Learn What a Feature Story Is

Ask most people what a feature story is, and theyll say something soft and puffy, written for the arts or fashion section of a newspaper or website. But the truth is, features can be about any subject, from the fluffiest lifestyle piece to the toughest investigative report. And features arent just found in the back pages of the paper—the ones that focus on things like home dà ©cor and music reviews. In fact, features are found in every section of the paper, from news to business to sports. If you go through a typical newspaper from front to back on any given day, chances are, the majority of stories will be written in a feature-oriented style. The same is true on most news websites. So we know what features arent—but what are they? Feature stories arent defined so much by subject matter as they are by the style in which theyre written. In other words, anything written in a feature-oriented way is a feature story. These are the characteristics that distinguish feature stories from hard news: The Lede A feature lede doesnt have to have the who, what, where, when and why in the very first paragraph, the way a hard-news lede does. Instead, a feature lede can use description or an anecdote to set up the story. A feature lede can also run for several paragraphs instead of just one. Pace Feature stories often employ a more leisurely pace than news stories. Features take the time to tell a story, instead of rushing through it the way news stories often seem to do. Length Taking more time to tell a story means using more space, which is why features are usually, though not always, longer than hard news articles. A Focus on the Human Element If news stories tend to focus on events, then features tend to focus more on people. Features are designed to bring the human element into the picture, which is why many editors call features people stories. So, for example, if a hard news story recounts how a thousand people are being laid off from a local factory, the feature story might focus on just one of those workers, portraying their emotional turmoil—grief, anger, fear—at losing their job. Other Elements of Feature Articles Feature articles also include more of the elements that are used in traditional storytelling—description, scene-setting, quotes, and background information. Both fiction and non-fiction writers often say their aim is to  help readers paint a visual portrait in their minds of whats happening in a story. Thats also the goal of feature writing. Whether its by describing a place or a person, setting a scene, or using colorful quotes, a good feature writer does anything he or she can in order to get readers engaged with the story. An Example: The Man Who Played Violin in the Subway To demonstrate what were talking about, take a look at the first few paragraphs of this April 8, 2007 feature by Washington Post writer Gene Weingarten about a world-class violinist who, as an experiment, played beautiful music in crowded subway stations. Note the expert use of the feature-oriented lede, the leisurely pace and length, and the focus on the human element. He emerged from the metro at the L’Enfant Plaza station and positioned himself against a wall beside a trash basket. By most measures, he was nondescript: a youngish white man in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt and a Washington Nationals baseball cap. From a small case, he removed a violin. Placing the open case at his feet, he shrewdly threw in a few dollars and pocket change as seed money, swiveled it to face pedestrian traffic, and began to play. It was 7:51 a.m. on Friday, January 12, the middle of the morning rush hour. In the next 43 minutes, as the violinist performed six classical pieces, 1,097 people passed by. Almost all of them were on the way to work, which meant, for almost all of them, a government job. L’Enfant Plaza is at the nucleus of federal Washington, and these were mostly mid-level bureaucrats with those indeterminate, oddly fungible titles: policy analyst, project manager, budget officer, specialist, facilitator, consultant. Each passerby had a quick choice to make, one familiar to commuters in any urban area where the occasional street performer is part of the cityscape: Do you stop and listen? Do you hurry past with a blend of guilt and irritation, aware of your cupidity but annoyed by the unbidden demand on your time and your wallet? Do you throw in a buck, just to be polite? Does your decision change if he’s really bad? What if he’s really good? Do you have time for beauty? Shouldn’t you? What’s the moral mathematics of the moment? From Gene Weingartens Pearls Before Breakfast: Can one of the nation’s great musicians cut through the fog of a D.C. rush hour? Let’s find out.

Societal Resistance and Control in The Handmaids Tale...

The words control and Gilead, the setting for the novel The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood, are interchangeable. Not only is control a pivotal feature of the novel and its plot, it consequently creates the subplots, the characters and the whole world because of its enormity in the Republic of Gilead. Resistance also features heavily, as does its results, mainly represented in the salvagings, particicution and the threat of the colonies. Control dominates all aspects of Gileadian society, from minor, seemingly petty normalities such as the clothes allowed, all the way up to how and who to have sexual relations with. Unimaginable in this day, Atwood represents modern society gone sour, something which is chillingly†¦show more content†¦The most blatent form of control would of course be the punishments given for resistance and the retribution given out for disobeying the state. These, in Gilead, are really rather harsh and such things as homosexuality can resut in death, under the term Gender treachery. This is positively appalling to any civilised person believing in equal rights and death is almost absurd for such a non-crime. It seems that the society has medieval tendencies, which can be expected seeing that its main doctrine is taken from the most ancient book, the Bible. Still obviously this is no excuse for such barbaric acts in a modern society. Salvagings are also a horrible concept used by Atwood. All Handmaids and other women in the society are forced to attend the hangings of fellow women, often arranged on the nooses by their colours so they look pretty. A harsh warning not to step out of line. Also occasionally during the salvagings a rapist or murderer is thrown to the handmaids who rip him apart with their own hands, or feet, or teeth. The unthinkable is thought of for punishments in the Handmaids tale. There is also the threat of the colonies which always has to be contended with by all mischievous people in Gilead. The colonies are contaminated areas containing nuclear waste from numerable nuclear disasters and oil spills during the eighties.Show MoreRelatedPower Struggle In The Handmaids Tale By Margaret Atwood1373 Words   |  6 PagesRenowned playwright William Shakespeare, and contemporary novelist Margaret Atwood both explore power struggle from a feminist perspective. Shakespeare in ‘King Lear’ and Atwood in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ explore varying power struggles and their correlation to gender through their respective texts. Shakespeare and Atwood use the genders of their central characters to focus on power in historical and dystopian settings. Both authors explore religious frameworks, the types of power in a patriarchalRead MoreLiterary Analysis of the Handmaids Tale1863 Words   |  8 Pageswhen one’s daily life, actions, and thoughts are dictated by domineering societal expectations. Oppressive environments such as regimes controlled by a dictatorship and that run off a totalitarian government system strip an individual of their civil rights as a human being in order to gain ultimate control over its citizens. A government such as the Republic of Gilead in Margaret Atwood’s work, The Handmaid’s Tale, controls their citizen’s lives to the extent to where they must learn to suppressRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Crucible 1598 Words   |  7 Pagesenough against the oppression of Gilead. With the discovery of this secret phrase, there is a subtle shift in Offred’s character; no longer does the society completely control her, for she has discovered something that has slipped past the careful eye of Gilead, and this gives her hope. Offred is given many chances to join the resistance against Gilead, but she is never bold enough to become an active member in the cause, fearing the repercussions of being caught, of crossing the â€Å"invisible line† (194)Read MoreMargaret Atwood s The Handmaid Tale Essay1166 Words   |  5 Pagesamount of power and control of its citizens in order for a society to function properly. However, too much power and control in a society eliminates the freedom of the residents, forbidding them to live an ordinary life. In the dystopian futuristic novel, The Handmaids Tale, Margaret Atwood demonstrates the theme of power and control through an oppressive society called the Republic of Gilead. The government established power and control through the use of the wall, military control, the salvaging, theRead MoreThe Handmaid s Tale By Margaret Atwood Essay1124 Words   |  5 Pages An American journalist, Theodore White, once said, â€Å"power in America is control of the means of communication.† This holds true not only for America, but in many environments, including The Gileadean government in Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale. There are two linguistic elements employed throughout the novel which bolster the totalitarian regime of the Gileadean government. The religious terminology and speech and the sexist language and symbols highlight the repression of free speechRead MoreThe Worlds Of The Last Man Essay2207 Words   |  9 PagesIn the worlds of The Last Man by Marry Shelly and A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, the lives of the survivors of the apocalypse are thrown into chaos. In The Last Man, the people of England are driven out of their native home by the plague and forced into the desolate wasteland that is Europe. In A Handmaid’s Tale, Gilead society has torn Offred away from her past life and severed all her connections to it. In these troubled times, characters turn to religion either by force o r their own freeRead MoreUse Of Verbal And Symbolic Languages On The Handmaid s Tale2269 Words   |  10 Pagessame cultural tradition. Figurative language is a classification that exists within the complex societal settings and is often integrated that compromise of communication general concepts to specific initiatives. Therefore, in addition to spoken language, coded language can be taken by a given society in order to give both the direct and the indirect messages to the intended people. In The Handmaid’s Tale, the Atwood has chosen the use of verbal and symbolic languages to pass across her experience

Gattaca Essay free essay sample

Gattaca Essay Gattaca is a futuristic movie that addresses the possible issues of genetic discrimination and the problems that occur in a scientifically enhanced world. The movie gives many example of genetic discrimination as it follows the life of the main character Vincent, a genetically disabled person or invalid. As apposed to a genetically perfect, valid. The more prominent issues brought up involving invalids include finding suitable early child care and obtaining jobs in preferred industries. Both these matters have convincing positive and negative arguments that will be summarised below. Genetic discrimination takes place in many different areas throughout the movie but begins at the child care centre Vincent’s mother and father try to enrol him in. They are unable to sign him up as he was diagnosed at birth with numerous possible genetic disorders that the child care centres insurance would not cover for. This leads to other problems such as the parents having to educate him at home from an early age which could possibly develop other concerns. We will write a custom essay sample on Gattaca Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page His social skills would be severely undeveloped due to lack of socialisation with other children his age. With his parents teaching him Vincent may not have been able to gain the highest possible level of education that the child care centre would have otherwise been able to provide. He would then begin his higher education lacking in the skills other valid students in his year already possessed. On the other hand without invalid students attending child care centres the educators are able to give more attention to the valid students that are more likely to succeed and progress towards a productive future in the work force. If an invalid student is permitted to attend a child care centre the safety of that child and the others attending is severely compromised. If a supervisor was constantly worried about the safety of the invalid child their attention would not be evenly distributed between the other students which could cause other dangerous situations. All throughout his life Vincent dreamed of going into space but because he was an invalid it was an almost unattainable dream. The only way he was able to obtain his goal was to take the identity of a valid. By doing this and accumulating enough knowledge to pass as a valid he became an astronaut and with some difficulties made it into space. If he had not been able to take a valid’s identity Vincent would have suffered as he would not have achieved his full potential in contributing to society. The most significant problem with being an invalid in the work force is that the higher paid jobs are unavailable because of their status so they have to make do with a lower paid job where they may be exploited and forced to work with minimal pay due to their increasing need for money. There are however many advantages for the employers. They are more likely to know who to hire and how productive that employee will be. This reduces the likelihood of fired employees and employing more people for a job that could be accomplished by only one valid. As well as this if an applying employee wants the position enough they will keep striving to be better than the rest and this will in turn force the standard higher in the work force which can only be seen as a benefit. In conclusion there are many arguments for and against genetic discrimination. Discrimination aids almost everyone who isn’t being discriminated against. For example the child care workers are able to reduce their numbers to concentrate on individual needs and reduce their insurance costs, where as employees are able to reduce the number of employees which therefore reduces their expenses. Unfortunately the invalids being discriminated against do not get an adequate early education and often miss out on well paid jobs in the industries they take an interest in. In some cases discrimination does work because the majority of people are valid’s and they are getting the benefits while the invalids strive to achieve their maximum potentials in a world of genetic perfection. Word Count: 688 words

Regi Babamusta Essays - Chemistry, Matter, Inorganic Solvents

Regi Babamusta Intro to Met. S. Nasse Acid Rain Acid rain is not only an issue for us here in the states, but in areas all over the world. Unfortunately, many do not even know what acid rain is. It's simple really. When fossil fuels burn, they release chemicals into the atmosphere, and those chemicals mix with the moisture in the atmosphere, which results in rain, snow, sleet, hail etc. with a higher acidity level than previously seen. Those fossil fuels are; coal, oil and natural gasses. Acid deposition is a more proper/scientific name than acid rain due to the fact acid can fall to the floor as any form of water. It can additionally integrate with dry debris and fall to the ground. Whenever dry debris is mixed in with the acidic chemicals it's better known as dry deposition, in comparison to acid coming down in the form of any moisture known as moist deposition. Not all people, but environmentally conscious people have been aware of air pollution since the times of the Ancient Romans. Just because they knew of the issue does not mean they did anything to help, or solve it. Up until the twentieth century people had turned their backs to the rising issue of air pollution including air pollution's most dangerous outcome, acid rain. Acid rain, over time is extremely harmful to ecosystems all over the globe and is one of the biggest problems we face today. Yet, not enough attempts have been made to begin the process of correcting this problem. The way acid rain forms in the atmosphere is essentially by the burning of an excessive amount of fossil fuels from places like factories and power plants worldwide. As per a study done by needtoknow.nas.edu, "The United States gets 81% of its total energy from, oil, coal, and natural gas, all of which are fossil fuels. We depend on those fossil fuels to heat our homes, run our vehicles, power industry and manufacturing, and provide us with electricity". To illustrate, when the biggest culprits of acid rain are burned they release gasses such as, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, etc. Everyone has seen the huge power plant chimneys dumping tons and tons of gas into the sky, the approximate amount being 21.3 billion tons. Once released, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with other components in the atmosphere like water vapor, and sunlight to produce the acids found in acid rain.There is a 14-point scale which is used to measure PH levels in liquids, 7 being neu tral and anything less than 7 is acidic. While anything more than 7 is alkaline. For example, battery acid measures at about 1 on the scale (depending on the manufacturer) while table vinegar is at 2-2.4 acidity. Conventional rain is between 5 and 6 acidity; acid rain is somewhere between 2 and 5.5. According to Insidermonkey, "The country with the worst cases of acid rain levels is China". The United States comes in a modest second place. Since acid is extremely corrosive and the levels worldwide are on the rise, many of the things we take for granted are prone to being damaged. Rivers, lakes, reservoirs, infrastructure, buildings, monuments, and animal life. Over time, acid rain affects almost everything it touches from our homes in the states to trees in the Amazon Forest When acid rain occurs, the acidity levels in major bodies of water aren't immediately affected. Unless it's pouring acid rain every other day the water dilutes the acid in the rain, otherwise all bodies of water would be highly acidic requiring neutralizers to get it back to base ph levels. During the spring months although rare, something called, "acid shock" can occur. Snow build up containing acid melts. Once the snow has melted, the acid runoff pours into the ground and neighboring bodies of water. Since the bodies of water are essentially being shocked with high acid levels, small organisms like algae begin to die off. Which causes a kind of deadly chain reaction. As the algae slowly die off, the organisms that consume the algae could possibly die of starvation. The chain reaction could go on or quite some time until many organisms

3 Cases of Missing Words and Phrases

3 Cases of Missing Words and Phrases 3 Cases of Missing Words and Phrases 3 Cases of Missing Words and Phrases By Mark Nichol In each of the following sentences, the absence of inadvertently omitted words and phrases leads to sentences that, though comprehensible, do not really say what they set out to communicate. Discussion after each example explains the problem, and revisions offer solutions. 1. The Voice mentor and Maroon 5 front man seemed to phone it in early on during the concert. In this sentence, the writer is under the mistaken impression that an article that is part of a composition title can serve double duty as an article integral to the syntax of the sentence in which the title is located. Replace the title with any other phrase that does not begin with the to see the problem. In this case, because the person in question is identified with phrases referencing two entertainment enterprises in which he is involved, simply insert an article at the head of the sentence and transpose the two phrases: â€Å"The Maroon 5 front man and The Voice mentor seemed to phone it in early on during the concert.† When this solution is not available because only one identifying phrase is employed, recast the sentence otherwise: â€Å"Levine, one of the mentors on The Voice, seemed to phone it in early on during the concert.† This revision is not as concise, but it has the advantage that it, unlike the original version, is syntactically sound. 2. We have observed systems at sites that often do not require any user authentication to interact with the physical environment and utilize unsupported and unpatched system software. It is initially unclear to the reader whether the phrase â€Å"utilize unsupported and unpatched system software† is parallel with the phrase â€Å"interact with the physical environment† or with the larger phrase that begins with require and ends with environment. Because the latter choice is the correct one, that should be repeated before the phrase beginning with utilize to match that phrase with the one beginning with require: â€Å"We have observed systems at sites that often do not require any user authentication to interact with the physical environment and that utilize unsupported and unpatched system software.† 3. Mobile app usage rates are flat but are now higher than ATMs. Here, mobile app usage rates are erroneously compared with ATMs; the comparison is between mobile app usage rates and ATM usage rates, and the sentence should explicitly state this, if only with a pronoun phrase in place of specifically parallel wording: â€Å"Mobile app usage rates are flat but are now higher than those for ATMs.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Words with More Than One SpellingHow to Pronounce MobileHow to Address Your Elders, Your Doctor, Young Children... and Your CEO

Religion, Femininity and Love in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre

Religion, Femininity and Love in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Free Online Research Papers I. FRANKNESS AND TRUTH FROM A MAIN CHARACTER â€Å"Miss Eyre is rather a brazen miss,† wrote one reader, referring to the passionate main character of Charlotte Bronte’s most famous novel. Indeed, the novel received unfavorable reviews from its early critics for going against deeply entrenched codes of conduct and femininity. Jane’s outbursts of emotion, her then-radical assertion of the woman’s right to go beyond roles assigned by custom and her rejection of borders imposed by class caused controversy. In fact, Elizabeth Rigby calls Jane â€Å"unchristian,† saying that Jane Eyre couldn’t have been written by a female. She ultimately says that even if the book was penned by a woman, it was penned by one â€Å"who has, for some sufficient reason, long forfeited the society of her own sex.† (Weisser, p. xiv) This nonconformity, however, is what renders the novel an accurate picture of the life and times of its main character. Jane Eyre can be compared to a view through an unclouded lens: the character speaks without regard for the conventions of the day; therefore, we are given an uninhibited view of the character and an honest, unrestrained response to the issues during her time. Moreover, while Jane Eyre is classified as historical fiction today, it fell under the category of contemporary realist fiction during the time of its publication. Its author drew characters and plot elements from her own life, thus it can be treated as a reliable account of England during Bronte’s time, despite its fictionalization. Bronte was wary of theatrical productions of her novel because she feared they would misrepresent her work, and in a way she was right. Most productions selectively emphasized the Gothic and Romantic elements of the novel at the expense of its views on religion and the condition of women (Weisser, p. xii), which are noteworthy as well. Jane Eyre’s passages on women and religion actually need more emphasis, given that much of the controversy surrounding the novel stems from the Bronte’s brand of Christianity and proto-feminism. II. RELIGION, HUMAN FEELINGS AND HUMAN DESIRES Readers are given three pictures of religion in Jane Eyre. First, we are given the brand of religion from Brocklehurst, which Jane deems too hypocritical and consequently rejects. The hypocrisy is painted through the contrasting appearances of Brocklehurst’s family and the students of Lowood. There is a scene where Brocklehurst orders that the curls of a Lowood student be cut. Because Brocklehurst espouses the Evangelical view that Christianity requires the purging of pride, he subjects Lowood students to these kinds of humiliation and deprivation. Note, however, that Brocklehurst practices his evangelism on Lowood students while his own family takes on a gay, luxurious appearance. This hypocrisy justifies the novel’s rejection of the nineteenth century Evangelical movement. Second, Helen Burns’ brand of religion is one that forgives all wrongs in the name of Christianity. Jane rejects this, because she cannot train herself wholeheartedly for martyrdom like Helen’s, even if she admires Helen for it. The fact that Helen dies very young implies that her passivity is not suited for the trials that a person will face throughout the course of life. Third, we are given the brand of religion of St. John Rivers, which casts the Christian in the role of saviour to the heathens and deliverer of God’s word to new flocks. Jane rejects this as well, because this type of religion seeks glory (which Jane does not desire) and forces her to curb her feelings and passions. Like Helen’s brand of religion, this forces her to deny her nature. But while Jane rejects all three models of religion, she does not reject God or morality. This is exemplified by Bertha, one of Jane’s foils. Bertha responds to conflict in ways that Jane cannot. For example, Bertha succumbs to her desires and feelings, as evidenced by her promiscuity and alcoholism. Meanwhile, Jane denies her desires and feelings when she refuses to commit adultery by marrying Rochester while his first wife exists, because God forbids adultery. Jane rejects the models of religion from Brocklehurst, Helen and St. John, but eventually she discovers her own brand of Christianity: one that is not oppressive and hypocritical like Brocklehurst’s and not unnatural like Helen’s and St. John’s. It obeys God while allowing Jane her earthly pleasures and emotional desires. Bronte’s views on religion were a reflection of how the events of the era filtered into her writing. During the parliamentary debates in 1829 regarding the Catholic question, the English debated on whether or not Catholics should be granted political rights equal to those of Protestants (Center for Research on Social Organization, p.1). These debates imply that there is the question of which religion – Protestantism or Roman Catholicism – deserve supremacy over England. Bronte may be espousing her own brand of morality in answer to these debates. Since Jane’s religion was not specified, and the reader only has her brand of morality to judge, Bronte could be saying that a person should not be judged according to one’s label (Catholic or Protestant), but should be judged instead by how one answers the call to be upright. Does the person’s response break laws of the Bible? Does the person’s response strike a balance between moral duty and practicability? Or is the response too hypocritical? The pictures of religion throughout Jane Eyre tackle these questions to a great extent. III. LOVE AND SOCIAL CLASS IN THE VICTORIAN PERIOD Jane Eyre is deeply critical of the social hierarchy in England during the Victorian period. Jane lashes out against class prejudice in certain parts of the novel, the most famous of which is her declaration of love for Rochester: Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! I have as much soul as you and full as much a heart! . I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities nor even of mortal flesh; it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood equal at God’s feet, equal – as we are! (Bronte, p. 294) Moreover, Jane does not adhere to the value system of the Victorian period. Rochester’s crowd (Blanche and her peers) are superior to Jane based on the Victorian social hierarchy, which puts a premium on income. In this light, Blanche and Rochester should marry, and Jane should not dream of a union with Rochester. But Jane believes that intellectual equality and kindred spirits – and not income or any other arbitrary Victorian standard – should be the basis for a union. Thus she says of Blanche and Rochester: â€Å"I would scorn at such a union† (Bronte, p. 294). However, the novel ends with Jane not actually being able to defy limits imposed by class. She gets an inheritance. Meanwhile, Rochester’s wealth is diminished because Thornfield burns to the ground, and he loses an eye and a limb. They do not get married while they are from different classes in society. They both had to move (Jane up the ladder of income, Rochester down the ladder of income and social status) to be able to marry. This may be because Bronte’s ideas were too radical for the time, and to write about a union that defied all the conventions of society may not come off as believable at all. Or Bronte may have changed their positions in society to offer readers the possibility of a marriage with tangible indications of equality. Furthermore, it is acknowledged in the novel that marriage – an expected state for a female to go into – can be a relationship between equals, despite the fact that women were generally thought of as inferior to men during the Victorian period. As Jane says: â€Å"I am my husbands life as fully as he is mine. . . . To be together is for us is to be at once as free as in solitude, as gay as in company. . . . We are precisely suited in character† (Bronte, p. 525); this not only establishes that a woman can marry not only for social mobility; she can marry because she found someone who suits her well. it also reinforces the belief that compatibility in intellect and character – and not income or social class – should be the basis for a good match. IV. FEMININITY AND FREEDOM Jane’s assertion that a woman’s horizons should be broadened is not to be misinterpreted as a denunciation of the Victorian values of service and domesticity. Note that the novel begins in girlhood and ends with Jane’s marriage and motherhood, following the Victorian trajectory of the female’s life based on her purpose (Weisser, p.xxv). Bronte has been cast as a proto-feminist, because she created female protagonists that do not charm men to secure their futures. But she does not push for the woman’s complete autonomy in Jane Eyre. In fact, marriage and domesticity are also presented in the novel as a reward for Jane’s morality. She simply says that women should be allowed to deviate if they wish from the roles and duties imposed by custom. This is evident when Jane says: Women are supposed to be very calm generally; but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded of their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing the piano and embroidering bags. (Bronte, p. 123) Freedom in the novel is not limited to the freedom endorsed by feminism today. Jane also seeks the kind of freedom that will fulfil her need for autonomy while still allowing her to fulfil the need to belong. She is presented different forms of freedom throughout the novel. First, Rochester offers her the freedom to liberate her passions when he offers to make her his mistress. She rejects this, because to liberate her passions in such a way would mean enslavement to her feelings. Afterwards, St. John offers her the freedom to exercise her talents to the fullest by becoming a missionary. She rejects this as well, because this would mean enslavement to Grace through the obliteration of Nature, because she could not give rein to her passions. There is also the presence of Diana and Mary: two women who are unmarried and therefore unsubjugated by any male. Jane appreciates the self-sufficiency of Diana and Mary, but she does not conform to their kind of freedom as well, because it cannot give her emotional sustenance. V. CONCLUSION Jane Eyre is the story of a young woman’s quest for emotional and spiritual fulfilment. While it has been called unchristian, unfeminine and the like, it remains a favorite both in and out of the academic reading lists. (Weisser, p.xiii)This endurance of Jane Eyre may be attributed to the same reasons why it has met disapproval: Jane’s intensity of feeling, her attempt to strike a balance between her moral obligations and earthly pleasures, her unabashed declaration that she is equal to Rochester despite their differences in wealth. These propose a middle ground for all the conflicting elements in life: Nature vs. Grace, Passion vs. Reason and Love vs. Autonomy. This middle ground makes Jane a believable and relatable character and allows the novel to retain popular success despite the passage of time and the evolution of tastes. Moreover, the issues tackled in the novel remain relevant to the present time. First, there is still the question of how to practice the Christian faith. At present, Christians are still divided into labels: Catholic, Protestant and many others. The pictures of religion in the novel serve as points for reflection for people exploring their Christianity. Second, the novel discusses women’s place in society, an issue that has not yet been resolved. Bronte issued her declaration of women’s rights in 1847, but women’s rights still have a long way to go in the context of the present, and Jane’s struggles can still effectively mirror the struggles of women at present. This does not include only the broadening of the roles that women are supposed to take on, but also the power play between man and women in love. Jane Eyre may have been written hundreds of years ago, but its endurance is proof of its value. It is fortunate that despite the fact that women and women writers were not taken as seriously as men during the Victorian period, Bronte pursued her dream to write. If not, we would be deprived of a deeply valuable account of life during the Victorian period, and we would be deprived of great insights without the voice of Jane. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Barnes and Noble Classics, 2003. Weisser, Susan Ostrov. Introduction. Jane Eyre. New York: Barnes and Noble Classics, 2003. Center for Research on Social Organization. â€Å"British Catholic Emancipation, Prototype of Reform?† Online. Internet. December 1980. Available URL: http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/50994/1/220.pdf Research Papers on Religion, Femininity and Love in Charlotte Bronte's Jane EyreBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andStandardized TestingMind TravelAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeWhere Wild and West Meet19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided Era

Relationship between irritable bowel syndrome and stress Research Paper

Relationship between irritable bowel syndrome and stress - Research Paper Example It is known that the specific alterations in the body caused from stress directly impact the brain and the nervous system, which links to the gastrointestinal system and causes complexities with the digestive system. The examination of whether stress causes IBS and to which extent can then lead to more holistic methods of helping individuals that are suffering from IBS. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, also known as IBS, is one of the most common non – infectious gastrointestinal disorders (Pelissier, Danzter, Canini, 2010, 653). The problems associated with this create cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea, all which can create abnormalities in the system (Mayer et al, 2001, p 280). The complexities of IBS are not only associated with the physical discomfort and abnormalities that are in the system. There are also difficulties that are related to the stress levels which individuals carry, all which are directly associated with IBS. It is known that different types of stress affect the triggering effects and the way in which IBS functions. Stress factors include physiological, psychological and physical stressors that occur. These are also associated with emotional motor systems, including automatic, neuroendocrine, attentional and pain modulatory responses (Mayer et al, 2001, p 280). Examining the ways in which IBS links to stress as well as how it is affected with different circuits can then create a deeper understanding of how to treat the main causes associated with IBS and stress. The conditions that are associated with IBS create various levels of reactions among those suffering from the disorder. Understanding how these conditions affect the human body as well as what is associated with the main complexities can provide insight into how this changes the rest of the system. The system and the gastrointestinal area of the body are connected to various systems in the body, which triggers IBS. The conditions and

Blast in Centralia No. 5, in Stillman, PA Term Paper

Blast in Centralia No. 5, in Stillman, PA - Term Paper Example Driscoll Scanlan, who was the mine inspector of the district in which Centralia Mine no.5 is in, conducted inspections, collecting data and recording them; on the basis of the results, he wrote the reports. In his reports, Scanlan noted that the mine was at high risk of exploding due to the buildup of coal dust. He sent his reports to Mr. Robert Weir who was assistant and director for the Department of minerals and mines in the state of Illinois. Mr. Weir provided recommendations and requested for the company’s response, on the condition of the roadways which were dusty, dirty and dangerous. The mine superintendent, Norman Prudent, said they were going to spray the roads in a week’s time (Martin, 1948). Scanlan’s recommendation was that the mine be cleaned up or shut down. Other logistical alternatives, which he would have addressed, are safe rescue methods, self-escape strategy in case of an emergency incident command and coal dust effects on the health of miners (Murray, 2000). He could have focused on the mine rescue team. If the team has specialized equipments, it is capable of rapid, state of art and safe rescue in the irreparable mine environment. This has a wide variation of functionality between team individual capabilities, and the team at Centralia no.5 had ill equipments to handle the disaster (Martin, 1948). Well trained miners who have up to date equipments and are capable of timely self escape under pressure and hazardous atmospheres could have acted first and helped their colleagues. This could have helped in reducing the number of causalities. We recall that there was a recommendation made to the company to install sprinklers in the mine. This proposal fell on a deaf ear. The sprinklers were of importance to emergency response systems because after detection of smoke, they could have sprayed water and this could have warned the miners. Installation of alarm is of paramount

Organizational Structure Essay Example for Free

Organizational Structure Essay An organizational structure is a composition that specifies a companys hierarchical structure. There are various kinds of conformations that organizations can choose to build their business around. The organizational structure exemplifies the way in which control and business affairs have been appointed within the organization. Organizational structure encompasses the design of an organization though people positioning and responsibilities in order for organizational goals can be reached. Some of the time, a formal structure is not necessary due to a small informal business setting. In large organization responsibilities must be distributed. Hence, the reason that policies and procedures are established that assign responsibilities for numerous positions. The determination of these organizational functions (such as marketing, finance, human resources, and operations) influence and determine the organizational structure of your an organization. The three main types of organizational structures are functional structure, divisional structure, and matrix structure. Divisional Structure The structure that an organization is based around also is contingent on the enormity of the company. Divisional structure separates the faculty based on the commodity and customer demand verses geographical location. For example, each area within the organization is accountable for certain divisions. Each division has individual support systems such as finance department, marketing department, warehouse department, and maintenance department. Divisional structure is grants flexibility and is a decentralized structure. Divisional structure also grants quick adaptability to geographical changes. Divisional structure embellishes advancements in the market and industry and allows for various plans of action. However, this structure causes replication of resources due to each unit having the necessity of every resource. PepsiCo’s Organizational Design An example of an organization design around divisional structure is PepsiCo. PepsiCo is a flexible company that is constantly looking for new innovations and consistently adapts to the geographical market. PepsiCo has a decentralized organizational structure. The functional determinations are made in individual units with corporate control and direction. PepsiCo has one CEO and three division presidents. The companys hierarchical structure continues as each division is broken down into market units. Each market unit has a director. Furthermore each market unit is divided into regional units, then down the chain to sales units. Each unit has its own resources, such as marketing, finance, human resources, and operations departments. PepsiCo determines responsibilities by departmentalization. Departmentalization is a conglomeration of common duties and characterization of tasks. The influences of departmentalization are function, product, geographic, process and customer. PepsiCo maintains a span of control by making sure of correct distribution of responsibility among employees and task obligations are accounted for. For example, units are tasked with weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly forecast for sales, operations, overhead, and labor. Reports are sent weekly to account for these actions. Human resources departments are in each division to ensure control over the organization. There are guidelines and procedures in place to ensure the rules are being followed across the globe. Formalization sets the standard for the administered responsibility. Each unit at PepsiCo has management teams in place to ensure control of task performances. For example, a if a location has been tasked with a 1,000 case distribution for week one in the period and the sales teams are severely falling short on sales, management will step in to centralize the issue, reiterate the method of actions, and ensure the actions are conducted in a certain manner to achieve results. PepsiCo is multinational organization made up of three units which are PepsiCo Americas Foods, PepsiCo Americas Beverages and PepsiCo International. This structure allows the organization to focus on manifesting international markets, which will grant independence revenues, enabling focus on better product advancement. The organization is spread across the globe. However, the control is local, unlike a matrix structure that is located only in a single area (PepsiCo 2012). Matrix Structure A matrix structure formalizes line teams as well as the typical divisional hierarchy. The matrix structure is a hybrid between the functional and divisional structure, effectively creating independent business units for each product or service created or each unique market targeted. The matrix-structured organization is a project-based business that divides individual groups based on functional specializations. Variation of the matrix structure divides the authority by both functional and project areas. The functional manager heads up the functional areas of the organization. The project supervisor oversees the assigned project. This allows for management to focus on areas of proficiency. Companies such as General Motors has based its organization around the matrix structure due to the ability to specialize in specific areas, and organizational communication through other fields. General Motors believes the differentiation of ideas creates innovational determinations. The matrix structure also allows the human resources department to be shared throughout the organization. General Motors is made up of one main chief information officer (CIO) and several divisional CIOs that control the functionalities in the organization. General Motors also has process information officers that work in various areas of expertise across the organization. General Motors believes the matrix structure develops global commercialism (Daft 2007). Functional Structure Functional Structured organizations group tasks according to the target. Functional structured organizations work well for organizations that have a need for departments to rely on expertise of its faculty. A major disadvantage to a functional structured organization is the communication boundaries due to variation in departments that work individually. One company that a functional structure works well is Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is one of America’s largest retailers. Wal-Mart is designed by a functional structure. Wal-Mart’s target market is a consumer with median incomes. Wal-Mart has a limited amount of functions in specialized areas with in the organization. Wal-Mart does not produce its goods, but has enough buying power to supply the demanded products. The organizational structure and large size enables the buying power to purchase goods at low prices. This buying power enables Wal-Mart to offer its target market lower prices creating a competitive edge over other retailers. A functional structured organization; such as Wal-Mart have a chief executive officer, limited executive staff, and department heads in domineering areas of expertise such as accounting, marketing, human resources and warehouse. Wal-Mart’s headquarters and executive staff is made up of a Chief of Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and Board of Directors, with supporting committees. Conclusion Determining an organizations structural design that will be the most effective for a specific company has great significance on organizational success. Using an unsuitable design structure can be consequential in communication, product development, customer service, and countless situations of other organizational issues. Organizational structure can determine the successful outcome of the organization. Reference Bateman, T. S., Snell, S. A. (2011). Management: Leading Collaborating in a Competitive World (ninth ed.). New York, NY: McGrall Hill. Retrieved May 7, 2012 (2012). PepsiCo. Retrieved May 7, 2012, from www.pepsico.com Daft, Richard (2007). Organizational Theory and Design (ninth ed.). Manson, OH: Thompson Higher Education. Retrieved May 7, 2012.

The Legacy Of Jackie Robinson Essay example -- Sports Baseball

The legacy of Jackie Robinson goes beyond the April 15, 1947 afternoon at Ebbets Field, when the Brooklyn Dodger infielder became the first black in the 20th century to play baseball in the major leagues. He changed the sport, and he changed the attitude of a lot of people in this country, Jackie Robinson fought for all the people that were fortunate, a lot of them are, especially the minority guys, to be able to play in the major leagues and the impact on the people of color today. Robinson was an undeniably great player who had some of his best years stolen from him. He was a speedster who led his team to six World Series, won Rookie of the Year honors, an MVP award and was a six-time All-Star. But it’s not because of his marvelous career that Jackie’s number 42 is retired in every major league ballpark. It’s because on a chilly afternoon in 1947 at Ebbets Field, Robinson took the diamond for the Dodgers to become the first black man to play in a major league baseball game in the modern era. His stellar play and moreover, his poise under fire paved the way for baseball integration, as barriers broke down in baseball, they also started to crumble in society at large. While Jackie is best remembered for integrating major league baseball, an incident that occurred before his fame as a Dodger heralded his future as a warrior in the battle for civil rights. America entered World War II, as in most of America at the time; blacks suffered the indignation of segregation. Jim...

Healthcare Business Organization Paper

Business Organization Paper Healthcare has drastically changed over the years in the United States. As our population is growing in size, a shortage of the number of health care professionals is also growing. Entrepreneurs have greatly benefited the world of health care by assisting with creating more jobs, producing products and services to assist and meet the growing needs of the population, and starting new business organizations to meet the needs of today’s economy. There are different forms of organizations and choosing the correct one is important, as it will affect the success or failure of the business. Define the Different Forms of Business Organizations Sole proprietorships are an individually owned business where the individual is entitled to all of the profits and also responsible for all of its debts, liabilities, taxes, and claims that may be made toward the organization. Partnerships are businesses started by 2 or more individuals. In this form of business each individual is equally responsible for the liabilities, management, as well as entitled to a portion of the profits. With the different knowledge and skills each member brings to the business will increase the chance of success. Corporations are created by law and owned by shareholders. Rather than actual property, the owners own stock or interest. Through selling stock the corporation can raise the capital o help with establishing business and increase financial gain. According to SCORE Associations (2003), limited liability companies are a â€Å"new and flexible business organization of one or more owners that offers the advantages of liability protection with the simplicity of a partnership, i. e. partners are not liable for business debts† (Para. 3). Explain the Advantages of Each Form of Business Organization Sole proprietorships are the easiest to manage due to the nature of the business and it is also easy to close if needed. Partnership business’s benefit by having shared responsibility in managing the organization and raising funds would be easier with multiple partners in the business. In corporations, according to Naol (2011), the shareholders â€Å"can only be held accountable for their investment in stock of the company† (Para. 6). However when debt raises it can be paid through the sales of stock. Some advantages associated with limited liability companies include creditors can not seize the owner’s personal property, there is no double taxation, and health insurance can be deducted from the income tax. Explain the Disadvantages of Each Form of Business Organization Sole proprietorships place the owner at risk if debts outweigh the profits due to personal property being at risk because of the owner being responsible for all debt and liabilities. This form of business may struggle with the type of employees it draws due to personal funds needed to start the business. If the owner is not available to run the business it is at high risk of failing. In a partnership business because each owner is equally accountable for the liabilities each member will be held responsible for any negative actions by another partner. Because of diversity members may run into disagreements with the management or expenses of the business. According to Business Finance (2011), â€Å"The process of incorporation requires more time and money than other forms of organization† (Para. 3). Taxes may be higher for a corporation, and there are more strict regulations to follow. A corporation may also be sued. Some disadvantages of a limited liability company are that owners are not allowed to have a wage and they must pay self-employment taxes. Define the Appropriate Form of Ownership for an Aggressive Entrepreneurial Firm According to Pullman (2011), the most appropriate form of ownership for an aggressive entrepreneurial firm would be a limited liability business. An entrepreneur who is willing to take risks in the process of being aggressive would be willing to even risk personal wealth and property, which would lead to greater success than entrepreneurs who were not as willing to take such risks. Conclusion The main focus behind marketing and healthcare is business growth and financial gain, and the form of business used plays a critical role in the success or failure of the industry. Through knowledge of the various forms of business and their advantages and disadvantages will lead to the entrepreneur being able to make an informed choice of which business form will best meet their needs to produce a successful venture. References Business Finance. (2011). Types of Business Organizations – Corporations. Retrieved November 19, 2011, from http://www. businessfinance. om/books/startabusiness/StartABusinessWorkbook012. htm Naol, M. , A. (2011), Forming a Texas business corporation. Retrieved November 19, 2011, from http://www. nacollawfirmblog. com/business-transactions/forming-a-texas-business-corporation Pullman, J. (2011). How you structure a new entrepreneurial business matters. Retrieved November 19, 2011, from http://www. streetarticles. com/entrepreneurialism/how-y ou-structure-a-new-entrepreneurial-business-matters SCORE Association. (2003). Common forms of business organization. Retrieved November 19, 2011, from http://www. tulsascore. org/organization. html

Advantages of Strategic Intent Thinking Essay

Introduction Though strategic intent thinking and strategic planning aim at one thing, they are quite different from one another. The former involves development and application of high-level and unique business strategies with the aim of attaining competitive advantage for the firm. Strategic intent helps firms to focus on new capabilities to tap future opportunities. The notion is internally focused and has serious implications on how a business competes. The process is characterized by broad and long-term target, and relates sense of urgency as well as lengthens attention.   The major purpose of strategic intent is to help organizations share a common intention in order survive business competition and adapt to changes in the business world. Strategic planning is defined by (Miztberg, 1994) as an analysis of business operations. The analysis involves breaking business goals into manageable parts, designing how steps are implemented and estimating the anticipated outcomes of each goal. According to this definition, the process elaborate goals and strategies that already exist. Strategic planning supports strategies that have been developed through strategic thinking. The two processes aims at raising the performance of the firm. However, they have significant differences. Strategic intent thinking is intent focused. It allows managers and all other stakeholders to commit themselves for as long as a certain strategy works. When applied to Costco Company, it can be noted that Costco employees are well  Ã‚   paid, which eliminates workers turnover. This means that the employees at Costco are motivated to ensure strategy works no matter the time it takes. Strategic intent thinking takes into consideration the past, the present and the future, unlike strategic planning which considers the future only. This means that strategy should not be driven by the future intent alone. The gap between today and tomorrow is very important when devising a business strategy. In addition to this, strategic intent think is responsive to business opportunities. This means that managers who employ this system of thinking are able to identify future opportunities and prepare to take them. Costco seems to employ this strategy. The company managers anticipate its sales to rise by 2017 because of the increased use of the internet. Internet continues to create new demand for goods and services. This means that Costco must revise its goals and missions to tap the demand being created by the use of the internet. According to( DeGeus ,1988) the traditional view of strategy emphasizes on the degree to which a business fits between current opportunities and existing resources while strategic intent brings misfit between ambitions and resources.   He further argues that the process requires a number of people who should understand their organization’s work. This way, they will be able to think strategically and work towards achieving organizational goals. Back to our case study, it can be noted that Costco understands that a business does not operate in vacuum.   With this in mind, Costco strives to conserve the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is one way of cutting down operational costs, and can help the company achieve a competitive advantage. On the other hand, Costco pays its employees more salary than the industry average. This way, Costco is able to operate at serene environment, which has no disruptions such as strikes. References DeGeus, A. P. (1988, March/April). Planning as learning. Harvard Business Review, 70-74. Mintzberg, H. (1994). The fall and rise of strategic planning. Harvard Business Review, 107-114.

Successes and the Failures of the Drug War

Successes and the Failures of the Drug War Introduction The drug war to prohibit the use of illicit drugs especially narcotics has been received with mixed reaction. In the past century, the use of illicit drugs reduced drastically owing to the drug war.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Successes and the Failures of the Drug War specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, in the recent past the use of illicit drugs has been on the rise. There have emerged counter- culture movements that have been championing the use of drugs; the drug war has been criticized for initiating the same crimes it is trying to solve. The war on drugs has made cartels to be more wary and devolve very complicated methods of countering the war on drugs (Merez, 2004). Failures of Drug War The war on drugs has failed to act in time, and actions are taken when the misuse is at high levels. Noriega the former dictator of Panama was a widely known dealer and facilitator of the narcotics enter ing the US. However, due to his close links with the CIA where he had been assigned certain duties, his activities in drug dealing were overlooked until they reached an alarming level. Overlooking such people has enabled the drug lords to thrive. Noriega is known to have had links with the major drug dealers in the world like Colombia’s Escobar (Russell, 2000). The use of illicit drugs has become widespread in the society; in the just concluded Senate elections, the state of California went to the polls to legalize Marijuana. Though not successful, it shows that people are becoming more pro- drugs. The drug war has failed in facilitating thorough education of the masses. The scenario portrayed is as if the public are the culprits. For effective combat on drugs, those involved in the drug war should and must include the public. Treatments facilities must be established to ensure those willing to quit drugs are assisted. Lack of sufficient treatment facilities has made those wi lling to quit drugs unable, as there are no treatment facilities (Trebach, 2005). The drug war has failed to curb the media. The media especially in the entertainment industry seems to idolize drugs. Hip Hop and rap artists are full of praise for the hard drugs in their lyrics. These artists have millions of fans especially the young people, who some turn to drugs aping their superstars.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Drug war should prohibit those artists encouraging drug use and ban magazines that advocate for the use of illicit drugs. Most of the illicit drugs in the US come from Mexico and other countries. The drug war has not tightened the border security as these drugs are finding their way into the US markets (Parker, 1990). Successes of drug war However, the drug war has seen the arrest and capture of high profile drug dealers like Vasquez Mendoza of Mexico wh o had also been accused of killing a federal agent. Some of the arrested people have accumulated millions in drug trade. The drug war has also led to decrease of deaths through the hard drugs abuse. The growing of the illicit drugs like Cannabis in the US has drastically reduced due to the drug war (Kelly, 1995). Conclusion The drug war has had both successes and failures. The use of drugs in the US has remained low compared to some of her neighbors like Mexico and Jamaica. However, these neighbors are facilitating the use of illicit drugs in the US and the drug war must be extended to include these nations if meaningful curbing of illicit drug use is to be realized (Betram, 1996). Education of the masses should also be emphasized to boost cooperation between the citizens and the officials in charge of the drug war. Reference List Bertram, E. (1996). Drug War Politics: The Price of Denial. Los Angeles: University of California. Kelly, J. (1995). Drug War: Observation on U.S. Drug Co ntrol Efforts. New York: The Office Marez, C. (2004). Drug Wars: The Political Economy Of Narcotics. Minnesota: Minnesota University Press Parker, S. (1990) The Drug War. New York: Gloucester PressAdvertising We will write a custom essay sample on Successes and the Failures of the Drug War specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Russell, D. (2000). Drug War: Covert, Money, Power Policy. New York: Kalyx.com Trebach, S. (2005). The Great Drug War. Bloomington: Unlimited Publishing LLC

Calderas - Worlds Largest

Calderas - Worlds Largest Calderas are large craters formed by volcanic explosions or by unsupported surface rock collapsing into empty magma chambers beneath the ground. They sometimes are referred to as supervolcanoes. One way to understand calderas is to think of them as reverse volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions often will be the cause of magma chambers being left empty and leaving  the volcano above unsupported. This can cause the ground above, sometimes an entire volcano, to collapse into the empty chamber. Yellowstone Park Yellowstone Park is perhaps the most well-known caldera in the United States, drawing millions of tourists every year. According to Yellowstones website, the supervolcano was the site of massive eruptions 2.1 million years ago, 1.2 million years ago, and 640,000 years ago. Those eruptions were, respectively, 6,000 times, 70 times, and 2,500 times more powerful than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington. Explosive Force What today is known as Lake Toba in Indonesia is the result of perhaps the greatest volcanic eruption since the dawn of early man. Approximately 74,000 years ago, Mount Tobas eruption produced about 2,500 times more volcanic ash than Mount St. Helens. This led to a volcanic winter that had a devastating effect on the entire human population  of the time. The volcanic winter lasted six years and led to a 1,000-year-long ice age, according to research, and the world population was reduced to about 10,000 adults. Potential Modern Impact Research into how a massive eruption would impact the world day shows the effects to be potentially devastating. One study focusing on Yellowstone suggests another eruption comparable in size to the three biggest ones of the past 2.1 million  years would kill 87,000 people instantly. The volume of ash would be enough to collapse rooftops in states surrounding the park. Everything within about 60 miles would be destroyed, most of the western United States would be covered in about 4 feet of ash, and an ash cloud would spread across the entire planet, casting it in shadow for days. The impact on vegetation could lead to food shortages across the planet. Visiting the Largest Calderas on the Planet Yellowstone is just one of many calderas throughout the world. Like Yellowstone, many of the others can be interesting and fascinating places to visit and to study. Below is a list of the worlds largest calderas: Caldera name Country Location Size(km) Mostrecenteruption La Pacana Chile 23.10 S67.25 W 60 x 35 Pliocene PastosGrandes Bolivia 21.45 S67.51 W 50 x 40 8.3 Ma Kari Kari Bolivia 19.43 S65.38 W 30 Unknown Cerro Galan Argentina 25.57 S65.57 W 32 2.5 Ma Awasa Ethiopia 7.18 N38.48 E 40 x 30 Unknown Toba Indonesia 2.60 N98.80 E 100 x 35 74 ka Tondano Indonesia 1.25 N124.85 E 30 x 20 Quaternary Maroa/Whakamaru NewZealand 38.55 S176.05 E 40 x 30 500 ka Taupo NewZealand 38.78 S176.12 E 35 1,800 yr Yellowstone USA-WY 44.58 N110.53 W 85 x 45 630 ka La Garita USA-CO 37.85 N106.93 W 75 x 35 27.8 Ma Emory USA-NM 32.8 N107.7 W 55 x 25 33 Ma Bursum USA-NM 33.3 N108.5 W 40 x 30 28-29 Ma Longridge(McDermitt) USA-OR 42.0 N117.7 W 33 ~16 Ma Socorro USA-NM 33.96 N107.10 W 35 x 25 33 Ma TimberMountain USA-NV 37 N116.5 W 30 x 25 11.6 Ma ChinatiMountains USA-TX 29.9 N104.5 W 30 x 20 32-33 Ma Long Valley USA-CA 37.70 N118.87 W 32 x 17 50 ka greater MalySemiachik/Pirog Russia 54.11 N159.65 E 50 ~50 ka greater BolshoiSemiachik Russia 54.5 N160.00 E 48 x 40 ~50 ka greaterIchinsky Russia 55.7 N157.75 E 44 x 40 ~50 ka greaterPauzhetka Russia 51 N157 E ~40 300 ka greaterKsudach Russia 51.8 N157.54 E ~35 ~50 ka Source: Cambridge Volcanology Group  caldera database

Acquisition Reform Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Acquisition Reform - Research Paper Example Now, it is evident that there exists mutual dependency between the US military and the economic performance of this country. In this context, it becomes logical to evaluate the eminent relationship between them. Therefore, the defense department depends so much on the economic sector of the American population. The military’s economic dependency is depicted in the budget allocation and on other aspects like military logistical acquisition. Based on these facts, the US government has seen the need to blend these two sectors together to harmonize their dependency on each other. This led to the formulation of the acquisition reform program (Hanks, 2005, p.234). Acquisition reform is an exercise meant to integrate the United States military with the civil business practices. The US department of defense acknowledged the need to integrate the civil industrial sector with the military. The economical production of the US had direct relations with the military in terms of logistics p roduction and supply. From the late 1980’s through 1990’s to the present times, the US department of defense has undertaken numerous exercises meant to develop an optimal program to integrate these two sectors. The goals of the reform exercise are aimed at streamlining the performance of the US military by initiating close relationship between the civil logistics producers and the defense department.... These deliverables were to provide an insight into the objective purpose of the acquisition reform process. The main objective of the reform exercise is for the civil economic sector to respond efficiently to the military needs. Based on this goal, the project designers saw the need of integrating the national industrial base into the military systems (Lorrel & Graser, 2005 p. 70). In this case, the Department of Defense considered adopting the ideal customer processes in their relationship with the US industrial sector. Since the program’s inception, the numerous modifications are aimed at focusing on the long-term emphasis of the business problems and solutions of the military. Some of the projected deliverables is meant to encourage commercial industries to work with the defense sector. Based on this underlying objective, every acquisition reform process is aimed at considering the policies, behavioral or cultural changes and the business values that will facilitate the ach ievement of the reform goals (Dirk, 1994 p. 38). Now, it is clearly understood that the main aim of the acquisition reform program is to address the issue of commercial relations between the military and the industrial sector in terms of logistical supplies and service provision. Before this program, there was an inherent problem in the military concerning the economical processes of acquisition and usage of military equipments and services. The producers of these equipments and providers of the services were the major stakeholders in the US civil industrial sector. Therefore, the masterminds of this program aimed at articulating the procurement practices of the defense department by blending the concepts of commerce and the consumer

Proffecional report on ethical behavior and unethical behavior Assignment

Proffecional report on ethical behavior and unethical behavior articles - Assignment Example It studies what factors make the system ethical or unethical. It also aims to highlight the issues which prevail in the society and how they are effecting the environment and system of any nation. The Global business standard code is a code of conduct based on code of ethics. It helps to understand the regulation of any system internally and externally on ethical laws and codes. It is a principle of 8 codes which focus on responsible practice of ethics in any system. It’s not a one sided plan; but a complete code which applies on both authorities and underworkers. Evaluation and Assessment of the Article Article 1 summery (unethical) The Dowager Queen of Belgium is reported to have evaded 70% of bereavement duties by channeling the finances to her relations through a foundation. The Queen, Fabiola, has been getting an annual public reward from Belgium from the time when the King Baudouin, her spouse, passed away in 1993. The unpleasant incident now causes upheaval given the cu rrent economic state of the bulk of European nations. Like the majority of European states, Belgium has laid down plans underway to cut back on public spending and monarchs within the European states have been criticized for their copious public expenditure. The Queen insists that she wasn’t placing publicly funded payment within the charity. She said that fund â€Å"would only include her private money.† She further claimed that the lone costs that were covered by the payment were housekeeping costs, together with salaries. Belgium wants to cut the annual stipend of Queen Fabiola after political leaders learned she had put up a private charity to provide for her nephews and nieces and for her preferred Catholic foundations after her demise. Premier Elio Di Rupo had told MPs he sought to cut the sum to â‚ ¬923,000 (?776,000) back from â‚ ¬1.4 million (?1.18m). As the only widow of the late King Baudouin – a dedicated Catholic who in 1990 did step aside pro visionally to steer clear of signing the nation's abortion bill – insists the cash came from assets inherited from her Hispanic family. The 84-year-old at the moment maintains that she has had to dissolve the charitable vehicle set up in September that let her to forward monies. The surfacing of the plan not many weeks ago aggravated rare fury in both political and media circles in Belgium and has hit the realm to its foundations. The Property Principle and The Citizenship Principle were not respected by the monarch in her dealings with the state. Evaluation over GBS codex: This is an unethical article over the realities of the story when we see it as a system; evaluating it over Global Business Standards Codes we can classify it as an unethical one. Out of eight components of GBS codes which fit over the story are first The Transparency Principle and Fiduciary principle because being the Queen she has the duty to do charity and help poor whereas it has been reported about he r that she had been ignoring about 70% of the bereavement duties she is supposed to do. She furthermore had been controlling and channelizing the finances to a foundation she made and didn’t announce publicly; which basically is going to benefit her own relatives. All this tells that she had been ignoring the Transparency and Fiduciary principles according to GBS codex. The Queen Fabiola has an annual

Module 4,5,& 7 Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Module 4,5,& 7 Strategic Management - Essay Example Expanding abroad is one strategy entertainment / gaming major players resort to in order to make up for slowing returns inside and to avoid prolonged licensing procedures. Further, given heavy investments in real estate developments, a typical entertainment industry strategy for growth (Ross, Keeffe, & Middlebrook, 2006), market expansion based on property development is both an opportunity during booms and a threat during recessions and economic down turns (Stein, 2009). Given no public mission statement exists for Mandalay Resort Group, Mandalay's vision should build upon company's founders' conception of fun, play, and entertainment. Future actions by Mandalay should center on insights possibly translated into following set of goals and objectives: 1. Expanding on concept of "entertainment" such as to, on one hand, approach "gaming" players (e.g. Nintendo) whose main target (teens, young adults, and family) borders on Mandalay's (e.g. themed parks, play areas, and "low roller" clients) and to move away from wrong-doing characterization associated with gaming and gambling industry upon entering markets (e.g. Middle East) whose local cultures regard gaming - and enjoyment of it - as sinful, on another. 2. Considering mergers and acquisitions as facts of a changing industry in which survival can by no means be sustained by older ways of tit-a-tat competition in an infinitely expanding market. 3. Investing wise in real estate developments especially in local market (i.e. U.S.) in which gains achieved during booms cannot be guaranteed at sustainable levels during recessions and downturns - let alone negative public image impressions of a luxurious facility / development, working great as fun and entertainment destinations during booms, but questioned as extravagancies and spoils during hard times. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR MANDALAY RESORT GROUP 5 References Ross III, K. J., Keeffe, M., & Middlebrook, B. (2006) . Mandalay Resort Group. In David, R. F. (Ed.), Strategic management: concepts and cases (10th ed.) (pp. 124-133). China: Pearson. Stein, J. (2009, Aug. 31). Less vegas. Time, 174, 26-33. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR HARLEY-DAVIDSON, INC. 1 Strategic Plan for Harley-Davidson, Inc. [Insert Your First and Last Names] [Insert Name of University] STRATEGIC PLAN FOR HARLEY-DAVIDSON, INC. 2 Abstract This paper develops a 3-year strategic plan for Harley-Davidson, Inc. as of 2004. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR HARLEY-DAVIDSON, INC. 3 Strategic Plan for Harley-Davidson, Inc. Domestically, "Harley-Davidson" echoes quite favourably not only amongst motorcycles owners and fans but also among brand-aware consumers. Clearly, one major asset of Davidson, Inc. is Harley-Davidson

Pros & Cons Essay Example for Free

Pros Cons Essay Most wireline phone companies charge more than what youd pay for most alternatives, and some are taxed more as well. There are some locations where getting new wired phone service is prohibitively expensive or even impossible. Long Distance and extra features like Call Waiting are normally included with alternative phones. More Features: Cellular and broadband phones normally include Long Distance, Voice Mail, Caller ID, Call Forwarding and more, usually at no additional charge. They also have Text Messaging and various forms of data service which are unavailable with a landline. Portability: If you move your home more than average (or if its on wheels), your phone and your number can stay with you. There are no installation charges. Temporary Usage: You can have phone service for the season in a vacation home or cabin, or on an extended stay at a hotel or home of a friend or relative without installing a separate line. Unlimited Plans: Most alternatives offer a plan that includes Unlimited talk minutes and Long Distance, including cellular. Most cellular carriers have eliminated Unlimited Data plans, although there are some that include Data with some other restrictions. Anonymity: You can easily set up an account (especially prepaid cellular) with either no name or an alternative identity. Fewer Telemarketers: Nuisance calls are reduced because telemarketers want to target customers in certain geographic areas. They wont know where you are. Most telcos provide your landline number to telemarketers. With cellular its illegal for now. With broadband, it depends on the carrier who sets up your number. Internet Access: Your wireless phone can also be your connection to the Internet, either with an internal browser or tethered to your computer, and available wherever there is cellular coverage. Wireless broadband is also available separate from your cellular account. Wi-Fi for Multiple Devices: You can get a cellular modem that provides a wi-fi signal that can connect to up to 5 separate wi-fi devices. Its Green: Replace your fax with an Internet-based fax service like eFax or MyFax. com and stop wasting paper and ink. (Give your old fax to charity) Attitude: Some wired phone companies just treat their customers badly. Sometimes it feels better to leave at any price. Take your broadband wherever you go A mobile broadband connection is exactly that, which means that you can access your emails, check the sports results or watch YouTube videos no matter where you are, provided you have 3G reception. Stop paying for line rental Millions of people continue to pay for line rental on a home phone landline that they rarely use, just so that they can get broadband at home. With mobile broadband, theres no need to pay line rental potentially saving you over ? 100 a year. Plug and play technology All the software you need to connect to the internet is automatically installed when you first plug your USB modem into your laptop no need to set it up or call a technical support helpline. Flexible options available Mobile broadband customers can take advantage of some really great pay as you go tariffs from as little as ? 2 a day, or rolling one-month packages, meaning they only ever pay for what they actually need. Cons: Safety: If you need to call 911, public safety authorities wont automatically know where you are, youll have to tell them. Also, calls with alternative phones will not necessarily be routed to the closest agency. Also, you wont receive Reverse 911 calls alerting you to a public emergency in your neighborhood unless your local emergency center allows you to sign up your number and associate it with a local address. Security: Some businesses will not allow you to use their services without a traceable land line. This includes credit card companies, pizza shops and a few others, although this rule is slowly being relaxed. Satellite TV services want a landline-like plug for their equipment to call them each night. It does work with some broadband phone systems. Your satellite service can still work without it, but you will most likely pay an extra charge. Reliability: Wired telephone services have come as close to 100% reliable as is practical. Their network has substantial power backup, redundant circuits and years to get it right. Alternatives are improving but their networks can vary significantly. Cell sites and other communications nodes have a limited amount of backup power. In an extended power outage, such as after a hurricane or snowstorm, the service may not work, leaving you with no service. Corded phones work in power failures. Cable phones also have a lower level of reliability. Sound Quality: Some alternative phones dont sound the same or as good as a landline. While your alternative phone may sound fine to you, it may be difficult for others. Also, some broadband phone services just dump their audio into the Internet resulting in widely varying data travel times giving you significant sound delays. Lack of Service: You may be in a location where there are no wireless broadband alternatives or may have poor cellular coverage. This might be rectified by adding a cell site to your home. Broadband Speeds: While there are some fairly fast wireless broadband connections, it may be some time before they will compare to wired or cable connections. Malfunctions: Cell sites can stop working for various reasons. Repairs often need to be made on site and may take time. Broadband services require one or more pieces of equipment at your house which you will need to fix if it fails. Wireline equipment can normally be repaired at the central office. Murphys Law says breakdowns will happen at the worst possible time. You Have No Backup: Unless you have an extra cellular phone, if something happens to your main phone or its associated equipment, or your account, you cant just plug another phone into the wall. Inconvenience: Some alternative services only offer a single jack for one phone. If you want service throughout the house you either must go wi-fi or cellular. Otherwise, plan on using the phone near your computer or router. With a cell phone you need to keep it close to you if your home is large or on multiple floors. It Might be Difficult to Get a Job: Some employers require a Local number to consider you for a position. While you can change your out-of-town portable number to something local, there goes your Number For Life. Surprise Costs. Since you normally pay for cellular by the minute, you might talk a lot more than you think. Savings may be less than you expected when calculated long term. Broadband carriers are not regulated like wireline services and could make changes that you dont expect. You Wont Be Listed in the Phone Book. Some directories let you to pay for a personal listing, but others use that as a way to keep you as a landline customer. Alarm systems. Most existing dial-up alarm systems dont work with broadband phone connections. There are other alarm alternatives, including wireless. You May Not Be Able to Send or Receive Faxes. In some cases, faxing is not an issue. In others, you cant just plug in your fax machine. A better choice is to to use a paperless, web-based service like eFax or MyFax. com. Low download limits Even the most generous of mobile broadband tariffs only offer a download allowance of 15GB per month, and that could set you back ? AÂ  month on a two-year contract, while typical value packages offer less than 5GB a month. High costs for exceeding your limit Most mobile broadband providers charge a fee when you exceed your download limit. This is normally several pence per MB and costs can very quickly add up if youre not careful. Always keep an eye on your usage. Slower connections Although suppliers might advertise speeds of up to 10 or 12Mb, mobile broadband speeds rarely exceed the average of around 1Mb. This, combined with the tight usage limits, makes mobile broadband unsuitable for large downloads. Coverage Most of the UK is covered by the 3G mobile network, but coverage can be patchy in some rural areas, with speeds significantly slower in some parts of the country, so you should always check coverage in your area before signing up. PROS OF FIXED LINE NETWORK Reliability Land line/fix line phones can be more reliable than their cellular counterparts. Disconnected cables can disable land lines, but these problems are easily remedied. On the other hand, cellular phones are plagued by several different issues because they rely on a network of radio waves, cellular towers and satellites. In some areas, cellular service is plagued by dropped calls and fuzzy reception. Emergencies The reliability of land line phones makes them advantageous when it comes to emergencies. For example, if someone is hurt and needs immediate medical care, you do not have to worry about contending with poor reception. Land lines also provide a fixed location that emergency responders can rush to. On a cell phone, you must state your address or describe your location, which wastes precious time during a crisis. Sponsored Links

Political Cartoons and Republicans :: essays research papers fc

Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Republican Party was founded by a coalition in 1854 and was comprised of former members of the Whig, Free-Soil, and Know-Nothing parties. The slavery issue shattered America’s established political landscape and catapulted the Republicans from what seemed like nowhere straight into the White House in 1860. After Fremont’s attempt at winning the presidency in 1856, Lincoln won the election four years later, cementing the Republican Party’s desire for executive power. In the aftermath of the Civil War, the United States found itself politically gridlocked. Neither the newly formed Republicans nor the Democrats were able to gain much traction. The decades after the Civil War saw some of the closest and most controversial races in American history. The Rutherford B. Hayes commissioned election victory is a great example as he had fewer popular votes than Sam Tilden, but won the election under the guise of the Electoral College. The 1888 electi on was also very close, as less than 100,000 votes separated the leading candidates; Benjamin Harrison again won by the rules of the electoral process but lost the popular vote. During the Gilded Age of American history, the mainstream political scene was superficial and intensely partisan, but the regular Joe loved it. â€Å"Despite the lack of issues,† writes Morton Keller, â€Å"balloting – and straight ticket voting – in the 1870’s and 1880’s was at or near the highest level in American history.† He also contends that policy had become subordinate to â€Å"the sumptuous display† of parades, bonfires, and pep rallies. Accompanying this era of political advertisement and propaganda, the political system itself depended upon a spoils and patronage allowance, which gave rise to political corruption.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Political cartoons and mass media grew up with the end of the Civil War as well. As Harper’s weekly, Judge, Puck, and the New York World all competed for popular acceptance, they helped reform the political corruption of the time. After the critical election of 1896, the nature of party conflict changed. The close competition between the parties in the post Civil War period was replaced by Republican dominance. Mckinley’s defeat of William Jennings Bryan in 1896 and 1900 was followed by Republican victories in every presidential election until 1932, except for Woodrow Wilson’s victories in 1912 and 1916. This will be explored later. As the Republicans also controlled Congress from 1896 to 1930, except for during Wilson’s tenure, they were dominant everywhere but the South.

Team Case Critique

Electronic Arts is an American based company it mainly markets and produces computer and video games. It’s widely recognized for developing brilliant sports games along with this it also produces a wide variety of different games for the consumers. Moreover it manufactures the games fulfilling the requirements of all the platforms that is it does not restrict its games for the usage of one platform only.It is a profitable and prosperous company, however in the present days it is suffering as there are some great concerns regarding its business. For this purpose the board would advice the CEO that the company should bring a change in its strategies in order to thrive in such a competitive and demanding environment the company should firstly look towards the creation of downloadable games of this will not only increase the sales of its games but also reduce the costs of physically making the game, the handling and inventory of the games.More to add Electronic Art should work on establishing an online platform where games are available for being downloaded, although this will cost the company some amount but the increase in revenue that will be generated by the sale of the games online will be completely worth the efforts. Additionally making small versions of the game will also be favorable for the company as converting the larger versions into mini versions does not require much additional resources.This way the games can easily be downloaded to wireless devices such as the mobile phones and I pods, which will be an added source of income for the company without incurring a great deal of added costs. There is a price ceiling that exists in the game market of $59. 99 the platform manufactures do not wish to increase the price beyond that, these console manufactures have great power to influence the prices. The only way Electronic Art can shatter this price limit is by producing innovative and distinguished games.By offering product differentiation only wil l the manufactures be able to set their own prices for their product instead of being under pressure by the console manufacturers. For this purpose the company should look to towards attracting fresh and young talent and merge them with the experienced teams that have made the name of the â€Å"popular games† a huge success in the market. The company’s statistics show that the top 100 games are responsible for 50 % of the sales for the company this means that the rest of the games for which money is spent on is simply wasted as it does not prove to be fruitful for the company.The company should adopt a strategy of producing limited games but doing a lot of research and development for the making of these games this as this will lead to a greater possibility that these games will be a winner in the market. This will provide opportunities for the company to cut down its costs and use its resources more competently. We also agree with valuing the employees and develop str ategies to retain the talented and experienced personnel of the organization. As a result we should provide the employees with enhanced monetary and non monetary benefits.Profit sharing with the employees is a great idea as that will make the employees feel a part of the company and encourage them to use resources more wisely. Try to coordinate employees to work cooperatively and come up with out of the box ideas and strategies. In our opinion the company should not discontinue usage of celebrity endorsement to promote the games but to limit it as far as possible in order to keep costs within a limit. Unnecessary and excessive celebrity endorsements should be avoided as this leads to increasing the burden of costs for the company.To resolve the issue of the high royalty fees charged by the console manufacturers EA should look forward with having negotiations with those companies. The companies should be told that Electronic Art is willing to pay for the royalty fees when a game is l ucrative in the market but in those cases where the games are not doing well in the market the console manufacturers should not take royalty fees from those games as the dealing for those games would be mainly to recover the costs and settle at breakeven.Special incentives such as supplementary royalty fees should be provided to the console manufacturers if the games are unbeaten and are doing a flourishing business. This incentive will help to motivate the console manufacturers to agree to Electronic Art’s offer. Starting off with small console manufacturer is a good idea as that enables to convince those manufacturers easily as they rely on Electronic Art’s games.They should motivate the console manufacturers that by following our company’s proposed recommendation regarding the royalty fees both of our companies will grow together this way. The future strategies have to be based on lowering costs but increasing revenue, but at the same time not compromising on the entertainment factor the games provide. The including of inbuilt advertisements within the game is a great source of revenue and also doesn’t distract the attention of the gamer.Advertisers are ready to market their products and services in such a manner as it is a fabulous way to subconsciously advertise a company’s product and services. Furthermore the suggestion of providing opportunities for the improvement the characters online with a small amount of fee is quite impressive. As many gamers will be willing to enhance the style and functionalities of their characters and with a small amount of fee numerous customers will be wanting to avail this facility which will lead to increased revenue for the company.After the company attains substantial success and generates enough funds it should focus its attention on developing multiplayer games, as these games require a great deal of capital to be developed. Hence firstly the company should expand by all those means that do not call for a significant amount of excess funding then move on to those projects that need a great deal of investments. Moreover the company should think of implementing other major projects which include virtual simulation when they have enough financing as these types of games also require ample of resources.Additionally in the long run the company could also work on coming up with its own platform, however this decision has to be taken quite carefully and vigilantly as there is a risk of losing out the customers if this strategy proves to be unsuccessful. At present the company’s strategy should be to capitalize on the sports section of the games in which the company is fine and move forward with the innovative and creative ideas that develop in the company that do not require a high level budget, later on it should move on to extensive projects when Electronic Arts has loads of funds to commence them.Summary Electronic Arts is a company that manufacture a wide v ariety of games for many console manufactures, online use and mobile phone devices. It specializes in the development of sports games . The company has its headquarters in America and it has been a giant in the game business and has come up with several of â€Å"super hit â€Å"games for the industry. It is recognized for a company that comes up with creative ideas and innovative games by altering the graphics, animation, programming, etc.The company is facing certain issues at present ant the only way to get back again is to develop certain strategies and act on them as soon as possible. Due to increased restrictions from the console manufacturers the company should also focus its attention to provide games online and on mobile phones as these steps will enhance the prosperity of the company. Additionally Electronic Arts should come up with original and new games, those games will be differentiated and then Electronic Arts will have the opportunity to charge more on those games.T his will help to diminish the price ceiling that exists in the market as Electronic Arts will be able to influence the price of the games. The company should try to negotiate with the other console manufacturers to remove the royalty charges incase the game does not do well in the market. Furthermore, the company should look for further ways to increase the revenue and cut down costs for the company.Inbuilt advertisements within the games and providing gamers the opportunity to upgrade the characteristics of the characters with a small amount of charge, these tactics will enable the company to generate added revenue. In the future when Electronic Arts has sufficient funds it should look towards emphasizing on multiplayer games and games with simulation effects. At present its strategy should be focused on increasing revenue while keeping costs within boundaries. Reference: 1) Website: www. ea. com Date accessed 1 July 2008

Brain Development Essay

The first eight years of a child’s life are not only the most important years of a child’s life, but also the most rapid period of human development throughout a human life. These years are critical to the emotional and physical growth of a child. By the age of four, half of a person’s intelligence potential has already been developed and early childhood experiences can have a lasting effect on personality, behavior, and learning. (Early, 2001) These first eight years of life are broken down into the first two years, early childhood, and middle childhood. Throughout these three stages of life, the brain does most of its developing and determines the life that person will lead. The developing of a child’s brain falls upon the interactions and experiences a child has with its parents and any other primary caregivers in the beginning of life. During the first two years of a child’s life, a lot occurs in their brain which is essential to their life. Whe n a child is born, about seventy percent of their neurons are located in their cortex. (Berger, 2010) In an infant, the cortex is made up of thin layers of tissues that cover the brain and make the thought process possible. The layers related to the basic senses tend to mature pretty early in an infant’s life, but the prefrontal cortex is one that matures late. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for anticipation, planning, and impulse control and is practically inoperative during the first few months of life. It doesn’t start to mature until childhood and continues to through adolescence and adulthood. (Boyd, 2010) Areas of the brain are very important for basic needs to live such as breathing and heartbeat deep in the skull. Emotions and impulses are controlled somewhere in the middle of the brain and perception and cognition are in the cortex. Even though at birth the brain contains more neurons than it needs, it contains fewer dendrites and synapses than it will obtain throughout life. In the cortex, the growth of synapses, axons, and dendrites takes place quickly in the first months and years of an infant’s life. This causes the brain weight to triple by the age of two. In addition, five times as many dendrites and one hundred trillion synapses are present by the age of two. This large growth of dendrites is followed by pruning. Pruning is the process by which unused connections in the brain atrophy and die, so that new ones can grow. (Berger, 2010) Pruning is very important in the development of a healthy  brain. If there is too much or too little pruning going on, problems can oc cur. When there is too little pruning, children make have intellectual disabilities that makes thinking difficult, such as autism. When there is too much pruning, it can lead to a reduction of brain activity. (Berger, 2010) Infant brains to not develop correctly if they lack certain experiences that all humans need, such as stimulation. Babies need to be played with and talked to during their first years in order to encourage movement and allow sensations. If babies are not talked to or played with, it can stunt the brain. Infants are satisfied with even the most simple objects and facial expressions. Human brains are designed to grow and adapt with whatever object they have available and whoever provides them with every day attention. Every baby will go through a stressful experience here and there, but it is patterns of mistreatment that harm their brain, not moments. (Berger, 2010) The most important parts of the brain develop during early childhood. Between the ages of two and six, planning, thinking, social awareness, and language occur in the cortex. It is during early childhood when the prefrontal cortex starts to mature. This allows young children to begin to plan ahead and even think about the past. (Berger, 2010) The biggest increase in brain weight after the first two years is because of myelination. Myelination continues for years and it is a life-long process, but is most apparent in early childhood. It speeds the transmission of nerve impulses between neurons and becomes pivotal when multiple thoughts and actions have to take place all at once. (Boyd, 2010) By time m ost children turn six, they can see object and name them, catch a ball and throw it, and write and say their ABC’s in order. It is important that when children are doing these things, that the adults in their lives are patient. The only way children are going to learn how to tie their shoes, write their name, or get dressed, is if they do it on their own with a little help from a parent. If a parent is constantly yelling at a child to hurry or take over, their child will always think that they can’t do it by themselves. (Berger, 2010) In early childhood, children have the tendency to stick to a thought for a long time instead of switching to another. This is why children at this stage have difficulty sorting objects. Once a child is told to sort something by color and do it correctly, if they are told to next sort by shape, they try to sort by color again. However, something in  the brain matures between ages three and five that allows children to grow out of perseveration. (Berger, 2010) The corpus callosum grows rapidly during early childhood. This long, thick band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right sides of the brain ,make communication between the hemispheres better and allows children to coordinate both sides of the brain and the body. (Boyd, 2010) If the corpus callosum does not mature, it could result in serious disorders such as autism. It is important that children can coordinate both sides of the brain because both sides are normally involved in every skill, even though both sides do diff erent things. (Berger, 2010) The amygdala, the hippocampus, and the hypothalamus are crucial to emotional expression and regulation during early childhood. The amygdala registers positive and negative emotion, including fear. Increased activity in the amygdala can cause young children to have nightmares or phobias. (Berger, 2010) Located next to the amygdala, the hippocampus is in control of memory. Children are able to remember memories they had at certain locations that will follow them through adulthood. The hypothalamus responds to symbols from both of these parts of the brain. The hypothalamus produces a hormone called cortisol to activate parts of the brain and body. As all three of these parts of the brain develop, children pay close attention to their parents’ emotions. If they sense that their parent is scared or worried, they will also develop fear. (Berger, 2010) Brain maturation in young children is advanced, but like in infants, experience and parental relationships has an impact too. Brain maturation only increases more throughout middle childhood. Since the brain has no areas specific for reading like it does for talking, gestures, and expressions, humans have to learn to read on their own. This is possible because of massive interconnections between the parts of the brain that deal with sounds, vision, and comprehending. (Berger, 2010) These â€Å"massive interconnections† are not only needed for reading but for many other social skills as well. Several parts of the brain connect to enable for many activities, reading, writing, logic, and social decisions. Children require more connections than adults because they often use more parts of their brain for activities than adults do. (Boyd, 2010) The older that children get, the quicker their reaction time gets. In middle childhood, children are more efficient learners because of their more speedy reactions. In addition  to thinking quickly, children are able to pay more attention in middle childhood. As children get older, they get better at concentrating on one stimuli and ignoring others. They are more able to focus on one thing and not get distracted by others. This usually happens by the age of seven. (Berger, 2010) In middle childhood children also learn how to do math. They adopt newer, better strategies to solve math problems. Although they aren’t always perfect, they can usually find the right answer. In children during middle adulthood they may know the answer one day, but it isn’t permanently in their brain and they may not know they answer the next day. (Berger, 2010) Another way children advance in middle childhood is through memory. They are better at connecting their past knowledge to what they are doing in that moment. Children realize that some things should be remembered and they begin to strategies like repeating themselves in order to remember them. Th ey also use strategies like visual clues such as remember how a word looks or auditory clues like remembering how a word sounds. In middle childhood children’s memory becomes more adaptive and they are able to learn from their parents, teachers, and friends. (Berger, 2010) From the time children are born until they reach adolescence they are developing rapidly in their brain and bodies. Although most of the development of the brain during childhood is genetic, it is so important for parents to interact with their children, be patient with them, teach them new things, and set the best example they can for their children so they can become healthy adults. Brain development doesn’t stop after childhood, but continues to develop throughout adulthood. Almost all of the brain development takes place during childhood and the first several years of a person’s life are the most important to their personality and their future. â€Å"References† Early Childhood Development: The Key to a Full and Productive Life. New York: UNICEF, 2001. PDF. (Early, 2001) Berger, Kathleen Stassen. Invitation to the Life Span. Second ed. New York: Worth, 2010. Print. (Berger, 2010) Boyd, Denise Roberts., and Helen L. Bee. The Growing Child. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2010. Print. (Boyd, 2010)