Saturday, August 17, 2019

Little Richard’s Influence on Rock ‘N’ Roll History Essay

Rock and roll music emerged as a part of American teen culture during the notably conservative time period in the country’s history which shortly followed the traumatic events of World War II. Being that the genre’s target audience was white teenagers, many Americans- already overwhelmed and on-edge due to the anti-communist movement inspired by the Cold War- were apprehensive about the influence that this up-and-coming style of music might have on their country’s future. America’s youth openly accepted rock and roll’s racially integrated culture of performers and embraced the relatively lewd nature of many songs and performances associated with the genre, much to the dismay of their elders. Richard Wayne Penniman (better known by his stage name, Little Richard) had an important influence on the history of rock and roll music because of his unconventional stage presence and explicit sexuality. Artists such as Little Richard aggressively pushed the envelope, defied social norms and generated controversy. Richard, along with a few fellow pioneers, helped to define rock and roll in its early years, and paved the way for rock and rollers of future generations. Penniman’s work left an everlasting impression on the musical genre and culture that is rock and roll. Considering the time in America’s history during which Little Richard appeared on the rock and roll scene, it is completely appropriate to attribute much of his fame and influence to his unconventional stage presence. The rising popularity of television during the 1950’s fundamentally changed the music industry by presenting artists with an entirely new way to market themselves (or be marketed). Being televised meant that the overall look and presence of an artist played a more crucial role in stimulating audiences; the focus of listeners was no longer solely the sound of the music being produced. Prior to T. V. , music fans were only able to enjoy the sounds of their favorite artist by way of radio and the purchasing of records. In many cases, this meant that if a fan had never seen a live performance or record-jacket photo of a particular artist, it’s possible that they had never seen said artist at all and possessed only a general idea (if any) of what that artist looked like. As television sets became an increasingly popular household item for middle-class American families, â€Å"live performances assumed a new importance for performers of rock ‘n’ roll music, and individual artists and vocal roups sought to cultivate visual characteristics or mannerisms that would set them apart from others and encourage listeners to remember them†¦ but no performer in the early years of rock ‘n’ roll was as visually flamboyant as Little Richard,† (Schloss, Starr, and Waterman 1-75). A fan’s perception of an artist or group became subject to their opinion of the overall image of the performance. At this point in time, listening to the music of a completely respectable, clean cut, well dressed African-American was still considered inappropriate by a sizeable portion of white American society- particularly those living in the South and those beyond their teenage years. Many of these people were hesitant to accept racial integration, and tended to proceed cautiously when (or, more appropriately, if) they chose to do so. These are the same people that were unrightfully, but understandably, so frightened by performers like Little Richard. In order to differentiate himself from other rockers of the time, Richard usually wore heavy make-up and sported his famous pompadour hair style. As a former drag queen, Richard was fully aware of the type of reaction his look would draw from audiences; it’s the reaction he hoped to receive. Though, at the time, society as a whole was unsure of how to react to the statement his image made, â€Å"the†¦ ambiguity of Little Richard’s sexual identity†¦ paved the way for the image of performers such as David Bowie, Elton John, and Prince,† (Schloss, Starr, and Waterman 1-75). Just in case his eccentric outward appearance was not enough to gain the disapproval of parents across the nation, Little Richard put on an absolutely wild stage performance which included dramatic eye rolling and his simultaneous hip gyrating and piano playing. In order to dance and play piano at the same time, Little Richard stood (not sat) in front of the instrument- yet another feature of his performance that was specific to him. Little Richard aimed to gain the attention of his fans by creating an entirely original and exciting performance act. In order to do so, Richard created an image that was totally outside of society’s definition of normal, respectable, and safe. His image was only half of his act, though. It’s unlikely that there were many ‘respectable’ white, American parents around in the 1950’s that were comfortable with the idea of Little Richard having any type of influence over the generation deemed the ‘future’ of their country, much less over their specific children. If there had been anyone left straddling that fence, however, contemplating just how harmful a 24-year-old performer with a whacky haircut and face full of make up could really be, it would be safe to assume that they had never actually heard the man sing. The lewd, scandalous lyrics that completed Little Richard’s unorthodox self-presentation would have provided the final push that landed the aforementioned fence straddler on the opposite side of Richard’s performance, and confirmed the popular idea that â€Å"rock’s musical characteristics indicated a general decline in American taste,† (Schloss, Starr, and Waterman 1-75). While teenagers danced to the sounds of the modified twelve-bar blues accompanying Richard’s shouting vocal style and countertenor whoops, parents instinctively cringed in disapproval of the blatantly suggestive lyrics. Hit songs by Little Richard such as â€Å"Tutti-Frutti,† (Penniman, 1955) and â€Å"Long Tall Sally,† (Penniman, 1956) contained lyrics that were generally non-specific, but overall relatively sexual for the time. Richard’s scandalous appearance, behavior, and song lyrics embodied a sexual tension that managed to both intrigue teenage audiences, and inspire fellow performers. It is this same sexual tension that made society at large not only generally uncomfortable, but also concerned about what other ludicrous notions rock and roll would try to impose upon American culture in the future. Little Richard used rock and roll as a platform to rattle the cages of the music industry, and change society’s concept of what was acceptable, what was normal, and most of all what was popular. It was Richard’s unique image and abrasive song content that simultaneously intrigued and shocked American society in the early 1950s. American teenagers of this time appreciated the power of Little Richard’s performance and embraced Little Richard as the new spirit of rock and roll. Unfortunately, â€Å"in 1957 Richard denounced his work and joined the church†¦clos[ing] his most creative period,† (Oxford University Press). Although the momentum of his influence eventually slowed, it never quite stopped. Rock and roll performers such as Jerry Lee Lewis, the Beatles, and the American Creedence Clearwater Revival all provide examples of music inspired by the work of Little Richard, proving the power of his influence and solidifying the lasting impression that he left on rock and roll.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Alternative Communication System Essay

Pascal was an outstanding genius who studied geometry as a child. At the age of sixteen he stated and proved Pascal’s Theorem, a fact relating any six points on any conic section. The Theorem is sometimes called the â€Å"Cat’s Cradle† or the â€Å"Mystic Hexagram.† Pascal followed up this result by showing that each of Apollonius’ famous theorems about conic sections was a corollary of the Mystic Hexagram; along with Gà ©rard Desargues (1591-1661), he was a key pioneer of projective geometry. He also made important early contributions to calculus; indeed it was his writings that inspired Leibniz. Returning to geometry late in life, Pascal advanced the theory of the cycloid. In addition to his work in geometry and calculus, he founded probability theory, and made contributions to axiomatic theory. His name is associated with the Pascal’s Triangle of combinatorics and Pascal’s Wager in theology. Like most of the greatest mathematicians, Pascal was interested in physics and mechanics, studying fluids, explaining vacuum, and inventing the syringe and hydraulic press. At the age of eighteen he designed and built the world’s first automatic adding machine. (Although he continued to refine this invention, it was never a commercial success.) He suffered poor health throughout his life, abandoned mathematics for religion at about age 23, wrote the philosophical treatise Pensà ©es (â€Å"We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart†), and died at an early age. Many think that had he devoted more years to mathematics, Pascal would have been one of the greatest mathematicians ever.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Closed-Source Systems Essay

There are several differences and similarities when discussing open and closed source software or systems. Some operating systems that are currently in operating are closed source and some of them are open source. Both closed and open source software / systems have their place in the technical world. It is difficult to say which of these types is better, because it will usually be based on numerous factors. Possible factors could be cost, convenience, flexibility, maintenance, and accessibility. The comparison will always be made when discussing open and open closed source software / systems, but it will always be a person-to-person situation based on necessity. Closed Source Software / Systems Closed source software is defined as software that contains a hidden source code or a non-visible source code. It is usually developed by a single person or a company. Once a final copy of the closed source software is developed and completed, it is sold to the public. This final copy is what end-users will find available to them. According to (Grant, 2004), â€Å"Closed source software is normally copyrighted or patented and is legally protected as intellectual property. † He also mentions that legally, â€Å"A user cannot give it away, copy it, or modify it in any way unless the user has a special license or permission to do it† (Grant, 2004). There are incentives for producing closed source software. It can be sold by the developers and it is intangible. What is meant here is, the developers or company that produced it can replicate it numerous times over. In order for companies to make a profit the software is generally rushed out the door. When this happens, the software can have issues in terms of functionality, maintenance, and support. Due to these issues, the producing companies are the only ones with the authority to produce patches to fix problems. Ultimately, after a patch is made the responsibility will rely on the end user to apply it and resolve the problem. This is where a security issue is involved. Grant mentions in his article, â€Å"Users have a poor record for applying patches resulting in thousands of computers around the world being left vulnerable every time a flaw is discovered† (Grant, 2004). Cost is a major factor with open and closed source software / systems. Closed source types generally cost more and this is due to licensing, patents, copyrights, registration, and manufacturer or company name. Maintenance, updates, and support are basic complimentary features when buying a closed source type. An example of a closed source software / system is Microsoft’s Windows and Office. Open Source Software / Systems As previously mentioned, closed source software / systems have their source code â€Å"hidden† from the public. Open source software / systems have their source code â€Å"visible† to the public. The same type of developers who create closed source software can create open source software. Grant states, â€Å"The reasons for writing open source software range from those who have a passion for computing and who want to contribute to make a difference, to those who do not like having to rely on any single company to produce what is needed† (Grant, 2004). Open source software / systems and the authors who create them are legally protected by the General Public License, or GPL. Since it is published under the GPL, users can use it for free and give it to as many people as they want to as long as they do not pretend they wrote it. According to Grant, â€Å"Users can make changes to open source software as long as what was modified is availably known to the public (Grant, 2004). That is one aspect that makes open source software / systems so grand, is that users can change the source code. This continues to the next aspect, which is; updates, patches and/or fixes. Users, or the public, can apply these factors straight to the open source software which is unlike closed source types. One of the downsides to open source software / systems is there is no warranty. If the software malfunction or does not perform well the users will have no recourse. Some other factors that Grant mentions with open source software / systems are, â€Å"There is no guarantee of good documentation or support, (Grant, 2004)† which is different than closed source types. Obviously, cost will always be an issue. Open source is free! Closed source is not. On the record, open source software packages have had better security that closed source types. A couple examples of open source type software / systems are; Linux and Open Office. Summary Overall, there are no perfect software / systems in the world. Some people might say that closed source software is for novice users and open source software is more for an advanced user base. Both types have a place in the technical world and serve a purpose. Their differences in maintenance, cost, functionality, support, flexibility, and availability will only make a difference in a person to person scenario. It can also come down to convenience and personal preference. Closed source and open source software / systems might have their differences, but where one might outweigh the other they tend to maintain a certain balance.

A Campaign against KFC Corporation MGNT Essay

When contemplating critics of business and defenders of capitalism, the ongoing debate by The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) against fast food restaurants should be mentioned. On January 6, 2003 a little girl named Payton Hull organized a PETA demonstration outside a KFC. The demands were for KFC to require the chicken’s suppliers to treat the chickens ethically in a humane way while processing them. In retrospect I agree with this request but in everyday life I just do not stop to think about how my food is processed. When I read and prepare to do paperwork on this subject it always tends to make my stomach a little uneasy. PETA organized and founded by Ingrid Newkirk has been very successful thus far in swaying many fast food restaurants to submit to request of transparency. KFC called the attacks â€Å"corporate terrorism†. Ingrid Newkirk even went as far as writing a nasty letter to the president of KFC stating that it was just an accident that the K FC president was born who she was instead of a chicken. Like me most consumers do not think where the chickens come from because we see the end final product. Which that being said it makes us realize that events held by PETA brings those images and staggering treatment procedures to the forefront. The organization has been successful with more than 1.2 million supporters. They create sit ins, use the internet and social media, and also go as far as using sexuality to get the point across. Former Playboy Playmates wearing bikinis pass out veggie hot dogs in Washington DC at the Annual Hot Dog Lunches. See more: Experiment on polytropic process Essay

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

5 Basic Principles Of Energy Security

5 Basic Principles Of Energy Security Energy security is put in first place among the priorities facing the European Union. Although the problems of ensuring energy security were standing in front of a united Europe from the beginning of the integration process in recent years they have acquired the greatest relevance and importance for the EU. This is due to the fact that today the EU depends 50% on external energy supplies to its market and on the policies pursued by supplier states. In addition, European countries are concerned about the well-known problems with the energy supply for them against the backdrop of turmoil between Russia, as the main EU energy supplier and Belarus and Ukraine, through whose territory the Russian hydrocarbons are delivered to the West. Russian-Ukrainian standoff on the issue of gas prices and transportation is the major concern of EU member states and compel them to talk about the need to diversify energy supplies. Concentrating 7% of world population, more than a quarter of world GDP an d 20% of world trade, the EU has only 2% of the world’s â€Å"black gold† and 4% natural gas. Limitation of its own resource base in Europe accounts for a significant dependence of the EU on external energy supplies. The European natural gas market is the third largest in the world. The volume of gas consumption in EU countries reached 513 billion m3 (21% of world consumption). Russia is the second largest EU oil supplier and provides 33% of the EU â€Å"black gold† needs. The Russian Gazprom is the leader in EU natural gas supplies with 46% of total. If we talk about security of energy supplies, the main task in this area is the energy sectors geographical and resource diversification i.e. the expansion of supply sources, supply routes and pipelines. The EU security in energy sector NABUKO I EU The European Union is seeking to protect self from energy dependence on Russia with diversification of natural gas supplies policy by agreements with non-conventional en ergy suppliers, the Caspian states (Caspian states have only 4-5% of world’s gas reserves). But due to the unreliability of Russian energy supplies through third countries (Belarus and Ukraine) as well as the possibility of using Russian resources as a political tool, transporting Caspian Sea hydrocarbons (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan) to the West has acquired great importance to the EU. Improve supply reliability and energy security EU responsible implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor. The planned corridor is composed of three parts: the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline (the project provides for delivery of natural gas from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan), Baku – Tbilisi – Erzurum (from Azerbaijan through Georgia to Turkey) and Nabucco (from Turkish territory, via Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Austria). Thus, the reliability of energy supply in Europe is due to the changing geography of supply, increasing the number of exporting countries, th e creation of new infrastructure facilities. In the face of increasing competition from non-traditional suppliers of hydrocarbons Russia is very important to maintain the competitiveness of their energy in the European market, to ensure effective and reliable conditions for their transit to Western Europe.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Correlation between music and nationality Research Paper

Correlation between music and nationality - Research Paper Example This was inferred by the survey that was taken by me, where most people, when asked if they listened to Oriental or Ballad music replied with a negative answer. The most loved genre out of all the possible options was pop music liked by British, Indians, Chinese as well as the French. This was followed by rock music liked by the British, Indian, Polish and Nigerian respondents. Country and classic music followed these two genres and techno, reggae, house and jazz have few followers, mostly in Britain. Respondents also mentioned other music genres such as bollywood, dance and metal music as part of their taste. Most respondents, that is 41% of the total number, chose the internet as the medium through which they downloaded and listened to music, thus choosing their laptops as opposed to radio players and their mobile phones. A significant number of respondents, to be specific, 37% of the number of survey takers, have also mentioned purchasing CDs to listen to music but it must be unde rstood that using the radio, with 18% listening to it on a regular basis, or cassettes, followed by a mere 4% of the total number of respondents, are on the decline, which is very well understood, taking into account the technology driven world we live in today. (Spotify For Bollywood) When asked what attracted the respondents to the kind of music they prefer to listen to, majority replied that the voice of the artist was what did the trick. Judging by this, it may be understood by house and techno music, or ballads that do not have a voice singing in them and are purely instrumental are on the decline, and why pop music is so widely loved and... This "Correlation between music and nationality" essay describes how our nationality influences out music tastes. By taking a survey from people belonging to different backgrounds and nationalities it may be understood that music sung in different languages does not necessarily have to be heard by people belonging to that particular nationality or speaking that language. Music has words and lyrics as well as rhythm that people find appeal towards which also helps in bringing them closer to each other; this was understood as I found that people of various nationalities liked listening to music that was not necessarily sung in the language that was native to them. Most people listen to absolutely anything, a stark example being the viral song ‘Gangnam Style’ belonging to Korean pop artist Psy because of the catchy beats and the chorus that the entire world has taken a liking to. On the popular website You Tube, the song has almost 806.3 million views. This proves that most people like pop because of the fast beats that it has and the peppy music helps them dance and have a good time. Pop music is also a great genre to be played in clubs where people go to take their troubles off their mind. Music is played almost everywhere from the radio to the television. However most people like listening to music on the internet on websites and either downloading from secure websites or buying them from websites like iTunes because it is more convenient than going to the store and rummaging through CDs and DVDs.

Monday, August 12, 2019

Incident at Reception Desk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Incident at Reception Desk - Essay Example I did not use any negative terms, instead I said, When I told him that because of regulations, it was not possible to provide him with what he wanted at this time, he slammed his hands quite forcefully down on the counter top and pushed his body forward, his face really close to mine. I took a step back, he was very angry and his body language was threatening. At this point, he began to insult me in quite a low, menacing tone, calling me a "stupid bureaucratic, pen-pushing moron with no initiative!" whore," and "brainless f..ing bitch". He got to the door, and shouted back that I would regret being so unhelpful, that he would be suing me for my failure to provide the correct public service he was entitled to. He also said I would be hearing from his uncle, P. Bull Terrier, that "even a fool like you must have heard of him!" He banged the door really hard as he left. Two of the members of the public came to the desk and were real kind. They gave Joelly their details and offered to be witnesses in support of the fact that I had behaved politely and correctly throughout. The incident left me shaken and rather nervous, but after discussing it with you and writing it down, this has helped to clarify things. I feel certain that I carried out my duties correctly and have done nothing to bring trouble or disrepute on the department. I look forward to your response.