Should The United States Legalize Drug Drugs - 2192 Words

Should the United States Legalize or Decriminalize Drugs? I am certain in my belief that most students who have attended any university in the US have in one way or another been around drugs. However, whether or not they partook in them is debatable. They have more than likely made a decision: to do the drug, or not to do the drug. If they are like me, they did not do the drug, but continued to socialize with those that did partake. If they are not like me, they may have taken the drug and continued to socialize with those they are around. Drugs have become a large part of college culture, and more ultimately, human culture. The reasons vary as much as the reasons why people personally choose to partake in the drug of their choice. Peter De Marneffe states in his article â€Å"Decriminalize, Don’t Legalize†, that â€Å"people use drugs because they enjoy them; they find them fun and relaxing. If it is easier, safer, and less expensive to do something fun and relaxing, more people will do it and do it more often† (De Marneffe, 200). Currently, the US is dealing with drug prohibition (War on Drugs) which has become a topic of hefty discussion. As David Boaz states in his article â€Å"Drug-Free America or Free America?†, political entities have attempted to stop the use of various drugs since drugs were first used. He goes on to say the most familiar example to the American people is the prohibition of alcohol (Boaz, 194). In this position paper, I will do the following: I will defineShow MoreRelatedEssay on Research on Legalizing Marijuana1492 Words   |  6 PagesLegalize It Lobdell 1 Legalize It Legalizing Marijuana has been a controversial and extremely volatile topic ever since the 1970’s. Many people hold strong beliefs regarding this topic and the subsequent laws that have been passed in certain states for the use of the recreational drug. However, marijuana is not just a recreational drug, but has many different wonderful medical purposes for the American people. Marijuana should be legalized for recreational and medical purposes throughout this countryRead MoreThe War on Drugs1580 Words   |  7 PagesThe war on drugs began in the United States in 1971 when President Richard Nixon declared war. President Nixon increased the number of federal drug control agencies, increased mandatory sentences for drug offenders, and utilized no-knock warrants in attempt to get the problem under control. It has been over forty years since President Nixon declared a war on drugs. Did America win the war on drugs? Is it time to legalize illicit drugs in this country? What are other countries doing in referenceRead MoreMarijuana Legalization Why is it the Best Choice for America?1306 Words   |  6 Pagesthe most abused drug in America, has had a lot of publicity recently. Marijuana has caused multiple economic problems within the U.S. A controversial question has arisen from the increased popularity and troubles of this drug. The question is whether or not the U.S. government should legalize marijuana possession and sale in the country. Many Americans believe that the drug should be legalized for various reasons; others, however, are against the legalization of the dangerous drug. While legalizationRead MoreEssay on The Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana1006 Words   |  5 Pagespolitics today. There are many good arguments on why Marijuana should be Legalize and my argument is based on facts and supporting details to prove why Marijuana should be legalize. The Legalization of Marijuana would be profitable to our government and economy, according to Evan Wood who is the founder of the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy; The U.S taxpayers have spent an estimated $2.5 trillion on the war on drugs. The Legalization of Marijuana would have a medical use, and alsoRead MoreIt Is Time to Legalize Marijana1700 Words   |  7 PagesLegalize It! Growing up, everyone is told that, â€Å"Drugs are bad for you,† time and time again. Now as a kid you don’t really understand the reasoning behind it, but you listen to your authority figure regardless. I remember being told this my entire life and even to this very day. But as I got older I realized that people would still use drugs even though it’’s illegal. I could never understand why someone would go against the law and jeopardize their life just to use drugs? The drugRead More Marijuana Legalization Why is it the Best Choice for America?1375 Words   |  6 Pagesthe most abused drug in America, has had a lot of publicity recently. Marijuana has caused multiple economic problems within the U.S. A controversial question has arisen from the increased popularity and troubles of this drug. The question is whether or not the U.S. government should legalize marijuana possession and sale in the country. Many Americans believe that the drug should be legalized for various reasons; others, however, are against the legalization of the dangerous drug. While legalizationRead MoreEssay on Should Marijuana Be Made Legal?1208 Words   |  5 PagesShould Marijuana Be Made Legal? In 1620, the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock bringing with them thousands of gallons of beer and other types of liquor. This was believed to be enough for them to sell or trade with the natives in return for products like a body soother. The Native Americans introduced the Pilgrims to tobacco and other forms of drugs such as Marijuana. By the 1900s, the country noticed marijuana, a psychoactive drug, was dangerous and needed to be controlled. Later, betweenRead MoreFacts About Marijuana Essay893 Words   |  4 PagesFacts About Marijuana Weed, pot, reefer, grass, dope, hash, herb, Mary Jane, ganja, skunk, boom, kif, gangster; these are all common names for the drug marijuana. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States, which makes it a problem. Certain officials believe that legalizing this potentially harmful drug will solve the problems that are associated with it. But that is not true. In fact, legalizing marijuana would only make the situation much worse. Although many peopleRead MoreThe War On Drugs And Its Controversial Approaches1531 Words   |  7 Pageswriting about the war on drugs and its controversial approaches. There are many debatable solutions, but legalization and decriminalization seems to be a go to for other countries, like Mexico has done with cocaine. I will be highlighting the legalization of marijuana in particular because it is a hot topic in America right now. We are watching the government’s approach to combating the use among Americans unfold present day. W e will discuss what the government is doing to stop drugs from entering and leavingRead MoreDrugs And Its Effects On America1374 Words   |  6 PagesDrugs are a major issue in America. They are imported from all around the world, but they are mostly brought across the Mexican border. Even though they are a major concern, nobody is doing anything about it. In the year 2015 nearly 47,000 have died from an overdose. Why is this epidemic of drugs being flown into America being ignored? Is the election between Hilary and Trump for the presidency a bigger picture than drugs and drug related crime? Will Trump’s idea of building a wall actually help

Graduation Speech An Incoming College Freshmen - 975 Words

Final Exam: Essay As an incoming college freshmen, I always knew I would have to work hard to earn the grades I wanted, but I did not know how hard it would be. Before entering college, I was one of the high school students who did not put my all into my classes. I was going through a lot of personal issues. It was hard trying to separate my personal life from my schoolwork and that affected me through my grades. My grades were not as good as I wanted them to be. I wanted at least a 3.0 grade point average, but I did not receive exactly that. One thing I will suggest as your peer mentor, learn to separate your personal life from you college life and your school work. Based on my past experiences in high school, I knew I would have to leave my personal issues at the door before entering any college class. This first step helped me tremendously because I realize there are bigger things ahead of me in life rather than my personal issues. I knew I could solve these issues at another time, instead of in cl ass. Of course, it was hard to transition from high school to college, but I realize really early that if I wanted a 3.5 grade point average or higher, I would have to focus on school along while I’m here. I also learned that I order to get the grades you truly want, you have to study regularly. At the beginning of the fall semester of my freshmen year, I did not study as much. I did not attend any study sessions and I did not seek any help other than from my friends. BecauseShow MoreRelatedThe Letter Sent By Dean John Ellison1495 Words   |  6 Pagesoriginal connotation behind safe spaces has gradually stemmed into different trajectories. In this vein, the sentiments and reactions that hovered the web in awe of the acceptance letter sent by Dean John Ellison, from the University of Chicago, to the incoming class of 2020 took coals to Newcastle. In the letter, the dean apprised the lot that, â€Å"Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called â€Å"trigger warnings,† we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might proveRead MoreInvestigation Of Bioscience And Biotechnology1662 Words   |  7 Pagesdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago and, over time, my family has witnessed a dramatic change in her ability to recognize faces, even when it is those of her own children. In addition, she is also experiencing difficulties in forming her thoughts and speech. As a result, our family frequently worries about the possibility of her roaming the streets and forgetting how to return home. By seeing and experiencing the struggles associated with Alzheimer’s, I am passionately driven to work hard and help improveRead MorePolitical Economy And Its Impact On The American Economy2306 Words   |  10 Pageslearning this fall. It is engrained in today’s society that a college degree is imperative to students preparing to enter the American work force. However, despite earning a college degree â€Å"83 percent of college seniors graduated without a job this spring† (is your student prepared for life?). It is an alarming reality for college graduates, the fact that upon graduating, positions are ofte n part time, low wage, or unrelated to their college degree or career interests. In his article, Is Your StudentRead MoreCase Studies13817 Words   |  56 Pagesregisters members for $30, who are then allowed to bid on exceptional deals. In an effort to stand out from the crowded field of online bargain sites, Fashionforward! reached out to the local community in search of help marketing their company to college students. Part of this effort included hiring a student intern, Carly LeBlanc. At that point, Fashionforward! had no formal marketing strategy for targeting consumers. As someone who grew up in the digital age, LeBlanc knew she had to kick startRead More_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 PagesEngineering Science from the University of California at Berkeley, spent a year at the University of Shefï ¬ eld in England, and ï ¬ nished his Ph.D. in statistics at Stanford University. He previously taught at the University of Florida and at Oberlin College and has had visiting appointments at Stanford, Harvard, the University of Washington, and New York University. From 1998 to 2006, Jay served as Chair of the Statistics Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The StatisticsRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesIllin ois at Urbana-Champaign Professional Experience Academic Positions: Franklin D. Schurz Chair, Department of Management, Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame; Matherly-McKethan Eminent Scholar in Management, Warrington College of Business Administration, University of Florida; Stanley  M. Howe Professor in Leadership, Henry B. Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa; Associate Professor (with tenure), Department of Human Resource Studies, School of Industrial and Labor

Global Leadership †Carlos Ghosn Free Essays

In 1999, the Nissan was suffering under a decade of decline and un-profitability, in fact the company was on the verge of bankruptcy, with continuous loses for the past eight years resulting in debts of approx. $22billion. Lack of market knowledge, innovation, customer needs, quality management and competition consideration as well the devaluation of Yen against the US dollar have dramatically impacted Nissan performance. We will write a custom essay sample on Global Leadership – Carlos Ghosn or any similar topic only for you Order Now Also both formal and informal internal procedural Nissan norms, as well as Japanese cultural norms were holding the company back.Through keiretsu investments Nissan management believed would foster loyalty and cooperation between members of the value chain, hence they invested in real estate and suppliers’ companies. When French auto manufacturer Renault acquired Nissan, president Hanawa of Nissan requested Carlos Ghosn to engineer the failing company’s turnaround. The Brazilian-born, French-educated son of Lebanese parents, Ghosn first learned the management principles and practices while rising through the ranks at Michelin and Renault. His globalized background designated him as an appropriate choice to lead the turnaround of the Japanese company.Renaissance Upon his arrival at Nissan, Ghosn began his new position by embarking on a three-month intensive examination of every aspect of the business Although Nissan had technologically superior products, Ghosn found there was a distinct absence of vision and leadership. Ghosn organized cross-functional teams to develop a new corporate culture using the best elements of the Japanese national culture. By October 1999 Ghosn was ready to announce his strategy to turn the company around with the Nissan Revival Plan (NRP).The NRP become a highly successful cultural intersection that created the most dramatic turnaround in automotive history. It was designed to address the company’s severe short-term problems and stop the years of declining performances. In the plan, through the Cross-Functional teams organized, Ghosn consistently challenged the tradition-bound thinking and practices of Japanese business that inhibited Nissan’s effectiveness. Ghosn closed plants, laid off workers, broke up long-standing supply networks, and sold off marginal assets to focus on the company’s core business.Nissan was now breaking the cultural norms of keiretsu investments. Cutting down costs was just the first step in Nissan’s recovery. Actually changes were introduced in every corner of the company, from manufacturing and engineering to marketing and sales: update of Nissan’s car and truck lineup; introducing new, dynamic designs; quality improvement. These strategies quickly polished Nissan’s image in the marketplace, and re-established the company in the minds of consumers as a leader in innovat ion and engineering. His so-called Nissan Revival seems to be working. But Ghosn is definitely an iconoclast. He defies Japanese business etiquette and shakes hands with every employee he meets, not just top managers. But his radical moves have made him Public Enemy No. 1 to Japanese traditionalists. Eighteen months later, Nissan was back in the black, and within several more years it had become the most profitable large automobile company in the world. Ghosn transformed Nissan once again into a powerful global automotive manufacturer. NRP returned the company to profitability, achieving 7. 9% operating margin and $2. 5 billion profit in 2001. Management Lessons from Ghosn? Ghosn has a results-oriented approach in which he holds people clearly accountable. Therefore, he enthuses and directs, and then leaves them to get on with it and can check back later if they have delivered. In spite of the media’s attempts to blow Ghosn up into demi-god status, the far wiser assessment comes from Garel Rhys of the Cardiff University Center for Automotive Industry Research in Wales.He tells Fortune: â€Å"[Ghosn] is not a superman, only a human being, but he gets results. He sets goals and holds people accountable. † Leadership the Carlos Ghosn way Some of the most interesting revelations in one of Forbes articles May 22 2006 relate to Ghosn’s personal management style, which is tough, demanding and straightforward. In one of the his interviews with CNN he describes himself as people motivator and inspiring which lead to people beleiving in the company and increased level of commitment. Trans-cultural LeaderThe Raoul de Vitry d’Avaucourt Clinical Professor of Leadership Development Manfred Kets de Vries; Research Project Manager Elizabeth Florent-Treacy and case writers Mark Mildon and Antoine Ting illustrate Ghosn’s success in bridging such yawning cultural differences. The authors detail Ghosn’s somewhat unorthodox managerial philosophy, including a far more hands-on approach and absolute insistence on maintaining what he considered a healthy work/home life balance. And while Ghosn was careful to avoid being disres pectful of Japanese cultural norms, he never â€Å"did things the Japanese way†.He also proved himself a savvy exploiter of the local media, gaining invaluable exposure while allowing him to polish Nissan’s quite tarnished image. The key success factors of the Nissan turnaround were vision, strategy, and people commitment to the turnaround. For sure the changes were not easy to implement, but the clear vision brought that people were motivated to bring to life, and the results that showed off rapidly, gave Ghosn credibility, making people feel safe about the company. How to cite Global Leadership – Carlos Ghosn, Papers

Saxonville Sausage Company free essay sample

Current situation: Saxonville Sausage Company’s business basically consists of bratwurst, breakfast sausage and an Italian sausage, Vivioaccounting for 70%, 20% and 5% of revenues respectively. While sale of bratwurst and breakfast sausage for over 5 years have been flat with little or no growth expected in short term, Italian sausage has been showing growth across producers in the retail sausage market and Vivio has managed to match that level of category growth as well. However, Vivio is available in just 16% of the nation’s large supermarkets only. The company is planning to launch a national Italian sausage brand the current year. The current situation of the company can be best explained with the help of a SWOT analysis. How was the research methodology determined? The research methodology was designed with a key priority of understanding the positioning concept that would be ideal to launch the product nationally. The research methodology was designed as a four step process. The first step was a round of qualitative research with target customers to understand their behavior and needs. The second step is a sequential round of consumer sessions, where the researchers used the language they have heard to develop and gain reactions to different positioning ideas. In the third round they refined all the new learning into actual concepts and had the respondents to prioritize and improve on them. In the fourth round, the customer’s purchase intent score was analyzed and final positioning concept was selected. My research design: My research design would also be based on the similar lines. At the ground level, it would first involve qualitative research to understand the customer’s reactions towards the product. I would also like to go for quantitative research i. e conducting customer surveys in order to understand their attitude towards Vivio. My next step would be to understand how my product is performing in terms of sales figures and how are my competitors performing as well. This should be done because I believe that only then would I be capable enough to develop an ideal positioning strategy. I would be doing this via retail sales reporting wherein I can hire companies like ACNeilsento give me detailed analysis of my as well as my competitor’s performance on the basis of past month’s sales. In order to decide my positioning strategy, I would then go for multiple focus group discussion sessions with consumers to understand what they think of the product. The outputs coming from the focus group discussions can be streamlined and refined to approach at some concrete positioning concepts and the consumer can then be asked to prioritize their preferences on the basis of its appeal to them. Finally, I would opt for monadic testing to decide my ultimate positioning concept. Demographic, geographical and behavioral aspect of key concern to me: While most of the criterions have been well taken care of, I believe there are certain aspects of demography, geography and behavior that have been ignored totally. The study has been mostly based on women because they are believed to be major buyers of food products. I think it is one of the most relevant demographic segmentations possible. Fine-tuning further, working women in families are ideally the kinds who are of key concern to us because of their sizeable number and given their limited time to cooking. However, I believe that there is also a key segment of single, working men and women and university students who stay alone and are likely to cook their own food (preferably something which is quick and easy to make) that have been totally ignored. I would consider them as an important demographic segment as well. The other crucial demographic parameters can be age and the number of children in the family. It is because I believe that it’s the relatively younger American families who are more likely to try out Italian cuisine as a dinner meal on a more regular basis. Older families are more likely to stick to their traditional cuisines. Also, because children like to eat Italian sausage, there is a big probability that higher number of children in a family is likely to influence the purchase behavior of sausage to a greater extent. Talking about geographic segmentation, I would definitely consider the Italian American community in New Jersey, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Also, because of the inherent spiciness in Italian sausages, it is likely to appeal to immigrants from India, Mexico, Middle East and the like. Therefore, I would like to segment out places like Texas and California where the penetration of these communities is the highest. Apart from these, I would definitely like to prioritize those markets where there is a strong hold of Saxonville as a brand. Taking about behavioral aspects, I understand that Italian sausage is more of a commodity and therefore has very high price sensitivity. Therefore, this would be one of my key considerations as well. Research results: From the research it becomes clear that â€Å"Family Connection† and â€Å"Clever Cooking† received the highest total votes. â€Å"Family connection† received the most first place votes. However, â€Å"Clever Cooking† positioning concept had more number of votes under definite purchase by the respondents. Selecting two different positioning territories: The two different positioning territories that I have selected are â€Å"Clever Cooking† and â€Å"Appreciation† Clever cooking: Most women viewed Italian sausage as a ready-made ingredient that can be used in soups, sauces, casseroles as well as pasta and rice. They were of the opinion that that they had a ready meal in the house in the form of Italian sausage always. All it needed was a little bit of creativity and within minutes they had something to serve which the entire family enjoyed. One of the key consumer verbatim frequently used can be quoted as â€Å"†¦pizza, soup, I use it like ground beef and they love whatever I make with it†. Family Connection: Many women felt that Italian food was one such meal that everybody loved. It was the one meal for which she did not have to call the family to the table to eat (Exhibit 4). After all, family and friends around the table having good food and enjoying it and enjoying the company of each other is what good living is all about. One of the regularly quoted verbatim was â€Å"everybody loves it† (Exhibit 1). Also, Italian sausage is one such meal which is highly rated as an easy to do and family pleasing meal, which further reinstates my opinion (Exhibit 5). Alternatives recommended: Although â€Å"Family Connection† concept got the greatest number of first place votes, I personally feel that â€Å"Clever Cooking† would have a greater appeal to the target audience. Today there are greater numbers of women in the work force. As such many mothers do not have the time to prepare home-cooked, great tasting meals. Clever Cooking concept allows working mothers to prepare homemade, great tasting meals quickly and easily. Also, clever cooking concept can smoothly incorporate the other proposed concepts into it as well. For example, by print and TV ads, they can integrate family connection into clever cooking by showing visuals of a working woman catering to a large family around a dinner table. Also, they can show about work life balance and need for quick and easy food wherein a mother can cook healthy and delicious food in minutes. In addition to this, during the last phase of research, more people said they would definitely the product under clever cooking positioning concept than compared to family connection positioning concept, which further reinstates the argument. Tactics for product launch: The following tactics can be employed during the product launch. Also, they have to pay extra margins to the shop owners for better shelf space to ensure higher visibility.

Leadership Motivation Anita Roddick, Founder of Body Shop

Introduction The concept of leadership can be broadly defined as the intrinsic ability to internalize a setting with the intention of empowering a group or team to proactively and creatively contribute towards problem solving (Bass 2000).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Leadership Motivation: Anita Roddick, Founder of Body Shop specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, management, in the broad spectrum, can be defined as the process in an organization that is inclusive of setting, strategic planning, managing resources and deploying the needed resources to realize specific objectives that are measurable within a specified period of time (Bennis Goldsmith 2003). Thus, this analytical paper attempts to explicitly analyze the concepts of leadership in terms of its application, scope, and features in the management styles. Specifically, the treatise adopts a reflective research in exploring the components of leadership and management such as transformational leadership, ‘managerialism’, and organizational realities in the management style of Anita Roddick who founded the Body Shop. External Environment and Strategic Challenge By definition, leadership is the capability to internalize the environmental setting that incorporates and empowers a group to creatively contribute towards definite course of addressing a challenge. Reflectively, Anita was not impressed with the services that many beauty shops were offering in the UK. The aspect of talent envisioned Anita to review her natural skill and ability that gained proficiency through personal experiences to establish an all-round body shop that could allow customers to buy all beauty products within one roof (The Body Shop 2012). The main characteristics of leadership include adaptability, empowerment, commitment, contribution, and critical problem solving skills. The aspect of adaptability influences the adjustments that may be required in exercising influence over a challenge.Advertising Looking for report on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Through these adjustments, Anita was in a position to model a unique setting that reassures and discerns the wants and desires of the subjects. Besides, she inspired self esteem and confidence among the subjects to align their feelings to specific intuition or instinct in her body shop concept. Through this leadership, she was able to facilitate the degree of empowerment feeling and faith in solutions given to her clients (Bustin 2004). Leading Others Since leadership inspires the need to contribute proactively towards creation of a suitable environment for closing the gap that may exist between a challenge and its solution, Anita used creative leadership which is a rich recipe for an imaginative response to stimulation that created a wider chain of adaptation of viable solutions to the demands of her clients (Slack, Chambers, Johnston Betts 2005). Through proactive management, Anita rolled out an organized process within her business that involved setting, planning, managing customer demands and deploying assets to achieve specific goals and objectives such as offering competitive prices and convenience to customers. Since management is about reproducing an action plan and implementing the same, Anita developed solutions that addressed the concerns of her diverse customers with different preferences. This strategy was successful since Anita inspired trust on the long-range perspective that challenged and concentrated on doing what was right and not ideal for the clients (The Body Shop 2012). Conclusively, leadership development focuses on how individuals think about themselves and activities that affect these thoughts and feelings in an organizational environment especially during selection, perfection, and persuasion procedures.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Leadership Motivation: Anita Roddick, Founder of Body Shop specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, it is critical to analyze the concept of leadership in management in order to understand the unique features that are independent of each other and have the same scope. Anita successful applied these concepts to develop a successful business empire in the UK. References Bass, B. (2000). Bass Stogdill’s handbook of leadership: Theory, research, and managerial applications. The Free Press, New York. Bennis, W., Goldsmith, J. (2003).Learning to Lead. New York: Basic Books. Bustin, G. (2004). Take Charge: How Leaders Profit From Change. Irving, Texas: Tapestry Press. The Body Shop. (2012). Dame Anita Roddick. Web. This report on Leadership Motivation: Anita Roddick, Founder of Body Shop was written and submitted by user Tate Stevens to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Hitler-His rise to power essays

Hitler-His rise to power essays A putsch is an illegal overthrow of government by using the force of violence. Hitler attempted a putsch in Munich, 1923. I believe that Hitler chose to carry out the putsch in Munich because it was in Bavaria. The people in Bavaria were most likely to think like Hitler as they were right-wing nationalists and against democracy. Most of the Bavarians were Catholics and didnt like Protestants in Berlin and were against the Berlin government, against Weimar. Also Bavaria had a history of separatism. Another thing that Bavaria and Hitler had in common was anti-Semitism. Hitler preached anti-Semitism. Hitler lived in Munich. He had done a lot of work to build up the Nazi Party there so it was easier for him to organize a putsch in this city. Hitler had not only chosen the right place but also the right time to try a coup detat. During 1923 there was hyperinflation in Germany and money was worth almost nothing. The French had invaded the Ruhr, as Germany had not paid their reparations. Stresseman had called off passive resistance against the French in the Ruhr so Germany was at its weakest. Hitler also knew that a year earlier Mussolini had conducted The March on Rome and it worked. He was Hitlers hero and he believed that he could do what Mussolini did. Five years before Mussolini, Lenin had a successful revolution in Russia, this also encouraged Hitler to take over by force. For these reasons, Hitler decided to attempt his revolution by starting in Munich in 1923, with the intent of turning it into a national revolution. Hitler entered a Munich beer-hall on November 9, 1923 calling for a revolution against the Weimar Republic by his Nazi followers. Encouraged by his stirring speech, the Storm troopers followed Hitler along with General Ludendorff towards the city centre to overthrow the government. However, when faced with the o ...

Cause and effect of smoking Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cause and effect of smoking - Term Paper Example Smoking, therefore, has several negative effects as discussed below. When one decides to quit smoking, the craving for nicotine results to withdrawal symptoms, which include short temper, aggression, anger and negative feelings. Apart from nicotine, cigarettes also contain carbon (II) Oxide that increases the risk of developing heart disease. Tar is also a component in cigarette associated with different types of cancer. It is also associated with damage to the lining of the lungs (Soneji, Samir, et al. 2204). Smoking not only affects the smoker but also anyone nearby. Although most countries have designated areas for smoking, most smokers do not smoke in these smoking zones. They carelessly smoke in public places affecting many people and exposing them to the danger of smoking. The human body is made up of several cells, which form and die continuously in a controlled way. However, some chemicals can easily interfere with the process of cell division causing the development of cancer. The different cancer names originate depending on where in the body they start. For example, lung cancer starts from the lung and spreads. Cancer normally leaves its initial location and spreads in the body through a process called metastasis. When the body becomes unable to cope up with the cancer growth, the smoker dies. As it grows and spreads through a person’s body, it increasingly becomes painful, particularly if it spreads to the bones (Zale and Joseph, 296). It weakens the bones resulting to fractures. This condition is called osteoporosis. Weakness, coma, paralysis and death might occur when cancer spreads to the brain. Smoking accounts for at least a third of cancer related deaths in the US. Smoking causes the following type of cancers: Smoking has increasing been associated with cancer of the pancreas, kidney, bladder and the cervix. The major cause of lung cancer deaths in men and women is due to cigarette smoking. Toxic gases inhaled during smoking

Strategic management financial data Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategic management financial data - Essay Example Importantly it has an excellent reputation for its commitment to being an equal opportunities employer and to corporate philanthropy. Whilst it does not have anywhere near McDonald's market share, over the last five years its stock has consistently outperformed McDonald's: Figure 2: Yum v McDonald's 2002-2007 Source: Marketwatch.com According to the CEO, David Novak, Yum! claims an annual return for investors of 24% between 2000-2005. Little wonder he refers to the company as "a demonstrated cash machine with a strong investment grade balance sheet". 2 Revenue Growth Last 5 Years3 I have presented both the raw figures, taken from the 2001-2005 Annual reports respectively and calculated the revenue growth rate using the formula: Growth multiple: (current year/last year) = 1.344599 Growth % rate: Growth multiple - 1 x 100 =Annualised Growth last 5 years To work out the annualised growth rate between 2005 and 2000 I used the following formula: Time = 5 Growth multiple = 1.344599 = 1.061008 Then subtract 1 and multiple by 100 = 6% Operating Expenses as a % Revenue I calculated this figure using the formula: Operating expenses/revenue*100 Gross Profit Margin (GPM) I found this information on the Income statement and used the following calculation: To Calculate Gross Profit Net Sales (NS) minus Cost of Sales =Gross Profit (GP) GPM = GP/NS Market Capitalization I found 2 definitions for capitalization Definition 1 The sum of a corporation's long-term debt, stock and retained earnings. Also called invested capital. Definition 2 The market price of an entire company, calculated by multiplying the number of shares outstanding by the price per share. here also called market cap or market...Importantly it has an excellent reputation for its commitment to being an equal opportunities employer and to corporate philanthropy. According to the CEO, David Novak, Yum! claims an annual return for investors of 24% between 2000-2005. Little wonder he refers to the company as "a demonstrated cash machine with a strong investment grade balance sheet". 2 Figures 5-6: In the last 2 years Yum! has struggled to outperform the market. This is consistent with the difficulty in sustaining a competitive advantage. Markets trend toward competitive convergence as competitors copy operational efficiencies. However since October 2005 (Figure 5) Yum! has easily outperformed the Dow Jones US Restaurant & Bars index. Figure 9 provides the contrast between Yum! and the Dow Jones US Restaurant & Bars index over the last 5 years. With the exception of a 'blip' in 2002-3 when Yum! was no better or worse than the Dow Jones US Restaurant & Bars index, Yum! has outperformed its sector overall in each of the last 5 years.

Financial Reporting Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Financial Reporting Research - Essay Example When making this decision, IAS 8.11 requires the management to show the definitions, recognition procedures, and dimension concepts for assets, incomes, liabilities, expenses and liabilities in the accounting Framework. A good financial statement is one that is understandable to every stakeholder of the company with minimum difficulties, thus financial statements should be simple and easy to understand. Two it should be reliable in that potential investors can rely on it to make decisions. Three it should be easy to compare with other financial statements in the market. Last but not least financial statement should be relevant. The information used in the financial statement should be relevant and material for decision making. Therefore, ambiguous information should be avoided when preparing financial information. This will eliminate any essence of misguide to the stakeholders of the company. Financial reporting standards have been revised severally over years to capture the dynamics in accounting sector. They have reviewed severally to incorporate the emerging trends in global business such as mergers, foreign acquisition among others. Before 2001 the world used to prepare financial statements using international accounting standards (IAS) and any revision on international accounting standards after 2001 is referred to as international financial reporting standard. ( IFRS). According international accounting standard 10 financial statement includes a statement of financial position which shows the total assets of the company, long-term and short term liabilities and the companies equity. Second is the statement of comprehensive income which shows the total revenue and expenditures of the company. Third is the statement of changes in equity, statement of cash flow which shows the ability of the company to pay short term debts and notes to the financial position this provides explanations to the financial statement items. International Accounting Standards Board is charged with mandate of reviewing and revising accounting standards. It comprises of fifteen members drawn across the world. It was formed in 2001 as successor of International Accounting standard committee. It has the responsibility of developing international financial reporting standard and revision of international accounting standard to IFRS. (Wood & Sangster, 2005) According to international financial standards a statement of financial position should have a section of noncurrent assets at cost, their accumulated depreciation and the net book value all shown separately. A section of current asset and current liabilities on separate column and then the working capital of the company are calculated as the difference of current assets and current liabilities. Current assets are those assets that can be converted into cash easily while noncurrent assets are those that are expected to remain in the business for a long period. In this statement there is a section of financing ac tivities which show how the company is financed. The total of noncurrent assets and working capital should always equal to finances of the company. This statement shows the total assets of the company, liabilities of the company both short term and long term

Interaction of Electromagnetic Radiation: Quantum Structures

Interaction of Electromagnetic Radiation: Quantum Structures Preparation and Characterisation of Quantum Dot Infrared Photo Detector and Its Application in Night Vision Devices Submitted by Mangala Gowri M Focus of the study during this period was to understand interaction of electromagnetic radiation with quantum structures. Interband transition and intraband transition are two types of transition possible in semiconductors. Intraband transitions are unique for the quantum semiconductor structures. Intraband transitions between the quantized energy levels are possible depending on several parameters. The resonance wavelength depends on effective masses of the carriers, parameters like size, shape and composition of the quantum structures. Practical observations made on quantum structures like quantum wells and quantum dots were very interesting. â€Å"The first direct observation of infrared absorption between conduction subbands of n-doped GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells was reported in 1985. It was confirmed that intersubband transitions between electronic states of quantum wells are strongly polarized along the confinement potential direction.† [1] Therefore light whose polarization has component along the confinement potential direction gets absorbed. Therefore â€Å"light must have a polarization component perpendicular to the quantum well layers.† [1] This is the strong limitation for the quantum well infrared photo detectors. On the other hand, quantum wires and quantum dots theoretically do not have this limitation on the polarization direction of incident radiation. For quantum well polarization, direction radiation should not be normal (perpendicular) to the confinement potential direction, whereas t his type of normal incidence is allowed for quantum dots. Oscillator Strength: â€Å"Oscillator strength is a dimensionless quantity that expresses the probability of absorption or emission of radiation in transitions between energy levels of an atom or molecule.† [2] When an electronic transition occurs an oscillating dipole moment will be induced by interaction of electric field of the system with electromagnetic radiation. The following illustration explains the mechanism of transition in a system in general. Suppose an electron changes its energy from En to Em by changing its state from ψn to ψm. During the transition it will be in a state which is superposition of the two states. ÃŽ ¨ = aψn + bψm Probability that the electron in the state ψn is |a|2 and probability that it is in state ψm is |b|2 so that at any time |a|2 + |b|2 =1. We can see that expectation value mn oscillates at frequency ÃŽ ³nm = , ÃŽ ³nm is the transition frequency. mn is the oscillator strength as the strength of the oscillation is proportional to the expectation value of intermediate state. It is also called the transition matrix element. For allowed transitions mn is a nonzero value and for forbidden transitions it is zero. Transition Dipole Moment: Transition dipole moment is the dipole moment associated with the transition between two states. It is a complex vector quantity. It encodes phase factors associated with the two states. The direction of this dipole moment is the polarization of the transition. The polarization of the transition determines the interaction of the system with electromagnetic radiation with a given polarization. Square of the dipole moment of transition gives the strength of the transition. Transition dipole moment is off-diagonal matrix element of position operator multiplied by the particle’s charge. Classically, dipole moment is product of charge and separation between the two charges. In the presence of an electric field, the two charges will experience a force in opposite direction so that a torque acts on the dipole. Similarly, during transition, coupling between an electromagnetic wave and transition dipole moment of the system depends on the charge distribution within the system, strength of the field and the relative polarization of the field and the transition. Also transition dipole moment depends on the geometries and relative phases of the two states involved in transition. The concept of transition dipole moment is very useful to determine whether a transition is allowed or not. If the integral defining transition dipole moment is nonzero, that transition is allowed. Perturbation Theory: To understand the mechanism of interaction between the system and electromagnetic radiation, we adopt quantum mechanical perturbation theory. Incident radiation is treated as a perturbation. Electromagnetic radiation provides a time dependent potential, which assists quantum jumps between energy levels. So total Hamiltonian of the system has two parts, one is time independent and another is time dependent. If time dependent part is small compared to time independent part, then that can be treated as a perturbation. Considering two level system, where ÃŽ ¨a and ÃŽ ¨b are two eigen states of unperturbed Hamiltonian H0. The two states are orthonormal. Any other state of the system can be written as a linear combination of those two states. ÃŽ ¨(0) = Ca ÃŽ ¨a + Cb ÃŽ ¨b Ca and Cb are constants, which include information about probability of finding the system in respective states. Suppose we are curious to know the state of the system after a time t. If there is time dependent perturbation, ÃŽ ¨(t) is again superposition of the two states. Not only the two states evolve with time, but also coefficients Ca and Cb are also functions of time. If we can determine Ca(t) and Cb(t) we can understand the system at time t. Several mathematical steps lead us to ÄÅ  a = And ÄÅ  b = Where ÄÅ  a and ÄÅ  b are time derivatives of Ca(t) and Cb(t) respectively. Both of the above equations taken together are equivalent to time dependent Schrodinger equation for a two level system. The diagonal matrix elements of H’ vanish. Therefore, ÄÅ  a = ÄÅ  b = With Considering that H’ is small, above equations can be solved by a process called successive approximations. Here we also consider that perturbation is having sinusoidal time dependence. Then And In the first order we have ω is the driving frequency and ω0 is the transition frequency. If ω and ω0 are very close to each other second term in the square brackets dominates. So we can say ω + ω0 >> | ω0 ω| We drop first term and after simplification The transition probability gives the probability that a particle started from the initial state will reach at final state in time t. We can see here that transition probability as a function of time oscillates sinusoidally. Fig: Transition probability as a function of time, for sinusoidal perturbation. Maximum value of probability is . The probability of rising to the maximum value is much less than 1 for small perturbation. Another thing to observe here that the probability of transition is highest when ω ω0. Fig: Transition probability as a function of driving frequency. Thus as time goes on width of the peak becomes narrower and height of the peak becomes higher. That means that the system will undergo transition with higher probability. Emission and Absorption of Radiation: An electromagnetic wave consists of transverse oscillating electric and magnetic fields. An atom reacts primarily to the oscillating electric component of radiation. Assume that an atom is exposed to a sinusoidally oscillating electric field. Consider that the field is polarized along z direction. Then the perturbing Hamiltonian is written as Note: Considering that the period of oscillation of the field is long compared to the time taken by the charge to move around within the atom we adopt electrostatic formula for Vab that is equal to Then Where P = is transition dipole moment. ÃŽ ¨ is an odd or even function of z. We consider that the diagonal matrix elements of H’ vanish. Then the interaction of radiation with the system is governed by precisely the kind of oscillatory perturbation with Vab Note: P is off-diagonal matrix element of z component of dipole moment operator qr. Transition probability is proportional to the energy density of the perturbing fields. And we see that the probability is proportional to time. If incident radiation is monochromatic, transition probability oscillates. However, if the system is exposed to incoherent spread of frequencies that flopping nature disappears. The transition rate will be a constant. In the calculations, we have assumed that the direction of propagation of perturbing radiation is y direction and it is polarized along z axis. However, in practice the system (like quantum well, quantum dot) is exposed to a radiation coming from all directions and with all possible polarizations. Then the energy of the field is shared equally among these different modes. So in the place of we have to substitute the average of |P.n|2 with n is the direction of polarization of radiation. Average is over all polarizations and all incident directions. Quantum Well: A quantum well can be considered as idealized square, finite and symmetrical potential well. It is now evident that absorption of radiation by quantum well depends on the direction of the transition dipole moment and direction of polarization of incident radiation. It can be shown that the wave function of quantum well is a even function in ground state and it is alternatively even or odd in higher states. In order to P be nonzero ÃŽ ¨a and ÃŽ ¨b should be of opposite parity since z is odd. In addition, direction of P depends on ÃŽ ¨a and ÃŽ ¨b. Since the wavefunction of the quantum well has only z component, transition dipole moment will also be directed along the z direction i.e. along the direction of potential Vwell(z). In the case of normal incidence, the polarization of radiation is perpendicular to the walls of the well barrier or to the potential. The n that refers to polarization direction of radiation is in xy plane. So choosing cylindrical polar coordinates, we have And . Thus, . Then, Which implies that normal incidence in quantum wells is forbidden. The polarization selection rules for transitions in quantum wells are summarized below. Quantum Dot: Quantum dot is a quantum structure, which is confined three dimensionally. Thus, the confinement potential has all the three x, y, z components. Similarly the wave functions representing the states of quantum dot have x, y, z components. So the scalar product between transition dipole moment and the polarization direction of incident radiation will not be equal to zero. Average of is not zero in quantum dots. Thus, the quantity in quantum dots is nonzero. There is no restriction for direction of polarization of radiation theoretically. Even though normal incidence intraband absorption is forbidden in quantum wells, they are allowed in quantum dots. This is major fact of great interest in the development of infrared photodetectors. I attended a two-day collaborator’s workshop organized by Centre of ART, SIT, Tumkur from 20-02-2014 to 21-02-2014. Study Plan: In the next half year, focus of the study will be MOCVD growth process of quantum dots. Signature of the CandidateSignature of the Guide (Manala Gowri M) (Prof. (Dr.) Ganesh N. Raikar) References: A. Weber. Intraband Spectroscopy of Semiconductor quantum dots, 1998. 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscillator_strength 3. Proefschrift. Optical Properties of Semiconductor Quantum Dots, 2011 4. Griffith. D.J, Introduction to quantum Mechanics, 2nd Ed, Pearson Education Inc, 2006.

Lady Macbeth - From Head Conspirator to Wimp :: essays research papers fc

Lady Macbeth From Head Conspirator to Wimp   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story of Macbeth by Shakespeare is one of his most read and most loved plays. It was not unlikely that out of all of his plays that Macbeth would be one of the few successful plays that would be turned into an opera. Verdi wrote the opera with librettists Francesco Maria Piave and Andrea Maffei. The opera was written around 1846 and premiered on March 14, 1847 at the Teatro dell Pergola in Florence, Italy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A few years later the Verdi revised the opera adding a ballet into it and taking out some things and was performed at the Teatre Lyrique in Paris on April 21, 1865. This opera in comparison to the play begins with the third scene of the play. Unlike some of Verdi and other composer’s other operas the dialogue of Macbeth closely follows Shakespeare’s dialogue throughout the entire opera. It has been said that the words throughout the opera are ore often than not a literal translation of Shakespeare’s work.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All of this information is fine and gives us a general understanding of who wrote the opera and when, but what I want to focus on in this paper is the Prima Donna of the opera by Verdi: Lady Macbeth. Although she is an integral part to both the play also and since the opera is so closely related to the play, I will focus on the opera by Verdi. Through a character analysis, evidence on how Verdi saw his Lady Macbeth, and a discussion of her development through her arias, I will discuss how Lady Macbeth began as a woman thirsty to become Queen and ends as a woman that was willing to and did take her own life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the lines of the play the Lady Macbeth said was very interesting that gives you the character of Lady Macbeth in one statement and Verdi’s opera shows this. She says â€Å"†¦look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t. (I. v. 67-68)† This is the thesis statement of Lady Macbeth’s life until the bitter end. Lady Macbeth is Macbeth’s wife, a deeply ambitious woman who lusts for power and position. Early on she is the stronger and more ruthless of the two, as she urges her husband to kill the King, Duncan, and seize the thrown. Lady Macbeth exploits her sexual hold over Macbeth as a means to persuade him to commit murder after murder.

Twilight 10. INTERROGATIONS

10. INTERROGATIONS It was very hard, in the morning, to argue with the part of me that was sure last night was a dream. Logic wasn't on my side, or common sense. I clung to the parts I couldn't have imagined – like his smell. I was sure I could never have dreamed that up on my own. It was foggy and dark outside my window, absolutely perfect. He had no reason not to be in school today. I dressed in my heavy clothes, remembering I didn't have a jacket. Further proof that my memory was real. When I got downstairs, Charlie was gone again – I was running later than I'd realized. I swallowed a granola bar in three bites, chased it down with milk straight from the carton, and then hurried out the door. Hopefully the rain would hold off until I could find Jessica. It was unusually foggy; the air was almost smoky with it. The mist was ice cold where it clung to the exposed skin on my face and neck. I couldn't wait to get the heat going in my truck. It was such a thick fog that I was a few feet down the driveway before I realized there was a car in it: a silver car. My heart thudded, stuttered, and then picked up again in double time. I didn't see where he came from, but suddenly he was there, pulling the door open for me. â€Å"Do you want to ride with me today?† he asked, amused by my expression as he caught me by surprise yet again. There was uncertainty in his voice. He was really giving me a choice – I was free to refuse, and part of him hoped for that. It was a vain hope. â€Å"Yes, thank you,† I said, trying to keep my voice calm. As I stepped into the warm car, I noticed his tan jacket was slung over the headrest of the passenger seat. The door closed behind me, and, sooner than should be possible, he was sitting next to me, starting the car. â€Å"I brought the jacket for you. I didn't want you to get sick or something.† His voice was guarded. I noticed that he wore no jacket himself, just a light gray knit V-neck shirt with long sleeves. Again, the fabric clung to his perfectly muscled chest. It was a colossal tribute to his face that it kept my eyes away from his body. â€Å"I'm not quite that delicate,† I said, but I pulled the jacket onto my lap, pushing my arms through the too-long sleeves, curious to see if the scent could possibly be as good as I remembered. It was better. â€Å"Aren't you?† he contradicted in a voice so low I wasn't sure if he meant for me to hear. We drove through the fog-shrouded streets, always too fast, feeling awkward. I was, at least. Last night all the walls were down†¦ almost all. I didn't know if we were still being as candid today. It left me tongue-tied. I waited for him to speak. He turned to smirk at me. â€Å"What, no twenty questions today?† â€Å"Do my questions bother you?† I asked, relieved. â€Å"Not as much as your reactions do.† He looked like he was joking, but I couldn't be sure. I frowned. â€Å"Do I react badly?† â€Å"No, that's the problem. You take everything so coolly – it's unnatural. It makes me wonder what you're really thinking.† â€Å"I always tell you what I'm really thinking.† â€Å"You edit,† he accused. â€Å"Not very much.† â€Å"Enough to drive me insane.† â€Å"You don't want to hear it,† I mumbled, almost whispered. As soon as the words were out, I regretted them. The pain in my voice was very faint; I could only hope he hadn't noticed it. He didn't respond, and I wondered if I had ruined the mood. His face was unreadable as we drove into the school parking lot. Something occurred to me belatedly. â€Å"Where's the rest of your family?† I asked – more than glad to be alone with him, but remembering that his car was usually full. â€Å"They took Rosalie's car.† He shrugged as he parked next to a glossy red convertible with the top up. â€Å"Ostentatious, isn't it?† â€Å"Um, wow,† I breathed. â€Å"If she has that, why does she ride with you?† â€Å"Like I said, it's ostentatious. We try to blend in.† â€Å"You don't succeed.† I laughed and shook my head as we got out of the car. I wasn't late anymore; his lunatic driving had gotten me to school in plenty of time. â€Å"So why did Rosalie drive today if it's more conspicuous?† â€Å"Hadn't you noticed? I'm breaking all the rules now.† He met me at the front of the car, staying very close to my side as we walked onto campus. I wanted to close that little distance, to reach out and touch him, but I was afraid he wouldn't like me to. â€Å"Why do you have cars like that at all?† I wondered aloud. â€Å"If you're looking for privacy?† â€Å"An indulgence,† he admitted with an impish smile. â€Å"We all like to drive fast.† â€Å"Figures,† I muttered under my breath. Under the shelter of the cafeteria roof's overhang, Jessica was waiting, her eyes about to bug out of their sockets. Over her arm, bless her, was my jacket. â€Å"Hey, Jessica,† I said when we were a few feet away. â€Å"Thanks for remembering.† She handed me my jacket without speaking. â€Å"Good morning, Jessica,† Edward said politely. It wasn't really his fault that his voice was so irresistible. Or what his eyes were capable of. â€Å"Er†¦ hi.† She shifted her wide eyes to me, trying to gather her jumbled thoughts. â€Å"I guess I'll see you in Trig.† She gave me a meaningful look, and I suppressed a sigh. What on earth was I going to tell her? â€Å"Yeah, I'll see you then.† She walked away, pausing twice to peek back over her shoulder at us. â€Å"What are you going to tell her?† Edward murmured. â€Å"Hey, I thought you couldn't read my mind!† I hissed. â€Å"I can't,† he said, startled. Then understanding brightened his eyes. â€Å"However, I can read hers – she'll be waiting to ambush you in class.† I groaned as I pulled off his jacket and handed it to him, replacing it with my own. He folded it over his arm. â€Å"So what are you going to tell her?† â€Å"A little help?† I pleaded. â€Å"What does she want to know?† He shook his head, grinning wickedly. â€Å"That's not fair.† â€Å"No, you not sharing what you know – now that's not fair.† He deliberated for a moment as we walked. We stopped outside the door to my first class. â€Å"She wants to know if we're secretly dating. And she wants to know how you feel about me,† he finally said. â€Å"Yikes. What should I say?† I tried to keep my expression very innocent. People were passing us on their way to class, probably staring, but I was barely aware of them. â€Å"Hmmm.† He paused to catch a stray lock of hair that was escaping the twist on my neck and wound it back into place. My heart spluttered hyperactively. â€Å"I suppose you could say yes to the first†¦ if you don't mind – it's easier than any other explanation.† â€Å"I don't mind,† I said in a faint voice. â€Å"And as for her other question†¦ well, I'll be listening to hear the answer to that one myself.† One side of his mouth pulled up into my favorite uneven smile. I couldn't catch my breath soon enough to respond to that remark. He turned and walked away. â€Å"I'll see you at lunch,† he called over his shoulder. Three people walking in the door stopped to stare at me. I hurried into class, flushed and irritated. He was such a cheater. Now I was even more worried about what I was going to say to Jessica. I sat in my usual seat, slamming my bag down in aggravation. â€Å"Morning, Bella,† Mike said from the seat next to me. I looked up to see an odd, almost resigned look on his face. â€Å"How was Port Angeles?† â€Å"It was†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There was no honest way to sum it up. â€Å"Great,† I finished lamely. â€Å"Jessica got a really cute dress.† â€Å"Did she say anything about Monday night?† he asked, his eyes brightening. I smiled at the turn the conversation had taken. â€Å"She said she had a really good time,† I assured him. â€Å"She did?† he said eagerly. â€Å"Most definitely.† Mr. Mason called the class to order then, asking us to turn in our papers. English and then Government passed in a blur, while I worried about how to explain things to Jessica and agonized over whether Edward would really be listening to what I said through the medium of Jess's thoughts. How very inconvenient his little talent could be – when it wasn't saving my life. The fog had almost dissolved by the end of the second hour, but the day was still dark with low, oppressing clouds. I smiled up at the sky. Edward was right, of course. When I walked into Trig Jessica was sitting in the back row, nearly bouncing off her seat in agitation. I reluctantly went to sit by her, trying to convince myself it would be better to get it over with as soon as possible. â€Å"Tell me everything!† she commanded before I was in the seat. â€Å"What do you want to know?† I hedged. â€Å"What happened last night?† â€Å"He bought me dinner, and then he drove me home.† She glared at me, her expression stiff with skepticism. â€Å"How did you get home so fast?† â€Å"He drives like a maniac. It was terrifying.† I hoped he heard that. â€Å"Was it like a date – did you tell him to meet you there?† I hadn't thought of that. â€Å"No – I was very surprised to see him there.† Her lips puckered in disappointment at the transparent honesty in my voice. â€Å"But he picked you up for school today?† she probed. â€Å"Yes – that was a surprise, too. He noticed I didn't have a jacket last night,† I explained. â€Å"So are you going out again?† â€Å"He offered to drive me to Seattle Saturday because he thinks toy truck isn't up to it – does that count?† â€Å"Yes.† She nodded. â€Å"Well, then, yes.† â€Å"W-o-w.† She exaggerated the word into three syllables. â€Å"Edward Cullen.† â€Å"I know,† I agreed. â€Å"Wow† didn't even cover it. â€Å"Wait!† Her hands flew up, palms toward me like she was stopping traffic. â€Å"Has he kissed you?† â€Å"No,† I mumbled. â€Å"It's not like that.† She looked disappointed. I'm sure I did, too. â€Å"Do you think Saturday†¦ ?† She raised her eyebrows. â€Å"I really doubt it.† The discontent in my voice was poorly disguised. â€Å"What did you talk about?† She pushed for more information in a whisper. Class had started but Mr. Varner wasn't paying close attention and we weren't the only ones still talking. â€Å"I don't know, Jess, lots of stuff,† I whispered back. â€Å"We talked about the English essay a little.† A very, very little. I think he mentioned it in passing. â€Å"Please, Bella,† she begged. â€Å"Give me some details.† â€Å"Well†¦ okay, I've got one. You should have seen the waitress flirting with him – it was over the top. But he didn't pay any attention to her at all.† Let him make what he could of that. â€Å"That's a good sign,† she nodded. â€Å"Was she pretty?† â€Å"Very – and probably nineteen or twenty.† â€Å"Even better. He must like you.† â€Å"I think so, but it's hard to tell. He's always so cryptic,† I threw in for his benefit, sighing. â€Å"I don't know how you're brave enough to be alone with him,† she breathed. â€Å"Why?† I was shocked, but she didn't understand my reaction. â€Å"He's so†¦ intimidating. I wouldn't know what to say to him.† She made a face, probably remembering this morning or last night, when he'd turned the overwhelming force of his eyes on her. â€Å"I do have some trouble with incoherency when I'm around him,† I admitted. â€Å"Oh well. He is unbelievably gorgeous.† Jessica shrugged as if this excused any flaws. Which, in her book, it probably did. â€Å"There's a lot more to him than that.† â€Å"Really? Like what?† I wished I had let it go. Almost as much as I was hoping he'd been kidding about listening in. â€Å"I can't explain it right†¦ but he's even more unbelievable behind the face.† The vampire who wanted to be good – who ran around saving people's lives so he wouldn't be a monster†¦ I stared toward the front of the room. â€Å"Is that possible?† She giggled. I ignored her, trying to look like I was paying attention to Mr. Varner. â€Å"So you like him, then?† She wasn't about to give up. â€Å"Yes,† I said curtly. â€Å"I mean, do you really like him?† she urged. â€Å"Yes,† I said again, blushing. I hoped that detail wouldn't register in her thoughts. She'd had enough with the single syllable answers. â€Å"How much do you like him?† â€Å"Too much,† I whispered back. â€Å"More than he likes me. But I don't see how I can help that.† I sighed, one blush blending into the next. Then, thankfully, Mr. Varner called on Jessica for an answer. She didn't get a chance to start on the subject again during class, and as soon as the bell rang, I took evasive action. â€Å"In English, Mike asked me if you said anything about Monday night,† I told her. â€Å"You're kidding! What did you say?!† she gasped, completely sidetracked. â€Å"I told him you said you had a lot of fun – he looked pleased.† â€Å"Tell me exactly what he said, and your exact answer!† We spent the rest of the walk dissecting sentence structures and most of Spanish on a minute description of Mike's facial expressions. I wouldn't have helped draw it out for as long as I did if I wasn't worried about the subject returning to me. And then the bell rang for lunch. As I jumped up out of my seat, shoving my books roughly in my bag, my uplifted expression must have tipped Jessica off. â€Å"You're not sitting with us today, are you?† she guessed. â€Å"I don't think so.† I couldn't be sure that he wouldn't disappear inconveniently again. But outside the door to our Spanish class, leaning against the wall – looking more like a Greek god than anyone had a right to – Edward was waiting for me. Jessica took one look, rolled her eyes, and departed. â€Å"See you later, Bella.† Her voice was thick with implications. I might have to turn off the ringer on the phone. â€Å"Hello.† His voice was amused and irritated at the same time. He had been listening, it was obvious. â€Å"Hi.† I couldn't think of anything else to say, and he didn't speak – biding his time, I presumed – so it was a quiet walk to the cafeteria. Walking with Edward through the crowded lunchtime rush was a lot like my first day here; everyone stared. He led the way into the line, still not speaking, though his eyes returned to my face every few seconds, their expression speculative. It seemed to me that irritation was winning out over amusement as the dominant emotion in his face. I fidgeted nervously with the zipper on my jacket. He stepped up to the counter and filled a tray with food. â€Å"What are you doing?† I objected. â€Å"You're not getting all that for me?† He shook his head, stepping forward to buy the food. â€Å"Half is for me, of course.† I raised one eyebrow. He led the way to the same place we'd sat that one time before. From the other end of the long table, a group of seniors gazed at us in amazement as we sat across from each other. Edward seemed oblivious. â€Å"Take whatever you want,† he said, pushing the tray toward me. â€Å"I'm curious,† I said as I picked up an apple, turning it around in my hands, â€Å"what would you do if someone dared you to eat food?† â€Å"You're always curious.† He grimaced, shaking his head. He glared at me, holding my eyes as he lifted the slice of pizza off the tray, and deliberately bit off a mouthful, chewed quickly, and then swallowed. I watched, eyes wide. â€Å"If someone dared you to eat dirt, you could, couldn't you?† he asked condescendingly. I wrinkled my nose. â€Å"I did once†¦ on a dare,† I admitted. â€Å"It wasn't so bad.† He laughed. â€Å"I suppose I'm not surprised.† Something over my shoulder seemed to catch his attention. â€Å"Jessica's analyzing everything I do – she'll break it down for you later.† He pushed the rest of the pizza toward me. The mention of Jessica brought a hint of his former irritation back to his features. I put down the apple and took a bite of the pizza, looking away, knowing he was about to start. â€Å"So the waitress was pretty, was she?† he asked casually. â€Å"You really didn't notice?† â€Å"No. I wasn't paying attention. I had a lot on my mind.† â€Å"Poor girl.† I could afford to be generous now. â€Å"Something you said to Jessica†¦ well, it bothers me.† He refused to be distracted. His voice was husky, and he glanced up from under his lashes with troubled eyes. â€Å"I'm not surprised you heard something you didn't like. You know what they say about eavesdropners,† I reminded him. â€Å"I warned you I would be listening.† â€Å"And I warned you that you didn't want to know everything I was thinking.† â€Å"You did,† he agreed, but his voice was still rough. â€Å"You aren't precisely right, though. I do want to know what you're thinking – everything. I just wish†¦ that you wouldn't be thinking some things.† I scowled. â€Å"That's quite a distinction.† â€Å"But that's not really the point at the moment.† â€Å"Then what is?† We were inclined toward each other across the table now. He had his large white hands folded under his chin; I leaned forward, my right hand cupped around my neck. I had to remind myself that we were in a crowded lunchroom, with probably many curious eyes on us. It was too easy to get wrapped up in our own private, tense little bubble. â€Å"Do you truly believe that you care more for me than I do for you?† he murmured, leaning closer to me as he spoke, his dark golden eyes piercing. I tried to remember how to exhale. I had to look away before it came back to me. â€Å"You're doing it again,† I muttered. His eyes opened wide with surprise. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Dazzling me,† I admitted, trying to concentrate as I looked back at him. â€Å"Oh.† He frowned. â€Å"It's not your fault,† I sighed. â€Å"You can't help it.† â€Å"Are you going to answer the question?† I looked down. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Yes, you are going to answer, or yes, you really think that?† He was irritated again. â€Å"Yes, I really think that.† I kept my eyes down on the table, my eyes tracing the pattern of the faux wood grains printed on the laminate. The silence dragged on. I stubbornly refused to be the first to break it this time, fighting hard against the temptation to peek at his expression. Finally he spoke, voice velvet soft. â€Å"You're wrong.† I glanced up to see that his eyes were gentle. â€Å"You can't know that,† I disagreed in a whisper. I shook my head in doubt, though my heart throbbed at his words and I wanted so badly to believe them. â€Å"What makes you think so?† His liquid topaz eyes were penetrating – trying futilely, I assumed, to lift the truth straight from my mind. I stared back, struggling to think clearly in spite of his face, to find some way to explain. As I searched for the words, I could see him getting impatient; frustrated by my silence, he started to scowl. I lifted my hand from my neck, and held up one finger. â€Å"Let me think,† I insisted. His expression cleared, now that he was satisfied that I was planning to answer. I dropped my hand to the table, moving my left hand so that my palms were pressed together. I stared at my hands, twisting and untwisting my fingers, as I finally spoke. â€Å"Well, aside from the obvious, sometimes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I hesitated. â€Å"I can't be sure – I don't know how to read minds – but sometimes it seems like you're trying to say goodbye when you're saying something else.† That was the best I could sum up the sensation of anguish that his words triggered in me at times. â€Å"Perceptive,† he whispered. And there was the anguish again, surfacing as he confirmed my fear. â€Å"That's exactly why you're wrong, though,† he began to explain, but then his eyes narrowed. â€Å"What do you mean, ‘the obvious'?† â€Å"Well, look at me,† I said, unnecessarily as he was already staring. â€Å"I'm absolutely ordinary – well, except for bad things like all the near-death experiences and being so clumsy that I'm almost disabled. And look at you.† I waved my hand toward him and all his bewildering perfection. His brow creased angrily for a moment, then smoothed as his eyes took on a knowing look. â€Å"You don't see yourself very clearly, you know. I'll admit you're dead-on about the bad things,† he chuckled blackly, â€Å"but you didn't hear what every human male in this school was thinking on your first day.† I blinked, astonished. â€Å"I don't believe it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I mumbled to myself. â€Å"Trust me just this once – you are the opposite of ordinary.† My embarrassment was much stronger than my pleasure at the look that came into his eyes when he said this. I quickly reminded him of my original argument. â€Å"But I'm not saying goodbye,† I pointed out. â€Å"Don't you see? That's what proves me right. I care the most, because if I can do it† – he shook his head, seeming to struggle with the thought – â€Å"if leaving is the right thing to do, then I'll hurt myself to keep from hurting you, to keep you safe.† I glared. â€Å"And you don't think I would do the same?† â€Å"You'd never have to make the choice.† Abruptly, his unpredictable mood shifted again; a mischievous, devastating smile rearranged his features. â€Å"Of course, keeping you safe is beginning to feel like a full-time occupation that requires my constant presence.† â€Å"No one has tried to do away with me today,† I reminded him, grateful for the lighter subject. I didn't want him to talk about goodbyes anymore. If I had to, I supposed I could purposefully put myself in danger to keep him close†¦ I banished that thought before his quick eyes read it on my face. That idea would definitely get me in trouble. â€Å"Yet,† he added. â€Å"Yet,† I agreed; I would have argued, but now I wanted him to be expecting disasters. â€Å"I have another question for you.† His face was still casual. â€Å"Shoot.† â€Å"Do you really need to go to Seattle this Saturday, or was that just an excuse to get out of saying no to all your admirers?† I made a face at the memory. â€Å"You know, I haven't forgiven you for the Tyler thing yet,† I warned him. â€Å"It's your fault that he's deluded himself into thinking I'm going to prom with him.† â€Å"Oh, he would have found a chance to ask you without me – I just really wanted to watch your face,† he chuckled, I would have been angrier if his laughter wasn't so fascinating. â€Å"If I'd asked you, would you have turned me down?† he asked, still laughing to himself. â€Å"Probably not,† I admitted. â€Å"But I would have canceled later – faked an illness or a sprained ankle.† He was puzzled. â€Å"Why would you do that?† I shook my head sadly. â€Å"You've never seen me in Gym, I guess, but I would have thought you would understand.† â€Å"Are you referring to the fact that you can't walk across a flat, stable surface without finding something to trip over?† â€Å"Obviously.† â€Å"That wouldn't be a problem.† He was very confident. â€Å"It's all in the leading.† He could see that I was about to protest, and he cut me off. â€Å"But you never told me – are you resolved on going to Seattle, or do you mind if we do something different?† As long as the â€Å"we† part was in, I didn't care about anything else. â€Å"I'm open to alternatives,† I allowed. â€Å"But I do have a favor to ask.† He looked wary, as he always did when I asked an open-ended question. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Can I drive?† He frowned. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Well, mostly because when I told Charlie I was going to Seattle, he specifically asked if I was going alone and, at the time, I was. If he asked again, I probably wouldn't lie, but I don't think he will ask again, and leaving my truck at home would just bring up the subject unnecessarily. And also, because your driving frightens me.† He rolled his eyes. â€Å"Of all the things about me that could frighten you, you worry about my driving.† He shook his head in disgust, but then his eyes were serious again. â€Å"Won't you want to tell your father that you're spending the day with me?† There was an undercurrent to his question that I didn't understand. â€Å"With Charlie, less is always more.† I was definite about that. â€Å"Where are we going, anyway?† â€Å"The weather will be nice, so I'll be staying out of the public eye†¦ and you can stay with me, if you'd like to.† Again, he was leaving the choice up to me. â€Å"And you'll show me what you meant, about the sun?† I asked, excited by the idea of unraveling another of the unknowns. â€Å"Yes.† He smiled, and then paused. â€Å"But if you don't want to be†¦ alone with me, I'd still rather you didn't go to Seattle by yourself. I shudder to think of the trouble you could find in a city that size.† I was miffed. â€Å"Phoenix is three times bigger than Seattle – just in population. In physical size -â€Å" â€Å"But apparently,† he interrupted me, â€Å"your number wasn't up in Phoenix. So I'd rather you stayed near me.† His eyes did that unfair smoldering thing again. I couldn't argue, with the eyes or the motivation, and it was a moot point anyway. â€Å"As it happens, I don't mind being alone with you.† â€Å"I know,† he sighed, brooding. â€Å"You should tell Charlie, though.† â€Å"Why in the world would I do that?† His eyes were suddenly fierce. â€Å"To give me some small incentive to bring you back.† I gulped. But, after a moment of thought, I was sure. â€Å"I think I'll take my chances.† He exhaled angrily, and looked away. â€Å"Let's talk about something else,† I suggested. â€Å"What do you want to talk about?† he asked. He was still annoyed. I glanced around us, making sure we were well out of anyone's hearing. As I cast my eyes around the room, I caught the eyes of his sister, Alice, staring at me. The others were looking at Edward. I looked away swiftly, back to him, and I. asked the first thing that came to mind. â€Å"Why did you go to that Goat Rocks place last weekend†¦ to hunt? Charlie said it wasn't a good place to hike, because of bears.† He stared at me as if I was missing something very obvious. â€Å"Bears?† I gasped, and he smirked. â€Å"You know, bears are not in season,† I added sternly, to hide my shock. â€Å"If you read carefully, the laws only cover hunting with weapons,† he informed me. He watched my face with enjoyment as that slowly sank in. â€Å"Bears?† I repeated with difficulty. â€Å"Grizzly is Emmett's favorite.† His voice was still offhand, but his eyes were scrutinizing my reaction. I tried to pull myself together. â€Å"Hmmm,† I said, taking another bite of pizza as an excuse to look down. I chewed slowly, and then took a long drink of Coke without looking up. â€Å"So,† I said after a moment, finally meeting his now-anxious gaze. â€Å"What's your favorite?† He raised an eyebrow and the corners of his mouth turned down in disapproval. â€Å"Mountain lion.† â€Å"Ah,† I said in a politely disinterested tone, looking for my soda again. â€Å"Of course,† he said, and his tone mirrored mine, â€Å"we have to be careful not to impact the environment with injudicious hunting. We try to focus on areas with an overpopulation of predators – ranging as far away as we need. There's always plenty of deer and elk here, and they'll do, but where's the fun in that?† He smiled teasingly. â€Å"Where indeed,† I murmured around another bite of pizza. â€Å"Early spring is Emmett's favorite bear season – they're just coming out of hibernation, so they're more irritable.† He smiled at some remembered joke. â€Å"Nothing more fun than an irritated grizzly bear,† I agreed, nodding. He snickered, shaking his head. â€Å"Tell me what you're really thinking, please.† â€Å"I'm trying to picture it – but I can't,† I admitted. â€Å"How do you hunt a bear without weapons?† â€Å"Oh, we have weapons.† He flashed his bright teeth in a brief, threatening smile. I fought back a shiver before it could expose me. â€Å"Just not the kind they consider when writing hunting laws. If you've ever seen a bear attack on television, you should be able to visualize Emmett hunting.† I couldn't stop the next shiver that flashed down my spine. I peeked across the cafeteria toward Emmett, grateful that he wasn't looking my way. The thick bands of muscle that wrapped his arms and torso were somehow even more menacing now. Edward followed my gaze and chuckled. I stared at him, unnerved. â€Å"Are you like a bear, too?† I asked in a low voice. â€Å"More like the lion, or so they tell me,† he said lightly. â€Å"Perhaps our preferences are indicative.† I tried to smile. â€Å"Perhaps,† I repeated. But my mind was filled with opposing images that I couldn't merge together. â€Å"Is that something I might get to see?† â€Å"Absolutely not!† His face turned even whiter than usual, and his eyes were suddenly furious. I leaned back, stunned and – though I'd never admit it to him – frightened by his reaction. He leaned back as well, folding his arms across his chest. â€Å"Too scary for me?† I asked when I could control my voice again. â€Å"If that were it, I would take you out tonight,† he said, his voice cutting. â€Å"You need a healthy dose of fear. Nothing could be more beneficial for you.† â€Å"Then why?† I pressed, trying to ignore his angry expression. He glared at me for a long minute. â€Å"Later,† he finally said. He was on his feet in one lithe movement. â€Å"We're going to be late.† I glanced around, startled to see that he was right and the cafeteria was nearly vacant. When I was with him, the time and the place were such a muddled blur that I completely lost track of both. I jumped up, grabbing my bag from the back of my chair. â€Å"Later, then,† I agreed. I wouldn't forget.

Moment Generating Functions of Random Variables

Moment Generating Functions of Random Variables One way to calculate the mean and variance of a probability distribution is to find the expected values of the random variables X and X2. We use the notation E(X) and E(X2) to denote these expected values. In general, it is difficult to calculate E(X) and E(X2) directly. To get around this difficulty, we use some more advanced mathematical theory and calculus. The end result is something that makes our calculations easier. The strategy for this problem is to define a new function, of a new variable t that is called the moment generating function. This function allows us to calculate moments by simply taking derivatives. Assumptions Before we define the moment generating function, we begin by setting the stage with notation and definitions. We let X be a discrete random variable. This random variable has the probability mass function f(x). The sample space that we are working with will be denoted by S. Rather than calculating the expected value of X, we want to calculate the expected value of an exponential function related to X. If there is a positive real number r such that E(etX) exists and is finite for all t in the interval [-r, r], then we can define the moment generating function of X. Definition The moment generating function is the expected value of the exponential function above. In other words, we say that the moment generating function of X is given by: M(t) E(etX) This expected value is the formula ÃŽ £ etx f (x), where the summation is taken over all x in the sample space S. This can be a finite or infinite sum, depending upon the sample space being used. Properties The moment generating function has many features that connect to other topics in probability and mathematical statistics. Some of its most important features include: The coefficient of etb is the probability that X b.Moment generating functions possess a uniqueness property. If the moment generating functions for two random variables match one another, then the probability mass functions must be the same. In other words, the random variables describe the same probability distribution.Moment generating functions can be used to calculate moments of X. Calculating Moments The last item in the list above explains the name of moment generating functions and also their usefulness. Some advanced mathematics says that under the conditions that we laid out, the derivative of any order of the function M (t) exists for when t 0. Furthermore, in this case, we can change the order of summation and differentiation with respect to t to obtain the following formulas (all summations are over the values of x in the sample space S): M’(t) ÃŽ £ xetx f (x)M’’(t) ÃŽ £ x2etx f (x)M’’’(t) ÃŽ £ x3etx f (x)M(n)’(t) ÃŽ £ xnetx f (x) If we set t 0 in the above formulas, then the etx term becomes e0 1. Thus we obtain formulas for the moments of the random variable X: M’(0) E(X)M’’(0) E(X2)M’’’(0) E(X3)M(n)(0) E(Xn) This means that if the moment generating function exists for a particular random variable, then we can find its mean and its variance in terms of derivatives of the moment generating function. The mean is M’(0), and the variance is M’’(0) – [M’(0)]2. Summary In summary, we had to wade into some pretty high-powered mathematics, so some things were glossed over. Although we must use calculus for the above, in the end, our mathematical work is typically easier than by calculating the moments directly from the definition.

Is Your Body Language Professional

Is Your Body Language Professional Ever wondered what coworkers think of you? Or how you look to hiring managers? We all have an image of how we think we present ourselves, but sometimes it can be quite useful to check in and make sure we’re not too far off the mark. Check Your Vocal TicsDo you have any annoying vocal patterns? Say â€Å"um† too much? Constantly go up in pitch at the end of your sentences? Ask a friend you trust to tell you every time you repeat one of these things- or better yet, record yourself speaking as you might in an interview or presentation to the boss. You’ll get a much better sense of how you sound to others and will be able to make adjustments.Settle Your HandsDo you constantly twirl your hair or fiddle with your jewelry? Do you always have your hands in your pockets or your arms crossed? Any of these habits we turn to when feeling bored or awkward can be perceived as nervous or aloof and can make a bad impression. We’re not saying you can never touch your hair or put your hands in your pockets, just be aware of how often you are doing it so it doesn’t become a bad habit.Make Sure Gestures Have MeaningWe use our hands when we speak for emphasis and clarity- and sometimes just because we’re used to doing it! Sometimes our hand gestures can be distracting, though, so it’s always best to run through our patterns and make sure we’re using our hands to our best advantage.Try holding your arms open at a 45 degree angle with your palms up to appear more honest and approachable, or touch your fingertips together when you want to express precision. Place your palms firmly down to signify certainty. And practice these so they appear natural and unrehearsed.Move Your HeadPeople can learn a lot from how you hold your head. A tilt can express compassion when someone tells you a sad story. Holding yourself upright and straight can portray confidence in negotiations, by appearing more authoritative and neutral. Start noticing how you move your head and in which situations, so you can adapt if necessary.Flex Your MusclesResearch shows that flexing muscles, any muscles, can actually help improve willpower and confidence. The next time you’re negotiating or trying to articulate a point, see whether flexing a muscle or two imperceptibly can give you an extra boost.

Environmental Studies - Global Warming Research Paper

Environmental Studies - Global Warming - Research Paper Example However, the aspect that cannot be disputed is that these human induced advancements, inventions and discoveries are happening at the cost of earth’s environment. Yes, technological advancements and industrial revolution, initiated by the men, have led to an increase in emission of greenhouse gases, burning of fossil fuels and that eventually led to global warming. Global Warming refers to rise in earth’s temperature due to the emission of green house gases, deforestation and burning of fossil fuels. It is no doubt that Earth is warming faster than ever before in history. The increasing temperature is, however, thought to come about because of the various human activities. However, at the same time, there is a view that global warming is a naturally occurring phenomenon, and the human activities in quest of development and comfort do not contribute to it. Thus, this paper even while discussing whether global warming is due to human actions or whether they do not contrib ute maximally to it, will take a concluding stance that it is human-induced. Background Earth’s temperatures depend on the balance between input of the sun and terrestrial radiation or its loss back into the atmosphere. There are gases that are critical when it comes to the balance of that temperature. This group of gases has a common name: greenhouse gases. Energy from the sun is in the form of shortwave radiation. Approximately, a third of the solar radiation that hits earth’s surface gets reflected back into the atmosphere. The remaining radiation is absorbed mainly by land and oceans. This, therefore, results into an increase in the warming of the earth’s surface. The surface subsequently emits long-wave radiation. At this point, if there are greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the radiation is trapped, thereby, warming the atmosphere. The gases form a blanket on earth thus increasing the temperatures by 35 degrees (Theodore, 2004). Role of human induced Gre enhouse gases in global warming Scientists believe that human activities have a direct impact on the increased levels of greenhouse gases on the earth surface. Global warming occurs because of the massive greenhouse gases, for instance, carbon dioxide and methane. Human activities are the main cause of the increase in green house gases. Global warming is characterized by rise in sea levels, melting of glaciers and ice caps, change in climatic conditions and rainfall patterns, etc. For the last 20 million years, research has it that burning of fuels has tremendously given rise to high carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere. A recent report by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows that there is a vivid evidence for 0.6 degrees Celsius increase in global temperatures and about 20cm rise in the general sea level. In addition, sea ice thickness in Arctic Ocean has gone down by approximately 40% (Theodore, 2004). Mountains, on the other hand, are also recording the fastest ever experienced glacier melting rate. In North Atlantic region, there has been a constant rise in storm activities, drought, and floods. Prediction made by IPCC suggests that by 2100, there shall be arise in global temperatures by 5.4 degrees Celsius (Theodore, 2004). Generation of Greenhouse Gases has increased due to Human activities A simple way to prove Global Warming is happening and real is to refer to the earth’s temperature database of the previous years and compare the same with the current

World War one Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

World War one - Essay Example Ignoring this law, it is reported that more than 124 000 tons of gas had been produced by the time the First World War was ending2. By using gas bombs and any other chemical weapons, Germans clearly ignored the then laws of war. These are the ones that specifically prohibited the use of chemical weapons. The basis for supporting chemical warfare or supporting its abolition was founded on the ethical issues associated with that kind of war. Presenting a range of premises in support of the use of chemical weapons in World War I, interwar ethical arguments considered it time-friendly, humane as well as economical among other advantages. This essay will present the scenarios before, during and after World War I which illustrate the pros and cons of the employment of chemical warfare and the reasons why the German used it extensively in wars. Gas attacks were some of the feared attacks by the troops in the battle fields. Therefore signs of gas weapons such as artillery shells, which encased the gas, and prevailing wind, which accelerated the spreading of the gas, were dreaded by the troops in gas stricken zones3. The gas attacks used to be major offensive when they would be discharged in massive forms. Attacks using Lachrymatory gases would temporarily disable soldiers in trenches such that attacking them further would be easier. The lachrymatory gases affected the eyes by causing them to tear. There are other gases which were lethal such as chlorine and phosgene. These normally disabled the tissues of the respiratory system thus causing the victim to die. For instance, Mustard gas caused horrors to the victims and was one of the most dreaded chemical weapons. This was partly due to the long period of time it would remain on the ground after being discharged as well as its adverse effects to the victims. Inhaling the gas caused death to the victim. In addition, its other effects included causing of temporary blindness as well as making the

Process Steam Boiler Conversion Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Process Steam Boiler Conversion Project - Essay Example Failed projects have a colossal negative impact to any business, especially due to the time and resources spent. Ensuring that the project management process continues in a successful manner, tools are available to support and ensure that the aspects of project integration, time, cost, quality, as well as human resources are effectively covered. The project charter for instance is a very important document that is prepared to support a successful project management process (Schwalbe, 2009). This lays the framework for the project management process and remains a strong reference point during the progress of the project. Lack of a project charter reflects negatively on the project and can adversely affect its success. Scheduling under project time management can be demonstrated using scheduling chart tools such as Gantt chart and critical path method (CPM). During project activity documentation, the project manager can use illustrations and diagrams to ensure that communication is wel l effected among the members of a project team and with other stakeholders. Charts are used to ensure that information is accurately passed across to the target audience. Another common tool in use in scheduling is the project evaluation and review technique (PERT) which is an analysis tool that can also be used by the manager to schedule the project’s activities. The most important key to successful and effective project management is through planning. A logically constructed and orderly plan is essential to direct any type of project and to help in preparing a report from conception through completion. The key to good planning is in its turn founded on clearly defined project objectives. For instance, project planning can begin with the identification of the client's needs, the development of a budget and work schedule that fit these needs, and the planning for resources, including staff and materials. The setting up of a clearly defined project proposal plan is therefore v ery useful from the beginning as it can help ensure that matters as a technically capable staff and an adequate budget are part of the process. The understanding of the assumptions is important given how the expectations for the final results of the project are based on the initial suppositions made. Furthermore, changing assumptions throughout the project can bring about lack of satisfaction about the final results among the senior management; a scenario that is rather frequent in the project management field. Therefore, and despite the fact that project length remains a critical factor in the eventual extent of satisfaction exhibited with regard to the final results, assumptions should be documented at project initiation and throughout using the project charter as a possible means. The project manager should from then on continue to challenge and revalidate the assumptions to ensure that the project is either redirected towards a different set of objectives or simply terminated fu lly in the event of changing assumptions. Among the assumptions that need to be considered are related to both enterprise environmental factors as well as organizational process assets. Assumptions related to the external environment, and which can affect any given project and should be therefore taken well into account, include for