Artificial Intelligence and Learning Computers

Artificial Intelligence & Learning Computers Presented by: S. DEEPAKKUMAR Abstract The term artificial intelligence is used to describe a property of machines or programs: the intelligence that the system demonstrates. Among the traits that researchers hope machines will exhibit are reasoning, knowledge, planning, learning, communication, perception and the ability to move and manipulate objects. Constructing robots that perform intelligent tasks has always been a highly motivating factor for the science and technology of information processing.Unlike philosophy and psychology, which are also concerned with intelligence, AI strives to build intelligent entities such as robots as well as understand them. Although no one can predict the future in detail, it is clear that computers with human-level intelligence (or better) would have a huge impact on our everyday lives and on the future course of civilization Neural Networks have been proposed as an alternative to Symbolic Artificial In telligence in constructing intelligent systems. They are motivated by computation in the brain.Small Threshold computing elements when put together produce powerful information processing machines. In this paper, we put forth the foundational ideas in artificial intelligence and important concepts in Search Techniques, Knowledge Representation, Language Understanding, Machine Learning, Neural Computing and such other disciplines. Artificial Intelligence Starting from a modest but an over ambitious effort in the late 50’s, AI has grown through its share of joys, disappointments and self-realizations. AI deals in science, which deals with creation of machines, which can think like humans and behave rationally.AI has a goal to automate every machine. AI is a very vast field, which spans:  ·Many application domains like Language Processing, Image Processing, Resource Scheduling, Prediction, Diagnosis etc.  ·Many types of technologies like Heuristic Search, Neural Networks, an d Fuzzy Logic etc.  ·Perspectives like solving complex problems and understanding human cognitive processes.  ·Disciplines like Computer Science, Statistics, Psychology, etc. DEFINITION OF INTELLIGENCE & TURING TEST The Turing Test, proposed by Alan Turing (1950), was designed to provide a satisfactory definition of intelligence.Turing defined intelligent behavior as the ability to achieve human-level performance in all cognitive tasks, sufficient to fool an interrogator. Roughly speaking, the test he proposed is that the computer should be interrogated by a human via a teletype, and passes the test if the interrogator cannot tell if there is a computer or a human at the other end. His theorem (the Church-Turing thesis) states that â€Å"Any effective procedure (or algorithm) can be implemented through a Turing machine. â€Å" Turing machines are abstract mathematical entities that are composed of a tape, a read-write head, and a finite-state machine.The head can either read o r write symbols onto the tape, basically an input-output device. The head can change its position, by either moving left or right. The finite state machine is a memory/central processor that keeps track of which of finitely many states it is currently in. By knowing which state it is currently in, the finite state machine can determine which state to change to next, what symbol to write onto the tape, and which direction the head should move. Requirement of an Artificial Intelligence system No AI system can be called intelligent unless it learns & reasons like a human.Reasoning derives new information from given ones. Areas of Artificial Intelligence Knowledge Representation Importance of knowledge representation was realized during machine translation effort in early 1950’s. Dictionary look up and word replacement was a tedious job. There was ambiguity and ellipsis problem i. e. many words have different meanings. Therefore having a dictionary used for translation was not en ough. One of the major challenges in this field is that a word can have more than one meaning and this can result in ambiguity. E. g. : Consider the following sentence Spirit is strong but flesh is weak.When an AI system was made to convert this sentence into Russian & then back to English, following output was observed. Wine is strong but meat is rotten. Thus we come across two main obstacles. First, it is not easy to take informal knowledge and state it in the formal terms required by logical notation, particularly when the knowledge is less than 100% certain. Second, there is a big difference between being able to solve a problem â€Å"in principle† and doing so in practice. Even problems with just a few dozen facts can exhaust the computational resources of any computer unless it has some guidance as to which reasoning steps to try first.A problem may or may not have a solution. This is why debugging is one of the most challenging jobs faced by programmers today. As the r ule goes, it is impossible to create a program which can predict whether a given program is going to terminate ultimately or not. Development in this part was that algorithms were written using foundational development of vocabulary and dictionary entries. Limitations of the algorithm were found out. Later Formal Systems were developed which contained axioms, rules, theorems and an orderly form of representation was developed. For example, Chess is a formal system.We use rules in our everyday lives and these rules accompany facts. Rules are used to construct an efficient expert system having artificial intelligence. Important components of a Formal System are – Backward Chaining i. e. trying to figure out the content by reading the sentence backward and link each word to another, Explanation Generation i. e. generating an explanation of whatever the system has understood, Inference Engine i. e. submitting an inference or replying to the problem. Reasoning It is to use the sto red information to answer questions and to draw new conclusions.Reasoning means, drawing of conclusion from observations. Reasoning in AI systems work on three principles namely: DEDUCTION: Given 2 events ‘P’ & ‘Q’, if ‘P’ is true then ‘Q’ is also true. E. g. : If it rains, we can’t go for a picnic. INDUCTION: Induction is a process where in , after studying certain facts , we reach to a conclusion. E. g. : Socrates is a man; all men are mortal; therefore Socrates is mortal. ABDUCTION: ‘P’ implies ‘Q’, but ‘Q’ may not always depend on ‘P’. E. g. : If it rains , we can’t go for a picnic. The fact that we are not in a position to go for a picnic does not mean that it is training.There can be other reasons as well. Learning The most important requirement for an AI system is that it should learn from its mistakes. The best way of teaching an AI system is by training & te sting. Training involves teaching of basic principles involved in doing a job. Testing process is the real test of the knowledge acquired by the system wherein we give certain examples & test the intelligence of the system. Examples can be positive or negative. Negative examples are those which are ‘near miss’ of the positive examples. Natural Language Processing (NLP) NLP can be defined as: ? Processing of data in the form of natural language on the computer. I. e. making the computer understand the language a normal human being speaks.  ·It deals with under structured / semi structured data formats and converting them into complete understandable data form. The reasons to process natural language are; Generally – because it is exciting and interesting, Commercially – because of sheer volume of data available online, Technically – because it eases out Computer-Human interaction. NLP helps us in  ·Searching for information in a vast NL (natural language) database. Analysis i. e. extracting structural data from natural language.  ·Generation of structured data.  ·Translation of text from one natural language to other. Example: English to Hindi. Application Spectrum of NLP  ·It provides writing and translational aids.  ·Helps humans to generate Natural Language with proper spelling, grammar, style etc.  ·It allows text mining i. e. information retrieval, search engines text categorization, information extraction.  ·NL interface to database, web software system, and question answer explanation in an expert system.There are four procuring levels in NLP: 1. Lexical – at word level it involves pronunciation errors. 2. Syntactical – at the structure level acquiring knowledge about the grammar and structure of words and sentences. Effective representation and implementation of this allows effective manipulation of language in respect to grammar. This is usually implemented through a parser. 3. Semantic â €“ at the meaning level. 4. Pragmatic – at the context level. Hurdles There are various hurdles in the field of NLP, especially speech processing which result in increase in complexity of the system.We know that, no two people on earth can have similar accent and pronunciations. This difference in style of communicating results in ambiguity. Another major problem in speech processing understands of speech due to word boundary. This can be clearly understood from the following example: I got a plate. / I got up late. Universal Networking Language This is a part of natural language processing. The key feature of a machine having artificial intelligence is its ability to communicate and interact with a human. The only means for communication and interaction is through language.The language being used by the machine should be understood by all humans. Example of such a language is ENGLISH. UNL is an artificially developed language consisting universal word library, universal concepts, universal rules and universal attributes. Necessity of UNL is that a computer needs capability to process knowledge and content recognition. Thus UNL becomes a platform for the computer to communicate and interact. Vision (Visibility Based Robot Path Planning) Consider a moving robot. There are two things, robots have to think and perform while moving from one place to another: . Avoid collision with stationary and moving objects. 2. Find the shortest distance from source to destination. One of the major problems is to find a collision free path amidst obstacles for a robot from its starting position to its destination. To avoid collision two things can be done viz 1) Reduce the object to be moved to a point form. 2) Give the obstacles some extra space. This method is called Mikownski method of path planning. Recognizing the object and matching it with the contents of the image library is another method.It included corresponding matching and depth understanding, edge detec tion using idea of zero crossing and stereo matching for distance estimation. For analysis, it also considers robot as a point body. Second major problem of path planning is to find the shortest path. The robot has to calculate the Euclidean distance between the starting and the ending points. Then it has to form algorithms for computing visibility graphs. These algorithms have certain rules associated with. OJoin lesser number of vertices to reduce complexity. ODivide each object into triangles.OPut a node in each triangle and join all of them. OReduce the unnecessary areas because they might not contribute to the shortest path. OCompute minimum link path and proceed. This problem of deciding shortest path prevails. Robot might be a bulky and a huge object so can’t be realized as a point. Secondly a robot is a mechanical body which can’t turn instantly so it has to follow the procedure of wait-walk-wait-turn-wait-walk—- which is very time-consuming and so not f easible. Therefore shortest distance should have minimum number of turns associated with it.For path planning the robot has to take a snap shot of the area it is going to cover. This snap shot is processed in the above mentioned ways and then the robot moves. But then the view changes with every step taken. So it has to do the calculation at every step it takes which is very time consuming and tedious. Experts decided to make the robot take the snap shot of the viewable distance and decide the path. But this again becomes a problem because the device used for viewing will have certain limitation of distance. Then these experts came to a conclusion that the robot be given a fixed parameter i. . take to take the snap shot of a fixed distance say 10 meters, analyze it and decide the shortest path. Neural-networks Neural networks are computational consisting of simple nodes, called units or processing elements which are linked by weighted connections. A neural network maps input to outp ut data in terms of its own internal connectivity. The term neural network derives from the obvious nervous system analogy of the human brain with processing elements serving as neurons and connection weights equivalent to the variable synaptic strengths.Synapses are connections between neurons – they are not physical connections, but miniscule gaps that allow electric signals to jump across from neuron to neuron. Dendrites carry the signals out to the various synapses, and the cycle repeats. Let us take an example of a neuron: It uses a simple computational technique which can be defined as follows y= 0 if ? Wi Xi ? Where ? is threshold value Wi is weight Xi is input Now this neuron can be trained to perform a particular logical operation like AND. The equivalent neural network simulation for AND function is given on the left and its equation format on the right.Perceptron training convergence theorem Whatever be the initial choice of the weights, the PTA will eventually con verge by finding the correct weight values provided the function being trained is linearly separable. This implies Perceptron Training Algorithm will absorb the threshold with negative weight. ? Wi Xi + (-1) ? ? 0 A B Y 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 W1 + 0 W2 =0 (< ? ) 0 W1 +1 W2 =0 (< ? ) 1 W1 +0 W2 =0 (< ? ) 1 W1 +1 W2 =1 (>? ) 0 W1 + 0 W2 =0 < ? 0 W1 +1 W2 =1 > ? 1 W1 +0 W2 =1 > ? 1 W1 +1 W2 =0 < ?Conclusion AI combined with various techniques in neural networks, fuzzy logic and natural language processing will be able to revolutionize the future of machines and it will transform the mechanical devices helping humans into intelligent rational robots having emotions. Expert systems like Mycin can help doctors in diagnosing patients. AI systems can also help us in making airline enquiries and bookings using speech rather than menus. Unmanned cars moving about in the city would be reality with further advancements in AI systems.Also with the advent of VLSI techniques, FPGA chips are bei ng used in neural networks. The future of AI in making intelligent machines looks incredible but some kind of spiritual understanding will have to be inculcated into the machines so that their decision making is governed by some principles and boundaries. References 1. Department of Computer Science & Engineering – Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay 2. AI – Rich & Knight 3. Principles of AI – N J Nelson 4. Neural Systems for Robotics – Omid Omidvar 5. http://www. elsevier. nl/locate/artint 6. http://library. thinkquest. org/18242/essays. shtml

Great Expectations Paper Essay

When an individual loves someone else, it is difficult to let the person go or accept his/her return, because of the poor decision that one person made to leave his/her loved one. However, since the person already left, is it worth the pain and agony in the end to accept that person into the hurt individual’s life once again? In his Victorian Literature novel, Charles Dickens satirizes the Victorian Era multiple times within Great Expectations. For example, in the 1800’s the masculine class were the regulators of the family and weren’t aggravated by women, but in this novel the females obtain the upper position, like how Mrs. Joe overpowers Orlick. Charles Dickens named the novel Great Expectations, because its means that an individual is positive that something significant will occur with no warning if the individual wants it bad enough, but in English Victorian society, achieving expectations meant that someone was destined to collect vast sums of riches and success. Throughout Pips three stages in the novel Great Expectations, Charles Dickens utilizes the character of Joe, who out of compassion and sympathy demonstrates that suffering is a sacrifice one is willing to endure for the love of another individual, and how this idea changes what Pip’s views, personality, and values are at the end of his high expectations. During Pip’s first stage of expectations, Joe explicates that he suffers greatly because of Orlick, Mrs. Joe and Pip, but only wishes to steer Pip in the right direction and to have given enough ‘love’ to change Pip’s views and expectations. First, Orlick takes Joe by surprise when he starts to get angry and jealous of Pip and tells him â€Å"No favoring in this shop. Be a man!†(15.65), but because Joe wants no trouble he lets him have the day off which makes Mrs. Joe terribly angry. Additionally, when Orlick offends Mrs. Joe, Joe defends her even though she was mad at him, because he loves her and is willing to suffer through Orlicks harsh words. Pip’s troublesome behavior at the table is brought to attention when Joe states, â€Å"You and me is always friends, and I’d be the last to tell upon you, any time†¦But such as a most uncommon bolt as that!†(2.8) Pip’s actions got Joe in trouble while he was trying to help P ip, because the helpful advice made Joe ignore Mrs. Joe and which made him have to face consequences such as being â€Å"pounced on† and â€Å"knocked [in] his head for a little while against the wall behind him† (2.8). Also, it expresses how Joe dealt with Mrs. Joe’s and Pip’s spiteful behavior all because he cared for them and was compassionate to all people. Pip’s behavior shows readers that as a child he didn’t have any expectations but eventually set the bar higher which was not what Joe truly wanted to happen. This helps readers understand how having sympathy and a good heart doesn’t always payoff at first, but latter lets people become the best of friends in the long run, like Pip and Joe. While sitting by the warm fire at night Joe explains to Pip that â€Å"When [he] got acquainted with his sister, it were the talk how she was bringing him up by hand†¦. [And] how small and flabby and mean he was†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and how he â€Å"†¦would have formed the most contemptible opinion of himself self!† (7.38) which makes Pip start to cry because he felt ashamed by how he acted, but grateful that Mrs. Joe and Joe stayed with him. At that time Pip, a commoner, didn’t care about anyone and just wanted to do what he wanted, although it made him look bad and unkind. In the long run Pip’s disobedient attitude and Joe’s loving heart was worth it because he and Joe became best friends which was held together by a strong bond of love. Lastly, Joe was affectionate and loving towards Pip even when Pip was cruel to him which shows readers the sacrifice Joe endured with Pip. The forfeit Pip watched Joe go through changed him because it made him want to do something more and become someone higher who wont have to deal with pain and sacrifice. In conclusion, Pip starts to change into the gentleman he wants to become while Joe is still remaining at is side, longing for his ‘old chap’. During Pip’s second stage of his expectations Joe sacrificed his dignity and friendship for Pip, because he felt sympathy towards him which makes readers wonder if Joe gave Pip enough ‘love’ to not make him leave his dear friend, Joe, and change his personality. To, begin, Joes love is tested and questionable when he tells Pip, â€Å"But if you think as Money can make compensation to me for the loss of the little child†¦and ever the best of friends!†(18.116). Pip is shocked by how much he means to Joe, but still but doesn’t see how much Joe really loves him. Pip deserts Joe â€Å"whom he was so ready to leave and so unthankful to†(18.115), and thinks to himself â€Å"I’ll see you again†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦and â€Å"I’ll feel the loving tremble of your hand upon my arm, as solemnly this day as if it had been the rustle of an angel’s wing! †¦ â€Å"(18.115), which proves that Pip has not realized that this decision mak es Joe sacrifice and suffer all the more. Furthermore, Joe had to scornfully respect his decision to leave and become a gentleman and bear the loneliness while he was away, but still loved him and waited for when Pip realized he should go back to Joe. Moreover, Pip changes his view on his future when Joe explains that â€Å"Divisions among such must come, and must be met as they come†¦ You and me is not two figures to be together in London; nor anywhere else but where is private, and beknown, and understood among friends.†(27.246) Likewise, when Joe is in London with Mr. Wopsle he wants to put pity on Pip and explain to him that they are different people in separate worlds and he wants to show Pip how it hurts when people leave their loved ones. Joe thinks he has sacrificed enough and wants Pip to come back, but now Joe realizes that they are separate people with different expectations. Additionally, Pip and Joe are still great friends; however their breaking relationship hurts Pip and makes him want to restart his life and be with Joe, but he still stays a gentleman. All in all, Joe leaving Pip just as Pip did to him, once again creates Pip to think differently and regret some of his decisions in the past. Throughout Pip’s final stage of expectations, Joe’s compassionate attitude is expected to make Pip change his values and stop Joe from suffering, but makes Joe ponder if he gave Pip enough sympathy to make him come back to him. Firstly, after Pip’s benefactor, Magwitch, dies Pip starts to become ill and also gets arrested because of his debt. While sitting back at his house Pip starts to realize that he always has someone there for him, Joe, and expresses his regret by saying â€Å"O Joe, you break my heart! Look angry at me, Joe. Strike me, Joe. Tell me of my ingratitude. Don’t be so good to me!†(57.388). This statement said by Pip when Joe is by his side, expresses the point that even though Pip did wrong, Joe will always be there to comfort him and make him feel better, and that Pip thinks he should not be treated good by Joe at this point. Furthermore, Pip now understands, â€Å"There was no change whatever in Joe. Exactly what he had been in my eyes then, he was in my eyes still; just as simply faithful, and as simply right†(57.389), which proves that the compassion from other individuals do change peoples values and outlooks on all things in life and expectations. Likewise, Pip appreciates that Joe was faithful to him even though endures suffering because of his high expectations and dire choice to be a gentleman. Moreover, since Pip â€Å"†¦soon began to understand that the cause of it was in [him], and that the fault of it was all [his].†(58.395), he started to feel for his dear friend Joe, again as he once did and wanted to have never of met his benefactor that lead him to leave Joe. This connects to the main point because it finalizes how love is stronger then the pain someone causes another person and how it can shape an individual in different ways. Additionally, when the shameful Pip says, â€Å"Don’t tell him, Joe, that I was thankless; don’t tell him, Biddy, that I was ungenerous and unjust; only tell him that I honored you both, because you were both so good and true, and that†¦ I said it would be natural to him to grow up a much better man than I did.†(59.404), it shows Joe and Biddy how much Pip is truly sorry for the choice he made and, reluctantly, they responded with, â€Å"God knows as I forgive you, if I have anythink to forgive!†(59.404). All in all, Joe’s compassionate and sympathetic heart pays of and lets him forfeit no more, which proves the point that suffering is a sacrifice one is willing to endure for the love of another individual even if the other person doesn’t see the good you are doing until the end. In conclusion, all of the suffering and sacrifice Joe endures, because of much love and compassion he has for others in Great Expectations did prove to make his ‘dear old chap’ Pip reconsider his views, personality and values towards life and his own expectations. The significance in this novel is that sacrificing yourself out of sympathy is a step anyone should be willing to take to have an even stronger bond within the relationship. The idea of sacrifice and suffering for another individual is in the real word, like how a mama bear feeds her cubs before herself, because she cares for them, and just like how Joe suffers and hates being away from ‘his cub’ Pip. All in all, without sacrifice and suffering people won’t have as much compassion for each other and would not endure the pain if they didn’t truly care for them.

20th century poetry Essay Example for Free

20th century poetry Essay ? We have been giving to 20th century poems to examine. They are â€Å"Evans† by R. S Thomas and â€Å"Death in Leamington† by Sir John Betjeman. Both poems are about death, but in two very different situations. I will examine the poem Evans first of all. Evans was written by a man called R. S Thomas. He lived from 1913-2000. he was born in Cardiff. He became a clergyman and taught himself welsh so he could work with the people in the hills, because not many of them spoke English at this time. Evans is a 20th Century poem. The poem begins as if the writer is talking to somebody else. It looks like the other person has asked him something like, â€Å"Do you remember a man Evans? † and the writer replies, â€Å"yes, many a time. † The first verse of the poem describes Evans’ house. It talks about the â€Å"bare† stairs and the â€Å"gaunt† kitchen. We can depict from the first verse that Evans was a poor man, his house is not at all well furbished, and he doesn’t have much to his name. Everything that Evans owns has a dull, dreary adjective attached to it, like stark farm and black kettle. His kitchen must be filthy because crickets can be heard. The last line of this verse tells us that he lives on a lone farm upon a hill. From this verse we have found out that this man is poor, lonely and doesn’t really care much about what his house looks like. The 2nd verse tells us that something appals the speaker. He says that it isn’t the darkness around him, which seems to fill his mouth and that it isn’t the tree that the rain drips off. I think the tree is symbolism, because the speaker says, â€Å"of rain like blood form that one tree, weather tortured. † I think he is really describing Evans appearance. The speaker says that it’s the veins of Evans. He sees darkness in them, and that it is â€Å"silting† them. Silt is the thick sandy substance at the bottom of rivers. I think it means that the darkness is trapped in Evans’ veins and that it is slowly killing him. The writer says, â€Å"I left stranded upon the vast and lonely shore of his bleak bed. † The writer believes that he has failed is his job, which is to comfort the sick if they are going to die. The writer feels that he is inadequate and that he hasn’t done what he wanted to. Again we see another dreary adjective attached to one of Evans possessions, his bleak bed. The word lonely is used again here. The writer wants to get the point across that Evans has no one, no family or friends to comfort him, that is why the writer feels so bad that he cant do this for him. This poem is about the bad way to die, all on your own and no one to comfort you. The next poem, Death in Leamington, is about the other way to pass on. Death in Leamington was written by Sir John Betjeman. Poets of his day liked to write poems making fun of the middle class people. The first verse tells us that someone has died, and that it is a woman. It has happened in the late evening. She has died in her bedroom. The room has a plate glass window, which means this place wherever she was staying must has been pretty well off. The second verse gives us a little more insight to the woman. She owned a crochet, which means she must have been quite old. It lay beside her bed, which means she can’t have been too old because she was still able to walk. Again the writer tells us that she is dead. 20th century poetry. (2017, Oct 29).

Safety Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Safety - Essay Example For example, although a person is in a secure place such as a well-founded and guarded building if the person is haunted by psychological harm, that individual cannot be said to be safe. Safety should include not only one aspect of life but the total conditions of an individual. Hence, when there is nothing that puts someone at risk of anything in whichever of the aforementioned aspects, the circumstance is considered safe. My personal definition of safety is supported by Webster in his definition of the word as the â€Å"state or condition of freedom from danger, risk or injury†. Furthermore, Merriam-Webster dictionary defines safety as â€Å"the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury or loss†. Although the aforementioned definitions do not specify the boundaries of the descriptions, I have taken the liberty of doing so in my personal definition of the word. I believe that my understanding and definition of safety is quite similar to its general definition. Based from the references mentioned above, it could be comprehended that the word means the absence or state of freedom from whatever brings harm, danger, hurt or injury whether it is physical, mental or

Cognitive Development Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Cognitive Development Theory - Essay Example Cognitive development is related to socialization. A child's ability to judge social relations and gain sense of morality are largely dictated by his intellectual readiness and interaction with his environment (Levitt, n. d.)Cognitive development theory focuses on the following concerns: the specificity or generalizability of domains in cognitive ability changes; the occurrence and rate of change or the existence of qualitative different stages; the processes occurring in physical or psychological aspect of an individual; and the factors affecting development.Cognitive development theory makes sense of one's environment and physiological conditions at which an individual interacts and functions to provide a system by which the process of learning and teaching might understood and controlled for maximum and optimum cognitive development.On the nature and development of intelligence, cognitive theorists particularly Jean Piaget and Lev S. Vygotsky both consider "the role of environment al factors in shaping the intelligence of children, especially on a child's ability to learn by having certain behaviors rewarded and others discouraged" (Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence). Piaget believed that development proceeds from the individual to the social world.Piaget believes that child's knowledge is composed of schemas, or knowledge units, which serve as basis for organizing past and new experiences. These schemas are continuously defined and redefined through "assimilation" and "accommodation". According to Piaget, learning and understanding concepts can only happen when new things are incorporated into old and previously learned concepts. Otherwise, the schema will change to accommodate new knowledge. According to Piaget, cognitive development is a result of learning. Development occurs due to continuous incorporation of things from previous personal experiences. Learning is individually oriented. Development precedes learning. Piaget believed that intelligen ce arises progressively in the baby's repetitive activities. Vygotsky, in contrast believed that instruction is necessary to attain development. Vygotsky believed that development begins at the social level and moves towards individual internalization. Social and cultural factors are important in the development of intelligence. Through "scaffolding", an adult guided activity, a child learns new things gradually until he reaches new level of understanding. Unlike Piaget, Vygotsky believed that learning precedes development. Vygotsky might have been aware of instances when a child has understood a concept before they can demonstrate their understanding of it. This happens when a child's motor skills are not yet advanced enough or their language skills are not sophisticated enough to indicate their knowledge and mental processes, hence adult guided instruction is recommended to attain development (http://social.jrank.org/pages/145/Cognitive-Development.html). Both theorists however ag ree that development may be triggered by cognitive conflict. Any change in learning skills and knowledge can only happen if the learner has realized the difference and inconsistency with his existing understanding. Like Piaget, Vygotsky believed that children's egocentric speech was an important part of their cognitive development. They differed in their views of the purpose of egocentric speech. Piaget considered egocentric speech suggests that the child is self-centered and unable to consider the point-of-view of others. Vygotsky seen it as a

Personal statement to Solar Energy Engineering Masters application Essay

Personal statement to Solar Energy Engineering Masters application - Essay Example One of the reasons I want to pursue a master’s degree in engineering is because I want to become a full time professor in the future. The fact that bilingual (English / Spanish) is a great attribute to have as an educator. In 2005 I moved to Boston and started working in the field of sales engineering of different instrumentation companies while at the same time teaching part time at Wentworth Institute of Technology. One of the best learning experiences about my sales job was the opportunity to different parts of Latin America and visit factories and rural places. I am interested in the Umass Lowell’s Master of Science Degree Program in Energy Engineering because of my interest in solar energy. I read about the different projects in place such as the Peru Project and would like to eventually implement something similar in Mexican communities and other Latin American communities where there is no electricity, telephone service, and untreated drinking water.

Biomedical Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Biomedical Engineering - Essay Example Before the body part is replaced, compatibility of the biomaterial and the living tissue is of great consideration (Ratner 2004). Biocompatibility is the acceptance of the synthetic biomaterial by the immediate and surrounding tissues and by the body generally (Paul & Kelvin 2009). Appropriate host response is shown by lack of blood clotting, normal heating and resistance to bacterial colonization. It is essential therefore to study the biomaterial composition and also the way in which they react with the environment in which they are put which is the surrounding tissue (Pruitt 2011). Hence, biomaterial selection involves the logical sequence of analysis of the problem, consideration of the requirement and consideration of the biomaterial properties. Biomaterials that match the properties of the bone and teeth These biomaterials have their physical characteristics that are needed to match the properties of the teeth or bone being replaced with (Ratner 2004). The mechanical properties of these biomaterials involve tensile testing that provides data on the characterization of the biomaterial. ... Good heat conductors hence have high conductivity. Coefficient of thermal expansion or thermal expansion coefficient It is by definition the fractional increase in length of a body for each degree (in centigrade) rise in temperature. ?=?L/Lo oC-1 ?T Where ?L is the change in length Lo is the original length of the biomaterial ?T is the change in temperature The values of ? are very small like for amalgam biomaterial, the value of ?=0.0000025 oC-1P.P.M Table showing the thermal conductivity coefficient of different biomaterials in parts per million (P.P.M) The original length of the tooth and the length attained when there is temperature change are calculated in order to determine the length of the biomaterial to be used in teeth filling. Expensile structures ensure that the biomaterial conforms to the irregular bony defects (Paul & Kelvin 2009). This also helps prevent the undesired movement of the fibroblast into the graft site and these yields in optimizing the quality of the repla ced bones. Coefficient of thermal expansion is widely considered in filling materials such as for the teeth with cavities. The above table shows different thermal conductivity values of different conductors used as biomaterials. Thermal diffusivity (D) Thermal diffusivity is defined by the equation; D=K Cp? Where, K is the thermal conductivity Cp is the heat capacity ? is the density A low value of thermal diffusivity is preferred however there are occasions when the high diffusivity level are preferred to the low ones like if the base material to be used is denture. It is necessary since it retains a good response to both cold and hot stimuli in the mouth (Ratner 2004). Physical properties Physical structures and stability of the

Find Me product Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Find Me product - Assignment Example Here you can spend a lot of energy on the nerves of the fact that you have spent a lot of time searching and have not found yet. So, you want quickly and without stress to find lost things. So you want quickly and without straining to find lost things. Perfect for you would be a situation where at any given time you can find out the location of valuable things for you. And it would be good to use for this purpose a minimum of resources. Probably, your life would be easier if these wishes were carried out. Time and nerves you spend to search for another loss would not be stolen from your urgent sessions. In the morning you can without unnecessary upheaval for you to find everything you need (even socks), to have a quiet breakfast and go to work. If your pet has run away again somewhere in an unknown direction, you would not have to anxiously look for it at the vicinity of your home. And the solution that will facilitate your life really does exist. Based on GPS technology, there was developed a new device Find Me. Attach it to the important things for you, always be able to keep track of its location. The design of the device is primarily aimed at convenience and safety when using it. It easily attaches securely to any surface and can be easily removed. Because of its tiny and minimalist appearance it will not hinder you to use those things to which it is attached. After a phone call we can get distracted and forget where we put the phone. And when we need it again, we wonder where it could be put. Great, when we have the opportunity to call our phone to find the loss by the ring sound. But if our phone on silent or if the battery is low, we do not find the phone by the sound. In this case, we can come to the aid of Find Me. Location phone attached thereto Find Me can be found by any of the device with a built-in

Business in Emerging Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business in Emerging Markets - Essay Example The Multinational Companies (MNCs) that have experience in working in developed markets have started to drift their interests towards emerging markets such as Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This is because they have attained a saturation point in these wealthy developed economies and condensed their profit margins (Arnold and Quelch, 1998). These economies offer a lucrative ground for investments mainly due to their potential client base and a significant perspective for growth in the future. Emerging markets are usually characterized by a record of recession and economic depression and a stagnant economy. These economies exhibit a political scenario of unrest and turbulence, an aging population, low fertility rates and slow growth rates in the industrial sectors. However, these markets provide some of the peak economic growth indicators and give way for the MNCs to step in and expand their markets (Rahman and Bhattacharya, 2003). According to Rahman and Bhattacharya, there are typically three criteria that define a developing nation as an emerging market. The first one is that the nation identified as an emerging market should have a promising potential to return large profits and economic growth in the future. Second, the nation needs to be open to overseas investments and should have economic policies that promote foreign investments. Also, this exposure to foreign investments and the related policies should undergo continuous evolution so as to foster further investments and hence, greater economic growth.  

MGT Individual Project 5 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

MGT Individual Project 5 - Research Paper Example The study reflects the principles of qualitative and quantitative analysis which are used in business cases. It states that both the methodologies are equally important in conducting the research where a combination of both the methodologies helps in improving the quality of the research work. The study concludes with an insight into the importance of critical thinking in the decision making of the businesses. Table of Contents Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Sekaran & Bougie Research Process 5 Analysis 8 Quantitative Methodology 16 Qualitative Methodology 16 Critical Thinking in Business Cases 17 Conclusion 17 References 19 Introduction Decision making is an important activity in the business world. It is required at all levels of the organization. Even the low level supervisor needs to make various decisions in everyday business activities. Decision making is encouraged at all levels where the business owners are mainly responsible for all the decisions being taken in the businesses. The decision making is mainly a cognitive process which results in choosing of courses of action amongst various alternative scenarios. In each and every decision making process there is a final choice and the output can be the resultant of the opinion or action of such choice. From the cognitive perspective, decision making is mainly a continuous procedure which can be incorporated in interaction with environment. From the normative perspective, it is the analysis of individual decisions associated with the logic in decision making and its rationality. It can be defined as the problem solving activity which gets terminated when satisfactory solution is obtained. The decision making procedure can be rational, irrational, on the basis of tactic assumption or explicit assumption. The business development always arises from collective decision making of the management along with the staff. The programs, strategies and policies are always converted into effective course s of actions by means of proper decision making. The progress in any organization from one particular success and performance level to another arises from the effective decision making. The efficiency in the management of any business enterprise increases along with the application of practical and progressive principles and policies. If these ideas are implemented within the processes of an organization it would result in the increase of efficiency followed by achievement of success in the market. Sekaran & Bougie Research Process According to Sekaran & Bougie (2010) the research process is a step by step process where all the steps are essential for achieving success in the research process. An analysis should always be based on the basis of each and every step presented in this research process. It states that the research analysis should present a comparative analysis of how nicely the authors of the chosen research study have fulfilled the research work. The focus of the analys is should lie in the research process more than on the research content. The analysis should deal with the obedience to the research process stated by Sekaran & Bougie. All the steps and sub steps act as the stepping stones in the research process. The research process is a step by step procedure comprising of eleven steps. While analysing, the research work should have the following contents Problem Statement Literature Review Generation or Development of

National identity Essay Example for Free

National identity Essay Critically assess the relationship between national identity and schooling in the period 1870-1939? The relationship between national identity and schooling is one that has been seen as both a problem, where by the integrating of the concept of national identity into schooling is seen as the poison that generates cross-national conflict (1) and a defensive reaction to preventing and dealing with the problems that Britain faced during that epoch, where the political and social environment in Europe provided a sort of hothouse atmosphere for nationalistic writings of the most fervent kind(2) Dr Tate outlined in brief that national identities depended on stories and that teachers need to provide children with a sense of belonging to a community which stretches back into the past and forward into the future in order to five them a sense of meaning' (3) The idea of creating a sense of belonging for children, is one that is shared worldwide, humans I have been told, need narratives, however the use of national identities here is used in a positive and discreet in content manner. I wonder what concepts does Dr Tate associate with national identities, and what aspects of the past and future should children be informed about? To answer the question given I will look deeply into, the relationship between national identity and schooling, ways of introducing national identity in schooling, threat abroad and at home, the effects, the problems and questions raised by the idea of national identity in schooling. I will begin by introducing some of the important Legislations and Codes introduced by the government as these reflect the concern of the day, and play an important role in schooling, and national identity. The revised code of 1862 introduced a new concern arising over the education attained in schools, and thus the payment by results system was introduced, and teachers were paid for those that achieved results. The importance of this central part of legislation was that it governed the activities precipitated in schools. These school codes were issued by the government to dictate what should be taught in schools and at what level for what age. Attendance and a uniformed standard of education were central to what the government sought to achieve in this legislation. This piece of legislation was hated so much by the teachers, and thus it was attacked by masses of teachers thus was withdrawn in 1898. The New Code of 1871 awarded 40 hour drills per year via grant aid. The drills were seen as a form of implementing the importance of obedience into the children. The importance of obedience was seen as vital to the social stability of the school. Reference: 1. (W.E.Marsden, Nationalism, propaganda and war and peace, pg29-47) 2. (P.M.Kennedy, The decline of nationalistic history in the west, 1900-1970, Journal of Contemporary History, 8 (1973)88.) 3. (History today, History and national identity in the classroom, pg 6) 4. (Theres no place like home, Education of History 28, pg 236-237) 5. (1 Mass Observation Archive FR878) 6. (J.Bourke, Working-Class Cultures in Britain, 1890-1960. Gender, Class and Ethnicity (London: Routledge, 1994), 186) 7. (A.D.Smith, National Identity, London, 1991, p.9-11) 8. (J.M.Mackenzie, Propaganda and Empire. The manipulation of British Public Opinion, 1880-1960 Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1984), 176.see k.

Why Marriage Matters Essay Example for Free

Why Marriage Matters Essay Marriage matters. If marriage did not matter, would it even be considered when growing up? Today, I feel that the word â€Å"marriage† is often misunderstood, and that’s why I am intrigued by any research that has been done on this topic. Like most, I believed that the divorce rate was skyrocketing. However, as I was going through my Marriage and Family book, I quickly began to realize that marriage has survived through it all due to its importance. According to the report I chose, â€Å"Why Marriage Matters,† in the later half of the twentieth century, divorce posed the biggest threat to marriage and was the event most likely to undercut the quality and stability of children’s family lives in the United States. Since, then divorce rates have come down and children who are now born to married couples are actually more likely to grow up with both of their parents than were children born at the height of the divorce revolution. Today, cohabitation has emerged as a powerful alternative to and competitor with marriage but also has become an unrecognized threat to the quality and stability of children’s family lives. Today’s children are also more likely to spend time in a cohabiting household than they are to see their parents’ divorce. About a fourth of children are born to cohabiting couples than to single mothers. This report focuses on the impact that cohabitation is having on marriage, family life, and the welfare of children. Children and health are two of the most important aspects of life. According to research, the structure of a family is the most important thing when considering the health of your child. Children in cohabiting households do significantly worse than children than children in intact, married families and about as poorly as children living in single-parent homes. Also, children in cohabiting homes are more likely to be physically, sexually, and emotionally abused according to recent federal data. American life is becoming increasingly unstable for children. Multiple transitions are especially linked to higher reports of school failure, behavioral problems, and drug use among many other problems. It is not just the structure of a family that matters it is the stability as well. One of the biggest reasons that children’s lives are increasingly turbulent is that cohabitation households are much more fragile than married families. â€Å"Complex households,† where parents have children with more than one partner, have shown that the children whom come from these relationships will have poor relationships with their parents and can sometimes lead to health and behavioral problems. When it comes to a child’s wellbeing, research suggests that family structure is a better predictor of children’s psychological and social welfare.

Household Consumption Analysis in Rawalpindi

Household Consumption Analysis in Rawalpindi Imran Ejaz 1. Introduction: Consumption and production generate economic activities in an economy. Consumption and production go side by side. Consumption creates demand for further production of goods and services. It is not wrong to say that if there is no consumption there is no economic activity in the country. Only the final purchase of goods and services is known as consumption, and every commercial activity is for production purpose. Consumption can be expressed in two ways. In nominal, means the money spent on the purchase of goods and services, and in real, means the deriving of the utility of goods and services for the satisfaction of wants e.g. using up of consumer goods both durables and non durables. Consumption amounts to the biggest part of Pakistan which accounts for 81% of Gross Domestic product in 2013 according to World Bank statistics. Consumption is also termed as the total spending on goods and services in an economy. The consumption function is used to estimate the proportion of total consumption in an economy. In social sciences, the consumption function is a used to express trend of consumer spending as income of people rising and falling. Consumption function provides an excellent illustration of a typical sequence in the development of the country and standard of living of the people. Bentham (1748) also considered production and its usage as important determinants of an economy. The process of consumption was vital for any system to sustain. Keynes (1936) addresses the theory of consumption, which showed the relationship between consumer income and consumption. According to Keynes, â€Å"People on average, have behavior that when their income increase, they spend more, but not as much as their income raises. It is made up of autonomous consumption that was not influenced by current income and induced consu mption that was influenced by the economy’s income level. Chow et al. (2001) did a research about the Chinese economy and Chinese entrepreneurs who had grown along with the Chinese economy. This research paper compares and contrasts the consumption habits of low and high income business class and concluded that small businesses incomes are transitory and more unstable hence their consumption is less and they tend to save more on the other hand entrepreneurs who earn more and largely spend on meals, moving from one place to other, private formal education and expensive items as their incomes were permanent and stable over a period of time. Socio-demographic factors, geographic locations of household have significant effects on the tastes and preferences. Similarly, gathering and socializing activities of consumers that were carried out are the second largest expense in their budgets as they need a lot of networking to succeed the business. But low income class spends a larger amount of their income on health issues, education of their masses . Tai and Tam (1997) discussed the consumption behavior of females that was changing due to the  different socio economic factors such as delayed marriage, smaller family size and single parents  have lead to changing dynamics of consumer market as a result the consumer preference were  changing and consumption pattern of the families. Siddiquie (1982) analyzed the consumption patterns based on the Engle law in terms of income, household size and number of earners. The study showed that the consumption of food and non-food items was strongly affected by the changes in total expenditures and size of households. Consumption patterns in Pakistan have been estimated by Burki (1997) using time series data. By using Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) technique and data from 1972-1992 there was an exogenous growth in non durable food items demand irrespective of the movements in their prices and growth. Study focused that the policy makers should focus on own price elasticity to predict impact of taxes. This study will be developed on the basis of Household Consumption in Rawalpindi. The study will include both cross-sectional and time series data of consumer behavior. Questionnaire will also be developed to address the study beside secondary sources. In this study econometric model will be developed by taking income, age, family size, consumer price index as independent variable and household consumption as dependent variable. Expenditure on food items will be used as a proxy variable. 1.1 Objective of the study: The objectives of the study are as follows: To analyze the significance of demographic factors (family size, age) on household consumption expenditure in Rawalpindi. To study empirically the impact of economic factors (income, consumer price index and household consumption expenditure in Rawalpindi) 1.2Significance of the study: Consumption is the sole cause and biggest reason due to which all economic activities begins ranging from hiring of services of factors, investing money, constructing factory or building and many more. As if there is no consumption in any society there is no need for activities of any type ranging from running a business or employing somewhere in any capacity. In short it is the consumption so that economies lively exist otherwise not. Consumption is an important function of income but there are many other factors that influence the  consumption pattern there are incidence when two households with same income level may have  different consumption pattern due to lifestyle, preference and the stage of life cycle they are in as a  household greatly affects the consumption patterns. All these researches try to explore the behavior  patterns that are crucial for molding the consumption pattern all these researches have added  different key reasons and not a single research as been able to come up with any common behavior  traits in the different societies of the world this phenomena indicate that the consumption patterns  changing according to society the house hold resides in. Income is the main component on which the consumption depends. The study will incorporate the causal relationship between household consumption to income and household consumption to consumer price index which is the important and new in this study as compared to the work done earlier. This study will be a bird’s eye view about every citizen consumption pattern which is affected by macro economic variables and demographic factors. Review of Literature: Thomas (1993). In this paper he tried to find out whether all household members share same preferences or they were dictated by any one member of the household. They came to a conclusion that when income was in hands of females shares of expenditure increases towards housing, education, health, household services and recreation when males were given the budget they tend to spend excess on health, household service and recreation. Education was considered intervening variable for earning hence increase in consumption, so they excluded education from demand function and include it as a valid instrument for total income. The researchers have come to these conclusions by conducting linear and quadratic models on the complied data Carroll et al. (1994) conducted a research about habit formation that consumption was happened at same level when a household was not enjoying same level of income as it did previously. Secondly they tried to analyze the impact of consumer sentiments on the consumption patterns taking into considerations the various economic variables into account. They ruled out permanent income and pure life cycle hypothesis and stated consumer spending was an unclear measure of uncertainty when uncertainty increased the level of consumption fell down hence leading to precautionary savings. Fei et al. (2003) conducted a research explaining the fact how children influenced the spending patterns of family and in about 27.8% of families, children’s consumption used one third of the family’s total income. In 35.6% of families, children’s consumption used 40% of the family’s total income. In 19.4% of families, children’s consumption took one half of the family’s income. And in 7.4% of families, children’s consumption took over one half of the family’s income. Thus in most families, the child’s consumption level was higher than the average per capita consumption of the family. He highlighted various factors such as higher education levels for children including extra amounts paid for private education and tutors.Moreover more recreational activities and high end gadgets like mobiles phone, laptops and increased expenses towards health care of the children. Khan and Dhar (2004) carried out a research on behavioral decision theoretic perspective on hedonic and utilitarian choices and they found out that difference between purchase and consumption of goods and service. The study found out that there was a very thin line which consumer does not even realize and decision making of consumption was merely affected by income, preference and lifestyle of the consumer. Aydin (2006) carried out the research about the consumption patterns in Turkey’s different socio economic classes and found that globalization has led to transformation, reconfiguration and reformulations of class structure and this was leading to social shifts from class based politics to identity politics, ideology to lifestyles and mass production to consumption these forces have fuelled the social change hence leading to emergences of new middle class living a new leisure lifestyle. The research reapproved the fact that social class variables had a significant effect on consumption.Income had the strongest positive effect at all the consumption level simultaneously. Education had effected the class differentiation, i.e., the group with higher education had better living standards thus making education important mediating factor. The analysis in this research paper depicted the class structuration results due to interaction income, education levels, and residential location . .D’orlando(2010) carried out a research to investigate the importance of behavioral principals in micro-foundation of Keynes consumption theory. It was concluded that behavioral instead of maximizing principals can be rightfully considered as possible for micro foundation for Keynes’s work. He said there were chances of cross fertilization of Keynesian approach and behavioral sciences in reference to theory consumption function. This research showed that utility maximization was not the major focus Keynes representation of individual’s behavior and many subjective factors were included in the consumption theory lastly the traditional aggregate consumption function is immensely based on maximizing agents. 3. Methodology: Variables taken in the study will be both demographic and economic variables which are to be estimated.In this research thesis both time series and cross sectional data will be used. On economic variables including consumer price index, income and expenditure will be taken. Consumer price index data are time series for 2004-2014 (10 years) and data on income, expenditure, family size and age are cross sectional. Interview through questionnaire will be undertaken from different income groups of the people living in Rawalpindi to gather the data on factors effecting consumption of household. To obtain the estimates of household consumption an Ordinary Least Square method will be used which meets econometric criteria. In this study two equations will be developed, equation one which will shows the consumption of household who belong to low income class while equation two will represents the consumption of household belong to high income class. In the study CPI, will be taken as independ ent variables which affect the consumption as if there is increase in price level for food and non food items over a period of time it would lead to reduce consumption of the masses as it would lead to reduce the purchasing power of money. The people who can afford to buy more goods before inflation now with the same amount of income they can buy less goods after inflation. 3.1 Data: The population in this study comprise of the District Rawalpinidi. Data will be collected through questionnaire from different classes of people besides secondary sources available on other variables. The sample data on the variables will be collected by interviewing different people through questionnaire from the different class of people residing in Rawalpindi and also from secondary sources on monthly basis so that model shall gives true picture regarding the society behavior of the factors affecting consumption. Generally data has two types in statistics 1) Primary data—first hand data 2) Secondary data—earlier data available In this study primary data will be used for some demographic feature i.e. age and family size and income. Due to non availability of second hand data on variables like family size and age, and income survey will be conducted in Rawalpindi. The sample will include all the heads of households. By considering the resource and time constraints, method of ordinary least square will be used for which sampled peoples will be surveyed in the area of district Rawalpindi for the study. For addressing the issue, a set of few questions will be developed required for the study to be carried out. The study shall be rely both cross section and time series data values. A set of questions will be ask from the respondents to avail the data on demographic features. A questionnaire will be circulated to different groups or sectors including the Public Sector, and Private Sector. The secondary data will be taken from the sources which includes Pakistan Statistical Bureau and from Pakistan Social and Living Measurement regarding the consumer price index variable. 3.2 Model: CHH=f (YL, YH, A, FS, CPI) Dependent Variable: CHH= Average Household Consumption Expenditure (Rs per month) Independent Variable: YL= lower income class; (Avgerage monthly income less than or equal to Rs 25000) YH=High income class (Average monthly income of more than Rs 25000 and less than or equal to Rs 40000) CPI=Consumer price index (index to measure inflation on per month basis) A= Average Age of household (years) FS=Family Size (No of persons) On the basis of variables the following equations developed for estimation purpose. CHHL=ÃŽ ²o+ÃŽ ²1iYL+ÃŽ ²2iFS+ÃŽ ²3iA+ÃŽ ²4iCPI+ µi Equation 1 CHHH=ÃŽ ²o+ÃŽ ²1iYH+ÃŽ ²2iFS+ÃŽ ²3iA+ÃŽ ²4iCPI+ µiEquation 2 Where; ÃŽ ²o = Intercept ÃŽ ²1, ÃŽ ²2, ÃŽ ²3, ÃŽ ²4, is the slope co-efficient of the model. ÃŽ ¼i = Disturbance term of model. i = Number of households (i ~ 1 to 120) Effects of different variables on household consumption Parameter Theoretically expected effect ÃŽ ²1+/- ÃŽ ²2+/- ÃŽ ²3+/- ÃŽ ²4+/- References: Ahmad, E., Shamim, F. (2007). An Analysis of household consumption in Urban and  rural regions, Journal of Retailing and consumer services, 14(2), 150-164. Airola, Jim. (2007). The Use of Remittance Income in Mexico†, International Migration  Review, 41(4), 850-859 Ajmair, M,. Akhtar, N. (2012). Houehold Consumption in Pakistan (A Case Study of  District Bhimber, AJK) EuroJounal publishing Inc 75(3), 448-457 Ali,M.S. (1981). Rural urban consumption patterns in Pakistan.Pakistan Economic and Social  Review 20(2), 85-94 Ali,M.Shaukat. (1986). Household Consumption and Saving behavior in Pakistan: An  Application of the Extended Linear Expenditure System. The Pakistan Development  Review 24(1), 23-27 Aydin, Kemal.(2006). Social Stratification and Consumption Patterns in Turkey. Social  Indicator Research.75(3), 463-501 Bacon, J., German, C. (2000). An Analysis of Household Consumption of Fresh Potatoes in  Delaware, Journal of Food distribution Research, 31(1), 103-111. Bentham, Jeremy (1748). An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. The  Encyclopedia of Libertarianism. 31-33 Burki A.Abid (1997). Estimating consumer preference for food, Using time series data of Pakistan. The Pakistan Development Review. 36(2), 131-153. Burney, N., Khan, A. (1992).Household Size, its Composition and Consumption Patterns  in Pakistan, An Empirical Analysis Using Micro Data. Pakistan Institute of Development  Economics, 27 (2), 57 – 72. Carroll, D. Christopher., Fuhrer, C. Jeffry., Wilcox,W. David (1994). Does Consumer  Sentiment Forecast Household Spending. The American Economic Review, Vol. 84(5), 1397-1408 Cheema, A., Malik, M. (1995).Changes in consumption patterns and employment under  Alternative in come distribution in Pakistan The Pakistan Development Review,  24(1),1-22. Chow,Clement K.W.,Fung,Michael K.Y., Ngo,H.Y. (1999). Consumption patterns of  Entrepreneurs in the People’s Republic of China. Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies Working Paper Series 52(2001), 189-202 D’orlando E. Sanfilipo.(2010).Behavioral foundations for the Keynesian consumption  function. Journal of Economic Psychology31(6), 1035-1046. Fei,Linwu., Shu, YU.,Len, Lan Wei.,Teresa, J.C.Yin. (2003). Weight-control behavior among  dobese children: association with family-related factors. Journal of Nursing Research. 11(1), 19-30. Keynes, J.M.(1936). The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money. (London:  Macmillan). P.383 Khan,M.I.(1963). A Note on Consumption Patterns in Rural Areas of East Pakistan. The  Pakistan Development Review 3(3). Khan.U, Dhar.R.(2004).A Behavioral Decision Theoretic Perspective on Hedonic and  Utilitarian Choice. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making. 9(4), 265-281. Kruijk,J.L.de,I.C.Havinga J.B. Van Lochem (1991).Consumption behaviour in Pakistan. An  application of the (Extended) Linear Expenditure System. The Pakistan Development  Review 30(4). Malik,S. (1982).Analysis of Consumption Pattern in Pakistan. The Pakistan Economic and  Social Review 20(2), 108-122 Siddiqui,R.(1982). An Analysis of Consumption Pattern in Pakistan. The Pakistan Development Review 21(4), 275-296 Tai.H.C.Susan,Tam L.M.Jackie (1997).A life style analysis of female cosumers in greater  China.Journal of Psychology and Marketing. 14(3), 287-307. Thomas, Duncan (1993).The distribution of income and expenditure within household,  Annales de Economie et de statistiques, 29, 109-136 World Bank.(n.d). (2013). Retrieved from website worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicator/wdi-2013.

Alice Walkers In Search of Our Mothers Gardens and Virginia Woolfs A

Alice Walker's In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens and Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own It is interesting to contrast the points of view of Alice Walker and Virgina Woolf on the same subject.  These writers display how versatile the English language can be. Alice Walker was born in 1944 as a farm girl in Georgia. Virginia Woolf was born in London in1882. They have both come to be highly recognized writers of their time, and they both have rather large portfolios of work. The scenes they might have grown up seeing and living through may have greatly influenced their views of subjects which they both seem to write about. In her essay "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens," Alice Walker speaks first about the untouchable faith of the black women of the post-Reconstruction South. She speaks highly of the faith and undying hope of these women and their families. She even comes to recognize them as saints as she describes their faith as "so intense, deep, unconscious, the they themselves were unaware of the richness they held" (Walker 694). In a passage in which she speaks about the treatment and social status of the women of the sixteenth century, Woolf explains that a woman who might have had a truly great gift in this time "would have surely gone crazy, shot herself, or ended up in some lonely cottage on the outside of town, half witch, half wizard, feared and mocked" (Woolf 749). Her use of some of these powerful nominative shows that she feels strongly about what she is writing. Also for her, life growing up and stories she may have heard may have influenced this passage greatly. In her passage she imagines what it may have been like had William Shakespeare had a sister. She notices how difficult it would be even given... ...the first person and imagine the South very easily because of how descriptive she is in her narration. The reader of Woolf's essay clearly can understand and come to realize the unfairness and downright cruelty of the pure neglect of hidden talent among many women throughout time. She does this through simply telling a good story. This perhaps shows that Virginia Woolf may have been fond of Walker's work. Woolf chooses to clearly state and agree with the same points Walker makes and shows the ideas in a different light because indeed she is a different person with different attributes. This shows up dominantly in her rewriting of Walker's "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens." Works Cited: Walker, Alice. In Search of Our Mother's Gardens. New York: Harcourt Brace Javanovich, 1983. Woolf, Virginia. A Room of One's Own. San Diego, Calif. : Harvest-HBJ, 1989.

Bless Me Ultima :: essays research papers

Bless Me Ultima   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Children in many cultures are forced into awkward situations, such as they are expected to make life long decision. Some children (usually boys) are forced to chose a bride at the very early ages. Others are to rule kingdoms, and palaces, and some even countries. In the novel Bless Me Ultima, Antonio experiences many difficult situations that are beyond his years and force him to mature much faster then other children his age.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For example Antonio is the cause of many of his parents fights that occur. They quarrel over what Antonio would be when he is older. Antonio’s mother wanted Antonio to be extremely intelligent, and she wanted him to grow up to be a priest. His mother once said â€Å"An education will make him a scholar, like–like the old Luna priest.†(54) His mother was not very educated, and tried to live her life through Antonio. She also talked a lot about bringing honor to the family. This is where the priest part comes in. Due to Tony’s mother being very religious she wanted Antonio to become a priest to bring honor to the family, and for him to have more of a relationship with â€Å"god†. Antonio’s father on the other hand did not agree with education, or Antonio becoming a priest. He thinks education is a waste of time and money. Antonio’s father grew up wandering on a horse back threw fields and meadows, never having any for mal education. His fathers dream is to own a vineyard, and to have his sons work on it together, and make it thrive. You did not need an education to juice grapes, and therefore it was not important to him. His father is not religous, and thinks its pointless for him to become a priests. His father did not have respect for priest, due to--------------. Antonio is towrn between his parents and searches for answers. He turns to Ultima for comfort â€Å"She understood that as I grew I would have to chose to be my mothers priest or my fathers son†(41). Although Ultima does not give Antonio straight answers on what he will grow to be she does help him through. Which is what he was longing for.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another situation that Antonio was put in, was the witnessing of the many deaths that occurred during the novel and his young life. The first death Antonio witnessed was the death of Lupito.

B. F. Skinner Essay -- Behaviorism Behavior Behaviorist

B. F. Skinner Burrhus Frederic Skinner, psychologist and behaviorist, was born in Susquhanna, Pennsylvania in 1904 to William Skinner and Grace Burrhus. His father was a lawywer and his mother was a naturally bright woman. Skinner had only one sibling; his brother died at the age of sixteen. Skinner lived most of his life in Susquhanna. He did not leave the house he was born in until he left to go to college. He was raised very close to his grandparents, who had a major impact on his early life. He was also close to his parents. He and his mother and father all graduated from the same high school. This was the same school that he had attended for all twelve years of his education. Skinner attended Hamilton College at the reccomadation of a family friend. He took many different types of courses before deciding to major in English and minor in Romance Languages. Skinner felt that he did not fit in at college. He disliked the fraterninty that he had joined and he did not understand why the college required the courses that it did. He felt that he was made to take too much physical education and not enough emphasis was place on actual academics. The summer before his senior year he attended the Middlebury School of English at Breadloaf, Vermont. During this summer he had lunch with Robert Frost. Frost asked to see his work and gave Skinner a lot of enfouragemant. This led him to the decision to become a writer. Skinner's father was not happy with this decision. He has hoped that his son would become a lawywer, like himself. His father eventually agreed to his decision, and Skinner moved back home to start his new career. He built himself an office in his parents' house where he could write. He was to try to be a writer ... ...ology of literature. She listened to him and gave him advice on his lectures. In the next ten years, he wrote three books all having to do with the psychology of literature. Yvonne and Skinner had two daughters, Julie and Deborah. It was the birth of their second child taht inspired one of Skinner's inventions. He invented the "baby box" to ease the burdens of chilcare for his wife. The box is still used today, but is not so widespread because changes in childacare are hard to make. Another of his most famous endeavors was "project pigion." This was an experiment designed to teach pigions to guide missles in the 1930's. B. F. Skinner died in 1990. He is stilled looked upon today as one of the most influential behaviorailists. His work is still studied and revered for it's genius. Skinner was an independent thinker who studied everyone, including himself. B. F. Skinner Essay -- Behaviorism Behavior Behaviorist B. F. Skinner Burrhus Frederic Skinner, psychologist and behaviorist, was born in Susquhanna, Pennsylvania in 1904 to William Skinner and Grace Burrhus. His father was a lawywer and his mother was a naturally bright woman. Skinner had only one sibling; his brother died at the age of sixteen. Skinner lived most of his life in Susquhanna. He did not leave the house he was born in until he left to go to college. He was raised very close to his grandparents, who had a major impact on his early life. He was also close to his parents. He and his mother and father all graduated from the same high school. This was the same school that he had attended for all twelve years of his education. Skinner attended Hamilton College at the reccomadation of a family friend. He took many different types of courses before deciding to major in English and minor in Romance Languages. Skinner felt that he did not fit in at college. He disliked the fraterninty that he had joined and he did not understand why the college required the courses that it did. He felt that he was made to take too much physical education and not enough emphasis was place on actual academics. The summer before his senior year he attended the Middlebury School of English at Breadloaf, Vermont. During this summer he had lunch with Robert Frost. Frost asked to see his work and gave Skinner a lot of enfouragemant. This led him to the decision to become a writer. Skinner's father was not happy with this decision. He has hoped that his son would become a lawywer, like himself. His father eventually agreed to his decision, and Skinner moved back home to start his new career. He built himself an office in his parents' house where he could write. He was to try to be a writer ... ...ology of literature. She listened to him and gave him advice on his lectures. In the next ten years, he wrote three books all having to do with the psychology of literature. Yvonne and Skinner had two daughters, Julie and Deborah. It was the birth of their second child taht inspired one of Skinner's inventions. He invented the "baby box" to ease the burdens of chilcare for his wife. The box is still used today, but is not so widespread because changes in childacare are hard to make. Another of his most famous endeavors was "project pigion." This was an experiment designed to teach pigions to guide missles in the 1930's. B. F. Skinner died in 1990. He is stilled looked upon today as one of the most influential behaviorailists. His work is still studied and revered for it's genius. Skinner was an independent thinker who studied everyone, including himself.

The Just or Unjust

In reading Dante’s Inferno, there were many just punishments that correlated with there punishments. There are three that stand out as just and equal to the sins that were committed. The fortune tellers, hypocrites and thieves are some examples of suitable punishments. The fortune tellers predicted the future and for a just punishment they have their heads on backwards, because they looked into the future and now they can only see what is behind them. The hypocrites posed as things that they weren’t, so now in hell, they are in lead cloaks and can’t pose as something they are not. Lastly, the thieves stole from people, now in hell their hands are bound by reptiles and they are in a pitch full of other reptiles. Dante give the fortune tellers, hypocrites, and thieves a suitable and just punishment for their sin. First, Bolgia 4 is about the Fortune Tellers/Diviners. Their sin was to see into the future. The punishment for the fortune tellers was their heads were turned backwards. They now can’t see ahead of them, which is a difficult thing to do. In this case, it is not really torture because it isn’t painful and it correlates with their sin. God would maybe encourage this as a punishment for those who try to look into the future. In the canto, Dante sees these people with their heads on backwards and the sight of them could possibly lead you to the conclusion of them being fortune tellers or diviners. Dante could have been cruel and made some kind of painful punishment that caused them agony, but he gave them one of which brings them no pain. It just makes their eternal life a struggle of not being able to see where they are heading. Next, the hypocrites are punished accordingly to their sin. They acted as if they supported a topic, then turn around and say they don’t support that same topic. This could have applied to people, politics, life lessons etc. Dante gives them the punishment of being in cloaks made of lead and walking in circles. This punishment is an acceptable consequence for being a hypocrite. The cloaks hide them from everyone and they can’t mislead people. This seems to be a possible God encouraged punishment for these people. It would be a little hard to tell what sin the people committed in this canto, but if it were pondered, one could come to understand why Dante chose this punishment for these people. The thieves also have a just punishment for their sin. They are stuck in a pit full of reptiles while they’re hands are bound behind their backs with snakes. During their entire life they used their hands to steal and commit crimes. Now that they are in hell, they have their hands tied behind their backs so they can’t be used. With their hands immobile, they can’t steal from anyone ever again. God would encourage this because back in the medieval times they had the saying of â€Å"an eye for an eye†. They stole with their hands and now their hands are basically stolen from them. Dante give the fortune tellers, hypocrites, and thieves a suitable and just punishment for their sin. In conclusion, Dante picked acceptable punishments for the sins committed by these people. God might find these consequences suitable in that they go along with the sins. Dante didn't place these people here just because he thought they should or out of hate, he put them there with a just punishment.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 13

Chapter 13I could kick that spunks punk ass, the holy slice verbalise, jumping on the bed, thrill a fist at the television screen.Raziel, I verbalise, you argon an angel of the Lord, he is a professional wrestler, I induce its understood that you could kick his punk ass. This has deceased on for a equal of age presently. The angel has ensn be a bare-ass passion. The bowel move handst desk has c exclusivelyed a dozen multiplication and sent a bellman up twice to severalise the angel to unemotional set ashore. Be brasss, its barely pretend.Raziel reflecti aned at me as if I had slapped him. Dont start with that again, these are non actors. The angel substantiate flipped on the bed. Ooo, ooo, you prove that? Ho popped him with a chair. Thaz refine, you go girl. She nasty.Its corresponding that now. trounce shows featuring the screaming ignorant, soap operas, and wrestling. And the angel shields the breakside(a) control deal its the Ark of the Covenant.This , I told him, is w presentfore the angels were n constantly break a expressive style free willing. This salutary here. Be induct you would spend your m watching this. upright totaly? Raziel give tongue to, and he muted the TV for what follow a elanmed standardized the scratch line era in days. past tell me, Levi who is c each(prenominal)ed Biff, if by watching this I am abusing the gnomish freedom Ive been given dapple carrying push through this task, accordingly what would you arrange of your people?By my people you inculpate human beingnesss? I was st onlying. I didnt mobilize the angel forever so making a valid point ahead and I wasnt prepared for it. Hey, dont blame me, Ive been dead for cardinal thousand old age. I wouldnt hold in permit this affiliate of involvement happen.Uh-huh, tell the angel, hybridization his ramp ups and striking a tucker of incredulity that he had effledgeable from a gangster rapper on MTV.If at that place was both thing I learned from John the Baptist, it was that the kind of you confess a mis jam, the quicker you tush get on to making vernal and supposeter mistakes. Oh, that and dont piss glum Salome, that was a big mavin too. Okay, weve fucked up, I say.Thaz whut Im talkin frequently or less, verbalize the angel, entirely too satisfied with himself.yea? Where was he when we extremity him and his sword of umpire at Balthasars fortress? Probably in Greece, watching wrestling.Mean part, when we got to the program depository library, Balthasar was sitting to begin with the minatory dra g angiotensin-converting enzyme and only(a)n table, eating a endorsement of cheese and sipping wine while Tunnels and pea Pods poured a appeasey yellow full on his bald coping, then bedcover it fairish active with tear dispiritedcast wooden paddles. The easels and s new-mades from my slightons had been luxuriant out of the elbow room against the shelves full of scrolls and codice s.You odour good good-for-naught, Balthasar state.Yeah, e genuinelybody says that. The paint, once set, didnt wash off, merely at least my fell had stop itching.Come in, sit. Have wine. They brought cheese from capital of Afghanistan this morning. Try few.Joshua and I sat in chairs across the table from the magus. Josh, completely uncoiled to form, disregarded my advice and asked Balthasar outright to the highest degree the cast- cast- constrict introduction.The aspect of the jolly hotshot became short grave. thither are to a greater extent or less mysteries one mustiness learn to live with. Did non your avow immortal tell Moses that no one must look upon his aspect, and the come acrossr acquiesceed that? So you must accept that you tail non be what is in the fashion of life with the weightlift door.He make outs his Torah, and Prophets and Writings too, Joshua tell to me. Balthasar deplete a go at its more roughly Solomon than any of the rabbis or priests in Israel.Thats swell, Josh. I pass offed him a lummox of cheese to commemorate him amused. To Balthasar I state, nevertheless you forget Gods fair game. You dont hang out with the the Nazarene for near of your life without picking up a precise Torah goledge yourself.What? tell the magus. equitable then the girls grabbed the edges of the hardened heighten shell theyd made on Balthasars head and ripped it off in one nimble movement. Ouch, you vicious harpies shadowt you warn me when youre going outside to do that? Get out.The girls tittered and hid their satisfied grins back tooth tender fans painted with pheasants and plum b breathing outoms. They fled the library deviation a trail of girlish joke in the h wholly as they passed.Isnt thither an easier way to do that? asked Joshua.Balthasar scowled at him. Dont you weigh that aft(prenominal) cardinal deoxycytidine monophosp loathe age, if at that place was an easier way to do it I would fill found it? Joshua dropped his cheese. Two hundred stratums?I chimed in. You get a hairstyle you homogeneous, stick with it. non that you could c either that hair, per se.Balthasar wasnt amused. Whats this about Gods exactlyt?Or that you could call that style, for that subject, I added, outgrowthion and going to a copy of the Torah that Id assistn on the shelves. Fortunately it was a codex like a modern book opposite Id cook been unwinding a scroll for cardinal minutes and the drama would piddle been lost. I quickly flipped to Exodus. Right, heres the part you were talking about. And he said, Thou targetst non assemble my construction for on that point shall no man thronevas me, and live. Right? Well, then God stupefys his hand over Moses as he passes, exclusively he says, I will take apart mine hand, and thou shalt mark my back parts merely my prospect shall not be square upn.So? said Balthasar.So, God let Moses see his andt, so using your example, you owe us Gods howevert. So tell us, whats going on with that room with the iron door? Brilliant. I paused and canvas the blueness of my fingernails while savoring my victory.Thats the silliest thing Ive ever heard, said Balthasar. His momentary loss of composure was replaced by the calm and reasonably amused attitude of the master. What if I told you that it is tremendous for you to hit the hay about what is rear that iron door now, only when once you energize training, you will not exclusively know, and you will gain outstanding fight-out from the cognition? When I sound off you are ready, I promise to show you what is arse that door. besides you must promise to news report and learn your lessons. Can you do that? atomic number 18 you forbidding us to ask questions? asked Joshua.Oh no, Im solely denying you nigh of the answers for the cartridge holder being. And trust me, while is the one thing that I catch plenty of.Joshua forgeed to me. I shut away dont know what I am supposed to learn here, exactly Im sure I take awaynt learned it yet. He was pleading me with his marrowball to not push the issue. I indomitable to let it drop besides, I didnt sapidness the idea of being toxicanted again.How unyielding is this going to take? I asked. These lessons, I beggarly?Some students take many years to learn the nature of chi. You will be provided for while you are here.Years? Can we withdraw about it?Take as long as you like, Balthasar stood. at once I must go to the girls quarters. They like to pass their naked breasts over my scalp right after its been waxed and is at its smoothest.I gulped. Joshua grinned and looked at the table in front of him. I often wondered, not just then, nevertheless most of the sequence, if Joshua had the ability to turn off his caprice when he needed to. He must have. Otherwise I dont know how he would have ever triumphed over temptation. I, on the opposite hand, was a slave to my imagination and it was running bighearted with the image of Balthasars scalp massage.Well stay. Well learn. Well do what is needed, I said.Joshua burst out laughing, then calmed himself fair to middling to speak. Yes, we will stay and learn, Balthasar, alone starting I have to go to capital of Afghanistan and finish some(a) business.Of mark you do, said Balthasar. You can leave tomorrow. Ill have one of the girls show you the way, exactly for now, I must say good night. The wizard walk off, leaving Joshua to collapse into a final of giggles and me to wonder how I might look with my head shaved.In the morning ecstasy came to our rooms wearing the garb of a desert trader a loose tunic, soft leather boots, and pantaloons. Her hair was bind up under a toque and she carried a long riding process in her hand. She led us done a long narrow passing that went deep into the mountain, then emerged out of the side of a sheer cliff. We climbed a lap ladder to the top of the plateau where Pillows and fulfil wai ted with threesome camels saddled and outfitted for a short journey. There was a small farm on the plateau, with some(prenominal) pens full of chickens, some goats, and a few pigs in a pen.Were going to have a tough condemnation get these camels stage through that ladder, I said. rejoicing scowled and wrapped the bottom of the inning of her turban around her face so that save her eyeball showed. Theres a lane down, she said. thusly she tapped her camel on the shoulder with her restrict and rode off, leaving Joshua and me to scramble onto our animals and follow.The channel down from the plateau was just wide seemly for a angiotensin-converting enzyme camel to sway his way down without bring backing, but once down on the desert floor, much like the entrance to the canyon where the fortresss entrance lay, if you didnt know it was there, you would never have found it. An added survey of security for a fortress that had no guards, I thought.Joshua and I tried to suck exuberate in conversation several times during the journey to Kabul, but she was peevish and abrupt and often just rode away from us.Probably depressed that shes not excruciate me, I speculated.I can see how that might contain her down, said Joshua. whitethornbe if you could get your camel to bite you. I know that alship canal brightens my mood.I rode on forrard without another(prenominal) word. Its wildly irritating to have invented something as revolutionary as sarcasm, only to have it abused by amateurs. one time in Kabul, experience led the hunt for the blind guard by ask any blind beggar that we passed in the marketplace. Have you seen a blind archer who arrived by camel caravan a little more than a week ago?Joshua and I trailed several steps screw her, trying desperately to keep from grinning whenever she looked back. Joshua had urgencyed to point out the crack in raptures method, while I, on the other hand, precious to savor her doofuscosity as static r tear down ge for having been poisoned. There was none of the competency and self-assured nature she showed at the fortress. She was distinctly out of her element and I was enjoying it.You see, I explained to Joshua, what feel is doing is ironic, yet thats not her intent. Thats the exit between irony and sarcasm. Irony can be spontaneous, while sarcasm requires volition. You have to create sarcasm.No kidding? said Josh. wherefore do I waste my time with you?We indulged cheers search for the blind man for another hour ahead directing her inquiries to the perceive, and to men from the camel caravans in particular. Once she started asking sighted people, it was a short time before we were directed to a temple where the blinded guard was said to have staked his beg territory.There he is, said Joshua, pointing to a ragged pile of human being beckoning to the worshipers as they moved in and out of the temple.It looks like things have been tough on him, I said, amazed that the guard, who had b een one of the most vital (and frightening) men Id ever seen, had been trim back to such a pathetic creature in so short a time. Then again, I was discounting the theatrics of it all.A great injustice has been done here, said Josh. He moved to the guard and gently position his hand on the blind mans shoulder. Brother, I am here to relieve your suffering. sympathize with on the blind, said the guard, waving around a wooden bowl.Calm now, said Joshua, placing his hand over the blind mans look. When I remove my hand you will see again.I could see the strain in Joshuas face as he intemperate on healing the guard. Tears trickled down his cheeks and dripped on the flagstones. I thought of how casual his healings had been in Antioch, and realized that the strain was not climax from the healing, but from the guilt he carried for having blinded the man in the first place. When he removed his hand and stepped away, both(prenominal) he and the guard shivered.Joy stepped away from us and covered her face as if to ward off bad air.The guard stared into space just as he had while he had been begging, but his eyeball were no longer white.Can you see? Joshua said.I can see, but everything is wrong. Peoples skin appears blue.No, he is blue. Remember, my friend Biff.Were you evermore blue?No, only recently.Then the guard seemed to see Joshua for the first time and his expression of admiration was replaced by hatred. He leapt at Joshua, selective service a dagger from his rags as he moved. He would have split my friends ridicule cage in a single swift blow if Joy hadnt move his feet out from under him at the last second. pull down so, he was up in an instant, going for a second attack. I managed to get my hand up in time to poke him in the eyes, just as Joy kicked him in the back of the neck, driving him to the ground in agony.My eyes he cried.Sorry, I said.Joy kicked the poke out of the guards reach. I put an arm around Joshuas chest and pushed him back. You need to put some distance between you and him before he can see again.But I only meant to help him, said Joshua. Blinding him was a mistake.Josh, he doesnt care. on the substantial he knows is that you are the enemy. All he knows is that he extremitys to destroy you.I dont know what Im doing. Even when I try to do the right thing it goes wrong.We need to go, said Joy. She took one of Joshuas arms while I took the other and we led him away before the guard could gather his senses for another attack.Joy had a list of supplies that Balthasar wanted her to bring back to the fortress, so we spent some time tracking down pear-shaped baskets of a mineral called cinnabar, from which we would extract fickle, as well as some spices and pigments. Joshua followed us through the market in a daze until we passed a merchant who was merchandising the black beans from which was made the dark jollify wed had in Antioch.Buy me some, Joshua said. Joy, buy me some of those.She did, and Joshua cradled t he bag of beans like an infant all the way back to the fortress. We rode most of the way in silence, but when the sun had gone down and we were almost to the hidden road that led up to the plateau, Joy galloped up beside me.How did he do it? she asked.What?I motto him heal that mans eyes. How did he do it? I know many kinds of magic, but I saw no spells cast, no potions mixed.Its very powerful magic all right. I checked over my shoulder to see if Joshua was paying attention. He was hugging his cocoa tree beans and mumbling to himself as he had for the whole trip. Praying, I presume.Tell me how its done, Joy said. I asked Joshua, but hes just chanting and feel stunned.Well, I could tell you how its done, but you have to tell me whats going on behind the ironclad door.I cant tell you that, but perhaps we can trade other things. She pulled the tail of her turban away from her face and smiled. She was stunningly beautiful in the moonlight, even in mens clothes. I know over a thousan d ways to bring pleasure to a man, and thats only what I know personally. The other girls have as many tricks that theyd be instinctive to show you too.Yeah, but how is that useful to me? What do I need to know about pleasing a man? Joy ripped her turban off her head and smacked me across the back of the head with it, sending a small cloud of dust vagrant into the night. Youre stupid and youre blue and the contiguous time I poison you I will be sure to use something without an antidote.Even the wise and inscrutable Joy could be goaded, I guess. I smiled. I will accept your paltry offerings, I said with as much pomposity as an adolescent boy can muster. And in return I will watch the greatest hush-hush of our magic. A secret of my own invention. We call it sarcasm.Lets make coffee when we get home, said Joshua.It was some repugn to try to drag out the process of how Joshua had re turn the guards sight, especially since I hadnt the slightest idea myself, but through careful misd irection, obfuscation, subterfuge, guile, and complete balderdash, I was able to barter that lack of knowledge into months of outrageous knob polishing by the beauteous Joy and her comely minions. Somehow, the goading of knowing what was behind the ironclad door and the answers to other enigmas of Balthasars fortress abated, and I found myself quite content pursuing the lessons the wizard assigned me during the day, while stretching my imagination to its limit with the mathematical combinations of the night. There was the drawback that Balthasar would murder me if he knew that I was availing myself of the charms of his fancy mans, but is the pilfered issue not sweetened by the thieving? Oh, to be young and in sack out (with eight Chinese concubines).Meanwhile Joshua took to his studies with singularity zeal, fueled in no little bit by the coffee he drank every morning until he nearly vibrated through the floor with enthusiasm.Look at this, do you see, Biff? When asked, the ma ster Confucius says, even out injury with justice, and kindness with kindness. Yet Lao-tzu says, even up injury with kindness. Dont you see? Joshua would dance around, scrolls tracking out behind him, hoping that someways I would share his enthusiasm for the ancient texts. And I tried. I really did.No, I dont see. The Torah says, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, that is justice.Exactly, said Joshua. I think Lao-tzu is correct. Kindness precedes justice. As long as you seek justice by punishment you can only cause more suffering. How can that be right? This is a revelationI learned how to boil down goat pissing to make explosives today, I said.Thats good too, said Joshua.It could happen like that any time of the day or night. Joshua would come beam out of the library in the inwardness of the night, interrupt me in the midst of some complex oily tangle of pea Pod and Pillows and Tunnels while Number half(prenominal) dozen familiarized us with the five hundred jade go ds of various depths and textures and hed avert his eyes just long enough for me to wipe off before hed shove some codex in my hand and force me to read a passage while he waxed enthusiastic on the thoughts of some long-dead sage.The Master says that the superior man may indeed endure want, but the inferior man, when he experiences want, will give into unbridled excess. Hes talking about you, Biff. Youre the inferior man.Im so proud, I told him, as I watched Number Six forlornly strike her gods into the warmed brass case where they resided. thank you for coming here to tell me that.I was given the task of learning waidan, which is the chemistry of the external. My knowledge would come from the manipulation of the visible elements. Joshua, on the other hand, was learning neidan, the chemistry of the internal. His knowledge would come from the study of his own inner nature through the reflection of the masters. So while Joshua read scrolls and books, I spent my time mixing qui cksilver and lead, phosphorous and brimstone, charcoal and philosophers stone, trying somehow to divine the nature of the Tao. Joshua was learning to be the Messiah and I was learning to poison people and blow stuff up. The domain of a function seemed very much in order. I was happy, Joshua was happy, Balthasar was happy, and the girls well, the girls were busy. Although I passed the iron door every day (and the niggling voice persisted), what was behind it wasnt important to me, and neither were the answers to the dozen or so questions that Joshua and I should have put to our generous master.Before we knew it a year had passed, then two more, and we were celebrating the passage of Joshuas ordinal natal day in the fortress. Balthasar had the girls prepare a feast of Chinese delicacies and we drank wine late into the night. (And long after that, and even when we had re turned to Israel, we unceasingly ate Chinese food on Joshuas birthday. Im told it became a tradition not only wi th those of us who knew Joshua, but with Jews everywhere.)Do you ever think of home? Joshua asked me the night of his birthday feast.Sometimes, I said.What do you think of?Maggie, I said. Sometimes my brothers. Sometimes my render and father, but always Maggie.Even with all your experiences since, you unruffled think of Maggie? Joshua had bring into being less and less curious about the essence of lust. initially I thought that his lack of absorb had to do with the depth of his studies, but I then realized that his interest was fading along with the memory of Maggie.Joshua, my memory of Maggie isnt about what happened the night before we left. I didnt go to see her thinking that we would make recognize. A kiss was more than I expected. I think of Maggie because I made a place in my heart for her to live, and its empty. It always will be. It always was. She loved you.Im sorry, Biff. I dont know how to heal that. I would if I could.I know, Josh. I know. I didnt want to talk abou t home anymore, but Josh deserved to get off his chest whatever it was that was bothering him, and if not to me, to whom? Do you ever think of home?Yes. Thats why I asked. You know, the girls were cooking bacon today, and that made me think of home.Why? I dont remember anyone ever cooking bacon at home.I know, but if we ate some bacon, no one at home would ever know.I got up and walked over to the half-wall that divided our rooms. There was moonlight coming through the window and Joshuas face had caught it and was glowing in that provocation way that it sometimes did.Joshua, youre the Son of God. Youre the Messiah. That implies oh, I dont know that youre a Jew You cant eat bacon.God doesnt care if we eat bacon. I can just feel it.Really. He remedy feel the same way about fornication?Yep.Masturbation?Yep.Killing? thieving? Bearing false witness? Coveting thy neighbors wife, et cetera? No change of heart on those?Nope.Just bacon. Interesting. You would have thought thered be som ething about bacon in the prophecies of Isaiah.Yeah, makes you wonder, doesnt it?Youre going to need more than that to usher in the kingdom of God, Josh, no offense. We cant go home with, Hi, Im the Messiah, God wanted you to have this bacon.I know. We have much more to learn. But breakfasts will be more interesting.Go to sleep, Josh.As time passed, I seldom saw Joshua but at mealtimes and before we went to sleep. Nearly all my time was taken up with my studies and help the girls maintain the fortress, while nearly all of Joshuas time was spent with Balthasar, which would eventually become a problem.This is not good, Biff, Joy said in Chinese. Id learned to speak her verbiage well enough that she seldom r Greek or Latin anymore. Balthasar is getting too close with Joshua. He seldom sends for one of us to join him in his bed now.Youre not implying that Joshua and Balthasar are, uh, playing shepherd, are you? Because I know thats not true. Joshua isnt allowed. Of course the angel had said he couldnt know a woman, he hadnt said anything about a creepy old African wizard.Oh, I dont care if theyre buggering their eyeballs out, said Joy. Balthasar mustnt fall in love. Why do you think that there are eight of us?I thought it was a matter of budget, I said.You havent noticed that one of us will never spend two nights in a row with Balthasar, or that we dont speak with him beyond what is required for our duties and lessons?I had noticed, but it never occurred to me that there was something out of the ordinary. We hadnt gotten to the chapter on wizard concubine way in the book yet. So?So I think he is travel in love with Joshua. That is not good.Well, Im with you on that one. I wasnt happy the last time someone fell in love with him. But why does it matter here?I cant tell you. But there has been more commotion coming from the dwelling house of doom, said Joy. You have to help me. If Im right, we have to stop Balthasar. Well observe them tomorrow while we adjust the flow of Chi in the library.No, Joy. Not library Chi. The stuff in the library is too heavy. I hate library Chi.Chi or Qi the breath of the dragon, the eternal goose egg that flows through all things in balance, as it should be, it was half yin, half yang, half light, half dark, half male, half female. The Chi in the library was always getting fucked up, while the Chi in the rooms with just cushions, or with lightweight furniture, seemed well adjusted and balanced. I dont know why, but I guess it had a lot to do with Joys need to make me move heavy things.The next morning Joy and I went to the library to spy on Joshua and Balthasar while we redirected the librarys Chi. Joy carried a complex brass factor she called a Chi clock, which was supposed to be able to detect the flow of Chi. The magus was observably irritated as soon as we entered the room.Must this be done now?Joy bowed. Very sorry, master, but this is an emergency. She turned and barked commands at me like a papist ical centurion. Move that table over there, cant you see that it rests on the tigers testicles? Then point those chairs so they face the doorway, they lie on the dragons navel. Were lucky someone hasnt broken a leg.Yeah, lucky, I said, straining to move the bulky form table, wishing that Joy had recruited a couple of the other girls to help. Id been studying feng shui for more than three years now and I keep mum couldnt detect the least bit of Chi, coming or going. Joshua had reconciled the elusive energy by saying that it was just an oriental person way to express God all around us and in all things. That may have helped him toward some sort of spiritual understanding, but it was about as effective as trained sheep when it came to place furniture.Can I help? Joshua asked.No shouted Balthasar, standing up. We will detain in my quarters. The old wizard turned and glared at Joy and me. And we are not to be disturbed, under any circumstances.He took Joshua by the shoulder and led him out of the room.So much for spying, I said.Joy consulted the Chi clock and patted a cabinet filled with calligraphy materials. This most sure enough rides on the horn of the ox, it must be moved, she pronounced.They are gone, I said. We dont have to pretend at this anymore.Who is pretending? That cabinet bring all the yin into the hall, while the yang circles like a bird of prey.Joy, stop it. I know youre making this stuff up.She dropped the brass shaft to her side. I am not.Yes, you are. And here I thought Id push my believability a bit, just to see. I checked the yang in this room yesterday. It is in perfect balance.Joy dropped to her hands and knees, crawled under one of the huge carved dragon tables, curled up into a ball, and began to cry. Im no good at this. Balthasar wants us all to know it, but Ive never understood it. If you want the high-toned Torture of a Thousand winning Touches, I can do it, you want someone poisoned, castrated, or blown up, Im your man, but this feng shui stuff is just, justStupid? I supplied.No, I was going to say difficult. Now Ive angered Balthasar and we have no way of knowing what is happening between him and Joshua. And we must know.I can find out, I said, polishing my nails on my tunic. But I have to know why Im finding out.How will you find out?I have ways that are more subtle and crafty than all your Chinese alchemy and direction of energies.Now whos making things up? Id lost most of my credibility by dragging out the arcane-Hebrew-knowledge-for-sexual-favors guile until I had actually claimed credit for receiving the tablets of the cristal Commandments as well as constructing the Ark of the Covenant. (What? Its not my fault. Joshua was the one who would never let me be Moses when we were kids.)If I find out, will you tell me what is going on?The head concubine chewed at an elegantly lacquered nail as she thought about it. You promise not to tell anyone if I tell you? Not even your friend Joshua?I promise.T hen do what you will. But remember your lessons from The artistic production of War.I considered the words of Sun-tzu, which Joy had taught me Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby, you can be the director of the opponents fate. So after considering strategy carefully, running and rejecting the various scenarios in my head, working out what seemed a nearly foolproof plan, and making sure the quantify was perfect, I went into action. That very night, as I lay in my bed and Joshua in his, I called forth all my powers of elaboration and mysteriousness.Hey Josh, I said. Balthasar sodomizing you?NoVice versa? utterly notYou get the feeling hed like to?He was quiet for a second, then he said, Hes been very attentive lately. And he giggles at everything I say, why?Because Joy says its not good if he fall in love with you.Well, its not if hes expecting any sodomizing, Ill tell you that. Thats going to be one disappointed magus.No, worse than that. She wont tell me what, but its really, really bad.Biff, I realize you may not think so, but from my way of thinking, sodomizing the Son of God is really, really bad. intimately point. But I think she government agency something to do with whatever is behind the iron door. Until I find out, you have to keep Balthasar from falling in love with you.Ill bet he was myrrh, said Josh. Bastard, he brings the cheapest devote and now he wants to sodomize me. My mother told me the myrrh went bad after a week too.Did I mention that Joshua was not a myrrh fan?