Andrew Beard Invents the Jenny Coupler

Andrew Beard Invents the Jenny Coupler Andrew Jackson Beard lived an extraordinary life for a black American inventor. His invention of the Jenny automatic car coupler revolutionized railroad safety. Unlike the vast majority of inventors who never profit from their patents, he profited from his inventions. Life of Andrew Beard - From Slave to Inventor Andrew Beard was born a slave on a plantation in Woodland, Alabama, in 1849, shortly before slavery ended. He received emancipation at age 15 and he married at age 16. Andrew Beard was a farmer, carpenter, blacksmith, a railroad worker, a businessman and finally an inventor. Plow Patents Bring Success He grew apples as a farmer near Birmingham, Alabama for five years before he built and operated a flour mill  in Hardwick, Alabama. His work in agriculture led to tinkering with improvement for plows. In 1881, he patented his first invention, an improvement to the double plow, and sold the patent rights for $4,000 in 1884. His design allowed for the distance between the plow plates to be adjusted. That amount of money would be the equivalent of almost $100,000 today. His patent is US240642, filed on September 4, 1880, at which time he listed his residence at Easonville, Alabama, and published on April 26, 1881. In 1887, Andrew Beard patented a second plow and sold it for $5,200. This patent was for a design that allowed the pitch of the blades of plows or cultivators to be adjusted. The amount he received would be the equivalent of about $130,000 today. This patent is US347220, filed on May 17, 1886, at which time he listed his residence as Woodlawn, Alabama, and published on August 10, 1996.  Ã‚  Beard invested the money he made from his plow inventions into a profitable real-estate business. Rotary Engine Patents Beard received two patents for rotary steam engine designs. US433847 was filed and granted in 1890. He also received patent US478271 in 1892. There was no information found as to whether these were profitable for him. Beard Invents the Jenny Coupler for Railroad Cars In 1897,  Andrew Beard patented an improvement to railroad car couplers. His improvement came to be called the Jenny Coupler. It was one of many that aimed to improve the knuckle coupler patented by Eli Janney in 1873 (patent US138405). The knuckle coupler did the dangerous job of hooking railroad cars together, which formerly was done by manually placing a pin in a link between the two cars. Beard, himself had lost a leg in a car coupling accident. As an ex-railroad worker, Andrew Beard had the right idea that probably saved countless lives and limbs. Beard received three patents for automatic car couplers. These are US594059 granted November 23, 1897, US624901 granted May 16, 1899, and US807430 granted on May 16, 1904. He lists his residence as Eastlake, Alabama for the first two and Mount Pinson, Alabama for the third. While there were thousands of patents filed at the time for car couplers, Andrew Beard received $50,000 for the patent rights to his Jenny Coupler. This would be just shy of 1.5 million dollars today. Congress enacted the Federal Safety Appliance Act at that time to enforce using automatic couplers. View the complete patent drawings for Beards inventions.  Andrew Jackson Beard was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006 in recognition of his revolutionary Jenny Coupler. He died in 1921.

Career Advice I Wish Someone Had Given Me

Career Advice I Wish Someone Had Given Me I’m not exactly ready for my â€Å"lifetime achievement† career highlight reel yet (after all, I’m only [age redacted] years old). However, there’s not much point in making you wait for my retirement party to share some professional truths I’ve learned along the way- things I wish I’d figured out earlier. These pointers might have saved me some stress and aggravation along the way. Even when things are bad, try to relax a little.Years ago, a friend and colleague astutely pointed out that even when people were freaking out about deadlines and deliverables and general chaos at our educational publishing company, â€Å"no one dies here.† There are plenty of life-and-death industries, but unless you’re an actual surgeon or air traffic controller, consequences are not deadly. Everyone lives to work and fuss another day.The bottom line: Workplace issues are typically not worth waking up at 3 a.m. with a raging panic attack.There is al ways a solution.If you forgot to do a crucial task, or missed a deadline, or are otherwise stumped†¦there is a fix available. It may not be a pretty one, and could involve either extra work or a large slice of humble pie with blame ice cream on top- but there is always a way out.One of the most valuable workplace skills I’ve developed, by far, is the ability to stop, tune out the panic or anger, and plot out different ways to resolve an issue. Creative problem-solving isn’t necessarily something you have in your arsenal already†¦but you can develop it with time and practice. It can be as simple as jotting down a quick outline of the problem, then brainstorming ideas about what can be done. Not all of these ideas are necessarily winners or feasible, but the process can get the lateral thinking juices flowing even when you feel stuck.The bottom line: Don’t hide or walk away because something seems insurmountable.Ask for help.This is one I struggle with a ll the time. And this is not a new thing- if you ask my parents, they’d tell you that my middle name should probably have been changed to â€Å"I Can Do It Myself† by the time I was six years old. It can be really hard to admit that you can’t handle all things at all times, or that you don’t understand the next steps. This is especially true in the workplace, when you feel the need to be The Indispensable Employee, the superstar.The bottom line: Asking for help prioritizing, or for extra hands on a project, is not an admission of defeat. It means you know your human limitations well enough to let others in when necessary.No individual is  indispensable  in the workplaceThis was a really hard one to learn. At one company, I watched as waves of people were let go over a period of two years, with little rhyme or reason. I survived round after round, and it created a false sense of security. I had great employee reviews, and a string of promotions! I was well-liked! I was me, darnit! Then it was my turn to be laid off, and it was devastating. Sometimes circumstances beyond your control (economics, social dynamics, a dartboard in HR) will play out, no matter who you are. You are unique, but roles can always be changed or filled as necessary.The bottom line: There’s no magic way to guarantee job security forever. All you can do is work hard and make yourself as valuable as possible. If that fails you and you find yourself out the door, be ready to take up new paths and opportunities.Don’t let impostor syndrome pull you down.If you’re not familiar with â€Å"impostor syndrome,† it’s the feeling that you’re secretly lousy at your job. The name is a new-ish and trendy one, but the feeling probably goes back to the first wheel-making company started by our cave people ancestors. It’s a basic human insecurity that you’re just barely scraping by while everyone around you is dazzlingly competent and talented. Yet if you look carefully at your most recent job (and any previous one you’ve held), you got it and kept it because others saw quality in you. Flukes happen. They don’t happen repeatedly, and they certainly don’t amount to a career. You can be good at your job while still having imperfections and leaving room for improvement.The bottom line: If you’re worrying that your job performance is a fluke, you’re probably fine. Someone who actually wasn’t good at his job probably wouldn’t care very much.And last but not least, wear sunscreen. (Okay, so that’s not my advice per se, but it still works.) Seriously, I hope you take this advice in the spirit in which it’s given- by someone who knows all of these things, and still struggles to master them anyway. Overall, I think they make me a stronger and more adaptive employee with much to learn, and I hope you find the same.

New styles and techniques of art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

New styles and techniques of art - Essay Example The transition was as a result of scientific information availability, technology advancement and the increased appetite for practical examination that changed the styles and techniques used to create art forms. Art movements and techniques that came up resulted to the following resulted to Modernism, impressionism, realism, divisionalism, futurism amongst others. Modernism can be traced to the early 19th century as a result of industrial revolution. Art at this point used techniques like rewriting, revision, recapitulation, reprise and incorporation which distinguished it from the basic traditional art methods (Kuspit 82). This was seen as the best medium to illuminate the livelihood of working classes in the urban setting against the expanding industrial platform in Great Britain. Manet was a great artist that revolutionized modernism because he clearly brought about the element of realism in his works.in France impressionism was under modernism involved a change in focus by a group of new age artist that concentrated on the outdoors as opposed to indoors bring the aspect that human beings see more than mere objects. A good example is Pablo Picasso’s piece of ‘les demoiselle’s d’avignon’ in 1907. Divisionism is a clear form of art technique used to describe the change in 19th to the 20th century. The method was employed by impressionists and realists, an example of a well renowned artist by the name George Seurat (Kuspit 110). The technique entails putting colors in their fundamental forms or elements, using small dots platform to paint. This gives a luminous effect that is rich in color especially if observed from a distance. A good example of this technique is Seurat’s own work of ‘island of la grande jatte -early nineteenth century’. Realism is an art context or concept is the attempt to place a subject or object in its right position with minimum to absolutely no artificial interference and

Social Thought and Social Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social Thought and Social Change - Essay Example Several theorists have contributed to the comprehensive view of social change, not confining the understanding of social change as associated with globalization alone. Of these theorists come three of the pillars of sociology, whose thoughts have been applied even today. These theorists include Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Emile Durkheim. Their concepts might have some strands of divergence, yet these concepts were converged to forming a single praxis for academic integration. According to Daniel Bell (1999 cited in Kalantzis & Kope, 2008), a sociologist from Harvard University, â€Å"post-industrial society† is a term coined to refer to â€Å"new principles of innovations, new modes of social organization, and [the emergence of the] new classes in society†¦ [highly featuring] the codification of theoretical knowledge and the new relation of science to technology.† In addition, the post-industrial society is also characterized by a rapid-growing service sector with a focus on information dissemination and modern technological drives that utilize extensively human knowledge and not human muscles (Bell, 1973, p.127). During Marx’s time, the dominating classes involved in the production system are the proletariats and the bourgeoisie, with the latter own the means of production. In the post-industrial society, a large and a growing number of workers are working not in factories of goods production but in service industries, all of wh ich are using their intellects and technical capabilities instead of physical strength. This class of workers, most are professionals, are what Bell calls the new class.

Working at Mcdonalds Essay Example for Free

Working at Mcdonalds Essay In the essay, â€Å"Working at McDonald’s,† Amitai Etzioni talks about his belief that working, especially at fast food chain restaurants can be bad for teenagers. Working, for teenagers under some circumstances can be bad for them but sometimes its good depending on the daily schedule of whomever is working. If the teen is still in school, working is bound to affect their involvement and attendance in negative ways. Though it’s true that while working you gain on the job experience, Etzioni believes it can’t really help if it comes at the cost of education while teens think the opposite. Fast food jobs do have an advantage earning money while also learning how to manage the money they make. It boils down to whether or not risks outweigh the benefits when working jobs like this which all depends on the current situation of the teen. To begin, the Etzioni writes how he believes jobs don’t go well with keeping up schoolwork and can get in the way of attendance. This is the same for nearly all extracurricular activities most are after school so it’s likely to get in the way. When I was in high school I had a friend John who tried to juggle a job, schoolwork and a football altogether but in the end he chose to give up football because he couldn’t make it to any of the practices. The author also takes into account that if students don’t have enough time to study their grades will drop without question. It comes down to the decision of which activity to give up to make room for work. More than half the time students will abandon the sport to find more study time like in my friend John’s case. Second, the author addresses the problem that I think has two sides to the coin. He believes that jobs generally don’t give any training that would help outside of the work they would be currently doing. This is true because most of the skills taught in fast food restaurants are for the simple things like running the register or working the fryer. Many of the jobs themselves could be done as good or better by a nine-year-old because of how simple the work is. Most aspects of this type of job wouldn’t help anyone in the future much less a teenager. Once they no longer work there  anymore, the skill is useless unless they still plan on working in the same type of job. There are a couple of things that can be learned from a fast food job that might help with other jobs the future. If you’ve ever been to a McDonald’s or any other fast food restaurant and had a bad worker serving you, you might have gotten a little annoyed. Work ethic is very important at a fast food place or any workplace for that matter. In other jobs, if you are not quick and efficient, you might not make it very far in your work. Also, workers learn how to work with different types of people this helps them in later experiences in a work force. Getting an impatient customer is a good example, when presented with a problem like this it helps prepare you for other situations like it in the future. This is not always easy but will serve as great experience for jobs in the future. Lastly, Etzioni explains that working doesn’t teach teens how to manage their money. This however is where I disagree, the best thing about having a job as a teen is that you learn the value of a dollar from your own mistakes. Having money and working for that money helps teens to understand that money isn’t free and shouldn’t be wasted. When teenagers want to buy something they’ll simply go buy it only to find later that they could have gotten it at half price had they waited on a sale. Also teens will try to rent things they want from â€Å"pay later† businesses like rent a center instead of buying it when they have the money to do so just to learn that not only is it more expensive this way but if they miss a payment the rightful owners could repossess it at any time. Often times this could lead to debt, but if they are lucky their parents might help them out. â€Å"Students who worked at least 25 hours per week while in school, their unemployment rate four years later was half of the seniors who did work.† This means that most of those that began in fast food jobs stayed in that area of work or simply became unemployed. There are plenty of pros and cons to working at an early age, while it could interfere with school it can also help teens develop a good work ethic and learn from their mistakes. If they don’t get the chance to make these mistakes before they move away, the consequences could be alot more devastating. The question the author wants the reader to consider in all this is, can the risk worth the reward?

Platos Allegory of the Cave and Jumping Mouse :: Allegory Jumping

Plato's Allegory of the Cave and Jumping Mouse Truth is like trout. Slippery, it becomes difficult to grasp tightly in any attempt to catch it, and is even more difficult to show to other people, in that when one holds it up for scrutiny it is often lost in the struggle to do so. "Jumping Mouse" and Plato's "The Allegory of the Cave" have a common theme in the form of the search for truth, and showing this truth to the unenlightened. They vary greatly, however, in the carrying out of their exposure of truth, and more, their view of truth and how it is to be handled. In the ancient story of "Jumping Mouse", Mouse finds his way to the river and medicine through his ability to literally jump past his fears and see the sacred mountains. When he does so, he catches a glimpse of a personal vision that is to drive him through the remainder of the story, and eventually to a higher plane when he is changed into an eagle. This vision is everything to him from that point on, and he strives from then on to reach it. After he has seen it and fallen into the river, he returns to where the rest of the mice are busy with the same thing they did when he left. They are enthralled in their narrow worlds and views, and so treat him with fear when they see him. They choose to make a story to explain his physical change, an excuse to stay away from him, possibly because they fear the ideas of change he brings back with him. On the most basic level, Jumping Mouse at that point threatens their existence. They are mice, and defined by the fact that they are ever busy: burrowing and nesting and foraging; Jumping Mouse comes back with the idea that this might not be the only thing to life. Obviously they cannot simply drop everything they had known to that point and take up his view, so they instead rejected him. Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" is similar in that a fabled and nameless man who had been chained to his illusions was set free and saw the true nature of all that was around him, outside of the cave. When he hypothetically returns to try to tell those who are still chained there of the outside world, and how everything they see is only the faint shadows outlining the true nature of reality, they reject him outright.

A parent’s guide to teenagers Essay

Mahsa Being a parent or carer is one of the most fantastic and rewarding things in life, however it can also be challenging. As a parent or carer, you have a huge influence on your son or daughters life. Your impact can help them become who they are, to shape their values and aspirations. Knowing how to respond to their teenage needs isn’t always easy. There really is no straight forward answer, however this guide will surely help you get one step closer to helping your teen with their problems. What makes teenage years so special? Between the age of thirteen and nineteen, people develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. People of these ages ay most likely be dealing with many problems and pressures. They’ll be experimenting with friendships and relationships. At this time, school or work nay be adding pressure to their lives. Puberty will also occur in these years, it can be very confusing and even frightening for your child. Through adolescence, both girls and boys will be feeling self conscious and worried about fitting in. One of the most difficult things about being a parent or carer to a teenager is knowing when to let your child make their own decisions and knowing when to step in and help. Helping your child with self esteem One of the main struggles in the adolescence stage is self esteem. It’s often hard for a teenager to feel good about themselves, this could be because they’re surrounded by images of â€Å"perfect† men and women. As a parent, you have a vital role in shaping how your child sees themselves. You have to watch what you say, whether or not they show it, your child listens to your opinion. Comments about their weight, intelligence or other abilities may mean nothing to you, but they stick with your child. For example, instead of pointing out to your child that they’re overweight, you could ask them to exercise with you. One of the best ways you can help your child feel better about themselves is to compliment their good attributes. Emphasise their positive things or a regular basis. If you tell your child something enough times, they’ll soon start to believe that in themselves  too. Helping your child with peer pressure Another struggle that occurs mos tly in the adolescence stage is peer pressure. In your child’s adolescence stage they are most likely going to be influenced by other teenagers, however there are steps you can take to help them. You can’t choose your children’s friends, however you can encourage them to hang out with friends who exhibit positive peer pressure. If they have friends who are behaving and following the rules, they’ll more likely to follow them too. In their early teens, speak to them about what kind of behaviour you expect from them and what behaviour you do not and will not tolerate. Teach them to say â€Å"no† when they’re uncomfortable with doing something. Set clear rules and boundaries for them, however do not do this without telling them why. Make sure they understand that what you’re doing is for their own good. Helping your child with making decisions Teaching your child about decision making and to recognise when he/she have made a good decision is vital. There are many ways you can help your child improve their ability to make wise decisions. Firstly, help your child clarify the problem that’s causing them to make a decision, ask them about the situation and what they may need to change. Secondly, you can brainstorm the possible solutions to the decision that they’re making, usually there will be more than one solution. As a parent you can make an important contribution by pointing this out to your child and suggesting alternatives. After your child has chosen one solution, discuss the consequences with them. Helping your child with being bullied Each year Over 3.2 million students are victims of bullying and Approximately 160,000 teens skip school every day because of bullying. Even though many teenagers will not be directly affected by serious bullying, they may be victims of it. The first step you should take is to speak to your child about the bullying and how they’re coping. Next, you should inform their school/place of work about the bullying. Let your child know that you’re there for them, reassure them that it isn’t their fault and that there is a solution to the problem. By law schools are supposed to help with bullying and in most, if not all schools there are anti bullying rules. To conclude, the main way to help a teenager in their adolescence stage is to be there for them and let them know that you’re there if they need any  help with the struggles they face. As a parent you play a vital role in their life and if you follow this guide you will be sure to see a positive effect on your teenagers life.

Deception Point Page 20

â€Å"This first sample here,† Corky said, pointing to a shiny, jet-black stone, â€Å"is an iron-core meteorite. Very heavy. This little guy landed in Antarctica a few years back.† Rachel studied the meteorite. It most certainly looked otherworldly-a blob of heavy grayish iron whose outer crust was burned and blackened. â€Å"That charred outer layer is called a fusion crust,† Corky said. â€Å"It's the result of extreme heating as the meteor falls through our atmosphere. All meteorites exhibit that charring.† Corky moved quickly to the next sample. â€Å"This next one is what we call a stony-iron meteorite.† Rachel studied the sample, noting that it too was charred on the outside. This sample, however, had a light-greenish tint, and the cross section looked like a collage of colorful angular fragments resembling a kaleidoscopic puzzle. â€Å"Pretty,† Rachel said. â€Å"Are you kidding, it's gorgeous!† Corky talked for a minute about the high olivine content causing the green luster, and then he reached dramatically for the third and final sample, handing it to Rachel. Rachel held the final meteorite in her palm. This one was grayish brown in color, resembling granite. It felt heavier than a terrestrial stone, but not substantially. The only indication suggesting it was anything other than a normal rock was its fusion crust-the scorched outer surface. â€Å"This,† Corky said with finality, â€Å"is called a stony meteorite. It's the most common class of meteorite. More than ninety percent of meteorites found on earth are of this category.† Rachel was surprised. She had always pictured meteorites more like the first sample-metallic, alien-looking blobs. The meteorite in her hand looked anything but extraterrestrial. Aside from the charred exterior, it looked like something she might step over on the beach. Corky's eyes were bulging now with excitement. â€Å"The meteorite buried in the ice here at Milne is a stony meteorite-a lot like the one in your hand. Stony meteorites appear almost identical to our terrestrial igneous rocks, which makes them tough to spot. Usually a blend of lightweight silicates-feldspar, olivine, pyroxene. Nothing too exciting.† I'll say, Rachel thought, handing the sample back to him. â€Å"This one looks like a rock someone left in a fireplace and burned.† Corky burst out laughing. â€Å"One hell of a fireplace! The meanest blast furnace ever built doesn't come close to reproducing the heat a meteoroid feels when it hits our atmosphere. They get ravaged!† Tolland gave Rachel an empathetic smile. â€Å"This is the good part.† â€Å"Picture this,† Corky said, taking the meteorite sample from Rachel. â€Å"Let's imagine this little fella is the size of a house.† He held the sample high over his head. â€Å"Okay†¦ it's in space†¦ floating across our solar system†¦ cold-soaked from the temperature of space to minus one hundred degrees Celsius.† Tolland was chuckling to himself, apparently already having seen Corky's reenactment of the meteorite's arrival on Ellesmere Island. Corky began lowering the sample. â€Å"Our meteorite is moving toward earth†¦ and as it's getting very close, our gravity locks on†¦ accelerating†¦ accelerating†¦ â€Å" Rachel watched as Corky sped up the sample's trajectory, mimicking the acceleration of gravity. â€Å"Now it's moving fast,† Corky exclaimed. â€Å"Over ten miles per second-thirty-six thousand miles per hour! At 135 kilometers above the earth's surface, the meteorite begins to encounter friction with the atmosphere.† Corky shook the sample violently as he lowered it toward the ice. â€Å"Falling below one hundred kilometers, it's starting to glow! Now the atmospheric density is increasing, and the friction is incredible! The air around the meteoroid is becoming incandescent as the surface material melts from the heat.† Corky started making burning and sizzling sound effects. â€Å"Now it's falling past the eighty-kilometer mark, and the exterior becomes heated to over eighteen hundred degrees Celsius!† Rachel watched in disbelief as the presidential award-winning astrophysicist shook the meteorite more fiercely, sputtering out juvenile sound effects. â€Å"Sixty kilometers!† Corky was shouting now. â€Å"Our meteoroid encounters the atmospheric wall. The air is too dense! It violently decelerates at more than three hundred times the force of gravity!† Corky made a screeching braking sound and slowed his descent dramatically. â€Å"Instantly, the meteorite cools and stops glowing. We've hit dark flight! The meteoroid's surface hardens from its molten stage to a charred fusion crust.† Rachel heard Tolland groan as Corky knelt on the ice to perform the coup de grace-earth impact. â€Å"Now,† Corky said, â€Å"our huge meteorite is skipping across our lower atmosphere†¦ † On his knees, he arched the meteorite toward the ground on a shallow slant. â€Å"It's headed toward the Arctic Ocean†¦ on an oblique angle†¦ falling†¦ looking almost like it will skip off the ocean†¦ falling†¦ and†¦ † He touched the sample to the ice. â€Å"BAM!† Rachel jumped. â€Å"The impact is cataclysmic! The meteorite explodes. Fragments fly off, skipping and spinning across the ocean.† Corky went into slow motion now, rolling and tumbling the sample across the invisible ocean toward Rachel's feet. â€Å"One piece keeps skimming, tumbling toward Ellesmere Island†¦ † He brought it right up to her toe. â€Å"It skips off the ocean, bouncing up onto land†¦ † He moved it up and over the tongue of her shoe and rolled it to a stop on top of her foot near her ankle. â€Å"And finally comes to rest high on the Milne Glacier, where snow and ice quickly cover it, protecting it from atmospheric erosion.† Corky stood up with a smile. Rachel's mouth fell slack. She gave an impressed laugh. â€Å"Well, Dr. Marlinson, that explanation was exceptionally†¦ â€Å" â€Å"Lucid?† Corky offered. Rachel smiled. â€Å"In a word.† Corky handed the sample back to her. â€Å"Look at the cross section.† Rachel studied the rock's interior a moment, seeing nothing. â€Å"Tilt it into the light,† Tolland prompted, his voice warm and kind. â€Å"And look closely.† Rachel brought the rock close to her eyes and tilted it against the dazzling halogens reflecting overhead. Now she saw it-tiny metallic globules glistening in the stone. Dozens of them were peppered throughout the cross section like minuscule droplets of mercury, each only about a millimeter across. â€Å"Those little bubbles are called ‘chondrules,'† Corky said. â€Å"And they occur only in meteorites.† Rachel squinted at the droplets. â€Å"Granted, I've never seen anything like this in an earth rock.† â€Å"Nor will you!† Corky declared. â€Å"Chondrules are one geologic structure we simply do not have on earth. Some chondrules are exceptionally old-perhaps madeup of the earliest materials in the universe. Other chondrules are much younger, like the ones in your hand. The chondrules in that meteorite date only about 190 million years old.† â€Å"One hundred ninety million years is young?† â€Å"Heck, yes! In cosmological terms, that's yesterday. The point here, though, is that this sample contains chondrules-conclusive meteoric evidence.† â€Å"Okay,† Rachel said. â€Å"Chondrules are conclusive. Got it.† â€Å"And finally,† Corky said, heaving a sigh, â€Å"if the fusion crust and chondrules don't convince you, we astronomers have a foolproof method to confirm meteoric origin.† â€Å"Being?† Corky gave a casual shrug. â€Å"We simply use a petrographic polarizing microscope, an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer, a neutron activation analyzer, or an induction-coupled plasma spectrometer to measure ferromagnetic ratios.†

Body Piercing Essays - Fashion, Body Modification

Tattooing/Body Piercing Essays - Fashion, Body Modification Tattooing/Body Piercing There are various aspects through which people, especially youth, identify themselves. People are always sending some sort of communication out at all times, whether it is subconscious or not. Images and styles are adopted which communicate meanings about the individual to his/her peers and to society. Styles of dress, language, music, and dance are some of the ways that portray one's own unique symbols, values, and meanings. One other such signifier of identity is through body modification, particularly tattooing and body piercing. In today's society people have adopted the new style or trend of body modification. There are many reasons in which people obtain piercings and tattoos. Those who modify, manipulate and mutilate their bodies do so for many reasons. Some say it's simply exciting and pleasurable, or part of the latest fad. Others place it in the context of art, ritual or self-expression-they say it's an act with cultural and social significance. In contrast, many people can 't understand why someone would choose to put so many holes in their body or cut their skin. They see body modification as self-destructive, much like anorexia or bulimia. Below I will talk about why, what, where, and how people modify their body and how people look upon them. Youth and adolescence is one of, if not the most, significant and influential moments in one's life, when youth are seeking their identity of who they are. Tattooing and piercing are one of the many ways through which youth may express their identity, for they are symbolic representations of how the self is conceived or understood. People may also want themselves to be portrayed as someone who they are not. For example, someone gets a tattoo or earrings just to look tough or cool. Getting a piercing or tattoo symbolises a certain change in ones life. These changes, no matter how minuscule they may seem, have a huge impact on a person's identity. Usually when a youth gets a tattoo or earring, they are symbolising their maturity by finally being able to make a decision on their own and taking matters into their own hands. Body modification is clearly a means by which youth seek to displace authority and etiquette. Most youth don't think about the lasting affect it has on there later life when they begin to modify their body. Yes, piercings you can take out but tattoos will always be there, especially in the business world, tattoos are nothing to be desired and that you could possibly risk a job because of it. Body piercing is believed to be a self-imposed rite of passage. By this I mean that people, in general, feel an instinctive drive to undergo some sort of a rite of passage. If society denies them this, they may create one for themselves in order to feel as though they have a place in society. Almost everyone has been tempted to get a tattoo or piercing, but did you ever ask your self why you wanted one? This theory tries to explain that it is natural and instinctive and possibly even necessary in order to find your place in society. Along with this idea, there is a concept that deals with the issue of pain. Because culture in Western society only allows for pain in instances of accidents and pregnancy, people find other ways of experiencing such pain. This pain cannot help but change one's outlook on life in some way. Everyone will experience some sort of pain in his or her life, whether it is physical or emotional. After any such experience, you are bound to look at life in a differ ent, and possibly better way. Tattooing and piercing can also be blamed on the idea of hopping on the bandwagon. The media plays the number one role in the influence of this. Look at our role models: Dennis Rodman, successful basketball play; most of the music industry, professional skateboarders and snowboarders. All of these people have some sort of body modification. What does a kid think when their favorite basketball player or music group are pierced and tattooed from head to foot? He wants to be just like them and all the talk from their elders about not being

Again, Why Contests

Again, Why Contests Contests are the underdog in the publishing industry, yet everyone wants to have won an award. So why arent contests a regular in a writers promotional plan? The fear of competition? The concept of paying an entry fee? Im not sure, but writers need to take a moment to consider entering contests. You dont have to wait until you have a book to vie for an award. The benefits of entering contests: 1) You learn to be vetted. Rejection is a necessary evil in a writers world. Toughen up being rejected in a contest rather than 2) You develop a measure for your talent. All too often writers wonder if theyve evolved to the point of being worthy of publication. Those who dont wonder are definitely not. A good measure of your abilities comes from entering contests. When you start placing, you realize you might be getting it right. 3) You learn to write for a judges eye. Writing for readers can often dilute the urgency to write well. Picturing a judge dissecting your work may raise your awareness. 4) Placing or winning opens doors. Besides the obvious of being able to claim you are an award-winning writer, you and your name appear on several radars of agents, publishers, even promoters. You may win a publication contract, money, promotion online. Regardless, you climb that ladder higher than if you hadnt entered. 5) You may find a home for your poetry or prose. The market is slim for shorter works and poetry. Contests, however, are one of the few opportunities to put you on the map, get published, even earn a financial reward. Poetry and shorts contests abound in the spring and fall. Use them The perceived drawbacks of entering contests: 1) Entry fees. Frankly, I see nothing wrong with entry fees. Contests cost money to operate. Sure, if you submit to ten a month at 15 dollars each, the cost can add up, but you could easily insert one a month into your writing plan. 2) Tying up work. When you submit to a contest, the sponsor expects the piece to be original and unpublished, and dont want to compete with someone else if they choose your work. But you are prolific. You can keep pitching to publishers or self-publish and fight for attention amidst the competition, or you can submit to a contest and let it sit for a few months. You are a writer. You have way more pieces in your head, so write them. 3) Scams. Sorry, another weak excuse in my book. There are more scammy agents and bedroom small publishers than contests. And its easier to search and determine the caliber of a contest than those agents and publishers. I sum up contests in one word: opportunity. You can embrace it or let it slide on

What should a guide to proper cell phone use include Essay

What should a guide to proper cell phone use include - Essay Example stance, in offices or during any official business, in schools and hospitals, talking loudly on cell phones or the loud ringing of the phones are regarded as not impolite but also distracting. Secondly, there are certain formal restrictions on cell phone usage such as when driving, when crossing the road, or during a flight. This is because talking on the phone while driving or crossing the street may divert ones attention from being alert and therefore lead to accidents. Cell phone usage while driving has been strictly prohibited as being too dangerous to ones safety and also those of others on the road. Thirdly, there are some etiquettes that go with using cell phones in public. For example, talking loudly on the phone, using loud ring tones, listening in on someone else’s conversation are some of the basic etiquettes that one should follow. Also, in certain buildings for security reasons, cell phones are not allowed and the regulations in place by these buildings should be respected. Finally, mention must also be made of the fact that several tests have proved the harmful health effects of prolonged and excessive use of cell phones. Using these phones for long conversations and also using them several times a day may lead to health problems such that deleterious impact on the brain cells. In conclusion it may be said that while they are no doubt useful, it is advisable that cell phones be used in accordance with certain guidelines as mentioned above and also not used