Tuesday, November 26, 2019

DVD Audio essays

DVD Audio essays DVD-Audio is a new music format that offers a major advance in audio performance by providing the listener with Advanced Resolution stereo (2 channels) and/or multi-channel (surround sound up to 6 channels) music. Consumer electronics manufacturers have announced a full range of DVD-Audio players including home decks, car and portable players. This paper will discuss the advantages and disadvantages and also the differences between a DVD-Audio and SACD. It will also discuss the surround sound capabilities, sound quality, and storage availability. The advantages of DVD -Audio are typical increases in technology but are big steps toward the future. DVD-Audio is a taste of what the future can hold for audio, graphics, and video combined as one. DVD-Audio is a format specifically designed to provide the highest possible audio fidelity capable on DVD. It takes advantage of the large storage capacity, speed and flexibility possible with DVD. It also provides audio in stereo and in multi-channel surround. This enables you to do 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, and so on. In addition to audio, a DVD-Audio disk can contain a limited amount of video, which can be used to display text. The text can be words, pictures, lyrics, or notes. Up to 16 pictures can be on each track and on-screen displays can be used for lyrics and disc navigation. A DVD-Audio disc can also include audio tracks recorded in Dolby Digital and DTS for compatibility with DVD-Video players. However, the real advantage of the DVD-Audio specification over DVD-Video and CD is the increased quality of the PCM audio format. PCM or Pulse-Coded-Modulation is the audio format standard for CDs and available on many DVD-Videos. DVD-Audio supports a significantly higher quality of PCM audio than is possible on CD or DVD-Video. Full multi-channel surround sound can be recorded in high fidelity PCM creating a sound field similar to a live performance. DVD-Audio PCM can be record...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Pros and Cons of Gun Ownership in the U.S.

Pros and Cons of Gun Ownership in the U.S. About 80 million Americans, representing half of U.S. homes, own more than 223 million guns. And yet, 60% of Democrats and 30% of Republicans favor stronger gun ownership laws. Historically, states have regulated laws governing individual ownership and use of guns. State gun laws vary widely from loose regulations in many southern, western and rural states to restrictive laws in the largest cities. In the 1980s, though, the National Rifle Association increased pressure on Congress to loosen gun control laws and restrictions. In June 2010, however, the Supreme Court struck down Chicagos restrictive gun-control laws, declaring that that Americans in all 50 states have a constitutional right to possess firearms for self-defense. Gun Rights and the Second Amendment Gun rights are granted by the Second Amendment, which reads: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. All political viewpoints agree that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of the government to maintain an armed militia to protect the nation. But disagreement historically existed as to whether or not it guarantees the right of all persons to own/use guns any place and at any time.. Collective Rights vs. Individual Rights Until the mid-20th century, liberal constitutional scholars held a Collective Rights position, that the Second Amendment only protects the collective right of the states to maintain armed militias. Conservative scholars held an Individual Rights position that the Second Amendment also grants an individuals right to own guns as private property, and that most restrictions on buying and carrying guns impede individual rights. Gun Control and the World The U.S. has the highest rate of gun ownership and of gun homicide in the developed world, per a 1999 Harvard School of Public Health study. In 1997, Great Britain banned private ownership of almost all handguns. And in Australia, Prime Minister John Howard commented after a 1996 mass killings in that country that we took action to limit the availability of funs, and we showed a national resolved that the gun culture that is such a negative in the U.S. would never become a negative in our country. Wrote Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne in 2007, Our country is a laughingstock on the rest of the planet because of our devotion to unlimited gun rights. District of Columbia vs. Heller Two U.S. Supreme Court rulings, District of Columbia vs. Heller (2008) and McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010), effectively struck down or nullified restrictive gun ownership and use laws for individuals. In 2003, six Washington D.C. residents filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the constitutionality of Washington D.C.s Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975, considered among the most restrictive in the U.S. Enacted in response to a horrifically high crime and gun violence rate, the D.C. law outlawed ownership of handguns, except for police officers and certain others. The D.C. law also specified that shotguns and rifles must be kept unloaded or dissembled, and with the trigger locked. (Read more about D.C. gun laws.) The federal District Court dismissed the lawsuit. The six litigants, led by Dick Heller, a Federal Judicial Center guard who wanted to keep a gun at home, appealed the dismissal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. On March 9, 2007, the federal Appeals court voted 2 to 1 to strike down the dismissal of the Heller suit. Wrote the majority: To summarize, we conclude that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms... That is not to suggest that the government is absolutely barred from regulating the use and ownership of pistols. The NRA called the ruling a significant victory for individual... rights. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Handgun Violence called it judicial activism at its worst. Supreme Court Review of District of Columbia vs. Heller Both litigants and defendants appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear this landmark gun rights case. On March 18, 2008, the Court heard oral arguments from both sides. On June 26, 2008, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to overturn the restrictive gun laws of Washington D.C., as depriving individuals of their right to own and use a gun in their own home and in federal enclaves, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment. McDonald v. City of Chicago On June 28, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court resolved anmiguities created by its District of Columbia vs. Heller decision as to whether or not individual gun rights apply to all states, as well. Briefly, in striking down Chicagos strict handgun laws, the Court established, by vote of 5 to 4, that the right to keep and bear arms is a privilege of American citizenship that applies to the States. Background Political focus on U.S. gun control laws has increased since 1968 passage of the Gun Control Act, enacted after the assassinations of John F. and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. Between 1985 and 1996, 28 states eased restrictions on concealed weapon carrying. As of 2000, 22 states allowed concealed guns to be carried almost anywhere, including places of worship. The following are the federal laws enacted to control/tax guns held by individuals: 1934 - National Firearms Act imposed a tax on the sale of machine guns and short-barrel firearms, in reaction public rage over gangster activity.1938 - Federal Firearms Act required licensing of gun dealers.1968 - Gun Control Act expanded licensing and record-keeping; banned felons and the mentally ill from buying guns; banned the mail order sale of guns.1972 - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was created to oversee federal regulation of guns.1986 - Firearms Owners Protection Act eased some gun sale restrictions, reflecting the growing influence of the NRA under President Reagan.1993 - Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act requires gun dealers to run background checks on purchasers. Establishes national database of prohibited gun owners.1994 - Violent Crime Control Act banned the sale of new assault weapons for ten years. The Act was sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). the Republican-led Congress allowed the law expire in 2004.2003 - Tiahrt Amendment protects gun dealers and manufacturers from certain lawsuits. 2007 - via the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, Congress closes loopholes in the national database after the mass shooting at Virginia Tech University. (For more info from 1791 to 1999, see A Brief History of Firearms Regulation in America by Robert Longley, About.com Govt Info Guide.) For More Restrictive Gun Laws Arguments in favor of more restrictive gun laws are: Societal needs for reasonable gun control lawsHigh rate of gun-related violence and deathSecond Amendment does not provide for individual gun rights Societal Needs for Reasonable Gun Control The federal, state and  local governments  enact laws to protect and defend the people and property of the U.S. Proponents of more restrictive gun ownership laws contend that under-regulation puts U.S. residents at unreasonable risk. A  1999 Harvard School of Public Health study  revealed that Americans feel less safe as more people in their community being to carry guns, and that 90% believe that regular citizens should be prohibited from bringing guns into most public places, including stadiums, restaurants, hospitals, college campuses and places of worship. U.S. residents have a right to reasonable protection from dangers, including danger from guns. Examples cited include the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting deaths of 32 students and teachers and the 1999 killings at Colorados Columbine High School of 13 students and teachers. High Rate of Gun-Related Crime Americans favoring more restrictive gun ownership/use laws believe that such measures will reduce gun-related crime, homicide and suicide in the U.S. About 80 million Americans, representing 50% of U.S homes, own 223 million guns , easily the highest private gun ownership rate of any country in the world. Gun use  in the United States is associated with the majority of homicides and over half the suicide,  per Wikipedia. More than  30,000  U.S. men, women and children die each year from gunshot wounds, the highest homicide rate from guns in the world. Of those 30,000 deaths, only about  1,500  are due to accidental shootings. Per the Harvard 1999 study, most Americans believe that U.S.  gun violence  and homicide would decrease by reducing the private ownership and use of guns. Constitution Does Not Provide for Individual Gun Rights ... nine federal appeals courts around the nation have adopted the collective rights view, opposing the notion that the amendment protects individual gun rights. The only exceptions are the Fifth Circuit, in New Orleans, and the District of Columbia Circuit,  per the New York Times. For hundreds of years, the prevailing opinion of Constitutional scholars has been that the Second Amendment does not address private gun ownership rights, but only guarantees the collective right of states to maintain militias. For Less Restrictive Gun Laws Arguments in favor of less restrictive gun laws include: Individual resistance to tyranny is a civil right guaranteed by the Second AmendmentSelf defenseRecreational use of guns Individual Resistance to Tyranny Is a Constitutional Right No one disputes that the intended purpose of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is to empower U.S. residents to resist governmental tyranny. The controversy is whether that empowerment is intended to be on a individual or collective basis. Holders of the  Individual Rights  position, which is considered the conservative stance, believe that the Second Amendment gives private gun ownership and use to individuals as a basic civil right to protection from government tyranny, such as the tyranny faced by the founders of the United States. Per the  New York Times on May 6, 2007: There used to be an almost complete scholarly and judicial consensus that the Second Amendment protects only a collective right of the states to maintain militias. That consensus no longer exists - thanks largely to the work over the last 20 years of several leading liberal law professors, who have come to embrace the view that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to own guns. Self-Defense in Response to Crime and Violence Holders of the  Individual Rights  position believe that allowing increased private ownership and use of guns as self-protection is the effective response to controlling gun violence and homicide. The argument is if gun ownership is legally restricted, then all and only law-abiding Americans will be unarmed, and therefore would be the easy prey of criminals and law-breakers. Proponents of less restrictive gun laws cite a  number of instances in which stringent new laws  resulted in a dramatic increase, not decrease, in gun-related crimes and violence. Recreational Use of Guns In many states, majority of citizens contend that restrictive gun ownership/use laws impede safe hunting and shooting, which to them are important cultural traditions and popular recreational pursuits. For us, guns and hunting is a way of life, said Mr. Helms, the manager of Marstillers Gun Shop (in Morgantown, West Virginia) per the  New York Times on March 8, 2008. In fact, a  bill was recently passed  in the West Virginia legislature to allow hunting education classes in all schools where twenty or more students express interest. Where It Stands Gun control laws are difficult to pass in Congress because gun rights groups and lobbyists wield enormous influence on  Capitol Hill  via campaign contributions, and have had great success in defeating pro-gun control candidates. Explained the Center for Responsive Politics in 2007: Gun rights groups have given more than $17 million in... contributions to federal candidates and party committees since 1989. Nearly $15 million, or 85 percent of the total, has gone to Republicans. The  National Rifle Association  is by far the gun rights lobbys biggest donor, having contributed more than $14 million over the past 15 years. Gun control advocates... contribute far less money than their rivals a total of nearly $1.7 million since 1989, of which 94 percent went to Democrats. Per the Washington Post, in the 2006 elections: Republicans received 166 times as much money from pro-gun groups as from anti-gun groups. Democrats received three times as much from pro-gun as anti-gun groups. Congressional Democrats and Gun Laws A sizeable minority of Congressional Democrats are gun rights advocates, especially among those newly elected to office in 2006. Freshman senators who strongly favor gun rights include  Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA),  Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA), and  Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT). Per the NRA, House members newly elected in 2006 include 24 pro-gun rights advocates: 11 Democrats and 13 Republicans. Presidential Politics and Gun Laws Statistically, Americans most likely to own guns are men, whites and southerners... not by coincidence, the demographics of the so-called swing vote that often decides the victors of presidential and other national elections. Former President Barack Obama believes that the country must do whatever it takes to eradicate gun violence... but he believes in an individuals right to bear arms. A full transcript of his 2013 remarks on gun violence are provided by ABC News.. In contrast, U.S. Senator John McCain, reaffirmed his unequivocal support of unfettered gun laws,  saying on the day of the Virginia Tech massacre: I do believe in the constitutional right that everyone has, in the  Second Amendment to the Constitution, to carry a weapon. Following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and subsequent student-led protests in 2018, President Donald Trump tweeted on March 28: THE SECOND AMENDMENT WILL NEVER BE REPEALED!

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Current Event-Licensing Agreement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Current Event-Licensing Agreement - Essay Example The deal fits well into the objectives of each of the parties involved, and this may mean that the parties carefully looked into what benefits they will accrue from such an agreement before signing. Kate Spade & Co is seeking to use Fossil’s extensive networks to expand its operations to a global scale, meet growing demands and increase its profit margins. On the other hand, Fossil Global Inc is excited to add and represent Kate Spade & Co to its already envious portfolio. Looking back, Fossil Global has successfully entered into huge deals before. They have signed agreements with popular, successful brands such as Giorgio Armani and Michael Kors, both of which recently renewed their agreements for another ten year period. Fossil Global also handles the design, production and distribution of accessories for its portfolio of clients and takes off this load from the clients. Also with Fossil Global’s large distribution channel spanning competitively over 150 countries, Kate Spade & Co headache of creating their distribution points across the globe will reduce. I strongly believe that this partnership is worth undertaking despite the currency dip challenges that faced Fossil Global in the last quarter of their financial year. This type of partnership is a perfect example of a huge risk huge returns opportunity. The deal involves known and unknown risks as well as assumptions and uncertainties, some of which are outside the parties’ control. Using past experiences, Fossil Global Inc has signed other such agreements with huge and reputable brands including the American sportswear brand, Tory Burch and have come out successful in the end. When I look at the agreement, the ten-year period provides the parties involved with sufficient time to gather enough information to make informed decisions on whether the partnership is worthwhile or

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Where Did Americans Spend Their Money Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Where Did Americans Spend Their Money - Essay Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that in his findings, Sparshott reveals that restaurants and retailers witnessed a sales rise of 1.2 percent in June compared to the previous month. The big vehicle sales also helped boost the level of economic growth. Dealers of motor vehicles and spare parts indicated that they witnessed a 2 percent rise in June compared to May. Even with the elimination of auto sales, gains were broad-based, as they still reflected a 1 percent growth. Furthermore, the cheap prices of gasoline have provided Americans with a windfall, although in recent months they are more motivated to saving rather than spending. In May, however, gasoline stations witnessed their ultimate leap since 2012, although Americans ignored the move. They directed their earnings to gardening and building materials, non-store retailers, and clothing stores. Thus, based on the growth in sales in the recent months, the researcher has realized that Sparshott has ef fectively shown the way the American economy is shifting from the harsh weather witnessed during the first quarter of the year. This is because the present figures are revealing strong growth in payroll real income. This way, the author hopes the country will be able to reverse the contraction it witnessed during the first quarter of 2015.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Design an Advertisement or a Web Site for the Cinema Essay Example for Free

Design an Advertisement or a Web Site for the Cinema Essay Design an advertisement or a web site for the cinema. Your advertisement or web site should be attractive and easy to update as films and timings change and be suitable for publication in various places. The application chosen To complete the task above, I used Microsoft Front page 2000. T his is a Desktop Publishing package and enabled me to create a web page, as specified in the task brief. This task required a DTP (Desktop publisher) as it is a web based project, in other words, the result could be published on the web. I used Front page, as it enabled me to easily update and modify the web page, this was also required in the specification. It is also easily published onto the World Wide Web, or the Internet, as long as I have the required web space necessary. I could have used Microsoft Word, which I have more knowledge about, and therefore would have been easier to use, but I felt that I would use Front page, as it automatically saves the web page as the required format for web publishing and also it is designed for my required purpose. Equally I could have used Microsoft publisher, also a desktop publisher, but as I have no previous experience using this program, I felt that I should use Front page. Software Advantages / Benefits Disadvantages / Drawbacks Front Page Specifically designed for Desktop Publishing, many features designed especially for Web publishing. Very complex to use, not much experience in using program. Word Very simple to use, can be used by beginners to experts, the more experience a user has with the program, the more complex the program can become. Primarily a Word-processing package, not designed for DTP. Publisher Desk Top Publisher, lots of templates for easy publishing, easy to update and insert images and text boxes etc. I have not go much experience in using this program, also it is quite difficult to use with no experience. Does not automatically save as html format. Big Ms Software Big M cinemas are currently running computers that can only run basic word processing packages, they may need to upgrade their software, for example a Microsoft Office suite may suit their needs as this can be basic and advanced depending on the skill of the user. Their printer software and drivers may also need updating as they have problems when sending things to be printed, they sometimes do not come out, as they should. Software available for use at home; Microsoft Office 2002; * Publisher * Word * Front Page 2002 * Access * Excel * PowerPoint To complete this project I will not need any other programs, I will need Microsoft Access, Excel and Front Page, and Word for this write up. Software I need to complete this project; Software Purpose and Advantages Front Page Specifically designed for Desktop Publishing, many features designed especially for Web publishing. Specific for my requirements also easy to update page and site, as specified in the requirements. Word Very simple to use, can be used by beginners to experts, the more experience a user has with the program, the more complex the program can become. Specific for Word processing that is what I need it for, in this write up. It incorporates many advanced features, e.g. table of contents, that otherwise would take along time to produce. Excel A very advanced spreadsheet program, which will enable me to make a accounting package, with the use of functions, macros and many other features specific to this program. Access This database software will enable me to complete task 3, a very advanced database program, enabling me to run queries, forms and to create letters to members depending on their interests. Hardware For this task the user would need a relatively fast computer, e.g. 300mhz or over, this would enable the user to use Front Page effectively. Any slower and the time needed for image handling, and even fast input of text maybe hindered. I could have used a slow home computer or those in the library with slower processors and older software. I decided to use the computers in the ICT department as they are adequately fast enough for my needs and will run all the software I need. School Computers Connected to a LAN (Local area network) Standard Qwerty Keyboard Standard PS/2 Mouse 15 Visual display unit (SVGA) 600MHz Celeron processor 6GB HDD A:\ Drive for 3.5 diskette Epson Stylus colour 850 Inkjet Hewlett Packard 2100 Laser jet Printer Epson Scanner 56K Modem My Home PC 333MHz Celeron Processor CDRW 8*4*8 and 10*8*32 with Nero 4 7.5GB HDD Standard Qwerty Keyboard Standard PS/2 Mouse 15 Visual display unit (SVGA) A:\ Drive for 3.5 diskette Epson Scanner Epson stylus colour 440 Inkjet 56K Modem Hardware Advantages / Benefits Disadvantages / Drawbacks School computers Fast processor, 600mhz, networked so I can access work from all computers, very efficient laser printers and colour printers. Some computers do not have Front Page, although this is Software, limited printer credits, and sometimes the internet connection is down. Big Ms Computers None, apparently. Capable of basic word processing. Many; too slow, trouble with printers, whole system out dated. Qwerty keyboard Most commonly used keyboard. Not as quick to type on as other keyboards, e.g. Natural keyboards. Home PC Linked to Internet, no sites are filtered, enables me to do extra project work, out of the time limit. No printer credits Slower processor than school, infected with virus, so has a tendency to crash. Does not have all the same software as school. Lacks new scanner etc. This system is similar to what Big M Cinemas may need to upgrade to, 600 MHz processors are adequately fast enough and will run every piece of software available today. Also the laser printers used at school may also be necessary for Big M cinemas to get high quality print outs and also quick printing. This would enable them to print out lots of very high quality leaflets, and information sheets in a very short amount of time. Using the software In designing a Web Page, as specified in the project requirements, I broke the steps down into smaller parts. Firstly I researched the films, included in my database, and selected some of the latest films. I then created 3 separate pages, Main page, Latest films and Ticket prices. I then created the main page, a very simple page, as outlined in Appendix 1, or the web page research. I then, very briefly explained the ticket prices, Standard Luxury and disabled, giving prices for each. The last page I created was the Latest film reviews, where I simply entered a block of text, or the review and a graphic into a table with two cells, giving a simple and easy reading review page. Data needed by the system The data needed by the Web page system, will be information such as film times, ticket prices, certificates of films, and corresponding pictures for the review of the film. This will also apply for the corresponding text for a certain film. When the data is put into the system, it will have to be correct. I made sure the data was correct by checking it previously. I also made sure when compiling the film reviews, obtained the text and graphic and the title of the film at the same time, so as not to make a mistake. I would have to make sure that information like the Certificate of the films, e.g. U, PG, 12, 15 and 18 was correct as this may be misleading if it was not. Film times were also important as if these were incorrect; people may turn up to the cinema at the wrong time. A lot of this data is included in the Film table on the Database, see Database. This information could be put onto the web page if I were to do this task as the extension. I will also check spelling of film nam es using a spell check tool. The ticket prices would also have to be correct to correspond with the Spreadsheet, as I only included standard seats in the spreadsheet, I would only have to make this price match, in this case à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5. System outputs This task should produce the following outputs, a printout of the Web page, as necessary in this project, to hand it in. Another output possible would be a booked ticket, if I had constructed a booking system on my website, this could be an extension task. I chose to keep my outputs limited to a printout, as this is all I had time to do during the project as time was limited. Systems like the spreadsheet and database will have many more outputs as these were required. Analysing the problem During my research, I found the user would like colourful and attractive, also easy to use web sites. The evidence to support this can be found in Appendix 1, although this is printed in greyscale, all the web sites are high in contrast and very colourful. They are all very simple to use but very complicated systems at the same time. I will be able to achieve a high contrast and colourful site, and make it simple to use, incorporating hyperlinks to each page but will not be able to create a complex system in the time limit. The stages of input, processing and output are shown in the flow diagram below; Types of system Output The system can output information in different formats e.g. using a VDU the information can be displayed on screen, also the information can be printed using many different types of printers e.g. laser or inkjet. Output devices Advantages/Benefits Disadvantages/Drawbacks Visual Display Unit Size can be altered on most programs e.g. percentage of view. Information can be changed on screen. Information cannot be amended by hand whereas a printout can be. Inkjet printer Colour or Black, good quality. Printouts enable information to be marked or easily amended. Very expensive, slower than laser printer. Laser printer Very fast printing, black, very high quality. No colour in some models, extremely expensive. Having looked at the system devices, I decided to use a VDU to change data on screen, which enabled me to change view and so on. To print documents entirely in black, I will use a laser printer for speed and quality of printing. For colour documents I will use the inkjet printed which will enable me to print in colour. One more system output is the image on a VDU, which the user of the system will be able to view. The information, and film reviews will be what is visible, depending on the page that the user is viewing. Data Storage The data will be stored on the school network and my home PC, in addition I will keep a back up on floppy disk. This is three methods of data storage, the hard drives of both computers, are a form of magnetic storage, this also applies for the floppy disk. If I were to make sure I would not lose my data, I could store it optically on a CD (compact disk). For security purposes, I could store all my work on a tape, a security procedure carried out on the school network weekly. Testing To make sure that the system works I will complete these tests; * Ask an impartial person, to use my system, for example, I could ask them to load up the home page, by opening the file in my area, Click the link to the reviews page and print it off, If they were successful I know my system is successful. * Results; I completed this test and the user was able to complete my request. * Ask another person to open the web page, again and click the link to the reviews page, again as before, but this time, highlight the review and graphic for panic room, copy it and paste it into Word, and print it off. * Results; I completed this test; it was also successful, proving my system is user friendly. Simple Documentation For this task, I will only complete a simple user documentation. As this Web page is very simple, and does not have any complex features or relations, it is very simple to use, and as there are no booking systems, or show times, it is not very complicated. * If the system has been uploaded to the Internet, * Type in the address bar; www.BigMCinemas.com * This will take the user to the home page, * Follow the links to either, the Latest film review page or the Ticket prices page. Latest Reviews; * Look at the film reviews, * Scroll down to access hidden ones, * Either, take the link back to the home page or to ticket prices. Ticket Prices; * Gather required information on ticket prices, * Either, take the link to the home page or latest reviews. This is an incredibly simple user documentation, but as the system is so simple to use, this is all that is required. If a booking system were incorporated, the user documentation would become more complex. Evaluation The benefits of the system The benefits of the system I have developed will be; * The user will be able to access Film reviews from any computer connected to the internet. * If I were to extend my site incorporating a booking system, the benefits for the user would be that they would be able to book online, and pay with a secure connection using their credit card. * Another advantage for the user, if they were to become a Friend of Big Ms Cinemas, they would be able to get benefits from using my system, as members may get a reduced price for tickets, and priority seats. * At current, the site is very simple, but another benefit, as it is web based and designed to be easily updated, I will be able to update the film reviews very quickly and easily. This is a benefit for the user as they are getting the latest reviews, and prices as soon as they come out. There may be drawback to my system, such as that at current it is very simple and may not provide all the information the user wants. For example, it only has reviews for a limited number of films, due to the time limit I had in making it. When using the system, which only has 3 different pages, the user may not get all the information they require, e.g. different prices for different seats, and discounts for members. I produced a very simple system and realised that I would need to spend a lot more time in planning and designing the site if it were to become viable to upload to the web and use as an active system. I would need to produce a booking page, with all the different seats and prices for each screen, and depending on the age Certificate, update the ticket prices, e.g. if a film was a 15, child prices would not need be included, and so on. A secure connection would need to be gained for Credit card payment, and I would need to produce a Membership form online, like that featured ion Appendix 2. as well as this I would need to increase the amount of reviews, and add Film times, and their certificates. I could have used a membership form that I could design and print out, and hand out at the Cinema chains, by hand. These forms could be returned in the post. This method is a lot slower and not so reliable, as sending letters is not 100% safe, they can easily be lost or misplaced. Alternative methods for my system; * (1) Instead of publishing my system on the Internet, I could put my parts of my system, as already exists into a newspaper. Many cinemas already advertise film times, and the names of all the films, in weekly newspapers. There are many drawbacks to this system. I would only be able to put in a small advert, due to a large cost for advertising, and I would only be able to include film times, certificates and screens showing certain films. It is a very effective method as it is available to a lot of people. * (2) I could also put my system onto Tele-text, instead of the internet; there are also many problems with this method. Tele-text is quite slow, the design and layout is very simple and not very eye-catching. Only certain information would be provided, as graphics for the reviews would not be possible. An advantage of this system is that it is very easily updated. If I had more time, I would have improved my system, and included a booking system, and improved my reviews page, I would also have included film times, different cinemas, certificates of the films, incorporated a membership application page and generally improved it, making it more complex, but regaining its simplicity. My system Alternative Method (1) Alternative method (2) Advantages Enables me to put all the information onto the system, including booking systems, film reviews and film times, and ticket prices that are easily accessible for anyone with access to a PC, with an internet connection. It is also very easy to update, enabling me to regularly keep the site posted and constantly bring up to date the film times and the screens on which they are showing. More people could access the information, as more people have access to newspapers than the internet. It is also a very good way of advertising as more people will see the information and in some aspects, it is quicker than using either my system or method 2, as it is very direct and the information is very easily obtained. By putting the system onto C-Fax, or Tele-text, I would be able to make the information available to any one with a Tele-text compatible television. This would be easily updateable, unlike alternative Method 1, which is only updateable when a new Paper is released. This system could also include a number for phone booking. Disadvantages There are not too many disadvantages to my system; it is a lot more comprehensive than both the alternative methods, as they are both limited. This system would not be very good, as it would only incorporate the film times, and titles. The first system, allows the user to read reviews and book online. Although this system could include a phone number for phone booking, this is a very successful method. Graphics could not be included, although reviews could. Ticket prices and links to other pages could also be provided. Hyperlinks could not be made, and the design and layout is very primitive on Tele-text. Summary The use of ICT If I compare my solution to ones that already exist then I can see that in many respects my system would be better, if I were to extend and improve it. These system already exist and are very successful, as shown in Appendix 1, showing the Odeons web site, a comprehensive example I would need to follow if I were to extend this particular project. Comparing my current system to systems like that on the Odeon page, I can see mine is very primitive, and not very good. The changes that have occurred due to the use of ICT and computers are, the increased ease in Booking Tickets, becoming a member, viewing reviews quickly and easily, and looking up film times, certificates and the price of various tickets. Computers have enabled many more people to access this information and increase the complexity of a system like this. The people that use the system would benefit from using it as it would save them time booking tickets or becoming a member. In some ways it increases security, and reliab ility, as a membership form sent in the post could be lost. The user would also find all the information they need in one place and at the same time, eliminating hassle in phoning up the cinema or buying a newspaper.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Physics of Drums :: physics music drum drums

Dating back to the slave trade the drum has been used all over the world as a means of communication and self expression. Its broad variety of users includes the early African tribes and the Native Alaskan tribes, both using them for ceremonial purposes. The Africans brought drums with them to the Americas and helped to develop their popularity among American musicians. In the mid 1900’s drum sets were brought about. These revolutionary collaborations of percussive pieces started off with a pair of hi-hats, a bass and snare drum, and a couple of tom toms. Later as the music progressed, so did the drum kits, completely eliminating the need for an entire drum section. With the coming of the rock and roll movement the drum kits were changing, they needed to accommodate the new music styles. They became sonically diverse and even electronic drums were brought about; making them infinitely adjustable both ergonomically and musically. With every major drum manufacturer c ompeting to have the best product on the market drums will always be evolving and the † limit for drum set creation will simply be the imagination of the musicians.† (http://www.josaka.com/Features/2005/History-of-Drums.htm) The sound waves for open ended and string instruments is fairly straight forward. However, for a closed end instrument, such as a drum, the sound waves are different. A lot of the energy is dissipated through the shell of the drum, which is the reason for the variance in drum construction these days. Many different kinds of wood are used to generate different sounds, or a different amount of energy absorption. For a warmer, deeper sound maple construction is used while birch is used to get a high, resonant tone full of vibration. The heaviest wood that dissipates the most amount of energy is oak, creating a lower, flat sound. When the wooden shell construction isn’t enough for drummers to achieve the right amount of sound wave dampening, different drum heads are used.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Sordaria Lab

Effects of Crossing Over in Sordaria fimicola Abstract Sexual reproduction in organisms is a cause for genetic variation. This can be seen through the process of meiosis in Sordaria fimicola because of the effects of crossing over and independent assortment that occur in meiosis I. Before performing this experiment we hypothesized that we would be able to see that crossing over did indeed occur in the S. fimicola. We tested our hypothesis by growing our own culture and observing it under a microscope. By counting and recording the types of asci we were able to find that our hypothesis had been correct.This has now led us to know that sexual reproduction causes an increase in genetic variation in organisms such as, Sordaria fimicola. Introduction Organisms reproduce in two ways: asexually and sexually. Sexual reproduction can be defined as the reproduction involving the union of gametes or when genetic material from two parents combine to form offspring (Cyr). Offspring produced from sexual reproduction have a unique genetic make-up, which can either be beneficial or destructive to them (Saleem). Close to all known organisms use this kind of reproduction during some moment in their lifetime.If this is true, however, why is not every species seemingly genetically identical? To answer this, one must observe the chromosome behavior during the sexual reproduction life cycle also known as meiosis. Meiosis is the process of cell division in which gametes are produced. It results in four haploid (IN) cells from two diploid (2N) cells (Cyr). In meiosis I, crossing over and independent assortment of the chromosomes occur. These two processes increase the genetic variation within the cell either benefiting or hurting the cell’s ability to adapt (natural selection).After these two events have occurred, the chromosomes will then proceed through all four stages and produce two daughter cells (Cyr). In meiosis II, the two daughter cells each again proceed through all f our stages and produce a final four distinctly different daughter cells (Cyr). Sordaria fimicola allows us to see observe the process of meiosis. This is because its life cycle is rapid and allows scientists to observe many generations in a short amount of time (Meiosis). Also, the size of S. fimicola makes it easily viewable under a microscope.Experiments with â€Å"Evolution Canyon† have shown exactly how S. fimicola is a representative organism for crossing over. Evolution Canyon represents the whole idea of different locations in Israel containing two mountain slopes exposed to vastly different climatic conditions that converge with a valley between them (Meiosis). In each of these cases, one slope has been exposed to harsh conditions while the other has been exposed to temperate conditions (Saleem). Because each slope undergoes different conditions, we can observe how genetic variation is affects the S. imicola that live on each slope. Scientists gathered samples of the organism living on both slopes and analyzed the differences in crossing over and the differences in crossing over frequencies. The purpose of our lab is to observe the different cross over frequencies. We want to compare and contrast the crossover frequencies in different color strains of S. fimicola. We hypothesize that in this experiment we will observe crossing over occur in the Sordaria fimicola after two weeks of growth in the agar plates.To test our hypothesis, we will grow our own asci spores in an agar plate and observe the organism under the microscope while recording the different ascus types which can either be type A (4:4), type B (2:4:2), or type c (2:2:2:2). Materials and Methods From the ‘Meiosis and Genetic Diversity in Sordaria’ handout, we found the materials and procedure for this experiment. Equipment that we needed to perform the first part of this experiment were two agar plates, a marking pen, a scalpel, and two different color strands of S. imico la. The first step in this lab was to mark two separate agar plates with the marking pen in such a way as to create four separate quadrants on each agar plate. Second, each plate needed to be labeled, identifying it as either the plate with tan fungi or gray fungi. Next, using the scalpel, a small piece of the samples of S. fimicola had to be sliced and placed in the corresponding spots in the agar plates. The plates then were taped and allowed two weeks to grow. After two weeks, the samples had flourished.We first scooped up small portions of each of our samples and put them on a slide with a drop of water, creating squashes, to be viewed under the microscope. When viewing under the microscope, each of the four group members counted and recorded their own twenty asci. While recording, each member categorized whether the asci they found had represented type A, type B, or type C recombination type. Last, when each member had attained their individual data, we combined our data to cre ate a total data for our entire group. Then we proceeded to combine our data to find a section and a course total.Results Four separate sectors analyzed the data of this experiment, the individual, the group, the class, and the section. The results were as follows: Cross Over Frequency Percent of Cross Over = (Number of Recombinant Asci / Total Number of Asci ) X 100% Individual Cross Over Frequency = 12/20 X 100% = 60% (gray) Combined Group Cross Over Frequency = 24/40 X 100% = 60% (gray) Combined Group Cross Over Frequency = 28/40 X 100% = 70% (tan) Combined Section Cross Over Frequency = 128/220 X 100% = 58% (gray) Combined Section Cross Over Frequency = 163/260 X 100% = 62. % (tan) Combined Course Cross Over Frequency = 4054/7066 X 100% = 57% (gray) Combined Course Cross Over Frequency = 8277/13946 X 100% = 59% (tan) After examining the cross over frequencies of the four sectors of data, we can see that for both the gray and tan spores an average of 60% were recombinant. This me ans that on average, 60% of the time S. fimicola will cross over resulting in spores of type B (2:4:2) or type C (2:2:2:2) Map Distances Map Distance from Cross Over = Percent Cross Over / 2 Individual Map Distance = 60%/2 = 30 mu (gray) Combined Group Map Distance = 60%/2 = 30 mu (gray) Combined Group Map Distance = 70%/2 = 35 mu (tan)Combined Section Map Distance = 58%/2 = 29 mu (gray) Combined Section Map Distance = 62. 6%/2 = 31. 3 mu (tan) Combined Course Map Distance = 57%/2 = 28. 5 mu (gray) Combined Course Map Distance = 59%/2 = 29. 5 mu (tan) Again, the map distances for both the gray and tan spores averaged about 30 mu. This means that on average there were 30 units between the cross over and the centromere of the chromosome. The fact that all of the map distances are around the same number also helps to represent the accuracy in our results. Discussion After observation of the Sordaria fimicola, we were able to depict the different types of crossing over.This supports our hypothesis– crossing over did occur in the S. fimicola. Because we were able to see that crossing over did occur and examine the three different cross over types, we can now say that sexual reproduction attributes to increases in genetic variation. We can see this by the 60% cross over frequency of the recombinant (type B and type C) spores in both the gray and tan strands. This example of the process of meiosis shows us that independent assortment and crossing over attributes to the variety of offspring that are produced in Sordaria fimicola.This large variety leads us to know natural selection plays a large role in the life cycle of fungus and especially S. fimicola. Our experiment showed baseline data under the same conditions as ‘Evolution Canyon. ’ While ‘Evolution Canyon’ showed the effects of cross over frequency as the two spore strands adapted to their different environmental conditions, our experiment showed the cross over frequency of S. fimicola under normal conditions. This baseline allowed for the comparison of the strand types that had become adapted to their different environmental conditions on ‘Evolution Canyon. ’Errors that could have occurred during this experiment were the recounting of asci. There may have been replication of certain asci strands. The experiment, however, is still reliable due to the large number of spores counted. This large number of 7066 gray spores and 13946 tan spores allowed for a reliable average to still be found. Future experiments may find this information useful because it gives insight into the how often crossing over occurs and therefore at what rate genetic variation is happening. By knowing more about genetic variation rate, we can learn more about evolution and how that effects natural selection.Experimenters could use this information to compare the rate of genetic variation to the effects it has on natural selection. References Cyr, R. 2002. Heredity and the Life Cycle. In, Biology 110: Basic concepts and biodiverity course website. Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University. http://www. bio. psu. edu/ Meiosis and Genetic Diversity in the Model Organism, Sordaria. Written by Hass, C. and Ward, A. 2010. Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. Saleem, Muhammad. 2001.Inherited Differences in Crossing Over and Gene Conversion Frequencies Between Wild Strains of Sordaria fimicola   From â€Å"Evolution Canyon†. University of Haifa, Israel. Figures and Tables Table I. Individual Data Non-recombinant| Recombinant| Recombinant| Total # of Asci| Total # Recombinant Asci (B +C)| # of Type A Asci| # of Type B Asci| # of Type C Asci| | | 8(gray)| 7(gray)| 5(gray)| 20(gray)| 12(gray)| This represents the 20 asci counted individually. Of these twenty, twelve were recombinant meaning crossing over took place. The other were not recombinant and therefore crossing over did not occur.The cros sover frequency was 60%. Table II. Combined Lab Group Data Non-recombinant| Recombinant| Recombinant| Total # of Asci| Total # of Recombinant Asci (B+C)| # of Type A Asci| # of Type B Asci| # of Type C Asci| | | 16(gray)| 15(gray)| 9(gray)| 40 (gray)| 24(gray)| 12(tan)| 13(tan)| 15(tan)| 40 (tan)| 28(tan)| This represents the spores counted for our entire group of four people. Of the 40 gray spores counted, 24 were recombinant meaning crossing over took place while 16 were non-recombinant. The crossover frequency for the gray spores was 60%. Of the 40 tan spores counted, 28 were recombinant while 12 were non-recombinant.The crossover frequency was 70%. Table III. Combined Section Data Non-recombinant| Recombinant| Recombinant| Total # of Asci| Total # of Recombinant Asci (B+C)| # of Type A Asci| # of Type B Asci | # of Type C Asci| | | Gray Spore 92| 67| 61| 220| 128| Tan Spore 95| 72| 91| 260| 163| This represents the spores counted by the entire class. Of the 220 gray spores count ed, 128 were recombinant and crossing over took place while 92 were non-recombinant. The crossover frequency was 58%. Of the 260 tan spores counted, 163 were recombinant while 95 were non-recombinant.The cross over frequency was 62. 6%. Table IV. Combined Course Data Non-recombinant| Recombinant| Recombinant| Total # of Asci| Total # of Recombinant Asci (B+C)| # of Type A Asci| # of Type B Asci| # of Type C Asci| | | Gray Spore 3012| 2081| 1973| 7066| 4054| Tan Spore 5669| 4301| 3976| 13946| 8277| This represents the spores counted by the entire section. Of the 7066 gray spores, 4054 were recombinant while 3012 were non-recombinant. The cross over frequency was 57%. Of the 13946 tan spores, 8277 were recombinant and 5669 were non-recombinant. The cross over frequency was 59%.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Conflicts Are Important Worksheet Essay

Part 1: The Five Conflict Types Describe each of the five conflict types using paragraph form. Conflict is important, and it is also important to recognize the different types of conflicts that you may be involved with. By knowing this, you can recognize the state of mind you’re in and if possible avoid it. Pseudo conflicts are one of the five different types. These are not real conflicts; they are only perceived as conflicts. Pseudo conflicts can result from two causes: faulty assumptions and false dilemmas. Mistaking assumptions for facts may explain many pseudo conflicts. Pseudo conflicts that result from false dilemmas occur when the parties involved see only two choices as solutions to the problem. Another is Fact conflicts; this kind of conflicts happen when individuals disagree about information that could easily be verified whether by statics or some other resource. Ego conflicts occur when a dispute centers on status or power; this reminds of two of my cousins when they let their egos get in the way of them winning their athletic competitions. Even though it was obvious that Angel was more of an athletic guy than Joe, he always felt like he had something to prove. Instead of them continuing to be on the same time for these competitions, Joe felt as though he had to show Angel that he was able to do everything better than him as well as get the most girls phone numbers. This kind of ego conflict they had affected their ability to continue to work together. Value conflicts focus on personal beliefs that you hold near and dear and is one that is very important to me, because at a previous job another assistant manager decided that he wasn’t going to ask all the employees their availability on the weekends. He felt that it was okay for him to ask just the ones he had better communication with. I took that very personal because I believe that all of us should be treated equally no matter the title, status, who or what  we know that conversation got quite heated, and the district manager got involved. The last type of conflict is called Need conflicts this usually occurs when the needs of one individual are at odds with the needs of another; For example: when you need a tool to finish a job, and so does your co-worker, when you need time to complete a project for work, but your spouse needs you at that very moment, or when you need to schedule a meeting at two o’clock and your team member can’t be there until three, you have a conflict of needs. Sometimes need conflicts are easily resolved by redefining or restating the needs in a way that allows a mutual satisfying solution. Part 2: The Five Conflict Management Styles Describe each of the five conflict management styles and explain the strengths and weaknesses of each. Use paragraph form. There are five different conflict management styles. Each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses. These styles are called avoiders, accommodators, forcers, compromisers and collaborators. Avoiders steer clear of conflict for a variety of reasons. If you are an avoider, you may lack the time, energy, confidence, or skills to engage in conflict. Avoiders try to stay away from conflict by leaving the situation, changing the subject, or simply agreeing to disagree without discussing the issues that precipitated the conflict. Although constant use of avoidance is not recommended, you may choose this style as a means of buying time in order to think through the problem, as a way of temporarily defusing strong emotions, or as a means of limiting your involvement in a conflict that does not seem worth the time or effort required to resolve it. On the other hand, avoidance may keep you from seeking a long-term solution to the conflict. Accommodators allow others to determine the outcome of the conflict. You will â€Å"give in† to keep the peace. Accommodators value smooth relationships and don’t want to make waves or cause trouble for anyone. Accommodation may be most appropriate when the issue in conflict is not that important to you or when it is easy to make concessions to others. Repeated attempts to accommodate others, however, may result in resentment and failure to get  your own needs met. Forcers expect to get their needs met regardless of the costs. For the forcer, winning may provide a sense of accomplishment. In conflicts, you may put your needs first and sometimes with little or no regard for the needs of others. This is a weakness when having to deal with a group of people. Not being empathetic to others causes relations to fail. They frequently are more interested in implementing their solution to a problem rather than listening to the opinions, needs, and feelings of others. Forcers are often impatient with others who do not see things their way. Although forcing can lower morale, jeopardize relationships, and stifle creativity, in some situations, you might find this approach to be appropriate. Compromisers think that those involved in the conflict must each be prepared to give up something in order to reach a solution. Choosing the role of compromiser, you expect to settle for less than what would meet your needs. Compromisers usually employ maneuvering, negotiating, and trading in an attempt to find a solution. However, unmet needs may still remain, and for those involved, the commitment to the solution will be only lukewarm at best. Sometimes, however, you may choose to compromise because the compromise represents a solution both you and the other party can â€Å"live with.† This latter result is particularly acceptable when the nature of the disagreement isn’t of vital importance to you or the other party. Lastly Collaborators believe that both parties can and will get their needs met. The underlying belief of collaborators is that if you understand one another’s needs, you will be able to find a way to meet both parties’ needs. The question is not whose needs will be met, but rather how you will meet the needs of both parties. This style has the advantages of promoting collaboration, creativity, and commitment. However, collaborating can seem unattainable to you when the needs of those involved are not clearly stated or understood. In addition, you will discover that collaboration takes time, and willingness of both parties to work together, and the belief that there is a mutual satisfying solution. Part 3: Collaborative Communication List two methods of collaborative communication and describe how using them can help you avoid conflicts. †¢ Believe both parties can meet their needs can help in avoiding conflicts. It is simply put that if I feel you can and you feel that I can and we both truly believe in each other, then there would be no conflict. In order for me to believe in anything, I will need some kind of proof first. By both parties believing in the other, they must have proven themselves once before. †¢ Wanting to hear the needs of the other is another method that can help avoid conflicts. We all think that what we say is correct so in most cases there is no need to hear the other. And when the other does try to intervene, a conflict occurs. If we take the time out to actually hear someone else without interruption, we may find out that their needs or opinions make lots of senses.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Brooklyn Bridge Disaster

Brooklyn Bridge Disaster The walkway of the  Brooklyn Bridge was the site of a shocking disaster on May 30, 1883, only  a week after it opened to the public. With businesses closed for a patriotic holiday,  crowds had flocked to the bridges promenade, the highest vantage point in New York City at the time. Near the Manhattan  side of the great bridge a pedestrian bottleneck  became tightly packed, and the shoving of the crowd  sent people toppling down a short flight of stairs. People screamed. The crowd panicked, fearful that the entire structure was in danger of collapsing into the river. The crush of people on  the walkway became intense. Workmen  putting finishing touches on the bridge  raced along trusses to the scene and began tearing down railings to alleviate the crowding. People picked up babies and children and tried to pass them overhead, out of the crowd. Within just a few minutes the frenzy  had passed. But 12 people had been crushed to death. Hundreds more were injured, many seriously. The deadly stampede placed a dark cloud over  what had been a celebratory first week for the bridge. Detailed accounts of the mayhem on the bridge became a sensation in the highly competitive world of New York City newspapers. As the citys papers were still congregated in the neighborhood of Park Row, only blocks from the Manhattan end of the bridge, the story could not have been more local. The Scene on the Bridge The bridge had officially opened on Thursday, May 24, 1883. Traffic during the first weekend was very heavy, as sightseers flocked to enjoy the novelty of strolling  hundreds of feet above  the East River. The New York Tribune, on Monday, May 28, 1883, printed a front page story indicating that the bridge might have become too popular. It ominously mentioned that bridge workers, at one point on Sunday afternoon, feared a riot. The pedestrian promenade was popular on the Brooklyn Bridge. Getty Images Decoration Day, the precursor to Memorial Day fell that  Wednesday, May 30, 1883. After morning rain, the day turned very pleasant. The New York Sun, on the front page of the next days edition, described the scene: When the rain was over yesterday afternoon the Brooklyn Bridge, which had its crowds in the morning, but had become comparatively open again, began to threaten a blockade. With the hundreds who came down town to the New York gates were hundreds of men in the uniform of the Grand Army of the Republic. Most of the people strolled over to Brooklyn, and then turned back without leaving the bridge. Thousands were coming over from Brooklyn, returning from cemeteries where soldiers graves had been decorated, or taking advantage of the holiday to see the bridge. There were not so many on the bridge as on the day after the opening, or on the following Sunday, but they seemed inclined to loiter. There would be an open space of from fifty to one hundred feet, and then a dense jam. Problems became intense at the top of a nine-foot high flight of stairs built into the walkway, near the point at which the main suspension cables passed by the promenade on the Manhattan side of the bridge. The pressing of the crowd pushed some people down the stairs.   Did You Know? Predictions of the Brooklyn Bridges collapse had been common. In 1876, at about the halfway point of its construction, the chief mechanic of the bridge crossed between the Brooklyn and Manhattan towers on a cable to publicly demonstrate confidence in the bridges design. Somebody shouted out that there was danger, reported  the New York Sun. And the impression prevailed that the bridge was giving way beneath the crowd. The newspaper mentioned,  A woman held her baby over the trestle work and begged someone to take it. The situation had turned desperate. From the New York Sun: At last, with a single shriek that cut through the clamor of thousands of voices, a young girl lost her footing, and fell down the lower flight of steps. She lay for a moment, and then raised herself on her hands, and would have got up. But in another moment she was buried under the bodies of others who fell over the steps after her. She was dead when they got her out more than half an hour afterward. Men sprang upon the rails at the side and waved the crowds back from both the New York and Brooklyn sides. But the people continued to crowd on toward the steps. No police were in sight. Men in the crowd lifted their children above their heads to save them from the crush. People were still paying their pennies at both gates and swarming in. Within minutes the frantic scene had calmed. Soldiers, who had been parading near the bridge in  Decoration Day commemorations, rushed to the scene.  The New York Sun described the aftermath: A company of the Twelfth New York Regiment worked hard at dragging them out. Twenty-five seemed to be nearly dead. They were laid along the north and south sides of the pathway, and the people from Brooklyn passed on between them. Men and women turned faint at the sight of the swollen and blood-stained faces of the dead. Four men, a lad, six women, and a girl of 15 were quite dead, or died in a few moments. They had been found at the bottom of the heap. The police stopped grocers wagons coming from Brooklyn, and, carrying the bodies of the wounded and climbing down the planks to the road, laid them in the wagons, and told the drivers to hurry to the Chambers Street Hospital. Six bodies were laid in one wagon. The drivers whipped up their horses and drove with full speed to the hospital. Newspaper accounts of the dead and wounded were heartbreaking. The New York Sun described how one young couples afternoon stroll on the bridge turned tragic: Sarah Hennessey was married on Easter, and was walking on the bridge with her husband when the crowd closed in upon them. Her husband injured his left arm a week ago, and clung to his wife with his right hand. A little girl fell in front of him, and he was thrown upon his knees and kicked and bruised. Then his wife was torn from him, and he saw her trampled upon and killed. When he got off the bridge he searched for his wife and found her in the hospital. According to a report in the New York Tribune of May 31, 1883, Sarah Hennessey had been married to her husband John Hennessey for seven weeks. She was 22 years old. They had lived in Brooklyn. Rumors of the disaster spread quickly through the city. The New York Tribune reported:  An hour after the accident it was told in the vicinity of Madison Square that 25 persons were killed and hundreds wounded, and at 42nd Street that the bridge had fallen down and 1,500 had lost their lives. In the days and weeks following the disaster the blame for the tragedy was directed at the management of the bridge. The bridge had its own small police force, and officials of the bridge company were criticized for failing to place policeman at strategic place to keep crowds dispersed. It became standard practice  for uniformed officers on the bridge to keep people moving along, and the Decoration Day tragedy was never repeated. The fear  that the bridge was in danger of collapsing was, of course, completely unfounded. The Brooklyn Bridge has been renovated to some extent, and the original trolley track was removed in the late 1940s and the roadways changed to accommodate more automobiles. But the walkway still stretches down the middle of the bridge and is still in use. The bridge is crossed every  day by thousands of pedestrians, and the promenade with striking views that drew revelers in May 1883 is still an attraction for tourists today.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to Start a Book Report

How to Start a Book Report No matter what youre writing, be it the next great novel, an essay for school, or a book report, you have to capture your audiences attention with a great introduction. Most students will introduce the title of the book and its author, but theres so much more you can do. A strong introduction will help you engage your readers, hold their attention and explain what is coming up in the rest of your report. Giving your audience something to look forward to, and perhaps even creating a little mystery and excitement, can be great ways to make sure your readers stay engaged with your report. How do you do this? Check out these three simple steps: 1. Hook the Audience's Attention Think about what you experience in your daily life that captures your attention. The news and radio shows promo upcoming stories with a little teaser, often called a hook (because it hooks your attention). Corporations use snappy subject lines in emails and enticing headlines in social media to get you to open their messages; these are often called clickbait as they get the reader to click on the content. So how can you grab your readers attention? Start by writing a great  introductory sentence. You may choose to begin by asking your reader a question to hook his or her interest. Or you may opt for a title that hints at the topic of your report with a dash of drama. Regardless of the way you choose to start a book report, the four strategies outlined here can help you write an engaging essay. Starting your book report with a question is a good way to grab your readers interest because youre addressing them directly. Consider the following sentences: Do you believe in happy endings?Have you ever felt like a total outsider?Do you love a good mystery?What would you do if you discovered a secret that changed everything? Most people have a ready answer for questions like these because they speak to common experiences we share. Its a means of creating empathy between the person reading your book report and the book itself. For example, consider this opening to a book report about The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton: Have you ever been judged by your appearance? In The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton gives readers a glimpse inside the tough exterior of a social outcast. Not everyones teenage years are as dramatic as those in Hintons coming-of-age novel. But everyone was once an adolescent, and odds are everyone had moments when they felt misunderstood or alone. Another idea to hook someones attention is, if youre discussing a book by a well-known or popular author, you might start with an interesting fact about the era when the author was alive and how it influenced his or her writing. For example: As a young child, Charles Dickens was forced to work in a shoe polish factory. In his novel, Hard Times, Dickens taps into his childhood experience to explore the evils of social injustice and hypocrisy. Not everyone has read Dickens, but many people have heard his name. By starting your book report with a fact, youre appealing to your readers curiosity. Similarly, you may choose an experience from the author’s life that had an impact on his or her work.   2. Summarize the Content and Provide Details A book report is meant to discuss the contents of the book at hand, and your introductory paragraph should give a little overview. This isnt the place to delve into details, but draw off your hook to share a little more information that is crucial to the storyline.   For example, sometimes, a novels setting is what makes it so powerful. To Kill a Mockingbird, the award-winning book by Harper Lee, takes place in a small town in Alabama during the Great Depression. The author draws on her own experiences in recalling a time when a small Southern towns sleepy exterior hid a vague sense of impending change. In this example, the reviewer might include a reference to the books setting and plot in that first paragraph: Set in the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Depression, we learn about Scout Finch and her father, a prominent lawyer, as he desperately works to prove the innocence of a black man wrongly accused of rape. The controversial trial leads to some unexpected interactions and some  terrifying situations for the Finch Family. Authors make a deliberate choice when selecting the setting of a book. After all, the location and setting can set a very distinct mood.   3. Make a Thesis Statement (if applicable) When writing a book report, you might also include your own interpretations of the subject matter. Ask your teacher how much personal interpretation he or she wants first, but assuming that some personal opinion is warranted, your introduction should include a thesis statement. This is where you present the reader with your own argument  about the work. To write a strong thesis statement, which should be about one sentence, you might reflect on what the author was trying to achieve. Consider the theme and see if the book was written in such a way where you were able to determine it easily and if it made sense. As yourself a few questions: Was the book meant to be entertaining or informative? Did it accomplish that goal?Did the moral at the end make sense? Did you learn something?Did the book make you think about the topic at hand and assess your beliefs?   Once youve asked yourself these questions, and any other questions you may think of, see if these responses lead you to a thesis statement in which you assess the success of the novel. Sometimes, a thesis statement is widely shared, while others may be more controversial. In the example below, the thesis statement is one that few would dispute, ​and uses dialogue from the text to help illustrate the point.  Authors choose dialogue carefully, and a single phrase from a character can often represent both a major theme and your thesis. A well-chosen quote included in your book reports introduction can help you create a thesis statement that has a powerful impact on your readers, as in this example: At its heart, the novel To Kill A Mockingbird is a plea for tolerance in an atmosphere of intolerance, and is a statement on social justice. As the  character  Atticus Finch tells his daughter, You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. Quoting Finch is effective because his words sum up the novels theme concisely and also appeal to the readers own sense of tolerance. Conclusion Dont worry if your first attempt at writing an introductory paragraph is less than perfect. Writing is an act of fine-tuning, and you may need several revisions. The idea is to start your book report by identifying your general theme so that you can move on to the body of your essay. After youve written the entire book report, you can (and should) return to the introduction to refine it. Creating an outline can help you best identify what you need in your introduction. Article edited  by  Stacy Jagodowski

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Euthanasia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Euthanasia - Research Paper Example 2007). Both decision making processes are important because they offer the aspects of knowledge and awareness as well as protection from malpractice lawsuits and license revocation for the nurse in question. Furthermore, the success of effective utilization of these decision making processes will lead to saving of a patient’s life and this means fulfillment of the ethical principles a nurse took an oath to protect. On the other hand, these ethical decision making processes are different. This is so because having knowledge of one and not the other will still lead to the professional getting into trouble with either the legal or moral authorities. Fulfillment of both simultaneously is also not an easy task and especially for nurses who already have other numerous patients to take care of and some of whom are already experiencing burnouts. Legal knowledge with all its jargon is not an easy task and it is confusing and not easily understood. The best ethical decision process to support is the knowledge of the ethical codes. This is so because these codes are the ones that guide the behavior, actions and final choice a nurse is going to undertake when it comes to a patient’s health condition. Having enough knowledge of the codes will also act as a good defense strategy in case there is an ethical malpractice lawsuit in the future as one will have followed these codes to the letter leaving no hanging lose ends. Knowledge of the codes will also pose for a good argument and convincing strategy with the patient and his or her relatives or caregivers and especially if there is any consent being sought. The nurse professional will be armed with enough information even explaining the pros and cons by use of the ethical codes hence convincing the parties of the best ways to solve the ethical dilemma they are presented with or

Friday, November 1, 2019

Philosophy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Philosophy - Assignment Example Through this statement, we are able to know that human beings are superior when compared to animals, i.e. pigs (Hamilton, 73). Furthermore, through this statement, we are able to know that within human being, there are classes, and this class is between the wise and the fools. Socrates is a well respected philosopher, and he is considered as one of the wisest men, to have ever lived, and therefore, through this statement, Mills uses him as a symbol of wisdom. The principle of utility denotes that the behaviors or actions of people are right and good, only if they are able to promote the pleasure or happiness of an individual. This principle further denotes that the actions or behavior of people are unjust, if they are able to produce pain, or unhappiness. As a human being, there are instances whereby I have been faced with the moral dilemma (Troyer, 12). An example is a circumstance, when I was in a restaurant, and unfortunately, I had forgotten to carry my wallet with, which consisted of money. I ordered food, with the knowledge that I would pay, but unfortunately, I realized that I had no money, and a wallet had just fallen down, and the owner did not realize it. This situation, was a dilemma to me, because I had two choices, the first choice is to pick the wallet, remove money, and pay for my bill, while the second option was to pick the wallet and return to the owner (Troyer, 12). While analyzing these options, I had to choose an opt ion, that would make us both happy, my-self, and the owner of the wallet, and this option was to return the wallet. Utility appears in this sense, when I was able to act rightly, satisfying my conscious, and the happiness of the owner of the wallet, when I returned it to him. This theory denotes that workers will lose the control of their lives, and this is because of the loss of control over the work that they are doing. Therefore, a worker ceases