Cell phones have truly changed our lives Essay - 969 Words

I would choose cell phone as my cultural artifact. It has become such an important aspect of our lives making it the mainstay of todays society. The ever evolving technology of cell phone has made it so important in todays life that living without it seems tedious. Cell phones these days are more than just a device to communicate and talk to people. It has become a gadget that allows you to communicate via email, calls, and texts and even without balance in your cell phone you can now contact with your friends using Whatsapp, Viber, Line or other internet connections that help us communicate. It has now become a gadget on which we can play games that we used to play on PlayStation, Xbox or other gaming gadgets. Cell phones have truly†¦show more content†¦Today when someone asks you to pack your bags and go out somewhere, the only thing that comes to your mind is to take your cell phone with you and youre packed. These are the diverse benefits of this astounding artefact. It has made people so consumed and dependent upon this little thing that it has become the only item you actually need to move around with. Today if you ever get into some emergency you do not have to worry about it because you can use your cell phone to contact with any person for help. In the previous times when we had telephones with us we could not communicate with our friends the way we do now. Today if we do not want someone else to know what we are talking we simply text the other person. In the era of telephones we used to speak everything out loud and there was so many conversations left unsaid. I think you can value a share of the achievement of cell phones to their different suitability for personalization. Individuals like to have things their direction and a phone permits every client to make the cell phone their own. These different adjustable characteristics give every individual the opportunity to change their cell phone in very particular ways so that the item will look and act anyway they need it to. By customizing the mobile phone the buyer is positively making it their own particular and sequentially growing aShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Cell Phones On Our Lives1053 Words   |  5 Pagesyears that improve our everyday lives. The wide use of cell phones has caused a remarkable impact on physical, and social aspects of our life. Cell phones impacts have contributed positively to our lives, but still others have influenced negatively on our life. With technology, the way we communicate has changed over the past year with our smart phones we can surf the internet, check our social media accounts, use GPS, and text and call our families and friends. The cell phones have made a significantRead MoreNegative Cell Phones1430 Words   |  6 PagesNovember, 2017 How Cellphones are Impacting Modern Day Life In today’s day and age, cell phones are becoming more popular and advanced. The problem is some believe cell phones are a bad influence on society. Although some of their claims are true, I believe cell phones benefit the world more than they harm it. Not only do cell phones allow us to communicate with others with the touch of a button, but they allow us to have direct access to the extensive library of information housed on the internet. TechnologyRead MoreAbused Innovation In Frankenstein1267 Words   |  6 Pages Abused Innovation in Our Society â€Å"What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man?† (Shelley 18). In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Shelley demostrates how innovation can be advantageous. Although, when is comes to a point where we begin to exploit our innovations and advancements, we may put ourselves into threatening situations. Many years after Shelley’s novel released, we began to experience some of these complications. As the Nineteenth Century developed, great change materializedRead MoreCell Phones And Its Effects On Society888 Words   |  4 PagesCell phones are one of the numerous technologies that have changed our lives in astounding ways. Similar to any external stimuli, cell phone usage can form an addiction that negatively impacts your life. Two covers for The New Yorker, â€Å"Unmasked† and â€Å"Sweet Nothings† convey the same message of cell phone addiction distracting people from living in the present moment and enjoying their lives. â€Å"Unmasked† depicts parents taking their children trick-or-treating, which would normally be an enjoyable momentRead MoreCell Phones And Its Effect On Our Lives1612 Words   |  7 PagesFollowing the time when the mid 1980s, phones have been rapidly moving their route into our commonplace lives, particularly with the presentation of cam telephones in the early part of the new thousand years. As cells develop they have more of an effect on our commonplace lives and I need to exactly how much they are affecting. Similarly as with new engineering in whatever other structure, phones have changed enormously over their generally short life compasses. As these progressions happen, soRead MoreShould High School Students Be Allowed Cell Phones? School?1446 Words   |  6 PagesShould High School Students Be Allowed to Bring Cell Phones to School? By Ronnie Phillips | Submitted On July 07, 2011 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook 1 Share this article on Twitter 1 Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest 1 Expert Author Ronnie Phillips Educating youngRead MoreEssay on Computer Related Devices Have Change Our Lives958 Words   |  4 Pagestransformed our lives and even ourselves. ​Particularly, the world today is overflowing with such gadgets and tools that help us with our everyday. We have all our cell phones, computers, tablets, laptops that give us access to instant communication and boundless information, such that we seem better informed and more connected. These devices have been enhancing the quality of our lives. They are efficient and time saving which give us space to do more --- we can be conversing through our cell phonesRead MoreCell Phones : Positive And Negative Impacts On Society873 Words   |  4 PagesThere has been a lot of controversy over use cell phones along with the positive and negative impacts that it has reflected on society. Today, cell phones are used for numerous amounts of things that could play a role into a person’s everyday life. Cell phones could also be overpowering when not being used for certain things. Therefore, it is truly up to the individual on how they interact with their cell phone or smart phone. Cell phones sometimes come in handy even in unexpected situations. TheRead MoreWhy Cellphones Have A Negative Impact On Society?882 Words   |  4 PagesCellphones have a more Negative Impact on Society than Positive There has been a lot of controversy over use cell phones along with the positive and negative impacts that it has reflected on society. Today, cell phones are used for numerous amounts of things that could play a role into a person’s everyday life. Cell phones could also be overpowering when not being used for certain things. Therefore, it is truly up to the individual on how they interact with their cell phone or smart phone. Cell phonesRead MoreThe World Will Have A Generation Of Idiots855 Words   |  4 PagesSave the Kids! Albert Einstein, a famous philosopher once said, I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots. Along the years, technology has increased immensely and has changed people lives. Some inventions that have made a big impact on younger generations are cell phones, video games and the internet. Nowadays, children prefer to stay indoors rather than going outside to play with other kids. As a consequence, obesity in children

A New Deal For Victims And Witnesses Essay - 1386 Words

The role of victim in the United Kingdom has been debated throughout history. Historically victims contributed in an engaging part in contrast to their contemporary passive role within the criminal justice system. This study seeks to underpin the factors which have led to this transformation. This apparent adjustment was mentioned in the government strategy document, ‘A new deal for victims and witnesses’. This document indicated the need for effective justice and that victims should be at the heart of the criminal justice system. This shows that the criminal justice system is keen to rebalance its focus on victims, witnesses and communities (Thomas, 2016). This will be evident when exploring approaches such as the restorative justice process. As well as providing the social construction of victimisation; the study will highlight the impact of criminal behaviour in a broader sense linking with diversity and discrimination. Finally, the more recent approach in working wit h victims via various organisations will be assessed and whether this has effectively supported the victim’s needs. There has also been legislation and policies introduced throughout time which has encouraged wider involvement amongst agencies in light of particular historical events. Indeed amongst the timeline of events, there will be noticeable changes in the perceptions forwarded by society, media and organisations that work with victims. However it is imperative to firstly understand the socialShow MoreRelatedRacial Tensions By Dennis Prager922 Words   |  4 Pagesracial tension is one sided and without clear evidence. One of the most recent national conflicts deals with the shooting and killing of Michael Brown (a black man) by a white police officer (Holder Announces Ferguson Probe, Review of St. Louis County Police Practices.). Sense Perception and Emotion should be considered when evaluating this situation at Ferguson. The sense perception of the witnesses as well as that of the two involved in the physical conflict needs to be taken into considerationRead MoreCrime Data And Its Effects On Victims And The Public Essay1627 Words   |  7 Pagesreporting of crime and the reluctance of victims/witnesses, to come forward and assist police with their enquiries to solve crime. This critique of Commissioner Burns’ opinion piece will discuss these points and examine the effects on crime data and its impact on the fear of the public and victims statistics. It will also discuss police behaviour and how their interaction with victims effect their reporting of crime. Crime data and its effects on victims and the public From the beginning of the articleRead MoreCrime Data And Its Effects On Victims And The Public Essay1597 Words   |  7 Pagesreporting of crime and reluctance of victims/witnesses, to come forward and assist police with their enquiries to solve crime. This critique of Commissioner Burns’ opinion piece will discuss the above mentioned points, as well as examine the effects on crime data and its impact on the fear of the public and victims statistics. It will also discuss police behaviour and how their interaction with victims and their reporting of crime. Crime data and its effects on victims and the public From the beginningRead MorePeople Were Persecuted During The Events Of World War II1466 Words   |  6 PagesMany groups of people were persecuted during the events of World War II. Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and homosexuals were some of the many victims of cruel and unfair oppression. With no intentions to heil to the Nazis and their ruler, these groups, including numerous others, were imprisoned in concentration camps and punished for their religions, beliefs, and ways of life. Some fell victim to merciless Nazi persecution, while others were murdered almost instantaneously. Many died as prisoners ofRead MoreChildren as Witnesses of Domestic Violence 1598 Words   |  7 Pageschildren, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults (as cited in Cheal and Albanese, 2014, 8). Domestic violence not only targets the victim, but it also spreads to the most important people in their lives (Sev’er, 104). With the continued perspective that women are the targets and men are the abusers, this essay will argue how children who are witnesses of domestic violence are at risk of a series of negative consequences, such as their experiences effecting their perception of what the familyRead MoreZero Tolerance on Bullying Essay examples512 Words   |  3 Pagesand ten percent are victims of bullying on a regular basis† [Gurian]. Bullies are showing no compassion or remorse for the emotional and physical pain that they cause their victims. There are different forms of bullying, from teasing, isolating, starting false rumors, threats of violence, and physical abuse, which all leave long lasting emotional pain. With the Web being a big part of everyday life, â€Å"Cyber Bullying† is a tool that is often used by bullies to continue their victims torment . â€Å"A numberRead MoreJodi Arias Trial Essay1607 Words   |  7 Pagesshe stated to detectives that Travis was attacked by masked men as she looked on from a distance. As the trial began, Jodi offered a second defense, stating to the court that she killed Travis, but acted in self-defense after repeated abuse by the victim (Owens, 2013). The trial of Jodi Arias is still active and the prosecution is seeking the death penalty due to the heinous nature of the crime. Criminal Justice Process Jodi Arias was arrested in July of 2008 and charged with the first-degreeRead MoreCourt Case Study1100 Words   |  5 Pages The video link is the place the victim is taken to a room within the court building usually and is linked up to the courtroom where the trial is taking place, like skyping. So, the victim sits in front of a television screen and the camera is focused on them, for the barristers and sometimes judge, in the court to ask questions and the victim can answer, without being in the actual court. This special measure enables the victim to be in a safe environment away from the courtroom. This also in someRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System : An Introduction1652 Words   |  7 PagesAuthority which was replaced by Police and Crime Commissioners in 2012 to ensure the safe and effective policing of a police area. Other law enforcement agencies are also considered such as the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) which deals specifically with the exploitation of children and online protection and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). Also introduced in this chapter are law enforcement institutions including those from the private, charitable, non statutory and voluntaryRead MoreInternational Law On Sexual Violence1573 Words   |  7 Pages This essay will discuss about the problems within international law which revolves around sexual violence and using the Democratic Republic of Congo as a case study. In addition, the essay will explain about who is accountable, how to obtain witnesses and provide recommendations on improving international law to bring the perpetrators to justice and reduce crime overall. But primarily, the sexual violence has to be explained and how there is international law for this issue. According to (WHO

Hitler And The Book Thief - 945 Words

Individuals argue for who was at fault for or evil during the wars. Some might say it’s Hitler who was evil or even that the Germans were wrong. Although Hitler ordered the actions, Hitler never went forth with his actions himself, but the Germans followed his rules blindly. Each person knew their morals and either choose to stand by them or forget them. Many of the Germans who had a part in that time choose to follow Hitler. While Hitler was leading with his words, German citizens were doing the dirty work. Both evident in The Book Thief and The Swing Kids. The Germans followed Hitler blindly not thinking about how their actions could actually harm someone. Germans were the ones who carried out Hitlers dirty work. In The Book Thief,†¦show more content†¦Reasoning with all of the orders that were given by Hitler many of them was to harm others that were thought of to rebel against Hitler, maybe Hitler is really the one to blame. In the history of evil, Hitler had committed one of the worst deeds instigating World War II and, The Holocaust. In The Book Thief, Hitler was an insensitive person in my eyes being cold-hearted. He had killed millions of people to further â€Å"benefit† their nation. Hitler named himself a leader but, being a leader would mean protecting the people who put their lives in his hands wanting protection. Hitler was a powerful person and he stood as a symbol of evil because of what he has cost. People thought that what Hitler proposed was right just because he had power. Even in the world, todays citizens believe that what someone in power says is the right thing to do even though they know deep down that it isn’t. In The Book Thief, Hitler had killed many innocent people who didn’t know it was coming with unexpected air raids and bombings. Hitler encouraged this hatred against others with his words and the propaganda to change the way people viewed the right things. Underneath all of his lies was the truth for what he really wanted to do, to make a superior race of Germans, eliminating any Jews that stood in his way. Hitler was against all Jews as said in a quote by Elie Wiesel, â€Å"It is obvious that the war which Hitler and his accomplices waged was a war not only against JewishShow MoreRelatedThe Book Thief : The Character Of Adolf Hitler943 Words   |  4 PagesFrom the character of Adolf Hitler in The Book Thief, â€Å"Can you see that this enemy has found its ways -- its despicable ways -- through our armor, and that clearly, I cannot stand up here alone and fight him?† (254). To analyze this quote, Hitler is talking to the crowd about a Jew, Max Vandenburg, who he has just previously lost to in a boxing match. However, he is not just talking about Max Vandenburg; he is talking about all of the Jews in the world. Hitler believes that the Jews are too powerfulRead MorePersuasion Of The Book : The Book Thief And Meiin Kampf744 W ords   |  3 PagesThe Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, and Mein Kampf, by Adolf Hitler, are both famous novels that relate to the Holocaust. The Book Thief takes place in the Holocaust and tells of the struggle that the Hubermann family and Liesel endure. Meanwhile, Mein Kampf is a book that Hitler wrote to explain his views and convince people to think the same as him. One could compare and contrast persuasion, tone, and the impact that words have, to discover how the power of words is represented in the two books. ToRead MoreEvents of World War I in Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief838 Words   |  3 PagesMarkus Zusak’s The Book Thief takes place during some key events of World War II, in Germany. The author tells of an orphan in Nazi Germany, named Liesel Meminger. She is adopted by Rosa Hubermann and Hans Hubermann, who are her foster parents. Liesel is known as the book thief because she steals various books. When she was enrolled in school, she felt powerless because she did not understand or how to read books. Though, her father starts teaching her how to read. With the words she is learningRead MoreBook Thief1398 Words   |  6 PagesThe Book Thief â€Å"Even death has a heart.† (The Book Thief, pg 242) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a book of death, love, and survival. There is the death of a friend, love of a parent, and survival of those who can take it. World War II was a devastating period and many did not have the mental strength to survive it. The Book Thief is about Liesel Meminger and all her accounts with death and how she coped with it, how she survives it all through words. The book is narrated by Death, and throughoutRead MoreAldof Hitler : The Character Of Liesel Meminger And Adolf Hitler814 Words   |  4 Pagesin the novel such as human nature and its propensity for evil and Adolf Hitler. While Aldof Hitler is not a character in the novel per se, his actions and its consequences, such as the war and the Holocaust, functions as the novels central antagonist. In this novel, there are several different conflicts happening at once. The most overarching conflict in the novel is World War 2 due to Hitler. Liesel can be connected to Hitler through the power and love of words and human nature and its propensityRead MoreThe Book Thief By Markus Zusak1549 Words   |  7 Pages The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is classified as a historical fiction novel because it tells a story that takes place during a tragic period in human history. This book reminds readers of the unspeakable acts that occurred during World War II under the Nazi Regime in Germany. The book focuses on the life of a nine year old girl, Liesel Meminger, living in Germany during this period of history. Markus Zusak was significantly influenced by his parent’s stories of their personal experiences of whatRead MoreThe Book Thief By Marcus Zusak Essay1138 Words   |  5 Pages In the novel The Book Thief written by Marcus Zusak, Max found himself in a situation where the propaganda that Hitler has set affected his life in many ways. With the help of Liesel’s words and reading and the care that the Hubermanns gave, Max grew stronger and he had the courage to stand up and protect himself from the force that Hitler had set against the him and the Jews. By having the his power of will, Max was fighting Hitler in his own circumstances even if it s just in his imaginationRead MoreThe Book Thief By Markus Zusak1231 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Book Thief, Markus Zusak shows different contexts with the same similar message. Zusak is revealing to the reader that words can be very powerful. The societal statement â€Å"power is knowledge† can be linked to the book by how knowledge creates power.The setting of Nazi Germany within the book burnings event, the basement with Max, and Liesel defending herself by her choice of words are all relevant to this societal statement since it demonstrates the idea of knowledge in numerous ways, and howRead MoreGrowing Up During the Holocaust: A Look at the Other Side of World War II1461 Words   |  6 Pageslots of books about the Holocaust, and what it was like to be in a concentration camp as a Jew, or what it was like being an SS officer during that time, but barely any focus on what is was like to grow up in the Holocaust as a civilian onlooker to the war. In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak he tells the story of Liesel Meminger who travels to a foster home in Munich Germany, and experiences what it’s like to live in a war. She deals with rations, knowledge limited to the learnings of what Hitler wantsRead MoreThe Book Thief By Markus Zusak1630 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn t already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and undere stimating the human race-that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.† (Zusak 550) Markus Zusak wrote â€Å"The Book Thief† which is a historical fiction novel about a

Space Analysis Techniques Modern control engineering

Question: Describe about the Space Analysis Techniques for Modern control engineering. Answer: Investigation of state space analysis techniques Introduction The concept of state variables and state space equations is explained. The advantages, disadvantages of the state space analysis techniques are discussed. The applications of the state space analysis techniques are identified and explained. State Space Analysis The State Space Analysis techniques are applicable to Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) systems, both linear and non-linear, time variant and time in-variant. The concepts of state, state variables, state vector, state space and state space equations are defined here. State The smallest set of variables, the knowledge of which at time along with the knowledge of input variables at , completely determines the behavior of the system at is called the state. State variables The variables that make up the smallest set of variables which determine the state are called the state variables. If n variables along with input are needed to predict the behavior of the system and future state can be determined, the n variables are called the state variables (Ogate, 2013). State Vector If the n state variables constitute the vector x, x is called the state vector. State Space The n-dimensional space with co-ordinate axes represented by axis, axis, etc., is called by the state space. Any state can be represented by a point in the state space. State Space Equations The three types of variables considered in the state-space analysis are the input variables, state variables and the output variables. The values of the input variables have to be stored in the memory devices for which integrators are used. The outputs of the integrators are considered as the state variables. The number of state variables is equal to the number of integrators used in the system. Let there are inputs represented by , outputs, and state variables represented by . Then the system can be described by, Equation 1 is called the state equation and equation 2 is called the output equation (Lyshevski, 2001; Choudhury, 2005) . If the state equation and the output equation are linearized about the operating state, - state matrix, - input matrix, output matrix, - Direct transmission matrix The block diagram of the state space representation of the linear, continuous time control system is shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 Block diagram of state space representation of the control system Relation between transfer function and state space equation Let the transfer function of the system is given by The system is represented in state space by the equations (6) and (7) are the state vector, input and output respectively. Taking laplace transforms for equations (6) and (7) If the initial conditions are assumed to be zero, Multiplying with on both the sides of equation (11) gives By substituting equation (12) in equation (9) Comparing equations (13) and (5) Thus the transfer function is expressed in terms of A, B, C and D. (State- Space System Representation of LTI Systems, Advantages of state space analysis over transfer function analysis Only linear time invariant systems can be analyzed using transfer function analysis while state space analysis can be used for non-linear and time variant systems. The transfer function approach can not be applied to multiple input - multiple output systems but the state space analysis techniques can be applied for MIMO systems. The internal state of the system can not be predicted by the transfer function analysis while the state space analysis gives clear idea about the internal state of the system. (Advantages of state space analysis, Electrical Engineering, Disadvantages of state space models Derivation of state space models for electrical circuits is difficult The state space model cannot be directly developed from the system diagram Applications of state space analysis State space techniques are applied in design and optimization of complex dynamic systems. They are used in Multiple Input Multiple Output systems such as air craft, space craft, servo mechanisms and robots. For example, in the electric drives, the output is the angular velocity of the shaft which is proportional to the angular velocity of the motor and it is the state variable. Similarly, in servo motors, the output linear position is proportional to the angular rotor displacement which is the state variable. One of the applications of state space analysis is tracking control problem for an unstable model of an aircraft. The different state variables of the system are forward velocity, angle of attack, pitch rate, pitch angle, side slip angle, roll rate, yaw rate, roll angle and yaw angle. The control inputs are the deflections of the right and left horizontal stabilizers, deflections of the right and left flaps and the canard and rudder deflections. Hence state space techniques are applied in design and optimization of complex dynamic systems both linear and non-linear, time variant and time invariant (Friedland, 2005). Conclusion The concept of state space representation, state variables and state equations are illustrated. The advantages and disadvantages over the transfer function analysis are detailed. The specific applications of the state space analysis techniques are discussed. References Ogata, K. (2013).Modern control engineering: Pearson new international edition. Pearson Education Limited. Lyshevski, S. E. (2001).Control systems theory with engineering applications. Boston: Birkhauser. Choudhury, D. R. (2005).Modern control engineering. New Delhi: Prentice Hall. Friedland, B. (2005).Control system design: An introduction to state-space methods. Mineola, NY: Dover. State- Space System Representation of LTI Systems. https://web.mit.edu/2.14/www/Handouts/StateSpace.pdf Advantages of state space analysis, Electrical Engineering. https://www.tutorsglobe.com/question/advantages-of-state-space-analysis-511506.aspx

Voice of Democracy free essay sample

This being said, they built this nation on a foundation of freedom and equality intending to secure liberty for themselves and their descendents, who are the people of today. From the first Ten Amendments written, the most fundamental one was and still is the First Amendment. It guarantees the citizens of America the freedom of speech. For a good government, it is the people that need to voice an opinion to help with decisions and laws for the country. Without our freedom of speech we cannot express our thoughts and ideas freely and openly. Once our freedom to speak our mind is gone, we begin to lose everything that makes us who we are. Freedom of speech has always been a very important right to all Americans, but we must realize that by losing that right we open ourselves up to losing all the other rights and freedom most of us take for granted every day. We will write a custom essay sample on Voice of Democracy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page If we cannot speak freely then the government can stop us from speaking out on our own behalf allowing them to take away other rights. If we cannot speak freely, who is to say in the future we can vote freely. All the things we have grown accustomed to, as Americans, will be lost. Without this right in the Constitution, the people could be easily subjected to tyranny. The second most important Amendment to the Constitution gives the right to every citizen to bear arms. It was written so that a person could defend themselves from the government. There had been tragedies in the past that could have been avoided if the people had the ability to control their own security. It is a common human desire to provide safety for ones family and oneself, and when a government denies this right to the people, the tragedies of history tend to reoccur. America has a tradition of rights, freedoms, and other basic human dignities, and the second amendment is responsible for supporting the majority of these. The security of a nation lies in its people, and when people are unable to defend themselves, those ten basic human rights of the Constitution no longer count as anything. Last but not least, the most important constituent of democracy is the existence of free and fearless press. This sovereignty grants the press to enjoy complete freedom and revokes the press to be subjected to any restrictions. The voice of the press is the voice of the people, therefore censoring the press means the suppression of peoples voices. The press plays a very positive and constructive role in a democracy. It keeps the people informed of the national and international news and happenings. Also, it brings to the notice of people the programs, policies and activities of the government. Similarly, it keeps the government in the know of the people’s problems, difficulties, hopes and aspirations. Consequently, the press serves as a bridge between the government on the one hand and the people on the other. Briefly, the Constitution is the bulwark against tyranny. It gives us liberty and makes America the great country that it is. It is a shield of freedom in the hands of the people. We had attained through the free will to speak, the right to bear arms, and the free will of the press. As long as the Constitution endures, the freedom of America will endure. And as long as the Constitution secures the blessings of liberty, the citizens of America will be secure.

Poppaea Sabina, Mistress Then Wife of Emperor Nero

Poppaea Sabina, Mistress Then Wife of Emperor Nero Poppaea Sabina was the mistress and second wife of the Roman emperor Nero.  Neros bad acts are often attributed to her influence.  Her birth year is unknown, but we know she died in 65 C.E. Family and Marriages Poppaea Sabina was born the daughter of a woman with the same name who committed suicide. Her father was Titus Ollius. Her paternal grandfather,  Poppaeus Sabinus, was a Roman Consul and a friend of several emperors.  Her family was wealthy, and Poppaea herself owned a villa outside Pompeii. Poppaea was married first to Rufrius Crispinus of the Preaetorian Guard, and they had a son.  Agrippina the Younger, as empress, removed him from his position, as he was too close to a previous empress, Messalina.   Poppaeas next husband was Otho, a childhood friend of Nero.  Otho would go on after Neros death to briefly become emperor. Then Poppaea became mistress of the emperor Nero, Othos friend, and about seven years younger than she was. Nero appointed Otho to an important post as governor of Lusitai (Lusitania).  Nero divorced his wife, Octavia, who was the daughter of his predecessor, the Emperor Claudius.  This caused a rift with his mother, Agrippina the Younger. Nero married Poppaea, and Poppaea was given the title Augusta when they had a daughter, Claudia. Claudia did not live long. Murder Plots According to the stories told of her, Poppaea had urged Nero to kill his mother, Agrippina the Younger, and to divorce and later murder his first wife, Octavia. She is also reported to have persuaded Nero to kill the philosopher Seneca, who had supported Neros previous mistress, Acte Claudia. Poppaea is believed to have stirred Nero to attack Christians after the Fire of Rome and to have helped free Jewish priests at the request of Josephus. She also advocated for her home town of Pompeii, and helped it gain considerable autonomy from the Empires rule.  In archaeological study of the city of Pompeii, where volcanic tragedy preserved the city within 15 years of Poppaeas death, scholars have found evidence that during her lifetime, she was considered a virtuous woman, with many statues in her honor. Nero and Poppaea were, according to some contemporaries, happy in their marriage, but Nero had a temper and became more and more erratic.  Nero reportedly kicked her during an argument when she was pregnant in 65 C.E., resulting in her death, possibly from the effects of the subsequent miscarriage. Nero gave her a public funeral and proclaimed her virtues.  Her body was embalmed and buried in the Mausoleum of Augustus. Nero proclaimed her divine. He was even said to have dressed one of his males slaves as Poppaea so he could believe she had not died.  He had Poppaeas son by her first marriage killed. In 66, Nero remarried. His new wife was  Statilia Messallina. Otho, Poppaeas first husband, helped in Galbas successful revolt against Nero, and made himself emperor after Galba was killed.  Otho was then defeated by Vitellius forces, and he subsequently killed himself. Poppaea Sabina and the Jews The Jewish historian Josephus (who also died in 65 BCE) tells us that Poppaea Sabina interceded on behalf of Jews twice. The first time was to free priests; Josephus went to Rome to plead their case, meeting with Poppaea and then receiving many gifts from her. In the second instance, a different delegation won Poppaeas influence in its cause to keep standing a wall at the temple that would keep the emperor from seeing the Temples proceedings. Tacitus The main source for information about Poppaea is the Roman writer Tacitus.  He does not depict kind acts, such as those reported by Josephus, but instead depicts her as corrupt.  Tacitus, for instance, asserts that Poppaea engineered her marriage with Otho specifically to get closer to, and eventually marry, Nero. Tacitus does assert that she was quite beautiful but shows how she used her beauty and sexuality as a way of gaining power and prestige. Cassius Dio This Roman historian also villified Poppaea in his writing about her. The Coronation of Poppaea The Coronation of Poppaea, or LIncoronazione di Poppea, is an opera in a prologue and three acts by Monteverdi, libretto by G. F. Busenello. The opera focuses on the replacement of Neros wife Octavia by Poppaea. The opera was first performed in Venice in 1642. Also known as:  Poppea (Italianized spelling),  Poppaea Augusta Sabina, Poppaea Sabina the Younger (to differentiate from her mother)

The Younger Years of Grace Murray Hopper

The Younger Years of Grace Murray Hopper Computer programming pioneer Grace Murray Hopper was born on December 9, 1906, in New York City. Her childhood and early years contributed to her brilliant career but also showed how she was a typical kid in many ways. She was the oldest of three children. Her sister Mary was three years younger and her brother Roger was five years younger than Grace. She fondly recalled the happy summers playing typical childhood games together at a cottage on Lake Wentworth in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Still, she thought that she took the blame too often for mischief the children and their cousins got into on vacation. Once, she lost her swimming privileges for a week for instigating them to climb a tree. Besides playing outdoors, she also learned crafts such as needlepoint and cross-stitch. She enjoyed reading and learned to play the piano. Hopper liked to tinker with gadgets and find out how they worked. At age seven she was curious about how her alarm clocked worked. But when she took it apart, she was unable to put it back together. She continued taking apart seven alarm clocks, to the displeasure of her mother, who limited her to taking apart just one. Math Talent Runs in the Family Her father, Walter Fletcher Murray, and paternal grandfather were insurance brokers, a profession which makes use of statistics. Graces mother, Mary Campbell Van Horne Murray, loved math and went along on surveying trips with her father, John Van Horne, who was a senior civil engineer for the city of New York. While it wasnt proper at that time for a young lady to take an interest in math, she was allowed to study geometry but not algebra or trigonometry. It was acceptable to use math to keep household finances in order, but that was all. Mary learned to understand the familys finances because feared her husband would die from his health problems. He lived to be 75. Father Encourages Education Hopper credited her father for encouraging her to step beyond the usual feminine role, have ambition and get a good education. He wanted his girls to have the same opportunities as his boy. He wanted them to be self-sufficient since he wouldnt be able to leave them much of an inheritance. Grace Murray Hopper attended  private schools in New York City where the curriculum focused on teaching girls to be ladies. However, she was still able to play sports at school, including basketball, field hockey, and water polo. She wanted to enter Vassar College at age 16 but failed the Latin exam, She had to be a boarding student for a year until she was able to enter Vassar at age 17 in 1923. Entering the Navy Hopper was considered too old, at age 34, to join the military after the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the United States into World War II. But as a mathematics professor, her skills were a critical need for the military. While Navy officials said she should serve as a civilian, she was determined to enlist. She took a leave of absence from her teaching position at Vassar and had to get a waiver because she was underweight for her height. With her determination, she was sworn into the U.S. Navy Reserve in December 1943. She would serve for 43 years. Her younger years shaped her path to the computer programming legacy for which she is famous. Later in life, after her time in the Navy, she invented the Mark I Computer with Howard Aiken. Her early math talent, her education, and her Navy experience all played a role in her eventual career. Source and Further Reading Elizabeth Dickason, Remembering Grace Murray Hopper: A Legend in Her Own Time, The Department of the Navy Information Technology Magazine, 27 June 2011.