Analysis of Dickinsons Loaded Gun Poem - 1172 Words

In the poem 764 of The Norton Anthology which starts My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun - (line 1), Emily Dickinson takes on the role of a married woman of the nineteenth century whose husband owns and completely controls her. The woman, whose voice Dickinson wrote from, reflects on the importance of her husband s life to hers and her dependency on him being there to direct her life. Dickinson never married and lived a secluded life in her family s home, only ever leaving the house for one year before returning again. Though she did not marry, the traditional roles of women still restricted her to live in the home of her family and under the ruler ship of her father like the rest of the women in the house. Some of her close friends and†¦show more content†¦Dickinson shows in stanza five that the nineteenth century wife never questions her husband. Because this woman accepts the traditions of marriage and she depends so much on her Master to take care of her, she agrees complet ely with him. When she marries him, a foe of His (17) becomes an enemy of hers as well. She accepts his opinions of people, politics, religion, or anything else and adopts them as her own, always backing up her husband without question. If the hunter shoots the gun at an enemy, the gun does not question the hunter s reasons for pulling the trigger. It shoots and kills. The man gives an order. The wife obeys it. If the husband has to relocate for a job, the family moves. If he suggests another way in handling the children, or a change that needs to occur in the wife s behavior or the way she or others run the house, they change it to the way he wants it. The wife does not second guess her husband and whatever needs to be done she does so immediately. In the last stanza Dickinson restates how the married woman of the nineteenth century depends on her husband. Although the most confusing stanzas of the poem, it could be the woman telling us her husband must live longer than her. Dickin son writes that the gun, like most inanimate objects, lives longer than the hunter, like women often live longer than men, but the Loaded Gun is useless without the Owner there to operate itShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Dickinsons Poem, My Life had Stood a Loaded Gun631 Words   |  3 Pages– a Loaded Gun† In the poem, â€Å"My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun,† published around 1863, Emily Dickinson effectively uses metaphorical language in making the speaker compare him/her self to a loaded gun. The speaker speaks as if he/she is a loaded gun waiting to expose their full potential. When reading this poem, one could definitely see religious connotations in that one cannot reach his/her full potential without The Master’s – God’s – help and direction. In â€Å"My Life had stood – a Loaded GunRead MoreBibliography Relation to Analysis of Emily Dickinson ´s Writings2048 Words   |  8 Pagesaccomplishes the discernment of Dickinson’s poems and their allusions to many classic myths. He denotes the figurative language that Dickinson utilizes in her poetry to relate to her themes. With these key elements in mind, Anderson is then able to compare Dickinson’s works to other authors who have tried to reach the same goals, however, Dickinson is able to better achieve the extrapolation of the myths through her profound and truly exquisite writing. In Dickinson’s A Narrow Fellow In the GrassRead MoreFemale Oppression By Emily Dickinson And Charlotte Perkins Gilman1729 Words   |  7 Pagessocietal construct, transcends oppression and the patriarchy of the time. The first hurdle in comparing the works of Dickinson and Gilman is examining the superficial features of womanhood in their pieces. In Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"764† or, as it is also known: â€Å"My Life had stood- a Loaded Gun†, the main superficial features of womanhood are somewhat rudimentary and predictable. Women are merely tools, to be used by men but destined to remain useless otherwise. They are left and forgotten â€Å"In Corners-â€Å"Read More An Analysis of Poems 585 and 754 Essay992 Words   |  4 Pages An Analysis of Poems 585 and 754 nbsp; Emily Dickinson’s use of poetic diction in poems 585 and 754 brings to life two inanimate objects, a train and a gun, both of which perform actions that are useful to man. Though these items cannot act on their own, Dickinson’s diction provides them with their own movements, characteristics, and feelings. In poem 585, a train’s daily journey is given a meaning beyond that of a cold, iron machine when Dickinson describes its animal qualities to show itsRead MoreEssay about Loaded Gun Symbolism Depicted in Emily Dickinsons Poem, 7541993 Words   |  8 Pagesbeginning of Emily Dickinson’s poem â€Å"754,† the narrator immediately compares her life to a weapon, â€Å"My Life had stood -- a Loaded Gun --† (754). Usually, when one thinks of a gun, he or she might think of death instead of love. In most cases, when a person owns or has a possession of a gun, that person might use the gun for protection. A gun is an inanimate object that has the potential or power to take the life of a human. From analyzing the poem â€Å"754,† the narrator symbolizes a loaded gun, full of potentialRead MoreEssay about Nature in the Works of Emily Dickinson1368 Words   |  6 Pagesthat she wants the world to know that peace does exist in the human world and she wants to tell the world. Dickinsons poems are mostly written by nature, love, and death according to Anna Dunlap in her analysis. Dickinsons sister, Lavinia, is the one who published Dickinsons work, on her first attempt the editor that was responsible was taking her sweet time. This editor had Dickinsons work for two years so Lavinia decided to find another editor and Loomis Todd is the right person and editorRead More Emily Dickinsons My Life Had Stood:A Loaded Gun Essay2395 Words   |  10 PagesEmily Dickinsons My Life Had Stood:A Loaded Gun Emily Dickinson is a poet known for her cryptic, confusing language. Words are often put together in an unusual way and create deciphering difficulties for the reader. But behind all the confusion is a hidden meaning that becomes clear, and one realizes that all the odd word choices were chosen for a specific reason. The poem I will try to analyze is My Life Had Stood—A Loaded Gun, or number 754. I find this to be one of her most difficult poemsRead MoreAnalysis My Life Had Stood a Loaded Gun Essay2511 Words   |  11 Pagesspecific reason. The poem I will try to analyze is My Life Had Stood—A Loaded Gun, or number 754. I find this to be one of her most difficult poems to decode. However, I find the images fascinating and the last stanza very confusing but intriguing. What I first thought the poem was about and what I finally came to a conclusion on are two completely different thoughts. Through answering questions on the poem’s literary elements, thoro ugh analysis of the words, and rewriting the poem in my own words

Essay on A challenge to Materialism - 1118 Words

Cartesian Dualism Challenged nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In this paper, I will examine the issues of individuation and identity in Descartes’ philosophy of mind-body dualism. I will begin by addressing the framework of Cartesian dualism. Then I will examine the problems of individuation and identity as they relate to Descartes. Hopefully, after explaining Descartes’ reasoning and subsequently offering my response, I can show with some degree of confidence that the issues of individuation and identity offer a challenge to the Cartesians’ premise of mind-body dualism. Before diving into a critical examination of these two issues, it would be wise to first discuss the basis of Descartes’ philosophy. Descartes begins his discussion of mind†¦show more content†¦Specifically, I am concerned with how I can distinguish minds from each other. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Strawson articulates the need for this distinction in his discussion of what he labels â€Å"the central difficulty in Cartesianism.† Strawson argues that if we want to talk about individual items—minds, bodies, computers, baseball cards, bananas, or practically anything—we must first understand the difference between one of that item and two of that item. In other words, to talk about an individual, you have to be able to count the individual. However, Cartesian philosophy does not allow for counting minds. The only mind you can know about is your own. Through introspection, I may be able to conclude that I am a thinking thing myself, much like Descartes did, but I cannot tell if the girl sitting at the computer next to me has one mind, three minds, seventeen minds, or even no mind at all. Thus the Cartesian cannot individuate minds. Strawson finds this fact problematic for the Cartesians, as the Cartesian â€Å"wants his doctrine to ha ve the consequence that a perfectly ordinary man†¦ has justShow MoreRelatedThe Mind : The Common Ground Of Science And Spirituality851 Words   |  4 Pagesmetaphysical materialism and naturalism can challenge this notion of conscious awareness because it involves this idea that our mind can persuade our body, whereas metaphysical materialism/ naturalism believes that the body persuades the mind. Therefore, Wallace’s look at conscious awareness is challenging the notion of metaphysical materialism and naturalism. In order to understand this, I had to understand that metaphysical naturalism and materialism is actually also known as scientific materialism. ScientificRead MoreMaterialism Through The Mind : Materialism867 Words   |  4 PagesThe Reducibility of Materialism Through The Mind Materialism can be described as, â€Å"the metaphysical view that holds that only physical entities are real or exist (Mulvaney 531).† Materialism is a topic that shapes how people look at the world and others. It has been a contested topic throughout all of history. As a result this concept has attracted the attention of many great philosophers like Rene Descartes and the Churchlands. Many philosophers attempt to understand this topic by attempting toRead MoreJust living in a Material World1000 Words   |  4 Pagestheir lives. Americans strive to be the best and often little will stop them on their way. There is an emphasis on money, success, and owning the newest and most popular items. This want and desire for the best material goods can be described as materialism. Moreover, another damaging aspect of American society is the media portrayal of what is seen as â€Å"acceptable† for teens to practice. The media glorifies the idea of using one’s body for plea sure. It makes it seem as though it is okay and acceptableRead MoreThe Mind-Body Problem Essay1204 Words   |  5 Pagesneuroscience, this has proven to be strong evidence in supporting materialism. By defining what Cartesian dualists and materialists mean by the ‘brain’, ‘mind’, ‘body’ and ‘soul’, an argument on behalf of Cartesians dualists will be reached, that responds to evidence concerning brain injuries with the claims that the brain is only ‘an instrument of the soul’. This will lead to the conclusion that there is stronger contemporary support for materialism due to neuroscience and that the Cartesian dualism argumentRead More Materialism in Todays Society Essay1649 Words   |  7 PagesMaterialism in Todays Society Have you ever sat down and really thought about how much you value your possessions? Do you value your belongings more than you value friends, family, love, or yourself? The truth is that obsession with possessions has become a way of life in todays society. Materialism has been defined as the theory or doctrine that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life. (Heritage Dictionary, 3rd ed.) This meansRead MoreRene Descartes Concept Of Dualism And Then Defend My Preferred Alternative Among The Options Paul M. Churchland1513 Words   |  7 PagesIn this paper, I will examine the principal merits and challenges of Renà © Descartes’ concept of dualism and then defend my preferred alternative among the options Paul M. Churchland discusses. After briefly defining Cartesian Dualism, I will show that its principal merits are that it is consistent with common sense and that it is able to explain phenomena that appear mental in nature. Next, I will show that its principal challenges are its failure to adequately explain how the mind and the body canRead Moredevelopment studies1392 Words   |  6 Pagesvalues, beliefs and interests of society by promoting the freedom of expression, association, religion and so on so as to avoid negative social and political changes since morality through cultural maintenance is an â€Å"adequate response to the moral challenges of the future (Skirbekk, 2005:3).† Cultural liberalism is perceived in some societies as a good that can and should not be taken away by any means from the people. They argue that â€Å"tradition is central to the modernoty of any society.† It is anRead MoreWomens Independence, Transcendentalism, and Materialism1029 Words   |  4 PagesModernism, especially during the 1920s, has always been a part of growing culture and literature. Independence, individualism, and materialism are all themes of how modernism affected culture and literature standards. Woman Settlers on the Frontier, Self Reliance, and The Great Gatsby are all literary examples of the development of a modern society. One of the major themes of modernism seen in culture and literature is the breaking of tradition as a self-d ependent individual. Women were changingRead MoreJohn Marx s Capital Volume I And The Witch990 Words   |  4 PagesWith the advent of capitalism, philosophers such as Karl Marx took the challenge to analyze the process of primitive accumulation that began in the fifteenth century when common land was appropriated to fulfill the interests of capitalists (Mezzadra, 2011, p.317). Since the social relation of capitalism placed emphasis on private ownership of property as opposed to state ownership, citizens began to rely on wage labour in order to secure their status as property owners. Within his novel Capital VolumeRead MoreOur Relationship With Nature Explored in Jon Krakauers Into the Wild1107 Words   |  5 Pageswould strengthen his relationship with nature. However, after spending several months enduring the extreme conditions of the Alaskan wilderness, McCandless’ beliefs begin to work against him. He then accepts that he needs humans, cannot escape materialism, and ca n never fully understand how nature functions. Most importantly, he realizes that human relationships are more valuable than infinite solitude. McCandless’ gradual change of heart demonstrates that exploring the wilderness is a transformative

Demand and Supply of Copper-.com

Question: Discuss about the Demand and Supply of Copper in the Australian Market. Answer: Introduction Demand and supply of certain resources can determine the pricing of that particular resource in any given marketplace. Fundamentally, due to shift in demand and supply of a specific commodity, prices may seem to have fluctuated. However, there are a number of factors that can affect the entire supply and demand status of a commodity (Krugman and Wells, 2013). The identified study paper has been developed to discuss how supply and demand scenario of copper has affected the price of the commodity in the Australian market. Precisely, the surging demand for copper in the Australian market and its impact on the copper miners and investors has been discussed throughout the study. According to the article written by McHugh (2017), the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EV) and renewable energy is driving the demand of copper in the Australian market. Similarly, by following the fundamentals of economies, surging demand of the red metal is boosting the prices of the commodity. Meanwhile, the rising demand of the metal spells great news for the miners as well as the investors involved in the Australian copper mining industry (Schlesinger, 2014). As per the market analysis, the study evaluates some of the strategies to be followed by the major players attached to the industry. Analysis and Discussion The transformation around the global automobile industry has brought a significant boost for the copper industry. As the popularity of electric vehicles is rising day by day, the demand for the red metal is surging as well. Evidently, the rotary motors used in EVs can use up to 4 times the amount of copper than conventional combustion automobile engines (McHugh, 2017). Therefore, increased demand for EVs can create a massive demand for copper as consumption of the red metal will be higher in the automobile industry. Apart from that, to run the EVs and develop the charging infrastructure, the role of copper is huge. Besides, the development of renewable energy sector has also contributed towards the surge in demand for the commodity (McHugh, 2017). In order to generate renewable energy, the requirement of copper will be four times greater than the coal-powered energy plants. By following the recent trend, the consumption of copper will be higher leading to demand growth of the commodi ty. Currently, the market for copper requires 26 million tonne per year whereas the demand for copper is expected to reach 40 million tonne per annum by 2030. Clearly, the increased demand for copper has been a positive sign for the copper miners and investors. The price of copper on the London Metal Exchange is increased to US$6,367 per tonne from US$5,633 per tonne in May (McHugh, 2017). However, such massive demand for copper can create a scarcity of the resource if the supply-demand side of the red metal cannot be maintained properly. At the same point in time, a sudden rise in demand for copper may lead to the high price of the commodity affecting the market equilibrium price of the red metal (Hoog, Handberg and Jegatheesan, 2015). Therefore, the supply side of copper must be improved to control the massive price surge of the commodity. In the underlying section, the effect of the high demand for the commodity on the prices has been described using the theoretical concept of supply and demand. On the basis of the above analysis, it can be seen that the rising demand for the copper is the primary reason for the rise in the price of the metal that will further impact the cost of production of the automobile industry (Shao, Pipattanasomporn and Rahman, 2012). Moreover, it is expected that the price of the electric vehicles will increase in the upcoming future with the rise in the price of the red metal. A figure has been presented herein below for further understanding: Figure: Shift in demand and price of a commodity Source: (Forstater, 2017) As per the above diagram, it can be seen that the quantity demanded for copper is rising in the Australian as well as in the global market due to increased use of the metal in the manufacturing of electric vehicles or renewable energy devices. Due to the increase in the demand, a rightward shift in the demand curve can be evident in the market from D to D. However, the supply of the commodity remains constant at S, resulting in a rise in the quantity demanded from q to q. Furthermore, a shift in the market equilibrium can be evident that further results in an increase in the price of the red metal from p to p. According to Samuelson and Nordhaus (2015), the price elasticity of copper is inelastic in nature, which leads to a relatively lesser fall in the quantity demanded as compared to the rise in the price. A figure has been presented herein below for further consideration: Figure: Inelastic demand for copper Source: (Samuelson and Nordhaus, 2015) On the basis of the above figure, it can be seen that the price of copper increases by 100 percent, whereas the quantity demanded falls by only 20 percent. Hence, copper has an inelastic price elasticity of demand. A high level of increase in the price of the red metal will lead to shortage in the supply of the product in the upcoming future (Shao, Pipattanasomporn and Rahman, 2012). It is important for the government and the policy makers to control the supply of copper in the future to reduce the chances of tremendous increase in the price of the commodity. Firstly, it is recommended to the government to discover new resources of copper to increase the supply and control the increasing price of the commodity (Bouchentouf, 2011). Secondly, the government must introduce a price ceiling policy to monitor and control the price of the red mental to maintain equilibrium in the metal and automobile market. Conclusion By considering the above analysis, the increase in the demand for copper in the manufacturing of electric vehicles and electric power charging stations has led to a tremendous increase in the price of the commodity. It is expected that the rise in the demand will further led to a shortage in the supply of the red metal in the future due to inelastic demand of the commodity. Hence, it is recommended to the government to discover new reserves of copper to stabilise the supply of the commodity in the future and use a price ceiling policy to control the increasing price of the metal in the Australian market. References Bouchentouf, A. (2011).Commodities for dummies. 3rd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub. Forstater, M. (2017). Economics. 5th ed. London: A. C. Black. Hoog, J., Handberg, K. and Jegatheesan, R. (2015). The role of electric vehicles in demand response: implementation, network impacts and market requirements.International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, 7(3), p.250. Krugman, P. and Wells, R. (2013). Economics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Worth Publishers. McHugh, B. (2017).Copper demand up due to surge in electric vehicles and renewable energy targets. [online] ABC Rural. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2017-08-15/copper-demand-and-price-up-on-electric-vehicle-demand/8799106 [Accessed Nov. 2017]. Samuelson, P. and Nordhaus, W. (2015). Economics. 4th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Schlesinger, B. (2014). Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicles May Reduce Oil Imports While Stabilizing Grid.Natural Gas Electricity, 30(8), pp.18-22. Shao, S., Pipattanasomporn, M. and Rahman, S. (2012). Grid Integration of Electric Vehicles and Demand Response With Customer Choice.IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 3(1), pp.543-550.

Research Essay Example

Research Essay International Iraq Attacks Escalate; U. S. Presses Self-Government – Attacks by Saddam Hussein loyalists and other unidentified insurgents in Iraq grew more deadly in November. Sixteen U. S. soldiers died and 20 were injured NOV. 2 after Guerrillas shot down a Chinook helicopter near Falluja, 30 miles west of Baghdad, with a surface-to-air missile. A 2nd missile narrowly missed hitting a 2nd Chinook. A Black Hawk helicopter exploded and crashed Nov. 7 in Tikrit, killing the 6 American soldiers aboard. In response, U. S. tanks, howitzers, and planes Nov. -8 struck an area in trikrit from which guerrilla attacks had been launched, and U. S. aircraft struck at 2 targets in Baghdad Nov. 12. Pres. George W. Bush declared Nov. 3 that â€Å" America will never run † from Iraq, and in a Nov. 6 speech, he called on Middle East states to embrace a democratic tradition and recognize that the outster of Saddam Hussein was â€Å"a watershed event in the global democratic revolution . † U. S. hopes for a broader military force in Iraq were set back Nov. 7 when Turkey withdrew its offer of troops, which Iraq’s Governing Council had opposed. In Nasiriya, Nov. 2 a truck and car crashed into a building housing Italian military police; 19 Italians and 13 Iraqis were killed and more than 100 people were wounded. The senior U. S. commander in the Middle East, Gen. John Abizaid, said Nov. 13 that the coalition faced 5,000 guerrilla fighters in Iraq who were getting better organized and financed. At least 17 U. S. soldiers were killed 2 days later when two Black Hawk helicopters collided over the northen city of Mosul and crashed. One soldier was missing and 5 others were injured. U. S. forces were reacted by strikes against sites believed to have been staging areas for attacks.Bombs at 2 police stations near Baghdad killed 14 people. U. S. officials Nov. 14 confirmed that the administration now supported an acceleration of the move toward Iraqi self-govern ment even before a new constitution, with transitional assembly selecting interim leaders. Independence was to be restored in 2004; foreign troops, however, would remain. On Nov. 26, a leading Shiite, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, denounced the U. S. plan, calling for a direct election, which would likely benefit the Shiite majority. On Nov. 27 Pres.Bush flew to Iraq under tight security to have Thanksgiving dinner in the mess hall ay Baghdad International Airport with 600 soldiers of the First Armored Division and 82nd Airborne. The trip was known in advance only to a few and not announced to the public until the president had left Baghdad air space; he was accompanied by only a few select reporters and a small official entourage. The month ended with a spate of violence, much of it aimed at non-American foreigners. Seven Spanish intelligence officers died south of Baghdad Nov. 29 when their SUVs were attacked by rocket-propelled grenades and a rifle fire.Separate attacks the sam e day also killed 2 Japanese diplomats and a Colombian oil worker, and 2 South Korean contracters were killed in ambush Nov. 30. For all of November, guerrillas killed 104 coalition troops, including 79 Americans. When they came under attack in Samarra, Nov. 30, U. S. forces struck back, killing 54 Iraqi fighters according to U. S. military sources, although bodies were not recovered and Iraqi sources claimed many fewer were killed. Bombing Rock Turkey- Twice during November, terrorists struck at Turkey, a largely Muslim nation that supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq. On Nov. 15, 2 Truck bombs exploded outside 2 synagogues in Istanbul, killing 25 people and wounding more than 250; most had been attending Sabbath prayers. On Nov. 20, Truck bombs exploded in Istanbul, at the British consulate and Turkish headquarters of HSBC bank, killing 30 and injuring 450; the British consul general, Roger Short, was among those killed. An anonymous caller attributed the bank attack to al-Qaeda an d the Islamic Front of Raiders of the Great Orient, a Turkish group that had also claimed responsibility for the synagogue bombings.A car bomb that exploded Nov. 8 in a residential compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, claimed 17 lives and wounded more than 120. * Bush Visits Britain- Pres. Bush arrived in London Nov. 18 to begin a state visit to Britain. The next day he was welcomed by Queen Elizabeth IIat Backingham palace; in a speech he urged Britain to stand with the U. S. in a long term effort to defeat terrorism and bring democracy to Islamic nations of Middle East. Bush’s movements were sharply risricted for security reasons; the usual procession htrough the streets was scrubbed, and he did not address Parliament.At a meeting between Bush and Prime Min. Tony Blair Nov. 20, the 2 deplored terrorist attacks that day in Turkey. The same day a crowd of anti Bush protesters estimated by authorities at 100,000 to 110,000 marched through London streets. President of Georgia Resi gns – Pres. Eduard Shevardnadze resigned his office Nov. 23, after mass protest in Georgia. On Nov. 20, the Central Ellection Commission had certified that his supporters won the parliamentary election of Nov. 2, but international observers had reported instances of fraud, On Nov. 2, protestors had broken into Parliament, forcing Shevardnadze, the last foreign minister of Soviet Union, to flee. His decade-long rule had been marked to ward the end by national economic collapse and charges of official corruption. General U. S. Episcopal church consecrates Gay Bishop- The Rev. V. Gene Robinsonwas consecrated Nov. 2 as bishop of New Hampshire, becoming the first openly gay prelatein The Episcopal Church U. S. A. The consecration went forward despite warnings from Anglican primates in Africa, Asia, and Latin Americathat it could cause a schism in church.Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury, issued a statement Nov. 2 that recognized the right of the American branch to choos e its bishops, but expressed regret that the concerns of other church leadrs had not been given consideration. On Nov. 3, Anglican leaders in Africa declared that they were in State of â€Å"impaired communion† with the U. S. Episcopalians. Man admits killing 48 women in†Green River† case- Gary Ridgway, a resident of a seattle â€Å"(WA) suburb pleaded guilty Nov. 5 to killing 48 young women, most of them prostitutes or runaways.Since the 1980s authorities had been seeking the so-called Green River Killer, who had strangled the women after having sex with them and left many of their bodies near the river. Ridgway confessed the crime in an agreement with prosecutors that spared him the death penalty; no other serial murderer in U. S. history had been convicted of so many killings. On Dec. 18, Ridgway was sentenced to 48 consecutive life terms. 2002 DC Sniper Convicted – A Virginia Beach (VA) Jury Nov. 17 found John Muhammad guilty in sniper attacks that pla gued the Washington, DC, area in fall 2002.Muhammad had been arrested along with a suspected teenage accomplice, Lee Malvo, currently on trial separately. He was convicted of 2 counts of capital murder, one for committing multiple murders over 3 years and one for killing Dean Meyers in Oct. 2002 to further a terrorist scheme aimed at extorting $10 mil. Muhammad was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and illegal use of a firearm. Prosecutors relied on strong circumstantial evidence, including a rifle found in his car that ballistics tests showed had been used in 13 shootings. The jury Nov. 4 recommended a death sentence, which was imposed by the judge Mar. 9,2004. Michael Jackson Arrested for Child Abuse- law enforcement officials in Santa Barbara, CA, Nov. 19 issued an arrest warrant for singer Michael Jackson on multiple counts of child molestation. They said that the pop star would be charged with â€Å"lewd and lascivious conduct† with a child under age 14. A llegations a decade earlier that he had molested a 13-year- old boy had been resolved out of court with a multimillion-dollar settlement. Jackson was booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail, Nov. 0, and released on $3 mil bail; he was formally charged Dec. 18. Jackson rejected the charge as unfounded. DECEMBER 2003 NATIONAL Bush Lifts Tarrifs on Steel Imports- Pres. George. W. Bush reversed one of his state policies Dec. 4 when he lifted tarrifs on sport imported steel, effective Dec. 5. His administration had imposed the tarrifs in March 2002, and they were scheduled to be in effect for 3 years. However, the World Trade Organization Nov. 10 had upheld an earlier ruling declaring the tariffs illegal, and the European Union and a number of countries had threatened to retaliate against them.South Dakota Congressman Resigns After Conviction- Rep. William Janklow (R,SD), a former governor of the state, was convicted Dec. 8 of 2nd-degree manslaughter and other charges, and announced he w ould resign from Congress in January. In August, Janklow’s car had struck and killed a motorcyclist. Gore Endorses Dean for democratic nomination – Former Vice Pres. Al Gore Dec. 9 endorsed Howard Dean for a Democratic presidential nomination. Gore, the party’s presidential nominee in 2000, passed over another candidate, Sen .Joe Liebeman (CT), his 2000 running mate, and was criticized by some specially for having failed to notify Lieberman of his decision before it was made public. In Dec. 9 speeches in New York and Iowa, Gore praised Dean for being the only leading Democratin contender who had consistently opposed the Iraq war. The 9 Democrats seeking the nomination debated that day in Durham, NH. On Dec. 14, Lieberman remarked, â€Å"If Howard Dean had his way, Saddam Hussein would be in power today, not in prison. † On Dec. 15, Dean asserted,†The capture of Saddam Hussein has not made America safer. † On Dec. 3, consumer advocate Ralph Nad er, the Green Party presidential nominee in 1996 and 2000, said he would not seek the party’s nomination for 2004. Democrats elected in San Francisco, Houston- In a nonpartisan election, businessman Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, won a runoff elaection for mayor of San Francisco Dec. 9, defeating Green Party member Matt Gonzalez, 53% to 47%; this was the best showing yet by a green in a U. S. bigcity mayoral election. Newsom was to succeed outgoing Mayor Willy Brown. In Houston, TX, Dec. 6, in another nonpartisan runoff, Bill White, A Democrat and a former U.S. deputy energy secretary, won with 62% of the vote, defeating Cuban-born Ornaldo Sanchez, a Republican. Supreme Court Upholds Campaign Finance Law- A 5-4 majority on the U. S. Supreme Court, Dec. 10, upheld the 2002 campaign-finance law as a constitutional approach to combating spending abuses in a political process. The 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act had been challenged on first-amendment grounds by a number of despera te organizations; they objected to the ban on unlimited â€Å"soft money† contributions to the political parties and to a ban on certain advertising just prior to elections.California Governor Declares Fiscal Crisis- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R,CA) Dec. 18 declared that his state was in a fiscal crisis. This proclamation would allow him, he said, to cut spending by $150 mil without having to get the legislature’s approval. California’s bond ratings had been reduced to near junk-bond levels, and a state deficit of $15 bil was projected for 2004. Terror alert in U. S. Is Raised to ‘High’- Tom Ridge, secretary of homeland security, announced Dec. 21 that the U. S. ntiterrorism alert status was being raised to â€Å"high† (orange) from â€Å"elevated† (yellow). Ridge said that the danger of a terrorist attack was â€Å"perhaps greater now than at any point since Sept. 11, 2001. † He cited unspecific new intelligence information th at suggested plans to strike during the holiday season. On Dec. 24, Air France, responding to a U. S. request, canceled 6 flights between Paris and Los Angeles; U. S. officials reportedly suspected that the passengers on the flights could have links to terrorism.On the same day the FBI circulated a warning to law enforcement organizations to be on the watch for almanacs, since they could be used by terrorist â€Å"to assist with target selection and pre-operational planning. † Some media reports noted the warning humorously, since these general referecnce works, of wchich the largest * selling is The World Almanac and Book of Facts, are read by millions of people each year. On Dec. 29, the Department of Homeland Security announced a Rule requiring armed air marshals on certain foreign carriers’ flights entering U.S airspace that intelligence suggested were at special risk of terrorist attack. When a British Airways plane landed at Dulles International Airport outside W ashington, DC, Dec. 31, authorities held the passengers, interviewing some, and rescreened the luggage. U. S. Bans Use of Weight Reduction Pill- the Bush administration Dec. 30 said it would prohibit use of Ephedra, a herbal supplement used by millions of Americans to lose weight or to improve athletic performance. Tommy Thompson, secratory of Health nad Human services, said the supplement â€Å"was too risky to be used. Ephedra had been linked to heart attacks, stokes, and sudden deaths. In February 2003, Steve Bechler, a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, died after taking Ephedra tablets, and a medical examiner said that the supplement was a factor in his death. Special Councel to Investigate Leak of Agent’s Name- Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft Dec. 30 removed himself from any role in the investigation into the leaking of a CIA name to a journalist. At issue was whether anyone in the Bush administration had violated the law by revealing the name of the agent, Valerie Plame, to columnist Robert Novak, who published her name in July.The justice dept. said Dec. 30 that a special councel would head the investigation. Plame was the wife of Joseph Wilson, a former U. S. ambassador who had publicly cast doubt on an administration assertion of nuclear weapon links between Iraq and Niger. Stock Values Rise Sharply in 2003- After losses for 3 years in a row, investors had much to cheer about Dec. 31, as major stock indexes showed large gains for 2003. The Dow Jones industriel average has risen 25%to 10,453. 92. A broader measure, Standard and poor’s 500-stock index, posted a 26%gain, moving up to 1,11. 92.The tech-jeavy NASDAQ index advanced 50%, to 2003. 37. Averages were still below their all-time highs of the late 1990s, however. INTERNATIONAL U. S. Forces Strike Back in Iraq- U. S. forces continued the tactic of launching massive raids targeting insurgents resisting the occupation. On Dec. 2, 1,000 troops raided Hawija, west of Kirkuk, in an effort to ca pture an aide to former Pres. Saddam Hussein. At a meeting in Iraq Dec. 6 with U. S. Sec. OF Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez said that attacks on U. S. forces were running below 20 a day, half the rate of a few weeks earlier.Rumsfeld Visits Afganistan- Amid reports of a growing number of attacks on U. s forces in Afganistan, Defense Sec. Rumsfeld met in Kabul Dec. 4 with Pres Hamid Karzai. Rumsfeld also met in Mazar-I-Sharif Dec. 4 with 2 warlods who controlled regional military forces. In 2 U. S. air strikes that went wrong Dec. 5 and Dec. 6, 15 Afgan children were among those killed. Chinese Premeir Visits U. S. Premier Wen Jiabao of China visited the U. S. for the first time , Dec. 7-10. He met with Pres. George W. Bush and other administration officials at the White House, Dec. 9.During a joint news conference that dday, Bush said the U. s had warned the Taiwanese government against holding a planned referendum that would call on China to withdraw missiles aim ed at the island. Administration officials said that Bush had also cautioned Wen against the use of force by China against Taiwan. Russia’s ruling Party Wins Parliamentary Elections- United Russia, the political party led by Pres. Vladimir Putin , drew 37%of the popular vote Dec. 7 in the elections for the Duma, or the lower house of parliament to win about half of the Duma seats. With allied parties it now had *