Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Philosophy - Essay Example 47). Each and every person has the right to life and so the fetus to become entitled to this right. Nevertheless, the mother has the right over her body, and can decide on what shall or shall not happen to her body. Every person should be able to grant her will. Is another person’s right to life stronger than a mother’s decision to what shall or shall not happen to her body? Therefore, the fetus will not be killed, and an abortion will not be performed to the mother. To show the example of performing an abortion when pregnancy is as a result of voluntary sex, we take the example of a person waking up in the morning lying in bed with an unconscious violinist, a famous violinist. He has a fatal ailment of the kidney, and the Music Lovers Society has established that she is the person with the right blood type to help. They kidnap her and use her kidney to extract poison from the violinists’ kidney. She later became informed by the hospital’s director that it is the Music Lovers Society that did that to her, and we would have refused if we had known. She gets conjoined to him for 9 months and to unplug her means killing him. She has the right to decide what occurs to her body, but another person’s right to life outweighs yours. This means she can never be unplugged from him. She would see this as outrageous which sounds the same as what I had suggested earlier on a mother’s body. ... The experiments above show that the woman has no right over her life, but the other person determines the right for her. Critiques argue that the unplugging of the violinists does not amount to direct killing as she claims. They claim that Thompson is not able to see the argument of rights in both ways. The fetus just like the mother has a claim to the right of being alive, as well. However, if you unplug yourself from the sick violinist, you are totally unjust to him. This is unfair since you gave him no right to use your kidney and nobody else could have given him. Violinists, like all human beings, have the right to life, and by unplugging yourself from him, he will die ad in this case you do what the violinist has a right that you will not do it, but not to act unjustly to him when doing the act. Also, when a woman voluntarily engages in intercourse and gets pregnant, she is responsible for pregnancy and the person inside her. The person inside the body has the right to be there and aborting it, will be denying it of what it has a right over. This will amount to injustice to the thing. If she gets asked to kill it even for the sake of saving her own life, is wrong, since she voluntarily accepted it into her body. Nevertheless, a person who exists from the act of rape has no right to the mothers’ body, and abortion is, therefore, acceptable. Section B 2. David Miller claims that the distributive justice argument for a policy of open borders fails. Explain Miller’s argument for this claim and discuss what you take to be its most serious shortcoming. Distributive justices involve the comparison of how people of different origins fair according to some standard. It is not clear, according to Miller, that the distributive justice applies

What Motivates Real Estate Investment Trusts to engage in open market Essay

What Motivates Real Estate Investment Trusts to engage in open market share repurchases in the U.S - Essay Example vational factors for share repurchase but most of these studies excluded REITs, given the existing regulatory framework under which each REITs is required to pay 95 percent of their earnings as dividends. Under such a scenario this paper has made an attempt to find out whether the factors that motivate other firms to buy back shares through open market purchase can also influence REITs significantly in doing the same. This study has however found that the factors, which motivate other firms, are not capable of motivating REITs. In many countries, like the Unites States, the United Kingdom, etc. companies have the power to buy back their own shares through a share repurchase program. On many occasions, management of a company can decide to buy back a particular proportion of its shares floating outside the firm. Since 1980, share repurchase by firms in the United States has increased significantly. When a firm repurchases a particular portion of its own share, it actually distributes lump sum amount of cash to its existing shareholders and takes away from them a fraction of the outstanding share of the firm in exchange of that cash. Stock repurchase can be done through various methods. In U.S., very often the firms employ the method of open market repurchase of shares. There exist a number of studies in the field of finance and accounting researches, which have attempted to explore major motivational factors behind share, repurchase for different types of firms (Jensen, 1986; Stephens and Weisnach, 1998; Dittmar, 2000; Fenn and Liang, 2001; Jolis, 1998 etc). Most of the companies, which earn profits, make use of these profits in two ways. First, a particular part of the profits are paid to the equity holders of the firms in the form of dividends. Second, the rest of the profits, which is generally known to be as the shareholder’s equity, are used to be kept within the firm for the purpose of using it to finance future investment projects. However, it is not

Canadas Involvement In World War Two History Essay

Canadas Involvement In World War Two History Essay The day World War 2 was announced Canada was still part of the British Commonwealth and the pressure was on them to join the war effort too. Canada did join the war eventually but took a full week to make the final decision after Britain. This decision later would either make or break the victory of the Allies. The majority of Canada greatly contributed to World War 2 by helping Britain greatly financially, providing the Allies with supplies for the war effort and by persuading its citizens to join the army, air force, factories. The greatest weapon, that was mandatory for success was money and wealth. Canada played a major role in providing large amounts of money to the Allies to help with the war effort. Throughout the deadly war, Canada had contributed three billion dollars to Britain and supplied weapons and military vehicles (141, Bryce). By the end of the world war, the British land force was armed with 60 percent Canadian made small rifles, Bren guns and anti-tank weapons. Also, hundreds of Canadian made aircrafts such as the mustangs, hurricanes, and Spitfires. 40 percent of the heavy bomber units used by the RAF were manufactured in Canada (Stacey, Encyclopedia). In the beginning of the war, Britain had eighty thousand military vehicles, but in the escape of Dunkirk they lost seventy five thousand of them. Not only did Canada supply weapons and war materials but Canadas automotive business helped gain the loss of their military vehicles. Not only did Canada re-manufacture what was lost, but they also produced a surplus amount for Britain (Total Effort, Globe and Mail). This shows how willing the citizens and the government were to stop the Nazi Regime. Canada is the nation, Canadians are the people, and Canadians are who helped the allies to gain this victory. September of 1939, 58,337 men and women enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. Aside from the fifty thousand in the Canadian army, large groups of Canadians joined the British army, especially in the Royal Air Force. About 3,000 had joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1939, even though it was small crew it still played an integral role in many of the battles. Another 80,000 Canadians had volunteered for the navy but their services werent needed because the war had ended, before sixty ships and 13,500 men had the chance to be deployed (Veterans Affairs Canada, 2009). The greatest movement between the citizens was during the peak time of the war, when 439,000 women started to work in the service sector, 373,000 in manufacturing and 4,000 in construction. This was significant because the women werent mentally and physically prepared to work in such a small notice. Since for many g enerations women have only stayed home to nurture the children and take care of the house. Going into factories to produce items, let alone weaponry is a big transformation to their or anyones lifestyles (Canadian War Industry, 2007). War is a very a broad word, that combines all the battles that occurred into one category, but if the war is broken down to pieces there are many individual battles that can be analyzed in which Canada had an important role in. Operation D-Day is just one of the important battles that Canada leads the allies to a victory. D-Day was the allied invasion of Normandy, also remembered as the greatest seaborne invasion in history, which was just an 80 km wide stretch of land made up of five individual beaches. Canada was given the middle beach which shows that the allies really trusted the Canadian forces in doing a spectacular job. In total there were about 155,000 soldiers, nearly 5,000 ships, 50,000 vehicles and 11,000 planes were established for the assault. Canada had a share of 14,000 soldiers that were planned to land on the beaches; about another 500 were intended to be drop behind enemy lines by parachute or gliders. The Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force supported t he invasion by deploying 10,000 sailors, Lancaster bombers and Spitfire fighters. With such an armed squad they landed on the shores of Juno Beach where they were part of the British Second Army, under the command of British Lt. General Miles Dempsey. The units were however from all across the country, ranging from North Nova Scotia Highlanders, to the Canadian Scottish Victoria. The plan was carried out at 6 am in the morning with a high artillery strike of the beaches, in within an hour the soldiers were far away from the ships they had landed in. Exactly two hours later, the Canadians had devastated Juno beach and the German army was defenseless (CBC News, 2009). Everyhand feed baby that the world thought Canada was by Britain, was drastically changed after World War 2

Value of Teamwork Essay -- Service Teams

As with all of life, there are two basic approaches to business: First, one can decide to set out on his own to make his fortune and second one can develop and build a team to get the job done. There is a simple, yet powerful, acronym to help one remember the importance of teamwork; (TEAM) Together Everyone Achieves More. There are those who, in this age of bureaucracy and â€Å"red tape,† might feel as though being part of a group means giving up control of their projects – leaving them feeling a little like they would have been better off without team membership. Inevitably, however, one comes to the realization that he cannot survive alone as â€Å"no man is an island.† These individuals soon are left to consider that the concept of a team effort producing exponential results has led to farmers yoking together â€Å"teams† of oxen and horses, has led to ever increasing amounts of â€Å"horsepower† in mechanical engines, and so is nothing new. Wit h the idea of being able to take on otherwise insurmountable tasks, there is definitely something to be said about the pride of accomplishment that can only come through the efforts of teamwork. While the general concept of teams and teamwork remain unchanged, the purpose and makeup of teams has changed, rather than a group of employees in a room getting together the 21st century teams are becoming more frequently geographically dispersed teams (GDT) that are required to work from very diverse locations within the country and even around the globe (Sole & Edmondson, 2002). Of course, as with any team or organization intent on actually accomplishing anything there needs to be a map or direction, this is usually found in the Mission and Vision statements†¦ but then even if you are on the right track, the tr... ...y. When these values, norms and guidelines are followed, the team will become an efficient and successful one. The process may be slow in the beginning, but once the team understands and cooperates with each other, anything can be achieved. Every team member should become committed to the success of the team and not worry about individual pain or difficulties. If these norms and guidelines are put into practice, any amount of work becomes an easy task. â€Å"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.† – Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12.

Food Inc Movie Monsanto Essay

Food, Inc. reveals the shocking truths about the food and food chain that America eats. It narrates the industrial production of meat (chicken, beef, and pork), grains and vegetables (primarily corn and soybeans) and lastly about the major food corporations involved. The movie makes us aware about the food that we eat, the hidden politics about the production systems and economic and legal power that the food companies possess. As the film advances, it demonstrates the rise of current method of raw food production as a response to the growth of the fast food industry of the 50’s as compared to traditional methods. It makes a strong point by highlighting that a few multinational corporations who dominate the modern food chain and its production have skewed interests. The emphasis of these food corporations like Monsanto is on business and profitability rather than food quality or health and safety – of the food itself, of the animals produced themselves, of the workers on the assembly lines, and of the consumers actually eating the food. Production of large quantities of food at low direct inputs (most often subsidized) result in enormous profits, which in turn marks greater domination of the global supply of food sources by selected few food corporations. The government conveniently overlooks the power exercised by the food companies in pursuit of cheaper food regardless the negative repercussions. Regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA, sparing from the public eye give their consents to the food corporations such as Monsanto, to manipulate with the public health in exchange of bigger returns. The government approved bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, tomatoes that will not go bad are the negative gifts presented by these corporations. Companies like Monsanto throw more science at the problems to bandage the issues instead of uprooting the problem. As a result, new strains of E. coli- the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually have emerged due to the inappropriate business behavior of the food corporations. The increasing obesity levels, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults is a gift from the food corporations.

Brooklyn Cop by Norman MacCaig Essay

â€Å"Brooklyn Cop† written by Scottish poet Norman McCaig, is a poem that conveys a police officer in Brooklyn to be an aggressive yet affectionate man. Throughout the poem McCaig uses word choice and imagery techniques to express the dual sided nature of the cop. We see that the way he behaves on the streets of Brooklyn contrasts with how he is at home with his wife. The dual sided nature of the cop is shown through the physical description that McCaig uses to convey him. McCaig does this with the use of imagery and word choice. In the poem the line ‘Built like a gorilla’ shows through the use of simile, the tough exterior of the cop and gives the reader a clear view on what his physical appearance is like. The comparison of the cop to a gorilla is effective as it shows the cop’s top heavy, muscular build and strength, meaning he could be potentially dangerous and violent like a gorilla. McCaig also shows in the metaphor ‘with two hieroglyphs on his face that mean trouble’ that his eyes are dark and fierce, causing the reader to believe that he is naturally a violent person. This is also conveyed in the line ‘Thick fleshed, steak coloured’ in which the use of metaphor conveys the physical appearance of the cop as ‘thick fleshed’ which shows that the cop is tough and can take a lot of abuse, along with ‘Steak coloured’ which shows the colour of skin associating it with the colour red to suggest he is red with fury and anger naturally. This highlights on his personality and the environment he works in where it is appropriate to be tough and brutal in order to cope. The dangerous environment in which the cop works shows how he has to be a violent person in order to cope in these rough areas and the people he will encounter. In the line ‘He walks the sidewalk and the thin tissue over violence’ the metaphor is affective as it shows the potential of criminal acts that could take part on the streets of Brooklyn and the threat that violence could erupt at any moment causing him to be an aggressive, tough man in order to deal with the trouble he faces to keep the streets of Brooklyn a safe environment for others. The use of alliteration in the ‘T’ makes a harsh sound which resembles the area and the lingering violence. The cop’s victims are shown to be treated violently and McCaig conveys this through the use of rhetorical question and word choice. This shows the aggressive, violent nature of the cop and his behaviour on the job. In the last two lines of the poem ‘And who would have to be his victims,’ McCaig uses a rhetorical question which is effective as it shows how savage the cop is when met with violence and crime. The word ‘have’ shows that he will not back down while dealing with criminals and that they are most likely to be hurt or violently treated when met with the cop, making it clear that no one wants to be involved with him on the streets and including the reader and their thoughts on being in the same place as a criminal. McCaig uses repetition and word choice to convey the cop’s dual sided personality from how he treats criminals on the tough streets as opposed to the way he treats his wife at home. This is conveyed in the line ‘This morning, when he said ‘See you babe to his wife, he hoped it, he truly hoped it.’ This is effective as the use of affectionate language in â€Å"babe† conveys his soft side as opposed to his tough nature while on the streets of Brooklyn, which is not expected as he is a violent savage. The use of repetition in ‘he hoped it, he truly hoped it’ Is effective as it shows the strong hope to return home safe and the genuine want to see his wife after an unpredictable day at work. This shows that he may seem fearless but in the inside he has a violent yet caring nature. In conclusion ‘Brooklyn Cop’ by Norman McCaig focuses on the dual sided nature of an aggressive police officer who works on the touch streets of Brooklyn. McCaig conveys the cop as savage and violent man while in the run down environment of ‘Brooklyn’ as opposed to his softer side where he shows love and affection towards his wife at home.

Facts and Figureso on Majungasaurus

Facts and Figureso on Majungasaurus Name: Majungasaurus (Greek for Majunga lizard); pronounced ma-JUNG-ah-SORE-us Habitat: Woodlands of northern Africa Historical Period: Late Cretaceous (70-65 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 20 feet long and one ton Diet: Meat Distinguishing Characteristics: Short, blunt snout; spike on forehead; unusually small arms; bipedal posture About Majungasaurus The dinosaur formerly known as Majungatholus (Majunga dome) until its current name took precedence for paleontological reasons, Majungasaurus was a one-ton meat-eater native to the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar. Technically classified as an abelisaurand thus closely related to the South American AbelisaurusMajungasaurus was distinguished from other dinosaurs of its kind by its unusually blunt snout and the single, tiny horn on top of its skull, a rare feature for a theropod. Like another famous abelisaur, Carnotaurus, Majungasaurus also possessed unusually short arms, which presumably wasnt a major hindrance in the pursuit of prey (and may, in fact, have made it slightly more aerodynamic when running!) Although it certainly wasnt the habitual cannibal portrayed on breathless TV documentaries (most famously the late and unlamented Jurassic Fight Club), there’s good evidence that at least some Majungasaurus adults occasionally preyed on others of their kind: paleontologists have discovered Majungasaurus bones bearing Majungasaurus tooth marks. Whats unknown is whether the adults of this genus actively hunted down their living relative when they were hungry, or simply feasted on the carcasses of already-dead family members (and if the latter is the case, this behavior wouldnt have been unique to Majungasaurus, dinosaur-wise, or for that matter to any living creatures except modern human beings). Like many other large theropods of the late Cretaceous period, Majungasaurus has proven difficult to classify. When it was first discovered, researchers mistook it for a pachycephalosaur, or bone-headed dinosaur, thanks to that odd protrusion on its skull (the tholus, meaning dome, in its original name Majungatholus is a root usually found in pachycephalosaur names, like Acrotholus and Sphaerotholus). Today, the closest contemporary relatives of Majungasaurus are a subject of dispute; some paleontologists point to obscure meat-eaters like Ilokelesia and Ekrixinatosaurus, while others throw up their (presumably not so tiny) arms in frustration.

Free Essays on Sociologists Choose To Base Their Research On Secondary Sources

Examine the reasons why some sociologists choose to base their research on secondary sources Secondary sources contain data that has already been produced, often by other people besides sociologists. Examples of secondary data would be documents such as letters, dairies and autobiographies produced by individuals. Sociologists often also use secondary data produces by the government and organisations such as trade union, charities and various other companies. The secondary data used can be either contemporary or historical and the data available from them may be either primarily quantitative or qualitative. Also when sociologists refer to other sociological studies, it is defined as using secondary sources. In this essay I will be exploring the factors that lead to sociologists using secondary sources rather then primary sources. There are many forms of secondary data, one of which being historical documents. Sociologists who wish to study social change that takes place over a long period of time view historical documents as having a very vital importance. An area in particular where historical sources have been considered of great importance is the study of family life. Peter Laslett (1972) used parish records to help him discover how common nuclear and extended families were in pre-industrial England. The data used proved most useful in clearing the assumption that extended families were the norm in pre-industrial Britain. Without historical documents, sociologists such as Max Weber (1958) would have been unable to conduct studies such as the influence of religion on the development of capitalism, and Michael Mann (1986) would not have had the resources to conduct a study on the relationship between different sources of social power throughout history. Michael Anderson also used historical sources to cond uct his research on the family but due to the fact that he only obtained data from one town, his results could be described... Free Essays on Sociologists Choose To Base Their Research On Secondary Sources Free Essays on Sociologists Choose To Base Their Research On Secondary Sources Examine the reasons why some sociologists choose to base their research on secondary sources Secondary sources contain data that has already been produced, often by other people besides sociologists. Examples of secondary data would be documents such as letters, dairies and autobiographies produced by individuals. Sociologists often also use secondary data produces by the government and organisations such as trade union, charities and various other companies. The secondary data used can be either contemporary or historical and the data available from them may be either primarily quantitative or qualitative. Also when sociologists refer to other sociological studies, it is defined as using secondary sources. In this essay I will be exploring the factors that lead to sociologists using secondary sources rather then primary sources. There are many forms of secondary data, one of which being historical documents. Sociologists who wish to study social change that takes place over a long period of time view historical documents as having a very vital importance. An area in particular where historical sources have been considered of great importance is the study of family life. Peter Laslett (1972) used parish records to help him discover how common nuclear and extended families were in pre-industrial England. The data used proved most useful in clearing the assumption that extended families were the norm in pre-industrial Britain. Without historical documents, sociologists such as Max Weber (1958) would have been unable to conduct studies such as the influence of religion on the development of capitalism, and Michael Mann (1986) would not have had the resources to conduct a study on the relationship between different sources of social power throughout history. Michael Anderson also used historical sources to cond uct his research on the family but due to the fact that he only obtained data from one town, his results could be described...

8 Great Podcasts for Writers and Book Authors

8 Great Podcasts for Writers and Book Authors 8 Great Podcasts for Writers and Book Authors 8 Great Podcasts for Writers and Book Authors By Ali Hale There is a lot of writing advice out there. Perhaps you’ve signed up to read lots of blogs by email, you’ve bought some great writing-related books, and you still feel like something’s missing. Or maybe your reading time is limited: you can’t very well scroll through blogs while you’re driving to work, for instance. That’s when podcasts come in. Whether you’re looking for encouragement or instruction, podcasts are a great way to get writing advice (often from award-winning and/or bestselling authors) in a way that fits around daily life. Maybe you could listen to a podcast on your commute, or while you’re working out at the gym, or while you’re doing the dishes or other household chores. (A lot of my own podcast listening happens while I tidy up my kids’ toys and craft activities!) If you prefer to read rather than listen, or if you’re looking to quickly glean specific bits of information, then look for podcasts that have a transcript, or at least detailed show notes. Here are eight great ones to try. They’re in no particular order: all of these offer excellent advice, and I’ve tried to indicate which might suit different types of writer. #1: Bestseller, from Reedsy Frequency:  roughly weekly while the season is running Average length: 20 minutes Transcript available: no Best for:  self-publishers, novelists This is a slick, professionally produced podcast from Reedsy, which describes itself as a â€Å"full ecosystem for authors and publishing professionals†: they offer classes, contests, and a marketplace where you can connect with editors, ghostwriters and other professionals. The short first season of their podcast covers the various stages of self-publishing a book, from understanding the writing process to going to market, and features Shaz Kahn talking about her experience of being a first time self-publisher. If you’re thinking of self-publishing, it’s definitely a good one to listen to. There aren’t too many episodes (six, at the time of writing) and they’re short, so you can easily listen to the whole thing. There’s no transcript, though, and only a few words for the show notes †¦ so if you’d rather read than listen, this might not be the best podcast for you. #2: The Creative Penn (Joanna Penn) Frequency: weekly Average length: 60 – 70 minutes Transcript available: yes (for the interview portion of the episode) Best for: fiction-writers; writers who are interested in self-publishing Most weeks, Joanna Penn interviews an author or expert on a particular topic; occasionally, she does a solo episode. Her focus is on self-publishing, but she covers a huge range of topics related to this, and has some episodes that focus on crafting fiction and others that look at topics that are more about the process of living a creative life (e.g. How Play Can Help You Overcome Anxiety And Become More Creative With Charlie Hoehn). Joanna starts each episode by talking about how her own writing and publishing is going, and then covers industry news for the past week, before going into the interview itself, which is the main part of the podcast. The first sections of the podcast aren’t transcribed, but the interview itself is. #3: I Should Be Writing (Mur Lafferty) Frequency: monthly Average length: 20 minutes Transcript available: yes Best for: fiction writers; beginners Way back in 2006, I’d just finished university and was working on a novel. I used to listen to Mur Lafferty’s fun, inspiring podcast, I Should Be Writing. At that point, she was podcasting her first novel, Playing for Keeps, a chapter at a time. Fast forward thirteen years, and Mur is now an award-winning podcaster who’s written a whole bunch of different things. She also has her own Wikipedia page: something that I think many writers aspire to! In her podcast, she talks honestly about her own writing and experiences. If you’re looking for a shot of writing inspiration or just want to virtually hang out with someone who â€Å"gets† what it’s like to be a writer, give it a try. If you’d prefer something more advanced, that deals with specific writing problems, then try Mur’s other podcast Ditch Diggers instead. #4: Helping Writers Become Authors (K.M. Weiland) Frequency: three times a month Average length: 15 – 20 minutes Transcript available: yes (the podcast is a read-aloud version of K.M.’s blog posts) Best for: fiction writers Author K.M. Weiland offers fantastic, detailed advice on the craft of writing fiction on her blog. Her podcast is part of the blog, and each episode has a short introduction then an audio version of a blog post (if you’d rather listen to a blog post than read it, you can find the audio link at the bottom). The posts/episodes cover broad topics about writing/creativity like 6 Lifestyle Changes You Can Make to Protect Creativity and specific ones like Tips for How to Choose the Right Sentences. If you like podcasts that are focused on giving focused, actionable advice, rather than ones that are more like hanging out with writers as they chat, then K.M.’s is a great option for you. Each episode covers a topic in-depth, but doesn’t last longer than 20 minutes. If you prefer to read rather than listen, then simply read the blog post versions of her podcast episodes instead of subscribing to the podcast itself. #5: The Portfolio Life (Jeff Goins) Frequency: weekly Average length: 30 – 40 minutes Transcript available: no Best for: writers looking for inspiration and encouragement Some episodes of this podcast involve Jeff interviewing an author or expert; others are Jeff sharing his own experience and expertise with the audience. The podcast mainly focuses on writing, though there’s also a broader look at creativity in some episodes – e.g. How to Use Time to Be Your Most Creative. Although there isn’t a transcript as such, the episodes have a blog post version too, that’s a shorter, more succinct version of the podcast – so if you prefer to read, stick with the blog posts. In both the podcasts and the posts, Jeff is always both encouraging and realistic about the creative process and life as a writer, and offers a mix of practical advice and reassuring words. #6: Writing Excuses (Multiple Hosts) Frequency: weekly Average length: 15 minutes Transcript available: yes, indexed here Best for: fiction writers This long-running podcast is hosted by several different writers and covers a wide range of writing topics, in short episodes because (according to their tagline) â€Å"fifteen minutes long, because you’re in a hurry, and we’re not that smart†. Sometimes, it’s a discussion on a particular topic between the hosts, and sometimes they have a guest to interview. It’s a very informal, chatty show and some episodes are more focused than others – but if you want something fun to listen to while you’re doing the dishes or folding the laundry, it’s a great choice. Some of the episodes are really specific (e.g. they have one on writing Characters Who Are Smarter Than You Are and they did several on space travel recently), so it’s well worth a dig through their very extensive archives to see if they have something that tackles the exact question you have about your novel-in-progress. #7: The Self Publishing Show (Mark Dawson and James Blatch) Frequency: weekly Average length: 50 minutes Transcript available: yes Best for: self-publishers On this podcast, Mark Dawson – a highly experienced and successful self-publishing novelist – and James talk to various authors and experts about different aspects of self-publishing and marketing. Each episode has both video and audio, and they’re nicely produced: while Mark and James are chatty and friendly, the focus is always on drawing out lots of detailed information from interviewees. The episodes cover a range of different topics, from the nuts and bolts of things like cover design and using Facebook live, to more big-picture ones like The Entrepreneur Mindset. Each episode includes show notes with â€Å"this week’s highlights†, so you can take a look at a few in the archive and decide which ones would be useful to listen to. There are occasional â€Å"Masterclass† episodes, where Mark (interviewed by James) talks about a particular topic in detail: Masterclass: Amazon Ads – What’s Working Right Now is a good example. #8: Writers on Writing (Barbara DeMarco-Barrett) Frequency: weekly Average length: 55 60 minutes Transcript available: no Best for: fiction writers focused on their craft This podcast is a radio show that offers a more literary take on writing, talking to authors about their books, process and craft (rather than covering topics like self-publishing and entreprenurship). They have some impressively big name authors like Liane Moriarty appearing as guests on the show – you can find a list of upcoming guests here. As well as talking to authors, they invite on editors and literary agents: for instance, they had LA agent Betsy Amster on in December. So if you’re looking for help with cover letters or insights into the publishing world, this could be a great podcast for you. There aren’t any transcripts, and the show notes are very brief, but do have a dig through the archives as the show has some consistently interesting, detailed episodes – think of them a bit like attending a talk at a writing festival or conference. Podcasts can be an easy way to learn about specific topics or to virtually hang out with some great writers while you’re getting on with the more mundane tasks in life. Try some of the ones on this list, or share your own favourite writing podcasts with us in the comments. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What is the Difference Between "These" and "Those"?Try to vs. Try andHow Verbs Become Adjectives

Organizational Change in Umpqua Bank Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organizational Change in Umpqua Bank - Essay Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that one of the biggest challenges the bank faced was the influence of the culture in the other acquired bank branches on the culture of Umpqua Bank. Adoption of other banks involved retaining the banks’ employees. These employees had got used to a different culture and it was, therefore, a major challenge to make them adjust to a new culture smoothly. To overcome this problem, the leadership injected Umpqua’s culture into the other bank branches by bringing their employees in busloads to Umpquas stores to offer them with orientation. This enabled a real firsthand introduction to a new business world and which in turn made the employees feel the desire to change and hence adapt faster. It was a challenge for Umpqua to run its operations in a harmonious manner especially considering the fact that its individual stores were different in terms of size, demographics, and layout. In addition, the branches were al so different in the sense that their loan and deposit potential varied considerably. This, therefore, demanded individual stores be handled differently. The bank created a cross-functional task force to look for the best means by which the challenge could be overcome. The task force provided a strategic financial proposal which later streamlined its operations. Competition from other large banks posed a serious challenge to Umpquas desire to succeed. Banks such as Washington Mutual and Bank of America sent the leadership of Umpqua bank to the drawing board to come up with new strategies that would aid in retaining its culture now that their competitors had started copying their already-in-use strategies. In 2002, for example, Washington Mutual had its first ‘occassio’ branch opened whereas the Bank of America started holding experiments to ascertain the effectiveness of the branch design. To counter this, the leadership at Umpqua decided to invest in the best customer s ervice delivery as compared to their competitors. Umpqua's customer service, especially its in-store customer service which was unique, was its competitive edge and so it had to be perfect.

Capital Budgeting. Payback Period. NPV Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Capital Budgeting. Payback Period. NPV - Essay Example Another reason why these decisions are so important is that these decisions involve a large outlay of funds. Therefore, it is necessary that these decisions are taken with due diligence. These decisions cannot be reversed at a low cost. So, any mistake made is very costly to the firm. The capital budgeting process that a manager uses depends on a few factors such as the manager’s level in the organisation and the size of the project and the organization. The following steps are the typical steps followed by most managers. Step One: Generating Ideas Coming up with good investment ideas is the most important step in the capital budgeting process. Good ideas can come from anywhere in the organisation. It can come from managers from any level or from any department in the organisation or even from outside the organisation. Step Two: Analysing Individual Proposals This process involves collecting all the information to forecast the cash flows for each project and evaluating the pro fitability of each project. Step Three: Planning the Capital Budget Now the company has to organise the projects that are profitable so that they fit within the company’s overall strategy. Step Four: Monitoring and Post-auditing In post-auditing, the actual results are compared with the predicted results and the differences are explained. Post-auditing helps monitor the forecast, improve business operations and generate ideas for future investments. 2. Memo to Assertive Al One of the main drawbacks of using the payback method is that it does not take time value of money into account. For example a cash inflow of $2 million in the third year of the project is going to be less today. It also ignores all the cash flows beyond the end of the payback period. This can present a critical problem for the firm as some projects give higher cash inflows in later years (after the cut-off date). Discounted payback method can to some extent overcome the drawbacks of the payback method as i t considers time value of money into account. In a discounted payback period, the future expected cash flows are discounted by the project’s cost of capital. By discounting expected cash flows through the cost of capital, the discounted payback method considers the riskiness of the project into account. Similar to the drawback of payback method, the discounted payback method also does not consider cash flows after the discounted payback period. As there are flaws in the payback methods, these methods cannot be considered as most reliable in evaluating future projects. Hence in order to be more effective in evaluating projects, Net Present Value method is considered to be the most reliable and effective method in evaluating future projects. Unlike the payback methods, the Net Present Value method does take distant future cash flows into account (after the cut-off payback period). NPV rule is important as it takes time value of money into account as a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow, the reason being that the dollar today can be invested immediately to start earning interest. NPV also eliminates the time element in evaluating projects, as some projects start earning positive cash flows after a long period and the payback methods are not viable in evaluating such projects. 3. NPV Managers want to know more about a project than just its NPV because the NPV method also has certain drawbacks. The major drawback of the NPV method is that

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 45

Assignment Example A person can verify the authority of the biblical canons using internal protocols of authorization. A good example of this is Isaiahs prophecy found in Isaiah 8:16, which talks about how the Messiah would bind testimonies and seal the laws and teachings of the bible among His disciples. The proof of this is in the New Testament where the founders of the early church believed this prophecy would bind them to their death. Further authorization of biblical canons comes from the persons who wrote the books. For example, history proves that Peter started the process of canonization very early in the church history. Therefore, all his books in the bible have authority, e.g. his epistles and the fourth gospel in the bible, Mark, which he personally directed. In conclusion, authorship of the books of the bible is another best way of determining the authoritative nature of biblical canons. This leaves questionable doubts on books without direct authorship such as Jude, James, and the gospel a ccording to Matthew. Furthermore, the general acceptance of these books by the church also proves their authority (Plummer 17). Based on the principles and tools for interpreting the Bible given in and the discussion of Hebrew history, explain how you would go about â€Å"exegeting† or getting the meaning out of the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. Be sure to explain briefly how the different principles might help you understand the story, and be sure to give what you believe to be the appropriate application of the text. The process of interpreting the bible follows several laid out principles. These principles help one in understanding the bible verses and relating them to their daily personal life. While exegeting the story of David and Goliath, we first have to read the entire prose. David was a shepherd who killed Goliath, the largest and the strongest warrior of the

Leadership. Two Occasions of my Lidership Personal Statement

Leadership. Two Occasions of my Lidership - Personal Statement Example In its first year, firm has been able to close out four successful deals suggesting that new and nascent firms, in an industry which is dominated by giants like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, can succeed too provided they take into account reality. I am a proactive person and realize that in order to succeed in this industry; we must evolve into a company and grow ourselves as leaders in our chosen segmented market. This idea was floated by me to our co-founders but relying on their success in first year; they were resistant to change however I decided to carry on with this idea and called a brainstorming session with our employees. During that session, we come up with many issues which we believed were restricting the growth of our firm. I also further decided to bring my former boss, who was once, one of the successful leaders with a very well developed firm serving a niche market which however could not have survived and was sold merely for US$5 million only. That meeting proved one of the catalysts for my partners to think more strategically because the kind of competitive landscaped we faced were such that it demanded a comprehensive overhaul of our current thinking.

The role of SCADA in Distribution Management Systems Research Paper

The role of SCADA in Distribution Management Systems - Research Paper Example This paper entails an investigation of the role of SCADA in Distribution Management System (DMS) with regard to the way distribution companies are moving more and more to completely automate the supervision and control of substations. The Al Ain Distribution Company (AADC) has been known to be highly advanced in the area. Generally, effective distribution network operations give way to better management of power flow throughout a given network as well as optimal sources and loads utilization. DMS system is essential is essential in ensuring effectiveness of distribution system operations through the enhancement of routine monitoring of networks, location of faults and their restoration, as well as facilitating the planning of network requirements besides establishing the foundation for future initiatives. Organizations with SCADA are definitely understood as having computerized systems that allows whatever is happening in other locations outside the organizations to be managed without having to be physically present. Only distributed communication/signal is used. In many case, the automated system signals the central management on anything wrong or regarding any changes in the distant projects being controlled from a centralized location. It does this by utilizing its capacity and technological capability to control a large number of devices simultaneously. Most of the distribution systems and their respective utilities within organizations make use of information technology solutions through outage management systems (OMSs). The OMSs on the other hand use other systems such as Customer information System, Geographical Information System, and Interactive Voice Response Systems. OMSs make use of a network connectivity model or component of the existing distribution system. With the combination of the outage calls locations with the location knowledge of the control device on the

Work & non-work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Work & non-work - Essay Example This would call for effective planning, that is, creation and maintenance of a working strategy or policy, combined with organizing the available resources and leading/ directing the work force and finding the best combination of resources and capital to match them with the available time span of the project (Drucker & Maciariello, 2008). Effective work management should help both the team members and the management to understand and organize their work better; evolve into a more collaborative process that gives individuals control over what to do and when to do it, and in one way or the other promote specialization to ensure that employees do what they understand best (Easterby-Smith & Thorpe, 2008). This promotes democratization at work place empowering workers to give maximum value giving management the visibility to the totality of the project and other works, and to create workplace harmony by enfranchising workers and/ or and demonstrating the innovative aspect of each worker a t his/her unit. From this we can define work as sustained physical or mental effort; energy expanded by natural phenomenon whereby one exerts strengths or faculties to solve a given problem, or the specific duties and assignments performed by one as means of livelihood and means to achieve a predetermined and mutually beneficial objective. Non-work on the other hand can be viewed as the other activities that do not directly involve exertion of energy/ faculties but are in line with human development process and help to promote productivity (Creager, 2011), time spent away from the chore duties in daily life or work life; usually for pleasure and refreshment or reflection of the previous periods, a prerequisite for productivity at work place. The greater prevalence of single parenthood and dual careers in the workforce has resulted employees trying to juggle between demands at home and work which can result into work- family conflict, where demands of home and work interfere with eac h other making it difficult to combine both activities. This paper will analyze the various job-related relationships, their merits and demerits; causes and their impacts to the work and family environments, evaluation of jobs in relation to technology, social stratification, gender and the nature of the job. Spillover Spillover in this context may refer to the overall impacts of individuals work life, positive and negative, in relation to their personal growth and development and/ or family life, that is, how the individual’s work- perceived emotions affect his/her life and the impacts in other social structure/ environment around him/ her. Spillover can largely be influenced by the need to maintain a work-life balance which involves prioritization, planning and personal organization on career and profession/ lifestyle, that is, pleasure, leisure, spiritual development and meditation and/or health (Young, 2012). A perfect combination of these factors will ensure individual p erforms best at work and in other areas, for instance, good health will ensure an individual performs his/her duties correctively and timely despite the field that one is in as long as there is effective training. The spillover can be positively felt within individual’s social structure, the family and the society, and in the work place in that a clear career definition helps individual plan responsibilities and allocate ample time within the cause of the day, month, or annually; giving him/her time to attend to other functions which are essential for human development (Reis & Sprecher, 2009). For instance, work spillover can be felt through the non-work effects of relaxation of leisure, that is, when an individual has had a break from his natural duties at work (Levis, 2011),

The role of SCADA in Distribution Management Systems Research Paper

The role of SCADA in Distribution Management Systems - Research Paper Example This paper entails an investigation of the role of SCADA in Distribution Management System (DMS) with regard to the way distribution companies are moving more and more to completely automate the supervision and control of substations. The Al Ain Distribution Company (AADC) has been known to be highly advanced in the area. Generally, effective distribution network operations give way to better management of power flow throughout a given network as well as optimal sources and loads utilization. DMS system is essential is essential in ensuring effectiveness of distribution system operations through the enhancement of routine monitoring of networks, location of faults and their restoration, as well as facilitating the planning of network requirements besides establishing the foundation for future initiatives. Organizations with SCADA are definitely understood as having computerized systems that allows whatever is happening in other locations outside the organizations to be managed without having to be physically present. Only distributed communication/signal is used. In many case, the automated system signals the central management on anything wrong or regarding any changes in the distant projects being controlled from a centralized location. It does this by utilizing its capacity and technological capability to control a large number of devices simultaneously. Most of the distribution systems and their respective utilities within organizations make use of information technology solutions through outage management systems (OMSs). The OMSs on the other hand use other systems such as Customer information System, Geographical Information System, and Interactive Voice Response Systems. OMSs make use of a network connectivity model or component of the existing distribution system. With the combination of the outage calls locations with the location knowledge of the control device on the

Public image and social status Essay Example for Free

Public image and social status Essay As we can see, the two generations react differently to questioning by the Inspector. Mr. and Mrs. Birling are at first indignant and resistant to the Inspectors queries, and when they learn what is going on fully they rack their brains for a solution to the problem that has arisen, namely that the family name will be publicly disgraced and that they may lose custom at the office, resulting in a degradation of their lifestyle, public image and social status. However, Eric and Sheila show totally different reactions to Mr. and Mrs. Birling, when the Inspector questions them. Both members of the younger tell the truth to the Inspector, and both are, at one time or another, strong advocates of the truth, believing that repentance for their collective crimes is by far more important than saving face in public. Throughout the whole play, Sheila encourages the entire family to tell the truth and admit their crimes. Eric, in turn, tells the truth and advocates acceptance of the truth and repentance once the Inspector has left. The two different generation groups show different reactions to the incident, and neither can understand the mentality of the other when it comes to the way they deal with the situation after the Inspector leaves. After the Inspector leaves, the Birlings and Gerald discover that Inspector Goole was not a real Inspector at all, but a fake. Mr. and Mrs. Birling and Gerald are overjoyed when they discover that they are not in jeopardy of being linked to the untimely death of a young girl, but Eric and Sheila maintain that this turn of events changes nothing, they should be sorry for the actions they have taken and learn from the events that transpired that evening. Then, on the last page of the text and in the last few seconds of the play, there is a telephone call to tell the Birlings that a girl has just died in the infirmary and an inspector is on his way to visit them. This could lead the audience to think that perhaps the Inspector was an anthropomorphic personification of the collective consciences of the Birlings and Gerald, who was sent to the Birlings to teach them their lesson before it was too late. During this saving of the Birlings we learn that it is the younger generation who, contrary to popular belief, are accepting of their wrongdoing and prepared to change and learn from this event, whether its repercussions reached as far as degrading their lives or not. However, the older generation, who may normally be expected to act as the younger generation have, refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions and are only concerned with maintaining the lifestyle they have carved out for themselves, whether it remains spiritually and conscientiously empty or not. For a full and true understanding of An Inspector Calls, one must first have a knowledge and understanding of how the dates of the play (the date it was set, the date it was first shown, and the dates of major world events that occurred between the time of its setting and the time of its first showing) are all inextricably linked, and combine to magnify the impact of the message Priestley is trying to convey to his audience. It would be sensible to assume that the Inspector in the play represents Priestley himself, as the morals and values exhibited by the Inspector reflect Priestleys own; they both believe that all people should be treated as equals, for example. The representation of Priestleys political and philosophical opinions in the play is reinforced in the younger generation (Gerald and Sheila Birling) as they both exhibit a preference for social responsibility and care towards fellow humans. Conversely, Mr. Birling brings together all of the personality traits and attitudes that Priestley so hated and fervently campaigned against, the arrogance of those left over from the Old Edwardian era, the perception of we, the rich and they, the poor, and the unwavering confidence that this state of affairs could never change, coupled with an inability to see any possible breakdown of this system. This character profile and viewpoint is backed up by Mrs. Birling who shares Mr. Birlings views, and provides a supporting role to reinforce the contrast between the Inspector/Priestleys Socialist views and the Edwardian upper-class views of Mr. and Mrs. Birling. The diametrically opposed views and personalities of these two characters in itself would be enough to highlight just how strong Priestleys views are, but this is coupled with a superb manipulation of the timing of the plays setting and first showing. The play was written in 1944-45, first shown in Moscow in 1945 and in London in 1946, and was set in 1912. In the first act of the play, Mr. Birling makes an impassioned speech that details his political views and makes several statements in the aforementioned arrogance of his peer group; namely, that there will be no war Just because the Kaiser makes a speech or two; the Titanic is unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable; that all the fuss about the Labour party will have blown over; and that Russia . . . will always be behindhand. These statements, in the intervening years between the date of the plays setting and the date of the plays showing, prove to be wholly inaccurate. Two World Wars have broken out, both heavily involving the Germans, the Titanic has sunk after a collision with an iceberg, the Labour party has been voted in several times and will have continued success even though the war is won under a Conservative Churchill, and Russia will become a great 20th Century world power and birthplace of fabulous wealth due to its abundance of natural resources. As well as Mr. Birlings predictions for the future being dashed to pieces by world events of the next 20 years, his very philosophies on how society should operate were proven to be outdated and incompatible with modern life by the new Socialist movement. The twelve years between 1906 and 1918 proved to be the turning point that defined our current political system in this country and the advent of the nanny state. In this period the vote for parliamentary elections was rolled out to all persons aged 18 and over, education became compulsory up to the age of 12, and the Social Security system was founded, providing pensions and unemployment for people who needed them. Granted, these systems were not perfect, but this interlinked lattice of world events, the socialist movement, and the timing of the play serves to make Priestleys point just as eloquently and effectively as the play itself does.

Risk assessment and environmental impact assessment

Risk assessment and environmental impact assessment SECTION 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION This report is on the use of risk assessment (RA) in Environmental impact assessment (EIA). Over the last three decades, there has been a remarkable growth of environmental issues in sustainability and the better management of development in harmony with the environment (Glasson at al 2004). The most popular and widely used environmental management techniques are EIA and RA. EIA is a process to identify and predict the impact on the environment and on mans health and well being of legislative proposals, policies programmes, projects and operational procedures, and to interpret and communicate information about the impacts (Munn 1979). The EIA process includes screening, scoping, impact prediction and evaluation, impact mitigation, decision making (EIA follow up) with public participation and consideration of alternatives potentially incorporated in all the stages of the process (Woods 1995, Canter 1996, Lee and George 2000). The US National Research council (NRC) defines RA as the characterization of the potential adverse effect of human exposure on environmental hazards. A special assessment procedure that aims at tackling certain consequences of human activities is called Risk Assessment (Demidova and Cherp). The stages in risk assessment are as follows: hazard identification, exposure assessment, risk estimation, risk evaluation and risk management (Eduljee 1999). Environmental risk assessment is a generic term for the series of tools and environmental risks and the formation of judgement about them. (DOE 1995, DETR2000) Risk assessment emerged in the mid to late 1970s as an administrative requirement in the form of both statues and executive orders requiring not only more extensive documentation to justify proposed risk regulation, but also the balancing of risk against economic costs and benefits. (Atkisson et al 1985). Environmental Health risk assessment has been defined as the systematic scientific characterization of potential adverse health effect resulting from human exposure to hazardous agents or situations (Faustman and Omenn 2001). In concept, EIA and RA have evolved as parallel and sometimes overlapping procedures for rational reform to policy making (Andrews 1995). The purpose of both concepts is to provide an acceptable basis for making public decisions, not necessarily to generate new scientific knowledge (Andrews 1995). Table 1 below summarizes the similarities and differences of EIA and RA. 1.2 SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN RA AND EIA The most important similarity is comparing the stages of RA with those of the EIA process. Thus, hazard identification in RA is equivalent to screening and scoping in EIA, risk estimation is equivalent to impact prediction in EIA, risk evaluation is equivalent to impact prediction in EIA (determining the significance of the impact) while mitigation in EIA can be equated to risk management (specifically risk reduction and control). (Eduljee 1999). SECTION 2 2.1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TWO CASE STUDIES Two EIA case studies will be compared from two different industrial sectors and they are the Berkeley nuclear power station where a new building for radioactive waste is to be constructed and the A350 Westbury bypass. The aim of this report is to examine how environmental/health risk has been used in each of these EIAs and the advantage or potential for improving the use of environmental /health risk assessment in these EIAs. 2.11 A350 WESTBURY BYPASS- CASE A The construction scheme will comprise approximately 5.8 kilometres of new single carriage way around the eastern and northern sides of Westbury and it aims to provide traffic relief for Westbury, allowing road space in the town to be reallocated to other modes, improve journey time reliability of the A350 route and improve access to employment areas, particularly the West Wilts Trading Estate, and between the west Wiltshire towns. The construction phase will last between 18 months to 2 years and would involve site preparation, earthworks main road construction and construction of final surfaces. Impacts identified resulting from construction is as follows Generation of noise and dust with earthworks and vehicular movement Pollution risk associated with working in close proximity to surface and groundwater resources. Possible disturbance of ecological and heritage resources Generation and disposal of waste Change of land use pattern Post construction impacts were identified as road traffic and emissions from traffic. (Wiltshire county council, 2007) 2.12 BERKELEY NUCLEAR POWER STATION-CASE B Magnox electrical Limited has proposed to construct an intermediate level radioactive waste (ILW) storage building on Berkeley nuclear licensed site. This building will store packaged ILW wastes that have arisen over time and will store these wastes until an offsite disposal facility is available. The ILW waste will house packaged radioactive waste in one above ground location, rather than storing waste below ground as it currently occurs at the Berkeley nuclear power station. The project will be carried out in three stages, Construction of the building Operation/filling of the building with packages of ILW. Long term storage of ILW during care and maintenance period until a disposal route becomes available. The technical assessment areas covered by the environmental impact statement are as follows- Air quality and dust Archaeology and cultural heritage Ecology Geology, hydrology and soils Noise and vibration Surface waters Traffic and transport. (Gloucestershire country 2007) SECTION 3 3.1 THE USE OF RISK ASSESSMENT IN EACH EIA 3.2 METHODOLOGY USED FOR ASSESSMENT IN EIS The methodology of analysis of impact should be taken into consideration when comparing the two EIS used for this study bearing in mind that the case studies are from different industrial sectors. Berkeley nuclear power plant is a high risk and high profile project and it deals with radioactive waste (although the radioactive waste is solid and there is no emission to air). Westbury bypass on the other hand is low risk low profile project with significant impact on air quality (rise in dust particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen) during the construction phase and emissions from vehicles after construction. Method of analysis of impacts- Case A The following methods were used in the analysis of local effects Qualitative and quantitative assessment used to analyze air quality. Dispersion model selection(air quality strategy) Meteorology Sensitive receptors Short term mean concentrations Method of analysis for case-B Simple qualitative to complex quantitative method was used to analyze air quality The use of scientific criteria Comparison of predicted changes with established national and international air quality standards, objectives and thresholds. Interpretation of planning and other environmental policies for example, the assessment of whether the predicted change will conflict the objectives of an air quality management area. Review of comparable proposals on environment. The NSCA flow chart -Event tree analysis Generic assessment methodology. Though the methodology used for risk assessment is similar, the event tree analysis which was used in case study B was absent in case study A. SECTION 4 4.1 POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVING OR EXTENDING EIA EIA have emphasized possible impact on natural ecosystems and, to some extent, human communities but have paid no attention to health effect of other risks (Beanlands 1984a, Clark 1984a and Giroult 1984a). More precisely, even for impacts whose ultimate significance might involve health, such as air pollution, EIA studies typically predict only the environmental fate of contaminants, rather than the effect on health itself and RA have emphasized human health effects, especially potential mortality due to cancer or technological catastrophes. (Andrews 1995) The stages of RA were incorporated into both case studies, but RA was not carried out extensively especially in the Berkeley nuclear power station case. It is recommended that a separate section concerned with health risk assessment be prepared within the EIS for high risk and high profile projects but it was absent in this case. There was failure to conduct probability assessment (uncertainty analysis) in case of the unforeseen accidents like explosions or unplanned discharge of radioactive solid waste into the environment. Risk =probability (likelihood or chance that harm will occur) ÃÆ'- consequence (nature of the harm that can occur). There was also no mitigation plans in case of an accident, if there was, then it was not included in the EIS. Risk communication was also absent in both case studies. Also the dose response or exposure assessment which measures the intensity, frequency and duration of human exposure to an agent was present for case A, (Extrapolation dose response methodology) but the effects of the dose for air quality pollutants in case B was not analyzed properly. Hazard index calculation for non carcinogens was absent. HAZOP analysis carried out in case A but absent in case B. Source-pathway-receptor identified in case A, but only source and receptor identified in case B. Risk-benefit analysis also absent. Including the omitted RA analyses above would have improved the use of RA in these EIAs SECTION 5 5.1 CONCLUSION/ RECOMMENDATIONS Many actions need both EIA and RA assessment. In these instances, a more useful analysis would be obtained from combining the two. (Andrews 1995) The aim of this report has been to evaluate how environmental/health RA were used in different stages of the two reviewed EISs, and point out how possible ways that RA might have played a greater role. Systematic application of RA in accordance to best practice was not observed. For a better Incorporation of RA into EIA, there should be emphasis on emergency response measures in the event of accidents and associated environmental perturbations. Canter (1993). REFERENCES Wiltshire County Council, (2007) A350 Westbury bypass Environmental Impact Statement 2007. Trowbridge, Wiltshire County Council. Gloucestershire County council (2007) Berkeley ILW Store. Environmental Impact Statement Issue 1 Gloucester. Gloucestershire County Council. Andrews,R.N.C (1995) Environmental Impact Assessment and Risk Assessment: Learning from each other, In P Wathern (Ed)Environmental impact Assessment: Theory and Practice (Routledge/London) Brookes, A. (2001) Environmental Risk Assessment and Risk management, in P. Morris and R Therivel (Eds) Methods of Environmental Impact Assessment, 2nd Edition(Spon Press/London) Eduljee, G (1999), Risk Assessment in Petts, J. (Ed), Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment, Volume 1, Process, Methods and Potential, Blackwell Science, London Demidova, O and A Cherp (2005), â€Å"Risk assessment for improved treatment of health considerations in EIA† Environmental Impact Assessment Review 2(4), page 411-429. Canter, L. W (1993) â€Å"Pragmatic Suggestions of Incorporating Risk Assessment Principles in EIA studies†. Environmental Professional, 15(1), Page 125-138.

Beowulf Characters :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

Beowulf Characters Schyld Scefing: He is the first great king of the Danes, and upon his death he is given a remarkable burial at sea. He eventually becomes the great-grandfather of Hrothgar who is king during Grendel's attacks upon the Danes. Beowulf: A thane of the Geat king Hygelac and eventually becomes King of the Geats. Hrothgar: King of the Danes at the time of Grendel's constant attacks. During is reign as king he builds the hall (Heorot) as a tribute to his people and his peaceful reign. Heorot: The great hall that Hrothgar builds in celebration of his reign. Grendel: A descendant of Cain and a man/monster, Grendel attacks Heorot after Beowulf's arrival. Beowulf eventually kills him, with his severed arm hung as a trophy in Heorot. Wulfgar: A loyal thans of Hrothgar, Wiglaf is a watchman for the Danes and the first to greet Beowulf and his men to the land of the Danes. He also deems the Geat visitors as people worthy enough to meet with Hrothgar. Ecgtheow: He is Beowulf's father. He is a Waegmunding by birth and a Geat by marriage. When he was younger. Unferth: Unferth's name means "discord". He is a thane of Hrothgar's who taunts Beowulf in the hall about his swimming contest with Breca. However, Beowulf shames him in the boasting match. Wealhtheow: She is Hrothgar's queen and the mother of his two sons. Her name comes from the Anglo-Saxon words for "treasure bearer." She actually has the duty of presenting necklaces and mead-cups at court. Sigemund: Known as a famous dragon slayer, he is an ancient Germanic hero whose story is recounted after the fight with Grendel. Heremond: An ancient Danish king who fell from grace and became ruthlessly evil king. He is used by Hrothgar as a bad example of bad kingship for Beowulf. Hildeburh: She is an ancient Danish princess who was married into the Frisian royalty. Her story is recounted during the second feast for Beowulf at Heorot. Her brother and her son were both killed in a war with the Frisians at Finnesburh. Hrothulf: Hrothulf is Hrothgar's younger brother. Wealhtheow calls upon him to protect her young sons if it necessary to do so. Grendel's Mother: The of the man/monster Grendel she comes to Heorot seeking vengeance for the death of her son, and is killed by Beowulf. Aeschere: He is one of Hrothgar's important officials and trusted thanes.

Pollution Problems Concerning the Long Island Sound Essay -- Water Pol

"The Long Island Sound is a national treasure, to be prized for its beauty, abundant and diverse resources, and recreational and commercial opportunities" (Long Island Sound Study). It is true that for many of the residents of the area the Long Island Sound is a source of inspiration and renewal. The Sound is widely believed to be the most substantial natural component adding to the beauty of the entire island. The Long Island Sound provides more then just beautiful scenery, but crucial natural elements that aide both human and animal residents. Despite all that the sound provides, it suffers many of the same problems as most natural features, pollution. The sound is a crucial part in maintaining the quality of life on Long Island, so its protection, preservation, and restoration are imperative. The Long Island Sound is an estuary, and is in fact one of the largest in the world. An estuary is a place where salt water from the ocean mixes with fresh water from the rivers that drain from the land. Moreover, like other estuaries, the Long Island Sound has an abundance of fish and other waterfowl that add to the natural balance of the island, as well as one of the most important economic factors (Tedesco). Like other estuaries around the world, the Sound provides breeding, feeding, nesting, and nursery areas for many species that will spend most of their adult lives in the oceans (Long Island Sound Study). Despite these similarities to other estuaries, the Long Island Sound is unique from anywhere else in the world. Unlike other estuaries, the Long Island Sound does not just have one connection to the sea but it has two. It has two major sources of fresh water flowing into the bay that empty into the ocean. It combines this two-... ...rogen In Wastewater To Protect A Region's Waterways." BioCycle 44 (2003): 18. BigChalk. 20 Oct. 2005. Fagin, Dan. "Ancient, Clean, Controversial." Newsday 21 Sept. 2005. Joe, Brancatelli. "What Is Polluting Our Beaches?" Popular Science 1 Mar. 2003. Database. 23 Oct. 2005. Long Island Sound Study. 28 Oct. 2005 . Save The Sound. 2 Nov. 2005 . Spiegal, Jan E. "Unsound Proposal?: Concern On The Coast, Classical Conflict Again Unfolds: Energy vs. Environment." Hartford Courant 16 Oct. 2005, 3 Stars/Final ed., sec. A. Bigchalk Database. 8 Nov. 2005. Tedesco, Mark A. "This Fine Piece of Water: An Environmental History of Long Island Sound." Journal of the American Planning Association 69 (2003): 321. BigChalk. 9 Nov. 2005. The Sound Book. 8 Nov. 2005 .

How Did the Europeans Affect the Native Americans? Essay

Anne Bradstreet Jonathan Edwards and Anne Bradstreet were both famous Puritan writers of their time. Each of their works, â€Å"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God† and † Upon the Burning of Our House† convey to their audiences the strong religious beliefs prevalent during that time period. Edwards writes to persuade his audience. On the other hand, Bradstreet writes to inform her audience. Edwards mainly talks about hell and damnation in his writings, however Bradstreet talks about heaven and hope. Although both Edwards and Bradstreet have similar outlooks and understandings of religious beliefs and attitudes and beliefs about human life, there are also distinctions that allow the reader to better understand each author’s purpose. Bradstreet believes that one should look to God and pray during times of hardship. On the other hand Edwards believes that one should always look God, but not in times of hardship, he thinks people must let God come to them. Bradstreet expresses her needing of help from God after her house burns down when she said, â€Å"Raise up thy thoughts above the sky†(Bradstreet41). Referring to this quote Bradstreet looks up to God for help while she is in the middle of a crisis or hardship. Edwards suggests that people should let God come to them when he said, â€Å"And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day where in Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide Motahari 2 open, and stands in the door calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners†(Edwards129). According to this quote Edwards is saying that God has finally come to the sinners in their time of need. Not only are Bradstreet’s and Edwards’s religious beliefs different, but they also have different attitudes and beliefs. Bradstreet is a positive woman who believes that everyone is going to heaven, on the other hand Edwards is a negative man who believes that everyone is going to hell. Bradstreet expresses her positivity and belief for heaven after her house burns down while saying, â€Å"The world no longer let me love, my hope and treasure lies above†(Bradstreet119). This reveals that that she will always believe something good will happen. Even though her house and all of her things burned to ash, she still is happy that she has another home that lies above [heaven]. Edwards show his negativity towards people when he said, â€Å"In short, they have no refuge, nothing to take hold of†(Edwards126). Referring to this quote Edwards is trying to say that people do not have any escape from hell and damnation, also that there is nothing worth living for. Bradstreet and Edwards do not have the same views in the categories of religious beliefs and attitudes and beliefs of human life. Through her writings, Bradstreet explains that God is a kind loving person who is always there for us. However Edwards portrays God as a mean and angry person through his writings. I think that Bradstreet has a better view of God.

Review and Critical Thinking Questions Essay

What is a family? What is family composition? Family is a group of people tied together by blood, co-residence, or affection. Family composition is the makeup of the family including the numbers of members, their ages, and their relationship with each other What is cultural bias? What is an example of this? Cultural bias is the interpretation or judgement of practices by the standards of ones own culture. Looking at a different culture wrong because its not the way we deal with a particular concern in our nature. What are stereotypes? How are they different from prejudice? Stereotypes are assumed beliefs of a group of people. The difference between prejudice and stereotypes is is that stereotypes are based off of a a characteristic of a person from some members in the group and prejudice is an assumption before getting to know people. What is the difference between a nuclear family and an extended family? A nuclear family will be just the two parents and their children living in one home, as to an extended family is a family where the grandparents or maybe grand kids are living in the home too. Critical Thinking Questions How can families assimilate to a new culture? They can do things like learn the language, they can try to join the culture by eating their foods, listening to their music. What are some of the problems with stereotypes or cultural bias when looking at families? Sometimes your assumptions are wrong or you close your thoughts up to other people because they aren’t like you. And you should always be open to new people or new things because not everyone in the world is like you. Adversity affects today’s family, just as Black Death affected families from earlier times. What kinds of adverse challenges do today’s families face and how can they manage the situations? Families today face adverse challenges like financial, emotional, and health. The easiest way to deal with any family challenges is to talk as a family and find ways to better or eliminate the situation.

3. the Future of Religion and Politics in the Developing World

3. The Future of Religion and Politics in the Developing World Religion and Politics are an influential aspect of daily life and continue to affect people today in what they believe in religion and politics. Currently in the news, there is a war regarding religion and beliefs that were made into a movie and portrayed as untrue beliefs from that culture. The politics behind what is brought forth in a story written and then put on a screen has created a religious and political war. Although what was written and produced was viewed as freedom of speech, it has ultimately outraged the believers regarding their religious beliefs.Religion is a belief in someone or something that allows a person to have prayer and beliefs in their culture for the better of their life as they see it. Religion is very much alive as part of politics (Handleman, 2011, p 58). Politics are what affects not only individuals but also countries that should abide by the laws of what are established in order to obtain peace, structure, and control with the people. When religion and politics are put together, they are essentially within the same, beliefs, structure, searching for peace, and allowing a greater being or source to be in control. ReligionsThere are many different types of religions and cultures all over the world. There are many different types of Gods that people have faith in and perform prayer to daily. For centuries, certain religions have stayed within the same beliefs; there are new religions throughout the world that have also not thrived, as well. The church, the laws of the church, and Christianity will continue to be alive and growth on earth every day. People should be allowed to believe in whatever God they choose, but in different countries and with their cultures, people can be brought up to believe only in what they are taught.Catholic Religious Beliefs. There are many religions of the world, and one of the leading religions is Catholicism. The only significant religio n, Catholicism, have penetrated extensively into both industrialized democracies and the developing world, is preeminent in Philippines and Latin America and also is the faith of significant portions of the population in a number of sub-Saharan African countries (Handelman, 2011, p. 60). In Africa, there are more Catholic believers and over half of the populations of all adults are baptized.Inexorably, pastoral and intellectual energy in the church will follow population, and this means that African leaders are destined to play an increasingly prominent role in the global church (Allen, 2006). The world is developing in many areas and having the Catholic belief is becoming stronger than ever. Islamic Religious Beliefs. The Islamic culture is considered not a sacred religion, but one that is of harm and malice. If one would study the Islamic religion, it is not a new religion but one from a path of monotheism.The monotheism too was developed into Judaism and Christianity. The ignoran ce about Islam and perceived targeting of Muslims in general by the U. S. -led â€Å"war on terrorism† have exacerbated a dangerous and growing divide between Muslims and non-Muslims in the contemporary world (Fisher, 2011, p. 381). The Islamic religious beliefs are straightforward to have acceptance, commitment, peace, and purity. They believe in allowing their God for guidance. Politics The balance of politics and what the government has decided for the future is becoming increasingly complex.Politics have become more fundamental in the Third World countries in order to help with the growth and expansion of countries. In order for politics to produce appreciable works, democracy would need to function correctly by the people. Religious beliefs may change over time, but politics are most likely to stay the same. The relationship between politics and religion are to be tolerant and accept changes that occur over time. Politics and Independence. The many cultures in Third Worl d countries seek independence and continue to seek justice from their government and leaders.A threat to the economic well-being is the vast income inequality within developed nations, within many developing nations, and between the developed and developing worlds (Rubin, 2000, p. 421). Each country seeks independence in trade for economic and social changes in order to obtain financial growth. Third World Politics. The principles in other nations seem quite different than what is in the United States. In Third World countries, young children are able to work at an early age in support to be providers in the family.In the United States, there are laws where children cannot work up until a certain age and need to be in a school system. Equal justice to help children with education and development in order to enhance social mobility throughout Third World countries would be beneficial to all. There are many challenges in Third World countries to obtain proper health benefits, and with out assistance, it will often leads to deaths. In conclusion, the world of religion and politics are both needed and desired by many for order and to have something or someone that is of a higher being to respect.Religion and politics will forever be linked throughout the world. Many cultures will continue to either stay within their beliefs of religion or allow changes outside ones control. Politics will continue to be the focus on what the worldviews as structure for each country to abide by their laws set forth by the governments. Although both religion and politics can evolve in war and corruption, there will always be a higher being to seek answers and follow until the end of time.War has evolved from words that are harsh and untrue, but prayer has allowed answers to many questions in which have resolved with effective change. References Allen, John (2006, March 10). African and Catholicism. National Catholic Reporter, (19), 11, Retrieved from http://elibrary. bighchalk. com Fi sher, M. P. (2011). Living Religions (8th ed. ). (2011 Custom Edition) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Handelman, H. (2011). The Challenge of Third World Development (6th ed. ). (2011 Custom Edition) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Rubin, E. Robert. â€Å"The global economy. † Vital Speeches of the Day. 01 May. 2000: 421

MGMT Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MGMT - Article Example Unions make the running of a business hard and constant rising within a union is troublesome ordeal. Ruth A. Binger has written an article on how to reduce the chances of a union being created in a business and provides ten ways on how she believes unions can be avoided. First she discusses the question of wages and benefits which is essential to every business and a sure way to keep employees happy is to give then wages worth their market value and provide some benefits to adjust to opportunities they lose. She also stresses on communication with those who work in a company while ensuring that those who are hired are of a specific educational level and made clear what unions will do to their situation in the company (Ruth A. Binger, 2009). She also provides an insight as to which particular brands of workers are at the core of unions being started and maintains that the best way to stop the problem is to make sure that those employees who don’t show any promise in the company are dealt with sooner rather than later. Ms. Binger is also prudent enough to detail outlines as to what the management can do if a union does arise in the midst of a company. Outlining proper training of those who are in unions and even the education the management of the company itself is, as she believes, required for ensuring a smooth working environment. The article provides a good base for companies and how to minimize unions. Her idea of promoting teamwork is not an original one but emphasis on it is a sure way to handle any uprising. Promoting teamwork will let the employees feel like they belong to a family and can help gain their trust while the idea of reaching out and resolving complaints and other problems as soon as possible is another sure way to reduce any grudges felt. However she should also mention that unions usually have strikes on their agenda which does not always help the

Sponsorship Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sponsorship Proposal - Essay Example The forthcoming three years extends an opportunity to the R+D division of our regional business, as the national company ramps up to accelerate market share. Our innovative staff knows Oz, and nowhere on this planet might photographers find a better aquatic venue for employing our new NIKONOS series cameras than our Great Barrier Reef. To this end, we request consideration of our request for AUS $ 3 million to support our efforts toward introduction of our new NIKONOS SoPA (South Pacific) model, and to enhance our potential to exceed expectations in terms of consumer impact in the sports camera market. The initiation of the NIKONOS SoPa is Nikon Australia's latest regional product. Unique to our national expansion in underwater photography, the new South Pacific model debuts here in Australia, with global extension of the complete underwater camera equipment line by 2014. Roll out of the SoPa is scheduled to proceed in the South Pacific region by 2012. Marketed through new and traditional media, events, press and tourism, the camera is slated to hit the Australian market in September of 2010, the commencement of our Summer season. Research and development is looking for new ways to enhance the quality of the lens in the product, as new instruments are tested, and risk assessment applied to development and manufacturing of forthcoming models. The NIKONOS SoPa series camera is prefaced forty years of underwater photographic use. The popularity of the camera's versatility is shown to us year after year, as customers communicate the durability and performance of Nikon's technology in bad weather conditions, and exposure to water spray. Our customers are sports people. One only has to look to the creativity of Japanese sports fans utilizing the NIKONOS at beer-pouring parties in celebration of the professional baseball championships to understand the effectiveness of our product. The NIKONOS goes where single-lens reflex cameras cannot. As we move toward the latter half of 2010, we are proud to maintain that our efforts to provide globe with technology that has not rival have succeeded. Unparalleled in market segment, our NIKONOS series cameras are not to be beat by competitors. The reality is that our underwater cameras are a synergy of distinctive technological factors. At Nikon, all of our products are crafted with the highest degree of engineering expertise. From research, design and development to careful manufacturing, the Nikon brand bears the mark of distinction and quality. The waterproof capability of the NIKONOS series cameras is the result of a composition of integrated lenses, Speedlight, and a seamless systemic compatibility with the product's line of underwater sports technology accessories. Discontinuation of the NIKONOS in the 1990s has allowed us much time to consider this vintage product's potential and its legacy. In the field of underwater photography, the method for taking pictures involves 'a land-use single-lens reflex camera enclosed in water pressure-resistant casing, or housing' (Nikon 2010). Steady evolution of this process drove professionals to newer options in aquatic imaging. However, in response to much demand by fans of the former, discontinued NIKONOS camera series, Nikon has decided to reintroduce the product,

Volunteer report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Volunteer report - Essay Example I noticed that they had a timetable meal that ran from Monday to Sunday. Their food was excellent and for this reason I wished I would join them every day for a grasps of their meal. In addition, they have a playroom, mediation room, gym and many other utilities that prove useful to the families. The gym was used in for the purpose of refreshment after a long day. Staying fit was one of their key mottos. The main objective of the facility is not only to provide stability and resources for families in every part but also to keep families collectively to help kids heal and cope better. During my volunteering intern at the facility, I was accompanied by other interns, Chef Mishel together with other dietetic interns who were well experienced with their work. Together, we cooked a meal for the families and I was able to serve for some of them in the facility. Their shined with glamour a proof that our meal was splendid. I was so happy and wished this happened frequently. I interacted with various families at the facility most of which were children, and it was incredible to learn about where they were from the families they came from. In addition, I played games with the children in the playroom and worked out in the gym, something that made them jovial. Actually, those families and children were the best people to interact with. Without forgetting to mention, the families pointed out that there were various groups that came from Monday through to Friday to cook meals for them. The children said that they appreciated their efforts to deliver services for it shows how much these people are concerned with their well-being. It was so amazing to notice that there were other volunteer groups that were mostly interested in the volunteering act for it takes a lot for a person to do such work. These children and families need to get their minds off from the

Fatigue Risk Management in Aviation Maintenance Term Paper

Fatigue Risk Management in Aviation Maintenance - Term Paper Example Maintenance personnel, have to endure significant fatigue risks. However, there are several characteristics of aircraft maintenance that provide chances of reducing the hazards created by fatigue. In the first place, maintenance work should be internally rather than externally paced. Maintenance should not be performed under pressure. The maintainer conscious should be able to stop a task and consider aiming for accuracy rather than speed. Where possible, methods of performance of a maintenance task should be modified. For example, tasks cards can be modify and secondary inspections and operational functional checks introduced to serve as errors capturing barriers. Where maintenance organization has the flexibility to choose when certain maintenance tasks can be performed, it is necessary to schedule the most risk susceptible tasks at a time when employees are less likely to be fatigued. Finally, maintainers should rarely be required to travel across different time zones performing their duties. This assists in preventing aircraft lag and circadian rhythm disruptions, which are key considerations or flight, crew FRMS. Effective fatigue management requires partnerships with shared responsibility between the employers and the employees. Fatigue does not only originate from the workplace but also from the personal life of the employee. Personal factors that can lead to fatigue include social and family commitments, medical conditions and second jobs. Therefore, it is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that they have enough rest fit for duty before assuming for work. The employer has an obligation to ensure that working hours are reasonable, availability of rest break periods and adequate staffing. However, the International Federation of Airworthiness asserts that the responsibility to control working hours is not solely the mandate of the employer. Employees have a responsibility to take advantage of opportunities & facilities for rest sessions provided. Further, it is also an employee’s responsibility to plan and use the rest periods appropriately in order to reduce incurring fatigue.

How Will Computer Information System Fit Into Your Professional Life Essay

How Will Computer Information System Fit Into Your Professional Life - Essay Example Python provides constructs that allow clear programs on both large and small scale (Zelle, 2004). Python supports multiple programming paradigms such as object-oriented, functional and imperative programming or procedural styles. Interpreters of Python are available for installation in numerous operating systems. It can be packaged, using third-party tools such as Pyinstaller or Py2exe, into stand-alone executable programs for many popular operating systems (Zelle, 2004). Java is an object-oriented, class-based programming language. It tops the list among the most demanded programming languages. It is standard for web-based content, enterprise software, Android operating system, mobile applications, and games. Java is designed to be used across multiple platforms of software (Van & Haridi, 2004). It is designed to have few dependency implementations. It is intended to allow app developers â€Å"write once, run anywhere. Java apps are categorically compiled to bytecode that can, regardless of computer architecture, run on any Java virtual machine. Some of the commonly used mobile programming languages besides Java and Python include C language, C++, C#, Objective-C, PHP, Ruby, JavaScript, and SQL among others (Van & Haridi, 2004). Mobile computing is continually changing life. Mobile solutions are today, part of many lives. From laptops to tablets, pagers to cell phones, technology continue to change daily lives and businesses. Some of the notable changes include paperless offices where people conduct business on the phone, read newspaper online, and even shop online. The world of music has also changed significantly, with many people reviewing, purchasing, streaming and downloading music instantly. Television shows, movies, and live programming can be accessed through mobile. Mobile video capabilities are also enabling people to capture moments (Bukhari & Kurylo, 2008). Mobile computing has also changed communication

Darren Shan Biography Essay Example for Free

Darren Shan Biography Essay Although Shan always wanted to be a writer, it was only in his teenage years that he began writing in his spare time for fun (before that, he only wrote stories if they were for homework). He bought his first typewriter when he was 14, and never looked back, knocking out loads of short stories and comic scripts, and making false starts on several books, which he never completed. Shan was 17 when he finished his first novel. Although it was never published, he relished the writing experience, and found himself focusing more on novels in the coming years, leaving behind the short-story format. For the next several years, sandwiched between university and work, he wrote an average of one book a year, experimenting with different ideas, genres, lengths and styles. When he started writing full-time, his output shot up to 5 to 6 books per year! But that has dropped back to 2 to 3 recently, due to all the travelling around he’s been doing to promote sales of his books. All of these early books were adult-oriented. Although Shan quite liked the idea of writing a children’s book one day, he considered himself an adult writer first and foremost. In fact, Shan’s initial breakthrough was with an adult book, in 1999. In January 2000, his first children’s book, Cirque du Freak, which he’d written as a fun side-project, was published. The first book in a series titled The Saga of Darren Shan (or Cirque du Freak, as it’s known in America), it attracted rave reviews and an ever-growing army of fans hungry to learn more about vampires which were quite unlike any that anyone had ever seen before! Shan loved writing for children so much, that for the next several years he focused almost exclusively on his books for younger readers. First, he wrote a total of 12 books about vampires. He quickly followed up his vampiric saga with The Demonata, a series about demons. Running to ten books in total, The Demonata cemented Shan’s place in the UK as the Master Of Children’s Horror, and saw him score his first UK #1 bestseller. He also wrote a one-off short book, called Koyasan, for Wold Book Day in the UK. There was a very successful manga adaptation of Shan’s vampire series, drawn by the Japanese artist, Takahiro Arai. It was originally serialized in Japan, but collected volumes are now on sale in the USA, UK and other countries. The books have topped adult bestseller charts in Hungary, Japan and Taiwan. In total, Shan’s books have sold close to 15 million copies worldwide! The movie rights to Cirque Du Freak were bought by Universal, and the first movie (which combines elements from the first three books in the series) was released on October 23rd, 2009, starring newcomer Chris Massoglia as Darren Shan, along with a wide array of established stars such as Josh Hutcherson, John C Reilly, Salma Hayek, Willem Defoe and Ken Watanabe. The movie was called Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant.