Alfred! Essays (3546 words) - Alfred The Great, House Of Wessex

Alfred! Alfred the Great is the only English king ever to achieve that remarkable title. And yet recent scholarship seems determined to prove that he did not perhaps deserve such a title. Though there is little question of Alfreds military prowess, his contributions to education and scholarship often come under fire. Accusations of incorrect authorship are the most common and are generally used in an effort to show that Alfred was not a special as England would like to think. In fact scholars seem to go out of their way to show that Alfred was nothing more than a strong military leader. This type of scrutiny and derision is really rather foolish. Despite the fact that a few (and only a few!) of the translations attributed to Alfred have been proven as belonging to another author, several of his greatest contributions are still very much uncontested. The pillar of his translations, The Consolation of Philosophy is thus far unquestionably Alfreds. The next accusation that comes is that most of the work was done by scribes and not Alfred. There is not a great deal of evidence for or against this statement, but even so there is little question that Alfred was very much involved in the process. This can clearly be seen by his remarkable prefaces and commentary within his translations. Today, his translations are used in many colleges by students learning Old English, evidence that even today Alfred makes a difference. Finally, even without the translations Alfred still contributed in remarkable ways to scholarship and education. He welcomed scholars into his realm and worked to achieve literacy in his kingdom. Despite the efforts to debunk Alfred and his title, the fact of the matter is that Alfred more than deserves his title and fame. Because of Alfred, England achieved a period of piece, new military practices, and the increase of literacy throughout the kingdom. His translations made several important works accessible to his people and provided future generations with e xcellent examples of Old English through the lens of a highly intelligent man. Even setting aside the many contributions that he made, Alfred was great because of the kind of person and king that he was. Highly intelligent, deeply spiritual, and an excellent military commander; Alfreds achievements, personality, and passion for his people far outweigh any evidence current scholars attempt to throw at them. As a person, Alfred is generally seen as exemplary. As a child and later in life he is usually described as thoughtful, sensitive and with an eager curiosity, and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Similar epithets are often used, especially thoughtful. Clearly Alfred was a very intelligent person from the very beginning. How his contemporaries may have seen him is a bit hazy. A letter from Pope John VIII stating Alfred as wronging the house of the Lord and ignoring Canterburys privileges has been cited as a possible continental view. This is a letter that is only mentioned by one source and is a letter that is rather difficult to believe in the face of Alfreds own piety. Perhaps this letter only pertains to that moment in time, when Alfred was in some debate with Canterbury. It is an interesting letter to have, but one that is likely an isolated incident as Alfreds piety is well known and was to his contemporaries as well. In other aspects Alfred was somewhat ignored on the Conti nent (according to Janet Turner) and later historians were the ones who pointed out his similarities to Charlemagne and his similar attempts for literacy on the Continent. Given the bishops and scholars that he was able to call to his side, it is more likely that his Continental contemporaries saw him as a good and intelligent man as well. The Vikings eventually came to respect him and form the Danelaw with him. To his own people though (and really their opinion is the most important), Alfred was a good and strong king, with a great deal of military might. Alfreds contributions to his military is generally accepted. Surprisingly, the actual battles that Alfred fought were often defeats. The image of the warrior king nonetheless stands. The reason for this is the fact that while Alfred may not

Free Essays on Lenin

Lenin’s Legacy The continuing presence of Lenin’s body on display in the Masoleum on Red Square has great historical significance; it represents Lenin’s promise of prosperity and equality. Lenin, the father of the Russian Revolution, along with other revolutionary groups, waged war against czarism, banishing tsarist Russia and instituted a new Russia, the Soviet Union. He introduced and established a new ideology- socialism, which promised the Russian citizens the power to govern themselves. He took on the difficult tasks of radically amending all aspects of Czarist Russia- political, economic, military and social policies. These policies set a precedent for other leaders, who very often used Lenin’s cult to justify their own proposals. Lenin laid the foundations for a state so rugged that it would endure for seventy years, and so powerful that it would eventually challenge the United States for world supremacy. Lenin’s tomb is symbolic of his legacy. Tsar Nicholas II abdicated his throne on March 3, 1917, ending over three centuries of uninterrupted Romanov rule in the Russian empire. The old regime was gone. A phenomenon of dual power emerged in Russia by March 1917 where the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviets shared ruling power. This system was soon overthrown by Lenin’s Bolsheviks who created a violent revolution with the help of the workers strikes of 1917. The Lenin platform was effective because it encompassed the desires of most segments of society- â€Å"Land, peace, and bread.† Unlike other parties struggling for power during the Revolution, Lenin wanted to end Russia’s involvement in WWI. This gained him considerable military support. Lenin also called for an end to the old provincial governments and the turning over of all land to the peasants immediately. This gained him support from the large peasant population, which accounted for 80% of Russia’s citizens. Lenin also noted ... Free Essays on Lenin Free Essays on Lenin Lenin’s Legacy The continuing presence of Lenin’s body on display in the Masoleum on Red Square has great historical significance; it represents Lenin’s promise of prosperity and equality. Lenin, the father of the Russian Revolution, along with other revolutionary groups, waged war against czarism, banishing tsarist Russia and instituted a new Russia, the Soviet Union. He introduced and established a new ideology- socialism, which promised the Russian citizens the power to govern themselves. He took on the difficult tasks of radically amending all aspects of Czarist Russia- political, economic, military and social policies. These policies set a precedent for other leaders, who very often used Lenin’s cult to justify their own proposals. Lenin laid the foundations for a state so rugged that it would endure for seventy years, and so powerful that it would eventually challenge the United States for world supremacy. Lenin’s tomb is symbolic of his legacy. Tsar Nicholas II abdicated his throne on March 3, 1917, ending over three centuries of uninterrupted Romanov rule in the Russian empire. The old regime was gone. A phenomenon of dual power emerged in Russia by March 1917 where the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviets shared ruling power. This system was soon overthrown by Lenin’s Bolsheviks who created a violent revolution with the help of the workers strikes of 1917. The Lenin platform was effective because it encompassed the desires of most segments of society- â€Å"Land, peace, and bread.† Unlike other parties struggling for power during the Revolution, Lenin wanted to end Russia’s involvement in WWI. This gained him considerable military support. Lenin also called for an end to the old provincial governments and the turning over of all land to the peasants immediately. This gained him support from the large peasant population, which accounted for 80% of Russia’s citizens. Lenin also noted ...

Summit vs. State Supreme Court of Nevada (1985) Essay

Summit vs. State Supreme Court of Nevada (1985) - Essay Example This testimony was offered by the appellant by stating that the victim had previous knowledge of similar acts that formed a foundation for the current case. Summitt was convicted by the grand jury, and the current case is an appeal on grounds of the rape shield law under FRE 412. Issue The issue before the court in the current case is whether the rape shield law allowed the admission of prior sexual experience of the victim as evidence in the case. The court had to determine whether Summitt could introduce the prior sexual experience of his victim as a basis for his defense in the appeal of his conviction. Rule The rule in this case is defined by the Nevada Revised Statute Section 50.090.1, which limits the inquiry into the sexual history of a victim in a rape or sexual assault case. This rule reversed the common law statute of rape cases, where the morality of the victim could have led the assailant to infer consent for sexual acts. Analysis The rape shield law was designed to preve nt the introduction of irrelevant evidence in sexual assault cases, evidence that had the potential to prejudice a jury against a victim in the case. The evidence that is usually barred includes opinions or apparent previous reputations of the victim and prior sexual experience. In the case of Summitt v. The State Supreme Court of Nevada, the rape shield law was used to prevent the appellant from introducing a previous sexual assault on the victim as basis for defense. The appellant tried to claim that since the victim had been subjected to the same assault previously, the victim had prior independent knowledge of the present case. According to common law, a defendant has the right to present witnesses in a case, cross examine them and introduce any history that pertains to the case. But in the case of sexual assault, this history might have no bearing on the case and just prejudice the jury. Therefore, the rape shield law is used to shield the victim from unfair testimony. In this case, the defendant tried to prove that the prior sexual experience of the child could have been used to formulate the evidence in the current case, indicating that the rape shield law should not have been applied. In dissenting, Steffen, a judge, stated that the previous sexual experience of the victim could have been used to make up statements in the current case, and that the lesser court was wrong in excluding reference to the previous assault. Conclusion The decision in the case to reverse the prior ruling and remand the case for a new trial was based on the error by the district court in not admitting the prior sexual experience of the victim in the case. This means that the rape shield law can sometimes act unfavorably for the defendant, since the victim could have prior knowledge that might have bearing in the current case. Discussion The rule in this case impacts different rape and sexual cases. From the decision, it is seen that the rape shield law can be circumvented by a jury if it is evident that the defendant needs the prior sexual experience of the victim in his case. Question 2 Facts Martin Weil unexpectedly passed away, and on investigation, his doctors could not explain the cause of death or the cause of several medical complications that he experienced before his death. One

PLANNING Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

PLANNING - Research Paper Example However, on the other hand, if any organization is not planning adequately then, it is on route to damnation to say the least. Additionally, it is important to mention that too much of something is always bad and same goes with planning. The organizations and managers that succumb to planning unnecessarily do not have sufficient time to implement and translate plans into the reality. The value of modifying strategy was revealed in order to survive in the global corporate arena. Each and every country in the world is known to have divergent cultural norms and therefore, it is imperative for the companies to modify their practices according to the environment of the local economy. Ireland, D., & Hitt, M. (1999). Achieving and maintaining strategic competitiveness in the 21st century: The role of strategic leadership. Academy of Management Perspectives Vol 13 (1) 43-57. The leading firms are famous for building a consortium of strategists and operational management. The strategists are responsible for planning new practices and products and the operational managers are there for making these concepts a reality. The abovementioned division is necessary because those who plan cannot implement and those who implement cannot plan. In this manner, a synergetic relation gets birth and therefore, the doers have to work closely with the thinkers. The planning remained an integral part of the business in all ages but in the era of the 21st century, it is more than an integral now because it is the heart and soul of the commerce. The environment of each and every industry in the world is changing rapidly and therefore, the businesses have to change their strategic stance in order to cope with varying climate. The organizations that are planning without any plan are nonexistent because they cannot survive in the challenging market environment of the 21st century (Ireland & Hitt 1999). The entrance of foreign competition placed a premium on the practice of planning and becaus e of this reason, the companies are needed to use more complex methods of planning in order to live their days peacefully in the modern era that is plagued with technological interventions. The planning got complex and if organizations fail to use sophisticated methods towards scheduling then, they will be going to end up extinct. Agnew, M. (2013). Strategic Planning An Examination of the Role of Disciplines in Sustaining Internationalization of the University. Journal of Studies in International Education Vol 17 (2) , 183-202. The importance and value of strategic planning in the field of education was highlighted. The global educational institutions have to plan vigorously in order keep their course offering aligned with the changing and growing needs of the practical arena. The idea of foreseeing the development of new educational needs is indeed the essence of managing educational institutions in the modern era of the 21st century. The planning is also defined as predicting the future and this is the manager’s way to talk to the future. The managers are always talking to the future on their own way. The planning helps the managers in creating the future. Those business professionals who only talk to the future adapt in order to manage the future. But, the managers who plan in detail somehow end up with the power to manipulate the future to service them and their objectives. Thusly, a new organizational philosophy developed where employees are empowered. The planning took a role of providing a new ways of

China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

China - Essay Example Democracy was never followed in Peoples Republic of China (PRC), be it the Chinese media or press, all were owned by the Chinese government. And the most annoying dilemma to which U.S was confronted since the beginning of Chinese independence was the failure of U.S government to introduce political reforms in China. Since the beginning, U.S was interested in bringing democracy to China, to which he allegedly failed. On the other hand Chinese media has always vehemently condemned the United States as a real enemy over a series of crises and why it shouldn't blame the U.S as the press and media are the well known governmental bodies of PRC: the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade; the row over human rights, trade, and Taiwan; the alleged Chinese espionage on U. S. nuclear intelligence, and a U. S. spy plane crashing into a Chinese fighter plane. These all examples escort us to the fact that nationalist feelings is China's genuine hunger for international status, for which today PRC has changed its dimensions with the media hailing the upcoming 2008 Olympics and WTO membership as milestones of national importance. (Chuan Lee, 2003, p. 2) According to Xiaogang, "there is something unique about the press in China's transition to the market, namely the duality of its formal and informal roles. On the formal side, all media are required to toe the official propaganda line. Press controls in China are not based upon codified censorship but are issue-specific. In order to ensure that the media interpret the news in a way favorable to the regime, the state decides what the press can and cannot report, who deals with particular issues and how these news items are to be presented. On the informal side, journalists have been attempting to break free from state control as their media seek liberties in the marketplace. Though all Chinese media have bureaucratic affiliations, their operations have been increasingly commercialized, and they can express opinions, which are quite different from those prescribed by their bureaucratic affiliations". (Xiaogang, 1999) Background of Chinese Politics The American image of China despite of dating back to the colonial period and the early trade with the Chinese has never been considered friendly, but the degree and the level to which orientalist views about China were normalized, domesticated, and popularized in the World War II era which is unmatched by any other period in American history. Unique to the American orientalist discourse of this period was the way it tended to measure and define America according to carefully calibrated terms of modernity. Modernity at this juncture in history, more than at any other time, was most closely associated with material luxuries and conveniences afforded by the advancement of technology as well as the adoption of beliefs that promoted the progress of civilization. This has been the reason why the Chinese culture and civilization apart from the governmental level has been under deep influence of U.S. To believe in progress was to believe in the promise of science and the values embedded in American notions of democracy. In short, being American for Chinese was synonymous with being modern. (Heyung, 2000, p. 32) Chinese Americans Expectations Chinese Americans in the 1930s challenge the perspective that assumes cultural subjects that typically aspire to blend in

CAD for Electromagnetic Devices Laboratory Exercise

CAD for Electromagnetic Devices Laboratory Exercise An introduction to numerical modelling techniques for electromagnetic problems using finite element analysis Contents 2. Introduction 3. Simulation Results 3.1 Electric Potential 3.2 Magnetic Flux Density 3.3 Magnetic Flux Density For Single Conductor 3.4 Finite Difference vs Finite Element 3.5 Comb Drive Micro Actuator 3.6 Magnetic Circuit 4. Discussion Finite element analysis (FEA) is the modelling of products and systems in a virtual environment, for the purpose of solving potential (or existing) structural or performance issues. (1) FEA is the practical application of the finite element method (FEM), a numerical technique for approximating solutions to boundary value problems for partial differential equations (2) which cannot be solved analytically. This method works by separating a large system into smaller parts called finite elements, known as discretization (3). The simple equations governing these finite elements are accumulated to form an overall system of equations for the problem, which FEM uses to approximate a solution. Computational Electromagnetics is the process of modelling the interaction of electromagnetic fields with physical objects and the environment. (4) The electromagnetic analysis that this involves is based on solving Maxwells equations subject to given boundary conditions. Maxwells equations can be expressed in general differential form and therefore the solutions to electromagnetic problems governed by these equations can be modelled and solved using FEM. (5) The electromagnetic problems outlined in this report have been modelled and approximated in two-dimensional space using the finite element program pdetool in MatLab. This is done through the use of linear triangular elements. 3.1 Electric Potential The aim of this experiment was to model the electric potential between two circular metallic conductors of radius 30 cm and centre distance 120cm. The left and right conductors were subject to Dirichlet boundary conditions and given potentials of 1 and -1 respectively. The enclosed area was modelled using the Neumann boundary condition (6) and the current source set to 0. The following model was observed: The purple to blue shading demonstrates the varying electric potential across the model, with V = 0 at the midpoint of the two conductors as anticipated due to the equation†¦ The electric field is visualised through the red arrows, confirming the expectation that the current would flow from the positively charged conductor to the negatively charged conductor. 3.2 Magnetic Flux Density This experiment aimed to model the magnetic field between two cylindrical, current-carrying conductors of radius 5cm and centre distance of 60cm. The magnetic permeability of both conductors was set to and the current density set to 1 and -1 respectively. The enclosed area was modelled using Dirichlet boundary conditions with magnetic potential set to 0, and the magnetic potential and current density set to and 0 correspondingly. The following model was observed: The red arrows show the direction of the magnetic field at certain points, while the shading demonstrates the magnitude of the magnetic flux density, clearly highlighting that the strength of magnetic flux decreases with distance away from the conductors. The current in each conductor is given by the equation , where J is the current density and A is the cross sectional area of the conductor. Using this equation yields a current of 7.85mA for the left conductor and -7.85mA for the right conductor. 3.3 Magnetic Flux Density For Single Conductor The experiment from 3.2 was then replicated using a single, circular, current-carrying conductor of radius 0.2cm. The boundary conditions for the enclosed area remained the same while, for the conductor, magnetic permeability was set to and current density to 1. The following model was observed: The magnetic flux density was then measured from the FEM model for a number of distances and compared with results calculated from theory; this comparison can be found in table 1 below. 3.4 Finite Difference vs Finite Element For this electrostatic model, a 16cm x 12cm square was plotted to represent four electric diodes of differing electric potential, shown in figure 4. The dielectric permittivity of the electric diodes was set to 1 and the electric potential and electric field for the system was modelled as shown below: The variation of electric field between the positive and negative diodes is represented through the shading and the electric field lines are shown in black. Values for the electric potential at particular geometric coordinates were then measured from the FEM model and compared against the results calculated from FDM; this comparison can be found in table 2. 3.5 Comb Drive Micro Actuator This experiment aimed to model the electric field distribution of a voltage controlled, comb-drive, electrostatic micro-actuator, consisting of a movable comb and a fixed comb, with the latter containing four fingers. The dimensions of the comb were specified as follows: w=1, d=1, dl=0.6 and Lc=3 (all figures are in mm) and explained through figure 6: The movable comb was given a potential of 5V and the fixed comb a potential of -5V to simulate a 10V applied voltage. The electric potential of the enclosed area was set to 0 and the space charge density to 0 as well. The following model, demonstrating electric field distribution, was observed: 3.6 Magnetic Circuit A model for an electromagnet was created as shown in figure 8 below: The magnetic permeability of the iron was set to 500 and current density 0. The coil was represented in the model by two rectangles either side of where the coil appears in figure 6, one with positive and one with negative current density. Given that the current in the coil is 10 A-turns, the current density is given by the equation, where A is equal to the area of the approximated coil. The magnetic permeability of both the coil and the enclosed area were set to and models for the magnetic flux density and magnetic field were achieved. These are shown below: The experiment was then altered to model the effects of the coil if the material of the magnet was plastic, with a relative permeability of 1, and therefore the magnetic permeability of the magnet was set to . All the other values remained constant. The magnetic flux density and magnetic field were then found and are shown below:

Elizabeth Fernea’s Guests of the Sheik: An Ethnography of an Iraqi Vill

"You arrive at a village, and in this calm environment, one starts to hear echo." -- Yannick Noah The writings of various ethnographers and anthropologists are intended to inform and educate the reader by imparting awareness and understanding of unexplored cultures. The value of such a work is directly related to the author’s familiarity with the culture. For instance, an individual intimately acquainted with a situation have different insights, but also different biases than an outsider. Elizabeth Fernea’s work "Guests of the Sheik" is a combination of the two perspectives. It documents her immersion into the society and culture of El Nahra, a village in Iraq, during the first two years of her marriage to Bob, an anthropologist. Her honest and frank narrative provides a fascinating glimpse at the lives of the men and women living in the village and the relationship Elizabeth, affectionately referred to by the people of the village as Beeja, has with them. Elizabeth begins her journey apprehensively, but not without excitement. She takes many of her western ideas with her to El Nahra, but quickly discovers that in order to be accepted she must embrace the local customs. The practice of purdah, or the seclusion of women, is one with which she struggles immediately and often. Her preconceived notions regarding the veiling and seclusion of women seem to show that she regarded the practice as removing women from society. Upon her arrival, she realizes that, as the only woman without an abayah, she is a curiosity, and reluctantly changes her position on the garment, thinking â€Å"Well, it seemed I’d capitulated; I was going to wear that servile garment after all. I discovered that my principles were not as str... ...e women form a crucial part of this society, and are integral to its maintenance. In spite of her early hesitance and her preconceived notions of the status of women within this society, Elizabeth learns that every member has a place within the social hierarchy. While Elizabeth, or Beeja did not manage to change the society of El Nahra as she thought she might, she was given a place within it and granted respect from both the women and men of the society. Works Cited Fernea, Elizabeth. Guests of the Sheik: An Ethnography of an Iraqi Village. New York: Anchor Books, 1969. Joseph, Suad, â€Å"Gender and Relationality among Arab Families in Lebanon,† Feminist Studies 19:3 (1993): 465-486. Pierce, Leslie. The Imperial Harem: Women and Sovereignty in the Ottoman Empire. London: Oxford University Press, 1993. The Holy Qur’an, Al-Ahzab 33:53.