Soap Operas and the politics of everyday lives Essay Example for Free

Soap Operas and the politics of everyday lives Essay Language is use for communication and to convey our ideas. It can also be used as a social marker. It creates meanings and it is also considered as a source of power (Larson, :180). Power relations are also embedded in the langauge of soap operas. Soap operas are said to be reflections of reality, it mirrors the class struggle between the rich and the poor. It demonstrates how those who are in power easily manipulate the poor but later in the story the poor will be vindicated. This is the semantic dimension of language; solidarity and power assymetry of superior over inferior. Identification with both the hero and the heroine does not entail a cognitive choice, but draws upon a repertoire of unconscious process. Both is not a random object, but rather a particular commoditized human, routed through a system of signs with exchange value (Friedberg, 1990:109). To look at an object may mean various things in the subconscious mind, one is to grow like it by forcibly trying to imitate it. Working-class members are more inclined to identify with dramatic character, whereas people with higher cultural capital, including aesthetics, are more inclined to maintain a critical distance to the narrative. The ideological problematic of soap opera – the frame or field in which meanings are made, in which significance is constructed narratively – is that of ‘personal life’. More particular, personal life in its everyday realization through personal relationships. This can be understood to be constituted primarily through the representations of romances, families and attendant rituals – birth, engagements, marriages, divorce, and deaths. In Marxist terms this is the sphere of the individual outside waged labor. In feminist terms it is the sphere of women’s ‘intimate oppression’ (Brunsdon, 1997:58). The spectator is a person who experiences little, who feels that he [sic] is a â€Å"poor wretch to whom nothing of importance can happen,† who has long been obliged to damp down, or rather displace, his ambition to stand in his own at the hub of world affairs; he longs to feel and to act and to arrange things according to his desires†¦ And the playwright and the actor enable him to do this by allowing him to identify himself with a hero†¦ His enjoyment is based on an illusion. (Freud, 1990:89). By identifying with the person onscreen, the person is displacing oneself, which Freud suggests as â€Å"blowing off steam†. Identification with the actor serves the audience to make this an outlet for unfulfilled desires, by identifying with the performer, one would create a venue where the actor serves as a tool for the satisfaction of the viewer. The viewer puts himself in the actor’s place and relates with all the ups and downs that the actor experiences in his life. The actor’s success is also the fan’s success. Soap operas are usually criticized by the stereotypical and unrealistic manner in which they portray women, which confirms them more in their subordination in the society. According to Brunsdon, there was a feminist rejection of soaps which is in effect homologous with the traditional cultural contempt for soaps. This was followed by a certain reevaluation which coincides across the women’s movement of conventionally feminine skills such as embroidery and the admission of enjoyment in some of the pleasures of traditional femininity, like dressing up. ‘Heroine television’ is centrally about female characters living their lives, usually working both inside and outside the home, usually not in permanent relationships with men, sometimes with children, and trying to cope. Soap opera is not quite ‘heroine television’ but it was mainly attractive to feminists as an object of analysis because it was perceived to be both for and about women. The ‘personal is political’ is the most resonant and evocative claim of the 1970s western feminism. If the personal is political, if it is in the home, in relationships, in families, that women’s intimate oppression – or the oppression of women as women – is most consensually secured, then the media construction and representation of personal life becomes fascinating and an urgent object of study. If the traditional leftist critique of the media, with its structuring sense of class conflict, was drawn to the reporting of the public world – to industrial disputes, to the interactions of state and broadcasting institutions, to international patterns of ownership and control – emerging feminism scholarship had quite another focus. The theoretical impulse of feminism pushed scholars not to the exceptional but to the everyday. So the theoretical conviction that there was politics to everyday life and that women’s hidden labor in the home was essential to capitalism coincides with the actual generic distribution of women on television (Brunsdon, 1997:57). Television is very important in the struggle for meaning and representation, especially in the construction of daily life common sense. Television can fortify the existing cultural domination by presenting inequality as normal or contribute, in special cases, to subversion by providing discourses which present it as oppressive and illegitimate, or offering possibilities for alternative reading (Vink, 1988:124). In most soap operas, women are seen as commodities that are subordinate to men, yet women can kill in order to get the man she loves. The poor are manipulated to the rich man’s desires and are helpless to fight back. Women are subjected to physical violence or symbolic oppression. Thus, resonates male dominance in the society. Women as inferior entity while men are the superior ones (Larson, :185). In these lopsided relations, the poor are powerless against the people in power. This powerlessness further widens the gap between the rich and the poor. The use of language of a particular group can de attributed to their class position in the society. Social class can be a combinationof wealth, power and prestige. Likewise, it is also attached to individuals or group of individuals relationship to economic production. A persons class position is determined by their economic power (Labov, 1997:45). Because soap operas are viewed on primetime, which means that the whole family is able to watch since the children are back from school and the husband is back from work, soap operas have a bigger audience. They see on television acts rendered on the poor and females thus making the viewers docile and passive. Consequently, they refrain from doing things that are not supposed to be done by their class which is to assert their rights. Soap operas also justify violence and show that it is just part of normal occurrence. Thus it is accepted that women, poor and orphaned children may be maltreated, exploited or beaten up; men can beat up their wives and use alcohol as an excuse; and the privileged status of spoiled brats in convent uniforms give them a right to abuse household help. The treatment an authority imposes on everyday life seems to be so strong that people project it onto the speech of the characters and refer to them while placing themselves in a subordinate position in this fictive relationship (Fachel, 1985:216). Television, as a dominant cultural industry, plays a central role in imposing a view of this type of social world. The understanding of the power relations in society and of the categories necessary for them is the basis of political struggle which the powerful appropriate to themselves. Another effect of the television is that people can relate more to the celebrities than to their neighbors. Example of this is the death of Rico Yan which was given too much hype by the media. Most poor went out of their way to view his body as it lay in state. His death even surpassed that of National Artists who died almost the same week as the young actor. The people’s sympathy is even stronger for someone who they do not have ties with than with people form their own packages. Because a celebrity’s life is an open book, they know more about that person than their next-door-neighbors. In the Philippines, a person, an actor, can be voted in the highest position in the land. Because of extensive media mileage a person can get elected. An important factor is identification with the personality. In urban poor areas, people usually identify with someone they see on television as â€Å"one of them†. If the actor portrays roles as the hero of the masses, then this will be what people will remember off screen. They are voted because the people think that since they have already portrayed the role therefore they are presumed to have the background and experience regarding governance. Watching soap operas during prime time also contributes to the disintegration of families. These hours are the only time that members of the family are present in the households and should be the venue for family gathering during dinner. This should serve as the time to talk about what happen during the day, instead the members of the family are in front of the television watching soap operas. Instead of eating in the dining table, some members of the family eat in front of the television so that they would not miss a scene in the soap opera. The only time where they could talk and bond as a family is robbed by the viewing of telenovelas. Though soap operas can also contribute to the topics that are discussed, the things that happened in the soaps would be discussed to friends during the afternoons and not with the family members. After watching soap operas during prime time, it would be late in the evening that there is no more time to interact with one another. People can relate to the events in soap operas because somehow it is also what they are experiencing in their daily lives thus art reflects life. By watching telenovelas, they can pick up something that can somehow relieve the burden of their problems. But whether this can solve their problems is another story. Passivity and acceptance of their lot is the order of the day. It is precisely this confrontation between fiction and reality which can have a subversive effect: showing the viewer that reality can be different, that class and/or gender oppression are not natural but changeable. It is not only identification with telenovelas heroes or heroines, but also with the villains that can open the eyes of the viewers to the fact that life can be different. This can produce a suspension of the immediate attachment to the existing social world and is, as such, a first step in the process of emancipation, a precondition of collective action, based on a common identity (Vink, 1988:169). Soap opera viewers should be able to distinguish between reel and reality. Even if there are some celebrities with good credentials who can be elected for a public position, being an actor and the role that one portrays should not be the only factor why they are voted. Instead of portraying reality, media in this case shapes the perspective and view of people according what they media want to represent. Watching soap operas should also be limited because they create stereotypes and limit critical thinking among its viewers. Also, family disintegration would continue if members of the family would continue to ignore each other by watching television. The family is still the most important unit in a society. Instead of just identifying themselves with the actors and actresses in soap operas, the viewers should know that they can do better than just identify themselves with them. As individuals they also have the capacity to succeed on their own without just being satisfied by what their idol accomplishes because they can also do the same.

History and Properties of Rubber

History and Properties of Rubber History of Rubber Rubber was first discovered by the Indians living in Central and South America at around 1000 CE. The native people of the Americas used latex from the rubber trees (which they called it the cahuchu tree) and learned how to make waterproof clothes and footwears.1 They also used the latex to make bouncing balls for ball games.1 In 1736, a French explorer named Charles Marie de La Condamine travelled to Ecuador and discovered the Hevea tree (which is known as the rubber tree), he was the first European to have discovered rubber. He sent samples of this rubber to the French Academy of Sciences, this prompted their interest of rubber.2 Figure 1: Latex liquid collected from the Hevea rubber tree 3 In 1770, English engineer named Edward Nairne created several rubber cubes and discovered that they had erasing properties. This meant that they can be able to erase pencil marks, this was later confirmed by English scientist named Joseph Priestley.4 In 1768, a French Chemist named Pierre Macquer studied the properties of the rubber found in South America. He found that when rubber is dissolved in ether, flexible tubes can be produced 5, this has led to rubber being an important material to many everyday applications. In 1791, a British shoemaker named Samuel Peal developed a method for waterproofing cloth, this was done by mixing turpentine (which is an oiled that is attained by the distillation of resin from pine trees) with rubber.6 In 1818, a Scottish surgeon named James Syme manufactured raincoats from waterproof cloth made from rubber.7 This was then later developed by Scottish chemist named Charles Macintosh. In 1823, he developed a method of making better waterproof raincoats by dissolving rubber with naphtha (which is an oil attained by the distillation of coal tar) and then placing it with another cloth (in order to improve the thickness of the coat). The waterproof coat became known as the Mackintosh coat.8 Figure 2: The Mackintosh Coat 9 In 1832, the first rubber factory was built, it was known as the Rosburg factory. Regrettably, when the rubber products made from the factory were left in the cold, it made them brittle, and when they were left in the sun the rubber melted, leaving customers to be discouraged.8 For many years, scientists have tried to develop new methods of increasing the strength of rubbers without being successful. However, in 1839, an American chemist named Charles Goodyear had accidently discovered a new way of making rubbers more durable. What he done was he accidentally dropped some mixture of natural rubber and sulphur on a hot stove, this has led to the vulcanization of the rubber. 8 In 1845, a Scottish inventor named Robert William Thompson invented the pneumatic tyre, this consisted of an inner belt made from natural rubber that was inflated with air, this was a major development to the motor industry because heavy steam engines could be able to travel on the roads without damaging the surface, this was further developed in 1869 where solid and hollow rubber were used to make the tyres. In the 1850s, rubber toys were being produced. 8 In 1876, an English explorer named Henry Wickham smuggled several seeds from the Hevea brasiliensis (which is the rubber tree found in Brazil) and took it to England. The English exported these seeds around the world, this has led to the increase in the supply of natural rubber around the world. 10 In 1883, an American chemist named George Oenslager developed a new method of accelerating the vulcanization of natural rubber with sulphur.7 He converted aniline into thiocarbanilide because it was easier to handle. From several experiments he conducted, he found out that thiocarbanilide was a good rubber accelerator for the vulcanization process. He was the first person to use carbon black as a filler for the rubber because it increased the strength of the rubber. 11 In 1909, a German scientist named Fritz Hofmann and his fellow scientists produced the first synthetic rubber known as methyl isoprene however the problem with this rubber is that it was expensive to make.12 In 1930, an American scientist named Wallace Carothers and his team produced a compound called chloropropene which then polymerised to form a solid which had a rubbery texture. The team had found out that the properties of this new polymer was similar to that of natural rubber. This polymer was named as Neoprene and was the first commercially successful synthetic rubber.13 Also in the 1930s, a German chemist named Walter bock had developed a new synthetic rubber which had better properties than that of natural rubber. He first tried to copolymerise dimethyl butadiene with isoprene and butadiene, this was successful as the new polymer had similar properties to the natural rubber. He then replaced dimethyl butadiene with styrene and copolymerised with butadiene, the polymer was named as SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber). This polymer was better than natural rubber because it did not wear out quicker than its counterpart, the polymer was later known as Buna-S for commercial purposes. 14 A better synthetic rubber was later developed by copolymerising acrylonitrile with butadiene, the polymer was known as NBR (Nitrile-butadiene rubber), it was the later known as Buna-N for commercial purposes. In 1940, an American inventor named Waldon Semon produced a new synthetic rubber known as Ameripol, this was made by copolymerising butadiene with methyl methacrylate. This synthetic rubber was cheap and easy to make, so it was a no-brainer that it was used in World War 2, and helped out rubber companies such as the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company during the war. After the war, the need for natural rubber died down, and the need for synthetic rubbers increased dramatically.15 In the 1960s, EPDM (which is known as Ethylene propylene Terpolymer Rubber) was produced. The rubber is made by copolymerising by a diene derivative, ethylene and propylene. The rubber has many advantageous properties over the synthetic rubbers, one of them is that they have good electrical insulating properties. EPDM rubber are now found in our everyday life such as hose, solar panels, electrical insulation etc.16 The use of synthetic rubber is on a steep rise, and many new rubber materials have been made duri ng the 21st Century. Natural Rubber How it is made? Natural rubber is produced by biosynthetic processes (in the form of latex which is a white liquid that is found when you cut the plant up) in many plants, but mainly from the Hevea Brasiliensis (The rubber tree coming from Brazil). There are two biosynthetic process to make latex. In the first stage, Acetyl-coenzyme A is converted to melavanic acid which then is then converted to iso-pentyl-pyrophosphate. The second process is the polymerisation induced by the first stage of the biosynthesis, from this process latex is created. The rubber form of the latex is then form by coagulating the latex particles. The rubber is made from a polymerisation of naturally occurring cis-polyisoprene. 17 Figure 3:Cis-polyisoprene, natural rubber 18 Properties of Raw Natural Rubber The rubber has a clear colour and hasnt got a well-defined shape and it is soft and sticky, however when the rubber is cooled down it crystalizes, so has a well-defined shape. The rubber has a low tensile strength meaning it tends to break if a low amount of tensile stress is put into it. It has a low abrasion resistance meaning the rubber will wear out quickly. It is soluble to organic solvents such as turpentine (which is an oiled that is attained by the distillation of resin from pine trees), ether, petrol, carbon tetrachloride, and naphtha (which is an oil attained by the distillation of coal tar). It is insoluble to hydrophilic solvents such as water, acetone, and alcohol. The rubber has a high elastic property, this means that when the rubber is stretched out it gets bigger, but when it is released the rubber goes back into its original shape. The rubber can only be elastic between 10 0C to 60 0C, this means under hot conditions the rubber would lose its elasticity. Another pro perty of the natural rubber is that it absorbs a large amount of water this means that it will be always wet and would need to dry it out before the next stage of the process. 19 Advantage of Raw Natural Rubber The hardness of the rubber can easily be adjusted, so can be able to shape or coat any form of objects this is because the rubber has a high elastic property, this means that when the rubber is stretched out it gets bigger, but when it is released the rubber goes back into its original shape. It can be used as an electrical conductor or an electrical insulator. Can be able to absorb vibration and noise. It is insoluble to hydrophilic solvents such as water, acetone, and alcohol. It also has a good surface friction so does not slide about easily. Disadvantage of Raw Natural Rubber The rubber can only be elastic between 10 0C to 60 0C, this means under hot conditions the rubber would lose its elasticity. The rubber has a low tensile strength meaning it tends to break if a low amount of tensile stress is put into it. It has a low abrasion resistance meaning the rubber will wear out quickly. It has a poor resistance to any organic compounds this is because It is soluble to organic solvents such as turpentine (which is an oiled that is attained by the distillation of resin from pine trees), ether, petrol, carbon tetrachloride, and naphtha (which is an oil attained by the distillation of coal tar). Another disadvantage of natural rubber is that it has a poor resistance to ozone meaning that when the ozone reacts with the double bonds it breaks, this causes a crack.20 The crack then grows steadily because of further ozone attacks so this causes the strength of the rubber to decrease massively and cause it to break. Another disadvantage of natural rubber is it has a poor UV resistance this also means that when it reacts with the double bond it breaks; this also means that cracks will from causing the tensile strength to be severely reduced meaning the strength of the rubber would be reduced massively and causing it to break. 20 Another disadvantage is that vulcanization of the rubber can occur spontaneously, so it is hard to control the raw state of the natural rubber. The vulcanization of Natural Rubber To improve the properties of the natural rubber, the process of vulcanisation is used to do this. Vulcanization is a process that involves adding natural rubber to a curing agent such as sulphur. The process is done under heat, so by heating the rubber in the presence of the curing agent the physical and chemical properties of the rubber would be significantly improved. The reason it does is, because when heating the rubber in the presence of the curing agent, the polymer chains are cross-linked by the agent, therefore the free-flowing macromolecules of the polymer chains becomes more rigid.21 Vulcanization must be under controlled condition to avoid creating a massive amount of cross-linking, this means that it will avoid making the rubber less elastic and more brittle. Figure 4: Cis-polyisoprene with sulphur cross-links after vulcanization 23 Properties of Vulcanised Rubber The rubber has a clear colour and it is hard and not sticky, when the rubber is cooled down it crystalizes, so has a well-defined shape. The rubber has a high tensile strength meaning it does not tend to break if a low amount of tensile stress is put into it. It has a high abrasion resistance meaning the rubber will not wear out quickly. It is not soluble to organic solvents such as turpentine (which is an oiled that is attained by the distillation of resin from pine trees), ether, petrol, carbon tetrachloride, and naphtha (which is an oil attained by the distillation of coal tar). It is insoluble to hydrophilic solvents such as water, acetone, and alcohol. The rubber has a high elastic property, this means that when the rubber is stretched out it gets bigger, but when it is released the rubber goes back into its original shape. The rubber can only be elastic between -40 0C to 100 0C which is better than what the given temperature range is for the natural rubber in its raw state, thi s means under hot conditions the rubber would not lose its elasticity. Another property of the natural rubber is that it does not absorb a large amount of water this means it can be dried easily before the next stage of the process. 23 Advantages of Vulcanised Rubber The hardness of the rubber can easily be adjusted, so can be able to shape or coat any form of objects this is because the rubber has a high elastic property, this means that when the rubber is stretched out it gets bigger, but when it is released the rubber goes back into its original shape. It can be used as an electrical conductor or an electrical insulator. Can be able to absorb vibration and noise. It is insoluble to hydrophilic solvents such as water, acetone, and alcohol. It is also insoluble to organic solvents such as turpentine (which is an oiled that is attained by the distillation of resin from pine trees), ether, petrol, carbon tetrachloride, and naphtha (which is an oil attained by the distillation of coal tar). It also has a good surface friction so does not slide about easily. The rubber has a high tensile strength meaning it does not tend to break if a low amount of tensile stress is put into it. It has a high abrasion resistance meaning the rubber will not wear out quickly. The rubber can only be elastic between -40 0C to 100 0C which is better than what the given temperature range is for the natural rubber in its raw state, this means under hot conditions the rubber would not lose its elasticity. Another advantage of the vulcanized rubber is that it does not absorb a large amount of water this means it can be dried easily before the next stage of the process. It has a better resistance to ozone and UV this means that less cracks form than in its raw state. This means that it is less likely to break than the raw natural rubber. Disadvantages of Vulcanised Rubber If the vulcanized rubber is burned it can be toxic for the workers and consumers this is because it contains sulphur cross-links which can form sulphur dioxide. Vulcanization must be under controlled condition to avoid creating a massive amount of cross-linking, this means that it will avoid making the rubber less elastic and more brittle. Another disadvantage of vulcanized rubber, is that when you heat the rubber it melts and then cools quickly, this is quite dangerous for the people who are handling it. Another disadvantage of using vulcanized rubber, is natural rubber are becoming more scarce, therefore the cost of making the vulcanized rubber is increasing. To overcome this problem, scientist have been trying to make vulcanized rubber out of synthetic rubbers such as styrene-butadiene rubbers (SBR), however the problem with this is that it is not cost effect and it is very expensive to make.24 Applications of Natural Rubber and Vulcanized Rubber The main usage of natural rubber is in the motor industry. It is used to make tyres and tubes in vehicles this is because it decreases any generation of heat in the tyres. It also offers high mechanical resistance. Tyres and tubes are used mainly in heavy duty vehicles such as trucks and tractors. 23 Natural rubbers can be used to make toys, footwear, balloons, glue and condoms. Another important application of natural rubbers is that they can be used to make latex gloves. Latex gloves are used in many industries such as the medical industry, chemical industry, and engineering industry, this is because due to the chemical and physical properties of the natural rubber mentioned above it can protect workers and consumers hands from hazardous chemicals.25 There are several applications for the vulcanized rubber. Vulcanized rubbers are much better to produce tyres than natural rubber this is due to having high abrasion resistance meaning tyres wont wear out quickly. The rubber is flexible, this means that it can be used to make hoses, tubes, coats etc Shock absorbers in vehicles are made from vulcanized rubbers due to being able to absorb vibrations easily.26 As the rubber, does not dissolve in water, it can be used to make waterproof clothing and footwears. Another application of using vulcanized rubber is that they can be used to produce cables for telephone housing, and can be able to produce insulations and conductors for electrical instruments. The reason why they are used in electrical instruments, is that have good electrical insulating and conducting properties. Synthetic Rubbers Synthetic Rubbers are made by copolymerising two different monomers under certain conditions. There are 3 conditions (the mixture can be in) it can be done in such as: emulsion, suspension and solution. There are 9 major classes of synthetic rubbers: Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), Poly(Butadiene-acrylonitrile) rubbers (NBR), Butyl Rubbers (IIR), Polychloroprene (CR), Ethylene-propylene rubbers (EPDM), Urethane rubbers (EU), Silicone rubbers (VMQ), Fluoroelestomer (FKM), Flurosilicone (FVMQ).27 In this 4 major classes are being discussed. Polychloroprene In 1930, an American scientist named Wallace Carothers and his team produced a compound called chloropropene which then polymerised to form a solid which had a rubbery texture. The team had found out that the properties of this new polymer was similar to that of natural rubber. This polymer was named as Neoprene and was the first commercially successful synthetic rubber.13 Neoprene is produced by the free-radical polymerisation of chloroprene. The chloroprene undergoes polymerisation under aqueous emulsion.28 Properties of Polychloroprene The rubber has a greyish green colour.28 The rubber has a high tensile strength meaning it does not tend to break if a low amount of tensile stress is put into it. It has a high abrasion resistance meaning the rubber will not wear out quickly. It can dissolve with organic solvents such as turpentine (which is an oiled that is attained by the distillation of resin from pine trees), ether, petrol, carbon tetrachloride, and naphtha (which is an oil attained by the distillation of coal tar). It is insoluble to hydrophilic solvents such as water, acetone, and alcohol. The rubber has a moderate elastic property, this means that when the rubber is stretched out it gets bigger, but when it is released the rubber goes back into its original shape. The rubber can only be elastic between -34 0C to 100 0C which is better than what the given temperature range is for the natural rubber, this means under hot conditions the rubber would not lose its elasticity. The rubber has a low flammability, and has a high resistance to weather and ozone.29 Figure 5: Polychloroprene 30 Advantages of Polychloroprene This rubber is tougher than natural rubber because it has a higher tensile strength than natural rubber meaning it does not tend to break if a low amount of tensile stress is put into it. It has a very high resistance to hot conditions and other weather conditions; this means that it does not melt or break easily. Another advantage of polychloroprene rubber is that they have a better resistance to ozone and UV this means that less cracks forms than in its natural counterpart. This means that it is less likely to break than the natural rubber. It has a low flammability and can be able to self-extinguish if it is on fire. The structure of the polychloroprene can be altered to create a new compound which can exhibit different chemical and physical properties. Disadvantages of Polychloroprene The rubber has a poor resistance to aromatic compounds such as benzene derivatives, they also have poor resistance to carbonyl compounds such as ketones and esters, and, also has a poor resistance to strong oxidising agents. Another disadvantage of polychloroprene, is that they are quite expensive to produce. 29 Typical applications of Polychloroprene Production of hoses Making belts Making cable covers for electrical instruments Styrene-butadiene Rubber In the 1930s, a German chemist named Walter bock had developed a new synthetic rubber which had better properties than that of natural rubber. He first tried to copolymerise dimethyl butadiene with isoprene and butadiene, this was successful as the new polymer had similar properties to the natural rubber. He then replaced dimethyl butadiene with styrene and copolymerised with butadiene, the polymer was named as SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber).14 Styrene-butadiene Rubber is produced by the free-radical polymerisation of styrene mixed with butadiene. The monomers undergo free- radical polymerisation under aqueous emulsion. The monomers can also undergo polymerisation in the form of solution.31 Properties of Styrene-butadiene Rubber The rubber has a brown -black colour. 31 The rubber has a high tensile strength meaning it does not tend to break if a low amount of tensile stress is put into it. It has a high abrasion resistance meaning the rubber will not wear out quickly. It can dissolve with organic solvents such as turpentine (which is an oiled that is attained by the distillation of resin from pine trees), ether, petrol, carbon tetrachloride, and naphtha (which is an oil attained by the distillation of coal tar). It is soluble to hydrophilic solvents such as water, acetone, and alcohol. The rubber has a moderate elastic property, this means that when the rubber is stretched out it gets bigger, but when it is released the rubber goes back into its original shape. The rubber can only be elastic between -45 0C to 100 0C which is better than what the given temperature range is for the Polychloroprene, this means under hot conditions the rubber would not lose its elasticity. 29 Figure 6: Styrene-butadiene rubber 32 Advantages of Styrene-butadiene Rubber This rubber is tougher than natural rubber because it has a higher tensile strength than natural rubber meaning it does not tend to break if a low amount of tensile stress is put into it. It has a high abrasion resistance meaning the rubber will not wear out quickly. Another advantage of styrene-butadiene rubber is that it is much more cost effective than natural rubber, and the production of the rubber is much more efficient than its natural counterpart. Disadvantages of Styrene-butadiene Rubber It has a poor resistance to any organic compounds this is because It is soluble to organic solvents such as turpentine (which is an oiled that is attained by the distillation of resin from pine trees), ether, petrol, carbon tetrachloride, and naphtha (which is an oil attained by the distillation of coal tar). Another disadvantage of natural rubber is that it has a poor resistance to ozone meaning that when the ozone reacts with the double bonds it breaks, this causes a crack. The crack then grows steadily because of further ozone attacks so this causes the strength of the rubber to decrease massively and cause it to break. Fillers like carbon black are needed to strengthen the rubber. Typical applications of Styrene-butadiene Rubber Production of car tyres Making mats Making shoe soles Poly(Butadiene-acrylonitrile) rubbers In 1931, scientists IG Farben developed a synthetic rubber which consisted of copolymerising acrylonitrile with butadiene, the polymer was known as NBR (Nitrile-butadiene rubber), it was the later known as Buna-N for commercial purposes. 14 Styrene-butadiene Rubber is produced by the free-radical polymerisation of styrene mixed with butadiene. The monomers undergo free- radical polymerisation under aqueous emulsion.14 Properties of Poly(Butadiene-acrylonitrile) rubbers The rubber has a yellowish colour.33 It has a high abrasion resistance meaning the rubber will not wear out quickly. It is insoluble with organic solvents such as turpentine (which is an oiled that is attained by the distillation of resin from pine trees), ether, petrol, carbon tetrachloride, and naphtha (which is an oil attained by the distillation of coal tar). It is insoluble to hydrophilic solvents such as water, acetone, and alcohol. The rubber has a good elastic property, this means that when the rubber is stretched out it gets bigger, but when it is released the rubber goes back into its original shape. The rubber can only be elastic between -34 0C to 121 0C which is better than what the given temperature range is for the Polychloroprene, this means under hot conditions the rubber would not lose its elasticity. However, at low temperature, the rubber loses its elasticity.29 Figure 7: Poly(Butadiene-acrylonitrile)34 Advantages of Poly(Butadiene-acrylonitrile) rubbers It has a very high resistance to hot conditions and other weather conditions; this means that it does not melt or break easily. Another advantage of Poly(Butadiene-acrylonitrile) rubber is that they have a better resistance to ozone and UV this means that less cracks forms than in its natural counterpart. This means that it is less likely to break than the natural rubber. It has a high abrasion resistance meaning the rubber will not wear out quickly. Another advantage of Poly(Butadiene-acrylonitrile) rubber is that it has a high resistance in oil this is because It is insoluble with organic solvents such as turpentine (which is an oiled that is attained by the distillation of resin from pine trees), ether, petrol, carbon tetrachloride, and naphtha (which is an oil attained by the distillation of coal tar). 29 Disadvantages of Poly(Butadiene-acrylonitrile) rubbers At low temperature, the rubber loses its elasticity. Another disadvantage of Poly(Butadiene-acrylonitrile) rubbers, is that they have poor resistance to carbonyl compounds such as ketones and esters, and, also has a poor resistance to strong oxidising agents. 29 Typical applications of Poly(Butadiene-acrylonitrile) rubbers Making nitrile gloves Can be used for O-rings Can be used to make hoses and tubing Ethylene propylene Terpolymer Rubber In the 1960s, EPDM (which is known as Ethylene propylene Terpolymer Rubber) was produced. The rubber is made by copolymerising by a diene derivative, ethylene and propylene. The rubber has many advantageous properties over the synthetic rubbers, one of them is that they have good electrical insulating properties. EPDM rubber are now found in our everyday life such as hose, solar panels, electrical insulation etc. 16 Ethylene propylene Terpolymer Rubber is produced by the copolymerisation of ethylene, propylene and a diene derivative. The monomers under copolymerisation in the form of solution. Figure 8: EPDM 35 Properties of Ethylene propylene Terpolymer Rubber The rubber has a yellowish colour. It has a high abrasion resistance meaning the rubber will not wear out quickly. It is insoluble with organic solvents such as turpentine (which is an oiled that is attained by the distillation of resin from pine trees), ether, petrol, carbon tetrachloride, and naphtha (which is an oil attained by the distillation of coal tar). It is insoluble to hydrophilic solvents such as water, acetone, and alcohol. The rubber has a good elastic property, this means that when the rubber is stretched out it gets bigger, but when it is released the rubber goes back into its original shape. The rubber can only be elastic between -40 0C to 149 0C which is better than what the given temperature range is for the Poly(Butadiene-acrylonitrile) rubber, this means under hot conditions the rubber would not lose its elasticity. 29 Advantages of Ethylene propylene Terpolymer Rubber It has a very high resistance to hot conditions and other weather conditions; this means that it does not melt or break easily so does not age very easily. Another advantage of Ethylene propylene Terpolymer rubber is that they have a better resistance to ozone and UV this means that less cracks forms than in its natural counterpart. This means that it is less likely to break than the natural rubber. It has a high abrasion resistance meaning the rubber will not wear out quickly. The rubber is very cost effective, so it is cheaper to make than the other rubber compounds. 29 Disadvantages of Ethylene propylene Terpolymer Rubber It has a poor resistance to oils, this is because It is insoluble with organic solvents such as turpentine (which is an oiled that is attained by the distillation of resin from pine trees), ether, petrol, carbon tetrachloride, and naphtha (which is an oil attained by the distillation of coal tar).29 Typical applications

Analysis of Priceline.com :: Internet Online Purchasing E-Commerce Essays

Analysis of Priceline.com Incomplete Paper Priceline.com (PCLN) may have been able to bring a dynamic reverse auction model to the market, but a cloud of doubt now hangs over the company's headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut. Consumer adoption has been hurt by poor Web site functionality and a rigid bidding system that locks customers into buying products such as plane tickets without any control over specific flight details. On a bullish note, the company was recently reinstated into Connecticut's Better Business Bureau after making improvements to its Web site and customer service. But the bigger problem facing Priceline is a lack of support from investors, who have driven the company's stock down 98% from its 52-week high. Executive departures and layoffs aside, the company's delayed march toward profitability and inability to scale successfully might very well exemplify a doomed model, or a solution in search of a problem. Perhaps an emphasis on price has blinded Priceline to intangibles like quality service and a satisfying experience. It's unclear whether consumers are willing to sacrifice brand and product features to save a few bucks. The announcement in early October that the company's WebHouse Club subsidiary for groceries and gas would close, was a shot heard 'round the Web and Wall Street and signaled the model might be broken. Introduction Which is the one place where you can satisfy your every need (almost every need) at your price? Be it airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, mortgages, new automobiles, or even long distance calling time. The answer would be Priceline.com. All you have to do is know your need, state your terms, and make your offer. It doesn’t get easier than this! Priceline.com was one of the pioneer online companies to traverse the traditional limitations of the Internet and revolutionize online purchasing. It’s strategy – letting the consumer name his/her price, and matching it with a seller who is willing to fill the demand at that price and those conditions, there by providing the required service the consumer desires. Thus Priceline.com is basically an integrated, Web-based e-marketing automated system, which was one of its kinds when it started its business in the consumer marketplace. In simple word it is the ideal middleman, who gets you what you want, wh en you want it through a unique dotcom experience. Priceline.com was formed on April 6, 1998 as a limited liability company, but looking at its potential and rapid success it was soon converted into a corporation.

Abortion - An Unborn Child is a Human Being! :: abortion argumentative persuasive argument

Abortion - An Unborn Child is a Human Being! The founding of entire nation was forged on the principle that all men are created equal under the law. This is the essence of our Declaration of Independance and the philosophy behind the Constition. We, through history, have made certain that ALL people in this country have equality before the law. We have set uup the premise that all people are equal before the law. Lady Justice is blind to Race, Religion, _________ . We have declared that there is no such thing as sub-humans -- and that NO human being's rights are superior to another human being. If we want to live by the premises that we set up in this country, then we cannot overlook ANY human being -- NO ONE can be excluded. There are, however, a human beings that is ignored the protection to thier rights to life everyday. The aborted children. I dare the negative to PROVE that a child in her mother's wound is alive! Does the negative actually believe that a human being is alive when and only when a human being has fully developed? If this is true, then most of here are not alive. The human specie is only fully grown at adulthood, many of us here are not adults yet -- and by that definition, it wouldn't matter if your shot and killed on the street because "your not fully developed". We are a stage in development -- teenager -- just like a child is, just like a toddler is, just like an old man is, and just like a aborted child is. There is no magical transformation that occurs when a child is born. He has the same basic needs to survive before he is born, and the same needs after he is born. The negative is going to attempt to make you believe that the differnce in quality of a unborn child is so great that these children do not resemble what we call alive. They want you to believe that a unborn child cannot feel pain. Can an unborn child feel pain? If it can, then does that not resemble life? If they do successfully make you accept this

Different possible themes in The Yellow Wallpaper. -- English Literatu

Different possible themes in The Yellow Wallpaper. There are a couple different themes in the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Feminism is the main theme in the story. Something else that could be a theme is being confined to a certain area, excluded from the public, can drive one insane. Another possible theme is control. Jane is controlled in her every move. These themes are shown to be true throughout the story. Feminism plays a huge role in this story. Back in the day women used to be looked upon as having no affect on society other than bearing children and keeping house. It was hard for women to express themselves in a world ran by males. The men had the jobs, the men had the knowledge, the men had everything that women didn't. It is different in today's time, but some of the old timers still believe the way they did back then. Wallpaper is a feminine product, and it symbolizes female imprisonment in this story. At first Jane uses the wallpaper to work on expanding her literary imagination. After John shoots down her creativi...

“Hot” Spots in the Cold War Essay

The period of the Cold War has turned into the dramatic stage of fight between the two world’s largest powers – the United States and the U. S. S. R. The Cold War remains a remarkable moment for the U. S. , when the majority of the American people could check their strength and endurance. It did not matter whether the U. S. was promoting the politics of Soviet Containment, or was involved into Cuban Missile Crisis, whether the U. S. was flooded with McCarthyism ideas, or was building Levittown to restore the American dream – all those actions were later included into the set of events under the general title The Cold War. â€Å"Containment of the Soviet Union became American policy in the postwar years† (Stanley 11). It is interesting to note, that while the U. S. was fighting against fascism and took the Soviet Union as its ally, all anti-communism ambitions were neutralized or simply muted. The Cold War has started immediately after the end of the WWII and raised numerous issues in the political relations between the two super-states. The idea of political containment belonged to George Kennan: in his article published in 1946, he discussed and evaluated the sense of insecurity the U. S. S. R. traditionally experienced (Stanley 8). As a result, the discussed insecurity sense made it possible for Kennan to suggest that â€Å"Moscow’s pressure to expand its power had to be stopped through â€Å"firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies† (Stanley 18). On the one hand, the policy of Soviet Containment supported by Truman was the means to protect the U. S. territory from external military threats. On the other hand, Truman has evidently overstated the threat coming from the Soviet Union. As a result, the policy of containment has generated mass anti-communism which sometimes bordered with hysteria. Consequentially, the United States containment policies gave rise to the well-known McCarthyism and were also displayed in the U. S. involvement into the Cuban Missile Crisis. â€Å"McCarthyism is a term describing the intense anti-communist suspicion in the United States in the period that lasted roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s† (Stanley 24). This term has for long been connected with the name of Senator Joseph McCarthy, but it has currently expanded its meaning to more general definition of anti-communist policies in the U. S. Joseph McCarthy has actually been the initiator of the discussed policy which later turned into the whole cultural phenomenon. In his speech on February 9, 1950, he announced that he had â€Å"a list of 205 – a list of names that were made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party† (Stanley 25). McCarthy’s speech and ideas were later reflected in the invention of loyalty-security reviews, blacklists, and even arrests. As a result of mass anti-communist campaigns, twelve thousand people lost their jobs without any hope to find new employment: negative loyalty reviews made it impossible for a person to become employed (Zinn 411). In reality, such policies could eventually turn into a â€Å"hot war† and have involved the United States into the actions which made the threat of the nuclear war as close as never before. The realization came with the events which were later called The Cuban Missile Crisis. The Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the critical hotspots in the history of the Cold War. Its origins were rooted in both Containment and McCarthyism policies, and supported the line of opposition towards the Soviet power. In 1962 the Soviet Union was searching the means of strengthening its position on the international political arena. The Soviets could achieve that aim only by strengthening their military potential (Stanley 32). As Khrushev wanted to place the Soviet missiles in Cuba, Fidel Castro was looking for the ways of protecting his country from the U. S. intervention. However, Kennedy was aware of the Soviet and Cuban plans: â€Å"On October 22, Kennedy announced the discovery of the missile installations to the public and his decision to quarantine the island. He also proclaimed that any nuclear missile launched from Cuba would be regarded as an attack on the United States by the Soviet Union† (Stanley 33). In order to eliminate the threat of military conflicts between the U. S. and Cuba, the Soviet Union had to refuse from the idea to locate their missiles on the Cuban territory. As the country found itself in the whirl of political and military conflicts, the common people had to restore the country after the WWII, and had to prove to themselves that they were able to survive the difficulties of the Cold War. Levittown has become the brightest display of how people were trying to improve their living even under the pressure of McCarthyism and Containment. In 1950s, William Levitt actually created the prototype of a middle-class American suburb: small, convenient and cozy houses for medium families have attracted attention of numerous architects and economists. By the time the town was completed, it included buildings, swimming-pools, schools, churches, 17,000 single-family houses, and occupied 5500 acres of Bucks County in Pennsylvania (Zinn 407). However, the historical meaning of Levittown was not in the way it was constructed, but in the time period during which it was created. Levittown has given the rise to creating affordable housing and has served the pattern of non-compliance with the principles of the Cold War. In his town, Levitt was able to â€Å"present a new form of ideal American life, one that combined the idealized middle-class life of the prewar suburban communities, with the democratized life of younger GIs and their families† (Zinn 409). Works Cited Stanley, George Edward. America and the Cold War (1949-1969). A Primary Source of History of the United States. World Almanac Books, 2005. Zinn, H. People’s History of the United States: 1492 to Present. Harper Perennial modern Classics, 2005.

Idealism: Education and Character Development Essay

Educational Aims In an idealistic education system emphasis should be placed on developing the mind, personal discipline, and character development. A person should be literate and of good moral character. Educational Methods Idealist education involves depth of learning, a holistic approach that involves teaching the whole rather than its parts. The best method of learning for Plato was the dialectic, a process where ideas are put into battle against each other, with the most significant idea winning the battle. Knowledge was not important just for the material needs that it met. Idealists would feel that much of the great literature of the past would be useful in the solving many of today’s problems. The idealist is not concerned with turning out students with technical skills so much as having students with a broad view and understanding of the world in which they live. Idealism emphasizes the role of the teacher, a skillful questioner, who should be a model for the person we want children to become. While the lecture method is still important in an idealist’s education system, it is considered more of a way to convey information and to help students comprehend ideas. Self realization and self education are very important in idealism. While teachers cannot always be present when learning occurs, they must attempt to stimulate students so that learning occurs even when they are not present. Project based learning is on example of a self directed learning activity where learning can occur without a teacher’s presence. Curriculum The important factor in education at any level for idealists is teaching children to think. Teachers should help students to explore texts for ideas about the purposes of life, family the nature of peer pressures, and the problems of growing up. Idealists believe that ideas can change lives and that classical literature can be used and explored to help solve problems in today’s world. Creativity will be encouraged when students immerse themselves in the creative thinking of others and when they are encouraged to reflect. Role of the Teacher Since idealists believe in character development, they also believe that the teacher should be a role model for students to emulate. Teaching is considered a moral calling. The teacher’s role is to be a skillful questioner who encourages students to think and ask more questions in an environment that is suitable for learning. Critiques of Idealism Idealism has been influential in education for a considerable amount of time. It is considered a conservative philosophy because of its emphasis in preserving cultural traditions. The strengths of idealism include encouraging thinking and cognition, promoting cultural learning, and providing for character development of students. Teachers are considered valuable parts of the educational process who should strive to provide a comprehensive, systematic, and holistic approach to learning that stresses self realization. Science today has challenged idealism and brought about challenges to idealistic principles. Science is based on hypothesis and tentativeness, but idealism promotes a finished and absolute universe waiting to be discovered. Idealism has often been linked with traditional religion. The weakening of religion has led to the weakening of idealism as a philosophy. Through Plato’s ruler kings, and Augustine’s emphasis on the monastic life, it has been said that idealism leads to intellectual elitism. In the past, education was considered important for the upper classes of society, marking education as a luxury. Vocational and technical studies were considered good enough for the general public. Idealistic education was considered bookish and lacking relevance. It is argued that the character development aspect of the philosophy involved conformity and subservience on the part of the learner. This type of character development was considered to stifle creativity and self direction, making students gullible and ready to accept ideas without serious examination. Personal Observations The emphasis on the importance of knowledge and ideas in the idealist philosophy originally led me to believe that much of my philosophy of education included idealistic tendencies. James Madison’s quote that knowledge is power, which sits front and center on my class webpage, seems to agree with this premise. Because I believe strongly in project based education as a way to have students discover and learn new information, I also began to view the idealism in my thinking. However, as much as I value these things and continue to believe in the importance of continually gaining knowledge, the fact that I view science and technology as a valued part of all education, sets me apart from the philosophy. While the idealist considered science and technical studies good enough for the general public, I consider them an integral part of any education. However I do believe in the importance of teaching children to think, for not doing so results in children with book learning and no common sense. Should teachers be role models? Yes, I think they should. If I were an adult with no children, I might think differently. However as a parent, I have always been greatly concerned with the people who were my children’s teachers. Teachers have the power to influence the thinking and ideas of children and society in general. Even given regimented curricula to teach, teachers ultimately make decisions everyday about what information to emphasize or deemphasize. I think society also believes that teachers should be role models. Consider the uproar over teachers who have inappropriate relations with the students they teach.