The Effects of Media Violence

The Effects of Media Violence Free Online Research Papers Since the 1950’s when television became a national pastime, media violence and aggressive behavior among children and young adults have increased dramatically. Is there a significant association between exposure to media violence and aggressive behavior? Studies have shown that watching television is one factor on youth violence and aggressive behavior, while continued research has proven other risk factors are at fault such as violent video games, bad parenting, and the communities these children grow up in. On the positive side, research has found that the effects of exposure to media violence can be reduced with monitoring of parents and professional attention. The illustration below shows that too much exposure to television can lead to aggressive behavior among children and young adults. (Ledingham, Richardson, 1993) While children watch an average of 28 hours of television a week, studies show that same aggressive behavior after playing video games, watching movies and cartoons; even now the internet will encourage these same behaviors. At least two-thirds of U.S. kids have a TV in their bedrooms; half have a VCR or DVD player, half have a video game console, and almost one-third have Internet access or a computer (Jungbauer, 2009). This, naturally, makes monitoring media use difficult. â€Å"Children learn by observation and are especially vulnerable to fictionalized violent acts such as verbal and physical aggression; children learn fear, mistrust, and decreased sensitivity to violence in real life† (Smoots, 2003). Parents have the opportunity to control verbal and physical behavior among children and young adults. Parents can easily walk away and take a timeout from certain situations before â€Å"blowing up†. Parents can monitor children’s media diet by watching what vi deo games are being played and television shows are being viewed. Thus, on the parent’s belief, parents can decide on what children watch and play. Parents can take into consideration by doing the following: set limits by reducing media time to 1-2 hours a day, discuss the program-by asking questions about the show, use screening options such as V-chip, and plan a viewing time to watch television and to play video games together. As the illustration below shows an example of children not being monitored of what they watch. Researchers believe without the monitoring of television viewing and playing video games among children and young adults lead to the aggressive behavior. (Ledingham, Richardson, 1993) Over the years research has shown a strong relationship between viewing violence in television and playing video games have made children and young adults to become more aggressive in behavior. Research has shown that playing violent video games is becoming a high risk factor among children and young adults in today’s society. But as of today there have not been extensive studies that prove violent video games make children and young adults aggressive. â€Å"The number of studies investigating the impact of such games on youth aggression is small, there have been none on serious violence, and none has been longitudinal† (Youth Violence, 2008). One of the main focuses on media violence has become the research on video games and violence, what it contains and the affects it has on children and young adults today. For example, some researchers claim it was a video game (Doom) that sparked the shootings at Columbine High School back on April 20, 1999. There were other facto rs included such as problematic parents, racism, and watching violent movies-Natural Born Killers for one example. For researchers to blame that shooting at Columbine High School on one video game (Doom) is all wrong, researchers need to gather more facts and information instead of jumping to conclusions. â€Å"Other risk factors like society, parents, and communities can be an influence on children and young adults as well† (Da-Wei, W. 2007). By monitoring the exposure to such as violence in society, parents, communities, television and video games, children and young adults can benefit from media culture. In the chart below it shows that youth violence was higher in the early 90’s when video games were not so popular. As video games became popular in the late 90’s throughout the 00’s youth violence had declined and has leveled out. Researchers need to start looking at these other factors and what is causing children and young adults this aggressive behavior instead of just video games. (Ferguson, C. J. 2009) Is there a strong relationship between video games and aggressive behavior among children and young adults? There may be certain individual with aggressive behavior and might be affected by the exposure of violent video games, but this is still not determined. More negative results come from violence in the media and watching television than video games. Research suggests that not all youths are affected in the same way by viewing media violence and playing violent video games. Factors that appear to influence the effects of media violence on aggressive or violent behavior include characteristics of the viewer such as age, intelligence, aggressiveness, and whether the child perceives the media as realistic and identifies with aggressive characters (Youth Violence, 2008). In general, children and young adults who already have high aggressive attitude would be more affected than those who are not as aggressive. Children and young adults do not understand the consequences of violent media; they believe violence is the way to handle situations out in the real world. For example â€Å"studies have shown that children who watched a relatively aggressive cartoon of Woody Woodpecker, researchers have discovered that the children who watched this aggressive cartoon became more violent and aggressive towards classmates† (Coleman, 2010). Researchers said despite all the studies on aggressive behavior, the more children and young adults are exposed to media violence the more aggressive they become in adulthood. Other studies have shown that the examining of media violence in a television show that the aggressor is being punished or the aggressor is being rewarded (Coleman, 2010). The viewing of violent movies can be misleading by children and young adults; media violence does have an overwhelming effect on children and young adults. Although media violence definitely has a negative affect on children and young adults, some researchers claim that there is a positive effect as well. Media violence does not have to impact children and young adults like researchers claim it does. This is known as the Catharsis Theory, which cites violent media as potential outlet for aggressive behavior and decreased real world violence as a result (Da-Wei, 2007). In other words, if this theory is correct, then watching violent television and playing violent video games can help relieve aggressive behavior and stop aggressive behavior in the real world and among children and young adults. In the illustration below it show an adolescent playing a video game, adult supervision can prevent children and young adults from becoming aggressive. For example, preliminary data point to the potentially vital role a parent in supervising children and young adult’s exposures to violent media and violent video games in helping them interp ret it (Youth Violence, 2008),(Awareness Network, 2010). So let’s look at some other risk factors instead of blaming media violence and violent video games among children and young adults. The children’s upbringing or home environment can play an important role on whether they become aggressive or not. Parents, teachers, and even a professional psychiatrist can help monitor what children and young adults watch and play at home or in the classroom. Children whose parents and teachers discuss the situation about media violence and violent video games tend to be less aggressive than those of parents that do not discuss the situation about the violence behind violent television and video games. Other suggestions are sitting down and watching violent television shows and playing video games with the children and young adults. By doing so, parents can get a better understanding of what to ask and discuss with children before aggressive behavior becomes a problem. With parents and teachers having the knowledge and understanding wha t children and young adults are viewing will help in explaining what is wrong and what is right. Communities is another risk factor, if children and young adults are seeing violence out in the streets â€Å"the real world† they may tend to think that violence is the way to handle situation and become aggressive. This can be avoided by having children and young adults becoming more active in church organization do community service and have parents put a curfew on the children. This will help not letting the children stay out so late to view violence in the street after hours. Children and young adults who have good relations with an adult or other peer who support conventional behavior and disapprove of delinquent behavior can provide invaluable guidance for young people. â€Å"Researchers agree that having a loving adult who is interested in and supportive of a child or young person’s ideas and activities helps that child or adolescent develop the confidence and competence needed to progress from one stage of development to the next† (Youth Violence, 2008). In the illustration below it shows how parents can become a better a better parent by paying attention to children and young adults. Equally important; start early as possible when influencing children and young adult about the exposures of violent television and violent video games. â€Å"It is easier to enforce rules with younger children than with older ones, and younger children are the ones who appear to be more sensitive to the negative effects of video violence† (Ledingham, Richardson, 1993). Over the past 50 years researchers on violent television and violent video games revealed evidence that media violence increase the aggressive and violent behavior in both children and young adults. Between the positive and negative there is a solution to correct the aggressive and violent behavior. Parents can monitor the use of television and video games. Spend more time with the children and young adults, understand what they are watching or playing, make time to be with the children and young adults. With just a few adjustments in parents busy schedule can improve the outcome of children and young adults. Communities, religious organizations, teachers, and society can teach parents and children to be more aware of media violence and the effects it has on today’s children and young adults. There is no less violence in today’s media. In my opinion, media violence and parents need to take a closer look at what is becoming of today’s children and young adults, b efore it gets out of control. With technology, professionalism, and children being monitored, it can be controlled. Research Papers on The Effects of Media ViolenceEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseHip-Hop is ArtInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyWhere Wild and West MeetCapital PunishmentThe Spring and AutumnAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia

Color of Republican Party - Why Its Red

Color of Republican Party - Why It's Red The color associated with the Republican Party is red, though not because the party chose it. The association between red and Republican began with the advent of color television and network news on Election Day several decades ago and has stuck with the GOP ever since. Youve heard the terms red state, for example.  A red state is one that consistently votes Republican in elections for governor and president. Conversely, a blue state is one that reliably sides with Democrats in those races. Swing states are a whole different story and can be described as either pink or purple depending on their political leanings. So why is the color red associated with Republicans?   Heres the story. First Use of Red for Republican The first use of the terms red state  to connote a Republican state came about a week before the 2000 presidential election between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore, according to The Washington Posts Paul Farhi. The Post scoured  newspaper and magazine archives and television news broadcast transcripts dating back to 1980 for the phrase and found that the first instances could be  traced NBCs Today show and  subsequent  discussions between  Matt Lauer  and  Tim Russert  during the election season on MSNBC. Wrote Farhi: As the 2000 election became a 36-day recount debacle, the commentariat magically reached consensus on the proper colors. Newspapers began discussing the race in the larger, abstract context of red vs. blue. The deal may have been sealed when Letterman suggested a week after the vote that a compromise would make George W. Bush president of the red states and Al Gore head of the blue ones. No Consensus on Colors Before 2000 Before the 2000 president election, television networks didnt stick to any particular theme when illustrating which candidates and which parties won which states. In fact, many rotated the colors: One year Republicans would be red and the next year Republicans would be blue. Neither party really wanted to claim red as its color because of its association with communism. According to Smithsonian  magazine: Before the epic election of 2000, there was no uniformity in the maps that television stations, newspapers or magazines used to illustrate presidential elections. Pretty much everyone embraced red and blue, but which color represented which party varied, sometimes by organization, sometimes by election cycle. Newspapers including The New York Times and USA Today jumped on the Republican-red and Democrat-blue theme that year, too, and stuck with it. Both published color-coded maps of results by county. Counties that sided with Bush appeared red in the newspapers. Counties that voted for Gore were shaded in blue. The explanation Archie Tse, a senior graphics editor for the Times, gave to Smithsonian  for his choice of colors for each party was fairly straightforward: â€Å"I just decided  red  begins with ‘r,’  Republican  begins with ‘r.’ It was a more natural association.  There wasn’t much discussion about it.† Why Republicans are Forever Red The color red has stuck and is now permanently associated with Republicans. Since the 2000 election, for example, the website  RedState has become a popular source of news and information for right-leaning readers. RedState describes itself as the leading conservative, political news blog for right of center activists. The color blue is now permanently associated with Democrats. The website ActBlue, for example, helps connect political donors to Democratic candidates of their choice and has become a substantial force in how campaigns are financed.

ShutterFly's ProGrowth and ProProfit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

ShutterFly's ProGrowth and ProProfit - Essay Example Shutterfly has had great commercial successes and fulfilled 12 million orders, sold 370 million prints, stored one billion consumer photos and their net revenues increased from $31.4 million in 2003 to $54.5 million to 2004 and $83.9 million in 2005. Shutterfly was also voted one among the top 500 fastest growing private companies in 2005. The company also got publicly enlisted and offered about 23.5 million shares of common stock. Shutterfly rides on the growth of the photo industry market that allows online consumers to store, share, print and edit photos for the present and future generations. User friendly websites and increased access to the internet have been increasing the number of online photography users and photo prints have been generating revenue of $10 billion in 2005. Greeting cards, scrapbooks, calendars and other general merchandise on digital photography are some of the other revenue generating consumer products that are sold by the company. However several issues such as branding, competition, innovation and expansion, marketing strategies, profits and growth, market shares, consumer preferences have to b considered to analyse the various orientations to growth or profits. It would be interesting to analyse whether profits or growth of a company should be brought about with two different forms of governance, one for increasing profits and other for increasing growth. Certain firms tend to give equal attention to profits and to growth and may allocate equal amount of resources to bring about profits and growth and costs, quality and time spent on PG and PP efforts would be the same (also in Armstrong and Levesque, 2002). It would be necessary to understand whether the PP and PG efforts of a company are opposed or mutually beneficial. In certain cases, the firm would focus only on increasing profits and in certain cases the focus is on growth. With the focus on both profits and growth, there may be conflicting market ori entations and strategies although this would be an interesting combination to analyse the firm's success. Roper (1999) delineated how strategy choices affect market position and business performance of firms and suggested that a firm's turnover growth and return on assets are weakly related for short-term profits. Roper also states that firm performance also depends strongly on strategy choice, with turnover growth being particularly strategy dependent. Thus turnover growth and general profitability of a company as well as long term growth of a company would be all related to strategy choice. Even in case of Shutterfly's business analysis, the primary importance could be given to the strategy and market choices used by the company. Considering the uses of PG and PP, it would be interesting to note that when both PP and PG are allocated, executed and achieved simultaneously, they would together increase the total value of the firm. When these models are used exclusively, then downturn in the firm's performance can lead to the use of an alternate model so the focus would be on either of the two, the PP model or the PG model and either the profits or the growth of the company would be important. In fact Han (2005) noted that the management of two paradoxical forces such as pro-growth strategy and pro-profit strategy could provide for strategic ambidexterity

Business environment and strategic management Essay

Business environment and strategic management - Essay Example The period between 1990 and 2008 saw a series of activities which were steeped in several factors which include amongst other things; strategic drift, failure to adapt to dominant changes in the external environment, excessive focus on profit maximisation and the desire to hold on to corporate traditions rather than innovate to meet the changes. This paper examines the case of Kodak in relation to strategic management, change management, innovation and strategic responsiveness. It will use six theories to examine the case of Kodak and how it led to the eventual downward spiral of the company. The paper will assess the shortfalls of Kodak in relation to Scenario Analysis, Cultural Web, Strategic Drift, Pascale's Excess Theory, Schumpeter's conception of Innovation and Marconi's model. Scenario Analysis â€Å"Scenario analysis involves a system of envisioning the movements in the markets by examining a series of possibilities in order to draw alternative plans to meet them.† (Mc Keown, 2006 p68). ... In hat case, another business in the industry that got the variables right in its planning is likely to succeed in the industry ahead of the industry that failed to draw several plans and alter its operations. Cooper cites the example of IBM (2005). In 1980, IBM was on top of the technology game. IBM was a leader in the manufacture and development of computer software and hardware. IBM envisioned in 1980 that by 1990, there would be a total of 275,000 computer users. And since IBM was the market leader, they believed that their estimation was absolute and precise. As such, the top level management which had a centralised system of management and control ensured that there were no deviations from the primary plan. As such, IBM outsourced significant components of the manufacture of personal computers to Intel and Microsoft. IBM did this on the basis that there would be only 275,000 computer users in the coming decade. Due to that, they focused on other ventures and other manufacturing contracts in the technological industry that they thought was going to be more profitable. However, the number of computer users increased exponentially. By 1990, there were as many as 60 million personal computer users around the world. This was enormously different from the figure they estimated in 1980. One may ask why IBM did not review their plans about the computer industry because the change was highly significant and if the management had their ears to the ground, they would have realized that things were changing and they would have made changes. Cooper identifies some key pointers that led to the downfall of IBM and they are all steeped in the failure to undertake

Universal Health Care Is Socialism Essay Example for Free

Universal Health Care Is Socialism Essay Europe is considered one of the most ideal places to live. Its fascinating history and being home to some of the worlds most beautiful sights, who wouldn’t want to live there. While those are great incentives, some educated might argue that there are better amenities if one decides to reside there. Aside from what I just listed, Europe is home to some of the best working conditions. A 30-hour workweek, lengthy vacation packages, its wide-ranging early retirement benefits and its government sponsored health care coverage (Goldman). While some call this desirable, everyone calls it socialism. Socialism is an act of government stepping into the free market in an attempt to equally distribute goods to the public. Therefore the liberal agenda to enforce a universal healthcare system in America is an act of socialism. America was built and is where it is today due to our free market, or for a better term, capitalism. Capitalism is having the power in the people, letting the people decide how and what they want to spend their money on with no interference from the government. Letting the people strive and attempt to achieve the highest paycheck is the best way to motivate workers, therefore increasing the economic output as well as GDP. When a government takes more money away from the rich in hope to provide more for the lower classes with generous benefits for little work, it can erase the incentive for hard work. Therefore decreasing workflow as well as total economic prosperity. Merriam Webster defines socialism as any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. Socialism dates back to the 1700’s during the French Revolution. The Industrial Revolution was seen as machinery replacing human labor. With poor housing, poor working conditions, slave labor, and the richer, all led to the envy for a society that was more equal, and with these conditions continuing to grow, the socialist ideas caught on rapidly (truth-it). The socialist movement is instilled in Europe and, here in America, the Democratic party has pushing and pressuring the federal government into developing political and economic system, similar to Europe’s. This movement led by President Obama and his left leaning supporters has been bringing America’s capitalistic system closer to the socialist left, that of Europe. Universal health care being a front-runner of his massive government spending plans has only been a glimpse of the socialist agenda and the true desires the President has for this country. The people of America needed to decide if they wanted to move in this direction or stick with our roots and continue on our free market economy. I believe that after this recent election and the Republicans winning a majority in the House of Representatives shows the direction most Americans want to focus our effort and energy as a country. That being in a more, free market, free of universal health care. This increase in government spending can only be financed by increasing taxes or government borrowing. While we should be open to all ideas, we should take a look at how socialism has affected Europe. The people of Europe are just now facing the reality of their lavish lifestyle for the past few years, many people were not making as much as they were spending. Leading a breakdown in their economy and now facing the hurt of a deep recession. Universal health care falls into the realm of Socialism due to the fact that government would be responsible for funding this massive new program. Government would be controlling the distribution of the health care as well as funding. That definition could also describe the regulations already set in Europe, where is widely accepted as a socialist policy. Universal health care would be an attempt to properly cover all Americans with adequate health care for a very low, if not a free, price. Stating that all Americans deserve health insurance and anything else is unacceptable. For this to become true government would have to own and regulate the vast majority of health care therefore taking responsibility for the use and distribution health care. While many people are reluctant to dub universal health care as socialism, the truth of the matter it is. They need to realize if we go ahead with this act we will be drifting away from our roots of a capitalistic society. Socialism has taken over Europe and is to blame for their current state.

The Root Causes of Deforestation :: Environment Evironmental Essays

The Root Causes of Deforestation In the second chapter of his book, Tropical Deforestation: Small Farmers and Land Clearing in the Ecuadorian Amazon, Thomas K. Rudel hypothesizes that the cause of rainforest destruction goes beyond the traditional immiserization model. The immiserization model holds that there are two groups of people separately causing deforestation: powerful businesses such as the plantation owners and extractive enterprises; and landless peasants. Instead, he contends that these groups of people, along with the local and international governments, banks and markets all cause deforestation by their mutual interactions. His idea is supported by the pattern of deforestation. Instead of rising steadily as the population grows, it goes in spurts. Peasants seize the opportunity to develop new land when it is opened up by penetration roads built by the government or large extractive corporations. Owning land along a road is the best way to ensure that they profit from their labor. That way peasants have direct links to transportation for their products and don't have to deal with middlemen who take a large share of the profits. He cites resources indicating that deforestation rates increased when international banks loaned money to countries for frontier development projects. Similar results were achieved by development of extractive industries. Rudel refers to both the government and these industries as lead institutions because of their role in opening transportation routes that are used by peasant farmers who settle along them, clearing the land. Many nations also sponsor colonization programs, wealthy patrons hire peasant laborers, or groups of peasants band together to mutually profit from the land that they help clear together. These examples of growth coalitions are similarly responsible, in conjunction with the agencies that clear the transportation routes, for the destruction of the tropical forests. This leads him to the conclusion that the most important link in thi s system of destroying tropical forests is the creation of new transportation routes penetrating the forested land. At the end of the chapter, Rudel addresses the issue of indigenous communities' involvement in the deforestation. He states that "the argument [for the growth coalition -- lead institution hypothesis] assumes that rural inhabitants have a strong market orientation despite the presence of indigenous peoples throughout the tropics who have only partial commitments to participation in market economies. If the case studies demonstrate a close association between growth coalitions and deforestation among indigenous peoples as well as peasants, the explanatory potential of the argument increases" (Rudel 40).

Compare and Contrast Essay Essay

In the stories, â€Å"The Lie,† by Kurt Vonnegut and â€Å"Barn Burning,† by William Faulkner, the main characters mature from childhood into adulthood. This maturity either develops from support of one’s family and upbringing or it grows internally from one’s conscience. We see from both stories that the main characters use this maturity to courageously speak up. In the story, â€Å"The Lie,† Eli matures into adulthood. Due to his parents’ lack of understanding of his individuality in the beginning of the story, Eli has to deny his own feelings. When Eli receives the letter that he was rejected from the esteemed high school, Whitehill, he secretly tears it up since he is nervous of his parents’ disappointment. Eli’s mother, Sylvia, helps him transition into maturity as she begins to recognize her son’s individuality. At the beginning of the story, Sylvia thinks of her son as just another Ramenzal that will be attending W hitehill and even gives him â€Å"number thirty one† (Vonnegut, 2) in the honored list of the Ramenzals who have attended the institution. Sylvia fails to realize that Eli has unique qualities that are different from the rest of the Remenzels until the end of the story. When the Remenzels discover from the headmaster that Eli has not been accepted to the school and realize that Eli has ran away because of the tough situation he got himself into, Sylvia finally recognizes that Whitehill is not the best place for him. This allows Eli to open up and express his feelings comfortably. We see this when Eli expresses his feelings of anger at his father for trying to get him into Whitehill, for he realizes he will not succeed there. He says, â€Å"You shouldn’t have done that† (Vonnegut, 12). At the point that he is recognized as an individual, he is ultimately able to mature through his new ability to express himself without being intimidated. Sarty from the story â€Å"Barn Burning,† also develops and matures into adulthood. Throughout the story he has an internal conflict between loyalty to his family an d doing what is right. Sarty’s father, Abner, makes this struggle very difficult by pressuring his son to be loyal to a family that is living a life of vengeance, anger and retribution. He  accuses his son of almost telling the justice that his father did in fact burn down the barn. He hits his son and then tells him, â€Å"You got to learn. You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain’t going to have any blood to stick to you† (Faulkner, 3). He is faced with a conflict which he describes as â€Å"being pulled two ways like between two teams of horses† (Faulkner, 7). Finally at the end of the story he builds up the courage to run away from his family and tell the landlords that his father is planning on burning their barn. He realizes that he made the right decision of following his conscience and doesn’t regret being disloyal to his blood, as the story ends, â€Å"He did not look back† (Faulkner, 11). We see in these two stories the main characters’ initiation into adulthood. They both are able to openly express what they really thought was the right thing. Eli matures and is able to express his feelings when he is recognized as an individual and not as another Remenzel. Sarty also develops into an adult as he follows his conscience, and speaks out against his family. Sometimes a person, like Eli, needs support in order to mature, yet sometimes a person, like Sarty, matures, regardless of support, by following his conscience. Works Cited Faulkner, William. Barn Burning. Logan, IA: Perfection Form, 1979. Print. Kurt Vonnegut. The Lie. Woodstock, IL: Dramatic Pub., 1992. Print

Ancient Chinese Inventions and Contributions

Ancient Chinese Inventions and Contributions Humanities 111 Professor Abstract The following paper will show the contributions from ancient Chinese culture is amazing. There are many inventions and contributions that trace back to ancient Chinese culture. The top ten inventions and contributions continue to keep giving in today’s society. Ancient Chinese has contributed to helping jobs to exist, fight wars, and contribute to the overall public lives with their inventions and contributions.We as people living life and going about our business never really take the time to think about where and who has invented the joys we experience on a daily basis. One example is our very own boy scouts, go on a big jamboree every year. They normally go camping and hiking. A compass is used during this time frame. If you were to ask the average boy scout, who invented the compass? Many could not tell who or when was the compass invented. Ancient Chinese four most useful contributions or inven tions created were gun powder, the compass, paper making, and printing.These four inventions are very unique in their own way. I will explain why these four are the most useful inventions created by ancient Chinese. One of the few destructive inventions of ancient Chinese civilization was that of gunpowder. The discovery of gunpowder led to the invention of firearms and revolutionized battlefields in the Asian Continent. Chinese alchemists, whom were searching for an elixir of life, accidentally discovered the explosive property of gunpowder sometime around 9th century AD. By the end of the 10th century, Asian powers had introduced grenades, crude bombs and firearms onto battlefields.Use of cannons and bigger fire arms also became prevalent. (Yinke Deng, 2005) The compass was one of the most important technological developments in ancient China due to the fact that it promoted and aided exploration that was initiated by Chinese rulers. The development of the compass made China the f irst imperial power in the world. The Chinese empire was indeed termed as an imperial power until the end of monarchy in China and the royal place was also known as the Imperial Palace. The exact era or dynasty during which the Chinese invented the technology of paper manufacturing is uncertain.It is certain that the technology led to many more advancements as it facilitated scholars, philosophers and writers of Chinese civilization. Paper that was invented in ancient China was not only used as a medium of writing, but creative Chinese innovators also used it as a raw material for manufacturing bags as well as paper currency. Paper making can be traced down to the Han dynasty, which ruled from 202 BC to 220 AD, when court official Cai Lun set out to the task of making paper. He deployed mulberry, bast fibers, and waste material such as old rags and hemp waste. Yinke Deng, 2005) Lun also made use of fishing nets to bind the materials together. Some archaeological findings however, su ggest that paper in ancient China may have been invented during the 8th century BC. The invention of printing is regarded as one of the most important inventions, due to the fact that it made books cheaper. Cheaper books ensured an educated society. Many dynasties of courtiers and scholars from ancient China contributed to the development of the printing press. Printing technology started evolving sometime around 868 BC, with the printing of the first printed book titled The Diamond Sutra.The book was printed with the help of the wood block printing. It had become a very advanced technology by the end of the Song dynasty. Writer Shen Kuo, who was also a courtier of Songs, promoted the use of printing for the spread of knowledge. Bi Sheng, who was an artisan, invented the movable ceramic printing. Inventors like Hua Sui also attempted to invent the metal castings and rollers for movable printing. There are eight to ten useful inventions and contributions from the ancient Chinese that are still in use today.The ten ancient Chinese useful inventions or contributions are paper currency, row crops, deep drilling for gas, fireworks, gun powder, the flame thrower, the parachute, the wheel barrow, rudder, and the compass. Chinese inventions have contributed to mankind in many ways. Many of their discoveries start out in one form and can branch out to three or more end products. The four inventions or contributions from the ancient Chinese that have had the most impact on many countries and even changed the course of history to a certain extent were paper currency, gun powder, the parachute, and deep drilling for gas.I believe them to be the most ingenious and innovative of inventions. Paper currency changed the ways of handling money. The times of having to carry gold coins and precious metals to purchase goods and services were over. Before paper currency lugging gold and precious metals around was risky and hard to conceal. Paper currency is lightweight, discrete, a nd still exists in society today. As well as currency, the ways that gun powder has changed society are many. Gun powder has contributed to the gun, fireworks, and explosives of many types.The usage is wide ranged and without the use gun powder wars would have been a lot harder to win and a lot more primitive in style. It is hard to imagine the civil war without the use of musket guns and cannons. The invention of the parachute have also helped in many ways. Parachutes have saved many pilots’ lives. When an air plane fails in the sky or during a war when a plane is shot down, pilots can parachute to safety. Parachutes have facilitated the United States troops with fighting wars on enemy territories. Deep drilling for gas has helped many countries to better utilize their own resources.Deep drilling for gas has helped the United States in the fight to go green and help the environment. The deep drilling for gas technique has given many Americans jobs in the past and present, an d it is responsible for a considerable amount of America’s income. The ancient Chinese have invented and contributed to the discovery of many things used in society today. The one invention I cannot live without is paper currency. Money is what makes the world go round. I use money every day for many different reasons. On a daily basis, I use money (paper currency) to purchase gas, lunch, and beverages.On a weekly basis I use paper currency to rent DVDs, go to the movies, take my wife out to dinner, and get my haircut. It has changed and facilitate the world drastically. Paper currency is in circulation from many different countries and all vary in value and designs. References Yinke Deng. (October 2005). Ancient Chinese Inventions. China. China Intercontinental press Suzanne Morgan Williams. (January 1997). Made in China: Ideas and Inventions from Ancient China. Berkley, California. Pacific Press. (2008). Invention of Paper. Retrieved from http://www. culture-4-travel. com/i nvention-of-paper. html.

Free Essays on School Restructuring

Six classes a day, five days week, every day the same schedule. Telephones and radios were still luxuries when high schools nationwide petrified the school day into this rigid pattern. The refrigerator and television hadn't been invented, much less the copy machine, computer, and video player. We live in a very different world now, and we know more about how students learn. Yet most contemporary high school and middle school students are still locked into the same schedule that their great-grandparents experienced when they were teenagers. The big question here is what is wrong with the traditional six or seven period day? For starters, say critics, the pace is tough. A typical student will be in nine locations working on nine different activities in a six-and-a-half-hour school day. An average teacher must teach five classes, dealing with 125-180 students with several preparations. This frantic, fragmented schedule is unlike any experienced either before or after high school. "It produces a hectic, impersonal, inefficient instructional environment," states Gordon Cawelti (1994), limits the amount of time to go in-depth on a subject, and tends to discourage using a variety of learning activities. Opportunities for individualization of instruction and meaningful interaction between students and teachers are hard to come by. No matter how complex or simple the school subject, the schedule assigns an impartial national average of fifty-one minutes per class period. And despite wide variation in the time it takes indivi dual students to succeed at learning any given task, the allocated time is identical for all. Schools will have a design flaw as long as their organization is based on the assumption that all students can learn on the same schedule. In addition, since most disciplinary problems occur during scheduled transitions, the more transitions, the more problems. In my district, the principal states this as the number one disci... Free Essays on School Restructuring Free Essays on School Restructuring Six classes a day, five days week, every day the same schedule. Telephones and radios were still luxuries when high schools nationwide petrified the school day into this rigid pattern. The refrigerator and television hadn't been invented, much less the copy machine, computer, and video player. We live in a very different world now, and we know more about how students learn. Yet most contemporary high school and middle school students are still locked into the same schedule that their great-grandparents experienced when they were teenagers. The big question here is what is wrong with the traditional six or seven period day? For starters, say critics, the pace is tough. A typical student will be in nine locations working on nine different activities in a six-and-a-half-hour school day. An average teacher must teach five classes, dealing with 125-180 students with several preparations. This frantic, fragmented schedule is unlike any experienced either before or after high school. "It produces a hectic, impersonal, inefficient instructional environment," states Gordon Cawelti (1994), limits the amount of time to go in-depth on a subject, and tends to discourage using a variety of learning activities. Opportunities for individualization of instruction and meaningful interaction between students and teachers are hard to come by. No matter how complex or simple the school subject, the schedule assigns an impartial national average of fifty-one minutes per class period. And despite wide variation in the time it takes indivi dual students to succeed at learning any given task, the allocated time is identical for all. Schools will have a design flaw as long as their organization is based on the assumption that all students can learn on the same schedule. In addition, since most disciplinary problems occur during scheduled transitions, the more transitions, the more problems. In my district, the principal states this as the number one disci...

Your Guide to Selling Trees in an Urban Yard

Your Guide to Selling Trees in an Urban Yard Although you may be able to market and sell your yard trees, you still have to attract a local timber buyer with trees that get a higher market value. Trees like grade oak, black walnut, paulownia, black cherry, or any other high-value tree in your area are mandatory for a buyer to be interested enough to make an offer. Remember this key requirement: in order for a timber buyer to be interested in purchasing a yard tree(s), the tree or trees must have value with sufficient volume to exceed the purchase cost. There has to be value to offset costs to the timber buyer to bring equipment (log truck, skidder, and loader) to the property, cut the log, haul the log(s) to a mill, pay the landowner for the tree(s) and still make a profit off the end product. Just that simple. Woods-Grown Trees Are More Valuable As a general rule, woods-grown trees are more valuable than trees grown in a yard in terms of hard dollar economics. They have the advantage of access without property damage, easier equipment operating conditions, and there are usually more trees. This will typically yield more volume and a better economic situation for the timber buyer. Remember that in many cases, a yard tree has important non-timber values through the life of the tree, which includes energy savings, air quality improvement, water runoff reduction, and increased property value, to name a few. Problems With a Yard Tree Sale Yard trees that are open grown tend to have grade-lowering short boles and large, limb-laden crowns. They are also subjected to negative human pressures. Yard trees can have nails affixed to their boles, mower and weed whip damage to the base of the tree, and wire fences and clotheslines attached. They are less resistant to natural elements, such as wind or lightning damage (which can cause defects). Often, a yard tree is difficult to get to. There may be structures, power lines, and other obstacles in the way that would hamper cutting and removal. Attracting a Yard Tree Buyer Even though selling a tree in your yard is not an easy thing to do, it is not impossible. Try some excellent tips from the Indiana Department of Forestry to improve your chances of selling a tree in your yard: Know the tree species. Consult a tree identification book to identify the tree or check with your county forester. You will have a better chance of selling if it is a valuable species in your area. It is also good to have more than one tree.Know the trees circumference. Bigger trees mean more volume and will have a better chance of attracting a buyer. Measure with a household tape and convert inches to Diameter at breast height (DBH). To do this, measure the circumference and divide by pi (3.1416). Measure the tree at 4.5 feet (DBH) above the ground.Know the height of the tree. With a yardstick, pace 50 feet on a parallel plane. Hold the stick 25 inches out and parallel to the tree. Every inch represents 2 feet of height.Know if the location of the tree is one that large, heavy tree harvesting equipment can get to. What structures and infrastructure are in the path of the trees removal? Is there a septic system, structures, other trees and plants, power lines, underground pipes? Woul d it be expensive (or even possible) to transport and run harvesting equipment onto your property? Finding a Yard Tree Buyer Some states only allow licensed timber buyers to buy trees. Other states have logging associations who can help you and every state has a forestry department or agency. These departments of forestry have lists of potential timber buyers who are often interested in purchasing excellent-quality yard trees. Whenever possible, use multiple bids with a winning contract. Sources Growing Walnut for Profit and Pleasure. Walnut Council, Inc., American Walnut Manufacturers Association, 1980, Zionsville, IN. Timber Buyers, Their Agents, and Timber Growers. Article 14, Appendix B, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, May 27, 1997.

Industrial Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Industrial - Assignment Example Over 40 persons were injured, businesses and homes were destroyed and the explosion detected as far as in the Netherlands on seismograph stations. There were investigation into the cause of the accident and the extent of the damage and this attracted legal action in which five companies were found guilty. This research paper will examine the incident at the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot and describe the events that led to the accident, its main causes and the preventive steps that should have been taken. It will further highlight the culture and management at the site in terms of safety systems and procedures implementation as well as the environmental impact and subsequent prosecutions. Design and maintenance shortcomings can be seen to be the aspects that sparked off a sequence of events that led to poor monitoring of this filling process and consequent explosions and fire. In 2005, located within the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot, a tank belonging to the Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd (HOSL) was filling with unleaded petrol on the night of 10th December. At around midnight of 11 December, tankers were barred from the terminal during which time stock checks were conducted for one and a half hours, without any reports of abnormalities (Nicholas & Whitfield 2013, p. 460). However, another hour and a half later, tank 912 did not register any changes on its level gauge even though it was still filling up. Initial approximations had indicated that the tank would have filled up and started overflowing by five in the morning, which it did. CCTV footage started showing vapour at 05.38 coming from the fuel that was escaping. Eight minutes later, the cloud of vapour is seen t hickening and spreading in all directions. At 05.50 the cloud was already flowing away from the facility and following the topography of the ground, spreading