West Bank, Gaza and the Arab-Israeli Conflict Essay Example for Free

West Bank, Gaza and the Arab-Israeli Conflict Essay West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been very crucial in the continuing Arab-Israeli conflict. After the First World War, the area was under the British Mandate of Palestine. But Jordan captured West Bank in 1948 when the Arab-Israeli War commenced. By 1967, Israel recaptured the West Bank during the Six-Day War. Yet, Jordan did not drop its claim to the area until 1988. It is interesting to note that most of the residents in the area are Arabs. But since 1967, more Israeli settlement has been added. Israel’s occupation of the West Bank area is historically important because they consider this area as historically theirs. As such, they called it Judea and Samaria. The Arabs, however, object to this terminology and claims that the Israeli just want to justify their expansionist aims. As such, the Arabs call it the occupied West Bank of the Jordan River. The establishment of Israeli settlements in the West Bank area drew the ire of Arabs during the 1970s. Only in 1978 did the Arabs’ desire for self-rule taken into consideration under the Camp David Accords. The plan however never materialized. Gaza Strip on the other hand is part of the Palestinian authorities although it has been in the hands of the Israeli military since 1967 as part of the West Bank occupation. In 1987, the Arabs started rioting in response to the curfew and increased Israeli presence at the Gaza Strip. In their view, such acts were a violation of their human rights and they could not allow it to proceed. This led to the Intifada or uprising, which led to protests and violent attacks. The Israeli military responded with force leading to deaths and property damages. The Gaza Strip and the West Bank figure prominently in the security concerns of Israel. In the first place, the occupation of Gaza Strip was tied up to the efforts of Israel to cut off the support of Lebanon to Palestinian fighters. The occupation was a means to stem the attacks against Jerusalem and serve as a watching post should there be renewed violence and fighting directed against the country, which stands as an island in a sea of Arab nations. As Israel continued to occupy the Gaza Strip and West Bank, it went through painful confrontations, peace talks—some of which succeeded, most of it failed. Yet, with the continuous assertion of Palestinians of their right to the territory and the civilian toll of the conflicts, Israel had to agree to the terms of various peace talks in withdrawing from the territory and relinquish control to Palestinians. In the year 2005, the Israeli government declared unilaterally that it has ended its occupation of the Gaza Strip. Due to the continuous dangers posed on the civilians and perhaps because of the heavy damages caused by war, the government has chosen this course of action. Still, the case of West Bank and Gaza Strip is peculiar because of the lack of sovereignty of the area prior to the occupation of Israel. Yet, with the withdrawal of Israel from the region, the country still holds control of Philadelphi Route, which is important in preventing the smuggling of materials into Egypt. The main concern of Israel remains its security and the prevention of hostilities. Reference Dowty, Alan (2001). The Jewish State: A Century Later. California: University of California Press.

Gender Identity Essay Example for Free

Gender Identity Essay There are a couple factors that determine gender identity; like genetic factors, environmental situations, psychosocial factors, and even sexual hormones. â€Å"Gender identity is almost always consistent with chromosomal sex. † (Rathus, S. A. , Nevid, J. S. , and Fichner-Rathus, L. 2005). From the moment sperm fertilized an ovum, our destiny to be a girl or a boy is chosen. Usually at this point; 23 chromosomes from the male donor and 23 from the female come together and combine to make a â€Å"zygote†. Starting about six weeks into the pregnancy, our bodies began to form and create into what they are meant to be, and after the seventh week, our genetic code (XY or XX) begins to really assert itself. Gender identity is not always a term referring to a person’s anatomic sex, â€Å"sex assignment† is now the correct term to ask a person their anatomic sex that occurred at birth. It is said that by 36 months old, most children are said to have a firm sense of their gender identity. Our genes play an important role in determining our gender identity. The SRY gene (which is the gene that determines the Y male gene) will bind to DNA and distort, and alter it, creating the testes. The gene called Sox 9 is the gene that regulates the expression of SRY. If Sox 9 did not get to regulate the SRY gene; it would turn into a male fetus. We without help from the SRY gene, female reproductive organs would form instead of male organs. Recent research suggests that as many as one in every hundred individuals may have some intersex characteristics. † (Domurat, 1998). Some people do not believe that their gender identity corresponds with their biological sex (mainly transgender people, but also including; transsexuals and inter-sexed individuals as well. ) Difficulties can begin because society maintains that a person must accept a manner of social gender roles, which is based on their sex, and the person may feel that it is not consistent with their gender identity. This is known as â€Å"gender identity disorder†, and by definition means that the individual is uncomfortable with their anatomic gender, and presents themselves or act like a member of the opposite sex. Masculinity and femininity are terms that we hear every day in our lives. For example, we hear that Shawn is so secure in his masculinity that he is comfortable being a house-husband or that Wendy’s mastectomy is threatening her sense of femininity. Even though most people think of masculinity and femininity on opposite ends of one continuum, it does not make it true. Just because an individual may possess some traits of both categories does not make them too masculine or feminine. Where a person should be placed on the masculinity and femininity continuum, all depends on the degree to which the show or report specific gender-linked qualities, and behaviors. The midpoint on this hypothetical continuum is known as the zero point, and if a person has failed to develop gender-role identification, or they have transcended it, then they would be placed at this point of the line. Those who show strong sex-role identifications would go at either one end or the other of the hypothetical continuum. One of the factors in my life that have helped determine my gender identity is; by nature I am a female because I have the sexual reproduction system of a female. That is not what makes me a female though. What makes me a female is how I carry myself in everyday life. I am secure in my womanhood, and have never felt like I should have been a male instead. I like to dress like a woman, talk like a woman, and even use manners that are considered â€Å"womanly†. I chose to keep long, pretty, unpolished fingernails, and I wear make-up on special occasions, but since I do not wear it all the time that does not make me masculine. I was raised in an environment that my parents, teachers, and any other important figures in my life treated me like a female; therefore, I act like a typical societal female. I even grew up with toys that were specifically designed for female use like; dolls and make-up, and cooking toys. The masculine and feminine traits that I attribute to myself using the hypothetical continuum are kind of split in some ways. I can identify with both points of view regarding females and males. My mother thought it best to teach me things that most of the time need a man. She taught me these â€Å"manly† activities because she believes that women should be independent and never need a man for anything. Women are just as good as men (she used to tell me), and women should never be made to feel differently on the subject. I whole-heartedly agree. In conclusion, gender identity and gender roles can cause some conflicts in some people within their daily lives. These disputes can be lessened when the individual is able to develop a secure masculine or feminine gender identity about how they perceive themselves. There are rites of passages that help young female into womanhood, or a young male into manhood, depending on the culture around you as to what the rite of passage may include. Once an individual has figured out what identifies them as either masculine or feminine, they will be able to progress their own positive feelings about masculinity and femininity.

Analysis Of The Elle Novel English Literature Essay

Analysis Of The Elle Novel English Literature Essay Douglas Glover is a known Canadian author of various fiction works that has capture readers of different nationalities, belief and preferences. While there were many other works of Glover such as notes Home from a Prodigal Son, The Enamored Knight, and novels such as The Life and Times of Captain N and 16 Categories of Desire  [1]  , Elle, a novel based on a true or rather historic figure, Marguerite de Roberval, on her way to discovering Canada with her uncle, Jean-Franà §ois de la Rocque de Roberval.  [2]  In this novel, he seemed to present Canada is a satiric language with explicit and implicit intentions of ridiculing religion, faith and aboriginals. It described the moments of first contact and the discovery of Canada by the European adventurers. These were during the times of Jacques Cartiers last and rather tragic attempt to colonize Canada. This first contact was described in ways in what did Canada meant to European adventurers and what did Europeans meant to the countrys original habitants and the clash between these two groups; neither of them recognized each other as human.  [3]  Nevertheless, he associated religion, sex, and revenge in building an image of this newly discovered country or the New World. While excerpts of the story are loosely based on facts, the authors language of conviction has somehow made the story more vivid and looks like more true to life. The author practiced his freedom of expression by choosing to portray such part of history through a work of fiction. In the course of the story, he also used a great deal of latitude as a means to portray Canada. This is to describe the geographical location of the newly discovered country and to create a glimpse of seasonal experiences of the characters such as winter in portrayal of sadness and will for revenge. Moreover, use of latitude seemed to be used to express distance from the European origins of the characters. This latitudinal distance implicates cultural, traditional and civil differences. This further implies the width of territorial expansion attempts of Europe in the past and may be not so many years before modern times.  [4]   For me, as a reader of the novel, these instruments of literature used by the author affected my understanding of colonization, first contact, faith and religion as associated with lust, sex and may be, love. With the claim that the novel was based on facts, it has some effect for me to assume many events in the story to be true. In some sense I tend to forget it being a fiction and not a direct narration of history (perhaps except Elle turning literally or otherwise into a bear). This may be attributed to the loose boundaries set between imagination and fact. This confusion applies to the personalities used and the actual events narrated. In general, it will be safe to believe that majority of the accounts in the story were based on the authors imagination and not a simple re telling of written history. Nonetheless, this also gave me some sense of contempt to inhumane actions on both parties regardless of which side I may choose to give sympathy. If this will be the only book describing the first contact of Canada and its history, I will be facing realizations of the violent, lustful, and inhumane parts of history or the truths that perhaps will never be mentioned on ordinary history books.  [5]   I believe then, that the bigger purpose of the novel is to portray themes not mentioned in the usual history books. Hypocrisy and modesty aside, we can really assume that such themes like sex, violence, lust and other worldly human nature are inclusive of our history.  [6]  While other critics of Glover say that he did not include human nature to sympathize with in his novel Elle, I believe that these themes can be considered not less than parts of our character and human nature regardless of civilization, religion and nationality. Moreover, this is also to portray colonization not simply as expansion of territory. It means penetration in an existing culture or rather an intentional or unintentional exchange of culture between the two parties: the colony and colonizers. This is to emphasize that colonization is not a one way process or a transformation from the colonizers to the colony. Rather, it is an exchange or combination of tradition, belief, education and emotional strings. Other inspirations in the story may be the apparent expansion of trade and prosperity in the ancient times. Colonization and territorial expansion were oftentimes attributed to be acts of European explorers. These expeditions have made tremendous histories and stories worth telling and retelling until these modern times of 21st century. Many of these stories were descriptions of social contacts such as Elle and other novels such as Gullivers Travel. The Themes of the Story To be specific, the themes that I have observed in the novel include: aboriginals, religion, first contact, issues of gender, family, and sex. Among these themes, I see particular emphasis on religion and faith, issues of gender, and sex as individual values. On the other hand, aboriginals and first contact may refer to the authors portrayal of Canada at times of Europeans attempt for colonization. Aboriginals In terms of aboriginals, the author might have been inspired by the recent discovery of ancient pagan culture. Portrayal of public execution and burning were mentioned in the stories quite a number of times. Rituals of native people of the New World were also portrayed. This is expected as some aspects of the novel were inspired by the recent rediscovery of ancient pagan classics. These were subtle critic in the practice of religion and its impacts to human thinking. Religion Excessive practice of religious rituals may cause unfavorable effects on the believers just like Elles mother who got consumed to religious rituals and forgot her other responsibilities and may be, even lost her sanity and sense of reality. The novel seemed to portray religion as one of the causes why her mother did not care for her as a child. Her mother was addicted to religious rituals that were described in absurd way such as licking the foot of the statue of saints in church. Her father, busy with his own desires for expanding power, did not pay fatherly attention to her too. As a result, or may be because of other causes too, Elle was not a very good mother and did not grow closer to her children too.  [7]   The Protestant and Catholic religions were explicitly ridiculed using direct and yet satiric language. Elle had a priest lover. This is scandalous because of chastity and vow of celibacy imposed and believed to be practiced by the priests. Moreover, the novel also mentioned brutal punishment of Protestants because of simple rule breaking and actions not in accordance to its scriptures. Elle were fond of these and even said, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I thought the world to be a more exciting place for all the conflict and never missed a public burning or decapitation.  [8]  This was a portrayal in both implicit and explicit way that religion, sex and brutality are related. Family Moreover, these were the times when religion, greed for power and prosperity and all other arbitrary pleasures such as sex and money were favored more than ones own family. Parenting is a loose responsibility and not a highly regarded one. This is true in the case of Elle to her children and her from her parents. Her mother did not care for her because of her evident addiction or obsession to religious rituals. She was also not able to care for her children for reasons not explicitly stated in the story. I assume that it is an effect of her experiencing the same from her parents and her own experiences of violence and brutality in her exile. Inequality against Women Gender issues were also addressed in the novel. It portrayed how Europeans and Canadians treated women. In spite of membership to highly regarded and respected families and aristocratic upbringing, women suffer from violent and unequal treatment. They were vulnerable not only to sexual assaults but also to inequality to opportunities. In those times, women were not expected to take part to exhibitions, voyages and other privileges entitled only to male counter parts. But then again, headstrong girl as that of Elle strived to get some good treatment. This is in spite of her aristocratic upbringing; she grew up uniquely as a headstrong girl. While women were seen as sex objects, she in turn treated his lovers, her sex partners as well. In turn he also used men to satisfy her desire for good sex. She measure manhood in terms of size of penis and ability in love making.  [9]  Likewise, Catherine or Comes Winter, the native woman also experienced the same fate just like Elle. It was far easier to punish a woman with her life, including watching her loved ones to die. Sex and Lust Sex, on the other hand, seemed to serve as an escape for the characters. The main character seemed to satisfy her frustrations through having lustful sex. She seemed to find equality in sex where she is found in beauty and men make love to her the way she needed to be loved. This is to say that sex, in one way or another, is not just a language of the body. It may also be considered as psychological, a cure or rather means of psychological stress. Other themes I see in the novel include revenge and karma. The novel showed some sense of these themes when the General, to whom all sufferings of Elle were attributed to, was killed by a bear (which was apparently shown to be her other personality later on). The general was killed by a bear with a womans heart. The desire for revenge that was stated in the earlier part of the story was satisfied when the general thought of Elle while meeting his death. He was stabbed and acquired fatal blows- an uncomfortable death that Elle once desired to give him. Although it is uncertain if Elle is really the bear or otherwise, the end indeed justified the means because she seemed to be delighted with the news. Whether random Karma or intentional revenge, Elle would have felt the same: gratified and responsible. Emphases of the Novel With these themes, the emphasis of the story relied on human autonomy. Elle, in spite of being a woman with limited physical and may be emotional strength and opportunities, have means to do aberrations with liberty and autonomy as the justifications. Moreover, this can be associated with ones freedom of expression. Although this may not be easy and may even cause ones own life, fear of the consequences was the only barrier for freedom of expression. Likewise, there was also a thrust on human nature to appreciate worldly pleasures: power, territory, sex and lust and beauty. The Personality of Elle Elle is a French girl who was brought up by an aristocratic family. Her mother, addicted to spiritual and religious activities, did not serve to be a good mother to her. The same was true to his father who was paying more attention to reading books and extension of power. Hence, she grew up as a headstrong girl with means to get what she wants. See and react to things she just wanted to. She used sex and books as her escape to reality and thus giving her dreams uniquely hers. She enumerated her desires to be: mild intoxicants, good sex, witty conversation, cheap printed books, and front seat at public executions. Sex outside marriage was known as a sin but giving to lust and earthly desire, they still do it with promises of penance, confessions and indulgence. Yet, in spite of not having married, Elle had many lovers through out the story. It can also be observed that it was not really sex she was fond to. It may also be the desire to have a man on her feet because of her beauty. Or, in another perspective, she may also want to be the cause of mens weakness. Some of her lovers mentioned in the story were Richard, a tennis player. He was weak and easy to seduce. He has been in love with Elle since she was 13 but Elle made the first move and seduce him until the two have given in their lustful desires. Another one was the priest and a messenger of his father. He was way too old for Elle but she regarded him good for having a penis a size of a sparrow and for loving her well in bed. She also was related to the hunter in the remote island she took refuge into. He taught him some things about bears which may be the means of Elle of acquiring the violent ability of bears or even transforming into a bear.  [10]   Elles discovery of faith was not brought about by promising experiences but rather experiences that can be seen better off. However, her faith and epiphany could have been different, perhaps, narrower if experienced differently. Her discovery of faith by being in between the clash or exchange of corpses of Old and New World, through her exile and witnessing the same fate to another woman, and knowing the brutal fate of M. Cartier, caused her the deepest understanding of colonization and both partys resistance of treating each other human. The Vision of Canada These experiences of the character brought the readers, including me, to have more sympathy and deeper vision on Canada. The violence, deaths and degradation experienced by the native people in the hands of the European colonists. On the other hand, however, the colonizers such as Cartier also experienced a brutal fate. Hence, this novel, I think is contempt of the inhumane results of colonization. Canada is only one of the many countries that have experienced this vision. Perhaps all countries that have been attempted to be colonized launched some resistance forces. Each paid their part of violence and brutality in ancient history. However, these events served a deeper purpose to increase social contacts, expansion of trade and prosperity, and maximization of use of natural resources. Yet, as we can see it the modern times, such values, events, and themes may still be applicable. There is still an evident gender inequality, violence, scandals of religion until these times. Hence, such conflicts may also be addressed through rediscovering faith and understanding and paying respect with each other.

Microcredit Essay -- Economy, Loans, Microloans

Microcredit can be defined as small loans, or microloans, for people around the world in extreme poverty to help spur entrepreneurship. The issue of microcredit is extremely important in the world’s economy. Poverty alleviation and economic development are the primary goals of microcredit programs, that is why they began in the developing countries of Asia and Latin America, economist Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen Bank in Bangladesh are credited of pioneering this financial innovation (Smith, Thurman, 2007). After acquiring a loan, impoverished people get involved in self-employment projects that help them to start a business and begin generating income and in many cases leave poverty. Microcredit offers loans to poor people without requesting any financial history from them. These loans help to improve the quality of life of individuals and communities through commitment. In recent years, the idea of giving small loans to poor people became the darling of the development wor ld, giving a way to propel even the poorest people into better lives (Jolis, 2011). Since its emergence, microcredit has been viewed as a very important tool for development. Many around the world believe microcredit is the antidote for global poverty. Although the Grameen Bank focuses only on people from Bangladesh, different microfinance institutions had been established around the world. Accion International is one example of these institutions in Latin America, which started providing loans in 1973 (The history of microfinance, 2005). These financial institutions started to grow rapidly due to high demands of small loans. Poor people around the world started to lose faith to their countries’ authorities to provide for their well being and started to tur... ...e of the challenges that the Grameen Bank has faced in the last years is that the government believed that citizens from Bangladesh are just growing a big dept that will only damage their lives in the future. However, as stated before, 98% of the loans have been repaid. Overall, microcredit has helped millions of people around the world and it continues to have a great impact on poor people, informing them that all they need is a little ‘push’ or start-up money to begin creating a better life and subsequently a better community. Each organization has its own goals and purposes depending on the country where they reside as well as different challenges that have appeared. Microcredit is helping poor people and small business owners to better themselves as well as to their families and have their time, skills, and ideas utilized in an effective and positive way.

The Arrival Of Blu-Ray Technology :: Technology

Formatting Problems The Arrival of Blu-ray Technology Blu-ray- also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format which was jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). As compared to the current optical disc format such as DVD, this new format allows users to record, rewrite and playback high-definition (HD) video and store large amounts of data. In fact, Blu-ray’s storage capacity is five times more than traditional DVDs, which can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This high storage capability has also allowed additional content and special features such as downloading extras, updating content via the web, and watching live broadcasts of special events. In addition, when combined with the new BD-J interactivity layer, the users’ experience in watching a Blu-ray movie will be greatly enhanced. For instance, while the director explains the shooting of a scene, we are able to view the scene playing in the background simultaneously. Besides storage capacity and interactivity, high-definition is another reason why Blu-ray is better; a blue-violet laser (405nm) has a shorter wavelength than a red laser (650nm), hence the laser spot is able to focus with greater precision. Compared to DVDs, which only supports standard-definition (SD), Blu-ray supports HDTV and offers five times more detail in the clarity and sharpness of picture, and as well as better enhancement effects in HD video and audio quality. Besides Blu-ray, HD-DVD is the other new high-density DVD format competing to be the next-generation optical disc format. The HD-DVD format which is supported by NEC, Toshiba, and Sanyo, relies on the blue-laser technology as well. However, as compared, Blu-ray has a much bigger storage capacity and a higher data transfer rate for both video and audio. So do consumers prefer Blu-ray or HD-DVD? According to an independent study conducted by Cymfony (a market influence analytic company) on the new HD video formats and players, between October 1, 2006 and November 23, 2006, there are 46 percent (in a total of 17,664 posts) higher positive discussions about HD-DVD with authors stating being â€Å"impressed with HD-DVD† vs. â€Å"impressed with Blu-ray†. On the other hand, few posts has discussed the high storage capacity and advance interactivity.

Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Avoidance of Prophecy :: Oedipus the King Oedipus Rex

Avoidance of Prophecy in Oedipus Rex    Oedipus Rex illustrates the Greek concept that trying to circumvent prophetsÕ predictions is futile. The play includes three main prophecies: the one made to Laius concerning his death by the hands of his son, a similar one directed to Oedipus, and one made by Tiresias foretelling OedipusÕ discovery of the murdererÕs identity. Both recipients of these oracles attempt to avoid their destinies, but both wind up following the paths which the Fates have prescribed. Laius had received a prophesy which declares Ã’that doom would strike him at the hands of [his] son....Ó Jocasta, in an attempt to ease OedipusÕ worries, endeavors to defame prophesy in general by describing LaiusÕ apparent circumvention of the augury. When LaiusÕ son wasnÕt yet three days old, the king had the infantÕs ankles fastened together, and then gave the boy to a henchman to be flung onto Ã’a barren, trackless mountainÓ; Jocasta believes her son dead. Laius had believed that by killing his only son, he would be able to avoid the oracleÕs prediction. However, the shepherd entrusted with the terrible task of infanticide pitied the baby and gave him to another shepherd, who, in turn, donated the child to the King and Queen of Corinth. The boy, Oedipus, was raised as the son of King Polybus and Queen Merope, and still believes himself to be their issue even as Jocasta relates the ironic story of his own previous Ã’death.Ó Oedipus, of course, finds out that it was indeed his own, true father, Laius, that he has killed at the crossroads at Phocis. LaiusÕ attempt at foiling fate didnÕt work; Oedipus killed him because of a slight insult. Because Laius felt to shameful to kill the infant himself, he took a risk in hoping that his loyal shepherd would murder the child for him. That risk allowed Oedipus to live and, therefore, to kill his own father without knowing his true identity. Had Laius not attempted to have his newborn 1 killed, the boy still would have caused his fatherÕs death somehow, because the oracles are never wrong, and most Greeks realize thereÕs no way to escape fate. Oedipus also tries to avoid his fate, which he had received from ApolloÕs oracle at Delphi. While Oedipus lived as Prince of Corinth, a drunken

Dmitri Mendeleev Essay

I have chosen to write about Dmitri Mendeleev. What was Dmitri Mendeleev know for? Dmitri Mendeleev was a Russian chemist who developed the periodic classification of the elements. In his version of the periodic table, Mendeleev left gaps in places where he believed unknown elements would fit in and he predicted the likely properties of three of the potential elements. The proof of many of his predictions within his lifetime brought fame to Mendeleev as the founder of the periodic law. So who was Dmitri Mendeleev? Mendeleev was born on February 8, 1834 in the village of Verkhnie Aremzyani, near Tobolsk in Siberia. Mendeleev is thought to be the youngest of 17 siblings. His father was a teacher of politics, philosophy, and fine arts. Unfortunately for the family’s well being, his father became blind and lost his teaching position. His mother was forced to work and she restarted her family’s abandoned glass factory. At the age of 13, after the passing of his father and the destruction of his mother’s factory by fire, Mendeleev attended the Gymnasium in Tobolsk. In 1849, the Mendeleev family relocated to Saint Petersburg, where Mendeleev entered the Main Pedagogical Institute in 1850. Sometime after Mendeleev graduated, he contracted tuberculosis, causing him to move to the Crimean Peninsula on the northern coast by the Black Sea in 1855. While he was there he became a science master of the Simferopol gymnasium. Later he returned with fully restored health to Saint Petersburg in 1857. Between 1859 and 1861, he worked on the capillarity of liquids and the workings of the spectroscope in Heidelberg. In late August 1861 he wrote his first book on the spectroscope. In April of 1862 Mendeleev became engaged to Feozva Nikitichna Leshcheva, and they married on 27 April 1862 at Nikolaev Engineering Institute’s church in Saint Petersburg. Mendeleev became a professor at the Saint Petersburg Technological Institute and Saint Petersburg State University in 1864 and 1865. After becoming a teacher, Mendeleev wrote the textbook, Principles of Chemistry. As he attempted to classify the elements according to their chemical properties, he too noticed patterns that led him to postulate his periodic table. Mendeleev was also unaware of the earlier work on periodic tables going on. In 1863 there were 56 known elements with a new element being discovered at a rate of approximately one per year. Mendeleev made the following table, and by adding additional elements following this pattern, developed his extended version of the periodic table. In 1865 he became Doctor of Science for his dissertation on the combinations of water with alcohol. He achieved tenure in 1867, and a few years later by 1871 Mendeleev had transformed Saint Petersburg into an internationally recognized center for chemistry research. Later on in 1876, Mendeleev had become obsessed with Anna Ivanova Popova and began obsessed with her. In 1881 he proposed to her and threatened suicide if she refused to marry him. His divorce from Feozva Nikitichna Leshcheva was finalized one month after he had married Anna in early 1882. Even after the divorce, Mendeleev was technically a bigamist. His divorce and the surrounding controversy contributed to his failure to be admitted to the Russian Academy of Sciences. Mendeleev was widely honored by scientific organizations all over Europe, including the Copley Medal from the Royal Society of London; he resigned from Saint Petersburg University in August of 1890. In 1893, he was appointed Director of the Bureau of Weights and Measures. It was in this role that he was directed to formulate new state standards for the production of vodka. As a result of his work, new standards for vodka were introduced into Russian law and all vodka had to be produced at 40% alcohol by volume. Mendeleev also investigated the composition of petroleum, and helped to found the first oil refinery in Russia. In 1907, Mendeleev died at the age of 72 in Saint Petersburg from influenza. The crater Mendeleev on the Moon, as well as element number 101, the radioactive mendelevium, are named after him. Referances: E.Babaev. February 20, 2012. http://www.chem.msu.su/eng/misc/mendeleev/welcome.html http://www.biography.com/people/dmitri-mendeleyev-9405465 http://www.chemistry.co.nz/mendeleev.htm http://chemistry.about.com/od/famouschemists/p/mendeleevbio.htm http://www.famousscientists.org/dmitri-mendeleev/ Reflection, I decided to write about Dmitri Mendeleev because I thought he sounded the most interesting. I also wanted to learn more about him and his life. Chemistry is very entertaining to me and Mendeleev basically wrote the periodic table.