Furniture in Greenbelt :: Interior Design Furniture Essays

Furniture in Greenbelt A Sign of the Tough Times A view of the front of a typical housing project in the planned community of Greenbelt. The Greenbelt community was built beginning in 1937 as low income housing for people who were making between $1,200 and $2,000 dollars a year. The houses were built at minimum cost and this means that the rooms are small. Thus special furniture was designed in order to fit into these small houses and to provide sturdy, economical, and good looking furnishings for the new residents. "Instead of following the conventional pattern of designing the house from the outside in, Resettlement architects have built primarily from the inside out." (House Beautiful 1937) Miss Elizabeth Hofflin, the technical consultant for the Resettlement Administration, was quoted as saying "We made the furniture to fit the small rooms of these low-rent units. We found that ordinary living room furniture would overflow from wall space and block doorways and windows." (Daily News, April 20, 1937) "The furniture you see was built for these rooms and for these rooms alone."(House Beautiful, April 1937) The furniture that was designed for Greenbelt needed to be very affordable. "The idea was to provide essential items of furniture which will fit into a minimum amount of space and at the same time make them attractive, low-priced and extremely durable."(Daily News, April 20, 1937) Miss Hofflin explains, "we concentrated upon strong construction and simple design, which can be made with the least expense with factory machines. We used the three cheapest woods--maple, oak and gum; we have no acquaintances at all with mahogany and walnut." The government was able to furnish the Greenbelt community for very little money with careful planning and very frugal designers. And the furniture was affordable! In 1939 a resident of Greenbelt was able to furnish his entire household for $239.97. The full amount was paid off by the resident over a four year period at $5 a month. There was also a 3% interest charge payable in monthly installments of $2.50. This was an excellent deal for these New Deal residents. The federal government assisted the original Greenbelters, first, by building them an inexpensive home and, second, by enabling them to furnish their houses economically as well. In this way, the government provided many families with an opportunity to set up housekeeping on their own that they otherwise would not have had. Kimberly Myers expresses similar views on the government helping out the people in her exhibition on the construction of Greenbelt.

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

Novel Review1. PST-T chart PlotGot up to go to bucket Didn't get up at reveille Wondered which guard is on duty Decided he can lie in bed a little while longer Decided to report sick Got 3 days penalty with work for not getting up on time Got dressed Followed Tartar out of room Realised he wasnt being sent to the guardhouse Thanked the guard for letting him off and said he'll never get up late again Picked up pail and with bare hands (because he forgot his gloves) went to the well Put pail down, tucked hands into sleeves and watched some people in interest Ran to well Carried dripping bucket back to guardroom Took boots off and washed floor barefoot Wiped floor boards Eats soup Gets fever examined Returns to hut for body count Hides bread in mattress Thinks about wife's letter Marched off for work at Power Station Admires Alyoshka Tries to keep wind out with tar paper Sneaks an extra helping of food Sees scrap metal in snow and takes it Works and is late to lunch Wants to hide the trowel At body search he pani cs but the guard doesn't find the metal Makes way to hall for supper Awarded 400 grams of bread After body count he prepares to sleep Helps hide Tsezars parcel Gets awarded biscuits and a little bit of sausage Thanks god Alyoshka urges him to pray properly and to pursue the goods of the spirit not the flesh Reflects on this comment Gives him a biscuit MeditatesSubjects/SymbolsBread/foodParcelSpoonPrisoner #MoonColdTechniquesSimileMetaphorImageryPersonificationDiction (informal)ForeshadowingRepetitionTheme StatementsThe little things in life should be appreciated.You cannot understand someone if you are not them.Maintaining your dignity in tough life situations makes life more bearableMeaningful Quotationsâ€Å"Can a man who's warm understand one who's freezing?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Writing letters was like throwing stones into a bottomless pool.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Even a prisoners thoughts aren't free†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã¢â‚¬Å"Easy money doesn't weigh anything†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã¢â‚¬Å"Beat a dog once and y ou'll only have to show him the whip.†CharactersIvan – thin, weedy, darkeyed sergeantTyurin – the foreman of gang 104Tetyukor – begs for scrapsAlyoshka – devout baptistPavlo – the deputy of gang 104Kolya – a poetBuyhovsky – the captainGopchik – innocent sixteen year old boyEino – estonianKildigs – talented bricklayerSnub Nose – wardenTsezar – receives regular packagesSymbols/ MotifsBread/food – Is mentioned all throughout the text. The prisoners obsess over the amount of food they get so much, it's clear how mistreated they are. The bread represents survival and that the little things in life should be cherished.Cold – The cold not only represents the weather, but represents the abuse and mistreatment of the prisoners too. Also mentioned all throughout the text, usually along the lines of â€Å"Can a man who's warm understand one who's freezing.† Also representing the theme of: you cannot understand someone if you are not them.Parcel – The parcels represent survival; the inmates who keep them to themselves are healthier like Kildigs. They also represent corruption and bribery in Tsezars case; he bribes inmates to get his way. Which also ties into power because they have more power over the inmates and even some of the guards.Spoon – Shukhov's spoon represents individuality and a struggle to keep humanity and free will. It is his and only his; not controlled by the camp. It's his little secret and his way of trying to keep some freedom and privacy.Moon – The moon represents hope and reminds the inmates of the world beyond their confinement. It gives them something to hold on to and reminds them of home and the people they loved. Which I think ties into appreciation of the small things.SignificanceIvan – We spend the whole day through Ivan and experience what he does. He is vital because the story through his eyes is what mak es the story HIS story. Based on what the author has given us I think Ivan is a good man who just wants to be free.Tsezar – Represents the higher class people having a hard time getting used to the camp. I think he's vital to the story because he's the one who always gets the parcel's and he chooses to share. Based on him getting gifts all the time from his family and him focusing on movies and film making, rather than his own survival, I think he is wealthy and is having a rough time adjusting to the life at camp.Opening scene – The opening scene tells the ways of the camp. Shows that Ivan doesn't feel good and establishes the theme of injustice and oppression by authority with the unfair punishment should've received. Foreshadows to punishments that will be given later on.Closing scene – The closing scene shows how his point of view on happiness has changed; and that he is almost happy. Emphasises how much of a survivor he is by showing us how he always looks on the brightside. And really makes us think back at the end when Alexander tells us that this is only one of his 3,653 day sentence.Scenesâ€Å"Then he took out the piece of bread in the white rag and, holding it under his coat so that not a crumb would be lost, began nibbling and chewing it bit by bit. He'd carried the bread underneath two layers of clothing, warming it with his body, so it wasn't the least bit frozen.† Shows that even the slightest bit of food is treasured so much because they get so little. Ties into the themes of mistreatment and appreciation of what you have.â€Å"Shukhov licked his spoon clean and returned it to his boot, then put on his cap and made for sick bay.† and then â€Å"Shukhov licked his spoon and tucked it inside his boot, crammed his cap on his head, rose, picked up the bread- his own ration and Tsezar's – and left.† These scenes show him trying to gain some individuality and some humanity by having this spoon be his l ittle secret.† Shukhov went to sleep fully content. He'd had so many strokes of luck that day: they hadn't put him in the cells; they hadn't sent his squad to the settlement; he'd swiped a bowl of kasha dinner; the squad leader had fixed the rates well; he'd built a wall and enjoyed doing it; he'd smuggled that bit of the hacksaw blade and through; he'd earned a favor from Tsezar that evening; he'd bought that tobacco. And he hadn't fallen ill. He'd got over it. A day without a dark cloud. Almost a happy day.† Shows how drastically his idea of happiness changed. Ties into the theme of appreciation of the little things. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Novel Review1. PST-T chart PlotGot up to go to bucket Didn't get up at reveille Wondered which guard is on duty Decided he can lie in bed a little while longer Decided to report sick Got 3 days penalty with work for not getting up on time Got dressed Followed Tartar out of room Realised he wasnt being sent to the guardhouse Thanked the guard for letting him off and said he'll never get up late again Picked up pail and with bare hands (because he forgot his gloves) went to the well Put pail down, tucked hands into sleeves and watched some people in interest Ran to well Carried dripping bucket back to guardroom Took boots off and washed floor barefoot Wiped floor boards Eats soup Gets fever examined Returns to hut for body count Hides bread in mattress Thinks about wife's letter Marched off for work at Power Station Admires Alyoshka Tries to keep wind out with tar paper Sneaks an extra helping of food Sees scrap metal in snow and takes it Works and is late to lunch Wants to hide the trowel At body search he pani cs but the guard doesn't find the metal Makes way to hall for supper Awarded 400 grams of bread After body count he prepares to sleep Helps hide Tsezars parcel Gets awarded biscuits and a little bit of sausage Thanks god Alyoshka urges him to pray properly and to pursue the goods of the spirit not the flesh Reflects on this comment Gives him a biscuit MeditatesSubjects/SymbolsBread/foodParcelSpoonPrisoner #MoonColdTechniquesSimileMetaphorImageryPersonificationDiction (informal)ForeshadowingRepetitionTheme StatementsThe little things in life should be appreciated.You cannot understand someone if you are not them.Maintaining your dignity in tough life situations makes life more bearableMeaningful Quotationsâ€Å"Can a man who's warm understand one who's freezing?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Writing letters was like throwing stones into a bottomless pool.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Even a prisoners thoughts aren't free†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã¢â‚¬Å"Easy money doesn't weigh anything†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã¢â‚¬Å"Beat a dog once and y ou'll only have to show him the whip.†CharactersIvan – thin, weedy, darkeyed sergeantTyurin – the foreman of gang 104Tetyukor – begs for scrapsAlyoshka – devout baptistPavlo – the deputy of gang 104Kolya – a poetBuyhovsky – the captainGopchik – innocent sixteen year old boyEino – estonianKildigs – talented bricklayerSnub Nose – wardenTsezar – receives regular packagesSymbols/ MotifsBread/food – Is mentioned all throughout the text. The prisoners obsess over the amount of food they get so much, it's clear how mistreated they are. The bread represents survival and that the little things in life should be cherished.Cold – The cold not only represents the weather, but represents the abuse and mistreatment of the prisoners too. Also mentioned all throughout the text, usually along the lines of â€Å"Can a man who's warm understand one who's freezing.† Also representing the theme of: you cannot understand someone if you are not them.Parcel – The parcels represent survival; the inmates who keep them to themselves are healthier like Kildigs. They also represent corruption and bribery in Tsezars case; he bribes inmates to get his way. Which also ties into power because they have more power over the inmates and even some of the guards.Spoon – Shukhov's spoon represents individuality and a struggle to keep humanity and free will. It is his and only his; not controlled by the camp. It's his little secret and his way of trying to keep some freedom and privacy.Moon – The moon represents hope and reminds the inmates of the world beyond their confinement. It gives them something to hold on to and reminds them of home and the people they loved. Which I think ties into appreciation of the small things.SignificanceIvan – We spend the whole day through Ivan and experience what he does. He is vital because the story through his eyes is what mak es the story HIS story. Based on what the author has given us I think Ivan is a good man who just wants to be free.Tsezar – Represents the higher class people having a hard time getting used to the camp. I think he's vital to the story because he's the one who always gets the parcel's and he chooses to share. Based on him getting gifts all the time from his family and him focusing on movies and film making, rather than his own survival, I think he is wealthy and is having a rough time adjusting to the life at camp.Opening scene – The opening scene tells the ways of the camp. Shows that Ivan doesn't feel good and establishes the theme of injustice and oppression by authority with the unfair punishment should've received. Foreshadows to punishments that will be given later on.Closing scene – The closing scene shows how his point of view on happiness has changed; and that he is almost happy. Emphasises how much of a survivor he is by showing us how he always looks on the brightside. And really makes us think back at the end when Alexander tells us that this is only one of his 3,653 day sentence.Scenesâ€Å"Then he took out the piece of bread in the white rag and, holding it under his coat so that not a crumb would be lost, began nibbling and chewing it bit by bit. He'd carried the bread underneath two layers of clothing, warming it with his body, so it wasn't the least bit frozen.† Shows that even the slightest bit of food is treasured so much because they get so little. Ties into the themes of mistreatment and appreciation of what you have.â€Å"Shukhov licked his spoon clean and returned it to his boot, then put on his cap and made for sick bay.† and then â€Å"Shukhov licked his spoon and tucked it inside his boot, crammed his cap on his head, rose, picked up the bread- his own ration and Tsezar's – and left.† These scenes show him trying to gain some individuality and some humanity by having this spoon be his l ittle secret.† Shukhov went to sleep fully content. He'd had so many strokes of luck that day: they hadn't put him in the cells; they hadn't sent his squad to the settlement; he'd swiped a bowl of kasha dinner; the squad leader had fixed the rates well; he'd built a wall and enjoyed doing it; he'd smuggled that bit of the hacksaw blade and through; he'd earned a favor from Tsezar that evening; he'd bought that tobacco. And he hadn't fallen ill. He'd got over it. A day without a dark cloud. Almost a happy day.† Shows how drastically his idea of happiness changed. Ties into the theme of appreciation of the little things.

Sex Trafficking

Comparative Review March 11, 2013 Thesis: Legalizing Prostitution will stop the spread of illicit Sex Trafficking. It seems like a normal day in her little village, until two shady men come and take her and all the young girls around the same age as her from their families. She is terrified and is scared of what may come next. The man repeatedly compliments her on her beauty and touches her silk soft skin. Crying only makes things worse and makes the man very angry. He hits them and calls them bad names as a punishment. Its been days since they took us, and has only given us little amounts of water to stay some what hydrated; and no food.This feeling is so surreal and this stuff actually does happen, beyond what people may think they know women and kids are being taken. In the article Enslaved in America by Tina Frundt it explains how typically Americans look the other way when they see prostitution but, neglect that these girls 50 percent of the time are forced into the Sex Traffick ing lifestyle. On the other hand Brenda Zurita’s article Legalization or harm reduction of prostitution and sexual trafficking writes about the government and the Sex trafficking laws says a different story.Sex Trafficking is illegal in the United States but why is there girls forced out of their homes and into this modern day slavery still occurring. In Bruce Kennedy’s Would legalizing prostitution help the US economy, it explains in simple terms how much one difference will create safer jobs and bring it much needed money to our economy. Which brings me to my next point; Prostitution should be legalized for those who want to retire in this way of life. It will have a positive effect on the economy bringing in billions in taxable income.In the increasing epidemic with Sex Trafficking; Tina Frundt, explains why this is truly a big issue worldwide. With this crime being unrecognized to a certain degree as it should in the shadows its really happening. The purpose of thi s article is to help understand the reasons â€Å"why. † Truthfully when I think of this topic I think of all the girls overseas who are being taken from their homes. As Frundt explains this is not only my opinion; most people have the same thoughts and are in the blind that this happens so close to home too. Not everything is said out to be the way it really is.All the bliss and publicity that the â€Å"pimps† is point blank ridiculous. â€Å"Young people use â€Å"pimp† in everyday conversation: â€Å"my ride is pimped out,† â€Å"your clothes are pimping. † They do not understand the reality behind the term. (Frundt)† This is a subliminal message about Sex Trafficking, the word is so powerful that it is misused and now taken for what it really is. Sex trafficking victims live in a cold, heartless, mistreated, and world full of violence. Raped and beat on the daily bases is only the least of these victims’ worries.Finding a way to e scape and lead a different life is the biggest and hardest goal to acquire. How are these victims found if they aren’t ever missed of even looked for? A promise for a better life, a good job and a new start is how many people end up in these types of situations. Having such a personal intake of Sex Trafficking, Frundt’s article is an essential piece that I find necessary to write about in my research. Unlike Frundt who shares a very particular share in Sex Trafficking, Brenda Zurita speaks from a point where anyone can understand more broadly.When the demand for prostituted people exceeds the available supply, women, children and sometimes men are trafficked in to meet the demand (Zurita). Children and women are usually the two that are easier to manipulate by letting them know what they want to hear. Often they are showered with gifts and affection that leave them wanting more. Than to keep an even tighter leash threatening comes to play, captors threaten their lives and the lives of their families. Which often leave victims to scared to leave to keep their families safe.The US government opposes prostitution for the reason that it is dehumanizing and harmful for people. Sex trafficking is what should be the center of focus. Trying to stop something that is known today, as â€Å"Modern Day Slavery† cannot just be stopped all together. In this case, and at the time former president George W. Bush stated that work in this field is not legitimate and should be not tolerated for humans of any sort. By legalizing we are creating a safer environment for those who chose this way of life.Traffickers often beat, humiliate, and torture their victims and can ultimately lead to murder. Pimps and traffickers, in order to make a profit, cater to their customer’s desires and supply prostituted people to fulfill their fantasies (Zurita). The legalization of Prostitution reduced the need for Sex Traffickers. Bruce Kennedy is all for the legalizatio n of prostitution, in my opinion it provides an economical relief. From the time that I can remember the US has been struggling with money. By legalizing this it brings in an outstanding 18 billion in taxable income from the sex industry.Although crime rates seem to stay the same, legalizing creates a better environment for those women who choose this life style. It brings better working conditions and makes it safer by not having pimps abuse their â€Å"hoes. † The challenge that seems to be faced is all the crime that would still happen. Technically pimps watch over their girls and make sure the guys they leave with are safe and will return the girls back accordingly. Without this it is expected that more kidnappings and murders are to be committed.A nights earning is expected to be around 500$ a night which attracts the criminal industry. The message and the information that I acquired from (Frundt), (Zurita, 2013) and (Kennedy, 2012) are essential to creating a strong res earch paper. They are all statistically inclined and include different examples of different situations that will help me outline my paper. Since Frundt’s article is the strongest of the three I plan on strategically planning out her experiences in a way that will coherently compare it to the others.Being a woman, myself I feel like I have a stronger connection with my topic because I could be categorized as well as other girls my age in the range how the Pimps choose their girls. I could not imagine myself in the position that hundreds of girls find themselves everyday. Spreading awareness on the topic is the way people are going to be more involved with the stop of Sex Trafficking. How is something going to be stopped if its only been advertised as a good thing, when in true reality it is the complete opposite. References Frundt, T. (n. d. ).Enslaved in America: Sex trafficking in the United States. WFN, Retrieved from http://www. womensfundingnetwork. org/resource/past-art icles/enslaved-in-america-sex-trafficking-in-the-united-states Kennedy, B. (2010). Would legalizing prostitution help the us economy?. Retrieved from http://money. msn. com/now/post. aspx? post=49c1f746-9b02-4ba4-a60f-67d3ccc1a6b5 Zurita, B. (2012). Legalization or harm reduction of prostitution and sexual trafficking. Retrieved from http://www. cwfa. org/articledisplay. asp? id=12632&department=BLI&categoryid=dotcommentary

Profile of the Roman Emperor Nero

Profile of the Roman Emperor Nero Nero was the last of the Julio-Claudians, that most important family of Rome that produced the first 5 emperors (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero). Nero is famed for watching while Rome burned, then using the devastated area for his own luxurious palace, and then blaming the conflagration on the Christians, whom he persecuted. While his predecessor, Claudius, was accused of letting slaves guide his policy, Nero was accused of letting the women in his life, especially his mother, guide his. This wasnt considered an improvement. Family and Upbringing of Nero Nero Claudius Caesar (originally Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus) was the son of Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the Younger, sister of the future emperor Caligula, in Antium, on December 15, A.D. 37. Domitius died when Nero was 3. Caligula banished his sister, and so Nero grew up with his paternal aunt, Domitia Lepida, who chose a barber (tonsor) and a dancer (saltator) for Neros tutors. When Claudius became emperor after Caligula, Neros inheritance was returned, and when Claudius married Agrippina, a proper tutor, Seneca, was hired for young Nero. Neros Career Nero might have had a successful career as an entertainer, but that was not to be at least officially. Under Claudius, Nero pleaded cases in the forum and was given opportunities to ingratiate himself with the Roman people. When Claudius died, Nero was 17. He presented himself to the palace guard, who pronounced him emperor. Nero then went to the ​Senate, which gave him the appropriate imperial titles. As emperor, Nero served as consul 4 times. Compassionate Elements of Neros Reign Nero reduced heavy taxes and fees paid to informers. He gave salaries to impoverished senators. He introduced certain fire-preventing and fire-fighting innovations. Suetonius says Nero devised a method of forgery prevention. Nero also replaced public banquets with grain distribution. His response to people criticizing his artistic skills was mild. Some Charges Against Nero Some of Neros infamous acts, which led to rebellion in the provinces, included inflicting punishments on Christians (and blaming them for the devastating fire in Rome), sexual perversions, marauding and murdering Roman citizens, building the extravagant Domus Aurea Golden House, charging citizens with treason to confiscate their property, murdering his mother and aunt, and causing (or at least performing while watching) the burning of Rome. Nero gained notoriety for inappropriately performing. It is said that as he died, Nero lamented that the world was losing an artist. Death of Nero Nero committed suicide before he could be captured and flogged to death. Revolts in Gaul and Spain had promised to bring Neros reign to an end. Almost all his staff deserted him. Nero tried to kill himself, but required the assistance of his scribe, Epaphrodite, to stab himself in the neck. Nero died at the age of 32. Ancient Sources on Nero Tacitus describes the reign of Nero, but his Annals end before the last 2 years of Neros reign. Cassius Dio (LXI-LXIII) and Suetonius also provide biographies of Nero. Tacitus on Nero and the Fire Tacitus on the Modifications Nero Made to Building After the Fire of Rome (15.43)... The buildings themselves, to a certain height, were to be solidly constructed, without wooden beams, of stone from Gabii or Alba, that material being impervious to fire. And to provide that the water which individual license had illegally appropriated, might flow in greater abundance in several places for the public use, officers were appointed, and everyone was to have in the open court the means of stopping a fire. Every building, too, was to be enclosed by its own proper wall, not by one common to others. These changes which were liked for their utility, also added beauty to the new city. Some, however, thought that its old arrangement had been more conducive to health, inasmuch as the narrow streets with the elevation of the roofs were not equally penetrated by the suns heat, while now the open space, unsheltered by any shade, was scorched by a fiercer glow.​​ -Â  Annals of Tacitus Tacitus on Neros Blaming the Christians (15.44).... But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mo ckery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car.​ -Â  Annals of Tacitus

The Life of Alexandre Dumas, Classic Adventure Writer

The Life of Alexandre Dumas, Classic Adventure Writer French author  Alexandre Dumas (born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie; July 24, 1802 – December 5, 1870) wrote novels that came to epitomize the adventure genre. In works such as  The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, Dumas eschewed historical accuracy and literary elegance to craft stories that  delivered non-stop action.   Fast Facts: Alexandre Dumas Born: July 24, 1802 in Soissons, FranceDied: December 5, 1870 in Dieppe, FranceOccupation: WriterNotable Works:  The Count of Monte Cristo,  The Three Musketeers,  The Corsican BrothersLiterary Movements: Historical fiction, Romanticism  Famous Quote: All human wisdom is summed up  in these  two words,- Wait and hope. (The Count of Monte Cristo) Early Years Born in France in 1802, Dumas was the son of famed general Thomas-Alexandre Davy de La Pailleterie and the grandson of Marie Cà ©sette Dumas, an enslaved woman of African descent. His last name, Dumas, was adopted from his grandmother.  Although the family enjoyed some rank and connection due to General Dumas’ lineage and fame, they were not at all wealthy, and their situation worsened in 1806, when General Dumas died of cancer.   Without much money for an education, Dumas managed to educate himself and take advantage of family connections. When the French monarchy was restored after Napoleon’s final defeat, Dumas made his way to Paris in 1822 to make a living, intending initially to work as a lawyer. He found work in the household of the Duke of Orleans, a future king of France. A Revolutionary Playwright   Dumas was not satisfied with his new position in the household of the Duke of Orleans. He  almost immediately began writing plays, collaborating with the actor Franà §ois-Joseph Talma. His plays were instant hits, written in a raucous, energetic style filled with violence and dramatic plot twists. Dumas made enough money from the plays and articles he published in magazines that he was able to become a full-time writer by 1830. When a second revolution seized France, Dumas took up arms. He fought in the streets to dethrone Charles X in favor of his former employer, the Duke of Orleans, who became King Louis-Phillippe. Novelist and Collaborator Dumas began working in the novel format in the late 1830s. Noting that newspapers were publishing serial novels, he reworked one of his existing plays into a novel, Le Capitaine Paul. He soon founded a studio and hired writers to work on ideas and outlines that he generated, thus inventing  a business model still followed by some writers today.   Historians disagree about the  extent of his collaborators contributions, but there is no doubt that Dumas energetically increased his output by relying on other writers to flesh out ideas and sometimes write large portions of his books. This process allowed him to maximize his income and become incredibly prolific as a writer. (The fact that Dumas was frequently paid by the word or line is reflected in the surfeit of dialog in his books.) During the 1840s, Dumas’ major novels were written and published. Those works, which include  The Fencing Master, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Three Musketeers,  exemplify Dumas’ style: explosive opening action, endless excitement, no-frills writing, and a serial format.  The plots are not strictly formed; instead, they meander, resisting typical  narrative structures. The characters  are defined by their actions, rather than an internal monologue or other psychological factors. In all, Dumas published a remarkable amount of material:  more than 100,000 pages of novels, plays, articles, travelogues, and other writings. Personal Life Dumas married  Ida Ferrier in 1840, but historians believe that he had  nearly 40 mistresses and fathered anywhere from four to seven children in his lifetime.  Dumas only acknowledged one son, also named Alexandre Dumas, who became a celebrated author in his own right. Dumas  spent exorbitantly during his lifetime, at one point building a chateau that cost 500,000 gold francs. (At the time, the average laborer earned about 2-3 francs per day.)  As a result of his lifestyle, Dumas ran out of money in later life, despite his many successes. He wrote several poorly-received novels in an effort to drum up more income.   Death and Legacy Dumas died after suffering from a stroke in 1870. It is believed that he may have contracted syphilis at some point in his life, and that the disease may have contributed to his death. Prolific and energetic, Dumas produced historical adventure stories that have endured long after loftier works have faded into obscurity. His focus on action, his disdain for psychological exploration, and his sheer fluidity with language have made several of his novels all-time classics that are still read, taught, and adapted today.   Sources â€Å"David Coward on Alexandre Dumas.† The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 16 Apr. 2003, www.theguardian.com/books/2003/apr/16/alexandredumaspere.Tonkin, Boyd. â€Å"The Role of Race in the Life and Literature of Alexandre Dumas: The Episode That Inspired the Man behind the Musketeers.†Ã‚  The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 16 Jan. 2014,  www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/the-role-of-race-in-the-life-and-literature-of-alexandre-dumas-the-episode-that-inspired-the-man-9065506.html.Università © De Montrà ©al - IForum - Forum Express - Vol 4 No 1 - French Studies - Quebecer Discovers an Unpublished Manuscript by Alexandre Dumas,  www.iforum.umontreal.ca/ForumExpress/Archives/vol4no1en/article02_ang.html.Wallace, Irving. The Intimate Sex Lives of Famous People. Feral House, 2008.

Flash V. Illumination Industries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Flash V. Illumination Industries - Essay Example In the matter of the wrongful price quotation of the computerized board, the legal team deems the contact entered into between Flash and Mack as being invalid since Mack does not have express authority to enter into such a contract. This argument is based upon the law of agency in which Mack as a contractor does not have actual authority for actions undertaken. Relevant Rules Under the law of agency, Mack is an independent contractor. Mack is a special agent since he undertakes specific assignments for Illumination Industries upon request. The general principle applied in agency law is that a principal is liable for actions undertaken by the agent if the actions fall within the authority of the agent to enter into such agreements. The issue of authority is thus of utmost importance in determining liability of the principal in contracts or actions entered into by the agent. The agent may have authority as a result of express conferment or through implication. In tort litigation the th ird party cannot claim any damages from the principal unless it can be proved that the agent’s actions were within the scope of authority in the contract. Express actual authority entails that the agent has been explicitly given authority to undertake actions on behalf of the principal. There is also the principle of implied actual authority. This is the authority that the contractor has to have if he is to perform his obligations in the required manner. This is exemplified in Ireland v. Livingstone in which the court ruled that the principal is only liable to actions which are expressly authorized by the contract. The principle of implied actual authority is however subject to personal opinion. In the matter of whether Illumination Industries ought to pay for the negligent acts of Mack, the defense team relies upon the principle of independent contractors. The principal is in law not vicariously liable for the negligent actions of the agent since the principal lacks the crit ical relationship found under employer employee. The principal would not be able to exercise the supervisory and control function in the instance of an independent contractor. There is however exceptions to this rule in instances where the actions of the contractor results into injury to a person in the real property of the principal; the contractor’s work involves potentially dangerous activity; and in instances in which the principal acted in a manner to suggest the contractor was an employee or an agent. Arguments Under the law of agency, Illumination Industries is not liable for actions undertaken by Mack since Mack is an independent contractor. Mack is an independent contractor since the nature of his work with Illumination industries is intermittent and he decides on what kinds of jobs to accept. Mack as an independent contractor does not have the authority to make quotations on the prices of goods which Illuminating Industries is to pay since he does not have the power of agent. The plaintiff may however argue that Illuminating industries had delegated authority to Mack in order to complete the job. In arguing that the job in its entirety had been delegated to Mack the plaintiffs fail to take into consideration that some aspects of agency such as the monetary aspects cannot be implied. This aspect of the independent contractor must be expressly provided by the principal and should not be by implication. In the matter

Condition monitoring - fault detection and diagnosis Literature review

Condition monitoring - fault detection and diagnosis - Literature review Example Hybrids of SVM methods such as combined SVM (CSVM) have been used extensively for process control such as in the Eastman process. Results indicate the superiority of SVM based methods over other methods of control (Tafazzoli & Saif, 2009). SVM methods have been employed extensively in order to classify reciprocating compressor faults. SVM methods were employed in order to classify faults of reciprocating refrigeration compressors through the application of wavelet transform and statistical methods. Significant features were extracted from both raw noise signals and vibration signals. The selection of relevant RBF kernel parameters was carried out through iteration (Yang et al., 2005). In a similar application, SVM methods were applied to reciprocating compressors butterfly valves to classify cavitation faults (Yang et al., 2005). A comparable research was performed on reciprocating compressor valves to classify faults through vibration signals alone. Data for this purpose was gathered from the surface of the valve and the resulting vibration signals were decomposed by applying local wave methods (Ren et al., 2005). One of the larger problems posed by reciprocating compressor valves is the non stationary and non linear characteristics of the extracted vibration signals. In order to deal with the non stationary and non linear nature of such data, information entropy with good fault tolerance potential was utilised as the feature parameter fed to a SVM. This was utilised as being a comprehensive characteristic of the raw vibration signal. The resulting decision function was used to solve the limits of traditional fault classifications. The added strength of the SVM was its ability to be trained with only a few input samples to deal with multiple new faults (Chen & Lian, 2010). The small linear pattern recognition performance and relatively small data sets extracted from reciprocating