SCOPE Essays - Construction, Building Materials, Concrete, Pavements

SCOPE This specification covers the general requirements of, filling sand in the floor and PCC in foundation as shown on the drawings and as directed by engineer and all operations covered within the intent and purpose of this specification. DRAWINGS Engineer will issue further drawings wherever, in his opinion such drawings are required to show areas to be excavated/filled, sequence of priorities etc. Contractor shall follow strictly such drawings. GENERAL Contractor shall furnish all tools, plants, instruments, qualified supervisory personnel, labour, materials, any temporary works, consumable, any and everything necessary, whether or not such items are specifically stated herein for completion of the job in accordance with specification requirements. SAND FILLING IN PLINTH AND UNDER FLOORS: After the available suitable excavated materials are exhausted as backfilling, the contractor shall notify the Engineer-in-Charge, of the fact and levels taken jointly with Engineer-in-Charge. The earth, murrum, sand, gravel etc. or such materials suitable for filling proposed to be filled under floors and so mentioned in the item of schedule of quantities shall then be brought to site from approved locations and sources. i ) Earth Filling: The earth, soft murrum etc. so brought shall be filled up in layers of 15 cm depth, each layer being well watered and consolidated by approved hand or mechanical tampers or other suitable means to achieve the required density. ii) Gravel or Sand Filling: Gravel if required to be filled under floors, shall be single washed gravel of approved quality and of size varying from 12 mm. to 20 mm. it shall be uniformly blinded with approved type of soil and/or sand to obtain full compaction. Gravel shall be filled in specified thickness and shall be well watered and rammed entirely to the satisfaction of the Engineer-in-Charge. If sand is required to be filled under floors, it shall be clean, medium grained and free from impurities. The filled in sand shall be kept flooded with water for 24 hrs. to ensure maximum consolidation. Any temporary work required to maintain sand under flooded condition shall be done by the contractor at his own cost. The surface shall then be well dressed and got approved from Engineer-in-Charge before any other work is taken over the fill. PAYMENT Measurement for payment of 'Sand Filling' shall be made on the basis of actual area filling in Square meter. Payment shall be made for the number of Square meter measured as per unit rate quoted in the Bill of Quantities. The unit rate shall include full cost of labor, tools/equipment, materials and all other costs necessary for the performance and completion of the Works in the workmanlike manner. PCC IN FOUNDATION PCC (1:1: 3) for Foundation Specification for Materials: Cement : Cement shall confirm to IS 269-1976. Ordinary Portland cement shall be used when no type is specified. The weight of OPC shall be taken as 1440kg per cu. m. and rapid hardening cement as 1210kg per cu. m. Each bag of cement should be undisturbed and scaled 50kg. Tests : Tests for cement are carried out as indicated IS 269-1958. Ordinary cement stored for more than 2 months from the date of receipt from the factory shall be subjected to test and used only found satisfactorily. Storage : Cement must be fresh and stored on planks raised 15 to 20cm away from the walls. Not more than 15 bags shall be stacked vertically in one pile and maximum width of the pile should not be more than 3m. Sand: Sand shall confirm to IS 383-1965. It shall be river sand or pit sand. It shall be free from mica. Clay, silt content must not be greater than 5%. If so, sand shall be washed before use. Sand shall be well graded. Coarse Aggregate: It shall confirm to IS 383-1965. Water: Portable water shall be used for mixing concrete and curing the work. Combination of materials : Proportion: The proportion of cement, sand and aggregate shall be 1 part cement, 3/2 part sand and 3 part coarse aggregate. Batching/measurement: The measurement of cement sand and aggregate shall be by weight. If less than 1 cubic meter by volume', shall be permitted. Mixing: Cement, sand and aggregate shall be mixed in mechanical mixture

Biography of Vlad the Impaler, Inspiration for Dracula

Biography of Vlad the Impaler, Inspiration for Dracula Vlad III (between 1428 and 1431–between December 1476 and January 1477) was a 15th-century ruler of Wallachia, an east European principality within modern Romania. Vlad became infamous for his brutal punishments, such as impalement, but also renowned by some for his attempt to fight the Muslim Ottomans, even though Vlad was only largely successful against Christian forces. He ruled on three occasions- 1448, 1456 to 1462, and 1476- and experienced new fame in the modern era thanks to links to the novel Dracula. Fast Facts: Vlad III Known For: East European 15th-century rule who was the inspiration for DraculaAlso Known As: Vlad the Impaler,  Vlad III Dracula, Vlad Tepes, Dracuglia, DrakulaBorn: Between 1428 and 1431Parents: Mircea I of Wallachia, Eupraxia of MoldaviaDied: Between December 1476 and January 1477Spouse(s): Unknown first wife, Jusztina SzilgyiChildren: Mihnea, Vlad  Drakwlya Early Years Vlad was born between 1428 and 1431 into the family of Vlad II Dracul. This nobleman had been allowed into the crusading Order of the Dragon (Dracul) by its creator, the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, to encourage him to defend both Christian east Europe and Sigismund’s lands from encroaching Ottoman forces and other threats. The Ottomans were expanding into eastern and central Europe, bringing with them a rival religion to that of the Catholic and Orthodox Christians who had previously dominated the region. However, the religious conflict can be overstated, as there was an old-fashioned secular power struggle between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Ottomans over both Wallachia- a relatively new state- and its leaders. Although Sigismund had turned to a rival of Vlad II’s soon after initially supporting him, he came back to Vlad and in 1436 Vlad II became voivode, a form of prince, of Wallachia. However, Vlad II then broke with the Emperor and joined the Ottomans in order to try to balance the rival powers swirling around his country. Vlad II then joined the Ottomans in attacking Transylvania, before Hungary tried to reconcile. Everyone grew suspicious, and Vlad was briefly ousted and imprisoned by the Ottomans. However, he was soon released and reconquered the country. The future Vlad III was sent along with Radu, his younger brother, to the Ottoman court as a hostage to ensure that his father stayed true to his word. He didn’t, and as Vlad II vacillated between Hungary and the Ottomans, the two sons survived simply as diplomatic collateral. Perhaps crucially for Vlad III’s upbringing, he was able to experience, understand, and immerse himself into Ottoman culture. Struggle to be Voivode Vlad II and his eldest son were killed by rebel boyars- Wallachian noblemen- in 1447, and a new rival called Vladislav II was put on the throne by the pro-Hungarian governor of Transylvania, called Hunyadi. At some point, Vlad III and Radu were freed, and Vlad returned to the principality to begin a campaign aimed at inheriting his father’s position as voivode, which led to conflict with boyars, his younger brother, the Ottomans, and others. Wallachia had no clear system of inheritance to the throne. Instead, the previous incumbent’s children could equally claim it, and one of them was usually elected by a council of boyars. In practice, outside forces (mainly the Ottomans and Hungarians) could militarily support friendly claimants to the throne. Factional Conflict What followed were 29 separate reigns of 11 separate rulers, from 1418 to 1476, including Vlad III thrice. It was from this chaos, and a patchwork of local boyar factions, that Vlad sought first the throne, and then to establish a strong state through both bold actions and outright terror. There was a temporary victory in 1448  when Vlad took advantage of a recently defeated anti-Ottoman crusade and its capture of Hunyadi to seize the throne of Wallachia with Ottoman support. However, Vladislav II soon returned from crusade and forced Vlad out. It took nearly another decade for Vlad to seize the throne as Vlad III in 1456. There is little information on what exactly happened during this period, but Vlad went from the Ottomans to Moldova, to a peace with Hunyadi, to Transylvania, back and forth between these three, falling out with Hunyadi, renewed support from him, military employment, and in 1456, an invasion of Wallachia- in which Vladislav II was defeated and killed. At the same time Hunyadi, coincidentally, died. Ruler of Wallachia Established as voivode, Vlad now faced the problems of his predecessors: how to balance Hungary and the Ottomans  and keep himself independent. Vlad began to rule in a bloody manner designed to strike fear into the hearts of opponents and allies alike. He ordered people to be impaled on stakes, and his atrocities were inflicted on anyone who upset him, no matter where they came from. However, his rule has been misinterpreted. During the communist era in Romania, historians outlined a vision of Vlad as a socialist hero, focused largely around the idea that Vlad attacked the excesses of the boyar aristocracy, thus benefiting the ordinary peasants. Vlad’s ejection from the throne in 1462 has been attributed to boyars seeking to protect their privileges. Some chronicles record that Vlad bloodily carved his way through the Boyars to strengthen and centralize his power, adding to his other, and horrific, reputation. However, while Vlad did slowly increase his power over disloyal boyars, this is now believed to have been a gradual attempt to try and solidify a fictionalized state beset by rivals, and neither a sudden orgy of violence- as some of the stories claim- or the actions of a proto-communist. The existing powers of the boyars were left alone, as just the favorites and enemies who changed position. This took place over several years, rather than in one brutal session. Vlad the Impaler’s Wars Vlad attempted to restore the balance of Hungarian and Ottoman interests in Wallachia  and swiftly came to terms with both. However, he was soon assailed by plots from Hungary, who changed their support to a rival voivode. War resulted, during which Vlad supported a Moldovan noble who would both later fight him and earn the epithet Stephen the Great. The situation between Wallachia, Hungary, and Transylvania fluctuated for several years, going from peace to conflict, and Vlad tried to keep his lands and throne intact. Around 1460 or 1461, having secured independence from Hungary, regained land from Transylvania, and defeated his rival rulers, Vlad broke off relations with the  Ottoman Empire, ceased paying his yearly tribute, and prepared for war. The Christian parts of Europe were moving toward a crusade against the Ottomans. Vlad may have been fulfilling a  long-term  plan for independence, falsely buoyed by his success against his Christian rivals, or planning an opportunistic attack while the sultan was east. The war with the Ottomans began in the winter of  1461-1462  when Vlad attacked  neighboring  strongholds and plundered into Ottoman lands. The response was the sultan invading with his army in 1462, aiming to install Vlad’s brother Radu on the throne. Radu had lived in the Empire for a long time and was pre-disposed to the Ottomans; they did not plan on establishing direct rule over the region. Vlad was forced back, but not before a daring night raid to try to kill the sultan himself. Vlad terrified the Ottomans with a field of impaled people, but Vlad was defeated and Radu took the throne. Expulsion from Wallachia Vlad did not, as some of the pro-communist and pro-Vlad historians have claimed, defeat the Ottomans and then fall to a revolt of rebel boyars.  Instead,  some of Vlad’s followers fled to the Ottomans to ingratiate themselves to Radu when it became apparent that Vlad’s army could not defeat the invaders. Hungary’s forces arrived too late to aid  Vlad- if they had ever  intended to help him- and  instead  arrested him, transferred him to Hungary, and locked him up. Final Rule and Death After years of  imprisonment,  Vlad was released by Hungary in 1474 or 1475 to seize back the Wallachian throne and fight against a forthcoming invasion by the Ottomans, on the condition he converted to Catholicism and away from Orthodoxy. After fighting for the Moldavians, he regained his throne in  1476  but was killed shortly after in a battle with the Ottoman claimant to Wallachia. Legacy and Dracula Many leaders have come and gone, but Vlad remains a well-known figure in European history. In some parts of Eastern Europe he is a hero for his role in fighting the Ottomans- although he fought Christians just as much, and more successfully- whereas in much of the rest of the world he is infamous for his brutal punishments, a byword for cruelty, and bloodthirstiness. Verbal attacks on Vlad were spreading while he was still very much alive, partly to justify his imprisonment and partly as a result of human interest in his brutality. Vlad lived at a time when print was emerging, and Vlad became one of the first horror figures in printed literature. Much of his recent fame has to do with the use of Vlad’s sobriquet Dracula. This literally means Son of Dracul and is a reference to his father’s entry into the Order of the Dragon, Draco then meaning Dragon. But when British author ​Bram Stoker named his vampire character Dracula, Vlad entered a whole new world of popular notoriety. Meanwhile, the Roman language developed and dracul came to mean devil. Vlad was not, as is sometimes assumed, named after this. Sources Lallanilla, Marc. â€Å"Vlad the Impaler: The Real Dracula Was Absolutely Vicious.†Ã‚  NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 31 Oct. 2013.â€Å"10 Fascinating Facts About The Real Dracula.†Ã‚  Listverse, 11 Oct. 2014.Webley, Kayla. â€Å"Top 10 Royals Who Would Have Been Terrible on Facebook.†Ã‚  Time, Time Inc., 9 Nov. 2010.

A Review Of The United States Scopes Trial

A Review Of The United State's Scopes Trial The modern world is the child of doubt and inquiry, as the ancient world was the child of fear and faith (p. 72). This statement was uttered by Clarence Darrow, the counsel for the defense of John Scopes during the monkey trial that rather questionably put Dayton, TN on the world s map in 1925. Similar words could have been uttered in many other occasions during human history, including in 1996, when the Tennessee legislature tried once more to gag educators and evolutionary biologists throughout the state. Historian and law professor Edward Larson s book on one of the many trials of the century is therefore much more than a very lively and informative piece of historical reconstruction and criticism. It is as relevant to present controversies as it would have been in the 20s. The trouble with the Scopes trial is that everybody thinks they know what happened, but they usually don t. Our image of the epic battle between Darrow and William Jennings Bryan has been shaped much more by its dramatization in Inherit the Wind, than by what actually happened in Dayton during the period that Darrow referred to as a Summer for the Gods (p. 177). And perhaps understandably so. The depictions of the key characters by Spencer Tracy, Gene Kelly, Frederich March, and Tony Randall are captivating and unforgettable. In dramatizing such epic events, however, not only does the story become more inaccurate, but it acquires all the flavor of a myth. And mythology is only the shadow of truth. In some sense, the modern perception of the Scopes trial is akin to our understanding of the other famous debate on evolution, the encounter between Thomas Huxley and Bishop Wilbeforce in 1860 immediately after the publication of Darwin s Origin. Evolutionists cling to the myth that Huxley smashed Wilbeforce in Oxford, and that truth prevailed over bigotry (Caudill, 1997), just as Darrow humiliated Bryan thereby giving evolution a long-lasting victory that went beyond the mere fact that Scopes was actually convicted. In some sense, this is true. Evolution won because it is now the accepted worldview among professional biologists. The victory was due not only to evolution s intrinsic scientific merits, but also to the enthusiasm catalyzed in young biologists in every country by the drama of the Oxford and Dayton debates. Technically, however, neither side actually won either debate. And that is because debates cannot be won: the supporters of each school of thought leave the debate feeling that their hero carried the day. But debates play another role. Rather than uncovering the truth, they are a unique opportunity to educate the usually silent majority of people who are not previously committed to one point of view. In fact, anti-evolutionist crusader Frank Norris wrote to Bryan before the trial: It is the greatest opportunity to educate the public, and will accomplish more than ten years campaigning (p. 123). Such is the nature of public debates, conducted more by campaigning and discursive technique than by logic and factual evidence. Nevertheless, this is a lesson that creationists have learned and exploited very well (Futuyma, 1995) and that has most unfortunately not been impressed into the minds of evolution scientists. Indeed, scientists who engage in debating creationists or organizing campus events to raise awareness of the scientific status of evolution (http://fp.bio.utk.edu/darwin) are generally chided by their colleagues for wasting time. As Skeptic Society president Michael Shermer put it while debating creationist Duane Gish (1997), truth has long been ascertained in the scientific arena; now it is a matter of convincing the public. And the stakes are much higher than most evolutionists think. Let us not forget that most of our funding comes from Federal agencies, and that their budgets are at the whim of politicians and, by extension, public opinion. It is a matter of fact that, for this reason, the National Science Foundation actively deletes the word evolution from layman abstracts of funded proposals (which are public record). That the creation-evolution debate was an educational, not a scientific matter was perfectly clear (to scientists) as early as the time of the Scopes trial. Larson relates the involvement of personalities such as Columbia University president Nicholas Butler, according to whom The Legislature and the Governor of Tennessee have [] made it impossible for a scholar to be a teacher in that State without becoming at the same time a law-breaker (p. 111). Princeton president John Hibben echoed that the anti-evolution law was outrageous and the trial absurd (p. 112). Yale president James Angell commented that the educated man must recognize and knit into his view of life the undeniable physical basis of the world (p. 112). George Bernard Shaw deplored what he referred to as the monstrous defense of fundamentalism. Albert Einstein added that any restriction of academic freedom heaps coals of shame upon the community (p. 112). As it was then, it remains today: an issue of academic freedom, an all-important issue for any educator. And it is an issue that is not going away, since while I am getting ready to submit this article for publication the Washington state senate is taking up yet another measure not to teach evolution as fact. As Randall aptly put it, sometimes we wonder if anyone ever learns anything (p. 246). Interestingly, the book s blurbs include endorsements by both Philip Johnson and Will Provine. The first is a creationist who has written extensively against Darwinism and evolutionism. The latter, himself a veteran of debates with creationists, is a distinct and foremost voice urging evolution scientists to engage creationists at every turn. Noticeably, both Provine and Johnson agree on what is actually a minority opinion within both scientists and Christians (albeit one characterized by an internally consistent logic): that evolution is in direct and irrevocable conflict with the Bible. However, the positive endorsement of Larson s book by both Provine and Johnson demonstrates that Summer for the Gods is indeed remarkably balanced. The author s objectivity, while commendable, is also appropriate, for the purpose of the book is not to resolve a scientific dispute (that has been settled long ago), but to present a historical explication of the case in its proper social context. This he achieves in a work that is scholarly, extremely well-documented, and an engrossing narrative accessible to a general audience. Larson displays the Scopes trial as a tapestry of interwoven threads, sometimes difficult to tease apart. There was science vs. religion, but also the intellectual north vs. the conservative south, a shade of racism (the Klan took upon itself to defend anti-evolutionism), the whole explosively mixed with local (damaged) pride generated from the still fresh wounds of the Civil War. Larson s reconstruction of the atmosphere that then reigned throughout the nation, in the southern states, and in Dayton in particular is very illuminating. But he also points out that the most important aspect of the battle was between two visions of democracy: Bryan s majoritarianism vs. Darrow s defense (sponsored by the American Civili Liberty Union) of minority rights. This tension remains with us today, as a major test of the health of a free society. As Arthur Hays, co-author with Mencken of several banned books, and a lawyer for the ACLU at the time put it: We should bear in mind that there may be n o greater oppression than by the rule of majority (p. 68).

Foreign Policies on Climate Change Memorandum Essay

Foreign Policies on Climate Change Memorandum - Essay Example First, to avert the potential dangers stemming from climate change in Africa and United States, the State has created multiple agencies to fight this menace. The president tasks each agency with specific responsibilities that are related to minimizing the effects of global challenges. This is because if unchecked, temperature increase could lead to food shortage and droughts. These responsibilities feature all probable potential consequences of climate change as well as allow for the addition of the unforeseen effects. Disasters arising from climate change effects, for example, storms are usually under the direct control of FEMA. However, delegate certain disasters like the rise in sea levels fall under the Department of Security. Also, other agencies are tasked with the responsibilities constructing canals and water dam plans in arid and semi-arid parts of the continent. This proposal has the advantage that it requires little funding and few initial resources. Furthermore, it provides helpful guides should any crisis arise. What is more is that responsibilities are made clear thus averting any conflicts that might arise due to inter- agency conflicts. The conflicts could potentially lead to wastage of money time, money, and even risk lives. Secondly, Africa has been hosting climate change summit after every two years. In particular, this helps keep the subject of climate change within the public discourse. It also fosters the pressure that results from an actionable strategy for climate change.

Gendering the Mythic World - Greek myth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Gendering the Mythic World - Greek myth - Essay Example It gives the information about the origin of all natural phenomena and mostly reflects the lives of ancient gods and heroes. The predominance of mythological consciousness refers mainly to the archaic era, associated primarily with its cultural life in the system of sense organization, where myth played a dominant role. In myths, people consider the events in a particular time sequence. However, the most important place takes not the frames of time, but starting point and essence of the story. Later Greek poets of early antiquity refused to use irony in relation to the myths, but exposed them to strong recycling, elevated by the laws of morality. In the mythological world, authors represent peace as the tribal community that unites its members. It forms a common model of life and behavior. â€Å"Classical Greek culture was strongly marked by gender segregation. Generally, the public sphere was associated with men, the domestic, with women. This segregation arises from Greek ideas ab out the human body and the biological differences between males and females. Although women’s bodies and voices were strictly controlled or semi-secluded in most areas of ancient Greek public life, women did have important public roles in one area: religious ritual. While women worshipped both male and female divinities and acted as priestesses in cult even as men acted as priests, performing many of the same activities, Greek ideas about the body affected ritual aspects of nonverbal behavior, especially regarding clothing, voice, and gesture† (Calef, S., 2009). The gender relationships in ancient Greek are one of the most interesting issues for the modern scientists. They predetermined the main peculiarities of coexistence of mortals and gods in the ancient world. The aim of this work is to analyze gender relationships in ancient Greek and their valuable features on the basis of myths. In ancient

Sikh Pride :: essays research papers

"Cut your hair, already", some fifth graders said as they pushed me against the hard brick wall. I tried to argue with them, but then one of them punched me in the gut. I fell to the ground crying. I remember feeling so confused, trying to figure out what had I done to them. People started crowding around, to see what was happening. Almost all the kids laughed at me, the older kids laughed because they were mean and the smaller ones laughed to fit in. Luckily, the bell rang and recess was over. I was truly "saved by the bell." I had put it off for too long; I had to tell my teacher about these bullies.I went to my teacher’s desk and whined to her, "Some older kids were bullying me in the playground. They told me to cut my hair.""You should cut your hair. So much hair is disgusting" she told me most spitefully.I went to my seat crying with anger, not to those bullies or my teacher, yet to myself for being, so weird. I was now determined to cut my hair before the day was over. Finally the long awaited moment had arrived; the day was over and my Mom and Dad were waiting for me outside to go home. My dad asked me how my day was so, I told him about my horrible day. I told him about the fifth graders bullying me and the teacher’s malicious comment towards me. I told him that I wanted to cut my hair today, and that my mind was made up. Understanding my situation my parents headed towards the closest barbershop. On the way to the barbershop I started looking at my parents, with their uncut hair. And I asked them why we had to have uncut hair. My parents stopped the car and they told me everything about my religion and why we don’t cut our hair. My parents told me that a saint named Guru Gobind Singh Ji first formed the Sikh religion. God told him that he was to make a new religion, a religion, in which the members have uncut hair.Now as I look back at what my parents told me; I understand that the Khalsa was founded not only to have a religion where nothing that god gave to us was changed. People weren’t supposed to cut their hair because God gave them hair and what he gave shouldn’t be changed.

Censorship: Fahrenheit 451 and Lounge Chairs

Censorship is what the government or a group of people make people think that there way is the right way of living. In the movie Wall-E, it shows a lot of censorship. They have made an illusion of what the perfect life looks like. Also in the book Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury the government have deprived the people of many things. In the movie Wall-Ethe humans have been sent from earth to live in a â€Å"cruise† on space due to pollution on earth has made is impossible for civilization to live on it. On space they have censored all real food, all food is liquid. There are lounge chairs for each person where they do everything they do no leave the lounge chairs only to go to sleep. The lounge chairs able them to communicate with people, play virtual sport and shop. They have been censored of all real things, like actually walking, being active, eating nutritious food, and having face to face conversation; due to this they are all obese and aren’t able to walk due to bone loss. In the book Fahrenheit 451 the government had made what is considered the ideal life. They are censored for thinking because they want everyone to be alike. They have also banned books because they are worthless and have too many ways of life and opinions and they want it to be one way only to be the right way. If they find out you have books they burn the books and your house. They are not very smart because they are deprived from learning a lot because it makes them think. The movie Wall-E and the book Fahrenheit 451 are very similar. What the government has portrayed as the perfect easy way of life is what the people believe is best for them. They have lived by the rules so many years that they don’t remember what the normal way of life is like anymore.