Human Atrocities Essay

In the age of terrorism and nuclear wars, one of the greatest challenges that the human community is facing right now is to curb human rights violations that is occurring in almost all parts of the world. Even the citizens of the most democratic of nations are not spared from a certain degree of human rights violations or atrocities. This is a fact that all citizens of the world must face and bravely address. But the bigger question is this: who is responsible to curb human atrocities? More specifically, what can the international and local community do to intervene in such atrocities? To answer these questions, I believe we must first arrive at a definition of human rights violations or atrocities. According to Wikipedia, human rights refers to the universal rights of all human beings –regardless of race, color, nationality, religion gender and culture. From the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is basically based on inherent human dignity. Concurrently, human atrocities are violations of rights inherent to an individual. Normally, it is a term used when a government violates national or international law related to the protection of human rights. (Wikipedia, 2007) I am of the opinion that the international community has an inherent responsibility to stand up against any form of human rights abuse. International courts such as the International Criminal Court and international organizations such as the United Nations must be vigilant in protecting the rights of each human being. They must be the first to safeguard the interest of each person against any crime that may be done against them by either the military in their respective government or their government per se. For instance, the International Criminal Court is designed to bring into effect those peremptory norms of international law which safeguard such fundamental values as human dignity, the respect for life and limb of innocent persons, and the protection of ethnic, religious or racial groups. (Cassesse, 2007) In addition, the International Criminal Court must bring to justice any state which violates the dignity of its citizens. Doing so will uphold the most important international values, including the respect for human rights. Moreover, taking these steps will uphold and vindicate community rights. International non-governmental organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch is an indication of what the international community can do in order to help curb the rise of human atrocities in any country. They have the resources to let the international community know of any wrongdoings being done in certain areas of the world. They can mobilize other local organizations to stand up against these atrocities by mobilizing public opinion. For instance, Amnesty International has worked and is further exerting its efforts for the protection of those detained because of their non-violent opinions and is seeking that Articles 18 and 19 of the UDHR be recognized globally. On the other hand, Human Rights Watch opposes basic human rights violations like death penalty and sex discrimination. It is an advocate of freedom relating to fundamental human rights like freedom of religion and the press. Another significant player in the bid to curb human atrocities is the local community. One cannot overemphasize on the power of the locals to intervene in such problems. Setting up international organizations will not solve the problems that are festering a country. Healing must come from within. The local community must always be on the look-out for any atrocities being done and must bravely report this to the authorities. As noted in the website of the Crimes of War Project, each international institution will need the support and cooperation of other institutions and, most significantly, of States themselves and local communities for that matter. For example, local community can be a source of vital information related to the patterns and mechanisms of the problems in the community that can help solve an international crisis. (Cassesse, 2007) I also believe that the power of media can be best utilized in addressing the realities of human rights violations. Since the media can effectively capture the attention of many people, the local and international media should make it their responsibility to report any news of wrongdoings or injustice. (Cassesse, 2007) This will also help in making each community –whether local or international—to be more vigilant in such cases. It must be understood that the measures to be taken by the international community will have no significant bearing without the support of the local community. No amount of intervention will be effective if the local community will not render its support. As noted by Antonio Cassesse in an article entitled â€Å"A Big Step Forward for International Justice†, the best response to atrocities lies in a prudent and well thought-out combination of various approaches both local and international. (Cassesse, 2007) He writes, â€Å"international criminal law is a branch of law that, more than any other, is about human folly, human wickedness, and human aggressiveness. It deals with the darkest side of our nature. It also deals with the way societies organize themselves to stem violence and viciousness as much as possible. Clearly, given the magnitude of the task, no single response may suffice. Instead, a broad array of responses, each tailored to specific circumstances, is needed effectively to fight international criminality. † (Cassesse, 2007) Hence, intervention of human atrocities is both a local and international responsibility –one that must be taken seriously and diligently by all societies in the world. Cited Works Cassesse, Antonio. crimesofwar. org. â€Å"A Big Step Forward for International Justice. † 7 March 2007. Wikipedia. â€Å"Human Rights. † 7 March 2007.

Napoleon Bonaparte Rise to Power Essay

In 1784 to 1785 Napoleon attended the Ecole Militaire in Paris. That was the place where he received his military training. He studied to be an artillery man and an officer. He finished his training and joined the French army when he was 16 years old! Soon after that his father died and he was left with the responsibility of taking care of the huge Bonaparte family. Napoleon was stationed in Paris in 1792. After the French monarchy was overthrown on August 10, 1792, Napoleon decided to make his move up in the ranks. After this, Napoleon started becoming a recognized officer. In 1792 Napoleon was prompted to the rank of captain. In 1793 he was chosen to direct the artillery against the siege in Toulon. He seized ground where he could get his guns in range of the British ships. Soon after that Toulon fell and Napoleon was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. In 1795 he saved the revolutionary government by dispersing a group of rioting citizens by using his famous â€Å"Whiff of grapeshot† – He loaded a bunch on pellets into a cannon and fired it at the crowd. Napoleon was made commander of the French army in Italy. He defeated four Austrian generals in succession, and each army he fought got bigger and bigger. This forced Austria and its allies to make peace with France. But after this Napoleon was relieved of his command. He was poor, he was suspected of treason, he had no friends. No one would have suspected what Napoleon would do next. In 1795 Napoleon was appointed to put down a revolt in Paris. He calmly took complete control of the situation. He just had his men shoot all the rebels in the streets. The French government was saved, but they decided to form a new government called the Directory. Under the new government Napoleon was made commander of the French army in Italy. During this campaign the French realized how smart Napoleon was. He developed a tactic that worked very efficiently. He would cut the enemy’s army in to two parts, then throw all his force on one side before the other side could rejoin them. This method was extremely effective against the Sardinian troops, because he defeated them five times in 11 days!! This made the King of Sardinia to try to make peace. Napoleon could not be stopped. He was a fast thinker who moved his troops extremely fast. Soon, instead of taking the defensive position Napoleon started taking the offensive position and thus, he started his conquest of Europe. He started his attack on Austria. It was his first big campaign. During one attack he showed his bravery by forcing his way across a burning bridge. After that his troops gave him the name Petit Caporal† or in English â€Å"Little Corporal† the name stuck to him. He then attacked the Austrians in Mantua. Austria sent troops there four times, and every time Napoleon crushed them. In 1797 he came within 80 miles of Vienna when Austria surrendered. Napoleon had won 14 pitched battles and 70 combats. He had made the rich lands he conquered feed and pay the French soldiers. Plus millions of francs were send back to France. This helped France’s poor economy tremendously. Napoleon negotiated a treaty called Campo Formio with Austria. Austria gave up it’s Netherlands and Lombardy to France. Austria also recognized the Rhine as the eastern boundary of France. In return France gave Austria most of the old Venetian Republic. When Napoleon returned to Paris he received a huge welcome. He then began thinking of pursuing political power and military power. He wanted to become the next Alexander the Great, so he asked the Directory if he could take a large army to Egypt. That way he could conquer an empire that included Egypt, India, and other middle and far east places. Napoleon came up with a neat idea to accomplish this. If he conquered Egypt, he could attack the English’s route to India. He won the battle of the Pyramids in July 1798. But his fleet was destroyed at the Battle of the Nile in Aboukir Bay. So Napoleon decided to invade Syria. The English and Turkish troops in Syria had held up against Napoleon. Napoleon then retreated to Egypt. Then later in July 1799, he defeated 10,000 Turks at Aoukir. He returned to France shortly after. Napoleon returned to find the Directory was a mess. He, in his selfish way, saw this as the perfect time for self-advancement. So in November of 1799 he overthrew the Directory. Napoleon set up a government called the Consulate. He was the first of three consuls. About three years later he made himself first consul for life. Everyone in France loved Napoleon at that time. Then he started increasing his power Napoleon’s impact is still around today. Many laws are based on the Napoleonic Code. In Paris there are many monuments saluting him. His remains were brought to Paris in 1840 and placed in the Invalides, where they still lie.

Evaluate the formal mechanism whereby law is changed Essay

Evaluate the formal mechanism whereby law is changed - Essay Example One source of laws in the U.K. is the Parliament which gets bills passed through parliament and transformed into law – these are known as statute laws. Another source of law is common law, which comprises a body of law that has been developed over several years on the basis of judgments given in the courts in previous years – this is known as common law.1 Constitutional law in the UK is based upon constitutional conventions, which may not have statutory authority but do have binding force, much like judicial precedent.2 Laws are made by Parliament, where an MP or Lord can introduce a bill. When a bill is passed, it becomes an Act of Parliament and has statutory force. The process of getting a bill passed through the U.K. Parliament and being transformed into law is a long process3. Bills are drafted by lawyers at the Parliamentary Council Office and may be preceded by Green or White Papers.4 Before the actual drafting of a bill, the Government initiates a period of consultation with experts and the draft of the provisions of the to-be bill are made available to concerned members of the public and to organizations so that they can propose their suggestions. Issues raised in Green and White papers may be debated in Parliament before a bill is drawn up. Therefore, when a bill is presented in Parliament, it is no longer a rough draft but a polished document. A bill in Parliament passes through seven different stages before it becomes law5. A bill originates in the House of Commons, where any member may propose it. The First reading is the stage where the title of the Bill is read out in Parliament and copies are printed and circulated. The next is the Second Reading stage where the House debates upon the principles and points contained in the bill. At the Committee stage, the House examines the Bill in detail subjecting it to a line by line scrutiny and making necessary amendments so that its language will be

SEMCO Company Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

SEMCO Company Strategy - Essay Example As a conservative business strategy, many companies feel that employing more personnel in the same setup will increase their costs and this would reduce their profits at the end of a trading year (Mazzucato, 2002:34). However, this was a strategy that helped SEMCO to improve to greater heights of quadrupling their profits.When there is an increase in the number of employees, it is obvious that the cost for labour will increase. However, SEMCO did not reflect on the negative side of having an increase in the cost of labor. SEMCO reflected on the side of better services and products that are supplied to the customers. In essence, the company noticed that their products needed a greater increase in their value (Bruce and Langdon, 2000:55). This led to production of high quality goods that would be appreciated in the market. With such a manoeuvre, most of the market was dominated by the products that are produced by SEMCO.With an increase in the number of employees, a company is defined to have more manpower and labour. In such a position, a company may decide to concentrate in various production models. According to the schools of strategy by Mintzberg, when a company has maximum labour, it is in a position of investing in a wide variety of services. This includes investing on other services that it has not been producing. SEMCO decided to strategise on this point by increasing its output. Since it had enough labour, it only had to increase its resources and start other services in the market.

Review of film Surviving Picasso Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Review of film Surviving Picasso - Essay Example The essay "Review of film Surviving Picasso" will explore the film "Surviving Picasso" by James Ivory. The genre of film provides an amazingly rich opportunity for artistic expression. The study will find out how effectively this movie portrays the artist's life and work, and why Picasso's life served as a good base for a commercial fare in the first place. First of all, it should be mentioned that Pablo Ruiz Picasso, or just Picasso as the artist preferred to call himself, belongs to the list of the most outstanding persons of the last century, who was as famous during his turbulent life as he is famous now. In the purely artistic terms, Picasso is known as one of the principal founders of cubism, a style of art in which the natural forms of subjects are represented as geometrical shapes. But in his personal life Picasso was known for his relations with numerous women, and this fact played quite a significant role in the artist’s art and in his own vision of himself. It is on this ground that the film â€Å"Surviving Picasso† finds its main theme as it attempts to help the audience better understand the life of this controversial figure. More specifically, the film`s plot is centered on the relationships between Picasso and one of his mistresses Francoise Gilot, with whom Picasso had a relationship since meeting her as a young student of art in 1944 in Paris, and who eventually left him in 1953, which was an unprecedented case for the artist and therefore deeply shook him. This event would be much less significant.... What is interesting is that these women, which in a certain way can be perceived as victims of an evil genius, were apparently drawn to him not unlike moth is attracted by fire. As one of Picasso mistresses Dora Maar puts it in the film: "Without him [Picasso] there is nothing" (Ivory, 1997), and another woman silently confirms this attitude as she saves Picasso's cut hair and nail clippings. In this light, the story of Francoise Gilot is an account of a person who was not overcame by the artist, and who even later had to withstand his attempts for revenge. In the very beginning of their relationship a lot of symbolism is present - Picasso leaves Dora Maars table in order to join Francoise Gilot, which was quite typical for the artist frivolous character, and when she enters the studio of Picasso, he warns that from that moment she was in the labyrinth of Minotaur who had to devour at least two young girls a day in order not to perish. And even a servant of Picasso tells Gilot that i t would be better for her to go home. At this point in the film a question arises as to why Picasso was so irresistible in womens opinion. One of the evident answers offered in the movie, and confirmed by biographic accounts of Picasso, is that it was the inner perception of irresistibility filling him that he was able to easily project on other people as well. Of course, the ability of Picasso not only to create but to constantly maintain his reputation of the greatest artist of his time added to his almost mythical appeal. Still, despite of presence of numerous accurate observations in the film of elements of Picasso's character, the picture does not fully avoid the

History of the camera Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History of the camera - Essay Example Nevertheless the photographic technology does not stand still, and over time people have learned how to stop the moment by invention of more convenient in use and less bulky camera. Through a variety of research projects, scientists moved to our contemporary – the portable camera, which bears little resemblance to its historical brother. The innovation has stepped so far ahead that the camera skillfully built into the phone can be found in the pocket of almost every person. In our research project, we review the features of the innovative technologies and the use of different techniques for improvement of prototype camera, having studied the history from the invention of the camera to its modern digital similar. The first notes and ideas about the reflection of objects are rooted in ancient times of China and Greece with the continuation in the 11th century experimental work of Arab scientist Ibn al-Haytamnd. These notions are about the first pinhole camera (or the camera obscura) that is able only reflect an image with its next observation or tracery by hand [Fig.1]. Then Frenchman Joseph Nicephore Niepce enters the timeline of cameras. â€Å"The first experimenter who puts a camera obscura together with permanent images made by light – who both captures and saves an image – is where the real story of camera begins† [4]. He invents the one with a lens and a sliding tube which looks like a box of illusionist and really creates miracles – Niepce has received his first photo in 1826. It is the first time a picture is made by the machine not by an artist; it is the birth of photo. Alas, the authors name is undeservedly forgotten as according to the world encyclopedi as Daguerre is considered to be a pioneer of photography. â€Å"Jacques Daguerre, another Frenchman, developed a process that used copper plates to record an image, and daguerreotypes quickly became the preferred photographic medium for portraits and other subjects† [2].

Drama Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Drama - Essay Example Amanda decides marriage is the only answer for Laura and forces Tom to find a beau for his sister. Unfortunately, the one he finds, while perfectly acceptable to both Laura and Amanda, is already engaged. This leaves Laura with a broken heart, symbolized by the broken unicorn Laura encourages him to keep as a souvenir. The play is a tragedy because Amanda, having had the opportunity to learn from her past, continues to live in a dream-world of her own creation, effectively crushing her children’s chances to create their own dreams. Amanda reveals her dreams in her expectations for her children. She continues to hold out hopes for a good marriage for her daughter in spite of her extreme shyness and poverty. This starts with her own recitation of the quality of her suitors, â€Å"My callers were gentlemen – all! Among my callers were some of the most prominent young planters of the Mississippi Delta – planters and sons of planters† (I, 148). Her expectations for her son are that he become like one of these old suitors in spite of his own youth and lack of education or social advancement. These expectations reveal that â€Å"Amanda lives in the past and imposes unrealistic rules of conduct upon her children† (Popkin, 1960, p. 46). Immediately upon Tom telling her that he has a friend coming over for dinner, Amanda already considers him her daughter’s future husband. Tom tries to reign her in by stating â€Å"Lots of fellows meet girls whom they don’t marry† (V, 184 ), but Amanda just tells him to â€Å"talk sensibly.† This emphasizes Amanda’s tendency to crush the realities of their situation and the ideas of her children beneath her own dreams and memories. Richard Vowles (1958) describes the play’s dreamlike qualities as another element intended to point out this oppression: â€Å"One scene dissolves into another. There is, indeed, almost a submarine quality about the play, the kind of poetic slow motion that

An American childhood by Annie dillard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

An American childhood by Annie dillard - Essay Example eams through her mention of her father who painfully decided to give up his personal dreams to protect his family from the dangers of what would come from the talk of the people. Her adoration of the man with principles he stood for may not have been directly pointed out but they were clearly expressed as the writer saw through the eyes of a child. She spoke about her mother in a childlike manner, telling the story just how it happened, without sugar-coating rather in a child’s innocence; she placed her mother in the rightful pedestal. The story is a craftily written piece of art which engages the readers, making alive the actions, people and places mentioned. Probably the greatest ingredient used in the story that really grips the readers to stick their noses on the book until the end, is the honesty and innocence of the child in the grown-up Annie. Along with this, she made alive the story with her wit as she used professional means of story telling like figures of speech. Alliteration was used, with the repetition of sounds as the story is told, to put emphasis on some parts of the story, drawing attention from the reader for one to meditate more on it or analyze the meaning of which. An example for this is the line, â€Å"There was no messiness in her, no roughness for things to cling to, only a charming and charmed innocence that seemed then to protect her, an innocence I needed but couldn’t muster†. She used metaphors as well bringing life to some things she mentioned in the story as she viewed them during her childhood. She made the icebox motor talk in the line; â€Å"You are living†, the icebox motor said. In an interesting manner, her childhood imaginations were drawn before the eyes of her readers and this simply made the story more enjoyable. Even the figurative languages the author used in her story showed the genius in her as she realized as a child the essence of the stories he read or heard to the facts she observed. Metaphorically, the child

Fire investigation Essay Example for Free

Fire investigation Essay The triangle shirtwaist factory fire may have been cause by various flammable materials. The flammable materials that I could identify from the text that I was given were the lines of hanging patterns, the discarded rags on the floor and cutting tables, the shirts that have already been made, the table because they were probably made from wood and maybe the ceiling, walls and floor because that may have a material or something else flammable. The possible sources of ignition for the triangle shirtwaist factory fire could have been some faulty cables from the sewing machines causing the wires to rub together causing friction meaning that the cables would get hot and therefore this could be one ignition source. Another source could be gas lighters because in those days people were allowed to smoke in the work place. A gas lighter is not like a lighter nowadays because when it was alight it would not go out unless you put the cap over it unlike the lighter nowadays if you let go/ drop it the button comes back up instantly. Therefore, the gas lighter could have been a source of ignition if it was dropped. Another source of ignition could have been a cigarette. If it was not put out properly and was dropped, it could start the fire. Lastly, candles may have caused the fire because back in those days there would have been candles on each workbench so that the workers could see what they were doing because there were no lights back then. Due to there being candles around if one was knocked/ dropped it could have fell onto the rags on the floor causing the fire to start. Investigation of Liquid Combustion Introduction In this experiment, we will find out why some liquids burn at certain temperatures. Risk assessment Due to the fact that we are dealing with fire, long hair must be tried back goggles warn and lab coats on. There was also a risk of that somebody could bur themselves or set alight an object. In addition, if we were to pick up a hot crucible without gloves we must use appropriate equipment so that we do not burn our hands. Materials Crucible Heat proof mat Bunson Burner Tongs Splint String 1cm3 of kerosene 1cm3 of petroleum spirit. Method Petroleum (1cm3) was placed into a crucible and was then ignited using a lighted split. Once we lighted the petroleum and it had a burned we then poured 1cm3 of kerosene and attempted to ignite it using a lighted splint. After you have tried to light the kerosene with just a lighted splint place about 2-3 cm length of string into the crucible so that it is partly dipping into the liquid. Note the appearance how the kerosene lit. Results Petrol- The flame was quite tall and was yellow. The petrol ignited very quickly and there was soot around the edges of the crucible. When the petrol have burned the flame go smaller until it went out by itself. Kerosene- The Kerosene did not light so therefore there was no flame. Kerosene with string- The string slowly burnt away until it reached the crucible with the kerosene in which then ignited. It burnt with a tall, large yellow flame and left a lot of soot in the crucible when it had all burnt. Evaluation The experiments purpose was to investigate why certain liquids burn at different temperatures. By burning the petrol it showed us that it had, a low flash point so would ignite and burn easily. The kerosene by it selves did not burn meaning it have a high flash point, meaning it needs high temperatures to ignite and burn. Both the petrol and kerosene produced soot showing full combustion. Conclusion In conclusion, the petrol was the easiest ignite and could start a fire very easily while the kerosene did not light with just a lighted splint. It has a high flash temperature that why it is used as aeroplane fuel. Investigation of flames Introduction In this experiment we will be investigating how long it takes for a piece of paper to burn when lit from the top corner and the bottom corner. Risk Assessment Due to the fact that we are dealing with fire, long hair must be tried back goggles warn and lab coats on. There was also a risk of that somebody could burn themselves or set alight an object. Materials 2 sheets of A4 paper Heat proof mat Stands and Clamps Bunson Burner Splint Timer 2 sheets of A4 paper Method First we attached the clamps to the stands, and then attached a piece of A4 paper. We then lit the top of the short edge in the middle. It was then timed how long the piece of paper took to burn away completely and the time recorded. The experiment was then repeated with another piece of paper but lit at the bottom edge. Again it was timed until the paper was completely burned away and the time recorded. The Results `1st Paper: It started to burn instantly and spread downwards. The paper then dropped out of the clamps and fell to the table but it was not all burnt. After a while it all burnt out at 2 minutes and 11 seconds. 2nd Paper:. : It started to burn instantly and spread downwards. The paper then dropped out of the clamps and fell to the table but it was not all burnt. After a while it all burnt out at 23. 43 seconds.

Impact of Waterlogging on Plants

Impact of Waterlogging on Plants Abstract: This review will try to illustrate some of the impacts that waterlogging has on plants, in monocotyledons dicotyledons. The review includes, a general introduction into the impact of anaerobic/waterlogged soil condition on plants, quoting from different sources in this field. Then it focuses on five plant species of global interest or importance, Barley, Tomatoes, Soy Bean, Cotton and Rice, showing the effect of waterlogging on each, quoting journals and experiments done by fellow scientist .The topic of research into waterlogging is vast, with thousands of journals and experiments on countless plant species, so Im focusing on just five. Flooding and submergence are major abiotic stresses and rank alongside water shortage, salinity and extreme temperatures as major determinants of species distribution worldwide. Plants adapt to their ever-changing environment in many ways, leading to a wealth of growth forms of varying complexity (Visser et al, 2003). A major constraint resulting fr om excess water, at least for poorly adapted species, is an inadequate supply of oxygen to submerged tissues; diffusion of oxygen through water is 104-fold slower than in air (Armstrong Drew, 2002). In addition to the threat of oxygen deficiency, excess water also leads to other changes in the soil that influence plants; levels of the plant hormone ethylene (Smith Russell, 1969; Jackson, 1982), and products of anaerobic metabolism by soil micro-organisms (e.g. Mn2+, Fe2+, S2-, H2S and carboxylic acids) can accumulate (Ponnamperuma, 1984; McKee and McKevlin, 1993). It was suggested by (Zhou, Li, and Mendham, 2007), that Waterlogging tolerance is likely to be a complex trait which is related to many morphological and physiological traits that are under strong environmental influence. Introduction: Waterlogging can lead to countless physiological and developmental problems as mentioned in many publications, journals and experiments. It was suggested by setter co-workers, 1999 that, Stress on plants imposed by flooding of the soil and deeper submergence constitutes one of the major abiotic constraints on growth, species distribution and agricultural productivity. Waterlogging is estimated to reduce yields on average by 20 to 25%, but the loss may exceed 50% depending on the stage of plant development (Setter et al., 1999). 50 % loss in agricultural yield can be catastrophic in the future, especially for developing countries, which is why, research into waterlogging is crucial for agricultural sustainability and food security. The general effect of waterlogging on plants ranges from physiological, developmental and metabolic effects which are mentioned in a few publications. Waterlogging is a major problem restricting the plant growth by leading to oxygen deficiency around roots and rhizomes, and consequently it can be fatal because aerobic respiration ceases and levels of energy-rich adenylates drop rapidly resulting in dramatic decrease in ion uptake and transport (Huang et al, 2003; vartapetian et al, 2003) as quoted in (Changdee., et al, 2008). When soil is saturated with water, gas diffusion is reduced. Consequently one of the main effects of flooding is a lower pool of available O2 in submerged plant parts. This decline in O2 is heightened by aerobic processes taking place in the root zone of plants. Accordingly anoxic conditions develop, leading to reduction in ATP production and consequent decrease in root metabolism. The decline in available energy can subsequently reduce other active cellular processes such as nutrient uptake, osmotic adjustment or regulation of cytoplasmic pH (Probert Keating, 2000). Waterlogging resulted in visible yellowing and premature senescence of leaves, and greater decline in relative water content, chlorophyll content, and membrane stability (Sairam, et al, 2009). The majority of plants respond negatively to waterlogging whilst some plants respond positively. Discussion: Plants throughout the years have adapted different ways to minimize damage caused by waterlogging. All plants poses survival mechanisms which are of a complex nature, and differing between some species. Plants also differ in the way they respond to anaerobic or anoxia soil conditions, some are extremely tolerant, some very sensitive and some in between. Even species that are susceptible to poorly aerated conditions possess metabolic and molecular responses that lengthen survival time from a few hours to several days. All plant species synthesize so-called anaerobic proteins that enable an oxygen-independent energy-generating metabolism to proceed where fermentable substrates are available (Subbaiah Sachs, 2003). Prevention of the build-up of potential phytotoxins is another mechanism that enhances plant survival under flooded conditions. A specific type of hemoglobin (phytoglobin) may play such a role by detoxifying nitric oxide formed during hypoxia of root tissues. Alternatively, phytoglobin may also regenerate NAD+, thereby serving as an alternative to fermentation as a source (Dordas et al., 2003). Impact of waterlogging on five plant species Barley: In barley Waterlogging inhibits the uptake of N which leads to the decrease of N concentration in shoots of barley seedlings (Drew and Sisworo, 1977). Pang et al. (2005) found that both shoot and root growth was negatively affected by waterlogging. As waterlogging stress developed, chlorophyll content, CO2 assimilation rate, and maximal quantum efficiency of photosystem II (variable fluorescence/maximum fluorescence) decreased significantly, with cultivars showing less yellow leaf percentage having less adverse effects (Pang et al., 2005). A decrease in nitrogen uptake, fluorescence leads to decreased leaf area index (LAI) and decreased yields. Oxygen deficiency in the rooting zone occurs under waterlogging conditions, the lack of O2 can severely damage the root (Drew, 1997) . Soil waterlogging usually influences barley growth in a negative way, the inhibition of N uptake, and the consequent redistribution of N within the shoot, are important contributory factors in the early senescence of leaves and the retarded growth of shoots in flooded plants (Drew and Sisworo, 1977). A decrease in the N concentration in shoots of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings can occur rapidly after the onset of flooding and precede leaf chlorosis (Drew and Sisworo, 1977; Wang et al., 1996) and consequently reduces shoot and root growth, dry matter accumulation, and final yield (Kozlowski, 1984; Drew, 1991; Huang et al., 1994a,1994b; Malik et al., 2002). Roots are also injured by O2 deficiency and metabolic changes during acclimation to low concentrations of O2 (Drew, 1997). Tomatoes: in tomatoes it was reported that; Enhanced ethylene production and leaf epinasty are characteristic responses of tomato (Lycopersicon escukntum Mill.) to Waterlogging. It has been proposed by (Bradford Yang, 1980) that this results from the synthesis of the immediate precursor of ethylene, 1-aminocyclopropane-I-carboxylic acid (ACC), in the waterlogged roots, and its export in the transpiration stream to the shoot, and its rapid conversion to ethylene gas as stated in (Kent, et al, 1982). Soybean: It has been reported that cereals are generally more tolerant to flooding than legumes (Crawford, R.M.M, 1977) as quoted by (Russel, Wong Sachs, 1990). Cotton: Waterlogging of cotton has been reported to cause a reduction in root growth and nutrient uptake (Letey et al., 1962; Huck, 1970; Hocking et al., 1987), leaf area and photosynthesis (Hodgson, 1982; Meyer et al., 1987; Sahay, 1989) and dry matter accumulation and fruiting (Hodgson, 1982; Hocking et al., 1987). Rice: (Oryza sativa), is one of the most interesting monocotyledonous plants in my opinion, rice is one of the few plant species that can adapt too tolerate very low concentrations of oxygen in the soil and reacts positively to waterlogging without negative effects on plants growth and development. Rice grows better than any other plant in the same waterlogged conditions. In two experiments by Perata on rice seed germination showed interesting results.

Kublai Khan The Conqueror History Essay

Kublai Khan The Conqueror History Essay Here is a story about Kublai khan. He had a little family but they were next in line for the thrown. His uncle Genghis khan and his brother Mongke influenced him because they were great emperors. So next after his brother was Kublai khan. So when he was emperor he conquered not just to get land but also to help them get their education. Here is a little tale about Kublai khan. Kublai khan was born in 1215.He was the fourth son of Tule also the son of Genghis khan. He had a little family. His brothers were Mongke, Ajir boge, and Ariq boge khan. In 1251 Kublai khan controls eastern Chinese territories by his brother Mongke being emperor. Kublai khan was also in charge of expeditions. Mongke being emperor. Kublai khan was also in charge of expedition into western Chinese territories but was killed by the Chinese defense in August 1259.In 1260 Kublai khan was elected mongkes successor. Kublai khans younger brother Ajig boge khan strongly disagreed and his younger brother Arig boge khan as well. So Arig boge khan proclaimed himself khan at karakorum, Mongolia. 1264 he defeated his brother Arig boge khan. After he defeated his brother he started to trade with the west of china. There were several directed exchanges of missions between the pope and the great khan. Kublai khan in trusted the polo brothers in 1266 to carry a request to the pope about scholars and t echnicians. Kublai khan was a Mongolian leader not only through conquest, but also by ruling successfully. He was so interested in Chinese culture that they over threw him. In 1287 Marco polo accomplished Kublai khan to defeat his uncle and his rivals the Nayan after a long battle Kublai khan and Marco polo defeated his uncle and his rival the Nayan. Then Kublai khan died on February 18, 1294. Kublai khan ruled over Mongolia. Mongolia is in between Russia and china in Eurasia. He was known in history as a great emperor and powerful one. So he was a Mongol dreamer, and ruler, during the 13th century, desired to unite different religious, nationalities, and cultures together under the Yuan Empire. While he was Mongolian by birth, he was a great sympathizer for the Chinese people. Even thought he didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t always trust them, he was fascinated with there culture, traditions, and art. He conformed to Chinese ways so well that the conservative Mongolians were offended and repeatedly caused him problems. In 1287 Marco polo and Kublai khan went on an expedition to explore the world and also to defeat his uncle and his rival nayan. So then the nayan had 300,000 solders. But Kublai khan had 460,000. So he had them beaten by 160,000. So after a horrible but great battle Kublai khan won against his uncle and the Nayan. So after he defeated his brother Arigh boki. He was named the great khan. So since he was empire Kublai khan transformed from conqueror to ruler led to many developments in Chinese culture. He provided for his people free religion, created aid agencies, increased the use of postal stations, established paper currency, reorganized and improved roads, and, expanded water ways. In his rule the winter capital was moved to Chinese territory in the city of dadu, which is modern day Beijing. In summer hr moved the capitol to Shangdu, which is referred as Xanadu. The Yuan dynasty failed, because Kublai khan died of, many reasons. His decision to move the capitol to Chinese territory and to in stall his beautiful palace at Xanadu offended his Mongolian advisers. So he was torn apart between his country and the following traditional nomadic ways of his people. Eventually he was sanitized and his Mongolian influenced government battled between their ways and the demands of the Chinese. The divi sions in the Chinese people were not the only reasons only reasons for his death. He sought expansionism to appease his trusted Mongolian advisers and sought after java and Japan. He attempted but he failed which cost his government money. So the paper currency he created caused inflation and continual conflicts between disgruntled religious groups arose into the mixed society he fosted. In 1281 the death of his favorite wife dies also along with his son as well. So he went into a depression Consequently, with a decling government in his hands and an ache in his heart, so he became an obese drunk and died at the age 79. Regardlessly of him to demise, the yuan dynasty made alasting impact on china and established the legacy of the great khan. Kubali khan was a great emperor in the yuan dynasty. He was a powerful emperor. He had a little family. He had three brothers, mom and dad. When he conquered the Chinese it was for the entire better. He helped then get education and also to conquer land and show what a great emperor. So when he started his downfall first his wife died and also his son so when they died he started letting down his empire. So later on he died of a broken heart by letting his people down. He helped the world by spreading education. I also learned that by conquering land you also help them by giving them what they donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have yet. So he also proved that you could die of a broken heart.

Christianity & Paganism in Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Beowulf was written in the time when the society was in the process of converting from Paganism to Christianity. In this epic poem, these two religions come through the actions of its characters. The acceptance of feuds and the courage of war are just a few examples of the Pagan tradition, while the Christian mortalities refrain from the two.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Beowulf is torn between his Christian heart to help the people as well as the selfish reward of Paganism. Though he wants the Christian’s respect he thrives for the satisfaction of fighting. Beowulf is known as a hero and in that aspect he believes he should be the one to defeat Grendel. Beowulf despises weapons but relies on his strength. This is just one of many battles that suggest Beowulf was a Pagonist. He also would drink and tended to kill people and creatures, which also leads to the speculations of Paganism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even though many Pagan influences appear in the poem, Christian influences override them. An example would be when Beowulf saved the Danes from Grendel. He also expressed a fair attitude towards battles when he refused to use a weapon. The idea of loyalty, a hero, and a giver are all signs of Christianity. Beowulf could be seen as Christ when trying to help the people as Grendel could be compared to Satan who tries to destroy happiness and well-doing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The last battle in Beowulf was against the fierce dragon that could also be saw as the power of Satan. During this battle Beowulf chooses to use a weapon because of the dragon’s deadly venom, it would only be fair. It was a hard fight but Beowulf wasn’t capable of defeating the dragon. This battle could be compared to the will of Christ, in which Christ gave his life for the people, while Beowulf did the same. The dragon now represents the evil a man must fight in order to preserve the good in life. Although Beowulf was defeated, it was not shamelessly, just like Christ he saved the people. Beowulf had a good heart but was sometimes overturned by the bad influences in life. He represents the fact that everyone makes mistakes, you can’t be perfect all the time, everyone’s bound to lose.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Grendel was a very hateful and disturbed creature.

Economic Impact of Base Closures on Communities :: Economics USA Community Essays Papers

Economic Impact of Base Closures on Communities After World War II, the United States was suddenly faced with a new enemy, the Soviet Union. Once the United States used the Atom bomb on Japan, there was a race to build bigger and more powerful nuclear weapons. The start of the Cold War was on. This â€Å"war† would turn out to be one of the most expensive undertakings in United States history. Every time the Soviets would build something, we would build as well. The same was in reverse. It was a never-ending cycle to see who could outdo the other. During this time there were also many military bases built in what were once remote towns across the United States. As these bases began to employ more and more civilians, there were suddenly towns sprouting up all around these bases. Some of them became quite large as the bases hired more and more civilian workers and the military members stationed there took more advantage of what the towns had to offer. The late 1980’s saw yet again another change in military policy. Suddenly the Berlin Wall fell and so did the Communist government of the Soviet Union. The Cold War was now over. As a result, the United States was left with an incredible nuclear and military arsenal and no clear enemy in sight. With the threat of a recession on the horizon, there was a study called the Base Realignment and Closure committee, or BRAC set up to decide where cuts in the defense budget would come from and what bases would be closed. The Report of the Department of Defense on Base Realignment and Closure reported that in 1989 the BRAC committee came to the conclusion that the Department of Defense could still strategically operate if they were to close 23 percent of their installations. The report goes on to point out that the end of the BRAC rounds in 1995 estimated the closures to have saved the Federal Government approximately $3 billion. (Www.defenslink.mil/pubs/brac040298.pdf) After the impressive victory in the Gulf War, there was an even bigger cut in the defense budget. There was a sudden impact not only on the military who now had less to work with, but the communities who relied heavily on the military bases for economic stability. As expected, many in Congress who had a base in their district on the BRAC list, suddenly wanted to do everything they could in order to keep the bases up and running. It was originally estimated that the base closures would have an effect on the population of the town through lost jobs, lost sales

Revisiting the NASL

It is said that we are able to see the correctness, validity and impact of our actions only after the moment we act had passed. This article looks back into the experience of the North American Soccer League. This is an attempt to revisit the rise and demise of the league.A Brief HistoryThe North American Soccer League (NASL) was established as a result of the merger of the United Soccer Association and the National Professional Soccer League. It was the culmination of the first modern attempts to create a truly national soccer league in the United States. The NASL even had franchise teams from Canada. Prior to its establishment, soccer competition in the United States was primarily on the semi-professional and amateur level.The United Soccer Association (USA) was sanctioned by the Federation of International Footbal Association (FIFA) and established itself in twelve major cities across the United States. The National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), on the other hand, was not san ctioned by FIFA. It also did not abide by FIFA player transfer rules and had ten franchise teams. Fan interest for the two leagues was initially high and attendance was not bad for the first year.The merger of the two leagues into the NASL, however, was an act of desperation. Fan interest had quickly faded, television ratings were terrible and the teams of the USA and NPSL had experienced massive financial losses. The disastrous start was such that only five teams of the original seventeen teams that started the NASL survived the first two seasons (Holroyd, 2005).Teams folded but new franchises took their place in the league. The turning points in league history took place in the 1971 to 1975 period. The New York Cosmos joined the NASL in 1971 and won the league in 1972. The entry of the Cosmos established the league’s presence in a major market and brought greater media attention to the league. The following year saw the Philadelphia Atoms joining the league. The Atoms also won the league title in their inaugural season. The team was bannered by Kyle Rote Jr., son of a former star of the National Football League’s (NFL) New York Giants. Rote also won the league’s Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. By 1974, the NASL had grown and have fifteen teams competing (Holroyd, 2005).Before the start of the 1975 season, the New York Cosmos got Edson Arantes do Nascimento (more popularly known as Pelà ©) to play for the team. This move placed the league in the spotlight and significantly increased public interest in soccer in the United States. Pelà ©, of course, is considered possibly the greatest soccer player ever. He gained the moniker â€Å"King of Football† or simply King Pelà © during his career. The attention snowballed through 1977 and culminated with 77,691 spectators for the 1977 playoff game between the Cosmos and the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers at Giants stadium. Pelà © retired from the sport, and the league, in 1 977 after an exhibition game between the two professional football clubs he had played for — New York Cosmos and Santos FC from Brazil (Holroyd, 2005).The NASL followed its success by undergoing a major expansion, adding six teams in 1978. League competition was organized into a NFL-style divisional lineup with a 30-game season. Teams also went into an unprecedented spending spree to sign up international players in an attempt to match the Cosmos’ success or at least remain competitive in the league (Litterer & Holroyd, 2003).Seven years after Pelà ©'s farewell, the league started 1984 (its 17th season) smaller than it had been in over a decade with only nine teams. Also, four of these teams were on shaky financial ground. The league eventually closed down after the Chicago-Toronto best-of-three finals series in Toronto, Canada (Holroyd, 2006).Addressing the MistakesPolicy 1: Develop Homegrown Talents to Generate AwarenessWhat could have the league done to sustain its elf? What could have been avoided? Among the team sports played in the United States, soccer had not yet reached the level of fan interest and media attention that is given to professional baseball, basketball and football. As a result, the franchise teams that made the NASL were in shaky financial standing except for that brief golden period that spanned 1971 to 1977.In this regard, the first issue to address is generating awareness and increasing the interest of fans. Soccer was not, and is not yet, dear to the hearts of American sports spectators. It has not reached the manic-obsessive levels of fan interest outside of the United States. According to Paglia (2007), the nature of the game runs counter to the fundamental element required of a US spectator sport.A hallmark of the most popular outdoor spectator sports in America, for example baseball and football, is that fans try to anticipate the next plays, possible game outcomes and share these speculations with one another. Socc er, by its nature, is an extemporaneous sports with many improvisational plays. It is so fluid that speculating on outcomes is close to impossible.Fan interest could, however, be impacted by creating awareness. In 1975, fan interest and awareness of soccer went up when Pelà © played in the league. At the time of his entry, Pelà © was famous even in the United States. This tack is being duplicated again by the Major League Soccer when the LA Galaxy contracted David Beckham to play for the team. Paglia (2007) sees that Beckham will create an impact but this alone will not â€Å"convert the curious to fans†. Furthermore, the impact may not be at the same level as when Pelà © played in the NASL. The two players are not the same whether in stature or even in playing style.Giorgio Chinaglia, the former Italian international who played alongside Pelà ©, does not think Beckham alone can promote the sport and league. Other big European names have to follow him to produce sustained success. Chinaglia even estimates that around 50 international soccer stars may be needed. (Adderley, 2007). But the NASL have already gone through this route before and it was with disastrous results.Some, even in 1978, had criticized the move to bring in more foreign players as shortsighted. They said that it was more important to develop American talent. But those voices were lonely cries in the wilderness.A lesson could be learned from 1973 when the Philadelphia Atoms won the NASL championship. Fan interest was sparked by the emergence of Kyle Rote Jr. He was considered the first â€Å"All-American† soccer star. The American spectator wants a star to relate to and follow. And it would be better if the star was homegrown. The NASL should link up with amateur, collegiate and semi-professional soccer leagues. It would even be better if it had its own developmental league.Policy 2: Cooperation and Fiscal DisciplineLooking back into the 1978 NASL spending spree, despite the i ncreased audience base and interest, more money was being spent than what was being earned. Operating a sports league is an awkward venture. The owners have to co-operate and make many business decisions collegially despite the fierce team competition. Taking a page from the National Football League’s business model, the NASL could have developed an internal incentive system that would stabilize team expenditures and â€Å"equalize† revenue generation.Two sets of incentives used by the NFL are (1) the teams' owners share roughly 70% of their revenues with each other; and (2) they stick to a strict salary cap that limits the amount each team can spend on players' salaries. As a result of these incentives, all thirty-two teams in the NFL have an even chance of being financially viable and athletically competitive despite having different market base (The Economist, 2006). Admittedly, the NASL attempted to institute a salary cap in 1984 but by then it was to little to lat e.Policy 3: Align Game to International StandardsSoccer’s World Cup is the biggest sporting event in world. The third policy that NASL could have done was to align its tournament format to that of the World Cup and international competition.By establishing a tournament format aligned to international (or globally accepted/recognized) format helps the league in two ways. One is that the American audience is educated on the mechanics of the game, and consequently increases the level of appreciation for the sport. Another is that the level of play of American players also gets aligned to that of foreign national teams.European football leagues hold inter-league competitions to determine the â€Å"continental† champion. For example, the Italian League champion plays against the French League champion. The NASL had already previously done this through friendly tours. The Ft. Lauderdale Strikers made a tour of England in February 1978. Foreign teams also toured the United St ates.Becoming competitive against foreign soccer teams could have helped in sustaining fan interest and support. Case in point is the impact of US National Team’s achievement in the 1994 World Cup. The team surpassed all expectations and reached the quarterfinals. This accomplishment sparked greater interest in the sport.ReferencesAdderley, Nigel. 2007. Beckham’s US Test. Accessed October 25, 2007 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6294762.stmHolroyd, Steve. 2005. The Year in American Soccer – 1984. Accessed October 25, 2007 from http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1984.html2006. The Year in American Soccer – 1968. Accessed October 25, 2007 from http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1968.htmlLitterer, David and Steve Holroyd. 2003. The Year in American Soccer – 1978. Accessed October 25, 2007 from http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1978.htmlPaglia, Jim. 2007. A Naysayer View of Pro Soccer. Accessed October 25, 2007 from http://www.soccera merica.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage;art_aid=22406The Economist. 2006. In a league of its own. [Electronic version] Accessed October 25, 2007 from http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=6859210

Privacy in the Online World

Privacy is something we don’t really think about. Privacy is the last thing that comes up in our minds. The Internet is easily accessed by many people and can be hacked to find out important private information about anyone. People all over the world access the Internet, and when private information is posted online one person is going to be able to view that information no matter the privacy setting a person may use. The first article that I will use is â€Å"Who Is This Man, and Why Is He Screaming? † by Rachel Kadish. This article is about the author writing an article about her cousin Noam Galai.Galai took a photo of him self and posted it on Flickr. Months later he realized that his image was being used all around the world. The second article, â€Å"Visible Man: Ethics in a World Without Secrets† by Peter Singer, is about nobody having privacy in their lives any more. Everyone knows who you are and everything about you because of technology. Individuals mus t be responsible and protect their own privacy and also protect he rights of other individuals, with the panopticon privacy can be managed by being able to see who is observing us and what happens in the online world; therefore we act morally without breaking rules and laws.Individuals who use the Internet have to realize that they must be responsible and protect their own privacy. What goes up on the Internet will be around the world in just seconds. Galai just posted a photo of his face on the Internet not knowing about the consequences that picture would have. Singer asks himself, â€Å"New technology has made greater openness possible, but has this openness made us better off? † (Singer 463). Singer makes a good point about technology, because â€Å"new technology† has made the world improve by making it simple, but it has made it less private and dangerous because people do not understand their limits.Kadish says â€Å"The image had rippled outward in all directi ons, passing straight through national barriers† (Kadish 260). How could Galai know that the picture he posted months ago would be all over the world? The Internet is a very powerful tool, which makes you lose control of your own privacy. Some people have the tendency of misusing the Internet and risking their privacy. Technology is so powerful that any thing that you upload to the Internet will be in the power of other people. Like Singer said about the new technology it has made us open up to the world, so now everybody can see us and know who we are.Galai’s photo went international when he posted the picture of himself yawning. This is why people have to be careful when posting things on the Internet, to protect their own privacy. In addition the protecting ourselves, having more privacy can protect the rights of other individuals. Kadish asks herself â€Å"If your face isn’t private property, what is? † (Kadish 262). Kadish is right because if Galai po sted a picture of himself and other people used it, then how many other people are having the same dilemma? If Galai would have had more privacy, no one could have had the rights to use his photo.Peter singer says, â€Å"We sign away our privacy in exchange for the conveniences of modern living, giving corporations access to information about our financial circumstances and our spending habits, which will then be used to target us for ads or to analyze our customer habits† (Singer 462). With the use of technology our privacy is decreasing. Kadish also says â€Å"There’s something glorious and terrible about a world in which a picture of one’s face can sweep around the globe this way, part of a human chorus changing us for better and worse† (Kadish 262).We ask ourselves if having technology has improved us as human beings. The answer is that technology has helped us because it has made the world simple and easy, but we also became bad human beings because people abuse of technology. Singer is right when he said that we sign away our privacy for the convenience of modern living, because in Galai’s case he gave up his privacy in return of using the internet. He posted a photo and now it is in the hands of millions of people. When we put our information on the Internet it makes it available for other people to see it.Technology and the Internet should be private so nobody can use other people’s work and information. People abuse on the use of technology and that is what makes this world less private, and we are not protecting the rights of other individuals. With the Panopticon we will be more conscious of what we post, helping both privacy and morality. As Singer mentions in his article, â€Å"For those who think privacy is an inalienable right, the modern surveillance culture is a means of controlling behavior and stifling dissent.But perhaps the inspection principle, universally applied, could also be the perfection of democracy, the device that allows us to know what our governments are really doing, that keeps tabs on corporate abuses, and that protects our individual freedoms just as it subjects our personal lives to public scrutiny† (Singer 463). The Panopticon is a building designed to observe other people without them knowing they are being watched. In Kadish’s article Flickr is the Panopticon because people post pictures, and nobody knows who is observing them. Kadish says, â€Å"No one had licensed the photo or contacted Noam about using it.Curious as to how far his face had spread, Noam eventually tried searching Flickr for screaming images then using a tool called Tineye to search for images that match an uploaded picture† (Kadish 260). When Galai started observing the images that people had posted he had seen the many different ways people had used his image. Michel Foucault described the Panopticon as the â€Å"perfection of power† (Singer 464). If people ha d more privacy the photo could be protected and no one would have had the right to use the photo, and people would be moral and would have asked Galai for permission to use his photo.If people had known that the artist of the photo was observing them, people would have used the image differently or wouldn’t have used it at all. When people post pictures on flicker they don’t know who is watching then so they are more conscious of what they are posting. Therefore, having more privacy is essential for quality of life. Privacy can protect the rights of other individuals. With the Panopticon, privacy can be managed by being able to see who is observing us and what happens in the online world.The Panopticon is a round building with a tower in the middle where you can observe other people but those people being observed will not know if they are being watched or not. Sousveillance is visual monitoring from human level. With more privacy people will not have the right to use other peoples photos, and use those photos as if they were their own. In Kadish’s article we could see how people sometimes lose control of their own privacy, while in Singer’s article it talks about how we can be in control of our own privacy.

My Elder Sister who is My Personal Leader Essay

When I started this class on Leadership I used my own Elder Sister as an example of a leader because when I think of some of the positive characteristics of organizational leaders my elder sister keeps coming to my mind. She is brave and courageous facing challenges most would have given up on. She is giving and caring, encouraging and supportive. She wants only the best for our family, helping us face life by teaching us skills and lessons. My Elder sister listened deeply to our joys, struggles, and achievements- never judging, simply being there. We could count on my elder sister to pull our family together, to connect us. She planned and organized incredible events and let us all shine in the process. My Elder sister was my tutor and the first leader in my life. The space she carved out for us in the world is what gave us room to grow. the reason of that in our family we are five sisters and one brother and our grandparents were staying with us that’s why some of our relati ves always present in our house. So it’s very difficult for my mother to maintain that entire situation without a strong helping hand and that hand name is my elder sister. She always plays a supportive role for my mother. My father was a businessman and also a too busy person who had no specific time for his family and children. Since my mother worked hard all the time and never really had time for us, she used to leave us with my elder sister and she looked after us like her child. Basically when my sister was 15, my mother trusted her enough to take care of us and make decision for us and she achieves this trust with doing her responsibility properly. When we were sad as little kids we could run to my elder sister and it would be all better. As we are growing up and in our teen years we still need someone to talk to sometimes and we need to listen. She always listens and gives us good advice. My elder sister knows us better than anyone. She knows how to make us cry, how to make us happy. She knows all of our strengths and weaknesses. My elder sister is courageous and knows how to take control. She can make things fun but at the same time gets the job done. She knows what has to be done and gets it done on time. My elder sister is like the leader of my family because when things need to get done she takes control and gets them done. People need to learn to make the right decisions. That is one of the most important qualities a leader can have. As her sister, I would like to tell everyone that my elder sister taught us how to make the right decisions. My elder sister appears to always make the right decisions. As a teenager, it might not appear like she is right, but when looking back on the situation I realize that the right decision was made. She is open to ideas of other people she will always listen to our ideas and considers them when making decisions. A leader is someone who shows admirable qualities that people would want to follow. A leader can also be a person that is the head of some organization. My personal leaders are my elder sister. Some people might question that, but my elder sister has all the qualities of a leader. Some of the qualities she have are that she know when to say no, they always seem to make the right decisions, As I read through my notes which I got in this leadership class, I wasn’t surprised to find that my reflections revealed that my Elder sister is a natural born leader. Although she has never been a CEO of a company, she possesses many of the most significant qualities inherent in many of our best. She has been fair and even-handed, positive and persuasive, hard working and determined. But most of all, she knew how to draw out the best in each one of her family members. My elder sister could always see the shining ray of hope in all situations. When I would talk to her about personal or professional challenges she would say that life has it’s â€Å"ups and the downs†, and that the most important thing to find the balance and inner-peace within. I feel blessed to have inherited some of my Elder sister’s innate sense of optimism, sensibility and courage. It is clear to me that create a confidant that I am today, mostly due to the positive beliefs that were inspired upon me as a young sister. Words of wisdom from my Elder sister that I always carry with me are: â€Å"This too shall pass†. As leaders, my Elder sister’s advice implies that we must learn how to â€Å"let go† and trust. This means we can’t control everything around us. It means asking others for help. It means not giving up. From this place of trust, humility and hope, we can honestly discover how to serve one another. And so, as I move forward in life, I can only hope that I have received even a small portion of her elegance, wisdom and self-respect as I proceed with my life. At last I want to Thank my Elder sister for leading the way†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦

“Utopia is no place”. How does the Utopian and dystopian fiction you have studied present the possibility of perfection

â€Å"It is the dream of a just society, which seems to haunt the human imagination ineradicably and in all ages†1. But â€Å"absolute purity, absolute justice, absolute logic and perfection are beyond human achievement†2. Composers such as More, Orwell, Huxley and Atwood use different avenues and techniques to explore this idea of perfection and its feasibility on earth with the human race. Utopian and dystopian fiction comprises a broad selection of texts; but in the narrowest definition any text in which the composer proposes an ideal or nightmarish world or society. The literary cannons of Utopian and Dystopian fiction include: Plato's Republic, Thomas More and his Utopia – responsible for both the generic name and genre creation; Aldous Huxley's Brave New World; George Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm; And Marget Atwoods's Hand Maid's Tale. Within each text composers use different presentations of the ‘ideal' society to highlight the achievability and desirability of perfection. Utopia is a story, to be discovered only by trespassing onto an unknown voyage of exploration by Raphael Hythloday, More's fictional protagonist. Utopia is a â€Å"prototypical sociological and anthropological study†3 into humanity. In book II, More ‘records' Raphael's account of life in Utopia as he ‘experienced it'. He presents a prescriptive report of social structures of Utopia – contrasting it, in the minds of the responders, with his earlier discussions in Book I of the â€Å"sorry state of the realm of England†. Utopia ends, first with a rousing flourish by Hythloday in which he claims Utopia to be the most perfect of societies, followed by More's assessment that many Utopian policies are absurd, though there are some he would â€Å"like to see adopted in Europe†4. Utopia sits in the span between worldly pragmatism and philosophical idealism. It is a working society in which there is no evil, but the book can offer no means by which an existing society might be transformed into a Utopian model. Although Utopia is sceptical of aspects of the Utopian society it is still marked by the authors' faith in science, reason, and progress. Later works of Utopian fiction saw a shift towards a more pessimistic and cynical view of man, generating the term dystopian fiction. This has become synonymous with 1984; Brave New World and Handmaids Tale. 1984 is â€Å"a utopia in the form of a novel†5 – meaning like More's its inception is at a fantastical ‘no place'. Orwell's Eurasia began with a vision of â€Å"a glittering antiseptic world of glass and steel and snow-white concrete†6 but quickly turned to a totalitarian nightmarish state where even the freedom to say, â€Å"two plus two make four† corroded by the Party, where â€Å"War is Peace† â€Å"Freedom is Slavery† and â€Å"Ignorance is Strength† Orwell presents a bleak picture of a society whose aim at perfection has completely eroded individual rights and freedom. A society where the state wields â€Å"power for powers sake† and truth and trust are a distant hallucination. The society is marked by fear of â€Å"vaporisation† and â€Å"un-person[ification]†, where individual's movements and thoughts are constantly monitored and controlled by the Party. He also uses the very powerful ending of the book with Winston's betrayal of Julia, as the final testament to human will. He shows us that â€Å"to talk about the need for perfection in man is to talk about the need for another species†7 – that â€Å"perfection is not part of the human essence†8 Orwell's negativity is paralleled by Huxley's Brave New World, a utopian future based on science and technology where forced conformity is exchanged with eugenics and hypnopaedia conditioning. Huxley uses his characters and plots as â€Å"purveyors of truth† reverberating his disillusionment with society and its values. His cynicism and profound pessimism of humanity â€Å"Human beings are given free will in order to choose between insanity on the one hand and lunacy on the other† is also widely reflected within the text. His vision of ‘perfection' sees the attrition of individuality for the sake of stability requiring the sacrifice of art, science, and religion. Individuality is not only repressed it's exterminated before and after birth through various forms of conditioning. He too, like Orwell, concludes his composition with disquieting statement regarding human will, with John's submission to World State society leading to his suicide. Atwood uses the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian and theocratic state, to also make a comment upon society's flaws. Dangerously low reproduction rate leads to a society with very definitive class distinctions – the elites, the Marthas and the handmaids – the vessels assigned to produce fruit for the infertile elites. Atwood suggests, people will endure oppression willingly as long as they receive some slight amount of power or freedom – â€Å"truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations† and this passivity is the factor which enables the formation of totalitarian states. Again testifying to the limitations of the human character. However Atwood unlike Orwell and Huxley moves towards a heterotopic state at the end of the novel with the protagonist being whisked away to the underground by Nick signifying remnants of hope for humanity. Composers have often within their compositions addressed the human desire for perfection. But â€Å"numerous works of modern literature have been suspicious not only of the possibility of utopia, but of its very desirability† 9 By reflecting on â€Å"disastrous opposite†10 resulting form trying to implement utopia on a grand scale composers have highlighted that â€Å"Perhaps the greatest utopia would be if we could all realize that no utopia is possible.†

UK wind power Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

UK wind power - Research Paper Example In UK, wind power has been applied as means to overcome the problem of the power shortage. A lot of efforts have been applied in an attempt to make this project successful. Wind power is one of the most efficient sources of power. When the wind turns the wind turbines, the kinetic energy from the wind is converted into mechanical energy. In this form, energy is then used in driving the generator which eventually converts mechanical energy into electricity. The electricity generated is then transmitted to the consumers through cables. UK leads in the European countries in terms of usable wind power. The country has given adequate attention to wind power due to its realization of importance of the wind power in the current world. UK aims at becoming the major supplier of energy in the world by the year 2020. Power is the basic component in the United Kingdom economy which plays a major in economic development. It also plays an important role in increasing the standard of living in the country. There is, therefore, an increased need for a reliable source of electricity supply. Over the past, the country has been relying on coal and gas as a source of energy. However, these sources are non renewable and, therefore, cannot be reliable. This posed a big danger to the country bearing in the mind the current high level of demand for the power in the country.

Philosophical, Medical and the Legal Aspects of Abortion Research Paper

Philosophical, Medical and the Legal Aspects of Abortion - Research Paper Example The definition of abortion as provided by US National Library Medicine is that â€Å"An abortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy. It uses medicine or surgery to remove the embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterus† (Anderson, 2003). Another definition of abortion is â€Å"Abortion is referred to as the process of terminating pregnancy at a stage before the fetus has attained the stage of viability† (Kapilasharmi, 2007). It is important to consider the philosophical interpretations of abortion along with the medical definitions. In a philosophical angle, it is the denial of the right to be born. The social acceptability of abortion has been argued upon with reference to its sociological and moral implications. These arguments are based on the moral philosophy questioning man’s right over another individual’s life. The general claim against abortion is that it is not very different from brutal murder. Interestingly, while in a murder, the victim receives the sentiments of the people whereas in abortion, the entire social mechanisms conspire for the process resultantly the murdered and the sentiments associated with it portrayed as a mere medical process. As per medical definitions, the fetus is a just a chunk of tissues, but for the ethically thinking society, the fetus is an important part of tomorrows world. The religious argument also supports this view as it believes that it’s only God who has right take a life (Anderson, 2003). The medical consequences and principles of abortion are also worth careful review.

Accounting case study analysis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Accounting analysis - Case Study Example The charity Help Our Homeless Offspring, look forward towards violating the rule of exceeding 25 percent expenditure and funding to survive. They must have an expensive TV for advertisement. The resulting effect is an increased expenditure to funding ratio beyond 25 percent. Such activities are unethical and unacceptable because they contradict accounting principles (Needles, Powers and Crosson, 2011). The accountant of HOH felt that the misallocation of cost at the expense of exploiting the willing donors was an unethical act because it contradicts accounting principle (Vanderbeck, 2013). For example, the following principles were violated namely; full disclosure principle, cost principle and reliability accounting principle. HOH charity should disclose the true state of affairs and avoid misleading the donors, as well as other users of accounting information (Smith, 2011). Further, the information disclose should be reliable to avoid making wrong decision. The senior accountant in this case tends to justify unethical acts applied by the company (Lerner and Cashin, 2009). As an accountant who adheres to the accounting ethics, it will be inappropriate to do nothing because misallocation of cost contravene the principle discussed. I would, therefore, tell my corporation to embrace the accounting principles. Instead of misallocating the cost to mislead the donors, the corporation should focus on minimizing its variable cost. I would not encourage my corporation to work with HOHO because the top management are encouraging unethical practices (Duska, Duska and Ragatz,

Histology practical write up Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Histology practical write up - Essay Example Upon the maturation of the beneficial T cells, they are released into the blood. The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ (Paul, 2013). The spleen on its part is an immunologic blood filter. The spleen is of T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, red blood cells and macrophages. The spleens functions by capturing antigens from the blood passing through the spleen. The migratory macrophages together with the dendritic cells transport the foreign bodies to the spleen through the blood stream. When the antigens get to the spleen and gets into contact with the appropriate B or T cells, an immune response is initiated. The B cells once activated produces large amounts of antibody which kills the antigen as well as aged red blood cells. The spleen contains two types of T-cells which are helper T-cells and killer T-cells. The helper T-cells are responsible for systematising the attack while the killer T-cells destroys the infected cell since it has then been turned into a virus reproduction factory. The spleen is a secondary lymphoid organ since it contains both T and B cells and requires an antigen entry to stimulate the lymphoid cells (Turgeon, 2014). Since the tissue sections are in wax, they are placed in hot plates for 2 minutes till all the wax is melted, and no traces of wax found in the tissues. Within a two-minute interval, the tissues are placed in absolute alcohol, 90% alcohol and 70% alcohol. In order to stain the tissues, they are placed in Ehrlich’s Haematoxylin for 45 minutes. Since this is a regressive stain, over stained tissues will have the stain solution removed with a tissue paper and rinsed for 30 minutes with tap water. The tissues should appear bluish purple/dark blue. The tissues are in acidic alcohol for 4 minutes and turn red. Immediately the slides are put into ammoniated alcohol and will turn blue. Within two-minute duration, the tissue

Descartes Discourse on the Thinking and Existence Essay

Descartes Discourse on the Thinking and Existence - Essay Example Descartes goes ahead to explore the origin of the human thinking ability in order to justify the perfection of knowing than doubting. He explains that by doubting we get to come up with explanations that lead to knowing. This leads him to the conclusion that the ideas of the imaginable things exist within him, but they do not originate from him, rather they are imposed on him by a more perfect being than him (God). The incorporation of Descartes existence with God is quite convincing. He argues that since he knew more than what actually existed in his conscience, then it meant the extra knowledge was derived from an external source. If the external source did not exist, it should mean that he could not have been the way he was; mortal, changing, finite and impotent. God according to him added unto him the perfection that he needed to erase doubt from his mind. So one’s nature will allow him/her to know as much of God’s nature as he/she could. Descartes in his quest to discover more about himself ends up proving that God exists. I agree with him because he clearly outlines man’s imperfections, thus looks up to God for guidance in almost everything. However, a person’s thinking limits them within a very short scope of imagination that they end up not questioning what they think is true. We are so much rooted in our cultures and superstitions until we are rendered intellectually impaired.  

Water supply in the USA Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Water supply in the USA - Research Paper Example The observation is that climate change further worsens existing pressures on water supplies in all of the United States, relating to the way Americans routinely use water not just for consumption, but also for a host of economic activities, including agriculture, manufacturing, and the generation of power, among many uses. The general problem relates to the overall impact of climate change relating to elevating the demand for water in all areas of the United States, while at the same time exerting a downward pressure on available supplies. This in turn leads to a further imbalance tilting towards water scarcity and the issues tied to that, including the degradation of water quality, and issues relating to prioritizing access (US EPA (c); Climate.gov). In many areas of the United States where water supplies are already thin and the water cycles and the ecosystems that they support are already delicate and in precarious states, climate change is seen as further putting those water syst ems and ecosystems at risk for systemic collapse (Frederick and Gleick), leading to potential conflicts (US Global Change Research Program). The problem relates to determining the impacts of climate change on the water supplies in the southern portion of the United States, detailing the impacts in the southeast and the southwest and undertaking a comparison and contrast and a general analysis of those impacts between the two halves. Related to this discussion are the kinds of interventions that are being undertaken, and how those interventions tie back to issues relating to sustainability of the interventions and the water supplies in the long run. That latter discussion with regard to the interventions, meanwhile, is done in the context of the academic literature on past interventions and how those interventions have fared, both within and outside of the United States. The problem itself of the impact of climate change on water supplies in the southern US is situated in the context of the water problem in the rest of the world, and the framework for sustainability that has been proposed to manage global and national water supplies (Postel and Richter; Pielou; Gerlak and Wilder; Bakker; US EPA). Turning to the problem contexts and background, climate change in general has been having a profound impact on the environment and on the key resources that sustain the populations of countries around the world.,The US is not an exception to this. The change in the ecosystems are breeding changes to the availability, quality, and access to vital resources, such as water. The effect is that where there are existing pressures on those resources in terms of availability and viability, those pressures are increasing. Moreover, the pressures are translating to new threats to the sustainability of the resource and of the human populations that depend on them. Situating the problem within a global context, one can see that since climate change impacts water quality and water availability for instance, different countries already on the brink of water crises are most vulnerable at present (Gerlak and Wilder; US EPA; US EPA (c)). Focusing on the United States,

Poverty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Poverty - Essay Example People living in poverty have poor access to health facilities, and, as a result, suffer from poor heath owing to the minimal care to which they are exposed. Some of the reasons as to why they have limited access to health care services are that they lack financial resources to pay for services rendered, as well as information on medical services. In addition, due to lack of medical care, ill health is prevalent among poverty-stricken areas and people. One of the main reasons that poverty stricken people cannot access, or have limited access to healthcare facilities is the geographical locale of the facilities. This is concerning the physical distance between the local area that an individual resides in, as well as the time required to travel to the health facilities. Moreover, people living in poverty do not seem to get the right type of care availed to them in health care facilities. This is concerning the time that Medicare is required, such as desperate times and conditions that require specialized equipment to treat. To add to this, the issue of acceptability crops up in the form social stratification. Medical practitioners tend to be more responsive to the needs of the socially able, while those of the poor are left to fend for their needs and receive minimal care. Furthermore, the quality of health care offered to these impoverished is of important concern, as quality of care usually depends on the monetary wellbeing of the patients. Therefore, poor patients receive poor quality services, as compared to their wealthy counterparts. In addition to this, there are far fewer medical facilities available in poor areas thus making it even more difficult for poor people to have appropriate access. Owing to the poor access to medical facilities, impoverished people are faced with a certain myriad of diseases and conditions that have already exited

Protecting and Improving Quality Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Protecting and Improving Quality - Assignment Example s, equity in the provision of health services, efficient utilization of resources, effectiveness, timeliness, and focusing on patients needs (Institute of Medicine, 2001). Joint effort may be required to help organization achieve its goals. As a leader, measures that will be taken to improve the quality include implementing IT because it will revolutionize service delivery in the health sector. It is also important to bring all stakeholders on board for them to be involved in the search for quality services. Sensitive issues about the sector should be resolved amicably to avoid deadlocks which may hamper the delivery of improved service delivery (Institute of Medicine, 2001). Medication errors arise because of negligence from health practitioners. Controlling risks and putting safety measures in place needs a serious focus on the systems will aid in making errors severe. Medication safety refers to preventing accidents to patients who have come to seek medication. Lack of safety measures can make health institutions to be sued because of failure to comply with the set safety standards. Legal suits may interfere with operations of the facilities (Lewin, Altman, & Institute of Medicine, 2000). In order to improve quality service in the health sector, performance of professionals in this sector needs to be evaluated frequently. Such evaluation may help to ensure health practitioner improves their performance (Institute of Medicine of the national academics,

Ice Cream Making Essay Example for Free

Ice Cream Making Essay Some may call it a comfort food, others a family tradition, but we all know sweet potatoes pie is delicious. This pie is common around the colder holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sweet potatoes pie common ingredients are of course sweet potatoes, butter, eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla extract, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pie crust. The pie color can vary from light orange to dark orange. The flavor of pie is sweet with a combination of different spices. The texture of the pie is usually smooth, but it is not uncommon to have small pieces of sweet potatoes in it; also some sweet potatoes pies have nuts has toppings which makes it not smooth. The smell of sweet potatoes pie is one that brings up memories to people, the smell of sweet potatoes with various species has a sweet smell. The ice cream mix is liquid, it is thick and creamy; it is tasteless similar to milk and is white in color. After the sweet potatoes mix, which consist of, cinnamon, butter, sugar, nutmeg, pecans, and sweet potatoes was added to the ice cream mix. The mix turned a light orange color. The color adds to the appeal of the product because it is orange just like sweet potatoes. The texture of the ice cream is not smooth because of small pieces of sweet potatoes chucks and walnuts in it. However, we didn’t want it to be too smooth because sweet potatoes pies aren’t smooth and the nuts add texture to it. The different spices are also seen and tasted in the ice cream. The pecans were coated with cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg. This added a sweeter flavor to the ice cream as well as additional spices. The group did a very good job of maintaining the sweet potatoes flavor with ice cream. It has the spices and taste similar to regular sweet potatoes pie. The smell is similar to the smell of sweet potatoes pie; it smells sweet and has a smell of spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. We first made an unhealthy recipe, added 60.2g of butter to sweet potatoes to make it creamy which also made it easy for it to be smashed. After the sweet potatoes were smashed until the texture we desired, we added 2g of cinnamon, 12g of sugar, 1g of nutmeg, to the 308 g of sweet potatoes mixed. After the ingredients were mixed the 25g of pecans were added to the mix. Then the sweet potatoes mix was added to 900mL of the Mayfield ice cream mix gradually. It was then churned for 20 minutes. Then the ice cream was taken out a placed in a blast freezer for storage. Then we made a healthy version of the ice cream, the recipe for the healthy version is 308g of sweet potatoes, 1g of nutmeg, 2g of cinnamon, 30.1g of margarine salted and 5g of Splenda.

Blood pressure and heart rate in humans

Blood pressure and heart rate in humans Introduction: Blood pressure is the measurement of arterial pressure as a result of the contraction and relaxation of the heart. The pressure upon the contraction of the heart is normally defined as the systolic pressure while the pressure upon relaxation is referred to as the diastolic pressure. Both are measured in milliliters of mercury (mm Hg) and are most important in measuring a healthy blood pressure. The heart rate, which is usually expressed in beats per minute, is also important when measuring the strength and wellness of a heart. An individual with a healthy heart will usually have a systolic pressure of 120 mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 80 mmHg (Bishop 2009). A normal heart rate is within the range of 60 bpm and 80 bpm (Weedman 2009). The most common way to measure an individuals blood pressure and heart rate is with a sphygmomanometer, a machine that when used correctly is able to accurately determine a persons blood pressure. Both blood pressure and heart rate are unfixed and constantly changing in response to the body. Factors such as diet, exercise and physical and psychological stress can alter the arterial pressure. An individuals blood pressure will increase when the vessels in the body constrict while the heart tries to continually pump the same amount of blood throughout the body. The blood pressure will decrease when the vessels increase in diameter and blood is able to flow through them with ease. High blood pressure is referred to as hypertension while low blood pressure is referred to as hypotension. An individuals body might react to pain or stress with an increase in blood pressure or respond to constant and frequent exercise with an over all decrease in blood pressure over a period of time. Hydration is an important part of the circulatory system. Appropriate hydration is crucial for normal body function. Hydration helps to distribute the necessary nutrients, regulate body temperature and dispose of waste within the body (Patterson, 2005). Water should make up approximately 60% of an adults body weight. A lack of proper hydration can affect blood volume, plasma volume and the volume of red blood cells in the body (Costill 1974). In the experiment we designed and performed in class, we wanted to observe different factors affecting blood pressure. We asked the question, â€Å"Does hydration effect an individuals blood pressure and heart rate?† We then generated a testable hypothesis that the consumption of water will increase blood pressure as well as heart rate. Materials and Methods: We began the experiment by choosing two variables, dependant and independent. The independent variable was ingestion of 16 ounces of water in order to hydrate an individual; the dependant variable was the measured heart rate and blood pressure. We also designated our experimental replicates groups. All together there were a total of 26 individuals in the experimental group. The entire experimental group was divided into pairs. When blood pressure and heart rate were taken throughout the experiment, they were taken by the individuals partner. We took three basal / resting blood pressure readings. To do so we placed the blood pressure cuff on the left arm of the individual tested and used the sphygmomanometer to determine the individuals resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as his/her heart rate. To correctly situate the pressure cuff on the arm, we assured that the cuff was placed approximately 3 cm above the elbow. We made sure there was no bulky clothing between th e individuals arm and the cuff. The tube leading from the sphygmomanometer to the cuff was situated on the innermost side of the arm, near the brachial artery (Weedman 2009). When wrapping the pressure cuff around the arm, we assured that it was neither too snug or to loose. We pumped the cuff with the rubber bulb until it reached 150 mm Hg. To do so required that we squeeze the bulb while our finger covered the air hole and releasing to allow the bulb to refill. Once at 150mm Hg, the sphygmomanometer gradually released the pressure until the digital reading came up on the screen. We then recorded the data and repeated this step two more times to have a total of three basal readings. After retrieving the resting blood pressure, we had the individual consume about two cups (16 oz) of water quickly (less than one minute) and the partner immediately took a blood pressure reading with the sphygmomanometer. We followed the initial post reading with four more readings in time intervals of three minutes switching off between partners. We recorded the systolic, diastolic, and heart rate for each of these readings. The cuff was taken off after each reading to allow the pressure to be reestablished in the individual between each reading. Throughout the experiment, the data was collected by each individual and then collected and put into an excel spreadsheet. The data that was collected included each subjects basal and experimental blood pressure and heart rate readings along with the relative temperature of the water consumed (cold or room temperature). The collected data was then analyzed using different forms of statistics. We used a â€Å"T test† as well as dividing relevant data into subgroups and found the range and average of the data. Results: In this experiment, we exposed a group of 26 individuals to dehydration and then had them consume a total of 16 ounces to rehydrate. Their blood pressure was then taken immediately as well as in intervals of three minutes for a total of twelve minutes. We predicted that hydrating an individual would increase their blood pressure and decrease the heart rate, however, we found that hydration in fact does the opposite. When organizing and reviewing the data for this experiment it is clear that our results for this experiment were relevant. Our data was calculated based on averages of pulse rates and blood pressures. Our averaged data was then organized in graphs and tables that were divided into subgroups based on the temperature of the water consumed (cold, room temperature, and unknown temperature). Finally, the ranges of each subgroup and T-tests were calculated based off of our data. We calculated three T-tests from our data. One T-test used results of average pulse rate readings from the cold, room temperature, and unknown water consumed. Another T-test was calculated from the average systolic results from the cold water, room temperature water, and the unknown water consumed. The final T-test used the average diastolic results from the cold water, room temperature water, and unknown water consumed. The values for each T-test can be seen in Tables 1, 2, and 3, T-tests. Because the values for each of the T-test was less than 5%, it can be concluded that the data collected shows a correlation between hydration and blood pressure and heart rate. In graph 1, the room temperature graph, the heart rate overall decreased. In graph #2, the second room temperature graph, the systolic and diastolic pressures also decreased. In the cold water heart rate graph, graph #3, the heart rate drastically increased. In graph #4, both the systolic and diastolic pressures decreased. Finally, in graph #3, the graph showing unknown temperatures of the water, the heart rate had an overall decrease. Graph #4 showed that the diastolic pressure had an overall decrease in pressure while the systolic had an overall slight increase. Discussion: Originally, we hypothesized that blood pressure and heart rate would be affected by hydration. We predicted that an increase in hydration would proportionally increase the blood pressure and heart rate. Our results do to some extent support our hypothesis and predictions. Our results show that hydration does affect blood pressure and heart rate. Our data collected generally shows that hydration, over a short period of time, will overall decrease the arterial pressures (systolic and diastolic) as seen in Graphs 2, 4, and 6. The data in each subgroup also shows that pulse rate will be affected differently by different temperatures of water. When ingesting cold water, the pulse rate generally increases, while those that consumed room temperature water have a decreased pulse rate as seen in Graph 1 and 3. A hypothesis that would correctly support the results of this experiment would be, â€Å"Hydration (the consumption of water) will decrease blood pressure while cold water will increase heart rate.† Though this hypothesis is accurately supported by the results, this hypothesis may also be incorrect. One way it can be determined that our results wholly support our hypothesis is the value of the T-tests calculated for this experiment. The value of the T-tests based off of the average pulse rate, systolic pressure, and diastolic pressure were all below 5%. This shows low variability within the experiment and suggests that our experimental results are valid. Because the T-test was below 5%, it can be concluded that our results from this experiment are significant. Our results support the fact that hydration does decrease blood pressure. After much research, it is shown that, â€Å"dehydration and blood pressure are linked that it is not aging that leads to High Blood Pressure, but rather dehydration.† (Healthy Water 2007). Our results for our experiment relate to this statement because our data shows that hydration lowers blood pressure, and inversely suggests that dehydration would do the opposite by increasing blood pressure. When an individual is dehydrated, their blood vessels compensate the lack of water by contracting and heightening blood pressure. When an individual is sufficiently hydrated their vessels are filled with a high blood volume that holds the vessels open and relaxed while transporting water to fundamental organs and systems throughout the body. There were many weaknesses and flaws in our experiment and experimental design. One flaw in experimental design was the lack of a control group. Though basal readings were taken prior to the experiment, there was no separate group that was not treated with the independent variable and measured throughout the experiment. Also, our experiment was done in a hurry that could have affected the blood pressure and heart rate throughout the experiment. The sphygmomanometers that were used often came up with â€Å"error† which may have contributed to the insignificance of our data. Finally, there was no way of measuring the level of dehydration of the experimental group prior to drinking the 16 ounces of water. The data will vary with the different levels of hydration and without knowing the exact level of hydration of each individual it would be impossible to group them together. Though our results did not match our hypothesis, they were comparable to similar experiments. Our data did show that an increase in hydration will decrease blood pressure. However, our data and experimental design is neither accurate or acceptable due to errors in experimental design and experimental flaws. Literature Cited: Bishop T. 2009.Measuring Blood Pressure. Practice Nurse 38: 11-16. Costill DL, Dill DB. 1974. Calculation of percentage changes in volumes of blood, plasma, and red cells in dehydration. Journal of Applied Physiology 37: 247-248. Healthy Water. 2007. Dehydration and Blood Pressure disorders are linked. http://www.healthy-water-best-filters.com/dehydration-blood-pressure.html. February 20, 2009. Patterson SM, Rochette LM. 2005. Hydration status and cardiovascular function: effects of hydration enhancement on cardiovascular function at rest and during psychological stress. International Journal of Psychophysiology 56: 81-91. Weedman D, Sokoloski ES. 2009. Biology of Organisms. 5th Edition. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. P 173-184.