Thursday, December 26, 2019

An Open Path Behind A Bridge - 1375 Words

city, but not for an open path behind a bridge. Confusion ensued as the Redcoats started retreating over the bridge in an attempt to form up in the street-firing position. Redcoat Lieutenant William Sutherland, who was in the rear of the formation, knew that maneuver was not adequate for the situation and ordered flankers to be sent out. Lieutenant Sutherland was from a different company and only four soldiers obeyed him. The remainder of the troops, despite the confusion, followed the orders of the superior officer. (1775, 04/19: Battles of Lexington and Concord. (2007, June 26). Once the Redcoats were set up to the best of their ability, the militiamen continued to move forward. As the militiamen closed in the British fired the†¦show more content†¦As the Redcoats were outnumbered and outmaneuvered, they began to retreat toward the approaching Grenadier Company led by Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith (1775, 04/19: Battles of Lexington and Concord. (2007, June 26). During the British retreat they continued to come under heavy fire in five more locations, Miriam Hill, Hardy’s Corner, Menotomy Fisk Hill and Charlestown. The next morning General Gage awoke to find a huge militia Army upwards of 15,000 men, which had marched from and throughout New England. The colonist’s fighters continued to grow as colonies sent more and more men and supplies. The Revolutionary War had begun. It was clear to the colonists that in order to beat the British; a unified Army needed to be created. The Continental Congress would adopt and sponsor these men into the beginnings of the Continental Army. The Continental Army was created and the first Commander in Chief was put in place. General George Washington would take over command on June 14, 1775. The colonists had won the first Battle in the American Revolutionary War (1775, 04/19: Battles of Lexington and Concord. (2007, June 26). Intelligence During the Battle of Lexington and Concord the Human Intelligence (HUMINT) played a huge role. HUMINT was the only intelligence capability they had access to throughout the battle. HUMINT was the key reason the battle was won by the colonists. A source inside the British

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Public Relations Practitioners An Interview I Conducted...

Even though public relations practitioners have developed a poor reputation in journalistic circles due to the perceived bias for their clients, I believe that there are many good public relations personnel who are able to maintain a symbiotic relationship with media professionals. This is evident through an interview I conducted with the Senior Producer of the TODAY Show, Victoria Owens whose job relies heavily on contact with public relations practitioners her job is deciding which information from these sources to use in the show. Ms Owens shared her own opinions about the nature of her and her colleagues’ relationships with public relations practitioners, which in most cases contributes to the success of the show. Further more †¦ has a†¦show more content†¦In fact, even the journalism literature suggests that some 40-50 per cent or more of all the news that’s reported on any given day originated in PR departments† (Parsons, 2008). Hence, Parsonsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ goes on to further elaborate that even though the relationship between journalists and public relations personnel is indeed significant, there are also ethical problems that are naturally evident within that connection. Victoria Owens explained that the relationship between journalists and public relations personnel is extremely significant as news professionals obviously rely on them to give a heads up on stories or really important public information that they might not have heard yet. For example, if the Government MP’s have released a new policy, their public relations representative will forward that information to the producers in order to have their message spread to the public. The reality, in recent times is that a large number of cutbacks in ‘journalistic staff’ throughout the news media, this results in the reliance of third party news sources to provide information that cannot be completed by the journalists on their own (Macnamara, 2009). Jane Johnston, the author of the book Media Relations (2012), wrote, â€Å"These journalists desperately require sources to link up with the corporate, political, social and cultural

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Aviation Industry Essay Research Paper THE AVIATION free essay sample

Aviation Industry Essay, Research Paper THE AVIATION INDUSTRY The Aviation Industry and the Future Abstraction This paper looks at the Aviation industry. A description of how the air power industry includes fabrication, airdrome operation, care, and pilots. It looks at how the air power industry has a positive influence on other concern such as sightseeing/tour, hotels, and eating houses. Finally the paper looks at how the industry is making now and the projections for the hereafter. The air power industry is alive and good. The air power industry means different things to many people. Some people merely think of the pilots who fly commercial aeroplanes when they think of air power. Others include the airdromes and private planes. Unless you are involved in the air power industry, the many facets of air power are non readily thought of. Not merely does the air power industry involve fabrication of aircraft, airdrome operations, and aircraft care but it besides influences many industries associated with air hose travel. The travel and circuit concern along with the hotel and eating house concern prospers from air travel. All of these are making good now and the projection for the hereafter looks strong. Let s get down by looking at what makes up the air power industry. Aviation Industry A batch of people think that if you say you work in the air power industry that you are a pilot. A big per centum of the air hose industry is involved in the industry and care of aircraft, along with the occupations related to runing and keeping an airdrome. Fabrication of aircraft is large concern. Aircraft manufactures employ 1000s of people. Some major makers include companies such as McDonnell Douglas, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Pratt-Whitney. These companies have contracts with major air hoses in both the United States and overseas. Boeing aircraft entirely at the terminal of 1997 had contractual backlog of 93.8 billion dollars for commercial aeroplane ( www.boeing.com ) . Along with that is the contracts established with the Department of Defense to supply aircraft for the military. This includes the research that is involved in bring forthing superior aircraft for defence. Further more there are legion companies doing aeroplanes for the private and corporation usage. The edifice and operation of airdromes employ a immense figure of people. There were 1000s of people involved in the edifice of the Denver International Airport with over 22,000 people assigned as lasting employees. ( www.flydenver.com/emplopps ) Employees at airdromes include places from air traffic accountants to housekeeping. There are employees of the airdrome itself along with all the employees working for the aircraft bearers that lease infinite at the airdrome installation. Airport employees consist of legion places runing from the Airport Manager to parking batch attenders. The aircraft bearers non merely employ the pilots but besides staff the ticket counters, luggage handling, and care crews for bend around of the aircraft. Care of the aircraft is a immense concern and is linked to or under the mills in some facets. Although each air hose has its ain care crews to keep the aircraft, they work closely with the maker for portion and proficient support. Aircraft undergo periodic care to guarantee the safety of the aeroplane. Their extended care plan eliminates a bulk of aircraft jobs but ascents and alterations are continually being done to the aircraft. The immense webs of care technicians are the anchor of the air power industry. Related Business There a legion occupations that are created by the air hose industry which are non involved in air power at all, but would non be without the air hose industry. These include occupations in sightseeing/tours, hotel, and eating houses. These are non all of the occupations created but include a big part. With the advantage of being able to wing into many, before non easy available, countries ; the sightseeing/tour concern has generated a batch of occupations. An illustration of this is Sivio Acosta who operates a rubber-necking concern in New York City. He started the concern 2 old ages ago and has had a thriving concern. He more than doubled his earning since he changed to this concern over his anterior assorted eating house occupations ( Christian, 1998 ) . Travel bureaus conduct a enormous concern using the air hoses as their beginning of travel. Some flight into topographic points like the Bahamas are chiefly due to go bureaus concern. Any major airdrome has legion hotels and motels within the immediate country. These hotels generate a batch of concern from air hose travellers. Not merely is this from the travellers passing the dark but besides from the supernumeraries that the hotel offers such as eating houses and salons for their clients. Business travellers besides use the adjustments provides of conference suites and feast installations. Business can carry on the meeting within close propinquity to where the traveller arrived. An illustration of this is the Denver International Airport, which averaged 95,806 riders per twenty-four hours in 1997 merely. To suit this big figure of riders there are 17 hotels listed as available in the immediate country. ( www.flydenver.com/emplopps ) Multiple this by T he figure of big airdromes in the United States entirely and the sum of concern generated from the air hoses is enormous. Restaurants have sprung up non merely within the country of the airdrome but besides within the airdrome itself. This accommodates the traveller who does non hold clip to even go forth the airdrome in between flights. Due to the big volume of riders coming from the airdrome, eating houses have found it profitable to turn up their concern either in the airdrome or stopping point by. This is non merely for the riders but besides for the huge sum of airdrome employees. Future The occupation market for the air power industry is good and is looking good for the hereafter. Wages for the pilots are up and steady. The air hose industry is gaining along with the air hose fabrication companies. With more and more people using the air passages to carry on concern and to go, the hereafter of the air power industry will merely better. With the rate that air hose pilots are retiring, there looks to be a good market for future pilots. Presently about 1200 pilots a twelvemonth are retiring with the figure to increase to about 2500 per twelvemonth by the twelvemonth 2007. Not merely are more pilots retiring but the figure of pilots coming from the civilian sector is increasing besides. Two old ages ago, 75 % # 8211 ; 80 % of the pilots came from the military forces, while today that figure has about reversed with 66 % of the pilots coming from the civilian occupation market ( Benensen, 1998 ) . This is a encouragement to the private flying school because more pupils will prosecute this market. Aviation schools have increased registration in the last few old ages due to the increasing demand. The draw of more occupations available and the high rewards being paid ( $ 133,000 per twelvemonth norm ) will go on to convey more pilots into the occupation country ( Arlington, 1998 ) . The air hose industry has a whole is making good. Most air hose executives are optimistic that traffic will be strong and the bottom line will stay in the black for 1999 ( Henerson, 1999 ) . # 8220 ; Although traffic and gross growing will stagnate, the universe # 8217 ; s air hoses will bask net net incomes of $ 8 billion, the same as in 1998, as grosss rise 3 % to $ 309 billion. # 8221 ; ( Henderson, 1999 ) The addition in air power occupations in the LaGuardia and Kennedy airport country is even more apparent by the dual registration in the local College of Aeronautics ( Toy, 1998 ) . Even occupation hunt sites on the Internet have seen how the air power industry has a whole is on the uprise. Although ab initio designed to market pilots, they have expanded into cosmopolitan applications to turn to everything in the air power industry ( Flint, 1997 ) . Indications of the industry staying strong are apparent in the recent 10 twelvemonth, $ 2 billion contract that Lockheed Martin signed with NASA to use five of their sites ( Anonymous, 1999 ) . Fabrication of aircraft is looking strong for the hereafter. The air hoses are projected to buy between 11,000 and 12,000 new planes per twelvemonth for the following few old ages ( Benenson, 1998 ) . Boeing s market mentality is 17,000 aeroplane by the twelvemonth 2017 at a value of 1.2 trillion dollars ( www.boeing.com ) . This will go on to maintain the air power industry turning. The fabrication companies will go on to use 1000s of forces and even be engaging more employees in the hereafter. With the addition demand for air travel, new and better aeroplanes will ever be in demand. The air power industry is alive and good and will go on to turn in the hereafter. We have looked at how the air power industry is truly made up of non merely the pilots but everyone involved with acquiring the plane off the land. This includes the fabrication of aircraft, operations of airdromes, and care of the aircraft. Not merely commercial air hoses but besides the private industry and military air power. We have seen that there are legion occupations created by the air hose industry which are non involved in air power at all, but would non be without the air hose industry. These include occupations in sightseeing/tours, hotel, and eating houses. These assorted concerns strive on the sum of riders that travel through an airdrome during the class of a twenty-four hours. These concerns account for a big part of the occupations created but surely do non cover all of the occupations created. We have besides looked at how the occupation market for the air power industry is good and is looking good for the hereafter. The hereafter for pilots looked strong for the hereafter along with future orders for new aircraft. The air hose industry, as a whole, is traveling strong and projections for the hereafter are positive. Mentions Christian, Nichole M. ( 1998, August 30 ) . An # 8216 ; Easy Job # 8217 ; On the Streets. New York Times Benenson, Tom. ( 1998, June ) . Airline Pilot Hiring. Flying Arlington ( 1998, August 31 ) . Jobs, Pay at Core of Pilots Strike. USA Today Henderson, Donna K. ( 1999, Jan. ) . Thinking Game: Forecast. Air Transport World Toy, Vivian S. ( 1998, May 27 ) . In Queens, the Borough of Airports, Interest in Aeronautics Careers Revives. New York Times Flint, Perry. ( 1997, Nov. ) . Cyberspace Pilots. Air Transport World Anonymous. ( 1999, Jan. ) . Private Companies Take Over ; NASA Centers in their Handss. National Defense hypertext transfer protocol: //www.flydenver.com/emplopps [ 1999, February ] hypertext transfer protocol: //www.boeing.com [ 1999, February ]

Monday, December 2, 2019

Traditional Music VS Modern Music Essay Example For Students

Traditional Music VS Modern Music Essay People are playing music everywhere, in a car, house, bank, supermarket, grocery store even in the office. Music could also delight the mood when people are stressed and makes all kind of mood. Although different people like different music, music could brings people to communication and brings different people together. There are two kind of music, first is traditional music which owned by each country and second is the international music one which almost all people around the world know and accept it. I believe that the Music takes a great part in our life. People are playing music everywhere, in a car, traditional music is the same as important as the international music one. Music has been an expression of many people from different cultures around the world since years even centuries ago. Music is created by cultures and music creates cultures itself. Every country has it unique traditional music also with its traditional instruments. Listening to the traditional music and looking to the traditional instruments, people could guess what type of culture, and what country is from. We will write a custom essay on Traditional Music VS Modern Music specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now For example people know that Country Music is from America and Indonesia has many traditional instruments, two of them are Angling and Gamely. Traditional music is very important because people could see an original cultural scene of a country expands from it. It is also could be as an identity or the uniqueness of a country. Modern music that people often hear nowadays is an international music such as pop, rock, Jazz, etc. Although it does not represents a country and social culture, many young people like this music most then the traditional one. With the modern music, the young generation could express themselves freely and it is good for the development of music in the world. Young generation combined those genres and makes the new genres. The international music also needed and has become basically used for business globalization, a way of earning money, and also for the entertainment. In conclusion, both traditional music and the international music are very important. With the traditional music, people could see the uniqueness of a country. Also shows the culture and history of a country itself. The international music (modern music) also important because with the international music, the young generation could express their expressions more freely, makes music development better in years, and discovers more new kind of music and genre. And the last, both kind of music have one same important reason why they are exist. Thats to bring people together. Traditional vs. modern music By tabrezkhan515

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Explain the major factors between 1928 and 1933 that enabled Hitler to come to power

Explain the major factors between 1928 and 1933 that enabled Hitler to come to power Up to 1928 there had been uncertainty in Germany, with the Wall Street crash of 1928 this uncertainty became reality as the Weimar republic fell and Hitler took power. The crushing blows of the Treaty of Versailles to Germany's economy and its public pride led to the mood of the German people becoming depressed. They were penniless, so they looked left and right for an answer to their problems. With the rise of communism and right wing socialism, democracy was steadily loosing power. With the continual use of article 48(presidents ability to overrule the Reichstag), the limited personality of leaders, the awkward policies and loss of democratic ideals, the Weimar republic was week. With the ideas of Nazi propaganda and Nazi political methods, people specifically looked at Nazism as a way out of their situation.In 1923 a group of young, so called, Nazis were ambitiously planning to take over Berlin.Karte des Deutschen Reiches, Â »Weimarer Republik/D...When their ally dropped out they decided to break into a meeting and obliterate it, this was called the Beer Hall Putsch. They were arrested and their leader, a then unknown man, named Adolf Hitler went to jail with a chain of publicity trailing behind them.The years between 1923 and 1928 were prosperous for Germany; the economy had a minor 'boom' thanks to 'the young plan'. MÂ ¼ller, chancellor at the time, put in action a plan where Germany would borrow money from America so it could secure payment on it's reparations. This was fine until the Wall Street crash in 1928 threw Germany, and most of Europe, into depression. America demanded it's loans back and Germany's economy slumped. Inflation rose to an absurd amount, people became extremely poor, and they had lost whatever small confidence they had in democracy. Hindenburg threw Muller out of his chancellorship; Muller was...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Polonium Facts - Elements Are Interesting

Polonium Facts - Elements Are Interesting Polonium is a rare radioactive semi-metal or metalloid. The toxic element is believed to have caused the death of former intelligence agent, Alexander Litvinenko, in November 2006. Polonium is a radioactive element that occurs naturally in the environment at very low levels or can be produced in a nuclear reactor. PhysicalProperties of Polonium Polonium-210 emits alpha particles, which can damage or destroy genetic material inside of cells. Isotopes that emit alpha particles are toxic if they are ingested or inhaled because the alpha particles are very reactive, but polonium isnt absorbed through the skin, nor does the alpha radiation penetrate deeply. Polonium generally is considered toxic only if taken internally (breathing, eating, through an open wound). Marie and Pierre Curie discovered polonium in 1897.  Marie Curie  named polonium for her homeland, Poland. Polonium dissolves readily in dilute acids. Po-210 readily becomes airborne and is soluble enough to circulate through body tissues.  Polonium is the only component of cigarette smoke to produce cancer in laboratory animals. The polonium in tobacco is absorbed from phosphate fertilizers. A lethal amount of ingested polonium is 0.03 microcuries, which is a particle weighing 6.8 x 10-12 g (very small). Pure polonium is a silvery-colored solid. Mixed or alloyed with beryllium, polonium can be used as a portable neutron source. Polonium is used as a neutron trigger for nuclear weapons, in making photographic plates, and to reduce static charges in industrial applications such as textile mills.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Financial instruments and markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Financial instruments and markets - Essay Example This paper computed the above ratios with a view to assessing the capital of Fortescue Metals Group (FMG). According to1, these ratios are used to measure the entitys capital structure, and they show the extent to which the business has borrowed to finance its assets and other resource acquisitions for it to efficiently carry out its normal operations. From Table 1 above, the debt to total equity ratio of Fortescue Metals Group improved in 2014 as $1 of equity had $1.99 of debt from $2.90 in 2013. This was largely attributable to the fall in the amount of the total debt from $15,578M in 2013 to $15,111M in 2014, as well as an increase in the equity from $5,289M in 2013 to $7,583M in 2014. This implies that the capital structure of Fortescue Metals Group improved as it increased the proportion of the equity fund in financing its assets and operations and reduced the debt amount. This improvement was also evidenced in its debt ratio, which indicated that for every $1 of asset financing , the debt amount was $0.67 in 2013 from $0.75 in 2013. Further results showed that Fortescue Metals Group’s debt servicing capacity improved in 2014, compared to 2013. The firms times interest cover increased to 6.25 times from 5.15 times, indicating that the company had no difficulties in generating enough cash flows to pay its interest expenses and even increased in 2014. This paper went further ahead to establish the liquidity position of Fortescue Metals Group using liquidity ratios, which measure an entitys ability to meet its short-term maturing obligations as and when they fall due.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Psychoanalytic Literary Analysis of Rites of Passage Essay

Psychoanalytic Literary Analysis of Rites of Passage - Essay Example Rites of Passage is a poem written by Sharon Olds that can be effectively examined by this technique. On the surface, the poem speaks of six and seven year old boys attending the birthday party of the writer’s son. These boys are beginning to show many of the aspects of adult men. However, evaluating the text from a psychoanalytic standpoint shows underlying themes of hostility, problems letting go of the writer’s son and a lack of closure. One theme that emerges as part of Rites of Passage is hostility. Although the young boys are presented as innocent and simply growing up, the author appears to show a certain level of anger towards what these boys will become. The phrase â€Å"the dark cake, round and heavy as a turret† is one example of this. This cake is an interesting aspect of the poem, as it is mentioned only once, and does not seem fully relevant to the rest of the poem, which is focused on the boys themselves. The cake appears to be an item of war and o f hostility by the use of the term turret, as well as the dullness of its description. No information is given about what type of cake it is or any other aspects of its appearance, suggesting that this was not relevant to the writer. This concept of war is further developed later in the poem, with the description of the boys clearing their throats as generals would, and of them playing war. This theme suggests that the author is uncomfortable with the concept of her son growing up, in particular of the type of man that he might grow to become. One interpretation is that the writer has had negative experiences with violent men in her past and is afraid that one day her son will become one of these. A second theme that can be observed through a psychoanalytical approach to this poem is that the writer is having a difficult time letting go of her son. She spends a portion of the poem describing his physical appearance, including the freckles on his cheeks, his narrow chest and long han ds. The first of these aspects is highly affectionate, suggesting a deep love for her son. However, the second and third appear to be more reserved and analytical. She compares the boy’s chest to the keel of a balsa-wood boat, a form of wood that is fragile and light. The consideration of him like a boat also suggests that he is moving away from her, into open waters. Finally, the third description focuses on the boy’s hands, and also of the day that the boy was â€Å"guided† out of her when she gave birth to him. The use of this term suggests a deep sense that the boy is still being guided away from her. Coupled with the hostility theme, this could indicate that the writer feels her son is being pulled away from her to be a man that she does not want him to be. Despite the progression of the poem, there is no evidence of closure. The author does not resolve any of the issues with her son leaving or his growing up, giving the impression that she does not feel th ere is any alternative to letting him grow as he will. Using psychoanalytic literary analysis techniques on the poem Rites of Passage reveals potential underlying emotions that the author had on events described in the text. The aggressive and warlike symbolism provides

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Larsen and Toubro Case Study Essay Example for Free

Larsen and Toubro Case Study Essay Organizational Development (OD) is a planned long term effort led and supported through the top management to improve an organization’s ability and to solve its own problems by continuously working together and on managing the culture using behavioural skills. Thus, there are some certain aspects worth discussing about which are- OD is a planned effort. It requires a lot of effort, patience, and faith and is time consuming. Secondly, OD usually uses outsiders. These ‘facilitators’ as they are called are process specialists and are involved in depth in this process. The pioneers of OD in India were Larsen and Toubro India (LT). OD at LT started by calling in 2 eminent professors- Dr Udai Pareek and Dr TV Rao to study the appraisal process at the company. The existing appraisal system had many faults and needed to be corrected. The difficult task started by the professors interviewing some bosses and subordinates from different departments (using Diagnosis or Action Research) and they got a very interesting feedback. Some of the aspects of the feedback were – juniors wanted to know how well they were doing on the job, but weren’t told; people wanted to know what the growth opportunities in the company were; the appraisal form was too lengthy; some bosses had too many subordinates to appraise, etc. After getting the feedback from the employees the professors gave a report to the top management about the actual problem. The appraisal system had to serve not just one but many purposes namely it should help people understand their strengths and weaknesses, their own progress on the job, how they can perform better, and how they could grow in the company. So the appraisal process had to address the issues of appraisal, potential, counselling, career development and training all in one! The top management after reviewing the report gave the go ahead and they did two main things which were the most important which were bifurcating the Personnel department into personnel department and HRD department. This bifurcation was the first sign of ‘structural’ change. Secondly, a team of 6 senior managers was formed which would be responsible for implementing the changes required. The story continues when the 6 task force and the professors decided that the appraisal process had to involve the line managers personally, the performance goals must be set jointly by boss and junior and the appraisals must also involve feedback and counselling to people. Thus, they prepared a Performance Appraisal Manual by involving the departmental heads and other senior managers to analyze what kind of objectives could be set and then added such guidelines in the manual. To address the issue of feedback and counselling, the team identified around 29 senior line managers and some senior staff with a flair for public speaking. These selected people were put through a workshop on how to be good ‘Givers’ and ‘Receivers’ of feedback and then later conducted the same workshop for other employees at HQ and regional offices. Thus, the first workshop was a ‘Train the trainer’ workshop which was cascaded to the other employees. After putting in so much of effort now the management at LT wanted to know whether the process was working for them or not. So again the professors interviewed some seniors and juniors about how the appraisals were going on. This time different views came into the picture – the goal setting was seen as time consuming, appraisal was becoming a numbers game, and was tending to become ritualistic. The HRD department was asked to conduct a survey (Participant Action Research). The survey also threw new light about the new appraisal process. The bosses now did involve their juniors in the goal setting and there was ‘healthy resolution’ of difficulties and there was a ‘high degree of trust’ between the seniors and juniors which led to ‘increased joint understanding about the job’. After receiving such a feedback, they again tried to simplify the appraisal form by adding the definitions of the attributes listed in the appraisal form. In addition, they held refresher courses in feedback skills for both ‘givers’ and ‘receivers’ of feedback. The facilitators felt that the appraisal system has stabilised when 80 to 85% of the appraisal forms were returned within six weeks of the target date. Also the HRD department started analyzing all the appraisal forms. The data from the analysis was used for listing high and low performers for a certain period; for finalising departmental developmental plans and for preparing the list of department wise employees and the training courses they needed. The above mentioned process took LT 8 years to complete and stabilise themselves. Thus, I can conclude that OD is a long term process which requires a lot of patience, support from the top management and a vision to a bright future.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Private Versus Public Education Essay examples -- Personal Narrative S

Private Versus Public Education Many struggling parents wish they could send their children to private schools essentially from kindergarten through the twelfth grade. And so my question is: What is the real worth of a private education? According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Education posted by College Smart, private school students generally perform higher than their public school counterparts on standardized achievement tests. As a product of public elementary and high school education, I am currently seeing some of the struggles that public school students face after high school graduation when they enter college. I realize now that, behind the high tuition costs, private schools provide caring, challenges, and nurturing in an environment that is lacking in public schools. Families with resources inevitably send their children to private school. It’s what people in that social world do. Nevertheless, their reasons are not only because they can afford it, but also because the real wo rth of private education can be found in how those students more readily develop an awareness of academic excellence and high achievement. I have experienced all of the factors that constitute a free education. During my senior year at William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City, New Jersey, I remember going to school for a half day, then going to work from 12:30 to 5 p.m. I would get home at six in the evening, Monday through Friday, and not have to do any homework; I loved the idea of having free time. Although I do not regret the corporate work experience, I see the consequences that leisure time brought into my life. Now that I am a college student, I am expected to be responsible for various assignments ... ...ter in life. The fact that I am a public school student does not blind me from seeing the reality of the bad habits that I developed through twelve years of two-hours maximum, and frequently no time, spent doing daily homework. I was not fortunate to attend a private school prior to Saint Peter’s College, and I am now suffering the consequences. Unlike public, private schools help promote good study habits that further a person’s chances of succeeding in college. According to College Smart, private school students are twice as likely as public school students to complete a bachelor’s or higher degree by their mid twenties (52 versus 26 percent). Therefore, the worth of attending a private school involves an education for the whole person within a values-based setting that begins with positive, committed habits that will carry over into the rest of one’s life.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Mary Oliver’s poem “Singapore” Essay

While analyzing Mary Oliver’s poem â€Å"Singapore† I established her assembling a relationship between nature and a life- learned lesson. The poem is about a woman doing menial, everyday tasks as a cleaning lady at the Singapore airport, but Oliver chooses to idealize her toils and make them seem more beautiful than in, Oliver uses imagery to compare the way she perceives the woman before her versus the real world. The author was disgusted with what she saw, so she brings in visions from nature to ease the discomfort. The configuration of this poem is structured to differentiate from the reality and the fantasy of everyday life. In Oliver’s poem â€Å"Singapore† she speaks of how the woman cleaning the ashtrays in the airport and the toilets can be blissful and nurturing. For example, Oliver writes a â€Å"poem should always have birds in it† (8). Oliver uses her writing to convey the way she hopes life would be; she wishes it was beautiful and as blissful as birds are. Then she states other aspects of nature as a form of peacefulness and happiness. For instance, Oliver states â€Å"rivers are pleasant† (10). Oliver uses the river as a form of serenity because of the flow of the water and the sound of water that soothes us. Furthermore, Oliver demonstrates that poems should always be a gate to happiness by stating, â€Å"A person wants to stand in a happy place† (13). Oliver wants to be in a happy place instead of seeing this woman in front of her in this humiliating situation. In Oliver’s idealistic reality, life is pleasing and should not deal with the ugly, mundane situations in life. Although the woman is seen as a simple worker in reality, Oliver embellishes the happenings with things of beauty from nature like fountains, waterfalls, birds and trees. Then in Oliver’s poem, she goes back and forth between realities through her thoughts, where she is pursuing to envision contentment. For example, Oliver states, â€Å"first we must watch her as she stares down at her labor† (20). She then compares it to nature, â€Å"She does not work slowly, nor quickly, but like a river† (25). Oliver is trying to envision her experience as positive and self-soothing. She is imagining the woman as if she were out in the wild watching an animal trying to live just as the woman is trying to earn a living by working. At the end of the poem, Oliver says â€Å"the light that can shine out of a life† (39) meaning that she sees this lady as if she were a beacon of light in a dismal existence. Although Oliver was at first disgusted with the sight of the woman in her working environment, she portrays it as much a part of life as the trees and the birds. In Mary Oliver’s poem, â€Å"Singapore†, the poet uses images of nature to make the tasks of everyday life seem more pleasing to the eye and to the reader. She conjures up images of nature to relieve the stress and burdens of daily life. She makes the most meaningless or redundant task seem elegant by comparing it to the birds, the trees, and the rivers. If to choose between reality and unreality, would anyone not choose to â€Å"rise up from the crust and the slop and fly down to the river?† (32-33). Work Cited Oliver, Mary. â€Å"Singapore.† Making Literature Matter: An anthology for readers and Writers. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012, 146-147. Print.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Critically Assess Marx’s Theory of Class and Stratification

Marx class theory derived from his belief that class divisions are not found in all forms of society; classes are a creation of history. For Marx, classes are defined and structured by firstly, who owns or has property and means of production and who does the work in the production process, secondly the social relationships included in work and labour, and thirdly who produces and who rules the surplus human social labour can produce. All of these aspects of Marx class theory will be further explored in this essay. Marx believed that class divisions are not found in all societies, classes are a creation of history. The earliest and smallest societies (tribal and primitive) were classless. It is universally true that all human beings depend on the quest of meeting their basic needs – food, water, shelter and clothing. In these primitive societies, the working day was taken up with required labour in order to meet society’s basic needs and forces of production were distributed equally amongst the community. But when basic needs are met, this leads to man’s creation of new needs, as humans are forever dissatisfied animals. Marx defines human beings as producers (Callinicos, A, p. 98, 1996). Humans seek to transform nature to enable them to meet their needs and do this through two different mode of production. The first ‘forces of production’ which depends on what Marx calls the ‘labour process’. ‘‘Labour is first of all a process between man and nature, a process by which man, though his own actions, mediates, regulates and controls the metabolism between himself and nature’’ (C I 283). The relations of production is the social aspect, which involves the property rights of the productive forces, it is what distinguishes the modes of production for one another. Improvements in the labour force are determined by if man is able to produce the same amount of things but with less human labour. By been able to produce more effectively, therefore meant man gains more control over nature. Thus the developments of the labour process are a reflection of human technology (Callinicos, A, p. 8, 1996) and Marx believed that the developments of science and technology in society provide a basis on which future societies can build upon. Although Marx never said in so many words what he meant by class, his theory lies on the statement that â€Å"the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles. ’’ That once beyond primitive socities no labour can exist without means of production, which is who controls the direct producers. The central classes in capitalism are the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Class divisions arise in society when the direct producers are separated from the means of production. The means of production, the bourgeoisie, become the monopoly of a minority and use exploitation and domination in relation to the producers, the proletariat. Marx looks at the working day in a class society and identies how capital exploits labour wage. During the first half of the day the worker produces goods in which he is paid to but during the second part of the day the worker performs surplus labour. Surplus labour is generated by how much labour time is left over after the employer has made back the equivalent of the cost of the wages of the labourer. The profit of this surplus labour is too small though to improve everyone’s standard of living, so it is taken by the minority who control the means of production. Marx decscribes four main types of class societies: Asiatic, ancient, feudal, and modern bourgeois, ‘‘the distinction between for example a society based on slave labour and a society based on wage labour – is the form in which this surplus labour is in each case exploited from the immediate producer, the worker’’ (C I 325). The practice of exploitation depends on the distribution of the means of production. In the case of slavery , it seems all the slaves labour is surplus labour , he is not permitted to any of his product. But the slave has to be kept alive in order to gain surplus power, therefore a proportion of the slaves wages is set aside to provide him his basic needs. In feudalism society, the peasant may have owned his animals and tools, but did not own the land he works on, therefore must divide his labour time between the work that needed to be done in order to provide for himself and his family and surplus labour for his lord. In both these mode of production, slavery and feudalism, exploitation is clearly visible and physical consequences are evident without question. However in capitalism exploitation is concealed. The worker is legally free, as he has volunteered to partake in the labour process. Marx wrote that workers are ‘‘ free in a double sense , free from the old relations of clientship, bondage and servitude, and secondly free of all belongings and possessions, and of every objective, material form of being, free of all property’’ (G 507). By not selling his labour power to the capitalist, the workers only other option is starvation. The means of production use economic pressures as a means of control over workers, not physical actions. Thus once the employer has employed the workers, he makes them work longer hours than necessary, creating surplus labour. In the case of feudalism, after centuries new methods of producing began to develop. But releasing these new methods worked against the ruling class–in the framework of the prior form of exploitation and the â€Å"legal and political superstructure† that had arisen out of it. This clash between the new opportunities and the structure of the previous order, was in severe crisis. Without new developments, the existing means of producing was not able to sustain any more development in the population, the Black Death followed, causing horrific events such as famines and disease and violence. The previous ways of shaping society and furthering the mode of production were brought to a halt. Marx foresaw that there could be revolution in society abolishing classes altogether. Then begins an epoch of social revolution,† , Marx wrote. Yet the ruling class were still dominating the workers, even though the mode of production had self-destructed. The ruling class dominates not only the way production is carried on, but all the other organizations and relations in society, whose structure aids the exploiters, control their power. As Marx explained, all class societies create a legal, political and ideological â€Å"superstructure† which functions to control the existing relations of production and guard the rulers from the ruled. But an important tool for the ruling class to persuade the working class is ideology– schemes of ideas that depict the recognized order as natural and positive to everyone, whatever its undeniable faults. Marx believed that the workers did not realise they were been exploited, had a false consciousness, mistaken sense that they could count on their employer. He believed that ideologies help sustain the ruling class, by giving misleading views to people about the world in order to exploit others about their position in society. It caused people to form mistaken views about the nature of society in order to keep the existing mode of production in action. Because the dominant or ruling class rules the social relations of production, the central ideology in capitalist society is that of the ruling class. Marx theory of class consciousness was an idea how to make members of a class aware that they have a common situation and interests and, moreover, are able to organize a collective defence of those interests (Elster, J, p128, Intro to Karl Marx). Marx saw that there were many logics why the proletariat would develop into a class that is conscious of its own status, power, obligations, and prospects. The objective condition of a class subsists because of its position in the productive process. Possession or non-possession of the means of production, place in the labour process, and the control over surplus regulate this. However a class such as the bourgeoisie or proletariat, may be unaware of this position, or in any case the effects of this position. Marx believed there would be a revolution, the workers would come together and rise up and fight to abolish the class system. Once everything had calmed down after the revolution, the proletariat would then own the means of production. He believed that no dominating class would exist and everything would be owned equally amongst society. He thought that if the working class were to take control of the means of production, they would inspire social relations that would help everyone proportionately, and an organization of production less at risk to repeated crises. Overall, Marx believed that nonviolent compromise of this issue was unrealistic, and prearranged and violent revolution would be necessary, because the dominating class would not surrender control without a fight. He speculated that in order to secure the socialist system, a dictatorship of the proletariat must be generated on a provisional foundation. Marx’s forethought of a revolution did not come true. As societies developed and expanded, the working classes grew to be more educated, obtaining detailed job skills and accomplishing the type of financial welfare that Marx never thought achievable.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Broca and Werniches aphasia essays

Broca and Werniches aphasia essays Brocas and Wernickes Aphasias Brocas and Wernickes aphasias suggest s obvious organization of language in the brain through the Standard model. Individual aphasics in practice exhibit a wide variety of symptoms, and research has revealed that language areas are not located strictly in their prescribed areas as mentioned earlier, but are modular, often some distance away, or even branched out in some cases. Their work also suggests that the language faculties are largely independent of other, non-linguistic functions of the brain. Brain damage and the effects of brain damage are highly unpredictable, and one of the common results is the disruption of the victims ability to use language. Disordered language resulting from brain damage has usually been called aphasia. Though since this term means literally absence of speech, and since few if any lose their linguistic ability entirely, many neurologists now prefer the term dysphasia which mean disordered speech. However for the purpose of this essay , it will be referred to as aphasia. In the first half of the nineteenth century several researchers independently noticed that a number of brain-damaged patients had strikingly similar disorders of speech. All the victims upon further post-mortem study, proved to have suffered damage to roughly the same part of the brain. In 1864, surgeon Paul Broca announced his results after observing eight patients. The disorder described was Brocas aphasia, and the area identified was called Brocas area, concluding that Brocas area produces the symptoms of Brocas aphasia. Brocas area of the brain is a small patch , not more than an inch across of the cerebral cortex. For the majority of people, Brocas area is found on the left side of the brain. Damage to this area produces a specific and identifiable type of aphasia. The victims speech beco...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Warm Occlusions - Occluded Fronts - Types of Fronts

Warm Occlusions - Occluded Fronts - Types of Fronts A warm air occlusion or occluded front is less common than a cold occlusion. A warm occlusion occurs as cool air moves rapidly into an area with an existing warm front. The difference from a cold occlusion is that the approaching cool air is not as cold as the retreating cold air in the existing front. In other words, the fast-moving, incoming air is cold, but not as cold as the air mass ahead of it. Precipitation can usually be expected when an occluded front passes through an area. Whats an Occluded Front? Sometimes a cold front will catch up to a warm front and overtake both it and the cooler air out ahead of it. If this happens, an occluded front is born. Occluded fronts get their name from the fact that when the cold air pushes underneath the warm air, it lifts the warm air up from the ground, which makes it hidden, or occluded.   Occluded fronts usually form with mature  low-pressure areas. They act like both warm and cold fronts. The symbol for an occluded front is  a purple line with alternating triangles and semi-circles (also purple)  pointing in the direction the front is moving. Sometimes a cold front will catch up to a warm front and overtake both it and the cooler air out ahead of it. If this happens, an occluded front is born. Occluded fronts get their name from the fact that when the cold air pushes underneath the warm air, it lifts the warm air up from the ground, which makes it hidden, or occluded.   Updated by Tiffany Means

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Quantitive methods Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Quantitive methods - Assignment Example We shall first conduct an informal graphical analysis to get a feel for what to expect and then move on to formal tests for stationarity. We start by looking at the time plots of the two given series. Figure 2: share price of Korean Airlines Figures 1 and 2 present the time plots. Evidently, both series exhibit a gradually rising trend and some moderate persistence properties. This reflects that neither of the series are stationary. They also seem to reflect similar patterns of persistent volatility. Now, we turn to look at the first differences of the two series. Figure 3: The Korean Stock Exchange stock price index in first differences Figure 4: price of Korean Airlines in first differences. From figures 3 and 4, we find that neither series exhibits any patterns or trends. They seem to fluctuate randomly around zero. Thus, both the series of 1st differences seem to be stationary around a zero mean. Thus our preliminary graphical analysis reflects that both the series are integrated of the first order. Formally to evaluate the validity of these claims, we run Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) tests on the levels and the 1st differences of the two series. ... Augmented Dickey-Fuller Test Equation Dependent Variable: D(LKO) Method: Least Squares Date: 04/09/12 Time: 13:53 Sample (adjusted): 1/08/1997 12/14/2011 Included observations: 780 after adjustments Coefficient Std. Error t-Statistic Prob.  Ã‚   LKO(-1) -0.003394 0.003258 -1.041768 0.2978 C 0.024682 0.022454 1.099231 0.2720 R-squared 0.001393   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mean dependent var 0.001348 Adjusted R-squared 0.000109   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  S.D. dependent var 0.044155 S.E. of regression 0.044152   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Akaike info criterion -3.399783 Sum squared resid 1.516653   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Schwarz criterion -3.387836 Log likelihood 1327.915   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hannan-Quinn criter. -3.395188 F-statistic 1.085281   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Durbin-Watson stat 2.039111 Prob(F-statistic) 0.297843 Table 1 above presents the results of running an ADF test on the lko series. The choice of optimal lag is automatic based on the Schwarz information criterion or SIC. Note that the null hypothesis is that the series has a uni t root. The relevant portions have been highlighted for convenience. The t-statistic is smaller in absolute terms compared to the critical value, and the associated p-value is 0.74>0.05. Therefore, we fail to reject the null hypothesis. Thus, this implies that the series of levels of the lko is non-stationary. Now, we take first differences of the series and test its stationarity properties. This is done in table 2. Table 2: testing stationarity of the 1st differences of lko Null Hypothesis: D(LKO) has a unit root Exogenous: Constant Lag Length: 0 (Automatic based on SIC, MAXLAG=20) t-Statistic   Ã‚  Prob.* Augmented Dickey-Fuller test statistic -28.52751   0.0000 Test critical values: 1% level -3.438518 5% level -2.865035 10% level -2.568686 *MacKinnon (1996) one-sided p-values. Augmented Dickey-Fuller Test Equation Dependent

Friday, November 1, 2019

Registered Nurse, Psychiatric Specialty Research Paper

Registered Nurse, Psychiatric Specialty - Research Paper Example These functions include: assistance during surgeries, administration of medications, monitoring vital signs, monitoring for side-effects of surgeries and/or medications, and also monitoring for complications. Aside from these assistive functions however, these nurses also carry out independent nursing functions, functions which do not need to be ordered by doctors or other health professionals (Temple, 2012). For psychiatric nursing, nursing care involves the administration of psychiatric drugs, observing patient symptoms, including extra-pyramidal symptoms, providing therapeutic care, carrying out suicide watch, and preventing self-harm (Temple, 2012). In order to be RNs, a state licensure exam is often needed. Each state has its own licensure examination and has its own requisite for practice. II. Education and Certification The basic requirement for a career as a registered nurse is to pass the licensure examination in the state where one desires to practice (Nazarko, 2004). Befor e the licensure examination is taken however, the applicant needs to finish first a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. ... The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is also a requirement for entry into the registered nursing career. As was mentioned above, the examinations vary with each state, and depending on the entry requirements for each state, practice can include other licensed nurses from other states (Rosdahl and Kowalski, 2007). The cost of education for a career in registered nursing varies with each state and for each country. In the US however, Lee (2012) discusses that the average cost for 4 years tuition for a Bachelor’s degree in nursing is $26,340 in a public university, and for a private university, about $100,572 (Lee, 2012). This is the comparable tuition rate for nursing. The University of Washington for example, estimates $28,000 for state residents and $93,000 for non-state residents for their BS Nursing degrees. An ivy-league school like the University of Pennsylvania averages about $150,000 for its nursing program (Lee, 2012). Aside from the tuition, other academi c requirements like books, laboratory and administrative fees are also essential. Other costs also accrue in terms of living arrangements, including housing, parking, and other living expenses which would vary depending on the student’s circumstances and the country or state where the student is studying (Lee, 2012). Registered psychiatric nurses have to go additional training and certifications in psychiatric nursing (APNA, 2012). These nurses need a Master’s Degree in psychiatric mental health nursing. Doctorate degrees in psychiatric nursing are also options for interested RNs. Such degrees would allow them to participate in teaching, research, and in administration (APNA, 2012).

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

The contribution of black women to the African American freedom Essay

The contribution of black women to the African American freedom struggle between 1865 and 1940 - Essay Example Gates et al. (2012; p.492) state that â€Å"political participation has been a fundamental constant in the lives of African American people† and this statement is verifiable by the great testaments of the struggle for freedom and justice that black men and women have portrayed and displayed with relentless and enduring determination in the past. Sheriff et al. (2011; p.432) observe that the beginnings of the African American struggle are outlined in the people’s quest for independence from dominance, supremacy of the other and slavery. Certainly, the role of black women in carrying this vision, guiding it towards its realization and ensuring that the struggle for independence evolves into the achievement of equality has been critical and of immense importance. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the contributions of black women to the African American freedom struggle by directing specific focus towards the analysis of the period lasting between 1865 and 1940. The discussion in the succeeding sections of the paper aims to establish a critical view of the role that black women played in achieving the aims that were advanced by early writers, journalists, historians, leaders and freedom fighters between 1865 and 1940. ... The adoption of this framework throughout the progress of the analysis essentially enhances the comprehensiveness and depth of the research by suggesting that the actions of a human being cannot be understood in their entirety unless the fundamental role that various systems, entities and organizations play in dictating those behaviors and decisions is fully acknowledged and realized (Gates 2012; p.493). Therefore, in comprehending the actions of black women that were fundamentally motivated by their desire for freedom, equality and independence their intersectional positioning within the wider context of society is of the utmost importance. Consequently, by implementing the foundations of this approach the one-dimensionality and generality of exclusively assessing a single individual is removed such that the individual does not essentially depict the true story of the black women’s role in the African American struggle for freedom and the hardships they had to suffer during t he course of their journey. In accordance with the observations of this framework of analysis the foundations of black women’s historical role in the political advancement of African American agenda is said to be an amalgamation of racism and sexism (Gates 2012; p.494). Collier-Thomas and Franklin (2001; p.2) suggest that even though, stories which reflect the selfless participation of African American women in the civil rights movement have only come to light by writers and researchers in recent decades these assessments have provided a comprehensive view of the state of black women in various epochs which is indicative of their tremendous progress to the present day. The foremost aspect in the critical evaluation of the contributions of black women in the African American freedom struggle

Monday, October 28, 2019

Greek Shipping Competition

Greek Shipping Competition Introduction: During the 20th century Greek shipping eventually developed as one of the most competitive players globally. Greek shipowners managed to establish their reputation as dominant players based on a well-structured positioning mix that has supported their efforts throughout the years. A variety of studies has been developed aiming to define what precisely supported Greek owners to build this successful entrepreneurial structure and which factor allowed them to obtain and sustain the competitiveness of the Greek shipping. According to M. Porter ‘’competitiveness†¦.’’ The definition for the competitiveness of Greek shipping has been studied by a respectful number of mostly Greek academics. The majority of the studies, focused mainly in specific sectors (e.g. dry bulks) or factors (e.g. Greek shipping network) as to analyse the competitive advantage of the Greek fleet. However, the aim of this paper is to evaluate if Greek shipping can sustain its competitive character. Thus, from the point of view of the writer, it will be more realistic to analyse a range of factors and sectors that contribute to the success of Greek shipping. It would not be simplistic to say that at the end of the day the competitiveness is defined by profitability. (2) From the referred range of studies and publishes, the writer believes that the competitive strength Greek shipping companies is summarised into careful selection of Business (cost control) and investment (timing) strategies. (1) Thus, in this paper we are going to investigate to what extent Greek shipowners will be able to sustain their competitiveness in the long-run based on the above principles. Specifically, the paper is about to concentrate on analysing the fleet on the basis of: Managerial Structure (business strategy) and Investment (timing) strategy. Once again, the aim will be the overall evaluation of the long-term prospects of Greek shipping to sustain its competitiveness. Fleet Analysis: General Information: Historically, shipping has played crucial role for Greek people and it has characterised some of the most important moments of their history: during the Persian Wars and the battleship of Salamina, in the Greek revolution against Ottoman Empire in 1821, the Balkan Wars and the World War I the Greek ships played significant role and affected the citizens of the Greece and (in some occasions) the global status quo as well. Figure 1, Source: BCG Impact assessment of Greek shipping on Economy and Society However, in our days when we refer to the Greek shipping we mean the great presence of the Greek shipowners to the global market. This presence was firstly established in dry bulk and the tanker (oil, products) sectors but lately we have strong signs of diversification into more sectors such as the container ships and the gas tankers. Statistical Analysis: It is better to set clear, in this paper when we refer to the term of ‘’Greek shipping’’ we actually discuss the Greek-controlled ships irrespectively of the company’s headquarters and the flag under the ships sail. (3) The reason of this choice reflects on the following table which describes the attitude of the owners to flag out their ships. Figure 2, The 35 countries and territories with the largest owned fleets, as of 31st January 2013 (DWT) Thus, according to the UNCTAD (2013 Report), only the 22.3% of Greek ships sail under the national flag when the remaining 77.7% sail under international flags. Hence, for the aim of the paper we will analyse the wider Greek-owned fleet instead of only focusing to the ship that are registered in Greece. Under that basis we can present the following statistical figures (which will be commented on the following part of this paper): The Greek-owned fleet is consisted of 4573 vessels and managed by 690 companies. Figure 3, Number of Greek-owned vessels, SOURCE: 2013 Petrofin research by Ted Petropoulos, October 2013 The 65.07% of the companies possess less than 5 ships while fleets with 25+ ships represent the 5.07% of the total. Figure 4, Fleet distribution of Greek Companies, SOURCE: 2013 Petrofin research by Ted Petropoulos, October 2013 The average age of the fleet has declined recently and at the end of 2013 was about 14.05 years. Figure 5, Average age of Greek fleet, SOURCE: 2013 Petrofin research by Ted Petropoulos, October 2013 Greek Orderbook (end of 02/2014) corresponds to 496 vessels (approximately 11% of existing fleet) of several types. Figure 6, Type of Orders by type, SOURCE: SIN database The majority of the new buildings have been ordered in Chinese shipyards while Republic of Korea follows with a slight difference: Figure 7, Greek Orderbook by country of builder, SOURCE: SIN database Greek shipping status Analysis: Management structure: Company Structure: As it has been referred, there are 690 shipping companies (Petrofin) mainly under tight family management. In Figure 4 we observe that the majority of the Greek companies possess a small fleet of ships. This can be a result of taxation strategy or mainly can be driven by the attitude of shipowners globally to not risk the viability of their whole business if one of their ships faces problems with regulation or capital cost. In the case of Greek shipping, the fragmentation of the market probably takes place for an extra reason: the majority of Greek shipping companies are family companies. Thus, there is a tendency that, after some years of experience in the family business, some members decide to build their own start-up business. This effort is supported by the knowledge gained previously and to the available capital. However, this attitude may contribute to the pluralism of the market and to promote Greek entrepreneurship but at the same time may trigger problems for the new companies which sometimes struggle to survive due to market reasons. More importantly, however, the new firms may be treated as undermining efforts against the family operations (4 Theotokas). Furthermore, it should be mentioned that small firms may be forced out of the business if they cannot attract sufficient financing.(5) The most significant advantage of the traditional form of Greek shipping companies is the philosophy of cutting costs passed from one generation to other.(6) However, family members ought to be quite qualified to perform their duties and not placed in businesses exclusively for reasons of heredity. (7) Another significant factor which has come under intense debate is the listing of Greek Companies to exchange markets. At the moment only the 6% of the total is listed, mainly in foreign exchanges (8,Petrofin).Listing can be used as a way of financing. However, Greek companies seek to find the ideal chemistry between a family-run company and a public outlet (9,Tsakos). As a third-generation shipowner A. Martinos quotes â€Å"a stock listed company has no head but a family company can move quickly with decision and authority† indicating a factor of flexibility for the Greek companies. People (human resources) The positioning of the Greek shipowners has been outstanding throughout the years. The reason behind this success can amongst others be the human factor. The fact that the first generation shipowners had been in the sea gave the sophisticated know-how to the industry which has been transferred throughout years and generations.(Theotokas). The referred know-how enables the ability to minimise costs and the dare to invest when the market is low. Particularly, the ability of achieving good timing and good choices has allowed the Greeks to perform excellent the asset play, to turn negative momentum into fleet expansion and to obtain market share and huge capital.(A fleet for the†¦THAN 10) Investment Strategy: Orderbook: The Greek Orderbook is one of the largest at the moment and as it is illustrated in Figure 6, there have been investments to multiple sectors. Specifically, we comment on the most interesting investments: Dry Bulks: Gas Tankers: Containers: Financing: What is the propeller for a ship is finance for a shipping company.(Petropoulos 11) Greek shipping has been significantly affected by the debt crisis which hurt violently the credit system and especially Greek banks which has been funding shipping business for decades. However, Greek shipowners managed to finance the modernisation of the Greek fleet (Navigating the financing storm 12) as it is presented in Figure 5. Obviously, once again Greek shipowners followed their tradition into anti-cyclical investing. During the period we are going through, investments in shipping have been mitigated. While investors around the world were selling vessels, Greeks were buying second-hand ships and they were placing orders to renew the fleet cheaply.(John Psychas 12). Probably, Greek owners took advantage by the capital gathered from previous successful years. Moreover, the recent years they have been using a combination of traditional and latest methods of financing, following sometimes hybrid solutions. (Syriopoulos 13) Another way of financing is listing. The majority of Greek shipowners realise the advantages of listing but seem reluctant to dare the change. It seems that this attitude is at last another point of strength for Greek shipping as traditional companies are based in their own capital to invest instead of raising financing in stocks market.( John Psychas 12) It is important to be highlighted that during crisis Greek shipping created a ‘’major ally’’ which is the Chinese Banks which they gave financial motivation for construction of ships in Chinese shipyards.(Petropoulos Shipping and ship finance 14). Chinese lenders decided to promote local shipping industry and Greek shipowners took advantage of a $10 billion fund for funding Greek orders in Chinese shipyards under competitive terms and interest (Bardounias 15). This trend is also illustrated in Figure 7. Conclusions and Recommendations: It seems that once again Greek shipping followed the traditional attitude of anti-cyclical investment which can probably guarantee long-term competitiveness in terms of capital cost. Specifically, in the dry bulk sector Greeks will be able to play the asset game which has supported their success so far. The renewal of the whole fleet is a strong signal of an operationally healthy industry for the years to come. However, the exposure of the owners to the container ship and gas tanker sector is a question mark which is not easy to be answered. If the market in these sectors will follow an upward in the near future then it is possible that in a few years we will discuss the diversification of the Greeks as another one outstanding strategic positioning. If not it is possible that this decision will be a very costly one and the diversification strategy will probably be abandoned in the future. The human factor will continue to be on the forefront of the Greek fleet as the heritage of the market sense seems to have been successfully developed by the third generation of the shipowners’ families. On the contrary, what has been built throughout all these years has to be protected. Hence, the new generations have unavoidably to be well-educated and strict evaluated as to be able to manage the business. Nepotism has to be scrutinised I order to guarantee evolution and success. The long-term competitiveness of the Greek shipping can be a reality under the optimum proportion of low-cost operation, sustainable management of traditional family businesses, targeted strategy towards financing and repeating of asset play. The diversification into new sectors can be the next competitive advantage of Greek shipping under the condition that the shipowners monitor the market closely and are adequately flexible and adoptable as to realise the different function of the multiple sectors.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Piracy Essay -- Technology Software Computers Essays

Piracy Piracy is the unauthorized copying, counterfeiting or distribution of software. Piracy is essentially stealing someone else's intellectual property. The five most common types of software piracy are end user piracy, client-server overuse, Internet piracy, hard disk loading, and software counterfeiting. End User Piracy occurs when an employee of a company reproduces software without the proper authorization. End User Piracy can be done in several different ways: . Using one licensed copy to install a program on multiple computers . Copying disks for installation and distribution . Taking advantage of upgrade offers without having a legal copy of the version to be upgraded . Acquiring academic or other restricted or non-retail software without a license for commercial use . Swapping disks in or outside the workplace [6] Client-Server overuse occurs when too many employees on a network are using a central copy of a program at the same time. When using a program in this way, it must be stated in the license. By having more employees using the software than stated in the license, is defined as overuse. Internet Piracy occurs when software is downloaded from the Internet. Although the product was acquired through the Internet, the same rules apply as if it were bought in a store. Internet Piracy can be done in several different ways: . Pirate websites that make software available for free download or in exchange for uploaded programs . Internet auction sites that offer counterfeit, out-of-channel, infringing copyright software . Peer-to-Peer networks that enable unauthorized transfer of copyrighted programs. [6] Hard-Disk Loading occurs when a business w... ...chelle, "China on Pirates: Blow 'Em Down," Wired Online Magazine, October 17, 2001. <http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,47617,00.html> [6] Business Software Alliance, "Types of Piracy, " Business Software Alliance, 2004. <http://www.bsa.org/usa/antipiracy/Types-of-Piracy.cfm> [7] Copyright Law of the United States of America, US Copyright Office. <http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#102> [8] Travel Pictures. <http://www.cs.unm.edu/~dlchao/travel/> [9] Business Software Alliance, "Sixth Annual BSA Global Software Piracy Study," Business Software Alliance, June 2000. <http://global.bsa.org/resources/2001-05- 21.55.pdf> [10] The Complete Reference to the Web Sites of China Law, <http://www.chinasite.com/Law.html> [11] Markkula Center for Applied Ethics,<http://www.scu.edu/ethics/>

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Personal

The Committee on Admission is interested in getting to know each candidate as well as possible through the application process. The following essay question is designed to demonstrate your writing skills and facilitate our full appreciation of who you are. The quality of Rice’s academic life and the Residential College System is heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What perspective do you feel that you will contribute to life at Rice? (Most applicants are able to respond successfully in two to three double-spaced pages. In everything I do, I try to reach out to people. My connection with others is what drives me. I like to observe people, to get to know people, to show people who I am. I think that what moves many people (myself included) is the idea that we are all alike. There is a quote from the French film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly which resonates with me: â€Å"We're all children, we all need approval. â⠂¬  This quote shows that we are driven by similar hopes, emotions, and experiences and we can come together to achieve great things.This perspective has allowed me to connect with classmates, strangers, and family in my experiences as the school’s Social Services prefect, as a volunteer at North York General Hospital, and as a granddaughter in a large family. The Diving Bell ; the Butterfly is a beautiful film about a once-successful editor of Elle magazine, Jean-Dominique Bauby, who becomes imprisoned in his own body after a massive stroke. He is completely paralyzed and cannot speak. In one instant, his entire life is taken from him. It moved me to see his despair, vulnerability, and lack of hope; his life which was once so full seemed empty and desolate now.He couldn’t truly live. As someone who loves life, I was brought to tears by the consequences of his stroke. It was ironic, unexpected, unfair, and heartbreaking. Despite this, Jean-Do is able to get through it all. At a defining moment in the film, he says, â€Å"I decided to stop pitying myself. Other than my eye, two things aren't paralyzed, my imagination and my memory. † It was uplifting to see that this man, who seemingly has nothing, could still have hope. I was deeply inspired by his perseverance; he showed that life is really about having imagination and letting go of material concerns which limit us.In October 2008, I experienced the most stressful week of the entire school year as the Social Services Prefect: United Way Week. As I began the daunting planning and preparation, I felt there was something lacking despite the strong annual tradition of United Way Week. As the years had progressed, students were falling into a routine and typical events were becoming stale. To address a problem that I saw in my community, I did not merely â€Å"party-plan† by resorting to the usual events. I aimed to be strategic by introducing new events. I knew that new events would d raw more interest and unite the student body.However, I also recognized that I could not plan an entire campaign alone. I brought my ideas for change to the Prefect team as well as my peers. I asked them what they would like to see, what kinds of activities they would be excited for. I then mapped out a schedule and delegated jobs. For instance, one new event this year was a competition between my school’s Prefects and our brother school’s Stewards: five from each school in one face-off. As each Prefect and Steward challenged each other one on one, five previously outlined tasks (rap, tell a joke, or dance) were announced and completed impromptu.In implementing these new activities, I was taking a big risk. I couldn’t predict how the students would react or how much we could raise. In the end, our initiatives succeeded in creating substantial change to an established campaign, raising over $12,000 for United Way. Helping others is in my nature. I hate suffering and injustice. Most of all, I am someone of action; if there is something that needs to be done, I will do it. When I help others, I know that I am changing their lives but I also recognize that they give me something as well; I first experienced this as a volunteer at North York General Hospital.In December 2007, a father ran in to the Emergency ward frantically asking for some help. His daughter, who had been skiing that day, injured herself by slipping on the hill. Lying in the van, she was in great pain but could not move. The father needed help in getting his daughter into waiting area. I first looked to Security but they were on patrol and the nurses were occupied helping other patients. I found myself in a difficult situation but I went outside with this father to see what I could do. I brought a wheelchair, hoping the young girl could slide from the car into the chair.However, she was unable to sit without being in severe pain. So we decided to pull her out, supporting her e ntire body. Her father, brother, and I lifted her up in a horizontal position out of the car. We set her down on her feet while continually offering support with our shoulders. Her cries were distressing but there was no other way to transport her in. Finally, when we were inside, I found a line of chairs on which she could lie down. Afterwards, I told her father how to register and what would happen next. Immediately, her father thanked me for being there. At first I had felt helpless that I couldn’t do more.I couldn’t stop his daughter’s pain. I couldn’t fast-forward the registration line. But I soon saw that the help that I could offer, the instructions and information that I had, and the humanity I showed, gave them a small comfort amidst the chaos. My experiences volunteering at the hospital showed me that suffering exists and though I may be unable to fix it, I alleviate the situation by doing what is in my power to do. In my family, loyalty is extr emely important. Spending time with family is an unquestionable responsibility for all of us: we are there for each other.Ever since I arrived in Canada as a 4-year old girl, I have been attending my grandmother’s birthday dinners each year in October. I can remember entering the traditional red and gold restaurant as a young child. Before I did anything else, my mother instructed me first to wish my grandmother a happy birthday and a lucky and long life, both of which are traditional Chinese phrases, and then kiss her once on both cheeks. As a child in elementary school, I barely understood the significance of the repetition of those phrases.Throughout my grandmother’s celebratory dinner, I occupied myself with Nintendo Games or hand games with my cousins. At the end of each dinner came the Chinese fruitcake. I always had to have the slice with a strawberry on top. By the end of the dinner, I hardly realized that I had barely spoken to my grandmother. Reflecting back on those times, I now have a bigger comprehension of the importance of family. I see how my grandmother loved to hear those phrases I said to her and how much it meant to her. Now as a teenager entering university, I long to say so much more.I want to update her on my school work or my friends or my dreams. I see the duty I have as a granddaughter, daughter, and sister in a family: to respect the bond that we are born with, to support my relatives because I know that I will always have my family to fall back on. Another form of expression that I value is in the music I listen to. If I have had a tough day, I put on my â€Å"Soothing Playlist†. In it is one of my favourite songs, â€Å"A Better Son/Daughter† by Rilo Kiley. The cerebral lyrics describe the difficulties that we all go through: you’ll be positive though it hurts / and you’ll laugh and embrace all your friends.I can relate to these lyrics because sometimes the commitments I take on overwhelm m e. During chaotic and stressful times, it is difficult to keep on top of everything. But I always keep at it because this is what I truly love to do. Going to dance club, singing in choir, researching in a lab: all of these things allow me to explore my interests and enjoy myself, helping me to grow as a person. It is only realistic to recognize that some days are harder than others. Nobody is perfect. This song and many others on my playlist encourage me to push through because I’ll be stronger for it.My desire for growth always involves reaching out to others: showing loyalty to friends and family; offering my support as a volunteer at the hospital; using the unity of my school to raise money that goes to a greater cause. My great ambitions are achieved by supporting and relying on others. I value family, perseverance, morals and I am a confident, ambitious, leader with a need for a strong community. This is what I will bring to Rice’s academic life and residence; I hope to connect with my peers and mentors in order to grow and achieve my goals.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Assessment as a Process of Making Judgements of Learners Knowledge

What is an assessment? Alan Rogers (1994, p172) defines assessment as collection of data on which we base our evaluation. According to Reece and Walker (2008, p5) assessment consists of tests and observations that we, as tutor, use to determine how well the students has achieved the objectives. Geoff Petty (2004, p449) writes that â€Å"Assessment measures the breadth and depth of learning†. Assessments are used in all areas and domain of everyday life, whether formal or informal, ranging from taking a written or practical driving test to claims for income support or acquiring life insurance on-line.Assessment is used to make a specific educational decision and is the process of evaluating the extent to which participants in education have developed their knowledge, understanding and skills. Assessment, both formative and summative, plays a significant part in the learning experience as it determines progression and enables learners to demonstrate that they have achieved their desired learning outcomes. There are generally two ways of assessment, formative and summative.According to Ashcroft and Forman-Peck (1994, p54) â€Å"Assessment is generally taken to mean a judgement about the progress (formative assessment) or achievement (summative assessment) of a particular student’s learning†. Reece and Walker’s (2008, p323) distinction between formative and summative is one to satisfy the needs of the society (‘summative’ assessment) and the other type of assessment is to help in both teaching and learning (‘formative’ assessment).Formative assessment is the assessment that takes place throughout the course or programme of study and is usually carried out by the assessor during mentoring and training. It provides feedback to both the learner and the assessor on how things are going and how learning can be improved. In contrast summative assessment is assessment of learning and is often used to determine what has been learnt or achieved in terms of acquired skills, knowledge and understanding at or towards the end of a course or programme of study.Further functions of assessment in learning and development are the measurement and recording of achievement, the identification of individual learners’ needs, that the assessment reflects the required standards and performance/assessment criteria and are fit for the purpose intended and that they contribute to quality assurance and the development of best practice. There are many reasons why we assess learners. Assessments enable tutors to measure learner’s progress towards their goal. And feedback can be given to help them such as outlining their strengths and weaknesses. Read also: Principles of Good Writing by L.A. HillFeedback is used to help learners learn and improve, and is the most important aspect of formative assessment. This can be given in various ways such as written, oral, in the form of graded/marked assignment etc. When giving feedback it is good practice to bear in mind the following points. It is important to give immediate feedback if possible; turn negative comment into constructive comments such as what to improve on before the next assessment; make assessment criteria clear, accurate and available; feedback to be clear, accurate and recorded; praise learner on achievement; encourage positive attitudes and make further suggestions.Learners can be encouraged through communication of how well they are doing and what skills and knowledge they are developing. I assess my students at regular intervals. Every time I ask a question to an individual or to a class I am assessing their knowledge and understanding. When I walk round the class watching students doing their tasks, checking their printouts, I am observing and noting against a checklist of expectations in my mind.When I receive or look at a printout from a mock exam I am comparing their performance with that which I would hope for from such a group or individual at such a stage in such a course at such a level. When giving verbal feedback to my learners, I use the following words of encouragement: very good, well done, brilliant, excellent, spot on. Throughout the delivery of a course I give my students formative, diagnostic and summative assessments and feedbacks.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Definition and Examples of Formal Essays

Definition and Examples of Formal Essays In composition studies, a formal essay is a  short, relatively impersonal composition in prose. Also known as an impersonal essay or a Baconian essay (after the writings of Englands first major essayist, Francis Bacon). In contrast to the familiar or personal essay, the formal essay is typically used for the discussion of ideas. Its rhetorical purpose is generally to inform or persuade. The technique of the  formal essay, says William Harmon, is now practically identical with that of all factual or theoretical prose in which literary effect is secondary (A Handbook to Literature, 2011). Examples and Observations Formal essays were introduced in England by [Francis] Bacon, who adopted Montaignes term. Here the style is objective, compressed, aphoristic, wholly serious. . . . In modern times, the formal essay has become more diversified in subject matter, style, and length until it is better known by such names as article, dissertation, or thesis, and factual presentation rather than style or literary effect has become the basic aim.(L. H. Hornstein, G. D. Percy, and C. S. Brown, The Readers Companion to World Literature, 2nd ed. Signet, 2002)A Blurred Distinction Between Formal Essays and Informal EssaysFrancis Bacon and his followers had  a more impersonal, magisterial, law-giving, and didactic manner than the skeptical Montaigne. But they should not be viewed as opposites; the distinction between formal and informal essay can be overdone, and most great essayists have crossed the line frequently. The difference is one of degree. [William] Hazlitt was essentially a personal essayist, thoug h he wrote theater and art criticism; Matthew Arnold and John Ruskin were essentially formal essayists, though they may have tried a personal essay once in a while. Personality creeps into the most impersonal of writers: it is difficult to read Bacon on friendship or having children, for instance, without suspecting he is talking about autobiographical matters. Dr. Johnson was probably more a moral  essayist than a personal one, though his work has such an individual, idiosyncratic stamp that I have persuaded myself to place him in the personal camp. George Orwell seems split fifty-fifty, an essay hermaphrodite who always kept one eye on the subjective and one on the political. . . .The Victorian era saw a turn toward the formal essay, the so-called essay of ideas written by [Thomas] Carlyle, Ruskin, [Matthew] Arnold, Macaulay, Pater. Between Lamb and Beerbohm there was scarcely an English personal essay, with the exception of those by Robert Louis Stevenson and Thomas De Quincey. . . .(Phillip Lopate, Introduction to The Art of the Personal Essay. Anchor, 1994) Voice in the Impersonal Essay[E]ven when I plays no part in the language of an essay, a firm sense of personality can warm the voice of the impersonal essay narrator. When we read Dr. [Samuel] Johnson and Edmund Wilson and Lionel Trilling, for instance, we feel that we know them as fully developed characters in their own essays, regardless of their not referring personally to themselves.(Phillip Lopate, Writing Personal Essays: On the Necessity of Turning Oneself Into a Character. Writing Creative Nonfiction, ed. by Carolyn Forchà © and Philip Gerard. Writers Digest Books, 2001)Crafting the Impersonal IUnlike the exploratory self of Montaigne, Francis Bacons impersonal I appears already to have arrived. Even in the comparatively expansive third edition of the Essays, Bacon provides few explicit hints as to either the character of the textual voice or the role of the expected reader. . . . [T]he absence of a felt self on the page is a deliberate rhetorical effect: the effort to effac e voice in the impersonal essay is a way of evoking a distant but authoritative persona. . . . In the formal essay, invisibility must be forged.(Richard Nordquist, Voices of the Modern Essay. University  of Georgia, 1991)

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on Effects Of Political Parties

Since the last of the Whig party left office in 1852, the American political system has been primarily a two party system. The Democrats and the Republicans have been the two parties fighting for the Presidency since that time. There have been many other parties since that time, but mainly, these two have gone unopposed against each other. However, how much good do these parties actually do? Would our country be run as effectively if the presence of political parties was no longer a factor? It is the opinion of the authors that the U.S. Government would exist without political parties and may, in fact be stronger. The concept of political parties seems to go against what it means to be a politician: to represent his or her constituents. More time, money and effort, it seems is put into getting elected to an office than actually doing work for the people in that office. One fairly recent example is seen in the case of the proposed federal Balanced Budget Amendment. Mark Hatfield, Republican Oregon Senator, went against his parties wishes and voted against the amendment. His party nearly abandoned him for choosing the people over his party. Many senators are faced with the same decision every day, but instead stick with party beliefs and not what they feel would be the best for the people. In order for true democracy to be achieved in our government, we feel drastic changes need to occur. Review Of The Literature Since the mid 1850's, the Democrats and Republicans have had control of the nation government. The only place where opposition was felt was at the state and local levels. However, in the early days of our country, third and fourth party candidates played important roles in politics. A few of these parties from our history are the: Democrat-Republicans, Jefferson Republicans, Whigs and Federalists. Many other lesser known or hardly known at all parties were the: S... Free Essays on Effects Of Political Parties Free Essays on Effects Of Political Parties Since the last of the Whig party left office in 1852, the American political system has been primarily a two party system. The Democrats and the Republicans have been the two parties fighting for the Presidency since that time. There have been many other parties since that time, but mainly, these two have gone unopposed against each other. However, how much good do these parties actually do? Would our country be run as effectively if the presence of political parties was no longer a factor? It is the opinion of the authors that the U.S. Government would exist without political parties and may, in fact be stronger. The concept of political parties seems to go against what it means to be a politician: to represent his or her constituents. More time, money and effort, it seems is put into getting elected to an office than actually doing work for the people in that office. One fairly recent example is seen in the case of the proposed federal Balanced Budget Amendment. Mark Hatfield, Republican Oregon Senator, went against his parties wishes and voted against the amendment. His party nearly abandoned him for choosing the people over his party. Many senators are faced with the same decision every day, but instead stick with party beliefs and not what they feel would be the best for the people. In order for true democracy to be achieved in our government, we feel drastic changes need to occur. Review Of The Literature Since the mid 1850's, the Democrats and Republicans have had control of the nation government. The only place where opposition was felt was at the state and local levels. However, in the early days of our country, third and fourth party candidates played important roles in politics. A few of these parties from our history are the: Democrat-Republicans, Jefferson Republicans, Whigs and Federalists. Many other lesser known or hardly known at all parties were the: S...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

A Brief Overview and Description of Geography

A Brief Overview and Description of Geography The science of geography is likely the oldest of all sciences. Geography is the answer to the question that the earliest humans asked, Whats over there? Exploration and the discovery of new places, new cultures, and new ideas have always been basic components of geography. Thus, geography is often called the mother of all sciences as studying other people and other places led to other scientific fields such as biology, anthropology, geology, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, among others. (See other Definitions of Geography) What Does the Word Geography Mean? The word geography was invented by the ancient Greek scholar Eratosthenes and literally means writing about the earth. The word can be divided into two parts - ge and graphy. Ge means the Earth and graphy refers to writing. Of course, geography today means much more than writing about the Earth but its a difficult discipline to define. Many geographers have done their best to define geography but a typical dictionary definition today reads, The science of the Earths physical features, resources, climate, population, etc. Divisions of Geography Today, geography is commonly divided into two major branches - cultural geography (also called human geography) and physical geography. Cultural geography is the branch of geography dealing with human culture and its impact on the Earth. Cultural geographers study languages, religion, foods, building styles, urban areas, agriculture, transportation systems, politics, economies, population and demographics, and more. Physical geography is the branch of geography dealing with the natural features of the Earth, the home of humans. Physical geography looks at the water, air, animals, and land of the planet Earth (i.e. everything that is part of the four spheres - the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere). Physical geography is closely related to geographys sister science - geology - but physical geography focuses more on the landscapes at the surface of the Earth and not what is inside our planet. Other key areas of geography include regional geography (which involves the in-depth study and knowledge of a particular region and its cultural as well as its physical characteristics) and geographic technologies like GIS (geographic information systems) and GPS (global positioning system). An important system for dividing the subject of geography is known as the Four Traditions of Geography. History of Geography The history of geography as a scientific discipline can be traced back to the Greek scholar Eratosthenes. It was further developed in the modern era by Alexander von Humboldt and from there, you can trace the history of geography in the United States. Also, see the Timeline of Geographic History. Studying Geography Since the late 1980s, when the subject of geography was not well-taught throughout the United States, there has been a revival in geographic education. Thus, today many primary, secondary, and university students are choosing to learn more about geography. There are many resources online available to learn about studying geography, including one article about earning a college degree in geography. While at the university, be sure to explore career opportunities through internships in geography. Great Studying Geography Resources: Branches of GeographyCapitals of Every CountryGeography GlossaryQuestions and Answers About GeographyGeography Facts, Lists, and TriviaMaps and Geographical Information About Every Country (including blank outline maps)Top 10 Reasons to Study Geography (Humor) Careers in Geography Once you start studying geography, youll want to look into various careers in geography so dont miss this article specifically about Jobs in Geography. Joining a geographic organization is also helpful as you pursue a geographic career.