The Great Debate Latke vs. Hamentashen

The Great Debate Latke vs. Hamentashen While presidential elections are normally associated with debates, Jewish food is not. However, tonight, one of the largest lecture halls at MIT was packed to capacity with students eager to hear six MIT professors argue for their favorite Jewish delicacy either Latke or Hamentashen. One is a sweet and versatile triangular dessert, the other is a fried potato pancake (can you detect my bias?) What makes this debate unique is that the professors use their own field of expertise to support their position. The three professors in favor of the hamentashen were: Hazel Sive- Professor of Biology (sitting on the left) Ari Epstein- Terrascope lecturer (sitting in the middle) Erik Demaine- Professor Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (sitting on the right) The three professors in favor of the latke were: Peter Dourmaskin- Professor of Physics (far left in picture below) Patrick Winston Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science (middle left) Stephen Van Evera- Professor of Political Science (middle right) The debate was moderated by Jeremy Wolfe, who used to teach a wildly popular Intro to Psychology class and is now a teacher in Concourse. (Hes on the far left of the Team Hamentashen picture, standing up.) After a humorous introduction by Wolfe and a Ramen noodle toss (heads won), it was decided that the Latke team would be the first to present. Prof. Dourmaskin stepped up to the plate and applied his physics knowledge to explain why latke is a major food and that Galileo discovered that a latke and potato fall to the ground at the same time. Next was Dr. Ari Epstein, representing the Hamentashen team. In order to understand his slides, Ill explain Terrascope. Terrascope is a project-based class where freshmen solve big problems like protecting the ecology of the Galapagos Islands. In this vein, Dr. Epstein had a hands-on demonstration. His assistants handed out paper plates to everyone, and the half of the lecture hall sitting on the Hamentashen side also received colorful stickers. The people with stickers were instructed to decorate their plates with stickers (representing filling that they wanted. Hamentashen can be filled with many things, like apricots, poppy seeds, Nutella, and cheese.) Everyone was then told to fold their paper to resemble a hamentashen. Clearly it was better to have a delicacy-filled hamentashen than something that resembled a dry, folded latke. Next, Professor Winston showed off his technological prowess using a spiffy computer interface that he made. As shown below, he demonstrated the intelligence of a Turing machine that he programmed by asking it latke and hamentashen-related questions. The onus was then back to the hamentashen team. Professor Sive defended the hamentashen using a systems biology approach. She showed single-celled diatoms that have a striking resemblance to hamentashen, showed the life cycle of the organism h.tashen, and then explored the genetic networks that build it. Biologists commonly study mutants to understand the function of genes, and thus she showed three hamentashen mutants. Of course, one mutant was the arrested development hamentashen, otherwise known as a latke. This mutant was extremely simple and boring, compared to the superior and highly evolved hamentashen. Second to last was Professor Van Evera. As a Political Science professor in an election year, his defense of latkes resorted to significant mudslinging. At one point, he had the crowd chanting USA, USA, Latke, Latke, USA! The propaganda was palpable. Finally, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Erik Demaine used his linguistics and geometry prowess to explore the natural superiority of hamentashen. First, he argued to change the name of the debate from Latke vs. Hamentashen to Hamentashen vs. Latke (alphabetical order, its only fair!) Next, he discovered that an anagram of the word Hamentaschen is the phrase enHances math. Then, as someone who studies discrete and computational geometry, he argued that perfect circles dont exist, and latkes are circular, thus there are no perfect latkes. His last argument was that circles dont tile, so as youre trying to cook them, you lose heat between the latkes and this contributes to global warming. After a five minute brainstorming session, the teams provided their rebuttals. Team Latke had pre-prepared a rebuttal in the form of a video. They showed a researcher in the Artificial Intelligence lab giving a latke and hamentashen to a furry, cuddly robot. The robot embraced the latke and rejected the hamentashen. In the end, a blind vote was taken and (not surprisingly) it was a tie. This ensures that there will be yet another debate next year, so hopefully some of you guys will get to see it. I assure you that the real thing was much better than my description

Innocent Children, Violent Gangs Essay examples - 1169 Words

Innocent Children, Violent Gangs 18, 059 violent felonies, 690 deaths, and 13,000 hard-core killers. What is the horrible cause of these striking statistics? Gangs. Gangs are a problem in nearly every state and 83 percent of the largest cities in the United States. The problem of gangs and their negative impact on the communities they exist in continues to grow and nothing seems to be able to stop this powerful growth. Gangs not only exist in just inner cities anymore, but in towns and suburban communities as well. Gangs are affecting more and more children everyday, and this problem needs to be stopped. No one knows exactly how many children and youth nationwide are gang members or join a gang in an average†¦show more content†¦The stereotypical child pulled into a gang might fit this picture: lives in the projects, either African-American or Hispanic-American, no father or any type of positive male role model, and has a large family who is on welfare. Although a few may fit some of these characteristics, if not all, the gangster world is changing day by day. Gangs are no longer limited to African and Hispanic minorities only, but include Asians and Caucasians as well. Gangs have slowly progressed from inner city to suburbia, they have overtaken high schools, and in some cases, even middle and elementary schools. Once a child is pulled into a gang, it seems almost as if he has signed his life away. Some consider joining a gang similar to a death sentence. Gangs can affect a childs life in numerous aspects. Once a child has joined a gang, they might stop going to school, start doing or dealing drugs, fighting others whenever they felt necessary. Children may feel withdrawn from others, and will only hang out with others members of their gang. Children who may have been looking for a sense of security which they felt they lacked before, probably found it temporarily, only to learn that they would soon be fighting for their life every day for as long as they were a member. Although many ideas to rid of gangs have been thrown about in the government system, nothing real concrete has ever been stated. Some solutionsShow MoreRelatedGangs And Its Effects On Society Essay1320 Words   |  6 PagesGang members may feel that gangs are merely a family and other see them as violent people with no direction that need to be locked away. Gangs cause fear to those that live around them, but to children that have no support system gangs appear to be a surrogate family. Gangs are not all about friends committing crime, but to a gang member a way of life. Gangs that are a threat to society is a problem, but one that can be changed by silencing the influence of the media, parenting your children, andRead MoreThe El Salvadoran Government Adopted985 Words   |  4 Pagescombat MS-13 and other street gangs in 2003. The measures provided were colloquially referred to as Mano Dura or Firm Hand. The government felt that that they had waited long enough to take action aga inst the increasing threat of gang activity and would now meet the challenge head on with brutal tactics. The first Ley Anti-Mara was immediately controversial. It criminalized gang association, allowing El Salvadoran police forces to arrest and imprison suspected gang members on the spot. The lawRead MoreCrime in Belize1650 Words   |  7 Pagescommitted a criminal offense. There are two main categories of crime: property crime and violent crime: Property Crimes: A property crime is committed when someone damages, destroys or steals someone else s property, such as stealing a car or vandalizing a building. And Violent Crimes: A violent crime occurs when someone harms, attempts to harm, threatens to harm or even conspires to harm someone else. Violent crimes are offenses which involve force or threat of force, such as rape, robbery or homicideRead MorePersuasive Essay921 Words   |  4 PagesPersuasive Essay Raquel Daniel COMM/215 Essentials of College Writing July 7, 2011 Cassundra Flemister-White Persuasive Essay Gangs Gangs are killing our upcoming generations. Gangs have always been around for many years and they are still growing. They are becoming more violent now because they are using more than just their body parts to beat up people. These gangs are killing and raping people. It used to be about colors and different language but now it is about something different. It usedRead MoreThe Gang Activity Within Our Community Essay1443 Words   |  6 PagesThis paper discusses the gang activities in Grenville, NC. There are three main topics that include; 1) the history of gang activity. 2) Gang activity in today’s society. 3) Ways to eradicate gang activity within our community. To start what is the true definition of a gang and what is there purpose? A gang is an organized group of either friends or family with identifiable leadership claiming control over a community or territory. Gangs are driven by money, power, and opportunities to victimizeRead MoreShould All Handguns Be Banned?748 W ords   |  3 Pagesfor themselves. Handguns in our community are directly affecting the future of our children, they are responsible for increasing the number of violent death rate in the United States, and it also keeps having a significant effect in our economy. Gun violence can traumatized our children, physically, and emotionally as well. One in three American households currently keep at least one gun in their home. Children who are exposed to handgun violence, are more likely to develop psychological disordersRead Moreeffect of gangsterism1557 Words   |  7 Pages A gang offers protection to its members; to the uninitiated and insecure, a gang means security from racial harassment and law enforcement agencies. Some join gangs for fun, but are soon swept into a vicious cycle of violent crime and drugs. The prime targets for gangs are new immigrants who have language and cultural differences from mainstream communities. Troubled youth and rebellious teenagers may join gangs and directly or indirectly influence community life.In communities where gang activityRead MoreViolence Tends To Threaten The Organization Of Society.1648 Words   |  7 PagesWomen and children are two particularly vulnerable groups in society and therefore the primary victims of violence. Men are the predominant perpetrators of violence. In order to rid society of violence we must begin to address the societal forces that reinforce the violence around us. It is reinforced in our movies, our music, our TV shows and in the media’s daily coverage of the War in Iraq. These forms of violence are sometimes the most impressionable communication that children receive whichRead MoreThe Legacy Of Columbus, Ohio1288 Words   |  6 Pageswith children and white picket fences. However, every beautiful rose has the thorn in the stem. Unfortunately, the image of a prosperous and safe community is being destroyed by the out-of-control gang violence that has claimed countless lives across the city. Gang violence in Columbus, Ohio has shattered the hearts of an incalculable amount of mothers around the city; as well as crippled the dreams of living a flourishing life for many inner city youth. The bloodshed between rival gangs has reachedRead More Violence In American Media Influencing Australian Youth Essay1489 Words   |  6 PagesAustralian citizens, particularly on young people. These American media products have got negative messages that have been invited to the audiences to engage in. Violent crimes is one of them. As American media continues to take the minds of the innocent and vulnerable, it becomes over powering and Australians are being flooded with negative violent messages. This is influencing Australians to believe that to be a tough, rough criminal is the new in thing and crime rates are escalating rapidly. This

Ottoman Architecture Essay - 1029 Words

There are few things that actually do last. Legends, arts, beliefs, and architecture are among the few that actually do last. Architecture can be defined as a practice of constructing and designing a building project. However, the Islamic architecture has a distinctive range of both religious and secular styles that have been influenced by the Islamic culture. Furthermore, The structure of Islamic architecture that is used in mosques, tombs, palaces and fountains is unavoidable in sight. The relationship between early Islamic architecture and modern foundation of construction provides a penetrating overview of encompass of Islamic culture in Iran, Tunisia, India, and Turkey. However, Turkey was such a desirable region and preserved of the†¦show more content†¦The main building materials used in Ottoman architecture were baked brick, tiles, plaster, stained glass and clear glass, cut limestone, marble and wood. The most significant architect during the Ottoman Empire’s reign was Mimar Sinan. Sinan was the imperial architect of 3 Ottoman sultans, he was one of the advanced architects, he developed an acoustic design that made the echo clearer by doing special shapes of domes. According to Necipoglu (2005), during Sinan’s 50 years as an Imperial architect, he built a total of 477 buildings that range from mosques, colleges, bath houses, palaces, public kitchens and hospitals. His most known buildings are: the Suleiman Mosque in Istanbul, the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne and Bath of Roxelana. During the ottoman empire, many masterpieces were built. One of the monumental buildings of the ottoman empire that is still remaining is the Suleymaniye Mosque. The Suleymaniye Mosque was designed by Sinan in which he tried to include the best features of Hagia Sophia in to an Islamic building (Sacred Destinations, 2011). Sacred Destinations (2011) asserted that the Mosque was constructed on the order of Sultan Suleiman and it is considered second largest and most wonderful mosque in Istanbul city. The main dome of this mosque is surrounded by four hundred smaller domes creating pyramidal effect (Goodwin, 1997). Moreover, the mosque also have fourShow MoreRelatedThe Capitals Of The Empire1673 Words   |  7 PagesEdirne and Constantinople the Turkish sultans transformed each of them to make their capital. Each one marked a stage in the development of the young Ottoman Empire. This gave the possibility to discover and learn from other cultures, like the Byzantines, but always in a way of reinterpretation, according to the characteristic of the Ottoman’s own architecture and culture. Although they are not too distant from each other, the three cities are very different. Bursa is situated at the foot of the OlympRead MoreHow Did The Ottoman Empire Differ From Earlier And The Middle East?1247 Words   |  5 Pages02/28/2016 Mid-Term How did the Ottoman Empire differ from earlier Islamic empires in the Middle East? The Ottoman Empire, or Ottoman Turkish, was one of the longest in history, having gone through the whole modern era and only come to an end with the end of World War I in 1918. The event that is commonly taken by historians as the inaugurator of the Modern age is the fall of Constantinople, the center of the Byzantine Empire, and was triggered by the Turkish-Ottoman. Also, you certainly heard aboutRead MoreWas Genocide Committed against the Armenian People in the Ottoman Empire During World War I1597 Words   |  6 PagesWAS GENOCIDE COMMITTED AGAINST THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE DURING WORLD WAR I? In some countries, it is highly forbidden to mention the Armenian Genocide, which took place during the First World War with an approximate number of one and a half million Armenians exterminated. Currently around the world, there are still arguments whether genocide took place in the Ottoman Empire, targeting the Armenians. However, Turkey continues to firmly deny the fact that there was genocide, concedingRead MoreThe Empire Of The Ottoman Empire3539 Words   |  15 PagesThree of the greatest empire in the history the ottomans in turkey, the Safavids in Persia and the Mughals in the Indian subcontinent emerged in the Muslim world between the 14th and the 18th centuries. These three greatest empire resulted in a powerful cultural interaction. The empires expanded their power and thus Turkish, Mongol and Arab ways of life blended. It resulted in a flowering of Islamic culture that raised higher in the 16th centuries. The empires ruled through Islamic Sariah’s. TheyRead MoreEssay Early Contributions of Ancient Empires830 Words   |  4 Pagesproduced significant contributions in the areas of political systems and leadership, economic and technological developments, social structures, and the intellectual life, specifically art, music, literature, science, philosophy, and religion. The Ottomans drew strength from their origins as ghazis. The ghazi principle fueled their urge for conquest and then helped them to structure their developing society. The social structure of settled, urban Islamic society consisted of four social groupings:Read MoreThe Ottoman And Mughal Empires1388 Words   |  6 Pages1W1 14 October 2014 Ottoman and Mughal Empires People, places, and/or things come and go, changing from one thing to another or none at all. In other cases, it is just not people, places, and/or things, it can also be generations or empires. Empires are known to adopt similar traditions or beliefs from other empires. In addition, some empires have similar, but slightly different laws and/or goals. Two of the empires that were similar, but different is many ways are the Ottoman and Mughal EmpiresRead MoreA Man Of An Interesting Imagination By Evliya Celebi1721 Words   |  7 Pagescomprehensive account of the Ottoman Empire at its greatest extent in the seventeenth century . His obsession with detail and unending curiosity led to his through documentation of the sites that we visited during his travels. Unfortunately, beyond the travel accounts written by Çelebi himself, there is not much other documentation about the life of Çelebi. Despite this, his extensive account does shed light on Çelebi’s personality, and possibly the attitude of other Ottoman Turks during this time periodRead MoreWestern Civilization Of The Byzantine Empire1195 Words   |  5 Pagesthe year when the Ottomans overtake Constantinople.   The Ottomans conquered Constantinople because they desired to benefit from the trade routes that enriched the city.   After the conquering of Constantinople, Islam became the most feared nation.   Ã‚  Even as these wars and tradgedys struck there was still beauty with its arts and archietecture. The Byzantine Empire was the reinvented Rome with art, literature, and the beautiful architecture. Hagia Sophia was the most known architecture from the ByzantineRead MoreThe Selimiye Mosque1830 Words   |  8 PagesConstructed during the middle of the Ottoman Dynasty it remains a structure that highlights not only Ottoman architecture, but Islamic architecture. The Ottoman Empire has a long history spaning over 600 years. The Turks were first pushed from their home in Central Asian and relocated to Western Anatolia. Originally the Turks were a nomadic tribe living on the prairie. Osman Gazi ben Ertugrul or Osman I a Ghazi warrior founded what would become the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire acquired their footingRead MoreIslam, The Ottoman And Safavid Empire1528 Words   |  7 PagesIslam, the Ottoman and Safavid Empire Every empire that has ever been created constantly evolves. They will grow or they will diminish. Many empires cease to exist and some even start over under a different name. Throughout history, faith and religion have been at the core of almost every successful empire. There are a lot of factors that play into their faith. Two of the greatest empires to ever exist were the Ottoman and Safavid Empire. The Ottoman Empire was so large that it spanned from the Iranian

The Symbols Used by William Golding in “Lord of the Flies” Free Essays

string(112) " is stimulated to beguile the reader into seeing the novel in the mind’s eyes without a single visual effect\." LITERATURE ASSIGNMENTS EXPLAIN THE USE OF IMAGERY IN WILLIAM GOLDING’S â€Å"LORD OF THE FLIES† â€Å"Lord of the flies† by William Golding, is a book filled with terrifying truths and unhidden disclosed secrets that have gone too far not to be acknowledged. The writer perspicuously reveals the role of the society in suppressing the minds of its followers to the extent that even the most savage of all creatures if allowed, â€Å"man† is beguiled into reflectively presuming himself at the very peak of morality and the vision of civilization; as said, the hidden truths cannot remain so eternally; and thus Golding advances to fill â€Å"the lord of the flies† as a depiction of what lies beneath the barricade of lies and pretension. He sets his book based on the most thought ‘civilized’ society, the British, using English school boys to buttress his points. We will write a custom essay sample on The Symbols Used by William Golding in â€Å"Lord of the Flies† or any similar topic only for you Order Now Even amongst the symbolisms and the significances of the prose, there is a nature to which the book lies, a feature that makes it so further distinguishable from other books; a realized attribute that is passionately attained in this book, that is the ‘IMAGERY’. Golding’s ‘Lord of the flies’ is emphatic in nature and is an imagery of the reality of the scenes of its own. The descriptive and metaphorical diction of the prose was advancement even in the times of Golding himself. In the book, Golding ensures the usage of imagery, one way or another at ever nook and cranny of his book. At a peak where Golding lays close realization between actual reality and his diction; it lies so close that one can almost see the scene. His words are so emphatic, they portray pure descriptive genius and they buttress the true beauty of nature. Golding’s use of imagery sets us to realize the actual exquisiteness of the panorama, where the senses of the reader are so heightened that an awareness to the paradisiac essence of the book is established that even the task of discernment of reality from the book becomes arduous; where one can in actuality, practically feel, taste, touch and see the very essence of the island itself; even right from the beginning of the novel. This therefore leaves the diction used in the prose’s imagery to the reader to be bordering between sheer reality and fiction segregated by a mere thin diaphanous sliver or thread. With imagery, Golding amplifies the sheer potency (effects) of several scenarios in the novel. Just like Michelangelo, the artist, Golding paints his artwork that is the novel; with scintillatingly vivid yet arrestingly dramatic colorful and picturesque scenes that one can only define as intense, passionately ardent and vibrant; but using his mere diction as the instrument culpable of the brilliance he smears his book with remorseless reality and intense vivacity. It is blatant that if the imagery of ‘lord of the flies’ is removed then the book will become just ordinarily plain and boring, like a vacuum. It is now conspicuous the fact that the emphasis of this alluring book falls thoroughly on the paradisiac landscape of the cryptic island. Theological overtones are constantly elaborated in references to the island as a tropical haven: â€Å"the candle-buds open their wide white flowers glimmering under the light that pricked down from the first stars. Their scent spilled out into the air and took possession of the island† (page 74) a potent quotation, just a hay in the haystack barn of such assorted quotes from the book of ‘ lord of the flies’; vividly gives the reader an exclusive insight on the addictive allure of the flower. Golding uses a sundry of approaches to detail the very nature within the nature of the flowers; but all of these quotes and sentences prove the beauty of the fiction in relation to actual reality, because of Golding’s creative disposition that beguiles and lures the reader deeper into the appearance of the panorama. Golding’s imaginative and innovative touches adds flare here and there throughout the novel. The sun and the thunder, for instance, in consideration to the attention are set across as physical realities not only for their symbolic in as much as they prove important, it is for the genius in Golding’s diction that they seem to take such a role. Golding advances further to analyze every scrap of the book theologically, with a realistic sense in a subtle perspective. Golding develops a fervor for stacking the imagery in addition to the ather extraordinary momentum and power which drives the whole narrative forward, so that one incident comes prior and immediately another, sustaining that suspense he coalesces the both of them to give the most prolific effects. Therefore, it is no longer vague to the fact that Golding’s power to perceive a careful preparation for an incident. But this imagery is not only restricted on the beauty of the island, Golding goes far to depict the characters of the novel, giving each of them a specific trait and feature that either boosts their role in the novel as a hero or regales them to the position of antagonist. The animals- pigs, â€Å"squeakings- and the hard strike if hoofs on a path†¦caught in creepers, throwing itself at the elastic traces in all the madness of extreme terror† (chapter 1. Page 42) the birds, â€Å"a vision of red and yellow, flashed upwards with a witchlike cry† (chapter 1,page 13), are set with vibrant abilities, colors and sounds, the mountains, the lake etc. verywhere, there is a certain perception to close reality in description to each one of them. Golding utilizes imagery to the maximum where he uses his diction to play with the reader’s empathy; when the reader feels present, a true reflection of what could actually be seen if allowed, a replica fabricates with the pla y of the mind, Golding involves the reader in every detail of the characters’ surroundings and events; therefore , it is the mind of the reader’s being that is stimulated to beguile the reader into seeing the novel in the mind’s eyes without a single visual effect. You read "The Symbols Used by William Golding in â€Å"Lord of the Flies†" in category "Essay examples" ASSIGNMENT2 In all literal sense, there is no doubt to the fact that â€Å" the lord of the flies† written by William Golding is without a doubt a perceptively innovative novel comprising of several symbols in natural sense to which Golding makes use of in several scenarios to depict the sheer nature of man’s facade, being and civilization. The irony where even the most civilized can also submit and be subjected to there true nature- the cataclysmic nature hidden beneath the mask of civilization. The book set in the time of the world war two portrays savagery of his experiences through the novel, â€Å"the lord of the flies†. He opens the minds of the readers to the facade of our actual daily lives. He accentuates on his points by using a set of symbols that sets apart the novel from the others, with symbols Golding represents and demarcates several roles played in the novel, thus giving it an inciting taste. They are the vivid representations of several things in the novel. Golding utilizes these precise symbols in as much of its analytical sense expressed using this certain representations to signify specific things that are used to promote the themes and to give perfect significances to the established literature. As perceived and notable right from the first chapter, ‘the conch’ being one of the most important major symbols used by Golding to a layman may only appear in natural common sense to be only seen as a beautiful shell, thus this segregates the borders etween literally analyzed details and sheer layman sense, deliberately the hidden representations Golding uses the conch to embody the very first realization of the boy’s actual civilization at first; this shell is an conspicuous symbol, in chapter one this very same shell is used in the hands of Golding to illustrate and show the utter honesty and civil behaviours of the boys marooned in the island. The conch is the very embodiment of the boys’ unity where Ralph and Piggy to amalgamate the boys spanned all about the cryptic island to conspire and establish a meeting amongst them uses the conch. Golding’s perceptive nature in his creative literature prodigy allows the further symbolization of the conch to denote Ralph’s place of authority as the chief, the conch is a potent symbol that sets the pace for others to come in the book; in as much as its overt representation of Ralph’s authority, the children’s reunion, the show of civility of the boys at their first appearance the conch symbolizes the authority of whoever amongst the boys holding the conch, not for only Ralph but they are given the boost to authorize, not in the sense that they are over Ralph, but such that whoever bearing the conch is freely given permission to utter verbal speeches pertaining to the subjects at hand without the interception of any of the other in exception to Ralph, who being ‘chief’, then surmounts them all in prerogatives. This symbol’s role in the uniting of the boys is made more conspicuous when the conch first conch begins to lose its influen ce and the boys dissipate into severe savagery, and is later crushed by a boulder, signifying the demise of the civilized instinct among almost all the boys and therefore breaking the boys utterly and evidently pointing out the extremity of Ralph’s authority and leadership. In exemption to the potent ‘conch’, another symbol is persistently utilized and one of the most ingenious symbolic aspects of the book, ‘Piggy and his spectacles’ in Golding’s creation to embody the very peak of scientific inquisition; Piggy, an intellectual boy poses knowledge about the different facts nobody remembers or even inquire about and the voice of evident logic. ‘Piggy’s glasses’ represent intelligence and sight or the ability to see when it is used to focus the sunrays of the sun on woods to start a fire and as a result of it being stolen by Jack the potent power of sight and intelligence is transmitted to Jack. It is blatant that Piggy is the conscience of absolute knowledge when he consistently advices Ralph on their priorities or survival in the island; it was he who brought the ideas of definite need for shelter, and solely thought out the need to know everyone’s name at the first meeting enough to go about a sking for everyone’s name. piggy and his glasses are recognized farther as symbols of knowledge and sight, when the break of the glasses and piggy’s blindness leads to the indisputable blindness of Ralph ‘sight’. In as much as piggy symbolizes, he is also the one who tried to see the scientific perspective over the death of Simon, when he points out what is culpable for Simon’s death, which he analyzed to be because of Simon’s creeping into the circle. The death of piggy completes the blindness and forces them all into absolute darkness, which in turn without the ‘voice of logic’ drowns the boys in barbaric savagery and thus leads them on a hunt for Ralph. During the events occurring in the novel, Golding continually introduces more symbols in referring to the characters behavior and reactions in relation to actual reality of man. Amongst these is the intimidating anticipated appearance which the boys bore apprehension towards, that is surely the very presence of the beast of the air, which is later ascertained by Simon to be the dead body of a parachutist represents man’s apprehension and dread for what is unknown, which in actuality brings into the realization of man’s hasty resolve that only settles for a waiting jeopardy to occur; at several levels of mindset, in every aspect this fear widely diffuses through man emotionally, physically, spiritually, psychologically, culturally and politically pushing him through the very height of destruction. The lord of the flies’, another major symbol which is a dead sow’s head skewered in the jungle by Jack and his gang signifies man’s untamed barbaric savage ry; the destructive capabilities of man’s hands, his consistent torture of nature and her descendants in the struggle for ‘civility’. His inner inconspicuous self hidden in a semblance of civilization and authoritarian rules and commands once unraveled bursts through the seams of the very fabric of ‘innocuous minds’ and reveals a horrifying grotesque and frightening being. Also, the painted faces which was smeared over jack and his gang symbolizes the mask that man hides behind; the facade and illusion inconspicuous as the painted faces of the boys, revealing the lies and cloaks the truths creates a formal game of charades where the deceived is man himself. It also signifies man’s moral degradation and his intense levels of cruelty. How to cite The Symbols Used by William Golding in â€Å"Lord of the Flies†, Essay examples

Racial Discrimination Tacoma an Example of the Topic Government and Law Essays by

Racial Discrimination Tacoma Introduction Racial discrimination, ethnicity, sectarian violence, religious animosity, tribal clashes and nepotism are rampant forms of racial segregation in most communities. Where such kinds of vices are common, civil strife and animosity are manifested, and often-bloody clashes and tensions result. For peace to prevail in any given community tolerance amongst the different races in a given community is required (Albert, Peter, & Ronald 1990). In addition the law enforcement agencies are required to keep vigilant as traces of racial strife still manifest themselves in any given society. In this autobiographical paper I will discuss the challenges facing the Tacoma community in terms of racial relations. Need essay sample on "Racial Discrimination Tacoma" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed I am a Caucasian with familial ties to Irish and Scotch, a native of Tacoma, Washington and my community is predominantly Caucasian. There are however many race related problems in the Tacoma community. Police profiling is a major problem in the community as police often discriminate against the racial minorities. Police in Tacoma Washington have in many occasions been accused of harassing and arresting at will people from some races without clear reasons and on baseless grounds. The Tacoma community is approximated at 200,000 people according to the census report of the year 2002. The community of Tacoma is comprised of several races. About 69% of the total population of community comprise of whites. Therefore, the whites form majority of the residents in Tacoma. African Americans constitute approximately 11% of the Tacoma community, while Asians constitute about 8% of the total Tacoma population. The other races which comprise the Tacoma community include American Indians about 2.0% and others which comprise of about 3.0%. Major economic activities of the Tacoma community include agriculture, manufacturing, forestry and fishing. Racial discrimination at Tacoma is evident in all spheres of life such as education, and job opportunities. The whites being the majority have at sometimes been accused of being discriminatory to the racial minority, mainly the African Americans and American Indians. In Tacoma community, opportunities in the social arena, political arena, educational opportunities and even economic opportunities have largely been disproportionate and based on race and ethnicity. Evidently, in the Tacoma community racial minorities have continued to be treated differently. There are also some incidents whereby some students are unable to access scholarship and sponsorships due to the fact that they belong to the racial minority groups. Where this happened, action has been taken and corrective measures followed include the legal procedures, this shows that, despite presence of racial discrimination, efforts are being put at the community level to fight the vice. Social life in Tacoma has been boosted in that all residents regardless of their race have an access to religious meeting places, amusement parks and are free to visit any place regardless of their race. Although there is a high crime rate in Tacoma, the communities live in harmony and rarely are any incidences of racially motivated crime reported. The other less often spoken about discrimination that happens in Tacoma is that of non-heterosexuals such as homosexuals, bi-sexuals and trans-genders. The above groups have occasionally been treated unfairly leading to a new form of discrimination. Traditionally, the non-heterosexuals have been a minority group and have therefore been viewed as a minority community. The above has become an issue of human rights that needs to be addressed from the legislation point of view. Efforts to fight discrimination have included the setting up of a website, in which reconciliatory information is posted which serves to educate the general public on the evils and disadvantages associated with discrimination. There is a need for law enforcers to be firm in their implementation of the federal anti-discrimination laws so as to promote a mutually beneficial interracial existence. Such efforts in Tacoma have constituted the establishment of the Tacoma human rights and human services department that is solely concerned with resolving racially motivated human rights in the Tacoma area. This program has proved to be an effective way of promoting co-existence in the Tacoma, Washington area. There is also a need for more programs from both the state and federal governments to such as race-based hiring quotas and race-based education programs. Although the above can be a cause for bias towards the white majority, it is nevertheless a right step towards correcting the racial discrimination currently being experienced in Tacoma community. The leadership in my community is comprised of leaders from different racial background. However most of the leaders are whites given the fact that about 70% of the community members are white. Unlike in the past when leaders would openly downplay racial discrimination, today things are different and the leadership is keen to eradicate racial discrimination from the community. The leadership of the community continues to address the racial discrimination issue in that every time such cases are reported the leadership is committed to applying justice and condemning the act openly. This has been very helpful in the fight against racial discrimination in that leaders are viewed by many as role models and people are more likely to obey what they perceive as being the wishes of the leaders. Inspite of the efforts from the leadership in the community to fight racial discrimination, the vice continues to be manifested in the daily lives of people. I interviewed Grace who is an African American, about her efforts to secure a chance at a medical school. The lady complained that despite the fact that she had all the relevant qualifications, she passed her admission test well but it has been over 3 months now and she has not heard back from the college. She suspects it is a case of racial discrimination since most of her colleagues from other racial backgrounds with whom they applied together have received a feedback from the college. Grace is worried because she was denied admission to the college. She is now worried that her career dreams of becoming a medical doctor may be shattered. She blames all her misfortunes on what she terms as deep rooted racial discrimination in Tacoma Washington. Graces case is an indication that a lot needs to be done in order to fight racial discrimination, tension and suspicions that exists in the Tacoma community. Despite the isolated cases such as those cited above the residents of Tacoma community have continued to collaborate in many areas. There are many joint community projects whereby members participate regardless of ones racial background. There is a growing evidence that any member of the community can apply and get a job in any place in Tacoma as long as one possess basic qualifications. There are many interracial marriages happening, which all point to the fact that, the society needs to collaborate and overcome the racial challenges. In terms of the texts addressing the racial discrimination issue, there are many scholars from all races that have addressed the issue of racial discrimination. For instance, to carry out this research I referred to articles written by whites who condemn the vice. No single author seemed to support racial discrimination, a good indicator that this war is close to being won. Of all means of fighting racial discrimination the media is a strong avenue. Careless media reporting has fueled racial, ethnic and tribal clashes in countries like Rwanda. However, in Tacoma community the media has shown great responsibility and professionalism. Most programmes aired are sensitive to all races. The FM stations and the print media have all shown commitment to diffusing racial tensions where they suffice and have tended to promote racial co-existence. Conclusion Efforts should be made to investigate all cases that are reported on racial discrimination. Where one is found guilty, proper legal steps should be taken to address the matter. More stringent laws should be introduced to fight remnants of racial discrimination. The Tacoma community is on the right track in terms of inter-racial relations, if the ongoing efforts are continued, racial discrimination shall be totally eliminated in the community in the foreseeable future. References Albert, Peter J. and Ronald Hoffman. (1990) We Shall Overcome: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Black Freedom Struggle. New York: Pantheon Books in cooperation with the United States Capitol Historical Society Personal Interview with Grace, community member. Tacoma Washington.

Why Lithium Batteries Catch Fire

Why Lithium Batteries Catch Fire Lithium batteries are compact, lightweight batteries that hold considerable charge and fare well under constant discharge-recharge conditions. The batteries are found everywhere  -   in laptop computers, cameras, cell phones, and electric cars. Although accidents are rare, those that do occur may be spectacular, resulting in an explosion or fire. In order to understand why these batteries catch fire and how to minimize the risk of an accident, it helps to understand how the batteries function. How Lithium Batteries Work A lithium battery consists of two electrodes separated by an electrolyte. Typically, the batteries  transfer electrical charge from a lithium metal cathode  through an electrolyte consisting of an organic solvent containing lithium salts over to a carbon anode. The specifics depend on the battery, but lithium-ion batteries usually contain a metal coil and a flammable lithium-ion fluid. Tiny metal fragments float in the liquid. The contents of the battery are under pressure, so if a metal fragment punctures a partition that keeps the components separate or the battery is punctured, the lithium reacts with water in the air vigorously, generating high heat and sometimes producing a fire. Why Lithium Batteries Catch Fire or Explode Lithium batteries are made to deliver high output with minimal weight. Battery components are designed to be lightweight, which translates into thin partitions between cells and a thin outer covering. The partitions or coating are fairly fragile, so they can be punctured. If the battery is damaged, a short occurs. This spark can ignite the highly reactive lithium. Another possibility is that the battery can heat to the point of thermal runaway. Here, the heat of the contents exerts pressure on the battery, potentially producing an explosion. Minimize the Risk of Lithium Battery Fire The risk of fire or explosion increases if the battery is exposed to hot conditions or the battery or internal component is compromised. You can lessen the risk of an accident in several ways: Avoid storing at high temperatures. Dont keep batteries in hot vehicles. Dont allow a blanket to cover your laptop. Dont keep your cell phone in a warm pocket.  You get the idea.Avoid keeping all your items containing lithium-ion batteries together. When you travel, especially on a plane, youll have all your electronic items in one bag. This is unavoidable because the batteries have to be in your carry-on but usually, you can keep some space between battery-containing items. Although having lithium-ion batteries in close proximity does not increase the risk of a fire, if there is an accident, the other batteries can catch fire and make the situation worse.Avoid overcharging your batteries. These batteries do not suffer memory effect as badly as other types of rechargeable batteries, so they can be discharged and recharged many times nearly back to their original charge. However, they do not fare well if they are completely drained before recharging or are over-charged. Car chargers are notorious for overcharging batteries. Using any charger other than the one intended for the battery can increase the risk of damage.

Text Organization Guide for English Learners

Text Organization Guide for English Learners Text organization refers to how a text is organized to help readers follow and understand the information presented. There are a number of standard forms that help text organization when writing. This text organization guide will help you logically guide your readers through your text. Text Organization: Referring to Ideas Already Presented Pronouns and determiners are used to refer to ideas, points or opinions that you have previously introduced, or will immediately introduce. Here is a quick review of pronouns and determiners with examples. Pronouns Remember that ideas, opinions, and arguments are considered objects in English which take object pronouns. it / it / its - singularthey / them / their - plural Examples: Its importance can not be underestimated.It now becomes clear that their role in production is vital.The government has given it ample consideration but rejected its validity. Determiners this / that - singularthese / those - plural This is key: Children need to be encouraged in order to succeed.Jefferson referred to those as unnecessary complications. Make sure that pronouns and determiners are clearly defined either before, or immediately after their introduction in order to avoid confusion. Examples: The need for economic growth is vital to any society. Without it, societies become defensive and ... (it refers to need for economic growth)These are vital for any job: interest, skills, manners... (these refers to interest, skills, manners) Text Organization: Providing Additional Information A number of forms are used to provide additional information in text organization. These forms are used at the beginning of a sentence to link text to the previous sentence: In addition to X, ...As well as X, ... Examples: In addition to these resources, we will require a further investment of ...As well as his difficulties in childhood, his continuing poverty as a young adult caused many problems. These phrases can be used in the middle of a sentence or a phrase to provide additional information in your text organization: alsoas well as Examples: Our commitment to the cause, as well as our financial resources, will make this possible.There was also time considerations to take into account. Sentence Structure: Not only...but also The sentence structure Not only clause, but also clause is also used to provide additional information and emphasize the later point in your argument: Examples: Not only does he bring experience and expertise to the company, but he also has an outstanding reputation.Not only are the students improving scores, but they are also having more fun. NOTE: Remember that sentences beginning with Not only ... use inverted structure (Not only do they do...) Text Organization: Introducing a Number of Points Its common to use phrases to signify the fact that you will be making different points in your text. The simplest way to indicate that you will be touching on a number of different points is to use sequencers. The appearance of sequencers indicates that there are points to follow or that precede your sentence. For more information on sequencers, continue on to the section on sequencing your ideas for text organization. There are also some set phrases that point to the fact that there are a number of points to follow. Here are the most common: There are a number of ways / means / manners ...The first point to make is ...Lets begin with the assumption that / the idea that / the fact that ... Examples: There are a number of ways we can approach this problem. First, ...Lets begin with the assumption that all of our courses are necessary for our students. Other phrases are used to indicate that one phrase is related to another in an additional sense. These phrases are common in text organization: For one thing ...and another thing / and for another ...besides that ...and besides Examples: For one thing he doesnt even believe what hes saying...., and another thing is that our resources cant begin to meet the demand. Text Organization: Contrasting Information There are a number of ways to contrast information in text organization. In most cases, two clauses are used: one with the most important information, as well as a clause introduced with a word or phrase showing contrast. The most common of these are although, though, even though, but, yet and despite, in spite of. Although, Even Though, Though Notice how though, even though or although show a situation which is contrary to the main clause to express conflicting information. Even though, though and although are synonymous. Use a comma after beginning a sentence with although, even though, though. No comma is required if you finish the sentence with although, even though, though. Examples: Even though it was expensive, he bought the car.Though he loves doughnuts, he has given them up for his diet.Although his course was difficult, he passed with the highest marks. Whereas, While Whereas and while show clauses in direct opposition to each other. Notice that you should always use a comma with whereas and while. Examples: Whereas you have lots of time to do your homework, I have very little time indeed.Mary is rich, while I am poor. Whereas, While But and yet provide contrary information that is often unexpected. Notice that you should always use a comma with but and yet. Examples: He spends a lot of time on his computer, yet his grades are very high.The research pointed to a specific cause, but the results painted a very different picture. Text Organization: Showing Logical Connections and Relations Logical consequences and results are shown by beginning sentences with linking language indicating a connection to the previous sentence (or sentences). The most common of these include as a result, accordingly, thus, hence, consequently. Examples: As a result, all funding will be suspended until further review.Consequently, the most important elements combine to provide a rich tapestry effect. Text Organization: Sequencing Your Ideas In order to help your audience understand, you need to link ideas together in your text organization. One of the most important ways to link ideas is to sequence them. Sequencing refers to the order in which events happened. These are some of the most common ways to sequence in writing: Beginning: Firstly,First of all,To start off with,Initially, Examples: Firstly, I began my education in London.First of all, I opened the cupboard.To start off with, we decided our destination was New York.Initially, I thought it was a bad idea, ... Continuing: Then,After that,Next,As soon as / When full clause,... but thenImmediately, Examples: Then, I started to get worried.After that, we knew that there would be no problem!Next, we decided on our strategy.As soon as we arrived, we unpacked our bags.We were sure everything was ready, but then we discovered some unexpected problems.Immediately, I telephoned my friend Tom. Interruptions / New Elements to the Story: Suddenly,Unexpectedly, Examples: Suddenly, a child burst into the room with a note for Ms. Smith.Unexpectedly, the people in the room didnt agree with the mayor. Events Occurring at the Same Time While / As full clauseDuring noun (noun clause) Examples: While we were getting ready for the trip, Jennifer was making the reservations at the travel agents.During the meeting, Jack came over and asked me a few questions. Ending: Finally,In the end,Eventually,Lastly, Examples: Finally, I flew to London for my meeting with Jack.In the end, he decided to postpone the project.Eventually, we became tired and returned home.Lastly, we felt we had had enough and went home.