Summary of Mario Vargas Llosa’s “Why Literature” an Example of the Topic Literature Essays by

Summary of Mario Vargas Llosa’s â€Å"Why Literature† Mario Vargas paper, Why Literature, basically highlighted the crucial roles that literature played in shaping the world and also the showed the importance of reading in all of humanity. Llosa first claimed that the notion no time to read does not truly exist. He also belied the concept that literature is simply a luxury or a form of entertainment afforded to people who have time. Need essay sample on "Summary of Mario Vargas Llosas Why Literature" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Our Customers Frequently Tell EssayLab support: How much do I have to pay someone to write my business essays for me? EssayLab writers suggest: Find Your Helping Hand! How To Write An Essay In Mla FormatHow To Start An EssayBuy College EssaysPay For Papers WrittenWrite My Paper For MeCollege PapersEssays For SaleCustom Essay Writing Service Moreover, he deplored the fact that there are less people in the world who read literature or who read books and other good materials. According to his observations, there are more women who read than men and that in certain countries, like Spain, half of the nations population has never read a book. The main reason behind this, Llosa claimed, is the rapid development of science and technology which caused the specialization of knowledge. While this development and specialization of knowledge has benefits, it also has severe consequences as it removes the cultural and intellectual traits that allow humans to communicate and coexist. In short, due to technology, humans become too compartmentalized or too specialized that they no longer interact with one another. On the other hand, according to Llosa, literature, unlike technology, integrates human beings and binds them together. Through literature, people can always converse with one another regardless of their respective professions, races, and cultural and geographic locations in the world. When people read a good piece of literature, they are in a way unified as they are brought to the alternate world that a book or a poem creates. In short, in the world of literature, there is a brotherly link or a common ground for people unlike in the world of science where each person has his or her own specialization and boundaries. However, Llosa noted that literature does not begin when the author simply creates a poem or a novel. It exists only when it is shared and adopted by other and becomes a part of life, which is done primarily through reading. Furthermore, Llosa claimed that one of the major benefits of literature is that it enriches and enhances language. It generally allows people to express their thoughts and emotions clearly and in the most creative ways. In addition, reading literature also enhances ones intellect and imagination. Most important, he claimed that literature drives the critical mind of people because it is radical and allows radical thoughts. It more or less promotes non-conformity to the harsh realities that are often perceived to be normal. According to Llosa, literature transports people to a timeless world where virtually everything is perfect. When these people are brought back to reality, they suddenly possess the desire to recreate the alternate dimension, which they may read in a poem or a book, in the real world. In short, it can then be deduced that literature played an important role in shaping history because it gave people the means to think outside the box and allowed them to constantly reshape the world so that it closely resembled the place where they want to live in. Likewise, he argued that a world without literature would halt humanitys progress and development because they would remain primitive and barbaric. Therefore, he concluded that that in order for the world to further develop and not be overwhelmed by the rapid evolution of technology, people must start reading. In general, I agree with the authors points in the paper. It is a fact that as technology continues to develop rapidly today, people are less inclined to read good literature because they are caught up in the limits and boundaries that science has set. This is an unfortunate scenario because like what the author said, in literature there are no limits. Through reading the books of Don Quixote and the poems of Shakespeare, among many others, we can escape the harsh realities of life and temporarily exist in a world where time does not pass. In other words, people should always find time to read a good novel or a great piece of literature because it stimulates the imagination and broadens creativity, which is essential in life. References Llosa, M. V. (2001, May 14). Why Literature? The New Republic.

Samuel Johnsons Dictionary of the English Language

Samuel Johnsons Dictionary of the English Language On April 15, 1755, Samuel Johnson published his two-volume Dictionary of the English Language. It wasnt the first English dictionary (more than 20 had appeared over the preceding two centuries), but in many ways, it was the most remarkable. As modern lexicographer Robert Burchfield has observed, In the whole tradition of English language and literature the only dictionary compiled by a writer of the first rank is that of Dr. Johnson. Unsuccessful as a schoolmaster in his hometown of Lichfield, Staffordshire (the few students he had were put off by his oddities of manner and uncouth gesticulationsmost likely the effects of Tourette syndrome), Johnson moved to London in 1737 to make a living as an author and editor. After a decade spent writing for magazines and struggling with debt, he accepted an invitation from bookseller Robert Dodsley to compile a definitive dictionary of the English language. Dodsley solicited the patronage of the Earl of Chesterfield, offered to publicize the dictionary in his various periodicals, and agreed to pay Johnson the considerable sum of 1,500 guineas in installments. What should every logophile know about Johnsons Dictionary? Here are a few starting points. Johnson's Ambitions In his Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language, published in August 1747, Johnson announced his ambition to rationalize spellings, trace etymologies, offer guidance on pronunciation, and preserve the purity, and ascertain the meaning of our English idiom. Preservation and standardization were primary goals: [O]ne great end of this undertaking, Johnson wrote, is to fix the English language.As Henry Hitchings notes in his book Defining the World (2006), With time, Johnsons conservatism- the desire to fix the language- gave way to a radical awareness of languages mutability. But from the outset, the impulse to standardize and straighten English out was in competition with the belief that one should chronicle whats there, and not just what one would like to see. Johnson's Labors In other European countries around this time, dictionaries had been assembled by large committees. The 40 immortals who made up the Acadà ©mie franà §aise took 55 years to produce their French  Dictionnaire. The Florentine Accademia della Crusca labored 30 years on its Vocabolario. In contrast, working with just six assistants (and never more than four at a time), Johnson completed his dictionary in about eight years. Unabridged and Abridged Editions Weighing in at roughly 20 pounds, the first edition of Johnsons Dictionary ran to 2,300 pages and contained 42,773 entries. Extravagantly priced at 4 pounds, 10 shillings, it sold only a few thousand copies in its first decade. Far more successful was the 10-shilling abridged version published in 1756, which was superseded in the 1790s by a best-selling miniature version (the equivalent of a modern paperback). Its this miniature edition of Johnsons Dictionary that Becky Sharpe tossed out of a carriage window in Thackerays Vanity Fair (1847). The Quotations Johnsons most significant innovation was to include quotations (well over 100,000 of them from more than 500 authors) to illustrate the words he defined as well as provide tidbits of wisdom along the way. Textual accuracy, it appears, was never a major concern: if a quotation lacked felicity or didnt quite serve Johnsons purpose, hed alter it. The Definitions The most commonly cited definitions in Johnsons Dictionary tend to be quirky and polysyllabic: rust is defined as the red desquamation of old iron; cough is a convulsion of the lungs, vellicated by some sharp serosity; network is any thing reticulated or decussated, at equal distances, with interstices between the intersections. In truth, many of Johnsons definitions are admirably straightforward and succinct. Rant, for instance, is defined as high sounding language unsupported by dignity of thought, and hope is an expectation indulged with pleasure. Rude Words Though Johnson omitted certain words for reasons of propriety, he did admit a number of vulgar phrases, including  bum, fart, piss, and turd. (When Johnson was complimented by two ladies for having left out naughty words, he is alleged to have replied, What, my dears! Then you have been looking for them?) He also provided a delightful selection of verbal curios (such as belly-god, one who makes a god of his belly, and amatorculist, a little insignificant lover) as well as insults, including fopdoodle (a fool; an insignificant wretch), bedpresser (a heavy lazy fellow), and pricklouse (a word of contempt for a tailor). Barbarisms Johnson didnt hesitate to pass judgment on words he considered socially unacceptable. On his list of  barbarisms were such familiar words as budge, con, gambler, ignoramus, shabby, trait, and volunteer (used as a verb). And Johnson could be opinionated in other ways, as in his famous (though not original) definition of oats: a grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people. Meanings Not surprisingly, some of the words in Johnsons Dictionary have undergone a change in meaning since the 18th century. For example, in Johnsons time a cruise was a small cup, a high-flier was someone who carries his opinions to extravagance, a recipe was a medical prescription, and a urinator was a diver; one who searches under water. Lessons Learned In the preface to A Dictionary of the English Language, Johnson acknowledged that his optimistic plan to fix the language had been thwarted by the ever-changing nature of language itself: Those who have been persuaded to think well of my design, require that it should fix our language, and put a stop to those alterations which time and chance have hitherto been suffered to make in it without opposition. With this consequence I will confess that I flattered myself for a while; but now begin to fear that I have indulged expectation which neither reason nor experience can justify. When we see men grow old and die at a certain time one after another, from century to century, we laugh at the elixir that promises to prolong life to a thousand years; and with equal justice may the lexicographer be derided, who being able to produce no example of a nation that has preserved their words and phrases from mutability, shall imagine that his dictionary can embalm his language, and secure it from corruption and decay, that it is in his power to change sublunary nature, or clear the world at once from folly, vanity, and affectation. Ultimately Johnson concluded that his early aspirations reflected the dreams of a poet doomed at last to wake a lexicographer. But of course Samuel Johnson was more than a dictionary maker; he was, as Burchfield noted, a writer and editor of the first rank. Among his other notable works are a travel book, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland; an eight-volume edition of The Plays of William Shakespeare; the fable Rasselas (written in a week to help pay his mothers medical expenses); The Lives of the English Poets; and hundreds of essays and poems. Nonetheless, Johnsons Dictionary stands as an enduring achievement. More than any other dictionary, Hitching says, it abounds with stories, arcane information, home truths, snippets of trivia, and lost myths. It is, in short, a treasure house. Fortunately, we can now visit this treasure house online. Graduate student Brandi Besalke has begun uploading a searchable version of the first edition of Johnsons Dictionary at johnsonsdictionaryonline.com. Also, the sixth edition (1785) is available in a variety of formats at the Internet Archive. To learn more about Samuel Johnson and his Dictionary, pick up a copy of Defining the World: The Extraordinary Story of Dr. Johnsons Dictionary by Henry Hitchings (Picador, 2006). Other books of interest include Jonathon Greens Chasing the Sun: Dictionary Makers and the Dictionaries They Made (Henry Holt, 1996); The Making of Johnsons Dictionary, 1746-1773 by Allen Reddick (Cambridge University Press, 1990); and Samuel Johnson: A Life by David Nokes (Henry Holt, 2009).

Corporate Governance Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Corporate Governance Issues - Essay Example Thus, society and business co-exist in the same place, benefiting from each other through wealth transfer or the satisfaction of a need, and as long as business meets this need and serves its purposes for both society and the owner of the business, then it continues to be an ongoing and sustainable concern as the income generated allows the business to stay in existence. However, once any of these purposes is not met, either the business ceases to exist or a new business with a different set of purposes is created. In recent years, society and business have come into escalating conflict, as businesses focus on the generation of profit at all cost to the detriment of society. Thus, business has destroyed environments, abused its workers, and even sold products that killed or injured its customers. Other businesses have abused their economic power to subdue nations, twisted the arms of their governments, and caused severe harm to other sovereign nations, their people, and their environ ments. As the phenomenon of globalisation spread in the last decade, the extent of the conflict between business and society escalated. Now, not only are businesses supposed to earn profits and meet the needs of its consuming society. It also has to stand by the quality of its products, ensure that its working conditions are human, and that all of its activities are sustainable, i.e., do not cause permanent damage to the welfare of future generations. Negligence on any of these points would open the company to damaging lawsuits, as shown by recent experiences with costly litigation on the effects of asbestos, tobacco, and faulty pharmaceuticals.

Earth Science movie review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Earth Science - Movie Review Example Are any of the characters playing scientists? How are these characters portrayed? Geeky or cool? This movie has many characters playing the role of scientists; extremely part of the movie had its own reason and the parts were clear well. The casts had different roles to play in the movie making the movie to have a flow that to the viewer. The best part of the movie is the coordination that was there between the casts some scenes were direct to the point meaning they did not require any scripting one had to put his words that fit the story well. The target to set by NASA to stop an asteroid on a collision course with the earth was successful (Robert 4). What parts of the movie were scientifically accurate? I.e. what happened that was actually possible and correctly portrayed? The Armageddon movie involves rush thrills narrow escapes and explosions. Extremely thing in the movie is the superb content and it is attractive to the eyes of the viewer; the lighting and the change of scenes i n the movie are correctly timed (Rick 2). The scientists are also extremely well equipped this makes the movie to be real and appealing, this movie if its accuracy is to be compared to talk shows it may be Oprah’s show. ... The directors should have also used the most equipments for astronomy to improve the content. This movie gives many flashlights to the viewer. Were there parts of the movie that may have been possible, but were likely exaggerated for entertainment purposes? The building of a comet that was to head to the earth, the comet had larger bunkers that could keep up to a million people. This was fiction and the fact that they found two hundred thousand people with significant jobs to get into the bunker. At the end, the comet does not hit the earth surface, and people still survive. This part of the movie was exaggerated because in real sense, this is something that can be done but the number of people in the comet seems to be significant, if the number was little this could be argued to be fact (Yoram 9). The number of people, who were in the movie, should be significant because the movie talks about extremely many things at once. Reflect on the movie as a whole. Would it have been as inter esting or entertaining if it had been scientifically accurate? If the movie was scientific it would have been extremely easy for people to understand, if a person many people understand what they see if there is no fiction in the characters taking part in the movie. The scientific technology that in the movie is easy to digest so if any were improvement made then the movie would have been interesting. Some people may just not get in mind what is happening by listening to the words, by watching what is in the movie makes them understand even more and seeing what you have never seen. The word Armageddon is derived from scary thoughts. This word means too many people that it’s destruction of

Friction. Lab report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Friction. - Lab Report Example Record the load and the hanger’s weight and repeat this procedure placing masses of 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 g successively on top of the wood block. Turn the wood block on its side and repeat former task with a mass of 400 g on top of the block then turn the same block with the largest contact surface with the plane and place 400 g on top of the block, gradually increasing the load on the hanger until the block just starts to move. Set up the board as an inclined plane and place the wood block on the plane with its largest surface in contact, and gradually tip the plane up until the block just starts to slide down. Results: Coefficient of Kinetic Friction (based on the graph) = 0.323 ÃŽ ¼k = 0.307 (procedure 4) ; ÃŽ ¼s = 0.3710 (procedure 6) ÃŽ ¼s = 0.4073 (procedure 5) ; ÃŽ ¼k = 0.3575 (procedure 7) Applications: The concept may be applied by an engineer or specialist who needs to know the type/ property, mass of material, and angles of impending motion suitable for use in problems where friction is a significant factor in design and construction. Calculations (1) Using MS Excel, Based on this, ?k = 0.323 (2) Using the data of Procedure 4: total normal force = 6.388 N and friction force = 1.962 N and since fk = ?k * FN then, ?k = 1.962 N / 6.388 N ---? ?k = 0.307 (3) From the data of Procedure 5: ?s = force to start moving the block / total normal force Trial 1: ?s = 2.7468 N / 6.389 N ---? ?s = 0.4299 Trial 2: ?s = 2.354 N / 6.389 N ---? ?s = 0.3684 Trial 3: ?s = 2.707 N / 6.389 N ---? ?s = 0.4237 Average value (?s) = (0.4299 + 0.3684 + 0.4237) / 3 = 0.4073 Deviation (trial 1) = 0.4299 - 0.4073 = 0.0226 , |0.0226| = 0.226 Deviation (trial 2) = 0.3684 - 0.4073 = -0.0389 , |-0.0389| = 0.0389 Deviation (trial 3) = 0.4237 - 0.4073 = 0.0164 , |0.0164| = 0.0164 (4) From the data of Procedure 6: ?s = tan (?max) Trial 1: ?s = tan (19Â °) ---? ?s = 0.3443 Trial 2: ?s = tan (23Â °) ---? ?s = 0.4245 Trial 3: ?s = tan (19Â °) ---? ?s = 0.3443 Averaage value (?s) = (0.3443 + 0.4245 + 0.3443) / 3 = 0.3710 Deviation (trial 1) = 0.3443 - 0.3710 = -0.0267 , |-0.0267| = 0.0267 Deviation (trial 2) = 0.4245 - 0.3710 = 0.0535 , |0.0535| = 0.0535 Deviation (trial 3) = 0.3443 - 0.3710 = -0.0267 , |-0.0267| = 0.0267 Difference between two values of ?s = 0.4073 - 0.3710 = 0.0363 (5) From the data of Procedure 7: ?s = tan (?max) Trial 1: ?s = tan (21Â °) ---? ?s = 0.3839 Trial 2: ?s = tan (19Â °) ---? ?s = 0.3443 Trial 3: ?s = tan (19Â °) ---? ?s = 0.3443 Averaage value (?s) = (0.3839 + 0.3443 + 0.3443) / 3 = 0.3575 Deviation (trial 1) = 0.3839 - 0.3575 = 0.0264 , |0.0264| = 0.0264 Deviation (trial 2) = 0.3443 - 0.3575 = -0.0132 , |-0.0132| = 0.0132 Deviation (trial 3) = 0.3443 - 0.3575 = -0.0132 , |-0.0132| = 0.0132 Questions & Answers (1) Explain in your own words why it is necessary that the block move at constant velocity in Procedures 2 – 4. The block must move in constant velocity so that no acceleration occurs which would create a net force that would affect determination of normal force and friction. (2) (a) How does the coefficient of friction depend upon the normal force between the surfaces in contact? (b) How does it depend upon the area of the surfaces in contact? The coefficient of friction decreases with increasing normal force between the surfaces of contact. However, coefficient of friction does not depend upon the contact surface area because in the experiment, values of normal forces stay the same while the force to keep the block moving uniformly does not differ much between that of the flat position and the

Defects Caused by a Defective Government

Defects Caused by a Defective Government Kyleigh Grandon Erin Miller Between the years of 1961 and 1971, over 11 million gallons of an extremely harmful pesticide were sprayed throughout what equates to 10% of Southern Vietnam, or 4.2 million acres. The pesticide, Agent Orange, would go onto lead quite a legacy, ranging from severe birth defects and various types of cancer. The United States is responsible for these health issues that influence over 2.1 million peoples lives today. Veterans that fought in the Vietnam War cannot control who they pass the illnesses on to, so many of their poor, unknowing children and grandchildren are impacted as well. The Department of Defense needs to take responsibility for the effects of Agent Orange and increase the funding to stop the suffering. Agent Orange was accidentally created in 1943 by Arthur Galston. Originally only supposed to be a plant growth stimulant, the pesticide wiped the plants out. This caught the eye of scientists at Fort Detrick in Maryland and they began to study Galstons work. With the help of the British Air Force, Agent Orange was born. Though initially not toxic, it becomes hazardous during production with the addition of the chemical dioxin. Galston boycotted the use for years, but it was not stopped until the presidency of Richard Nixon in 1971. During this time, millions were exposed leading to many severe health problems that most still have today. Money was not given to Vietnam by the country responsible, the United States, until 2007. The U.S. did not even mention helping the Vietnamese until 2006. The fact that 35 years passed before discussions even began is outrageous. When high levels of dioxin were found in soil in two locations in the United States: Love Canal and Time Beach, the Vietnamese almost immediately provided clean-up services and help for American veterans. Over 12 years went by before the United States government considered helping the more severely affected Vietnamese people. There is absolutely no reason why such a long period of time had to go by before the Department of Defense brought the severe effects of Agent Orange before Congress so they could provide proper funding and resolution. One Vietnamese study estimates that up to five million people have health issues that are caused by exposure to Agent Orange. Of the 5 million people suffering, 3.5 million are veterans that have such severe problems, many parish every day.   If they are lucky enough to survive, they are faced with the fact that their health issues can still be passed on to their children and their childrens offspring. Approximately 350,000 family members of these veterans have health issues, many being small children. Most that are affected have a cleft palate, congenital heart disease, and / or spina bifida and many do not live until the age of 18. These are only three of the possible 31 diseases listed by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. With many victims living in small, poverty-stricken villages, they are unable to afford proper medical care and every day parents are forced to watch their small children pass. With all the acts Congress passed between 2007 and 2011, they gave $31,000,000 in total. With the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012, Vietnam received a well deserved $20,000,000 on top of that. However, it still is not enough, with 17 of 23 soil samples taken from Da Nang, Vietnams fifth highest populated city and busy tourist area, being deemed harmful and far above international standards.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   This is devastating, considering there are 1.047 million people living there and when tested, the test results of some Da Nang residents was 100 times above acceptable. A bone marrow and tissue test is typically done to help diagnose people who are ill, but many are unable to receive them because a single test costs a grand. Since most of the funds from the U.S. go towards clean-up, people who suffer with health issues are left stranded, hoping they can get free healthcare just to stay alive. The fact that the clean-up completion date only keeps getting pushed even further into the future and that more people just become exposed everyday is pitiful. This just goes on to prove that Department of Defense does not want to take full responsibility because they are only looking out for themselves and cannot realize the humane thing to do. Since the United States is the highest donator towards the Agent Orange clean-up, many think that they have done enough. With a total of almost 62 million dollars donated, that is completely understandable. 75% of cleanup is complete as of mid-2016, so the question some are asking is why the United States should come up with more funding. When Americans do not have the healthcare coverage they need, the government feels like why should they have to pay for another countrys healthcare. With every one person exposed and the chance to still pass it down from generation to generation it simply means the effects will never end. With millions suffering every day with defects from a defective government, the Department of Defense needs to reach out a longer helping hand to reach those in villages who need increased help. Additionally, the highest concentrated area is next to an airport that has four million attendees a year, one million of those people being foreigners. This only means that the effects of dioxin are potentially spreading all throughout the world for more to get ill. The United States does not recognize any legal liability for damages alleged to be related by Agent Orange. Why is that when they are 100% responsible? Vietnam did not spray Agent Orange on their own country, America did it all. Every time someone gets a disability from Agent Orange, it is all because of us. Dear Department of Defense, accept reality, be humane, and take full responsibility for the mess you have caused.

Gangs Essay -- Gang Essays

Gangs Introduction I. -A Los Angeles family takes a wrong turn into gang territory and is fired upon. A 3-year-old is killed and her 2-year-old brother wounded. -A Chinese immigrant in Brooklyn is kidnapped by a Chinatown gang which demands ransom payments from her family. She is murdered when the family fails to pay. -Two FBI agents and a police sergeant are murdered inside the Washington, D.C. police headquarters by a gang member. -A Pittsburgh police sergeant walking home with his daughter is killed with his own gun after he stops and confronts a gang spraying graffiti on a street. II. Resolved : that the Federal Government should pass laws to prevent the development gang related youth violence. Definitions- 1. Development: as defined in Websters Dictionary is â€Å"to make more elaborate; to enlarge† 2. Gang: as defined in Websters is â€Å"A group of persons who are organized and work together or socialize regularly; a group of adolescent hoodlums or criminals; gang up on; to attack as a group.† 3. Violence: as defined in Websters is â€Å"Physical force or activity used to cause harm, damage or abuse† 4. Youth: as defined in Websters is â€Å"The appearance or state of appearing young; the time of life when one is not considered a adult; a young person† III. Our current juvenile justice system is no longer adequate for today's hardened young gang members. Demographics indicated this problem is not going away. In fact, only will get worse. This is a serious problem that can not be left unchecked. If this is not addressed it will only lead to the decay of our society. We must take action to combat gangs in a new way. Vice President Albert Gore recently told the White House press corps, "Gangs have been a major cause of the growth in violent crime in the past decade." He cited a Treasury Department report that found the presence of rival gangs, the Bloods and the Crips, in 35 states and 58 cities across the country. At the same press conference, Attorney General Janet Reno cited the impact of disabling one gang in New Haven, Connecticut. Eighteen members of the "Jungleboy" street gang were put in jail, and, according to Reno, New Haven's murder rate fell by one-third in 1993. I. Outline of Need Arguments A. Problem: Many highly rated experts warn of the impending youth crime crisis. Youth violent crime has been... ...where gangs dominate life and rain violent crime. Many of these children join gangs to find purpose, security, and self-esteem. The gang culture gives them a sense of belonging and remakes their value system. Partying, fighting, and vicious gang loyalty become their primary values, thus pushing aside virtues that favor family life. This is a vicious cycle and it must be broken. Given that youth gangs account for a disproportionate share of youth violence, their potential for contributing to a future crime wave is enormous. A recent decline in violent crime appears to be more a result of fewer teenagers than better law enforcement. When the current bumper crop of elementary-age children become adolescents, the violent crime rate is likely to explode. Gangs are the powder magazine, they must be dealt with before the bomb goes off. Rebuttal extensions- Population of 14-18 year olds Now 17,620,472 5 Years 18,628,635 + 6 % 10 Years 20,284,601 + 15%