Are You Certified essays

Are You Certified essays The impact of technology in our lives has grown exponentially over recent years. The demand for better, faster, more productive software and hardware equipment has increased the need for more experienced and better qualified IT (Information Technology) specialists. These IT professionals must possess a degree of knowledge and expertise that sets them apart from others in their field. One way industry has set the standard in recruiting such specialized individuals is certification. Certifications are offered in a variety of specialty areas. Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer is one of many certifications offered by Microsoft (MCSD). The MCSD is in the area of coding, analysis, debugging and testing of applications. Another is A+ Certification sponsored by CompTIA that certifies the competency of entry-level service technicians in the computer industry. A more prestigious certification is the Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert, which yields one of the highest salary compensations but is also more difficult to obtain. These aforementioned certifications are only three of the several offered by Microsoft, Cisco, Novell, and Oracle. So what if these certifications are well known to the industry; so what if the companies that are known and respected worldwide back them. Are they the big deal that everyone claims they are? The answer to that is yes, and for several reasons. Becoming certified can enhance job opportunities, assert proof of professional achievement, and increase salary probability. Certification is a practical means of assessing skills and experience. According to KB Learning Centers, Inc., "Many employers give preference in hiring applicants with certification. They view this as proof that a new hire knows the procedures and technologies required." For people new to the industry, certification can be used to measure their standing and provide a starting point for building their professional caree...

Economic Responsible Citizenship

Economic Responsible Citizenship Introduction In their book, Economic Sense Economics: What Everyone should know About Wealth and Prosperity, Gwartney, Stroup, Lee and Ferrarini (2010) shed light on economic principles that are critical to the national and individual economic progress.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Economic Responsible Citizenship specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They provide a lucid and concrete overview of the need for a better understanding of simple macro-economic and individual economic principles which are an essential ingredient in economic prosperity. The bottom-line of this book is essentially the creation of a financial and economic literacy among nations and their citizens. In particular, this book provides an in-depth analysis and enlightened discussion on clear thoughts about economic prosperity. This essay provides a personal understanding of the basic principles of micro and macro-economic aspects as discussed by Gw artney, Stroup, Lee and Ferrarini (2010). The aim of this essay is to enable the individual to become a responsible citizen who actively participates in revenue generating activities to ensure wealth creation and economic prosperity is attained. Economic principles and responsible citizenship Individuals have an obligation of participating in different actions that ensure the betterment of their own lives, and the entire society at large. To achieve this, they should participate in activities which promote the personal and societal well-being. In many developing and developed nations across the world, individuals are demonstrating their citizenship responsibilities through democratic processes with a view of guaranteeing their personal and societal rights. According to Logan and Molotch (2007), a responsible citizen takes part in a democratic process as a civic duty. This is to ensure a better understanding of political, economic, and other environmental systems that have a direct i mpact on the improvement of individual, communal welfare, and prosperity of the nation.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Responsible citizens should be able to understand how their exercising of political and democratic rights has an impact on resource allocation, which determines their personal prosperity and welfare. A responsible citizen cares about the creation of wealth at an individual, firm, or national level. This can only be achieved through a clear conceptualization of how the government and political processes protect both individual and property rights. At this point, Gwartney, Stroup, Lee and Ferrarini (2010) urge individuals to understand that political processes will not always ensure consistent allocation of resources, but market allocation of economic resources will ensure economic progress. Individuals should realize that politics is merely a socia l structure alternative, but not a remedy that provides solutions to challenges affecting the individual or society. In their argument based on the market allocation of resources; Gwartney, Stroup, Lee and Ferrarini (2010) opine that free markets allow individuals to engage voluntarily in mutual agreements, acquire more information about varied market choices, and allow them to have diverse representations. These factors empower them to create wealth rather than relying on political choices. A thoughtful consideration of government economic policies such as subsidies, trade, taxes, and government expenditure should be evaluated critically by all citizens (Gwartney, Stroup, Lee Ferrarini, 2010). Responsible individuals should be alert and vigil about these policies taking note of their impact on social and private life. These policies have a far reaching consequence on citizens who are taxpayers; hence under-scores the significance of acquiring the right knowledge about these polici es. For instance, an economically responsible citizen should be able to know that government costs are not only limited to taxes, but rather the consequences of such economic policies on the private sector, use of resources, and price distortions. Gwartney, Stroup, Lee and Ferrarini (2010) illustrate the consequences of increased federal expenditure since the 1960s, which has resulted in budget deficits and has increased the national debt.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Economic Responsible Citizenship specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Gwartney, Stroup, Lee and Ferrarini (2010) argue that governments to a large extent slow down the rate of economic progress when they seek to reward some individuals at the expense of the nation for political reasons. The efficient acquisition of wealth by individuals and economic progress relies on the production and exchange of goods and services at a value, to generate income. This enhances the wealth of the society at large rather than plundering, which benefits a few individuals at the expense of the majority. The promotion of productive activities through the protection offered by the government on property rights and elimination of favors is believed to positively trigger economic prosperity. The primary objective of responsible citizenship should be to bring benefits to the society at large as opposed to targeting specific interest groups. The economy and money are important tools that require the right knowledge and understanding in order to eliminate poverty, as well as create sustainable development. One of the major impediments to wealth creation and economic prosperity is poverty. Gwartney, Stroup, Lee and Ferrarini (2010) note that over-reliance on transfer payments and subsidies from the government has not had a positive impact on the reduction of poverty levels in the last seven decades they have been in existence, in the United States. They hold that transfers are a burden to taxpayers, and long-term objectives are eroded due to competition for the transfers. To reduce poverty and ensure economic prosperity, as well as the creation of wealth; Gwartney, Stroup, Lee and Ferrarini (2010) propose that the youth should obtain a minimum education qualification (high school), avoid child-bearing before marriage, and continue working before they secure a full-time job. Gwartney, Stroup, Lee and Ferrarini (2010) criticize the central planning of resources by the federal government as being retrogressive to economic progress. Central planning is prone to political lobbying that eventually wastes resources hence prohibiting economic development. They argue that this is a disincentive to private investors wishing to engage in productive activities. Responsible citizenship calls for the devolvement of central planning and allocation of resources so as to encourage individuals to exploit their property rights productively hence creating wealth. Additionally, decentralization of the government planning and encouraging a competitive free economy, allows the market channels to discipline producers, and consumer to be more accountable to ensure future efficiency.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Only productive projects that generate income thrive in such an economic situation. In a nut-shell, the introduction of competition in the public sector will go a long way in ensuring that private firms play on an equal platform with government agencies. This will definitely guarantee economic progress. According to Gwartney, Stroup, Lee and Ferrarini (2010), there is a greater need to synchronize political processes and sound economic policies. They suggest that new rules should be in place to bring together and ensure that interest groups, politicians, and bureaucrats work in harmony to ensure economic prosperity. Going back to the constitutional beginnings which enshrined the protection of property rights, limited government involvement, equality, and federalism are cited as major milestones in ensuring economic prosperity of all individuals in the United States. Conclusion The authors of this book provide an informative guide to understanding the basics of economic principles at the national level, and how they affect personal finances. The significance of economic literacy is brought out clearly in the book to help individuals make decisions on economic issues such as savings, consumption, and investment among many other personal economic issues. Democracy, politics, and government to a large extent are cited as some of the factors derailing economic progress and wealth creation. The elimination of these inefficiencies created by government and political systems, as well as knowledge and understanding of simple economic principles by individuals will go a long way in ensuring economic prosperity. References Gwartney, J. D., Stroup, R. L., Lee, D. R., Ferrarini, T. H. (2010). Common sense economics: what everyone should know about wealth and prosperity. New York: Macmillan. Logan, J. R., Molotch, H. L. (2007). Urban fortunes: The political economy of place. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

How did the successive stages of capitalism change the UK's accounting Essay

How did the successive stages of capitalism change the UK's accounting and financial reporting processes - Essay Example Thus, the feudal lord directly appropriated surplus labour (labour on the lord’s demesne, or commodities or cash in lieu thereof) from self-sufficient peasants, so that his ‘calculative mentality’ focused on maximising his ‘consumable surpluses. He had no concept of ‘capital as money or equivalent to be invested in production and recovered with a surplus’ (Bryer, 1999, P. 59). A ‘two-step transition from the feudal to the capitalist mode of production’ began with the emergence, in the sixteenth century, of ‘capitalistic’ or ‘semi-capitalist’ farmers, who employed ‘free’ wage workers in the capitalist manner, but still thought in terms of a consumable surplus in the feudal manner (Bryer, 1999, P. 68). Semi-capitalists also give the impression in international trade, one of the leading company among these was the East India Company. These traders were the first to consider the idea of a rate of r eturn. Bryer interpreted this terms as the ‘feudal rate of return’, and well-defined as ‘consumable surplus’ divided by total capital, which developed as the leading economic term after the bourgeois revolution of the mid-seventeenth century. Throughout the period of industrial capitalism, where return was generated mainly over the production of goods, the progressions of the industrial revolution lead to a large number of new openings, that needed slight fixed capital. Later, there was a complete shift to finance capitalism, which demended more capital, and emphasis had been given to the profit generation, through the the purchase and sale of financial instruments of numerous forms, and from the growing needs of the public services. (Hawke, et al., 1981, P. 678). Edwards dates the transition to finance capitalism as 1830, the year in which the Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened for business, and argues that the most recent ‘leap forward’ in financial accounting, the change in emphasis from record keeping to financial reporting, began to take place in the second half of the nineteenth century, ‘in response to the growth of the modern business enterprise and the separation of ownership from management’ (Edwards, 1989, P 13). The substantial capital expenditures and scattered fund raising of finance capitalism in sequence raised up a number of accounting distresses, which is still prominent today, relating to the need to differentiate between capital and revenue expenditure, calculation of periodic profit, and the valuation of fixed assets. The railways, as the leading industry of the mid and late-nineteenth century economy, have generally been rendered a dominant place in the growth of financial reporting, but the canal industry has been almost unnoticed, in spite of its similar standing to the English economy and its substantial impact on the industrial revolution. This is further unanticipated move, sin ce it can be claimed that the canals, using surpluses from the use of capital in agriculture and trade and employment of capital provided by the industrialists and other investors, represent the real starts of finance capita

Individual Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Individual Project - Essay Example In international business, it is interesting the very many diverse cultures that one can find in such forums; it is thus impossible that cultures from one’s own country can be carried and applied to the interaction with these other countries with the expectation of success (Hill, 2008). Management cannot be undertaken exclusively without a proper understanding of culture because it is only in this way that people from diverse cultures can truly work together. Part 1 Explain each model and how it can be used to investigate national preferences. Models of cultural dimension have been developed by several organizational experts namely Hofstede and Trompenaars who through a series of research studies developed dimensional perspectives that would enable people understand how to work with other people from different cultures and ensure that business is completed. The first dimension sought to allow for the comprehension of the two cultures of individualism and collectivism (Johnson & Turner, 2009). They stated that people from individualistic cultures had an inclination to choosing their own affiliations within the workplace and often preferring to work alone. Alternatively, those people from the collectivist cultures were often found working in varied groups aligning themselves to one another based on age and religion among other interests (Edwards & Rees, 2006). The second dimension sought to measure the element of how people within the organization perceived power differences (Johnson & Turner, 2009). There are those people who come from cultures where there are small power differences and are thus more inclined to a consultative and democratic method of handling issues. These types of people have been known to relate to their peers and others with equality and respect and when placed in subordinate positions, demand the right to contribute to decision making. In contrast, those from cultures with a large power distance have got great fear and respect for t hose in authority (Edwards & Rees, 2006). People have different ways of preparing themselves for unknown events; as such, the weak verses strong uncertainty avoidance was another dimension that Hofstede determined. Some people come from cultures where there are explicit rules on avoidance that allow them to cope with aspects of the unknown (Keeley, 2001). These people have got specific routines and structures for accomplishing tasks and in the context of employment, have got a much higher ability of sticking with one employer for a longer time that their counterparts. They have also been known to identify danger from a distance and often accredited for the development of safety regulations and guidelines within an organization. Those people who come from communities that have got weak uncertainty avoidance have got a more flexible and care free lifestyle with an inclination for engaging in life threatening and informal activities. Within the context of employment, these people often have an inclination to change not only their employers but also their employment status from time to time (Edwards & Rees, 2006). They are also more accommodative of other people’s ideas and concepts often allowing more than one concept to run simultaneously with another one allowing for variety of fresh thoughts, ideas and change within the organization. Various values are embedded into these cultures with emphasis being placed in different areas that vary from one culture to another. Sensitivity to masculinity and femininity

Best Dining Experience Essay Example for Free

Best Dining Experience Essay My favorite food is Mexican. Being from Arizona, Mexican restaurants are not as good here in Iowa. Although my favorite Mexican food to eat here is from my grandmother’s kitchen; there are a few restaurants my friends and I enjoy eating at. A few of my girlfriends and I have made Margarita Wednesdays a tradition in the summer time at La Casa. My brother, sister and I go to Los Cabos at least once a month in West Des Moines, which is an amazing delicious Mexican restaurant. I also like Monterrey in Altoona because it’s so close to my house, but no restaurant can compare to Tiki Tok in Mexico. My best friend and I were feeling spontaneous so we took a week off work and went on a cruise. We both found it difficult to eat on the ship because we were continually getting sea sick. I’ll never forget the fishy, chewy, and crunchy taste of the little shrimp and cocktail sauce going down my throat, or the unpleasant feeling I had when it was coming up. The only bad memory of my trip was praying that my legs would stop shaking and that my journey would hopefully reach an end so I could stand on solid ground. Other than being sea sick for the first day; I had a blast on the cruise! I got the opportunity to see many things and visit quite a few places. One of the ports of call was Cozumel, Mexico, and my friend Alexandra and I decided we wanted to try some real Mexican food. Of course, we were a little concerned about getting sick, but Im glad to say that didnt happen. We asked on the ship where the best place for Mexican food was, but they said that anywhere along the main shopping strip would be good. We then found a place called the Tiki Tok. The place was on the second level of a building. We sat out on the little balcony that they had. They had covered it with sand. The view from the restaurant was amazing. I was hypnotized by the vibrant colors and the employees’ of the restaurants equally vibrant lifestyles. I remember feeling jealous of the workers because they would get to go back to Tiki Tok tomorrow and the day after that, but I wouldn’t. The walls were an explosion of colorful textiles and every color of paint one could think of that was as bold as can be. Vases were on every table with burnt orange and deep yellow dried peppers inside. The chairs at the dining tables were made of a Mexican Serape material. The colors, the fringe, and the feel of it gave the restaurant even a stronger Mexican energy. My favorite part of the restaurants decor was the little cactus lights that strung amongst all the walls connecting each bulb to the wrought iron chandelier in the middle of the room. When one first enters the restaurant the Mariachi band is one of the most noticeable features. Three men were dressed in black with button up shirts and decorative sombreros all standing in the corner of the room. Two men had violins and the third was handling a guitar. As we took our seats the band started playing lively music and a few older couples got up and danced fearlessly. Everything in the restaurant was bold excluding my bashful personality; otherwise I would have danced too. I was in a trance watching the people dance with one another until the Mariachi band shouted in sync, â€Å"AY! † causing me to be brought back to the present. It was then that I had realized how hungry I was. The menu prices were in pesos, so it looked like everything was really expensive, but it wasnt. We ordered the hot and spicy red enchiladas which were about 60 pesos, and they also brought us chips and salsa. The chips were a little bit thicker than you would get here in the US, and there were three different types of salsas. There was a regular pico de gallo, then there was one made with tomatillos, and the last was a pineapple cilantro salsa that was actually really tasteful. Lexi and I have never had pineapple cilantro salsa before, so we weren’t sure whether it was going to be appetizing or not. After stuffing myself with chips our food finally arrived. It was just about the yummiest thing Ive ever had. The red sauce for the enchiladas was a little bit different than what Ive had here, but I cant tell you how. It was more delicious over there though. There was chicken inside the enchiladas and a touch of sour cream on top. We took the extra salsa we hadn’t demolished with the chips and smothered our enchiladas with it. I ate every last bite of it and was so full afterwards! The amazing food I had in Mexico was the best Mexican food I have ever had. I remember the smell of the ocean and sweet salsa at the same time. The bright colored sombreros and the ocean front view was an amazing sight to see while enjoying the food as well. Anytime I think about Mexico I think about the short beach chairs, sand between my toes, all the smells of the restaurant, laughing with my best friend and delicious enchiladas. This will be a memory that would be difficult to forget because we took so many pictures of the restaurant and it was the best eating experience I’ve had yet. Im really glad that my friend and I were able to have this dining experience together. Alexandra and I enjoyed it very much!

Season by Wole Soyinka Essay -- English Literature

Season by Wole Soyinka There seems to be a strange contrast between his choice of the word â€Å"decay†, which suggests things going to ruin and the final sentiment where the word â€Å"promise† indicates hope. I get the sense that Soyinka’s poem is contrived. He feels the urge to speak lyrically about this subject but does not seem to have found his authentic voice, or perhaps the theme is too complex for him to address in a sixteen line poem. This is reflected in lines such as â€Å"Pollen is mating time† which not only fails to make sense but is also rather clumsy. This poem begs comparison with Achebe’s â€Å"Refugee Mother and Child† that redefines aesthetics through comparison with traditional Western sensibilities. He shows the harsh reality of humans on the brink of starvation whilst Soyinka shows humans dependent on, yet in harmony with, nature. Soyinka too redefines some words through context but his spin on the relationship between humans and nature is a more hopeful one. The word â€Å"loved† is in the past tense thus indicating a time gone by. This suggests that the firs...

Paul Gustave Dore Essay

While accompanying his father and older brother in Paris, Gustave discovered the allure of Paris and made known his intention to remain and pursue his career as an artist (Hubbard 5-8). His work is generally considered as Romanticism and he has been labeled one of the greatest illustrators of his time. His lack of formal training created both derision among art critics and a cult following among common people who could relate to his work. He possessed a grasp of what would be popular among the common folks of his time and a flair for the dramatics in his works. It could be said that the Parisian Art world did not side with him because he did not struggle or starve as most artist did and his financial success was a threat to the very core of Art (McWilliam 829-830). His was a time of great discovery, both scientific and artistic, and an industrial revolution the likes of which gave wealth to the very few. When he abandoned caricature work, he did try to redeem himself but, could not break the yoke of commercial production and its promise of wealth (Hubbard 5-8). His inability to sway his critics and peers in his birthplace and formative city (Paris) forced him to ply his wares in England and across the Atlantic to the United States. Gustave Dore became the darling of England and America, and managed to make millions during his half century of life and produced a staggering amount of sketches. At one point of his career as an illustrator, he employed forty blockcutters (WebMuseum 1). Gustave Dore dabbled in both painting and sculpture during his later years and was purported to be a violinist and tenor singer (Hubbard 5-8). The work of Gustave Dore is both loved and spurned during his lifetime but, he certainly maintained a life of wealth his father could not have made and he owed it all to his prodigious pencil. The following works by Gustave Dore, we will examine his favored subjects and themes that showed the suffering of poor people and presented these in surrounding treatment that emphasized those suffering. . Extracted from a book by Blanchard Jerrold and illustrated by Gustave Dore. The book was commissioned as a type of guide through the many streets and venues of London, in essence a Tourist Book (Spartacus. choolnet. co. uk). Instead it became a rendition of the lower class and their plight. A story in the Port Cities: Leisure, health and housing – Social conditions in the 19th-century Website cites the following: An artist’s impression of poverty For those whose imaginations could not be stirred by social commentators like Booth and Mearns, the French artist Gustave Dore (1832-1 883) visited London and produced horrific illustrations of life in the port areas that shocked public opinion. Although a commercial success, many of the critics disliked his work. The critics’ reaction Several critics were angry that Dore had appeared to focus on the poverty that existed on the waterfront, rather than on the finer aspects of life in the metropolis. He was accused by the Art Journal of ‘inventing rather than copying’. Completely missing the point, The Westminster Review complained that ‘Dore gives us sketches in which the commonest, the vulgarest external features are set down’. (PortCities London. org) Analysis of Formal Elements – One of the most fundamental elements of art is line. [Sayre 82] 1Variety and Quality of Lines Homeless people of London deadened on a bench, third quarter 19th century Figure 1 – Museum of Louvre department of the Graphic arts,  © Museums of France, 1998 Dore’s pencil drawing shows a clear outline of each figure with the use of a heavier line and the details using lighter lines. The implied and contour lines in the garments indicate worn use and filth. The vertical and horizontal rendering on the bench enables the viewer to perceive a seating area made of stone thereby heightening the plight of the homeless and impoverished that is depicted here. The development of each subject is made through the use of foreshortening and perspective. The foreshortening implies a reclining figure surrounded by seated figures. The perception of three dimensions is brought about through the use of reserve, or white background of the paper, on the standing baby and the face of the sleeping girl with a hat. The darker rendering of the other subjects suggest repose while the highlighted baby is awake. The cross hatching and hatching of the garments in uneven manner depicts clothing that is disheveled, worn, and filthy. Couple and Two Children Sleeping on a London Bridge Figure 1 – http://www. bergercollection. org/artwork_detail. php? i=167# Dore in Figure 2 now uses a more expressive line in the treatment of the subjects and dark heavy graduated in weight to specify large folds in the clothing and the edge lip of the bench, shown as details in Figure 3 and 4. A sepia wash is used to introduce as a possible element of a darkening sky dotted with white spots indicating stars. To the upper left of the figures is a depiction of crosses faintly visible implying the mast of tall ships thereby implying a port in the distance? The stone bench is still presented by straight vertical and horizontal lines but as opposed to Figure 1, it now shows details such as cracks that normally propagate in stone material. All the figures are dark and disheveled in appearance. Their clothing is depicted in an unkempt appearance and the scene shows a sense of separation from the upper class society because of the way they are lying on the bench, even though they are presented in a manner of dress inure to the upper class. My first impression was a family waiting for transportation to where I do not know after a night out on the town. Normally figures, during that century, waiting for transportation are sitting upright. Dore does not address in his drawing here the same condition as Figure 1. When I first saw this work, I chose not to look at the title and make some preconceived notion as to what was being depicted. When I noticed the implied ship mast in the background, which setup the next perception as a port, it inherently supported my theory of awaiting transportation. Alas, it was not correct and this may shed some light into Dore’s eventual illustration in Figure 5 of the same scene depicting a more impoverished set of subjects on a bench awaiting the light of day. Included as a reference to the depiction of poor vs. wealthy is Figure 6, one of just a few of the drawings the publisher thought would be prevalent in the book. Figure 1 – http://www. bergercollection. org/artwork_detail. php? i=167# Figure 2 – http://www. bergercollection. org/artwork_detail. php? i=167# London: A Pilgrimage, Asleep Under the Stars Figure 1 – http://www. cf. ac. uk/encap/skilton/illustr/index. html London: A Pilgrimage, A Ball at the Mansion House Figure 2 – http://www. cf. ac. uk/encap/skilton/illustr/index. html 2Spatial Strategy A Whitechapel Coffeehouse Figure 3 Use of a frontal recession, street level linear perspective is tantamount to depicting the main figures in this almost monochromatic painting. Dore’s lines are generalized and are meant to capture immediately the scene in its moment. The central figures show a more upright and important stance than the outlying supporting subjects. Their turned bodies show an intense attention to the entrance of these key figures. The key figures wardrobe is straight and the outlying figures show crumpled clothing which may imply poverty. It is not until the illustration in Figure 7 that the sense of desperation among the non-central figures is clearly delineated. It is also in this illustration that the claustrophic effect that Dore is famous for is in full effect. The painting shows a more elevated perspective than the illustration. I have started to question Dore’s intent in the production of these illustrations. Even though his name is clearly on the lower left corner on most prints, the blockcutters name is on the lower right. This clearly implies an employer to employee relationship and does not necessarily imply apprenticeship. The distinct change from study or conceptual drawing to print supports this remark. London: A Pilgrimage, A Whitechapel Coffeehouse Figure 4 – http://www. cf. ac. uk/encap/skilton/illustr/index. html 3Light and Color The Charity of the fishmongers: study in a district of London, 4th quarter 19th century Figure 1– Museum of Louvre department of the Graphic arts,  © Museums of France, 1998 Dore produced this work five years after the release of the illustrated book London: A Pilgrimage. His rendering of color does not lend itself well to translating key formal elements. Why he chose to color the gathering of men in red is in contradiction to the clear shaft of white light shining on the fishmonger and children. The gathering of men looks to be outside due to the street pole with what may be gaslights. It is reported that Dore was color blind and was not adept at color shading (Malan 1). If it were not for the title I may have mistook this as a gathering of children at a fish market with their caretaker. Under closer scrutiny it shows the children as lacking shoes and wearing torn soiled clothing. 4Texture and Pattern London: A Pilgrimage, Houndsditch Figure 2 – http://www. f. ac. uk/encap/skilton/illustr/index. html London: A Pilgrimage, Found in the Street Figure 3 – http://www. cf. ac. uk/encap/skilton/illustr/index. html Here again his lack of training shows through on the use of light, shading and shadows. His surrounding treatment is far below his work illustrating Dante’s Inferno or the Bible. Looking at Figure 10 gives th e impression that the candle is giving off more light than it is truly capable of producing. There is also an imbalance to the scene because of the light. Artistic license aside, I prefer George de la Tours rendering in Joseph the Carpenter [Sayre 175]. The Figures clearly show the impoverished condition that has befallen the subjects in the picture and shows, as if in a photograph, the dire predicament that requires immediate intervention 5Comparisons The well meaning Dore did have influences during his formative years and it came about through his beginnings as a caricature artist. Artist like Grandville was admired enough by Dore that he went to him for advice on matters concerning his art. Dore studied closely the work of the first comic strip artist Rodolphe Toepher and this may have created a caricature memory strategy that was difficult to overcome (Duncum 97, 98). Lion Devouring a Rabbit Figure 1 – Eugene DelaCroix DelaCroix’s lion bears a more realistic representation of the animal than the one Gustave Dore’s illustrated on the cover drawing (Figure 15) for the book London: A Pilgrimage. Dore’s lion seems to melt into the surrounding environment and the foreshortening of the front paw and rear paw are not in keeping with the rules of perspective. Hercules at the Crossroads Figure 2 – Albrecht Durer (Germany) circa 1498 London: A Pilgrimage, Gustave Dore Figure 3 – http://www. cf. ac. uk/encap/skilton/illustr/index. html Albrecht Durer’s treatment of the muscular human male may seem to fall within the same realm as Dore’s human male in his cover drawing but, it shows Dore’s lack of formal training in the way the back muscles are rendered. Durer studied human anatomy extensively including bone structure, which I believe Dore did not fully grasp. London: A Pilgrimage, Newgate Exercise Yard Figure 4 – http://www. cf. ac. uk/encap/skilton/illustr/index. html There have been questions in the art world as to the influence of Dore on other artist; one in particular is Van Gogh who referred to him as the Artist of the People (Study Light Org). † Van Gogh had produced a picture called â€Å"Prison Yard† and it was presented without reference to being after a major artist and this was not acceptable. The critic clearly states the resemblance of the picture to Dore’s above in Figure 17 and describes it as â€Å"a tolerably literal rendering of an illustration by Gustave Dore. † He does continue to deride Dore with the continuing remark â€Å"It seems as if Van Gogh had discerned, as others have, an occasional article of value in the rubbish-heap of Dore’s production (R. S. 250). This is but one example of Dore’s place in the Art Critics of his time. His development of the illustrations for the book London: A Pilgrimage brought about the issues of the paupers and homeless (Smith 997-1032). Smith projects the impression of France’s workhouses as being equal to the dreadful pictures of London in Gustave Dore’s book. In conclusion Gustave Dore succeeded in presenting to the populace at hand on the issues of poverty through study sketches that were transformed into illustrations. His rendered illustrations clearly showed the large divide between the wealthy and the poor. His handsomely paid commission did not affect what he saw as blight in society. His participation in this particular commissioned work allowed him to perform a service that could not be ignored, and his focus on the plight of the paupers created a controversy that most artists during his time could afford (Grew 204). The many sketches he made for this project is not readily encompassed by this study and many scholars are still building a repertoire of research into a man who turned a commercially paid venture into a social statement, which will provide students and teachers with questions still unanswered.

Agriculture and Wiley

Minerals can affect society in many ways for example; Surface mining destroys vegetation across large areas, increasing erosion. Open-pit mining uses huge quantities of water. Acid mine drainage is pollution caused when dissolved toxic materials wash from mines into nearby lakes and streams. Minerals is approximately 80 percent of mined ore consists of impurities that become wastes after processing. These wastes, called tailings, are usually left in giant piles on the ground or in ponds near the processing plants (Figure 12. 9). The tailings contain toxic materials such as cyanide, mercury, and sulfuric acid.Left exposed, they contaminate the air, soil, and water (Wiley, 2009). What is the difference between metallic and nonmetallic minerals? Provide two examples from each category and discuss their uses. Earth's minerals are elements which are typically compounds of elements and have precise chemical compositions. Sulfides are mineral compounds in which certain elements are combined chemically with sulfur, and oxides are mineral compounds in which elements are combined chemically with oxygen. Minerals are metallic or nonmetallic (Figure 12. 5).Metals are minerals such as iron, aluminum, and copper, which are malleable, lustrous, and good conductors of heat and electricity. Nonmetallic minerals, such as sand, stone, salt, and phosphates, lack these characteristics (Wiley, 2009). These valuable minerals are used for aircrafts, faucets, nails, wire, and alloy steel products. Mining How are minerals extracted from the Earth and processed? In extracting minerals first they need to decide which mining will be determined surface or subsurface mining will be used. Surface mining just means minerals extracted are close to the surface. Surface mining is muchless inexpensive and is more commonly used. Because even surface mineral deposits occur in rock layers beneath Earth's surface, the overlying soil and rock layers, called overburden, must first be removed, along with the vegetation growing in the soil. Then giant power shovels scoop out the minerals (Wiley, 2009). Processing minerals often uses a procedure known as smelting. Purified copper, tin, lead, iron, manganese, cobalt, or nickel smelting is done in a blast furnace. Figure 12. 7 shows a blast furnace used to smelt iron. The iron ore reacts with coke (modified coal) to form molten iron and carbon dioxide (Wiley, 2009).What are the different ways minerals can be mined? Provide a brief description of at least three types of mining. There are two kinds of surface mining, open-pit surface mining and strip mining. Iron, copper, stone, and gravel are usually extracted by open-pit surface mining, in which a giant hole, called a quarry, is dug in the ground to extract the minerals (Figure 12. 6A). In strip mining, a trench is dug to extract the minerals (Figure 12. 6B). Then a new trench is dug parallel to the old one, and the overburden from the new trench is put into the old one, creating a hil l of loose rock called a spoil bank (Wiley, 2009).What effect does extracting minerals have on the environment? Mining, particularly surface mining disturbs large areas of land. In the United States, functioning and abandoned metal and coal mines occupy an estimated 9 million hectares (22 million acres). Because mining destroys existing vegetation, this land is particularly prone to erosion, with wind erosion causing air pollution and water erosion polluting nearby waterways and damaging aquatic habitats (Wiley, 2010). Soil What is your definition of soil? What is soil composed of? Why is soil important to the environment?Soil is the uppermost layer of Earth's crust and supports terrestrial plants, animals, and microorganisms. Soil is formed from parent material—rock that is slowly fragmented into small particles by biological, chemical, and physical weathering processes. Soil is composed of mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air. Soil horizons are the horizontal l ayers into which many soils are organized, from the surface to the underlying parent material. Vast numbers and kinds of organisms, mainly microorganisms, inhabit soil and depend on it for shelter, food, and water.Plants anchor themselves in soil, and from it they receive essential minerals and water. Terrestrial plants could not survive without soil, and because we depend on plants for our food, humans could not exist without soil either (Wiley, 2013). What types of organisms are found in soil? Determine the relationship between soil and organisms. Soil organisms carry out nutrient cycling, the pathway of nutrient minerals or elements from the environment through organisms and back to the environment. What is soil erosion?How can soil become polluted? What effect does soil erosion and pollution have on the environment? Soil organisms provide ecosystem services such as maintaining soil fertility and preventing soil erosion. Water, wind, ice, and other agents cause soil erosion, the wearing away or removal of soil from the land. Soil erosion reduces fertility because essential minerals and organic matter are removed. Erosion causes sediments and pesticide and fertilizer residues to pollute nearby waterways ( Wiley, 2009). What is the purpose of soil reclamation?To undertake soil reclamation, erosion protection, Site restoration and reinstatement, taking into account natural processes, operational requirements and technical feasibility, to deliver post-construction land conditions as similar as possible to those prior to construction or as agreed with the relevant authorities and/or landowner (LMS, 2013). Forestry and Rangeland Resources and Management Strategies Differentiate between government-owned lands and public lands. Which government agencies are involved with government-owned lands? What is the purpose of government-owned lands?Private Citizens, corporations, and nonprofit organizations own about 55 percent of the land in the United States, and Native A merican tribes own about 3 percent. State and local governments own another 7 percent. The federal government owns the rest (about 35 percent). Government-owned land encompasses all types of ecosystems, from tundra to desert, and includes land that contains important resources such as minerals and fossil fuels, land that possesses historical or cultural significance, and land that provides critical biological habitat.Most federally owned land is in Alaska and 11 western states (Figure 13. 1). Federal land is managed primarily by four agencies, three in the U. S. Department of the Interior—the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the National Park Service (NPS)—and one in the Department of Agriculture—the U. S. Forest Service (USFS) (Table 13. 1) (Wiley, 2009). Why is the forest an important ecosystem? Forests, important ecosystems that provide many goods and services to support human society, occupy less than one-third of Ear th's total land area.Timber harvested from forests is used for fuel, construction materials, and paper products. Forests supply nuts, mushrooms, fruits, and medicines. Forests provide employment for millions of people worldwide and offer recreation and spiritual sustenance in an increasingly crowded world (Wiley, 2009). What is your definition of forest management? What is its purpose? Describe the concept of sustainable forestry. Management for timber production disrupts a forest's natural condition and alters its species composition and other characteristics.Specific varieties of commercially important trees are planted, and those trees not as commercially desirable are thinned out or removed. Traditional forest management often results in low-diversity forests. In recognition of the many ecosystem services performed by natural forests, a newer method of forest management, known as ecologically sustainable forest management, or simply sustainable forestry, is evolving. Sustainable forestry maintains a mix of forest trees, by age and species, rather than imposing a monoculture (Wiley, 2009).What effect does the harvesting of trees and deforestation have on forests and the environment? Is there a preferred method for harvesting trees? Explain. In seed tree cutting, almost all trees are harvested from an area; a scattering of desirable trees is left behind to provide seeds for the regeneration of the forest. Clear-cutting is harvesting timber by removing all trees from an area and then either allowing the area to reseed and regenerate itself naturally or planting the area with one or more specific varieties of trees. Timber companies prefer clear-cutting because it is the most cost-effective way to harvest trees.The preferred method of harvesting tree is tree cutting as oppose to the other 3 methods (Wiley, 2009). What is a rangeland? Describe rangeland degradation and desertification. What effect does degradation and desertification have on the environment? Ra ngelands are grasslands, in both temperate and tropical climates, that serve as important areas of food production for humans by providing fodder for livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (Figure 13. 8). Rangelands may be mined for minerals and energy resources, used for recreation, and preserved for biological habitat and for soil and water resources.The predominant vegetation of rangelands includes grasses, forbs (small plants other than grasses), and shrubs. Land degradation is a natural or human-induced process that decreases the future ability of the land to support crops or livestock. This progressive degradation, which induces unproductive desert-like conditions on formerly productive rangeland (or tropical dry forest), is desertification (Figure 13. 9). It reduces the agricultural productivity of economically valuable land, forces many organisms out, and threatens endangered species. Worldwide, desertification seems to be on the increase.The United Nations estimates tha t each year since the mid-1990s, 3,560 km2 (1,374 mi2)—an area about the size of Rhode Island—has turned into desert (Wiley, 2013). What is overgrazing? What effect does this have on rangelands? Overgrazing is the destruction of vegetation caused by too many grazing animals consuming the plants in a particular area, leaving them unable to recover. Overgrazing accelerates land degradation, which decreases the future ability of the land to support crops or livestock. Desertification is the degradation of once-fertile rangeland or tropical dry forest into nonproductive desert (Wiley, 2009).What strategies can be employed for the management and conservation of forests and rangelands? Endangered U. S. ecosystems include the south Florida landscape, southern Appalachian spruce-fir forests, and longleaf pine forests and savannas. Criteria used to evaluate whether an ecosystem is endangered and to what degree it is threatened include its history of land loss and degradation, i ts prospects for future loss or degradation, the area the ecosystem occupies, and the number of threatened and endangered species living in that ecosystem (Wiley, 2009). AgricultureWhat is the difference between industrialized agriculture and subsistence agriculture? Industrialized agriculture uses modern methods requiring large capital input and less land and labor than traditional methods. Subsistence agriculture requires labor and a large amount of land to produce enough food to feed a family. There are three types of subsistence agriculture. In slash-and-burn agriculture, small patches of tropical forests are cleared to plant crops. In nomadic herding, carried out on arid land, herders move livestock continually to find food for them.Intercropping involves growing a variety of plants simultaneously on the same field. What effect do these methods of agriculture have on the environment? Environmental problems caused by industrialized agriculture include air pollution from the use of fossil fuels and pesticides, water pollution from untreated animal wastes and agricultural chemicals, pesticide-contaminated foods and soils, and increased resistance of pests to pesticides. Land degradation decreases the future ability of the land to support crops or livestock.Clearing grasslands and forests and draining wetlands to grow crops have resulted in habitat fragmentation, the breakup of large areas of habitat into small, isolated patches (Wiley, 2013). What is one agricultural challenge, other than soil erosion, that society faces? Explain your answer. Prime farmland in the United States is being lost to urbanization and urban sprawl. Global declines in plant and animal varieties have led many countries to collect germ plasm, plant and animal material that may be used in breeding.Farmers and ranchers strive to increase yields in many ways, including by administering hormones and antibiotics to livestock (Wiley, 2013). How would you describe sustainable agriculture? Ho w does it affect the environment? In regards to agriculture, what are the advantages and disadvantages involved with genetic engineering? Sustainable agriculture uses methods that maintain soil productivity and a healthy ecological balance while minimizing long-term impacts.Genetic engineering, the manipulation of genes to produce a particular trait, can produce more nutritious crops or crop plants that are resistant to pests, diseases, or drought. Concerns about genetic engineering include unknown environmental effects (Wiley, 2009). References WILEY PLUS: Berg, L. R. , & Hager, M. C. (2009). Visualizing Environmental Science (2nd. ed. ). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. http://www. sakhalinenergy. ru/en/documents/45_Soil_Reclamation_and_Site_Reinstatement_E. pdf `University of Phoenix Material Environmental Resources Worksheet

10 Fascinating Animal Facts

10 Fascinating Animal Facts Our world is full of animals that are wondrous and amazing! These fascinating creatures have certain adaptations that may seem strange to us, but are necessary for the animal to survive. These adaptations may be defense mechanisms that help the animal to avoid predators or they may aid the animal in obtaining food for themselves. Below are ten fascinating facts about animals that may surprise you. Fascinating Animal Facts 10. Frogs have ear drums on the outside of their heads. While frogs dont have an external ear as humans do, they have an inner ear, middle ear, and an outer ear drum or tympanum. 9. Sea otters always float on their backs when they eat. These marine mammals dine on animals including mussels, sea urchins, clams, and snails, all while floating on their backs. Their extremely dense fur protects them from the cold waters as they eat. 8. Polar bears look white, but they actually have black skin. Unlike other bears, their fur is transparent and reflects visible light. This allows polar bears, which live in the arctic tundra, to blend in with their snow covered environment. 7. Snakes always keep their eyes open, even when they are asleep. Snakes cant close their eyes because they do not have eyelids. They do have eye scales which cover their eyes and shed when the snake sheds its skin. 6. Crickets have ears on their front legs. Located just below the knees, their ears are among the smallest in the animal kingdom. In addition to crickets, grasshoppers and locusts also have ears on their legs. 5. Aardvarks can hear and smell termites and ants. An aardvark uses its long tongue to reach deep into termite and ant mounds. These animals can eat tens of thousands of insects in a single night. 4. Cobras are able to kill with a bite as soon as they are born. Baby cobra venom is just as potent as an adult cobras venom. Their bite is dangerous because cobras can inject large amounts of venom in a single bite. Cobra venom contains a neurotoxin that affects the central nervous system and can lead to paralysis, respiratory system failure, and death. 3. Flamingos have knees that can bend backward. Well actually, what looks like knees are really its ankles and heels. A flamingos knees are located closer to its body and hidden under its feathers. 2. The pistol shrimp catches its prey by surprising it with a loud banging noise made with its claws. The sound is so loud that it stuns or even kills their prey. The sound made by pistol shrimp claws can be as loud as 210 decibels, which is louder than a gunshot. 1. Some species of Australian Flower Spiders eat their mother when food becomes limited. The mother spider sacrifices herself by encouraging her young babies to attack her, dissolve her insides, and feed on her body. Cannibalism is also seen in other spider species and most often observed in relation to sexual encounters. More Fascinating Animal Facts Common Animal Questions and AnswersWhy do zebras have stripes? Why do some tigers have white coats? Find answers to these and other commonly asked questions about animals. Why Some Animals Play DeadWhen faced with danger, some animals go into a catatonic state. They appear to be dead to the world. Discover why some animals play dead. 10 Amazing Bioluminescent OrganismsSome organisms have the ability to glow. The light emitted is due to a chemical reaction. Discover 10 amazing bioluminescent organisms. 7 Animals That Mimic LeavesSome animals camouflage themselves as leaves to avoid predators or catch prey. The next time you pick up a leaf, make sure it is not a leaf impostor. Amazing Animal SensesDiscover some amazing facts about animal senses.

Government In India, Today Essays - Parliament Of India, Free Essays

Government In India, Today Essays - Parliament Of India, Free Essays Government in India, Today India's present constitution went into effect on Jan. 26, 1950. At that time, the nation changed its status from a dominion to a federal republic, though it remained within the Commonwealth. A president, chosen by an Electoral College replaced the governor-general, appointed by the British Crown. The president is the official chief of state, but the office is largely ceremonial. In parliamentary government, the people in a country elect members of at least one house of the legislature (by any variety of means: proportional representation as in Israel, single member districts as in Britain). The party or coalition of parties (coalition means a group working together) whose members together form a majority (more than one-half) of the legislature form the government. This means that they select the Prime Minister (the leader of the government) as well as members of the Cabinet (the PM and the Cabinet are known collectively as the government; the parties not in power form the loyal opposition). A key aspect of the parliamentary system is that the executive (the Prime Minister and the Cabinet) is elected by the legislature. This contrasts with our own system with its separation of powers. In the US, the president (leader of the executive branch) and Congress (the legislature) are elected separately by the people. The Lower House of the legislature is called the Lok Sabha. Currently, up to a week or two ago, the Congress Party held a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha, so its leader was the Prime Minister of India. The other house of the legislature is the Rajya Sabha and like the English House of Lords it has less power than the Lower House. The other parties in the Lok Sabha form the opposition. These parties include: the Bharatiya Janata Party (a Hindu nationalist party), Janata Dal as well as a whole host of regional parties. Parliamentary government is distinguished from presidential government by the following: - Voters only vote for a legislature; - The legislature then selects the executive from the party or coalition of parties that have the confidence of a majority of the legislature; - The executive will then govern until it finishes its fix term (I believe India it is 5 years), OR until it loses in a vote of confidence in the legislature, usually or some important legislation. Laws are enacted by a Parliament consisting of two chambersthe popularly elected Lok Sabha, or House of the People, with not more than 545 members and the Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, with not more than 250 indirectly elected members. The Prime Minister is elected by the majority party or coalition in Parliament and then formally appointed by the president. The appointed Council of Ministers, or cabinet, under the leadership of the Prime Minister exercises executive power. Elections to the Lok Sabha are held at least every five years; if there is a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister's government, the president must call for new elections. The Supreme Court decides on the constitutionality of federal laws, handles disputes between the central government and the states or between the states themselves, and judges' appeals from lower courts. The federal constitution includes a lengthy list of fundamental rights. It guarantees freedom of speech and religion, among many other rights, and abolishes untouchability. It also specifies a set of Directive Principles of State Policy, designed to guide the government in the interests of the people. In periods of national emergency, which only the president can declare, the government may legally suspend certain rights for a limited period. Such an emergency was in force in India from June 1975 to March 1977. In foreign affairs India tried to maintain a policy of nonalignment in the political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It supported independence movements in areas subject to colonial rule, opposed racism in South Africa and elsewhere, and championed the nations of the Third World in their economic dealings with the affluent countries of Europe, North America, and Japan. India has played a prominent role in the United Nations and in many of its specialized agencies. India consists of 25 states and seven union territories. The governments of the states are

Mathematical Analysis of Stress on Different Types of Teeth Research Paper

Mathematical Analysis of Stress on Different Types of Teeth - Research Paper Example I gained leadership, self-initiative and cooperative skills mainly from my work, volunteer experiences and several group projects I have implemented in different courses. Many people think that leaders are the ones who lead the rest of the group but my definition of leadership is slightly different from the conventional view. Donald McGannon, a prominent broadcast industry executive, states that â€Å"leadership is action, not position.†   I believe that true leadership comes from engaging every group member in decision making process and receiving the best outcome through communication and cooperation with others.  I gained leadership, self-initiative and cooperative skills mainly from my work, volunteer experiences and several group projects I have implemented in different courses. Many people think that leaders are the ones who lead the rest of the group but my definition of leadership is slightly different from the conventional view. Donald McGannon, a prominent broadc ast industry executive, states that â€Å"leadership is action, not position.†   I believe that true leadership comes from engaging every group member in decision making process and receiving the best outcome through communication and cooperation with others.  2. It is undoubtedly to say that we have made great advances in dental procedures and technology through the research during last fifty years. However, the public’s attitude toward dentistry has not been changed with those advances.

Explore and analyse new Labours approach to Neighbourhood regeneration Essay

Explore and analyse new Labours approach to Neighbourhood regeneration - Essay Example ur government came up with initiatives for neighbourhood regeneration which involved cooperation between the government and the residents in the regeneration of their neighbourhoods as opposed to adopting a course where the government had complete control (Burns, et al, 2002). In this manner, the Labour government worked towards the adoption of practices related to managerialism and civil participation in a manner which ensured that its ideology concerning regeneration was put in place in a manner which was as efficient as possible. Thus, the government, working in some form of partnership with the private sector and residents, worked towards the development of plans and implementation of these plans in neighbourhoods in a bid to ensure their regeneration according to the desired standards. For the first time in history, the Labour government came to recognize the need to involve residents in the development of their neighbourhoods and in order to develop this partnership; the govern ment took steps to ensure the formulation of policies favouring it (Abbott, 1996). It is for this reason that a short time after coming to power, the New Labour government announced a Compact between it and the public to ensure that the latter was constantly involved in the making of any public policy agenda. This was the first step that this government took to ensure that the public was involved in these agendas and the policy would continue to grow in strength throughout the following decade. The result of the Labour stand towards public inclusion in policy making created a situation where the latter was involved in almost every aspect of the provision of public services to local communities and this included the provision of housing, social services, as well as the regeneration of neighbourhoods (Beider, 2007). Because of this cooperation, the government came to establish the Office of the Third Sector in 2006 whose main purpose was to consult the public concerning how best the