Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Final - Essay Example (Plunkett 67) . On Feb 2005, Verizon approved to acquire MCI Company. The acquisition was to benefit it in terms of economics of scale and access to a wider base of customers. By the year 2006, MCI was already integrated into Verizon thus adopting the name verizon business. It then became the largest telecommunication company in the U.S In terms of its sales i.e. 75.11 billion; assets added up to 168.13 US dollars and the company had a profit of 9.4 billion US dollars. Later with the mergers of Bell South and AT and TINC, It became the largest telecommunications company based on its profits and assets in the world. (Plunkett 68) The company principality operates in the US with its headquarters in New York. It offers wireless and wireline services such as voice, network access, data services, broadband video and global internet protocol networks. Verizon communications Inc operates in more than 150 nations worldwide. Verizon voice messaging services is offered for both businesses and residences. Verizon’s Cell co partnership operates the second largest wireless telecomm network in the US In terms of the number of subscribers and revenue. It is also one of the major US carriers to utilize the CDMA technology and uses 8 billion US dollar annually in its maintenance and expansion. It offers both voice and 3G data services for example, text and picture messaging, over the air downloadable applications and wireless broadband based on EV-DO Rev A. It also carries various mobile services and phones eg LG, Motorola and Samsung. (Lutz 138) Verizon’s video services was launched in September , 2005 and uses optical fibre network to distribute more than 330 channels, 180 digital videos and music channels and 1800 video on demand titles. DSL internet services are offered to the same areas where phone services are provided. It is known to have the largest number of spammers of all networks globally. Verizon’s

Ocean Carriers Essay Example for Free

Ocean Carriers Essay Iron ore and coal imports will most probably decrease the upcoming year With the increasing supply of vessels should result in a market surplus By creating this surplus, prices will be driven down, since we will have limited demand and suppliers competing Average daily rates, based on historical numbers, have a direct relationship with the number of shipments. Only Accept the project if we sell after 25 years in a tax free environment Reject all of the following; sell after 15 years in both a tax and tax free environment, also after 25 years with a tax environment The longer the wait to sell; the better How Long Should Vessels Operate? The company’s current policy is to not operate ships older then 15 years old If Ocean Carrier operates for 25 years the NPV will be higher then if they operate for 15 years and sell the scrap metal (,368,557 vs. $2,238,411) The present value of the future cash flows exceeds the value of selling the scrap metal 10 years earlier. Hence there is greater value operating the vessel for an additional 10 years/ Iron and coal’s demand is expected to increase annually and the charter rates are expected to increase by annually for the life of the vessel. The company can generate more income if they decide to operate the ship for an additional 10 years.

The Beatles: History, Political Environment Music Analysis

The Beatles: History, Political Environment Music Analysis Liverpool, a city 202 miles northwest of London that holds down the right bank of the River Mersey, is the second largest port in the British Isles.1 Rock ‘n roll music made its way to England through the port of Liverpool. Liverpool was the entry point for cotton and other imports, including American records, from the United States.2 As a result, compared to the rest of the people in Britain, the people in Liverpool had a stronger exposure to American music. Another factor that contributed to the Liverpudlians familiarity with American music was the presence of RAF Burtonwood, a U.S. military base a few miles northeast of Liverpool. 2 It had the most United States Army Air Forces personnel and facilities in Europe during World War II. At the end of the war, 18,000 servicemen were stationed in this base, which was so large it was known as â€Å"little America†, and they brought to England things from home, including their favorite records.2 History All four Beatles were born into the working class, amid the raining down of German bombs and the wailing of air-sirens during World War II.3 By the time they were teenagers, in the 1950s, things were only starting to settle down Britain was crippled financially, food rationing continued, and the terrain was still jagged with blast marks and craters.4 In the early 1960s, Great Britain still had vast unemployment and stultifying class disjunction, while America, on the other hand, was devastated by the Kennedy assassination and the realities of the Cold War.5 Britons were just coming to terms with the scandal surrounding Government Defense Minister John Profumos extramarital affair,6 which damaged the credibility of the government and eventually led to the resignation of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.7 The 1960s was a period defined by the Cold War and the relative economic prosperity of capitalism in the west.8 It was an era marked by rock concerts, peace demonstrations, and local pockets of activism and community.9 The Beatles early success symbolized a break with the absence of innovation and quality of late 1950s music, and at the same time it was a continuation of the legacy of the 1950s, as the song writing of Chuck Berry and the vocal style of the Everly Brothers, among many other contributing factors, were integral to the formation of the Beatles own stylistic identity.10 Popular culture was not thought to play a role in political controversy or in society at large, but that was until the end of the Second World War. The Cold War suddenly made popular culture controversial. Actor John Wayne was popular mostly because of the political positions with which he was associated. The need to compete with television led the movies to risk controversial subjects, such as anti-Semitism, homosexuality, and juvenile delinquency. Elvis Presleys introduction of rock n roll music to a white, mainstream audience solidified the association between youth and popular music. By the 1960s, the music helped to establish for teenagers a powerful sense of generational identity. The Beatles attracted a college-age audience to rock n roll, and so their vast popularity contributed to this new perception.11 It was in this period that the youth of the day began to identify with the victims of social injustice. The Hippie culture made these well-to-do young people feel that they could relate to the minority and the poor subpopulations. They pleaded with predominant institutions, the so-called â€Å"establishment†, to reverse their indifference and offer relief, but they realized that the â€Å"establishment† would not heed their moral call and that they had to take it upon themselves to organize as a political movement.12 This period had burning issues that mobilized enormous segments of society. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. magnificently translated the Civil Rights movement, primarily a minority issue, into a universal eliciting of consciousness regarding equal rights for all. The Vietnam War funneled the moral outrage of the youthful secularists into a consciousness that is said to have persisted into the present day. 12 Bob Dylan, the central figure in the emergence of rock n rolls cultural importance, had established himself as the leading young folk music performer and as a writer of powerful topical songs.9 He helped politicize a vast segment of rock culture including the Beatles, inspiring the group to accept its popularity as an opportunity to define and speak to a vital youth constituency. The Beatles music, and rock music in general, became a medium for addressing the issues and events that affected that generation.13 Society As a result of the Baby Boom and the tremendous expansion in opportunities for higher education initiated after World War II, more individuals belonged to the intellectual community or were affected by it. The Baby Boomers were also raised with increasing permissiveness by parents. Children were encouraged not only to think on their own, but to think about a wide range of heretofore suppressed thoughts. It was in the 60s that the formerly stable institutions of Western society—the church, the family, and the local community—began to break down, and as the youth of the day, in increasing numbers, began to explore widely divergent socio-cultural milieus, they came into conflict with conditions of society far less comfortable than their own. They began to identify with the victims of social injustice and pleaded with what appeared to be massive and callous institutions to reverse their indifference and offer relief. The Hippie culture was a result of this they were able t o think of themselves as outlaws, which made them feel that they could relate to the minority.12 There appears to be a connection between the cultural revolution of the sixties and the Beatles music.14 Beat music, which is exemplified by the music of the Beatles, became popular in the 1960s, and at the same time, youth propagated more egalitarian and informal ways of communication as the new standard for social interaction.15 The communication code of the peer group is characterized by an open and almost permanent negotiation of feelings and opinions.16 The Beatles songs could articulate the vocabulary of the rising youth culture so well. The Beatles songs evoked a sense of awakening, as they were articulating and promoting the open and reciprocal idiom of the peer group as a model for civil conversation, giving a full voice to youth culture.14 Politics and Economy Britain, in the 1950s, was recuperating from the aftermath of the war. The cost-of-living index continued to rise rapidly, causing strikes among market workers and employees. Acute coal shortage brought about actual importation from the United States. But employment remained high, because industries began a rapid expansion. The supply of consumer goods also continued to increase, reversing the policy on rationing. The general picture of the economy was brightening.17 The 1960s was witness to the Cold War and the relative economic prosperity of capitalism in the west.8 The United States economys longest peacetime expansion took place from 1961 to 1969.18 The period also saw the Civil Rights movement, the call for equal rights for all, and the Vietnam War, among other issues, which mobilized a huge segment of society into civil disobedience.12 Rock music, which held the youth together,11 was one of the mediums in which they addressed these issues.13 Artworld Relations Rock ‘n roll is a music form that revolutionized in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s through a mixing together of various popular musical genres of the time. It is rooted mainly on rhythm and blues, country, folk, gospel, and jazz. The style quickly spread to the rest of the world and developed further, leading eventually to modern rock music. At around the same time that rock and roll hit Britain in early 1956, a similar form of music came along which is popularly known as skiffle. It was really a fusion of American Jazz, blues and folk music. It also had been surfacing in various semblances for quite a few years.19 From its inception in the early fifties, it had offered teenagers, at that time, a new way of taking in music. With its unmistakably mutinous undertones, rock provides a musical score for the twilight universe that is adolescence. It was commonly looked down by older music listeners but for the youth of that period, it seemed like a personalized declaration of independence.20 A thumbnail chronology of 1950s rock days is a thumbnail chronology of a war between young and old.20 Before a bunch of American records reached UK and stirred the Brits, the firepower started when Bill Haleys Rock Around the Clock reached number one both in the US and UK, and Chuck Berrys Maybellene began to scream on the radios.20 By the late 1950s, rock raced across the pop charts which entertained a lot of teenagers. However, the success of the form by this time is counteracted by most adults and the music industry itself that still looks at rock disdainfully. The new sound is fighting a generational, musical, social, personal war with society.21 While somewhat disturbing societys walls, rock ‘n roll is imploding in the hearts of some teenagers in an English seaport called Liverpool,21 including the young Beatles members, John, George, Paul and Ringo. The first flourishes of rock n roll in the form of Bill Haley and His Comets aligned music with rebellious youth. Particular rock and roll idols following after started the ball rolling for the Beatles. This is topped by none other than Elvis Presley whos dubbed as the guy who lit the Beatles fuse.22 The rock artists who had a major impact on the Beatles ranged from FatsDomino, Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, little Richard, to Chuck Berry. The list goes on. To the Beatles, Elvis may have represented the music style that they wanted, but he wasnt quite the complete package. He sang brilliantly and looked fantastic. He had great songs but he didnt actually write them. However, there were other artists coming onto the scene who also wrote their own material, and this kind of self-sufficiency really appealed to the young Lennon and McCartney.23 At the top of it was Chuck Berry. He was one of the few black performers whom white teenage audience consciously listened to during the 1950s, and he did largely entertained them on the strength of charismatic stage character, his distinctive, rocking, and widely imitated guitar licks, and his ingenious songs. One aspect of Chuck Berrys tremendous influence that should be highlighted, is the way he introduced a more sophisticated and disciplined form of lyricism to rock music. Thus inspiring the likes of Lennon and McCartney to compose their own songs.23 All these musical influences were quickly spread to a mainstream audience of young people during the 1950s and 60s. Before TV took over as a multi-purpose medium for spreading this, radio was king. That well-known Beatle sense of humor came about partly because of the radio comedians they listened to as kids. At the same time, it was also via the airwaves that they first heard the strains of rock and roll. At their time, TV sets were a definite luxury, but one commodity that could probably be inside all of their homes was the radio.24 During the mid-50s the only British channels that people could tune into were those of the government-controlled British Broadcasting Corporation. The BBC basically transmitted what the adults wanted to hear, easy listening, all the way from Vera Lynn to Frankie Laine. Rock ‘n roll music was no way to be broadcasted then. Radio helped to shape the Beatles musical tastes and their sense of humor.25 Sample/Analysis Love Me Do Writer/s: Lennon/McCartney Producer: George Martin CD: Magical Mystery Tour, Track 11 (Parlophone CDP7 48062-2) Yellow Submarine, Track 6 (Parlophone CDP7 46445-2) Yellow Submarine Songtrack, Track 12 (EMI 5 21481-2) Released: 7 July 1967 A Single / Baby Youre A Rich Man Recorded: 14 June 1967, Olympic Sound Studios; 19 June 1967, Abbey Road 3; 23-25 June 1967, Abbey Road 1; the song was aired on the Eurovision program Our World on 25.06.1967 Length: 2:57 Key: G Major Meter: 4/4 (with occasional 3/4) Form: Intro | Verse | Verse | Verse | Refrain | Verse (guitar solo) | Refrain | Verse | Refrain | Refrain | Outro (fade-out) Instrumentation: John Lennon: vocals, harmonica Paul McCartney: vocals, bass George Harrison: acoustic rhythm guitar Ringo Starr: drums, tambourine The form is quite simple perhaps because Paul started composing this when he was very young, probably around 15 or 16. In line with this is the simple plaintive melody and rhythm of the song. The group has started out with simple rhythms, unsophisticated and straightforward lyrics, and themes that are very appealing to the teen audience. The very striking and remarkable feature in the song is the harmonica which John played quite well. The harmonica also added that certain x-factor to the tune and to the song in general. The lyrics were just repeated all throughout the song, which makes it quite short. The vocal aspect of the song appears to be apt for the theme of the song. The lyrics of the song is a simple dedication of a devoted lover to his loved one. The song is not as soft and mellow as Yesterday, but not as hard as Helter Skelter. Compared to the other hits of the Beatles after the release of Love Me Do, this song in particular carried a big significance to the band members because it just signaled that they are now in the recording industry, which they only used to dream of. I Saw Her Standing There Writer/s: Lennon/McCartney Producer: George Martin CD: Magical Mystery Tour, Track 11 (Parlophone CDP7 48062-2) Yellow Submarine, Track 6 (Parlophone CDP7 46445-2) Yellow Submarine Songtrack, Track 12 (EMI 5 21481-2) Released: 7 July 1967 A Single / Baby Youre A Rich Man Recorded: Length: 2:57 Key: G Major Meter: 4/4 (with occasional 3/4) Form: Intro | Verse | Verse | Verse | Refrain | Verse (guitar solo) | Refrain | Verse | Refrain | Refrain | Outro (fade-out) Instrumentation: John Lennon:lead vocals, harpsichord, banjo Paul McCartney: bass George Harrison: violin, lead guitar Ringo Starr: drums, snare drum roll I Saw Her Standing There is one of the boys first fast, hard rockers. The arrangement of this song is filled with techniques and touches unique to the group that defined the early sound of the Beatles. The song narrates a simple boy-meets-girl story in the first person to which the pulsating music lends a definitely hot connotation, in spite of the lack of any explicit passion in the lyrics. They also used a type of wordplay that also became a Beatles trademark. In terms of its form, the song has a comparatively long running time of 2:52 which consists of a 2 bridge model with 2 verses intervening, one of which is for guitar solo. The fast pace of the song enhance a general feeling of urgency. Also, the tune covers a broad range and consists of an entirely interesting mix of step-wise motion with dramatic long-jumps. Each of the members contributed to the over-all excitement in the arrangement of this song. This includes Pauls boogie-woogie bass lines, which outline the chords, Ringo s elaborately syncopated drum fills that appear in the space between sections, the backing work on rhythm and lead guitars that works in fine synergy with the bass and drum parts. Furthermore, the tight vocal harmonies of Paul and John feature a type of counterpoint that seems bracingly different from what was to be heard from their contemporaries. Lastly, the handclaps and the screaming used for background punctuation are unessential yet nevertheless characteristic. The song evokes such a pleasurably exuberant mood and an absence of romantic/emotional complications. Its more of a ‘hip ditty bop noise, as Richard Price puts it, reminding us in perpetuity of the ‘nowness and coolness of being 17 and hip, as well as falling for the first time in what a teenage thinks just might be ‘real love. Although theres an eventually bitter and disappointing side to this experience, the song emphasizes that the sweeter part of it is worth taking with someone for the rest of his life. Just like any of their early period songs, this song contains no profundity in its lyrics. It just implies the usual situation that a teenager faces in terms of love and the opposite sex. It appears to be somewhat a way of expressing a teen feeling about love and the common view of the youth about it at the time. Here, it seemed that the Beatles try to make an impression that they are like the other youngster as to how they view that certain aspect of the teen wo rld. All my Loving Writer/s: Lennon/McCartney Producer: George Martin CD: Magical Mystery Tour, Track 11 (Parlophone CDP7 48062-2) Yellow Submarine, Track 6 (Parlophone CDP7 46445-2) Yellow Submarine Songtrack, Track 12 (EMI 5 21481-2) Released: 7 July 1967 A Single / Baby Youre A Rich Man Recorded: 14 June 1967, Olympic Sound Studios; 19 June 1967, Abbey Road 3; 23-25 June 1967, Abbey Road 1; the song was aired on the Eurovision program Our World on 25.06.1967 Length: 2:57 Key: G Major Meter: 4/4 (with occasional 3/4) Form: Intro | Verse | Verse | Verse | Refrain | Verse (guitar solo) | Refrain | Verse | Refrain | Refrain | Outro (fade-out) Instrumentation: John Lennon: backing vocals, rhythm guitar Paul McCartney: vocals, bass George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar Ringo Starr: drums The song is one of the several Beatles songs with somehow superficial lyrics about love and affection. The melody is quite lively though its not as upbeat as IWant to Hold Your Hand and I Saw Her Standing There. There were also some stopgaps in between the stanzas in the song. Evidently, it is one of those songs that characterized the early songwriting and music composition of the Beatles. I Want to Hold Your Hand Writer/s: Lennon/McCartney Producer: George Martin CD: Magical Mystery Tour, Track 11 (Parlophone CDP7 48062-2) Yellow Submarine, Track 6 (Parlophone CDP7 46445-2) Yellow Submarine Songtrack, Track 12 (EMI 5 21481-2) Released: 7 July 1967 A Single / Baby Youre A Rich Man Recorded: 14 June 1967, Olympic Sound Studios; 19 June 1967, Abbey Road 3; 23-25 June 1967, Abbey Road 1; the song was aired on the Eurovision program Our World on 25.06.1967 Length: 2:57 Key: G Major Meter: 4/4 (with occasional 3/4) Form: Intro | Verse | Verse | Verse | Refrain | Verse (guitar solo) | Refrain | Verse | Refrain | Refrain | Outro (fade-out) Instrumentation: John Lennon:lead vocals, harpsichord, banjo Paul McCartney: bass George Harrison: violin, lead guitar Ringo Starr: drums, snare drum roll The song is deceptively straightforward and regular in design. It starts with a falling melody. Also, it sounds closer to conservative pop than rebelliously hard rock. It has the non-intuitive two-part vocal harmony, falsetto screaming, an occasionally novel chord progression, abrupt rhythm even some elided phrasing and the overdubbed handclaps. The original song has no real lead singer or even a clearly defined melody, as Lennon and McCartney sing in harmony with each other. They sing in duet virtually the whole way through. Paul plays quite a bit of double-stops in the bass part, Ringo throws in some of his structurally significant drum fills in between the second and third phrase of each verse, and most subtle of all, George contributes a number of lead guitar fills. It was the youth who discovered the Beatles, and while young people can be easily manipulated through hype and image, in the case of the Beatles it was the music that drew them in. This song is undeniably one of the Beatles all-time hits and in several ways represents the compositional height of what could be called their Very Early period. In context of November 1963, I Want to Hold Your Hand was the best they could do, a kind of summing up of all they had done to-date. It also has a seemingly puppy-love simplicity that does hold up remarkably well like a classic. I Want to Hold Your Hand was not subject to numerous cover versions like other Beatles songs such as Yesterday or Something. Nonetheless, it was one of their greatest hits. Their early songs mostly consist of simple and uncomplicated meanings behind the lyrics that were tailored for the young audience. A Hard Days Night Writer/s: Lennon/McCartney Producer: George Martin CD: Magical Mystery Tour, Track 11 (Parlophone CDP7 48062-2) Yellow Submarine, Track 6 (Parlophone CDP7 46445-2) Yellow Submarine Songtrack, Track 12 (EMI 5 21481-2) Released: 7 July 1967 A Single / Baby Youre A Rich Man Recorded: 14 June 1967, Olympic Sound Studios; 19 June 1967, Abbey Road 3; 23-25 June 1967, Abbey Road 1; the song was aired on the Eurovision program Our World on 25.06.1967 Length: 2:57 Key: G Major Meter: 4/4 (with occasional 3/4) Form: Intro | Verse | Verse | Verse | Refrain | Verse (guitar solo) | Refrain | Verse | Refrain | Refrain | Outro (fade-out) Instrumentation: John Lennon:lead vocals, harpsichord, banjo Paul McCartney: bass George Harrison: violin, lead guitar Ringo Starr: drums, snare drum roll The song has a long form, with two bridges and an instrumental break. It has a deep similarity with typical â€Å"blues† melodic structures which creates a combined style between traditional blues elements and those more recognizable as the Beatles own trademarks. A Hard Days Night is a particularly forward-looking song since it has numerous innovations in the area of harmony and arrangement. It has a generally energetic bustle that appears on its surface. On a subtle level, the very casualness of the discordance between the tunes and chords adds a characterizingly â€Å"slang† flavor to the songs over all music vocabulary. John takes most of the verse as solo and Paul with the bridge. In the chorus, Paul handles the high harmony and John the low harmony. The opening chord has its great effect because of the sudden, crisp attack of the song. The pause that follows the opening chord is an example of how suspense and a sense of rising expectations is created by a change o f pace. The effect has a surprise factor that works well at the beginning of the film or album. The song is parallel in itself since it ends off inexplicably on practically the same chord with which the song began. This also provides some unity to the song generally. Furthermore, it closes with a fade-out which was new to the Beatles at that time since the prior songs had closed with a final chord such as She Loves You and I Want to Hold Your Hand. The lyrics are far from profound. Basically, the song speaks about ones undying devotion to his loved one and how he works hard so she can buy the things she fancies. The singer sings about his tiredness when he comes home from work. But when he sees the things that his lover does, these perk him up. The song was sung on an exuberant mood along with fast paced beats in it. It also incorporated new techniques that the Beatles have not yet done in their earlier songs like Harrisons arpeggio-playing during the fade-out. The simple lyrics cater to a larger audience of young people. This is due to the theme of the song which is about love that gets it across to a lot of young listeners. Furthermore, there is but a few meanings to this song which is usually the characteristic of their early period songs. Perhaps, because their main goal by then is to gain popularity through entertaining a larger portion of music listeners, the kids. Help! Writer/s: Lennon/McCartney Producer: George Martin CD: Magical Mystery Tour, Track 11 (Parlophone CDP7 48062-2) Yellow Submarine, Track 6 (Parlophone CDP7 46445-2) Yellow Submarine Songtrack, Track 12 (EMI 5 21481-2) Released: 7 July 1967 A Single / Baby Youre A Rich Man Recorded: 14 June 1967, Olympic Sound Studios; 19 June 1967, Abbey Road 3; 23-25 June 1967, Abbey Road 1; the song was aired on the Eurovision program Our World on 25.06.1967 Length: 2:57 Key: G Major Meter: 4/4 (with occasional 3/4) Form: Intro | Verse | Verse | Verse | Refrain | Verse (guitar solo) | Refrain | Verse | Refrain | Refrain | Outro (fade-out) Instrumentation: John Lennon:lead vocals, harpsichord, banjo Paul McCartney: bass George Harrison: violin, lead guitar Ringo Starr: drums, snare drum roll The song Help! has a two-part lead vocals and a speeded-up tempo. The final take in the recording session was the best, and onto this Ringo Starr overdubbed a tambourine, and George Harrison added the series of descending Chet Atkins-style guitar notes which close each chorus. One can listen to a couple of complicated, fast riffs in the song which added more pulse to the overall rhythm. The melody, somewhat, counteracted the message of the song of being depressed and disheartened. It was noticeably composed to satisfy their commercial instincts at this time. The lyrics, on the other hand, is somehow repetitive that makes the song a bit short compared to their prior songs. The vocals were solid enough to agree with the harmony of the instruments most notably the tambourine playing at the background. It still definitely has some blues elements incorporated in the song which is most common to the Beatles songs. The songs lyrics seem straightforward and superficial. The lyric that emerged was not simply a boy talking to a girl, but more of a patient to a psychotherapist or just someone seeking help from somebody else or from a mind-altering substance. The song was a marked departure from the boy-girl relationships that they have been talking about in their early songs. On the other hand, the song had commercial appeal, with its fast tempo and lively instrumentation. Here, the group is starting to develop emotional depth and weight in composing their songs. Yesterday Writer/s: Lennon/McCartney Producer: George Martin CD: Magical Mystery Tour, Track 11 (Parlophone CDP7 48062-2) Yellow Submarine, Track 6 (Parlophone CDP7 46445-2) Yellow Submarine Songtrack, Track 12 (EMI 5 21481-2) Released: 7 July 1967 A Single / Baby Youre A Rich Man Recorded: 14 June 1967, Olympic Sound Studios; 19 June 1967, Abbey Road 3; 23-25 June 1967, Abbey Road 1; the song was aired on the Eurovision program Our World on 25.06.1967 Length: 2:57 Key: G Major Meter: 4/4 (with occasional 3/4) Form: Intro | Verse | Verse | Verse | Refrain | Verse (guitar solo) | Refrain | Verse | Refrain | Refrain | Outro (fade-out) Instrumentation: John Lennon:lead vocals, harpsichord, banjo Paul McCartney: bass George Harrison: violin, lead guitar Ringo Starr: drums, snare drum roll Yesterday has a unique arrangement, an attractive tune, even some asymmetrical phrasing and a couple of off-beat chord progressions. It has a tempo that is uncharacteristically slow. The instrumental backing consists entirely of an acoustic guitar and a string quartet (two violins, a viola and a cello) with the two elements mixed. The track is sung solo by Paul virtually all the way through with a particular exception for a short patch of double tracking to highlight the high notes at the end of the first bridge. As with Pauls other hymns, the bass line of this song is played with special emphasis whether through the hard-picked notes on the low-strings of the guitar or supported by the cello. The string arrangement supplements the songs air of sadness, notably the moaning of the cello melody and its blue seventh that connects the two halves of the bridge as well as the descending line by the viola that shifts the chorus back unto the verses. There is an ironic tension between the co ntent of what is played by the quartet and the restrained, spare nature of the medium in which it is played, adding an engaging level of depth to the performance. This is quite different from the fast paced, upbeat songs of the Beatles prior to this one especially because of its soothing, light melodic structure. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) Writer/s: Lennon/McCartney Producer: George Martin CD: Rubber Soul, Track 2 (Parlophone CDP7 46440-2) Released: 3 December 1965 Recorded: 12, 21 October 1965, Abbey Road 2 Length: 2:05 Key: E Major Meter: 3/4 (6/8) Form: Verse (instrumental intro) | Verse | Bridge | Verse | Verse (instrumental solo) | Bridge | Verse | Outro (with complete ending) Instrumentation: John Lennon: double tracked lead vocal, 6 12 string acoustic rhythm guitars Paul McCartney: harmony vocal and bass George Harrison: doubletracked sitar Ringo Starr: finger cymbals, tambourine, maracas Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) is a rhythmic acoustic ballad featuring signature Beatle harmonies in the middle eight. Norwegian wood refers to the cheap pinewood that often finished the interiors of working class British flats. The lyrics speak of an encounter between the singer and an unnamed girl. They drink wine and talk. The speaker may have been hoping to sleep with the girl, declaring its time for bed. But the girl leaves him to crawl off to sleep in the bath alone. Later, the singer finds that the girl has left him for another love, so the singer lights a fire and burns the girls house as an act of revenge. Lighting a fire may also be interpreted as smoking a cigarette or smoking some weed. The instrumental backing is acoustic in style approach. The intro is sixteen measures long. The presentation of the hook phrase consists of the solo acoustic guitar followed by the entrance of the sitar (which then carries the melody) and bass guitar. All the verses follow the pattern set up in the intro. The bridge is also sixteen measures long, and the slowness of the harmonic rhythm helps maintain the measured mood established earlier The outro provides one repeat of the hook. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) is the first pop record ever released to feature a sitar (Newman 93). In direct contrast to earlier Beatles songs such as Love Me Do and I Want to Hold Your Hand, Norwegian Wood(This Bird Has Flown)provides a darker outlook towards romantic relationships. The exotic instrumentation and oblique lyrics are indications of the expanding musical vocabulary and experimental approach that the Beatles were rapidly adopting. Yellow Submarine Writer/s: Lennon/McCartney Producer: George Martin CD: Revolver, Track 6 (Parlophone CDP7 46441-2) Yellow Submarine, Track 1 (Parlophone CDP7 46445-2) Yellow Submarine Songtrack, Track 1 (EMI 5 21481-2) Released: 5 August 1966 (Double-A Single / Eleanor Rigby and LP Revolver) Recorded: 26 May 1966, Abbey Road 3; 1 June 1966, Abbey Road 2 Length: 2:38 Key: G Major Meter: 4/4 Form: Verse | Verse | Refrain | Verse | Refrain | Verse (instrumental) | Verse | Refrain Instrumentation: John Lennon: acoustic guitar, blowing bubbles Paul McCartney: bass, acoustic guitar George Harrison: tambourine Ringo Starr: lead vocals, drums

To Kill a Mocking Bird - Maturation Essay -- essays research papers

â€Å"Growing Together† The way and rate that people mature at can be directly attributed to the values and beliefs of the society that surrounds an individual. It is undeniable that society’s perspective on many controversial issues will generally be adopted by the younger generations in a given society. Moreover, the exposure to significant events, coupled with the major influence of family members, can have an enormous impact on how an individual matures. Additionally, family members greatly help each other develop into moral adults by instilling in each other values that will ultimately determine an individual’s character. In Harper Lee’s timeless classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, the constant reiteration of Atticus Finch’s values, in conjunction with the exposure to significant events, assist in Jem and Scout’s maturation into virtuous adolescents. Throughout the novel, Atticus’ assistance to Jem and Scout’s development becomes evident. Atticus takes every opportunity to attempt to teach his children the importance of having an open-mind. For instance, when Scout queries Atticus about Maycomb’s prejudice perspective, he tells her, â€Å"You never really understand a person until†¦you climb in their skin and walk around in it.† (Lee 30) Even during the early stages of the novel, it is apparent that Atticus endeavors to instill the values of empathy and tolerance within Jem and Scout by teaching them how to have multiple perspectives on a situation. In addition, Atticus also attempts to enlighten his children about peaceful resolution in society. For example, when Atticus is chosen to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus tells Scout, you might hear some ugly talk about it at school but†¦you just hold your head high and keep those fists down.†... ...heme of maturation in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, is conveyed through the characters of Scout and Jem, in conjunction with the assistance of their virtuous father Atticus Finch. Early in the novel, Atticus ascertains himself as a major facilitator in the maturation process of Scout and Jem by incessantly providing mature solutions to his children’s predicaments. Moreover, Scout, a major benefactor of the Boo Radley incident and Atticus’ wisdom, has helped her develop into a very tolerant and mature individual. Undeniably, Jem’s remarkable development into a broadminded and compassionate character can be directly attributed to Atticus’ kindness and Jem’s exposure to the Tom Robinson trial. In synopsis, it is evident that the individuals and social circumstances that surround an individual play a major role in defining the type of individual one will become.

A critical analysis of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Essay

Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, published in 1953, depicts a grim and also quite feasible prediction of a futuristic world. In Bradbury’s technology-obsessed society, a clear view of the horrific effects that a fixation for mindlessness would have on a civilization shows through his writing. Being carefree is encouraged while people who think â€Å"outside the box† are swiftly and effectively removed. The technology Bradbury’s society is designed to keep the people uninformed, which the vast majority of are happily and voluntarily in their ignorant state. There are many details in this novel that suggest that the future of a society obsessed with advanced technology is not only bleak but also dangerous. Bradbury’s use of certain machines shows the emphasis his society has on thoughtlessness. For example, a commonly referenced appliance is the parlor wall. The parlor walls keep people thoughtless by blasting noise and colors at its audience, which is evident in the passage: â€Å"A great thunderstorm of sound gushed from the walls. Music bombarded him at such an immense volume that his bones were almost shaken from their tendons; he felt his jaw vibrate, his eyes wobble in his head. He was a victim of concussion†(45). The speed of which the shows hit their viewers is so intense that one cannot think or grasp on to any sort of thought. Another key example of technology promoting a thoughtless society is the earpieces. Earpieces are small enough to place inside your ear, where, when in place, broadcast the noise from the parlor walls. Mildred, throughout the entire novel, wears her earpieces, â€Å"She had both ears plugged with electronic bees that were humming the hour away†(18). The technology in school also illustrates how thinking for oneself and being an individual is considered both appalling and strange. Clarisse describes her school’s schedule, ‘†An hour of TV class, and hour of basketball or baseball or running, another hour of transcription history or painting pictures, and more sports, but do you know that we never ask questions, or at least most don’t; they just run the answers at you, bing, bing, bing, and us sitting there for four more hours of film teacher†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ(29). After analyzing the evidence presented, it is clear that the society in Fahrenheit 451 does not value thoughtful consideration and does not have to  worry about being inconvenienced by such concerns with the use of their advanced technology. Read Also:  Critical Review Essay Topic Examples Numerous examples of technology also suggest the threatening aspect of a society based upon advancements. The Mechanical Hound, for instance, directly shows the potential for danger. This contraption’s main purpose is essentially that of a killing machine; if someone is a menace to society, it is only a matter of time before they are exterminated. The Mechanical Hound is introduced in the novel by Montag, â€Å"It was like a great bee come home from some field where the honey is full of poison wildness, of insanity and nightmare, its body crammed with that overrich nectar, and now it was sleeping the evil out of itself†(24). Montag’s description of the Hound introduces his concept to the readers that although a robot is not human and, therefore, cannot be evil; there is still an ominous characteristic looming about the Hound. However, Bradbury’s society is also a great danger to itself. An example of this would be people driving in their jet cars. Members of this society do not understand the meaning of caution, which clearly shines through when they get behind the wheel, â€Å"The beetle was rearing. The beetle raised its speed. The beetle was whining. The beetle was in high thunder. The beetle came skimming. The beetle came in a single whistling trajectory, fired from an invisible rifle. It was up to 120 mph. It was up to 130 at least†(127). The use of this machine shows that society is more concerned with speed and pleasure seeking than the well-being of others, which is an exceptionally dangerous priority to have. The frightening side of technology is apparent, also, when the advanced bombs of this world are mentioned. The setting of Bradbury’s novel is at a time of war; bombs are dropped onto the society that once was home to Montag, â€Å"Perhaps the bombs were there, and the jets, ten miles, five miles, one mile up, for the merest instance, like a grain thrown over the heavens by a great sowing hand, and the bombs drifting with dreadful swiftness, yet sudden slowness, down upon the morning city they had left behind†(158). Undoubtedly, these bombs are a sinister and dangerous progression for technology. Bradbury’s society has many reasons to feel threatened by the advancements of its world. However, feeling threatened is impossible for a society that is founded on the principals of apathy. The people are carefree, which is encouraged by the government. How can a society with no worries rise up and rebel? The government obviously has the advantage of manipulation, which is carried out by their technology. Clarisse has an appropriate way of describing the bleakness of a society that doesn’t care, ‘†I sometimes think drivers don’t know what grass is, or flowers, because they never see them slowly,† she said. â€Å"If you showed a driver a green blur, Oh yes! He’d say, that’s grass! A pink blur! That’s a rose garden!†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ(9). The uneasiness Clarisse feels for the way people behave in her time depicts how people do not take the time to enjoy the smaller parts of life because nobody in this society cares. Another machine that proves the threat of a technology-obsessed society is the need for the stomach pump. Brad bury mentions early on in the novel that people often overdose on sleeping pills, not purposefully, but because they pay so little attention to the amount of pills ingested, overdosing is extremely commonplace. Mildred, at one point, swallows too many pills, Montag describes the machine used to pump her stomach, â€Å"They had two machines, really. One of them slid down your stomach like a black cobra down an echoing well looking for all the old water and the old time gathered there†(14). The need for a piece of technology like the stomach pump in this novel, only further supports the evidence of technology showing the threatening effects of a carefree society. Another advancement designed to accommodate the need to have no worries all the time would be the incinerator Beatty speaks about to Montag, ‘†Funerals are unhappy and pagan? Eliminate them, too. Five minutes after a person is dead he’s on his way to the Big Flue, the Incinerators serviced by helicopters all over the country. Ten minutes after death a man’s a speck of dust†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ(60). Beatty confirms the severity of the level of apathy in the fact that his society is so concerned about being unconcerned that technology must do all of the dirty work. A society, which has all the technology to take care of such inconveniences, would and, by using Bradbury’s novel for verification, does make a society carefree, which has been proven time and time again to be an incredibly threatening outcome. Several fine points of the novel portray Bradbury’s implication that a  society founded on the need for advanced technology is doomed to lead a bleak and dangerous existence. Examples of technology promoting a brainless society are abundant throughout the entire book. Even more technology illustrates the hazards and harmful aspects of these technological advancements. When both the developed machines that encourage thoughtlessness along with the destructive technology of the future are considered, one can plainly see that the worst advancements of all of those of which show the grim and threatening effects of a carefree society. Possibly the most uncanny feature of reading Bradbury’s novel is the fact that, realistically, our society has been working up to a technology-obsessed way of life for quite some time, and our impending future could very well be a mirrored image of Fahrenheit 451. Works Cited Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1991.

Drug Abuse Essays

Drug Abuse Essays Drug Abuse Paper Drug Abuse Paper Drug Abuse is one of the most common criminal cases in the society today. It is a form of substance abuse, just like alcoholism, since these illicit drugs are actually addictive in nature. Because of this, many people who are hooked on drugs cannot easily let go of the addiction, and would often lead to drug-related crimes like robbery, physical assault, or even murder. Not only does these drugs dangerous to others, but it is also harmful in the drug users’ body, causing the body to take into negative turns, like deterioration and organ failures. One of the most common drugs in the society today is Marijuana. It is known scientifically as the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, where the leaves are being dried up, rolled into sheets of paper and be smoked just like cigarette or tobacco. It is the most often used illegal drug in the world, known in various names all over, like â€Å"pot,† â€Å"herb,† and â€Å"Mary Jane. † Some users can make use of marijuana by mixing it into food substances or drink it by brewing it with tea. The addictive element of marijuana is its Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC content. The effect of marijuana would depend on how strong or how potent is its Tetrahydrocannabinol content, thus also giving various effects on the marijuana users (Psychology Today, 2002). When a person smokes or inhales marijuana smoke, he would usually feel rapid heart beats, loss of coordination and decreased sense of balance, slow reaction rate and a dry mouth. These are already signs of marijuana intoxication, along with the expansion of blood vessels in the eye, that’s why marijuana users usually have red eyes. The effects of marijuana would usually last two to three hours, where the marijuana user would usually tend to be sleepy. The negative effects of using marijuana would be hindering the user’s short term memory, wherein it would be difficult for him to remember recent events. This would usually lead to car crashes and other accidents, since their sense of coordination is greatly affected. Another dangerous drug would be cocaine. This drug’s effect on the body is really damaging, where addiction to cocaine could bring about permanent damages in one’s body or even death. Cocaine has both short term and long term effects. The short term effects are immediately noticeable, but not that damaging as compared to the long term ones. Because the reward system that drugs activate are usually activated for things that are ecessary for survival the body naturally wants to continue to access this reward system leading to excessive drug use and eventually an addiction. As a person starts to do drugs more and more often a persons tolerance, or the amount of that drug they need to get high increases. When a person does drugs constantly their brain is constantly being filled with dopamine which is the neurotransmitter that most drugs cause a release of. The brain adapts to the constant flooding of dopamine by producing less dopamine or reducing the number of dopamine receptors in the reward part of the brain. This results in the drug and ther aspects of life to become less fun or pleasurable. The change in life now makes life seem not as good leading the person to need to do more and more of that drug just to feel normal again. To keep reaching the high they want the person needs to keep increasing the amount of that drug they are doing until eventually it gets to the point that they need the drugs Just to feel normal again. Different drugs can lead to different addictions and an addiction that a person has can be a physical addiction or a psychological addiction. People who are usually recognized as drugs addicts are people with physical addictions. Many drugs such as nicotine, heroin, and meth cause severe physical addictions that are hard to overcome. When a person has a physical addiction their bodies will experience actual health issues if that person does not keep doing the drug they are addicted to. When people are physically a001ctea to a arug tney wlll Teel SICK ana tnelr oodles wlll nurt IT tney can not ao tne drug. The pain and sickness felt when not doing a drug that a person is addicted to is withdrawal. When dealing with a physical addiction withdrawal can be anywhere from a small headache to very severe problems depending on what it is your body is ddicted to. Withdrawal to some drugs like alcohol can cause seizures which can actually kill the person. Other drugs like caffeine Just cause a small headache in the morning. Often people with a physical addiction to a drug also have a psychological addiction to it. To help get over a physical addiction a person usually needs to go to a detox center and work with professionals, A physical addictions is not to be taken lightly and people with this problem usually need help from other to get over their addiction. Only drugs that actually contain addictive substances can cause physical ddictions and once addicted it can be very hard for a person to stop. Some drugs however can still cause an addiction even if the drug itself has no addictive properties inside it. Unlike with a physical addiction a person with a psychological addiction will not actually have a reaction in their body due to not having the drug but they can still mentally develop an extreme want for it. Psychological addictions are more common in people who abuse drugs like marijuana. Marijuana itself has no substance inside of it that are actually addictive but the brain can still develop a esire for the dopamine that marijuana releases making a person want to do it. Some people say that this is not a real addiction however because a person can develop a psychological addiction to anything. A person with a psychological addiction can usually Just kick the addiction themselves or have a friend help monitor them but sometimes seek professional help anyways. Although not as severe as a physical addiction a psychological addiction can still negatively affect a persons life. People who have really bad addictions are usually easy to identify buy some people with inor addictions can not be spotted unless a person knows the symptoms of an addiction. People with addictions often get confused about things when they are sober because they can not think straight often leading to angry outbursts at people who they actually do care about. People with addictions also often get angry when confronted about their problems. People with addictions cant usually say no to drugs when offered no matter what the consequences are. People with addictions also often try and hide it from their families as well as losing interest in things they use to like that dont have to do with drugs. People with addictions also often neglect to eat and lose interest in having a good physical appearance. People with an addiction also try and find an excuse to do drugs all the time so they dont have to face themselves with wondering whether or not they have an addiction. People who miss work or school to do drugs or people who cannot function properly without doing drugs are also people who have addictions. People often ask if drug addiction can be genetic and the simple answer is nobody really knows. People who do drugs while pregnant also do get the baby addicted to drugs but that is from actually having the rugs in its bloodstream making it non genetic. Although there has never been a gene identified to cause addiction or make a person more or less likely to do drugs it may be harder for some people to quit once they start. People might genetically have certain traits that make it harder to become addicted such as not having as many withdrawal problems or disliking drugs that make other people feel good. Although people mlgnt nave tnese tralts tney can stlll Decome aaalctea to arugs even IT no one in their family has ever done a single drug Just like a person can never do drugs even f they come from a long line of drug addicts. Genetics does not play a big role in drug addiction and besides possibly giving certain traits to help a person resist drug addiction, drug addiction itself has not be proved to be genetic. There are certain conditions however that make a person more likely to do drugs and eventually become addicted. People who have easy access to getting drugs through people such as family or friends are more likely to continue to do them often and become addicted. People who live in a culture where drug abuse is accepted or encouraged also have a higher chance of becoming addicted. People who live a stressful lifestyle either economically or emotionally are more likely to seek a reliever which usually leads to drug abuse and eventually addiction. People with low self esteem might also feel peer pressure to do drugs or might resort to drugs to help them get over their shyness and make new friends. People with health problems such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or anxiety are also more likely to try drugs and because of their mental health are also more susceptible to becoming addicted. Drug abuse does not start as an addiction but rather becomes one over time. There are four stages of drug abuse which lead from time to time abuse to addiction. The first stage is the experimental stage. During this stage a person is usually doing the drug to have a good time with their friends and may enjoy doing it because it is against the rules. It starts to get bad in the stage of regular usage. During this stage people might do it to ease their pain daily or start missing school and work to do drugs as well as increasing tolerance. A person might start to change their friends and drift away from family during this stage. The drug abuse gets even worse and starts to ecome an addiction in the daily stage. During this stage a person usually loses all motivation when it comes to things like school and work. People start to put drugs before everything even their relationships and often become drug dealers to support the habits. The final stage is dependence and is the stage of full blown addiction. During this stage a person can not function properly without doing drugs. They often sell all their stuff to support their addiction and often lose their family and friends and become suicidal or develop many mental health problems. Drug use may not start as much but eventually it may become drug abuse and finally an addiction. Many people first start taking drugs through a legal prescription. Many people who are injured are prescribed painkillers and many people who believe they have mental health problems are prescribed anti-depressants. Some people break the dose rules but even many people who follow it form a small addiction which leads them to try and milk out their prescription for as long as possible. By the time that they are no longer able to legally get these drugs they are already addicted which eads to them having to find a new way to gain access to these drugs. Many people also start doing drugs to try and escape from the problems they have in their lives. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or even family problems can lead people to replace the lows of their lives with getting high. The emotional letdown of when the drug wears off makes these problems even worse and leads to people doing more drugs more often to escape these problems. While poverty isnt technically a cause of drug abuse people who are poor are statistically more likely to do drugs. The lack of pportunlty In poor nelgnoornooas leads to tnere Delng lots 0T arug dealers maKlng it easy to access drugs. Because of the increased drug dealing and trafficking through those neighborhoods people are more likely to become drug users and eventually drug addicts. Professional athletes also often abuse drugs however they abuse a different kind of drug and for different reasons. Professional athletes only can be successful if they are good and so to be as good as possible they often abuse performance enhancing drugs. To keep up with other athletes who are doing it many athletes do some form of PED. These drugs usually produced good results but can only be maintained if the drug use is also maintained. This cycle often leads to an addiction or a need to find something even stronger to boost performance. For whatever reason a person started to abuse drugs and weather they have a physical or a psychological addiction and no matter what stage of abuse there in drug addictions are bad and people with them often need help. Although the decision to take drugs for the first time is a personal choice, eventually the brain changes to reduce self control and their ability to resist that drug. Drug addiction is a complex roblem and scientists are Just beginning to understand how to successfully assess and treat a drug addiction. Many people who have drug addictions have lost the ability to help themselves and cannot quit the drug they are doing even if they want to. Any kind of drug addiction is bad and needs to be taken seriously before it either becomes worse or leads to death. About nine percent of the American population over 12 has abused drugs before in their lifetime and many of those abusers will eventually become addicts. Drug abuse will often lead to an addiction and once addicted it will take more than Just good intentions to quit.