The Next Alternative Fuel

Biodiesel This domestically formed fuel produces uncontaminated burning effect and thus a renewable alternative for the petroleum products. It mainly comes from vegetable oils and fats from animals (Dale, p 14). The effectiveness is measurable by the energy security, health or environmental protection, safety and performance of the engine.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Next Alternative Fuel specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Benefits of biodiesel U.S. imports a surplus of 60% petroleum energy majority of which is gasoline and diesel for vehicles. The political volatility of the petroleum producers means that the source is insecure thus the high venerability to disruption of supplies (Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC), p 4). With domestically produced biodiesel as a substitute, the insecurity of supply becomes less. During combustion, biodiesel does not emit hydrocarbons and other harm ful products like carbon monoxide, greenhouse gases, sulphites and particulate like the mined petroleum products. Scientifically it reduces carbon dioxide emission by over 75%. The bio fuels improve engine performance by providing the lubricating effects, thus preventing the engine parts from wearing out (Dale, p 15). Diesel fuels have reduced sulphur thus the low lubricating ability. Lastly, the non-toxic nature of biodiesel enhances user and environmental protection in cases of spills. It is also less combustible and therefore enhances more safety during handling, transportation and storage. Hydrogen Hydrogen is scientifically the most abundant and simple element of the earth. It emanates from the biomass, fossil fuels and ionized water. These are renewable sources, thus the probability of having non-pollutants and alternative for the imported petroleum products (Hordeski, p.2). Benefits of Hydrogen Its greenhouse and exhaust gas emission is almost zero and is a domestic product f rom natural sources such as wind, biomass, coal, solar, natural gas or nuclear energy. The fuel is thus safe for the environment and users due to none emission property especially when production is from low or none-toxicant sources such as nuclear energy, fossil fuels, solar or wind. The hydrogen fuel provides ways of utilizing the renewable energy sources. Electricity With the high number of electric or hybrid vehicles, there are high probabilities of use particularly for the short distance drives (Simon, p 74). Other alternatives are the fuel cells for converting hydrogen chemicals and storing electric energy production from the vehicle’s board.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Benefits of Electricity The electric vehicles have no exhaust carbon emissions. The cost of electricity varies depending on the location, source and time of usage thus more reasonable than the petroleum products. There is also easy access due to generalized outlets from various locations including home. Natural Gas This is the naturally available burning fuel commonly compressed for household use (Hordeski, p.2). Its usage for vehicles would secure the fuel energy due to local production and improve environment and public health due to lack of substance emissions except water. It reduces dependency on foreign imports thus increasing security. Production of natural gas causes zero emissions as well. Propane Propane is ‘liquefied petroleum gas’ (LPG) for high levelled energy requirements such as in flights. The use of this source would increase fuel security and promote zero emissions due to clean burning or provision of high performance benefits. Best alternative for the future Hydrogen fuel is the most preferable future fuel because of its availability, high power efficiency especially for the ‘fuel cell vehicles’, as well as low intoxication to people and the environment. Beside vehicles, hydrogen fuels are also sources for stationary applications such as generators for electric production, thus a fuel for the entire economy. Hydrogen technologies will give U.S. benefits that are more economical. According to Hordeski (p.2), hydrogen is better than electric fuel because production of electricity causes carbon emissions. As an alternative, propane production is more expensive and requires engine conversions to accommodate propane combustion. Works Cited Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC). Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy. U.S. Department of Energy, 5 April 2101. Web.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Next Alternative Fuel specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Dale, Bruce. Thinking clearly about bio fuels: ending the irrelevant ‘net energy’ debate and developing better performance metrics for alternative fuels. 1 (1), 14-17. September 2007. Print. Hordeski, Michael. Alternative fuels: the future of hydrogen. Georgia, GA: Fairmont Press Inc. 2009. Print. Simon, Christopher. Alternative energy: political, economic, and social feasibility. Plymouth, U.K: ROWMAN LITTLEFIELD Publishers, Inc. 2007. Print. This essay on The Next Alternative Fuel was written and submitted by user Deborah Vega to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Top 20 Best Summer Jobs for Recent Graduates

Top 20 Best Summer Jobs for Recent Graduates looking for a way to maximize your hireability come graduation time? the best strategy is to get a job or an internship related to the field you want to work in. but if that isn’t an option for you, then you want to maximize learning stuff and making money- while still leaving you time to, you know, have a summer. some of the most successful people in the world have a story or two about the crappy job they worked over a summer or two of their adolescence. here are 20  of the best possible options for you to mull over as you dust off your summer wardrobe:sales- no matter what you’re selling, these skills will come seriously in handy over the course of your career.post office worker- this one comes with surprisingly good pay, and guaranteed time outdoors!national park servicescamp counselors- pay isn’t great, but accommodation and food (and beautiful natural surroundings!) are usually freeresort or country club- you get paid to be by the beach or the pool or the golf course.tour guiderestaurant jobsweb designtutoring- set your own hours and make bank.telemarketing- same as sales; you do have to be that annoying person on the phone, but if you have a knack for it, you’ll  earn a lot of cash.campus jobs/working in the labs or libraries- check your university for openings.construction workervaletpet and house sittingwriting articles for sites that will pay youconvention worker- anything cool coming to your town? get involved.landscapinglifeguardsdog walkerbarista

Analysis, segmentation and marketing mix of Apple

Analysis, segmentation and marketing mix of Apple Introduction The aim of this report is to analyse the current position of the company which includes the products, current strategic position, and current financial strength. Different types of marketing tools are used in this report. PEST analysis and Porter’s five force model for looking into the external environment. SWOT analysis for looking into the internal environment of the organization. This report also looks into market segmentation and the marketing mix of the product. Apple was first introduced by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976 to market and sell the Apple personal computer kit. The first computer kits were hand built and was kept for a public display first at the homebrew computer lab. This computer kit consisted of Motherboard with RAM, CPU, and some video chips. Since then apple have come a long way in the market all over the world and they are one of the leading companies in electronic products. This can be known with the informat ion given below: Current Strategic Position Apple believes in continuous improvement and they look into all the key sectors like environment, health and safety management systems and the quality of our products, processes and services. Looking into the Principle and goals of Apple, Apple has set out their own principles where they look to meet all the health and safety requirements, promote energy efficiency, and their main goals are; innovation is the most important thing for apple, to increase the number of sales of the product in the education field, providing new and user friendly software for the customers, and last but not the least providing high quality products to the customers. Looking into the current strategic position of Apple, with the introduction of its own operating system, hardware, software application, and with a completely new design, Apple looks to meet all the customer requirements like new products, ease of use, and an innovative design of the product. Apple is currently focusing on, brand awareness and improving the product by increasing the financial investment on marketing and advertisement, they are looking at expanding the retail segment by opening more number of stores all over the world, they are looking at keeping it up with the competition by implementing a cost leadership strategy, and they are looking to continue the reputation of being the leader in innovation for new technology by implementing product differentiation strategy. Looking into the current finance position of Apple, on October 19, 2009 Apple announced the financial results for the year 2009. The company posted revenue of $9.87 billion and a net quarterly profit of $1.67 billion. These results can be compared to the revenue of $7.9 billion and net quarterly profit of $1.14 billion in the previous year quarter. International sales also helped 46% of the quarter’s revenue. Gross margin is 36.6% when compared to the previous year quarter which was 34.7%. Appl e reached 17% increase when compared to the previous year quarter by successfully selling 3.05 million Mac computers during the quarter. PEST analysis and Porter’s five forces are very important tools to establish the external environment of Apple:

John Adams Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

John Adams - Research Paper Example His family was rather modest, and his simple habits were typical for Massachusettsian farmers of that time (McCullough 18). Adams was a devout believer, but he still valued Greco-Roman literature and political theory: he was an ample reader of works by Cicero, Tacitus, Plato, Thucydides, and other political writers and philosophers of Ancient world (McCullough 19). Adams did not belong to learned or commercial elite of the Colonial society and was proud of his personal qualities such as eloquence. As a lawyer, he earned recognition of local community, yet his social ambition led him to view political career as his true destiny (McCullough 20). Adams first became an important figure during the campaign against the Stamp Act of 1765, as the decision of the British government to impose a direct tax on printed materials enraged the Americans. Adams played a prominent role in this campaign by drafting the so-called Braintree Instructions, a document presented by Massachusettsian citizens to the General Court of the colony. The Braintree Instructions presented such basic principles of future American political system as the connection between taxation and representation, and the necessity of trial by jury and independent judiciary (McCullough 61). The campaign against the Stamp Act would thus become the first contribution of Adams to the fight for independence of the future United States. The second important contribution of Adams to the cause of independence was his participation in the first and second Continental Congresses of 1774 and 1775. As the most prominent of representatives of Massachusetts, Adams possessed great influence among his fellow members of Congress, and his struggle for transformation of the colonies into independent states played an important role in convincing Congress of the necessity of independence. Adams played a key part in drafting the Congressional resolutions of 15 May 1776, which became a basis for the future draft of the Declaration of Independence (Wood 176). The most important work of Adams, Thoughts on Government (1776), had a decisive influence on the political thought of American Patriots (Wood 177). By arguing in favor of rule of law, Adams laid the foundations for American system of government. In Thoughts on Government Adams displayed a concern about the necessity of political balance between various branches of government in order to avoid possible abuses of power. The effect of Adams’ Thoughts on Government was extensive, as the principles he proclaimed received a wide audience (McCullough 103; Wood 178). This allowed Adams to become a respected figure in constitutional affairs. Despite the dominant role of Jefferson and Madison in drafting the Declaration of Independence, Adams played important role in proclamation of independence itself. He supported the Lee Resolution on 7 June 1776 that was to proclaim the United States â€Å"free and independent states†, and participated in the deba te in Congress that followed it (McCullough 118). The fruitful participation of Adams in the affairs of Congress, and his positive standing at the negotiations with General Howe in September 1776 allowed him to become a first representative of the USA in the European countries. Adams’ diplomatic career proved extremely fruitful for the United States. Even though his missions to

The Problem of Evil in a Divinely Created Reality Essay

The Problem of Evil in a Divinely Created Reality - Essay Example So, why do animals should feel pain and suffering? Why humans have to feel pain and suffering, even if their grand grandmother Eve was tempted by the Devil and now other people have to pay for her sins? Is God so cruel that he cannot forgive and forget? Why did he create a divine world, full of glory and bless if it is accessible only for those people, who did not make any sins? Evil is juxtaposition to deity. If there was no evil, people would not be able to compare it with the goodness or deity. Moreover, God created Heaven and Hell, life on the Earth and afterlife. There is an evident binary development of divine reality. Moreover, there are two types of evil: moral and physical. When committing a moral evil, a human being is committing it willfully (abortion, theft, murder etc); when committing physical evil, a human being commits it in the result of natural harm (such as famine, illness etc). The question is what for God created morally ill people or people, who are able to act in a morally evil way (Rachels and Rachels, 2008). Still, humans make their choice themselves. Moral evil is not instilled into people by God. God gives humans an opportunity to make a choice whether to commit evil or not; it is a test for morality and spiritual obedience. Therefore, moral evil is the result of our choice and it is another side of free will. Every person can make his own choice how to live, how to behave and if to commit evil or not. And of course, the further life of the person depends on the choice made. There are many other questions with respect to this issue, which deserve special attention and should be discussed. Now, let us consider whether suffering and pain are the same or different for people and animals (DeGrazia and Rowan, 1991). First of all, let us discard the notion that God is blamed for the existence of evil in the world. There was an intention creation of moral agents of God, who would supposedly create evil, but still these agents exist and for t heir evil deeds they suffer or experience pain. People may experience either physiological or psychological pain. These types of pain are different. The former kind of pain can be experienced by both humans and animals, while the second type of pain can be experienced only by humans. The concept of suffering has a more general meaning and it encompasses negative content of unpleasant emotions, anxiety, anger, fear, confusion etc (Derbyshire and Jones, 2011). Though suffering can be experienced without pain, it may trigger numerous factors of negative emotions or feelings. The scope of suffering is more impressive than the scope of negative experience, caused by pain. Therefore, God triggers negative emotions of humans in order to manipulate their actions and to direct the society in the right moral direction. At the same time he shows an option of deviance, which will lead to suffering and pain. There is no intention to punish humans or non-humans, there is an intention to support b inary relations on the Earth, which are determined between deity and evil. Life of humans and animals is a constant struggle for their existence and struggle against the surrounding dangers and threats. Thus, God does not intend to intimidate or destruct the humans and non-humans. He intends to make them use to realities of divinely created life in order they could survive in the real world. Works cited 1. DeGrazia, David and Rowan, Andrew. â€Å"Pain, suffering, and anxiety in animals and humans.†

Effects of Child Abuse Essay Example for Free

Effects of Child Abuse Essay Child abuse is a prevailing problem in society that must be addressed at the soonest possible time. However, it is one of the most difficult problems to address as well since there are only certain ways by which it can be monitored. What makes it even harder is the fact that the parents themselves are sometimes the abusers. Thus, it sometimes difficult to help the child since his primary guardian is the abuser himself. Child abuse by parents can be extremely detrimental to children. The effects of such abuse may become evident during their childhood or when the child grows up and enters adulthood. The long-term consequences of child abuse are sometimes grave enough that they ruin the life of the adult. Experiences of child abuse as a child affect not just the personality of the adult but his relationship with his parents as well. For obvious reasons, when parents abuse their children, they strain their relationship with the children. One cannot expect an adult, who was abused by his parent as a child, to maintain a close relationship with them. Child abuse has psychological effects that may hinder the development of the person’s character and identity. This is especially true the abuser is the parent. For instance, the abused child is expected to have low self-esteem that stems from the fact that his own parents do not love him. Abusing him is a clear sign to him that they do not love him. Thus, without his parents’ love, the individual may lack the self confidence and self esteem to function in society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The abuse causes the child to distance himself from the parent. Later on, as he grows up, this often translates to difficulty in forming attachments with other adults and his peers. The child’s insecurity and lack of self-esteem can extend to his adult life. Thus, when the child becomes an adult, he does not feel secured and more importantly, he lives a restrained life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These consequences and effects of child abuse do not only affect the individual’s life. These consequences challenge the very ideals upon which the American way of life is built upon. Americans believe that they have the right to have a family who enjoys security and freedom. However, the mere fact that the children are abused within the confines of their very own homes and within their own families, the idea of being secure is greatly eroded. Moreover, the abuse hinders the freedom of the child. As the child grows up, he does so with such American ideals left in ruins. In a way, the abuse he experienced as a child may reflect on how he treats his own children as he forms a family of his own.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The effects of parental child abuse of any kind exhibit themselves as the child becomes an adult. It is an experience that the individual bears with him long after the acts were committed. Not only does the abuse mold his personality, it affects his ideals in life as well. His ideals on family, society, and relationships are changed and may transfer to his own family. Such transfer may become chain reaction which will be to the detriment of society in general. It is for this reason that the problem must be acted on and must be prevented as much as possible.

Old Major :: Free Essays

Old Major Comrades of before the Rebellion, you know me. For the new animals here I am Old Major. As you well know the Rebellion has caused a great change to our farm. I must say you have done exceedingly well on the upkeep of this farm. Isn't the rebellion about being free? Also, did you not get rid of Jones so that we could all feel equal? Be treated equal, share the work equally? Tell me who under these current conditions is benefitting? I have spoken to a few of you and now know how the initial plan went so very wrong. You listened to the pigs, they seemed smart, and some of them would have had good ideas. One pig Napoleon had an idea, and made promises to the rest, so they followed. All but Snowball. Snowball was chased away by the vicious dogs Napoleon raised and he himself took Snowballs plan to use in his own beneficial way. Those pigs care only for themselves and because of their intelligence, they have taken full advantage of you. You now see that you are working for them. They are the ones benefitting, they have all the apples and milk for themselves. They don't do much work and they don't care about you animals as long as they have the power. You will not now let these unfair conditions continue will you? For you have done so much, and received so little in return. I forward my idea of a new revolution. This new revolution will be gone with all unequal facts. Food, working and living conditions will all be fair and you shall not be ruled over by one kind of animal. A committee of two of each animals on this farm will represent and give forward your ideas to each other. Everyone is invited to the meetings so you all know what is happening and you an be involved in the planning for your future, as it is your future! You have been pushed over though, by the pigs, just because they seem

Case Study: Orange Electronics Ltd. Essay

After studying this case study, we end up in the next key points: Orange Ltd is a TV producer and needs a strategy in order to maintain its market share, given that the MNCs may work as threaten due to their global financial strength and network. As the TV market has been very volatile and the customers keep on choosing what to buy considering of price value and special features of the products, Orange Ltd has to overcome the challenge of bringing new products in a very short time to the market at attractively competitive prices. The process involved in the cabinet production, which is the component responsible for the delay of the new product release is now taking 18 months. The company’s goal is to reduce this time by 4-5 months. According to the case study, the 2 different options involving process reengineering and location of component sources were considered as follows; either finished moulds sourcing or base moulds sourcing and finishing thereafter. In the first option, where the company imports ready moulds to produce the plastic cabinets, it has to consider of many parameters such as reducing the lead time, the quality of the product that is outsourced, and of course the reliability with the supplier, so that they save money in the end. In order to make this reality, Orange Ltd will have to make extended research on the market and find the appropriate supplier of moulds that produces them up to their final form. In the second option, where the company imports semi-finished moulds in their base form and, as it has the equipment of building modes, Orange Ltd will have to take into consideration the same parameters as for the first option, including the extra work the mould would want to be finished and ready for use. For both options, it is crucial for Orange Ltd to coordinate with other companies that will act as suppliers, in order to reduce the time among the release of new products. Different coordination modes between firms are required to synchronize interdependent activities, ensure visibility to match supply and demand, align actions and decision with the chain profitability, and acquire new capabilities from joint efforts. These modes help the participating members, which are here Orange Ltd and the supplier of moulds, to advance supply chain profitability by reducing lead times. In this specific case, it would be crucial for Orange Ltd to find suppliers with the appropriate know-how  within the borders of India and sign a long-term contract (which means trust between the two parts), in order to minimize the transportation costs and of course not reduce the quality of the outsourced product, which here is the mould, either finished or not.

Lady in Her Bath

The Renaissance began in the late 15th century and spanned from Italy to throughout Europe, and it was a rebirth of everything ranging from economy to art. Francois Clouet was a painter to the Kings and his work â€Å"Lady in Her Bath†, embraced this new form of artistic expression. In this paper I am going to explain how the â€Å"Lady in Her Bath† painting reflects the culture and ideology of the Renaissance Era and as well, explain some of the values, influences, themes, and techniques used. I will also provide information about the social, political and religious history of the Renaissance Era that influenced its art and artists. The Lady in her bath was painted in 1571 and is said to be the most interesting painting by Clouet; he is also said to be the first ever artist to use the bath as a setting for a portrait (Answer. com). The painting has all the classical signs of Renaissance art, and is secular in theme and emphasizes the grandeur of the individual. Clouet’s painting shows the culture and ideology of the Era by showing how wealthy the woman was and that she must have come from a wealthy family. It was said at one time that the painting of the woman in this picture was one of the mistresses of Henry II, but that has now been ruled out. She (the woman in the painting) is wearing what looks to be a couple of expensive pieces of jewelry, which in the Renaissance Era, it wasn’t normal for individuals to wear jewelry because most of the people were too poor to buy things that weren’t a necessity to support themselves or their families. Another sign that the woman must be wealthy or from a wealthy family is that she has a fresh bowl of fruit sitting next to her while she is bathing. To the poor, baths were to clean themselves up not for relaxation. Some of the techniques Clouet continued to use were the conventions of the international portrait style which was prevalent throughout the courts of Europe. These techniques were passed down from Clouet’s father, Jean Clouet (Answer. com). Oil painting and water color was also other techniques Clouet used. The term Renaissance is French for â€Å"rebirth†, and it was the rebirth of Europe from the 14th through the early 17th centuries. Europe emerged from the economic stagnation of the Middle Ages and experienced a time of financial growth. This Era turned artistic, social, scientific and political thoughts in new directions. The Renaissance generated three ideas that were frowned upon during the Middle Ages; secularism (the belief that religion has no place in the day to day activities), humanism (the cultural and intellectual movement that emphasized secular concerns as a result of the discovery of literature and art), and individualism (belief in the importance of the individual and the virtues of self reliance and personal independence) (Wikipedia. om). Writers and artists began to focus on the individual and their potential. During the time of the Renaissance Era, people were becoming more aware of Christianity and the Catholic religion was being pushed aside. Religious books were being rewritten and new laws were coming into order as well. The wealthy people were the ones keeping the Catholic religion alive while the poor were the ones converting to Christianity. The â€Å"Lady in her Bath† painting by Clouet is not only a beautiful example of Europe’s rebirth, but of art and the artists during that time; from the new techniques that were being used to the different types of paints from oil to water color. And most significantly, it shows the transition from religious only paintings to more secular paintings that depict just how beautiful the human body is; transforming embarrassment and shame to embracement. References Answer.com. Francois Clouet. Retrieved on 01/16/2013 at: http://www.answers.com/topic/jean-and-fran-ois-clouet French Renaissance. Retrieved on 01/16/2013 at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Renaissance History of the Renaissance, Retrieved on 01/15/2013 at: http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac88 National Gallery of Art: The Collection (2008). Francois Clouet, A lady in her Bath. Retrieved on 01/15/2013 at: http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg41a/gg41a-46112.html

Khotan - Capital of an Oasis State on the Silk Road

Khotan - Capital of an Oasis State on the Silk Road Khotan (also spelled Hotian, or Hetian) is the name of a major oasis and city on the ancient Silk Road, a trade network that connected Europe, India, and China across the vast desert regions of central Asia beginning more than 2,000 years ago. Khotan Fast Facts Khotan was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Yutian, beginning in the 3rd century BCE.It is located at the western end of the Tarim basin in what is today Xinjiang Province of China.One of a handful of states who controlled trade and traffic on the Silk Road between India, China, and Europe.  Its main exports were camels and green jade. Khotan was the capital of an important ancient kingdom called Yutian, one of a handful of strong and more or less independent states who controlled travel and trade throughout the region for well over a thousand years. Its competitors at this western end of the Tarim basin included Shule and Suoju (also known as Yarkand). Khotan is located in south Xinjiang province, the westernmost province in modern China. Its political power was derived from its location on two rivers in the southern Tarim Basin of China, the Yurung-Kash and the Qara-Kash, south of the vast, nearly impassable Taklamakan Desert. According to historical records, Khotan was a double colony, settled first in the third century BCE by an Indian prince, one of several sons of the legendary King Asoka [304–232 BCE] who were expelled from India after Asokas conversion to Buddhism. A second settlement was by an exiled Chinese king. After a battle, the two colonies merged. Trade Networks on the Southern Silk Road Endless dune in Taklamakan desert, in southern Xinjiang province of China.   Feng Wei Photography / Getty Images The Silk Road should be called the Silk Roads because there were several different wandering pathways across Central Asia. Khotan was on the main southern route of the Silk Road, which began at the city of Loulan, close to the entry of the Tarim River into Lop Nor. Loulan was one of the capital cities of Shanshan, a people who occupied the desert region west of Dunhuang north of Altun Shan and south of Turfan. From Loulan, the southern route led 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) to Khotan, then 370 mi (600 km) further to the foot of the Pamir mountains in Tajikistan. Reports say it took 45 days to walk from Khotan to Dunhuang; 18 days if you had a horse. Shifting Fortunes The fortunes of Khotan and the other oasis states varied over time. The Shi Ji (Records of the Grand Historian, written by Sima Qian in 104–91 BCE, implies that Khotan controlled the entire route from Pamir to Lop Nor, a distance of 1,000 mi (1,600 km). But according to the Hou Han Shu (Chronicle of the Eastern Han or Later Han Dynasty, 25–220 CE) and written by Fan Ye, who died in 455 CE, Khotan only controlled a section of the route from Shule near Kashgar to Jingjue, an east-west distance of 500 mi (800 km). What is perhaps most likely is that the independence and power of the oasis states varied with the power of its clients. The states were intermittently and variously under the control of China, Tibet or India: In China, they were always known as the western regions, regardless of who currently controlled them. For example, China controlled traffic along the southern route when political issues cropped up during the Han Dynasty about 119 BCE. Then, the Chinese decided that although it would be beneficial to maintain the trade route, the territory was not critically important, so the oasis states were left to control their own destiny for the next few centuries. Commerce and Trade Trade along the Silk Road was a matter of luxury rather than necessity because the long distances and limits of camels and other pack animals meant that only high-value goods- in particular in relation to their weight- could be economically carried. An Imperial Khotan-Green Jade Seal from the Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period.   Marco Secchi / Getty Images The main export item from Khotan was jade: the Chinese imported green Khotanese jade beginning at least as long ago as 1200 BCE. By the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), Chinese exports traveling through Khotan were primarily silk, lacquer, and bullion, and they were exchanged for jade from central Asia, cashmere and other textiles including wool and linen from the Roman empire, glass from Rome, grape wine and perfumes, slaves, and exotic animals such as lions, ostriches, and zebu, including the celebrated horses of Ferghana. During the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), the main trade goods moving through Khotan were textiles (silk, cotton, and linen), metals, incense, and other aromatics, furs, animals, ceramics and precious minerals. Minerals included lapis lazuli from Badakshan, Afghanistan; agate from India; coral from the ocean shore in India; and pearls from Sri Lanka. Khotan Horse Coins Six Zhu Sino-Kharosthi coin with the image of a horse surrounded by Kharosthi script, circa 1st-2nd century CE. Gohyuloong One evidence that the commercial activities of Khotan must have extended at least from China to Kabul along the Silk Road, is that indicated by the presence of Khotan horse coins, copper/bronze coins found all along the southern route and in its client states. Khotan horse coins (also called Sino-Kharosthi coins) bear both Chinese characters and the Indian Kharosthi script denoting the values 6 zhu or 24 zhu on one side, and the image of a horse and the name of an Indo-Greek king Hermaeus at Kabul on the reverse side. Zhu was both a monetary unit and a weight unit in ancient China. Scholars believe Khotan horse coins were used between the first century BCE and the second century CE. The coins are inscribed with six different names (or versions of names) of kings but some scholars argue that those are all differently-spelled versions of the same kings name. Khotan and Silk Khotans best-known legend is that it was ancient Serindia, where the West is said to have first learned of the art of silk making. There is no doubt that by the 6th century CE, Khotan had become the center of silk production in Tarim; but how silk moved out of eastern China into Khotan is a tale of intrigue. The story is that a king of Khotan (perhaps Vijaya Jaya, who reigned about 320 CE) convinced his Chinese bride to smuggle seeds of the mulberry tree and silkworm pupa cases hidden in her hat on her way to Khotan. A fully sizeable silkworm culture (called sericulture) was established in Khotan by the 5th–6th centuries, and it is likely to have taken at least one or two generations to get it started. History and Archaeology at Khotan Documents referring to Khotan include Khotanese, Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese documents. Historic figures who reported visits to Khotan include the wandering Buddhist monk Faxian, who visited there in 400 CE, and the Chinese scholar Zhu Shixing, who stopped there between 265–270 CE, searching for a copy of the ancient Indian Buddhist text Prajnaparamita. Sima Qian, the writer of the Shi Ji, visited in the mid-second century BCE. The first official archaeological excavations at Khotan were conducted by Aurel Stein in the early 20th century, but looting of the site began as early as the 16th century. Sources and Further Information Bo, Bi, and Nicholas Sims-Williams. Sogdian Documents from Khotan, II: Letters and Miscellaneous Fragments. Journal of the American Oriental Society 135.2 (2015): 261-82. Print.De Crespigny, Rafe. Some Notes on the Western Regions  . Journal of Asian History 40.1 (2006): 1-30. Print.è ¥ ¿Ã¥Å¸Å¸Ã‚  ; in Later HanDe La Vaissià ¨re, Étienne. Silk, Buddhism Bulletin of the Asia Institute 24 (2010): 85-87. Print.and Early Khotanese Chronology: A Note on the Prophecy of the Li Country.Fang, Jiann-Neng, et al. Sino-Kharosthi and Sino-Brahmi Coins from the Silk Road of Western China Identified with Stylistic and Mineralogical Evidence. Geoarchaeology 26.2 (2011): 245-68. Print.Jiang, Hong-En, et al. A Consideration of the Involucre Remains of Coix Lacryma-Jobi L. (Poaceae) in the Sampula Cemetery (2000 Years Bp), Xinjiang, China. Journal of Archaeological Science 35 (2008): 1311-16. Print.Rong, Xinjiang, and Xin  Wen. Newly Discovered Chinese-Khotanese Bilingual Tallies. Journal o f Inner Asian Art and Archaeology 3 (2008): 99-118. Print.

A girl named Maria Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A girl named Maria - Essay Example It has been believed that certain individuals have specific roles to play in society. During the ancient times, males were already considered as the providers and protectors of their families and their tribes. Females had the role of taking care of the children and the home.Patriarchy, which was the setup during the olden days up until centuries ago, is the sociological condition wherein the males are considered to be more dominant than the females. More often than not, in this particular type of social setup, males are those in positions of power and enjoy more rights than the females. The society is said to be reigned by either a single male or a group of males. Females, including children, as a result of this type of social organization, are then forced to assume subordinate roles.In Latin America, the culture has been influenced by several other cultures, mainly by the Europeans and the Africans. Nonetheless, just like any other society and culture, which have the tendency to evo lve through time, patriarchy in Latin America has already experienced a decline, giving females much more power and responsibility, somehow offering them a more solid stand as to their place in society.On the other hand, another pressing issue worldwide, which also takes place in Maria's story, is political corruption. In its very sense, political corruption is the improper use of government or political power, usually for personal gain. No form of government is safe from corruption. Though it may display itself in different manners, the most common manifestations are "patronage, bribery, extortion, influence peddling, fraud, embezzlement, and nepotism" (Wikipedia, 2006). When a country is experiencing political corruption, it will be much more difficult for the country to progress, including its citizens. Not only does it compromise the general development of the country, but its development in all other aspects as well. With the political and economic status of Colombia, it is imminent that its citizens will suffer the consequences of other people's actions, with Maria being one perfect example of such an individual. Living in a patriarchal society, she is unable to exercise her rights in the fullest sense, as women are not given that much power, voice, and opportunities. Coupled with the kind of poverty that Maria and her family are experiencing, it is not surprising that she will want to look elsewhere for other opportunities, in order to give herself, her future child, and her family a better life than what they have at present, and something that they most definitely deserve. Just like any other person who is under extreme poverty, Maria made a quick life-changing decision without weighing the consequences and understanding the possible risks involved. She was only focused on the goal of earning more money through a seemingly easy job in order to uplift herself and her family's status in life. The film Maria Full of Grace gives an initial impression of the movie being of a religious sort. However, when one takes a second look at it, realizations of the real meaning and the true story come out. Maria Full of Grace is a story of a young woman who embarks on a journey from her present life at Colombia to the possibility of a better life in New York. Maria Alvarez, the heroine of the story, is a newly-pregnant 17-year-old who lives with her family in Colombia. With her job removing thorns off roses in the farm, she supports those in her family who are financially dependent on her, what with her meager wage. However, just like any other person who is experiencing poverty, she wants more out of life. She wants to be able to escape the life that she is currently experiencing and move on to greener pastures, so to speak. Not only for

Robotics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Robotics - Research Paper Example Plurality of identity refers to chosen or multiple identities (Miller 2013, 2). Real identity is an aggregate of selves or identity aspects in various contexts and real identity is not subject to manipulation (Cocking 2009, 127; 135). Online identities might correspond to real identity and multiple identities are virtually possible on the same or different online platforms (Ellison 2013, 10; 14). Basically, social media enables users manipulate, diversify or distort identities for legitimate reasons such as privacy or deliberate misinformation. Cocking (2009) asserts that computer-mediated communication enables showcasing of users, entrance and contribution to interest groups and communities (123). Digital technologies have enabled modification of identity or creation of several identities (Ludovico, n.d.). Miller (2013; Ludovico, n.d.) refers to the 1993 New Yorker cartoon of a dog telling another that virtually, nobody knows it is a dog to explain virtual identities (3). The dissolution of the real life identity by technological advances results in fragmentation illustrated by multiplicity of identities and interconnections in various digital media. Private content postings results in partial representations of real life identity which is disjointed and rarely matches the original. Ludovico likens the phenomenon to opening up to strangers not likely to be met again. These online identities are unpredictable since they are constantly updated to create fictitious characters and exaggerate of real ones in identity experimentation. In pre and post web 2.0 standards, social media influenced formation of plural identities. The web 2.0 sites enable user generated content as opposed to the preexisting commercially and institutionally generated content (Vallor 2012; Pasquier 2010, 21). Vallor 2012 asserts that early use of these sites linked