Office Of The Inspector General - 1681 Words

Office of the Inspector General: Review of TOPOFF 2005 The Top Officials Exercise (TOPOFF) held in April 2005, is the third iteration of the mandated biennial national exercise for top officials and key personnel in emergency management, domestic response and consequence management; that included planning events and seminars in order to strengthen the U.S. to assist in the preparation to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from a large scale attack (A Review, 2005). It has been sponsored by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Homeland Secuirty (DHS), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In 2009, it was announced that the exercise would be renamed Tier 1 National Level Exercises and would still be†¦show more content†¦According to the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) document (2005), the exercise starts 30 days prior to the simulated event and involves the Intelligence Community (IC). While the exercise is fictional, it is based off of real world events and actual terrorist groups . It was designed to test law enforcement personnel and the IC to detect and disrupt the terrorist strategy as early as possible and react to unclear and evolving information. The exercise was to let the IC and law enforcement agencies employ operational procedures, engage analysis, and provide timely and correct information to the participants of the exercise (â€Å"A Review†, 2005, p. 4). There were 15 different types of simulated attacks that played throughout the years. A 10-kiloton improvised nuclear device, explosives attack, biological attacks – anthrax, influenza, and plague, food contamination, and foreign animal disease (zoonotic); chemical attacks of blister agent, toxic industrial chemicals, nerve agent, and chlorine attacks; natural disasters (earthquake and hurricane); radiological attack, and a cyber-attack (â€Å"A Review†, 2005, p. 6). Event 1. TOPOFF 1, May 2000. TOPOFF took place before the events of 9/11 were realized, and was a congressionally mandated drill which lasted 10 days. The simulated bioterrorism attack in Denver and a chemical warfare attack (mustard gas) in New Hampshire were the main targets of the exercise. Lessons learned included the quick

Greece The Greek Debt Crisis - 877 Words

In 2009, The Greek debt crisis began. This crisis is still ongoing today, but there have been many changes that occurred in Greece. This is also known as the Greek Depression. It is part of the ongoing Eurozone crisis, which was generated by the global economic recession which started in October of 2008. It is said to be caused by a combination of a weak Greek economy and an overly high structural deficit and debt to the countries government debt and the gross domestic product. Later in 2009, the question/ fear of sovereign debt crisis, which is the failure or refusal of the government to pay back debt in full, developed concerning Greece’s ability to even meet its obligations of paying its debt. This all led to a full blown crisis and risk insurance on credit default swaps, which are pretty much giving out loans to help pay off some of their debts. There was a downgrade of the Greek government in April 2010 that alarmed the financial markets. Bond yields rose so high that private capital markets were no longer an option for Greece as a support foundation. In May 2010, the Eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund gave Greece a â€Å"bailout loan† of $110 billion, conditional on compliance with 3 conditions 1.)restore fiscal balance 2.) privatization of government assets worth $50 billion by the end of 2015 to be sustainable 3.) to improve competitiveness and growth prospects. Sadly, Greece worked slower than expected and they needed another year offer and moreShow MoreRelatedThe Greek Debt Crisis : Greece1831 Words   |  8 PagesIII. The Greek Debt Crisis 3.1 From Greece’s Perspective This section aims to discuss the root of two aspects of the Greek debt crisis. 1.) How did the development of financial system pave the way to Greece’s economic plight? Structural weakness In the case of Greece, the failure to establish a structural balance between the rule of law and democracy before 1974 affected the functioning of the state by decreasing the potential to implement laws effectively thereby curbing the desire toRead MoreGreece : The Greek Debt Crisis Essay1757 Words   |  8 PagesBryan Wombles ECON 592 FALL 2016 The Greek Debt Crisis Explained The roots of Greece’s economic complications spread deep down into the recesses of history. In 2001, these deep rooted issues were forgotten and hid from the rest of the Eurozone after the government joined the Eurozone by dropping the Drachma and adopting the Euro. The initial adoption of euro by entering the Eurozone, Greece’s economy grew rapidly on average of 4% annually, a rate extremely alarming for the sure fact that it wasRead MoreCauses of the Greek liquidity crisis; how conditions were before the crisis Events that happened1600 Words   |  7 Pages Causes of the Greek liquidity crisis; how conditions were before the crisis Events that happened preceding the crisis The structural economic support weakened –when Greece entered the euro zone in 2001 the convergence criteria which supposed to provide sound financial systems within the economy and the GSP were established to prevent financial and economicRead MoreThe Greek Sovereign Debt Crisis1418 Words   |  6 PagesThe Greek sovereign debt crisis has required multiple controversial bailouts; due to deflation and tense political that have caused Greek citizens to unsatisfied current economic condition. This is a large problem of economic stability and political unity facing the European Union. This study seeks to answer two main questions. Firstly, why should European Union help Greece bailouts its economy woes? Secondly, should Greece change its domestic economic policies in response to demands from the EURead MoreGreek Crisis Case Study1376 Words   |  6 Pages The Greek Crisis Case Study Kevette Woolfalk Georgia College and State University WMBA6030 Global Business Dr. Doreen Sams â€Æ' Table of Contents Introduction 2 Is Greece Responsible for the Crisis? 3 Alternative Solutions to the Greek Crisis 4 Conclusion 5 References 6 â€Æ' Greek Crisis Introduction At one point in time Europe operated as a zone of trade barriers which made doing trade beyond the border basically impossible. However, this all changed when World War II absolutely overcame EuropeRead MoreGreek Debt Crisis1492 Words   |  6 PagesOF THE EU AND IMF IN MITIGATING THE GREEK DEBT CRISIS European Sovereign Debt Crisis Timeline: ⠝â€" 2008, Iceland‘s international banking system collapsed following the collapse of the US financial sector ⠝â€" Late 2009, fears of a sovereign debt crisis developed concerning some European states. Sovereign debts (Gov’t debt) externally issued rose sharply due to numerous bank bailouts. ⠝â€" 2010, tensions rose in the countries of Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Hungary, and RomaniaRead MoreThe Principles Of Macroeconomics : Greek Depression Essay1320 Words   |  6 PagesSection 1 Case Study for Principles of Macroeconomics: Greek Depression Unlike microeconomics, macroeconomics concerns the economy as a whole. It evaluates those key issues like: inflation, GDP and employment rates. It deals with the structure and behaviour of the economy as a whole. Rather than considering the markets as individuals, people in the macroeconomic field develops models to analyse the correlation between consumption, output, inflation, and other international related indicators. InRead MoreGreece - Debt Crisis890 Words   |  4 PagesBackground on Greece’s Debt Crisis â€Å"You cannot spend more than (what) you earn†¦you should not borrow more than (what) you can afford.† This, according to an editorial published by the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, may be the lesson Greeks are now learning the hard way.1 Unrestrained spending of successive Greek governments over a long period may have driven the country’s budget and current account deficits.2 Greece borrowed heavily from international capital markets to finance public sector jobs,Read MoreThe Greece Crisis : Tragedy Or Opportunity?811 Words   |  4 PagesThe Greece Crisis ? Tragedy or Opportunity? Ram Subramonian (Buckeye Cohort), FT MBA ?17 How did Greece get into this difficult situation? Whose fault was it? Greece?s affair with the Euro began with huge hopes when it joined the multi-national currency zone in 2001. The, it went horribly wrong after that. At its core, the problems that face Greece today are to do with an economy reeling in debt and low productivity and in which, revenues don?t offset the massive piles of debt. So how did GreeceRead MoreGreece s Euro As A Solution Of Its Budget Deficits Essay924 Words   |  4 PagesGreece has joined Europe Union since 1981. In the 1990s, it steadily ran substantial budget deficits while using the Drachma as its currency. As a result, in 2001 Greece decided to adopt the euro as a solution of its budget deficits. After using euro, all went well for the first several years. Like other Eurozone countries, Greece benefited from the power of the euro, which meant lower interest rates and an inflow of investment capital and loans. Greece enjoyed a period of growth from 2001 to 2007

Phantom Warriors Essay Example For Students

Phantom Warriors Essay Title: Phantom Warriors ,book 1Author: Garry A.LindererMain characters: many LRRPs LRPs and Ranger nits in VietnamSummary: The book I read was about LRRPs (long range reconnaissance patrol) ,LRPs (long range patrols) , and Ranger units in Vietnam. The book told stories ofseveral different types of operations in the units most challenging times. The job of a unitof this type was to infiltrate a designated RA( recon area) stealth like as possible with afour to seven man team (sometimes larger). Once on the ground a team would set up anOP ( observation post) and would always try and remain undetected. Because of thesmall number of size an LRP would always avoid contact with the enemy but , the bookproved to me that when confrontation was inevitable the special forces units provedthemselves a truly deadly force. I would say at least ninety percent of the time LRPswould find themselves out numbered in a confrontation. If at all possible they would tryand escape but sometimes fighting your way out was the only way. The LRRPDetactchment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division had a problem like this. StaffSergeant Papy Lynch and his team where patrolling a high activity area when there teamwas abutted by fifteen or twenty Viet Cong. Off the bat three men went down twoseriously injured and the other shot in the head. There six man team was then a three manteam. The two men at camp where busy fending off the invaders while one man that wasoff doing his business was finding his way back. He too was cought up in theunexpected fire and went down. Staff Sergeant Lynch called in the coordinates and afterthe ammo and grenades where almost out , air support showed up. Most of the VC wherekilled or ran away in fear of Death from Above. This was one of the most heroic storiesin the book. Weaknesses: This was a good book. I couldnt find many weaknesses at all . Theone thing I did notice was the similarity in each of the stories. It seamed liked the samething would happen in a row. The team would usually end up running from a force oflarge amount. If he would have mixed up the accounts with the ones when the team didnthave to run it would have made the book more fun to read. Changes: In order to read this book you had to use the Abbreviation dictionary inthe back. It didnt bother me though. I learned a lot from it . So the only change was theone in the Weaknesses I wrote. I would only recommend this book to people who are interested in history orwars.

The Great Gasby free essay sample

Every day thousands of people think about what it means to live the American Dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald is a well known American author whose most memorable book, The Great Gatsby, depicts characters with traits showing them living, which is the dream. The American Dream is a theme in this book that is essential to its plot development and several of the main characters encounter their own version of the American Dream. What is the true definition of the American Dream? It differs between many people and that it is no different in this book between the characters.Shaping the book into an interesting turn of events, Daisy, Nick, and Gatsby all stumble upon the American Dream, living their lives how each would want to. While Daisy’s life is taken over and fought over by the men in the book, Nick discovers love, Myrtle begins and ends a relationship with different people, and Gatsby finds out that life is not necessarily all about money and the woman that he loves, Daisy. Daisy is considered a beautiful girl, although to the peripheral reader she may seem a bit perplexing. Daisy has feelings for Gatsby that have altered throughout their lives. Later in her life, Daisy may only like Gatsby for his riches and because of their previous relationship. Gatsby also has lived â€Å"the American Dream,† according to some of Daisy’s beliefs. He is rich, elegant, and has made a living by working hard, or so she thinks until it becomes clear that Gatsby is a bootlegger. Daisy does not know exactly what he has done in order to make all this money, but she doesn’t argue with it or question it. Her current husband, Tom, can represent the average husband, but he is the type of man that can sweet talk his way out of anything.For this reason, he takes advantage of Daisy by having an affair, but also because he is big and just a plain bully. Like Daisy, Tom loves his spouse, but there are times when this may not be so apparent. They come together and seemingly make the perfect couple to an outside audience because they both like to have their fun with others, but when it comes down to their marriage, they do love each other because they do not have any other choice. After all, they both said their vows. â€Å"’You two start on home now, Daisy†¦. Go on.He won’t annoy you. I think he realizes that his presumptuous little flirtation is over’† (142). Tom says this referring to Gatsby’s and Daisy’s flirtation ending. Daisy knows she would rather Tom than Gatsby and that her fling with Gatsby is over now for good. Unfortunately, Daisy’s wishes for her American Dream had little to do with money, although she does like her men rich. She wanted to have a husband and her true love too, but with Tom and Gatsby’s dislike for each other, it is not possible and her dream of true love is shattered.Nick is the epitome of the American Dream. He has lived a good life, does not have a ton of money, but still is somewhat happy, though lonely at the same time. His little home is in between two mansions on West Egg, an island in New York. He meets a woman through Daisy named Jordan Baker and cannot decide whether he really likes her or not but thinks that there may be a future between them but in the end decides that it will probably just be just a fling. For Nick, living the American Dream is having everything – money, women, and happiness.At this point in time for Nick, that is not a possibility. Nick has a strongly mixed reaction to life on the East Coast, one that creates a powerful internal conflict that he does not resolve until the end of the book. On the one hand, Nick is attracted to the fast-paced, fun-driven lifestyle of New York. On the other hand, he finds that lifestyle grotesque and damaging. His inner conflict is symbolized throughout the book by his romantic affair with Jordan Baker.He is attracted to her vivacity and her sophistication just as he is repelled by her dishonesty and her lack of consideration for other people. About Jordan, Nick says, â€Å"She was incurably dishonest. She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage, and given this unwillingness, I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young in order to keep that cool smile turned towards the world† (63). Jordan has a lot to do with Nick’s American Dream but also plays a role in destroying it for him as well.The term â€Å"The American Dream† gets thrown around a lot, but it would appear to the exterior reader that Gatsby is the real deal in terms of really achieving the American Dream. He is rich, successful in his secretive business, and has many acquaintances who attend his famous, popular parties. Gatsby has everything he wanted in life, except for the one girl he wanted, who is Daisy. And even after he considers this, he thinks he has a chance to make up with her and make their relationship work, but he blows it and she oes back to her husband, Tom. More than anything else in the world is the desire that Gatsby has to get Daisy back; more than the riches, the reputation, and being a war hero. Fitzgerald uses this technique of delayed character revelation to emphasize the too good to be true quality of Gatsbys approach to life, which is an important part of his personality. Gatsby has literally created his own character, even changing his name from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby to represent his reinvention of himself.As his relentless quest for Daisy demonstrates, Gatsby has an extraordinary ability to transform his hopes and dreams into reality; at the beginning of the novel, he appears to the reader just as he desires to appear to the world. â€Å"This talent for self-invention is what gives Gatsby his quality of â€Å"greatness†: indeed, the title â€Å"The Great Gatsby† is reminiscent of billings for such vaudeville magicians as â€Å"The Great Houdini† (Millett). Referencing Gatsby, Nick states, â€Å"Gats by believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.

Justice Whats the Right Thing to Do

Introduction â€Å"Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?† is a book that discusses the theory of justice and the diverse ways in which it is perceived by different people in the society. The author, Michael Sandel, tries to force the reader to look into the circumstances that happen in real life and allows them to make the decisions on the right thing to do.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Sandel pushes his readers into tracking their personal moral obligations by laying a series of challenges based on everyday situations, which help them make the best resolutions on the right actions to take. In this essay, the first five chapters of the book are reviewed based on the main concepts. Chapter review In Chapter 1, titled â€Å"doing the right thing†, three cases are presented. Case one concern the laws prohibiting g auging of prices. Precisely, it refers to the price changes that came into effect subsequent to the Florida’s Hurricane Charley. As clarified by Sandel, the arguments in support to and in contrast to price-gauging laws are based on three concepts: well-being, liberty and virtue. He then discusses about who is eligible for the â€Å"Purple Heart†. In determining this, people need to know precisely which qualities are necessary to deserve this honor. The final case is regarding the latest bailout that came after the financial crisis. Specifically, he discusses about the feelings of different people towards the bonuses awarded to the executives of the companies involved. Even though some felt that the bonuses were justified, most individuals thought it was unfair primarily because they compensated failure rather than success. The author describes three conceptions of justice that aids in understanding how decisions are made and he discusses them all through the book. Util itarianism, also described as capitalization on welfare, is the first conception. This is followed by another conception regarding liberty and personal rights. The last conception discusses the idea that justice is associated with virtue and a decent life in general. Before recounting the various concepts of justice, Sandel also discusses what are described as the moral dilemmas. These can be clarified by applying ethics in the reasoning process, which directs every individual in different ways dependent on their characters and the manner in which they deliberate and justify their decisions. In this case, clashes may result from partial reasoning or contradictory moral obligations.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Chapter two, labeled â€Å"The Greatest Happiness Principle or Utilitarianism†, deliberates over the idea of utilitarianism by relating two various attitudes. First is the idea of Jeremy Bentham. The idea concentrates on getting maximum pleasure and lessening pain so as to make the most out of the overall utility. In this notion, the rights of a person may be disregarded, like in the incident of torture. The idea of John Stuart Mill presents the second concept of utilitarianism. According to Mill, people are at liberty in doing whatever they need to as long as it does not cause any damage to others. In addition, he is argues that there are superior and inferior pleasures (Sandel, 2010). Chapter three, â€Å"Do We Own Ourselves or Libertarianism†, argues that there should be minimal supervision and every individual should have the freedom of choosing the right action to take in different situations. According Sandel, libertarians are against authoritarianism, moral regulation and redeployment of income. For instance, libertarianism opponents claim that tax system is necessary since everybody needs to contribute towards the welfare of the society. Similarly, they argue that wealthy persons need to give back part of their riches since it was generated by the society. The author then deliberates on the implications associated with purchasing and retailing of organs. Sandel then reflects on the market and moralities and ways in which an open market may be founded on either sovereignty or wellbeing. In chapter four, â€Å"markets and morals†, Sandel talks about the morals of forfeiting persons to do various kinds of work, like fighting in wars and giving birth to children. The debate is whether there is need for market, where currency is involved, to the feature of morals. The best example presented by the author in this section is â€Å"remuneration for pregnancy†. Deliberating through the moralities and injustices in this instance aids in clarifying the variations amongst the leading philosophies of justice. In his opinion, it is not necessary for an individual to demand pay for certain services be cause of morals.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Chapter five, â€Å"What Matters is the Motive†, the author draws the attention of the reader towards understanding why motive is necessary. He does this by explaining the idea of Kant. He argues that morality concerns with respect to people, regardless of who they are. This involves doing the correct thing simply because it is right. Sandel then argues for the idea of egalitarianism based on the perception of John Rawls. Similarly, he clarifies how it is different from the concept of libertarianism and utilitarianism. According to Rawl, people need fairness with regard to fundamental freedoms and societal and financial life. Reference Sandel, M. J. (2010). Justice: What’s the right thing to do?. London: Penguin Books. This essay on Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? was written and submitted by user Lexie Pate to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Presentation On The Changing Political Causes Of The French Revolution.

Presentation On The Changing Political Causes Of The French Revolution. Class struggles in Britain in the 1960’s and 70’s led to greater divisions amongst the people. Because of the ideological desire for something to benefit the people amid increasing social chaos, socialism looked attractive and many Marxist ideas gained popularity and support. This struggle was echoed throughout much of the world. The French Revolution was perceived as a great success for democracy. Its three key aims of liberty, equality and fraternity became desirable objectives. In the late 1960’s, the concept of moral decline in society was introduced by the right to explain crumbling traditional values. For example by 1968, students in France were rioting. This period of minor revolt was echoed throughout the world. All sides recognised that changes urgently needed to be made. The law and order element of politics made its first appearance, aimed at targets of a non political kind, including, student movements, counter cultures, the drift towards moral permissiveness, and the conflict between authority and social values. Many, Marxists amongst the great masses became detached from their nations traditional ideologies. Their growing power caused a cry to come from below for the restoration of the old order, for discipline and moral regulation. Social formation reached the worst crisis point for two decades – some would argue, nearly a century. The conservatives in the 70’s tried to renovate the social formation of a society fraught with class battles. Heath attempted to achieve this by employing the twin instruments of the economic free for all and legal compulsion. It ended in ruins, brought to a conclusion of widening and defensive class militancy. The long-term crisis of the British economy coincided with a world recession; the oil crisis put paid to any ideas of regeneration in economic conditions. Militant action and increased wage... Free Essays on Presentation On The Changing Political Causes Of The French Revolution. Free Essays on Presentation On The Changing Political Causes Of The French Revolution. Presentation On The Changing Political Causes Of The French Revolution. Class struggles in Britain in the 1960’s and 70’s led to greater divisions amongst the people. Because of the ideological desire for something to benefit the people amid increasing social chaos, socialism looked attractive and many Marxist ideas gained popularity and support. This struggle was echoed throughout much of the world. The French Revolution was perceived as a great success for democracy. Its three key aims of liberty, equality and fraternity became desirable objectives. In the late 1960’s, the concept of moral decline in society was introduced by the right to explain crumbling traditional values. For example by 1968, students in France were rioting. This period of minor revolt was echoed throughout the world. All sides recognised that changes urgently needed to be made. The law and order element of politics made its first appearance, aimed at targets of a non political kind, including, student movements, counter cultures, the drift towards moral permissiveness, and the conflict between authority and social values. Many, Marxists amongst the great masses became detached from their nations traditional ideologies. Their growing power caused a cry to come from below for the restoration of the old order, for discipline and moral regulation. Social formation reached the worst crisis point for two decades – some would argue, nearly a century. The conservatives in the 70’s tried to renovate the social formation of a society fraught with class battles. Heath attempted to achieve this by employing the twin instruments of the economic free for all and legal compulsion. It ended in ruins, brought to a conclusion of widening and defensive class militancy. The long-term crisis of the British economy coincided with a world recession; the oil crisis put paid to any ideas of regeneration in economic conditions. Militant action and increased wage...

Micro economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Micro economics - Essay Example Choice and revealed preference are two important factors affecting consumer demand Economic aspect looks at decision making of households. It is more concerned with demand and supply and the effect of changing prices on the former two. Marketing approach looks at not just the impact of price but also of promotions, advertising, distribution, branding etc. Economic concepts hold the condition of cetrus paribus (all else held constant). They assume that the consumer is rational and will not make un practical decisions. The marketing aspect includes the effect of emotions, feelings, point of purchase advertising material etc. They assume that the consumer can be affected something as small as the music being played in a shop. They assume that consumers can even make irrational decisions as according to the concept impulse buying. Economics is all about making choices. People make choices because they cant have everything they want. Whenever a choice is made, something is given up. The opportunity cost of that choice is the value of the best alternative given up. People whose wants are satisfied by using goods and services are called consumers. To make efficient decisions - decisions that provide the greatest possible return from the resources available, people and society must weigh the benefits and costs of using their resources to do more of some things, and less of others. The Economic approach goes into the demand and supply details. It looks at household buying power and savings. It also looks at spousal control in household buying decisions. The decision making framework (under uncertainity) is characterized as Consumer economics is also included in this area of economics. It is a broad field, principally concerned with microeconomic analysis behavior in units of consumers, families, or individuals (in contrast to traditional economics, which primarily government or business units). It sometimes also encompasses family financial planning and

Cold War and Consumerists Mass Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cold War and Consumerists Mass Culture - Essay Example . The constraints resulting from World War Two and Great Depression led to a frustrated consumerism situation even more than the capitalist system rejection. The new consumerism had led most Americans and policy makers to believe that the under consumption situation in the country was the main cause of the slump. The government policy after the war had encouraged mass purchasing power instead of coming up with measures to equalize the wealth distribution. Consumer society had become a positive communism answer during the cold war. Despite the relations between freedom and consumption in these years, consumerism of the post war era was domesticated rather than hedonistic. It focused more on the nuclear family and suburban homes (Chafe 107). The period between 1960 and 1980 witnessed a number of challenges and changes making the consumer society stronger than ever. Among the challenges included the counterculture challenge on consumerism premises. The specter scarcity brought into question the cornucopia performance upon which the consumer society depended on. The consequent of this challenge was that consumption ended up being more ubiquitous. The socially and individualistic fragmenting consumerism existing today is believed to be rooted on the critique of consumerism that took place in 1960’s. The countercultural figures critiqued idealized and conformity indicates that most Americans preferred to achieve the authenticity through consumption (Breines and Breines 78). Consumerism began to modify its mass production practices in favor of segmented and flexible production in the demographically distinct markets. Consumerism has since then become adoptable to the hip and green. A good example of this is the energy situation crisis in 1970’s when politicians considered the shortage as being as a result of over production. This was rebuked as being naysayers. Consumerist trends toward fragmentation and individualistic consumptions have accelerated in the recent years leading to market triumphant. The resulting radical faith in the market virtues led to politicians to put moral gloss on the market culture unfettered growth in the 1980s. Consumerism also helped in the integration of the diversity of the inhabitants youth mass culture and cynical marketers through the equal division of multicultural segmented demographic units. This led to the shift from a spirited and integrative public popular culture to an increasingly solipsistic and privatized commercial culture in the early twentieth century (Bloom and Breines 142). Consumerist during this era adopted an ideological medal that adopted an unquestioning approach towards the production uses. This resulted to an increase in self-conscious ness in the manipulation

Persuasive Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Persuasive - Research Paper Example iated with drug use is via a lens of public health applying accurate, drug based education to the society and efficient drug treatment for problematic appliance. Harm reduction policies centers and focus on personal choices and safe habits for drug use (Klebber, 1994). Harm reduction policies have proved to be a better and viable approach in dealing with drug related problems in society since its main approached to dealing with the issue involves using individuals and community without necessary reducing or stopping drug use but educating the public on the harms associated with drug use. Decision makers and practitioners are accountable for their decisions and intervention measures. Principles of harm reduction encourage consultation, debate and dialogue which gives room to wide range of stakeholders to be engaged in policy development, delivery, evaluation and program implementation. During this process, people who use drugs and the entire community are involved in making decisions that affect them. Harm reduction is very essential in fighting drug use in that it uses a humane approach to assist people change risky behaviors. It is humane since you have to meet people in their own terms rather than confronting them on yours by encouraging them to give up on risky behaviors. Harm reduction is a realistic approach because it advocates for responsible use of currently illegal drugs (Nadelman, 1994). Harm reduction practitioners advocate for the importance of nay positive change that drug users and affected communities make in their lives. More so, harm reductions intervention measures are more facilitative rather than forceful and based on the needs of the individual. As such, harm reduction policies are made to meet people’s demands. Some public laws or policies aims at reducing the harms linked to the use of tobacco and alcohol involve tightening restrictions imposed on intoxicated drinking and smoking restrictions. In addition, harm reduction policies have

Case Study On Improvement Of Low Voltage Power Engineering Essay

Case Study On Improvement Of Low Voltage Power Engineering Essay This case study provides investigations on low voltage power distribution system in terms of electrical system design at INTEC Section 17 Shah Alam. It was conducted to ensure that the system applied is viable where it could lead to reliable and economical distribution of power. Therefore, this project was focused on 415V feeder pillar where suggestion can be offered to improve the respected system design. Distribution system is a system built to provide a means of economically and reliably distributing power from one, or occasionally more than one main location to a number of geographically dispersed load centres within a defined site boundary [1]. Low voltage power distribution system is the portion between primary feeder and utilization equipment. Therefore, the purpose of low voltage distribution is to distribute power to end user where at the same time providing safe conditions. Internatioanl Education College (INTEC) Section 17, Shah Alam is the place where this case study was carried. The low voltage distribution system applied at INTEC is conventional simple radial distribution system where the operation and expansion of the system are simple. However, problems occur as the power transformer (2000kVA 11kV/433V) is overheated and the cables insulation of secondary windings is melted due to overload. The system itself is quite old where feeder pillar used to allocate the power to specify load is quite congested where it need some upgrade. Therefore, to tackle those problems regarding on low voltage distribution system, suggestions can be offered to improve the system that meets the specifications of electrical standard and at the same time satisfy the end users. Hopefully it can be additional information for the INTEC Facility Unit to overcome the problems and upgrade the respected feeder pillar to provide safe, economical and reliable power to the end users. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this case study are: To obtain a relative information regarding on the low voltage power distribution system of INTEC. To observe the congested feeder pillar design and implementation at INTEC. To identify problems related to the congested feeder pillar. To propose for the improvement of congested feeder pillar. METHODOLOGY The case study of low voltage power distribution at INTEC was carried out based on the primer source of information such as books, journals, articles and related electrical specifications by The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineer (IEE), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Suruhanjaya Tenaga (ST) and Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR). With cooperation of local Facility Unit of INTEC, observations of respected substation and feeder pillar have been done. Some photo and reading has been taken to visualize the respected problems regarding on the overheated transformer and congested feeder pillar. Therefore, from those data, suggestions can be offered to overcome the problems and at the same time to improve the congested feeder pillar. Finally, for future study, opinions can raised for the further improvement of low voltage power distribution system. LOW VOLTAGE POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Distribution Feeder Feeder is the distribution lines that carry power throughout the distribution system. Radial distribution feeders are characterized by having only single path for power to flow from the source (substation) to the consumer load. The distribution network is composed of the substations and the feeders that they supply. Feeders are composed of sections each serving a purpose. The mainline is the backbone of the feeder and is typically a three-phase line generally designed for 400A nominal and 600A contingency loading. From this mainline, three-phase or single-phase laterals extend. Laterals are branches that are connected to the main line to serve loads, which can have laterals of their own. To protect mainlines from faults in the laterals, these are typically fused or switched by remote reclosers. Figure 1. Electricity Supply Specification in Malaysia The most common configuration for feeders is a four-wire wye configuration; one conductor for each of the three phases plus a solid multi-grounded neutral conductor. Nevertheless, less common configurations are three wire wye and delta configurations. Four-wire wye configurations are extensively used for their safety and easy fault protection [4]-[7]. This circuit type permits the use of under-rated voltage equipment by using phase-to-ground voltages, and fuse protection for ground faults. Feeder Pillar Feeder Pillar is the electrical compartment that consists of equipment that distributes power to the respected loads. It controls the switching of load where at the same time provides protection to the distribution line. Conventional feeder pillar consists of busbar, circuit breaker, earthing protection and metering equipment. The loads can be calculated by (1) for single phase and (2) for three phase system where it is proportional to voltage (V), current (I) and angle between voltage and current (ÃŽ ¸): P=VI cos ÃŽ ¸. (1) P=√3 VI cos ÃŽ ¸. (2) By applying diversity factor, the load consumption should be less than the calculated value from (1) or (2) where the same load will not be used all the time. Diversity is the engineering principle that in any given installation, some of the connected loads will not be running at the same time instant as other loads [8]. Therefore the maximum demand of loads can be obtained to ensure that the cable and protection used is viable throughout the system. The voltage drop of cable is affected by cable length (L), tabulated voltage drop (mV/A/m) and the design current (Ib) as shown in (3). v.d. (V) = [(mV/A/m) L Ib]/1000. (3) Protection Moulded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB) is used to interrupt the current path during fault occurrence. It is applicable for TPN (Three Phase and Neutral) cables while Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) has lower rating compared to MCCB and it is only applied for SPN (Single Phase and Neutral) line. Earthing of the feeder pillar will provide protection from leakage current to ensure the safety to human from the danger of electric shocks during testing or maintenance. LOW VOLTAGE POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN INTEC INTEC HT Distribution System The incoming supply for INTEC from TNB is 11kV. Then it is step down to 415V by 2000KVA distribution transformer. The overall HT simplified schematic diagram of INTEC can be observed as below: Figure 2. Simplified schematic diagram for HT electrical system in INTEC Low Voltage Distribution System Next, the focus will be at Pencawang Elektrik No.1 where observation is done at Feeder Pillar No.1. The schematic diagram of LV side from Pencawang Elektrik No.1 can be seen from Fig. 3. INTEC used radial distribution feeder since it required lower cost, easier fault current protection, lower fault current and easier voltage control. Figure 3. MSB schematic diagram of LV at Pencawang Elektrik No. 1 Feeder Pillar Feeder Pillar No.1 is located between Block B (Cafeteria) and Block A (Computer Lab). This feeder pillar was connected from MSB. The maximum current rating for the MCCB of incoming is 600A. C:UsersuserDesktopINTECN8 Afdhalfeeder pillar 2.jpg Figure 4. Feeder Pillar No. 1 This respected feeder pillar distributes power to Bengkel Seni, Futsal Court, Cafeteria and Compound Feeder Pillar (Fig. 5). Figure 5. Schematic diagram for Feeder Pillar No.1 By applying the diversity factor, the value of protection and cable sizing shall fit the estimated load. TABLE.I shows the maximum load that the system can withstand at a time. The power at maximum demand is calculated using (2). The power factor is maintained at 0.85. TABLE I. LOAD AT MAXIMUM DEMAND Load Power (kW) MCCB Rating (A) Bengkel Seni 61.098 100 Futsal Court 38.492 63 Cafeteria 61.098 100 Compound Feeder Pillar 48.878 80 (Estimated value of load at maximum demand in Feeder Pillar No. 1) From the existing load as tabulated above, the calculated nominal current is 341.363A using (2). Therefore the rated current of MCCB for the incoming is viable where the rated current of MCCB is 600A. The cables are connected to the busbar. Types of cables used is 4 core, 0.6/1kV, Copper Cable with earth termination. The cables are terminated to the busbar as visualised in Fig.6. C:UsersuserDesktopINTECN8 Afdhalconnection 2.jpg Figure 6. Cables connection to the busbar. From the above figure, it can be observed that the cables connection quite messy where it is hard to indicate which cable is connected to their respected load. It is not labelled to identify the cable. If fault occurrence, it will took a time for the technician to perform maintenance due to the congested condition of the cable. The cable size for each line can be seen from TABLE II. TABLE II . CABLE SIZING Type MCCB (A) Cable Size (mm2) 2 x 4C XLPE 600 185 1 x 4C XLPE 100 50 1 x 4C XLPE 100 50 1 x 4C XLPE 80 35 1 x 4C XLPE 63 25 Earthing Earthing is purposely used to protect human from electric shock due to current leakage. Therefore this feeder pillar has the same earthing mechanism for safety reason. C:UsersuserDesktopINTEC1-3-2011 Firdaus N701032011023.jpg Figure 7. Earthing of Feeder Pillar No.1 From the fig. 7, all cables are terminated at the same point where it can provide easy path with a low resistance to earth and protect consumer from electric shock. However, those earth cables is not insulated which could lead to current leakage throughout the feeder pillar compartment in case the cable touch the wall of feeder pillar where it is made of steel (good conductor). Therefore, if such case happened it will cause electric shock to human who touch the feeder pillar. PROPOSED SYSTEM Radial Distribution System Improvement By referring back to the type of distribution feeder system approached at INTEC, radial type of distribution feeder is applied. Even though radial circuits are simpler to operate and maintain, in order to increase the reliability and power quality of distribution feeders, networked configurations must be used [4][5][8]. However the installation cost of network system will be major obstacle where it required total modification of system. Therefore, primary loop radial distribution system can be applied to make the system more reliable. Figure 8. Primary loop distribution system Figure 9. Proposed MCB Fig. 8 and 9 illustrate on how the system will look alike when improvement can be applied. The primary loop consists of two feeders which serve one or several loads. If one feeder fails, the normally open switch can be automatically (or manually) closed to feed the loads from the backup feeder, once the bad section has been sectionalized. This approach is very useful especially for underground cable system since the maintenance of underground cables is complex process that would create long interruptions if failure occurs. Feeder Pillar Proposed Design From the Feeder Pillar No.1, suggestion can be offered to improve the system is upgrading the feeder pillar to MSB. By referring back to fig. 5, there were two loads that have circuit breaker rating of 100A TPN MCCB while in the MSB as in fig. 3 there were spare load that can be used. Therefore those two loads from Cafeteria and Bengkel Seni can be directly connected to MSB. By this action, the congested condition of feeder pillar can be solved. Figure 10. Upgrade of feeder pillar to MSB Some benefits can be obtained if the load of Bengkel Seni and Cafeteria is transferred to MSB: If fault occur at Feeder Pillar No. 1, those loads will not being interrupted. Therefore it promises the continuity of power supply to the load. The voltage drop of each cable is shown in TABLE III. TABLE III. CABLE VOLTAGE DROP Size (mm2) mV/A/m Length (m) Ib Voltage Drop (V) 185 0.22 100 278.241 6.12 50 0.86 10 81.84 0.70 80 81.84 5.63 35 1.15 10 65.47 0.753 25 1.60 150 49.10 11.784 (Voltage drop of respected cable in the Feeder Pillar No.1) From TABLE III, it shows that the incoming cables itself occupy high voltage drop which is 6.12V for each cable. Then, if load of Bengkel Seni and Cafeteria is upgraded to MSB, the voltage drop can be observed from TABLE IV. TABLE IV. LOAD VOLTAGE DROP Load Calculated Voltage Drop (V) Future Length (m) Future Voltage Drop (V) Percentage (%) Bengkel Seni 11.75 180 12.67 3.05 Cafeteria 6.82 110 7.742 1.87 (Future voltage drop if load of Bengkel Seni and Cafeteria is upgraded into MSB) Although the voltage drop risen up since the length of occupied cable is increased, the voltage can be reduce by replacing higher cross sectional area of the cable. However, the value of voltage drop is still within the specified value of allowed voltage drop [8]. By connecting those loads to MSB, the existed feeder pillar will not be congested anymore. Those two loads that were directly connected to MSB will became spare and it can be used for future expansion of nearest building located near to the respected feeder pillar (refer fig. 11). Figure 11. Empty slot of loads acted as spare Therefore the future load will be based on TABLE V. Load Power (kW) MCCB Rating (A) Futsal Court 38.492 63 Compound Feeder Pillar 48.878 80 Spare Spare The total load at Feeder Pillar No.1 will be about only 70kW where the nominal current value from the incoming will be only 114.57V that could lead to only 2.52V of voltage drop. Earthing For earthing cable, it is wise to insulate those cables with PVC insulator to avoid any electric shock due to current leakage. It must meet the electrical standard where earth cable must be insulated with green or green/yellow insulation based on fig. 12 [6]. http://www.china-wire-cable.com/photo/6654ca80a2286ebde6efb52e3ffbab88/Earth-Cable.jpg Figure 12. Proper insulation of earth cable Comments and Suggestion The project will become a wise step to ensure that the respected Feeder Pillar No. 1 will become a reliable where it can provide a continuity of supply to a certain loads. However this project could not be implemented immediately since it will took period of time where maintenance underground cables is a complex task where it require skills and occupy more human power. In addition, the substation (PE No.1) need to be shutdown to perform the upgrade process where ironically the substation itself must distribute power to important places such as administration office where it operates 24 hours a day and 7 days per week. Therefore it is recommended that this project must be implemented during the holiday where the total shutdown of PE No.1 can be done and the task of upgrade of the system can be performed by the respected party. CONCLUSION From the case study that was carried out, it is necessary for Facility Unit of INTEC to consider those suggestions in order to overcome any problems related to low voltage power distribution system. FUTURE STUDY Surge protection was integrated within the low voltage distribution system to protect the system from lightning strikes. For future study, the recommendation that can be offered to further the respected case study is to perform research on surge protection system in low voltage power distribution system in INTEC. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The author would like to express appreciation to his supervisor Ir. Harizan Che Mat Haris due to wise guidance and advices. For INTEC Facility Unit, the author felt pleasured to carry out this case study where he can affix his knowledge and gather more experience. Finally the author wants to offer his gratitude to people who was contributed toward the completion of this case study.

To Have Or Not To Have Caesarean Section Essay example -- essays paper

To Have Or Not To Have Caesarean Section Years ago caesarean section (c-section) was only done in cases of emergency such as when the mother’s life or the neonate’s life is in danger. However at the turn of the century, there seems to have a remarkable rise in c-section deliveries. It seems that women nowadays are willing to take the risk of surgery to avoid the stress and pain of labor rather than experience the normal trend of delivering a baby vaginally – the normal way. The majority of pregnant women believe that the best method of giving birth is the least painful but this is not necessarily the safest (Ghetti, Chan & Guise 2004). Amazingly some obstetricians have become advocates for this surgical procedure instead of advisors to what is really suitable for the individual. What it is that drives women to go for a mutilating procedure rather than a simple laceration of a normal birth? The answer is obvious. The modern women are scared of pain, of the long stretch of labor and the stress that comes along with it. But what the modern women should understand is that delivering babies by caesarean section is not the answer to a pain-free delivery (Smeltzer & Bare, 2002). Caesarean Section – Its Beginning Many people think that c-section is a modern method of delivering babies. The truth is, â€Å"†¦ caesarean section has been a part of human culture since the ancient times†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (The National Institute of Health Convention, 1998). In fact history tells about the birth of Julius Caesar by c-section, thus the term â€Å"caesarean† came into use. However, modern historians do not believe that Julius Caesar ‘s birth was by c-section since his mother had been mentioned in some part of history to be alive when Caesar was already a reigning ... ...Ghetti,C., Chan, BKS., & Guise, J. (2004). Physicians’ responses to patient requested-caesarean delivery. Retrieved March 2, 2005 form www.cinahl/chi-bin/refsvc Ignatavicious, D. & Workman, L. (2001). Medical-surgical nursing: Critical thinking collaborative care. (4thed.). Philadelphia, PA: Mosby, Inc. Lowdermilk, D. & Peryy, S. (2004). Maternity and women’s health care. (4th ed.). St. Louise, MO: Mosby, Inc. Porter, M. & Bhattachary, S. (2004). Preventing unnecessary caesarean section: Marginal benefit of a second opinion. The Lancet. 364, 1921. Rubin, R. (2004). Do you have a choice? USA Today, Sept.16, 2004, D-08. Smeltzer, S.C. & Bare, B. (2002). Medical-surgical nursing. (9thed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Stein, R. (2004). Findings on caesarean section rekindle debate. The Washington Post, Dec. 15, 2004, p. A-18.

Online Therapy Essay

Little by little the internet and technology are expanding to incorporate more aspects of our daily lives. The expansion is so vast, one can now do Just about anything online. On line advances has no doubt positively contributed to businesses, education, communication, and quality of life in general, but when does one draw the line? Healthcare is a very serious subject because it deals with people’s lives and well being. Potential problems that may arise from it are not monetary, like those involved with losing a Job or failing a school course, but deal with lives and people’s weakest and perhaps most uncontrollable side of life. Psychological disorders usually arise from events and sources not under the control of patients. Unlike purchasing the wrong stock at the wrong time or having an unsuccessful online business presentation, depression, addiction, phobias, and other psychological disorders are delicate matters that are not a result of bad decision making, however, much like every service the internet offers us, cyber psychology does have its advantages and disadvantages. Disadvantages and Solutions: The first glaring disadvantage is the loss of essential elements with the lack of face to face interactions. The fact that psychology is the study of behavior, it is imperative for a therapist to get a grasp on the patients’ complete behavior, which includes, but is not limited to, facial movements and body movements, tone of voice, posture, and appearance. To fully understand a client, a therapist must be able to be privvy to this side of the individuals’ personality to accurately diagnose and ultimately heal a problem or disorder. One way to solve this disadvantage could be for the therapist to request an initial face-to-face assessment that can then be followed by online treatments of various sorts. This enhances the screening process and leaves no room for misinterpretation or misdiagnosis that can arise from lack of personal interaction. Also, for cases or procedures involving video conferencing and webcam interactions, it is crutial for websites to continue to improve the video quality to avoid missing any words or movements that may be crucial to analyzing behaviors. Maybe once video conferencing is perfected, it will increase the validity of such therapeutic media and allow it to replace the need for an initial in person interaction. A second concern involved with web therapy is security. We are surrounded by warning signs oncerning various web securities, including scams, hacks, and phishing sites. In the past, we have seen many cases serious enough to make it to the news to increase awareness and warn people of the seriousness of certain situations. It is almost possible for hackers to invade most sites and this compromises the privacy of patients’ personal and diagnostic information. Also, confirming the validity of particular sites may be hard on some people since scam sites go into extreme measures to mimic credible sites. The fact that most on-line therapies require payment in advance, may seem tempting for people who make a living from online camming. Another potential leak in privacy may unintentionally arise from the clients themselves; the use of public computers or implying improper security features and practices to ones personal computer. To counteract security problems, websites are constantly working on maintain security and privacy. It is important for releasing financial or personal and emotional information. Psychologists are required to practice therapy in state(s) of which they are licensed for practice. Cyber therapy offers ways to go around that law. A patient, for example, may claim different residence to receive treatment from a particular therapist of agency. Also, since the world wide web spreads, well, worldwide, there’s a chance that some of the sites are run internationally and this may give rise to cultural disconnect problems from misunderstanding situations, actions, and settings. Proper monitoring should be implemented on cyber therapy websites to avoid such breaches and complications. Advantages of Online Therapy: There are several advantages associates with online therapy. Time is something that seems to be becoming more scarce and harder to manage. Finding a service that can be molded around one’s schedule, convenience, or from the privacy of ones ome is important to many people in todays fast paced way of life. Online therapy also offers a geographic advantage for people living in rural areas or people with transportation limitations. In addition, people with physical disabilities may now have an easier method of behavior therapy that does not interfere with their health issues. Finally, a very crucial advantage is financial. Online therapy makes it cheaper and thus easier to receive mental health therapy. Because of the lack of an office or facilities, transportation expenses, and the availability of different program levels to hoose from, therapy became an attainable thing and a cry for help that was heard by cyber space. The options of sending an email or having a telephone therapy session gives many benefits with the elimination of extended time charges and various office visit associated expenses. Websites Offering Online Therapy: The Online Therapy Institute is a website designated primarily for therapist seeking to introduce online therapy as an option to their practice. It offers intensive information about how to set up an online therapy site and what the rules and regulations are and general guidelines to follow to provide proper therapeutic echniques. It also assists therapists in the initial stages and provides a reference for any upcoming issues. E-Therapists Online provides services for patients seeking online therapy via e- mail, private chats, and phone counseling. It provides clear instructions on how to begin therapy and also price guideline. Payment is due prior to therapy. For example, an e-mail session costs $39. 95 and 4 e-mail sessions cost $149. 00. Telephone or chats cost $95. 00 for 60 minutes and $623. 00 for 7 – 60 minute chats or calls. Headworks is another website similar to e-therapists online. In addition to the ervices that e-therapists online provides, they offer free self-help information and customized services. Conclusion: Online therapy definitely has its advantages, but it should also be handled carefully. Not all cases of mental health should be able to be treated via cyber psychotherapy because some are much more complicated and need in person therapy. Once this service is solidified, this service will be more ideal for people who are in need of minor therapy, interaction with people, behavioral help, and guidelines in life but are unable to do face-to-face therapy for geographical or financial constrains.

How to Find the Taurus Constellation

How to Find the Taurus Constellation The constellation Taurus is visible for skygazers beginning in late October and early November. Its one of the few constellations that looks somewhat similar to its name, even though its a stick figure. It contains a number of fascinating stars and other objects to explore. Look for Taurus in the sky along the ecliptic, near the constellations Orion and Aries. It looks like a V-shaped pattern of stars with long horns extending out across the sky.   Check out the constellations Perseus, Taurus, and Auriga to see the Pleiades, Hyades, Algol, and Capella. Carolyn Collins Petersen The Story of Taurus Taurus is one of the oldest star patterns known to sky watchers. The first known records of Taurus date back 15,000 years, when ancient cave painters captured its likeness on the walls of underground rooms at Lascaux, France. Many cultures saw a bull in this pattern of stars. Ancient Babylonians told tales of the supreme goddess Ishtar sending Taurus- known as the Bull of Heaven- to kill the hero Gilgamesh. In the ensuing battle, the bull is torn apart and his head is sent to the sky. The rest of his body is said to make up other constellations, including the Big Dipper. Taurus was viewed as a bull in ancient Egypt and Greece, too, and the name persisted into modern times. Indeed, the name Taurus comes from the Latin word for bull.   The Brightest Stars of Taurus The brightest star in Taurus is alpha Tauri, also known as Aldebaran. Aldebaran is an orange-colored supergiant. Its name comes from the Arabic Al-de-baran, meaning leading star, because it seems to lead the nearby Pleiades star cluster across the sky. Aldebaran is slightly more massive than the Sun and many times larger.  It has run out of hydrogen fuel in its core and is expanding as the core begins to convert helium.   The official IAU chart for the constellation Taurus.   IAU/Sky Publishing The two horn stars of the bull are called Beta and Zeta Tauri, also known as El Nath and Tianguan respectively. Beta is a bright white star, while Zeta is a binary star. From our point of view on Earth, we can see each of the two stars in Zeta eclipse each other every 133 days.   The constellation Taurus is also known for the Taurids meteor showers. Two separate events, the Northern and Southern Taurids, occur in late October and early November. The southern shower is the product of objects left behind by Comet Encke, while the Northern Taurids are created when materials from the Comet 2004 TG10 stream through Earths atmosphere and are vaporized.   Deep-Sky Objects in Taurus The Taurus constellation has a number of interesting deep-sky objects. Perhaps the best known is the Pleiades star cluster. This cluster is a collection of several hundred stars, but only the seven brightest can be seen without a telescope or binoculars. The Pleiades stars are hot, young blue stars that move through a cloud of gas and dust. They will continue to travel together for a few hundred million years before dispersing through the galaxy, each on its own path.   The Pleiades open star cluster, as seen by Hubble Space Telescope. NASA/ESA/STScI The Hyades, another star cluster in Taurus, makes up the V-shape of the bulls face. The stars in the Hyades form a spherical grouping, with the brightest ones making the V. They are mostly older stars, moving together through the galaxy in an open cluster. It will likely break apart in the distant figure, with each of its stars traveling along a separate path from the others. As the stars age, they will eventually die, which will cause the cluster to evaporate in several hundred million years.   The Hyades star cluster with the bright orange-red star Aldebaran (upper left) in the picture. The Hyades is a cluster that lies farther away from Aldebaran, which is in the same line of sight. NASA/ESA/STScI The other interesting deep-sky object in Taurus is the Crab Nebula, located near the horns of the bull. The Crab is a supernova remnant left over from the explosion of a giant star more than 7,500 years ago. The light from the explosion reached Earth in the year 1055 AD. The star that exploded was at least nine times the mass of the Sun and may have been even more massive. Crab Nebula in several wavelengths of light including visible and x-ray. The bright dot at the center is the Crab Nebula Pulsar, which is the rapidly spinning remains of the star that died in the ancient supernova explosion that created this object. NASA/HST/CXC/ASU/J. Hester et al. The Crab Nebula is not visible to the naked eye, but it can be seen through a good telescope. The best images have come from such observatories as the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Pauls Case and Sunnys Blues Essay Example

Pauls Case and Sunnys Blues Essay Example Pauls Case and Sunnys Blues Paper Pauls Case and Sunnys Blues Paper Essay Topic: Literature The stories that have been chosen for the essay are Sonnys Blues by James Baldwin and Pauls Case by Willa Cather. These stories have a lot in common but they are also very different in their approach towards life. It can be said that the similarities become the contrasts due to the negative use of ideas. The main characters in both the stories are rebels. Their ideas are radical and against the norms of the society. The love for music, art, theater and the ambience of beauty is in the rebels, both Sonny and Paul. This is a similarity they share but the contrast comes in when music uplifts Sonny from his blues or misfortune and gives him a reason to live, Paul does not want to work towards a better life in order to enjoy the art which he loves. The ending in the stories is the surprise element. The difference in the point of view of the characters changes the ending, completely. Sonnys outlook is of hope and the future is bright because of positive thinking while Pauls end is a long tunnel of depression which ends in despair where he gives up his life. In Sonnys Blues, Sonny is a rebel who in his very young days became a drug addict. His brother, the narrator of the story, had not met him for a very long time. The brother wanted to help Sonny to get on with his life. Sonny loved music. He loved to play the piano, it uplifted him. This was his world. It liberated him from his troubles and turbulation of life. Sonny takes his brother to the club where he plays, to make him understand his passion and conviction for music and how much he has suffered. He is now on the path to recovery. After his performance Sonny looks at his brother, nods and takes a sip of the drink sent by his brother for him. This moment describes the understanding which they share and how their relationship grows. In Pauls Case, Paul is a rebel who is in constant trouble at school with his teachers as he has an attitude problem. His defiant manner and his whole attitude was symbolized by his shrug and his flippantly red carnation flower which he wore when he had to appear before his principal and teachers. His relationship with his family, his father is nonexistent. He took Paul out of school and put him to work at a factory, while his job as an usher at Carnegie Hall which acted as his temporary refuge from his life was snatched away from him . Paul too loved music. He loved the ambience of Carnegie hall and even though the symphonies did not mean anything to him it freed some hilarious and potent spirit within him. He felt a sudden zest of life. He loved the good life which he tried to live with the stolen money in New York. He stayed at Waldorf Astoria Hotel, got fancy shoes, shopped at Tiffanys and this was how he wanted to live his life as he describes it as only for a moment, these were his own people, he told himself. However, the difference in the point of view of the main characters changed the end of the stories. Sonny is a recovering drug addict who makes music his source of inspiration to work towards a better future. His family is his support. He makes his brother understand what he has gone through and explains his need to get away from the atmosphere which had pulled him in the dark hole. In Sonnys Blues life is approached with a positive attitude. In Pauls Case, Paul had no reconciliation with his family, when he had to return to Cornelia Street (his home) he did not want to go back. He ends his life rather than face the reality of the situation. He lived in his dream world but had no intention of working for a better life. Hence, we see that the difference of attitude of dealing with problems of the main characters, Sonny and Paul affect the stories. Though the stories are set in different times, the characters and the problems are prevalent in every generation. The main thing is how we deal with them because that is what changes the direction of ones fate.

Media and Corporate Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Media and Corporate Responsibility - Essay Example A corporation is more or less like a monster with several heads, where one head can be saying something that sounds very good and the other head can be doing something else that purely contradicts what was said earlier. Any corporation's main motive is to make profits. The only problem with profit making motive is that there is no such thing as "enough". Every act of the corporation undertaken in pursuit of maximizing profits is termed as "logical" or "rational". For instance, prosperous corporate giants taking advantage of cheap labor of starving people from under developed countries is considered pragmatic. The capitalistic world even manages to justify these acts as legitimate, a kind of boon granted to the down trodden. But how many of these corporations actually consider the legitimacy involved in the severe working conditions provided to those workers or the fairness involved in the proportion of the worker's pay to the profit earned by the corporation from such activities In the name of maximizing profits, corporations have become extremely deceitful without having any concern for the safety of others. For instance, many commercial dairies treat their cows with certain hormone in order to increase milk production. Though this method has been claimed to be harmless, it has neither been safe for the humans consuming this milk nor has it been easy for the cows. The cows, termed as "production units" by such dairies, experience painful effects such as broken limbs due to calcium deficiency and even early death as a result of these artificial methods. There are many corporations that use synthetic chemicals in their products which cause cancer, birth defects and other toxic effects. Most corporations are mendacious to such an extent that they do not even reveal the true test results of these products. The saddest part of this tragic situation is that these untruthful corporations, over the years, have totally lost the capacity to experience any guilt for their insensitive activities. Well-known companies and brands such as McDonald's, Nike, Adidas, Shell, and Barclays top the list of unethical companies. Such companies have no respect for any legal or social norms. They continue to break such norms and consider the compensation paid later on as an act of justification. But no compensation, irrespective of the amount involved, can actually compensate for the disaster caused by most of these unethical acts. There is no doubt about the fact that the corporations, though functioning with a self-centered motive, are producing other social benefits. But the self-centered motive has converted these corporations into Einstein's monster that has become so big that it has overpowered the people who initially created it. A corporation may be considered as a person in the eyes of law, but the fact still holds well that it is a person without a soul. Media Responsibility The media occupies a privileged position in modern society. But more than simply seeking out truth and reporting it to an otherwise ignorant populace, the Media themselves have an active role in influencing and shaping public opinion. That is why it is so very disturbing that any media might

Compare and Contrast the Requirements for Originality in Relation to Coursework

Compare and Contrast the Requirements for Originality in Relation to Different Types of 'Author Works' - Coursework Example Things that require little or no effort from the human being itself may not be classified as an ‘author work’. For example, if a camera is placed in the lobby of an airport and it records a video of all the passengers, it cannot be called an author work because it required little or no effort from the maker itself. The process was entirely mechanical. So there has to be a certain threshold for originality for the subject of copyrights to come into play. The Government allows the authors a right to copy or distribute their written or produced pieces within a certain amount of time. This is called copyright. Different countries have different laws regarding copyright issues of different author works. Authorship on research papers can be judged by the amount of research one has done. A software engineer can also be called the author of software. The law towards protection of software copyrights is statutory. This is important because these days software is being marketed th rough websites, personal contacts, blogs and other channels without a license. In the United Kingdom, the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 UK places due importance on originality (Derclaye 2009). Originality is considered to be the pre-requisite factor while granting a copyright. It is  required that literary, artistic, dramatic, and musical works should be original in order to qualify for copyright protection. Likewise, In Spain Article 1 of the Real Decreto Legislativo 1/1996, de 12 de abril, which is Spain's main copyright law states that "The intellectual property of a literary, artistic or scientific work is entitled to its author for the sole fact of its creation." An original work is considered to be the one that expresses the personality of its author. In the UAE, Federal Law No.7 of 2002 Pertains to Copyrights and Neighbouring Rights and has no such requirement as originality (Karake-Shalhoub and Qasimi 2006). Nevertheless work should have an element of innovation and creativity. All scientific, literary, musical or artistic work, cinematograph films, photographs, sound recordings, broadcasts must be copyrighted. Musical, scientific and literary works are judged only on their originality and not on the quality. Stories of fiction, poetry, plays, stage dramas, movies, news scripts, textbooks, agreements, historical documents, biographies, essays and articles, encyclopaedias and dictionaries, letters, reports and memoranda, lectures, addresses and sermons all come under the banner of ‘literary works’. However, it does not include speeches and addresses delivered in the House of Representatives and Courts. In India the â€Å"Sweat of the Brow Doctrine† is followed as it is a commonwealth country1. In Canada more importance is given to skill rather than labour. The Copyright Act (R.S. 1985, c. C-42) provides that: The Supreme Court of Canada asserted that the standard of originality should be set at the intermediate level of s kill and judgment. McLachlin C J explained (Scassa and Deturbide 2004): â€Å"For a work to be 'original' within the meaning of the Copyright Act, it must be more than a mere copy of another work. At the same time, it need not be creative, in the sense of being novel or unique. What is required to attract copyright protection in the expression of an idea is an exercise of skill and judgment. By skill, I mean the use of one's knowledge, developed aptitude or practised

Quantitative Techniques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Quantitative Techniques - Essay Example The social and economic scenario is in the constant process of undergoing change and is influenced by a number of external factors. As such, there are numerous controllable and uncontrollable parameters that today’s decision makers need to take care of in order to prepare a careful course that can navigate through all idenfied obstacles. If adopted, qualititative, well-structured and a well-planned business forecasting effort can yield the desired results. As such, apart from feeling the need to forecast, it is also very important to plan the forecasting process with great precision (John E. Hanke, Arthur G. Reitsch, 1989). The rise in the growth and use of computing power to perform calculations has gained immense popularity among users. As such, with a good forecasting plan, one can easily perform the required analysis in a short time. Forecasting is used to identify a number of patterns that are deemed important to a company’s interests. It could include attributes such as the performance of stocks over a time period, pattern of sales, prices of essential raw materials, employee satisfaction surveys etc. a company can immensely benefit from business forecasting as these enable it to analyze its performance across various domains and also helps it compare itself amongst other competitors in the market. It enables the company to identify the segments that are not performing according to expectations and paves the way for adopting suitable solutions to overcome them. As the economy is dynamic in nature, there is an ncreasing need to prepare the future map in advance, which emphasizes the need fo r business forecasting. In the recent years, business forecasting has adopted an extensive scientific flavor that includes the fusion of various business theories and techniques to forecast specific types of data. It can involve procedures as simple as spreadsheets to massive database networks that are performing trillions of

Existing Good or Service Business Proposal Essay Example for Free

Existing Good or Service Business Proposal Essay The Thomas Money Service, Inc. is a consumer finance company that has been granting loans and financing since 1940. Within the first five years the company expanded its business when it began â€Å"issuing business loans, business acquisition financing, and commercial real estate loans† (University of Phoenix, 2011, p. 1). By 1946 the company expanded to include equipment financing by creating a subsidiary named Future Growth Inc. (FGI). Due to increased demand in forestry and construction equipment in 1951 FGI purchased a manufacturing company so that the company was able to offer financing as well as their own brand of construction equipment. Over the past 67 years, FGI has held a monopoly on financing and manufacturing construction equipment and has seen only increased profits year after year. FGI has also never had to lay off any of its employees. â€Å"This track record has allowed their stock to grow from $5.00 to $85.60 with stock splits from 1975 to 1998. FGI has never issued bonds, and the present stock value is $35† (University of Phoenix, 2011, p. 1). Unfortunately, with the current economic downturns, natural disasters, and a decline in new-home sales, profits for FGI began to decline by 30% from the previous year. Due to the decline in production, the company was forced to layoff a third of their employees. Even with the current drop in new-home sales, there is still the opportunity for demand to increase as the economy becomes healthy again. Below the author will discuss how to increase revenue. Increase revenue FGI has many opportunities to increase revenue. Increasing revenue is not only dependent on the sales price of the product but also on what the companies expenses include. The company will need to re-evaluate the way it spends money and determine how to reduce outgoing costs. The first step FGI should take is to review its vendor list and communicate with the vendor to  determine the best way to reduce costs while saving the vendor money as well. FGI could request that all parts and supplies be purchased in bulk to cut down on freight charges as well as reach out to other businesses in the area to purchase supplies from the same vendor together. They would share the cost of freight, which would reduce the expense for both companies. Advertising is another expense that FGI needs to focus on. Currently FGI has cut back on its advertising efforts and has decided to only advertise during sporting events. This might not be a productive advertising strategy. It would be more lucrative to advertise in several venues such as direct mail, newspapers, and telephone books. This strategy will get the company name and services to a broader area of customers. Another expense is employee hours, schedules, and benefits that could use an overhaul. Currently FGI was forced to layoff a third of its workforce. The company needs to determine the best way to keep its employees while still saving money for the company. Department heads will need to review and re-evaluate employee schedules and hours to ensure that they are using the employee hours effectively. By re-scheduling and reducing employee hours, FGI will be able to save even more revenue. Benefits are also an expense that is offered by the company, but the company is not required to offer them to its employees. FGI should review and determine if it can continue to offer all of the benefits it currently does. If necessary, FGI could reduce 401k matching, reduce or stop employee bonuses and parties, and finally re-negotiate with insurance companies to find a more cost effective insurance package for the employees. Finally, the most effective way to ensure an increase in revenue is to cut t he sales price of the equipment. The chart below shows that the lower the price, the higher the demand. If FGI were to decrease its prices they would increase sales. Communicating with vendors, upping advertising, re-structuring employee hours and benefits, and cutting prices are all successful ways to increase revenue. Another aspect of increasing revenue that FGI needs to  consider is the spending power of its customers. The economy of the United States is currently on the down turn again, heading back into a recession. The credit market conditions are not very strong; the current unemployment rate is unchanged at 9.1% according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The fact that the unemployment rate has had no change means that the economy has not changed. There are no new jobs, which affect the construction industry. People cannot afford to build homes and they cannot apply for loans because their credit history is not strong enough. There is a silver lining for construction companies and equipment companies such as FGI. In 2009, the government created the 2009 Stimulus Package, which included â€Å"$131 billion allocated for construction-related spending† (The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2011, para 1). This stimulus allows for construction companies to bid for upcoming transportation construction jobs. Construction companies will need to upgrade their equipment to newer more efficient equipment that can handle the new workload and conditions. FGI will need to take advantage of the influx in construction equipment purchases by advertising and offering discounts and rebates to all new and current customers. Maximize Profit The concept of marginal cost and marginal revenue is used to determine how much it will cost to produce one more piece of equipment. â€Å"Companies typically look to reach a production equilibrium where marginal cost and marginal revenue are equal. At this point, the company will maximize its profit† (Vitez, 2003-2011). If an imbalance were to occur on either marginal costs or marginal revenue there will be inefficiencies with production. There is a possibility that it could cost the company more to produce the extra piece of equipment than it would profit from. According to Huter â€Å"The quantity that maximizes profit is where marginal profit shifts from positive to negative† (1999-2011). To determine the profit-maximizing quantity it is necessary to know the price, variable costs, marginal revenue, and quantity ordered. Looking at the chart above it is clear that the company is making money off of the maximum of 12 orders. If the order demand were to go from 12 to 13, there is the possibility that it would cost the company more to produce that many than they are able to charge for all 13. With that in mind, the  profit-maximizing quantity would be 13. Suggested Mix of Pricing and Non-Pricing Strategies FGI is no longer the only equipment manufacturing company for customers to choose from. In order for FGI to stay competitive, the company must include a mix of pricing and non-pricing strategies. Non-pricing strategies would include advertising the company as well as any discounts, financing, and warranties the company has to offer. Pricing strategies could include low-interest financing, longer payment terms, warranties, and product bundling. Product bundling could simply state that if a customer not only orders the equipment through FGI but also finances the purchase than they will receive a discount on the total price. According to the Wall Street Journal, â€Å"the Labor Departments snapshot of the August jobs landscape, cuts in the public sector entirely offset the private sectors gain of 17,000 positions. Figures from earlier months were lowered, due largely to deeper cuts by government. The unemployment rate remained at 9.1% but is likely to move higher in coming months amid the lackluster pace of job creation†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Reddy, 2011, para 4). Due to the possible economic downturn, FGI must consider a radical change in policy to stay competitive and on top of the market for construction manufacturing equipment. This radical change would be to offer customers the opportunity to rent or lease the construction equipment instead of purchasing it out right. Leasing construction equipment will allow construction companies to save money and will allow FGI to earn income and stand out among its competition. Create or Increase Barriers to Entry It can be difficult to create or increase barriers to entry when there is already competition in place. A few things that FGI could do to increase barriers to entry is to offer customers something that is totally different from the competition. Making the customers want to only purchase from FGI. Those differences would include the ability of the customer to rent the construction equipment for the duration of their contract and increase customer service. Increasing customer service would include offering the customers more options to contact FGI. FGI will need to utilize technology  such as the Internet, Websites, email communication, and QR codes, which allows customers to access company information and discounts. Increase Product Differentiation Product differentiation includes pricing and non-pricing strategies as well as increasing barriers to entry. FGI will need to make their construction equipment stand out from its competitors. In order to stand out, FGI will need to make changes to how it advertises its product, increase offers customers who purchase the equipment, and make the customers experience with FGI unique. Customers want to be excited about spending money, FGI should make their shopping experience exciting and rewarding. Customers who are happy about their purchases will spread the word to other potential customers who will then decide to purchase from FGI over other construction equipment companies. Other Ways to Minimize Costs A few ways to minimize costs for the product includes reducing the amount of employees, which FGI recently did. One way to minimize costs is for FGI to lease their manufacturing centers and financial offices instead of purchasing the buildings. Leasing will reduce costs to FGI because the owner of the buildings will need to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of the building and grounds. Reducing spending on supplies and manufacturing equipment is another way to minimize costs. The issue with reducing spending on supplies and is that the supplies could potentially be inferior products which would then make the products that FGI sells inferior. FGI will need to determine if the quality of their product is worth risking so that the company can reduce the cost of producing the equipment. International Trade International trade is beneficial to both the United States and foreign countries because it is the exchange of goods between both countries. â€Å"Trading globally gives consumers and countries the opportunity to be exposed to goods and services not available in their own countries† (Heakal, 2003, para 4). International trade can affect and is affected by each nations political issues. A current example is the Greek economic bail out. The Greek economy is currently in need of another debt bailout to hopefully  turn its economy around. The affect that the European bailout of Greece could have on the United States is that Europe will have less money to spend on American goods, which will then cause trade to decrease. â€Å"If a full default occurred, other troubled countries, notably Spain and Portugal, could also follow suit, leading to a wave of defaults that would severely affect the European zone and could send shockwaves all the way to Wall Street† (Katrandjian, 2011, para 13). As the Global Economy stands now, international trade has not been affected significantly. There is the possibility of international trade being affected if the European economy doesn’t stabilize. With that in mind FGI must consider how the international economy will affect the overhaul of FGI’s current marketing structure. FGI will need to make its products more lucrative for foreign companies to purchase. FGI would need to create a special package offer to foreign companies that includes special incentives such as discounts, extended warranties, and shorter lead times. Conclusion FGI has been a successful company since 1940. With the recent economic hardships and additional competition, FGI has determined that they need to re-evaluate their current marketing and product strategies. To increase profit and market value, FGI will need to revamp their spending, marketing, employee hours and benefits, and reduce the cost of their product. Another aspect of business that FGI needs to focus on is the marginal costs and marginal revenue to maximize profits so that they are not producing too much product that will end up costing them more than it is sold for. FGI has the opportunity to re-strategies their pricing and incentives to draw in more customers as well as increase blocking more companies from entering the construction equipment manufacturing industry. With the current credit markets being at an all time low, FGI will need to adjust their production and extended forecast to meet the potential decrease in sales. The 2009 Stimulus Package offers hope to FGI that sales will increase due to the government projected construction improvements on all Freeways and Highways throughout the country. Reference: Katrandjian, O., (2011) Greek Debt Bailout Could Affect the U.S. Economy. Retrieved September 5, 2011 from http://abcnews.go.com/Business/greek-debt-bailout-affect-us-economy/story?id=13879426 Heakal, R., (2003) What is International Trade? Retrieved September 5, 2011 from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/03/112503.asp#ixzz1X6dCaTuv Huter, S., (1999-2011) How to Calculate the Profit Maximizing Quantity. Retrieved August 20, 2011 from http://www.ehow.com/how_6713701_calculate-profit_maximizing-quantity.html Reddy, S., (2011) Job Growth Grinds to a Halt. Retrieved September 4, 2011 from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904583204576546220157206548.html The McGraw-Hill Companies (2011) Construction Stimulus Special Section. Retrieved September 4, 2011 from http://construction.com/stimulus/market_sectors/ University of Phoenix, (2011). Thomas Money Service Inc. Scenario [Computer Software]. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, Simulation, ECO561 website. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2011) Employment Situation Summary. Retrieved September 4 , 2011 from http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm Vitez, O., (2003-2011) What Is the Relationship Between Marginal Cost and Marginal Revenue? Retrieved August 21, 2011 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-relationship-between-marginal-cost-and-marginal-revenue.htm

A Man and His Family in movies Air Force One and Patriot Games :: Air Force Patriot Games Family Essays

A Man and His Family in movies Air Force One and Patriot Games As soon as a man gets married and begins his family, a certain protective instinct takes over. No matter what situation presents itself, a man’s first thought is that of protecting his family from harm. The theme, although a man’s job may be very important, his main concern in life is to protect his family, is shown in both of the movies Air Force One and Patriot Games. In both movies, a man and his family encounter terrorist actions in which the man has to put his family’s lives before his own. The movie Air Force One begins with the President of the United States of America boarding the aircraft, Air Force One with his wife, daughter, and staff. Just after liftoff from Moscow, the plane is attacked and taken over by terrorists, who were smuggled onboard by a member of the president’s staff. As soon as this happened, the secret service put the president into a small pod, which was designed to get the president off of the plane in case of an emergency. As they forced him into the pod, his only concern was for his family. He yelled out â€Å"Where’s my family? What about my family?† (Air Force One). Secretly, the president got out of the pod to stay behind and save his family. The terrorists demanded that one of their former leaders be released from jail. If he was not released, they were going to start killing the presidential staff, including the first family. The president remained hidden and secretly plotted how to get to his family and defeat the terrorists. It finally came down to the president against the terrorists. The terrorists wanted the president to call the prison that their leader was in and have him released. If the president did not want to make the call, he had to choose to kill either his wife or his daughter. In the end, he decided to call the prison and release the terrorist over killing his family. This showed that the only thing that mattered to him was his family. This same theme holds true for the movie Patriot Games. In this movie the main character is CIA agent Jack Ryan who, while on vacation in England, stops terrorists from killing a member of the Royal Family.

Life Of A Teenager Essay

WE TEENS are something our life depends on cell phones, television and lot more. We are more bothered about our fashion and outlook. Our friends play the most important role in our life.A teenager, or teen, is a young person whose age falls within the range from thirteen  through nineteen (13–19). They are called teenagers because their age number ends in â€Å"teen†. Someone aged 18 or 19 is also considered a young adult. Timing of puberty On average, girls begin puberty at ages 10–11; boys at ages 11–12. Girls usually complete puberty by ages 15–17,[2][3][4] while boys usually complete puberty by ages 16-17. The major landmark of puberty for females is menarche, the onset of menstruation, which occurs on average between ages 12–13; for males, it is the first ejaculation, which occurs on average at age 13. In the 21st century, the average age at which children, especially girls, reach puberty is lower compared to the 19th century, when it was 15 for girls and 16 for boys.This can be due to improved nutrition resulting in rapid body growth, increased weight and fat deposition, or eating meat from animals which have been dosed up with oestrogen. â€Å"I memorize the phone numbers of friends whom my parents do not approve of so that their names don’t blink on my mobile phone.† Nothing Like a Friend >> I sometimes fight with my friends, but there’s mutual understanding that we won’t let our parents know. And, usually, we sort out the differences ourselves. >> Some of us get stuck with friends from whom we learn to smoke, drink, splurge, and other vices. For a while, I got entangled with a group of boys and became addicted to video games. >> When I want to attend a party or watch a film, I invent a story, like I am  going to study at a friend’s place. >> Last year one of my classmates was moving to another city. On his last day at school, I gave him `100 so that he could buy himself a present. It was the money my mother gave me to buy a sweater.

Floods †A literature review Essay

Writer: Linber LewisSchool: President’s College, GuyanaIf one asks the question, what can floods do?, then the following may seem like fitting answers. During the summer monsoon season, heavy rains cause destructive floods in Southeast Asia. In China, the floods of the Huang He River have been so frequent and devastating that the river is called Chinas Sorrow. Likewise in the US, record spring and summer rains in 1993 caused the Mississippi Rover to overflow its banks, flooding farms and towns from North Dakota to Missouri, causing 10 billion dollars in damages and leaving 70, 000 homeless. These extracts attest to the destructive nature of floods. By contrast, Britannica Encyclopedia tells us that the success of the Egyptian Civilization was heavily dependent on the annual flooding of the Nile to replenish soil moisture and fertility, and also to supply to irrigation water. Since plants and animals are a part of human life, once can assume that if floods affect us they will affect them (plants and animals) also, whether positively or negatively. Research shows that domestic animals seem to suffer greatly during conditions of excess water. According to the book, Where there is no Vet; the infectious disease foot rot that attacks the hooves of animals, is prevalent during wet weather and in wet areas. It is known that floods bring a sharp increase in insect population. Consequently animals suffer from skin and eye irritations due to these insects. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), during the 2005 flood, more than 2000 animals were treated during the early stages of the floods. They were treated for worms, diarrhea, nutritional deficiency, and respiratory and skin problems. The shortage of food had also affected animals. GINA also stated that feed and molasses were distributed. According to a Stabroek news article dated 05/02/16, farmers at Enterprise on the East Coast of Demerara had to place in excess of 1000 cattle on mud dams. In addition, many were stranded in flooded area, or stuck in mud. Many of these animals drowned due to cramps. Deaths of livestock were prevalent among cattle, swine, sheep and goat due to abortion or pregnancy complications. Animals on mud dams also fought amongst themselves resulting in many injuries that often resulted in  death. Ducks enjoyed the water but were made to prey to caimans. Other poultry sought refuge on roof tops. With regards to crops, information garnered from Biological Science 1 tells that terrestrial crops will not fare well during or soon after a flood, since excess water causes water logging that result in:Clogged air spaces leading to death of microorganisms in soil. Rotting of plan roots due to excess water. Leaching (washing away) of soil nutrients. A change in the pH of acidic soils. Surprisingly, Microsoft Encarta tells us that some varieties of rice grow with roots submerged in water, and that these varieties are more productive because their roots easily extract needed nutrients from water. But once rice starts to mature, water is drained or pumped out of fields since a dry field is needed for plants to mature and grains to ripen. In the same news article previously referred to rice, rice farmers in Enterprise lost over 300 acres of rice since the ripening grains were damaged by the excess water. However, when one looks at the response of the ecosystem to floods, the revelations that spring froth tell a different story. According to Nature Encyclopedia; most amphibians lead solitary lives, but for many species the need for water in which to mate, brings large numbers together at breeding pools. This exodus is dependent on factors such as daylength, temperature change and most importantly weather. The annoying croaking of male frogs to get the attention of a female occurs more frequently during the rainy season. Hence the rains (a likely cause of a flood) created an optimum condition for amphibian reproduction. The Nature Encyclopedia also tells us that some fishes take physical steps to  protect their offspring and thus build nests. The hassar nests, very common during rainy seasons are evidence that fishes also multiply in excess water. The sharp increases in mosquitoes during and after flood are due to the fact that their larvae mature in stagnant water. When an area is flooded, aquatic plants spread in the stop the flow of water and trap silt. Silt greatly aids in bringing more vegetation (such as reeds, lilies and grasses) to the flooded area. But a deluge can also have negative impacts on the natural ecosystems. An example given in the Nature Encyclopedia is the delay ion completion of metamorphosis in frogs. Tadpoles lose their gill for lungs, and lose their tail for legs provided that conditions are right, on their way to becoming mature frogs. But if environment is swamped, then the maturing frog will continue to grow but retain their gills and tails for longer periods in order to adapt to their surroundings. This delay in maturity means a longer elapse before reproduction. If this happens in large numbers (extreme cases) the frog population can be affected.