The Baisakhi Festival Is a Seasonal Festival Essay Example for Free

The Baisakhi Festival Is a Seasonal Festival Essay The Baisakhi festival is a seasonal festival. It is celebrated all over the Punjab and Haryana by all classes of people. Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs all take part in this celebration. It falls in he first day of baisakh. It falls every year in the 13th of April. On this day people put on new clothes. They prepare Halawa and several tasty things at home. Baisakhi Fair A fair is held everywhere in connection with the Baisakhi festival. The site of the fair is a place which is religiously famous. Generally the fair is held by the side of a river. The religious body is in charge of the fair. A day before the fair there seen a regular bazaar. There are stalls of sweet, toys fruits on either side of it. On Baisakhi day there is great rush in the fair. There is no place in the fair without visitors. In the fair the crowd is so great that you cannot meet with it even in the over crowded cities. You cannot elbow your way through it easily. Description On one side of the bazaar merry-go-rounds attract the people. They whirl in the air with children and boys of all ages sitting them. The boys enjoy their rides. Near them are the rope dancers. They do their feats on the rope. The moneys men make their monkeys show the same feats as were shown by their forefathers about a hundred years ago. Country Dance On the other side of the bazaar crowd of people can be seen standing on a circle. In the middle there is a group of villagers. They are mostly farmers. They are giving a show of their country dance with the beating of drum. Each one of these villagers has a stick in his hand. These sticks are raised in the air as the dancers lift both hands and raise their legs. They cry,. Gone is Baisakhi, Gone in Baisakhi. The sight is worth seeing. The excitement and enthusiasm of the dancers are very great. So many of onlookers forget there sense of shyness and join the dancers. The dance is wild indeed. Shamianas of Religious Parties Side by side with these means of amusement arrangement are made for the elderly people who are serious and religious minded. Hindus, Arya Samajist and Sikhs have out up their Shamianasunder which they are giving lecture on religion and are signing hymns. The number of the people who are listening to them is small. It is much smaller as compared with huge crowd gathered around the dancers to enjoy the dance. Those people who gather under the Shamianas do not care for the worldly attachments. They go on with their duty. Conclusion By the time evening drawn near, people get tired. They are glad to return home with sweets, toys and fruits for their children for the next day.

Charles Gershom Artist Analysis

Charles Gershom Artist Analysis Kalpana Vadnagara   As a student of Crafton Hills College, I got the opportunity to view a collection of still life paintings and drawings by the Los Angeles-based artist Gershom, which is on display at the Crafton Hills College Art Gallery from February 21 to March 10. An opening reception was held on February 21 at 1 p.m., followed by a lecture from Gershom, Precision and Soul: The Daily Practice of the Painting, at 2 p.m.  At the art gallery was a rare opportunity for student viewers to engage with this revered artist. The exhibition includes twenty-four different sized oil paintings on wood panel. It also includes the representation of his studio settings with some preliminary drawings, to show his art process, also some of the objects in a showcase, which has been used by the artist to draw, and a slide show of his emoji like drawings were moving on a computer. Gershom was born in the Netherlands and lived for many years in Amsterdam. Art has always been his passion, but he earned the degree in Psychology and Epidemiology at first and then moved to Los Angeles to study sculpture and painting. Currently, he teaches Neuropsychology of perception and imagination at different schools, and also teaches drawing studio and rendering in oil paint. To make paintings, he has been using classical techniques of layering and glazes. Most of his still life paintings are painted almost life size. During his lecture, he explains the process of his paintings, which sounds very interesting. After a lot of pencil drawings, he traces them on tracing paper and cuts them, which he uses to create a balanced composition with a grid method by following the rule of third. Gershom said that lines create drawings and shapes create paintings. He also discusses that how important the background of an artwork works. To generate a three dimensional illusion he uses differ ent values on two dimension surface. By creating the contrast, the objects automatically getting the attention and being a focal point of the whole picture.   Blue Bowl with Cherries, 2010oil on panel14 x 1617-1/2 x 19-1/2 framed From different paintings, I choose two different works to discuss about it. The first painting is titled Blue Bowl with Cherries was the heart of the show. Like all other work, this is also painted on panel with oil, size 17-1/2 x 19-1/2 framed. To make this work interesting, the artist uses white, greenish gray, blue, and red colors, and composed it with asymmetric balance. The missing shadow of the bowl and different forms like spheres, and cube create a mystery here. Soft, shallow curves recalls the curves of the human body and often have a pleasing, sensual quality and a softening effect on the composition. Most of the shapes are formed by lines and shifts in color and value. As we move from left to right the value changes into darker, this creates a sense of depth and dramatic contrasts emphasizing a strong light source from the left side of the artwork. The negative space of the work which is lighter greenish gray background enables the viewer to clearly distinguish the shapes, moreover the emptiness of the top part is creating the asymmetrical balance to the artwork. White Pot with Artichoke, 2005 oil on panel24 x 19 29-1/2 x 24-1/2 framed The second artwork I chose to discuss about is titled White Pot with Artichoke, which he created in 2005, five years ago than the first painting. The disproportionate amount of negative space accentuates the artwork vulnerability and isolation. The changing values of different shapes play a major role in establishing space relationships. The artist uses different values to create different textures. Somewhere it feels so soft with lighter value, at the same time, with more contrasting values, he creates a very harsh surface. Artists use color, line, and shading to imply textures in a two-dimensional work. The use of such lines, values, shapes, color and textures create the illusion of depth in space from the foreground through the middle ground to the background. As per my point of view the focal point of this painting is the green Artichoke textured shape on the right side, which emphasis the most that catches the viewers attention. Usually the artist will make one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The area could be different in size, color, texture, shape, etc. Compare to first painting, this one is more calm and soothing because of the muted colors. These kind of work is very thought-provoking and accommodating for art students to study and understand the elements of art. Bibliography Gershom. Precision and Soul: The Daily Practice of the Painting. Personal interview. 9 Mar. 2017. Gershom-art.com. WordPress.com, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2017. Gershom. Gershom. LORA SCHLESINGER GALLERY, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2017. .  

Look At Domestic Robots Information Technology Essay

Look At Domestic Robots Information Technology Essay Since the ancient times the idea of an easier and simpler life existed in the humans. In all these centuries they have discovered and developed many things that help them in their everyday life. One of these inventions is Robotics. The word robot was first introduced by the Czech writer Karel ÄŒapek in his play R.U.R. (Rossums Universal Robots), published in 1920. Later on, it was made famous by Isaac Asimov, in his book I, Robot. After that the meaning of the word has changed extensively. The great number of robots in everyday life has opened a new specter of changes for future applications and developments of robots. Even though there is a great progress in the field, there is always room for improvements. Aristotle once said: If every tool, when ordered, or even of its own accord, could do the work that befits it then there would be no need either of apprentices for the master workers or of slaves for the lords., meaning that if the humans had a mean in their disposal to help them, their life would be a lot better. Leonardo da Vinci is believed to be the first who created a robot. He developed a soldier who could move his head, arms and legs. After him many people invented devices that helped to improve their lives. There are many types of robots but the most important ones are two: the service robots and the industrial robots. The service robot is a robot which operates semi- or fully autonomously to perform services useful to the well-being of humans and equipment, excluding manufacturing operations.  [1]  The industrial robot is an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose manipulator programmable in three or more axes, which may be either fixed in place or mobile for use in industrial automation applications  [2]  . The technologies needed to build a robot are: teleoperators and numerical control.  [3]  A teleoperator is a mechanical manipulator that is controlled by humans from a remote location.  [4]  Numerical control (NC) is a method of controlling machine tool axes by means of numbers that have been coded on punched paper tape or other media.  [5]  The manipulator is controlled by a computer system, which is divided in two sections: arm-and-body and wrist with a gripper. In this way the robot can be taught by the computer system to perform some standard tasks. In the last decades the life of humans has changed a lot. In todays world there are many domestic robots, many of which we didnt even image. Task (chore) robots can be divided in the following groups: vacuum cleaners, pool cleaners, washing machines, window washers and lawn mowers. As time passes new models come on the market, with new qualities, more tasks to perform. Moreover anything that can be programmed to do a chore, doesnt require our presence, and responds to environmental conditions can be categorized as a simple type of robot.  [6]  The interactive robot is the simplest kind of domestic robot. Examples of this kind are coffee maker, washing machines, microwave etc. All these devices use the timer to notify the user when the process is finished, meaning when the food is cooked when the clothes are washed or when the coffee is ready. A more advanced version of domestic robots consists of support robots and house surveillance, helping people to monitor their homes. For al l these reasons, it is not difficult to understand why many big companies such IBM, Microsoft, Sony invest in the development of robotics. Many interactive robots such as automobiles, refrigerators, video records, washing machines, use a microprocessor so they can work as a computer controlling device. If the consumer wants something he pushes the corresponding button. So, the use of automated appliances is user-friendly. The automobile is the most widespread example of an automated object used in our everyday life; it uses microprocessors to operate a variety of functions, including engine control (fuel-air ratio, for example), the clock, the radio, and cruise control.  [7]   Trilobite 2.0 was the first vacuuming robot launched in 2001 by AB Electrolux. The designers of the Trilobite thought of everything when they designed it. They used a sonar system that detects obstacles like walls and stair cases. In 2003 another vacuuming robot was launched by a German company called Kaercher GmbH. They called the robot Robocleaner RC3000. The difference between the latter one and Trilobite is that RoboCleaner RC3000 uses random motion pattern to clean. RoboClenear is equipped with a sensor that monitors the pollution of the air and detects how dirty an area is. Moreover, whenever the battery of the robot is running low it returns to its charging position and in the mean time it also empties his dustbin. The most popular tasks robots built until now are produced by an American company called iRobot Inc. The company is the producer of two other famous robots Scooba and Roomba. Scooba is a floor washing robot while Roomba is a vacuuming one. The real success of these products is not their high quality, but their price. Until now there have been three generations of Roomba. The first generation had three buttons for the size of the room, while their robotic technology consists on a spinning brush on the side and a rotating cylindrical brush at the bottom. The second generation came out in July 2004. It was much more sophisticated than the first one. It had a larger dust bin, better software that calculates room size, fast charging in the home base (or wall hanger in the Discovery SE), and dirt detection.  [8]  The Roombas of the second generation had the same functions, though some of them could have more accessories and all updated features after mid 2005. The third generation call ed 5xx was a whole new level. It was introduced for the first time in 2007 and it had an infrared sensor to detect obstacles, a dock button, and improved mechanical components.  [9]  . Scooba as said before is a floor cleaning robot. Even though we might think that it is different from Roomba actually they are not. They use the same navigation system and the same driver. The difference between them is the cleaning technology. Moreover, IRobot Inc. thought of new models of Roomba called (Dirt Dog and Model 401). These models are really simple to use and they are also cheap to buy. Dirt Dog has a larger dust bin and sweeping brushes but it lacks the vacuum motor. This model is designed for large environments like home garage and home shop. Model 401 is similar to Dirt Dog but it has a standard size dust bin. They are similar in fast charger and extended- life batteries. . The downside of this robot is however that its performance is not up to the level of every other cleaning robot. This household device is slower and does not clean as efficiently as its competitors. One of the companies that competes with IRobots is The Sharper Image Inc. This company launched in the market a vacuum robot called eVac. The only difference between Roomba and eVac, is the eye-catching design of eVac. They both have the same technology with some minor differences. The first difference is that eVac has a touch sensor, when it hits something it backs up and turns. Another difference is that eVac does not have the technology behind the virtual walls like Roomba has. The Sharper Image Inc. included remote control and a traffic cone  [10]  in eVac. On the market there are many types of customers, so to satisfy all of them Black Decker Inc. thought of a cheap robot. It is called Zoombot. Although it costs less than the others, Zoombot has more or less the same technology. The problem of Zoombot is its cleaning is not too efficient. The wide spread of domestic robots made companies produce new models, which were more expensive and much more sophisticated. Ottoro is one of them. It was launched on the market in 2003 by a South Korean company called Hanool Robotics. It is todays most expensive cleaning Robot. Ottoro identifies its own position and objects in any places in the house. The cleaning zone is set according to the map of house and completes the zone in order without missing any spots  [11]  . It also detects the clean or cleaned areas so it does not clean the same area twice. Another feature of Ottoro is its suction spout. It helps Ottoro to reach spaces that other robots cannot reach. LG, another South Korean company, released on the market a cleaning robot called RoboKingV- R400. It is not as stylish as Ottoro but it is well created. Its system is based on odometers. Furthermore its positioning system uses a 32 bit gyro sensor. Robokings effective operation under the control of 22 sensors attached on 32bit Microprocessor, moves in 4 smart patterns such as Gyro-Matrix, Variable-Matrix, and Spiral, Random, depending on the structure and space of the area. Especially, Gyro-Matrix controlled by Gyro sensor does what vacuum cleaner ROBOT has to do. This allows the LG Roboking to drive around the house without getting stuck on furniture.  [12]   Nowadays people do not have enough time to take care of everything, especially the outdoors tasks. It is not a surprise that the popularity of the outdoor operating robots has increased a lot these years. The most popular ones are the pool cleaning robots. These robots are seen as necessary gadeget rather than luxury tools. Aqua Products is an American company that produced one of the most popular pool cleaning robots called Aquabot. It has two powerful motors that share the load and provide a longer service life than other cleaners.  [13]  Aquabot can be put in the pool without any installation. It moves in two different patterns. The first pattern is a rectangular movement, using the walls of pool as a navigation tool. The second pattern is based on a zigzag movement- when Aquabot touches the walls, it starts moving towards the center of the pool. It also has brushes that clean the sides and the bottom of the pool. Aquabot, its power Supply and Floating Cable are ETL Listed to UL Standard 1081. No other robotic cleaner is this safe.  [14]  Dolphin Diagnostic is a pool cleaner robot manufactured by Maytronics, an Israeli company. It uses the same system as Aquabot. It can cre ate the most efficient cleaning pattern by itself. The distinguishing feature of this robot is that it can determine if it left the pool or not. It does that by using an air sensor. If the sensor turns on it will go back into the pool. Another benefit is that Dolphin Diagnostic is able to conduct a self diagnostic analysis, which makes it easier for technicians to receive information about its operations.  [15]  Tigershark is another pool cleaning robot, produced by Aquavac Company. It uses the same system as the previous examples. Tigershark has ASCL (adaptive seek control logic) microprocessor. The processor can determine the size of the pool and it programs a motion pattern in order to clean of the spots of the pool. Other robots than can perform domestic chores are the window-cleaning robots. The downside of this product is their cost of production. There are several problems related to this product. One of them is gravity. Another problem is the surface on which they operate, since window is really fragile. Moreover people use more pool cleaning robots than window robots, which also explains their meek success. For all these reasons these robots are not highly commercialized. Racoon is an exmpale of window cleaning robot. It is developed by Procter Gamble together with Fraunhofer IPA. It was introduced in 2002. After Racoon another window cleaning robot was produced, called QUIRL. Like Racoon, QUIRL relies on vacuum cups to hold to the windows. The difference between the two devices is that QUIRL is smaller and lighter. QUIRL races around the window without any wheels to drive it. The direction and the speed of its path can be controlled by varying the turning motion of the suction paths, caus ing the robot to execute linear or rotational movements.  [16]  Nevertheless, QUIRL is not yet commercialized.  [17]   All cleaning robots have the same problems. They have 3D range cameras used as sensor. The problem with the 3D cameras is that they are really expensive, summing the price of the products. Two German companies came up with a new idea of positioning and navigating the robot, called smart floor. Smart floor contains RFID transponders and it is easy to install. It can be put below all types of floor materials. Robots that have the RFID as a navigation system can operate on this kind of surface. The first cleaning robot which used this kind of navigation system is called Robo40. NorthStar project presented by Evolution Robotics is a solution to the same problem. The device uses these models much like old sailors used the stars in the sky.  [18]  The solution that both projects provided was just for small space, it could not cover large spaces. As the world today is using more technology and less labour it is hard for us to restrain our imagination from thinking the possible effects on our life. Maybe a couple of years from now everything will be computerized. In the supermarkets the customers will be welcomed by a robot similar to Robovie-II. There will be robots driving cars, serving food in restaurants and maybe who knows they could even teach our children in school, even though not everyone is e enthusiastic about all these changes. According to some studies made in South Korea, students were pleased when a robot taught them English. The children like the robots because they never get angry or make sarcastic remarks-unlike their human counterparts.  [19]  However, the future still remains a mystery. For Bill Gates this huge expansion of robotics industry is the same with that of computer business decades ago. As the processing power rises every day and the cost of producing hardware decreases, the growth of robotics industry will speed up. This offers the basis for a future in which robotic devices will become a nearly ubiquitous part of our day-to-day lives.  [20]  Nevertheless, an affordable, open platform that allows robot developers to readily integrate hardware and software into their designs must be established, allowing the further development of the industry.  [21]   The rehabilitation robotics technology is now focusing more in systems that are efficient for handicap people, helping them to conduct a normal life. The advantages of these robots are stability and flexibility. The perfect examples of such devices are the robots Handy1 and Manus. Manus is the leader of these kinds of robots in todays market. The disabled people use Manus to do tasks like drinking, pouring drinks, eating, washing, etc. Another type of robot that helps the disabled people is the mobile manipulator. An example of this kind of robot is Kares II. It is more efficient and has more advantages than the static robots. Karess main task is to do domestic work. In the last few years, EU developed a project called MATS. The goal of this project was to increase the number and quality of the existing human skills in robots. Over these years, we have witnessed the greatest developments of technology, even though there is more to come. If we think of the time that we needed to reach this level of production and efficiency, makes us raise the question if our generation is going to see the beginning and the development of a new industry. Half a century ago we could not even image our lives like they are today. Although, now human beings have passed to a whole new level, that of searching new things. Our laziness is unquestionable. Even though, in this world, where everything is computerized, where inventions are made every day the last thing that we needed to disperse was the labor force. It is very hard to find any industry that hasnt adopted the robotic technology nowadays. In a world where all the industry is based on the new technologies, new start-up companies that produce new gadgets, new toys projects are complex, progress is slow, and practical applications are relatively rare. In fact, for all the excitement and promise, no one can say with any certainty whenor even ifthis industry will achieve critical mass. If it does, though, it may well change the world.  [22]  The best example of these is Smart House; it is made of elements such as network of sensors and actuators.  [23]  The technology of this house contains environment control, health monitoring, fall detector, video monitoring, motion detectors, body temperature and many other devices. A more innovative Smart House would be one that has a keyless system. The doors will be unlocked with fingerprint scanners. Based on the information of the person that opens the doors a robot dog called AIBO would welcome the person. AIBO is produced by SONY. Furthermore, other functions in the house such as turning lights and air conditioner on, opening the curtains would be controlled remotely. From an experiment conducted by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), the possibility of integrating robotic system in a house resulted successful. This house was designed mainly for elderly people and it was equipped with heartbeat sensors. In case the person living in the house had a low or irregular heartbeat, the system would send a text message to his familiars. These kinds of devices are really important in cases when the elderly live alone. A distinguishing feature of this house is that it adapts the habits of the person living in it. Another house like this was built by the University of Florida. They called it Gator Tech. As the houses mentioned before, Gator Tech addresses the needs of aged people. It has smart devices like smart mail box, smart doors, driving stimulator, and smart blind, smart bed, smart refrigerator etc. The smart refrigerator can monitor the food; the consumption and it can detect expired food. It has an integra ted preparation meal advisor and also can create a shopping list. The Smart House is not used only for aged people; it is also used for the disabled or mentally ill like schizophrenic people. The usage of such house would help them have a normal life. As we know, the Smart House is equipped with sensor. Data transmitted by sensors can be analyzed for the immediate purpose of detecting critical situations or for the longer-term purpose of understanding the pathology in question.  [24]  The house can help the person prevent dangerous situations; it can remind the owner to take his or her pills. The devices should also be user-friendly in cases when the person has bad memory or poor management skills. One of the symptoms of schizophrenia is the distortion of the reality. In the case the person already believes that in his house there are hidden microphones or video cameras. The most challenging thing here is to create a balance to improve outside cognitive support without aggravating or inducing delusions.  [25]   Even though, the Smart House helps the elderly and disabled people to have an independent and happy life, it also raises many ethical questions. These ethical questions concern all the co-builders of the society. It questions the dignity and the privacy of the people who will use this technology. Another question is: who will be responsible for that person since he or she is no longer under medical care, lives in a neighborhood and in apartment that she or he can leave and return to? What will be the measures of support in case of an accident or emergency? Furthermore, will these people create dependence since most of the tasks in the house will be done by the devices?  [26]   As all this questions concern us in just one technological development, what is going to happen when every project comes to life? Many people said that the ethical rules should be imposed before any positive effect of technology sweeps away. Another development that raises ethical questions is a robot that works as a babysitter. This can have many advantages, but can a robot react in case of emergencies as a human being. This kind of robot was developed for the first time by South Korean and Japanese companies. The child minding robot offers other facilities for video-game playing, conducting verbal quiz games, speech recognition, face recognition, and conversation.  [27]  Beside all this, we dont know the psychological effect that all this could have on a child who is left for hours with no human contact. Because people cannot conduct experiments on infants, research is conducted in monkeys. The result of the search showed that severe social dysfunction occurs in infant animals allowed to develop attachments only to inanimate surrogates.  [28]   It is shown that the use of robotics in our life has its benefits. On the other hand, an excessive interaction with the robots can lead the persons to a social isolation. Another problem is the robotic pets. The most vulnerable are the small children who are the main target of the manufacturers. They misperceive the relationship with the robot. It looks like all these concerns about the use of robots in our life are still unnoticed by the public. Due to their high price, robots are used only domestically. Since the costs of production are decreasing, this trend is going to change a lot; people will start to buy all kinds of robots. Despite all the problems and concerns that the usage of robotics rises there is no ethical code to tell us who to react in certain case. There is no Convention on the Rights of Children and there is no ethical code on Nanny. Society should discuss and decide the limits of the robots in our life before before the industry and busy parents make the decision themselves.  [29]   Work Cited Industrial Robot. Science Daily: News Articles in Science, Health, Environment Technology. Web. 12 Nov. 2010. Industrial Robots IFR International Federation of Robotics. Home IFR International Federation of Robotics. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. . Abry, Vincent. Domestic Robots Today. Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. . automation. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online. 14 Nov. 2010 Automation Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. . Roomba. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. . Cleaning Robot Named OTTORO | Korea IT Times. Home | Korea IT Times. 31 Dec. 2006. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. . LG Roboking. Consumer Robots Advice, News, Reviews and Prices. Web. 12 Nov. 2010. . Key Features of the Aquabot Pool Cleaners. Probotics- Official Dealer for Robomower Lawnbott Aquabot Repair and Service Automatic Lawn Mower Lawnbot Accurain Aquaproducts Robot Pool Cleaner Friendly Robotics Mowers Robotic Makes a Great Gift Parts and Repairs. Web. 12 Nov. 2010. . Siciliano, Bruno, and Oussama Khatib. Springer Handbook of Robotics. Springer International Publisher Science, Technology, Medicine. 1254- 260. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. . Drexler, Janine. Robot Workers with a Head for Heights. Fraunhofer Magazine. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. . Bilton, N. The Robots Among Us NYTimes.com. Technology Bits Blog NYTimes.com. 29 Mar. 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. . Gates, Bill. A Robot in Every Home. Scientific American. 16 Dec. 2006. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. . Statistics IFR International Federation of Robotics. Home IFR International Federation of Robotics. Web. 12 Nov. 2010. . Sharkey, Noel. The Ethical Frontiers of Robotics. Academic Search Premier. Science 322.5909 (2008): 1800-1801. EBSCO, 19 Dec. 2008. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. Helal, Sumi, et al. The Gator Tech Smart House: A Programmable Pervasive Space. Computer 38.3 (2005): 50-60. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO, Mar. 2005. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. Stip, Emmanuel, and Vincent Rialle. Environmental Cognitive Remediation in Schizophrenia: Ethical Implications of Smart Home Technology. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 50.5 (2005): 281-291 Academic Search Premier. EBSCO, Apr. 2005. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. Gade, Lisa. Review: Sharper Image E Vac. Everyday Robots. 19 Aug. 2004. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. .

Let Gays Marry and Leave Marriage Alone Essay -- Andrew Sullivan Willi

I will summarize some of the key points from the essay, Let Gays Marry, by Andrew Sullivan, and the essay, Leave Marriage Alone, by William Bennett. Some of these main points are taken from mutual beliefs of both authors and others are derived from the opposing opinions of the two. The first summary of Andrew Sullivan’s essay is a reflection of Andrew Sullivan’s stance of the issue. The original essay was in favor of allowing same sex marriage in America. My summary will dictate some of the arguments that I found to be the most persuasive and important to Sullivan’s case. The second summary is of Bennett’s essay, Leave Marriage Alone. I will, again, try to point out the most influential pieces of argument in the essay. Finally, I hope to synthesize these two essays, and expose some of the similarities and arguments between the two. In the synthesis, I hope to provide an incite into some of the basic ideals presented from both sides of the issue. Andrew Sullivan states his thesis in the first paragraph of his essay entitled, Let Gays Marry. â€Å"They are citizens, entitled, like everyone else, to equal protection -no special rights, but simple equality†(25). Sullivan is referring to a supreme court declaration, stating that homosexuals are no longer separate from the general public in America. The decision states that gay and lesbian couples have the same rights as every other American citizen. With the new openness to the gay and lesbian lifestyle, there is no longer a need for homosexuals to feel like a separate entity from society. Based on this idea, advocates of gay and lesbian marriage are campaigning towards the right of same sex unions, recognized by law. Andrew Sullivan argues that many homosexuals... ...des of this argument. Bennett and Sullivan both face the same fears and obstacles in their beliefs. Allowing same sex couples to marry would broaden the definition of marriage, and aid in the gaining of equality for the homosexual community in America. They are both in opposition to each other, but they both agree that America is a diverse and tolerant nation. Neither of them deny that in America everyone has rights and there exist certain, respected, and revered institutions. Bennett and Sullivan are concerned with the result of giving up a traditional way of looking at such an institution as marriage, against the right to this institution for every person in America. Works Cited Let Gays Marry, by Andrew Sullivan http://faculty.mc3.edu/barmstro/sullivan.html Leave Marriage Alone, by William Bennett http://faculty.mc3.edu/barmstro/sullivan.html

How the Media Affects the Self Esteem and Body Image of Young Girls Ess

The misconception of what is beautiful can be detrimental to young girls. In a television industry attempt to sell goods, they are depicted as sexy. Creating a need for parents to intervene and present a more realistic and normal view of physical beauty. Today, TV presents sexually based images crafted to appeal to young girls. Unfortunately, they are led to believe that their value is only skin deep, causing flawed expectations, illusions, and wrong information about the truth of the physical body in the real world. In an attempt to look the part some have fallen victim to eating disorders, while others have exchanged childhood innocence for an Adult view of what is sexy. When girls are disheartened over their inability to look like some media idol or doll, then it is time to pay attention and ask why. Psychologist Levine and Kilbourne, emphasize a need to stay more connected, and finding out why children feel they have to compete with the images of people they see in the media (So Sexy So Soon 27). The idea of looking sexy may be fine for adults, but the notion of sexy little girls is somehow disturbing. TV is setting the agenda and succeeding as it paints the perfect girl, as tall, skinny, tan, pretty, and rich. TV commercials sell sexy because sexy sells, and is now targeting younger audiences. A preteen viewing a Bratz Dolls commercial will be prompted to visit their web site, where she will be greeted with attractive dolls dressed in sexy outfits. The dolls portray an image of teenage girls with large attractive eyes, lush glossy lips, and dressed in the latest fashion. Psychologists Lamb and Brown make the following observation â€Å"Dressing for fashion a’la Barbie or Lil’ Bratz dolls and dressing for physical ... ...ldren is the objective. All commerce works on supply and demand if consumers continue to buy into selling sexy to kids, then these negative outcomes will continue. Works Cited Crow, Scott J. et al. "Increased mortality in bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders." American Journal of Psychiatry. 166. 12. (2009): 1342+. General OneFile. Web. 25 Nov. 2010. Hibberd, James "Tuned-in kids get turned on earlier; study links adult-aimed TV to sex at younger age." Hollywood Reporter 409.35 (2009): 6+. General OneFile. Web. 4 Nov. 2010. Lamb, Sharon, Lyn Mikel Brown. Packaging Girlhood. â€Å"Rescuing Our Daughters From Marketers’ Schemes.† New York. St Martin’s Press, 2006: 303. Print. Levine, Diane E, Jean Kilbourne. So Sexy So Soon. Ballantine Books, 2009: 209. Print. "Did You Know That?" Skipping Stones. May-Aug. 2009: 29. General OneFile. Web. 4 Nov. 2010.

Lofts at Las Colinas Apartments

My area of choice is Irving, Texas. My evaluation shall be based on a one bedroom apartment. The cost of renting apartments across this area will vary depending on various factors, some of which include the location of the apartment, how pet friendly it is, and the amenities available (e.g. swimming pool, fitness center, high speed internet, etc.).The ten apartments that I shall evaluate are: Archstone at MacArthur Apartments (located on 1100 Hidden Ridge Road), Lincoln Lakeside (on 6727 Deseo), Huntington Ridge Apartments (situated at 4220 Esters Road), Hillcrest Apartments (located on 3149 West Walnut Hill Lane), Tuscan Villas Apartments (located on 6445 Love Dr), Delano Apartments (located on 1001 Lake Carolyn Parkway).Lofts at Las Colinas Apartments (located on 1050 Lake Carolyn Parkway), Glen Arbor Apartments (located on 4003 N Belt Line Rd), and Surrey Oaks I and Surrey Oaks II Apartments (both located on 1814 Estrada Parkway) (MyNewPlace, 2008).Standard amenities across all th ese apartments include a pool, spa, package receiving, storage space, a fitness center, a BBQ/Picnic area, and on-site maintenance. For a standard one bedroom house, Archstone at MacArthur charges an average rate of $845. In addition to these amenities, the location of Archstone at MacArthur is ideal. Situated in the heart of Las Colinas, it is sandwiched between shopping malls and restaurants.Las Colinas’ central location between   Dallas and Fort Worth and its proximity to the DFW Airport has made it a magnet for the offices of corporate bodies, and also boasts of luxury hotels, country clubs, exclusive resorts and luxurious mansions. This has made it a prestigious address both for up market homes and offices and it remains a planned community. In addition, pets are also allowed (MyNewPlace, 2008).Lincoln Lakeside Apartments, in La Villita, San Antonio, charge much more than Archstone at MacArthur Apartments.At $930, these apartments however offer more amenities. In addit ion to the amenities offered by Archstone at MacArthur Apartments, Lincoln Lakeside also offers high speed internet, a sundeck, a business center, and a clubhouse. These extra facilities would help explain the higher rates charged.Like the Las Colinas, La Villita is a planned community, located on the eastern banks of the San Antonio River, and is served by a large number of shops, galleries and restaurants. It is in the Central Loop (â€Å"downtown San Antonio†) area which is bound by Interstates 35, 37 and the US highway 90, which run around it (MyNewPlace, 2008).Lofts at Las Colinas Apartments charge even more. At $1, 219 for a one bedroom apartment, it is one of the most expensive addresses in Irving. However, it offers much more in the way of both amenities and location than either Lincoln Lakeside or Archstone at MacArthur.In addition to the standard facilities and in addition to high speed internet, a sundeck, a business center and a clubhouse, Lofts at Las Colinas Apa rtments offer controlled access, a courtyard, night patrol, a rec room, and elevators.In addition, it offers access to four major freeways, is located at the heart of the Los Colinas CBD, and fronts the promenade of the Lake Carolyn. It restricts some breeds of pets and as a matter of policy allows a maximum of only two pets (MyNewPlace, 2008).In contrast, apartments such as Surrey Oaks 1 Apartments which have only the standard amenities cost much, much lower. At Surrey Oaks 1, one would pay an average of only $450.Surrey Oaks II, with the only extra feature being night time patrols, go for a comparable rate of $470. Glen Arbor Apartments, which have similar amenities and no extras, go for only $489. Hillcrest Apartments have even fewer amenities and charge only $480 for a one bedroom apartment. At $535, Huntington Ridge Apartments throw in an extra benefit in the form of night patrols (MyNewPlace, 2008).At an average rate of $979 for a one bedroom apartment, Delano Apartments are a lso considered upscale. Reflective of the rates are the extra amenities that the apartments offer. In addition to the standard facilities that one would find in Surrey Oaks for example, Delano Apartments also offer concierge services, a sundeck, elevators, high speed internet, a courtyard, a rec room, a clubhouse, and a business center.Like the Delano Apartments, Tuscan Hill Villas Apartments also charge premium rates for more top-of-the-class amenities. At $935 a month for a one bedroom apartment, the apartments have all the facilities that upscale apartments such as Delano, Lofts at Las Colinas, and Lincoln Lakeside Apartments offer (MyNewPlace, 2008).An examination of the location also shows that homes that are considered upscale (more luxurious and comfortable) charge higher rates. This explains why the exclusive Lofts at Las Colinas is almost two times as expensive as Surrey Oaks 1.   Those with more amenities are more expensive.That explains why Delano is much more costly th an Hillcrest. Those apartments which are located close to transit systems, in downtown locations, or close to shopping malls charge relatively higher rates than those which are not.Lofts at Las Colinas’ close proximity to the downtown of both Dallas and Fort Worth has certainly also contributed to the princely sum of $1,219 that it charges for a one bedroom apartment. Areas that charge more than $900 are considered upscale (MyNewPlace, 2008).

Contemporary America Essay

Joven Isamer Bilog 12 Apr 2011 History 162 Section 8 America’s role in World War II was fueled by the desire to fight oppression abroad. However, America’s own oppressive behavior contradicts this desire. Segregation and discrimination were still prominent in WWII. Full citizenship rights were denied to African-Americans. The Jim Crow laws kept the separation of black and white soldiers. Black and white soldiers shared different bathrooms and were trained in different military units. African-American soldiers fought two wars: one over the Axis Powers and one with domestic racial prejudice.There is no sense for America to fight for democracy if America could not have even exemplified it. There was no motive to guide an African-American soldier to shed blood for hypocrisy. In January 1942, a cafeteria worker named James G. Thompson sent a letter to the Pittsburgh Courier that decided to confront the contradiction of a Jim Crow army defending democracy and proposed the Dou ble Victory sign. The first â€Å"V† stood for victory over America’s enemies abroad and the second V stood for victory over African-American’s enemies at home.The Pittsburgh Courier’s â€Å"Double V† campaign was a profound movement that provided incentive for African-American war efforts and effectively revealed the disparity between America’s ideals abroad and the reality at home. The Double V campaign instantly grabbed the attention of the Pittsburgh Courier which started publishing the Double V insignia in its February 7th edition. Thompson’s letter made an immediate impact due to its simple yet memorable slogan with the words. His Double V idea was great enough for a very popular black press to quickly support.The slogan â€Å"gave voice to a democratic dream that would be widely shared across the country. † African-Americans could quickly relate to the cause because of its positive message. The Pittsburgh Courier used gr eat tactics such as photographs to charge the â€Å"Double V† Campaign. The photographs in the paper had a woman with a â€Å"VV† on the back of her dress, a class of six graders flashing the Double V sign and a soldier forming a Double V with his hands and two military flags. The campaign did not discourage patriotism or influence a turn against America.It called for the democratic truth America tried to embody. Private Charles F. Wilson wrote to President Roosevelt, â€Å"Are the Chinese to believe that we are fighting to bring them ‘freedom, equality, and justice,’ when they can see that in our Armed Forces we are not even practicing what we preaching? † This illustrates the powerful effect the campaign had in motivating people to stand up for the double victory cause. Democratic America was a fraud in World War II and Thompson’s letters called America out to be a true model for democracy.White America only had to worry about the victory o ver the Axis powers. The Double V showed the greater challenges colored Americans had to face. An African-American soldier named E. G. McConnell of the 76ist Tank Battalion said, â€Å"I was in a unit I was damn proud of, and I knew that the things we did would shape the future for my children and grandchildren. † The soldiers who felt unsure about the war now had a certain answer which was that the ideal would be one day reached with enough sacrifices. The maintenance of patriotism is vital to unifying the country.Black and White Americans live in America. Love for one’s country is something that can be undeniably shared. The Courier’s introduction of the Double V Campaign had a brilliant statement which was â€Å"WE HAVE A STAKE IN THIS FIGHT†¦. WE ARE AMERICANS TOO! † This statement shows that all Americans no matter what race share the loyalty and pride for the country. Black and White Americans share the same goal in defeating the Axis Powers in the name of democracy. African-Americans have just as much to lose as White Americans. Support for the campaign also came from famous whites.Politician Thomas Dewey supported the campaign stating, â€Å"All Americans must participate in the terrible struggle ahead – in our munitions factories at home – and in every branch of our armed forces on the battle fronts. † This shows how the Double V campaign was able to make the problems on the home front evident. The Pittsburgh Courier showed a picture of a black and white man showing the Double V sign in its Feb 28, 1942 edition. This showed that the fight for democracy was not limited to that of a colored American. The Double V ideal was available to all American people.The Courier gracefully executed a fight not against the whites but to fight with them. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) denounced the army’s segregationist policy: â€Å"A Jim Crow army cannot fight for a free world. † The mutual effort between colored and white Americans was necessary to defeat the evils of discrimination. There can be no peace and justice without cooperation because a change in a nation requires everyone. The editor of the Pittsburgh Courier wrote: â€Å"We call upon the President and Congress to declare war on Japan and against racial prejudice in our country.Certainly we should be strong enough to whip both of them. † This statement illustrated America’s great potential to win both victories and amplified America’s greatness. If America is fighting for democracy abroad it should be easily able to fight for democracy at home. There was a calling for America to prove it is a truly marvelous country that conquers any problem. The two victories coexist well because the fight is the same but just in different areas. Just as much as democratic principles were being eradicated in Europe by the Axis Powers; democratic equality was being ignor ed in America.Black columnist George Schuyler said â€Å"Our war is not against Hitler in Europe, but aganst Hitler in America. Our war is to get a democracy we never had. † Schuyler points out that only is there a problem with World War II and the fight against Germany, but that there is a segregation and discrimination problem on United States soil. The victory at home is necessary for the victory abroad because there is no justification in fighting for a contradiction. Black soldiers’ presence made a huge difference for America. African-Americans were allowed into the Air Corps on January 16, 1941 and the War Department office was flooded with applications.Although black soldiers were able to fight in the sky they still faced racial prejudice. â€Å"Promotions of blacks were nonexistent; it was obvious when young whites were promoted over blacks with years of exemplary military service. † These black soldiers personally felt the harsh discrimination. Their ha rd work was overlooked and there was nothing to be done about it. The War Department was stern on its traditional treatment of colored soldiers. These soldiers could not protest the discrimination. The â€Å"Double V† campaign gave them the ability to protest by instilling the idea that fighting in the war will later result in a better future.The soldiers were fighting for the second victory at home. A Tuskegee administrator said, â€Å"When Negroes do not have to be continuously on their guard against such unnecessary strains during the period of their flying training they will do better as flyers. † This illustrated a contradiction because segregating training camps is a definite example of racial discrimination. The segregation cultivated strains of doubt and hopelessness in the minds of the black soldiers. The Double V helped link black soldiers’ urge for victory in WWII with the hope for an end to discrimination and segregation.A black airman in the 99th, a nd an eventual Tuskegee Airman, â€Å"every man in the 99th was aware that the success of the 99th would impact the status of blacks in the Army Air Force and the army as a whole and that each man performed his job as if the race depended on him. † The â€Å"Double V† Campaign gave black America the opportunity to feel like they were a part of a greater struggle for freedom everywhere. One soldier said, â€Å"Just carve on my tombstone, ‘Here lies a black man killed fighting a yellow man for the protection of a white man’. This showed the paradox that they are expected to do the same dangerous and life risking things as the white man but do not reap the same benefits. Black soldiers were willing to protect country even though the relationship was not reciprocal. These black soldiers needed to risk their life for a worthy cause which is what the â€Å"Double V† Campaign did by providing them with the motive of victory on the home front. Considering U. S. involvement in WWII â€Å"government officials began stressing the need of a united home front to ensure victory, and many blacks realized that whites could no longer ignore the issue of discrimination. With the increasing participation of colored Americans in the war, the issue of discrimination became a bigger concern. The issue could no longer be avoided. The Double V stepped in at the perfect time and confronted the issue of discrimination. As can be seen throughout the whole of this analysis, The â€Å"Double V† campaign was a profound movement that provided incentive for African-American war efforts and effectively revealed the disparity between America’s ideals abroad and the reality at home. Thompson’s words were very inspiring because he showed the perseverance to overlook all the unjust treatment and still have optimism in America.The positive assertion contributed greatly to the success of the campaign. The â€Å"Double V† campaign was o ne of the most extensive patriotic drives in the country during the war because it kept black America appraised of the struggle for victory overseas and victory at home through numerous publications. World War II gave African-Americans the perfect opportunity to change the ways of America. It was impeccable timing for the â€Å"Double V† campaign to start. Many African-Americans participated in the war and were willing to sacrifice their lives.There were also many African-Americans such as men in the military who questioned if was worth defending a nation representing hypocrisy. The â€Å"Double V† Campaign was started for these people who represented the common theme of discrimination. It was during World War II in which the possibility of African-Americans being heard. The connection of the two victories was clever because it demonstrated that African-Americans are fighting for everyone else and raises the question of why it is not reciprocated which shows that Afric an-Americans are entitled to equal rights.There is a request for cooperation among all Americans to truly represent democracy. To be constantly brought down by discrimination and prejudices and still persevere is mind blowing showed the amazing patience African-Americans had. The â€Å"Double V† campaign showed the public that there is a potential existence of an America practicing what it preaches where all men are created equal and no innate social, cultural or human right is withheld from you. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Ronald Takaki, Double Victory: A Multicultural History of America in World War II (Boston: Little, Brown and Co, 2000), 25 [ 2 ].Michael S. Foley, Home Fronts A Wartime America Reader (New York: The New Press, 2008), 56 [ 3 ]. Takaki, 21 [ 4 ]. Washburn, Pat The â€Å"Pittsburgh Courier’s† Double V Campaign in 1942 (1981), 4 [ 5 ]. Takaki, 30 [ 6 ]. Takaki, 34 [ 7 ]. James G. Thompson†The Courier’s Double ‘V’ For a Double Victory Campaign Gets Country-Wide Support,† The Pittsburgh Courier, February 14, 1942 [ 8 ]. James Edward Boyack, â€Å"Denounces Limit Placed on Negro in War Efforts,† Pittsburgh Courier, Feb. 28, 1942, 1 [ 9 ]. Washburn, 8 [ 10 ]. Takaki, 23 [ 11 ].Beth Bailey, â€Å"The â€Å"Double-V† Campaign in World War II Hawaii: African Americans, Racial Ideology, and Federal Power,† Journal of Social History 26:4 ( March 1993): 817 [ 12 ]. Takaki, 24 [ 13 ]. Lynn M Homan, Black Knights: The story of Tuskegee Airmen (Gretna, Lousiana: Pelican Publishing Company, 2001), 30 [ 14 ]. Homan, 71 [ 15 ]. Homan, 34 [ 16 ]. Lawrence P. Scott, Double V The Civil Rights Struggle Of The Tuskegee Airmen (East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University Press, 1992), 134 [ 17 ]. Takaki, 34 [ 18 ]. Washburn, 2 [ 19 ]. Scott, 167