The eNotes Blog Top Ten Summer ReadingSuggestions

Top Ten Summer ReadingSuggestions Since I was a very small child, the absolute best thing about summer was the extra time to read. My mother, fed up with me being in the house, would throw me outside to get some sunshine. So I took my book outside, sat on the porch, and waited to be let in. Like a cat. Summer is still the best time to get some reading done and the time that a lot of my professorial/literary snot friends (stop protesting you  know  its true) unbutton that top button and go for some non-standard fare. But the choices can be overwhelming: Here are suggestions for some good pleasure reading for fun and even knowledge to help you get the most out of those precious extra hours: 1.   Mr. g  by Alan Lightman   How about a little blasphemy to go with that  daiquiri? One friend heartily suggests this novel. Publishers Weekly calls  Mr. G  a touching, imaginative rendition of God’s creation of the universe†¦the immortal characters are changed by their brush with the enterprising, however doomed, mortals, bringing this elucidating treatment of quantum physics to an affecting, hopeful conclusion.† 2.   The Prague Cemetery  by Umberto Eco   Several friends asked for this novel by the Italian mystery/detective master (who penned  The Name of the Rose  and  Foucaults Pendulum)  to be included. I find this book fascinating, perhaps the best Eco has written in years. Eco takes on conspiracy theories in the feverish political activism of nineteenth-century Europefreemasonry, the Italian Risorgimento, the Paris Commune, and above all the forgery of the slanderous The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. What if there were a single mastermind behind all these conspiracies? Its already a bestseller in Italy, and I cant get enough of it! ~  Huffington Post 3.   Lets Pretend This Never Happened  by Jenny Lawson Those of us who have been LONGTIME fans of The Bloggess are beside ourselves with glee at the arrival of Lawsons first traditional book. Just take a look at these chapter titles, will ya? â€Å"Stanley the Magical, Talking Squirrel†; â€Å"A Series of Angry Post-It Notes to My Husband†; â€Å"My Vagina Is Fine. Thanks for Asking†; â€Å"And Then I Snuck a Dead Cuban Alligator on an Airplane.† She is hysterical and you should buy this book. Now. 4.   Sacre Bleu: A Comedy DArt  by Christopher Moore   This selection was heralded by several people. Heres the scoop: In July 1890, Vincent van Gogh went into a cornfield and shot himself.  Or did he?  Why would an artist at the height of his creative powers attempt to take his own life . . . and then walk a mile to a doctors house for help? Who was the crooked little color man Vincent had claimed was stalking him across France? And why had the painter recently become deathly afraid of a certain shade of blue? These are just a few of the questions confronting Vincents friends- baker-turned-painter Lucien Lessard and bon vivant Henri Toulouse-Lautrec- who vow to discover the truth about van Goghs untimely death. Their quest will lead them on a surreal odyssey and brothel-crawl deep into the art world of late nineteenth-century Paris. 5.   Kitty Cornered  by Bob Tarte   Tarte has a remarkable ability to depict animal behavior and see the humor (and toils) of   pets without anthropomorphizing his beloved menagerie. Fans of his previous work (Enslaved by Ducks, Fowl Weather)  will once again delight in the various antics of all his animals, but will appreciate the focus on his six quirky felines. I dare you not to fall in love with Frannie and all the others. 6.   11/22/63  by Stephen King   King, of course, has been a popular favorite for over thirty years but he has not always enjoyed critical acclaim; this novel, however, has garnered both. Most people will instantly recognize 11/22/63 as the infamous date when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. King imagines what would happen if a time traveler was able to go back to that fateful day and change the course of history. 7.   Little Bee  by Chris Cleave Also being tucked into beach bags this summer is Chris Cleaves  Little Bee.   If you enjoy riveting, character-based novels, this might be a good choice for you too.   Here is what the  Washington Post  had to say: Little Bee  will blow you away. In restrained, diamond-hard prose, Cleave alternates between these two characters points of view as he pulls the threads of their dark but often funny story tight. What unfolds between them is both surprising and inevitable, thoroughly satisfying if also heart-rending. 8.   Sandman (Series)  by Neil Gaiman Sometimes summer demands becoming totally obsessed with a series.   You couldnt ask for a better way to spend dozens of hours than to be immersed in Gaimans series of graphic novels. The  Sandman  novels are a rich blend of modern myth and dark fantasy in which contemporary fiction, historical drama and legend. The works are   widely considered one of the most original and artistically ambitious series of the modern age. 9.   Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain  by David Eagleman   Looking for a good non-fiction read that also serves as a dandy excuse that no one will bother you about playing volleyball or frisbee or anything remotely athletic? This is the book for you. You get to learn all sorts of cool stuff here, like why you keep dreaming that dream about the elephant in your mothers underpantsor is that just me?   Seriously, though, Eaglemans study is a fascinating look into what goes on inside the brain, both consciously and unconsciously. Listen to a great interview with Eagleman on NPRs  Fresh Air  here. 10.   Undead and Undermined  by Mary Janice Davidson Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor thought she couldnt die. So whats she doing in the morgue? It could have something to do with a time- traveling trip she made, and a foe with a wicked agenda that could finally be the real death of Betsy-if shes not careful. Cmon. You  know  you  want to.   Ã‚  Tuck it into your snooty copy of Tolstoy if you must (be prepared to explain the funny parts though) or flaunt it and ask the person next to you if they would also enjoy some box wine and some Cheetos. Cmoooooon. its  summer.

De-Extinction - The Resurrection of Extinct Animals

De-Extinction - The Resurrection of Extinct Animals Theres a new buzzword that has been making the rounds of trendy tech conferences and environmental think tanks: de-extinction. Thanks to ongoing advances in DNA recovery, replication and manipulation technology, as well as the ability of scientists to recover soft tissue from fossilized animals, it may soon be possible to breed Tasmanian Tigers, Woolly Mammoths and Dodo Birds back into existence, presumably undoing the wrongs that mankind inflicted on these gentle beasts in the first place, hundreds or thousands of years ago. The Technology of De-Extinction Before we get into the arguments for and against de-extinction, its helpful to look at the current state of this rapidly developing science. The crucial ingredient of de-extinction, of course, is DNA, the tightly wound molecule that provides the genetic blueprint of any given species. In order to de-extinct, say, a Dire Wolf, scientists would have to recover a sizable chunk of this animals DNA, which is not so far-fetched considering that Canis dirus only went extinct about 10,000 years ago and various fossil specimens recovered from the La Brea Tar Pits have yielded soft tissue. Wouldnt we need all of an animals DNA in order to bring it back from extinction? No, and thats the beauty of the de-extinction concept: the Dire Wolf shared enough of its DNA with modern canines that only certain specific genes would be required, not the entire Canis dirus genome. The next challenge, of course, would be to find a suitable host to incubate a genetically engineered Dire Wolf fetus; presumably, a carefully prepared Great Dane or Grey Wolf female would fit the bill. There is another, less messy way to de-extinct a species, and thats by reversing thousands of years of domestication. In other words, scientists can selectively breed herds of cattle to encourage, rather than suppress, primitive traits (such as an ornery rather than a peaceful disposition), the result being a close approximation of an Ice Age Auroch. This technique could conceivably even be used to de-breed canines into their feral, uncooperative Grey Wolf ancestors, which may not do much for science but would certainly make dog shows more interesting. This, by the way, is the reason virtually no one seriously talks about de-extincting animals that have been extinct for millions of years, like dinosaurs or marine reptiles. Its difficult enough to recover viable fragments of DNA from animals that have been extinct for thousands of years; after millions of years, any genetic information will be rendered completely irrecoverable by the fossilization process. Jurassic Park aside, dont expect anyone to clone a Tyrannosaurus Rex in your or your childrens lifetime! Arguments in Favor of De-Extinction Just because we may, in the near future, be able to de-extinct vanished species, does that mean we should? Some scientists and philosophers are very bullish on the prospect, citing the following arguments in its favor: We can undo humanitys past mistakes. In the 19th century, Americans who didnt know any better slaughtered Passenger Pigeons by the millions; generations before, the Tasmanian Tiger was driven to near-extinction by European immigrants to Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. Resurrecting these animals, this argument goes, would help reverse a huge historical injustice.We can learn more about evolution and biology. Any program as ambitious as de-extinction is certain to produce important science, the same way the Apollo moon missions helped usher in the age of the personal computer. We may potentially learn enough about genome manipulation to cure cancer or extend the average humans life span into the triple digits.We can counter the effects of environmental depredation. An animal species isnt important only for its own sake; it contributes to a vast web of ecological interrelationships and makes the entire ecosystem more robust. Resurrecting extinct animals may be just the therapy our planet needs in this age of global warming and human overpopulation. Arguments Against De-Extinction Any new scientific initiative is bound to provoke a critical outcry, which is often a knee-jerk reaction against what critics consider fantasy or bunk. In the case of de-extinction, though, the naysayers may have a point, as they maintain that: De-extinction is a PR gimmick that detracts from real environmental issues. What is the point of resurrecting the Gastric-Brooding Frog (to take just one example) when hundreds of amphibian species are on the brink of succumbing to the chytrid fungus? A successful de-extinction may give people the false, and dangerous, impression that scientists have solved all of our environmental problems.A de-extincted creature can only thrive in a suitable habitat. Its one thing to gestate a Saber-Toothed Tiger fetus in a Bengal tigers womb; its quite another to reproduce the ecological conditions that existed 100,000 years ago when these predators ruled Pleistocene North America. What will these tigers eat, and what will be their impact on existing mammal populations?Theres usually a good reason why an animal went extinct in the first place. Evolution can be cruel, but its never wrong. Human beings hunted Woolly Mammoths to extinction over 10,000 years ago; whats to keep us from repeating histor y? De-Extinction: Do we have a choice? In the end, any genuine effort to de-extinct a vanished species will probably have to win the approval of the various government and regulatory agencies, a process that might take years, especially in our current political climate. Once introduced into the wild, it can be difficult to keep an animal from spreading into unexpected niches and territoriesand, as mentioned above, not even the most far-sighted scientist can gauge the environmental impact of a resurrected species. One can only hope that, if de-extinction goes forward, it will be with a maximal amount of care and planning and healthy regard for the law of unintended consequences.

How to Style Names of Food

How to Style Names of Food How to Style Names of Food How to Style Names of Food By Mark Nichol When it comes to names of comestibles and beverages, whether to capitalize proper names that are part of their names can give one indigestion. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary tends to uppercase such terms though it often (but not always) advises that capitalization is not necessary but The Chicago Manual of Style recommends lowercase forms. The Associated Press Style Book, the guide of record for newspapers and many magazines, tends to vary more arbitrarily in its guidelines. Here’s some food for thought: Merriam-Webster’s capitalizes names of cheeses derived from geographical locations Brie, Cheddar, Stilton, Swiss but they can safely be lowercased without confusion, which is what The Chicago Manual of Style recommends. Several names for types of meat frankfurter, hamburger, and wiener derive from place names, but notice that they’re all lowercase. France, once the epicurean center of the world, has inspired much nomenclature about food French bean and French bread, just to name two but the adjective in â€Å"french fries† refers to the type of cut, so it’s generally not capitalized. Scotch is not necessarily capitalized when it refers to whiskey, but it is uppercased in â€Å"Scotch broth† and â€Å"Scotch egg.† Bourbon is not capitalized. Names of cocktails are often uppercased â€Å"Bloody Mary,† â€Å"Harvey Wallbanger† especially, as with these examples, if they’re named after people (but note margarita). But alcoholic drinks named after locations (daiquiri, manhattan) aren’t capitalized, except for â€Å"Irish coffee.† One particularly difficult area is names of foods from other countries. Because the names are transliterated and may come to English through more than one middleman language, more than one spelling may enter the language. When in doubt, remain loyal to one style guide or a periodical about cooking. If a term has not yet been included or mentioned, search for it online with various spellings and see how authoritative Web sites treat it. What about menu items? On an actual restaurant menu, it’s acceptable to capitalize names of dishes, because they are the equivalent of headings on that type of document, but names of ingredients in a descriptive passage below the item name should not be capitalized unless they already deserve that distinction. However, in text, words used to describe something served at a restaurant should be lowercase unless they’re place names (â€Å"Peking duck†), brand names (â€Å"chicken-’n’-Cheetos), or house concoctions (â€Å"Sous-Chef Sammy’s Lava Soup†). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Has vs. HadDo you "orient" yourself, or "orientate" yourself?50+ Words That Describe Animals (Including Humans)

Case study tale of two culture Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Tale of two culture - Case Study Example There are surely other factors that could account for increasing incidences of divorce, crime, drug abuse, etc. Immediately pointing the finger at globalization shows a lack of understanding of the issues involved. Globalization has given poorer countries many great things, but at the same time there have been some negative influences. I just dont think that people can pin the blame on globalization for all of these things. Because Western culture is more confrontational, the only thing that globalization has done is open peoples eyes to the fact that the social issues are occur. Previously they were just swept under the carpet and everyone would pretend that they did not exist. Globalization is a good thing because it forces people to see their society for what it really is. 3. Broadly defined, Asia comprises more than 60 percent of the worlds population—a population that practices Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, and numerous other religions. Thus, do you think it is possible to carry on a valid discussion of "Asian" values? Why or why not? I think it is possible to carry on a valid discussion of "Asian" values. The reason is that culture is always changing and yet it never changes in some regards. People who view culture as something that is static are outdated because they do not realize the globalized world that we live in today. It is possible to conform to "Asian" values yet also be open to Western ideas too. In this way, a hybrid culture is almost created whereby it attempts to take the best aspects from two very different cultures and create a new culture. Indian call center workers might have to change their lives drastically, such as speaking with an American accent, wearing American clothes, and dating boyfriends, but the fact remains that they are still Indian despite all of this. It is possible to "have a hand" in both

Trucks Load Indicator also known by Electronic load indicator or Axle Research Paper

Trucks Load Indicator also known by Electronic load indicator or Axle load Indicator - Research Paper Example In addition, it is for this reason that several truck companies like Volvo, have embraced the use of axle load indicators in the trucks manufactured by their companies. Those who have been exposed to trucks will attest to the fact that they have axles. The number of the axles, however, varies depending on the truck with some of them having two axles whereas some have close to twelve axles. Overtime various stakeholders realized that there were several instances where the axles installed within the trucks were overloaded, and this always acted as a disadvantage for the truck (Butcher, 2005). To control the problem of weights, the stakeholders, came up with the axle load indicator and since then the original version has been altered with the aim of improving it. It is to this effect that several companies that produce axle load indicators like Airtec Corporation produce axle load indicators with optic switches. Some of the companies also produce axle load indicators, which contain rheostats instead of the normal electric switches. History, however, does not mention the exact individual who came up with the axle load indicator. Therefore, there is the need to appreciate the person because his invention has made handling the trailers much simple. For the axle load indicator to be operational, it has to be installed. It is far reaching to recognize the fact that the production companies have designed the axle load indicators in such a way that any able operator can do the installation (ARO, 2011). For surety reasons, however, there are dealers who deal specifically with the installation of the axle load indicators. The companies that do the production can as well avail their engineers to do the installation though at a cost. The installation, however, can be done through connecting the axle load indicator to the light circuit of the truck. Operationally, the truckload indicator registers some calibrations

2 page biography of Jeremy Bentham and his contribution to the study Essay

2 page biography of Jeremy Bentham and his contribution to the study of Ethics - Essay Example Bentham was a great activist who advocated political and economic freedom. He pioneered various political movements that lobbied for the abolition of slavery, legal use of the death penalty, and physical punishment. Political radical ideas advanced by Bentham lobbied for separation of church systems from the state, freedom of expression for all citizens, divorce rights, gender equity, and animal rights. However, Bentham opposed natural rights and law but favored individual legal rights for all citizens (Becker and Becker 137). Bentham mentored several students during his time as a teacher and researcher. Some of Bentham’s great students included James Mill, James Stuart Mill, James Austin, and Robert Owen. His students also developed into great theorists for instance; Robert Owen become the founder of Utopian socialism while John Austin remained as the famous legal philosopher. Bentham, who attended Westminster school at the tender age of 12 in 1760, existed as a child prodigy. He started studying Latin at the age of three and preferred reading England history books. Bentham, who was the brother to Samuel Bentham, completed his Bachelor’s degree at Queen’s college in 1763. Bentham obtained his master’s degree in 1766 at Queen’s college. He practiced law in college though he never represented persons in courts of law. He reportedly hated English legal code and named it ‘Demon of Chicane’. Bentham loved chemistry and spent most of his time conducting chemical experiments and speculating theories relating to legal abuses. His interest in chemistry angered his father who knew that he would develop into a renowned intelligent lord chancellor amongst English courts of law. Due to great interest in sciences, Jeremy Bentham pursued physical science studies and started research on suppositions that had a relationship with politics and law. Research on suppositions related to law and politics

Syria Revolution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Syria Revolution - Research Paper Example Being a democratic republic under the power of President Bashar Al- Asad together with his advisors, members of the ruling party, his ministers, the president made major decisions and was also in charge of the ruling party. Together with his party leaders, the president governs all the three branches of government , he was given the mandate to rule the country for his second term of seven years in a â€Å"yes or no† referendum that was unfair in the eyes of human rights advocates both locally and internationally. Military was deployed to bring to an end the uprising hence using firearms on the demonstrators across the country, this lead to an armed rebellion which comprised of volunteer civilian and defected solders from the government. According to the report of the United Nations released on September 2013, more than one hundred and twenty thousand died in the process while thousands of protestors are rotting in jail and there are reports of terror and torture in the state p risons. The Syrian government is given reinforcement by Russia and Iran, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar supports the rebels with weapon. The reason for the uprising started when President Bashar al-Assad came to power in the year two thousand immediately after his father Hafez dead, who had lead Syria since 1970. This dictatorial system of government had only one party system which left few means for political differences, the nation had no peaceful transfer of power since 1950 and for change to take place only a military coup or an uprising was to take place, because the mercies of the country felt oppressed, humiliated and deprived their right to have the leader of their own choice. The Ba’ath party was regarded as the initiator of the â€Å"Arab socialism† that tried to merge the state leading economy with Pan –Arab nationalism; the ideology of the Baathist was reduced to nothing, this was facilitated by damaging its reputation by making its economy to became w eak and losing the wars against Israel. The reforms of the vestige socialism made the doors wide open to personal venture enhancing and broadening consumerism along with the upper and middle classes and neglecting those favored with links to the Assad government, by this uneven economy was created which latter triggered the uprising as the cost of living got high and job became scarce (Anon 1). Persistent drought devastated farming in the north eastern Syrian community which totally relied on farming lead thousand of Syrian people to suffer hunger, due to lack of stability in the Syrian government more than a million suffered since 2008, by this many individuals from the hit area went to urban in search of their daily bread, lack of employment in town led them to become frustrated ending up in mushrooming of slums. This population was angered by lack of help from their government and this fueled anger and hate of their mother country hence being eager to over throw their government. Rapidly growing population lead to the emergence of young and energetic people in the nation, due to lack of employment this created a demographic time bomb in the country which was to explode anytime. Lack of productive public sector as