ayres List is a list of 1500 of the most common words, ranked by difficulty. It’s widely used as a spelling and vocabulary benchmark in US schools.) A cursory Web search indicates that the NPR announcer is not alone in feeling he must apologize for using the word liminal. The following examples are typical: Liminal  is a  fancy word  for having to do with a boundary. The academics have a  fancy word  for this space; they call it the â€Å"liminal†.   Liminal is a fancy word that means â€Å"1: of or relating to a sensory threshold; 2:  barely perceptible; 3: of, relating to, or being an intermediate state, phase, or condition:  in-between,  transitional.† The noun liminality gets the same treatment: Liminality is a fancy word meaning â€Å"a place of in-between-ness. The adjective liminal and the noun liminality are used with specialized meanings in psychology and cultural anthropology, but the words have found their way into the general vocabulary and have been in frequent use at least since the 1980s. Here are the general-purpose definitions: liminal adjective: characterized by being on a boundary or threshold, especially by being transitional or intermediate between two states or situations. liminality noun: a transitional or indeterminate state between stages of a person’s life; an indeterminate state between different spheres of existence. At least some writers targeting a popular audience are able to use liminal without apology: He’s wrecked, too, by his liminal  ­racial status: His father was an Irishman, his mother was black and he comfortably claims neither.- The NY Times. They [people mistakenly declared dead by government bureaucracy] basically can end up like Tom Hanks in â€Å"The Terminal,† wandering around in terrible liminal state of boredom and frustration, except without Catherine Zeta Jones for company.- The Washington Post film  noir occupies a  liminal  space somewhere between Europe and America, between high modernism and â€Å"blood melodrama,† and between low-budget crime movies and art cinema. More than Night: Film Noir in Its Contexts, James Naremore, University of California Press. Knowing the etymology of liminal makes it especially easy to learn. It derives from limen, the Latin word for threshold, the narrow part of a doorway that lies between two rooms or between the outside and the inside of a house. A person standing framed in a doorway is â€Å"in a liminal state† between larger spaces intended to be occupied. Words represent meaning. Some are more common in general usage than others, but any reader can learn any word. I don’t think that liminal is harder to learn than any other word that has entered the general vocabulary from the sciences. I’ve never noticed a speaker or a writer refer to neurotic or psychotic as â€Å"fancy words.† Writers who apologize for using unfamiliar words seem to assume that their readers are ignorant and wish to remain that way. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Compared "to" or Compared "with"?Whenever vs. When EverUsing "May" in a Question

How Bias Influences Critical Thinking Essays - Critical Thinking

How Bias Influences Critical Thinking Essays - Critical Thinking How Bias Influences Critical Thinking CRT/205 February 23, 2014 Captain E.F. Rollins How Bias Influences Critical Thinking I recently made a decision about a persons character. At work, we have an onsite caf which is managed by an outside company. The manager of the caf is not well liked by some employees of my company and most employees of the company that manages the caf. I had not had any direct dealings with him so did not have an opinion one way or another. A few weeks ago, one of the chefs decided to leave the employment of this company. When this young man told his manager he was leaving, the manager very rudely told him he was making a huge mistake. Also, around the same time I learned that this manager had fired another of his workers without cause. All of this, of course, was relayed to me from a coworker. I had no first-hand knowledge or concrete facts but still changed my opinion of this manager to one of strong dislike. Automatically, I thought this manager to be rude, egotistical, and insensitive. I was willing to believe these negative things about this manager which is negativity bias (Un iversity of Phoenix, 2012). While all of these things may be true, I allowed negative remarks made by someone else to color my decision. If these are not true, I have come to an incorrect conclusion about this manager. Since I do not have any facts to back up a decision one way or another regarding this manager, I should not be making a decision one way or another. REFERENCES University of Phoenix. (2012). What is critical thinking, anyway? Retrieved from University of Phoenix, CRT205 - Critical Thinking website.

Consumer Protection Law in the UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Consumer Protection Law in the UK - Essay Example In SOGA 1979 14(2) as to quality the court found in Rogers v Parish ( Scarborough) Ltd [1987] QB 933 found that goods must be fit for the purposes for which supplied and failure to do so leaves them unmerchantable.6 In Jim's case he purchased the racquet at 250, a considerable amount for a tennis racquet. Further, because the severe surface damage to finish of the racquet and the fact its handle came off all within the first few weeks of normal use, the racquet as well was unmerchantable. In Stevenson v Rogers [1999] 1 All ER 613 the Court of Appeal had to consider the meaning of 'in the course of a business' in the context of the Sale of Goods Act 1979, s14(2), "where it limits the statutory implication of a term as to the quality of the goods to sales where sellers are acting 'in the course of a business'. ... 7 It will be contended that the broader meaning would also be more appropriate than that currently adopted in relation to the definition of 'deals as consumer' under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977." Further the guarantee, from the manufacturer, which came with the racquet stated that "We, Slammer Racquets plc, undertake that if, within twelve months of the date of the purchase, this racquet proves defective by reason only of faulty workmanship or materials, we will, at our option, repair or replace the same FREE OF ANY CHARGE for labour, materials or carriage on condition that the racquet has not been subjected to abnormal use. Exclusions: This guarantee does not cover damage resulting from improper use or neglect." As it was shown the racquet was in breach of implied terms of the contract as outline above, the next step was to ascertain if in fact the breach was a condition or a warranty of the sale or the goods did not conform to the contract. Jim purchased the Superslammer tennis racquet from Oldcastle Sports and Leisure (OSL) for 200 cash for the express purpose of learning to play tennis. He purchased the racquet based on the advertisement from the local newspaper. The advertisement read: "Slammer Racquets PLC announce the arrival of the Superslammer Tennis Racquet This is a fantastic new tennis racquet specially designed for beginners. Its unique anti-scratch finish means that however many times you knock it, scratch it, drop it, the scratches will not show. Your racquet will look as good as a new after many years of use. Buy one now from your Slammer Stockist." The statement coming from the manufacturer in the form of the advertisement was pre-contractual in nature; therefore, it is necessary to determine if it has contractual effect. To

Macroeconomics Assignments & Disscussions Assignment - 1

Macroeconomics Assignments & Disscussions - Assignment Example Two years before Pearl Harbor, the United States was a neutral country, meaning it did not want to be involved in the war since the country was still recovering from the effects of the Great Depression. But after Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt sought reason to enter the war. The president said that the only way to fight was to produce weapons and materials for war. This led to economic activities in the once sleepy towns of the U.S. which had been hard hit by the Great Depression (â€Å"PBS.org: War Production† par. 1). Production of war material such as aircraft and aircraft carriers, artillery pieces, tanks and hundreds of thousands of army trucks triggered the growth of the American economy. The United States manufactured more guns and ships than Europe and Japan did. The US had to shift from manufacturing agricultural products to war material (â€Å"PBS.org: War Production† par. 4). This is a report of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2014 which has registered at $17,311,300,000,000. GDP, the article explains, is the gross economic output of the country, which may include goods and services. GDP is an economic measure which tells whether the economy is doing fine or not good. The article also explains about nominal in relation to real GDP. Nominal GDP provides information about economic output, with some quarterly output statistics but with no inflation calculation, and is also used for U.S. debt comparison. Debt-to-GDP ratio, which has been calculated at 102%, is an important part of the nominal GDP report. On the other hand, the U.S. per capita for 2013, an economic indicator for every American in the U.S., was estimated at $52,800. The article clearly explains the amount of GDP the country attained for the second quarter which is more than $17 trillion, but only for the second quarter of this year. It does not only provide news about GDP but it also explains about the U.S. economic output. The