What Is a Russian Samovar Cultural Significance

The Russian Samovar is a large heated container used to boil water for tea. The word samovar literally translates as self-brewer. Samovars are usually ornately decorated and are part of a traditional tea-drinking ceremony. Throughout history, Russian families have spent hours at the table drinking tea and eating traditional Russian treats such as the Ð ¿Ã'€Ã' Ã ½Ã ¸Ã º (PRYAnik)—a type of honey and ginger cake. This was the time for socializing and the samovar became a big part of the Russian culture of family time and hospitality. Key Takeaways: Russian Samovar Russian samovars are metal pots used for heating water to make tea. They contain a vertical pipe that heats water and keeps it hot for hours.Some Russians believed that samovars had a soul and could communicate with people.The brothers Lisitsyn opened the first large samovar factory in Tula in 1778, and samovars became popular from 1780s onwards.Samovars have become one of the symbols of Russia around the world. Russians believed that each samovar had its own soul because of the sounds that samovars produced when heating the water. As each samovar produced a different sound, many Russians believed that their samovar was communicating with them, just like the other house spirits that they believed in, such as the Domovoi. Svetlana_Dodukh / Getty Images How a Samovar Works A samovar contains a vertical pipe filled with solid fuel which heats the water and keeps it hot for hours at a time. To make tea, a teapot with a strong tea brew called Ð ·Ã °Ã ²Ã °Ã'€Ð ºÃ ° (zaVARka) is placed on top and heated by the rising hot air. When not in use for tea making, the samovar remained hot and was convenient as an immediate source of freshly boiled water. There are three main reasons why the samovar became so popular both in Russia and abroad in the 18-19th centuries: Samovars were economical. A samovar has a complex structure and usually consists of 17-20 parts. Altogether, the structure of samovars was an amalgamation of all the knowledge that existed at the time on preserving energy. The heating pipe was fully surrounded by the water that was being heated and therefore created the largest possible amount of energy without much energy loss.Water softener. Additionally, a samovar softened the water during the heating process, with the limescale dropping to the floor of the container. This meant that the boiled water coming out of the samovars tap was pure, soft, and had no limescale.Easily monitoring of water heating. Due to the sounds that samovars make when the water begins to heat, it is possible to monitor the stage of water heating throughout the process. First, the samovar is said to sing (Ã' Ã °Ã ¼Ã ¾Ã ²Ã °Ã'€ Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã'‘Ã'‚ - samaVAR paYOT), then to make a particular noise called Ð ±Ã µÃ »Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ð ºÃ »Ã'ŽÃ'‡ (BYEly KLYUCH)—the white spring, before boiling (Ã' Ã °Ã ¼Ã ¾Ã ²Ã °Ã'€ Ð ±Ã'Æ'Ã'€Ð »Ã ¸Ã'‚ - samaVAR boorLEET). The tea is made once the white spring noise appears. Materials and Characteristics Samovars were usually made of nickel or copper. The handles and the body of the samovar were made to be as ornate as possible, as it added to its value and promoted the factory that produced it. Samovars were sometimes also made of silver and gold. Different factories produced different shapes of samovars, and at some point, there were around 150 types of samovar shapes being produced in Tula. The weight of a samovar also mattered, with heavier models being more expensive. This depended on the thickness of a samovars walls as well as on the amount of brass that was used to create the ornate details on the surface. Thicker walls meant that a samovar would be used for a longer time. Sometimes, certain factories created thin-walled samovars but used more lead when attaching the taps and handles to the main body of the samovar, which added to the general weight. The exact weight distribution had to be specified in the documents that accompanied each samovar but was often deliberately left out, leading to legal cases when disgruntled customers took the sellers to court. MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION: A Russian girl wearing a traditional outfit pours some water into a cup from a traditional Samovar boiler in front of Saint Basil Cathedral, on the edge of Red square in Moscow, 22 May 2004, during the International Tea Festival. ALEXANDER NEMENOV  /  Getty Images Cultural Significance The samovar became popular in Russia in 1780s and a large factory was opened in Tula by the brothers Lisitsyn. Whole villages could sometimes specialize in making just one part, contributing to the complex and expensive process of producing samovars. Most families had several samovars that were easily heated with pine cones and twigs. Eventually, electrical samovars appeared and began to replace traditional ones. Samovars continued to be used during the Soviet Union years, especially in rural areas. Nowadays, they have been mostly replaced with electrical kettles, but still have a strong presence as a souvenir item that is displayed in a prominent place in a home. However, there are still those who prefer to use electric and even traditionally heated samovars. A large part of the samovar making industry is now directed at tourists and Russian history enthusiasts, and Russian samovars remain one of the most well-known symbols of Russia around the world.

Renewable Energy Is It the Solution - 1571 Words

Introduction Renewable energy is considered a revolutionary thing, something that can save us from peak oil and climate change, but is it really what it seems? Renewable energy can help ease our predicament. There are multiple ways to achieve this, including the use of newer, greener technologies such as wind, solar power, and biomass. The purpose of this paper is to educate, theorize, and discuss various aspects of renewable energy, such as its history, development, and the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy. Ultimately, my personal reflection on renewable energy and, energy in general will be discussed. Renewable Energy There are several methods to implement renewable energy. You can harness power from multiple sources,†¦show more content†¦Flowing air makes the turbine spin, which in turn produces the electricity, a simple concept. Solar Power: Solar panels use photovoltaic modules to convert solar radiation from the sun into usable electricity. Solar panels are commonly used on satellites, street lights, construction and traffic signs, solar powered tents, and electric aircraft (Osborn, 2010). Hydro Power: This power is extracted from falling or running water which in turn spins a turbine which produces electricity. Hydroelectricity is by far the most popular renewable method of energy production, accounting for approximately 16% of the world’s total energy (Worldwatch Institute, 2012). Biomass: Biomass is classified as all matter that is based in carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (Christopher B. Field, 1998). Biomass can also be converted to biofuels such as biodiesel, and ethanol. Wood is the most common method of utilizing biomass energy. Biofuel: Biofuels are produced from living organisms. The most common biofuels are bioethanol and biodiesel. Ethanol can be used in gasoline based engines and can be mixed with gasoline to any percentage. Ethanol is produced by using the sugars in a plant and distilling it into pure alcohol, in the United States, corn is the primary source for ethanol fuel (Ethanol Market, 2006). Biodiesel is another popular biofuel, most popular in Europe, biodieselShow MoreRelatedAlternative Energy Solutions For Renewable Energy1295 Words   |  6 Pagessupply. We are scrambling for solutions in underdeveloped technology and overlooked industry. There is much debate on whether any alternative energy solutions are able to effectively replace fossil fuels. Even if they are, we are then faced with the problem of how renewable energy programs could be implemented and improved. There are many aspects of this debate to consider, including energy demand, financial support, and ecological factors. The pus h for alternative energies is essential and the needRead MoreIs Renewable Energy The Solution For Our Energy Problems?1453 Words   |  6 PagesIs renewable energy the solution to our energy problems? 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But it wasnt until the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that humanity finally learned to harness the high concentration of energy existent in fossil fuels. (Why Sustainable Energy Matters,Learning Space). Even though humans achieved to apply the first law of conservationRead MoreThe Current Demand For Energy1237 Words   |  5 Pagesntroduction Europe experienced two energy crises during the 1970s, which led to escalating demand for energy resources (specifically, oil) that could not be adequately supplied (Bonny, 1987; Donatos Mergos, 1989). This led to a decrease in economic activity that reflected as a decrease in the demand for energy in the form of oil. Alternative energy sources needed to be considered in order to maintain the economic activities of society without further depleting the natural resources. 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Introduction Europe experienced two energy crises during the 1970s, which led to escalating demand for energy resources (specifically, oil) that could not be adequately supplied (Bonny, 1987; Donatos Mergos, 1989). This led to a decrease in economic activity that reflected as a decrease in the demand for energy in the form of oil. Alternative energy sources needed to be considered in order to maintain the economic activities of society without further depleting the natural resources. Besides

Arranged Marriages Forced Free Essays

Arranged Marriages Forced Although the modern social norms of western cultures expect marriage to be based on love and a strong bond between two people, this is not the basis for marriage in all cultures or societies. Although the greater parts of arranged marriages aren’t intended to be forced, the couples are given the chance to oppose their chosen partners if they don’t feel that the marriage would be a success. In other cases, the couples have no choice; it’s a sign of disrespect to refuse. We will write a custom essay sample on Arranged Marriages Forced or any similar topic only for you Order Now Many people have a major misunderstanding of the arranged marriage. Many cultures world-wide have believed in the tradition of arranged marriages for many Centuries and some still practice it today. The best way to understand the reasoning behind such cultures is to put aside your own beliefs, opinions, and preconceived ideas in order to see more clearly before dismissing it has wrong. One of the most difficult changes to make in a marriage is the acceptance of your partners’ beliefs and or values compared to what you believe. And yet, in arranged marriages it’s assumed that the couple is perfectly matched, as the families of their son or daughter will choose prospective partners from the same culture, religion, and social class. The similar back ground can ease the process of good communication as well as reduce conflict in any and all decisions such as how the children should be raised. In many cultures the spouse will sometimes live with or in the same neighborhood of their partners’ family. In difficult times, this could mean that they have a strong social network on hand to provide support. In other cases, the interference from the family members or other people within the neighborhood may seem like they are interfering. On the other hand, when there are problems that need solved, having a person nearby to act as a mediator or counselor is beneficial. Contrary to the â€Å"old â€Å" arranged marriage, in which children are forbidden from choosing their own partners, the modern arranged marriage is not about being forced into federation. It’s about relying on their match making mastery of Mom and Dad (Holly McKay 2007). One of major criticism made of arranged marriages is that love takes a back seat and that the emphasis is rather a social standing and cultural back ground. These cultures tend to value the social and economic possibility of the marriage over the strength of emotion between the couple. It’s important to understand both the distinctions between arranged and forced marriage and the fact that they sometimes overlap. While arranged marriages have brought happiness and stability to couples and communities, forced marriages are by nature exploitative and unequal (Amanda Kloer, 2009). They key factor present in an arranged marriage is the consent of both people getting married to be matched and married through a third party arrangement. (Amanda Kloer, 2009) Forced marriages are arranged, but without the consent of both parties –specifically, usually without the woman’s consent (Amanda Kloer, 2009). It is often easy to dismiss concepts that we are not familiar with or that we do not understand, yet, by taking an open-minded approach, it’s usually apparent that any marriage contains just as many advantages as disadvantages ? Reference list McKay, Holly (June 29, 2009) Because mom said so: Are Arranged Marriages the next big Trend? http://foxnews. com/0,3566,287211,00. html retrieved April 11, 2010. Kloer, Amanda (September 8, 2009) Arranged Marriage vs. Forced Marriage. http://humantrafficking. change. org/blog/view/arranged_marriage_vs_forced_marriage Retrieved April 11, 2010. How to cite Arranged Marriages Forced, Papers

Analyzing Managerial Decisions free essay sample

Writing Task: 1.Why do many firms use cost-plus for supply contracts? 2.What potential problems do you envision with cost-plus pricing? 3.Should Gina contest the price increase? Explain. 4.Is the increase more likely to be justified in the short run or the long run? Explain. 5.How will a $3 increase in the price of machine parts affect Gina’s own production decisions? Why do many firms use cost-plus for supply contracts? â€Å"Firms that use the technique calculate the total cost and then mark up the price to yield a target rate of return† (Brickley et al, 2009, p 211). â€Å"Often information on marginal revenue and marginal cost is difficult to obtain with precision, making it impossible to exactly determine the point of profit maximization. By using cost-plus pricing, you can simply include a desired rate of return in the mark-up† (Graham, 2013). The primary purpose is so highly used by firms is the ease. You do not have to be as accurate with your estimates, and you need to have knowledge of the market. We will write a custom essay sample on Analyzing Managerial Decisions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Knowledge of the market will lead to the appropriate requirement for the actual cost of the product. What potential problems do you envision with cost-plus pricing? The potential problem with â€Å"cost-plus pricing is it focuses on average rather than marginal cost. Because profit maximization requires marginal cost equals marginal revenue, cost-plus pricing may not result in profit maximization† (Graham, 2013, p 238). The main reason a company is in business is to make a profit, and if you miss the market you will not make money. Cost-Plus does not focus on demand, and this could result in an excess surplus of goods. Should Gina contest the price increase? Explain. Gina should contest the price increase. Rich Manufacturing has a contract with a $5 mark up for cost-plus pricing. This increase is Bharat Incorporated labor cost and not at Rich Manufacturing. Bhagat Incorporated’s costs are rising because of his labor is unionized, and they renegotiated their contract. The production company is still in the green as there is a  $2 difference in the cost-plus pricing contract. The contract will need to be renegotiated in the interim, and they should come to a new agreement of terms. Is the increase more likely to be justified in the short run or the long run? Explain. It would be hard to justify the increase in the short run. â€Å"The difference between marginal cost and average total cost may be sizable† (Graham, 2013). The operating cost of the products increased by $3. This means Rich Manufacturing would have to increase the overall cost of their product to maintain the profit maximization. The demand of goods in the short run will not increase and as the market has not changed because of the negotiations. In the long run, fixed cost do not exist, â€Å"all inputs and costs are variable† (Brickley et al, 2009, p 171) In the long run, it could benefit Rich manufacturing at the market could increase the demand and the contracted cost will enforce the parts to be sold, and increasing their profit. How will a $3 increase in the price of machine parts affect Gina’s own production decisions? Gina will need to do cost estimation and determine the amount of fixed and variable costs in the products produced from these parts. Gina will have to decide whether to buy the fifty thousand parts instead of the one hundred thousand parts. Thus, creating a lack of supply in the market and hopefully increasing the demand. Then Rich Manufacturing can raise the price of their products. Then go back to Bharat Incorporated and buy more parts at the higher price while continuing to maximize profit. This decision can also slow the production of Gina’s plant and reducing the profit margin and then reduces the supply of goods in the market.