Free Essays on Nothing Else Matters

The selection I picked for my essay is a song written and performed by Metallica titled â€Å"Nothing Else Matters†, which is actually their remade version that includes performances by the London Symphony Orchestra which offers a refined â€Å"twist† to Metallica’s ordinarily heavy sounding, hardcore, â€Å"heavy metal† genre. I will be giving my analysis of the instrumental music of the song, although the vocals are also quite dynamic. The beginning of the song creates a somber feeling which captures and settles your attention with a one minute guitar introduction that sets the stage for a classical style melody which blends full orchestra, electronica, and all the instruments of a â€Å"modern rock† band, all which add their own color and texture to this musical masterpiece. After the initially long introduction, there are several changes in the melody with the addition of the heavy beat of the bass drum, which keeps the song within the â€Å"me tal† context that makes Metallica a â€Å"must have† in any hardcore listeners library, and then the introduction of an electronic synthesizer, which is quite stimulating to the auditory cortex, adds a new sound in the blending of these instruments for the remainder of the verse, which will also be reintroduced at a later part of the song. Now this is when the dynamics start to build, with the drums beating louder and the orchestra starting to respond in harmony with violin and flute, the tempo is increased along with the volume at which point the guitar changes its pattern to a strum which adds contrast and rhythmic variation. The increasing tempo also brings with it a heavily distorted guitar that can be heard in the background playing a muted melody that helps to add weight and counterbalance to the verse. The heavy distortion of the guitar definitely reminds us that we are listening to a rock song although the classical overtones would lead us to believe otherwise. The climbing melody and vari... Free Essays on Nothing Else Matters Free Essays on Nothing Else Matters The selection I picked for my essay is a song written and performed by Metallica titled â€Å"Nothing Else Matters†, which is actually their remade version that includes performances by the London Symphony Orchestra which offers a refined â€Å"twist† to Metallica’s ordinarily heavy sounding, hardcore, â€Å"heavy metal† genre. I will be giving my analysis of the instrumental music of the song, although the vocals are also quite dynamic. The beginning of the song creates a somber feeling which captures and settles your attention with a one minute guitar introduction that sets the stage for a classical style melody which blends full orchestra, electronica, and all the instruments of a â€Å"modern rock† band, all which add their own color and texture to this musical masterpiece. After the initially long introduction, there are several changes in the melody with the addition of the heavy beat of the bass drum, which keeps the song within the â€Å"me tal† context that makes Metallica a â€Å"must have† in any hardcore listeners library, and then the introduction of an electronic synthesizer, which is quite stimulating to the auditory cortex, adds a new sound in the blending of these instruments for the remainder of the verse, which will also be reintroduced at a later part of the song. Now this is when the dynamics start to build, with the drums beating louder and the orchestra starting to respond in harmony with violin and flute, the tempo is increased along with the volume at which point the guitar changes its pattern to a strum which adds contrast and rhythmic variation. The increasing tempo also brings with it a heavily distorted guitar that can be heard in the background playing a muted melody that helps to add weight and counterbalance to the verse. The heavy distortion of the guitar definitely reminds us that we are listening to a rock song although the classical overtones would lead us to believe otherwise. The climbing melody and vari...

All Pronoun Cases Are Created Equal

All Pronoun Cases Are Created Equal All Pronoun Cases Are Created Equal All Pronoun Cases Are Created Equal By Maeve Maddox Some writers and speakers seem to believe that I is somehow more high class than me. Snooty characters on soap operas are especially fond of this construction. The fact is, I and me are class neutral. They simply have different jobs to do. Pronouns have two grammatical cases that still matter in English: subject and object (aka nominative and accusative). The subject forms of the personal pronouns are: I, you he, she, it, we, you, and they. (Theres another use, but thats for another post.) Here are subject pronouns used as subjects of verbs: I live in Arkansas. He lives in Brazil. She flies a Cessna. It is sleeping in its basket. We play hockey. You are the winner. They hate snow. The object forms of the personal pronouns are: me, him, her, it, us, you, and them. These forms are used as the objects of transitive verbs and as the objects of prepositions. Here are examples of object pronouns used as the objects of transitive verbs: No one told me. The ball hit him. Do you believe her? Put it on the table. Visit us soon. I see you. We see them. Here are examples of object pronouns used as the objects of prepositions: Give it to me. Whos that behind him? Go sit beside her. The book is under it. Do come with us. The Force is within you. We like everyone except them. I used to think that people avoided using me because theyd been corrected so often as children for saying things like Me and him went to the movies. Now Im not so sure. Ive recently heard talk show guests say things like Me and my friends gave a benefit and in the next breath say something like They invited Sally and I. Related to pronoun usage is the order in which pronouns are placed in a phrase. Traditionally, when mentioning oneself and others, the rule has been to place I or me in the final position: My friends and I gave a benefit performance. Save a seat for Jerry, Sally, and me. More and more I notice people placing themselves first. Perhaps this tendency accounts for Me being used as a subject. After all, ours is a me first culture. Once I corrected an eighth-grader on this point. He looked at me in utter astonishment and asked Why would I want to put myself last? Whatever order you put your pronouns in, remember to use the correct case. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Great Similes from Literature to Inspire You50 Idioms About Arms, Hands, and FingersOne "L" or Two?

Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Review - Essay Example First, we can see a lot of characters in this movie like Captain Jack Sparrow, William Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Captain Sao Feng, Hector Barbossa, and Davy Jones. Captain Jack Sparrow is the captain of the Black Pearl ship and the most notorious pirate on the ocean. Captain Jack Sparrow has the sense of humor that none of the other pirates have. Also, the Black Pearl is the most famous ship on the ocean, and all of the pirates, as well as many in the Royal Navy, know about this ship because it has the most dangerous pirates in the whole world aboard it. The second main character in the movie was William Turner, the brave blacksmith-turned-pirate in town, who always helped the weak and the poor people when he can. William Turner was the hero in this movie. The third character is Elizabeth Swann, the beautiful governor’s daughter, who ends up marrying William Turner by the end of this film. Elizabeth has helped William out of a lot of situations, and she also saves him from death many times. However, her love for him causes him to die at the end of this film, though a sudden plot twist brings him back. The fourth character is Captain Sao Feng. Sao Feng was the Pirate Lord of the South China Sea until his death during the third film. He was bold man, albeit a bit immoral. He has a very weird body and a scary face that makes you scream when you first see it. The fifth character is Captain Hector Barbossa, who is the Pirate Lord of the Sea. He seemed to have an apple addiction, which was an interesting characteristic for a rum-soaked pirate. Barbossa has a monkey named Jack; this monkey travels with him all the time and seemed to have taken the place of a potential son. The last important character is Davy Jones. Davy Jones was born in Scotland; very little else is known about his youth and childhood. He fell in love with Calypso, the Goddess of the sea, many years ago. It was Calypso

Short story analiysis- Hills Like White Elephants,by Ernest Hemingway Essay

Short story analiysis- Hills Like White Elephants,by Ernest Hemingway - Essay Example On this side there was no shade and no trees...It was very hot and the express from Barcelona would come in forty minutes†(Hemingway). The imagery of this hot and humid setting creates the idea of a large expanse with nowhere to run or hide from the heat. This creates a feeling of uneasiness, discomfort, and even slight claustrophobia for both the reader and the characters. Additionally, the hills are introduced here which proves to be an important point later on in the story. The hills are not only apart of the imagery that occurs within the story, but also are an important symbol as well. The female character, referred to as Jig, notices these hills: They were white in the sun and the country was brown and dry. ‘They look like white elephants,’ she said†(Hemingway). The hills come to symbolize the ultimate issue that lies between the man and woman within the story. It is inferred that the woman is pregnant and that the man is taking her to get an abortion. The hills are a symbol of this conflict. The female character brings up the hills and how they look like white elephants; however, later on in the story, she changes her tune about them: ‘They’re lovely hills,’ she said. ‘They don’t really look like white elephants. I just meant the colouring of their skin through the trees’†(Hemingway). Ultimately, these comments about the hills are symbolic of the female’s feelings about the abo rtion. With her first comment about the hills, it appears that she is not really in control of her life, simply making observations as life passes her by. However, when she takes back this comment about the hills at the end, it represents the doubts that she is having about having this abortion and represents her desire to ponder her options, instead of acting hastily. The alcohol is also an important symbol within the story. Both the male

Illiegal Immigration Essay Example for Free

Illiegal Immigration Essay As time has passed and millions of immigrants have come to the country, the United States still maintains a welcoming attitude towards new immigrants. However, with such a vast amount of foreigners who desire access into the country, entry into the United States has become much more complex since the days of Ellis Island. As a result, this new century has with it a new kind of immigrant: the illegal immigrant. Desperate to become a part of the booming American culture, thousands of immigrants have begun to enter the United States illegally. Ignoring the laws set forth by the American government, these immigrants enter the country and unnoticeably merge themselves into the culture of the United States. With the influence of several factors such as large borders and unruly citizens who refuse to uphold the law, the government essentially allows these individuals to enter the country and actually cause some major damage. Ultimately, as the United States’ government is unable to fully enforce the policies of immigration, illegal immigration is further enhanced and permitted, thereby creating more problems within the United States’ framework that threatens the well being of the country and its people. In order to get the disadvantages that have developed as a result of illegal immigration, it is crucial to also understand the evolution of immigration policies throughout the history of the United States. Looking back in the time period of Ellis Island, there were only a handful of policies and restrictions in allowing immigrants into the country. The majority of immigrants in the late nineteenth century arrived in the country on boats. According to most information, the individuals who were denied entry to the United States and immediately sent back to their homeland were those who were seen as criminals, anarchists, or carriers of disease. These restrictions address one central purpose: to ensure the well being and protection of United States and its citizens. In essence, the goal to protect the country and its people has not changed and still lives on within the current policies. As in the late 1800s, almost any given foreigner has the ability to become a legal resident, or a citizen of the United States. However, the process by which a person can become a legal resident is much more complicated than it has been in years prior. In order to become a temporary or permanent resident of the United States, individuals must endure the long application process to receive a visa or green card. Any foreigner living within the United States who does not possess such a legal document is considered an illegal immigrant, and, by law, should be deported to their own country. Also, as the United States has no tolerance for illegal immigration, any individual found illegally crossing the borders is also immediately deported. With a much stricter system of entry and residency, many people argue that today’s government has developed a very efficient and proactive policy of immigration. While this policy is extremely strict on paper, one question arises: Is the government actually enforcing these policies? In order to answer this question, it is important to examine illegal immigration and its presence in the United States. Currently, the number of illegal immigrants in the United States stands at an estimated 12 million and rising. With such strict policies in place by the government, how so many undocumented immigrants can enter the country each year is unclear. Firstly, it is necessary to understand that there are two different types of illegal immigrants. There are immigrants who actually come to this country legally via visa or green card, but become illegal by over-staying their visas or green cards. The other type of illegal immigrant is an individual who simply illegally crosses the border and enters the country without contacting the United States’ government in any way. With the current laws and policies regarding immigration, it is fair to say that the government has a much better and easier time tracking and enforcing laws upon immigrants turned illegal, simply due to the fact that the government is aware of their presence in the country. However, the other type of illegal immigrant is more difficult to track because the government is ignorant of their presence in the country. While considering the presence of illegal immigrants within the United States, certain factors that inevitably undermine and inhibit the United States’ immigration policies begin to emerge. First, considered the third largest country in the world, the United States has many borders and areas of entry into the country. Considering its size and huge expansion of borders, the United States has an immense amount of areas that it needs to protect form illegal entry. Let’s be real, with such large borders, there is no way to fully protect and prevent illegal immigration entirely. Despite major improvements in border control, including armed patrolmen and high-reaching metal fences, the border is just too large, and many immigrants still enter the country illegally. In fact, according to Wayne Cornelius, the distinguished director of the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at the University of California at San Diego, out of the 1. 5 million immigrants who enter the country each year, 500,000 of them are undocumented. Due to the many illegal immigrants who unnoticeably cross the borders, the United States government is unable to enforce its immigration policies, such as distributing visas or deporting illegal immigrants, and is forced to permit these immigrants to live within the country.

Buck versus Bell Essay example -- Supreme Court Sterilization Essays

Buck versus Bell During the early twentieth century, the United States was enduring significant social and economic changes due to its transformation into a commercial and industrial world power. As the need for labor escalated within many urban areas, millions of Europeans emigrated from Southern and Eastern Europe with the hopes of capitalizing upon these employment opportunities and attaining a better life. Simultaneously, many African-Americans migrated from the rural South into major cities, bearing the same intentions as those of the European immigrants. The presence of these minority groups generated both racial and class fears within white middle and upper class Americans. The fervent ethnocentrism resulting from these fears, coupled with the Social Darwinist concepts of Herbert Spencer, would ultimately spur the American eugenics movement. Originating from the theories of Sir Francis Galton, the cousin of Charles Darwin, eugenics is the study of human heredity and genetic principles for the purposes of improving the human race by limiting the proliferation of defective gene pools. Charles Davenport, the founding father of the American eugenics movement, was one of many elite Americans advocating for the incorporation of the ideals of this new "science" into society. The work of Davenport, which became known as eugenic principles, would not only have an impact on public education, but a legal impact as well. By 1931, thirty state legislatures had passed involuntary sterilization laws that targeted "defective strains" within the general population, such as the blind, the deaf, the poor, and the feebleminded. Virginia, one of these states, held the position that involuntary sterilization would not only benefit the overal... ... People With Mental Disabilities: Issues, Perspectives, and Cases (Westport CT: Auburn House, 1995) 22. Works Cited Buck v. Bell. 274 U.S. 200, 205. No. 292 US Supreme Ct. 1927. Brantlinger, Ellen. Sterilization of People With Mental Disabilities: Issues, Perspectives, and Cases. Westport CT: Auburn House, 1995. Larson, Edward. Sex, Race, and Science: Eugenics in the Deep South. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1995. Macklin, Ruth. Mental Retardation and Sterilization: A Problem of Competency and Paternalism. New York: Plenum Press, 1981. Reilly, Phillip. The Surgical Solution: A History of Involuntary Sterilization in the United States. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991. Shapiro, Thomas. Population Control Politics: Women, Sterilization, and Reproductive Choice. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1985.

To an Athlete Dying Young Poetry Analysis

Sydney Walcher Instructor, Lisa Ward English 1213 8 April 2013 To an Athlete Dying Young A. E. Housman was a poet born in 1859 who became very successful during his lifetime. â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† represents the theme of glory is fleeting by illustrating the point that if a successful athlete dies young, they will not have to worry about their glory of victory fading. They can rest in peace knowing they will be remembered at their athletic peak when they were successful and victorious.They will not have to go through the pain of watching their fame disappear or whither out with time. In this poetic masterpiece, Housman pulls together figurative language, sound devices, and structure to illustrate that glory is fleeting through a majestic poem that will be remembered for many years. Figurative language consists of many different devices including metaphors and similes which are often used in poetry like â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young. † Metaphors compare unli ke things but does not use like or as, the comparison is implied.Some metaphors that stick out in â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† are the phrase â€Å"stiller town† which is a metaphor for a cemetery and the line â€Å"Eyes the shady night has shut† which metaphorically states that someone has died. Another device often used in Housman’s poem is similes, which compare unlike things while using like or as to make a direct comparison. Some examples like â€Å"It withers quicker than the rose† use than instead of the like or as which is commonly used for similes. Most, if not all, similes in this poem use this method.When contradictory terms are used consecutively they are called an oxymoron. The only line in this poem sticks out as an oxymoron is â€Å"silence sounds. † Poems are usually known for rhyming, but not all do. Many poems use other sound devices such as alliteration and rhyme. â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† uses both of th ese devices throughout the poem. Alliteration is the similarity of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or consecutive words. One example of alliteration is â€Å"The fleet foot on the ill of shade† because of both fleet and foot and sill and shade. Another example is â€Å"Today, the road all runners come† because of road and runner. Rhyme is similarity of sound between words or the endings of words when used at the end of a line of poetry. The rhyme scheme of â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† is ABAB. This means that the last word of every two lines rhymes. For example, â€Å"So set, before its echoes fade,/The fleet foot on the sill of shade,/And hold to the lintel up/The still-defended challenge cup. This is an excellent demonstration of the ABAB rhyme scheme because â€Å"fade† and â€Å"shade† rhymes, as does â€Å"up† and â€Å"cup. † In â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young,† Housman uses iambic tetrameter, w hich refers to a line that is four iambic feet long, to create a lyric poem that can otherwise be known as an elegy since it praises an athlete that died young. Iambic tetrameter affects the beat of the words and how they flow together gracefully. Iambic tetrameter consists of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable. Most lines in these poems tend to have eight syllables.However, lines thirteen and fourteen, â€Å"Eyes the shady night has shut/Cannot see the record cut,† stray from iambic tetrameter to trochaic tetrameter, one stressed syllable plus one unstressed syllable in four feet, with catalexis, which is an incomplete foot at the end of a line. The literary masterpiece, â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young,† uses figurative language, sound devices, and structure to illustrate a poem that demonstrates the fact that glory is fleeting. The figurative language is used to create imagery, or to provide visual descriptions to create images in one’s hea d.Figurative language paints a picture with words to help readers see the story. It also creates many different perspectives based on the readers and their perspectives. The sound devices help create lines and rhythms that gracefully flow off the reader’s tongue. Structure is what incorporates the rhythms and other devices into a pattern that binds the lines of a poem into a small story with a moral that can be told to many different generations. â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† is a magnificent example of a lyric or an elegy that will be told for years to come.

I Have a Dream Essay

Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15th 1929. He was a pastor, activist and the prominent leader in the African American civil rights movement and is often presented as a heroic leader in the history of modern American liberalism. He is most famous for his speech called â€Å"I have a dream†. It is about not being segregated or discriminated against and to have equal rights between white and black people. It is now recognized as one of the greatest speeches in history. Martin Luther King used a number of rhetorical devices in his speech. The main rhetorical device used throughout the speech is repetition and parallelism. In each paragraph he repeats different sentences to emphasize what he is saying. He repeats phrases such as ‘one hundred years later’, ‘we can never be satisfied’, ‘I have a dream’ and ‘now is the time’ to make the listener remember the parts he wants to emphasize. It is effective because the people are anticipating it so then they can join in. Also later on in life people will look back at the speeches and remember it for certain phrases because of the repetition. Martin Luther King also uses inclusive pronouns in his speech, for example we, our and addressing the audience as brothers and sisters. ‘The sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.† He makes the audience feel as though it is there duty as well to overcome the discrimination and try and make all the southern states of America united and equal. He also makes the audience feel like it is their dream too and not just his. Martin Luther used different parts of the English language to enhance the meaning of his speech and bring out the details. The different rhetorical devices, allusions to historic documents, and metaphors seemed to have brought about the emotions that King was trying to arouse in his listeners. This helped him influence his listeners towards wanting equality for all and changing what was happening in the present so they didn’t repeat things in the past.

Resolving Conflict and Disagreements

Resolving Conflict and Disagreements Conflict tends to be a part of our lives and all too often, is inevitable. Emotions run high when dealing with differences over the best way to deal with differences.  Dealing with conflict and disagreement effectively is half the battle and can create positive outcomes. When conflict and disagreement are handled inappropriately, the outcome can be destructive and are rarely in the best interest of either party. At the same time, all of the parties are often under a lot of pressure.  There are more and more demands put on public education without enough resources, not only monetary but also human (not enough qualified personnel) and often those resources, but physical and the time of the professionals, are stretched thin.  At the same time, with the spread of information, often misinformation, parents sometimes pressure teachers and schools to try therapies or educational strategies that are not based on data and peer-reviewed research.   The Investments of Stakeholders Parents:   Often parents have powerfully conflicting emotions.  On one hand, they are extraordinarily protective while at the same time may feel shame or guilt over their childs disabilities.  Sometimes parents conceal these feelings, even from themselves, by coming on strong.  It is sometimes easy to become defensive, rather than hearing the love, concern and perhaps even guilt that the parents are communicating.  Teachers and Para-professionals:  Good teachers seek to do what is best for their students and take pride in their effectiveness as educators.  Sometimes we become thin-skinned if we think parents or administrators are questioning either our integrity or our commitment to the student.  Relax.  Its easier said than done, but we need to reflect rather than becoming overly reactive.  Administrators:  As well as being accountable to parents and students, administrators are also accountable to superiors who are charged with protecting the interests of the school districts, which may include keeping the costs of providing services down.  That is why they are often called the Local Education Authority (LEA) in our meetings.  Some administrators, unfortunately, dont understand that investing time and attention into their staff will produce better outcomes for everyone.   Strategies for Handling Conflicts and Disagreements Differences must be resolved - it is in the best interest of the child to do so. Remember, sometimes a disagreement occurs as a direct result of a misunderstanding. Always clarify the issues at hand. Parents and school staff members must work closely together to address the issues.Pro-active means of reducing conflict include sharing positive information about the student with parents in an ongoing manner.  It is essential for both parties to realize that the goals for the child are shared goals. Both must agree that the childs interest comes first.Avoid confrontation and deal specifically with solutions to the identified issues and be prepared to offer alternatives.Always deal with the issues rather than the emotions and the people involved. Acknowledging the emotions may be a positive way to diffuse them.  Decide on what you can compromise on, effective resolution usually requires some form of compromise on both parties behalf.Be sure that your expectations are realistic and reasonable.Specify both long term and short term goals and state when a follow-up visit should occur.All parties need to commit to the recommended solutions and agree jointly.All parties must rely on ea ch other, it is, therefore, essential to work out differences and work together regardless of how sensitive the issue is.

Biography of John Napier, Scottish Mathematician

Biography of John Napier, Scottish Mathematician John Napier (1550-April 4, 1617) was a Scottish mathematician and theological writer who developed the concept of  logarithms and the decimal point as a mathematical calculation method. He also had an influence in the world of physics and astronomy. Fast Facts: John Napier Known For: Developing and introducing the concept of logarithms, Napiers Bones and the decimal point.Born: 1550 at Merchiston Castle, near  Edinburgh, ScotlandDied: April 4, 1617, at Merchiston CastleSpouse(s): Elizabeth Stirling (m. 1572-1579), Agnes ChisholmChildren: 12 (2 with Stirling, 10 with Chisholm)Notable Quote: Seeing there is nothing that is so troublesome to mathematical practice.... than the multiplications, divisions, square and cubical extractions of great numbers, which besides the tedious expense of time are... subject to many slippery errors, I began, therefore, to consider [how] I might remove those hindrances. Early Life Napier was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, into the Scottish nobility. Since his father was Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston Castle, and his mother, Janet Bothwell, was the daughter of a member of Parliament, John Napier became the laird (property owner) of Merchiston. Napiers father was only 16 when his son, John, was born. As was the practice for members of the nobility, Napier did not enter school until he was 13. He did not stay in school very long, however. It is believed that he dropped out and traveled in  Europe to continue his studies. Little is known about these years, where or when he may have studied. In 1571, Napier turned 21 and returned to Scotland. The following year he married Elizabeth Stirling, daughter of Scottish mathematician James Stirling (1692-1770), and bat a castle at Gartnes in 1574. The couple had two children before Elizabeth died in 1579. Napier later married Agnes Chisholm, with whom he had ten children. On the death of his father in 1608, Napier and his family moved into Merchiston Castle, where he lived the rest of his life. Napiers father had been deeply interested and involved in religious matters, and Napier himself was no different. Because of his inherited wealth, he needed no professional position. He kept himself very busy by being involved with the political and religious controversies of his time. For the most part, religion and politics in Scotland at this time pitted Catholics against Protestants. Napier was anti-Catholic, as evidenced by his 1593 book against Catholicism and the papacy (office of the pope) entitled A Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St. John. This attack was so popular that it was translated into several languages and saw many editions. Napier always felt that if he attained any fame at all in his life, it would be because of that book. Becoming an Inventor As a person of high energy and curiosity, Napier paid much attention to his landholdings and tried to improve the workings of his estate. Around the Edinburgh area, he became widely known as Marvellous Merchiston for the many ingenious mechanisms he built to improve his crops and cattle. He experimented with fertilizers to enrich his land, invented an apparatus to remove water from flooded coal pits, and bat devices to better survey and measure land. He also wrote about plans to bad elaborate devices that would deflect any Spanish invasion of the British Isles. In addition, he described military devices that were similar to todays submarine, machine gun, and army tank. He never attempted to build any of the military instruments, however. Napier had a great interest in astronomy. which led to his contribution to mathematics. John was not just a stargazer; he was involved in research that required lengthy and time-consuming calculations of very large numbers. Once the idea came to him that there might be a better and simpler way to perform large number calculations, Napier focused on the issue and spent twenty years perfecting his idea. The result of this work is what we now call  logarithms. The Father of Logarithms and the Decimal Point Napier realized that all numbers can be expressed in what is now called exponential form, meaning 8 can be written as 23, 16 as 24  and so on. What makes logarithms so useful is the fact that the operations of multiplication and division are reduced to simple addition and subtraction. When very large numbers are expressed as a logarithm, multiplication becomes the addition of  exponents. Example: 102  times 105  can be calculated as 10  25  or 107. This is easier than 100 times 100,000. Napier first made this discovery known in 1614 in his book called A Description of the Wonderful Canon of Logarithms. The author briefly described and explained his inventions, but more importantly, he included his first set of logarithmic tables. These tables were a stroke of genius and a big hit with astronomers and scientists. It is said that English mathematician Henry Briggs was so influenced by the tables that he traveled to Scotland just to meet the inventor. This lead to a cooperative improvement including the development of  Base 10. Napier was also responsible for advancing the notion of the decimal fraction by introducing the use of the decimal point. His suggestion that a simple point could be used to separate the whole number and fractional parts of a number soon became accepted practice throughout Great Britain. Edited by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Annotated Bibliography Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Annotated Bibliography - Research Paper Example The author is emphasizing on heritage and African traditions and that Dee and Maggie should follow the traditions that they were raised with. "Everyday Use" is a true representation of motherhood anxiety in the instance where the mother favors Maggie for being loyal and willing to extend the family generation to her children as compared to Dee who sees no sense in traditions. According to Tuhen, there is a representation of maternal fear that Dee will not be like the daughter that she always wanted her to be. For example, when the mother lacked money to take them to school, Maggie the younger daughter quit school, while Dee was not for the idea because she emphasized that her education was more important. â€Å"She used to read to us without pity†¦.She washed us in a river of make believe, burned us with a lot of knowledge we didn’t necessarily need to know† (Walker 26). There is motherhood fear where Dee being the eldest, she is expected to take the quilts but since the mother does not believe in her, she gives the quilts to Maggie. This according to the mother is a confirmation that Maggie is more worthy of having the quilts as compared to Dee. Again, this is a symbolic measure that the mother became anxious and empowered Maggie while she was still young. Amanda became troubled as she became the father and mother to her family. She becomes disappointed when she misses a job that she wanted and goes home only to quarrel Laura for not staying in the house because she went out. Amanda also keeps quarrelling with Tom because of table manners, going to the movies too much and smoking. Motherhood anxiety is portrayed where Amanda wants Tom to be whom she wants him to be and not who he wants to become. She wants Tom to be more responsible and at times she treats Tom and Laura like little children by telling them what to do and when to do it. Fear is portrayed when Tom is smoking