Relaxer Alt-J free essay sample

Alt-J, an English band whose genre seeps into almost everything, from electro-pop, to rock, to folk, and everything in between, released their third album, â€Å"Relaxer,† this summer. Three tracks were released as singles before the album: â€Å"3WW,† â€Å"In Cold Blood,† and â€Å"Adeline.† These were pretty good and generated hype for the release of the album. Unfortunately, that’s when we learned that the singles are the best songs on â€Å"Relaxer.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Pleader† takes half of its allotted length to get to the singing, which I normally wouldn’t mind if the first half of the song was interesting. Instead the song is boring and tedious. If I have to sit through two-and-a-half minutes to get to the good part of a song, I’m not going to listen to it often.â€Å"Hit Me Like That Snare† isn’t boring, but it’s also not good. It’s the most different on this album, but that’s not always a good thing. We will write a custom essay sample on Relaxer Alt-J or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The fact that â€Å"Relaxer† is only eight tracks doesn’t leave much room for mistakes. Although six of the songs feature strings performed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra, there isn’t a real cohesive sound to the collection; I would have liked at least two more songs in order to tie in some sort of creative theme.This album wasn’t more of the same Alt-J that we knew, but it’s not completely new either. â€Å"In Cold Blood† is similar to â€Å"Left Hand Free† (from the group’s second album) in structure and sound, and â€Å"Adeline† is very similar to some of the slower songs on their first album, â€Å"An Awesome Wave.†Overall, â€Å"Relaxer† is a solid 6 out of 10, in my opinion. It’s some good music, but I don’t think it’s a landmark album in Alt-J’s career. I see it as a stepping stone to a new sound for the band, and I’m already anticipating their next album.

SSAT Practice Essay Topics

SSAT Practice Essay TopicsAre you taking the SSAT or want to take the SSAT and need a practice essay topics? In my personal opinion, there are two factors to remember. First is the importance of personal reflection as we all know it but more important is that it can be developed.One is when you read your essay to someone else you have to say yourself. You cannot go into a high stress situation and wait to find out what someone else has already written. You may as well get the ideas from reading. As much as possible use an in-book glossary and the tips on their practice essay topics will help you understand them.Second is the importance of writing down things you have observed about a topic or idea in an essay. This is a very good idea but one more thing. Do not look for any tips in an essay. Look to those people who actually wrote their own essays.This way, you will realize that reading is good but reviewing and practicing is even better. It is always good to ask and learn from other s.It can be a learning experience as well as fun because you can write down practice essay topics and look at what other people wrote about that topic. Most of the time, the best thing about reading is when you do not know what to write. You can see where they go wrong and correct them.Taking the SSAT or those exams is a lot of work. If you are new at this, I strongly suggest taking practice tests and essays. These help you with things you have to prepare for such as the type of questions that you will be asked and the format in which you must answer.At the end of the day, writing can help you understand what you want to write in an essay and this is what takes place while taking the SSAT or those exams. Reading is something you must also do. This is good because it helps you to develop your skill.

Maritime Applications for Machine Learning and Data Science

Maritime Applications for Machine Learning and Data Science    As data collection and analysis seeps into the conservative maritime industry we are beginning to see cracks in this grand old system based on tradition and trial and error. When I say old, I don’t mean the 1980’s or even the 1880’s. Opinions vary on the exact time shipping became modern as any sailor or longshoreman would recognize today. When the English and Dutch began standardizing shipping practices between their two countries to increase safety and profit the practices soon spread. This was happening in the late 1600’s and if you wanted to be part of the shipping economy you looked to the English, Dutch, and to a lesser extent, the Spanish. Today we can see another example of this technology clustering having a lasting effect on a growing industry. Starting in the 1960’s California became the place to be if you were a part of the new generation of electronics companies. Standards were set and the jargon and culture of Silicon Valley we have today is a direct result of this small but powerful geographic area. In addition to soft concepts like jargon, deep architectural standards like eight digit binary numbers were solidified. The same sorts of transactions and relationships were also true of shipping as it became a standardized business. Global shipping today represents many cultures and values and it must be responsive in the era of pervasive media and digital content, or it will be demonized and lose the minimal goodwill available to a largely invisible industry. Yet when they see a good idea, which is one that will save money, it is quickly adopted by the upper levels of management. Workers are sometimes resistant to change for fear of job loss. Both of these behaviors occurred when the intermodal shipping container was introduced in the 1950’s as a cost saving measure. Automation of ships and ports will be a much more difficult journey than the one fought by the proponents of the modular container in the early days. Job loss among longshoremen was real and the sealed container ended the common practice of pilfering some of the cargo. This was common, and still happens occasionally today, with some Masters sanctioning the activity. The fact was it took much less labor to load a ship with large boxes than it did individual sacks or grain or crates of equipment that varied in size and weight. Automated ships and ports will eliminate some jobs that are hazardous or dirty and most people will not miss this kind of work. Jobs that have a high value are a different story. A totally autonomous ship is in the future and that means less risk for deck hands while increasing profits substantially for ship owners. The savings are similar to autonomous car savings, less risk, less insurance costs, more efficient operation, better traffic management, and elimination of human error.    The elimination of human error on the operational level is important since most accidents happen because of failure due to poor design or human error in some aspect of vessel operation. Machine learning is giving us insights into the marine world we never had before, and some of the revelations are contrary to accepted beliefs. A good example of this is the Digital Deck product for commercial fishermen that was developed by the company Point 97. Digital tracking of fishery data collected by fishermen in their daily operation led to discoveries local regulators used to manage fish stocks and reduce the resources needed to search for illegal fishing activity. Automatic importing of data allows for near real-time insights not only for regulators, but also fishermen. Now a new class of data is emerging with the announcement from MIT that they have developed an algorithm that monitors wave data in order to predict rouge wave formation. Rouge wave are giant and often deadly waves that form in the open sea where two wave fields combine. Rouge waves are often in the form of a peak and not a long running wave like those produced by tsunami. This is a new class of data because it needs quick action to work. Automatic avoidance systems are not generally accepted and permission to change course could take minutes. Rouge waves form and do their damage quickly so the best use of this data is in an automatic system that will change course or turn to face the wave bow-on. This will make mariners uncomfortable but the alternative is worse. Classification societies, insurers, and regulators all stand in the way of more automation but like self-driving cars, they will be accepted because of greater convenience and cost savings. We have already reached a point where there is too much data for one human to absorb. All that data on the helm displays can be better managed by computers which already run many parts of a modern ship. The few sailors that do remain on ships of the future will likely be technicians with few hands on duties unless automated maintenance and repair systems fail.

Analysis of Yasmina Rezas Play God of Carnage

Analysis of Yasmina Reza's Play 'God of Carnage' Conflict and human nature when presented with it, are the predominant themes of Yasmina Rezas play God of Carnage.  Well-written and a display of fascinating character development, this play gives the audience an opportunity to witness the verbal battles of two families and their complex personalities. An Introduction to God of Carnage God of Carnage is written by Yasmina Reza, an award-winning playwright.   Rezas  other notable plays include Art  and Life x 3.  Author Christopher Hampton translated her play from French into English.  In 2011, it was made into a film  titled Carnage, directed by Roman Polanski. The plot of God of Carnage  begins with  an 11-year-old boy (Ferdinand) who strikes another boy (Bruno) with a stick, thereby knocking out two front teeth. The parents of each boy meet. What begins as a civil discussion ultimately devolves into a yelling match. Overall, the story is well-written and it is an interesting play that many people will enjoy. Some of the highlights for this reviewer include: Realistic dialogueBelievable charactersInsightful satireSubtle / vague ending Theater of Bickering Most people arent fans of ugly, angry, pointless arguments - at least not in real life. But, not surprisingly, these types of arguments are a theater staple, and with good reason. Obviously, the stationary nature of the stage means that most playwrights will generate a physically sedentary conflict that can be sustained in a single setting. Pointless bickering is perfect for such an occasion. Also, a tense argument reveals multiple layers of a character: emotional buttons are pressed and  boundaries are assaulted. For an audience member, there is a dark voyeuristic pleasure in watching the verbal battle which unfolds during Yasmina Rezas God of Carnage. We get to watch the characters unravel their dark sides, despite their diplomatic intentions. We get to behold adults who act like rude, petulant children. However, if we watch closely, we might see a bit of ourselves. The Setting The entire play takes place at the home of the Houllie family. Originally set in modern Paris, subsequent productions of God of Carnage  set the play in other urban locations such as London and New York. The Characters Although we spend a short time with these four characters (the play runs about 90 minutes with no breaks or scene changes), playwright Yasmina Reza creates each with a sprinkling of commendable traits and questionable moral codes. Veronique Houllie  (Veronica in American productions)Michel Houllie  (Michael in American productions)Annette ReilleAlain Reille  (Alan in American productions) Veronique Houllie At first, she seems like the most benevolent of the bunch. Instead of resorting to litigation regarding her son Brunos injury, she believes that they can all come to an agreement about how Ferdinand should make amends for his attack. Of the four principles, Veronique exhibits the strongest desire for harmony. She is even writing a book about the atrocities of Darfur. Her flaws lie in her overly judgmental nature. She wants to instill a sense of shame in Ferdinands parents (Alain and Annette Reille) hoping they will, in turn, instill a deep sense of regret in their son. About forty minutes into their encounter, Veronique decides that Alain and Annette are terrible parents and miserable people in general, yet throughout the play, she still attempts to maintain her crumbling facade of civility. Michel Houllie At first, Michel seems eager to create peace between the two boys and perhaps even bond with the Reilles. He offers them food and drink. He is quick to agree with the Reilles, even making light of the violence, commenting on how he was a leader of his own gang during his childhood (as was Alain). As the conversation progresses, Michel reveals his uncouth nature. He makes racial slurs about the Sudanese people whom his wife is writing about. He denounces child-raising as a wasteful, grueling experience. His most controversial action (which takes place before the play) has to do with his daughters pet hamster. Because of his fear of rodents, Michel released the hamster in the streets of Paris, even though the poor creature was terrified and clearly wanted to be kept at home. The rest of the adults are disturbed by his actions, and the play concludes with a phone call from his young daughter, crying over the loss of her pet. Annette Reille Ferdinands mother is constantly on the brink of a panic attack. In fact, she vomits twice during the course of the play (which must have been unpleasant for the actors each night). Like Veronique, she wants resolution and believes at first that communication can ameliorate the situation between the two boys. Unfortunately, the pressures of motherhood and household have eroded her self-confidence. Annette feels abandoned by her husband who is eternally preoccupied with work. Alain is glued to his cell phone throughout the play  until Annette finally loses control and drops the phone into a vase of tulips. Annette is the most physically destructive of the four characters. In additional to ruining her husbands new phone, she intentionally smashes the vase at the end of the play. (And her vomit incident spoils some of Veroniques books and magazines, but that was accidental.) Also, unlike her husband, she defends her childs violent actions by pointing out that Ferdinand was verbally provoked and out-numbered by the gang of boys. Alain Reille Alain might be the most stereotypical character of the group in that he is modeled after other slimy lawyers from countless other stories. He is the most openly rude because he frequently interrupts their meeting by talking on his cell phone.  His law firm represents a pharmaceutical company that is about to be sued because one of their new products causes dizziness and other negative symptoms. He claims that his son is a savage and doesnt see any point in trying to change him. He seems the most sexist of the two men, often implying that women have a host of limitations. On the other hand, Alain is in some ways the most honest of the characters. When Veronique and Annette claim that people must show compassion toward their fellow man, Alain becomes philosophical, wondering if anyone can truly care for others, implying that individuals will always act out of self-interest. Men vs. Women While much of the plays conflict is between the Houllies and the Reilles, a battle of the sexes is also interwoven throughout the storyline. Sometimes a female character makes a disparaging claim about her husband and the second female will chime in with her own critical anecdote. Likewise, the husbands will make snide comments about their family life, creating a bond (albeit a fragile one) between the males. Ultimately, each of the characters turns on the other so that by the plays end everyone seems emotionally isolated.

Interpersonal Conflict in Film Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interpersonal Conflict in Film - Movie Review Example Farhad did not know anything about guns and so when the store owner asked him about the kind of ammunition he wanted, Farhad had an argument with Dorri. This made the owner impatient and he told Farhad: â€Å"Yo, Osama, plan the jihad on your own time, what do you want?† Because of this statement, Farhad reacted: â€Å"Are you making insult at me?† The store owner continued in insulting Farhad and he said: â€Å"Is that the closest you can come to English.† Farhad emphasized that he can speak English and that he has rights to buy a gun: â€Å"Yes, I speak English. I am an American citizen†¦I have rights to buy guns!† Then the store owner reminded Farhad about 9/11, which made Farhad angrier. The owner called the guard, which led Farhad outside the door, while Dorri was left inside the store to demand either their money back or that the owner give them the gun. The conflict was not handled effectively, because the store owner and Farhad both had negati ve stereotypes about each other, which they used to prejudge each other’s motives and actions. Stereotypes are â€Å"preconceived opinions† about someone that tend to be â€Å"negative and reflect prejudices, preconceived opinions of dislike, hostility, or unjust behavior† (Sole, 2011, section 7.2).

A Doll's House Play Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Doll's House Play - Essay Example It would also be discussed whether her decision to leave are justified or not. The Fisher girl costume that Nora wore in the play symbolizes the pretentious lifestyle that she was living as this was used to show that she was hiding under this costume. Italy as used in the play also symbolizes the false image that was portrayed by Nora. The macaroon that was eaten by Nora also showed Nora’s deceit to her husband. Nora was deceptive to her husband and she definitely hid her feelings from him and this was the symbolism of the Macaroon in the play. â€Å"Are you happy now? There - there - there - don't look like a frightened little dove - the whole thing's just sheer imagination. Now, you must rehearse your tarantella - with the tambourine. I'll go sit in the inner room and shut the doors, so you can make all the noise you like - I shan't hear a thing.† (Ibsen 190). The tarantella dance by Nora also suggests her unhappiness as a wife and a mother. This tarantella dance was used to show Nora’s struggle with life and her agitation with her husband. â€Å"Nora, darling, you're dancing as if your life depended on it!† (Ibsen 204). Evidence to show that Nora is unhappy with the life that she leads as a wife and mother was when she realized that she had been hiding under another person’s shadow and pretending to be what she was not. ... She was also not happy that, she had to secretly work in order to pay off her loan as it was illegal for a woman to procure a loan without the consent of her husband. These were signs that she was unhappy with the way she lived as a wife and a mother as she could no longer continue living like that. Nora was blackmailed by Krogstad and it was actually after this that readers would learn that she is unhappy. She then begins to consider her concept of freedom and decide within herself whether she was happy or not. It was at this point that the reader begins to discover that she was unhappy with the life she led as a wife to Torvald. Thus, it was clear that Nora was unhappy with the manner at which she had been made to cope with the orders and edicts of her husband. â€Å"Still it was tremendous fun sitting there working and earning money. It was almost like being a man.† (Ibsen 162) It was now clear that she wanted to break free from her familial obligations as she sought to pur sue her own ambitions. Nora made her decision to leave after coming to the sudden realization that she was living her father’s life. She discovered that her marriage was actually contracted in order to please her father and the dictates of the society. It was Nora’s realization of the truth about her life that influenced her decision to leave her husband; quit her marital status and abandon her children. She wanted to be independent and she was of the opinion that, being under a man that her heart was not right with would hinder her from really being the kind of independent woman she would have loved to be. â€Å"It's a sweet little bird, but it gets through a terrible amount of money. You wouldn't believe how much it costs a man when he's got a little song-bird like you!† (Ibsen

The Major Battles of the Civil War Essays -- Civil War History Histori

The Major Battles of the Civil War No other war seems to hold our focus like the Civil War. Scholars have chosen to make it their life's work, authors have written reams about it, and we all feel some kind of connection to the Civil War. This paper was created to highlight some of the major battles that took place during that conflict. Major battles usually marked a drastic change in the momentum from one side to the other or led to massive losses of troops. These battles and their results all played a huge part in the outcome of the war. One of the war’s first battles was the Battle of First Bull Run. Today's site of the Battle of First Bull Run is a tranquil pasture surrounded by trees and a split rail fence. Instead of the neigh of a horse, you'll hear, in the distance, the sound of passing cars. A community college has a campus nearby, couples enjoy the sunshine and a nice walk, and a few kites fly leisurely in the breeze held by the hands of children. It's nothing like July 21, 1861; it's quiet. Everyone in Washington and the surrounding area had heard talk of the troops gathering outside Manassas Junction, Virginia. Expectations ran high that the Union troops would quickly send their Confederate brothers running for the hills. Buggies of spectators traveled the thirty miles from Washington to see the battle. Picnic baskets were opened and folks prepared to watch the show. No one expected what they saw. This wasn't one of the biggest battles of the war, but it was the formal opening for both sides. Of the 32,500 Confederate soldiers, 1,982 of them became casualties, while the Union counted 2,896 casualties from 35,000 troops. Many thought this would quickly settle the dispute; all it did was prepare everyone for a long war and move the Federal government into action. Another major battle took place at Shiloh. Isn't it strange that a battle as bloody as the battle at Shiloh would begin on a Sunday morning and be named for a country church near the battlefield? Maybe the soldiers didn't even see the irony. Then again, maybe someone did. The Union soldiers weren't prepared for the charge of their Confederate brothers. Many of the Union troops were untrained and undisciplined, but as in so many battles of war, mundane events served to alter the future. General Albert S. Johnston, CSA, had given his commanding generals orders to attack ... ...uring the Peninsula Campaign in 1862. He impressed his commanding general, Major General George McClellan, and steadily made rank afterward. Meade commanded a division at Antietam and the V Corps at Chancellorsville. Lincoln chose Meade to replace Major General Joseph Hooker in June 1863, as the commander of the Army of the Potomac. Meade was criticized for not pursuing the Rebel forces after the battle, but that didn't shake Lincoln's faith in Meade. Meade held command of the Army of the Potomac until the end of the war and became the most successful and longest serving Union commander. There were many battles that followed the battle of Gettysburg. Some were more important than others, but all played a part in the outcome of the war. The victories by the Union at Petersburg and Richmond led General Robert E. Lee to surrender at Appomattox. This effectively brought the most horrifying war in American History to an end. Many American soldiers died but not in vein. They fought for our country and to help hold it together. These battles and many more just show us how horrible war was, but without these battles America wouldn’t be what it is today, a unified and free country.