by Gen
Freud took up the study of medicine at Vienna; he eventually choose a specialty, neurology. While no evolutionist would argue with Freud's theory of the Universe1 Freud's extended views have gotten us into some serious difficulty. He advanced the theory "that hysteria can be cured by making a patient recall painful memories under hypnosis." His colleagues frowned at the idea, and Freud changed over from neurology to psychopathology.
"To use a familiar but helpful analogy, the mind is like an iceberg, with only a small proportion of it visible above the surface, but a vast hidden bulk exerting its influence on the rest. For the unconscious is dynamic in nature, that is, it actively exerts pressures and influences on what a person is and does. For instance, there are unconscious desires, which can cause someone to do things that he cannot explain rationally, to others or even to himself."
Personality is a result of both the individual's heredity; and, in addition, his experience. Most, I imagine, would agree with this proposition, but I suppose there might to a number of persons prepared to debate as to what extent personality is governed by experience; personally, I do not think by much. Experience, undoubtedly, governs our actions; but personality changes,I think they come about as a result of physical changes to the brain. Freud's theory of individual human character, his theory of psychoanalysis, starts from Josef Breuer's discovery that "traumatic" experiences could, although the events of the trauma may well be forgotten, exercise a baneful influence on a person's mental health.
Freud classified mental activity to exist at three levels: the Id, the Ego, and the Superego. The Id is the centre of our primitive instincts; it is blind and ruthless and caters to the business of gratifying our desires and pleasures; the new born infant is the personification of the Id. The Ego develops out of the Id as the child grows. The Ego is not so inward seeking and recognizes that there does exist a world beyond; the Ego acts as censor to the Id, checking the primitive desires for immediate gratification, recognizing the larger picture, so to speak. Conflict between the Id and the Ego can result in a person having neuroses. The third state is the Superego. The Superego is the highest state at which we have arrived in our evolutionary "progress." The Superego is an overseer, our conscience; and, like the Id, is something of which we are not conscious. Though we are not aware of the struggle, according to Freudian theory, there exists a continuing battle between the Id and the Superego with the Ego in the center trying to keep them apart.
Freud came out with his first influential work, in 1900, The Interpretation of Dreams. In this work there is contained nearly all his fundamental observations and ideas. "Dreams," Freud said, "are invariably the product of a conflict ... (they help sleep) releasing tensions that come from unattainable wishes." It is, according to Freud, the Id which unleash our dreams; and their meanings are expressed in symbols that require "expert" interpretation.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Robert Browning Poem
That low man seeks a little thing to do,
Sees it and does it;
This high man, with a great thing to pursue,
Dies ere he knows it.
That low man goes on adding one to one,—
His hundred’s soon hit;
This high man, aiming at a million,
Misses an unit.
That has the world here—should he need the next,
Let the world mind him!
This throws himself on God, and unperplexed
Seeking shall find him.
Sees it and does it;
This high man, with a great thing to pursue,
Dies ere he knows it.
That low man goes on adding one to one,—
His hundred’s soon hit;
This high man, aiming at a million,
Misses an unit.
That has the world here—should he need the next,
Let the world mind him!
This throws himself on God, and unperplexed
Seeking shall find him.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Today's Vocabulary:
4 Words English:
fructuous - fruitful; productive
sui generis - unique
nonpareil - having no equal
conflate - to bring together; to meld
4 Words Spanish:
tio - uncle
tia - aunt
primo - cousin (male)
prima - cousin (female)
4 Words Latin:
adverto - to turn foward
advoco - to call; summon
aeger eger - sick; ill
adversus - against; facing
4 Words English:
fructuous - fruitful; productive
sui generis - unique
nonpareil - having no equal
conflate - to bring together; to meld
4 Words Spanish:
tio - uncle
tia - aunt
primo - cousin (male)
prima - cousin (female)
4 Words Latin:
adverto - to turn foward
advoco - to call; summon
aeger eger - sick; ill
adversus - against; facing
Intelligence
by Gen
Intelligence, in psychology, the general mental ability involved in calculating, reasoning, perceiving relationships and analogies, learning quickly, storing and retrieving information, using language fluently, classifying, generalizing, and adjusting to new situations. Alfred Binet, the French psychologist, defined intelligence as the totality of mental processes involved in adapting to the environment.
Early investigations into intelligence assumed that there was one underlying general factor at its base (the g-factor), but later psychologists maintained that intelligence could not be determined by such a simplistic method. Raymond Cattell argued that intelligence can be separated into two fundamental parts: fluid ability and crystallized ability. Fluid ability is considered innate, basic reasoning skill, while crystallized intelligence is the information and skills that are acquired through experience in a cultural environment. Other psychologists have further divided intelligence into subcategories. Howard Gardner maintained in 1985 that intelligence is comprised of seven components: musical, bodily-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, linguistic, spatial, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. J. P. Guilford tried in 1982 to show that there are 150 different mental abilities that constitute intelligence.
It is generally accepted that intelligence is related to both heredity and environment. Studies done on families, particularly among identical twins and adopted children, have shown that heredity is an important factor in determining intelligence; but they have also suggested that environment is a critical factor in determining the extent of its expression. For instance, children reared in orphanages or other environments that are comparatively unstimulating tend to show retarded intellectual development. In recent years, controversy regarding intelligence has centered primarily around how much of each factor, heredity and environment, is responsible for an individual's level of intelligence.
Intelligence, in psychology, the general mental ability involved in calculating, reasoning, perceiving relationships and analogies, learning quickly, storing and retrieving information, using language fluently, classifying, generalizing, and adjusting to new situations. Alfred Binet, the French psychologist, defined intelligence as the totality of mental processes involved in adapting to the environment.
Early investigations into intelligence assumed that there was one underlying general factor at its base (the g-factor), but later psychologists maintained that intelligence could not be determined by such a simplistic method. Raymond Cattell argued that intelligence can be separated into two fundamental parts: fluid ability and crystallized ability. Fluid ability is considered innate, basic reasoning skill, while crystallized intelligence is the information and skills that are acquired through experience in a cultural environment. Other psychologists have further divided intelligence into subcategories. Howard Gardner maintained in 1985 that intelligence is comprised of seven components: musical, bodily-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, linguistic, spatial, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. J. P. Guilford tried in 1982 to show that there are 150 different mental abilities that constitute intelligence.
It is generally accepted that intelligence is related to both heredity and environment. Studies done on families, particularly among identical twins and adopted children, have shown that heredity is an important factor in determining intelligence; but they have also suggested that environment is a critical factor in determining the extent of its expression. For instance, children reared in orphanages or other environments that are comparatively unstimulating tend to show retarded intellectual development. In recent years, controversy regarding intelligence has centered primarily around how much of each factor, heredity and environment, is responsible for an individual's level of intelligence.
Everest
by Gen
Ever dreamed about the wonders of Everest? Ever wished to be able to see the world from about 29,000 feet? Everest is truely a feat to climb... and literally breathtaking. Here is a Q./A. on Everest.
How tall is Mt. Everest?
The official altitude of the world's highest peak is 29,029 feet. However, the National Geographic Society has determined the height to be 6 feet taller, 29,035 feet, but the Nepali government has not yet been made this new altitude official.
Shifting tectonic plates continue to push Everest upward, along with the whole Himalaya mountain range, at 1.6 to 3.9 inches (4 to 10 centimeters) per year.
Where is Mt. Everest?
Everest is part of the Himalaya mountain range along the border of Nepal and Tibet. It is located 27° 59' North latitude, 86° 55' East longitude.
Why is it called Everest?
In 1841, Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843, first recorded the location of Everest. It was subsequently named "Peak XV". In 1865, it was renamed Mt. Everest to honor Sir George.
Everest is also called Chomolungma in Tibet and Sagarmatha in Nepal.
Is it windy at the top of Everest?
Yes. Blowing with the strength of a hurricane at 118+ miles/hour, the Jet Stream blasts the rocky, icy summit of Everest nearly all year long. The Jet Stream is a constant wind force at 4 - 6 miles above the earth. Observers can tell when the Jet Stream is blowing on the summit of Everest from the long while stream of ice crystals extending out from the tip of the mountain. Those wishing to actually stand on the summit have to choose their moment carefully: the mountain is most inviting in early May, when the Jet Stream is pushed northward over Tibet by the arrival of the monsoon. There is also a window of opportunity in the Fall when the Jet Stream is again pushed northward.
Is the air very thin on Everest?
As the altitude increases, the oxygen content of the air decreases dramatically. At 9,800 feet, for example, there's about 2/3 of the oxygen in the air than at sea level. At 20,000 ft, there is roughly half the oxygen content in the air. At 29,035ft, the summit of Everest, there is only a third of the oxygen in the air.
How does your body get used to the altitude?
Mountaineers climbing Everest establish a camp at the base of the mountain, and four higher camps before reaching the summit. For the next 30 days or so, they will move up, then down again, allowing their bodies to get used to the reduced oxygen content of the air. This process is called acclimatization.
Acclimatizing properly is essential to safely ascend to high altitudes. Climbers acclimatize by ascending slowly, resting one day for every 1,000 feet they climb in one day. They drink plenty of liquids and eat healthy food. They also practice a rule of thumb: climb high, sleep low. Climbing high, then descending to lower altitudes allows the body to build up and gain strength with fresh oxygen, digest food better, get sounder sleep and any wounds can heal and they'll feel much stronger by descending. It was also allow them to build up their bodies, worn from the low O2 content, with fresh oxygen.
Some climbers don't like to go down, but the significant benefits on the body from staying at lower altitudes make it worth it. It's important that the climbers don't stay down too long because it's possible to lose some acclimatization in the process.
How high are the camps?
The approximate elevations of each of the camps are:
Base Camp - 17,500ft (5,400m)
Camp 1 - 20,000ft (6,100m)
Camp 2 - 21,300ft (6,500m)
Camp 3 - 24,000ft (7,400m)
Camp 4 - 26,000ft (8,000m)
Summit - 29,035ft (8,850)
What is the temperature high on Everest?
At the summit, the temperature can be 100°F below zero. But on a good summit day, a climber can expect around -15°F
What is the hardest part about climbing Everest?
Each climber has a different opinion about what is the most difficult part of climbing Everest. Most would agree, though, that the altitude is tough to deal with. And most will also have stories about crossing the infamous Khumbu Icefall going from Base Camp to Camp One. Mountaineers climb through this moving sea of ice using ordinary aluminum garden ladders.
When was Everest first climbed?
On May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal & Edmund Percival Hillary of New Zealand climbed to the summit of Everest via the Southeast Ridge Route
What are some other important "firsts"?
The first woman to climb Everest was Junko Tabei of Japan. She climbed via the Southeast Ridge on 16 May, 1975.
Appa Sherpa has made the most successful ascents of Everest. He has reached the top 11 times.
On May 8, 1978, Peter Habeler of Austria and Reinhold Messner of Italy climbed made the first ascent without bottled oxygen via the Southeast Ridge.
Ang Rita Sherpa has reached the summit 10 times, all without oxygen.
Reinhold Messner climbed for 3 days completely alone from his base camp at 6,500m without the use of artificial O2. Messner climbed via the North Col to the North Face and the Great Couloir.
Babu Chiri Sherpa set the speed record from the Nepal side.
Davo Karnicar made the first true ski descent.
At age 16 Temba Tsheri Sherpa become the youngest person to Summit Everest in 2001.
American Sherman Bull, at age 64, is the oldest person to summit Mount Everest, also in 2001.
Anna Czerwinska was born on 7/10/49 and climbed Everest from Nepal side, making her the oldest woman to reach the summit.
On 24 May, 1996, Hans Kammerlander of Italy Hans made the fastest ascent of Everest via the standard North Col-North Ridge-North Face. He left base camp at 6,400m on 23 May at 5pm and was on the summit 16 hours, 45 minutes later at 9:45 am the next day. He descended most of the route on skis.
Andrej & Marija Stremfelj of Slovenia were the first married couple to summit together on 7 October, 1990.
Peter Hillary of New Zealand was the first son of a summiteer to reach the summit on 10 May, 1990.
First Ascent by an American was made by James Whittaker via the Southeast Ridge Route on May 1, 1963. Whittaker summitted with Sherpa Nawang Gombu.
Stacey Allison made the first Ascent by an American Woman via the Southeast Ridge Route on 29 September, 1988.
Mexican climber Ricardo Torres was the first Latin American.
In May, 2001, American Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind person to summit Everest.
Ever dreamed about the wonders of Everest? Ever wished to be able to see the world from about 29,000 feet? Everest is truely a feat to climb... and literally breathtaking. Here is a Q./A. on Everest.
How tall is Mt. Everest?
The official altitude of the world's highest peak is 29,029 feet. However, the National Geographic Society has determined the height to be 6 feet taller, 29,035 feet, but the Nepali government has not yet been made this new altitude official.
Shifting tectonic plates continue to push Everest upward, along with the whole Himalaya mountain range, at 1.6 to 3.9 inches (4 to 10 centimeters) per year.
Where is Mt. Everest?
Everest is part of the Himalaya mountain range along the border of Nepal and Tibet. It is located 27° 59' North latitude, 86° 55' East longitude.
Why is it called Everest?
In 1841, Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843, first recorded the location of Everest. It was subsequently named "Peak XV". In 1865, it was renamed Mt. Everest to honor Sir George.
Everest is also called Chomolungma in Tibet and Sagarmatha in Nepal.
Is it windy at the top of Everest?
Yes. Blowing with the strength of a hurricane at 118+ miles/hour, the Jet Stream blasts the rocky, icy summit of Everest nearly all year long. The Jet Stream is a constant wind force at 4 - 6 miles above the earth. Observers can tell when the Jet Stream is blowing on the summit of Everest from the long while stream of ice crystals extending out from the tip of the mountain. Those wishing to actually stand on the summit have to choose their moment carefully: the mountain is most inviting in early May, when the Jet Stream is pushed northward over Tibet by the arrival of the monsoon. There is also a window of opportunity in the Fall when the Jet Stream is again pushed northward.
Is the air very thin on Everest?
As the altitude increases, the oxygen content of the air decreases dramatically. At 9,800 feet, for example, there's about 2/3 of the oxygen in the air than at sea level. At 20,000 ft, there is roughly half the oxygen content in the air. At 29,035ft, the summit of Everest, there is only a third of the oxygen in the air.
How does your body get used to the altitude?
Mountaineers climbing Everest establish a camp at the base of the mountain, and four higher camps before reaching the summit. For the next 30 days or so, they will move up, then down again, allowing their bodies to get used to the reduced oxygen content of the air. This process is called acclimatization.
Acclimatizing properly is essential to safely ascend to high altitudes. Climbers acclimatize by ascending slowly, resting one day for every 1,000 feet they climb in one day. They drink plenty of liquids and eat healthy food. They also practice a rule of thumb: climb high, sleep low. Climbing high, then descending to lower altitudes allows the body to build up and gain strength with fresh oxygen, digest food better, get sounder sleep and any wounds can heal and they'll feel much stronger by descending. It was also allow them to build up their bodies, worn from the low O2 content, with fresh oxygen.
Some climbers don't like to go down, but the significant benefits on the body from staying at lower altitudes make it worth it. It's important that the climbers don't stay down too long because it's possible to lose some acclimatization in the process.
How high are the camps?
The approximate elevations of each of the camps are:
Base Camp - 17,500ft (5,400m)
Camp 1 - 20,000ft (6,100m)
Camp 2 - 21,300ft (6,500m)
Camp 3 - 24,000ft (7,400m)
Camp 4 - 26,000ft (8,000m)
Summit - 29,035ft (8,850)
What is the temperature high on Everest?
At the summit, the temperature can be 100°F below zero. But on a good summit day, a climber can expect around -15°F
What is the hardest part about climbing Everest?
Each climber has a different opinion about what is the most difficult part of climbing Everest. Most would agree, though, that the altitude is tough to deal with. And most will also have stories about crossing the infamous Khumbu Icefall going from Base Camp to Camp One. Mountaineers climb through this moving sea of ice using ordinary aluminum garden ladders.
When was Everest first climbed?
On May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal & Edmund Percival Hillary of New Zealand climbed to the summit of Everest via the Southeast Ridge Route
What are some other important "firsts"?
The first woman to climb Everest was Junko Tabei of Japan. She climbed via the Southeast Ridge on 16 May, 1975.
Appa Sherpa has made the most successful ascents of Everest. He has reached the top 11 times.
On May 8, 1978, Peter Habeler of Austria and Reinhold Messner of Italy climbed made the first ascent without bottled oxygen via the Southeast Ridge.
Ang Rita Sherpa has reached the summit 10 times, all without oxygen.
Reinhold Messner climbed for 3 days completely alone from his base camp at 6,500m without the use of artificial O2. Messner climbed via the North Col to the North Face and the Great Couloir.
Babu Chiri Sherpa set the speed record from the Nepal side.
Davo Karnicar made the first true ski descent.
At age 16 Temba Tsheri Sherpa become the youngest person to Summit Everest in 2001.
American Sherman Bull, at age 64, is the oldest person to summit Mount Everest, also in 2001.
Anna Czerwinska was born on 7/10/49 and climbed Everest from Nepal side, making her the oldest woman to reach the summit.
On 24 May, 1996, Hans Kammerlander of Italy Hans made the fastest ascent of Everest via the standard North Col-North Ridge-North Face. He left base camp at 6,400m on 23 May at 5pm and was on the summit 16 hours, 45 minutes later at 9:45 am the next day. He descended most of the route on skis.
Andrej & Marija Stremfelj of Slovenia were the first married couple to summit together on 7 October, 1990.
Peter Hillary of New Zealand was the first son of a summiteer to reach the summit on 10 May, 1990.
First Ascent by an American was made by James Whittaker via the Southeast Ridge Route on May 1, 1963. Whittaker summitted with Sherpa Nawang Gombu.
Stacey Allison made the first Ascent by an American Woman via the Southeast Ridge Route on 29 September, 1988.
Mexican climber Ricardo Torres was the first Latin American.
In May, 2001, American Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind person to summit Everest.
Cuban Missle Crisis
by Gen
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world ever came to nuclear war. The United States armed forces were at their highest state of readiness ever and Soviet field commanders in Cuba were prepared to use battlefield nuclear weapons to defend the island if it was invaded. Luckily, thanks to the bravery of two men, President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev, war was averted.
In 1962, the Soviet Union was desperately behind the United States in the arms race. Soviet missiles were only powerful enough to be launched against Europe but US missiles were capable of striking the entire Soviet Union. In late April 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev conceived the idea of placing intermediate-range missiles in Cuba. A deployment in Cuba would double the Soviet strategic arsenal and provide a real deterrent to a potential US attack against the Soviet Union.
Meanwhile, Fidel Castro was looking for a way to defend his island nation from an attack by the US. Ever since the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, Castro felt a second attack was inevitable. Consequently, he approved of Khrushchev's plan to place missiles on the island. In the summer of 1962 the Soviet Union worked quickly and secretly to build its missile installations in Cuba.
For the United States, the crisis began on October 15, 1962 whenreconnaissance photographs revealed Soviet missiles under construction in Cuba. Early the next day, President John Kennedy was informed of the missile installations. Kennedy immediately organized the EX-COMM, a group of his twelve most important advisors to handle the crisis. After seven days of guarded and intense debate within the upper echelons of government, Kennedy concluded to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba. He wished to prevent the arrival of more Soviet offensive weapons on the island. On October 22, Kennedy announced the discovery of the missile installations to the public and his decision to quarantine the island. He also proclaimed that any nuclear missile launched from Cuba would be regarded as an attack on the United States by the Soviet Union and demanded that the Soviets remove all of their offensive weapons from Cuba.
During the public phase of the Crisis, tensions began to build on both sides. Kennedy eventually ordered low-level reconnaissance missions once every two hours. On the 25th Kennedy pulled the quarantine line back and raised military readiness to DEFCON 2. Then on the 26th EX-COMM heard from Khrushchev in an impassioned letter. He proposed removing Soviet missiles and personnel if the US would guarantee not to invade Cuba. October 27 was the worst day of the crisis. A U-2 was shot down over Cuba and EX-COMM received a second letter from Khrushchev demanding the removal of U.S. missiles in Turkey in exchange for Soviet missiles in Cuba. Attorney General Robert Kennedy suggested ignoring the second letter and contacted Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin to tell him of the US agreement with the first.
Tensions finally began to ease on October 28 when Khrushchev announced that he would dismantle the installations and return the missiles to the Soviet Union, expressing his trust that the United States would not invade Cuba. Further negotiations were held to implement the October 28 agreement, including a United States demand that Soviet light bombers be removed from Cuba, and specifying the exact form and conditions of United States assurances not to invade Cuba.
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world ever came to nuclear war. The United States armed forces were at their highest state of readiness ever and Soviet field commanders in Cuba were prepared to use battlefield nuclear weapons to defend the island if it was invaded. Luckily, thanks to the bravery of two men, President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev, war was averted.
In 1962, the Soviet Union was desperately behind the United States in the arms race. Soviet missiles were only powerful enough to be launched against Europe but US missiles were capable of striking the entire Soviet Union. In late April 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev conceived the idea of placing intermediate-range missiles in Cuba. A deployment in Cuba would double the Soviet strategic arsenal and provide a real deterrent to a potential US attack against the Soviet Union.
Meanwhile, Fidel Castro was looking for a way to defend his island nation from an attack by the US. Ever since the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, Castro felt a second attack was inevitable. Consequently, he approved of Khrushchev's plan to place missiles on the island. In the summer of 1962 the Soviet Union worked quickly and secretly to build its missile installations in Cuba.
For the United States, the crisis began on October 15, 1962 whenreconnaissance photographs revealed Soviet missiles under construction in Cuba. Early the next day, President John Kennedy was informed of the missile installations. Kennedy immediately organized the EX-COMM, a group of his twelve most important advisors to handle the crisis. After seven days of guarded and intense debate within the upper echelons of government, Kennedy concluded to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba. He wished to prevent the arrival of more Soviet offensive weapons on the island. On October 22, Kennedy announced the discovery of the missile installations to the public and his decision to quarantine the island. He also proclaimed that any nuclear missile launched from Cuba would be regarded as an attack on the United States by the Soviet Union and demanded that the Soviets remove all of their offensive weapons from Cuba.
During the public phase of the Crisis, tensions began to build on both sides. Kennedy eventually ordered low-level reconnaissance missions once every two hours. On the 25th Kennedy pulled the quarantine line back and raised military readiness to DEFCON 2. Then on the 26th EX-COMM heard from Khrushchev in an impassioned letter. He proposed removing Soviet missiles and personnel if the US would guarantee not to invade Cuba. October 27 was the worst day of the crisis. A U-2 was shot down over Cuba and EX-COMM received a second letter from Khrushchev demanding the removal of U.S. missiles in Turkey in exchange for Soviet missiles in Cuba. Attorney General Robert Kennedy suggested ignoring the second letter and contacted Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin to tell him of the US agreement with the first.
Tensions finally began to ease on October 28 when Khrushchev announced that he would dismantle the installations and return the missiles to the Soviet Union, expressing his trust that the United States would not invade Cuba. Further negotiations were held to implement the October 28 agreement, including a United States demand that Soviet light bombers be removed from Cuba, and specifying the exact form and conditions of United States assurances not to invade Cuba.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Shirley Temple
by Gen
Shirley Jane Temple was born on April 23, 1928. She was the youngest child and only daughter of George and Gertrude Temple. Her brothers, Jack and Sonny, were quite a bit older than she was. At the age of 3, she was taking tap dancing lessons at Melgin's dance studio. A film producer named Jack Hays came along to the studio one day to find the next star for his short films called Baby Burlesk. Once he spotted Shirley, he knew she was the one. "Baby Burlesk" were spoofs of hit pictures with little kids taking the roles of the adults, wearing adult looking tops, with diapers on their bottoms. They were not exactly great movie making, but they paid the bills. After the series ended, Shirley did a few more comedies including "Dora's Dunking Doughnuts", "Merrily Yours", and "Pardon My Pups". These were also very short films that were shown before a movie (kind of how they show previews before the main picture now-a-days). Round that time, a Fox studios songwriter saw Shirley at the theater (which just happened to be showing one of her shorts, and spoke to her parents about auditioning Shirley for a role in a new movie that he was working on. Soon after, Shirley auditioned for a small part in a happy-go-lucky film called "Stand Up and Cheer" she got the part hands down, and basically stole the film. She sang and tap danced to "Baby Take a Bow" with James Dunn. Every move, every jiggle of her head, the dimples, the curls, the spunky innocence, it was just what the audience needed during the Depression.
The Shirley Temple doll came along soon after the success of "Stand Up and Cheer". Ideal Novelty and Toy Co. gained exclusive rights to manufacture the doll using her name. They hired the best doll artist (Bernard Lipfert) to design the mold for the doll, the hired the best clothes designer (Mollye Goldman) to design the outfits for the doll. The Shirley Temple was the most successful dolls ever made up to that time. The face on these dolls was beautiful, with the golden curls, hazel eyes, and big smile. Every little girl wanted a Shirley Temple doll...it was the most successful doll ever sold up to that time, with over six million Shirley Temple dolls being sold!!
This little child could lift their spirits like no other person could. After "Stand Up and Cheer", Fox knew they had a gold mine; there would be no bankruptcy for them with Shirley Temple around. She was loaned to Paramount for a star-making turn in "Little Miss Marker", and then Fox began working full time on getting Shirley into every movie they possibly could. The quickly hired the best screenwriters to make storylines devised specifically for Shirley, and the best songwriters to write her songs, the best dancers (Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Buddy Ebsen) to dance with her. Shirley starred in eight movies in 1934, four starring roles in 1935, and four in 1936. In 1937, Shirley was directed by john Ford in the classic tale of "Wee Willie Winkie". Daryl Zanuck (who ran Fox at the time) declared the her appeal was endless. She was the top box office star for the years 1935, 1936, 1937, and 1938, an amazing accomplishment, never duplicated. As she got older however, Fox began the resort back to the same themes that they had been using with Shirley since she was 5 years old. In 1939, Shirley's box office draw started to wain, simply because she was getting older, she wasn't that tiny little child any more, Shirley's last big successful picture as a child star was "The Little Princess", which almost every generation of children in the years following has seen, it was a beautiful story, and showed that Shirley could do more than just be cute on screen.
In 1940, a deal to loan Shirley out to MGM to star in "The Wizard of Oz" fell through due to the death of Jean Harlow, so Fox studios decided after "The Wizard of Oz" fell through, Fow made their own fairytale starring Shirley. Released in 1940, "The Bluebird" was based on a famous chilren's fairytale, however, it did not have the appeal that "The Wizard of Oz" did. Fox had wagered quite a bit on its success, having filmed it in Technicolor (a very expensive process), and after its failure, Shirley became less and less important to Fox (at the same time, Fox was also aquiring other bankable movie stars). After one last nostalgic try with "Young People", Fox, the studio that Shirley saved from bankruptcy just a few years before, decided that it didn't need Shirley any more.
Shirley did a few movies in the following years, such as "Kathleen" (with MGM), and "Miss Annie Ronney" (in which Shirley received her first *real* screen kiss), neither of these did all that well at the box office, and Shirley seemed happy to go to high school and go out with boys just as any other normal teenager. In 1944 and 1945, Shirley co-starred in a few war movies, "Since You went Away" and "I'll be Seeing You", these were successful, and in 1945, Shirley was a typical teen in the well received "Kiss and Tell". Shirley seemed to be making the transition to adult star. In 1945, Shirley also married her sweetheart, John Agar, it seemed almost like a real life fairy tale. Shirley did a few more starring roles in movies in the years following, but none really met expectations. She also starred in one quite memorable picture with Henry Fonda and her husband John Agar called " Fort Apache". It was at the time of filming that she learned that she was pregnant.
In early 1948, Shirley gave birth to her first child, daughter Linda Susan. Shirley Temple had truly "grown up". Everything seemed so perfect for Shirley, but it wasn't. In 1949, Shirley filed for divorce and revealed that the marriage was not the fairy tale that it seemed. After this, Shirley slipped from the public eye, she never did another movie.
Shirley Jane Temple was born on April 23, 1928. She was the youngest child and only daughter of George and Gertrude Temple. Her brothers, Jack and Sonny, were quite a bit older than she was. At the age of 3, she was taking tap dancing lessons at Melgin's dance studio. A film producer named Jack Hays came along to the studio one day to find the next star for his short films called Baby Burlesk. Once he spotted Shirley, he knew she was the one. "Baby Burlesk" were spoofs of hit pictures with little kids taking the roles of the adults, wearing adult looking tops, with diapers on their bottoms. They were not exactly great movie making, but they paid the bills. After the series ended, Shirley did a few more comedies including "Dora's Dunking Doughnuts", "Merrily Yours", and "Pardon My Pups". These were also very short films that were shown before a movie (kind of how they show previews before the main picture now-a-days). Round that time, a Fox studios songwriter saw Shirley at the theater (which just happened to be showing one of her shorts, and spoke to her parents about auditioning Shirley for a role in a new movie that he was working on. Soon after, Shirley auditioned for a small part in a happy-go-lucky film called "Stand Up and Cheer" she got the part hands down, and basically stole the film. She sang and tap danced to "Baby Take a Bow" with James Dunn. Every move, every jiggle of her head, the dimples, the curls, the spunky innocence, it was just what the audience needed during the Depression.
The Shirley Temple doll came along soon after the success of "Stand Up and Cheer". Ideal Novelty and Toy Co. gained exclusive rights to manufacture the doll using her name. They hired the best doll artist (Bernard Lipfert) to design the mold for the doll, the hired the best clothes designer (Mollye Goldman) to design the outfits for the doll. The Shirley Temple was the most successful dolls ever made up to that time. The face on these dolls was beautiful, with the golden curls, hazel eyes, and big smile. Every little girl wanted a Shirley Temple doll...it was the most successful doll ever sold up to that time, with over six million Shirley Temple dolls being sold!!
This little child could lift their spirits like no other person could. After "Stand Up and Cheer", Fox knew they had a gold mine; there would be no bankruptcy for them with Shirley Temple around. She was loaned to Paramount for a star-making turn in "Little Miss Marker", and then Fox began working full time on getting Shirley into every movie they possibly could. The quickly hired the best screenwriters to make storylines devised specifically for Shirley, and the best songwriters to write her songs, the best dancers (Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Buddy Ebsen) to dance with her. Shirley starred in eight movies in 1934, four starring roles in 1935, and four in 1936. In 1937, Shirley was directed by john Ford in the classic tale of "Wee Willie Winkie". Daryl Zanuck (who ran Fox at the time) declared the her appeal was endless. She was the top box office star for the years 1935, 1936, 1937, and 1938, an amazing accomplishment, never duplicated. As she got older however, Fox began the resort back to the same themes that they had been using with Shirley since she was 5 years old. In 1939, Shirley's box office draw started to wain, simply because she was getting older, she wasn't that tiny little child any more, Shirley's last big successful picture as a child star was "The Little Princess", which almost every generation of children in the years following has seen, it was a beautiful story, and showed that Shirley could do more than just be cute on screen.
In 1940, a deal to loan Shirley out to MGM to star in "The Wizard of Oz" fell through due to the death of Jean Harlow, so Fox studios decided after "The Wizard of Oz" fell through, Fow made their own fairytale starring Shirley. Released in 1940, "The Bluebird" was based on a famous chilren's fairytale, however, it did not have the appeal that "The Wizard of Oz" did. Fox had wagered quite a bit on its success, having filmed it in Technicolor (a very expensive process), and after its failure, Shirley became less and less important to Fox (at the same time, Fox was also aquiring other bankable movie stars). After one last nostalgic try with "Young People", Fox, the studio that Shirley saved from bankruptcy just a few years before, decided that it didn't need Shirley any more.
Shirley did a few movies in the following years, such as "Kathleen" (with MGM), and "Miss Annie Ronney" (in which Shirley received her first *real* screen kiss), neither of these did all that well at the box office, and Shirley seemed happy to go to high school and go out with boys just as any other normal teenager. In 1944 and 1945, Shirley co-starred in a few war movies, "Since You went Away" and "I'll be Seeing You", these were successful, and in 1945, Shirley was a typical teen in the well received "Kiss and Tell". Shirley seemed to be making the transition to adult star. In 1945, Shirley also married her sweetheart, John Agar, it seemed almost like a real life fairy tale. Shirley did a few more starring roles in movies in the years following, but none really met expectations. She also starred in one quite memorable picture with Henry Fonda and her husband John Agar called " Fort Apache". It was at the time of filming that she learned that she was pregnant.
In early 1948, Shirley gave birth to her first child, daughter Linda Susan. Shirley Temple had truly "grown up". Everything seemed so perfect for Shirley, but it wasn't. In 1949, Shirley filed for divorce and revealed that the marriage was not the fairy tale that it seemed. After this, Shirley slipped from the public eye, she never did another movie.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Today's Vocabulary:
4 Words English:
mendicant - a beggar
homily - a sermon or lecture
recumbent - reclining; lying down
sonorous - yielding sound; inpressive in soud
4 Words Spanish:
tanto - as much
yo - I
soy - I am
donde - where
4 Words Latin:
absconditus - hidden; sealed
abstergo - to wipe off; clean away
absum - to be absent; away; missing
adultus - adult; mature; of age
4 Words English:
mendicant - a beggar
homily - a sermon or lecture
recumbent - reclining; lying down
sonorous - yielding sound; inpressive in soud
4 Words Spanish:
tanto - as much
yo - I
soy - I am
donde - where
4 Words Latin:
absconditus - hidden; sealed
abstergo - to wipe off; clean away
absum - to be absent; away; missing
adultus - adult; mature; of age
Friday, October 13, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Today's Vocabulary:
4 Words English:
autochthonous - indigenous; naive
palliate - to relieve
comely - pleasing to the sight
dictum - an authoritive statement
4 Words Spanish:
tiene - it has
tengo - i have
tanto - as much
sueno - i sound
4 Words Latin:
abbas - father
abbatia - monastery
abduco - to lead or take away
abeo - to go away, retire, die
4 Words English:
autochthonous - indigenous; naive
palliate - to relieve
comely - pleasing to the sight
dictum - an authoritive statement
4 Words Spanish:
tiene - it has
tengo - i have
tanto - as much
sueno - i sound
4 Words Latin:
abbas - father
abbatia - monastery
abduco - to lead or take away
abeo - to go away, retire, die
Monday, October 09, 2006
Afghanistan
by Gen
What is Afghanistan's culture?
Who are the taliban?
What happened in Afghanistan under Taliban rule?
All these questions and more will be answered.
But First a few facts:
**************************************
Afghanistan
Capital: Kabul
Language: Pashto and Persian
Government: Islamic Republic
President: Hamid Karzai
Vice President: Ahmad Zia Massoud
Area: 251,772 sq mi
Population: 29,863,000
**************************************
To answer the questions...
What is Afghanistan's Culture?
Afghanistan's culture is largley influenced by Islam but has also been influenced by religions such as Buddism and Zoroastranism. Afghanistan has been a crossroad for India, Iran, and Central Asia which has influenced its culture.
One of the most famous types of Afghan Art is the Gandhara Art between the 1st and 7th centuries which had Greco-Roman ancestry. Since the 1900's Afghanistan began to use Western techniques in art. Art was mostly done by men... but recently women are dominating theatre art. Art is largely centered in the Kabul Museum.
Who are the Taliban?
The taliban is a Sunni Islamist fundamentalist movement which effectively ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001.
The group, comprised of Afghans trained in religious schools in Pakistan along with former Islamic fighters or mujahedin, proved effective bodyguards, driving off other mujahedin groups who attacked and looted the convoy.
What happened to Afghanistan under Taliban rule?
They went on to take the nearby city of Kandahar, beginning a remarkable advance which led to their capture of the capital, Kabul, in September 1996.
The Taliban's popularity with many Afghans initially surprised the country's warring mujahedi factions.
As ethnic Pashtuns, a large part of their support came from Afghanistan's Pashtun community, disillusioned with existing ethnic Tajik and Uzbek leaders.
But it was not purely a question of ethnicity. Ordinary Afghans, weary of the prevailing lawlessness in many parts of the country, were often delighted by Taleban successes in stamping out corruption, restoring peace and allowing commerce to flourish again.
Their refusal to deal with the existing warlords whose rivalries had caused so much killing and destruction also earned them respect.
The Taleban said their aim was to set up the world's most pure Islamic state, banning frivolities like television, music and cinema.
Their attempts to eradicate crime have been reinforced by the introduction of Islamic law including public executions and amputations.
A flurry of regulations forbidding girls from going to school and women from working quickly brought them into conflict with the international community.
Such issues, along with restrictions on women's access to health care, have also caused some resentment among ordinary Afghans.
The Taleban now control all but the far north of the country, which is the last stronghold of the ethnic Tajik commander Ahmed Shah Masood.
With 90% of the country under their control, the Taleban have continued to press claims for international recognition.
But the Afghan seat at the United Nations continues to be held by former President Burhanuddin Rabbani.
The UN sanctions which have now been imposed on the country make it even less likely that the Taleban will gain that recognition.
The sanctions are intended to force the Taleban to hand over the Saudi-born militant Osama Bin Laden, who is accused by the United States of plotting the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which killed more than 250 people.
The Taleban say that Osama Bin Laden is a guest in their country, and they will not take action against him.
What is Afghanistan's culture?
Who are the taliban?
What happened in Afghanistan under Taliban rule?
All these questions and more will be answered.
But First a few facts:
**************************************
Afghanistan
Capital: Kabul
Language: Pashto and Persian
Government: Islamic Republic
President: Hamid Karzai
Vice President: Ahmad Zia Massoud
Area: 251,772 sq mi
Population: 29,863,000
**************************************
To answer the questions...
What is Afghanistan's Culture?
Afghanistan's culture is largley influenced by Islam but has also been influenced by religions such as Buddism and Zoroastranism. Afghanistan has been a crossroad for India, Iran, and Central Asia which has influenced its culture.
One of the most famous types of Afghan Art is the Gandhara Art between the 1st and 7th centuries which had Greco-Roman ancestry. Since the 1900's Afghanistan began to use Western techniques in art. Art was mostly done by men... but recently women are dominating theatre art. Art is largely centered in the Kabul Museum.
Who are the Taliban?
The taliban is a Sunni Islamist fundamentalist movement which effectively ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001.
The group, comprised of Afghans trained in religious schools in Pakistan along with former Islamic fighters or mujahedin, proved effective bodyguards, driving off other mujahedin groups who attacked and looted the convoy.
What happened to Afghanistan under Taliban rule?
They went on to take the nearby city of Kandahar, beginning a remarkable advance which led to their capture of the capital, Kabul, in September 1996.
The Taliban's popularity with many Afghans initially surprised the country's warring mujahedi factions.
As ethnic Pashtuns, a large part of their support came from Afghanistan's Pashtun community, disillusioned with existing ethnic Tajik and Uzbek leaders.
But it was not purely a question of ethnicity. Ordinary Afghans, weary of the prevailing lawlessness in many parts of the country, were often delighted by Taleban successes in stamping out corruption, restoring peace and allowing commerce to flourish again.
Their refusal to deal with the existing warlords whose rivalries had caused so much killing and destruction also earned them respect.
The Taleban said their aim was to set up the world's most pure Islamic state, banning frivolities like television, music and cinema.
Their attempts to eradicate crime have been reinforced by the introduction of Islamic law including public executions and amputations.
A flurry of regulations forbidding girls from going to school and women from working quickly brought them into conflict with the international community.
Such issues, along with restrictions on women's access to health care, have also caused some resentment among ordinary Afghans.
The Taleban now control all but the far north of the country, which is the last stronghold of the ethnic Tajik commander Ahmed Shah Masood.
With 90% of the country under their control, the Taleban have continued to press claims for international recognition.
But the Afghan seat at the United Nations continues to be held by former President Burhanuddin Rabbani.
The UN sanctions which have now been imposed on the country make it even less likely that the Taleban will gain that recognition.
The sanctions are intended to force the Taleban to hand over the Saudi-born militant Osama Bin Laden, who is accused by the United States of plotting the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which killed more than 250 people.
The Taleban say that Osama Bin Laden is a guest in their country, and they will not take action against him.
Grammar: Gerund and Infinitive
Gerunds and infinitives are forms of verbs that act like nouns. They can follow adjectives and other verbs. Gerunds can also follow prepositions.
A gerund (often known as an -ing word) is a noun formed from a verb by adding -ing. Not all words formed with -ing are gerunds.
A infinitive is to + the verb.
When a verb follows a verb it either takes the gerund or infinitive form.
Some verbs can take either the gerund or the infinitive with no loss of meaning.
For example:
With the verb start - "It started to rain." or "It started raining." Both sentences have the same meaning.
Sometimes the use of the gerund or infinitive changes the meaning of the sentence.
For example:
With the verb remember - "I remembered to do my homework". or "I remembered doing my homework."
In the first sentence (I remembered to do my homework), the person speaking remembered they had some homework first and then carried out the action and did it. In the second sentence (I remembered doing my homework.), the person speaking carried out the action (their homework) first and then remembered doing it.
Other verbs only take one or the other, unfortunately there is no rule as to which form the verb takes. The same is true when the verb follows an adjective.
When a verb is used after a preposition the verb takes the -ing form.
For example:
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
A gerund (often known as an -ing word) is a noun formed from a verb by adding -ing. Not all words formed with -ing are gerunds.
A infinitive is to + the verb.
When a verb follows a verb it either takes the gerund or infinitive form.
Some verbs can take either the gerund or the infinitive with no loss of meaning.
For example:
With the verb start - "It started to rain." or "It started raining." Both sentences have the same meaning.
Sometimes the use of the gerund or infinitive changes the meaning of the sentence.
For example:
With the verb remember - "I remembered to do my homework". or "I remembered doing my homework."
In the first sentence (I remembered to do my homework), the person speaking remembered they had some homework first and then carried out the action and did it. In the second sentence (I remembered doing my homework.), the person speaking carried out the action (their homework) first and then remembered doing it.
Other verbs only take one or the other, unfortunately there is no rule as to which form the verb takes. The same is true when the verb follows an adjective.
When a verb is used after a preposition the verb takes the -ing form.
For example:
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Chemistry: Compunds and Reactions
by Gen
Can you think of some everyday items you use?
Margarine
Paper
Baseballs
Glass
Flouride
Sunscreen
Can you guess what elements or compounds are inside of these common everyday items?
Sunscreen
Sunscreen protects our skin from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Sunscreens can be organic or inorganic. The compound Octyl Methoycinnamate is used in organic sunscreens. Inorganic sunscreens have a mixture of element titanium with dioxide and zinc with oxide.
Margarine
Margarine is a substitute for butter which was believed to reduce the incidence of heart disease by switching saturated fats with trans fatty acids. It has discovered though that it does not do much to reduce heart disease due to its trans fatty acids which raise bad cholesterol. Despite this, margarine is prefered over butter. Margarine contains Oliec Acid and Elaidic Acid.
Paper
Today's method of making paper is simple, plant fibers stick together when the fibers are pulped, spread on a screen, and dried. Paper has a wide range of use from bags to writing material. Paper contains polyoxometalates.
Baseballs
Baseball is one of the the most popular sports in America, its birthplace. A baseball should be a sphere formed by yarn wound around a small sphere or cork, or rubber, or similar material covered with 2 stripes of white horseide or cowhide tightly stitched together.
Fluoride
Fluoride prevents tooth decay in 2 main ways:
I reduces the ability of bactieria in plaque to generate tooth-weakening acids
It helps remineralize those tooth areas where acid attack has already begun
Fluoride toothpaste contains Stannous Fluoride, Sodium Fluoride, and Sodium monofluorophosphate.
Glass
This transparent material plays a big role in many modern applications such as, windows, glasses, jars, microscopes, beakers, etc. Glass contains Sodium Carbonate, Calcium Silicate, and Sodium Silicate.
Can you think of some everyday items you use?
Margarine
Paper
Baseballs
Glass
Flouride
Sunscreen
Can you guess what elements or compounds are inside of these common everyday items?
Sunscreen
Sunscreen protects our skin from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Sunscreens can be organic or inorganic. The compound Octyl Methoycinnamate is used in organic sunscreens. Inorganic sunscreens have a mixture of element titanium with dioxide and zinc with oxide.
Margarine
Margarine is a substitute for butter which was believed to reduce the incidence of heart disease by switching saturated fats with trans fatty acids. It has discovered though that it does not do much to reduce heart disease due to its trans fatty acids which raise bad cholesterol. Despite this, margarine is prefered over butter. Margarine contains Oliec Acid and Elaidic Acid.
Paper
Today's method of making paper is simple, plant fibers stick together when the fibers are pulped, spread on a screen, and dried. Paper has a wide range of use from bags to writing material. Paper contains polyoxometalates.
Baseballs
Baseball is one of the the most popular sports in America, its birthplace. A baseball should be a sphere formed by yarn wound around a small sphere or cork, or rubber, or similar material covered with 2 stripes of white horseide or cowhide tightly stitched together.
Fluoride
Fluoride prevents tooth decay in 2 main ways:
I reduces the ability of bactieria in plaque to generate tooth-weakening acids
It helps remineralize those tooth areas where acid attack has already begun
Fluoride toothpaste contains Stannous Fluoride, Sodium Fluoride, and Sodium monofluorophosphate.
Glass
This transparent material plays a big role in many modern applications such as, windows, glasses, jars, microscopes, beakers, etc. Glass contains Sodium Carbonate, Calcium Silicate, and Sodium Silicate.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Today's Vocabulary:
4 Words English:
puckish - whimsical; mischievious; impish
coterminous - of equal extent or duration
tirade - a long angry speech
palaver - idle talk; also, to talk idly
4 Words Spanish:
dream - sueno
nightmare - pesadilla
rest - resto
excitment - entuisasmo
4 Words English:
puckish - whimsical; mischievious; impish
coterminous - of equal extent or duration
tirade - a long angry speech
palaver - idle talk; also, to talk idly
4 Words Spanish:
dream - sueno
nightmare - pesadilla
rest - resto
excitment - entuisasmo
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
The Atomic Bomb
by Gen
Was the atomic bomb really needed to end WWII?
There are many questions and contreversies about the atomic bomb... lets get in depth and find out if the A-Bomb was really needed.
First.. there are several reasons why the A-Bomb was needed:
The Japanese demonstrated near fanatical resistance, fighting almost to the last man on Pacific Islands, committing mass sucicide on Saipan and unleashing kamikaze attacks on Okinawa. Fire bombing had killed 100,000 in Tokyo with no discernable political effect. Only the the atomic bomb could jolt Japan's leadership to surrender.
With only two bombs ready it was too risky to waste one in a demonstration over an unpopulated area.
An invasion of Japan would have caused casualties on both sides that could have easily exceeded the toll of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The two targeted cities would have been firebombed anyway.
Immediate use of the bomb convinced the world of its horror and prevented future use when nuclear stockpiles were far larger.
The bomb's use impressed the Soviet Union and halted the war quickly enough that the USSR did not demand joint occupation of Japan.
However, lets take a look at some of the reasons it wasn't needed:
Japan was about to quit anyway. More than 60 of its cities had been destroyed by conventional bombing, the home islands were being blockaded by the American Navy, and the Soviet Union entered the war by attacking Japanese troops in Manchuria.
American refusal to modify its unconditional surrender demand to allow the Japanese to keep their emporer needlessly prolonged Japan's resistance.
A demonstration explosion over Tokyo harbor would have convinced Japan's leaders to quit without killing many people.
Even if Hiroshima was necessary, the US did not give enough time for word to filter out of its devastation before bombing Nagasaki.
The bomb was used partly to justify the $2 billion spent on development.
The two cities were of limited military value. Civilians outnumbered troops in Hiroshima five or six to one.
Japanese lives were sacrified simply for the power politics between the US and the Soviet Union.
Conventional firebombing would have cause as much damage without making the US the first nation to use nuclear weapons.
Death toll: 140,000
Gob bless the innocent souls that died that day...
Was the atomic bomb really needed to end WWII?
There are many questions and contreversies about the atomic bomb... lets get in depth and find out if the A-Bomb was really needed.
First.. there are several reasons why the A-Bomb was needed:
The Japanese demonstrated near fanatical resistance, fighting almost to the last man on Pacific Islands, committing mass sucicide on Saipan and unleashing kamikaze attacks on Okinawa. Fire bombing had killed 100,000 in Tokyo with no discernable political effect. Only the the atomic bomb could jolt Japan's leadership to surrender.
With only two bombs ready it was too risky to waste one in a demonstration over an unpopulated area.
An invasion of Japan would have caused casualties on both sides that could have easily exceeded the toll of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The two targeted cities would have been firebombed anyway.
Immediate use of the bomb convinced the world of its horror and prevented future use when nuclear stockpiles were far larger.
The bomb's use impressed the Soviet Union and halted the war quickly enough that the USSR did not demand joint occupation of Japan.
However, lets take a look at some of the reasons it wasn't needed:
Japan was about to quit anyway. More than 60 of its cities had been destroyed by conventional bombing, the home islands were being blockaded by the American Navy, and the Soviet Union entered the war by attacking Japanese troops in Manchuria.
American refusal to modify its unconditional surrender demand to allow the Japanese to keep their emporer needlessly prolonged Japan's resistance.
A demonstration explosion over Tokyo harbor would have convinced Japan's leaders to quit without killing many people.
Even if Hiroshima was necessary, the US did not give enough time for word to filter out of its devastation before bombing Nagasaki.
The bomb was used partly to justify the $2 billion spent on development.
The two cities were of limited military value. Civilians outnumbered troops in Hiroshima five or six to one.
Japanese lives were sacrified simply for the power politics between the US and the Soviet Union.
Conventional firebombing would have cause as much damage without making the US the first nation to use nuclear weapons.
Death toll: 140,000
Gob bless the innocent souls that died that day...
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Today's Vocabulary:
4 Words English:
perfidy - faithlessness; treachery
anathema - a curse
doughty - brave; valiant
repletion - the condition of being completely or excessively full
4 Words Spanish:
scientist - cientifico
month - mes
week - semana
yesterday - semana
4 Words English:
perfidy - faithlessness; treachery
anathema - a curse
doughty - brave; valiant
repletion - the condition of being completely or excessively full
4 Words Spanish:
scientist - cientifico
month - mes
week - semana
yesterday - semana
Monday, October 02, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Today's Vocabulary:
4 Words English:
tenet - any opinio, principle, or doctrine held to be true
qua - in the capacity or character of; as
invective - insulting or abusive language
bowlderize - to remove or modify the parts considered offensive
4 Words Spanish:
molecule - molecula
atom - atoma
universe - universo
element - elemento
4 Words English:
tenet - any opinio, principle, or doctrine held to be true
qua - in the capacity or character of; as
invective - insulting or abusive language
bowlderize - to remove or modify the parts considered offensive
4 Words Spanish:
molecule - molecula
atom - atoma
universe - universo
element - elemento
Atoms
by Gen:
It has been said that during the 20th century, man harnessed the power of the atom. We made atomic bombs and generated electricity by nuclear power. We even split the atom into smaller pieces called subatomic particles.
But what exactly is an atom? What is it made of? What does it look like? From the ancient Greeks to today... we have wondered what ordinary matter is made of.
The idea of the atom was first devised by Democritus in 530 BC. In 1808, an English school teacher and scientist named John Dalton proposed the modern atomic theory. Modern atomic theory states the following.
1. Every element is made of atoms
2. All atoms of any element are the same
3. Atoms of different elements are different
4. Atoms of different elements can combine to form compounds
5. In chemical reactions, atoms are not made, destroyed, or changed
6. In any compound, the numbers and kinds of atoms remain the same
The ability to weight atoms came from an observation by an Italian chemist named Amadeo Avogadro. Avogadro was working with gases (nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine) and noticed that when temperature and pressure was the same, these gases combined in definite volume ratios.
Avogadro said that at the same temperature and pressure, equal volumes of the gases had the same number of molecules. So, by weighing the volumes of the gases, he could determine the ratios of atomic masses. For example, a liter of oxygen weighed 16 times more than a liter of hydrogen.
To know the structure of an atom, we must know the following:
What are the parts of an atom?
How are these parts arranged?
Near the end of the 18th century, the atom was thought as nothing more than a indivisable sphere. However, a series of discoveries in the fields of chemistry, electricity, magnetism, radioactivity, and quantum mechanics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries changed all that.
In the late 19th century, chemists and physicists were studying the relationship between electricity and matter. They were placing high voltage electric currents through glass tubes filled with low-pressure gas (mercury, neon, xenon) much like neon lights. Electric current was carried from one electrode (cathode) through the gas to the other electrode (anode) by a beam called cathode rays. In 1897, a British physicist, J. J. Thomson did a series of experiments with the following results:
He found that if the tube was placed within an electric or magnetic field, then the cathode rays could be deflected or moved (this is how the the cathode ray tube (CRT) on your television works.
By applying an electric field alone, a magnetic field alone, or both in combination, Thomson could measure the ratio of the electric charge to the mass of the cathode rays.
He found the same charge to mass ratio of cathode rays was seen regardless of what material was inside the tube or what the cathode was made of.
Thomson concluded the following:
Cathode rays were made of tiny, negatively charged particles, which he called electrons.
The electrons had to come from inside the atoms of the gas or metal electrode.
Because the charge to mass ratio was the same for any substance, the electrons were a basic part of all atoms.
Because the charge to mass ratio of the electron was very high, the electron must be very small.
About the same time as Thomson's experiments with cathode rays, physicists such as by Henri Becquerel, Marie Curie, Pierre Curie, and Ernest Rutherford were studying radioactivity. Radioactivity was characterized by three types of emitted rays:
Alpha particles - positively charged and massive. Ernest Rutherford showed that these particles were the nucleus of a helium atom.
Beta particles - negatively charged and light (later shown to be electrons).
Gamma rays - neutrally charged and no mass (energy).
The experiment from radioactivity that contributed most to our knowledge of the structure of the atom was done by Rutherford and his colleagues. Rutherford bombarded a thin foil of gold with a beam of alpha particles and looked at the beams on a fluorescent screen, he noticed the following:
Most of the particles went straight through the foil and struck the screen.
Some (0.1 percent) were deflected or scattered in front (at various angles) of the foil, while others were scattered behind the foil.
Rutherford concluded that the gold atoms were mostly empty space, which allowed most of the alpha particles through. However, some small region of the atom must have been dense enough to deflect or scatter the alpha particle. He called this dense region the nucleus; the nucleus comprised most of the mass of the atom. Later, when Rutherford bombarded nitrogen with alpha particles, a positively charged particle that was lighter than the alpha particle was emitted. He called these particles protons and realized that they were a fundamental particle in the nucleus.
However, protons could not be the only particle in the nucleus because the number of protons in any given element (determined by the electrical charge) was less than the weight of the nucleus. Therefore, a third, neutrally charged particle must exist! It was James Chadwick, a British physicist and co-worker of Rutherford, who discovered the third subatomic particle, the neutron. Chadwick bombarded beryllium foil with alpha particles and noticed a neutral radiation coming out. This neutral radiation could in turn knock protons out of the nuclei of other substances.
In summary, science in the 20th century has revealed the structure of the atom. Scientists are now conducting experiments to reveal details of the structure of the nucleus and the forces that hold it together.
It has been said that during the 20th century, man harnessed the power of the atom. We made atomic bombs and generated electricity by nuclear power. We even split the atom into smaller pieces called subatomic particles.
But what exactly is an atom? What is it made of? What does it look like? From the ancient Greeks to today... we have wondered what ordinary matter is made of.
The idea of the atom was first devised by Democritus in 530 BC. In 1808, an English school teacher and scientist named John Dalton proposed the modern atomic theory. Modern atomic theory states the following.
1. Every element is made of atoms
2. All atoms of any element are the same
3. Atoms of different elements are different
4. Atoms of different elements can combine to form compounds
5. In chemical reactions, atoms are not made, destroyed, or changed
6. In any compound, the numbers and kinds of atoms remain the same
The ability to weight atoms came from an observation by an Italian chemist named Amadeo Avogadro. Avogadro was working with gases (nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine) and noticed that when temperature and pressure was the same, these gases combined in definite volume ratios.
Avogadro said that at the same temperature and pressure, equal volumes of the gases had the same number of molecules. So, by weighing the volumes of the gases, he could determine the ratios of atomic masses. For example, a liter of oxygen weighed 16 times more than a liter of hydrogen.
To know the structure of an atom, we must know the following:
What are the parts of an atom?
How are these parts arranged?
Near the end of the 18th century, the atom was thought as nothing more than a indivisable sphere. However, a series of discoveries in the fields of chemistry, electricity, magnetism, radioactivity, and quantum mechanics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries changed all that.
In the late 19th century, chemists and physicists were studying the relationship between electricity and matter. They were placing high voltage electric currents through glass tubes filled with low-pressure gas (mercury, neon, xenon) much like neon lights. Electric current was carried from one electrode (cathode) through the gas to the other electrode (anode) by a beam called cathode rays. In 1897, a British physicist, J. J. Thomson did a series of experiments with the following results:
He found that if the tube was placed within an electric or magnetic field, then the cathode rays could be deflected or moved (this is how the the cathode ray tube (CRT) on your television works.
By applying an electric field alone, a magnetic field alone, or both in combination, Thomson could measure the ratio of the electric charge to the mass of the cathode rays.
He found the same charge to mass ratio of cathode rays was seen regardless of what material was inside the tube or what the cathode was made of.
Thomson concluded the following:
Cathode rays were made of tiny, negatively charged particles, which he called electrons.
The electrons had to come from inside the atoms of the gas or metal electrode.
Because the charge to mass ratio was the same for any substance, the electrons were a basic part of all atoms.
Because the charge to mass ratio of the electron was very high, the electron must be very small.
About the same time as Thomson's experiments with cathode rays, physicists such as by Henri Becquerel, Marie Curie, Pierre Curie, and Ernest Rutherford were studying radioactivity. Radioactivity was characterized by three types of emitted rays:
Alpha particles - positively charged and massive. Ernest Rutherford showed that these particles were the nucleus of a helium atom.
Beta particles - negatively charged and light (later shown to be electrons).
Gamma rays - neutrally charged and no mass (energy).
The experiment from radioactivity that contributed most to our knowledge of the structure of the atom was done by Rutherford and his colleagues. Rutherford bombarded a thin foil of gold with a beam of alpha particles and looked at the beams on a fluorescent screen, he noticed the following:
Most of the particles went straight through the foil and struck the screen.
Some (0.1 percent) were deflected or scattered in front (at various angles) of the foil, while others were scattered behind the foil.
Rutherford concluded that the gold atoms were mostly empty space, which allowed most of the alpha particles through. However, some small region of the atom must have been dense enough to deflect or scatter the alpha particle. He called this dense region the nucleus; the nucleus comprised most of the mass of the atom. Later, when Rutherford bombarded nitrogen with alpha particles, a positively charged particle that was lighter than the alpha particle was emitted. He called these particles protons and realized that they were a fundamental particle in the nucleus.
However, protons could not be the only particle in the nucleus because the number of protons in any given element (determined by the electrical charge) was less than the weight of the nucleus. Therefore, a third, neutrally charged particle must exist! It was James Chadwick, a British physicist and co-worker of Rutherford, who discovered the third subatomic particle, the neutron. Chadwick bombarded beryllium foil with alpha particles and noticed a neutral radiation coming out. This neutral radiation could in turn knock protons out of the nuclei of other substances.
In summary, science in the 20th century has revealed the structure of the atom. Scientists are now conducting experiments to reveal details of the structure of the nucleus and the forces that hold it together.
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