Lean Burn Engine Technology

Introduction With the rising desire to attain more miles per gallon of fuel, car manufacturers are now focusing their attention on lean burn engine technologies. On its part, the American government demonstrated its support for lean burn engine technology when it ratified the Energy Policy Act of 2005.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Lean Burn Engine Technology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In essence, this act qualified cars, trucks, and sports utility vehicles that had engines using the lean burn technology for tax rebates amounting to as much as $2000 under the stipulation of that act. This research paper will examine the technology behind lean burn engines, its impact on the environment and its future prospects (Tobias, et al. 2006). The first lean burn technology for automobile engines was introduced in the market nearly four decades ago by Chrysler. The technology comprised of a set of sensors a nd electronics that would generally regulate the movement of the spark plug under a range of driving circumstances. This technology was meant to increase the performance of the engine and utilize the fuel used per mile. Initially, the automotive challenge that the inventors of lean burn technology wanted to overcome was the throttling losses. Naturally, an automobiles car must have enough space to provide the required power for acceleration but still be able to operate below its possible output when driving at high speed and this was hard to achieve using the lean burn technology (Tobias, et al. 2006). At the present, a large percentage of cars utilize a form of technology commonly known as the four-stroke combustion cycle to convert fuel into motion. This kind of technology is also referred to as the Otto cycle, in respect of Nikolaus Otto, who discovered it in 1867. The main problem of this kind of engine technology is that it consumes much fuel and environmentalists consider it h armful to the ozone layer. On its part, the lean burn engine technology utilizes refined ignition systems along with advanced emission technologies. This combination allows cars using this technology to attain excellent mileage performance and causes minimal threat to the environment (Tobias, et al. 2006). Lean Burn Engine Technology Currently, internal combustion engines that use natural gas are commanding more attention as interest grows in manufacturing automobile engines that are both efficient and environmentally friendly. In response to this interest, automobile manufacturers have introduced natural gas automobile engine sets that feature â€Å"lean-burn† technology.Advertising Looking for research paper on engineering? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The technology is referred to as lean because unlike the convectional engine technology it uses excess air along with the fuel. The use of this kind of technology ha s brought about two positive effects. First, the excess air used in lean burn technology reduces the temperature of the combustion process and this lowers the amount of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) produced by nearly half, compared to a conventional gasoline engine. Second, since there is also excess oxygen available, the combustion process is more efficient and more power is produced from the same amount of fuel (Tobias, et al. 2006). The Combustion Process Any air/fuel reaction requires an energy source to initiate combustion. In the conventional petroleum engines, the combustion process is initiated by the spark plug. In lean-burn gas engines, the combustion process is initiated by pre-mixing the air and fuel upstream of the turbocharger before being introduced into the cylinder. This creates a more homogenous mixture in the combustion chamber and reduces the occurrence of â€Å"knocking† or detonation. To prevent either knocking or misfiring, the combustion process must be co ntrolled within a narrow operating window. In lean burn engine technology, the charge air temperatures together with air to fuel ratio are closely monitored. This is done by the microprocessor- based engine controller, which regulates the fuel flow and air/gas mixture and ignition timing (Cutter Information Corp., 1992). Unlike the conventional petroleum engine, the design of the lean-burn engine incorporates a simple open combustion chamber housed in the piston crown. The shape of the piston crown introduces turbulence in the incoming air/fuel mixture that promotes complete combustion by thoroughly exposing it to the advancing flame front. The flame plate of the cylinder head is regular (flat) and the spark plug is centrally located. The air and gas fuel are correctly mixed under the control of the engine management system (Cutter Information Corp., 1992).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Lean Burn Engine Technology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Improving efficiency of the System Although lean burn engines that use natural gas have been in existence for some time now, there is room for improvement in terms of energy efficiency and emissions reduction. In fact, enhancing the efficiency of lean burn gas engines remains one of the most likely and cost-effective approaches to enhancing vehicle fuel economy over the next three decades. According to automobile experts, the United States has the potential of reducing its transportation fuel usage by as much as 40% through the production of engines that use the lean burn gas technology (Automotive News, 1992). If this is achieved, it will definitely lead to better economic, environmental, and energy security. By using lean burn engine technology in hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, it is possible to attain even greater fuel saving benefits (EIA, 2008). Ideally, one way of increasing the efficiency of the lean burn engine tec hnology is by focusing on complementary technology pathways involving shared partnerships with vehicle and engine manufacturers, suppliers, national laboratories, and learning institutions. Another strategy that can increase the efficiency of automobile engines using the lean burn technology is by inventing new combustion energy than the currently available natural gas usage. However, this should have minimal emissions in order to enable the engines to meet the required emission regulations without having to use the complex and costly equipment that is currently required. The invention of a cheap technology would definitely ensure that more people buy vehicles fitted with lean burn engines since the current costs have been a hindrance to many people (EIA, 2008). Ideally, one way of achieving all these strategies is by having well balanced research and development efforts ranging from basic research to prototype demonstration. This should be informed at every stage by industry collab orators whose role is to help in identifying the critical barriers to the commercialization of this technology.Advertising Looking for research paper on engineering? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The existing public laboratories and universities should also increase their efforts in understanding how the combustion process can be enhanced to maximize its performance and keep emissions at minimal (Pollack, 1992). Environmental Impact of Lean Burn Engine Technology Motor vehicles continue to be the dominant source of air pollution despite tremendous advances in engine technology and pollution control. In industrialized countries, even as cleaner vehicles are replacing older ones, and as transportation emissions are beginning to decline, vehicles are still the major source of air pollution. Meanwhile, in the developing world, vehicle numbers are growing exponentially and without strict control standards in place, emissions from transportation sources are becoming an increasingly urgent concern (Tobias, et al. 2006). There have been repeated calls for gasoline vehicles to raise fuel economy, and thus decrease CO2 emissions. Lean-burn engine designs that use natural gas reduce fu el consumption by 15–20%. In order not to trade off higher fuel efficiency for increased pollutant emissions, lean-burn engine designs will require new aftertreatment technology for control of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions. NOx storage traps, the most efficient existing NOx control technology for lean-burn engines, are much more dramatically impacted by fuel sulfur than other form of engine technologies. Because higher sulfur levels reduce the effectiveness of the traps and necessitate increased fuel consumption, ultralow sulfur fuel is the key enabler for increasing the efficiency of vehicles using the lean burn engine technology (Tobias, et al. 2006). The lean-burn engine increases the ratio of air to fuel, thus reducing fuel use. Lean-burn engines provide an automatic benefit for CO and HC control, which are formed in smaller amounts and can be more easily oxidized in the oxygen-rich exhaust. The challenge comes with control of NOx in an oxygen-abundant environment. NOx storage traps face fewer technical challenges in natural gas engines than in diesel engines because combustion temperatures are easier to control. NOx storage traps demonstrate over 90% efficiency in storage and conversion of NOx to N2, but require virtually sulfur-free fuels for efficient use and this has not yet been achieved (Tobias, et al. 2006). Storage traps operate by incorporating basic oxides into the catalyst, which in turn reacts with the oxidized NO2 in the presence of excess O2 to form fairly stable nitrates. NOx can be stored in this way during lean combustion (excess oxygen) conditions. As the storage medium approaches saturation, or whenever acceleration occurs, the engine will burn fuel-rich, generating CO and HC gases. This triggers the release of NO2, which reacts, as in a three way canisters to oxidize CO and HC to CO2 and H2O while simultaneously being reduced to N2 (Tobias, et al. 2006). One of the results of this technology is significantly reduced emissions i n the exhaust. Most of the new lean-burn automobile engines have NOx emissions as low as.85 grams/BHP-hr, and produce low amounts of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM). This allows the engine sets to meet the most stringent air quality regulations without after-treatment devices in the exhaust stream. For even lower emissions, lean-burn automobile engine sets are frequently coupled with integrated after-treatment options such as Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and Oxidation Catalysts, resulting in NOx levels at or below 0.15 grams/BHP-hr. With these after-treatment options, the lean gas automobile engines have been shown to meet the most stringent prime power emissions regulations anywhere in the world (Tobias, et al. 2006). As it has already been noted, the lean burn engine technology will enable huge leaps in fuel efficiency, translating directly into reductions in CO2 emissions in automobiles. If properly utilized, this technology could dramat ically reduce both greenhouse gas and conventional pollutant emissions. Additionally, research continues on how to make zero-emission transportation technologies, such as the hydrogen fuel cell economically viable. Sulfur is a major obstacle for technologies to both reduce and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. The reduced fuel use in lean burn engine technology means that low sulfur is generated and this is definitely a good thing for the environment (Johnson, 1992). Sulfur levels in fuel have a range of direct and indirect impacts on greenhouse gas emissions. Sulfur prevents the efficient functioning of certain types of catalysts, which in turn translates into higher methane emissions from oxidation catalysts and higher CO2 emissions from more advanced technologies. Sulfur also impedes the viability of emissions control technologies in several arenas. In addition, fuel cells—the most promising long-term solution for eliminating greenhouse gas emissions—will require sulfur-free fuels in order to function. This goal is attainable if the use of lean burn engine technology in automobiles is fully adopted (Johnson, 1992). Fuel flexibility Another advantage of the lean-burn engine technology with full-authority electronic engine controls is the ability to operate on gas with a wide range of quality. A measurement called the Methane Number (MN) is used to determine gas suitability as an engine fuel. Most natural gas has an MN from 70 to 97, and pipeline quality gas typically has an MN of about 75. Resource recovery gas from landfills or sewage treatment facilities is typically of lower quality, but is often suitable for use in lean-burn engines. Most of the lean-burn automobile engines operate on gas with an MN of 50 or greater, providing excellent fuel flexibility. However, gas with a MN below 70 may require the engines output to be derated. Lean-burn gas engine sets are setting a new standard for fuel efficiency, high power output for their size, a nd for low emissions. In regions with supplies of natural gas, these engine sets are providing highly reliable electric power for utility peaking, distributed generation, prime power and for combined heat and power systems (MacKenzie, Roger, Donald, 1992). The Future Prospects of Lean Burn Technology Currently, there is an increased interest in lean-burn engine technologies, i.e. lean-burn natural gas engines, mainly due to their higher fuel efficiency compared to conventional petroleum engines (Greene, 2005). These engines work under excess oxygen and consequently produce oxygen-rich exhaust. However, effectively reducing NOx in oxygen-rich exhaust is a challenging endeavor because the conventional three-way catalyst technology is not able to reduce NOx efficiently under any circumstances. Therefore, new catalytic systems have to be developed. Several approaches have been suggested and among the most promising is the so-called NOx storage reduction (NSR) concept. Because of the th ree-way catalyst, the emission of NOx by natural gas engines has decreased significantly. However, this gain is counteracted by the continuing rise in vehicle numbers and distances traveled, particularly by the increase in the number of diesel engines that do not use the lean burn engine technology. The latest quarterly pricing survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (Greene, 2005) shows that cars using the lean burn engine technology accounted for 49% of the total European car market at the end of 2005. It is expected that the number of cars using the lean burn engine technology will continue to grow, potentially achieving 55-60% of the total market. There are several reasons for the increased interest in lean burn engines that use natural gas. The lean-burn combustion of natural gas engines results in higher fuel efficiency compared to conventional petroleum engines and consequently significantly lower amounts of the greenhouse gas CO2. In addition, natural gas has enhanced performance r egarding CO and HC. Most governments in Westerns countries have been encouraging the use of lean burn engine technology. Tax regimes make natural gas cheaper than petroleum in order encourage the sales of lean burn technology engines (MacKenzie, Roger, Donald, 1992). The increased interest in lean-burn engine technology has prompted research on the development of a new catalyst that is capable of reducing NOx in excess O2 to meet future legislation. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx using ammonia (NH3) or urea (CO (NH2)2) is a well-known process in industry as well as in stationary lean burn engine applications. In the presence of O2, NH3 tends to react with NOx to form N2. Urea, which is safer in use than NH3, can be used as NH3 source and urea-based systems are already applied for heavy-duty trucks (Sanger, 2001). Higher fuel efficiency and reduced emissions of the greenhouse gas CO2 make lean-burn engines attractive compared to conventional petroleum engines. However, c ontrolling the exhaust NOx emission has been recognized as one of the most challenging aspects for lean-burn engine technology as the conventional three-way catalyst is not effective in reducing NOx in a lean exhaust due to the high oxygen level (Sanger, 2001). A NOx storage/reduction (NSR) catalyst is among the most promising solutions to control NOx in lean exhaust. The NSR catalyst contains a storage component in order to store NOx under lean conditions. Catalyst regeneration is necessary as the storage capacity of the absorbing component gets saturated (Brunekreef, et al, 2010). Regeneration takes place by the introduction of a short period of rich driving, as injections of extra fuel cause decomposition of stored NOx and subsequent reduction into N2. A critical aspect of the NSR technology is the catalyst deactivation by sulfur. A detailed understanding about the NOx storage and reduction mechanism is important for improving catalyst regeneration times and preventing catalyst d eactivation. There has also been increased funding on research to ensure that commercialization of lean burn engine technology will not produce unintended human health effects. The already conducted research on this field has revealed that lean burn engines using low sulfur (less than 15-ppm sulfur) fuel and equipped with catalyzed particulate matters does not cause lung inflammation or pose other health hazards. This shows that the future prospects of lean burn engine technology is indeed bright just by looking at its environmental and financial factors and the increased funding from governments that want to develop an environmentally friendly ecosystem (Brunekreef, et al, 2010). Conclusion With the increased desire to gain more miles per gallon of fuel, car manufacturers are turning their attention to lean burn engine technologies. Over the last few years, the number of vehicles using engines made from lean burn technology has been on the rise. This has been enhanced by the effort s of various governments, which have been offering tax cuts to those purchasing cars fitted with this kind of engine technology. Although there are numerous challenges that have prevented this technology from being fully adopted, current trends in the automobile industry show that these challenges can be overcome in the course of time. With most governments and organizations keen on preserving the environment, there is no doubt that the use of lean burn engine technology will gain more popularity in the coming years. References Automotive News. (1992). Cleaner Civic OK in California. Automotive News 19 (2), 8. Brunekreef, B., et al. (2010). Air Pollution from Truck Traffic and Lung Function in Children Living Near Motorways. Epidemiology 8 (1), 298–303. Cutter Information Corp. (1992). Lean Burn Takes a Step Forward. Global Environmental Change Report, 7, (1), 7. EIA. (2008). The Transition to Ultralow-Sulfur Diesel Fuel: Effects on Prices and Supply. Washington: Energy Infor mation Administration. Greene, D. (2005). A Note on Implicit Consumer Discounting of Automobile Fuel Economy: Reviewing the Available Evidence. Transportation Research 17 (6), 491-500. Johnson, R. (1992). Next Accord May Offer New Engine. Automotive News, 17 (1), 231-240. MacKenzie, J., Roger, D. and Donald, C. (1992). The Going Rate: What it Really Costs to Drive. Washington: World Resources Institute. Pollack, A. (1992). Running Half-Engine to Save Fuel. NY Times, 18 November, p. 16. Sanger, D. (2001). Fuel Efficiency: New Japan Coup? New York Times, July 31, p. C1. Tobias, H., et al. (2006). Chemical Analysis of Diesel Engine Nanoparticles Using a Nano-DMA/Thermal Desorption Particle Beam Mass Spectrometer. Environmental Science Technology 35 (2), 2233–2243. This research paper on Lean Burn Engine Technology was written and submitted by user Arya D. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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Meastro by Peter Goldsworthy essays

Meastro by Peter Goldsworthy essays Although music is an integral part of Maestro, the novel is essentially a story about a boys journey into adulthood. Maestro shows us that maturity is gained only through suffering as the novel focuses on the coming of age of Paul Crabbe, who is led on a journey of personal discovery. In the beginning of the novel Paul is corrupted by pride and the idea that he is great, he might even think he is almost perfect. This self-satisfaction does wonders to boost his ego, as he predicts instant fame and fortune will come to him. When he first meets Keller, he acts as if he knows everything, but Keller mocks him constantly with such comments as, you know so much for your age...and so little, and wont give in to his superficial ideals. Paul is at the crossroads between childhood and adulthood and draws on his experiences, relationships and interactions with other characters to teach him invaluable lessons. Paul particularly draws on his music teacher Herr Eduard Keller, his parents and their musical influence, and also his peers to determine his direction in life. Music is an on-going and interweaving motif throughout the novel, and is also the most important one. Music is the glue which bonds many relationships in the novel; Paul and Rosie's, Paul and the band's, Paul a nd Mr Keller, and Paul's parents. Through music, Paul was able to learn a lot - mostly from Keller In the beginning we are shown that Paul already has very little respect towards Herr Eduard Keller. Before Paul had even the chance to speak to Keller, he is already judging him by his appearance: a boozers incandescent glow. The pitted, sun-coursed skin a cheap ruined leather. This shows Pauls arrogance. Pauls attitude towards Keller changes however towards the end of 1967 and he starts to gain a little bit of respect for him but, as Paul is commonly known to act, he tries to impress Keller in order to gain some resp...

Environmental economic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Environmental economic - Essay Example The propriety of using the adjusted net savings is evaluated. The paper sets off by stating the need for sustainability measurement and identifying the three most popular sustainability indicators. Thereafter, the discussion focused on its characteristics together with criticisms of the indicator. In the end, a brief discussion with reference to Solo’s and Beckerman’s criticism is included for verification of the indicator’s fitness as the sustainability measuring tool. Before moving further, it will be quite beneficial to first examine the need for such measurement. Current trend on national and global issues places environmental sustainability at the very core (Ollivier & Giruad, 2008). In equating sustainability with wealth and looking at the former from the capitalist’s approach, measurement guides policy maker into the future by being forward-looking (Atkinson). Major decisions are made from intelligent evaluation of trends and gathered statistics. It is important therefore that factors affecting any national or global issues be available in numerical form or visual trends such that decision makers need not labor more to understand the available information. To measure performance or verify the current standing, indicators are used by interested institutions and policy makers. Numerous environment and sustainability indicators were conceived depending on the interest group that conceptualized the measurement tool or data collection method. For sustainability measurement, three aggregate indicators are prominent, The Ecological Footprint (EF) of World-wide Fund (WWF) for Nature International, Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) supported by the World Economic Forum while the Adjusted Net Savings (ANS) also known as Genuine Savings was developed and published by the World Bank (Ollivier & Giruad, 2008). The latter being a product of World Bank is receiving considerable interest and is the subject of this evaluation. The Adjus ted Net Savings is an attempt of the World Bank to measure true savings rate of an economy after factoring in investments from human capital, depletion of natural resources, and damage to the environment as a result from pollution. This indicator is not wholly dependent on environmental indicators but infuses some macroeconomic and social indicator as can be seen in the current equation (Bolt, et al, 2002): ANS = (GNS - Dh + CSE - ? Rn,i - CD) / GNI, where: ANS = Adjusted Net Savings Rate GNS = Gross National Saving Dh = Depreciation of produced capital CSE = Current (non-fixed-capital) expenditure on education Rn,i = Rent from depletion of natural capitali CD = Damages from carbon dioxide emissions GNI = Gross National Income at Market Prices. The above model suggests that sustainable economy is indicated by a positive or at the very least 0 ANS rating. For that to happen, the sum of gross national savings and expenditure on education must exceed the total amount of depreciation an d depletion and damages combined. All these factors are highly dependent on policies supported by an economy. It is highly important therefore to refer to ANS in evaluating or assessing the policies maintained with respect to sustainability as they indicate performance or direction to which an economy must thread on. As previously mentioned, it is advantageous to use ANS because of measurability.

Film--Fog Of War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Film--Fog Of War - Essay Example The first pointer involves the role of the U.S in the Vietnam War. McNamara was one of the principal U.S leaders that orchestrated the war which resulted in the deaths of 3 million Vietnamese and 58,000 Americans. In the documentary, 85 year old McNamara (playing himself), speaks about the Congressional resolution that gave credence and legality to the Vietnam War. It was later learnt that the U.S Congress, Kennedy and McNamara himself all wrongly interpreted the torpedo incident in the Gulf of Tonkin, which never took place in the exaggerated fashion it was reported (Petrakis). The second pointer to the film’s theme involves the firebombing of 67 Japanese cities by the U.S in 1945 that killed nearly 1 million Japanese (Turan), including a single event in which about 100,000 Japanese were scorched to death in Tokyo. Colonel Curtis Le May, who directed the military operations, along with McNamara (his assistant at that time), were both convinced that the firebombing would bring about a speedy end to World War II. McNamara supports the decision of LeMay and himself that led to so many horrific Japanese deaths by exemplifying it to one of the 11 lessons he learnt in life, namely, â€Å"In Order to Do Good, You May Have to Engage in Evil† (Petrakis). The last pointer to the documentary’s theme involves the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. Colonel Curtis LeMay and McNamara actively featured in it. This time however, the two leaders managed to pull back inches from the brink of what would have been an outright nuclear war between the U.S and the Soviet Union. Leaders of both superpowers were certain of their individual interpretations of the crisis that did not deserve such certitude, and if it were not for Nikita Khrushev’s backing down and withdrawing Soviet missiles from Cuba, and Kennedy’s decision to take the advice of Tommy Thompson who had an acute insight into

The Catcher In The Rye Essay Essay Example for Free

The Catcher In The Rye Essay Essay The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is about a boy named Holden Caulfield and his struggle with life. Like any other teenager, he is simply looking for his place in the world. However, it is shown that Holden is no ordinary teenager for he displays many signs of depression. His depression seems to escalate throughout the novel. For example, many nights he has trouble sleeping, he also is quite the alcoholic and a heavy smoker, he doesnt feed his body with the proper nutrients and he talks of committing suicide at various points in the novel. Holden feels he has been alienated his whole life and that after losing his brother Allie, there was really no place for him anywhere. Holden Caulfield is a complex character that is in need of some real therapy because the problems he faces are not those of a normal boy his age, but are more serious in that hes really hurting himself and he is not nearly aware of these circumstances. Holdens signs of depression are very strong throughout The Catcher in the Rye. One of these prominent signs are the fact that he hardly every sleeps. It is known that sleep deprivation is one of the major signs of depression. Holden finds it hard to sleep even late at night, most of the time he claims to not even be tired. He says, It took me quite a while to get to sleep- I wasnt even tired- but finally I did. (104) Holden had a quarrel with Maurice that night about a prostitute and how Holden didnt pay her enough money. Holden feels sorry for the woman because when she got there he didnt feel like having sex with her, especially because before she showed up he wasnt even sure he wanted to give up his virginity at all. Holden is indecisive about all the things he should have his mind made up on, which partly explains why he has such a problem sleeping. If Holden could simply clear his mind for once, he would be able to get a good nights rest. However, there are always things running through his mind which prevent this. Holden has insomnia and if he were to have seen a psychiatrist he would be able to retain help for this problem. Holden needs to learn just how to relax without drugs and how to get his mind off everything that is keeping him awake. There is no doubt in anyones mind that Holden is addicted to alcohol. Throughout the novel he spends most of his time drinking and smoking. The  reason he is able to receive all these horrible things is due to his appearance. Holden has grey hair and is strikingly tall for his age; he uses these attributes to order himself drinks. Holden enjoys getting drunk and says, Boy, I sat at that goddam bar till around one oclock or so, getting drunk as a bastard. I could hardly see straight. (150) Holden feels that he can drink a lot before he really gets drunk. He claims he has a terrific capacity and says, I can drink all night and not even show it, if Im in the mood. (90) However, when Holden does reach this sort of capacity he imagines himself with a bullet in his guts and him just bleeding everywhere. He would hold his wound as if he were actually injured. The way Holden drinks is defiantly a cause of his depression since alcohol is a depressive stimulant. When Holden pictures himself wounded it is a sign of depression because he imagines himself hurt physically while he is hurt mentally. Holden needs to learn that what he is doing to himself is really dangerous not only for him, but the people around him also. Holden could make great use out of a psychiatrist because they could first off, help him with his alcohol problems, they could also help him learn about the effects of what he is doing to his body with every drink he has, and give him options of dealing with his problems other than alcohol. Holdens depression had affected him to the point that he just does not eat. Even though he doesnt have that much money to spend on a lot of food, he does have enough to feed himself a couple of meals a day. He simply opts against this and all he really does is drink and smoke, and thats how he gets the full feeling of eating. For instance he says, I felt pretty hungry as soon as I had a cigarette. The last time Id eaten was those two hamburgers I had with Brossard and Ackley when we went in to Agerstown to the movies. That was a long time ago. It seemed like fifty years ago.(105) Although Holden is aware that he hasnt eaten in quite some time, he just hasnt felt hungry. Holdens nutrition is just all over the place. His depression has forced him to do crazy things. For example, after a night of drinking Holden says, I puked before I went to bed, but I didnt really have to-I forced myself.(90) This shows that Holden is hurting his body in defiantly more ways than one. Holden is also aware that he is somewhat depressed due to his lousy feelings and inability to eat much of anything.  Holden is on a walk when he says, Id feel better if I had something to eat. So I went in this very cheap-looking restaurant and had doughnuts and coffee. Only, I didnt eat the doughnuts. I couldnt swallow them too well. The thing is if you get very depressed about something, its hard as hell to swallow.(196) This just goes to show that Holden is very depressed and it effects the way he handles simple tasks such as eating. Even though he is aware of his depression, Holden does not speak of seeing a psychiatrist for serious issues such as his malnutrition even though he should really see one. An obvious sign of Holdens depression is the fact that he talks of committing suicide at various points of the novel. Every time Holden is feeling really lousy he would talk about how he would kill himself or just about his death in general. For example, while Holden is sitting in bed after having a quarrel with Maurice, he says, What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window.(104) Whenever Holden isnt occupied with something he gets into his lousy feeling. One time he was just standing in the lobby and said, but I was feeling sort of lousy. Depressed and all. I almost wished I was dead.(90) He had not had much of a reason to say this, but after all, he really was depressed. Another example of when Holden speaks of his death is when he says, If theres ever another war, Im going to sit right the hell on top of it. Ill volunteer for it, I swear to God I will.(141) Here, he is talking about what a great invention the atomic bomb was and for some reason he claims that he would sit on top of the next one if there was another war. This is a clear sign that there is a part of him that wants to die. Holdens only hope really is to see a psychiatrist. With all these thoughts running through his head he can hardly think straight. He needs the guidance of a psychiatrist to get his life back on track. Holden Caulfield is the main character in J.D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye. The story follows his struggle with finding out who he is, and his road of depression. Throughout the book his depression becomes more prevalent as one reads on. Holden faces the issues of insomnia, alcoholism, malnutrition, and the fact that he is suicidal. Holden does somewhat recognizes this, however, he never feels the need to seek help through a psychiatrist even  though it is clear he is in need of one. Holden never felt that there was a certain place for him in the world which also led to his depression. Holden is like no other boy his age and is in desperate need of a psychiatrist because hes been hurting himself in more ways than one. Bibliography J. D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye. Harold Bloom editor. Chelsea House Publishers. Philadelphia. 2000.

The Meaning Behind Alien Abductions :: essays research papers

www.angelfire.com/mt/montalk Souls can only incarnate inoto bodies with DNA responsive to and compatible with that soul. Because souls are shaped by experiences and thoughts, different soul types will reincarnate into different body types of the same species. As humans, their personality is influenced and restricted by the characteristics of their soul. Spiritual evolution is limited by one's biological, genetic, and physical composition. For instance, a dog cannot grow emotionally as we do because their brains are biologically incapable of perceiving the same range of emotions. Dogs also do not feel equal self sacrifice and devotion to truth that some of us humans enjoy, and we are therefore superior to them. Lastly, since all souls, once out of the physical body and deep into the stages of the afterlife, are essentially the same being, there is no place for evolution in the spiritual realm; all evolution occurs on the physical plane of existence. This is why planet earth is so valued by the powers that be. It is the perfect training, evolving, and learning grounds for positive souls with the privilege of physical presence. In this region of the solar system, without an earth, there is no evolution, and whatever pain a soul is in continues indefinitely until that soul can reincarnate to evolve out of its pain. Because souls evolve by earthly hardships, new types of souls can only develop by modification of the older ones over millions of years of evolution. Thus, if a sudden jump occured in the genetic sophistication of a species, a spiritual void would be left as the older souls would be outdated and incompatible with the newly created species. The new species would be born as still births unless some source of soul were available that is suitable with the DNA of that species. The human race was a result of drastic genetic engineering by a coalition of several alien species/races several hundred thousand years ago, each group putting its own spin on the basic human template. Most of the aliens themselves were products of undisturbed evolution upon their homeworlds. Since human evolution was catalyzed, the souls of our ancient primate ancestors could not reincarnate in the newer advanced bodies. Thus existed a spiritual void which was immediately filled with a new source. Considering it was aliens who created humans, these aliens must have had some reason to profit from the task. In fact, most alien bodies were too primitive to allow further spiritual

History of Broadway Essay

There have been many debates on whether or not Broadway musicals are considered â€Å"serious† art forms. People feel that a musical can never be taken seriously if the character is always singing sporadically, which is very unusual in real life. However, musicals have been around for quite some time now, many musicals are being adapted into major motion pictures, many children are raised on the famous Disney musical cartoons and everybody( whether they’ll admit it or not) has seen at least one musical in their lifetime and are able to sing some of the songs from it. It seems that musicals have made an impact on society but yet are still not taken seriously. The history of musicals dates back to the Greeks. It is a common known fact that the Greeks incorporated song and dance into their stage comedies and tragedies as early as the 5th Century B. C. Some used existing songs but it is known that Sophocles wrote his own. The Romans are also known for taking the Greek musicals and expanding on them. The Romans liked the idea of musicals so much that they attached metal chips to their shoes, creating the first tap shoes, so that there would be more focus on the dancing throughout the play. Of course musicals and the idea of telling stories through song and dance really became popular through the Renaissance era. During the 1700’s the two main types of plays were ballad operas and comic operas. Many people think that musicals evolved from operas however if you follow the history of musicals and operas you will learn that it is the other way around yet operas are much more respected than musicals. Musicals came to America during the mid-1800’s as saloon shows. They were also known as variety shows and consisted of everything from clowns, singers, dancers and chorus girls. In Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York (Farrar, Strauss, Giroux, New York, 1991, p. 92), historian Luc Sante, claims that variety shows were born in Manhattan’s Bowery saloons during the 1840s. One of the first and most famous variety houses was Koster and Bial’s on West 23rd Street in New York City. The variety shows were very distasteful and were later cleaned up and renamed vaudeville then in the 1900’s the shows were cleaned up even more and were then known as minstrelsy. While the minstrelsy shows were much cleaner than the original variety show they would still be considered extremely raunchy by today’s standards. Musicals later came to take the form of the misunderstood form of Burlesque performances. Burlesque shows became popular and kept America entertained from 1840 through the 1960’s. Many people identify burlesque with strippers or scantily dressed women. The burlesque shows however covered many topics of interest from Shakespeare to spoofs of the famous operas of the moment. In 1860 Burlesque made its appearance on Broadway with Lydia Thompson’s British burlesque troupe and their first hit entitled Ixion. It became clear that respectable people would pay lots of money for a sexy performance. The theatre group would use popular songs of that time and parts of operas to perform too which made some of the audience try to say made the Burlesque show more classy and easier to relate too. Soon the offended audience members began to raise their voices in protest of the performances saying that they were extremely inappropriate and tasteless. This of course only made people more curious about the performances and the crowds began to grow for the show. With the success of the shows people began to copy them and bring them back to their own communities. The majority of the managers and choreographers were women and finally women were beginning to gain respect in the theatre business. Men quickly began to see the success and start their own shows. The point of the shows were to hint at the idea of the women being naked and to show as much skin as was considered acceptable. The Burlesque shows, while being popular, were considered to be the lowest form of theatre, many of the actors would move on to vaudeville shows which were considered to be the top of the line where if a vaudeville actor would appear in a Burlesque show it was considered a step down and the actor was labeled as â€Å"washed up†. Burlesque soon took on comedy routines and would make fun of the current issues that the middle and lower class were dealing with. However in the 1920’s there began a raid and the police felt the need to shut down all of the Burlesque shows which was a major hit to the Manhattan society where most of the theatres were at the time. While the Burlesque scene was popular musical comedies were beginning to rise without the help of the nudity factor. The musical comedy was born on Broadway between the years 1878-1884 by the famous producers Edward (Ned) Harrigan and Tony Hart. Harrigan would write the lyrics and songs with some of the music he had taken from his father and add them to plays that would feature characters and situations that the everyday lives of New York’s lower class. They had one particularly famous bit entitled â€Å"Mulligan Guard’s March† which started in San Francisco and was quickly spread all across the country and reached New York where it ran for over a year in the most popular theatres. With the success of their short bit they expanded into a 40 minute performance which was greatly accepted and kept playing for a month which was considered a good run for that time. Their show became so popular that it started a seven year run of different shows with Harrigan directing, producing, performing and writing the scripts and lyrics. Their shows ran with much success on Manhattans downtown streets and overpopulated theatres. People quickly saw the success and began to try to create their own versions of this new style known as musical comedies. Some had success but were quickly forgotten or overlooked with Harrigan and Hart’s success. The more light-hearted and â€Å"cheesy† musicals began to pop up all over the Broadway scene in 1940. The Broadway producers felt that with America at war and people still suffering from the Depression audiences just wanted to be entertained and no longer wanted to see their troubles and everyday situations acted out on stage because they were no longer comical. There were still a few comedies left however, one of the most popular being This is the Army a comedy which spoofed the army life. This particular play had a huge success in America and also had successful run in London. This is the Army became so popular that they even made a motion picture out of the play which earned over $9 million and donated to the Army’s Emergency Relief fund. The 1940’s were filled with famous musicals all with the hopes of just being pure entertainment and losing the idea that only the most artistic performances would be well received. Two of the most famous musical writers in the history of the business made their debut during this time, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Rodgers and Hammerstein were friends in college and both agreed that the best way to approach a musical was with the lyrics first, which was rare for the time. When the two were ready to debut their loved musical Oklahoma the Theatre Guild was bankrupt so the two took the major decisions in their own hands. They took some major risks one being to not open with a big catchy theatrical number and the other being to cast smaller unknown actors instead of the guaranteed success of the more popular actors of the time. The play was something that had never been seen before; it was a well rounded well written musical. On opening night in New York the show however was not sold out, since there were no major known stars, however the show quickly became a huge success. The success of Oklahoma changed the quality of musicals forever. It was soon realized that musicals could contain more than just â€Å"cheesy† dance numbers; musicals could contain drama, comedy and all around quality acting. Future musicals had higher standards and required better and more talented actors. The actors had to be skilled dancers, singers and actors. There was a lot of talent discovered all over the theatre community during the 40’s while everybody tried to compete with and follow the success of Oklahoma, however most of the talent was quickly forgotten. The 1950’s were soon open the musical community and show tunes were considered the main source of entertainment. Even the smaller musicals that did not have the most talented actors could be very profitable because the audience hoped to discover another winning team like Rodgers and Hammerstein. The fantastic duo were still ruling the musical world of Broadway, at one point they had 4 successful musicals running at the same time. In 1959 one of the most famous musicals of all time was created and praised, The Sound of Music. Everybody loved the music and the story and it was an immediate success, however it is also remembered as their last great success together as Hammerstein died just a few months after it opened which brought the end of their ruling. The 60’s and 70’s also had some great success in the musical worlds with the idea of bring rock music to the stage. In the 60’s show tunes could not be found in musicals and were replaced by edgier rock songs. The 60’s are of course known as the years of sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll and those ideas were put into story lines and portrayed on the stage. The 70’s had two major hits with Grease and The Wiz. However, the 70’s ended on a bad not for musicals because many people were tired of the shoddy performances being produced and their change in taste of music. There were some other great musicals that were produced in the 70’s but unfortunately they went overlooked. At the end of the decade revivals were beginning to pop up with famous actors playing the major roles in the musicals to boost up ticket sales. In 1980 the success of Broadway was revived with the huge success of Cats. The success and word of Cats spread all across the world and totally revived the spirit of the musical theatre. Many American composers debuted works after the success of Cats but sadly many failed. One of the biggest failures, Carrie, made its debut in 1988 which many considered the death of the Broadway rage of musicals. The main source of entertainment was now and movies and nobody paid much attention to Broadway anymore. Broadway however had one major hit left in The Phantom of the Opera. Andrew Lloyd Webber gave Broadway one last major success which is still running today. The Phantom brought in a new crowd and sold tickets at outrageous prices that the audience did not mind paying for at all, they also spent ton of money on the souvenirs. The 90’s saw a pretty bad drought in musical success except for the mid-90’s when it seemed like musicals were back with the success of Rent, Chicago, Cabaret and Bring in Da’ Noise, Bring in Da’ Funk. The success carried into 2000 and is still working it’s was on a comeback with a hot streak. With the huge success of Chicago being adapted into a major motion picture with huge stars like Rene Zellweger, Richard Gere, Taye Diggs and Catherine Zeta-Jones a new interest and spark was ignited in musicals. The theatre has also seen success recently with The Lion King, Hairspray, Aida, The Producers and Mamma Mia!. Musicals have overseen many changes and has a great history of success and failures just like any other type of theatre. As stated in the beginning many children are raised on musicals and grow up surrounded by music yet musicals are not seen as serious pieces of art. While the most popular musicals are the entertaining ones that don’t deal with any major issues that doesn’t mean that they can’t be serious as well. There are many types of musicals but why does that make them less important? Should comedic plays be seen as less artistic than dramatic pieces? Musicals have just as an important background and history as plays so I feel they should be viewed just as valuable to our society as any other piece of theatrical art. While it may be unnatural for a person to just burst out into song throughout their everyday life I don’t think it’s that far of a stretch if it did happen. How many times are we reminded of a song we hear earlier that day and sing it in our head? The only real difference between musicals and everyday life is that when we do sing our songs throughout our lives they aren’t always originals, everybody around you doesn’t join in and automatically know every word and we don’t have perfectly choreographed dance numbers to go along with them, however if we did have all that I think it would make life a lot more exciting and interesting. I am personally jealous of musicals for those reasons and wish they were given more respect.