Comparing The Girl With A Pearl Earring And Mona Lisa

Name Professor Course Date Comparison of the Girl with a Pearl Earring and Mona Lisa The Girl with a Pearl Earring and Mona Lisa are the two most famous portraits ever painted (Courtauld 36). The girl with a pearl earring follows the Mona Lisa painting, which is considered as the most famous painting. The girl with a pearl earring, by Johannes Vermeer, and the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci were created during the same historical time. Historians believe that Leonardo da Vinci created his art piece between 1503 and 1506. The girl with a pearl earring was created in 1665. The masterpieces were both created using oil. The medium for the girl with a pearl earring was oil and canvas while Mona Lisa was created using oil and wood. They were both from the genre of portrait art. The two portraits are associated with mysteries that have baffled analysts and historians for many years. First, the identity of the women was vastly unknown. The exact identity of the woman in the Mona Lisa has remained a mystery. While searching for answers, historians sought to know the time when the portrait was created. According to them, the portrait must have been created when Francesco Del Giocondo and his wife purchased a house in 1503 or during the birth of their son in 1502. Thus, some analysts conclude that the portrait was dedicated to the wife of Francesco Del Giocondo. The nature of clothing often backs the argument. The gown and scarf represented an aristocratic status. TheShow MoreRelatedStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesArt Director: Kenny Beck Text and Cover Designer: Wanda Espana OB Poll Graphics: Electra Graphics Cover Art: honey comb and a bee working / Shutt erstock / LilKar Sr. Media Project Manager, Editorial: Denise Vaughn Media Project Manager, Production: Lisa Rinaldi Full-Service Project Management: Christian Holdener, S4Carlisle Publishing Services Composition: S4Carlisle Publishing Services Printer/Binder: Courier/Kendallville Cover Printer: Courier/Kendalville Text Font: 10.5/12 ITC New Baskerville Std

Expansion of Western Europe - 1095 Words

The expansion of Western Europe started with the Iberian phase. Spain and Portugal, the two countries of the Iberian Peninsula, had a short-lived yet important role in European expansion. European expansion then turned to Western Europe. Western Europe consists of the Dutch, French, and British. While Western Europe was exploring new worlds overseas, the Russians were expanding westward across all of Eurasia. Religion played a major role in expansion for both the Portuguese and the Spanish due to their extensive anti-Muslim crusade. Due to the over zealous religious fervor of the Christian Iberians, Christianity and thus the Iberians expanded into parts of western Europe during the crusades as Christians tried to convert the Muslims who†¦show more content†¦(p.349) The age of the conquistadors began with Cortes expedition to the Yucatan. After months of vicious fighting, Cortes toppled the Aztec empire and gained control of Mexico. Another Spanish conquistador, Pizzaro defeated the Inca Empire and gained control of modern day Peru. Their conquests lead to the further exploration of both North and South America. In the period between 1600 and 1763, Spain and Portugal were overtaken and surpassed by the powers of Northwestern Europe- Holland, France and Britain. (p.357) Due the lack of Iberian activity in the north Atlantic the northwestern Europeans, led by imperialism, set out to tap the resources of North America. Through the effort of Sir John Hawkins and Francis Drake, England was able to Break boldly and openly into the Iberian imperial preserves-into the Portuguese east as well as into Spanish America. (p.359) Toward the end of the 16th century the Dutch had set their sites on Portugal s empire in the east. By 1602, through their acquisition of their various private trading companies, the Dutch had formed the Dutch East India Company. The Dutch also strengthened their economic power through the harvesting of coffee and taking over the whal ing industry. Through various wars with Britain and France during the late 17th century the Dutch stronghold was weakened. In the 18th century Holland gave way to Britain and France. (p.363) Britain and France battled for colonial supremacyShow MoreRelatedThe Expansion Of Western Europe929 Words   |  4 Pagesoptions to facilitate their expansion into Western Europe. These include exportation, licensing, or foreign direct investment in the form of a wholly owned subsidiary. Each of these options presents risks and benefits that must be evaluated before an entry-strategy is formulated. Export from the United States For an exportation strategy, this organization would manufacture their new computer domestically and ship it overseas for sale (Hill, 2014, p. 230) in Western European markets. 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Crosby believes that temperate zones, climates similar to that of Europe, allowed European biota to thrive, which allowed for European expansion. Crosby discusses the Norse invasions and the Crusades as examples of how Europeans were not able to expand. Crosby claims that climateRead MoreThe Image of Medieval Western Europe Essay769 Words   |  4 PagesThe image of medieval western Europe can be attributed to political, religiou s, economic, and cultural factors. The impulse of expansion, unity under Christianity, trade, and education were key developments within the factors. Ultimetly, these developments contributed to the advancement of medieval western Europe in the postclassical period. The medieval government in western Europe exercised feudalism which also established the structure of political powers. 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Earliest Form of Buddhist Education to Be Found In Vietnam Free Essays

Buddhism entered Vietnam during the beginning of first century CE. By the second century Buddhist visited a central region in Vietnam known as the Luy-Lau centre. This centre is now in the Bac-Ninh province. We will write a custom essay sample on Earliest Form of Buddhist Education to Be Found In Vietnam or any similar topic only for you Order Now Luy-Lau was the capital of Vietnam and this is the reason it was an important place for the Buddhists to visit. On their way to china monks stopped at this central region and taught people about Buddhism. Many teachings were translated in this central region such as Mahayana sutras and the Agamas. These were translated into Chinese as Vietnamese culture and religion is influenced a lot by the Chinese culture . Vietnam is influenced by Chinese culture because Vietnam was occupied by Chinese during the 111 BCE and 939 CE . GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF VIETNAM Vietnam has Cambodia and Laos to the west and Chinese colossus, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Thailand and Burma to the east and south. The eastern most part of Vietnam reaches India. The coastline is almost 2,500 kilometers. This coastline spreads from Mong-Cay, which is in the north to Cambodia. In early days Vietnam was the region between India and China which is actually a peninsula. This was formerly known as Funan and Campa. Being so near the two most densely populated countries, Vietnam had a lot of influence from their culture, politic and religion . BUDDHIST INFLUENCE Vietnamese are very religious. They practice quite a number of religions like, Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism etc. Buddhism first came in North Vietnam . It was then known as Giao-Chi. These were Indian or Chinese Buddhists who came here from either land or sea routes and started influencing people. Giao-Chi became the centre of everything by the end of second century as the Indian merchants started doing trade there, and with them they brought monks also. Buddhism was very influential at that time, as we can see that these traders brought monks with them because they were called the â€Å"calmer of the sea† . These monks were priests who later started preaching their religion in Vietnam. It became easier for them, because Giao-Ching was the central place where every traders and foreign travelers, Chinese and Indians met. Moreover the merchants rested here also if they were travelling between India and China. Thus monks and priests had one central place to preach their religion. They started missionary activities and as a result monasteries were built. This was the first time that monasteries were built in Vietnam during the reign of Si-Nhiep. The very first few monasteries were built in a province of North Vietnam which is now known as Ha-Bac. This was formerly known as Luy-Lau, as mentioned in the Introduction that it was the centre of missionary activities . THE FIRST BUDDHISTS IN VIETNAM The earliest form of Buddhist education was found to be given by a Taoist who later became a Buddhist. Before him, it is said, that several missionaries from China came to preach Buddhism . During the rule of Si-Nhiep, two monks named Ma Ha Ky Vuc and Khau Da La came to Vietnam. These were Indian monks. Tu-Dinh from Khmer kingdom requested them to stay there in Vietnam. The second monk however refused and went back where as Ma Ha Ky Vuc stayed. Tu-Dinh was a very religious man himself and used to fast for several days. This he said helped purify his body and soul. These two were the first monks to reach Giao-Chi. After them a Chinese Buddhist preacher named Mau-Bac came to Giao-Chi. During the time when Mau-Bac came to Giao-Chi, China was in serious political chaos. Due to this several monks and scholars came to Vietnam. Giao-Chi was under the rule of Si-Nhiep back then and was considered a safe place. Mau-Bac after coming to Vietnam studied Buddhism from an Indian monk named Ksudra. Ma Ha Ky Vuc, who had come to Vietnam before any of these, with the help of Ksudra and Mau-Bac started promoting Buddhism in Vietnam. These were the first people who started to promote Buddhism and their teaching is the very early form of Buddhist study to be found in Vietnam. After Mau-Bac many monks started to propagate Buddhism. Khang Tang Hoi and Cuong Luong Lau also came to Giao-Chi during the third century. Khang Tang Hoi entered a monastery when he was ten and from there started studying and practicing Buddhism. Apart from Buddhism he also studied literature, astronomy and other subjects. He translated many books relating Buddhism into Chinese. Though he was Indian born but is considered as a Vietnamese Buddhist. Cuong Luong Lau like Khang Tang Hoi also translated many Buddhist books in Chinese . The main Buddhist centre was Luy-Lau at that time; it is now known as Ha Bac and is situated in North Vietnam. Phap Van was a famous monastery in Luy-Lau and during the second and third century was famously known as â€Å"the school of doctrine† and â€Å"the lotus school†. In 968 A. D, when King Dinh Tien Hoang came in to power, Buddhism in Vietnam changed. It entered a new era. Buddhism now had a hierarchy of monks and priests and it was now accepted by the court. As Buddhism was now supported by the royal court many changes took place. Buddhists were respected and were asked advice before taking decisions. Buddhists were involved in many political and religious decisions. During this period Buddhism was at its best. It was the most predominant religion. Many kings and emperors after this period were Buddhists. Many laws came into practice in this era, which were influenced by Buddhism. Van Hanh, who is also known as the meditation master is of this era. Any ruler who was not Buddhists was at least the supporter of Buddhism. In 1010 A. D, almost eight monasteries were built in Ha Bac. All other monasteries and Buddhist temples were also repaired. Tripitaka texts, which were in China initially, were brought in Vietnam. Thousands of Buddha statues and paintings were made and set up. Festivals were set up. Many new monasteries such as Sung Kharh monastery and monastery at Mount Ba were built. In 1086 A. d Dai Lam monastery was built in Ha Bac. Later in 1118 A. D Thien Phat was built which had almost 1,000 Buddha statues . BUDDHIST STUDIES IN VIETNAM Buddhist studies in Vietnam can be divided in to four eras. 1. From the entrance in Vietnam to the first century 2. From 11th century to 14th century, which was the best era of Buddhist studies 3. After 25th century, which was the time of declination of Buddhism 4. Present Buddhist studies in Vietnam People have different opinions about the exact date on which Buddhism entered Vietnam. It is believed that Buddhism entered Vietnam in first century A. D; some people believe it was the year 189 of the Christian era. Historians say that Meou-Po, who was a Taoist before he became a Buddhist, was the first person to make any Buddhist teaching in Vietnam. Though many missionaries came before him, but they only laid grounds on which it became possible for Meou-Po to enter and teach Buddhism. It was very difficult to teach Buddhism at that time as very little literature was available. Vietnamese had no written script; hence a few translations were made in Chinese. The era between 544 and 602 was an independent era and was helpful in spreading Buddhism. Though there was some progress, in this era but the real progress was made during 603 to 939. During these years two major missionaries entered Vietnam. Vinitaruci and Vo-Ngon-Thong led these two missions separately. Almost 20 shrines were built at that time and there were about 500 monks preaching Buddhism day and night. These shrines were a gift from the Chinese government. During 939 and 968 there was not much development in case of Buddhist studies. In 939 Chinese reign in Vietnam ended. Buddhist teachings paused during these years, but only in Vietnam, in China Buddhism went under a lot of scrutiny. When Dinh-Bo-Linh came in to power, Buddhism started to prosper. He acted as a protector of the religion and Buddhism was studied and adopted by many people till Dinf-Bo-Linh’s reign till 1009. The emperor made Ngo-Chan-Luu the head of Sangha (Community of Buddhist monks). Ngo-Chan-Luu was a monk, scholar and a poet. The emperor was very much impressed by this monk who was good at Zen meditation. The emperor used to take advice from Ngo-Chan-Luu in matters of politics and military. Due to his good advices and performance he was made Imperial Councillor. He got the title of Khuong Viet which means servant of Vietnam. Ngo-Chan-Luu proved to be a very good monk and helped in spreading Buddhism. During this time Tripitaka was brought from china for the first time with the help of Vietnamese missions. People in Vietnam were taught how to read and write in Chinese characters, as Vietnamese lacked written script. This helped the scholars learn more by reading more books on Buddhism and translating others into their language. Hence the monks of those times were much learned and were respected a lot all over the country as there were very few people who could read and write. A scholar at that time was respected a lot and as most of the scholars were Buddhists, people started to go to them in order to learn. This helped spread Buddhist teachings . Buddhism expanded a lot during 1031 as almost a hundred temples were built during this era. A lot of Buddhist ceremonies were held and they were exempt from taxes. In 1049, the emperor built the Dien-Huu temple which was actually what he saw in his dream. He later ordered it to be constructed the way he saw it in between an artificial lake. It is one of the most famous monuments in Hanoi and is known as Temple of single column. Ly-Thanh-Ton, who reined Vietnam in 1054, was a true Buddhist. During his time food and clothing were distributed among the poor. He used to reduce the punishment of prisoners also. Hence Ly-Thanh-Ton, who tried to follow the steps of Asoka, was a very great Buddhist. In 1069, when Vietnam was at war with Champa, the emperor brought back a few prisoners. What he did not know was that one of these prisoners was a Buddhist monk. When the emperor found out about him he inquired him and discovered that he had a great knowledge of Dharma. The emperor got very impressed and allowed him to preach his religion in the Khai-Quoc temple. It was also found out that he was a Chinese monk who was actually trying to preach and practice Buddhism when he was caught. The emperor was a true Buddhist and praised scholars, and hence allowed this Chinese monk to stay in the temple. Now Buddhism was under official protection and could be spread more easily and therefore Buddhism continued to be taught among all the Vietnamese. Many writings of that time show the studies of Buddhist scholars . After this emperor all the other emperors also got interested in Buddhism. Most of them followed Zen meditation and practice. One of them became a monk and abdicated from his post of emperor. The Ly Dynasty was spread over a period of 215 years. This was the only dynasty during which the religion of Buddhism was at its climax . After this came the Tran Dynasty, during the early years of which the spread of Buddhism slowed down. Though the emperors of this dynasty were more inclined towards Buddhism, but none the less during the first seventy years of this dynasty the Buddhist studies did not prosper as it did before. One of the emperors became a monk and started practicing Zen. The last dynasty definitely proved to be the climax of Buddhism, as it was now declining. China started to reign again and due to this Confucianism started to prosper and made developments in various aspects such as philosophy and literature. Taoism grew and prospered, whereas Buddhists were stopped from preaching and practicing their religion. Buddhists books were burned and temples destroyed. This dropped the level of Buddhists studies in the country. When Vietnam got independent in 1428, it was thought that now it will be easier to renew Buddhism and spread its studies from the beginning. However, this proved wrong and Buddhists studies did not budge. Buddhism lost its original touch and purity and people started mixing it with different ideas. No new temples were allowed to be built at that time and this also hindered the prosperity of the religion. Many monks were sent back to their lay lives and were stopped from preaching Buddhism saying that they were incompetent to do so . During 1528 and 1802 new Zen sects were developed. Temples were built and Buddhism was supported a lot. Lord Tr? nh Giang ordered rebuilding of temples. Almost 6,000 workers worked day and night to build temples of Quynh Lam and Sung nghiem. In South of Vietnam Thien Temple was built which still stands. This Temple is equipped with its famous bell which is very resonant. Chinese monks were allowed to preach their religion and therefore they moved around whole of the country teaching and preaching Buddhism. Though many efforts were taken, yet Buddhism had such distorted form that monks were made to reside over ceremonies, Buddha was taken as a god and gifts were presented to his statue. This shows that the actual Buddhist religion had changed a lot and almost nobody knew and practiced the actual teachings of Buddha. THE IMPACT OF BUDDHIST EDUCATION The impact of Buddhist education was very great. It not only effected the religious beliefs but also had a great impact on every other day to day activity. Music, which was influenced by Indian music because of the monks coming from India, was used in religious ceremonies. Today out of eight musical instruments almost six are Indian. These instruments were taken by Indian monks, first to China and then to Vietnam. It will not be false if we say that India and China are solely responsible for spreading Buddhism in Vietnam. Though China influenced mainly the northern areas whereas, India influenced the south; China had more impact on Buddhism in Vietnam than India had. The reason is that China was in contact with Vietnam for thousands of years and had an influence on the politics and culture of the country. India had a lesser impact as Indian merchants went to Vietnam solely for business purposes. They sometimes took it as a resting place on their way to China. Hence they had no interest what so ever in the religion in Vietnam. However, there is certainly some influence on their religion and culture by the Indians, as the first monks to enter Vietnam for the purpose of preaching their religion were Indians. Buddhism gradually spread all over Vietnam. Though there are quite a few religions practiced in Vietnam, but almost two thirds of the population practices Buddhism. People sometimes do not have clear vision for example today a Buddhist may visit Taoist temple. These sometimes lead to superstitions and practices which show their ignorance towards the religion. Sometimes even monks do not have clear concepts about Buddhism. Buddhism really had a very strong impact on the culture and behavior of common man. People have better morals due to Buddhism. Even people who are not educated know that bad deeds will result in bad results. They know that they should be kind towards the people. Buddhists teachings are ordinary things which everybody should know. The motif of Buddhism is Lotus Flower. Monks are vegetarians and their teachings are based on purity and compassion. BUDDHISM CONCEPT IN VIETNAM Buddhism in Vietnam is mainly Mahayana. This Mahayana tradition has compassion as main entity. They take main words or buzzwords from Buddha like, Enlightenment, Delivered etc. The monks of Mahayana tradition try and improve their spiritual life. This spiritual life is then translated into action which is based on truth. During the decline of Buddhism in Vietnam, the monks were just an entity to receive gifts in the ceremonies. Today due to the movement in 1920, they know what ceremonies are actually for. They now have clear concept. They have texts and books to refer to and find meditation as the best tool. The General Buddhist Association in Vietnam is a very dynamic organization representing Buddhism in the country. It represents the true picture of Buddhism in the country. They have done efforts, held conferences in order to not only promote Buddhism but paint a clear picture about the fundamentals of Buddhism. Buddhism has prospered leaps and bounds in the country. Though there are many rival religions in the country, Buddhism is by far the most popular one. As mentioned earlier, almost two thirds of the population practices Buddhism. During 968 it was made the state religion. Buddhism in Vietnam is no wonder superior than any other religion there, as it is not only accepted publicly but also helped in the moral and spiritual training of the general public. People believe it and accept it by heart. They call it the religion of compassion. The imprint of Buddhism can be seen in art and literature as well. Music has also been inspired from it. A European author writes: â€Å"Buddhism was the first foreign influence which had a powerful bearing on the evolution of Chinese thought; and the effect of such an influence was to rekindle, stimulate and develop to the highest pitch not only the religion but also all the other spheres of its civilization A casual glance, even by one who is almost completely unaware of the spiritual world of China, at the plastic arts of China shows how completely they stem from the spirit of Buddhism and how wonderfully they blossomed forth during the Buddhist period† As Buddhism in Vietnam is influenced a lot from China and India, hence it can be said that the Chinese really had an impact on Vietnamese paintings, culture, literature and art. How to cite Earliest Form of Buddhist Education to Be Found In Vietnam, Papers

Its A Wonderful Life Essays - Films, Its A Wonderful Life

Its A Wonderful life Picture a young child full of life and happiness. The love of his parents shows through his eyes, smile, and tears. Some people would like to think that those things about a child are exactly what make life wonderful. People who think that way have no idea how right they are. Its a wonderful life to know that your parent's dreams live on in you. The dream of a mother; that her son will be a doctor. The dream of a father; that his son will some day become a major league baseball player. Most of all when its all said and done, that a child can say as a man, "Its a Wonderful Life". "It's a Wonderful Life" are true stories about events that took place in my life that will be with me forever. I can remember when I was a little boy, I played my first game of baseball. My grandfather practiced with me the whole week before the game. Catching and throwing that baseball seemed like a basketball in my little hands. My grandfather showed me how to place my feet in the batters box and how to bat. From that day on, I was in love with the game of baseball. Now that I look back I wonder what meant more to me, catching that baseball or the fact that my grandfather taught me the game. As I grew older and more mature I learned a lot about my grandfather. I was told stories about his life and what a great ballplayer he was. He could have gone pro, but he didn't have the support of his parents. Instead he went ahead and joined the army. It would kill most men to come that close to their dreams, but if you ask him it was a wonderful life. I was now a teenager at the age of sixteen, and it was time to get my driver's license. This was a day that every parent dreads, and my mom was one of them. I can remember asking my mother for the car keys so that I could take my road test. I detected a small smile under her rolling eyes and stone hard frown. My mom understood how she felt when she got her license. It meant freedom and responsibility for someone she raised from a baby. I can still remember mom saying, "You damn kids grow up too fast" as a single tear rolled down her face. That night I didn't even leave the house. My mother and I talked for hours about how it was when she was young. It was an enjoyable evening just talking to her. It was a wonderful life. Graduation day from high school never comes soon enough, so we think. Until the day is over then we wish half our lives we could get back to that time. It was the sixth of June 1996, graduation day. I never felt so happy to have a piece of paper in my hand. That paper was worth four years of my life. It symbolized my stressful days at school. It meant four years of baseball, football, and wrestling. The years of my life that were hard to endure, but so easy to look back on. These were the days that tested my knowledge and spirit. These are the people and places that will live in my memory forever. There was a place called "Tanner Park". This was the place everyone went to get away from it all. People showed off their cars and threw around the old football. The girls there wouldn't give me the time of day, but yet I still managed to have fun. I remember the all night parties that seemed to never end. Although these four years of my life were during my childhood, they helped make it a wonderful life. My life is not over. The life I live is far from over. I don't regret any of the things that I've said or done because they are what make up my life. The dreams my parents have for me live on in my heart everyday along with my own. It doesn't matter if those dreams become reality, for I know I've put my best effort forward and that my dreams will live on in my children. That's what will make my life truly wonderful.

Explorations in Arthurian Legends

Explorations in Arthurian Legends The legends tell us that Arthur was a wise and powerful king, who ruled from a giant and glorious castle and who commanded the loyalty of hundreds of men.First and foremost of these followers were the Knights of the Round Table. That greatest knight in skill of arms, Lancelot, pledged his loyalty to Arthur, is testament to the fact that the king was worthy of such admiration, both as a king and as a warrior.War was a way of life in Arthur's day. Just after he pulled the Sword from the Stone, he hurried to Bedegraine and defeated a rogue band of 11 powerful men who had rebelled against his leadership.He faced constant pressure from the Saxons and the Picts and the Irish and the Romans; in the end, he faced a mortal threat from his own men.He was also the backdrop against which many other adventures took place.English: LancelotBeginning with Chretien de Troyes, writers wrote adventures of Arthur's knights, telling us of their wonderful adventures and of courtly love. The court, of cour se, was Arthur's. In a sense, Arthur was moved above the day-to-day adventures his knights having and put on a pedestal as the symbol of what a knight could hope to achieve.He was also the one whom everyone looked up to and whom everyone trusted to pass judgment if they had a dispute. Important men bowed to his authority and his wisdom. He held court and was the arbiter of justice. He made his own laws and enforced them himself, with the respect of his subjects. He fought in battles and sent his knights out to do battle. As such, he was both king and battle commander.Later, Arthur was said to have conceived a son out of matrimony; Guinevere was said...

Middle School Science Fair Projects

Middle School Science Fair Projects It can be a challenge to come up with a middle school science fair project idea. There is fierce competition to come up with the coolest idea, plus you need a topic that is considered appropriate for your educational level: Elementary School ProjectsMiddle School ProjectsHigh School ProjectsCollege Projects This is your chance to shine! Middle school students may do alright with projects that describe or model phenomena, but if you can answer a question or solve a problem, you will excel. Try to propose a hypothesis and test it. Aim for a typed presentation with visual aids, such as pictures or physical examples. Choose a project you can do fairly quickly, to give you time to work on the report (no longer than a month). Schools may prohibit projects using hazardous chemicals or animals, so play it safe and avoid anything that might raise red flags with your teacher. Can you significantly affect your household water bill or electric bill (water or energy usage) by making a change in you or your familys behavior? For example, you might track changes you are making, like shorter showers or turning off lights, and record the utility usage.What household waste materials might be used to filter water? Examples of materials you might try would include banana peels and coffee grounds.What materials glow under black light? Can you use the UV light to find invisible, possibly smelly, stains in your carpet or elsewhere in your house?Will chilling an onion before cutting it keep you from crying?Does catnip repel cockroaches better than DEET?What ratio of vinegar to baking soda produces the best chemical volcano eruption?What type of plastic wrap prevents evaporation the best?What plastic wrap prevents oxidation the best?What percentage of an orange is water?Are night insects attracted to lamps because of heat or light?Can you make Jello using fresh pineappl es instead of canned pineapples? Do white candles burn at a different rate than colored candles?Does the presence of detergent in water affect plant growth?Can a saturated solution of sodium chloride still dissolve Epsom salts?Does magnetism affect the growth of plants?How does the shape of an ice cube affect how quickly it melts?Do different brands of popcorn leave different amounts of unpopped kernels?How accurately do egg producers measure eggs?How do differences in surfaces affect the adhesion of tape?If you shake up different kinds or brands of soft drinks (e.g., carbonated), will they all spew the same amount?Are all potato chips equally greasy?Do the same types of mold grow on all types of bread?Does light affect the rate at which foods spoil?Can you use a household water filter to remove flavor or color from other liquids?Does the power of a microwave affect how well it makes popcorn?Do all brands of diapers absorb the same amount of liquid? Does it matter what the liquid is (water as opposed to juice or... um.. urine)? Do all dishwashing detergents produce the same amount of bubbles? Clean the same number of dishes?Is the nutritional content of different brands of a vegetable (e.g., canned peas) the same?How permanent are permanent markers? What solvents (e.g., water, alcohol, vinegar, detergent solution) will remove the ink? Do different brands/types of markers produce the same results?Is laundry detergent as effective if you use less than the recommended amount? More?Do all hairsprays hold equally well? Equally long? Does the type of hair affect the results?What effect do additives have on the crystals? You could add food coloring, flavorings, or other impurities.What steps can you take to maximize crystal size? You can affect vibration, humidity, temperature, the  rate of evaporation, purity of your growth medium, and time allowed for crystal growth.How do different factors affect seed germination? Factors that you could test include the intensity, duration, or type of light, the temperature, the amount of water, the presence/absence of certain chemicals, or the presence/absence of soil. You can look at the percentage of seeds that germinate or the rate at which seeds germinate. Is a seed affected by its size? Do different size seeds have different germination rates or percentages? Does seed size affect the growth rate or final size of a plant?How does cold storage affect the germination of seeds? Factors you can control include the type of seeds, the  length of storage, the  temperature of storage, and other variables, such as light and humidity.What conditions affect the ripening of fruit? Look at ethylene and enclosing a fruit in a sealed bag, temperature, light, or nearness to other pieces or fruit.How are different soils affected by erosion? You can make your own wind or water and evaluate the effects on soil. If you have access to a very cold freezer, you can look at the effects of freeze and thaw cycles.How does the pH of soil relate to the pH of the water around the soil? You can make your own pH paper, test the pH of the soil, add water, then test the pH of the water. Are the two values the same? If not, is there a relationship between them?How close does a plant have to be to a pesticide for it to work? What factors influence the effectiveness of a pesticide (rain? light? wind?)? How much can you dilute a pesticide while retaining its effectiveness? How effective are natural pest deterrents?

The People vs. the Profiteers by David Rose Essay

The People vs. the Profiteers by David Rose - Essay Example He works incessantly on the behalf of Americans, based in Orlando. Halliburton would be a company, as well as other private contractors, that are operating in Iraq, somehow using the money of the American tax payers. Grayson is fighting a battle against some of these private contractors, many of which are major companies such as Halliburton, plus an oil company that former Vice President Dick Cheney served as the chief executive officer for several years. However, another enemy that has jumped on board is the United States Department of Justice. While Grayson has worked in several cases where there was fraud, the Department of Justice stepped in his way when it came to trying to expose companies of fraud during the Iraq war. This is a political venture and a scandal. When considering political science in this nature, if the President or any members of his Cabinet, or Dick Cheney were aware of these things that were going on by using American money to operate business, then something should have been done. It was the administration lying to American taxpayers about where their tax money was going. It was not used to fight the war in Iraq, clothe children in the United States, help the poor or the elderly. Instead, it was money to help the rich become richer. Ironically during the war, Halliburton became very valuable with their stock jumping significantly from the start of the war to 2006. The CEO netted at least $30 million in compensation. What a crooked world we live in. As oil enthusiasts, Cheney and George W. Bush, of course they were going to help some of their buddies become more rich by operating in Iraq. One might say that it is rather coincidental that Cheney happened to be a former CEO of one of the companies in question. It seems as if it was no coincidence after all. The money was there and it was secretly slid over to these corporations. The Department of Justice is more than likely trying to step in to try to keep the scandal behind closed doors. It is similar to any other scandal that occurs on a national level that somehow ties to the administration. Nixon's expose with Watergate was one of the major blunders of that administration. This one is on a different scope entirely and affects millions. The article by Rose introduces the audience to one of Grayson's clients, Bud Conyers, just a middle aged man in Oklahoma who just so happened to be an independent contractor working in Iraq. He was a driver for company, Kellogg, Brown and Root, a major construction company. Prior to the war in Iraq, the Pentagon awarded money to restore the Iraqi oil industry and another that provides logistic support services to the American military. When Conyers was asked to repair a refrigerated truck in Baghdad, he found something that is jawdropping. While an engine is required to control the refrigeration from a truck, this one that had been out of operation for a couple of weeks of course would not be keeping anything inside of it cool and there seemed to be a rancid smell coming from it. Upon opening the refrigerated portion of the truck, Conyer saw pieces of a total of 15 dead Iraqis. The bodies had come from a mortuary unit of the United States mortuary sector. While it is not unusual for something like this to happen, it is clearly stated by governmental regulations that once a truck has been used to haul corpses, it can not ever again haul items for human consumption such as food or drink because of the possible diseases that could be