Natural Disasters Why Havent We Learned from Them Yet Essay Example

Natural Disasters: Why Havent We Learned from Them Yet? Paper Many times the people affected by such an event take a backseat to the actually disaster itself. Why is that? Why is it that certain parts of the world, when hit by a natural disaster, seem to be more devastated by it than the same event somewhere else? And, why have those areas at the highest risk of being affected by a natural disaster made little to no effort of better preparing themselves for such an event? The disaster part of a natural disaster can be prevented when the appropriate steps to better prepare a vulnerable area are taken. By taking the mistakes of the past and learning room them, one has the capability of lowering the statistics of those whom are devastated by a natural disaster each year. The first step to understanding natural disasters is to know what they are capable of doing. The Federal Management Emergency Agent is the U. S. s disaster relief branch of Homeland Security. The mission statement of FEM., as stated on their website, is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards (What We Do 1). In an effort to do this, FEM. has provided information on planning and preparing, recovering and rebuilding, and on natural disasters in general. We will write a custom essay sample on Natural Disasters: Why Havent We Learned from Them Yet? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Natural Disasters: Why Havent We Learned from Them Yet? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Natural Disasters: Why Havent We Learned from Them Yet? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer FEM. has provided information on every type of natural disaster possible, but in the past decade the ones that have caused some of the most damage and fatalities have been earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tsunamis. Earthquakes can strike suddenly and without warning at anytime day or not. Many earthquakes occur along a fault line, the meeting of two more tectonic plates below the earths surface. The breaking and shifting of these plates causes the shaking of the crust above. About 70 to 75 damaging earthquakes occur around the world each year, and the magnitude of theses earthquakes are measured on a Richter ranging from one to ten, ten being the most severe (Fast Fact About Earthquakes 1; 5). Floods and hurricanes can sometimes come as a package deal, case-in-point New Orleans and Hurricane Strain. Floods can either develop slowly or in a matter of minutes (Flood 2). Hurricanes can be detected while in the middle of the ocean, although the path and wind speed of them is ever changing. They are measured in categories according to wind speed ranging from one o five, five being the highest. In other parts of the world this storm is referred to as a typhoon or cyclone (that is a Hurricane? 1). Tsunamis, sometimes mistaken for tidal waves can move hundreds of M. P. H. In the open ocean, reaching heights of up to 100 feet before crashing in to land. Underwater earthquakes most often create tsunamis. The areas with the greatest risk of being hit by one are those that are less than 25 feet above sea level and within a mile of the shoreline (tsunami 1; 4). Now that a general understanding for five major natural disasters has been developed, it is time o take that and apply it to the, possible, five worst natural disasters of the last decade. In May of 2008 in Schuman, China, a 7. 9- magnitude earthquake struck this area of western China, where a total of 15 million people lived. The earthquake killed an estimated 70 thousand people and displaced over 18 thousand. Since 1976, when an earthquake killing over 240 thousand people struck the area, China has required that new structures withstand major quakes. When the new building codes were put to the test in the 2008 earthquake, many buildings, including schools and hospitals, collapsed; gassing the question as to how rigorously the building codes were enforced (Schuman Earthquake 1). Thousands of the deaths were reported to be children, prompting protest by parents. Although the Chinese government refused to release the number of students who died from the collapse of buildings, official reports surfaced not long after the quake putting the student death toll at 10,000. The Chinese government, unwilling to deal with the protest of the outraged parents, chose to offer them $8,800 in exchange for their silence. For the most part, the government as refused to address the robber Of poorly built schools in the region leaving the possibility of another disaster, like the one caused by the 2008 earthquake, highly likely Schumann Earthquake 7; 9). Another disaster that struck in 2008 was Cyclone Margins. The cyclone struck the country of Manner, where it reached winds up 121 M. P. H before hitting land on the evening of May 2. The storm nearly killed 85,000 people, and displaced an additional 54,000. The Irradiated Delta and Yang were devastated, so much so, that it could be argued that the generals in charge of running Manner were in complete shock. French and U. S. Oval ships waited off shore with aid awaiting the approval to come ashore, but were later denied by the generals (Cyclone Margins 1; 4). A U. N. Program director made this statement about the whole crisis, The generals thought it was just another typical cyclone, where the army would hand out some rice and a few tarps and that would be it. The regime made some shocking mistakes early on, really horrible, when they blocked the aid. With all the international furor, they finally realized, This is way, way too big for us. And after that, they did a lot. A huge national response occurred (Cyclone Margins 5). Foreign aid was finally accepted, but only after weeks of suffering by the Manner people. Hurricane Strain could easily be considered the worst natural disaster in IS. S. History, however flooding not hurricane winds, caused the most damage to New Orleans. The flooding of the New Orleans area in 2005 was not the first time the city had experienced such a thing. In 1927, water was forced over the levees surrounding the sinking city due to heavy rainfall and flooding of the Mississippi River. To save New Orleans, the leaders proposed a radical plan. South of the city, the population was mostly rural and poor. Leaders appealed to the federal government to essentially sacrifice those parishes by blowing up a levee and diverting the water to the marshland, and promised restitution to people who would lose their homes. The plan was passed and a levee 13 miles south of New Orleans in Carnivore was blown (Brinkley 8-15). According to the 2000 Louisiana census, about 50 percent of the stats?s population lived in coastal areas of New Orleans. The mandatory evacuation came at too short notice, leaving thousands of people stranded in flooded areas. (Brinkley). The levees constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers failed below sign specifications resulting in the flooding of 80 percent of the city. Although the number of deaths, 1 ,800, is incomparable to the other disasters discussed, the damage reported, an estimate $1 6 billion, is arguably the most done by any natural disaster in history (Brinkley 12; Cooper 7). National Geographic News labeled the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami the possible deadliest tsunami in history. The tsunami, created by a 9. 0-magnitude earthquake in the middle of the Indian Ocean, released energy equivalent to an estimated 23 thousand Hiroshima- type atomic bombs (The Deadliest Tsunami In History? 1). The wave reached heights as high as 30 feet in some places and killed an estimated 150 thousand people. The Pacific Ocean has the most active tsunami zone according to the U. S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Tsunamis: Facts About Killer Waves 2). The waves caused deaths in a total of 11 countries surrounding the Indian Ocean, reaching as far as three thousand miles away from the epicenter, on December 26. Some people, when they saw the receding water, knew it was a warning sign of a tsunami. Some experts say that using the receding ocean as a warning can give people as much as five minutes to escape to safety. Unfortunately there were a number of people who did not know this fact and instead of running away from the beach, they crowded the beach to see what was happening. By the time they realized what was going on it was too late and the waves were already crashing in (The Deadliest Tsunami In History? 2). The most recent natural disaster happened on January 12, 2010. The country of Haiti was hit by a massive earthquake of a 7. 0-magnitude, which lasted for nearly 45 seconds. The epicenter of the earthquake was just 10 miles from the Haitian capital of Port-AU Prince. There were a total of 33 aftershocks that ranged in magnitudes of 4. To 5. 9 and an estimated three million people were in need of emergency aid afterwards (Fast Facts: Haiti Earthquake 2; 7). While the estimate of the total damages is still uncertain, The Washington post reported on February 17 that the quake could end up costing Haiti upwards of $14 billion (Sheridan 1) In February 2010, Prime Minister Jean-Max Believe estimated that 250 thousand residences and 30 thousand commercial buildings were condemned. Also by this time, the death toll had reached 230 thousand. There are no building codes in Haiti making construction standards extremely low. Just days after the quake the United States government announced that it would give $1 00 million to aid effort, however since the quake the U. S. Has committed over $500 million. (Sheridan 3). Each of the previously mentioned five disasters all have something in common, they all lack education on disaster risk management. According to the DRUM, World Institute for Disaster Risk Management, losses contributed to disaster have increased dramatically over the past two decades (About DRUM 9). In some cases people do not have the option to better themselves because of a lack of funding, but in many cases they do have that option but they choose to ignore it. Some of the cities with the highest vulnerability Of being effected by a natural disaster are coastal cities. More than half of the worlds population lives in coastal areas which Cannon, Davis and Benjamin Wisher, authors of At Risk: Natural Hazard, People Vulnerability and Disasters, contribute to the idea of the American Dream here in the United States. People, especially the elderly, are sold this idea of retiring somewhere close to the water in high-risk areas. In other parts of the world, large cities are placed near the water because of trade with no regard for how vulnerable that makes them (Cannon 25). Another area that falls under the lack of education on disaster risk management is the quality of structures, both residential and commercial, built in and around the cities at risk. In Mark peelings book, The Vulnerability of Cities: Natural Disasters and Social Resilience, he shows that strengthening local capacity- through appropriate housing infrastructures and livelihoods- is crucial to improving resilience. Effective community or municipal government is essential if cities are to cope with disasters successfully, studies show (Peel ins 6). The damages and lose of human life caused by the Schuman earthquake, Hurricane Strain and Haiti earthquake might have decreased tremendously had structures in these towns been held to a higher standard. A universal building code, like that of the United States, for every nation might prohibit such losses in future disasters. Another thing that would cut back on the number of deaths caused by natural disasters is developing a better way to predict them. The unpredictability of natural disasters is one thing that makes them extremely dangerous. Scientists have yet to come up with the technology to predict when and where a disaster is going to strike. However, over the recent years survivors have had similar stories involving animals. Survivors of the Indian Ocean Tsunami recall many animals retreating away from the shores and to higher ground just moments before the giant wave crashed in to shore. Some scientists believe that animals, both world and domestic, have the ability to hear infrasonic, which are sounds produced by a natural phenomenon inaudible to the human ear. Another possible explanation is the animals sensitivity to a change in electrical current through electromagnetic fields (Can Animals Predict Disaster? 2). While studies on the claim of animals predicting disasters are still taking place, if found to be true, this could make a age difference in the number of disaster related deaths each year. In conclusion, there is a time and place for everything. But, with proper advancements in technology that time can be better predicted and that place can be better prepared through a greater desire for education on disaster risk management.

Maos Hundred Flowers Essay Example

Maos Hundred Flowers Essay Example Maos Hundred Flowers Paper Maos Hundred Flowers Paper In 1956 Mao Zedong started a campaign to allow more freedom within his communist regime in China. However in a year the campaign had been cancelled, and replaced by a anti-rightist campaign. Was this just a clever trap to allow Mao to see his critics? Or was it a genuine attempt to allow the Chinese people more freedom? Many historians have argued either way. In 1956 Mao thought it was time to allow more freedom, and allow great expression of thoughts. He intended to allow people to constructively criticises how well communist China was advancing. He made a speech saying how he was extremely pleased with Chinas current state, and hinted he would be allowing intellectuals more freedom. This was very unusual behaviour from Mao, as he was normally against intellectuals. However did he do this for a certain reason? Mao had been so pleased with Chinas state he had sent all the Russian advisers home, as the contract was costing China heavily in resources. However by losing the Russian advisers he needed to allow the Chinese intellectuals to have some more freedom to inspire them to continue the work the Russians were doing beforehand. Stalin died in 1953, and when Nikita Khrushchev came to power he slammed Stalin, and when Mao saw this he could see the same happening to him in China. Therefore to stop this happening Mao allowed criticism within his own party so he did not become like Stalin. This helped make himself less like Stalin too. Another possible reason for Mao to make a genuine to attempt to give more freedom was that he was getting suspicious of a Military Coup. He had used the military in the early stages of his campaign, but after they had sorted out the country they were no longer needed. He needed to give more freedom to stop the military deciding to take power. However there a few potential reasons which show it could be a clever trap. In 1956 there was a nation wide revolt against the Russian communist regime. The Government fell quickly and Russia had to send in troops to regain control. Mao did not want the same happening in China, therefore allowing people to openly criticises the regime he could see the people who could be willing to start an uprising. He mainly expected this to come from the intellectuals of China. When Mao cancelled the Hundred Flowers campaign in 1957, many thought it was a clever trap to allow Mao to find out his enemies within the state, however after studying the evidence, I feel Mao had made a genuine attempt to give more freedom within China. However, when he saw how much people did not agree with his policies, he panicked and removed the Hundred Flowers campaign, and decided to send the opposition to re-education centres.

Papers Psychology Research

Papers Psychology Research Papers Psychology Research Papers Psychology Research: Taste of Happiness Colleges, universities, friends, parties, vacations, bright holidays first love All these pleasant and exciting things can be spoiled by papers psychology research writing. Do not let papers psychology research to become a thing, which poisons your happy college life, get rid of papers psychology research writing. We do not advise you to quit your study, we advise you to become a client of custom writing service and to free your life of the hateful papers psychology research writing. Save your health and nerves, they will be useful in your adult life. You Make a Decision! When they say is that students do not have any choice while studying, that if they have received a task to write papers psychology research proposals UK they can do nothing but write it or otherwise they will be excluded from the higher educational establishment and will loose the marvelous opportunity to build their career, they are lying to you. This is not t rue. We all always have our own choices, and students are not the exception. When they have received a task to write papers psychology research, they can either write it or order it to be written for them within our custom essay writing service. We do not provoke students not to write their papers psychology research, and do not make any propaganda of buying their papers psychology research.If a student has a desire and time to write papers psychology research on his or her own, we are ready to support such a student with all the necessary information at the subject of papers psychology research writing free of charge. Just visit our custom writing and find all the necessary material, including tips and advices of how to cope with papers psychology research writing in a successful way. By offering our servicing, we just want to help those students who do not have either opportunity or desire to write their papers psychology research on their own. If You Decide To Use Our Service s Therefore, if you are that one who prefers not to write but to buy papers psychology research, welcome to our custom writing site. If you use our servicing, you will get the guarantee of A+ grade for your papers psychology research presentation. That is why do not spoil your life with deadlines of papers psychology research presenting, buy your papers psychology research and lead a full-fledged life with all those happiness a student should taste while studying instead of torturing yourself with papers psychology research writing.

The Art of Etruscan Civilization Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Art of Etruscan Civilization - Case Study Example It looks like the idea of afterlife is present in the majority of Etruscan art form. From this viewpoint it is clear that the majority of their art form is primarily based upon the art of tombs. It was their belief that a kind of magical survival was needed for the final resting place or in the shadowy world of Hades. This funerary cult was scrutinized with every major and minor detail and it seems as if Etruscan art had nothing else to look forward to or no other world end in view. (Bonfante, 1986) The Etruscan art also relied heavily on portraits. The portraits commemorate a dead man’s facets so as to make him credible enough to fight against the power of darkness. There is a valid reason for this creation and its continuing popularity, especially the Tuscan portrait which in turn inspired the Roman portrait. On a burial pot from Chiusi it is clearly seen that in the earlier period a trustworthy copy of a deceased face, in the form of a mask most likely made from bronze, was affixed to the vessel. Later the head was carved and placed on the pot’s lid. This ultimately led to the creation of the statue. Similarly, the wall paintings, that covered the clammy walls of the Tuscan Hypogea (subterranean burial chambers), were seen as imperative to their religious and cultural symbols. The show funeral feasts also portray the livelihood and contentment of his earthly life, and according to their belief it would shape their life in the afterworld. This repeals the apparent incongruity of sepulchral art infused with a passionate and enthusiastic feeling of life. To the spiritualist soul of Etruria, the life of this world is merely a test and is foreshadowed by the more significant and permanent afterlife that is waiting for them. Their culture was more about decorating tombs rather than towns, which were built using a single type of stone and hollowed out of the same material – places of abode were proposed to revolt against the blitz of time. In t he necropolises at Tarquinia and Cerveteri, virtual cities of the dead were formed and the locale and very rhythm and Etruscan life were clearly exhibited in those virtual cities. For Etruscans money, people and art became a feature of everyday life. Etruscan villa in Murlo, which was reconstructed recently, revealed big, painted terracotta panels decorating the foyer and also included a number of fresco wall-paintings. Etruscan painting and frescos often tried to influence a sense of Joie de vivre in the form of human figures looking strong and hearty and full of life, often in the form of dancing couples. Looking at Etruscan art from this perspective it seems clear that it was much more developed in capturing human emotion than the stylized Greek art. (Bonfante, 1986) During the 7th century BC the Etruscan art gained a new level of prosperity and popularity based upon their export of metal ore. Since Greek art got a great deal of inspiration and influence from the high cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean. Greek goods made its way to Etruria together in Orientalizing style with exotic objects and reached the Phoenician cities, Egypt, Cyprus and Asia Minor. During the entire existence of Etruscan empire, it was largely inspired from Hellenic styles which had profound impact on its independent artistic development.

Middle eastern cuisine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Middle eastern cuisine - Essay Example Marriage entails two individuals to be together, living under the same roof, hopefully for the rest of their lives. Now what can one expect if this marriage is composed of spouses whose cultures greatly differ from each other?3 In answer to this, the paper aims to explore the different causes of issues in interracial marriages in an effort to find answers to why some individuals and societies view such marriages with hostility. Arab Religion and Culture Islam dominates the Arab world, 4 with their laws and culture revolving mainly around the beliefs and practices deemed lawful or acceptable by the religion.5 If one is aware of the Arab culture and beliefs, it is easy to see centuries-old practices and stereotypes that could be strikingly different from other cultures around the world. Even non-Muslim Arabs have a set of practices that are unique to this race. This region of the world is highly patriarchal, and even though the western idea of gender equality may have reached some soci eties, particularly non-Muslim societies, there is still a segregation of gender roles in every family unit.

Robert Browning Essay Example for Free

Robert Browning Essay The dramatic monologue form which is now widely used, allows the author to engage his reader more directly by placing him in the role of listener. Often they are to interpret about a dramatic event or experience they are reading about. This allows the reader to become more intimate with the writer and the characters while being able to understand the speakers changing thoughts and feelings. This is almost like being inside the mind of the speaker not the writer though. The speech is delivered by a character in a play allowing the imagination of the reader to remain open. Many poets have used some type of dramatic monologue forms in their poetry but none as much or as skilled as the Victorian poet Robert Browning. Even though some believe the works of Robert Browning in fact did not invent the dramatic monologue form and argue that dramatic monologue was used in poetry preceding Browning I believe he set the standard for the form. Robert Browning is considered the master of the dramatic monologue because Browning’s use of dramatic monologue changed post romantic poetry and the dramatic monologue technique. Browning’s dramatic monologue writings were the first to achieve its distinction. I think initially some believed that some dramatic lyrical poems took the form of dramatic monologue it was more of reading the views of the poet and putting the reader into the mind of the actual poet verses putting the reader into the mind of the character. They key to dramatic monologue is the poet is telling a story through the characters of the story and the views of the characters are not the same views the poet would have if it were written in a different form. It wasn’t until realizing that these other poems in fact did not follow the same techniques of Robert Browning’s work that Browning received the recognition for being the inventor of dramatic monologue poetic form. Browning is now considered the master of the dramatic monologue. One of his most recognized dramatic monologue form poems is My Last Duchess. His careful choice in words, skillful technique and ability to leave some information up to the reader to interpret gave him his distinction and effectively named him the master of the dramatic monologue form. The poem My Last Duchess is about a powerful Duke and his beautiful deceased wife. The poem is based during the Renaissance years, in Italy, and revolves around the Duke of Ferrara. The Duke has either a visitor or servant that he is talking to. It is believed that he is planning his next marriage and discussing this with his guest. They pass a portrait of his previous wife that is painted on the wall and he stops to reminisce. The Duke appeared to truly love his duchess and this was evident by having her memory displayed as a portrait on his wall for all to see. The poem begins with him mourning her loss and I believe ends with the justification of her death. The Duke felt she behaved in a manner that was unbecoming of a duchess. The Duke believed that she was a cheater and this caused him embarrassment and anger. He stated she was a kind hearted and a joyful woman, the same qualities that initially attracted the Duke to the Duchess. The Duke stated that her smiling and flirting with other men and the fact that she was not trying to hide what she was doing was unacceptable and shameful. These same qualities would eventually lead to her demise The Duke was furious and Browning’s use of dramatic monologue shows us it’s not exactly what the Duke says to the visitor about his Duchesses death but what he indirectly reveals by not telling the whole story and leaving it up to the reader to decide. The fact that there is a lot not said in this story I believe shows his fury, the way he spoke of her could lead one to believe that he either killed her or had her killed. It seems back in those days it was common for wives to be killed as divorce was not accepted. This is just one small sample of Browning’s work. Browning’s fame today rests mainly on his dramatic monologues, in which the words not only convey setting and action but also reveal the speaker’s character.

Alcohol, Drinking, and Alcoholism - Confessions of a Teen Alcoholic :: Personal Narrative Essays

Confessions of a Teen Alcoholic The beginning, was innocent in appearance - merely a bottle of my father's beer, in order to calm myself before the big exam. My first drink, an experiment recommended by a friend in the senior class, was meant only as a last resort - I needed to pass this test, you realize. Ah, but how that amber liquid metamorphosed to pure silk in my mouth, sloshing down my throat at first, quickly changing to a tender caress. The first sip, followed by a second, and a third, and so on in rapid sequence. I proceded to another bottle, just as possessed of tranquility as the first. When my temples throbbed with the excruciating intensity of a thousand bass drums the subsequent morning, the lucidity gained from the previous night's feast with Bacchus had somehow slipped from my grasp. I failed the exam, so piercing was my headache. Upon arriving home, I made my way directly to the liquor cabinet, in the hopes of discovering a tangible comfort to assuage the misery brought on by my scholarly defeat. A mostly filled bottle of bourbon sat in the foremost corner of the cabinet. I swallowed it all down that afternoon, and was left with an empty decanter - which I stowed away in the cellar, lest my parents know of this newfound pastime – and a somewhat intriguing sense of inebriation. Days, weeks, months passed, and I found myself indulging in alcohol much more often, for a myriad of reasons. One day, I had a terrible quarrel with my girlfriend - a bit of Jack Daniels put that unpleasant situation out of my mind. Once, I had a rough time with my coach at soccer practice. Not a problem, simply gulp down a few glasses of mother's Bordeaux. The more time I spent with my dear friend John Barleycorn, the more difficult it was to be away from him. The cravings grew to the point where I needed a drink to get myself awake in the morning, while another was necessary to last through my afternoon classes. Alcohol was the focus of any social activity, it was my entire life, and yet I would not admit it. I hid my addiction every moment of every day, storing empty cans and bottles in the attic when there was not a single inconspicuous space left in the basement. Alcohol, Drinking, and Alcoholism - Confessions of a Teen Alcoholic :: Personal Narrative Essays Confessions of a Teen Alcoholic The beginning, was innocent in appearance - merely a bottle of my father's beer, in order to calm myself before the big exam. My first drink, an experiment recommended by a friend in the senior class, was meant only as a last resort - I needed to pass this test, you realize. Ah, but how that amber liquid metamorphosed to pure silk in my mouth, sloshing down my throat at first, quickly changing to a tender caress. The first sip, followed by a second, and a third, and so on in rapid sequence. I proceded to another bottle, just as possessed of tranquility as the first. When my temples throbbed with the excruciating intensity of a thousand bass drums the subsequent morning, the lucidity gained from the previous night's feast with Bacchus had somehow slipped from my grasp. I failed the exam, so piercing was my headache. Upon arriving home, I made my way directly to the liquor cabinet, in the hopes of discovering a tangible comfort to assuage the misery brought on by my scholarly defeat. A mostly filled bottle of bourbon sat in the foremost corner of the cabinet. I swallowed it all down that afternoon, and was left with an empty decanter - which I stowed away in the cellar, lest my parents know of this newfound pastime – and a somewhat intriguing sense of inebriation. Days, weeks, months passed, and I found myself indulging in alcohol much more often, for a myriad of reasons. One day, I had a terrible quarrel with my girlfriend - a bit of Jack Daniels put that unpleasant situation out of my mind. Once, I had a rough time with my coach at soccer practice. Not a problem, simply gulp down a few glasses of mother's Bordeaux. The more time I spent with my dear friend John Barleycorn, the more difficult it was to be away from him. The cravings grew to the point where I needed a drink to get myself awake in the morning, while another was necessary to last through my afternoon classes. Alcohol was the focus of any social activity, it was my entire life, and yet I would not admit it. I hid my addiction every moment of every day, storing empty cans and bottles in the attic when there was not a single inconspicuous space left in the basement.

Northern Renaissance Paper

In the middle of the fourteenth century a cultural transformation took place, this transformation was initiated by Italy and was called Renaissance. It separated the Middle Ages from the New Modern Age and is where Humanism and Reformation blossomed. Portraiture became a huge part of the Renaissance Era and artists became intrigued in trying new and unique styles. During most of the fourteenth century, only royalty had portraits made because they required status and wealth. A portrait is typically defined as a representation of a specific individual.A portrait does not merely record someone’s features, but something about whom he or she is, offering a sense of a real person’s presence. Royal Portraiture is especially unique because it has to show the status and wealth of the ruler and appeal to many. The traditions of portraiture extend back to ancient Greece and Rome, but change every century to new styles by being tweaked slightly every so often. New artists are alway s testing out new ways to spice up an old style of art and were willing to try slightly new and tweaked styles of painting.Portraits of Rulers became popular to assert their majesty in places from which they were absent. Many rulers ruled more than one area of land and had a broad area of land that they looked after and could not be everywhere at once. Most rulers would travel around their land constantly, but there was always still an absence when they were not around. Portraits became a way of allowing these rulers to show that they are present even if they are not physically there. Many churches would have paintings or sculptures so that even when the rulers were not around, the community could see an image of their ruler.In addition to recording appearance, portraits had social and practical functions as well. Portraiture was a way for the royals to show their lavishness, which in turn showed their dignity as a ruler. Royals had a way of wanting to flaunt their status and were a ble to do this through portraiture. The Portrait of John the Good by Girard d’Orleans, was important because it showed the significance of having a portrait made. This was the first profile in Northern Renaissance Art and signified a rebirth beginning. The side profile for a portrait was typical of Antique coins and medals.This new style of portrait painting emphasized the empirical. John the Good resembles Jesus in his portrait and has a â€Å"God-Like† feature. Hans Holbein did a considerable amount of Travelling throughout Europe. He was primarily a court painter, and was employed by Henry VIII and did many portraits for him. He paid special attention to portraying likeness, which was very important for royalty. His work is rich in detail. Part of why portraiture was so appealing to royals was because it could do more than show what a person looked like. It could show how a person looks powerful and unapproachable which is shown in Henry VII.It could also show vulne rability or a way to be relatable to the viewer. Showing that a ruler was scholarly along with worldly was important and in Ghent’s Duke Federigo of Urbino and his son Guidobaldo the importance is shown. Federigo the scholar, is reading from a manuscript displaying his worldly success. His military prowess is evident with his armor showing. Frontal portraiture was more common and traditional among artists for portraits. One example of this is Jean Fouquet’s portrait Charles VII. This portrait is interesting because the bust of Charles is abnormally large compared to his face.His bust is actually life-size, but the rest of his body seems as though it isn’t proportional. Charles seems stern and sad, which is not typically what a royal portrait looks like. Royalty typically want to give off the impression that they are powerful, tough and wealthy but Charles show a sad and vulnerable side, yet still showing sternness with his bust pushed out and large. Royalty art showed a lot of realism. Many rulers were not afraid to show themselves just the way they were. The art was extravagant and showed the rulers status, but kept them very real.In Jean Malouel’s Portrait of Philip the Bold, there is a sense of descriptive realism. The portrait is not beautiful, it shows warts and all, but at the same time it shows the exquisite detail of the fur and of the jewels, which was so important for rulers to show in order to show their status and wealth Hans Holbein the Younger did a variety of portraits for Henry VIII. All are beautiful and extravagant portraits. Henry VIII has beautiful vivid colors and the hat and cloaks show status and wealth. The attention to detail and realism of the painting is common in royalty art.The portrait is close and has little room for anything but Henry VIII. He is the center of attention and is the only thing to look at in the portrait. The broadness of his chest and the size of his forearms are a show of power and str ength. Henry VIII is the only thing to look at it. He is confronting you and making it so that he is the only thing to look at, there is no way to ignore him. This occurs again in other portraits in the past and the future. Another Hans Holbein portrait shows Edward VI as a Child in the same bright rich clothing that his father Henry VIII is wearing in his portraits.Edward takes up a majority of the image and this portrait most likely had a great significance to Henry VIII. The bottom of the portrait has writing saying how great Edward will be when he grows up. This portrait was most likely a gift to Henry VIII that he cherished. It shows the wealth and status of his young boy whom he loved and waited with great anticipation to watch him grow. The significance of the degree of the face looking at the viewer changed frequently. There were times that the side profile gave the idea that Royals were â€Å"Holy† or spiritual.At times, the full frontal portrait gave the look of pow er and sternness, something rulers wanted to portray. There was also the forty-five degree angle portrait. This angle is a worldly and thoughtful portrait. It gives off the impression that the ruler in the portrait is in thought and is not looking directly at someone else, nor are they looking directly at the viewer. An example of the forty-five degree angle portrait is Bernard van Orley’s Portrait of Charles. This, along with Jean Perreal’s Portrait of Louis XII are examples of this portraiture.Both rulers are neither looking at someone else, nor the viewer which is the introduction to a new style of portraiture. The few tapestries in the exhibit show the royals in their lives. Attention to detail in these tapestries is exquisite. Vivid deep colors in these exhibits show the status of the royals, a commonality between all royal Art. The deep gold colors are a way of showing wealth. All of the colors in the exhibits are so deep and vivid, with attention to the shading in the background and the outline in some of the different portraits. The attention to detail in every royal renaissance art is beautiful.Realism and Humanism in the portraits is very clear with how realistic the rulers look. The details down to the hair, fur, and jewels are extremely fine, never leaving even a single detail out to ensure that it has the quality of looking at someone in person. Overall, Royalty in Northern Renaissance Art is broad and unique. Some rulers wanted to be depicted as strong, powerful and unapproachable. Others wanted to be seen as spiritual and almost â€Å"God-like†. Some rulers only have portraits done of their upper body, some of only their face, and some rulers had their entire bodies painted into their portraits.All of these rulers and their artists felt that the way they were painted would be how they were depicted by the world and chose the style accordingly. 1. Girard d’Orleans Portrait of John the Good Before 1356, Musee du Louvre, Paris. John the Good had a court painter, Girard d’Orleans who accompanied him during his travels and time in England. This artist painted the King’s portrait on a canvas type panel. This painting is a clear indication of a new type of painting at the time, the profile portrait. The importance of this portrait is the outlining of John the Good’s face.It is questioned whether or not it was intended to give the king a magical or spiritual essence. John the Good’s portrait looks like it could be a portrait of Jesus. It is also argued that it is just the first example in a long line of portraits that had a state function. 2. Jean de Liege Charles V, 1375-80. Musee de Louvre, Paris. 3. Nicolas Bataille King Arthur, Tapestry Series of the Nine Worthies 1385. The metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 4. Jean Malouel Portrait of Philip the Bold, 1400. Musee National du Chateau de Versailles. . Dieric Bouts Justice of Emperor Otto III 1470-75. Koninklijke Musea v oor Schone Kunsten van Belgie, Brussels. After Dieric Bouts was appointed city painter in 1468, he received two important commissions. One of those was the Justice of Emperor Otto III. Bouts’ advisor ordered this rather gruesome example of justice. Take note how many of the bystanders in the painting appear to be portraits. These small portraits within a painting show the beginning of group portraiture that was then followed by Netherlandish painters for two centuries.Bouts combined a rigid and mechanical regimentation of single portraits placed to the side of the narrative scene. Members of Bouts’ workshop finished this panel after he died. 6. Joos Van Ghent Duke Federigo of Urbino and his Son Guidobaldo 1475. Galleria della Marche, Urbino. Duke Federigo aspired to be understood as well as a powerful leader. In this portrait, the duke of Urbino is clothed in armor and his ducal mantle. Federigo’s son is at his side, which shows that Federigo is advancing him as his rightful successor. This portrait displays Federigo’s military prowess, his political authority and his humanist learning.Although most portraits are frontal to imply hierarchical power, this portrait however is not frontal because when he was young he lost an eye and nose. To conceal this disfigurement, Duke Federigo was always show in his left profile. 7. Jean Fouquet Portrait of Charles VII After 1451. Musee du Louvre, Paris. In the Portrait of Charles VII, the bust on Charles appears to be life-size. His heavy doublet is dark claret with fur trim. Fur and fancy clothing is a way of showing your social class, only the wealthy and essentially only the royals can afford the furs and typically show them off in portraits.Charles is tawny and ruddy in complexion and with a sad expression on his face, not exactly what you would expect a royal to show in a portrait. It is generally assumed that the portrait commemorates the Treaty of Arras as a victory of the monarchy. 8. Mo nument to Philippe Pot 1480. Musee du Louvre, Paris. This monument is a part of the tradition of Burgundian funeral art. Philippe Pot was a Lord of Burgundy. The detail of the tomb is a way of showing the status of the Lord. The realism of the ceremonial spectable is vividly presented to the viewers with the hooded figures, life size, and marching in solemn procession.These figures whose heads are hidden and are inclined in prayer show the mourning of their Lord. The mourners can only be identified by the coat of arms on their habits. The traditions of the past are being reshaped for another age in French art. 9. Jean Perreal, Portrait of Louis XII 1512-1514. Royal Collections, Windsor Castle. 10. Albrecht Durer Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony 1496. Gemaldegalerie, Staatliche Museen, Berlin. 11. Lucas Cranach the Elder Duke Henry the Pious of Saxony 1514. Gemaldegalerie, Staatliche Kunstmuseam, Dresden.Duke Henry stands proudly in this portrait with arms akimbo and his leg tur ned out awkwardly. His wealth and status shows with what he is wearing. He is in a stunning costume with a bright red suit and stockings under a dark green cloak, both garments are slashed to reveal the rich gold lining. The Duke is giving the viewer a stern state as he grasps his long sword showing his symbol of power and rank. It is interesting that this is a full body portrait. You will notice that is resembles the Arnolfini Wedding. This panel goes along with the Duchess Catherine of Saxony. 12.Lucas Cranach the Elder Duchess Catherine of Saxony 1514. Gemaldegalerie, Staatliche Kunstmuseam, Dresden. 13. Hans Burgkmair Emperor Maximilian on Horseback 1508. Clarence Buckingham Collection, Art Institute, Chicago. Burgkmair had a ready patron in the Emperor because Emperor Maximilian sought to have his likeness and politics circulated in visual form throughout the Holy Roman Empire. This print of Maximilian was the first major print experiment in colored printmaking. Maximilian was willing to experiment because of is urge to get his name and likeness out to everyone that he could.This ceremonial picture shows a strong profile image of the mounted emperor on an ideal horse underneath a well-understood triumphal arch, redolent of both the military success and the Roman imperial rank claimed by the commander. 14. Hans Holbein the Younger Henry VIII 1539-40. Galleria Nazionale, Rome. 15. Hans Holbein the Younger Henry VIII, His Father Henry VII, and Their Wives 1537. National Portrait Gallery, London. 16. Hans Holbein the Younger Edward VI as a Child 1538. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C. Edward VI was Henry’s prized son.Holbein executed at least two portraits of him for Henry while Henry watched Edward grow with great anticipation. In this portrait Edward is only about two years old but looks healthy and resembles his fat-faced father. This was most likely a present for Henry. The inscription on the portrait most likely greatly pleased Henry. It says that if Edward imitates Henry he can be the heir of the throne. It says that you only equal the acts of your parent and that if you surpass your father, then you have surpassed all the kings of the world and then none will ever surpass you. 17. Lucas Horenbout Henry VIII 1525-36.Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. This portrait is unique because it is showing Henry VIII in a three-quarter pose and beardless, which was not typical for Henry VIII. It is also just a shoulder-length portrait against a plain blue background, there is no special shading or dark background to show status. Its diminutive size and polished technique on a vellum support soon became hallmarks of this pictorial genre. This type of genre was quickly adopted by Holbein and also took deep root in England, home to generations of specialist miniature painters well into the nineteenth century. 18. Bernard van Orley Portrait of Charles V 1516.Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest. 19. 18th century copy. John the Good and Clem ent VI or Urban, Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. 20. Parisian miniaturist of the late 14th century. The Banquet of Charles IV of France in Paris, from Les Grandes Chroniques de France. 1375-79. Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. 21. Antonis Mor. Fernando Alvarez de Toledo. 1549. Hispanic Society of America, New York. This portrait is a splendid example of Antonis Mor’s achievements in aristocratic portraiture. Mor created his own type of court portraiture, which became widely imitated in the second half of the half-century.Mor painted with unflinching objectivity, but the noblemen that he painted like Fernando are more than very important people. These portraits were not meant for our eyes but instead for the eyes of Fernando’s peers at court. This portrait is a statement of high status as cultivated products. Mor’s portraits display a singular superiority among men, but they still remain distinct individuals and don’t become idealized types. 22. Antonis Mor. Portrait of Mary Tudor. 1554. The Prado, Madrid. 23. Rogier van der Weyden. Isabel of Portugal. Mid 1400s. J. Paul Getty Museum. 24. Antonis Mor. Catherine of Austria. 1552.Prado, Madrid. 25. Jean Bondol. Portrait of Louis II, Duke of Anjou. 1412-15. Cabinet des Estampes, Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Charles M. Rosenberg, The Court Cities of Northern Italy. New York, NY. 2010. 334-337. [ 2 ]. Richard Vaughan, Philip the Bold. Longman, London and New York. 1962. 188-208. [ 3 ]. Alison Weir, Henry VIII: The king and his Court. New York, NY. 2001. 260-264 [ 4 ]. Greg Walker, The Private Life of Henry VIII. London and New York. 2003. 11-26. [ 5 ]. John Oliver Hand and Martha Wolff, Early Netherlandish Painting. Washington D. C. 1986. 216-218

Gunns Case Study

The PESTEL framework below analyses the environment in which Gunns Ltd. operates by identifying the forces that have the most impact on Gunns performance: Political factors: The Commonwealth and state government environmental support for the pulp mill project had been achieved in 2007, despite bitter public opposition.This is a very strong support from the Government in order to utilize Australia’s expanded forest resource, as there is a significant increase in hardwood pulpwood availability projected and Australia’s hardwood pulpwood currently processed onshore less than 7%. â€Å"Plantation 2020†, a partnership between the Governments of Australia, was established in 1997, although its Vision 2020 had been established as part of the National Forest Policy Statement in 1992.Vision 2020 aimed to treble the area of tree crops by 2020. The Government also expected continued economic growth, especially in Asia-Pacific region. It is also recommended that Vision 2020 might maximize potential economic and environmental benefits of plantations through market development that would attract more private investment The Australian Government recognized that its proposed Emissions Trading Scheme could lead to a loss of competitiveness for trade-exposed firms.In response, in late 2009, the Australian Government committed $19 million to address four areas of importance to the industry (Creation of ForestWorks as the Forest Industry Skills Council, Development of a forest industry database, addressing climate change impacts on forestry, Assisting industry value-adding) Economic factors: Since ANZ had withdrawn funding in May 2008, under public pressure, and the Global Financial Crisis had made investment funds even more difficult to access. In 2008 and 2009, many projects for new capacity were either cancelled or put on hold due to financing difficulties.Since 1997 more than 0. 5 million hectares of new MIS plantations had been established. Plantations ha d largely been established with private capital through managed investment schemes (MIS) encouraged by favorable tax treatment. Whereby investors paid tax on returns when timber was sold and the MIS paid tax on scheme profits. This allows deductions for investments upfront while deferring tax. Australia had developed an Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) to provide consumers with an independent assessment of claims about the sustainability of forest management in Australia.However, there was a strong pressure to adopt AFS as it was more relaxed about the logging of native forests, which was generally not permitted under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Social factors: The Australian industry had employed over 19000 people in predominantly rural and regional communities, mainly working for seven major domestic and international companies. It was an important customer for the domestic forestry industry. Environmental factors:While the Australian industry had historically been char acterized by ageing equipment and lower than world average capacities, capital investment and product development had enabled productivity gains that supported ongoing competitiveness and a reduction in the industry’s environmental footprint such as: * Greenhouse gas emissions and energy intensity had improved by 22% and 28% respectively since 1990, just under 30% of energy consumption derived from renewable sources * Environmental regulation and market demand for chlorine-free products had driven the industry to find alternatives to chlorine as a bleaching agent such as elemental chlorine-free and totally chlorine-free pulp. The quantity of water used per unit of output in the worldwide pulp and paper industry had nearly halved from that used in 1990, but the Australian industry savings were even greater * The maximum speed of most paper machines was estimated at 2000 meters per minute in 2005, compared with only 1600 meters per minute in 1995 Legal factors: Plantation fores try was one of the most highly regulated rural industries in Australia. All states and territory governments had codes of practice and/or guidelines for plantation management that conformed to the principles of sustainable development and took into account key regional characteristics such as cultural heritage and specific environmental impacts. ( 8 Federal Acts).These factors will create a safe protection and assistance for Gunns Ltd with its projects * Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conversation Act 1999 * Export Control Act 1982 * Native Title Act 1993 * Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 * Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987 (for Victoria_ * Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1999 (for Victoria) Competitors’ analysis It is suggested that Gunns includes very high pulp and paper production and processing costs relative to other international countries such as Brazil and China, which means that the company is unable to compete effectively and sustainably in t hese markets (Samuel, 2010).China and Brazil are two emerging countries that are low cost production company. They are heavily subsidized, with access to much better and innovative technologies. In addition, their pulp and paper industries are heavily subsidized, they have different approaches to taxation and are subject to less onerous environmental regulations (Samuel, 2010). Especially, China has recently been rapidly becoming the largest global tissue manufacturer and consumer. They also had plans to install over 20 million tonnes of highly modern, efficient processing capacity to around 60 million tonnes per year and become the lowest cost producer which putting much more pressure on Gunns Ltd. Samuel, D. (2010).Case 1: Gunns and the Australian Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Industry. Final Recommendation After considering all alternatives, it is recommended that Gunns Ltd should undertake a joint venture with a company specializing in low-cost pulp and paper production. Although this is the most costly and time-consuming alternative since it requires intense negotiations between both parties as well as the divestment of Gunns’ non-core assets in order to become attractive, it will greatly assist the company in growing, funding its Bell Bay pulpwood mill and ensuring the successful operation of this project (Business Link, 2011; Gale, 2011; Morningstar, 2011g).In addition, the joint venture recommendation will provide Gunns with the significantly great benefits and synergies as it will allow the company to gain sustainable competitive advantage by growing faster, generating greater earnings and having greater access to the other company’s resources and established markets and distribution channels (Business Link, 2011). Extra notes on Internal Analysis part: Gunns’ core competencies are in forestry establishment and management, plantation management and downstream timber processing and sale (Gunns, 2011b; Lonsec, 2009). After conducting a SWOT analysis of Gunns, it was found that their main strength was having a highly diversified and vertically integrated corporate structure (Gunns, 2011b; Lonsec, 2009). This corporate structure is very robust and allows the company to have greater capacity in controlling access to inputs along with controlling the cost, quality and delivery time of those inputs (The Economist, 2011).As a result of its highly diversified and robust corporate structure, Gunns is able to earn much greater revenue from their diverse business activities in comparison to their competitors (Lonsec, 2009). Extra notes on Strategic Alternatives: Alternatively, Gunns should demerge their non-core businesses of providing finance, road maintenance and construction, winery management and marketing services (Yahoo Finance, 2011). The proceeds from the demerger should help reduce the company’s debt levels and allow the company to better focus on strengthening their core competencies and pursuing growth opportunities in order to gain sustainable competitive advantage (Investopedia, 2010).The demerger is also likely to have a positive impact on Gunns’ low share price (Chappell, 2011; Investopedia, 2010). References Business Link (2011). Benefits of Joint Ventures. Retrieved October 11, 2011 from http://www. businesslink. gov. uk/bdotg/action/layer? r. i=1075411648&r. l1 =1074404796&r. l2=1074404799&r. l3=1073864682&r. s=sc&r. t=RESOURCES&topicId=1073864682 Chappell, T. (2011). Foster’s Demerger Lifts Takeover Chance. Retrieved October 10, 2011 from http://news. smh. com. au/breaking-news-business/fosters-demerger-lifts-takeover-chance-20110317-1byf1. html Gale, F. (2011). Gunns Heading for its Tasmanian Endgame. Retrieved October 11, 2011 from http://theconversation. edu. u/gunns-heading-for-its-tasmanian-endgame-3241 Gunns (2011b). Our Businesses. Retrieved October 7, 2011 from http://www. gunns. com. au/ Investopedia (2011). Debt-to-Equity Ratio. Retrieved September 30, 2011 from http://www. investopedia. com/terms/d/debtequityratio. asp#axzz1ZPjpPQif Morningstar (2011g). Stock Research: Gunns Ltd. Retrieved October 11, 2011 from http://www. morningstar. com. au/Stocks/Research/20110601/GNS The Economist (2011). Vertical Integration. Retrieved October 9, 2011 from http://www. economist. com/node/13396061 Yahoo Finance (2011). Gunns Ltd Profile. Retrieved October 10, 2011 from http://au. finance. yahoo. com/q/pr? s=GNS. AX

Chemistry Abbreviations Starting with the Letter T

Chemistry Abbreviations Starting with the Letter T Chemistry abbreviations and acronyms are common in all fields of science. This collection offers common abbreviations and acronyms beginning with the letter T used in chemistry and chemical engineering. Abbreviations and Acronyms Starting With T T: Period of a waveT: Tera prefixT: Thyminet: timeT: TritiumTa: TantalumTaC: Tantalum CarbideTAC: Tri acetyl CelluloseTAG: TriAcylGlyceridetan: tangentTAN: Total Acid NumberTAS: Total Analysis SystemTAS: Total Alkali versus SilicaTAT: TriAcetone TriperoxideTb: TerbiumTBA: TertButylArsineTBA: 2,4,6-TriBromoAnisoleTBP: True Boiling PointTBC: 4-TertButylCatecholTBT: TriButylTinTBHQ: TertButylHydroQuinoneTc: TechnitiumTC: Temperature CompensatedTC: Temperature ControlledTC: Theoretical ChemistryTc: Critical TemperatureTCA: TauroCholic AcidTCA: TCA cycle (citric acid cycle)TCA: TriChloroAcetic AcidTCE: TriChloroEthaneTCF: ThiolCarbon FiberTCM: TetraChloromethaneTCP: Thermal Conversion ProcessTCP: TocopherolTCP: TriCalcium PhosphateTCP: TriChloroPhenolTCP: 1,2,3-TriChloropropaneTCS: Toxic Chemical SystemTCT: ToCoTrienolTCV: Temperature Control ValveTCVF: Two Chamber Vacuum FurnaceTD: Temperature DisplacementTD: Thermal DepositionTDA: Thermal Dilatometric AnalysisTDC: Three Degrees Centigra de TDG: ThymineDNA GlycosylaseTDI: Tolerable Daily IntakeTDI: Toluene DiIsonateTDO: Tryptophan 2,3-DiOxygenaseTDP: Thermal DePolymerizationTDP: Thymidine DiPhosphateTDP: Thiamine DiPhosphateTe: TelluriumTEA: Terminal Electron AcceptorTEC: Thermal Electric CoolerTEL: Tetra Ethyl LeadTFM: Total Fatty MatterTh: ThoriumTHC: Tetra Hydra CannabinolTHM: TriHaloMethanes TI - Thermal IndexTi: TitaniumTIC: Total Ion CurrentTIMS: Thermal Ionization Mass SpectroscopyTIP: TrisIsopropyl PhenylTl: ThalliumTLC: Thin Layer ChromatographyTLV: Toxic Level ValueTm: ThuliumTM: Transition MetalTMD: Theoretical Maximum DensityTMG: TriMethylGlycineTMMA: TetraMethylMalonAmideTMP: TriMethylPhosphateTMS: TriMethylSilaneTNB: TriNitroBenzeneTNT: TriNitroTolueneTNS: Test No EtherTOBSY: Total ThroughBond Correlation SpectroscopyTOC: Total Organic CarbonTOI: Table Of IsotopesTON: Table Of NuclidesTOX: ToxicTP: Triple PointTP: Transition PointTPE: Thermoplastic ElastomerTPM: Total Particulate MatterTR: Table RowTRAP: T artrate Resistant Acid Phosphatase TRFM: Time-Resolved Fluorescence MicroscopyTRP: TryptophanTS: Temperature SensitiveTSCB: TriSilaCycloButaneTSP: Thermally Stable PolycrystallineTSP: TriSodium PhosphateTSPM: Total Suspended Particulate MatterTSS: Total Soluble SolidsTST: Transitional State TheoryTT: Test TubeTTC: Triphenyl Tetrazolium ChlorideTTFD: Thiamine TetraHydroFurfurylDisulfideTTLC: Total Threshold Limit ConcentrationTTO: Total Toxic OrganicsTTP: Thymine TriPhosphateTTX: TetrodotoxinTU: Thermally UnboundTWMC: Time-Weighted Mean ConcentrationTWV: Total Water Vapor

A Killer Whale Study

A Killer Whale Study Killer Whales The orca, or the killer, whale is one of the most well-known and most majestic of the sea. Belonging to the dolphin family, the killer whale is found all over the worlds oceans and has been the object of study by many animal researchers over the past few decades. Killer whales are unique mammals in the ways that they live, for example, feeding and migration, also the mother-child relationship. Apart from being such an interesting animal, they are currently endangered. When most people think of killer whales, Shamu comes to mind; the first killer whale to successfully thrive in captivity, also the iconic symbol of the SeaWorld parks. Since the killer whales early notoriety with SeaWorld, the development of better researching techniques, such as satellite tagging, have become important in understanding many aspect of the species, as well as learning how to protect them. Killer whales are usually found in pods, which are large groups that can range anywhere from ten to eighty members. Interestingly enough, each pod is a unique family consisting of blood related whales. When a calf is born into a pod, the mother cares for it closely for many calves die when they are very young from illness, accidents, or even predators such as large sharks (Carwardine, 4). If the calf survives its early years, it will remain in the pod for the rest of its life. Each pod has its own special language, or dialect in the believed and complex way of communication among other killer whales, and all members of the pod are similar in appearance, even though no two orcas look exactly alike (Carwardine, 4). Another distinguishing feature of killer whales is their Dorsal fin. Male killer whales have a huge dorsal fin that can grow up to six feet, females, however, have a much smaller and more curved dorsal fin (Carwardine, 4). In comparison to their large fins, adult orcas whale s can weigh from three to eleven tons, and male orcas grow to an average length of twenty-three to twenty-seven feet but can reach lengths of up to thirty-two feet, and female orcas average between twenty and twenty-two feet (Killer Whale, National Parks Conservation Association). Pods of killer whales have been recorded in virtually all oceans and major seas and from all open-water habitat zones (Dahlheim et al., 1981). Although they have been spotted all over, their primary habitat is in the freezing cold waters of the polar regions, for example the Arctic and Antarctic (Carwardine, 4). Another characteristic of killer whales and all other members of the cetaceansthe group of animals that consists of whales, dolphins, and porpoisesis that they only receive one set of a hundred teeth that are pointed and sharp for catching and tearing prey (Carwardine, 4). The killer whale appears to be an opportunistic feeder; diet may vary from one region to the next, among age and sex classes, and within years (Kirkevold and Lockard, 47). The unusual list of prey includes many types of fish, birds, other small cetaceans, sea lions, seals, electric rays, and outrageously even blue whales, great white sharks, as well as other killer whales (Kirkevold and Lockard, 47). Killer whales are known to work together while hunting, developing special techniques and skills for different foods that they hunt. In the Antarctic, they work together by tipping sleeping seals and penguins from ice floes into the waiting mouths of other members of the pod (Carwardine, 27). One of the most interestin g methods of hunting prey is used by killer whales off the coast of Argentina on the Punta Norte beaches, where several pods have learned how to catch young elephant seals and sea lion pups in the shallows (Carwardine, 28). The whales survey the beaches for their target and once they have found a victim easy enough for them to catch, they rush toward the beach so fast that they surge out of the water and onto the beach, leaving their prey no time to escape (Carwardine, 29). Most whales and dolphins are in serious trouble when they strand like this, but the killer whales of Punta Norte grab their prey and then wriggle back into the sea (Carwardine, 30). Other methods of finding food underwater is using Echolocation, where the whales make special clicking sounds and listen for the echoes that bounce back (Carwardine, 31). In 1997, possibly one of the most impressive and incredible accounts of an orca whales choice in food was when two whales off the coast of Californias Farallon Islands attacked and killed a great white shark. Peter Pyle, a biologist who studied the birds and sharks of the Farallon area, was the expert on hand when the strange event unfolded (Turner, Showdown at Sea). Pyle recalled seeing two whales that were later identified as belonging to an L.A. pod, attacking the shark. After about five minutes, the liver had been ripped out of the shark and was tastefully being enjoyed by the whales as the carcass of the dead shark sank (Turner, Showdown at Sea). The incident was beyond odd. No oneanywherehad ever recorded seeing a killer whale attack a great white. And then something even stranger happened: The sharks of the Farallones vanished (Turner, Showdown at Sea). Many researchers have tried to understand why the killer whales had targeted the shark as prey, and most have concluded that the behavior is pretty much unique to the L.A. pod, a cetacean gang so strange a better moniker might be the Odd Pod (Turner, Showdown at Sea). Since then, researchers have studied the relationship between killer whales and sharks and have come to find that even though humans fear the great white shark as the ultimate predator, sharks may perceive their rank differently (Turner, Showdown at Sea). Despite the many locations of killer whales, the population has been declining over the past two decades. The surprising element that is mostly to blame for the decline in whale numbers is found in their food supply. For example, schools of fish that are commonly preyed upon by orcas have been minimized due to factors, including degradation of spawning habitat, reduced ocean survival, and over-fishing (Ford et al., 97). Temporary closures of fisheries to protect the whales livelihood became an option, until it became a major problem with the declining fishing industry. Another startling discovery posing a huge threat to the killer whales was finding dangerously high levels of PCBs and other contaminants in their blubber, a high enough level to rank them as one of the worlds most polluted cetacean populations (Ford et al. 98). As top-level predators in the food web, killer whales ingest a variety of human-made industrial pollutants through their diet (Ford et al., 98). The dangerous p ollutants that pour into the sea every day from factories, farmland and towns threaten the health of the whales and shorten the life-span and leave them more susceptible to disease. Fortunately, PCBs are no longer produced in North America, but the security of the stored PCBs is questionable, and it seems likely that the pollutants will continue to seep into the whales habitat for years to come unless serious international efforts are made to eliminate them (Ford et al., 99). Although pollution and deterioration of food sources are key factors in the decline of killer whale populations, there are still other small factors, such as, incidents where whales are harmed or killed by boat propellers and even oil spills. The protection of these animals is necessary for their current status is endangered in some areas such as off the coasts of North America, and threatened in others. There are many aspects that make the killer whale such a defining beauty of the sea. First, their high intelligence level and well developed systems of communication set them apart from many animals. Then the culture they express commonly with family pods and strategized group hunting classifies them as a much more advanced species. Finally, the evolutionary domination of the seas as a high ranked animal of the food pyramid only remarks them as an incredible animal. There are many different species of the sea with many different characteristics that make them interesting, but none are as truly amazing as the killer whale. With laws in place to further protect the populations of killer whales many hope to see them prosper and live on for many centuries to come.

A Killer Whale Study

A Killer Whale Study Killer Whales The orca, or the killer, whale is one of the most well-known and most majestic of the sea. Belonging to the dolphin family, the killer whale is found all over the worlds oceans and has been the object of study by many animal researchers over the past few decades. Killer whales are unique mammals in the ways that they live, for example, feeding and migration, also the mother-child relationship. Apart from being such an interesting animal, they are currently endangered. When most people think of killer whales, Shamu comes to mind; the first killer whale to successfully thrive in captivity, also the iconic symbol of the SeaWorld parks. Since the killer whales early notoriety with SeaWorld, the development of better researching techniques, such as satellite tagging, have become important in understanding many aspect of the species, as well as learning how to protect them. Killer whales are usually found in pods, which are large groups that can range anywhere from ten to eighty members. Interestingly enough, each pod is a unique family consisting of blood related whales. When a calf is born into a pod, the mother cares for it closely for many calves die when they are very young from illness, accidents, or even predators such as large sharks (Carwardine, 4). If the calf survives its early years, it will remain in the pod for the rest of its life. Each pod has its own special language, or dialect in the believed and complex way of communication among other killer whales, and all members of the pod are similar in appearance, even though no two orcas look exactly alike (Carwardine, 4). Another distinguishing feature of killer whales is their Dorsal fin. Male killer whales have a huge dorsal fin that can grow up to six feet, females, however, have a much smaller and more curved dorsal fin (Carwardine, 4). In comparison to their large fins, adult orcas whale s can weigh from three to eleven tons, and male orcas grow to an average length of twenty-three to twenty-seven feet but can reach lengths of up to thirty-two feet, and female orcas average between twenty and twenty-two feet (Killer Whale, National Parks Conservation Association). Pods of killer whales have been recorded in virtually all oceans and major seas and from all open-water habitat zones (Dahlheim et al., 1981). Although they have been spotted all over, their primary habitat is in the freezing cold waters of the polar regions, for example the Arctic and Antarctic (Carwardine, 4). Another characteristic of killer whales and all other members of the cetaceansthe group of animals that consists of whales, dolphins, and porpoisesis that they only receive one set of a hundred teeth that are pointed and sharp for catching and tearing prey (Carwardine, 4). The killer whale appears to be an opportunistic feeder; diet may vary from one region to the next, among age and sex classes, and within years (Kirkevold and Lockard, 47). The unusual list of prey includes many types of fish, birds, other small cetaceans, sea lions, seals, electric rays, and outrageously even blue whales, great white sharks, as well as other killer whales (Kirkevold and Lockard, 47). Killer whales are known to work together while hunting, developing special techniques and skills for different foods that they hunt. In the Antarctic, they work together by tipping sleeping seals and penguins from ice floes into the waiting mouths of other members of the pod (Carwardine, 27). One of the most interestin g methods of hunting prey is used by killer whales off the coast of Argentina on the Punta Norte beaches, where several pods have learned how to catch young elephant seals and sea lion pups in the shallows (Carwardine, 28). The whales survey the beaches for their target and once they have found a victim easy enough for them to catch, they rush toward the beach so fast that they surge out of the water and onto the beach, leaving their prey no time to escape (Carwardine, 29). Most whales and dolphins are in serious trouble when they strand like this, but the killer whales of Punta Norte grab their prey and then wriggle back into the sea (Carwardine, 30). Other methods of finding food underwater is using Echolocation, where the whales make special clicking sounds and listen for the echoes that bounce back (Carwardine, 31). In 1997, possibly one of the most impressive and incredible accounts of an orca whales choice in food was when two whales off the coast of Californias Farallon Islands attacked and killed a great white shark. Peter Pyle, a biologist who studied the birds and sharks of the Farallon area, was the expert on hand when the strange event unfolded (Turner, Showdown at Sea). Pyle recalled seeing two whales that were later identified as belonging to an L.A. pod, attacking the shark. After about five minutes, the liver had been ripped out of the shark and was tastefully being enjoyed by the whales as the carcass of the dead shark sank (Turner, Showdown at Sea). The incident was beyond odd. No oneanywherehad ever recorded seeing a killer whale attack a great white. And then something even stranger happened: The sharks of the Farallones vanished (Turner, Showdown at Sea). Many researchers have tried to understand why the killer whales had targeted the shark as prey, and most have concluded that the behavior is pretty much unique to the L.A. pod, a cetacean gang so strange a better moniker might be the Odd Pod (Turner, Showdown at Sea). Since then, researchers have studied the relationship between killer whales and sharks and have come to find that even though humans fear the great white shark as the ultimate predator, sharks may perceive their rank differently (Turner, Showdown at Sea). Despite the many locations of killer whales, the population has been declining over the past two decades. The surprising element that is mostly to blame for the decline in whale numbers is found in their food supply. For example, schools of fish that are commonly preyed upon by orcas have been minimized due to factors, including degradation of spawning habitat, reduced ocean survival, and over-fishing (Ford et al., 97). Temporary closures of fisheries to protect the whales livelihood became an option, until it became a major problem with the declining fishing industry. Another startling discovery posing a huge threat to the killer whales was finding dangerously high levels of PCBs and other contaminants in their blubber, a high enough level to rank them as one of the worlds most polluted cetacean populations (Ford et al. 98). As top-level predators in the food web, killer whales ingest a variety of human-made industrial pollutants through their diet (Ford et al., 98). The dangerous p ollutants that pour into the sea every day from factories, farmland and towns threaten the health of the whales and shorten the life-span and leave them more susceptible to disease. Fortunately, PCBs are no longer produced in North America, but the security of the stored PCBs is questionable, and it seems likely that the pollutants will continue to seep into the whales habitat for years to come unless serious international efforts are made to eliminate them (Ford et al., 99). Although pollution and deterioration of food sources are key factors in the decline of killer whale populations, there are still other small factors, such as, incidents where whales are harmed or killed by boat propellers and even oil spills. The protection of these animals is necessary for their current status is endangered in some areas such as off the coasts of North America, and threatened in others. There are many aspects that make the killer whale such a defining beauty of the sea. First, their high intelligence level and well developed systems of communication set them apart from many animals. Then the culture they express commonly with family pods and strategized group hunting classifies them as a much more advanced species. Finally, the evolutionary domination of the seas as a high ranked animal of the food pyramid only remarks them as an incredible animal. There are many different species of the sea with many different characteristics that make them interesting, but none are as truly amazing as the killer whale. With laws in place to further protect the populations of killer whales many hope to see them prosper and live on for many centuries to come.

The History Of Christopher Columbus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The History Of Christopher Columbus - Essay Example Prior to hardcore revelations made by Bigelow regarding the extraordinarily respectful public hero Columbus, the American nation strongly believed that Columbus was the courageous navigator who took great pains to travel around the world and discover the land of America, where he found the local people to be extremely co-operative, friendly, and understanding. The fresh and riveting information introduced by Bigelow in his revisionist history based on the voyage made by Columbus in 1492 has turned many persons’ heads and rustled up hot debates regarding which version of the voyage made by Columbus is weighty and credible, the old traditional one or the new not-so-pretty version. Comparing the conventional and modern versions regarding Columbus’s historical journey, one remains dumbfounded as to what to believe and what to reject as a fake piece of information. If on one hand, the conventional historical version presents an extremely noble, well-mannered, compassionate, and heroic version of Columbus, then on other hand, the modern version introduced by Bigelow is enough to fervently shake one’s beliefs about various actions made by Columbus to the point that one starts seeing oneself as a submissive fool, who readily took what was taught in the schools at mere face value. Traditional historical version is so designed as to overlook all the deficiencies in Columbus’s character and present him as a man of larger-than-life vision who was dedicated to the native residents of America and treated them with remarkable dignity, while taking great care to give them their space so that they could live their lives the way they were prior to the di scovery and arrival of Columbus and his men. Bigelow claims that first of all, the word discovery is in itself a laughably loaded word that does not relate in any way to Columbus, who was just travelling for personal gain and certainly ambitious to search for riches and gold that could be enjoyed by him and his heirs. It was just a mater of co-incidence that he came across the land which was to be named America later. Columbus’s main intention never remained traveling for the sake of discovery, rather he travelled in an order to search for ways that could make him powerful. T hunger for power and money is just proved by the way Columbus and his men treated the native residents of America. Columbus forced the native people to choose him as their governor and unjustifiably demanded 10% share in everything that was shipped to Spain. It was Columbus who actually initiated the slave trade and like a brutal tyrant that he was, demanded large amounts of gold from the native people. The conventional and modern historical versions differ so hugely that one finds oneself entrapped between the two utterly opposite schools of thought. Speaking of Columbus, (Bigelow) says that â€Å"he also deserves credit for initiating the trans-Atlantic slave trade, albeit in the opposite direction than we’re used to thinking of it.† In an attempt to get more and more students acquainted with the modern version of Columbus’s history, Bigelow lays stress on the fact that taking any piece of information at its face value is a highly detestable attitude which should be despised by every student. Bigelow encourages students to explore and contemplate at length nearly every widely accepted belief because only in this way, fresh and crisp facts can be exposed before the public. He deliberately chose the historical issue of Columbus and his actual intentions because he knew this would prove to be the most interesting way to get hold of the