money in politics essays

money in politics essays A wise delegate once said Money in politics is like ants in your kitchen: If you dont close all the holes, money will find a way in. And once money is in the system, it tends to corrupt politics in subtle and gross ways that laws simply cannot control. This concept is thought provokingly addressed in the article The Evil of Access by Mark Green. In my opinion, Green was right on the money in his insights concerning the need for campaign finance reform in American politics. I find it quite alarming that 94% of the time, the Congressional candidate spending the most money wins the election. Not to mention, in the year 2000, the average expense for a seat in the House came to almost $850,000. Green quotes a senator who said that Senators are human calculators who can weigh how much every vote will cost them. As moneys role in our democracy grows within our elections and campaigns, as does our own departure from democracy itself. It has even come to the point where members of Congress de spise having to vote on controversial, but essential, issues because they are forced to keep in mind how their vote will effect their finances. This is due to the fact that they have to raise an extravagant amount of money is they even are considering running for re election in order to be competitive. Green includes the quote The culprit is not corrupt candidates but a corrupt system that coerces good people to take tainted money. This whole pay to play system hurts democracy. The thousands of dollars candidates receive from special interest groups counter the opinions and interests the majority supports through simple bribery. Candidates all are aware of the money that they will lose if they dont vote in ways that is beneficial to their contributors. Without the financial support, they wont have the money to run because of the high cost of keeping up with othe...

7 Tips on How to Study Vocabulary

7 Tips on How to Study Vocabulary If youre taking college courses in the United States, youre most likely fluent in English or a native speaker. In either case, youre probably quite comfortable with your skill level and focusing 100 percent of your brain power on your coursework. However, studying new vocabulary is an important lifelong endeavor. Expanding your vocabulary will help you comprehend your reading materials more quickly and easily. A more varied lexicon will also improve those papers youre writing. Of course, if you plan to take a graduate school entrance exam, such as the GRE, youll definitely want to build and maintain your internal word list. Follow these seven tips for quick, fun ways to boost your vocab. Use Words Thesaurus Tool When youre typing a paper or even just notes, youre bound to pause from time to time to consider what the best word to use is. Whenever you stop for even a split second, try to get in this habit: type whatever basic word pops into your mind first. Then double-click it and check the thesaurus. Youll get a list of alternative words and will most likely learn some new ones. Note that you shouldnt necessarily choose the longer or more complicated word every time. But knowing you have options adds more variety and interest to your writing. Many times, the more advanced words are more accurate, and sometimes, theyre even shorter. Why say sheeplike when you can say ovine? Solve Crossword Puzzles During your free time, pull out a crossword puzzle book, find one in a newspaper or magazine, or search for a puzzle online. Crossword puzzles have long been an essential (and fun!) tool for every word-lover and vocabulary-builder. Note that if youre new to crosswords, you might want to skip those found in the Sunday paper, as theyre usually extremely challenging- even for seasoned experts. Play Word Games Crossword games are quite different from crossword puzzles. Instead of using clues to figure out predetermined words, you build your own words from a set of letters. Play Scrabble, Words With Friends, or a similar game against the computer or a brainiac friend. Make a note of the words your opponent generates, and dont be afraid to be inquisitive. Then use a dictionary to come up with great moves of your own. Of course, you can play the board version of Scrabble as well. Another fun board game is Balderdash, in which players make up fake definitions of advanced vocabulary words. Everybody then tries to guess the real definition. Youll certainly learn some new terms along the way. Find Word-A-Day Offerings Word-a-day calendars are popular gifts; put one on your Christmas wish list. Even if you dont learn all 365 words, the calendar is just one more vocabulary-building tool at your disposal. Alternatively, find an online word-a-day subscription service that sends new words to your inbox. Or simply bookmark and check a site such as Merriam-Websters Word of the Day (which also offers a subscription option). Read Attentively Sure, youre reading tons of material for your classes. But you may be reading passively. In other words (no pun intended), like many people, when you encounter a new word, you may very likely be skipping over it and mentally filling in the blank- even subconsciously. Instead, make a concerted effort to stop and look those new words up in a digital or old-school dictionary. Take Online Vocabulary Quizzes Search for free vocabulary quizzes or a similar term. Vocabulary.com is a great site for students to use regularly, as is knoword. But you can also try other sites or find random quizzes to take. Get an App You can find vocabulary-building apps for iOS or Android devices. Anytime youre on the bus, standing in line, or getting your mani/pedi, whip out that phone and learn a few words. Building your vocabulary doesnt have to feel like one more course added to your load. Following these tips is actually a lot of fun and will make you feel smarter. The confidence you gain will carry over into your class studies and will surely show in your grades.

Judith clark Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Judith clark - Essay Example Similar individuals involved in the crime pleaded for lesser charges; however Clark received a seventy-five year sentence. It seems that while the extraordinary circumstances surrounding her crime – namely its ideological underpinnings – may have contributed to increased attention, there is also the recognition that her sentence was in-line with that many individuals would receive for similar charges. Still, her strong ideological stance at the time prevented her from establishing a plea arrangement for a lesser sentence; this is an ideological stance she claims to have since abandoned. Even while Clark claims she has been rehabilitated, she remains an accomplice to murder. Her strong ideological bent at the time of crime may have also contributed to its planning and execution. Ultimately then while Clark’s seventy-five year sentence may be too extreme, it does not seem a fair principle of justice to release her from prison anytime in the near

Democratisation and Reforms in Singapore and Malaysia Research Paper

Democratisation and Reforms in Singapore and Malaysia - Research Paper Example This paper therefore is to scrutinise and study the process of democratisation and reform in Singapore and Malaysia. Singapore and Malaysia have an aspect of striking similarity which has shaped their process of democratisation. Both countries enjoy strong authoritarian stability because of the strong state apparatuses they possess. Some strong states such as Taiwan and South Korea had emerged before Malaysia and Singapore became authoritarian in the 1960s and would have been instrumental in helping stabilise national politics in Singapore and Malaysia to democratise. Slater observes that the drawback in this state of affair above is that the same state strength that props up stable transitions to democracy is the very force that enables authoritarian rulers and regimes to forestall democratisation and reforms. This is to mean that the chief reason for Singapore and Malaysia’s democratisation is the main reason democratisation and reforms may not transpire thereto. A case whic h underscores the need for Malaysia’s democratisation and reforms is epitomised by the move by the Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Najib Razak of singlehandedly picking a committee to review the country’s electoral system and the Internal Security Act. While the Prime Minister dishonestly explained such a move as a needful exercise in arresting lawlessness, the entire exercise was a response to the Arab Spring (Slater, 30). The need for Singapore and Malaysia to democratize and reform The need for Singapore and Malaysia to undergo democratisation and reforms is premised on the economic gains and developments that are taking place therein. In the case of Singapore, there has been the registration of rapid and gradual economic growth. For this cause, Singapore has come to be the second highest income earner in Asia, immediately after Japan. As a matter of fact, Singapore is being touted by scholars such as Beng-Haut as the largest non-democracy economy in world history . Because of this status, it is expected that Singapore should be setting the standard for democracy and reforms in the Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, much to the chagrin of many, this is not the case, yet the failure to democratise and reform will stunt economic accruals therein (Beng-Haut, 23). The need for Singapore to democratise is also underscored by the fact that Singapore’s political life and commitment to constitutionalism is doing very badly. According to Beng-Haut, with the exception of the Islamic Brunei sultanate, Singapore remains the only ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member which is excluded from the list of countries that are democratising. The exclusion of Singapore from the ASEAN countries that are democratizing is serious, given that other pseudo-democracies such as Indonesia where institutions (such as the electoral commission) are still too weak to withstand the undue influence of the executive, were included in the list (Beng-Haut, 23). Conversely, Singapore has no recourse to democratise and reform, given that it still has strengths that can facilitate democratisation. Singapore parallels other authoritarian regimes by manifesting commitment to human rights and collective goals. Factors That Impede Democratization and Reforms in Singapore and Malaysia Setbacks that inhibit Singapore’s path to democratisation and reforms are: (a) tension between the presence and influence of

John Stuart Mill Essay Example for Free

John Stuart Mill Essay In this essay I will discuss Utilitarianism by first explaining how Utilitarians are consequentialists who base their actions on the pleasure of pain of their consequences. Secondly, Jeremy Bentham will be discussed as the propagator of the Principle of Utility which determines human self-interest and voluntary action to achieve the greatest good or greatest pleasure. Thirdly, I will discuss John Stuart Mills and his more complex version of Utilitarianism. To clarify the Utilitarian theory I will illustrate and assess different examples of complex situations, simultaneously doing a critique on the theory, in order to conclude the relevance of Utilitarianism in society. (101) Consequentialism looks at the desirability and undesirability of consequences; meaning people base their actions on what is right and wrong by the virtue of the outcome. The Principle of Utility was derived by Jeremy Bentham and originated from psychological hedonism. Psychological hedonism is a form of psychological egoism that describes the human motive and desire to experience pleasure and avoid pain. The Principle of Utility is therefore described as the determination of right and wrong actions with right actions producing the greatest happiness or greatest good for the greatest number of people, while wrong actions produce unhappiness and pain. Thus, Utilitarians can be seen as Consequentialists because their actions are governed by consequences which can either result in pleasure or pain. Jeremy Bentham derived the Principle of Utility and viewed this principle as the foundation of all ethics. Bentham searched for what had the ultimate intrinsic value. For something to be of intrinsic value it must be desirable in itself, for example, health. People do not want good health for any other reason than to be healthy. There are many things that can be seen to have intrinsic value, such as knowledge, success, or God’s Will. However, Bentham wanted to identify the intrinsic value that everyone, religious or not, could agree on. He therefore decided that pleasure was the only thing with the ultimate intrinsic value as it allows an objective approach to morality. As mentioned previously, hedonism involves seeking pleasure of both the body and mind. The best actions result in maximized pleasure, but this raised the question of which pleasures are relevant. Therefore Bentham used hedonic calculus, consisting of 7 criteria, to calculate the ranking of different pleasures. These criteria could then be applied to evaluate even complex moral dilemmas. John Stuart Mill was greatly influenced by Bentham. Mill formed a more complex form of Utilitarianism by reconciling Bentham’s theory with complex issues that were not included in the original theory. Even though he critiques Bentham, Mill still used the basic framework of Bentham’s theory. Mill defines happiness as pleasure and the absence of pain, â€Å"actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to promote the reverse of happiness. However, he argues that pleasure can differ in quality and quantity. Higher pleasure; such as intellectual, social and creative pursuits (which are more plentiful); are rated higher than baser pleasures, such as bodily pleasures. Furthermore, Mill argues that achieving goals also contribute to happiness. He promotes human dignity. He places focus on the â€Å"Golden Rule† for example â€Å"to love your neighbor as yourself†. He is therefore more concerned about altruism than self interest as in Bentham’s case. And ultimately he views justice as based on utility and the need for human rights exists because they contribute to human happiness. (476) [max 400] Examples + Critique There are positive as well as negative aspects to Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism provides answers and reasons for people to be moral. Despite society having many conflicting moral views and beliefs it is commonly agreed that pleasure is good and pleasure is bad It provides a basic platform for making ethical decisions and also results in objective fairness which contributes to social harmony. It makes use of common sense and is widely practiced and this may result in socially beneficial changes. Utilitarianism is flexible and sensitive to certain circumstances even if there are different views on what is right and wrong in complex situations. Abortions can be used to illustrate the vast variety of views on a certain subject. Some people may be for abortion and some against. Either view has very different consequences for the action they take. Both views may contribute to the greater good depending on the individual. [elaborate ] There are however some negative aspects. Some may view Bentham’s theory as too uncivilized and it is uncertain how Mill can consider one pleasure more important than another. If pleasure is the only criterion it takes us back to Bentham’s theory and this is an example of circular reasoning. Utilitarianism aims to achieve the greatest amount of happiness but also to create happiness of greatest number. Therefore which do you choose: 4 completely happy people and 6 unhappy people, or 10 mildly happy people? This represents the incoherence of the Principle of Utility. Also, can slavery be justified if the benefit to society is greater than the misfortune of the slaves? Is the total happiness of society thus greater than the unhappiness of the slaves? If we also look at an example of where there are two people dying in need of a kidney: a family member and a scientist on the verge of making a cure for cancer, who will you donate your kidney to? Will you abide to your obligation to your family, or will you abide to the greater good of society? (336) [max 300: 150+150] Conclusion: By discussing how Bentham and Mill created the Principle of Utility we have discovered that Utilitarianism aims to satisfy the greater good and greater happiness of society, while avoiding pain and unhappiness. Utilitarians make their decisions depending of their consequences. Even though Utilitarianism does create a foundation for dealing with ethical issues and provides reason for people to be moral, it does not provide enough compensation for individual rights. Also, not everything can be evaluated by the same standard and happiness in itself is more complex than the theory makes provision for. Therefore, Utilitarianism does not fit into modern day society as people are more focused on self-interest and human rights are hugely important. (114).

The Importance of Sleep, Nutrition, and Exercise Essay -- Health Nutri

The Importance of Sleep, Nutrition, and Exercise Many students today ask why they are so tired all the time. It also seems that people in college become more stressed out either because of grades or because of work. All people need to do is get the right amount of sleep, eating well, and exercise in order to feel better about themselves and feel good in general. This is not a short process. Most experts say that it takes about twelve weeks in order to see results. But, it is guaranteed that after that duration of time one will see a vast improvement in oneself. Sleep is something that most people take for granted. It is the one thing that people are willing to compromise even more then food or money. It is estimated that between 40 to 60 million Americans are sleep deprived. Different people can get by with different amounts of sleep. There are some that can survive the next day with only a few hours. Then there are always others who cannot be called after 9:00 because they need those good solid 10 hours. The average person actually needs anywhere from between 7-9 hours a night. Why does one need sleep? When human bodies do not get enough sleep they tend to lose strength, the immune system decreases, and there is an increase in blood pressure. As students, it can effect concentration, memory, logical reasoning, and ability to do math. Now that the problem is known here is how to fix it. Dr. Stanley Coren, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, focuses on consistency. The body needs consistency. This can be fulfille d by simply going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every day. But, it is important to note that making up for lost sleep on the weekends is a big negative. It is preferable that if one likes to sleep on the weekends wake up at the same time Saturday and Sunday. When going to bed it should take about 15 to 20 minutes to fall asleep. If a half-hour has gone by and one still is not asleep one should get up and do something relaxing (i.e. take a warm bath, read, watch TV, etc.). Rita Mattson, a Certified Personal Trainer and Stress Management Counselor, makes the suggestion of drinking warm milk before retiring to bed because milk contains a high dosage of L-tryptophan which is a natural sedative. Sleep is just as important as any other part of taking good care of ones self. Another... ...ssue) provide a delicate support frame for the breasts that can be damaged by too much bouncing and stretching. There are two types of sports bras: compression bras and encapsulation, harness-type bras. The first works better for smaller breasted women because of the fit and the second tends to work better for larger women. When choosing the correct one for you take into account: the fit, how much support it is giving for the exercise that is going to be done, fabric (does it absorb moisture well), seams and stitching to avoid chaffing, and mobility. After taking all these into account one can be assured that he is well prepared for the exercise routine.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In conclusion, all the factors mentioned above can lead to a less stressful life. Sleep can help the body relax to deal with everyday pressure. People who eat a diet low in refined carbohydrates, sugar and caffeine, and high in whole grains, have shown a greater ability to cope with stress as in contrast to those who consume the opposite. Exercise, as well, is a way to release stress and tension (i.e. running, kickboxing, stair stepping, etc.). If one keeps all the factors in mind a healthier happier life can be achieved.

Multiple Chioce Quiz on Transfer Pricing

Multiple choice questions Try the multiple choice questions below to test your knowledge of Chapter 18. Once you have completed the test, click on ‘Submit Answers for Grading' to get your results. If your lecturer has requested that you send your results to them, please complete the Routing Information found at the bottom of your graded page and click on the ‘E-Mail Results' button. Please  do not  forward your results unless your lecturer has specifically requested that you do so. This activity contains 10 questions. ————————————————- Top of Form | | | | |When a perfectly competitive market exists and the firm uses market-based transfer pricing, the firm can achieve all of the following except for:| | | |   Ã‚  | subunit performance evaluation. | | management effort. | | goal congruence. | | price monopoly. | | | | | | | | | | | | Bob is the manager of th e Beta division. He is accountable for only the sales generated by the division. Beta is a(n):| | | |   Ã‚  | cost centre. | | profit centre. | | investment centre. | | revenue centre. | | | | | | | | | | | | A company that uses a separate transfer price for each division in a single transaction is employing:| | |   Ã‚  | dual pricing. | | market-based pricing. | | negotiated pricing. | | full cost pricing. | | | | | | | | | | | | If the selling subunit is operating at full capacity and can sell everything produced either internally or externally, it will only be willing to use a transfer price set by:| | | |   Ã‚  | cost plus a mark-up. | | the market. | | negotiation. | | variable costing. | | | | | | | | | | | | Optoca has 2 divisions, A and B. A makes a component for tables which it can sell only to Division B. It has no other outlet for sales.Current information for the divisions is as follows: Incremental cost for Division A| â‚ ¬100| Incremental cost for Division B| â‚ ¬200| Transfer price for component| â‚ ¬175| Final Table selling price| â‚ ¬425| The transfer price is based on 175% of incremental costs. What is the profit per table for Optoca? | | | |   Ã‚  | â‚ ¬50| | â‚ ¬75| | â‚ ¬150| | â‚ ¬125| | | | | | | | | | | | Optoca has 2 divisions, A and B. A makes a component for tables which it can sell only to Division B. It has no other outlet for sales. Current information for the divisions is as follows: Incremental cost for Division A| â‚ ¬100| Incremental cost for Division B| â‚ ¬200|Transfer price for component| â‚ ¬175| Final Table selling price| â‚ ¬425| Unit sales| 300| The transfer price is based on 175% of incremental costs. What is the amount of profit recognized by Division B? | | | |   Ã‚  | â‚ ¬15,000| | â‚ ¬45,000| | â‚ ¬22,500| | â‚ ¬37,500| | | | | | | | | | | | Optoca has 2 divisions, A and B. A makes a component for tables which it can sell only to Division B. It has no other outlet for sales. Current information for the divisions is as follows: Incremental cost for Division A| â‚ ¬100| Incremental cost for Division B| â‚ ¬200| Transfer price for component| â‚ ¬175|Final Table selling price| â‚ ¬425| The transfer price is based on 175% of incremental costs. Acotpo has offered to sell Division B the same component it currently gets from Division A for â‚ ¬150 per unit. If Division B accepts Acotpo’s offer, the firm as a whole will be:| | | |   Ã‚  | â‚ ¬25 per unit worse off. | | â‚ ¬25 per unit better off. | | â‚ ¬50 per unit better off. | | â‚ ¬50 per unit worse off. | | | | | | | | | | | | Optoca has 2 divisions, A and B. A makes a component for tables which it can sell only to Division B. It has no other outlet for sales.Current information for the divisions is as follows: Incremental cost for Division A| â‚ ¬100| Incremental cost for Division B| â‚ ¬200| Transfer price for component| â‚ ¬175| Final Table s elling price| â‚ ¬425| The transfer price is based on 175% of incremental costs. Acotpo has offered to sell Division B the same component it currently gets from Division A for â‚ ¬150 per unit. Given this information, what is the minimum amount that Division A would be willing to sell to Division B? | | | |   Ã‚  | â‚ ¬100 per unit. | | â‚ ¬150 per unit. | | â‚ ¬125 per unit. | | â‚ ¬175 per unit. | | | | | | | | | | | If Minnico, which uses cost based transfer pricing, finds that Division A has costs of â‚ ¬100 per unit, and Division B has divisional costs of â‚ ¬125 per unit, what will Division B recognise as total cost per unit if the mark-up rate is 40%? | | | |   Ã‚  | â‚ ¬100 per unit. | | â‚ ¬265 per unit. | | â‚ ¬225 per unit. | | â‚ ¬140 per unit. | | | | | | | | | | | | Which transfer pricing method will preserve the subunit autonomy? | | | |   Ã‚  | Cost-based pricing. | | Negotiated pricing. | | Full-cost pricing. | | Variable-co st pricing. | | | | | | | Bottom of Form

How Social Media Has Changed Our Society Media Essay

Social media has changed the way we live in many ways. It has changed everything from the way we communicate with each other to where we get our news from. It happened so fast that people hardly realized just how much their lives had changed. Personal and professional communities are now intertwined and within arm’s reach and our once small social and work networks have now expanded to proportions that were once unimaginable. Just like in any revolution or period of expansion, there are many positive and negative aspects involved in the world of social media. The world of social media is complex and nowhere near its pinnacle. It’s exciting to think of where it will take us in the years to come. Needless to say, our communication has sped up tremendously since social media was introduced. It has made it easier to keep in touch with people all over the country or all over the world for that matter. Social media has even made finding a date easier to a certain extent by mu ltiplying the size of our social circles. Social media allows people with similar interests to connect and converse. It allows professionals to network easier than ever before. Social media allows businesses to advertise for free and actually seem somewhat human to consumers. It also allows for cost effective campaigns and strategies for growing businesses. It also has the power to drive traffic to a website or even a real business. Some people think that social media is adding to human interaction while other people think that social media sites are basically replacing face-to-face interaction. see more:speech about social media Online interactions can become a substitute for actual human contact. It can encourage people to say or do things they never really would have done or meant to do, due to the fact that they feel like it’s not reality. It can lead to covert dealings and perhaps lead to infidelity. This social media frenzy has allowed bullies to spread destructive information about others and they can even bring out the nastiest conversations because people feel anonymous in some instances. Social media can ruin the image of a company due to the wrong angle or brand image. It can also have a negative impact on worker productivity. Either way you look at it, whether you like it or not, social media is changing our lives in one way or another. One aspect of society that will experience the greatest amount of social change over the next ten years is social media. Social media is going to grow larger and become more encompassing of our lives and able to capture more of our lives. Because we capture more of our  lives the people in our social circles will spend more of their time living vicariously through us. Therefore, they will spend less time learning about society and less time developing their own interpersonal relationships. Already social media encompasses several different media forms. Currently, these forms are music, writing, video, and pictures. Soon social media will include other forms of communication, such as augmented reality. Projects like Google Glass place a screen in front of your eyes all day; the glasses can recognize people’s faces and provide information. The glasses are able to listen to your conversation and provide relevant Google search results, for information you might want to know during the conversation. Therefore, interactions between people will be more fact-checked by information people make on the internet. As augmented reality projects like Google Glass become more widespread and developed, people will be constantly plugged into the internet and to the â€Å"hive-mind†. Eventually people will start dreaming their lives on the internet in part or in whole. You will become more of a public person, and in doing so more shaped by the society around you. Social media changes at the speed of which the technology that supports social media is developed and embraced. For new developments in social media to be embraced the new technological developments must be useful and intuitive. People need to have a reason to care about a new development. Society embraced the sharing of pictures because we like to capture glimpses of other people’s lives. We have embraced video because it expands upon pictures. Words were the first versions of social media, and were exchanged because they are the essence of communication. As long as people exist we will continue to seek new ways of exchanging information. What we call social media now will be but a small fraction of what social media is ten years from now. Eventually social anthropologists will look back at these times just as current social anthropologists examine cave paintings. We can ask ourselves, â€Å"What are the engines that are driving this change in our society?† For example, there are many reasons that drive people to use the site know as Facebook. Research resulted in nine ways that drive people to use Facebook; to conduct a survey, upload photos, putting your page together, posting an event, ask a question, create desktop backgrounds using images from an ev ent, and you can even post a picture of the day. The news media even use it to run a contest and give away merchandise, and posting of videos. Facebook has become an  overnight sensation for social networking, and what makes this so amazing is that Facebook did not even exist until 2004. Three college students created it to allow other students to network and meet each other, and it has caught on with people around the globe. Facebook has had many impacts on today’s technologically advanced society. It allows people who probably never would have met each other in person to communicate; it creates new relationships and friendships, and it places distance between people who could communicate in person but instead choose to communicate online. Facebook is nothing more than a medium for communication, and yet, it is so much more than that. At a glimpse, a person can learn everything from what gender a member of Facebook is, to what religion they believe in, what school he or she attends, and their likes and dislikes, with just a click of a mouse. An article in the Network Journal of Communications written by Brent Leary, compares and contrasts popular social networking sites and his recent experiences with them. He talks about being a member of over twelve differe nt social networking sites in which he has spent time using each network. One of the main interest in this article was the author’s insight into his most recent addition to his list; Facebook. He also notes that business application providers such as Yahoo, Finance, Zoho, etc. are building widgets to work with Facebook in order for Facebook to infiltrate further into the business networking field. The most appealing characteristic of Facebook is that they have been able to grow from what was once only a college based network, to a worldwide network with many different areas of interest. Most importantly they have been able to do this while staying very user friendly, professional, and private, unlike other social networks such as MySpace. This has allowed Facebook to become as financially valuable to its creators as it is socially valuable for its members. It is very interesting to see how Facebook has not only established itself in the networking world, but in the financial market as well that people use it for. Experts estimate that many people now spend at least 50 percent of their waking time online. For many, a large part of this time is spent in social networking sites like Facebook. Facebook on the surface is a socially acceptable networking site for students and others to connect, share experiences, and meet old friends. It does say some disturbing things about how our society is adjusting to the age of technology, and it brings into question how a generation of Face  bookers will deal with the challenges of the real world in person like career, family, and success. There are tons of data that show that the social media wave (hype) is going to continue and is here to stay. Take Facebook and Twitter for instance. Many large associations and companies advertise on these social media platforms like the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL to name a few. From a company stand point CBS, CNN, Wal-Mart, and Apple advertise on these social media platforms also. According to Michael A. Stelzner, â€Å"Social media marketing involves engaging people with online social networks to generate exposure, increase traffic, gather insight, improve search rankings, enhance customer relations, build strong brand advocates, generate quality leads and grow sales† (â€Å"Quickly Grow Your Business†). Social media helps businesses grow around the world. This is one major reason why social media is going to continue to prosper. Social media involves a lot of youth in today’s society. For example, social media has greatly influenced youth to vote or seek education about this year’s Presidential Election. According to Foster Web Marketing, â€Å"The younger genera tion (18 to 35 years old) is the largest group of social media users. They pretty much rely on social media and other internet sources for information. With the structure of social media, information is easily skewed as users exchange it with others. Because someone has to pass on the information to another, they can add their 2 cents along with the relevant content, meaning the end result can lean heavily toward one side or another†. It was said that in this year’s Presidential Election, the youth played a big role in the reelection of Obama. Social media played a major role this election and is projected to play a bigger role in the next Presidential Election. Social media also allow news companies and news stations to get information out to the world within minutes. Good or bad, social media has impacted the world in a major way. It has allowed long lost friends, family members, and lovers to reunite. Since its arrival, social media has changed the way the world socializes in general. Undoubtedly, social media is capable of bringing people together. They potentially create friendships and partnerships, expose users to advertisements therefore developing business endeavors, and allow individuals who would otherwise remain silent virtually shout their thoughts and opinions to a broad range of strangers, friends, and acquaintances alike. There are certainly already  acknowledgeable pros and cons to social media. With the cyber doors wide open, people are able to learn a lot about someone before they even lay their own eyes on them: name, address, looks, personal preferences, etc. It is easy to assume that many social media users are alienating themselves from true personal contact with potential friends and partners. Granted this will not always hold true, younger generations who will grow up under the direct influence of social media will come to believe that it’s okay to meet all their acquaintances through the internet which would ultimately hinder their social skills, confidence, and charisma. In order to measure the future impact of social media on society, over the next decade we will inevitably have to look to efficient research methods for accurate conclusions. Sociologists rely on surveys to gather information about both small and large populations- mostly behavioral and opinion information. â€Å"Surveys are one of the most commonly used quantitative research techniques in sociology.† This method of research is the most effective because surveys allow the sociologist to capture an opinion of a large group which will therefore give the data that is needed to site the information. This information will show the change accurately and promptly. Random sampling for the survey w ill give everyone an equal opportunity in participating in the survey. A diverse amount of people will result in finding an abundant amount of opinions about this topic. We have seen the social media change in just months since new phones have emerged such as the iPhone 5. Apple is one of the number one leading companies in technology and their Apple products are constantly updating. From the article on the apple website, it states, â€Å"We use the iPhone to log in and launch an infrastructure management client. I can screen share with senior architects and lead them through the challenges they’re facing. Being able to do that anywhere — without a computer — is a major benefit to us. We can respond to customer needs much faster and solve problems on the go.† As we can conclude from this quote, the change is inevitable because it’s more convenient, and convenience is what we love. Social media has undergone such a significant change since its founding. This is due to all of its possible uses. When social media first began it was for the purpose of enabling it’s users to locate and communicate with others. Now it has broadened from that into many other possible uses. There has been such a variety of benefits, for both  individuals and business, to using social media. For individuals, one of the benefits has been that they have been able to keep in touch with their friends and loved ones. They are able to see what they have going on in their lives and contact those that they have lost contact with. Individuals are able to stay abreast of the different activities and functions in both their area and other areas. They also use social media to spread the word of functions, using this as a free method of invitation. Social media has also been a beneficial tool for children as well. Kids gain confidence from interacting with others online, which has long term benefits. Online communities are very diverse and expose children to different viewpoints, technologies and ideas. In addition, this is the easiest way of communicating internationally. For businesses, they have caught hold to the trend and have acknowledged the benefits and possibilities to grow their corporations. This has become used by both large and small businesses. They use social media to both promote and survey their businesses. They have saved an abundance of money by using it as a method of free advertising. Many businesses have grown, become established, or have been saved by using social media. They also use this as a way to widen business contacts and as recruitment tools. Social media will experience more social change than a ny other in its class because as times change, need will change. Social media will adapt to meet the needs of society. There will be different and more advanced searches and possibilities for both individuals and businesses. Technology has become the forefront of advancement in today’s society and social media will be modified to meet the needs and encourage different endeavors for its users. With the already present benefits of social media, there will continue to be advancements that will add greater opportunities for growth than any other area in the next ten years. We all enjoy a little social media one way or another in today’s society. Some of us, in fact many of us can’t survive a day without updating our MySpace, Twitter, or Facebook. With the help of these social networking sites, the internet has made our lives as Americans extremely simple and easier. These sites allow their patrons to not only connect with their friends, but are very useful for things such as employment, networking and even getting your brand as an artist, whether music, drawing or any other talents that you may have, out and viewable by today’s society. But with time always comes change. Whether  good or bad, change is the one constant entity in society. The functionalist theory of social change best describes the change in social media because these sites have changed the way we as Americans live and adapt to this new phenomenon. Functionalism is a macro level of analysis, which basically describes how each level or part of society contributes to society as a whole and when something changes from the norm the ability to adapt to that change. Take this for example; milk of course comes from cows for the most part, so it would originate from a farm somewhere in Middle America. After being collected from the farms, it would be transferred via most likely an eighteen-wheeler to a factory for processing. After being deemed consumable, it would then be bottled up and placed perhaps on another eighteen-wheeler, plane or other mode of transportation to be transferred to your local market, and later delivered to your doorstep by your milkman. In this instance, the farm, the eighteen-wheeler, the factory, the market and the milkman are all parts of society working together in the milk industry. But what happens if you were to remove one part of the process. Milk delivered to your front door step isn’t very common anymore, which took the milkman out of the equation. Society didn’t just stop enjoying the great taste of milk; they simply went to the market themselves to purchase the milk. They adapted to the change that was presented to them. Social media has no doubt changed society as a whole, but have we as a society been able to adapt to that change? Without a doubt, the answer is yes. A lot of parts in certain processes that are being used in today’s society have experienced changed due to social media. Take Facebook for example and the effect it has had on the hiring process. Generally, face to face interviews were used to develop an idea of what type of person an applicant may be, but now if you throw Facebook in the mix, employers can take a look at potential employee’s page and develop an idea on that person’s character from their page. In this instance an interview may not be needed, and if you do get an interview, the employer may have developed an idea of your character and has decided whether or not you’re going to get that job. The internet changed the hiring process and we as a society have adapted. Functionalism best explains the change in social media and social networking. Our society has shown that change will always occur but it’s the ability to adapt to the change that actually brings the change to light. In conclusion, social media has forever  changed the way society works, whether it’s the sharing of an idea, the communication of news, or the availability of a product or service. Society today is on the verge of a new way of existing that it’s never experienced before. No longer will people from one side of the world be really able to say that they will never see a person or communicate with someone from the other side of the world ever in their life. No longer will people not be able to share an idea, if they really want to share it (no matter how radical it may be or no matter how many people may disagree with it). No longer will the spreading of information or the expressing of an opinion be able to be completely silenced. As long as there is a person who wishes to express their opinion, share their music or art, or simply say hello to another human being in another country or culture, social media will allow them to do so.

The Mako Shark

The Mako Shark Two species of Mako sharks, close relatives of great white sharks,  inhabit the worlds oceans – shortfin makos and longfin makos. One characteristic that sets these sharks apart is their speed: The shortfin mako shark holds the record for being the fastest shark in the sea and is among the fastest swimming fish in the world. How Fast  Do They Swim? The shortfin mako shark has been clocked at a sustained speed of 20 mph, but it can double or triple that speed for short periods of time. Shortfin makos can reliably accelerate to 46 mph, and some individuals may even reach 60 mph. Their torpedo-shaped bodies enable them to surge through the water at such a rapid speed. Mako sharks also have tiny, flexible scales covering their body, allowing them to control the flow of water over their skin and minimize drag. And shortfin makos arent just fast; they can also change direction in a split second. Their remarkable speed and maneuverability make them lethal predators. Are They Dangerous? Any large shark, including the mako, can be dangerous when encountered. Mako sharks have long, sharp teeth, and they can quickly overtake any potential prey thanks to their speed. However, mako sharks dont usually swim in the shallow, coastal waters where most shark attacks occur. Deep-sea fishermen and SCUBA divers encounter shortfin mako sharks more often than swimmers and surfers. Only eight mako shark attacks have been documented, and none were fatal. Characteristics The mako shark averages about 10 feet long and 300 pounds, but the largest individuals can weigh well over 1,000 pounds. Makos are metallic silver on the underside and a deep, shiny blue on the top. The main difference between shortfin makos and longfin makos is, as you may have guessed, the length of their fins. Longfin mako sharks have longer pectoral fins with broad tips. Mako sharks have pointed, conical snouts, and cylindrical bodies, which minimizes water resistance and makes them hydrodynamic. The caudal fin is lunate in form, like a crescent-shaped moon. A firm ridge just ahead of the caudal fin, called a caudal keel, increases their fin stability when swimming. Mako sharks have large, black eyes and five long gill slits on each side. Their long teeth usually protrude from their mouths. Classification Mako sharks belong to the family of mackerel or white sharks. The mackerel sharks are large, with pointed snouts and long gill slits, and theyre known for their speed. The mackerel shark family includes just five living species: porbeagles (Lamna nasus), salmon sharks (Lamna ditropis), shortfin makos (Isurus oxyrinchus), longfin makos (Isurus paucus), and great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). Mako sharks are classified as follows: Kingdom - Animalia (animals)Phylum - Chordata (organisms with a dorsal nerve cord)Class – Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish)Order – Lamniformes (mackerel sharks)Family - Lamnidae (mackerel sharks)Genus – IsurusSpecies – Isurus spp Life Cycle Not much is known about longfin mako shark reproduction. Shortfin mako sharks grow slowly, taking years to reach sexual maturity. Males reach reproductive age at 8 years or more, and females take at least 18 years. In addition to their slow growth rate, shortfin mako sharks have a 3-year reproductive cycle. This extended life cycle makes the mako shark population extremely vulnerable to practices like overfishing. Mako sharks mate, so fertilization occurs internally. Their development is ovoviviparous, with young developing in a uterus but nourished by a yolk sac rather than a placenta. Better developed young are known to cannibalize their less developed siblings in utero, a practice known as oophagy. Gestation takes up to 18 months, at which time the mother gives birth to a litter of live pups. Mako shark litters average 8-10 pups, but occasionally as many as 18 may survive. After giving birth, the female mako wont mate again for another 18 months. Habitat Shortfin and longfin mako sharks differ slightly in their ranges and habitats. Shortfin mako sharks are considered pelagic fish, meaning they inhabit the water column but tend to avoid coastal waters and the ocean bottom. Longfin mako sharks are epipelagic, which means they inhabit the upper portion of the water column, where light can penetrate. Mako sharks inhabit tropical and warm temperate waters but arent usually found in colder water bodies. Mako sharks are migratory fish. Shark tagging studies document mako sharks traveling distances of 2,000 miles and more. They are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, in latitudes as far south as Brazil and as far north as the northeastern United States. Diet Shortfin mako sharks feed mainly on bony fish, as well as other sharks and cephalopods (squid, octopuses, and cuttlefish). Large mako sharks will sometimes consumer larger prey, like dolphins or sea turtles. Not much is known about the longfin mako sharks feeding habits, but their diet is probably similar to that of shortfin makos. Endangerment Human activities, including the inhumane practice of shark finning, are gradually pushing mako sharks toward possible extinction. Makos are not endangered at this time, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), but both shortfin and longfin mako sharks are classified as vulnerable species. Shortfin mako sharks are a favorite catch of sport fishermen and are also prized for their meat. Both shortfin and longfin makos are often killed as bycatch in tuna and swordfish fisheries, and these unintentional deaths are largely underreported. Sources Shortfin Mako, University of Florida, Florida Museum website. Accessed online July 12, 2017.Longfin Mako, University of Florida, Florida Museum website. Accessed online July 12, 2017.Isurus , IUCN Red List of Threatened Species website. Accessed online July 12, 2017.oxyrinchusIsurus paucus, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species website. Accessed online July 12, 2017.Statistics on Attacking Species of Shark, University of Florida, Florida Museum website. Accessed online July 12, 2017.Mako Shark, NOAA Fisheries Fact Sheet. Accessed online July 12, 2017.Species: Isurus , Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute website. Accessed online July 12, 2017.oxyrinchus, Shortfin makoSpecies: Isurus paucus, Longfin mako, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute website. Accessed online July 12, 2017.Ovoviviparity, Support Our Sharks website. Accessed online July 12, 2017.Flexible Scales Add to Speed of , by Sindya N. Bhanoo, November 29, 2010, New York Times.Shortin Mako Shark

Viking History - Guide to the Ancient Norse

Viking History - Guide to the Ancient Norse Viking history traditionally begins in northern Europe with the first Scandinavian raid on England, in AD 793, and ends with the death of Harald Hardrada in 1066, in a failed attempt to attain the English throne. During those 250 years, the political and religious structure of northern Europe was changed irrevocably. Some of that change can be directly attributed to the actions of the Vikings, and/or the response to Viking imperialism, and some of it cannot. Viking Age Beginnings Beginning in the 8th century AD, the Vikings began expanding out of Scandinavia, first as raids and then as imperialistic settlements into a wide swath of places from Russia to the North American continent. The reasons for the Viking expansion outside of Scandinavia are debated among scholars. Reasons suggested include population pressure, political pressure, and personal enrichment. The Vikings could never have begun raiding or indeed settling beyond Scandinavia if they had not developed highly effective boat building and navigation skills; skills that were in evidence by the 4th century AD. At the time of the expansion, the Scandinavian countries were each experiencing a centralization of power, with fierce competition. Settling Down Fifty years after the first raids on the monastery at Lindisfarne, England, the Scandinavians ominously shifted their tactics: they began to spend the winters at various locations. In Ireland, the ships themselves became part of the over-wintering, when the Norse built an earthen bank on the landward side of their docked ships. These types of sites, called longphorts, are found prominently on the Irish coasts and inland rivers. Viking Economics The Viking economic pattern was a combination of pastoralism, long-distance trade, and piracy. The type of pastoralism used by the Vikings was called landnm, and although it was a successful strategy in the Faroe Islands, it failed miserably in Greenland and Ireland, where the thin soils and climate change led to desperate circumstances. The Viking trade system, supplemented by piracy, on the other hand, was extremely successful. While conducting raids on various peoples throughout Europe and western Asia, the Vikings obtained untold amounts of silver ingots, personal items, and ​other booty, and buried them in hoards. Legitimate trade in items such as cod, coins, ceramics, glass, walrus ivory, polar bear skins and, of course, slaves were conducted by the Vikings as early as the mid 9th century, in what must have been uneasy relationships between the Abbasid dynasty in Persia, and Charlemagnes empire in Europe. Westward with the Viking Age The Vikings arrived in Iceland in 873, and in Greenland in 985. In both cases, the importation of the landnam style of pastoralism led to dismal failure. In addition to a sharp decline in sea temperature, which led to deeper winters, the Norse found themselves in direct competition with the people they called the Skraelings, who we now understand are the ancestors of the Inuits of North America. Forays westward from Greenland were undertaken in the very last years of the tenth century AD, and Leif Erickson finally made landfall on the Canadian shores in 1000 AD, at a site called Lanse Aux Meadows. The settlement there was doomed to failure, however.

Developing an argument (gobal warming) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Developing an argument (gobal warming) - Essay Example The argument I am going to build in this essay is that the global warming will not be a continuous phenomenon and that the mankind will handle this issue in order to secure the long term survival of our future generations to come and since global warming is a natural phenomenon therefore it will stop the same way it was started by the nature. Over the history of mankind, we have successfully battled the gore threats from nature which were threatening to our survival on the earth. These threats included floods, earth quacks, tsunamis, viruses etc and through all these, we, as mankind has successfully emerged as winners. It is simple human nature that we want to evolve and in that process we come up with innovations and methods which allowed us to handle these. Since the main causes of the global warming are greenhouse gas concentrations, therefore plantation of new trees and especially those that have the capability of absorbing heat can significantly contribute towards reducing the i mpact of global warming on the planet earth. Scientists have discovered that plants with short life cycles or quick growing plants like weeds have the capability to cope with the global warming.(sciencedaily,2007). Similarly corals adopt to cope with the global warming more than any other thing as the studies suggest that corals may be able to sustain the extreme heat by forming new relationships with their algae’s to take on more heat.(Hect,2004). What we as humans has to do is to continuously search and find out methods which can help us to cope with the global warming. Some studies have even suggested that the global warming has stopped and it is no more hurting the mother earth (Lynas, 2008). However there are concerns that the global warming may not be stopping and that it is a continuous phenomenon and will bring in the downfall of humans eventually. There is evidence which suggest that global warming still has to unfold however