Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Gangs and the Music industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gangs and the Music industry - Essay Example Today’s youths are like sponges soaking anything up which is given to them. The music industry has the greatest impact to today’s youth which gives it the most influential power, but sad to say the message being put out is not uplifting or promoting growth so that young people can better themselves. Instead, it puts out a message that it is okay to have multiple sex partners, to be part of a gang, and even use drugs every now and then. Music for a long time has been used to relay messages regarding sex and it is important to note that with time the sexual content and extent of explicitness has been getting worse decade after another. In the early to mid 20th century and before, music was quite conservative and sexual contents were rather to be deduced rather than explicitly expressed as the case is today. Today’s music is apparently changing the fundamental nature of sex to something that is causal and a form of expressing someone’s freedom rather than something with commitment for a relationship that is monogamous by nature. Today’s music and in this case rap and hip hop is bringing to the fore the idea that society is now liberal and all are free to act as they please. This kind of music has lyrics as well as videos that are clearly showing sex as an act of freedom and maturity. Martino, et al. (2006) says that there is increasing explicit use of sex on the songs’ lyrics and their mus ic videos as an expression of pleasure, empowerment, and freedom. The youth with their peer pressure attitudes take these messages as literally as possible ending up having sexual relations quite early in their life. â€Å"Fifty-one percent of teens who listened to music laced with sexual debauchery ended up engaging in sexual activity, compared to just 29 percent of those who listened to little or none of the same types of music† (Wallace, 2010, p. 2). A study reveals that 15% of music videos illustrate or feature violent

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Determining the Success of a Project

Determining the Success of a Project Success has always been the ultimate goal of every type of project. Many specialists in the field have performed extensive researches in an attempt to try and define what projects success is. Judging the success of a project is rather an elusive concept since most projects we hear may be a failure to one set of stakeholders while others may consider it to be a success. This article makes an attempt to define success in projects based on the work of experts in this field of study. Introduction A project can be defined as a unique venture with a beginning and an end conducted by people to meet established goals within a parameter of cost reduced and quality increased (Field Keller, P.2). furthermore a project has the following characteristics such as specific objectives, required resources, have a budget and schedule, and requires effort of community, measures quality and finally functions within a life cycle. On the contrary, project management can be defined as the way of controlling the success of the project objectives, by the use of existing managerial structure and capital to manage the project by linking a compilation of tools and skill without interrupting the regular function of a company. The word success is a fascinating word as its is known universally and is broad in character; defining it is not easy, because if asked from different individuals its meaning would change according their perceptions. Project success can be considered as one of the indistinct concepts of project management. Since each stakeholder of a project has different needs and expectations, it is common to anticipate them defining project success in their own way of understanding (Cleland Ireland, 2004, p2). The Sydney Opera House project is a typical example of how different stakeholders have different perspectives of a project. The Opera house (Thomsett, 2002) took 4 times more of the original time to finish and its cost went 16 times over budget. But the final impact the Opera House created was so immense it simply made people overlook the projects original unmet goals. The project was a huge hit for the general public even though it was considered as a failure in the view of project management. On the contrary, the construction of the Millennium Dome in London was a project that was completed on time and on budget but the British public considered it a failure because it didnt deliver the glamour that it was originally expected to make (Cammack, 2005). Since there is widespread variance of opinions in the study of success in projects, many learned writers seem to have given diverse views on this topic based on extensive research and surveys. Their works differentiate among project success, project success criteria and project success factors. Project success Jugdev and Muller (2005) in their article pointed out that in order to identify what success means in a project framework is like obtaining consensus from a group of individuals on the explanation of Good Art. Project success is a subject matter that is commonly talked about and yet very hardly settled upon (Baccarini, 1999). Commonly, the attitudes on project success have developed gradually over the years from simple explanations that were restricted to the implementation phase of the project life cycle to explanations that reflect gratitude of success over the whole project and product life cycle (Jugdev and Muller, 2005). Cleland (1986) suggested that project success is significant only if measured from two vantage points: the extent to which the projects technical performance objective was accomplished on time and within budget; the contribution that the project made to the strategic mission of the organization. According to Pinto Slevin (1988) in their research after sampling over 650 project managers concluded that, Project Success is something difficult than just meeting cost, time, and performance specifications. As a matter of fact, clients contentment with the final result has a great deal to do with the perceived success or collapse of projects. Baccarini (1999) discovered two different components of project success: Project Management Success This concentrates upon the project process and specially the successful achievement of cost, time, and quality. Also the way in which the project management process was performed will be considered. Product Success This deals with the effects of the projects final product. A clear difference should be made between product success and project management success, in order to properly identify and evaluate project management success and product success, as they are differ from each other. According to Baccarini (1999), Project success can be summarized as Project success = project management success + project product success With this definition in mind, it is also important to comprehend what measures enable us to judge whether a project is successful or not. These measures are termed as Project success criteria. Project success criteria Crawfords (2002) view is that project success is an important project management issue and also in discussions, a frequently discussed topic is, it is difficult to find an agreement on the criteria by which success is judged. (Pinto and Slevin 1988; Freeman and Beale 1992; Shenhar, Levy, and Dvir 1997; Baccarini 1999). A study of literature also reveals that a greater level of agreement with the definitions given by Baker, Murphy and Fisher (1988) that project success is a subject of perception and it is considered to be an overall success if the project meets requirements such as technical performance specifications, mission to be performed. It also needs a high degree of satisfaction about the project results among the key people of the project team and the key users of the project effort The renowned and famous criteria to measure project success have been known as Golden Triangle or Iron Triangle. Hence Cost, time and qulity is referd to as the central criteria of the Golden Triangle (Atkinson, 1999, p338). Atkinson continues that this method of measuring project success have not been changed or developed in almost fifty years (1999, p338). According to Stuckenbruck (1986), assessment on project success should be done by different stakeholder groups such as customers, managers, employees, stockholders, etc. Thus it was proposed that the criteria for assessing project success should reflect different stakeholder views. Freeman and Beale (1992) presented an appealing example of different perceptions of people. According to their study: An architect may consider success in terms of aesthetic appearance, an engineer in terms of technical competence, an accountant in terms of dollars spent under budget, a human resources manager in terms of employee satisfaction, and chief executive officers rate their success in the stock market. In their study Freeman and Beale (1992) identified and proposed seven main criteria for measuring success of projects. Technical performance Efficiency in project execution Managerial and organizational implications Personal growth Project conclusion Technical innovativeness and business performance Manufacturing feasibility Wideman (1996, p3-4) believes that project success is time dependant and therefore it should be assessed with time taken into consideration. The reason behind time dependency is based on the fact that project success varies with time. Wideman(1996) illustrated four time dependant groups as mentioned below. Internal project objectives efficiency during the project Benefit to customer effectiveness in the short term Direct contribution assessed in the medium term Future opportunity assessed in the long term Shenhar, Dvir and Levy(1997) constructed a universal multidimensional framework that would help in assessing project success. In their methodology, project success is perceived as a strategic management concept where the end result of the project would fit with the strategic direction of a company whom the end result of the project is originally intended to serve. Their study also revealed that project success is time dependant and thus they identified four groups and translated them into measurable criteria. Internal Project Efficiency (Pre-completion) Meeting schedule Completing within budget Other resource constraints met Impact of the Customer (Short term) Meeting functional performance Meeting technical specifications standards Favorable impact on customer, customers gain Fulfilling customers needs Solving customers problem Customer is using product Customer expresses satisfaction Business and Direct Success (Medium term) Immediate business/commercial recognition Immediate revenue profits enhanced Larger market share generated Preparing for the Future (Long term) Will create new opportunities for the future Will position customer competitively Will create new market Will assist in developing new technology Will add/has added capabilities competencies Project success factors As defined by Cooke-Davies Success factors are those inputs to the management system that lead directly or indirectly to the success of the project or business (Cooke-Davies, 2002, p185). In practice, some project managers instinctively determine their own project success factors. However, most of these factors are not clearly documented, thus are not considered to become a part of formal project management literature or historical project data (Rad Levin, 2002, p18). From the 1980s to 2000 many researchers have attempted to identify success factors for projects. Kerzner (1987), Pinto and Slevin (1987-1989), (Sadeh, Dvir, Shenhar, 2000), Cooke Davis (2002) and Muller and Turner (2005) are among the top researchers who have conducted extensive researches in this area of study. The table below (Table 1) points out critical success factors that were identified by specialists, and were later reviewed and tabulated by Belassi and Tukel (1996). Baker, Murphy and Fisher (1983) Clear goals Goal commitment of project team On-site project manager Adequate funding to completion Adequate project team capability Accurate initial cost estimates Minimum start-up difficulties Planning and control techniques Absence of bureaucracy Lock (1984) Make project commitments known Project authority from the top Appoint competent project manager Set up communications and procedures Set up control mechanisms (schedules, etc.) Progress meetings Cleland and King (1983) Project summary Operational concept Top management support Financial support Logistic requirements Facility support Market intelligence (who is the client) Project schedule Executive development and training Manpower and organization Information and communication channels Project review Pinto and Slevin (1989) Top management support Client consultation Personnel recruitment Technical tasks Client acceptance Monitoring and feedback Communication Trouble-shooting Characteristics of the project team leader Power and politics Environment events Urgency Table 1 Critical success factors tabulated by Belassi and Tukel (1996). Belassi and Tukel (1996) in their study, analyzed the above mentioned success factors and grouped them into four areas. Factors related to the project Factors related to the project managers and the team members Factors related to the organization Factors related to the external environment. It is evident that whatever critical success factors that are known, can be grouped under these four areas identified by Belassi and Tukel (1996). Dvir, Raz, Shenhar (2003) conducted a survey among 100 Israeli defense projects, and their findings pointed out a noteworthy positive connection between the projects success and each of the factors listed below. The amount of effort spent in defining and identifying the goals of the project The functional requirements Technical specifications of the project According to Verma (1995, 1996) communication, leadership and teamwork are essential for efficient management of project human resources and are vital to achieve project objectives successfully. Murray, J.P. (2001) identified nine factors that could drive an IT project into success or failure. Proper senior management commitment to the project Ample amount of project financial support A well defined set of project requirements and specifications Cautious development of a all-inclusive project plan that incorporates enough time and flexibility to foresee and deal with unanticipated difficulties as they arise A proper commitment of time and attention from the client, combined with a enthusiasm to see it through to the end Frank, accurate reporting of the status of the project and of potential complexities as they arise A critical assessment of the risks inherent in the project, and potential harm associated with those risks, and the ability of the project team to manage those risks The development of appropriate contingency plans An objective evaluation of the capability and enthusiasm of the organization to stay on the project course Turner MÃ ¼ller (2004, 2005) conducted studies on the impact of project manager and his/her involvement and leadership style on project success. Turner MÃ ¼ller (2005) believe that past literature on the subject of Project success factors, have ignored the impact of a project manager on project success. However, Turner and Muller (2005, p59) has rather given a contradictive conclusion that the leadership style and competence of the project manager have no impact on project success. In concern to project management, project success also relies on the capability to systematize, coordinate, and support a diverse group functioning towards a common target. Project success factors may differ depending on the type of project. Thus it is important to have a clear idea on what factors drives each type of project toward success. This would enable the project stakeholders to accomplish what they perceive as success. Conclusion In the past it was believed that if a projects completion time exceeds its due date, or expenses overran the budget, or its results did not satisfy a companys preset performance criteria, the project was considered to be a failure. At present it is understood that determining whether a project is a success or failure is far more complex. It is important for a project manager to be aware of what the stakeholders consider as a successful project. In order to avoid any surprises at the end of the project, it is important to identify the different perspectives of what success means before the project begins. It is generally agreed that schedule and budget performance may be considered as insufficient measures of project success however they are still important components of the overall constructs. Quality is interconnected with issues of achievement of functional objectives, specifications and issues of technical performance. It is also understood that a projects success varies with time and varies in the eye of various project stakeholders. Thus, a criteria used to assess project success should be time dependent and should be using multiple perspectives of stakeholders. However, future studies may reveal other successful means of success criteria. As for success factors, they can be generally grouped into four distinct sets. General management literature shows how effective leadership is a success factor in organizations, and has revealed that a proper leadership style can lead to better performance. However studies on leadership in project context are contradicting with this perception. A common factor pointed out by many authors is that senior management support is one of the most important factors that can drive projects toward success or failure. Success factors may vary depending on the project type. In conclusion, early classification of success criteria can ensure a definite view of how the project will be judged and early detection of success factors will assure a safe path to deliver success.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Professional Athletes who Cheat in Sports Essay -- steroids, asca, bal

Professional athletes are role models to the American children across the Nation. Professional athletes must follow ethical standards to play fairly in their sport. This means that players must compete without the assistance of performance enhancing drugs such as steroids (Tynes, 2006). Yet, professional athletes choose to cheat by taking illegal substances, which results in the death of some players and a wide variety of health problems. The Federal Government realized that the use of anabolic steroids is a form of cheating and defrauds the players and fans of â€Å"real† competition. As a result, for the concern of the athletes’ health and concern for the ethical standards of the game played, the Anabolic Steroid Act of 1990 (ASCA) was enacted (Tynes, 2006). The ASCA was passed to help the growing concerns of the wide spread of harmful substances that could cause long- term effects (Tynes, 2006). The ASCA made it illegal to take an unapproved substance while playing a professional sport. This research paper will examine professional athletes who participated in the major leagues and Olympic Games who used steroids to defraud the Major Leagues Business and Olympic Associations to gain fame and fortune. The paper will examine the BALCO scandal (CNN.com, 2014), where many professional athletes admitted to taking steroids to improve physical sports performance. The BALCO scandal "outs" players from the American National sports leagues to Olympic competitive sports. A cover up of drug use led to not just a few but many players who chose to use steroids to improve their game. The case went to the courts and left many players to tell the ugly truth about other professional players. In some cases, the players denied responsibility and ... ...BILITY OF THE LEAGUES?. Marquette Sports Law Review, 17(2), 651-678. Thompson, T. (2007) Giambi admits he took steroids. DailyNews. New York. Tynes, J. (2006) Performance Enhancing Substances: Effects, Regulations,and the Pervasive Efforts to Control Doping in Major Leagues. Journal of Legal Medicine. 27:493-509. Unknown Author (2014) Barry Bonds convicted of obstruction of justice in performance-enhancing-drugs case. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. USAToday (2007) BALCO Investigation Timeline. USA TODAY SPORTS ONLINE NEWSPAPER. Retrieved from: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/balco-timeline.htm USAToday (2007) Mitchell Report Timeline. USA TODAY SPORTS ONLINE NEWSPAPER. Retrieved from: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-12-13-mitchell-report-timeline_N.htm Wikipedia (2014) BALCO Scandal. Retrieved from Wikipedia.com on March 14, 2014.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

English essay Journeys

English essay Journeys BY Iodides Journey is a concept of people's imagination including their use of inner thinking and physical act. Journey present new challenges to characters. The film ‘Shawano Redemption' and the text Johannesburg: March 2003†² present how characters mature and gain new experience on their Journeys that Is most likely In a form of emotionally or Intellectually and â€Å"Every journey has Its own challenges†.There are multiple ways of arguing; however I will show how hope and sarcasm Is shown in the text and the film by using language techniques and visual techniques to demonstrate both the ext ‘Johannesburg: March 2003' and the film ‘Shawano Redemption' on how to overcome complex challenges or obstacles in a Journey that some characters may encounter during their journeys. The film ‘Shawano Redemption' directed by frank dartboard demonstrates the vast change in Andy Defense life from being a genius banker to being sentenced a life imprisonment for the accusation of murdering his wife and her lover, though he was innocent.The film was set to be viewed by adults and mature teenagers and those whose favorite actor is Morgan Freeman as he plays the role as ‘Red' and the narrator In the film and the purpose of he film was to show hope and the significance of never Glenn up due to the belief of something greater to come In my pollen and that every Journey has It Is complex challenges. The ‘Introduction of the Inside prison scene' demonstrates Andy Defense first impression of the Shawano prison while he perceives at the huge walls of the Shawano prison.Frank Dartboard uses medium shot followed by a low angle camera shot. It is used to present Andy upcoming challenges as Defense stares glaring at the huge walls of the Shawano prison, as it creates an impact upon the ewers and demonstrates Andy Defense fears and regret of entering Shawano prison as he was accused of murdering his wife and her lover. Another visual technique the director uses is a close up shot when Andy Is in the process of escaping the Shawano prison.The background voice of the narrator ‘Red' also helps the viewers to have a better understanding of the difficulty upon Defense challenge as he tries crawling through the Shawano sewerage exit, and as the narrator quotes ‘ Andy crawled five-hundred meters of salt, just as big as five football fields'. This shows End's dedication to escape Shawano prison and live as a Riemann once again. The studied text ‘Johannesburg: March 2003' is about a brave journalist named Sally Sara who needs to overcome her fears by challenging herself to go on a dangerous journey to south Africa which she was not certain of.The main reason why must she commit to this challenge is so that she doesn't lose her Job as a successful Journalist and thus she became an Abs's Africa correspondent. Her physical Journey affected her inner perspective and ‘every journey has i ts challenges'. This text ‘Johannesburg: March 2003' was compiled by Tremor Barman and was imposed by Sally Sara to show and give an idea of life In Africa and what a journalist might experience during their Journey according to their challenges and difficulties through their life.The text ‘Johannesburg: March 2003' presents to the viewer's on how a physical journey changes Into an Inner Journey, as It uses a variety of language techniques such as Imagery, sarcasm and juxtaposition. I will show how ‘Cloud and smoke in golden light'. Another significant technique Sally Sara uses is sarcasm as it is presented when the plane descends as Sally Sara Sarcastically totes Welcome to Africa' to show the audience that her Journey will be difficult and an unpleasant Journey faced with many encounters.Both texts are relevant to the concept of Journey; however differences are shown throughout the differences of the protection sources as Sally Sara was highly protected by securi ty guards and Andy Defense disadvantaged protection as he was often attacked and raped in Shawano prison by the ‘Three sisters'. While similarities are also depicted or shown as Andy Defense and Sally Sara had a negative perspective of their Journey as they both receives a sarcastic welcome in the beginning of their Journey.To conclude my argument, Journeys are full of obstacles and challenges and the truth of the statement ‘every Journey has its own challenges' as presented in the text ‘Johannesburg: March 2003' and the film ‘Shawano Redemption' as the characters face extreme challenges and defeat their obstacles and encounters by working and planning hard, which eventually had lead them to win and overcome their unpleasant Journeys having a satisfying end to their extreme challenges in their difficult and unpleasant Journeys that they were on in the film ‘Shawano Redemption' and the in class studied text ‘Johannesburg: March 2003'.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Are genetically modified foods safe to eat? Essay

Nowadays, genetically modified crops are planted worldwide. According to Human Genome Project, over 10 million farmers in 22 countries are planting genetically modified crops on the fields. The total acreage has reached a quarter billion (2011). Apparently, genetically modified foods have prominent benefits so that more and more people are planting them and eating them. Genetically modified plants are able to resist pests and certain kinds of diseases as well as tolerant cold and drought because scientists move specific foreign genes into the plants. Therefore, world crop productivity increaseds by 25 percent by planting genetically modified crops. Specifically, Iin United States, after the crops were genetically modified, six kinds of crops were able to produce 4 billion pounds more compared to the past than before without having to increaseing any acreage for planting (Deal & Baird, 2003). As the problem of food insufficiency is getting increasingly more and more serious, the appearance of genetically modified foods may successfully alleviate this crisis. Besides, scientists are able to add more some nutrition in genetically modified foods. According to Lerner, genetically modified foods contain more and more nutrition. For example, Sseveral healthy fatty acids are added in canola oil. DHA omega-3, which is beneficial to cardiovascular health, is in genetically modified foods as well (2009). This article will prove that genetically modified foods are safe enough to eat in three different kinds of approaches: logic approach, science evidences approach, and reality evidences approach. First, logically speaking, genetic modification technique is an improvement in the real world, and any applications of new techniques needs a process from immaturitye to maturitye. For example, the development of the airplane went through a lot of difficulty. An aviator Thomas E. Selfridge died because of the airplane crash accident in 1908. Things also happened to spaceships. On January 28, 1986, the Challenger exploded and killed all of the seven astronauts in it. After these tragedies happened, no one said we should stop developing airplanes or spaceships. Genetic modification technique is as mature as airplane technique that has gone through one hundred years of modification ago and more mature than the thirty years old or spaceship developmenttechnique thirty years ago. Theis genetic modification technique is even safer because no devastating event has happened yet. Now that we accept astronauts getting into spaceships which are not one hundred percent safe, we can accept genetically modified foods which seem to be safe for now. In addition, the plants that exist in nature are not all good. Our ancestors tried and selected things that are edible to human can eat as foods, and planted the crops which produced foods. Farmers use cross breeding technology in order to get more productive crops. That is how seedless watermelons are created. According to the high school biology textbook, first, give a normal watermelon seedling colchicine, which is a chemical. The normal watermelon plant will become a tetraploid watermelon plant, which doubles its chromosome and has four sets of chromosomes. Then cross breed the tetraploid and a normal one. Their offspring is a triploid, which has three sets of chromosomes and the watermelon results in being seedlessdoes not have seeds. Genetic modification is just a more advanced technology to create productive crops that also provide convenience. It means iIf people accept seedless watermelon, people can accept genetically modified foods. The second approach is scientific evidence approach. Ggenetically modified foods are the foods that have added by a foreign genes or genes on purpose. Scientists add those foreign genes into the original plants to make them have some good traits including disease resistance, pest resistance, cold tolerance and drought tolerance. However, these changes do not make any difference in their essence as foods. According to University of Guelph website, the concept of, substantial equivalence, means one kind of food can be seen as the other kind of food. After several tests, genetically modified foods are said to be substantial equivalent, meaning that genetically modified foods is the same as other regular foods when used as human foods (2013). Before a genetically modified food can get access to supermarkets, it must pass a whole bunch of tests. These tests involve protein level tests, which test whether the genes of the genetically modified plants can express any harmful protein, and individual level tests, which test whether animals perform normally after eating this genetically modified food. Also, scientists analyze DNA to detect whether the new added DNA sequence will cause any unintended effect (Kuiper, et al. 2001). Only if the genetically modified food has none of these problems, customers can find it in supermarkets. Maybe it sounds simple, but in fact, it is very complicated in practice. Take vivo testing as an example. Right before a genetically modified food comes into supermarkets, it has to pass vivo testing. First, they use mice to do animal tests for ninety days. If the tests show this genetically modified food can use as human food. Then they do the next several stages of tests. They use more and more human volunteers to do the tests for longer and longer time. If any experiments fail, this food will never be human food (Fagan). Even if it passes all the tests, for some cases, it takes as long as ten years for it to be able to come into supermarkets. Last but not least, in reality, no evidence supports the point of view that genetically modified foods are harmful for human beings. People on the opposite side use failures of some laboratory experiments as arguments. However, those failed experiments are proved to be under questioning conditions. People who conduct the experiments forced the rats to eat only one kind of genetically modified food for several days (Deal & Baird, 2003). Under this condition, those rats turning out unhealthy or died cannot prove anything. Some genetically modified foods do cause allergy reaction, though. Transgenic soybeans, which contain the genes from an allergenic food, Brazil nut, cause allergy reactions. This event arouses heated discussion in public. However, the discussion is about whether producers should label genetically modified foods, but not whether genetically modified foods are safe or not. Still, America and Europe have forbidden using the gene from Brazil nut as a foreign gene in genetically modified foods. More over, United Nation agencies are keeping their eyes on these typetypes of events. Once they realize risks of allergies exist, they document the risks and notify the public to be careful (Food allergy 2001). This case shows that if any problem occurs, it is fixable. Therefore, the genetically modified foods that people can buy in the supermarkets are safe to eat. To sum up, genetically modified foods are safe to eat in all of the logical sense, scientific sense, and reality sense. Genetically modified foods are the results of advanced biology technology. Scientific evidences prove that the modified foods are safe to eat make sure of their safety.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Environmental Concerns About Neonicotinoid Pesticides

Environmental Concerns About Neonicotinoid Pesticides What Are Neonicotinoids? Neonicotinoids, neonics for short, are a class of synthetic pesticides used to prevent insect damage on a variety of crops. Their name comes from the similarity of their chemical structure to that of nicotine. Neonics were first marketed in the 1990s, and are now used widely on farms and for home landscaping and gardening. These insecticides are sold under a variety of commercial brand names, but they are generally one of the following chemicals: imidacloprid (the most common), dinotefuran, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid. How Do Neonicotinoids Work? Neonics are neuro-active, as they bind to specific receptors in the insects’ neurons, impeding nerve impulses, and leading to paralysis then death. The pesticides are sprayed on crops, turf, and fruit trees. They are also used to coat seeds before they are planted. When the seeds sprout, the plant carries the chemical on its leaves, stems, and roots, protecting them from pest insects. Neonics are relatively stable, persisting in the environment for a long time, with sunlight degrading them comparatively slowly. The initial appeal of neonicotinoid pesticides was their effectiveness and perceived selectivity. They target insects, with what was thought to be little direct harm to mammals or birds, a desirable trait in a pesticide and a significant improvement over older pesticides which were dangerous for wildlife and people. In the field, reality proved to be more complex. What Are Some Environmental Effects of Neonicotinoids? Neonics disperse easily in the environment. Liquid applications can lead to runoff, planting treated seeds blows the chemicals in the air. Their persistence and stability, an advantage in fighting pests, makes neonics last a long time in soil and water.Pollinators like bees and bumblebees come in contact with the pesticides when they consume nectar and collect pollen from treated plants. Neonic residues are sometimes found inside hives, inadvertently tracked in by bees. The pesticides’ indiscriminate effects on insects make the pollinators collateral victims.Neonics may affect pollinators effectiveness. A 2016 study revealed that bumblebees exposed to thiamethoxam were less effective at pollinating certain plants compared to control bumblebees.Domestic honeybees are already highly stressed by parasites and diseases, and their sudden recent decline has been a great cause for concern. Neonicotinoids are probably not directly responsible for Colony Collapse Disorder, but there is increasing evidence that they play a part as an additional, toxic stressor to bee colonies. Wild bees and bumblebees have long been in decline due to habitat loss. Neonics are toxic to them, and there are real concerns that the wild populations suffer from this pesticide exposure. Much of the research on the effects of neonics on bees has been done on domestic bees, and more work is needed on wild bees and bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating both wild and domestic plants.Neonics are perhaps less toxic to birds than the older generation of pesticides they replaced. However, it appears that the new chemicals’ toxicity to birds has been underestimated. For many bird species, chronic exposure to neonics leads to reproductive impacts. The situation is worst for birds feeding directly on coated seeds: the ingestion of a single coated corn kernel can kill a bird. Infrequent ingestion can cause reproductive failure.Birds that are not seed-eaters are also affected. There is evidence that insectivorous bird populations are experiencing significant declines due to the effectiveness of neonicotinoid pesticides on a wide range of invertebrates. With their food sources thus reduced, the survival and reproduction of insect-eating birds is affected. The same pattern is observed in aquatic environments, where pesticide residues accumulate, invertebrates die off, and aquatic bird populations decline. Neonicotinoid pesticides have been approved by the EPA for many agricultural and residential uses, despite serious concerns from its own scientists. One potential reason for this was the strong desire to find replacements for the dangerous organophosphate pesticides used at the time. In 2013, the European Union banned the use of many neonics for a specific list of applications.   Ã‚   Sources American Bird Conservancy. The Impact of the Nation’s Most Widely Used Insecticides on Birds. Farmers Weekly. Study Suggests Neonics Impair Bees Buzz Polination. Nature. Bees Prefer Foods Containing Neonicotinoid Pesticides. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Are Neonicotinoids Killing Bees?

Monday, October 21, 2019

How Shakespeare portrays Romeo and Juliet in Act 2 Scene 2 Essay Example

How Shakespeare portrays Romeo and Juliet in Act 2 Scene 2 Essay Example How Shakespeare portrays Romeo and Juliet in Act 2 Scene 2 Paper How Shakespeare portrays Romeo and Juliet in Act 2 Scene 2 Paper Essay Topic: Romeo and Juliet Act 2 Scene 2 is a particularly famous scene in William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet. Often called the balcony scene, it is where the two lovers first meet to proclaim their love for each other. The balcony scene takes place after the ball in the Capulet Mansion, in Juliet’s orchard. The characters are presented in an unusual way, illustrating many recurring themes of identity, life and death, nature and love. The thoughts and feelings of Romeo and Juliet are conveyed through metaphors, enriching the reading or performance of the play. The actions and responses of others emphasize the division that is supposed to be between Romeo and Juliet and what makes it so moving is that we, the audience, knows what this division will bring about at the end of the play. The film by Baz Luhrmann of Romeo and Juliet enhances the visual experience and brings to life the metaphors used in a way that Shakespeare would have never been able to show visually. Shakespeare’s play contrasts with the societal views and expectations of young people and goes against the social norms expected in Elizabethan times. At the start of Act 2 Scene 2 Romeo, in a monologue, reveals his love and desire for Juliet as she appears at a window above him oblivious that Romeo is just beneath. The use of celestial imagery and mythological references are common throughout the play to present and convey the feeling and views that one has of another. It was common for past cultures to explain the celestial objects with myths as there was very little understanding about them. ‘It is the east and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art more fair than she: Be not her maid since she is envious; Her vestal livery is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.’ In this passage Romeo’s language is an example that is rich in celestial imagery and mythological references. Romeo uses a metaphor to convey his emotions about her, saying ‘Juliet is the sun’. The sun connotes light, radiance, warmth and power. Through his metaphor he attributes these connotations to her. Romeo uses an imperative, arise, as he wishes her to arise and lean out of the window so he can see her or maybe so she can see him. In the metaphorical context of arising to kill to the moon, the verb ‘arise’ signifies the rising of the sun in the morning. The sun, Juliet, will outshine the moon so therefore ‘kill the moon’. The ‘envious moon’ is a mythological reference; referring to Diana the virgin Roman goddess of hunting, women and the moon. Romeo uses an intricate conceit to express a simple desire of taking Juliet’s virginity. He begins by saying that Diana is jealous of, Juliet, her maid’s beauty and radiance, as a result of this Diana is ‘sick and pale’ in comparison with Juliet. Juliet is a maid of Diana as Diana is the patron of virgins so all virgins remain Diana’s maid until they have lost their virginity. Romeo then begs for Juliet to be Diana’s maid no longer for the virginal uniform, ‘vestal livery’, is a sickly green, and not to cast it off, therefore lose her virginity, would be foolish. In the film by Baz Luhrmann the metaphors used by Romeo are visually displayed in a magical way. Fairy lights are laid out across the walls of the Capulet Mansion, effectively bringing the stars in the sky down to earth to dramatically show the comparison between Juliet’s brilliant radiance and their own dim light. Romeo not only uses celestial imagery and mythological references to present Juliet as the most beautiful girl he has ever laid his eyes upon but also religious is used to convey this. ‘O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art As glorious to this night, being o’er my head As a winged messenger of heaven’ Here, Romeo refers to Juliet as a ‘bright angel’, alluding to the fact that she is so beautiful she supersedes any mortal beauty. This also indicates that Juliet’s beauty is so unreal in Romeo’s eyes that she can’t be from this planet but from heaven so Juliet must be an angel. Shakespeare has used this effect to show that Juliet is very important as angels were important holy beings in Elizabethan times. A metaphor is then used as Romeo says ‘as a glorious night, being o’er my head’. This connotes that Romeo considers Juliet to be awe inspiring and prodigious as an angel is to a mortal’s eyes who is gazing in wonder at her beauty. It seems that in comparison to Juliet, everything lacks energy and charisma as her beauty outshines them. Romeo’s language can be interpreted as largely hyperbolic and lacks sincerity; perhaps Romeo is feeling struck by lustful desires and this explains his impulsive and sensationalized la nguage. The use of religious imagery emphasizes the purity of Romeo and Juliet’s love; it was not forced upon them by their families but through natural love. Shakespeare would have used religious imagery as religion was a part of everyday life in Elizabethan times, without religious imagery it would be strange for a play in Elizabethan times. The performed version visually enhances the term ‘bright angel’ in the choice of Juliet’s fancy dress costume. This could carry implications that the two lovers are part of an ‘act’ alluding to the fact that they met in a trivial and jovial manner at a fancy dress party. Through the scene, Romeo has often been metaphorically presented as a bird. A bird connotes many things including power and nobility, as of an eagle, and peace and love, as of a dove. Juliet has just asked Romeo how he came over the orchard walls even when the walls are high and hard to climb. Romeo’s response begins with: ‘With love’s wings did I o’er perch these walls’ This can be interpreted as his love for Juliet made him do amazing things and in this case he ‘flies over the wall’. ‘Love’s wings’ connotes angels and divinity and birds as well, it is like saying that god gave him the power to climb or ‘fly’ over the wall to try and get him to meet Juliet. ‘Perch’ connotes birds; after he ‘flew’ or climbed over the wall he perched on the top so metaphorically he is a bird. His ‘bird instincts’ are then telling him to try and find and attract a mate and here Romeo is doing just that. Everything Romeo says is in iambic pentameter, giving a song-like feeling to it, just like a bird singing to impress his mate. There are further examples through the play. This example is expressed by Juliet this time, not Romeo: ‘Hist! Romeo, hist! O, for a falconer’s voice, To lure this tassel-gentle back again!’ Here, Juliet portrays Romeo as a bird. She is the falconer that can command Romeo at any time she wants. Romeo is described as a ‘tassel-gentle’ which is male hawk; this connotes and attributes power, nobility and mightiness to him. Juliet’s dominance is shown by the fact that she can call out to her Romeo at any time and he will come. ‘‘Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone: And yet no further than a wanton’s bird; Who lets it hop a little from her hand, Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, And with a silk thread plucks it back again, So loving-jealous of his liberty.’ In this passage, Juliet is saying to Romeo that it is almost morning so she would have him go however let him only go as far as a spoilt child would let his pet bird go, letting the bird hop a little then pulling it back with a string. This passage shows Juliet’s desire to be with Romeo however she knows the dangers associated with it. She is torn between what she should do with what she wants to do. Shakespeare may have used metaphors of birds because the characters are held back and held down by their situations. Their relationships to either family keep them wrapped up in the ancient grudge, and the decisions of every character are inextricably influenced by that grudge. Romeo and Juliet themselves are trying to break free of these earthly concerns. They are caught up in a more divine concern, a concern of love and soul and spirit. They are trying to fly away from what their life has been. Bird imagery helps to reinforce this. In the film there is little bird imagery displayed. The parts when Juliet presents Romeo as a falcon and also when she presents Romeo as a wanton’s bird are omitted. The scene setting could be seen as a fitting place for a bird, there are many trees and the occasional bird bath. The difficulty for Baz Luhrmann to incorporate bird imagery into this scene could be that the scene wasn’t set in an orchard but in a swimming pool. Here Romeo is presented as a pilot: ‘I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far As that vast sea shore wash’d with the farthest sea, I would adventure for such merchandise.’ Juliet has asked again how Romeo found his way to her room and Romeo answers in an eluding way, not wanting to reveal how he actually found his way there or just being playful and giving indirect responses. Romeo says in this passage that he isn’t a pilot, yet if Juliet were across the furthest sea, he would risk everything to get to her. Romeo may have presented himself as a pilot because being a captain of a ship was a much respected job. Explorers such as Sir Francis Drake were well known for their efforts discovering new lands; Britain was in competition with countries such as Spain and Portugal to find new sources of wealth and ships were great assets during the Elizabethan times. The Nurse appearing in Act 2 Scene 2 really changes the scene, from the language used to the character hierarchy. As Juliet is giving her vows to Romeo, the Nurse calls from within the Capulet Mansion, interrupting the vow Juliet is giving to Romeo. The Nurse is interference from outside the ‘dream world’ Romeo and Juliet have created in the orchard; her presence pierces the protective bubble around Romeo and Juliet and completely changes the mood. Before the Nurse appeared in the scene, Juliet was magnetised by Romeo. This was shown by her extremely romantic language and said in iambic pentameter, giving her speech a song-like feel to it. After the Nurse appears in the scene Juliet’s speech is more rushed, mature and isn’t in iambic pentameter. This change, however, is not sudden but gradual change as conveyed by the text. The change is like someone waking up; changing from asleep to half-asleep then fully awake. Even when Juliet says to Romeo: ‘I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu!’ she says it in iambic pentameter, emphasizing that she is waking up from a dream. Her choice of words also emphasizes this; she says she hears some noise within, being in a half asleep state she only hears noise and not the exact words the Nurse was saying. This could also be interpreted as Juliet is so transfixed by Romeo that the rest of the world is just going by and Romeo is the reality her. When the Nurse appears in the scene Juliet is slowly pulled back in the real reality. The film contrasts with the play, instead of being a gradual change it is a sudden change. Romeo and Juliet have just fallen back into the swimming pool then the Nurse calls out to Juliet. Juliet then leaps out of the water. As the audience we heard clearly what the Nurse shouted to Juliet, however in Juliet’s place she may have only heard noise as the water, perhaps, has distorted the sound of her name. This slow reaction to the Nurse perhaps shows her innocence and naivety. She is like a naughty teenager caught by her parents meeting another boy and she is so passionate about him that she doesn’t notice her parents watching. This is portrayed better in the film by the sudden change in the atmosphere of the scene as Juliet suddenly hears the Nurse calling to her. Distortion is a theme conveyed throughout the Act 2 Scene 2; in fact the whole play could be viewed as a distortion. Juliet’s world being distorted to make her hate the Montagues, Romeo and Juliet’s world compared to the places beyond the orchard wall and the views of the two families on the love between Romeo and Juliet. The distortion is emphasized when the Nurse interjects perhaps to illustrate and reinforce Juliet’s challenge to stereotype. Referring back to the previous paragraph, bubble around Juliet distorts her view on Romeo, the view she was forced to accept by her family; now Romeo is in the same bubble so she can see clearly; the nurse then comes and pierces this bubble revealing this act of rebellion. Later in the play and the film when she refuses to marry Paris and her father’s temper grows, it is the nurse who supports Juliet. In the film this distortion is portrayed visually in different ways. When the nurse appears, shots get further away, reminding us that there are things around Romeo and Juliet; however the things around Romeo and Juliet are out of focus, emphasizing the half asleep state mentioned in the previous paragraph. Furthermore, when Romeo and Juliet are standing in the swimming pool, the light being refracted by the water makes their legs shorter compared to the rest of their bodies.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Engineering Ethics Essay Sample

Engineering Ethics Essay Sample Engineering Ethics Essay Engineering plays an important role in our society because it is a profession responsible for creating a sustainable in terms of developing our community. Construction of facilities is one of the main issues that are currently being managed by engineering professionals as a way to ensure that the credibility of services as well as perspectives to improve our society becomes attainable. Engineers are responsible for constructing materials to provide an area for the community to leave and seek dwelling places to settle for a certain period of time. As an engineer, safety is an important ethical issue because the welfare of every resident in our community needs a specific measure to ensure that accidents and hazards will not occur within our household properties. Ethics in engineering is reeled with safety issues, especially if the structure has been built with safety criticisms because it has been previously linked with accidents and hazards. The most concerning issue regarding engineering applications is when there are safety hazards because it risks the lives of engineers and construction workers while building a structure. Examples are falls from a higher elevation, smashed by debris, or trapped inside a fallen structure. Health hazards are also a concern because there are sites that expose engineers and its workers to chemical fumes that can cause respiratory or skin distress. Workers who are constantly exposed to radiation at work often develop cancer in any parts of their body. Basically, health and safety working environment or occupational safety and health is an important ethical consideration applied by engineers at their working environment. This is a process where engineers collaborate with the occupational safety and health prog ram provided by their own institution as well as local government units. In any case that some engineers fail to comply with the proper safety building codes or safety standards, it is likely that their projects fail to meet their goals. The reason behind is that there are safety regulations that were not properly mandated and implemented, leading to a risk in a safe working environment. Authorities are usually inspecting contractors because there are projects that are mandated by non-engineers, which are at risk of having their license to operate revoked. If there are previous safety standards that failed to operate or comply, it is likely that the contractor can be banned from being involved in future projects. As an engineer, it is important to have an operating license for the contractual firm as well as having a professional license. This is to properly represent the contracting company as well as to show the public that the company is operated by a group of licensed engineers. As an implication, it has been learned that the essentials of ethics applied in the engineering profession, as well as its practices, should be consistently monitored by the regulating agencies. The reason behind is to monitor the quality of the products, proper subsidy of projects for the generation of projects, and the professional background of the engineers or contractors. This is to ensure that the quality of projects is always secured in a professional way by the approved contractors of the projects or any tasks. The ethical composure of securing the rightful engineers to operate to a specific project should investigate their personal and professional background as a way to ensure that accidents will not happen in the near future (Stephan, 2012). Reference Stephan, Constantin (2012), Industrial Health, Safety and Environmental Management, epubli, Berlin, 3rd edition,  ISBN  978-3-7418-7478-9, pp. 70-71.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Environmental Sustainability - Define the concept of renewability, and Term Paper

Environmental Sustainability - Define the concept of renewability, and apply it to Damen Hall's replacement - Term Paper Example To date, innovative technologies have been adapted in order to harvest this resource. Auspicious developments are in the areas of photovoltaic cells that directly convert the sun’s light energy to electricity (Kamal, 2010 & van Santen, et; al. 2010). To put it in a concept, the sun’s energy is the ultimate energy resource and in the simplest explanation, it is renewable because it is easily refilled as long as the sun continues to shine and along with the consideration that it is not capable of polluting the environment and therefore hastening climate change. Sun’s heat aside from giving light energy, heat and as energy resource for photosynthesis also stirs up phenomenon in the earth’s surface that can also serve as promising energy sources such as wind and water movement (van Santen, et. al. 2010). Renewability and Sustainability: Establishing relationship Closely related to the concept of renewability is the universally accepted principle of sustainabil ity. The term is not difficult to understand for almost all efforts of economic development and planning in many modern countries especially in the United States today centers on sustainable economic development. ... They argued that the current lifestyle we are in is an ideology of death where we are over-consuming and therefore destroying resources not capable of replenishing itself. Moreover at the economic standpoint, sustainability and renewbaility are both important backdrops where in they are essential ingredients to sustainable economic policies. When the principle is integrated into sustainable economic policies such as giving them positive economic values and functions, then there is a reduced risk of overuse. At the standpoint of sustainable development and resources use, the utility of non-renewable resources points to an economic of collapse. There are many misleading yet established notions that the use of nonrenewable resource is cheaper and the renewable ones would entail a plethora of investment (Kamal, 2010 & van Santen, et; al. 2010). This is in the other hand, a largely inaccurate assessment and as a matter of fact, it is the use of nonrenewable raw materials have plunged econ omies in different parts of the world. Recycling and Nutrient Cycling in the Purview of Renewability In the context of renewability, the closet and most relevant point of view where recycling and nutrient cycles comes is in on the direct and indirect effects of global warming. Nutrient cycle is the process of transforming and utilizing nutrients from one organism to another. It is obvious therefore that energy plays a central role in this nutrient transport (Kamal, 2010). To illustrate, remember that the Earth is a huge ecosystem – a natural environ. And that the function, as well as the structure of the ecosystem is highly governed by energy flow and

Friday, October 18, 2019

Death Penalty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Death Penalty - Essay Example The theorization of capital punishment has shown a great favor to its status as a deterrent to crime. Scholars like Emile Durkheim and Foucault have put emphasis on punishment as well as capital punishment as deterrent to crime. Some recent empirical studies also show evidences of the deterrent effects of the capital punishment on the crime rate in a country. But opponents of capital punishment argue that though death-penalty has deterrent effects they are negligible, as it is claimed in a report, â€Å"The death penalty in the U.S. is an enormously expensive and wasteful program with no clear benefits† (Death Penalty Information Center). Meanwhile, opponents of the capital punishment often refer to the high crime rate in the United State as evidences of ineffectiveness of this death-penalty as a deterrent. Indeed this high rate of capital-punishment deserving crimes does not necessarily require that it should be abolished. If it is supposed that it should be abolished because of the high rate, other forms of punishments also should be abolished. Indeed such arguments are some sorts of blubbery. ... Taking an ethical decision becomes more difficult when it is revealed that a number of the death deserving crimes are committed driven by anger, or by other emotional convulsions. The opponents often claim that death penalty is not the least effective, since most of the murderers think that they will be able evade this punishment, as the Police Chief of Los Angels, Willie L. Williams says, â€Å"I am not convinced that capital punishment, in and of itself, is a deterrent to crime because most people do not think about the death penalty before they commit a violent or capital crime† (â€Å"Fact Sheet†). Indeed such claim does not necessarily prove that death penalty is not a deterrent, rather it indicates to the glaring faults of law enforcing agencies that convince a would-be murderer to belief that they are evadable. Indeed the high rate of crimes and murders in the United States has its root not in the ineffectiveness of the capital punishment, rather in its faults of enforcement. A comparative statistics on the executions and the incidences of murders shows that â€Å"only about 110 death-sentences are handed out for the more than 17000 reported murders that occur every year† (Class Text). In fact, such statistic shows that the vast majority of the unpunished murderers will be examples for those who want to commit murder. Even though death penalty has a deterrent effect on the majority of the common people, it is only the face-value of the scheme and policy of keeping people away from committing murder. While materializing death-penalty effectively, any policy against crimes like homicides and murders should include other socio-cultural, religious and even economic deterrents. According to Foucault, social disciplinary institutions can play a significant role lessening

Understanding positive environment for student learning and Research Paper

Understanding positive environment for student learning and professional collaboration - Research Paper Example ls’ management towards creation of a positive environment but also helped in understanding the relationship between good instruction, assessment, and collaboration. The interviews with administrators, teachers, and parents helped in understanding the vision and concerns of these stakeholders regarding positive environments. At the end of the project, a walkthrough was also conducted the purpose of which was to get an insight into the importance of positive environment and collaboration for students and teachers respectively. In educational sector, the most important thing that matters for all stakeholders is a positive learning environment. The reason is that positive environment promotes enhanced learning and collaboration for students and teachers respectively. A positive learning environment is not restricted to any particular stakeholder, rather includes all stakeholders who have a specific role to play in improving instruction, collaboration, and assessment areas. Students need a positive environment to show improved performances not only in classrooms but also in the play grounds. Similarly, teachers need a positive environment where they can provide education to learners in interactive way using latest educational technologies and equipment. Along with students and teachers, the role of parents cannot be ignored by any means because parents are highly concerned about the environment in which they send their children to learn. Parents are one of the main stakeholders of any educational institute b ecause they are directly concerned with the schools performances of their children. Therefore, the role of teachers, students, and parents is equally important in moving towards the cause of creating a positive learning and collaboration environment at schools. A positive learning environment has some key characteristics that make it an essential element in the success of an educational institute. For example, a positive learning environment is one that reflects

LIFO vs FIFO Depreciation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

LIFO vs FIFO Depreciation - Assignment Example LIFO method results to low net earnings by the company. However, if the company switches to FIFO it will result to Sgreater earnings, but under the condition that price remains invariable during trading period. However, using weighted average could result to greater earnings for the company.Increase in price of assets over time makes FIFO method to yield superior returns than LIFO method since overhead expenditure is lower than returns after increase in value of commodities (Mckee, Garner & Mckee, Y., 2000).   Regardless of the method used, companies would get uniform earnings in the absence of inflation. Also, using weighted average method results to a value which is higher than that of LIFO method, but lower than that of FIFO method.Companies use LIFO approach in order to counter the effects of inflation hence pays less tax. FIFO method is significant in a steady economy, but is helpful when economy is facing increase in price of commodities, because companies can report greater earnings than any other method. However, this result a mismatch of the expenditures incurred in production and the earnings from the products.  Most companies prefer LIFO method when estimating the value of their stock because the associated expenditure is most recent and is generally higher than actual expenditure. This enables companies to pay less income tax to the state. On the other hand, FIFO method is vital in an economy facing inflation because increase in prices result to increase in earnings.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Authenticity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Authenticity - Research Paper Example people think it is a creative work but rather it is linked to plagiarism, this problem is quite common among people. It exits, because people feel easier to handle plagiarized work. They do not make any attempt to research and find something new in their work; even history shows that Politian’s are also following the same methods and techniques to handle the state affairs, which were used in past decades. For instance, Axolotl Road kill, a book written be Hegemann, involutes plagiarized text. However, she gave a defense comment that originality does not exist, there is just authenticity. But many writers have criticized this comment and considered that originality in research and other writings are very important in order to be creative (Labossiere Micheal, 2010). In accordance with the present and historical perspective, it can be said that there is no originality. For instance artists modify the old ideas in new ways and can get great success. But this thing cannot be consid ered as a true or authentic originality. Purpose of an original research is to educate and provide something new to people. It helps to enhance their knowledge and skills. This doesn’t mean that originally does not exist, it is possible in various areas. One can easily identify a work which is copied and the work which provides something new. One of the main problem because of which people forgo the attempt of originality is to save their money and become public domain, which is the main issue in the society. While authenticity is related to speaking in a genuine voice, which should be done with sincerity and presumably, it means that work is presented in accordance to ones feeling and thinking. This means people usually built a same perception when they read others work. For example the book case of Hegemann discussed above, she said that were her thoughts and beliefs. This is not the right way to claim authenticity. This thing is most common in educational institutions; stu dents submit plagiarized work and defense that with a comment that we felt the same as this writer in the text thinks. This is a major problem, authenticity is mainly linked to ones feelings and thinking, each individuals nature is different from the other, thus it indicates that authenticity have a direct link with originality (Buranen Lise 1999, 302). 1.2 Intellectual Property and remedies for violation Intellectual property is violated due to growing use of internet, plagiarism and lack of originality. All information is transferred online which is subjecting to violate the intellectual property. A research concluded that present generation is with the view that intellectual property and media don’t have same significance. Violation of intellectual property is not only done through internet but is can also be done in monetary, injunctive and criminal act. Therefore, some of the remedies in order to control the violation of intellectual property are discussed below: Injunct ive relief A remedy which is commonly used for the violation of intellectual property is injunctive relief. In it court issues an order against a party to stop conducting its present actions or doesn’t allow the party to continue further. For instance, if Pitney decides to introduce radio in its product line and to do so in spite of originality, it considers buying a radio of Bozo Wave and starts marketing this product in the name of Pitney radio. In this case Bozo have a right to ask

Understanding Challenges In The Third Sector Essay - 4

Understanding Challenges In The Third Sector - Essay Example I realized that human resource is a challenge to the third sector. Specifically, distinction between the role of the volunteer and the regular employees often bring many challenges (Tilly, 2011 p 23). among them include planning the activities of the agency with the volunteers. The agency depends on the human resource in running its activities an aspect that makes reliance on the volunteers quite challenging. As the name suggest, a volunteer may seize to be a staff of the agency. I think soliciting funds is a challenge to the agency because it has a direct impact on running the activity of the organizations. Before the children get into the hands of their adopters, for instance, they live under the care of the agency. This means that the agency has to solicit funds that can sustain the program. Moreover, the agency does know when the adopters would knock at the agency’s door. I think this explains the reasons for allocating funds for nearly every person under the umbrella of the organization. Although third sector has been in place for a number of years, lack of understanding between funders and state based purchasers makes the running of the agency quite hard. I believe that this misconception is worrying because it shifts the attention of either group, an aspect that might dent the functions of the organization. Arguably, lack of awareness among the main players contributes to this situation (Tilly, 2011 p12). Further, the recognition of the brands used by the third sector is an important step that would help in changing the situation. I think formalization of the activities of the firm would not only influence the future state of the firm, but also change the present trends in handling issues within the agency. I think distinction between the beneficiaries and the other persons is gnawing at the agency. In turn, the reverberation of this challenge affects normal activities

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Authenticity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Authenticity - Research Paper Example people think it is a creative work but rather it is linked to plagiarism, this problem is quite common among people. It exits, because people feel easier to handle plagiarized work. They do not make any attempt to research and find something new in their work; even history shows that Politian’s are also following the same methods and techniques to handle the state affairs, which were used in past decades. For instance, Axolotl Road kill, a book written be Hegemann, involutes plagiarized text. However, she gave a defense comment that originality does not exist, there is just authenticity. But many writers have criticized this comment and considered that originality in research and other writings are very important in order to be creative (Labossiere Micheal, 2010). In accordance with the present and historical perspective, it can be said that there is no originality. For instance artists modify the old ideas in new ways and can get great success. But this thing cannot be consid ered as a true or authentic originality. Purpose of an original research is to educate and provide something new to people. It helps to enhance their knowledge and skills. This doesn’t mean that originally does not exist, it is possible in various areas. One can easily identify a work which is copied and the work which provides something new. One of the main problem because of which people forgo the attempt of originality is to save their money and become public domain, which is the main issue in the society. While authenticity is related to speaking in a genuine voice, which should be done with sincerity and presumably, it means that work is presented in accordance to ones feeling and thinking. This means people usually built a same perception when they read others work. For example the book case of Hegemann discussed above, she said that were her thoughts and beliefs. This is not the right way to claim authenticity. This thing is most common in educational institutions; stu dents submit plagiarized work and defense that with a comment that we felt the same as this writer in the text thinks. This is a major problem, authenticity is mainly linked to ones feelings and thinking, each individuals nature is different from the other, thus it indicates that authenticity have a direct link with originality (Buranen Lise 1999, 302). 1.2 Intellectual Property and remedies for violation Intellectual property is violated due to growing use of internet, plagiarism and lack of originality. All information is transferred online which is subjecting to violate the intellectual property. A research concluded that present generation is with the view that intellectual property and media don’t have same significance. Violation of intellectual property is not only done through internet but is can also be done in monetary, injunctive and criminal act. Therefore, some of the remedies in order to control the violation of intellectual property are discussed below: Injunct ive relief A remedy which is commonly used for the violation of intellectual property is injunctive relief. In it court issues an order against a party to stop conducting its present actions or doesn’t allow the party to continue further. For instance, if Pitney decides to introduce radio in its product line and to do so in spite of originality, it considers buying a radio of Bozo Wave and starts marketing this product in the name of Pitney radio. In this case Bozo have a right to ask

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Skeletal System Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Skeletal System - Research Paper Example 2. Differentiate between the processes of bone growth by length and width. 3. After a recent visit to her doctor, Gina was told that she has early signs of osteoporosis. The doctor recommended she participate in low impact exercises to strengthen her bones. Based on your reading, define osteoporosis and explain how low impact exercises will improve Gina's bone density and strength. 4. Explain the function of bone marrow and its importance in individuals with blood loss or decreased efficiency. 5. George is going in for laser treatment to his lower back. George has been experiencing pain running down his right leg for the past few weeks and has forced him to stay home from work for the past week. He hurt his back when he twisted and bent to the side to pick up some heavy lumber. Based on the case information, describe the injury that George sustained and the structures involved. 1. In cases such as car crashed, potential injuries that are likely to occur include back injury, knee dama ge, whiplash, brain and head trauma, broken or fractured ribs and spinal cord injury. In cases such as car crashes, the body is most probable to suffer trauma (Caldwell D.S., 2011). Trauma varies in intensity, ranging from serious burns or traffic accidents (Hall J et al 1995).

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Umayyad Dome Of The Rock

The Umayyad Dome Of The Rock The Umayyad Dome of the Rock is one of the fundamental works of Islamic architecture. The Umayyad Dome of the Rock is renowned work of art and architecture, which had a number of implicit meanings among which it is possible to single out political implications and correlations to Biblical scriptures. In addition, the Umayyad Dome of the Rock reveals the impact of external factors, including the impact of Christianity and Judaism on the architecture of the dome. Historically, Islam and Judaism were closely intertwined, although Islam had appeared centuries ago since the appearance of Judaism and Christianity. Many specialists view Judaism as one of the major monotheistic religion, which became the precursor of such world religions as Christianity and Islam (Cowling, 2005). In fact, the emergence of Islam was the development of the new religion, which had a lot of similarities to Judaism and Christianity. In such a context, the similarity between Islam, Christianity and Judaism can be viewed as the result of the historical interaction between these religions. The development of Islam was closely intertwined with Judaism and Christianity because representatives of these religions have interacted since ancient time. Even though Islam emerged in the seventh century AD, the population converted to Islam had an extensive experience of interaction with Judaist, whereas Jews always lived in Muslim countries. In such a way, the interaction between Islam, Christianity and Judaism was determined by the historical development of both religions and it was grounded on the neighborhood of both cultures. In such a context, the implicit meaning of the Umayyad Dome of the Rock reveals not only hidden Islamic context and meaning but also it reveals the influence of Christianity and Judaism on Islam. The influence can be traced through the architectural form and the form of the Dome, which is borrowed from Christianity and Judaism. At first glance the Umayyad Dome of the Rock is the manifestation of the traditional Islamic architecture. The Umayyad Dome of the Rock was built in Jerusalem, the city, which was sacred for Muslims as well as representatives of other mainstream religions in the region, such as Judaism and Christianity. It is important to place emphasis on the fact that the holiness of Jerusalem was, after all, inherited by Islam from Judaism and Christianity (Rabbat, 14). Therefore, the construction of the Umayyad Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem was an important decision and, in all probability, it was determined by the importance of building in the political and religious context. In fact, the construction of the Umayyad Dome of the Rock was the attempt to show the power of Islam and its domination in the Holy City Jerusalem. On the other hand, specialists point out that the Dome of the Rock has no immediately discernible purpose or function other than the commemorative one, and even that is riddled with uncertainties (Rabbat, 12). However, such uncertainty concerning the purpose of the construction of the Umayyad Dome of the Rock is caused by the variety of implications concerning the meaning of the building and its purposes. In other words, the diversity of views on the Umayyad Dome of the Rock leads to the emergence of numerous interpretations of the meaning of the building. The Umayyad Dome of the Rock represents the manifestation of the Islamic architecture. The Dome is executed in architectural traditions typical for Islam, including the interior design, deprived of pictures and having citations from Quran. On the other hand, specialists point out that it is necessary to view the Dome as a monument which used Biblical connotations and Christian-Byzantine forms to impose Islams presence in the Holy City. The combination would imply that the new faith considered itself the continuation and the seal of the two preceding ones: Judaism and Christianity (Rabbat, 12-13). Such a conclusion derives from the monumental architecture and the location of the building. The Umayyad Dome of the Rock has incorporated elements of Biblical texts and scriptures. Hence, the Umayyad Dome of the Rock reveals the close links of Islam with other religions, such as Christianity and Judaism. Basically, it is possible to trace the links to Biblical texts through the scriptures within the Dome that reveals the connection between Islam and other religions which used Biblical scriptures as a source of sacred texts. The similar trends between religions can be traced by similarities of their religious concepts and ideas. For instance, Christianity, Islam and Judaism are monotheistic. Judaism was one of the first monotheistic religions, whereas Islam is one of the latest world religions, which had gained the public approval and support of many believers. Christianity, Judaism and Islam recognize one God only, although each religion has its own God. In addition, similarities can be traced in sacred texts and books of Judaism and Islam. Islam and Judaism have similarities in sacred texts because their sacred texts are interrelated. To put it more precisely, they often refer to similar or identical events in the history and religious life of Jews and Muslims (Ross, 1984). As a result, they focus on similar events but the interpretation of these events as well as their details may differ depending on the religion. Hence, the elements of Biblical texts and Christian and Judaist concepts can be traced in the Umayyad Dome of the Rock. Therefore, the Dome became a symbol of the superiority of Islam over other religions because elements of Biblical texts show that Islam is superior to other religions (Esposito, 1998). At the same time, it is possible to presuppose that the Biblical elements in the Umayyad Dome of the Rock can be determined by the attempt of architects to show the power of Islam and its superiority in regard to other religions. In such a way, the Umayyad Dome of the Rock could symbolize the superiority of Islam because it showed that all Biblical texts and sacred texts of Christianity and Judaism were incorporated in the Umayyad Dome of the Rock that implies their subordination to Islam. In addition, specialists (Rabbat, 15) point out the political implications of the Umayyad Dome of the Rock. What is meant here is the fact that the Umayyad Dome of the Rock could be constructed to the show the power of the ruling dynasty (Cowling, 2005). To put it more precisely, the ruling dynasty attempts to show its respect to God and religion. In such a context, the construction of the Umayyad Dome of the Rock was the manifestation of the attempt of the ruling dynasty to leave its trace in history of Islam and to show its power. At the same time, the construction of the Umayyad Dome of the Rock implied that the ruling dynasty is eternal because its rule will last as long as the Umayyad Dome of the Rock stands. In such a context, the Umayyad Dome of the Rock has a symbolic political meaning. In addition, the building was constructed in Jerusalem, which was not only the religious center but also the subject of heat political struggle. For instance, Crusades always aimed at the inva sion of Jerusalem, whereas Muslims always attempted to preserve the city as the Holy City of Islam. Thus, the Umayyad Dome of the Rock had multiple meanings and implications. The Dome has religious, political and cultural implications of the construction of the Umayyad Dome of the Rock. The main point of the construction of the Umayyad Dome of the Rock was to show the superiority of Islam and Islamic culture over other religions and cultures. The Dome was constructed to show the power of the ruling dynasty, which constructed the Umayyad Dome of the Rock. In such a way, the Umayyad Dome of the Rock became a symbol of Islam in Jerusalem.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

James Stewart :: Entertainment Film Papers

James Stewart "In a career of extraordinary range and depth, Jimmy Stewart has come to embody on screen the very image of the typical American.... His idealism, his determination, his vulnerability, and above all, his basic decency shine through every role he plays..."-- The American Film Institute. The Nature of Film and Acting When film was young, acting was overdone. Low quality cameras could only record large movements; posing and enunciation were overstated as a result of theater acting; the development of the character was limited to a script. Starting in the 1930's film acting became more natural. Actors could interpret scripts to find emotion and motivation in their characters. Good acting relies on a kinesthetic, an intrapersonal, and an interpersonal intelligence, all of which work together to form a creative expression. There exist limitless styles of acting; there is always something to learn. The physicality of the actor is the most important part of the creation of the character. Since all experiences are interpreted through a physical means (i.e. our senses), the kinesthetic actor can evoke a response from his audience by connecting his actions to their lives, memories, or emotions. By having distinct facial features or a certain body build, the actor's mere physical presence can convey some detail of his character. However, the most important part of the kinesthetic intelligence in acting is the knowledge of one's body, where it is, what it's doing, and what message it's conveying. This is more than just muscle movement. It includes physique, timing, rhythm, voice and mannerisms. When we watch movies, we notice emotion and characterization mainly in the eyes and mouth. However, a man can not just act from the neck up. What his body tells us is just as important as what his face tells. Try It! Make your body tense. Tighten every muscle you can. Now, smile. How do you feel? How would you appear to feel? For the actor, the hands are a good place to release energy, but conveying meaningful messages through the hands is hard to do. Also, overuse of gestures can be dizzying to a viewer. Voice is another excellent means of communicating the unstated. From sincerity to sarcasm, we can tell as much from the way something is said as from the words themselves. Underneath the physical lies the actor's presence. The intrapersonal unconsciously comes through in the form of a persona that the audience can further relate to.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Apples to Oranges? (Suicide Attempters VS Suicide Completers) Essays

The title â€Å"Apples to Oranges?: A direct comparison between suicide attempters and suicide completers† immediately grabs readers’ attentions. Though, the title somewhat represents the article. Since the research is conducted within the Major Depressive Disorder population, the more suitable title of the article should read â€Å"Apples to Oranges?: A direct comparison between suicide attempters and suicide completers in Major Depressive Disorder population.† The authors write the research article in simple and concise manners. However, it would have been helpful to the readers if the research report contains the definition of terms section in an abstract. The authors write with the assumption that the readers are already healthcare professionals. Some terms used such as â€Å"mood disorders,† â€Å"Axis I disorders,† â€Å"SCID-IV diagnostic,† are medical terminology and required some medical knowledge to understand the meanings (De Jong, Overholser, and Stockmeier, 2010, pp.90-91). The operational definition of â€Å"depression† should be introduced earlier in the article. The authors operationally define depression as fitting â€Å"all the requirements set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, Fourth Edition† (DeJong et al, 2010, p.92). This definition can be unclear to some readers. Therefore, the authors should also include the conceptual definition and expand on the list of criteria of depression according to Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorder. Problem Statement The authors imply that previous suicidal studies typically focused on comparing suicidal populations with non-suicidal controls (DeJong et al, 2010). However, the authors realize that it is as important to conduct a study within the homogen... ...me once in a life time. References American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2011). Facts and Figures. Retrieved from http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?page_id=04EA1254-BD31-1FA3-C549D77E6CA6AA37 DeJong, T., Overholser, J., & Stockmeier, C. (2010). Apples to oranges?: a direct comparison between suicide attempters and suicide completers. Journal of Affective Disorders, 124(1-2), 90-97. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. References American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2011). Facts and Figures. Retrieved from http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?page_id=04EA1254-BD31-1FA3-C549D77E6CA6AA37 DeJong, T., Overholser, J., & Stockmeier, C. (2010). Apples to oranges?: a direct comparison between suicide attempters and suicide completers. Journal of Affective Disorders, 124(1-2), 90-97. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Friday, October 11, 2019

What Are the Main Aims and Objectives of Sentencing Within England and Wales? Should Any One Theory Dominate?

What are the main aims and objectives of sentencing within England and Wales? Should any one theory dominate? What are the main aims and objectives of sentencing within England and Wales? Should any one theory dominate? In the criminal justice system, there are many different sentences that can be given to an offender. According to the sentencing statistics in England and Wales (2009) the highest sentence being given is financial penalties with 67. 3% of convicted offenders being given a fine, 14% received community service and 7. 2% of offenders were sentenced to prison.The type and length of a sentence largely depends upon the seriousness of the committed offence and the offender behind it. This essay will look at the main aims and objectives of sentencing, as well as the different theories used within sentencing. Within this essay the question of whether or not a sentence should aim to prevent further crimes or punish offenders as they deserve, will too be discussed. A further fac tor of this essay will look at influential factors within sentencing and the complications that would arise if the system was to be dominated by one theory.To conclude it has been found that one theory simply cannot dominate sentencing within England and Wales as the majority of sentences are tailored around each individual offence and offender, therefore there cannot be a set sentence for a set crime. According to the Criminal Justice Act (2003) there are five main purposes of sentencing an offender. The first is to punish the offender; also known as denunciation. This is the acknowledgement that the behaviour of the offender is not acceptable within society and ensures a consequent punishment.This can be seen as a form of paying back the wrong doing or understanding of what is right and wrong. However Ashworth (2005) arises the underlying question on how this does so and why punishment is seen as an appropriate response to criminal behaviour. The second is to reduce crime this inc ludes its reduction by deterrence. Ashworth (1999) claimed that deterrence aimed to prevent crime by future offenders and the offender in question, by not committing an offence due to fearing the consequent punishment.This can take the form of individual or general deterrence. The next purpose of sentencing is to reform and rehabilitate the offender, this is achieved through many different methods such as; counseling or group therapy. The purpose of this is to change the offenders’ attitudes and behaviours so they desist from crime. (Ashworth 1999) Rehabilitation may also address prior reasons as to why the offender may of committed the offence in the first place and teach the offender to deal with these in an acceptable way.The fourth aim of sentencing is to protect the public from both the offender and further crimes. This is known as incapacitation, the idea of removing the ability from the offender to commit a crime for a length of time, for example; being in prison or un der house arrest. Finally the last purpose of sentencing is for the offender to make amends to the persons affected by their actions. This idea can also be known as restorative. This aims to give an appropriate sentence to the offender, whilst ensuring a balance with the appeasement of the victim.This can be in the form of the offender having to give some sort of financial compensation to the victim or affected persons. When deciding on an appropriate sentence for an offender there are two main theories that dominate. These theories individually question whether or not it is best to punish the offender or treat the offender. Retributivism is the first, otherwise known as backward looking, and secondly is Reductivism, know as forward looking. Retributivism is the idea that an offenders’ punishment should fit the crime that was committed.Otherwise referred to as ‘an eye for an eye’ approach. Proportionality is the essence of the retributivist theory. Von Hirsch (19 81) quoted that ‘the severity of the punishment should be commensurate with the seriousness of the wrong’ he also stated that there were two types of proportionality. The first being Ordinal, this is how offences are ranked in accordance to their seriousness, and the offence ranked at the top will in turn receive the highest punishment. The second type of proportionality is Cardinal, this is how punishments are ranked in accordance to seriousness.This idea has set sentences for set crimes therefore ignoring the offenders circumstances. Reductivism aims to prevent future offences with the main aim of creating the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Reductivism consists of three main ideas; deterrence, rehabilitation and incapacitation. Ashworth (1998. 44) quoted that; ‘Deterrence seeks to further the aim of crime prevention by setting the sentence so that it is sufficient to deter the convicted offender. ’ This idea is known as individual deterrence, general eterrence differs from this, as instead of focusing on preventing the offender in question from offending again, general deterrence focuses on preventing potential offenders from committing a crime due to them being fearful of the crimes consequential punishment. Incapacitation is the idea of preventing an offender from committing a future crime by making it impossible for them to do so. For example; being in prison prevents the offender from being able to commit another crime.This idea is used for offenders who are not deemed as ‘curable’. This goes against the retributivist idea that punishments should follow a committed offence by punishing a person in order to prevent an offence. The third aim of reductivism, is rehabilitation. This is the idea that the offenders behaviours can be altered through methods such as cognitive behavioural therapy and family intervention. Rehabilitation in practise can be seen in the case of Venables and Thompson.The Times report ed that ‘One of the most comprehensive care plans was drawn up for young offenders by the Department of Health which aimed to rehabilitate the boys and prevent them becoming institutionalised’. This plan included rehabilitation techniques such as counselling and learning techniques to control their behaviour. As both young offenders were released just 8 years after the murder this would prove the technique some what successful. However this can not be generalised to adult offenders.An important factor that influences sentencing in England and Wales is the offenders’ age. In 2009 5. 8% of offences were committed by under 18s. (Sentencing Statistics). According to Gordon (1999. 92-93) when sentencing a juvenile the courts aims of the sentence should also take the following into account; whether or not the juvenile is young and possibly immature, if they are socially or educationally disadvantaged and finally, if they are at a critical stage in their personal develo pment.When sentencing a juvenile both theories are applied however in some cases the reductivist approach seems to dominate. The Detention and Training order is the main custodial sentence for offenders ages 12-17, this aims to split the sentence to include both a custodial part and part served under the supervision in a community, with the primary concern on rehabilitating the offender therefore being dominated by the reductivist approach.After discussing the aims and objectives of sentencing and the theories based on the aims, it is clear that one theory simply cannot dominant sentences as there are too many influential factors, and one theory working could not be generalised to work on all offenders due to the level of differences between offenders and offences. Some influential factors include; previous convictions, whether or not the offender shows any remorse, the plea and various others. Furthermore to this, a system would not work based on one theory.For example if the syste m was based on deterrence, the courts would need information on each individuals circumstances and character in order to sentence accordingly, persistent offenders would have increased punishments therefore meaning the sentencing system would have no consistency as each sentence would be based on the offender in question. (Ashworth 1998. 45). In Conclusion, after reviewing the two main theories of sentencing in terms of the main aims objectives set by the Criminal Justice Act, it is clear that each one takes some of the aims and objectives into account.However neither has a proposed way of dealing with offenders that addresses all the aims and objectives. Before it is possible for one theory of sentencing to be established as a dominant theory, the question of; whether or not sentencing should primarily punish or treat the offender needs to be answered. However there cannot be a general answer to this, as it will always be a debateable topic, as each sentence depends on each individ ual offender and the individual offence, therefore making a categorisation of whether or not specific crimes should be treated based on the retributivism theory or the reductivism theory cannot be done.A combination of both theories, aiming to punish and treat the offender in order to prevent further offences would seem the best solution, however in some cases this would not be the best solution. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ashworth A, Von Hirsch A, 2005,Proportionate Sentencing, Exploring the principles , Oxford, Oxford University Press Ashworth A, Von Hirsch A, 1998, Principled Sentencing, Readings on Theory and Policy, Hart Publishing Cavadino M, Dignan J, 2006, Penal Systems, A comparative Approach London, Sage Publications Criminal Justice Act 2003Gordan W, Cuddy P, Black J, 1999, Introduction to Youth Justice, Incorporating Introduction to the Youth Court, Winchester, Waterside Press Gross H, Von Hirsch A, 1981 , Sentencing , Oxford, Oxford University Press http://www. justice. gov. uk/sente ncingannual. htm (Sentencing Statistics England and Wales 2009) http://www. timesonline. co. uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article7054623. ece

Thursday, October 10, 2019

The Lemurs of Kirindy

Peter Kappeler’s article entitled, â€Å"The Lemurs of Kirindy,† brought into focus the different behaviors adapted by and that has evolved among the mammals in the Kirindy Forest in the west-central coast of Madagascar.   Of particular interest in the article were the lemurs of Kirindy, which Kappeler described to have evolved and changed their behaviors in order to adapt to the changing seasons and climates of the forest. This paper looks into the process of natural selection among the mammals of Kirindy.   The discussion and analysis provided herein posits that natural selection favored the most unusual primate behaviors among lemurs.   More specifically, the position assumed in this discussion asserts that because of the constantly changing physical/natural environment of the forest, lemurs have adapted and underwent the process of evolving biologically, as their response to the natural changes occurring in their physical environment—completing the process of natural selection. The â€Å"pronounced seasonal changes† in the Kirindy forest was described as a combination of either very hot or cold climates, erratically changing each season.   On December to February, the forest does not experience rain, wherein nights reach above freezing point.   In addition to these drastic changes in temperature, primate behaviors also vary during long dry spells or months of continuous rains.   Behaviors of lemurs affected not only include hibernation periods, circadian rhythms, or food hunting patterns, but also reproduction cycles and mating behavior.   Ultimately, the erratic changes in climate in Kirindy influence the survival techniques of lemurs. Indeed, these seasonal changes have affected the circadian rhythms, mating behaviors, and food hunting techniques of the lemurs of Kirindy.   Sifakas are known to adapt a â€Å"calorie-saving† behavior by â€Å"expending less energy† through a decrease in their physical activities and expose themselves to heat as much as possible.   Moreover, sifakas eat plants that have high liquid content, further supporting its survival techniques in order to survive the cold season.   Sifakas’ mating behaviors, meanwhile, have also been inadvertently affected by the seasonal changes in the forest.   Female sifakas give birth during the cold season, and learn to support their young by hunting for plants or leaves with high liquid content and adapting a calorie-saving lifestyle. Fat-tailed lemurs, meanwhile, have also learned to adapt to new behavior in order to survive the cold season in the forest.   The rainy season is a time when fat-tailed lemurs store fat as their food supply for their hibernation period.   They do this by eating high-energy fruits and insects, converting these foods into fat, which is then stored in their tails.   After the rainy season, fat-tailed lemurs get ready for the dry season by hibernating in hollow trees. The sifakas and fat-tailed lemurs are just examples of mammals that have learned to adapt to the environment’s drastic changes, particularly in the Kirindy forest of Madagascar.   Variations and changes in lemur behavior demonstrated that the process of natural selection took place in the forest, wherein the uncontrollable physical conditions that the lemurs lived in led to an alteration of their lifestyles, and ultimately, biological tendencies and reactions to the environment (i.e., Kirindy forest).