The Help Fictional Story Movie Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Help Fictional Story Movie Analysis - Essay Example Despite the difficulties the maids face at the hands of their racist employers, they are so remorseful and take good care of their employers’ children. In fact, the maids are portrayed as so loving to the employers’ children despite the harsh treatments they get from their bosses. Despite being looked down upon by their employers, the maids transform the life of a young white woman by empowering her to write a novel about them. Several themes emerge from the movie some of which include love, racial intolerance, class, and gender. Although the film is based on the Jim Crow era when America was deeply divided along racial line, love features prominently in the film. For instance, although the maids live with abusive employers, they show a lot of love to the children that they take care of. In real life, I have experienced what love can do in the midst of hatred and discrimination. In certain parts of Florida, I have noticed that people’s attitudes toward people of color, Blacks especially, are quite negative. It is not uncommon for one to hear a white expressing his/her dislike for blacks in subtle ways. While some people of color may opt to counter such attitudes and sentiments with negative words, others have taken to ignoring the negative attitudes, instead of countering them with love. From experience, I have realized that the persistent sharing of love with potential adversaries has a huge positive impact. Those who hate their others gradually change their negative attitudes when they are proven to be wrong through acts of love. The film is based mainly on the racism that was being practiced in America in the 1950s. In this regard, the movie tells of how the black maids are abused by their white employers who appears not to appreciate what they do.  

Working with and leading people Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Working with and leading people - Essay Example His recruits learnt to support each other during difficult times; it was a lesson on showing concern for one’s teammate. This is a depiction of the principle stage of Tuckman’s Teamwork Theory which discusses the formulation of the team. This is a stage where each individual is trying to find his/her role in the team, they are sizing each other up and there are cases of doubt to one’s purpose (Tuckman Bruce, 1965) Oliver tasked the recruits with challenging assignments like working night shifts at the bakery. Knowing the difficulty level of his challenge, he appeared for some of the shifts and he worked alongside his recruits. At the end of the training they were expected to work together as a team in a commercial kitchen, they therefore had to develop a sense of devotion towards each other. To foster this devotion, Oliver took his recruits for camping activities and later on he tested them by taking them through a simulation test. They were tasked with the duty of preparing meals for fifty clients. The purpose of the simulation was to see how they worked under pressure. This was in line with Tuckman’s second stage theory which is the Storming. At this level they have started seeing themselves as a team however, this stage is characterized by confrontations and various levels of conflict. This is expected due to the pressure put on them by Oliver. As per the expectations, some of them crumbled when the scene got chaotic. This was however, part of the team building process. At the end of the training, the recruits were assured of a job working for Oliver. They therefore had an end in mind. This sense of purpose according to Dr. Belbin, M. 2014 is the motivator for teamwork. Oliver demonstrated participative leadership when he engaged with his recruits in their daily tasks, when he helped them solve problems that occurred at the ground level. His hands on approach was in line with the Participative Leadership Theory which

High Fracture Toughness of Al2O3-TiN0.3 Composites

High Fracture Toughness of Al2O3-TiN0.3 Composites High fracture toughness of Al2O3-TiN0.3 composites prepared via spark plasma sintering Lina Qiaoa, b, Yucheng Zhaoa, Mingzhi Wanga, à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃƒ ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ªÃƒ ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ , Yana Yea, Junxing Zhanga, Qin Zoua, Qian Yanga, Hua Dengc, Ying Xingc Abstract Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites with different TiN0.3 contents were spark plasma sintered at 1300–1600  °C for 10 min. Phase identification was characterized through X-ray diffraction. Microstructures were observed using a scanning electron microscope. The fracture toughness of the composite with 30 vol% TiN0.3 sintered at 1500  °C reaches to the highest value of 6.91 MPa m1/2. Based on the first-principles density functional theory, the density of states for TiN and TiNx was calculated. The covalent bonding is weakened and the metallic bonding is strengthened as the nitrogen concentration is reduced in nonstoichiometric TiNx. The active slip systems determined by covalent bonding for the nitrides are possibly increased by adding nonstoichiometric TiN0.3, which improves the fracture toughness of Al2O3-based composites. Keywords: Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites;Fracture toughness; Slip system; Bond calculation 1. Introduction Alumina (Al2O3) ceramics are essential structural materials, but the inherent brittleness has inhibited their applications [1, 2]. The fracture toughness can be improved substantially by adding a secondary reinforcing phase into the matrix. The effects of TiN particles on the mechanical properties of Al2O3-based composites have been widely studied [3–9]. Shen et al. [9] reported that the fracture toughness of Al2O3–TiN composites prepared via spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1500  °C reaches to a maximum value of 5.7 MPa m1/2. Li et al. [1] studied the mechanical properties of TiN–Al2O3 nanocomposites prepared by hot pressing at 1550  °C, and pointed out that the highest fracture toughness is 5.27 MPa m1/2. However, there have been few reports about the effects of nonstoichiometric TiN0.3 on the fracture toughness of Al2O3-based composites. In this study, nonstoichiometricTiN0.3 was added into Al2O3 matrix, and the effects of TiN0.3 on the mechanical properties (especially fracture toughness) of the composites were discussed. Nonstoichiometric TiN0.3 synthesized via mechanical alloying (MA) possesses fine grain size and TiN-type structure with numerous N vacancies [10, 11], which are conducive to improving sinterability [11–14]. Furthermore, weakening covalent bond and strengthening metallic bond in TiN0.3 structure [15, 16] may have an important influence on the fracture toughness. This study aims to verify whether or not adding nonstoichiometric materials can increase the fracture toughness of Al2O3-based composites. 2. Experimental Raw materials used include TiN0.3 synthesized through MA [10, 11] and commercial powders Al2O3 (analytically pure, an average particle size of 1 ÃŽ ¼m). Powder mixtures were milled for 2 h in absolute ethanol using WC milling media on a Pulverisette 4 Vario-Planetary Mill (FRTSCH German) at 300 rpm. SPS (3.20 MK-IV, Sumitomo Coal Mining Co., Ltd.) was performed in vacuum (6Ãâ€"10−3 Pa) at different heat treatment temperatures (1300–1600  °C) for 10min at 30 MPa. The heating rate was 100  °C/min. The temperature was determined using an optical pyrometer focused on the non-through hole located on the surface of the graphite die. Phase identification was performed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) with Cu KÃŽ ± radiation by using a D/MAX-2500PC diffractometer (Rigaku). Microstructures of the specimen’s polished surface and fracture cross-sections were observed using an S-3400N (Hitachis) scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with electron back-scattered diffraction (Edax-Tsl, Ametek). The bending strength was measured with Instron-5848 MicroTester (America) using the three point bending test with a span length of 13 mm and crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Fracture toughness was determined through the Vickers indentation method proposed by Anstis et. al [17]. Measurements of the hardness and fracture toughness were conducted using an FM-700 Vickers hardness tester (Future-Tech, Japan) by indentation using a pyramidal indenter and applying a 10 kg load for 10 s. 3. Results 3.1 XRD identification and morphology observation Fig. 1 shows the XRD patterns of Al2O3–30 vol% TiN0.3 composite sintered via SPS at different temperatures in vacuum (6Ãâ€"103 Pa) for 10 min. Only TiN0.3 and ÃŽ ±-Al2O3 phases are detected in the XRD patterns. It suggests that no chemical reaction occurs between the second phase and the matrix. Fig. 2 shows the back-scattered SEM micrograph of the polished surface of Al2O3–30 vol% TiN0.3 composite sintered via SPS at 1400  °C in vacuum (6Ãâ€"103 Pa) for 10 min. The gray grains are Al2O3, while the white ones are TiN0.3. TiN0.3 grains are uniformly dispersed in Al2O3 matrix. Fig. 3 shows the microstructure of the fracture cross-sections of Al2O3–30 vol% TiN0.3 composite sintered via SPS at different temperatures in vacuum (6Ãâ€"103 Pa) for 10 min. When the sintering temperature is raised to 1400  °C, the grain size of the composite is fine and approximately 2 ÃŽ ¼m for Al2O3; the fracture mode is mainly intergranular (Fig. 3 b). Then the gains grew obviously with further raising the sintering temperature, here ~3-4 ÃŽ ¼m at 1500  °C and ~4-5 ÃŽ ¼m at 1600  °C for Al2O3; the fracture modes are intergranular and transgranular (Fig. 3 c and d). In addition, Al2O3–30 vol% TiN0.3 composite has not reached full density at 1300  °C, as indicated both by the SEM observations (Fig. 3) and measured hardness values (Fig. 5). Fig. 4 shows the microstructure of the fracture cross-sections of Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites with different TiN0.3 contents sintered via SPS at 1400  °C in vacuum (6Ãâ€"103 Pa) for 10 min. The grain size of Al2O3 existed in all samples does not change significantly. It is not agreement with the previous study that the addition of TiN effectively inhibits the grain growth of Al2O3 [9]. This phenomenon may be attributed to the fact that Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites have good sinterability. In addition, the fracture morphology is influenced by TiN0.3 content in these samples. The fracture mode of Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites with TiN0.3 contents from 10 vol% to 30 vol% (Fig. 4 a–c) is mainly intergranular. But, the fracture modes of Al2O3–TiN0.3 composite with 40 vol% TiN0.3 (Fig. 4 d) are intergranular and transgranular. The explanation for the fracture mode change is that the grain boundaries in Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites are strengthened, inhibiting inter granular crack propagation. 3.2 Mechanical properties Fig. 5 a shows the Vickers hardness of Al2O3–30 vol% TiN0.3 composite sintered at different temperatures. The Vickers hardness of Al2O3–30 vol% TiN0.3 composite sintered at 1400  °C reaches to the highest value of 18.75 GPa, then slightly reduces with raising the sintering temperature, which is due to grain growth [9, 18, 19] (Fig. 3 b-d). Fig. 5 b shows the Vickers hardness of Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites sintered at 1400  °C versus TiN0.3 content. The Vickers hardness of Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites with different TiN0.3 contents from 10 vol% to 40 vol% reaches to a range of 17–19 GPa, which is no significant difference from that of pure Al2O3 and close to that of Al2O3–TiN nanocomposites [1]. Fig. 6 shows the bending strength of Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites sintered at 1400  °C versus TiN0.3 content. The bending strength of Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites sintered at 1400  °C increases with increasing TiN0.3 contents from 10 vol% to 40 vol%, and is higher than that of Al2O3 ceramics. As adding TiN0.3 into Al2O3 matrix, the microstructure is improved and the grain boundaries are strengthened, which lead to an increase in the bending strength of Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites. The fracture toughness of the composite with 30 vol% TiN0.3 sintered at 1500  °C reaches to the highest value of 6.91 MPa m1/2, as shown in Fig. 5 a, which is much higher than that of nano- or micron-sized Al2O3–TiN composites [1, 4, 5, 9, 20]. And the fracture toughness of the composites sintered at 1400  °C increases with the addition of TiN0.3, and presents a maximum value of 6.60 MPa m1/2 at 30 vol% TiN0.3, then decreases with further increasing the amount of TiN0.3, as shown in Fig. 5 b. These results are in agreement with previous studies [1, 4, 5, 9, 20]. For particulate reinforced composites, many toughening mechanisms such as crack pinning, microcrack toughening, crack deflection, residual stress toughening and crack bridging have been proposed. For TiN–Al2O3 composites, Li et al. [1] reported that possible toughening mechanisms are crack deflections and/ or crack pinning; Shen et al. [9] pointed out that the predominating toughening mechanism is related to crack tilting and twisting caused by thermal expansion and/ or elastic modulus mismatch stresses. It is difficult to indicate a prevailing toughening mechanism. In this research, maybe some of these toughening mechanisms are active at the same time. Nonetheless, due to structure defect, TiN0.3 may have an important influence on the fracture toughness. It will be discussed subsequently in more detail. 4. Discussion The above experimental results suggest that adding a nonstoichiometric TiN0.3 phase is more effective for improving the fracture toughness of Al2O3-based composites. To explain the phenomenon, based on the first-principles density functional theory [15, 16, 21], the density of states (DOS) for TiN and TiNx was calculated, as shown in Fig 7. Close to the Fermi level, the DOS for TiN consists of hybridized Ti-3d and N-2p states, as shown in Fig. 7. It can be seen that the DOS for TiN at the Fermi level is not at the minimum and mainly dominated by Ti-3d states. This is an evidence that the cohesion in TiN is a complex mixture of covalent, ionic (a little) and metallic types. The new structures in the DOS for TiNx near the Fermi level can clearly be seen in Fig. 7, which are called ‘vacancy state associated structures’ [15, 16]. It can be explained by symmetry changes resulting from the vacancy sites in the lattice. Titanium atoms are completely equivalent in a perfect stoichiometric rocksalt structure. But, in a nonstoichiometric structure, both Ti neighboring levels of symmetry interact together through a vacancy (symbolized by à ¢- ¡) to establish a Ti–à ¢- ¡Ã¢â‚¬â€œTi bond which is absent in the stoichiometric titanium compound. In other words, the covalent bonding is weakened and the metallic bonding is strengthened as the nitrogen concentration is reduced in nonstoichiometric TiNx, which are indicated by the peaks observed near the Fermi level on the DOS curves in Fig. 7 and in accordance with Refs. [15, 16]. Al2O3 is a kind of brittle material due to the lack of active slip system essentially. The active slip systems determined by covalent bonding for the nitrides can be increased by adding a nonstoichiometric material. Rowcliffe et al. [22] had reported that TiC has the {111} 0> slip system at high temperature and the {110} 0> slip system at room temperature. The root cause of the change of the slip systems is that the cohesion in TiC is a complex mixture of covalent, ionic (a little) and metallic types. At low temperature, the bonding is covalent with strong, directional bonding between neighboring carbon and metal atoms; as the temperature is raised, electrons are transferred from these bonds into less localized metallic states. Such a transfer has the effect of reducing both the directionality and strength of the bonds. They also pointed out that the covalent contribution to bonding becomes less as the carbon concentration in nonstoichiometric TiCx decreases [20]. TiC and TiN crystals belong to the same space group (FM-3M, cubic system) and the atomic radii of C and N are closed. It is inferred that TiN (or TiNx) has the similar slip system. Same as previous analysis, the nitrogen concentration in TiN0.3 is very low, which leads to weakening covalent bond and strengthening metallic bond. Maybe the {111} 0> slip system, or some of it, is active at room temperature. In other words, there may be more active slip systems at room temperature in Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites. This is a major reason for the improvement of the fracture toughness of Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites. 4. Conclusions This paper introduces a new and effective method to improve the fracture toughness of Al2O3-based composites by adding a nonstoichiometric material. Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites were prepared via SPS at a relatively low temperature. The fracture toughness and bending strength of the composites have been greatly improved and the hardness is almost identical to that of Al2O3 matrix. Based on the first-principles density functional theory, the DOS for TiN and TiNx was calculated. The covalent bonding is weakened and the metallic bonding is strengthened as the nitrogen concentration is reduced in nonstoichiometric TiNx. The active slip systems determined by covalent bonding for the nitrides are possibly increased by adding nonstoichiometric TiN0.3, which improves the fracture toughness of Al2O3-based composites. Acknowledgments The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, the Science and Technology Foundation of Hebei (E2012203116), the Key Item of Education Department of Hebei (ZH2012003), Synergy Innovation Plan Project of College of Mechanical Engineering (JX2014-3), and Heavy Machinery Synergy Innovation Plan Project (ZX01-20140100-01). References [1] Jingguo Li, Lian Gao, Jingkun Guo. Mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of TiN–Al2O3 nanocomposites. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 2003; 23: 74-6. [2] Songlin Ran, Lian Gao. Electrical properties and microstructural evolution of ZrO2–Al2O3–TiN nanocomposites prepared by spark plasma sintering. Ceram. Int. 2012; 38: 4928-6. [3] Bellosi A., Guicciardi S., Tampieri A.. Development and characterization of electroconductive Si3N4–TiN composites. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 1992; 9: 93-11. [4] Rak Z. S., Czechowski J.. Manufacture and properties of Al2O3–TiN particulate composites. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 1998; 18: 380-8. [5] Bellosi A., Portu G. D., Guicciardi S.. Preparation and properties of electroconductive Al2O3-based composites. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 1992; 10: 315-9. [6] Eric Laarz, Mats Carlsson, Benot Vivien, Mats Johnsson, Mats Nygren, Lennart Bergstrà ¶m. Colloidal processing of Al2O3-based composites reinforced with TiN and TiC particulates, whiskers and nanoparticles, J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 2001; 21: 1035-9. [7] Z. J. Shen, M. Johnsson, M. Nygren. TiN/Al2O3 composites and graded laminates thereof consolidated by spark plasma sintering. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 2003; 23: 1068-8. [8] Y.H. Fei, C.Z. Huang, H.L. Liu, B. Zou. Mechanical properties of Al2O3–TiC–TiN ceramictoolmaterials. Ceram. Int. 2014; 40: 10209-5. [9] Zhijian Shen, Mats Johnsson, Mats Nygren. TiN/Al2O3 composites and graded laminates thereof consolidated by spark plasma sintering. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 2003; 23: 1068-8. [10]J. F. Sun, M. Z. Wangà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã…’Y. C. Zhao, X. P. Li, B. Y. Liang. Synthesis of titanium nitride powders by reactive ball milling of titanium and urea. J. Alloys Compd. 2009; 482: L31-3. [11] Shuai Xu, MingzhiWang, LinaQiao, JianliBing, QinZou, YuchengZhao. Enhancing the sinteringability of TiNx by introduction of nitrogen vacancy defects. Ceram. Int. 41 (2015) 9514–9520. [12] A.S. Kurlov, A.I. Gusev. Effect of nonstoichiometry of NbCy and TaCy powders on their high–energy ball milling. Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater. 2014; 46: 136-12. [13] A.S. Kurlov, A.I. Gusev. High–energy milling of nonstoichiometric carbides: Effect of nonstoichiometry on particle size of nanopowders. J. Alloys Compd. 2014; 582: 118-11. [14] M. Kirihara, A. Itou, T. Noguchi, J. Yamamoto. Tantalum carbide or niobium carbide catalyzed oxidation of sulfides with hydrogen peroxide: Highly efficient and chemoselective syntheses of sulfoxides and sulfones. Synlett 2010; 21: 1561-5. [15] M. Guemmaz, A. Mosser, J.-C. Parlebas. Electronic changes induced by vacancies on spectral and elastic properties of titanium carbides and nitrides. J. Electron. Spectrosc. Relat. Phenom. 2000; 107: 101-11. [16] I.Pollini , A.Mosser , J.C. Parlebasb. Electronic, spectroscopic and elastic properties of early transition metal compounds. Physics Reports 2001; 355: 1-72. [17] G.R. Anstis, P. Chantikul, B. R. Lawn, D. B. Marshall, Acritical evaluation of indentation techniques for measuring fracture toughness: I, direct crack measurements, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 64 (9) (1981) 533–538. [18] Shen Z. J., Johnsson M., Zhao Z., Nygren M.. Spark plasma sintering of Al2O3. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 2002; 85 (8): 1927-7. [19] Evans A. G., Charles E. A.. Fracture toughness determination by intentation. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 1976; 59 (7-8): 372-2. [20] Egawa T., Ichikizaki T., Tsukamoto H., Tsunoda H., Shimoyama T.. Material characteristics and cutting performance of TiN–Al2O3 ceramic tool. Int. J. Jpn. Soc. Precis. Eng. 1995; 29 (3): 228-7. [21] Y. Yang, H. Lu, C. Yu, J.M. Chen. First-principles calculations of mechanical properties of TiC and TiN. J. Alloys Compd. 2009; 485: 547-6. [22] R. H. J. Hannink, D. L. Kohlstedt, M. J. Murray. Slip system determination in cubic carbides by hardness anisotropy. ProcRoy Soc. 1972; 326 A (1566): 420-12. Figure captions Fig. 1 X-ray diffraction patterns of Al2O3–30 vol% TiN0.3 composite sintered via SPS at different temperatures in vacuum (6Ãâ€"103 Pa) for 10 min. Fig. 2 Back-scattered SEM micrograph of polished surface of Al2O3–30 vol% TiN0.3 composite sintered via SPS at 1400  °C in vacuum (6Ãâ€"103 Pa) for 10 min. Fig. 3 SEM micrographs of fracture cross-sections of Al2O3–30 vol.% TiN0.3 composite sintered via SPS at different temperatures in vacuum (6Ãâ€"103 Pa) for 10 min: (a) 1300  °C; (b) 1400  °C; (c) 1500  °C; (d) 1600  °C. Fig. 4 SEM micrographs of fracture cross-sections of the composites sintered via SPS at 1400  °C in vacuum (6Ãâ€"103 Pa) for 10 min: (a) Al2O3–10 vol% TiN0.3; (b) Al2O3–20 vol% TiN0.3; (c) Al2O3–30 vol% TiN0.3; (d) Al2O3–40 vol% TiN0.3. Fig. 5 Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of (a) Al2O3–30 vol% TiN0.3 composite versus sintering temperature; (b) Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites sintered at 1400  °C versus TiN0.3 content. Fig. 6 Bending strength of Al2O3–TiN0.3 composites sintered at 1400  °C versus TiN0.3 content. Fig. 7 Density of states for TiN and TiNx. à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃƒ ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ªÃƒ ¯Ã‚ Ã‚  Corresponding author. Tel (fax): 086-0335-8061671; E-mail: [emailprotected] Supported by the Hebei Province Scientific Committee of China (Nos. E2012203116, ZH2012003, JX2014-3 and ZX01-20140100-01).

Fire-Starter :: Essays Papers

Fire-Starter Character Review: Protagonist- Charlie McGee is a girl with pyrokinesis (a power in which someone can light fires with a glance). She is 8 years old. She is short, has blond hair, and brown eyes. She doesn’t like her power very much because she can’t control it. When she was about 5 years old, she was in the kitchen with her parents when they were trying to help her control her power. They gave her a test on a piece of toast, she burnt it to a crisp, and then she accidentally burnt her mother’s hands. The next day, when her dad came home from work, Charlie and her mother were nowhere to be found. Her father, Andy McGee, found his wife, dead in a closet. Charlie was still missing; â€Å"the shop† had killed her mother and kidnapped her. Both Andy and Charlie’s mother had telekinesis, (a power in which, someone can make a person think that something is what its not, or make them think what that person is thinking). Andy drove to a neighbor’s house, and used his power on the two agents that had kidnapped Charlie. He and Charlie drove of and were in search of for a few years. Charlie can’t stand people that are after her, or mean, or especially lie to her. Charlie’s whole life is included in this book. The book revolves around Charlie’s power. It’s so powerful, that her parents can’t even try to control it. Charlie’s main weakness is trusting too many people. She trusts to many strangers, which could lead to danger. Her basic problem is trying not to get caught by â€Å"the shop† (a secret government agency that wants to investigate her power). They have been after her since she was born. Since both of her parents had telekinesis, she was born with a different set of DNA, which gave her the power of pyrokinesis. I really like Charlie. I like the way she wants to control her power, and I like how she has a lot of confidence, its like she knows what’s going to happen, and that everything is going to be fine. The thing that I specifically admire is the way she copes with the way she was brought up. She was brought up, to learn to use her power when she could to get money or food, or whatever she needed, but she knows that it isn’t right to steal, and it isn’t right to use a power that nobody else has to get something that you actually don’t deserve.

Humans

Humans like to be treated equally and fairly. Whats different about animals? Just like humans animals should be able to live their life not having to worry about being slaughtered every second of the day. The first argument for why people should not eat animals is for the reason that animals can feel pain, sorrow, happiness, and grief just like humans can. Yet we treat them differently because they don't have the capability of communicating. Humans are the most dominant and sophisticated creatures on earth and target animals because they are incapable of demanding their freedom and happiness. Dirk verbeuren once said â€Å"Every living creature has the right to live ethically† This statement is indisputable however only 31 percent of the worlds population truly believes that. Many people assume that animals have no feelings and emotions due to the fact that they cant speak in a language humans can understand. In 1995 masson j. Mccarthy wrote â€Å"When elephants weep: The emotional lives of animals†. This book talks about the emotions elephants feel and the way humans treat them. This book makes our population truly think about how we treat animals as a whole. The average american meat-eater is responsible for the abuse and death of 90 animals per year. Becoming a vegetarian will save the lives of many innocent animals. The second reason on why people should not eat animals is because of the effect it has on the environment. Livestock alone counts for more tham 14% of greenhouse gas emissions. A vegan of vegetarian diet could cut those emissions by 70%. Of all the agriculture land in the united states, 87% is used to raise animals for food. It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat, but only 25 gallons to produce a pound of wheat. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide together cause the vast majority of global warming. Producing a little more than 2 pounds of beef causes more greenhouse gas emissions than driving a small car for three hours. The environmental protection agency reports that approximately 80 percent of ammonia emissions in the U.S. Comes from animal waste. Consuming and producing meat predominately affects the quality and quantity of the earths water. Eating animals will eventually destroy the environment and hurt the population in a tremendous way. The last reason for not eating meat is for the benefit of peoples health. A vegetarian diet decreases the chance of cancer and diabetes in both men and women. According to an article in the journal of the national cancer institute, women who eat meat daily are more likely to develop breast cancer. Vegetarians have also shown to have lower blood pressure, better digestion, and more energy than humans with a meat based diet. Not eating meat will also reduce your risk of a food-born illness. The cdc reports that food-born illnesses account for over 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths in the united states. Finally, eating less or even no meat will reduce the risks of heart attacks and other heart related conditions. Not eating meat will improve the quality of life and further prevent sickness. There is no way to ethically eat animals. Every day there are millions of animals being tortured and killed just so the humans population can enjoy them. The environment, our health, and our morals are all reasons to become a vegetarian. Peta once said â€Å"The only time factory animals get to feel the warmth of the sun on their backs or breath in fresh air is when they are loaded onto trucks bound for slaughter.† These animals will never get to raise families or roll around in the grass and feel the sun beaming on their face. They are crammed in tiny cages until the day they are killed to be feed to someone to enjoy. The lives of animals are just as important as humans lives and becoming a vegetarian will help many innocent animals. If you don't like to feel pain and sorrow, why would they?

American Intellectual History

The nations of the world are shaped by a plethora of events and ideas. Just as any human being is a product of circumstances and ideas that he encounters similarly is the case of nations. The intellectuals of a nation are like potters shaping the destiny of the multitudes that inhabit their lands. They themselves are products of ideas of intellectuals before them and in turn leave their imprints on the sand of times and are a source of inspiration for others. The tumultuous changes that were taking place in the era that Bellamy inhabited animates and is a source of inspiration for his literary works .American polity and social order were undergoing constant change . The old order which was representative of slavery, denigration of women and industrial capitalism was being replaced by a new social order . American society was witnessing a spurt in problems and hence we see that epoch witness a multitude of reformers. The novel looking backward is an identifying hallmark of the writer Edward Bellamy. Initially it generated little interest later on it catapulted to being the bestseller of its time. The social inequities of the nineteenth century always haunted Edward.Even as a young lad of 18 his soul was stirred by the problems that the social machinery of the ancient industrial system was creating . There have been many writers trying the genre of utopian writings like Thomas Moore, David Hume but few have shown so much commitment to the ideals of the utopian society as Edward Bellamy. Human beings have always been anticipating the prospects of a perfect future as the present condition of society is unjust. It is an escape from the contemporary society were corruption was rife poverty slavery child labor was the order of the day.The future of America is depicted as society where the difference between the rich and the poor is mitigated as there is equal distribution of wealth. The industries are not controlled by a few men of eminence but they are in the hands o f the nation. The writer’s preoccupation with nationalism makes him envisage the state machinery as he savior of mankind. The unpretentious style and the use of commonplace language and immaculate images of the utopian society are some of the aspects of the novel which are responsible for its popularity.The plot and the story of the novel seems to be unique as it seems to be an implementation of the ideals of Christianity and secular thought in a future time. Writer’s mind is like cauldron where ideas and thoughts prevalent in the society make unique dish. The ideas and the thought process of any individuals are shaped by the people around him and the movements that are invigorating the minds of writers, philosophers and intellectual. Similarly Edward Bellamy’s philosophical ideas are shaped by those of predecessor.Orestes Brownson was an important influence on him as the novel gives a political and a religious solution to the ills of society. He was primarily t hought to be a religious thinker whose world view encapsulates the political system of the American society . Democracy needs to follow the guidelines of the catholic creed so as to restrict individualism which threatens to undermine the bonds of communities. American nation evolved as result of the simultaneous influence religious and secular ideas.He had fears that the individual pride is constantly becoming emboldened and the loftier virtues of love and the concern for fellow human being is lost in the urge betterment of ones life. According to Brownson â€Å"A republic can stand only as it rests upon the virtues of the people; and these not the mere natural virtues of worldly prudence and social decency, but those loftier virtues which are possible to human nature only as elevated above itself by the infused habit of supernatural grace.† (â€Å"Brownson's Works, 10:17-37)The utopia of Bellamy presents a perfect picture of a strong nation in which the individual‘s b aser self like an unrelenting quest for material wellbeing is subsumed in the collective effort or maintaining that perfect elysian state. He was constantly preoccupied with the idea of nation as solutions to the problems of society. A strong nation with its individuals trained like a disciplined military is presented as a solution for the problems of his contemporary society.Strikes were a big issue in the Edwards contemporary society and it finds a solution in his utopian novel where everybody is prosperous due to the fact that selfishness is replaced by brotherly concern. These moral high grounds have their root in Christianity which is adhered to by both Orestes and Bellamy . The future of America is safely ensconced in Catholicism. The influence of the idea of nation was imported from Europe. The crystallization of the ideas of a nation took place during civil wars in America.Emerson a liberal and a strong proponent of individual rights started laying more emphasis on standing up for the nation’s freedom and sovereignty as the civil wars were threatening the existence of America. Brownson was a disillusioned by the liberal ideas o f individual aspiration and became a staunch proponent of conservatism which believes in preserving order . Society’s wellbeing is given preference over individuals hope and aspiration.Looking back has protagonist who has slept more than 100 years and he opens his eyes into a perfect society which is made economically viable as the state is given full control of the industries . Brownson can be best described as a religious political conservatism. Julian west questions are answered by Dr leetes His explanations express the vision of the writer and the influence of Orestes Brownson is evident in the fact there is emphasis on strengthening of nation as the reason for fact that now the workers are no more going on a strike;â€Å"The nation, that is to say, organized as the one great business corporation in which all other corporations were absorbed; it became the one capitalist in the place of all other capitalists, the sole employer, the final monopoly in which all previous and lesser monopolies were swallowed up, a monopoly in the profits and economies of which all citizens shared† (Bellamy 24-47) Brownson participated in the brook farm and it reflects the age old aspiration of practically putting ones ideas to a test . The same can be said about Looking back .Edward Bellamy is trying to show that how his political religious and economic ideas can be practically implemented in a society. Brownson was born in the transitional phase and they formed a reform party which instead of relegating the church to the background was thought to be the machinery through which social reform could be brought about. The instability in the times of these writers is reflected in the fact that the intellectuals are constantly experimenting with different modes of Christianity . He stated his pastoral caree r as Universalist then moved to Unitarianism.Finally he espoused Catholicism He is opposed to Brownsons stand point that human beings are essentially sinful . One of the reasons of writing looking back is the belief that innate goodness of man is a corollary of formation of a perfect state of being . Bellamy is a believer in the dissociation of personality for there is no sameness between our present and past personalities but only a graduated differentiation. † (Morgan, 56) Memory is not a sufficient qualifier for identity . We are constantly in flux adorning one personality after another .According to Bellamy it is the core of the being which is responsible for stringing together the different identities . Julian West’s hypnotic sleep is an example of dissociation of personality which is constant preoccupation of Edward. I sat up thus in bed staring about, without being able to regain the clue as to who he was. Brownsons saw individuality as the root cause of disinteg ration of society. There is similar charge against Bellamy that individual identity was sacrificed for the attainment of the perfect state.There is compartmentalization of the individual the bad aspects like greed, competition, and amassing wealth in the hands of few is banished and the superior self which is reflection of the pristine image of God is allowed to reign. The end result of this enterprise is an era of tranquility. Social problems are completely routed from the face of the earth Man and society is perfectly matched in that millennium of utopian society. The fear of poverty has been vanquished as all the industries were in the hands of the state and thus there was no class conflict.The strong robust state and Christian socialism are reminiscent of the Brownsonian influence on Edward Bellamy. Origin of species by Charles Darwin was published in 1859and it heralded an era of skepticism and transformed the perspective of the way we look at life. According to Vergilius Ferm: â€Å"Truly, the year 1859, in which appeared Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species, marks a turning point in Western thought† (1936, p. 307). God was banished from the world view of man . There is complete paradigm shift from the philosophy of man’s purposeful existence to his being on this cosmos as result of chance and subsequent selection .The creed of competing with one another for resources as the ultimate goal makes man an equivalent to animals and the most interesting aspect of the theory of natural selection is that it justifies greed as natural and a beneficial prospect because it leads to the selection of the fittest individuals. Bellamy was a staunch critique of Charles Darwin’s theory and its implication on the social ethics of industrial capitalism . His novel Looking Back provides an alternative to this rat race of outpacing each other with an impulse for self sacrifice and unselfishness.Struggle for survival has no place in the society d epicted in the novel as the inequalities are removed . The state controls all the industries. It is surprising that both these intellectuals who are preaching completely different dogmas are proposing that evolution is the process to reach the culmination of human prowess. Bellamy writes his utopia where evolution is employed to reach that perfect Elysian state. Looking back provides an insight into that perfect state that is achievable only when brotherly loves and unselfishness becomes a creed.Chaos brutality and lack of human concern is substituted by love and generosity. Many social Darwinists like Graham Sumner criticize the utopian model as laid back attitude and wishful thinking by saying it is the greatest folly of which a man can be capable to sit down with a slate and pencil to plan out a new social world Bellamy constantly uses the notion of a nation as an alternative to the industrial competition of his times. Then the national party arose to carry it out by political me thods.â€Å"Indeed, it could not well have had any other name, for its purpose was to realize the idea of the nation with a grandeur and completeness never before conceived, touching tree whose leaves are its people, fed from its veins, and feeding it in turn. † (Bellamy, 183) He deliberately uses the metaphor of plant to describe nature as the leaves of a tree are symbolic of the members of society who are living in a peaceful coexistence. The general health and wellbeing of the members of society is dependent on the heath of the trunk which is the supporting system.The metaphor of a tree is very often used in bible and it is vey often used at the critical juncture of man’s destiny. Adam lost his ethereal existence because he ate from the forbidden tree. The novel derives its motivation from the doctrine of Christian socialism. Therefore the metaphors and the language reflect the theological preoccupation of the author. There is a deliberate of the Darwinian metaphor of an animal . The very existence of one another is dependent on elimination of the animal of lesser prowess. The revolution that is presented in the utopia is a bloodless one.The foremost objection to the utopian ideal of equality is that it will produce in activity in the members of such a society as concept of competing with one another is lost is . Dr leetes answer to Julian West settles this question that the urge to work remains as result of the fact that the imaginations of the people is fired by passion for humanity and service to nation . It doesn’t mean that Bellamy is not influenced by Darwin’s theory of natural selection but the whole edifice of the Darwinian module is modified .There is evolution in the society Women are exonerated of their household duties They are also assigned jobs but the working hours are less as they have to perform the task of building the character of the future generation . There is no exploitation of women and they receive equal remuneration. One of the offshoots of natural selection is sexual selection but in the utopia of Bellamy the economic basis of anything has no meaning. Therefore marriages take place due to love for each other not because of economic standing of the individuals.The discovery of utopia of novel begins with the protagonist query about the industrial problem plaguing America. The answer to this question reveals the amount of the influence of the Darwinian concept of evolution . Dr Leete explains that this pathological condition was resolved by industrial evolution. Origins of species laid the foundation of biological evolution of man but it brought about revolution in almost all walks of life . These concept are both repudiated and incorporated in the novel but the concept of evolution undergoes refinement as it is cast in the theological mould.The model of biological evolution provided a justification for the superiority of the white race . Strangely enough Bellamy who is at loggerhea d with the concept of evolution of species is in complete sync with idea that the racial superiority of the west is a result of the survival of the fittest. The law of necessity is replaced by laws of morality . Many intellectuals were profoundly affected by the postulates of Darwin . But it is misleading to believe that he is social Darwinist in fact he was a critic if Darwin’s postulates in origin of species .He has used the model of Darwinian evolution and reshaped it with love as the underlying force for achieving perfection. William Graham Sumner started his career as clergymen and returned as professor of political and social sciences . He believed in the persistence of inequalities in societies as material progress is dependent upon open competition . He saw government as a necessary evil as it defends us from the different vices prevalent in our society. It curbs individuals’ liberty and freedom He was a social Darwinist and was critical of Bellamy‘s impr actical plans.â€Å"The history of the human race is one long story of attempts by certain persons and classes to obtain control of the power of the State so as to win earthly gratifications at the expense of others†(Sumner . n. p) The nation replaces the industrial capitalism of the contemporary times in the Bellamy’s utopia . Sumner believed in giving maximum freedom to the industrial capitalism of his times whereas Looking back provides a replacement of this system as it is thought to be the root cause of all the evils of society . The social condition of the impoverished working class didn’t need any reformers as it was natural.He was against any kind of government intervention to alleviate the condition of the suffering masses . He is a believer in the fact that material success is indicative of a persons capabilities. (Boland. n. p) As far as this is concerned they are at opposing end. Bellamy is for reforms and equal opportunity and pay for all the member s of society . William Sumner was against the occupation of Spain by the Americans and this idea finds a echo in the novel as was he was against the occupation of Spain by the Americans and this idea finds a echo in the novel. Dr Leete denounces the act of aggrandizementâ€Å"Are they France, England, Germany, or hunger, cold, and nakedness? In your day governments were accustomed, on the slightest international misunderstanding, to seize upon the bodies of citizens and deliver them over by hundreds of thousands to death and mutilation, wasting their treasures the while like water. † The American society was facing a lot of upheavals and industrial revolution brought urbanization and a variety of problems . The publishing of Darwin’s origin of species had raised many uncomfortable questions and many movements arose to establish the kingdom of God upon earth .These movements also brought changes in the established religions and creeds. Solomon Washington Gladden sermons can be seen as the earliest example of The social gospel movement . It tried address the problems of the slums of Ohio and brought the workers of 1877 strike to a peaceful negotiation. The proponents of this movement believed in a confluence of Christian dogma with politics . They predicted a brighter picture of tomorrow. Looking back seems to be presenting the same kind of mixture of morality and politics and a prospect of a perfect future.Like the social gospel movement the novel gives a concrete shape to the hope of a better tomorrow. The concept of brotherly love and helping the poor is not an anathema to the Christian doctrine but rather it was revived as the Victorian society was facing excess of moral violation of individuals in industrial capitalism . Bellamys combination of socialism and religiosity can be as seen an offshoot of the social gospel reform movement as any individual is a product of its time . The thought process of literary artists are shaped by the distillat ion of ideas his period.The thought process of an individual is not shaped in vacuum . They are either a result of the reaction of doctrines that are prevalent in that period or an influence of other contemporary writers and philosophers. Genius don’t produce ides out of blue but it unique process of synthesis of ideas floating through that particular age . Early century and the great depression saw different intellectuals trying to lay the principles on which the society could get rid of its problem and the kingdom of god was to be established which would transcend competitive and exploitative industrialism of the contemporary American society.Looking is an endeavor on part of Bellamy to show that such ideas are viable and practical. It is practical guide to establishment of a society based on the postulate of the egalitarian principles o social Christianity. The social reform movements from 1820 to 1860 show a distrust of establishes social systems. The gospel reform moveme nt saw that for the first time the various denomination of the church came together in a joint venture to eradicate the problems of society . This dream of unification of various sects of Christianity is realize in the novel Looking back .Julian asks Mr Barton about the reason of disappearance of various sects The answer was that passionate impulse of brotherly love was responsible for the founding of a nobler social order as the root cause of this unification Crisis in the American society was seen as initiative to accomplish the necessary changes . The whole novel can be seen as an attempt to forsee and how to practically implement those changes in society. The turn of the century saw massive problems like unemployment, abuse of corporate powers, poverty, crime, and corruption, influx of immigrants, child labor and massive depression.These problems gave rise to a reform movement which was termed as the progressive movement. Progressive movement was a natural succession to the prog ressive movement. The youth of middle class rose to the occasion with a firm faith in fact that every problem has a solution. These problems can be put to end by the educated class . Education and specially women education received special stress . Consequently women rights were promoted and they started entering the job market as clerks and did other menial duties . Edward Bellamy in his novels gave women a lot of rights by the contemporary standards.They received equal pay despite the fact that they were working for fewer hours . Another hallmark of this period is the demand of voting rights by women. The social order of Bellamy’s utopian world assigns equal but different roles to women. The feminist of the contemporary period like Charlotte Perkins Gilman agree with is assessment. The whole progressive movement resolved around that man has a inherent quality in him to improve his lot . It was rejection of the social Darwinism. The other problem that the progressives tried to address was the end of slavery .The abolitionist movement tried to eradicate this problem . The utopian model stresses equality as the focal point and it is achieved through the equal pay for all the individuals. It is very important to note that the progressive movement is accused of not addressing the problems of racial discrimination And Bellamy was under the influence of Herbert Spencer who saw the whites as superior race as result of it being the fittest and the most ablest race . The progressive s believed that the state can play a pivotal role in solving the numerous problems that the American society is experiencing .The authors are sensitive to trails and the tribulations of society and hence this is exactly the reason hat the fiction is trying to present a solution which is representative of the progressive ideology that state can help in the establishment of the heavenly state . The novel also presents the idea of the unification of the various denominations of Christi anity and it is reflection of the fact that various creeds of Christianity rose under this reform movement to address the problems that was destroying the moral fabric of the society.Frederick Winslow Taylor can be best described as synthesizer of the thoughts of his times and he gave a solution to the problem of optimizing the productivity of the workers. There was almost a mechanical stress on using scientific precision to improve the skills needed to perform a task in the industry . Years of apprentice ship is replaced by this mechanical process. This has a fleeting similarity to the Edwardian concept of building an army of workers. The dramatic improvement in the productivity was result of his innovation in the field of industrial engineering . He is accused of dehumanizing the modern industries .There needs a change in the attitude of the workers to optimize the industrial production according to him change â€Å"consists of the complete revolution in the mental attitude and t he habits of all those engaged in the management, as well of the workmen†(Taylor . pg131) Bellamy’s utopia presents the concept that the productivity is going to increase as result of passion for nation. Edward Bellamy has been unnecessarily been accused of being influenced by the Marxist concept of utopian world and he was for quite sometimes rolling the idea of the perfect state of life in his mind .It was published 40 years before the it . The author himself had a disliking for the class conflict and a Godless society In one of his public lectures he gave vent to his urge to write about his passion for heavenly existence â€Å"It is an undiscovered country, no community of men has ever essayed its elysian climes, no human foot step has ever trod its shores. The faith of humanity points to its existence. But I know that it exists, and we must find it. †¦ † (Taken from Bellamy’s 2nd lyceum address of 1872). He gave a concrete shape to all his ideas o f an ideal society in his novel â€Å"looking backward†.The impact of the novel on the minds of men can be gauge from the fact that this novel gave rise to a nationalist movement . Columbia university requested philosopher John Dewey historian Charles Beard and editor of The Atlantic monthly Edward Week to prepare a list of writers who exercised a huge influence on society Edward Bellamy’s Looking back came second on all the three list and it was preceded by Marx’s Das capital. The novel brought about a change in the thinking of men in all walks of life . The ideas in the novel acted as spring board for other writers to develop and broaden the horizon of human intellect.The idea that social injustice is caused by human struggle for physical as well as economic need for a better status launched Veblen's provocative and creative career. Allen white the renowned American News Paper editor himself admitted to being shaped by the intellectual outpourings of this nove l. â€Å"He feels indebted to the thrill that he encountered while reading the novel when he was young and the change of heart from the being a conservative to being open minded about the various problems plaguing the contemporary society. He also acknowledges the fact that many youngsters of his time had a similar experience .It was the talk of the town The list of individuals effect by Bellamy’s monumental work Looking backwards is endless . It not only affected the individual members of society but also infused fresh blood into the intellectual thought process of his times . The ideas of social injustice derived from a race for economic betterment came into the forefront. He is a writer who inspires people and draws lines on which others can move forward on their intellectual journey. The novel is a presentation of social and economic order which is given serious consideration by experts in the respective fields.The economist H. Stanley Jevons says: â€Å"I have gained m ore from Bellamy than from any single author. He deserves more attention from economists than he has received. The economic system he outlines does stand a rigid examination for workability in its essential features in his treatise. † The novel presents economic equality in the co-operative commonwealth Despite the fact that the novel deals with utopia it has been not whisked away to be a wishful thinking but has been put to a practical implication The nationalist movement started with the formation of the first nationalist club of Boston in 1888 .The chief characteristics of this movement were unselfishness and it invigorates an enthusiasm for humanity. The individuals of society don’t compete with each other rather they co-operated with each others. It adopted a tolerant attitude towards people who would be critical of this movement. Patriotism was a highly cherished ideal of this movement . Social reforms had to taken up by a nation so as to reap its harvest. Works C ited Auerbach Am Lit Hist. (1994); â€Å"The Nation Organized†: Utopian Impotence in Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward. Retrieved March 17, 2008 from: http://alh. oxfordjournals. org/cgi/reprint/6/1/24Boland joseph(1995)U. S political thought . retrieved http://www. uoregon. edu/~jboland/lect_12. html Richard A. Spurgeon (1997). The Religious Ethics of Edward Bellamy and Jonathan Edwards. Journal of Utopian Studies. Vol 8. Retrieved March 17, 2008 from: http://www. questia. com/googleScholar. qst? docId=5000543586 Bellamy, Edward. (2000) Looking Backward. Applewood books. ISBN-10: 155709506X Native Americanism† (Brownson's Works, 10:17-37). retrieved Sumner, William Graham. Essays of William Graham Sumner. Ed. Albert G. Keller and Maurice R. Davie. Vol. 1. New Haven: Yale UP, 1934 retrievedhttp://www. encyclopedia. com/doc/1G1-56061945. html Wilmot Chester,the struggle for Europe 1954 pg 477 SCOTT McLEMEE â€Å"Back to the Future† December 24, 2000. Retrieved Mar ch 17, 2008 from: http://www. nytimes. com/books/00/12/24/bookend/bookend. html Vergillus, Ferm, (1936), First Adventures in Philosophy (New York: Charles Scribner & Sons). Retrieved March 17, 2008 from: http://www. apologeticspress. org/rr/reprints/Impact-of-Evolutionary-Philosop. pdf W. Taylor, Frederick Scientific Management, pg 131. Retrieved March 17, 2008 from: http://www. skymark. com/resources/leaders/taylor. asp

Intonation and Stress Types for English Pronunciation

Intonation and Stress Types for English Pronunciation Improving sentence intonation is one of the key elements in English pronunciation. The four basic types of word stress that lead to proper intonation in English are: Tonic stressEmphatic stressContrastive stressNew information stress Tonic Stress Tonic stress refers to the syllable in a word which receives the most stress in an intonation unit. An intonation unit has one tonic stress. Its important to remember that a sentence can have more than one intonation unit, and therefore have more than one tonic stress. Here are some examples of intonation units with the tonic stress bolded: Hes waitingHes waiting / for his friendHes waiting / for his friend / at the station Generally, the final tonic stress in a sentence receives the most stress. In the above example, station receives the strongest stress. There are a number of instances in which the stress changes from this standard. Emphatic Stress If you decide to emphasize something, you can change the stress from the principal noun to another content word such as an adjective (big, difficult, etc.), intensifier (very, extremely, etc.) This emphasis calls attention to the extraordinary nature of what you want to emphasize. For example: That was a difficult test. - Standard statementThat was a difficult test. - Emphasizes how difficult the test was There are a number of adverbs and modifiers which tend to be used to emphasize in sentences that receive emphatic stress: ExtremelyTerriblyCompletelyUtterlyEspecially Contrastive Stress Contrastive stress is used to point out the difference between one object and another. Contrastive stress tends to be used with determiners such as this, that, these and those. For example: I think I prefer this color.Do you want these or those curtains? Contrastive stress is also used to bring out a given word in a sentence which will also slightly change the meaning. He came to the party yesterday. (It was he, not someone else.)He walked to the party yesterday. (He walked, rather than drove.)He came to the party yesterday. (It was a party, not a meeting or something else.)He came to the party yesterday. (It was yesterday, not two weeks ago or some other time.) New Information Stress When asked a question, the requested information is naturally stressed more strongly. For example: Where are you from? - I come from Seattle, in the USA.What do you want to do? - I want to go bowling.When does class begin? - The class begins at nine oclock. Use these various types of stress to help improve your pronunciation and understandability.

The Impact of Audience Fragmentation on Public Service Broadcasting

The Impact of Audience Fragmentation on Public Service Broadcasting Introduction Over the past few decades, media audiences have experienced fragmentation in many countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia partly because of increase in media choices. Audience fragmentation and media polarization are common in today’s generation dominated by technology and the new media.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of Audience Fragmentation on Public Service Broadcasting specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Audience fragmentation is caused by media proliferation, which makes the broadcast opportunities more diverse posing a challenge to media providers and advertisers. The media proliferation means that the media content, once a preserve of specific outlets such as public broadcasters, is now available in all platforms, which results to a more participatory and fragmented audience. While this may be good for democratic development, it presents major challe nges that affect mainstream media financially (Benkler 32). Society and audiences in many countries are changing in line with the developments in media technology, the new media, and the internet. In Australia, the audience is increasingly becoming fragmented particularly with regard to television viewing. In 2009, about 84% of all Australian households were audience of free-t-air TV, which, however, was shared with three other major stations (FreeTV 12). Audience fragmentation in Australia has arisen due to increase in the number of commercial channels. By the end of 2010, the number of free-to-air channels grew sharply with the licensing of six additional government-sponsored and commercial television channels further contributing to audience fragmentation (FreeTV 9). Public broadcasters have responded quite positively to the changing media environment. Radio stations, television networks and other content providers have rapidly shifted their services to involve the internet. At t he same time, public broadcasting has adopted more personalized services and products to meet the diverse needs of the consumer in a fragmented society (Murdock 54). Despite the stiff competition occasioned by media proliferation, public broadcasting is best suited in delivering and receiving content that informs, entertains, and educates a fragmented society through the new media and the internet in line with its original mission and therefore public broadcasting is still necessary even in the face of audience fragmentation and proliferation of media outlets.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Principles of Public Broadcasting The commercial broadcasters often offer programs that propagate their commercial interests. In contrast, public broadcasters’ mission is to offer a balanced programming that focuses on public and governance affairs while being politica lly neutral and non-commercial (Tomaselli 31). However, with the recent advancements in technology and the emergence of the new media, which has led to audience fragmentation, public broadcasters appear to compromise their initial mission. Among the principles of public broadcasting is its quest to be universally accessible and have a universal appeal (Tomaselli 34). By integrating technology like digital Audio broadcasting (DAB) into public broadcasting, public broadcasters have been able to increase their reach in most countries. In Australia, DAB digital radio is broadcasted in five major metropolitan areas with the community radio sector shifting to digital broadcasting to increase accessibility (Free TV 12). Public service broadcasting should be available to everyone regardless of his or her geographical location. In Australia, a digital community radio was launched on May 2011, to offer a broad range of digital content and increase accessibility of public broadcasting (CBAA). Unlike commercial broadcasting, which is governed by commercial and advertising interests, public service broadcasting plays a crucial role in dissemination of unbiased information to the public. It offers a forum for public debate on issues affecting the people, which enable people to make informed choices. In this way, public service broadcasting allows people to express their opinions on contentious issues and in the process fosters cohesion in the society. Public broadcasting also empowers citizens owing to its programs that cover governance and political issues (Tomaselli 39). This phenomenon enhances the quality of life of individuals and social groups can participate in issues affecting their economic and social lives. Public broadcasting, therefore, offers actual and unbiased information, which promotes free opinion formation as compared to other commercial broadcasters and this trend makes public broadcasting necessary in the society even in the wake of audience fragmentati on and media proliferation. Public service broadcasting also takes into account the interests of the minority within the society with an intention of promoting social cohesion. The central issue, however, is whether public broadcasting can be detached from government interests given its source of funding.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of Audience Fragmentation on Public Service Broadcasting specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Public broadcasters are expected to exercise independence from political interference or commercial interests. However, absolute independence is often difficult in practice. In addition, the public broadcasters need to emphasize on quality programming instead of multi-channeling, which is common in commercial broadcasting to support the programs. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) increased the number of channels, which has affected the quality of its programming and stretc hed its resources (Frangopoulos Para. 2). Public Broadcasting and the New Digital technologies The technological developments have made it easier for both the media providers and the users to move across the media platforms. Digital technologies have led to the new media commonly referred to as â€Å"social media†, which also has contributed to audience fragmentation. These include social networks like Face book, video sharing media such as You Tube and search engines such as Google and iTunes (Webster 371). The social media, unlike the traditional media, aim at increasing their popularity and in the process attract more audience. To achieve popularity, many of the social media compete for audience by offering attractive user-friendly options to attract the attention of the users. Unfortunately, the attention of the public is limited and scarce. The focus of the new media is to catch the attention of the audience as the prerequisite for attaining their social and economic obj ectives (Davenport and Beck 65) and this has led to the proliferation of the social media further contributing to audience fragmentation. However, integration of public broadcasting and social media allows the public to debate on national issues more effectively. The media users also contribute to audience fragmentation as they usually choose the media products they prefer. The user preferences are reflective of their attitudes, their needs, or tastes. The audience can opt to remain loyal to a particular genre provided by a given media or sample a diverse range of media genres. Users preferring a particular genre especially with regard to news lead to a highly focused audience known as â€Å"gated communities† or â€Å"enclaves†, which lead to audience fragmentation (Iyengar and Hahn 112). The users are expected to understand the media environment in which they operate.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, the proliferation of the media outlets especially the digital media makes perfect understanding of the digital marketplace almost impossible. In addition, the diversity of the media products makes informed user choice difficult. Users cannot even be sure of which brand would provide the desired gratification and therefore have to sample different media outlets. Public broadcasting offers better means through which the public perceives and addresses public affairs through digital technology and the new media forms, partly because public broadcasting, owing to its focus on public affairs, enjoys a higher level of public trust than the commercial broadcasting. In addition, public broadcasting focuses on universal accessibility and therefore, the new technologies offer a platform to increase its reach in line with its mission. Forms of Media Fragmentation The proliferation of media outlets like channels and websites or media products as music or movies play a significant role i n audience fragmentation termed media-centric fragmentation. Under media-centric fragmentation, the media providers are arranged from the most popular to the least popular using data derived from monthly visitors or total sales reached in a month conducted by independent providers (Anderson 54). In media-centric fragmentation, the audiences are spread across many media outlets. In Australia, rationalization of the audience is high and continues to increase because of restrictions that prevent multi-channeling. By 2009, free-to-air TV (FTA) had an estimated audience of 84%, which it shared with three other commercial TV stations (FreeTV 16). In 2011, three national TV channels, three more channels that are commercial and Pay TV have entered the market. However, government restrictions prevent multi-channeling involving FTA broadcasting (FreeTV 13). This has contributed to audience fragmentation as users and advertisers migrate to other media including the new media. Despite the conti nued fragmentation of the audience, public broadcasting remains a reliable means of promoting social cohesion while promoting diversity of culture. The public broadcasting works is even more useful in a fragmented society as the individual needs of social groups and community public service broadcasters address minorities more effectively. Fragmentation at micro-level involves the distribution of each individual’s use of media across many providers. People become specialized in their patterns of media use by becoming concentrating on a certain class of media products or media outlets that deliver the desired services. In addition, under the micro-level fragmentation, the characteristics of the audience e.g. age or gender is common. The audience relies on subsets of the available media, at a micro-level, on a daily basis to obtain relevant information in the complex media environment. The public broadcasters through its range of educative and informative programs can attract a ll different segments of audience as they discuss political, economic, and social issues affecting their lives. Another form of audience fragmentation relies on a macro-level way of perceiving audiences based on the media they use. This approach can identify the audience for a particular media outlet and by doing so; it is easier to determine how the public attention is spread across the media environment. The macro-level fragmentation can evaluate channel loyalty and audience flows within the media environment (Napoli 67). According to Webster, analysis of the media environment which indicates that users do not spend a lot of time in gated communities but rather sample a variety of media products to satisfy their needs (378). The Future of Audience Fragmentation In spite of audience fragmentation caused by interactions between media providers and users, public broadcasting remains an important source of media products. According to Webster, most media users do not spend much time i n niches or gated communities nor does typical users consume particular media products only, rather most of them range widely across the media outlets as they search desired media products (381). The audiences may appear highly fragmented but they do not stay long within the niches or gated communities. Majority of the users have rather varied media repertoires, which are specialized subsets of media that provide desired media products at particular times. This implies that the micro-level and macro-level fragmentation have no much impact on the consumption patterns of the audience. In fact, the public prefers to associate and debate public affairs. The public broadcasting offers an ideal platform for citizens to be informed on national issues and contributes to national development. Moreover, despite relying on different media repertoires, users can still get the same products and the traditional media remains a preferred source of quality media content. The popularity of the media providers is fundamental to the future distribution of audiences across the media environment. Anderson beliefs that the many media offerings or choices offered would contribute to audience fragmentation in the future (181). Frank and Cook, on the other hand expect that high concentration of the audiences will continue to be experienced in the digital media as compared to other forms of media (56). Moreover, in the digital media, because of differential quality of the digital media products, there will be less audience fragmentation. Due to the diversity of the digital media products and the social nature of the digital media, it is likely that the digital media will become more popular than the traditional media. Audience fragmentation is not likely to be high in digital media as the quality of media products is not normally uniform. Assuming the prices are fairly the same, the audience choices would gravitate towards the digital media that offers high quality choices. As Caves no tes, most content providers and the users alike tend to prefer high quality media products if they can afford them (33). Digital media provides a platform for providers and the users to access high quality services on demand, which effectively reduces the available choices and concentrates the audiences around the best media options thus reducing audience fragmentation. The social nature of the digital media consumption makes digital media more desirable. Through social media networks like Facebook, You Tube, and Twitter among others, few programs, or sports events contribute to live audience debates on various topics, which the public broadcasting service can use to propagate its mission. The social networks also allow simultaneous media use especially alongside television viewing. Twitter and Facebook allow conversations on a virtual space, which concentrates the audience on these networks as they discuss topics they find noteworthy. Since the digital media products are more diver se, the users rely on recommendation systems that guide their consumption. While the media recommendation systems may vary across the media environment, they are mostly directed at promoting the popular media products or media outlets relying on the information on what other have chosen (Webster 389). Nevertheless, the digital products, the media outlets, or their content only varies slightly. The major concern about audience fragmentation is its economic impact on advertising as companies find it difficult to reach the intended market due to audience fragmentation. Contrary to these concerns, fragmentation, and the large number of media channels actually allows practitioners to reach a large number of audiences and can even provide access to additional audience. In order to maximize reach, advertising should be carried out across multiple media channels (Ephron 19). A study conducted by Newstead to establish the strategies of maximizing reach to the Australian market, found out tha t, extending the media coverage coupled by distribution over a wide range of media during advertising increases reach efficiency of between 2-46% (Newstead 76). Despite the proliferation of media outlets, the media outlets offer more or less similar content, which makes public broadcasting even more reliable as a source of information. Conclusion It is evident that the proliferation of commercial media outlets has influenced public broadcasting in many ways. However, public broadcasting in many countries remains the appropriate means of promoting public interaction. Due to competition from commercial broadcasters, public broadcasting has adopted different broadcasting methods involving introduction of diverse programs tailored for specific social groups, more interactive programs that make use of the new media, and introduction of appealing media content. In addition, public broadcasting has made use of digital technologies to promote accessibility in line with its mandate. All this has translated to public broadcasting playing an important role particularly with regard to promoting social cohesion. In conclusion, public broadcasting is still necessary even in the wake of recent proliferation of media outlets and audience fragmentation. Anderson, Craig. Free: The future of a radical price. New York: Hyperion, 2009. Benkler, Yunus. The wealth of networks: How social production transforms  Markets and Freedom. New Haven, CN: Yale University Press, 2006. Caves, Richard. Switching channels: Organization and change in TV broadcasting.  Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2005. Community Broadcasting of Australia (CBAA). â€Å"Sidney Community Radio Digital Launch†. 2011. 3/6/2011. Web. Davenport, Tim, and Beck, Julie. The attention economy: Understanding the new  Currency of business. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 2001. Ephron, Eric. â€Å"More Weeks, Less Weight: The Shelf-Space Model of Advertising.†Ã‚  Journal of Advertisin g Research 23.1 (1995): 18-23. Frangopoulos, Angie. ABCs purpose lost in 24-hr transmission, 2010. Web. Frank, Rodger, and Cook, Peter. The winner-take-all society: Why the few at the  Top get so much more than the rest of us. New York: Penguin, 1995. FreeTV. Industry Report: 2009 Year in Review. FreeTV Australia. 2010:9-16. Iyengar, Steve, and Hahn, Kim. â€Å"Red media, blue media: Evidence of ideological Selectivity in media use.† Journal of Communication 59.1 (2009):110-115. Murdock, Grace. Citizens, consumers, and public culture. London: Routledge, 1992: Napoli, Peter. Audience evolution: New technologies and the transformation of media  Audiences. New York: Columbia University Press, 2011. Newstead, Kim. Best-practice media scheduling a practical application. Adelaide: University of South Australia. 2010. Tomaselli, Robin. â€Å"Public Service Broadcasting in the Age of Information Capitalism.†Ã‚  Communicare 8.2 (1989): 27-41. Webster, Gordon. â€Å"Beneath the veneer of fragmentation: Television audience Polarization in a multichannel world.† Journal of Communication 55.2 (2005): 366-389.

USS Lexington World War Aircraft Carrier CV-2

USS Lexington World War Aircraft Carrier CV-2 USS Lexington (CV-2) Overview Nation: United StatesType: Aircraft CarrierShipyard: Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, Quincy, MALaid Down: January 8, 1921Launched: October 3, 1925Commissioned: December 14, 1927Fate: Lost to enemy action, May 8, 1942 Specifications Displacement: 37,000 tonsLength: 888 ft.Beam: 107 ft., 6 in.Draft: 32 ft.Propulsion: 4 sets of turbo-electric drive, 16 water-tube boilers, 4 Ãâ€" screwsSpeed: 33.25 knotsRange: 12,000 nautical miles at 14 knotsComplement: 2,791 men Armament (as built) 4 Ãâ€" twin 8-in. guns, 12 Ãâ€" single 5-in. guns Aircraft (as built) 78 aircraft Design Construction Authorized in 1916, the US Navy intended USS Lexington to be the lead ship of a new class of battlecruisers. Following the United States entry into World War I, development of the ship halted as the US Navys need for more destroyers and convoy escort vessels precluded that for a new capital ship. With the conflicts conclusion, Lexington was finally laid down at the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company in Quincy, MA on January 8, 1921. As workers constructed the ships hull, leaders from around the world met at the Washington Naval Conference. This disarmament meeting called for tonnage limitations to be placed on the navies of the United States, Great Britain, Japan, France, and Italy. As the meeting progressed, work on Lexington was suspended in February 1922 with the ship 24.2% complete. With the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty, the US Navy elected to re-classify Lexington and completed the ship as an aircraft carrier. This aided the service in meeting the new tonnage restrictions set in place by the treaty. As the bulk of the hull was complete, the US Navy elected to retain the battlecruiser armor and torpedo protection as it would have been too expensive to remove. Workers then installed an 866-foot flight deck on the hull along with an island and large funnel. Since the concept of the aircraft carrier was still new, the Bureau of Construction and Repair insisted that the ship mount an armament of eight 8 guns to support its 78 aircraft. These were mounted in four twin turrets fore and aft of the island. Though a single aircraft catapult was installed in the bow, it was seldom used during the ships career. Launched on October 3, 1925, Lexington was completed two years later and entered commission on December 14, 1927 with Captain Albert Marshall in command. This was a month after its sister ship, USS Saratoga (CV-3) joined the fleet. Together, the ships were first large carriers to serve in the US Navy and the second and third carriers after USS Langley. After conducting fitting out and shakedown cruises in the Atlantic, Lexington transferred to the US Pacific Fleet in April 1928. The following year, the carrier took part in Fleet Problem IX as part of the Scouting Force and failed to defend the Panama Canal from Saratoga. Interwar Years Late in 1929, Lexington fulfilled an unusual role for a month when its generators provided power to the city of Tacoma, WA after a drought disabled the citys hydro-electric plant. Returning to more normal operations, Lexington spent the next two years taking part in various fleet problems and maneuvers. During this time, it was commanded by Captain Ernest J. King, the future Chief of Naval Operations during World War II. In February 1932, Lexington and Saratoga operated in tandem and mounted a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor during Grand Joint Exercise No. 4. In a harbinger of things to come, the attack was ruled a success. This feat was repeated by the ships during exercises the following January. Continuing to take part in various training problems over the next several years, Lexington played a key role in developing carrier tactics and developing new methods of underway replenishment. In July 1937, the carrier aided in the search for Amelia Earhart after her disappearance in the South Pacific. World War II Approaches In 1938, Lexington and Saratoga mounted another successful raid on Pearl Harbor during that years Fleet Problem. With tensions rising with Japan two years later, Lexington and the US Pacific Fleet were ordered to remain in Hawaiian waters after exercises in 1940. Pearl Harbor was made the fleets permanent base the following February. Late in 1941, Admiral Husband Kimmel, the Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Fleet, directed Lexington to ferry US Marine Corps aircraft to reinforce the base on Midway Island. Departing on December 5, the carriers Task Force 12 was 500 miles southeast of its destination two days later when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Abandoning its original mission, Lexington began an immediate search for the enemy fleet while moving to rendezvous with warships steaming out from Hawaii. Remaining at sea for several days, Lexington was unable to locate the Japanese and returned to Pearl Harbor on December 13. Raiding in the Pacific Quickly ordered back to sea as part of Task Force 11, Lexington moved to attack Jaluit in the Marshall Islands in an effort to divert Japanese attention from the relief of Wake Island. This mission was soon canceled and the carrier returned to Hawaii. After conducting patrols in the vicinity of Johnston Atoll and Christmas Island in January, the new leader the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, directed Lexington to join with the ANZAC Squadron in the Coral Sea to protect the sea lanes between Australia and the United States. In this role, Vice Admiral Wilson Brown sought to mount a surprise attack on the Japanese base at Rabaul. This was aborted after his ships were discovered by enemy aircraft. Attacked by a force of Mitsubishi G4M Betty bombers on February 20, Lexington survived the raid unscathed. Still desiring to strike at Rabaul, Wilson requested reinforcements from Nimitz. In response, Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletchers Task Force 17, containing the carrier USS Yorkt own, arrived in early March. As the combined forces moved towards Rabaul, Brown learned on March 8 that the Japanese fleet was off Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea after supporting the landing of troops in that region. Altering the plan, he instead launched a large raid from Gulf of Papua against the enemy ships. Flying over the Owen Stanley Mountains, F4F Wildcats, SBD Dauntlesses, and TBD Devastators from Lexington and Yorktown attacked on March 10. In the raid, they sank three enemy transports and damaged several other vessels. In the wake of the attack, Lexington received orders to return to Pearl Harbor. Arriving on March 26, the carrier began an overhaul which saw the removal of its 8 guns and addition of new anti-aircraft batteries. With the completion of the work, Rear Admiral Aubrey Fitch assumed command of TF 11 and began training exercises near Palmyra Atoll and Christmas Island. Loss at Coral Sea On April 18, the training maneuvers were ended and Fitch received orders to rendezvous with Fletchers TF 17 north of New Caledonia. Alerted to the Japanese naval advance against Port Moresby, New Guinea, the combined Allied forces moved into the Coral Sea in early May. On May 7, after searching for each other for a few days, the two sides began to locate opposing vessels. While Japanese aircraft attacked the destroyer USS Sims and oiler USS Neosho, aircraft from Lexington and Yorktown sank the light carrier Shoho. After the strike on the Japanese carrier, Lexingtons Lieutenant Commander Robert E. Dixon famously radioed, Scratch one flat top! Fighting resumed the next day as American aircraft attacked the Japanese carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku. While the former was badly damaged, the latter was able to take cover in a squall. While the American aircraft were attacking, their Japanese counterparts commenced strikes on Lexington and Yorktown. Around 11:20 AM, Lexington sustained two torpedo hits which caused several boilers to be shut down and reduced the ships speed. Listing slightly to port, the carrier then was struck by two bombs. While one hit the port forward 5 ready ammunition locker and started several fires, the other detonated on the ships funnel and caused little structural damage. Working to save the ship, damage control parties began shifting fuel to correct the list and Lexington began recovering aircraft that were low on fuel. In addition, a new combat air patrol was launched. As the situation aboard began to stabilize, a massive explosion occurred at 12:47 PM when gasoline vapors from the ruptured port aviation fuel tanks ignited. Though the explosion destroyed the ships main damage control station, air operations continued and all of the surviving aircraft from the mornings strike were recovered by 2:14 PM. At 2:42 PM another major explosion tore through the forward part of the ship igniting fires on the hanger deck and leading to a power failure. Though assisted by three destroyers, Lexingtons damage control teams were overwhelmed when a third explosion occurred at 3:25 PM which cut off water pressure to the hanger deck. With the carrier dead in the water, Captain Frederick Sherman ordered the wounded to be evacuated and at 5:07 PM directed the crew to abandon ship. Remaining aboard until the last of the crew had been rescued, Sherman departed at 6:30 PM. All told, 2,770 men were taken from the burning Lexington. With the carrier burning and wracked by further explosions, the destroyer USS Phelps was ordered to sink Lexington. Firing two torpedoes, the destroyer succeeded as the carrier rolled to port and sank. Following Lexingtons loss, workers at the Fore River Yard asked Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox to rename the Essex-class carrier then under construction at Quincy in honor of the lost carrier. He agreed, the new carrier became USS Lexington (CV-16). Selected Sources DANFS: USS Lexington (CV-2)Military Factory: USS Lexington (CV-2)US Carriers: USS Lexington (CV-2)

Self Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Self Critique - Essay Example Entrepreneurs have to be extremely organized because at the beginning they are they only ones working for their business, so this means that they have to stay focused and on track at all times. In addition to my huge workload at school, I also have to make time for extra curricular activities. Finally, because entrepreneurs have to be so open to new ideas, they will inevitably have some failures along the way. As a student, I have done poorly in some of my classes but I did not let it stop me from doing well the next semester. The key was to wipe the slate clean and think of a new class as a fresh start, and I can do the same as a small business owner. In my opinion, my three greatest strengths as an entrepreneur would be the fact that I do not take advice well, have weak communication abilities, and am not very creative. Although entrepreneurs can be single-minded, there are some occasions when they need to take advice from someone else who may be more of an expert in a particular area. I am a very individual person and like to go with my own ideas because I know that I can trust them. Also, entrepreneurs have to be able to appeal to potential investors and/or partners to help with a small business. In my honest opinion, I do not sound very convincing when I am asking for help because I can feel somewhat embarrassed. Finally, entrepreneurs need to be creative and innovative because to make a difference in the marketplace they need to come up with something new. I struggle to do this because I am always afraid that something new will not be very successful, so I try to copy other designs somewhat. I can overcome my dislike of other people’s advice by keeping an open mind and remembering that I do not know everything. As long as the final decision is mine, then I am still in control and I can always change my mind if I need to. Also, I can overcome poor communication skills by practicing making pitches to other people. I need to remember

Skill versus Talent Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Skill versus Talent - Research Paper Example When one uses the skill, one begins by taking in knowledge about oneself – one's strength and weaknesses as an individual. According to Niven(2008, pg. 25)â€Å"Talents are recurring feelings, behavior, thought that distinguish a person. They are innate and very difficult to teach†. A person who cannot attain talent has to be trained in order to possess qualities equivalent to it. Unless you are born with talent it is difficult to cultivate it through practice. No job is too simple or complex to require talent. Talents are difficult to teach, unlike skill. A person with talent is indeed an asset to an organization but a person who is trained to gain valuable experience also can contribute a lot to organizations. Skill is required in many fields of human activities like talent. People can be motivated to acquire skill but talent is the gift of nature. The Concept of Skill The skill is a concept about change and a change that is based on learning. Skill is like self-coach ing and is necessary for individuals to advance in the personal and professional field. People who are mastered in skill can invariably become more effective and efficient in their careers. Without skill people can suffer in many areas and acquiring skill can promote their professional and personality status. Skill can be acquired in specific areas and this needs to be done by getting training under a special mentor. Skill can be acquired on communication, sports, writing, creativity, management and so on. Skill can only be possessed by having complete knowledge about a particular subject. Skills have less value compared to knowledge. The concept of skill is extremely important in education, profession, and life. Human skills vary from people to people. Every person possesses a skill in a particular subject. People come with different nature and hence the skills possessed by them also differs. A skill is something which we have learned with an effort from our side like learning to c ook, drive a car, or learn to sew. Acquiring a skill is in the hands of an individual and with his knowledge and expert, he can master any skill he will for.

Fundamental elements of business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fundamental elements of business - Essay Example Cost of equity does not necessarily involve repayment of funds raised unlike debt. It basically involves rising of funds through interests which not mount pressures on the organization. More pronounced is the fact that cost of equity gives the business organization a sense of expression which allows the organization room to go to all ends to acquire funds. They are not restricted by debt or anything. If a company is successful, the higher the cost of equity which will definitely leave the company little. There is no stipulated cost of equity; it therefore depends on the interest rate which renders the company rather helpless. In this case the cost of equity of a company puts the organization in the position of always requiring votes from shareholders before taking certain decisions "wise use of debt may lower a firms weighted average cost of capital (WACC) during inflation debt is repaid with 'cheap dollars'". In this case raising debt capital is easier and less complicated because the company is not required to comply with state, federal security's laws and regulations. "Interest and principal must always be met when due regardless of a firms financial position, also poor u

Housing Prices in Australia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Housing Prices in Australia - Research Paper Example The headline says: "Government policies, charges 'stifling' housing growth." The report says that "the Property Council of Australia is warning of a looming housing shortfall as prices and taxes increase." The surge in median house prices in the last seven years has shut many people out of the market, ABC News quoted the Council as saying. The report however is on Western Australia and not on the whole of Australia, but still there has to be concern to avoid a possible downturn. From a stable property market, there is a trend of slowing down due to circumstances or causes that are the primary focus of this study. However, the situation may not be serious. The causes will be enumerated in the literature review. Property market in Australia is a major source of wealth creation for investors, contributing to the socio-economic well being of all Australians. The Real Estate Institute of Australia states that in the financial year 2005/2006, property sales totaled $186.1 billion. The Institute further said that 67% of Australians owned their houses and 28% rented on the private market. Property affects everybody in Australia. Those who are renting their houses and those who own their houses are a subject of surveys by the prominent institutions in Australia and even from outside Australia. Over the pa The Real Estate Institute of Australia follows and conducts studies and trends in the real estate business in Australia. It is the national professional association for the real estate industry. Over the past years, right after the 1991-1992 economic recession, there has been a stable residential property market in Australia. But there is a growing defect that the Property Council of Australia has warned in its latest press release. This pertains to the higher taxes imposed by the government. 3.0 Purpose and Objectives This study will examine the underlying growth on the property market of Australia and the impact of the higher taxes. Surveys conducted by prestigious organizations like Standard and Poor's and Real Estate Institute of Australia and other similar organizations that have stakes in the property market have revealed a steady growth. This was recorded over the past 35 years by Standard & Poor's and the years preceding the 1991-1992 economic crisis. We will also study the present policies of government over real estate and their imposition of charges and taxes, whether these taxes or fees are bearable by the general public. The people who are at stake here are those who own or rent their houses. Following are the questions to be answered in the study: 1. Is the stable growth registered by the property

Is there such a thing as a normal sexual orientation Essay

Is there such a thing as a normal sexual orientation - Essay Example Persons attracted toward those of the opposite sex are termed as heterosexuals. Persons attracted toward both genders at the same time are called bisexuals. Person not attracted to any kind of sexual activity with neither gender is going through abstinence or asexuality. This homosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and abstinence, is what we call sexual orientation of a person. It involves both the feelings plus the identity of the person. An individual may recognize his identity as being a homosexual, heterosexual, or bisexual, at any point of his life and this identity would be different from the gender identity or gender roles that the society assigns to an individual. This paper intends to discuss if there is such a thing in the world as normal sexual orientation. Normal Sexual Orientations Researchers suggest that being a heterosexual is normal as is being a non-heterosexual. Gays and lesbians have been identified in all ages and they live just the normal way as others. They belong to all cultures, all socio-economic statuses, and all religions. A homosexual can also feel erotically aroused by a member of the opposite sex at some times in life although he may identify himself as a gay. A heterosexual, likewise, can feel attracted toward a person of the same sex although not too often and although he claims himself to be a heterosexual. Thus, a variation in normality is seen in the behavior of individuals, and this variation cannot make the behavior abnormal. Huegel states that â€Å"Being gay is normal. Being lesbian is normal. Being bisexual is normal. Being transgender is normal. Being heterosexual is normal.† Homosexuality is a Normal Sexual Orientation Gay marriages and gay rights are issues that have been an effort toward making people consider non-heterosexual orientations as normal. The earliest known gay rights organization is the Society for Human Rights in Chicago that was established in 1924 and launched first gay rights movement. Afte r that, the Mattachine Society was established in 1951 and there have been a number of other organizations and movements till then which support gay rights. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed by Congress in 1996 protects the marriage rights of gays since there were many states which had banned gay marriages before 1996. Congress approved the law in 2010 and legalized gay marriages. When talking about gay rights, we must discuss what actually the rights that have been legalized for gays are. These include ceremonial marriages, child adoption, domestic partnership registration on public record, domestic partnership affidavit given by employers to gay employees that defines the couple’s economic relationship, health care, insurance, lawsuits, property, and the like. Hence, we see that courts and laws have been trying to make people believe that heterosexuality is normal. Abnormal Sexual Orientations However, there are some bizarre sexual orientations that are regarded as abnormal. Paraphilia Paraphilia is a sexual orientation in which a person is sexually attracted toward a non-human object, animal, or a person with whom sexual activity is not socially acceptable. The paraphilic sexual orientation is considered abnormal by all mental health organization like the American Psychiatric Association. According to the Traditional Values Coalition: The paraphilias listed in the DSM are abnormal sexual orientations toward non-human objects or individuals and include the