The Wright Brothers Famous Quotes

The Wright Brothers Famous Quotes On December 17, 1903, Orville Wright and Wilbur Wrightâ successfully tried a flying machine that took off with its own capacity, flew at even speeds, at that point landed securely without harm and began the time of human flight. The year prior to, the siblings tried out various airplane, wing plans, lightweight flyers, and propellers so as to comprehend the complexities of optimal design and ideally make a fueled specialty fit for delayed flight. All through this procedure, Orville and Wilbur recorded a considerable lot of their most noteworthy statements in the scratch pad they kept and talks with they made at that point. From Orvilles contemplations on expectation and living to the two siblings understandings of what they found during their investigations, the accompanying statements embody the rush the Wright siblings felt while making, at that point flying, the principal self-moved plane. Orville Wright on Dreams, Hope, and Life The craving to fly is a thought passed on to us by ourâ ancestorsâ who, in their tiresome goes across trackless grounds in ancient occasions, looked jealously on the fowls taking off openly through. Theâ airplane stays upâ because it doesnt have the opportunity to fall. No flying machine will ever fly from New York to Paris†¦[because] no realized engine can run at the imperative speed for four days ceaselessly. On the off chance that feathered creatures can skim for significant stretches of time, then†¦ why cant I? On the off chance that we chipped away at the suspicion that what is acknowledged as evident truly is valid, at that point there would be little trust ahead of time. We were sufficiently fortunate to experience childhood in a domain where there was in every case a lot of support to kids to seek after scholarly premiums; to explore whatever stirred interest. Orville Wright on Their Flight Experiments In our coasting tests, we had various encounters in which we had arrived upon one wing, however the devastating of the wing had assimilated the stun with the goal that we were not uncomfortable with the engine in the event of an arrival of that sort. With all the information and ability procured in a large number of trips over the most recent ten years, I would scarcely consider today making my first trip on an unusual machine in a 27-mile twist, regardless of whether I realized that the machine had just been flown and was sheltered. Isnt it astounding that every one of these mysteries have been protected for such a large number of years to make sure we could find them! The course of the trip here and there was exceedingly unpredictable, incompletely because of the abnormality of the air, and somewhat to absence of involvement with taking care of this machine. The control of the front rudder was troublesome by virtue of its being adjusted too close to the middle. At the point when the machine had been attached with a wire to theâ track so it couldn't begin until discharged by the administrator, and the engine had been raced to ensure that it was in condition, we flipped a coin to conclude who ought to have the main preliminary. Wilbur won. With 12 horsepowerâ at our order, we thought about that we could allow the heaviness of the machine withâ an operatorâ to ascend to 750 or 800 pounds, and still have as much overflow power as we had initially took into account in the main gauge of 550 pounds. Wilbur Wright on Their Flying Experiments There is no game equivalent to that which pilots appreciate while being brought through the air on incredible white wings. More than all else the sensation is one of immaculate harmony blended with an energy that strains each nerve to the most extreme on the off chance that you can think about such a mix. I am a lover, yet not a wrench as in I have some pet speculations with respect to the correct development of a flying machine. I wish to benefit myself of all that is now known and afterward, if conceivable, include my parasite to help the future laborer who will achieve last achievement. We could barely stand by to get up toward the beginning of the day. I admit that in 1901, I said to my sibling Orville that man would not fly for a long time. The way that the incredible researcher put stock in flying machines was the one thing that urged us to start our examinations. It is conceivable to fly without engines, however not without information and aptitude. The craving to fly is a thought passed on to us by our progenitors who...looked desirously on the fowls taking off uninhibitedly through space...on the vast thruway of the air. Men become insightful similarly as they become rich, more by what they spare than by what they get.

Human Rights in World Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Rights in World Politics - Essay Example The avoidance of social and political gatherings as focuses of destruction in legitimate meaning of slaughter has been discussed. A few students of history and sociologists frequently allude to social and political gatherings while examining about slaughter. Be that as it may, the by and large acknowledged thought on decimation is the, it is the intentional obliteration of a social character (Genocide). The term annihilation ought to be re-imagined to incorporate littler gatherings as opposed to national gatherings with bigger populace. Segregation or expected killings of little gatherings as indicated by their race, ethnic foundation or even strict convictions, regardless of whether propagated by individual or inconsequential gatherings ought to be remembered for the setting of slaughter. As history had appeared, killings on disastrous extent for the most part began in unchecked and irrelevant killings on lesser degree that later in the long run heighten to a full-promise destruction. With the end goal for annihilation to create, the accompanying conditions must be available: arrangement, symbolization, dehumanization, association, polarization, planning, killing, and forswearing. Characterization happens when societies recognize individuals into 'us' and 'others' putting together with respect to just on race, religion, nationality, or ethnic foundation with further naming to such orders, along these lines symbolization emerges.

The Life Philosophy Of Friedrich Nietzsche Essays (1823 words)

The Life Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche annon Conceived: 1844. Rocken, Germany Kicked the bucket: 1900. Weimar, Germany Significant Works: The Gay Science (1882), Subsequently Spoke Zarathustra (1883-1885), Past Good Evil (1886), On the Genealogy of Morals (1887), Significant IDEAS Self double dealing is an especially damaging quality of West Culture. Life is The Will To Power; our characteristic want is to command and reshape the world to accommodate our own inclinations and state our own solidarity to the fullest degree conceivable. Battle, through which people accomplish a level of intensity comparable with their capacities, is the fundamental reality of human presence. Beliefs of human equity propagate average quality - a reality that has been twisted and hidden by present day esteem frameworks. Christian ethical quality, which recognizes goodness with submission and servility is the prime guilty party in making a social atmosphere that upsets the drive for greatness and self acknowledgment God is dead; another time of human inventiveness and accomplishment is at hand. - Great Thinkers In The Western World. By: Ian P. McGreal, 1992 Introduction Much data is accessible on Mr. Friedrich Nietzsche, including numerous books that he kept in touch with himself, during his philosophical vocation. I took this as a decent sign I would discover a wellspring of edified material created by the man. I've needed to experience my very own touch philosophical reflections to put my own worth decisions aside, and really search for the commitments Nietzsche provided for reasoning. Quite a bit of my comprehension came simply after I had a grip of Neitzsche's history; consequently, I urge you to peruse up on his history before jumping into his way of thinking (see Appendix I). The present day Westerner may differ with each part of his way of thinking, yet there are numerous things one should sadly concede are valid (just in the event that you set your ethical quality aside). In this way, from here, I will introduce his commitments to theory, and give a valiant effort to erase my own conclusions, other than to state that he was not the picked subject of this paper out of any appreciation. THE PHILOSOPHY OF FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE Now and again reasoning is called ageless, suggesting that it's exercises are of incentive to any age. This might be difficult to see in Nietzsche's work; in any case, we are guaranteed that it was proper idea for his time. Notwithstanding, even Nietzsche's faultfinders concede that his words hold an evident truth, as hard for what it's worth to acknowledge. Maybe this is the reason his work is ageless, and has endure 150 years in print. Christianity God is Dead! reported Zarathustra (better known as Zoroaster), in Neitzsche's proudest book, Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883-1885). In contrast to numerous savants, Nietzsche never attempted to demonstrate or invalidate the presence of God, simply that confidence in God can make infection; and to persuade that most elevated accomplishments in human life depend on disposal of God. Regardless of whether God existed had no importance in his objective. Announcement of the demise of God was a principal fixing in the revaluation of qualities Nietzsche pushed. Nothing has accomplished more than Christianity to settle in the profound quality of unremarkableness in human cognizance. Christian love praises characteristics of shortcoming; it causes blame. Good cause is simply educating disdain and vengeance coordinated toward honorability. Faith in God is a device to carry accommodation to the person of honorable character. - F. Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Saint Morality Nietzsche had a perfect world as a main priority, with a perfect government and a perfect God: the Overman or Superman. These Gods were a result of normal determination, or social Darwinism. He felt, unequivocally, that any sort of good impediments upon man would just substitute the method of The Overman. The Will To Power, his most grounded instructing, implied that The Overman ought to and would do anything conceivable to pick up force, control and quality. In the event that one demonstrated the littlest piece of shortcoming or ethical quality, he would be slaughtered by the more grounded Overman, and dominated. In this way, the progression of The Master Race (Nietzsche's Master Race will be talked about later). Not humankind, however superman is the objective. The absolute last thing a reasonable man would attempt is improve humanity: humankind doesn't improve, it doesn't exist - - it is a deliberation. ... his superman as the individual rising dubiously out of the soil of mass average quality, and owing his reality more to think rearing and cautious support than to the perils of characteristic determination. Ace Race Nietzsche is frequently alluded to as a pre-Nazi mastermind, by his optimism of The Master Race. He was, actually, a prime impact on the composing of Hitler's most elevated men, and cited in Hitler's talks. In any case, his works were for the most part taken outside of any relevant connection to the issue at hand, since he

Marketing Essays Red Bull

Advertising Essays Red Bull Chapter by chapter guide Presentation Red Bull and Marketing Theory Presentation Market Entry Market Strategy Advertising Communications Organization Analysis Investigative Methods Organization Sales and Diversification Qualities Shortcomings Openings Dangers Ends Eventual fate of Red Bull and Recommendations References Presentation Red Bull has made a solid brand picture, utilizing bright symbol with two bulls in restriction and an important slogan; ‘Red Bull gives you wings’. Through inventive showcasing and sponsorship it has connected itself with extraordinary games, creative music and workmanship, all pointed soundly at the youth advertise (Dahlen, Lange and Smith, 2010). This brief looks at brand advancement, which methodologies have helped it to progress and where the brand goes from here as it faces the possibility of losing its front line picture while proceeding to a great extent with just a single item. Red Bull is an European example of overcoming adversity. The item was propelled in 1987 in Austria. It confronted restriction from the Food and Drink Administration (FDA), who wouldn't clear it for conveyance however in spite of this it turned into an underground accomplishment through clubbers and snowboarders. This rebellious position discovered collaboration with customers, significantly after it was cleared available to be purchased. It immediately spread into neighboring nations and into the US advertise (Franzen and Moriarty, 2009). Dahlen, Lange and Smith (2010) note that by 2004, it had increased 40% portion of its market part and 70% in Europe. Be that as it may, the brand still confronted issues; it was prohibited in Denmark and France following unconfirmed bits of gossip that individuals had kicked the bucket from drinking the item in Sweden and Ireland (Mail Online, 2001). The European market was deteriorating, and it confronted circulation issues from organizations supporting their own-image items. The ever-present rivalry from Pepsi and Coca-Cola constrained the extension for development. With these weights, the organization built up a showcasing technique that kept away from standard publicizing, rather concentrating on grass-roots advancement. The item was sold in stylish clubs and bars, and the believability of those held in high respect by the youthful objective crowd, for example, DJs (Boswijk, Thijssen and Peelen, 2007). Brand instruction was given by prominent visits to places where the organization felt individuals ‘might need a lift’. Models incorporate workplaces, building locales and carports. So called Red Bull wholesalers misused their neighborhood information to help sell the brand and its items. It terms of more prominent promoting, Red Bull has essentially centered around keeping up its connections with outrageous games. It supports two Formula One groups (Red Bull and Toro Rosso), just as snowboarding, kite-boarding, surfing and airplane hustling. These underline its pledge to its young, fiery objective crowd. The following piece of the brief inspects how its promoting procedure fits into contemporary showcasing hypothesis. Red Bull and Marketing Theory Presentation Red Bull is basically a one-item brand, offered at a top notch cost in its market segment. Having begun in Austria, it immediately spread to different markets counting the USA and has become the market chief in its segment. It utilizes a novel way to deal with showcasing, which is talked about later in this area. In wording of the customary 4Ps of showcasing, thusly, the organization is anything but difficult to sort. In any case, the 4P strategy has gotten analysis as being to some degree constrained (Lee, 2001), and along these lines the organization is analyzed from various viewpoints in this segment, beginning with advertise section. Market Entry Any new organization needs to decide how they plan to enter another market. This will be predicated by various factors, for example, the accessible assets, the deals destinations, item offered and existing rivalry (Fifield, 1998). On account of Red Bull, the dispatch of the new item settled another classification of item; that of caffeinated drinks. Gotten from an idea found by Dietrich Mateschitz in the Far East, the equation created included enormous measures of caffeine, sugars (glucose and sucrose) and taurine (Red Bull, 2014). Taurine is a ‘conditional amino acid’, which implies it can't be made by the body however should be given in the eating regimen. It is found in meat and fish (WebMD, 2014). It is utilized medicinally in the treatment of congestive cardiovascular breakdown, hypertension, elevated cholesterol and diabetes, among different conditions, and it is available in baby equations. Taken together with the different fixings, Red Bull asserts that it gives a jolt of energy (Red Bull, 2014). Since no comparative sort of item existed available, there was no immediate contender. As a pioneer, the organization needed to instruct its intended interest group on the product’s benefits. In the event that a mass market section approach is utilized, this can be incredibly costly (Hill and Jones, 2012), since clients must be persuaded that the new item is sheltered, has special advantages and is socially worthy. As opposed to endeavoring to do this for a huge scope, Red Bull embraced a novel strategy dependent on presenting the item at a grass roots level. It is advanced as an in vogue drink at occasions where its primary objective crowd accumulates; dance club, outrageous games and even gatherings. In the last mentioned, it urges understudies to set up Red Bull parties and furnishes them with free jars to appropriate to their companions. The organization additionally utilizes vehicles in the corporate shading plan †together with an enormous can †which give out special examples (Onkvisit and Shaw, 2009). At first, circulation is set up utilizing little wholesalers. Sometimes, the organization has recruited distribution centers what's more, set up youngsters to forcefully sell the item (Pride and O’Ferrell, 2006). To the extent can be resolved from the accessible writing, this approach is probably going to keep on being utilized in tending to new markets in future. Market Strategy Its picked technique has prompted solid informal deals in new markets, and this gives a springboard to assist accomplishment in those business sectors. As it develops, it puts further in making occasions, for example, the Flugtag, where contenders endeavor to fly from a wharf utilizing natively constructed, unpowered airplane †the vast majority of which are unequipped for flight, and soapbox dashing (Red Bull, 2014a). This draws the two contenders and crowds. The majority of the occasions the organization supports are progressively proficient in nature and spread an expanding scope of exercises, from fantastic air dashing utilizing stunt planes, to bluff plunging, wingsuit dashing, motorsports and undertakings. The organization has even moved into PC gaming and e-sports. The highlights that are basic to all of these exercises are their fascination in their intended interest group and their physical and mental prerequisites. Having distinguished this methodology, the organization gives off an impression of being quick to keep on abusing it. While considering the market situating of the Red Bull caffeinated drink, it nearly gives the idea that it has emerged naturally from the properties of the item; it bolsters physical and mental effort and in this way the market position underpins this. Notwithstanding, this gives a false representation of is supported by sharp physical and mental situating. The physical situating alludes to the product’s extraordinary attributes (it gives vitality from its one of a kind equation) and the mental situating gets from its image picture as being young and vivacious, and socially attractive to its twenty-something main fans (Lantos, 2011). From its unique item offering (one item), the organization has added a little to its portfolio through the presentation of Red Bull sans sugar, Red Bull zero-calories, Red Bull versions (in kinds of cranberry, lime and blueberry) and Red Bull cola. The cola is advanced similar to the main cola drink made from 100% common fixings and presents the defense that, not at all like different brands that may be referenced, it has no mystery equation. The organization follows a similar fundamental marking approach for these extra items, probably in light of the fact that they will speak to subsets of their current objective crowd. Advertising Communications Anyway amazing a brand is, it has no worth except if it can convey its interesting qualities to the buyer. On this premise, Red Bull has a profoundly powerful advertising correspondences approach, it is as of now perceived as the 74th most important brand on the planet, with an estimation of $7.5 billion USD (Forbes, 2014). From grass roots advertising, nowadays the brand is progressively perceived through its sponsorship activities. This is upheld up with a solid online nearness that firmly mirrors the brand picture and gives a type of Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC). The organization sees current correspondences media as being basic to their prosperity (Kotler and Keller, 2012). The explanation Red Bull has made such progress has been that it has effectively adjusted its image personality to that of its intended interest group in a manner not accomplished by its rivals (Urbany and Davis, 2010). In any event, when it utilizes conventional showcasing media, for example, TV, it does as such in an eccentric manners that doesn't pay attention to itself as well. In doing so it keeps up the picture that interests to its clients. It is this consistancy of message that is so essential to IMC. Whatever channel is utilized to get the message over, it must be equivalent to those utilized on elective channels. Computerized media gives an undeniably significant technique for speaking with purchasers, and Red Bull has distinguished this. Just as having a solid site that centers around the sponsorship exercises it is engaged with, it likewise gives connects to web based life sites, for example, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ what's more, You Tube. These destinations provid

Human After All

Human After All If you had a rabid enough interest in MIT and resided in the Chesapeake area, you were given a bit of a treat on Monday night. Several people affiliated with MIT put on a live webcast from 77 Massachusetts Avenue, including this guy, who took to answering tons of probing questions. I know, I know, youre probably going crazy right now real live people! From MIT! Talking to other people! With cameras! And chat rooms! Its almost like were not crippled by our social awkwardness! I may be being a little bold with this whole idea, but theres a whole lot of our reputation that gets thrown around about people affiliated with MIT. Most of it is flattering, sure though depending on who you are, that Sheldon Cooper-esque level of social awkwardness isnt but even some of that praise verges on being hyperbole. So let me clear up a few misconceptions. And a totally exaggerated position, just to start. Regarding the myth that, as soon as some student sets foot here, he or she can suddenly manipulate atoms and stuff to make things explode using only sheer power of will, I need to set the record straight: that hasnt happened. And it wasnt a requirement to get here in the first place. But what about those other qualities that arent that mythical? What about the other measurable criteria that supposedly raise ones chances of admission, those benchmarks of so-called genius, of academic demigod-ness? What about SAT scores? AP/IB scores? Grades? Class rank? Number of baskets woven underwater? Extracurriculars? Sports? Number of non-profit organizations founded and established? Types of classes taken? And the 6.02 x 10^23 papers that had to have been published for any prospective student to stand even a ghost of a chance of getting in? Dear God, thats even Avogadros number! What if that final published papers count isnt Avogadros number? Will it mean some applicant isnt geeky enough?! I mean, with a place like this, theres got to be some cutoff, right?! Okay. Inhale. Exhale. Let me lay down some true facts here. People at MIT may make a lot of robots here, and there may be a bunch of people into electrical engineering and computer science, but that doesnt spill over into admissions; theres a patently human process behind selecting a freshman class. Getting into college isnt just an optimization problem, where you as an applicant maximize your chances of success by adhering to a set of guidelines as a passionless means to an end nor is it, for that matter, a question of finding how low the bar is set and simply limping over it to gain admission. The biggest implication this has: there isnt really such thing as a cutoff score, as the webcast hosts for Chesapeake said last night. Thats why people look at everything. Which brings me back to, you know, that human element. Its something that I see even in the very walls of MIT. I know more people here who wrestle a bit with p-sets and seek help than people who soak up knowledge like a sponge and know the answers to everything. Ive met musicians, dancers, screenwriters, community service activists, student advocates, athletes, and even Facebook stalkers in the student body; all of these people had multidimensional personalities that transcended just academics. I know that one of my TAs gets a kick out of seeing me mix QED with some excited exclamations. I know that my physics professor has an unhealthy obsession with pizza, and that my math professor is quite skilled at drawing goats and triangles with ears. And of the people who go to MIT right now, I know Im in the same boat, because I didnt become a super-genius overnight, let alone at all. In honor of my 19th birthday (today!), Ive been holding a p-set party for myself thats lasted about 3 to 4 days. Sounds like fun, right? But yeah, at the moment, Ive been the only one invited to this very exclusive party. Its interrupted by classes and a few study breaks, but other than that, its been a lot of me slogging through assignments, not getting every question that comes my way, and making a note of things that Id have to discuss with other people which I then do. Often. In everything from physics to philosophical issues in brain science its all getting done, in short but furious bursts of work. If you took academic measurements of each person involved with MIT, youd probably see a bunch of intelligent people. But what about the quirks? No formula, no algorithm is sensitive to that. No formulas could predict what motivates you, what constitutes your passions. No formula could say with 100% certainty what youd do in the face of serious academic challenges, which youll most likely encounter over here. Heck, through just a few snapshots of the students and people here, youd find way more than statistics. I know senior year, laden down and unduly burdened by the college applications process, is just one red-hot pressure cooker made worse by ones anxieties and pressure from others. But before you let it get to you, remember: youre just human, and though it seems like every other alumni from here isnt, so are the people here including the admissions staff. People who go here just happen to be dedicated and driven, but if youre very interested in MIT, odds are that applies to you, too. So the best thing you can do is breathe deeply and concentrate on your passions. Let your inner genius and passion shine through in this process; let the curious, childlike persona that you keep inside the one who explores what motivates you, the one who sees nothing but opportunity take control. (Just dont let said persona write any letters backwards on your essays.) And above all, good luck!

GRE vocab and the limits of memorizing definitions

Update to this post: Ive now put a few sample exercises that approach GRE vocab prep from the ETS-based perspective outlined in this post. You can find them on the Quizzes page. More to come soon. Ive spent some time recently investigating the world of GRE ® prep, and Ive learned a few things that really surprised me. When I started reworking my old SAT ® vocab material for prospective graduate students, I more or less assumed that the GRE prep world was similar to the SAT world: that is, there was a relatively cohesive network of independent tutors who shared tips, strategies, materials, etc., as well as established, well-trafficked online forums à   la College Confidential where students applying to Masters and Ph.D. programs regularly congregated. In poking around the web and talking to current/former GRE takers, however, Ive gotten the impression that prep for this exam is a different story entirely. College seniors or recent graduates often take the exam before they know for sure whether they want to apply to grad school and, as a result, tend to have much less specific score goals. They know they should prep, and so they dutifully sign up for a class with one of the big companies but dont end up learning much. Even if they want a private tutor, theyre not entirely sure where or how to find a good one. There arent many smaller companies or private tutors that really specialize in the GRE why would there be, when the undergraduate market is so much larger and more lucrative? so mostly they just forget about it and just hope for the best. Then there are test-takers who have been out of school for years and are only returning after a long hiatus. They dont really have the time or the desire to seriously prep they might get a book, but for the most part, the test is just a seemingly meaningless hoop to jump through. And of course there (usually) arent parents in the background, passing around tutor names or recommending prep books out to their friends. The network just isnt there. In short, its a more diverse, less focused group, with a much broader set of goals. I realize that this is a rather long preamble to this post, but Im going somewhere, so please bear with me for a moment. Because the GRE-prep process tends to be approached more casually than the SAT-prep process (or even the GMAT-prep process), there are fewer resources devoted to helping students understand the GRE as a test. More specifically, as an ETS test. This is not a minor point. Ive been checking out vocabulary resources, for example, and although there are some great, very cleverly designed ones for learning vocabulary, they overwhelmingly focus on helping students memorize definitions. In some instances, they might include synonyms, but that isnt their main focus. On the surface, there would seem to be nothing wrong with that. After all, you cant answer vocabulary questions without knowing vocabulary! And there are plenty of high-quality lists, with words culled directly from exams. All that is true, but there are some significant shortcomings to that approach. One is obviously that words are tested in the context of sentences and short passages, and thus draw on a whole host of reading comprehension skills, but since Ive discussed that in the past (see preceding link), I actually want to address two other issues here. Let me start with the following observation: Succeeding on GRE vocabulary is not just about knowing the definitions of GRE words rather, it is about knowing GRE words in relation to other GRE words. This is best illustrated with an example.   Say youre working through a confusing sentence equivalence and encounter the following set of answer choices: [A] effusive [B] platitudinous [C] impetuous [D] banal [E] abstruse [F] exiguous You knock out a few answers and are left with platitudinous, banal, and exiguous, whose meaning you’re not sure of. You’ve studied all other the words, though, carefully memorizing their definitions. You’ve learned that platitudinous means â€Å"a clichà © statement expressed as if it were new† and that banal means â€Å"overly familiar.† You sit and think: those are kind of the same thing, but you’re not totally sure, and exiguous sort of sounds like it could be right too. You stare at the question, turning the options over in your mind. Eventually you decide that since [B] and [D] seem pretty close, you don’t want to take the risk, and so you go ahead and pick [F]. As it turns out, you’re right, but you’ve just expended a lot of time and mental energy on a question that you could have answered in about two seconds had you known that platitudinous and banal belong to ETS’s roster of about 10 synonyms for â€Å"unoriginal† that get mixed and matched from test to test (and that, incidentally, could easily apply to ETSs process of test-creation as well). If you know this, there is no need to worry about connotations or dictionary definitions or anything else. And if you spot any two of those synonyms on a sentence equivalence, you know that there’s a really, really good chance that they’re correct – even if you don’t understand what the sentence is saying. This is why it’s so important to understand the test as a creation specific to ETS which is precisely what most GRE vocabulary prep omits. Yes, of course, any prep book worth its weight will emphasize that correct answers to sentence equivalences do not need to be exact synonyms, and that these questions may also include incorrect pairs of synonyms/similar words to trick test-takers. But thats not what Im talking about here. What I mean is that ETS has a proclivity (aka a penchant, aka a predilection) for sentences that describe prose as spare, or that the opposite of cosmopolitan is most likely going to be either parochial or provincial or insular, or that the three close synonyms of maudlin are mawkish and treacly and cloying. Which leads me to my next point: top word lists. To be clear, there is no fixed number of words that a given student needs to memorize. It really depends on pre-existing vocabulary knowledge. But even in the best word lists, the ones compiled directly from tests, there is a notable lack of distinction between high-frequency hard words and the outlier hard words that appear only occasionally. For example, theres nothing to tell someone using the Magoosh app (sorry Magoosh!) that quisling probably stands a much lower chance of showing up on any given exam than does, say, bucolic or obdurate. (To be fair, it is possible that there is a list that makes this distinction; I just personally havent come across it.) And a lot of ETS greatest hits dont show up until the very top level of hard words (kind of a shocker), which means that a lot of people using the app might not even get to them. The bottom line is the because of the way most vocabulary prep is structured, most people end up studying the material on the test but not really studying the test itself. Its a subtle but exceedingly important distinction, and I think it has an outsize importance for adult test-takers. Many people applying to graduate school have jobs and family responsibilities and bills to pay and, as a result, limited amounts of time to study for standardized tests. It is hugely in their interest to be able to prep as efficiently as possible. Ive really just started thinking about these things in the last few days, but its prompted me to want to write some additional (free) exercises that bring GRE-vocab study into alignment with the specific ways in which top words are actually tested on the exam, as well as the specific comprehension skills that are targeted. Ill try to put some up this week; if anyone has requests for things theyd like to see, feel free to drop me a line.

Francis Marion, The Swamp Fox

A prominent American officer during the American Revolution, Brigadier General Francis Marion played a key role in the wars southern campaigns and earned the moniker The Swamp Fox for his exploits as a guerilla leader. His military career began with the militia in the French and Indian War during which he fought the Cherokees on the frontier. When the war with Britain began, Marion received a commission in the Continental Army and helped defend Charleston, SC. With the citys loss in 1780, he commenced a career as a highly effective guerilla leader that saw him employ hit and run tactics to win numerous victories over the British. Early Life and Career Francis Marion was born around 1732 on his family plantation in Berkeley County, South Carolina. The youngest son of Gabriel and Esther Marion, he was a small and restless child. At age six, his family moved to a plantation in St. George so that the children could attend school in Georgetown, SC. At the age of fifteen, Marion embarked on a career as a sailor. Joining the crew of a schooner bound for the Caribbean, the voyage ended when the ship sank, reportedly due to being struck by a whale. Adrift in a small boat for a week, Marion and the other surviving crew finally reached the shore. French and Indian War Electing to remain on land, Marion began working on his familys plantations. With the French and Indian War raging, Marion joined a militia company in 1757 and marched to defend the frontier. Serving as a lieutenant under Captain William Moultrie, Marion took part in a brutal campaign against the Cherokees. In the course of the fighting, he took note of Cherokee tactics which emphasized concealment, ambush, and utilization of terrain to gain an advantage. Returning home in 1761, he began saving money to purchase his own plantation. American Revolution In 1773, Marion achieved his goal when he bought a plantation on the Santee River about four miles north of Eutaw Springs which he dubbed Pond Bluff. Two years later, he was elected to the South Carolina Provincial Congress which advocated for colonial self-determination. With the outbreak of the American Revolution, this body moved to create three regiments. As these formed, Marion received a commission as a captain in the 2nd South Carolina Regiment. Commanded by Moultrie, the regiment was assigned to the Charleston defenses and worked to build Fort Sullivan. With the completion of the fort, Marion and his men took part in the defense of the city during the Battle of Sullivans Island on June 28, 1776. In the fighting, a British invasion fleet led by Admiral Sir Peter Parker and Major General Henry Clinton attempted to enter the harbor and was repulsed by Fort Sullivans guns. For his part in the fighting, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army. Remaining at the fort for the next three years, Marion worked to train his men before joining the failed Siege of Savannah in the fall of 1779. Going Guerilla Returning to Charleston, he fortuitously broke his ankle in March 1780 after jumping from a second-story window in an effort to escape a bad dinner party. Directed by his doctor to recuperate at his plantation, Marion was not in the city when it fell to the British in May. Following subsequent American defeats at Moncks Corner and Waxhaws, Marion formed a small unit of between 20-70 men to harass the British. Joining Major General Horatio Gates army, Marion and his men were effectively dismissed and ordered scout the Pee Dee area. As a result, he missed Gates stunning defeat at the Battle of Camden on August 16. Operating independently, Marions men scored their first major success shortly after Camden when they ambushed a British camp and liberated 150 American prisoners at Great Savannah. Striking elements of the 63rd Regiment of Foot at dawn, Marion routed the enemy on August 20. Employing hit-and-run tactics and ambushes, Marion quickly became a master of guerilla warfare using Snow Island as a base. As the British moved to occupy South Carolina, Marion relentlessly attacked their supply lines and isolated outposts before escaping back into the regions swamps. Responding to this new threat, the British commander, Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis, directed Loyalist militia to pursue Marion but to no avail. Routing the Enemy Additionally, Cornwallis ordered Major James Wemyss of the 63rd to pursue Marions band. This effort failed and the brutal nature of Wemyss campaign led many in the area to join the Marion. Moving sixty miles east to Ports Ferry on the Peedee River in early September, Marion soundly defeated a superior force of Loyalists at Blue Savannah on September 4. Later that month, he engaged Loyalists led by Colonel John Coming Ball at Black Mingo Creek. Though an attempt at a surprise attack failed, Marion pressed his men forward and in the resulting battle were able to force the Loyalists from the field. In the course of the fighting, he captured Balls horse which he would ride for the rest of the war. Continuing his guerilla operations in October, Marion rode from Ports Ferry with the goal of defeating a body of Loyalist militia led by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Tynes. Finding the enemy at Tearcoat Swamp, he advanced at midnight on October 25/26 after learning that the enemy defenses were lax.  Using similar tactics to Black Mingo Creek, Marion split his command into three forces with one each attacking from the left and right while he led a detachment in the center. Signaling the advance with his pistol, Marion led his men forward and swept the Loyalists from the field. The battle saw the Loyalists suffer six killed, fourteen wounded, and 23 captured. The Swamp Fox With the defeat of Major Patrick Fergusons force at the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, Cornwallis became increasingly concerned about Marion. As a result, he dispatched the feared Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton to destroy Marions command. Known for laying waste to the landscape, Tarleton received intelligence regarding Marions location. Closing on Marions camp, Tarleton pursued the American leader for seven hours and across 26 miles before breaking off the pursuit in the swampy territory and stating, As for this damned old fox, the Devil himself could not catch him. Final Campaigns Tarletons moniker quickly stuck and soon Marion was known widely as the Swamp Fox. Promoted to brigadier general in the South Carolina militia, he began working with the new Continental commander in the region, Major General Nathanael Greene. Building a mixed brigade of cavalry and infantry he conducted a failed attack on Georgetown, SC in conjunction with Lieutenant Colonel Henry Light Horse Harry Lee in January 1781. Continuing to defeat the Loyalist and British forces sent after him, Marion won victories at Forts Watson and Motte that spring. The latter was captured in conjunction with Lee after a four-day siege. As 1781 progressed, Marions brigade fell under the command of Brigadier General Thomas Sumter. Working with Sumter, Marion took part in a fight against the British at Quinbys Bridge in July. Forced to withdraw, Marion split from Sumter and won a skirmish at Parkers Ferry the following month. Moving to unite with Greene, Marion commanded the combined North and South Carolina militia at the Battle of Eutaw Springs on September 8. Elected to the state senate, Marion left his brigade later that year to take his seat at Jacksonboro. Poor performance from his subordinates required him to return to command in January 1782. Later Life Marion was re-elected to the state senate in 1782 and 1784. In the years after the war, he generally supported a lenient policy toward the remaining Loyalists and opposed laws intended to strip them of their property. As a gesture of recognition for his services during the conflict, the state of South Carolina appointed him to command Fort Johnson. Largely a ceremonial post, it brought with it an annual stipend of $500 which aided Marion in rebuilding his plantation. Retiring to Pond Bluff, Marion married his cousin, Mary Esther Videau, and later served at the 1790 South Carolina constitutional convention. A supporter of the federal union, he died at Pond Bluff on February 27, 1795.