Johann Sebastian Bach - Summary of His Life Essays - Music

Johann Sebastian Bach - Summary of His Life Essays - Music Johann Sebastian Bach - Summary of His Life Johann Sebastian Bach was one of the greatest composers in Western musical history. More than 1,000 of his compositions survive. Some examples are the Art of Fugue, Brandenburg Concerti, the Goldberg Variations for Harpsichord, the Mass in B-Minor, the motets, the Easter and Christmas oratorios, Toccata in F Major, French Suite No 5, Fugue in G Major, Fugue in G Minor ("The Great"), St. Matthew Passion, and Jesu Der Du Meine Seele. He came from a family of musicians. There were over 53 musicians in his family over a period of 300 years. Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany on March 21, 1685. His father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was a talented violinist, and taught his son the basic skills for string playing; another relation, the organist at Eisenach's most important church, instructed the young boy on the organ. In 1695 his parents died and he was only 10 years old. He went to go stay with his older brother, Johann Christoph, who was a professional organist at Ohrdruf. Johann Christoph was a professional organist, and continued his younger brother's education on that instrument, as well as on the harpsichord. After several years in this arrangement, Johann Sebastian won a scholarship to study in Luneberg, Northern Germany, and so left his brother's tutelage. A master of several instruments while still in his teens, Johann Sebastian first found employment at the age of 18 as a "lackey and violinist" in a court orchestra in Weimar; soon after, he took the job of organist at a church in Arnstadt. Here, as in later posts, his perfectionist tendencies and high expectations of other musicians - for example, the church choir - rubbed his colleagues the wrong way, and he was embroiled in a number of hot disputes during his short tenure. In 1707, at the age of 22, Bach became fed up with the lousy musical standards of Arnstadt (and the working conditions) and moved on to another organist job, this time at the St. Blasius Church in Muhlhausen. The same year, he married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach. Again caught up in a running conflict between factions of his church, Bach fled to Weimar after one year in Muhlhausen. In Weimar, he assumed the post of organist and concertmaster in the ducal chapel. He remained in Weimar for nine years, and there he composed his first wave of major works, including organ showpieces and cantatas. By this stage in his life, Bach had developed a reputation as a brilliant, if somewhat inflexible, musical talent. His proficiency on the organ was unequaled in Europe - in fact, he toured regularly as a solo virtuoso - and his growing mastery of compositional forms, like the fugue and the canon, was already attracting interest from the musical establishment - which, in his day, was the Lutheran church. But, like many individuals of uncommon talent, he was never very good at playing the political game, and therefore suffered periodic setbacks in his career. He was passed over for a major position - which was Kapellmeister (Chorus Master) of Weimar - in 1716; partly in reaction to this snub, he left Weimar the following year to take a job as court conductor in Anhalt-Cothen. There, he slowed his output of church cantatas, and instead concentrated on instrumental music - the Cothen period produced, among other masterpieces, the Brandenburg Concerti. While at Cothen, Bach's wife, Maria Barbara, died. Bach remarried soon after - to Anna Magdalena - and forged ahead with his work. He also forged ahead in the child-rearing department, producing 13 children with his new wife - six of whom survived childhood - to add to the four children he had raised with Maria Barbara. Several of these children would become fine composers in their own right - particularly three sons: Wilhelm Friedmann, Carl Philipp Emanuel and Johann Christian. After conducting and composing for the court orchestra at Cothen for seven years, Bach was offered the highly prestigious post of cantor (music director) of St. Thomas' Church in Leipzig - after it had been turned down by two other composers. The job was a demanding one; he had to compose cantatas for the St. Thomas

Hipparchus the Astronomer, Geographer, Mathematician

Hipparchus the Astronomer, Geographer, Mathematician If youve studied math at a high school level, you probably have experience with trigonometry. Its a fascinating branch of mathematics, and it all came about through the genius of Hipparchus of Rhodes. Hipparchus was a Greek scholar considered the greatest astronomical observer in early human history. He made many advances in geography and mathematics, specifically in trigonometry, which he used to construct models to predict solar eclipses. Because math is  the language of science, his contributions are particularly important.   Early Life Hipparchus was born around 190 BCE in Nicaea, Bithynia (now known as now Iznik, Turkey). His early life is mostly a mystery, but what we do know about him comes from Ptolemys Almagest. He  is mentioned in other writings as well. Strabo, a Greek geographer and historian who lived around 64 BCE to 24 AD called Hipparchus one of the famous men of Bithynia. His image, usually depicted sitting and looking at a globe, has been found on many coins minted between 138 AD and 253 AD. In ancient terms, thats a pretty important acknowledgment of importance. Hipparchus apparently traveled and wrote extensively. There are records of observations he made in his native Bithynia as well as from the  island of Rhodes and the Egyptian city of Alexandria. The only example of his writing that  still exists is his Commentary on Aratus and Eudoxus. Its  not one of his major writings, but its still important because it gives us an insight into his work. Life Achievements Hipparchuss major love was mathematics and he pioneered a number of ideas we take for granted today: the division of a circle into 360 degrees and the creation of one of the first trigonometric tables for solving triangles. In fact, he very likely invented the precepts of trigonometry. As an astronomer, Hipparchus was curious about using his knowledge of the Sun and stars to calculate important values. For example, he derived the length of the year to within 6.5 minutes. He also discovered the precession of the equinoxes, with a value of 46 degrees, which is fairly close to our modern number of 50.26 degrees. Three hundred years later, Ptolemy only came up with a figure of 36. The precession of the equinoxes refers to the gradual shift in Earths rotation axis. Our planet wobbles like a top as it spins, and over time, this means that the poles of our planet slowly shift the direction in which they point in space. Its why our north star changes throughout a 26,000-year cycle. Right now the north pole of our planet points to Polaris, but in the past, it has pointed to Thuban and Beta Ursae Majoris. Gamma Cepheii will become our pole star in a few thousand years. In 10,000 years, it will be Deneb, in Cygnus, all due to the precession of the equinoxes. Hipparchuss calculations were the first scientific effort to explain the phenomenon. Hipparchus also charted the stars in the sky seen with the naked eye. While his star catalog does not survive today, it is believed that his charts included around 850 stars. He also made a careful study of the motions of the Moon. Its unfortunate that more of his writings do not survive. It seems clear that the work of many who followed was developed using the groundwork laid by Hipparchus. Although little else is known about him, it is probable that he died around 120 BC most likely in Rhodes, Greece. Recognition In honor of Hipparchuss efforts to measure the sky and his work in mathematics and geography, the European Space Agency named their HIPPARCOS satellite in reference to his accomplishments. It was the first mission to focus exclusively on astrometry, which is the accurate measurement of stars and other celestial objects in the sky. It was launched in 1989 and spent four years on orbit. Data from the mission have been used in many areas of astronomy and cosmology (the study of the origin and evolution of the universe).   Edited and updated by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

The positive and negative impacts of an IT application within an Essay

The positive and negative impacts of an IT application within an organisation - Essay Example BT Industries is a manufacturer of trendy home appliances such as coffee makers, small microwaves, toasters, and an automatic defroster for frozen food. Market share was expected to increase from 4% to 12% in a highly competitive market. Projections were a direct result of the proven ability of designers to successfully anticipate trends for the BT market segment as well as the ability of the manufacturing sector to translate those designs into easily manufactured items. Location The Head Office is in Boston, with four assembly plants in Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami and Boston. The company accounting function is centralized in Boston with remote terminals at all manufacturing plants. Systems analysis and programming staff are also based in Boston whilst each of the four plants have only a few applications programmers to ‘trouble shoot’ on site. Market Essence of marketing is aimed at the ‘Yuppie’ market where two-income families have made time more precious than money. For this market, the emphasis is on up-to-date styling and perceived quality for traditional appliances. It is the intention of BT Industries to keep the final design of its products as secret as possible especially from Far East Asian competitors. IT Systems 1.4.1 CAD/CAM system in Boston with communications links directly to assembly plants. The purpose of the system is to accelerate the design process of currently sold appliances from the inception idea to the actual manufactured product.

Pollution Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pollution - Assignment Example Some examples of air pollution include: Exhaust from motor vehicles and airplanes - The combustion of fuels in the engines releases exhaust gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and in some cases lead particles into the air. This is the addition of contaminants in water bodies that result in a significant change in physical, chemical or biological state of the water. The resultant effect of contamination can be attributed to an increase in waterborne diseases, suspended sediments, and excessive growth of aquatic plants and death of aquatic animals (Hill, 2010). Some examples of water pollution include: This may take the form of either misuse of the land surface or disposal of both industrial and household waste. Some forms of land misuse are seen in improper agricultural practices and in mineral exploitation (Hill, 2010). Land pollution may be visible or invisible as a result of seepage of the pollutants. The latter is very hard to clean up since the contaminants may be spread over a large area. Some examples of land pollution include: This is the presence of unattractive sites in the human vicinity. This form of pollution is subjective in nature since individuals possess different views in what they term as either attractive or unattractive (Meunier, 2010). Some examples of visual pollution include: I consider water pollution the worst since contamination on one point is spread over to other areas for example pollution of river water can have serious consequences downstream. In addition, water is crucial for the survival of all living things. Thus water pollution affects a wide range of living organism and destruction or death of aquatic organism. Lastly, sometimes it is not easy to know if the water has been contaminated for example, contamination from heavy metals which requires laboratory testing. Pests cause health and economic problems depending on their types and where they inflict their damage. In

Qualities Of A Good Writer Essay Example for Free

Qualities Of A Good Writer Essay Whilewriterscomefromallwalksoflife,theysharecertainqualitiesthathelp themproducesatisfyingwork. Ifyouhavesomeofthesecharacteristics,youcould tryacareerincreativewriting. Alternatively,youcouldlookforcreativewriters withthesequalitiestoassistwithyourorganizationspublications. Creativewriters mightpublishpoetry,shortstoriesandnovels,buttheyalsoworkformanykindsof clients to earn their living. Creativewriterscraftnewworlds,producingdescriptionsofplacesandpeoplethat sendreadersontripsintheirminds. Theydothiswithnothingbuttheirbrainsand someformofwritingimplementbeitanold-schoolnotebookoramoremodern laptop. Whilenotwowritersplytheircraftintheexactsameway,some characteristics are common for many who are successful. Efficiency Creativewritersrarelyworkinoffices. Theymostcommonlyworkalone,makingit easyforthemtoslipofftaskandwhileawayadaythatshouldbefilledwith writing. Forsuccess,creativewritersmustbeefficientandfocused,sayswriter, editorandghostwriterMichaelJ. Dowling. Theymustbeabletoforcethemselves todowork,despitethedistractionsthatmayfilltheirworkspaces,whichareoften at home. Those lacking this quality will likely find their writing dreams fruitless. Research Abilities Thoughcreativewritersincludefictitiousdetailsintheyarnstheyspin,theymust  stillengageinresearchtomaketheirpiecesbelievable. Ifwritinghistoricalfiction, for instance, writers must research the time periods in which they set their stories to accuratelyportrayallofthedetails. Similarly,writersmustresearchthephysical placesinwhichtheysettheirtales,acquiringtheknowledgenecessarytopaintan authentic picture of that place in readers’ minds. Imagination Todreamupthestoriesthatmakecompellingcreativefiction,creativewritersmust havehighlydevelopedimaginations,accordingtoHelenaBlakemore,professorat theUniversityofEastLondon. Writerscanengageinexercisestobolstertheir imaginativeskills,butpossessingapre-existingabilitytoimagineandinventisa benefit to those beginning in this field. Confidence Producingacreativeproductisscary. AsJoeDunthorne,authorofâ€Å"Submarine,† statedinanarticlefortheBritishnewspapertheGuardian,nosafepathexistsfor writing. Tobesuccessful,writersmustbebraveandwillingtotakerisks. Ifthey lackthewillingnesstoputasidetheirworriesandforgeahead,theirwritingwill likely not be distinctive enough to be noteworthy. Ability to Focus Goodwritersunderstandtheparticularrequirementsofawritingproject. Itdoesnt matterwhethertheyreusingacreativeapproachforamarketingpublicationor  draftinganewchapterforanovel. Theyhaveanabilitytofocusonthewritingtask andcreateanoutlineordirectionforwhattheyllwrite. Focusedwritingiseasier forthereadertofollow. Unfocusedwritingfrustratesreadersandmayturnthemoff completely so they wont continue reading. Different Approaches Towritecreativeworks,writersneedareliableapproach. Somewritersbeginwith undisciplinedwritinganduseself-editingtotightentheirwritinginthenextstage. Otherwriterswillconsidermanydraftsofaparagraphintheirheadormakenotes onscrappaperandthenwritedownahighlyfocusedparagraph,whichusually requireslesseditingdowntheline. Somewritersareversatile,usingdifferent  approachestogettingideasonpaperbasedontheirmoodorthekindofwriting project theyre doing. Discipline Self-disciplineisessentialtowriterswhowanttosupportthemselvesthrough creativewriting. Withoutit,youllfinditdifficulttomaximizetheuseofyour writingtime. Ifyouhaveregularclientsoradeadlinetosubmitamanuscriptto youreditor,youmustdevoteadequatetimetowritingeachdayorweektoreach yourgoal. Disciplinemeansthatyoublockouttimeforwritingandproducea specificquantityoftextinthattimeblock. Ifyoudontachievethegoalfora writing session, you block another session in which to hit the mark. Because writing  deadlinesaretimedandspecific,youcantaffordtowastetimeinthecreative writing mode. Voice and Authenticity Allkindsofcreativewritingbecomemoreeffectivewhenreaderscanhearthe presenceoftheauthorsvoice. Insometypesofliterature,charactersalsohave differentvoicesthatcompeteforthereadersattention. Goodwritersfindtheir voice for a particular work or character and use it consistently for the entertainment ofthereader. Ifyouhaventfoundyourwritersvoice,usefeedbackfromreadersto guideyou. Ifyouwriteauthentically,yourvoicereachesthereader. Bycopying anotherauthorsvoice,yourvoiceisboundtofalter;itwontcomeacross consistently or genuinely to the reader.

Using the Internet in Vocational Education :: Technology Telecommunications Essays

Using the Internet in Vocational Education "It is an exciting time in education. The Internet offers new opportunities for students and teachers a link to learn in interesting ways" (Ellsworth 1994, p. xxiii). "Telecommunications truly is one of the most exciting educational tools I have encountered in my teaching career" (Watson 1994, p. 41). "The Internet's usefulness is limited only by our level of commitment. We first have to get plugged in before we can get turned on. Then we can help our profession by using our imagination to create a vocational educator's Dream Net in the years to come" (Seguin and Seguin 1995, p. 33). The Internet is a vast computer-based network of networks that includes listservs and newsgroups-discussion forums on specific topics-as well as electronic mail and electronic journals. It is used in education, business, and leisure, and students must be able to navigate it to become prepared citizens. This ERIC Digest does not pretend to be an exhaustive list of vocational education resources on the Internet-the list changes daily. It offers suggestions for using the Internet in the vocational classroom and lists newsgroups, World Wide Web (WWW) sites, listservs, and electronic journals of interest to vocational educators. It also serves as a supplement to an ERIC Key, Locating ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education Materials on the Internet. Much of the material for this Digest was received as a result of a message sent to the VOCNET listserv asking how vocational educators were using the Internet in their classrooms. Responses varied widely. Many of the respondents indicated that they were just getting started with the Internet and using it primarily for sending messages. Some students have joined listservs and newsgroups; others have surfed the 'Net for information and materials from all over the world. Examples of Current Use The director and associate professor of vocational-technical education at Dakota State University uses the Internet primarily for e-mail. He requires students to send queries to AskERIC; in his "Technology in Voc Ed" course, graduate students have to use the WWW and sign up for a listserv. He is considering offering a course for vocational education personnel entirely through the Internet (A. Seguin, Internet message, June 20, 1995). Cognitive Training Associates, Inc. develops and uses networks for large corporations. They use the Internet to distribute technology-based training applications-mostly core skill acquisition and reinforcement, knowledge transfer and sharing, and use of job-specific smart applications that perform lower-level tasks and provide on-demand expertise (M.

Twenty First Century

Twenty-first Century Skill: Trading Carbon CreditsPublished:| June 8, 2011| Author:| Julia Hanna| Cap and trade has become an increasingly popular mechanism which is used by governments to increase green behavior and to cut corporate pollution. this article told, the students at Harvard Business School use a simulation to learn how it works and includes an interview with professor Peter Coles. In industries it’s really important to know how cap and trade Works and because of that a Harvard Business School professor, Peter Coles, gives his students an opportunity to experience the carbon trading simulation.He has used the simulation in the elective course â€Å"Managing Networked Businesses and the doctoral course Market Design†. The basic concept is a cap which is set on carbon emissions. Students are wanted to try to rise profits with clean technologies. So that we can say the simulation provides a classroom experience for students to see the impact of different design principles in the cap-and-trade mechanism. At first nobody knows what the appropriate permit price is so they are in an unknowledge and fort his situation, Coles says, â€Å"Those who make poor choices feel the consequences of price uncertainty most deeply†.One of the cement factory managers begins with no permits. While that may seem unfair, it's a condition that mirrors real life. â€Å"Typically, these permits are grandfathered,† Coles says. â€Å"They go to incumbent firms with the best lobbyists, while the new guy faces an uphill battle. † Sometimes groups will find that the price drops to zero, upsetting students who are stuck with suddenly worthless permits. In other instances, the price rises dramatically. Both extremes offer useful discussion points,† says Coles, noting that the Europe Union experienced a price collapse in 2006 that called the stability of the entire market into question. â€Å"As a class we can talk about whether a price collap se is really a problem, and if so, what can we do to fix it. A simple solution would be to not issue so many permits, which is easier said than done. Another is to allow unused permits to be banked for future periods, while a third would be to establish a government-imposed floor or ceiling on rading prices that would protect firms from those extremes. † The profit point The profit-driven behavior of the cement factory managers eventually creates a clear â€Å"aha! † moment. â€Å"No one is thinking about efficient reduction of pollution during the exercise, and that is really the whole point of the cap-and-trade scheme,† Coles says. â€Å"A property right is assigned to produce a certain amount of pollution and then market principles go to work. Afterward, in discussion, we look at what's happened and see that we've held pollution to the cap level incredibly efficiently. In the discussion, he adds, it's possible to go through the math behind the dynamic and the role of marginal cost of abatement in reaching this point. Students consider other market design factors during the debriefing session, such as determining how to set initial permit allocations. As mentioned, grandfathering would give incumbent firms an advantage; other options include auctioning permits to the highest bidders, or assessing each firm's operations by size and industry and then estimating benchmark pollution levels; if a firm exceeded those levels, it would need to buy additional permits.Trading in the United States While the United States hasn't taken part in global carbon cap-and-trade schemes, Coles notes that it has long had trading programs for sulfur and nitrogen oxides, the emissions that cause smog and acid rain. â€Å"Our ‘SOx' and ‘NOx' markets are well functioning. It's an easier problem to solve because it's a more local pollution. By contrast, if China, the United States, and India decide not to join a global carbon trading scheme, Europe's efforts may appear insubstantial in reducing global warming.Worse, if cap and trade puts European firms at a permanent disadvantage in the global market, this may further erode European industry support. † Using a simulation to grasp the mechanics and economic efficiencies of cap and trade is one matter. But factoring in the complexities of global politics? Coles has been thinking about an extension of the simulation, in which the United States joins the European Union's carbon market as a means of testing what happens when markets are linked. There will probably never be a simulation that captures and accurately predicts the intricacies of eopolitics—but it's a start. Cap and trade has become an increasingly popular mechanism which is used by governments to increase green behavior and to cut corporate pollution. this article told, the students at Harvard Business School use a simulation to learn how it works and includes an interview with professor Peter Coles. In indu stries it’s really important to know how cap and trade Works and because of that a Harvard Business School professor, Peter Coles, gives his students an opportunity to experience the carbon trading simulation.He has used the simulation in the elective course â€Å"Managing Networked Businesses and the doctoral course Market Design†. The basic concept is a cap which is set on carbon emissions. Students are wanted to try to rise profits with clean technologies. So that we can say the simulation provides a classroom experience for students to see the impact of different design principles in the cap-and-trade mechanism. At first nobody knows what the appropriate permit price is so they are in an unknowledge and fort his situation, Coles says, â€Å"Those who make poor choices feel the consequences of price uncertainty most deeply†.One of the cement factory managers begins with no permits. While that may seem unfair, it's a condition that mirrors real life. Sometimes groups will find that the price drops to zero, upsetting students who are stuck with suddenly worthless permits. In other instances, the price rises dramatically. â€Å"Both extremes offer useful discussion points,† says Coles The profit-driven behavior of the cement factory managers eventually creates a clear â€Å"aha! † moment.Using a simulation to grasp the mechanics and economic efficiencies of cap and trade is one matter. But factoring in the complexities of global politics? Coles has been thinking about an extension of the simulation, in which the United States joins the European Union's carbon market as a means of testing what happens when markets are linked. There will probably never be a simulation that captures and accurately predicts the intricacies of geopolitics—but it's a start.

Hydraulic Fracturing

Is hydrologic fracturing a suitable form of energy production? Over the past 85 years, the American Petroleum Institute, API, has been developing and refining engineering standards and practices for the industry. The past decade has brought about a new practice which involves hydraulic fracturing in order to produce oil and natural gas in places where conventional technologies are ineffective. This is a rather in depth process. Firstly, a production drill is drilled through the rock layers to intersect the coal seem that contains coal bed methane, CBM. Next, fractures are created or existing fractures are enlarged in the coal seem so that the CBM can be drawn from the well and pumped to the surface. These fractures are created or enlarged by using a thick water-based fluid which is gradually increased by rate and pressure. Then, over time the coal seam is unable to keep up with the fracturing fluid which results in high pressure causing the coal to fracture along the weaknesses within. Sand is pumped into these fractures to keep them ‘propped’ open after the pressures are released. The first diagram in the appendix shows what occurs in the subsurface during a typical hydraulic fracturing event. After a period of fluid recovery or groundwater extraction is when the extraction of CBM occurs. As pumping continues, the pressure eventually decreases so that the methane desorbs from the coal, flows and is extracted through the production well. The fracture created acts as a conduit in the rock or coal formation, allowing the CBM to flow more freely from the coal seems through the fracture system and to the production where gas is pumped to the surface. Unlike conventional gas production, the amount of water extracted declines proportionally with increasing CBM production (US EPA, 2004). The demand of natural gas is expected to increase drastically over the next 20 years, causing the need for innovative production to fill the growing demand. Many may believe that there are other ways to fulfill the need of natural gas, due to production concerns, but this is a suitable form of energy production. Hydraulic fracturing should be used because it will provide a significant increase in jobs, economic growth, and clean burning energy. The Keystone XL pipeline has had much controversy in the news recently. This pipeline is an extension onto the existing pipeline running from Canada to the United States. The pipeline would increase crude oil capacity between the two countries allowing for a more diverse supply among the United States’ worldwide crude oil sources, shorten the transportation pathway for crude oil supplies, and increase the crude oil supplies from a major non-organization of petroleum exporting countries producer. â€Å"The use of hydraulic fracturing will help make our country more energy self-reliant and more secure† (Green, 2012). This statement was made by the API President and CEO, Jack Gerard during the second State of American Energy event January 4. He also proceeded to state that the United State’s resources on and offshore are among the largest in the world. This means that with the right policies in place, there could be 100 percent of our liquid fuel needs supplied domestically and from Canada by 2026. Also, with a pro-energy development approach 1 million new US jobs by 2018 could be produced along with billions of dollars in additional revenue to government (Green, 2012). The increase in jobs from this production is approximately 334,000 in the past two years after the 3 million manufacturing jobs lost from 2001-2007. Hydraulic fracturing has rapidly increased the domestic production of natural gas and has seen low domestic prices for households. Figure five below shows the increase in production rates over the last several years (Green, 2012). The oppositions to this vision are primarily political on an ecological level. In order for the process to run smoothly water use is needed. Many think that the water used for hydraulic fracturing could deplete fresh water supplies and impact aquatic habitat. Some also say that the groundwater could be contaminated. Some hydraulic fracturing fluids can also contain chemicals. Typically a mixture of water, proppants and chemicals are what is pumped into the rock or coal to fracture the wells. Eco-friendly leaders and environmentalists are taking a stand to state that these chemicals, use of water and damage to groundwater are not acceptable and this energy method should not be used. Firstly, chemicals typically make up just 0. and 2% of the total volume of the fracturing fluid with the majority being water. Secondly, natural gas emits fewer greenhouse gases than other fossil fuels, about half as much of carbon dioxide as coal which contributes to less global warming. Thirdly, with the halting of fracturing in some states due to pressures from environmental and public health groups asking the EPA for tests and proof that it is safe to continue with this type of energy production, supporters are concerned that it could hinder U. S. job growth and energy output in a time of need (McLendon, 2010). The tests from the EPA will take roughly two years, so until then it is a waiting process. As you can see, this is a roughly new energy production that does need to be researched more. From my point of view the pros seem to outweigh the cons. I think more tests and actual data about contamination and whether it is really safe will be the true test. The increase in jobs, economic growth, and clean burning energy is most definitely what this country needs right now. The true outlook on this issue will come towards the later part of this year when the test results conclude. References Green, M. (2012, January 05). Starting the energy debate. Retrieved from http://energytomorrow. org/blog/starting-the-energy-debate/ McLendon, R. (2010, December 10). Big frack attack: Is hydraulic fracturing safe?. Retrieved from http://www. mnn. com/earth-matters/translating-uncle-sam/stories/big-frack-attack-is-hydraulic-fracturing-safe US EPA. (2004, June). Evaluation of impacts to underground sources of drinking water by hydraulic fracturing of coalbed methane reservoirs. Retrieved from http://www. epa. gov/safewater/uic/pdfs/cbmstudy_attach_uic_exec_summ. pdf Appendix Hydraulic Fracturing Is hydrologic fracturing a suitable form of energy production? Over the past 85 years, the American Petroleum Institute, API, has been developing and refining engineering standards and practices for the industry. The past decade has brought about a new practice which involves hydraulic fracturing in order to produce oil and natural gas in places where conventional technologies are ineffective. This is a rather in depth process. Firstly, a production drill is drilled through the rock layers to intersect the coal seem that contains coal bed methane, CBM. Next, fractures are created or existing fractures are enlarged in the coal seem so that the CBM can be drawn from the well and pumped to the surface. These fractures are created or enlarged by using a thick water-based fluid which is gradually increased by rate and pressure. Then, over time the coal seam is unable to keep up with the fracturing fluid which results in high pressure causing the coal to fracture along the weaknesses within. Sand is pumped into these fractures to keep them ‘propped’ open after the pressures are released. The first diagram in the appendix shows what occurs in the subsurface during a typical hydraulic fracturing event. After a period of fluid recovery or groundwater extraction is when the extraction of CBM occurs. As pumping continues, the pressure eventually decreases so that the methane desorbs from the coal, flows and is extracted through the production well. The fracture created acts as a conduit in the rock or coal formation, allowing the CBM to flow more freely from the coal seems through the fracture system and to the production where gas is pumped to the surface. Unlike conventional gas production, the amount of water extracted declines proportionally with increasing CBM production (US EPA, 2004). The demand of natural gas is expected to increase drastically over the next 20 years, causing the need for innovative production to fill the growing demand. Many may believe that there are other ways to fulfill the need of natural gas, due to production concerns, but this is a suitable form of energy production. Hydraulic fracturing should be used because it will provide a significant increase in jobs, economic growth, and clean burning energy. The Keystone XL pipeline has had much controversy in the news recently. This pipeline is an extension onto the existing pipeline running from Canada to the United States. The pipeline would increase crude oil capacity between the two countries allowing for a more diverse supply among the United States’ worldwide crude oil sources, shorten the transportation pathway for crude oil supplies, and increase the crude oil supplies from a major non-organization of petroleum exporting countries producer. â€Å"The use of hydraulic fracturing will help make our country more energy self-reliant and more secure† (Green, 2012). This statement was made by the API President and CEO, Jack Gerard during the second State of American Energy event January 4. He also proceeded to state that the United State’s resources on and offshore are among the largest in the world. This means that with the right policies in place, there could be 100 percent of our liquid fuel needs supplied domestically and from Canada by 2026. Also, with a pro-energy development approach 1 million new US jobs by 2018 could be produced along with billions of dollars in additional revenue to government (Green, 2012). The increase in jobs from this production is approximately 334,000 in the past two years after the 3 million manufacturing jobs lost from 2001-2007. Hydraulic fracturing has rapidly increased the domestic production of natural gas and has seen low domestic prices for households. Figure five below shows the increase in production rates over the last several years (Green, 2012). The oppositions to this vision are primarily political on an ecological level. In order for the process to run smoothly water use is needed. Many think that the water used for hydraulic fracturing could deplete fresh water supplies and impact aquatic habitat. Some also say that the groundwater could be contaminated. Some hydraulic fracturing fluids can also contain chemicals. Typically a mixture of water, proppants and chemicals are what is pumped into the rock or coal to fracture the wells. Eco-friendly leaders and environmentalists are taking a stand to state that these chemicals, use of water and damage to groundwater are not acceptable and this energy method should not be used. Firstly, chemicals typically make up just 0. and 2% of the total volume of the fracturing fluid with the majority being water. Secondly, natural gas emits fewer greenhouse gases than other fossil fuels, about half as much of carbon dioxide as coal which contributes to less global warming. Thirdly, with the halting of fracturing in some states due to pressures from environmental and public health groups asking the EPA for tests and proof that it is safe to continue with this type of energy production, supporters are concerned that it could hinder U. S. job growth and energy output in a time of need (McLendon, 2010). The tests from the EPA will take roughly two years, so until then it is a waiting process. As you can see, this is a roughly new energy production that does need to be researched more. From my point of view the pros seem to outweigh the cons. I think more tests and actual data about contamination and whether it is really safe will be the true test. The increase in jobs, economic growth, and clean burning energy is most definitely what this country needs right now. The true outlook on this issue will come towards the later part of this year when the test results conclude. References Green, M. (2012, January 05). Starting the energy debate. Retrieved from http://energytomorrow. org/blog/starting-the-energy-debate/ McLendon, R. (2010, December 10). Big frack attack: Is hydraulic fracturing safe?. Retrieved from http://www. mnn. com/earth-matters/translating-uncle-sam/stories/big-frack-attack-is-hydraulic-fracturing-safe US EPA. (2004, June). Evaluation of impacts to underground sources of drinking water by hydraulic fracturing of coalbed methane reservoirs. Retrieved from http://www. epa. gov/safewater/uic/pdfs/cbmstudy_attach_uic_exec_summ. pdf Appendix

Email Lessons from Spanish.About.Com

Email Lessons from Spanish.About.Com Need a reminder to learn a little Spanish each day? Are you looking for some quick lessons, or a random sampling of what Spanish has to offer? If so, one of our email courses may be what youre looking for. Each of our email courses features useful information as well as links to lessons and/or vocabulary pages on the site. Heres what we offer: : This is our most popular email course. Each day you will receive a new vocabulary word along with its definition and an example of its usage in a sentence. Most of the vocabulary is at an intermediate or advanced level, although even beginners can benefit from seeing how these words are used in the sample sentences. Each daily installment also has links to a lesson on vocabulary or grammar. : If youre brand new to learning Spanish, this is the email course for you. We use mostly basic words, and we keep the sample sentences straightforward so that you can better see how the words are being used. Once you finish this course, youll be ready for the regular Word of the Day. : Just what its title implies, the mini-course features links to lessons in basic Spanish. By studying a few lessons each day, the beginning student will have a knowledge of the basic concepts of Spanish grammar as well as learn some of the most essential words of the language. : Each day you receive a Spanish proverb, saying or quotation along with its translation in English the following day. This series of mini-lessons lasts about six months.

Definition of Yellow Journalism

Definition of Yellow Journalism Yellow Journalism was a term used to describe a particular style of reckless and provocative newspaper reporting that became prominent in the late 1800s. A famous circulation war between two New York City newspapers prompted each paper to print increasingly sensationalistic headlines designed to lure readers. And ultimately the recklessness of the newspapers may have influenced the United States government to enter the Spanish-American War. The competition in the newspaper business was occurring at the same as the papers began to print some sections, particularly comic strips, with colored ink. A type of quick-drying yellow ink was used to print the clothing of a comic character known as â€Å"The Kid.† And the color of the ink wound up giving a name to the raucous new style of newspapers. The term stuck to such an extent that â€Å"yellow journalism† is still sometimes used to describe irresponsible reporting. The Great New York City Newspaper War The publisher Joseph Pulitzer turned his New York City newspaper, The World, into a popular publication in the 1880s by focusing on crime stories and other tales of vice. The front page of the paper often featured large headlines describing news events in provocative terms. Pulitzer was known to hire editors who were particularly skilled at writing headlines designed to entice readers. And the style of selling newspapers at the time involved newsboys who would stand on street corners and yell out samples of headlines. American journalism, for much of the 19th century, had been dominated by politics in the sense that newspapers were often aligned with a particular political faction. In the new style of journalism practiced by Pulitzer, the entertainment value of the news began to dominate. Along with the sensational crime stories, The World also was known for a variety of innovative features, including a comics section that began in 1889. The Sunday edition of The World passed 250,000 copies by the end of the 1880s. In 1895 William Randolph Hearst bought the failing New York Journal at a bargain price and set his sights on displacing The World. He went about it in an obvious way: by hiring away the editors and writers employed by Pulitzer. The editor who had made The World so popular, Morill Goddard, went to work for Hearst. And Pulitzer, to battle back, hired a brilliant young editor, Arthur Brisbane. The two publishers and their scrappy editors battled for New York City’s reading public. Did a Newspaper War Provoke a Real War? The newspaper  style produced by Hearst and Pulitzer tended to be fairly reckless, and there’s no question that their editors and writers were not above embellishing facts. But the style of journalism became a serious national issue when the United States was considering whether to intervene against Spanish forces in Cuba in the late 1890s. Beginning in 1895, American newspapers inflamed the public by reporting on Spanish atrocities in Cuba. When the American battleship Maine exploded in the harbor at Havana on February 15, 1898, the sensationalist press cried out for vengeance. Some historians have contended that Yellow Journalism prompted the American intervention in Cuba which followed in the summer of 1898. That assertion is impossible to prove. But there’s no doubt that the actions of President William McKinley were ultimately influenced by the enormous newspaper headlines and the provocative stories about the destruction of the Maine. Legacy of Yellow Journalism The publication of sensationalistic news had roots stretching back in the 1830s when the famous murder of Helen Jewett essentially created the template for what we think of as tabloid news coverage. But the Yellow Journalism of the 1890s took the approach of sensationalism to a new level with the use of large and often startling headlines. Over time the public began to distrust newspapers which were obviously embellishing facts. And editors and publishers realized that building credibility with readers was a better long-term strategy. But the impact of the newspaper competition of the 1890s still lingered to some extent, especially in the use of provocative headlines. Tabloid journalism lived on in major American cities, especially in New York, where the New York Daily News and New York Post often battled to serve up engaging headlines. The tabloid headlines we see today are in some ways rooted in the newsstand battles between Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. And clickbait, the term for internet content designed to lure readers to click and read, has roots in the Yellow Journalism of the 1890s.

LESSONS FROM THE CRISES IN COTE D'IVOIRE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

LESSONS FROM THE CRISES IN COTE D'IVOIRE - Essay Example the investment policies of foreign countries the Industrial sector shows high growth rate .Other fast growing sectors are automotives, food and beverages, infrastructure, oil and gas, medical, telecommunications and IT. But now the country is facing the problem of underdevelopment and financial crisis. In 1979, Ivory Coast rated one of the highest rates of economic growth among the developing countries and it was considered as an economic hotspot with limited state intervention in economy. To identify the cause of the crisis in Ivory Coast, one must go back to the socio-political settings. Arthur B. Dennis observes that, â€Å"The crisis in Ivory Coast is a drama of political leaders playing the xenophobia card to divide the tribes and rule.† (Dennis 2007). The greed of the political leaders resulted in the civil war and to the division of the country into two. In 1843, Ivory Coast became a French settlement and its history is closely related to colonization. Ivory Coast became a Republic in 1958 and in 1960 the leader of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), Felix Huaphonet Boigny became the President. Here begins the era of single party system in Ivory Coast and this party ruled till 1993. Moreover, the authoritarian rule under Felix Huaphonet Boigny resulted in large scale protest from the side of the people. Foreign interest and economic dependency of the rulers, political greed of leaders and the rebellious groups also act as the main factors of the crisis. A. Ekissi points out the severe ness of the civil war, â€Å"Beginning on Thursday November 4, 2004, the war resumed with aerial bombardments carried out by the loyalist army on the rebel-controlled zones† (Ekissi 2004) which describes the involvement of foreign forces in the affairs of the country. The key issue of the conflict is the question of national identity among the foreigners who had settled in Ivory Coast. The policies of the government resulted in economic depression and other problems