Genomics, Vaccines & Weaponization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Genomics, Vaccines & Weaponization - Essay Example The second step is to produce the recombinant proteins in E.coli bacteria, and this may range to about 350 proteins. These proteins are then purified and used in mice. The immune sera so obtained would be collected and would be assayed to determine their binding capacity with the proteins on the N. meningitides B bacteria to observe any kind of bactericidal activity in vitro. A few numbers of proteins can be taken that have a high titer in all the assays. Here the protein sequence variability was being studied in the isolates of N. mengitidis B bacteria and from these the final candidates would be 2 vaccines that met all the criteria should be selected and had no sequence variability. This can undergo phase 1 clinical trial (Fraser 23-33). Robert Stevens was dying from inhalation anthrax and was dying from the disease, in September 2001 following the 911 attacks. He had received a letter containing some strange powder and following coming in contact with this powder became ill. His b ody was taken to Northern Arizona University wherein biologist Paul Keim had invented a molecular biology technology of distinguishing one strain of anthrax from another. Keim had collected about 88 strains of anthrax and tried to compare them with each of these. He compared the DNA (genome) of the bacteria and located for various genetic markers specifically 8 in number, and found that it had matched one that was used by the US Army for its vaccine studies as it was a highly virulent bacterium and could be used in bioterrorism. This strain was known as the Ames Strain and was first isolated from a cow in Texas in 1981 and was sent to the USSAMRIID for research (US Department of Justice ). The bacteria had passed several hands of various laboratories. They later studied the difference between the Ames anthrax bacteria and the bacteria that killed Stevens. They compared 5 million chemical letters present in 5000 genes. After doing all these studies, they found that the genome of the bacteria that was present in Stevens’s body was the same as the Ames strain, and they could not identify specifically from which lab was the sample smuggled out and used by the terrorists. Mutations that the bacteria would undergo after being passed from one lab to another was being studied, but the scientist did not find any differences. Finally they found that the genome of morph D of the bacteria did contain a large portion that was missing and this was caused by an altered chemical letter in the DNA. They zeroed down to 8 out of the 1000 samples collected and this was traced to an army laboratory USAMRIID and the researcher involved was Bruce Ivins who had committed suicide after he was declared the prime suspect (PBS). Biological warfare is the use of biological agents or their toxins in order to destroy human, animal and plant life and would be an act of terrorism or war. These biological organisms are capable of reproducing on the hosts or are able to release toxic sub stances on the host, cause disease and finally kill or cause critical illnesses in the host. Some of the biological weapons may actually be lethal, whereas other may be non-lethal but may have a disastrous effect. Further, by using infectious agents, the effect is even more disastrous and disease rapidly spreads from one individual to another, and drugs and vaccines that are required may not be immediately available. Most of such biological warfare agents are transmitted on contact or through

Importance of computer in education system Essay Example for Free

Importance of computer in education system Essay The computer and its related technologies are now such an integral part of every day life that it must be an ingredient in educating for participation in present and future society. For educators it is a tool for lesson preparation: research information on any topic find activities to print and use gather ideas used by other teachers for presenting lessons using word processing, page layout and presentation software to produce activity pages and audio/video lesson presentations The internet in particular keeps teachers up to date when they join in on forums and blogs about teaching practices etc. Online courses are also available for adding to teaching credentials. (This is a boon for those who are not living close enough to a large city centre where classes, conferences and meetings can easily be attended. ) For students, access to computer (and in particular internet technology) at school can be a great leveler. While most students are comfortable using the computer, those who do not have one at home are at a disadvantage for completing assignments that require research and producing a printed document. The computer can be a tool for learning in many areas of the curriculum: math teachers should take advantage of the opportunity to allow students to create spreadsheets to manipulate data formal teaching in the finer points of using word processing and presentation software to produce polished presentations of creative writing or research reports would prepare students to meet the expectations of the business world music classes can be dynamic when students are given the opportunity to explore composition using computer software. Learn about varieties of music by listening to files available on the internet set up pen pals in another city or country for their students to learn communication skills (also a great way for students who are learning another language to practise by chatting with another student Teachers are constantly discovering new ways to integrate computers into their programs. In todays education the computer has become the new pencil and paper, text book, library and in many cases   teacher.

College Writing In a Global Age Essay -- Education Academics Essays

College Writing In a Global Age To begin a discussion about teaching college writing in a digital era we must first understand what this era represents. It is an age when many people choose to "watch" books instead of read them, in the form of television programs or motion pictures. It is a time when product advertisements, "news" reports and controlled communications attempt to do the world's thinking for them and when computers-if given enough information on a subject-can compose a written report suitable for any university course. With the availability of these alternatives to reading, thinking and writing, it is a wonder that there is still a college writing requirement at all. Nevertheless, almost every college and university in America has a compulsory writing course, and during the digital ere, almost every instructor has a different approach. As the number of students with diverse cultures, experiences and backgrounds increases, so does the belief of some that these approaches must be examined to ensure a c ulturally inclusive environment will inevitably lead to warfare. Maxine Hairston, Professor of Rhetoric and Composition at the University of Texas at Austin, believes that because of the increased diversity in the classrooms, faculty should encourage students by developing assignments directed toward the students exploration of opinions and viewpoints based on their own experience. These students bring with them a kaleidoscope of experiences, values...we want to respond positively and productively, using every resource we can to help them adapt to the classroom setting, Hairston thinks that students will be able to share their thoughts with one another, thus increasing the opportunities for multicultural awareness... ...ntimidation of the language barrier allowed me to concentrate on the coursework while understanding it enough to talk about it with others, gain insight into several perspectives and form my own opinions. Although Bray would undoubtedly equate them with those in fear of sounding prejudice, I agree with the positive approaches Hairston and Marback take in regards to multiculturalism. Their basic beliefs, that maintaining contact with and desiring to understand people of different cultures, are a good thing and not as Bray suggests: "a bad idea"(Bray). When we consider what college writing courses expose our students to-the ability to collaborate with minds of I different experiences while enabling them to form and maintain their own outlooks; less I force-feeding of ideas and opinions from mass media-it's no longer a wonder that the I courses exist, it's a blessing. College Writing In a Global Age Essay -- Education Academics Essays College Writing In a Global Age To begin a discussion about teaching college writing in a digital era we must first understand what this era represents. It is an age when many people choose to "watch" books instead of read them, in the form of television programs or motion pictures. It is a time when product advertisements, "news" reports and controlled communications attempt to do the world's thinking for them and when computers-if given enough information on a subject-can compose a written report suitable for any university course. With the availability of these alternatives to reading, thinking and writing, it is a wonder that there is still a college writing requirement at all. Nevertheless, almost every college and university in America has a compulsory writing course, and during the digital ere, almost every instructor has a different approach. As the number of students with diverse cultures, experiences and backgrounds increases, so does the belief of some that these approaches must be examined to ensure a c ulturally inclusive environment will inevitably lead to warfare. Maxine Hairston, Professor of Rhetoric and Composition at the University of Texas at Austin, believes that because of the increased diversity in the classrooms, faculty should encourage students by developing assignments directed toward the students exploration of opinions and viewpoints based on their own experience. These students bring with them a kaleidoscope of experiences, values...we want to respond positively and productively, using every resource we can to help them adapt to the classroom setting, Hairston thinks that students will be able to share their thoughts with one another, thus increasing the opportunities for multicultural awareness... ...ntimidation of the language barrier allowed me to concentrate on the coursework while understanding it enough to talk about it with others, gain insight into several perspectives and form my own opinions. Although Bray would undoubtedly equate them with those in fear of sounding prejudice, I agree with the positive approaches Hairston and Marback take in regards to multiculturalism. Their basic beliefs, that maintaining contact with and desiring to understand people of different cultures, are a good thing and not as Bray suggests: "a bad idea"(Bray). When we consider what college writing courses expose our students to-the ability to collaborate with minds of I different experiences while enabling them to form and maintain their own outlooks; less I force-feeding of ideas and opinions from mass media-it's no longer a wonder that the I courses exist, it's a blessing.

Dropbox Case Analysis Essay

Although Dropbox trailed behind its competitors to catch onto the initial wave of the cloud computing, this minor setback did not restrain the company from revolutionizing the way we store data today. When Houston noticed the limited aptitude of preexisting online backup companies, he seized the opportunity to address the transfer of information across firewalls, unreliable wireless connection, and inability to effectively process a large amount of data. Whereas the competition relied on a distant server to enable file accesses over the Internet, Dropbox stored files locally on computer hard drives and synchronized copies on their servers to save time and bandwidth. When Houston applied to Y Combinator, he included several assumptions in his business model. Originally, Dropbox would directly target individual users, including consumers and businessmen. This decision was contingent on the theory that IT would overlook the company’s limited track record to certify Dropbox after witnessing such high demand. Adopting a freemium model, Dropbox would offer 1 GB to non-paying subscribers and 10 GB to paying subscribers for 5 dollars a month. To raise the funds necessary to launch Dropbox, Houston aimed to raise capital from investors like Y Combinator and Sequoia Capital. Having developed a strong following from an eclectic group of 782,000 users, Dropbox must now maximize profits through price differentiation. This would help them combat their current operating losses of $14.234 million. By classifying their users into various consumer segments, Dropbox could charge each segment the maximum price they are willing to pay. In this case, the consumer segment would be small to medium sized businesses. Aside from requiring a lot of customer support, these clients would most likely be working with many computers and a lot of data at a time. To tailor to their needs, Dropbox should release a different version of their software and market it at a set bundled price per month. This bundle should include all of the benefits deemed most appealing to businesses, such as: file sharing, large storage capacity, Pack Rat (unlimited undo history), and a personal hotline. By using bulk pricing, Dropbox could offer a deal for groups of  computers rather than charging per each computer separately. By pursing this strategy, Dropbox would stay relevant with competitors like Mozy and Carbonite who have already released different versions of their software to accommodate different consumer segments. This strategy would encourage Dropbox to invent new services that they otherwise would not have invested in without being properly compensated. Additionally, Dropbox would enjoy minimal acquisition costs because small to medium businesses are the consumers who would be most actively searching for these data storage services to optimize operations, thereby coming across Dropbox all on their own. In order to justify this decision, Houston should use a conjoint analysis to determine which Dropbox features hold the most value to these businesses. This will allow them to better customize the bundle and determine the price that will capture the largest market share. Dropbox should also develop a running prototype and expose it to pretest markets or run a beta test. This will reduce risk, increase expected benefits, and forecast sales. To collect feedback from their target audience, Dropbox should continue to follow support forums closely, forward customer surveys, implement A/B testing, and conduct usability tests. With a more refined understanding of this consumer segment’s needs, Dropbox can design a customized premium product that will pave the way for company growth and success.

Angels Demons Chapter 20-23

20 Phase two, the Hassassin thought, striding into the darkened tunnel. The torch in his hand was overkill. He knew that. But it was for effect. Effect was everything. Fear, he had learned, was his ally. Fear cripples faster than any implement of war. There was no mirror in the passage to admire his disguise, but he could sense from the shadow of his billowing robe that he was perfect. Blending in was part of the plan†¦ part of the depravity of the plot. In his wildest dreams he had never imagined playing this part. Two weeks ago, he would have considered the task awaiting him at the far end of this tunnel impossible. A suicide mission. Walking naked into a lion's lair. But Janus had changed the definition of impossible. The secrets Janus had shared with the Hassassin in the last two weeks had been numerous†¦ this very tunnel being one of them. Ancient, and yet still perfectly passable. As he drew closer to his enemy, the Hassassin wondered if what awaited him inside would be as easy as Janus had promised. Janus had assured him someone on the inside would make the necessary arrangements. Someone on the inside. Incredible. The more he considered it, the more he realized it was child's play. Wahad†¦ tintain†¦ thalatha†¦ arbaa, he said to himself in Arabic as he neared the end. One†¦ two†¦ three†¦ four†¦ 21 â€Å"I sense you've heard of antimatter, Mr. Langdon?† Vittoria was studying him, her dark skin in stark contrast to the white lab. Langdon looked up. He felt suddenly dumb. â€Å"Yes. Well†¦ sort of.† A faint smile crossed her lips. â€Å"You watch Star Trek.† Langdon flushed. â€Å"Well, my students enjoy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He frowned. â€Å"Isn't antimatter what fuels the U.S.S. Enterprise?† She nodded. â€Å"Good science fiction has its roots in good science.† â€Å"So antimatter is real?† â€Å"A fact of nature. Everything has an opposite. Protons have electrons. Up-quarks have down-quarks. There is a cosmic symmetry at the subatomic level. Antimatter is yin to matter's yang. It balances the physical equation.† Langdon thought of Galileo's belief of duality. â€Å"Scientists have known since 1918,† Vittoria said, â€Å"that two kinds of matter were created in the Big Bang. One matter is the kind we see here on earth, making up rocks, trees, people. The other is its inverse – identical to matter in all respects except that the charges of its particles are reversed.† Kohler spoke as though emerging from a fog. His voice sounded suddenly precarious. â€Å"But there are enormous technological barriers to actually storing antimatter. What about neutralization?† â€Å"My father built a reverse polarity vacuum to pull the antimatter positrons out of the accelerator before they could decay.† Kohler scowled. â€Å"But a vacuum would pull out the matter also. There would be no way to separate the particles.† â€Å"He applied a magnetic field. Matter arced right, and antimatter arced left. They are polar opposites.† At that instant, Kohler's wall of doubt seemed to crack. He looked up at Vittoria in clear astonishment and then without warning was overcome by a fit of coughing. â€Å"Incred†¦ ible†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he said, wiping his mouth, â€Å"and yet†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It seemed his logic was still resisting. â€Å"Yet even if the vacuum worked, these canisters are made of matter. Antimatter cannot be stored inside canisters made out of matter. The antimatter would instantly react with – â€Å" â€Å"The specimen is not touching the canister,† Vittoria said, apparently expecting the question. â€Å"The antimatter is suspended. The canisters are called ‘antimatter traps' because they literally trap the antimatter in the center of the canister, suspending it at a safe distance from the sides and bottom.† â€Å"Suspended? But†¦ how?† â€Å"Between two intersecting magnetic fields. Here, have a look.† Vittoria walked across the room and retrieved a large electronic apparatus. The contraption reminded Langdon of some sort of cartoon ray gun – a wide cannonlike barrel with a sighting scope on top and a tangle of electronics dangling below. Vittoria aligned the scope with one of the canisters, peered into the eyepiece, and calibrated some knobs. Then she stepped away, offering Kohler a look. Kohler looked nonplussed. â€Å"You collected visible amounts?† â€Å"Five thousand nanograms,† Vittoria said. â€Å"A liquid plasma containing millions of positrons.† â€Å"Millions? But a few particles is all anyone has ever detected†¦ anywhere.† â€Å"Xenon,† Vittoria said flatly. â€Å"He accelerated the particle beam through a jet of xenon, stripping away the electrons. He insisted on keeping the exact procedure a secret, but it involved simultaneously injecting raw electrons into the accelerator.† Langdon felt lost, wondering if their conversation was still in English. Kohler paused, the lines in his brow deepening. Suddenly he drew a short breath. He slumped like he'd been hit with a bullet. â€Å"Technically that would leave†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Vittoria nodded. â€Å"Yes. Lots of it.† Kohler returned his gaze to the canister before him. With a look of uncertainty, he hoisted himself in his chair and placed his eye to the viewer, peering inside. He stared a long time without saying anything. When he finally sat down, his forehead was covered with sweat. The lines on his face had disappeared. His voice was a whisper. â€Å"My God†¦ you really did it.† Vittoria nodded. â€Å"My father did it.† â€Å"I†¦ I don't know what to say.† Vittoria turned to Langdon. â€Å"Would you like a look?† She motioned to the viewing device. Uncertain what to expect, Langdon moved forward. From two feet away, the canister appeared empty. Whatever was inside was infinitesimal. Langdon placed his eye to the viewer. It took a moment for the image before him to come into focus. Then he saw it. The object was not on the bottom of the container as he expected, but rather it was floating in the center – suspended in midair – a shimmering globule of mercurylike liquid. Hovering as if by magic, the liquid tumbled in space. Metallic wavelets rippled across the droplet's surface. The suspended fluid reminded Langdon of a video he had once seen of a water droplet in zero G. Although he knew the globule was microscopic, he could see every changing gorge and undulation as the ball of plasma rolled slowly in suspension. â€Å"It's†¦ floating,† he said. â€Å"It had better be,† Vittoria replied. â€Å"Antimatter is highly unstable. Energetically speaking, antimatter is the mirror image of matter, so the two instantly cancel each other out if they come in contact. Keeping antimatter isolated from matter is a challenge, of course, because everything on earth is made of matter. The samples have to be stored without ever touching anything at all – even air.† Langdon was amazed. Talk about working in a vacuum. â€Å"These antimatter traps?† Kohler interrupted, looking amazed as he ran a pallid finger around one's base. â€Å"They are your father's design?† â€Å"Actually,† she said, â€Å"they are mine.† Kohler looked up. Vittoria's voice was unassuming. â€Å"My father produced the first particles of antimatter but was stymied by how to store them. I suggested these. Airtight nanocomposite shells with opposing electromagnets at each end.† â€Å"It seems your father's genius has rubbed off.† â€Å"Not really. I borrowed the idea from nature. Portuguese man-o'-wars trap fish between their tentacles using nematocystic charges. Same principle here. Each canister has two electromagnets, one at each end. Their opposing magnetic fields intersect in the center of the canister and hold the antimatter there, suspended in midvacuum.† Langdon looked again at the canister. Antimatter floating in a vacuum, not touching anything at all. Kohler was right. It was genius. â€Å"Where's the power source for the magnets?† Kohler asked. Vittoria pointed. â€Å"In the pillar beneath the trap. The canisters are screwed into a docking port that continuously recharges them so the magnets never fail.† â€Å"And if the field fails?† â€Å"The obvious. The antimatter falls out of suspension, hits the bottom of the trap, and we see an annihilation.† Langdon's ears pricked up. â€Å"Annihilation?† He didn't like the sound of it. Vittoria looked unconcerned. â€Å"Yes. If antimatter and matter make contact, both are destroyed instantly. Physicists call the process ‘annihilation.' â€Å" Langdon nodded. â€Å"Oh.† â€Å"It is nature's simplest reaction. A particle of matter and a particle of antimatter combine to release two new particles – called photons. A photon is effectively a tiny puff of light.† Langdon had read about photons – light particles – the purest form of energy. He decided to refrain from asking about Captain Kirk's use of photon torpedoes against the Klingons. â€Å"So if the antimatter falls, we see a tiny puff of light?† Vittoria shrugged. â€Å"Depends what you call tiny. Here, let me demonstrate.† She reached for the canister and started to unscrew it from its charging podium. Without warning, Kohler let out a cry of terror and lunged forward, knocking her hands away. â€Å"Vittoria! Are you insane?† 22 Kohler, incredibly, was standing for a moment, teetering on two withered legs. His face was white with fear. â€Å"Vittoria! You can't remove that trap!† Langdon watched, bewildered by the director's sudden panic. â€Å"Five hundred nanograms!† Kohler said. â€Å"If you break the magnetic field – â€Å" â€Å"Director,† Vittoria assured, â€Å"it's perfectly safe. Every trap has a failsafe – a back-up battery in case it is removed from its recharger. The specimen remains suspended even if I remove the canister.† Kohler looked uncertain. Then, hesitantly, he settled back into his chair. â€Å"The batteries activate automatically,† Vittoria said, â€Å"when the trap is moved from the recharger. They work for twenty-four hours. Like a reserve tank of gas.† She turned to Langdon, as if sensing his discomfort. â€Å"Antimatter has some astonishing characteristics, Mr. Langdon, which make it quite dangerous. A ten milligram sample – the volume of a grain of sand – is hypothesized to hold as much energy as about two hundred metric tons of conventional rocket fuel.† Langdon's head was spinning again. â€Å"It is the energy source of tomorrow. A thousand times more powerful than nuclear energy. One hundred percent efficient. No byproducts. No radiation. No pollution. A few grams could power a major city for a week.† Grams? Langdon stepped uneasily back from the podium. â€Å"Don't worry,† Vittoria said. â€Å"These samples are minuscule fractions of a gram – millionths. Relatively harmless.† She reached for the canister again and twisted it from its docking platform. Kohler twitched but did not interfere. As the trap came free, there was a sharp beep, and a small LED display activated near the base of the trap. The red digits blinked, counting down from twenty-four hours. 24:00:00†¦ 23:59:59†¦ 23:59:58†¦ Langdon studied the descending counter and decided it looked unsettlingly like a time bomb. â€Å"The battery,† Vittoria explained, â€Å"will run for the full twenty-four hours before dying. It can be recharged by placing the trap back on the podium. It's designed as a safety measure, but it's also convenient for transport.† â€Å"Transport?† Kohler looked thunderstruck. â€Å"You take this stuff out of the lab?† â€Å"Of course not,† Vittoria said. â€Å"But the mobility allows us to study it.† Vittoria led Langdon and Kohler to the far end of the room. She pulled a curtain aside to reveal a window, beyond which was a large room. The walls, floors, and ceiling were entirely plated in steel. The room reminded Langdon of the holding tank of an oil freighter he had once taken to Papua New Guinea to study Hanta body graffiti. â€Å"It's an annihilation tank,† Vittoria declared. Kohler looked up. â€Å"You actually observe annihilations?† â€Å"My father was fascinated with the physics of the Big Bang – large amounts of energy from minuscule kernels of matter.† Vittoria pulled open a steel drawer beneath the window. She placed the trap inside the drawer and closed it. Then she pulled a lever beside the drawer. A moment later, the trap appeared on the other side of the glass, rolling smoothly in a wide arc across the metal floor until it came to a stop near the center of the room. Vittoria gave a tight smile. â€Å"You're about to witness your first antimatter-matter annihilation. A few millionths of a gram. A relatively minuscule specimen.† Langdon looked out at the antimatter trap sitting alone on the floor of the enormous tank. Kohler also turned toward the window, looking uncertain. â€Å"Normally,† Vittoria explained, â€Å"we'd have to wait the full twenty-four hours until the batteries died, but this chamber contains magnets beneath the floor that can override the trap, pulling the antimatter out of suspension. And when the matter and antimatter touch†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Annihilation,† Kohler whispered. â€Å"One more thing,† Vittoria said. â€Å"Antimatter releases pure energy. A one hundred percent conversion of mass to photons. So don't look directly at the sample. Shield your eyes.† Langdon was wary, but he now sensed Vittoria was being overly dramatic. Don't look directly at the canister? The device was more than thirty yards away, behind an ultrathick wall of tinted Plexiglas. Moreover, the speck in the canister was invisible, microscopic. Shield my eyes? Langdon thought. How much energy could that speck possibly – Vittoria pressed the button. Instantly, Langdon was blinded. A brilliant point of light shone in the canister and then exploded outward in a shock wave of light that radiated in all directions, erupting against the window before him with thunderous force. He stumbled back as the detonation rocked the vault. The light burned bright for a moment, searing, and then, after an instant, it rushed back inward, absorbing in on itself, and collapsing into a tiny speck that disappeared to nothing. Langdon blinked in pain, slowly recovering his eyesight. He squinted into the smoldering chamber. The canister on the floor had entirely disappeared. Vaporized. Not a trace. He stared in wonder. â€Å"G†¦ God.† Vittoria nodded sadly. â€Å"That's precisely what my father said.† 23 Kohler was staring into the annihilation chamber with a look of utter amazement at the spectacle he had just seen. Robert Langdon was beside him, looking even more dazed. â€Å"I want to see my father,† Vittoria demanded. â€Å"I showed you the lab. Now I want to see my father.† Kohler turned slowly, apparently not hearing her. â€Å"Why did you wait so long, Vittoria? You and your father should have told me about this discovery immediately.† Vittoria stared at him. How many reasons do you want? â€Å"Director, we can argue about this later. Right now, I want to see my father.† â€Å"Do you know what this technology implies?† â€Å"Sure,† Vittoria shot back. â€Å"Revenue for CERN. A lot of it. Now I want – â€Å" â€Å"Is that why you kept it secret?† Kohler demanded, clearly baiting her. â€Å"Because you feared the board and I would vote to license it out?† â€Å"It should be licensed,† Vittoria fired back, feeling herself dragged into the argument. â€Å"Antimatter is important technology. But it's also dangerous. My father and I wanted time to refine the procedures and make it safe.† â€Å"In other words, you didn't trust the board of directors to place prudent science before financial greed.† Vittoria was surprised with the indifference in Kohler's tone. â€Å"There were other issues as well,† she said. â€Å"My father wanted time to present antimatter in the appropriate light.† â€Å"Meaning?† What do you think I mean? â€Å"Matter from energy? Something from nothing? It's practically proof that Genesis is a scientific possibility.† â€Å"So he didn't want the religious implications of his discovery lost in an onslaught of commercialism?† â€Å"In a manner of speaking.† â€Å"And you?† Vittoria's concerns, ironically, were somewhat the opposite. Commercialism was critical for the success of any new energy source. Although antimatter technology had staggering potential as an efficient and nonpolluting energy source – if unveiled prematurely, antimatter ran the risk of being vilified by the politics and PR fiascoes that had killed nuclear and solar power. Nuclear had proliferated before it was safe, and there were accidents. Solar had proliferated before it was efficient, and people lost money. Both technologies got bad reputations and withered on the vine. â€Å"My interests,† Vittoria said, â€Å"were a bit less lofty than uniting science and religion.† â€Å"The environment,† Kohler ventured assuredly. â€Å"Limitless energy. No strip mining. No pollution. No radiation. Antimatter technology could save the planet.† â€Å"Or destroy it,† Kohler quipped. â€Å"Depending on who uses it for what.† Vittoria felt a chill emanating from Kohler's crippled form. â€Å"Who else knew about this?† he asked. â€Å"No one,† Vittoria said. â€Å"I told you that.† â€Å"Then why do you think your father was killed?† Vittoria's muscles tightened. â€Å"I have no idea. He had enemies here at CERN, you know that, but it couldn't have had anything to do with antimatter. We swore to each other to keep it between us for another few months, until we were ready.† â€Å"And you're certain your father kept his vow of silence?† Now Vittoria was getting mad. â€Å"My father has kept tougher vows than that!† â€Å"And you told no one?† â€Å"Of course not!† Kohler exhaled. He paused, as though choosing his next words carefully. â€Å"Suppose someone did find out. And suppose someone gained access to this lab. What do you imagine they would be after? Did your father have notes down here? Documentation of his processes?† â€Å"Director, I've been patient. I need some answers now. You keep talking about a break-in, but you saw the retina scan. My father has been vigilant about secrecy and security.† â€Å"Humor me,† Kohler snapped, startling her. â€Å"What would be missing?† â€Å"I have no idea.† Vittoria angrily scanned the lab. All the antimatter specimens were accounted for. Her father's work area looked in order. â€Å"Nobody came in here,† she declared. â€Å"Everything up here looks fine.† Kohler looked surprised. â€Å"Up here?† Vittoria had said it instinctively. â€Å"Yes, here in the upper lab.† â€Å"You're using the lower lab too?† â€Å"For storage.† Kohler rolled toward her, coughing again. â€Å"You're using the Haz-Mat chamber for storage? Storage of what?† Hazardous material, what else! Vittoria was losing her patience. â€Å"Antimatter.† Kohler lifted himself on the arms of his chair. â€Å"There are other specimens? Why the hell didn't you tell me!† â€Å"I just did,† Vittoria fired back. â€Å"And you've barely given me a chance!† â€Å"We need to check those specimens,† Kohler said. â€Å"Now.† â€Å"Specimen,† Vittoria corrected. â€Å"Singular. And it's fine. Nobody could ever – â€Å" â€Å"Only one?† Kohler hesitated. â€Å"Why isn't it up here?† â€Å"My father wanted it below the bedrock as a precaution. It's larger than the others.† The look of alarm that shot between Kohler and Langdon was not lost on Vittoria. Kohler rolled toward her again. â€Å"You created a specimen larger than five hundred nanograms?† â€Å"A necessity,† Vittoria defended. â€Å"We had to prove the input/yield threshold could be safely crossed.† The question with new fuel sources, she knew, was always one of input vs. yield – how much money one had to expend to harvest the fuel. Building an oil rig to yield a single barrel of oil was a losing endeavor. However, if that same rig, with minimal added expense, could deliver millions of barrels, then you were in business. Antimatter was the same way. Firing up sixteen miles of electromagnets to create a tiny specimen of antimatter expended more energy than the resulting antimatter contained. In order to prove antimatter efficient and viable, one had to create specimens of a larger magnitude. Although Vittoria's father had been hesitant to create a large specimen, Vittoria had pushed him hard. She argued that in order for antimatter to be taken seriously, she and her father had to prove two things. First, that cost-effective amounts could be produced. And second, that the specimens could be safely stored. In the end she had won, and her father had acquiesced against his better judgment. Not, however, without some firm guidelines regarding secrecy and access. The antimatter, her father had insisted, would be stored in Haz-Mat – a small granite hollow, an additional seventy-five feet below ground. The specimen would be their secret. And only the two of them would have access. â€Å"Vittoria?† Kohler insisted, his voice tense. â€Å"How large a specimen did you and your father create?† Vittoria felt a wry pleasure inside. She knew the amount would stun even the great Maximilian Kohler. She pictured the antimatter below. An incredible sight. Suspended inside the trap, perfectly visible to the naked eye, danced a tiny sphere of antimatter. This was no microscopic speck. This was a droplet the size of a BB. Vittoria took a deep breath. â€Å"A full quarter of a gram.† The blood drained from Kohler's face. â€Å"What!† He broke into a fit of coughing. â€Å"A quarter of a gram? That converts to†¦ almost five kilotons!† Kilotons. Vittoria hated the word. It was one she and her father never used. A kiloton was equal to 1,000 metric tons of TNT. Kilotons were for weaponry. Payload. Destructive power. She and her father spoke in electron volts and joules – constructive energy output. â€Å"That much antimatter could literally liquidate everything in a half-mile radius!† Kohler exclaimed. â€Å"Yes, if annihilated all at once,† Vittoria shot back, â€Å"which nobody would ever do!† â€Å"Except someone who didn't know better. Or if your power source failed!† Kohler was already heading for the elevator. â€Å"Which is why my father kept it in Haz-Mat under a fail-safe power and a redundant security system.† Kohler turned, looking hopeful. â€Å"You have additional security on Haz-Mat?† â€Å"Yes. A second retina-scan.† Kohler spoke only two words. â€Å"Downstairs. Now.† The freight elevator dropped like a rock. Another seventy-five feet into the earth. Vittoria was certain she sensed fear in both men as the elevator fell deeper. Kohler's usually emotionless face was taut. I know, Vittoria thought, the sample is enormous, but the precautions we've taken are – They reached the bottom. The elevator opened, and Vittoria led the way down the dimly lit corridor. Up ahead the corridor dead-ended at a huge steel door. HAZ-MAT. The retina scan device beside the door was identical to the one upstairs. She approached. Carefully, she aligned her eye with the lens. She pulled back. Something was wrong. The usually spotless lens was spattered†¦ smeared with something that looked like†¦ blood? Confused she turned to the two men, but her gaze met waxen faces. Both Kohler and Langdon were white, their eyes fixed on the floor at her feet. Vittoria followed their line of sight†¦ down. â€Å"No!† Langdon yelled, reaching for her. But it was too late. Vittoria's vision locked on the object on the floor. It was both utterly foreign and intimately familiar to her. It took only an instant. Then, with a reeling horror, she knew. Staring up at her from the floor, discarded like a piece of trash, was an eyeball. She would have recognized that shade of hazel anywhere.

The Crimes of Nate Kibby

The Crimes of Nate Kibby On October 9, 2013, a 14-year-old student left Kennett High School in Conway, New Hampshire and started walking home by her usual route. She sent several text messages between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. during her walk, but she never made it home. Nine months later, on Sunday, July 20, 2014, the state attorney general announced that the teen had been reunited with her family and that the family was asking for privacy. Additionally, authorities were tight-lipped about the case, giving no details whatsoever to the media. Kibby Faces Additional Charges July 29, 2015 - A New Hampshire man accused of kidnapping a 14-year-old girl and holding her captive for nine months has now been charged with threatening the lead prosecutor in the case. Nathaniel Kibby has been charged with improper influence, criminal threatening, and obstructing government administration. The charges stem from a phone call that he made from jail which was recorded. In the Carroll County House of Corrections phone call, Kibby made vulgar threats to harm Associate Attorney General Jane Young. Young was not the recipient of the phone call. The improper influence charge is a felony while the other two new charges are misdemeanors. Kibbys trial is scheduled to begin in March 2016. He faces 205 charges related to the kidnapping of a Conway high school student who he took to his Gorham home and forced her to remain there and in a storage shed using threats, a stun gun, zip ties, and a shock collar. Kibby Indicted on 205 Charges Dec. 17, 2014 - A man arrested for kidnapping a New Hampshire 14-year-old and holding her captive for nine months has been indicted on more than 200 charges related to the case. Nathaniel Kibby could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted of the charges. Kibby was indicted on 205 charges that included kidnapping, sexual assault, robbery, criminal threatening, illegal use of a gun and illegal use of an electronic restraint device. When the grand jury indictment was released this week, more than 150 of the charges were redacted in an effort to not cause further harm to the teenaged victim, authorities said. Those charges are related to the sexual assault of the girl. According to the parts of the indictment that were not redacted, Kibby used a stun gun, a dog shock collar, zip ties and death threats to the girl, her family and her pets to maintain control over her during her nine months in captivity. While she was in captivity, Kibby would gag the teen, put a shirt over her head and face, and put a motorcycle helmet over that while she was zip-tied to a bed. He also used a fake surveillance camera to control her. He was also indicted for destroying evidence by disposing of many of the items that he used to control his victim. The victims family has asked that her name and photo no longer be used because it could hamper her recovery and authorities and some media outlets have complied with that request. However, the family sought extensive coverage of the case while the teen was missing, setting up a website publicizing the case. Even after Kibby was arrested, the family made statements through their attorney naming the victim; and the teenager herself appeared at Kibbys arraignment and was photographed in the courtroom, as we reported earlier. The About.com Crime Punishment website will not use the victims name and photo in coverage going forward. Numerous Acts of Unspeakable Violence Aug. 12, 2014 - An attorney for the New Hampshire teen who was abducted at age 14 and returned home nine months later said the girl suffered numerous acts of unspeakable violence during her captivity and now needs time and space to heal. Michael Coyne, attorney for Abby Hernandez and her mother posted the following statement on the Bring Abby Home website: On behalf of Abigail Hernandez and her mother, Zenya Hernandez, we want to thank the New Hampshire State Police, the FBI, the Conway Police Department, all of the many law enforcement agencies that were involved in this effort, the community of Conway, the people of New England and everyone that cared about Abby’s abduction and prayed for Abby’s safe return as well as the media’s efforts to bring attention to her kidnapping and assist with her miraculous survival. Abby needs and wants some time and space to physically and emotionally heal. It is going to be a long process in pursuit of justice for Abby and for Abby to get physically and emotionally stronger. We do not intend to have this case tried in the press. As the justice system moves forward, and the evidence is revealed, questions about this horrific event will be answered. Abby was violently abducted by a stranger. For many months, she suffered numerous acts of unspeakable violence. Through her faith, fortitude and resilience, she is alive today and home with her family. Abby simply asks that you respect her wishes and the justice process as this case moves forward. We trust that justice will be done. On behalf of Abby, we ask that you be sensitive to the well-being of this child and give her the time and space she needs - that any of us would desire for a member of our own family or loved one who suffered as she has. Few Investigation Details Released July 29, 2014 - With very little official information available, speculation ran wild that, because she was missing for nine months, the teen was pregnant, she went away to have the baby and then returned home to her family. That story was false. Some of the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Abby began to be revealed with the arrest of a 34-year-old Gorham, New Hampshire man in connection with the case. Nathaniel E. Kibby was arrested July 28, 2014, and charged with felony kidnapping. However, when he was arraigned Tuesday, July 29, 2014, in ​the  circuit court, prosecutors and law enforcement were still not releasing many details about the on-going investigation. Defense Attorney Seeks Information Kibbys attorney, public defender Jesse Friedman, asked the judge to force prosecutors to turn over the probable cause and search warrant affidavits so that he could know how to advise his client. Were in the position that essentially all that we have is a piece of paper, said Friedman about the police complaint. In order to adequately defend Nate, we need an opportunity to see that (other documents). More Charges Coming? The piece of paper in question is the one-sentence police complaint against Kibby which said he committed the crime of kidnapping and ​that  he knowingly confined A.H. with a purpose to commit an offense against her. The complaint did not specify what offense Kibby committed against Hernandez. I have no idea what offense they are alluding to because I dont have information other than whats on this piece of paper, said Friedman. Im not sure as a matter of constitutionally defending Nate, I can even explain to him what hes being charged with because I dont know. Search Warrants Issued Associate Attorney General Jane Young told the court that she had just received the defenses motion to unseal the affidavits and under court rules, she had 10 days to respond. Young told the judge that the investigation is on-going and information in those affidavits could hamper that investigation. Young said the search warrants in question were being carried out at the time and depending on what they found more search warrants may be requested. Shipping Container Searched? Photographs taken by reporters of Kibbys mobile home in Gorham showed police crime tape around a metal shipping container which appeared to be set up as a storage shed in Kibbys backyard. Authorities would not confirm that Abby had been confined inside that container. Judge Pamela Albee denied the defense motion and ordered the records sealed. She also set August 12 for a probable cause hearing in the case. She set Kibbys bail at $1 million and set conditions he would have to meet if he was able to post bond. Abby Faces Her Abductor Abby Hernandez attended Kibbys arraignment. The 15-year-old walked into the courtroom, followed by her mother, sister, and other supporters and sat in the front row behind the prosecutors table. Asked by reporters as she left the courtroom if she had anything to say, the teen told them firmly, No. Following the hearing, a press conference was conducted by state Attorney General Joseph Foster, Kieran Ramsey of the FBI, and Young. They gave few details of the investigation, but they praised the courage and strength of Abby and her family in helping with the investigation. Abbys Courage, Strength Hailed FBI Agent Ramsey said the community and the team of investigators were important in bringing about an arrest, but most of the credit goes to Abby. â€Å"Abby herself helped her safe return through her courage and resolve to come home,† Ramsey said. Family members said that Abby had lost weight and appeared malnourished when she returned home  July 20. She is working to build her strength back and we hope soon she will be back on solid foods, the family said. No Longer Weak Abby is very thin and weak. We continue to work towards getting her to eat, family friend Amanda Smith said in a statement. Abby has shown incredible courage through this. She is beyond grateful to be home and is just relaxing, resting, trying to get her health back. When she walked into the courtroom to face Nathaniel Kibby July 29, she looked anything but weak.

Free Essays on Teens Anarchy Caused By Stress

â€Å"A mental disorder is an illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person, preventing him or her from leading a happy, healthful and productive life† (Merki, p238). Many children and adolescents have mental health problems that interfere with their daily life. Some mental health problems are minor, while others are more severe. Some mental health problems last for only short periods of time, while others can last a lifetime. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one in ten children and teens suffer from mental illness severe enough to cause problems in their daily life. â€Å"Mental disorders are estimated to affect 16% of U.S. children and youth. This figure reflects on difficulties severe enough to interfere with a child’s daily functioning, including problems with schoolwork, social contacts, and adjustments† (Pardes, p702). Studies show that 8 % of teens suffer from depression. In the past 40 to 50 years, adolescent depression has increased drastically. The average beginning age has dropped. While the number of childhood cases diagnosed are equal between boys and girls, twice as many teen girls are diagnosed as boys. Recurrence of depression occurs in half of depressed teens within seven years. The symptoms of child and adolescent depression are very similar to those of adult depression, but since children may not be able to describe what they’re feeling, so they might show their feelings through behavior. Youth with depression are most likely to show it through phobias, anxieties, or behavior disorders. Teens with depression can show irritability, aggressive behavior and talk of suicide. Depression is caused by heredity as well as their environment. It could be triggered by bad parenting, stressful experiences, or a negative world view. It is also associated with family history of mood disorders and other... Free Essays on Teens Anarchy Caused By Stress Free Essays on Teens Anarchy Caused By Stress â€Å"A mental disorder is an illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person, preventing him or her from leading a happy, healthful and productive life† (Merki, p238). Many children and adolescents have mental health problems that interfere with their daily life. Some mental health problems are minor, while others are more severe. Some mental health problems last for only short periods of time, while others can last a lifetime. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one in ten children and teens suffer from mental illness severe enough to cause problems in their daily life. â€Å"Mental disorders are estimated to affect 16% of U.S. children and youth. This figure reflects on difficulties severe enough to interfere with a child’s daily functioning, including problems with schoolwork, social contacts, and adjustments† (Pardes, p702). Studies show that 8 % of teens suffer from depression. In the past 40 to 50 years, adolescent depression has increased drastically. The average beginning age has dropped. While the number of childhood cases diagnosed are equal between boys and girls, twice as many teen girls are diagnosed as boys. Recurrence of depression occurs in half of depressed teens within seven years. The symptoms of child and adolescent depression are very similar to those of adult depression, but since children may not be able to describe what they’re feeling, so they might show their feelings through behavior. Youth with depression are most likely to show it through phobias, anxieties, or behavior disorders. Teens with depression can show irritability, aggressive behavior and talk of suicide. Depression is caused by heredity as well as their environment. It could be triggered by bad parenting, stressful experiences, or a negative world view. It is also associated with family history of mood disorders and other...

Reasons Behind the Case for School Choice

Reasons Behind the Case for School Choice When it comes to education, conservatives believe that American families should have the flexibility and the right to a variety of school options for their children. The public education system in the United States is both expensive and under-performing. Conservatives believe that the public education system as it exists today should be an option of last resort, not a first and only choice. A majority of Americans believe that the education system is broken. Liberals say that more (and more and more) money is the answer. But conservatives argue that school choice is the answer. Public support for educational options is strong, but powerful liberal special interests have effectively limited the options many families have. School Choice Shouldn't be Just for the Wealthy Educational options should not only exist for the well-connected and wealthy. While President Obama opposes school choice and props up the education-affiliated labor unions, he sends his own children to a school that costs $30,000 per year. Though Obama likes to portray himself as having come from nothing, he attended the elite college prep Punahou School in Hawaii, which today costs almost $20,000 per year to attend. And Michelle Obama? She attended the also-elite Whitney M. Young Magnet High school. While the school is run by the city, it is not a typical high school and it closely resembles the way a charter school would operate. The school accepts less than 5% of applicants, highlighting the need and desire for such options. Conservatives believe that every child should have the educational opportunities that the entire Obama family has enjoyed. School choice should not be limited to the 1%, and the people who oppose school choice should at least send their kids to the school th ey want the regular folks to attend. Private and Charter Schools School choice would allow families to choose from a number of educational options. If they are happy with the education that the government provides, and admittedly some public schools are excellent, then they can remain. The second option would be a charter school. A charter school does not charge tuition and it survives off of public funds, however, it operates independently from the public education system. Charter schools offer unique educational opportunities but they are still held accountable for success. Unlike with the public education system, a failing charter school will not remain open. A third main option is private schooling. Private schools can range from elite prep schools to religiously-affiliated schools. Unlike with the public school system or charter schools, private schools do not run on public funds. Typically, expenses are met by charging tuition to cover part of the cost, and reliance on a pool of private donors. Currently, private schools are the least accessible to lower-income families, despite the per-pupil cost to attend typically being less than both the public school and charter school systems. Conservatives favor opening up the voucher system to these schools as well. Other educational opportunities are also supported, such as home-schooling and distance learning. A Voucher System Conservatives believe that a voucher system would be the most effective and efficient way to deliver school choice to millions of children. Not only would vouchers empower families to find the best fit for their children, but it saves taxpayers money as well. Currently, the per-pupil cost of public education is close to $11,000 across the nation. (And how many parents would say they believe their child gets an $11,000 per year education?) A voucher system would let parents use some of that money and apply it to a private or charter school of their choosing. Not only does the student get to attend a school that is a good educational fit, but charter and private schools are typically far less expensive, thus saving the taxpayers thousands of dollars every time a student leaves the status quo educational system in favor of a parent-chosen school. The Obstacle: Teacher's Unions The biggest (and perhaps only) obstacle to school choice is the powerful teachers unions who oppose any attempts to expand educational opportunities. Their position is certainly understandable. If school choice were to be embraced by politicians, how many parents would choose the government-run option? How many parents would not shop around for the best fit for their children? School choice and a publicly-supported voucher system would inevitably lead to a mass exodus of students from the public school system, thus endangering the currently competition-free atmosphere that teachers currently enjoy. It is also true that, on average, charter and private school teachers do not enjoy the salaries and benefits that their public counterparts do. This is a reality of operating in the real world where budgets and standards exist. But it would be unfair to say that lower salaries equal lower quality teachers. Its a valid argument that charter and private school teachers are more likely to teach for the love of teaching, rather than for money and benefits offered as a government employee. Competition Could Improve Public Schools and Teacher Quality It is likely true, similarly to how capitalism promotes private programs and diminishes public programs, a competitive private school system would require fewer public educators, but it would not mean a wholesale firing of public school teachers. Implementing these school choice programs would take years, and much of the reduction in the public teacher force would be handled through attrition (the retirement of current teachers and not replacing them). But this could be a good thing for the public education system. First, the hiring of new public school teachers would become more selective, thus increasing the quality of public school teachers. Also, more education funds would be freed up because of the voucher system, which costs thousands less per-pupil. Assuming this money is kept in the public education system, it would mean that struggling public schools could financially benefit as funds become more available.

Supercapacitors applications , environmental issues and safety Essay

Supercapacitors applications , environmental issues and safety - Essay Example It is also ecofriendly as opposed to the two. Super capacitors are therefore increasingly becoming more probable solutions over both of them in some occasions INTRODUCTION The demand for environmentally friendly energy is ever growing in this globe of rapidly advancing technology. This is mostly so in the developed nations and more so in the scientific frontier. This has led to the technology of capacitors being refined with the aim of storing more energy in devices so that the lesser environmentally friendly storage products like batteries are facing out. This progress has led to the birth of major adorable devices. Electric double layer capacitor, better known as a super capacitor, is one such device. Super capacitors are also by many other names for instance ultra-capacitors and electric double layer capacitors. Super capacitors are capacitors with high capacitance of greater value compared to the capacitors currently available in the market. It exhibits values of up to close to 4 00 F in a standard size of a single capacitor. This is achieved through utilization of high surface area electrode materials coupled alongside very thin electrolytic dielectrics. Its first appearance is dated back to close to 2004. Its first application was in 2005 where it was first used in robots and later in Airbuses. Its technology registered within this period was so rapid that is application and market grew so fast. This paper reviews the applications of super capacitors and environmental impact of super capacitors. Super capacitors and the environment Toxicity Super capacitors have no heavy metals in its composing components. This is a big relief when is compared to the batteries which also serve the same purpose as this type of capacitor. Lead batteries have metals like lead making their exposure to the environment hazardous given the toxicity of lead. Some super capacitors use a liquid salt to act as its electrolyte. This liquid is environmentally friendly. On top of that, they have the capability to use electrolytes in the blood further displaying their capability of using common place materials that have totally no harm on the environment. It is approximated that most super capacitors use coconut shells as powdered activated carbon. This is a very environmentally friendly activated carbon with no environmental threat at all. Even when heated or exploded, the emissions are harmless as they majorly contain water contained in the electrolyte. Recycle ability By virtue of being rechargeable, the super capacitors reduces the amount of waste being churned out to the environment however biodegradable. This in turn reduces the environmental pollution. During its entire lifetime of charging and recharging there are no wastes discharged to the environment. Safety The talk of safety is never complete without the consideration of the risks of a product to the user. Even when overcharged, the super capacitor does not explode as the conventional capacitor or batt ery would. This ensures that the users and handlers of any gadget remain safe even if they forgot to stop its charging in recommended time. Applications By virtue of its numerous advantages, super capacitors are fast gaining popularity in the design of electronic gadgets. The table below contains most of its applications and the role super capacitors play in those gadgets. APPLICATION FUNCTION Mobile phones Real-time Back up Personal

Does the suppression of unions and workers groups, and collective Essay

Does the suppression of unions and workers groups, and collective action undermine democracy - Essay Example It is always clear that unions and collective action allow employees to achieve steady increase in their fields of compensation, working conditions and their economic standards. Consequently, unions also play a greater role in facilitating the levels of democracy, inclusion and participation is the general society. This result is experienced both within the place of work and widely in social and democratic activities. Therefore, these unions exert this positive influence directly through their own internal processes and functions but also indirectly through their impact on the level of inclusion, participation, and protection to the society fully (Silverman). Internal evidence proves that societies with stronger unions and collective bargaining system will always demonstrate greater levels of equality and inclusion and stronger democratic participation. Below is a brief review of the various dimensions of unions’ positive influence on the effective and quality democracy. The employees always have two major basic mechanisms for expressing that they are not satisfied with their situation in the place of work. The first concept involves the classic market mechanism of exit and entry, in this case, the individuals practice their freedom of choice to either accept a situation or reject it (Silverman). This can relate with the fact that if a consumer is not satisfied by a product or service he or she can change their respective providers, and this applies to workers who are not satisfied with the kind of job they do to reject the job and move to an offer that is more desirable. In the labor market, exit is synonymous with quitting and entry with new companies hire. Great organizations such as public agencies, governments, and large corporations can facilitate the exit entry idea by providing the possibility of transferring from one department to another instead of leaving the firm or organization completely. The second

The Big dig Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Big dig - Essay Example o leave a gift for my future relatives in a form of buried treasure, I decided to choose such a gift for them which will not only give a solution to their financial worries but will also give them a spiritual and emotional fulfillment in life. The item that I have chosen to bury is a book called â€Å"The One Minute Guide To Prosperity And Enlightenment† by Sri Siva. This book is available on amazon.com. The price of the brand new book is $11.14. Looking at the price, one might think that the book is not of much value and hence, has lower price compared to the popular blockbuster novels, which are usually priced above $15. However, the price of this book has nothing to do with its value. This book is valuable not because of its entertainment element but because of the treasure of knowledge hidden in every word of this book. The price of the book should be ignored and the value should be understood. I was aware that 200 years from now, one of my relatives is going to dig the place which is my backyard now and as a token of love and blessing, I wanted to bury a gift which should be of immense value even at the time it is going to be found. I chose the book â€Å"The One Minute Guide To Prosperity And Enlightenment† by Sri Siva to bury in my backyard (â€Å"The One Minute .†, n.d.). This book has all the qualities that I was looking for in the gift that I wanted to leave for my future relatives. The reasons for which I chose this book as a gift are as follows: When I was given an opportunity to bury a special gift for my future relatives, I was very excited and tense at the same time. I have realized that wealth is not the only solution to financial problems. For example, doing a business or a job that does not give you pleasure leads to unhappiness. If a person does a job not because he likes it but only because that particular job pays well and takes care of the material desires, then doing that job leads to unhappiness. What is necessary is the wealth that comes

Planning and Controlling Direct Labor Costs Term Paper

Planning and Controlling Direct Labor Costs - Term Paper Example As a result of which the total revenue and total sale of the organization might get increased that may amplify its market share and brand value to a significant extent among others. Apart from this, if the organization became successful in reducing its actual cost, then it might present its product or services at a quite competitive cost as compared to its rival players. However, due to which, a huge range of customers might get attracted towards the brand and the product line that may amplify its demand and profit margin in the market among many other rival players (Hansen, Mowen and Passalacque 29). Thus, it might be stated that in order to enhance the range of profits of the organization by a consistent range, planning is the most essential facet. In order to enhance the sustainability and position in long run, the organization might plan for long term strategies. It might prove effective in increasing the overall costs and revenues thereby reducing the total costs. The importance of the study is to analyze the importance of planning for an organization in this age, in order to amplify its total revenue and reduce the total cost. This might act as the first stage of budgeting that may prove effective for the organization to forecast its future expected sales, earning, expenses etc. Along with this the process of planning and staffing also includes the future forecast of the changes of the business and economic environment that may offer significant impact over the operations and functions of the organization. Along with planning and staffing, forecasting is another important step of budgeting, that helps to determine, the degree to which the long term strategies are useful or feasible for the organization in long run. However, this process of forecasting is a mixture of two important functions such as planning for long period of time entirely based on real goals or objectives of the organization as well as short term planning’s.

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF ORANGE TELECOM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF ORANGE TELECOM - Essay Example Its brand Orange Business Services caters to the telecommunication needs of multinational companies and is very successful at that (Orange Telecom, n.d.). Orange grew tremendously over a short spell in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. It started off as a mobile phone brand and moved on to become one of the leading providers of broadband, content and other related services worldwide. Orange competed with brands like Intel and L’Oreal for the title of World’s most powerful brands by Millward Brown Optimor in 2010 and reached the 50th rank after climbing 14 spots from 2007. Markets like those in Luxemburg and Tunisia have acceded to the kingdom of Orange and this accounts for the huge increase in the customer base of Orange. Orange Telecom’s presence in Africa and Middle East is quite noticeable and includes 19 countries with 60 million customers and 16,700 employees (Orange Telecom, n.d.). Orange France had 80,000 employees at the end of 2010. Orange has a strategic plan called Conquests 2015 under which it will develop a new organizational model in order to improve even more in areas involving well bei ng of employees, economic performance and satisfaction of customers. The prime reason behind this plan is to position Orange as the number one telecom operator in France in terms of customer care (European Network for Women in Leadership, 2011) Profitability Ratios: The gross profit margin for Orange Telecom is showing a rather fluctuating trend from 2006 to 2010. The profitability decreased as it was 59.49% in 2009 and fell to 58.68% in 2010. This fall can be attributed to the fall in revenue as well as the increase in cost of sales in 2010. As seen in the horizontal analysis (appendix), revenue percentage growth is negative in 2009 and 2010 as a result of which gross profit decreased in both the years and so did the gross profit margin. The overall trend for the operating profit margin has been

Legalizing the use of midicinal marijuana Essay

Legalizing the use of midicinal marijuana - Essay Example rlands, cannabis is openly tolerated and can be both purchased and consumed in one of several Amsterdam ‘coffee houses.’ Inexplicably, the city has not been thrown into anarchy which, evidently, is what the opponents of cannabis legalisation are afraid of. The evidence demonstrates that legalizing cannabis for medicinal in addition to general purposes would prove a benefit to society, evidence which is well-known throughout the scientific, political and public arena but this collective knowledge has yet to be acted upon. This discussion will examine the issue of legalisation drawing from European and American experiences. A report in The Economist expressly states concerns regarding a rising drug using and dependent population if these drugs should be made more available. While acknowledging that the price of drugs is artificially high due to the difficulties of circumventing the law, authors of this report indicate that it is precisely because of the high cost and difficulty to obtain that prevents more individuals from experimenting with them, thus becoming addicted, either physically or psychologically. Although these arguments can also be made for other substances that are currently legal, voters have argued that it is not necessary to bring in more potentially harmful substances into legal circulation at this time. To support the argument in favor of legalisation, authors pull in the theories of John Stuart Mill, who espoused that adult citizens should have the right to make their own choices regarding whether or not to participate in harmful activity as long as it does no harm to others, a theo ry that has been largely ignored in the decisions regarding alcohol and tobacco, but not cannabis. (â€Å"Case for Legalisation,† 2001) Eleven states allow the use of marijuana for medicinal use, Rhode Island the most recent joining California, Alaska, Hawaii, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada, Montana, Washington and, Vermont and Maine. However, laws enacted by

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF ORANGE TELECOM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF ORANGE TELECOM - Essay Example Its brand Orange Business Services caters to the telecommunication needs of multinational companies and is very successful at that (Orange Telecom, n.d.). Orange grew tremendously over a short spell in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. It started off as a mobile phone brand and moved on to become one of the leading providers of broadband, content and other related services worldwide. Orange competed with brands like Intel and L’Oreal for the title of World’s most powerful brands by Millward Brown Optimor in 2010 and reached the 50th rank after climbing 14 spots from 2007. Markets like those in Luxemburg and Tunisia have acceded to the kingdom of Orange and this accounts for the huge increase in the customer base of Orange. Orange Telecom’s presence in Africa and Middle East is quite noticeable and includes 19 countries with 60 million customers and 16,700 employees (Orange Telecom, n.d.). Orange France had 80,000 employees at the end of 2010. Orange has a strategic plan called Conquests 2015 under which it will develop a new organizational model in order to improve even more in areas involving well bei ng of employees, economic performance and satisfaction of customers. The prime reason behind this plan is to position Orange as the number one telecom operator in France in terms of customer care (European Network for Women in Leadership, 2011) Profitability Ratios: The gross profit margin for Orange Telecom is showing a rather fluctuating trend from 2006 to 2010. The profitability decreased as it was 59.49% in 2009 and fell to 58.68% in 2010. This fall can be attributed to the fall in revenue as well as the increase in cost of sales in 2010. As seen in the horizontal analysis (appendix), revenue percentage growth is negative in 2009 and 2010 as a result of which gross profit decreased in both the years and so did the gross profit margin. The overall trend for the operating profit margin has been

Law Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Law Assignment - Essay Example It is in this context that the parliament makes laws in order to govern the citizens of a country suitably, which are recognized as statue laws. The parliament comprises elected representatives entrusted with the responsibility of making laws in order to ensure that the states and the societies are governed effectively in such cases (Brassil & Brassil, 2000). Nevertheless, such courtroom practices have also been alleged of raising various ethical issues concerning the application of the enacted regulations and the various facets of the particular event being scrutinized. These arguments and skepticisms demand for a more organized and cautious judgment in cases, so that ethical conflicts can be avoided when ruling a particular case. The statement, â€Å"Judges should be cautious (in terms of making law or following precedent) not because the principles adopted by the Parliament are more satisfactory or more enlightened, but because it is unacceptable constitutionally that there shoul d be two independent sources of law-making at work at the same time† postulates a similar notion, which will be critically discussed henceforth, with reference to relevant case laws. Factually, common laws are formed with the sole intention to direct or steer the decisions made by judges are to be followed in future identical cases presented before the court. Case laws are identified as the main sources of common law, whilst the prior formulated laws are still considered important in the present day context. There are two important sources that assist in the overall development of common law, which include the ‘doctrine of precedent’ and the parliament. The doctrine of precedent is an important source of law in accordance with which, judges can make their decisions in present cases based on the decisions delivered in previous instances. The doctrine of precedent usually implies the deontological belief that lower courts are required to make their decisions in pres ented cases on the basis of decisions that are delivered in landmark cases presenting similar legal conflicts and issues. Contextually, the judges are assigned with the tasks of having a better understanding of the facts as well as information in relation to certain cases. Moreover, the judges are also required ensure that the decisions made can be applicable to later cases ascertaining that on the identification of similar facts as well as information, the judges are able to make their decisions effective, based on the decisions made in previous cases. In this context, the doctrine of precedent can be regarded as an important source of common law assisting judges in taking appropriate decisions ensuring the omission of mentionable ethical conflicts (Pearson Education Ltd, 2014). For an example, the decisions made in the case Shaw v DPP [1962] AC 220 have been used by the judges in the case of Knuller v DPP [1973] AC 435 following the Parliamentary norms (e-lawresources, n.d.). On t he other hand, there were cases like Jackson and others v. Her Majesty's Attorney General [2005] UKHL 56 (House of Lords, 2006) and British Railways Board v Pickin [1974] UKHL 1 (United Kingdom House of Lords Decisions, 1974) where judges ruled with the application of the purposive methods, delivering dissenting judgments to the propounded norms by the Parliament. This further raises a noteworthy question and a degree of perplexity regarding the applicable laws and the independency of judges in ruling any particular case. Worth mentioning, the parliament is entrusted with the responsibility of making laws on the basis of which, people are to be

The Significance of Sarah Essay Example for Free

The Significance of Sarah Essay The Significance of Sarah, Jimmy and Doalty Doalty, Sarah and Jimmy Jack Cassie have three main roles in Translations. Firstly, they represent those Irish people who will be left behind during the development of the country by the English. Secondly, they all contribute to the concluding scene and its outcome. And thirdly, they all in some way represent Ireland as a whole. Unlike Maire and Owen, none of these three characters has any desire to leave Baile Beag. When Jimmy Jack sets out on a spring morning in 1798 with Hugh to join the rebellion he, like Hugh, soon feels homesick and returns eagerly to where he feels he belongs And it was there in Phelans pub reminisces Hugh that we got homesick for Athens, just like Ulysses. The desiderium nostrorum the need for our own. Jimmy Jack, the peasant scholar, is a personification of a past, idealised Ireland when Ireland kept alive the light of learning during Europes Dark Ages. His filthy clothes, and shabby exterior are compensated for by the inner richness of his cultivated mind. Again he is like Ireland, materially poor but possessed of cultural wealth. Yolland appreciates both Jimmy Jacks knowledge and the different order of experience presented by Irish culture. For Jimmy Jack, the classics and everyday life are interwoven. For the lonely, ageing man, the gods of Greece and Rome move as easily around Baile Beag as they do around Ancient Rome and Athens. He even turns to the classics for practical tips on farming, telling Doalty that he should follow the advice given in Book Two of Virgils Georgics and give his upper field over to corn rather than potatoes. Although Jimmy Jack is obviously quite capable of learning English, as he has managed to learn the more complicated languages of Latin and Greek, he does not seem to want to learn English. His knowledge of English and England itself is minimal to him they are unimportant and lack poetry. It is possible that when speaking English became essential, he would not be ble to conform. As Hugh observes, Jimmy Jack sees himself as shaped by a mythological history, based in the classics, rather than real history that is affected by the here and now. The idea of fluency in English being necessary to progress, either as an individual or a country, is totally lost on him. In the final act of the play he seems to lose touch with reality informing Hugh of his engagement to the Gre ek goddess, the flashing-eyed Athene. His confusion of reality with mythology has become complete. And yet in his conversation with Maire in the same scene, he provides an insightful commentary on the plays action on marrying inside and outside the tribe. Although he is in fact talking about his supposed engagement to Pallas Athene, it seems to Maire and the audience as if he is warning Maire about her relationship with Yolland. Either marry outside the tribe and cause possible conflict, or be safe and marry inside the tribe i. e. Manus. And the word exogamein means to marry outside the tribe. And you dont cross those borders casually both sides get very angry. These sentiments would have been recognised by the modern Irish 1980 audience, as mixed marriages between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland can be problematic even today. The idea of not marrying outside the tribe can apply to childhood friendships and schools also you stick to your own kind. By contrast with Jimmy Jack, the Infant Prodigy, Doalty is quite a slow learner he struggles with the Latin and Greek that Hugh throws at him and his arithmetic is similarly painful. More than any of the other characters, he speaks in Irish slang and with a more common type of vocabulary and phrasing. Aul fella, the wee get aul eejit too lazy be Jases. Again, unlike Jimmy Jack, he is a man of action whose knowledge is limited to farming. He alone seems to worry about the cows going mad in the heat. In a way he almost a stereotype of the slow, thick Irish peasant. His name is pronounced Dolt-y, as Maire points out. He is also a mischief maker (taking the Sappers poles) and pote ntially confrontational (in the face of Lanceys threats of eviction, he declares he would put up a fight for his property, for what little he has). Although Doalty is shown as basically good-natured throughout the play, despite his boisterous behaviour, he has links with the Donnelly twins who may be associated with more serious acts against the English soldiers (the horses found at the bottom of the cliff, the disappearance of Yolland and the fire at the camp). Under certain circumstances we could imagine Doalty becoming less pleasant. In Act 3, Doalty clearly has knowledge of Yollands disappearance. He confesses to Owen that the Donnelly twins are most likely responsible, but he still acts suspiciously himself, whistling through his teeth and ignoring further questions. He tells Owen that Manus should never have left, implying that Manus has implicated himself in the crime by doing so, but plainly Doalty knows the truth. By his persistent concealment of what he knows about Yollands disappearance, Doalty is siding with the possibly murderous Donnelly twins and exposing Baile Beag to the soldiers retaliation. All that follows beyond the span of the play in terms of the destruction of the animals and the village is a consequence in part of Doaltys silence. Sarah is the least able to learn English and by implication therefore the least capable of moving on and embracing new ways as she has an obvious speech defect that is so bad that all her life she has been considered dumb. Her communication has been confined to grunts and nasal sounds, according to Friels opening description of her. At the beginning of the play she is learning to speak with Manuss assistance and can say her own name, opening up a whole new world of possibilities: Now were really started! Manus says to her. Nothingll stop us now! Nothing in the wide world! . But by the end, under Lanceys intimidation, she loses her newfound ability and the wider horizons and again becomes mute, despite Owens encouragement to speak, and is forced once again to communicate in a sign language that is not always understood. Even though Owen tries to kindly reassure her He frightened you. Thats alls wrong. Sarah herself knows to the contrary. Without Manus to support and guide her, she cannot hold on to her new ability to communicate. However, while she could speak we must assume that she gave vital information to Manus: the embrace she witnessed between Yolland and Maire. This leads to the implication of Manus in Yollands disappearance I had a stone in my hand when I went out looking for him I was going to fell him. The lame scholar turned violent. Her presumed part in the plot is pivotal: if she had not told Manus of the kiss, Yolland might never have disappeared, Manus would not have had to leave Baile Beag, the village would not have been threatened with destruction and Sarah herself would not have been abandoned by her mentor. It has been suggested that in the scene with Lancey in which she loses her power of speech, Sarah represents Ireland. As she closes her mouth and lowers her head, according to the stage directions, the parallel is drawn with Ireland losing both her language and her power. Although Sarah, Jimmy and Doalty are all minor characters in terms of lines spoken and appearances in the play, they all make an essential contribution to the play, either in contributing to or commenting on the plot. By Act Three in contrast to the cheerful optimism of Act One, they and the play have become much darker. Sarah has lost the power of speech as well as the man who helped her discover it; Jimmy Jack has crossed the boundary between reality and fantasy, and Doalty through his concealment of the truth, has put the village and its people in danger.

The San Jose Tech Museum of Innovation :: Technology Tourism Galleries Essays

The San Jose Tech Museum of Innovation Living in the heart of Silicon Valley, technology plays a very important role in the everyday lives of the people who populate it. Large portions of this population are children. When we think of our children, we think about the future of this world. As a group, we believe that our job as a society is to introduce technology to children in an enlightening and fascinating manner. By doing this, we can inspire children to become innovators of technology and apply this to the future of technology. The San Jose Tech Museum of Innovation is a place that dedicates itself to introducing technology in a very attractive style. The 132,000 square foot facility houses four permanent themed galleries and over 250 exhibits (www.thetech.org/about/factsheet.cfm). The museum is also home to "The Spirit of American Innovation, an exhibit about the National Medal of Technology, the nation’s highest honor for technological innovation" (www.thetech.org/about/factsheet.cfm). Inside, everyone, whet her they are children or grandparents, everyone gets to participate in hands-on activities that teach and introduce them to a variety of activities ranging from the beginning steps of web-design, riding and designing an Olympic bobsled to participating in a virtual heart surgery. With all the wonders that exist in this museum, children have the opportunity to learn about technology in a variety of different forms and are able to "discover new insights into technology and the process of innovation through exploratory activities" (www.thetech.org/about/mission.cfm.). People of all ages engage in the exploration and experimentation of the technology that affects their everyday lives. Exploring the Tech Museum of Innovation and the activities it presents and offers to children, as well as others, helped us to better understand and learn of the positive ways in which technology is presented to our youth. In this report we first discuss our rationale and focus, describing the importance of the Tech Museum of Innovation and the connection it makes with the representation of technology, particularly for children. In the second part we identify the research question that we investigated. We then illustrate how we gathered and analyzed our data. Following this, we apply a number of course concepts to specific examples in order to answer our research question. Finally, we discuss how the implications of our analysis relate to communication and technology and how our findings support or do support what we have looked at in class.

Aruba :: Free Descriptive Essay About A Place

Aruba Aruba’s culture is a collection of values, beliefs, and traditions from several nations over hundreds of years. The language, architecture, schooling, language, festivities, and folklore have made the Aruban natives the people they are today. The native population has ethnic roots in Arawak, African, and European peoples. This is evident in the local foods, architecture, celebrations, and languages. There is also a mix of expatriates from Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America working in various industries on the island. Culturally, Aruba has strong ties to Holland; it’s colonial occupier and present-day partner in the Netherlands kingdom. The official language of the island is Dutch, seen on street signs, government documents, and several local newspapers. Most people of Aruba, particularly those in the tourism business, speak English . There are four languages spoken overall there and they are Dutch, English, Spanish, and Papiamento. Papiamento is not a dialect but a language that is evidence to the many influences of older languages and Aruba’s culture and traditions. It has traces of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French and local Indian languages. It is a language that began in Curacao in the 1500’s in an attempt to help slave owners communicate with their slaves. It’s a comparatively easy language to learn with a limited vocabulary and a spicy rhythm that makes it â€Å"fun†. The challenging aspect of Papiamento is the importance of proper emphasis on the right syllable. If this is done incorrectly another meaning to the word intended may be interpreted. Some examples of Papiamento are as follows; Very good is Hopi bon, Good Morning is Bon dia, Good Afternoon is Bon tardi, Good Evening is Bon nochi, and Have a good day is Pasa bon dia. Even with a limited knowledge of Spanish an d French, one can find similarities and traces of the two within these few phrases . The education system of Aruba has established the same standards to those employed in the Netherlands. Teachers communicate with their students primarily in Dutch. English is required of students by the fourth grade and many become fluent in their early adult years. Spanish, French, and German are three other languages offered to students while attending school. On the island, school facilities include a secondary education, a teacher’s college, a law school, and technical and training establishments.

Half the Sky

As we read â€Å"Half the Sky† we were able to get a taste of how difficult the lives were for the women that were a part of these terrible doings to women. Coming from a family in which the majority is women, I cannot bare to see any women put in the situations that these women were put in; the daunting thing about the whole situation is that these heinous acts still exist today. As for the question, why is the desperate state of women in impoverished cultures also a great opportunity for them?This question is a very odd question because in the end there really is no good outcome to any of this. Too many women in these impoverished cultures they barely had enough money to put slippers on their feet. The brothels were many women were abducted and forced to do work by labor or sex is also a place where some of these women actually volunteered to work at. â€Å"Despite the knowing the knowledge of what actually occurs to women in these brothels, some women were so desperate for money that they voluntarily went in the brothel’s to work†.The fact is, is that these women’s backs were against the walls financially, mentally, and physically, some felt the only way out was to work and make money. Even though they knew what happens in these brothels. The fact that these types of things still exists baffles me every day. To actually think that in this day and age people still do things like this. One day hopefully sooner than later we will wake up and not be concerned about any of this.

The Influence of Art on Common People

The Influence of Art on Common People Art is a medium of self-expression; it can also be a challenge that intimidates people. Art can influence common people in many ways: â€Å"It could be a source of inspiration for people with hidden artistic skill; it could ignite the passion to create something of beauty; it could unblock fears and insecurities,† wrote author Molly Prather in her article, â€Å"How does art influence people? † Or it could easily be ignored. Dr. Margarita Cole, an art appreciation instructor at HCC, defines common people as those who are not exposed to art or those who are not familiar with visiting museums.This includes people who consider art alien. She talked about the influence of art on common people saying, â€Å"Some people ignore art or consider it weird. Others ask themselves what is this for? Many of them do not find answer. But for some people who find in art an answer, it is a discovery. † Sharon Hendry, a graphic designer, artist and HCC instructor, has another point of view: â€Å"Artists have two main objectives when they do art: One is to put something in a visual format to express a message; and second is that they use art as a medium of communication. Art can communicate without words,† she added.Common people are affected by art in different ways. Hendry said, â€Å"People react when they look at an artwork filtering their emotions through their personal experiences, their personal history. † â€Å"The way people are affected by art,† Dr. Cole said, â€Å"depends a lot on their upbringing — the amount of exposure to art that they have and what is their conception of beauty. † Art is a medium of communication and it can have a deep impact, or be very tenuous. â€Å"If we are open to art, we can take advantage of it; if we are closed to it, there is no way,† Dr. Cole commented. She added, â€Å"Deep (art’s communication) as you allow it to go.If you allo w yourself to feel the soul of the artist you are going deep. † Hendry made an example about communication â€Å"When you text a message in your cell phone, you are trying to communicate with somebody. The other person could receive or deny your message. If the person that you are trying to communicate with sends you a response, you are establishing communication. The only way that an artist knows if his artwork communicates a message is when he receives feedback,† she added. Some people are reluctant to engage with art maybe because they do not want to allow a communication with it.Dr. Cole talked about a case: â€Å"A student came to me after class and told me about a collage assignment; he was trying to work on it but it was very difficult to do and he could not finish it. Actually, he was not scared about the work otherwise; he was showing his insecurity to do the task. We can put people in front of a challenge and some will say: ‘Okay let’s do it. â⠂¬â„¢ Others will react the opposite way, refusing to do it when in fact, they are reacting to their fears. † â€Å"Art can serve as inspiration to awaken the imagination, talent and skill hiding in someone.It can unlock your fears and insecurities about creating,† Prather wrote. Hendry corroborated this, saying, â€Å"This is why art is important to me in my life. All those thing —inspires creativity, discovers hidden talent and unlocks fears and insecurities — have helped me and helped my students. † Anna Reyner, an art therapist, wrote the article â€Å"Art Influences Learning† in which she said, â€Å"Much has been written about how art enhances creativity, imagination, and self-esteem, but far less is said about how art encourages cognition, critical thinking, and learning. † She mentions the U.S. Secretary of Education report, â€Å"The Value Added Benefits of the Arts,† which states, â€Å"Studies have shown that arts te aching and learning can increase student’s cognitive and social development. The arts can be the link for students in developing the crucial thinking skills and motivations they need to achieve at higher levels. † In the same article Reyner wrote, â€Å"Our current education system places great emphasis on academic development. As a result, arts programs are being reduced or even eliminated from classrooms to accommodate more didactic teaching methods. Broadly speaking, are common people aware at the importance of art as a part of children’s education? Dr. Cole opined, â€Å"If they are not exposed to art, they are not going to be able to do anything. † Dr. Cole said, â€Å"My students have to go to museums as a part of the class requirements, but a lot of them are not interested and are reluctant to do the assignment. If you are not exposed to art, it is likely the next generation will not be exposed to art either. † â€Å"Politics is more advoca tes trying to make money,† Hendry commented. Consequently, art is not a priority in the line of their funding. † Art is present in everyday routines in many ways. Many people are aware of it while others are not; still others are indifferent. Promoting the benefits of art could be a difficult task. â€Å"To promote art,† Dr. Cole said, â€Å"we have to expose people to art, encourage them to visit museums, and also educate gallery personnel to bring friendly treatment. Some people go to museums and get out angry because of the bad treatment by the personnel.Educating gallery personnel is very important if you want to promote art. † â€Å"Parents have to encourage children to be involved in art,† Hendry commented, â€Å"but many times they are very busy or they do not know how beneficial art is on their children’s educational process. † â€Å"Children learn best when both sides of their brains are stimulated,† writer Kevin Crocket t said in the online article â€Å"How Art Influences Childhood-Development? † â€Å"This occurs when the learning environment is both participatory and interactive.The modern classroom does have a participatory side but it is sorely lacking in interactivity. Drawing and art is one of the best ways to bring interactivity into your child’s life. † â€Å"Art has to be included in the raising of child,† Dr. Cole stressed. â€Å"It is very important to encourage trips to museums, developing child interaction with artworks. † â€Å"Do not under estimate the importance of creativity, the ability to think abstractly (out of the box). The best thinkers, inventors, and entrepreneurs of our time have a healthy dose of right brain influence,† wrote Crockett.