Prejudice Thinking Essays - Discrimination, Abuse, Racism

Prejudice Thinking What is the extent of prejudice? How far will it go until the entire world realizes that it is wrong? Prejudice continues to infect and destroy the dreams and minds of many people. A human being is not born with prejudice. Prejudice is taught to children at an early age to make certain that their father's beliefs continue. By the time a child reaches adulthood, he or she might have the same hatred of their fathers. Prejudice has gone through many extremities. In a book called Black Boy, a black woman is thrown out of a clothing store beaten and bloody for not paying her tab. In the movie "American History X" a boy is taught at an early age to hate anyone who isn't a white protestant. Stereotypes are used today to discriminate against others. A restaurant owner with stereotypical views charged a black man a 50% tip without his consent. When the owner was confronted by the customer the owner replied saying "black men don't tip well." Without discrimination, putdowns, stereotyping, and name calling, this world would be a better place. Instead we have prejudice. Prejudice is wicked and evil. Prejudice is a spurious occurrence that continues to confine those who deserve more, and infects the world with its hatred. Prejudice promotes violence and anger towards others who are different. Richard Wright's Black Boy writes, "They got out and half dragged and half kicked the woman into the store. White people passed and looked on without expression. A white policeman watched from the corner twirling his nightstick but he made no move to help." Throughout the early 1900's people tolerated much more hate than they do now. The reason the lady in the quote was beaten was because she had not paid her bill. What is really distasteful is that people walked by without noticing the woman simply because she was black. Even a policeman observed this incident and didn't lift a finger to help her. Instead the officer arrested her for being a drunken woman and disturbing white folk. This is outrageous! White people didn't care and black people were afraid to intervene. The blacks were fearful because of the attitude that the next time it could be them. Blacks are forever at risk simply because of their dark skin. Prejudice makes an environment unsafe and almost impossible for people of color to exist in harmony with those of differing views. The Movie "American History ? X", is a neo-nazi movie that describes the spicy topic of racism and the skinhead movement. It describes a young boy named Danny Vinyard who grows up to believe that anyone not a white protestant is someone of pure evil. The boy's brother Derek kills two men for breaking into his car. The brother goes to prison and Danny is left subjected to racial and ethnic hate crimes. He is led to believe that he should not trust anyone. The brother is then released from prison and because he is a changed man he helps the boy realize how he can make his life better. Unfortunately the boy is helped too late and in the end pays the price for his hate by being killed by a black boy in a restroom at his high school. If only the boy would have realized the stupidity of his hatred sooner, he might not have been killed. But the brother was successful in teaching others that prejudice is wrong. The movie has been successful in depicting the impact prejudice has had on many lives. The director of this movie, Tony Kaye has influenced many and his efforts are to be commended. Prejudice does not require violence to be successful or to have an impact on the community. In Miami, Florida at the Thai Toni restaurant, owner Hirotomi (Toni) Takaradan was accused of racism. Toni made a comment that he did not believe to be racist. He added a 50% tip onto a black man's bill. He said that black people don't tip well. The Black man was appropriately outraged at this action and pursued legal action. As a result the restaurant was taken off many of recommended eateries list and although the owner denied that his actions were in any way racist the community supported the statement of the customer. Seemingly little incidents often evolve into bigger disputes and reflect a culture or environment that is racist and riddled by stereotypes and prejudice. There is no one reason for prejudice. Ignorance and hate contribute to that toxic thinking.

The World Is Not Enough Essays

The World Is Not Enough Essays The World Is Not Enough Essay The World Is Not Enough Essay James Bond films have a completely individual genre, their ongoing action style is different from any others of its kind. The Bond films are a very popular mainly British icon, although they do hold a global appeal. They are all made by MGM, holding a huge budget, which enables its ongoing success. Therefore, the director will try to meet the demands of the huge audience who have come to expect certain things from the film such as its iconography, eg. the contrast between good and evil characters, the constant sense of danger and the race against time, etc. The money supporting this Blockbuster brings about expectation of spectacular effects, various locations, big high-status stars, sexy women, the well-known Bond theme tune, etc. However, the story line, the settings and the characters must all signify Bond and these particular expectations of the audience. The extract I have chosen to study is one of immense action and great suspense. We begin by viewing the meeting of the Bond girl and the Bond villain. The use of media language is therefore crucial at this stage in enabling the audience to understand the importance of these first key scenes. The first scene establishes the setting, a wide shot of an open location showing Bond landing in Kazakhstan. This is signified by their landing, on a dusty airstrip, with graphics to give the location on screen. The Bond theme tune is meanwhile playing in the background, connoting that Bond has arrived in the foreign territory and that there may soon be danger on its way. This is signified by the exposed airstrip and warning music that we are used to in these situations. Bond then travels to the key location in which the scene is further set, with further establishing shots which are important in giving the audience a clearer pictur of where the action will take place and who will be involved. This suspense and danger is signified mainly by the people who Bond shares a jeep with all with shaven heads, wearing dark overalls, portraying of course an evil darkness. The changing of the music further emphasises this point in which it increases in pace and adds to the present situation by the special effects of explosions in the vicinity, and faster cutting to add speed to the sequence. There is a lot of non-verbal communication going on here, to begin with showing evil signs of danger and authority. Thus the narrative is starting to be built up. As we see a laboratory, the music transforms to more intricate, computer like music. It is well lit with people wearing white suits. This connotes that this will be a key location, adding to our knowledge and stirring at our curiosity levels. It also signifies a place of delicacy in comparison to the previous fast and loud scene, hereby adding to the connoted level of meaning within the scene. A wide shot establishes the next scene as Bond enters an important nuclear facility. We recognise this from the mise-en-scene with people moving about, their clothing, the explosions, warning signs, alarms, etc. These aspects all contribute to a sense of danger. As it cuts to the star Bond, we can basically understand that he is in a dangerous position, adding to the effect of us as an audience, feeling the danger. This is further signified by Bond being met by a burly, uniformed man with a Russian accent and the juxtaposition of shots from below the ground of warheads being taken from the bunker. The next key location involves the meeting between Bond and Dr Christmas Jones (Denise Richards). She stands out as a star and her importance is demonstrated within the the scene by being shot removing a clinical, white radiation suit. The camera then tilts to reveal a stunning body drawing a positive reaction from Bond, possibly signifying a possible interest. This encounter with the Bond girl is common, however this is the first time in which Bond reaches the nemesis. Whilst they meet and interact, there are many cus, this connotes that they are both key characters and the star is clearly shown. NVC is important particularly here as Jones shows no interest in Bond, this perhaps signifies a non-conformist Bond girl who has adapted more to the social beliefs of the late 90s. However, as expected, Bond stays cool throughout, for example when he is questioned by Jones on his Russian, he replies in russian; I studied at Oxford, signifying his coolness and his position as our hero is is secured by Jones double-take as he walks away. The signifiers of glamour further support the star quality of Jones, she is always shot with soft lighting and wears make-up, with a necklace that somehow contrasts with her working clothes of tight shorts and vest. She is portrayed as a strong woman presumably this has been developed through the political changes within society, so in fact she is demonstrating an attitude of the expected new 90s woman. These things are key in connoting sexiness and a love interest. Throughout this scene, mise-en-scene was very important a spark was established between two main characters, we learn much about them and also the surroundings that they are both working in. The next scene begins with Bond entering the bunker. Effects are used here as Bond is travelling downwards, the FX are accompanying him into what is signified as an abyss. There various signifiers at this point, he is shot from a high angle, losing his normal position of authority. He then enters the darkness followed by random, eerie sfx, all connoting danger and risk. As we are introduced to the setting from Bonds point of view, adding to our empathy, we see low lighting, smoke, controls and explosives. The scene is set with these shots and the audience is quite easily able to gain meaning from the various signifiers. Our next focus is at the end of a tunnel in which sparks are flying. The scene, again is established through the use of a long shot demonstrating to the audience that they are experiencing a key location of the scene. Following Bonds approach, suspense is added as the mystical Bond music increases pace and we are left to wonder what lies through the tunnel. However, this information is slowly revealed as Bond sees some me working on a nuclear warhead. At this point, we are shown at the same time as Bond, creating a sense of realism and timing. There is a sudden change in the music at this point signifying the presence of Renard whose nvc can be immediately interpreted as villainous. He has a shaven head, wearing a completely dark outfit and is shouting whilst being approached from a high angle. This connotes his power and his sense of evil, being mainly shotin darkness. Throughout the sequence, the music increases the intensity with the action.This is mainly demonstrated when Bond confronts Renard. As the shot is from Renards POV at a high angle, this perhaps suggests that Bond is still not on top of things. However, the main focus is on Bonds gun and his good figure is signified by the blue tint of lighting surrounding his face, in comparison to Renards face of darkness. Whilst the two of them exchange remarks, the pace is signified through the use of hand-held camera shots with increased cuts, signifying again the star status , although more importantly to the audience, these being the key characters within the film. As the narrative develops, again we learn more about the characters, much of this can in fact be learnt through the signifiers such as, Bonds white shirt in comparison to Renards fully zipped, dark uniform. Also, Renards voice connotes an eastern villain, linking to previous Bond sagas. Music does, however play a key part throughout the entire scene. The iconography does play a large part all through the film, it does not fail to live up to the audiences expectations, for example, the commonly known Bond catchphrase is included The names Bond.James Bond etc. as usual, this is mentioned mid-action on an elevator, whilst saving Dr Christmas Jones whilst Renard escapes. As Bond films have been going for such a long time, it has become easier to distinguish the advance in the technology used over time and how the representaions of this have developed, according to its era. The action is ongoing and Bond doesnt stop until hes achieved his victory. The amazing quality of each Bond film demonstrates just how much effort and money has been put into it, it is completely obvious that it has had a huge budget by just focusing on the use of actors, special effects, cuts and angles, etc.

Police wasting time - Emphasis

Police wasting time Police wasting time The police often have a hand in giving out long sentences. Now theyre writing them. A potentially record-breaking 102-word single sentence appears in the Association of Chief Police Officers comeback to a government report on policing. Heres the offending passage (note do not attempt to read this before operating heavy machinery): The promise of reform which the Green Paper heralds holds much for the public and Service alike; local policing, customized to local need with authentic answerability, strengthened accountabilities at force level through reforms to police authorities and HMIC, performance management at the service of localities with targets and plans tailored to local needs, the end of centrally engineered one size fits all initiatives, an intelligent approach to cutting red tape through redesign of processes and cultures, a renewed emphasis on strategic development so as to better equip our service to meet the amorphous challenges of managing cross force harms, risks and opportunities. If you made it to the end: well done. This kind of meandering, jargon-heavy sentence would almost certainly lose most readers a quarter of the way through: 35 words should be the maximum length in such a document. Although a spokeswoman did hold her hands up on behalf of the police chiefs verbosity, she also posed the defence that the piece was written primarily to persuade civil servants. She claimed it was therefore written in a language familiar to them. The civil servants weve worked with certainly deserve a lot better. But if shes right about ACPOs audience, its little wonder that were all prisoners to paperwork.

You choose a topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

You choose a topic - Essay Example But studies in the recent few years have associated the mobile phone with undesirable behavior especially among the youth and college students who are found to be on their phones for at least nine hours in a single day. This raises the question especially among behavioral scientists of whether mobile phone usage can become addictive. Even with the numerous advantages, mobile phone usage increasingly being associated with behaviors which are harmful to health and with the potential of being disturbing. Research for instance has associated the use of cell phones while driving with accidents. A wide of body of information is available to suggest the use of cell phones while on the wheel reduces ones capacity to be attentive even in cases there are hands-free devices. Many countries have even gone ahead to ban the use of phones while driving but many people still continue with the habit. In an ironic turn there is evidence of phones turning from their important role of supporting social exchanges to an object obstructing the same. Just many people have found themselves in instances where their mobile phone usage has disturbed their good social exchange. As such, just like smoking the use of mobile phones is increasingly receiving bans in public places e.g. in libraries. On the overall cell phone usage is increasingly becoming associated with antisocial and potentially dangerous behaviors as well as the uncontrollable usage and signs of dependence. it is for these reasons that researchers and clinical practitioners must be aware of the availability of instruments to measure problematic use, socio-demographic and psychological factors thought to play a significant role in mobile phone addiction. Phones were initially solely for communities purposes in terms of calls but the emergence of smart phones allows wider usage of the gadgets. People can now access the internet

Social Classes Of The 19th Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Classes Of The 19th Century - Essay Example Social classes with more force generally subsidiary classes with less force. Social classes with a huge deal of power are mostly examined as elites, no less than inside their own communities. Throughout the 19th century, the middle class, too called the classes' bourgeoisie, cultivate from the groups of 18th century profitable and industrial entrepreneurs. At the similar time, many fresh occupations were formed which principally used mind skills somewhat than substantial labor; the amount of persons and families in these careers burst in number, generating a considerable, and ultimately prevailing, middle class. Marxism describes the bourgeoisie as the social class which attains revenues from ownership or business in capital benefit, or from profitable actions such as the purchasing and selling of goods, wares and services. Throughout the 19th century, the inferior, or working, class urbanized from the groups of 18th century customary rural farmers and laborers. At the similar time, some innovative professions were shaped which chiefly used material labor somewhat than mental skills; the number of individuals and families in these fields burst in number, creating an extensive lower class. The lower class was collected principally of workers in extractive, developing, and service industries, which were needy on wages and who chiefly, used physical abilities. The lower class was separated into professional sub-groupings of extremely skilled handcrafters, semi-skilled workforce, and unskillful laborers. Differences Between The Bourgeoisies And The Working Class Of The 19th Century According to 1Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) the configuration of class-awareness is by no means mechanical, as the alertness of social stratification might be only faintly formed or might be overshadowed by other fundamentals in social understanding. This means that we can locate out so far social stratification supported on economic relationships; the dissimilarities connecting class, status and command circumstances, and the method professions have been used to classify strata - the thoughts of individuality and measures. Geographical Mobility According to 2Weber two major social classes beneath capitalism are Class Who They Are And Their Property The petit bourgeoisie Those who own small businesses and are minor employers The manual working class Those who own nothing and have to sell their labour in order to live. Bourgeoisie and proletariat or the Working Class were 3Karl Marx's (1818-1883) own stipulations for the two classes he experimented in the industrialized society, which was all around him. 4"Our epoch, the epoch of the Bourgeoisie, possesses, however, this distinctive feature: it has simplified the class antagonisms. Society as a whole is more and more splitting into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat." Work Orientation Marx measured that the powerful disagreement among the bourgeoisie and the proletariat would explode into a growing by the proletariat alongside their opponents. This would, Marx measured, be the predictable outcome of the progress in society which he could see occurring. Temporary workers,

Sinner in the Hands of an Angry God Essay Example for Free

Sinner in the Hands of an Angry God Essay Consider the fearful danger you are in; it is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God, whose wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you, as against many of the damned in Hell. You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder; and you have no interest in any mediator, and nothing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you. The sovereign pleasure of God, for the present, stays his rough wind; otherwise it would come like a whirlwind, and you would be like the chaff of the summer threshing floor. 1. Explain the mood of this passage. The mood is Somber and Serious. 2. Using specific examples, give one example of a metaphor, one example of a simile, and one example of an allusion that Edwards uses in this passage from the sermon to elicit this particular mood. A Great furance of warth like a whirlwind the summer threshing floor 3. What specific words (minimum of three) does he choose to make his tone clear? Danger, Wrath, Damned in hell 4. What images (pictures in the listeners mind) does Edwards use in the passage to make his tone clear? What effect do those images have on establishing the tone of the piece? Gods Rough Wind- Tone is Serious 5. In the last two paragraphs of the sermon Edwards talks about an extraordinary opportunity his congregation has. What is this opportunity? How does his sermon persuade the congregation to take advantage of this opportunity?

Shakespeares Macbeth is a Tragic Hero Essay -- GCSE English Literatur

Macbeth is a Tragic Hero In many respects Macbeth, of Shakespeare’s play Macbeth is the least admirable tragic hero of literature. Typical tragic heroes have at least a few admirable character traits. One may, or may not like the hero, but there is something in their characters or their situation on which one can hang some sympathy, even if there is not enough for us to rationalize away their actions. But Macbeth is a mass murderer, who does away with friends, colleagues, women and children, often for no apparent reason other than his own desires. Why should Macbeth be considered a tragic hero?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The answer, has to do with the quality of his mind, his horrible determination to see the entire evil business through. Having, with the murder of Duncan, taken charge of the events which shape his life, he is not now going to relinquish the responsibility for securing his desires. The most remarkable quality of the man in this process is the clear-eyed awareness of what is happening to him personally. He is suffering horribly throughout, but he will not crack or seek any other remedy than what he alone can deliver. If that means damning himself even further, then so be it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This stance certainly does not make Macbeth likable or (from our perspective) in many respects admirable. But it does confer a heroic quality upon his tragic course of action. He simply will not compromise with the world, and he will pay whatever price that decision exacts from him, even though as his murderous career continues he becomes increasingly aware of what it is costing him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It seems clear that what his murder has cost him is the very thing that made him great in the first place. For no soon... ...use he has any desire to win but because wants to take charge of the final event, his own death. The life he has created for himself leaves him with nothing else to do.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This last point about Macbeth's bringing about his own death is an important element in his tragedy. Having set himself above all conventional morality and prudence to tackle life on his own terms in answer to his desires, Macbeth will remain in charge until the end. Like so many other great tragic heroes (Oedipus, King Lear, Othello), he self-destructs. He has come to the full recognition of what taking full charge of his own life, without any concessions to his community, really means. And that realization fills him with a sense of bitterness, futility, and meaninglessness. Work Cited Shakespeare, William. Macbeth, ed. Carroll, W. C., Boston, MA: Bedford/ St.Martin's, 1999.

Applying Ethics in the Armed Forces

In Rob Reiner’s 1992 film, â€Å"A Few Good Men†, two ethical approaches to life are illustrated most profoundly in four main characters.   Protagonist Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, played by Tom Cruise, is in direct moral contrast to the antagonist of the film, Colonel Nathan Jessep, played by Jack Nicholson.   Kaffee effectively illustrates the importance of using the ethical framework of the common good approach while Jessep shows the flaws inherent in the virtue approach.The approach taken by Kaffee ensures that society is seamless in morality and that the Marines are not a group that is outside of either the law or common morality.   Jessep, however, shows that virtues or ideals that commanders demand of subordinates in the military can contradict the virtues of the common person and the common good.The remaining important two characters are the conflicted and court-martialed Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson and Private Lowden Downey.   These are Marines that re sted their trust in their commander and must later learn to trust their attorney Kaffee and the integrity of military law.Dawson and Downey first come to the attention of Lieutenant Kaffee when the two are accused of causing the death of Private William Santiago.   It was later discovered that the two were either directly or indirectly encouraged to initiate a â€Å"Code Red’, which is a form of Marine self-policing, where weaker member were scared via different methods to become stronger, better Marines.The men have allegedly stuffed a rag into the mouth of Private Santiago, resulting in his death.   It becomes clear that the men will not speak of the crime in question, due to the honor code of Marines.It later becomes clear, as well, that Gitmo is viewed as a very different place with very different values.   When the Marine Commander Jessep is accused of his role of creating such an immoral climate that results in a man’s death, he states that he has â€Å"a greater responsibility than [you] can possibly fathom†.Learning that the military culture may have a separate moral culture surrounded with different ethical mores, the question becomes are Dawson and Downey are morally blameworthy?Since Colonel Jessep appears to utilize the virtue approach while simultaneously instilling an atmosphere of silence and brotherhood in his Marines at Gitmo, a small island apart from the rest of the world, to not follow his instructions would be unthinkable.   To Jessep, his Marines are men above reproach and question and given the task of protecting their fellow soldiers in a place that is always in danger of outside harm.   The virtue approach that he instills in men like Dawson and Downey are to the effect that â€Å"a person who has developed virtues will be naturally disposed to act in ways consistent with moral principles† (Velasquez, et al, 1996).These virtues and principles were the cornerstone of the survival of the two men in question, they believed that there was no possible to way to refute or refuse any orders given by their virtuous commander.   The virtues practiced and preached by Jessep were courage, strength, silence, and submission.Above all else these men learned, also, that they must always submit to their superiors in all they were asked to do.   For this reason, these men are not entirely blameworthy, as if they would have refused direct orders, they would have lost their virtue and in essence the very fabric of their lives.   The moral questions of virtue and common good become the fabric of the court hearing.Lieutenant Kaffee concerns himself with the ethical issue of the common good approach to ethics and instills the positive points of virtue theory by displaying compassion, fairness, and integrity.   The Common Good approach essentially deals with an idea that individual good is equated and ensured with public good and that individual, honorable traits should be shared as a comm unity in a healthy fashion.In this way, goodness, is not good if it is not shared.   It can be said, then, that in order to recognize good to share it, we must also be able to recognize bad or â€Å"evil†, in order to know how to counter it in a world of free will.â€Å"Appeals to the common good urge us to view ourselves as members of the same community, reflecting on broad questions concerning the kind of society we want to become and how we are to achieve that society† (Velasquez, et al, 1996).In this way Kaffee shows that Gitmo is a part of the larger world and that justice should be served to ensure that the military and the rest of the world can achieve fairness.   Jessep is shown as culpable in his actions and Kaffee assures Dawson that a person does not need to have a patch on his or her arm to have honor.This phrase means so much to the Marine, who was simply following orders in a misguided mission.   Had he not been subjected to the immorality of his co mmander, he would have been a good soldier.   But, he cannot return to his duties and must then show honor in his daily life, hopefully Kaffee has illustrated this honor and the uselessness of rank, faulty reasoning, and a simple patch on one’s arm that does not assume morality.In closing, â€Å"A Few Good Men† in an excellent film to analyze in context of morals and ethical approaches.   The two illustrated approaches of virtue and the common good can be seen as a recurring theme throughout the work.   The actors all display their ideas and ideals of morality and a code of honor.The misguided and displaced ethical approaches and results are magnified to display their potential risks while the important and useful ethical approaches are displayed in memorable fashion with justice being more than a part of a court proceeding, it becomes a part of a new honor code for all affected.ReferencesSchickel, Richard.   (December 14th, 1992).   â€Å"Close-Order Moral Drill†.  Ã‚   Time.  Ã‚  Ã‚   70.Velasquez, M., Andre, C., Shanks, T, Meyer, S. J. & Meyer M.   (Winter, 1996).  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Thinking Ethically:   A Framework for Moral Decision Making† in Issues in Ethics.   2-5.

Development of optical nanoelectronics Essay

Nanotechnology has become more advanced in recent years. This made possible the development of optical nanoelectronics. Optical nanocircuits have been the focus of recent researches because of its superior advantages over the existing electronic circuits. They offer high-speed transmission of data, high bandwidth, and even miniaturization of circuit elements. But optical nanocircuits, operating in the optical frequencies, are not solely based on the existing circuit theory that has been the foundation of the existing Microwave circuits. Theory of Electromagnetics must be deeply analyzed and extended to understand how optical nanocircuits work. In microwave circuits, resistors, inductors and capacitors can be modeled using lumped elements. The changes in electromagnetic field inside the electronic components are quasi-static in nature. This idea also holds true for optical nanocircuits. In order to preserve the quasi-static nature of the elements, the dimensions of the components need to be tinier than the wavelength. This has been possible because of the advancement of nanotechnologies. But the problem in the optical frequencies is the behavior and response of the metallic and non-metallic components. At optical frequencies, metals tend to show plasmonic resonance, which causes the permittivity of the material to have a negative real part. Since metals don’t show the property of conduction at optical frequencies, Conduction current is not the main current flowing thru the metal. Displacement current is dominant current flowing thru the metals at optical frequencies. This displacement current is greatly affected by the permittivity of the material used. The characteristics of the permittivity of the material determine whether the material acts as a nanoinductor, a nanocapacitor, or a nanoresistor. If the real part of the permittivity of the material is positive, the material acts as a nanocapacitor. On the other hand, if the real part is negative, it acts as a nanoinductor. Materials have nanoresistance when the imaginary part of the permittivity of the material is not equal to zero. These nanoelements can also be used to realized nanofilters. Existing ideas using resistors, inductors, and capacitors to create lowpass, highpass, and bandpass filters can also be used to create nanofilters. Depending on the connections of the nanoelements, nanofilters can be constructed. Nanoinductors, nanocapacitors and nanoresistors can be connected in either series or parallel to produce the necessary nanofilter. A sample of optical nanocircuit is shown in the image below. Figure 1. Realization of optical nanocircuit. (Engheta, Science 2007. ) References: Alu, A. , Salandrino, A. , & Engheta, N. Parallel, Series, and Intermediate Interconnections of Optical Nanocircuit Elements, Part 2: Nanocircuit and Physical Interpretation. Universtiy of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Retrieved November 15, 2008 from http://arxiv.org/pdf/0707. 1003. pdf Engheta, N. , SAlandrino, A. , & Alu, A. (2004). Circuit Elements at Optical Frequencies : Nano-inductors, Nano-capacitors, and Nano-resistors. Universtiy of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Retrieved November 15, 2008 from http://arxiv. org/pdf/cond-mat/0411463. pdf Engheta, N. (2007). Circuits with Light at Nanoscales: Optical Nanocircuits Inspired by Metamaterials. Science. Shivanand, S. V. (2008). Optical Nanocircuits. Purdue University, Indiana, USA. Retrieved November 15, 2008 from http://cobweb. ecn. purdue. edu/~ece695s/Lectures/Lecture_20. pdf

HMS Hood in World War II

HMS Hood in World War II HMS Hood - Overview: Nation: Great Britain Type: Battlecruiser Shipyard: John Brown Company Laid Down: September 1, 1916 Launched: August 22, 1918 Commissioned: May 15, 1920 Fate: Sunk on May 24, 1940 HMS Hood - Specifications: Displacement: 47,430 tons Length: 860 ft., 7 in. Beam: 104 ft. 2 in. Draft: 32 ft. Propulsion: 4 shafts, Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 24 Yarrow water-tube boilers Speed: 31 knots (1920), 28 knots (1940) Range: 5,332 miles at 20 knots Complement: 1,169-1,418 men HMS Hood - Armament (1941): Guns 8 x BL 15-inch Mk I guns (4 turrets with 2 guns each)14 x QF 4-inch Mk XVI anti-aircraft guns24 x QF 2-pdr anti-aircraft guns20 x 0.5-inch Vickers machine guns5 x 20-barrel Unrotated Projectile mounts2 x 21-inch torpedo tubes Aircraft (after 1931) 1 aircraft using 1 catapult (1929-1932) HMS Hood - Design Construction: Laid down at John Brown Company of Clydebank on September 1, 1916, HMS Hood was an Admiral-class battlecruiser. This design originated as an improved version of the Queen Elizabeth-class battleships but was converted early on to a battlecruiser to replace losses sustained at the Battle of Jutland and to counter new German battlecruiser construction. Originally intended as a four-ship class, work on three was halted due to other priorities during World War I. As a result, Hood was the only Admiral-class battlecruiser to be completed. The new ship entered the water on August 22, 1918, and was named for Admiral Samuel Hood. Work continued over the next two years and the ship entered commission on May 15, 1920. A sleek, attractive ship, Hoods design was centered on a battery of eight 15 guns mounted in four twin turrets. These were initially supplemented by twelve 5.5 guns and four 1 guns. Over the course of its career, Hoods secondary armament was enlarged and altered to meet the needs of the day. Capable of 31 knots in 1920, some considered Hood to be a fast battleship rather than a battlecruiser. HMS Hood - Armor: For protection, Hood originally possessed a similar armor scheme to its predecessors except that its armor was angled outward to increase its relative thickness against shells fired on a low trajectory. In the wake of Jutland, the new ships armor design was thickened though this enhancement added 5,100 tons and reduced the ships top speed. More troublesome, its deck armor remained thin making it vulnerable to plunging fire. In this area, the armor was spread over three decks with the thought that an exploding shell might breach the first deck but would not have the energy to pierce the next two. Though this scheme seemed workable, advances in effective time-delay shells negated this approach as they would penetrate all three decks before exploding. In 1919, testing showed the Hoods armor configuration was flawed and plans were made to thicken the deck protection over key areas of the vessel. After further trials, this additional armor was not added. Protection against torpedoes was provided by a 7.5 deep anti-torpedo bulge which ran nearly the length of the ship. Though not fitted with a catapult, Hood did possess fly off platforms for aircraft atop its B and X turrets. HMS Hood - Operational History: Entering service, Hood was made flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Roger Keyes Battlecruiser Squadron based at Scapa Flow. Later that year, the ship steamed to the Baltic as a deterrent against the Bolsheviks. Returning, Hood spent the next two years in home waters and training in the Mediterranean. In 1923, it accompanied HMS Repulse and several light cruisers on a world cruise. Returning in late 1924, Hood continued in a peacetime role until entering the yard in on May 1, 1929 for a major overhaul. Emerging on March 10, 1931, the ship rejoined the fleet and now possessed an aircraft catapult. In September of that year, Hoods crew was one of many which took part in the Invergordon Mutiny over the reduction of seamans wages. This ended peacefully and the next year saw the battlecruiser travel to the Caribbean. During this voyage the new catapult proved troublesome and it was later removed. Over the next seven years, Hood saw extensive service in European waters as the Royal Navys premier fast capital ship. As the decade neared an end, the ship was due for a major overhaul and modernization similar to those given other World War I-era warships in the Royal Navy. HMS Hood - World War II: Though its machinery was deteriorating, Hoods overhaul was postponed due to the beginning of World War II in September 1939. Hit that month by an aerial bomb, the ship sustained minor damage and soon was employed in the North Atlantic on patrol duties. With the fall of France in mid-1940, Hood was ordered to the Mediterranean and became flagship of Force H. Concerned that the French fleet would fall into German hands, the Admiralty demanded that the French Navy either join with them or stand down. When this ultimatum was refused, Force H attacked the French squadron at Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria on July 8. In the attack, the bulk of the French squadron was put out of action. HMS Hood - Denmark Strait: Returning to the Home Fleet in August, Hood sortied that fall in operations intended to intercept the pocket battleship and heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper. In January 1941, Hood entered the yard for a minor refit, but the naval situation prevented the major overhaul that was needed. Emerging, Hood remained in increasingly poor condition. After patrolling the Bay of Biscay, the battlecruiser was ordered north in late April after the Admiralty learned that the new German battleship Bismarck had sailed. Putting into Scapa Flow on May 6, Hood departed later that month with the new battleship HMS Prince of Wales to pursue Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. Commanded by Vice Admiral Lancelot Holland, this force located the two German ships on May 23. Attacking the next morning, Hood and Prince of Wales opened the Battle of the Denmark Strait. Engaging the enemy, Hood quickly came under fire and took hits. Approximately eight minutes after the action began, the battlecruiser was hit around the boat deck. Witnesses saw a jet of flame emerge near the mainmast before the ship exploded. Most likely the result of a plunging shot which penetrated the thin deck armor and struck a magazine, the explosion broke Hood in two. Sinking in around three minutes, only three of the ships 1,418-man crew were rescued. Outnumbered, Prince of Wales withdrew from the fight. In the wake of the sinking, many explanations were put forward for the explosion. Recent surveys of the wreck confirm that Hoods after magazines did explode. Selected Sources HMS Hood AssociationPBS: Hunt for the HoodU-boat.net: HMS Hood

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