Crash Cultural Identity Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Crash Cultural Identity Assignment - Essay Example The fact, that he was brave enough to fight with the guy, who tried to steal his car, became the evidence of the inner change, which had happened to Cameron. At the same time, it should be noted, that the characters put their cultural identity not only in their group, but they also want to be accepted and acknowledged in all cultural groups. On the other hand, the characters, who are supposed negative, as Ryan (the policemen, who has sexually assaulted Christine, Cameron's wife) or the attorney's wife Jean, being extremely impatient towards any other race except her own, also try to put themselves forward not only in their cultural group, but in others as well. Ryan not only wants to be the best among his co-workers, who are of Caucasian race, he also wants to show his superiority over other races, and thus make them understand his significance in terms of all races. The issue of cultural identity is shown to be manipulated through the scene in the attorney's office.

GM crops Essay Example for Free

GM crops Essay For thousands of years farmers have used a process of selection and cross breeding to improve the quality of our crops. The problem with GM crops is that there is little known about what effect they will have in 20 years’ time. The genetic structure of any living organism is complex and GM crop tests focus on short-term effects. Not all the effects of introducing a foreign gene into the intricate genetic structure of an organism are tested. Will the pests that a crop was created to resist eventually become resistant to this crop? GM crops may also pose a health risk to native animals that eat them. The animals may be poisoned by the built-in pesticides. Tests in the U. S. showed that 44% of caterpillars of the monarch butterfly died when fed large amounts of pollen from GM corn. Very little scientific information exists about the risk of GM food on human health. One major report by Dr. Arpad Pusztai, explains how GM foods could trigger new allergies and contain toxins that may be harmful. Another concern is disease. Since some crops are modified using the DNA from viruses and bacteria, will we see new diseases emerge? What about the GM crops that have antibiotic-resistant marker genes? Marker genes are used by scientists to determine whether their genetic modification of a plant was successful. Will these antibiotic-resistant genes be transferred to microorganisms that cause disease? We already have a problem with ineffective antibiotics. How can we develop new drugs to fight these new bugs? Then there is always the possibility that we may not be able to destroy GM crops once they spread into the environment. Proponents of GM crops claim that advantages may be many, such as: Improved storage and nutritional quality Pest and disease resistance Selective herbicide tolerance Tolerance of water, temperature and saline extremes Improved animal welfare Higher yields and quality Cross-pollination is a concern for both GM crops and conventional breeding, especially with the more serious weeds that are closely related to the crops. With careful management this may be avoided. They are an ever-increasing problem and genetic engineering promises to stop it. But will genes from GM plants spread to other plants, creating superweeds and superbugs we won’t be able to control? When looking at the environmental impacts of grass- and grain-fed beef, there is a 500% increase in greenhouse gas emissions for each pound of beef produced from grass-fed compared to grain-fed cattle. Uncontrolled nitrogen and phosphate release to the environment, 35% more water use, and 30% more land use for grass-fed cattle compared to grain-fed increases the environmental impact of strictly grass feeding. Cholesterol content does not differ between grass- or grain-fed beef. Today, there is an estimated two-thirds of all our products in supermarkets contain genetically engineered ingredients, including; tortilla chips, drink mixes, taco shells, veggie burgers, muffin mix, and baby formulas. But only one-third of Americans are aware that their food contain genetically engineered ingredients, despite the findings of surveys that 85 to 90% of consumers want clear labeling of all genetically engineered foods. Because labeling is not yet required by government regulations, nor practiced by biotech companies, there is absolutely no way for consumers to know what it is that they are eating. The public has not been educated of the inadequacy of genetically modified ingredients in their diets and the possible risks that these foods may entail. The credibility of these geneticists is also questionable because almost all established molecular geneticists have some industrial ties limiting what they can research on, particularly with regard to safety. There is no way of knowing the overall, long-term effects of genetically engineered foods on human health. This unpredictability appears to be causing the most controversy over genetically modified foods, as there is insufficient evidence and need for further research. The effect of the insertion on the biochemistry of the host organism is unknown. The effect of the genetically engineered organism on the environment is unknown. The effect of eating genetically engineered foods is unknown. There is no basis for meaningful risk assessment. There is no recovery plan in case of disaster. It is not even clear, who, if anyone will be legally liable for the negative consequences. There are no consequences among scientists on the safety or on the risks associated with genetic engineering in agriculture. The international community is deeply divided on the issue. In addition to these, genetically engineered foods may cause the removal of important food elements. For example, genetic engineers may intentionally remove or inactivate a substance they consider undesirable in a food, which may have unknown but crucial qualities, such as cancer-inhibiting abilities. Examples such as this are perhaps especially frightening because of the potential to find cures to some of the illnesses and diseases that have already laid claim to many lives. Failure to do further research in this case would be a shame, as it could lead to an elimination of possible breakthroughs in medicine and health. The current state of biotechnology must be fixed because every living organism is affected by it because everything is composed of genes. If the food being consumed contains products of genetic modification, the public is at risk to the unpredictable effects on their own physiology and biochemistry-effects that may not be reversible. Not only could this cause problems in their own lives presently, but it could also affect future generations, in ways that are unforeseen yet preventable. Moreover there is not enough understanding of the principles of genetic engineering to categorize those genetic modifications that may pose a risk and those that may not because genes appear to react in diverse ways when spliced with other genes. Genes are a part of an extremely complex and interconnected network and are constantly reacting to their environment. Further research must be enacted, and biotech companies and the government must do their moral/ethical duty to inform the public, because ultimately, they are the ones making the decisions.

Essay on Picture of Dorian Gray: Art Cannot Substitute Life :: Picture Dorian Gray Essays

The Picture of Dorian Gray: Art Cannot Substitute Life      Ã‚  Ã‚   The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, is the story of moral corruption by the means of aestheticism. In the novel, the well meaning artist Basil Hallward presets young Dorian Gray with a portrait of himself. After conversing with cynical Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian makes a wish that dreadfully affects his life forever. "If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that" (Wilde 109). As it turns out, the devil that Dorian sells his soul to is Lord Henry Wotton, who exists not only as something external to Dorian, but also as a voice within him (Bloom 107). Dorian continues to lead a life of sensuality which he learns about in a book given to him by Lord Henry. Dorian's unethical devotion to pleasure becomes his way of life.    The novel underscores its disapproval of aestheticism which negatively impacts the main characters. Each of the three primary characters is an aesthete and meets some form of terrible personal doom. Basil Hallward's aestheticism is manifested in his dedication to his artistic creations. He searches in the outside world for the perfect manifestation of his own soul, when he finds this object, he can create masterpieces by painting it (Bloom 109). He refuses to display the portrait of Dorian Gray with the explanation that, "I have put too much of myself into it" (Wilde 106). He further demonstrates the extent to which he holds this philosophy by later stating that, "only the artist is truly reveled" (109). Lord Henry Wotton criticizes Basil Hallward that, "An artist should create beautiful things but should put nothing of his own life into them" (Wilde 25). Ironically, the purpose of Basil Hallward's existence is that he is an aesthete striving to become one with his art (Eriksen 105). It is this very work of art which Basil refuses to display that provides Dorian Gray with the idea that there are no consequences to his actions. Dorian has this belief in mind when he murders Basil. Here we see that the artist is killed for his excessive love of physical beauty; the same art that he wished to merge with is the cause of his mortal downfall (Juan 64).

Black Boy By Richard Wright :: essays research papers

The conflicts between man and bigotry have caused casualties within man, which caused them to become victims. In the novel Black Boy Richard Wright explores the struggles throughout his life has been the victim of abuse from his coworkers, family, and his classmates, due to this he is able to return his pain and he becomes a victimizer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wright depicts the victimizing tendencies of the members of his dysfunctional family. In the beginning Wright a first notice something is wrong with his family when his father goes to work and never comes back. This instance confused Wright making him unstable and untamed without restrictions. The next time Wright sees his father is during court when his mother was asking him to pay child support. This is the moment that Wright feels resentment for his father when he sees his father smiling throughout the court conflict while his mother was crying. Another occasion where Wright becomes a victim is when his mother makes Wright to accompany her to ask his father for money. When they were ready to ask his father for the money they found him with another woman getting â€Å"comfortable†. As Wrights’ mother asks for the money his father laughs at them and says he doesn’t have any money. When the woman that his father is with looks at Wright she say s Wright was cute and that his father should give him something. This causes Wright to become embarrassed and hurt because when that woman told his father to give him something the only thing his father would give him was a nickel. The moment that Wright becomes a victim is when his father laughed and put the nickel back into his pocket. Another instance, which happens throughout the novel, is the verbal actions taken toward Wright. Throughout this whole novel the readers see that his family yells at Wright at least once a day. All of that yelling has to victimize Wright because it had the reader’s attention. Through all of his trouble at home Wright turned is fear into anger and in turn became the victimizer. One instance is when he takes out razor blades and threatens them again his uncle. Then there was an occasion when he killed a cat just because his father told him to kill it in a sarcastic way. Another time was when he physically fought his aunt because she was trying to beat him.

Stomp essays

Stomp essays For my first cultural event, I went to the Broadway event Stomp. This took place at the First Union Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. I really did not know what to expect going into this, and I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the event. As you could gather from the title of the show, Stomp was a collection of skits where the actors used random objects and created some sort of catchy beat. They used objects such as water bottles, trash cans and lids, brooms, pipes, barrels, and other things in that nature. They also did some skits without any objects, just using their hands, heads, and feet. All you could really do throughout the event was sit there in your seat in complete amazement and wonder. I was amazed at how they made such great sounds out of random objects, and at the same time wondered how they thought this up and how they were able to actually do it. Although the event lasted for about 2 hours, it did not seem to actually be that long. Time just flew by while I was watching this show, as it was very exciting and suspenseful. While I was watching the event, I could not help but wonder and wait to see what these very talented people were going to come up with next. Without a doubt, I would have to say that this event was well worth going to. The way that the actors and actresses were able to create these very catchy beats and sound from the, what seemed very random, objects was just amazing. As I already said, they were unbelievably good at what they did, and well deserving of any accolades that they get from it. I would highly recommend this Broadway show to anyone who would like to see people improvise with random objects. Definitely, it is an A+ quality show. ...

How To Attack Paired Passages in SAT Reading

How To Attack Paired Passages in SAT Reading SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Answering questions on multiple passages is a little different from answering questions on just one passage. Some of the same advice is still applicable, but there are strategies specific to multipassage questions as well. I’ll go over the different topics you might see covered in paired passages on the SAT as well as giving strategies for paired passage questions. feature image credit: Happy Furry Friday by Alan L, used under CC BY 2.0/Cropped from original. SAT Reading: A Quick Recap We have a detailed breakdown of SAT Reading in another article, but just in case you've forgotten: Reading is the first section of the SAT and consists of 52 questions on six passages to be answered in 65 minutes. The passages used on the SAT are always on varying subject areas and come in three varieties: single passages, passages with charts or tables that you also have to analyze, and paired passages or "comparing passages," which I will be discussing in this article. If you want more information about how to grapple with any or all of these passage varieties, read this article. Passage-based questions come in these seven basic flavors: Big Picture: Find the main point of a passage or paragraph, or from what perspective is this information being given. Little Picture/Detail: Find a specific detail in the text, with or without location information. Inference: Based on the information provided in the passage, infer information. Vocabulary in Context: Find how a word is used in the specified place (or choose a word that best encapsulates a description from the passage). Function: Explain how a phrase, sentence, or paragraph functions in a larger context (paragraph or passage). Author Technique: What is the tone or style of a passage (often asked to compare and contrast different authors’ techniques)? Find the Evidence: Which of these lines from the passage best supports your answer? Paired Passages On The SAT Out of the six passages on SAT Reading, two of them will be "paired" passages. These passages are usually 40-50 lines each and are followed by 10-12 questions. The first four to seven of these questions will be about the passages individually, while the last three to six questions will ask about both passages. Paired passages on SAT Reading often include introductory material with information about the genre, publication date, and sometimes even the general situation/topic of the text. Here's an example from a practice SAT: Questions 32-42 are based on the following passages.These passages are adapted from the Lincoln†Douglas debates. Passage 1 is from a statement by Stephen Douglas. Passage 2 is from a statement by Abraham Lincoln. Douglas and Lincoln engaged in a series of debates while competing for a US Senate seat in 1858. The introductory material above tells you about the type of passage (Passage 1 is from a statement by Douglas, Passage 2 is from a statement by Lincoln) and when the source of each passage was originally published/written (as well as when the Lincoln-Douglas Debates occurred). Like these Lincoln-Douglas passages, paired passages most frequently fall into the "U.S. Founding Documents and the Great Global Conversation" genre of SAT Reading passages. These passages are usually written pre-1900s and concern "issues and concerns central to informed citizenship" like the meaning of democracy, slavery, women's rights, civil rights and civil disobedience, and so on. The next most frequently covered subject area is science, with passages on topics such as extraterrestrial mining, organic farming, and the effect of the internet on the brain. Keep in mind, however, that while most paired passages in the past have been either science or Great Global Conversation passages, that doesn't mean that you might not come across a literary or social-science focused set of paired passages in the future. As far as the SAT is concerned, any topic could work as a set of paired passages. what lurks within by Sandy Schultz, used under CC BY 2.0. You never know what topics you'll find lurking in paired passages. Plan of Attack: All Paired Passages There is no one surefire strategy that will let you power through questions on paired passages, because part of it depends on how you approach the passage. Below, we've gathered our top three strategies for mastering paired passages; try out each to see which best works for you. Strategy 1: Start By Answering Questions on Individual Passages No matter how you approach the passage (thorough read first, questions first, or skimming and then questions), for paired passages, I highly, highly recommend answering the questions about each individual passage first before moving on to the multi-passage questions. Even if you're planning on guessing on questions that ask about multiple passages, it’s still worth it to take time to answer questions on individual passages. Each passage that appears as part of a set of paired passages is shorter and less complicated than the standalone long passages (since you're expected to compare passage to passage, not just focus in on one passage). Because of this, it's often easier to answer the individual passage questions- there are fewer words to read overall, and it's easier to find details. In addition, sometimes the questions the SAT asks about each individual passages will give you information that might be helpful when it comes to questions about both passages For instance, take a look at this question about an individual passage (of a set of paired passages): As used in line 32, "observed" most nearly means A) followed.B) scrutinized.C) contemplated.D) noticed. Now, here’s a question in the same section that asks about both passages: Based on the passages, Lincoln would most likely describe the behavior that Thoreau recommends in lines 64-66 ("if it...law") as A) an excusable reaction to an intolerable situation.B) a rejection of the country's proper form of remedy.C) an honorable response to an unjust law.D) a misapplication of a core principle of the Constitution. Lines 64-66 read "if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law." If you’ve answered the first question, which involves going back the sentence that contains line 32 ("But I do mean to say, that, although bad laws, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible, still while they continue in force, for the sake of example, they should be religiously observed"), then you know that A) cannot be correct and that B) is likely correct. This doesn't necessarily give you the correct answer right away (you still have to eliminate answer choices C) and D) ), but it will save you time. A final point to keep in mind about answering questions about individual passages is that for paired passages, the two passages will agree on some things and disagree on others. Answering questions on the individual passages can help you suss out what the passages may agree or disagree on before you get to questions on both passages that ask you to do exactly that. Strategy 2: Find The Hardest Paired Passage Questions For You...And Drill Them This strategy is not unique to paired passage questions on the SAT- figuring out your weakness in any area and then focusing your time on practicing what is difficult for you will help you improve. For paired passages on SAT Reading, however, figuring out your higher level weaknesses is more difficult because it is not always clear which skill (or even combination of skills) is being tested by the question. To help out with your SAT Reading paired passage triage, I've compiled a list of the most common ways each question type might appear in the context of paired passages. Note: The questions below are all questions that ask you about multiple passages. While occasionally vocab-in-context questions will be asked after a series of longer paired passages, these questions are always in reference to either Passage 1 or Passage 2, not both; therefore, they are omitted below. Function Questions In non-paired passages, function questions ask what a phrase, sentence, or paragraph is accomplishing within the context of the whole passage. When they appear on paired passages, function questions often show up on individual passages but appear relatively infrequently with regards to both passages. Here are two ways I've seen function questions asked about multiple passages: â€Å"In lines 61-65, the author of Passage 2 refers to a statement made in Passage 1 in order to" "In the context of each passage as a whole, the question in lines 25-27 of Passage 1 and lines 67-69 of Passage 2 primarily function to help each speaker" Big Picture, Detail, and Inference Questions While these questions test different skills, they will often be asked in the same way. Here are a few examples (modified from actual SAT practice tests): "The main purpose of each passage is to" "Both authors would most likely agree that the changes in cats' status that they describe would be" "Based on the passages, both authors would agree with which of the following claims?" "Webber would most likely have reacted to lines 65-68 ("The musical...terrible") of Passage 2 with" OMG! by Andrea Schaffer, used under CC BY 2.0/Cropped from original. Alas, SAT answer choices are not in cat facial expression form. While the first of these questions is clearly a main point question, it’s a little more hazy with others. The second question could be any of the three types, depending on the context. If "the change in cats' status" was the main point of the passages, it would be a main point question. If "the change in cats' statuses" was just mentioned in passing as part of a larger picture, it would be a detail question. If the answer choices for that question asked you to take what was in the text and go a step beyond, the question would be an inference question. Here are some more clearly-worded examples of each type of question: Big Picture Questions "Which choice identifies a central tension between the two passages?" "Based on the passages, one commonality in the stances Lincoln and Thoreau take towards house cats is that" "Both passages discuss the issue of household cats in relationship to" Inference Questions "How would Eliot most likely respond to Webber's statement in lines 30-34, Passage 1 ("As the...yowl")?" "Stevens would most likely have reacted to lines 65-68 ("Now...cat") of Passage 2 with" Detail Questions "On which of the following points would the authors of both passages most likely agree?" "Based on the passages, both authors would agree with which of the following claims?" Find the Evidence questions These questions show up in paired passages in much the same way as they do on single passages. Here are a couple of examples: "Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?"[previous question: "How would Eliot most likely respond to Webber's statement in lines 30-34, Passage 1 ("As the...yowl")?"] "Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?" [previous question: "Which choice best describes how Saintriver would most likely have reacted to Lai Wai's remarks in the final paragraph of Passage 2?"] Multi-skill questions Often, questions that ask about both passages will ask you to draw upon multiple skills. The most common examples of this are big picture/inference combo questions, which require you to figure out author perspective and then take one step beyond that. Examples: "The author of Passage 2 would most likely respond to the discussion of the future of household cats in lines 18-28, Passage 1, by claiming that such a future" "Saintriver in Passage 1 would most likely characterize the position taken by Lai Wai in lines 65-69 "Let...climb") as" "Which choice best describes the ways that the two authors conceive of the cat's proper position in the household?" It's also possible to have a combo of detail and find-the-evidence questions: "Which choice provides the best evidence that the author of Passage 2 would agree to some extent with the claim attributed to Hatshepsut in lines 41-43, Passage 1?" So what should you do to figure out which question type is most difficult for you? First, when going through practice tests (actual SAT practice tests, mind), be sure to circle the questions that you're unsure you've answered correctly. Next, compare the questions you've circled to the example questions in this article to figure out where your weaknesses lie. And finally, study our articles on specific SAT Reading question types to improve your skills in the areas that you struggle with. Strategy 3: Eliminate Answers This is somewhat related to the strategy of answering questions on individual passages first (because individual passage questions can help you out with the answers to questions on both passages). Questions that ask about both passages have to meet the same standard as questions about a single passage: there must be one unambiguously correct answer. What does this mean for multipassage questions? If part of an answer is wrong, then you can eliminate it completely. Here’s an example of a common multipassage inference question: [practice2q30correctB] Which choice best describes the relationship between the two passages? A) Passage 2 relates first-hand experiences that contrast with the clinical approach in Passage 1.B) Passage 2 critiques the conclusions drawn from the research discussed in Passage 1.C) Passage 2 takes a high-level view of a result that Passage 1 examines in depth.D) Passage 2 predicts the negative reactions that the findings discussed in Passage 1 might produce. Let’s say you’ve just finished answering questions about Passage 2 when you get to this question about both passages, so Passage 2 is pretty clear in your mind. You can start by eliminating the answers that are not true for Passage 2. In this case, you can immediately eliminate A), because Passage 2 does not relate first-hand experiences. (Since the passage is too long to include here, you either have to take my word for it or read the passage in the free practice test in which it appears here.) You can also start to lean towards B), because it is unambiguously true for Passage 2. Why? Passage 1 ends with the following sentence: "We’re exercising the neural circuits devoted to skimming and multitasking while ignoring those used for reading and thinking deeply." On the other hand, the second paragraph of Passage 2 begins with this sentence: "Experience does not revamp the basic information-processing capacities of the brain." As you can see from these sentences, Passage 2 certainly critiques at least one of the conclusions from Passage 1. To confirm it is the right answer, of course, you'd need to skim Passages 1 and 2 again to make sure that there aren't any other conclusions in Passage 1 (or if there are, that Passage 2 critiques them as well) and eliminate the last two answers. A common recommendation for eliminating answers is to cross out answers that are not contrasting (since oftentimes the SAT wants you to compare passages, and what’s the point in comparing passages that are the same?). In this example, eliminating answers that suggest the passages have similarities would cause you to eliminate C) and D), pointing you back to the correct answer, B). However, this "eliminate answers that don't suggest the passages differ" elimination approach should not be considered a hard and fast rule. Depending on the question, the correct answer choice may confirm the two passages agree on something. Therefore, for paired passage questions, we recommend that instead of trying to go with the general strategy of "eliminate answers that don't suggest the passages differ," you still go through the answer choices and eliminate them one by one. If You Must by Michael Coghlan, used under CC BY-SA 2.0/Cropped from original. You do not want this cat coming after you for accidentally eliminating the right answer. Strategies To Attack Paired Passage Questions: A Summary #1: Answer Single-Passage Questions First. Answering questions about individual passages will often give you clues to answer questions about both passages. #2: Find Your Weaknesses And Drill Them. Figure out which type of question you tend to get wrong and then focus on improving that skill. #3: Eliminate Answers. If part of an answer is wrong, then you can eliminate it entirely. What’s Next? Find out more about the overall structure and content of SAT Critical Reading in our guide to SAT Reading. Is there a "best way" to read the passage for SAT Reading questions? Learn different ways to approach SAT Reading passages here. Get detailed with your SAT prep by studying each skill SAT Critical Reading questions test, starting with big picture questions and words-in-context questions. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Reading lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

How to Do a Science Fair Project for School

How to Do a Science Fair Project for School Okay, you have a subject and you have at least one testable question. If you havent done so already, make sure you understand the steps of the scientific method. Try to write down your question in the form of a hypothesis. Lets say your initial question is about determining the concentration required for salt to be tasted in water. Really, in the scientific method, this research would fall under the category of making observations. Once you had some data, you could go on to formulate a hypothesis, such as: There will be no difference between the concentration at which all members of my family will detect salt in water. For elementary school science fair projects and possibly high school projects, the initial research may be an excellent project in itself. However, the project will be much more meaningful if you can form a hypothesis, test it, and then determine whether or not the hypothesis was supported. Write Down Everything Whether you decide on a project with a formal hypothesis or not, when you perform your project (take data), there are steps you can take to make the most of your project. First, write everything down. Gather your materials and list them, as specifically as you can. In the scientific world, it is important to be able to duplicate an experiment, especially if surprising results are obtained. In addition to writing down data, you should note any factors that could affect your project. In the salt example, it is possible that the temperature could affect my results (alter the solubility of salt, change the bodys rate of excretion, and other factors I might not consciously consider). Other factors you might note could include relative humidity, the  age of participants in my study, a list of medications (if anyone is taking them), etc. Basically, write down anything of note or potential interest. This information could lead your study in new directions once you start taking data. The in formation you take down at this point could make a fascinating summary or discussion of future research directions for your paper or presentation. Don't Discard Data Perform your project and record your data. When you form a hypothesis or seek the answer to a question, you probably have a preconceived idea of the answer. Dont let this preconception influence the data you record! If you see a data point that looks off, dont throw it out, no matter how strong the temptation. If you are aware of some unusual event that occurred when the data was being taken, feel free to make a note of it, but dont discard the data. Repeat the Experiment To determine the level at which you taste salt in water, you can keep adding salt to water until you have a detectable level, record the value, and move on. However, that single data point will have very little scientific significance. It is necessary to repeat the experiment, perhaps several times, to achieve significant value. Keep notes on the conditions surrounding a duplication of an experiment. If you duplicate the salt experiment, perhaps you would get different results if you kept tasting salt solutions over and over than if you performed the test once a day over a span of several days. If your data takes the form of a survey, multiple data points might consist of many responses to the survey. If the same survey is resubmitted to the same group of people in a short time span, would their answers change? Would it matter if the same survey was given to a different, yet seemingly, a  similar group of people? Think about questions like this and take care in repeating a project.

Data Protection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Data Protection - Essay Example For example, it is because of the emergence of a 'borderless' society that law enforcement agencies increasingly seek to be exempted from the full rigors of the privacy laws. That this kind of exemption can lead, in turn, to misuse and abuse of these powers is perhaps one of the 'costs' we have to bear if law enforcement agencies generally are to be effective in combating crime in the information age. However, before evaluating how ethically right is the State's intervention in the privacy of the members of the society for its proposed public interests, the very terminology of "Privacy" needs to be understood. Extensive material in literature on the definition of Privacy reveals that the term's meaning differs under various approaches to privacy offered by different scholars. Privacy's most widely spread definition has been coined by Warren & Brandeis (1890, p. 205) who define privacy, as an intrinsic value, the "right to be let alone" (Stahl, 2007). Another approach to define privacy by (Stalder, 2002) is that of informational self-determination which sees privacy as the right to determine who accesses person-related data. This interpretation is widely spread in continental Europe whereby privacy may be taken in terms of property which includes the protection of an individual's financial records, health records, ex-directory telephone numbers, criminal records, etc. If person-related information can be treated as property, then privacy issues can be reduced to the more established (intellectual) property law as Spinello (2000) puts it. As an instrumental value, privacy has been described as an important aspect of humans where a truly private space is necessary for mental health (Nissenbaum, 2001), is required to trust others and, more generally, to develop good social relations (Gallivan. & Depledge, 2003; Johnson, 2001).A functioning society thus requires the provision of privacy for its members (Introna, 2000) and that applies to data both computerized and on paper records of its members. The UK legislature's stance on their privacy policy brought about the Data protection Act in 1998 which supersedes the earlier Act of 1984, which aimed to implement Council Directive 95/46/EC on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data. Essentially, any person or organization (the data controller) collecting and processing personal data (that is, data which relate to a living individual who can be identified from those data, and includes any expression of opinion about the individual) must register with the Information Commissioner, and must specify various items of information about the data collected and the uses to which the data will be put (Harris 2006, p. 124).The DPA's purpose was to create universal European standards for the collection, storage and processing of personal information. It allowed certain individuals to know what information about them is being held. If enough members of these groups applied their rights they might be able to amass sufficient information to

Smart City Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Smart City - Essay Example identifies that majority of these individuals still live in slums (2011). Comparatively, although cities only occupy 2 to 3 percent of the total earth’s surface, they are responsible for about 75 percent of carbon secretions and 80 percent of the total energy consumption (Haftor, Mirijamdotter & Bradley, 2010). It is thus in this context that, to be livable in the future, cities require efficient urbanization plans with a huge emphasis placed on the concepts of sustainability, smart, and livability. Essentially, there are various factors which characterize and define Smart Cities. According to Sanseverino, these factors include smart economy, sustainability, smart mobility, economic development, smart people, a high quality of life and smart governance among others (2014). Thus, these factors are essential for the improvement of lives of individuals residing in cities. It is worth noting that these factors can be enhanced through the appropriate and effective use of infrastructure, Information Computer Technology (ICT), as well as social capital (Galbraith, 2014). As such, a Smart City creates an environment that not only presents the residents with numerous opportunities to be tapped, but also a broad range of actions and activities as embraced in its voluminous definitions. According to Giffinger, et al., a Smart City can be defined as â€Å"an innovative city† which makes use of ICTs and other strategies to increase urban competition, improve efficiency in the service s offered and improve the general quality of city life (2007). It is however worth noting that in order to achieve this, it is important to not only meet the needs of the present generation but also the future generations. Notably important, there are six important dimensions that are key to the creation of a Smart City. These dimensions can be identified as smart mobility, smart economy, smart people, smart environment, smart governance

Define and analyse the key features of global brands. What strategies Essay

Define and analyse the key features of global brands. What strategies should global brands adopt to be successful internationall - Essay Example The paper comprehensively explores the features of global brands along with the strategies adopted by successful global brands. 2. Features and strategies of successful global brands Various lists of top global brands have been accomplished. Companies such as Coca Cola, Sony, Microsoft, Google and IBM have since long been ranked as the top global firms. Managers are, therefore, confronted with the question of what features distinguish successful global brands from the rest? According to one study, various factors have been identified. Firstly, almost all successful global brands have dominant sales positions in their home market (Quelch, 1999). Even though these companies may be popular internationally, it is the home market sales that form their backbone. Secondly, global brands, by definition, are recognized in almost every part of the world and have at least some sales in these areas (Quelch, 1999). In other words, global brands achieve a â€Å"geographical balance† as far as their sales are concerned. ... Next, global brands must have consistency as far as their brand image and positioning is concerned. In other words, they must be perceived in a similar way by customers and must not have conflicting images in customers’ minds. For instance, Disney connotes identical family values across the globe (Quelch, 1999). Furthermore, most successful global brands have the same brand name as their corporate name. Although exceptions exist, this strategy allows such firms to gain greater awareness and stronger and consistent brand identity across the globe. However, global corporate giants such as Unilever and P&G could practically not use a single brand name owing to the myriad of brands under their umbrella. Next, most global brands are known for making something or being associated with a single product category. For instance, Microsoft is best known for its Windows software, Coca Cola has been associated with the Coke beverage and Phillip Morris has been associated with cigarettes. E ven, companies such as Samsung that have diversified their product offerings may stand holistically for product categories such as electronics. Finally, the country of origin effect plays a crucial role in making brands global (Pharr, 2005). Brands such as Mc Donald’s or Marlboro, for instance, reflect the American lifestyle and customer values of Americans. These values in turn drive greater brand loyalty towards the brand. This is exactly where global brands become recognized by virtue of their association with customers of a particular (home) country. For instance, Japanese electronics, French perfumes and German cars all enjoy country of origin effect (Quelch, 1999). Consistency in brand image of global brands is quintessential to deliver a coherent marketing message across the

MSc Product Design Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

MSc Product Design Analysis - Assignment Example 1441). In its broadest sense, remote control systems also include those systems that rely on the use of extended physical control links (i.e., using a physical link such as cables or wires and other similar conductors). More typically, however, the phrase is used to refer to wireless connections. There are four important kinds of remote control systems in common use: radio control, infrared remote control, remote-handling equipment, and telemetry (Cavendish, 2006). Radio control technology Radio control is the most common type of remote control, and at times the two terms are used interchangeably. As the term implies, this is a way of directing the operation of one or several devices from some distance away, through the use of radio waves. There are single-channel and multichannel control equipment. Single channel equipment are designed to control only one function, while multichannel equipment can control several functions (Cavendish, 2006). The single-channel radio control is compr ised of a transmitter, a relay, and an actuator or escapement. The transmitter is the device that sends a constant-frequency radio signal when its keying switch is moved. The signal is detected by the receiver and then amplified, triggering the relay which activates the actuator. It is the actuator that executes the single function command which the operator desires to be done. Because the single channel control can only operate one function, it is rather limited and operates basically by switching the function on and off (Cavendish, 2006). The multichannel radio control system, on the other hand, is designed to handle more than one function. Early models used tone transmitters that produced up to 12 ultrasonic tones; today, however, multichannel RC systems use digital pulsing systems which are more reliable and precise and therefore provide for finer control than tone transmitters. When the transmitter is switched on, it produces a series of pulses continuously. The message is enco ded in the spaces between pulses; the signal containing the pulses is received and amplified by the receiver, after which it is passed on to a decoder (Cavendish, 2006). Infrared remote control On the other hand, infrared remote control is probably the most familiar because it is widely used in a home setting, for operating electrical entertainment systems and similar devices. Infrared RC uses pulses of invisible infrared light as the medium of control; unlike radio control, it is important that infrared transmitters have a line-of-sight path to the sensor on the device being controlled. One characteristic of infrared is that it may bounce off walls, but not penetrate them (Cavendish, 2006). Upon depressing a button on an infrared remote-control handset, a microchip in it activates a signal to which the button relates. The signal is amplified by transistors and sent to a light-emitting diode (LED) that translates the signal to infrared light. The LED is located at the handsetâ€℠¢s front, so the light that is generated is sent to the device where a sensor detects it and prompts the desired action (Cavendish, 2006). Other forms of remote control devices There are devices that are

Michelangelo on the Divine, Universal truth and Beauty Research Paper

Michelangelo on the Divine, Universal truth and Beauty - Research Paper Example elangelo, a renowned artist whose works of early thirteenth century are popular, is a proper example of artists whose works illustrates philosophy behind it. This paper seeks to examine Michelangelo’s works of art on Divine, universal truth and beauty. Michelangelo’s creative work of sculpture in Rome brings about the issue of divine and beauty. We view him presenting the images of the characters in the bible and their actions. We see Adam’s image eating the apple, and besides him there is Eve (Michelangelo 56). Everything that happened in the Garden of Eden is captured by his work. He even goes to the extent of imagining the image of the angel who gave the orders in the Garden of Eden. He further decorates the chapel with beautiful images of Cain and Abel offering their sacrifices and their reactions after the sacrifice. Daniel, Zachariah and Haman are among the characters Michelangelo sculpts in the chapel thus decorating it (Condivi 24). I can imagine the scenery in the chapel accompanied by its divine significance to the ones who see them. The fact that Michelangelo chose to use the characters of the holy bible to do his work signifies some kind of divine connection. The writer of Michelangelo’s biography describes the situation under which Eve sculpted by Michelangelo acts. How she is guilty and fearful of justice and hope for divine mercy. The fact that Michelangelo’s paintings are more beautiful is not something easy. When asked, Michelangelo argue that all the work of paintings is done by his brains and not the hands (Molyneux 78). This implies that Michelangelo frequently prefer to link the philosophical art with his brain. Moreover, he lends himself fully to the source of divine things in his art; the beautiful nature. Each and every thing that is in nature should be looked at with appropriate keenness (Kool 15). It is by observing this nature keenly that Michelangelo came up with such beautiful paint ings. As the saying goes that

MSc Product Design Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

MSc Product Design Analysis - Assignment Example 1441). In its broadest sense, remote control systems also include those systems that rely on the use of extended physical control links (i.e., using a physical link such as cables or wires and other similar conductors). More typically, however, the phrase is used to refer to wireless connections. There are four important kinds of remote control systems in common use: radio control, infrared remote control, remote-handling equipment, and telemetry (Cavendish, 2006). Radio control technology Radio control is the most common type of remote control, and at times the two terms are used interchangeably. As the term implies, this is a way of directing the operation of one or several devices from some distance away, through the use of radio waves. There are single-channel and multichannel control equipment. Single channel equipment are designed to control only one function, while multichannel equipment can control several functions (Cavendish, 2006). The single-channel radio control is compr ised of a transmitter, a relay, and an actuator or escapement. The transmitter is the device that sends a constant-frequency radio signal when its keying switch is moved. The signal is detected by the receiver and then amplified, triggering the relay which activates the actuator. It is the actuator that executes the single function command which the operator desires to be done. Because the single channel control can only operate one function, it is rather limited and operates basically by switching the function on and off (Cavendish, 2006). The multichannel radio control system, on the other hand, is designed to handle more than one function. Early models used tone transmitters that produced up to 12 ultrasonic tones; today, however, multichannel RC systems use digital pulsing systems which are more reliable and precise and therefore provide for finer control than tone transmitters. When the transmitter is switched on, it produces a series of pulses continuously. The message is enco ded in the spaces between pulses; the signal containing the pulses is received and amplified by the receiver, after which it is passed on to a decoder (Cavendish, 2006). Infrared remote control On the other hand, infrared remote control is probably the most familiar because it is widely used in a home setting, for operating electrical entertainment systems and similar devices. Infrared RC uses pulses of invisible infrared light as the medium of control; unlike radio control, it is important that infrared transmitters have a line-of-sight path to the sensor on the device being controlled. One characteristic of infrared is that it may bounce off walls, but not penetrate them (Cavendish, 2006). Upon depressing a button on an infrared remote-control handset, a microchip in it activates a signal to which the button relates. The signal is amplified by transistors and sent to a light-emitting diode (LED) that translates the signal to infrared light. The LED is located at the handsetâ€℠¢s front, so the light that is generated is sent to the device where a sensor detects it and prompts the desired action (Cavendish, 2006). Other forms of remote control devices There are devices that are

Gay couples Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gay couples - Essay Example in Cooke, para.2), that two men or women can raise kids better in terms of sexual growth, than a man or a woman in a traditional home setting. Kids of gay couples do not have to see one of their parents involved in extra-marital affairs. They do not have to see their moms and dads fighting with each other every day (Sharee). Kids pay little attention to what the relationship between their parents is, or whether or not their relationship relates to societal norms or not. All they want is love, of parents towards them and also towards each other. So, the relationship between parents has nothing to do with children becoming homo- or hetero-sexual. To conclude, children of same-sex couples are all the same as children of gay couples. They get full attention from their parents, and this is all that is needed for healthy sexual growth. Becoming a homosexual is a matter of abnormal sexual orientation by nature, and not by

Review on The Pursuit of Happyness Essay Example for Free

Review on The Pursuit of Happyness Essay The Pursuit of Happyness is a very moving film about a man and his quest for a better life. It is an inspiring case study of how many of the elements of happiness work together from relationships, to poverty, to positive mental attitude and determination. The movie is based on the true story of Chris Gardener, a struggling entrepreneur in 1980s San Francisco, with one driving ambition- to be a good father to his son. He tries to improve the family financial situation by purchasing and selling medical equipment, but the investment does not work out and the family sinks further into poverty. He sees his chance to make good after admiring a sports car on the street in the business district, where all the people seem happy. The car owner tells Chris he is a stock broker and anyone who is good with numbers and with people can be successful as a stock broker- even without a college degree. Chris uses his people skills and demonstrates the value of good relationships to get a chance at an internship where he must compete with 20 other candidates for 6 months for one paid position. His wife leaves him, he loses his apartment, bank accounts, credit cards, and has to spend time in jail, but all through it he is dedicated to keeping his son and pursuing his dream. The title, Pursuit of Happyness spelled with a y,comes from some graffiti at the daycare center and is also a reference to an essay written by a biracial man in the US shortly after the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson. The movie is beautifully acted by Will Smith and well written. It shows how people without money are often victimized and bullied by those who do have money and power. Yet Chris Gardener repeatedly demonstrates the importance of good relationships even with people who treat him badly. He shows the importance of knowing his strengths and using them, even in unconventional ways. His optimism turns into dogged determination as he demonstrates incredible persistence and creativity in his pursuit of happiness. The realism and emotional punch of the Christopher Gardner story makes this a moving and inspiring drama. Whether you are inspired to be grateful for your own circumstances or by the value of grace and determination, this movie is sure to show you something about happiness- its importance and how to get it. The Pursuit of Happyness teaches us a lot about the importance of virtues and strengths in our happy lives.

Analysing Principles Of Self Defense In Law Philosophy Essay

Analysing Principles Of Self Defense In Law Philosophy Essay All the defenses only have an evidential burden i.e. the defendant (D) has the burden of raising the defense with evidence in order to make it a live issue but the prosecution has burden to negative the defense. (2) Origin All the defenses have their origins in common law and are common law defenses. (3) Full Defense All the defenses offer a complete defense i.e. if the defense is accepted D is acquitted. (4) Intoxication In the application of all the defenses, any evidence of voluntary intoxication is irrelevant since D has made himself incapable of assessing e.g. the reasonable use of force, threats etc in the defenses hence he is culpable. II. Contrast (1) Generality There is no general defense of necessity but self-defense, duress by threats and duress of circumstances are general defenses. (2) Application Self-defense is defense to all crimes while duress by threats and duress of circumstances apply to all crimes except murder, attempted murder and some forms of treason. The defense of necessity operates on a piecemeal basis but it can never be a defense to a charge of murder. (3) Statutory backing Some statutes expressly provide for the defense of necessity while there is no statutory backing for the remaining defenses. (4) Defendants characteristics The defendants characteristics are irrelevant in self-defense and the defense of necessity but in duress by threats and duress of circumstances the jury in deciding whether a reasonable person in such a condition might have been impelled to do what D did could consider Ds age, sex, pregnancy or any recognized mental illness. (5) Test The test of self-defense is a subjective one in that D must be treated according to the facts D actually believed them to be regardless of whether or not it was objectively reasonable. However, the reasonableness of the belief was material to the question of whether it was actually held or not. For duress by threats and duress of circumstances, there is both a subjective and objective element. The first limb (subjective) asks whether D was compelled to act as he did because of the circumstances he honestly believed he would die or be seriously physically injured. The second limb (objective) questions whether a person of reasonable firmness sharing Ds characteristics would have responded in the same way to the threats/circumstances. In order to apply the defense of necessity, the court needs to be satisfied that D acted reasonably and proportionately in order to avert the greater evil. (6) Mistake With respect to self defense, duress by threats, duress of circumstances and necessity the question is what the defendant actually believed even if he was mistaken.  But the belief must nonetheless be a reasonable belief in the case of duress by threats, duress of circumstances and necessity. For self defense, the belief does not have to be a reasonable one but the more unreasonable the belief the less likely it is that it was actually held. (7) Limitations Self-defense can only be used as a defense for the purpose of defending D himself/herself, his/her property or another persons while in duress by threats and duress of circumstances both must have an immediate threat/harm of death or serious physical injury and the threat/harm must be directed towards the commission of the particular offense. Moreover, the threat/harm can be directed against D, his/her immediate family or someone close. Although the defense of necessity has not been completely rejected yet its application appears in the most trying circumstances and there must be pressure from an extraneous event. In order to successfully plead the defense of self-defense, the force used must be in response to an immediate and particular threat, not in relation to a future time. In determining the reasonableness of force, the court will consider its proportionality, whether D demonstrated an unwillingness to use force and whether the force was used in the heat of the moment. In duress by threats, the defense will fail if D voluntarily exposed itself to the threat. While in duress by circumstances, the defense will not apply if the commission of an offense is merely the result of Ds own subjective thought processes and emotions. Question 2 I. Introduction Although only of academic concern, Walker LJ in Re A (Children) made it clear that these defenses were actually either regarded as justifications or excuses in Criminal law. II. Analysis Self-defense and necessity is viewed in the eyes of the law as conduct which is justified. The circumstances are such that the court recognizes that it was fitting and right for the defendant (D) to act as he did thus he is not criminally liable. Duress, by threats or circumstances, is normally viewed as providing D with an excuse for what is, on the face of it, criminal conduct. From a legal perspective, even though D has committed an offense but since D only did so because of a forceful external influence, human or non-human, D was left with no other alternative but to act as required. Ds action is not applauded yet the law understands thus such an act is excused. The main difference between justifications and excuses is the evaluation of Ds act from a moral point of view. A justified act e.g. use of reasonable force in a lawful arrest is morally correct but robbing a bank in response to a threat of death, for example, which is prima facie against the law nonetheless Ds act is excused, taking into account the threat, allowing him to avoid criminal liability. At the micro level, a number of finer distinctions are also seen. Firstly, an excusable act may be resisted by another but in relation to justifiable conduct the person threatened may not do so. Secondly, excused conduct causes harm to society and unlike an act which is justified parties other than the excused D remain guilty. Lastly, with regards to an excusatory act all the facts must be known but in a justified conduct D ought to be allowed to rely on facts although he was unaware of at the time of conduct. III. Conclusion Although from a theoretical point of view it is not right to describe these concepts as defenses yet in practicality it makes little difference whether D is excused or justified since the end result of both is the same i.e. D is acquitted. Question 3 I. Duress of circumstances and Necessity Duress of circumstances is a defence of necessity in all but name. The judiciary is fearful in the abuse of the defence recognizing that defendants could simply use the defence of necessity as a veil to cover their true criminal intentions, claiming that the lesser evil was chosen and on that basis they should be exonerated. The application of the defence of necessity has generally been restricted by the courts throughout common law jurisdictions. In fact the English courts have essentially used duress of circumstances as a means to cover cases that would otherwise come within the scope of necessity. Though it is argued that the defense of necessity is necessary in certain exceptional cases e.g. medical cases yet asserting a defense which operates on a cases by case basis and whose exact boundaries are indefinable it beings a degree of uncertainty into the law. Moreover, the defence of duress of circumstances is capable of dealing with exceptional and difficult cases in a way that necessity may not be and by allowing necessity to co-exist with duress of circumstances it may in fact inhibit the development of a broader defence of necessity. Thus, I propose that the defense of necessity should be subsumed under the defense of duress of circumstances. II. Duress Murder The murder exception rule in the defence of duress is inconsistent both with the human instinct of self preservation and the underlying rationale for the defence which acts as a concession to human frailty. Moreover, the ability of jurors to assess adequately a defence of duress in cases of murder particularly in the light of the strict definition of the defence only makes the case stronger for removing the exception. The defense acts as an excuse not a justification so although heroic behavior is met with great merit in Criminal law yet the failure to achieve should not be met with punishment from the state. Threat Duress ought to be available even for threats of a lesser harm than death or serious physical injury provided that the harm threatened exceeds the harm resulting from the commission of the offense i.e. balance of harms. This is because a number of threats although not of a physical nature are still sufficient to overcome the powers of human resistance and the law should recognize that. But this reform can only be properly considered along with the question of shifting the burden of proving duress presently lying on the prosecution onto the defendant since it would become too easy for the defendant to escape liability.

Research Paper Notes on Diabetes :: Prevalence and Incidence

Article #1: Prevalence/Incidence Global Estimates of the Prevalence of Diabetes for 2010 and 2030 Diabetes is a disease that continues to increase worldwide. It continues to be a large problem in both developed and undeveloped countries. This article summarizes a study that focused on the future estimated number of people diagnosed with diabetes from 2010 to 2030. The findings were that the amount of people diagnosed with the disease would increase worldwide by about 1% (increasing by about 200 million more diagnosed adults ranging from ages 20-79 years old). It does not sound like much, but the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in underdeveloped countries would increase by about 69% by 2030 and the number diagnosed in developed countries would increase by about 20% by 2030. This article goes to show that the problem of diabetes is not going away anytime soon. It is a growing epidemic that continues to affect millions of people worldwide. I think that more people need to be educated about diabetes and their personal lifestyle choices that affect their health in such an immense manner. I know that it is easier said than done, but knowledge is power. And in this case, the more knowledge people have about diabetes and diabetes prevention, the more the numbers of people diagnosed with the disease will go down. Article #2: Treatment Liraglutide: Effects Beyond Glycaemic Control in Diabetes Treatment The article expresses the correlation of obesity and patients with type 2 diabetes and how the GLP-1 receptor, Liraglutide, can stimulate weight loss in these obese patients. Because of their high levels of insulin resistance, obese individuals have a greater chance of being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. After performing clinical trials by treating patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it was found that Liraglutide does stimulate weight loss as well as increase beta-cell function. Scientists believe that Liraglutide can decrease the number of patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes as well as prevent Cardio Vascular Disease. I found this article to be very interesting. I knew that obesity played a large role in the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, but I did not know the lengths to which scientists are trying to decrease obesity through certain hormone injections. I think that the growing obese population in the United States should adopt a healthier overall lifestyle before having to turn to hormone injections for weight loss. Even though the use of Liraglutide can lower both Type 2 diabetes and Cardio Vascular Disease, so can a healthy lifestyle.

My Life Essay

Good morning to the honourable judges, wise time-keepers and contestants. First of all, I need you to relax, and reflect on what you have done the past months. Did any of your activity involve a random act of kindness? Like rescuing an injured cat, helping the homeless or even helping a stranger with his/her work. Yes, I’m going to talk on random act of kindness. We are living at a period of time in which where ever we look, people are always rushing in the hustle and bustle of city life to complete their daily chores. For some it maybe getting to work on time, preparing breakfast for the whole family or completing their homework. Inspite of all this hustle, we should spend a few seconds to observe around us, we could make a difference in a person’s life. Ladies and gentleman, observe around you, have you ever noticed the homeless children or animals around you? I agree time is gold but can’t you spare some time and approach them with a broad smile on your face. A simple smile is a universal language of friendliness and kindness. You can offer to buy them a drink, or provide shelter for them. According to Scott Adams, an Amerian cartoonist, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. As I was browsing through the Internet, I read upon a few stories and there is one in particular which I would like to share with you . A man named Jay and his wife were in Mexico on a holiday.As they walked into a McDonald’s restaurant, they saw a woman begging at the door and she had with her a young boy who was about 3 years old and about 2 feet tall, very fine built with short black hair. His face looked dirty, not so much in an unkempt way, but more like a young boy who had been left to his own devices and his smile shone like none other they have ever seen. The more they watched him the more they were drawn to him. He was playing with a stick at the front step, and as people left McDonalds, he would flash a mischievous smile and hold his hand out for a Peso. You could tell he did not care if he got one or not, he was just trying to help his mum out who was doing the real begging. They became enraptured watching him.They wanted to give him a gift. lt was then that it occurred to them that McDonalds always has toys for kids! So they went and got him a McHappy meal. They handed to him the bag of food and the toys which he did not imagine he would ever have. He was so thrilled. He grabbed the bag and ran across the step to his mother, â€Å"Mama, Mama, Mama.† As they left McDonalds, tucked into the corner of the step with his mother beside him, was the beaming little boy with a pop between his legs, fries hanging out of his mouth and his new plastic treasure clamped in his left hand. With his right hand he waved furiously at them and then in perfect English said, â€Å"Thank you very much!†. This story is a clear example of how a random act of kindness can touch someone’s heart. Aesop quoted that â€Å" No act of kindness no matter how small is wasted†. So if you think doing a simple kind deed is nothing, think again because for the person who gained from you random act of kindness, is indeed truly grateful. There is also the strange phenomenon where a dog helped a kitten that fell into a small drain. The kitten was all wet, shivering and giving out sounds in agony. The dog picked the kitten up with its mouth and dragged it towards the sidepath. Then, it licked the kitten’s body a few times with its tounge to dry him and ran away. So, you see ladies and gentleman, even a dog knows how to be kind. Recently, I witnessed an incident where 7 stray dogs were trying to cross a fully packed road. At that moment, a man driving an old sedan switched on his hazard lights and stopped in the middle of the road in a way blocking traffic going both ways. The dogs then quickly crossed the road while wagging their tails. The man then went on as though nothing had happened. I was awestruck. If everyone were like him, the world would be a better place to live in. Besides, there is a lot of things that you can do which is categorised as random act of kindness. Like, sharing your lunch with the needy, stopping for a pedestrian to cross the street or doing chores at home that you normally don’t do. Think of your mum’s reaction when she finds out that you have done some chores. How surprised she will be! This is the least we can spontaneously do for someone who we love and cherish a lot. We obviously don’t know how long we would live. So why not, make a difference in someone’s life while we can. So from now on, when we look at someone, a beggar, a child, stray animals, let’s try to do something that will truly make them happy. The smile that we receive in return of the kind deed is priceless. Trust me! The moment you see the smile, you will truly know that it is worth it. In one of Kahlil Gibran’s quotes, a Lebanese born American philosopher had said that â€Å" Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair but manifestations of strength and resolution†. Do you know that, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is an organization set up to encourage people to carry out good deeds. People all over the world are experiencing the pleasure of having kind deeds done for them and they in turn reciprocate. These are countless ways for people to show acts of kindness. So, whether you buy a drink for the road sweeper, give a bowl of water to a stray dog, provide a shelter to a cat, or even as simple as helping your teacher to carry their stuffs to the staffroom, it is all categorised as random act of kindness. According to Charlie Chaplin â€Å" we think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness†. I truly hope that I have inspired each and every one of you to conduct a random act of kindness. Fit this into your busy daily routine and let’s contribute to building a better society. Thank you.

Chemistry of Anti-money Counterfeiting Technology Essay

I. Abstract Counterfeiting money is a big business for criminals. Nearly $70 million of fake currency gets used daily, costing consumers millions. In the present day, there are many new technologies that have been discovered and studied in order to help put counterfeiters out of business. Our currency is something that we must protect, which is why these technologies and discoveries are very important in the safety and development of our economy. The new generation of Philippine banknotes includes new and more advanced technology to ensure the safety of the genuine Philippine banknotes. This is to prevent money counterfeiting in our country. These new features include more advanced photo editing, which features micro printing on the different images and texts on the banknotes, a unique rough texture, a new system of serial numbering, advanced security fibers and security threads, watermark technology, and optically variable ink. These are the most advanced and efficient methods of preventing mon ey counterfeiting today. Provided in this paper is a detailed explanation and description of each security precaution and a detailed review of the methods used to execute them. II. Denominations of Currency The new generation Philippine banknotes composes of the denominations twenty, fifty, one hundred, two hundred, five hundred, and one thousand peso bills. The new twenty-piso bill honors President Manuel L. Quezon, the first President of the Republic of the Philippines on the front of the bill while the reverse shows the image of the breathtaking Banaue Rice Teraces and the Palm Civet from the Cordilleras. The fifty-piso bill commemorates President Sergio Osmeà ±a who led our country at the critical stage of World War II. The reverse shows an image of the Taal Lake, one of the world’s smallest active volcanoes and the Maliputo Fish. The one hundred-piso bill pays tribute to President Manuel Roxas who prioritized the crafting of the Central Bank charter then provided the leadership for the reconstruction of our country after the devastation of the Second World War. On the reverse, the near perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano and the Butanding or Whale Shark is also featured. The two hundred-piso bill features President Diosdado Macapagal who restored the celebration of Philippine independence on June 12. The reverse features the unique icon of Bohol, the Chocolate Hills and the Tarsier. The five hundred-piso bill is a salute to the champions of Philippine democracy, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and President Corazon Aquino. The reverse features the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. Finally, the one thousand-piso bill features three of our war heroes, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, Josefa Llanes Escoda, and General Vicente P. Lim. The reverse features the Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park and the world famous South Sea Pearl. Figure 1 The money denominations come in specific color schemes of orange for the twenty-piso bill, red for the fifty-piso bill, violet for the one hundred-piso bill, green for the two hundred-piso bill, yellow for the five hundred-piso bill, and blue for the one thousand-piso bill. III. Security Features The Philippine Banknote or the Philippine Peso Bill finds the need to be current with the use of new technology to enhance the security of banknotes to remain impossible to replicate by criminals. The new generation Philippine banknotes incorporates the latest available technology in banknote security. This is the reason that they have developed new designs and upgraded the security features of all our banknotes. A. Photo Editing The Central bank of the Philippines uses a special photo editing software to ensure specific prints that are impossible to copy by criminals. Some of these specifications include nano prints on the images, lines, and words on the banknotes. B. Texture The note is not smooth to the touch, but a bit rough. This is because the bank notes are made of 80% cotton and 20% Philippine Abaca. Aside from that, the raised prints that are embossing from the Intaglio printing process give the bill a unique tactile feel. Intaglio printing is a printing technique in which the image is incised into a surface. Normally, copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) are used, and the incisions are created by etching ot engraving the image. In printing, the surface is covered in ink and then rubbed vigourously with tartalan cloth or newspaper to remove ink from the surface, leaving it in theincisions. The very sharp printing obtained from the intaglio process is hard to imitate by other means. Intaglio also allows for the creation of latent images, which are only visible when the document is viewed at a very shallow angle. Figure 2 C. Serial Numbers The serial numbers are composed of one or two prefix letters and six to seven digits in asymmetric or increasing size. Serial numbers are not difficult to forge; yet they make banknotes easier to track and audit. Figure 3 D. Security Fibers The paper used to print our currency has tiny threads of fibers embedded into the paper. These red and blue fibers glow under ultraviolet light. If the bill has no red and blue fibers that glow, then it is probably a fake bill. Fluorescent marks are the invisible phosphor dyes on banknotes that glow under UV or blacklight. This glow will be visible under a money detector device. There are two kinds of security fibers. The first one is the visible security fibers. These are easily seen in current Philippine banknotes as the blue and red fibers that are randomly spread throughout the front and back of the paper. The other kind is the invisible security fiber. These glow a fluorescent yellow under ultraviolet light. Genuine security fibers in Philippine banknotes can be easily plucked out (yes, try it!) with the aid of a needle. Counterfeit money usually only prints the fibers on paper, thus they cannot be plucked out. Figure 4 E. Watermarks The watermark shows a shadowed image of the portrait and the banknotes’ denomination on the blank space when viewed against the light from either side of the bill. This is possible due to paper density variations. Figure 5 The word â€Å"Pilipino†, written in our ancient Filipino alphabet, Baybayin, can be seen in its complete form when the banknote is viewed against the light. F. Concealed Value When the banknote is rotated at a 45-degree angle and tilted downwards, we can see the concealed denominational value super imposed on the smaller version of the portrait. Figure 7 G. Security Threads Both the twenty-piso and the fifty-piso have a 2mm wide security thread that can be visible when viewed against the light. The one hundred, two hundred, five hundred, and one thousand-piso bills have a 4mm wide stich-like security thread embedded on the bill and when viewed from different angles, its color changes from red to green. The embedded security thread is a special thread vertically implanted off center of the note during the manufacture of the banknote paper. The front of the thread carries a clear text – the initials of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the numeric denomination of the bank note. The back of the thread is also printed with the initials BSP. There are two kinds of security threads. One is a thin aluminum (Al) coated and partly demutualized polyester film thread with microprinting, which is embedded in the security paper as banknote or passport paper. The other kind of security thread is the single or multicolor sewing thread made from cotton or synthetic fibers, mostly UV fluorescent, for the bookbinding of passport booklets. Figure 8 H. Optically Variable Device Patch The five hundred-piso bill and the one thousand-piso bill have the optically variable device patch, a reflective foil. For the five hundred-piso bill, it reveals the small BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) logo and the blue parrot, while the one thousand-piso bill reveals the small BSP logo and the South Sea Pearl inside a clam. The patches change color from red to green when the note is rotated 90-degrees. Figure 9 I. Optically Variable Ink A security feature exclusive to the one thousand-piso note is the optically variable ink for the embossed denomination value on the lower right corner on the face of the banknote, which changes color from green to blue when it is viewed in different angles. Color changing inks are inks containing pearlescent pigments that change color when viewed at a different angle. The color of the ink does not actually change, but the angle of the light to the viewer’s eye changes and thus creates the change in color. A number of types are available, including green to purple, gold to green and green to lilac. Optically variable inks (OVI) are very expensive inks applied on banknotes as a security feature. So far, only the 1000 peso bills have this. There are two versions of OVI printing on the 1000 peso banknotes. This is an excellent security feature because counterfeiters will need a lot of effort and money to replicate it. They are called optically variable inks because tiny flakes of color-shifting film are incorporated in the intaglio ink. Thus, prints of OVI change color when viewed from different angles.

Motivation techniques

Entrepreneurs who start and build new businesses are more celebrated than studied. They embody, in the popular imagination and in the eyes of some scholars, the virtues of â€Å"boldness, ingenuity, leadership, persistence and determination but policy makers see them as crucial source of employment and productivity growth; our systematic knowledge of how entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses is limited, since the activity does not occupy a prominent place in the study of business and economics because laments about the ineffable nature of entrepreneurship dominate the discourse about new and fledging businesses.Most new business lack any ideas or assets that differentiate them from their competitors, they don’t really earn profit; they merely provide a wage to their proprietors that is set by a competitive market for the proprietor’s labor, and for many individuals this wage turns out to be lower than what they could make working for someone else, and therefore , they have a powerful incentive to shut down. Most entrepreneurs agree that their businesses generates a positive cash flow within months of launch and the profitability of their businesses is difficult to estimate; small firms often keep inaccurate financial records and commingle company and personal expenditures.The capacities of the incorporated companies finance their high rates of growth through internal generated funds suggesting that their profit margins are significantly positive. The belief that many entrepreneurs are special has widespread appeal, but we cannot easily specify their exact distinctive traits and skills but folklore attributes some of the many qualities of the entrepreneur as; great energy, vision, leadership skills, and lastly a never-say-die spirit, to name just a few. In addition formal research on entrepreneurs, also assumes as individuals with distinctive traits and skills, but contrastingly empirical studies provide weak support, in â€Å"profiling th e entrepreneur’s personality† (Adler, 1999).Although, the studies have suffered from basic methodological problems, for instance, many researchers have tried to identify a universal entrepreneurial personality where they have implicitly assumed that owners of the car dealerships, self-employed accountants and the founders of software companies share common traits that distinguish them from the population at large, but this seems unlikely, given the wide variety of problems and tasks that these individuals face; a related problem also is derived from the arbitrary selection of traits, and   consequently researchers have studied whether entrepreneurs have ‘Type A’ personalities or a high speed for achievement, without specifying why these qualities matter.In business theories and models studies, most businesses mature gradually and only exceptional business start with talent, capital and strategies that will rapidly propel them into the ranks of large well established companies. Fledging businesses turn into long-lived companies through a protracted, multistage process rather than through a one-short transformation. It requires decades of sustained investment to develop the necessary systems of coordinated assets, since, developing the assets that will sustain a long-lived firm requires much more investment than does when starting a promising business. This therefore implies that entrepreneurs have to undertake initiatives that require considerable out of-pocket outlays or opportunity costs to develop brand names, technologies, broad product lines, and distribution channels.Fore knowledgeEntrepreneurs cannot easily envision the design of an effective system of complementary assets in advance. For example the distinctive features of the Wal-mart discount chain is its focus on underserved rural areas, low prices,   purchasing skills, investments in information technology, employee culture and the greater store entrances; all these hav e an impressive logic and coherence. The Wal-Mart system evolved over more than a decade, after much trial and error and some failed initiatives, rather than through the execution of a master plan (Ballard, & Langrehr, 1993).Learning by doingSome critical assets like the know-how technique and reputations can only be developed through repeated action. Firms build relationship with customers by consistently providing high-quality service and products. They develop valuable brand names and distribution capabilities after decades of effort and investment. Therefore, the evolution of coordination mechanism follows the gradual development of assets.The   mainstream economic theories has little to tell us about how and why some firms survive and grow and others do not; since in the standard microeconomic theory where it focuses on perfect competition among many identical competitors, the question of survival does not arise. Although variations in the size and longevity of firms have no influence on outcomes, and the evolution of a specific firm is irrelevant; it makes little difference in this theory whether changes in characteristics are treated as altering the existing firm or were able to implement early were rewarded with growth in output and value; the others joined a mass exodus (Bielski, 2007).In the life-cycle models; or ‘stages of growth’ or life cycle models often predictions on how firms develop as well as advice to entrepreneurs on nurturing their new ventures. The models recognize that businesses evolve in a gradual way; The Ford Motor Company and General Motors, which came to dominate the US automobile industry, evolved in markedly different ways. Ford’s evolution reflects founder Henry Ford’s engineering and manufacturing interests.It was produced on a moving assembly line, with machines specialized for minute tasks and extreme division of labor. The system of mass production of a single standardized productivity yielded c ost savings, which allowed for low prices, which in turn helped expand consumer demand. Ford Motor Company grew by replicating this system in even larger and more vertically integrated facilities.The survival of such businesses depends more on effective adaptation to unexpected problems and opportunities than on the entrepreneur’s ability to formulate and implement a strategy. This therefore means long-term strategies do play an important role in the management of large corporations. Entrepreneurs who build long-lived firms establish audacious goals for their companies. For the founders of promising businesses may have a far-reaching vision, but it is not necessary for starting their ventures.These goals help entrepreneurs build large and long-lived firms contrary to the case where fledgling businesses do not automatically undertake the initiatives and investments needed to build a system of coordinated assets according to the satisfaction principle, audacious goals must stim ulate the search for these initiatives and investments.Employees’ motivationThe diversity of activities in these corporations requires the boards and top executives to delegate their control and management responsibilities to employees with the appropriate specific knowledge. The top executives do not initiate or implement many concrete proposals, but rather influence the initiatives undertaken by subordinates by formulating an overall corporate strategy and the processes for evaluating new initiative, not specific investment decisions. Instead of monitoring the implementation of every project, the board evaluated aggregate performance and the control system. For example, the board may evaluate whether the auditing function has sufficient independence from the operating managers.There is separation of ‘management’ and ‘control by the broad policy which leads to a corresponding separation of roles for specific decisions, and this is done by instituting monit oring devices and policies boards whereby top executives can give decision making rights to subordinates whom they cannot directly supervise while protecting shareholders from abuse of these rights. For instance, a sales person or executive or brand manager who has direct knowledge of customer needs and competitive offerings may initiate proposals for a new product (BhidÉ, 2003).It cannot be denied that, chance events often provide the spark for starting a promising business, entrepreneurs often encounter their opportunities by accident. In connection two factors also predispose some individuals to look for and take advantage of chance events; human capital and family backgrounds, and tolerance for ambiguity. In general, the transition of a fledging business into a large, well-established corporation requires a fundamental transformation rather than a simple scaling up, because of some basic differences in their attributes, since the profits of fledging businesses are derived fr om a few factors. Given the appropriate predisposition, what traits and skills determine an individual’s capacity to adapt to new circumstances and to secure resources on the converse the qualities do not have a material bearing on an individual’s willingness and capacity to start a promising business.ConclusionThe transformation from fledging to mature firm requires protracted, purposive investment. The firms acquire a system of coordinated assets gradually, because capital constraints limit the size of individual investments and since it takes time to build customer relationship, know-how, and other such intangible assets. This process is not predestined, such as the normal development of an infant into an adult; entrepreneurs must consciously abandon the pursuit of short-term cash flow in favor of long-term investment. And although the sequent and pattern of investments are not predetermined, they are not random or opportunistic either, thus building long-lived firm s involves the coordination of investments and efforts across functions and time. In specific, entrepreneurs have to adopt and articulate audacious goals and formulate a set of general rule (Bielski, 2007).ReferencesAdler, P. S. (1999). â€Å"Hybridization of Human Resource Management at Two Toyota   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Transplants,† In J. Liker, M. Fruin, and P. S. Adler, eds., Remade in America:   Ã‚   Transplanting and Transforming Japanese Management Systems. New York:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Oxford University Press.Ballard, M., & Langrehr, F. W. (1993). What CPAs Can Learn from Wal-Mart. Journal   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Accountancy, 176(5), retrieved November 21, 2007, from Questia  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   database:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   www.questia.comBhidÉ, A. V. (2003). The Origin and Evolution of New Businesses. New York: Oxford University Press. Ret rieved November 21, 2007, from Questia database:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   www.questia.comBielski, L. (2007). Texas Growth plus Wal-Mart Locations: Wood forest National Bank   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ABA Banking Journal, 99(6), 42. Retrieved November 21, 2007, from Questia  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   database: www.questia.com

A good leader Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A good leader - Research Paper Example Later in his adulthood, Lincoln moved to Illinois where he undertook various jobs including that of a postmaster, shopkeeper and surveyor. He joined politics, serving the Illinois legislature between 1834 and 1836, and later becoming an attorney. Lincoln married Mary Todd in 1842 with whom they raised four sons (White 9). In the 1850s, Lincoln went back to politics at a time of great concern over slavery in America. Leading the Republican Party, Lincoln was considered as being politically moderate. Though he lost the senatorial race in 1858, he stood out as a strong politician. In 1860, he won the presidency by about 400,000 popular votes, also carrying the Electoral College. He was re-elected into presidency in 1864 where he encouraged Southerners to drop their weapons and join in a reunion. An actor, John Wikes Booth, assassinated Lincoln on the Good Friday of 1865 because he thought that the president was helping the South (Keneally 17). The life of Lincoln in general inspires the recognition of a good leader in him. First, Abraham Lincoln was a people’s champion who preferred sharing first hand in the experiences of his people. In his four-year tenure as the president, Lincoln had most of his time spent with the troops. As insinuated by Drehle, he appreciated them as the people who would get the job done (113). His involvement ensured that he timely gained critical information to make appropriate decisions. He would meet with cabinet members and generals, not just in their offices, but also at their homes and the field so as to provide leadership and direction. This enabled him to build strong alliances which proved beneficial at both professional and personal level. This trait is also observed during his service as a lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, earning him the â€Å"natural wanderer† tag because he sought information and facts pertinent to the cases he

What Strategies are currently used in the outdoor learning environment Essay

What Strategies are currently used in the outdoor learning environment to support childrens development within the Early Years - Essay Example It can play a critical role in the development of these children because it provides a different perspective to the learning process. This is more so if the children are in the early years, what is commonly referred to as the Early Years Foundation Stage (Perry 2001). Research has shown that the act of being indoors has a positive impact on the child’s sense of well-being while also contributing to the various aspects of the child’s development. Being outdoors gives the young children an opportunity to make full use of their senses, to explore their surrounding and an opportunity to be physically active (Jones 2004). They get an opportunity to experience firsthand contact with the natural world more so the seasons and the weather. This is in sharp contrast to the confined environment of the classrooms; children also get an opportunity to do things differently than when they are indoors. This type of all rounded approach to learning is very critical to the progress of the child. Outdoor learning is usually remembered for long periods of time after the lessons have taken place. This is because; the outdoor experiences and adventures indulged in add to the relevance and depth to what is learnt in indoor environments. It influences the literacy and numeracy by making it possible to use theories learnt elsewhere (Saracho 2002). Children can use maps, charts, spoken word, measuring angles and bearings. It gives them a deeper meaning of the information. Educational practitioners are increasingly making use of the external environment as a tool for learning because of various reasons. Most important is that the environment has certain unique characteristics and features that can be adapted to offer valuable learning experiences to the children. Given that development has an all rounded agenda, it has been found that outdoor learning has the same value as indoor learning and both should be given priority. Another key