The Father of Italian Language Essay - 931 Words

Dante Alighieri, also known as â€Å"the Father of Italian language† was an influential poet from Florence, Italy during the Middle Ages, who had an uncommon and an intriguing perspective on immortality. Contrary to the traditional belief that the good are taken to Heaven and the bad are taken to Hell, Dante believed that along with Heaven and Hell there was also a Purgatory and each of these had varying levels. He believed that there were a sum of ten levels of heaven, seven levels of purgatory, and nine levels of hell. Dante referred to Heaven as Paradiso, Purgatory as Purgatorio, and Hell as Inferno. Dante’s most vivid description is that of Hell, the most lyrical and human description was that of Purgatory and theological was that of†¦show more content†¦This circle is described as one big garbage dump; the residents here are swollen and stuck in sinking snow and freezing rain. Guarding these souls is Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Hell who torments them . The hoarders and wasters are kept in circle four described as flat hard-baked clay. This circle consists of two gigantic mobs one of hoarders and of wasters. The two mobs each struggle against boulders that represent their obsession, material wealth. When the two boulders finally collide the hoarder mob yells ‘Why waste?’ while the waster mob yells â€Å"Why hoard?’ the two mobs eventually separate and repeat this process for eternity. Circle five known as the River Styx is for the wrathful and sullen: those who were quick to anger and bad-tempered. This circle consists of slimy ankle deep stinking swamp camouflaged by thick fog. The wrathful souls attack one another and bite their own flesh due to their unending rage against themselves. The sullen are encased under the stink swamp waters due to their inability to achieve the spiritual awakening during life. The City of Dis, also known as circle six is for the heretics. Circle six is overflowing with tombs and is divided into two parts. The first part is hot and dry and contains hot iron tombs that hold heretics. The second part of the City of Dis is a cool aired white marble mausoleum that contains slabs holding nonbelievers. Circle seven consists of the violent, those banished forShow MoreRelatedSummary Of Cinematic Language In A Bronx Tale1304 Words   |  6 Pagescinematic language. The cinematic language uses various visual codes in cinematic storytelling to convey the meaning of a film. The components of cinematic storytelling are portrayed through various techniques such as, camera movement, mise-en-scene, cinematography, sound, editing, and etc. within a film’s frame to help tell the story. The main character Calogero faces many obstacles throughout the film, but they mostly result in a battle of trying to receive acceptance from his father, Lorenzo AnelloRead MoreThe Impact Of Immigration On The United States Of America Essay1707 Words   |  7 Pagesother nations flock ed to the west by the millions, in hopes of discovering a new life. Many sought freedom from religious persecution, unfair living standards, or a simple chance at the â€Å"American dream.† My grandmother, now 91 years old, was born an Italian citizen, but has lived the last 86 years as an American. She is an immigrant in every sense of the word, and this is her story. Chiette, Abruzi is not a well known city in Italy. They are not known for high fashion, incredible architecture, or anyRead MoreThe Italian Born Community in Australia1282 Words   |  5 PagesThe Italian born community is the largest overseas born community in Australia. The majority of Italians came in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. World War II Italy was in a political and economic mess which motivated many people to come to Australia. This mass exodus from Italy was accelerated by a bi-lateral agreement between Australia and Italy, which allowed Italians to apply for assisted passage. The majority of Italians migrants to Australia have come from five major regions: Calabria, Puglia, CampaniaRead MoreCulture Clash Essay1064 Words   |  5 PagesItalian culture has a rich history that includes art, classic architecture, music, popular traditions and customs. Many people who visit Italy are somewhat surprised by the diversity of the dialects, cuisines, architecture, and craftsmansh ip. My father, Giuseppe, now deceased, was born in Sannicandro, province of Bari, Italy (Region: Puglia, - southern agricultural area near the Adriatic coast). My mother is of Italian descent and both her parents were born in Italy. I have always been proudRead MoreItalian Immigration to America1113 Words   |  4 PagesFrom 1890 to 1915 estimated around 4 million Italians arrived in the United States. Majority being from 1900 to 1914. Once they arrived in America, immigrants faced difficult challenges. Most of the time not even knowing the English language and also having very little education. Many of the new immigrants were forced to accept the lowest paying and hellish jobs. Sometimes were often forced by the average man who acted like they were slaves. Most of the immigrants found homes in the older sectionsRead MoreTaking a Look at the European Renaissance Essays1385 Words   |  6 Pages though arguably inevitable, might not have proceeded with such momentum without the aid of several key individuals that aided in the expansion of humanist ideals. Francesco Petrarca, commonly referred to as Petrarch, is considered to be the father of modern humanism. However, one might not think this of Petrarch when taking his solitary nature into account. Petrarch was a member of the Stoic faction of humanists. This group of humanists relied on reason alone to achieve gratification. ThoughRead MoreThe Female, Bildungsroman, By Carol Lazzaro Weis1083 Words   |  5 PagesAuthor: Carol Lazzaro-Weis is the President of the American Association of Italian Studies, the largest associate of university professors of Italian in North America and serves on several editorial boards. Professor Lazzaro-Weis has been appointed to serve on the International Advisory Board for The Centre of Contemporary Women’s Writing. Her teaching and research interests include nineteenth and twentieth century Italian literature, genre, French women writers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuryRead MoreThe Divine Comedy By Dante Alighieri873 Words   |  4 Pagesthree- line stanza form called terza rima (183). Dante was one of the first in the Middle Ages to write of a serious subject, the Redemption of humanity, in the Italian language and not the Latin one might expect for such a serious topic. It helped establish the Tuscan language, in which it is written, as a standard for the modern spoken Italian (183). The first book of â€Å"The Divine Comedy† is the Inferno, which focuses on Dante’s interpretation of Hell. Dante meets the poet Virgil, a hero of Dante, andRead MoreThe Long And Cold Effects The Middle Ages965 Words   |  4 Pagesthe past; the plays of the classical era such as Greek dramas and Aristotle. This idea then spread all over Europe. Niccolà ² di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was not only a writer but diplomat who is best know for writing The Prince and for being the father of modern political theory. Because of some of his works, most notably The Prince, the Catholic Church banned him from entering the church of Santa Croce in Florence, Italy. Machiavelli and his works were condemned by the pope of the time thus showingRead More Italian Immigrants Essays1554 Words   |  7 PagesImmigration began late for the Italian population. With the main period of immigration coming in the late 19th century, Italians were already several steps behind the Irish, German, and French immigrants (Nelli 38). This proved to be detrimental to the Italians as the previous immigrants had already stitched themselves to the flag producing a resolute hatred for incoming immigrants, one of which was Salvatore Rossi. Having fled Italy in 1897 due to economic hardship, he pursued the â€Å"American Dream†

Thus Spoke Zarathustra Essay - 1118 Words

The prophet Zarathustra descended from the mountains after ten years of isolation. He has descended to teach the masses about the overman, and the belief system that accompanies him. Nietzsche, through Zarathustra, is offering a new value system to replace Christianity. This value system can be referred to as ‘Zarathustraism’. A vital part to embracing this value system is the deconstruction of Christianity. Man has redefined Christianity to better suit personal desire, and it has begun to fail as a result. Zarathustraism will teach Man to live in the light of the Overman, free of the negativity Christianity caused. Zarathustra has learnt the nature of God. In the time he spent in solitude, the prophet has acquired the knowledge†¦show more content†¦Zarathustra and his company arrive on an island, where Zarathustra encounters a fire-dog. (Z II xviii) On the topic of churches, Zarathustra accuses the fire-dog: â€Å"you surely know your own species best!† (Z II xviii) Fire-dogs are symbolic for Christian churches, which are bloated and self centered. Zarathustraism clearly despises the church for the actions resulted in God’s death. The church demands obedience from its followers, and thus led them astray. It becomes apparent quickly that Zarathustra has love for Man. Despite this love, he still feels beneath them. In a town, Zarathustra notices that new, man-made structures had become smaller. â€Å"I pass through this people and keep my eyes open; they have become smaller, and ever become smaller: - the reason thereof is their doctrine of happiness and virtue† (Z III v.ii). Those living in this town do not live the way Zarathustra has told them to; as a result, Zarathustra literally feels larger than them. Because he lives in the light of the overman, Zarathustra believes that he is more prominent than a normal Man. (Z III v.i). Zarathustra’s heightened opinion of himself is formed from his dedication to the overman, as well as his dismissal of God. His relinquishment of God allows him to come closer to the overman than those who still have faith in Christianity. â€Å"I am Zarathustra the godless: where do I find my equal? And allShow MoreRelatedThe Thus Spoke Zarathustra By The Nineteenth Century2511 Words   |  11 Pages In the â€Å"Thus Spoke Zarathustra†, written by the 19th century philosopher Nietzsche, we are presented with many sermons that are structure similar to parables from the Lutheran Bible. These sermons are given to us by the main character, Zarathustra, on our quest to find the overman (ubermench). Zarathustra uses many characters to present stories about the flaws of humanity and how we are to get better. In â€Å"Thus Spoke Zarathustra†, Zarathustra uses the character of an ass (donkey) that was first presentedRead MoreA Commentary on, and Partial Analysis of, Nietzsches Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Part 4, with Especial Reference to Discourses 11 to 204823 Words   |  20 PagesA Commentary on, and Partial Analysis of, Nietzsches Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Part 4, with Especial Reference to Discourses 11 to 20 Although Zarathustra gains his happiness before the Fourth and Final Part of Al Sprecht Zarathustra, that which he is most concerned with- his work, is still ahead of him in The Temptation of Zarathustra: an Interlude (which Nietzsche viewed as the fourth parts proper title in view of what already transpired and what follows in the text as we find it abridgedRead MoreAnalysis Of Friedrich Nietzsches Thus Spoke Zarathustra1184 Words   |  5 PagesIn the late 19th century, philosopher and psychologist, Friedrich Nietzsche, published a four part chronicle, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, to express his perspective on how human beings can work towards and achieve a lifestyle of joy and innocence. Nietzsche, who was an anti-christ due to its slavish mentality and ways, believed that everyone has an â€Å"overman† and â€Å"ubermensch† aspect to their lives, where they can be free spirited and the ultimate dictator of their morals and values. For one to live aRead MoreEssay about Nietzsche, Kundera, and Shit2923 Words   |  12 Pages   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Philosophy itself is this tyrannical drive itself,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   the most spiritual will to power ...it always   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   creates the world in its own image (Beyond 16). Philosophy, thus, is a movement toward kitsch of some sort.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Kitsch is fundamentally connected to Reason. For Nietzsche both are deeply rooted in denial. Reason inscribes everything within a common frame of reference and consequently avoids the hereRead MoreEssay about Nietzsche and the Prophet2225 Words   |  9 PagesNietzsche and the Prophet According to Friedrich Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra, the meaning of human existence is to make room for the â€Å"Superman†: a superhuman who perseveres in its capacity for unlimited self-creation. (Pg. 49)[1] In order for humankind to embrace its self-creative nature and allow for the transcendence into this superhuman condition, however, we must first learn to destroy our present tables of values; it is our desperate adherence to traditional (religious) valuesRead MoreFriederich Nietzsche and His Philosophies Essay1394 Words   |  6 Pagescritics admit that his words hold an undeniable truth, as hard as it is to accept. Perhaps this is why his work is timeless, and has survived 150 years in print. Christianity God is Dead! announced Zarathustra (better known as Zoroaster), in Neitzsches book, Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883-1885). Unlike many philosophers, Nietzsche never tried to prove or disprove the existence of God, just that belief in God can cr eate sickness; and to convince that highest achievements in human life dependRead MoreThe Prologue And Part One Of The Book Nietzsche 1379 Words   |  6 PagesWhether the happening be good or bad, humans tend to rationalize the circumstance and make it an event that served a greater purpose. In Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche, Zarathustra describes this behavior, along with many others, as life denying as he was mainly concerned with ethics. The prologue tells the story of how Zarathustra went up a mountain and spent ten years there gaining wisdom; he then descends to share his wisdom but the people laugh at him and he comes to realize thatRead MoreZarathustras Three Metamorphoses, Applied to Modernism Essay2213 Words   |  9 Pageshad an undeniable impact on later writings such as Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The parable â€Å"The Three Metamorphoses† in that work is an outline of Nietzsche’s ideas about redemption in his contemporary period of Godless m odernism. Though the title references three metamorphoses of the soul, one has already occurred when the fable begins. The soul begins camel-like; it lives in â€Å"reverence,† and â€Å"wanteth to be well laden† (Nietzsche, Thus Spake Zarathustra). The camel achieves these states of reverence andRead MoreThus Spoke Zaratustra by Frederich Nietzche966 Words   |  4 PagesThe use of language is woven into such a dynamic doctrine in Thus Spoke Zarathustra that it speaks mountains of Nietzsche’s genius. The aspect of two voices speaking as one shows a grasp for the written word that few have accomplished. With metaphors abound and a deep understanding of literary masterpieces, Nietzsche portrays the world that we live in with such grace. The literal translation of the book takes a highly spiritual stance, but in between the lines there is such depth of knowledge andRead MoreFriedrich Nietzsche: One of the Greatest Thinkers of All Time1613 Words   |  7 Pagesthat his life time accomplishments set the stage for a long list of influential thinkers and events including WWII. Nietzsches doctrine of mans â€Å"will to power† was very well studied during his lifetime and especially after. It appeared in Thus Spoke Zarathustra which was completed in 1885 and again in The Will to Power posthumously published in 1901. The basis of this theory was that the strive for power was mans basic motive and that this motive was found in all living things. Nietzsche said that

Effectiveness of Double Entry Accounting System free essay sample

Giving examples, evaluate the effectiveness of the controls in the double entry system of accounting in ensuring the accuracy of the accounts. As well as examining the controls, your evaluation should consider errors that do not affect the balancing of the trial balance. Double entry accounting system was invented in 15th century and still being in use until today, this is quite an interesting fact; however it indicates that there is something about the system, thus making it so effective and irreplaceable. To evaluate the effectiveness of the controls in the double entry system, we should first question ourselves why is double entry book keeping system is still being used until today. Double entry book keeping is very useful because it can help spotting a lot of errors that accountants make every day. The fact of the matter is, that every transaction is being entered twice, which can eliminate some of the errors, that otherwise could have been missed out. We will write a custom essay sample on Effectiveness of Double Entry Accounting System or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For example, an accountant has debited ? 1409 P. Vasiljev’s account instead of ? 490, however because he had to credit the bank account as well, he looked at the transaction again, and spotted the error. Furthermore this system helps us to find errors using trial balance. As the trial balance will eventually be produced, it will identify whether or not, total of debit will equal to credit, if not, it indicates that errors has been made. Despite the fact, there are errors that double entry accounting will be unable to reveal, which will be shown below. (http://www. canhamrogers. com, 2011) Complete Reversal of Entries A payment of ? 16 to V. Putin, a supplier, was debited in the cash book and credited to V. Putin’s account. Compensating Error The bank account is under cast by ? 3000. The salaries account is also under casts by the same amount. Error of Omission The sale of products, ? 100 (plus VAT) to G. Bush, has been completely omitted from the books. Error of Commission A purchase of stock, ? 305 from D. Johnson was miss entered in J. Cena’s account. Error of Principle The purchase of a new office table, ? 150, is debited by mistake to the purchases account instead of equipment account. Error of Original Entry Rent of ? 96 paid by cash was entered in the both accounts as ? 69. Control Accounts A control account is a summary account in the general ledger. The details that support the balance in the summary account are contained in a subsidiary ledger a ledger outside of the general ledger. The purpose of the control account is to keep the general ledger free of details, yet have the correct balance for the financial statements. For example, the Accounts Receivable account in the general ledger could be a control account. If it were a control account, the company would merely update the account with a few amounts, such as total collections for the day, total sales on account for the day, total returns and allowances for the day, etc. The details on each customer and each transaction would not be recorded in the Accounts Receivable control account in the general ledger. Rather, these details of the accounts receivable activity will be in the Accounts Receivable Subsidiary Ledger. This works well because the employees working with the general ledger probably do not need to see the details for every sale or every collection transaction. However, the sales manager and the credit manager will need to know detailed information on individual customers, including whether a customer recently reduced their account balance. The company can provide these individuals with access to the Accounts Receivable Subsidiary Ledger and can keep the general ledger free of a tremendous amount of detail. (accountingcoach. com, 2011) Explain the importance of accurate accounting records in meeting the needs of the business and its stakeholders. Accounting is a very important tool in order to keep track of quantifiable factors of the business. The accounts are often used to demonstrate the flow of the money within the organisation. They are also made to organise financial information of the business in order for it to be analysed to see how well the business is doing, how much it is worth, and how much profit it is making. Accounting is making it easier to then demonstrate the outcomes and results of the business. With that being said, it is very clear that it is crucial for the accounts to be accurate. For the business it is important for the various reasons. First of all the business wants to see how well it is doing every year, that includes it’s gross and net profit, the worth of its assets and liabilities, etc. The accuracy of this information is vital, as the organisation’s leadership can then analyse this information and make decisions according to the outcomes. Second of all if the accounts are being produced inaccurate or incorrect, the organisation will most likely make wrong decisions, which may lead it to the loss of money or even bankruptcy. Secondly accurate accounts will help the day-to-day operations of the business. However stakeholders are also interested in the accuracy of the accounts for the various reasons presented below: Employees Employees of the business rely on accounts to receive the wages and salaries they have earned, this means that if accounts of the organisation are made inaccurately it may lead to employees receiving wrong amount of money, which is dreadful for various reasons. If the wages are overpaid, it means that the organisation has lost funds it shouldn’t have, whereas if they are underpaid it may lead to serious circumstances such as legal claims. Investors Investors that plan to invest funds into the organisation would look into accounts of the business in order to find whether it is profitable to put their money into the company. The accounts of the organisation will often be analysed, this means that the decision they make, will be dependent on the accounts, which is why it is vital for them, that the accounts are accurate. Board o Directors Board of directors, or the owner of the business, is analysing the accounts on the regular basis, whether it is monthly or annually. The decisions that the organisation is making regarding strategy, approach, etc. are dependent on the accounts. This is why it is critical that the accounts made are accurate, as if they aren’t wrong decision could be made, which may lead the company to huge financial losses. Government As all the businesses accounts must be submitted to the government, usually annually, it means that government would need accounts to be accurate. This is due to the fact that government would need to overlook the accounts in order to see whether all the taxes are being paid, and that everything remains under the law. Suppliers After producing â€Å"T accounts† and making few errors myself, it is now clearly seen that suppliers want accurate accounts in order to receive right amounts of money, once they’ve sold goods on credit to the company. If some of the entries within â€Å"T accounts† are entered inaccurately, the payment may be made to different supplier. Adding to that the business may underpay the supplier, which is not acceptable by any means.

Invisible Man Essays (1391 words) - Invisible Man, Invisible

Invisible Man "Invisible Man" is about a black man and his struggles until he eventually becomes ?invisible' to society 1. Youth-given a chance for an education 2. New York- finding a job and joining the Brotherhood 3. Becoming invisible B. Characters 1. Ellison a. never describes himself b. well educated, tries to become white 2. Mr. Norten- rich man, says Ellison is his ?destiny' 3. Dr. Bedlose- head of the University, kicks Ellsion out 4. The Brothers- Brother Clifton C. Major issues in the book are the ways that Ellsion's character oppresses himself rather than other people doing to for him II. Novel is a primary example of the hesitance of the blacks to feel confident in American society A. Author wrote book to confuse me- had to read pages many times- didn't describe people or places, just things- didn't read in to he nuances B. Book will help me when we start to study the Black movement because it shows where the begingings started C. Ellison's Character "speaks" while being invisible, pg 576-581 III. Had and impact on the way I look at my place in society A. Think of it not like a "black novel" but as one big analogy B. Every one is an ?invisible man' in one way In Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison's narrator recalls to us how he became ?invisible' to the world. Since the name of the narrator is never known I wlll refer to him as Brother X. The novel opens with Brother X describing what it is like to be invisible: "I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edger Allen Poe...I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids00and I might even go said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me..That invisibility of which I refer to occurs because of a peculiar disposition of the eyes of those with whom I come in contact. ... those eyes with which they look through their physical eyes upon reality... In the introduction, Brother X shares with us the advantages of his being invisible; he also explains to us that he lives in a ?pit' that is damp and dark, yet full of light. Living in this pit makes him realize that he is black and blue. "I was born black, but what did I do to become blue? Bear with me." During the first couple chapters of the book, Brother X tells us about his education. He attended a prestigious collage in the South and was a top student. While at the University, he met a prominent white man named Mr. Nortan. He was Mr. Nortan's driver during his stay. Although we only hear about Mr. Nortan for a few chapters, and he doesn't show up again until the end of the book, he plays a very important role. He said that he didn't have a destiny, that Brother X and others like him were is destiny. Brother X often refers to being Mr. Nortan's destiny for the rest of the book. After a violation of the rules, Brother X is kicked out of school. Thinking he will be able to return next term, he heads off to New York to find a job. He has with him references from Dr. Bedlose, the dean who kicked him out. He was told not to open the letters, but after not hearing back from any of the jobs, he opens one. The letter explained to the potential employers that Brother X had been expelled from the University and it would not be wise to employ him. After several blue collar jobs, Brother X ends up giving and impromptu speech at an eviction and catching the attention of several leaders in the Brotherhood movement. He is employed by the Brotherhood and given a new ID, which we never learn. The Brotherhood was an organization in Harlem that focused on unity through peace. Brother X finds himself giving speeches all over Harlem and invading the territory of Ras, the Exhorter's group of black Nationalists. After a while with the Brotherhood, the Youth leader, Brother Clifton disappears. The Brotherhood movement starts to lose its force and they start to talk of shutting down. One day, while Brother X is walking down the street, he spots Clifton illegally selling dolls which were demeaning to blacks. Clifton refuses arrest and ends up being shot. At Cliftons funeral, Brother X is asked to speak. When Brother X crosses

Why an Online IT Degree Works for Me Essays

Why an Online IT Degree Works for Me Essays Why an Online IT Degree Works for Me Essay Why an Online IT Degree Works for Me Essay Having always been into computers in some way, shape, or form, I knew from an early age that I wanted to explore a career in this industry, although I wasn’t sure exactly the direction I was heading. After high school, with financial pressures on my back, I chose to forgo college and I found a pretty good paying job with a local company handling their computer system. Businesses were still just getting online – this was the beginning of the Internet taking hold in companies and homes – and all I had was an innate understanding of computer technology and a desire to work hard. I have to say that I’m pretty proud of how well I did without any formal education. Simply by teaching myself – and attending seminars here and there – I was able to learn more than the basics and excel in my job. But now, as I am older, I feel the need to formalize my education with a degree. Sure, my experience speaks volumes about what I can do; but without a college degree some companies won’t even talk to you and I wanted to make sure that I was protected and marketable, especially now with so many people worrying about their jobs. But I also didn’t want to give up my current job in order to better myself for the next one, so I chose to complete my education through an online IT degree program. I always knew online learning was an option and had it in the back of my mind but once I made the decision the rest was easy. The online IT degree program that I chose is convenient and I’m able to make my own schedule in terms of completing my work. Best of all, I don’t have to give up my job and I can still take as many classes as I can handle. I have always found great success with the computer and the online IT degree is no exception!

En Dashes Clarify Compound Phrasal Adjectives

En Dashes Clarify Compound Phrasal Adjectives En Dashes Clarify Compound Phrasal Adjectives En Dashes Clarify Compound Phrasal Adjectives By Mark Nichol Some style guides recommend using en dashes in place of hyphens for a wide variety of uses, but The Chicago Manual of Style, the guidebook of record for most American publishing companies, advises a more limited set of applications. According to Chicago style, these sentences would all be written with hyphens, not en dashes: â€Å"He had long flown the San Francisco-Los Angeles run.† â€Å"In 1930, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act went into effect.† â€Å"The final score was 6-5.† â€Å"After discussion, the board voted 6-3 to approve the project.† â€Å"Their father-son rivalry persisted for many years.† â€Å"The Michelson-Morley experiment was a significant milestone on the way to the theory of special relativity.† What, then, are en dashes for? First, they separate two numbers in a number range (as in the inclusive page numbers in a chapter, or the years of birth and death in a person’s life span). Second, the en dash functions as a superhyphen. It is this second function that this post details. In a simple phrasal adjective, two single words that, as a temporary compound, modify a noun are often hyphenated: â€Å"Her high-handed gesture backfired.† (The hyphen’s function is to eliminate ambiguity, so that the sentence is not understood as referring to a handed gesture that is high.) But when the first of the two terms in the temporary compound is itself a compound, the greater suspensive strength of the en dash is employed, as in â€Å"She wears jam jar–bottom glasses† or â€Å"The character’s origins go all the way back to the golden egg–laying magic goose.† Alternately, these sentences can be styled with hyphens between the three words in each phrasal adjective, as in â€Å"She wears jam-jar-bottom glasses† and â€Å"The character’s origins go all the way back to the golden-egg-laying magic goose.† This style is used when en dashes are discouraged or not an option, such as online (on Web sites, en dashes, unlike hyphens, require use of a code) or in newspapers, most of which do not use the longer symbol. However, such use of hyphenation does not demonstrate the subtle relationship between the elements of the phrasal adjective. In addition to linking an open compound to another adjective, an en dash serves to connect a proper noun to a word that indicates resemblance or another relationship: â€Å"The character is part Clint Eastwood–type cowboy.† â€Å"You can see him as a Leonardo da Vinci–like genius.† â€Å"She evolved from being a slick Mata Hari–esque female to a more rounded, tomboyish figure.† This structure clarifies that type refers, for example, to â€Å"Clint Eastwood,† not to â€Å"Eastwood† alone. En dashes connect the concepts in the following phrases: â€Å"Academy Award–winning actor,† pre–Industrial Revolution technology,† â€Å"ex–vice president,† and â€Å"non–United Nations action.† However, when connecting a term to a hyphenated compound, a simple hyphen is used, as in â€Å"non-English-speaking visitors† or â€Å"non-government-sponsored programs.† Another case in which a hyphen, not an en dash, is employed is â€Å"post-9/11,† because the short form of the month-date designation is not considered a compound. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Computer Terms You Should KnowEnglish Grammar 101: Verb Mood25 Idioms with Clean

USA World Bank Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

USA World Bank - Case Study Example USA World Bank has been a very successful firm, both for consumers and small businesses domestically and internationally. Like all companies, it needs to come up with new and exciting products for its customers so that they remain committed to the company. The Board of Directors wants the company to launch just one product each year. This one product can focus on the consumer side or the small business owner side. However this can result in conflicting ideas internally and as well as with conflicting customers. It is the decision of the president and vice president to come up with the new product and launch it in the current time frame.Each year Managers at USA World Bank are required to launch a new product for their bank. This has become the tradition that the president and vice president of New Product Development brainstorm and then create an idea for the product and then present it to the Board of Directors for approval. In recent years the all the new products launched have bee n marginally successful therefore there is increased pressure on the president and vice president this year to deliver the goods. Without concurrent launching of new products, USA World Bank feels that it would lose its market share and its huge customer base to other new and agile banks. [3]Like any company UWB, wants to maximize its profitability while satisfying its customer needs. It takes into consideration the customer requirements and prioritizes the needs to identify which customers its product will be targeted towards. The Company faces a dilemma in this scenario whether to launch a Consumer Product or a Small business Owner product. Catering to one or the other will create a bad reputation from the other side. The second stakeholders are the general consumers. They have the right to purchase the product from UWB and to be or not to be a part of the company. They want to maximize the utility they get on purchasing the products from the company. Their interests clash with the interest of the Small Business Owner Card holders and they are given higher priority. The third stakeholders are Small Business Owners for whom a different kind of card is being sought to be produced. They have the right to purchase the product from UWB and to be or not to be a part of the company. They want to maximize the utility they get on purchasing the products from the company. Their interests clash with the interest of the general consumers because they are given lesser priority. [1] Problem Statement USA World Bank will cater to all customers to increase market share and market value by building close customer relationships. End-State Vision USA World Bank will add value to its customer base by offering affordable products and incentives to increase its market share. Alternative Solutions Alternative solutions are generated from the problem at hand. Mary Monroe wants to go ahead with the Consumer product while Jim and executives emphasize for the Small Business Owner product. Brian is confused whether to go for both products or simply do more research to find out which one is more feasible. Here is the list of alternate solutions Launch General Consumer Product Launch Small Business Owner Product Launch Both Products These alternatives are included in the secondary alternatives as the company wants to launch the product this year without any delays. Delay launching product until further research studies are not completed Don't launch any product this year Analysis of Alternative Solutions There are 4 different goals that have been identified for USA World Bank from this scenario. The cost is not considered that important like Brian Allen said therefore it is assigned a rating of 2. A

Finance and accounts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Finance and accounts - Essay Example Stock markets are very volatile and investors need to learn through various important concepts before proceeding to invest their money to ensure satisfactory returns.Many at times there may be possibilities that investors suffer on the back drop of decreased prices after they invest. These situations should at least be reduced if they cannot be reduced as a whole. The process of loss reduction involves a complex understanding about the following terminologies:1.CAPM and Arbitrage Pricing Theory 2.Efficient markets hypothesis and Pecking order theory 3.Modigilani and Miller approach and Residual theory 4.Symbolic interactionism, ethnography and phenomenology 5.Conceptual framework of accounting and 6.Conceptual framework of management accounting.These abovementioned theories explain the basics of share trading and knowledge of them is a must to avoid risk in the stock market. 1.CAPM and Arbitrage Pricing TheoryCapital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM): It was developed to predict the future value of shares based on the previous trends in market equilibrium. It establishes the underlying relationship between the returns expected in the light of unavoidable risk. Any investment can be classified into risk free or portfolio categories. It analyzes the return which a portfolio is expected to deliver in the form of a characteristic line which comprises of three primary measures – the alpha (ÃŽ ±), Beta (ÃŽ ²) and unavoidable risk. ÃŽ ± is the simple intercept of the line and is bound to be zero and any value below that would avert the investor to participate in that particular stock. Unavoidable risk is the risk relating to a particular stock or industry which can be avoided or reduced comprehensively in a portfolio. Hence, the main determinant of the stock price is the ? which defines the sensitivity of a stock in relation to market changes. If it is more than 1, the stock is supposed to be more volatile than the market and vice versa. The formula for evaluating ? i s: Rj = Rf + (Rm-Rf)?j where Rj refers to the return expected of the security, Rm is the market return and Rf is the risk free return (treasury bond interest rate). ? is the unavoidable risk. The values of ? for many active stocks can be obtained through data published by various financial concerns. Thus, the expected return can be calculated. The same ? can also be interpreted as the discounted rate of the dividends to ascertain the value of the stock and thus by equating both the values, one can conclude whether a particular stock is over or undervalued. The underlying assumptions are: 1. Existence of efficient capital markets 2. Zero costs for transactions 3. No restrictions 4. Investors cannot influence the markets 5. Non-incurrence of taxes Specific situation: Let us evaluate a situation comprising of 7% Treasury bill rate and portfolio market returns of 12% to estimate the share value of pro-fli Corporation which contains a ? of 1.3. According to the formula, the share value w ould be: .07+(.12-.07) *1.3 which gives a result of 13.5%. This shows that when ? is more, the returns tend to be more rewarding. In the same case, if ? is estimated to

Prewriting Assignment Essay Example for Free

Prewriting Assignment Essay Times I Saw an Adult Cry I. I was very young when I first saw an adult cry.   I did not actually see an adult cry in person; I saw it on television.   Nonetheless, it was the first time I have seen an adult shed tears.   That night, I was at home with the babysitter when my mother left to run some errands.   I remember that the babysitter tucked me to my bed early and I immediately fell asleep.   After some time, I was awakened by the sounds of people talking.    It was rather loud, and I could hear the voices of a man and a woman in conversation. Out of curiosity, I got out of bed and opened the bedroom door.   At first, I thought that maybe the babysitter had some company. So I carefully walked downstairs to the den, where the babysitter usually stays.   I took a peek and found her alone.   The sounds I heard came from the television; she was only watching a movie.   I remember that it was an old movie, as it was in black and white.   To my surprise, the woman in the movie began to cry.   I was surprised because I have never seen the adults in my house cry.   I thought crying were only for babies and young children.   After that, I learned that adults can also cry. II. When I was younger, my family and I were on a road trip. The trip was generally smooth, until my father decided to take a short cut.   He was driving the car, and he turned left to a narrow dirt road.   It proved to be a wrong decision; the road led to a cemetery, where a burial was taking place.   The width of the road made it difficult to pass through, but the parked cars on both sides of the road made it more problematic. The traffic caused my father to drive slowly, allowing me to witness the burial.   I saw all of the mourners; all of them were dressed in black.   However, a man stood out in the crowd out of his sheer size. As a child, I was terrified of bald, stocky men.   They all seemed intimidating to me. The man in the cemetery was tall, stocky and bald.   Because he appeared intimidating, I did not expect him to cry in the burial. I was not used to seeing men cry, especially those of his size.   I was expecting him to be simply serious but not emotional.   Besides, it was said that men do not cry.   As we drove past the cemetery, I caught a glimpse of him pulling out a handkerchief and wiping his eyes.   He was indeed crying.   I contemplated that maybe the grief over the loss of a loved one may have been too much to bear, that it prompted a seemingly intimidating man to cry. III. Our next door neighbor was a woman with two children.   The woman had fair skin and dark curly hair. She was remarkably thin and was rarely seen at home.   My mother said that she worked two jobs so she could pay the rent and feed her children. I always liked her because whenever she was around, she would smile at me and her eyes would seem to smile too. She had those distinct smiling eyes.   One day, my mother and I went out of the house as we were hearing loud noises from her home. We saw this tall man coming out of her house, dragging the children with him. She was screaming while grabbing on to the man’s arm. She tried to stop him, but her small frame was no match to the man’s physique. The children were shouting for their mother as the man dragged them into the car. The man immediately hopped in the driver’s seat, closed the door, and drove away.   The woman just stood there in the street, her eyes still fixed on the car that just disappeared. A minute later, she bowed her head and covered her face with her hands. Then she began to cry.   Her cries became louder, and soon all our neighbors were already watching her.    I later found out that the man was her former husband and her children’s father. She worked so hard to take care of her children, only for them to be taken away from her.   I never saw her smiling eyes again.   She soon moved out. I believe it was after that incident when I truly began to have respect for single mothers who work hard to take care of their kids. IV. I am used to witnessing marriage proposals on television.   I have seen programs wherein the men would go down on one knee and the woman would then gasp in shock, cover their mouths with their hands and become motionless for a few seconds. Afterwards, they would become hysterical in glee. In the past, I thought that such moments were too emotional.   My opinion changed when I witnessed a marriage proposal firsthand.   I was in a coffee shop with a friend when a couple entered. They looked like the average couple; nothing seemed extraordinary about the two of them. The woman took her seat, while the man went to the counter to order.   I did not pay them much attention afterwards. It was not until much later when I realized they were deaf-mute, when I noticed that they were using sign language. I did not expect a proposal to occur, not in a coffee shop.   So when I saw the man go down on one knee, I was taken aback.   My friend and I watched closely, along with the other customers, as the woman nodded and hugged his future husband.   As the people in the shop cheered, tears were streaming down her face. Unlike other women, she did not overreact.   She was just happy, and her tears showed it.   I guess true love does make people happy, and the happiness does not have to be showy to be expressed. V. One time, I had the chance to watch The Oprah Winfrey Show.   I can remember that the episode featured a middle-aged African-American woman who took care of many children.   I cannot recall if she was married, but I know she had three children.   When the woman’s siblings died, she took the responsibility of raising them as well.   She and the children had to cram themselves in a small three-bedroom house.   She worked several jobs to support these kids, most of which are not even her own.   The problem was that the home was not hers and if she did not pay a certain amount within the specified time, they would be evicted. The woman and the children were invited to the show where they were to receive gifts from Oprah. They were given things they needed; they received new beds, kitchen appliances, and even a van.   However, the biggest surprise of all was when Oprah announced that they would be shopping for a new home. The woman hugged Oprah tight, and wiped the tears running down her face.   I knew the woman was happy because of all the material things she received. Most importantly, I know those tears were of gratitude.   It was not the material things per se that she was grateful for; she was thankful for the help that those things could offer her and the children.   I knew she deserved those things for all her dedication and hard work. Still, she was very grateful.

Causes of the Fenian Movement :: Essays Papers

Causes of the Fenian Movement Irish history is one that is filled with many successes, but heavily out weighted by tragedies and failures of all types. Beginning in the 1840’s, Ireland was faced with many occurrences that lead up to a movement that changed the history of Ireland’s nationalism. â€Å"Beginning with 1847, the potato blight left famine and death on every hand; emigration was excessive and disaffection wide spread yet the British government did little to relieve the deplorable conditions.† (Walker 2) One of the largest events of the time was the Fenian Movement. This movement was led by the people in order to take back what was theirs, their land and rights. While many occurrences might have contributed to the Fenian Movement, which was named after the legendary Gaelic hero, Finn Mac Cumhail (de Nie 215), the four large contributors were The Great Potato Famine; The Young Ireland Uprising; the Civil War; and Britain’s tightening oppression. In 1845, the main crop of the Irish was coming under attack. A blight that slowly killed the potatoes from the inside out, hit the country hard. With the devastation of the dying potatoes, much of the population was found to be in starving situations. Disease that already existed in the country, attacked those left weak by the starvation they were facing, and many died. The disaster of the Famine radicalized a generation of mainly catholic young men of modest social origin, some of whom eventually succeed in assembling an almost open and extremely widespread conspiracy to subvert British rule in Ireland (Gavin 471) This lead to the emigration of many to other countries in order to leave the diseased country. The Famine also caused many Irish to question the control that Britain had over their country. Britain granted no form of help to the devastated Irish population. Since potatoes were Ireland’s top export, the British decided to tax and bill for the potatoes that they never received. They also used religion as a tool to discourage the Irish. English Catholic’s prevalent concern: that Irish nationalism would supersede Catholicism in the hearts and minds of England’s Catholic population, which was predominantly composed of working-class Irish migrants†¦ Most Irish classified their Catholicism with nationalism while English Catholics considered themselves a refined Catholic minority in a vulgar Protestant land (Dye 358).

Carl Jung’s the Shadow Essay

The following assessment explores my understanding of how I apply the person-centred approach/core conditions to myself when considering my shadow. To help explore and deepen our understanding of Carl Jung’s term ‘the shadow’ the class this week carried out an exercise whereby we each chose a card depicting a negative/challenging personality trait. The card I chose was ‘The Miser’. We then individually explored how we considered this aspect to play a part in our shadow and how the shadow impacts on us personally and professionally. I will go on to describe what I discovered about my shadow during this exercise. The shadow represents the unconscious parts of our personality – the parts our conscious-self disowns due to inner conflicts often originating from foundations such as culture and upbringing. Refusing to acknowledge its existence and place within our psyche threatens to distort our relationships with ourselves and others. Embracing the shadow allows us to move deeper within our unconscious layers and develop a better understanding of self. According to Carl Jung, recognising our shadow material is part of the journey to embracing the totality of ourselves. However, this can prove to be a difficult task. As Jung notes, it takes considerable moral effort, insight, and good will to embrace the dark aspects of our personality. Some parts of the shadow can be recognised more easily than others but because the shadow is ‘a moral problem’, there is usually some resistance to confronting it. 3a) Apply the person-centred approach to self When thinking about the definition of The Miser, I initially was not sure about its true meaning. After questioning this I discovered it describes a miserable, penny pinching character. On expanding on this and relating it to my shadow, I expressed my own connection of this to selfishness leading on to false guilt. So how do I apply the core conditions to myself when experiencing these elements of my shadow? And how can I get to a deeper and more compassionate understanding of these behaviours? A miserly character conjures up, from my personal vantage point, an image of Scrooge – someone who takes no pleasure in spending money on other people or making gestures of generosity. It is not a trait I would claim to have as I genuinely enjoy being as generous as I realistically within my network of family and friends. But, looking at this from a societal perspective, I can link feelings of selfishness to admitting that I could give more money to charity. In the economy we live in, speaking in broad terms, we all need to be careful about how and where we choose to spend our money. I would class myself as an honest, hard-working, tax paying citizen making up part of the working class structure of society. I am however aware of times when I am frugal with my finances and the sense of guilt that can surface. When thinking of my shadow in the context of the core conditions, I can empathically understand that money is an integral part of my survival system – to having the lifestyle, health, necessities and luxuries I choose to strive for. I can feel very sad for people and countries in desperate need of charitable help which is accompanied by a sense of selfishness over the advantages and privileges I fortunately have and whilst I feel passionate that nobody should ever have to live a life of poverty in such a wealthy world, I remain realistic and congruent with myself about the extent of which I am able to help financially. I take the time to acknowledge such issues but manage and internalise them to a degree that does not defeat my sense of contribution to the world. This flows in to unconditional positive regard. I recognise that the feelings of selfishness and false guilt that arise in me are hard to process and if I am honest that I am capable of feeling selfish, I can start to understand with more clarity the reasons to how I arrived at that place and ultimately feel respect and compassion for myself through a clearer understanding and appreciation. 3b) Critically examine how this application impacts on your own counselling So how does thinking about my shadow relate to me professionally? Not owning my shadow as a counsellor could exert an unseen influence on my relationship with the client. To deny such parts of myself is to supress them and inevitably and unconsciously permit them seep in to the dynamics of the relationship. If I strive to use the core conditions with myself, and accept myself sensitively and compassionately, I will be capable of providing the same conditions for the client. Rogers (1961) describes further the relevance of being congruent; â€Å"The psychotherapist is what he is, when in the relationship with his client he is genuine and without front or facade, openly being the feelings and attitudes which at that moment are flowing in him†¦the feelings the therapist is experiencing are available to him, available to his awareness, and he is able to live these feelings, be them, and able to communicate them if appropriate. † As a counsellor I need to have the ability to own my flaws and admit that I am human and fallible but strive to internally construct them in a sensitive way so as not to allow them to sabotage the delicate conditions in which a therapeutic relationship can develop. Disavowing the conflicts and flaws within me could result in projecting my own value systems, beliefs and insecurities on to the client. If I were to deny the ability within me to feel selfish then my visceral reaction to a client bringing up such issues in a session would be stuck inside my own frame of reference and the core conditions I aim to provide myself and the client would be blinkered. References Rogers C, . (1961) On Becoming a Person: A Therapist’s View of Psychotherapy. London. Constable.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 20

Meredith usual y found her parents funny and sil y and dear. They were solemn about al the wrong things like, â€Å"Make sure, honey, that you real y get to know Alaric – before – before – â€Å"Meredith had no doubts about Alaric at al , but he was another of those sil y, dear, gal ant people, who talked al around things without getting to the point. Today, she was surprised to see that there was no cluster of cars around the ancestral home. Maybe people had to stay home to fight it out with their own children. She locked the Acura, conscious of the precious contents given by Isobel, and rang the doorbel . Her parents believed in chain locks. Janet, the housekeeper, looked happy to see her but nervous. Aha, Meredith thought, they have discovered that their dutiful only child has ransacked the attic. Maybe they want the stave back. Maybe I should have left it back at the boardinghouse. But she only realized that things were truly serious when she came into the family room and saw the big La-Z-Boy deluxe lounging chair, her father's throne: empty. Her father was sitting on the couch, holding her mother, who was sobbing. She had brought the stave with her, and when her mother saw it, she broke into a fresh burst of tears. â€Å"Look,†Meredith said, â€Å"this doesn't have to be so tragic. I've got a pretty good idea of what happened. If you want to tel me about how Grandma and I real y got hurt, that's your business. But if I was†¦contaminated in some way†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She stopped. She could hardly believe it. Her father was holding out an arm to her, as if the somewhat rank condition of her clothes didn't matter. She went to him slowly, uncomfortably, and let him hug her regardless of his Armani suit. Her mother had a glass with a few sips left of what looked like Coke in front of her, but Meredith would bet it wasn't al Coke. â€Å"We'd hoped that this was a place of peace,†her father orated. Every sentence her father spoke was an oration. You got used to it. â€Å"We never dreamed†¦Ã¢â‚¬ And then he stopped. Meredith was stunned. Her father didn't stop in the middle of an oration. He didn't pause. And he certainly didn't cry. â€Å"Dad! Daddy! What is it? Have kids been around here, crazy kids? Did they hurt somebody?† â€Å"We have to tel you the whole story from that time long ago,†her father†¦said. He spoke with such despair that it wasn't anything like an oration. â€Å"When you were†¦al attacked.† â€Å"By the vampire. Or Grandfather. Or do you know?† Long pause. Then her mother drained the contents of her glass and cal ed, â€Å"Janet, another one, please.† â€Å"Now, Gabriel a – â€Å"her father said, chiding. â€Å"‘Nando – I can't bear this. The thought that mi hija inocente†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Meredith said, â€Å"Look, I think I can make this easier for you. I already know†¦Well, first, that I had a twin brother.† Her parents looked horrified. They clung together, gasping. â€Å"Who told you?†her father demanded. â€Å"At that boardinghouse, who could know – ?† Calming down time. â€Å"No, no. Dad, I found out – Well, Grandpa talked to me.†That was true enough. He had. Just not about her brother. â€Å"Anyway, that was how I got the stave. But the vampire that hurt us is dead. He was the serial kil er, the one who kil ed Vickie and Sue. His name was Klaus.† â€Å"You thought that there was only one vampire?†her mother got out. She pronounced the word the Hispanic way, which Meredith always found more scary. Vahm-peer. The universe seemed to start moving slowly around Meredith. â€Å"That's just a guess,†her father said. â€Å"We don't real y know that there was more than the very strong one.† â€Å"But you know about Klaus – how?† â€Å"We saw him. He was the strong one. He kil ed the security guards at the gate with one blow each. We moved to a new town. We hoped you would never have to know you had a brother.†Her father brushed his eyes. â€Å"Your grandfather spoke to us, right after the attack. But the next day†¦nothing. He couldn't talk at al .† Her mother put her face in her hands. She only lifted it to cal , â€Å"Janet! Another, por favor!† â€Å"Right away, ma'am.†Meredith looked to the housekeeper's blue eyes for the solution to this mystery and found nothing – sympathy, but no help. Janet walked away with the empty glass, blond French braid receding. Meredith turned back to her parents, so dark of eye and hair, so olive of skin color. They were huddling together again, eyes on her. â€Å"Mom, Dad, I know that this is real y hard. But I'm going after the kind of people who hurt Grandpa, and Grandma, and my brother. It's dangerous, but I have to do it.†She dropped into a Taekwondo stance. â€Å"I mean you did have me trained.† â€Å"But against your own family? You could do that?†her mother cried. Meredith sat down. She had reached the end of the memories that she and Stefan had found. â€Å"So Klaus didn't kil him like Grandmother. He took my brother with him.† â€Å"Cristian,†wailed her mother. â€Å"He was just un bebe. Three years old! That was when we found the two of you†¦and the blood†¦oh, the blood†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her father got up, not to orate, but to put his hand on Meredith's shoulder. â€Å"We thought it would be easier not to tel you – that you wouldn't have any memories of what was happening when we came in. And you don't, do you?† Meredith's eyes were fil ing with tears. She looked to her mother, trying to silently tel her she couldn't understand this. â€Å"He was drinking my blood?†she guessed. â€Å"Klaus?† â€Å"No!†cried her father as her mother whispered prayers. â€Å"He was drinking Cristian's, then.†Meredith was kneeling on the floor now, trying to look up into the face of her mother. â€Å"No!†cried her father again. He choked. â€Å"La sangre!† gasped her mother, covering her eyes. â€Å"The blood!† â€Å"Querida – † her father sobbed, and went to her. â€Å"Dad!†Meredith went after him and shook his arm. â€Å"You've ruled out al the possibilities! I don't understand! Who was drinking blood?† â€Å"You! You!† her mother almost screamed. â€Å"From your own brother! Oh, el aterrorizar!† â€Å"Gabriel a!†moaned her father. Meredith's mother subsided into weeping. Meredith's head was whirling. â€Å"I'm not a vampire! I hunt vampires and kil them!† â€Å"He said,†her father whispered hoarsely: â€Å"‘Just see she gets a tablespoon a week. If you want her to live, that is. Try a blood pudding.'He was laughing.† Meredith didn't need to ask if they had obeyed. At her house, they had blood sausage or pudding at least once a week. She had grown up with it. It was nothing special. â€Å"Why?†she whispered hoarsely now. â€Å"Why didn't he kil me?† â€Å"I don't know! We Stilldon't know! That man with his front al dripping with blood – your blood, your brother's blood, we didn't know! And then at the last minute he grabbed for the two of you but you bit his hand to the bone,†her father said. â€Å"He laughed – laughed! – with your teeth clamped in him and your little hands pushing him away, and said, ‘I'l just leave you this one, then, and you can worry about what she wil turn out to be. The boy I'm taking with me.'And then suddenly I seemed to come out of a spel , for I was reaching for you again, ready to fight him for both of you. But I couldn't! Once I had you, I couldn't move another inch. And he left the house Stilllaughing – and took your brother, Cristian, with him.† Meredith thought. No wonder they didn't want to hold any kind of celebration on the anniversaries of that day. Her grandmother dead, her grandfather going crazy, her brother lost, and herself – what? No wonder they celebrated her birthday a week early. Meredith tried to stay calm. The world was fal ing to pieces around her but she had to stay calm. Staying calm had kept her alive al her life. Without even having to count, she was breathing out deep, and in through her nostrils, and out through her mouth. Deep, deep, cleansing breaths. Soothing peace throughout her body. Only part of her was hearing her mother: â€Å"We came home early that night because I had a headache – â€Å" â€Å"Sh, querida – â€Å"her father was beginning. â€Å"We got home early,†her mother keened. â€Å"O Virgen Bendecida, what would we have found if we had been late? We would have lost you, too! My baby! My baby with blood on her mouth – â€Å" â€Å"But we got home early enough to save her,†Meredith's father said huskily, as if trying to wake her mother from a spel . â€Å"Ah, g racias, Princesa Divina, Vigen pura y impoluto†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Her mother couldn't seem to stop crying. â€Å"Daddy,†Meredith said urgently, aching for her mother but desperately needing information. â€Å"Have you ever seen him again? Or heard about him? My brother, Cristian?† â€Å"Yes,†her father said. â€Å"Oh, yes, we have seen something.† Her mother gasped. â€Å"‘Nando, no!† â€Å"She has to learn the truth sometime,†her father said. He rummaged among some cardboard file folders on the desk. â€Å"Look!†he said to Meredith. â€Å"Look at this.† Meredith stared in utter disbelief. In the Dark Dimension Bonnie shut her eyes. There was a lot of wind at the top of a tal building's window. That was al her mind had a thought for when she was out of the window and then back into it and the ogre was laughing and Shinichi's terrible voice saying, â€Å"You don't real y think we'd let you go without questioning you thoroughly?† Bonnie heard the words without them making sense, and then suddenly they did. Her captors were going to hurt her. They were going to torture her. They were going to take her bravery away. She thought she screamed something at him. Al she knew, though, was that there was a soft explosion of heat behind her, and then – unbelievably – al dressed up in a cloak with badges that made him look like some kind of military prince, there was Damon. Damon. He was so late she'd long ago given up on him. But now he was flashing a there-and-gone bril iant smile at Shinichi, who was staring as if he'd been stricken dumb. And now Damon was saying, â€Å"I'm afraid Ms. McCul ough has another engagement at that moment. But I wil be back to kick your ass – immediately. Move from this room and I'l kil you al , slowly. Thank you for your time and consideration.† And before anyone could even recover from their first shock at his arrival, he and Bonnie were blasting off through the windows. He went, not out of the building backward as if retreating, but straight ahead forward, one hand in front of him, wrapping them both in a black but ethereal bundle of Power. They shattered the two-way mirror in Bonnie's room and were almost al the way through to the next room before Bonnie's mind tagged the first â€Å"empty.†Then they were crashing through an elaborate videoset-window – made to let people think they had a view of the outdoors, and flying over someone lying on a bed. Then†¦it was just a series of crashes, as far as Bonnie was concerned. She barely got a glimpse of what was going on in each room. Final y†¦ The crashing stopped. This left Bonnie holding on to Damon koala-style – she wasn't stupid – and they were very, very high in the air. And mobilizing in front of them, and off to the sides, and as far as Bonnie could see, were women who were also flying, but in little machines that looked like a combination of a motorcycle and a Jet Ski. No wheels, of course. The machines were al gold, which was also the color of each driver's hair. So the first word Bonnie gasped to her rescuer, after he had blasted a tunnel through the large slave-owner's building to save her, was, â€Å"Guardians?† â€Å"Indispensable, considering the fact that I didn't have the first idea where the bad guys might have taken you and I suspected that there might be a time limit. This was actual y the very last of the slave-sel ers we were due to check. We final y†¦lucked out.†For someone who had lucked out, he sounded a little strange. Almost†¦choked up. Water was on Bonnie's cheeks but it was being flicked away too fast for her to wipe it. Damon was holding her so that she couldn't see his face, and he was holding her very, very tightly. It real y was Damon. He had cal ed out the cavalry and, despite the city-wide mind-gridlock, he had found her. â€Å"They hurt you, didn't they, little redbird? I saw†¦I saw your face,†Damon said in his new choked-up voice. Bonnie didn't know what to say. But suddenly she didn't mind how hard he squeezed her. She even found herself squeezing back. Suddenly, to her shock, Damon broke her koala-grip and pul ed her up and kissed her on the lips very gently. â€Å"Little redbird! I'm going to go now, and make them pay for what they did to you.† Bonnie heard herself say, â€Å"No, don't.† â€Å"No?†Damon repeated, bewildered. â€Å"No,†Bonnie said. She needed Damon with her. She didn't care what happened to Shinichi. There was a sweetness unfolding inside her, but there was also a rushing in her head. It real y was a pity, but in a few moments she would be unconscious. Meanwhile, she had three thoughts in mind and al of them were clear. What she was afraid of was that they would be less clear later, after she had fainted. â€Å"Do you have a star bal ?† â€Å"I have twenty-eight star bal s,†Damon said, and looked at her quizzical y. That wasn't what Bonnie meant at al ; she meant one to record onto. â€Å"Can you remember three things?†she said to Damon. â€Å"I'd gamble on it.†This time Damon kissed her softly on the forehead. â€Å"First, you ruined my very brave death.† â€Å"We can always go back and you can have another try.†Damon's voice was less choked now; more his own. â€Å"Second, you left me at that horrible inn for a week – â€Å" As if she could see inside his mind, she saw this slice into him like some kind of wooden sword. He was holding her so tightly that she real y couldn't breathe. â€Å"I†¦I didn't mean to. It was real y only four days, but I never should have done it,†he said. â€Å"Third.†Bonnie's voice dropped to a whisper. â€Å"I don't think any star bal was ever stolen at al . What never existed can't be stolen, can it?† She looked at him. Damon was looking back in a way that normal y would have thril ed her. He was obviously, blatantly distressed. But Bonnie was just barely hanging on to consciousness at this point. â€Å"And†¦fourth†¦Ã¢â‚¬ She puzzled out slowly. â€Å"Fourth? You said three things.†Damon smiled, just a little. â€Å"I have to say this – â€Å"She dropped her head down on Damon's shoulder, gathered al of her energy, and concentrated. Damon loosened his grip a little. He said, â€Å"I can hear a faint murmuring sound in my head. Just tel me normal y. We're well away from anyone.† Bonnie was insistent. She scrunched her whole tiny body together and then explosively sent out a thought. She could tel that Damon caught it. Fourth, I know the way to the seven legendary kitsune treasures, Bonnie sent to him. That includes the biggest star ball ever made. But if we want it, we have to get to it – fast. Then, feeling that she had contributed enough to the conversation, she fainted.

Perfect Gym essays

Perfect Gym essays Every person in the world would like to have a perfect body. In order to have a healthy and a strong body, people would need to consider going to a gym to work out. What do such people expect of a gym? Certainly, patrons would expect a wide selection of equipment available in a gym. Patrons would enjoy a well-educated staff who knows everything people want to know about working out. The Bally Total Fitness, located on the Boulevard, is a perfect match for that. Patrons will definitely enjoy working out at the Bally Total Fitness. What kind of environment would patrons expect? Patrons will find the Bally Total Fitness clean, well organized, and suitable for working out. First of all, patrons will appreciate a wide selection of equipment available to them. Whether they like to use machines or free weights to achieve their goals, Bally Total Fitness is right for them. For example, patrons have a choice of inclined, declined, and regular bench press available to them. The gym has about 8 machines for each part of the body. The gym has 3 machines of the same kind, so patrons dont have to wait for someone to get finished with their work out. Ballys has about 5 set of dumbbells for each weight, so up to 5 people can work out at a time. Patrons will appreciate the wide selection of equipment offered to customers. Second of all, patrons would enjoy the staff, who can assist them with their work out. The Bally Total Fitness has 12 trainers on duty at a time. Trainers walk around and ask everyone if they would like help. For example, trainers are there to spot people bench pressing. Trainers give patrons hints on how to work certain muscles. Trainers can also design a healthy diet for one to follow. Patrons would enjoy the staff working at the Bally Total Fitness located on the Boulevard. Finally, patrons will appreciate the environment. Patrons will find the gym clean. The machines are cleaned every 15 ...

Crimes of Killer Cop Antoinette Frank

Crimes of Killer Cop Antoinette Frank Antoinette Renee Frank (born April 30, 1971) is one of two women on death row in Louisiana.   On March 4, 1995, Frank was employed as a New Orleans police officer when she and accomplice Rogers Lacaze committed an armed robbery  at a restaurant and a killed New Orleans police officer and  two family members who were working at the restaurant. The motive of the murders was money. Frank interviewed with the New Orleans Police Department in January 1993. Despite that she was caught lying several times on her application and that after completing two psychiatric evaluations a firm do not hire status was recommended, the decision was made to hire her anyway. As a police officer cruising the streets of New Orleans, she came off as weak, indecisive and as some of her co-workers stated, borderline irrational. After her first six months on the force, her supervisor was close to having her return to the police academy for more training, but there was a shortage of manpower and she was needed on the streets. Instead, he teamed her up with a seasoned officer. Rogers Lacaze Roger Lacaze was a known 18-year-old  drug dealer who had been shot. Frank was the officer assigned to take his statement and a relationship between the two immediately transpired. Frank decided that she was going to help Lacaze turn his life around. However, the relationship quickly turned into a sexual one. Frank and Lacaze began spending a lot of time together and she did little to hide it from her fellow police officers or her superiors. She allowed him to ride in her police car when she was on duty and he sometimes accompanied her on calls. She would sometimes introduce him as a trainee or nephew. The Murders On March 4, 1995, Frank and Lacze showed up at the Kim Anh Vietnamese restaurant in east New Orleans, Louisiana, at 11 p.m. Frank had worked security at the restaurant and was on friendly terms with the family that owned and ran it. They would often give her food for free, even when she was not working. Fellow police officer Ronald Williams also worked security at the restaurant and was responsible for scheduling the other officers. He was there when Frank and Lacaze showed up.  Frank introduced Lacaze  as her nephew, but Williams recognized him as a thug who he had stopped on more than one occasion.   At around midnight, 24-year-old Chau Vu, who was working the restaurant with her sister and two brothers, decided it was slow enough to close. She was headed to the back to balance the money, when she noticed that the key to the restaurant was missing since the last time she had let Frank and her nephew out. She continued on to the kitchen to count money, then returned to the dining room to pay Williams who was working security that night.  Frank suddenly appeared back at the restaurant, shaking the door to come in. Sensing something was wrong, she went into the back and hid the money in the microwave, then returned to the front of the restaurant.   Earlier, after the first time the couple left, Williams told Chau Frank and her nephew were bad news. Chau had already decided that she did trust Frank after seeing her nephew, who looked like a gang member with his gold front teeth.   Chaus 18-year-old brother Quoc Vu, was talking with Williams when Frank returned. Chau shouted to him, not to let her in, but Frank came in on her own, using the missing key to open the door. As Frank walked into the restaurant, Williams approached her and confronted her about having a key, but she ignored him and continued towards the kitchen, shoving Chau and Quoc along with her. In the meantime, Lacaze, armed with a 9 mm pistol, came into the restaurant and shot Williams in the back of the head at close range, which immediately severed his spinal cord. Williams fell, paralyzed, and Lacaze shot him two more times in the head and back, killing him.He then took the officers revolver and his wallet. During the shooting, Franks attention turned to Lacaze, and Chau grabbed Quoc and an employee named Vui and they fled to the restaurants walk in- cooler, turned off the lights and hid. Chau, then Quoc carefully looked through the glass of the cooler to see what was going on. They watched as Frank and Lacaze searched frantically for the money. When they found it, they went to where Chaus older brother and sister were and forced them to their knees. The two siblings held hands and began praying and begging for their lives.   Frank shot both of them at close range with the same gun LaCaze had used to kill Williams. Then the killers began searching for the others. Assuming that they had escaped, Frank and Lacaze left the restaurant and drove away. Quoc ran to the neighbors to call 9.1.1. while  Chau stayed at the restaurant. She also called 911 but was so distraught after finding her brother and sister, and Williams dead, that she was unable to communicate clearly. Frank returned to the restaurant just seconds before the police. As Chau ran from the restaurant to a female police officer, it appeared that Frank was running after her, but she was stopped by the officers. She identified herself as a police officer and said that three masked men had escaped out the back door. Frank then approached Chau, and asked her what happened and if she was alright. Chau, in disbelief, and in broken English, asked why she would ask that, because she was there and knew what had happened. Sensing Chaus fear, the female officer pulled Chau away and told Frank not to leave. Slowly Chau was able to say what had happened. When Quoc returned to the scene, he validated what Chau had said. Frank was escorted to headquarters, after supplying the investigators with information on where she had dropped Lacaze off after leaving the restaurant after the shooting. When they were each interrogated, they pointed the finger at each other as being the trigger man. Frank finally said that she shot the younger brother and sister, but only because Lacaze had a gun to her head. They were both charged with armed robbery and murder. Death by Lethal Injection LaCaze trial was first. He tried to convince the jury that he was not at the restaurant and that Frank had acted alone. He was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to death by lethal injection. In October 1995 the jury sentenced Frank to death by lethal injection for the murders of Officer Ronald Williams and Ha and Cuong Vu. Update:  Rogers Lacaze is Granted a New Trial On July 23, 2015,  Ã‚  Judge Michael Kirby granted Rogers Lacaze a new trial because a former police officer was on the jury, which was in violation of jury rules. The juror,  Ã‚  David Settle, never revealed that he had worked for 20 years with the police.

Family Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Family Assessment - Essay Example Caroline is 38 years old. She has a 15 year old daughter. Carol and her daughter lived alone until Carol’s recent marriage to Trey Reyes. Carol is a very successful Sales Manager and travels a lot with her company. Mrs. Janice Jackson and Carol have a very strong bond. Lenny is Mr. and Mrs. Jackson’s third child. Lenny Jackson is 33 years old married to Desiree and has one child, a son Marcus. Marcus is 9 years old. Shelldon Jackson is Mr. and Mrs. Jackson’s youngest child. Shelldon is 32 years old married to Leigha and together have a daughter 4 years of age. Lenny also has a son from a previous relationship. Lenny’s son Alex is 12 years of age. The Jackson family is extremely close. Mrs. Jackson is very involved in not only all of her children’s lives and activities but also those of her grandchildren. Mr. Jackson unfortunately is not allowed the same opportunity due to his rigorous work schedule. Mr. Jackson is a chef and has to be up early in th e morning to be at work for 4 am. So when he gets home he usually sleeps a lot of the time. Mr. Jackson is there whenever he can be. The Jackson Family is and always has been very female influenced and dominated. â€Å"A Woman’s intuition never steers wrong† is there family motto. The males have always taken the role as the main providers of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are very involved in their church community and scold their children when they are not. Mrs. Jackson was raised a strong Baptist believer. The children are not always able to be there because of work and busy schedules. Mrs. Jackson does not feel that is an appropriate excuse. There should always be time for God since He’s made time for you. The Jackson Family does manage to attend church together as a whole at least one Sunday out of the month. Developmental The Jackson Family has always declared home their safe haven. Which means no matter what mistakes you make in life, do not ever think h ome is no longer an option. Home in the Jackson Family is where the center and heart of love is. There is no problem too great to solve and no hurt too great that can’t be healed. Usually behind the solutions to every problem and every hurt was Mrs. Jackson. Mrs. Jackson is the backbone of the family, until about a year ago. About a year ago Mrs. Jackson was getting ready to leave work when all of sudden she could not catch her breath. After causing the serious concern of her co-workers an ambulance was called. Mrs. Jackson was taken to a nearby hospital and admitted. Mr. Jackson was notified and arrived right away. Not long after the entire Jackson Family was sitting in a waiting room waiting to hear news that would devastate them all. Mrs. Jackson kidneys were failing and she needed a kidney transplant right away. The entire family went through tests to see if they were matches none of them passed the test. Mrs. Jackson’s condition continued to get worse even on the dialysis treatment. Functional Mrs. Jackson has had to relearn how to live life. The change her family has seen in her is devastating. A once strong woman is now defeated and trying to survive. Now it’s the family’s turn to be the backbone. The only problem is Mrs. Jackson refuses to allow anyone to take her place even though the days become more and more difficult for her. Mr. Jackson finally decided to take a risky stand cutting his hours at work to be at home more with Mrs. Jackson to monitor her. This was of course against Mrs. Jackson’

Change Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 3

Change Management - Essay Example Jesse Westerly was an articulate employee who took over her position as an assistant product owner at Kauflauf with high ambitions to transform the revenues of the organisation. She was very visionary on turning around the fortunes of Kauflauf since she had demonstrated the capacity and potential for achieving the targets and objectives from her previous workstation. Indeed, she was capable of taking charge of the new position since prior to assuming her roles as the assistant product owner, she had conducted an extensive research on the operations of the field consultants and realised the organisation had a market potential that had not yet been exploited. She also discovered that the sales consultants were spending considerable resources and time on lesser clients while spending fewer or none of more profitable and potential customers. It is from this notion she conducted her research and came up with the recommendation of changing the sales calls patterns. Conversely, Jesse was resolute and wanted to assume her position with a performance impact the reason she worked, on the findings to create to achieve her objectives. Based on the change management theory, changes initiated by an organisation should succeed if they originate from the leader (Cameron & Green, 2012). In other words, the change of leadership is the most reliable manner to institute changes in a firm. Therefore, it was prudent as an assistant product owner that Jesse thought of utilising her position as a leader to initiate changes to revolutionise the manner in which the field consultants worked to enhance efficiency and thus boost the overall returns of the company in the long run. Jesse was efficient in taking charge of her new position. However, despite the ideal change plans she had in mind for the business, she did not have a suitable implementation plan that would transform the project into an executable course of action to realise the

Managing Communication in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing Communication in Business - Essay Example Every member of an effective group should have the required professional skills for a job, which is assigned to him (Rhee 2007). For a group related to business working, the group members of the group should have skills such as understanding of the work environment, business demands and the job needs. Every group member should be aware of the business setting, job specifications and should be target oriented (Devine, et. al 1999). Effective group also forms when people related to the group have interpersonal skills (Silver and Bufiano 1996). Every group member should identify the skills of other members and should be aware about his/her own working that can be supported by other members of the group (Knouse and Dansby 1999). In an effective group, the group members prove themselves as a support for other members and each member is aware of the skills of other person. Balanced diversity and time frame are other characteristics that the group members should have to make the group effective. Each member of the group should be able to offer diverse ideas in case of need (Devine, et. al 1999). For performing any activity, diverse ideas play an effective role. The group members that have diverse skills are much more suitable to form an effective group. Time frame is a very crucial factor and all the group members should take care of the time allocated for a task to make the group effective. Every member of the group is assigned a different role and every group member should perform the role that is assigned to him/her (Pescosolido 2003). Roles are of many kinds such as initiator, contributor, information seeker and giver, coordinator, orienteer, energizer and many others. The performance of each member affects the over all group performance so it is essential for all the group members to complete their assigned roles within allocated time (Knouse and Dansby 1999). Group size is a very important factor. The size

Types Of Pollution And Their Causes Environmental Sciences Essay

Types Of Pollution And Their Causes Environmental Sciences Essay Pollution  is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes discomfort to the  ecosystem  i.e. physical systems or living organisms.  Pollution can take the form of  chemical substances  or  energy, such as noise, heat, or light. Pollutants, the elements of pollution, can be foreign substances or energies, or naturally occurring; when naturally occurring, they are considered contaminants when they exceed natural levels. Pollution is often classed as  point source  or  nonpoint source pollution. POINT SOURCE POLLUTION A  point source of pollution  is a single identifiable  localized  source of  air,  water,  thermal,  noise  or  light  pollution. A  point source  has negligible extent, distinguishing it from other pollution source geometries. The sources are called  point sources  because in mathematical modeling, they can be approximated as a mathematical  point  to simplify analysis. Pollution point sources are identical to other  physics,  engineering,  optics  andchemistry  point sources except that their emissions have been labeled Water pollution from an  oil refinery  wastewater  discharge outlet Noise pollution from a  jet engine Disruptive  seismic  vibration from a localized seismic study Light pollution from an intrusive  street light Thermal pollution from an industrial process  outfall Radio  emissions from an interference-producing electrical device Types of air pollution sources which have finite extent are  line sources,  area sources  and  volume sources. Air pollution sources are also often categorized as either stationary or mobile. NON POINT SOURCE POLLUTION Non-point source (NPS) pollution  is  water pollution  affecting a water body from diffuse sources, such as polluted  runoff  from  agricultural  areas draining into a river, or wind-borne debris blowing out to sea. Nonpoint source pollution can be contrasted with  point source  pollution, where discharges occur to a body of water at a single location, such as discharges from a chemical factory,  urban runoff  from a roadway  storm drain, or from ships at sea. NPS may derive from many different sources with no specific solution to rectify the problem, making it difficult to regulate. It is the leading cause of water pollution in the  United States  today, with polluted runoff from agriculture the primary cause. Other significant sources of runoff include  hydrological  and  habitat modification, and  silviculture  (forestry). Contaminated stormwater washed off of  parking lots,  roads  and  highways, and  lawns  (often containing  fertilizers  and  pesticides) is called  urban runoff. This runoff is often classified as a type of NPS pollution. Some people may also consider it a point source because many times it is channeled into municipal storm drain systems and discharged through pipes to nearby  surface waters. However, not all urban runoff flows through storm drain systems before entering waterbodies. Some may flow directly into waterbodies, especially in developing and suburban areas. Also, unlike other types of point sources, such as industrial discharge, wastewater plants and other operations, pollution in urban runoff cannot be attributed to one activity or even group of activities. Therefore, because it is not caused by an easily identified and regulated activity, urban runoff pollution sources are also often treated as true nonpoint sources as municipalities work to abate t hem. MAJOR FORMS OF POLLUTION ::: The major forms of pollution are listed below along with the particular pollutants relevant to each of them: AIR POLLUTION Air pollution  is the introduction of  chemicals,  particulate matter, or  biological materials  that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or damages the  natural environment  into the atmosphere. The atmosphere is a complex dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet  Earth.  Stratospheric  ozone depletion  due to air pollution has long been recognized as a threat to human health as well as to the Earths  ecosystems. NOISE POLLUTION Noise pollution  (or  environmental  noise) is displeasing human, animal or machine-created sound that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life. The word  noise  comes from the Latin word  nauseas, meaning seasickness. The source of most outdoor noise worldwide is mainly  construction  and  transpHYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportortation systems, including  motor vehicle  noise,  aircraft noise  and  rail noise.  Poor  urban planning  may give rise to noise pollution, since side-by-side industrial and residential buildings can result in noise pollution in the residential area. Indoor and outdoor noise pollution sources include  car alarms, emergency service  sirens, mechanical equipment,  fireworks, compressed  air horns, groundskeeping equipment, barking dogs, appliances,lighting  hum, audio entertainment systems, electric  megaphones, and loud people. SOIL CONTAMINATION Soil contamination  (soil pollution) is caused by the presence of  xenobiotic  (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. This type of contamination typically arises from the rupture of  underground storage tanks, application of  pesticides, percolation of contaminated surface water to subsurface strata, oil and fuel dumping, leaching of wastes fromlandfills  or direct discharge of industrial wastes to the soil. The most common chemicals involved are petroleum  hydrocarbons,  solvents, pesticides, lead and other  heavy metals. This occurrence of this phenomenon is correlated with the degree of industrialization and intensities of chemical usage. The concern over soil contamination stems primarily from health risks, from direct contact with the contaminated soil, vapors from the contaminants, and from secondary contamination of water supplies within and underlying the soil. Mapping of contaminated soil sites and the resulting cleanup are time consuming and expensive tasks, requiring extensive amounts of  geology,hydrology,  chemistry  and  computer modeling  skills. It is in  North America  and  Western Europe  that the extent of contaminated land is most well known, with many of countries in these areas having a legal framework to identify and deal with this environmental problem; this however may well be just the tip of the iceberg with developing countries very likely to be the next generation of new soil contamination cases. RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION Radioactive contamination, also called  radiological contamination, is radioactive substances on surfaces, or within solids, liquids or gases (including the human body), where their presence is unintended or undesirable, or the process giving rise to their presence in such places. Also used less formally to refer to a quantity, namely the  activity  on a surface (or on a unit area of a surface). Contamination does not include residual  radioactive material  remaining at a site after the completion of  decommissioning. The term radioactive contamination may have a connotation that is not intended. The term radioactive contamination refers only to the presence of  radioactivity, and gives no indication of the magnitude of the hazard involved. Radioactive contamination is typically the result of a spill or accident during the production or use of  radionuclides  (radioisotopes), an unstable nucleus which has excessive energy. Contamination may occur from radioactive gases, liquids or particles. For example, if a radionuclide used in  nuclear medicine  is accidentally spilled, the material could be spread by people as they walk around. Radioactive contamination may also be an inevitable result of certain processes, such as the release of radioactive  xenon  in  nuclear fuel reprocessing. In cases that radioactive material cannot be contained, it may be diluted to safe concentrations.  Nuclear fallout  is the distribution of radioactive contamination by a  nuclear explosion. THERMAL POLLUTION   Thermal pollution  is the degradation of  water quality  by any process that changes ambient water  temperature. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a  coolant  by  power plants  and industrial manufacturers. When water used as a coolant is returned to the natural environment at a higher temperature, the change in temperature (a) decreases  oxygen  supply, and (b) affects  ecosystem  composition.  Urban runoffstormwater  discharged to surface waters from  roads  and  parking lotscan also be a source of elevated water temperatures. When a power plant first opens or shuts down for repair or other causes, fish and other organisms adapted to particular temperature range can be killed by the abrupt rise in water temperature known as thermal shock. SOURCES AND CAUSES Air pollution comes from both natural and man made sources. Though globally man made pollutants from combustion, construction, mining, agriculture and warfare are increasingly significant in the air pollution equation. Motor vehicle emissions are one of the leading causes of air pollution.  China,  United States,  Russia,  Mexico, and  Japan  are the world leaders in air pollution emissions. Principal stationary pollution sources include  chemical plants, coal-fired  power plants,  oil refineries,  petrochemical  plants,  nuclear waste  disposal activity, incinerators, large livestock farms (dairy cows, pigs, poultry, etc.),  PVC  factories, metals production factories, plastics factories, and other heavy industry. Agricultural air pollution comes from contemporary practices which include clear felling and burning of natural vegetation as well as spraying of pesticides and herbicides About 400 million metric tons of  hazardous wastes  are generated each year.  The  United States  alone produces about 250 million metric tons.  Americans constitute less than 5% of the  worldHYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worlds_populationHYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worlds_populations population, but produce roughly 25% of the worlds  COHYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide2,  and generate approximately 30% of  worlds waste.  In 2007,  China  has overtaken the United States as the worlds biggest producer of CO2. In February 2007, a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), representing the work of 2,500 scientists from more than 130 countries, said that humans have been the primary cause of global warming since 1950. Humans have ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the consequences of global warming, a major climate report concluded. But in order to change the climate, the transition from fossil fuels like coal and oil needs to occur within decades, according to the final report this year from the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Some of the more common  soil  contaminants are  chlorinated hydrocarbons  (CFH),  heavy metals  (such as  chromium,  cadmiumfound in rechargeable  batteries, and  leadfound in lead  paint,  aviation fuel  and still in some countries,  gasoline),  MTBE,zinc,  arsenic  and  benzene. In 2001 a series of press reports culminating in a book called  Fateful Harvest  unveiled a widespread practice of recycling industrial byproducts into fertilizer, resulting in the contamination of the soil with various metals. Ordinary municipal  landfills  are the source of many chemical substances entering the soil environment (and often groundwater), emanating from the wide variety of refuse accepted, especially substances illegally discarded there, or from pre-1970 landfills that may have been subject to little control in the U.S. or EU. There have also been some unusual releases of  polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, commonly called  dioxins  for simplic ity, such as  TCDD. Pollution can also be the consequence of a natural disaster. For example,  hurricanes  often involve water contamination from sewage, and  petrochemical  spills from ruptured  boats  or  automobiles. Larger scale and environmental damage is not uncommon when coastal  oil rigs  or  refineries  are involved. Some sources of pollution, such as  nuclear power  plants or  oil tankers, can produce widespread and potentially hazardous releases when accidents occur. In the case of  noise pollution  the dominant source class is the  motor vehicle, producing about ninety percent of all unwanted noise worldwide. EFFECTS HUMAN HEALTH Adverse  air quality  can kill many organisms including humans. Ozone pollution can cause  respiratory disease,  cardiovascular disease,  throat  inflammation, chest pain, andcongestion. Water pollution causes approximately 14,000 deaths per day, mostly due to contamination of  drinking water  by untreated  sewage  in  developing countries. An estimated 700 million  Indians  have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrhoeal sickness every day.  Nearly 500 million Chinese lack access to safe drinking water.  656,000 people die prematurely each year in  China  because of air pollution. In  India, air pollution is believed to cause 527,700 fatalities a year.  Studies have estimated that the number of people killed annually in the US could be over 50,000. Oil spills can cause  skin  irritations and  rashes. Noise pollution induces  hearing loss,  high blood pressure,  stress, and  sleep disturbance.  Mercury  has been linked to  developmental deficits  in children and  neurologic  symptoms. Older people are majorly exposed to diseases induced by air pollution. Those with heart or lung disorders are under additional risk. Children and infants are also at serious risk.  Lead  and other  heavy metals  have been shown to cause neurological problems. Chemical and  radioactive  substances can  cause  cancerand  as well as  birth defects. ENVIRONMENT Pollution has been found to be present widely in the  environment. There are a number of effects of this: Biomagnification  describes situations where toxins (such as  heavy metals) may pass through  trophic levels, becoming exponentially more concentrated in the process. Carbon dioxide  emissions cause  ocean acidification, the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earths oceans as CO2  becomes dissolved. The emission of  greenhouse gases  leads to  global warming  which affects ecosystems in many ways. Invasive species  can out compete native species and reduce  biodiversity. Invasive plants can contribute debris and biomolecules (allelopathy) that can alter soil and chemical compositions of an environment, often reducing native species  competitiveness. Nitrogen oxides  are removed from the air by rain and  fertilise  land which can change the species composition of ecosystems. Smog  and haze can reduce the amount of sunlight received by plants to carry out  photosynthesis  and leads to the production of  tropospheric ozone  which damages plants. Soil can become infertile and unsuitable for plants. This will affect other  organisms  in the  food web. Sulphur dioxide  and  nitrogen oxides  can cause  acid rain  which lowers the  pH  value of soil. POLLUTION CONTROL :: Pollution control is a term used in  environmental management. It means the control of  emissions  and  effluents  into air, water or soil. Without pollution control, the waste products from consumption, heating, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, transportation and other human activities, whether they accumulate or disperse, will degrade the  environment. In the hierarchy of controls,  pollution prevention  and  waste minimization  are more desirable than pollution control. PRACTICES:: RECYCLING :::: Recycling  involves processing used  materials  (waste) into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce  energy  usage, reduce air pollution (from  incineration) and water pollution (from  landfilling) by reducing the need for conventional waste disposal, and lower  greenhouse gas  emissions as compared to virgin production.  Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the Reduce,  Reuse, Recycle  waste hierarchy. Recyclable materials include many kinds of  glass,  paper,  metal,  plastic,  textiles, and  electronics. Although similar in effect, the  composting  or other reuse of  biodegradable waste   such as  food  or  garden waste   is not typically considered recycling.  Materials to be recycled are either brought to a collection center or picked up from the curbside, then sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials bound for manufacturing. In a strict sense, recycling of a material would produce a fresh supply of the same material-for example, used office  paper  would be converted into new office paper, or used  foamed polystyrene  into new polystyrene. However, this is often difficult or too expensive (compared with producing the same product from raw materials or other sources), so recycling of many products or materials involves their  reuse  in producing different materials (e.g.,  paperboard) instead. Another form of recycling is the  salvage  of certain materials from complex products, either due to their intrinsic value (e.g.,  lead  from  car batteries, or  goldfrom  computer  components), or due to their hazardous nature (e.g., removal and reuse of  mercury  from various items). Critics dispute the net economic and environmental benefits of recycling over its costs, and suggest that proponents of recycling often make matters worse and suffer from  confirmation bias. Specifi cally, critics argue that the costs and energy used in collection and transportation detract from (and outweigh) the costs and energy saved in the production process; also that the jobs produced by the recycling industry can be a poor trade for the jobs lost in logging, mining, and other industries associated with virgin production; and that materials such as paper pulp can only be recycled a few times before material degradation prevents further recycling. Proponents of recycling dispute each of these claims, and the validity of arguments from both sides has led to enduring controversy. PROCESS OF RECYCLING Collection A number of different systems have been implemented to collect recyclates from the general waste stream. These systems lie along the spectrum of trade-off between public convenience and government ease and expense. The three main categories of collection are drop-off centres, buy-back centres and curbside collection. Drop-off centres require the waste producer to carry the recyclates to a central location, either an installed or mobile collection station or the reprocessing plant itself. They are the easiest type of collection to establish, but suffer from low and unpredictable throughput. Buy-back centres differ in that the cleaned recyclates are purchased, thus providing a clear incentive for use and creating a stable supply. The post-processed material can then be sold on, hopefully creating a profit. Unfortunately government subsidies are necessary to make buy-back centres a viable enterprise, as according to the United States Nation Solid Wastes Management Association it costs on average US$50 to process a ton of material, which can only be resold for US$30. CURBSIDE COLLECTION Curbside collection encompasses many subtly different systems, which differ mostly on where in the process the recyclates are sorted and cleaned. The main categories are mixed waste collection, commingled recyclables and source separation.  A  waste collection vehicle  generally picks up the waste. At one end of the spectrum is mixed waste collection, in which all recyclates are collected mixed in with the rest of the waste, and the desired material is then sorted out and cleaned at a central sorting facility. This results in a large amount of recyclable waste, paper especially, being too soiled to reprocess, but has advantages as well: the city need not pay for a separate collection of recyclates and no public education is needed. Any changes to which materials are recyclable is easy to accommodate as all sorting happens in a central location. In a Commingled or  single-stream system, all recyclables for collection are mixed but kept separate from other waste. This greatly reduces the need for post-collection cleaning but does require  public education  on what materials are recyclable. Source separation is the other extreme, where each material is cleaned and sorted prior to collection. This method requires the least post-collection sorting and produces the purest recyclates, but incurs additional  operating costs  for collection of each separate material. An extensive public education program is also required, which must be successful if recyclate contamination is to be avoided. Source separation used to be the preferred method due to the high sorting costs incurred by commingled collection. Advances in sorting technology (see  sorting  below), however, have lowered this overhead substantially-many areas which had developed source separation programs have since switched to comingled collection. Sorting Once commingled recyclates are collected and delivered to a  central collection facility, the different types of materials must be sorted. This is done in a series of stages, many of which involve automated processes such that a truck-load of material can be fully sorted in less than an hour.  Some plants can now sort the materials automatically, known as  single-stream recycling. A 30 percent increase in recycling rates has been seen in the areas where these plants exist. Initially, the commingled recyclates are removed from the collection vehicle and placed on a conveyor belt spread out in a single layer. Large pieces of  corrugated fiberboard  and  plastic bags  are removed by hand at this stage, as they can cause later machinery to jam. Next, automated machinery separates the recyclates by weight, splitting lighter paper and plastic from heavier glass and metal. Cardboard is removed from the mixed paper, and the most common types of plastic,  PET  (#1) and  HDPE  (#2), are collected. This separation is usually done by hand, but has become automated in some sorting centers: a  spectroscopic  scanner is used to differentiate between different types of paper and plastic based on the absorbed wavelengths, and subsequently divert each material into the proper collection channel.[4] Strong magnets are used to separate out  ferrous metals, such as  iron,  steel, and  tin-plated steel cans  (tin cans).  Non-ferrous metals  are ejected by  magnetic eddy currents  in which a rotating  magnetic field  induces  an electric current around the aluminium cans, which in turn creates a magnetic eddy current inside the cans. This magnetic eddy current is repulsed by a large magnetic field, and the cans are ejected from the rest of the recyclate stream.[4] Finally, glass must be sorted by hand based on its color: brown, amber, green or clear. GREEN HOUSE GASES AND GLOBAL WARNING Carbon dioxide, while vital for  photosynthesis, is sometimes referred to as pollution, because raised levels of the gas in the atmosphere are affecting the Earths climate. Disruption of the environment can also highlight the connection between areas of pollution that would normally be classified separately, such as those of water and air. Recent studies have investigated the potential for long-term rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide to cause slight but critical  increases in the acidity of ocean waters, and the possible effects of this on marine ecosystems. Global warming  is the increase in the  average temperature  of  Earths near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation. According to the 2007  Fourth Assessment Report  by the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  (IPCC), global surface temperature increased 0.74  Ã‚ ±Ã‚  0.18  Ã‚ °C  (1.33  Ã‚ ±Ã‚  0.32  Ã‚ °F) during the 20th century. Global dimming, a result of increasing concentrations of atmospheric  aerosols  that block sunlight from reaching the surface, has partially countered the effects of warming induced by greenhouse gases. Climate model  projections summarized in the latest IPCC report indicate that the global  surface temperature  is likely to rise a further  1.1 to 6.4  Ã‚ °C  (2.0 to 11.5  Ã‚ °F)  during the 21st century.  The uncertainty in this estimate arises from the use of models with differing  sensitivity to greenhouse gas concentrations  and the use of differing  estimates of future greenhouse gas emissions. An increase in global temperature will cause  sea levels to rise  and will change the amount and pattern of  precipitation, probably including expansion of  subtropical  deserts.  Warming is expected to be  strongest in the Arcticand would be associated with continuing  retreat of glaciers,  permafrost  and  sea ice. Other likely effects include changes in the frequency and intensity of  extreme weather  events,  species extinctions, and changes in  agricultural yields. Warming and related changes will vary from region to region aroun d the globe, though the nature of these regional variations is uncertain.  As a result of contemporary increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, the oceans have become  more acidic; a result that is predicted to continue. The  scientific consensus  is that  anthropogenic  global warming is occurring.  Nevertheless,  political  and  public debate  continues. The  Kyoto Protocol  is aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas concentration to prevent a dangerous anthropogenic interference.  As of November 2009,  187 states had signed and ratified  the protocol. The  greenhouse effect  is the process by which  absorption  and  emission  of  infrared  radiation by gases in the  atmosphere  warm a  planets lower atmosphere and surface. It was proposed by  Joseph Fourierin 1824 and was first investigated quantitatively by  Svante Arrhenius  in 1896.  The question in terms of global warming is how the strength of the presumed greenhouse effect changes when human activity increases the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Naturally occurring greenhouse gases have a mean warming effect of about 33  Ã‚ °C (59  Ã‚ °F).  The major greenhouse gases are  water vapor, which causes about 36-70 percent of the greenhouse effect;carbon dioxide  (CO2), which causes 9-26 percent;  methane  (CH4), which causes 4-9 percent; and  ozone  (O3), which causes 3-7 percent.  Clouds also affect the radiation balance, but they are composed of liquid water or ice and so have  different effects on radiation  from water vapor. Human activity since the  Industrial Revolution  has increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to increased  radiative forcing  from CO2,  methane, tropospheric  ozone,  CFCs  andnitrous oxide. The  concentrations  of CO2  and methane have increased by 36% and 148% respectively since 1750.  These levels are much higher than at any time during the last 650,000 years, the period for which reliable data has been extracted from  ice cores.  Less direct geological evidence indicates that CO2  values higher than this were last seen about 20 million years ago.[41]  Fossil fuel  burning has produced about three-quarters of the increase in CO2  from human activity over the past 20 years. Most of the rest is due to land-use change, particularly  deforestation. Over the last three decades of the 20th century,  GDP  per capita  and  population growth  were the main drivers of increases in greenhouse gas emissions.  CO2  emissions are continuing to rise due to the burning of fossil fuels and land-use change.  Emissions scenarios, estimates of changes in future emission levels of greenhouse gases, have been projected that depend upon uncertain economic,sociological,  technological, and natural developments.  In most scenarios, emissions continue to rise over the century, while in a few, emissions are reduced.  These emission scenarios, combined with carbon cycle modelling, have been used to produce estimates of how atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases will change in the future. Using the six IPCC  SRES  marker scenarios, models suggest that by the year 2100, the atmospheric concentration of CO2  could range between 541 and 970 ppm.  This is an increase of 90-250% above the concentration in the year 1750. Fossil fuel reserves are sufficient to reach these levels and continue emissions past 2100 if  coal,  tar sands  or  methane clathrates  are extensively exploited. The destruction of  stratospheric  ozone by  chlorofluorocarbons  is sometimes mentioned in relation to global warming. Although there are a few  areas of linkage, the relationship between the two is not strong. Reduction of stratospheric ozone has a cooling influence.  Substantial ozone depletion did not occur until the late 1970s.  Ozone in the troposphere  (the lowest part of the  EarthHYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_EarthHYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Earths atmosphere) does contribute to surface warming. 8 most polluted cities in India ::: Sukinda, Orissa Number of people affected:  2,600,000 Type of pollutant:  Hexavalent chromium and other metals   Source of pollution:  Chromite mines and processing Hexavalent chromium is: a nasty heavy metal used for stainless steel production and leather tanning that is carcinogenic if inhaled or ingested. In Sukinda, which contains one of the largest open cast chromite ore mines in the world, 60% of the drinking water contains hexavalent chromium at levels more than double international standards. An Indian health group estimated that 84.75% of deaths in the mining areas where regulations are nonexistent are due to chromite-related diseases. There has been virtually no attempt to clean up the contamination. Sukinda has been listed in the Top 10 most polluted places in the world by the US-based Blacksmith Institute. Labourers work at a road construction site near Vapi Vapi, Gujarat Number of people potentially affected:  71,000 Type of pollutant:  Chemicals and heavy metals Source of pollution:  Industrial estates If Indias environment is on the whole healthier than its giant neighbor Chinas, thats because India is developing much more slowly. But thats changing, starting in towns like Vapi, which sits at the southern end of a 400-km-long belt of industrial estates. For the citizens of Vapi, the cost of growth has been severe: levels of mercury in the citys groundwater are reportedly 96 times higher than WHO safety levels, and heavy metals are present in the air and the local produce. Its just a disaster, says Fuller. Vapi has been listed in the Top 10 most polluted places in the world by the US-based Blacksmith Institute. Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab Number of people affected:  155,416 Type of pollutant:  High dust and smoke particulate Source of pollution:  Industrial units Gobindgarh in Punjab, also known as Loha mandi, recorded suspended particulate matter (microscopic particles in the air such as dust and smoke) level of 252 micrograms per cubic metre in 2007, 320 percent higher than the national standard level of 60 micrograms. Known for its iron and steel factories, it is one of the most polluted city in the country. The population in Gobindgarh shows a higher prevalence of symptoms of angina and cardiovascular disease. A ragpicker rows boat in polluted Gomti river in Lucknow Lucknow, UP Number of people affected:  30 lakh Type of pollutant:  High dust and smoke particulate Source of pollution:  Industrial units, vehicles Vehicular emissions are the main cause of air pollution in Lucknow. In recent years there has been a rapid rise in vehicular