Thursday, October 31, 2019

Eithics in History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Eithics in History - Essay Example Each of these has been supported by evidences and views. In the case of first, capitalist phenomena trigged by the concept of globalized trends and international cooperation in the field of science, politics, economy is mentioned. The religious ideologies and religious mindsets are put aside for the sake of a more uniform and organized system of operation in the global sphere. The second agent of the world transformation mentioned by Benjamin A. Barber is that of Jihad. Jihad as in the modern context of political and more predominantly the physical might with regard to the social standing and overall social influence on a given state and given individual. Owing to the hardliner and extremist views carried by the latter mindset ( Jihadist mindset), the former in the form of the globalized world believers and individuals are forced to unit into a single tier where they vehemently abhor the ideas and the manner of influencing undertaken by the Jihadist and extremist mindset. The element of social entities such as norms and other societal components have been mentioned and at the same time quoted for with regard to their standing and influence on the individuals and society as a whole. His paradox of the idea and view advocating the concept of conflict and bitter views towards the each bench group is supported by and defended through the views of the social standing at present. With the world split bitterly into two with the Jihadist mindset aiming to overtake the other and vice versa. The author has given examples of the states and entities such as Bosnia and Rwanda as the regions and countries that have been hit by the plague of hatred, ideological differences and similarly separating and splitting views and opinions. On the other side the ideas of social progress and capitalist mindset has brought about people in the West. This bringing about is based on the function of global partnerships, support systems, economic assistances and

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Essay Example for Free

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Essay Imagine being not able to move your muscles freely everyday, and that process has to coordinate between the brain and the spinal cord to tell the muscles to move. However, when this coordination is challenged and can not convey signals, the results are no muscle movement. At first, muscles in the hands, arms, and legs feel weak. The hands and feet twitch. Speaking and eventually breathing become difficult, and paralysis occurs in the final stages, although thinking and other cognitive functions remain intact. Death usually occurs within five years of the onset of symptoms. This rare, progressive disorder is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, after a famous baseball player whose life was cut short by it. What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis? Nowadays, more and more persons are being detected with a condition that is signified as â€Å"Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis†. In the history, this neurological situation was signified by several as â€Å"Lou Gehrig’s disorder† (Hohnsbeen, 2008). Those that suffer from this medical condition endure great complexities. This is essentially because of the fact that the disorder quickly wages war against some nerve cells in the body. These cells are recognized as neurons by medical experts. The neurons that are alluring to the disorder are the ones that are absolutely liable for the control of muscles that are deemed to be voluntary. The muscles in the upper body as well as those in the lower body are influenced. The influenced neurons are situated in the brain as well as the spinal cord and finally die (Hohnsbeen, 2008). In this direction, one will learn the facts adjacent the neurological state of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. When a person is detected with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the advancement of the disorder may be gradual or it may be rapid. It all depends on the general health of the individual, how long they have had the condition previous to diagnosis, plus any other medical circumstances that they may endure from (Phillies, 1995). Seeing that the reason of this severe neurological condition is unidentified, medical experts often have a hard time deciding the speed in which the condition improvements. Nevertheless, it is a fact that it will improve and signs observed will become more demanding to the functionality of the body. Difficulties that engage the muscles of the body that are utilized for different purposes will be experienced (Phillies, 1995). It is not common for the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis sufferer to experience difficulties such as problems in walking, situations in which it is challenging to eat and swallow as suitable, and several may even face severe medical emergencies such as the failure to breathe properly. The cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is not identified, though a significant step toward deciding the cause came in 1993 when scientists found that changes in the gene that generates the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) enzyme were related with some cases (about twenty-percent) of familial Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This enzyme is an influential antioxidant that defends the body from harm caused by superoxide, a toxic free radical produced in the mitochondria (William, 2000). Free radicals are very reactive molecules made by cells during normal metabolism again mostly by the mitochondria. Free radicals can build up and cause harm to both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA and proteins within cells. Proof proposes that inability of defenses against oxidative pressure up-regulates programmed cell death (apoptosis), among several other potential results. Although it is not yet obvious how the SOD1 gene mutation leads to motor neuron degeneration, examiners have theorized that an accumulation of free radicals may consequence from the faulty functioning of this gene. New study, nevertheless, points out that motor neuron death is not probably a consequence of lost or compromised dismutase activity, proposing mutant SOD1 induces toxicity in some other way (William, 2000). Researches engaging transgenic mice have yielded many hypotheses about the role of SOD1 in mutant SOD1 familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Mice lacking the SOD1 gene totally do not usually develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, although they do demonstrate an acceleration of age-associated muscle atrophy (sarcopenia) and a shortened lifespan (Wade, 2001). This points out that the toxic properties of the mutant SOD1 are a consequence of a gain in function rather than a loss of normal function. Additionally, aggregation of proteins has been found to be a common pathological aspect of both familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Fascinatingly, in mutant SOD1 mice, totals of mutant SOD1 were discovered only in disordered tissues, and large amounts were detected during motor neuron degeneration. It is observed that whole deposit of mutant SOD1 carries out a role in disturbing cellular functions by harmful mitochondria, proteasomes, protein folding chaperones, or other proteins (Phillies, 1995). Any such trouble, if shown, would lend large credibility to the hypothesis that aggregates are engaged in mutant SOD1 toxicity. Opponents have noted that in humans, SOD1 mutations cause only two-percent or so of general cases and the etiological mechanisms may be different from those liable for the sporadic type of the disorder. To date, the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis SOD1 mice remain the best model of the disorder for preclinical researches but it is expected that more helpful models will be developed (Wade, 2001). There are several signs that are indicated to the situation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In most sufferers, the first sign related with the situation was a weakness in the body. This weakness is generally related with a particular muscle. It may happen in the face. Several have endured from a common weakness in the tongue. It could also happen in other parts of the body, such as the hands or the legs. This is a symptom that the neurons that are liable for motor functions are facing death (Mitsumoto, 2009). In several cases, the weakness will expand to other parts of the body. As the neurons experience death as a consequence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, they are not capable to relay the suitable signals to the brain. As a consequence, the muscles simply do not realize that they are supposed to move in one way or another. Over time, they are employed less and less. Weakness sets in to the muscles, and then they lose their mass. As the neurological situation improvements, other signs will start to happen. Muscle twitching is an ordinary sign. The twitching may be in the type of sore cramps for several, but this is not always the situation. An individual that has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may start to notice that simple tasks engaging the hands may become more challenging. Several may discover that their talking and the capability to use their mouth for eating and swallowing are more complicated. Finally, walking will become problem. Those that are detected with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will often find that they feel weak and comparatively tired, but they are capable to carry on doing tasks that engage cognitive capability such as concentrating on projects such as reading, memorization and often capable to focus with little to no difficulties at all (Mitsumoto, 2009). Conclusion Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a situation that is deemed to be deadly. Unluckily, there is no treatment for this situation. Once the disorder has started to impact the body, the harm that it produces will extend (Hohnsbeen, 2008). The collapse to the condition is that most of the sufferers that endure it will be influenced with a failure of the respiratory system. The average time span in which this happens is within 3 to 5 years from the onset of the disease. This generally results in death. Nevertheless, there have been several people that have surpassed a lifespan of ten years once diagnosed. If you have currently been examined, keep in mind to work carefully with your physician when it comes to cures. Finding a support group can also show to be extremely helpful when it comes to coping with the progress of the neurological situation.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Alkylation Process For Production Of Motor Fuels Environmental Sciences Essay

Alkylation Process For Production Of Motor Fuels Environmental Sciences Essay Alkylation is a process for chemically combining isobutane with light olefinic hydrocarbons, typically C3 and C4 olefins, (e.g. propylene, butylene) in the presence of an acid catalyst, usually sulphuric acid or hydrofluoric acid. The product, alkylate (an isoparaffin) has a high-octane value and is blended into motor and aviation gasoline to improve the antiknock value of the fuel. The light olefins are most commonly available from the catalytic crackers. Alkylate is one of the best gasoline blending components because it is a clean burning, very low sulphur component, with no olefinic or aromatic compounds and with high octane and low vapour pressure characteristics. 1. Introduction 1.1 Alkylation Alkylation is a process for chemically combining isobutane with light olefinic hydrocarbons, typically C3 and C4 olefins, (e.g.propylene, butylene) in the presence of an acid catalyst, usually sulphuric acid (H2SO4) or hydrofluoric acid (HF). The product, alkylate (an isoparaffin) has a high-octane value and is blended into motor and aviation gasoline to improve the antiknock value of the fuel. The light olefins are most commonly available from the catalytic crackers. Alkylate is one of the best gasoline blending components because it is a clean burning, very low sulphur component, with no olefinic or aromatic compounds and with high octane and low vapour pressure characteristics [1]. 1.2 Advances in alkylation technologies The alkylation process will continue to be a favoured technology for producing clean fuels.MTBE(methyl-tert-butyl ethanol) phase out in the USA, implementation of the latest european specifications, enlargement of the EU and adoption of cleaner fuels specifications worldwide are major drivers for refiners requiring more, high octane, gasoline blending components that do not contain aromatics, benzene, olefins and sulphur. Also as the types of gasoline engine in use worldwide become more uniform, there will be a general decline in the markets for low octane gasoline requiring more components to be upgraded to high quality fuel. Table  1 shows the major technical and mechanical advances. Reactor design improvements are one of the most important developments. The early plants used a pump and time-tank reactor system which was designed to mix the reactants intimately with the catalyst and to remove the exothermic heat of reaction for temperature control [2] .It is required that for the desired reactions to continue with the removal of the unwanted reactions, good mixing of higher concentrations of dissolved isobutane in the acid phase is necessary. Since the early reactors were inadequate in this respect, new reactor designs evolved which improved the degree of acid-hydrocarbon contacting. The importance of good temperature control was also realized in the course of time as commercial experience was gained. Regulating the temperature of the reaction mixture in the suitable range was essential for good alkylation. Inadequate temperature control resulted in decreased alkylate yields and octanes and increased a cid consumption. Therefore, to avoid these penalties the new reactor designs included improved temperature control techniques as well as improved mixing. The two most commonly used reactor systems which grew out of the reactor development work for H2SO4 alkylation are the Stratford Engineering Companys Stratco contactor and the M. W. Kellogg Corporation Cascade reactor were bubbled up through liquid HF. There have been improvements in the preparation of feed and this has given rise to growth in alkylation technology [4, 5]. The ability to design better fractionators has made higher quality feedstocks available, and feed pretreatment facilities have been developed to remove water, mercaptans, sulfides, and diolefins effectively. Bauxite treating, hot water washing, and electrostatic precipitation are some of the significant developments which have improved product quality and reduced fouling and corrosion in downstream equipment. The sulfuric acid recovery process (SARP), developed to reduce the acid consumption in H2SO4 alkylation units was another contribution to alkylation technology. In this process the spent acid from an alkylation unit reacts with a portion of the olefin feed to form dialkylsulfates. The dialkylsulfates are extracted from the reaction mixture with isobutane, and the extract is charged to the alkylation unit. Table  I: Advances in alkylation technology [3] 1) Improved reactors A) better mixing B) better temperature control 2) Recognition and control of operating variables 3) Improved feed preparation 4) Improved product treatment 5) Sulfuric acid recovery process 6) Catalyst promoters 7) Mechanical and construction improvement 2. Types of alkylation processes The alkylation process can be divided into the sulfuric alkylation process and the hydrofluoric acid alkylation process, indirect alkylation by acidic resin, indirect alkylation by solid phosphoric acid and olefin hydrogenation. 2.1. The sulphuric acid process This process uses sulphuric acid as the catalyst and its feedstock are propylene, butylene, amylene, and fresh isobutane. Feedstocks are fed into the reactor which is divided into zones, each containing sulfuric acid, isobutane and olefins feed. The reactor product contains hydrocarbon and acid phases which are split in the settler; the hydrocarbon phase is washed with caustic and hot water for pH control and then depropanized, deisobutanized, and debutanized. The alkylate product so formed can then be used for motor fuel blending or for producing aviation grade blends. The isobutane goes back to the feed. Figure  1: Acid catalyzed isobutene dimerization to 2,  4,  4-trimethyl-1-pentene and 2,  4,  4 ­trimethyl ­2-pentene by the standard Whitmore-type carbocation mechanism [3]. 2.2 The hydrofluoric acid process This process employs hydrofluoric acid as the catalyst. The two types of hydrofluoric acid alkylation process commonly used are the Philips and UOP (a Honeywell company) processes. While Philips uses a reactor/settler combination system, UOP uses two reactors with separate settlers [2]. The major differences between sulfuric and hydrofluoric alkylations (HF) are temperature and acid consumption. Sulfuric alkylation requires refrigeration to maintain a low reactor temperature. The acid consumption rate for sulfuric alkylation is over a hundred times that of HF [8]. Figure  2: Aliphatic alkylation mechanism with hydrofluoric acid as catalyst: (a-b) initiation by addition of HF to the olefin and in the case of a sec.  butylcation, hydride  transfer from isobutane to produce a tert.  butyl cation, (c) olefin addition to the tert-butyl cation, and (d) hydride transfer form isobutane to yield alkylate and regenerate the tert-butylcation [3]. Table  II: Research Octane Number (RON) and Motor Octane Number (MON) of alkylates typically produced by HF alkylation of isobutane with various olefins [3]. Olefin feed RON RON + MON / 2 MON Propene 91 92 89.5 90.0 1-butene 94.4 91.6 2-butene 97.8 94.6 Isobutene 95.9 93.4 Pentenes 90 91 93.4 n-pentenes 82.5 Table  III: Research Octane Number (RON) and Motor Octane Number (MON) of alkylates produced by H2SO4 alkylation of isobutane with various olefins at 9-10  °C, 94-95 % H2SO4 concentration, and isobutane:olefin ratio of 7-9:1 [3] Olefin feed RON MON Propene 89.0 87.1 n-butene 97.8 93.9 Isobutene 93.2 90.3 n-pentene 91.0 88.0 Isopentene 91.2 88.8 2.3 Indirect alkylation by acidic resin This process employs the use of a polar solvent to limit the activity of the acid resin in order to improve the dimerization selectivity. High conversion of isobutene can be obtained at low temperature usually less than 100  °C [8, 9 12]. On an industrial scale, the recovery of the polar solvent (tertiary butyl alcohol) could serve to regulate the product distribution and also to reduce the amount of oligomer formed during production to less than 10 % [8]. The alkylate produced from this technology has a research octane number (RON) of 99  Ã‚ ­Ã‚  101 and motor octane number (MON) of 96  Ã‚  99. 2.4 Indirect alkylation by solid phosphoric acid The principle of indirect alkylation by solid phosphoric acid (SPA) is the same as by acidic resin catalysis; the difference being that dimerization over SPA follows an ester-based mechanism [13]. Heavy oligomer formation is mechanistically limited, [10] because the strength of the phosphoric acid ester bond decreases with increasing carbon number of the olefin. Indirect alkylation by SPA is carried out in two steps: selective dimerization of isobutene (from C4 streams) to form diisobutene; followed by hydrogenation to form the saturated product isooctane. Selectivity problems and catalyst deactivation hinder the isobutene dimerization reaction. Because this reaction decides the quality and properties of the alkylate formed, it is a crucial step in this process. The C4 stream, consisting mainly of isobutene, n-butane, isobutene, and n-butenes, is fed to the dimerization reactor, where isobutene is dimerized selectively in the presence of SPA catalyst. The reaction is exothermic, and heat must be removed to avoid temperature rises that can lead to the formation of undesired oligomers. These oligomers have relatively high molecular weights and boiling points and are not suitable as gasoline blends; they also rapidly deactivate the catalyst. Depending on the catalyst, an appropriate solvent may be needed to increase the selectivity toward the dimers. At higher operating temperatures the isobutene derived alkylate quality quickly deteriorates due to trimerization and cracking [11]. Propene forms a stronger ester bond with the phosphoric acid than the butenes, and it will become the dominant carbocation source [12]. The product stream from the reactor is fed to a distillation column, where dimerized and heavy products are separated from the unreacted C4 components and solvent. The dimer is then saturated in a separate reactor to form alkylates in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst. In order to obtain alkylate quality hydrogenated products from an n-butene rich, isobutene lean feed, the reaction temperature should be less than 160  °C and the feed should not contain more than 5 % propene or 10 % pentenes. 3. Flow diagrams of direct and indirect alkylation process Figure  3: Block flow diagrams of the direct alkylation (HF and H2SO4 catalysed alkylation) configurations evaluated [3]. Flow diagram  1: This is the base case for direct alkylation, using a straight run Iron-Based High Temperature Fischer-Tropsch (Fe-HTFT) C4 feed. There is little isobutane in the straight run feed, which constrains the alkylate yield. Flow diagram  2: In order to overcome the constraint imposed by the low straight run isobutane content of C4 feed, a hydroisomerization unit is included in this two-step flow diagram to convert the straight run n-butane to isobutane. The hydroisomerization unit has an internal recycle, with an overall high isobutane yield. Although the alkylate yield may have been considerably improved compared to the base case, most of the C4 olefins have not been converted. Flow diagram  3: The ratio of paraffins to olefins necessary for direct alkylation can be balanced by hydrogenating some of the C4 olefins to C4 paraffins in order to increase the alkylate yield. Flow diagram  4: The alkylate yield may be further increased by using propene as the alkylating olefin. Propene is more abundant than the C4 hydrocarbons in straight run HTFT feed, which implies that all the hydrocarbons can be hydrogenated and hydroisomerized to isobutane for alkylation with propene. In this case an alkylate yield above 100 % based on the C4 feed can be obtained, but at lower octane number than with C4 material only. Figure  4: Block flow diagrams of the indirect alkylation (acidic resin and solid phosphoric acid dimerization) configurations evaluated [3]. Flow diagram  5: It consists of acid catalyzed dimerization followed by hydrogenation. The direct conversion of isobutene in straight run HTFT syncrude with an acidic catalyst has a low alkylate yield (8 %), since only 8 % of the C4 olefins are isobutene. However, this alkylate has an octane number of almost 100. Flow diagram  6: By use of skeletal isomerization, the alkylate quality and yield of n-butenes to isobutene can be improved. The n-butene conversion in the case of acidic resin dimerization is very low, and it is best to isomerize all n-butenes to isobutene. This results in an alkylate yield of 81 %. 4 Product yield and quality In a fuels refinery there is an incentive to convert normally gaseous products into liquid transportation fuels. The quantity and the quality of the liquid fuel being produced are both important, and in terms of alkylate production, the quality is related to the octane number (ON) (1/2) RON + (1/2) MON) of the motor-gasoline. The investment economics is refinery dependent, with octane constrained refineries putting a premium on quality, while refineries with an unsaturated market putting a premium on volume. Table  IV: Alkylate yield and alkylate octane number calculated for the indirect alkylation flowschemes shown in figure  4 [3] s/n Dir.alkyl.fowscheme Alkyl.tech Alkyl.yld(m%C4) Oct.no.(1/2)RON+(1/2)MON 1 Base  case  straight  run HTFT HF H2SO4 2 2 94 96 2 Case  1  +  C4 hydroisomerisation HF H2SO4 21 20 94 96 3 Case  2  +  butane hydrogenation HF H2SO4 102 101 94 96 4 Case  3  +  propene alkylation HF H2SO4 197 189 91 88 The alkylate yield is based on the mass of alkylate produced per mass of total straight run high temperature Fisher Tropsch  C4 cut material. Table  V: Alkylate yield and alkylate octane number calculated for the indirect alkylation flowschemes shown in figure  3 [3] s/n Indir.  Alkyl.  flowscheme Dim.  tech Alkyl.  yld  (m%C4) Oct.no(RON+MON)/2 5 Base case straight run HTFT Acidic  resin SPA 8 72(90)b 99 87 6 Base case + skeletal isomerisation Acidic  resin SPA 81 85 99 99 The alkylate yield is based on the mass of alkylate produced per mass of total straight run high temperature Fischer-Tropsch  C4 cut material.b yield including coproduced kerosen 5 Environmental aspects The environmental burdens due to the treatment of free hydrofluoric acid (HF) losses from an alkylation unit cannot be overlooked. The reality is that hydrofluoric acid losses from the unit do occur through side-reactions, forming organic fluorides, which become entrained in product streams, and through direct entrainment of free HF in a heavy hydrocarbon waste stream [6, 7]. The environmental aspects associated with the liquid phase direct alkylation processes led to the development of solid acid direct alkylation. From an environmental stand point, indirect alkylation is preferred to direct alkylation and that flowscheme  5 (figure  4) is the most environmentally friendly [3]. 6 Conclusion It was found that the choice of technology depended on the different refining priorities, namely, the following: (a) Least complexity, (b) Highest alkylate yield 7 Literature [1] Encyclopedia of Earth Home page. http://www.eoearth.org/ article/alkylation_in_petroleum_refining (accessed Aug.30, 2010) [2] Albright, L.F.; Comparison of Alkylation Processes: Chem.Eng., 209, Oct.  10, 1996. [3] Wang, Y.; Subramaniam, B., 6874 ,Ind.Eng.Chem.Res., Vol.47,number  10, 2008. [4] Albright, L.F.;  ´Alkylation Processes Using Sulfuric Acid As Catalyst ´, Ibid, 143, Aug.  15, 1997. [5] De Klerk, A.;  ´Isomerisation of 1-butene to isobutene at low temperature, Ind.Eng.Chem.Res., 43, 6325, 2004. [6] Occupational Safety and Health Administration Homepage. http://www.osha.gov/ dts/osta/otm/otm_iv/otm_iv_2.html (accessed Aug.31, 2010). [7] Warren, R.T.;  ´Alkylation and Isomerisation ´, oil and gas journal, vol 97, Issue  4, Jan.26, 1999. [8] UOP  Home  page. http://www.uop.com/objects/NPRASpr2003HFAlkyd.pdf / Article/advances in hydrofluoric (HF) acid catalyzed alkylation (accessed Sept.  14, 2010). [9] Kamath, R. S.; Qi, Z.; Sundmacher, K.; Aghalayam, P.; Mahajani,S. M.,  ´Process analysis for dimerization of isobutene by reactive distillation ´, Ind.Eng.Chem.Res. 45, 1575, 2006. [10] De Klerk, A.  ´Reactivity differences of octenes over solid phosphoric acid ´, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 45, 578, 2006. [11] De Klerk, A.; Engelbrecht, D.J.; Boikanyo, H.  ´Oligomerization of Fischer-Tropsch olefins: effect of feed and operating conditions on hydrogenated motor-gasoline quality ´, Ind. Eng.Chem. Res. 43, 7449, 2004. [12] De Klerk, A.  ´Distillate production by oligomerization of Fischer-Tropsch olefins over solid phosphoric acid ´, Energy Fuels, 20, 439, 2006. De Klerk, A.;  ´Isomerisation of 1-butene to isobutene at low temperature ´, Ind.Eng.Chem.Res., 43, 6325, 2004. [13] Nelson, W.L., McGraw-Hill,New, petroleum refinery engineering third edition, p  660, 2003.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Salman Rushdies Midnights Children Essay -- Salman Rushdie Midnight

Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children Salman Rushdie's creation, Saleem Sinai, has a self-proclaimed "overpowering desire for form" (363). In writing his own autobiography Saleem seems to be after what Frank Kermode says every writer is a after: concordance. Concordance would allow Saleem to bring meaning to moments in the "middest" by elucidating (or creating) their coherence with moments in the past and future. While Kermode talks about providing this order primarily through an "imaginatively predicted future" (8), Saleem approaches the project by ordering everything in his past into neat, causal relationships, with each event a result of what preceded it. While he is frequently skeptical of the true order of the past, he never doubts its eminence; he is certain that everyone is "handcuffed to history" (482). His belief in the preeminence of the past, though, is distinctly different than the reality of time for the Saleem who emerges through that part of the novel that Gerard Genette calls "the event that consists of someone recounting something" (26) (Saleem-now, we can call this figure). Saleem-now is motivated to act not by the past, but instead by the uncertainty and ambiguity of the future. Saleem's construction of his own story is an effort to mitigate the lack of control he feels in looking toward the unknown future. To pacify himself he creates a world that is ordered but this world is contrary to his own reality. Saleem spends much of his energy in the story setting up neat causal relationships between events in his past to demonstrate his place "at the center of things" (272). He carefully mentions his tumble into the middle of a parade for the partition of Bombay and then proceeds to propose that "in this w... ...e idea of apocalypse. His emphasis on the future rather than the past seems, in part, an implicit statement about the ease with which order is found in the past†¹historians have a much easier time than futurists, and Kermode would rather deal with the task of the tougher profession. Martin Heidigger's explanation for the way the individual in the midst of time gains meaning similarly emphasizes the future: "running ahead is the fundamental way in which the interpretation of Dasein is carried through" (13). In his creation of Saleem-now Rushdie seems to agree with the vitality of the future in defining the individual, and by juxtaposing this reality with the temporality that Saleem hopes for, Rushdie exposes the temporal myth that a too-strong-desire for concordance can engender. Work Cited Rushdie, Salman. Midnight's Children. Great Britain: Arrow Books, 1995. Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children Essay -- Salman Rushdie Midnight' Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children Salman Rushdie's creation, Saleem Sinai, has a self-proclaimed "overpowering desire for form" (363). In writing his own autobiography Saleem seems to be after what Frank Kermode says every writer is a after: concordance. Concordance would allow Saleem to bring meaning to moments in the "middest" by elucidating (or creating) their coherence with moments in the past and future. While Kermode talks about providing this order primarily through an "imaginatively predicted future" (8), Saleem approaches the project by ordering everything in his past into neat, causal relationships, with each event a result of what preceded it. While he is frequently skeptical of the true order of the past, he never doubts its eminence; he is certain that everyone is "handcuffed to history" (482). His belief in the preeminence of the past, though, is distinctly different than the reality of time for the Saleem who emerges through that part of the novel that Gerard Genette calls "the event that consists of someone recounting something" (26) (Saleem-now, we can call this figure). Saleem-now is motivated to act not by the past, but instead by the uncertainty and ambiguity of the future. Saleem's construction of his own story is an effort to mitigate the lack of control he feels in looking toward the unknown future. To pacify himself he creates a world that is ordered but this world is contrary to his own reality. Saleem spends much of his energy in the story setting up neat causal relationships between events in his past to demonstrate his place "at the center of things" (272). He carefully mentions his tumble into the middle of a parade for the partition of Bombay and then proceeds to propose that "in this w... ...e idea of apocalypse. His emphasis on the future rather than the past seems, in part, an implicit statement about the ease with which order is found in the past†¹historians have a much easier time than futurists, and Kermode would rather deal with the task of the tougher profession. Martin Heidigger's explanation for the way the individual in the midst of time gains meaning similarly emphasizes the future: "running ahead is the fundamental way in which the interpretation of Dasein is carried through" (13). In his creation of Saleem-now Rushdie seems to agree with the vitality of the future in defining the individual, and by juxtaposing this reality with the temporality that Saleem hopes for, Rushdie exposes the temporal myth that a too-strong-desire for concordance can engender. Work Cited Rushdie, Salman. Midnight's Children. Great Britain: Arrow Books, 1995.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Rhetorical Analysis †“Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” Essay

Parenting is always a debatable topic in America. Every person has an opinion on how a child should be raised and disciplined. In Amy Chua’s â€Å"Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior† (an excerpt from Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother), Chua explains Chinese parenting and how it is effective in her life. She claims that by breaking down a child and pushing them to their full potential, the child will, in turn, be confident and incredibly successful. Through the use of several rhetorical devices, Chua supports, as well as weakens, her claim and expresses a different, controversial way of parenting. An important element in Chua’s argument is her ethos. She is clearly an intellectual individual, given that she is a professor at Yale University. Putting aside her credentials, this essay brings forth a distinct character. From the start, she identifies herself as a tough and strict â€Å"Chinese mother†. Throughout the piece she uses several personal experiences that support this assertion. The reader recognizes a sense of confidence from Chua as she repeatedly contrasts Western-parenting ideals from Chinese-parenting ideals. As far as her credibility as an author, it is questionable. She writes, â€Å" Chinese parents believe that their kids owe them everything. The reason for this is a little unclear†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her credibility begins to slip when she uses the word â€Å"unclear†. This statement suggests that she does not even know herself why she is parenting the way she is parenting. It also presents a perfect opportunity for opposing people to make an argument against Chua’s style of parenting. Another instance where Chua’s credibility becomes uncertain is when she writes of mimicking her husband when he intervenes in a dispute between her and their daughter. It shows that she is unwilling to listen to the other side of her argument and has this my-way-or-the-highway complex—which is not necessarily an attractive outlook to have. It seems that an author who is open to looking at both sides of an  argument is a more respectable author. Chua’s use of pathos is particularly insensitive. She uses it more to take a jab at Western culture rather than to make an appeal on either side. Several times Chua makes up these hypothetical scenarios and discusses what Western parents would do and then what Chinese parents would do. Her idea of how Western parents react is seemingly dead on but there is a sarcastic tone about it. What is really interesting about her emotional appeal is that she quotes her husband who opposes one aspect of her argument. He says, â€Å"Children don’t choose their parents†¦so it’s the parents’ responsibility to provide for them,† which is an appeal to Western parents. She immediately shuts his argument down but fails to explain why it is â€Å"a terrible deal for the Western parent.† This only weakens her claim because, again, she is not being open-minded. In the end, Chua makes a very general appeal by saying, â€Å"All decent parents want to do whatâ €™s best for their children.† It is confusing because this statement somewhat qualifies her claim. First, she refutes Western parenting, then, comes back to say that Western and Chinese parents are all one in the same in the way that they care for their children. Chua’s motive is unclear. Beyond Chua’s strong opinions, she utilizes statistics and facts in her argument. The statistics at the beginning of the piece describe percentages of Western and Chinese mothers who agreed that â€Å"‘stressing academic success is not good for children’ or that ‘parents need to foster the idea that learning is fun.’† The outcome showed that 0% of Chinese mothers agreed and they, instead, valued the idea of successful children resulting from successful parenting. These types of statistics definitely support Chua’s â€Å"Chinese mother† persona. The statistics also supported her claim of how much time Chinese parents put into helping their children make academic achievements. It is difficult to argue with facts and data, however, Chua does not cite the sources of this data. For all the reader knows, she could have made it up. It may be a more functional logical appeal if the studies she quotes were from a well-known and respected s ource. Chua’s choice of diction reflects possible exaggeration on Chua’s behalf and  confusion for the reader. It makes sense to exaggerate in order to stress the point she is trying to make but it also triggers the reader to doubt and question, which does not help her cause. Referring to her daughter, she writes, â€Å"calling her garbage†¦when she acted extremely disrespectfully toward me.† The idea of someone acting â€Å"extremely disrespectfully† varies from person to person. It is very biased statement. There is no way to interpret how her daughter was really acting. Already having examples of Chua’s ethos from this piece, it is practical to assume she is exaggerating. Chua’s diction is also troubling, especially when she writes, â€Å"All decent parents want to do what’s best for their children.† What are â€Å"decent parents† and what is â€Å"best† for any child? She does not elaborate on these key terms. It is the beginning of an argument on definition. Like in the case of Chua’s exaggeration, there is no way to determine what qualities a good parent has. There is no way for every parent to agree on a list of things that are best for children. Another technique the author uses to get her point across is repetition. Numerous times throughout her essay Chua repeats two words at the beginning of a sentence, â€Å"By contrast†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She is making it very clear that there are differences between Western parents and Chinese parents. This is effective because the reader is constantly reminded that these two types of parents are not comparable in Chua’s mind. There is also a bit of repetition in terms of actions of the author. It seems like there is a cycle of Chinese parenting in her life. She raised her daughters the way her parents raised her. Chua’s father called her â€Å"garbage† when she acted inappropriate and Chua called her daughter â€Å"garbage† when she acted inappropriate. This cycle of Chinese parenting indicates that Chinese culture is unchanging or very hard to change. Overall, through repetition, the reader gets a good sense of contrasting cultures. The intended audience for this argument is an element worth discussing. Chua was most likely aiming this piece specifically at Western parents. The argument is definitely eye-catching to any parent and is compelling enough to spark disagreement. Chua seems to want that reaction because the purpose of her essay was to contrast Chinese parenting and Western parenting and  explain how Chinese parenting is more effective—in her opinion. It almost seems as though she wants to rub it in the faces of Western parents, maybe even spark guilt. The effect she wants to have on her audience may be for them think about her claim and reevaluate their methods of parenting. As mentioned before, Chua claims that by criticizing a child and hammering academic success into his or her brain the child will grow to become a prosperous and confident person. Her purpose gets through to the audience but does not necessarily persuade them. She utilizes rhetorical devices that both support and weaken her argument. Chua’s lifestyle is a result of how she was raised. In a sense, her piece is a great lesson for Western cultures about Chinese culture. Chua may or may not effectively explain why Chinese mothers are superior but, ultimately, she conveys a unique, if not totally outrageous, idea of parenting directed at the average Western parents.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Describe the Limitations and Constraints of Marketing Essays

Describe the Limitations and Constraints of Marketing Essays Describe the Limitations and Constraints of Marketing Essay Describe the Limitations and Constraints of Marketing Essay P2-describe the limitations and constraints of marketing Limitations and constraints include; Sales of Goods Act 1979 Trade Descriptions Act 1968 Consumer Credit Act 2006 Data Protection Act 1968 Voluntary constraints Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Pressure groups and consumerism Acceptable language Sales of goods act 1979 The sales of goods act needs sellers to trade goods that are as they advertised and described. The good or service has to be of satisfactory quality. Effectively meaning that for an organisation like micro-soft, the goods and services must be described precisely when promoted because the company needs to be able to prove that the product can do what they say. Trading Regulations 2008 This act enables clients to equal treatment from businesses they deal with. Within this act, businesses can’t use fear to sell their products. Businesses can’t lie to promote products for example ‘closing down sale’ when they are going to stay open after them sale. So blackberry can’t advertise their products with features that they don’t have. The latest Blackberry boasts the best resolution screen of its kind, which then had to be verified and researched by an independent organisation to see it the statement, was true. Consumer Credit Acts 2006 These acts apply to businesses that offer goods or services on credit or companies that lend money to consumers. To be in this category, businesses must be licensed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), this would handle and include the method of calculating APR and the form and content of the agreement. The consumer credit act 2002 defends consumer’s rights when they purchase things on credit. When lending money, companies much have interest rates clearly identified and these can’t be changing them after. The Data Protection 1968 This Act means that any information taken by a salespersons can only be used for the reasoned mentioned when taken , it has to be precise and up to date, it can’t be taken for a longer period of time than the time mentioned when it was taken , and can only be taken properly and lawfully. It must be kept up to date because if someone dies it is put on the up date. Furthermore your information is protected from unauthorised use, and cannot be given on to other companies without your permission. Voluntary codes This is when businesses volunteers that they will never do something or they will always do something. This might include signing a code of practice mentioning specific behaviours and rules ethically, even though it can’t be legally enforced.