Examples of Gapping in English Grammar

A construction in which part of a sentence is omitted rather than repeated. The missing grammatical unit is called a gap. The term gapping was coined by linguist John R. Ross in his dissertation, Constraints on Variables in Syntax (1967), and discussed in his article Gapping and the Order of Constituents, in Progress in Linguistics, edited by M. Bierwisch and K. E. Heidolph (Mouton, 1970). Examples and Observations: The cars were old-fashioned; the buses, too.(Bill Bryson, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. Broadway Books, 2006)Arnaud was his closest friend; Peter, his oldest.(James Salter, Light Years. Random House, 1975)Forwards and BackwardsGapping ... describe[s] a transformation which creates gaps in a sentence after a conjunction by deleting a verb which would otherwise reappear, e.g. Caroline plays the flute and Louise (plays) the piano. Gapping can work forwards, as above, or backwards as in the deletion of the first mention of the word. According to Ross the direction of the gapping depends on the constituent branching in the deep structure, and provides insight into the underlying word order of a language.(Hadumod Bussmann, Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics. Taylor Francis, 1996)Verb DeletionConsider the pattern in (154):a. John likes coffee and Susan likes tea.b. John likes coffee and Susan —  tea.(154) illustrates a pattern known as gapping. Gapping i s an operation which deletes a constituent in one sentence under identity with a constituent of the same type in a preceding sentence. More particularly, gapping in (154b) deletes the second verb of two co-ordinated clauses; this is possible because the deleted verb is identical to the verb of the first sentence. In (154b) the verb is gapped but, crucially, its NP [Noun Phrase] complement is left behind.(Liliane M. V. Haegeman and Jacqueline Guà ©ron, English Grammar: A Generative Perspective. Wiley-Blackwell, 1999)Gapping in Written EnglishCertainly, some constructions are overwhelmingly found in written language. An example is the English Gapping construction, as in John ate an apple and Mary a peach, where an implicit ate is omitted from the second clause, understood as Mary ate a peach. Tao and Meyer (2006) found, after an extensive search of corpora, that gapping is confined to writing rather than speech. In the Elia Kazan movie The Last Tycoon, a powerful film director reject s a scene in which a French actress is given the line Nor I you, on the grounds that this is unnatural speech. But his colleague, with earthier instincts, comments on this line with Those foreign women really have class. This rings true. The gapping construction is classy, and restricted to quite elevated registers, though it is not lacking entirely from spoken English.(James R. Hurford, The Origins of Grammar: Language in the Light of Evolution. Oxford University Press, 2012)

Captain Americ The American Dream - 1341 Words

Captain’s Duty From Captain America’s birth, he symbolized America. In and out of costume, Captain America, AKA Steve Rodgers, exemplifies all the best qualities of America. He embodies the American dream. America continues to grow more diverse every day, yet still Steve remains the undying patriotic example of what it means to be American. The American dream in simple terms is the fulfillment of the ideals the America was founded on with equal respect. To go into more detail, the American Dream allows all people the rights of liberty, autonomy, justice, dignity, the pursuit of happiness, and the ability to hold the country’s leaders accountable when they fail to uphold these rights. Because the American dream applies to all people one†¦show more content†¦The patriotic symbol of the American dream has numerous times dissented from the ruling political powers. Steve Rodgers lives the life of a patriot through and through, but it is important to understand what it means to live patriotically. Captain America’s patriotism doesn’t hinge on blind passion of one’s country right or wrong or on the â€Å"us-versus-them† mentality produced during war times. These types of patriotisms prevent the betterment of the world at large. These exclusionary patriotisms neglect the dignity of ot her peoples and creates the illusion that anyone who thinks differently belongs to the â€Å"them† party. Instead, Cap’s patriotism lies of Stephen Nathanson’s philosophic â€Å"’moderate patriotism,’ which balances devotion to one’s country with ethical demands to care for all† (White 147). Captain America embraces the shared humanity of people across national borders. He would strongly support Nathanson’s claim that â€Å"so long as devotion to one’s country do not lead to immoral actions, then patriotism can be laudable. When concern for the own country blinds people to the legitimate needs and interests of other nations, then patriotism becomes a vice† (White147). Captain America believes countries have the right to pursue its interest, but this should be done with consideration of other nations and peoples and not at the cost of the countries principles. Captain America’s cosmopolitan patriotism puts h im at odds with the government three

Webers Law on Visual Perception Free Essays

Crimes against Fundamental Laws of the State. Crimes against Public Order. 4) Crimes against Public Interest 5) Crimes against Related to Opium and other Prohibited Drugs 6) Crimes against Public Morals 7) Crimes committed by public Officers 8) Crimes against Persons 9) Crimes against Personal Liberty and security 10) Crimes against Property 1 1) Crimes against Chastity 12) Crimes against Civil Status of Persons 13) Crimes against Honor Theories explaining why crimes do occur: 1 . We will write a custom essay sample on Webers Law on Visual Perception or any similar topic only for you Order Now Classical Theory 2. Control Theory 3. Differential Association and Social Learning Theory 4. Societal Theory 5. Strain Theory 6. Psychological Theory 7. Subcultures Theory 8. Labeling Theory Crimes causing Factors in the Philippines 1. The belief that culprits of crimes or their powerful patrons can fix things. 2. The really powerful people who are able to circumvent the law. 3. The known corruptibility of some policemen, lawyers and Judges. 4. The high cost, long delays, personal inconvenience and embarrassment entailed in many criminal cases which favors the offenders. 5. The discrepancy between some acts which the law defines as unlawful and which the people do not see in the same light. . The concept that hat which is public belongs to no me. 8. The adult criminals and Juvenile delinquents who see their models as great men with prestige and glamour and the glorification of criminals by the mass media. 9. The existence of firearms in the possession of some citizens. 10. The swift Justice out by dissidents in contrast to the uncertainty of legal Justice. CRIME is one of the most dreadful social illnesses. Vi olation of the law is not only confronted to adult behavior there are so called adult criminal and Juvenile delinquent as well. Delinquency is most often found in the following instances: ) Slum areas where diverse cultural standards flourish with little interaction. B) Families with parent’s characterized by drunkenness or criminality, ineffective household management, economic difficulties and low self- respect. C) Failure of children to experience real home. D) Broken homes where husbands and wives separate either temporarily or permanently. E) Lack of supervision of young people who roam the streets of most cities. Educational Implications of Crime Suggestions to the School Sector 1 . Resort all possible meaner to make the students strongly develop the sense of loneliness in the school setting. 2. Remind the students of the bad elements in society and the dangers associated with relating with such elements or even emulating them. 3. Maintain a personality profile of each student. 4. Impress among the students the values of honesty and integrity. 5. Take extra precaution labeling the students, particularly those who present problems in behavior. 6. See to it that school rules and regulations are strictly and Justly applied to every student, no matter what his status in life. . Identify and clarify the value of resonantly and accountability, whether the thing in question is personal public or private property. 8. Inculcate among the students the sanctity of marriage and the family the indispensable role played by the family and in nation building. 9. Train the student to be alert at all times as to their respective and duties as citizens of the country. 10. Plan and implement co-curricular activities where the student can channel effectively and productively their extra energy. Drug Dependence Drug is defined as anything that frees one from a certain disease, either curing or reverting them to occur, but if you take ones it more than enough to cause him exhibit abnormal behavior or make him violate socially approved behavior. 1. Sedatives or Depressants or downers 2. Stimulants or Upper 3. Hallucinogens or Psychedelics 4. Narcotics Reason why person become drug abuser 1 . Socio-cultural deprivation 2. Faulty Model and Learning 3. Pathogenic family pattern 4. Identity crisis 5. Cultural correlates There are many social problems that exist in our society and some says that it is hard to prevent too. If we cannot prevent these at least we need to lessen it. It is hard to prevent these social problems because anywhere, everywhere you turn your eyes there are lots of problems. Some people violate the norms of our society and if we ask them why did they do that, for sure the only answer that we get is they didn’t what to do it but they have to because they badly needed it. One of the social problems in our society is a crime. One word but has a huge and bold meaning. It is very obvious if what is crime. From the world itself crime is one of the most dreadful social illnesses in our society. Many people committed crime and they were imprisoned but the government cannot prevent some people to commit crime. And these crimes are not only for adult ones, crimes do not choose the adult to do it but there are lots of crimes that the minor or the student commits. I think some student that committed crime, their parent’s didn’t mold their personality as a person or they have a broken family, their parent’s characterized by drunkenness or criminality, ineffective household management, economic difficulties and low self- respect. Failure to experience real home and lack of supervision of young people who roam the streets of most cities. If this young people has didn’t lack of supervision and don’t have to commit a crime. If a student follows all the rules and regulations in school they don’t need to commit crime. They should make the students strongly develop the sense of belongingness in the school setting. Remind the students of the bad elements in society and the dangers associated with relating with such elements or even emulating them. Impress among the students the values of honesty and integrity. Take extra precaution labeling the students, particularly those who present problems in behavior. See to it that school rules and regulations re strictly and Justly applied to every student, no matter what his status in life. Identify and clarify the value of personality and accountability, whether the thing in question is personal public or private property. Inculcate among the students the sanctity of marriage and the family the indispensable role played by the family and in nation building. Train the student to be alert at all times as to their respective and duties as citizens of the country. Plan and implement co-curricular activities where the student can channel effectively and productively their extra energy. If these suggestions to school sector will apply to the entire student I think there is no student who will commit crime. Yes many of students disobey the law like Jaywalking but still it is not a crime but it is a violation. These social problems really affect the education in our society because this social problem is one of the major problems in our society. If in school the student started to be good follower, even if he is not inside the school he will be a good follower too. Every people need to have an education so that social problems will be lessen because it is impossible to prevent social problems. How to cite Webers Law on Visual Perception, Essays

Drawings Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo Essay Example For Students

Drawings: Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo Essay Their drawings proposed a distinctive perception into each artists work and ideas. Both dad Vinci and Michelangelo employed drawing as a medium to develop new ideas and convey artistic thoughts. They used it to illustrate for themselves what they were going to do as a form of preliminary study. You can say that their drawings are in a way how they experimented and planned their work because they provided the foundation for their efforts as sculptors, painters, and architects. In addition their drawings re depictions of their experiences, ideas, and thoughts. According to Assayer recording the path of their artists hand directly on paper, artists also tint drawing to be a ready-made means to self-expression. It is as if in the act of drawing, the spirit of the artist finds its way to paper, (p. 1 70) Both artists depicted reality in all its detail and their figures were tilled with vitality and liveliness, As these two artists worked on their drawings to develop their new ideas and thoughts they provided a unique perspective of their individual Sino and outlook of life and the word around them. According to GIANT Editor (2005), to Leonardo dad Vinci, the nature and function of his drawings was mostly a way to document his scientific experiments in an extensive scope of grounds of perception and creativity as well as knowledge, a practice therefore in Which the intention to depict cannot be separated from the process of knowledge and which reflects his studies, experiences, inventions and considerations (GIGANTIC Editor, 2005) dad Vines main purpose was to recreate tauter in the most precise and technical way possible and he managed to do so by following the ingenious processes of his mind. On the other hand, to Michelangelo, the nature and function of his drawings served more as material he needed for his work. The drawings were mostly used as testing, planning and the exploring of new ideas and to express the visions of his minds-eye. His primary focus was in human figures specially the male body and his drawings chart his relentless search to find poses that would most eloquently express he emotional and spiritual state of his subjects. (The British Museum, n. . ) Both Leonardo dad Vinci and Michelangelo conveyed their ideas, thoughts, and experiences in drawings that served as basis to most to their masterpieces, but without the intention, these drawings became masterpieces in their own, They provided a crucial link between their most prominent works in different fields of their artistic behaviors as well as a great connection to their experiences and ideas allowing their drawings to become the primary means of making art.

Sixth Sense Essays (109 words) - Sensory Systems, Olfaction

Sixth Sense If I could see her as a picture of pure beauty, it would be an image of a thousand thoughts. If I could hear her as the sound of a beautiful bird, I would hear the most extravagant voice in the concrete world. If I could smell her the way I smelt a rose, I would smell the fresh scent of a million flowers. If I could taste her like I tasted a cherry lollipop. it would be a sensation I would never forget. If I could touch her the way she touched my heart, it would be as though I was walking on thin air. If only she had the sixth sense ...undying passion.

Horror Felonies essays

Horror Felonies essays Who doesnt like to sit in front of his television watching horror movies in a comfortable couch while eating a fresh, hot pack of pop-corn? Most people would say that this means entertainment for them! Moreover, how many repeated times most of us have been looking for the new horror movie available in our video club, but it is rented? Many other examples can be brought such us the movies which are the highest in the box-office every year horror films. Therefore, the horror movies are characterized as the most lovable and popular world-wide. However, many psychologist, scientists and filmmakers have a debate on whether horror films are a success considering the acceptance from the audience or not! Stephen King the master of horror films states that : It may be that horror movies provide psychic relief on this level because this invitation to lapse into simplicity, irrationality and even outright madness is extended so rarely (785). His theory of the mentally-ill society has been f ollowed from many others such as Dirks and Solomon. Contrary, others believe that these kinds of films can only have negative effects on the psychology and mentality of humans such as the increasing of violence. No matter how much most of us enjoy watching horror movies; horror movies cant affect the watchers positively; contrary , they have a violent impact on the psychology of the viewers. Firstly, lets start from the theory of Stephen King which says that in order to show that we arent afraid we watch horror films. This is true, most people have the courage and the tendency to prove that they are not afraid, and this could be happening only for one reason which is to show that we are brave. Recent surveys considering why we want to go to horror movies showed that : Males liked the horror movies most when the accompanying females displayed distressed behavior and least when...

Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Discrimination - Essay Example in was an openly racist society in 1959 when a black man, Kelso Cochrane, was lynched in London streets with little more than an apathetic response from police. The perpetrators of this crime were identified by several eyewitnesses but the four white men were simply interviewed and released. Racist murders continue to take place, such as the Anthony Walker ice axe incident in Wales last summer, but this type of senseless racially motivated murder is now viewed by society as a horrific crime against a human being and not as simply a byproduct of ‘purifying’ Britain. Beginning with the Cochrane lynching, attitudes began to change. This general intolerance of racially motivated crime has gained momentum over the past 10 years following a series of attacks resulting in the murders of Roland Adams, Stephen Lawrence and Kriss Donald. Inner cities were the usual center of racial issues but now in Britain â€Å"there has been a shift in the geography of public disquiet, and it is the small provincial towns on the coast like Margate, Dover and Hastings that have become the centre of concern about illegal immigration and asylum† (Back, 2003). While the point can be argued that there is less overt racism now than there was 10 years ago, there has been a resurgence of widespread unsympathetic reporting in both local and national print media which portrays refugees as ‘beggars’ and involved in ‘violent crime.’ This reflects the new surge of racist sentiments across the nation. This discussion examines racism in Britain, cau ses for the phenomenon and various reasonings for its continuance. Those of ethnic minority are more likely than whites to live in depressed neighbourhoods, suffer ill health, live in congested housing and suffer a higher rate of unemployment even when compared to white people of similar education and employment qualifications. The majority of violence motivated by racism takes place in economically depressed locations although it is not

London Olympics 2012 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

London Olympics 2012 - Essay Example This essay throws light on Olympics 2012, the history of Olympics, about London and the impact of this event on major stake holders in the host community. The researcher states that Olympic Games are one of the biggest international events. It features both summer and winter sports in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The games are held in every two years on even numbered years only. Summer and Winter Olympic games, alternate every next year which means that the seasonal games are held every four years. The 2012 Summer Olympics were held in London, that is England’s capital city. London was elected to be the host city for Olympics 2012 on 6th July 2005. Their rival competitors were Moscow, New York City, Madrid and Paris. At least 4 voting rounds took place. London was headed by the former Olympic Champion, Sebastian Coe. It is stated that London is a metropolitan city and is claimed to be the largest city of Britain, its history dates back to the Roman Empire. In the past it has hosted Olympics twice. Over the last couple of years, the scale and scope of the Games has grown enormously. It is now represented by every nation on the block. This has obviously given rise to other challenges such as boycotting, fixing, doping and even terrorism. Olympics provide citizens of different nations a chance to represent their country and attain international fame every two years. Even the host country is given the opportunity to promote itself to the world and project it in a good light.

Course Reflection Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Course Reflection - Coursework Example Moreover, they facilitate the learning and communication about ethics and ethical issues. Nurses also create structures that encourage and espouse an ethical environment (Home & Care, 2010). As a nurse, I will foster the ethical issues of nursing by creating techniques that monitor and offer immediate feedback on the ethical performance of nurses and the nursing organization as a whole. Nurses focus on the betterment of the organizations relationship to its immediate environment. In addition, they focus on organizations interpretation of human nature, truth, reality, and relationships as the prominent ethical dimensions that define the organizational culture (Falk & Chong, 2008). I will ensure that others foster trust within the organization as this is the sole lubricant for all smooth and transparent operations and values in the organizations. The shift in thinking took place after considering the future issues in nursing. The future issues that face the nursing fraternity have a direct bearing to the ethical code of conduct of the nursing profession. Hence, it is paramount to contemplate on the ethical issues and deliberate on how the nurse leaders can put in place mechanisms that will guarantee effective, ethical issues in the nursing fraternity. For instance, the nurses are required financial motivation to offer proper services, an issue that when not addressed will culminate into a worse unethical

Marketing Analysis of Netflix

Marketing Analysis of Netflix Netflix is an online company with corporate headquarters in Los Gatos, California. Netflix was founded by Hastings who is also the CEO of the company. Netflixs key business is online rental services in the software industry. Netflixs software business services span various software products and services. Among these are DVD movies and several other software products. Despite disappointing results on its performance at the beginning, the innovative entrepreneur continued to tailor the company while identifying and exploiting new opportunities that presented themselves. That was when the company designed and developed a website that saw it host millions of subscribers making it rake in huge profits. That was in 2006. Netflix was founded at a time when the video industry was largely populated by small retail outlets which were characterized by long product delivery time. The market was dominated by the then giant Blockbuster Inc. Blockbuster had no real marketing strategy and customer royalty was based on impulsive buying. It enjoyed booming sales with almost 100 percent success when Netflix joined the market. Upon its entry into the market in 1997, Netflix realized that the market that was dominated by the brick and motor marketing methods. The launch of this company was at the time of the beginning of internet retailing. Online selling was gaining an upper hand to brick and motor methods. This compelled Netflixs to launch its own website in 1998 that specialized in the use of cross platform technologies in service delivery. At this time, different pricing models were tested to increase sales volume. Netflix was also adept at countering new entrants and developments in the market. One of this was the development of a video provision services on line. Porters Generic Strategy According to Porter (1974), successful business organizations incorporate one or more of the generic strategy options to propel it to success. Among these strategies are cost leadership, focus, and group differentiation. A critical analysis and evaluation of the cases study reveals that Netflix had to various extents incorporated these strategies in its business pursuits with each generic strategy contributing to the success or failure of the company in its pursuits. Netflix emphasized on the focus strategy with the other strategies playing a minor role in the firms pursuits. The differentiation strategy is where a company concentrates its efforts in developing a single product then invests in identifying and incorporating unique attributes that meet customer needs (Porter, 1974). Porter (1975) asserts that by adding value to a product and creating uniqueness in product to attract customers, customers are likely to purchase the product at a higher price. That was the case with Netflix. Netflix original move into the market targeted the renting of videos in the movie industry. That strategy could be achieved by the use of recently developed and upcoming internet marketing technology which other companies had not incorporated in their business pursuits. The case study reveals that Netflixs newly launched website integrated a search engine that enabled each customer to search and access products of ones choice. Netflixs management showed such talent and ingenuity in marketing their products by employing already available and established supply chain infrastr ucture and technology. One of the infrastructure tools included the USs postal services. The firm incurred slight expenses in delivering the DVDs to the customers as they were light in weight. In creating value and uniqueness to its products using the group differentiation strategy, Netflix endeavored to characterize its products with value, user friendliness and convenience, and unique selections. That was evident when Hastings coined a term for their customers that Amazon used to refer to its customers, eBay. According to Porter (1975), a company that invests in this approach should be led by a well skilled and dedicated team. That was the case with Netflix. Netflixs management was led by Hastings, an entrepreneur at heart. In addition to that, Porter affirms that a company organized around pursuing excellence and aiming at gaining a greater advantage in the market should have a good reputation should revolve around high product quality and innovation. The case with Netflix is outstanding here. Netflix did not only focus on DVD sales, they had other serious considerations in product innovation. Among these were a focus on video-on-demand and alternatives to VOD. Porter (1974) argues that a company may not necessarily integrate all the generic characteristics depending on the nature of its business. An analysis of the case study indicates that Netflix did not pay much attention to cost leadership. Some of the pricing models did not work for Netflix. One such model involved a situation where the firm spent several thousands of dollars in adverts only to gain a paltry income from such an endeavor. Netflix at times charged high rental fees for their online videos which at times drove its customers away. However, technology seems to have paced Netflix at an upper hand compared to other companies involved I the same business pursuits. However to a large extent, Netflix incorporated the generic aspect of focus strategy. The focus strategy is where a firm concentrates on one firm and later on attempts to manipulate product prices to achieve an advantage over competitors (Porter, 1975). Netflix did not succeed with this strategy to a desirable extent but seems to have lost some customers due to that. Porters Five Forces Netflix entered a market that Porter (1974) affirms is driven by five forces. These include the bargaining power of customers, threat of new entrants, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitute products, and rivalry among competing firms. At Netflix, the bargaining buyer of customers was realized when despite intensive marketing activities, the firm earned paltry sums far below their target. Instead of earning the company more customers, thus increasing the revenue, the company was facing a loss. Customers had driven sense into the companys executives that they could determine a companys profitability and the model they use in pricing their products. This pricing element was evident when some customers felt dissatisfied by the pricing system compelling Netflix to rethink and introduce a new pricing mechanism. Netflix could counter new entrants by its relentless pursuits to adopt new technologies and integrate them to the service sit was offering. That was the case when it entered the field of video-on-demand. Despite the huge investments it had made, Netflix did not realize quick returns as there were no technologies in the form of hardware platforms to support such services. Netflix is noted to have lost a chunk of revenue in advertising these service customers were not willing to pay for. The case study however reveals that later innovations saw Netflix succeed in this field. One other case was the entry of VOD services and the fierce completion Netflix had to fight off before they could get a foothold in this widely dominated market by Netflix. Netflix swung into action by exploiting new technology platforms that were not characterized by her competitors in gaining a firm foothold. Another force experience in this industry was the bargaining power of buyers. As discussed above, Netflix had to succumb to buyers buying behavior as in some instances; new innovations could not be priced as per Netflixs dreams. That was the case with investments and intense marketing campaigns conducted by Netflix for the newly launched services, VOD. Porter (1975) asserts that companies can endeavor to enter a market by offering substitute products that may serve the needs of current products offered in the market. The case with Netflix is a striking one. The case study reveals that substitute products were too below bar in competing with those offered by Netflix and the company was now enjoying an undisrupted share of the market. Netflix carefully blended these generic forces to its advantage. Rivalry among competing firms saw Netflix to be a runaway case. Arguments demonstrate how competitors went to the extent of accusing Netflix of infringing upon copy right laws in offering these videos online. This line of attack was shaken off by Netflixs executives who argued that Netflix was offering these services just like any retail outlet could buy and sell a product, except Netflix was using the new internet technology that these other firms had not put to full use. Value Chain Netflixs management was keen at exploiting information technology in incorporating value chain activities in its service. A striking example was when the companys turnaround time for product deliveries was drastically enhanced by the use of appropriate technology. Each customer who opted to stay or leave the company could be requested to leave an answered questionnaire about their decisions. These could be used to identify the weaknesses inherent in the system and determine new methods of fulfilling customer needs and wants. One such revelation was identified with the companys ever changing rental fees. Other value chain addition activities spanned the infrastructure the company was using and its implementation of new technologies to enhance value for its customers. Netflixs system product acquisition was also automated, with automated searches using an integrated search engine. Implementation of Information Technology in Netflix To stay afloat in the already large market and maintain the customer base, Netflix will have to implement an IT infrastructure that could offer reliable support for its business transactions (Smith, Short, 2001). One of these could be a data mining application. The data mining application could be integrated in the organizations information system to assists in decision making. Netflix is a highly customer focused organization. Data mining could help enhance communication, help the company compare its prices with other companies evaluate customer satisfaction, evaluate supplier relationships, enhance staff skills, and provide an overview of company progress and performance. On the other hand decision support system could be incorporated into the company to help improve decision making from the companys data warehouse, provide real time sales compressions, and model decision making context (Shermis, Stemmer, Berger, Anderson, 1991). The outputs from this system could significantly depend on the inputs from the companys data warehouse and the decisions made could reflect the actual potion of the company. In addition to that, a customer relationships management should be incorporated as it helps the management to sustain its old and new customers, meet customer needs, and establish a good working relationship with other companies and customers. According to Silverman (1993), a supply chain management system if well incorporated into this company could help create competitive advantage for the firm by enabling it to optimize all factors relevant to customer satisfaction and company benefits. This system could help the company identify key factors central to its success and enable management optimize all aspects of controls in its marketing strategies and supply and acquisition logistics (Smith, Short, 2001). Recommendations Based on the above discussion, Netflix should continuously adapt to changing technological dynamism and new market opportunities in reaching various markets. Netflixs management should hire experts on cross culture management to ensure a cross culture component is incorporated in its pursuits. This could be the case since newer opportunities lie outside Netflixs current market that is characterized by a fairly uniform culture. In addition to that, the firm should incorporate user friendly software products that are cross platform and compatible with other software products to enhance usability. To maintain a large market share, the company should always incorporate faire business practices in its pursuits. In addition to that, Netflix should endeavor to develop software that can bar piracies on its products in addition to patenting its products. The company should invest in software technologies that bar any could be illegal downloading of files or unauthorized access or copying of i ts products. That could bar illegal usage of its video products since it denies the company legitimate profits that could accrue from those sales. The company should continuously evaluate the role played by information technology in propelling it to its position, the ever changing trends in the industry I terms of provision of services and other related services. It should continuously revise its plans to make them current and relevant to the identified changes and endeavor to incorporate new technologies in its pursuits.

Use of Symbols and Symbolism in Edgar Allen Poes The Raven Essay

Use of Symbols and Symbolism in Edgar Allen Poe's â€Å"The Raven† Literature would not be the same if the author didn’t take symbolism into account while writing the piece. One of the world’s best writer’s, Edgar Allen Poe, is a superb example of this representation that has intrigued mankind for centuries. Poe uses various forms of symbolism to play off the emotions of his readers. Using elements of nature, dread, superstition, and legend, Poe can create a world of trepidation in the minds of the readers; his poems and stories would not be the same without these elements. In his poem, â€Å"The Raven†, Poe has added unique elements to scare his readers, fascinate them to read on, and find themselves in an alternate world of mystery and lost hopes. The most obvious symbol is the raven itself. When Poe had decided to repeat the word "nevermore," he found that it would be most effective if he used a non-reasoning creature to utter the word. It would make little sense to use a human, since the human could reason to answer the questions the man asks the bird. It is important that the answ...

Disposable Society: Capitalism and Consumerism Combined?

It was an interesting day of picking up otherwise â€Å"unimportant things,† noting my own urges to just dispose of varied materials, and observing my precious â€Å"living environment. † At the end of the day, it was time for sorting out other people’s â€Å"thrash† and noting my own habits plus reflecting on these various disposable items that I am supposed to learn from. These are what I have seen and what I have realized. Food items and their packaging materials come at the top of the list. Second in line, I found office and school materials – paper clips, ballpen caps, paper, etc.Then there were the miscellaneous home and personal items, various odds and ends including Styrofoam pieces from certain packaging materials, plastic containers bolts and nuts and various unidentified metal pieces, pieces of colored cloth, cigarette butts, an old plastic toy top, a CD, and a torn magazine. There are other small items not include in the list here but ba sically these are my categorizations of the disposable or â€Å"disposed† items collected in a day of walking and observing around.From one angle, it is a most convenient, socially constructed environment that we have—the so-called modern society with all its technology and other trappings. Part of the convenience lies in the disposability of many, if not all the items, that we see around us and which we utilize for meaningful survival on the planet. For example, how would we be able to store and therefore distribute food across great distances without the modern techniques of food packaging?The sanitary handling of food through these technologies however have an implication after the packaged food has been consumed: where goes the inedible packaging? There is a need for food manufacturers to factor in this question in their development of packing and packaging technology. Everyday, everyone eats, and the more we consume, the more we throw away. In 2004, a University o f Arizona study indicates that forty to fifty percent of all edible food never gets eaten. Every year $43 billion worth of edible food is estimated to be thrown away.(â€Å"US wastes half its food,† 2007) What can be done about this? To eat less? Joking aside, we have to be more responsible consumers. There’s a hungry world out there. Moreover, developing biodegradable packaging and eating utensils could be the simple long-term solution perhaps so that environmental pollution is lessened. Or how about edible utensils for a species that is constantly on the go? Perhaps someday. Ours is a society that does not sleep. 24-7 we say. Society moves every second, every day and the more we move, the more be create garbage, the more we develop disposables.Ours has become a disposable society. Even many relationships today seem disposable — fleeting and cold. In the coldness of many offices and supposed institutions of learning, many items are disposable. Containers, small items that make work less tedious like those yellow sticker-like notepads, pens, and computer printer ink cartridges, among others. In the relative warmth of some homes, still we see the signs of disposability: the Christmas tree, the decorations from the last party, the old TV guides.How would life be if we had disposable parents? Frightening thought? Indeed, but perhaps not for some who may have had the unfortunate experience of having dysfunctional parents or adults in their life. Work and family, 24-7, in modern societies, live off disposables. They make life easy and they spur more productivity and innovation. On the large downside, we are using off precious scarce resources, which can be depleted in the long run, and dirtying up the whole planet against the interest of future generations.At the heart of all this is a peculiar system that is consumerist in orientation. Consumerism is a lifestyle fanned by the current economic system, an orientation that appears negatively util itarian, unduly pleasure-oriented, and has no regard for long-term negative consequences of degrading the planet’s natural environment. As things are consumed and disposed, more production and profit is created to replace the old disposed material. What would the world be if things were not as disposable? Production could grind to a halt, as there could be less needs to fulfill.If cars, for instance, were not too disposable and new models are not made to be so appealing (as if they were needed and not simply desired), where would the car industry be now? We see this even in the use of computer technologies. As Smith (2008) notes: Creating products that aren't meant to last is a very viable business strategy as this means that consumers will need to buy replacement products†¦ In a more modern context, consider videogames. Old games, like Pong, could be played over and over again. Today's games, like the popular Grand Theft Auto series, have a beginning and an end.Once you â€Å"beat the game† you need to buy the next installment in the series. The same concept applies to computer software. If you call Microsoft and try to get support for Windows 98, a once expensive product that still works just fine on many computers, you'll be told that it is no longer supported. It's not that the product doesn't work, it's that the company wants you to buy the latest and greatest version of whatever they're selling. Is not consumerism and capitalism complementary with the reality of a disposable society? The profit seekers are only too glad we throw their products away—the sooner, the better. References http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/08/30/60minutes/rooney/main308969.shtml â€Å"US wastes half its food.† http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=56376-us-wastes-half. Retrieved on 2007-10-01. Smith, L. (2008). The Disposable Society: An Expensive Place To Live. http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/disposablesociety.asp. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.

How the Media Treat and Report the Minority Essay

The topic I chose is about’How the media treat and report the minority group of people?’. My research problem formulated from this topic is’Why the media treated and reported the Zhang Guorong–Leslie’s death and Foxconn workers suicide so differently?’. Leslie is a famous actor in Hong Kong and due to many reasons he jumped from a hotel building and suicided in April1st,2003.After the media reported his suicide grandly, his fans all over the world felt truly sorry for him and held his death anniversary very April 1st. The Foxconn is a big factory and in year 2010, 14 workers jumped from the building and suicided. At first, the media didn’t pay much attention to report it until the number of the suicide kept increasing. The media reported that because of the large amount of the same work the kept doing day by day, they felt their life meaningless and as a result, they chose to suicide. According to the internet(Baidu) and also my social experience, the media took Leslie’s suicide more seriously than the Foxconn worker’s suicide. When the public thought about Leslie’s suicide, most of them felt truly pity about his death and will memorize him every year. But when came to Foxconn’s suicide, most people only felt sorry for them and felt angry about the Foxcoon’s rules, obviously there is no memorize activities for the died workers held by the pubic. The reason why both media and the public took the death of Leslie–a famous celebrity more seriously is that the workers suicided in Foxconn are migrant workers–which we called the social minority group. As we know, migrant workers are special group of people came into being during he past 30 years in China, millions of farmer’s sons with dreams left their countryside and came into the city, became a new important group of labors. They have low salary, living in bad accommodations and can’t enjoy the same welfare as the citizensï ¼Ë†Baidu internet Encyclopedia). People care more about and respect more to the celebriti es rather than the migrant workers. In other words, migrant workers are just like the bottom level people who don’t deserve to get other’s attention. The reason I think my research is important is that on the one hand, I can find out that how the society cares about the minority group like migrant workers, on the other hand, I can find out the relationship between media and the public through the research. In my opinion, the result of my research shows that the society still not care about the minority group much and this is what we should improve. Also, the relationship between the media and the public is complicated related–the media influenced the public’s interest and their focus, the public also influenced the media as well. My research came from ‘the media and the journalism’ area which is belongs to my major–communication. As a communication student, I want to know more about the media nowadays. During class, teacher told me that the media and the reporters should be ‘watchdogs’–select what should be reported and what shouldn’t, and also give the truth to the public(Agenda setting and the media’s construction of reality). So I want to prove that the media should not only give the truth to the public, but also should care more about the society minority group through my research. My methods to collect the primary data in the field is, first, surf the internet to look through the events and make sure my information is exactly right. Second, I clarify the information and judge it critically whether it is useful to my research. Third, analyzing the information and find out which is suitable for my report and mark where the quotations came from. At last, I select the quotation I can use and put it in to my report.

How To Preserve Homemade Crystals

How To Preserve Homemade Crystals Once you have grown a crystal, you probably want to keep it and possibly display it. Homemade crystals are usually grown in an aqueous or water-based solution, so you need to protect the crystal from moisture and humidity. Types of Crystals to Grow Alum CrystalsBlue Copper Sulfate CrystalsAmmonium PhosphatePurple Chrome Alum CrystalsBismuth Crystals Once your crystals are grown, there are steps you can take to preserve them: Preserve the Crystal in Plastic Polish You can coat your crystal in plastic to protect it from humidity. For example, you can buy a kit that allows you to embed your crystal in lucite or other forms of acrylic. A simple, yet effective method of preserving many crystals is to coat them with a few layers of clear nail polish or floor polish. Be careful using nail polish or floor wax because these products may dissolve the top layer of your crystals. Be gentle when applying the coatings and allow each coating to dry completely before adding another layer. Preserving a crystal by coating it with acrylic or another plastic also helps to protect the crystal from being scratched or shattered. Many crystals that are grown in water may be either brittle or else soft. Plastic helps to stabilize the structure, protecting the crystal from mechanical damage. Set Crystals in Jewelry Remember, polishing your gem doesnt turn your crystal into a diamond! Its still a good idea to protect your crystal from direct contact with water (e.g., treat is as water-resistant and not water-proof) or rough handling. In some cases, you may be able to set a protected crystal as a gem for jewelry, but I advise against using these crystals in rings or bracelets because the crystal will get knocked around more than if it was set into a pendant or earrings. Your best bet is to either place your crystal in a bezel (metal setting) or even grow it in the setting and then seal it afterward. Dont set toxic crystals for use as jewelry, just in case a child gets hold of the crystal and places it in her mouth. Crystal Storage Tips Whether or not you apply a treatment to your crystal, youll want to store it away from common sources of damage. Light:Â  Many crystals react to heat and light. Keep your crystals away from direct sunlight. If you can, avoid exposure to other sources of high energy synthetic light, such as fluorescent bulbs. If you must light your crystal, try to use indirect, cool lighting. Temperature: While you might guess that heat could damage your crystal, did you know cold is dangerous, too? Many homegrown crystals are water-based, so if the temperature dips below freezing the water in the crystals could freeze. Because water expands when it freezes, this can crack a crystal. Cycles of heating and cooling are especially bad ​since they cause the crystal to expand and contract. Dust:Â  Its easy to keep dust off of a crystal than to try to remove it, especially if the crystal is fragile. Keep your crystal in a sealed container or else wrap it in tissue or store it in sawdust. All of these options will help keep your crystal from accumulating dust and grime. If you do need to dust a crystal, try to use a dry or very slightly damp cloth. Too much moisture could cause you to wipe away the top layer of your crystal along with the dust.

Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 7

Law - Essay Example uring all the computers are password protected, installation of antivirus, and firewalls in all the computers at home is one of the most important facets that must be adhered to reduce this vice. In addition to this securing VIOP networks helps in controlling e-crime. On the other hand it is important to understand that e-crime can easily be detected through installation of cookies which provides information about any illegal users of the network currently in use. Although it is always difficult to detect hackers, the field of computer forensic helps in detecting this vice. Apart from the basics of computer protection like passwords and firewalls, computer forensics can detect any sound and digital information that may have been routed out or into the computer system. It is important to understand that e-crime is punishable by the federal state. According to the office of Maine AG e-crimes are felonies which are punishable by up to six months incarcerations and $ 1,000

Ergonomics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ergonomics - Case Study Example Industries dealing with the usage of heavy machinery and involving direct interaction with the equipment that is hazardous can be properly handled through the principles of ergonomics. NIOSH is an acronym for National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The Institute provides guidelines for safe working procedures in various disciplines, especially those fields where the use of physical exercise is directly involved. The incumbent organization provides necessary awareness about the kind of material to be used and it also identifies the material which might not add any value to the processes and human safety while working in industrial environment. The main purpose of this organization has been to reduce the injuries and make physical work safer and more enjoyable. Various devices have been introduced for the purpose of creating comfort in the organizational environment. Back belt is one of them, which has been used to a certain degree. The purpose of back belt is to reduce the stress that may be exerted on the body while performing activities during the operations. In an industrial environment, the workers are usually confronted with the lifting of heavy objects, leaning against them or sliding into the very narrow parts of the machine, for this purpose back belts provide sufficient resistance to the back. The usage of back belts is not just limited to the working environment, many athletes use them while lifting the heavy weight material, and even the deep sea divers use them to provide support against any sudden jerk that may be felt by the body. Back belts are worn for the purpose of reducing the chances of stress and injury to the body, however , on the contrary, research conducted in this regard by the administrative body, NOISH has shown that there is little effectiveness provided by these back belts, rather they squeeze up the body and limit the motion. While similar things were

Sustainability of Seafood Farms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sustainability of Seafood Farms - Essay Example Today’s global economy has increasingly placed an emphasis on sustainability measures both as a means of improving the social environment and as a path towards cutting-edge innovative design. While sustainability has emerged in nearly all aspects of modern innovation, one of its prominent areas of influence is in the triple bottom line of fish farming. Triple bottom line has influenced sustainability through concerns with people, planets, and profits ecosystem ("Common terminology," 2009). In fish farming this approach has prominently been implemented through catching methods that do not harm the specific species long-term ability to reproduce or operate in a functional ecosystem ("Common terminology," 2009). Within this context of understanding there have emerged a plethora of methods wherein triple bottom-line approaches to sustainability has had strong impact on seafood farms. There are a number of concerns when investigating the sustainability approaches to fish farming. Among the most prominent overarching concerns are the notions of production, distribution, and consumption. Production refers to the amount of fish that can be acquired or ‘produced’ within a farming area during a specified period of time; this notion is important, as farmers must increasingly take sustainability measures into consideration or face continually diminishing production.

Summary of Professional Ethics Module Essay Example for Free

Summary of Professional Ethics Module Essay Ethics is a branch of philosophy that studies the difference between right and wrong. As professional accountants, you will have many opportunities to choose between right and wrong. And as you have seen in the business press, making the wrong choice can lead to serious consequences including corporate failure, loss of reputation, fines, and even jail sentences. The objective of this unit is to introduce you to different branches of ethics, in order to help you understand that people approach the topic with different points of view. You will learn about different ways of thinking through an ethical question. This will help you identify the way that you make decisions so that you can recognise your own personal ethics in any professional ethical problem that you may be faced with. In this way, you can mitigate any detrimental impact of your own personal ethics, with a view to a more objective approach. Perspectives on ethics In very broad terms, there are three ways of looking at ethics that have developed over time: rules conformance, good intentions, and competence. One way of thinking about ethics is in terms of conformity to rules. From this perspective, ethics is understood as a list of things to do and to not do. Sometimes the list gets very long and complicated and needs to be interpreted by a whole institution of people. The ethical person, from this perspective, is the one who conforms to the rules. A second way of thinking about ethics is in terms of good intentions. From this perspective, a behaviour is considered ethical if it is based on good intentions. Good behaviour then follows from good thinking. The third perspective thinks of ethics in terms of competence. From this perspective, the ethical person is one who can make decisions based on principles and then act on them. This perspective is thought of as looking at competence, because ethics is thought of in terms of an ability rather than an attitude our duty to others One way to think about ethics is to acknowledge that there are things that someone just does not do, as part of a duty to others. A limitation of this principle is that you have to decide what those things are that someone should not do. At least one philosopher (Immanuel Kant) has defined those duties by saying ‘act according to principles that everyone could follow. ’ For example, if you disobey traffic lights, you should consider what would happen if everyone did so. The point is that we should recognise everyone as equals, and not assume that the rules are any different for ourselves than they are for other people. As an accounting example, a professional accountant would not deliberately issue false or inaccurate financial statements. If everyone did so, no statements could be trusted and as a consequence not only would the profession be brought into disrepute, but all financial statements would have no value to their users. Ultimately the need for accountants and for financial reports would be called into question. Consequences Another way of thinking about ethics is based on thinking about the consequences to different people. Briefly, consequentialism encourages you to make decisions based on the consequences — both positive and negative — for those involved. This category of thinking is the branch of ethics known as utilitarianism. This states that an action is right if it leads to the most good outcomes and the least bad outcomes for the greatest number of people. One limitation of thinking about ethics in terms of consequences is that you have to agree on what sorts of consequences matter: for example, should you be trying to promote pleasure and avoid causing pain, or should you instead focus on promoting people’s actual well-being, regardless of whether doing so makes them happy? A modern application of this point of view is the cost-benefit analysis, which involves assigning monetary values to the costs and benefits of an action and seeing how they add up. This practice is often used in evaluating new projects. As an accounting example, an accountant thinking in terms of consequences would prepare ‘true and fair’ financial statements because doing so would bring the most benefit to the greatest number of people. In other words, stakeholders inside and outside the organisation would be able to make more informed decisions as a result. Virtue theory  In virtue theory, the emphasis is on deciding what sort of person one should try to be, and to define the virtues such a person would embody. You decide what makes a good person, instead of what makes a good action, and act accordingly. One limitation of this way of thinking is that what constitutes a virtue must be agreed upon, and it can vary by culture and over time. For example, the qualities of good financial reports were once considered to be completeness, historical accuracy, reliability and strict adherence to the legal form in disclosing business transactions. More recently, the qualities of good financial reports have come to be relevance for decision-making, reference to a wider conceptual framework, and presenting the economic substance of business transactions. As an accounting example of the use of virtue theory, in deciding whether to agree to a client’s request to use a questionable method for valuing inventory, an accountant would ask, ‘What would a conscientious accountant do in such a situation? What would one of my respected mentors do? ’ Social contract theory  The social contract theory of ethics advises you to think about ethics as embodying a set of rules agreed upon by reasonable people to bring order to social living. So when making an ethical decision you ask yourself, ‘What rule would reasonable, unbiased people agree to? ’ You then follow such rules, regardless of whether they benefit you in particular situations. One criticism of this theory points out that the agreement referred to by social contract theory is entirely imaginary. Why consider yourself bound by an agreement that never happened? An accounting example of social contract thinking might be seen in a situation where an accountant has to decide between loyalty to a client and candid assessment of financial statements. Both of those options involve important social values. Thinking in social contract terms, the accountant might ask, ‘What sort of rule for balancing these values would unbiased people agree to? ’ Confucian ethics Confucian ethics seeks to provide harmonious relationships within society, the family, and the individual. Looking within yourself and learning from experienced people are seen as the main roads to wisdom and self-harmony. The emphasis on experience leads to respect and reverence for the past, the aged, and for one’s ancestors. One of the criticisms of this model is that in a society where relationships are considered more important than the laws themselves, corruption and nepotism may be tolerated. As an accounting example, in deciding whether to agree to a client’s request to use a questionable method for valuing inventory, an accountant thinking in Confucian terms might consider agreeing to it because doing so would cause harmony with the client. Rules of thumb In addition to scholarly branches of philosophy, some other ways of looking at right and wrong have developed. The golden rule The classic golden rule is to ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you. ’ In other words, ‘I will not cheat that person because I do not want them to cheat me. ’ The golden rule is a simple and useful tool, but it does have some limitations. We don’t really know how babies or animals want to be treated, for example, so the golden rule can’t tell us much about how to treat them. Also, the whole rule is based on your own feelings of how you yourself would want to be treated. But your own needs and preferences might not be typical. For example, the fact that you personally do not value privacy does not mean that you don’t owe others an obligation to respect their privacy. As an accounting example, this rule of thumb could be applied to mean that you disclose all information that may be relevant in financial reports because, if you were the reader of those financial statements, you would expect to receive all the information, and disregard any that is not relevant to you. Mirror Test Another rule of thumb is the mirror test. This is a quick way to evaluate a decision that you are about to make, and reinforces the notion that you are responsible for your own actions. Imagine you’re looking in a mirror and ask yourself: Is it legal? If it is not legal, dont do it. What will others think? Others meaning a friend, a parent, a spouse, a child, a manager, the media, or someone else whose opinion is particularly important to you. As an accounting example, in deciding whether to agree to a client’s request to use a questionable method for valuing inventory, an accountant thinking in terms of this rule of thumb would consider how a story about this action would look on the front page of the local newspaper. Justice and care based approach What this quiz actually does is help you identify whether you lean towards a justice and rule-based approach or whether you lean towards a care-based approach. The justice and rules-based approach says that the rules should be applied equally to everyone and that justice and fairness are most important. Some researchers have suggested that this is a more masculine approach to the world. The care-based approach says that care, rather than justice, is most important and that we should act responsibly to people in need. Some researchers have suggested that this is a more feminine approach to the world. You can see why this research is controversial, and why you may disagree with the results. However it is interesting to consider whether gender could influence ethical positions. It may also help you when discussing issues with colleagues from other countries. Generally, in North American and European groups, men have been found to have, on average, higher ‘justice’ scores and women have been found to have, on average, higher ‘care’ scores. The significance of these statistical findings is a topic of ongoing debate among scholars. It is important to know how you approach an ethical question, and to recognise that other people may approach it a different way, irrespective of gender.

Marine Pollution Causes Effects And Control Environmental Sciences Essay

Marine Pollution Causes Effects And Control Environmental Sciences Essay The phrase heavy metals is used here as a general name for metals with densities in excess of 5 g/cm3. About 15 species are of practical concern. Heavy metals may be applied to soils deliberately to correct nutrient deficiencies or to kill pests. Very small amounts are needed to correct deficiencies, and these do not cause pollution. Repeated applications of inorganic pesticides containing heavy metals (for example, in sprays applied to fruit trees) may add amounts to soils large enough to be harmful. In contrast to organic pesticides, heavy metals do not disappear through decomposition but remain in soil indefinitely. Additional sources of soil contamination by heavy metals are industrial and traffic exhausts, flooding of land by contaminated waters, sewage sludge applied to land, and disposal of other refuse. Heavy metals participate in several kinds of reactions in soils, and these affect their concentrations and solubility. The metal ions tend to be bonded to soil constituents through cation exchange; this may amount to substantial quantities even though concentrations in the soil solution are usually low. Some soil constituents seem to have specific affinities for heavy metal ions, resulting in their preferential adsorption over more abundant cations. The concentrations of heavy metals in the soil solution are also affected by equilibria with hydroxyl, carbonate, and phosphate ions. Precipitation of heavy metals by these anions can limit concentrations even though fairly large amounts are added to soil. On the other hand, some heavy metal ions are strongly chelated by organic substances of low molecular weight, thereby altering their adsorption behavior and permitting rather high concentrations in the soil solution. The actual concentration in a soil is thus a function of reactions of heavy metals with a variety of soil constituents. Cadmium is considered as one of the most hazardous of the heavy metals because of its presumed effect on the development of vascular disease. Amounts of cadmium in soils are normally below 1 ppm, but values as high as 1700 ppm have been reported for surface samples collected near zinc-ore smelters. Cadmium is usually associated with zinc in nature, and the geochemical relationship between the two leads to their common occurrence with Zn/Cd ratios near 900. Cadmium is easily taken up by most plants. Some are quite sensitive to excess cadmium, and others are not. (ii) Chromium (Cr) This metal is a major component of the wastes of the plating industry. Cr is toxic for plant growth only at high concentrations. Chromium mobility within plants is extremely low. Soil pollution by chromium is seldom a problem because it is taken up by plants as chromate, a form that hardly occurs at prevailing pH values and redox potentials. (iii) Cobalt (Co) This can be highly toxic to plants. Most plant species cannot tolerate concentrations of cobalt exceeding 0.1 ppm. Usually cobalt contents of soil do not exceed 10 ppm. Preferential cobalt adsorption on soil constituents and fixation in clay mineral lattices might add to the problem. (iv) Copper (Cu) Copper is toxic to most plants at concentrations exceeding 0.1 ppm. Its concentration in drinking water for human consumption is considered safe when not exceeding 1.0 ppm. Concentrations above 20 ppm in feed and forage are toxic to sheep. Normal copper contents of soils are around 20 ppm. Mobility and displacement of copper in soils are low because of its strong bonding with organic matter and clay minerals. (v) Lead (Pb) This may accumulate in soils along roads from traffic exhausts and in the vicinities of lead-zinc smelters. Roadside concentrations as high as 2400 ppm have been reported. While (excessive) intake of lead by humans and animals is considered a serious health hazard, the primary pathway of such intakes is probably via surface contamination of crops and grasses (eaten by grazing animals) rather than via plant uptake. The mobility of lead in soil and plants tends to be low though in some cases considerable uptake by plants has been observed. Normal lead levels in plants range from 0.5-3 ppm. With respect to plant growth, lead toxicity levels appear to differ considerably for different plant species. (vi) Mercury (Hg) Extensive mercury poisoning was first reported at Minamata, Japan, in 1953. As a result of the strong interactions between mercury compounds and soil constituents, displacement of mercury in forms other than vapor is usually very low. Methylation of mercury, possibly occurring in nature under restricted conditions, constitutes one of the most serious hazards related to this element, because in this form mercury will accumulate easily in food chains. Because of this hazard, the use of alkylmercury fungicides for seed dressings has been banned in many countries. (vii) Molybdenum (Mo) This element is best known for its deficiency in certain soils. Under normal conditions molybdenum predominates in anionic form (molybdate), subject to adsorption by iron oxides and hydroxides much like phosphate. While normal molybdenum content in plants is around 0.1 ppm, toxicity symptoms have been observed at levels above 200-300 ppm (dry matter). (viii) Nickel (Ni) This element tends to be highly toxic to plants. As it is easily taken up by plants when present in soils, care must be exercised in disposal of waste containing nickel. Total nickel contents in soils range from 5-500 ppm, with 100 ppm as a rough mean value. The concentration in the soil solution is usually around 0.005-0.05 ppm, and contents in healthy plants do not exceed 1 ppm (dry matter). (ix) Zinc (Zn) The use of this element in galvanized iron is widespread. Zinc commonly occurs in soils at levels of 10-300 ppm, with 30-50 ppm as a rough average range. Sewage sludges may have very high zinc contents, and the possible accumulation of zinc in soil after disposal of such wastes deserves attention. In plants, zinc will become toxic at levels exceeding about 400 ppm (dry matter), where it probably interferes with the uptake of other essential elements. In soil, zinc appears to be rather mobile. Wastes and soil pollution The large amount of waste produced every day in towns and cities and other human settlements end up in soil. The most common kinds of wastes can be classified into four types: agricultural, industrial, municipal, and nuclear (Table 5.13). Table 5.13. Wastes and Soil Pollution Sources Effects Agriculture (i) accumulation of animal manures (ii) excessive input of chemical fertilizers (iii) illicit dumping of tainted crops on land Mining and Quarrying (i) using of explosives to blow up mines (ii) using of machineries which emit toxic byproducts and leaks to the ground Sewage sludge Improper sanitation system causes sludge to leak at surrounding soil Household (i) improper waste disposal system causes waste accumulation (ii) improper sanitation system Dredged spoils Method of dredging at fertile land causes soil infertility, leaving the soil more prone to external pollution Demolition and construction Nonbiodegradable rubbles or debris which undergo chemical reactions and increase soil toxicity Industrial Poisonous/toxic gases which are not filtered or neutralized Control of Soil pollution The following general methods of controlling soil pollution are in use. Effluents should be properly treated before discharging them on to soil. Solid wastes should be properly collected and disposed of by appropriate method. From the wastes, recovery of useful products should be done. Microbial degradation of biodegradable substances reduces soil pollution. 5.5 Marine Pollution: Causes, Effects and Control The sea, which covers around 70 per cent of the earths surface, is home to millions of fish, crustaceans, mammals, microorganisms, and plants. It is a vital source of food for both animals and people. Thousands of birds rely on the sea for their daily food supplies. Fishermen throughout the world catch over 90 million tons of fish every year, and in many developing countries, fish is the principal source of protein.   People also depend on the sea for many of their medicines. Marine animals and plants contain many chemicals that can be used to cure human ailments: an estimated 500 sea species yield chemicals that could help treat cancer.   But the oceans now are in a very bad shape. People have treated the sea as a dumping ground for thousands of years, offloading rubbish, sewage, and more recently industrial waste. Marine pollution frequently originates on land, entering the sea via rivers and pipelines. This means that coastal waters are dirtier than the open seas, with estuaries and harbours being especially badly affected. Additional pollution is actually created at sea by activities such as dredging, drilling for oil and minerals, and shipping.   Marine Pollution   For close to thirty years, most academics studying the phenomena of marine pollution have adhered to a definition developed by a UN body, the Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution (GESAMP), who define it as Introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment (including estuaries) resulting in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources, hazard to human health, hindrance to marine activities including fishing, impairment of quality for use of sea-water, and reduction of amenities.   The definition has two important aspects:   First, it is action oriented. Marine pollution results from human activity. Thus, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions in the ocean floor and subsequent damage or change to the ocean ecosystems is not considered as pollution.   Second, the definition is amenable to measurement. Marine pollution is harmful, and its danger can be identified in a variety of ways. For example, it is easy to see the deleterious effects that oil spills have on the sea birds and mammals that happen to run into them. Scientists likewise can readily identify various toxic substances found in the marine environment, measure their quantities, and provide estimates of their potential danger for the health of both marine life and humans.   The important sources of marine pollution are shown in Fig. 5.4. Toxics Toxic waste is the most harmful form of pollution to marine creatures.   Once a form of toxic waste affects an organism, it can be quickly passed along the food chain and might eventually end up in seafood, causing various problems. Toxic wastes arrive from the leakage of landfills, dumps, mines and farms.   Sewage and industrial wastes introduce chemical pollutants like DDT. Farm chemicals (insecticides and herbicides) along with heavy metals (e.g. mercury and zinc) can have disastrous effect on marine life.   Mercury the most dangerous toxic  element Top priority is usually given to control the pollutant that poses a threat to human health, the most serious being mercury.   Major sources of mercury include rivers, marine outfalls and direct dumping of chemical waste. Natural inputs like the weathering of mercury-bearing rocks, volcanic gases also contribute to mercury in the ocean.   Dissolved mercury in the sea is adsorbed onto particulate matter and also forms stable complexes with organic compounds occurring in the sea. Inorganic mercury can be easily accumulated by living organisms. Fig. 5.4. Sources of marine pollution. A classic example of mercury poisoning happened in Minamata, a small Japanese coastal town dependent on fishing for a livelihood. In 1952, a nearby factory producing vinyl chloride and acetaldehyde using mercuric sulphate as a catalyst dumped its wastes in Minamata bay. Typically 300-1000 g of mercury is lost for each ton of acetaldehyde produced, 5% of which is in the form of methyl mercury. Mercuric chloride when used as a catalyst produces 1 g of methyl mercury per ton of product. Accumulated contamination was as high as 200 ppm mercury at the factory outfall.   The effects began with the death of a large number of fish in the early 1950s. This affected birds, cats, pigs, and humans.  Birds lost coordination to fly.   Cats were seen running in circles and foaming at the mouth.   Local residents called these occurrences the disease of the dancing cats.   Later, the disease was termed Minamata Disease when humans began to have symptoms of methyl mercury poisoning.   Other Toxic Materials   Toxic materials are substances derived from industrial, agricultural, household cleaning, gardening and automotive products. They do not always kill wildlife, but they can threaten inland and coastal waters. Examples of toxic materials include:   Dioxins come from bleaching paper, incineration of solid wastes containing PVC and other materials, and the process of making herbicides. Dioxins and related compounds degrade slowly and are toxic to marine life. They cause genetic chromosomal aberrations in marine life and are suspected of causing cancer in humans.   PCBs are used in the making electrical equipments and hydraulic fluids. Developmental problems in children and reproductive problems in some other animals have been linked to PCBs. Slowly degrading PCBs accumulate as they pass along the ocean food web. PAHs come from oil spills, road runoff, and burning wood and coal.   Marine life and people suffer ill effects from PAHs. PAHs cause genetic and chromosomal problems in fish and most marine organisms.   Sewage and fertilizers   The discharge of sewage can cause public health problems either from contact with polluted waters or from consumption of contaminated fish or shellfish.   The discharge of untreated sewage effluents also produces long-term adverse impacts on the ecology of critical coastal ecosystems in localized areas due to the contribution of nutrients and other pollutants. Pollution due to inadequate sewage disposal causes nutrient enrichment around population centers, and high nutrient levels and even eutrophication near treatment facilities and sewage outfalls.   Around the world, untreated sewage flows into coastal waters, carrying organic waste and nutrients that can lead to oxygen depletion, as well as disease-causing bacteria and parasites that require closing beaches and shellfish beds.  The inadequate number of sewage treatment plants in operation, combined with poor operating conditions of available treatment plants, and the disposal practices of discharging mostly untreated wastewater are likely to have an adverse effect on the ocean.   Oil   The sites most vulnerable for accidents are areas where tankers and barges move through restricted channels and in the vicinity of ports.   In spite of regulations established, tankers and barges do not always use port facilities for the disposal of bilge and tank washing and wastes, and a significant amount of oil, which exceeds that from accidental oil spills, is discharged into the coastal areas. The impact of oil pollution on the ecology of coastal and marine ecosystems is particularly destructive following massive oil spills caused by maritime accidents.   However, gas exchange between the water and the atmosphere is decreased by oil remaining on the surface of the water, with the possible result of oxygen depletion in enclosed bays where surface wave action is minimal. Coral death results from smothering when submerged oil directly adheres to coral surfaces and oil slicks affect sea birds and other marine animals. In addition, tar accumulation on beaches reduces tourism potential of coastal areas.   Mining and Dredging   Mining affects the marine ecosystem and the habitat. Mining can erode beaches, degrade water quality, and spoil coastal habitats. Mining coral to process for lime can remove the habitat of local marine species and weakens coastal storm defense. Mined or dredged areas take a very long time to recover. Because of this, strict regulations govern the dredging of the ocean floor   Synthetic Organic Chemicals   Many different synthetic organic chemicals enter the ocean and become incorporated into organisms. Ingestion of small amounts can cause illness or death.   Halogenated hydrocarbons are a class of synthetic hydrocarbon compounds that contain chlorine, bromine, or iodine are used in pesticides, flame retardants, industrial solvents, and cleaning fluids.   The level of synthetic organic chemicals in seawater is usually very low, but some organisms can concentrate these toxic substances in their flesh at higher levels in the food chain. That is an example of biological amplification.   Marine debris   More garbage such as plastic bags, rope, helium balloons, and stray fishing gear, build up in the oceans every year. Synthetic materials stay in the environment for years, killing or injuring ocean species, like whales and turtles, which mistake litter for food or get entangled in it. Ghost fishing by lost nets not only kills innocent ocean creatures but also reduces fishers catches.   Plastic is not biodegradable and therefore affects the oceans for long periods of time. Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and die from internal blockages. Seals and sea lions starve after being muzzled by six-pack rings or entangled by nets.   Effects of Marine Pollution on Living Marine Resources Tens of thousands of chemicals are used to meet societys technological and economic needs. Marine pollution is not only attributed to oil and chemical spills, but much of the debris and toxic substances affecting marine animals, in actual fact, originate on land. Pesticides, plastic bags, balloons, cigarette butts, motor oil, fishing line, find their way into local waterways either though direct dumping, through storm drains (whatever is left on streets, parking lots, can be washed into storm drains which lead directly to local waters), or through sanitary sewers, affecting living marine resources.   The time taken by a few common types of litter to biodegrade is given in Table 5.14. Two basic ways by which chemical contaminants can affect living marine resources are:   By directly affecting the exposed organisms own health and survival, and   By contaminating those resources that other species, including humans, may consume.   Researchers have been studying this dual impact of contaminants using a variety of marine organisms ranging from bottom-dwelling invertebrates and fish to species such as salmon and marine mammals. These biological effects include:   Diseases such as liver lesions in bottom fish, Decreased reproductive success in bottom fish, Impaired immune competence in anadromous fish, and   Growth impairment in invertebrates.   Marine pollution can have serious economic impact on coastal activities and on those who exploit the resources of the sea. In most cases such damage is caused primarily by the physical properties of these pollutants creating nuisance and hazardous conditions. Table 5.14. Degradation time of materials Materials Time to degrade Materials Time to degrade Tin cans 50 years Wool 1 year Painted wood 13 years Plastic rings 400+ years Newspaper 6 weeks Plastic bottles 450 years Paper towels 2 4 weeks Aluminium cans 200 years Disposable diapers 450 years Monofilament line 600 years Polystyrene foam Indefinite Cardboard 2 months Impact on coastal activities   Contamination of coastal amenity areas is a common feature of many spills leading to public disquiet and interference with recreational activities such as bathing, boating, angling and diving. Hotel and restaurant owners and others who gain their livelihood from the tourist trade can also be affected.   Oil and chemical spills can adversely affect industries that rely on a clean supply of seawater for their normal operations. If substantial quantities of floating or sub-surface pollutants are drawn through intakes, contamination of the condenser tubes may result, requiring a reduction in output or total shutdown. Simply, the effects of marine pollution are caused by either the physical nature of the pollutants themselves (physical contamination and smothering) or by their chemical components (toxic effects and accumulation leading to tainting). Marine life may also be affected by clean-up operations or indirectly through physical damage to the habitats in which plants and animals live. The main threat posed to living resources by the persistent residues of spilled oils and water-in-oil emulsions (mousse) is one of physical smothering. The animals and plants most at risk are those that could come into contact with a contaminated sea surface:   Marine mammals and reptiles. Birds that feed by diving or form flocks on the sea. Marine life on shorelines and Animals and plants in Mari culture facilities.   Subsequently the inability of individual marine organisms to reproduce, grow, feed or perform other functions can be caused by prolonged exposure to pollutants, if not eventual death. Sedentary animals in shallow waters such as oysters, mussels and clams that routinely filter large volumes of seawater to extract food are especially likely to accumulate oil components and harmful chemicals, poisoning consumers.   In addition to that, birds, whales and other marine creatures often mistake cigarette butts (which find their way into the waters) for food. The butts contain small plastic pieces that can interfere with the digestion of food, casing marine life to starve. Monofilament fishing line can be lethal to seals, sea lions, fish and other animals. Many marine species, including seals, herring, gulls, sharks, and shellfish have died or suffered injuries from plastic bags, nets and monofilament fishing lines.   Impacts on specific marine habitats The impact that marine pollution can have on selected marine habitats are given below. Within each habitat a wide range of environmental conditions prevail and often there is no clear division between one habitat and another.   In coastal areas some marine mammals and reptiles, such as turtles, may be particularly vulnerable to adverse effects from contamination because of their need to surface to breathe and to leave the water to breed.   The impact of oil on shorelines may be particularly great where large areas of rocks, sand and mud are uncovered at low tide.   The amenity value of beaches and rocky shores may require the use of rapid, effective clean-up techniques, which may not be compatible with the plants and animals.   In tropical regions, mangrove trees have complex breathing roots above the surface of the organically rich and oxygen-depleted mud in which they live. Oil may block the openings of the air breathing roots of mangroves or interfere with the trees salt balance, causing leaves to drop and the tress to die. Fresh oil entering nearby animal burrows can damage the root systems and the effect may persist for some time inhibiting decolonization by mangrove seedlings.   Living corals grow on the calcified remains of dead coral colonies that form overhangs, crevices and other irregularities inhabited by a rich variety of fish and other animals. If the living coral is destroyed the reef itself may be subject to wave erosion.   Birds which congregate in large numbers on the sea or shorelines to breed, feed or molt are particularly vulnerable to oil pollution. Although oil ingested by birds during preening may be lethal, the most common cause of death is from drowning, starvation and loss of body heat when their body surfaces are coated with oil.   Impact on fisheries and Mariculture   The pollutants in the waters, especially in the case of oil spills can also damage boats and gears used for catching or cultivating marine species. Floating equipment and fixed traps extending above the sea surface are more likely to become contaminated by floating oil whereas submerged nets, pots, lines and bottom trawls are usually well protected, provided they are not lifted through an oily sea surface.   An oil or chemical spill can also cause loss of market confidence since the public may be unwilling to purchase marine products from the region irrespective of whether the seafood is actually tainted. Bans on the fishing and harvesting of marine products may be imposed following a spill, both to maintain market confidence and to protect fishing gear and catches from contamination.   5.6 Noise Pollution Noise usually means unwanted sound of appreciable intensity which goes on for a length of time (seconds to hours) that irritates people. The noise may emanate from factories, offices and market place, roads (traffic-related), running and shuttling of trains, landing and take-offs of aircrafts at airports, use of loudspeakers in meetings, rallies, celebrations, etc. When the quality and the intensity of the noise is practically constant (varying less than  ±5 dBA) over an appreciable time (seconds or longer), it is often called steady-state noise. The first reaction to any form of unwanted sound is annoyance, followed by irritation, restlessness and extreme reaction. Since noise travels through air, all forms of noise are considered as polluting air and noise is considered as an air pollutant. Sound is defined as a pressure variation that the human ear can detect. Just like dominoes, a wave motion is set off when an element sets the nearest particle of air into motion. This motion gradually spreads to adjacent air particles further away from the source. Depending on the medium, sound propagates at different speeds. In air, sound propagates at a speed of approximately 340 m/s. In liquids and solids, the propagation velocity is greater, 1500 m/s in water and 5000 m/s in steel. Compared to the static air pressure (105 Pa), the audible sound pressure variations are very small ranging from about 20  µPa (20 ÃÆ'- 10-6 Pa) to 100 Pa. The sound pressure level of 20  µPa corresponds to the average persons threshold of hearing. A sound pressure of approximately 100 Pa is so loud that it causes pain and is therefore called the threshold of pain. The ratio between these two extremes is more than a million to one. Sound pressure level alone is not a reliable indicator of loudness. The frequency or pitch of a sound also has a substantial effect on how humans will respond. While the intensity (energy per unit area) of the sound is a purely physical quantity, the loudness or human response depends on the characteristics of the human ear. A direct application of linear scales (in Pa) to the measurement of sound pressure leads to large and unwieldy numbers. Therefore, the acoustic parameters are conveniently expressed as a logarithmic ratio of the measured value to a reference value. This logarithmic ratio is called a decibel or dB. Using dB, the large numbers are converted into a manageable scale from 0 dB at the threshold of hearing (20  µPa) to 130 dB at the threshold of pain (~100 Pa). Some examples of common noise and their decibel levels are given in Table 5.16. The decibel scale is open-ended. 0 dB or dBA should not be construed as the absence of sound. Instead, it is the generally accepted threshold of best human hearing. Sound pressure levels in negative decibel ranges are inaudible to humans. On the other extreme, the decibel scale can go much higher. For example, gun shots, explosions, and rocket engines can reach 140 dBA or higher at close range. Noise levels approaching 140 dBA are nearing the threshold of pain. Higher levels can inflict physical damage on such things as structural members of air and spacecraft and related parts. Table 5.16. Equivalent sound levels in decibels normally occurring inside various places Place Leq (decibels) Small Store (1-5 persons) 60 Large Store (more than 5 persons) 65 Small Office (1-2 desks) 58 Medium Office (3-10 desks) 63 Large Office (more than 10 desks) 67 Miscellaneous Business 63 Residence Typical movement of people no TV or radio Speech at 10 feet, normal voice TV listening at 10 feet, no other activity Stereo music 40-45 55 55-60 50-70 How is noise measured? Basically, there are two different instruments to measure noise exposures: the sound level meter and the dosimeter. A sound level meter is a device that measures the intensity of sound at a given moment. Since sound level meters provide a measure of sound intensity at only one point in time, it is generally necessary to take a number of measurements at different times during the day to estimate noise exposure over a workday. This measurement method is generally referred to as area noise monitoring. A dosimeter is like a sound level meter except that it stores sound level measurements and integrates these measurements over time, providing an average noise exposure reading for a given period of time such as an 8-hour workday. The dosimeter measures noise levels in those locations in which a person works or spends long intervals of time. Such procedures are generally referred to as personal noise monitoring. Human hearing is limited not only to the range of audible frequencies, but also in the way it perceives the sound pressure level in that range. In general, the healthy human ear is most sensitive to sounds between 1,000 Hz 5000 Hz, and perceives both higher and lower frequency sounds of the same magnitude with less intensity. In order to approximate the frequency response of the human ear, a series of sound pressure level adjustments is usually applied to the sound measured by a sound level meter. The adjustments, or weighting network, are frequency dependent. The A-scale approximates the frequency response of the average young ear when listening to most ordinary everyday sounds. When people make relative judgments of the loudness or annoyance of a sound, their judgments correlate well with the A-scale sound levels of those sounds. There are other weighting networks that have been devised to address high noise levels or other special problems (B-scale, C-scale, D-scale etc.) but these scales are rarely, if ever, used in conjunction with highway traffic noise. Noise levels are generated in the A-scale as dBA. In environmental noise studies, A-weighted sound pressure levels are commonly referred to as noise levels. Sources of noise Various sources of noise (Table 5.17) are industry, road traffic, rail traffic, air traffic, construction and public works, indoor sources (air conditioners, air coolers, radio, television and other home appliances), etc. In Indian conditions, indiscriminate use of public address system and diesel generator (DG) sets, has given a new dimension to the noise pollution problem. Noise in Industrial Areas. Mechanized industry creates serious noise problems, su

Imperialists Climate after the Civil War :: essays research papers

At the end of the nineteenth century, the United States emerged as a world power. Although Congress was reluctant to endorse expansionist schemes, during the end of the nineteenth century many others had become convinced that the United States had to adopt a more aggressive and forceful foreign policy. Some believed expansion would be good for American business. Others felt America had a duty to spread its way of life to less fortunate countries. Behind all the arguments, however; the United States was a great and important country, and it should start acting the part.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With America’s Navy rebuilt there was an emergence of aggression in foreign policy. The two developments originated from the same source: a ready acceptance of force as the final authority of international disputes. That acceptance of force led to the Spanish-American War of 1898. Those same attitudes, during the presidencies of B. Harrison and G. Cleveland between 1885 and 1897, almost caused several other wars. America’s attitudes changed toward foreign policy first with their relationship to Samoa, a group of 14 South Pacific volcanic islands with splendid natural harbors. American negotiated a treaty with a tribal chief to grant the United States rights to a naval station. Unfortunately, Germany had also decided that Samoa should belong to them. Through some conferences and a natural typhoon that wiped both Germany and United States out of the Pacific they finally came to an agreement without going to war. American troubles were a little different with Chile. Trade and strategic policy were not the reasons for interfering with Chile, but more of touchy pride and patriotism. A revolutionary faction had taken control of the Chilean government. During that time some US sailors were docked in their country. A riot had broken out and some sailors got hurt and a couple even got killed. What made matters worse was that the Chilean police, who were there, did not intervene. However, they took the sailors away to jail. The Americans sought for reparations for the insult and Chile refused to apologize. After threatening them to go to war, they finally decided to back down, by apologizing for the attack on the sailors and paying $75,000 compensation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hawaii figured prominently in American foreign policy planning by its location. Not only were they ideally situated along the trade routes to Asia, but they offered a perfect site for protecting the Pacific sea lanes to the American west coast and to the potential locations of a cape canal.

Public life Essay

Early Years When Brown and his family moved to New York, he learned that the pro-slavery forces in Kansas were confrontational. Brown left for Kansas after learning that the families of his adult sons were completely unprotected from any possible attack. He collected funds and weapons along the way and even held an anti-slavery convention in Albany. Despite the stir because of his support for unrest to liberate, Brown still managed to get financial support. He gathered more anti-slavery forces in Ohio. Brown and his forces were going to stop at nothing to stop the pro-slavery actions in Kansas. He believed that the pro-slavery forces, or the Border Ruffians, will eventually become violent themselves. He used this as justification for his disregard for the law. Brown was angered by the violence displayed by the Border Ruffians, and also the political manipulations happening to quell the northern abolitionist movement. Brown learned that his family was to be attacked next by the Border Ruffians and the pro-slavery neighbours squealed about the support that his family was giving him. In May 1856, five pro-slavery settlers were killed by Brown’s men. They were taken from their homes and slashed to death by swords. According to Brown, he did approve of the murder, but he never participated in it. Two of Brown’s sons were captured by Henry Pate, a pro-slavery captain. But Pate was soon captured with twenty-two men. Pate was forced to sign a treaty that exchanges their freedom with the freedom of his two sons. Pate was released, but his sons’ release was to be postponed till September. Pro-slavery forces from Missouri came to Kansas under the command of Major General John Reid. They headed towards Osawatomie, Kansas, determined to crush the abolitionist forces there. Some of Reid’s men killed one of Brown’s sons in the morning of August 30, 1956. Brown was clearly outnumbered by Reid’s pro-slavery forces, but they still defended their posts. They managed to wound 40 and kill 20 of the Reid’s men. Reid ordered his men to retreat into the forest, and Brown’s men managed to capture four of Reid’s men. This display of bravery in that situation that clearly went against him was viewed as an act of heroism by Northern abolitionist forces. Brown was then known by the nickname, Osawatomie Brown. A month later, Brown met Free State leaders in Lawrence to help plan for a possible assault by the pro-slavery forces. Pro-slavery forces from Missouri were engaging attacks in Kansas. Battles ensued, though large damages were nipped in the bud when Kansas governor John Geary called for disarmament and offered clemency to soldiers of both sides. Brown fled from Kansas with his sons to gather more funds and support from the north. Brown travelled eastward to collect more funds. In his travels, he met with many prominent abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison and Gerrit Smith. Some of the wealthy abolitionists he met agreed to provide Brown with funds. This group of financers become known as the â€Å"Secret Six†. How much of Brown’s plans the Secret Six knew still remains a mystery until today as these men were just there to fund Brown with â€Å"no questions asked. † On January of the following year, Brown received pledges of weapons from different abolitionist organizations and individuals. He travelled more and continued to look for funding. He received help in forms of numerous pledges but little of these pledges were translated to cash. Brown met with Hugh Forbes in New York in March. He hired Forbes to be the tactician and drillmaster of his army. Both met in Tabor and formulated a plan for their anti-slavery crusade in the south with them disagreeing with some of the details of the plan. They left for Kansas six months later without Forbes receiving his salary. He decided to leave for the east instead of going with Brown to Kansas. Brown travelled to Ontario to attend a Constitutional Convention. Chatham, Ontario’s population were mostly dominated by slave fugitives. It was here that Brown’s provisional constitution was adopted. Brown was elected as the commander-in-chief and Elder Monroe, an African man was elected as minister, and shall act as president until a new one was elected. Many of the delegates signed the Constitution, but only a few joined Brown’s forces. Many intended to join but Forbes attempted to reveal the plans to Henry Wilson, a Massachusetts senator. Many of the members of Brown’s inner circle felt fear that their names will go revealed to the public. The members of the Secret Six were divided. Some of them wanted Brown to execute his plans rapidly, while some insisted for postponement. To derail Forbes’ knowledge of his plan, Brown returned to Kansas and remained there for 6 months. He joined forces with James Montogomery, the leader of the raids in Missouri. Brown led his own attacks, managing to set 11 slaves free. He took the liberated man with him to Detroit and to Canada. He went from city to city to collect more support. He reconnected with the Secret Six, visited his family and departed for Harpers Ferry. Upon arrival in Harpers Ferry, he rented a farmhouse nearby for his new recruits. He never received the number of recruits he expected to come to support him. He revealed the plan to some of his supporters and some of them expressed their worry and qualms about the plan. One of them, Douglass, already knew of Brown’s plan since 1859 and has tried numerous attempts to avert the enlistment of blacks in Brown’s army. Some of the weapons fit for a thousand men arrived late September, but Brown only had 21 men. A month later, Brown led 19 of his men to attack the armory of Harpers Ferry. He planned to distribute the weapons here to arm the slaves in the locality. He would then lead these men to the south to liberate more slaves. His plan was to free the slaves of Virginia to maim the institution and kill off the life-line that kept the economy alive in the south. They easily entered the town and they captured the armory with no resistance. They also spread the news to the local slaves they were going to be freed soon. Things went awry when a passenger train arrived in town. One of the train staff warned the passengers about Brown’s men. Brown ordered him to halt then, but seeing that his warning was not heeded, shot him openly. News of the raid reached Washington by late morning. Brown’s men were held inside the armory by the angry residents of the town. Military men sealed off the bridge, the only escape route available. Brown moved inside the armory and had the doors and windows blocked. The soldiers and townspeople outside prevented the exit of anyone inside the armory, and sometimes, Brown’s men would shoot at the people outside. Brown sent out his son, Watson, and one of his men under the bearing of a white flag and yet the men outside shot them. Exchanges of shots were fired, and Oliver, another of Brown’s sons were wounded and killed. On October 18, John Brown’s fort was surrounded by the military. They were encouraged to surrender, but Brown refused, saying that he would rather die there. The military men then broke the doors and walls of the armory down and captured the men inside. Brown was charged with murder of 5 men, instigation of a rebellion among the slaves and treason against the state of Virginia. The court found him to be guilty on all three counts on November 2. He was sentenced to be publicly hanged a month later. On November 2, after a week-long trial and 45 minutes of deliberation, the Charles town jury found Brown guilty on all three counts. Brown was sentenced to be hanged in public on December 2. Before he died, he wrote, â€Å"I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done. † METHODOLOGY The results of this study were obtained via data collection from documents from the internet, several books and journals. Data analysis of the information was performed and some personal opinions of the author were also injected into the analysis of the data gathered.