Wednesday, October 30, 2019

As the world becomes increasingly polarised where social issues Essay

As the world becomes increasingly polarised where social issues seemingly get lost, how can we encourage future technology and design to engage and augment our future - Essay Example This paper will explore the issue in depth and highlight the application of technology to ceramic design. After the Second World War, the globe experienced a social and economic recession that instilled hopelessness in majority of them. However, modernism emerged, promising to present the glob with hope despite the hardships. The ideologies that defined modernism seemed to be promising a palpable pattern of social responsibility. In the opinion of many, modernism had the capacity to induce change in the living conditions of the people. Therefore, embracing modernism translated to changes in different sectors. In the years that followed, the globe saw technological innovations in agriculture, economy, medicine, and media. In agriculture, technology has registered numerous changes. High levels of mechanization have increased the rates of production in agriculture. As expected, mechanization and forms of technology in agriculture have served to provide enough for the growing population. Sadly though, there are two sides of the inside story (Lee, 2008:61). Whereas some nations have more than they need, the developing world has to rely on support from the developed world. Reports indicate that Europe and America waste food products that could suffice to feed the entire developing world. While some wastage occurs unavoidably during production, a high percentage of wasted agricultural products occur deliberately accounting for about 60 %. The current trends in agricultural production reveal that the developing world only gets wealthier while third world countries remain in ardent poverty. In order to address the challenges of some nations, biotechnology seemed to provide a solution through the development of genetically modified organisms. At first, this technology presented a viable solution to pests, diseases and unfavorable climatic conditions because genetic engineering provided crops with the capacity to withstand all these.

Monday, October 28, 2019

PEP and performance analysis for rounders Essay Example for Free

PEP and performance analysis for rounders Essay There are many important skills and techniques required in Rounders. As a batter in order to successfully hit the ball the player will need to have good hand and eye co-ordination. A number of things contribute to making, a good hit, these include the hand grip you are using while holding the bat, the hand grip of the bat is bad then the direction the ball will be other target because of awkward angles. Hitting the ball in Rounders is fairly significant as it will make getting the ball pass the opposition easier allowing you to ran around more bases allowing you to score more points for your team. Also when hitting the ball in a batter role it is important to keep you head in an up-right position this is because if you hit the ball with your head in an awkward position it will affect the direction the ball will go because of your lack of area awareness. Stance is important in Rounders because it determines whether you hit the ball well. A good stance includes, having your legs apart with knees slightly bent. When batting if you manage to hit a perfect ball then you will need good agility, to run around the bases well with out hitting them or going around them to far (if this happens it will affect you because it means your will have to run further out making your time slower because of the larger  distance you will have to run.) In Rounders when playing in a fielding position you need to have the ability to both catch and throw a ball in order to either get batter out or stop them from scoring the maximum points. The .reason you need to have the capabilities to catch is to catch someone out if they hit a high ball, this requires good co-ordination. When throwing a ball in a fielding position you need to have a good ball grip and good timing (this is because it will make the ball go accurate when thrown.) it is important to have a good grip of the ball when throwing it because if your grip is to loose then the ball will fall out of your hand. Also when you throw the ball you need to keep it up right so it goes in the direction you want it to go in. 2. (a) List in detail the strengths of the player/competitor/participant.  In Rounders Im good at hitting the ball when batting; in order for me to do this I had good hand and eye co-ordination. When batting it is good to have good hand and eye coordination because it determines whether a hit will be good or bad, I think the ball the reason why Im good at batting is because I hi the ball right in the middle making the ball go at max speed, the reason I can do this is because of the co-ordination. This also involves me having a good grip of the bat this is so I get the angle right when hitting the ball, if I did not have this angle right then I would not be able to hit the ball well directionally wise, it is important a can hit the ball in a good direction because it makes it more hard for the opposite sides fielders to get the ball and try get me out. Im also good in the fielding position where I have to stop the ball going past me and stopping the ball go a longer distance reducing the chance of the batter t score more points.  (b) List in detail the weaknesses of the player/competitor/participant.  The weaknesses of me when playing Rounders is in the fielding position where I have to throw the ball to a team mate where by it becomes possible for them to get the batter out. The reason why I think Im bad at throwing the ball long distances and in an accurate direction is because of the strength of my arms and because my co-ordination is not the best it could be. This could be because of the lack of flexibility in my arms making me not able to move my arm in a swift motion. Another weakness is the lack of agility making my body not as agile as it could be (making running in different directions harder.) 3. Suggest what raining practices might be used to improve the strengths and in particular the weaknesses you have identified.  One of the weaknesses I have found out is my lack of agility, a training practice could be set out for me where b I have to run in and out of cones in opposite directions as fast as I can while recording the tie, I can keep track of my progress by comparing the different times I have ran it in. (this test is called Illinois Agility Run and is commonly used with sport competitors throughout the world.) I can also use ladders in m exercise, going through them as fast as I can see what time I did and then improving it. This will help my timing and it will tune my muscles into knowing where my feet are, giving me a better sporting feel.  To improve my throwing ability I can set out a base with a thin pole in it and see how many times I can hit it, if this activity gets to easy I can always position myself further away from the pole and as time goes on I should see my coordination levels increase as my muscle more gets more use to doing this exercise thus making m directional throwing better.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Slavery and Freedom in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest Essay

Slavery and Freedom in William Shakespeare’s â€Å"The Tempest† The subtly comedic interactions and juxtapositions between masters and slaves in William Shakespeare’s â€Å"The Tempest† generate a question which has been the source of much controversy throughout history: are the hierarchical classifications â€Å"slave† and â€Å"free† reflections of a person’s fundamental nature, or are they social constructions based on bias and self-interest which have nothing to do with absolute truth? This question is crucial because the way that we answer it has the potential to either justify or condemn the widespread practice of enslaving certain individuals. A close look at Shakespeare’s portrayal of masters and slaves in this play suggests that although those who enslave others would like to believe that slave and free are natural categories, they seem to be socially constructed. In his essay â€Å"The Ancient Comic Tradition†, Bernard Knox states that â€Å"Slave and free were not so much separate classes as separate worlds: Aristotle could go so far as to claim that they were separate natures† (131). While the concept that slave and free are separate worlds is defensible given the vast differences in lifestyle between the two, the idea that they are separate natures is not a logical extension of this fact, but rather a separate idea altogether. Fundamental nature has nothing to do with one’s political or social situation, but rather one’s innate capabilities, motivations, and morality. Our task, then, is to determine the degree of similarity (or lack thereof) in the innate capabilities, motivations, and morality of the masters and slaves in this play. Through close examination of Prospero and Caliban, it becomes apparent that although Caliban ... ...hich those who have insight into the situation may affect change, one of the most powerful of which is through fiction. Skilled writers can convey the flaws in the system through their narrative without explicitly stating them, thus engaging the reader to think through the implications of the narrative on their own. This way, any conclusion arrived at feels like the reader’s own insight, making it more plausible than if the conclusion is thrust upon the reader by an overtly didactic text. In â€Å"The Tempest†, Shakespeare never explicitly states that enslavement is not logically justified, but instead subtly implies it through his narrative. I believe that it is in part because of writers such as Shakespeare who have—whether intentionally or not—used the medium of fiction to expose the problems in their society that our world is gradually moving towards social justice.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

How free were blacks in the north Essay

Blacks weren’t as free as people made them out to be, they still had restrictions. I am writing this to make it clear that blacks weren’t absolutely free in the north; they still had rules and weren’t treated equally. If you look at the years between 1800 and 1860 you will see how free they were freer when they were slaves. In this essay I will be addressing the different kind of rights, such as social freedom, the black church, Political and Judicial rights, and education and jobs. Blacks in the North had freedoms and restrictions some of the restrictions and freedoms in social freedom are discussed below. Charles Mackay stated in his travels, â€Å"We shall not buy nor sell him†. Now this may sound like a good thing, and maybe it is but right after that he stated, â€Å"We shall not associate with him†. The white northerners didn’t want to have anything to do with the black society. He said for the white society to let the black man know his place and keep it. Even though they weren’t being sold and bought they still had rules to follow. They were free enough to not be bought and sold like cattle, but was not free enough to dwell with white northerners and this is why I think it is the most important issue at hand. In this paragraph I chose to address Document D; Black Church. In this document it’s a photograph that shows black people congregating and worshiping at a black church. The church was more than just a place to worship, they ran a literary club, Sunday school, published a newspaper, hosted abolitionist meetings, and provided a refuge for fugitive slaves. The church was like an escape for black people. Although they didn’t have much to work with they made it work. In my opinion that’s what made them free to me. According to the document note, the three services provided by the black church before the civil, to fight for social causes such as voting rights, temperance and abolition. Even if the church was just a barn or shack they made it possible to worship and be religiously free in their own way. I go further into the DBQ packet to address political and judicial rights.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Polynomial Essay

 © ITT Educational Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -Change Date: 01/24/2011 Submission Requirements Format: Microsoft Word Font: Arial, Size 12, Double-Space Citation Style: Chicago Manual of Style Length: 1–2 pages Self-Assessment Checklist I have recommended the appropriate kernel that can be used by the organization. I have explained the advantages and disadvantages of using each of the kernel options with a valid rationale. Project Part 3 Task 2: Recommend a Software Management Plan Scenario The original task team at First World Bank Savings and Loan has concerns about the support and software management of the organization’s Linux-based infrastructure. The team wants you to recommend a software m anagement plan keeping in mind the various servers and the cost. Tasks You need to: Make a recommendation for a software management plan. Consider options available from the open source community and from vendors. If you select a  vendor, specify the software it will support and how it will support. Explain the need to install anti-virus software on Linux servers providing a rationale in support of your answer. Summarize a plan for applying patches and security updates to the Linux system. Submission Requirements Format: Microsoft Word IS3440 Linux Security STUDENT COPY: Project  © ITT Educational Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -Change Date: 01/24/2011 Font: Arial, Size 12, Double-Space Citation Style: Chicago Manual of Style Length: 1–2 pages Self-Assessment Checklist I have recommended a suitable software management plan.  I have explained the need to install anti-virus software on Linux servers.  I have explained how to manage critical and noncritical security-related updates. Project Part 3 Task 3: Monitor Logs and Baseline Scenario The task team at First World Bank Savings and Loan wants you to research appropriate monitoring tools for the organization’s Linux-based tiered infrastructure. Tasks You need to: Summarize the benefits of remote logging. Recommend tools for: o Alerting administrators when files in the operating system have changed. o Checking for rootkits. o Checking for new open ports, files, and system resources.  Explain how logwatch can be configured to  deliver a daily report from each server  summarizing events found in log files.  Recommend a schedule and a software application or service to periodically scan the servers to satisfy Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) compliance requirements. Submission Requirements IS3440 Linux Security STUDENT COPY: Project  © ITT Educational Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -Change Date: 01/24/2011 Format: Microsoft Word Font: Arial, Size 12, Double-Space Citation Style: Chicago Manual of Style Length: 1–2 pages for the project task; 2–3 pages for the executive summary Self-Assessment Checklist for Project Part 3 Task 3 I have recommended a file integrity checker and explained the purpose of a rootkit checker. I have explained the use of common GNU’s Not UNIX (GNU) utility tools. I have described the configuration of logwatch and recommended a service or tool for periodic server scans.  Self-Assessment Checklist for Project Part 3: Executive Summary I have recommended appropriate kernel options for the organization and explained the pros and cons of each option.  I have described the importance of a software management plan. I have explained the use of installing anti-virus software on Linux servers. I have summarized monitoring and logging techniques used in a typical Linux infrastructure. I have described the importance of a suitable backup plan, while maintaining data confidentiality using encryption. Project Part 4 Task 1: Design a Backup Plan  For the various servers that are part of First World Bank Savings and Loan’s Linux-based infrastructure, you have to research and design a backup plan using open source and commercial software. You can create the design based on your discussions with peers in Unit 10 Discussion 1 titled â€Å"Creating a Backup Plan.† Tasks You need to: IS3440 Linux Security STUDENT COPY: Project  © ITT Educational Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -Change Date: 01/24/2011 Recommend software, both open source and commercial, to use for the backup plan. Explain reasons for your recommendation. Recommend a design of the backup plan. Answer the following questions: Will you use a dedicated server or a service provider for backups?  Will backups be stored on hard disks,  tape media, or any other media? Who will be responsible for verifying backups and restoring data? Summarize the need for encrypting backup data. Submission Requirements Format: Microsoft Word Font: Arial, Size 12, Double-Space Citation Style: Chicago Manual of Style Length: 1–2 pages for the project task; 3–5 pages for the executive summary Self-Assessment Checklist for Project Part 4 Task 1 I have recommended open source and commercial software options for the backup. I have designed a plan for full and incremental backups and explained the need for encrypting backup data.  I have designed a process for backup verification and restoring. Self-Assessment Checklist for Project Part 4: Executive Summary of the Project I have demonstrated how to secure a Linux platform using installed commands and other available open source software. I have explained the use of bastion hosts to secure architecture design. I have examined best practices to mitigate security risks to a Linux server using a suitable software management plan.  I have demonstrated the use of a layered security approach on Linux servers. I have described backup, recovery, and incident response in a Linux architecture. IS3440 Linux Security STUDENT COPY: Project

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Physics Pendulum Lab Report Essays

Physics Pendulum Lab Report Essays Physics Pendulum Lab Report Paper Physics Pendulum Lab Report Paper In this experiment, only different masses will be used n order to prove that mass does not have an effect on the time it takes for a pendulum to go through a period. Purpose The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effect of mass on the period off pendulum. Hypothesis If the mass of the pendulum increases then the time for the swing will neither increase nor decrease because the mass does not have an effect on the period of a pendulum. Materials and Methods The materials used in this experiment are: 3 Different Masses (egg, egg, egg) Clamp String Clock Protractor With these materials, the experiment was conducted in the following procedure: ) Place the clamp to a flat surface with a string attached to it 2) Attach a egg mass to the end of the string opposite from the pivot 3) Pull the mass to the side with an amplitude of 700 4) Release the mass and allow it to swing 10 periods while timing it 5) Divide the total time by 10 in order to get the time it takes for 1 period of the pendulum 6) Repeat steps 2-5 with different masses (egg, egg, egg) Observations The results between the different masses were not all the same number however, they were close. The egg mass period took 1. 5 seconds and the egg took 1. Seconds. The egg and egg masses both took 1. 7 seconds to complete a period. Discussion and Conclusion What was expected at the end of the experiment was for all of the times between the different masses to be th e same however, this was not the case. The slight differences in time were most likely due to random and human error. During the experiment, a clock was used to time the periods in seconds. Using the clock falls under the random error category since the timing wasnt precise as it would be if a stopwatch was used instead. The other error in this experiment would be human error because the experiment had one person release the pendulum after the person timing gives the signal. The time between the signals are given and when the pendulum starts swinging could be off so in order to avoid this error in subsequent trials, the person timing the period should be the same person releasing the pendulum. Although the results between the 4 masses were different, they were only off by less than . 3 seconds. The results showed that difference in mass does not have a significant effect on the pendulum period thus, making the hypothesis for this experiment true.

Monday, October 21, 2019

8 Tips for Effective Revision

8 Tips for Effective Revision 8 Tips for Effective Revision If youve got exams coming up, youll probably be hard at work revising. But how can you ensure that your time spent revising is worthwhile? Weve prepared our top 8 revision tips to help you get in shape for those tests! 1. Start with Good Notes Ok, so this might not help you now, but its definitely something you can do going forwards. Make sure you take clear, legible notes in class so that when you come back to them they make sense! Try highlighting them with a color-coding system as part of your revision. It really helps you to make sense of them. 2. Make a Revision Timetable If youve got several tests to revise for, it might be helpful to make a timetable so that you can make sure you are spending enough time on each subject. Stick it up on your wall and try to follow it. 3. Take a Break When making your timetable, make sure you add in breaks. Ideally, you should have a 5-minute break once every half hour. Get up, stretch, have a cup of coffee, or go for a walk outside. Taking regular breaks will help your brain to function more effectively. 4. Sort Out your Revision Space The first thing you should do before revising is to tidy your revision space. If it is clear and uncluttered, you will find it much easier to work. 5. Dont Memorize, Summarize! Dont just re-read your notes, try making a summary of them in your own words. This will help you to remember them as you will have to process the words rather than simply reading them. Its surprising how much you can read whilst daydreaming! 6. Use Past Papers Your course tutor will probably be able to provide you with some past papers if you ask. There might even be some available on the Internet. Make sure you time yourself and use proper exam conditions. 7. Use Visual Aids If you have a visual brain, you might find it helpful to create charts or infographics. Doodling the main facts out can be a great way of making summaries of your notes. The funnier these are, the more you should remember the information! 8. Eat, Sleep, Run! Dont forget that your body needs fuel, rest, and exercise for your brain to function well. Dont be tempted to cram all night before a test. Plan out your revision for a few weeks before the test and dont do any revision at all the day before. Instead, go for a swim, eat well and go to bed early. Have a banana and plenty of water for breakfast and your brain will be on top form!

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Lessons I Learned from a Suicidal Arsonist

Lessons I Learned from a Suicidal Arsonist On Friday, September 26, I set out to travel from New York City back home to Madison. I dutifully arose at 4:00 a.m. to meet a car service, arriving at the airport with plenty of time to spare. Boarding went smoothly and we left the gate. I looked forward to a 10:36 a.m. landing in my hometown after 3 days at a conference in Denver and a week with my family and friends. I had wonderful plans for Friday evening and Saturday. Then the announcement came: There has been a fire in the Chicago air traffic control tower. All flights in and out of Chicago have been delayed. The guy across the aisle from me began cursing and waving his fists around. I resolved to take the news better than he was taking it. After calling United twice and spending an hour on hold, I managed to get rebooked through Atlanta. But when I landed in Atlanta there were three voice mail messages advising me that my flight to Madison had been cancelled, and one informing me that I had been rebooked on a flight the next day through Washington D.C. I would, if all went as re-planned, arrive in Madison at 9:12 p.m. Saturday night. The punch line is, I made it home. But there’s more. Throughout this adventure, I learned or was reminded of some valuable life lessons. Here are some of them: One person can truly make a difference. That guy Brian Howard who set a fire in the Chicago air traffic control tower was one single man who managed to paralyze air travel across the country for two days. I’m guessing he also affected security measures at air traffic control towers throughout the world. Yet so many of us sit around thinking we can’t make a difference. What are the extreme positive acts you could take to change something you want to change? Surrender to what’s so. When faced with the prospect of spending the night in Atlanta, I was not thrilled. But since all flights to Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago and pretty much all areas surrounding were cancelled, I decided the best plan was to surrender. I got on a line for customer service, hoping there might be a hotel voucher for me if Atlanta was my only overnight option. An hour later I was at the counter, having had some lovely conversations with other stranded travelers, and discovered that there were no more hotel vouchers remaining, and that my flight to D.C. was that very night. Suddenly I had a new reality before me, and I accepted that one too. It’s amazing how much my stress level went down when I dealt with what was so instead of wishing it were another way! It’s good to have friends everywhere. Through a combination of college connections and my dance community, as well as other life adventures, I have built a network of friends and family in almost every major U.S. city (and some overseas cities as well). Drop me in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Austin, Tucson or Tel Aviv, and I will have a friendly place to lay my head. When I discovered I would be in Washington, D.C. for a night, I started calling friends, one of whom, my college buddy Sara, was happy to put me up for the night. I had not seen her in about 10 years, so it was a great treat to spend unexpected time with her. Not only that, but she had kale in her fridge, a blender, and a free pass to her gym which we used to attend a class together Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon we swam together in an outdoor pool, well after any such pool in Madison would ever be open. I also saw a high school football game that was highlighted on Fox 5 Friday night! I was well taken care of. And I got on a deep l evel that I have led my life well to be able to call on so many people to help. Of course I would do the same for all of them. Talk to strangers. In the customer support line and on various airplanes Friday and Saturday, I met some other waylaid travelers. It was good to connect with humanity. They put my situation in perspective, and helped me out by watching my bag while I went to plug in my phone, whose battery was on its last legs. One woman guided me where I needed to go in D.C. to get to the suburban Metro stop where I met my college friend Sara. I noticed I felt fairly upbeat given the monkey wrench that had been thrown into my life, and on one of my plane rides I identified why: I was talking to strangers! In an article I read on the plane in Success (which is quickly becoming my favorite magazine), I discovered that a social science study by researcher and professor at Harvard Business School, Michael Norton, Ph.D., showed that â€Å"talking with strangers can be at least as important to our daily happiness as talking to our close friends and family.† Norton confirmed this to be true regardless of personality type. I know it is true for me! I always feel more energized when I connect with the people around me than when I retreat into my shell. On Saturday night my flight departed from D.C. on time and landed in Madison 30 minutes early. My housesitter Mariah picked me up and drove me home, where I arrived fairly exhausted yet grateful. I slept well that night, knowing that I am well-loved, resourceful, connected, and able to handle the challenges that one suicidal arsonist  threw in my direction. 🙂 This is a good reminder to travel a couple of days early for any important event. You never know what might happen! Log in to Reply

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Learning ,development- education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Learning ,development- education - Essay Example But as she reached the level of grade 6 her problems started. She started showing apathy for learning or in studies for that matter. From her own version it came to be known that she finds the instructional material difficult. Her inability to understand the learning material could be considered the actual cause of this gradual recoiling from studies. At this stage the main point of concern is the cause of Jenny’s decreasing grasping power or academic receptivity. Previous record shows that Jenny has no intelligence deficit or learning disability symptoms. So it is assumed that she is suffering from acute loss of motivation. At this point the transition to grade 6 or a comparatively higher educational grade has played a significant role in unnerving her. Being promoted to the senior class along with facing a new and qualitative standard of study material has probably created a mental block and as a result she has become demoralized and self-doubting. Her position can best be described as having lack of academic resilience (Martin, 2002). In education academic resilience among students is essential in persistently maintaining a standard because as one climbs to higher grades the standard of education increases and so does expectation from students. According to the expectancy value theory, students look for both motivation for success and the ‘incentive value of the goal’ (Hootstein, 1994). Jenny is facing this typical problem and as she cannot come out of it she is gradually getting de-motivated. From this point of view it could be said that Jenny has little academic resilience (Martin, 2002). Firstly she cannot understand that such a mental block and thereby loss of focus is natural and it is curable. Secondly Jenny has to develop resilience to accept failure and fight back with renewed energy. The promising part of Jenny’s case is that she has only lost her motivation that requires to be regained with proper care and guidance

Ppaper on Illegal Physical or Internet Intrusion Essay

Ppaper on Illegal Physical or Internet Intrusion - Essay Example This paper discusses why data security is of importance to an organization. Furthermore it throws light upon what might be the physical or internet based threats to an organization’s database and lastly converges with a few suggestions that can be embedded in order to strengthen database security. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO SECURE AN ORGANIZATION’S DATA? An organization’s data is of imperative importance to it. The success of any setup is directly proportional to the security and integrity of that environment. This study is aimed at discussing the scope of threats that an organization faces with respect to its data. It highlights what measures could be taken in order to keep the data within the database of an organization secure from any kinds of physical and internet intrusions. The Deputy Commissioner and internal control officer of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue John Mynihan is said to have quoted as follows about the threats to the data of an organizatio n: â€Å"Any organization that collects data has to acknowledge that people are abusing it because they have access to it ... It's human nature.† (Mynihan, 2007) Database security is of inevitable importance because any malfunctioning done with the data in it, whether physical or virtual, if not corrected in a timely manner can result in the loss of system or data integrity. This, in turn can have severe consequences on the business processes themselves. The continued usage of corrupted data and thus the corrupted database system can result in the outcome of fraudulent and inappropriate decisions. In addition to this, unintentional and unauthorized disclosure of any sensitive data pertaining to the organization and its stakeholders can result in the loss of confidence of the organization’s stakeholders with it. Moreover, it can even lead to severe legal issues and stern embarrassment against the organization. TRUSTING INDIVIDUALS? A renowned fact that spreads widely wi thin business circles is that individuals should never be trusted such that an organization’s critical should be left at their disposal. This task of storing critical data and enabling it’s readily and convenient access is assigned to databases. Database stores all the critical data of an organizational setup. Since they hold so very much importance, their security is also a key concern for the organization. Senior director of security for Oracle, Wynn White mentions his observations about database security in the following words: â€Å"According to one recent Forrester study, 80 percent of data security breaches involve insiders, employees or those with internal access to an organization, putting information at risk. The big challenge for companies today – particularly as email and the Internet make sharing and distributing corporate information easier than ever - is to strike the right balance between providing workers with appropriate access and protecting s ensitive information as much as possible.† (White) The following text evaluates what a database’s security is and what are the potential threats faced by it. THE POTENTIAL THREATS The potential threats that are faced by a database with respect to its security can be summarized as follows: PHYSICAL INTRUSION/THREAT: This involves dangers such as theft fire/flood, power outage, earthquake or malicious damage. HUMAN ERROR: Mistake on the part of the authorized personnel manipulating the database. This may

Friday, October 18, 2019

Arguments for and against Foreign Direct Investment In Developing Essay

Arguments for and against Foreign Direct Investment In Developing Countries - Essay Example According to the research findings it can therefore be said that foreign direct investment (FDI) is direct venture into business in a country by a company from another country. This can be either by buying a company in the intended country or by increasing operations of an open business in that country. In actual practice, FDI attraction may be  different in various countries. In this respect, technology, market access, growth, poverty reduction and the foreign direct investment outcomes of a country are extremely significant. Other aspects such as damages to the environment, regions and local capabilities are considered to be negative in a countries economy. For the last two decades, increased technological and liberalization advances have resulted into increased growth in the flow of FDI. This means that foreign direct investment gained in share of domestic investment and gross domestic product (GDP) in many countries. It is done for numerous reasons that involve taking advantage of low cost wages or for exceptional investment privileges like rewards to obtain a link that is tariff-free towards the countries markets or the regional market through the use of tax holidays granted to the company. Foreign direct investment is the submissiveness in security investments of various countries such that it comes in the form of securities and other investments being contrast with portfolio investments. The national accounts of a country, that relate to the equation of national income (Y=C+I+G+(X-M)) where I is investment plus foreign investment, The inflow minus outflow that amount to Net inflows of investment, is at least 10% or more of voting stash in an enterprise operating in an economy apart from that of the investor. It is the sum of other long-term capital, short-term capital and owners’ capital as frequently shown in the balance of payment. Transfer of technology & expertise, management involvement and joint venture are means used. The FDI may be both inward and outward, resulting in a net inflow that is positive or negative and "stock of foreign direct investment" that sums up the number for a given period. International factor investment is one example of FDI. Perspective FDI is the form of FDI that arises whenever a company ensures that its country-based income is duplicated using the similar stage chain in the hosting country by use of FDI. Podium FDI, and Vertical FDI that arises whenever a firm shifts upstream through FDI and downstream in various chain value through performing activities that adds value in a vertical fashion stage of a host country. The reduction in the international trade is attributed to the horizontal FDI as the most of them is usually move towards the host country while other two types generally act as a stimulus for it. Foreign direct investor gives out the power of voting of an enterprise within an economy by incorporating a wholly owned subsidiary / company anywhere, acquire shares in an associated enterprise, merger or acquire an unrelated enterprise, or participating in an equity joint venture with another financier or enterprise (Borensztein & De Gregorio, 2008). FDI incentives may take the following forms; Low individual income tax & corporation tax rates, tax holidays, preferential tariffs, which could be, a tax on a countries’ exports or imports inside and outside of a country, or a price schedule for services like as train service, buses route, and electricity usage, special economic zones(It involves a geographical region having economic and different laws that encourage the free-market. Export processing zones, bonded warehouses, â€Å"Maquiladoras† which is a Mexican name for manufacturing operations within a free trade zone(FTZ), where firms import material and equipment on a duty & tariff- free assembly basis, and manufacturing processing. After this, the assembled export are manufactured, and processed to give out finished products. In other situatio ns, raw materials are send to the origin country. Investment financial subsidies, soft loan or guarantees, free land or subsidies, relocation

Commercialized Sport Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Commercialized Sport - Essay Example In the current developing world, commercialization of sports is a prevalent activity that has employed a large number of people. This is a considerable employment opportunity just like any other employment opportunity in to the sectors of the economy. There are some ethical issues that are involved in the commercialization of sports in the Midwest state university. First of all, commercialization of sports in the institution will jeopardize the educational activities that are in the school. With the commercialization of sports in the institution, some of the educational activities like lecturers, educational debates and exhibitions. Commercialization of the sports will only dwell on the physical activities that are involved in commercial sports. Therefore, the students will have lesser time scheduled for their educational activities. They will only be compelled to participate in the ball games and other commercial activities. In the end, the students will reflect a redundant performance in their education. Secondly, there are some students in learning institutions that do not have an interest in commercialized sports (French, 27). They are inclined to their education and have an interest in ensuring they have a better performance through their education. In actual sense, some students have low regards for sports. Therefore, increasing the participation time for commercialized sports is likely to reflect a disadvantage to such students. Lastly, there is a social issue that involves attaining cash in early stages of life. Some students may emerge to have talents in the stated sports (Morgan, 51-55). The stake holders and controllers of such sports may jeopardize the learning of such student s and introduce them to more professional and commercialized sports. In the end, the students will drop out of school. Before getting on this particular project, there are a number of people that should certify the event.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

How Intersectional Identities Must Shape an Asian American Agenda for Assignment

How Intersectional Identities Must Shape an Asian American Agenda for Social Change - Assignment Example This paper illustrates that a census of our own presents a masterpiece that resulted from a 2010 Queers Southeast Asian survey. This sample had 364 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Asian Americans from the entire United States. Intersectionality connects to the diversity of Asian American people through the difficulties in communication. Often when in public places, the Asian American people fear to talk because they will be oppressed due to their inadequate knowledge of the native English language. Therefore, to emphasize on discrimination based on the diversity of the Asian American culture, many people from this race miss various educational scholarships based on their racial backgrounds. The educational experience of many Asian Americans is biased. To drive the social agenda of the Asian American community of affirmative action, equity must be allowed to prevail in the selection processes of students set to join universities. The excessive acceptance by the educational establishments on the previous cases of racial discrimination threaten the authorities to face stern legal actions form the social change activists. In fact, intersectionality in the education system is prime in the classroom balance experience in multiple learning institutions of the United States. Furthermore, affirmative action requires the equal enrollment of the minority into the prestigious educational systems, to eliminate the educational segregation attached to racial diversity. The immigration experiences of the Asian Americans present a partisan treatment of the immigrants based on their racial background. The continuous efforts by the elected members of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) indicate the difficult requirements that the authorities have put in place to discourage the inhabitation of undocumented immigrants in the United States. Such provisions as the military enlistment and the requirement of good moral conduct cast the Asian American community in the bad picture as they require many strict eligibility criteria to be permanent legal residents of the United States.

Popeyes Singapore Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Popeyes Singapore - Case Study Example This just cost me eight dollars. I was so impressed by the chicken since it was huge, deep fried and well marinated. This is the best service one would ever get. One important thing noted is concerning the service; it seems to be a little slow since it took me time before our turn for placing my order and waiting for it to be served. May be that is an area they can work on. I however understand since it was very crowded, and the waiters do not seem to be many. I really enjoyed my meal, and that will be a place I can recommend to a friend for the best Popeyes in Singapore. The Popeyes menu items have a special flair of southern style preparation and have a unique cooking style. Various items in the menu include bonafide chicken, tenders, seafood, sandwiches and wraps, live well, family and kid’s meals,signature sides, signature sauces, desserts and beverages. The positioning of the shop is strategic, and that is why it attracts so many customers. It is the best place to get any of the items listed above, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed by the service. It is evident that Ang Mo Kio shop offers good services since the place gets crowded in demand for the foods. I think the management should think about expanding the shop more and bringing in more labor force to ensure that services are effective and

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

How Intersectional Identities Must Shape an Asian American Agenda for Assignment

How Intersectional Identities Must Shape an Asian American Agenda for Social Change - Assignment Example This paper illustrates that a census of our own presents a masterpiece that resulted from a 2010 Queers Southeast Asian survey. This sample had 364 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Asian Americans from the entire United States. Intersectionality connects to the diversity of Asian American people through the difficulties in communication. Often when in public places, the Asian American people fear to talk because they will be oppressed due to their inadequate knowledge of the native English language. Therefore, to emphasize on discrimination based on the diversity of the Asian American culture, many people from this race miss various educational scholarships based on their racial backgrounds. The educational experience of many Asian Americans is biased. To drive the social agenda of the Asian American community of affirmative action, equity must be allowed to prevail in the selection processes of students set to join universities. The excessive acceptance by the educational establishments on the previous cases of racial discrimination threaten the authorities to face stern legal actions form the social change activists. In fact, intersectionality in the education system is prime in the classroom balance experience in multiple learning institutions of the United States. Furthermore, affirmative action requires the equal enrollment of the minority into the prestigious educational systems, to eliminate the educational segregation attached to racial diversity. The immigration experiences of the Asian Americans present a partisan treatment of the immigrants based on their racial background. The continuous efforts by the elected members of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) indicate the difficult requirements that the authorities have put in place to discourage the inhabitation of undocumented immigrants in the United States. Such provisions as the military enlistment and the requirement of good moral conduct cast the Asian American community in the bad picture as they require many strict eligibility criteria to be permanent legal residents of the United States.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Currency trading experience Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Currency trading experience - Research Paper Example platform the company has made available for willing financial institutions and investors; I was offered resources and efficient tools in accessing currency information that are kept up-to-date; the company also made available to me and others secure currency transfer services; and also professional consultancy and daily market reports. My strategy while there was to focus on online trading processes as it was faster and more convenient. The secret is to monitor existing trends in the market and take advantage of favorable situations. By such one is able to not any future currency value change. Such is beneficial as it enables you to avoid any losses and to make as much as possible from the shift in trading currency value. This ensures higher profit probability as once trends are over then unexpected losses are made by a trader. Another strategy is to avoid scalping where one decides to exploit delays as the trading is done online. This is also became a lesson as it is advisable to stay in the trading market as long as one desires contrary to what happens. Fortunately Oanda does allow one to extend their time in the trading market. Currency traders are individuals who take part in the buying and selling of world currencies in a bid to earn profits from the ever changing currency values. Successful currency traders make considerable profit margins contrary to unsuccessful traders who make losses. Such successful traders are characterized by excellent forecasting skills on the shift in currency values. Such an ability enables them to avoid any future losses and also enables them to approximate the profit made from trading different currencies. They are able to interpret market trends as per their trading processes and make quick and appropriate decisions. Such quick decisions enables them to stay focused and determined while trading regardless of the stresses and pressures experienced while trading. Such traders are also able to quickly recover from any losses

Monday, October 14, 2019

Autism and Mental Retardation Essay Example for Free

Autism and Mental Retardation Essay Respond to the following: 1. List the primary features of autism. Extremely unresponsive, uncommunicative, repetitive, rigid, changing events that the child is use to doing on a daily basis can result in an outburst where he or she becomes angry and very confused, loud noises can cause an outburst as well for some 2. Which explanation for autism is no longer considered valid and lacks research support? The sociocultural view is no longer valid. It is now believed that cognitive limitations and brain abnormalities are more suitable explanations. 3. What forms of treatment are helpful for a person with autism? At this time there are no treatments that can reverse autism. Some treatments that are helpful would be behavioral therapy, communication training, parent training, and community integration. Psychotropic drugs and vitamins combined with other approaches are also quite helpful. 4. List the criteria for a diagnosis of mental retardation: People with mental retardation are well below average in both intelligence and adaptive abilities. A person with mental retardation has trouble with communicating, living at home, self-direction, and work/safety. 5. Explain one way in which sociocultural biases in testing might pose problems for assessing mental retardation. Sociocultural biases would be environmental conditions and social status. People may not understand that children from good backgrounds and stimulating environments can be mentally retarded. Most people think this is limited to lower social classes 6. Of the four levels of mental retardation, into which category do most people with mental retardation fall? The four levels of retardation are mild retardation, moderate retardation, severe retardation, and profound retardation, 85% of mentally retarded people have mild retardation. 7. What are the main types of biological causes of mental retardation? The primary causes of moderate, severe, and profound retardation are: biological,although people who function at these levels also are affected greatly by their family and social environment. Sometimes genetic factors are at the root of these  biological problems, in the form of chromosomal or metabolic disorders. Other biological causes of these kinds of mental retardation come from unfavorable conditions that occur before, during, or after birth, such as birth injuries. 8. What is the only way to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome? For the mother to not drink alcohol while pregnant 9. What are normalization and mainstreaming? Normalization: The principle that institutions and community residences should expose people with mental retardation to living conditions and opportunities similar to those found in the rest of society. Mainstreaming: The placement of children with mental retardation in regular school classes, also known as inclusion 10. What is your opinion about mainstreaming and normalization for children and adults with autism or mental retardation? My thoughts about mainstreaming for the children and adults with autism and mental retardation, I feel that it is not a good idea placing the children with mental retardation, they do need more supervision and attention, and for this reason if being in a regular class they would not get the attention and or supervision they need. I do feel that it is good to expose the children and adults into the society, they are not no different than anyone else.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Effects of Music on Human Behaviour

Effects of Music on Human Behaviour Zahira Amir Ali Khalfan ABSTRACT This paper explores the relationship between music and human behavior and its role in treating the mentally ill patients for healthy recovery. Being a student nurse the topic is very significant for my learning. The paper is a part of my Behavioral Psychology Course at the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKU-SONAM), Karachi, Pakistan. The paper will begin with brief description about relationship between music and human behavior, its importance, bio-psycho-social perspectives and types of music in the light of literature reviewed. In the end, the paper will be summarized and will propose music therapy as a significant strategy in psychiatric recovery. Key words: music, human behavior, music therapy INRODUCTION While observing the Creation of Universe and the evolution of human beings, music is basic, which is reflected in the chirping of birds, giggling of babies and lullaby of mothers or love of fathers. These emotions are predominantly expressed in the common language called music. Music is everywhere, far and wide and it is not just contemplation but is a reality. Today in the world of enchantment, it is the means of entertainment (Parrott, 2009). Thus music has directly or indirectly influenced every human being in shaping his/her behavior. BODY Every person in this universe lives due to Almighty’s creativity and thereby religions are formed to praise Him. The impact of music on religions is boundless. Parrott (2009) while seconding Bhakthi Sankeertan in his book ‘Healing through Music’ says, â€Å"From ancient times, music is something that has put people in touch with their innermost feelings. Different kinds of music work upon different emotions of an individual and release the various incomplete emotions leading towards a total healing of body and mind†. Parrott (2009) cited Steven Fischbacker who writes in his paper â€Å"Music and Spirituality† that music helps to retrieve memories when you see an object which you had associated to form a memory. Cooling (1996) suggests three ‘E’ words viz. explore, engage and express which connects music with spirit. Music is played in festivals to express worship. In Judaism â€Å"Music is the pulse of Jewish spirituality – song charts the biorhythms of the Jewish Soul.† (Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks cited in Cooling, 1996). In Christianity music unites people and everyone recites holy songs as being one. In Islam it is a harmony of life. It is inspired by the recitation of Holy Quran and Devotional Literature in Sufism in Islam. In Hinduism, music is considered as the tune and rhythm of the Lord (Parrot, 2009). Music on the one hand is a union of sound and lyrics. (Trappe, 2012). On the other hand it is an approach towards physical mental and social aspects of a human behavior which reflects throughout his life (Kagan, 2013). When a piece of music is composed by a human, it somehow or other, sways one’s behavior which ultimately gives rise to personality development. Pursuant to Music theory, (Leibniz, 1712) a person who is able to play an instrument according to its learnt elements has truly understood the music, but the limitation to this theory is that, it does not explain what a brain perceives and how a person acts over it. Another explanation is that, music is subjective. You cannot tell the meaning of the word â€Å"music†, rather than that you simply play it and make others understand the essence of it. Some say that music is poetic (Leibniz 1712). According to scientific analysis, music is a way to socialize with others, to recreate sexual desires, to form a language and a way of communication for antenatal mothers with their babies. The most common view is that music is an effect of sound created by humans which rejuvenates the environment. (Dorrell, 2006). Psycho musicologist Aristoxenus cited in Butler (1982) says that music is a human effort formed according to one’s sensory abilities and its disclosure should be worthw hile. According to Pavlovian classical conditioning in Vedantam, 2007, when unconditioned stimuli e.g. any work that we perform, combines with conditioned stimuli like music, the conditioned response that we obtain is the desired behavior i.e. whenever we listen to that music we start performing our work. (Vedantam, 2007). Music has a great importance on all accounts of human life including health. Music motivates to have greater self-reliance, confidence; help to form belongings and work in collaboration with others e.g. group of people giving efforts in an orchestra to make it an achievement. (Henley, 2011) Music is a key to understand emotions and feelings. We start understanding the meaning of lyrics when we turn into a teenager which creates an enormous impact on our future. (Vedantam, 2007). A study was done related to lyrical music influencing individual’s mood and helping behaviors. People with prosocial lyrics had positive whereas people with antisocial lyrics had negative behaviors. No convincing statistics were found for helping behaviors but it does not mean that music can’t generate willingness to help. (Ganser et al, 2010). Value of music in academic point of view is astonishing. It is the best way of communication by which children improve their social skills and learning and bring up their self esteem on a higher level. According to a research done by Henley (2012), it was reported that music enhances the reading skills to improve vocabulary. It also helps in solving mathematical problems and improves one’s IQ. It makes a child more imaginative and creative. It is not just for the sake of entertainment rather, it gives an opportunity to pursue it as a profession. For some students it helps to excess in their academics whereas on the contrary it’s a great distraction. (Fatima, 2013). If we look towards the physical, mental and social aspects of a human being throughout his/her journey of existence for development and growth, effect of music is very far reaching. Music lowers blood pressure and improves heart rate variability to reduce stress, depression, anxiety, muscle tension, pain and sudden infant death (Trappe, 2012). A brief pause between two musical notes stimulates neural activity which sharpens cognition and memory and strong beats brings alertness when these beats synchronize with action potential. (Fatima, 2013).It decreases pre-surgery anxiety to the same extent as medications do. Association towards music changes with different stages of life. The most enjoyed music in adulthood improves mood, motivates for socialization and boosts energy. It has been observed that hearing is the last sense that remains for few seconds even when other body parts cease to work, therefore, music is a beautiful source of rejoice for chronically ill or dying patients in their end times (Trappe, 2012). It is also presumed that music runs in families; most of the time it is inherited, but it can be learned as well. (Henley, 2012). There are manifold types of music that precipitates behavior. Classical music is the most beneficial in treating patients with variant diseases. Popular music increases motivation and mood. Meditative music is for spiritual upliftment and relaxation. Hip hop and rap music is less effective than Jazz music which is more pleasing to human senses. Latin-American music heightens positive mood, motivation and keeps active. Folk music adds to augment intelligence, protection and confidence. (Trappe, 2012). Sad music is the root of expression in depressed patients. (Bodner at el, 2007). During my clinical rotation in one of the Psychiatric and Rehabilitation centers in Karachi, I, along with my other colleagues, arranged a musical therapy for patients with mental illness. In collaboration with the patients, they played different instruments and sang songs of their interests. Most of the patients sung depressed and displeasing songs as they were away from their homes. In consequence we concluded that music impacted their interaction, expression of feelings and helped us understand patient’s intrapsyche with the type of song they select to sing. Accordingly we concluded to select that strategy which could help them to recover fast. Looking towards the historical background of music therapy, ÇamsarÄ ±, (2009) seconds Tyson (1981) that after World War II, musicians went to the military hospitals to apply music as a therapy and this lead to the foundation of music as a profession. One of the expressive therapies is music therapy that intends to show free extemporization for a therapeutic change in patients through patient-therapist interactions. It is a technique of ‘self-projection and free association’ to have connection with emotional memories (Erkkilà ¤ et al, 2011).It aids to achieve individual ambitions in assistance with a licensed professional. (American Music Therapy association, 2007). It is a nonverbal and verbal processing along with physical act (e.g. playing instruments) for expressing feelings by provoking unconscious psyche of an individual. (Erkkilà ¤ et al, 2011 Malchiodi 2005). The essential of musical session includes composing, playing musical instruments and enjoying it fully (Fatima, 2013). It brings an insight in psychopathologies. (Erkkilà ¤ et al, 2011). Research confirms that it treats Parkinson’s disease by improving motor skills and emotional issues (Trappe, 2012). It reduces stress hormone (cortisol) in dep ressed adolescence. (Field at el, 1998). Similarly schizophrenic symptoms also improve after 10 therapy sessions for short term whereas long term effect should be further researched. (Gold, 2007, Pavlicevic et al, 1994 You et al, 2002). Music has remarkably reduced patients’ negative thoughts and reduced isolation. It has no side effects and less expensive therefore should be extensively used. (Tang at el, 1994 Ulrich, 2007).Group music therapy transmutes annoyances and anger into inventiveness and enables self-expressions. (Montello at el, 1998). It helps in treating physical handicaps and drug abuse (Fatima, 2013). ÇamsarÄ ± (2009) seconds Gold et al 2009 that music improves communication in Autism. Types of music therapies which help to modify human behavior include Background Music Therapy, Contemplative Music Therapy, Combined Music Therapy, Executive Music Therapy, Executive Iatromusic Therapy, and Creative Music Therapy. (ÇamsarÄ ±, 2009). According to Fatima (2013), clinical Psychologist Qudsia Mehmood states that Pakistani population lacks the awareness about the significance of music therapy. Fatima (2013) cited Mr. Sohail Khan as he had established Music therapy center in Karachi, Pakistan and has widely worked on â€Å"The Prism Project, A Multi-Dimensional Approach to Music in Education† .He states that he is the first music therapist in Pakistan and his goal is to establish such institutions where he can train psychologists related to how effectively they can use music therapy for the betterment of Pakistani society. (Fatima, 2013). It is unpredictable to assume that the music chosen by the therapist is pleasing to the patient or not. Malchiodi (2005) seconds Feder (1998) that music therapy is given after assessing individual preferences and past experiences as, right type of music can alleviate and wrong type of music can aggravate the symptoms. Also, to take an account of music therapy into regular therapy programs for rapid recovery (ÇamsarÄ ±, 2009). A role of therapist is to use music with reflective exercise. (Erkkilà ¤ et al, 2011). CONCLUSION The field of music is indispensable yet unexplored in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. Music has a therapeutic power to heal many chronic patients, including those suffering from mental illness. My experience working with these patients at the Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Center, Karachi, states that there is a very close relationship of music with human behavior. There is a need to introduce music in nursing education, to enhance understanding of these professional care takers to help patients improve positive behavior. Also there is a need to include it as foremost priority in other educational institutions in our country, from the time of early childhood development till the education continues, because the behavior formed in the early childhood is crucial for future adult life. REFERENCES Hans-Joachim Trappe, H.J.T., (2012). Music and medicine: The effects of music on the human being. Applied Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology. 16, pp.133-142 Philip Dorrell. (30th April 2006). What is music? Retrieved from http://whatismusic.info/articles/TheQuestionWhatIsMusic.html Irving A. Taylor and Frances Paperte, (Dec., 1958). Current Theory and Research in the Effects of Music on Human Behavior. The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism. Vol. 17, No. 2, pp.251-258 Published by: Wiley Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/427527 Jaakko Erkkilà ¤, J.K., Marko Punkanen, M.P., Jà ¶rg Fachner, J.F., Esa Ala-Ruona, E.A.R., Inga Pà ¶ntià ¶, I.P., Mari Tervaniemi, M.T., Mauno Vanhala M.V., Christian Gold C.G., (2011). Individual music therapy for depression: randomized controlled trial. The British journal of Psychiatry. 199, pp.132-139 Gold, C , (2007). Music therapy improves symptoms in adults hospitalized with schizophrenia. Evidence-Based Mental Health. . 10 (3), pp.77 Gold, C., Heldal, T. O., Dahle, T., Wigram, T., (2005). Music therapy for schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like illnesses. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,. 3 Pavlicevic, M., Trevarthen, C., Duncan, J. (1994). Improvisational music therapy and the rehabilitation of persons suffering from chronic schizophrenia. Journal of Music Therapy, 31(2), 86–104. Silverman, M. J, (2003). The influence of music on the symptoms of psychosis: A meta-analysis. Journal of Music Therapy. 40 (1), pp.27-40 Tang, W., Yao, X., Zheng, Z., (1994). ). Rehabilitative effect of music therapy for residual schizophrenia: A one-month randomized controlled trial in Shanghai. . British Journal of Psychiatry. 165 (24), pp.38-44 Thaut, M. H, (1989). The influence of music therapy interventions on self-rated changes in relaxation, affect, and thought in psychiatric prisoner-patients. Journal of Music Therapy. (26), pp.155-166 Ulrich, G., Houtmans, T., Gold C. , (2007). The additional therapeutic effect of group music therapy for schizophrenic patients: a randomized study. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 166 (5) You, Z. Y., Wang, J. Z, (2002). Meta-analysis of assisted music therapy for chronic schizophrenia. of Evidence-Based Medicine, Shandong University China. 24 (6), pp.564–567 Field, T., Martinez, A., Nawrocki, T., Pickens, J., Fox, N. A., Schanberg, S. , (1998). Music shifts frontal EEG in depressed adolescents. Adolescence. 33 (129), pp.109–116. Montello, L. M., Coons, E. E., (1998). Effect of active versus passive group music therapy on preadolescents with emotional, learning, and behavioral disorders. Journal of Music Therapy. 35, pp.49-67 Bodner, E., Iancu, J., Gilboa, A., Sarel, A., Mazor, A., Amir, D., (2007). Finding words for emotions: The reactions of patients with major depressive disorder towards various musical excerpts. Arts in Psychotherapy. 34 (2) Leardi, S., Pietroletti, R., Angeloni, G., Necozione, S., Ranalletta, G., Del Gusto B. , (2007). Randomized clinical trial examining the effect of music therapy in stress response to day surgery. British Journal of Surgery. 94 (8) Pellitier, C. L. (2004). The effect of music on decreasing arousal due to stress: A meta-analysis. Journal of Music Therapy, 42, 192-214. Silverman, M.J., (2006). Psychiatric patients perception of music therapy and other psycho educational programming. Journal of Music Therapy. 43 (2) Weber, S. (1996). The effects of relaxation exercises on anxiety levels in psychiatric inpatients. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 14(3), 196–205. Darren Henley, D.H., (2012). The importance of music: A national plan for music education. 1st ed. England. Cathy. A. Malchiodi, C.A.M., (2005). History, Theory, and Practice. In: Cathy A. Malchiodi (Ed), Expressive Therapies. 1st Ed. New York: Guilford Publications. Pp.1-15. David Butler, D.B., (01 October 1982). Music Theory, Theories of Music, and Systematic Musicology. Journal of the collage music society. 22, pp.1-15, Retrieved from: http://symposium.music.org/index.php?option=com_k2view=itemid=1933:music-theory-theories-of-music-and-systematic-musicologyItemid=124 Bushra Fatima, B.F., 1st December, 2013. Health Music Therapy – What is it and How to get it in? Blush, retrieved from: http://blush.com.pk/music-therapy-in-pakistan Dr. UlaÃ…Å ¸ M. ÇamsarÄ ±, U.M.C., (17 June, 2009). Music therapy in psychiatry. Department of psychiatry, Cleveland clinic. Jerome Kagan, J.K., (3rd July 2013). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/275332/human-behaviour Shankar Vedantam, S.V. (January 22, 2007). Science: Music, Memory and Human Behavior. Retrieved from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/01/18/DI2007011801190.html Christina m. Trahin, C.M.T. Dr. Marilyn ryan-advisor, M.R.A., (December 2011). Effects of group music therapy on psychiatric patients: Depression, anxiety and relationships, pp.1-55 Ruth Parrott, R.P., (July 2009). The Importance of Music in Different Religions, pp.1-81 Jaden Ganser, J.G. Fareen Huda, F.H., (2010). Music’s Effect on Mood and Helping Behavior. Journal of Undergraduate Research, 13, pp.1-5 1 | Page

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Educating Rita :: English Literature

Educating Rita Willy Russell’s play â€Å"Educating Rita† only uses one main setting and two main characters. Some people may think that these would make the play seem boring. Russell actually makes the play quite interesting and entertaining by using dramatic devices such as the whiskey bottle and the telephone call. He does this to give us as much information as possible about the characters and their personalities. The play, which is set in the early 1980s, deals with the clashes between education and culture. It is about a middle-aged university lecturer called Frank. He is currently in a relationship with Julia. This relationship is not going too well as Frank is an alcoholic and would much rather go to the pub than go home to Julia. There is also Rita a 26-year-old woman who didn’t have a good education when she left school due to her parents’ working class background. She is now keen and eager to learn even though her husband Denny thinks that it is time for her to settle down and have children. Rita has set her sights higher than this. Rita is currently working as a hairdresser, but wants to achieve so much more than that, she wants an education. We get an idea of what sort of personality Frank has got by the conversation he has with Julia when she calls him to see when he was coming home. Although Frank had other Ideas, he was planning on going to the pub. We could see this by, â€Å" Yes I shall go to the pub† and â€Å"I don’t need determination to get me to the pub†. We get the impression that Frank does not care a great deal about Julia although it’s clear she loves him. When Frank was told that he was going to be tutoring Rita who is an open university student he was not very happy, the only reason he had took the job was so that he could make more money to spend on alcohol. Frank guessed that she was going to be â€Å"some silly woman†. This gives us the impression that Frank likes to use stereotypes and thinks that there is not much point. He soon realises that Rita has quite a lot to offer in regard to he uniqueness. The Playwright Russell wants to show how class affects education. When we first meet Rita we see that she is not the normal student Frank was expecting. She swears and uses informal colloquial language. This makes us think that Rita is not at all nervous about starting Open University and also makes her working class background obvious.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Astron 2b03

Astronomy / Origins 2B03 Practice Midterm Questions 1. Our solar system is located in the a) Milky Way's galactic halo b) Milky Way's central bulge c) Milky Way's galactic disk d) space between the Milky Way and its neighbouring galaxies e) none of the above 2. What happens when you shine a laser beam horizontally across a room? ) the light would be deflected upwards slightly b) the presence of the gravitational field makes the light move slightly faster c) light travels a perfectly straight path d) the path of the light is curved downward very slightly e) none of the above 3. The terrestrial planets are a) Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars b) Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune c) Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto d) Venus, Earth, and Mars e) none of the above combinations 4. From lowest energy to highest energy, which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation? a) gamma rays, X rays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, radio b) visible light, infrared, X rays, ultraviolet, gamma rays, radio c) radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X rays, gamma rays d) infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X rays, gamma rays, radio e) radio, X rays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, gamma rays 5. Evidence of the expansion of the universe is shown by a) the Einstein Cross b) the 4. billion year age of the Earth c) the abundances of the elements in stars d) the redshifts of distant galaxies e) time dilation 6. Suppose we look at two distant galaxies: Galaxy 1 is twice as far away as Galaxy 2. In that case, a) Galaxy 1 must be twice as big as Galaxy 2 b) we are seeing Galaxy 1 as it looked at an earlier time in the history of the universe than Galaxy 2 c) we are seeing Galaxy 1 as it looked at a later time in the his tory of the universe than Galaxy 2 d) Galaxy 2 must be twice as old as Galaxy 1. ) none of the above 7. A black hole and a normal star have the same mass. They each have an Earth-sized planet orbiting them at the same distance as the Earth is from the Sun. a) the black hole pulls harder on its planet than the normal star does b) the two planets feel identical pulls c) the normal star pulls harder on its planet than the black hole does d) the planet is sucked into the black hole e) none of the above statements are correct 8. Which of the following is not part of the official International Astronomical Union definition of a planet? A planet †¦ a) is close to round in shape b) is a satellite c) is in orbit around the Sun d) has â€Å"cleared the neighbourhood† around its orbit e) none of the above 9. We can determine the distance to a galaxy that contains Cepheid variable stars by using a) the period-colour relation b) the mass-luminosity relation c) the mass-radius relation d) the period-luminosity relation e) none of the above 10. Ann sees Bob travel by her in a very fast spaceship a) Ann observes Bob’s clock to be running slowly and Bob observes Ann’s clock to be running slowly b) Ann observes Bob’s clock to be running slowly and Bob observes Ann’s clock to be running fast c) Ann observes Bob’s clock to be running fast and Bob observes Ann’s clock to be running slowly d) Ann observes Bob’s clock to be running fast and Bob observes Ann’s clock to be running fast e) something else 11. Which space time diagram(s) violate special relativity? a) ii b) ii and iv c) iv and v d) i and iii e) iii and v

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Cultural Dilemma in the US Postal Service Essay

There are numerous cultural differences in our societies as a result of the numerous diverse cultures that people belong to. Each culture has its own ways of doing things with different cultural norms, values, perceptions, as well as behaviors. People from certain cultures will practice the values, norms and perceptions that their cultures belief in and therefore will end up having difficulties when interacting with people from different cultures who will have differing cultural norms, values and perceptions. These cultural differences are manifested in the workplace as different people from different cultures come together to work together for the common goal of the institution or organization they work for. Since our cultural values and norms influence our individual understandings and perceptions, people will react differently towards events and circumstances that could occur within us and in the environment. These differences in perceptions will affect how employees within an organization will interact with each other and work in harmony so as to satisfy the needs of the organization’s stakeholders. As such, cultural differences are a major concern for managers within organizations as they could help the organization achieve its objectives or hinder it from achieving them. The objectives of an organization are set in place by its stakeholders who have invested in the organization in one way or the other and expect to gain from such an investment in future. It is therefore the responsibility of managers to find a way in which the employees within an organization can work together in a seamless manner despite their differences in culture so as to ensure the organization operates continually for the common good of all stakeholders. The United States Postal Service The Postal Service is an agency authorized by the constitution of the United States and is responsible for the provision of postal services to the whole of the United States. Established in 1775 in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin through the enactment of a decree passed by the second continental congress, it experienced minimal growth and was later transformed in to its current form as an independent organization through the signing of the postal reorganization act of 1970 by President Nixon. As an independent organization, the postal service is self sufficient and does not rely on taxpayer’s money for its operations. The Postal Service’s mission is to offer the American people with trusted wide-reaching postal services that are at affordable prices. As such, the Postal Service is the only delivery service within the United States with the responsibility of providing all of the various features of a universal postal service at reasonably priced rates. The Postal Service conveys about 660 million mails to about 142 million delivery spot around the United States. Although the postal service enjoys a monopoly as contained in Article I, (8), (7) of the Constitution that grants the Postal Service with the special right to make delivery of letters in addition to the power to restrict the access to mailbox that are exclusively meant for mail. Its major competitors are United Parcel Service and FedEx. The postal service manages 32,741 post offices within the United States with a labor force of about 656,000 employees. Cultural differences of management and how they affect the US Postal Service The United States is a country that is full of cultural diversity with different cultural practices based on the numerous ethnic groups that live in the United States. The employees working in the postal service are drawn from these different cultural groups. As such, managers at the postal service have to deal with these differences effectively so as to ensure continues success of the organization. In doing so, managers need to be aware of and understand the seven dimensions of culture developed by Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden-Turner detailed in their book Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business. Below is a discussion of these seven dimensions. Universalism v/s Particularism This dimension is based on the view of how a culture perceives rules and relationships. Cultures that embrace universalism hold the belief that general rules, values, codes, norms and standards take preference over other particular needs, claims of friendship and other relations. In a society that is universalistic, the rules usually apply equally to all of the members of the universe (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). Exceptions to these rules are deemed as to weaken them. Universalism is based on finding rules that take a broad and general picture. In the event that there lacks a rule that fits for accomplishing something, universalism advocates for taking the alternative of establishing the most appropriate rule. Cultures that embrace Particularism perceive the ideal culture as one that is based on human friendship, and intimate relationships . People in these cultures view the spirit of the law as being more significant than the letter of the law. This has the effect that when the rules within a culture take a perfect fit, people in such a culture will judge the case based on the advantages of the law instead of attempting to force the rule to fit. Rules and regulations within particularistic cultures merely codify how people are supposed to relate to one another. Individualism v/s Communitarianism This dimension is based on the view of how members of a culture functions, whether in groups or as individuals. Individualism has a basis on rights that appertain to an individual. This is usually experienced in communities that have loose ties connecting their members resulting in an expectation of individuals to look after themselves. Individualism is aimed at giving individuals the right to personal space as well as the freedom of doing things as per individual liking (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). It permits each individual to develop or fail on an individual basis, as well as perceiving group-focus as striping the person of their absolute rights. Individualistic cultures are more egotistical and give emphasis to their personal goals. People resulting from individualistic cultures have a propensity of thinking only on personal basis. Communitarianism or collectivism is based on rights that appertain to a group. Collective cultures usually place a lot of emphasize on groups and are more concerned with the whole rather than on the single individual. Harmony as well as loyalty within a group are very imperative and ought to be maintained always (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). Confrontations of any kind are highly avoided with people using expressions and phrases that would describe an argument in less negative manner. Saying no to others is considered to be wrong and deemed as a way of destroying the harmony found within these groups. Neutral v/s Emotional Emotional or neutral perspectives are used in the description of how cultures articulate their emotions. Emotional cultures articulate their emotions in a natural way (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). This is witnessed in reactions that occur instantly through verbal and/or non-verbal means such as mimic as well as body signals. Members of the emotional culture unlike those in the neutral culture display a tendency of overreaction creating scenes. Emotional cultures are usually focused on the individual and rarely on the object or position of discussion. It is considered to be alright for one to use emotional intelligence when making decisions. It is also okay for people to show various forms of physical contact while in public and during the communication process. The neutral culture tends to avoid displaying emotions publically. This is based on the fact that neutral cultures do not reveal what they are thinking in a way that is more precise as well as direct (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). This is an aspect that has the likelihood of leading to misunderstandings. This is because emotions of a certain kind may not necessarily demonstrate a certain situation. Neutral cultures usually appear to be rather reserved, an aspect that cannot be viewed as an indication of their disinterest or boredom. This appearance of reservation is based on lack of emotional tone. On a general perspective they harbor feelings of discomfort over contact in public resulting in a mode of communication that is more subtle thus making it hard for members of another culture to understand. Specific vs. diffuse Specific cultures are those that usually have a small area reserved for privacy and its separated from the public life. People in these societies have many interactions with the outside world and are constantly involved in such activities such as socializing in various areas that involve many people. People from these cultures have a rather small amount of privacy preferring to share there interests with others who are within their groups of socialization (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). People from such a culture deal with specifics and will view the whole as a sum of these specific parts. The life of an individual is divided into several specific parts and one deals with one part at a time. Conversely, diffuse cultures are usually concerned with maintaining people’s privacy. People in these cultures will avoid any kind of confrontations in the public and have a high degree of privacy preferring to share just a small amount of their private life with other people especially strangers (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). People from diffuse cultures usually start with the whole before going down to the various parts that make it up. Each of the parts is viewed in the viewpoint of the whole total with all of these parts being related to one another. These people prefer attributes and behaviors that help build trust and honesty fostering the building of strong relationships. Achievement vs. ascription This dimension is concerned with the status accorded to individuals within cultures. In cultures that are achievement oriented, the status of an individual is based on the accomplishments that one has achieved and accomplished. Individuals from these cultures gain their status from the various things that they have accomplished on their own (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). A person with such a status has to show prove of what he or she is worth with the various powerful positions within the culture being accorded to people who have certain accomplishments. In cultures that are ascription oriented, the status of an individual is based on the groups that one is associated with. In ascriptive societies, individuals gain their status mainly through birth, gender, wealth, or age (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). A person who has an ascribed status does not necessarily have to accomplish something so as to preserve his status since his or her status is accorded based on his or her being. Sequential vs. synchronic This dimension is concerned with the attitude of a culture towards time. People who are from sequential cultures tend to carry out one thing at a time in a sequential manner . They examine time as distinct, and made up of consecutive divisions which are both tangible and divisible (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). People from these cultures strongly prefer to plan for their time and will keep to these plans once they made them so as to aid in implementation. Any time commitments that one might have are usually taken seriously and staying on schedule is considered an important aspect of time management. Sequential people in particular place a lot of importance on the value of completing of tasks. Conversely, people from cultures that are synchronic usually perform several tasks at a time. These cultures view time is a constant flow that allows many things and tasks to be carried out simultaneously (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). Time is perceived as a force that one can not be able to contain or control. Time is also regarded as flexible as well as intangible. Time commitments are often desirable but not absolute with plans that people could be having being easily changed. Internal vs. external control This dimension is concerned with the attitude of a culture towards the environment. In internal cultures, people usually posses a mechanistic outlook of nature. They perceive nature as an intricate machine and which can be directed if one has the correct expertise needed to do so. People from these societies do not believe in the existence of luck or any form of predestination (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). These people are directed towards the inside as one’s personal decision is usually deemed to be the starting position for each action that they will do. They also believe that one can live the kind of life that he or she wants to live if that are in a position to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that might come on the way. In addition, they believe that man is capable of dominating nature if he wishes to do so. . In external cultures, people usually posses an organic outlook of nature. They perceive that mankind is one of the forces of nature and should therefore operate in one accord and harmoniously with the rest of the environment. These cultures hold the believe that man should subdue to nature as well as get along with the other forces existing within the environment (Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 1998). These people do not believe in their ability of shaping their own destiny but rather hypothesize that nature moves in rather mysterious ways hence one can not never know what is going to happen in the future. As such, their actions are directed externally to the environment and are adapted to the external circumstances surrounding them. Conclusion Based on these seven dimensions, the American culture is individualistic, achievement, emotional, internal, sequential, universalistic, and specific. These dimensions have several implications that managers need to consider in order to make sure that the employees are able to work in a manner that benefits the organization as well as themselves especially in a large organization such as the postal service that employs over 600, 000 employees. In addition, due to the cultural diversity present in the United States and the growth of globalization, there are numerous citizens from different cultures in the United States that do not follow these seven dimensions of the American culture and therefore follow different aspects of the seven dimensions. With the postal service being a national agency that offers employment to all citizens irrespective of their cultural backgrounds, managers need to ensure that the employees are able to work in a manner that benefits the organization. This will require the managers to build cultural understanding through: †¢ Building awareness of cultural differences. †¢ Educating the employees on the various strengths and limitations of different cultures within the workplace †¢ Educating the employees on the Building skills the impact of cultural differences within the workplace †¢ Educating the employees on various adaptive behaviors that could help them to realize valuable results within a setting with cultural differences. †¢ Building unity and consistency through team working †¢ Developing a shared understanding and vision between the employees †¢ Establishing effective communication channels amongst the employees to facilitate quality exchange of ideas between themselves †¢ Establishing feedback mechanisms aimed at reviewing and improving the employee’s awareness of cultural differences. In addition, the managers need to come up with strategies that will enable the postal service to compete effectively. This will require them to actively develop: †¢ A shared understanding of the organization’s goals and objectives †¢ An acknowledgment of the significance of diversity in contributing towards expertise. †¢ A clear and shared comprehension of the role of professional pooling of skills and knowledge within the organization. Reference Trompenaars, F. , & Hampden-Turner, C. (1998). Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Cultural Diversity in Global Business. New York: McGraw Hill.

Hybrid Vehicles: the Dark Side Essay

Abstract In the past decade, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) have been making a big commotion with the innovative, gas saving technologies that accompany them. The illusion that HEVs are 100 percent environmentally friendly in all aspects also follows the HEV wave. Sadly the illusion often wins over unsuspecting customers the instant better gas mileage is offered. This review on the environmental impact of the hybrid electric vehicle observes the unseen sides of the automotive â€Å"green movement.† The piece compares how an ordinary gasoline vehicle (non-HEV) can achieve gas mileage that is just as good, if not better, than the more expensive hybrid option. This reality check on the newest technologies uproots what manufacturers do not want anyone to know or think about when buying a vehicle including: environmental pollution of the hybrid electric vehicle, non-HEV fuel economy, the lack of pay-back from owning an HEV, and how the HEV lacks the level of versatility required for many Am erican families. Hybrid Electric Vehicles The Dark Side Thesis: Hybrid Electric Vehicles should cease to be produced because of four main issues: environmental pollution has not reduced, better fuel economy can be achieved in non-hybrid vehicles, there is no payback in owning a hybrid, and hybrid vehicles do not possess the same versatility many American families need. I. Environmental Pollution and the Hybrid Electric Vehicle A. Batteries contain Nickel, Lithium, and Lead 1. Mining these materials is hazardous, causes acid rain 2. Shipping these materials is costly and [the transportation vehicle] contributes to pollution B. Car accidents happen 3. Vehicular accidents happen all of the time, HEV batteries are prone to damage and can leak harmful materials (acids) into the environment. 4. Recycling batteries is impossible right now. Where do the batteries go? II. Non-HEV Fuel Economy C. European Diesels vs. HEV 5. For decades European automotive companies have been producing diesel powered cars achieving mpg in the 40-90 range depending on the size of the vehicle 6. Americans have yet to adopt this technology due to discrepancies in emissions controls and standards. D. Alternative Fuel Technologies 7. Hydrogen power is becoming more available to the consumers in larger cities such as Los Angeles and New York City. 8. The technology is still rather expensive, but if the government stopped wasting money on HEV development and started spending on the development of Hydrogen Power, our depending on foreign oil would diminish and we would have a reliable, renewable, and ecologically sound energy III. HEVs Do Not Pay To Own E. Non-HEV vs. HEV 9. Most non-HEVs will tend to pay themselves off in a matter of years because they have small maintenance costs and relatively easy upkeep. 10. HEVs have many new features that are expensive to keep up in today’s market, especially with limited accessibility to replacement parts. F. Maintenance 11. HEVs are filled with a plethora of new costs that can drain a wallet dry! Depending on how long an HEV is owned the owner must maintain both the electric and gas motor along with the battery. 12. A battery costs upwards of an expensive $2,000. IV. HEVs and the Population G. Urban Population and HEV Use 13. Many Americans live in congested cities where fuel consumption is tremendous and pollution is a major problem. 14. HEVs offer the convenience of shutting off the gas motor while stopped and operating only the electric motor when in stop-and-go traffic. 15. More accidents happen in and around the city; it is more likely for a hybrid to be subject to accidents in the city. H. Rural Population and HEV Use 16. Many people living in small towns and villages need four-wheel drive vehicles that can take hard labor. 17. Gas mileage is indispensible to this population. 18. HEV applications in trucks and sport utility vehicles have failed to deliver gas mileage vastly superior to that of non-HEVs. 19. Blue collar workers need vehicles with muscle and power, HEVs do not offer that. Conclusion Hybrid Electric Vehicles The Dark Side The hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) has become an extremely popular choice for many Americans in the past decade. Because it has become so popular, the HEV has lead to many new and harsh environmental impacts on a global level. Hybrids have been viewed as the answer to the United States’ oil dependency. Providing superior fuel economy and lower emissions, a hybrid car was sure to be a hit among city-dwelling citizens; however, the popularity of the HEV is beginning to look like a bad thing. HEVs require a battery to power the electric motor. The batteries contain chemicals that can be released into the environment in the case of an accident or disposal. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Hybrid Electric Vehicles should cease to be produced because of four main issues: environmental pollution has not reduced, better fuel economy can be achieved in non-hybrid vehicles, there is no payback in owning a hybrid, and hybrid vehicles do not possess the same versatility many American families need. Environmental Pollution and the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Smog infested cities have been searching for an answer to pollution; the hybrid vehicle was the response or so it seemed. HEVs have been around long enough to leave both a positive and a negative impact on the environment. A hybrid was meant to reduce fuel consumption and minimize harmful emissions and it does the job well; however, the people who see a hybrid as â€Å"eco-friendly† do not see the polluting monster that hides behind the cloak. Hybrids require a plethora of different parts that normal cars do not typically need. The entire process requires a tremendous amount of energy from other sources, such as diesel power. The process through which HEV batteries are made emits more impurities than an HEV will produce in its lifetime. Not only can HEVs produce pollution before they are made, but they can also contribute to pollution while driving down the road. If one of these vehicles were to get in a major accident, the harmful chemicals within the battery could leak into the ground and contaminate water supplies. The same thing happens when HEVs are sent to the wrecking yard. The batteries are not easy to recycle and there has yet to be an efficient and environmentally safe way to dispose of the hazardous materials. The hybrid electric vehicle has started to fuel controversy over the true environmental impact of such vehicles. Most batteries found in HEVs today consist of nickel metal hydride (NiMH), or lithium ion (Li-Ion); two very toxic chemicals. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (2011), the most environmentally vulnerable component of a hybrid vehicle is the battery. Disposing of the batteries is a major concern and manufacturers have yet to present proper disposal instructions. The largest environmental problem with batteries is the mining and manufacturing of the raw materials that go into them. Many human and machine workers are needed to extract the materials from the Earth, producing immense amounts pollution and damaging the health of the humans in the mines (para. 8). HEVs have a long way to go before becoming the optimal eco-friendly vehicle; Dr. Dominic Notter of Empa Technology and Society Laboratory (2010) writes that â€Å"15 percent of the total [environmental] burden can be ascribed to the battery (including its manufacture, maintenance and disposal),† (para. 7). Notter suggests that lithium batteries are not as environmentally bad as they were first understood to be. The Empa team speculates that the biggest environmental impact by HEVs is the sources where the electricity is produced to charge the batteries. The sources can be an assortment of nuclear, coal-fired, and hydroelectric power creating a heavily offset balance between the emissions of the source and the battery itself. In short, HEVs are indirectly responsible for the environmental impacts caused by the batteries (Niederà ¶st, 2010). Non-HEV Fuel Economy Setting aside the problems associated with HEVs, Non-HEVs are plenty capable of achieving tremendously better fuel economy. European diesel technology has come a great distance in the past ten years. Many small diesel cars are able to achieve seventy to eighty miles per gallon with stock configuration, compared to standard gasoline which in most small cars only achieves thirty miles per gallon. Thirty miles per gallon by U.S. standards is pretty good, but it can be better. Today there are large trucks that can achieve twenty-two miles per gallon on diesel fuel, yet smaller gas trucks will get only fifteen miles per gallon. The technology to make Non-HEVs more fuel efficient is there; it just needs to be utilized and executed. Part of the reason that the U.S. has not used new diesel technology is because of the emissions standards difference from Europe’s current standards, but there is no acceptable reason why the U.S. cannot invest bringing smaller, cleaner diesels to the mar ket. Engineers have been improving the efficiency of internal combustion engines for over one hundred years. The article â€Å"Fuel Economy Today—Alt Fuels Tomorrow† (2010) suggests that â€Å"the king of fluid energy efficiency is diesel fuel,† (para. 3). Diesel fuel is a major driving force in the U.S. economy by propelling nearly â€Å"1.3 million long haul semi trucks† on U.S. roads every day (â€Å"Aerodynamic†, 2011, para. 2). Nearly every item on today’s market is delivered by either diesel burning semi truck or locomotive, which constantly raises demand for the most updated diesel technologies as the U.S. economy strives to go green. On another front, diesel is becoming a popular option on smaller, lighter duty vehicles meaning diesel could be the next gasoline. This transition could lead buyers away from the hybrid market as most small diesels provide decent fuel economy and in the long run are a better deal. According to â€Å"Gasoline Panic 2011: Hybrid/Electric Vehicles Not the Answer† (2011), Joe Wiesenfelder, senior editor of Cars.com, believes that, for economic purposes, the purchase of an HEV because of fuel costs makes little sense. â€Å"Buying a [Nissan] Leaf or [Chevy] Volt now is no more logical – and probably less- due to market realities. The new compacts like the Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra are a better choice in the long run due to lower price and respectable fuel economy,† asserts Wiesenfelder (para. 6). Non-HEVs may not be as efficient as a gas/electric hybrid, but the extra expenses associated with HEVs are enough to say that Non-HEVs are the most economically reasonable choice when purchasing a new car. Alternative energy is another way America can eliminate its dependence on foreign oil. One of the most popular developing fuels is hydrogen. Hydrogen is an extremely efficient fuel that emits only water, while regular 87 octane gas is tremendously inefficient and it emits poisonous gases. If the U.S. strongly invested in the development of hydrogen within the next century, the nation could be fully independent of foreign oil and fuel prices would be minimal. Today hydrogen vehicles are available for lease in some major cities. Currently the technology is not quite ready for mass production as the system is not durable enough for mass production and the technology is still too expensive to make any giant leaps in progress. Politics are the major issue behind the slow progression of hydrogen fuel technologies. Jonathan Gal (2009) noted that the reason why alternative energies are not being pushed for with as much excitement is because the idea is worth billions of dollars and oil companies are taking advantage of the situation and jacking up prices on oil-based products. Big companies know that once alternative fuels become widely available to the public the profits will immediately disintegrate (para.3). Oil barons have been fighting against the move for alternative fuels, which is understandable; however, they do see the profitability in accommodating alternative fuels and are quickly scooping up companies that want to produce the new energies. Hydrogen is a great fuel for America to renew itself. In opposition to the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel, one might argue that it is far too explosive to use in a passenger car and is simply not safe; the Hindenburg is a prime example of its dangerousness. The Hindenburg was a German airship that was filled with hydrogen and coated with a powdered aluminum and iron oxide paint. The myth is that hydrogen was the main cause of the Hindenburg catastrophe. Although hydrogen was a key player, it was the highly reactive coating that ignited the flame to start the hydrogen on fire. Of course there is more to that story, but it proves that hydrogen is only as dangerous as the machines it is engineered into. HEVs Do Not Pay to Own Over the last decade it has been speculated that owning an HEV will never pay to own within the lifetime of possession. The average non-HEV will typically take five years to pay for itself. Americans want a car that will be useful, reliable, and will pay to own. Typical American families will run their cars for ten to fifteen years before getting a new vehicle because with all other expenses taken into account a new car is the last expense a growing family needs to worry about. HEVs are packed with relatively new technologies that are not easily and economically replaced. Replacement HEV parts are difficult to find and are never cheap. A typical battery for a HEV can run up a bill of more than $2,000. Fleming, Privott, Taylor, and McDuffie (n.d.) have done research regarding the lifetime of a typical HEV battery. Granted many HEVs have not been around long enough to need replacement, the team used a figure of ten years to estimate the annual cost of battery maintenance and replacemen t. After meeting with automotive dealers to gather prices of replacement HEV batteries, the team produced the price of an HEV battery to be â€Å"†¦about $2600, there would be an additional cost of approximately $3400 for installation.† Compare this information with the cost of a Non-HEV battery price of about $30-$40 and the price differential becomes extremely apparent (p.6). Expensive repairs make a vehicle incredibly difficult to pay off within the lifetime of the ownership. Non-HEVs have been around long enough to the point where paying for repairs is relatively cheap and parts are easy to find; many components are interchangeable and can be installed by anybody. The internal combustion engine, according to Virginia Tech’s Consortium on Energy Restructuring (2007), has been the most preferred method of supplying energy to major companies globally because the machines are easy to maintain, familiar to all ages, and high dependability (para.4). Although HEVs are advertised to be the new family vehicle, it is obvious there are many issues that need to be taken into account before the HEV will truly be a family and economically friendly vehicle. HEVs and the Population There are billions of people on this planet, but only a few select groups of the populace really need or want HEVs. Many of the people who live in heavily urbanized areas, such as Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles are the only populations who could benefit from using an HEV. A convenience offered by an HEV is that it can shut off the gas motor when stopped and run solely on the electric motor to reduce the harmful emissions that all major cities are prone to. The use of the electric motor also eliminates gas consumption during stop-and-go traffic, which is when most pollution from exhaust accumulates. Cities are victim to a large number of accidents every year. From fender benders to pile-ups, all types of accidents are highly likely in a city setting. HEVs are equipped with all of the latest safety technologies, but what is most dangerous is the leaking and spreading of battery acid during an accident and afterword, not to mention hybrids are also quieter than gas vehicles making the hearing impaired pedestrian more likely to end up on the hood of an oncoming HEV. Joanne Silburner of NPR’s Health Blog, suggests that without the engine noise, blind people and people listening to music are the most likely to walk in front of an HEV without knowing any better. Silburner also points out that the uneducated driver of an HEV might be a possible risk to pedestrians as HEV engines shut off when the car is not moving; leading to what could be a panic reaction from the driver (para.6-7). In small towns and rural areas across the U.S. many families need fuel efficient, people-moving, and reliable vehicles that are easy to maintain. HEVs do not make the cut when it comes to meeting the needs of a rural-dwelling family. In rural areas, places and locations are commonly spaced widely apart and highways or two lane roads connect them. HEVs are known to get worse gas mileage on the highway than in the city, which is incredibly unappealing to the long distance commuters. Automotive companies have tried to address these problems with hybrid trucks and sport utility vehicles; however, the performance of the vehicles was too poor to achieve a tremendous upgrade in gas mileage. The failure to produce an efficient hybrid truck brought the automotive companies back to the drawing board. Today there are large diesel trucks that can achieve an impressive twenty-two miles per gallon while hauling heavy loads. According to U.S. Department of Energy (2011), diesel vehicles meet the same emissions standards and regular gas vehicles and the diesels are â€Å"more powerful and fuel efficient than similar sized gas engines (about 30-35% more efficient),† (para.1). With the technologies available today humans can fine-tune machines, like car engines, to run at top efficiency and still produce vast amounts of power to add both thrill and utility to the drive. Conclusion HEVs are popular; it is unlikely that the major automakers of the world will even consider pulling HEVs from their lineup of vehicles. The consequences in the marketplace would be too large. Being eco-friendly is a major perk to most people; companies need to accommodate their respective customer base. This accommodation restricts the companies from taking back their promises and providing a true eco-friendly product. Overlooked environmental pollution, non-HEV improvements, HEV cost of ownership and population demands are all reminders of how the eco-friendly revolution has blinded the general public from what happens behind the â€Å"green† screen. It is up to the people to understand that HEVs are not the key to a bright future, but are another obstruction to achieving the real eco-vehicle. References Aerodynamic add-ons reduce fuel consumption of semi trucks by 7-12%. (2011, February 16). Retrieved March 16, 2011, from http://missionzero.org/categories/12-Transportation/saved_entries/8007-Aerodynamic-add-ons-reduce-fuel-consumption-of-semi-trucks-by-7-12- Consortium on Energy Restructuring, Virginia Tech. (2007). Internal Combustion Engines. Retrieved March 23, 2010 from http://www.dg.history.vt.edu/ch5/ices.html Fleming, D., Privott, T., Taylor, J.R., & McDuffie, T. (n.d.). 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