Spain, England, France, German States, And Russian during the 1700s

Spain, England, France, German States, And Russian during the 1700s Section 1: Spain- The Spanish Empire reached its height during the reign of Charles's son, Philip II, who became king in 1556.- In 1580, Philip II of Spain enforced his claim to the Portuguese throne by invading and conquering the country.- Spain gained control of the Philippine Islands during the late 1500's.- Spain also fought to defend western Europe from the expanding Ottoman Empire. Philip's rule brought the beginning of the Golden Age of Spanish art, a time when writers and painters created some of Spain's greatest artistic works.- Although Philip ruled a worldwide empire and Spain was the strongest nation in Europe, signs of strain began to appear.- Wars, inflation, and poor economic management weakened the country's economy. Philip's attempts to slow or stop the advance of Protestantism in Europe met serious opposition from the Netherlands and England. In the 1560's, the Netherlands rebelled against Spain.English: Coat of arms illustration from a grant of...In 1588, Philip II launched a great Spanish Armada of about 130 ships in an unsuccessful attempt to conquer England. English ships repelled the armada, and storms destroyed many of the Spanish ships during the retreat.- Only about two-thirds of the armada made it back to Spain.- In the 1600's, Spain was weakened by wars, rebellions, economic crises, and weak rulers.- Fighting in the Netherlands continued into the early 1600's. Spain heavily financed the Roman Catholic cause in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).- It also fought wars with France and faced rebellions in Portugal and the region of Catalonia in northern Spain.- The last Spanish Habsburg, Charles II, had no children of his own.- In 1700, he named a French duke, Philip of Anjou, as heir to the Spanish throne. Philip was a grandson of France's King Louis XIV, who reigned...

How Chromosomes Determine Sex

How Chromosomes Determine Sex Chromosomes are long segments of genes that carry hereditary information. They are composed of DNA and proteins and are located within the nucleus of our cells. Chromosomes determine everything from hair color and eye color to sex. Whether you are a male or female depends on the presence or absence of certain chromosomes. Human cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes for a total of 46. There are 22 pairs of autosomes (non-sex chromosomes) and one pair of sex chromosomes. The sex chromosomes are the X chromosome and the Y chromosome. Sex Chromosomes In human sexual reproduction, two distinct gametes fuse to form a zygote. Gametes are reproductive cells produced by a type of cell division called meiosis. Gametes are also called sex cells. They contain only one set of chromosomes and are thus said to be haploid.The male gamete, called the spermatozoan, is relatively motile and usually has a flagellum. The female gamete, called the ovum, is nonmotile and relatively large in comparison to the male gamete. When the haploid male and female gametes unite in a process called fertilization, they develop into what is called a zygote. The zygote is diploid, meaning that it contains two sets of chromosomes. Sex Chromosomes X-Y The male gametes, or sperm cells, in humans and other mammals are heterogametic and contain one of two types of sex chromosomes. Sperm cells carry either an X or Y sex chromosome. Female gametes, or eggs, however, contain only the X sex chromosome and are homogametic. The sperm cell determines the sex of an individual in this case. If a sperm cell containing an X chromosome fertilizes an egg, the resulting zygote will be XX, or female. If the sperm cell contains a Y chromosome, then the resulting zygote will be XY, or male. Y chromosomes carry the necessary genes for the development of male gonads, or testes. Individuals that lack a Y chromosome (XO or XX) develop female gonads, or ovaries. Two X chromosomes are needed for the development of fully functioning ovaries. Genes located on the X chromosome are called X-linked genes, and these genes determine X sex-linked traits. A mutation occurring in one of these genes could lead to the development of an altered trait. Because males have only one X chromosome, the altered trait would always be expressed in males. In females,  however, the trait may not always be expressed. Because females have two X chromosomes, the altered trait could be masked if only one X chromosome has the mutation and the trait is recessive. An example of an X-linked gene is red-green colorblindness in humans.   Sex Chromosomes X-O Grasshoppers, roaches, and other insects have a similar system for determining the sex of an individual. Adult males lack the Y sex chromosome that humans have and have only an X chromosome. They produce sperm cells that contain either an X chromosome or no sex chromosome, which is designated as O. The females are XX and produce egg cells that contain an X chromosome. If an X sperm cell fertilizes an egg, the resulting zygote will be XX, or female. If a sperm cell containing no sex chromosome fertilizes an egg, the resulting zygote will be XO, or male. Sex Chromosomes Z-W Birds, some insects such as butterflies, frogs, snakes, and some species of fish have a different system for determining sex. In these animals, it is the female gamete that determines the sex of an individual. Female gametes can either contain a Z chromosome or a W chromosome. Male gametes contain only the Z chromosome. Females of these species are ZW, and males are ZZ. Parthenogenesis What about animals like most kinds of wasps, bees, and ants that have no sex chromosomes? In these species, fertilization determines sex. If an egg becomes fertilized, it will develop into a female. A non-fertilized egg may develop into a male. The female is diploid and contains two sets of chromosomes, while the male is haploid. This development of an unfertilized egg into a male and a fertilized egg into a female is a type of parthenogenesis known as arrhenotokous parthenogenesis. Environmental Sex Determination In turtles and crocodiles, sex is determined by the temperature of the surrounding environment at a specific period in the development of a fertilized egg. Eggs that are incubated above a certain temperature develop into one sex, while eggs incubated below a certain temperature develop into the other sex. Both males and females develop when eggs are incubated at temperatures ranging between those that induce only single-sex development.

Pediatric Nurse Population for ADHD Education Essay

Pediatric Nurse Population for ADHD Education - Essay Example Medications used in children should be of even greater interest due to the inability to monitor the effects of adverse reactions by objective methods. Nurses play a key role in the management of children with ADHD. This disorder may persist even to adult stages. The diagnosis of ADHD requires careful history taking ,use of standardized rating scales ,and close attention to patients behavior and informants reports. Statistics show that in order to fit in the field of nursing and favorably attend the ADHD patients especially the 6-18 age group, a nurse should be compassionate, and committed to help people. Skills, knowledge and competence are a major factor of requirement in the nursing career. Different ADHD patients will react differently to the particular drug regime .This is due to their different individual genetic system which stimulates enzymatic reactions. Nurses ought to understand this aspect in order to attend the affected effectively. Primary care should be an opportune location for close monitoring of individual reactions to drugs. Systematic follow-up is essential to monitor side effects, target outcomes and gather information from parents, teachers and the child. Yearwood, E. (2012). Child and adolescent behavioral health: a resource for advanced practice psychiatric and primary care practitioners in nursing. Wiley- Blackwell. ï‚ · Ryan-Krause, P. (2011, January - February). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Part III; Journal of Pediatric Health Care. V 25, pp

1.What are the key issues in the external and competitive environment Essay

1.What are the key issues in the external and competitive environment affecting your organisation Discuss the opportunities and threats for your organisation - Essay Example he organization by applying relevant, correct strategic management theory to determine the key issues in the external and competitive environment affecting Morrison Supermarket1 as an organization. By so doing, the paper aims also to discuss the industry opportunities and threats. Strategic management aims for attainment of corporate objectives. Strategic management theory could use the models called Porter’s five forces and SWOT to determine the external and competitive environment affecting Morrison Supermarket. Before proceeding further, therefore, we have to understand the meaning of the models. SWOT stands for strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. As to how the models relate to each other, Porter’s five forces will dissect the facts classifying the effects of the industry forces to the profitability2 of the industry. For example, the ease or difficulty of entry, which is part of the model, assumes that the presence of entry barriers is an opportunity since less competition will allow present players to have wider area for influencing prices. SWOT includes the company’s strengths and weaknesses as opportunities and threats but we are only interested on the latter. The opportunities and threats that will be derived will be used to attain corporate objectives. As to how to attain objectives, industry opportunities must be taken advantage while industry threats must be avoided or overcome. The taking of advantage will be in the nature of the strategies that need to be formulated and implemented to attain the desired objectives of Morrison Supermarket. Strategies must be prepared in relation to industry opportunity and threats as well as company’s strengths and weaknesses. However, since strengths and weaknesses are not made part of this analysis, it must made clear that any strategy that may be may not fully consider the complete model. New entrants will find few big players, which make them concentrated, making it difficult for

Letter of Recommendation Essay Example for Free

Letter of Recommendation Essay Letter of Recommendation To the applicant: Please fill in your name and the other required information below. In turn, deliver or email this form to the person who will write this letter. NOTE: Request your recommender to seal his or her letter of recommendation in an official envelope and sign across the back flap upon completion. Recommendation letters that are not sealed and signed will not be accepted. Confidential Name of Applicant: (given name) Shajeel(family name) Rasool Nationality: Pakistani Desired Degree Program Doctoral Desired Major: Electrical Engineering To the recommender: The person named above has applied for the ‘Korean Government Scholarship Program’. We ask for your assistance, and would appreciate your frank and candid appraisal of the applicant. * Please type or print clearly using black ink. 1. How long have you known the applicant and in what relationship? Please assess the applicants qualities in the evaluation table given below. Rate the applicant compared to other classmates who are/were in the same school year with him/her. How well do you think the applicant has thought out plans for graduate study? 5. Please comment on the applicant’s performance record, potential, or personal qualities which you believe would be helpful in considering the applicant’s application for the proposed degree program. Recommender’s Name Date Recommender’s Signature Position or Title: University (Institution): Address: Tel: Fax: (zip-code:-) Please return this form sealed in an official envelope and signed across the back to the applicant. We greatly appreciate your timeliness regarding this letter for your recommendee.

The Joyride :: Creative Writing Essays

The Joyride    Rain clouds began to tear themselves away from the jagged peaks of the Koolau range and rays broke through the clouds and beat down on the muddy water of Pearl Bay. Bobby glanced toward them, but his mind was elsewhere. He paced back and forth along the isolated stretch of the narrow beach. Now and then he would kick at loose pebbles along the muddy grey shoreline. For the moment, Bobby was still in his private world, consisting of little more than a strip of mud flat along one small section of the bay. But his world was about to be invaded. Chris, his best friend since kindergarten, would be showing up any minute. And Bobby knew that before this afternoon ended, their two lives, so entwined these many years, would forever be changed.    Bobby clutched a smooth black stone in his fingers. He leaned into the light breeze, preparing to skip it across the harbour waters, but stopped abruptly, remembering that the gods did not like land removed from the island. As the stone slipped from his fingers, his eyes followed the ripples that glided on and off the grey beach where he stood, then rose almost by habit to gaze once more at the Arizona Memorial stretching white and graceful, remembering painfully that this would be the last time that he would ever walk along this beautiful beach.    As his eyes watched the waves, and how they caressed the muddy shoreline, he began to think of the future. His thoughts were quickly disrupted.       â€Å"Hey bud, how's it going? What was so important that you had to talk to me about?† Chris asked.    â€Å"It's to hard. I can't go on with it.†    â€Å"What? What can't you go on with?† Chris demanded urgently.    â€Å"It's just, that, that, this will be our last weekend together†.    â€Å"Wait a minute. Slow down, your not making any sense. None at all. What do you mean that this will be our last weekend together? We have the whole entire summer planned out. Fishing next weekend, canoeing to Ford Island next month, our bike.....†    â€Å"NO STOP!!! You don't understand. My dad got transferred. We're moving.†    â€Å"But why now. School doesn't start for another two months, and colleges start even later than that!† Chris replied.    â€Å"I know, it sucks. I can't do anything about it. I've tried everything. I've even asked my parents if it would be okay to move in with my grandparents for the rest of the summer. But it's no use. They say I have to get used to the town, meet new friends,and get a job.

Trump

They homeless believe they hold the trump card of experience in the matter and believe that from their time as parents which included raising four children that they are certain spankings do not affect children in that way because their own children experienced spanking and they saw first-hand that it would cause their kids to behave better. Their logic however shows serious flaws that can be explained. Mom and Pop have a pet belief from their personal experience on this issue and their argument shows signs of confirmation bias. On Instance of this confirmation blast Is an example of a biased search.Meaning that they only searched through their own memories for cases of spankings and came to the conclusion that their children behaved better after spankings and our productive members of society so the spankings could not have had negative effects. This however is biased because only using the example of four children who grew up in the same social setting is not representative of the general population and is therefore an invalid argument. Mom and Pop now understand that their argument did not include enough data to be used as a valid argument however are not ready to totally switch sides on the matter.They ask for a report on the argument made by the study and want to know about the validity of Its findings. Upon reading the piece It becomes apparent that It too does not give everything needed to be a valid argument. It withholds the vital Information of how It went about collecting Its results. You explain to Mom and Pop that in order for such a study to be taken seriously it must explain how it received the findings that it did. They learn that much like their own downfall it is very possible that the test was done with a sample size so small that it cannot be considered representative of the people.Another issue that is once again similar to an issue of Mom and Pops argument is that of outside factors such as location, age, gender, and any other possible inf luencing factors. Finally you explain to them what data must be available in order for it to be used as evidence in a valid argument and that is the test population size, must be large enough group that it can be considered representative, and who was tested, must either be done at random (preferred) or the two groups must be matched on confounding factors so that no other outside Influences can affect the results enough to alter any findings.Mom and Pop left feeling satisfied that they now understood what was wrong with their logic and how to better their use of evidence in arguments. 2. In this situation Pat is dealing with a altering decision he is about to make so he wants to look carefully into every aspect of his decision. When breaking down his reasons he would like to carefully examine each reason. The first reason for not changing majors is that all his life Pat and his parents wanted him to be a doctor. For this instance Pat is dealing with the reputation cost of his choic e.All his life Pat has wanted to be a doctor and walking UT on that idea now may disappoint his parents. Despite his belief that they will still support him the reputation cost will take its toll. While this should be factored in by Pat it is not the most important factor. The next issue becomes the amount already invested into studying biology. Time spent studying, energy spent doing assignments, and money spent on classes. All of these investments came directly from Pats hard work and to change majors would be to throw it all away.One may think that all of these factors should be included in making such a large decision but reprovingly they are all irrelevant in the decision. This is a case of sunk costs, meaning that all of the time, money, energy, and anything else that Pat has invested into studying biology is already gone. Regardless of the decision that Pat makes on his major nothing in the past will change. Pat should be purely focusing on the future and how this decision wi ll affect that as opposed to dwelling on what has happened in the past. This leads us to our final point and this one is the most important for Pat. This notion is that of opportunity cost.To find the opportunity cost an individual must look at the options and determine which one holds the highest expected benefit. Pat is doing well in biology however is not loving the subject and does not see it as a viable career option. When it comes to physics Pat has really enjoyed the classes so far yet is unsure as to whether he will continue to be as enthusiastic about the subject. Only Pat can make his own decision and the best way to go about that is by thinking about which of the two options will yield a higher expected benefit for him in the future and pick whichever he believes is his best option.

Culture And Second Language Learning Essay

Through the conduction of studies, it has been discovered that learning a second language, particularly in a situation where second language learning is given particular importance, requires an immersion into the lingua and cultural societies of the native speakers of the second language that is to be learned (Wan 44-45). This requirement is extremely important to be followed as the immersion on the societal components of the second language of the native speakers helps the learner to obtain more hands-on learning benefits when trying to acquire second language abilities (Wan 45). Literature Review Although numerous language specialists do conclude that culture and social groups exercise great influence on the acquisition of second language abilities, these specialists are still bound to not realize that the components that involve this situation are interconnected and are not distinct entities from each other (Wan 46). It is crucial to understand that learning a second language involves factors that cannot exist without the existence of other factors (Wan 47). Most recently, it has become a trend to become immersed in the culture of the native speakers of the second language through the use of the internet (Wan 47). Numerous second language learners browse the web in order to get immersed into the native speakers’ culture (Wan 47). Numerous second language learners can definitely learn through the utilization of this method as the web has got a lot of information from around the world to offer to the browsers (Wan 47). Methodology And Data Analysis Result of the surveys participated in by English language learner students: 3 1. Methodology: They have had difficulty forming friendships due to language barriers. Data Analysis: A little over 65 % of these people have had trouble forming friendships with English native speakers in the United States due to language differences. It is often uncomfortable to form a friendship with people whom you often encounter difficulty in conversing with. An interesting conversation turns sour when you have difficulty conversing with someone. The people who face this difficulty with English native speakers often become lonely while living in the United States if they are not able to find friends that share the same language as them. 2. Methodology: They have had difficulty achieving their academic goals than they would have if their instruction at school were conducted in their native language. Data Analysis: Although non-native speakers of English who are proficient in English are the only non-English speaker foreign students who are admitted for formal academic studies at schools in America, English proficient non-native English speakers also still encounter difficulty in their academic studies than they would have if the instruction was conducted in their own language. This is such the case as the mentioned students still are not used to the English language. These students most usually converse with their circle of influence in their native language, hence, this situation causes them to become awkward in utilizing the English language in their academic studies as well. The most objective advice that can be recommended from this situation is for the students to use the English language often even when conversing with non-native English speakers who form their circle of influence. Or, it would be better if these students would be able to find native English speaker friends who would be willing to practice conversing with 4 them in English on a regular basis. It would also be helpful for these students to practice sharpening their English language writing skills through regularly utilizing writing drills. 3. Methodology: Language barriers often make the students feel a longing to go home to their country. Data Analysis: Numerous students who experience difficulty learning English in the United States are usually not able to adjust to their social environment in the country. As a result they often feel that they are social outcasts and feel that they don’t belong in the community. Because of this situation that they may get into, they may become inclined to go back to their home country. 4. Methodology: Language barriers may have the tendency to make the students inculcate a lower self-esteem. Data Analysis: The students feel that they are not smart enough as they are not able to efficiently learn a second language. This dampens their spirits of good self-esteem. 5. Methodology: These students become the targets of discrimination pranks in the United States. Data Analysis: Numerous of these students become the victims of prank jokes just because of their limited English language abilities. They are seen as vulnerable group of people as they create a self-image of being dumb or â€Å"not smart enough† due to their limited English language abilities. 6. Methodology: These students become too dependent on an English proficient relative, family member or friend while in the United States. Data Analysis: This becomes the situation as the students may not even be able to convey simple information to strangers (e. g. , giving orders at a restaurant) due to their limited 5 English language abilities. The mentioned family member, relative or friend may eventually feel that these students are becoming a burden on them as time goes on. 7. Methodology: Numerous students are reluctant to learn English as a second language because they feel that learning it would cause them to somehow exhibit disloyalty to their own language and culture. Data Analysis: It now a common trend that people do somehow paint a picture on other people as being â€Å"colonially influenced† if they try to learn a second language. This causes these second language learners to become self-conscious when trying to learn a second language. If these people become too self-conscious to learn a second language, they may also give up the pursuance of a goal to move to another country and other goals that come with it. 8. Numerous people abandon their culture altogether and adapt the culture of the native speakers of the second language that they are learning. Learning a second language ultimately also causes one to get immersed in the culture in which that language belongs. Therefore, there are times that the culture of the learners gets totally abandoned as these learners try to learn a second language. This situation is sometimes viewed negatively by others. Results Learning a second language definitely has its ups and downs. The learners would just have to weigh in whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages as a basis in making their decision to learn a second language. However, we can definitely see that as long as the teaching of the second language is executed properly, numerous students are able to learn the language efficiently and utilize their second language fluency in worthwhile activities and 6 and professions. Discussions Three questions need to be answered in order for specialists to improve second language teaching and learning (Conference Probes Second Language 1). These questions are the following (Conference Probes Second Language 1): 1. What are the strategies on research that need to be executed in the implementation of second language education in America (Conference Probes Second Language 1)? 2. What are the strategies on research on the execution of second language education in the United States that need to be improvised (Conference Probes Second Language 1)? 3. What are these research strategies that are deemed to be effective (Conference Probes Second Language 1)? Reading, writing and speaking fluency of a second language does not come automatically if one has acquired extensive knowledge on the language usage (Swiderski 4). A culture’s main foundation is the official language that comes with it (Swiderski 6). When one first learns a language, he/she automatically first learns its corresponding culture (Swiderski 6). A language mirrors its corresponding culture (Swiderski 6). However, the language and the culture are not exactly similar in every ways (Swiderski 6). Because when learning a language one learns all about its usage, its interconnected component, culture, is also being learned during the process of learning the language (Swiderski 6). Therefore, language and culture are still 7 Regarded as separate entities (Swiderski 6). We can really see that a language tells about what kind of culture it evolves in (Swiderski 13). For example, a classroom where an English language learning class is held comprises of styles and settings that tells about the culture of the country where the school that houses the classroom is located (Swiderski 13). Significant differences in the way that the English language is used among the native and non-native speakers of English are considerably noticeable (Lucas 59). However, there are some questions that arise from this conclusion (Lucas 73). These questions are the following (Lucas 73): 1. Do the students make requests to their professors directly or indirectly (Lucas 73)? 2. Is politeness evident in the way that the students make the requests (Lucas 73)? Conclusions Charles Hutchison, Lan Quach and Greg Wiggan wrote in their article entitled, â€Å"The Interface of Global Migrations, Local English Language Learning And Identity Transmutations Of The Immigrant Academician,† English language instructors who experience teaching students belonging to different cultures, experience the following culture shock situations: 1. Problems in differences in teaching and learning. 2. Problems in differences in curriculum and assessment. In the article entitled, â€Å"The Interface Of Global Migrations, Local English Language Learning And Identity Transmutations Of The Immigrant 8 Academician,† using the social-constructivist (and cognition) theories as references, instructors of English language classes experience changes in the way they view language through the following ways: 1. They may be forced to conform to the students and their circle of influences’ viewpoints and theories. 2. They may experience communication barriers. Furthermore, the authors state in the article that the English language instructors come to realize who they really are and their vocation objectives due to the following reasons: 1. They shape what types of people their students become and their students’ self-esteem. 2. They struggle in helping their students realize their own identity as a minority in the United States. 9 Works Cited Hutchison, Charles, Quach, Lan & Wiggan, Greg. â€Å"The Interface of Global Migrations, Local English Language Learning And Identity Transmutations Of The Immigrant Academician. † Forum On Public Policy: A Journal Of The Oxford Round Table (2006). Lucas, Sigrun. â€Å"Students Writing Emails To Faculty: An Examination Of E-Politeness Among Native And Non-Native Speakers Of English. † Language, Learning & Technology 11 (2007): 59, 73. Swiderski, Richard M. Teaching Language, Learning, Culture. Westport: Bergin & Garvey, 1993. Wan, Shun. â€Å"Second Language Socialization In A Bilingual Chat Room: Global And Local Considerations. † Language, Learning & Technology 8 (2004): 44-47. â€Å"Conference Probes Second Language Research Needs. † Reading Today August 2001.

Alternative vs. Traditional Fuel Sources Essays

Alternative vs. Traditional Fuel Sources Essays Alternative vs. Traditional Fuel Sources Essay Alternative vs. Traditional Fuel Sources Essay Alternative vs. Traditional Energy Sources The use of alternative energy sources versus the use of traditional energy sources has become one of the country’s, if not the world’s, most heated debate in recent years. For the purposes of this paper, the term â€Å"alternative energy† refers to any form of energy that is not derived from fossil fuels. Alternative energy sources like wind farms, solar cells, hydroelectric dams, biomass fuels, and nuclear power have been considered to be attainable sources that will be able to sustain the global population’s high demands. Traditional energy sources like oil, gas and coal are what the modern world knows and is most comfortable with, as its established fountain of fuel. Weighing the benefits and drawbacks of one power source over another is a complicated process. There are many factors to consider, including everything from understanding the environmental effects of a particular type of power production and consumption, to addressing the power needs of the people and finding methods for delivering the power. Looking at both sides of this issue and surmising which argument seems to hold more water will allow for a reasonable conclusion to be made in favor of one side versus the other. One reason why people support alternative energy sources is because they are better for the environment. As stated in Alternative Energy porcon. org â€Å"Complete elimination of CO2 could occur as early as 2040† (Can). The use of wind farms, solar-electric systems, and nuclear power plants would greatly assist in this elimination as they do not pollute the air with nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, dust or greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. It is believed that the United States should decarbonize itself and stop the spread of global warming. The global population needs to become â€Å"Greener†, which is a marketing term that means cleaner, thus no pollution is involved. Alternative energy production does not create damaging environmental impacts, unlike fossil fuel production, specifically oil. A prime example of this environmental devastation was the major crude oil spill in March 1989, with the grounding of the tanker Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound, off the Alaskan coastline, spilling an estimated 10. million gallons of crude oil (Exxon). Another reason why people support alternative energy sources is because they are renewable. There are many different types of renewable energy sources, including biomass, wind, solar, hydropower, and geothermal heat. A prime example of this renewable energy source is solar energy which is naturally supported by the suns strong light as well as heat or wind energy which i s naturally supported by the earth’s global winds. Ethanol is also an excellent source of clean and renewable alternative energy. Looking at the article â€Å"Exploring new energy strategies† it was reported that a third-generation Texas oilman is leading the way to swapping oil and gas production for cleaner, renewable energy strategies (Jervis). Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources because the earth contains a finite amount of these fuels. Because energy is usable power, the sources of the energy can be used up. For example, if a power plant that generates electricity by burning coal runs out of coal, then it can no longer generate electricity until more coal is put into the power plant burners. Renewable energy, on the other hand, is energy that is replaced at the same rate that it is used. A third argument for the use of alternative energy versus traditional energies is the cost in which it takes to produce it. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute â€Å"U. S. nuclear power plants in 2006 supplied the second-highest amount of electricity in the industry’s history while achieving record-low production costs†. When looking at the numbers â€Å"nuclear-generated electricity typically clears the market for less than 2. cents/kwh (kilowatt hour)†¦as compared to the production costs alone for natural gas-fired power plants averaging 7. 5 cents/kwh† (Nuclear). Along the same lines as nuclear power generated energy is the fact that other alternative energy sources are highly cost effective. Wind and sunlight are free and hydroelectric power is very inexpensive once a dam is built. Conversely traditional gas and oil production processes are very expens ive for energy generation and there are large price swings with the burden of supply and demand. The bottom line for the global society as a whole has always been, and is foreseen to always be, about what it will cost. If a viable alternative source is identified to provide the same energy output at reduced consumer cost, it should be strongly considered if not fully implemented. A final reason why people support alternative energy sources is because they believe that renewable energy technologies will be capable of meeting the entire need for electricity in the United States as well as throughout the world. According to the U. S. Department of Energy â€Å"residential energy use in the United States will increase 25 percent by the year 2025† (Walker). It is necessary to spend the required monies on these renewable energy technologies, which will allow the country to create the needed alternative energy sources to combat this eventual increase in residential usage. An excellent example of this is the 410 million dollar construction project that includes 86 wind turbines on Wolfe Island near Cape Vincent, New York (2008). The renewable energy resources throughout the United States, let alone the entire world, are limitless and virtually untapped. It would be highly short-sighted not to entertain the notion that something other than fossil fuels would be able to meet the foreseeable growth in the global energy demand. One reason why people support fossil fuels as its energy source is due to the fact that oil, coal, and gas are available and already established in the industry for generating electricity. Even though the sun is by far the oldest source of energy, which has provided the earth with heat and light for million of years; it is fossil fuels that dominate as the world’s industrial power generator. According to Daniel Yergin â€Å"The world is not running out of oil† (29). There are trillions of barrels of oil that are yet to be recovered. This growth of oil recovery is projected to come from both OPEC (Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries) and non-OPEC members. The current energy producing industries would have to invest tremendously in establishing alternative means of production, while receiving very little on its return. One of the disadvantages that wind and solar power have, when compared with traditional methods, is that they would require the installation of multiple generation plants to meet the current demand. Furthermore, those same alternative energy technologies would require large amounts of land for small amounts of energy generation. Another reason why people support fossil fuels is because coal-produced energy is inexpensive and the technology is becoming more advanced. According to David G. Hawkins, Daniel A. Lashof, and Robert H. Williams â€Å"Implementing CCS (CO2 capture and storage) at coal-consuming plants is imperative if the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is to be kept at an acceptable level† (65). Emissions from coal-based power plants have been dramatically reduced through the use of advanced technologies, even as the use of coal for generating electricity has â€Å"nearly tripled over the last 30 years† (Hawkins 68). When looking at the numbers â€Å"Today’s coal-based electricity generating fleet is 70% cleaner than it was in 1970† (Should). Coal is at the nucleus of the long-standing debate about the energy future of the world. Many countries economic growth are largely fueled by coal, mainly due to the fact that it remains cheap and abundant; regardless of its pollution and environmental impacts. A third reason why people support fossil fuels is because drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) would reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, which in turn would strengthen our nation’s economy. According to Larry E. Craig â€Å"As gas prices continue to rise and political instability in the Middle East worsens, the United States must increase its domestic oil production† ( 43). He goes on to state â€Å"The ANWR in Alaska is estimated to have as much as 16 billion barrels of oil under its coastal plain† (43). When looking at the numbers according to prices-oil. org â€Å"as of April 9th, 2009 the price per barrel of oil, most of which is imported from foreign countries, is approximately $51 and forecasted to increase in price from there† (Daily). The United States has spent an exuberant amount of taxpayer’s dollars on imported fossil fuels. It is said that this dependency will put our nation at risk if we continue to base our economy on oil imported from unstable regions of the world. A final reason why people support fossil fuels is because alternative energy sources like solar cells, wind turbines, and biomass plantations can not replace the highly reliable fossil fuel power stations that require 24 hour a day, 365 days a year usage. As stated by James Howard Kunstler â€Å"Based on everything we know right now, no combination of so-called alternative fuels or energy procedures will allow us to maintain daily life in the United States the way we have been accustomed to running it under the regime of oil† (100). Gas, oil and coal are easily obtained and have very sound distribution systems already established for the current power usage levels. Alternative power generation sources are fairly new and do not have those established distribution systems in place. It is one thing to be able to produce the necessary power the global population demands; it is another to be able to disseminate it to those who need it. There is a portion of the world’s population that supports traditional energy sources, like oil and coal versus alternative energies, like wind and solar. Those alternative energy sources suffer because they are deemed undependable and only usable as intermittent sources of energy. In many areas of the United States, alternative energy sources are not feasible, and deemed insufficient to sustain the generation plants for wind and solar requirements. Another example of this alternative energy disadvantage is ethanol, which in some circles is not believed to be a net energy producer. On the other hand, traditional energy production sources can run out. A prime example of this is when a combustion engine car runs out of gasoline, it loses its power and can no longer operate until more fuel is put into the system. At the same time, renewable energy can be replaced through natural processes or through sound management practices, and so it is a source of power that does not run out. A perfect example of this renewable alternative energy is the energy that is generated from the sun, which comes in an abundant supply everyday. A major criticism of the use of alternative fuel sources, specifically wind power, is that they are not as environmentally friendly as some have led us to believe. According to Eric Rosenbloom â€Å"Especially vulnerable are large birds of prey that like to fly in the same sorts of places that developers like to construct wind towers† (78). He goes on to mention â€Å"Noise is another big problem†¦the resulting sound of several towers together has been described to be as loud as a motorcycle, like aircraft continually passing overhead, a brick wrapped in a towel turning in a tumble drier, or as if someone was mixing cement in the sky† (81). On the other hand, fossil fuel energy sources have been the predominant source of the real pollution problem. As Stanely Scobie writes, â€Å"natural gas development is poised to begin at an intensive level†¦air pollution from drilling operations and massive withdrawals of water from rivers (used in production) show no respect†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1). Coal, gas, and oil are significant contributors to acid rain, which is produced by the release of harmful carbon dioxide gases; as well as damage to the earth’s ozone layer, which is caused by the discharge of nitrous oxide. To compare the environmental impacts of these two energy producing sources, the message is clear; either the world’s population deals with a little noise or with deadly gases. The quest for faster, easier, and more efficient ways of meeting the needs of a growing human population has led to increasingly high energy demands. However, the resources currently being used for generating energy are running out. Something other than, or in addition to, traditional energy sources is required to meet the increasing needs of the world’s growing population. That something is alternative energy sources. Replacing those traditional energy sources with the likes of biomass fuels, solar cells and wind farms are the tools and technologies that are necessary to accomplish such a task. Yet, despite the aforementioned alternative tools and technologies, global industries still obtain most of their energy sources from fossil fuels. The world deserves options when it comes to energy sources. Its citizens have the right to choose what can and will provide what is needed to ensure that future generations have a cleaner and safer environment while sustaining their energy needs. Throughout recorded history, humans have searched for ways of putting energy to work for their benefit. For the past few decades the nation, as well as the world, has become increasingly aware of its energy usage and the effects it has had on the environment and the earth as a whole. In addition, it is apparent that the United State’s dependence on foreign oil is creating some meaningful ramifications for its economic structure as well as its national security configuration. Currently the argument remains that the continued use of traditional energy sources is still the way for the global population to proceed to meet the earth’s overwhelming needs, but the need for alternative means can not be ignored. It is a discussion that has many pros and cons which continue to be debated on both sides of this passionate topic. Solutions to our energy problems do exist, but it will take a variety of alternative technologies and the willingness to change how the earth’s energy is to be found. Change is not always easy or attainable, but in some cases, like this one, it is a goal that is increasingly necessary and ultimately accomplishable. â€Å"2008 U. S. Great Lakes Seaway Ports Tonnage-Traffic Review. † Seaway Compass Newsletter. Winter 2009. 31 Mar. 2009 . â€Å"Can Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels? † ProCon. org. 31 Mar. 2009 . Craig, Larry E. â€Å"Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Would Reduce U. S. Dependence on Foreign Oil. † Is the World Heading toward an Energy Crisis? Ed. Daniel A. Leone. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven, 2006. 43-47. â€Å"Daily Oil Prices. † WTI Daily Chart. 9 Apr. 2009 . â€Å"Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. † History Facts Valdez, Alaska. 26 Apr. 2009 . Hawkins, David G. , Daniel A. Lashof, and Robert H. Williams. Clean Coal Technology is the Future of Energy. † Coal. Ed. Michael Logan. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven, 2008. 62-74. Jervis, Rick. â€Å"Exploring New Energy Strategies. † USA Today 12 Mar. 2009: A3. Kunstler, James Howard. The Long Emergency: Surviving the Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century. New York: Atlantic Monthly, 2005. Nuclear Energy Institute. â€Å"Record-Low Production Cost For Nuclear Powe r. † The Energy Bog. 20 Feb. 2007. 26 Apr. 2009 . Rosenbloom, Eric. â€Å"The Use of Wind Energy Should Not Be Increased. What Energy Sources Should Be Pursued? Ed. Stuart A. Kallen. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven, 2005. 73-85. Scobie, Stanley. â€Å"Natural Gas Rush: It’s Time for the Feds to Step Up. † Sierra Atlantic Spring 2009: 1+. â€Å"Should the US Use Clean Coal as an Energy Source? † ProCon. org. 31 Mar. 2009 . Walker, Cameron. â€Å"The Future of Alternative Energy. † National Geographic. 28 Oct. 2004. 1 Apr. 2009 . Yergin, Daniel. â€Å"The World is Not Running Out of Oil. † Energy Alternatives. Ed. Barbara Passero. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven, 2006. 29-39.

Manor Definition, Significance in the Medieval Period

Manor Definition, Significance in the Medieval Period The medieval manor, also known as vill from the Roman villa, was an agricultural estate. During the Middle Ages, at least four-fifths of the population of England had no direct connection with towns. Most people did not live on single farms as they still do today, but instead, they were associated with a manor- a social and economic powerhouse of the Middle Ages.   A manor was usually comprised of tracts of agricultural land, a village whose inhabitants worked that land, and a manor house where the lord who owned or controlled the estate lived. Manors might also have had woods, orchards, gardens, and lakes or ponds where fish could be found. On the manor lands, usually near the village, one could often find a mill, bakery, and blacksmithy. Manors were largely self-sufficient. Size and Composition Manors varied greatly in size and composition, and some were not even contiguous plots of land. They generally ranged in size from 750 to 1,500 acres. There might be more than one village associated with a large manor; on the other hand, a manor could be small enough that only part of a villages inhabitants worked the estate. Peasants worked the lords demesne (the property farmed outright by the lord) for a specified number of days a week, usually two or three. On most manors there was also land designated to support the parish church; this was known as the glebe. The Manor House Originally, the manor house was an informal collection of wood or stone buildings including a chapel, kitchen, farm buildings and, of course, the hall. The hall served as the meeting place for village business and it was where the manorial court was held. As the centuries passed, manor houses became more strongly defended and took on some of the features of castles, including fortified walls, towers, and even moats. Manors were sometimes given to knights as a way to support them as they served their king. They could also be owned outright by a nobleman or belong to the church. In the overwhelmingly agricultural economy of the Middle Ages, manors were the backbone of European life. A Typical Manor: Borley, 1307 Historical documents of the period give us a fairly clear account of medieval manors. The most detailed is that of the extent, which described the tenants, their holdings, rents, and services, which was compiled on testimony by a sworn jury of inhabitants. The extent was completed whenever a manor changed hands.   A typical account of the holdings is that of the manor of Borley, which was held in the early fourteenth century by a freeman named Lewin and described by American historian E.P. Cheney in 1893. Cheney reports that in 1307, Borley manor changed hands, and documents enumerated the holdings of the 811 3/4 acre estate.  That acreage included: Arable lands, 702 1/4 acresMeadow, 29 1/4 acresEnclosed pasture, 32 acresWoods, 15 acres  Manor house land, 4 acresTofts (homesteads) of two acres each, 33 acres   The possessors of the manor lands were described as demesne (or that which was farmed outright by Lewin) including a total of 361 1/4 acres; seven freeholders held a total of 148 acres; seven molmen held 33 1/2 acres, and 27 villeins or customary tenants held 254 acres. Freeholders, molmen, and villeins were Medieval classes of tenant farmers, in descending order of prosperity, but without clear-cut boundaries that changed over time.  All of them paid rents to the lord in the form of a percentage of their crops or labor on the demesne. The total annual value of the estate to the lord of the manor of Borley in 1307 was listed as 44 pounds, 8 shillings, and 5 3/4 pence. That amount was about twice what Lewin would have needed to be knighted, and in 1893 dollars was about U.S. $2,750 a year, which today equals about $75,000.   Sources Cheyney, E. P. The Medià ¦val Manor. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 4 (1893): 75-91. Print. Dodwell, B. The Free Tenantry of the Hundred Rolls. The Economic History Review 14.2 (1944): 163-71. Print. Klingelhà ¶fer, Eric. Manor, Vill, and Hundred: The Development of Rural Institutions in Early Medieval Hampshire. Montreal: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies Overton, Eric. A Guide to the Medieval Manor. London: Local History Publications, 1991. Print

Commercial and investment banking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Commercial and investment banking - Essay Example One of the latest trends experienced in the banking industry is the internationalization of banking institutions. As much as it comes with a variety of advantages, it has several disadvantages worth noting. To start with, there is increased competition in the local banking industry thus posing a challenge to locally based banks. Small local customers previously served by local investment banks are now being targeted by huge international banks in search of new clientele in the global market (Crocket 2001, p.1). Moreover, the cost of gathering information is becoming increasingly high coupled with the cost of regulation. Most banks operating on the international arena are facing extremely high operating cost affecting their profitability negatively (the economist 2015, p.1). It is the duty of the headquarters to monitor the operations of all its subsidiaries and comply with regulation requirement of the host country when setting up subsidiaries. The more subsidiaries a bank have the higher the cost of monitoring and regulation. Further, just like establishing any other business unit initial capital is required and at times may be too high. Different countries have different regulations concerning the initial capital investment required before a new firm can be granted operation permission. As such, international banking institutions are at risk of high initial capital investment especially where a huge amount is required to act as security for the customers’ deposits in case of liquidation.