Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Lab 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lab 5 - Essay Example However, when the value of frequency was upped to 100, as in image 5, the amplitude of spectrum obtained was more distantly spaced when compared to those previous images with frequencies 5 and 50. Overall, the experiment proves differences/ changes in wavelength when frequencies are altered. In addition, the experiment Fourier offers better insight regarding waves. The images highlighted above are those of frequency wavelength cycles of 20.5, 60 and 100 that are found in the direction of X. Proportional to the frequency value/ strength applied the 2 dots found on the right portion of the images are variously spaced. This is seen the three images 7, 8 and 9 where images 8 and 9 which have superior frequencies exhibit greater spacing between the two dots that image 7 that has frequency 20.5. Image 9 has the greatest spacing therefore, as is clearly seen. This test demonstrates that waves are not found in the direction of Y but are situated along the X direction. The images shown have two spikes divided by the Fourier transform and the image and are exhibited as two different frequencies. As observed in image 10, there exist spikes frequencies which are low at 5.5. In image 11, spikes are of high frequency, at 30.5 with two waves above 0. The first of these waves above 0 is parallel to the low waves of frequency at 5.5 and the second one also parallel but to the waves of frequencies that are high at 30.5. Moreover, the spikes on the positive section resemble mirror images of those on the negative part as observed in the images 11, 13, 15. Image 13 and 12 additionally depict the same outcome as above when their values of N1 is 5.5 and that of N2 is 70.5. This implies simply that more brightness is obtained with increase in frequency. Contrarily, image 14 and image 15 with N1 being 20 and N2 at 22 do not result in frequencies that are good as the waves move and stop repeatedly (as observable in the images). To counteract this

Monday, October 28, 2019

The Modernization of Japan Essay Example for Free

The Modernization of Japan Essay According to Contemporary Japan: A Teaching Workbook in Columbia University and East Asian Curriculum Project: â€Å"the arrival of United States naval fleet commanded by Commodore Matthew C. Perry has ended the seclusion of Japan from the outside world, particularly western. Perry then instructed to open Japan to foreign trade and diplomatic contact†. The Edo bakufu, recognizing United States military superiority, signed a treaty of friendship during a second visit by Perry in 1854. In 1868, the Meji restoration was successful and totally isolated from westerners influence. A new government was installed composed and led by rank and file samurai from the domains of Satsuma and Choshu. The newly restored government pledged to restore a new nation that shall be modernized and independent. As further cited by the Contemporary Japan: A Teaching Workbook in Columbia University, East Asian Curriculum Project: â€Å"it meant finding a new symbol around which Japanese people could rally (the Meiji Emperor), a new sense of investment in the modern society being built, the opportunity to make a â€Å"success† of oneself, and the dismantling of the old feudal order†. Subsequently over the period, in favor of a modern centralized government, the old feudal domains were abolished. The old feudal class distinctions were notably the samurai class. Resistance and contradiction in the newly restored government, as Saigo Takamori led a rebellion in 1878, were repelled. The Meji government proved its imperial power to rebuild its cultural heritage, society and the way of life. The government, as led by the Meji Oligarchs, has paved its governmental system into parliament. A constitution was enacted and the exercises of election that has finally outlined the parliament proceedings like modern states.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Thirty Years From Now :: essays research papers

As I sit here, I wonder what I will become; all I see is pure success like no one has ever seen. My life is full of great and achievable goals that can fulfil my life with happiness. I see myself see myself thirty years from now becoming the most successful person the world has seen. I will have graduated high school and college with 4.0 GPA, majoring in aeronautical engineering while being in the national honors society. I will have made my college possible because of baseball. In doing all of these awesome achievements, I’ll be the best baseball player that has ever played being drafted number one by the Yankees in my freshman year of college. I will have starred at shortstop under Coach Joe Torre. Driving in a record 80 home runs shattering Mark Mcgwires’ record. Later, I will set the record for most golden gloves ever achieved by a major league baseball player. During my career in baseball I will meet a beautiful woman that just became a professional model signing with Nautica. After being married for a few years we will have two kids; while, concluding my career in New York and moving to California. Later I will pursue my career in politics. First running for U.S. senate and representing the Democratic party. After seeing that my life would be fulfilled much better if I could change the world in a more drastic way I will run for president. After all of the harsh campaigning I will when the race and proudly represent our country. When I am educated into the office I will begin with my inauguration address and captivating the country I will leave to get to my new home â€Å"The White House.† I will become the most effective president the county has ever seen. Starting with my most important policy â€Å"Education.† I plan to stress helping out the middle class family with taxes, health insurance, and Medicare. In doing this I plan on looking out for the senior citizens with good retirement funds. I will also encourage peace with the world and strengthening our military. Once I have completed my first term as president I will be elected once again and have an even str onger effect on our country. After resigning and touching the country with my great and inspiring State of the Union address I will pursue my career in aeronautical engineering.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

My Ideal School Essay

What is a school? To me, a school is the center of education. It provides intellectual ,emotional as well as spiritual enrichment. I am sure everyone has their own notion of what an ideal school is. It is a place where one feels most comfortable to learn in. In my opinion,an ideal school would consists of a building with an ultra modern infrastructure and top-notch facilities. All the classrooms will have colourful walls with wonderful paintings and thought-provoking pictures hanging on them. All the classrooms will be well-lit and fully air-conditionered. It would be perfect if the tables and chairs are arranged in a semi-circle facing the teacher. Apart from that,we will also need a well-equipped library with the state-of-art facilities for students to conduct their research and studies. Computer cataloguing should also be introduced to make referencing easier. In addition an ideal school should have a shopisticated gymnasium and sports centre. Athletes and swimmers can also train at the school mini-stadium and swimming pool. Students nowadays are burdened with homework and endless examinations. My constructive and productive homework shoul be given instead of burdening homework. Students should not be doing their homework for the sake of doing them. Teachers could perhaps have Biology classes outdoors so that students can really appreciate the beauty of nature or organized field trips to exhibition and conventions to make learning interesting. Traditional art and culture classes should also be held in the ideal school to nurture the spirit of appreciation among students. Moreover,to maximize the students learning capacities,lessons should start at 10. 00 a. m. There should be breaks in between so that students can digest knowledge from the previous lesson instead of rushing to the next lesson straight after the previous one. In this era of globalization,ICT is of upmost importance . So why can’t schools have paperless teaching and learning? Heavy bags and tons of books should be a thing of the past. Besides,it will also great if the students have teleconferencing and online forum with scholars from all over the world. The notion of ideal is sometimes painfully defined as an idea existing only in imagination and is not likely to come true. However I believe the idea of creating an ideal school would not merely remain a dream after all.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Describe a Library Essay

Ok, so the topic on my card is to describe a library that I visited, and I suppose I would like to choose the library in my college, which is a landmark in my campus. Now going on to my next point which is what it looked like, from the google map when you overlook it you will see a big rectangular surrounded by grass land sand trees. Therefore, the layout of this building is very organized. But the north and east exterior wall are all glass curtain walls. This will make the library sun-filled enough in during the daytime. The most interesting design, is that there are two trees(I really do not know what kind, it just like some big shrubs ) just live in the center of the first floor. I think it could flourish all the year round just because of the air conditioner. Because it is very hard to find some books suit for my research subject in the library and all journals have online edition so I seldom borrow a book or journal from the library. I often read some newspapers and magazines in the library and sometimes I also see a movie with my girlfriend if I could take a small desk only for two people, such kind of place is very hot. Finally then, I think all college students have their own memories with their college library. It just like a friend accompany with you, you prepare the exam there and finish your graduate thesis there, I think that’s why many people would like to take a picture with their library when they will graduate from the college.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Effect Divorce has on kids essays

Effect Divorce has on kids essays Does Divorce Hurt Kids? By Corliss Richards -75% to 80% of children of divorce are functioning well, with little long-term damage -Within two years of their parents' divorce, the vast majority of children are beginning to function reasonably well again. -70% of divorced parents are living happier lives than they did before divorce. -25% of children from divorced families have serious social, emotional or psychological problems, as opposed to 10% of kids from intact families. Families Changing Trends III edition. By Maureen Baker -Divorce brings about the separation of a child and a parent, usually the father Divorce commonly reduces the childs family income and sometimes erodes family assets. -Divorce can even trigger violence against the children(such as parental kidnapping) What Children learn from divorce. By Paul Amato -People who experience parental divorce while growing up face an elevated risk, in adulthood, of seeing their own marriages end in divorce. -Children whose parents divorce, compared with children whose parents remain married, have fewer -opportunities to learn positive social skills that facilitate close relationships and strengthen later marital stability. -Parental discord (in the absence of parental divorce) appeared to elevate children's thoughts of divorce, but children with discordant parents did not necessarily translate these thoughts into behavior. Following up on Children. By Mimi Avins -Kids have always faced hard times and they still grow up and do well. We don't want to make it sound like divorce is the end of the world for children. Families In Canadian Society. By Maureen Baker and Janet Dryden -Many researchers agree that the way children adjust to divorce is influenced by how their parents deal with it. -studies show that children from divorced families tend to have lower educational and socio-economic attainment. -Children of divorced parents tend to h...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Should the Drinking Age Be Low essays

Should the Drinking Age Be Low essays During the last thirty years, the American government has done there best to keep teenagers under strict drinking laws. This is due to the fact that teenagers have an irresponsible reputation when it comes to substance abuse. The drinking age was raised from eighteen to twenty-one within the last two decades, and although I do not agree with the change, I can see how much controversy is involved. At the age of eighteen you are given many privileges and responsibilities of an adult, but are not allowed to drink legally for three more years. To me, that does not seem fair, but the arguments made against lowering the drinking age are viable. At the age of 18, American men are required to enroll in the army, and fight for their country during times of war. This implies that they are mature enough to handle facing death, which is something that most adults are not prepared for, even in their old age. One of the main arguments for raising the drinking age was that teenagers were not drinking reasonably. I believe that if you are mature and responsible enough to fight in a gruesome war, then that should enable them to drink. However, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration did a survey on Drug Abuse, [which] shows disappointing results in the fight against youth alcohol use, reporting an estimated 9.7 million youth (27.5 percent) aged 12 to 20 reported drinking alcohol in the month prior to the survey. Of these, 6.6 million (18.7 percent) were binge drinkers and 2.1 million (6 percent) were heavy drinkers (Webb 1). This contradicts my theory that young Americans can drink responsibly, and is a g ood argument against the possibility of lowering the drinking age back to eighteen. People are able to vote at the age of 18, enabling them to participate in making decisions about who will run the country. This privilege is usually the thing that separates teenager ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Tips on Writing a Strong Personal Essay

Tips on Writing a Strong Personal Essay Tips on Writing a Strong Personal Essay If commenting on different essay types, one should definitely underline the issue of a personal essay. This is a free piece of writing where the author tells about his or her experience. Nonetheless, either narration or opinion style, the task is pretty complicated. There are certain things that belong to this type of essays. These are as follows: No search of official data is needed. No in-depth research is required. An author should write judging on his/her own experience and feelings. With the regard to the mentioned above statements, the writing process will be rather specific. The common structure (the introduction, main plot, and conclusion) will be kept. Nonetheless, there are several prompts you should keep in your memory for good. Our experts have collected the main guidelines to complete this specific piece of writing. In addition, you will learn some other smart tips. The sum of these recommendations and tips will help you craft a really impressive and correct personal essay. Begin with Engaging Opening Your introduction should be captivating and interesting. Use something unique and special. Write in a positive tone. You should get the attraction of your audience. Mind that your introductory part ought to present the fundamental question of your story. If you wish to write about your strongest trait, dwell upon this point and begin the story. Write from Your Personal Experience Commonly, all essays are dependent on the found information. Besides, it’s needed to stick to a definite writing style. Nonetheless, one of the most distinguished advantages of this particular assignment is the full freedom of thought. You have no restrictions on what to write about. This is up to you what events, personal traits or stories to reveal to your readers. You will write from your own experience and can choose any theme. In comparison to other essay types, you can likewise use any style you wish. Accordingly, this is a tremendous possibility to impress your readers and your academic supervisor with the fullest power of your originality. Therefore, be unique and creative. Stick to the Structure Though you are free to choose the topic and style, you cannot ignore the standard structure. Firstly, introduce your readers what your main aim is. Provide them with the thesis statement and start telling your story. Mind that you should describe the chosen topic from different angles. Don’t forget to mention all people or certain events that became the major influencers for your particular case. The real-life experience is supposed to flow smoothly. Write it naturally as if you were retelling it during a conversation with your friends. Be Honest One more essential point for this essay type is the truth. It should be authentic. Show your honesty and curiosity. Even if there are some events or personality traits you don’t really like, you are expected to reveal them. This is important because it makes your story full and real. Life isn’t perfect and there happen some misfortunes and black days. Therefore, uncover the hidden truth whatever its origin might be. Though it might be uncomfortable to reveal something sacred to other people, your honesty will be appreciated. It will show that you had fully depicted your private story and did not hide anything. Accordingly, your work will bring you the desired high grades. Useful Ideas You can likewise take into your consideration some smaller elements, which will help write a good personal essay. While composing your paper, consider the â€Å"to do† and â€Å"not to do† things. There are the next things you should do: Focus on personal aspects. Tell the truth. Select topics relevant to readers. Concentrate on positive concepts. Use originality and your own style. Use details. You should not: Be impersonal. Repeat the same statements. Tell lies. Choose boring topics. In the occasion, you still have no idea of how to compose this paper use samples. This is a dependable resource, which contains samples to understand this special essay better. Of course, you will receive only partial elements of a full paper. Nonetheless, you will get a better comprehension on how to fulfill each stage and section of your research.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Cross-cultural management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cross-cultural management - Assignment Example Others have also become economically successful after venturing into business activities. Most of the earlier Lebanese immigrants who came to Australia were Christians though this has changed in recent years with more Muslims immigrating to the country (Mansour, 2010). According to reports, the 2006 Australian census revealed that the number of Lebanese Australians living in the country stood at 125, 564 people. Out of this number, 52.5% of the population were comprised of males whereas the remaining 47.5% were comprised of females. These people are mostly found in the states of Victoria (20%) or New South Wales (75%) (Chapman, 2007). Results, Findings and Discussion There are various concepts that may help in understanding the relationships that exist within the Lebanese groups living within Australia. A few Lebanese Australians stick to the concepts of individualism which imply that they either act on their own or decide on their choices alone (Jamal & Chandab, 2005). According to previous reports, these Lebanese Australians also interact with other members of their community as though they were individuals (Mansour, 2010). On the other hand, the majority of the Lebanese Australians follow the notions of collectivism. They usually stand by the values and principles upheld by the groups they interact with and leave their individual values out of these groups (Aslan, 2009). The concepts of collectivism that are followed by most Lebanese immigrants have many disadvantages for this CALD (Culturally and linguistically diverse) community (Hage, 2002). These concepts do not allow a Lebanese individual to pursue his own desires and they also destroy the group’s ability of making proper ethical judgments. The issues of collectivism among the Lebanese have also been discouraged since they encourage vices like racism among their workers who may be working in culturally diverse organizations. This is mainly because they do not mix with people from other cultures a s they work (Mansour, 2010). The Lebanese Australians, following the concepts of collectivism, think as groups and do not have time to socialize and appreciate the diverse values and beliefs that other cultures have (Hage, 2002). This tendency may eventually reduce the productivity and efficiency of their workers thereby reducing a company’s profitability (Jamal & Chandab, 2005). In Australia, there are many linguistically and culturally diverse communities that work within their organizations. These communities have different values, attitudes and beliefs, which therefore implies that they have many differences among them (Mansour, 2010). The formation of groups by the Lebanese Australians prevents them from socializing with other communities and the lack of communication eventually tends to create animosities between these workers. This is mainly because none of them seems to understand or appreciate the differences that exist in their different cultures or backgrounds (Hag e, 2002). According to previous studies, most of the current crop of Lebanese Australians are very well educated and have professional jobs (Jamal and Chandab, 2005). However, there are other native communities that live within Australia and are not as well educated as they are. In order for the

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND PERSONAL MANAGEMENT Essay - 2

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND PERSONAL MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES - Essay Example nd the changing role of management throughout the decades but also to appropriately evaluate its importance for the improvement of the employees’ and the firm’s performance. At a first level, it should be noticed that there are no standards regarding the principles accepted by organizations around the world in order to regulate their internal and external relations. For this reason, the assumptions made by researchers in the relevant field are not quite the same; they are rather differentiated in accordance with the firms’ needs, their culture and mission but also the social and cultural characteristics of the market involved. Towards this direction, Hennestad (1990) refers to a common inter-organizational phenomenon, the ‘double – bind’, which refers to the relationship between the employees and the management within a particular organization in which the managers’ guidelines are not clear but they rather lead to different assumptions and directions (always referring to employees’ obligations within a specific organization). In this context, it is noticed by Hennestad (1990, 265) that ‘members of an organi zation are supposedly led, but very often they do not see the way; on the contrary, they are exposed to conflicting management signals and caught in double bind situations; double bind connotes a situation where conflicting messages occur, but where it is vitally important to discern what message is being communicated, and where the individual is unable to comment upon the ambiguity; the result is that the individual is not capable of meta communication and thus incapable of learning about the situation’. In accordance with the above view, the incompetence of a firm’s employees to respond to the needs of a particular situation could be related with the incompetence of the firm’s managers to provide accurate and clear guidelines and directions on a specific issue. As for employees, their efforts to participate actively on all the

Friday, October 18, 2019

Creative Innovation in an Organisation Coursework

Creative Innovation in an Organisation - Coursework Example As aptly put by Robbins (1993, p. 679), â€Å"in the dynamic world of global competition, the innovative organisation is more adaptive and more likely to thrive.† Against this background, this report seeks to evaluate the extent to which organisations that have fostered an innovative culture have revitalised their operations by paying particular attention to Sony Corporation. Thus, the relevant question is: How can an organisation become more innovative? As such, this report is divided into different categories that deal with different aspects of the concept of innovation and how they are being applied in the operations of Sony Corporation. The report starts by describing the organisation and what it does and this will be followed by a clear explanation of the mission and vision of the organisation and the importance of innovative management in their strategic plan. Then after this, the report is divided into four tasks which focus on different aspects of innovative management . The first task seeks to evaluate the current creative and innovative process used by Sony Corporation in comparison to other organisations. The second task focuses on ways that can be implemented to positively embrace innovation and change. The third task looks at factors that influence as well as drive the organisation to develop creative and innovative management process. The last task looks at the rationale of persuading others to effect change in an organisation. ... The last task looks at the rationale of persuading others to effect change in an organisation. 1.1 Description of the organisation Sony Corporation was founded in 1946 and it specialises in manufacturing home appliances like audio and video gadgets or entertainment such as motion pictures and musicas well as DVDs, LCD televisions, information and communications or electronics such as AV/IT products & components like printers and monitors according to its official website. The Sony Group also deals with game such a s PlayStation and Financial Services which include insurance and banking sectors. Sony Corporation is headquartered in Tokyo Japan. The company seeks to entrench its position through representing a wide range of business in electronics while retaining its uniqueness globally. According to information obtained from its official website, Sony's R&D mission is as follows: "Technology for Inspiration and Shared Experience." Until recently, the framework for consumer experience has been described as "Take/Capture, View, Store, Listen, Create." This motto encompassed the basic services and products offered by this organisation. The vision of the organisation is â€Å"to fully leverage on this uniqueness in aggressively carrying out our convergence strategy so that we can continue to emotionally touch and excite our customers.† The company is specifically concerned with establishing itself a force to reckon with in the electronics industry globally. However, information obtained fro m its official website posits to the effect that different forms of enjoyment are also emerging.

Does popular culture (e.g. comics, films, and music) help us to Essay

Does popular culture (e.g. comics, films, and music) help us to understand world politics better Discuss by using relevant examples - Essay Example It is not an issue of popular culture causing political ideologies and actions. Therefore popular culture is not something that someone can say explains the state of a person nor does it make persons think in specific ways. It neither manipulates nor mirrors what individuals do rather people live through it hence no one will be compelled to imitate actions of popular culture. Popular culture in essence refers to artistic, cultural expressions of different genres such as theater, music, dance visual art, the film industry, and literature. In the present age, these cultural activities have been found to play a significant role in shaping the political reasoning in various parts of the world. Popular culture does not have a distinct definition of what it entails and different people have their understanding of the exact meaning of popular culture. John Street refers to it as a product of mass production arising from production companies to achieve high mass sales (1997). The primary focus of popular culture is the means of production distribution and consumption. Thus, popular culture is said to be a form of entertainment that is available to large numbers of people, or that is mass produced. Music production is the most common genre of mass production in popular culture; hence the mass aspect becomes the defining characteristic of popular culture. It is about euphoria of the masses and so is politics explaining the base where both hold joint feature. It is the very reason popular culture is impacting on politics in the world today. The agents that play a role in spreading the music that is television and radio reach far more masses, and their liberalization has helped facilitate emergence of new popular cultures that did not have space in state-controlled media. For instance, the rise of hip-hop music in the 1990s in African states was down to liberalization of media. These celebrities command large following among the youths who are the

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Prison life and strategies to decrease recidivism upon an inmates Essay

Prison life and strategies to decrease recidivism upon an inmates release from prison - Essay Example In the US, the rate of recidivism is estimated to be approximately two-thirds of all released inmates (Andrews & Bonta, 1994). This means that at least two-thirds of prisoners released will ultimately be re-imprisoned within a period of three years. High recidivism rates impose immense costs with regard to public safety, as well as tax dollars utilized in arresting, prosecuting and imprisoning re-offenders. Due to these high costs, programs for inmates, as well as released prisoners, which reduce recidivism, can prove cost effective, even in the event of modest success (Perkinson, 2010). This paper will consider the US prison system, describing its aspects such as prison life, the existence and effectiveness of programs that reduce recidivism and programs aimed at reintroducing released prisoners into society. Purpose for Prisons in the US As an institution, the prison plays a critical role in the society. The US justice system bestows on prisons various roles. The first essential ro le is rehabilitation; prisons provide convicts with second chances to appreciate and learn from their misconducts and change. In essence, prisons help inmates reflect on their lives and search for ways through which they can coexist peacefully within the society. In addition, prisons offer inmates with learning environments in which they acquire new skills essential in enabling them earn decent livelihoods after their release (Armitage, 2002). Another critical role of prisons is deterrence and punishment aimed at discouraging inmates and others within the society from committing similar crimes. Forms of punishment vary contingent on the crimes committed, ranging from hard labor to the death penalty. Such punishment deters others in the society from committing crimes, thus ensuring peace and harmony within the society (Andrews & Bonta, 1994). Moreover, prisons provide justice to victims of crimes. Because law centers on justice and equity, victims of crimes receive justice through th e incarceration of those that harmed them. The incarceration of a wrongdoer provides closure to the victim of the crime. Lastly, prisons in the US protect the public from threats to security and safety as incarceration deters criminals such as serial killers and rapists from committing crimes within the society. Current conditions in US prisons The present condition of US prisons is less than ideal. Prisoners presently live in deplorable conditions characterized by extreme overcrowding. The situation in US prisons provides a viable environment for crime to thrive within prison boundaries. Perkinson (2010) poises that the California and Texas prisons, which are the biggest in the US, have, in the last thirty years, experienced an eight fold increase in the number of prisoners incarcerated. Despite the growing number of inmates, funding for prisons has barely increased, making it difficult to meet the needs of prisoners (Armitage, 2002). Inadequate funding makes it difficult for priso ns to teach prisoners effective skills to enhance their re-introduction into society. Although the US encompasses 5% of the global population, its prisons encompass 25% of the global prisoner population; this indicates the enormity of the issue. Increased congestion in US prisons is also attributable to increased levels of crime and recidivism in the US. This congestion diminishes the rehabilitative role of prisons as congestion makes it difficult

Popular Culture Media Representation and the Construction of Social Essay

Popular Culture Media Representation and the Construction of Social Reality ( See questionsessay thesis below) - Essay Example Under this, again, we have sub-categories as well. Therefore, media diverges into various streams that operate under different conditions and specifications. And very evidently, each of them has a varied mode of consensus containment. The print media, which comes in the form of magazines, newspapers, journals and the like, operates on a more manual mode of obtaining consensus. They attempt to perhaps, try and attach importance to each individual's opinion, by resolving differences that might arise. For instance, they rely on public polls and even letters to the editor. The public can w rite in opinions and the media does try to present a consensus of the majority opinion, if not that of the entire masses. However, one major disadvantage of this media is the fact that in achieving consensus, it does omit those who have no access to reading material and the illiterate or uneducated. The broadcast media, consisting of television and radio, is more open to anyone who can voice their opinions. It need not have to be restricted to only the educated.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Prison life and strategies to decrease recidivism upon an inmates Essay

Prison life and strategies to decrease recidivism upon an inmates release from prison - Essay Example In the US, the rate of recidivism is estimated to be approximately two-thirds of all released inmates (Andrews & Bonta, 1994). This means that at least two-thirds of prisoners released will ultimately be re-imprisoned within a period of three years. High recidivism rates impose immense costs with regard to public safety, as well as tax dollars utilized in arresting, prosecuting and imprisoning re-offenders. Due to these high costs, programs for inmates, as well as released prisoners, which reduce recidivism, can prove cost effective, even in the event of modest success (Perkinson, 2010). This paper will consider the US prison system, describing its aspects such as prison life, the existence and effectiveness of programs that reduce recidivism and programs aimed at reintroducing released prisoners into society. Purpose for Prisons in the US As an institution, the prison plays a critical role in the society. The US justice system bestows on prisons various roles. The first essential ro le is rehabilitation; prisons provide convicts with second chances to appreciate and learn from their misconducts and change. In essence, prisons help inmates reflect on their lives and search for ways through which they can coexist peacefully within the society. In addition, prisons offer inmates with learning environments in which they acquire new skills essential in enabling them earn decent livelihoods after their release (Armitage, 2002). Another critical role of prisons is deterrence and punishment aimed at discouraging inmates and others within the society from committing similar crimes. Forms of punishment vary contingent on the crimes committed, ranging from hard labor to the death penalty. Such punishment deters others in the society from committing crimes, thus ensuring peace and harmony within the society (Andrews & Bonta, 1994). Moreover, prisons provide justice to victims of crimes. Because law centers on justice and equity, victims of crimes receive justice through th e incarceration of those that harmed them. The incarceration of a wrongdoer provides closure to the victim of the crime. Lastly, prisons in the US protect the public from threats to security and safety as incarceration deters criminals such as serial killers and rapists from committing crimes within the society. Current conditions in US prisons The present condition of US prisons is less than ideal. Prisoners presently live in deplorable conditions characterized by extreme overcrowding. The situation in US prisons provides a viable environment for crime to thrive within prison boundaries. Perkinson (2010) poises that the California and Texas prisons, which are the biggest in the US, have, in the last thirty years, experienced an eight fold increase in the number of prisoners incarcerated. Despite the growing number of inmates, funding for prisons has barely increased, making it difficult to meet the needs of prisoners (Armitage, 2002). Inadequate funding makes it difficult for priso ns to teach prisoners effective skills to enhance their re-introduction into society. Although the US encompasses 5% of the global population, its prisons encompass 25% of the global prisoner population; this indicates the enormity of the issue. Increased congestion in US prisons is also attributable to increased levels of crime and recidivism in the US. This congestion diminishes the rehabilitative role of prisons as congestion makes it difficult

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

The relationships between billionaire agribusinessmen in the US and Essay

The relationships between billionaire agribusinessmen in the US and new immigrant farmworkers from Mexico - Essay Example Knowing the present economic structure and the availability of these workers, this created a rift between the owners of the industries who is literally addicted to using â€Å"cheap† and illegal (undocumented) workforce and to the requirement of the American commoners to security. In this article, we will deal into the major issues strongly intertwined with illegal undocumented migration such as labor and unemployment issues (i.e. workforce rights’ violations) and illegal drug trade both in the United States and Mexico; furthermore we will also look into the government interventions and the changes it has extended to the labor sector not only to resolve the pressing conflicts between American and Mexican (as well as other minorities) workers but to entirely â€Å"improve† and restructure the present labor condition of the United States. During the post-World War II period, the United States government invested millions of dollars in agriculture reform and sponsored many farms to improve their technologies such as irrigation system and development of farm machineries. It was also during this period from 1942 to early 1960s that the United States encouraged these workers from Mexico, China, Japan and other parts of Asia to migrate in the U.S and work in their farms for cheap labor. Along with these workers are their families therefore starting up a steady enormous volume of migrants to reside along the agricultural lines of California and Washington. With the increasing number of migrants, the competition for labor between them and the native Americans became steeper to the point where unjust labor practices were implemented to curb, streamline and permanently impede the surge of migrants into key agricultural cities in America. These practices involved massive lynching of migrant workers from their job with barely j ustifiable reasons, deportation due to lack of appropriate documents and permits, lack of work benefits – all conditions are almost similar

Monday, October 14, 2019

Empirical Study of Inclusion Essay Example for Free

Empirical Study of Inclusion Essay The question of what to do with special needs students has been in issue for a long time. Many different perspectives have been brought into this argument. Some believe that since the child’s needs are so much different than â€Å"normal† students the child must be placed in special classes so their can be educated properly. However, many question whether this avenue of thought is best for the student or the student’s best learning environment (Weitzel, 2004). Another perspective is to put special needs children in with the same program he or she would normally be in had they not been labeled as special needs. When coupled with additional support services, many believe this model is a better way to education these children (Smietana, 2001). This perspective is commonly called Inclusion (Schwartz, Odom, Sandall, 2008). There is also the concept of Full Inclusion which is the same as inclusion except a special needs child will join the regular classroom no matter how much support that child needs (Weitzel, 2004). Inclusion has come about as a result of several federal laws. The first, in 1958, provided funds for training educators to work with mentally disabled children. More funding was added in 1965 with the passing of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (United Partners, 2008). However, anti-discrimination legislation that passed in 1973 that would not allow federal funding to go into any program against disabled people. As a result the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed two years later (United Partners, 2008). That law was later renamed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990 (Smietana, 2001). IDEA brought forth the concept of teaching special needs children in their least restrictive environment (LRE). The idea is some students need more help than others in overcoming their individual special needs. Consequently, grouping all special needs children into one program may help some students, but hurt others who do not need as much support. As a result the concept of LRE inclusion was born. If a student is to be taught under an LRE model, then in some instances a special needs child would be better suited to attend a regular class, with some special support, than to be placed in an entirely special needs curriculum (United Partners, 2008). Nevertheless, the concept and application on inclusion is constantly evolving. The debate of how to best educate special needs children still rages on 50 years after the first law was passed and it will continue (AAP et al, 2002). The current debate is around inclusion itself and its effectiveness. Some believe it benefits the special needs student while others say it hurts the other students who do not need the extra support. This study will look into this debate and determine the impact of inclusion. Formal Statement of the Problem How much impact do the policies of inclusion have on the education goals of special needs students? Furthermore do the inclusion policies benefit the special needs students or ultimately hurt them in achieving educational goals? Definition of Terms Admissions and Release Committee (ARC) – A meeting that determines the special needs a student will receive. This meeting is the result of the parents, guardians, or school making a recommendation for an initial evaluation for special education. The result of this meeting is an education plan called an IEP (United Partners, 2008). Full Inclusion – Similar concept as inclusion except it disregards the special need status of the student and places him or her in the class he or she would normally attend as a regular student. The student’s remove would only occur when â€Å"appropriate services cannot be provided in the regular classroom† (Weitzel, 2004). Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) – This right guarantees under IDEA that children between 3 and 21 public education at no cost to the family (United Partners, 2008). Inclusion – Commitment to educate a child in the classroom that he or she would normally attend if the child was not considered special needs. Supportive services for the student would be given at the school (Weitzel, 2004). Individual Education Program or Plan (IEP) – An education plan for special needs children. It is designed around the LRE principle and it lists â€Å"the things the student is to work on, how they will do this, where they will work, and goals to determine the effects of the work (United Partners, 2008). Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (IDEA) – Originally called the Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, it was reauthorized in 1990 under IDEA and amended in 2000. It was again reauthorized in 2004 (United Partners, 2008). The purpose of the law is to â€Å"provide free appropriate public education regardless of disability or chronic illness to all eligible children, ages birth through 21 years, in a natural and/or least restrictive environment† (AAP et al, 2002). Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) – This right is guaranteed under IDEA. It means children with disabilities â€Å"should be in classrooms with and studying the same materials as the children without disabilities as much as possible (United Partners, 2008). Mainstreaming – Placement of special education students in one or more regular education classes selectively (Weitzel, 2004). Significance of the Study This study will evaluate the effectiveness of the inclusion policy of special needs students. It is important to review this topic is it relates to the education needs of those who can struggle with learning. Despite the struggle to learn, these students cannot be abandoned and under federal law those students cannot be neglected. The question remains as to how effective are those federal laws and policies that are related to inclusion. This study will address this question by evaluating the current data available presented by many different sources. Each of these sources can have their own bias towards or against inclusion, but an overall picture of how well inclusion works will be painted through the many sources. This issue can be sensitive in nature because it involves the future learning of children who many believe cannot be taught alongside â€Å"normal† students. Parents of these students are often very passionate one way or another based on their own individual case. Educators can also be equally adamant towards this topic. Teachers and administrators must adapt to the ever changing policies aimed at helping special needs students. However, many educators see themselves as the experts in field since they ultimately must find ways and methods to teach special needs students on a daily basis. Since this study is a neutral evaluation of the available data, conclusions as to the effectiveness of the inclusion can be made. Through these conclusions, policies regarding inclusion can be altered, enhanced, or eliminated. It is the goal of this study to bring information regarding inclusion so others may see whether this policy is truly beneficial to the students, both special needs and those who are not. Assumptions It must be assumed that any child labeled special needs is indeed a special needs student. Experts who have come to this conclusion regarding a particular student must be trusted and their evaluations deemed valid. A failure to assume this would break down the entire system from the root. For a child to qualify for special needs programs, they must first be referred for an initial evaluation. From there an ARC meeting or IEP meeting will determine where the student goes from there (United Partners, 2008). However, if the expertise of the evaluator is questioned everything from the point of the initial evaluation and beyond cannot be trusted. Since this study is determining how students labeled by these evaluators work under the inclusion policy the opinion of these evaluators must be trusted. Another assumption is that the parents or guardians of the student are following the recommendations of the IEP meetings. This assumption is necessary for accuracy of the data. The data given is under the premise that the student is following along with his or her educational plan. If a student were deviating from his or her plan the data may be skewed because of this. Therefore the assumption must be made that the student is following along the guidelines of the IEP recommendations. In conjunction with the prior assumption, it must also be assumed educators are following the guidelines of a student’s IEP and the laws of the IDEA. This assumption more so than the former is important since the success or failure of inclusion can be based upon how well the educators can teach the special needs students. Furthermore, if an educator deviates from the inclusion model the data of policy’s effectiveness is completely lost. For the sake of this study, the effectiveness of IEP plans must be considered good. Since the inclusion policy is dependent on the students IEP, this aspect cannot be questioned for decent data to appear. Limitations Mentioned as an assumption, the effectiveness of IEP plans for special needs students is a limitation to this study. In IEP meetings the parents, therapists, educators and other professional experts design an education plan for the special needs student. These frequent meetings are also used to evaluate the child’s progress and modify the plan as needed (United Partners, 2008). The problem is the plan and its results can be subjective. Any time a group of people get together to find a common solution there will be differences of opinion. In this difference a consensus may be reached to the child’s education path, but the compromise may hinder the child’s development. Since every child’s educational needs are different, an issue only exemplified with special needs children, no one single path can be set out for every different label on a child (ADD, autism, etc). Consequently, the child’s educational plan is left to the best educational guess of the professionals and parents. A similar study on how effective IEP plans are for special needs students should be conducted. However, for this study on inclusion, the IEP meetings are assumed accurate but also considered a limitation since these plans directly affect any results for inclusion. Another potential limitation is the data itself. It has to be assumed that all the research conduction is done from a neutral perspective. Unfortunately, this is an unrealistic assumption especially given the sensitivity of the topic. Statements such as â€Å"special education has become a drain on human and financial resources in districts across our country† are very bias and indefinable (Weitzel, 2004). Although Weitzel could qualify the financial argument with data the human aspect is very subjective especially when joined with the â€Å"across our country† statement. From Weitzel’s perspective, inclusion is not necessarily a good policy. His data will most likely be skewed to make his argument more solid. However, his information is needed for this study since it is a research article on the impact of inclusion. With this in mind, the bias arguments must either be put in perspective and recognized as bias or countered as to not show favoritism towards one perspective or another. To complete this study with solid conclusion information such as Weitzel’s is included but noted as a limitation since it is very discriminatory. Although most of the information on this subject matter, aside from raw data, can be considered bias, it needs to be used to create a idea of the effectiveness of inclusion. Organization of the Study This study will be attempt to answer the question of how the inclusion policies impact special needs children. To accomplish this, the study is organized into four major sections: definition and application of inclusion, proponents of the policy, opponents of the policy, and its impact. Review of the Literature A review of the existing literature is necessary to form a foundation for this study on inclusion. By reviewing other writings, it builds a context for which the inclusion policies can be evaluated for its impact on special needs children. Without the literature review, any conclusions in this report can be made out of context of the actual situation. Also, the literature review provides the framework for which further research can be made both for this study and beyond this study. In reviewing the literature, several aspects of inclusion are reviewed. First, the history and definition of inclusion is examined. Second a look at the arguments made by inclusion proponents are evaluated. Their arguments will also include some impact analysis as it is available by the proponents. Lastly, in this review, the opponent’s argument and data is examined. A summary of each of these sections is made in one summary section. This will briefly review the data presented. With that summary, a hypothesis and research questions arise. These are made based on the summarized and are designed to focus the research of this study. It this through this last section that the entire framework of this study is made. Inclusion For the past 50 years the federal government has tried to find a good solution for educating children who require special needs. There are a variety of conditions that can be considered special needs. This list can include but is not limited to autism and its derivatives such as asperger syndrome, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), down syndrome, and mental retardation (SpecialChildren, 2008). This attempt was made to address the problem of how to properly educate children who are challenged in their learning abilities. This has not been an easy road as â€Å"parents of children with disabilities have had to fight for the right to have their children educated in public schools for many years† (Smietana, 2001). Prior to any established special education program, asylums, also called residential institutions, emerged to accommodate those with any impairments. Access to these facilities was difficult, but this was the method of education for special needs children up until the early 1900s (SEDL, 2007). The first such law to be designed as an aid in educating special needs children came in 1958. Its purpose was to provide funding for training teachers to work with mentally retarded children (Smietana, 2001). Parents followed the coat tails of the Civil Rights movement and approached getting legislation passed under the guise that this was a civil rights matter (SEDL, 2007). Later the Elementary and Secondart Education Act which provided more funding for disadvantaged children (Smietana, 2001). In 1973 the Rehabilitation Act passed which â€Å"prohibited discrimination against and demanded accommodation of people with disabilities in federally funded programs† (LRE Coalition, 2001). In combination with Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) which passed in 1975, funds were set up for the â€Å"entitlement of children with disabilities to a free, appropriate public education† (LRE Coalition, 2001). EAHCA was later renamed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990 (Smietana, 2001).

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Comparing Father and Child Relationships in Death of a Salesman and A V

Father and Child Relationships in Death of a Salesman and A View from the Bridge       In literature as in life, we go through events which are the effects of the relationships between parent and child.   In both plays Death of a Salesman and A View from the Bridge, Arthur Miller depicts the possessiveness of human nature through the eyes of Willy Loman and Eddie Carbone.   Willy and his son Biff exhibit an undoubtable strain in their relationship.   Willy gives all his dreams to Biff in hope that he will carry on or create success for himself.   Eddie wants the best for his niece, Catherine, but is unaware of his over protectiveness which in actuality is an element much more repelling.   The relationships between father and child characters place tension upon everyone and ultimately is a factor in the protagonists common tragedy. In Death of a Salesman, although Biff and Happy are both sons of Willy Loman, there is a strong emphasis on Biff only.   Willy places all his hopes on Biff and even overestimates him.   "Because you got greatness in you, Biff, remember that.   You got all kinds of greatness...like a young god.   Hercules...God Almighty, he'll be great yet.   A star like that, magnificent, can never really fade away!"(Miller, DOS 68)   Willy views Biff as a mirror image of himself when he was young, successful and "well-liked."   He wants Biff to be what he was and what he never became.   Willy has overwhelming pride in Biff and expectations that cannot be fulfilled.  Ã‚   These feelings exhibited by Willy is purely due to human nature.   It is the desire of all father to have a son who emulates their successful aspects and to carry these traits into the preceding generations.  Ã‚   However, Biff knows that h... ...Bridge"   Arthur Miller.   London and Basingstoke: The Macmillan Press Ltd. 1982   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hayman, Ronald.   "Interview with Arthur Miller", "Death of a Salesman", "A View from the Bridge" Arthur Miller.   New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co.   1972 Lenne, Bruno.   ed.   Readings on Arthur Miller.   San Diego: Greenhaven   Press, Inc.   1997 Moss, Leonard.   Arthur Miller.   Boston: G.K. Hall &Co.   1980 Miller, Arthur.   A View From the Bridge.   New York: Viking Penguin Inc. 1977  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Miller, Arthur.   Death of A Salesman.   New York: Viking Pengui Inc. 1976  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nourse, Joan T.   "Commentary on Death of a Salesman" Death of a Salesman and All My Sons.   New York: Monarch Press   1965 Welland, Dennis.   "Death of a Salesman", "A View from the Bridge" Miller The Playwright.   Second ed.   London: Methuen London Ltd.   1983

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Gender Dichotomy Reinforcement in Mary McCarthys Memories of a Catholic Girlhood :: Essays Papers

Gender Dichotomy Reinforcement in Mary McCarthy's Memories of a Catholic Girlhood McCarthy reinforces the mind/body and culture/nature gender dichotomies proposed by Sherry Ortner through character presentation. She aligns mind and culture aspects with male characters, and bodily concerns and natural occurrences with the female. She exhibits traditionally feminine qualities of writing by using a more circular rather than linear style, giving attention to details of food, clothing, and body appearances. In her book Making Gender, Ortner argues that women's different bodily functions may cause them to be closer to nature, place them in different social roles, and give them a different psychic structure than men (27). Along with the woman-is-to-man-as-nature-is-to-culture analogy come other dichotomies associated with masculinity and femininity. Women's writings are traditionally more circular than linear and women are more concerned with their bodies than men. The opposite can then be said about men; they write in a linear style more often and value their bodies less. McCarthy aligns most female characters, including her grandmother Preston and her great-aunt Margaret, with bodily concerns. She describes her grandmother physically, giving details about her high-bridged nose, and hair that "was naturally black, black as a raven's wing and with a fine silky gloss, like loose skeins of embroidery thread" (202). McCarthy furthers the importance of her grandmother's body by stating that "this body of hers was the cult object around which our household revolved" (225). Her body is on display, not any aspect of her mind or personality. Mrs. Preston is most concerned with the presentation of the body, her own as well as McCarthy's. Due to its importance, she keeps properly clothed so much so that it becomes a garish sight whenever exposed. She often reminds McCarthy to pull her skirt down, even in the private home. This concern with coverage adds to the dramatic scene when her grandmother learns of her sister's death, goes into hysterics and her night gown exposes her thighs. McCarthy remembers wanting to pull down the gown as a first impulse rather than comfort her. This thought reveals that body presentation is the concern that overrides the mental state of the woman. It also reinforces the idea that women are more concerned with bodies than minds. McCarthy presents her grandfather Preston more abstractly with illustrations about his character rather than details about his physical appearance. Gender Dichotomy Reinforcement in Mary McCarthy's Memories of a Catholic Girlhood :: Essays Papers Gender Dichotomy Reinforcement in Mary McCarthy's Memories of a Catholic Girlhood McCarthy reinforces the mind/body and culture/nature gender dichotomies proposed by Sherry Ortner through character presentation. She aligns mind and culture aspects with male characters, and bodily concerns and natural occurrences with the female. She exhibits traditionally feminine qualities of writing by using a more circular rather than linear style, giving attention to details of food, clothing, and body appearances. In her book Making Gender, Ortner argues that women's different bodily functions may cause them to be closer to nature, place them in different social roles, and give them a different psychic structure than men (27). Along with the woman-is-to-man-as-nature-is-to-culture analogy come other dichotomies associated with masculinity and femininity. Women's writings are traditionally more circular than linear and women are more concerned with their bodies than men. The opposite can then be said about men; they write in a linear style more often and value their bodies less. McCarthy aligns most female characters, including her grandmother Preston and her great-aunt Margaret, with bodily concerns. She describes her grandmother physically, giving details about her high-bridged nose, and hair that "was naturally black, black as a raven's wing and with a fine silky gloss, like loose skeins of embroidery thread" (202). McCarthy furthers the importance of her grandmother's body by stating that "this body of hers was the cult object around which our household revolved" (225). Her body is on display, not any aspect of her mind or personality. Mrs. Preston is most concerned with the presentation of the body, her own as well as McCarthy's. Due to its importance, she keeps properly clothed so much so that it becomes a garish sight whenever exposed. She often reminds McCarthy to pull her skirt down, even in the private home. This concern with coverage adds to the dramatic scene when her grandmother learns of her sister's death, goes into hysterics and her night gown exposes her thighs. McCarthy remembers wanting to pull down the gown as a first impulse rather than comfort her. This thought reveals that body presentation is the concern that overrides the mental state of the woman. It also reinforces the idea that women are more concerned with bodies than minds. McCarthy presents her grandfather Preston more abstractly with illustrations about his character rather than details about his physical appearance. Gender Dichotomy Reinforcement in Mary McCarthy's Memories of a Catholic Girlhood :: Essays Papers Gender Dichotomy Reinforcement in Mary McCarthy's Memories of a Catholic Girlhood McCarthy reinforces the mind/body and culture/nature gender dichotomies proposed by Sherry Ortner through character presentation. She aligns mind and culture aspects with male characters, and bodily concerns and natural occurrences with the female. She exhibits traditionally feminine qualities of writing by using a more circular rather than linear style, giving attention to details of food, clothing, and body appearances. In her book Making Gender, Ortner argues that women's different bodily functions may cause them to be closer to nature, place them in different social roles, and give them a different psychic structure than men (27). Along with the woman-is-to-man-as-nature-is-to-culture analogy come other dichotomies associated with masculinity and femininity. Women's writings are traditionally more circular than linear and women are more concerned with their bodies than men. The opposite can then be said about men; they write in a linear style more often and value their bodies less. McCarthy aligns most female characters, including her grandmother Preston and her great-aunt Margaret, with bodily concerns. She describes her grandmother physically, giving details about her high-bridged nose, and hair that "was naturally black, black as a raven's wing and with a fine silky gloss, like loose skeins of embroidery thread" (202). McCarthy furthers the importance of her grandmother's body by stating that "this body of hers was the cult object around which our household revolved" (225). Her body is on display, not any aspect of her mind or personality. Mrs. Preston is most concerned with the presentation of the body, her own as well as McCarthy's. Due to its importance, she keeps properly clothed so much so that it becomes a garish sight whenever exposed. She often reminds McCarthy to pull her skirt down, even in the private home. This concern with coverage adds to the dramatic scene when her grandmother learns of her sister's death, goes into hysterics and her night gown exposes her thighs. McCarthy remembers wanting to pull down the gown as a first impulse rather than comfort her. This thought reveals that body presentation is the concern that overrides the mental state of the woman. It also reinforces the idea that women are more concerned with bodies than minds. McCarthy presents her grandfather Preston more abstractly with illustrations about his character rather than details about his physical appearance.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Angels Demons Chapter 32-35

32 Langdon held his breath as the X-33 spiraled into Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport. Vittoria sat across from him, eyes closed as if trying to will the situation into control. The craft touched down and taxied to a private hangar. â€Å"Sorry for the slow flight,† the pilot apologized, emerging from the cockpit. â€Å"Had to trim her back. Noise regulations over populated areas.† Langdon checked his watch. They had been airborne thirty-seven minutes. The pilot popped the outer door. â€Å"Anybody want to tell me what's going on?† Neither Vittoria nor Langdon responded. â€Å"Fine,† he said, stretching. â€Å"I'll be in the cockpit with the air-conditioning and my music. Just me and Garth.† The late-afternoon sun blazed outside the hangar. Langdon carried his tweed jacket over his shoulder. Vittoria turned her face skyward and inhaled deeply, as if the sun's rays somehow transferred to her some mystical replenishing energy. Mediterraneans, Langdon mused, already sweating. â€Å"Little old for cartoons, aren't you?† Vittoria asked, without opening her eyes. â€Å"I'm sorry?† â€Å"Your wristwatch. I saw it on the plane.† Langdon flushed slightly. He was accustomed to having to defend his timepiece. The collector's edition Mickey Mouse watch had been a childhood gift from his parents. Despite the contorted foolishness of Mickey's outstretched arms designating the hour, it was the only watch Langdon had ever worn. Waterproof and glow-in-the-dark, it was perfect for swimming laps or walking unlit college paths at night. When Langdon's students questioned his fashion sense, he told them he wore Mickey as a daily reminder to stay young at heart. â€Å"It's six o'clock,† he said. Vittoria nodded, eyes still closed. â€Å"I think our ride's here.† Langdon heard the distant whine, looked up, and felt a sinking feeling. Approaching from the north was a helicopter, slicing low across the runway. Langdon had been on a helicopter once in the Andean Palpa Valley looking at the Nazca sand drawings and had not enjoyed it one bit. A flying shoebox. After a morning of space plane rides, Langdon had hoped the Vatican would send a car. Apparently not. The chopper slowed overhead, hovered a moment, and dropped toward the runway in front of them. The craft was white and carried a coat of arms emblazoned on the side – two skeleton keys crossing a shield and papal crown. He knew the symbol well. It was the traditional seal of the Vatican – the sacred symbol of the Holy See or â€Å"holy seat† of government, the seat being literally the ancient throne of St. Peter. The Holy Chopper, Langdon groaned, watching the craft land. He'd forgotten the Vatican owned one of these things, used for transporting the Pope to the airport, to meetings, or to his summer palace in Gandolfo. Langdon definitely would have preferred a car. The pilot jumped from the cockpit and strode toward them across the tarmac. Now it was Vittoria who looked uneasy. â€Å"That's our pilot?† Langdon shared her concern. â€Å"To fly, or not to fly. That is the question.† The pilot looked like he was festooned for a Shakespearean melodrama. His puffy tunic was vertically striped in brilliant blue and gold. He wore matching pantaloons and spats. On his feet were black flats that looked like slippers. On top of it all, he wore a black felt beret. â€Å"Traditional Swiss Guard uniforms,† Langdon explained. â€Å"Designed by Michelangelo himself.† As the man drew closer, Langdon winced. â€Å"I admit, not one of Michelangelo's better efforts.† Despite the man's garish attire, Langdon could tell the pilot meant business. He moved toward them with all the rigidity and dignity of a U.S. Marine. Langdon had read many times about the rigorous requirements for becoming one of the elite Swiss Guard. Recruited from one of Switzerland's four Catholic cantons, applicants had to be Swiss males between nineteen and thirty years old, at least 5 feet 6 inches, trained by the Swiss Army, and unmarried. This imperial corps was envied by world governments as the most allegiant and deadly security force in the world. â€Å"You are from CERN?† the guard asked, arriving before them. His voice was steely. â€Å"Yes, sir,† Langdon replied. â€Å"You made remarkable time,† he said, giving the X-33 a mystified stare. He turned to Vittoria. â€Å"Ma'am, do you have any other clothing?† â€Å"I beg your pardon?† He motioned to her legs. â€Å"Short pants are not permitted inside Vatican City.† Langdon glanced down at Vittoria's legs and frowned. He had forgotten. Vatican City had a strict ban on visible legs above the knee – both male and female. The regulation was a way of showing respect for the sanctity of God's city. â€Å"This is all I have,† she said. â€Å"We came in a hurry.† The guard nodded, clearly displeased. He turned next to Langdon. â€Å"Are you carrying any weapons?† Weapons? Langdon thought. I'm not even carrying a change of underwear! He shook his head. The officer crouched at Langdon's feet and began patting him down, starting at his socks. Trusting guy, Langdon thought. The guard's strong hands moved up Langdon's legs, coming uncomfortably close to his groin. Finally they moved up to his chest and shoulders. Apparently content Langdon was clean, the guard turned to Vittoria. He ran his eyes up her legs and torso. Vittoria glared. â€Å"Don't even think about it.† The guard fixed Vittoria with a gaze clearly intended to intimidate. Vittoria did not flinch. â€Å"What's that?† the guard said, pointing to a faint square bulge in the front pocket of her shorts. Vittoria removed an ultrathin cell phone. The guard took it, clicked it on, waited for a dial tone, and then, apparently satisfied that it was indeed nothing more than a phone, returned it to her. Vittoria slid it back into her pocket. â€Å"Turn around, please,† the guard said. Vittoria obliged, holding her arms out and rotating a full 360 degrees. The guard carefully studied her. Langdon had already decided that Vittoria's form-fitting shorts and blouse were not bulging anywhere they shouldn't have been. Apparently the guard came to the same conclusion. â€Å"Thank you. This way please.† The Swiss Guard chopper churned in neutral as Langdon and Vittoria approached. Vittoria boarded first, like a seasoned pro, barely even stooping as she passed beneath the whirling rotors. Langdon held back a moment. â€Å"No chance of a car?† he yelled, half-joking to the Swiss Guard, who was climbing in the pilot's seat. The man did not answer. Langdon knew that with Rome's maniacal drivers, flying was probably safer anyway. He took a deep breath and boarded, stooping cautiously as he passed beneath the spinning rotors. As the guard fired up the engines, Vittoria called out, â€Å"Have you located the canister?† The guard glanced over his shoulder, looking confused. â€Å"The what?† â€Å"The canister. You called CERN about a canister?† The man shrugged. â€Å"No idea what you're talking about. We've been very busy today. My commander told me to pick you up. That's all I know.† Vittoria gave Langdon an unsettled look. â€Å"Buckle up, please,† the pilot said as the engine revved. Langdon reached for his seat belt and strapped himself in. The tiny fuselage seemed to shrink around him. Then with a roar, the craft shot up and banked sharply north toward Rome. Rome†¦ the caput mundi, where Caesar once ruled, where St. Peter was crucified. The cradle of modern civilization. And at its core†¦ a ticking bomb. 33 Rome from the air is a labyrinth – an indecipherable maze of ancient roadways winding around buildings, fountains, and crumbling ruins. The Vatican chopper stayed low in the sky as it sliced northwest through the permanent smog layer coughed up by the congestion below. Langdon gazed down at the mopeds, sight-seeing buses, and armies of miniature Fiat sedans buzzing around rotaries in all directions. Koyaanisqatsi, he thought, recalling the Hopi term for â€Å"life out of balance.† Vittoria sat in silent determination in the seat beside him. The chopper banked hard. His stomach dropping, Langdon gazed farther into the distance. His eyes found the crumbling ruins of the Roman Coliseum. The Coliseum, Langdon had always thought, was one of history's greatest ironies. Now a dignified symbol for the rise of human culture and civilization, the stadium had been built to host centuries of barbaric events – hungry lions shredding prisoners, armies of slaves battling to the death, gang rapes of exotic women captured from far-off lands, as well as public beheadings and castrations. It was ironic, Langdon thought, or perhaps fitting, that the Coliseum had served as the architectural blueprint for Harvard's Soldier Field – the football stadium where the ancient traditions of savagery were reenacted every fall†¦ crazed fans screaming for bloodshed as Harvard battled Yale. As the chopper headed north, Langdon spied the Roman Forum – the heart of pre-Christian Rome. The decaying columns looked like toppled gravestones in a cemetery that had somehow avoided being swallowed by the metropolis surrounding it. To the west the wide basin of the Tiber River wound enormous arcs across the city. Even from the air Langdon could tell the water was deep. The churning currents were brown, filled with silt and foam from heavy rains. â€Å"Straight ahead,† the pilot said, climbing higher. Langdon and Vittoria looked out and saw it. Like a mountain parting the morning fog, the colossal dome rose out of the haze before them: St. Peter's Basilica. â€Å"Now that,† Langdon said to Vittoria, â€Å"is something Michelangelo got right.† Langdon had never seen St. Peter's from the air. The marble faà §ade blazed like fire in the afternoon sun. Adorned with 140 statues of saints, martyrs, and angels, the Herculean edifice stretched two football fields wide and a staggering six long. The cavernous interior of the basilica had room for over 60,000 worshipers†¦ over one hundred times the population of Vatican City, the smallest country in the world. Incredibly, though, not even a citadel of this magnitude could dwarf the piazza before it. A sprawling expanse of granite, St. Peter's Square was a staggering open space in the congestion of Rome, like a classical Central Park. In front of the basilica, bordering the vast oval common, 284 columns swept outward in four concentric arcs of diminishing size†¦ an architectural trompe de l'oiel used to heighten the piazza's sense of grandeur. As he stared at the magnificent shrine before him, Langdon wondered what St. Peter would think if he were here now. The Saint had died a gruesome death, crucified upside down on this very spot. Now he rested in the most sacred of tombs, buried five stories down, directly beneath the central cupola of the basilica. â€Å"Vatican City,† the pilot said, sounding anything but welcoming. Langdon looked out at the towering stone bastions that loomed ahead – impenetrable fortifications surrounding the complex†¦ a strangely earthly defense for a spiritual world of secrets, power, and mystery. â€Å"Look!† Vittoria said suddenly, grabbing Langdon's arm. She motioned frantically downward toward St. Peter's Square directly beneath them. Langdon put his face to the window and looked. â€Å"Over there,† she said, pointing. Langdon looked. The rear of the piazza looked like a parking lot crowded with a dozen or so trailer trucks. Huge satellite dishes pointed skyward from the roof of every truck. The dishes were emblazoned with familiar names: Televisor Europea Video Italia BBC United Press International Langdon felt suddenly confused, wondering if the news of the antimatter had already leaked out. Vittoria seemed suddenly tense. â€Å"Why is the press here? What's going on?† The pilot turned and gave her an odd look over his shoulder. â€Å"What's going on? You don't know?† â€Å"No,† she fired back, her accent husky and strong. â€Å"Il Conclavo,† he said. â€Å"It is to be sealed in about an hour. The whole world is watching.† Il Conclavo. The word rang a long moment in Langdon's ears before dropping like a brick to the pit of his stomach. Il Conclavo. The Vatican Conclave. How could he have forgotten? It had been in the news recently. Fifteen days ago, the Pope, after a tremendously popular twelve-year reign, had passed away. Every paper in the world had carried the story about the Pope's fatal stroke while sleeping – a sudden and unexpected death many whispered was suspicious. But now, in keeping with the sacred tradition, fifteen days after the death of a Pope, the Vatican was holding Il Conclavo – the sacred ceremony in which the 165 cardinals of the world – the most powerful men in Christendom – gathered in Vatican City to elect the new Pope. Every cardinal on the planet is here today, Langdon thought as the chopper passed over St. Peter's Basilica. The expansive inner world of Vatican City spread out beneath him. The entire power structure of the Roman Catholic Church is sitting on a time bomb. 34 Cardinal Mortati gazed up at the lavish ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and tried to find a moment of quiet reflection. The frescoed walls echoed with the voices of cardinals from nations around the globe. The men jostled in the candlelit tabernacle, whispering excitedly and consulting with one another in numerous languages, the universal tongues being English, Italian, and Spanish. The light in the chapel was usually sublime – long rays of tinted sun slicing through the darkness like rays from heaven – but not today. As was the custom, all of the chapel's windows had been covered in black velvet in the name of secrecy. This ensured that no one on the inside could send signals or communicate in any way with the outside world. The result was a profound darkness lit only by candles†¦ a shimmering radiance that seemed to purify everyone it touched, making them all ghostly†¦ like saints. What privilege, Mortati thought, that I am to oversee this sanctified event. Cardinals over eighty years of age were too old to be eligible for election and did not attend conclave, but at seventy-nine years old, Mortati was the most senior cardinal here and had been appointed to oversee the proceedings. Following tradition, the cardinals gathered here two hours before conclave to catch up with friends and engage in last-minute discussion. At 7 P.M., the late Pope's chamberlain would arrive, give opening prayer, and then leave. Then the Swiss Guard would seal the doors and lock all the cardinals inside. It was then that the oldest and most secretive political ritual in the world would begin. The cardinals would not be released until they decided who among them would be the next Pope. Conclave. Even the name was secretive. â€Å"Con clave† literally meant â€Å"locked with a key.† The cardinals were permitted no contact whatsoever with the outside world. No phone calls. No messages. No whispers through doorways. Conclave was a vacuum, not to be influenced by anything in the outside world. This would ensure that the cardinals kept Solum Dum prae oculis†¦ only God before their eyes. Outside the walls of the chapel, of course, the media watched and waited, speculating as to which of the cardinals would become the ruler of one billion Catholics worldwide. Conclaves created an intense, politically charged atmosphere, and over the centuries they had turned deadly: poisonings, fist fights, and even murder had erupted within the sacred walls. Ancient history, Mortati thought. Tonight's conclave will be unified, blissful, and above all†¦ brief. Or at least that had been his speculation. Now, however, an unexpected development had emerged. Mystifyingly, four cardinals were absent from the chapel. Mortati knew that all the exits to Vatican City were guarded, and the missing cardinals could not have gone far, but still, with less than an hour before opening prayer, he was feeling disconcerted. After all, the four missing men were no ordinary cardinals. They were the cardinals. The chosen four. As overseer of the conclave, Mortati had already sent word through the proper channels to the Swiss Guard alerting them to the cardinals' absence. He had yet to hear back. Other cardinals had now noticed the puzzling absence. The anxious whispers had begun. Of all cardinals, these four should be on time! Cardinal Mortati was starting to fear it might be a long evening after all. He had no idea. 35 The Vatican's helipad, for reasons of safety and noise control, is located in the northwest tip of Vatican City, as far from St. Peter's Basilica as possible. â€Å"Terra firma,† the pilot announced as they touched down. He exited and opened the sliding door for Langdon and Vittoria. Langdon descended from the craft and turned to help Vittoria, but she had already dropped effortlessly to the ground. Every muscle in her body seemed tuned to one objective – finding the antimatter before it left a horrific legacy. After stretching a reflective sun tarp across the cockpit window, the pilot ushered them to an oversized electric golf cart waiting near the helipad. The cart whisked them silently alongside the country's western border – a fifty-foot-tall cement bulwark thick enough to ward off attacks even by tanks. Lining the interior of the wall, posted at fifty-meter intervals, Swiss Guards stood at attention, surveying the interior of the grounds. The cart turned sharply right onto Via della Osservatorio. Signs pointed in all directions: Palazzio Governatorio Collegio Ethiopiana Basilica San Pietro Capella Sistina They accelerated up the manicured road past a squat building marked Radio Vaticana. This, Langdon realized to his amazement, was the hub of the world's most listened-to radio programming – Radio Vaticana – spreading the word of God to millions of listeners around the globe. â€Å"Attenzione,† the pilot said, turning sharply into a rotary. As the cart wound round, Langdon could barely believe the sight now coming into view. Giardini Vaticani, he thought. The heart of Vatican City. Directly ahead rose the rear of St. Peter's Basilica, a view, Langdon realized, most people never saw. To the right loomed the Palace of the Tribunal, the lush papal residence rivaled only by Versailles in its baroque embellishment. The severe-looking Governatorato building was now behind them, housing Vatican City's administration. And up ahead on the left, the massive rectangular edifice of the Vatican Museum. Langdon knew there would be no time for a museum visit this trip. â€Å"Where is everyone?† Vittoria asked, surveying the deserted lawns and walkways. The guard checked his black, military-style chronograph – an odd anachronism beneath his puffy sleeve. â€Å"The cardinals are convened in the Sistine Chapel. Conclave begins in a little under an hour.† Langdon nodded, vaguely recalling that before conclave the cardinals spent two hours inside the Sistine Chapel in quiet reflection and visitations with their fellow cardinals from around the globe. The time was meant to renew old friendships among the cardinals and facilitate a less heated election process. â€Å"And the rest of the residents and staff?† â€Å"Banned from the city for secrecy and security until the conclave concludes.† â€Å"And when does it conclude?† The guard shrugged. â€Å"God only knows.† The words sounded oddly literal. After parking the cart on the wide lawn directly behind St. Peter's Basilica, the guard escorted Langdon and Vittoria up a stone escarpment to a marble plaza off the back of the basilica. Crossing the plaza, they approached the rear wall of the basilica and followed it through a triangular courtyard, across Via Belvedere, and into a series of buildings closely huddled together. Langdon's art history had taught him enough Italian to pick out signs for the Vatican Printing Office, the Tapestry Restoration Lab, Post Office Management, and the Church of St. Ann. They crossed another small square and arrived at their destination. The Office of the Swiss Guard is housed adjacent to Il Corpo di Vigilanza, directly northeast of St. Peter's Basilica. The office is a squat, stone building. On either side of the entrance, like two stone statues, stood a pair of guards. Langdon had to admit, these guards did not look quite so comical. Although they also wore the blue and gold uniform, each wielded the traditional â€Å"Vatican long sword† – an eight-foot spear with a razor-sharp scythe – rumored to have decapitated countless Muslims while defending the Christian crusaders in the fifteenth century. As Langdon and Vittoria approached, the two guards stepped forward, crossing their long swords, blocking the entrance. One looked up at the pilot in confusion. â€Å"I pantaloni,† he said, motioning to Vittoria's shorts. The pilot waved them off. â€Å"Il comandante vuole vederli subito.† The guards frowned. Reluctantly they stepped aside. Inside, the air was cool. It looked nothing like the administrative security offices Langdon would have imagined. Ornate and impeccably furnished, the hallways contained paintings Langdon was certain any museum worldwide would gladly have featured in its main gallery. The pilot pointed down a steep set of stairs. â€Å"Down, please.† Langdon and Vittoria followed the white marble treads as they descended between a gauntlet of nude male sculptures. Each statue wore a fig leaf that was lighter in color than the rest of the body. The Great Castration, Langdon thought. It was one of the most horrific tragedies in Renaissance art. In 1857, Pope Pius IX decided that the accurate representation of the male form might incite lust inside the Vatican. So he got a chisel and mallet and hacked off the genitalia of every single male statue inside Vatican City. He defaced works by Michelangelo, Bramante, and Bernini. Plaster fig leaves were used to patch the damage. Hundreds of sculptures had been emasculated. Langdon had often wondered if there was a huge crate of stone penises someplace. â€Å"Here,† the guard announced. They reached the bottom of the stairs and dead-ended at a heavy, steel door. The guard typed an entry code, and the door slid open. Langdon and Vittoria entered. Beyond the threshold was absolute mayhem.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Mind Is Not a Vessel to Be Filled, but a Fire to Be Kindled Essay

â€Å"Education† may be an ordinary word to most people, but very few actually understand the deep meaning beneath it. In this dynamic world, we need to be equipped with the necessary skills and hard work to survive. Understanding the education system is integral to allow students to understand the purpose of studying, the purpose of going to school everyday. Is education in Singapore really â€Å"holistic†? Are there flaws? What is education? By definition, it would be something along the line of â€Å" transferring knowledge†. I beg to differ. In my opinion, education consists of more than just knowledge. From Kindergarden to University, students are put through the daily routine of waking up early in the morning, going to a place where teachers teach â€Å"the same old stuff†. By that, I am referring to knowledge. Knowledge is power, you might say. Indeed, being knowledgeable helps you stand out among the rest during the tests and examinations. But is that all about education ? Acing the tests and getting a degree? I’m afraid no. Years after years, Singapore universities and institutions are well-known on the global front for being able to produce students with top grades. These results just keep getting better and better. Foreigners come to Singapore for education. Most people might therefore think education in Singapore is perfect. I also acknowledge that these are true, but only to a certain extent. On the other spectrum ( which is usually not shown), there are students who are not performing as well as their peers, students who are doing well but facing a lot of unnecessary stress. This is prevalent as well. The obsessive reliance of tuition to produce grades, online forums to discuss ways to â€Å"headstart my child in education†. I find no meaning in these. This is passive learning. Similarly, there are exceptional cases which bring out the ugly truth about education in Singapore. Students faking degrees to earn scholarships, jobs , graduates saying vulgarities during graduation ceremony to ‘rejoice’ over the achievements, even local scholar prosecuted overseas for doing unethical things such as watching child pornography. If education in Singapore is so perfect, why would such disgraceful incidents occur? Let us look at some possible reasons. Memorizing dictionaries, memorizing textbooks, doing thousands of assessment books, attending endless tuitions and supplementary classes†¦ These are some things most pupils in Singapore are going through. They have my sympathy. Everything I have described until now is about passive learning, which revolves around results and lacking in true meaning of education. Now, let us zoom into another aspect. Imagine this : a child who does his work consistently, revises on daily basis, reads newspapers everyday. Everything without being told. Seems like a utopian child? No. It is possible. The only thing he has compared to other students is the passion. The burning passion inside him to learn, to absorb knowledge. This drive pushes him to do everything on his own. There is no tuition, no supplementary classes, reasonable number of assessment books. Yet, this child is scoring ‘A’s for his subjects. In Singapore schools, Ministry of Education is encouraging a whole new approach towards â€Å"holistic† education. Co-curricular activities, Community Involvement Program, Civics & Morals Education†¦ these are programmes put in place after much effortful planning of the education ministries. There are even more recent policies such as not revealing top students for national examinations such as Primary School Leaving Examinations. I respect them for that. However, there are rooms for improvement. CCA, short for co-curricular activities, is a word that is often hung in the pupils’ mouth. Whether they say it out of pride in a good way or bad way, I do not know. This brings me to the point of CCA mismatch. Students who feel they are â€Å"not good enough† for a CCA only after a few years in that CCA, students who feel indignant as they feel they could have gotten into â€Å"better CCA†. What are the consequences of this? Students not attending CCAs regularly, students complaining about how ‘ sien ‘ ( boring and uninteresting) their CCA is. This leads to stereotyping about CCAs and split between different CCAs, especially Sports vs Non-Sports. While you might say it is good that CCAs are bonded together as a team, the purpose of bonding is wrong. They are making fun of other people and things they do. In the long run, this will not work. Another thing is when pupils do not attend CCAs, the school has no choice but to use deterrence methods such as demerit points. To tackle this whole situation, there is Direct- School- Admission put in place to reduce scenarios like this however the success is limited. After talking about limitations of the current education system put in place, I have some suggestions. What I will say is also something simple : passion. Again, a simple word yet deep meaning behind it. If a student is an active learner, problems such as late/no submission of work, lack of focus during lessons, loss of notes, game/social networking addiction etc will all be eliminated at once. Students will not complain ‘ Life is Tough’ or ‘ There is too much work yet too little time’ etc. Teachers no longer have to chase after the students for work, give students boring supplementary classes. Teachers no longer have to scold students, which deviates their focus on teaching that will result in drop in productivity. This will lead to more supplementary/remedial classes which make students get tired of learning. Ultimately, they lose passion in learning. This evil cycle of mad chase, forced homework, drilled practice will keep on going until the students change their attitude. If the students take charge of their own learning, they will automatically focus during lessons and give constructive feedback that can engage the whole class in a positive manner. This will accelerate learning so much that the teachers will be more willing to teach and even plan fun activities for pupils to play and learn at the same time. At the same time, the students will strive to do their best in everything including daily worksheet, assignments. Ultimately, success ( which is good grades people chase after) will follow them. Therefore, I strongly feel that passion is much more important than knowledge. To put this passion in them, I think teachers, parents and students themselves all play a crucial role to ‘kindle the fire’ within them. They can help create encouraging environment to allow pupils to share their opinions on certain topics and letting them think ‘out of the box’. They can reduce things such elitism stereotyping to encourage the pupils to exchange feedback healthily and letting them learn from one another. Occasionally, having useful motivation courses in schools by professionals also might help. Once this fire is lit, the action will follow. Students will start finding joy in learning and unknowingly, they will get good grades without even getting stressed or tired.

Market analysis wood pellets in Germany

To give a clear overview of the possibilities in the wood pellet market is a SWOT-Analysis used. This analysis presents the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of the wood pellet market in general (not for a specific company!).Confrontation-matrixIn this matrix are the benefits and the issues around the wood pellet market displayed against each other. This gives a clear overview and a good summery as well about the `Wood Pellets ´ market! Strengths1) Sustainable 2) Renewable 3) Worldwide available 4 ) New and higher employment 5 ) Accessibility. Germany is located in the center of Europe, which is a strength point and offers good possibilities for trading. Germany is very good accessible by water, via seas and channels due to the Netherlands as well.Weaknesses1) High competition against other energy resources. 2) The technology around the production of bioenergy needs more and new inputs to win more energy and make it more favorable and get higher outputs. 3) High inve stment costs in the beginning, to install a combustion furnace at home or in the industry.OpportunitiesA)Wood fuels provides opportunities for new companies to develop B) Producing and the using of wood fuels locally will minimize transport costs C) Wood fuels releases lower quantities of atmospheric pollutants D) It is possible to offset the carbon emissions from burning against the carbon uptake of the trees during the growth of the wood. E) According to the EU ´s policy and the Kyoto-protocol, wood fuels fits very well with the targets3,4,5 -> A The wood pellet industry offers a great opportunity to develop new companies,  and for new and more extensive employment. This counts for all places in the world because wood pellets can produce almost everywhere. For Europe(Germany) it is an great opportunity in special because of the current economic recession and a lack of jobs. 1,2 -> B,C,D,EThe sustainability and renewability of wood pellets fits well with all the European target s due to the Kyoto-protocol. Wood fuels releases lower quantities of atmospheric pollutants compared to fossil fuels. And wood resources are almost all over the world accessible.1,2 -> A,E New technologies are necessary to make wood pellets more profitable compared to other energy resources. But it is a challange for companies to develop in new technologies, which is good for the energy market, employment, and most important the environment!3 -> EBecause of the high investment costs in the beginning for installing a heating system, many people and/or companies choose for other (cheaper) opportunities. But according to the increasing environment issues, it is for the European Union an option to subsidy and promote wood pellet energy.ThreatsA) Extensive market with lots of competition, there are many different energy resources available. B) To create bioenergy/wood pellets, lots of energy is necessary for the production. 1,2 -> A, BSustainability and renewability are increasingly more important because of the global warming and environment issues. This offers a good opportunity for bioenergy. The use of wood pellets could be more and more interesting instead of fossil fuels.1,2,3 -> A,B According to the disadvantages of bioenergy, there are new technologies needed in energy market to make bioenergy more profitable compared to fossil fuels.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Exploring factors contributing to depression in women Essay

Exploring factors contributing to depression in women - Essay Example In recognizing the gender difference in diagnosis rate, it is necessary to consider the potential difference in prevalence or extent of factors that impact across genders to result in depression. Factors that have been explored within the current literature review include the views towards a diagnosis, treatment and recovery from depression held by professionals and females experiencing depression, and the impact of religious views and the external factors that may impact on diagnosis and recovery. The professional and personal views were notably linked to diagnosis and recovery, with positive views supporting recovery and negative views leading to increased chances of untreated depression. The shift in treatment options reflected the developing support for a positive approach to accessing mental health services. Additionally, religion was noted to affect the choice to access treatment and recovery rates by women with depression, depending on the positivity of those views. The findin gs of this literature review suggests that there is scope for further work in implication for future practice, both in exploring in more detail the range of factors that occur with depression in females, and to explore the evidence base for the higher diagnosis in females. Ideally, despite the fact that depression occurs to all individuals regardless of gender, observations and past researches have shown that indeed the effects and impact that depression has on women are greater than those found in the male gender. Additionally, a number of factors have been found to contribute substantively towards the enhancement of the effect and impact of depression on women. Environmental and socio-economic factors are indeed the greatest contributors considering the variances that exist between women and men on such perspectives. The paper, therefore, focuses on the factors that significantly contribute towards the increased occurrence of