Saturday, August 31, 2019

Questions and Answers on Psychological Health

according to Adler, both psychological health and neurosis starts from feelings of Inferiority with the final goal of superiority. In the development path to psychological health, one strives for perfection or completion In accordance to social Interest. They strive to become better people while cooperating with others. In contrast, the path to neurosis Is when one acts In his or her own personal superiority.They see people as enemies or obstacles standing In the way of their goal. This Is the destructive path that leads to neurosis. Adler believes that healthy people strive for perfection/ completion and the only way towards that Is cooperating with others so we all can benefit. 2. What is social interest and how Is It related to psychologically healthy development? Adler defined social interest as â€Å"a striving for a form of community which must be thought of as everlasting, as it could be though of if mankind had reached the goal of perfection. In other words, he believed that all human beings an inborn instinct to live in harmony with others to create a more perfect society. Adler believed that to see this come alive, we must be on a constructive path to psychological health. As previously stated, psychological health involves cooperation with society by helping each other grow into more â€Å"perfect† or â€Å"complete† individuals. 3. What are the four major lifestyles or personality types, and what are the differences between them? The four major lifestyles/personality types are ruling/ dominant, getting/leaning, avoidance, and socially useful.The ruling/dominant type was probably neglected during their early stages of life and as an adult shows intense defense mechanisms to protect their self-image. The getting/leaning type was typically spoiled by their mother and as an adult show high level of aggression. The avoidance type was typically looked down by their mother and showed no support for their goals. These types of people grow up to be socially distant with an Inferiority complex. The socially useful personality will have a high social interest In living in harmony with others.This is the only non-faulty personality type. 4. Based on research, what are some arguments showing that a person's order of birth does have an impact on his/her development? Recent research show that first born are more likely to be national merit scholarship winners, college graduates, graduate students, university faculty, scientists, and US Senators, US Representatives, and state governors. In addition, they are more likely to have type A personalities. Only children are similar to first born except for that they are more sociable and cooperative.The youngest children are more likely to be pampered by their parent's, which leads to a quick gratification pattern. Questions and Answers on Psychological Health By Ernestine 2345 1 . What is a developmental path to psychological health? To neurosis? Inferiority with the final goal of su periority. In the development path to psychological health, one strives for perfection or completion in accordance to social interest. They neurosis is when one acts in his or her own personal superiority. They see people as enemies or obstacles standing in the way of their goal.This is the destructive path completion and the only way towards that is cooperating with others so we all can benefit. 2. What is social interest and how is it related to psychologically healthy differences between them? The four major lifestyles/personality types are ruling/ for their goals. These types of people grow up to be socially distant with an inferiority complex. The socially useful personality will have a high social interest in living in and state governors. In addition, they are more likely to have type A personalities.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Government Intervention in the Workplace and Economic Development Essay

In a free economic system, the decisions made by the buyers and decisions made by the suppliers, determine equilibrium prices and levels of output, in a free market. Scarce resources are thus allocated according to the competing pressures of demand and supply. An increase in demand of a product, signals the producers to increase the supply of the commodity, as potential profit levels increase so as to meet the increased demand. The working of a free market mechanism is a strong tool which has been used in determining allocation of resources among competing ends (Riley, 2006). There exists an increased claim that when issues, and policies are left on their own economic devices rather than instigating a state control on them, it would result to a more harmonious and equal society with increase in economic development. This concept is based on the liberal theory of economics which was first believed to be formulated by Adam Smith. It proposes a society where there is minimal government intervention in the economy. When government intervenes in workplaces, does it result to economic development? This is an issue of contention between various economists, and we shall look at both the advantages and the disadvantages of government intervention in working places and the effect on economic development (Mishra, Navin & Geeta, 2006). The government has various goals and it may intervene in the price mechanism, in order to change resource allocation, with a view to attain a specific social or economic welfare. The government intervenes in the free market system so as to influence allocation of resources in ways that will be favorable in meeting their goals. These goals might include correcting a market failure, achieving a more equitable wealth distribution in the economy, or general improvement in the performance of the economy. These interventions however come with a certain cost on the working of economic systems (Mishra, Navin & Geeta, 2006). Government has continually set rules and regulations that govern conditions and operations in work places. These rules and regulations, may affect supply or output of a certain commodity. We shall examine different areas that the government has intervened in work places and its consequent effect on the economy. It is in order for government to intervene as it has multiple macro-economic goals of achievement of economic development, full employment, and price stability, among others. These goals sometimes are contradictory as the achievement of one goal affects the attainment of the other (Brux, 2008). Price controls In various work places the government can impose price controls. There are two forms of price controls which can be imposed by the government. The government can impose high prices for certain goods which are referred to as floor prices. This is a price that is set in which a commodity cannot be sold below this price. Consumers are thus required to pay high prices for these commodities regardless whether the demand is low or otherwise. It ensures that the income by the producers of these commodities is higher than they could have otherwise obtained in a deregulated market (Petkantchin, 2006). The other type of price control is what is referred as price ceiling. It is a price that is set by the government, whereby suppliers are not allowed to exceed this price. It is an incentive to ensure that needy buyers or consumers can obtain this commodity at a lower price. This control is mostly found in the main utilities such as telecommunications, water, gas and others. Free market economists argue that this control increases the burden of costs to businesses which damage their competitiveness as a result of huge amount of red tape (Riley, 2006). When prices are freely set by the market, they easily regulate the economy. Producers are able to determine which products are highly valued and preferred by the consumers, they help them ascertain the management methods and technologies which will produce the greatest economic well being. Firms therefore attain incentives in order to innovate, integrate desired management skills in order to produce the desired commodities. Prices are also good indicators of the availability of resources. If the price of a commodity increases as a result of shortage, it signals the producer that, the there is a need to cut back on wastage of that resource, and efficient use of it. In general terms, prices enable economic players to enhance the most efficient use of scarce economic resources. When the government controls prices, whether in form of a price floor or a price ceiling, then it becomes a disadvantage to the economy (Petkantchin, 2006). The government requires that in order for a certain business to be conducted, a license is necessary. This is a form of government intervention in work places, since it creates barriers to entry for potential competition. According to Brux (2008), licenses are issued to ensure that customers are protected from inferior quality goods and services. Licenses however, are harmful to these consumers when they are a requirement of the law. This is because they reduce the availability of a certain commodity or service in a particular area, more so when there is a quota on the number of licenses to be issued. It is also detrimental to the well being of the consumers when the license fees are so high that smaller competitors cannot afford. This limits entry to a certain market which can be a way of creating monopoly. Prices charged on the commodity are higher than when there is a more liberal market. This affects the economic well being of a nation. The government also intervenes in work places by the use of fiscal policies. It alters the level and the pattern of demand for a particular commodity in the market which has its consequences in economic development. One such policy is the use of indirect taxes on demerit goods. This includes goods such as alcohol, tobacco consumption among others. Their consumption comes with a certain cost on the health or the general welfare of the consumer. The government induces such taxes, in order to increase the price and thereby increase the opportunity cost of consumption. Consumer demand towards such commodities decreases. This intervention means that these industries would not perform at their optimal point. They reduce their production so as to cater for the reduced demand of their commodities. It is a compromise on full employment that macro economic policies try to achieve, and as a result lower the level of economic development (Brux, 2008). Employment laws that govern businesses have been put in place by the government. They are a form of government interventions that also affect economic development. In the employment law, the government offers some legal protection for workers by setting the maximum working hours or setting the minimum wages to be paid to workers. Organizations are thus controlled in form of wages paid to workers, which should have otherwise been left to be determined by the competitive laws of labor demand and supply. The effect of this intervention is an increase in the amount that an organization spends on wages. There is also a limitation that is placed by the government in form of working hours. This acts to curtail production levels which have a negative effect on the GDP. The profitability of the firm is also affected by increasing its operation costs. This reduces organizational profits that would have been used to increase the level of organizational investments (Riley, 2006). When the government pays subsidies, it intervenes in the work places as it will obtain the money from businesses and public borrowing. This is an increase in public expenditure which means that the government has to increase the interest rates in order to attract funds from investors. Increase in interest rates has negative effect on businesses. This is because the cost of borrowing finances for investments increases which reduces the overall profitable ventures that are available for the business. The overall activity of business is thus curtailed or in more general terms the level of investment in the economy decreases. A decrease in the level of investment reduces the aggregate demand which inhibits economic development (FunQA. com, 2009). Government intervention is sometimes in form of tariffs. The government intervenes in imported products by imposing high taxes on them. They do this in order for the government to earn income and protect the local industries. When a consumer consumes these goods, he/she pays high prices for them which make the consumer worse off. The consumer is thus forced to consume less of other products and services. In the macro economy, the effect is to reduce demand of other goods and services which will make the economy to be worse off. This government intervention has a negative impact on economic development (Pearson Education Inc. , 2010). It is very common for both the small and big businesses to call in the government so as to protect them. Small businesses requests the government to offer them less regulation while increase the same on the big businesses. They also ask for fair pricing laws which act to hurt the consumers. Pricing laws keep prices for commodities high, since they come in form of price floors and hurt efficient competitors. This is because efficient competitors are capable of offering the same commodity in form of quality and quantity at a lower price but the law by the government prohibits such. Competition is thus hindered to a greater extent as prices are maintained at a high level. If the commodity in question is an essential commodity, it would results to inflation which has adverse effects on economic development (Brux, 2008). Market Liberalization The government sometimes uses its power in order to introduce fresh competition into a certain market. This will happen in the case where the government breaks the monopoly power of a certain firm. It ensures that competitors can penetrate the market which enhances the quality of products and services which are offered to the consumers. It introduces a more liberal economy, where the market is not controlled by one player who dictates on the prices and the level of output. These are the laws of competition policy, which act against price fixation by companies and other forms of anti-competitive behavior (Riley, 2006). Other benefits that arise from government intervention include correction of externalities. Externalities can be defined as the spill over costs or in some cases benefits. Externalities make the market to operate in a level that the amount of output and the level of production are not at a socially optimal level. When there is a lot of corn being produced, the law of demand and supply will mean that price has to decrease as supply exceeds demand. When the government allows the price of corn to decrease beyond a certain level, the producers of corn will be at a loss which will de motivate further production of corn. In such circumstances, the government intervenes by the use of price floor where price would not go below that limit. Leaving the market forces to adjust the price and output will socially affect some sectors of the economy and as such lead to the welfare of citizens being worse off (Pearson Education Inc. , 2010). Another reason as to why the government intervenes in the economy is to correct market failures. Consumers sometimes lack adequate information as to the benefits and costs which come from the consumption of a certain product. Government thus imposes laws that will ensure that the consumers have adequate information about the products so as to improve the perceived costs and benefits of a product. Compulsory labeling that is done on cigarette packages is one of those legal concerns that give adequate health warnings to cigarette smokers. It is a way in which the government protects its citizens from exploitation and harmful habits that would affect them in the long run. This might have a short term effect in form of decreased profits on Tobacco manufacturers, but long term effects on improved health of consumers and a saving on future medical expenses (Riley, 2006). According to Riley (2006), it will be known that government intervention does not always result into the plans and strategies set or prediction by economic theory. It is rare for consumers and businesses to behave the way the government exactly wanted them to behave. This in economics has been referred to as law of unintended consequences which can come into play in any government intervention. This would have negative consequences on the economic level since inappropriate policies would mean negative effects and influence. The market is able to maintain itself in equilibrium through price mechanisms and other economic factors. When the government intervenes, it affects this smooth operation of the market and this may lead to either shortages or surpluses. The effect becomes worse when the government relies on poor information in making these interventions in workplaces. The effects might be expensive to the administration of businesses, and the interventions might also be disruptive to the operations of the business if these interventions are major and frequent. It might also remove some liberties (Pearson Education Inc. , 2010). Government interventions in workplaces should not be aimed to create great changes in the market. The conditions prevailing in the economy should be well reviewed and analyzed. This will ensure that threats that can damage the economy have been identified and measures against such taken. It would be of great advantage if government interventions are designed to facilitate the smooth working of the economy rather than implementing a new and a direct control over the market. They should be assessed on whether they lead to a better use of scarce resources, whether fairness is being upheld in the intervention and whether the policy enhances or reduces the capacity of future generations in improving economic activity (Riley, 2006). Conclusion Some economists believe that with perfect competition, there will be no need for any government intervention. Is it therefore wise to leave the economy to the doctrine of laissez-fare where there is no control or intervention by the government? As much as there exists some negative effects on economic development due to government control, the benefits which accrue as a result of controlled government intervention would be under no circumstances be compared with the risks that would accrue when the government adopts the liberal economic structure. References Brux, J. (2008). Economics Issues and Policy. 4th ed. Ohio: Cengage Learning FunQA. com, (2009). Economics: Advantages and Disadvantages of Government Intervention? Retrieved 21 May 2010, from http://www. funqa. com/economics/92-Economics-2. html Mishra, R. Navin, B. & Geeta P. eds. (2006). Economic liberalization and public enterprises. ISBN 8180692574 Pearson Education, Inc. (2010). Reasons for government intervention in the market. Retrieved 21 May 2010, from http://wps. pearsoned. co. uk/ema_uk_he_sloman_econbus_3/18/4748/1215583. cw/index. html Petkantchin, V. (2006). The Pernicious Effects of Price Controls. Retrieved 21 May 2010, from http://docs. google. com/viewer? a=v&q=cache:mYXWxJC6EpMJ:www. iedm. org/uploaded/pdf/avr06_en. pdf+Price+controls+and+their+effects&hl=en&gl=ke&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShvcqptHKj3Y_Mrxy5hhG7resIp_Y7FVbxWwhBqmLTBqzdSn3hvuXLutFYW9m1uRWom_D5InOy5G5Jp5AMTuCoFxKA-Rj-1tbrOA0PrnDz5VOBbruMR2HYdYcYm-SLf5Oq_aZBm&sig=AHIEtbTFfKO-NWp1d5bX2HTlouAB_gP1fQ Riley, G. (2006). Government Intervention in the Market. Retrieved 21 May 2010, from http://tutor2u. net/economics/revision-notes/as-marketfailure-government-intervention-2. html

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Bavaria Essay Research Paper Schmidt 1 Nicole

Bavaria Essay, Research Paper Schmidt 1 Nicole Schmidt Jarvinen 9 LA, period 5 16 December 2000 Bavaria# 8220 ; They are of rugged stock, but non unsmooth or sick mannered, fierce but non malicious, and they have a great shop of strength and natural character # 8221 ; ( Joseph G? rres ) . As articulated by Joseph G? rres the people of Germany are a sort and powerful race. A province whose people live this description daily are the Bavarian people of western Germany. For the Bavarian people a rich cultural heritage is an duty as there is barely another people that cherishes and actively lives its civilization like the Bavarians. This is reflected in everything from their devoted attention of the humanistic disciplines to the traditional fosterage of local imposts. As a consequence the Bavarian civilization is known for its traditions, all right nutrients, and dwellers. The three folks, the Old Bavarians, the Franconians and the Swabians differ in linguistic communication, imposts, outlook and life style. The first # 8220 ; tribe # 8221 ; is believed to hold been put together in the sixth century and are now called # 8220 ; The Old Bavarians # 8221 ; ( BSC Timeline ) . They are said to be known and loved far beyond the Bavarian frontier because of their alone qualities and work moralss. Their # 8220 ; attitudes # 8221 ; and # 8220 ; congenital feeling for music # 8221 ; do this group a friendly and fun people. Although, there lives are non ever merely merriment and games. The Old Bavarians portion Schmidt 2# 8220 ; occupations # 8221 ; and trades with the other folks like the Franconians ( Encarta Jobs ) . # 8220 ; The Franconians from the territories of Upper, Middle and Lower Franconia # 8221 ; have formed portion of the Bavarian State since the early nineteenth century ( BSC Bavarians ) . Their # 8220 ; strong community sense, organisational endowment, sunniness and adeptness of head # 8221 ; are the trademarks of this race ( BSC Bavarians ) . They are besides difficult working but non so much as the last folk the Swabians. The stating # 8220 ; No Work No Reward # 8221 ; is the best manner to depict this folk ( BSC ) . Some properties of this race are at that place inclination to minimize and their thrifty personalities. The Old Bavarians, the Franconians and the Swabians have many similarities and besides many differences but they all posses the same great love for tradition. The traditions passed down by the Bavarian people include everything from festivals to hereditary vesture. The people have frequent chances to observe throughout the twelvemonth. One such juncture is Oktoberfest which foremost took topographic point in Munich on the # 8220 ; 17th of October 1810 # 8243 ; to observe the matrimony of # 8220 ; Prince Ludwig # 8221 ; ( Nelles 24 ) . The two hebdomad festival is now held in # 8220 ; Wies # 8217 ; n # 8221 ; and is known for its # 8220 ; 45 fairground drives and 70 stables and games in entire there are around 640 attractive forces # 8221 ; ( 191 ) . Oktoberfest is non the provinces merely festival the Christmas celebrations are besides really outstanding. # 8220 ; Christkindlmarkt # 8221 ; is place of a Christmas carnival which dates back to the # 8220 ; fourteenth century # 8221 ; ( 58 ) . It is no admiration that crowds are drawn in by its # 8220 ; Gluhwein, delicious-smelling spicy bars, and inventive Christmas nowadayss # 8221 ; ( 58 ) . The carnival of Nativity cot, and dancing. Although, music and dance are a portion of every German festival but Bavaria has set aside many different yearss merely for those two humanistic disciplines. One such is the # 8220 ; Cooper # 8217 ; s Dance # 8221 ; which has been held of all time seven Schmidt3 twelvemonth since 1517 ( BSC Festivals ) . The Cooper # 8217 ; s foremost did there dance when the Black pestilence spread through Munich. It was done as an offering to God to salvage the metropolis and halt the violent death of the people. With a promise to go on the dance every seven old ages the pestilence was ended and the promise kept ( Nelles 15-16 ) . During all of these Festivals traditional vesture is worn to demo the peoples grasp to their ascendants. Though the traditional vesture is a portion of the Festivals it is besides worn to # 8220 ; church, dances, school, and sometime on the street # 8221 ; ( Wolff ) . The traditional vesture for the work forces and bo Y are called â€Å"Ladurhosen† and consist of black lacing up places, knee-socks, leather articulatio genus length trunkss, cosmetic braces, a white button up shirt, and a chapeau with a long plume widening out of it ( Wolff ) . The women’s â€Å"Schuhplattler† is a brace of black buckle places, long socks, a ankle length frock, apron, and shall ( Wolff ) . The adult females wear their hair held up tightly in either a burn, hat or braided caput wrap. All of these expect have been influenced by the people and the States history. Everything from its male monarchs to its churches have played apart. Like â€Å"Prince Ludwig’s marriage† or the â€Å"black plague† history is the base of all German traditions and nutrients ( Nelles 15, 24 ) . Last, Germans are known for their alone nutrients and drinks. The Bavarians, like all Germans, cognize how to fix everything from # 8220 ; Hirn in brauner Butter # 8221 ; ( Brains in Brown Butter ) to # 8220 ; Schokolademuscheln # 8221 ; or Chocolate Shells ( Schuler 55, 149 ) . One of the first nutrients thought of when speaking about German culinary art is sausage or wurst. There is non merely one sort or one manner to fix wurst. The favourite of the Bavarian people is # 8220 ; wesswurst or white sausage # 8221 ; ( BSC Foods ) . Schmidt 4 This dish contains # 8220 ; porc bacon, veau, lemon, onions, salt, Petroselinum crispum, white Piper nigrum and Myristica fragrans # 8221 ; ( BSC Foods ) . Another sausage dish eaten at breakfast is # 8220 ; Knapwurst # 8221 ; ( Crocker 142 ) . Knapwust is a traditional nutrient in many German places and is made with # 8220 ; beef, porc, H2O, onion, rolled oats, salt, cloves, Myristica fragrans, and Piper nigrum # 8221 ; ( 142 ) . Bavarian # 8217 ; s along with other Germans eat really stalwart bites like radishes, Spaetzle, Kartofflpuffer, and Apfelfannkuchen ( 355 ) . Bavarians besides have traditional and non traditional dishes. Some of the more traditional being gebraten Hahnchen ( Cornish biddies ) , Gugelhupf, and Zwetschgenkuchen ( 355 ) . The non-traditional nutrients are speedy and easy to fix and are eaten one the weekdays. They include Rinderrouladen, Himmel und Erde, and Stollen ( 355 ) . In shuting the Bavarian people eat a assortment of national dishes. The imposts, culinary art, and people of the Bavaria have been influenced in many ways through the old ages. This is a consequence of the people furthering local traditions and populating its alone civilization actively. Bavaria is non merely known for its traditions but besides for its strong community sense, organisational endowment, sunniness and adeptness of head. These traits belong to Bavarians thanks to their state Germany. The Germans like the Bavarians are seen as a sort and powerful race that have a strong sense for the stating # 8220 ; no work no reward # 8221 ; ( anon ) . # 8220 ; Their cosmopolite attitudes, sense of tradition and an congenital feeling for music make the race known and loved far beyond the [ German ] frontiers # 8221 ; ( anon ) . Bibliography Schmidt 5 Alta Vista. # 8220 ; Cyberspace: Translator. # 8221 ; On-line. Internet. 6 December 2000. Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.bable.altavista.com/ Anon. # 8220 ; Germany though Time. # 8221 ; Faces Cobblestone Publishing March 2000:12-13 Anon. # 8220 ; Germany at a Glance. # 8221 ; Faces Cobblestone Publishing March 2000:4-5. Bavarian State Chancellery. # 8220 ; Cyberspace: Bavaria. # 8221 ; On-line. Internet. 30 Nov. 2000. Available hypertext transfer protocol: //www.bayern.de/BayernInfo/geschichteE.html # kap7 Beine, Joe. # 8220 ; Cyberspace: German Roots. # 8221 ; On-line. Internet. 1998-2000. Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.germanroots.com/ Crocker, Betty. Betty Crocker # 8217 ; s International Cookbook. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Random House, 1980. Microsoft Encarta 96 Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Location Unknown: Microsoft Corporation, 1995. Nelles, Gunter. Munich and Excursions to Castles Lakes and Mountains. Munchen, Germany: Gorenjski Tisk, 1995. Schuler, Elizabeth. German Cookery. New York: Crown Publishers, 1995. Wolff, Dr. Paul. Germany. Frankfurt: 1950.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Day Reporting Centers Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Day Reporting Centers - Research Paper Example Segregation of cells may prove to be useful for a while but the psychological and social impacts of the practice proved detrimental to many offenders who may not actually deserve such harsh treatments. Alternatives to imprisonment and rehabilitation process for inmates were an evolution of the penology system. This paper will discuss day reporting center as an alternative to imprisonment and as a rehabilitation program. It will determine the positive and negative aspects of the program through consideration of actual studies and recommend proposals for consideration. Section 1: The Day Reporting Center chosen for this essay is the Hampden County Day reporting Center. It supervises inmates who are within four months of release. These inmates live in their homes, they have work, and were involved in positive activities in the community (McCarthy, 2011). Day reporting centers hae become an alternative to jail sentencing with the integration of community service while serving the sentenc es of inmates. Intensive programming with cost-effective system and intensive supervision to ensure community safety are some of its features (Marciniak, 1999). Prior to the formal launching of the day reporting center in October 1986, Hampden already had a history of a pre-release center. The area used was the Sheriff’s House as initiated by county Sheriff Michael Ashe. The inmates who were part of the pre-release program work and join community service as well as participate in activities for Alcoholics Anonymous, work-out regimens at YMCA, and Narcotics Anonymous (McCarthy 2011). The history of the use of day reporting center dates back to early 1970s in the United Kingdom when there was a clamor for an option for older petty criminals (Larivee, 1990). In addition, probation officials also noted the need to inmates for continued family and social ties as well as secure or continue employment. The UK Parliament created the day treatment centers as requested by the British H ome Office in 1972. Prison overcrowding was also an immediate reason for the adoption of local probation agencies and open centers for group rehabilitation (Parent, 1990). In addition, the prison officers were also having problems addressing behaviour of offenders who have the least criminal cases (Mair, 1990). Day treatment centers were formalized with the passing f the Criminal Justice Act of 1982 so that there were already about 80 that existed by mid 1980s in England and Wales (Mair, 1990). Characteristics of day reporting centers, however, varied (Marciniak, 1999). There are various other reasons for the justification of the creation of day reporting centers such as cost-effectiveness, incapacity, retribution, and rehabilitation. It has been considered as different from other rehabilitation programs for its marked concentration on rehabilitation as the staff assess individual needs and offenses prior to consideration for day reporting enter participation (Marciniak, 1999). The launch of the Day Reporting Center was due to the worsening overcrowding. The staffs are those already experienced in the Sheriff’s House so that the program drew from actual experience. Key program features include the monitoring of behaviour, thus, the participants were required to report and call daily at the center and observed by the staff. They also follow a strict daily schedule such as being home when expected to there, and they are monitored through

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Change management of the Airbus Company Term Paper

Change management of the Airbus Company - Term Paper Example Differentiation policy of the Company, people-centered approach, a great attention to the customers’ needs and interests of shareholders are the basic principles of the change management policy development. Thesis: Airbus is a perfect example of strategic management involvement in the process of the company’s development and functioning in the modern global world. Strategic concerns are multi-faceted and focused on the customers’ interests, stakeholders’ involvement, aerospace business profitability and advancement in the international arena. Keywords: aerospace industry, strategic management, profitability and advancement. Change management of the Airbus Company Introduction Airbus and Boeing are two world’s largest developers of aircraft potential of the world. Financial crisis has caused a serious impact on Airbus and the company managed to cope with the crisis rather well. Still, it is relevant to save the amount of production and not to suffer great losses. In spite of the fact that in accordance with prognoses production rates of Airbus were unsustainable, Airbus does not lose its positive mood and makes an attempt to satisfy the needs of the customers, to meet the requirements of the suppliers and to take care of the stakeholders’ interests. ... In order to beat the competition, the Airbus Company makes an attempt to advance â€Å"modern and cheaper transportation, communication and technological development† (Airbus Official Website). Being one of the largest manufacturers of jetliners and airlifters, Airbus has essentially grown â€Å"on the basis of its mission, vision and passion of the employees† (Airbus Official Website) . With regards to the research conducted by McGuire (1997), there are certain key factors, which determine the character of the industry. The following factors may be applicable for the Airbus Company: design, a scale of production, cost reduction strategies, networks, demographics passengers and timing are essential for a potential successful evolution of the country (Airbus Official Website). With respect to Airbus it should be noted that there is a strong development of the Company: â€Å"till the end of August, 2009; Airbus has designed 13 models of aircraft and sold 9,340 units with the strong customer base around the world which makes it passenger friendly using high technology† (Airbus Official Website). Data obtained from the annual review (2005-2009) prove the fact that Airbus achieved an enormous success within the last five years in spite of challenges experienced after the world’s financial crisis (from 22,179 million in 2005 to ?27,453 million in 2008) (Airbus Official Website). There is an evident strategic advancement of Airbus in comparison with Boeing. Yearly sales of airbus increased substantially in comparison with Boeing sales for the last five years (McGuire, 1997). The following strategic steps are beneficial for Airbus advancement in the international arena: the introduction of fly-by-wire, cockpit commonality and configuration of the engines

Monday, August 26, 2019

Hsa 520 week 5 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hsa 520 week 5 - Coursework Example At this moment, is trend is as of now moving in the reverse direction. An expanding number of health care facilities are changing from their present best-of-breed frameworks to Epic, which is offering proven, doctor-acknowledged results that are coordinated crosswise over hospitals (HIMSS, 2010). Most of the patient data is put away in dissimilar frameworks over the health care facilities. There is a significant benefit of interoperability that is the result of the SAPHIRE project. The SAPHIRE project expects to create a smart health care check and choice help supportive network on a stage coordinating the remote restorative sensor information with doctors facility data frameworks. Thus, not just the perceptions accepted from remote therapeutic sensors additionally the patient medicinal history will be utilized within the thinking methodology of the clinical choice help supportive network (HIMSS, 2010). I would agree to Ernest Jackson’s writing because of various reasons. First, due to the growing digital society, technology has demanded that there be globalization and â€Å"villagilization† of the world. This has called for safe and fast means of transferring and sharing data from one organization to the other. This has promoted Interoperability which is the state of linking software and new systems which are being developed and implemented with multiple platforms and languages. It is also true that interoperability is facing challenges and ways have and need to be developed on how to mitigate these challenges. It is no wonder that it demands for high literacy levels and skills so that these software can be linked with the new developing system. This happens to be a major challenge since there is insufficiency of skills particularly in this field. I would again agree t Ernest’s writing on the issue of benefits offered by

The Impact of Technology on Homeland Security Annotated Bibliography

The Impact of Technology on Homeland Security - Annotated Bibliography Example acted on homeland security over the years, and it is on this basis that this paper is aimed at developing a critical annotated bibliography on the impact of technology on homeland security. The article explains that active and non-intrusive inspection technologies have been in use for over 100 years with the main focus being radiographic imaging. The article demonstrates the presence of a number of technologies that have been fronted for use owing to their unique capabilities, but sadly less used. The reasons for the lack of use include reliance on passive detection systems and concerns about safety of radiation by the public. The article’s strength is that it provides the opportunity to have an understanding Homeland security challenges in the US require out of the box solutions provided by technology despite the fact that they take a lot of time for implementation. The other strength of the article is that it provides ways through which technology can be used well to harness positive impact for Homeland Security, overcome challenges, and reviews new technology that can aid in solving challenges for Homeland security. Current technologies used for efficiency in Homeland Security include equipment for imaging, explosive, radiation, and nuclear material detection. The article has one limitation in that it does not categorically state the limitations inherent in technology in its application to homeland security. The article states the measures being undertaken by the Obama administration in ensuring agencies are more efficient and coordinated through embracing digital service delivery. The article then gives the measures being taken by the department of homeland security to meet the digital service delivery to ensure better access to data and information by the citizens, procure and manage applications, services, and smart data in a safe, efficient, and secure manner, and harness the power of big data. The articles strength is that it captures some of the

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Health and Stress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Health and Stress - Essay Example However, this paper aims to discuss gender differences and racial differences in terms of health behaviors. It has been observed that various races face identical stress and health problems. White and black are the most common and the basic classifications of races. However, in proper classification several names come. There are quite a few studies on stress and health behaviors and its impact on stress and health. This paper aims to find out if the gender and racial disparities exit. In case these do, what are the consequences? This paper also tends to identify if group of black citizens are healthier or stronger than the group of white people or vice versa. Does a race or gender impact one’s health behavior? If not, then what could be the reason behind such differences? Older Hispanics and Asian Islanders came across cultural blend by the mean of cross cultural weddings. Health behavior and stress impact on individual are based on different patterns where age, race, mental level, education and gender. It is said that black mortality curve crises over whites (Martin & Soldo, 1997). Different races have different health states. As per an investigation, inferior mental health and self perceived health have been reported in African Americans. Research found out that health and stress are not directly linked to race; however, it depends on the body strength, age, gender and in many cases, marital status also impacts the health behavior. Research clearly indicated that if the earnings and studies are managed, robust racial changes in health and stress are not observed (Williams, Yu, Jackson, & Anderson, 1997, pp. 243-250). Several studies have been conducted to find out the disparities among races, behaviors, genders, ages, physical progress, educational level, job descriptions, income and their body and mental behaviors. The term health and stress disparities remained hot topic for researcher throughout in differentiating the

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Social Media Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Social Media Paper - Essay Example In the business context, social media continues to be the most used tool especially in the recent past (Lefebvre and Flora 1988, p.301). Some of the areas in business using social media as a platform to achieve goals and objectives are advertising, public relations and marketing. This is essentially because these are the very branches of the corporate world that need to come into close contact with the masses of people Research indicates that the corporate world spends billions of dollars on the social media to advertise and market their products. For example, in United States of America, the corporate world spent close to four billion dollars on the social media marketing (Hamill 1997, p. 300-323). The trend has continually changed, with exponential growth in the amount of money spent every year. Some of the social networks, for example LinkedIn, concentrate mainly on the corporate world (Ibrahim 2010, p.3-10). Here, networks are created between various business persons and firms. O ther business firms chose to use the platform for public relations by posting the videos of their CEOs giving insights about them. This means that social media is intertwined with the business world and its impact cannot be wished away. Social media brings in a shift in the concepts of reaching out to the consumers and selling the products to them. The traditional way of communication, say for example through posters, newspapers and televisions are slowly being replaced by the use of the social media (Xia 2009, p. 469 – 478). The implication to both the corporate world and the consumers is the change in the way the concepts of marketing and advertising are viewed. It is in this regard that I look at how the concepts of marketing, the consumers and the audiences have changed with the use of social media. Change in the Conceptions of Marketing, Consumers and Audiences The historical concept of marketing was that the consumers were provided with the manufacturer’s good, w hether good or bad (Zwick and Dholakia 2008, p. 318-325). However, with the social networking, it is not easy to penetrate into the market with this kind of an approach. The concept of marketing has broadened to include the processes of developing the product to its distribution. It also works closely with the research and development departments to learn on the necessary innovation on their products (Ibrahim 2010, p.3-10). The social media has therefore brought the need to have a comprehensive look at marketing. Its definition has changed to; the processes of planning and implementation of the concepts in the production chain to meet the demands of the consumer. With the understanding of how important social media is, the marketing strategies have taken a different turn (Mangold and Faulds 2009, p.357 – 365). Most of the marketers have moved to integrate marketing mix with the social media. The marketing mix includes the product, place, price and promotion. Looking into thes e four key aspects of marketing, one realizes that the concept has totally changed. For example, the products are varied and numerous. The tangible products have been modified to include the personal needs of different groups of people. The products vary in characteristics even as the characteristics of the consumers vary. In the second aspect of the marketing mix, the place, the location is now very flexible (Ibrahim 2010, p.3-10). A consumer may not have to be in a specific place as it was before. It

Friday, August 23, 2019

Innovation in Topp Tiles Plc Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Innovation in Topp Tiles Plc - Case Study Example The innovative strategies adopted by Topp Tiles includes evolving appropriate marketing strategies, establishing excellent ,customer support and enhancing the online business operations. The study undertaken have given the wider perspective on the impact of the innovation that would help the organisations maintain the leadership in the market. The observations made from this study have helped to evolve a framework of practices that organisations could adopt to make them the most acceptable by the clients and also successful in business operations. Top tiles are the most favoured brands in the floor tile segment across UK and other major European countries. Since opening of the first specialist tile centre in Manchester in the year 1963, Topp tiles were offering its customers high quality products. The reasons for its success during all through these years was due to the competitive strategy it had adopted by recruiting, training and retaining highly competitive staff who are knowledgeable, friendly to customers and also highly committed to the profession. The business strategy too is beyond the revenue and enhanced sales volume. They take extra care to see that their customers are able to complete the particular task for which the Topp tiles products were purchased. A DVD which explains "How to do it" clearly shows the commitment to the customer by explaining the process the customers must undergo to get the maximum benefit from the purchased products. Its these policies that have helped the Topp tiles to become the Britain's largest tile and wood flooring specialist with over 250 stores over U.K. and adding atleast 20 stores every year (Topp Tiles, n.d.). 1.2 Financial performance of Topp Tiles :Year 2008 (Topp Tiles,2008) * Total revenue increased by 0.1 % to 208.1 million. * Group gross margin is 61.8 % * Operating profit of 34.6 million and profit before tax reported as27.7million. * Basic earning per share 11.16 p. 1.3 Future Challenges Till the end of the year 2008 the business was going well for the Topp tiles Plc. Having opened 10 new stores across different places in UK and trading from the centres being raised to over 300, the revenues reported have shown a marginal increase than that of the previous year (Topp Tiles, n.d.). Inspite of the prevalence of highly turbulent weather and reduced consumer spending, the company was able to wither the problems and maintain the required business by appropriately strategizing its marketing plan. The additional spending it had made on a national level TV advertisement campaign coupled with the inflationary trends have resulted in the increased gross expenditure of 43 percent of the total revenue,

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Slaughterhouse Five Essay Example for Free

Slaughterhouse Five Essay Slaughterhouse-Five explores fate, free will, and the illogical nature of human beings. Protagonist Billy Pilgrim is unstuck in time, randomly experiencing the events of his life, with no idea of what part he will next visit. Billy Pilgrim says there is no free will, an assertion confirmed by a Tralfamadorian, who says, Ive visited thirty-one inhabited planets in the universe. Only on Earth is there any talk of free will. The storys central concept is that most of humanity is insignificantthey do what they do, because they must. To the Tralfamadorians, everything simultaneously exists, therefore, everyone is always alive. They, too, have wars and suffer tragedies (they destroy the universe whilst testing spaceship fuels), but, when Billy asks what they do about wars, they reply that they simply ignore them. The Tralfamadorians counter Vonneguts true theme: life, as a human being, is only enjoyable with unknowns. Tralfamadorians do not make choices about what they do, but have power only over what they think (the subject of Timequake). Vonnegut expounds his position in chapter one, that writing an anti-war book is like writing an anti-glacier book, both being futile endeavours, since both phenomena are unstoppable. Like much of Vonneguts other works (e.g., The Sirens of Titan), Slaughterhouse-Five explores the concept of fatalism. The Tralfamadorians represent the belief in war as inevitable. In their hapless destruction of the universe, Vonneguts characters do not sympathize with their philosophy. To human beings, Vonnegut says, ignoring a war is unacceptable when we have free will; however, he does not explicitly state that we actually have free will, leaving open the possibility that he is satirizing the concept of free will as a product of human irrationality. This human senselessness appears in the climax that occurs, not with the Dresden fire bombing, but with the summary execution of a man who committed a petty theft. Amid all that horror, death, and destruction, time is taken to punish one man. Yet, the time is taken, and Vonnegut takes the outside opinion of the bird asking, Poo-tee-weet? The same birdsong ends the novel God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. Slaughterhouse-Five is framed with chapters in the authors voice, about his experience of war, indicating the novel is intimately connected with his life and convictions. That established, Vonnegut withdraws from the unfolding of Billy Pilgrims story, despite continual appearances as a minor character: in the POW camp latrine, exiting the train at Dresden, the corpse mines of Dresden, when he mistakenly dials Billy’s telephone number. These authorial appearances anchor Billy Pilgrim’s life to reality, highlighting his existential struggle to fit in the human world.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Future events Essay Example for Free

Future events Essay Richard here talks of a forthcoming golden era full of glory and hope. Whilst speaking in public, Richard uses this opportunity to defend him from being accused in future events. By praising the running of the country nobody would suspect him of becoming a family murderer. Again, in private Richard reveals his true feelings and again reveals to the audience future plots.  I am determined to prove a villain and hate the idle pleasures of these days. Plots I have laid, inductions dangerous. (Act 1 scene 1.Lines 30 +32) When speaking concealed away from the public, Richard provides insight into future events. Although it may appear that the war is over the royal family is about to confront another battle in the eyes of Richard. It is through what is said in private that Richard sheds light on future plots and events and to an extent he draws a relationship with the audience because of this.  The final area in which I will explore appearance and reality will be through the manipulation of religion. Richard of Gloucester is not the only character in the play to use appearance and reality as his two partners in crime prove. Catesby and Buckingham use religion as a weapon of disguising for Richards true personality and intentions. He is within, with two right reverend fathers, divinely bent to meditation .. To draw him from his holy exercise. (Act 3 scene 7.Line 60 + 61)  Buckingham endeavors to make Richard appear holy and innocent by portraying him as a devout, holy and religious man. By this point in the play we know that Richards life is not based on serving god but rather serving his own desires. His allies continue to do their utmost to mask his evil traits in front of the politicians.  This prince is not an Edward. He is not lulling on a lewd love-bed, but on his knees at meditation.(Act 3 scene 7.Line 70-71) Again, religion is manipulated to give a false identification of Richard. Their aim is to get Richard to become king and attain ruler ship thinking that they may get something in return. Buckinghams language reveals that he; Catesby and Richard are play acting.  Two props of virtue for a Christian prince .. and see a book of prayer in his hand. (Act 3 scene 7.Line 95+96)  Buckingham makes it apparent that this is a play within a play and uses the church and the word of god as a prop to make Richard look convincing on stage. Richard also does his part in covering up his true personality. I do beseech your grace to pardon me, who, earnest in the service of my god. (Line 104-105)  Richard once again stresses how devoted he is to god when really he is only devoted to getting himself raised to a godly figure in the form of king. Shakespeare reveals yet another plane to Richards ever- changing character through the manipulation of religion as we not only see a deceitful interpretator, a cold-blooded murderer but also a manipulative man. He has no regard for family, women or even god and this manifests the extent that he is willing to go to get what he wants. Shakespeare provides us with another peek into future events through the manipulation of Richard. Come, let us to our holy work again.(Act 3 scene 7.Line 245)  This holy work will in fact not be holy but will rather entail unholy and irreligious dealings. The work will contain further plotting and this braces the audience for further manipulation. This device measures the extent to which Richard will go to change his character. It also reveals that Richard isnt the only character that utilizes appearance and reality in the play and this reflects the amount of manipulation contained within the play. Appearance and reality is a device that Shakespeare cleverly uses to keep the character Richard of Gloucester running throughout the play. It revitalizes his character and interest in him is always stimulated because of this. To an extent, Richard uses appearance and reality as a stepping stool for further dealings in the future. Richard, the anti-hero, uses his physical appearance as a driving force for evil traits and deceive4s others into thinking that it makes him weaker. His contrasting treatment of women perfectly illustrates how well he can adjust roles when required. He is the master of deception as his opening soliloquy proves. It is what is said in private that reveals to the audience what Richards true intentions are and it is what is said in public that reflect lies. Shakespeare makes this link early on so that Richards changing wont fool the audience. Shakespeare mirrors appearance and reality through the manipulation of religion to show the extent that Richard will go to obtain what he requires. Appearance and reality is important because it shows that Richard is a character of dual interpretations and Shakespeare makes sure Richard uses it continually so that his character continues to fuel interest for the audience. Appearance and reality is a vital tool in the play as it not only plays a huge part in shaping events in the play but it also reveals future events that are to take place.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The Ecosystems At Risk Environmental Sciences Essay

The Ecosystems At Risk Environmental Sciences Essay An ecosystem is the dynamic link of flora and fauna and micro-organism communities and their non-living surroundings. Two highly specialised ecosystems are coral reefs and coastal dunes. An example of a coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef which spans roughly 2,300 kilometres making it the largest reef in the world. The reef is home to a range of animals and plants and is known for its diversity. Coastal dunes another specialised ecosystem, is formed through a large accumulation of sand located behind the beach zone. Coastal dunes are known for having very extreme environments with only few flora or fauna being able to survive the conditions. With reference to both ecosystems, explain the biophysical interactions that lead to diverse ecosystems and their functioning. Coral Reefs Atmosphere Due to the location of the Great Barrier Reef, it faces both positive and negative interactions with the atmosphere. The reef lies in an area classified as Australias Cyclone Zone, an area hit by many fierce storms in its past. The degree of impact on the reef is subject to the intensity and extent of the storm. The damage occurs due to the large storm waves that are produced from strong winds and low-pressure systems. The forceful waves rip apart the more fragile coral and create chips and imperfections in the harder coral. In severe cyclone cases the whole reef ecosystem may be put under sediment. Tropical cyclones are known for having heavily-induced rain cycles. The extra volume of fresh water means that the salinity of the reef ecosystem is then distorted, and affects coral growth. The atmosphere can also be a constructive interaction. For example in 2006 Cyclone Larry that hit the shores of North Queensland. The cyclone struck the reef, but instead of causing destructing within the ecosystem, the cyclone prevented mass coral bleaching from occurring by lowering the temperature of the water. Atmospheric pressures lead to greater functioning ecosystems through adaptation. Lithosphere The Great Barrier Reef is aided in its functioning and transforming by the lithosphere. The reef itself produces limestone. The limestone is weathered and transported throughout the reef. The limestone is then able to create new landforms like coral cay. The limestone is also used as a defence mechanism by coral against the erosive waves. The death of one coral is used as a platform for life for another coral. Another lithospheric factor affecting coral functioning is sediment. Sediment like sand can have the effect of clouding up the water of the reef resulting in increased turbidity levels of the water. There is then less sunlight penetration into the reef, affecting the process of photosynthesis and coral bleaching is more likely to occur. Hydrosphere The Great Barrier Reef tends to have best coral growth when hydrosphere conditions are at their greatest. For example coral reefs tend to have optimal growth when wave energy is high. The wave energy is broken by the reef through the seaward, and produces an area of peaceful, protected water behind the reef. The waters of the Great Barrier Reef tend to flow in a northerly direction most of the year, though during monsoonal seasons the form of the waters change, and there is a reversal in the direction of the waters. The reversal allows the cooler southern ocean current to flow into the reef. The waters that run from the north are warm and high in salinity; they provide the reef with high nutrient levels and are major influences for the diversity of the ecosystem. Biosphere The biosphere element of the Great Barrier Reef is how the reef grows and obtains its wonderful features. An important animal for the reef are polyps. Polyps are simple organisms that have a stomach and their exoskeleton. Within the polyp is an interdependent algae called zooxanthallae. The two organisms provide mutual benefits with one providing sugars and oxygen through photosynthesis and the other supplying nutrients. Polyp regrowth occurs with the use of the deceased polyps exoskeleton. Though coral reproduction is different, where the coral will release their eggs into the summer waters, and instantaneously they release mass amounts of sperm as well. The process of evolving occurs and the larvae grow on the exoskeleton of coral. The diverse range of species within the Great Barrier Reef also has an impact on its functioning. For example crustaceans are great at executing the nutrient recycling role, while the crown of thorn star fish is known for attaching itself to coral and ea ting it to death. (Appendix A Figure 1.1) shows a Crowns of Thorns starfish preying on coral. Coastal Dunes Atmosphere The most pivotal biophysical interaction with coastal dunes is the atmosphere. The atmospheres main components are wind, temperature and precipitation. Wind is a major contributor to shaping dunes through aeolion transport, where sand grains are picked up and transported to another location. The amount of sand removed is dependent on the size of sand, velocity of the wind and nature of vegetation cover. The faster velocity of the wind the more likely sand grains will be moved, due to a greater force. The type of local vegetation and amount of vegetation on the sand dunes also impacts aeolian transport, as the vegetation becomes a barrier against the wind for the sand. Temperature plays the role of influencing the rate of sand dryness, and type of vegetation on the dunes. Temperature values also determine the functioning of ocean currents. As temperature increases the dryness of sand increases resulting in only few vegetations that are able to live on the dunes, which in turn affects the rate of aeolian transport. Precipitation is also an atmospheric component that impacts coastal dunes, through the level of rainfall. The amount of vegetation on dunes is dependent on the level of rainfall, with regular rainfall meaning a greater variety and denser vegetation. Hydrosphere The hydrological processes that have an impact on coastal dune ecosystems include wind-induced waves, longshore drift and rainfall. Wind-induced waves are important for developing coastal dunes. When there are periods of calmness within the ocean, this means sand is able to be transported from offshore deposits to the beaches. This gives greater supply to dunes through wind transportation. On the other hand when there are treacherous conditions in the oceans the waves become powerful, crash into the coastline and remove sand from the beaches and foredunes. Another hydrological process impacting coastal dunes is longshore drift. Longshore drift is the transportation of sediment by currents that are running at parallel to the shoreline. Through longshore drift, sediment is able to be produced in one location and transferred to another. Longshore drift is quite common on the East side of Australia, with many of the islands up in Queensland having been made from sediment that came from N ew South Wales. The final hydrological process to impact coastal dunes is rainfall. The amount of rainfall has a bearing on the erosion of the sand, with high rainfall eroding the surface and making it vulnerable. Biosphere The biosphere influences coastal dunes through flora and fauna. There are three species to flora, primary species, secondary species and tertiary species. The primary species are those that are closest to the sea. These areas are only colonised by vegetation that can handle the conditions. The main role of the pioneer species like Marram Grass is to stabilise any incoming sand. These species of fauna spread at a rapid pace, and so their able to protect much of a sand dune. The secondary species is the foredune vegetation. They are usually comprised of shrubs and small trees like the coastal wattle, and help in maintaining foredune sand mass. The tertiary species are those that go beyond the coastal moorland, like tall trees. This process is known as succession. Fauna on coastal dunes is not very evident. Not many animals live on the dunes closest to the beach, as the conditions are too extreme for them to handle, with only few crabs calling this area home. Towards the back of the dun e systems an increasing number of bird species can be found. Lithosphere Sand particles are not identical; therefore its mineral and chemical composition will vary from place to place. For example in New South Wales most dunes have sand made of quartzose particles. The particles do not bond easily, resulting in less stable dunes. Dune formation starts with the deposition of sediment and offshore sand bars at the mouths of rivers. Through longshore currents the sediment is relocated then deposited on a beach by wave action. Dry sand is blown inland from the beach. The drift accumulates around obstacles like vegetation and a dune starts to form. Coastal dunes have three types of dunes that could occur, the first being foredunes. The foredune is the first stable dune built. Its main objective is to act as a barrier between the sea and inland. It is located at the back of the beach and usually has pioneer grasses colonising it. As the vegetation matures more sand is trapped creating larger dune systems. (Appendix B Figure 1.1) a foredune has developed with pi oneer grasses colonising it. Another type of dune is parallel or transverse dunes. Parallel dunes develop when a foredune has been hit by a storm, and the seaward face has been eroded. When sediment flow restores, a new ridge develops in front of the foredune, with a swale separating them. With the new foredune developing, supply to the old foredune becomes limited and stables. Heath-like shrubs develop on the old foredune once it is stable enough to house them. A diagram of parallel dune is seen in (Appendix B Figure 1.2) where it is shown how a transverse dune develops. The final type of dune is the parabolic dune. Parabolic dunes are the result of blowouts. They are large dunes that are shaped like a horse shoe, and develop in dune systems running parallel to the coast. Their formation is linked to onshore winds. (Appendix B Figure 1.3) shows how parabolic dunes are the resultant of primary wind direction. Question 2. Analyse the impacts due to both human-induced modifications and natural stress on both ecosystems at risk. How does each ecosystem adjust in response to natural stress? Coral Reefs Human Modifications Human dependence on the Great Barrier Reef has been for many thousands of years. As human populations grow the demand for coral reef resources will increase as well. Over-fishing of the coral reef often occurs when there is an increase in the human population, as there is a greater demand for seafood. Fishermen usually target those fish that are closely connected with the coral, like snappers. When these species decrease in population fisherman target all fish using methods like spears and nets. Through observation it has been proven that coral with no fish near are more prone to overgrowth by macro-algae and increases in coral diseases. There is also physical damage sustained by the coral, through the anchors and nets. Tourism is an additional human induced factor impacting coral reefs, and especially the Great Barrier Reef. One of tourisms foremost asset the Great Barrier Reef brings in $4 billion a year. Research performed by James Cook University of Cairns found several comprehensive impacts of tourism on the reef. The first being coastal tourism development, where many people visiting the reef want to stay as close to the reef as possible. The coastal developments near and around the Great Barrier Reef disrupt currents and gravitate to the displacement of sediment. There is also increase tourism on the islands near the reef causing problems linked with sewage and rubbish. Marine based tourism also occurs in the Great Barrier Reef with the anchor chains of boats having catastrophic effects on the coral. Although operators are very careful when it comes to tourist interaction with coral animals, some tourists negatively interact with the wildlife causing complications in the breeding cycles and n atural interactions. (Appendix A Figure 1.2) reveals how close some tourist get to the coral. Climate change is another contributor of human-induced modification to the Great Barrier Reef. Some of the effects of climate change include changes in rainfall patterns, changes to ocean currents and circulation and increase in sea surface temperature. Especially a rise in sea surface temperature will mean coral bleaching events will occur, creating mass damage through the reef. (Appendix B Figure 1.4) depicts the linkage between average temperatures and bleaching events (one being in 1998 and the other being in 2002). The chemical structure of the water is also changed with greater amounts of carbon dioxide dissolved in the water. Added on with rising sea levels could spell the destruction of coral reefs. An example of climate change affecting the fauna of reef is through the turtle. Turtle gender is determined through the temperature of the water, with warmer temperatures resulting in greater numbers of female turtles, creating a gender imbalance. (Appendix B Figure 1.5) shows the extent to which coral bleaching occurred in 2002, in accordance with the sea temperature. Natural Stresses Natural stresses are dangerous to reefs but the reef ecosystem can usually recover and adapt to the change. This is because natural change usually occurs over a long period of time, allowing the ecosystem to adapt. One natural stress is the Crown of Thorns Starfish. Crown of Thorns Starfish are known for eating the coral polyps. Coral reefs can only withstand a low population of these starfish. When the conditions are right for the starfish they can grow in numbers to plague proportions and have harmful consequences on the hard coral population. It could take the reefs up to many years to recover from plague numbers of starfish. Weather is another natural stress that inflicts damage to coral reefs. Coral thrive best in warm, salty waters. They are generally found in shallow clear waters, which help the zooxanthaelae algae to undertake photosynthesis. When there are changes in temperature and salinity, due to excessive rain, stress is placed on the coral polyps. This stress causes the coral polyps to eject the algae, which results in coral bleaching. For example it was reported in 2010 of mass coral bleaching occurring throughout South-East Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. The reason behind the bleaching was increased water temperatures. Low levels of water also impact coral, through being exposed to the sun for long periods of time the coral polyps consequently dry up. (Appendix B Figure 1.6) demonstrates the future implications to current scenarios facing the reef ecosystem. Coastal Dunes Human Modifications The main reasons to human induced modifications on dunes are the ever growing desires of humans to live on the coasts, and the increase in human population. Coastal development is occurring all over the world, due to the demand of humans to live near water. Most coastal development involves the process of flattening the parallel dunes to build. These actions result in the flow of sand inland being disrupted, and the protective barrier situated between the land and the sea vanishes. Another form of coastal development affecting coastal dunes is reclamation. Reclamation involves building a wall that is some distance off the coast. It is done to extend the land out into water, and is extremely harmful to dune ecosystems, as it alters the movement of sediment along the coast. The areas that are reclaimed usually provide sand for dune development and growth. Humans also destroy the coastal dunes through the recreational practices that take place. When people try to make their way to beaches they usually trample along plants. This creates holes in the dunes and invites resilient weeds to grow. Most vegetation degradation occurs in the foredune, which happens to be the most important part of the dune system. The weight of vehicles and other means of transport compact the sand, resulting in the sand having less oxygen and therefore less plant growth. For example in Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada research has found that the number of vehicles having access to the dunes has caused the deeper sand to become compact and surface sand to loosen. The loosened sand becomes vulnerable to wind erosion, and causes a decrease in the rate of organic decay. Coastal dunes are very specialised and tenuous. When there is an introduction in a flora and/or fauna species, this creates havoc in the dune ecosystem. One species that has caused major dune damage is the rabbit. The rabbits were introduced to Australia by the First Fleet and have been destructive ever since their introduction. Rabbits impact coastal dunes through eating the grasses and other vegetation, reducing the ground cover and they expose sand to wind erosion. An example of floral impact on the coastal dunes is the detrimental bitou bush. Once the bitou bush has entered the dune system it quickly takes over and kills all the native plants. The bitou bush is so successful due to its high-volume of seed production, large root systems and having no predators in Australia. (Appendix A Figure 1.3) An example of bitou bush monoculture on dune systems. Natural Stresses The major natural factor impacting dunes is storm damage. Storm-induced waves are able to cause a great deal of damage to the structure of the dune system. The ferocious power of the storm can leave the beaches degraded with little sediment, for dune reconstruction. Structural damage comes in two main forms, washovers, and washouts. An example of a major storm damage that has happened was in 1999 on the coastline of Byron Bay, New South Wales. The waves were as high as 3-metres, with the storms created mass coastal erosion. A further example of storms impacting coastal dunes was in Stockton Beach, Newcastle in 2007. The storms occurred over the June long weekend and resulted in approximately 100,000 cubic metres worth of sand being lost, as well as structural damage like erosion around sea walls. This caused major disturbance to the coastal dune functioning, as will take a long time to recover. Dune systems dont have perfectly shaped surfaces. The dunes often have recessions and elevations. When a storm-wave height surpasses the height of a recession in the dune, water seeps into the dune creating a washover. With consecutive storm-induced waves the washover impression deepens and widens, causing major damage. Recurring, powerful storms also cause damage to the flora of the dune, further decelerating the process of regeneration. (Appendix B Figure 1.7) makes evident how washovers make rifts in the dune tops. An example of how washovers have caused damage to dunes was the major storm damage that occurred at the Newcastle Port in 1974. The storm had wind gusts up to 165 kilometres/per hour, and swells were over 17 metres high. The impact of the storm on the dunes was the well-built foredunes had been completely flattened. Washouts are linked with the penetration of sand barriers like those that segregate coastal lagoon from the open sea, after there has been a period of substantial rainfall. Washouts can also occur in dune systems, when there is a build-up of water in the swales that separate dunes. When there are slumps in the dunes surfaces, the water gets directed through the low points and overspills onto the beach, sometimes transport sand with it. Most if not all ecosystems are affected by both human and natural stresses. Though the difference between the stresses is that ecosystems are able to adapt and overcome natural stresses, while human stresses cause great damage to ecosystems. An example of a natural stress impacting coastal dunes is a washover. Washovers can have significant damage to the dune system, and the dune system must adjust. One form of adjustment is through the accretion cycle. Constructive waves bring sand to the beach from the sea. The sand is dried from the wind and sunlight, and is then able to be transferred to the dunes. Like washovers coastal dunes adapt to washouts in a similar fashion. One way in which coral reefs especially the Great Barrier Reef responds to natural stresses like currents is by taking the shape of the stress. This helps the ecosystem in adapting to the stress and alleviating the consequences of the stress. Question 3. Compare and contrast the vulnerability and resilience of the two ecosystems at risk. All ecosystems have vulnerabilities and resilience. Location is one vulnerability. Coral reefs tend to be greater impacted by location than coastal dunes, as coral reefs are more specialised than coastal dunes. For example for coral reefs to thrive they need a certain water temperature. The temperature should be between 25 Degrees Celsius and 29 Degrees Celsius. An increase in temperature in the summer months has devastating consequences. As seen in the 2010 mass bleaching in the South-East Asian region which came with increased temperatures. On the other hand coastal dunes are more resilient to temperature changes. Coastal dunes are able to better adapt to temperature changes and only with a great increase in temperature change will coastal dunes become less resilient. On the other hand a loss of land has more impact on coastal dunes than coral reefs. Coastal dunes have greater vulnerability to a loss of land because they are not large in size. If dune land is taken for human uses like parkland or parking spaces, unwanted competition is created within the dune flora and fauna. For example at Long Beach, Collaroy a large amount of the dune system was replaced with a car park area and grass land. This reduced the area of the dune system and created competition within the ecosystem. (Appendix A Figure 1.4) Long Reef Beach were has been redeveloped to fit human wants. In contrast the Great Barrier Reef is more resilient to reef area being taken. The reef being approximately 2,300 kilometres means that even if a few kilometres of reef area is taken, it will not have a major effect on the reef flora and fauna. The Great Barrier Reef has a large degree of biodiversity, therefore making it more resilient to changes in diversity than coastal dunes. The Great Barrier Reef has around 1,500 species of fish, species of sea grass in beds, 500 coral species and more, showing great diversity. (Appendix B Figure 1.8) shows the diverse range of fish and coral species within the reef, compared to another reef. If for example one producer being algae is ended then there are other producers like sea plants that secondary consumers can feed on. While coastal dunes have very extreme environments, therefore only few flora and fauna are able to survive. This limits the diversity within the ecosystem, and if one primary consumer for example is killed off then there is competition for food, resulting in disequilibrium. Ecosystems with greater interdependence like the Great Barrier Reef can accommodate for change more easily, while coastal dunes (who have harsh conditions, which lowers there flora fauna populat ions), are more susceptible to change. Question 4. Evaluate the traditional and contemporary approaches to management and protection of both ecosystems. Coral Reefs Traditional Management Strategies Traditional management approaches were mostly used by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The Aboriginals focused on preserving the reefs and maintaining equilibrium in the ecosystem. The first traditional management plan was season hunting. Season hunting involved hunting only occurring at specific designated times of the year, for example summer. This strategy guaranteed that there would be flora and fauna available for the future generations. The Aboriginals and Islanders only took what resources they needed from the reef, which helped in maintaining dynamic equilibrium in the reef. Another impressive traditional management tactic used by the Aboriginals in maintaining the reefs was restrictions on fish sizes. This practice involved only catching fish of a certain length or above. Through this practice the fish of the Great Barrier Reef were given the chance to reproduce at least once before they were caught. This let the ecosystem maintain levels of fauna. Contemporary Management Strategies Coral reefs are also maintained through contemporary management strategies, with a startegy being zoning. Zoning involves establishing what can be done and where it can be done. The purpose of zoning is to diminish stress placed on certain areas of the reef. An example of zoning is allowing commercial fishing to occur in some parts of the reef, while tourism developments in other parts. Another way in which reefs can be preserved is through benchmark data. Benchmark data is comparing the ecosystem that is at risk with the standard of that ecosystem. Benchmark data helps in understanding whether the reef ecosystem is at the standard that it should be. For example the standard level globally for the amount of dissolved nitrogen in the water of coral reefs is 0.014ppm. Benchmark data is important in interpreting the risk factor the reef ecosystem has. The managing of tourism on the reef is also a significant factor of contemporary management strategies. Tourism generally has a negative impact on the reef, so its important that these tourists learn more about the reefs and the need to manage them. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) makes all tourists pay a certain fee when visiting the reefs, so they can reinvest the money into the reef. One of the major issues regarding tourism in reefs is the concentration on certain areas. For example, around 85% of all Great Barrier Reef tourism occurs in the areas of Cairns and Whitsunday Islands. Though they only make up 7% of the entire Great Barrier Reef putting immense risk on these areas. Over the years there have been many pontoon accidents in the reef and so the GBRMPA decided to ban all pontoon activity unless granted otherwise. Tourism also impacts the wildlife and breeding cycles. Fauna have certain places and times when they are breeding and sometimes humans distu rb their cycles. For example research found that many bird species that regularly bred on Michaelmas Cays had stopped breeding due to the growing tourist activity on the island. Coastal Dunes Traditional Management Strategies Very little is known on the traditional Aboriginal ways of the management of coastal dunes. The findings of middens, which are mounds of shells, are indicators to the type of marine environment in the area, and the time that the Aborigines used the resources. Totems were also used by Aboriginals. Totems are animals assumed as an emblem to an individual or family. For many Aborigines the totems were an animal ancestor of theirs. They were not allowed to eat their totem animals or harm it in anyway. This management strategy helped in making sure species were not overhunted. The most known form of Aboriginal management of coastal dunes was back-burning. Back-burning occurred through fires or fire stick farming, and would occur during cool periods so the fires would not get out of hand and kill the whole ecosystem. Contemporary Management Strategies For successful dune protection to occur, the natural functioning of the dune must be sustained, while allowing humans to use the coastal dune ecosystem in a sustainable manner. As dune restoration is extremely costly many bodies of power have used strategies that protect the current dunes, and keep them in the best possible condition. One strategy imposed is land-use controls. Through state and local governments there is the ability to have stricter planning laws on human activities on dunes. Local governments have the power to accept or decline any development applications on the dunes. This would help the dune system function in a more natural state. Dune stabilisation is also an important feature to management and involves securing exposed sand and stopping it from blowing away. One way of doing this is through reshaping the dunes. Reshaping transpires through the use of earthmoving equipment that makes the dunes more aerodynamic shaped. Reshaping is able to create the needed form of the dune for vegetation and organisms to become established on the dunes. Dune reconstruction usually occurs on dunes that lack in sand. As it is expensive to import sand, chemicals and other inorganic fertilisers are used. If dune reconstruction is applied with other efficient management methods like revegetation, then it is extremely positive for the dune, as seen in Texas, USA where sand dunes using this method have grown by 2 or 3 metres in only 2 years. The most successful method for dune stabilisation is revegetation. Revegetation is proven to be the least expensive, most durable and is able to self-maintain. The main role of dune plants is to trap and hold wind-borne sand. The leaves of vegetation also play a part, as they disturb the movement of sand by saltation and surface creep. Revegetation usually takes on the form of developing a plant succession on the dunes. If the dune is somewhat degraded then pioneer dune grasses, like sand spinifex, are brought in to stabilise the dune, then introduced are the secondary vegetation like she oaks and finally tertiary species like coastal trees. As coastal dunes are extremely harsh and specialised ecosystems it is preferred that the seedlings of the revegetation come from neighbouring areas, as the vegetation has experienced the conditions. Revegetation does not come cheap and is particularly labour-intensive. Through the actions of volunteers like Dune Care, dune revegetation is able to occur more often and with fewer expenses. (Appendix A Figure 1.5) an example of successful dune revegetation occurring on coastal dunes. Conclusion Both coral reefs and coastal dunes are extreme environments in their own ways. They face common problems in terms of the biophysical interactions and human stresses, but also contrasting difficulties with one being more vulnerable than the other. Much importance must be placed on preserving both ecosystems as they offer us many resources. Efficient management approaches must also be used to sustain them for future generations. These environments offer humans an insight into the power and ferocity that is instilled in Mother Nature. The ecosystems have adapted to the many conditions they have faced, and will continue as long as we can help preserve them.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Changes In Democracy: From Early Athenian To Present Day Politics Essay

Democracy: From Early Athenian To Present Day Politics. When following current events we can’t help but witness politicians use terms such as â€Å"defending freedom†, â€Å"liberty†, or â€Å"democracy†, but one is simply left wondering if the general public, or even the politicians themselves, know what those terms really mean or where they come from. The reality is that most don’t. The ideals of living in a democracy have been drastically changed from their original meanings and diluted into persuasive political language to become mere rhetoric as opposed to meaningful concepts of ethical and moral value.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The word democracy is thrown around to make convincing, patriotic speeches that many times are utilized to usurp the rights and property of peoples in the name of this most sacred of political concepts in the history of western civilization. In order to better understand the true meaning of this idea we must go back to its roots and search for the original intentions behind it. We must find the similarities and differences between Greek democracy and modern day democracy. By separating the two we can see how distant they are from each other. Without a clear understanding of the history involved we are easily blinded by the eloquence and charisma that politicians utilize to control the populace.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Democracy dates back to the Golden Age of Greece or the Classic Period. Not yet an organized, centralized nation Greece was made up of warring city-states none of which possessed full control over its neighbors. During this period and under these circumstances there was a tremendous advancement in Greek thought encompassing philosophy, politics, medicine, mathematics, and the sciences to name just a few areas of influence that still maintain a strong Greek legacy today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Of all the Greek city-states it was Athens that gave birth to many of the political philosophies that still survive today. At around 600 B.C.E Athens was in severe economic, social, and political crisis. It was then that a rich aristocrat named Solon emerged to produce for Athens its first comprehensive set of political rules and regulations, overhauling the constitution, reining in the plutocrats, and giving decent measure of power and responsibility to the moderately well-off non-aristocrats. He also provided some legal... ...of a city (Minogue, p.11).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Unfortunately we have not kept the best of these ideas. In modern day politics rationality is no longer paramount. It is the reason we see the influence of politicians full of arrogance, believing in the superiority of their own authority trying to amass power through the use of the ancient Greek political concepts. Modern day politicians, mostly American, attempt to use emotion, not reason when addressing the American people. It is with great sadness that as we have witnessed with the last election this notion succeeded and now under the banner of â€Å"values† and fear will exploit the ignorance of the general public. Cartledge, Paul. The Greeks: Crucible of Civilizations. New York: TV Books, 2000 Freeman, Charles. The Greek Achievement: The Foundation of The Western World. New York: Viking Penguin, 1999 Martin, Thomas, R. Ancient Greece: From Prehistoric To Hellenistic Times. London: Yale University Press, 1996 Minogue, Kenneth. Politics: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995 Pomeroy, Sarah, et al. Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999

Im Not Really Like That, Am I? :: Men Women Female Male Macho Essays

I'm Not Really Like That, Am I? Once upon a time . . . Who am I kidding? It was yesterday. I was reading the article "I'll Explain It to You," by Deborah Tannen. Now I'm a male and I'll have to admit, I feel like I've been persecuted. She claims men can be macho, dominating, and self-centered with a woman during a conversation. I feel this is a horrible stereotype to give us. We don't really act like that. To prove my point I'll use a conversation I had with three other people: two girls and another guy. Now this conversation will clearly prove that we (men) aren't how Tannen describes us in her article. Before I describe the conversation, I should begin by talking about some of the situations that led up to it. For instance, I came up to the group of people wanting to speak to my friend. He wasn’t doing much of anything, besides sitting on a couch. So I sat down beside him and I started to have a conversation with him. Now I noticed that the two girls, who were sitting on the couch beside him, were attractive so I began to speak a little more openly. This encouraged the girls to join in (my plan was just starting). They became interested in what we were talking about and began to give their opinions on what we were discussing, which leads into the discussion . . . The topic of this conversation was relationships. When the girls became interested they asked, "What are you guys talking about?" My friend answered, "Women, and how they play with our minds." Now see, two guys can have a perfectly meaningful conversation without degrading anyone. Of course, I then asked one of them if she would like to play with my mind, but that just got us off track of the conversation. Oh, no! I just proved one of Tannen's point's by making a joke. Not only a senseless joke, but a macho joke. Tannen claims that men tend to tell more jokes than women during conversation. According to the article, telling jokes can be a way of negotiating status (266). The article also claims that because women do not care if they hold center stage in a group, they are less likely to use jokes as a form of getting their audience's attention. So, I guess by telling my flirtatious joke, I demonstrated how men like to hold control of a conversation.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Bill Gates :: essays research papers fc

Bill Gates went from an upper middle-class family to the one of the richest men in the world; who owns the largest software company, Microsoft. Neither Bill, nor Microsoft have reached their peak, but many events helped to lead them to where they are today. In the beginning, Bill Gates, a skinny, shy awkward boy born on October 28, 1955 to Mary and William Gates. As a teenager, Bill seemed an unlikely successor to his overachieving parents. His father, an attorney and his mother a teacher, University of Washington regent, and chairwoman of the United Way placed him in Lakeside. This is a very elite private school. It was there, that Bill was first introduced to computers. The following year, he wrote his first computer program, then a scheduling program for the school - which coincidentally placed him and his best friend, Paul Allen, in the same classes as the prettiest girls in the school. Bill was accepted to Harvard University in the fall of 1973. Bill did not willingly venture to parties as most college students do, unless dragged there by his friend Steve Ballmer, whom he later repaid by naming him president of Microsoft. He slacked off a bit always trying to get the highest grades by putting in the least amount of energy. In his second year he dropped out, he and Paul Allen founded a company called Traf-O-Data, which analyzed city traffic data. Though a good idea, there was not much need for it. After reading an article in Popular Mechanics, Gates and Allen contacted M.I.T.S. in regards to providing software for the new computer Altair 8800. They were soon contracted for programming languages and moved to New Mexico and started Micro-soft (the hyphen would later be dropped). Soon IBM contacted the two asking for an operating system for their first personal computer. Bill told them he would be happy to make an operating system, although that’s not exactly wh at he did. Gates purchased a system QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System) for $50,000 from another company, changed the named to MS-DOS and sold it to IBM. So on the contrary to public opinion, Bill Gates did not write MS-DOS, he bought it, changed it slightly, and put his name on it. In order for Microsoft to get to the top, they had to have a very good business strategy. Their strategy is to sell software at low prices, until people are hooked.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Global warming and our economy Essay

Global Warming is always been a debatable issue since last century and with the rise of globalization, this issue is in continues focus. This paper will discuss effects of global warming in this era of global economy. This relates to our interest in giving social rationales the centrality that it deserves. By social purpose we mean that all environmental politics as well as policy reflect particular point of view, values, and preference. Even if nature challenges political economy, it does not leave it unnecessary. This paper highlights that various view points of analysts who understand and speak for nature. And therefore speak in many voices. However, the reasons for focusing on social purpose are not only moral. In fact, it is not probable to make sense of the origins, impacts, and effectiveness of policies, including environmental policies, without understanding how they classify and affect the universe of stakeholders implicated. Introduction: Global warming has emerged as a prevailing issue, can help understand whether it will remain so and what kinds of solutions are practical. It makes a great deal of difference to recognize whether the fate of global climate policy is obsessed by scientists or energy concerns. In addition, and without contradicting the role of scientific advice, it makes for a much more precise analysis to know how scientific networks are themselves engaged in politics and that scientific knowledge is internally challenged. Thus, in promoting the idea of global economy, how do select the most important risks to be avoided? All too often, decisions are not made realistically, but primarily on how scarily the scenario can be portrayed. Global warming is one of these cases. Main Body: Global warming is a natural phenomenon to which human literally owes their lives. Without natural global warming, this planet would be thirty-five degrees colder, bitterly cold at night and hot during the day. Global warming is typically (some estimate 75 percent to 80 percent) caused by natural phenomena, such as cloud cover, temperature gradients, the heat absorption of the seas, etc. The question raised is whether so-called greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, considerably add to global warming. And, if they do, is the calculated increase more or less than the natural variation that would occur without the â€Å"greenhouse† gases? It all started in 1988, which was a mainly warm year. Despite the fact that similar temperature variations had occurred several times in history, suddenly this phenomenon became headline grabbing news. A climatologist by the name of Jim Hansen at NASA’s Goddard Space Institute testified at a Senate hearing that he was persuaded that the warm temperatures that year were a consequence of the greenhouse effect. He postulated that carbon dioxide coming from industrial activity was causing the atmosphere to replicate heat from the earth back to the ground, thus raising temperatures (Joseph, 2000). As Hansen expressed a â€Å"high degree of confidence† that the unusual rise in temperature in 1988 was linked to this greenhouse effect, it made big, scary headlines, implanting it in popular thought. As a result, few people today have any doubt that there is a greenhouse effect and that it does grounds global warming. The basic implication is that the result will be bad for humanity. Yet, every one of those popularly held opinions is open to serious question (Joseph, 2000). In his book, Sound and Fury: The Science and Politics of Global Warming, which was published in 1992, Patrick J. Michaels debunks these ideas. Fred Singer, a climatologist with perfect credentials, has not only called all of these notions into serious question but has presented a scary assessment of the costs that will be incurred if the apocalyptic vision of global warming is the cause of unwise along with costly legislation. Other noted climatologists took issue with Hansen’s predictions. First of all, the basic data upon which he postulated his scary headlines were questioned. There are several other records of global temperatures that indicate that NASA’s data were perhaps 30 percent too high. The grounds of this variation can be in the way each of the groups measured those temperatures. So, the fundamental effect that Hansen was scaring us with may have been grossly incorrect. Then, and this error is evident to anyone, he took the average temperatures for the first ten years of the fifty-year period and compared them with the average temperature of the last ten years, totally ignoring what happened in between! Selecting only those data that support your thesis is pretty intuitive. As a matter of fact, historical data shows that increases and decreases of temperatures from year to year are wider than the ones Hansen used to scare us to death. Furthermore, the computer program that projected global warming was tested against history by Hansen’s critics. It shows completely no correlation with any global warming over the past fifty years — and these were the years in which carbon dioxide emissions improved dramatically. The major vehicle of global-warming optimism has been the Hoover Institute, a conservative think tank, under whose banner Thomas Gale Moore has coined a signature slogan for the cynic: â€Å"Global change is inevitable—warmer is better, richer is healthier† (Moore 1997). For pure evangelistic eagerness in the face of â€Å"global warmists,† few can excel Moore, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute. Moore’s 1998 book A Politically Incorrect View of Global Warming: Foreign Aid Masquerading as Climate Policy was published by the Cato Institute. Moore believes, â€Å"Global warming, if it were to occur, would probably benefit most Americans† (Moore 1997). If global climate models point out that a rising in the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will cause temperatures to increase more at night than during the day, so much the better, according to Moore. Moore asserts that ninety percent of human deaths occur in categories that are more general in winter than summer (Moore 1996). Left unmentioned by Moore is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) estimate that a doubling-up of carbon dioxide levels could lead to about 10,000 estimated additional deaths per year for the current population of the United States from higher summer temperatures, yet after factoring in the helpful effects of warmer winters and assuming that people in a warmer world will become somewhat adapted to their environment. Moore argues, to the contrary, that human civilization has flourished throughout warm periods of history, and declined while climate cooled. Therefore, Moore argues that a warmer world will benefit human society and economy. In addition, he enthuses, â€Å"Less snow and ice would reduce transportation delays and accidents. A warmer winter would cut heating costs, more than offsetting any increase in air conditioning expenses in the summer. Manufacturing, mining and most services would be unaffected. Longer growing seasons, more rainfall and higher concentrations of carbon dioxide would benefit plant growth†. (Moore 1997) Virtually any attempt to ameliorate global warming, according to Moore, would entail â€Å"a huge price for virtually no benefit† (Moore 1997). The best way to deal with potential climate change, says Moore, â€Å"is not to embark on a futile attempt to prevent it, but to promote growth and prosperity so that people will have the resources to deal with it: Global warming is likely to be good for most of mankind. The additional carbon, rain and warmth should promote the plant growth necessary to sustain an expanding world population† (Moore 1997). Contrary to some scientists, who project an intensification of storms in a warmer world, Moore believes, â€Å"Warmer periods bring benign rather than more violent weather† (Moore 1995). Moore, like most greenhouse skeptics, celebrates humankind’s dominance of nature. Patrick J. Michaels agrees with Moore, writing, â€Å"Moderate climate change would be inordinately directed into the winter and night, rather than the summer, and that this could be benign or even beneficial†¦. [T]he likely warming, based on the observed data [would be] between 1. 0 and 1. 5 degrees C. for doubling the natural carbon dioxide† (Michaels 1998) Michaels draws on research by Robert Balling, indicating â€Å"that observed changes are largely confined to winter in the very coldest continental air masses of Siberia and northwestern North America† (Michaels N. d. ). According to Michaels, atmospheric carbon dioxide is escalating at slower-than-expected levels as more of it is being captured by plants whose growth is being keyed up by the carbon dioxide itself. Many scientists criticize Moore’s analysis as simplistic. According to George M. Woodwell, president and director of the Woods Hole (Massachusetts) Research Center, evidence explaining that higher temperatures will have little effect on rates of photosynthesis, a course that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Instead, warming will raise rates of respiration amongst some organisms, thus releasing more carbon dioxide. A 1 degree C. (1. 8 degree F. ) increase in temperature often raises rates of respiration in some organisms by ten percent to thirty percent. Warming will thus speed the decomposition of organic matter in soils, peat in bogs, and organic wreckage in marshes. Indeed, the higher temperatures of the last few decades seem to have accelerated the decomposition of organic matter in the Arctic tundra (Woodwell 1999). Woodwell suggests, also, that global warming will lean to erode habitat for large, long-lived plants (such as trees) supportive of small plants with short lifetimes and rapid reproduction rates, such as shrubs and weeds. He says that the death of some plants and their decay will liberate more stored carbon into the atmosphere (Woodwell 1999). Many global-warming skeptics argue that the sunspot cycle is causing a considerable part of the warming that has been measured by surface thermometers throughout the twentieth century’s final two decades. Accurate measurements of the sun’s energy output have been taken just since about 1980, however, so their archival value for comparative purposes is relentlessly limited. Michaels, editor of the World Climate Report, cites a study of sunspot-related solar brightness conducted by Judith Lean and Peter Foukal, who assert that roughly half of the 0. 55 degree C. of warming observed since 1850 is an effect of changes in the sun’s radiative output. â€Å"That would leave,† says Michaels, â€Å"at best, 0. 28 degree C. [due] to the greenhouse effect† (Michaels 1996). J. J. Lean and her associates also estimate that more or less one-half of the warming of the last 130 years has resulted from variations in the sun’s delivery of radiant energy to the earth (Lean, Beer, and Bradley 1995). As solar inconsistency has a role in climate change, Martin I. Hoffert and associates believe that those who make it the means variable are overplaying their hand: â€Å"Although solar effects on this century’s climate may not be negligible, quantitative considerations imply that they are small relative to the anthropogenic release of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide† (Hoffert et al. 1999, 764). Like lots of his fellow skeptics, Fred Singer believes that a â€Å"warmer climate would, overall, be good for Americans, improve the economy, and put more money in the pockets of the average family† (Singer 1999). Singer, professor emeritus of environmental sciences at the University of Virginia and president of the Science and Environmental Policy Project, advises adaption to a warmer world: â€Å"Farmers are not dumb; they will adapt to changes—as they always do. They will plant the right crops, select the best seeds, and choose the appropriate varieties to take advantage of longer growing seasons, warmer nights, and of course the higher levels of carbon dioxide that make plants and trees grow faster†. (Singer 1999)