Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Bravery essays

Bravery essays Of Bravery, Cowardice, and Death. A Greek warrior who is born mortal faces the unfortunate reality that someday he will die. Regardless of whether he lived bravely or as a coward, he will still die. A mortal by definition is fated to do so. While it may seem self-evident that living a life of courage is more fulfilling than living a life of cowardice, to the Greeks, there existed well defined incentives to live bravely, and conversely, great drawbacks to living as a coward. The behavior of the god-fearing Greeks in the Iliad was strongly influenced by the notion of a completely undesirable, and inevitable, afterlife, and the belief that living a life of courage leads to the fundamental betterment of life and the preservation of a characters memory. Upon death, the Greeks enter the kingdom of Hades. Hades is a place that is forever apart from the world of mortals, and entirely inescapable. To the Greeks, death was far from a desirable conclusion from the pains of lifes struggle. Rather, death is a profoundly awful thing that is very much worth avoiding if at all possible. Sappho makes the excellent point that if death were a good thing, then everyone, even the gods, would die. [Sappho, 87] But they do not. They are the immortals. This negative image of death is reinforced in The Iliad for instance, as Deiphobus jeers over the enemy corpse of Hypsenor: Down to the god of death goes... but thrilled at heart look at the escort I have sent him for the journey! [Book XIII. 482-484] He revels in the death of the enemy and he takes pleasure in the fact that Hypsenor will suffer alongside Asius. Death is the ultimate fate of every mortal, and is inescapable. The method by which that fate is fulfilled is not. It is clear that the Greeks did not desire death, and they were not above fleeing to save their skins. If they felt they were outmatched, or at a disadvantage, they generally retreated. I...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Fall Webworm, Hyphantria cunea

Fall Webworm, Hyphantria cunea The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, builds impressive silk tents that sometimes enclose entire branches. The tents appear in late summer or fall - hence the name fall webworm. Its a common pest of hardwood trees in its native North America. The fall webworm also presents a problem in Asia and Europe, where it was introduced. Description The fall webworm is often confused with eastern tent caterpillars, and sometimes with gypsy moths. Unlike eastern tent caterpillars, the fall webworm feeds within its tent, which encloses foliage at the end of branches. Defoliation by fall webworm caterpillars does not usually cause damage to the tree, since they feed in late summer or fall, just before leaf drop. Control of fall webworm is usually for aesthetic benefit. The hairy caterpillars vary in color and come in two forms: red-headed and black-headed. They tend to be pale yellow or green in color, though some may be darker. Each segment of the caterpillars body has a pair of spots on the back. At maturity, the larvae may reach one inch in length. The adult fall webworm moth is bright white, with a hairy body. Like most moths, the fall webworm is nocturnal and attracted to light. Classification Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Arthropoda Class - Insecta Order - Lepidoptera Family - Arctiidae Genus - Hyphantria Species - cunea Diet Fall webworm caterpillars will feed on any one of over 100 tree and shrub species. Preferred host plants include hickory, pecan, walnut, elm, alder, willow, mulberry, oak, sweetgum, and poplar. Life Cycle The number of generations per year depends greatly on latitude. Southern populations may complete four generations in one year, while in the north the fall webworm completes only one life cycle. Like other moths, the fall webworm undergoes complete metamorphosis, with four stages: Egg – The female moth deposits several hundred eggs on the undersides of leaves in spring. She covers the mass of eggs with hairs from her abdomen.Larva – In one to two weeks, the larvae hatch and immediately begin spinning their silken tent. Caterpillars feed for up to two months, molting as many as eleven times.Pupa – Once larvae reach their final instar, they leave the web to pupate in leaf litter or bark crevices. Fall webworm overwinters in the pupal stage.Adult – Adults emerge as early as March in the south, but dont fly until late spring or early summer in northern areas. Special Adaptations and Defenses Fall webworm caterpillars develop and feed within the shelter of their tent. When disturbed, they may convulse to dissuade possible predators. Habitat The fall webworm lives in areas where host trees occur, namely hardwood forests and landscapes. Range The fall webworm lives throughout the U.S., northern Mexico, and southern Canada – its native range. Since its accidental introduction into Yugoslavia in the 1940s, Hyphantria cunea has invaded most of Europe, too. The fall webworm also inhabits parts of China and North Korea, again due to the accidental introduction. Other Common Names: Fall Webworm Moth Sources Garden Insects of North America, by Whitney CranshawFall Webworm, G. Keith Douce, Bugwood.orgSpecies Hyphantria cunea - Fall Webworm Moth, Bugguide.net

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Tourette Syndrom Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Tourette Syndrom - Term Paper Example A person is only diagnosed with this disorder if he/she has had both motor and verbal tics for at least one year (NINDS, 2010). There is no specific test for diagnosis of Tourette’s syndrome; however, neurologists often conduct MRI, Neuro-imaging studies, CT scans and EEG studies in order to rule out other neurological problems similar to Tourette’s syndrome (Abram, 2010). Other neurobehavioral problems often associated with Tourette’s syndrome include ADHD, learning disabilities and obsessive compulsive behaviors (NINDS, 2010), sleep problems are also common with people having Tourette’s syndrome (Abram, 2010). The Tourette’s spectrum also overlaps the autistic spectrum including Asperegers and Pervasive developmental disorder (Shapiro, 2001). According to Jankovic (2001), diverse studies involving neuro imaging, biomedical research and genetic studies have confirmed the inheritance of Tourette’s syndrome. It has been found to be an inherited, developmental disorder of synaptic neurotransmitters (Jankavic, 2001). The inheritance factors are also related to prevalence of other associated disorders like OCD and males at risk are at a greater chance of developing tics as compared to females at risk (NINDS, 2010). ‘Tourette’s syndrome is widely considered to be genetically determined’ (Patel, 1996). The exact cause of this neurophysiologic disorder is unknown, however, researchers have been suggesting over time that people with Tourette’s syndrome show abnormalities in level of certain neuro transmitters in the brain including: dopamine, serotonin, nor epinephrine and abnormalities in certain brain areas like basal ganglia, frontal lobes and cortex (NINDS, 2010). Investigations based causes of Tourette’s syndrome are being conducted on a vast scale throughout the world. The NIH itself sponsors researches in this regard, involving: Genetic studies, neuro imaging, neuro pathology, clinical trials

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The Killing of Osama Bin Laden by United States Forces Dissertation

The Killing of Osama Bin Laden by United States Forces - Dissertation Example Only the courts have the right to sentence a criminal or the erring to death or imprisonment. On 2 May 2011 Osama Bin Laden was killed. President Barack Obama’s 2 May 2011 account of the circumstance of the killing is this: â€Å"†¦We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda --- an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies†¦.I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network†¦.Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.† British Broadcasting Company’s documentation of President Barack Obama’s 2 May 2011 statement on Osama bin Laden’s death corroborated the version posted in the official webpage of the White House. The British Broadcasting Company’s documentation of Obama’s 2 May statement reflected that President Barack Obama said that Osama bin Laden was killed AFTER and NOT DURING A FIREFIGHT. The 2 May 2011 press briefing provided by the US President Office of the Press Secretary via conference call described the Obama killing in this manner: â€Å"Bin Laden was a sworn enemy of the United State

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Tourist Attractions and Places of Interest in Poland Essay Example for Free

Tourist Attractions and Places of Interest in Poland Essay Poland is officially the Republic of Poland in Central Europe. We will be briefly going through all the sights that attract tourists. The annual number of visitors to Poland has increased rapidly since 1990. In 2002 there were 14 million visitors in Poland. The major tourist attractions in Poland are the resorts along the Baltic Sea, the Lake District south of the coast, the Karpaty and Sudety mountains, and the country’s numerous national parks and its museums (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2005). Poland’s borders are marked by the Sudety mountains (Sudetes) in the southwest, the Carpathian Mountains (Karpaty) in the southeast, the Odra and Neisse (Nysa) rivers in the west, and the Bug River in the east. On the northeast, the country is bounded by a section of the Baltic Sea – all breath-taking places to visit (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2005). Warsaw, Polands capital since the late 16th century is by far the biggest and fastest developing Polish city. It is visited every year by thousands of tourists from all over the world, especially during the summer. Wroclaw, the capital of Lower Silesia (Dolny Slask) amazes with its volume of Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture. Several musical and theatre festivals, as well as its busy nightlife, attract innumerable visitors from all over Poland and abroad (tourism in poland.com). Krakow is probably the most beautiful and fascinating city in Poland. The attraction is not just the splendid architecture and the treasures of art – but also the unique ambience of the former Jewish district and the masterpieces of Polish Art Nouveau. Thanks to an amazing density and variety of bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants, Krakow sparkles with life. Anyway, there is no point in merely talking about its attractions – everyone should see Krakow with their own eyes (staypoland.com). Places to see in Poland include, Zakopane, Polands premier mountain resort, is one of the countrys most popular holiday destinations, both in the winter for skiing, and in the summer, for hiking and camping. Tricity (the Triple City also called the Treble City, in Polish Trà ³jmiasto) is the metropolitan area consisting of the three Polish cities Gdaà ±sk, Gdynia and Sopot. They are situated very close to each other on the coast of the Gdansk Bay on the Baltic Sea, in Eastern Pomerania. Sopot has a great geographical location lying between the beautiful woods of the TriCity Landscape Park, and the numerous sand beaches of the Bay of Gdansk. Sopot is known for its sanitaria and countless artists and tourists, who visit the city especially during summertime. Gdynia is a young, but quickly expanding harbor city situated just at the seashore, offering many tourist attractions as well as splendid shopping opportunities and a lot of entertainment (tourism in poland.com).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Great Masurian Lakes is an area in northeastern Poland. Masurian Lakeland are known in Polish as land of a thousand lakes. It is the paradise for sailors, hikers, anglers, canoeists and also photographers (tourism in poland.com).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are many national parks in Poland awaiting tourists, these include the Babia Gora National Park, Bialowieza National Park, Biebrza National Park, Bieszczady National Park, Bory Tucholskie National Park, Drawa National Park, Gorce National Park, Gory Stolowe National Park, Kampinos National Park, Karkonosze National Park, Magura National Park, Narew National Park, Ojcow National Park, Pieniny National Park, Roztocze National Park, Slowinski National Park, Swiety Krzyz National Park, Tatra National Park, Wielkopolska National Park, Polesie National Park, The Warta Mouth National Park, Wigry National Park and Wolin National Park (tourism in poland.com).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With readily available transport facilities and money exchange offices Poland with all its cities, health resorts, tourist resorts, national parks and its history is a very fascinating vacation spot. References Poland. Microsoft  ® Encarta  ® Encyclopedia 2005  © 1993-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Tourism in poland.com. All rights reserved tourisminpoland.com ©. Retrieved from http://www.tourisminpoland.com/ Stay Poland.com All rights reserved StayPoland Sp. z o.o.Retrieved from http://www.staypoland.com/poland-attractions.htm

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Significance of Pericles Death Essay -- Ancient Greece Greek History

Significance of Pericles' Death The death of Pericles was a significant event in the course of the Peloponnesian War; however, even without Pericles' leadership the Athenian Assembly had countless opportunities to prevent their loss and chose not to take them. The fickleness and inefficiency of democracy ('the mob') allowed the Athenians to be easily influenced and therefore electing populists such as Cleon, Lysicles and Hyperbolus into dominant leadership roles. Election, via democratic means, of such populists, meant that the Athenians would take a much more aggressive approach to the war and therefore abandon the policies that Pericles had previously established. So in turn, democracy the institution for which the Athenians fought tirelessly to protect, rather than the death of Pericles, ironically became the dominant factor influencing the final outcome of this Ancient Greek civil war. As can be expected from pioneer governmental institutions, Athenian democracy was not perfect. In fact it was far from it. It resulted in the establishment of poor policies by aggressive populists who sought "...private ambition and private profit...which were bad both for the Athenians themselves and their allies." (Thucydides). These self interested populist leaders with personal gain in mind established extensive internal political instability "...by quarrelling among themselves [and] began to bring confusion into the policy of the state." (Thucydides). Repeated opportunities to accept terms of peace after the battles of Pylos (425), Arginusae (406) and Aegospotami (405) were ignored by the inefficient Athenian demos eventually resulting in the devastation of the once dominant city-state. Internal political strife can also be attribu... ...ericles had lived, he may have actually hindered Athenian attempts to find some way out of the stalemated war." (http://www.warhorsesim.com/epw_hist.html). Pericles' death was significant. The Athenians had lost one of their greatest leaders. But even if the policies of Pericles had not been abandoned by the feeble Athenian democracy, the cost of the war would have proved too great and thus Athenian defeat was inevitable. It was a series of consequential events, spurred on by democratic failure, not one key turning point, that resulted in the decisive defeat of the Athenians by the Peloponnesians, with the aid of Persia. Because of democratic fickleness, with or without Pericles the Athenians were doomed for defeat, and therefore the death of Pericles was not the key turning point, rather it was only a factor which determined the length of the Peloponnesian War.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Brazil

Brazil is perceived as a standout amongst the most multiracial district on the planet that involves a colorful, diverse and intriguing society made up of Local American, Africans, and Portuguese. The reason why I am focus on Brazil is because someday I would like to be apart of the diversity. I believe that understanding their culture better will enable me to develop sensitivity and appreciation towards Brazil culture. I would be honored to participate in many traditional celebrations such as the annual Rio Carnival, which is one of the world most exciting and inspiring cultural festival in South America. It would be a wonderful opportunity to experience cultural tradition food such as â€Å"Feijoada†, which is consist with black beans and some sort of meat you consider to add to make a stew. In the following cultural resume, I will attempt to present a comprehensive brief summary of the diverse Brazilian culture. This will include providing a broad overview of the country's profile that will includes the country geography, racial, ethnic and also, with cultural holidays, traditional foods, different languages, beautiful landmarks. Alongside, a summary of the country's history, political system, educational system and challenges that Brazil is faced with. The second section will be focus on challenging some of the biases and assumptions that I previously held about the country. This will also include an attempt to evaluate how my stereotypes and sensitivity toward Brazilian population has changed, and the major lessons that I have learnt by focusing on this country. Finally, I will scrutinize on the ways that I will make effort to communicate with people that comprise the Brazilian culture. Brazil is arranged on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. The greatest country in South America running along 5000 miles from coastline to coastline through every edge in South America foresees from Chile and Ecuador. Brazil is on the coastline of Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. The Brazilian scene is enormous and complex, with sprinkled streams, wetlands, mountains, and levels connecting other real highlights and navigating the limits of states and locales. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world. Brazil's physical condition and atmosphere fluctuate enormously from the tropical North to the mild South. The scene is overwhelmed by a focal good country area known as the Planalto Focal (Brazilian High countries, or Level of Brazil) and by the huge Amazon Basin which possesses over one-third of the nation. Brazil is a beautiful topical country. The restricted seaside marsh zone ranges from tropical in the north to mild in the south. The cool upland fields of the south have a calm atmosphere and an incidental snowfall. The coolest period is from May to September, and the most blazing is from December to spring. October to May is the blustery season. As of 2018 the Brazilian population is well over 200 million. Set at number 5 in populace among the 193 countries of the world. In Brazil the decent variety of the scene coordinates that of the general population possesses of it which is indigenous people, Portuguese, Africans (which came as slaves). Around 86 percent of the population is urban.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Doing Business in Argentina

Doing Business in Argentina Argentina has a stable political structure and the government is working on developing economy. I would choose to produce and sell solar panels in Argentina through Joint Venture with an Argentina company, which is one of the Investment Entry Mode. And I would send 1 in sales, 2 engineers, 1 accountant, 1 in shipping, 3 technicians, and 2 managers. Market reasons: Firstly, Argentina has enriched solar resource. â€Å"Argentina’s eastern plains and north western regions are ideal  for solar PV development.However, only 10 MW of solar has  been installed in Argentina to date, making it a huge untapped  resource† (Grotz, Decundo and Ernst and Young). It indicates that the potential market for solar panels is huge. In addition, the efficient of solar energy is the most concern factor of solar panels, â€Å"solar energy installations began as simple contraptions in Latin America but are increasingly led by technologically advanced providers deploying sophisticated equipment and expertise that makes foreign participation almost indispensable† (Solar Daily).And my company has the best electronics package on the market; it is a great opportunity for my product to take a major part of market share in Argentina. Secondly, solar energy is one of the major renewable energy that Argentine government trying to develop. Argentina is the third-largest economy in Latin America, and one of the emerging markets around the world. However, the shortage in electricity is the major obstacle of the development. â€Å"Electricity demand continues to grow steadily in the country  and forecasts suggest an ongoing annual increase of 6%.Estimates indicate that an additional 1 GW of new generation  capacity per annum will be necessary to satisfy this growing  demand† (Grotz, Decundo and Ernst and Young). To solve the problem, Argentine government not only passed a law to ensure that â€Å"8% of  electricity demand should be generated by renewable sources  by 2016†, but also developed the GENREN program to â€Å"contract at least 1GW of renewable energy capacity† (Grotz, Decundo and Ernst and Young). And 20 Mw of electricity are supposed to be converted by solar energy.With the encouraging and supporting of Argentine government, it is the best timing to introduce my product into the renewable energy industry. Why Joint Venture? The very first concern is from the company’s interest. Since $5,000,000 has been spent in developing the electronics package and assembly machine, I need to reduce the costs of entering the new foreign market as much as possible. Through Joint Venture, I can access to existing resources that the local company has in Argentina; it takes less time for my company to get familiar with the market and actual start my business.Time is money. Also, the advantages I have are the core technology of the business, human resource to train workers and jobs; all I need is the local facility and less required workforce. I will send 3 technicians to Argentina to train limited workers before hand and license my patents to the local company for a limited time. On one hand the business is able to operate smoothly once it started. On the other hand, given the fact that, Argentina is a country with high uncertainty avoidance, it shows my willingness of cooperating with the local company.Also, it’s necessary to sign a very detailed contract with the local company. What’s more, Argentina has a high Human Development Index and ranked 45th among 187 countries (UNDP). Therefore, it will not take much time in training workers. Secondly, it helps my company to form a local image. Argentina is an achievement oriented country, with a local company entering the market; it reduces the effect of unfamiliarity. In the mean time, since Argentina is a multi-culture country, when dealing with culture issue, a local company can provide support and reduce r isks that due to unfamiliar of the culture.The most important is that, a local image represents local interests. The argument among nationalizing YPF S. A. , the oil and gas company owned by the Spanish energy giant Repsol (Romero), is the hottest issue recently. One reason for Argentine government to take over YPF S. A. is that â€Å"YPF, hasn't produced enough to keep up with Argentina's rapidly growing economy†¦the company's proven reserves of oil and gas have also fallen substantially over the past few years† (Weisbrot). From Argentine government’s point of view, it means YPF S. A. somehow did not represent the country’s interests. When corporate interests are not aligned with national interests, when companies are concerned only with profits, that's when economies fail, which is what happened globally in 2008 and what happened to Argentina in 2001† (Bronstein). In this case, it is crucial to form a local image in Argentina and being less foreign. Thirdly, it reduces the political risks in Argentina. IMF claims that there is no nationalization trend in South America despite the moves in Argentina, â€Å"it's a very diverse region and we would not call what we are seeing a trend† (Palmer).However, always being aware of potential political risks in Argentina is good to prepare ahead and reduce the loss as much as possible. Through Joint Venture, if a wide range of nationalization happens, it would reduce my loss of investing in establishing facility and share the risks with the local company. In addition, it allows me to be able to get involved into the relationship between the local company and local government. Fourthly, my company needs to get into the industry as soon as possible.Since Argentina is a FDI favorable country and renewable energy industry is hot, it is a highly competitive industry currently. â€Å"Argentina attracted US$743m (â‚ ¬546m) in clean  energy investment in 2010, ranking it 16th among G 20  members. Its five-year growth rate for clean energy investment  is 115% which places it second among the G 20† (Grotz, Decundo and Ernst and Young). As for solar energy, there are already some big companies involve in, like Sequel Power and Onyx Service and Solutions, Inc. , they admitted that â€Å"South America is a tremendous growth region for utility-scale solar energy projects† (Solar Daily).Not to mention when the EU begins to focus on the industry, â€Å"the EU is the biggest foreign investor in Argentina, accounting for about half of the FDI in Argentina with EU's investment stocks worth â‚ ¬ 44. 1 billion in 2008 and   important investments in areas such as telecoms, automotive or energy† (European Commission), the competition would be drastic. At that time, the key point to win the battle would focus on technology. Through Joint Venture, not only my company would provide the latest technology in the U. S. , but also the local company is abl e to distribute the competitive product to local market in time.Fifthly, through Joint Venture, it would be easier to send money back to the U. S. The financial issue would be the biggest problem to do business in Argentina. Due to the crisis in 2001, â€Å"Argentina defaulted on its bonds and has since had  difficulty accessing the international credit market†; therefore, even though Argentine government is trying to develop renewable energy, â€Å"A lack of  support for project development from financial institutions  continues to be a barrier to renewable energy development in  the country† (Grotz, Decundo and Ernst and Young).Without subsidiary from government, it is harder to develop a new company in a new industry. Therefore, the financial plan should be made in detail and carefully. The restriction on money transaction is tightened in Argentina; huge amount of money need to go through the Central Bank to transfer to outside of Argentina. It would be easi er for Argentina residents to do so. Argentina has placed trade barriers, like limits on payment of import services, to protect local industry and its trade surplus.And â€Å"the critics described the policy as ‘unbefitting any WTO member’ and ‘particularly troubling’ because they limit the growth-enhancing prospects for trade† (Miles). Also, the labor cost is much cheaper in Argentina than the U. S. , thus, I decided not to import products from the U. S. to Argentina, but to produce it locally. Last but not least, through Joint Venture, I am able to know the cost of living in Argentina, and provide my employees a reasonable salary while working in there.And the local company can assist my employees to get used to the life in Argentina; it will allow them to feel less culture shock. I will keep their positions in the U. S. , and ask the first group of employees that go to Argentina to share their experiences in the help of next group of people to mak e full preparation. As the company in Argentina should be long-term, and I would like everyone in my company has the chance to work there, if I could. In this case, the coordination among the U.S. company and Argentine company will be better. One group of 10 employees in Argentina is fixed. And technicians are the most important, it needs 3 employees; 2 engineers are able to develop our products suitable for Argentine circumstance; 1 in sales, 1 accountant, 1 in shipping, and 2 managers would be enough to cooperate with the local company. All in all, considering the market factor and the business environment in Argentina, I would like to sell and produce my electronic package.I already have competitive advantage in my product, through Joint Venture; it enables my business to develop smoothly and steadily in such a foreign market. Works Cited Bronstein, Hugh. Hugh Bronstein. 4 May 2012. 4 May 2012 . European Commission. Argentina. 18 April 2012. 3 May 2012

Thursday, November 7, 2019

How George Carlins Filthy Words Gave The Government The Power To Regul

How George Carlins Filthy Words Gave The Government The Power To Regul How George Carlin's "Filthy Words" Gave the Government the Power to Regulate What We Hear on the Radio The FCC v. Pacifica Foundation: GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS ON RADIO BROADCASTING In 1978 a radio station owned by Pacifica Foundation Broadcasting out of New York City was doing a program on contemporary attitudes toward the use of language. This broadcast occurred on a mid-afternoon weekday. Immediately before the broadcast the station announced a disclaimer telling listeners that the program would include "sensitive language which might be regarded as offensive to some."(Gunther, 1991) As a part of the program the station decided to air a 12 minute monologue called "Filthy Words" by comedian George Carlin. The introduction of Carlin's "routine" consisted of, according to Carlin, "words you couldn't say on the public air waves."(Carlin, 1977) The introduction to Carlin's monologue listed those words and repeated them in a variety of colloquialisms: I was thinking about the curse words and the swear words, the cuss words and the words that you can't say, that you're not supposed to say all the time. I was thinking one night about the words you couldn't say on the public, ah, airwaves, um, the ones you definitely wouldn't say, ever. Bastard you can say, and hell and damn so I have to figure out which ones you couldn't and ever and it came down to seven but the list is open to amendment, and in fact, has been changed, uh, by now. The original seven words were shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits. Those are the ones that will curve your spine, grow hair on your hands and maybe, even bring us, God help us, peace without honor, and a bourbon. (Carlin, 1977) A man driving with his young son heard this broadcast and reported it to the Federal Communications Commission [FCC]. This broadcast of Carlin's "Filthy Words" monologue caused one of the greatest and most controversial cases in the history of broadcasting. The case of the FCC v. Pacifica Foundation. The outcome of this case has had a lasting effect on what we hear on the radio. This landmark case gave the FCC the "power to regulate radio broadcasts that are indecent but not obscene." (Gunther, 1991) What does that mean, exactly? According to the government it means that the FCC can only regulate broadcasts. They can not censor broadcasts, that is determine what is offensive in the matters of speech. Before this case occurred there were certain laws already in place that prohibited obscenity over radio. One of these laws was the "law of nuisance". This law "generally speaks to channeling behavior more than actually prohibiting it."(Simones, 1995) The law in essence meant that certain words depicting a sexual nature were limited to certain times of the day when children would not likely be exposed. Broadcasters were trusted to regulate themselves and what they broadcast over the airwaves. There were no specific laws or surveillance by regulatory groups to assure that indecent and obscene material would not be broadcast. Therefore, when the case of the FCC vs. Pacifica made its way to the Supreme Court it was a dangerous decision for the Supreme Court to make. Could the government regulate the freedom of speech? That was the ultimate question. Carlin's monologue was speech according to the first amendment.(Simones, 1995) Because of this Pacifica argued that "the first amendment prohibits all governmental regulation that depends on the content of speech."(Gunther, 1991) "However there is no such absolute rule mandated by the constitution," according to the Supreme Court.(Gunther, 1991) Therefore the question is "whether a broadcast of patently offensive words dealing with sex and excretion may be regulated because of its content. The fact that society may find speech offensive is not a sufficient reason for suppressing it."(Gunther, 1991) The Supreme Court deemed that these words offend for the same reasons that obscenity offends. They also state that "these words, even though they had no literary meaning or value, were still protected by the first amendment."(Gunther, 1991) So what does this mean to the American public? This decision gave government the power to regulate, whereas it did not before. Broadcasting, out of all forms of communication, has received the most limited protection of the first amendment.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Ghostwriting A Lesser Known Career Path that Pays Big

Ghostwriting A Lesser Known Career Path that Pays Big Graduating with an engineering degree, I had no clue I would end up being a freelance writer. I chose to be one, as it best suited my life during the recession period back in 2009. Like many other writers who get stuck with low paying content mills like Elance (now Upwork), I started my career earning peanuts. That changed when I did research for a blog post in 2013 about how much ghostwriters earn. That research taught me that I was highly undercharging at $1 per page. The first eBook I ever ghostwrote for a client was over 50 pages long and paid only $50. And that included Elance’s and PayPal’s fees, too! Today, in 2018, I charge as much as $1-$2 per word. I charge more for creative work or fiction than for nonfiction. If the work requires extensive research, the rate runs higher. This means ghostwriting a 10k words novella would easily earn me $10,000. Now, imagine what a full-length novel of 60,000 to 100,000 pays. Ghostwriting is a lucrative niche that many writers don’t know much about. Why Ghostwrite? The truth is: I have tried self-publishing. This requires time to market and sell your books. Ghostwriting is a lot easier, less stressful, involves less marketing, and pays well. When I started my career as a freelance writer, I was trying to raise a family while still being a ‘good’ housewife. I needed, at this point in my life, to work from home. Ghostwriting seemed to fit my lifestyle perfectly. How I Land Ghostwriting Gigs Ghostwriting just fell into my lap, but logically it is a small leap from freelance writing. I was writing blogs and articles when one of my repeat clients asked if I’d be interested in ghostwriting ebooks. I ultimately wrote a large number of them for the same client. He was kind enough to spread the word to his peers which landed more work. As the owner of a writing business now, I acquire most of my work through my Facebook page. It’s not that my clients are too lazy or inept to write their own work. They are just too busy with careers or family to create the work they wish to market, which is the norm in today’s world. Networking helps me too. When I meet someone new and introduce myself as a ghostwriter, people are keen to share brilliant ideas or stories for their books and have me jot them down for them. So many people have a story, but not the skill nor time to bring them to fruition. Is Ghostwriting for You? If you are attached to your writing, probably ghostwriting isn’t a good fit for you. However, if you enjoy playing with others’ ideas and molding them into your own words, it might just be your niche. Does Ghostwriting Pay Better than Traditional writing?   It sure does, but you don’t get rich overnight. There are some freelance ghostwriters claiming six figures a year. They do earn that amount, but they didn’t right away. Build upon your portfolio and reputation first. Initially, ghostwriting will pay your bills; your ghostwriting money. I enjoyed my first holiday to the south of France and then in the States in 2015 and 2016 respectively. In 2017, my family went to Spain and Pakistan. For 2018, I’ve planned a special surprise as we will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary in December. All thanks to ghostwriting, I am enjoying a life that many just dream of. Brief

Sunday, November 3, 2019

ECONOMICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

ECONOMICS - Essay Example An organization will have to pay higher interest coverage for their long term debts. In addition to this, the charges for bank overdraft and short term borrowings will rise which will affect the working capital balances adversely. If the company has leased manufacturing instruments, it will have to pay a higher lease rental. Since an increase in the interest rates will tend to squeeze money out of the economy, employees might demand higher salaries as well. According to Bloomberg, the yield curve (as on May 8, 2009) predicts the rise of interest rate in near future. This means that organization will plan to maintain its profit in future. It can provide discounts to enhance the sales volume to make reserves for the dry season ahead. It can restrict research and development activities and curtail unnecessary costs since revenue generation might see a downfall. Cars and trucks are costly commodities and are generally bought by customers if they get convenient borrowing schemes. This makes interest rates a decisive factor in determining the sales. A high interest rate means that customers will have to pay a higher installment (EMI). This has greater implications for earning assets like trucks; customers (generally transporters) will postpone their present demand in anticipation of lower interest rates in future. This translates to the fact that consumer demand for both cars and trucks will come down. The main monetary items that affect the operations of a business are the cost of goods sold and general and administrative expenses. Cost of goods sold will depend on the cost of raw materials and the wages of the employees. The company might have to incur advertising and selling costs as well. For purpose of accounting, the company will have to incur depreciation expenses. The tax structure of the country where the company operates is an important determinant of operating costs. A high tax bill will increase the financial