Wizard of Oz Essay Example for Free

Wizard of Oz Essay L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz (1900) presents what might be considered America’s first fairy-tale. Certainly, few other works of children’s literature claim such a widespread and socially profound influence as this work, which is as well known as a movie and via various stage-productions as well as many contemporary re-interpretations and variations on the original theme. â€Å"There is hardly a child who is not intimately acquainted with Dorothy and her adventures{ } more than one billion people have either seen the screen version of The Wizard of Oz or read L. Frank Baum famous book[ ] It is a rare child who cannot recite the words to Ding dong, the Witch is dead, or who doesnt know what a Munchkin is. † (Cashdan 218) Baum’s story faced initial controversy: and continues to receive a share of controversy for its depth of themes and resonances. These themes are rooted in political, social, and economic aspects of the human experience and Baum’s underlying theme emerges as one which celebrates the integrity of the individual and individual liberty above accepted social hierarchies, norms, or in some cases laws. â€Å"Accepting who you are is the emotional chord that reverberates throughout The Wizard of Oz. The various psychological malaises from which people sufferanxiety attacks, phobias, psychosomatic disturbances, and the likeoften are the result of fears they harbor about what might happen if they interacted with others in an open and honest way. †(Cashdan 236) As a uniquely American fairy-tale, Baum’s novel also inverts many of the classical motifs of historical fairy-tales. Characters in classical fairy-tales often face dillemas brought upon by sin or overindulgence: greed or thwarted ambition or even revenge. In ‘The Wizard of Oz† all fo the story’s main characters deal instead with â€Å"perceived shortcomings in the self as opposed to excesses[ ] The Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion are convinced that they Wizard of Oz Page -2- are not as intelligent, feeling, or courageous as others. Their hope is that Dorothy will help them remedy these shortcomings[ ] helping her companions fulfill their destinies helps her fulfill her own. (Cashdan 218) Baum’s depiction of OZ is a utopian one which forwards profound political, social, and economic ideas beneath its dazzling and myth-inspired fairy-tale surface. Many readers and scholars have identified aspects of an idealized economy and social order in the Oz books â€Å"These aspects include, among others, a communal sharing of food, the elimination of money and poverty, a dearth of punishment, an absence of greed[ ] nd the virtual elimination of death or disease. † (Karp 103) Baum’s vision is a combination of pastoral and urban utopias, a vision which is epculiarly American and remains distinctive over a century past its inception. The utopia, however, is a constructed on a series of apparent contradictions: â€Å"a utopia that is simultaneously egalitarian and authoritarian; and to establish a society that values and protects individual rights, interests, and freedoms, as well as cultural multiplicity, at the same time as it promotes the value of a unified state to which individuals owe allegiance. † (Karp 103) Baum’s answer to these contradiction resides in his emphasis upon individuality and the concept of â€Å"rugged individualism,† which reacts against the subversion of the individual will within â€Å"an impersonal industrial corporation and the loss of independence and distinctness affecting wage earners in the United States[ ] Baum populates the Land of Oz with a plethora of distinct and unique characters and has a number of these characters (as well as his narrators) praise individualism and eccentricity. † (Karp 103) Wizard of Oz Page -3- Though Baum intended to entertain readers and spark their imaginations, this â€Å"populist† articulation emerged, itself, as a political imperative; the book itself inciting the individual contemplation of personal integrity, differentiation and destiny. Frank Baums goal was to please children, and the characters are both endearing and enduring. Though this narrative tale faced controversy, Frank Baum rived long enough to see it pass, and as it did the books popularity increased. (Livingston, and Kurkjian) Similarly, Baum’s utopia found allegiance to the seemingly contradictory impulses of the Gilded Age, wherein economic surplus and wealth are celebrated in tandem with individual orientation and self-actualization. â€Å"The story of an archetypal American girl in silver shoes on a road paved with golden bricks in a country named for the abbreviation for ounce would have rung loudly for an audience in the 1890s caught up in the financial question. (Ziaukas) On the yellow brick road, the creatures Dorothy finds and associates with: Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man, each in search of a part of themselves represent â€Å"American elements, the farmer, the worker, the loquacious politician, and the archetypal Americanness that is Dorothy, seems to have a sense that something is missing, that she or he lacks the ability to fulfill his or her destinies: the farmer feels stupid and the worker empty; the roar of the politician rings hollow. † (Ziaukas) By instilling the traditional elements of fairy-tales with tremendous social, economic, and political resonance, Baum attained a fresh idiom aimed directly at those young minds searching for the measure of the individuality in American society, forming a passionate and creative anthem of individuality and selfhood while maintaining an allegiance to a progressive social order. Works Cited Cashdan, Sheldon. The Witch Must Die The Hidden Meaning of Fairy Tales. New York: Basic Books, 1999. Karp, Andrew. Utopian Tension in L. Frank Baums Oz. Utopian Studies (1998): 103. Livingston, Nancy, and Catherine Kurkjian. Timeless and Treasured Books. The Reading Teacher 57. 1 (2003): 96+. Ziaukas, Tim. Baums Wizard of Oz as Gilded Age Public Relations. Public Relations Quarterly 43. 3 (1998): 7+.

Flight of the Frisbee Essay examples -- essays research papers

Abstract Spinning objects such as Frisbees possess unique flying characteristics. They are in essence spinning wings gliding in mid-air propelled by the forces of torque and aerodynamic lift. The relationship between Newton’s Laws of Motion and the flight of the Frisbee will be discussed. This paper will attempt to highlight and show the different physical motions involved behind the spinning edge of the Frisbee and the similar forces it shares with other heavier winged objects. Lastly, how major improvements in the redesign of the Frisbee contributed to its increased stability and precision in its flight in the air. The Flight of the Frisbee Objects that fly are designed to push air down. The momentum of the air going down is what causes Frisbees or winged objects to travel skyward. This type of force acting on a flying disk is typically known as the â€Å"aerodynamic lift† (Bloomfield, 1999, p. 132). Consider a flying kite, which in essence is also a winged object. When a kite’s flat bottom surfaces are angled into the wind, air gets pushed down and the kite glides upward. Kites must rely on the wind to keep it suspended in mid-air, while flying birds and insects utilize their muscular flapping motions to maintain their flight in motion. Airplanes rely on spinning propellers and turbine fans to provide adequate momentum for take off from the runway. With flying Frisbees, that momentum is generated primarily by the tossing power of the human arm and wrist motion. The Frisbee’s course of flight is â€Å"directly related to the torque or twist force† applied by the individual throwing the flying disk (Fisher & Phillips, 2003, p. 12). To narrow down more on the details involved in the flight of the Frisbee, there are four fundamental forces that affect a flying Frisbee: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Aerodynamic lift acting on the Frisbee is considered a positive force, and happens when â€Å"the Frisbee pushes down on the air, the air pushes upward on the Frisbee† (Bloomfield, 1999, p. 132). This in turn causes the air pressure under the disk to be higher than the air pressure over the top of the disk, thereby creating the effect of an upward air vacuum. In order for a Frisbee to fly straight and stay in the air, its center of aerodynamic lift must remain near its center of gravity over a wide range of airspeeds and angles of attack. Thrust is the oth... ...the plane of the disk. A sharp ridge at the upper edge separates the airflow at the leading edge. These ridges act as spoilers to create turbulent airflow, which confines the center of lift to the center of the disk. The result is an aerial disk that flies better and farther than the Frisbee. In conclusion, the Frisbee is an effective studying tool for introducing and examining the basic principles involved in the mechanics of flying winged objects. Newton’s Laws of Motion is reiterated throughout its design processes, while its application can be closely observed in its real three-dimensional form. References Ashley, S. (1995, August). Flying farther than a Frisbee. Sports Technology for Air, Land, and Tee, 89-90. Retrieved October 20, 2004, from InfoTrac database. Bloomfield, L. A. (1999, April). The flight of the Frisbee. Scientific American, 280, 132-133. Retrieved October 20, 2004, from EBSCOhost database. Fisher, D., & Phillips, T. (2003, April). Launch a Frisbee into orbit. The Technology Teacher, 10-15. Retrieved October 20, 2004, from InfoTrac database. Nye, B. (2001, July 1). The flight of the Frisbee. Time, 52. Retrieved October 20, 2004, from InfoTrac database.

Teamwork

What does it mean to be a successful team? Over the past year, I watched my mother fight one of the hardest battles in the world. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, and even the best team of doctors could not cure her. The day she died, she went to my basketball game in the morning, and she died later that afternoon. The lesson I learned is that even if you give it your all, sometimes you don’t always achieve your goal and win. My mother always wanted me to go to an NBA game. I have been a Wizards fan my whole life and have never been to a game.I am always observing how the best teams perform. I think the Wizards are a great team that love the game and respect each other, and that is what you need to be a successful team. For example, the more you trust your teammates, the more likely it is the team will achieve its goal. A team must work together to achieve a goal, but sometimes even the best teams don’t win. John Wall is one of my biggest idols. He trusts and respects his teammates, plays with speed and precision, and even when he loses, he is always respectful.If I could see him play, it would be a dream come true. Runner up: It’s about working together By Zoe Cachion, 11, Arlington Teamwork is helping people out when they need it, and working together. You win as a team, and you lose as a team, You need to have empathy for other people on your team, Teams and teamwork are not just sports and other competitions. Teamwork is about . .?. trust, loyalty, confidence and perseverance. Success in your team is not really winning every single game. It’s more about working together with your teammates.Sure, it feels fantastic to win, but it feels even better when you know everybody in the team worked hard to get that win. That’s what success in teamwork means to me. Runner up: The ‘ubuntu’ approach By Dan Huynh, 12, Falls Church Before each of their games, the successful Boston Celtics yell the Africa n word â€Å"ubuntu,† which inspires the team to focus on the greater good rather than individual success. A successful team’s players don’t care about only their stats, All-star appearances, salary or winning championships.Positive teammates focus on the people they play with every day and how they can help their peers improve. An ubuntu-type player will pass on opportunities to others. For example, the Washington Wizards show that their team is focusing on the greater good because, as Kevin Seraphin said, â€Å"we play like a team. Nobody is selfish. Nobody wants to be the hero. Every night, you let somebody else shine. † This attitude makes their team successful. Ubuntu does not only apply to professional sports; it pertains to amateur sports also.For example, my aquatics coach told our team that during a water polo game, one of his players had the opportunity to get a hat trick. However, instead of shooting himself, he pump-faked and passed to his ope n teammate, who scored. This team was successful because its players shared opportunities rather than focused on themselves. When a team works together, teammates are able to help one another overcome obstacles and improve both as individuals and as a team. As the ubuntu philosophy states, â€Å"I am what I am because of who we all are. †

Narrative Speech

I  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Introduction A. â€Å"Innocence is bliss† as they say. B.   This day I will open to all of you the chapter of my life that is called early childhood. C.   I will reiterate the story of my childhood days, when life is simpler and carefree. II  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Body A.  Ã‚  Ã‚   My life as a young boy was a happy and satisfied chapter 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   My cousins were my playmates and we’d play along in our backyard. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   My parents gave me all the things that I needed the most; shelter, love and care. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although I was pampered, I was not a spoiled child; my parents briefed me with the good morals even as a child. Transition: Now that I have told you about my earlier days, I will now tell you my early school days. A.  Ã‚  Ã‚   The thought of going to school was my biggest dilemma then. 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   My first day in school was a mess, I was nervous then because I don’t know what to do. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To gain new friends, I befriended my classmates. We got along well at school and even outside the school. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although my friends are not perfect I have loved them for what they are. III  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Conclusion A.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Today I have talked about my childhood days 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I talked about my early days when I was still a child; merely a toddler. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Secondly, I told the story of my early education experiences. B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although things are not perfect I still enjoyed those early childhood days. C.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   So whenever you hear me saying â€Å"innocence is bliss† you would know that childhood days are the most significant chapter of my life because I had the freedom and I was carefree then. Works Cited

Free Essays on A Little Bit For Everyone

â€Å"A Little Bit For Everyone† The current capitalist economic system will destroy the world. That is essentially what followers of the principles of communism believe, and what they would have the average man (or woman) also believe. While the influence of communism is not acknowledged by many as having an affect on the world today, the changes being wrought by capitalism are slowly building up to a breaking point, which will leave the world in a communist state. This is something the United States would do well to take note of, when setting their foreign policy. Otherwise they, and the rest of the world will face the consequences when the giant capitalist machine breaks down, and there’s finally a little bit for everyone. Follower’s of the communist credo believe that the greatest threats posed to the world today, stem from capitalism. These dangers include, constant economic and social disruptions, the reoccurring crisis of over production, a growing inequality between the ‘have’ and the ‘have not’, and lastly the creation of a new, dissatisfied class of people, who have nothing to loose by destroying the system. The principle cure for these problems is the same. The people must be given more control of state production. However to understand the dangers that capitalism poses, one must more closely examine these ailments. By it’s very nature, capitalism causes dangerous, unceasing economic and social disruptions. The rise and fall of markets, and the rapid transfer of wealth around the globe, creates an inherently unstable environment in which people are expected to function. â€Å"†¦capital is in the process of destabilizing it’s own revolution,† (Grieder 229), says William Grieder. Which is to say, that even as the capitalist machine creates this amazing new social revolution, it is by its very actions unbalancing the economic and social aspects of the world, that are vital for stable markets and econo... Free Essays on A Little Bit For Everyone Free Essays on A Little Bit For Everyone â€Å"A Little Bit For Everyone† The current capitalist economic system will destroy the world. That is essentially what followers of the principles of communism believe, and what they would have the average man (or woman) also believe. While the influence of communism is not acknowledged by many as having an affect on the world today, the changes being wrought by capitalism are slowly building up to a breaking point, which will leave the world in a communist state. This is something the United States would do well to take note of, when setting their foreign policy. Otherwise they, and the rest of the world will face the consequences when the giant capitalist machine breaks down, and there’s finally a little bit for everyone. Follower’s of the communist credo believe that the greatest threats posed to the world today, stem from capitalism. These dangers include, constant economic and social disruptions, the reoccurring crisis of over production, a growing inequality between the ‘have’ and the ‘have not’, and lastly the creation of a new, dissatisfied class of people, who have nothing to loose by destroying the system. The principle cure for these problems is the same. The people must be given more control of state production. However to understand the dangers that capitalism poses, one must more closely examine these ailments. By it’s very nature, capitalism causes dangerous, unceasing economic and social disruptions. The rise and fall of markets, and the rapid transfer of wealth around the globe, creates an inherently unstable environment in which people are expected to function. â€Å"†¦capital is in the process of destabilizing it’s own revolution,† (Grieder 229), says William Grieder. Which is to say, that even as the capitalist machine creates this amazing new social revolution, it is by its very actions unbalancing the economic and social aspects of the world, that are vital for stable markets and econo...

Non-Toxic Colored Smoke Bombs

Non-Toxic Colored Smoke Bombs You may have read that the YouTube colored smoke bomb video is believed to have been faked, with the video showing a military smoke bomb, masked with duct tape, rather than the smoke bomb made using the recipe. I think that probably is true, but it doesnt invalidate the recipe for the colored smoke bomb (though I have heard recommendations that you avoid adding baking soda Im looking into that). Colored smoke bombs arent new. The other recipes I have listed date back as far as 1936. A colored smoke bomb is a normal smoke bomb, with dispersed dye. The trick is to release the dye into the air, rather than simply burn it.I get a lot of questions about the safety of smoke bombs. Is it safe to use your cookware for food after making a smoke bomb? Is the smoke bomb non-toxic? Is the smoke from the smoke bomb non-toxic?The classic smoke bomb recipe is very safe. The ingredients are sugar and saltpeter. I think we can agree that sugar is non-toxic. If you read the MSDS for saltpeter (potass ium nitrate), youll see eating it will cause you to throw up, and like other nitrates, it can be converted to nitrites, so its not good for kids to eat, but its not a poison. You shouldnt taste the smoke bomb, much less eat it, but if you do, its unlikely you would fall over dead (do call Poison Control). If you wash your cookware after making a smoke bomb, it will be safe for cooking. I should note: you can ruin your pan with this recipe. If youve made candy (badly), you know burnt sugar and pans dont go well together. Smoke particles arent great for your respiratory system. The smoke from the smoke bomb is no more or less safe than smoke from a campfire. Actually, the campfire smoke is worse, but it gives you a sort of safety benchmark.Moving on to the colored smoke bomb... I wouldnt eat the organic dye, nor would I intentionally breathe it. The MSDS of the particular dye you choose will give you details, and you should read the MSDS. Id make something like this in the lab, not my kitchen. The smoke is for show, not for inhalation. Its on par with the safety of most chemistry demonstrations. Its safe if you know what youre doing and use precautions, bu t not something the average person will want to make.

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

Questions - Essay Example Some of these which the Company could possibly use are (a) CPBI – Counter Productive Behavior Index – a tool for assessing candidate honesty and integrity (b) SELECT Associate System – a tool that gauges a candidate’s attitude towards honesty, integrity, dependability and honesty as well as the potential for aggressive behavior and (c) First View job fir indicator, which is a personality and cognitive screening tool (www.super-sloutions.com). 2. My Company currently makes its hiring selections on the basis of online applications, which are then screened using background checks on identity, education and work history. After this initial process of screening, the Company then selects a list of potential candidates for the interview process, which is the basis for an offer of employment. However, I feel that this process should be refined and the candidates should be made to take additional personality and integrity tests like the ones identified above, so that a good assessment can be made about how likely they are to be employees of integrity and honesty. The nature of current background checks are very preliminary and may not be adequate to identify potentially defrauding employees who could be a liability to the Company. 3. The reason for the sparse use of tuition reimbursement plans is the fact that in most organizations, tuition reimbursement plans are just bundled in with other administrative costs and no one is really responsible for them. Moreover, in most cases, the kind of degrees available under such plans are degrees at community colleges, with those who avail of it being disappointed when their Companies do not immediately recognize their new degrees in the form of promotions, etc. As a result, they are not frequently used. 4. After working as a team member, being promoted as Manager is hard because the team members are not used to viewing their peer in a superior capacity and therefore it may be difficult for the new Commander to