A Comparison of the Heat and Cold Imagery Used in Woman at Point Zero a

A Comparison of the Heat and Cold Imagery Used in Woman at Point Zero and Thousand Cranes In the books Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi, and Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata, both authors use various forms of imagery that reoccur throughout the works. These images are used not to be taken for their literal meanings, but instead to portray a deeper sense or feeling that may occur several times in the book. One type of imagery that both Saadawi and Kawabata use in their works is heat and cold imagery. In the works, Woman at Point Zero and Thousand Cranes, Nawal El Saadawi and Yasunari Kawabata each use heat and cold imagery to portray the same feelings of love and fear and /or the lack thereof. In both works, the authors use heat and cold imagery in order to portray the presence and/or lack of love in three different forms. These three forms of love that are illustrated through the use of heat and cold imagery are protection, comfort, and intimacy. Heat and cold imagery is used repeatedly in both works to provide a feeling of love in the form of protection and security, usually having the presence of heat or warmth representing a feeling of protection and security, and the absence of heat representing a lack of security or protection. In the following lines from Kawabata’s Thousand Cranes, it is a memory of Mrs. Ota that provides Kikuji a sense of security during a conversation with Fumiko: â€Å"Mrs. Ota’s warmth came over him like warm water. She had gently surrendered everything he remembered, and he had felt secure† (Kawabata 36). In Woman at Point Zero, Saadawi uses the warmth of Firdaus’ uncle’s arms as an image for love in the form of protection in the following lines: â€Å"During the cold winter night, I curled up in my uncle’s arms like a baby in its womb. We drew warmth from our closeness† (Saadawi 21). This passage provides an even greater sense of protection through Saadawi’s use of the simile, â€Å"like a baby in its womb† (21). The second form of love expressed through the use of heat and cold imagery in both works is comfort. In Woman at Point Zero, heat is used in order to provide comfort to Firdaus who is â€Å"shivering with cold† and â€Å"soaked in rain† (63). The third and final form of love expressed through the use of heat and cold imagery in Thousand Cranes and Woman at Point Zero is that of intimate relations. It is f... ...ng used simultaneously with the cold imagery. Both in the beginning of the book when she first sits down to speak with Firdaus and when she is about to get up, Saadawi refers to there being a â€Å"coldness which did not reach my body†, and says, â€Å"It was the cold of the sea in a dream. I swam through its waters. I was naked and knew not how to swim. But I neither felt its cold, nor drowned in its waters† (107). Perhaps after analyzing these two matching passages, one could make a claim that we must first humble ourselves in order to become insensitive to the coldness of this world. In the end, whether it is protection, comfort, intimacy, uneasiness, or death that Nawal El Saadawi and Yasunari Kawabata are portraying through their usage of heat and cold imagery in Woman at Point Zero and Thousand Cranes, we can easily see that both authors use heat and cold imagery as the dominant reoccurring literary device to portray feelings of love and fear and/or the lack thereof. Bibliography Kawabata, Yasunari. Thousand Cranes. Trans. Edward G. Seidensticker. Vintage Books: New York, 1996. Saadawi, Nawal El. Woman at Point Zero. Trans. Sherif Hetata. Zed Books: London, 1983.

Fidel Castro Essay -- essays research papers

Biography of Fidel Castro Fidel Castro was born on August 14, 1927 in Mayari, Cuba. His parents were relatively wealthy and owned a sugarcane plantation. During his childhood, he attended private Catholic Schools and graduated to attend the University of Havana in 1945. His teachers immediately noticed Fidel's amazing memory, which he used to memorize entire books. At the university, he majored in law studies and became a member of several groups that opposed the Cuban regime, aiding exiles from the Dominican Republic in their political movement. The Cuban government dissolved the group in 1947 and Fidel joined in protests in Bogota that were intended to stop the Ninth International Conference of American States. He graduated with his degree in law in 1950 and had seen the power of political movements. He became a full member of the Ortodoxo Party and campaigned for a seat in the Cuban Congress. However, his plans were disrupted when Fulgencio Batista seized control of the Cuban government in order to prevent the rise of the Orthodoxos. Under Batista, thousands of political opponents were murdered and the people were held under massive oppression. He began plotting militant action against the Batista regime, becoming the leader of nearly 200 revolutionaries from all over Cuba. On July 26, 1953, he led them in a guerilla attack on the Moncada army barracks in Santiage de Cuba. The militia seized weapons and other supplies and their success caused the citizens there to rally...

My Family, My Everything Essay

Family is the cement the mends my life, keeps me grounded, and allows me to be a part of something greater than myself. My family has always been very close, we always look forward to spending time together. We have mostly gotten along and supported each other. Not to say we never get mad at each other, like the time my sister took my car without asking and accidently wrecked it, we do always work things out. Though we have not always lived near each other, my family has remained close through; the â€Å"wonder years† growing up, family holidays, and supporting each other during good times and bad. My mom is an independent women who worked full-time, kept our family close, put dinner on the table and supported each of us any way she could. My mom did a spectacular job of raising us even though at times it was a struggle raising 3 children alone. Through the years of watching her as we grew into teenagers we gained our own independence around the house, at school and in our per sonal lives. The great example my mom set for us allowed us to become successful in our personal and professional lives by making good decisions, working hard towards our goals, and taking responsibility for our actions. Growing up was not always easy, because we moved around a lot which meant we always were attending a new school. Having to make new friends all of the time, we learned to find friendship in each other. Over 28 years ago my step father’s job transferred us to Southern Indiana. Distance could not keep us from each other, my mom and I talked to my sister and brother every week, if not every day keeping our family bond strong even with the miles between us. As the years went on the distance got easier, we would make the trip to Michigan often for holidays, special  events. In 2009, my mom and daughter moved to Michigan and later that year I packed up my husband and 2 other children and moved backed to Michigan. I like being able to meet all my family for dinner at my mom’s house or go bowling on the spur of the moment or shopping with my sister or to the beach with my niece, without having to drive seven hours from home. The thing I like the best is when we are all get together sit around and tell stories from our past and remember the good times and share laughs. I look forward to this for many years to come. When a tragedy affects someone in our family we all jump in and help without being asked. Several months ago my sister-in-law was starting to have head aches and not feeling well and then it began to affect her vision and balance. At first, the Doctor thought it could be something really serious and she had to keep going back and forth to the hospital to have testing done. We all helped them out and have all taken her illness on as our own and plan to stand beside her and my brother and will continue to support them anyway they need. We do this for each other without having to ask or feel like a burden. Through good and bad and in tough hardships and the best of times, my family has always stood together. It does not matter whether I am in a bad mood or busy with my life, my family comes first and they know that. They know they can always count on me and I will be there whenever they need me. While some families might act like a bunch of strangers, my family; they are my everything.

Plastics-Advantages and Disadvantages

An average time for a plastic bottle to biodegrade fully is approximately 450-1000 years. However, there are many different kinds of plastic in the world, most commonly the hard and reusable ones, which take a longer time, and the soft and non-reusable ones, which take a shorter time. Time also varies with the size of the bottle. The obvious disadvantage is the length of time it takes plastic to break down as well as the harmful chemicals that will be released. You may find that in garbages 90% or more will be of plastics only. so its main disadvantage is its non bio degradable nature.. nd by some means if tried to burn it then it will create much envi pollution!! Advantages The durability, strength, low cost, water and chemicals resistance, welding properties, lesser energy and heavy chemicals requirements in manufacture, fewer atmosphere emissions and light weight are advantages of plastic bags. Many studies comparing plastic versus paper for shopping bags show that plastic bags ha ve less net environmental effect than paper bags, requiring less energy to produce, transport and recycle; however these studies also note that recycling rates for plastic are significantly lower than for paper. 2]  Plastic bags  can be incinerated in appropriate facilities for waste-to-energy. Plastic bags are stable and benign in sanitary landfills. [3] Plastic carrier bags can be reused as trash bags or bin bags. Plastic bags are complimentary in many locations but are charged or â€Å"taxed† in others. Disadvantages The following disadvantages have also been identified: Plastic bags are made of petrochemicals, a nonrenewable resource. Plastic bags are flimsy and often do not stand up as well as paper or cloth. When disposed of improperly, they are unsightly and represent a hazard to wildlife. Conventional plastic bags are not readily biodegradable in a  sanitary landfill. Plastic bags can cause unsupervised infants to suffocate. [4]   They clog roadside drains, which could cause the flooding of the street at heavy rainfalls. Advantages: It's useful for carrying things, and can be reusable. Disadvantages: It takes 100 years to biodegrade, and if plastics are thrown and left anywhere it could get to animals and harm them The disadvantages of using plastic bags is that you cant recycle them and that's horrible for our planet , like what the world is saying to us, â€Å"help make me stay green† —— As a self declared environmentalist, I am at odds with using plastic bags versus using reusable cloth bags (also called reuse bags), because both types of bags have advantages and disadvantages. Here is why. First, plastic bags are cheap, so they can be given away free without thought. Cloth bags are much more individually expensive, and only become cost effective in the very long term assuming they last a long enough time. Second, plastic bags can be found everywhere. Only large chain stores carry reusable bags and for a cost. So you need to remember to bring enough cloth bags each time you go to the store. Third, I reuse plastic bags at home as trash bags instead of buying trash bags. Why pay for trash bags when plastic bags are free? And trash bags are only used once, unlike plastic bags that can be used at least twice. Also, plastic bags are great for wet and messy waste that you wouldn’t want to dirty a cloth bag with. For example, plastic bags are perfect for dirty diapers or gooey kitchen waste. Fourth, after I’ve collected a large number of plastic bags, they are easy to recycle. Are reuse cloth bags recyclable? Will they degrade over time buried in a landfill? I don’t know which type of bag is more environmentally friendly. Finally, cloth bags are much sturdier than plastic bags, so you can put more in cloth bags thus carry more per bag and they last a lot longer if you are careful with them. As a result, I find that I use both reuse cloth bags and plastic bags, since I have a reasonable need for both types of bags.

Debate on Genetically Modified Food Essay

For millions of years, the world has evolved and developed, by selective breeding to adapt into the society, which it is today. Natural adaptations and changes have occurred in various species of plants and animals, which even modern scientists cannot explain. Our world has survived for†¦ well forever, without genetically enhanced produce, so why should it invade humanity now, just because ‘we can’? Many scientists, who are in favour of GM foods, claim that it is simply the next step on from selective breeding; however they seem to have overlooked one difference. Genetic modification of anything requires the introduction of ‘alien’ genes into a species, to modify it and this is certainly not a natural process. For example, GM Soya has been modified using genes that will make it resistant to certain herbicides, such as ’roundup’. Although this may seem like a good thing on the surface, what happens when the pollen from these GM foods is passed on to native species? Aspects like this seem to have been overlooked. It is also a worry, because genetic engineering can be very unpredictable and the damaging effects of GM foods irreversible; if left unconfined it could get out of control. It is possible to end up creating harmful characteristics – such as toxins – unawares. This doesn’t necessarily condemn GMOs but it proves the unpredictability of genetic manipulation. The establishment for GM foods is keen to cover up any findings, which may turn people against GM foods, (possibly due to the huge profits involved). One particular scientist, in a report from the ‘Rowett Research Institute’, had been independently researching the effects of GM potatoes on rats. What his studies found was that they had a detrimental effect on the immune system and the growth of the rats. However when the establishment found this out, this man was reduced from being a well-respected researcher to a ‘mad cap scientist’. Although it is agreed that genetically modifying grain to include beta-carotene (vitamin C) may aid hunger and poor eyesight problems in third world countries, there is a large-scale scandal going on among large biotech companies, who want to increase their already large profits. GM food production, gives larger firms a ‘loop hole’ in which they are able to abuse the power of modifying these crops to their own specification. Recently, there have been reports that these companies have developed ‘doomsday’ seeds, which they want to sell onto the world market – particularly the struggling third world. These seeds have been genetically modified, so that once they have grown, the seeds they produce will genetically destroy themselves. These seeds may be an excellent money-spinner for the firms who sell them, but surely it is morally and ethically wrong to sell such seeds to poor and starving countries? The companies also have the added leverage over other seed producers because they are able to genetically modify their plants to grow faster and thus their seeds are cheaper than others. These people in the third world will eventually be forced into a downward spiral of having to buy new crops every year, because they are unable to afford the more expensive ‘normal’ seeds. And what would happen if these genes happened to escape into the environment? GM â€Å"genes† may spread into wild populations with unpredictable and potentially harmful consequences; In this case, they may even cause crops to produce sterile seeds, which could have an adverse effect on the ecosystem. If we are to have confidence in GM foods, then larger businesses should be kept out of research. The way GM foods are being exploited by powerful corporations is a threat to democracy. These crops are unsustainable in light of longer-term plans and the great majority of the GM market is focussed more on profit rather than improving our diet. Insufficient testing has taken place to ensure their safety for public consumption. Research should be carried out independently, to assess whether such foods would be a benefit to our society and the effects it will have on the eco-system. Only then should they be allowed onto the market.

Robots in Manufacturing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Robots in Manufacturing - Assignment Example Without a doubt, these robots have started playing significant roles in different areas but this report discusses the role of robots in manufacturing. It is an admitted fact that organizations those are engaged in manufacturing industries need automated systems to deal with their varying needs. In this scenario, robots are reprogrammable, multifunctional machine intended to move material, tools, parts or particular devices through a variety of engineered motions for performing various tasks. This report has studied the uses of robots in various areas of manufacturing. The use of robots in manufacturing is believed to be very helpful for the reason that manufacturing industries require dealing with complicated machines and working on these machines involves serious risk factors especially related to human health. In this scenario, the use of robots can help manufacturing industries deal with these serious issues as well as save lots of costs associated with manufacturing process. In t his report I have studied various aspects associated with robots with respect to their usage in manufacturing. In this report I have discussed how the use of robots allows manufacturing industries to reduce costs by replacing machines with humans. This report presents interesting facts regarding robots that allow readers to get a detailed insight of robots especially their functionality and advantages in manufacturing. ABSTRACT In the past few years, the use of robots has increased in every area of business organizations. Additionally, many organizations have adopted robots for various purposes such as for packaging, installation, moving materials from one unit to another. This report discusses the use of robots in manufacturing industries. The use of robots in manufacturing industries brings a number of benefits such as reduction in costs and saving from health related issues. The basic purpose of this research is to discuss how robots can be used in manufacturing and what benefits can be achieved by the organizations through the adoption of these robots. This report summarizes the concepts discussed by various authors and analyzes it to present the role of robots in manufacturing. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The competitive environment for manufacturers today has necessitated it for them to be more productive, efficient and dynamic. Since customers are the ultimate stakeholder, all businesses are moving towards meeting their expectations and fulfilling their satisfaction by adopting automated manufacturing to improve in quality cost and timeliness aspects. Moreover, equipment deployed by business in manufacturing processes and operations need to be efficiently utilized to their maximum capacity to enhance profitability. This has been made possible through usage of robots for handling, running and managing machinery, tools and equipment’s (Mathur et al., 2011, p.77). Hundreds of enterprises have succeeded in their business by switching to automated man ufacturing to avail its benefits and exploit new opportunities and horizons (Papakostas et al.,

Debate on the causes of global warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Debate on the causes of global warming - Essay Example While a dialectic method is used, it is used poorly, and there are almost no attempts at synthesis. The main topoi used by all sides are scientific data, but they are used poorly. There are three separate arguments made in the debate. One group of scientists claims that global warming is not occurring, another group claims that global warming is occurring because of natural changes in the earth's climate such as an increase in the level of solar radiation reaching the earth or changes in the patterns of winds, ocean currents, or volcanic activity, and another group claims that global warming is occurring because of an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to the large scale combustion of fossil fuels by humans that started during the time of the first industrial revolution and continues up to the present day. There are several different types of arguments used by scientists that deny the existence of global warming. The three main scientific arguments used by that side of the debate are claims that temperatures in the upper atmosphere have fallen in the last few decades, an argument that meteorological data from the last century is inaccurate because of the heat island effect, and a claim that differences in the way that average temperature is measured today cause average temperatures today to appear higher than they were in earlier decades. The claim that the temperatures in the upper atmosphere have fallen in the last few decades is the weakest of the three because there is no scientific proof that temperatures in the upper atmosphere have any correlation with ground temperatures. The temperature data was also slightly modified for scientific reasons in the survey, and scientists who claim that global warming is happening say that it was modified incorrectly. The argument that the heat island effect; or the effect of thermometers in weather stations being in highly developed areas where there are many heat-retaining ground coverings, such as buildings, concrete, and asphalt; is the cause of the observed rise in temperatures is a better argument, but there have been no attempts to analyze the effects of increasing urbanization quantitatively or show the exact levels of new development around each weather station. The claim that average temperatures appear higher because temperatures are now taken four times each day instead of twice is an even better argument, because the temperatures taken at the two other times are usually closer to the daily high than the daily low, and that causes the average daily temperature for each day to appear higher. However, it has been claimed that average highs and average lows have both risen in the past few decades, making this argument seem less convincing. Nonscientific arguments made by scientists and others that claim that glob al warming is not occurring include an argument that there is a global conspiracy against capitalism or the United States by socialists or internationalists using environmental junk science and the argument that most environmentalist scientists thought that there was a pattern of global cooling and the risk of a new ice age in the 1970s. Both arguments are ad hominem attacks. While many of the scientists that support the theory of human-caused Global Warming are extreme environmentalists, there is