The Woman Who Explained the Sun and Stars

Today, ask any astronomer what the Sun and other stars are made of, and youll be told, Hydrogen and helium and trace amounts of other elements. We know this through a study of sunlight, using a technique called spectroscopy. Essentially, it dissects sunlight into its component wavelengths called a spectrum. Specific characteristics in the spectrum tell astronomers what elements exist in the Suns atmosphere. We see hydrogen, helium, silicon, plus carbon, and other common metals in stars and nebulae throughout the universe.  We have this knowledge thanks to the pioneering work done by Dr. Cecelia Payne-Gaposchkin throughout her career.   The Woman Who Explained the Sun and Stars In 1925, astronomy student Cecelia Payne turned in her doctoral thesis on the topic of stellar atmospheres. One of her most important findings was that the Sun is very rich in hydrogen and helium, more so than astronomers thought. Based on that, she concluded that hydrogen is THE major constituent of all stars, making hydrogen the most abundant element in the universe. It makes sense, since the Sun and other stars fuse hydrogen in their cores to create heavier elements. As they age, stars also fuse those heavier elements to make more complex ones. This process of stellar nucleosynthesis is what populates the universe with many of the elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. Its also an important part of the evolution of stars, which Cecelia sought to understand. The idea that stars are made mostly of hydrogen seems like a very obvious thing to astronomers today, but for its time, Dr. Paynes idea was startling. One of her advisors — Henry Norris Russell — disagreed with it and demanded she take it out of her thesis defense. Later, he decided it was a great idea, published it on his own, and got the credit for the discovery. She continued to work at Harvard, but for time, because she was a woman, she received very low pay and the classes she taught werent even recognized in the course catalogs at the time.   In recent decades, the credit for her discovery and subsequent work has been restored to Dr. Payne-Gaposchkin. She is also credited with establishing that stars can be classified by their temperatures, and published more than 150 papers on stellar atmospheres, stellar spectra. She also worked with her husband, Serge I. Gaposchkin, on variable stars. She published five books, and won a number of awards. She spent her entire research career at Harvard College Observatory, eventually becoming the first woman to chair a department at Harvard. Despite successes that would have gained male astronomers at the time incredible praise and honors, she faced gender discrimination throughout much of her life. Nonetheless, she is now celebrated as a brilliant and original thinker for her contributions that changed our understanding of how stars work.   As one of the first of a group of female astronomers at Harvard, Cecelia Payne-Gaposchkin blazed a trail for women in astronomy that many cite as their own inspiration to study the stars. In 2000, a special centenary celebration of her life and science at Harvard drew astronomers from around the world to discuss her life and findings and how they changed the face of astronomy. Largely due to her work and example, as well as the example of women who were inspired by her courage and intellect, the role of women in astronomy is slowly improving, as more select it as a profession.   A Portrait of the Scientist Throughout her Life Dr. Payne-Gaposchkin was born as Cecelia Helena Payne in England on May 10, 1900. She got interested in astronomy after hearing Sir Arthur Eddington describe his experiences on an eclipse expedition in 1919. She then studied astronomy, but because she was female, she was refused a degree from Cambridge. She left England for the United States, where she studied astronomy and got her PhD from Radcliffe College (which is now a part of Harvard University).   After she received her doctorate, Dr. Payne went on to study a number of different types of stars, particularly the very brightest high luminosity stars.  Her main interest was to understand the stellar structure of the Milky Way, and she ultimately studied variable stars in our galaxy and the nearby Magellanic Clouds. Her data played a large role in determining the ways that stars are born, live, and die.   Cecelia Payne married fellow astronomer Serge Gaposchkin in 1934 and they worked together on variable stars and other targets throughout their lives. They had three children. Dr. Payne-Gaposchkin continued teaching at Harvard until 1966, and continued her research into stars with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (headquartered at Harvards Center for Astrophysics. She died in 1979.

Annotated Bibliography on the Prevelence of Rape in...

Greenstadt, Amy. Read It In Me: the Authors Will in Lucrece. Shakespeare Quarterly. 57.1 (Spring 2006): 45-70. JStore. Web. 18 February 2014. In this body of work, associate professor at the University of Portland, Amy Greenstadt presents a compelling argument exploring William Shakespeares precise use of words in his poem The Rape of Lucrece. Structurally, Greenstadt employs a close reading method and anchors her research findings with the confirmation of concurring academics. Initially, Greenstadt introduces her readership to an innovation taking place in the world of publication during the Renaissance, which she refers to as an era of the writers will (47). Greenstadt thus substantiates her argument by suggesting that the innovation allows the poem to stand as a model through which female subjectivity is re-evaluated (46). Subsequently, Greenstadt validates her argument by concentrating largely on words that hold a double entendre particularly with respect to the meaning of publication. This aspect of her argument acts as both the strength, but also the fragility of her assertion. Greenstadt explains Shakespeare uses th e word publish as a homonym of sorts. Pragmatically, with respect to the final stanza in the poem, Shakespeare employs the word publish to announce publically Tarquines assault on Lucrece; however, Greenstadt argues that Shakespeare inevitably also uses the word publish in the literal sense as well. As in, he is publishing a

Principle of Finance Understanding of Money

Question: Discuss about the Principle of Finance Understanding of Money. Answer: Introduction: One of the biggest cash lender in Australia was accused of charging higher interest rate and brokerage fees on short-term loans offered to borrowers. They were liable of breaching the responsible lending practice and did not comply with the legislation. Cash converter has transformed their business model in light of changing legislation. The new business model made the borrowers pay high amount of brokerage fees despite the laws of Queensland government of capping interest rate of personal loans at 48%. Such amount included upfront and brokerage fees. Customers Cash converter was alleged of charging extortionate fees and interest rates on the amount of loan provided to its clients. Customers of Queensland had to appoint broker for in order to access credit cash from lenders of the organizations. In year 2008, lending laws in Queensland changed and the organization contrived to avoid interest cap. This comprised of brokerage fees and the borrowers were required to pay additional inter est rate of 35% on total amount of loan borrowed. Charging high amount of brokerage fees was unconscionable. Lending practice adopted by Cash converter resulted vulnerable people in incurring massive amount of interest and additional fees. This was in contravention with the laws that were designed to lower down the cost of credit. The lending strategy was intended to force the borrowers to borrow repeatedly in light of excessive interest rate and fees. Brokerage fees were the main agenda of the loan proceedings and franchisee were mainly responsible for charging the fees and it was against the service that introduced the customers to their subsidiary. However, it was mentioned by company that brokerage fees charged were not against the legislation. Settlement of class action was done by Federal court and they were required to pay $23 million as principal settlement and this was reached on behalf of 37500 customers. Discussion: All the charges were recorded in the financial statements of the company but some were omitted and other was not mentioned under appropriate headings. Such incomes were recoded as income generated from advances made from short-term loans in the profit and loss statement. There was no separate mentioning of such income that needs to be shown separately and appear under the heading income generated from services. The higher interest rate along with upfront and brokerage fees charged by Cash converter was accounted in the annual report of company as interest income. There was no mention of brokerage fees in the annual report as there was need to mention about the income from such services. Brokerage fees would have been mentioned as income generated from services of franchise. Financial working of organization has been overstated by mentioning and charging the exorbitant interest rate on short-term advances by 633%. The company introduced a method where the Cash converter asked its customers to sign a number of documents and this included an early repayment election. Borrowers were asked to pay a high amount of interest rate of 145% on personal loans and 633% on cash loans (Leeks and Luck 2016). Cash converter duped and took advantage of vulnerable customers who could not afford to repay back the loan amount. Therefore, the lending practice of Cash converter is regarded as unethical as borrowers have been deceived by charging interest rate beyond capping limit set out by laws and deliberately circumvent the laws. Now, there are two ethical theories that would be used to discuss whether lending practice of the Cash converter is ethical or unethical. In this context, the two theories to be used are justice ethical theory and deontological theories. It is stated in the justice ethical principle that in order to incorporate justice ethical practice into the activities of organization, the decision makers should focus on actions that are considered fair for people who are involved in it. Unless it is possible to justify the extenuating circumstances, ethical theory should be consistent with ethical decisions. However, inconsistent decisions needs to be justified (Melden 2013). The lending practice adopted by Cash converter is regarded as unethical because it deliberately duped the customers and took advantage of vulnerable people by making them pay higher or unreasonable interest rate along with brokerage and upfront fees. Cash converter made profits by breaching the legislations and did not employ ethical practice in carrying out its business activities. Hence, lending business practice is considered as unjustifiable and unethical (Oosterveer 2015). It is stated in the deontological class of ethical theories that organizations when engaging in decision-making process should adhere to duties and obligations. According to this theory, upholding duty of an individual is considered as ethically right as it is regarded that an individual would follow his or her obligations to another society or individual. An organization would produce consistent decisions if it adheres to deontological theory as it will be based on set obligations (Ho 2015). According to this particular ethical theory, it is evident that Cash converter did not adhere and complied with established legislation and laws. Organizations are considered responsible under penalty threat if it did not adhere to responsible lending practice. The lending practice of Cash converter was in response to changed legislation that intended to take advantage of vulnerable borrowers. Moreover, organization did not practiced due care and diligence in advancing loan to customers. They di d not enquire into the suitability criteria of loans depending upon type of borrowers (Montiel and Delgado 2014). Therefore, it can be concluded that they practiced lending system that was not in financial interest of customers. Cash converter experienced regressive business growth after they practiced the lending system of charging higher interest rate. Organization failed to make reasonable enquiries into the expenses and income of customers. This was done mainly in the situation when the small amount of loan was considered unsuitable by credit legislation. An internally generated assumed benchmark was that had no relation with the real expenses of customers was applied by cash converter rather than assessing real expenses recorded in the bank statement of customers. According to circumstances of customers, small amounts of loan are considered unsuitable as they fail to assess the loan for particular customers and it was entered into breach of credit legislation subsequently (Hahn and Khnen 2013). In lieu of the class action launched by the federal court against the Cash converter, they have paid the total penalties amounting to $ 1.35 million and this was done following the infringement notices. Cash converter is required to refund of amount $ 10.8 million as fees to eligible consumers. Companies has incurred expenditure of $ 20 million by way of legal and repayment costs that would be capped at $ 3 million. In year 2013, the share price of Cash converter rose by 2.2 percent after the announcement that pay lender can make use of strategies for making profit despite the constraint imposed by legislation of customer protection laws (Banks et al. 2015). In the year 2016, there was an increase in the personal loan book of amount $ 113036461 as compared to the loan book of $ $ 119448669 in the year 2015. Loan advances increased by 34% and the organization has enough provision of cash and the estimated amount was standing at $ 5 million. Increase in the annual interest rate on short-term loan and seven month loan advances. Profit generation in financial year 2014 was recorded at $ 24.2 million as against the loss that resulted post the class action in the year 2015 and the amount stood at $ 21.5 million. The value of personal loan book fell to $ 104.5 million in the year 2015 (Slade 2015). There was a downtrend in the share price of Cash converter post the class action. Share price of organization was trading in range of $ 0.80 to $ 1.88 in the financial year 2014. The share price experienced a jump in the year 2016 as it was trading higher at 7.6% as compared to previous year. The graph below depicts share price of cash converter for a period of five years. Share price of cash converter for five years Source: created by author After the multimillion losses in the previous years, cash converter was able to generate profit due to a boom in online payday lending and due to this, there was a jump in online cash loan advance to 62% in six month and the amount stood at $ 8.2 million. The value of personal loan grew back to 42% and the amount stood at $ 44.6 million. There was a lift in the revenue of the company to $ 8,6 million as compared to $ 1.6 million in the year 2015. For the first half of financial year, cash converter reported a profit of $ 15.9 million compared to a loss generated of amount $ 5.3 million in the financial year 2014 (Cashconverters.com 2017). Embedding sustainability practices in conducting the business activities is very essential for financial institutions. Sustainability practice and Social responsibility in the financial institutions makes the provision of risk management services and financial capital that would help the organization in contributing to well-being and economic prosperity of the community or their clients. There have been an increase in the social responsibility contribution and sustainable practice in the business activities of financial institution in recent years (Eccles et al. 2014). Financial institution needs to closely identify the possible vulnerabilities for obtaining the social security. Sustainable development and special responsibility intends to determine company for establishing the goals for the long-term development of the society and their on financial interest (Bebbington et al. 2014). Social responsibility is the ethical management. It is required by financial institution to incorpor ate environmental and social concerns in the interaction with the stakeholders and their business operations. Sustainable development of economy and society helps in creating a crucial and fast growing for financial functioning instruments. Protecting the financial interest of the customers is the responsibility of financial institutions and this should be in aligned with the sustainable and social responsibility (Blewitt 2014). Social responsibility of cash converter is identical to any other financial institutions. The lending practice adopted by Cash converter was not ethical and hence not socially responsible as it deliberately took the advantage of vulnerable class of people without carrying out due diligence in the advances of loan. The business model adopted by company was not in the financial interest of customers as it made them pay exorbitant interest rate and substantially higher amount of brokerage fees on their loan amount. Responsible steps were not taken by the organization to make the verification of the income and expenses of the customers in accordance with the responsible lending obligations. Therefore, Cash converted needs to transform the business model that is in the best interest of their customers and should not force them to buy such financial products that is not suitable for them. Borrowers of loan have been posed to threat as due to charging of higher interest rate above the cap s et by legislation. Incorporation of unethical practices would hamper the growth and financial position of the company. Maximization of profits and delivering the value to shareholders should not be at the cost of their customers and it should be done by keeping the customers as their priority. Sustainability practice in financial institution is considered as business opportunity as it considered as the driver of improving the overall performance of the organization (Axelrod et al. 2014). Conclusion: Cash converter was alleged by the federal court of Australia of circumventing the legislation that set a limit of interest rate to be charged on loan advances. Due to below standard services to customers and unscrupulous lending practice, the reputation cash converter, as one of the biggest lender in Australia would be damaged. For the hampered community, it is essential for Cash converter to imbibe social responsibility and sustainability practice for economic well-being of society and communities. Addressing the sustainability challenge has become very complex in the current era and therefore, financial institutions needs to make the transformation of business model that helps in addressing them. It is necessary for organization such as Cash Converter to avoid indulging in such lending practice that would hamper and damage its reputation. Reference: Axelrod, R.S. and VanDeveer, S.D. eds., 2014.The global environment: institutions, law, and policy. CQ Press. Banks, M., Marston, G., Russell, R. and Karger, H., 2015. In a perfect world it would be great if they didn't exist: How Australians experience payday loans.International Journal of Social Welfare,24(1), pp.37-47. Bebbington, J., Unerman, J. and O'Dwyer, B., 2014.Sustainability accounting and accountability. Routledge. Blewitt, J., 2014.Understanding sustainable development. Routledge. Cashconverters.com. (2017).Annual Reports. [online] Available at: https://www.cashconverters.com/Investors/AnnualReports [Accessed 13 Apr. 2017]. Eccles, R.G., Ioannou, I. and Serafeim, G., 2014. The impact of corporate sustainability on organizational processes and performance.Management Science,60(11), pp.2835-2857. Hahn, R. and Khnen, M., 2013. Determinants of sustainability reporting: a review of results, trends, theory, and opportunities in an expanding field of research.Journal of Cleaner Production,59, pp.5-21. Ho, D., 2015. Making Ethical Progress without Ethical Theories.AMA journal of ethics,17(4), p.289. Leeks, A. and Luck, K., 2016. Queensland set for class actions: Practical issues and implications.Proctor, The,36(10), p.16. Loorbach, D. and Wijsman, K., 2013. Business transition management: exploring a new role for business in sustainability transitions.Journal of cleaner production,45, pp.20-28. Melden, A.I., 2013.Ethical theories. Read Books Ltd. Miller, T.R., 2014.Reconstructing sustainability science: Knowledge and action for a sustainable future. Routledge. Montiel, I. and Delgado-Ceballos, J., 2014. Defining and measuring corporate sustainability: Are we there yet?.Organization Environment,27(2), pp.113-139. Oosterveer, P., 2015. Promoting sustainable palm oil: viewed from a global networks and flows perspective.Journal of Cleaner Production,107, pp.146-153. Slade, B., 2015. The social value of class actions.Precedent (Sydney, NSW), (129), p.4.

Plato and Sidney Essay Example

Plato and Sidney Paper Poetry has been around for many centuries and has influenced people all over the world. In prehistoric and ancient societies, poetry was used as a way to record cultural events or to explain stories. Poetry could have been used in many different styles or techniques, and because of this, there have been discussions over what form of poetry would be best appropriate based on one’s culture or society. Two perfect examples of these controversies over the function of poetry are shown in The Republic by Plato and in The Defense of Poesy by Sir Philip Sidney. These two pieces describe the critics’ opinion over what poetry should be. Even though Plato and Sidney had different, as well as some similar, views concerning the purpose and use of poetry, these views were all based on the culture and society in which they were surrounded, as well as the time period in which they lived. Plato and Sidney were two very distinct men who each lived in completely different eras from one another. Plato was a philosopher who viewed poetry from a conservative and absolute point of view, while Sidney was more of a liberal poet who defended poetry from being banished or misused in any way. We will write a custom essay sample on Plato and Sidney specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Plato and Sidney specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Plato and Sidney specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer One may say that the time difference may have been a cause of their different perspectives on poetry. Plato lived in a time before Christ was born so unlike Sidney, the bible was unheard of during this era, which could have possibly changed the way he viewed poetry, since the bible reflects on poetry. Sidney lived in the Elizabethan era, which was the golden age in English history and the height of the English Renaissance, so it was during this time that the people saw the flowering of English poetry, music and literature. It was an age of exploration and expansion abroad, which more than likely because of it, could had made Sidney view poetry in its many different forms, and also more in depth than others in the past. The society and culture in which Plato and Sidney were surrounded in could not have been any more distinct. Plato grew up in the ancient Greek culture where the origins of poetry all began with the works of Homer and Hesiod and the most common ones were epic and lyric poetry as well as its drama, both comedy and tragedy. Citizens of this time based their poetry on the Greek mythology concerning their pantheon of gods and their heroes. Meanwhile, Sidney’s environment concerning poetry was very diverse. Intellectuals during that time, doubted values and beliefs from the ancient world and tried to find another way of thinking. Overall, poetry was drastically changed over time and viewed differently because of the society in which one was educated in. In The Republic, Plato states his argument against the use of poetry while in The Defense of Poesy, Sidney defends it. Plato states that â€Å"all poetical imitations are ruinous to the understanding of the hearers† in which he fiercely criticizes that the poet is ignorant of the things in which he imitates and because of it, poetry addresses itself to the lower qualities of man, with which he cannot grasp the truth (Plato 19). Even though, in his ideal state, a large part of the education of the young is based on the study of certain kinds of poetry such as â€Å"hymns to the gods and praises of famous men† (30). Sidney agrees with poetry being used to educate but primarily addresses more general objections to poetry, such as those of Plato. He states that â€Å"Plato found fault that the poets of his time filled the world with wrong opinions of the gods, making light tales of that unspotted essence, and therefore would not have the youth deprayed with such opinions† which meant that Plato was not necessarily against poetry but more against the abuse of it (Sidney 174). Plato and Sidney both find virtue to be very important, but Sidney also believed that the purpose of poetry was â€Å"to teach and delight† (169). Sidney stated that â€Å"the poet is the food for the tenderest stomachs; the poet is indeed the right popular philosopher† which meant that it did not require someone to be educated in order for one to understand what the poet was implying in his stories (170). The essence of Sidney’s defense was that poetry, by combining the liveliness of history with the ethical focus of philosophy, was more effective than either history or philosophy in rousing its readers to virtue. On the other hand, Plato believed that the primary purpose of poetry was to educate alone. He believed that if delight intervened, that the citizens would â€Å"be ready to imitate anything, not as a joke, but in right good earnest, and before a large company† which implied that poetry could not be imitated because if done so, one could become what one imitated in real life (Plato 16). Poetry is an ancient form that has gone through numerous and drastic reinvention. It has come to show that over time, a changing culture has the power to change the meaning of a word. Plato definitely deprives poetry of its freedom while Sidney just wanted to set it free. Today, poetry has a different meaning and function than what it was during Plato’s and Sidney’s time. Poets often borrow styles, techniques, and forms from diverse cultures and languages. The poet can borrow a notion of pictures and create a story and by that use poetry as a tool for educating and to use it as a service to the public, trying to make people better. Works Cited Plato. â€Å"The Republic. † Dramatic Theory and Criticism. Comp. and ed. Bernard F. Dukore. New York: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston, 1974. 12 – 31. Sidney, Philip. â€Å"The Defense of Poesy. † Apology for Poetry. Comp. and ed. Albert S. Cook. Boston: Ginn amp; Co. , 1890. 168-177

Communication Theories essays

Communication Theories essays Social Penetration Theory: Irvin Altman and Dalmas Taylor The theory of social penetration is at the basis of every formation of a new relationship. This theory is an interaction between persons who slowly learn about each other at first formally and then informally. Social penetration is defined as revealing ones self to others, this process is cautious and slow and some are more cautious then others. In order to find out more about a person you must slowly gain their trust and equally reveal information about yourself. Altman and Taylor refer to this theory as an onion with many layers. Slowly we begin to peel away and understand more and more about the person as the chose to reveal them. However as a person reveals these layers we become more vulnerable to that person we tell them to. These layers are only accessible once the person reveals them self, any other way could destroy the possibility of a relationship. An interesting point is that once the layers are revealed and you learn more about a person it is acceptable to talk about something already revealed. This is how people establish a relationship when they can establish a form of trust and understanding about one another. Which therefore allows each other to communicate on a personal level. I personally experienced this theory at the beginning of this semester, at the time I was not aware of the theory but now have relatable experiences to the theory. I had experienced and in some ways still am social penetration with my roommate. We were going to be living in the same room together for a year so appropriate interaction had to take place. We started off simple with family members, who people were in pictures we were putting up, and favorite bands and artists. Slowly we began to form a friendly relationship. We progressed with significant memories of home, family status, and jobs we had over the summer. Then we began to learn about sensitive t...

Yet 3 More Cases of Dangling Modifiers

Yet 3 More Cases of Dangling Modifiers Yet 3 More Cases of Dangling Modifiers Yet 3 More Cases of Dangling Modifiers By Mark Nichol In each of the following sentences, a phrase that is intended to modify the core of the sentence is treated as if it is associated with the subject, but a flaw in the sentence construction leaves the modifier dangling, hence the phrase denoting this type of error. Discussion after each example points out the problem, and revisions demonstrate the solution. 1. We’ll give you more detailed information before making your application. This sentence is intended to assure the reader that helpful information will be provided before he or she completes an application, but the wording implies that â€Å"we,† the entity sending the information, will complete the application for the reader. The statement should therefore be revised to explicitly express the intended idea: â€Å"We’ll give you more detailed information before you make your application.† 2. The suspect entered the apartment via an unlocked balcony door and confronted three female tenants while sleeping. Here, the implication is that the suspect was sleepwalking. But the tenants, not the suspect, were asleep during the incident, and as in the previous example, a pronoun- one alluding to the former rather than the latter- as well as a helpful verb, must be inserted: â€Å"The suspect entered the apartment via an unlocked balcony door and confronted three female tenants while they were sleeping.† 3. When delivered in a fresh, artistic way, children will seize on writing as they do art and drawing. It is writing (more accurately, writing instruction), not children, that is being delivered in the manner described, and the sentence construction must convey this idea: â€Å"When delivered in a fresh, artistic way, writing will be seized on by children as eagerly as art and drawing.† Alternatively, to maintain active voice, writing can be relocated to the introductory modifying phrase and its original instance replaced with a pronoun: â€Å"When writing is delivered in a fresh, artistic way, children will seize on it as they do art and drawing.† Click here to view three more cases of dangling modifiers. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with Heart16 Misquoted Quotations20 Names of Body Parts and Elements and Their Figurative Meanings

Same Sex Marriages and the U.S.Constitution Term Paper

Same Sex Marriages and the U.S.Constitution - Term Paper Example By turning marriage into something decided on by the law, the civil rights of people stand the risk of being violated. The civil rights of people are perhaps the largest part of the argument on the side of people that approve of same-sex marriages. Civil rights allow all people to be treated equally in their political and social endeavors. By denying them the opportunity to marry whomever they choose, they are being denied their civil rights, based on the definition of civil rights. Equality is not being observed when same-sex couple is denied the chance to marry; therefore, the civil rights of people are not only being violated, but they are not being properly upheld. Furthermore, â€Å"the Constitution may already have embedded in its wisdom, equal rights for all people, including gay people who want to get married.† The Constitution does not mention marriage directly, but it does point out that everyone should be treated equally. The Constitution of the United States does n ot define anything in regard to what marriage is, nor does it discuss the specifics of the people that are allowed to be married or those who are not. The only thing even remotely close to marriage in the U.S. Constitution is the concept of civil rights, which states the equality of all peoples. (Gerstmann, pg. 44). The U.S. Constitution may be mum on the topic of marriage, but the introduction of federalism has given each individual state the ability to make their own constitutions. As such, each state is able to make their own sets of rules or amendments, ones that can go against what is already written in the U.S. Constitution, essentially overriding the original Constitution. This has prompted many state governments to put a ban on same sex marriage or to otherwise have these unions be called by something other than a marriage. These states are going against the civil rights of its people. In only a few cases, states have approved of same sex marriage. In 1996, former President Bill Clinton signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act, which stated that the federal government defines a marriage as being between a man and a woman. While states could decide for themselves if they would recognize same sex unions, this law made it so that a same sex couple married legally in one state would not be recognized in a state that banned same sex marriages or did not recognize them as being lawful unions. This would cause many same sex marriages to be invalid should a married same sex couple decide to move. Again, the decision was still left up to the states, but Clinton made it clear where he and the federal government stood. The equality of people was, once again, shunted aside over someone else’s discomfort. The approval of same sex marriage took a different turn in 2003, during the case of Lawrence versus Texas, when the Supreme Court announced a new Constitution that would â€Å"prohibit state legislatures from treating homosexuality any differently than heterosexuality (Taylor).† This allowed marriage to find its way into the Constitution, seeming to favor more those that are for same sex marriages. By forbidding states to distinguish or make any notice of difference between homosexuality and heterosexuality, they were approving same sex marriage, as well as acknowledging the civil rights of Americans, which has always been the main component of rights when it comes to marriage. Also in 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled

SBU Situational Analysis Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

SBU Situational Analysis - Case Study Example It is important to note that RamenPlay was founded also by the Japanese company Sanpou Co. Ltd. Its founder Yukihiro Kaneko has set a clear vision and strategy towards development of the brand, placing customers on the first place, and striving to provide â€Å"best ramen to the beloved customers† (RamenPlay 2014). In order to implement its strategy of elevating and enhancing customer’s dining experience, the company employs Sanpou’s Japanese master chefs who have more than 40 years of culinary expertise. These McCoys are recognized to be the best in their field of expertise and it significantly helps the company to gain competitive advantage (RamenPlay 2014). Thus, collaboration with Japan’s Sanpou Co Ltd enabled the company to differentiate its brand among the competitors by offering authentic Japanese cuisine (Breadtalk Group Ltd - Annual Report, 2012). The company has generated profit of $4.97 on every $100 spent on asset. According to experts it is normal achievement comparing to the sector average (Macroaxis 2014). In order to achieve good financial results the company has ensured effective supplying and focused on providing best quality and customer service (RamenPlay 2014). Continuous improvement and innovativeness combined with guaranteed freshness and top quality of the ingredients makes the company successful and profitable. The company continues to open new RamenPlat outlets, but offers new design where the focus is made on rich heritage and culture associated with Sanpou brand. This emphasis on Japanese authenticity and identity is a pillar of company’s strategy. Thus, for example, in 2013, the company has modernized menu of RamenPlay and refreshed the interior dà ©cor. Also, the company’s management has introduced a new business cost model which is expected to improve firm’s productivity (Breadtalk Group Ltd - Annual Report, 2012). Political: There is a strong

John LockEs View on Innate Knowledge Essay Example for Free

John LockEs View on Innate Knowledge Essay John Locke, a renowned English philosopher in the seventeenth century, argued against the pre-existing prevalent belief of innate knowledge, such as those led by Descartes. Many of Locke’s arguments begin with criticisms on philosophers’ opinion on innate knowledge, notably Descartes. Therefore, many of Locke’s arguments are direct rebuttals of Descartes and other philosophers’ beliefs about the existence of innate knowledge. To arrive at the conclusion that innate knowledge is impossible, Locke comes with various premises and rebuttals that add weight to his arguments. First, Locke emphasizes that knowledge and ideas are learned through experience, not innately. He argues that people’s minds at birth are ‘blank slate’ that is later filled through experience. Here, the ‘senses’ play an important role because ‘the knowledge of some truths, as Locke confesses, is very in the mind; but in a way that shows them not to be innate’. By this, Locke argues that some ideas are actually in the mind from an early age but these ideas are furnished by the senses starting in the womb. For example, the color blue and the  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœblueness’ of something is not that which is learned innately but is some is learned through exposures to a blue object or thing. So if we do have a universal understanding of ‘blueness’, it is because we are exposed to blue objects ever since we were young. The blue sky is what many would acquaint with blue easily and at a young age. Second, Locke argues that people have no innate principles. Locke contended that innate principles rely upon innate ideas within people but such innate ideas do not exist. He says this on the basis that there is no ‘universal consent’ that everyone agrees upon. Locke quotes that ‘There is nothing more commonly taken for granted that there are certain principles universally agreed upon by all mankind, but there are none to which all mankind give a universal assent’. This argues against the very foundation of the idea of innate knowledge because principles that garner universal assent are thought to be known innately, simply because it is the best explanation available. However, it cannot even be an explanation for such belief because no ‘universal consent’ exists. Rationalists argue that there are in fact some principles that are universally agreed upon, such as the principle of identity. But it is far-fetched to claim that everyone knows this principle of identity because for the least, children and idiots, the less-intelligent ones are not acquainted with it. There are several objections to these premises and arguments that are outlined above. The argument by Locke that there are some ideas that are in the mind at an early age gives credence to argument for the innate ideas. For ideas to be furnished by the senses later on there has to be ideas that are laid as foundations. If such ideas are innate, as acknowledged by Locke, no matter how trivial or less significant these ideas may be as one may argue, such claim could give weight to the idea of innate knowledge. Innate knowledge or ideas, after all, doesn’t imply that all ideas are innate because as one can see, there are things that we learn through our experiences and encounters in life as well. So as long as there is even the basic principle that is innate early in life, then innate knowledge can be known to exist. The validity behind the claim that there is no ‘universal consent’ is also questionable. Locke argues that no principle that all mankind agrees upon exists because there are those who are not acquainted with such principle, notably children and idiots. However, the terms children and idiots are somewhat misguided. How are children and especially the idiots categorized? Is there a specific criteria used for those who are classified as idiots? It is hard to generalize that idiots or those who are deemed less intelligent are not acquainted with certain principles because at times, intelligence is not the best indicator of someone’s knowledge or ideas. There are many intelligent people out there who take their status for granted and do not think, contemplate or make an effort to their best extent. The objections that are made against the initial arguments can be defended in certain ways. Regarding the objection that since there are innate ideas in the mind at an early age, innate knowledge exists, the term ‘innate’ should be thought of again in greater detail. Innate knowledge has to be significant enough for us to recount to be considered such. Thus, there comes a risk with considering the ideas within our minds early on as innate. For example, the knowledge of our hands and feet maybe imbedded to us at a very early stage. The knowledge of using our hands and feet are not so significant. The knowledge that we gain through our use of hands and feet could be vital knowledge that we may recount throughout. Throwing a baseball properly under a coach’s instructions is an example. Also, there is the claim that intelligence cannot be the sole indicator of one’s acquisition of ‘universal consent’ and that there isn’t a clear distinction of those who can understand universal principles to those who cannot. However, the important focus here should not be on defining ‘idiots’ and intelligence but on that universal consent is hard to be assembled by every single mankind. Therefore, more should be considered than just innate knowledge that could garner universal consent. Empirical principles that are derived from experience could garner universal assent too. For example, the fear of ‘dying’ or ‘getting seriously injured’ could mean that people would not jump out the roof from tall buildings. And this belief could be universal among all.

Stereotyping of Hispanics in Hollywoods Films Essay -- Movies Films E

Stereotyping of Hispanics in Hollywood's Films "[Cinema] manipulates the human psychology, sociology, religion, and morality of the people..."(Cine-Aztlan 175). I has been said to be used by capitalists and socialists as a powerful weapon in the struggle for social justice. In all the Hollywood films and documentaries about Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, none have escapes stereotypes. And it hasn't gone unnoticed. Thomas Martinez states that the "symbolic function of advertising in one level of understanding the racist implications of the mass media, especially regarding the Mexicans and Mexican-Americans"(Camplis, in Noriega 284). To completely understand Latino's struggle for liberation, the term "Raza" has come up repeatedly in the vocabulary for freedom on an encompassing scale. The term is used to incorporate the experiences of Native Americans, Mexicans and others of Latin American descent in this country in the search and struggle for liberation politically, philosophically, and aesthetically. Another term recognizable in the struggle for liberation is "Chicano", which represents the need for people of Mexican descent to come to grips with the elemental fact of their identity..."(Camplis, in Noriega 286). Chicanos and other Latin Americans all have a distinct culture that shouldn't have to be conformed to or assimilated with American "standards". So, Cubans took a different approach to the whole notion of change or be segregated. Cuba...

Female Power in Hamlet

Female Power in Hamlet I. Introduction William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is characterized by its tragic conclusion and its memorable cast. As a reflection of the time period in which Hamlet was written, the predominately male cast views the female characters as inferior. What the men do not realize is that the women have more control than what is initially predicted. Throughout the play, Gertrude uses her influence over Claudius to gain political ground while Ophelia uses her sexuality to have control over her relationship with Hamlet. This sense of female power also has a lasting effect on the theme of sexuality and corruption in the play.II. Gertrude A. Governmental Influence During the course of the play, Gertrude uses her status as a woman to establish herself as a capable and superior ruler. At the beginning of the play Hamlet chastises his mother for not only for her willingness to remarry after the untimely death of his father but for her marriage to Claudius, the brother of the recently deceased. Hamlet views this as incestuous; as did many others during the time the play was written (Pressley). We should keep in mind that she is the Queen of Denmark and has to make decisions that would best benefit her nation.Gertrude’s motivations were more political than unholy. Her marriage to Claudius gave the throne a more stable base of power which would make the people of Denmark feel more secure especially when facing a possible invasion by Fortinbras (Lenz). This union would also prove to the people that she was emotionally secure enough to be rule the state. King Hamlet also felt that Gertrude was strong enough to run the country because he made her the recipient of the throne after his death and not his eldest son which was traditional (Pressley).Gertrude uses her influence as a powerful woman to help make her country and her life more secure. III. Ophelia A. Sexual Power Many critics find Ophelia to be a pawn to the men in her life, but throughout the play she proves â€Å"herself to be neither silent nor merely obedient† (Fisher 130). This statement is only disproved in regards to her father. She does obey him when he tells her to stay away from Hamlet and when he asks her to be involved in a plan to determine Hamlet’s state of mind. She does not have the same submissive tendencies towards her brother and Hamlet.When Laertes tries to warn Ophelia about the dangers of pre-marital sex, she just rebukes him as a hypocrite and establishes the existence of a double standard surrounding the issue. While there is little doubt that Hamlet and Ophelia loved each other, sex was not involved in their affection. If they were to have a child out of wedlock then both of their reputations along with the reputations of their families would be ruined and the heir to the throne would be in question. She had a certain loyalty to her family and the status they held and Hamlet had certain expectations as the prince of Denmark.This restrain on their endeavors does not limit the power of Ophelia over Hamlet. She still uses the fact that they could be together one day to her advantage. They were playful with each other and at timely highly suggestive but this only shows the passions built up from their inability to act on their feelings (Neeley). Hamlet respects this silent sexual power when he tells her â€Å"get thee to a nunnery† in the hope of keeping her safely away from his madness (Shakespeare, 3. 1. 131). This conversation, though one sided, proves that Hamlet really did love and respect Ophelia enough to protect her from himself.IV. The Effect of Female Power on the Themes of Sexuality and Corruption in the Play Throughout the play, any sign of female power is portrayed as sinful or somehow connected with the fall of Denmark. Hamlet blames his mother more for his suicidal thoughts than his father’s death. This is shown through his preoccupation with his mothers â€Å"incestuous sheetsâ₠¬  and his lack of action to avenge his father’s murder (Shakespeare, 1. 2. 162). Hamlet views female sexuality as the single cause of corruption in Denmark leaving it no more than an â€Å"unweeded garden† (Shakespeare, 1. . 139). More specifically this moral corruption can be seen in Gertrude. When her political power is threatened by her son’s lover, she has her killed and stages it as madness induced suicide. Gertrude is the only person who describes Ophelia’s death and she repeats the word â€Å"drown’d† multiple times almost as if she is convincing herself that it is true. She also calls Ophelia a â€Å"mermaid†, originally another name for a siren, which was known for unintentionally drowning young men (Shakespeare, 4. 7. 201).Gertrude meets her death from the poisoned wine, drowning in a sense on the poison, meant for her own son. Sometimes you have to think outside the pages, but the effects of female power on the theme of s ex and corruption cannot be ignored. V. Conclusion While the women in Hamlet have few lines, they have a tremendous amount of influence over the men in the play Hamlet. Gertrude uses her influence to establish herself as an adept matriarch. Ophelia uses her power to keep her relationship with Hamlet despite their trials.

Which Strategies for Conflict Resolution Would You Employ?

Cathal McCabe PO4107 Id# 085475 Word count: 3290 Which strategies for conflict resolution would you employ in cases of violent ethnic conflict? Explain why giving examples of success and or failure. 3,534 in Northern Ireland. Approximately 140,000 in Former Yugoslavia. Approximately 800,000 in Rwanda. The list goes on. Violent ethnic conflict is simply a harsh reality of life that has cost millions of innocent civilians their lives.We have witnessed its atrocities first hand in our lifetimes, and have sometimes felt powerless as individuals to curtail it. We can employ successful strategies for conflict resolution but the question really is how do we implement them successfully? There are strategies working, but the key now is to identify the successful strategies and be quicker to implement them in the future. In July 2010 Stefan Wolff declared that casualties from ethnic conflict have decreased by two-thirds in just over a decade – 12,000 killed in ethnic wars of 1997/1998, today this figure stands at just over 4,000 (Wolff, 2010).Ethnic conflict is unlikely to ever go away, but the death toll has reduced somewhat. Is reducing the death toll the best success we can hope for in resolving conflict? Will ethnic conflict ever go way or can we only moderate the violence? Have we eventually learned that war is not the answer or have we simply become more efficient at peacekeeping? Are these deaths simply down to ethnic pride or is there another reason which spurs man on to kill his own people? This essay will attempt to determine the true meaning and motives for ethnic conflict.It will then examine what the â€Å"strategies† for resolving ethnic conflict are, and examine the application of these strategies as the causes and resolutions to various conflicts throughout the globe. It will draw a helpful analysis of the cases of Rwanda as a failure and Northern Ireland as a success and what we can learn from it. Ultimately it will try and discover what th e best strategies for conflict resolution are in order to minimise the trail of destruction left behind by violent ethnic conflict†¦US President John Adams once asked â€Å"Do I have to study politics and war so that my sons may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy†? We must first look into the reasoning of ethnic conflict before we can achieve peace and freedom. The theories behind the motives for violent ethnic conflict are rooted in the origins of nationalism. Connor Walker describes the nation state as â€Å"a state that self-identifies as deriving its political legitimacy from serving as a sovereign entity for a nation as a sovereign territorial unit† (Walker, 2004, P. 2). Theorists argue that this is an evolution from the simple meaning of the word â€Å"nation† (a community that share a common ancestry) per se. Ethnic conflict may simply be a process of evolution as nations look to establish themselves and represent a community of bel onged people -the citizens. Perhaps there must be a common bond for a nation to remain at peace. Anthony Smith notes that ‘not only must nations be founded upon ethnic cores if they are to endure’ (Smith, 1986, p. 207).Therefore if a nation is colonised or artificially planted with a different tribe, a friction is likely to occur. This of course is the starting point of ethnic war. Ethnic violence ensues. By studying the origins of their motives we can understand their ailment better and it’s then easier to cure. The very first rule in employing successful strategies is having a deep understanding of the motives of the conflict. Engaging in conflict resolution without knowing the full purposes of the conflict is political recklessness.We must sympathise before we can strategize (Hutchinson, Breuilly, and Smith, 1994, P. 104). Nationalism and ethnic identity are the core tenets of ethnic conflict hence the phrase â€Å"ethno-nationalism†. Extreme nationalis ts will harbour a need for identity and this involves being amongst their own citizens. It is these very people, extreme nationalists, who are the principle actors in ethnic conflict; it’s essentially a mass crusade driven by unsatisfied nationalists (Hastings, 1997, p. 27).Ethnic conflict therefore is in lay man’s terms is the struggle for man to be amongst his own people in a community. Furthermore they are likely to want this community to be the chief and sole power in a nation as in the case of the Hutu and Tutsi tribes in Rwanda. The one question that remains to be answered however is why experts believe that ethnic conflict has become more prevalent since the Cold war? Academics like Samuel Huntington predicted a proliferation of conflicts fuelled by tribalism, resource scarcity and overpopulation (Huntington, 1993, P. 2). The reality is that this period witnessed a rise in ethnically-informed secessionist movements – mainly in the former communist states like in Former Yugoslavia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Wallensteen and Sollenberg hold that â€Å"the displacements of capitalist states were accompanied by a decline in total warfare, ethnic wars and the number of refugees and displaced persons† (Wallensteen and Sollenberg, 1995, P. 350). Ethnic conflict certainly seems to be a â€Å"new phrase† but the reality is that unrest and disillusionment always occurred in states.It’s also a certainty that it’s in man’s natural instinct to defend himself and what he loves until he is secure and established – much like his state. Each case of violent ethnic conflict is different, but the motives remain largely the same. Those who plan strategies for ethnic conflict should be well briefed on the case. Understanding is crucial; otherwise the results are severe†¦ There are common themes in the raison d'etre of ethnic nationalist violence – lack of belonging, lack of understanding and a lack of t rue leadership. Edward Everett once said that â€Å"education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army†.It’s the very people who commit the atrocities that don’t have these basic needs. The case of Rwanda provides us with the perfect breeding ground for violent ethnic conflict – uneducated peoples led by a brainwashed Government. In April 1994 two tribes strived for these basic needs as a longstanding ethnic struggle culminated with 20% of an entire population being wiped out by genocide. This case provides us with all the ingredients of mismanagement of conflict strategy which only coerced further violence – approximately 800,000 deaths in just over 100 days.It was managed so badly that it prompted former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to declare in 2000 that â€Å"the international community failed Rwanda and that must always leave us with a bitter sense of regret† (Doyle, BBC, 2004). In this case the minority Tutsi tribe wer e overthrown by the Hutu tribe in the rebellion of 1959-62. The Tutsi tribe looked to seize back power when the RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front – a Tutsi dominated rebel group) invaded Rwanda from the Ugandan border. The small East African country was in crisis until an eventual ceasefire in 1993 with assistance from neighbours Tanzania.This however came to an abrupt end in April 1994 when leader Habyarimana was assassinated by the RPF leader Paul Kagame (Hintjens, 2008, P. 5-7). The Hutu’s responded with mass slaughter (genocide) of the Tutsi’s and their own people who they believed to be collaborationists. The ceasefire in 1993 provided Rwanda with an opportunity to resolve the conflict peacefully but as we will see the Government provided weak strategies to consolidate the peace. The only solace we can take from 1994 is what we can learn from it in order to strategize better in the future.All the elements are present to encourage violent ethnic conflict; the str ategies employed only incited more violence. In Rwanda there was a lack of education at all levels, from the people on the ground right up to brainwashed Government officials who were obsessed by power and sought to accomplish it all costs. Education comes from liberal thinking, being open to a variety of sources and having the resources in place to attain this (Dewey, 1994, P2). None of this was possible in a country of authoritarian rule with little choice or democracy for voters.The then incumbent Prime Minister Jean Kambanda revealed in his testimony before the International Criminal Tribunal that genocide was openly discussed at cabinet meetings, and that the people believed that Rwanda’s problems would be over without the Tutsi (Doyle, BBC 2004). The people were blinded by myths; they believed that peace pacifists were collaborating with the other side. A large part of this comes down to how the media was run. The Hutu’s controlled the radio and the many who coul d not read bought into their propaganda campaign (Melvern, 2006, P. 7).For those who could read would read the Hutu run journal â€Å"Kangura†, and its â€Å"ten commandments†, one of which being â€Å"the Hutu should have no mercy on the Tutsi’s† (Melvern, 2004, P. 49). The ancestral divide in Rwanda called for conflict resolving strategies to be put in place. Instead the authorities increased the divide by insisting on â€Å"tribal ID’s† and encouraging identification myths about the other tribe such as skin colour etc. The Government for their part organised two militia groups to assist the killings – the Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi (Melvern, 2006, pp. 4-27). We can still see the effects of poor leadership today as Libya has been torn apart under the Gaddafi regime. Ethnic conflict like this highlights the importance of citizens to fight for democracy, to fight for freedom, and fight for choice. The leader of a country has a monu mental bearing on the outcomes of a nation. We must fight for our freedom to choose. This involves participating in democracy to help maintain it (Diamond, 2009, P. 12). Strategy starts on the ground with the citizens; afterwards power is vested in the Government.Unfortunately in Rwanda a corrupt power influenced the media, which in turn corrupted an unwitting population. Sometimes history and circumstances can be unfortunate on a country like Rwanda and the people may have little choice. A country in trouble may often require outside assistance to attain peace. This is a major factor why Rwanda failed and Kofi Annan’s words pay testament to this. In their hour of need Tanzania, other neighbouring countries and the UN were helpless. Rwanda was ultimately left with nothing but warmongering strategies and this is why it failed.A case like Rwanda needs outside help, and hopefully we have learned to be more responsive. Unfortunately the circumstances were ideal for genocide in Rw anda which probably afforded the outside forces with little chance. Ultimately there was no democracy in the strategy in Rwanda. The natives and outside forces were powerless to strategize effectively and the result is a lesson we must take to future conflicts. The Northern Irish story began in 1609 with the Ulster plantations, but it’s â€Å"The Troubles† which are commonly understood as beginning in the sixties (McGarry, O’Leary, 1995, P. 18).The violence was led by the armed campaigns of the IRA (Irish Republican Army) and UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force). Alongside the violence, there was a political deadlock between the major political parties in Northern Ireland over the future status of Northern Ireland and the prospective form of government. On learning from the case of Rwanda we now can now examine successful strategies for conflict resolution. . In May 2007 two men from contrasting backgrounds (Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley) met at Stormont and finally shook hands, sealing a horrible conflict that sentenced 3,534 people to early deaths.However 4 years later on June 20th of this year and the violence threatened to escalate again†¦ Attaining peace may be a greater challenge than ever in two communities of disenfranchised people. Assuming that fair democracy is being practiced the responsibility now rests with the powers that be – the Government. The role of the leader is central, a leader is the figurehead for an interest group and his/her attitude towards a conflict will be examined carefully (Ackerman, 2002, p. 32). In 1997 Ireland and Britain elected new Governments. Both leaders Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair made the Northern question a priority.Tony Blair’s first reaction in the North was to hand down the gauntlet to the IRA who refused to abide by a ceasefire at the time (incidentally a year before the Omagh bombings). Tony Blair stated â€Å"my message to Sinn Fein is clear. The settlement train is leaving. I want you on that train. But it is leaving anyway and I will not allow it to wait for you†. The impetus that the new leaders brought to the table was a positive strategy; they brought a renewed energy and innovation reinvigorating the campaign. The primary strategy for solving conflict is peace-talks and negotiation.This involves compromises, consensus-building and some level of mutual trust. The party leader must earn this and their personality is a key factor in an attempt to reach an agreement. A peace agreement or accord is a formal commitment between hostile parties to end a war. In the North a simple ceasefire wasn’t enough, a state with its own Government had to be established (Bew, 1994, p. 32). Regardless of the political decisions made, negotiators have to prepare for â€Å"spoilers† (groups that have an interest in sabotaging the process) and public rejection of settlements.When the public has experienced significant trauma, it may not be ready to ma ke compromises or accept a negotiated solution, as happened repeatedly in the North. It is the task of the leadership to generate support for peace. The personality of the parties involved is a very significant in making peace talks a successful strategy. Peace talks are the primary means of conflict resolution so it could be said that appointing the right negotiation team is a fundamental strategy to success, which thankfully it was in May 2007.Leaders have a role to play outside of peace talks too. The â€Å"ambassadorial† role in everyday society involves sharing with people who have suffered. Diplomacy is at the heart of conflict resolution strategy. It shows that a Government cares and is still in control in a society that still abides by law and order. In August 1998, Mary McAleese walked the streets of Omagh consoling the victims, while her husband Martin visited familes of UVF militants. This showed that they were not isolated but that the World cared, Ireland cared a nd there was an urgency to end the conflict.This was above strategy, it made strategy essential. Peace had to be achieved, and the leaders were relentless until it was achieved. Dr. Matt Cannon explained the need for a multi-level approach at a lecture in October. This involves all levels of the community coming together, the Government uniting and external sources showing interest in resolving conflict (Cannon, 2011). All tiers are uniting to create a powerful peace-building team. In Guatemala and Northern Ireland, civil society forums were established to promote wider societal involvement in the peace process.The terms â€Å"third side† or â€Å"track three† are sometimes used to describe the effort of engaging and uniting individuals at the community level to generate â€Å"people’s power,† public opinion and coalitions in support of peace. In Northern Ireland the communities have come together to rally against the violence and promote peace which is a massive help to the process. One practical example was the replacement of sectarian murals with peace-walls. A common memory and identity is now being created in Northern Ireland. A segregated community is being replaced by a common identity.Both sides are remembering each other’s losses and giving up something for the common good. There is now evidence of shared features such as memorials, museums and holidays which are also finally being reflected by a common Government. Dennis Murray worked for most of his career as Northern Ireland correspondent for the BBC. This September BBC filmed a documentary covering his reporting of the Troubles. The documentary finished with Murray’s parting thought – â€Å"we can’t build a new future without unravelling the past.The story of conflict in Northern Ireland will never finish† (From Our Ireland correspondent, 2011). The case of the Troubles is as close as we may ever come to conflict resolution and it†™s equally fascinating to analyse the strategies employed in this quest. The strategy that now needs to be employed in the North is maintaining peace. There may be no textbook strategy to resolving conflict; it is an ongoing effort to maintain peace in Northern Ireland. Each case is different. Peacemaking in Northern Ireland is a model for resolving ethnic conflict resolution throughout the World.The one factor that appears to be in Northern Ireland’s favour as opposed to Rwanda however is that Northern Ireland was a developed country with a better environment to carry out a conflict resolution. The first virtues in successful conflict resolution are patience and persistence. In Northern Ireland there was a persistence to achieve an end to violence and achieve peace by successful political means. The security forces in Northern Ireland enforced the law. This strategy of law enforcement brought the paramilitaries to realisation that they could not win (Ruane and Todd, 1996, P. 17).There was no overnight solution to ending the violence. The British Government admitted that the IRA could not be eliminated militarily. Utimately ethnic violence is a force. It requires a strong team to defeat it. International interest strengthens a peacebuilding team massively. Bill Clinton’s regime shared an interest in the Troubles and appointed George Mitchell as special envoy. He was presented with the Liberty Medal in 1998, where he stated: â€Å"I believe there’s no such thing as a conflict that can’t be ended. They’re created and sustained by human beings. They can be ended by human beings.No matter how ancient the conflict, no matter how hateful, no matter how hurtful, peace can prevail† (Mitchell, 1998). Northern Ireland now had a combat team, this is where Rwanda failed where external sources were powerless. A case of violent ethnic conflict that becomes unmanageable is referred to the UN. The United Nations was established to r eplace the flawed League of Nations in 1945 in order to maintain international peace and promote cooperation. Peacekeeping is a primary mission on the UN with the aim of helping countries torn by conflict and creating the conditions for lasting peace.It is the last resort following peacemaking and peacebuilding (Bellamy, Williams and Griffin, 2004, P. 5). The United Nations Charter gives the United Nations Security Council the power and responsibility to take collective action to maintain international peace and security. For this reason, the international community usually looks to the Security Council to authorise peacekeeping operations. The role of peacekeepers is to help uphold any agreements made during peacetalks. Peacekeeping provided ways to achieve self-sustaining peace.Another viewpoint raises the problem that the peacekeeping may soften the troops and erode their combat ability, as the mission profile of a peacekeeping contingent is totally different from the profile of a unit fighting an all-out war. Before peacekeepers should be deployed theUN has a role in providing assistance in the development of human rights an democracy in the various countries and preventing these countries from becoming a breeding ground for ethnic conflict like Rwanda was (Jasper, 2001, P89). The UN also has a role to encourage more women to become involved in conflict resolution.The lack of involvement for women has a negative impact on resolving conflict and in society. In this essay we have seen what works as successful strategies for conflict resolution. First of all we must be vigilant and defend democracy – preventing conflict from occuring in the first place. We must also uphold law and order as a combat to violence. We must participate in peace and democracy and elect the right leaders and believe in their charismea and diplomacy to solve conflict. We must also acknowledge the roles of member and identity in building an imagined community as part of a three -tier approach.The top tier of UN involvement is only required in times of desperation. Ultimately ethno-nationalism will never go away but violence can. As George Mitchell declared on appointment â€Å"there is no place for violence at the table of democracy†. Bibliography Ackerman R (2002), The Wounded Leader: How Real Leadership Emerges in Times of Crisis, Jossey-Bass, P. 32 Bellamy A, Williams P, Griffin S (2004), Understanding Peacekeeping, Polity, P. 5 Bew P (1994), Ideology and the Irish question: Ulster unionism and Irish nationalism, 1912-1916, Oxford : OUP, P. 2 Cannon M (2011), â€Å"Achieving peace in Northern Ireland†, Speech on October 25th, University of Limerick. Dewey, John (1944). Democracy and Education, The Free Press. pp. 1–4 Diamond L (2009), The Spirit of Democracy: The Struggle to Build Free Societies Throughout the World, St. Martin's Griffin, P. 12. Doyle M, (2004-03-26), UN chief's Rwanda genocide regret, BBC, available: http://news. b bc. co. uk/2/hi/africa/3573229. stm [accessed: 2011-11-12] Doyle M (2004-03-26), Ex-Rwandan PM reveals genocide planning, BBC, available: http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/africa/3572887. tm [accessed: 2011-11-12] From our Ireland correspondent (2011), BBC, Monday 3 October at 10. 35pm Hastings, Adrian, (1997), â€Å"The construction of nationhood: ethnicity, religion, and nationalism†, Cambridge Press, P27. Hintjens Helen, (2008), ‘Post-genocide identity politics in Rwanda’ Ethnicities, Vol. 8, No. 1, P. 5-7 Hutchinson, Breuilly, and Smith (1994), Nationalism, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, P. 104 Huntington, Samuel (1993) The clash of civilizations? Foreign Affairs 72(3), pp. 22-49 Jasper W (2001), United Nations exposed, John Birch Society, P. 9 McGarry, J, O'Leary B (1995) Explaining Northern Ireland. Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 18 Melvern, Linda, (2004) Conspiracy to Murder: The Rwandan Genocide, 1st ed. London: Verso, 2004, P. 49 Melvern, Linda, (2006), Conspi racy to Murder: The Rwandan Genocide, 2nd. ed. , London: Verso, P. 7 Mitchell G (1998), Liberty Medal acceptance speech, speech on July 4, 1998. Available: http://www. constitutioncenter. org/libertymedal/recipient_1998. html [accessed: 2011-10-08] Ruane, J and Todd J (1996) The Dynamics of Conflict in Northern Ireland: Power, Conflict and Emancipation.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. P. 17 Smith, Anthony (1986) The Ethnic Origins of Nations. Oxford: Blackwell. Wallensteen P and Sollenberg M (1995) After the Cold War: Emerging patterns of armed conflict 1989-94, Journal of Peace Research 32(3), pp. 345-360 Walker C (2004), The Timelessness of Nations. Nations and Nationalism, New York: Alfred Knopf. Wolff S (2010), â€Å"There is no good news about ethnic conflict and civil war†¦or is there? †, Speech in July 2010, Oxford, Available: http://www. frequency. com/video/stefan-wolff/506736? raw=true [accessed: 2011-10-23]

Rate of Photosynthesis Essays

Rate of Photosynthesis Essays Rate of Photosynthesis Essay Rate of Photosynthesis Essay Essay Topic: Synthesis Photosynthesis is the process whereby plants and certain photoautotroph make food using carbon dioxide and water. When both (carbon dioxide and water) are combined, they make the food; glucose as well as oxygen, given off as a by-product. The above description of photosynthesis can be analysed in the equation below:BALANCED CHEMICAL EQUATION6CO2 + 6H2O=C6H12O6 + 6O2WORD EQUATIONCarbon Dioxide + Water=Glucose + OxygenFactors that affect photosynthesis:LIGHT: insufficient light slows down the rate of photosynthesisCARBON DIOXIDE: similarly, inadequate quantity of carbon dioxide slows down the rate of photosynthesis.TEMPERATURE: temperature should not be too cold nor too hot.AimMy aim is to investigate whether the factor light, has an affect on the rate of photosynthesis. This will be observed by counting the number of oxygen bubbles given off.Apparatus* Metre rule* 5cm Canadian pondweed clipped on a paperclip* Beaker* Lamp, with 60 watts bulb* WaterHypothesisIt is predicted that, the m ore light intensity the higher the rate of photosynthesis, providing that the temperature is not too cold or too hot. I would try and expect the below graph:MethodThe most vital thing, which is needed for photosynthesis is a plant. The plant which will be used in this investigation is a Canadian pondweed. The following is a step by step account which I will take:1) Make sure that the place is safe by making sure that there are no obstacles on the floor like a bag2) The room must be kept dark, so that excess light dont enter the beaker apart from the lamps light.3) The paper clipped Canadian pondweed will be placed in the beaker full of water.2) The lamp must be kept 20cm away from the beaker and then switched on.3) I will wait for two minutes and count all the number of bubbles released.4) My results shall be recorded5) Steps 1-4 will be repeated at 40 cm and finally 120 cm from the beaker.SafetyObservationI carried out this experiment safely. The lab, was kept free from the dangers of water spillage as I had used electricity for the lamp. Bags were also removed from the floor and hanged on hangers which prevented from toppling over.The table below is the result collected:Distance intervalled (cm)No. of O2 bubbles given off20254021601880151001312010The above are the results I have collected throughout the experiment. All the results above cannot be very reliable as I havent repeated the experiment and doing so will be a waste of time. However, I will get results from two colleagues so that I can compare theyre data with mine. They also used 5cm Canadian pondweed clipped on a paperclip and a lamp, with 60 watts bulb. The table below are my colleaguess result:Colleague 1Distance intervalled (cm)No. of O2 bubbles given off20264021602080161001312010Colleague2Distance intervalled (cm)No. of O2 bubbles given off20244021601980151001212010The above results can be represented as line graphs to see if there were any anomalies.The graphs almost look alike, suggesting tha t there were no anomalies and ultimately my results are very reliable.AnalysisBy using the above results, I will combine them into a table and work out the average.Distance intervalled (cm)My results of oxygen bubbles releasedColleague 1s results of oxygen bubbles releasedColleague 2s results of oxygen bubbles releasedAverage results of oxygen bubbles released (2dp)2025262425.004021232121.676018201919.008015161515.3310013131212.6712010101010.00Using the Average results of oxygen bubbles released (2dp), I will construct a scatter graphThis scatter graph shows that, as the distance from the lamp increased, the number of bubbles released from the Canadian pondweed increased also. This is very similar to the hypothesis made earlier: the more light intensity the higher the rate of photosynthesis, providing that the temperature is not too cold or too hot. The temperature of the room was of course not too cold or too hot. The pattern which can be noted is that, points are lowering as the l amp is distanced away from the Canadian pondweed. This proves that my prediction is correct.In order to find the gradient of the graph, I have placed a line of best fit. I will need to find the value of y and x and then divide y by x to acquire the gradient. The value of y is 5 bubbles and the value of x is 20cm. 5/20=0.25. 0.25 is the gradient. Finding the gradient can now help me to find the value of any given distance (cm).EvaluationMy method was a suitable one but yet there were many satisfactory notes regarding it. The reason why it was suitable because this experiment was a successful one. However, the satisfactory notes are that my results could have been more accurate, by using another colleagues results thus increasing the chance of accuracy. As well as that, this experiment could have been improved. The ways of improving it was, collecting the whole result using sensors and data could have been recorded by a computer as this would have given very accurate data and it does not include human interference i.e.: results would have been collected automatically by a computer. This however was impossible due to insufficient funds.I could have extended this investigation, to see the other variables affecting the rate of photosynthesis i.e.: temperature, carbon diocide.

2200+ SAT Scorers Should You Retake the New SAT for a Perfect 1600

2200+ SAT Scorers Should You Retake the New SAT for a Perfect 1600 SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Did you recently get your SAT scores back and do, well, amazing? If you got above a 2200, you should proud – you’re in the top 2% of test scorers. In fact, you’re in the top 1% with a score of 2220 and up. (For the New SAT, any score higher than 1480 is likely to put you in the top 1%, but we will have to wait a few months for percentile data.) But if you’re a perfectionist, you might be wondering, "Since I did so well, shouldn't I try to retake the SAT for a perfect 1600?" We will help you decide if an SAT retake is right for you. Where Are You Applying? The main thing to consider when deciding to retake the SAT is where you want to apply for college. If you’re planning on attending a local university or a school that’s not super-selective, your score is already more than fine and you shouldn’t worry about retaking the test. (Your high SAT score will likely be important for merit scholarships, which we will discuss below.) However, if you’re applying to ultra-selective schools – think the Ivy Leagues, Stanford, or MIT – a retake might be worth it. We'll explore the reasons why below. Most Selective Schools (Top 15) If you’re aiming for top schools, it’s worth it to get to a 2300 (or about 1530 on the New SAT) or higher. But once you’re past 2300/1530, any score increases won’t dramatically improve your chances of admission, so you should focus on the rest of your application. So if you have a 2360, don’t worry about retaking the SAT. If you have a 2200, and want to apply to top schools, consider retaking it to get above the 1530 threshold. Our rule of thumb is this:try to aim for the 75th percentile of the school's SAT score ranges.Because the admission rate is so low at these selective schools, getting a higher score can raise your chance of success. In terms of percentiles, 2220 and higher puts you in the top 1% of scorers in the nation, as we discussed above. However, the higher your composite score, the rarer it is, helping you stand out in the admissions process. If your score is between 2200 – 2300, more students earn that score each year, above 20,000 nationally. But if you get a 2300 and higher, only about 8,800 other students have such a high score. If you’re 2350 and higher, only 3000 other students are on your level. So the higher your score, the more you will stand out in a very competitive applicant pool, because fewer applicants will have a score as high as yours. (Again, we don't have data yet for the New SAT, but if the basic principle will likely remain the same: the higher your SAT score, the rarer it will be.) This is especially important for top colleges, whose admitted students have incredibly high SAT scores. How do we know this? Colleges release data about their admissions cycles, including the average SAT scores of applicants. They release the middle 50% score range – the SAT scores that the middle 50% of applicants had. You want to pay attention to the numbers at the top of the ranges.With a score at the top of that middle 50% range, you've scored higher than 75% of successful applicants. A score in that range will put you towards the top of the applicant pool in terms of test scores, rather than in the middle or the lower end. Being towards the top of the pool increases your chances of admission, while being within range but closer to the bottom makes your admission less likely. Let’s take a look at the middle 50% ranges for some ultra-selective colleges to see just how competitive they are. Note: these middle 50% ranges still use old SAT scores (scores out of 2400), since the most recent group of applicants only had the old SAT available. It will be at least a year before colleges are able to include the new SAT in their admissions data. Because of this, focus on the Math and Reading sections to estimate a target new SAT composite score goal for each school. Stanford SAT Critical Reading 680-780 SAT Math 700-790 SAT Writing 690-790 Source: Stanford Common Data Set As you can see, if you have section scores in the high 700s (which would give you a 2300/1570 or higher composite), you have scores in line with their top admitted students. Getting to the top of the pool is crucial to stand out in Stanford’s application process. Just over 5% of their applicants got in last year. Obviously, even a perfect score won’t guarantee admission, as Stanford turns away perfect scorers every year. But, the higher your score, the less likely you are to get put aside. Harvard SAT Critical Reading: 700-800 SAT Math: 710-800 SAT Writing: 710-800 Source: Harvard Common Data Set Note that for Harvard, since the middle 50% ranges are basically between 700 and 800, the top 25% of their admitted students have perfect 800s. Section scores in the high 700s or 800 will put you in line with their top admits, and thus make your application very competitive. Basically, the closer to a perfect 1600 you get, the more competitive you will be. Yale SAT Critical Reading: 720-800 SAT Math: 710-800 SAT Writing: 710-790 Source: Yale Fact Sheet Similar to Harvard and Stanford, Yale’s middle 50% ranges are very impressive. The closer to 800 your section scores are, the closer to the top of Yale’s applicant pool you will be, and the more competitive you will become. MIT SAT Critical Reading: 690-790 SAT Math: 750-800 SAT Writing: 700-790 Source: MIT Admissions Statistics Note that for MIT, their math score range is especially high. 75% of the admits have a 750 or higher math score. This means that if your math score is 750 or lower, it would be wise to retake the SAT and aim for a perfect 800 in math, or as close as possible. If your composite is 2300 but with a lower math score (for example 800 Critical Reading, 800 Writing, 700 Math), you should definitely retake the SAT for a higher math score. Princeton SAT Critical Reading: 690-790 SAT Math: 710-800 SAT Writing: 710-790 Source: Princeton Admission Statistics Princeton has similar ranges to Harvard, Stanford, and Yale. They also list statistics for the admit rate of applicants with different score ranges: 2300-2400 Admit Rate: 14.5% 2100-2290 Admit Rate: 8.1% So while Princeton is still very competitive even with a 2300+ SAT, note that your chances of admission almost double if you have a 2300 or higher versus the next step down, 2100-2290. So if you're in the 2100-2290 range, it could be worth it to retake the SAT and aim for at least a 1530. Selective Schools (Top 15-50) If you're aiming for selective but not top 15 schools, a 2200 or higher is already towards the top of the applicant pool, and you likely shouldn't worry about retaking the SAT. We have listed some examples below of middle 50% ranges for these schools to give you an idea of where your score stands. You can look up this data for any school you are interested in by searching â€Å"[Name of College/University] Common Data Set.† University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) SAT Composite: 1930-2250 Source: UCLA Freshmen Profile 2015 Tufts SAT Critical Reading: 680-760 SAT Math: 680-760 SAT Writing: 690-760 Source: Tufts Common Data Set University of Virginia SAT Critical Reading: 620-720 SAT Math: 630-740 SAT Writing: 620-720 Source: University of Virginia Common Data Set Georgetown SAT Critical Reading: 660-760 SAT Math: 660-760 SAT Writing: Not considered Source: Georgetown Common Data Set For all of these schools, note that if your section scores are in the low to mid 700s, which you likely have if your composite is 2200+, you are well within range for admission. If your composite is 2250, with an average of 750 per section, you have about the same score as the top 25% of admitted students. So if you got a 2200 or higher SAT score and you’re not aiming for the most selective colleges, don’t worry about retaking it. Your odds of admission are already strong for selective colleges. Instead, focus on the rest of your application. Consider Scholarships Another factor in deciding to retake the SAT is scholarships. Many scholarships, both private and University-sponsored ones, use SAT scores as cut-offs. So your SAT score could be important not just for admission, but for paying for college – especially at large universities and state schools. Your SAT score can translate into thousands of dollars to pay for college. In many cases, the higher your SAT score, the higher your merit scholarship will be. Check out our post on merit scholarships for more info. For large, full-ride scholarships with separate applications, the higher your SAT score is, the better. Some state universities have scholarships that are as difficult to get as getting into a top college. If you’re aiming for that sort of scholarship, retaking the SAT to be above 2300 would be smart, but once you hit 2300, it’s unlikely a score increase would dramatically improve your chances. Also consider your individual subject scores. Many scholarships consider just Math and Critical Reading. If you got 800s in those and, say, a 700 in writing (for a 2300 total), you are more than good to go for those scholarships. However, if your score breakdown was Math 680, CR 800, Writing 800, that below-700 math score could possibly cost you a higher scholarship, depending on the school. If there is a scholarship that has an ultra-high cut-off at one of your top choice schools, consider taking the SAT again. If not, focus on making sure the rest of your application is strong, as many merit scholarships consider your whole application. Action Step Look up schools you are interested in to see what type of merit scholarships they have. Chances are your SAT is already high enough for their scholarship cut-offs, and you should focus on keeping your GPA and/or class rank high. (For a guide on how to search for merit scholarships, see our automatic scholarships article.) Is It Worth The Time To Try Again? Another important consideration if you’re thinking of retaking the SAT is if you have enough time to commit to a retake. You’ll have to study and practice for your second time. You definitely shouldn’t just walk in and retake it – you’ll likely make the same mistakes and get a similar score, or even a lower one. You need to study carefully, identify the weak spots that caused you to miss points the first time, and work to be as close to perfect as possible. In addition, you'll have to learn all about the New SAT and how to study for the redesigned test. This could come at the expense of other things important to your application, like extracurriculars, or essays if you are in your senior fall. If you manage to get a 1600 but submit a sub-par essay, your overall chances of admission will not increase very much. Also, remember your transcript and GPA are another very important piece of your application. As Yale says on their undergraduate admissions website, â€Å"The admissions committee is primarily concerned with what kind of Yale student you will be. So it is very important that we see a high level (or an improving degree) of rigor and success throughout your high school years. This includes your senior year. If you wish to make your application among the most competitive, you must take a challenging senior program and continue to excel in it.† Translation: taking tough courses and doing well matters, especially senior year. If your GPA drops because you were studying for an SAT retake, you could hurt your chances, even if you end up with a higher SAT score. Bottom line? Think carefully about your schedule and other commitments before deciding to retake the SAT. What If Your Score Decreases? Although you’re hoping for the best-case scenario of retaking the SAT and getting a higher score, you need to think about what your application will look like with a second, lower score – which is well within the range of possibility. Some students score lower on their second try on the SAT, even with studying. This could be because they psych themselves out – for example, finding errors in the writing section when the answer is â€Å"No Error,† or triple-checking one math problem, causing them to run out of time on another. Remember, if you’re at a 2300, you only have 100 points to gain, but many more potential points to lose. Colleges will look at your highest scores, but in some cases they request that you send all scores to them – which means they will have an effect on your application and chances. As an example, Stanford requires you to send all scores: â€Å"Official scores from all test dates must be sent to Stanford directly from the ACT or the College Board (the reporting agency for the SAT) or both if the applicant has taken the ACT and the SAT. Applicants may not use the College Board's Score Choice feature or "hide" any scores with either testing agency.† Yale has a similar policy. However, some schools do allow Score Choice – an option that allows you to send only your highest SAT scores. For example, â€Å"You are free to use the College Board’s Score Choice option and/or the similar option offered by ACT when applying toHarvard.† Princeton and MIT accept Score Choice as well. Action Step Look up your top-choice schools and see if they accept Score Choice or not. If they don’t, keep in mind retaking the SAT and getting a lower score could affect your chances of admission. Also Consider Subject Tests Another factor to consider is SAT Subject Tests. Many top tier schools either require them or heavily recommend them. Getting high subject test scores will also be important for admission to top schools. If you already have a strong SAT score, it might be worth your time to focus on getting strong SAT subject test scores to round out your application. Bottom Line If your score is above a 2300, you should not worry about retaking the SAT, even if you’re aiming for top schools. One exception is if you have math score below 750 and you are aiming for admission to top engineering schools like MIT or CalTech. If you have a score between 2200-2300, it would make sense to retake the SAT if you are applying to the very top schools. If you’re not applying to top schools, check to see if any merit scholarships at schools you are applying for have SAT cut-offs or averages higher than your score. If not, don’t worry about retaking the SAT, and start working on the rest of your application. What’s Next? We mentioned taking SAT subject tests. Learn about what kinds of scores you need for the Ivy League as well as which colleges officially require them. If you decide to go for a retake, definitely read our guide by our 2400 full-scorer about getting a perfect SAT score. These are the principles you’ll need to get to the perfect score. You should also read our complete guide to the New SAT to understand the changes the test will undergo in March 2016. Learn more about SAT percentiles and where you stand based on your current scores. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

Reading Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Reading Questions - Assignment Example The findings in ‘Sesame Street’ has also shown to improve various complex cognitive skills of children such as classifying and sorting and also among simpler skills such as numbers and names. These results were achieved even despite various field and measurement problems. Typically, researchers in the field of educational are considered to be the historians of the different policies and practices of Education and whose works are rarely used to make any changes to current or future happenings. Considering this situation, Sesame Street comes as rather a surprise since most people are against children watching television. But if these findings conducted through Sesame Street were to be ignored, and not developed further, funded or researched by similarly conceived television shows, then it would be a travesty and a huge loss to the future of our educational system. The first criteria chosen are the Project Features which comprises of the goals and objectives which involve both explicit and implicit features. The Sesame program also speaks of the primary activities and resources that would be used to achieve these goals and the possible short and long term outcomes. The Sesame Street Report reflects the same criteria given above. The primary goal of the Sesame Street program was to give evidence that a program such as this, benefited children by enhancing their cognitive and skill abilities for better educational outcomes. The project was so designed, making use of pretests and posttests which gave enough proof to show that these goals were achieved. The outcomes as evidenced in the Sesame project was long term and benefited children coming from varied backgrounds. The second criteria evidenced in the Sesame Street program were the different stakeholders which included the child, parents, teachers and peer groups. The program was looked at from different perspectives to evaluate

The Condition of U.S. Bridges Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Condition of U.S. Bridges - Research Paper Example As a result of years of declining budgets with respect to bridge repair, it is estimated that only one in the ninth bridges are currently considered as â€Å"structurally deficient†. The underlying reason for the lack of funding that bridge repair has been able to affect over the past several years can be linked to various factors. One of the first factors that should be considered is with respect to declining overall revenue that gas taxes have been able to drive. As the cost of a gallon of gasoline has risen precipitously over the past 20 years the response by both federal and state government was to decrease the overall tax burden that was leveraged against this particular commodity. Naturally, the underlying goal for such an approach was to make the resource more affordable to the population; thereby increasing mobility and decreasing the overall rates of joblessness that the economy would otherwise experience. However, a downside to this approach was the fact that federal and state revenue that was earned on each and every gallon of fuel sold was not able to meet the same levels as it had during the 1980s and 1990s. As the reader can reasonably expect, the inability of revenue to keep up with the increased requirements of infrastructure repair created a situation in which a veritable avalanche of projects competed for repair by increasingly reduced levels of funding. Research into the current state of the nation’s bridges estimates that by 2025, fully  ¼ bridges will be over 65 years old.

No topic need Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

No topic need - Essay Example Their appealing factor to global consumers is their constant manufacture of new bands of cars. The Ford Company always finds a way to attract consumers by creating improved or modified brands of cars. The major globalization opportunity for the Ford Company is the fact that the world is open to technology at present. People are constantly seeking machines and devices that are more improvised than the last. Indeed Ford Company utilizes this opportunity to the fullest as they keep booming with new ideas. The major globalization challenges for the Ford Company are competition in major foreign markets like China and India. They face stiff competition from other motor companies in the market. Additionally, the company has been experiencing leadership problems of late. The executives apparently have a problem working together. This makes it hard to coordinate efforts in global markets. For the Ford Company’s brand to stand a better position in the global market, they must find a way to eradicate stiff competition and come out on top. This can be achieved by making their brands more attractive and desirable; they need to create an edge for their