Cirque Du Soleil Essay

1. Cirque du Soleil does not have a product, they have a diverse, creative, critical thinking, artist works company; a circus without animals. Within this company, this show allows their featured unique artists, to tap into their creative side and create magic for an audience. Cirque du Soleil aims to create the greatest shows onstage all around the world. The core for a functioning Cirque du Soleil is behind the scenes, with artists and staff. Recruiting these people seems to be a challenge for this ever diverse world we live in. Recruiting and hiring these staff members for Cirque du Soleil is difficult because not many people will just run away to the circus. This lifestyle is an ever changing one, with artists of different cultures and diverse backgrounds. It cannot always be an easy mix for everyone to get along. It takes a special kind of person with that magic in their eyes, that will keep evolving and keep being an asset to the ever changing show. Although it is the same lifestyle these employees will be part of, they service two completely different jobs. Artists perform for the audience, whereas staff is simply there to serve the artists needs. Recruiting for this job takes time, the director Cantin has even traveled to twenty countries in search of local talent. In terms of recruiting and hiring staff, again asking someone to uproot themselves, for little pay, to cater to extremely unique artists demands can be a challenging proposition. Creating extensive rewards for these employees is key. The owners of this company have taken time to understand what the needs are of their staff and artists. Compensation such as free meals and board, as well as the opportunities to improve a talent or passion are aspects of this company where they continue to grow positively. From this article I would say that this company takes extensive time to evaluate and understand the needs of everyone they have on board. In the small market Cirque du Soleil services, it is essential every performer or staff member is â€Å"fit† for the company. This market seeks out individuals who are qualified mentally, and physically for the strenuous changing show and lifestyle. They search for people who are ready to hit the ground running and jump into shows. Here employees are encouraged to discover their magic and embrace their talents, in fact Cirque provides outlets to bring your talents to the next level. They want employees to be able to continuously develop as well as have clear heads of stereotypes. % quit: %15 %quit x current population : 15% x 475 = 71.25 = 72 Artists left: 475-72=403†¨Future demand: 500†¨Needed (500-403= 97) Keeping employees happy enough to stay is and will continue to be a problem for Cirque du Soleil. This problem will affect retention because, if employees are not happy, they will leave. If employees leave, there may not be enough staff to sustain the upcoming show, but the show must go on. This problem could potentially lead to a default product, a poor performance. Cirque provides an environment with different experiences constantly with no fixed structure but to allow artists to tap fully into who they are. By designating a heavy amount of time for managing the artists needs and analyzing what what would make there experience even better. Cirque du Soleil aims to create an environment with the best possible conditions that you don’t want to leave. By retaining employees core artists to the Cirque shows have and can obtain more hands on experience out in the world. Recruiting employees cost money and time. When artists are better at their job they provide stability within the company for a better transitional environment for new employees. Employees will effectively be able to teach each other the ropes, or provide support for one another. The concept is for artists to learn together. With the wide diversity of ethnicity, or gender it can be problematic to find employee who are non stereotype. Those who are open to all cultures. Compensation and benefits however is variable because income becomes an issue. Cirque has a variety of shows and venues that do not always provide steady pay. With that being said its hard to keep up with the rewarding benefits Cirque boasts about, such as providing new experiences. By giving the artists more say, a greater employee output is achieved, with higher job satisfaction, keeps employees. To solve its retention problems Cirque’s benefits heavily outweigh their drawbacks. Ultimately providing the best work environment than anyone in their competing market. Finding talent i is the second current problem Cirque is facing. Cirque du Soleil has created a name for themselves serving as a business that lets you play to your full potential as an artist. In doing so they created an even more diverse product that makes it hard to find that diamond in the rough in cities and continents. This problems affects staffing mostly because they have created a name for themselves that their brand is a luxury good, possibly making artists perceive their company as unachievable. Perspective employees want to work with the best performers around. Now that the company has made a name for themselves, they are hiring staff with more direct experience instead of performers with potential. With a changing and diverse work force this poses a problem within staffing. In creating diversity, gaps in language and background quickly becomes an issue. Training and development problems are solved by having current employees that have open mindsets about other cultures, providing a more welcoming environment. People coming from different socioeconomic backgrounds I would imagine feel secure in knowing they at least have paid meal and board. The shows performances cannot continue to increase levels of diversity without new talent. The current employees care about quality of their product. By having varying levels of skill and ability this could be exciting for new artist morale. Also by having a good training system to develop and articulate performances would provide a great benefit to perspective employees. The movement to keep the excitement alive is on!

Reading Response to Introduction in Handbook of Race and Ethnic Studies Essay

Upon reading the Collins and Solomos introduction to their Handbook of Race and Ethnic Studies, I soon realized that the field of race and ethnicity is a diverse, living thing that is constantly evolving. The authors make reference to the fact that the civil rights movement has been working for decades and it appears at times that no progress has been made. They make this point by mentioning the nightly newscasts on television that show global atrocities brought on by policies of ethnic cleansing or other forms of hate. This is proof that more work has to be done and we must continue to seek and promote understanding and equality. Collins and Solomos also mention the rise of more right-wing political groups that they refer to as the new right. These groups use the media to promote their ideas of an ideal state. They state that `for the new right` the appeal is by and large no longer to racial supremacy cultural uniformity` and they get around this by ? parading under the politics of nationalism and patriotism?. This reminded me of my history classes in school where I first learned of Hitler and how he used extreme nationalism as one of his tools to gain influence and power over a economically struggling Germany. There seems to be a great many voices and perspectives out there that may contradict one another at times, but I feel that the study or race and ethnicity must continue to be pursued.

How Can Men and Woman Communicate More Effectively Through Technology

How can men and women communicate more effectively through technology? * Women are more expressive when they type or text, on the other hand men aren’t as expressive .EX: women may use more punctuation or emoticons * Men should try to be expressive so that it doesn’t like they don’t care or to let the woman know they are listening and caring about what they have to say * Or, women should try to tone it down a bit with the seriousness of everything when everything doesn’t have to be so critical or over exciting for no reason * When communicating through texts or email, since women tend to be more expressive they tend to max out the the160 character message limit (news wise) * Men would probably listen more if they didn’t have to read such lengthy texts.Women should probably try to fit what they have to say in few words that still get their point across. * The best ways of communication would obviously be face to face but next to that, technology like chat rooms and instant messaging and social networking sites make it easier for opposite sex to talk to each other. (eCommunications) * Takes away the stress and pressure of talking in person. If these are the ways men and woman communicate, they need to make sure that they think about the misinterpretations that could happen. To avoid the misinterpretation, men and woman should both understand that technology isn’t a real serious way of communicating just in case the whole misinterpretation gets in the middle of things and starts drama. * Sources: * â€Å"When Texting, Eligible Women Express Themselves Better.   Newswise: News for Journalists, Press Release Distribution for Public Relations. Indiana University. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. <http://www. newswise. com/articles/when-texting-eligible-women-express-themselves-better>. * â€Å"Best Ways to Communicate Through Technology. †Ã‚  ECommunications. ECommunications. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. <http://efunsoft. com/best -ways-to-communicate-through-technology. htm>.

Answer questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 9

Answer questions - Essay Example No One Knows". This article argues that the US should have a national database that tracks and reports police shootings because the US government tracks practically everything else, including the number of shark attacks on humans (Lowery 1). Finally, the essay will also rely on the Bureau of Justice Statistics website, which tracks and reports arrest-related deaths. The topic of interest for the proposed essay involves censorship over the lack of reporting regarding police shootings. A similar issue occurred at Syracuse University, where a sit-in protest by students over the administrations policy was covered by the corporate media but not in its entirety. The general Body of the Syracuse University, which brings together various student bodies from the university, had organized a sit-in protest against the new university Chancellors "Fast Forward" Program (dailycensored.com 1). This program sought to close the universitys advocacy centre, which caters for the needs of students victimized by sexual abuse, while also reducing the number of staff in the psychiatry unit in order to implement cuts in the number of staff. However, although this protest was covered in various media sources, including the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Huffington Post, U.S.A. Today, Democracy Now, these media sources censored the real reason for the protests, inst ead giving coverage to general issues. Probably the biggest reason why most media sources failed to cover the real reason for the protests was due to the fact that major corporations were involved in closing the advocacy centre, as well as the departure of psychiatry staff from the university. Two major organizations are identified, which are Sassaki Associates and Bain and Company (dailycensored.com 1). Both agencies are interested in taking over the advocacy centres operations, in which Sassaki Associates is to be involved in planning and revitalization in partnership with the

Soviet Avant-Garde and Socialist Realism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Soviet Avant-Garde and Socialist Realism - Essay Example This essay discusses that man with a Camera is a movie about its own production; it predicts the postmodern inclinations of what is nowadays meta-cinema. Vertov’s movies introduced a novel world of films to commemorate the brave universe of industrialized Soviet truth. The work concludes in Man With a Movie Camera which induces the sensory shower of the urban existence. It utilized strategies of visual comparison and associative montage so complex that they do not have names to date. There was a Whitman-esque documented-portrayal of the Soviet individuals, a self-impulsive dissertation on cinematic symbolism. It is devised to demolish habitual film watching by unveiling the ways in which the camera and movie editor create authenticity. Vertov’s masterwork had the extraordinary implication of emphasizing the spectator to recognize with the filmmaking procedure. Vertov’s ideology was that the camera was an innovation that assisted humans to investigate novel realms of the visual universe. The design that would best explore cinema’s potentialities would merge documentary as well as cinematographic ploys. These include stop-motion animatronics and intense low and high camera viewpoints. Additionally, there are speedy and often aggressive editing methodologies. A man with a Camera is not just a film; it is also a declaration, a policy, documented in celluloid. There are things and pictures in Vertov’s movies that are intended to be read. Nevertheless, marking those instants and interpreting those images might not be straightforward. Salt of the Earth was a part of surfacing females’ series. On its production, the film was in 16mm with faulty scenes and inaudible tracks. The film has forecasts in the montage series with the editing juxtaposing Ramon’s being crushed with Esperanza’s child delivery. In the last sequence, the camera and screenplay highlight the coalescence of the varying quandaries, forming a unite d class identity. Moreover, firearms in the movie serve a factual purpose and become symbols for a rudimentary machismo, and also for the influence of the ruling category. In the concluding frames, the camera visually generates the image of harmony recapitulated by Ramon’s spoken statement. The film utilizes linear features and also fails to utilize the camera and editing functions innovatively (Salt of the Earth, p.1). In the Ideology of Modernism, Lukacs dashes his critique to the bourgeois notion of modernism which has alienated man and community and offered emphasis to the structure rather than content. He utilizes three conceptions in this essay. They include Russian formalism, existentialism as well as scholars who introduce stream of consciousness method. These three presumptions have separated art from the community; they present a negative elucidation of art and the humankind. This Russian

Competitor Analysis Master Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Competitor Analysis Master - Assignment Example Dolan, 1991). This will help the company n making the necessary modifications either to its product or its marketing strategy or both as & how the situation demands. Such an effective definition of the marketing strategy & the assessment of the degree of competition with the market may also be applied to the tourism industry as well. The present essay is an attempt on the same line to determine in brief about the various strategies & competitive policies that need to be worked out by any tourism sector to be able to offer healthy & stiff competition using many popular marketing models. Strategies are the long term goals that are set up by any business entity for the purpose of achieving the desired objectives in addition to the fulfillment of the needs & tastes of the customers. The concept of marketing is no exception to this fact and as such, any marketing activity should be effectively planned & implemented according to a well-defined strategy. A strategy is different from a tactic wherein the latter is mainly concerned with addressing the short term goals of the organization with regards to the a particular product or a specific market situation. As opposed to this, a strategy is usually devised for a long period that sometimes runs into months or even years for satisfying a major objective such as an expansion of the organization into new sectors, popularizing a new product that is proposed to be introduced into the market etc.In general, there are two major parts under strategic marketing: Assessing the competition in the market. Implementing the strategic action plan as part of the usual operations. The present markets are extremely competitive in nature. Therefore, there needs to be a consistent strategy in order to provide for a way to outclass other products that provide competition through effective marketing strategies. But, in addition to having a well-defined strategy that aims to take care of long term goals & ambitions, one also needs to have an action plan in place for everyday activities. In addition, one also needs to make sure that there are adequate resources for the purpose of being able to fulfill the desired objectives.The decision of the overall strategy & its planning are hugely influenced by the market condition & the organization's objectives. These considerations can be briefly classified as shown below (Coskun Samli, 1998): If the market is favourable & the organization occupies the best position, then the best option is to mobilize the best resources towards achieving organizational goals. If the market situation is favourable but the organization's place is a bit weaker in comparison to other industry players, then the goal of the strategists should be aimed at making the best offer towards improving & consolidating the place of the company in the market. In case the market is not favourable, but the organization is better placed in comparison to its competitors, then strategic marketing policies will ultimately work towards generating short-term profits. If both the market and the organization's situation are not satisfactory, then strategic marketing should be undertaken if & only if it is felt that the proposed initiative would be beneficial at least towards a part of the business entity.

Discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 49

Discussion - Assignment Example ("Northern Highlands") The types of balance can be different, but the main idea behind all is to provide structure and stability. Moreover, alignment holds that nothing on a page should have an arbitrary position. It is advised to visually connect every item to other elements of the composition in order to create a cohesive and strong unit. Apart from that, the principle of grouping requires placing related items together as far as it adds to the creation of visual cues and reduces clutter. As a result, information looks organized and is better to remember. The next principle is consistency that stays for the adherence to the uniform characteristics of the elements used in order to make them fully belong to a single document. The similar design is expected to be applied to icons, colors, font, spatial relationships and other components in order to unify them under specific â€Å"theme.† Furthermore, the principle of contrast states, â€Å"if the two objects are not exactly the same, they should be made really different.† (msu) Adding contrast to a page results in fueling the visual interest in a page as well as helps to highlight and emphasize the most important elements. The review of the given principles helped me to arrive at the conclusion that, in my opinion, all of them are of the great value for creating a vivid and finite image. Therefore, none of the principles should be considered more important since all of them deal with different aspects of the

Discuss Why Risk Management is not a Good Objective for the Criminal Essay

Discuss Why Risk Management is not a Good Objective for the Criminal Justice Process - Essay Example Risk in the criminal justice system is widely associated with young offenders. There are those who have a lot of risk factors such as truancy, the low achievers and those from a single-parent family. The children who have less parental supervision are also vulnerable to anti-social behavior that may lead to criminal activities. In fact, crime statistics chow that the youth are more susceptible to involvement in criminal activities than adults. This correlation between crime rate and age does not only apply to the offenders, but also to the victims of those criminal activities (Kemshall, 2003). The process of assessing and managing risk has, therefore, become a prime issue for discussion in every criminal justice system. In the assessment of risk in a criminal offence, the character of the individual is evaluated to determine whether there is the possibility for them to commit other acts of violence. Because risk management requires the consideration of both situational and psychologi cal factors, it requires constant modification and review so that public safety is ensured. The management of dangerous offenders in the recent past has brought about a lot of concern the world over. This concern has been mostly reflected in the media and other social forums (Armstrong, 2004). One of the areas that have sparked too much concern from the public is area of sexual offences. This type of crime has led to the outcry in the media where there have been campaigns against sexual offences in the society. In these campaigns, the media seeks to identify the sexual offenders, publish their names and shame them so that they do not repeat the same habit again. The campaigns also encourage the use of vigilante justice as well as the formation of a punitive attitude in the public towards sexual offenders. In the long run, such a campaign would lead to the isolation and stigmatization of sexual offender who would be expected to seek rehabilitative programs and reforms (Kemshall, 2003 ). A lot of articles in the media today contain news about sexual offences. Sexual crime has been dominating the media headlines probably because of the prevalence rate of the crime. This type of crime has, therefore, provoked public outcry because of the publicity it receives. This publicity generated by the media has, however, caused a number of negative effects on the perspective of sexual offences and offenders. It has affected the public’s opinion on sexual crimes as well as their perception on the necessary measures that should be taken in cases of sexual crime (Kemshall, 2000). The general perception created is that of a looming danger to all women and children. They are continually reported as the target group for sexual monsters. When the media concentrates on only one category of sexual offenders, they create the impression that pedophilia, for example, is increasingly rampant. Media may also influence a punitive attitude in the public in relation to sexual criminal s. Increased political and media outcry on this subject provokes the public to assume activities like vigilante policing. The attitude of the public towards sexual offenders as well as heightened hysteria is also provoked. It is these attitudes formed towards sexual offenders that necessitate the management of risk. The public should, therefore, be protected from sexual offenders at all costs (Phoenix, 2010). The concept of risk management in the criminal justice system has been

Management Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Management Communication - Essay Example I believe in this case, the best way to rejuvenate the team is through team building. This will help the team identify their strengths and weaknesses both as a group and as individuals and learn how to overcome the weaknesses while maximizing on their strengths. Following this option will help the team become even more functional and efficient than it was before. C) Set up a white board and write down each issue that is raised. After you have compiled a list over a week or so, add a problem solving segment to each meeting, in which you and the team tackle each issue per meeting to determine the scope of each problems and identify possible solutions. This option is the best in my opinion because it will help accommodate everyone’s views and will also enable us to solve problems in a harmonious way. By creating a segment for problem solving, we shall be able to conduct our meetings with a lot of order and manage to handle emerging issues amicably as well. I would fall for this candidate because I believe she posses the qualities that would make her be a top paralegal, her dress code notwithstanding. The work of a paralegal involves a lot of social interactions, offering assistance and dealing appropriately with clients and other employees. For her manner of dressing, I would advise her appropriately during the interview in order for her to fit in her new role. a) A team should first agree on the projects goals proceeding to do any planning, researching or even writing. In this way, they will have a picture of how they want the project to be and where they intend to reach which the project and will guide the group in all their work throughout the project. This option will relieve her of her worries and problems with the English language and will ensure she concentrates on what she does best in her programming role. This will lead to better program development through teamwork. This will enable

Analysis of Movie Posters (Pirates of the Caribbean) Essay

Analysis of Movie Posters (Pirates of the Caribbean) - Essay Example The main poster for Pirates of the Caribbean is very amazing. This poster was designed specifically to announce the debut of the movie and the first screening. This poster was created in the US to help create awareness of the new movie. The poster is a typical representation of movies of this genre characterized with a lot of graphic images. Its design, the use of color and images is completely attractive and persuasive for one to go see the movie. The most standing out features of the poster include the title, which has been written in a large artistic font at the bottom of the poster; names of the main actors placed at the top of the poster, a large image in the foreground of one of the main actors and a background image of a ship in stormy water. The date of the movie, which is written in red color at the bottom left corner of the poster and the name of the institution behind the movie as well as the available formats for the movie are also outstanding and give the audience someth ing to look forward to. The poster has mainly used dark colors such as black and grey in the background to create a psychological effect of war (Noble 135). The background image of the ship in a stormy sea represents a scene in the movie that takes place when the ship is attacked. This image has been used to create an urge among the viewers to go to movie theatres to watch what exactly happens in the scene. The date for showing the movie has been written in red color for it to stand out. ... Its design, the use of color and images is completely attractive and persuasive for one to go see the movie. The most standing out features of the poster include the title, which has been written in a large artistic font at the bottom of the poster; names of the main actors placed at the top of the poster, a large image in the foreground of one of the main actors and a background image of a ship in stormy water. The date of the movie, which is written in red color at the bottom left corner of the poster and the name of the institution behind the movie as well as the available formats for the movie are also outstanding and give the audience something to look forward to. The poster has mainly used dark colors such as black and grey in the background to create a psychological effect of war (Noble 135). The background image of the ship in a stormy sea represents a scene in the movie that takes place when the ship is attacked. This image has been used to create an urge among the viewers t o go to movie theatres to watch what exactly happens in the scene. The date for showing the movie has been written in red color for it to stand out. This would enable people o easily know when the movie will be showing. It is the only red color on the poster and could also have the psychological effect of expressing danger thus indicating the extent of violence in the movie. The formats of the movie such as digital 3D and Imax 3D have been written in large font at the bottom of the poster to inform the viewers of the various forms of the movie so that they can decide on their preferred option. The title of the movie stands out as having the largest artistic font together with an image of a human skull with two swords to

Optimizing Ermergeny Room Staff Statistics Project

Optimizing Ermergeny Room Staff - Statistics Project Example Collected data included age and sex of patient, date and time patient arrived, date and time patient treatment began and triage number, Triage number is a scale used in the ER that identifies the urgency of care, standard waiting time, average length of treatment time and the number of nurses required. See Appendix A. The number of patients was summarized according to a 1-hr time interval of its arrival to the ER. Frequency distribution, time series and regression analysis were created to determine the trend. See Appendix B. The wait time in minutes was summarized according to a 4-hr interval of the patients arrival. See Appendix C. The 4-hr interval is also identified as the 4-hr work shift of nurses. The distribution of average wait time per month was made to identify the volume of patients having a long wait time in the 4-hr work shift. Analysis of variance was conducted to determine if there are any significant differences between them with respect to mean waiting time. The treatment time in minutes was also summarized according to a 4-hr time interval of nurse's work shift. The treatment time is the average time needed by the nurses to care for patients with respect to its urgency according to the triage number. The distribution of total treatment time per month was made to identify the volume of nurses time in the 4-hr work shift. Figure 1 shows the frequency distribution of the number of patients arriving per month on a 1-hr... Figure 2 shows the time series of the patients arriving per day on a 1-hr time interval. There is a seasonal trend identified per day which further confirms the observation from the frequency diagram. A single factor analysis of variance was conducted using Microsoft Excel Add-In. The results in Table 1 show that the F-value is smaller than the F critical and the P-value is relatively large. The null hypothesis stating that all means of patient arrival per month is equal and there is no statistical differences between the monthly data. This concurs that the data of patients per month can be summarized into a 24 hr patient arrival behavior. Table 1. Anova: Single Factor SUMMARY Groups Count Sum Average Variance JUN 24 326 13.5833 60.3406 JUL 24 305 12.7083 56.1286 AUG 24 364 15.1667 69.0145 SEP 24 362 15.0833 92.5145 OCT 24 293 12.2083 55.6504 NOV 24 334 13.9167 53.9058 Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit Between Groups 175.14 5 35.028 0.542 0.744 2.280 Within Groups 8913.75 138 64.592 Total 9088.889 143 Figure 3 shows the best fit line graph of patients arrival from 3:00 am to 22:00 pm. The R-squared value of 0.8839 shows high linearity on the trend. The number of patients increases with time during this period. The coefficient of increase is 0.1148. 2. Wait Time of Patients The frequency distribution of wait time is shown in Figure 4. The mean time to wait is 131.11 minutes with a standard deviation of 87.62 minutes. The confidence level at 95% is 3.85 minutes. The shape of the distribution is skewed to the left. This means that the data may contain outliers with very large waiting time. Figure 5 shows the patient's average time

The Lifelong Affects and Consequences of Domestic Violence Essay Example for Free

The Lifelong Affects and Consequences of Domestic Violence Essay Domestic Violence has been proven to have an unhealthy impact on the victims exposed to the violence. Most people do not realize the scope of the potential adverse affects that domestic violence has on adult victims, pregnant victims, children and adolescents that are exposed to the type of behavior. When a woman is pregnant and becomes a victim of domestic violence, she is not the only one affected, but her fetus is as well. Domestic violence has been linked to physical, mental and emotional damage to its victims which can result in the development of significant disorders that linger throughout their life. The prevention and assessment for domestic violence is very essential in order to stop the adverse affects that it has on the victims and society as a whole. Domestic violence has been given several names throughout history which includes: intimate partner violence (IPV), partner abuse, abuse, marital abuse, spousal abuse and battering to name a few (Breiding Ziembroski, 2010). Domestic violence is considered to be an event, multiple or pattern of abusive behavior that includes verbal, physical and sexual abuse towards an intimate partner or family member (Breiding Ziembroski, 2010). Domestic violence is not an issue that is associated with any single population. Domestic violence can involve individuals of any gender, race economic status. Domestic violence happens in all socioeconomic statuses, but it has been more of an increased risk when associated with women in a lower socioeconomic status. Women are considered to be the more commonly abused victims, but males can also be victims of abuse. Males are exposed to psychological, verbally and sometimes even physical abuse. Domestic violence can also occur in same sex relationships as well as heterosexual relationships. Most batterers in a relationship are generally very manipulative and controlling. They usually attempt to have power over their partner. There are usually signs that are present when abuse is involved within a relationship. The most common sign is when one partner is afraid of the other. This fear is manifested in an individual’s belief that they must accommodate their partner for apprehension of how their unhappy, abusive mate may retaliate against them. The abusers tend to use this type of violence to facilitate intimidation and to foster compliance from their victims. Minority women and younger single women who are not yet married are usually considered at increased risk as potential victims of domestic violence. The large number of domestic violence relationships usually starts off as what appears as a promising and stable union. Then everything seems to take a turn for the wo rse and the abuse begins. The abuser attempt to have their partners think that they are the only individuals that will ever be there for them and that they are the only person that they can trust. These victims are systematically isolated and removed from family and friends and their support system goes from some to one. When the victims let their guard down and become increasingly comfortable with this situation the abuse then starts. Unfortunately the victims usually stay in the abusive relationship because they are hanging on to the promises of what once was, but what will never return. After explosive abusive episodes that are directed towards the victims the batterer often starts to be remorseful and apologizes. That is followed by the abusive mate making promises and excuses for the inappropriate behaviors that has been displayed. Those promises generally revolve around the wonderful memories that were had in the beginning of the relationship. Battering usually doesn’t just start off by a partner physically beating an individual. It often starts off with verbal abuse and if the behavior is not contested or addressed it can escalate to physical abuse. The physical abuse may start as something considered to be small or insignificant; a pinch, grab or a shove. If that behavior is not correc ted it will lead to more harsh abuse in every subsequent episode. Many times victims are abused as a result of being made to participate in unwanted sex. Emotional abuse can be just as severe or in some cases more brutal than physical abuse. Physical abuse may leave a victim with visible scars, but sometimes emotional abuse has lingering lifelong effects. When a person is emotionally abused it can affect their confidence and perception of the world. The abusive partner will usually identify and focus on things that they perceive to be valuable to the victim in order to control them. One way of controlling a victim is by withholding access to things like money and basic essentials. The goal is to make the victim to feel and in essence become totally dependant upon their mate. No individual should ever be subjected to verbal, emotional, psychological or physical abuse on any level. This is why it is so important for victims to seek help that can remove them from a potentially hostile relationship before it gets violent and someone eventually loses th eir life. There are laws in place in several states that will prosecute abusers and the state will usually pick up the case and only use the victim as a witnesses. These laws have been implemented to save people that have been repeated victims of abuse. When victims are in repeated situations of abuse it usually only gets more serious which may ultimately lead to their death. The laws that are in place in most states will help eliminate those cases of repeat offenders because after a certain amount of arrests they will go to prison. Law Enforcement officials consider this to be a serious concern because it has taken the lives of so many innocent people. Some offenders are charged fines and are required to attend anger management counseling. There have been methods implemented in order to screen for individuals who are involved in domestic violence relationships. One of the most common methods of screening often takes place during physician visits. Even though this practice is not considered to be universal when actually utilized it has been found to discover more case of domestic violence. Some victims have stated that they chose not to disclose their abuse because fear of being blamed, lack of understanding from others, losing their family, their economic dependency of the abuser and lack of confidentiality within the medical home (Bailey, 2010). This simply proves that there is a very urgent need for victims to be provided with more interventions and assistance when dealing with this type of problem. Victims require compassion, sensitivity and confidentially from other individuals including health care providers. It is through this type of support that victims will feel more comfortable disclosing domestic violence within their relationship. This is an area that requires much sincerity and empathy therefore more health care providers may need to be trained in order to accurately assess domestic violence victims. It is evident that more prevention methods need to be implemented in order to teach individuals the negative associations tied to domestic violence. People that are abusers are usually trying to intimidate their victims in some way. Domestic violence should never be considered just a secret family issue. Individuals need to realize that domestic violence does not only affect the victim or the family unit in which it occurs, but it affects the society as a whole. It is a very costly matter for society when you consider social service workers, shelters, police officers that are involved in those situations in various capacities. The most important thing that needs to be focused on in all is the lives that have been lost as well as those that can potentially be lost. For example, a potential case of a domestic violence situation would be where a man beats on a pregnant woman with other children in the home witnessing the behavior. The potential harm that can be had by the fetus inside the mother could lead to short term or long term problems. The woman is at-risk for suffering greatly from psychological problems therefore being pote ntially unfit to raise her children. There is also the possibly having the children pushed into the homes of other family members or the foster care system for the state to cover the bill. The children witnessing the violence can be affected psychologically as well. The children may have to see a psychologist to work out the issues from being exposed to the negative environment. They could suffer from adjustment problems such as behavioral or mental issues. Children that suffer from behavioral or mental issues as a result of being exposed to domestic violence are predisposed to repeat that type of behavior in their future relationships. They will most likely require more skill and on-going mental health counseling to be productive citizens. These individuals may have perceived this type of violence as a learned behavior and feel that it is appropriate as it was commonplace in their upbringing. Unfortunately domestic violence can cycle through many generations of a family. Generally because this is the behavior that has been displayed and possibly condoned in the earlier generations it may continue as part of the family dynamic. This deep rooted dysfunction is very hard to break or change once it has become ingrained in the socially acceptable vi ew of an individual or their family. This cycle of violence will regrettably continue to destroy the lives of other innocent people. When domestic violence occurs it requires a lot of adjustments and it is ultimately an unnecessary strain on society. This type of violence has been going on throughout history, but it can be stopped. This is an issue that can be prevented through education and appropriate assessment. Individuals can be taught that this behavior is not acceptable. Individuals can be educated on how this behavior affects everyone from their immediate family to society as a whole. A health care professional’s ability to screen for cases of domestic violence can be more productive in identifying victims with proper training. Most social service agencies have resources for the victims to utilize. This is helpful so that he or she feels comfortable about making the transition of leaving the abusive home without fears of being homeless or if their basic essential needs would be met. Although pregnancy can seem to some the most exciting time, that is sadly not the case for some pregnant women. A woman that is pregnant is more at-risk for becoming a victim of domestic violence. It is reported that 1 in 5 pregnant women will be experience domestic violence (Bailey, 2010). There are several pregnant women per year have reported to have suffered from domestic violence. Pregnant women are a lot more likely to be abused compared to non-pregnant women. Abuse during pregnancy is not only dangerous to the women, but it is also very harmful to the fetus as well. Insensitive and cruel abuse that is perpetrated upon a woman during pregnancy can cause a number of emotional, physical and psychological issues and concerns. There are several consequences caused by domestic violence during pregnancy. Domestic violence can cause low birth weight and preterm delivery which are the highest causes of mortality (Bailey, 2010). Some of the potential consequences associated with domesti c violence includes: immediate and long term developmental delays, cerebral palsy, academic problems, language delays, attention problems, behavior issues, sudden infant death syndrome, and respiratory problems (Bailey, 2010). Women that are victims are more likely to start with prenatal services later in the pregnancy. Smoking has also been associated with violence during pregnancy, because it is used a stress relief and a coping mechanism for depression. Smoking also then adds to the increased risk factors for low birth weight and other potential health problems. Other children in the home being battered can also be a form of abuse towards the mother in the home. An unfortunate result of the parent being abused is the potential damage that can be caused on the child psychologically. It is estimated that 3.3 to 10 million children have been exposed to domestic violence every year, and 15.5 million children live in homes with violence (Kelly Klostermann, 2009). Children that have witnessed violence among their parents often have feelings of fear, helplessness, and fear for safety, anxiety and sleep disorders (Kelly Klostermann, 2009). The exposure of domestic violence has been known to be associated with many other problems in children. Some of these problems include: â€Å"poor peer relationships, higher loneliness levels during school, less likely to get along with other children, more likely to get into fights, more likely to be disliked by peers and showing more aggression towards the same sex peers† (Hunter, Katz Klowden, 2008). Some of the stress associated with being exposed to domestic violence can lead to health issues. Women victims who report having previously experienced or currently experiencing domestic violence have more likely to have had children that had been diagnosed with asthma and were more to have children that will be diagnosed with asthma in the future. There is research to conclude that a chronically elevated stress response can lead to attenuation of stress hormones that counteract the inflammatory response that causes asthma (Breiding Ziembroski, 2010). A child’s types of maltreatment, gender, age and support systems are all additional factors that affect a child’s response to the exposure of domestic violence (Overlien, 2009). Children that are younger are more vulnerable to be affected by the abuse because they are more likely to view the abuse in the home visually as opposed to older children (Overlien, 2009). Adolescents are also affected by the exposure of domestic violence. Normally adolescence is a time that teenagers are already faced with a lot of issues and it really does not help to expose them to violence. Teenage girls and boys that are violent were more likely to have been exposed to domestic violence. Teenage girls exposed to this behavior may feel that this abuse is acceptable and accept this type of behavior in relationships that she is involved in. â€Å"Majority of the adolescent boys exposed to domestic violence are more likely than unexposed boys to believe aggression is acceptable in intimate rel ationships, and behave more aggressively with intimate partners within a relationship† (Kelley Klostermann, 2009). One issue of concern is that the perception of the abusive parent is almost identical to those of non-abusive parents regarding the effect of their violence on children. The unsuitable behaviors that are displayed by these individuals can have a very severe impact on the entire family but especially the children. Even though in some cases the children are not the ones that are directly abused they may still display some of the same problems as the identified victim. The victim’s often times suffer from stress and fear from being subjected to abuse. As a result they tend to develop anxiety and other forms of issues and problems. Children are very likely to have these same problems after witnessing a parent commit an act of violence on the other parent. Thankfully there are some children that are able to handle the turmoil and chaos that takes place in the home and continue to have normal childhoods. There is a lot of research that suggests that fathers who are abusive often tim es appear to be indifferent with the effects of their actions on their victims or even their children (Rothman, Mandel and Silverman, 2007). These abusive fathers rarely report that their children are having any problems. Children are generally abused by a step-father who has less of a biological incentive to ensure the child’s well-being. Biological fathers are thought to be more likely to be abusive towards their spouse than a step father would be. Abusers that participate in intervention programs generally will show more or less remorse dependent upon their role in the family unit. Compared to step-fathers, biological fathers are thought to be more aware of the negative results of their actions, express more concern about the negative long term effects that result from their abuse, and are more likely to express intentions to change their unacceptable behavior (Mandel, Rothman Silverman, 2007). Additionally, biological fathers are also more likely than step-fathers to have genuine concerns for both male and female children alike. Their fear is that female children will be predisposed to suffering the same type of abuse that they witness at the hands of their abusive parents. In regards to male children, the fear is that they will become abusers based on learned behaviors that they have witnessed. The ability for the partner to effectively parent is also affected negatively. In every case this number is higher for biological fathers than it is for step-fathers. There are also children that are exposed to domestic violence that do not react negatively. A study that was done in a battered women’s shelter showed that one third of the children in this particular shelter had no particular outcomes from being exposed to abuse in the home. It was concluded that those children were members of families that avoided the negative effects of domestic violence (Hunter, Katz Klowden, 2008). One method that parents use in order to avoid their children from being negatively affected is emotion coaching. â€Å"These parents usually use low intensity emotions within their child and themselves, view the child’s negative emotion as a chance for intimacy or a teaching moment, they then validate and label their child’s emotion. And problem solve with the child by discussing goals and strategies for handling the situation that led to the emotional feeling† (Hunter, Katz Klowden, 2008). The children that have experienced emotion coaching usually perform better in an academic setting, incur fewer illnesses and are better equipped to handle their emotions. Women that are subjected to this type and level of abuse generally identify doctors and nurses as a potential support system. Many times their abuse will go unnoticed as there has traditionally been little training regarding identifying and responding to abuse victims. This abuse comes in many forms and can even include emotional, sexual, financial, and physical violence. Domestic violence can result in a myriad of problems for women that can range from health problems to psychological issues. These victims usually suffer recurring health problems and seek some type of assistance in an attempt to manage those problems. Post traumatic stress disorder and depression are the two major psychological issues that are most frequently diagnosed for victims of this level of abuse. These victims are very likely to have a higher level of anxiety than most other people. Unfortunately, if these victims cannot get the help that they need they may seek out alternative solutions to cope with their problems. These solutions may come in the form of illegal drugs and alcohol abuse. These are attempts to mask or pacify the pain and anxiety that they are dealing with. Abuse was the beginning factor for a lot of chain smokers and alcoholics. An extreme but regrettable solution to people that are dealing with domestic violence comes in the form of attempted suicides. Domestic Violence victims do not have an age limit and even the elderly can be involved in disputes. Usually when violence is instigated towards the elderly it is even more crucial because the elderly are more fragile and don’t heal quickly from attac ks. Violence towards the elderly is no more acceptable to for them as it is for the younger individuals. Violence is wrong and it is harmful for individuals from any age. Domestic violence toward the elderly maybe rare and statistics maybe appear unclear because most cases are blanketed under the term elderly abuse. Most victims don’t get the medication and the counseling treatment that they need to help them to regain their status as productive members of society. However, the reality is that these victims will receive the appropriate level of health care or have some type of intervention is highly unlikely. This is in part due to the fact that domestic violence is almost non-existent in most cases because it is not always disclosed or identified on the first office visit. Unless it is disclosed during an office visit there may be no documentation or reports of any type of domestic violence in a victims file. Without the disclosure of the abuse from the victim there is a very slim chance that the victim will be afforded any possible type of assistance from their health care provider that can be supplied for them. There have been some improvements in identifying and asking the appropriate questions that numerous health care providers have been exposed to through training and awareness programs. This is very important as most women will often seek assistance by frequent visits to the doctor’s office for what may seem to be routine issue, all the while it may be a silent cry for help. The education and advocacy for the prevention and assessment of abuse cases can prevent harm for individuals of all ages. Some individuals may have grown up with the assumption that abuse is appropriate and have decided as adults to continue the pattern. Some individuals may think that abuse will keep their partner scared of them and will never leave them. There are also others that choose to resort to violence when under the influence of some type of drug. Regardless of the reason domestic violence should never be acceptable in any degree. Every individual deserves to be treated with respect and allowed to feel safe at all times and in any situation. References Bailey, B. A., (2010, June). Partner Violence During Pregnancy: Prevalence, Efforts, Screening, and Management. International Journal of Women’s Health, 2, 183-197. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S8632 Bogat, G. A., DeJonghe, E.S., Eye, A., Levendosky, A. A., (2008). Symposium: Violence Against Children and Women. Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, 54(4), 294-300. Retrieved from http://www.jpgmonline.com/text.asp?2008/54/4/294/4143 Bogat, G. G., Eye, A.V., Levendosky, A.A., (2007) New Directions for Research on Intimate Partner Violence and Children. American Psychological Association, 12(1) doi: 10.1027/1016-940.12.1.1 Breiding, M. J., Ziembroski, J. S., (2011). The Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence And Children’s Asthma in 10 States/Territories. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. 22, 95-100. Doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2010.01087.x Clements, C. M., Hungerford, A., Ogle, R.L., (2010). Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence: Relations Between Partner-Child Concordance and Children’s Adjustment. MEDLINE, 25(2), 185-201. Retrieved from http://www.web.ebschohost.comezproxy.liberty.edu: 2048/ehost/detail?sid=26a34189-af9c-4722- Feder, G., Rutterford, C., Sharp, D., (2010, February 2). Primary Care Identification and Referral to Improve Safety of Women Experiencing Domestic Violence. BMC Public Health, 10(54). Retrieved from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/54 Hunter, E., Katz, L.F., Klowden, A., (2008). Intimate Partner Violence and Children’s Reaction to Peer Provocation: The moderating Role of Emotion Coaching. Journal of Family Psychology, doi: 10.1037/a0012793. Kelley, M. L., Klostermann, K.,(2009). Alcoholism and Intimate Partner Violence: Effects on Children’s Psychosocial Adjustment. Environmental Research and Public Health, 6, 3156-3168. Doi: 10.3390/ijerph6123156 Mandel, D. G., Rothman, E. F., Silverman, J. G., (2007, November). Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: Conclusions from the Literature and Challenges Ahead. Violence Against Women, 13(11),1179-1191. doi:10.1177/1077801207308260 Overlien, C., (2009, December 8). Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: Conclusions from The Literature and Challenges Ahead. Journal of Social Work, 10(80) doi: 10.1177/1468017309350663

Survival of Organisms in Extreme Conditions

Survival of Organisms in Extreme Conditions Organisms, known as extremophiles, survive in environments that other terrestrial life-forms find intolerable and in some cases lethal. They are evolved to survive in extreme hot niches, ice, and saline solutions, also adapting to survive in varying pH conditions; extremophiles are even found to grow in toxic waste, organic solvents, heavy metals, or in multiple habitats thought previously to be inhospitable for life. Within all the discovered extreme environmental condition, a variety of organisms have shown that they are able to not just tolerate these conditions, but they require these conditions for survival. If organisms can survive in these hostile environments on Earth it seems feasible that there could be life present in other areas of our solar system. Extremophiles are classified according to the conditions in which they grow. These sections can be further divided into two broad categories: extremophilic organisms which need these hostile conditions to survive, and extremotolerant organisms which can withstand the extreme pressure of one or multiple conditions however, grow optimally at normal and less hostile conditions. From all three domains of life, i.e. bacteria, archaea, and eukarya, extremophiles can be found. Most extremophiles are microorganisms with many of these being archaea, but protists, in the eukaryotes, have some extremophiles from the families: algae, fungi and protozoa. Archaea are the most common extremophilic domain, however are generally less versatile than bacteria and eukaryotes in at adapting to differing extreme environments. Although, some archaea are some of the most hyperthermophilic, acidophilic, alkaliphilic, and halophilic microorganisms known. The archaeal Methanopyrus kandleri strain 116 will tole rate and grow at temperatures up to 122 °C (252  °F), while the genus Picrophilus (i.e. Picrophilus torridus) are some of the most acidophilic organism, growing at a pH as low as 0.06. Bacteria like cyanobacteria, is best adapted to environments with multiple physicochemical parameters, by forming multi-layered microbial mats with other bacteria. They can survive in hypersaline conditions and alkaline lakes, which support high metal concentrations and low availability of water or xerophilic conditions, in a group of endolithic communities in stony desert regions. However, cyanobacteria is rarely found in an acidic environment at a pH lower than 6. Not only does this give insight into the origin of life on Earth, but opens up a new realm of possibilities for life elsewhere in the universe. Thermophilic bacteria are common in soil and volcanic environments i.e. hot springs. Thermophiles are thought to be one of the original organisms to have survived on earth over 3 billion years ago, in an environment with much higher temperatures, this allows possibilities to assume that a life form could be found on another planet. The ability to proliferate at growth temperature optima well above 60 °C is associated with extremely thermally stable macromolecules. As a consequence of growth at high temperature and unique macromolecular properties, thermophilic organisms can possess high metabolic rates, physically and chemically stable enzymes, and lower growth rate with a higher end product yield. Thermophilic reactions appear more stable, rapid and less expensive, and facilitate reactant activity and product recovery. Most thermophiles are anaerobes, this is due to oxygen being much less soluble at higher temperatures, therefore is not available to the organisms. Thermophiles and acidophiles have membranes that contain tetra-ether lipids, which form a rigid monolayer that is impermeable to many ions and protons. The ether type lipids are far stronger than the ester lipids found in mesophilic organisms, also the lipid layers consist of more branched and saturated fatty acids. This gives a stronger lipid complex, and is most prevalent in Archaean thermophiles. Thermophiles also stabilize their proteins, DNA, RNA and ATP, however there is no distinctive reason for how they stabilize. Though, most thermophilic organisms have more Cytosine and guanine bonds as the triple bond is a lot stronger than the Adenine Thymine bond. Thermophiles have developed unique ways of heat stabilizing their essential proteins. The protein surface energy and the hydration levels of the exposed non-polar groups are monitored and minimized by packing the hydrophobic regions into a dense core, of the protein, by the amino acids charge-charge interactions. An increased number of salt b ridges and internal networks are present, stabilizing the internal structures and an elevated amount of synthesis of chaperone proteins. Chaperone proteins unfold and help to refold proteins that are not formed properly, this is important as during hot environment there is a higher chance of misfolded proteins. The methods thermophiles employ to survive on earth could be used to survive elsewhere in our solar system. Psychrophilic organisms or psychrophiles grow best at low temperatures (freezing point of water or below) in areas such as deep sea and polar regions. The main problems for organisms in this environment is the exponential effect on the rate of biochemical reactions and the viscosity of internal and external environments, which changes significantly between 37 µÃ¢â‚¬â„¢C and 0 µÃ¢â‚¬â„¢C. (Feller Gerday, 2003; Georlette et al, 2004; Russell, 2000). In an attempt to overcome the effects on the cytoplasmic membrane, i.e. permeability and hence transportation across the membrane, there is a higher lipid concentration in the membranes containing more unsaturated, polyunsaturated, methyl-branched fatty acids, and shorter acyl-chain length. The lipid head group within the membrane is also thought to be larger. All of these adaptations increase the fluidity of the membrane and in turn survival at lower temperatures (Chintalapati et al, 2004). Another adaptation for lower temperatures is the ribosomal extract, RNA polymerase, having a larger elongation factor and the presence of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase which have shown to retain activity near 0 °C in multiple differing psychrophilic microorganisms, like Moritella profunda, Another enzyme catalyses cis-trans prolyl isomerisation, and its high activity and overexpression at low temperatures might be important for overcoming the impaired folding protein rates. Likewise, nucleic-acid-binding proteins like Escherichia colis CspA-related proteins and RNA helicases, which are important in the transcription and translation of DNA and RNA secondary structures, are also overexpressed (Berger et al, 1996; Lim et al, 2000). The relationship between the flexibility of the membrane and the increase in activity is meant to create quite an unstable organism however, only in mesophilic environments. In a comparison of thermodynamic parameters between psychrophilic enzymes and their mesophilic homologues, at low temper ature there is a decrease in activation enthalpy, meaning a decrease in the number of enthalpy-driven reactions that have to be broken in catalysis. Organisms in this habitat are also considered to be oligotrophic as they live with lower nutrient content. Psychrophiles could use all of these adaptations in similar environments except Earth. Acidophiles and alkaliphiles are optimally adapted to acidic or alkaline pH values, acidophiles live in a higher concentration of Hydrogen ions as, Alkaliphilic organism live in a higher concentration of hydroxide ions. Acidophiles partially deflect the flow of protons into the cell by reversing the membrane potential with a reduced pore size in the membrane channels. By having a highly impermeable cell membrane organism can restrict the influx of protons, with their chemiosmostic gradient and by actively exporting protons out of the cell maintaining a habitable internal pH. In comparison to mesophiles, acidophiles have a higher proportion of secondary transporters which reduce the energy demands associated with moving protons, solutes and nutrients across the membrane. Acidophiles contain more DNA with a high proportion of protein repair mechanisms which repair at a lower pH, in B.acidocaldarius there is a higher level of cytoplasmic buffering found. In most acid environments there is a high metal content which these organisms use in their favour to stabilize their intercellular enzymes. In alkaliphilic organisms, such as Bacillus pseudofirmus and B.halodurans, oxidative phosphorylation occur to support non-fermentative growth and proton-coupled ATP synthases occurs, using proton-motive force (PMF) but mostly from the sodium-ion gradient. A major adaption of the alkaliphiles for surviving in their environments is within the diversity of their enzymes. Mesophilic organisms produce enzymes with similar activity however, do not have the same enzymatic capacity to cope with the increase pH. An internal pH is maintained by the active and passive regulation mechanisms across the membrane, actively removing the hydroxide ions. The addition of cytoplasmic pools of polyamines and low membrane permeability, with sodium ion channels actively regulates these levels. Alkaliphillic bacteria also compensate for the high levels by having a high membrane potential or coupling Na+ expulsion through the ETC. All of these processes used could be utilized by interplanetary organism. Throughout our solar system there are many environments where some of these extremophiles could use their adaptations to survive. The main necessity for life would be the presence of even a minimal supply of water. In our solar system there are environments thought to be able to support life. Titan, one of Saturns moons, has sustainable atmosphere composed primarily of nitrogen, similar to earths. There are many ammonia and methane lakes on titan that theoretically could combine, in an electrically charged environment, to make an organic habitat. Thermophiles that also contain sulfureted properties could survive there as they survive in similar conditions in the deep ocean hot springs. Enceladus, another of Saturns moons has an abundant supply of water vapour geysers and Europa, one of Jupiters moons, both are thought to be entirely covered in ice. Psychrophiles and Alkaliphilic or Acidophilic organism could adapt to live in this environment. Enceladus is considered an active water w orld with oceans with Europa thought to have subglacial water systems under the ice layer. Models of Enceladus predict the oceans to be a solution of Na-Cl-CO3 with a pH of 11 to 12. This is a similar environment to Lake Shala in the Rift Valley Lakes, with a high alkaline pH and due to it being the deepest lakes on earth, a cold temperature at its lowest depth. Europa has a highly acidic water system and due to the total coverage of ice on the surface of the moon, any organism able to survive there must also be anaerobic. Overall, on earth we have many extreme environments which are considered lethal to most organism but are home to extremophiles, such as thermophiles, psychrophiles, acidophiles and alkaliphiles. From the way many of these organism adapt to survive on earth it is feasible that organism with similar adaptations could be present or could survive elsewhere in our solar system, in similar environments.

Electromagnetic Suspension Prototype Design

Electromagnetic Suspension Prototype Design ABSTRACT Electromagnetic suspension works where two or more electromagnets of the same polarity absorb all the bumps. The main problem is making the magnets strong enough when running off a cars electrical system. This work describes techniques for the design analysis of a prototype magnetic suspension system. The viability of future high temperature super conducting magnet designs for MAGLEV has been investigated with regard to their application to active secondary suspension. It has also analysed and compared the functions and performances of the magnetic suspension system with the hydraulic, and air suspension systems. CONCLUSION The design and modelling process of a 1/5-scale flux-cancelling Maglev suspension has been described in this paper. Using approximate techniques, this design can be used to predict the analysis. With comparison to other types of suspension system, electromagnetic suspension system provides totally comfortable ride. Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION As the knees are the important part of the human body because of which he can walk, run, sit and jump properly, the suspension system is a knee of a vehicle, with which the vehicle can give us a comfortable ride. The suspension system connecting a vehicle body to the wheels and its tyres allows the wheels to move in an essentially vertical direction in response to road surface irregularities, a spring temporarily stores energy, thus insulating the vehicle body from acceleration peaks. A shock absorber or damper ensures that oscillations induced by the road unevenness or aerodynamic forces (or by accelerating, braking or lateral forces), which would impair ride comfort and road holding. 1.1 Background: If all is well, the suspension dampers on a vehicle do their work quietly and without fuss. Like punctuating or acting, dampers at their best when they are not noticed. Drivers and passengers simply want the damper to be trouble free. For the designers, however, there is a satisfaction in creating a good, new damper for a racing car or rally car, and perhaps making some contribution to competition success. Less exiting but economically more important, there is also satisfaction in seeing everyday vehicle travelling safety, with comfortable occupants, at speed that could be quite impractical without good dampers. The current worldwide production of dampers is difficult to estimate with accuracy, but it is probably around 50 to 100 million units per year with retail value well in excess of one billion dollars per year. The fitting of damping devices to the vehicle suspensions followed rapidly on the heels of the arrival of the motor car itself. Since those early days, the damper has passed through a century of evaluation, the basic stages of which may be considered as: Dry friction (snubbers) Blow-off hydraulics Progressive hydraulics Adjustable (manual alternation) Adaptives (slow automatic alternation) Semi active (fast automatic alternation) The zeitgeist regarding dampers has changed considerably over the years, in roughly the following periods: Up to 1910, dampers were hardly used at all. In 1913, Rolls Royce actually discontinued rear dampers on a Silver Ghost, illustrating just how different the situation was in the early years. From 1910 to 1925, mostly dry snubbers were used. From 1925 to 1980, there was a long period of dominance by simple hydraulics, initially simply constant force blow-off, then a proportional characteristics, then adjustables, leading to mature product. From 1980 to 1985, there was excitement about the possibilities for the active suspension, which could effectively eliminate the ordinary dampers. From 1985, it became increasingly apparent that good deal benefit of active suspension could be obtain much more cheaply by fast auto-adjusting dampers, and the damper suddenly became an interesting, developing component again. Damper types which are explained fully later can be initially classified in two ways: Dry friction with solid elements. Hydraulic with fluid elements. In 1966 Danby and Powell proposed an EDS system for high-speed transportation using super conducting magnets with a null flux suspension. Other designs were later proposed using continues sheet guide ways. Subsequent researchers in the U.S., Japan, Germany, UK and Canada have developed further innovations (such as ladder type guide way for increased lift efficiency), but there are still a number of technical problems that needed resolution. 1.2 Current Details Of Electromagnetic Suspension (Maglev): There are three primary types of Maglev technologies: superconducting magnets ( electrodynamic suspension) feedback controlled electromagnets ( electromagnetic suspension) Newer potentially more economical system using permanent magnets Inductract. The several approaches and designs have been produced by Japan and Germany. These two countries are very active in maglev research. The design used for trains in which the train levitate by the repulsive force of the same poles of the magnets. A linear motor is used to propel the trainor on the locomotive or both. In this system massive electricalinduction coils produce the magnetic field which are placed along the tracknecessary to propelthe train, leading some to speculate that the cost of constructing such tracks would be enormous. Magnetic bearings are unstable because ofEarnshaws theorem; Conventional maglev systems are stabilized with electromagnets that have electronic stabilization. The electromagnets and electronics tend to be large, power-hungry, and expensive. To levitate the train a very strong magnetic field is required but large electromagnet is also a big issue for the design, so instead of using the large magnets, superconductor for an efficient electromagnet. Inductrack is a new and less expensive system. The system depends on the current induced in the passive electromagnetic array by permanent magnets, so that it provides the better load carrying capacity related to the speed. In the prototype, thepermanent magnetsare in a cart; horizontally to provide lift, and vertically to provide stability. The array of wire loops is in the track. The magnets and cart are unpowered, except for the speed of the cart. Inductrack was originally developed as a magnetic motor and bearing for a flywheel to store power. With only slight design changes, the bearings were unrolled into a linear track. Inductrack was developed by physicist William Post atLawrence Livermore National Laboratory. For stabilization Inductrack uses Halbach arrays. The function of the Halbach arrays is to stabilize the loops of wires with the help of permanent magnets without electronic stabilization. Halbach arrays were originally developed for beam guidance ofparticle accelerators. Currently, some space agencies, such as NASA, are researching the use of maglev systems to launchspacecraft. In order to do so, the space agency would have to get a maglev-launched spacecraft up toescape velocity, a task which would otherwise require elaborate timing of magnetic pulses or a very fast, very powerfulelectric current. 1.3 Aims and Objectives: Aim: To design and analyse a prototype Magnetic Suspension System. Objectives: Literature Review Research the principles of the various types of suspension systems and analysing their functions and performances. Investigate the application of the magnetic suspension system. Design a prototype Magnetic Suspension System. Analyse the designed Magnetic Suspension System. Compare with the other type of Suspension Systems. Conclusion. Chapter 2 Literature Review 2.1 Principle: The basic principle is to develop a contact less spring; the instability will be corrected with electromagnetic actuators. Electromagnetic suspension works where two or more electromagnets of the same polarity absorb all the bumps. The main problem is making the magnets strong enough when running off a cars electrical system. Electrodynamics magnetic suspension called EDS maglev and referred to as repulsive Maglev because it relies on repulsive magnetic Forces, has the capability of allowing high speed transportation with a relatively large gap between the vehicle and guide way . 2.2 Basic Concept: Have a set of shock with magnet inside them that are used as the fork setup. There is one magnet at the top of the inner portion of the cylindrical shock sleeve with the north polarity facing down towards the ground. The second magnet sits on the top of the inner shock that pivots up and down. This magnet has the north polarity upwards so its parallel with the other magnet. The two magnet fights against each other giving the forks travel. There is also an adjustment at the top of the shock, which allow the magnet to become closer .together for a stiffer travel or further apart for softer travel. 2.3 Dynamics of the magnetic suspension system: The basic principle of a simple electromagnetic suspension system is shown in Fig.1. The magnetic force applied by the electromagnet is opposite to gravity and maintains the suspended steel ball in a levitated position. The magnetic force Fm depends on the electromagnet current I, electromagnet characteristics, and the air gap X between the steel ball and the electromagnet. The motion of the steel ball in the magnetic field is expressed as Where m is the mass of the suspended steel ball, G = mg is the gravity force, and X is the air gap between the steel ball and the electromagnet. The magnetic force Fm is a nonlinear function of the current I and the air gap X. The linearization of the static characteristic near the set point (F0 , X0 ,I0) is given as The voltage equation of the electromagnetic coil is expressed as Where U is the controlled voltage applied to the electromagnet, R is the coil resistance, and L is the inductance of the electromagnet. Inductance L=f (X, t) is a function of the air gap, the coil, the core, and the steel ball. The steady state of the operating point air gap between the mass and the electromagnet is maintained by generating the magnetic force which is adjusted so that the gravitational force of the steel ball is balanced. The small differences from the operating point are normalized over operating spaces (G, D, Imax , Umax) and they are defined as follows: Where f is the normalized resultant force, x is the normalized air gap, i is the ormalized current, and u is the normalized voltage. X0 , I0 , and U0, are the steady-state values. Substituting Eq. 4 into Eqs. 1, 2, and 3 the dynamics of the system can be presented as follows: The block diagram of the linearized model of the electromagnetic suspension system is shown in Fig. 2. The linear system described in the block diagram in Fig. 2 is unstable and controllable. 2.4THEORY OF VIBRATION: Any motion that repeats itself after an interval of time is called vibration or oscillation. The swinging of a pendulum and the motion of a plucked string are typical examples of vibration. The theory of vibration deals with the study of oscillatory motions of bodies and the forces associated with them. Free vibration without damping Simple Mass Spring Model To start the investigation of the mass-spring-damper we will assume the damping is negligible and that there is no external force applied to the mass (i.e. free vibration). The force applied to the mass by the spring is proportional to the amount the spring is stretched x (we will assume the spring is already compressed due to the weight of the mass). The proportionality constant, k, is the stiffness of the spring and has units of force/distance (e.g. lbf/in or N/m) The force generated by the mass is proportional to the acceleration of the mass as given byNewtons second law of motion. If we assume that we start the system to vibrate by stretching the spring by the distance ofAand letting go, the solution to the above equation that describes the motion of mass is: This solution says that it will oscillate withsimple harmonic motionthat has an amplitudeofAand a frequency offn.The numberfnis one of the most important quantities in vibration analysis and is called theundamped natural frequency. For the simple mass-spring system,fnis defined as: Note:Angular frequency?(? = 2pf) with the units of radians per second is often used in equations because it simplifies the equations, but is normally converted to standard frequency (units ofHzor equivalently cycles per second) when stating the frequency of a system. If you know the mass and stiffness of the system you can determine the frequency at which the system will vibrate once it is set in motion by an initial disturbance using the above stated formula. Every vibrating system has one or more natural frequencies that it will vibrate at once it is disturbed. This simple relation can be used to understand in general what will happen to a more complex system once we add mass or stiffness. For example, the above formula explains why when a car or truck is fully loaded the suspension will feel softer than unloaded because the mass has increased and therefore reduced the natural frequency of the system. What causes the system to vibrate: from conservation of energy point of view Vibrational motion could be understood in terms ofconservation of energy. In the above example we have extended the spring by a value ofxand therefore have stored somepotential energy(12kx2) in the spring. Once we let go of the spring, the spring tries to return to its un-stretched state (which is the minimum potential energy state) and in the process accelerates the mass. At the point where the spring has reached its un-stretched state all the potential energy that we supplied by stretching it has been transformed intokinetic energy(12mv2).The mass then begins to decelerate because it is now compressing the spring and in the process transferring the kinetic energy back to its potential. Thus oscillation of the spring amounts to the transferring back and forth of the kinetic energy into potential energy. In our simple model the mass will continue to oscillate forever at the same magnitude, but in a real system there is always something calleddampingthat dissipates the energy and therefore the system eventually bringing it to rest. The solution to this equation depends on the amount of damping. If the damping is small enough the system will still vibrate, but eventually, over time, will stop vibrating. This case is called underdamping this case is of most interest in vibration analysis. If we increase the damping just to the point where the system no longer oscillates we reach the point ofcritical damping(if the damping is increased past critical damping the system is called overdamped). The value that the damping coefficient needs to reach for critical damping in the mass spring damper model is: To characterize the amount of damping in a system a ratio called thedamping ratio(also known as damping factor and% critical damping) is used. This damping ratio is just a ratio of the actual damping over the amount of damping required to reach critical damping. The formula for the damping ratio (?) of the mass spring damper model is: For example, metal structures (e.g. airplane fuselage, engine crankshaft) will have damping factors less than 0.05 while automotive suspensions in the range of 0.2-0.3. The solution to the underdamped system for the mass spring damper model is the following: The value ofX, the initial magnitude, andf,thephase shift, are determined by the amount the spring is stretched. The formulas for these values can be found in the references. 2.5 HALBACH ARRAYS Another way of stabilizing the repulsive effect is to use fields that move in space, rather than just time. This effect can be demonstrated with a rotating conductive disc and a permanent magnet, which will repel each other. HALBACH CYLINDERS are well-suited to magnetic levitation of gyroscope, motor and generator spindles. They use only permanent magnets and unpowered conductors to provide levitation. The energy of suspension comes entirely from rotational motion, efficiency is good, and no extremely low temperature suspension magnets or electronics are required. The only restriction is that the linear speed at the bearing race must be above a meter per second to levitate. This is also the principle of the inductract maglev train system, which avoids the problems inherent in actively supported systems. Halbach Cylinder: A Halbach cylinder is a magnetized cylinder composed of ferromagnetic material producing (in the idealised case)a magnetic field confined entirely within the cylinder with zero field outside. The cylinders can also be magnetized such that the magnetic field is entirely outside the cylinder, with zero field inside. Several magnetization distributions are shown below: Ideally, these structures would be created from an infinite length cylinder of magnetic material with the direction of magnetization continuously varying. The magnetic flux produced by this ideal design would be perfectly uniform and be entirely confined to the bore of the cylinder. Of course, the ideal case of infinite length is not realisable and in practice the finite length of the cylinders producesend effectswhich introduce non-uniformities in the field within the bore. The difficulty of manufacturing a cylinder with a continuously varying magnetization also usually leads to the design being broken into segments. These cylindrical structures are used in devices such as brushless AC motors, magnetic couplings and high field cylinders. Both brushless motors and coupling devices use multipole field arrangements: Brushless motors typically use cylindrical designs in which all the flux is confined to the centre of the bore (such ask = 4above, a six pole rotor) with the AC coils also contained within the bore. Such self-shielding motors designs are more efficient and produce higher torque than conventional motor designs. Magnetic coupling devices transmit torque through magnetically transparent barriers (that is the barrier is non-magnetic or is magnetic but is not affected by an applied magnetic field), for instance between sealed containers or pressurised vessels. The optimal torque couplings consists of a pair of coaxially nested cylinders with opposite +kand -kflux magnetization patterns, as -k magnetization patterns produce fields entirely external to the cylinder. In the lowest energy state, the outer flux of the inner cylinder exactly matches the internal flux of the outer cylinder. Rotating one cylinder relative to the other from these state results in a restoring torque. where the inner and outer cylinder radii areRoandRi, respectively.His in theydirection. This is the simplest form of the Halbach cylinder, and it can be seen that if the ratio of outer to inner radii is greater thanethe flux inside the bore actually exceeds theremanenceof the magnetic material used to create the cylinder. This cylindrical design is only one class of design which produces a uniform field inside a cavity within an array of permanent magnets. Other classes of design include wedge designs, proposed by Abele and Jensen in which wedges of magnetized material are arranged to provide uniform field within cavities inside the design as shown below. Three designs producing uniform magnetic fields within their central air gap The direction of magnetization of the wedges in (A) can be calculated using a set of rules given by Abele, and allows for great freedom in the shape of the cavity. Another class of design is the magnetic mangle (B), proposed by Coey and Cugat, in which uniformly magnetized rods are arranged such that their magnetization matches that of a Halbach cylinder, as shown for a six rod design. This design greatly increases access to the region of uniform field, at the expense of the volume of uniform field being smaller than in the cylindrical designs (although this area can be made larger by increasing the number of component rods). Rotating the rods relative to each other results in many possibilities including a dynamically variable field and various dipolar configurations. It can be seen that the designs shown in A and B are closely related to thek = 2Halbach cylinder. Other very simple designs for a uniform field include separated magnets with soft iron return paths, as shown in figure (C). High Uniform Field Designs: If the two dimensional magnetic distribution pattern of the Halbach cylinder is extended to three dimensions, the result is the Halbach sphere. These design have extremely uniform field within the interior of design, as they are not affected by the end effects prevalent in finite length cylinder design. The magnitude of the uniform field for a sphere also increases to 4/3 the amount for the ideal cylinder design with the same inner and outer radii. However, being spherical access to the region of uniform field is usually restricted to a narrow hole at the top and bottom of the design. Higher fields are possible by optimising the spherical design to take account of the fact that it is composed of point dipoles (and not line dipoles). This results in the stretching of the sphere to an elliptical shape and having a non-uniform distribution of magnetization over the component parts of the sphere. Using this method, as well as soft pole pieces within the design, 4.5 T in a working volume of 20mm3was achieved by Blochet al.in 1998 and this was increased further to 5 T in 2000, although over a smaller working area of 0.05mm3. As hard materials are temperature dependent, refrigeration of the entire magnet array can increase the field within the working area further as shown by Kumadaet al.This group also reported development of a 5.16 T Halbach dipole cylinder in 2003. Chapter 3 MAGNETIC MATERIALS Magnets are attracted to, or repelled by, other materials. A material that is strongly attracted to a magnet is said to have permeability. Iron and steel are two examples of materials with very high permeability, and they are strongly attracted to magnets. Liquid oxygen is an example of something with a low permeability that it is actually slightly repelled by magnetic fields. Everything has a measurable permeability like people, gases and even the vacuum of outer space. The SI unit of magnetic field strength is the tesla, and SI unit of total magnetic flux is the Weber. 1 Weber = 1 tesla following through 1 square meter, and is a very large amount of magnetic flux. Material can be classified according to their permittivity and conductivity. Materials with a large amount of loss inhibit the propagation of electromagnetic waves. In this case, generally whens/(?e)>> 1, we consider the material to be a good conductor. Dielectrics are associated with lossless or low-loss materials, wheres/(?e) 3.4 Measurement: The dielectric constant of material can be found by a variety of static electrical measurement. The complex permittivity is evaluated over a wide range of frequencies by using different variants of dielectric spectroscopy, covering 21 orders of magnitude from 10-6to 1015Hz. Also, by usingcryostatsand ovens, the dielectric properties of a medium can be characterized over an array of temperatures. In order to study systems for such diverse exciting fields, a number of measurement setups are used, each adequate for a special frequency range. Low-frequencytime domainmeasurements (10-6-103Hz) Low-frequencyfrequency domainmeasurements (10-5-106Hz) Reflective coaxial methods (106-1010Hz) Transmission coaxial method (108-1011Hz) Quasi-optical methods (109-1010Hz) Fourier-transform methods (1011-1015Hz) 3.5 Magnet used for Inductrack Inductrack is a completely passive, fail-safe magnetic levitation system, using only unpowered loops of wires in the track and permanent magnets (arranged into Halbach Arrays) on the vehicle to achieve magnetic levitation. The track can be in one of two configurations, a ladder track and a laminated track. The ladder track is made of unpowered Litz-wire cables, and the laminated track is made out of stacked copper or aluminium sheets. Description: Inductrack was invented by a team of scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, headed by physicist Richard F. Post, for use in maglev trains. The only power required is to push the train forward against air and electromagnetic drag, with increasing levitation force generated as the velocity of the train increases over the loops of wire. Its name comes from the wordinductanceorinductor; an electrical device made from loops of wire. As the magnet array (with alternating magnetic field orientations) passes over the loops of wire, it induces a current in them. The current creates its own magnetic field which repels the permanent magnets. Whenneodymium-iron-boron permanent magnetsare used, levitation is achieved at low speeds, allowing it to lift 50 times the magnet weight. The test model levitated at speeds above 22 mph, but Richard Post believes that on real tracks, levitation could be achieved at as little as 1 to 2 mph. Below the transition speed, the magnetic drag increases as the vehicles speed increases and approaches the transition speed, but above this transition speed, the magnetic drag decreases as the vehicles speed increases. The Inductrack II variation uses two Halbach arrays, one above and one below the track to double the levitating magnetic field without substantially increasing the weight or footprint area of the Halbach arrays, while having lower drag forces at low speeds. Several maglev railroad proposals are based upon Inductrack technology. The U.S.National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) is also considering Inductrack technology for launching rockets. Stationary cars: For use at embarkation/ debarkation areas, an implementation using a moving track would continue levitating the car while stationary. With a loop construction similar to a flat escalator by stationary track there would be no moving parts friction. Also, the elimination of the need for wheels during starting/ stopping of the cars simplify car construction and maintenance. Neodymium magnet: A neodymium magnet or NIB magnet (also, but less specifically, called a rare earth magnet) is a powerful magnet made of a combination of a combination of neodymium, iron and boron -Nd2Fe14B. Neodymium magnet on a bracket from a hard drive They have replaced marginally weaker and significantly more heat-resistant samarium-cobalt magnets in most applications, due mainly to their lower cost. These magnets are very strong in comparison to their mass, but are also mechanically fragile and the most powerful grades lose their magnetism at temperatures above 176 degrees fahrenheit or 80 degrees Celsius. High-temperature grades will operate at up to 200 and even 230 C but their strength is only marginally greater than that of samarium-cobalt. Neodymium magnets (or neo as they are known in the industry) are graded in strength from N24 to the strongest N54. The number after the N represents the magnetic energy product, in mega gauss-oersteds (MGOe) (1 MGOe = 7,958 TA/m = 7,958 J/m). N48 has a remnant static magnetic field of 1.38 teslas and an H (magnetic field intensity) of 13,000 oersteds (1.0 MA/m). By volume one requires about 18 times as much ceramic magnet material for the equivalent magnet strength. The neodymium magnet i ndustry is continually working to push the maximum energy product (strength) closer to the theoretical maximum of 64 MGOe. Scientists are also working hard to improve the maximum operating temperature for any given strength. A neodymium magnet lifting 1300 times its own mass Used for stabilization and angular head motors in computer hard drives, neodymium magnets are also popular with hobbyists, and a small magnet can have amazing properties it exhibits magnetic braking when moved near a non-magnetic metal due to induced eddy currents. An excellent demonstration for students to see the effects of Lenzs Law in non-ferrous metals may be performed by dropping a strong neodymium magnet through a copper pipe. The magnet will travel through the pipe remarkably slowly as it falls, the effect may be greatly enhanced by immersing the pipe in liquid nitrogen (thus increasing its conductivity even further) prior to dropping the magnet through. A somewhat larger magnet interacts strongly enough with the magnetic field of the Earth to allow its tendency to align with that field to be perceived directly when holding it, essentially forming a compass. Cylinder- and disc-shaped neodymium magnets are especially responsive to the Earths magnetic fields. Neodymium magnets are used for the transducers in many headphones. Chapter 4 MAGLEV DESIGN 4.1 Electromagnetic Suspension System: (Concept) The design of the electromagnetic suspension system can be done with two types: 1) By using a Hydraulic Damper or 2) By using Linear Motor as a Damper. The concept is to design the magnetic suspension system on the front shock absorber of the motor bike to have a better performance with ease of handling and comfort ride. There are two cylinders installed on two separate arms of the front shock absorbing rods. The cylinder contains the pair of the cylindrical magnets having same pole facing each other to create the required repulsive force to have required levitation effect. The two cylindrical magnets having S (South Pole) on the outer surface concentric with the inner circle having N (North Pole) as shown in following figure:- 1) Working for the Hydraulic Damper: The two disc magnets in a tube or two ring magnets on a shaft, as seen in above figure comprise our required magnet for a motor bike front suspension system. With unlike poles facing, the magnets repel each other generate an air gap between them. The repulsive force restores displacement towards each other, and displacement away is restored by gravity. A hydraulic damper is fixed on the top of the cylinder and connected with the upper magnet with a shaft. The set of shocks used with magnets inside them that are used as the fork setup. One magnet is at the top of the inner portion of the shock with north polarity facing down towards the ground. The second magnet sits on the top of the inner shock that pivots up and down. This magnet has the north polarity upwards so it is parallel with the other magnet. The two magnets fight against each other giving the forks travel. There is also an adjustment at the top of the shock, which allows the magnets to become closer, together for a stiffe r travel or further apart for softer travel. The force from gravity, the force from repelling magnet the radial instability is restrained by shaft. If the shaft is removed from the simple spring, it will be unstable naturally. The magnet will tend towards vertical motion, resulting in instabi

A Literacy Event that Changed my Life Essay -- Personal Narratives The

A Literacy Event that Changed my Life All my life I have been a lazy person, doing just enough to get by. Most of the time, in high school, I was content with just a â€Å"C†. The only time I wasn’t, was if it was a class I liked, and I paid attention to. If this was the case, I could have received a 99% on a test and been dissatisfied. But, for the rest of my classes, which were most of my classes, that I didn’t like, I never paid attention to or did homework, and I still managed to do well on tests. So basically I didn’t do anything except take tests and I still got satisfactory grades. In school I was so lazy that there could have been a project due worth about 20% of the final grade and I still wouldn’t do it. Once in my 11th grade English class, we had to do a project about anything to do with the medieval time period. This project was worth a great deal of points. So to try to get a grade without doing anything, I went to Redners and bought an apple pie. I then brought the pie to English class and presented my project. I told them that the medieval people ate apple...

Putting a Face on Freedom :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

Putting a Face on Freedom What is Freedom? Freedom in and of itself defies definition since its very essence and parameters can be shown only with its constraints and limitations. If one state of being is unable to stand on its own merits and must rely on another to have structure, can it never truly be â€Å"free.† Therein lies the irony: freedom is forever encapsulated by its limitations, regardless of its range. Without evident barriers, it could not exist. If it is within barriers, can it truly exist? This paper will discuss the existence of freedom and several of its forms. Although much sought after, gaining freedom usually involves strife and war. With the splitting of the Catholic Church in the Reformation, many restraints on science, religion and education vanish, causing a rebirth of knowledge and philosophical thought. Although fragmented, the Catholic Church is by no means vanquished, so inevitable conflicts arise. The conflicts are not confined to the battlefield, though, they occur more often than not in the form of books and documents. With wars, famine and social upheaval accompanying the Reformation, men sometimes lament the passing of the former system (a unified Church) which, though imperfect, at least provides some stability. Thomas More, a critic of King Henry VIII, cleverly disguises his criticisms in his literature. He writes about a tightly regulated society, Utopia, where there are no social strata and people of all religious persuasions can live harmoniously with one another, to freely practice their religions without fear of reproach. Though there seems to be an abundance of freedom, including religious, there are a few hitches—such as having to obtain permission from your father and wife before exploring the countryside, wearing the same clothing as everyone else, having no possibility for social advancement and compulsory theism (your choice of deities, however): â€Å"†¦he (Utopus) made a solemn and severe law against such as should†¦think that our souls died with our bodies, o r that the world was governed by chance, without a wise overruling Providence† (More, p. 747). More’s Utopia offers freedoms some might cherish, but others would find it unbearably restrictive. Even those of a religious bent might have looked askance at Utopia’s forced theism policy. Is it freedom? Some might think so if they believed freedom of religion didn’t include freedom from religion.