Rmemember the Titans Themes essays

Rmemember the Titans Themes essays Theme: Maintenance of a Strong Relationship A relationship is like a necklace; it doesnt serve its function if you dont connect the first 2 from each end. But then again it will not serve its function if 1 link in the middle is weak and breaks. Remember the Titans shows a setting where exactly that happens, the white players do not want a part of the black players on their team and vice-versa. It was going to stay like that until a decision on the school board was made that there would be a change of the head coach. The new coach was not a racist thus giving everyone the same treatment, no matter black or white. Do you have to be acting, behaving, look like, etc. the way others want you to be? If you were with the girl/guy that you dreamed of your whole life, would you care if the rest of the world thought that there is something wrong with that person? Remember the Titans, is a move about lifes lessons that had a harsh effect in the past and left an ignorant scar on all. The movie shows how the times of slavery and discrimination of race left a scar on people in this new era. The movie was produced to teach people that all could only get better with change and if all are given the same and equal rights. Display of how one football team first refuses to be integrated with black players, even if that could bring some new talent to the team. ...

Liquid Nitrogen Activities and Projects

Liquid Nitrogen Activities and Projects Are you looking for an activity or project with liquid nitrogen? This is the most extensive list of liquid nitrogen ideas youre likely to find: Make liquid nitrogen ice cream.Make Dippin Dots type of ice cream.Fill a whistlings include wine or soda. Youll get a cool fog effect, plus a cool drink.For a party or group, freeze graham crackers in liquid nitrogen. Wave the cracker around to warm it up a bit and eat the cracker. The cracker has an interesting texture, plus people eating crackers will be spouting clouds of nitrogen vapor. Miniature marshmallows also work quite well. The risk of injury from either food is quite low. Freeze a banana in liquid nitrogen. You can use it to hammer a nail.As a demonstration that even antifreeze freezes if its cold enough, solidify antifreeze using liquid nitrogen. Dip a carnation, rose, daisy, or other flower in liquid nitrogen. Remove the flower and shatter its petals in your hand.Use a squirt bottle of water to spray designs into liquid nitrogen vapor.Spin a tub of liquid nitrogen to create a vapor vortex. You can float paper boats or other lightweight objects in the maelstrom.Pour a cup of liquid nitrogen into about a liter of warmed bubble solution to produce a mountain of bubbles.Pour a small amount of liquid nitrogen into a Pringles can and pop the lid on. The vapor will (loudly and forcefully) pop the lid off.Break an incandescent light bulb (type with a filament). Turn it on in the liquid nitrogen. Cool glow!Bounce a lightweight hollow ball on a hard surface. Immerse the ball in liquid nitrogen and try to bounce it. The ball will shatter rather than bounce.Pou r liquid nitrogen onto weeds to kill them. The plant will die with no toxic residue or other harm to the soil. Examine the color change of LEDs under normal temperatures and in liquid nitrogen. The band gap of the LED increases at lower temperature. Cadmium red or cadmium orange- bandgap of Cd(S,Se)- are good choices.Foods high in water will break with a tinkling sound like glass when smashed. Orange segments are a good choice for this project.Insert flexible rubber or plastic tubing into a dewar of liquid nitrogen. The nitrogen will spray out the end of the tubing onto you or the audience, etc. so use care that you have protection on the hand holding the tubing and that there is enough distance at the top of the tubing for the nitrogen to vaporize before contacting with people. Although the tubing is flexible at room temperature, at liquid nitrogen temperature it becomes brittle and will shatter if hit with a hammer or whacked on a lab bench. If you twist the tubing around itself before putting it in the nitrogen, the tubing will uncoil itself as it thaws, in a sort of serpentine manner.

Providing Appropriate Accommodations Term Paper

Providing Appropriate Accommodations - Term Paper Example Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects the movements, balance and postures of the body. It refers to a paralytic state of the brain. It occurs as a result of abnormal development of the brain or parts of the brain that controls the tones of the muscles as well as the movements of the motor and cells. Thus the simple movements of the body also become difficult for the affected child. However, in spite of several forms of this palsy being capable of affecting children, it has been observed that the level of intelligence of these children may not be affected as it might seem to be. In fact, in several cases the intelligence levels of such children are like the normal children or even above averages sometimes. The health problem is significant in its nature and hence children suffering from this disorder need special care (Alvarez, 2012). Cerebral Palsy and its Characteristic Features among Small Children: The definition of cerebral palsy may be given as â€Å"a group of permanent di sorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The motor disorders of cerebral palsy are often accompanied by disturbances of sensation, perception, cognition, communication and behavior, by epilepsy and by secondary musculoskeletal problems† (Introduction to Cerebral Palsy, 2012). Thus as explained above, cerebral palsy indicates abnormal functioning and non-development of the brain leading to abnormalities in the normal behavior and movements of the body (Introduction to Cerebral Palsy, 2012). Children suffering from cerebral palsy generally experience complexities in having control on their body muscles and movements while they grow up and develop. As these children grow up, the character and level of these difficulties modifies. However the disorder is not progressive and thus no change occurs in the actual injury or mutilation of the brain. What alter are the effects that arise as a result of the injury in the brain. The changes may occur over a certain period of time. It has been also observed that patients with this order may be helped to great extents through physiotherapy and other therapies. Thus children suffering from cerebral palsy are at many times referred to a therapist or are checked by a multi-disciplinary team under the involvement of local Child Development Centre. Since parts of the brain get affected as a result of the disorder, thus there may be allied complexities which become apparent when a child develops â€Å"for example, in vision, hearing, learning and behavior† (Introduction to Cerebral Palsy, 2012). It is not abnormal for not providing with a diagnosis if the motor development in the child is almost complete while doctors keep monitoring the child in the course of the development stages of sitting, crawling and walking (Introduction to Cerebral Palsy, 2012). Characteristic Feat ures of Students Suffering from Cerebral Palsy: Children with cerebral palsy encounter difficulties in moving their muscles normally. This primarily occurs as a result of persistence of certain reflexes that lead to movements and postures of the body that are unconscious in nature. The children encounter problem since these movements

Media journal and analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Media journal and analysis - Essay Example The film is directed by British filmmaker Justin Chadwick. The film reveals Mandela’s resistance and leadership within African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa. The story continues with Mandela’s life in prison as part of struggle during apartheid, and long-awaited election during which he becomes first black president of South Africa. His election characterizes the close of apartheid rule in South Africa. The film uses different scenes to capture extensive amount of action involved during apartheid struggle (Abrahams). Who are the characters? The characters in the movie include; Ideris Elba as Mandela, Naomie Harris as Winnie Mandela, Mark Elderkin as Sophia town Policeman, Robert Hobbs as Chief Warden, Tony Kgoroge as Walter Sisulu, Riaad Moosa as Ahmed Kathrada, Jamie Bartlett as James Gregory, Lindiwe Matshikiza as Zindzi Mandela, Terry Pheto as Evelyn and Deon Lotz as Kobie Coetzee. Who/What is missing from the text? The producers of the movie â€Å"Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom† tries to deduce Mandela as a martyr, despite refusal by the judge to grant Mandela such opportunity. The movie tries to reduce Mandela’s ideas to what is known as impassioned sloganeering. Consequently, these ideas results into unmoving montage sequences, whereby Mandela’s 27-year of imprisonment is considered as foundation of his credibility. The scene creates a captivating proof of Idris Elba’s struggling character. The makers of the film are portrayed as having good intentions within the scenes but not capable of effectively dramatizing necessary qualities making their subject great. Deep Analysis of the ideological implications of the patterns found in the text Mandela’s life in the film is punctuated and defined by sense of optimism. Mandela started the struggle as a young lawyer, where he petitions for equality from the ruling authority which by then practiced some form of favoritism. However, the situation is changed a fter brutal torture of a man found drunk and lacked proper documentation. The event, though happened in a flush, imposes profound effect on Mandela leading him and other like minded individuals to form African National Congress (ANC). The formation ANC is followed by crowd protests as a result of euphoric rallies and powerful speeches by Mandela. The main character in the film is treated as hallowed figure especially after Mandela’s trial and imprisonment. However, the film makers attempts to portray Mandela as human figure. The idea of portraying Mandela’s promiscuity only assists in adding pathos to his entire life story, despite this; the film displays Mandela s a romantic icon. The various scenes by ANC protesters are portrayed as context-free awe (Abrahams). There is a raw synergy within the film and history especially on the description of South Africa and Africans. The first representation focused so much on the negative aspects of South Africans, portraying the m as the most violent race in the world. This is purely from a Racists perspective. The elaborate representation of black freedom and power struggles across political spectrum leaves everything on self-focused consumerism. The black-focused films from the white-man perspective as depicted are marred with violence while African focus on black films presents the rich history of the continent from cultural to economic aspects. The perspective from the second argument disputed the fact that post-colonialism is all about the relationship between Africa and their

Scenario Consider Essay Example for Free

Scenario Consider Essay Operant conditioning is based on the premise that behavior can be formed and even modified with the aid of consequences. The main defining difference between operant conditioning and the classical or Pavlovian conditioning is the fact that it is concerned with change or development of voluntary behavior (Kirsch, Lynn, 2004). It is important to note that under operant conditioning the main variable of concern is the environment that is acted upon and is affected by given variables (Dalla, Shors, 2009). The consequences of the operant therefore play an important role in ensuring that a behavior that has been developed or modified is maintained. Under operant conditioning reinforcement and punishment are the key factors that determine the direction that behavior will be redirected to. Negative Vs Positive Reinforcement a) Similarities The core similarity between positive and negative reinforcement is that they are all aimed at ensuring high frequency of target behavior The use of a stimulus that is introduced into or removed from the environment under consideration is another factor that is shared by the two forms of reinforcement (Wenger, Schmidt, Davisson, 2004). It is important note that the key goal in both forms of reinforcements is to increase the frequency of the expected or observed behavior b) Contrast The key difference between the two modes of reinforcement is the type of stimulus used. In positive reinforcement the stimulus used is favorable and negative reinforcement employs an aversive stimulus (Myers, 2004). Another notable difference is that in most cases negative reinforcement involves removal of a stimulus whereas positive reinforcement involves its introduction. Most Effective Reinforcement Positive reinforcement is more effective than negative reinforcement. This choice is guided by the fact that reinforcements though included in the operant conditioning set up may in fact lead to forced adoption. It is important to note that the key goal in operant conditioning is to impact on the environment and not the organism being observed (Myers, 2004). Thus negative reinforcement which is in most cases included in the set up when behavior is being observed and removed once frequency has been heightened may lead to wrong results by impacting on the organism. On the other hand, positive reinforcement is not aimed at avoidance of a negative effect and therefore the behavior observed is likely to be of high level of accuracy. Â  a two year old who is continually crying with minimal provocation. Crying is behavior and provocation is a stimulus that impacts on this behavior The main aim in this scenario is to reduce the frequency of his or her outbursts with the introduction of a stimulus and a form of reinforcement. The stimulus under this consideration is to continually tell the child that crying is bad and may attract dangerous animals into their home. This may impact on the child perception of crying by affecting his sphere of thought or more accurately the environment. A reinforcement may also be required to increase the frequency with which a child responds positively (does not cry with minimal provocation). Reinforcement Schedule Candies are any childs favorite and will therefore play an important role in reinforcing behavior It is important to note that candies are not within the environment when a child is provoked and therefore do not impact on behavior rather it is introduced later. After the first lecture, the child is presented with a candy when he resists crying after being slightly provoked. This cycle is continued with no increase or decrease in the number of candies that the child is presented with. It is important to note that the form of reinforcement used under this scenario is positive due to the age of the subject and ethical concerns. Reference Dalla, C. , Shors, T. J. (2009). Sex differences in learning processes of classical and operant conditioning. Physiology Behavior, 97(2), 229-238. Kirsch, I. , Lynn, S. J. (2004). The role of cognition in classical and operant conditioning. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60(4), 369-392. Myers, D. G. (2004). Exploring Psychology. London: Worth Publishers. Wenger, G. R. , Schmidt, C. , Davisson, M. T. (2004). Operant Conditioning in the Ts65Dn Mouse: Learning. Behavior Genetics, 34(1), 105-119.

The Namib Desert :: essays research papers

The Namib Desert   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Namib Desert is a parched and rippled desert, an endless expanse. It stretches along the wouthwest coast of Africa from Angola in the north, through Namibia, into South Africa. The name Namib means â€Å"emptiness.† About 1,700 km (1,060 mi long and 100 km (60 mi) wide, the desert is bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The Namib has an approximate area of 170,000 sq km (65,640 sq mi). It rises from sea level 914 m (3,000 ft). Temperatures average 16 deg C (60 deg F). Sands, varying from yellow to red in color, form dunes reaching 240 m (800 ft) in height. The annual rainfall averages only 25 mm (1 in), but high humidity results in fog and dew. In the north deeep canyons have been cut by streams. The area's main rivers, the Orange and the Cunene, follow the southern and northern borders, respectively, of Namibia. One river, the Queeseb, is made of water collected from over 160 km (100 mi) inward. The Queeseb causes water holes, for which many organisms rely on for water besides the actual river itself. Acacia trees grow along the rivers, and short grasses and succulents thrive everywhere. One of the most important animals of the area is the baboon. The baboons excavate for underground water that many other animals depend on. There are many other animals that have adapted to live in the Namib desert farther away from the rivers and streams including 45 species of lizards and more than 200 species of beetles. The nocturnal gecko, like many other animals, burrows in the sand to escape the days heat, 77 deg C (170 deg F). The palmado gecko drinks the moisture that forms on its own body from the fog and dew, as does the sidewinder snake. The sidewinder has adapted a special way of moving in the loose sand which gives it its name.

To Be True to Yourself in a World That Is Constantly Making You

To be true to yourself in a world that is constantly making you something else is a great achievement All of us possess qualities that differentiate us from other human beings. These distinguishing features could be more or less highlighted in appearance, mindset or capabilities, but they will always persist and determine the nature of our personality. Unfortunately these characteristic attributes are deteriorating as humanity is moulding us into the â€Å"perfect person† influencing us to stray away from who we are (our so called â€Å"insignificant† selves) to what is desirable (a flawless model).Staying true to yourself means to stick to what you believe in and being whom you were meant to be, it means not sacrificing who you are to fit in with others. Although it may seem hard during this day and age to keep true to yourself with peer pressure, the media and portrayals factorising our change in personality, why do we hide behind their expectations? Why do we change ourselves to be accepted by people who in the long run don’t matter? A lot of respect goes to those who don’t change themselves based on other people’s thoughts and indications, as they’ve overcome society and destroyed social conditioning.As human beings we like to have an idea of whom and what we want to become. Alice Pung, author of Growing up Asian in Australia enlightened her readers of her teenage struggles she faced whilst growing up, she said â€Å"Most teen fiction gave me the idea that I needed extensive plastic surgery. † Since the media has become one of the most powerful sources of information, we subconsciously condition ourselves to match what they feed us – aiming to be as pretty as Angelina Jolie or as skinny as Miranda Kerr.However as we perfectly shape and sculpt our features into resembling these celebrities, we lose sight of who we really are and we just end up looking like a carbon copy of someone else. Each day magazin es are printing out tips and tricks of being a size 6 and make up secrets which makes you appear older, these negative images being constantly shown and splattered across every news stand brainwash us into thinking that if we aren’t a certain way we won’t be â€Å"popular† or â€Å"happy† and therefore we feel unworthy; obligingly purchasing products that will â€Å"better† us.According to Anastasia Goodstein, from Huffington Post, â€Å"80 percent of girls have purchased an item as a result of an ad in a teen magazine and 63 percent trust magazine ads. † As a result girls become convinced that they require particular fashions to belong in a society that emphasizes materialism. Moreover, most of the fashion, diet and lifestyle advice is directed toward being desirable to men. Magazines stress sexuality as a central identity, minimizing all other attributes. The girls reading teen magazines begin to digest and trust the message that they are only sexual objects.Peer pressure is the influence exerted by a social group or an individual, encouraging other persons to change their attitudes, values, or behaviours in order to conform to group norms. Peer pressure is most commonly associated with youth, in part because most youth spend large amounts of time in schools and other fixed groups that they do not choose and are seen as lacking the maturity to handle pressure from friends. Peer pressure can also have positive effects when people are pressured toward positive behaviour, such as volunteering for charity or excelling in academics or athletics, by their peers.However Risk taking behaviour is seemingly the most common as these same people engage in experimenting in alcohol, drugs and sex – where these decisions are purely made on the basis of gaining popularity and fitting into these â€Å"in† groups. According to American Social Psychologist Wendy Treynor’s original â€Å"identity shift effect† hypothesis, â€Å"One's state of harmony is disrupted when faced with the threat of external conflict for failing to conform to a group standard.Thus, one conforms to the group standard, but as soon as one does, eliminating this external conflict, internal conflict is introduced . To rid oneself of this internal conflict, an â€Å"identity shift† is undertaken, where one adopts the group's standards as one's own, thereby eliminating internal conflict, returning one once again to a state of harmony. Even though the peer pressure process begins and ends with one in a state of harmony, as a result of conflict and the conflict resolution process, one leaves with a new identity—a new set of internalized standards. As everyone within the friendship group aim to please each other and wear the new fashion trends, they lose any form of eccentricity and appear as replicates rather than individuals. They’re all unanimous. As Simon Tong stated in Growing Up Asian in Aust ralia, â€Å"If I couldn’t express myself, who was myself? † Portrayals and stereotypes are what test us the most in this life. A stereotype is a thought that may be adopted about specific types of individuals or certain ways of doing things, but that belief may or may not accurately reflect reality.Such examples include women aren’t as smart as men, men are the â€Å"backbone† and women can’t do as good of a job as a man. Whether or not we give into these typecasts define who we are. If you start to think you are worthless because you’re a female and start believing that men are better than women; you weaken your personality where you turn into a coward cowering and depending on others. These lingering effects hurt people in a very real way, leaving them at a disadvantage. Labelling people in a negative manner has a lasting detrimental impact on those who experience the prejudice. Past studies have shown that people perform poorly in situat ions where they feel they are being stereotyped,† says University of Toronto Scarborough’s Michael Inzlicht, who led the research. â€Å"People are more likely to be aggressive after they’ve faced prejudice in a given situation. They are more likely to exhibit a lack of self control. They have trouble making good, rational decisions. † When being forced to live with these perceptions, we change who we are in a negative way, often leaving our real selves behind in search for a more enhanced self that is socially approved.Whilst some elements of the world out there may want us to conform, to change, to be something different than who we are, it’s up to us to decide what we’re going to do about it. Eleanor Roosevelt affirmed, â€Å"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. † It is tough to stand opposed to the majority, to speak up in a world where judgement is echoed ubiquitously and that’s why to stay true to yourse lf in this detrimental world, this harsh reality, is a great accomplishment; it is rare for a person to be their true self without any underlying lies that factorized their true intentions.No one is in control of you besides yourself; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change. We can choose to make our own minds up about what is good and what is bad. We can choose to form our own version of pretty, handsome, clever, etc. We can choose to like ourselves, value ourselves, or at least commit to learning how. Or we can choose to continue to see ourselves as inadequate and wrong and try to change ourselves. It’s up to us, not him, her, or them.

1984 †Reflection Paper Essay

Our postmodern society has become dependent upon twenty-first century technology. This technology is developed to make our lives easier, more efficient, to encourage communication, and to enhance the quality of experience. Our society craves the latest technological fads and Internet crazes. We’ve become addicted to an entity that promises us a bigger, better, & brighter future. However, while technology appears to have made our lives easier in some respect, it has raised numerous issues that challenge the moral framework of every major corporation and government. Orwell’s 1984 is a haunting vision of a future with no future. A future where technology controls every aspect of an individual’s life. Orwell introduces the concepts of The Ministry of Truth, The Thought Police, and BIG BROTHER. These omniscient entities continually monitor the movements, speech, and writings of every citizen. See more: The stages of consumer buying decision process essay Since Orwell’s book 1984 written in 1948, we have developed methods to produce more advanced and less costly computer technology. Value Added Networks continue to rise in popularity. Data warehousing (information availability) and data mining (information analysis) have become hot topics in today’s world. Personal data that has always been available, but not easily accessible, is now computerized and merged with larger databases. These databases are linked to form massive data repositories. This practice is not limited to the private sector; government databases such as the Department of Motor Vehicles and criminal records are accessible to those willing to pay for access. The ability to desegregate personal information and profile individuals is easier than ever. George Orwell’s vision of the world is depicted primarily through the omni-present tele-screen. This piece of technology not only allowed BIG BROTHER to broadcast propaganda, but also monitored individual activities. Similar surveillance technology actually exists throughout the United Kingdom. Intelligence is gathered using inexpensive hardware cameras. Specialized software handles the storage, analysis, and correlation of facial images to a central database. Modern examples of large central data banks are already under development. Microsoft’s .NET web initiative entails the compilation, storage, and distribution of an online customer’s personal information. Such a venture is only possible with the latest hardware running Microsoft software technology. This technology includes the use of XML code to withdraw selected information from a central bank of database servers. The positive aspects of such an intelligence endeavor includes: Access to valuable information that might save your life; information such as allergic reactions to medication etc; the ability to transfer or withdraw bank funds from your mobile phone; the ability to account for controlled substances such as chemical & biohazard materials; and combat international terrorism and crime. The often overlooked negative consequences of technology include: Criminal profiling; medical profiling by insurance companies; telephone & electronic mail privacy intrusion; tracking credit card & other personal spending patterns to target marketing and sales; tracking travel via passport, airline ticket sales, license plate scanning, & facial algorithmic surveillance. Orwell describes an extreme in isolation and control. A place where government agencies use technology to propagate normal thought. Technology is used to unite millions; however, it has the capacity to isolate one part of the world from another. Winston Smith, a worker for The Ministry of Truth, not only falsifies history by writing people out, but also creates non-existent historical figures. In Orwell’s 1984, control is enforced/exercised by censoring information and even rewriting history. A frog that is placed in a pot of cool water and slowly heated is said to never notice the danger until it’s time for soup. In Orwell’s 1984, what seems, may not be. The logical might be illogical. What is right could be wrong. What was intended for good could become unjust. Most critics shot down Orwell’s ideas when the book was initially  reviewed in 1948. However, with the advent of modern technology, I feel overwhelmed by the thought of personal information abuse. Abuse not only in a ubiquitous government, but extending to the private sector. Ironically, concepts from Orwell’s 1984 are referenced in everything from modern day advertising, such as Apple Computers, to The Simpson’s Cartoon Halloween Special. Therefore it is evident that technology can be used to restrict basic freedom and civil rights. With the risk of losing important freedoms, we must fully understand the implications of new technology.

Character Analysis Essay

Character Analysis Essay Character Analysis Essay Dee Self identity has been a prevalent issue within the African American culture since it was stripped from our ancestors decades ago. It has and still is common for African Americans to delve back into the past to gain understanding about their history, heritage, and culture. In Alice Walker’s, â€Å"Everyday Use† utilizes the accounts of the protagonist Dee while she searches for personal meaning and a stronger sense of self. In contrast to her sister Maggie, a round character that transforms from a shy and timid girl to a confident and comfortable young woman, Dee is portrayed as a flat character whom seeks self growth but falls flat and remains selfish, ignorant, and with a false definition of the African American identity. Born and raised in a poverty stricken home in the South Dee wants nothing more than to escape her â€Å"hard† life where she lived with her mother and sister. Anxious to get away Dee is more than happy to go to college when the community and Church raised money to send her to Augusta for schooling. Dee always saw herself above her family and looked down upon them as she, â€Å"read to us [her mother and Maggie] without pity. . . [we were] sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice. . .Dee wanted nice things. . . and was determined to stare down any disaster in her efforts† (217). Dee has never been grateful for what she has and was eager to Turner 2 leave, leave behind her family, her town, and everything she knew in order to escape the place she saw no future for herself in. Dee’s hope for self growth is misguided she views life through such a narrow minded looking glass her that chances of growth are little to none. Dee returns home with the same mindset that she is still above everyone and the fact that she is educated and â€Å"in touch† with her heritage only makes her better. Hopeful for a change in attitude upon Dee’s arrival home, Maggie and her mama’s dreams are short lived. Dee steps out of the car over dressed in bright colors with several noise making bracelets and introduces herself as, â€Å"Wangero Leewankia Kemanjo!† (219) because she, â€Å". . . couldn’t bear . . .being named after the people who oppress [her]† (220). Her mother attempts to explain that her name itself holds history and meaning as she was named after her several generations of strong Afr ican American woman that formed the building blocks for the family. Dee no longer see’s her Maggie and her mother as family but as oppressed and uneducated people with no understanding of who they are or where they come from, however it is Dee that believes she has found a new light when in reality her conformist thought process shows blatant ignorance toward her very own family history. Dee continues her charades as she bounces through the house picking up multiple items that hold sentimental value and

The Sewing Machine and the Textile Revolution

The Sewing Machine and the Textile Revolution Before the invention of the sewing machine, most sewing was done by individuals in their homes. However, many people offered services as tailors or seamstresses in small shops where wages were very low. Thomas Hoods ballad The Song of the Shirt, published in 1843, depicts the hardships of the English seamstress: With fingers weary and worn, With eyelids heavy and red, A woman sat in unwomanly rags, Plying her needle and thread. Elias Howe In Cambridge, Massachusetts, one inventor was struggling to put into metal an idea to lighten the toil of those who lived by the needle. Elias Howe was born in Massachusett in 1819. His father was an unsuccessful farmer, who also had some small mills, but seems to have succeeded in nothing he undertook. Howe led the typical life of a New England country boy, going to school in winter and working about the farm until the age of sixteen, handling tools every day. Hearing of the high wages and interesting work in Lowell, a growing town on the Merrimac River, he went there in 1835 and found employment; but two years later, he left Lowell and went to work in a machine shop in Cambridge. Elias Howe then moved to Boston, and worked in the machine shop of Ari Davis, an eccentric maker and repairer of fine machinery. This is where Elias Howe, as a young mechanic, first heard of sewing machines and began to puzzle over the problem. First Sewing Machines Before Elias Howes time, many inventors had attempted to make sewing machines and some had just fallen short of success. Thomas Saint, an Englishman, had patented one fifty years earlier. About this very time, a Frenchman named Thimonnier was working eighty sewing machines to make army uniforms, when the tailors of Paris, fearing that the bread was to be taken from them, broke into his workroom and destroyed the machines. Thimonnier tried again, but his machine never came into general use. Several patents had been issued on sewing machines in the United States, but without any practical result. An inventor named Walter Hunt had discovered the principle of the lock-stitch and had built a machine, but he abandoned his invention just as success was in sight, believing it would cause unemployment. Elias Howe probaly knew nothing of any of these inventors. There is no evidence that he had ever seen the work of another. Elias Howe Begins Inventing The idea of a mechanical sewing machine obsessed Elias Howe. However, Howe was married and had children, and his wages were only nine dollars a week. Howe found support from an old schoolmate, George Fisher, who agreed to support Howes family and furnish him with five hundred dollars for materials and tools. The attic in Fishers house in Cambridge was converted into a workroom for Howe. Howes first efforts were failures, until the idea of the lock stitch came to him. Previously all sewing machines (except Walter Hunts) had used the chain stitch, which wasted thread and easily unraveled. The two threads of the lock stitch cross, and the lines of stitches show the same on both sides. The chain stitch is a crochet or knitting stitch, while the lock stitch is a weaving stitch. Elias Howe had been working at night and was on his way home, gloomy and despondent, when this idea dawned on his mind, probably rising out of his experience in the cotton mill. The shuttle would be driven back and forth as in a loom, as he had seen it thousands of times, and passed through a loop of thread which the curved needle would throw out on the other side of the cloth. The cloth would be fastened to the machine vertically by pins. A curved arm would ply the needle with the motion of a pick-axe. A handle attached to the fly-wheel would furnish the power. Commercial Failure Elias Howe made a machine which, crude as it was, sewed more rapidly than five of the swiftest needle workers. But his machine was too expensive, it could sew only a straight seam, and it easily got out of order. The needle workers were opposed, as they have generally been, to any sort of labor-saving machinery that might cost them their jobs, and there was no clothing manufacturer willing to buy even one machine at the price Howe asked- three hundred dollars. Elias Howes 1846 Patent Elias Howes second sewing machine design was an improvement on his first. It was more compact and ran more smoothly. George Fisher took Elias Howe and his prototype to the patent office in Washington, paying all the expenses, and a patent was issued to the inventor in September 1846. The second machine also failed to find buyers. George Fisher had invested about two thousand dollars, and he could not, or would not, invest more. Elias Howe returned temporarily to his fathers farm to wait for better times. Meanwhile, Elias Howe sent one of his brothers to London with a sewing machine to see if any sales could be found there, and in due time an encouraging report came to the destitute inventor. A corsetmaker named Thomas had paid two hundred and fifty pounds for the English rights and had promised to pay a royalty of three pounds on each machine sold. Moreover, Thomas invited the inventor to London to construct a machine especially for making corsets. Elias Howe went to London and later sent for his family. But after working eight months on small wages, he was as badly off as ever, for, though he had produced the desired machine, he quarrelled with Thomas, and their relations came to an end. An acquaintance, Charles Inglis, advanced Elias Howe a little money while he worked on another model. This enabled Elias Howe to send his family home to America, and then, by selling his last model and pawning his patent rights, he raised enough money to take passage himself in the steerage in 1848, accompanied by Inglis, who came to try his fortune in the United States. Elias Howe landed in New York with a few cents in his pocket and immediately found work. But his wife was dying from the hardships she had suffered due to stark poverty. At her funeral, Elias Howe wore borrowed clothes, for his only suit was the one he wore in the shop. After his wife died, Elias Howes invention came into its own. Other sewing machines were being made and sold and those machines were using the principles covered by Elias Howes patent. Businessman George Bliss a man of means, had bought out George Fishers interest and proceeded to prosecute  the patent infringers. Meanwhile Elias Howe went on making machines. He produced 14 in New York during the 1850s and never lost an opportunity to show the merits of the invention, which was being advertised and brought to notice by the activities of some of the infringers, particularly by Isaac Singer, the best businessman of them all. Isaac Singer had joined forces with  Walter Hunt. Hunt had tried to patent the machine which he had abandoned nearly twenty years before. The suits dragged on until 1854, when the case was decisively settled in Elias Howes favor. His patent was declared basic, and all the makers of sewing machines must pay him a royalty of 25 dollars on every machine. So Elias Howe woke one morning to find himself enjoying a large income, which in time rose as high as four thousand dollars a week, and he died in 1867 a rich man. Improvements to the Sewing Machine Though the basic nature of Elias Howes patent was recognized, his sewing machine was only a rough beginning. Improvements followed, one after another, until the sewing machine bore little resemblance to Elias Howes original. John Bachelder introduced the horizontal table upon which to lay the work. Through an opening in the table, tiny spikes in an endless belt projected and pushed the work forward continuously. Allan B. Wilson devised a rotary hook carrying a bobbin to do the work of the shuttle. He also invented the small serrated bar which pops up through the table near the needle, moves forward a tiny space (carrying the cloth with it), drops down just below the upper surface of the table, and returns to its starting point- repeating over and over again this series of motions. This simple device brought its owner a fortune. Isaac Singer, destined to be the dominant figure of the industry, patented in 1851 a machine stronger than any of the others and with several valuable features, notably the vertical presser foot held down by a spring. Singer was the first to adopt the treadle, leaving both hands of the operator free to manage the work. His machine was good, but, rather than its surpassing merits, it was his wonderful business ability that made the name of Singer a household word. Competion Among Sewing Machine Manufacturers By 1856 there were several manufacturers in the field threatening war on each other. All men were paying tribute to Elias Howe, for his patent was basic, and all could join in fighting him. But there were several other devices almost equally fundamental, and even if Howes patents had been declared void, it is probable that his competitors would have fought quite as fiercely among themselves. At the suggestion of George Gifford, a New York attorney, the leading inventors and manufacturers agreed to pool their inventions and to establish a fixed license fee for the use of each. This combination was composed of Elias Howe, Wheeler and Wilson, Grover and Baker, and Isaac Singer, and dominated the field until after 1877, when the majority of the basic patents expired. The members manufactured sewing machines and sold them in America and Europe. Isaac Singer introduced the installment plan of sale, to bring the machine within reach of the poor. The sewing machine agent, with a machine or two on his wagon, drove through every small town and country district, demonstrating and selling. Meanwhile, the price of the machines steadily fell, until it seemed that Isaac Singers slogan, A machine in every home! was in a fair way to be realized, had not another development of the sewing machine intervened.

Introduction to Global Business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Introduction to Global Business - Assignment Example To manage the plant the CEO of the company feels that someone from top management from the headquarters Boston who needs to manage the integration of the site. Therefore the proposal is as follows First and foremost it is important to understand the culture of Malaysia so that the manger that comes from Boston can easily adapt to the culture and act accordingly. Malaysia is multi-cultural society making it easier for the manger to adapt the culture. In addition the proposed staffing model to be used in the new plant based outside Kula Lumpur is ethnocentric staffing model. The CEO plans to send from its home country for the global operation which is emphasized by the particular staffing model also. With the implementation of this staffing model, the CEO would need to focus or monitor less and the candidates are often known at the headquarters of the company (Steers & Nardon, p. 277). The training and recruitment will be conducted in headquarters. Candidates will comprise mainly from Boston and few from Malaysia and the organization would seek candidates having an extrovert nature, flexible and able to adjust in every situation and having good knowledge about different culture. But since the employees have no idea about the culture of Malaysian people and this might prove it to be difficult to adapt to the situation. Hence proper training is essential for effectiveness of the working of the plant in Kula Lumpur both for the top level management and also for the chosen employees. Assuming that the person selected is well adverse with technicality and the only thing required is training on adoption of new location. Cross culture training are required for the managers so that they adapt to the culture of the particular country. An expert from Malaysia can be hired by the company to provide the manger with cross cultural training so that the expatriates experience fewer incidence of failure. Problem 2 Transferability of Practices: The Mazda Example Third Culture The modified version of management practice is termed as â€Å"third culture†. Usually companies tend to face difficulties in setting of plant internationally mainly in transferring management practice to different culture and this was seen in Mazda situation. The American decided to work on for the Japanese and thus adopted a mix of both American and Japanese styles referred to as third culture. The case itself explains that the concept of â€Å"third culture† did work but at the same time it had to face many difficulties in the management practice. As stated in the case study the Japanese worked for United Auto makers and named it Mazda management. It used extensive testing methods to select their workers and adopted the system similar to that of Michigan plant. As per the study of Fucinis, there were several areas in the transfer of management style. The employees quit the plant as they did not see any future prospect. The Japanese had all the powers and were dictating the decisions. However after much issue the problem was solved and the Japanese’s adopted a flexible management practice. Therefore it can be said that transfer of management practice should be adopted but both the nations entering the â€Å"third culture† should have an equal participation and power to make the concept work in a managerial practice. Across Societies Transfer of managem

Leadership and Mentorship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Leadership and Mentorship - Essay Example On the other hand, a leader is not necessarily a mentor. Although the leader has the decision-making authority yet the subordinates may not necessarily consider him competent enough to make the right decisions. Leadership may not always be like mentorship, which means that the leader may not always have a responsibility of the development of the mentees like a mentor has. For example, servant leadership is a kind of leadership in which the leader works among the followers. Followers and students comply with the instructions of leaders and mentors respectively because they know that doing so would benefit them in some way. In the workplace, workers follow their managers in order to have increments of salary and addition of benefits or to be in a superior position. In the school, students listen to the mentors because they know that their mentors control their academic career, and not complying with the instructions of the mentor might have an adverse effect on their grades. On the oth er hand, leaders and mentors may or may not have personal interest in leading the followers. It really depends upon the circumstances that vary from one case to another. For the leader of a political party, the motivation to lead is intrinsic since the leader’s personal interests are associated with that. ... Likewise, a mentor teaching in a school is just another employee who is assigned the task of teaching a certain subject to certain classes, and the performance of his students depict the effectiveness of the individual as a teacher. Hence, the goal of a leader or a mentor may or may not be of his/her personal interest. An individual can be a leader without being a mentor, but he/she cannot be a good or effective leader until he/she is also a mentor. Not many leaders are able to successfully transfer their knowledge to their followers or let them benefit from their experiences. Leadership is more about the people who are being led than the leader himself. The success of a leader is fundamentally depicted by the level of satisfaction of the followers. The privileges one gets as a leader are obtained not without one’s obligation of service. The leader assumes the prime responsibility of providing the followers with care and stewardship and assuring their well-being. This may be p erceived as the liabilities of being in the position of a leader, but this is all what leadership is about. Had the objective of safeguarding the rights and interests of the followers not been there, there would not have been any need of a leader in the first place. Mentoring is one of the job responsibilities of a leader. One’s obligation as a leader is the development of the followers’ skills and competencies so that they may optimize on their potential to play a constructive role for the progress of the organization they are working for. Without being a mentor, one cannot do justice to one’s responsibilities as a leader. Similarities between Mentorship and Leadership There are many things that a leader and a mentor have in common. The first and the most