Abstract This paper discusses the novel, "Almanac of the Dead", by Leslie Marmon Silko in terms of postmodernism and globalism, and analyzes the literary treatment in the novel of history, displacement, authenticity, and tradition.
A look at Jonathan Swift's "Prediction for the Year 1708" and "The Accomplishment of the First of Mr. Bickerstaff's Predictions" in which he caustically satirizes an Almanac-Maker and astrology.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 5 sources, 2002, $ 39.95
Abstract Jonathan Swift's "Prediction for the Year 1708" & "The Accomplishment of the First of Mr. Bickerstaff's Predictions" in which he caustically satirizes an Almanac-Maker & astrology. Swift's purpose to expose sin & folly. Reasons Swift targeted almanac-makers & astrologers including exploitation of gullible people. Discusses Swift's satirical methods such as incongruity, mockery, exaggeration.
From the Paper In "Predictions for the year 1708" and "The Accomplishment of the First of Mr. Bickerstaff's Predictions," Jonathan Swift lashed out at Partridge, the Almanac-Maker, and astrology in general. By using a variety of satirical techniques, such as incongruity, sarcasm and exaggeration, Swift captured the deception of almanac-makers who pretended to make accurate predictions of the forthcoming year in their annual publications. The satire works even more successfully because of its realism: Swift imitated the writing style of a rival maker of Partridge (Mayhew 278). Furthermore, Swift literally stabbed at the heart of astrology by predicting the death of Partridge and then consolidated his "death" in the subsequent piece, "Accomplishment," in a deliberate attempt to play a joke on him (Mayhew 276-278).
Abstract The paper is divided according to topics, including capitalism, the American work ethic, and the great American dream. Each section draws from Franklin's "Autobiography" and "Poor Richard's Almanac" to show how Benjamin Franklin shaped the ideas of modern America. It explains that Franklin's quirky sayings in "Poor Richard's Almanac", although over two hundred years old, are influential statements that are easily recalled by many present-day Americans.
From the Paper "Benjamin Franklin is fondly remembered today as a man of letters, a great inventor, and one of America's forefathers. Though his obvious and tangible accomplishments are quite impressive, they are shadowed by the ongoing influence Franklin has on modern-day America. This influence of individualistic thought can be viewed upon reading Franklin's writing, most importantly The Autobiography and Poor Richard's Almanack. In his works, it is clear that Benjamin Franklin imbibes America's capitalist society, our work ethic, and the great American dream. "For better or worse, rightly or wrongly, Benjamin Franklin has been identified with the American national character" (Sanford v)."
Tags:almanac, capitalism, dream, ethic, individualism, poor, richard, work
Abstract The following paper discusses the differences and similarities in the views of nature preservationists Aldo Leopold and Henry David Thoreau as presented in their works 'A Sand County Almanac' and 'Walden'. The writer focuses on five key areas-- human spirituality in nature, technology and progress, descriptions of nature, the market economy and humans' interaction with and place within nature.
From the Paper "Writing as far as 103 years apart, Henry David Thoreau and Aldo Leopold have differing views on some issues while both essentially remaining preservationists. The century that separated Thoreau and Leopold saw the closing of the western frontier in 1890 as well as rapid modernization. These changes affected the ways in which the two nature writers viewed the world around them as well as the relations between humankind and nature. The five main areas which Thoreau and Leopold explore throughout Walden and A Sand County Almanac are, human spirituality in nature, technology and progress, descriptions of nature, the market economy and humans' interaction with and place within nature. Both authors discuss each of these areas throughout their books and the differences and similarities in their opinions on each of these subjects reveals much about each nature writer's historical context, time period and his personal beliefs."
Abstract This paper discusses how Benjamin Franklin's many different writings came to influence the nature of American society, not only in colonial times, but today as well. According to this author, Franklin used his writing skills to argue for social change, to express his opinions and to make education available to all members of society. Some of his most important contributions provided the frameworks for many of the today's government agencies. These include the first police and fire departments, the printing of money, road improvements and the building of hospitals that would provide medical care for everyone, not just the elite. Franklin also wrote "Poor Richard's Almanac" which contains many maxims that continue to inspire people today. Franklin was also responsible for the introduction of the public education system into America and his writings at the time, served as the blueprint for a curriculum that continues to be used today. According to this author Franklin's many writings about the importance of equality among all members of society continue to be relevant even in today's modern world.
From the Paper "Poor Richard's Almanac then had three effects on society. Firstly, Franklin's maxims were accepted as guidance, inspiring people to live better lives. Secondly, Franklin closed the gap between the educated and the uneducated. The uneducated reading the almanac were given a thirst for knowledge, a thirst they could pursue. This empowered individuals to take it upon themselves to determine their own lives. No doubt, Franklin inspired many to live good and just lives, and inspired some to make their own contributions to society. Finally, Franklin's maxims survived from the time they were first printed to the present day. How many people these maxims have impacted on during the course of these years is impossible to estimate, but no doubt many have, and continue to have, their lives changed by accepting the wise words of Franklin."
This paper analyzes the works "Predictions for the year 1708" and "The Accomplishment of the First of Mr. Bickerstaff's Predictions" by Jonathan Swift.
Abstract The writer discusses the way in which Swift used a variety of satirical techniques, such as incongruity, sarcasm and exaggeration, in order to capture the deception of almanac-makers and astrologists who pretended to make accurate predictions of the forthcoming year in their annual publications. The paper brings examples from Swift's works to illustrate how his satire was successful through the use of realism.
From the Paper "A versatile satirist, Swift considered it his duty to attack signs of "sin and folly" (qtd. in Mayhew 271). In "Predictions," under the guise of his creation, Mr. Bickerstaff, Swift pinpointed the vagueness and ambivalence of the almanac-makers? predictions that could be interpreted as accurate in any circumstance. For example, according to Bickerstaff, a prediction such as "This Month a certain great Person will be threatened with Death, or Sickness," did not require any astrological skills since there were many old distinguished people who were bound to die during the "sickliest Season of the Year" (Swift 427). Furthermore, it is also likely that Swift targeted the almanac-makers because of their important position in the eyes of rich and prominent Gentlemen in the country. These gentlemen who held the reins of power in Parliament actually anticipated the occurrences of public events by using these almanacs. Others allowed their engagements to be dictated by the predictions (Swift 427)."
Abstract This is a book review of Aldo Leopold's work. A close reading of this critically-acclaimed book makes it abundantly clear why Leopold is touted as the father of modern environmental conservation. His thoughts on sustainable development of an ecological consciousness was truly visionary, and most of his ideology still resonates aloud today ----- and this is what has perhaps lent this unique book an enduring popularity.
This paper addresses the "land ethic" put forth in Aldo Leopold's "A Sand County Almanac" in which he suggests that human beings will never be able to reconcile conservation efforts with their desire to maintain a contact with the natural world.
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 1 source, 2002, $ 35.95
Abstract This paper addresses the "land ethic" put forth in Aldo Leopold's "A Sand County Almanac" in which he suggests that human beings will never be able to reconcile conservation efforts with their desire to maintain a contact with the natural world. In turn, this destroys the natural world.
Tags: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND ECOLOGY / ETHICS, conservation effort leopold
Abstract This paper focuses on the passion of a writer for wilderness and its protection. Aldo Leopold, the author of 'A Sand County Almanac', was known for his love for land and he wanted to protect it from rapid industrialization. In his works, he constantly pleaded with the people of his country that land must not be destroyed as it is sacred and therefore must be respected.
Abstract The paper introduces Benjamin Banneker, an African American born in 1731, who made enormous contributions to the study of mathematics. The paper discusses his spheres of interest in the field, including clock building, astronomy, tide and weather. It discusses, too, his widely publicized almanac that served as a contradiction to the American belief that blacks were inferior, and his contribution to the building of the city of Washington D.C.
From the Paper "In addition to creating America's first clock, his studies in astronomy made a mathematical calculations of the stars and constellations, which he used to correctly predict a solar eclipse that took place on April 14, 1789. Furthermore, Banneker was not quiet about this contradiction. Infact, he was a social critic of slavery. Thus, it was this reason and an attempt to promote change; he sent a copy of his first Almanac to Thomas Jefferson."
Abstract The paper demonstrates how information technology, mainly the Internet, has affected how managers function and make decisions. It looks at organizations in an open system perspective as information technology being the environment which the organization interrelates with. This paper discusses both the positive and negative aspects of the technology as well as details current uses of information technology in organizations. The findings of this paper are important in understanding how organizations and managerial positions have changed and how they are continuing to change for upcoming managers. The Internet boom definitely affected the organizations that are taking advantage of the new platform but how did this boom affect the employees who manage the organizations? his paper sets out to detail those affects.
From the Paper "With the Internet boom came an explosion of a new type of business platform. Suddenly organizations everywhere were developing informational websites that were used to grab attention and compete on a new global level. As more and more managers began to recognize the potential of the Internet, websites moved from being informational to being actually functional. Now customers can go online to purchase products, make reservations, submit application forms and much more. The functionality of organizational websites continued to evolve as competition became heavier and expectations of online customers grew. Today because of the fast advances of information technology development, Internet technology has become much more affordable making it more widely available to small and medium sized business. Because of this increase in online competition and the decrease of cost, intranet and extranets are having the largest affect on managerial functions. For the purpose of this paper I will refer to both intranets and extranets as content management systems from this point on."
Abstract This paper discusses the theory of global positioning satellites, illustrating the technology behind the system. The history of global positioning satellites is outlined, describing the first global positioning system, the transmission functions and the reception of information from global positioning satellites. The paper presents the advantages of the global positioning satellites system.
From the Paper "As the name suggests, the global positioning satellite system is based on satellites. It is a navigational system that comprises of a complex arrangement of satellites that orbit round the earth. Twenty-four in all, these satellites are eleven thousand nautical miles far in space. There are six dissimilar orbits wherein the satellites continually keep revolving. It takes these satellites twenty-four hours to complete two orbital revolutions round the Earth. Upon calculation, the revolutionary speed of these satellites is computed to be around 2,600 meters per second (JA-GPS.com)."
Tags: navigational, space, orbit, receivers, transmittors, almanac, ephemeris, pseudo-random, data
From the Paper " In A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold presents a series of portraits of nature and the natural landscape, coupled with related musings on life, the environment, and man's place in this world. The approach taken is not dissimilar to a tradition in American literature extending back through such writers as Emerson and Thoreau. both of whom also used observations of nature to glean philosophical and practical knowledge of themselves and their world. In the Preface to the Enlarged Edition, the author's children note that the book was originally published in 1949 after Leopold's death and that much of what he discusses in this book, offering his insight into the American landscape and to our need to preserve and enjoy it, has passed into common currency, though much distorted. In 1966 when this edition was published, roadside beautification had replaced "the.."
Abstract Henry Waxman has represented his district for 30 years in American politics, having first been elected in 1974. This paper examines the 30th Congressional District, which Waxman represents. It focuses on Waxman's views on gun control and how the make-up of his constituency influences these views.
From the Paper "Waxman offers much support for Israel, which is not surprising given the size of the Jewish population in his district. This is another constituency that supports gun control and that sees this as a vital issue for the protection of the community. The crime rate in the Los Angeles region and especially the gang problem adds to the desire for gun control to take much of the firepower that exists off the street. This is also seen as a pro-police issue, since most police in the region support the idea of reducing the number of guns in the hands of the public rather than increasing them as pro-gun groups like the NRA would recommend."
Abstract David Orr and Aldo Leopold have overlapping views about ethics and economics in their books. Throughout David Orr's book, "Ecological Literacy," Orr often refers and agrees with Leopold about an assortment of subjects. David Orr has a sense of respect for Leopold and his views ranging from education to economics. The paper shows that, throughout Aldo Leopold's book, "A Sand County Almanac," Leopold portrays a deep understanding of ecology and the wilderness while taking the reader on a journey of the land. The paper examines how Orr and Leopold have many views on the environment that overlap throughout their books.
From the Paper "Throughout the second part of Orr's book he discusses the role of education and what it must play in a person's life. Orr (1992) stresses that, "all education is environmental education,"(p.). and quotes Leopold throughout this part of the book numerous times. Orr believes that education must help students get acquainted with deeper causes of crises that lie ahead in their future, such as sustainability. He (1992) discusses the ecological literacy and sustainability and believes that "failure to develop ecological literacy is a sin of omission and of commission," (p., Orr). Orr believes "we" need to know the basics about the earth and how it works before "we" learn about anything else, if this does not happen students will start to believe that ecology is unimportant, unlike history, math, and science. He also feels that students only learn what is sufficient to get through classes, but do not do anything about ecological deterioration."
