The V Chip essays

The V Chip essays The V-Chip Americas Answer to Desensitizing On February 8, 1996, President Clinton1 signed into law the Telecommunications Act of 19962, which will dramatically alter the telecommunications industry over the next several years. One of the most controversial sections of the bill was Section 551, titled "Parental Choice in Television Programming," which calls for manufacturers to include a "V-chip" in every new TV set 13 inches or larger. The V-chip is a device that will enable viewers to program their televisions to block out content with a common rating. Proponents of the system say that it will enable parents to protect their children from viewing violent and explicit material. Opponents say it violates the First Amendment rights of the broadcasters, and enforces government censorship on the television industry. The provision gives broadcasters, cable operators, and other "video distributors" one year to develop a voluntary rating system for programming that contains "sexual, violen t, or other indecent material." If the industry fails to agree on a rating system within that time, the FCC is to develop a rating system based on an advisory board's recommendations.16 The Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 19903 required all new televisions sold in the United States to contain a chip to decode closed-captioning4 signals. The basic technology needed to implement the V-chip is the same as that currently used for closed-captioning. Program rating information would be transmitted along with the television signal, and be decoded by a chip in each television. The chip would then compare the rating codes to values preset by the viewer. If the rating codes are higher than the preset values, the television signal would be blocked, and a blank screen would be displayed. Closed-captioning data is transmitted on line 21 of the vertical blanking interval, or VBI5. The VBI consists of 24 lines of a regular picture scan in which the ...

Short Quotes About Life

Short Quotes About Life Given a chance, most people will wax eloquent on the meaning of life. A discussion on this subject can continue for hours. Self-styled philosophers cannot restrain themselves from examining life at length from every possible angle: birth, childhood, growing up, love, family, career, retirement, old age, and finally, death.We can only see the tip of the never-ending iceberg called life. Life has much more depth and dimension than one can fathom. Yet, despite its limitless dimensions, life can be defined in just a few words. As the great Mahatma Gandhi put it simply, Where there is love, there is life. Finding the Love in Life A life bereft of love is a poor thing indeed. Romantics claim that the absence of a significant other is the cruelest blow that life can deal you. They say that you have not lived until you have loved. However, ​romantic love is only part of the tapestry of relationships that enriches life. There is love for parents, siblings and friends; love for pets; love for adventure; love for home; love for movies, books, travel, art, and so much more. German writer and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.Love gives us reason to live. It brings joy to our daily life. Love reigns supreme in our happiest moments, working behind the scenes to make them happier. Love for life increases the joy of being alive, even in the face of harsh circumstances. Love can help overcome your deepest grief and your darkest fears.We are advised not to dwell on our sorrow, but to pick up where we left off and march forward. Nevertheless, it helps to underst and sadness. We follow the greatest tragedies on the silver screen. We read about real and fictional heroes. We weep with them but come home purged of our sorrow, and gifted with a new perspective on life. If you are looking for quick succor, these sad quotes provide nuggets of wisdom. Learn From Lifes Experiences Our experiences – whether happy or sad, peaceful or nerve-wracking, memorable or forgettable – make us who we are. French sculptor Auguste Rodin had said, Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. He couldnt have put it better. This collection of short quotes conveys two important messages: one, that life is a collection of myriad experiences; and two, that the best advice is brief. Dont Dwell on the Past Some people are constantly telling the world about their troubled past. They dwell on past events but fail to learn from their experiences. They jump into the same difficult situations repeatedly, and then cry, Woe is me! Take the case of the serial cheater. Or the bum who refuses to leave the couch. Or the never-quite-recovering gambler. They claim that circumstances are against them, forgetting that life is what we make of it. Successful people are those who learn from their experiences. Sometimes, these lessons can only be learned in retrospect. A short wise quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson says it best, The years teach much which the days never knew. Growing up Is Not a Cakewalk Children and teens are busy trying to act like grownups, while adults spend their days reminiscing about the carefree days of childhood. Aristotle was right when he said, The gods too are fond of a joke. This short quote is funny but it gets the point across. It offers a humorous explanation for why we keep pining for what we do not possess, constantly seeking the elusive greener grass.Our search for what could be continues into old age, when we wistfully remember the years gone by. The optimists enjoy every moment, spending time with their children and grandchildren, putting their free time to the best possible use. The pessimists and the unfortunate fail to notice the joys of life as they wait impatiently for death to show its face. If you cannot understand this obsession with death, these short death quotes will help you grasp a different point of view. For instance, you may consider death to be a terrible thing but poet Walt Whitman would disagree with you. He once wrote, Nothing can happen more beautiful than death. Humor Makes Life Bearable A few days ago, I came across an incisive quotation by Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw. He said, Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people live. Shaw was known for his witty turn of phrase, and his ability to see the comic side of life. In this quote, he hits the nail on the head, reminding us that humor and seriousness exist irrespective of life or death. That is why American humorist Philander Johnsons famous words, Cheer up, the worst is yet to come, never fails to rouse laughter. If you think about it, Johnsons prediction is terrible. Yet, humor makes that inevitability easier to bear.Short funny sayings raise spirits even amid grave circumstances. You can find intriguing opinions on life, death, and everything in between in these collections of short funny quotes. Remember, laughter is the best medicine. The next time you find life becoming a little too dreary, give yourself the gift of laughter. Read some funny short quotes when you feel weepy. Loosen up a little when things do not go your way. Keep in mind that ever-pertinent line by American author Elbert Hubbard, Dont take life too seriously. Youll never get out of it alive. Live it while you still can! Charlie BrownIn the book of life, the answers arent in the back.Samuel JohnsonSome desire is necessary to keep life in motion.John Walters Life is short, so enjoy it to the fullest.David SeltzerFor some moments in life there are no words.Edward FitzgeraldI am all for the short and merry life.Anthony HopkinsI love life because what more is there.D. H. LawrenceLife is ours to be spent, not to be saved.Woody AllenLife is divided into the horrible and the miserable.Johann Wolfgang von GoetheA useless life is an early death.Donald TrumpEverything in life is luck.Bertolt Brecht Life is short and so is money.Robert ByrneThe purpose of life is a life of purpose.James DeanDream as if youll live forever, live as if youll die today.Chinese ProverbBe not afraid of going slowly; be afraid only of standing still.Albert CamusLife is the sum of all your choices.Moroccan ProverbHe who has nothing to die for has nothing to live for.Emily DickinsonTo live is so startling it leaves little time for anyth ing else.Will SmithLife is lived on the edge.John LennonLife is what happens to you while youre busy making other plans.Walter AnnenbergAccomplish something every day of your life.Alfred HitchcockDrama is life with the dull bits cut out.Simone WeilEvery perfect life is a parable invented by God.

Race, Racism and Critical Thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Race, Racism and Critical Thinking - Essay Example In other words, racists always consider people from others as second class citizens. They presumed to be having some kind of privileges in this society. Race is a social construct. In other words, a person belongs to a particular race not because of his activities but because of his genetics. This paper critically analyses the dimensions of race and racism. According to Albert Jacquard racism is an intellectual disease or â€Å"madness† (De Benoist, p,12). It should be noted that majority of the racists are intellectuals and well educated. In other words, racism occurs not because of the lack of awareness about this world or society, but because of the increasing awareness of the people. In fact majority of the uneducated people do not have racism in their minds even if they come from the elite class. That is why Albert Jacquard labelled racism as an intellectual disease or â€Å"madness†. According to Michael Billig: â€Å"The fact that a person expresses prejudicial feelings toward a particular alien group does not necessarily mean that the individual will always react with hostility to a specific member of that group† (De Benoist, p,12). In other words, individual elements have nothing to do with the feeling of racism. For example, Obama became the president of America for the second time. He is a person from black community. The election of Obama doesn’t mean that all Americans have left their racial feelings or black community has equal status with white community in America. In short, racism is a feeling against a particular community; not against any individuals. Pierre Fougeyrollas’ argued that â€Å"The social sciences must study racism as an ensemble of observable phenomena among others and in relation to other phenomena† (De Benoist, p,12). Sexism, stereotyping, colonialism, fascism etc are some of the terms which are similar in nature with racism. One of the peculiar aspects of these terms is the fact that m ost people keep these kinds of beliefs in their mind and it is difficult to observe such things. Nobody will openly declare that he is a racist, sexist, or a fascist. At the same time, their activities may reflect the elements of racism, sexism, and fascism. Therefore, racism or sexism can be studied only with the help of observable behaviours. â€Å"Racist ideology turns into a theory forged to justify an act of aggression or to legitimate a relation of domination from which one would expect to profit† (De Benoist, p,16). Profit’s word making is the motto which encourages racists to spread their ideology. We are living in a world of commercialization. In today’s world, every action is analysed in terms of the profit and loss it made. Only profitable actions are acceptable to the society whereas actions which result in some kind of losses are avoided as much as possible. Racial activities definitely bring more profit to the elite group even though it brings loss es to the underprivileged. Therefore, racists accept racism as an acceptable phenomenon whereas underprivileged or the victims label it as a unacceptable activity. â€Å"More broadly, racism is generated from the â€Å"normalization† of a relation of domination. This idea is frequently espoused by authors who see an intimate relation between racism, colonialism, imperialism, etc† † (De Benoist, p,16). â€Å"The doctrine of colonialism unquestionably mixes racist judgments

Luxury brand towards chinese girls around 18-30 Essay

Luxury brand towards chinese girls around 18-30 - Essay Example Literature review begins with a detailed analysis of the luxury brands and goods. It comprises of characteristics, brand identity and awareness and aesthetic attributes of luxury goods. For conceptualising the preference towards the luxury goods various comparative literatures between the luxury and ordinary brands has also been nurtured. It focuses on new affluent and endurance of the Western and Eastern brands in China. Even the unique features of Chinese have also been highlighted to make out the consumption level, taste and priorities of Chinese consumer. The scope and motto of the study is not only to stick to the consumer behaviour and preference towards the luxury brands, it also concentrates on the distinctions and similarities of the Western and Eastern luxury brands. Apart from reviews of literatures it also deliberates to the qualitative approaches to find the real scenario. Interviews have been conducted of 15 ladies and girls of four main cities of China. Those are Beiji ng, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Nanjing. The ultimate conclusion is that the luxury brand satiates the intrinsic desire of Chinese women for showing strong affinity towards the foreign based brand. Affection towards luxury brands and increasing consumption level of it is possible due to three prime reason, overall economic growth of China, escalating empowerment of women and one child policy. China has experienced a persistent surge in the consumer buying behaviour from the year 1990. The Chinese consumer has become wealthier and welcomes the western retail formats which pave the way for luxury retailers. Basically luxury is subjective and constantly evolving concept. This word can be defined as the inessential but desirable item of extreme comfort. What differ luxury brands from others is its command of a premium without mentioning clear functional advantages over the other counter parts. Instead of this consumers are ready to pay high amount because

Philosophy Exam Questions Essay Example for Free

Philosophy Exam Questions Essay What is Plato’s theory of recollection? What is it about and how does it work?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Plato’s theory of recollection states that all knowledge a person has ever known or will know already exists in his/her memory. As a result, time and learning are simply illusions; they are the process of remembering everything. To prove his theory, Plato presents an example. It concerns Socrates and a slave. Socrates gives the slave a series of geometrical diagrams and questions, asking him to solve them. The slave does so, without having any mathematical training before. Thus, because the slave was able to do so, Socrates says that the only he could was because he had prior knowledge in a previous existence and was simply recollecting that knowledge. Plato held that it is better to suffer injustice than to commit one. Why? What is Plato’s theory of justice?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Plato’s theory of justice states that, on an individual level, justice is a human virtue responsible for making a person consistent and good; on a social level, justice is what makes a society harmonious and good. Therefore, to suffer an injustice is better, as the person suffering that injustice remains virtuous. The virtue stems from maintaining one’s values, both as an individual and within society. Discuss Plato’s view of death. What is the nature of death for Plato, and what, in his view should be the philosopher’s reaction to the prospect of it? Explain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Plato’s view of death is presented in the Phaedo, and is of a nonchalant nature. He believes that death is something that should not be feared, as it is the natural course of things to come to life, as well as to die. Through Socrates, he maintains that one of the goals of practicing philosophy is to prepare for death. He believes that it frees the soul from the body as much as possible while one is still alive. Therefore, death is something of a virtue, as it prepares one for having an immortal soul. How does God function in the views of Descartes and Berkeley?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both Descartes and Berkeley use the concept of God in their arguments by introducing God as the cause of a person’s ideas. However, this is where the similarity ends. Descartes states that God is the only possible cause of the idea of God, while matter is the cause of all other ideas. Berkeley states that God is the only possible cause of all ideas. Thus, God is a Divine Mind from which all ideas come. Explain Descartes’ method of doubt. What is it and what is its value for philosophical enquiry?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Descartes’ method of doubt is a philosophical strategy in which the goal is to defeat skepticism. One must begin by doubting the truth of everything, not just the evidence of the senses or the evidence of culture, but the fundamental process of reasoning itself. If a specific truth can survive this extreme challenge, then it must be completely true and thus, a certain foundation for knowledge. In regard to its value for philosophical enquiry, this method is much like Socrates’ method of seeking the truth. It allows one to go through various theories and muddle through various questions in order to seek their own truth. What is Descartes’ wax example about? How do you think Berkeley would explain the same event?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Descartes believes that the human mind is capable of thought and perception. He explains this concept by way of an example concerning wax. It is evident that solid wax and melted wax are both wax. Therefore, perception is not just a function of the senses, but also a reasoning of the mind. The ultimate conclusion for Descartes, then, is the fact that the mind is the only thing that is definitively in existence. Berkeley would agree with Descartes, as he also believes that the mind is the only substance that truly exists. For him, the wax in both forms would not be considered an existing entity, as he does not believe that the physical world exists. What is Berkeley’s view of the distinction between primary and secondary qualities? How does his view differ from Descartes?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Berkeley, upon examining the perception of things, came to the conclusion that any information he has must be considered secondary qualities. Therefore, they are functions of his mind. He rejects the existence of primary qualities, because to him, the mind is the only substance that exists. Descartes says otherwise. He believes that every substance has two types of properties. There is the primary quality, which is the heart of existence; then there is the secondary quality, which focuses on the senses. In simple terms, for Berkeley, there is no primary quality; for Descartes, there is. Describe Russell’s criticism of Berkeley’s idealism. Do you agree with his criticism? Explain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When criticizing Berkeley’s theory of idealism, Russell examines every aspect and counters each point with his own. He points out that Berkeley’s initial reasoning concerning sense-data are valid. However, it is from this point on that Russell begins to dispute Berkeley. He points out that the idea of something being in the mind is a bit difficult to understand, as his meaning of idea is confusing. In the end, Russell states that the ultimate fallacy of Berkeley’s argument is that one can apprehend what is in his or her mind. Finally, Russell states that the nature of knowledge completely refutes Berkeley’s argument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Russell’s belief that Berkeley is incorrect in stating that ideas are of the mind is not completely acceptable. Berkeley’s concept is not hard to grasp, as it is in the mind that most ideas develop. Many of the concepts developed within philosophy stem from a simple idea formulated in one’s mind. Therefore, Berkeley is partially correct in his belief. However, Russell makes a valid point that if one believes that things only exist in the mind, the ability for man to gain knowledge would be limited. Since one does not want knowledge to be limited in any way, Berkeley’s concept of idealism can be dismissed in some regards. According to Russell, what is the point of doing philosophy?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Russell does not provide a point, but rather an aim for doing philosophy. He states that the aim is to achieve knowledge through inquiry and criticism. However, philosophy does not contain certainties like other fields of study do. Yet, according to Russell, it is those very uncertainties that make the study of philosophy so vital to humanity. Thus, doing philosophy not only helps to find answers to questions about the world around, but it also helps to keep one inquisitive about that world.

Brain Drain Essay -- essays papers

Brain Drain One of the major concerns of today's companies is the shortage of labor, especially in management. The baby boomers are nearing retirement age in the United States and the birth rate is dropping. These circumstances, coupled with the booming economy are the main causes of the labor shortage. There is a high demand for labor but the once seemingly bottomless pool of employees and managers that companies drew from has started to dry up. What are the factors that contributed to the problem and how are today's corporations going to handle this problem? The type of labor needed in today's society has been undergoing a constant change. There is an increase in demand for workers but there is a much greater demand for educated white-collar workers, especially management material. Projections state that the growth in managerial positions will increase 20% by the year 2010 yet the population aged 35-50 will decrease nearly 10%. What these figures say is the already diminishing supply of executives is going to dwindle even more over the next 10 years. There is a shortage of blue-collar workers now and there will also be an even greater shortage of them in the future. In order for employers to find people who are willing to perform unskilled, repetitive jobs they are going to have to be willing to raise the level of compensation offered to employees. If McDonalds needs someone to flip hamburgers they better be prepared to pay double to triple minimum wage. There are a wide variety of employment opportunities and today's workforce can afford to be selective when choosing a job. The demand for employees is high while the supply is low. The figures on the change in average population ages and growth in industrialized nations is beginning to make the corporate world stand up and take notice. If the trends continue as they have been for the past thirty years, the shortage of labor is going to continually get worse with each year that passes. The predictions from the United States Census Bureau state that between 1990 and 2000 the increase of the American population over 60 will be 10.5% but in 2010 to 2020, the increase will be 32.5%. The change in the 60 plus population in the United States is projected to nearly triple in thirty years. Compare these figures to the increase in under sixty-year-old population. From 1990 to 2000, t... ... the economic obstacles caused by an aging workforce. The companies of today are aware of the constantly growing problem and are working towards a solution. I think that they are moving in the right direction. Offering flexibility in what was once a very rigid structured hierarchy is certainly a step in the right direction. People in today's world lead very different lives than they did 4o years ago. A rewarding profession is not exclusively defined by the income generated anymore, rewarding can also mean personally rewarding. A good employee doesn't necessarily work 40 hours each and every week, some work part time or are involved in a job-sharing program. In order to keep the workforce meeting the needs of the economy, the employer must continue to become more flexible and remain open to suggestions. Today's companies are on the right track. I believe that with proper management and forward thinking, we will be able to cope with the ever-increasing shortage of labor. Bibliography: Center for Strategic and International Studies Newsweek magazine Business Week magazine The Economist magazine St Petersburg Times Newspaper The United States Census Bureau

Banana candle wax Essay

Abstract The researcher conducts this study due to economic crisis nowadays. Its aim is to create a product of floor wax which is cheaper and could give the same quality which the commercial one could give. In this modern age, floor polishes were made from synthetic materials. We decided to put back the floor polish of the old days that was made from natural materials. We choose banana peelings as component of the polish. But first, we must find out if the product was an effective as commercial polish and if it can be used for different surfaces so the researcher conducted an experiment. We scraped the inner portion of banana peelings and boiled for four hours, extracted the and blended to obtain a smooth gel. We therefore concluded that the Floor Polish Made from Banana peelings was effective as commercial polishes. The product did not contain harmful chemicals so it was environmental friendly, safer and cheaper. This step was made by the researcher to make a floor wax out of banana peel: first, we mix 2 candle wax then it was melted in a low fire. While still hot, add 1 teaspoon of oil. After mixing, add the banana peels, Stir it and leave it after 3min.then strain and pour in a container. Introduction and its background As of now, our country is facing a great crisis in economy. The researcher found out that in school, they required using of floor wax (commercial) to prevent the floor shiny. Even in the houses, floor wax is being use. So, the researcher decided to make a floor wax which is very affordable and can give an equal quality as the commercial can. Statement of the problem a)Can banana be an alternative source in making a floor wax? Formulation of the Hypothesis a) Banana can’t be an alternative source in making a floor wax. b)Banana can be an alternative source in making a floor wax. Significant of the study This study can give benefits to the people especially to the poor once, to have a good business and also to save money for their other needs. Especially in schools, it will give a benefit to the students as well as their parents to save money. It is also easy and enjoyable to do. Scope and limitation This study is only limited for the investigation of banana (Musa paradisiaca) used as alternative source for floor wax making. The researcher chose this study for further investigation if the banana can be an effective source for floor wax. 8.) Definition of terms a) Banana – a tropical fruit b) Floor wax – a substance used for shining floors. 9. Related Studies BANANA is the common name for a fruit and also the herbaceous plants of the genus Musa which produce the commonly eaten fruit. They are native to the tropical region of Southeast Asia and Australia. Today, they are cultivated throughout the tropics. Banana plants are of the family Musaceae. They are cultivated primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent for the production of fibre and as ornamental plants. As the bananas are mainly tall, upright, and fairly sturdy, they are often mistaken for trees, when the truth is the main or upright stem is called a pseudostem, literally meaning â€Å"fake stem†, which for some species can obtain a height of up to 2–8 m, with leaves of up to 3.5 m in length. Each pseudostem would produce a bunch of yellow, green, or even red bananas before dying and being replaced by another pseudostem. Banana leaves are widely used as plates and for lining cooking pits and for wrapping food for cooking or storage. A section of leaf often serves as an eye-shade. In Latin America, it is a common practice during rains to hold a banana leaf by the petiole, upside-down, over one’s back as an â€Å"umbrella† or â€Å"raincoat†. The leaves of the ‘Fehi’  banana are used for thatching, packing, and cigarette wrappers. 10.) Materials †¢Banana peelings †¢Wax Crystals †¢Technical Dye (if desire) †¢ Container †¢Kerosene 11.) Procedure 1.)candle wax. 2.) Melt the materials in a low fire. 3.) While still hot add technical dye (desired color). Stir the mixture. 4.) Add small amount of oil. 5.) Add the Banana peel. 6.) Pour in a desired mold or container and allow it to harden. 12.) Presentation of data analysis & interpretation 13.) Results As the researcher conduct this study, the researcher found out the following: SUBJECT # BANANA FLOOR WAX COMMERCIAL 1 Shine more shine 2 more shine shine 3 Shine more shine Based on the ff. data, the researcher made a better study related to this project and found out that banana floor wax could give also almost the same quality which the commercial one could give. 14.) Summary Floor waxing is essential to maintain the shiny gloss of wooden floors. However, if you find buying ready-made floor wax prohibitively expensive, it’s possible to mix candle wax and oil with banana peels to create a substance suitable for use polishing your wooden floors. This home-made floor wax will give a comparable shine and smoothness to that of commercial  products, and the oil counteracts the banana peels stickiness to ensure the finished sheen isn’t tacky. 15.) Conclusions Therefore we conclude that the banana Floor wax is attractive, effective and easy to do. The researcher therefore concluded that banana floor wax could be used as an alternative source of commercial one. 16.) Recommendation The researcher would highly recommend that we could use banana floor wax instead of busy commercial floor wax in the market because it’s cheaper and fits in our budget.

Discuss the history, geography and ecology of the rabbit invasion in Australia

Numerous studies have been contacted on the Rabbit in Australia (Parer,I.(1977),Twigg, E.L., Lowe, J.T., Wheeler, G.A., Gray, S.G., Martin, R.G. & Barker,W.(1998), Wheeler,H.S. &King,R.D. (1985),   Rolls,E.C. (1969)), covering issues such as it's population ecology, dispersal, survival and the efficiencies of the various control methods that have been used up to date. In the early stages of the rabbit plague, fences were erected to prevent dispersal or slow the rate of dispersal, but these proved to costly and ineffective. The fifties saw the introduction of the biological control agent, myxoma virus. This had great success initially but unfortunately the government failed to capitalize on the success, with continued control. The Rabbit Calcivirus Disease (RCD) was introduced (albeit accidentally) in the early 1990's. A highly infectious disease, spread by direct contact or by vectors (mosquito) with a mortality rate between 50-90%. However young kittens are not as susceptible as o lder rabbits. (Linton 2001) and when the female goes on to breed they are able to pass on maternal antibodies to their young. In determining whether or not the complete eradication of the rabbit in Australia is a feasible concept, one needs to study or be aware of certain aspects of their ecology. Such as their breeding and dispersal patterns and from this weaknesses might become evident, which would then aide in the eradication of the rabbit. Read also History Quizzes The Rabbit made its' first appearance is the Eocene in Asia and North America, arriving in Europe during the Miocene period. Two sub species from Southern France and Spain were identified O.cuniculus cuniculus and O.cunniculus buxteyi. The first named sub species from France was frequently released on islands as a food source for sailors that might become shipwrecked. The image of the rabbit had some bearing on its' dispersal and protection. In that it provided the people with their main source of food during times of hardship or depression and therefore they attained a rather prestigious image. This in turn further aided their rapid dispersal. The arrival of the 1st fleet in 1788 saw the introduction of the rabbit in Australia. However, it was Tasmania that had the first recording of a feral rabbit population in 1827. Mainland Australia remained rabbit free until 1859, when a grazier and sportsman arranged for the shipment of twenty-four rabbits from England. Thomas Austin released the rabbits on his property in Geelong, Victoria around Christmas of 1859. Ten years from this initial release, 14,253 rabbits were shot for sport on this same property. This illustrates the high fertility and dispersal rates of the rabbit. By the year 1910, two-thirds of Australia was inhabited by the rabbit (Parer (1982) for Ratcliffe 1959). With a dispersal rate of approximately 70km/yr (Parer 1982), the rabbit went to colonise Queensland within 30 years and reaching Western Australia within 40 years of its release. Stodart and Parer suggest that it has the fastest dispersal rate of any colonising mammal in the world. The introduction of the rabbit had an enormous impact on the native wildlife, displacing many small-medium sized native mammals; the greater Bilby, Bettongia Leseur are but a few. The displaced was largely due to competition for food and the altering of their ecosystems. With the enormity of their population, widespread impacts were inevitable: depletion of native vegetation, competition for space, resulting warrens and burrows of native animals being overtaken by the rabbit. Predators such as foxes increased in numbers as a direct result of the high number of rabbits to prey on. Unfortunately when the rabbit numbers declined due to drought, etc the foxes would turn on the small native mammals. The economic implications were also enormous; Sloane etal (1988) puts the impact at approximately $90 million in lost production and a further $20 million on the control. The European rabbit has an extremely high fertility rate together with a relatively short gestation period of approximately 30 days. They are able to fall pregnant immediately after giving birth. Their litter size fluctuates between four to seven kittens. Although small at birth, weighing about thirty-five grams they are able to increase their birth weight by a staggering 600% by the time they are ready to leave the warren, generally at about 21 days of age. They will be capable of breeding when they reach an age of 3-4 months (Parer 1977). The prolificacy of their breeding season is regulated by rainfall and hence the availability of food. When the rainfall is in short supply or during the occurrence of a drought, the breeding season will be short, litter sizes will be smaller and fewer females will breed (Twigg et al 1998). The warren provides the newly born and the young kittens with shelter from the harsh elements and protection from predators. This is especially so in the open, cleared grazing land where there is little, if any, shelter or protection provided by natural vegetation (Parer 1997). Linton (2001) supports this by stating that the rabbit lowers it chances of survival outside the warren and that the warren is the centre of the rabbit's life. This therefore seems to suggest that the destruction of the warren would facilitate in the long term eradication of the rabbit. â€Å"Rabbit control is the (artificial) imposition of mortality. It is generally assumed that, under normal circumstances, 100% mortality as a result of control is unlikely† (Wheeler and King 1985:224). They continue by suggesting that since complete eradication is not possible, one needs to ascertain when the best time of impact would be. The best time would seem to be when the rabbit is in its' most vulnerable state, i.e. when it is a kitten. Wheeler and King (1985) argue that by targeting the young kittens, resources are increased for those that survive and for the litters born later in that year. They suggest that targeting the adults just at the commencement of their breeding season would impact more on the actual population size. That is, there would be a reduction in the total number of kittens or litters born during that breeding season. Linton (2001) argues that the greatest influence on the control of the rabbit is the actual rabbit habitat itself. That is a habitat which has a high rabbit population will always be highly susceptible to re-establishment. Linton (2001) continues by suggesting that a control program which concentrates on those components of the habitat that make it susceptible to rabbit infestation, would then greatly reduce re-establishment of the rabbit. Twigg etal (1998) suggest that the rabbit problem needs to be addressed on a regional basis, not as an Australian wide problem, even though it is. Parer (1982) supports this but, suggests that in it infancy a control program aimed at isolated populations would be more beneficial. Parer puts this down to the reduced invasion by immigrants due to its location and therefore the reduced population would be kept at low densities by resident fa cultative predators. It would seem that the complete eradication of the rabbit in Australia is insurmountable due to the enormity of our country and its' varied landscape. However with a management plan the targets individual regions, a reduction in the population density of the rabbit is achievable. This would involve a combination of control methods which would incorporate environmental, biological, economic factors (Linton 2001, Twigg etal 1998.Parer 1982). The biological controls still have an effect on the rabbit, so this together with mechanical controls and timing would beneficial to the overall problem. Mechanical controls such as warren ripping is an important element in the long term plan and the commencement of this should be when the rabbit population is low (Linton 2001). Therefore the likelihood of re-colonisation is reduced. Follow up procedures of fumigation; poisoning might be necessary to ensure that the population has been eradicated from within that area. The timing of these methods seems to play an intricate role in the rabbits' demise. Perhaps with time and proper management the eradication of the rabbit is feasible, but not without the financial support and backing of both regional and commonwealth governments. The key seems to be to start on a small scale and work up to larger regional control or eradication.

King Tuts Tomb Essays - Egyptian Mythology, Tutankhamun

King Tut's Tomb Essays - Egyptian Mythology, Tutankhamun King Tut's Tomb What does the tomb of tutankhamen and its contents show about the Egyptian concern for the afterlife? Tutakhamen's tomb, and the artifacts inside are an indication of the concern the Ancient Egyptians held for the after-life of their king. In 26th Nov. 1922, the English archaeologist Howard Carter opened the virtually intact tomb of a largely unknown pharaoh: Tutankhamen. This was the first, and to date the finest royal tomb found virtually intact in the history of Egyptology. It took almost a decade of meticulous and painstaking work to empty the tomb of Tutankhamen. Around 3500 individual items were recovered. When the Burial Chamber of Tutankhamen was officially opened, on 17 February 1923, the Antechamber had been emptied. It had taken near fifty days to empty the Antechamber; the time required to dismantle and restore the contents of the Burial Chamber including the gilded wooden and the sarcophagus was to be greater, and the work was not completed until November 1930, eight years after the original discovery. One must examine both the tomb itself, and its contents, to see the c onnection between the tombs and burial rituals and the doctrine of eternal life. The royal tombs were not merely homes in the hereafter for the kings, as are the private tombs of commoners and nobility. Instead the tombs are cosmological vehicles of rebirth and deification as much as houses of eternity. As the king is supposed to become Osiris in a far more intimate way than commoners, he is equipped with his very own Underworld. And as the king is supposed to become R in a way entirely unavailable to commoners, he is equipped with his very own passage of the sun, whether this is thought of as the way through the underworld or through the heavens. Tutankhamon's tomb, hurriedly prepared for the premature death of the king at the age of only about 18, is, as Romer says, a hole in the ground, compared to a proper royal tomb. The theme of fours is conspicuous in Egyptian religious practice. Tutankhamon's tomb contains four chambers. The burial chamber, with a ritual if not an actual orientation towards the West, is the chamber of departure towards the funeral destinies. The internment of the body certainly is the beginning of the sojourn of the dead, and the Egyptians saw the dead as departing into the West. The room called the Treasury is then interpreted to have a ritual orientation towards the North as the chamber of reconstitution of the body. Since the most conspicuous object in the Treasury was a great gilt sledge holding the shrine containing the canopic chest, which holds the king's viscera, this could well suggest the problem of reassembling the king's living body. That task, indeed, has a very important place in Egyptian mythology. After the goddess Isis had retrieved her husband Osiris's murdered body from Byblos, their common brother, Seth, the original murderer, stole the body, cut it into pieces, and tossed them in the Nile. Isis then had to retrieve the parts of the body before Osiris could be restored to life. Her search through the Delta, which is in the North of Egypt, seems to parallel the sacred pilgrimage to cities of the Delta that Desroches-Noblecourt relates as one of ritual acts of the funeral, as many of the other objects in the Treasury seem to be accessories for that pilgrimage. For the sovereign to be reborn it was necessary that a symbolic pilgrimage be made to the holy cities of the delta. The principal halts of the journey corresponded almost exactly to the four cardinal points of the delta where these cities were situated. Sais, to the west, represented the necropolis where the body was buried; Buto to the north, with its famous canal, was an essential stage of the transformations within the aquatic world of the primordial abyss, evoking the water surrounding the unborn child; and Mendes to the east whose name could be written with the two pillars of Osiris, the djed pillars, evoking the concept of air. There, said the old texts, the gods Shu and Tefenet were reunited, or again, according to the 17th chapter of The Book of the Dead, that

Compound Terms That Start with Half

Compound Terms That Start with Half Compound Terms That Start with â€Å"Half† Compound Terms That Start with â€Å"Half† By Mark Nichol By now, you have observed that compounds of two words can be closed, like paperback, hyphenated, like light-year, or open, like â€Å"ice cream.† This inconsistency (sometimes persisting, sometimes differing as the prevailing style changes) is one of the maddening vagaries of the English language, but the puzzlement intensifies when the style differs even among compounds beginning with the same word. Take compounds that start with half, for instance. The variability exists regardless of which part of speech the compound represents. Consider these sample nouns: In field sports such as football and soccer, one of the positions is halfback. But a brother or sister related to one by only one parent is a half brother or a half sister, and when the moon is half full, it is called a half-moon. Further inconsistency prevails, for example, in classes of similar terms: A fifty-cent piece is a half-dollar, but several other numismatic terms beginning with half â€Å"half crown,† â€Å"half dime,† and â€Å"half eagle† are open. (These are all discontinued values of currency, but the discrepancy persists.) Adjectives incorporating the word half also vary in style: Something that is lacking in effort is halfhearted the adverbial and noun forms, halfheartedly and halfheartedness, are also closed while something incomplete or lacking in some quality is half-baked. (I know of no adjectives beginning with half that are open compounds.) The compound verbs beginning with half that I found listed in one dictionary are consistently hyphenated, but there are only three: half-mast, half-sole, and half-volley. Adverbs are rare, too, but they follow the style of the adjectival forms. The form for a given compound may differ depending on part of speech or on meaning: For example, a book cover consisting of two distinct materials is half-bound, but the style is called half binding, and â€Å"half hour† is open, but half-hourly, as an adjective or adverb, is hyphenated. Meanwhile, the term for the intermission of a competition, whether used as a noun or an adjective, is halftime (â€Å"I walked around the stadium to stretch my legs during halftime†; â€Å"The halftime show seemed interminable†), but in the adjectival or adverbial sense of working half of the normal workweek, it is styled half-time. I could use another hyphenated compound beginning with half to describe my feelings about this imperfect system, but I’ll just say that the inconsistent nature of terms that belong in this broad category requires that I often do what I recommend you do whenever you plan to use one: Look it up. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Arrive To vs. Arrive AtYay, Hooray, Woo-hoo and Other AcclamationsI wish I were...

What role do NGOs play in reducing poverty in developing countries Essay

What role do NGOs play in reducing poverty in developing countries - Essay Example Non Governmental Organizations have a long history in improving the lives of the poor and the suffering. In 19th century they played a major role in fighting for rights of women and ran anti slavery movements (Davies, Thomas R. 2008).After the formulation of United Nations in 1945 the term Non Governmental Organization came into existence. These organizations have many roles which include promoting rights of a specific faction of society, promoting basic services like education and health, fighting laws and rules that are against poor or a particular group and helping government fighting diseases. But the most basic role of Non Governmental Organization is poverty alleviation. NGOs can play a major role in reducing poverty by helping people at the micro level. Such organizations have access to people that are in need of help and by helping these people NGOs can reduce poverty at grass root level. Especially in the developing countries NGOs have played a direct role in improving healt h and economic conditions of the people. Issues like lack of health and education are actually a product of poverty therefore the aim of most NGOs in developing countries is to reduce poverty. In this essay we will highlight the role NGOs play in reducing poverty in developing countries. Non Governmental Organizations reduce poverty by promoting rights of poor, providing education and shelter for poor, providing micro financing services and improving health facilities. Fighting for Rights of Poor The most basic way through which NGOs help reduce poverty is by fighting for rights of poor. The main problem in the developing countries is that people are not aware of their rights due to lack of communication technology. NGOs help people realize about their rights as this is the first step in poverty alleviation. Non Governmental Organizations also play a role in voicing concerns of the people to the relevant authorities. They force governmental institutions to take action with regards t o the problems faced by the poor. This is another role they play is easing the suffering of the poor. Sometimes governments are taking steps for example increase in taxes that are in directly harmful to the interest of poor people. NGOs also play a role in fighting such steps of the government and in this way they protect the rights of the people. NGOs fight for the right to food, shelter, education etc in developing countries (Curtis, Marley, & Bakewell, 2005). They also fight against child labour and rights of women. By doing so NGOs create awareness and at the same time improve lives of the poor. The fight for basic rights can therefore be considered as an important role of NGO in reducing poverty of developing countries. Providing Shelter for the Needy The right to shelter is one of the most basic rights of human beings. No one can live a proper life without some sort of shelter. Developing countries face serious problems when it comes to providing housing for their citizens. Ma ny people in the developing world are forced to live on streets because they do not have a home. Non Governmental Organizations help poor people find a shelter in developing countries. It is important to provide shelter because it is one of the basic needs of the people. Providing shelter is one of the steps of poverty reduction in developing countries. Non Governmental Organization provides shelter to children, women and old people. Children who left their homes or are forced to leave their homes are treated by NGOs. Non Governmental Organizations are of many types as mentioned before. Some focus on children only and other provide shelter to people in general. NGOs in developing countries focus on providing secure shelter to female victims of sex trafficking (Tzvetkova, M. 2002). A direct effect of poverty is that people get desperate to find jobs in order to feed their families.