Downtown Beirut, Response on Mohsen’s Article Essay

Downtown Beirut: a spot pour les bourgeois In his article Downtown Beirut: A City of Ghosts? , published in the Alakhbar English journal on Saturday, January 7 2012, Ahmed Mohsen describes the heart of Beirut as an empty, fake, artificial hanging spot for the elite, so distant and alienated from the culture and the civilization of the good old Beirut known for its diversity among different social classes. Mohsen considers rebuilding the capital after the traumatizing war have indeed its true identity and covered its alleys with fake architecture that destroyed the historical beauty of what once was known as â€Å"the Paris of the Middle East†. For many, what’s known today as † Solidere â€Å", projects the new post war era, the era of a flourishing economy and an original society. In fact, the new buildings are indeed nothing more than an overpriced imitation of other countries’ architecture leaving the old Beirut and its rich Middle Eastern history nothing more than a memory along with its social traditions. Mohsen pointed out in his article that after rebuilding the center of the capital, the original citizens in Wadi Abu Jamil and its surroundings are no longer there. According to the author’s article â€Å"Wadi Abu Jamil’s original residents and owners have vanished. † (Page #120) I personally believe that the old Beirut with its old, wrecked buildings and crowded dirty alleys is a unique haven of coexistence between the various religious sects and the different social classes unlike the new â€Å"Down Town† or â€Å"DT† with its new original buildings inhabited by only one social class. The â€Å"High† class. The reconstruction of Beirut put money and artificial beauty over the unity of the classes and the unity of the different peoples that lived for centuries in Lebanon and their reunification after the devastating war. In his article, the author criticized the fact that only rich people can shop or hang out in the â€Å"DT† saying â€Å"For those who can afford it, the place to shop in downtown is â€Å"Beirut souks†. â€Å"(Page # 119). In fact, all the shops present in downtown are indeed expensive for the average citizen. But the problem is that even the most basic things in a small shop are much more expensive than any other place in the country. Buying a simple cone of ice cream will cost you something around 2000 L. L in Lebanon, but buying it from downtown will cost you about 7000 L. L. All the artificial beauty that is supposed to encourage the Lebanese around the world to go back to their country is in fact, a repulsive, ugly place reserved for the elite and rich tourists from neighboring Arabic countries.

Prove or conversely disprove the inverse square law Essay

My aim of this experiment is to prove or conversely disprove the inverse square law, which simply states that the intensity of any point source, which spreads its influence equally in all directions without a limit to its range, will decrease in intensity inversely proportional to the square of the distance. Background information Research As first proposed by Isaac Newton when proposing his universal law of gravitation it became clear to him that the intensity of gravity would decrease according to the inverse of the square of the distance. This is the heart of the inverse square, which states for any point source, which spreads its influence equally in all directions without a limit to its range, will obey the inverse square law. Quite simply the inverse square law states that for sources emitted from a point the intensity will be deduced as the inverse of the square of the distance. You double the distance you reduce the intensity by a factor of 1/4. This has applications in electric fields, light, sound, gamma radiation, and gravity. All of these are expressed in the medium of a field. To explain the properties involved in a field it is useful to use the idea of flux. When water flows form a ‘source’ to a sink it is transferred at a certain rate, or flux. The flux density will be the mass of water per second crossing a unit area perpendicular to the flow. We can think of energy density in a similar way. Energy flux density is normally referred to as intensity. Field strength and energy flux density are related. The strength of a field will fall off proportionally. The idea of flux can be applied to fields in which there is no obvious evidence for anything actually being transferred, such as static electrical fields, gravitational fields and magnetic fields. The mathematics that model flux are the same whatever the field. Generally this can be summed up in a formula which states the intensity at a point on a sphere of influence will be deduced by the source strength divided by 4 times pi times the radius squared, where this is the surface area over which the initial source has spread it’s influence. I = S / 4? r2 This formula manifests itself in a variety of ways when put into context. When applied to gravity the formula to show the acceleration due to gravity at the surface of a body is, 4? GM = Intensity at the surface of sphere of influence. Where G is the gravitational constant, M the mass of the object, and r the distance from the centre point. By cancelling out the 4? section we are left with the more elegant formula, GM = acceleration due to gravity r2 Where acceleration due to gravity would be equivalent to the intensity of the source. As the distance is doubled, the intensity is reduced by a factor of 4. So theoretically gravity obeys the inverse square law. When applied to sound we get the formula, P = I 4? r2 Where P is the source power, I the intensity at surface of sphere, and r the distance from the source power. So again we see that as we double the distance we reduce the intensity by a factor of 4. The differce here that as sound is not of ethereal nature it is affected by its surroundings and only works without reflections, or reverberations. The behaviour of point charges in an electrostatic field will obey coulombs law, which in turn obeys the inverse square law. The formula here is, Q = E 4 0 r2 Where Q/? 0 is the source strength, E is the strength of the electrostatic field, and r is the distance. So again we see that as the distance is doubled, the intensity of the field is reduced by a factor of four.

Of Mice and Men Theme essays

Of Mice and Men Theme essays Through the novel Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, I have acquired many valuable lessons about life. This novel has numerous themes: the beauty of a dream, friendship, and loneliness, and about people feeding on to a weaker target. However, the foremost theme of this novel is that a dream, no matter how impossible it is to obtain, can build a friendship and grant significance to life. George and Lennie dreamed of owning a little farm of ten acres, with a windmill, a little shack, a garden, and animals. Their dream keeps them going and lightens the load of their work. It also solidifies their friendship. Former singer Aaliyah, admitted on having to go through some horrible, tiring, and pointless things, however, while doing those things, she constantly reminded herself about her fans, and that made whatever she was doing, easier and worthwhile. A lawyer who is working really hard and putting all off his time into case, will tend to get extremely stressed out at times, however, when he reminds himself of the big paycheck he will get at the end of the case, his work doesnt seem so stressful to him any longer. Another piece of information that I gain knowledge of from this novel is an essential lesson about the nature of human existence. Nearly all of the characters, including George, Lennie, Candy, Crooks, and Curley's wife, admit, at one time or another, to having a intense sense of loneliness and isolation. Each character desires the comfort of an acquaintance, yet, they will settle for the compassionate ear of an outsider. Curley's wife admits to Candy, Crooks, and Lennie that she is unhappily married, Sure I got a husban. You all seen him. swell guy aint he? Spends all his time sayin what hes gonna do to guys he dont like, and he dont like nobody. Moreover, Crooks tells Lennie that life is no good without a companion to turn to in time ...

Standing Waves on a String Essays

Standing Waves on a String Essays Standing Waves on a String Paper Standing Waves on a String Paper The objective of this experiment is to study the resonance modes of a stretched string by measuring directly in order to test the theoretical formula which relates the tension in the string to its length, mass, resonance frequency, and mode of vibration.  Definition of Standing Waves:  An oscillation pattern that has an outline which is resulting from the superposition of two identical waves traveling in opposite directions. Superposition occurs when two or more  waves are moving through a same linear medium at any point that the algebraic sum of the waves will be the resultant wave. Standing waves are produced from transverse sinusoidal waves having the same amplitude, frequency, wavelength, but traveling in the opposite directions in the same medium.  Sinusoidal Wave  Standing Waves at Fixed Ends:  When a string is put at two fixed ends and a tension is applied, waves are set up in the string as a superposition of waves that are reflected from both ends. Under a tension the string will oscillate and can reach several nodes of vibration. Nodes occur where there is not any amplitude, motion, in the string (wave). Antinodes occur where there is maximum amplitude and motion in the string (waves). The fixed ends of string are each nodes on the string. The distance between two nodes is equal to   where is the wavelength. The distance between a node and antinode is equal to 4. In the figure indicated below, the nodes and antinodes of the wave are labeled. In a wave, the distance between the nodes (1) and antinodes (2) is given by the formula:  (1) X = n (? / 2) n = 0, 1, 2n, where n can be any real number  Ã‚  (2) X = n (?/ 4) n = 1, 3, 52n+1 where n can be any real number  In a string that is fixed on both ends, no vertical oscillation will take place at the points of nodes. However, for the rest of the points in the medium of the wave there will be the same frequency, and vertical displacements will differ for each point throughout the medium of the wave. The string can have several patterns of oscillation. Each pattern is unique in its own form, and there is a different frequency for each pattern. These different patterns of oscillation are referred to as normal modes or harmonics. The length L of the string between the fixed ends of each different pattern of oscillation is given by the formula:  It was observed that the mass of the string per unit of length () can be found by knowing the frequency of a string, tension and the mode of vibration. In this experiment the mass of the string per unit of length was measured with two different methods. In the first method, the mathematical formula was used to calculate the for different patterns of created standing waves. In this formula, slope can be found from the à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ vs. n graph. Then the final result was found by calculating the average of obtaineds. The second method was measuring the directly by using the formula , where the mass of the string was determined by using the electrical balance. The average that was calculated in the first method was (4.84 0.05) 10-4 Kg/m, and The value of by using the direct measurement was 5.1010-4 Kg/m 1.03   10-6 Kg/m. These two results are close to reach other, but the result by using the second way is more accurate because of the fact that in the second method an electrical balance was used to measure the weight of the string which is relatively more accurate. Since the mass of the string per unit of length values obtained through the both methods had minimum differences, this experiment was relatively a success. When finding resonance frequencies it was also known that the 2nd mode of vibration should be double the fundamental frequency. For example3 = 1 and so on. Although the values obtained for higher modes of vibration were close to being multiples of one another, they were not exact. The causes of why these errors have occurred are due to a number of reasons. The air resistance could have affected the standing wave of the string which consequently affects the frequency of the wave. When the string reaches higher modes of vibration becomes more difficult to sense where the nodes are which will impact the frequency. There also could have been some errors in weighing and measuring the length of the string. To reduce the errors of this experiment it could have been performed several times.

Doubt, a Play by John Patrick Shanley

Doubt, a Play by John Patrick Shanley Doubt is a drama written by John Patrick Shanley. It is about a strict nun who believes that a priest has done something terribly inappropriate to one of the students. The Setting of Doubt The play is set in the Bronx, New York in 1964, and takes place mostly in the offices of a Catholic school. Plot Overview Based upon a few circumstantial details and a lot of intuition, the stern nun, Sister Aloysius Beauvier believes that one of the priests at the St. Nicholas Catholic Church and school has been molesting a 12-year-old boy named Donald Muller, the schools only African-American student. Sister Aloysius recruits a young, naive nun (Sister James) to assist her in monitoring the suspicious yet charismatic Father Flynn. She also addresses her concerns to Donalds mother, who, surprisingly, is not horrified or even shocked by the allegations. (Mrs. Muller is more concerned about her son getting into high school and avoiding a beating from his dad.) The play concludes with a one-on-one confrontation between Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn as she attempts to get the truth out of the priest. The Character Sister Aloysius: What Does She Believe? This nun is a diligent taskmaster who firmly believes that subjects such as art and dance class are a waste of time. (She doesnt think much of history either.) She contends that good teachers are cold and cunning, creating a bit of fear within the hearts of the students. In some ways, Sister Aloysius might fit the stereotype of the angry Catholic school nun who slaps the hands of students with a ruler. However, playwright John Patrick Shanley reveals his true motives in the plays dedication: This play is dedicated to the many orders of Catholic nuns who have devoted their lives to serving others in hospitals, schools, and retirement homes. Though they have been much maligned and ridiculed, who among us has been so generous? In the spirit of the above statement, Sister Aloysius seems so harsh because she ultimately cares about the well-being of the children in her school. She is ever vigilant, as apparent in her discussion with the innocent teacher Sister James; Aloysius seems to know more about the students than the young, naive nun. Eight years before the beginning of the story, Sister Aloysius was responsible for detecting a sexual predator among the priesthood. After she went directly to the monsignor, the abusive priest was removed. (She does not indicate that the priest was arrested.) Now, Sister Aloysius suspects that Father Flynn has made a sexual advance on a 12-year-old boy. She believes that while having a private conversation, Father Flynn gave the boy wine. She doesnt state exactly what she thinks happens next, but the implication is that Father Flynn is a pedophile who must be dealt with immediately. Unfortunately, because she is a woman, she does not have the same level of authority as the priests; so instead of reporting the situation to her superiors (who will probably not listen to her), she reports her suspicions to the boys mother. During the plays finale, Aloysius and Flynn confront one another. She lies, claiming that she has heard about previous incidents from other nuns. In response to her lie/threat, Flynn resigns from the school but obtains a promotion becoming the pastor of a different institution. The Dubious Priest of Doubt The audience learns much about Father Brendan Flynn, yet most of the information is hearsay and conjecture. The early scenes which feature Flynn show him in performance mode. First, he is speaking to his congregation about dealing with a crisis of faith. His second appearance, another monologue, is delivered to the boys on the basketball team he coaches. He gives them instruction about developing a routine on the court and lectures them about their dirty fingernails. Unlike Sister Aloysius, Flynn is moderate in his beliefs about discipline and tradition. For example, Aloysius scorns the idea of secular Christmas songs such as Frosty the Snowman appearing in the churchs pageant; she argues they are about magic and therefore evil. Father Flynn, on the other hand, likes the notion of the church embracing the modern culture so that its leading members can be seen as friends and family, and not just emissaries from Rome. When he is confronted about Donald Muller and the alcohol that was on the boys breath, Father Flynn reluctantly explains that the boy was caught drinking the altar wine. Flynn promised not to punish the boy if no one else found out about the incident and if he promised not to do it again. That answer relieves the naive Sister James, but it does not satisfy Sister Aloysius. During the plays finale, when Sister Aloysius falsely tells him that nuns from other parishes have made incriminating statements, Flynn becomes very emotional. FLYNN: Am I not flesh and blood like you? Or are we just ideas and convictions. I cant say everything. Do you understand? There are things I cant say. Even if you imagine the explanation, Sister, remember there are circumstances beyond your knowledge. Even if you feel certainty, it is an emotion and not a fact. In the spirit of charity, I appeal to you. Some of these phrases, such as There are things I cant say, seem to imply a level of shame and possibly guilt. However, Father Flynn firmly claims, I have not done anything wrong. Ultimately, it is up to the audience to determine guilt or innocence, or whether or not such rulings are even possible, given the sketchy bits of evidence delivered by Shanleys drama. Did Father Flynn Do It? Is Father Flynn a child molester? The audience and readers never know. At its heart, that is the point of John Patrick Shanleys Doubt- the realization that all of our beliefs and convictions are part of a facade we build to protect ourselves. We often choose to believe in things: a persons innocence, a persons guilt, the sanctity of the church, the collective morality of society. However, the playwright argues in his preface, deep down, under the chatter we have come to a place where we know that we dont know...anything. But nobodys willing to say that. One thing seems certain by the end of the play: Father Flynn is concealing something. But who isnt?

Supply chain Technologies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Supply chain Technologies - Case Study Example The U.K. high street fashion industry is a complex business with an estimated 44.5 billion in annual revenues (Barlow, 2006). It includes a wide range of enterprises in the apparel, footwear, home textiles, and accessories markets, full-price and discount retailers, and design source and selling companies. Some have their own manufacturing facilities whilst others outsource production but retain control over parts of the production process. Dominating the highly-competitive UK fashion market is Marks & Spencer, followed by discount fashion specialist brands such as Primark and TK Maxx, all competing with Burberry, Italy's Prada, Chloe (France), Hugo Boss (Germany), and Donna Karan (U.S.). Fashion and apparel manufacturing has almost disappeared in the U.K. due to cheap imports from China, which has likewise developed into a manufacturing base for the established global brands. U.K. manufacturing is focused on specialist fashion clothing and luxury products, mostly for wealthy customers in developed countries. The industry is marked by the integration of manufacturers and retailers, with the top three U.K. fashion retailers - M&S, Next, and Arcadia - remaining vertically integrated, producing and retailing their own brands. The other high street fashion brands prefer specialist retailers, outsourcing their production in different countries and sending the finished products to the U.K. The industry continues to be driven by retailers rather than manufacturers and marked by the growing polarisation between discounters and full-price retailers. The highly competitive nature of the business will continue to intensify. Full-price retailers need to capitalise on young consumer demand for distinctive designs, quality materials, and individual styles sold as "fast fashion" with items offered for a limited time before new styles are released (Doshi, 2006). The industry's operational requirements have changed in the last twenty years, since the time when high street fashion houses sourced most of their raw materials from U.K. textile manufacturers. These were then transformed by U.K. designers, most with their own production facilities, into wearable apparel or accessories for domestic and export sales. Under this traditional system, high street fashion houses competed on the basis of designs, quality brand image, and productivity and were able to command higher margins. However, with the rise of global production centres in Asia and Latin America, not only for textiles but also for finished high-quality apparel, most high street fashion houses are being squeezed towards the higher value-added design and brand marketing activities and feeling greater pressure to outsource production and improve operational management efficiencies. Aside from the growing power of consumers, price discounting pressures, and design copyright problems, the industry faces the following major operations management issues: 1) complexity of the supply chain; 2) speed to product launch and delivery; 3) managing the product mix; 4) inventory control maintenance; and 5) fast-changing technologies. Airlines The airline industry consists of a wide range of companies, from those with a single airplane carrying mail or cargo through full-service international airlines operating hundreds of airplanes of various types. These companies

Immigration and Diversity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Immigration and Diversity - Research Paper Example This paper discusses the migration of the Japanese into the state of Texas and where they settled. The Japanese migrated into Texas for various reasons. Some of them moved from Japan to settle in Texas as a result of overpopulation and congestion in the country1. The movement of some of the Japanese was by choice like, for instance, the movement of businessmen to Texas to exploit business opportunities in Texas. However, the migration of some of the Japanese was forced such as the forceful relocation of prisoners. Overpopulation caused a group of Japanese led by Sadatsuchi Uchida to tour the Gulf Coast eyeing the possibility of relocation to the area. The group was successful and thus migrated to the area and set up rise farms2. The success encouraged the movement of more Japanese to the location. Hostility drove Japanese from the West Coast to settle in Hidalgo and Cameron counties in lower Rio Grande Valley. Some of the Japanese settled in Bexar and El Paso countries. The migration of the Japanese was not particularly a drastic process. They moved into Texas in small groups and finally settled in the area to carry on their business activities. Today, the Japanese live peacefully in Texas and have become citizens by naturalization. Their massive contribution has led to the tremendous growth of the state of