The Abominable Snowman

The Abominable Snowman At MIT, we think big. We apply engineering principles whenever possible. We build snowmen so large that they require the use of ramps, ice skates, and a team of friendly tourists. My friend Julia 08 shares her IAP snowman experience below: (Note: I promise that I have a non-snow related entry in the works, for those of you who are sick of hearing about it.) On Sunday when I heard there was going to be yet another snow storm hitting Boston, I called up my friend Dan 10. Did you hear about the snowstorm tomorrow? You know what this means….Battle #3!. Dan and I are in the midst of a multi-part snow battle. The first two battles involved grape throwing, running around the basements, playing in the secret ninja courtyard, and most importantly lots of snow! By the time I woke up the next morning 6 inches of beautiful packing snow graced the MIT campus ready to be made into snow fighting artillery. When I met up with Dan in Killian court we decided to make a giant snowman in front of the great dome instead. Little did we know what we were getting ourselves into. First, we had a little competition to see who could roll the bigger snowball. Then we teamed up to roll the base which Dan insisted had to be at least as tall as me. To my surprise, creating this giant snowball was just as exhausting as a snowball fight! There we were, in t-shirts, sweating and struggling to push the giant ball back towards the center of Killian. We were getting pretty tired and literally losing momentum. Sometimes the ball would roll back over me after we attempted to budge it from rest. Luckily, a large group of Korean tourists ran out into the courtyard to enjoy the snowy scenery, and a few even lent us their strength to push our snowball base. The next task was getting the middle portion of the snowman up on top of the base. After several failed attempts to lift the beast and attempting to create a snow staircase, we realized that we were going to need more helping hands. I pleaded with random people walking through lobby 10 for help, and ran into my friend Marie 11. While I was off rolling the snowball for the head, Dan and Marie came up with an ingenious idea. There are these tall and thin green stakes connected by ropes surrounding Killian court. Using just three stakes, we built a makeshift ramp on the side of the 5 feet tall base. Using our engineering skills and atlas-like strength we finally managed to push the middle snowball on top of the base. None of us could believe that it actually worked, and more importantly that it stayed! Ghassan G, who stopped by earlier to take some pictures, returned and helped us stick the head on top of the now 9 feet tall monster. How did we get the head on? Simple, Ghassan stood on a chair. Finally, Maries friend, Eva 11 helped us shape, decorate, and put the final touches on our giant snowman! After 3 hours of intense working out, some thinking, and plenty of fun we had just made the biggest snowman of our lives. Julia 08 and Dan 10 roll their massive snowballs across Killian Court. Marie 11 hands Ghassan G some rocks for the snowmans eyes. Dan 10, Julia 08, Snowman, Eva 11, Marie 11, Ghassan G. The final product.

Critical Analysis A Rose For Emily - 970 Words

Critical Analysis Essay- A Rose for Emily In the story â€Å"A Rose for Emily† we look into the depths of the demented mind of Miss Emily Grierson. Born and raised during the mid-1800’s in the fictional city of Jefferson, Mississippi in the fictional county of Yoknapatawha. The story begins in its present time of approximately 1934 A.D. at her funeral and courses back through her life to the many points of tragedy she endured. As you finish this story the first time, you might consider it as a dark thriller with the plot of horrendous murder and possibly the heinous act of necrophilia. That would be true, but after reading it again, you can also pick up a few pieces of the story you hadn’t noticed. For myself, I found an interesting†¦show more content†¦For instance, he describes in detail situations that the other member of the community experienced, like when the Board of Aldermen sent a deputation to her home or when the drug store clerk sold her the poison. These scenes were described with p erfect first-person perspective. On the other hand, these scenes also say a great deal about the narrator as well. One suggestion is that he’s omnipotent. Being god-like might be a stretch for his character, but seeing as there is no real county of Yoknapatawha, in this fictional world, anything can happen. In fact, there is always a single person in every story who is omnipotent, and that is the creator himself, the author. Faulkner could be placing himself in his own story as a town member to give a first person perspective to his story. Another possible case is that this narrator is not a single individual, but the entire town itself: â€Å"Who is the narrator? Not a single person because Faulkner uses a first- person plural point of view, we; that we is townspeople, but only such as are in position to watch Miss Emily constantly for fifty or sixty years; they are anonymous townspeople, for neither names nor sexes nor occupations are given† (Sullivan, 160). This would explain the mass amount of detailed information from the characters’Show MoreRelatedThe Lottery, By Shirley Jackson And A Rose For Emily By William Faulkner960 Words   |  4 PagesThe Use of Symbolism in â€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson and â€Å"A Rose for Emily† by William Faulkner The use of symbolism is used in literature to enhance writing and add meaning to a story, this is evident in the two short stories â€Å"The Lottery† written by Shirley Jackson and â€Å"A Rose for Emily† written by William Faulkner. With the authors use of symbolism Jackson and Faulkner are able to add depth to their writing in a way that connects with the readers. By adding symbolism to the short storiesRead MoreEssay on William Faulkners A Rose for Emily1539 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Faulkners A Rose for Emily As any reader can see, A Rose for Emily is one of the most authentic short stories by Faulkner. His use of characterization, narration, foreshadowing, and symbolism are four key factors to why Faulkners work is idealistic to all readers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The works of William Faulkner have had positive effects on readers throughout his career. Local legends and gossip trigger the main focus of his stories. Considering that Faulkner grew up in Mississippi, he wasRead MoreSummary of A Rose for Emily707 Words   |  3 PagesLiterary Heritage ENGL205-ADCP April 14, 2012 Critical Analysis of â€Å"A Rose for Emily† William Faulkner begins the story by telling of the death of Miss Emily Grierson. The people in the town went to Emily’s funeral not because they admired her or had love and affection for her, but mainly out of curiosity. The women could not wait to see the inside of the house, everyone knew that when her father died he only left her with the house, in other words Emily was a pauper. The only person that couldRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of `` Catch `` By Chris Leggett Essay1200 Words   |  5 Pageswhat one is writing about and effectively delivering it. In the sample essay, Tossing Metaphors Together in Robert Francis s Catch by Chris Leggett, Leggett writes an analysis paper in which he analyzes the extended metaphor of the poem. While in the sample essay, How William Faulkner s Narrator Cultivates a Rose for Emily by Tony Groulx, Groulx writes a research paper where he researches various aspects of the story. These two essays demonstrate two distinct approaches taken to discuss a poemRead MoreEmily Grierson From A Rose For A Rose For Emily1233 Words   |  5 Pagesin her critical essay that Emily Grierson from a â€Å"Rose for ‘A Rose for Emily’† was empowered and victimized by her gender and class. However the girl from â€Å"Boys and Girls† and Gertrude from Hamlet had not been as lucky as Miss Emily. In a â€Å"Rose for ‘A Rose for Emily’† Emily Grierson was the daughter of Mr. Grierson, who was a respected man in Jefferson. After his death Miss Emily still conserved her title of a lady even if all the town folks knew that she didn’t have money left. Miss Emily took advantageRead MoreSetting Analysis of the Story a Rose for Emily1007 Words   |  5 PagesAn analysis of the setting of â€Å"A Rose for Emily† by William Faulkner’s William Faulkner is one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. Although he was born in New Albany, Mississippi in 1897 he moved to Oxford, Mississippi before his fifth birthday. Faulkner belonged to a once-wealthy family of former plantation owners (eNotes.com, Inc., 2012). He spent his boyhood hunting and fishing in and around Lafayette County (eNotes.com, Inc., 2012). William Faulkner based most of his storiesRead MoreA Rose for Emily Analysis842 Words   |  4 PagesCritical Analysis A Rose for Emily Throughout life people face many hardships, including life and death, letting go is such a hard thing for these people to do. In the story, A Rose for Emily, Faulkner writes about love and the effect it can have on a person . Faulkner writes about how Miss Emily loses her father and he is the only person she has in her life. Later in the story, Homer Barron came to their town to fix the streets. People begin seeing Miss Emily and Homer together and believeRead MoreAuthor of A Rose for Emily, William Faulkners Nobel Prize Essay707 Words   |  3 PagesAll I have to say about A Rose for Emily is that she was a crazy person! Faulkner is a really worthy and famous writer that has a lot to say in his writings and I think that he accomplishes that when he writes. â€Å"On December 10, he delivered his acceptance speech to the academy in a voice so low and rapid that few could make out what he was saying, but when his words were published in the newspaper the following day, it was r ecognized for its brilliance; in later years, Faulkner’s speech would beRead MoreKarl Marx And Friedrich Engels’ The Manifesto Of The Communist1465 Words   |  6 Pageshistorical analysis of class struggle and issues in the capitalist means of production. Marx and Engels write, â€Å"The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles† (Marx). While they are initially referring to the means of production, their concepts can be applied to William Faulkner’s â€Å"A Rose for Emily.† This short story examines an aging icon in the town of Jefferson, Mississippi, and her reputation among the townspeople. There is a gap formed between Emily Grierson andRead More The Role of the Watch in William Faulkners A Rose for Emily1199 Words   |  5 PagesThe Role of the Watch in William Faulkners A Rose for Emily Even the casual reader of William Faulkner will recognize the element of time as a crucial one in much of the writers work, and the critical attention given to the subject of time in Faulkner most certainly fills many pages of criticism. A goodly number of those pages of criticism deal with the well-known short story, A Rose for Emily. Several scholars, most notably Paul McGlynn, have worked to untangle the confusing chronology

Aldous Huxley s Brave New World - 2041 Words

â€Å"I wanted to change the world. But I have found that the only thing one can be sure of changing is oneself†- Aldous Huxley. Throughout Aldous Huxley’s life he encountered malicious experiences that changed him drastically. He found out that he was a great writer through the dreadful and exceptional events in his life. In the novel Brave New World, Huxley uses conflict and characterization to illustrate how the advancement of technology can potentially cause human destruction and how individual motivation can change the views of others. Aldous Huxley was born in Surrey, England on July 26, 1894. He had two brothers and a half brother. He had a very normal life until the age of 14 when he stared struggling with reality. Huxley’s mother died in 1908 and shortly after, one of his brothers also passed away. The death of his mother and his brother may have triggered his style of writing because Huxley had a very radical mind when telling his stories. Huxley struggled with losing part of his family; however, he still managed to pursue his education and his career as a writer. The death of his mother and the death of his brother triggered a part of his mind that helped him to become one of the greatest writers of his times. This specific event had a great impact on the book. There are many examples about his radical thinking throughout the novel that can be traced back to the death of his loved ones. Some examples include: the world that the people lived in and how they wereShow MoreRelatedAldous Huxley s Brave New World1334 Words   |  6 Pageso read Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is to understand the fear for the future during the 1930’s. Widely considered ahead of its time, Brave New World is one of the most influential novels regarding the destructive outcome of genetic and public manipulation through regime control. The story contrasts two worlds: the traditional world where the â€Å"savages† reside and the new World State: a negative utopia where unrestrained sexual freedom, reproductive technology, and mind numbing drugs run rampantRead MoreAldous Huxley s Brave New World1329 Words   |  6 PagesIn Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, life is peaceful without any rebellion from its citizens. The society is called ‘The World State’, where scientist can finally produce eggs, without women getting pregnant. As a result, there is no such thing as a â€Å"family†, and the word ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ are consider as obscen e. â€Å". . . the loathsomeness and moral obliquity of childbearing –– merely gross, a scatological rather than a pornographic impropriety† (Huxley 159). They use the Bokanovsky Process, inRead MoreAldous Huxley s Brave New World1080 Words   |  5 PagesComplete Control† Today, one s perceptions of happiness are more often than not associated with material achievements, advancements, or perhaps, love. In Brave New World, however, happiness is based upon the pursuit of stability and emotional equilibrium Aldous Huxley s dystopian novel, Brave New World serves as a warning of the ominous. Set in London, the totalitarian regime instills the motto of stability, community, [and] identity(Huxley.1.1) in its citizens. Huxley s dystopia attempts to findRead MoreAldous Huxley s Brave New World Essay1800 Words   |  8 PagesAccording to Webster’s New World Dictionary, bravery is â€Å"possessing or exhibiting courage or courageous endurance† (Agnes 178). Oftentimes, people are commended for acts of bravery they complete in the heat of a moment or overcoming a life-changing obstacle. Rarely one is commended for simply living a brave life, facing challenges they do not even understand. The characters in the Aldous Huxley’s Brave New Wor ld live a peculiar lifestyle demonstrating bravery for just breathing. Although Huxley’sRead MoreAldous Huxley s A Brave New World1649 Words   |  7 PagesAldous Huxley has presented us a compelling story in the 20th-century called a Brave New World. One of the most notable dystopian novels, it calls for a reader to conceptualize a world, in which society and science are synonymous with each other, history had faded far into obscurity, and Henry Ford, the creator of the assembly line, becomes a deity to many uniformed individuals. The book was about how humans are no longer created by the conventional means of mating, rather artificially, throughRead MoreAldous Huxley s Brave New World1904 Words   |  8 PagesAldous Huxley’s Brave New World, published in 1932, is a masterpiece of science fiction. His imagined, dystopian state creatively employs facts and theories of science, as well as his very own thinly-veiled commentary on the future of society. His family backg round and social status, in addition to molding Huxley himself and his perspective, no doubt made impact on his writing and contributed to the scientific accuracy of his presentation. However, Huxley certainly qualifies as a social commenterRead MoreAldous Huxley s Brave New World1564 Words   |  7 Pages Envision a world where everybody is happy, there is no sorrow or suffering, no fear of death, no misery, everything is pleasant, and the government doles out happy pills, known as Soma. Aldous Huxley’s novel â€Å"Brave New World† describes this world. Is everyone truly happy, and what do the citizens sacrifice in exchange for living in this utopia? Huxley helped shape the modern mind with provocative theories about humankind s destiny, and he was concerned with the possible social and moral implicationsRead MoreAldous Huxley s Brave New World1038 Words   |  5 PagesAldous Huxley, the author of Brave New World, portrays a World State that has made consumption one of its centerpieces. Economic stability is essential to the effectiveness of the World State. They are brainwashed by advertisements and organizations that make them feel as though they are free. The people within the World State continuously consume because of the conditioning they obtained when they were younger. They are educated that when an object or good is in need of fixing, they must get ridRead MoreAldous Huxley s Brave New World2645 Words   |  11 PagesTimes: Aldous Huxley was born into a family of renowned scientists in 1894. He lost his mother at age 14, became virtually blind due to illness three years later, and lost his older brother to suicide at age 21. Despite these setbacks, he went back to school after dropping out of Eton and earned a degree in English literature from Oxford. Because of his blindness, he was not able to do the scientific research he had previously wanted to do, and turned to writing. He wrote Brave New World in fourRead MoreAnalysis Of Aldous Huxley s Brave New World1420 Words   |  6 Pagesexcessive effort to become perfect can be counteractive and lead to dysfunctionality. In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, characters live in a dystopian society that sprouted from the human yearning for perfection. Although the citizens in Brave New World are genetically engineered to be perfect individuals and are on soma constantly to keep them happy and efficient, they lack individuality.. Brave New World is a n ovel that clearly demonstrates that trying to create a perfect society can result in

Hydraulics and Hydrology Lec Free Essays

string(26) " with a systems approach\." 48362 – HYDRAULICS and HYDROLOGY James E Ball – Hydrology Component SUBJECT DETAILS 1 CONTACTS ? Assoc Prof James Ball ? ? ? james. ball@uts. edu. We will write a custom essay sample on Hydraulics and Hydrology Lec or any similar topic only for you Order Now au ph – 9514 2623 Office Hours ? ? Monday 2:00 – 4:00pm Contact by email for appointment SUBJECT CONCEPT The objective of this component of the subject is: ? Introduce engineering hydrology; ? Introduce hydrological processes; ? Introduce flood estimation; and ? Introduce engineering hydrology applications in water resources management. 2 SUBJECT CONCEPT This introduction is aimed at: ? Providing an ability to apply commonly used methods in hydrology; and ? Provide an understanding of the theory behind these methods. REFERENCES Three references that may be useful are ? Applied Hydrology – Chow, Maidment Mays, McGraw-Hill Book Co. ? Hydrology An Australian Introduction – Ladson, Oxford University Press ? Australian Rainfall Runoff – A Guide to Flood Estimation – Engineers Australia No published Course Notes are available for this subject. 3 SUBJECT DOCUMENTS UTS-Online will be used for distribution of ? Copies of lecture slides; ? Reading material; and ? Tutorial problems. Students should note that additional reference books may be noted in the lecture slides. LECTURE STRUCTURE Each Hydrology lecture period will comprise: ? 2 hour lecture; and ? 1 hour tutorial. It is expected that students will have accessed the lecture slides, reading material and tutorials prior to the lecture period. 4 SUBJECT TIMETABLE Date Topic 27 February Hydrology and Water Resources 5 March Meteorology 12 March Hydrologic Data 19 March Surface Water 27 March Storm Runoff 2 April Hydrologic Design 9 April Design Rainfall 1 May Peak Flow Estimation 7 May Hydrograph Estimation – Part 1 13 May Hydrograph Estimation – Part 2 14 May Environmental Flows 21 May Water Sensitive Urban Design 4 June Course Review HYDROLOGIC CYCLE Lecture 1 5 CONTENT ? Introduction to Hydrology ? Development of Hydrology ? Hydrologic Cycle ? Australian Hydrology INTRODUCTION 6 DEFINITION OF HYDROLOGY Greek word: Hydor = water ology = study of Hydraulics comes from Greek word hydraulikos which in turn comes from hydor (Greek for water) and aulos (meaning pipe). DEFINITION OF HYDROLOGY UNESCO (1979)1 defines hydrology as â€Å"the physical science which treats the waters of the Earth, their Occurrence, Circulation and Distribution, their Chemical and Physical Properties, and their Reaction with the Environment†. UNESCO, (1979), Impact of urbanisation and industrialisation on water resources planning and management, Studies and Reports in Hydrology, UNESCO, UNESCO, Paris. 7 WATER Water is essential for maintenance of life. Early civilisations were concentrated on rivers ? ? establishment of settlements near rivers analogous to looking for signs of water on Mars Management of water is multi-d isciplinary; many professions are involved. WATER Variety of problems encountered include ? Flood mitigation ? Sanitary sewer systems ? Land drainage ? Water Supply ? Culvert and bridge design ? Environmental Flows ? Erosion ? Mine tailings ? Drought ? Adaptation to climate change ? Irrigation systems ? Hydro-electric and power generation ? Stormwater systems 8 RURAL FLOODING URBAN FLOODS 9 STORMWATER STRUCTURES STORMWATER DRAINS 10 WATER SUPPLY HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER 11 IRRIGATION SCHEMES DROUGHT 12 DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGY Ancient civilisations were integrated with their river valleys. Examples are ? ? ? ? ? Egyptian Civilisations and the Nile Valley Mesopotamian Civilisations and the TigrisEuphrates Indian Civilisations and the Indus Valley Ancient China and the Yellow River Andean Civilisations and Coastal Peru DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGY Many of structures from early civilisations are still in operation. Large scale irrigation and drainage works were associated with these civilisations. Earliest recorded dam is about 2900BC (the Sadd Al-Kafara at Wadi Al-Garawi, 25km south of Cairo) Used for both flood protection and irrigation. Also site of earliest known dam failure. 13 DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGY Oldest surviving dam in the world is the Grand Anicut Dam on the Kaveri River in Southern India. This structue dates back to 2nd Century AD. DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGY Water supply to Ancient Rome has been estimated as being approx 500L/c/d. Current water supply requirements are ? ? ? Australian cities, design – approx. 430L/c/d Australian cities, actual – approx. 230L/c/d US cities, design – approx 600L/c/d Drainage structures (such as the Cloaca Maxima) from Ancient Rome are still being used today. 14 ANCIENT ROMANS Cloaca maxima Bath, UK AQUEDUCTS Pont du Gard, France c19 BC Hampi, India 1st century AD 15 DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGY Flood protection has been practiced for thousands of years along the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. It remains an issue of concern in these areas to the current day. DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGY Water has been of interest for many years. Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers speculated on a hydrologic cycle – Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Lucretius, Seneca, Pliny. This cycle was developed from their observations of water in their environment. Use of observations remains a fundamental component of current hydrologic applications and research. 16 DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGY Chinese recorded observations of rain ? ? ? An-yang oracle bones as early as 1200BC; Used rain gauges around 1000BC; and Established systematic records about 200BC. Indian records date back to 400BC. DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGY Scientific development of hydrology occurred uring the Renaissance period. Examples are ? ? ? Leonardo da Vinci – velocity distributions in streams. Bernard Palissy – springs originated from rainfall. Pierre Perrault – runoff is a fraction of rainfall. 17 DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGY Other contributions during this period were made by ? ? ? ? ? Galileo Newton Bernoulli Euler Lagrange DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGY Signi ficant scientific development occurred in the 19th Century when ? ? ? ? ? Dalton proposed the principle of evaporation. Hagen-Poiseuille described capillary flow. Mulvaney developed the Rational method. Darcy described mathematically porous media low. Rippl developed methods for determining storage requirements. 18 DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGY 20th Century saw rapid development of quantitative hydrology. Biggest influence during this period was the development of the digital computer and the development of catchment modelling systems. Limitation now is data availability rather than calculation capacity. HYDROLOGIC CYCLE 19 HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE One of the fundamental cycles of nature. Basis for the science of hydrology. Important points ? ? ? ? Cycle has no start and no end. Cycle is continuous. Flow of water in the cycle is not continuous. Water moves erratically through the cycle. HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE 20 HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE 21 HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE General components of the cycle are ? Atmospheric Water ? Surface Water ? Ground Water In analysis of water resource problems, these components are treated with a systems approach. You read "Hydraulics and Hydrology Lec" in category "Papers" 22 SYSTEMS CONCEPT A systems concept is applied when considering the hydrological cycle or some component thereof. This is consistent with the reductionist concept used in many engineering problems. SYSTEMS CONCEPT The reductionist philosophy is based on reducing the system to a number of smaller omponents. The response of the system then is determined from summation of the responses of the individual components. 23 SYSTEMS CONCEPT WATER BALANCE 24 WATER BALANCE Amount of water does not change. Where it may be found does change. Water maybe found in the seas and oceans, in the atmosphere, on the surface, below the surface, and in biological systems. WATER BALANCE ITEM Oceans Polar Ice Groundwater Lakes Soil Moisture Atmospheric Water Rivers Biological Water ?Water VOLUME (km3) % TOTAL WATER 1. 338 x 109 96. 5 24. 0 x 106 1. 7 23. 4 x 106 1. 69 187. 9 x 103 0. 0138 16. 5 x 103 0. 0012 12. 9 x 103 . 001 2. 1 x 103 0. 0002 1. 1 x 103 0. 0001 1. 386 x 109 100. 0 UNESCO, 1978 – ref 11, ladson ch1 25 WATER BALANCE Not all water is freshwater. Only approx 2. 5% of the water is fresh water – water in the oceans and some lake water and ground water is saline. Considering only fresh water, the values in the previous table are modified to WATER BALANCE UNESCO, 1978 ITEM VOLUME (km3) % TOTAL WATER Polar Ice 24. 0 x 106 68. 6 Groundwater 23. 4 x 106 30. 1 103 0. 26 Soil Moisture 16. 5 x 103 0. 05 Atmospheric Water 103 0. 04 Rivers 2. 1 x 103 0. 006 Biological Water 1. 1 x 103 0. 003 Fresh Water 35. 0 x 106 00. 0 Lakes 187. 9 x 12. 9 x 26 WATER BALANCE Basis of any volume based pro blem is a water balance. This is a usage of the concept of continuity. In general, application of continuity gives in volume terms Inflow – Outflow = Change in Storage (? S) And in flux terms Qi – Qo = ? S / ? t WATER BALANCE Components of inflow for a water body such as a lake or reservoir are ? Precipitation (P) ? Inflow from rivers or groundwater (I) 27 WATER BALANCE Components of outflow for a water body such as a lake or reservoir are ? Evapo-transpiration (ET); ? Outflows – Extractions, Downstream flows, (O); and ? Seepage (G) WATER BALANCE Hence the water balance for a water body is P + I – O – ET – G = ? S 28 WATER FLOWS While the volume of water in a source is important, the flux of water through a component is important also. An indication of the flux can be obtained from the diagram of the hydrological cycle. WATER FLOWS The Global Annual Water Balance is shown on in units relative to the annual volume of precipitation on land masses. Note that this is a flow rate (km3/yr). 29 WATER FLOWS ? Precipitation ? ? ? ? Land – 119,000 km3/yr (800mm/yr) Ocean – 458,000 km3/yr (1270mm/yr) Total – 577,000 km3/yr Evaporation ? ? ? Land – 72,000 km3/yr (484mm/yr) Ocean – 505,000 km3/yr (1400mm/yr) Total – 577,000 km3/yr WATER FLOWS ? Runoff to Oceans ? ? ? Rivers – 44,700 km3/yr Groundwater – 2,200 km3/yr Total Runoff – 47,000 km3/yr (316mm/yr) 30 WATER FLOWS Considering the volume and flux gives the mean residence times in a particular source. The mean residence time for atmospheric water is obtained by dividing the volume (S) of water in the atmosphere by the flux (Q), ie TR ? S 12,900 ? ? 0. 022 yr ? 8. 2days Q 577,000 WATER FLOWS ITEM Oceans Polar Ice Glaciers Groundwater Lakes Soil Moisture Rivers Atmosphere Biological Water TR 2600 years 1100 years 700 years 13 years 155 days 13 days 8. 2 days 3. 4 days 31 AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE â€Å"†¦of droughts and flooding rains† 32 RIVER RUNOFF Australia has low runoff per unit area (average depth of surface runoff). Also, Australian runoff has greater variability due to lack of snow melt period. RAINFALL COMPARISON Variability of Annual rainfall 20 18 Coefficient (%) 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 A ustralia S. A frica Germany France NZ India UK Canada China USA Russia Country 33 AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE CLIMATE CLASSIFICATIONS Marked wet summer and dry winter of northern Australia. Wet summer and low winter rainfall of southeast QLD and northeast NSW. Uniform rainfall in southeast Australia. Wet winter and dry summer of southwest WA and parts of the southeast. Arid area comprising about half of the continent More on BoM website 34 AUSTRALIAN RAINFALL Pluviometer Network Daily Read Network PRECIPITATION 35 AUSTRALIAN RAINFALL City Average Annual Rainfall (mm) Average Number of Rain Days Darwin 1714 111 Sydney 1217 138 Brisbane 1149 122 Perth 786 114 Melbourne 653 147 Canberra 623 105 Hobart 569 135 Adelaide 530 121 Alice Springs 279 31 After Ladson, 2008 AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS Australian rainfall is influenced by general circulation patterns. Most of Australia is around 30o latitude which tend to be areas of descending air. Note – that the solar equator moves during the year. 36 AUST. CLIMATE VARIABILITY Known major causes Approximate time scale Effect Synoptic weather patterns Day / week â€Å"Weather† Southern Annular Mode Weeks +ve phase = winter rainfall deficiencies in southern Australia; summer increases in MDB El Nino / La Nina (Southern Oscillation Index) Inter-annual El nino = lower rainfalls La nina = higher rainfalls Indian Ocean Dipole Inter-annual ve phase = increased rainfall +ve phase = decreased rainfall Inter-decadal Pacific Oscillation Inter-decadal Flip flops between drier and wetter periods e. g. 1st half of 20th century wetter than 2nd half The Australian climate – influences http://www. bom. gov. au/watl/about-weather-and-climate/australian-climate-influences. html 37 The Australian climate – influences The Australian climate – topography 38 Seasonal rainfall variation across the country Seasonal rainfall variation across the country Mean rainfall – Katherine mm Mean rainfall – Dubbo mm 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 0 0 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 J F M A M J J A S O N J D F Mean rainfall – Alice Springs mm M A M J A S O N D Mean rainfall – Sydney mm 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 J 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O S O N N D Mean rainfall – Perth mm Mean rainfall – Strahan mm 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Perth wind rose February J F M A M J J A D Rainfall variability – a comparison Annual rainfall – Birdsville mm 600 400 200 2000 1980 1960 Annual rainfall – Bourke mm Annual rainfall – Perth 1940 1920 1900 0 mm 1000 1400 1200 800 1000 600 800 600 400 400 200 200 1980 1960 1940 1920 1900 1980 1960 1940 1920 1900 1880 1880 0 0 39 NSW annual rainfall time-series New South Wales Annual Rainfall 1000 900 Dry Period: 1900 – 1946 Average Rainfall: 477. 7mm *Dry conditions commenced 1890 Standard Deviation: 90. 4 Wet Period: 1947 – 2000 Average Rainfall: 573. 9mm 20. 1% increase Standard Deviation: 127. 0 800 New Dry 2001/06 439. 5mm 23. 4% decline Rainfall (mm) 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Year 40 How to cite Hydraulics and Hydrology Lec, Papers

The Early Modern European Economy Book Review Essay Example

The Early Modern European Economy Book Review Essay The Early Modern European Economy: A book review In â€Å"The Early Modern European Economy†, Peter Musgrave attempts to express and formulate an underlying pattern from modern studies of the early modern period. The underlying focus of the book is the transformation of the feudal system in the early modern period to the economy of the nineteenth and twentieth century. Musgrave attempts to conjoin new works on the topic of the early modern European economy by analyzing the key structures and arguments in recent material. In doing this, Musgrave attempts to deviate from historical viewpoints by defining Europe and the early modern age, identifying turning points in economic development, and distinguishing this period from previous ones. â€Å"The Early Modern European Economy† reexamines our understanding of how the economy is shaped, and delves into new interpretations that suggest social and cultural aspects determine economic activity. This review takes the perspective of what the book gives is useful in understanding the development of the economic system in the early modern period. However, it lacks a clear foundation in explaining the exact cause of how the transformation started feudalism to capitalism. Each chapter will be looked at in turn. Development and Change Although modern economic principles provide useful tools for the historian, the focus must be on the theoretical structure if we truly wish to understand the past. Musgrave states that we need to look past traditional perspectives that modern economic principles can be applied in this period. The reasons for using a theoretical approach lie in the fact that economics are very closely related to the social sciences. We will write a custom essay sample on The Early Modern European Economy Book Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Early Modern European Economy Book Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Early Modern European Economy Book Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer A key figure in the foundations of economic development, Musgrave cites, belongs to Karl Marx. Separate from Marxism in the Soviet Union, he refers to Marx’s impact in stating the importance of the process of production. Factors such as what is produced, how it is produced, financed, and how organization and employment of labor give foundation to the roots of economic development (Musgrave 1999, 15). Marx states the polarization of wealth between classes brought upon economic, political and social tensions that produced change and growth. In understanding economic development in Europe as a whole, rganization of production plays a more crucial role than following the paradigm of the industrialized superpowers of Britain and Northern Netherlands. Stratagems and Spoils Instead of solely looking at development in the macroeconomic perspective, focus is shifted on individual choices. Musgrave highlights the importance that individuals and communities were not constrained by econom ic forces, rather they had choices between different courses of action that were determined by factors such as possible outcome, individual (or groups) aims and intentions, and the perception of the situation. The traditional opinion that majority of the population endured poverty and had no economic opportunity is no longer a widely accepted view (Musgrave 1999, 36). Contrary to traditional views that Europeans stayed in only one village, Musgrave states that such issues as migration actually improved the state of the economy instead of hindering it, as it allowed for more prosperous choices to Europeans if they were restricted or otherwise not able to maximize prosperity and security. Choices were in a large part, strategic and involved the minimization of risk. Climate, political structure, medical knowledge, and profit maximization are all factors that influenced decision making for Europeans, and these certainly helped shape and develop the economy. The Rise of a Consumer Society Thus far, issues of demand and consumption have largely been ignored in favor of production. Musgrave explains that this concentration on production is mainly due to the belief of a stagnant economy driven by poverty and subsistence; one that did not allow for questions of consumption to even be considered (Musgrave 1999, 59). However, economic historians are gradually discovering increasingly large amounts of evidence that consumption expanded due to families buying goods not purely for survival. Due to increased international trade and production, there was a much wider selection of goods available that allowed Europeans the choice for different goods including clothing, textiles, and even raw materials. Musgrave argues that there is an increasing pattern in time spent on leisure activities and the demand for them (Musgrave 1999, 64). A higher quality of life was now taking place because Europeans did not spend all their time on work. As the booming clothing and fashion industry continued, so did demand for innovation and change, which in turn helped produce change in the general pattern of industrialization in the early modern period. Transportation and communication systems evolved, which in turn greatly aided the development of European industry and commerce. The Role of the State An important yet scarce source of information comes from the role of the state within the economy. What historians do know is that the role of the state was central to the development of the economy by creating greater pressure towards monetarisation of the economy; mainly from the switch of payment in cash rather than in kind (Musgrave 1999, 86). It is known that states had difficulty increasing income because of poor taxation methods and documentation, and therefore the only way to increase that income was to borrow money or subsequently reduce metallic content in coinage, which in turn reduced the value of currency. Borrowing led to a dramatic increase in states’ refusal and inability to pay lenders, causing bankruptcies and further destabilizing the economy which encouraged the development of more modern banking systems (Musgrave 1999, 92). Taxation revenue used for financing the states own activities instead of being used as a tool of economic or social management resulted in frequent financial crises. It is not without saying that spending did not act as an economic stimulus however, as large infrastructure projects as well as war production created employment and improved production (Musgrave 1999, 100). With the poor taxation and documentation system, it is very difficult to assess the overall effect of the state on early modern economic development. It is however of great importance that we do not assess the early modern state based on the same aims, principles, structure, and effects of the modern state. The Prosperity of the South Traditional historians believe that the downturn of the South happened because of the rapidly developing North, but Musgrave states that this is based on intellectual constraints imposed from outside (Musgrave 1999, 113). Around the time of 1590, the South began to experience an economic decline while the North prospered with increased urbanization, migration, and agricultural systems. Musgrave states that the South was plagued by the Malthusian downturn, defined as an increase in demand and pressure on limited resources because of population increase (Musgrave 1999, 117). Agriculture was not specialized and in many cases, expansion into marginal land with low crop yields occurred which resulted in massive deforestation. Southern banks were under increased pressure as well because of majority of Europe borrowing and not repaying, thus driving up interest rates and leading to unattractive investment opportunities within the South. Eventually, due to an improving climate and the South’s strong focus on finance and banking helped them re-emerge from this economic crisis (Musgrave 1999, 134). Although the South did not grow as rapidly as the North, Musgrave reinforces the notion that their ability to solve the crisis within their own system suggests it was in many ways more prosperous and successful than the North. The Prosperity of the North Development of conveniently located port cities such as Amsterdam and London played a major part in the North’s prosperity. Additionally, changes in agriculture production greatly benefited the economy of the North. Joint stock financing also allowed companies to achieve much larger scale operations containing entrepreneurial goals, focusing on long-term profit and growth through mass production. Despite the advantages of joint stock financing and having such features as a Board of Directors, a Council, and dividend payments for investors, many companies still relied on financing through debt (Musgrave 1999, 151). Bond investors were much more numerous, as receiving regular coupon payments was much more attractive in the eyes of investors seeking stability and security. â€Å"This was hardly a shareholding revolution, nor yet a revolution in economic attitudes†, Musgrave states (Musgrave 1999, 151). Rapid growth and development came at a cost however, and because of advancing technology, demand for labor decreased. This economic advancement created a more serious subsistence crisis and depressions than the South. Traditional historians have viewed Northern Europe as more successful in economic development and growth but Musgrave however points out that majority of comparisons made between the two are based on comparing patterns of unlike to unlike (i. e. comparing leading sectors of the North with weak sectors of the South). Instead of viewing a North vs. South relationship, Musgrave states; they were in fact closely similar systems existing comfortably together, and if anything, the levels of prosperity in the South were higher until at least 1770 (Musgrave 1999, 159). Europe’s Place in the World Many traditional historians viewed the rest of the world as not being nearly as developed as Europe. Europeans themselves believed that they were able transform the political, economic and cultural patterns of non-European nations. The assumption that Europe civilized Asia with financial and technological superiority is wrong (Musgrave 1999, 164). European trade with Asia became restricted due to different political ideologies; quotas and tariffs were placed on goods frequently, not to mention extremely risky trade routes by sea. It was only due to Europe’s gold and precious metals/materials influx that made trade possible between the two regions. As Europe developed however, they were increasingly able to produce many goods that were sought after in Asian trade. At this same time, Europe was developing expansion in North America quite rapidly, and along with a booming textile and wool industry, slave trade became prominent. Musgrave argues that developments in the Americas were largely dependent on cooperation of the African states and slave traders (Musgrave 1999, 179). Despite Europe’s internal difficulties with inflation and unemployment, wealth gained in the Caribbean from sugar plantations brought major stimulus to Europe’s economy and played a major role in industrialization. It was clear that although Europe had their own struggles, the rest of the non-European world was facing development issues too. European expansion proved to be of crucial historic importance and helped the region in terms of economic development well into the 19th century. After reading â€Å"The Early Modern European Economy†, it is hard not to agree with many of the viewpoints Musgrave offers. The strongpoints of this text re highlighted in Musgrave’s criticism of previous historical approaches. This book emphasizes what we often forget about; the economy is very much shaped by the individual choices made by consumers. It is true that we cannot compare our own society to that of the past, and for this I agree with Musgrave. However, I feel he does not nearly touch on the beginning transformations of feudalism to capitalism enough. Questions such as; how did feudalistic entrepreneurs react to the increasingly changing economy, and the exact spark that set off the capitalistic venture, were not explained thoroughly enough. I feel that this was vital to the subject in understanding how such change developed. Despite this, I would highly recommend this book to readers interested in the subject of the early modern European economy. Peter Musgrave conceives patterns from the most up to date research, dispelling myths that have bedeviled the study of early modern Europe. â€Å"The Early Modern European Economy† is an invaluable resource in gaining resourceful insights on early economic development. Bibliography Musgrave, Peter. The Early Modern European Economy. Vol. 1. 1 vols. New York, N. Y. : St. Martins Press, Scholarly and Reference Division, 1999.

Essay on SlaveryEssay Writing Service

Essay on SlaveryEssay Writing Service Essay on Slavery Essay on SlaveryThe question of slavery has been under vivid discussion for many decades. The following research paper analyzes the following questions. What methods did slave owners use to maintain authority over their slaves and what arguments (legal, constitutional, economic, religious, etc.) did proslavery advocates use to defend the institution of slavery? The paper refers to the writings of a number of researchers who have made a significant contribution into analyzing the problem of slavery and all corresponding issues, including those speaking in favor of slavery as a historical phenomenon. The research paper analyzes the works of prominent investigators in the sphere of slavery providing detailed answers to the questions stated above.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Those speaking in favor of slavery claim that this institution has taken the best features of the social institutions in Greece, Rome or Medieval England. They proclaim slavery as an institution super ior to the existing lust of â€Å"free society† to capital, equality and different freedoms that modern society has finally acquired through the ages. The society of the North claims that although their own anti-slavery system has failed, they do not deny this fact and admit that they are ready to build a new social system that would be better than both slavery and abolitionism[1].  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In defense of slavery, Fitzhugh states that one of the ways by which slave masters encouraged their slaves and maintained their own authority among them was providing them with even better conditions than a contemporary employer offers to their workers. Thus, the slaves got the larger part of their labor’s results, while the slave masters got less[2]. This indicates a great difference between today’s free labor and former slavery, undoubtedly speaking in favor of the latter. Moreover, in contrast to contemporary â€Å"white slavery†, the black slave owners provided their slaves with a place to live, food, fuel and everything necessary for sustaining a life of a human being. These are some of the ways by which the slave masters encouraged their slaves and maintained a superior status among them. Fitzhugh argues that such system of labor is much better than the one modern society has nowadays, as in current times, laborers, though being free after the working day is over, are not free in the full meaning of this word as they have to care for their families and place of living[3].In many aspects, slave masters treated their slaves in a humane way. Thus, all of them permitted and even encouraged marriage as a way of making slaves happier and enlightening their lives. Nonetheless, before getting married a slave ought to receive permission from his or her master and the slave was not allowed getting married with other than another owner’s slave[4]. In addition, it needs to be mentioned that in case of the black slave getting sick, his or her owner would not permit the diseased to stay at home, but order him or her to be confined to the hospital[5]. This is one more reason to advocate for slavery. Nowadays, it often happens that employees getting sick are not provided with any medical treatment, but left to getting cured by their own means. This aspect should undoubtedly be taken into account when speaking about slavery of the past. Among other privileges of slaves were the permission to go to Church on Sundays and receiving certain rewards for the job performed. The latter relates to various holidays and other significant events.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition, in order to make their slaves come to work at the designated time, the slaves were permitted to have little time to rest after hard work[6]. In this way, the slave masters wanted to make their workers come to work timely and be prepared for the following day of hard labor. This was one of the ways the slave masters made their slave workers obedient to them. However, despite this fact, it cannot be said that slaves were treated badly as they had everything they needed for living and did not have to scrape for living like modern people often do. Consequently, at the times of slavery, the rates of hunger and poverty were significantly lower, than nowadays.In such a way, the black slaves had many privileges over the contemporary society living in the world of capitalism. One of the reasons to advocate for slavery is that unlike modern people, black slaves had all the comforts and necessities for leading a carefree daily life, even though they had to work hard. Nonetheless, with the ever increasing needs and wishes of contemporary society, it seems that having shelter, food and fuel would not be enough for modern people. That is why so many people consider the institution of slavery to be something frightening and tragic. The above stated facts on how slave owners treated their slaves shou ld persuade everyone that in reality, black slaves can be called some of the happiest men in the world, unlike contemporary laborers who often lead an inconsistent life.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Furthermore, one more point of view in defense of slavery implies that black slaves had decent conditions for living a consistent life as they were not involved in any kind of arts as this was the responsibility of the whites. Unlike the Greek or Roman slaves, black slaves in America were not merchants and were not involved in any capital related transactions that again were all carried out by the whites[7]. This is how those advocating for slavery prove their position. They also claim that except lack of liberty, slavery as an institution can not be accused of any faults. In fact, black slaves are likely to have had much happier lives than contemporary people who often lack property and are deprived of many comforts that have been available to the black slaves. This is wh ere mass hunger, poverty and other social tragedies of the modern world originate from.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Slavery can in many ways be perceived as a â€Å"positive good†[8]. J.H. Hammond proclaims slavery to be â€Å"the greatest of all the great blessings† admitting that without it, the rich and fertile soils of America would be given to US citizens in vain[9]. It was thanks to the black slavery that America has turned into such a powerful state in terms of agriculture and many other spheres of human life. He further states that there is not a happier and more satisfied class of people than slaves, as the slave owners provided their slaves with all the conditions necessary for living a fully decent life[10]. In such a way, slavery has many reasons to be defended by abolitionists who still continue to advocate for slavery and fight for turning back the labor system of the past.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, it shou ld be said that the way slave masters treated their slaves was in many regards humane. Having analyzed the writings of many researchers, it becomes clear that the abolitionist movement is something that should be given the right to exist. Despite many discussions of those who are against slavery, such social institution was in many regards a â€Å"positive good†. Although slave masters often used different kinds of punishments and sometimes treated their slaves in a non-humane way, still they used a number of humanistic methods of making slaves obedient to them.The major point here is that unlike employees of modern days, slaves have been provided with all the comforts and commodities they needed for leading a carefree daily life. Thus, it can be said that the capitalist world of today deprives common people of many privileges available to the workers of the times of slavery. This point of view has been researched in detail by a number of investigators who provide much eviden ce in support of slavery. The above research observed a number of viewpoints of various researchers on the matter of slavery. It has given details as for the treatment of slaves by their masters and answered the question of what evidence those in favor of slavery provide in support of their viewpoint. Despite all the above-mentioned data, the question of slavery still remains under vivid discussion and needs to be further researched.[1] George Fitzhugh, Cannibals All! Or Slaves Without Masters (Richmond, Va: A. Morris, 1857), 9.[2] George Fitzhugh, Cannibals All! Or Slaves Without Masters (Richmond, Va: A. Morris, 1857), 15.[3] George Fitzhugh, Cannibals All! Or Slaves Without Masters (Richmond, Va: A. Morris, 1857), 15.[4] Wilentz, Sean, and Jonathan Earle, Major Problems in Early Republic, 1787-1848 (Houghton Mifflin, 1991), 216.[5] Wilentz, Sean, and Jonathan Earle, Major Problems in Early Republic, 1787-1848 (Houghton Mifflin, 1991), 215.[6] Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia (The University of Chicago Press, 1784), 265.[7] George Fitzhugh, Cannibals All! Or Slaves Without Masters (Richmond, Va: A. Morris, 1857), 22.[8] Wilentz, Sean, and Jonathan Earle, Major Problems in Early Republic, 1787-1848 (Houghton Mifflin, 1991), 387.[9] Wilentz, Sean, and Jonathan Earle, Major Problems in Early Republic, 1787-1848 (Houghton Mifflin, 1991), 405.[10] Wilentz, Sean, and Jonathan Earle, Major Problems in Early Republic, 1787-1848 (Houghton Mifflin, 1991), 404.

10 Fascinating Praying Mantis Facts

10 Fascinating Praying Mantis Facts The word mantis comes from the Greek mantikos, for soothsayer or prophet. Indeed, these insects do seem spiritual, especially when their forelegs are clasped together as if theyre in prayer. Learn more about these mysterious insects with these 10 fascinating facts about praying mantids. 1. Most Praying Mantids Live in the Tropics Of approximately 2,000 species of mantids described to date, almost all are tropical creatures. Just 18 native species are known from the entire North American continent. About 80% of all members of the order Mantodea belong to a single family, the Mantidae. 2. The Mantids We See Most Often in the U.S. Are Exotic Species Youre more likely to find an introduced mantid species than you are to find a native praying mantis. The Chinese mantis (Tenodera aridifolia) was introduced near Philadelphia, PA about 80 years ago. This large mantid can measure up to 100 mm in length.  The European mantid, Mantis religiosa, is pale green and about half the size of the Chinese mantid. European mantids were introduced near Rochester, NY nearly a century ago. Both the Chinese and European mantids are common in the northeastern U.S. today. 3. Mantids Can Turn Their Heads a Full 180 Degrees Try to sneak up on a praying mantis, and you may be startled when it looks over its shoulder at you. No other insect can do so. Praying mantids have a flexible joint between the head and prothorax that enables them to swivel their heads. This ability, along with their rather humanoid faces and long, grasping forelegs, endears them to even the most entomophobic people among us. 4. Mantids Are Closely Related to Cockroaches and Termites These three seemingly different insects – mantids, termites, and cockroaches – are believed to descend from a common ancestor. In fact, some entomologists group these insects in a superorder (Dictyoptera), due to their close evolutionary relationships. 5. Praying Mantids Overwinter as Eggs in Temperate Regions The female praying mantis deposits her eggs on a twig or stem in the fall ​and then protects them with a Styrofoam-like substance she secretes from her body. This forms a protective egg case, or ootheca, in which her offspring will develop over the winter. Mantid egg cases are easy to spot in the winter when leaves have fallen from shrubs and trees. But be forewarned! If you bring an overwintering ootheca into your warm home, you may find your house teeming with tiny mantids. 6. Female Mantids Sometimes Eat Their Mates Yes, its true, female praying mantids do cannibalize their sex partners. In some instances, shell even behead the poor chap before theyve consummated their relationship. As it turns out, a male mantid is an even better lover when his brain, which controls inhibition, is detached from his abdominal ganglion, which controls the actual act of copulation. But most instances of sexual suicide in mantids occur in the confines of a laboratory setting. In the wild, scientists believe the male partner gets munched on less than 30% of the time. 7. Mantids Use Specialized Front Legs to Capture Prey The praying mantis is so named because when waiting for prey, it holds its front legs in an upright position as if they are folded in prayer. Dont be fooled by its angelic pose, however, because the mantid is a deadly predator. If a bee or fly happens to land within its reach, the praying mantis will extend its arms with lightning quick speed, and grab the hapless insect. Sharp spines line the mantids raptorial forelegs, enabling it to grasp the prey tightly as it eats. Some larger mantids catch and eat lizards, frogs, and even birds. Who says bugs are at the bottom of the food chain?! The praying mantis would better be called the preying mantis. 8. Mantids Are Relatively Young Compared to Other Ancient Insects The earliest fossil mantids date from the Cretaceous Period and are between 146-66 million years old. These primitive mantid specimens lack certain traits found in the mantids that live today. They dont have the elongate pronotum, or extended neck, of modern-day mantids and they lack spines on their forelegs. 9. Praying Mantids Are Not Necessarily Beneficial Insects Praying mantids can and will consume lots of other invertebrates in your garden, so theyre often considered beneficial predators. Its important to note, however, that mantids dont discriminate between good bugs and bad bugs when looking for meals. A praying mantis is just as likely to eat a native bee thats pollinating your plants as it is to eat a caterpillar pest. Garden supply companies often sell the egg cases of Chinese mantids, touting them as a biological control for your garden, but these predators may do as much harm as good in the end. 10. Mantids Have Two Eyes, but Only One Ear A praying mantis has two large, compound eyes that work together to help it decipher visual cues. But strangely, the praying mantis has just a single ear, located on the underside of its belly, just forward of its hind legs. This means the mantid cannot discriminate the direction of a sound, nor its frequency. What it can do is detect ultrasound, or sound produced by echolocating bats. Studies have shown that praying mantids are quite good at evading bats. A mantis in flight will essentially stop, drop, and roll in midair, dive bombing away from the hungry predator. Not all mantids have an ear, and those that dont are typically flightless, so they dont have to flee flying predators like bats.