Stealth Aircraft Essays - Stealth Aircraft, Monoplanes,

Stealth Aircraft Stealth Aircraft Thesis: Military aircraft has become more sophisticated in variety, effectiveness in war situations, and special maneuvering techniques in recent years. Military aircraft has become more sophisticated in variety, effectiveness in war situations, and special maneuvering techniques in recent years. With the advance of stealth technology, many new and very effective aircraft have been developed. The F-117A was used during Operation Dessert Storm and every plane came back without a scratch. The very expensive B-2 stealth bomber has never been used in actual war, but during testing it was a success. The Advanced Tactical Fighter program was started to make an aircraft that could supercruise, the ability to cruise at supersonic speeds, and didn't cost very much. The YF-22 and YF-23 were the first planes to accomplish this. With all the planes we know of, there are also top secret programs probably going on right now. A new fighter that has never been heard of before has been spotted. As John Welch, the assistant secretary of Air Force said, "Stealth gives us back that fundamental element of war called surprise" (Goodall 9). After it was found that aircraft could be very useful in war, it was used for large scale reconnaissance. Then people started to add bombs to aircraft and then airplanes started to become an essence of war. After World War 2, new bombers were developed with fast speed, and could travel far distances. They could also carry nuclear bombs and missiles. The use of the bomber aircraft then led to the fighter, which was equipped with guns and missiles. Helicopters were also found to be good strike aircraft. They were armed with cannons, machine guns, rockets, torpedoes, and a variety of missiles. Vertical takeoff made the helicopter an advantage. The first flight of the F-117A was in June of 1981 in Groom Lake test facility. The total cost for the development of the F-117A was just under two billion dollars, but it only cost $43 million to make each plane. It became operational in October of 1983 and was the first operational stealth aircraft ever built. The F-117A is a night attack plane powered by two, nonafterburning General Electric engines. F-117As were designed for first-strike capabilities and to be able to fly into any countries airspace undetected. The primary task of the F-117A is to break through enemy airspace, destroy high value targets, and return back unharmed. They were considered to first be used in several different tasks, but weren't used until Operation Dessert Storm where they did an excellent job. As Donald Rice, Secretary of the Air Force, said, "Everyone now agrees the F-117 was a real bargain" (9). During Operation Dessert Storm the F-117As were found out to be very successful. The war began on January 16, 1991 when the F-117A fighters entered the Iraqi airspace on their way to downtown Baghdad. There were 43 of them over the skies of Iraq and not one was lost even though they went against one of the most modern air-defense systems in the world. Operation Dessert Storm was the largest aerial bombing attack in war history. It was also the first time a stealth aircraft was used as a main weapon. On the first day of Desert Storm the Lockheed F-117As dropped sixty-two 2,000 pound bombs on Baghdad destroying the most critical targets of the Iraqi military, including the headquarters of the Iraqi air force. "We've seen that not only does stealth work, but that it puts fewer assets at risk and saves lives" (9), as Donald Rice said. The pilots of those F-117As flew through the hardest anti-aircraft missiles any pilot has ever flown through. When you think of stealth, most people probably think of B-2 stealth bomber, but most people don't realize that it hasn't even been used in a real war situation yet. In November of 1987 the Pentagon ordered the first four B-2s to be built for $2 billion. Each B-2 cost $437.4 million to build. After the military liked the bomber, they originally ordered 133 of them, then they cut back to 75 because of the deficit-reduction bill. Then, in 1992, the House of Representatives voted to buy only twenty, and later only 15 saying that 10 would be enough. With four General Electric engines with 19,000 pounds of thrust each, the B-2s were made to carry a lot of weight. The Advanced Technology Bomber, as it was called, was made so it couldn't be spotted by enemy radar. After testing it was found out that it is almost impossible to track it constantly using radar. The B-2s were designed to be an all-flying wing and it is made up of

Free Essays on Urban Legends

Urban legends are reflections we have all heard of strange and gory stories that are supposedly true, experienced by a friend of a friend. Whether true or not these so called "urban legends" tend to circulate through individuals fears and curiosity. These tales do not survive throughout the years solely on the basis of their entertainment level, but due to the fact that they reflect fears. When hearing of others life threatening stories it gets the heart racing. That could happen to me. This connection is immediate because it asks for no suspension of belief. This is very possible that the tale has some truth to it and that the actions of the tale are quite believable, distinct, and real. Urban legends often times provide us with a glimpse of the real world. I feel Urban Legend is story passed on by each generation, mostly being false, but having some truth to it. When dealing with why urban legends are told, how people believe them, and who creates them, legends become very complex. Usually, the legends include several different versions that people chose to believe as true without actual evidence concerning the story. They are stories. Sometimes true, but mainly only believed to be true, they have been told over and over again always happening to a â€Å"friend† of a â€Å"friend.† Usually characterized by some combination of humor, horror, warning, embarrassment, morality or appeal to empathy, their goal is to teach a lesson. Urban legends are the type of stories to make you always aware of your surrounds.... Free Essays on Urban Legends Free Essays on Urban Legends Urban legends are reflections we have all heard of strange and gory stories that are supposedly true, experienced by a friend of a friend. Whether true or not these so called "urban legends" tend to circulate through individuals fears and curiosity. These tales do not survive throughout the years solely on the basis of their entertainment level, but due to the fact that they reflect fears. When hearing of others life threatening stories it gets the heart racing. That could happen to me. This connection is immediate because it asks for no suspension of belief. This is very possible that the tale has some truth to it and that the actions of the tale are quite believable, distinct, and real. Urban legends often times provide us with a glimpse of the real world. I feel Urban Legend is story passed on by each generation, mostly being false, but having some truth to it. When dealing with why urban legends are told, how people believe them, and who creates them, legends become very complex. Usually, the legends include several different versions that people chose to believe as true without actual evidence concerning the story. They are stories. Sometimes true, but mainly only believed to be true, they have been told over and over again always happening to a â€Å"friend† of a â€Å"friend.† Usually characterized by some combination of humor, horror, warning, embarrassment, morality or appeal to empathy, their goal is to teach a lesson. Urban legends are the type of stories to make you always aware of your surrounds....

A Definition of Socialism

A Definition of Socialism Socialism is a political term applied to an economic system in which property is held in common and not individually, and relationships are governed by a political hierarchy. Common ownership doesnt mean decisions are made collectively, however. Instead, individuals in positions of authority make decisions in the name of the collective group. Regardless of the picture painted of socialism by its proponents, it ultimately removes group decision making in favor of the choices of one all-important individual. Socialism originally involved the replacement of private property with a market exchange, but history has proven this ineffective. Socialism cannot prevent people from competing for what is scarce. Socialism, as we know it today, most commonly refers to market socialism, which involves individual market exchanges organized by collective planning. People often confuse socialism with the concept of communism. While the two ideologies share much in common (in fact, communism encompasses socialism), the primary difference between the two is that socialism applies to economic systems, whereas communism applies to both economic and political systems. Another difference between socialism and communism is that communists directly oppose the concept of capitalism, an economic system in which production is controlled by private interests. Socialists, on the other hand, believe socialism can exist within a capitalist society. Alternative Economic Thoughts Capitalism Capitalism is an economic system involving the private ownership over the means of production, distribution of goods, and the overall structure of businesses. Profit motive, via success, is a key driver in a capitalist society where millions of businesses must compete against one another to survive.Does Socialist High Taxation on the Rich Hurt the Poor? Do the rich actually pay for the higher taxes when they become law? Technically, the answer is yes. But the reality is that those costs are usually just passed on to other people or spending is restricted. Either way, the net effect is often a huge hit on the economy. Millions of small and medium-sized businesses fall into the target zone for higher taxation. If a small business is hit with higher costs due to an increase in fuel prices or raw goods, those increases are usually just passed on to the consumers, and those with less disposable income see their costs rise to sometimes devastating levels.Should Conservatives Opp ose a Higher Minimum Wage? Not only would raising the minimum wage reduce the number of available jobs, but it probably would fail to make life â€Å"cheaper† for these workers in the long run anyway. Imagine that every retailer, small business, gas station, fast food, and pizza joint was forced to increase the pay of their heavily teen, college-aged, part-time, and second-job workforce by 25%. Do they just go â€Å"oh okay† and do nothing to make up for that? Of course not. They either reduce employee headcount (likely not making their situations â€Å"better†) or increase the cost of their product or service. So while you boost the minimum wage of these workers (even assuming they are the working poor) it doesn’t matter much because the price of every product they plan to purchase from other retailers, fast food joints, and small business just skyrocketed to pay for the pay increases. At the end of the day, the value of the dollar is merely weakened, an d the ability to purchase goods becomes more expensive anyway. Pronunciation soeshoolizim Also Known As Bolshevism, Fabianism, Leninism, Maoism, Marxism, collective ownership, collectivism, state ownership Quotes â€Å"Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.†French historian and political theorist, Alexis de Tocqueville â€Å"As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents.†Author, George Orwell

Media Torrent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Media Torrent - Essay Example In his article â€Å"Supersaturation, or The Media Torrent and Disposable Feeling†, Todd Gitlin states his observation and provides sufficient evidence supporting the fact that media has great influence on our lives. Right from the time of emergence of television and internet, media has been influencing the lives of individuals whether it is through print, television, films or social networking websites. However one may take into account the fact that the notion of media saturation has gone through several significant amendments since the time Gitlin’s article was published. There are many evidences illustrated by Gitlin that support his ideas of â€Å"super-saturation† and â€Å"disposable feeling†. The literal meaning of â€Å"super-saturation† is to increase the concentration of solution beyond saturation. The word â€Å"super-saturation† is used by Gitlin for defining the notion that how the modern society has completely absorbed the internet and media. The society is completely immersed in the images and gossips that are being displayed by media. There is no clear line present, which distinguishes living space from working space. Outer world has invaded the inner world of people. Gitlin uses the phrase â€Å"disposable feeling† because individuals today are easily switching from one feeling to another, one scandal to another, without making effort to actually find out the hidden truth. I completely agree with Gitlin’s idea that media has its impact on our lives through several means and its component have gr adually immersed in our daily. We can easily observe the amount of movies and TV shows being watched and quantity of CD’s and cameras being used in today’s modern world. Gitlin states that the extensive use of internet has not diminished the use of media but has affected the flow of unlimited media. I do support the fact presented by Gitlin that Internet has revolutionized the use of media. Our hyper-mediated world is affected by internet to a great extent converting us from media users to media producers (Gitlin). Gitlin’s article to some extent downplays the massive influence that internet had on the society at the time it was penned. Despite of this fact many of the points suggested by Gitlin are still valid in today’s world. The emergence of the social networking website â€Å"Facebook† is the example of the actualization of Gitlin’s observation. This website is known for providing its users with hyper-mediated experience as it allows th em to upload photos, videos, texts and provide them variety of ways through which they are allowed to express themselves. Facebook media is different from the inherent media as on this social networking website a mass population is acting of watching other people’s activities. 600 million Facebook users actively participate in this process of acting and watching. They create their own replicas through their profiles. People become kings, queens, demons, angels and adopt the character of their choice, which is far away from reality. These websites have created a virtual world that is far from reality. Gitlin has also stated that individuals today have the authority to create their own content. This proposition of Gitlin can be easily implied to the communicative quality of Facebook where individuals develop their original content and portray it in a way different from reality. The experience of their life is no

Senators and Representatives Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Senators and Representatives - Research Paper Example The voters have tended to choose presidential candidates from the said party for three elections already. Apparently, this only gives the impression that the district may well be considered as a bulwark of the Republican Party. The presidential elections since the year 2000 provide figures that proved this conclusion. In 2000, when George W. Bush ran for president, he got 37 percent of the votes. As he continued to banner the war on terror, and riding on the bandwagon effect of the American response to 9/11, President Bush managed to be reelected. The 7th District of Virginia produced 38 percent of its registered voters in favor of the incumbent chief executive. While John McCain was very unpopular in other states, in the district, he and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin were able to obtain a majority of 53.16 percent of the votes (Virginia State Board of Elections, n.d.). This obviously made the tandem win in the district. All these figures only prove how the district’ s population has the tendency to favor one party over the other. The voters in the district also favor congressional candidates who belong to the Republican Party. From January 1971 until the present, the district has always had a Republican congressman. This means that the GOP has been dominant in the counties composing for about four decades already. However, this is not the case when it comes to the voters’ choice of senator. In the 2008 senatorial elections, Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat, won over Republican James Gilmore III with a huge margin of 88,461 votes. Sen. Warner took 62.25 percent of the total votes (Virginia State Board of Elections, n.d.). In the 2000 elections, however, a Republican, Sen. G.F. Allen won with a great majority also. As the presidential elections would show, it is clear that the 7th district of Virginia leans to the Republicans when it comes to choosing the country’s chief executive. This is the same tendency that is displayed in congress ional elections, particularly when it comes to selecting a representative in the lower house. Its choice for senator, however, has changed only in the last senatorial elections. It remains to be seen whether this signifies a start of a new trend. Rep. Eric Cantor is the district’s congressman. He has been considered as the Republican Party’s fast-rising leaders. Aside from being a lawyer, Rep. Cantor is also a businessman. Prior to being elected a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, he was a member of the state of Virginia’s legislative body. He was first noticed on Virginia’s political scene when he became part of the House of Delegates from 1992 until 2000 (Project Vote Smart, n.d.). In 2000, he was elected as congressman. It did not take long before he immediately became prominent in the halls of Congress. He first became popular among fellow Republicans in Congress which resulted in him being named as chief deputy majority whip for the party in 2002-2006. He later held the position of chief deputy minority whip in 2006-2008. As he became more accepted as a party leader, Rep. Cantor became minority whip for about two years in 2008. This year, his influence became even broader when he became the majority leader of the House of Representatives. Considering his growing influence in the Republican Party, it is only expected that Rep. Cantor’

The Child?s Hidden Tiger Essay -- essays research papers

The Child’s Hidden Tiger In the short story The Child by Tiger, Thomas Wolfe portrays mans dark side through the unexpected madness of the seemingly good-natured Dick Prosser and the actions taken by the town people. This story is set in an era when people believed race determined the moral character of a person. Many viewed blacks as social outcast and hence the cause of most crimes. This is true to the extent that African Americans were committing a large number of petty crimes, but were they really the cause. Many factors play into determining a cause, and in this case it is quite evident that the social conditions in which African Americans were forced to live in contributed to there social behavior. However, can these pressures push a man to mental madness and drive him towards mass murder? It is not just to say that he is without fault, but it is true to say that, the coldness of one man will decrease the warmth of another. The story gives us a glimpse of Dick’s life a short period before the cl imax. We are left to probe clues and use our imagination and intuition to come to a personal conclusion of why Dick committed mass murder. The time in which the story takes place was a period of severe racial discrimination especially toward Blacks. The most prevalent attitude toward African Americans was that they were somehow inferior to the whites. This is evident by the referral of Dick as the â€Å"Shepperton’s Negro man† (Wolfe 24). â€Å"Mr. Shepperton himself Arellano 2 declared ... The Child?s Hidden Tiger Essay -- essays research papers The Child’s Hidden Tiger In the short story The Child by Tiger, Thomas Wolfe portrays mans dark side through the unexpected madness of the seemingly good-natured Dick Prosser and the actions taken by the town people. This story is set in an era when people believed race determined the moral character of a person. Many viewed blacks as social outcast and hence the cause of most crimes. This is true to the extent that African Americans were committing a large number of petty crimes, but were they really the cause. Many factors play into determining a cause, and in this case it is quite evident that the social conditions in which African Americans were forced to live in contributed to there social behavior. However, can these pressures push a man to mental madness and drive him towards mass murder? It is not just to say that he is without fault, but it is true to say that, the coldness of one man will decrease the warmth of another. The story gives us a glimpse of Dick’s life a short period before the cl imax. We are left to probe clues and use our imagination and intuition to come to a personal conclusion of why Dick committed mass murder. The time in which the story takes place was a period of severe racial discrimination especially toward Blacks. The most prevalent attitude toward African Americans was that they were somehow inferior to the whites. This is evident by the referral of Dick as the â€Å"Shepperton’s Negro man† (Wolfe 24). â€Å"Mr. Shepperton himself Arellano 2 declared ...

Loneliness is an important theme in ‘Of Mice and Men’ Essay

In ‘Of Mice and Men’, there are three lonely characters. Candy, Crooks and Curleys wife. The novel is set in the 1930’s, and shows you what living conditions certain people were under. Candy is an old man, who has been working on the ranch, for years. He’s got his hand cut, by accident, and since then, he has always been at risk of getting fired. He’s a very lonely character, because of his age, and because he doesn’t spend time with the other workers, due to his accident. He has had a dog, since it was a puppy. And it seems that his dog, is the only loyal friend he has got. But since Carlson, has shot his dog, he has been feeling lonelier than ever. There is a lot of age discrimination. And everyone sees him as an old man, waiting to die. There’s a big comparison between Candy and his dog. His dog is also old and lonely, and Carlson wanting to shoot it, is like saying that Candy’s time is over as well. Also Candy feels guilty not shooting his dog himself, instead of a stranger (Carlson). â€Å"I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shooting my dog.† Candy’s dog was more than just a dog to him, it was his companion. Crooks is another lonely character in the novel. He has been working on the ranch, for a long time, and he also is injured. A horse kicked him on the back, and now he can’t stand up right. He lives in the stable buck, and keeps himself occupied with books. One of the books he has got is a copy of the ‘California Civil Code’ for 1905. I think he had this book to remind himself, that he has rights, even though he is black. Nobody will give him these rights though. I think he is the loneliest character in the novel. This is because his only communication is with the Boss, and his son Curley. As their conversations, are only about work, they don’t have a friendship with each other. But he still keeps his pride, for example, when Lennie comes to his room; he says, â€Å"You got no right to come in my room. This here’s my room. Nobody got any right in here but me.† He says that, even though he really wants to talk to somebody. But he assumes, that Lennie has the same attitude, as other white people. That’s why he says; he doesn’t want him in his room. But as he finds out, that Lennie’s ‘mind’ is like a kids, so he doesn’t share the same opinions about black people as white’s, he doesn’t mind him in his room. Crooks starts telling/asking Lennie what he would do if George didn’t come back, that indicates, that he is explaining how it is for him, how he hasn’t got anyone to confront. Then Lennie and Candy start telling Crooks about their dream. Then Crooks says, â€Å"†¦If you†¦guys would want a hand to work for nothing – just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand. I ain’t so crippled I can’t work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to.† Curley’s wife is the only female in the novel. Her status as the Boss’s son’s wife doesn’t make any difference on the ranch. As other male workers won’t associate with her, as they will get in trouble, with Curley, who is her jealous husband. She married Curley, not because she loves him, but because of his status, wealth and because she wanted to get away from home. She doesn’t have any friends, so therefore, to have conversations with the male workers; she has to flirt her way. She is very beautiful, and the workers find her very attracting. But because they don’t want to get into trouble, they try to stay away from her, by for example saying â€Å"Maybe you better go along your own house now. We don’t want no trouble.† She knows that they all fancy her in some way, e.g. â€Å"Funny thing, if I catch any one man, and he’s alone, I get along fine with him. But just let two of the guys get together an’ you won’t talk. Jus’ nothing but mad.† Because of the time and place (1930’s, Soledad), Curley’s wife, as a woman, don’t have as many rights as men, and living on a ranch with male workers, doesn’t make it any easier. In the novel, Steinbeck, has written Curleys’s wife’s character, so we wouldn’t have any sympathy for her. This might suggest that, he wants, to show/tell us, that men didn’t give any sympathy to women either. Lennie likes Curley’s wife a lot, because of her looks. So Curley’s wife takes advantage of that, by trying to build up a ‘friendship’ with him. Also to show him, that what the other male workers are saying isn’t true. That she can be sensitive, and that she isn’t trying to cause trouble to anyone. For example when she lets Lennie touch her hair, â€Å"Course I brush it a lot. That makes it fine. Here – feel right here.† She also tells Lennie about her dream, her dream to become an actress. She confines in him, because she thinks that he’s the only one who wants to listen to her. He’s a listener.