In Memory of Sean Collier

In Memory of Sean Collier Today, MIT dedicated a memorial to  Officer Sean Collier, who was killed in the line of duty by the Tsarnaev brothers  on April 18th, 2013. Sean was a beloved campus police officer, a  member of the MIT Outing Club, and  part of the MIT family. It is not the first memorial dedicated to Sean on campus. Last April, under cover of night, students installed Colliers Cranes, a hack of thousands of paper cranes hung suspended inside the Stata Center by the entrance near where Sean was killed. The memorial unveiled today is, however, the most permanent. Assembled out of 32 blocks of granite, carved from the New Hampshire quarries near which he loved to climb, this memorial to Sean will last as long as MIT does. Maybe it will last longer. This is a very difficult subject for me to write about, so I am going to stop and let you read a description of the memorial written by Professor J. Meejin Yoon, Head of the Department of Architecture at MIT and lead architect of the Collier Memorial. I will close with this: when I ran the Boston Marathon last Monday for Team MR8  in memory of my friend Martin Richard,  who was killed in the bombing two years ago, I also ran it for Sean. Professor Yoon: Situated on MIT’s campus where Officer Sean Collier was shot and killed on April 18, 2013, the Collier Memorial marks the site with a timeless structureâ€"translating the phrase Collier Strong into a space of remembrance through a form that embodies the concept of strength through unity. The memorial is composed of 32 solid blocks of granite that form a five-way stone vault, each block supporting the other to create a central covered space for reflection. Inspired by the gesture of an open hand, the memorial’s five-way shallow stone vault is buttressed by five radial walls that extend outward to the campus. The ovoid space at the intersection of the extending walls creates a passage, a marker, and an aperture, reframing the site of tragic loss. The intersection of the star-shaped extrusion and ovoid space creates a smooth curved surface that acts as a bevel marker under the vault with the inscription, In the line of duty, Sean Collier, April 18, 2013. The longest walls shelter the site from Vassar Street while the void creates an entry into the memorial. The two most acute walls point toward the specific location where Officer Collier was shot in the line of duty. Carved into the south-facing wall is an epitaph from Sean’s brother’s eulogy: Live long like he would. Big hearts, big smiles, big service, all love. Amidst the solid stone memorial are a cluster of honey locust trees that create a living canopy above the structure to mark the passage of time. In contrast, point lights set into the pavers permanently inscribe into the ground the constellation of stars in the sky the night of April 18, 2013. The design of the memorial combines age-old structural techniques for spanning masonry vaults with new digital fabrication and structural computation technologies to create an unprecedented form. The stone arch is among the most elemental of structural organizations, ordering materials in space and translating force into form. The design relies on the exact fit of the 32 stone blocks to transfer loads in pure compression from stone to stone. The shallowness of the massive stone vault overhead creates an effect of suspension and weightlessness, while the tapered geometry of the individual stone blocks that form the compression ring reveals the keystone geometry of the masonry arch. The fabrication process involved the cutting of quarried blocks of stone, first with a single-axis robotic block saw, then with a multiple-axis KUKA 500 robot. The vault geometry necessitates a perfect fit between blocks, and the robotic milling process produced final stone pieces that are within a 0.5 millimeter tolerance. The massive stone blocks were then set by masons through an elaborate scaffolding sequence. The design showcases new digital fabrication methods, as well as traditional stone setting masonry techniques, celebrating both contemporary technology and timeless craft. Methodologically, the design process for the Sean Collier Memorial involved a back-and-forth process between the construction of physical models (foam, wood, stone, and 3d-printed powder) and simulations with digital tools. The vaulted design of the Sean Collier Memorial embodies structural principles in its material configuration and symbolizes generosity as service. This didactic visualization of forces is consistent with MIT’s ethos of openness and transparency, while the idea that all five walls are needed to achieve a stable form is symbolic of a community coalescing to commemorate a loss. The permanent Collier Memorial will offer our community the opportunity to remember Officer Collier’s life and to honor his service as it reminds us of our values: openness in the face of threat, unity through diversity, and strength through community. All images courtesy of MIT News

Analysis Of George Orwell s The First Place - 1449 Words

The main purpose of an exposition is to bring out the relationship between the book and law. It not only takes into consideration the laws that are coded, but also the basic and natural laws that govern our everyday lives. This part shall highlight the reasons as to why the novel was written in the first place. It shall answer questions like why did the author bother to pick up a pen, articulate his thoughts into words, and take time to write such a lengthy piece in an organised manner. This part calls for exploration and asks the reader to delve into the intricacies of the thought process and beliefs of the author. It is said that George Orwell underwent a huge deal of trouble, not only mentally, but physically as well, during the period†¦show more content†¦First I spent five years in an unsuitable profession (The Indian Imperial Police, in Burma), and then I underwent poverty and the sense of failure. This increased my natural hatred of authority and made me for the first time fully aware of the existence of the working classes, and the job in Burma had given me some understanding of the nature of imperialism: but these experiences were not enough to give me an accurate political orientation. Then came Hitler, the Spanish Civil War, etc. By the end of 1935 I had still failed to reach a firm decision. The Spanish war and other events in 1936-37 turned the scale and thereafter I knew where I stood. Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism, as I understand it. It seems to me n onsense, in a period like our own, to think that one can avoid writing of such subjects. Everyone writes of them in one guise or another. It is simply a question of which side one takes and what approach one follows. And the more one is conscious of one s political bias, the more chance one has of acting politically without sacrificing one s aesthetic and intellectual integrity. ...I write because there is some lie that I want to expose, some fact to which I want to draw attention, and my initial concern is to get a hearing. ...Of late years I have tried to write less picturesquely and more exactly. ANIMAL FARM was the first book in

The Well Of Loneliness By Radclyffe Hall - 1383 Words

The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall is a (recently dubbed) lesbian novel that tells the story of Stephen, a sexual â€Å"invert† whose struggle with gender identity surfaces from a young age. In the novel, Stephen’s father, Sir Phillip, studies the theory of the â€Å"invert† of Karl Heinrich Ulrichs in order to understand Stephen’s internal conflict. Although the term â€Å"invert† has, since its use in the 1920’s, been extinct, an attempt to apply the term to Stephen’s issues of gender identity proves that she was not in fact an invert, but rather a woman, who loved women, and who enjoyed the attire and hobbies that are traditionally considered masculine. It seems as though Hall is not directly defining Stephen as an invert, but rather showing her readers that the lack of a more diverse and expanded discussion on gender identity has a detrimental effect on people who do not fit into the traditional sex-gender categories. In The Well of Loneliness, Stephen’s father refers to the works of Ulrichs to learn more about his daughter’s struggle as an â€Å"invert†. Ulrich’s concept of the â€Å"invert† explains that an invert is result of inverted gender identity. This occurs when a person of one sex finds himself or herself stuck in the body of the opposite gender. Stephen, however, does not seem to possess all the characteristics of an invert. Yes, she possess masculine likes and dislikes, but she does not express a desire to be fully male, only a wish to be able to freely behave and presentShow MoreRelatedThe Well Of Loneliness By Radclyffe Hall And Rubyfruit Jungle By Rita Mae Brown Essay1505 Words   |  7 Pagesbecause not everything is accomplished all at once. Although â€Å"The Well of Loneliness† by Radclyffe Hall and â€Å"Rubyfruit Jungle† by Rita Mae Brown, are two starkly different texts that strongly reflect the feminist eras in which they were writ ten, they have some similarities as well. One of the most obvious differences is the treatment of female sexuality and the female body. In â€Å"The Well of Loneliness†, this subject is almost nonexistent. The only time anything concerning

How Contract Breaches Affect Businesses Free Essays

A contract is an agreement between two parties, each agreeing to do or forbear from doing something. A contract, if properly formed, is legally binding and all parties to a contract are required to perform their respective obligations under the contract, failing which legal action can be taken. A failure or refusal to perform one’s obligations under the contract will be called a â€Å"breach† of the contract. We will write a custom essay sample on How Contract Breaches Affect Businesses or any similar topic only for you Order Now Contract breaches have wide ranging consequences both legal and practical to the parties to the contract. This article will address the various effects that contract breaches will have on businesses. Some of them are set out below:- (a) Injury to reputation – It is not good for a business’ reputation if word gets out that they have not honored their part of the contract. Other companies will be reluctant to do business with an entity which has previously defaulted on other contracts, especially when the default can be seen to be intentional or as part of a sharp business practice. The injury to reputation can be incalculable and can have long lasting effects on the company getting new business. (b) Events of default – Sometimes breaching a contract, especially if it involves payment of money, can expose you to legal action including insolvency proceedings. These will often trigger the â€Å"event of default† clause in a lot of commercial contracts, especially those involving financial institutions. This will of course have dire consequences and can affect the smooth operation of one’s business in the event an â€Å"event of default† clause is triggered. This of course goes without saying. (c) Legal fees – Breaches of contract, if serious enough, will often lead to litigation and dispute. It is no secret that legal fees can be exorbitant especially when the subject matter at stake runs into the millions. It is therefore important for all parties to involve to think carefully and try to avoid breaches of contract as the price you will pay to remedy the situation will far outweigh any good you can possibly receive from an intentional breach. d) Damage to relationship – It goes without saying that a breach of contract, especially intentional, will sour the relationship between the contracting parties. As it is often said, you should never burn your bridges and having a bad relationship with a commercial partner will not do well for one’s business and should be avoided at all costs. At the end of the day it is common knowledge that contract breaches bring nothing but negative consequences, and as far as possible, parties should try to stick to their contract obligations to the best of their ability. How to cite How Contract Breaches Affect Businesses, Papers

Wine of Astonishment free essay sample

The origins and early development of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Religion in Trinidad and Tobago are not well known but the consensus is the religion developed among the people of African descent during the Nineteenth Century. It can be found throughout the Caribbean under various names but according to Gibbs de Peza (10), the name Spiritual Shouter Baptist is indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago. It is a unique religion, comprising elements of Protestant Christianity and African doctrines and rituals. It is also one of the few religions indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago. The term Shouter was given to the Baptists because of their tendency to shout, clap and sing loudly during their religious services. It was a derogatory term imposed on them by mainstream society. During their fight to have the Shouters Prohibition Ordinance repealed, the Baptists decided to use the term Spiritual Baptists instead of Shouter Baptists, in an effort to gain respect for their religion. We will write a custom essay sample on Wine of Astonishment or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There are four theories that place the roots of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Religion in Africa, Britain, North America and St. Vincent.The first theory suggests that certain practices of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Faith can be traced directly to Africa – however this theory is not well documented. While researchers agree on Africa, there is some dispute as to where in Africa. Some religious practices of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Faith have been identified as being similar to that of Peoples or former Kingdoms in West Africa – particularly the Dahomey People (now situated in Benin), the Kongo People (now in Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo and part of Angola) and the Yoruba People (now primarily in Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Togo.Another segment of the influx of new settlers in 1797 was a group of former American Slaves who had supported Britain during the American War of Independence. They were rewarded for their loyalty with their freedom and grants of land in South Trinidad. They formed â€Å"Company Villages† that were named after the military companies in which they had served, for example, â€Å"Fifth Company, Moruga† (Henry, 2003). These settlers brought their Baptist faith with them and influenced the development of the indigenous Spiritual Shouter Baptist Faith.Viola Gopaul-Whittington (12) has stated anothe r theory that suggests the roots of the Spiritual Shouter Baptists can be found in the migration of fundamental Protestants, known as â€Å"Shakersâ€Å", from St. Vincent to Trinidad during the early part of the twentieth century. This explains the origins of the four Baptist groups in Trinidad and Tobago – the London Baptists, the Independent Baptists, the Fundamental Baptists and the Spiritual Shouter Baptists. Although the origins of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Faith in Trinidad and Tobago can be traced to foreign countries, it has evolved over time to become a unique, indigenous religion.It has managed to fuse the spontaneity and rhythms of Africa with the restrained, traditional tenets of Christianity to produce a religion that is vibrant, expressive and dynamic. PROHIBITION From 1917 to 1951 the Spiritual and Shouter Baptist faith was banned in Trinidad by the colonial government of the day. The legislation to enact this ban was called the Shouters Prohibition Ordinance and it was passed on 16 November 1917. The reason given for the ordinance was that the Shouters made too much noise with their loud singing and bell ringing and disturbed the peace.During worship, participants danced, shouted, s hook and fell to the ground in convulsions. Such behaviour was deemed unseemly by the more traditional and conservative elements in the society. Also, the established churches regarded such behaviour as heathen and barbaric. Furthermore, they were concerned about the large number of people who were leaving the traditional churches to join the Spiritual Baptist faith. The police, who had been persecuting the Baptists for several years, also wanted them silenced.Although not said openly, the real reason for the antagonism towards the Baptists was that many of their practices were of African origin. Things African were associated with the shame and degradation of slavery and a large part of the population of Trinidad did not want to be reminded of this. Hence the strong lobbying to have the religion banned. In the end, the colonial government responded to the complaints of the taxpayers, landowners and police by passing the Shouters Prohibition Ordinance. Those thirty-four years of prohibition were difficult for the Spiritual and Shouter Baptists.The ordinance forbid them from erecting or maintaining any â€Å"Shouter House† or from holding meetings. Estate managers and owners were required to report any meetings to the police, and the police were authorized to enter a building where a meeting was being held without a warrant. (See full-text of Ordinance). Worshipers were arrested, beaten and jailed if they were caught practising their religion. They had to flee to the hills and forests to practise their religion. Even then, the police still pursued and brutalized them.Nevertheless the Spiritual and Shouter Baptists survived. During the 1920s and 1930s, the Baptists fought many court battles and tried to counteract the negative perceptions of their faith. It was only when Tubal Uriah â€Å"Buzz† Butler emerged as a labour leader that attitudes towards the Baptists gradually began to change. Butler himself was a devoted Baptist and controversial figure. His public meetings were reminiscent of a Baptist prayer meeting. His prominence gave the religion some legitimacy although he too was jailed for his political and religious beliefs. During the 1940s a new leader emerged to champion the Baptists’ cause. Grenadian-born Elton George Griffith started a campaign to have the Shouters Prohibition Ordinance repealed. Under his leadership the numerous independent Baptist Churches formed the West Indian Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith. In 1940, as a united body, they presented a petition to the Legislative Council asking for the Ordinance to be repealed. It was not granted but a few years later Albert Gomes asked the Council to appoint a committee to look into a repeal of the 1917 Ordinance.

Geographic and Historical Facts About London, England

Geographic and Historical Facts About London, England The City of London, the capital of the United Kingdom as well as England, is the countrys most populous. It is also one of the largest urban areas in Western  Europe. The citys history goes back to Roman times when it was called Londinium. Remnants of Londons ancient history are still visible today, as the citys historic core is still surrounded by its medieval boundaries.Today London is one of the worlds largest financial centers and is home to 100 of Europes top 250 largest companies. It also has a strong governmental function as it is the home of the United Kingdoms Parliament. Education, media, fashion, arts, and other cultural activities are also prevalent in the city. It is a major world tourist destination, features four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and was host to the 1908, 1948, and 2012 Summer Olympics.The following is a list of the 10 most important things to know about the city of London:1) It is believed that the first permanent settlement in present-day London was a R oman one in around 43 BCE. It lasted for only 17 years, however, as it was eventually raided and destroyed. The city was rebuilt, and by the second century, Roman London or Londinium had a population of more than 60,000 people.2) Starting in the second century, London passed through the control of various groups, but by 1300 the city had a highly organized governmental structure and a population of more than 100,000. In the centuries following, London continued to grow and became a European cultural center because of writers such as William Shakespeare. The city became a large seaport.3) In the 17th century, London lost one-fifth of its population in the Great Plague. Around the same time, much of the city was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Rebuilding took more than 10 years and since then, the city has grown.4) Like many European cities, London was highly affected by World War II,  especially after the Blitz and other German bombings killed more than 30,000 London residents and destroyed a large part of the city. The 1948 Summer Olympics were then held at Wembley Stadium as the rest of the city rebuilt.5) As of 2016, London had a population of 8.8 million, or 13 percent of the UK population, and a crowded average population density of more than 14,000 people per square mile (5,405/sq km). This population is a diverse mix of various cultures and religions, and more than 300 languages are spoken in the city.6) The Greater London region covers a total area of 607 square miles (1,572 sq km). The London Metropolitan Region, however, contains 3,236 square miles (8,382 sq km).7) The main topographical feature of London is the Thames River, which crosses the city from the east to the southwest. The Thames has many tributaries, most of which are now underground as they flow through London. The Thames is also a tidal river, and London is thus vulnerable to flooding. Because of this, a barrier called the Thames River Barrier has been built across the river.8) Londons climate is considered temperate mar itime, and the city generally has moderate temperatures. The average summer high temperature is around 70–75 F (21–24 C). Winters can be cold, but because of the urban heat island, London itself does not regularly receive significant snowfall. The average winter high temperature in London is 41–46 F (5–8 C).9) Along with New York City and Tokyo, London is one of the three command centers for the worlds economy. The largest industry in London is finance, but professional services, media such as the BBC, and tourism are also large industries in the city. After Paris, London is the worlds second most visited city by tourists, and it attracted more than 30 million international visitors in 2017.10) London is home to various universities and colleges and has a student population of around 372,000. London is a world research center, and the University of London is the largest teaching university in Europe.

5 Tips on How to Improve Your APA English Essays

5 Tips on How to Improve Your APA English Essays 5 Tips on How to Improve Your APA English Essays The American Psychological Association has developed a formatting style that is used in several fields of study. It can be rather complex and if you have ever been given or seen the guide, you have probably had to pick yourself off of the ground. It is a very particular format; however, the majority of it deals with the citation process. Most instructors will level down your grade for improper formatting and there is no point in losing points for that. Here is how you can improve and get a good grade for your writing with these five easy tips. Utilize a Downloadable Format One of the easiest ways to make sure that your paper is formatted correctly is to download an APA formatted document. You can find them right on the internet and then you just download them to your computer. Once you open the document, you will see that it is already formatted perfectly for you. It may include sections that you don’t need, like a section for an abstract. If this is the case, then just delete what your paper doesn’t require. Input your information for the data in the document in the right places and you have a completely formatted document ready to turn in. Check out the Guide When you see the extensive APA format guide, you are going to think that it is crazy to use it. However, you have to realize that the majority of that guide is about the citations. Apart from rules and exceptions, it includes samples that can be helpful as well. So, before you count the guide out, give it a read. Make Use of the Writing Lab Take advantage of the free resource that you can find right at your school. You will be able to get one-on-one help with your paper right in your writing lab. And, for those of you who are taking classes online, you should know that online schools have writing labs too. It may not be the same because you won’t be sitting right next to someone. However, it has proven to be a helpful method for many students throughout the years and it can help you as well. Check out Examples This method may not be used by itself if you don’t find an example with notes that tell you about margin sizes, font sizes, and other characteristics. But, it is a vital way to ensure that you are correctly formatting your paper. Get a well written and properly formatted example and you will 100% benefit from it. You can actually see what all of the technical directions even mean. However, you want to make sure that you get it from a credible source. The best way to ensure that is to get the sample from a professional service and that brings us to the final place to find help with APA formatting. 5. Hire a Professional Helper Professional writers have mastered the various formats because they need to know how to do them properly and have had a lot of practice. Over the years, they have learned what the format should look like and what exactly needs to be done. And they know the most important parts of formatting so that they can help you make the necessary corrections. It is the ideal solution for students. When it comes to determining how to master the formatting process, these tips can be used together or by themselves. You can learn what you need to do, so that you can complete it every time and gradually make the process a lot quicker. All in all, you can buy APA essays written from scratch by experts from our certified custom writing service.