Image you chosse to analzy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Image you chosse to analzy - Essay Example One advertisement calls parents to help erase this habit among their children. The ad says: â€Å"Risk an Early Death, Just Do Nothing.† The ad is saying that having no physical activity because of playing video games is bad for the health and social lives of the children because of the ad’s strong word of death in black, the green background and red shirt that suggest opposite feelings of life and death, and the unhappy face shows that indicates that the kid is alone, not socializing, and unhealthy, and so, these conditions make him sad, and these symbols and messages are important to society because kids need a healthier development through having other physical activities and interacting with other people outside the home. All of the words are in capitalized letters, with the word â€Å"death† in black, which suggests that playing video games is bad for the health and social lives of the children, while the rest of the words support the same main claim. The ad is saying that doing nothing is bad for the health of children. It categorizes playing hours of video games as nothing, since children are only sitting and barely moving in front of the television. To explain this problem further, the ad has a paragraph with smaller fonts. It says that 9 out of 10 children have unhealthy fat in their bodies. The statistics indicate that the problem affects many children and should surprise parents. In addition, the ad continues that their children might not look fat, but as they grow old, the habit of sitting all the time will lead to an early death because little exercise results to heart problems, Type 2 diabetes, or even cancer. The ad connects the lack of physical activity in childhood to several deadly diseases, once they are adults. It shows that by doing nothing, early death becomes a certainty. Moreover, the word â€Å"death† is in black because black often means death. Death also means â€Å"nothing† because people cannot see anything in the black color. In connection, the ad suggests that playing video games is nothing important to the healthy development of the children. Aside from the black word, the rest of the bold and capitalized words are in white. The white is in contrast with the black and seeks to capture the interest of the audience. The white makes it easier for them to see the black, or the â€Å"death† in doing nothing. Thus, the words and their colors support the meaning that the ad wants to tell parents. Apart from these colors, the green background and red shirt suggest contrary feelings of life and death. The color green means a good life and nature. It sends a message that if only children spent more time going out and playing outside with nature, they would have a better life. They will have a better life because physical activity and fresh air are good for their health. At the same time, playing outside tends to establish and expand friendships. When children are outside, the y can make friends or they can spend time with their friends. They can laugh and run about as they play. They can share stories while waking together. Physical activity is then closely connected to social activity. Furthermore, the red shirt of child in the ad signifies death. Red means blood. With a red shirt, the child in the ad may seem like bleeding and dying. The ad says that because of playing too much in front of the TV, this activity will

Evolution And Extinction Essay Example for Free

Evolution And Extinction Essay Evolution describes the progressive stages by which organisms existing today have emerged through processes of specialization, adaption and natural selection, from their pre-existing ancestors; it is the significant change in the traits of a population over several generations. On the other hand, extinction of a species of organism is the total disappearance of such forms of life from the surface of the earth due to inability to adapt. Â  The concept of f extinction and fossil development are closely interwoven. It is so important to the support of evolution that Charles Darwin expects that the ‘missing fossils’ would one day emerge as the ‘strongest support’ for the theory he propounded; the theory of evolution by natural selection. The point is that without extinction, there would be no fossils. In the absence of fossils, it readily becomes difficult to relate species ancestor to the existing organisms for the purpose of establishing an unequivocal evolutionary link. Evolution has generated a lot of controversy in contemporary times as it attempts to remove the Creationist theory from its vantage and highly exalted position. It is a thoughtful concept on the origin of living organism that has been supported by Developmental similarities [ascribed to the work of Ernest Haeckel], chromosomal similarities among mammals and primates [e.g. man and chimpanzee], fossil records, biochemical and anatomical similarities such as vestigial organs. Of these, fossil records are the most important since they create the needed link to substantiate evolution. Before reaching forth to connect and disconnect evolution and extinction, it is essential to note that: In the beginning, life was simple and over time, complexities came into view. As a result organisms perpetually attempt to become better suited to the prevailing environmental conditions and demands. Organisms who can effectively develop appropriate features survive i.e. they adapt and those who can not, die. This is the concept of ‘the survival of the fittest’. The newly evolved organism with better adaptation mechanisms produce offsprings much better suited by transfer of such positive and inheritable characters encoded in genes. When conditions change again, evolution occurs for the sustenance of life. Those who do not cope, die and their species progressively disappear. It is this cycle of evolution and extinction that is acclaimed to have maintained living organisms on the Earth. EVOLUTION VERSUS EXTINCTION From the aforementioned facts, it is clear that the two concepts are in a way, mutually interdependent. The progressive emergence of present-day horse from its evolutionary ancestors has been confirmed by fossil discovery and analysis. Same applies to man’s appearance as Homo sapiens. Â  In the examples, the ancestral species have gone into extinction. Their fossils were however discovered. A detailed analysis of these fossils, placing them side by side has made it possible to trace the evolution of horses and man; for man, from extinct Homo habilis through H. erectus to the present day Homo sapiens. This complementation has been achieved thus: detailed study and analysis of the different aspects of the fossil [anatomical, biochemical, and sometimes pathological], and comparing of findings to same properties of existing species has led to the conclusion that speciation and specialization occurred, necessitated by the need for survival. In contrast, if extinction points to the fact that evolution has possibly occurred, what about the ‘missing links’. This is an area that has made the belief in evolution a rather Herculean adventure. If organisms are claimed to have evolved over time, then, there has to fossils for the proposed ancestors. This is particularly important in the case of links i.e. species that combined the properties of two related members of a genus. If these links are absent, evolution raises more questions than it can answer. In this vein, one may look at Extinction as a natural solution to the problems of congestion. It appears to relieve the ecosystem of the burden of many lives. Imagine the congestion and its concomitant intense competition for space that would have resulted if extinction did not occur. The earth would have been in serious turmoil and life would intolerable. On the other hand, evolution shows the capacity that nature has to become suited to sustain life. It evidently relates a potent idea: nature is self-sustaining. It can adapt to changes effectively, and produce same or better results from prevailing conditions.

Brownfield Land Redevelopment

Brownfield Land Redevelopment Recently brownfield sites have become popular due to the serious deficiency in the number of greenfield spaces on hand for development. This is more prominent in the built up areas where the demand for residential and commercial property is elevated. In 2008 the UK set a target for brownfield developments. 60% of all new houses were to be built on brownfield sites. Records show that we have already exceeded that target and with the rate that we are reclaiming brownfield sites at present we should significantly raise that percentage over the coming decade. The uses for brownfield sites are not restricted to residential and commercial buildings. They are often considered for redevelopment into open spaces for recreation, woodland and various other community related areas. Reclaiming brownfield sites is at the heart of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy. This Development Strategy incorporates an extensive collection of economic, social and environmental objectives. Brownfield redevelopment cleans up environmental health hazards and eyesores and in doing so it promotes community growth and regeneration. Managed effectively as a sustainable redevelopment scheme, Brownfield sites provide affordable housing, encourage economic growth through locally sourced materials nurturing local business and trades, protect local wildlife and provide environmentally safe areas for families to enjoy. Furthermore, redevelopment of brownfield sites can give an area a make-over and can help send a message to the locality indicating the importance of preservation and recycling. 2.0 Brownfield Land Redevelopment Steps Now that the land has been chosen for the proposed development, a large sports centre within a small town in Scotland, it is important to establish whether or not the Brownfield site in question is suitable for such a development. The proposed site will involve the demolition of an existing building. Therefore all planning laws must be adhered to and the local planning authorities must be notified in writing outlining the intentions for the proposed site. This is important as special licences are required to reclaim Brownfield sites. There are a number of tests and studies that must be carried out in order to obtain the required information to determine the extent of the decontamination measures required to prepare the site. 2.1 Demolition and Recycling Existing Building On-Site In order to maximise the sustainability of the development it is important to identify, separate and eliminate all hazardous materials from the demolished waste. Furthermore any recyclables such as masonry rubble and other materials should be extracted from the demolition waste and can be used in the concrete / asphalt or paved areas around the site. This promotes sustainable development by contributing to the government sustainability objectives of prudent use of natural resources and protection of the environment. Using low embodied building materials reduces the CO2 emissions during the construction process and also has a positive effect on the cost of the entire project as less waste is sent to expensive landfill. There are a number of companies within the UK that specialise in construction and demolition waste recycling and disposal. These companies work closely with Site Waste Management Plans ensuring that only hazardous materials are disposed of and everything recyclable is reused. 2.2 Identification of Hazardous Materials A large number of materials are involved in any build, therefore, when a building is being demolished it is important to identify these hazardous materials and dispose of them safely so that they do not become a danger to anybody else in the future. The building on the proposed site is a 150 year old derelict masonry building. The existing building is to be demolished and any suitable recyclables are to be used in constructing the new sports centre and any concrete / asphalt or paved areas around the site. In order to identify the various materials it is important to put a sorting plan in place. This will ensure only recyclable materials get reused and all hazardous materials are disposed of appropriately. The history of the building plays a key part in the types of hazardous materials that can be expected to be found within the building. From the period the building was built a suitably qualified professional can conclude that the building shell itself will contribute various hazardous materials to the list for safe disposal. These are likely to include asbestos, insulation materials, foams containing CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) that are harmful to the O-Zone layer, roofing felts and bitumen. An engineer will also look into the space within the building to determine what hazardous materials may have been associated with the various uses of the building. The derelict building in question was originally used as a textile factory and later a furniture factory. This would indicate that hazardous materials such as varnishes, glues, sealants, resin-based floorings and wood treated with chemicals or preservatives may be present from that period of the buildings lifetime. In recent decades the building was used as a truck repair shop. This might suggest that there may be some contamination from oil or lubricants, petroleum and any spillage from car / truck batteries. It is very important to test for the presence of these substances and more as identifying the presence of hazardous material is the first step to decontaminating the site. 2.3 Further Investigation Following investigation into the building to be demolished, tests must be carried out on the condition of the soil around the site. It is important to note that all Brownfield site redevelopments come hand in hand with strict environmental issues. As a result it is recommended that an appropriately experienced environmental consultant is used. The environmental consultant will have background knowledge of Brownfield developments and will adequately investigate any environmental risks. Firstly they will undertake a desk top review of the proposed site by gathering all historical information available. This may relate to former quarrying or landfill in the area. Secondly they will prepare an environmental assessment report. Contained within this report will be the results from extensive testing for hazardous compounds within the soil, ground water and surface water. If the findings of the report are positive and support redevelopment on the site, the next step is remediation and elimination of hazardous materials. 2.4 Remediation / Elimination of Hazardous Materials Now that the various hazardous materials have been identified, it is time to categorize and divide them so that they can be safely disposed of. This is whats known as remediation. The demolition of the building itself should be the final step when clearing the site. Initially the building should be stripped down with careful consideration given to how each material is classed and whether it can be recycled or disposed of. This includes all loose material, fixtures, fittings, windows, doors, heating and electrical systems and roofing. Once this has been categorized and divided all that should be left is the building skeleton and foundations for safe demolition Up until a few years ago remediation of Brownfield sites was an expensive process. However, recent new remediation technologies have emerged and are cheaper than the more traditional methods. They include: Bioremediation This utilises the natural processes of indigenous bacteria, microorganisms, plants, enzymes and fungi to destroy or neutralise toxins and contaminants. Phytoremediation This process uses plants. The can store contaminants in their leaves and stems (bioaccumulation). Some contaminants such as heavy metals can be harvested and mined for reuse (phytomining). In-Situ Chemical Oxidation This process injects oxygen or chemical oxidants into the contaminated soil or water to destroy harmful compounds. 2.5 Recycling Masonry Rubble With a project like this there is serious demand for concrete / asphalt and pavements around the development. Fortunately with the demolition of the existing derelict masonry building, a lot of the requirements can be met using recycled masonry rubble from the existing building. When using recycled masonry rubble from demolitions such as this it is important to ensure that the rubble is free from contaminants. Once this is done, the rubble is then graded into aggregates. This is a simple process that involves sieve like machines that vibrate, separating the various sized aggregates and compiling them with aggregate material of similar sizes. The aggregates can then be used in various locations around the site depending on their size and classification. It is important to note that the quality of recycled masonry rubble meets the requirement for use in constructing roads. Strenuous testing and categorizing is required on the aggregates that are intended for concrete use within the building in order to ensure the consistency is sufficient. Lightweight aggregate does not meet requirements for use as a secondary concrete aggregate as the majority of masonry materials are too soft and will adversely affect the strength of concrete products. 2.6 Access Roads and Pavements The existing building will have a number of access roads already in place. These roads will have to be excavated and in keeping with the sustainable design of the proposed building and use of recycle materials in the new build it is only fitting that the excavated asphalt should also be recycled and form part of the new access roads and pavements around the site. The manufacture of asphalt it a very energy expensive process as the materials involved must be heated to very high temperatures in order to mix together. Therefore, the use of recycled asphalt for road toppings around the site will have a cost benefit to the project as well as a positive impact on the environment. 3.0 Proposed Sports Centre Complex The proposed sports centre will be built using low embodied, recycled materials where possible paying particular attention to the energy performance of the building. The building design will take passive solar heating into consideration with cleverly positioned windows and landscaping throughout the site providing adequate shelter from the elements during the winter months. Sourcing materials locally cuts down on transport costs over large distances. This automatically reduces carbon emissions and also supports the local industry ensuring jobs and community growth. This will be a key component in the sustainable building of the proposed sports centre. 3.1 Foundations The best foundation for the proposed sports centre is a raft foundation. Due to the size and scale of the proposed build a raft foundation will allow the weight of the building to be transferred to the ground over a greater area and also provide a level surface for which to build upon. It is important that there is adequate steel reinforcement in the concrete to combat ground movement. When the recycled masonry rubble is graded into aggregates, some of these aggregates will be suitable for use in the concrete raft foundation. Recycled concrete aggregates can replace up to 20% of virgin aggregate in concrete within the provisions set out in BS 8500-2. 3.2 Structural Framing / Building Skeleton The most efficient way to build the proposed sports centre building is using a steel framed construction. The steel structure would meet the spatial requirements of the main sports hall, high ceilings with long spans and column free space to accommodate an indoor football pitch or basketball court. Recycled steel would be appropriate here as steel can be used countless times with no negative affects to its strength or performance. 3.3 Wall Build-Up Once the foundations and steel structure are in place it is time to think about the external wall build up. Given the intended use of the sports hall it is important to use a material that will not only be sustainable in its construction and hard wearing but also have an acoustic quality as the noise generated within the sports hall when its occupied will be of an elevated nature and could disrupt the surrounding public. There is a wide array of products available such as concrete blocks with 50% coarse aggregates replaced with plastic while still providing adequate strenght but all things considered, I would suggest an aerated concrete block. These are among the most environmentally friendly building products available. They are formed from recycled materials. One of which is Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA), this is an unavoidable by-product of the coal-fired power generation process which is normally stockpiled in huge unsightly mounds or is dumped at sea. Further enhancing the sustainability of this product is the fact that no material goes to waste, anything left over when a batch is made automatically goes into the next mix. Also due to the lightweight of the material, more can be loaded onto a single lorry reducing the CO2 emissions produced in transport and speeding up construction. The cavity should be 100mm partially filled with natural wool insulation or a similar approved natural insulation or recycled insulation system. The external face of the building should be clad with recycled bricks tied back to the internal leaf with acoustically approved wall ties. 3.4 Floor Build-Up Each area of the sports centre will require a different finish depending on the proposed use. The reception for instance will need to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere, this can be achieved using carpet. Recycled carpet is available, this is formed from recycled material such as plastic, wool, cotton or nylon and laid on a recycled rubber underlay. The rubber could be derived from any scrap tyres remaining on the site from the truck repair shop. The changing rooms will require a hard floor which is impervious to water. Many green options are available such as recycled ceramic floor tiles and eco-friendly rubber floor tiles. A study should be undertaken of the business in the area in order to decide which material is easiest to obtain with the pursuit of sustainability in mind. If there is a quarry nearby it might be an idea to investigate stone as a possible material for the flooring in hard wearing areas. Stone has a natural, timeless beauty and a feeling of solid quality which is hard to match with any other type of material. Unfortunately due to the costs associated with stone it may not be a plausible material as it is by no means the cheapest type of flooring to install or maintain. The flooring in the sports hall is a specific type of flooring material. It has a number of functional requirements associated with it. It must be durable, smooth and slightly soft to prevent serious injury. An ideal surface therefore, would be a rubber based surface which can be formed from any scrap tyres found on the site. This is a cost beneficial process as it is a sustainable use for the waste rubber meaning it is not necessary to pay for the safe disposal of the unused tyres. The recycled rubber surface should then sit on some rigid insulation such as woodwool, mineral./rock wool or expanded or extruded polystyrene to increase the thermal performance. 3.5 Roof Construction For the proposed sport centre i would suggest a green roof. A Green Roof is a roof that has a vegetated covering planted over a waterproofing membrane. The roof consists of various layers, each with its own function. The various layers cater for drainage, moisture, root protection and filtering. Green roofs have many benefits over traditional or conventional roofs. They offer a longer roof life span, increased acoustic performance, improved thermal performance in the winter and heat shielding in the summer and as they are living organisms they retain and store 90% of rain and storm water and return it to the atmosphere by means of evaporation. 3.6 Energy Performance of the Building A key feature of this building is the excessive use of recycled and sustainable materials in the construction. This has a positive effect on the environment ensuring minimal CO2 emissions are generated in the manufacture of the materials. This is an admirable practice and it sends a clear message to developers that the use of recyclables can have beneficial implementations for both the project budget and also the environment. It is important to maintain this objective throughout the buildings lifetime. This can be done by implementing micro renewable technologies during the construction process. A building of this scale is often associated with large energy bills. With the prices of oil escalating and the UKs dependency on fossil fuels at a peak, it is vital that this building incorporates as many micro renewable technologies as possible in order to drive the running costs down to a manageable level. I would strongly suggest the use of solar photovoltaic cells (PV) and wind turbines to generate electricity along with wood fuelled boilers (biomass) connected to a central heating system as the most relevant micro generation technologies that a building of this nature could benefit from. 4.0 Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems 4.1 Introduction to SUDS Sustainable urban drainage systems are a new environmentally friendly way of dealing with surface water run-off. Traditional drainage schemes lead to flooding, cause pollution and are generally more expensive to install. Surface water no longer has the opportunity to soak into the ground, instead it is collected in a network of pipes along with any contaminants such as oil, solid matter or toxic metals it may pick up along the way and it is discharged into the nearest rivers or streams. Sustainable urban drainage systems replicate natural drainage methods. Water run-off is collected and stored to allow natural cleaning to occur prior to infiltration or controlled release to watercourses. As a result they prevent pollution, control flooding, recharge ground water in the natural water table and enhance the environment. There are for main design options. These are: Filter Strips and Swales Filter Drains and Permeable Surfaces Infiltration Devices Basins and Ponds It is important to note that depending on the required performance of the sustainable urban drainage system, a combination of two or more design options may need to be incorporated in order to achieve a suitable drainage solution. 4.2 Filter Strips and Swales Filter strips and swales are vegetated surface features that drain water evenly off impermeable areas. Swales are long shallow channels whilst filter strips are gently sloping areas of ground. 4.3 Filter Drains and Permeable Surfaces Filter drains and permeable surfaces are devices that have a volume of permeable material below ground to store surface water. Water run-off flows to a storage area via a permeable surface such as gravelled paving areas or solid paving blocks with gaps between the individual units. When the water falls it passes through the surface to the permeable fill in the filter drain. This then allows the storage, treatment, transport and infiltration of the water resulting in clean uncontaminated water being returned to ground. 4.4 Infiltration Devices Infiltration devices drain water directly into the ground. They may be used either at source or alternatively the runoff can be conveyed in a pipe or swale to the infiltration area. They include soakaways, infiltration trenches and infiltration basins as well as swales, filter drains and ponds. Infiltration devices can be integrated into and form part of the landscaped areas. 4.5 Basins and Ponds Basins and ponds store water at the ground surface, either as temporary flooding of dry basins and flood plains, or permanent ponds. These structures can be designed to manage water quantity and quality. 4.6 Benefits of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems There are a number of benefits to installing a sustainable drainage system as opposed to a traditional / conventional system. For example the cost of connecting to storm sewers and public drains is avoided and maintenance is simple and cheap. Maintenance can be carried out by landscaping contractors without the need of skilled engineers and heavy machinery. When clean filtrated water is distributed back to the site it gives the natural vegetation a chance to thrive and can create a very pleasant environment for everyone to enjoy. 4.7 Proposed Sustainable Urban Drainage System A sports centre will require a number of hard surfaces to cater for car parking. I would suggest using solid paving blocks for the surface in the car parking areas. A gap must be left between each block allowing water to filter through to an under the surface storage drain which runs to a designated area such as a vegetated or green area. This rainfall run-off precaution must be implemented in the initial design stage. I would also suggest soak holes / soakaways around the site to filter any water collected in downpipes around the building. With the current climate that we live in it has to be expected that substantial rain will fall each year. As such, a well designed sustainable drainage system can minimise flooding and any inconvenience that may be caused during times of high rain fall. 5.0 Conclusion The aim of the brief for this report was to critically analyze and evaluate the possibilities of redevelopment on a brownfield site with the demolition of an existing derelict masonry industrial building and the construction of a new sports centre utilising as many of the recycled materials from the demolition as possible. I approached this project somewhat blind with my basic knowledge of brownfield redevelopment. After researching the topic further I discovered all the environmental benefits surrounding brownfield redevelopment. With the declining availability of greenfield sites and the growing need for housing and community growth, brownfield redevelopment has got to be at the top of the list where possible in order to preserve what natural areas are left. Furthermore building on brownfield sites removes unsightly and often dangerous derelict buildings and gives local areas a chance to regenerate and create a new image. Decontaminating brownfield sites in a specialised task but the removal of hazardous materials makes it a safer environment for all concerned. Luckily new techniques for remediation of contaminated sites have made it cheaper. This can be appetising for potential developers looking to expand their property portfolio and as a result it can have a knock on effect within a community generating jobs and business for local trade. The brief stated that materials from the demolition of the existing masonry industrial building must be recycled and used in the construction of the new sport centre. When the list of materials that could be recycled in the existing building was broken down, it was found that almost everything could contribute in some way to the new build. This impacts on the budget for the project and in keeping with the UKs carbon emission reduction targets subsequently cuts down on any CO2 emissions that would have been produced in the manufacture of virgin material. The use of micro-technologies would fit in well with the overall idea of a sports centre as in my opinion a sports centre implies health and wellbeing which can be related back to the terms clean and green energy associated with these methods and the environment. The implementation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems permits the safe return of clean irrigated water back to the soil. The benefits of cost and minimal maintenance alone speak for themselves. With four main design options available I feel it is important to include at least one system as a drainage solution on sites such as this within small towns in order to preserve the local wildlife and allow vegetation to thrive free from water pollution. All in all i feel that this project were it to be undertake would be very feasible. Most of the costs for would come from decontaminating the site. The build itself would prove to be cheaper with recycled materials already available on-site and given the nature of the proposed sports centre I would not foresee any issues with the local community as it will provide a safe location for children and adults alike to hang out. The sustainable nature of the proposed build also indicates that this building is embracing plans to move forward into a greener future and it may set a precedent for future green development within the area. 6.0 References Brown, G., (24th September 2007). Gordon Browns First Speech to the Labour Conference as Party Leader. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7010664.stm [Accessed xx September 2009] Department of Energy and Climate Change. Low Carbon Building Program, Biomass. Available from: http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/micro/biomass/ [Accessed xx September 2009] Department of Energy and Climate Change. Low Carbon Building Program, Ground Source Heat Pumps. Available from: http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/micro/ground/ [Accessed xx September 2009] Department of Energy and Climate Change. Low Carbon Building Program, Solar PV. Available from: http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/micro/solarpv/ [Accessed xx September 2009] Department of Energy and Climate Change. Low Carbon Building Program, Solar Hot Water. Available from: http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/micro/solartherm/ [Accessed xx September 2009] Department of Energy and Climate Change. Low Carbon Building Program, Small Scale Hydro. Available from: http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/micro/hydro/ [Accessed xx September 2009] Department of Energy and Climate Change. Low Carbon Building Program, Wind Turbines. Available from: http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/micro/wind/ [Accessed xx September 2009] Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. The Environment Waste and Recycling What Happens to Waste Construction Waste. Available from: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/construction/ [Accessed xx September 2009] Kelly, R., (13th September 2006). Zero-Carbon Homes Plan Unveiled. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6176229.stm [Accessed xx September 2009] Lomas, J., (13th December 2007). Public Service Review: Transport, Local Government and The Regions Issue 11. Creating Zero-Carbon Communities. Available from: http://www.publicservice.co.uk/article.asp?publication=Transport,%20Local%20Government%20and%20the%20Regionsid=293content_name=Social%20Housing%20and%20Construction%20incorporating%20The%20Carbon%20Challengearticle=8879 [Accessed xx September 2009] Lomas, J., (13th December 2007). Public Service Review: Central Government Issue 15. Meeting the Challenge. Available from: http://www.publicservice.co.uk/article.asp?publication=Central%20Governmentid=287content_name=Sustainable%20Housing%20and%20Regenerationarticle=8680 [Accessed xx September 2009] New Forest Transition, (October 2009). Interesting in Generating Your Own Energy?. Available from: http://www.newforesttransition.org/index.php?/archives/2009/10/12.html [Accessed xx September 2009] Sheffield City Council. Sustainable Housing Code For Sustainable Homes. Available from: http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/?pgid=67894fs=b [Accessed xx September 2009] Sustainable Build. Types of Construction, Wood Frame Construction. Available from: http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/ConstructionWoodFrame.html [Accessed xx September 2009]

Reader Response to James Joyces The Dead Essay -- Joyce Dead Essays

Reader Response to Joyce's The Dead       James Joyce's story "The Dead" has a tremendous impact on the readers, especially those who are familiar with the political situation in Ireland at the time about which the Joyce wrote the final story in Dubliners.   In exploring the meaning of James Joyce's long short-story, "The Dead", there are many critical approaches to take.   Each approach gives readers a lens, a set of guidelines through which to examine and express ideas of the meaning of "The Dead."   Joyce himself said that the idea of paralysis was the intended theme of all the stories in The Dubliners of which "The Dead" is the final story.    Of all critical approaches, reader response works best for me.   This approach examines the images, symbols, point-of-view, characterization and setting of "The Dead" in such a way as to reveal the theme of paralysis that Joyce intended.   The two characters that appeal to me are, Gabriel and his wife Gretta who are invited every year to a family gathering by Gabriels two aunts on New Years eve.   Gabriel, who is a university professor, does not want to be identified with Ireland. He wants to be identifies as a citizen of the world. His arrogance is revealed in his interaction with others.   A primary example would be the way he treats his wife Gretta as an object.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As Peter J. Rabinowitz informs one that in reader response criticism the "...activity of reading always alters the text at hand.   Unless we are limiting ourselves to reading in the sense of uninflected recitation, reading is never a passive activity to which the reader contributes nothing.   In the reader res... ... Gabriel is paralyzed emotionally, as he does not know what is going to happen next.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion the narrators attitude towards the events is perhaps how he wants the reader to interpret the events.   The narrator perhaps wants to tell the reader despite all the tension at that time, the people in Dublin still want to forget the problem and enjoy at least on New Years Day where it can be with their loved ones to relax.    Work Cited    The Dead.   Dir.   John Houston.   Perf.   Anjelica Houston, Donal McCann. Bestron Pictures, 1987    Joyce, James.   The Dead.   Ed.   Daniel R. Scwarz.   Cornell University, 1994    Rabinowitz, Peter J.   "A Symbol of Something": Interpretive Vertigo in "The Dead."   Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1987    Scwarz, Daniel R., ed.   The Dead.   Cornell University, 1994   

Land Cover And Climate Change In Minnesota Environmental Sciences Essay

Anthropogenic land usage alteration is an of import issue in planetary alteration surveies. Population growing has resulted in an of all time increasing demand for nutrient, which is in bend resulted in a world-wide enlargement and intensification of cropland and grazing land ( Turner et al. , 1990 ) . Most of the clip, this enlargement took topographic point at the cost of natural primary grassland and wood ( Goldewijk, 2001 ) . Changes in land screen have considerable impact on local and regional clime, including regional air temperature, hydrological cycling and biogeochemical cycling. Vegetation features like rooting deepness, canopy denseness, flora tallness and evaportranspiration rate ( stomata conductance ) can all impact the regional clime. Land screen alteration can modify the land surface reflective power, therefore change the energy balance of the Earth surface. Both leaf colour and canopy denseness contribute to albedo. If the homo induced cropland/pasture has higher reflective power, so the Earth surface will reflect more solar radiation and absorb less. The surface temperature of the Earth will be reduced, frailty versa. Cropland normally has higher evaportranspiration rate than natural grassland. Thus an country modified from natural grassland to cropland, for illustration, may increase the local H2O vaporization rate. The dirt will be drier due to higher evaportranspiration rate, but it is difficult to state if the precipitation will increase or diminish in this part harmonizing to increased H2O vaporization rate, because it is depending on the air circulation form of this part, excessively. The hydrological rhythm and the energy rhythm are non independent from each other. The stage alteration of H2O affect the energy rhythm through absorbing and let go ofing latent heat. Wind form may alter due to set down screen alteration. When a natural wood is cut down to turn harvests, for illustration, the surface raggedness will be mostly changed. Wind velocity within this part, as a consequence, will increase because of decreased shear emphasis & A ; Acirc ; at the surface. Change of land screen besides affects the green house emanation of the ecosystem to the ambiance.2. Evidences of Land Cover Change of Minnesota over the past 300 old ages2.1 Historical archiveIn 1837, land of Minnesota was purchased from the Sioux Indians around the St. Croix River. Lumbermans and husbandmans settled the first little towns of Minnesota, including St. Paul, St Anthony ( Minneapolis ) , and Stillwater. In late 1800s, wheat farms were started in southern Minnesota and Minneapolis became one of the universe & A ; acirc ; ˆâ„ ¢s taking flour centres. In 1878, 68.98 % of tilled land in Minnesota devoted to wheat production, the high point for wheat husbandmans in Minnesota.2.2 Land SurveySurveyors puting out Minnesota ‘s public land study system in 1848-1907 recorded the size and species of the larger trees they used as markers ( bearing trees ) , every bit good as general descriptions of the physical geographics of the landscape they traversed. Although non a complete flora study, the General Land Office records provide much valuable item about how the province looked at the clip of European colony. Figure 1 describes land screen informations from the mid-1800s, as recorded at the clip of European colony. & A ; Acirc ; The southern and western parts of the province are natural prairie. Oak gaps and aspen-oak lands, in assorted sunglassess of brown, expanse from the Northwest to the sou'-east. The northern wood in northeast portion of the province is a rag carpet of leafy vegetables, blues, violet-pinks, and greies. mnorveg.gif Figure 1 Minnesota Early Settlement Vegetation. Before Settlement, the West lodger and southwest portion of Minnesota is largely covered by prairie. Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.mngeo.state.mn.us/chouse/land_use_historic.html & A ; Acirc ; This map is besides known as the Marschner map. It outlines merely how much of the province was one time wet prairie, oak gaps, Big Woods, assorted hardwood, or any of a twelve other vegetive types that have been absolutely changed by 19th- and 20th-century human habitation.2.3 Proxy informationsFossil pollen informations are chiefly a placeholder for works copiousnesss and community composing. Pollen records have been used to gauge the flora alterations over North America ( Grimm, 2001 ; Williams et al. , 2007 ; Wright et al. , 2004 ) ; unluckily, pollen informations have been of small usage peculiarly for the appraisal of human impacts on flora and land screen ( Anderson et al. , 2006 ; Gaillard et al. , 2008 ) . Alternatively, Goldewijk 2001 used human population denseness as a proxy index to gauge the planetary cropland distribution and generated a planetary land screen alteration map during last 300 twelvemonth ( Figure 2 ) . past 300 years.png Figure 2 Global Land screen alteration during last 300 old ages adapted from ( Goldewijk, 2001 ) .If expression at Upper Midwest of United States, we can see that the biggest alteration happened between 1800 and 1900, which is precisely the clip of European Settlement.2.4 Modern land screen in Minnesota and decision of Land usage alterationThe land screen of Minnesota in 2000 is shown in Figure 3. Up to 44 % of the province is taken up by agricultural land. Most of the prairie in Figure 1 has been changed into harvest land. We can seldom see original native prairie now in this province. MN2000.png Figure 3 Land Cover of Minnesota in 2000. Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //lakesandland.umn.edu/browse.html Based on the historical archive, land study and placeholder informations, we can reason that the land screen of Minnesota experienced a monolithic alteration from native prairie to cropland largely in the West lodger and southwest portion of the province. This is largely due to anthropogenetic alteration during early colony.3. Evidences of Climate Change of Minnesota over past 300 old ages3.1 Historical ArchiveIn 1894, a monolithic wood fire caused by distinct logging dust encompasses Hinckley, MN. In 1899, Minnesota ‘s timber industry reaches its extremum. In 1900, Virginia, Minnesota destroyed by fire once more. In 1918, Cloquet and Moose Lake, Minnesota are destroyed by fire. From historical archive, we can deduce that in early 1900s, Minnesota was dry. Fire frequence additions if the environing air is drier. If this premise is right, so we can inquire the inquiry: Is land screen change the cause of this waterlessness in early 1900 in Minnesota?3.2 Instrumental informationsInstrumental information in this part goes back to 1890. Although there is no clime informations before colony, we can still acquire an thought how the clime looks like after the colony. For air temperature, we can see that the fluctuation of province broad one-year mean temperature has increased from 40.5oC to around 42oC during the last 120 old ages. The inter-annual fluctuation is about 0.4oC. Although the tendency is acquiring heater, the hottest twelvemonth did non demo up late but was 1932, around 0.5oC above normal. instrumental temperature.png Figure Minnesota province averaged one-year temperature. Red line is one-year temperature. Solid green line is mean over the full period. Dashed green line is the standard divergence. The bluish stars are the running means. This information is from Minnesota province climatology office-DNR Division of Ecological and Water Resources, University of Minnesota. Link: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/divplot1_form.pl? 2106 instrumental precipitation.png Figure 5 Instrumental informations of Minnesota one-year precipitation. Symbols are the same as in Figure 4. Precipitation dropped dramatically in the period of 1895 to 1935. After that precipitation bit by bit increased to a normal value. The bead of precipitation in late 1800s and early 1900s may hold something to make with the land screen alteration. However, we need more grounds to turn out that. We need the clime record before colony to compare with the instrumental information to see if this tendency from 1895 to 1935 is caused by land screen alteration or clime fluctuation. In order to reply the inquiry how land screen alteration has an impact on the regional clime in Minnesota, we need to happen alternate tools and proxy informations.4. Possible placeholder informations and tool that could be used in this survey4.1 Stable C isotope of tree rings The inter-annual waterlessness wetness differences and the microclimate displacement during a turning season have impacts on the tree ring stable isotope signature. There are two stable isotopes for C: 12C and 13C. Due to their different neutron Numberss, they have different weight. When workss carry oning photosynthesis, it is easier for them to repair the lighter carbon- 12C, and left more and more 13C in the air. This is called favoritism consequence. This favoritism consequence gives the works a more negative isotope signature: . The isotope signature is calculated as: . Here means the sample we are examine ( e.g. tree pealing fragment ) . is a invariable, which is a planetary criterion that all of the isotope ratios over the universe can compare to. When the environing air becomes drier, the works pore will be smaller to forestall H2O loss. This besides prevents CO2 from come ining the works leaves. Under this circumstance, the works will cut down its favoritism consequence, which makes itself more positive ( Figure 6, Leavitt, 2007 ) . isotope.png Figure 6 The relationship between C isotope ratio and regional waterlessness 4.2 Using Model to imitate how land screen alteration will impact regional clime Numeral surveies have been focused on how land screen alteration will modify local to regional clime. Among other surveies, Bonan 1997 utilizing LSM1.0 coupled with an atmospheric general circulation theoretical account to imitate effects of land usage alteration on the clime of United States. He considered non merely the grassland to cropland transition in cardinal North America, but besides deforestation and harvest planting in the Eastern United States. What he has found, nevertheless, is a small spot different from our hypothesis: dampening of the near-surface ambiance by 0.5 to 1.5 g kg1 over much of the United States in spring and summer. These alterations in surface temperature and wet extend good into the ambiance, up to 500 megabit, and impact the boundary bed and atmospheric circulation.DrumheadTo reason, land usage alteration affects on regional clime from different facets. In order to understand how land usage alteration in Minnesota has modified the regional clime, more proxy information is needed to widen the instrumental information thirster. Besides, theoretical accounts can be used to prove our apprehension of the mechanism, besides give us opportunity to retrace the old clime.

Scientific Paper on a Water Flea

The Effects of Alcohol and Caffeine on the Heartbeat Rate in Daphnia Magnus ? Erika Huizenga Ashley Kofahl The Effects of Alcohol and Caffeine on the Heartbeat Rate in Daphnia Magnus Abstract The projects purpose was to determine the effects of alcohol and caffeine on the heartbeat rate in Daphnia Magnus. Our hypothesis is alcohol causes a decrease in heart rate, whereas caffeine causes an accelerated heart rate, predicting that the more caffeine we give the daphnia the faster it heartbeat rate will become and the heartbeat rate will decrease as we give the Daphnia alcohol. After doing the experiment we found that the more caffeine we added to the Daphnia Magna the faster its heartbeat rate became. We also found that when we added alcohol to the Daphnia the heartbeat rate also increased not supporting our hypothesis. Methods and Materials Location: Washtenaw Community College, 4800 East Huron Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 LA building 205 at 12:30p. m. January 30, 2010 Materials: microscope, two glass micro slides, two pipettes, three Daphnia Magna, 2%, 4%, and 6% alcohol, 1%, 1 ? , and 2% caffeine, aquarium water, a stopwatch, a person to record the data, administer the drugs and water to the Daphnia, and a person to count the heat beats. Procedure for the control: In order to make sure that alcohol and caffeine are the variables effecting the heartbeat rate we started by capturing a live Daphnia and placed it in a depression slide with a drop of pond water from the culture jar. We removed any extra water with the tip of a paper towel. Next we added one dr op of aquarium water to the Daphnia. Then we began to count the number of heartbeats for 10 seconds and then multiplied by 6 to find the beats per minute and recorded the result. After two minutes we repeated the process, and the again after another two minutes to get three reading of heartbeat rate on the control. Procedure for alcohol and caffeine: To determine the effects of alcohol and caffeine on the daphnia we started by capturing a new Daphnia and placing it on a depression slide and removing any extra water. We Placed 1 drop of a 1% caffeine solution on the Daphnia. After waiting for a few seconds we began to count the heart beats and recorded the results on our data sheet. Next we removed the excess solution from the Daphnia and flushed it with aquarium water. Using the same procedure we monitored the effects of 1 1/2% and 2. 0% caffeine solutions and recorded our results and placed the Daphnia in the recovery tank. After completing the caffeine series, we obtained a the second set of drugs. This time instead of using caffeine we used varied concentrations of alcohol 2%, 4% and 6% using the same method as the caffeine procedure. Again recording our results and placing the Daphnia in the recovery tank when finished. Results The original purpose of this experiment was to determine how alcohol and caffeine effected the heartbeat rate of a Daphnia. The results of the experiment were that the higher percentage caffeine and alcohol placed onto the Daphnia the higher the heart rate. Average Daphnia Magnus Heartbeats per Minute ? Conclusion After completing the experiment we found that when we gave the Daphnia caffeine the heartbeat rate did show an increase. However, we also found that alcohol also increased the number of times the heart beat. Even though we performed all of the experiments very carefully, we cannot be certain that the effect we saw was due to the drugs. Perhaps the change in heartbeat rate is caused by the heat of the microscope light or a change in temperature. When we came into the lab to do the experiment the solutions were already sitting on the tables. The lab is used by several other students, therefore we can not be sure that the percentages of solutions were accurate or that they had not been tampered with. While trying to remove excess water the Daphnia got stuck to the paper towel which could have caused stress making the heartbeat rate increase during the alcohol test. The removal or addition of the various test solutions may have had an impact on our test subject. When comparing our results to other groups we found that they had different results with alcohol. Because of this we feel that the experiment should be repeated several times and not done only one time to gain accurate results.

Reformation and Ritual essays

Reformation and Ritual essays Question: What attitude or attitudes did the Reformations take towards popular religious forms? And how did the Reformations themselves come to embody ritual elements? The Reformation was a period of much social unrest. Whilst there existed a physical struggle evident upon the surface, underneath lie an intense philosophical and religious debate that served to test and question the values of Catholicism and the reasons for the need for change argued by the Protestant. The Reformation movement challenged the Catholic belief system. It argued against the praising and worshipping of icons and other such relics and argued that all praise and worship should be reserved for the Word of God and God alone. However, there is evidence to suggest that early Protestants felt a need for the reassurance offered by such icons and further, it has been argued, that the Protestant Reformers, in attempting to destroy ritual, actually served to strengthen Catholic belief in same. The irony is, in that attempting to destroy such rituals, the movement actually served to embody ritual elements. The methods by which it attempted to destroy ritual, can actually be interp reted as being ritualistic in and of themselves. The Christian Sacraments were and are an important part of Catholic life. In understanding the significance of such sacraments to the Catholic and the theoretical arguments against same put forward by the Protestant Reformer, the need for the Reformer to extinguish such importance, becomes evident. For both the Catholic and the Orthodox the Eucharist represented and represents the body of Christ. It is believed that initially, the Eucharist is simply unleavened bread, however upon being blessed such bread actually turns into the body of Christ, a metaphysical transformation occurs that remains unexplained except by reference to a miracle and a blessing. Conversely the wine is believed to become the blood of Christ. It is believed ...

Working In High School Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

Working In High School Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers Working In High School Having a job in high school gives me an edge. As an employee, I have learned to interact with many different types of people, work together, and learn the value of a dollar. Being employed is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Participating in a job has offered me many opportunities to make friends, assume a leadership role, and take on responsibilities. Working has enabled me to become a more mature and well-rounded individual. Without a job, I would not be who I am today. When you are employed, you have to work every other day in order to make money, and it becomes apparent that you do not have all the time in the world to accomplish every day tasks like homework or athletics. With so much going on in a high- schoolers life, it is essential to prioritize. Participation in a job has helped me learn to do just that. By keeping an organized schedule of my responsibilities, and using my time well, I have been able to show my peers that it is possible to accomplish what needs to be done. At school and at work, people look up to me for advice. Just knowing that others see how hard you work to get things done in your own life makes the world of difference in how you feel about yourself. Despite the number of hours I have dedicated to my job, I have been able to maintain a B average. I have learned that if something is important to you, you can accomplish whatever you want to. My participation in the world of working has made all the difference to me. Working plays a key role in many students lives. Participation in employment has given me a sense of maturity and has made me feel good about myself. It has made a difference in my life, and I am sure in many other lives, too.

A Rose for Emily Essay Example for Free (#5)

A Rose for Emily Essay A Rose for Emily (76) , Emily Grierson (51) , Homer Barron (38) , Rose (2) company About StudyMoose Contact Careers Help Center Donate a Paper Legal Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Complaints ? The Use of Personality Traits to Foreshadow in Faulkner’s â€Å"A Rose for Emily† In William Faulkner’s short story, â€Å"A Rose for Emily†, Emily’s reclusiveness, arrogance and old-fashioned attitude demonstrate her refusal to adapt to the present. Throughout the plot, glimpses into Emily’s life and behavior foreshadow the conclusion of the story. The author uses third person voice and a series of flashbacks to illustrate examples of her reclusive behavior, the arrogance that being a Grierson has instilled in her and how her thinking has remained in years gone past. Although Emily is referred to affectionately as a â€Å"fallen monument† by the unnamed townspeople, she is scarcely known and rarely leaves her house. In her younger years she was seen occasionally with Homer Barron, a contractor hired to pave the sidewalks. While Homer was courting her, the two took Sunday drives in public, which set the town abuzz. After his mysterious disappearance, however, Emily goes into full reclusivity. The town’s politicians are even forced to pay a visit to Emily at home when they finally decide to press the issue of paying property taxes which a Colonel Sartoris had graciously deemed paid in full for the remainder of her life. The Board of Aldermen are briefly admitted into the house and given only a quick glimpse of the woman Emily Grierson has become in old age. Outside of china painting classes Emily gave to the children of some of â€Å"Colonel Sartoris’s contemporaries† (page 48) ten years earlier, it was the most anyone had seen of her in some time. Consequently, when Emily finally passes on, her funeral is attended by a variety of townspeople who are overly curious â€Å"to see the inside of her house† (page 43). At this point, Faulkner has foreshadowed the fact that something monumental will be found there. Emily’s arrogance was ripe fodder for her contemporaries. She retained a Negro servant, Tobe, throughout her life in the tradition of her family, but apparently he was just as committed to being a recluse as she and was only seen on market shopping days, speaking little. Everyone thought the family had always â€Å"held themselves a little too high for what they really were† (page 44) and seemed to relish anything Emily did that could make her seem more human. When a horrible smell developed in the house and wafted through the neighborhood it was chalked up to bad housekeeping because â€Å"a man†¦[cannot] keep a kitchen properly† (page 45). This, the townspeople declared, created a â€Å"link between the gross, teeming world and the high and mighty Griersons† (page 45). They wanted an opportunity to feel sorry for Emily and rejoice in the fact that even though her last name was Grierson, she was human after all. Even so, family name carries enough respect that former Confederate soldiers â€Å"to whom the past is not a diminishing road† (page 49) feel obliged to attend her funeral service. Emily’s arrogance is what keeps the people of the town interested in the details of her life, and death. Perhaps because of Emily’s old-fashioned attitude and ideals, she was used to taking matters into her hands and this, too, foreshadows Homer’s Barron end. Although motor cars are a normal sight in town, Emily never bought one and preferred, instead, to ride about with Homer using an old-fashioned horse and buggy. When postal service came to town some years earlier, Emily would have none of it, refusing to allow a mailbox and numbers affixed to her old house. Anything she needed could be delivered or Tobe was sent out with his market basket on shopping day to bring it back, bypassing modern convenience. Faulkner uses these vagaries of Emily’s personality to foreshadow the conclusion when the townspeople swarm through the house to reach the upper bedroom which has been closed for 40 years. It is because of her reclusiveness, arrogance and old-fashioned attitude that the strange old lady purchases rat poison, kills her lover and locks him inside a bedroom for many years, not to be discovered until her death. A Rose for Emily. (2016, Nov 21).

Investment Appraisal Assignment - 2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Investment Appraisal - 2 - Assignment Example The money accumulated is then invested in various investments, so that it generates further income. It is made sure that the income generated is enough to payout the pension benefits provided to the employees. The management of the funds is not necessarily separate from the management of the company. Usually these managers have expertise in investment techniques, in order to maximize the return upon the investments made. The fund portfolio is evaluated as how much percentage is invested in each portfolio. Also, it is taken into consideration how the return from each investment is accounted to the performance, of the fund as a whole. Based on the performance of the funds the investment appraisal is carried out. Fund Investment The pension fund is the accumulated fund, collected from the employers and employees. The earnings that this fund generates is accumulated within itself. The fund is managed by professionals with expertise in the related field of investment. The funds are to be utilized in fulfilling the financial needs of the company, which it has to bear in terms of constructive liability. The constructive liability being, to pay pension and other after retirement benefits to the employees. Pension fund are the accumulation of funds that are invested in various investments, where the returns are generated. ... The current portfolio is invested diversely in four divisions of investments, namely, UK Equities, Overseas Equities, UK Gilts and UK Property. A mere 5% of assets also exist in the form of cash. A) Review of Current Portfolio In the current portfolio of the assets, UK equities have a weightage of 50% of the fund. The assets held by the funds should not lose value and should be able to provide a handsome amount of return. Based on the risks associated with the assets of the fund, the main cause of concern is whether the fund performance is persistent and increasing or not (Christopher, et al., 1998). The portfolio of the funds consists of 25% of UK gilts investment which are the least risky of all the investments and also provide the least return. The appropriation of the funds in the current portfolio elaborates that 5% of cash is held. With the total fund size amounting to ? 1billion, this amounts to ? 50 million. This is an asset that is not invested and is losing value over the t ime. The cash that is retained in the portfolio is not considered to be healthy. Other liquid assets, such as equity stock, can easily be traded in the market. It should be considered as it will benefit the fund. This is because it shall be providing a return, thus minimizing the impact of inflation and reduction in the value of money. The majority of the portfolio consists of UK security and amounts to the ? 500 million. This amount is invested in the equity stock of the companies listed in the stock exchanges in United Kingdom. The performance of the fund is mainly concerned with the amount of return and the rate of return that it provides accounting for the risk associated with it too (Chan, et al., 1995). The performance of

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 21

Economics - Essay Example The sellers have an ‘insignificant’ market share in a perfectly competitive market, implying that each firm is acting as a price-taker. In monopolistic competition, on the other hand, has as many producers and consumers as the perfect competition. Producers enjoy a degree of control over price. The products sold and purchased in a perfectly competitive market are homogeneous, which are perfect substitutes for each other. In contrast, the products sold in the monopolistically competitive market are heterogeneous. In other words, when a large number of buyers and sellers interact to buy and sell heterogeneous products we have monopolistic competition. Thus, a monopolistically competitive market differs with a perfectly competitive market mostly because of product differentiation, i.e. products are not perfect substitutes. Monopolistic competition involves many aspects of non-price competition. Marginal Revenue (MR) =Marginal Cost (MC) = Price (P) =Average Revenue (AR) = Average Cost (AC). In short run, new firms enter the market, in case the existing firms are making supernormal profits, thereby making reallocation of resources within the market. Given demand remains unchanged, the increased output (with new firms entering the market) shifts the aggregate supply curve to the right and drives the equilibrium market price down until price equates long run average cost. Thus, long run equilibrium is established as firms having no incentives now to move in or out of the market. Hence, in the long run firms make normal profits. In perfect competition ‘allocative efficiency’ is achieved, both in short run and long run, since price equates marginal cost. Production efficiency, occurring when price is equal to average cost at its minimum, is, however, achieved only in the long run. Combining the two, it can be said in the long run optimal levels of ‘static economic efficiency’ is reached in perfect competition. MR

Banned Books Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Banned Books - Essay Example There are also racial slurs throughout the novel. Moreover, the book does not also contain traditional values of friendship and love. There is also foul language and violence in the conversations of the characters (â€Å"Of Mice and Men,† Marshall University). The ban of the book was actually banned as per the request of a parent in Kansas in 2008, but it was banned in Illinois earlier in 1997. The problem with the book is that it has derogatory statements against women, as well as derogatory description of African Americans (Redwin). Nevertheless, another source stated that Of Mice and Men was banned since the 1950s to the 2000s. Other reasons for the banning of the book was because of the promotion of euthanasia, lack of mercy for the retarded and the mentally ill, the anti-business attitude, and the idea that the Great Depression would somehow make mice out of men (â€Å"Of Mice and Men: Steinbeck’s Controversial†). â€Å"Of Mice and Men: Steinbeck’s controversial banned book for 50 years."  Books.  Examiner.com, 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.

Economic Reforms in Asian Countries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Economic Reforms in Asian Countries - Essay Example Supply and demand determines prices and the state intervenes only at the margin. (Craig, 2002). Market socialism refers to an economic system that combines both capitalism and socialism in its practice. (Guo, 2005). It is an economic system where economic law is in direct conflict with political monopoly because it each prevents the recognition of the other. (Guo, 2005). Loss making and less liquid firms can be bailed out from financial distress by the government through the transfer of funds from profit making firms to the insolvent firms under market socialism. (Guo, 2005). Also, the leadership style adopted by chief executive officers or managers is the bureaucratic leadership style and subordinates or employees have no option than to respect the rules and regulations laid down by the manager if they want to keep their jobs and advance their careers. (Guo, 2005). Business success and the concern for customers is not the primary objective of operative business. (Guo, 2005). Therefore market socialism does not allow for competition among firms and as such there is doubt as to how far such an economy can go. To better understand whether the reform has taken a capitalistic of a market socialistic approach, we will carry out a review of some of the reforms in a selected number of Asian Countries including; China, Vietnam, Korea and Laos. China Following the fall of Mao's followers between 1976-1978, market reforms began in China with the reformers taking over the entire party-state apparatus. (Guo, 2004). Two groups of reformers existed the radical and the moderate groups. The two groups had similar objectives of improving the economic performance Chinese socialist economic system, promote economic modernisation, and improve the standards of living of the entire population, with the major difference being the scope and pace or extent of reforms. (Guo, 2004). Moderate reformers were of the view that China should be launched in the direction of a planned or state controlled economy and restricted the operations of the market to agricultural goods and inessential public sectors, industries or areas. They emphasized that the market should be regarded as a support mechanism for the allocation of resources and determination of prices. (Guo, 2004). In addition, the moderate reformers advocated a slow approach to the reforms process with allowances for adjustments during which imbalances could be resulting from the reforms process could be rebalanced. (Guo, 2004). The moderate reformers also desired to exert strict administrative control over certain important aspects of the economy especially investment and foreign exchange. (Guo, 2004). Finally, the moderate reformers stressed the importance of the basic principles of socialism put forward by Lenin, Marx and Stalin (planned economy, public ownership the factors of production, and distribution according to labour). (Guo, 2004). On the other hand the radical reformers defined socialism in a less restrictive way and excluded the planned economy as one of the basic principles of socialism. However, while maintaining the dominant position of public ownership, they recognized the need for flexibility so as to allow for the existence of a diversified ownership structure (Guo, 2004). There were a lot of

Cultural artifact analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Cultural artifact analysis - Essay Example In the older times when the wheel was not yet invented, man used animals as means of transportation & carrying load from one place to another. After the advent of the wheel, man invented bicycle which ran by the mechanical force of its bearer & also carts & wagons which were pulled by animals. More time passed & man came to know about the metals, its properties & molding methods. Thus, the era of automobiles came into existence. In the initial stages of evolution, automobiles were run by a steam powered engine. Most of these were lacking a roof. The steam powered automobiles kept on developing till the 20th century but the majority was inclined towards the petrol engines in the late 19th century, so the steam powered engines were only left as curiosity. I chose a car as my artifact as I think a car is one of the most important inventions in the world, it made the world "smaller" and has changed the method of travelling. With a car in campus, I can go anywhere quicker than without a car. I use my car to go to school every day and I can reach distant spots such as Meijer, Target or Meridian Mall in only a while. America is usually referred to as "the country on the wheels" as nearly everyone in the U.S. has at least one car. In China the rate of cars is also increasing everyday and it is through this that they can be able to save a lot of time. Gradually with time cars have also evolved as a fashionable item which people change every now and then. I own a vintage car as it represents my culture and values that have been embedded in me throughout my life. The car makes me proud as it helps to reach certain places at the quickest possible time along with reminding me of the cultural values. The car helps me realize the times when we did not have cars our country and I used to stare at these vintage cars on the road. The vintage cars help me realize that the

Banned Books Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Banned Books - Essay Example There are also racial slurs throughout the novel. Moreover, the book does not also contain traditional values of friendship and love. There is also foul language and violence in the conversations of the characters (â€Å"Of Mice and Men,† Marshall University). The ban of the book was actually banned as per the request of a parent in Kansas in 2008, but it was banned in Illinois earlier in 1997. The problem with the book is that it has derogatory statements against women, as well as derogatory description of African Americans (Redwin). Nevertheless, another source stated that Of Mice and Men was banned since the 1950s to the 2000s. Other reasons for the banning of the book was because of the promotion of euthanasia, lack of mercy for the retarded and the mentally ill, the anti-business attitude, and the idea that the Great Depression would somehow make mice out of men (â€Å"Of Mice and Men: Steinbeck’s Controversial†). â€Å"Of Mice and Men: Steinbeck’s controversial banned book for 50 years."  Books.  Examiner.com, 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.

Cultural artifact analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Cultural artifact analysis - Essay Example In the older times when the wheel was not yet invented, man used animals as means of transportation & carrying load from one place to another. After the advent of the wheel, man invented bicycle which ran by the mechanical force of its bearer & also carts & wagons which were pulled by animals. More time passed & man came to know about the metals, its properties & molding methods. Thus, the era of automobiles came into existence. In the initial stages of evolution, automobiles were run by a steam powered engine. Most of these were lacking a roof. The steam powered automobiles kept on developing till the 20th century but the majority was inclined towards the petrol engines in the late 19th century, so the steam powered engines were only left as curiosity. I chose a car as my artifact as I think a car is one of the most important inventions in the world, it made the world "smaller" and has changed the method of travelling. With a car in campus, I can go anywhere quicker than without a car. I use my car to go to school every day and I can reach distant spots such as Meijer, Target or Meridian Mall in only a while. America is usually referred to as "the country on the wheels" as nearly everyone in the U.S. has at least one car. In China the rate of cars is also increasing everyday and it is through this that they can be able to save a lot of time. Gradually with time cars have also evolved as a fashionable item which people change every now and then. I own a vintage car as it represents my culture and values that have been embedded in me throughout my life. The car makes me proud as it helps to reach certain places at the quickest possible time along with reminding me of the cultural values. The car helps me realize the times when we did not have cars our country and I used to stare at these vintage cars on the road. The vintage cars help me realize that the

The Fact Statement of Alcoholism Essay Example for Free

The Fact Statement of Alcoholism Essay The above mentioned students were scheduled for grievance hearing together with their parents in the grievance office last October 19, 2012 at 2:00 PM. Mrs. Buenaflor our presiding chairman introduced the committee members. Mr. Bobiles started the questioning to Bai Rachma Carnain. When asked what kind of liquor did she bring and how many milliliters. Bai Rachma brought one can of San Miguel Lights. Mrs. Catubigan asked why she brought the liquor inside the school. She brought the liquor to show off and compete to other classmates. Mr. Bobiles asked why inside the school. Due to family problem (she kept silent for three minutes and cried). Furthermore, to catch attention and recognized by her father. Mrs. Catubigan asked that now she catch the attention of her father what was the result. She answered none. Mr. Bobiles asked if not reported by Tigno to your group, was she going to drink it. She answered yes, outside the school. Mrs. Buenaflor enlightened the students by giving advised. Now that they knew how much their parent loves them, cares and gave them attention. As a return, they must love themselves and not to misbehave. The father of Bai Rachma told the committee that he always teaches her a lesson and discipline every day. Mr. Bobiles follow up a question, what was his plan regarding his daughter. He wants to get his daughter to live with him, but Bai Rachma refused to live with his new family. The co-chairman proceeded to Rachel Devera. She narrates the incident accordingly. Bai Rachma told her group that she brought liquor. She volunteered to open it but Bai Rachma insisted to open the can to show to her friends that she’s an expert and drunk. After that, the can was given to her and drunk. The can was given to Juarez and drunk. Mr. Bobiles read Rachel’s written statement and confirmed if she shouted â€Å"Mga tropa, mag-inuman tayo!† inside the classroom. Rachel was hesitated to answer the question. Mrs. Catubigan seconded the question and be consistent to her statement. After a few minutes, she answered for fourth times she was asked by Mr. Bobiles. She was afraid to admit that she shouted. Rogelene confirmed that Rachel shouted. The intention of influenced to drink is there. When asked if she saw someone was smoking, let’s smoke also. Rachel answered no. Bai Rachma influenced the group inside the classroom, but beforehand her group was already drinking liquor. In addition, Rachel transferred the  liquor in an empty bottle of Mountain Dew. Mr. Bobiles asked the participation of Jhialyn Loyola was not able to report the incident to the authorities. But she questioned the group of Bai Rachma why did they bring liquor. From the time that she smelled the liquor and was disgusted on the odor of it she ignored them. When asked if there’s someone who invited to drink, she answered none. Mr. Bobiles asked the group even if Bai Rachma brought the liquor, did anyone refuse to her invitation. The group kept silence. Mrs. Catubigan followed up a question if the group was aware of her family problem. Rachel answered yes, since she was telling it to the group. The problem of Bai Rachma was compared to the Pinoy Big Brother contestant who has similar problem like her. But she managed to control her behavior and become positive in life. Mr. Bobiles proceded the questioning to Rhysia Royce Juarez and asked how she was invited to drink. The liquor can was given by Mariella Tigno. When asked if she have an idea what does the bottle contained of and drunk it. Rhysia knew that it was liquor and confirmed that she drunk it. After that, she gave the bottle to Rachel and lastly to Bai Rachma. But nothing has left. Findings: After careful assessment, the grievance committee has reasons to believe that Bai Rachma Carnain, Rachel Devera, Rogelene Marcadejas, Rhysia Royce Juarez are guilty of the offense imputed against them. Jhialyn Loyola was still liable disregarding the offense of her classmates and did not report the incident to the authorities. Decision: After thorough investigation, the grievance committee ruled by decisions that Bai Rachma Carnain meted 40 days suspension, Rachel Devera meted 20 days suspension, Rogelene Marcadejas meted 10 days suspension, Rhysia Royce Juarez meted 10 days suspension. Jhialyn Loyola was reprimanded and will be given counseling session by the guidance office. The group will not be admitted to school until further notice. Mariella Tigno was put on contempt due to her non-appearance and her parents.

Inequalities Within Healthcare Interactions in New Zealand

Inequalities Within Healthcare Interactions in New Zealand KENT JOSEPH PACA INTRODUCTION Inequality is commonly defined as the quality or condition of being relatively unequal and basically there is imbalance or disparity within the circumstance. In the healthcare setting, there are several factors to consider in order for every individual to attain wellness, demonstrate the acquisition and promotion of holistic well-being on all aspect of human life such as physical, social, psychological and spiritual. Knowingly, disparities within healthcare could greatly affect and a considerable factor for it to be a hindrance towards achieving optimum health through all individual. Considering that New Zealand is a multi-cultural country in which the most percentage of its population are immigrant people from all over the world with different ethnic identity, cultural orientation, religion and outlook in life towards healthcare whom each one of these individual most likely are concern with their health status and well-being. These differences are important areas needed to be taken into great consideration as it would probably have a huge impact towards the issue of inequality with regards to healthcare interactions. In this paper, common inequality issues in healthcare interaction being experienced by every pacific islanders, Maori people and immigrants in New Zealand will be provided with interventions and resolutions to somehow reduce inequality and further promote equality among every individual living in this country. BODY In New Zealand, one important dimension of inequality regarding health promotion and any other healthcare situations is ethnic identity considering its differences when it comes to health beliefs, knowledge and ideas regarding improvement of health. It is a proven fact that every individual has his/her right to health, he/she has the right to acquire full healthcare access and quality services and most importantly has the right to have proper information and be given the knowledge and ideas regarding prevention of illness thus promote wellness within oneself. But because of the one determinant to health considered as a barrier for people achieving good health which is communication and professional interaction among healthcare providers to their clients, disparity or unequal treatment are being experience to most people living in this country especially among the pacific islanders and Maori people. Despite the fact that technology is proven to be adequate in terms of resources and fu nding are provided to every individual, the issue of inequality still linger and must be taken seriously as a problem towards achieving optimum health. Inequality in healthcare interaction could widely be affected looking into a person’s socio-economic status and its stability in life. It is a proven fact that inequality roughly limits the opportunities of an individual’s full potential and its capabilities. That is the reason why equality is desirable. With people having a less outlook towards good health and negative perception on it, this could probably affect its concern towards proper well-being. In fact most people having this negative outlook towards health are those individual who are unfortunate enough in terms of socioeconomic status because this will hinder the proper accumulation of the right pattern towards acquisition of equality towards health. These people because of their stability status mostly didn’t have the proper education thus the knowledge and accurate ideas towards prevention of illness, promoting of good health are not properly sustained. Almost all people especially individual living in New Zealand have different outlook towards health. Maori people have their own health beliefs as well as other ethnic people living in this country. These factors are often referred as determinants to health which greatly affect the quality of healthcare for the people. Factors are categorized into two (2); unchangeable and changeable factors. The unchangeable factor refers to the hereditary implications, age and sex to the Maori and pacific islanders in which most of these are growing into an obese individual without any care and concern regarding their dietary intake. Through this factor these individual should be provided with the right information and knowledge regarding the benefit of having a good and balance health condition. Also, they should be given an input on the consequences of having too much of everything especially with their dietary consumption. The changeable factor that would be the most important factor in order fo r this determinant of health to be regulated consists of; Individual lifestyle, social and community influences and working condition. These changeable factors determine an individual’s way of life, on how they survive on a daily basis and its influences socially and in the community. To be specific individual lifestyle of most Maori individual often times associate oneself to daily vices such as the use of prohibited drugs, commonly most of them use cigarette as part of their vices as maybe being influence by their older relatives and ancestors. All of this conditions and factors are negative impacts towards health promotion and such actions on the latter part of life could greatly affect health status of an individual thus consequences of having these vices which are contributing factors leading to bad health behaviour will conclude one’s life if not being manage properly and implementations of reducing such doings will not be applied. Another vital component which plays a role in determining health outcomes is the social environment. The impact of the social environment on health can be seen in the extremely powerful and enduring relationship between health and social and economic inequalities (Dew and Kirkman 2002). The environment surrounding an individual and its social interaction plays a vital role and demonstrate an impact can have on people and their health outcomes. An area that is considered to be a high risk for diseases and infection could be a threatening environment for individual living in the place and somehow promotion of good health outcomes to the people will outweigh the brighter side of its objectives. Most Maori people and other ethnic groups living in New Zealand have different perspective in life concerning health outcomes with most of them rely on their health beliefs in managing health. It is also a concern to some of these people of being non-compliant to treatment plan despite the fact o f having all the access towards quality service of healthcare being provided by the New Zealand government. This attitudes could also somehow are in connection to influential attributes from their ancestors regarding health issues and how to manage such health condition leading to ineffective and disparity towards health. According to the New Zealand Ministry of Health in reducing health inequalities they have provided a framework that entails an implementing and widely comprehensive strategies that will help in overcoming such inequalities in healthcare in this country. They have also proposed some principles for every activity needed to be implemented for inequality issues to be taken into consideration. The proposed framework made by the ministry of health developed four (4) levels in which they foresee these strategies would be beneficial in overcoming inequalities of healthcare. The first level of the strategy is the Structural level. In this strategy the healthcare organization as well as the ministry of health determines the root cause of every inequality experienced by every people in New Zealand. Inequality with regards to socio-economic, ethnical, cultural beliefs and other factors that affects health outcomes are being considered as determinant factors then through these factors planning fo r the implementation will be based on the given and factors being distinguished. Secondly, are the intermediary pathways which target every material, tool needed that intervene every impact that affects health. Next is Health and disability services in which we all know that here in New Zealand policy regarding disability issues are being made in order to compensate every disabled individual in the country. In this way it also promotes equality of healthcare being provided to every individual living in New Zealand especially to individual with disability to Pacific Islander and Maori people. The government promoted different policy on the issue to disability thus giving every individual regardless to its culture, race and ethnicity the rights to live with great lives despite their condition. The last level of strategy to help reduce inequality to healthcare is the Impact. Minimising the impacts or every determinant of healthcare outcomes, disability and illnesses will greatly improv e the quality of life and further develop and promote equality of healthcare. Another factor that influences the reduction of inequality on healthcare is the current implementation of Partnership within New Zealand. This partnership was first represented way back the year 1840 where the signing of partnership Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) took place. During the sequence of events the Maori people’s leaders signed the treaty that enable the British people take authority of the native lands and resources in accordance and in return the Maori people are guaranteed the full right and ownership of their lands and that they will provide security and development to every resources. Maori people are also given the right and privilege to all British subjects. In this recent time, New Zealand is aiming to the principles of partnership; participation and protection for the people of New Zealand attain equality especially in response to Healthcare delivery system. The New Zealand government fully ensure its commitment to good relationship and bond with other Non-government organization (NGO) or the community sector and in partnership with international healthcare organization in the development and promotion of good health for their people. They tend to adhere on policy to better promote social inclusion of its people thus law-making body provide ideas and knowledge to implement growing strategies and methods for social change on the behaviour of every individual leading to improvement and lifestyle modification aiming for community development. One objective of the ministry of health in New Zealand is to promote people’s rights. This includes the full right of gaining access towards quality healthcare, the provision of the ideas and knowledge pertaining health issues must be provided to every individual seeking medical management. Respect is a value also being emphasized for every individual in the country knowing its multi cultural and diversity among people living in the country. It is known that with different culture a nd religion along with it are different beliefs from its religion regarding health but through respecting their own beliefs and take consideration, embracing their way of managing health issues could also be a significant area to reduce inequality of healthcare interaction. People in the healthcare sector should also take full consideration that New Zealand is a melting pot for immigrants with different races and ethnicity. Having a little bit of idea regarding their culture, beliefs and practices is one way of trying to respect them. Healthcare providers should not be complacent in providing quality care basing on their nationality because in providing an equal care to individual is regardless if a person is black or white. And it is important that holistic care should be an important value in the promotion of wellness to every people. CONCLUSION As all things being considered, disparity and inequality in Healthcare especially the interaction between people living in New Zealand could somehow can be greatly discuss as it becomes an issue in healthcare that needs to be given implementation for it to be intervene and promote equality within the promotion and achievement of well-being to every individual in New Zealand. Knowingly, New Zealand is a country recognised to be a melting pot of ethnic group, races and different people living in. With cultural differences in a country it is prominent to have difficulties in terms of interaction to people especially in the healthcare setting. The value of partnership and respect to all rights of individual in New Zealand are values and tool in which inequality issue can be address and resolve. Predominantly, inequality is one of the common issue being experienced by people especially immigrants, Pacific Islanders and Maori people living in New Zealand but nonetheless, the government is taking action and promote strategies overcoming this issues and making this one of their priority concern. Although this will be for a long term process for it to be fully implemented and shows good result regarding the reduction of such barrier of healthcare outcome but still actions were already implemented and every strategy and plans are widely considered for the better of every individual in New Zealand. Several policy regarding promotion of health are made by the New Zealand Ministry of Health in response to quality delivery of the Healthcare system and development towards healthcare such as the Policy for Health management to Maori people and Disability policy to provide care and associate every disabled individual to the community and giving them equal rights to every person in the country. This group of individual are in need of equal treatment and access to healthcare and through this policies they are given the opportunity to achieve and promote wellness despite the condition they are having. REFERENCE Electronic References: He Korowai Oranga | Ministry of Health NZ. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/populations/maori-health/he-korowai-oranga DHB MÄ ori Health Plans and Health Needs Assessments | Ministry of Health NZ. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/populations/maori-health/dhb-maori-health-plans-and-health-needs-assessments Health and Pacific Peoples in New Zealand. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/people_and_communities/pacific_peoples/pacific-progress-health/influences-on-health-well-being.aspx The Treaty in brief The Treaty in brief | NZHistory, New Zealand history online. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/treaty/the-treaty-in-brief Journal References: Adams,J., Witten,K., Conway,K. (2009). Community development as health promotion: evaluating a complex locality-based project in New Zealand.Community Development Journal. doi:10.1093/cdj/bsm049 Harris,R., Tobias,M., Jeffreys,M., Waldegrave,K., Karlsen,S., Nazroo,J. (2006). Racism and health: The relationship between experience of racial discrimination and health in New Zealand.Social Science Medicine. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.04.009 Ajwani, S., T. Blakely, B. Robson, M. Tobias and M. Bonne (2003) Decadesof Disparity: Ethnic Mortality Trends in New Zealand 1980–1999, Ministry of Health and University of Otago, Wellington. Matheson,A. (2005). Engaging Communities to Reduce Health Inequalities: Why Partnership?

Personal Narrative: Harsh Criticism of my Writing Essay -- Narrative E

There are certain moments in my writing process, even more than twenty years later, that I can still imagine hearing that sharply critical voice striking a deep and lasting blow as the journalism assignment replete with bloody red ink landed on my desk. â€Å"This is all wrong,† were the words my high school journalism teacher stabbed me with as she passed down the aisle pausing only long enough for me to catch a whiff of her nicotine breath. At the very same moment my stomach muscle knotted, my face burned as if with fever, and those four words echoed out of control over and over again in my ears. Notoriously late for class due to her love of smoking cigarettes in the teacher’s lounge (in those days smoking was allowed in school buildings), Ms. B’s entrance into the class on this particular day was no exception. With a flurry of authority, arrogance, and impatience, she appeared before me-the subservient and humble student. Her disdain for my writing was obvious in her written comments on the returned assignment. But it was the spoken word about my writing that intimidated and humiliated me, even to this very day when I allow myself to think back on the incident. Hearing that my work was â€Å"all wrong† in the presence of other students was the worst embarrassment I could imagine as a shy and overly sensitive teenager. I wanted to crawl under my desk and hide. I managed to fight back tears until my retreat to the lavatory at the end of the period. Any confidence I had in my writing died that day. From that moment on my dreams of being a writer were severely compromised. Ms. B had taken advantage of her position of power over my writing. Whether this was intentional on her part or just a case of insensitivity or carelessness has no bear... ...well, it is difficult for me to do so. Perhaps it is his never-failing encouragement and my appreciation of his teaching methods that won’t allow me to take the role of an English teacher when reading his work. It has been my experience that young student writers can be very vulnerable to harsh criticism from a teacher or person in authority. And in my own case, that criticism didn’t disappear at the end of the semester but in fact, stayed with me for many years. I still have to push that ghost of criticism out of my head when I sometimes have difficulty with my writing. For the most part, the wounds from the red pen have healed and the scaring has been greatly reduced. Since the process of writing is difficult enough without discouraging words from teachers, it is imperative that harsh criticism be chased out of the writing classroom for the good of all students.