American Foreign Policy and Re essays

American Foreign Policy and Re essays Broadcast journalism has been used throughout recent history to shape popular opinion about how governments deal with international issues. If we look at major historical events related to American foreign policy such as the Vietnam war, the Persian Gulf War, the war in the former Yugoslavia, or the events of September 11, 2001 and its aftermath, they can hardly be imagined without the television images carried into American (and other) homes. The American media giant has a definite impact on what Americans understand about world events and how the US government responds to them. How has this so called free press been manipulated in the last three decades of world history? Wars and political movements through out developing nations have been played out on the stage of living room televisions and have held Americans and others as a captive audience. Television is able to rivet people to their televisions for up-to-date live coverage with an unquenchable thirst. The need to know is fed with the presses ideals of the public has the right to know. Are people manipulated by the news media? One has to wonder if the political gains of the world leaders are connected to their reactions to world events, or do world events control the policy makers. Edward Bickham former special advisor to the British foreign secretary says, The power of television in foreign policy is a mixed blessing. As a medium it plays too much to the heart and too little to the head. It presents powerful emotive images, which conjure strong reactions...Anecdotes about individual suffering make compelling television, but they rarely form a good basis to make policy. Wars on television have been the main topic of a great deal of compelling news coverage. At the time of the Korean War the television industry was still in its infancy stage, therefore not much material was given to the public through this medium. Many pe...

The eNotes Blog Asking Utnapishtim for Directions to theBathroom

Asking Utnapishtim for Directions to theBathroom Its been since about 500 B.C. that Babylonian and Assyrian were widely spoken. Those languages, closely related to Arabic and Hebrew, were   assimilated into Akkadian, the primary speech of what is now Iran, Syria, and Turkey. Later, Aramaic, the language of Jesus, eventually became the preferred way of speaking in those regions. It wasnt until the nineteenth century that interest was renewed in ancient Assyrian. The work of scholars, who discovered thousands of   cuneiform tablets, revived studies. By the mid-twentieth century, enough work had been done to decipher the language and reconstruct how it may have sounded (although, Worthington admits, there are disagreements and variations regarding his interpretations). Differences aside, enough people are curious about the efforts to give the recordings a listen:   some 236,000 people have accessed the audio archives. So, now youve fallen in love with the cadence of the language and want learn how to speak fluent Ancient Assyrian? Well, Worthington has your back there too. You can purchase Complete Babylonian: A Teach Yourself Guide and feel confident when you order your jalfrezi and rogan josh. Hold your rython aloft and ask for their best shiraz.

Black Hole Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Black Hole - Essay Example The book discusses the study conducted by a scientist Jim Al-Khalili on the various theories that have presented by Einstein. Black holes are a part of the universe and space and Einstein have presented a number of theories regarding this concept. And the scientist earlier mentioned have studied in detail all these theories and have presented several different new discoveries which he discovered during this study. Universe, time and space are all directly related to the concept of the black hole and have direct relations with the existence and non-existence of black holes. The scientist has presented that certain theories presented by Einstein like the theory of relativity are not completely applicable to the concept of the black hole. On the other hand, scientists like Einstein himself believes that the theories are true and in working condition. The book was a great source of information and provided with great deals of information and the book contained certain information which c ould not be found in other relevant books. Through the studying of the book, it can be concluded that the book is written after the great research and through study. This is a dissertation that has been written purely on the concept of black holes, the controversies that have been presented on the concept of black holes. Many theories have been presented regarding the concept of black holes and as a result, a number of contradictions have been presented on the topic of the black hole. Â  ... On the other hand, scientists like Einstein himself believes that the theories are true and in working condition. The book was a great source of information and provided with great deals of information and the book contained certain information which could not be found in other relevant books. Through the studying of the book it can be concluded that the book is written after great research and through study. Potvin, Geoffrey D, and Amanda . Peet. Singularity Resolution and the Black Hole Information Paradox. , 2006. Print. This is a dissertation that has been written purely on the concept of black holes, the controversies that have been presented on the concept of black holes. Many theories have been presented regarding the concept of black holes and as a result a number of contradictions have been presented on the topic of black hole. This book which is in actual a thesis has discussed in detail these controversies and the paradox that exists regarding the issue of black hole. Blac k hole is such a big controversy in the history of science that no other issue can second it. Many famous scientists have declared that black holes are a part of this universe and they are an unshaken reality while on the other numerous other renowned and eminent scientists have presented theories that there is no such thing as black holes and all the concept behind the black holes that has been presented by scientists who support are totally illogical and baseless. This thesis has discussed these various issues in detail and has presented its own view regarding this issue. The thesis is very interesting piece of writing and very informative. Fabbri, Alessandro, and Jose? Navarro-Salas. Modeling Black Hole Evaporation. London: Imperial College Press, 2005.

Data Transmission Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Data Transmission - Essay Example Noise includes intermodulation, thermal, impulse and crosstalk. Noise is mainly expected at the link; hence the signal power at the receiver has to be larger as compared to the power added noise to the signal in the path of transmission(Stallings, 2006). Data rate involves the bit number that a system is capable of transmitting in a time unit. Data rate is constrained by bandwidth, availability of impairments and the acceptable error rate. Bandwidth that is effective is the band within which signal energy is mostly concentrated. A channel is able to accommodate limited frequency band. If in bandwidth that is effective, input signal is larger than the system transmission bandwidth, signal at the output will be highly distorted(Stallings, 2006). Bandwidth of signal should match the bandwidth being supported by the communication channel. Error rate can be seen as the rate whereby errors can occur. An error is a reception of 1 when 0 was channeled or a reception of 0 when 1 was channeled (Stallings, 2006). Main factor characterizing channel capacity is the bandwidth. A great bandwidth of signal results to great information carrying capacity. While designing facility for communication one should consider signal bandwidth, digital information data rate, noise amount and acceptable error

How Business Works Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

How Business Works - Assignment Example Preparation and filling of the Articles of Association with the secretary of state is the other requirement of registering a corporation. On this note, a fee of $100 is paid for the filing of articles (Legislative Analyst’s Office). Creation of the corporation bylaws is the fourth procedure required in the formation of a corporation though no specific criteria is outlined for the corporations to follow. According to information from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, filling of an information statement with the state secretary is done where a fee of $25 is paid. The filing of this information should be done within ninety days. The next step encompass holding a meeting with the company’s incorporators. This is followed by issuing of stock certificates to the original owners of the corporation. Another important step is to obtain necessary local license needed to run the business. The final step involves determining the tax obligations for the corporation, which marks the end of registration process. The rate of income tax that applies to corporations in California ranges between 8.84% and a flat rate. The corporate fees and taxes in California state is different from those of neigbouring states like Oregon, Nevada, and even Arizona. Information from the Legislative Analyst’s Office indicates that the state of California tops in levying a broad based tax on the corporate profits. Legislative Analyst’s Office. California’s Tax System: A Primer. California’s Nonpartisan Fiscal And Policy Advisor, April 2007. Web. February14, 2013

Interpersonal Communication Strategies

Interpersonal Communication Strategies There are a lot of thing that are being taught about interpersonal communication in todays society. There are many thing that I have learned that will help you in your relationship as a married couple. Some of the thing that are important in interpersonal communication that will help you better communicate with one another will be discussed here today. There are a lot of skills that are needed to communicate effectively, identifying the barriers to effective interpersonal interactions as well as developing strategies for active, critical and empathic listening. Also according to what is being taught, learning how to evaluate appropriate levels of self-disclosure in relationships and also learning to understand how perceptions, emotions, and nonverbal expression affect interpersonal relationships. Learning strategies for managing interpersonal conflicts, is something that researchers feel could also a help a relationship. Here is some of what I have learnedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Identifying the barriers to effective interpersonal interactions is a very interesting subject as well as a great way to learn how to deal with or look for these barriers. According to Eric Garner, who list seven of the top barriers Its not always easy and often takes a lot of determination. But making an effort to remove the obstacles tangible and intangible that stand in our way, can be the key to building relationships that really work(Garner 2012) With Physical being the first barrier that he listed which mean Communication is generally easier over shorter distances as more communication channels are available and less technology is required. Although modern technology often serves to reduce the impact of physical barriers, the advantages and disadvantages of each communication channel should be understood so that an appropriate channel can be used to overcome the physical barriers, closed office doors, barrier screens, separate areas for people of different status, large worki ng areas or working in one unit that is physically separate from others. The second barrier Eric list is perceptual barriers is where the, The problem with communicating with others is that we all see the world differently. If we didnt, we would have no need to communicate: something like extrasensory perception would take its place. The next of the barriers are listed as emotional barriers is where, One of the chief barriers to open and free communications is the emotional barrier. It is comprised mainly of fear, mistrust and suspicion. The roots of our emotional mistrust of others lie in our childhood and infancy when we were taught to be careful what we said to others. Then we have, cultural barriers which means, when we join a group and wish to remain in it, sooner or later we need to adopt the behavior patterns of the group. These are the behaviors that the group accepts as signs of belonging. The group rewards such behavior through acts of recognition, approval and inclusion. In groups which are happy to accept you and where you are happy to conform, there is a mutuality of interest and a high level of win-win contact. Where, however, there are barriers to your membership of a group, a high level of game-playing replaces good communication. Next we have, Language barriers is described as, language that desc ribes what we want to say in our terms may present barriers to others who are not familiar with our expressions, buzz-words and jargon. When we couch our communication in such language, it is a way of excluding others. In a global market place the greatest compliment we can pay another person is to talk in their language. The sixth barrier is, the gender barrier, this barrier relates to There are distinct differences between the speech patterns in a man and those in a woman. A woman speaks between 22,000 and 25,000 words a day whereas a man speaks between 7,000 and 10,000. In childhood, girls speak earlier than boys and at the age of three, have a vocabulary twice that of boys. The reason for this lies in the wiring of a mans and womans brains. When a man talks, his speech is located in the left side of the brain but in no specific area. When a woman talks, the speech is located in both hemispheres and in two specific locations. This means that a man talks in a linear, logical and compartmentalized way, features of left-brain thinking; whereas a woman talks more freely mixing logic and emotion, features of both sides of the brain. It also explains why women talk for much longer than men each day. The last barrier that Eric Garner mentions is, interpersonal barriers, which sates that, There are six levels at which people can distance themselves from one another. These six things are listed as Withdrawal is an absence of interpersonal contact. It is both refusals to be in touch and time alone. Rituals are meaningless, repetitive routines devoid of real contact. Pastimes fill up time with others in social but superficial activities. Working activities are those tasks which follow the rules and procedures of contact but no more. Games are subtle, manipulative interactions which are about winning and losing. They include rackets and stamps. Closeness is the aim of interpersonal contact where there is a high level of honesty and acceptance of yourself and others. Working on improving your communications is a broad-brush activity. You have to change your thoughts, your feelings, and your physical connections. That way, you can break down the barriers that get in your way and start b uilding relationships that really work. Learning how to overcome these barriers and communicate with your mate effectively can make a world of different in how well you know your mate as well as how well you all will get along and how long the relationship will last. (Garner E. 2012) Now I will talk to you both about some of the strategies you can use for active, critical and empathic listening. To fully understand what your partner is trying to communicate to you it is really important to comprehend what he or she is saying to you. Now we know that some people like to talk more then others but when trying to communicate with your partner we have to remember to listen to the other person and give them the chance to talk as well. When everyone wants to talk and no one wants to listen it only complicates things and makes people unhappy. Communicating effectively is when you are able to express yourself effectively as well as being able to take time to listen keenly and carefully to what the other person is saying. Some of the strategies that can help you both to be more effective listener are, that when your partner is talking listen carefully and you can be able to repeat what he or she has said. This will help you to remember what the topic was and the kind of in formation that was shared rather it was super important or not so important later. If of you have the habit of forgetting what is discussed, it is important to be writing down the main points which will help you later. Distractions should be avoided in order to increase your ability of developing good listening skills, important communication between the two of you for example when you are budgeting your finances, it is important to switch off the TV phones, radios, or another such gadgets. It is important to listen from the heart which means having empathy towards what your partner is talking about Examine the body language, and lastly when something is not clear ask questions for clearing your understanding. Poor interpersonal communication level is the main cause of many broken marriages or couples seeking for counseling to restore their marriages. The common refrain used by most couples is that he or she no longer understands me. The main focus which couples are required to do is to understand and explore how to communicate to each other and the various problems they might be facing in communication . When you need your commutation to be improved the main aspects which you have to focus are the various communication mechanisms such as presenting honest and direct questions, providing feedback and setting aside time to talk to one another. Having a conflict is not the major issue but the main challenge is how you will be able to handle the conflict which will determine your future. Solving the conflict through the use of effective communication skills and understanding couples with respect leads to you having a happier future and building a stronger relationship. In future as you are confronted with conflicts, these communication skills tips will be effective for you. So keep them in your mind with the aim of having a positive outcome. Many couples think theyre communicating with each other when they sort out who will pick up the kids, pay the bills or call the grandparents, says Orbuch. But thats not the kind of communication shes talking about.(Schoenberg N. 2011) The article Can We Talk, Researcher talks about the role of communication in marriages I believe can really help you both to work on your communication skills with one another in your relationship. The article gives insight in to how couples can work on lea rning more about one another on a more personal level. Conversation partners related use of function words-such as pronouns, articles, conjunctions, prepositions and negations-augurs well for mutual romantic interest and stable relationships, says a team led by graduate student Molly Ireland and psychologist James Pennebaker, both of the University Of Texas At Austin. I find myself agreeing with the two psychologists. I believe that the use of language and grammar really contributes to the type of communication that we engage in our everyday life. The words people use when communicating with other has more meaning then people realize. So far in this class I have learned that it is not just what you rather then how you word things as well as your body language and facial expressions. An interesting irony is that two people who truly hate one another will often exhibit a high amount of language-style matching, Pennebaker says.Two people locked in a bitter fight tend to talk, or yell, in similar ways. Mostly, though, highly attentive conver sation partners like one another. (Bower B. 2012) According to Tim Borchers Self-disclosure is not simply providing information to another person. Instead, scholars define self-disclosure as sharing information with others that they would not normally know or discover. Self-disclosure involves risk and vulnerability on the part of the person sharing the information. Tim also states A useful way of viewing self-disclosure is the Johari window. The Johari window is a way of showing how much information you know about yourself and how much others know about you. The window contains four panes, as shown below. The Open Pane includes information such as hair color, occupation, and physical appearance. The Blind Pane includes information that others can see in you, but you cannot see in your self. You might think you are poor leader, but others think you exhibit strong leadership skills. The Hidden Pane contains information you wish to keep private, such as dreams or ambitions. The Unknown Pane includes everything that you and others do n ot know about yourself. You may have hidden talents, for example, that you have not explored. Through self-disclosure, we open and close panes so that we may become more intimate with others. I believe that using the method that Tim talks about can really help to better the self discloser in you interpersonal relationship. There are also functions and risk that Tim listed that can be helpful to a marriage as new as yours. He states Self-disclosure performs several functions. It is a way of gaining information about another person. We want to be able to predict the thoughts and actions of people we know. Self-disclosure is one way to learn about how another person thinks and feels. Once one person engages in self-disclosure, it is implied that the other person will also disclose personal information. This is known as the norm of reciprocity. Mutual disclosure deepens trust in the relationships and helps both people understand each other more. You also come to feel better about yourself and your relationship when the other person accepts what you tell them. Risks of Self-Disclosure While there are several advantages to self-disclosure, there are also risks. One risk is that the person will not respond favorably to the information. Self-disclosure does not automatically lead to favorable impressions. Anot her risk is that the other person will gain power in the relationship because of the information they possess. Finally, too much self-disclosure or self-disclosure that comes too early in a relationship can damage the relationship. Thus, while self-disclosure is useful, it can also be damaging to a relationship. ( Borchers T. 1999) Now I will give you some information that I have learned about perceptions, emotions, and nonverbal expression affect interpersonal relationships. According to Sole, Perception is the process of acquiring, interpreting, and organizing information that comes in through your senses. The perceptual process allows you to become conscious of situations in your environment that might be dangerous or that require your attention, and it is essential to your survival. Most people tend to think that they perceive the world as it really is; however, the truth is that they perceive only a small portion of what they encounter in the outside environment. Everything in the environment that has the potential to be perceived can be defined as a stimulus. These stimuli come to you through your five senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch; you pay attention to some of these stimuli and not to others. You then try to make sense of the stimuli you are aware of or have paid attention to and create your own interpretations and meaning of them. Nonverbal communication is defined as communication of a message without words, which means that it encompasses a wide range of vocal and visual signs and behaviors. Throughout your life, you express thoughts and ideas not only through language but also through your voice, eyes, face, body posture and movement, and hand gestures. Understanding emotions and expressing these emotions appropriately is the key to successful communication with others. People who are aware of their emotions and are sensitive to the emotions of others are better able to handle the ups and downs of life, to rebound from adversity, and to maintain fulfilling relationships with others. As a result, say researchers, they can live more satisfying lives (Matthews, Zeidner, Roberts, 2003). Emotional intelligence is a set of skills that can be learned. We can improve our emotional intelligence by increasing our awareness of emotional issues and improving our ability to identify, assess, and manage our feelings.(So le, 2011) People skills involve a wide range of interpersonal skills including appropriate self-disclosure determining how much personal information to share with others, appropriate assertion skills presenting your ideas and opinions so that they are recognized, collaborative skills working well with others, problem solving skills, and conflict resolution skills. In conclusion I feel that communicating effectively in any relationship especially in a new marriage take time, practice and skill. There are many skills that you can use when trying to better the level of communication in your marriage. These skills include identifying the barriers to effective interpersonal interactions as well as developing strategies for active, critical and empathic listening. Other skills that you both can try and gain a better understanding of are, appropriate levels of self-disclosure in relationships and also learning to understand how perceptions, emotions, and nonverbal expression affect interpersonal relationships. The skill that I feel will help you the most in order to keep you relationship smooth is, Learning strategies for managing interpersonal conflicts. I really hope that this advice and research will help you to have a long and successful marriage. Sincerely Tiffany D. Roberson Reference Page Borchers T., 1999 Moorhead State University Allyn Bacon Retrieved from: http://www.abacon.com/commstudies/interpersonal/indisclosure.html Bower Bruce, Science News 2012 U.S.News World Report LP Retrieved from: http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2010/11/22/shared-talking-styles-herald-new-and-lasting-romance Garner E. 2012, Seven Barriers to Great Communication Retrieved from: http://www.hodu.com/barriers.shtml Schoenberg N, CHICAGO TRIBUNE February 6, 2011, 2012 Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved From: http://www.chron.com/life/article/Researcher-talks-about-the-role-of-communication-1690761.php Sole, K. (2011).Making connections: Understanding interpersonal communication. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. retrieved from: https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUCOM200.11.1/sections/glossary?search=interpersonal%20communication#w103694

elmer gantry :: essays research papers

Elmer Gantry, the Terwillinger College president and a star football player, is continually enticed by many temptations including girls, alcohol and cigarettes. One day, when he travels with his friend Jim Lefferts to a near-by town, he drunkenly stands up for Eddie Fislinger, the Y.M.C.A. president, and his religious preaching. Inspired by the statements made by Elmer that defend religion; Eddie incessantly attempts to persuade Elmer to convert. When Judson Roberts, a former college football star, arrives at Elmer’s town, he is converted by the belief that it takes a strong man to accept Jesus and have eternal glory and life. Later on, Elmer and Frank Shallard, a fellow student at Mizpah Seminary, are called to be preacher and assistant at the church in Schoenheim. There, Elmer has a relationship with Lulu Bains, whom he is expected to marry. Elmer devises a scheme that he executes perfectly to make sure that this marriage does not take place. Elmer goes on with his training in the ministry and is presently assigned another church for the Easter service. On the way there, he meets a man who lives by his temptations. Foolishly, Elmer agrees to a rendezvous with the man and his friends from the Pequot Farm Implement Company. Elmer is unsuccessful in his attempt to hold off the enticement of alcohol during this tryst and is worse for the encounter. Elmer fails to show up for the Easter service and is replaced with another preacher who is assigned to find Elmer’s whereabouts. Upon finding Elmer drunk at a cafà © telling of his exploits, the pastor reports back to Dean Trosper. Elmer is subsequently fired from Mizpah and is taken on by the Pequot Farm Implement Company. In his travels, he encounters Sharon Falconer, a traveling evangelist. He immediately falls in love with her, along with her lilted voice, enthusiastic mind and focused nature. She contributed to the fact that Elmer was now virtuous and free of his temptations. Her life is full of falsities although she preaches about the erroneous ways of lying. Her real name is Katie Jonas and has stolen many of her sermons from other people and places. As the traveling group of evangelists, musicians and the choir continually reduced expenses, Sharon saved up for a permanent base in which she could preach. She finally bought a pier on the New Jersey coast and decided on an opening night.

Emily Murphy

Power and Influence Report – Emily Murphy To be a powerful and influential individual is to be able to convince others of a certain idea in order to get what one desires. Emily Murphy was born on March 14th 1868; she was the third child in a family of eight. Throughout her living years she accomplished things that are still to this day well recognized by the country and the British Empire all together. Her many leadership qualities led her to great success with her career and with marking Canadian history.Emily Murphy was a personality of power and influence. Women had very few rights in the early 1900s, none including political rights. They were expected to get married and have children, becoming the property of their husband. Women were not considered persons at this time; Emily Murphy had a great part in changing that. She first came up with the idea of the Dower Act. This would allow women legal rights to one third of their husband’s property. In 1916, the Alberta l egislature accepted to pass the act.She believed women should try other women in court so she sent a request for a female magistrate in the women’s court. This led her into becoming the first woman police magistrate of the British Empire. She later launched and won the â€Å"person’s case† in order to make women considered â€Å"persons† under the British North America Act of 1867. As a result, women would be qualified to sit and serve in the senate; Emily Murphy was named honorary senate after all her accomplishments regarding women’s rights.A powerful and influential individual is usually so because of the leadership traits that he or she possesses. Emily Murphy proved she was persuasive when she successfully convinced the Alberta legislature to pass the Dower act and when she influenced her request for a female magistrate in the women’s court. Murphy accomplished a lot in a short period of time because she was determined. She was also dil igent and hard working as nothing could stop her from reaching her goal of making women legally known as persons.She was capable of influencing and inspiring large numbers of people as she affected every Canadian woman’s life since the success of the person’s case. Combined, Emily Murphy’s leadership traits led her into being one of the most powerful and influential women in Canadian history. Emily Murphy was a character of great influence. Her many accomplishments and achievements will forever impact Canadian citizens. Her leadership traits led her well into reaching goals that affected positively the lives of many. Emily Murphy is an inspirational woman and truly someone to look up to.

10 Facts About Lagomorphs

10 Facts About Lagomorphs Rabbits, hares, and pikas, collectively known as lagomorphs, are known for their floppy ears, bushy tails and impressive hopping ability. But theres more to lagomorphs than fluffy fur and a bouncy gait. Rabbits, hares, and pikas are versatile mammals that have colonized a wide range of habitats throughout the world. They serve as prey for many species and as such play an important role in the food webs they occupy. In this article, youll learn interesting facts about rabbits, hares,  and pikas and find out about their unique characteristics, their life cycle, and their evolutionary history. Lagomorphs are divided into 2 basic groups Lagomorphs are a group of mammals that includes two basic groups, the pikas, and the hares and rabbits. Pikas are small, rodent-like mammals with short limbs and rounded ears. When they crouch down, they have a compact, almost egg-shaped profile. Pikas prefer cold climates throughout Asia, North America and Europe. They often inhabit mountainous landscapes. Hares and rabbits are small to medium-sized mammals that have short tails, long ears, and long hind legs. They have fur on the soles of their feet, a characteristic that gives them added traction when running. Hares and rabbits have acute hearing and good night vision, both adaptations to the crepuscular and nocturnal lifestyles of many of the species in this group. There are about 80 species of lagomorphs There are about 50 species of hares and rabbits. Well-known species include the European hare, snowshoe hare, Arctic hare and eastern cottontail. There are 30 species of pikas. Today, pikas are less diverse than they were during the Miocene. Lagomorphs were once thought to be a group of rodents Lagomorphs were once classified as a subgroup of rodents due to similarities in physical appearance, the arrangement of teeth and their vegetarian diet. But today, scientists believe that most similarities between rodents and lagomorphs are the result of convergent evolution and not due to shared ancestry. For this reason, lagomorphs have been promoted within the mammalian classification tree and now ran astride rodents as an order in their own right. Lagomorphs are among the most intensely hunted of any animal group Lagomorphs serve as prey for a wide variety of predator species around the world. They are hunted carnivores (such as bobcats, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes) and predatory birds (such as eagles, hawks, and owls). Lagomorphs are also hunted by humans for sport. Lagomorphs have adaptations that enable them to elude predators Lagomorphs have large eyes that are positioned on either side of their head, giving them a field of vision that encircles them completely. This gives lagomorphs a better chance of spotting approaching predators since they have no blind spots. Additionally, many lagomorphs have long back legs (enabling them to run quickly) and claws and fur-covered feet (which give them good traction). These adaptations give lagomorphs a better chance of escaping predators that get too close for comfort. Lagomorphs are absent from only a few terrestrial regions throughout the world Lagomorphs inhabit a range that includes North America, Central America, parts of South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In some parts of their range, especially islands, they were introduced by humans. Lagomorphs are absent from Antarctica, parts of South America, Indonesia, Madagascar, Iceland and parts of Greenland. Lagomorphs are herbivores Lagomorphs eat plants of various forms including grasses, fruits, seeds, herbs, buds, leaves and even bits of bark they strip off of deciduous and coniferous trees. They are also notorious for eating cultivated plants such as grains, cabbage, clover, and carrots. Since the plant foods they eat are nutrient-poor and difficult to digest, lagomorphs eat their droppings, thus causing the food material to pass through their digestive tract twice to maximize the number of nutrients they are able to extract. Lagomorphs have high reproductive rates Reproductive rates for lagomorphs are generally quite high. This offsets the high mortality rates they often face due to harsh environments, disease, and intense predation. The largest lagomorph is the European hare The European hare is the largest of all lagomorphs, reaching weights of between 3 and 6.5 pounds and lengths of more than 25 inches. The smallest lagomorphs are the pikas Pikas include the smallest of all lagomorphs. Pikas generally weigh between 3.5 and 14 ounces and measure between 6 and 9 inches long.

How a Genetic Mutation Led to the White Race

How a Genetic Mutation Led to the White Race Imagine a world where everyone had brown skin. Tens of thousands of years ago, that was the case, say scientists at Pennsylvania State University. So, how did white people get here? The answer lies in that tricky component of evolution known as a genetic mutation. Out of Africa It has long been assumed in scientific circles that Africa is the cradle of our human civilization​ and that it was there that our  ancestors shed most of their body hair around  2 million years ago. They quickly evolved dark skin for protection from skin cancer and other harmful effects of UV radiation. Then, says a 2005 study conducted at Penn State, when humans began leaving Africa 20,000 to 50,000 years ago, a skin-whitening mutation appeared randomly in a sole individual. That mutation proved advantageous as humans moved into Europe. Why? Because it allowed the migrants increased access to vitamin D, which is crucial to absorbing calcium and keeping bones strong. Sun intensity is great enough in equatorial regions that the vitamin can still be made in dark-skinned people despite the ultraviolet shielding effects of melanin, explains  Rick Weiss of the Washington Post, which reported on the findings.  But in the north, where sunlight is less intense and more clothing must be worn to combat the cold, melanins ultraviolet shielding could have been a liability. Just a Color This makes sense, but did scientists identify as well a bona fide race gene? Hardly. As the Post notes, the scientific community maintains that race is a vaguely defined biological, social and political concept...and skin color is only part of what race is- and is not. Scientists still say that race is more of a social construct than a scientific one because people of the so-called same race have more distinctions in their DNA than people of different races do. In fact, scientists posit that all people are roughly 99.5 percent genetically identical. The Penn State researchers findings on the skin-whitening gene show that skin color accounts  for a minuscule biological difference between humans. The newly found mutation involves a change of just one letter of DNA code out of the 3.1 billion letters in the human genome- the complete instructions for making a human being, the Post reports. Skin Deep When the research was first published, scientists and sociologists feared that the identification of this skin-whitening mutation would lead people to argue that whites, blacks, and others are somehow inherently different.  Keith Cheng, the scientist who led the team of Penn State researchers, wants the public to know thats not so. He told the Post, I think human beings are extremely insecure and look to visual cues of sameness to feel better, and people will do bad things to people who look different. His statement captures what racism is in a nutshell. Truth be told, people may look different, but theres virtually no difference in our genetic makeup. Skin color really is just skin deep. Not so Black and White Scientists at Penn State continue to explore the genetics of skin color. In  a study published in Science on October 12, 2017, researchers report their findings of even greater variants in skin color genes among native Africans. Such diversity, says  evolutionary geneticist Sarah Tishkoff, the lead author of the study, likely means that we cant even speak of an African race, much less a white one.

How I Reduced My Ecological Footprint Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How I Reduced My Ecological Footprint - Essay Example The reduction of the electricity levels that I consume also plays an important part in conserving the energy in our environment (Beder 13). Before attending the environmental class, I usually left electrical devices plugged on even when they were not in use. I also used drying machines despite there being enough sunlight to dry my clothes. These activities resulted in the wastage of energy resources at my disposal. After learning from my mistakes, I changed from most of my previous habits and adopted behaviors that enhanced my endeavors in conserving nature. Whenever I am using an electrical device at home or in school, I always leave it unplugged to ensure that   energy is conserved. The adoption of substitute energy sources such as wind, lunar and other forms of natural energy may be used to preserve energy. I have changed from using systems that consume fossil fuels when performing my routine activities. I am an active campaigner for the reduction of carbon emissions in the envi ronment by advocating for use of natural forms of energy. To reduce the emissions I produce as a result of the lighting in my house, I have adopted the use of halogen lighting. This is because it does not produce harmful emissions and is efficient in saving energy. These practices enable me to ensure reduction of the effects of my ecological footprint.  As a young child, I was greatly fascinated by the people who worked for lumbering factories. I really admired watching them cutting down trees and was aspiring to join them in the future. I viewed timber as a very important commodity that facilitates man’s development. Little did I know that the trees were only being cut down and there was nobody to plant new ones to replenish forests. The presence of trees ensures people live in clean and safe environments. This is because they help to filter out

International Finance - financial stability Essay

International Finance - financial stability - Essay Example According to the Deardoff's Glossary of International economics, "International finance is the monetary side of international economics, in contrast to the real side, or real trade. Often called also international monetary economics or international macroeconomics, each term has a slightly different meaning, and none seems entirely right for the entire field. "International finance" is best for the study of international financial markets including exchange rates. To explain international economics, it is the interaction among countries with respect to financial transactions, trade relationships, organizations and policies that govern them. The handbook written by Hal S. Scot named "An overview of International finance Law and Regulation" states "For economists international finance has traditionally meant the study of exchange rates but or policy makers and lawyers it meant much more. Generally, it involves the study of financial transactions, transaction that have some cross-border element with respect to payment, credit or investment, or a financial contract." History of International Finance: In order to understand the history of 'International finance, we have to know the emergence of large scale money lending, stock markets, the credit and debt of countries across the globe. International markets and money lending traces back to the medieval Europe in the twelfth century. Stock markets rose simultaneously in Sweden and London and the London stock exchange was formally inaugurated in 1801. In 1946, the Bretton woods system the gold standard and set limits on foreign exchange However; it collapsed in 1971 when the USA discarded this standard. International finance came into prominence only after a proper gold standard and aggregation of exchange rates among countries was established. Moreover, it played a vast role in the determination of trade relationship between countries. So what is International finance Is it a regulatory body or an inter-governmental organization No, it is the combined activity of all the bodies, which regulate trade and foreign exchange, and the relation of borrowing and lending of capital between countries. Organizations in International finance: Let us look at some of the organizations that play a key role in International finance Below is a table which lists clearly all global organizations that stand as pillars to International trade and finance:- Organization name Location of headquarters Year created Description World Bank Washington DC, USA 1945 Made up of two institutions focused on development: the International Bank for Reconstruction, Development, and the International Development Association. The bank provides loans and grants to developing countries to assist their economic development. International Monetary Fund (IMF) Washington DC, USA 1945 Exists to promote stability in the world's economy, particularly the avoidance of monetary crises and the maintenance of a system of currency exchange. Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Basel, Switzerland 1930 Seeks to ensure consistency, co-operation and co-ordination of reserves by member countries (mainly European, and North/South American states). Group of Eight (G8) No HQ - group consists of the member states only 1998 (predecessors G6 and G7 began earlier) Collaboration between governments of USA, France, UK, Germany, Italy,