English Class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

English Class - Essay Example The piece is evidently written in the past tense recalling the young Langston bowed on the mourning benches in his wishful attempt to see Jesus, but resorting to lie after failing to do so. The expressions of remorse after the event ended and young Langston’s loss of faith are also written from Old Langston’s perspective. The concluding paragraph further reinforces the fact that the story is indeed written from a man’s perspective as opposed to a boy’s perspective when it states â€Å"†¦ for I was a big boy twelve years old †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Langston). Some people believe that â€Å"Salvation† was written as a part of Langston Hughes’ autobiography â€Å"The Big Sea† (Carrillo). However, the biography holds but an excerpt of the response Langston obtained from his story â€Å"Salvation†. His style of narrating his memory about the events at church allows the reader to relate to his story and evaluate the writer accordingly. It feels as though â€Å"Salvation† is a window to Langston Hughes’ life through which he let the readers learn from and intrude upon his youth. It gives the reader a feeling of knowing the author personally. â€Å"Salvation† seems to be an autobiographical piece through which Langston Hughes has shared his experiences and declared how events had molded his journey through

METR Homework 2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

METR Homework 2 - Assignment Example Precipitation can fall as rain, hail, snow or sleet. Once precipitation reaches the group, it forms surface water which often ends up in springs, lakes, rivers, ocean, sea and even underground water. Low, thick clouds reflect solar radiation thus cool the surface of the Earth. High, thin clouds transmit incoming solar radiation. They also entrap some of the outgoing infrared radiation released by the Earth and emit it back downward (Hobbs 67). This warms the earth surface. Ocean, sea and lake surfaces and rain forests have low albedos; they reflect only a small percentage of the suns energy. Deserts, ice, and clouds, however, have high albedos; they reflect a large percentage of the suns energy. Low or high albedo may result into either high or low temperature in an area. The greenhouse effect often produced by greenhouse gases is also brought about by clouds which absorb long wavelength (infrared) radiation from the surface of the earth radiating some of it back down. Additionally the re-radiation of infrared radiation from the Earths surface may simply reflect it back to the surface. This essentially is the electromagnetic radiation of the earth surface which affects the local temperature of an area. Cloud greenhouse forcing effect can cause temperatures of an area to increase. Its negative causes the opposite. Aerosol serve as nuclei for cloud formation, the diagram above shows basic outlook of the processes involved in the production, growth, and eventual removal of atmospheric aerosol particles. Aerosols act as Cloud Condensation Nuclei, cloud droplets are formed through this nucleus. Aerosols also affect the quality of clouds. Studies have shown that high amounts of aerosols in the clouds will cause more than normal droplets in the clouds. Regions in North and South America have high citrus clouds. Reflection, absorption and transmission of cirrus clouds layers in the near infrared wavelength and the visible have been reported by a number of

An Introduction to Mayanmar

An Introduction to Mayanmar Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia, bordered by Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, China on the northeast, Laos and Thailand on the east, the Andaman Sea on the south, and the Bay of Bengal on the southwest. It has a land area of 678, 500 square kilometers and, as such, is the largest mainland Southeast Asian country and the second largest in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after Indonesia. There are two ecological niches in the country: (1) the lowland central plains, which lie between the Irrawaddy and Salween Rivers in the center of the country and are occupied by the dominant Burmans and (2) the highlands surrounding the plains, which are primarily inhabited by minority groups such as the Shans, Kachin, Karen, and Chin. The lowland plains are dominated by a monsoon climate of rain from June to October, a cool interlude for a month or two, and then a hot, dry period lasting until the rains return. The mountainous regions experience the same general seasonal fluctuations with slightly cooler temperatures. Temperature could reach 38ÂÂ °C between May and October and fall to 20ÂÂ °C between December and February. History and Key Events The Mon and Pyu peoples are reported to be the first inhabitants in the area. The arrival of the Mon people, who migrated to Southeast Asia from the north is said to have occurred in the ninth century B.C.E. The first Pyu city-state, Beikthano, was established during the first century C.E. but in 832 C.E. the final Pyu city-state, Sri Ksetra, falls to the Nanzhao kingdom of China. In 1044, the Burman kingdom of Pagan was founded but experienced invasions by the Mongols in 1287 B.C.E. Pagan declined and new centers of power were located at Pinya, Sagaing, and Ava. With the arrival of the British colonizers, a series of war followed. The first Anglo-Burmese War occurred between 1824-1826. The second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 resulted to the expansion of the British territory. As a consequence of the third Anglo-Burmese War in 1883, Burman territories along with that of the neighboring minority groups became part of British India. Burmese nationalism emerged with the establishment of the Young Mens Buddhist association in 1906. They opened a number of schools dedicated to raising the cultural and educational levels of Burmans, so they can compete with Indians for jobs in the colonial government. Strikes against British colonial rule followed. Burma was separated fromfrnhtfcnfnhgbvf India in 1937 but it was soon followed the Japanese occupation. In 1948, Burma gained independence. A military coup in 1962 placed Ne Win in power. Since then, the country had intermittently been under military rule. The government ignored the election victory by the opposition party, the National League for Democracy and its leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was imprisoned. On July 23, 1997, Myanmar joined ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Adminstrative changes were made in March 2006. Nay Pyi Daw became the new administrative capital. However, in 2007, the country remained impoverished and huge fuel price increases sparked protests, later dubbed the saffron revolution after the robes of monks who also joined in. On November 7, 2010, Myanmar held its elections in accordance with the new constitution that was approved in the referendum in 2008. As part of Myanmars Roadmap to Democracy, Suu Kyis was released from house arrest and detention after 14 years on November 2010. Culture and Society The Pyu and Mon were the earliest inhabitants of the area. Under the 1974 Constitution, the political map demarcated ethnic minority states Chin, Karen (Kayin), Kayah, Mon, Rakhine and Shan and seven divisions where Burmans are in the majority. Myanmar has around 135 linguistic sub-groups from 13 ethnic families. Total population as of July 2010 is estimated at 53, 414, 374. In terms of age structure, 25.3 percent are below 14 years old; 69.3 percent are between 15-64 years old; and 5.4 percent are 65 years and above. The median age is 26 years old and life expectancy is 64.23 years. The population is expected to grow at a rate of 1.096 percent. In terms of literarcy, 89.9 percent of the population age 15 and above are capable of reading and writing. Burmese is the official language. It belongs to the Sino-Tibetan group of languages and is spoken by the majority of the population. Likewise, around 15 percent of the population speak Shan and Karen. English is spoken mainly in large cities and among educated social groups. Majority of the population, 89 percent, are Buddhists. 4 percent are Christians, 4 percent are Muslims, 1 percent are animist and the remaining 2 percent belongs to other local religious groups. Some of the indigenous people in the hill areas, who followed various types of shamanistic rituals in the precolonial era, were converted to Christianity in the nineteenth and twentieth century. Pagan, which is said to be the birthplace of Burmese culture, is the place where the first Burmese empire was founded. This is where the newcomers from the Indo-Chinese plateau first wrote their language and where the Burmese first received the teachings of Buddha. Furthermore, the Ananda temple serves as a monument to the great civilization of Pagan. This cave-type temple was built by King Kyanzittha in 1090. Tourist would come for the Ananda temple festival which falls on the full moon of Pyatho as up to a thousand monks chant day and night during the three days of the festival. Government The Republic of the Union of Myanmar was previously known as the Union of Myanmar or the Union of Burma. Myanmar had been under military rule since 1962. The administrative capital was moved on November 6, 2005 from Yangon, the countrys economic hub. After more than two decades, election were held on November 7, 2010. The parliament was convened in February 2011 and former Prime Minister Thein Sein was sworn into office as president on March 30, 2011. The event marked the end of the junta that ruled the country for decades. Tin Myint Oo and Sai Muak Kham will serve as vice presidents. 30 ministers and 39 deputy ministers were also appointed by the president to his government. The legislature is bicameral, which comprise the House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw) and the House of Representatives (Pythu Hluttaw). Military forces was estimated at 375,500 in 2006, making it one of largest military in Asia after China and India. The military, that uses Chinese technology, is given a hug e portion of the national budget. comprise Economy Myanmars economy is heavily centered on agricultural processing. Major agricultural products are rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, and sugarcane. Other industries include wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; oil and natural gas; garments, jade and gems. Total exports (which primarily include natural gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice, clothing, jade and gems) were $6.862 billion in 2009. Major export partners were Thailand (46 percent), India (19 percent), China (9 percent), and Japan (6 percent). On the other hand, total exports (which primarily include fabric, petroleum products, fertilizer, plastics, machinery, transport equipment; cement, construction materials, crude oil; food products, edible oil) were $4.02 billion in 2009. Major export partners were China (33 percent), Thailand (26 percent), and Singapore (15 percent). Myanmar is also heavily dependent on official development assistance (ODA s) in keeping its economy afloat. Foreign Relations CURRENT ISSUES: Thailand Karen and other ethnic refugees, asylum seekers, and rebels, as well as illegal cross-border activities from Burma the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween River near the border with Burma; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China reconsidering construction of 13 dams on the Salween River but energy-starved Burma with backing from Thailand remains intent on building five hydro-electric dams downstream, despite identical regional and international protests India seeks cooperation from Burma to keep Indian Nagaland separatists, such as the United Liberation Front of Assam, from hiding in remote Burmese Uplands; Bangladesh after 21 years, in January 2008, it resumed talks with Burma on delimiting a maritime boundary AUSTRALIA Current Australian policy toward Burma is tightly targeted with respect to both humanitarian aid and financial sanctions imposed on named individuals who form, or are connected to, its ruling military regime. Australia is well placed to initiate a number of diplomatic actions on Burma, including supporting a United Nations Security Council-imposed arms embargo. Sanctions The Australian governments current policy toward the Burmese regime is best described as targeted, incorporating a combination of sanctions applied to specifically named individuals and activities, and expenditures allocated to specific purposes and projects while eschewing broad-based restrictions on trade and investment. Diplomatic Initiatives Australia co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Burma at the March 2009 session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. In November 2008, Australia co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Burma in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly. Humanitarian Assistance The Australian government provides humanitarian assistance to the Burmese people, with a focus on women and children, ethnic minorities, and displaced persons and refugees on the Thailand-Burma and Bangladesh-Burma borders. CHINA In 1949, Myanmar became the first noncommunist country to officially recognize the newly established Peoples Republic of China. China has become an important partner for Myanmar in trade, economic assistance, and investment. In 2008, bilateral trade reached US$2.63 billion, increasing 26.4% compared to the year before. In fiscal year 2008-2009, Chinas investment in Myanmar was US$856 million, which ranked first among the investors in Myanmar that year. According to a recent report prepared by the International Crisis Group, China may be able to extract minor concessions, but these have never led to fundamental changes in Myanmar. China could not stop the conflict between the Myanmar army and the Kokang cease-fire group. That conflict forced an estimated 30,000 Kokang and Chinese to flee from Myanmar into Chinas Yunnan Province, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry noted that the conflict harmed the rights and interests of Chinese citizens living [in Yunnan]. The report also said that Chinas influence is limited by the Tatmadaw governments profound distrust of China and its anxiety about domination by China (which will not occur). Bilateral relations between China and Myanmar are nevertheless on a stable base, and dialogue between the two countries is frequent. On September 28, 2009, for example, General Tin Aung Myint Oo, first secretary of the Myanmar government, attended a reception in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of the Peoples Republic of China in Rangoon along with Lieutenant General Myint Swe, the chief of the Bureau of Special Operations-5, which oversees the Rangoon Regional Military Command, and other senior officials. JAPAN The chief aim of the Japanese governments policy toward Myanmar is to encourage the government and the people of Myanmar to move in the direction of political democratization and economic development. Japan assists Myanmar in economic development, recognizing the necessity and urgency of enhancing the welfare of the people as well as the geo-economic importance of the country as a link between South Asia and Southeast Asia. In the context of economic cooperation, Japan has provided grant and technical assistance, although yen-denominated loans have been suspended since 1988. The purpose of this assistance has been mainly to improve humanitarian conditions through medical and health care, school construction, and education. The allocation of financial resources has been decided on a case-by-case basis, taking into account improvements in the human rights situation and the progress of political democratization. PHILIPPINES Areas in which specific Philippine policies could be directed: Providing assistance in education modernization programs, including provisions for liberal arts and humanities. Working within ASEAN to provide the basis for political reform in Burma/Myanmar by making use of provisions in the ASEAN Charter that promote respect for democracy and human rights and in the ASEAN Political and Security Community that urge the sharing of values and norms in the region. Initiating exchange visits by young people on a bilateral basis between Burma/Myanmar and the Philippines, including formal exchanges through training programs for young bureaucrats (e.g., the Foreign Service Officer cadet program in the Philippines). Initiating cultural exchanges between the two countries. ASEAN ASEAN functions according to consensus decisions, it is unlikely to serve as anything more than a structure for managing economic relations, and it cannot overcome the reluctance of India and China to do anything that would adversely affect their economic interests in Burma/Myanmar. ASEANs Stand on Myanmar Defended the membership of Myanmar in ASEAN Opposed any discrimination directed at Myanmar in ASEANs external relations and cooperation with any dialogue partner or other external party Continued to support Myanmars quest to join Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation as soon as the moratorium on organization membership is lifted Supported Myanmars joining the annual ASEAN-Europe Meeting starting from the fifth meeting in Hanoi in October 2004 Encouraged and supported dialogue and cooperation among all parties concerned with achieving peaceful resolution to the political problems and national reconciliation in Myanmar Supported the prompt implementation of Myanmars seven-step roadmap to democracy, as expressed, in particular, at the 2003 ASEAN Summit in Bali Encouraged Myanmar to keep fellow ASEAN member states fully informed of progress as well as setbacks in implementing various measures in the roadmap Supported the ASEAN chair when interacting with Myanmar Supported the good offices of the UN secretary-general and his special envoy to Myanmar Support capacity building for the Myanmar government, including attachment to and training at the ASEAN Secretariat, as well as recruitment of Myanmar nationals to work in the ASEAN Secretariat. Take an active leadership role in mobilizing ASEAN and international support for the operations to provide humanitarian assistance to survivors of Cyclone Nargis, under the Tripartite Core Group of ASEAN, the United Nations, and Myanmar

Free Brave New World Essays: Huxley and Shakespeare -- Brave New World

Huxley and Shakespeare "Do they read Shakespeare?" asked the Savage as they walked, on their way to the Bio-chemical Laboratories, past the School Library. "Certainly not," said the Head Mistress, blushing. In Aldous Huxley's â€Å"Brave New World", allusions to William Shakespeare and his works emphasize the contrast between the ""Brave New World"" and the world in Shakespeare's time and even the current time period. Enhancing the work's meaning, the allusions and character's reactions to the allusions reveal the positive and negative aspects of our society today. The main characters in "Brave New World", Lenina Crowne, Henry Foster, and Bernard Marx, live in a futuristic world where babies are mass produced in laboratories and raised to perform various functions in society. In order to assure community, stability, and identity, the basis of their world, these functions must be met and solitary amusements are discouraged. Inferring that reading Shakespeare is entertaining, people in the ""Brave New World"" have "feelies" to amuse themselves instead. To demonstrate the differenc... Free Brave New World Essays: Huxley and Shakespeare -- Brave New World Huxley and Shakespeare "Do they read Shakespeare?" asked the Savage as they walked, on their way to the Bio-chemical Laboratories, past the School Library. "Certainly not," said the Head Mistress, blushing. In Aldous Huxley's â€Å"Brave New World", allusions to William Shakespeare and his works emphasize the contrast between the ""Brave New World"" and the world in Shakespeare's time and even the current time period. Enhancing the work's meaning, the allusions and character's reactions to the allusions reveal the positive and negative aspects of our society today. The main characters in "Brave New World", Lenina Crowne, Henry Foster, and Bernard Marx, live in a futuristic world where babies are mass produced in laboratories and raised to perform various functions in society. In order to assure community, stability, and identity, the basis of their world, these functions must be met and solitary amusements are discouraged. Inferring that reading Shakespeare is entertaining, people in the ""Brave New World"" have "feelies" to amuse themselves instead. To demonstrate the differenc...

Alexander the Great – Essay 6

Alexander the Great is often thought of as the greatest military commander that the world has ever seen. He was born in July of 356 B. C to King Philip II of Macedonia and Olympias. Since his youth, Alexander was tutored and trained by great philosophers such as Aristotle and Leonidas. His legacy of greatness started with the taming of the wild horse, Bucephalus. Alexander of Macedonia is worthy of the title, Great, due to his strategic military operations, his expansion of the Greek Empire, and the cultural diffusion of the Greeks across the world. Alexander the Great is recognized as one of the greatest commanders that world has ever seen, if not the greatest. Alexander first led troops as a mere teenager and became king afterwards due to the assassination of his father. He decided to expand the Greek Empire, which his dad, King Philip, started but couldn't finish. At just the age of twenty years old, he set out with a massive army to conquer the east. During his time of campaign, he never lost a singer battle and was hailed as a hero and god for overcoming the Persian Empire. Alexander the Great expanded the Greek Empire to be from the Ionian Sea to a part of Northern India. He formed the largest empire of the time that the world was yet to see. This alone make him deserving of the title â€Å"Great†, but Alexander also played an important role in the cultural diffusion of Greek ideas. Alexander the Great spread the Greek culture throughout the world. The start of western culture came with the Greeks, and Alexander made it achieve global dominance by spreading it throughout the vast empire that he formed. He introduced the notion that the government should be for everyone, no just the wealthy. He is also considered to be a pioneer in urban planning and established around twenty cities, such as Alexandria, that became important trade centers and locations of many cultures. The local culture was further changed by Alexander's Greek-influenced city planning techniques, which established towns with a central market square, school, offices, shops, a public theater, and gym. It was changes such as these that led to the Hellenistic period of Greece after the death of Alexander, which is marked with increasing urbanization. His empire contained many cultures because he allowed the nations he conquered to practice any religion they wanted. He also incorporated some of the ideas of other nation into Greek culture making it stronger and lasting. As Alexander the Great made his way back to Greece, after conquering a part of India, he was stricken with severe fever and died in Babylon at the age of thirty-two. He had achieved so many accomplishments that few could measure up to. His legacy had influence on many cultures and nations and led to many developments in the economy and changes to the government. He redesigned history and was an inspiration to future military leaders like Julius Caesar. It is through these accomplishments that he proved worthy of being called the â€Å"Great†. Alexander the Great changed the historical development of his country. While his father has made major changes inroads in expanded Macrdonia beyond the Balkan Peninusula, it was Alexander who expanded the sphere of influence well beyond even his father's great expectations. Alexander also carried the message of Greek democracy to Asia and into the dark continent of Africa, the journey that the concept would have never taken place. It was Alexander who introduced the individual freely participating in government, and it was this idea that government was for everyone, not simply for the wealthy. This influenced not only the historical development of his own country, but also inspired other countries to establish the same systems of government.

“Twelfth Night” Review

Shakespeare’s twelfth night is inevitably marked with deep social insight. The differences in power, the paltry of gender and social identity are all equally put into question in this seemingly light hearted comedy. The start of the play introduces us to the motive of our main character, Olivia and casts light unto the main problem that has to be resolved through the course of this play; the separation of twin brother and sister, who if not for their infallible discriminator â€Å"sex† would just as easily be put in each other’s shoes without triggering any significant event to throw the balance of our characters into confusion. Indeed from the get-go the fact that Viola’s ‘gender-switch’ and Sebastian’s ‘character-switch’ did not shock anyone out of their sealed matrimonial bliss or the attainment of such a prospect seems rather foolhardy to miss and in considering the Bard’s infamous dramatic puppetry, they are such issues as we have to get to the bottom of, scraping a glimpse, if not an epiphany that would resurrect the act’s glamour from it’s ancient casket. Assuredly, Sebastian, on receiving the news of his sister’s disappearance falls into the supposition that she is dead, and with little remorse kicks off with his pal Antonio to the arms of freedom, where no embrace shall feel the smother of bondage, where it between the closest relatives even. His sister, though, rises to the occasion and with undying hope declares her brother’s survival, and her quest to bring his authority into this expectation. Here, we see where the pall of gender lies. Though Sebastian and Viola are not of any distinguishing feature that might divide the cast’s opinions about their identity, Sebastian for one, thinks his sister is dead. This reflects the attitude of society towards the weaker sex, who cannot be expected to bring fortune to their aid much less entertain the notion of keeping life. Men, however, are the most capable of doing such and so, and in following this principle Viola disguises herself in manly attire and takes such a w orthy title in hand or in name†¦ The fact is, she turned man to suit a position she could not fill as a woman. Early on, we can thus put our hands on which of the twins was the reliable one in this sibling relationship. Not to be hard on Sebastian, the reason for his inaversion to Viola’s advances towards him might just be his need for someone to replace what he has lost in his sister. More so, he doesn’t protest to Olivia even when he finds out she was bearing feelings for his sister; doesn’t shrink from a quarrel even when it rams him face-on. A man: through and through†¦ But when talking about Olivia, it is difficult to sympathize with what she has been through. She bore feeling for a poorer man and rejected Duke for all he was just to conform to the society’s value of male dominance over women. To neglect all what she has been blessed with, taking for granted the responsibility and ingrature, that comes along it and divert in affection to a random male who’s quality, in her flawless judgment, was much the same as her brother’s. Again, none of the characters seem to protest to the predicament they were forced into in this play which seriously makes me question: what were ye looking to get from all yer blunders? Ay, the proposition is nigh. But all our characters just seem to get pulled into their quarters much as the position they put themselves into dictate in term and sequence. A good example to take would be Duke, who seems the only wise guy around. He doesn’t put himself into situations where he is forced to act out of necessity. Everything he takes is as half-hearted as he, and only at the provocation of one Viola does he get up from his seat and seek to prove himself to the world. Only he gets proofed himself: when confronted with the possibility that his loyal messenger was doing dibs behind his back with one Olivia, he issues the order of execution as per the noble must stake themselves. All is well, though. Sebastian arrives. The conflict is resolved. Everything seems to make sense again. And Duke is inevitably forced by the situation that he invoked; or that which invoked itself unto him, to marry Viola. Indeed the characters in this play are balanced by their relationships. The first and foremost cause was to gain stability while obliging the rules of higher society, which the playwright so successfully threads. The only thing that seemed to spark a glint of intelligence to the characters’ identity was the presence of one Fool, who is the only reason this whole play didn’t mentally incapacitate the audience. Nevertheless, the play culminates with the return of reason (logic); though the governing dynamics are still the same threaded by higher powers, to an understanding of which I hope to bring the reader of my essay.