The Simpsons Essay Example for Free

The Simpsons Essay Does Matt Groening succeed in making his cartoon show appeal to such a wide audience? Discuss one particular episode of The Simpsons in detail The Simpsons is made to the highest production values with the most complex and sophisticated scripts animation has yet seen. An amazing fifteen scriptwriters re-write the whole show eight to nine times before it is considered to be finished. Each episode of the Simpsons is carefully constructed from twenty to thirty thousand drawings, which are sent to Korea to be oil painted by professional artists. The show uses a thirty six piece orchestra for its background music, which creates a wide selection of audio effects and life like sounds and the music is especially composed to fit the mood of the scene, helping to boost the emotions felt by the viewers. The Simpsons has become one of the most popular cartoon shows yet to be produced, as it is shown in many countries over the world in many different languages. The Simpsons, becoming such a success and accomplishment, has made its money for Fox TV, helping it to save Rupert Murdochs massive multi national corporation, from bankruptcy when it was launched. Every episode of The Simpsons begins with a short two minute credit, in which the viewers are very cunningly told about each of the characters. The credits begin with blissful and godly music suggesting an angelic family and The Simpsons title coming towards the viewers from behind moving clouds. But what we are about to see next we find out that the Simpsons are far from being angelic. The camera takes a long range overview of Springfield, zooming through the town towards the local elementary school where we see Bart writing detention lines already suggesting that he is badly behaved. As the school bell rings Bart dashes out of the door leaving for home on his skateboard. The focus then switches to Homer, whom we see is working at the nuclear power plant. He is working with some green radioactive rod when he hears the bell, indicating the end of the shift. Quickly forgetting what he is doing, Homer drops the rod which bounces back into his overall without him noticing. By just watching this we can see that homer is reckless and immature. He only realises the radioactive rod down his back later in the credits. After that we see Marge with Maggie in the supermarket where Marge is reading a ladies magazine. This, as we can clearly see is satirizing American wives who basically have to do every household chores as well as doing the shopping etc. Following on from Marge and Maggie we then see Lisa in a music lesson where she is playing the saxophone in a different tune to the rest of the class. This tells us that Lisa is independent and different. Next we view that all the members of the family are going home to watch TV. Matt Groening is again satirizing Americans through the Simpsons as he is telling us that all Americans revolve around television. Anyway as the family are about to sit down on the couch and watch TV, something bizarre or hilarious always happens to the couch like it turns into a fish or runs away. This couch gag changes every episode like Barts detention lines and real Simpsons fanatics will be looking forward for every episode to see what the new detention lines and the couch gags are. All this is crammed into a space two minutes and therefore the credits are always quick, accompanied by fast flowing background music. The scene that I am going to study in depth is the therapy centre of the episode Theres no disgrace like home. Here Homer takes the whole family to this therapy centre where it guarantees saintly family. He saw this therapy commercial in Moes bar where Dr Marvin Monroe says that for only $500 he can cure badly behaved families or double the money back. So seeing the commercial and really convinced he goes home and wants to sell the TV. But Marge so desperate for the TV, offers her engagement ring. This is a clear satire on American family as it tells us that all American people revolve around TV and value nothing else. However homer sells the TV and takes the family to the therapy centre. At the centre they meet Dr Marvin Monroe where he sets the family their first task, which is to draw a picture of the centre of violence in the family. Everyone else draws Homer but Homer draws a fighter jet, clearly showing that he is paying no attention what so ever. Then the family are given foam mallets to gently hit each other, but Bart removes the foam from the mallets so only the metal stick remains. This satirizes all American violence in general. Nevertheless the most important scene is where the family are linked to electric chairs and are told to zap each other in turns. This goes too far as the family zap each other so much that Springfield runs out of electricity. This satirizes American belief in psychotherapy and the American electric chair. The scene was taken from the original A clockwork Orange directed by Stanley Kubrick and as a result will be funny to those film fans. So in the end Dr Marvin Monroe kicks the family out as they achieve no results. But Homer tells Dr Marvin Monroe that the therapy commercial said that if there was no result there would be double the money back. Now nervous, Dr Marvin Monroe tells homer that did he believe in the commercial satirizing American people as it tells us that TV is their life. Nowhere to go Dr Marvin Monroe pays Homer $1000 and now the family are able to get a better-quality TV. At the beginning of the scene the family sell the dearly loved TV to pat for the therapy treatment and now at the end of the scene the family can by a better one, which takes the whole story round and round in a circle.

Should Cars be more Efficient Essay -- Transportation, Automobile Indu

Should Cars Be More Efficient? Since the industrial revolution, huge steps have been made in terms of discovering and utilizing new technologies and different types of fuel for the purposes of transportation. Before the advent of the modern automobile, the widely used means of transport were horses, carriages, and walking by foot. These means of transport posed major challenges due to the fact that transporting supplies from one warehouse to another was difficult. However, with the introduction of the first car, it was a great reap forward towards eliminating most of the transportation hurdles. The advent of automobiles was accompanied by a corresponding need to consume more fuel in form of oil and gas. At first, the environmental impact of emissions from vehicles was not felt as it could not be detected within a scope of a few years. However, the cumulative effects of the emissions from vehicles on the environment have led to the phenomenon global warming. The resultant heated debate has been whether stakeholders in the automobile industry and governments should strive to make cars more fuel-efficient. This paper expounds on whether investments are worth being made towards making cars more efficient in a bid to reduce the degree of pollution coming from current types of cars. In addition, it argues whether the focus ought to be making cars with a motive to make profit. In effect, the general idea presented in the paper is which ought to be the best way of ensuring that vehicles produced are efficient for individuals, the environment, and the economy at large. It is no doubt that automobiles have become a way of life in the current society besides the transport sector contributing immensely to the economic growth of every cou... ...n the auto industry, the government, consumers, and environmentalists have indispensable roles to play in fulfilling this agenda. Though some opponents of this idea have cited a potential lack of a ready market, it is clear from the discussion that resources can be marshaled towards making new cars affordable. Efficient cars will promote clean and efficient transportation. Alternatives such as hybrid and electric vehicles and technologies such as aerodynamics and direct injection gas engines can be harnessed to make this venture a reality. The economy would benefit a great deal from saving a lot of money that goes into oil importation and many job opportunities would be created. The costs that have resulted from the impacts of global warming are an enormous burden to the economy. It would be a relief to the economy if more efficient cars are produced. Should Cars be more Efficient Essay -- Transportation, Automobile Indu Should Cars Be More Efficient? Since the industrial revolution, huge steps have been made in terms of discovering and utilizing new technologies and different types of fuel for the purposes of transportation. Before the advent of the modern automobile, the widely used means of transport were horses, carriages, and walking by foot. These means of transport posed major challenges due to the fact that transporting supplies from one warehouse to another was difficult. However, with the introduction of the first car, it was a great reap forward towards eliminating most of the transportation hurdles. The advent of automobiles was accompanied by a corresponding need to consume more fuel in form of oil and gas. At first, the environmental impact of emissions from vehicles was not felt as it could not be detected within a scope of a few years. However, the cumulative effects of the emissions from vehicles on the environment have led to the phenomenon global warming. The resultant heated debate has been whether stakeholders in the automobile industry and governments should strive to make cars more fuel-efficient. This paper expounds on whether investments are worth being made towards making cars more efficient in a bid to reduce the degree of pollution coming from current types of cars. In addition, it argues whether the focus ought to be making cars with a motive to make profit. In effect, the general idea presented in the paper is which ought to be the best way of ensuring that vehicles produced are efficient for individuals, the environment, and the economy at large. It is no doubt that automobiles have become a way of life in the current society besides the transport sector contributing immensely to the economic growth of every cou... ...n the auto industry, the government, consumers, and environmentalists have indispensable roles to play in fulfilling this agenda. Though some opponents of this idea have cited a potential lack of a ready market, it is clear from the discussion that resources can be marshaled towards making new cars affordable. Efficient cars will promote clean and efficient transportation. Alternatives such as hybrid and electric vehicles and technologies such as aerodynamics and direct injection gas engines can be harnessed to make this venture a reality. The economy would benefit a great deal from saving a lot of money that goes into oil importation and many job opportunities would be created. The costs that have resulted from the impacts of global warming are an enormous burden to the economy. It would be a relief to the economy if more efficient cars are produced.

The Bald Eagle

The bald eagle or Haliaeetus leucocephalus, a specie of sea eagles, is the only eagle that is unique to North America. Recognized for being the national bird of the United States, it can be found today over the North American expanse from northern Mexico, to Canada and to Alaska where approximately half of the estimated total population of 70,000 live (Bald Eagle Information).Together with the Golden eagle, the bald eagle or American bald eagle, is the largest of the eagles. It has a wingspan that reaches some 79 to 89 cm.  long, an average weight of around 14 pounds for males (females are slightly larger and heavier) and a strong and large hooked beak two inches long and one inch deep (Merry  ¶ 1).Classification Class: Aves (birds) Order: Falconiformes (along with falcons, hawks, old-world vultures, condors, buzzards, kites, caracars, ospreys, harriers, accipiters, secretary birds and bateleurs) Sub-family: Buteoninae (together with true buzzards, true eagles and other sea eagle s) Family: Accipitridae (hawks and eagles) Genus: Haliaeetus (all sea or fish eagles) Species: leucocephalus (derived from the Latin word â€Å"leukos† that means white)There are two sub-species of bald eagles: Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus or the traditional â€Å"southern† variety, which lives in the gulf states, south of 40 degrees north latitude and the slightly larger Haliaeetus leucocephalus alascanus or â€Å"northern† bald eagle, which inhabit the states north of 40 degrees north latitude across North America (Bald Eagle Information P 1-3). Living Habits Bald eagles inhabit North America because of the abundance of their diet sources. The rivers and streams in Washington, Montana and Alaska are visited by the American eagles in large numbers during the spawning seasons of salmon, shad and eulachon.The bald eagle is primarily a scavenger bird that feeds on dead, dying or weakened fish and other prey but they have the predatory skills and equipmen t when needed (Merry  ¶ 4-5). Based on radio telemetry, the American bald eagles have been shown to regularly roost right after dawn, alternatively glide and flap on its flight direct to their favorite feeding perch and roost back in the evening (Merry  ¶ 8). Maturity, Mating and Nesting At juvenile age, the American bald eagle is a mix of brown and white feathers. They attain sexual maturity when they reach four or five years of age.Adult eagles are covered with white head, neck and tail feathers and blackish-brown breast and back feathers (General Fact). They build their eyries or nests atop tall trees near bodies of water or coasts where they perch. Bald eagles, who mate for life or until the death of their partners, use and add sticks and leaves to the same eyrie year after year. Two to three eggs are laid every spring; the males help the females in incubating the eggs from 35 to 40 days. The eaglets, when hatched, are covered with grayish-white downy and will need to be fed by their parents until they become six eight weeks old.At 9 to 14 weeks, they fledge and at 4 months old, the eaglets come of their own. As Endangered Specie The American bald eagle was categorized as endangered for over half a century until the United States Fish and Wildlife Service upgraded its status to ‘threatened' in July 1995. Earlier in 1967, the specie was officially listed as an endangered species in most of the lower parts of the country because of continuing decline for several decades because of the loss of habitat, prey and the then widespread use of the pesticide DDT.In 1973, the Endangered Species Act was passed in a bid to halt the loss of several endangered animal species and to help reverse environmental degradation. The Endangered Species Act has been shown to be at least fairly effective at preventing the extinctions of many animal species, including the bald eagle whose number increased from under 500 in 1963 to over 9,000 pairs in 2006 (Wikipedia, Endan gered Species Act  ¶ 19). References bald eagle. (2007). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved March 5, 2007, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Online: http://www. britannica. com/eb/article-9011927 Endangered Species Act. (2007, March 1).In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 12:35, March 5, 2007, from http://en. wikipedia. org/w/index. php? title=Endangered_Species_Act&oldid=111852673. General Facts About Bald Eagles. American Bald Eagle Information Site. Retrieved 05 March 2007 from http://baldeagleinfo. com/eagle/eagle-facts. html. Homepage. American Bald Eagle Information Site. Retrieved 05 March 2007 from http://baldeagleinfo. com/index. html. Merry, Sondra. Species: American Bald Eagle or Haliaeetus Leucocephalus. University of Wisconcin. Retrieved 05 March 2007 from .

10 Radon Facts (Rn or Atomic Number 86)

Radon is a natural radioactive element with the element symbol Rn and atomic number 86. Here are 10 radon facts. Knowing them could even save your life. Fast Facts: Radon Element Name: RadonElement Symbol: RnAtomic Number: 86Element Group: Group 18 (Noble Gas)Period: Period 6Appearance: Colorless Gas Radon is a colorless, odorless, and flavorless gas at ordinary temperature and pressure. Radon is radioactive and decays into other radioactive and toxic elements. Radon occurs in nature as the decay product of uranium, radium, thorium, and other radioactive elements. There are 33 known isotopes of radon. Rn-226 is the most common of these. It is an alpha emitter with a half-life of 1601 years. None of the isotopes of radon are stable.Radon is present in the Earths crust at an abundance of  4 x10-13  milligrams per kilogram. It is always present outdoors and in drinking water from natural sources, but at a low level in open areas. Its mainly a problem in enclosed spaces, such as indoors or in a mine.The US EPA estimates the average indoor radon concentration is 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). Its estimated approximately 1 in 15 homes in the US has high radon, which is 4.0 pCi/L or higher. High radon levels been found in every state of the United States. Radon comes from the soi l, water, and water supply. Some building materials also release radon, such as concrete, granite countertops, and wall boards. Its a myth that only older homes or ones of a certain design are susceptible to high radon levels, as the concentration depends on many factors. Because it is heavy, the gas does tend to accumulate in low-lying areas. Radon test kits can detect high levels of radon, which can generally be mitigated fairly easily and inexpensively once the threat is known.Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer overall (after smoking) and the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Some studies link radon exposure to childhood leukemia. The element emits alpha particles, which are not able to penetrate skin, but can react with cells when the element is inhaled. Because it is monatomic, radon is able to penetrate most materials and disperses readily from its source.Some studies indicate children are at higher risk from radon exposure than adults, probably becaus e they have more rapidly dividing cells, so genetic damage is more serious. Also, children have a higher metabolic rate.The element radon has gone by other names. It was one of the first radioactive elements that was discovered. Fredrich E. Dorn described radon gas in 1900. He called it radium emanation because the gas came from the radium sample he was studying. William Ramsay and Robert Gray first isolated radon in 1908. They named the element niton. In 1923, the name changed to radon, after radium, one of its sources and the element involved in its discovery.Radon is a noble gas, which means it has a stable outer electron shell. For this reason, radon does not readily form chemical compounds. The element is considered chemical inert and monatomic. However, it has been known to react with fluorine to form a fluoride. Radon clathrates are also known. Radon is one of the densest gases and is the heaviest. Radon is 9 times heavier than air.Although gaseous radon is invisible, when th e element is cooled below its freezing point (−96  °F or −71  °C), it emits bright luminescence that changes from yellow to orange-red as the temperature is lowered.There are some practical uses of radon. At one time, the gas was used for radiotherapy cancer treatment. It used to be used in spas, when people thought it might confer medical benefits. The gas is present in some natural spas, such as the hot springs around Hot Springs, Arkansas. Now, radon is mainly used as a radioactive label to study surface chemical reactions and to initiate reactions.While radon is not considered a commercial product, it may be produced by isolating gases off of a radium salt. The gas mixture can then be sparked to combine hydrogen and oxygen, removing them as water. Carbon dioxide is removed by adsorption. Then, radon may be isolated from nitrogen by freezing out the radon. Sources Haynes, William M., ed. (2011). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (92nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. p. 4.122. ISBN 1439855110Kusky, Timothy M. (2003). Geological Hazards: A Sourcebook. Greenwood Press. pp. 236–239. ISBN 9781573564694.