The Concept of Energy

Energy is referred as the capacity of a body or a system to function or operate. The concept of energy is very common and widespread in all scientific fields. This however, explains the varied explanation and approach of the term ‘energy’ across various contexts such as physics, biology, and chemistry.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept of Energy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the context of this study, energy is the vitality or power that would be needed for sustained mental or physical functioning of various bodies. In other words, this is the indirectly observed quantity normally viewed as the ability of a physical body to function or operate normally. As it would be observed, energy exists in numerous different forms, and these can be electrical, chemical, mechanical, radiant or light, and heat or thermal forms of energy. Energy is a fundamental part of modern life that plays a cruc ial role in almost every sector of human life. For instance, people use energy to make their work easier in various fields of operation, and to process things in a more convenient style. More importantly, energy is used for lighting purposes and to power machinery as well as other significant equipment that makes life easier and more exciting for humans. There are many sources of energy, and this would range from renewable to non-renewable sources. While energy is crucial and beneficial to human life in many ways, it is nevertheless one of the major causes of the common global issues currently affecting the human nature. A good example here is the combustion of fuels for the purpose of powering cars among other machineries and equipment, which is arguably one of the major activities having the biggest impact on the progressive issue of the global warming. Among other key concerns, the operations of the global energy sector have drawn incessant scrutiny from the global leaders as a r esult of the above reason. Concerns about the issue of global warming, which is observed to be necessitated by the combustion of fossil fuels, has immensely contributed to the implementation of a number of strategies that would be applied in dealing with the problem. In this regard, a massive shift from the use of fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy appears to be the most effective step which can successfully implement this goal. This plan aims at repowering America and the entire world with carbon-free forms of energy within the next one or so decade. The brains behind this plan have concluded that, there is a possibility of such a change if the necessary measures towards the plan where taken. Other big concerns that have had influential impact on the plan would include things such as high prices of oil, land use, the wildlife, global water supply, environmental pollution, and heightening government concerns.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The many implications that the generation and use of fossil fuels would tend to have on all the above aspects are likely to be minimized or even eradicate completely the effect of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, through the use of renewable forms of energy usually generated from water, wind and solar. It has been proven that the construction, operation and execution of renewable sources produces almost zero emissions of harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases, and this makes them safer over the non-renewable sources. There is confidence that, the global energy systems can easily be transformed through widespread use of solar installations, wind turbines and water machines, which do not present emission of significant gases and other waste products. This could be an effective approach in eliminating the immense pollution associated with the non-renewable sources of energy used in modern transportation sector. Renewable Sources of Energy This normally refers to those sources of energy that are continually restored or replenished. What makes renewable sources of energy more reliable over non-renewable sources is the fact that, these forms of energy can be used as many times as they would be required. As it would be observed, renewable sources of energy sustain a relatively high percentage of the overall human energy consumption. Many countries are gradually shifting to these forms of energy sources, considering the high costs and the many effects associated with non-renewable energy sources. More importantly, there are many health and financial benefits that can be associated with renewable sources of energy, and this makes them the most preferred energy sources over non-renewable sources such as natural gas, coal and oil, which have continued to present immense social and health issues to the global population. Some of the common examples of renewable energy sources would include things like wind power, geothermal power, solar power, biomass power, and hydropower. Non-Renewable Sources of Energy These are energy sources that can be found on earth in limited capacity, and that are likely to become extinct within a specific period of time. Non-renewable energy sources would constitute of nuclear power, natural gas, coal, and oil. Unlike the renewable sources, it is not easy to regenerate non-renewable sources of energy for human energy consumption whenever it is necessary. Non-renewable sources of energy are classified into two main groups namely; nuclear fuel and fossil fuels. Nuclear fuel is generated out of radioactive substances that do occur naturally.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept of Energy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A good example of this classification is uranium which can be found in soil and rocks. These elements are transformed into energy through extraction and concentration, to produce fuel rods that can generate heat, when placed closed to each other. The heat is the form of energy here, and can be used to transform water into steam, thus producing electricity that can be used in different ways. The above diagram illustrates the process by which nuclear fuel is generated from Uranium. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are energy in the form of fuels which can be extracted from the earth’s surface, where they are said to be generated through geological processes on dead matter. Examples of fossil fuels include materials such as natural gas and oil, which tend to undergo millions of years to form under the earth’s surface. It is believed that, both gas and oil are generated from the remains of dead living things in the bottom of seas, which have been covered by layers of other sediments. According to study findings, it may take many millions of years for gas and oil to form under the earth’s surface, before they ev entually sieve into the earth’s surface through porous rocks. The diagram below illustrates how gas and oil are generated from the earth’s surface. Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Overview of Various Resources of Renewable Energy Wind Energy Wind energy is a form of energy whereby wind turbines are used to produce electricity for human consumption. Wind energy has been applied by humans for avery long time to perform various tasks, such pumping of water and winnowing of grains. Normally, wind turbines intended for generation of electricity are mounted on tall structures, where they can capture large masses of airflows needed to produce energy. The power output in this resource would tend to increase as the speed of wind increases. In this regard, areas with constant and stronger winds are the most preferable sites for wind farms. Wind Power Turbines in the US are common in Alaska and New Zealand States, where the speed of wind is known to be higher than that of any other place in the country. The global use of wind as a reliable source of energy has increased dramatically in the last few decades. Wind is not only one of the most attractive sources of energy, but it also among the cleanest sources of renewable energy, and for these reasons, it is the fastest advancing energy technology in the world. Wind energy supplies about one percent of the US electricity needs and this capacity is observed to be growing rapidly, owing to recent developments. Advantages of Wind Energy Resources Wind is a clean source of energy i.e. it does not produce greenhouse gases or any other form of hazardous products that can be harmful to human and animal health. The energy is abundant and free to use. Wind turbines normally take minimal space compared to the normal power station, and therefore, it is land economical. Wind energy can be combined other sources of energy such as solar to provide a steady supply of energy in form of electricity. Wind energy is less costly compared to other forms of non-renewable energy which may need to be imported from foreign countries. Wind is a reliable source of energy for regions where wind is stronger and more constant. Wind is a relatively long-lasting source of energy for human energy needs and in that case, it is reliable and more convenient. Disadvantages of Wind Energy Resources This form of energy is unreliable since winds are unpredictable in many regions. Construction and erection of wind turbines is obviously very expensive and time consuming. Many people are yet to give in to the idea of wind energy as an efficient source of energy, and for that reason, there would be amid protests against development of wind farms in some regions. Wind turbines can sometimes be very noisy, and in that case, they are not fit in residential areas. According to recent studies, wind turbines are observed to be among the largest killers of birds in many regions of the world, where they are applied. Solar Energy This is the use of sunlight to generate electricity which can be used for lighting, heating, and cooling purposes in our homes. As it would be observed, solar energy, which comes from the sun, is a significant source of energy, since it influences all the other forms of renewable energy in a number of ways. For instance, heat and light from the sun plays a crucial role in the growth of plants which can in turn be used for the generation of biomass energy. More importantly, solar heat also plays a key role in evaporation and precipitation cycles which are essential for the generation of hydropower. A good example of popular solar energy resources is the Copper Mountain Solar Facility, situated in Nevada, near Boulder City. The facility caters for different energy needs in the area including lighting and heating purposes. A less percentage of solar energy is used to meet various energy needs in the contemporary world, compared to other renewable sources. However, this attitude is likely to take a different course, considering the rapid developments of efficient and reliable solar technologies. Advantages of Solar Energy Resources Solar energy can be associated with minimal en vironmental impacts. Just like the wind power, solar energy is absolutely free. Solar systems are durable and they don’t require any form of maintenance or repair. Solar energy industry has created jobs for many people allover the world. Another impressive aspect about the solar energy sector is that, modern solar systems are designed for particular needs and this makes it a diverse source of energy in different areas of operation. Disadvantages of Solar Energy Resources Solar energy has a high unreliability factor, since solar light is only available during the day. Solar energy is highly inefficiency since it produces minimal levels of electricity. Installation of solar energy systems can be costly, and this is one common limitation about the development of the systems in many parts of the world. Another outstanding limitation of solar energy is that, solar panels are bulky. Water Energy/ Hydro Power This is a form of energy which is generated by the powerful force of fl owing water. Water flowing downstream is used to drive power wheels or turbines beneath the water surface to generate mechanical processes that are capable of producing electricity. Water is arguably the most common source of energy in most parts of the world, due to its efficient and reliability. Examples of major Hydro Powers include the Aswan High Dam in Egypt and The Grand Coulee Dam in Washington, USA. Advantages of Hydro Power Resources Hydro Power is the least expensive source of energy for many people in the contemporary world. There is no air pollution or emission of greenhouse gases in Hydro Power generation. Storage of pumped hydro power energy is possible. Hydro Power has a high load factor compared with other energy resources. This source of energy is much reliable compared to other renewable energy resources. Hydro Power Plants are observed to have a relatively longer life compared to Nuclear Power Plants. Disadvantages of Hydro Power Resources Construction of dams for Hydro Power generations has been linked increased earthquake vulnerability in some countries. Hydro Power comes with high risks of dam failure and/or tail risks. Fishes and wildlife are likely to be affected as a result of water and ecological destruction for purposes of hydroelectric generation. There is always a possibility of displacement and loss of livelihood for many people, as land is acquired for construction of Hydro Power stations. Construction of dams and Hydro Power stations is expensive. Biomass Power This refers to the form of energy which is obtained from plant material. Biomass is either used for direct heating or burning of wood to generate electricity energy, or is converted into liquid fuels to cater for massive fuel needs in the transportation sector. Biomass power is observed to be the second important renewable energy source in the US. One of the major biomass plants in the US is the Tracey Biomass Plant, located in California. This plant supplies for vari ous energy needs in the region. It has been predicted that, growing and cultivation of high-yielding energy plants can significantly help in the development of biomass energy resources in the world. These, coupled with modern high-efficient technologies in the energy sector can supplement the global consumption of non-renewable forms of energy such as fossils, thus helping to address the progressive issue of global warming. Advantages of Biomass Power Resources Biomass is a comparatively lesser polluting form of producing energy and fuel. Apart from energy, Biomass also provides manure for farming purposes. This is a much reliable and a relatively cheaper source of energy for home use. Biomass is renewable. Biomass is more cost effective compared to other sources of renewable and non-renewable energy. Growth of biomass plants helps in cleaning the atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and releasing oxygen to the air. There is a high potential to generate biomass energ y in many parts of the world, since plant matter is readily available everywhere. This source of energy also plays a significant role in maintaining cleanliness as well as in reducing disposal costs in towns and villages. Disadvantages of Biomass Power Resources Biomass is reserved for the rich, since the cost of erecting a biogas plant is relatively high. Biogas plants and residue normally produces bad smells, which may be uncomfortable to many people. Construction of biogas plants requires great expertise, and many biogas plants end up operating in an efficient way, due to improper construction. Constant supply of biomass is essential for continuous generation of energy. Transportation and storage of biomass power through pipe system over long distances is quite difficult. Storage of biogas energy in cylinders is not easy. Geothermal Energy Resources This is the production of heat and electricity using the natural sources of heat found within the earth’s surface. In most cases, geothermal energy is produced using hot water or steam erupting from the ground. Geothermal energy can also be obtained through drilling, whereby deep underground reservoirs are accessed for generation of energy. There are various geothermal technologies that are currently in use in most parts of the world, and these would include; geothermal heat pumps, direct-use systems, and the use of deep reservoirs to generate energy in form of electricity. Utah Geothermal Plant, located in Beaver County is one of the oldest and popular geothermal plants in the US. Advantages of Geothermal Energy Resources Geothermal energy significantly reduces reliance of fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources of energy. It is an effective way of saving energy costs. It generates clean energy which is free from pollution. This source of energy is associated with immense economic benefits, since it plays a crucial role in creation of employment opportunities. Geothermal energy is more efficie nt, since it can be used directly for home and office-related tasks. Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy Resources Drilling of geothermal energy is often associated with hazardous and poisonous gases. Most of the geothermal plants are far from specific areas such as big cities and town, where it is highly needed. Steam power installation is expensive and costly. Generation of geothermal energy is obviously too small to cater for energy needs of the people in the surrounding regions. Among other hazardous risks, generation of geothermal energy is known to pose serious dangers of volcano eruptions. This essay on The Concept of Energy was written and submitted by user Gia H. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

buy custom Operating Systems essay

buy custom Operating Systems essay An operating system is a software program in a computer that provides the interface between the user and the computer (Smolka Kifer, 2007). It also manages the very many applications. An operating system can be installed by the owner of the computer, but most computers are sold with an operating system already installed in them. Operating systems are said to be proprietary source and open source. The varied operating systems have different capabilities in terms of their functions. This paper shows the two types of operating systems as well as the basic functions of any operating system. There are generally two classes of operating systems based on their program code accessibility. These two classes of operating system are the open source operating systems and the proprietary source operating systems. In programming the term open source refers to any software development project operating in the public domain (Hill, 2005). Following this notion then, an open source operating system code is not owned, but rather it can be available freely and any one can alter it. Linux and BSD are two examples of Open source operating systems (Hill, 2005). In line with Hill (2005), no body owns Linux although several companies own their respectve operating system products based on it. This therefore means that Linux is a family of operating systems, all with similar features. Like wise, BSD is an open source family of operating system based on UNIX (Hill, 2005). BSD is an acronym for Berkeley Software Distribution. Proprietary operating systems have their source codes closed or they are only available to a select few. Microsoft Windows and Macintosh operating systems are excellent examples of proprietary operating systems (Lucas, 2008). Different operating systems have varied operations but there are basic operations that any operating system is capable of performing. For example, any operating system should be able to manage resources. The programs that manage resources coordinate all the computers resources including mouse, keyboard, memory and storage devices. Another function of an operating system is to provide support for built-in utility (Dhamdhere, 2006). The utility programs are used by the operating systems for maintenance and repairs. More over the utility programs locate lost files, backup data and identify problems in the computer. Computer operating systems also have the basic function of running applications. Programs such as spread sheets and word processors are run by these programs. All operating systems provide a user interface which enables the user to interact with application programs and computer hardware (Dhamdhere, 2006). Most of the operating systems provide the windows Graphical User Interface (GUI) whereby icons objects are used to represent the commonly used features. According to Dhamdhere (2006), it is a feature to all operating systems to enable control to the computer hardware. The operating system links the programs and the Basic Input Output System (BIOS). It is the BIOS that control the hardware. Because all the programs that must execute through the hardware devices must pass through the operating system, then the operating system is vital for the communication between the BIOS and the programs. The operating system links the user and the computer. All operating systems manage the resources in a computer, provide support for built-in utility and enable control to the computer hardware. Open sourced and the proprietary sourced are the two categories of the operating systems. Linux and BSD are examples of open sourced operating system while Microsoft Windows and Macintosh are examples of proprietary sourced operating system. Buy custom Operating Systems essay

Apple Inc. Management and Product Development Timeline Research Paper

Apple Inc. Management and Product Development Timeline - Research Paper Example The research paper "Apple Inc. Management and Product Development Timeline" investigates the compliance to various regulations governing the computer industry, project management within the enterprise, the productivity of the company and its market position and share in the computer technology market in a timeline of a series of events. Apple Inc. formerly known as Apple Computers Inc is a public traded company in the industry of computer software and appliances. Formed in 1976 and incorporated in 1977, the company that was founded by the trio of Jobs, Wozniak, and Wayne and has its headquarters in California, U.S.A. It stands out as the company that managed to grow from strength to strength amid all the challenges in the computer technology market. Presently a multinational company with the market and operational presence in various countries of the world, Apple is, in fact, the market leader in the provision of computers and related accessories as well as computer software. Currently, Apple has an employee base of 60,400 and 357 retail stores all over the world. This has provided them with a market influence greater than its competitors like The Microsoft Company which it has since surpassed despite having been in the market way before Apple. As a result, Apple has a large equity base of $76.615 billion with a turnover of $108.249 billion as reported in 2011. The result has been that the company is highly profitable with the profits standing at US$ 25.922 billion as at 2011. The legal environment in which Apple operates is dominated by requirements to protect the environment, labour laws as well as state requirements such as tax compliances, employee working conditions and benefits. Apple Inc. has been on the fore front in com plying with such legal requirements. It has undertaken social responsibility to protect its employees and the society at large from the dangerous emissions that result from its operations. Although Apple emits green house gases and therefore a contributor to environmental degradation, it has taken measures to recycle its products so as to relieve the environment of such heavy carbon burden. More recycling centers have been set up in most countries of operation, approximately 95% of all those countries in places of high computer usage. The company achieved and surpassed the target of recycling 50% of their total hardware input by 1997. Economically, Apple has successfully waded off competition as it captures a wider market proportion. Competition has majorly been witnessed from other computer appliances and software design firms like MYSQL, Microsoft and Oracle. The company has continued to design more efficient software and improved on its hardware over the years even though this ha s at times made their products fairly expensive due to high costs of production, research and development which have in some circumstances delinked them from consumers. The most important aspect however, is that they have learnt from previous experiences and are presently at an equilibrium in production costs and consumer attitudes in the design and marketing of their products. With the growing world population and an influx of computer users, the economic future of Apple is without doubt very bright. Over the years, the management and top decision making of Apple Inc. had always been on the CEO who was either one of the founders until Wayne sold off his shares. Steve Jobs as a result became the company’s longest serving CEO before his death in October 2011. The top management has in the past been responsible for the products in the market, research and sales which have together given the company its current market status of

Cultural difficulties can be difficult to manage, even if they Essay

Cultural difficulties can be difficult to manage, even if they anticipated - Essay Example The so-called resource-based approach to strategic management, for instance, is based on this line of thinking (Barney, 100-110, 1999; Dereskey, 230-244, 1997). Even though it cannot be allocated and generated in a way entirely analogous to the financial resources of a corporation, it is still an integral part of strategic management (Itami, 108-114, 1987). A strategic resource is defined as a resource that can be shifted from one business strategy application to another (Lorange, 132-154, 2000) - not only financial funds or technological expertise, but also human resources. Without the growth of human resources as a strategic resource within a corporation, it will be difficult to secure the long-term strategic future of the corporation, even though financial resources might be adequate (Evans, 102-128, 1996). Managers of international workforce are currently witnessing an increase of cooperative cultural problems as vehicles for implementing strategy, particularly in multinational contexts where joint cultural problems, licensing agreements, project cooperation, and other methods of cooperation are becoming commonplace (Contractor and Lorange, 144-187, 2003). The reasons for the growth of cooperative cultural problems are manifold: they may make scarce strategic resources last longer by utilizing complementary resources from several partners; they may allow faster market penetration; they may be a political necessity, and so on (Lorange, 164-176, 1986). It is interesting to notice that, while strategic alliances in the past often might have been seen as the "next best" options, with full ownership being preferred, today the positive emphasis on creativity and opportunity seeking through bringing together complementary creative teams seems to have put these types of cooperative how manage rs can overcome problems arising from cultural differences of employee strategies in an even more favourable light (Chakravarthy and Lorange, 316-322, 1999; Lorange and Roos, 141-153, 1992). The human resource function is particularly critical to successful implementation of such cooperative cultural problems or how managers can overcome problems arising from cultural differences of employee strategies. Several strategic human resource issues surrounding these cooperative cultural problems, however, are not well understood; therefore, the present article raises and discusses a number of them. It can be argued that the choice of a cooperative international business should satisfy several requirements of each participating partner. The cooperative international business must create a value-added chain by bringing together synergistic factors for a combined output greater than the sum of the outputs of each participating partner. The combined output must result in a competitive product or service, in comparison with alternative sources of supply. A partner in a joint international business may wish to keep a certain degree of discretionary control over its unique resources. Some strategic resources, such as unique technological skills or relevant marketing expertise may not as readily be made available to

Case study Bacterium Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bacterium - Case Study Example Her immediate history of visiting to the wilds and then generating a circular rash with a dim center in the form of a bulls eye is an indication of Lyme disease (Mayo Clinic, 2012). Answer - Symptoms in Lyme disease are common to many other conditions such as joint disorders, viral infections, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The ticks are responsible of spreading not only Lyme disease but can spread other diseases as well. Usually, it is identified with a characteristic rash on the body. Past medical history is used to correlate with likely possibility of Lyme disease. In order to confirm the diagnosis of this disease, physician prescribes lab tests so that antibodies to the bacteria may ascertain the disease. Body takes time to develop antibodies hence lab tests are suitable only after a few weeks of an infection (Monroe, 2001). The Elisa test is used to detect Lyme disease. The test identifies antibodies to B. burgdorferi; however, it may provide false positive results too so it is not a sole basis for diagnosis (Maryland Medical Center 2011). Answer - A bulls eye rash is the most discerning sign of Lyme disease infection. The rash usually takes time of 2 weeks to develop after the tick bite. Fever, joint pains, fatigue and chills accompany the rash. There are other diseases with matching symptoms. Ruling out other Tick-Borne infections is necessary to diagnose Lyme disease. Other infections cause similar symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle ache and some neurologic features similar to symptoms found in Lyme disease. The most salient feature in the Lyme disease is a rash typically known as Bulls eye rash. Other tick-borne infection known as human monocyte ehrlichiosis (HME) develops similar rash as found in Lyme disease but that has been identified mostly in southern parts of US (Maryland Medical Center 2011). Answer - Lyme disease during all phases is treated by antibiotics. According to the

Analysis of Everyday Use by Alice Walker

Analysis of Everyday Use by Alice Walker Carly Fischer Dr. Gregory Brown April 28, 2015 American Classics Everyday Use of Heritage in a Growing World Heritage is an essential tenet to human life. It is the faucet that allows people to connect and relate. In order for humans to continue to relate and evolve heritage needs to evolve as well. â€Å"Everyday Use† by Alice Walker is the story of two sisters, one educated traveler and one simple homebody. Through a simple conflict, so much is revealed about how the two sisters live their lives and what is of value to them. This story, although short, carries a big message about heritage in a growing world. Heritage at its best cannot be standing still or merely something of the past, but rather it must constantly transform and develop as time unfolds. This story, narrated by their mother, recounts an awkward reunion of two sisters, Maggie and Dee. Maggie has always been a simpler girl who preferred to stay at home with their mother, Mama, in Augusta, Georgia. Dee, however, was sent to school, traveled the world, and gained success. Dee’s arrival is premediated by an air of uneasiness as neither Maggie nor Mama know what strange customs Dee may have picked up. As the time draws near a car approaches and Dee emerges with a foreign boyfriend. Maggie is awkward and cold to the new guest, and Mama is weary. Dee announces that she has changed her name to â€Å"Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo† because she does not want to be named after the people who oppressed the African Americans so she gave herself a traditional African name to honor her roots (for arguments sake she will still be referred to as Dee). Dee’s arrival is met with even more uneasiness as she treats Maggie like a simpleton. She then asks Mama to take home f amily artifacts that are still used by the women in their everyday lives such as an old butter churn. As Dee continues to claim rights to these old household items, feeling that she can properly appreciate them, she comes across some particular family belongings that lead the story to its conflict about the meaning and present day value of heritage. Dee goes through Mama’s trunk and emerges with quilts woven with the clothes of their family’s ancestors including their Grandma Dee’s dresses and their great grandfathers civil war uniform. Dee says that she will take the quilts out of their hands so that she can proudly hang and display them at her home. This does not go over well as these quilts were already promised to Maggie. Dee rebuffs this by stating that Maggie will use them as if they are just a common, unsentimental item and will wear out such precious heirlooms. The story concludes with Dee belittling both Mama and Maggie saying they don’t understand their own heritage and that Maggie needs to separate herself from the family farm and make something of her life as she drives off (Walker 1531-1537). â€Å"Everyday Use† brings up many points that can be applied to society as a whole. The story contains many lessons to be learned in heritage, tradition, and roots. Dee has an opposing opinion to Mama and Maggie. Dee sees heritage as something that is to be displayed and honored, but should be left in the past. Her mother and Maggie see no harm in continuing to live life the way their ancestors always have. They think that by doing this one’s heritage is being honored and properly maintained. In order to truly appreciate heritage it is important that it is continued as a way of life, however, this does not mean that it cannot change and people must be cemented in the past. It is very clear that Dee has moved on from the simple way of life of her mother and sister, and in doing so she has alienated herself from her family as well as her roots. She, however, doesn’t seem to notice as she still wants to display still-functional artifacts of her people around her own house. This is evidenced in the part of the story where Dee sees the butter churn not for a churn, but for an object of decoration: â€Å"’I can use the churn top as a centerpiece for the alcove table,’ she said, sliding a plate over the churn, ‘and I’ll think of something artistic to do with the dasher.’† (Walker 1535) As if this wasn’t enough of a denounced of her practical heritage, she again proves this point during the quilt tantrum between her and her mother: â€Å"She can always make some more,† I said. â€Å"Maggie knows how to quilt.† Dee (Wangero) looked at me with hatred. â€Å"You will just not understand. The point is these quilts, these quilts!† â€Å"Well,† I said, stumped. â€Å"What would you do with them?† â€Å"Hang them,† she said. As if that was the only thing you could do with quilts (Walker 1536). It is very obvious that Dee has detached herself from her past and she has embraced a more global outlook on life. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing as people need to be continually evolving to survive. Joe Sarinowski points out the merit behind Dee’s side and compliments her on her innovation of thought. Even though Dee’s opposing view to her sister and mother make her seem like she doesn’t understand where they are coming from, and why their way of life is so valuable to them, she values her heritage and embodies a new modern view. She promotes a new way for African Americans to cope with their differences from the rest of America and the issues that they face and offers a way to use their heritage in a proud, public way that Mama and Maggie do not (275). The other extreme of heritage preservation seen in the story is Maggie and Mamas’ view, that the consistent utilization and practice of ones heritage as it always has been will keep it in tact the best. Although the characters are living in the 20th Century, Maggie and Mama seem to be stuck in the Civil War era. Dee points out the error of their ways at the end of the story when she tells her sister, â€Å"You ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it.† (Walker, 1536) This kind of cultural preservation is too extreme and doesn’t allow for people to innovate beyond the point they are stuck. However, just as Dee’s extreme view of heritage had some merit, so does Maggie and Mama’s. They are truly utilizing their past to their advantage. The other side of the quilt incident, in fact, points out the benefits behind their view with Mama’s pleasure in Maggie’s intended use of the quilts when Mama says â€Å"’I reckon she would,’ I said. ‘God knows I been saving ‘em for long enough with nobody using ‘em. I hope she will!† (Walker 1536). Within these opposing ideas of heritage one can try to decide which is right, but the answer is more complex. It very easily can be said that parts of both beliefs combined create the truth of heritage. Culture can best be preserved by a blend of the extremes we see in â€Å"Everyday Use†. In order to preserve heritage at its best Dee’s element of modernization needs to meet Maggie’s element of utilization. Dee’s belief of cultural heritage is centered on adjusting to a modern world and Maggie’s belief is focused on preserving the way she lives and not changing a thing. The middle ground, where culture can be appreciated for what happened and continued as a way of life but adapted to fit a changing, modern world. An author who also argues this belief is Federico Lenzerini: In consideration of the fact that culture is a living and changeable entity, one given cultural manifestation can represent a culture through the passing of time only if such manifestation is capable of continuously modifying itself in parallel to the transformations characterizing the cultural whole of which it is a part (108). An integral part to the continuation of humanity is adaptability. If culture cannot adapt, then neither can people. An important symbol in the story that further emphasizes this point is the butter churn. Dee views the butter churn as an old relic that could be used as an art piece. Whereas Mama still sees the butter churn for its use for making butter, making note of the hand marks that have been engraved in the handle after years of utilization. Durham writes, â€Å"Symbolic products also possess a certain concreteness. But if they are not used, the work that brought them into being is in a sense dead† (Durham 2013) in order to explain that the use of cultural products is essential to the continuation of heritage. If the butter churn is a symbol then it is not just a relic that symbolizes a past people; it is an object that is still used by Mama and by using the butter churn they are, in a sense, preserving a piece of their culture. â€Å"Everyday Use† is the story of two sisters that have grown apart physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Dee has traveled the world and has moved on from the way she was raised while Maggie stayed home and continued the exact way of life that she was raised in., very much so because her mother has never moved away from the traditional life of her ancestors. The two ways of life seen in this story both embody the extremes in which one can embrace their heritage. People do not have to live every day in and out repeating traditions of the past to maintain their roots, but there is more to living within ones heritage than appreciating relics of the past. Heritage must be more than just a meaningful decoration, for that decoration would just be a symbol of those who actually experienced their heritage during life. Dee’s side of total globalization that leaves heritage in the past to modernize and expand must meet Maggie and Mama’s side of heritage utility an d repetition. In this middle ground the best way to maintain, appreciate, and live ones true heritage can be found. Works Cited Walker, Alice. â€Å"Everyday Use.† The Norton Anthology American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. Vol. 2. New York: New York, 2013. 1531-1537. Print. Eunice Ribeiro, Durham. Reflections On Culture, Heritage And Preservation. Vibrant: 9oVirtual Brazilian Anthropology 1 (2013): 77. SciELO. Web. 28 Apr. 2015. Lenzerini, Federico. Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Living Culture Of Peoples. European Journal Of International Law 22.1 (2011): 101-120. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 Apr. 2015. Sarnowski, Joe. Destroying To Save: Idealism And Pragmatism In Alice Walkers Everyday Use.. Papers On Language Literature 48.3 (2012): 269-286. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

To work or not to work? :: Journalism Journalistic Papers

To work or not to work? Why the educated homemaker is opting out of the workplace and why other women are not It’s 5 a.m. and Laura Williams squints at her computer’s bright light. She presses the letters on her keyboard and replies to as many emails as she can before another busy day at her full-time job begins. After she makes breakfast for her family, her husband Ryan gets their daughters, Emma, 4, and Anna, 18 months, ready. Then the Williams family sets out to drop Emma at pre-school, and then mom and Anna drop dad at work. Sounds like your typical family morning: the family gets ready, the kids go off to school, and mom and dad go off to work, right? Well, sort-of. Seven years ago, 29-year-old Laura Williams was living the professional life she always imagined. Armed with a degree in social work from Cornell, Williams had an impressive resume that could practically name her job of choice. But today, she’s living the life she never imagined she would have: she’s a stay-at-home mom. Williams is a part of a growing national trend where educated women earning good salaries temporarily ‘opt out’ of the workplace to take care of their children. With professional experience ranging from public relations at XEROX to handling media affairs for 1997 U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky at Boston University, Williams had employers from Rochester, N.Y. and Cambridge, Mass. offering her higher paying and higher power jobs. But the newly married, successful professional was also thinking about starting a family. So Williams turned down these career advancing offers and continued at the Boston University Public Relations Office. â€Å"I knew early on that I did not want an 80-hour per week job,† said Williams. â€Å"Getting a graduate degree, working part-time, and starting a family are three things that did not mesh.† Williams, 36, who described herself as a go-getter, said she always felt ambitious while growing up. â€Å"I knew I wanted to work professionally,† she said. â€Å"I always thought I would work part-time and have children.† But after working at BU through her first pregnancy and simultaneously taking graduate classes at the university, Williams became anxious; yet she wasn’t ready to walk away. â€Å"This was definitely the most stressful time in my life,† said Williams, whose own mom was a stay-at-home mom. â€Å"At the time you think you can do it all, but finally I approached my boss and convinced him to let me work from home.