Essays --

Early life and military career[edit] Born in Tampa, Florida, Kittinger was educated at the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, and the University of Florida. After racing speedboats as a teenager, he entered the U.S. Air Force in March 1949. On completion of aviation cadet training in March 1950, he received a USAF Pilot rating and a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He was subsequently assigned to the 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing based at Ramstein Air Base in West Germany, flying the F-84 Thunderjet and F-86 Sabre. In 1954 Kittinger was transferred to Holloman AFB, New Mexico, and the Air Force Missile Development Center (AFMDC). He flew the observation/chase plane that monitored flight surgeon Colonel John Stapp's rocket sled run of 632 mph (1,017 km/h) in 1955. Kittinger was impressed by Stapp's dedication and leadership as a pioneer in aerospace medicine. Stapp, in turn, was impressed with Kittinger's skillful jet piloting, later recommending him for space-related aviation research work. Stapp was to foster the high-altitude balloon tests that would later lead to Kittinger's record-setting leap from over 102,800 feet (31,300 m). In 1957, as part of Project Manhigh, Kittinger set an interim balloon altitude record of 96,760 feet (29,490 m) in Manhigh I, for which he was awarded his first Distinguished Flying Cross. Project Excelsior[edit] Kittinger next to the Excelsior gondola Main article: Project Excelsior Captain Kittinger was next assigned to the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. For Project Excelsior (meaning "ever upward"), a name given to the project by Colonel Stapp as part of research into high altitude bailouts,[2][3] he made a series of three extreme altitude parac... ...4-mph wind blowing on you. I could only hear myself breathing in the helmet."[12] Kittinger set historical numbers for highest balloon ascent, highest parachute jump, longest drogue-fall (four minutes), and fastest speed by a human being through the atmosphere.[13] These were the USAF records, but were not submitted for aerospace world records to the Fà ©dà ©ration Aà ©ronautique Internationale (FAI).[14] Kittinger's records for the highest ascent, highest parachute jump, and fastest velocity stood for 52 years, until they were broken in 2012 by Felix Baumgartner. For this series of jumps, Kittinger was decorated with a second Distinguished Flying Cross, and he was awarded the Harmon Trophy by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.[15] The Stargazer gondola on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. Project Stargazer[edit]

Sociology Unit G671

* Complicit masculinity – the ‘new man' that is willing to cook tea, pick up the children from school and put the washing on. * Subordinate masculinity – the ‘gay man' * Marginalised masculinity – the hegemonic man today. Associated with the working class, as this group of males can't get the typical jobs, mining etc due to loss of industry so they can't fulfil their ‘destiny' Firstly, the family socialises masculinity in a number of ways. A study by Ann Oakley argues that gender socialisation takes place in 4 ways: Manipulation – Parents encourage behaviour, which is seen as normal for the child's gender and discourage what is seen as deviant for example, boys are encouraged from an early age to take part in playing football and discouraged from taking part in ballet lessons. * Canalisation – this involves channelling the child's interests to toys and activities seen as normal for his or her sex. An example of this is boys playing with toy cars and ‘action men' Verbal appellation – the names that children are called which teaches gender appropriate behaviour for example, â€Å"big boys don't cry† and the tone of voice used. * Different activities – children are encouraged to involve themselves in different activities for example, boys playing together to make a camp. Although Ann Oakley did her research 30 years ago and is considered out of date, a more recent study by Joanna Smith (1997) reinforces Oakley's points. Feature Article –  Sociology TestA recent study also said that the family is stereotypically gendered to males, breadwinners and females, caring roles. (Charles 2002) This shows that boys can learn these roles from looking at their father's behaviour. Secondly media plays a role in influencing masculinity. There are a range of different Medias, we can actively choose what we watch on the television and what magazines we read, however, to a degree, it is all around us. The adverts that are on

G8 Countries The Top Global Economic Powers

The G8, or Group of Eight, is a   slightly outdated name for the annual meeting of the top global economic powers. Conceived in 1973 as a forum for world leaders, the G8 has, for the most part, been replaced by the G20 forum since about 2008.   Its eight members included: United StatesCanadaFranceGermanyItalyJapanRussiaUnited Kingdom But in 2013, the other members voted to oust Russia from the G8, in response to the Russian invasion of Crimea.   The G8 summit (more accurately called the G7 since Russias removal), has no legal or political authority, but the topics it chooses to focus on can have an impact on world economies. The groups president changes annually, and the meeting is held in the home country of that years leader. Origins of the G8 Originally, the group was comprised of six original countries, with Canada added in 1976 and Russia in 1997. The first official summit was held in France in 1975, but a smaller, more informal group met in Washington, D.C two years earlier.  Informally dubbed the Library Group, this meeting was convened by U.S. Treasury Secretary George Shultz, who invited finance ministers from Germany, the UK,  and France to meet at the White House, with the looming Middle East oil crisis a topic of serious concern.   In addition to a meeting of the countries leaders, the G8 summit typically includes a series of planning and pre-summit discussions ahead of the main event. These so-called ministerial meetings include secretaries and ministers from each member countrys government, to discuss the topics of focus for the summit.   There was  also a related set of meetings called the G8 5, which was first held during the 2005 summit in Scotland. It included the so-called Group of Five countries: Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. This meeting set the basis for what eventually became the G20. Including Other Nations in the G20 In 1999, in an effort to include developing countries and their economic concerns in the conversation about global issues, the G20 was formed. In addition to the eight original industrialized countries of the G8, the G20 added Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey and the European Union.   The insights of the developing nations proved critical during the economic crisis of 2008, which the G8 leaders were largely unprepared for. At the G20 meeting that year, the leaders pointed out the roots of the problem were largely due to a lack of regulation in the US. financial markets. This indicated a shift in power and possible lessening of the influence of the G8.   Future Relevance of the G8 In recent years, some have questioned whether the G8 continues to be  useful or relevant, especially since the formation of the G20. Despite the fact it has no actual authority, critics believe the powerful members of the G8 organization could do more to address global problems that affect third world countries.