Thursday, November 28, 2019

How to Add Custom Fonts to Your WordPress Site (3 Methods)

Typography is more important than most people give it credit for. The fonts you use not only impact your website’s presentation, they can also make it stand out from other sites and render your content easier to read. Picking the same fonts as everyone else might be a safe bet, but it can be worth your while to add custom fonts to WordPress.Although WordPress includes a decent variety of font options out of the box, there are plenty of ways to improve on that selection. If you know how to include custom fonts on your website, you’ll be able to pick from thousands of exciting options. This will enable you to find a font that fits your niche and audience.In this article, we’re going to talk about what custom fonts are and where you can find some excellent choices. Then we’ll go over three methods you can use to upload custom fonts to WordPress. Let’s get to it! content management system (CMS) doesn’t include out of the box. There are thousands of custom font options that you can find online, and in general terms, nothing is stopping you from using any of them.Keep in mind, though – the fonts you choose shouldn’t just be aesthetically pleasing. They should also meet some additional criteria:Each font you include should be easy to read.It needs to fit in with the general style of your website and the other fonts you use.Letters should look good at both large and small sizes, since you need to keep mobile responsiveness in mind.Aside from these technical considerations, fonts provide you with an additional way to express your site’s style. They can become a part of your branding, and over time users might come to associate them with your site and business. So youll want to consider your choices very carefully.Where you can find custom fonts for your WordPress siteIf you do a quick search for ‘free fonts’ using any search engine right now, you’ll find hundreds of pages with broad selec tions to pick from:The problem, however, is that a lot of those free font websites don’t tend to have high standards when it comes to curating their selections. You may be able to find some jewels, but in many cases, they’ll also be full of fonts you wouldn’t be caught dead using even if you were working on a 2005 MySpace profile.Fortunately, there are a lot of excellent font repositories that do go to great lengths to curate their collections. One of our favorites is Google Fonts, which offers over 900 font families in several languages, all of them free:Another excellent option is Adobe Fonts  (formerly Typekit), which provides over 1,700 font families to choose from. Keep in mind, though – to access them you’ll need a Creative Cloud subscription (any tier will do). If you’re an Adobe user, that means you already have access to the entire font collection:These two sources alone will give you plenty of options to choose from. Keep in mind when making your selection that each font you choose should fit in with the rest of your site’s style, and be easy to read. Once youve found a few fonts you like, all thats left is to add them to your website.How to add custom fonts to your WordPress site (three methods)When it comes to custom fonts, WordPress provides you with several ways that you can implement the options you want. Let’s go over what each involves, so you can select the method that works best for you.1. Edit your themes fileIf you don’t want to upload font files to your website manually, you can always ‘import’ them from third-party repositories. With Google Fonts, for example, you can open any font page you want and click on Select This Font  at the top of the screen:Once you do that, a new menu will appear that includes two snippets of code. The first one should look like this:link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Robotodisplay=swap" rel="stylesheet"This code sh ould be placed within the head tags of your child theme’s header.php file. You can find this within your theme’s folder in the public_html/wp-content/themes directory.With that line, you’re telling WordPress to import the option you selected from Google Fonts. To use it, though, you’ll also need to open your child theme’s stylesheet and specify which elements should take advantage of your new font. Here’s what that code should look like:font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;Remember, your child theme’s stylesheet should be within the same directory as its header.php file. That means you can take care of both tasks in the same place, and implement new fonts in just a few minutes.2. Upload your fonts file to your themes folderIf you’re all about performance optimization, uploading font files to your website directly can enable you to shave a few milliseconds off your loading times. The first thing you’ll need, of course, is th e font file you want to upload to your server:Since WordPress doesn’t include a dedicated fonts folder, you’ll want to create one using your trusty FTP client. You can add the folder wherever you want, but we recommend placing it within your themes directory so you can keep track of it. Set it up now, and upload your font file to the new folder:Once the file is in place, open up your child theme’s stylesheet. Now you’ll need to call on that font so you can use it, via a snippet that should look like this:@font-face { font-family: New Font; src: url(http://www.yourwebsite.com/wp-content/themes//fonts/your-new-font.ttf); font-weight: normal; }Please note the font family name and URL above are placeholders, which you’ll need to replace with the right information.Once youve entered this code, don’t close your theme’s stylesheet just yet. You still need to configure which elements will use the new font, with some code thats very similar to what we looked at in the last section:.h1 site-title { font-family: "New Font", Arial, sans-serif; }In this example, we’re configuring our H1 subheadings to use the new font. However you can replace that with any other element you want, or multiple elements if youd like to use the font in more than one place.3. Use a pluginAs is often the case, the easiest way to implement new functionality in WordPress is to install a plugin. When it comes to using custom fonts, there are a lot of options to pick from.For example, if you want to use Google Fonts, we recommend the aptly-named Google Fonts for WordPress plugin. After activating this tool, you’ll be able to pick from the entire Google Fonts catalog for your pages and posts, without the need to add any code to your website: Google Fonts Typography Author(s): Custom Fonts Author(s): Brainstorm ForceCurrent Version: 1.2.0Last Updated: October 3, 2019custom-fonts.1.2.0.zip 94%Ratings 232,599Downloads WP 4.4+Requires With this plugin, you get to upload fonts to your website right from the dashboard, and use the Customizer to pick where and when to use them. Either of these plugins makes it a breeze to add new custom fonts to your site.ConclusionIf you pay attention to the fonts that websites use, you’ll notice that many of them stick to the same few tried-and-true choices. Some fonts are pretty safe bet when it comes to readability and user accessibility. However, with thousands of options to choose from – both free and paid – its worth looking for one that also fits your website’s style and audience perfectly.As for how to upload custom fonts to WordPress, you can go about it using three different approaches:Edit your theme’s file.Upload the font’s file to your themes folder.Use a WordPress custom fonts plugin. Want to add custom fonts to #WordPress? Here are 3 easy ways to do it 🅠°Ã¯ ¸  #tutorial Click To Tweet Do you have any questions about what types of fonts you should use on your website? Let’s talk about them in the comments section below!Free guide5 Essential Tips to Speed Up Your WordPress SiteReduce your loading time by even 50-80% just by following simple tips.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Legalize or Unlegalize Gambling essays

Legalize or Unlegalize Gambling essays What role does the government have in legalizing or not legalizing gambling? State lotteries date back to Colonial America. In that time lotteries were used to pave streets and to fund other public work. However, in the 1870s, gambling scandals involving bribery of state and federal officials led to lotteries being outlawed altogether. Most other forms of gambling were outlawed as well. In 1960, New Hampshire paved the way with the first legalized state lottery. Of the fifty states 47 states and The District of Columbia followed shortly after in a lottery. When voters in New Jersey authorized casinos for Atlantic City in 1976, many felt that the lid of restriction of gambling had blown off. Some form of gambling is legal in 48 states. Forty-seven state governments now conduct lotteries (Thompson). Unless these states are willing to give up all the money they get from these lotteries they will still be legal. Yet, has the state government really looked at the benefits and liabilities of legalized gambling? Legalized gambling is a liability to states and local communities. Many reasons support this threat of moral downfall in America. There are benefits and liabilities of legalized gambling. Some benefits include state tax revenues and jobs among others. However, the liabilities are much greater. A few of the liabilities include moral decay of the family, increased crime, and severe addiction. Casinos offer quality jobs, economic development and capital investment in their communities. Some jobs a casino creates are dealers, servers, parking, maintenance, and security. This in turn drops the communities unemployment rate. According to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC), in Mississippi, the casino industry pays about 3% of the states entire work force. The commission found that "destination type resorts" such as casinos, offer major economic advantages over what they called "convince type gambling." Co...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Developing an Implementation Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Developing an Implementation Plan - Assignment Example Second, the program will undergo formal approval through Site-Based Research (SBR) Units Review (Carter, Reitmeier & Goodloe, 2014). The success of this program implementation process will rely on the support and participation of peers and unit leaders. Peer support will ensure that the implementation process will take the shortest time possible. Additionally, peer support will contribute to enthusiasm and buy-in for the implementation process. Administrative support is equally important because it will influence the degree to which institutions will implement the program. Below is the process of obtaining informal approval: Formal approval will require the submission of the program implementation plan to Site Based Research Review (SBR). SBR will review the proposal to assess the validity and legality of the contents of the plan. Afterward, the SBR will assign a director who will then forward the proposal to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for review. The implementation will then commence after the approval of the IRB. Research studies reveal that health associated infections (HAIs) are some of the most common complications that healthcare organizations and practitioners face. For instance, a new research study reveals that more than two million people develop HAIs every year. The infections result in approximately 1,000 deaths every year. HAIs are also responsible for health care costs in excess of 30 billion dollars. Thus, addressing the issue of HAIs is critical in reducing healthcare costs and enhances patient safety. One of the approaches to addressing the problem of HAIs is reducing the prevalence of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) among patients. CAUTIs are the most typical examples of HAIs, and they account for more than 35 percent of infections. The U.S. Department of Health estimates the total annual cost of CAUTI to be 565 million dollars, and the annual rate of deaths from CAUTI is

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Western Treatment of Illness versus Alternative Therapies of Essay

The Western Treatment of Illness versus Alternative Therapies of Probiotics, Herbs and Cleansing Regimens - Essay Example Bacteria which are immune to the traditional treatments of antibiotics have become a serious issue for practitioners and the general public. Over-reliance on antibiotics by family doctors, and non-compliance by patients (usually through lack of understanding about the nature of antibiotics and bacteria) has produced infections such as Clostridium difficile, known as C. dif, which require very intensive therapies and are very resistant to treatment. It therefore makes sense for scientists to consider whether alternative therapies are of any benefit in providing an alternative to antibiotics. Complementary therapy such as herbs may actually cheaper than conventional medications. A study comparing standard anti-depressants with St John's Wort found that the side effects of the herb were only 10 percent that of the medications, and the herb was only one-fourth the cost of the anti-depressant. (Jonas, W. 209). Treatment of Helicobacter Pylori through antibiotics is : The side effects of antibiotics often result in a significant failure to complete the course - this has repercussions both in the duration of the illness, and the likelihood of the bacteria becoming resistant to treatment. Studies have shown that probiotics act rapidly (Mattila-Sandholm et all, 2000). In addition, it is widely acknowledged that patients are complacent about antibiotics, (Guardian 2005), and complementary therapy could provide a solution to that problem (Jonas, 208) Alternative therapies also provide a 'holistic' treatment, though some clinicians feel that it is nonsense to claim that conventional medicine does not treat the whole person (Baum, 1988)However, there is evidence that probiotics strengthen the immune system (Kailasapathy, Chin, 82; Senok, Ismaeel, and Botta, 959-960), providing long-term benefits for the patient. In cases where the patient is vulnerable to infection, this may be of particular interest. Problems with CAM Although many people take CAM without problems, there are safety issues which mean that alternative therapy is not benign. Firstly, the herbs themselves may be toxic in large doses (Silverstein et al, 162), they may be contra-indicated with conventional medication (Silverstein, 162; Jonas 209), and generally less well regulated (Senok, 959). There is also little hard evidence that CAM's are more effective than conventional treatments (Mattila-Sandholm, 394; Langmead, Rampton, 348), and despite some clinicians' feelings that CAM's have a beneficial effect, some studies seem to show the opposite (Gionchetti, et al, 492). The biggest concern over the use of CAM in treating bacterial diseases, however, is the fact that many probiotics and herbal medicines are targeted at the healthy

Monday, November 18, 2019

The Motives of Enculturation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Motives of Enculturation - Essay Example   Markedly, upon interviewing two individuals from different cultures; a Guatemala and Tibetan, it’s evident that enculturation, measured by the career values and choices made are directly influenced by family cultures. The first interviewee was a Tibetan registered nurse, working in a public hospital. For confidential purposes, the interviewees’ fine details including the hospital’s name are withheld. Being born in late 1979 his parents were typical Tibetans who lived in the southern parts of USA. He was brought up in a rural set-up, lived in the discrimination era and hence spent most of his childhood time with Asian natives. Currently, the interviewee acknowledged that he lives in a completely different environment, amidst blacks, Asians, Latin natives and whites, both at workplace and neighborhood: hence his own culture has become less important. The second interviewee was a Guatemalan woman, working in a cereal production farm. The lady in question was ambitious, social and maintained a cheerful face all through the interview time, responding to the questions precisely and splendidly. Contrary to her cultural obligation, the lady confirmed that she was a senior agricultural officer in the firm she worked for. Similar to the Tibetan guy, the lady was also brought up in suburban areas, was in her mid-thirties, almost turning 35, with her parents being traditionally encompassed. She was a graduate, the only girl in a family of three, and illiterate parents. Both respondents appeared to be positive about the interview. They cheerfully responded to the questions as it was a platform to confess the advantages that accrued from their enculturation process.  Ã‚  

Friday, November 15, 2019

Capitalism And Consumerism Of Society

Capitalism And Consumerism Of Society Present society in the west is characterized by a capitalist economic system that is founded on private ownership of property and a profit driven economy. This economy has consequently produced few super rich individuals and further stratified the western society, (Banish the bloated overclass, p. 71). Capitalism is different to a socialist economic system where ownership of property is by the state or communally (Shachtman, p.96). The profit driven economy encourages businesses and enterprises to exploit the market for the sole purpose of making a profit. The marketing strategies of capitalism have therefore created a society of consumers whose benefit is through consumption on the individual level while the monetary profits go to the capitalists. Capitalism has created a society that consumer based and the new phenomenon has been labeled as consumerism. Consumerism has extended even into those areas, which were previously under state control as opposed to being under the control of private corporations. These include the health sector and education among others. The presence of numerous corporations which provide all kinds of services and merchandise have expanded the choices available to consumers. This has created societies, which are based on consumerism as opposed to the earlier societies, which were work based. A consumer society can be identified by the consumption habits of individuals while a work based societys identity lies in the citizenship and occupations of individuals, (Shachtman, p.101). In addition, the consumer society has evolved into a new culture, which has diverse and often contradicting principles to those of work and citizenship. Consequently, capitalists, out to maximum their revenue realization venture into global markets to exploit new markets. This will eventually lead to a single global culture based on consumerism, and individual consumer patterns based on cultural uniqueness and other such factors will be eliminated. As capitalists devise new ways of maximizing their profits, the consumers in a society based on consumerism look for goods of high quality and with the lowest cost. Consequently, both the consumers and the capitalists are not driven by social responsibility and do not try to deal with issues that are created by capitalism and consumerism. Social respon sibility is in the hands of the government and the society but the culture of consumerism and capitalism encourages individualism as each entity is in pursuit of its own goals without considering how some of these goals might be affecting others and the society in genera, (Shachtman, p.106). The nature of the western society made it possible to be targeted for consumer society. A society full of egocentricity, deceptive advertising, nihilism, and values subjectivism to academic goals is easier to sway to the path of consumerism. In such a society where economic growth is the only important thing to any individual and has the capabilities and the power to displace or degrade moral values as we traditionally knew them, the gauge of self worth is always buying power. Those in a position to buy and own property have a more reinforced worth in a society upholding consumerism. The contribution of the media can not be ignored as it continues to create an image which everyone in the western society tries to fit in thus distorting the self worth and self awareness of each person. It is the goal of every capitalist to seduce a large television audience into identification of his personality with specifically designed consumer ideas and advertising fantasies. We no longer possess t he ability to do our things independent of consumerism justification. Advertising duplicity and consumerism are now potential threats to the individuation process and consciousness regardless of continued linking of capitalism to the beginning of consciousness. Social cultural meaning diminishes as it is exploited further by media which siphons inexpressible content in order to attract more consumers. The ability to control consumption gives most capitalists the power to influence the evolvement of different consumption patterns over time. They employ different but simple mechanisms like the promise of a simpler life. The end result is a consumer revolution which in turn forced a relevant reaction in terms of information, communication and technology leading to even more production of goods and services. The goods which result from this high production forces the capitalist society to convince more people to consume goods and alters the basic institution through generation of new ideologies for pleasure. A completely new description of pleasure can also result. One of the major set back of capitalism and consumerism is witnessed at times of economic crisis. The capitalist system has been able to solve the entire crisis but considerably harming the environment especially when we consider the waste created and the resources utilized. A consumer culture is exploitative, both indirectly and indirectly. Consumption of goods and services involves spending money, which is not equally available across a society that is founded on capitalism. Considering that most resources are not infinite, there must be mechanisms that ensure that they rationed. In this context, consumption does not allow full choice for all individuals but only to those who have the purchasing power, (could you afford to be poor, p. 75). This means that vital services under the control of capitalist structures are not accessible to those who cannot afford them. Scott, (2005) states that good medical care and education is not accessible to the poor meaning that people in loose their lives if they do not have the money to have their illnesses fixed. This brings in the question of whether these divisions should only be for the wealthy or should be available for all. In this regard, consumerism culture may work more towards protecting the possessions of the wealthy through a consumerism culture, which is divisive in nature. The illusion that consumerism puts forward is that of choice for all, which is an effective way of ensuring that the deprived do not harbor sentiments that the capitalist system is short charging them. Consumerism therefore divides the haves from the have-nots and further stratifies the society. In the essay Going to extremes: CEOs vs. Slaves, the author notes the wide margins in terms that exist between the capitalist and consumers, noting that CEOs earn as much as 260% more that the third highest executive, (p. 70). The essay further notes that billionaires, created by capitalism exploit the labor market by subjecting employees to slave-like working conditions with a peanut salary. As much as consumer goods are available across the society, only those who have the money to purchase will benefit. This, according to Karl Marx, is the root of most societal problems, which arise from controlled consumption because of poverty. In a consumerism culture, individuals are motivated by the ability to acquire what they desire. This is not an obstacle for those who can afford it, but for the poor, it is continuous challenge to keep up with consumerism. Although this culture may make products, especially technology readily available in the market, those whose purchasing power is limited will not have access. Technology like PCs, hi-tech communication devices such as phones, LCD TVs and so forth remain unobtainable to the poor. The resulting economic disparity serves only to paint a dreary future for the affected economies. As the rich gain more control and the poor are left with fewer alternatives, the political hierarchy in turn adheres to these policies which violate the commonly held ideas regarding peaceful coexistence and human rights resulting to a self propagating system of exploitation. The corporate capitalist view the consumer only as a target and only embark on factors which control interests thus alter ing culture; putting this up for sale is always made easier by the media advertising. Although there exists some constitutional guarantees, the corporate capitalist anyway subjects the public to economic and political systems which only exploit the rights of the many to the benefits of the few. The major contributors are always the movers of government policies which results to political agenda based on their cravings. This inability to access what they desire will lead individuals, especially those from poor backgrounds to engage in all manner of crimes in order to afford what they want. Juvenile burglary, drug peddling and prostitution are some crimes that are associated with people from poor backgrounds. Individuals driven by what they want will engage in activities, which violate the rights of others just to have enough power to purchase commodities. Just like the elite and the wealthy who own the manufacturing and distributing franchises and are solely driven by maximizing their profits, the consumers are driven by the ability to purchase as much as they can. This individuality, by the capitalists and the consumers alike, often infringe on the rights of others and over exploit available resources to achieve individual ends. Capitalist engage in unethical practices in order to maximum their revenue. In a society that is increasingly being taken up by the consumerism culture, the capitalists are faced with stiff competition as many more industries and companies come up to get their share of the profits. This creates an atmosphere of intense competitiveness among the capitalists who want to attract and retain a bigger market share. In order to this, they need to advertise their goods so that they are widely recognized by the consumers. Consequently, most of these advertisements are misleading to the consumer who in the end is unable to make an informed decision about the quality of the goods or services. A good example is the Macdonalds fast food chain, which previously advertised meals as healthy for children. This statement had to be revised when it was established that the meals so called healthy were responsible for childhood obesity, not to mention other lifestyle diseases that are rooted in the consu mption of greasy food. Therefore, the capitalists not only exploits the consumer by providing sub-standard goods, but may also provide false information, which may ultimately pose a serious risk to the health, life and overall well-being of the consumer. Every individual in the society has the capability of selling his or her labor products. Capitalist mode of production does not support this system. All what they need is a disjointed tie between producers and the means they use for production. This simply means that, the peasant farmers to loose their farms, artisans and constructors to loose their tools among other means to deny these people access. With deprived access, these people have no choice but to seek those who have the means of production to use their land and tools and in return gain some wages. The means of production is therefore the ultimate control as it gives you the opportunity to control the goods produced which are in turn bought by back by the same people who labor to produce them. The gap between the two groups is widened as the laborers are turned once again into consumers and the money taken back by those who own the means of production. They just lend you the money for sometime; but they own it. Consumerism has also led to environmental degradation in so many ways. In order to meet the demands of consumers in such a society, and in a world where resources are increasingly becoming depleted, manufactures will look for alternative sources of raw materials in other countries or localities. After they have exhausted the resources, they will move on to the next stop, without concern of how their activities are affecting the environment. In Hardings, (2001), before you finish eating breakfast this morning, he cites the production of rubber, which has led to extensive deforestation in Thailand, which has consequently resulted to increased urbanization. It is no wonder, that the issue of global warming has become a worrying reality to many governments around the world. Global warming has led to climatic changes, whose effects are felt more by people in the developing countries. This is because most of them rely on agriculture and the major source of GDP and unpredictable weather cyc les, droughts as well as floods means that agriculture can no longer be relied on for national revenue. Developing countries are constantly faced with food shortages and global warming has worsened the situation. Global warming is also caused by industry emissions, which destroy the Ozone layer in the atmosphere. Global warming is deeply rooted in industrialization, which in itself was fueled by capitalism and later consumerism. The means used to obtain these resources further destroys the environment. Harding, (2001) notes, tuna from Somalia is fished using explosives, which destroys the coastal eco system. Bananas obtained from the Dominican Republic are grown using chemical fertilizer, which destroys the soil balance. Consumerism and capitalism are enemies of the people. Behind the fancy advertisements, symbolic values, and the promise of merchandise lays their true value characterized and driven by profit making. It is a mechanism by which big businesses ensure continued buying by the consumers not only aimed at profit making. Obsession with consumerism coarsens the moral fiber to a state where the society no longer up holds tradition, but allows itself to be oppressed by structures of consumerism and credit obligations. Consumerism is nothing but a myth meant top make those who believe in it that they can gratify all their needs only through consuming. Cultural fulfillment and social obligations are sacrificed in the altar of gratification associated with owning property and buying goods. The truth is, this gratification is short lived and adds joy for a short moment to those who cal afford to gratify this need and leads to sadness to those who can not afford to fund this need. However, this gra tification deprives us the overall fulfillment of other important cultural mythologies. When culture is commercialized, there is always a lot to loose in terms of perceived reality. Our perception looses its depth, richness and periphery. For these, and other negative reasons that are associated with capitalism and the consumerism culture, it is imperative for the society to take action sooner than later in order to avoid inflicting permanent damage to the society fabric and the environment, which sustains it. Capitalism has created a materialistic society based on individual gratification without much thought of the impact on other people, cultures and environment. Such individual gratification has facilitated societal evils such as human trafficking; drug trafficking, prostitution and forms of crimes. To begin with, changing the consumerism culture in western society is not going to be an easy task, and will definitely not happen overtime. This culture is so ingrained in western societies to the extent that it is now second nature. A more difficult task will be changing the mentality of capitalism from profit realization to moral and social responsibility. Presently, there are groups and movements that are emerging which set an example in the way to change the consumerism culture in American people. The social groups and movements engage in activities such as garbage bin hunting. These people scour dustbins in supermarkets and hotels to get food that has been thrown away but is not spoilt. The foods included canned foods and packaged vegetables, which are thrown out simply because they have minor blemishes. This may seem like an extreme method but it is sending the message to society. That wastage leads to depletion of resources, in addition to denying them to other people who need them. Achieving change is not a task that can be accomplished by one element in this chain of capitalism and consumerism. To begin with, the government should establish policies and guidelines that will ensure that resources are not exploited or depleted. Secondly, the government should also tighten regulations that will protect the environment from abuse by unscrupulous capitalists. Current measures are not effective, evidenced in the current BP oils spill in the Mexican Gulf, which is threatening marine life over a large area. With these guidelines by and punitive measures incase they are violated; the society will be ready to begin the journey towards self-transformation without the use of extreme means that characterize revolutions. However, this kind of change can only begin when the society becomes conscientious about the damage of their current habits and their long-term effects. People may perceive consumerism as a convenient lifestyle where they are able to buy anything to make life easier. However, people should realize that this convenience has adverse effects on the freedoms of others and the environment. Industries should also become more conscientious, and ensure that they do not destroy the very environment that makes their businesses possible in a bid to make quick profits. The industry should acknowledge their moral and social responsibility and ensure that their practices are environmental friendly, do not exploit resources or the market. This can be achieved through civic education of the industry management on safe practices as well as the consumers on how to minimize waste and consider how the products they choose to buy are affecting others. This aspect is demonstrated by the current campaign b eing made for the use green products. In the background of global warming that is threatening the very existence of planet earth, numerous campaigns have been launched that admonish individuals to become environmentally conscious. This movement is referred to as the green revolution where society is going green and demanding only those products that are manufactured in ways that do not harm the environment. The green movement is making progress, as manufactures and merchandisers are compelled to use products and processes that do not destroy the already fragile environment. Even for those who are reluctant to make changes, they have no alternative, as the environmental conscious consumer will simply shun purchasing such products. The effectiveness of the green revolution has been great, and consumers should subsequently step up the movement by demanding more products to go green or else loose their market. Products that have gone green include foodstuff, clothing, technology, which includes phones and computers, furnitur e, toys and even cars. Everyone in the society can contribute to the green revolution by encouraging recycling, avoiding wasteful buying especially packaged food and the use of recyclable goods.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Robert Frosts Desert Places and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening :: Robert Frost Poet Poems Desert Woods Essays

Robert Frost's "Desert Places" and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" Robert Frost takes our imaginations to a journey through wintertime with his two poems "Desert Places" and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". Frost comes from a New England background and these two poems reflect the beautiful scenery that is present in that part of the country. Even though these poems both have winter settings they contain very different tones. One has a feeling of depressing loneliness and the other a feeling of welcome solitude. They show how the same setting can have totally different impacts on a person depending on their mindset at the time. These poems are both made up of simple stanzas and diction but they are not simple poems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the poem "Desert Places" the speaker is a man who is traveling through the countryside on a beautiful winter eventing. He is completely surrounded with feelings of loneliness. The speaker views a snow covered field as a deserted place. "A blanker whiteness of benighted snow/ With no expression, nothing to express". Whiteness and blankness are two key ideas in this poem. The white sybolizes open and empty spaces. The snow is a white blanket that covers up everything living. The blankness sybolizes the emptyness that the speaker feels. To him there is nothing else around except for the unfeeling snow and his lonely thoughts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The speaker in this poem is jealous of the woods. "The woods around it have it - it is theirs." The woods symbolizes people and society. They have something that belongs to them, something to feel a part of. The woods has its place in nature and it is also a part of a bigger picture. The speaker is so alone inside that he feels that he is not a part of anything. Nature has a way of bringing all of her parts together to act as one. Even the animals are a part of this wintery scene. "All animals are smothered in their lairs,/ I am too absent-spirited to count". The snow throws its blanket of whiteness over everything and to him it is a feeling of numbness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "The loneliness includes me unawares". The speaker has lost his enthusiasm for life. He can not express his feelings easily because of this feeling of numbness. The speaker is also in denial about feeling alone. He is at a stage where he just does not care about too much and he is feeling a bit paranoid. "They cannot scare me with their empty space." He is saying who cares how I feel, I do not need anyone else.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Angels Demons Chapter 13-15

13 Langdon stared in bewilderment at the study before him. â€Å"What is this place?† Despite the welcome blast of warm air on his face, he stepped through the door with trepidation. Kohler said nothing as he followed Langdon inside. Langdon scanned the room, not having the slightest idea what to make of it. It contained the most peculiar mix of artifacts he had ever seen. On the far wall, dominating the decor, was an enormous wooden crucifix, which Langdon placed as fourteenth-century Spanish. Above the cruciform, suspended from the ceiling, was a metallic mobile of the orbiting planets. To the left was an oil painting of the Virgin Mary, and beside that was a laminated periodic table of elements. On the side wall, two additional brass cruciforms flanked a poster of Albert Einstein, his famous quote reading: God Does Not Play Dice With the Universe Langdon moved into the room, looking around in astonishment. A leather-bound Bible sat on Vetra's desk beside a plastic Bohr model of an atom and a miniature replica of Michelangelo's Moses. Talk about eclectic, Langdon thought. The warmth felt good, but something about the decor sent a new set of chills through his body. He felt like he was witnessing the clash of two philosophical titans†¦ an unsettling blur of opposing forces. He scanned the titles on the bookshelf: The God Particle The Tao of Physics God: The Evidence One of the bookends was etched with a quote: True science discovers God waiting behind every door. Pope Pius XII â€Å"Leonardo was a Catholic priest,† Kohler said. Langdon turned. â€Å"A priest? I thought you said he was a physicist.† â€Å"He was both. Men of science and religion are not unprecedented in history. Leonardo was one of them. He considered physics ‘God's natural law.' He claimed God's handwriting was visible in the natural order all around us. Through science he hoped to prove God's existence to the doubting masses. He considered himself a theo-physicist.† Theo-physicist? Langdon thought it sounded impossibly oxymoronic. â€Å"The field of particle physics,† Kohler said, â€Å"has made some shocking discoveries lately – discoveries quite spiritual in implication. Leonardo was responsible for many of them.† Langdon studied CERN's director, still trying to process the bizarre surroundings. â€Å"Spirituality and physics?† Langdon had spent his career studying religious history, and if there was one recurring theme, it was that science and religion had been oil and water since day one†¦ archenemies†¦ unmixable. â€Å"Vetra was on the cutting edge of particle physics,† Kohler said. â€Å"He was starting to fuse science and religion†¦ showing that they complement each other in most unanticipated ways. He called the field New Physics.† Kohler pulled a book from the shelf and handed it to Langdon. Langdon studied the cover. God, Miracles, and the New Physics – by Leonardo Vetra. â€Å"The field is small,† Kohler said, â€Å"but it's bringing fresh answers to some old questions – questions about the origin of the universe and the forces that bind us all. Leonardo believed his research had the potential to convert millions to a more spiritual life. Last year he categorically proved the existence of an energy force that unites us all. He actually demonstrated that we are all physically connected†¦ that the molecules in your body are intertwined with the molecules in mine†¦ that there is a single force moving within all of us.† Langdon felt disconcerted. And the power of God shall unite us all. â€Å"Mr. Vetra actually found a way to demonstrate that particles are connected?† â€Å"Conclusive evidence. A recent Scientific American article hailed New Physics as a surer path to God than religion itself.† The comment hit home. Langdon suddenly found himself thinking of the antireligious Illuminati. Reluctantly, he forced himself to permit a momentary intellectual foray into the impossible. If the Illuminati were indeed still active, would they have killed Leonardo to stop him from bringing his religious message to the masses? Langdon shook off the thought. Absurd! The Illuminati are ancient history! All academics know that! â€Å"Vetra had plenty of enemies in the scientific world,† Kohler went on. â€Å"Many scientific purists despised him. Even here at CERN. They felt that using analytical physics to support religious principles was a treason against science.† â€Å"But aren't scientists today a bit less defensive about the church?† Kohler grunted in disgust. â€Å"Why should we be? The church may not be burning scientists at the stake anymore, but if you think they've released their reign over science, ask yourself why half the schools in your country are not allowed to teach evolution. Ask yourself why the U.S. Christian Coalition is the most influential lobby against scientific progress in the world. The battle between science and religion is still raging, Mr. Langdon. It has moved from the battlefields to the boardrooms, but it is still raging.† Langdon realized Kohler was right. Just last week the Harvard School of Divinity had marched on the Biology Building, protesting the genetic engineering taking place in the graduate program. The chairman of the Bio Department, famed ornithologist Richard Aaronian, defended his curriculum by hanging a huge banner from his office window. The banner depicted the Christian â€Å"fish† modified with four little feet – a tribute, Aaronian claimed, to the African lungfishes' evolution onto dry land. Beneath the fish, instead of the word â€Å"Jesus,† was the proclamation â€Å"Darwin!† A sharp beeping sound cut the air, and Langdon looked up. Kohler reached down into the array of electronics on his wheelchair. He slipped a beeper out of its holder and read the incoming message. â€Å"Good. That is Leonardo's daughter. Ms. Vetra is arriving at the helipad right now. We will meet her there. I think it best she not come up here and see her father this way.† Langdon agreed. It would be a shock no child deserved. â€Å"I will ask Ms. Vetra to explain the project she and her father have been working on†¦ perhaps shedding light on why he was murdered.† â€Å"You think Vetra's work is why he was killed?† â€Å"Quite possibly. Leonardo told me he was working on something groundbreaking. That is all he said. He had become very secretive about the project. He had a private lab and demanded seclusion, which I gladly afforded him on account of his brilliance. His work had been consuming huge amounts of electric power lately, but I refrained from questioning him.† Kohler rotated toward the study door. â€Å"There is, however, one more thing you need to know before we leave this flat.† Langdon was not sure he wanted to hear it. â€Å"An item was stolen from Vetra by his murderer.† â€Å"An item?† â€Å"Follow me.† The director propelled his wheelchair back into the fog-filled living room. Langdon followed, not knowing what to expect. Kohler maneuvered to within inches of Vetra's body and stopped. He ushered Langdon to join him. Reluctantly, Langdon came close, bile rising in his throat at the smell of the victim's frozen urine. â€Å"Look at his face,† Kohler said. Look at his face? Langdon frowned. I thought you said something was stolen. Hesitantly, Langdon knelt down. He tried to see Vetra's face, but the head was twisted 180 degrees backward, his face pressed into the carpet. Struggling against his handicap Kohler reached down and carefully twisted Vetra's frozen head. Cracking loudly, the corpse's face rotated into view, contorted in agony. Kohler held it there a moment. â€Å"Sweet Jesus!† Langdon cried, stumbling back in horror. Vetra's face was covered in blood. A single hazel eye stared lifelessly back at him. The other socket was tattered and empty. â€Å"They stole his eye?† 14 Langdon stepped out of Building C into the open air, grateful to be outside Vetra's flat. The sun helped dissolve the image of the empty eye socket emblazoned into his mind. â€Å"This way, please,† Kohler said, veering up a steep path. The electric wheelchair seemed to accelerate effortlessly. â€Å"Ms. Vetra will be arriving any moment.† Langdon hurried to keep up. â€Å"So,† Kohler asked. â€Å"Do you still doubt the Illuminati's involvement?† Langdon had no idea what to think anymore. Vetra's religious affiliations were definitely troubling, and yet Langdon could not bring himself to abandon every shred of academic evidence he had ever researched. Besides, there was the eye†¦ â€Å"I still maintain,† Langdon said, more forcefully than he intended. â€Å"that the Illuminati are not responsible for this murder. The missing eye is proof.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Random mutilation,† Langdon explained, â€Å"is very†¦ un – Illuminati. Cult specialists see desultory defacement from inexperienced fringe sects – zealots who commit random acts of terrorism – but the Illuminati have always been more deliberate.† â€Å"Deliberate? Surgically removing someone's eyeball is not deliberate?† â€Å"It sends no clear message. It serves no higher purpose.† Kohler's wheelchair stopped short at the top of the hill. He turned. â€Å"Mr. Langdon, believe me, that missing eye does indeed serve a higher purpose†¦ a much higher purpose.† As the two men crossed the grassy rise, the beating of helicopter blades became audible to the west. A chopper appeared, arching across the open valley toward them. It banked sharply, then slowed to a hover over a helipad painted on the grass. Langdon watched, detached, his mind churning circles like the blades, wondering if a full night's sleep would make his current disorientation any clearer. Somehow, he doubted it. As the skids touched down, a pilot jumped out and started unloading gear. There was a lot of it – duffels, vinyl wet bags, scuba tanks, and crates of what appeared to be high-tech diving equipment. Langdon was confused. â€Å"Is that Ms. Vetra's gear?† he yelled to Kohler over the roar of the engines. Kohler nodded and yelled back, â€Å"She was doing biological research in the Balearic Sea.† â€Å"I thought you said she was a physicist!† â€Å"She is. She's a Bio Entanglement Physicist. She studies the interconnectivity of life systems. Her work ties closely with her father's work in particle physics. Recently she disproved one of Einstein's fundamental theories by using atomically synchronized cameras to observe a school of tuna fish.† Langdon searched his host's face for any glint of humor. Einstein and tuna fish? He was starting to wonder if the X-33 space plane had mistakenly dropped him off on the wrong planet. A moment later, Vittoria Vetra emerged from the fuselage. Robert Langdon realized today was going to be a day of endless surprises. Descending from the chopper in her khaki shorts and white sleeveless top, Vittoria Vetra looked nothing like the bookish physicist he had expected. Lithe and graceful, she was tall with chestnut skin and long black hair that swirled in the backwind of the rotors. Her face was unmistakably Italian – not overly beautiful, but possessing full, earthy features that even at twenty yards seemed to exude a raw sensuality. As the air currents buffeted her body, her clothes clung, accentuating her slender torso and small breasts. â€Å"Ms. Vetra is a woman of tremendous personal strength,† Kohler said, seeming to sense Langdon's captivation. â€Å"She spends months at a time working in dangerous ecological systems. She is a strict vegetarian and CERN's resident guru of Hatha yoga.† Hatha yoga? Langdon mused. The ancient Buddhist art of meditative stretching seemed an odd proficiency for the physicist daughter of a Catholic priest. Langdon watched Vittoria approach. She had obviously been crying, her deep sable eyes filled with emotions Langdon could not place. Still, she moved toward them with fire and command. Her limbs were strong and toned, radiating the healthy luminescence of Mediterranean flesh that had enjoyed long hours in the sun. â€Å"Vittoria,† Kohler said as she approached. â€Å"My deepest condolences. It's a terrible loss for science†¦ for all of us here at CERN.† Vittoria nodded gratefully. When she spoke, her voice was smooth – a throaty, accented English. â€Å"Do you know who is responsible yet?† â€Å"We're still working on it.† She turned to Langdon, holding out a slender hand. â€Å"My name is Vittoria Vetra. You're from Interpol, I assume?† Langdon took her hand, momentarily spellbound by the depth of her watery gaze. â€Å"Robert Langdon.† He was unsure what else to say. â€Å"Mr. Langdon is not with the authorities,† Kohler explained. â€Å"He is a specialist from the U.S. He's here to help us locate who is responsible for this situation.† Vittoria looked uncertain. â€Å"And the police?† Kohler exhaled but said nothing. â€Å"Where is his body?† she demanded. â€Å"Being attended to.† The white lie surprised Langdon. â€Å"I want to see him,† Vittoria said. â€Å"Vittoria,† Kohler urged, â€Å"your father was brutally murdered. You would be better to remember him as he was.† Vittoria began to speak but was interrupted. â€Å"Hey, Vittoria!† voices called from the distance. â€Å"Welcome home!† She turned. A group of scientists passing near the helipad waved happily. â€Å"Disprove any more of Einstein's theories?† one shouted. Another added, â€Å"Your dad must be proud!† Vittoria gave the men an awkward wave as they passed. Then she turned to Kohler, her face now clouded with confusion. â€Å"Nobody knows yet?† â€Å"I decided discretion was paramount.† â€Å"You haven't told the staff my father was murdered?† Her mystified tone was now laced with anger. Kohler's tone hardened instantly. â€Å"Perhaps you forget, Ms. Vetra, as soon as I report your father's murder, there will be an investigation of CERN. Including a thorough examination of his lab. I have always tried to respect your father's privacy. Your father has told me only two things about your current project. One, that it has the potential to bring CERN millions of francs in licensing contracts in the next decade. And two, that it is not ready for public disclosure because it is still hazardous technology. Considering these two facts, I would prefer strangers not poke around inside his lab and either steal his work or kill themselves in the process and hold CERN liable. Do I make myself clear?† Vittoria stared, saying nothing. Langdon sensed in her a reluctant respect and acceptance of Kohler's logic. â€Å"Before we report anything to the authorities,† Kohler said, â€Å"I need to know what you two were working on. I need you to take us to your lab.† â€Å"The lab is irrelevant,† Vittoria said. â€Å"Nobody knew what my father and I were doing. The experiment could not possibly have anything to do with my father's murder.† Kohler exhaled a raspy, ailing breath. â€Å"Evidence suggests otherwise.† â€Å"Evidence? What evidence?† Langdon was wondering the same thing. Kohler was dabbing his mouth again. â€Å"You'll just have to trust me.† It was clear, from Vittoria's smoldering gaze, that she did not. 15 Langdon strode silently behind Vittoria and Kohler as they moved back into the main atrium where Langdon's bizarre visit had begun. Vittoria's legs drove in fluid efficiency – like an Olympic diver – a potency, Langdon figured, no doubt born from the flexibility and control of yoga. He could hear her breathing slowly and deliberately, as if somehow trying to filter her grief. Langdon wanted to say something to her, offer his sympathy. He too had once felt the abrupt hollowness of unexpectedly losing a parent. He remembered the funeral mostly, rainy and gray. Two days after his twelfth birthday. The house was filled with gray-suited men from the office, men who squeezed his hand too hard when they shook it. They were all mumbling words like cardiac and stress. His mother joked through teary eyes that she'd always been able to follow the stock market simply by holding her husband's hand†¦ his pulse her own private ticker tape. Once, when his father was alive, Langdon had heard his mom begging his father to â€Å"stop and smell the roses.† That year, Langdon bought his father a tiny blown-glass rose for Christmas. It was the most beautiful thing Langdon had ever seen†¦ the way the sun caught it, throwing a rainbow of colors on the wall. â€Å"It's lovely,† his father had said when he opened it, kissing Robert on the forehead. â€Å"Let's find a safe spot for it.† Then his father had carefully placed the rose on a high dusty shelf in the darkest corner of the living room. A few days later, Langdon got a stool, retrieved the rose, and took it back to the store. His father never noticed it was gone. The ping of an elevator pulled Langdon back to the present. Vittoria and Kohler were in front of him, boarding the lift. Langdon hesitated outside the open doors. â€Å"Is something wrong?† Kohler asked, sounding more impatient than concerned. â€Å"Not at all,† Langdon said, forcing himself toward the cramped carriage. He only used elevators when absolutely necessary. He preferred the more open spaces of stairwells. â€Å"Dr. Vetra's lab is subterranean,† Kohler said. Wonderful, Langdon thought as he stepped across the cleft, feeling an icy wind churn up from the depths of the shaft. The doors closed, and the car began to descend. â€Å"Six stories,† Kohler said blankly, like an analytical engine. Langdon pictured the darkness of the empty shaft below them. He tried to block it out by staring at the numbered display of changing floors. Oddly, the elevator showed only two stops. Ground Level and LHC. â€Å"What's LHC stand for?† Langdon asked, trying not to sound nervous. â€Å"Large Hadron Collider,† Kohler said. â€Å"A particle accelerator.† Particle accelerator? Langdon was vaguely familiar with the term. He had first heard it over dinner with some colleagues at Dunster House in Cambridge. A physicist friend of theirs, Bob Brownell, had arrived for dinner one night in a rage. â€Å"The bastards canceled it!† Brownell cursed. â€Å"Canceled what?† they all asked. â€Å"The SSC!† â€Å"The what?† â€Å"The Superconducting Super Collider!† Someone shrugged. â€Å"I didn't know Harvard was building one.† â€Å"Not Harvard!† he exclaimed. â€Å"The U.S.! It was going to be the world's most powerful particle accelerator! One of the most important scientific projects of the century! Two billion dollars into it and the Senate sacks the project! Damn Bible-Belt lobbyists!† When Brownell finally calmed down, he explained that a particle accelerator was a large, circular tube through which subatomic particles were accelerated. Magnets in the tube turned on and off in rapid succession to â€Å"push† particles around and around until they reached tremendous velocities. Fully accelerated particles circled the tube at over 180,000 miles per second. â€Å"But that's almost the speed of light,† one of the professors exclaimed. â€Å"Damn right,† Brownell said. He went on to say that by accelerating two particles in opposite directions around the tube and then colliding them, scientists could shatter the particles into their constituent parts and get a glimpse of nature's most fundamental components. â€Å"Particle accelerators,† Brownell declared, â€Å"are critical to the future of science. Colliding particles is the key to understanding the building blocks of the universe.† Harvard's Poet in Residence, a quiet man named Charles Pratt, did not look impressed. â€Å"It sounds to me,† he said, â€Å"like a rather Neanderthal approach to science†¦ akin to smashing clocks together to discern their internal workings.† Brownell dropped his fork and stormed out of the room. So CERN has a particle accelerator? Langdon thought, as the elevator dropped. A circular tube for smashing particles. He wondered why they had buried it underground. When the elevator thumped to a stop, Langdon was relieved to feel terra firma beneath his feet. But when the doors slid open, his relief evaporated. Robert Langdon found himself standing once again in a totally alien world. The passageway stretched out indefinitely in both directions, left and right. It was a smooth cement tunnel, wide enough to allow passage of an eighteen wheeler. Brightly lit where they stood, the corridor turned pitch black farther down. A damp wind rustled out of the darkness – an unsettling reminder that they were now deep in the earth. Langdon could almost sense the weight of the dirt and stone now hanging above his head. For an instant he was nine years old†¦ the darkness forcing him back†¦ back to the five hours of crushing blackness that haunted him still. Clenching his fists, he fought it off. Vittoria remained hushed as she exited the elevator and strode off without hesitation into the darkness without them. Overhead the flourescents flickered on to light her path. The effect was unsettling, Langdon thought, as if the tunnel were alive†¦ anticipating her every move. Langdon and Kohler followed, trailing a distance behind. The lights extinguished automatically behind them. â€Å"This particle accelerator,† Langdon said quietly. â€Å"It's down this tunnel someplace?† â€Å"That's it there.† Kohler motioned to his left where a polished, chrome tube ran along the tunnel's inner wall. Langdon eyed the tube, confused. â€Å"That's the accelerator?† The device looked nothing like he had imagined. It was perfectly straight, about three feet in diameter, and extended horizontally the visible length of the tunnel before disappearing into the darkness. Looks more like a high-tech sewer, Langdon thought. â€Å"I thought particle accelerators were circular.† â€Å"This accelerator is a circle,† Kohler said. â€Å"It appears straight, but that is an optical illusion. The circumference of this tunnel is so large that the curve is imperceptible – like that of the earth.† Langdon was flabbergasted. This is a circle? â€Å"But†¦ it must be enormous!† â€Å"The LHC is the largest machine in the world.† Langdon did a double take. He remembered the CERN driver saying something about a huge machine buried in the earth. But – â€Å"It is over eight kilometers in diameter†¦ and twenty-seven kilometers long.† Langdon's head whipped around. â€Å"Twenty-seven kilometers?† He stared at the director and then turned and looked into the darkened tunnel before him. â€Å"This tunnel is twenty-seven kilometers long? That's†¦ that's over sixteen miles!† Kohler nodded. â€Å"Bored in a perfect circle. It extends all the way into France before curving back here to this spot. Fully accelerated particles will circle the tube more than ten thousand times in a single second before they collide.† Langdon's legs felt rubbery as he stared down the gaping tunnel. â€Å"You're telling me that CERN dug out millions of tons of earth just to smash tiny particles?† Kohler shrugged. â€Å"Sometimes to find truth, one must move mountains.†

Friday, November 8, 2019

Scorpion Fish Facts (Scorpaenidae)

Scorpion Fish Facts (Scorpaenidae) The term scorpion fish refers to a group of ray-finned fishes in the family Scorpaenidae. Collectively, they are called rockfish or stonefish because they are bottom dwellers camouflaged to resemble rocks or coral. The family includes 10 subfamilies and at least 388 species. Important genera include the lionfish (Pterois sp.) and stonefish (Synanceia sp.). All scorpion fish have venomous spines, giving the fish their common name. While stings can be fatal to humans, the fish are not aggressive and only sting when threatened or injured. Fast Facts: Scorpion Fish Scientific Name: Scorpaenidae (species include Pterois volitans, Synaceia horrida)Other Names: Lionfish, stonefish, scorpionfish, rockfish, firefish, dragonfish, turkeyfish, stingfish, butterfly codDistinguishing Features: Compressed body with wide mouth and conspicuous, venomous dorsal spinesAverage Size: Under 0.6 meters (2 feet)Diet: CarnivorousLife Span: 15 yearsHabitat: Coastal tropical, subtropical, and temperate seas worldwideConservation Status: Least ConcernKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: ActinopterygiiOrder: ScorpaeniformesFamily: ScorpaenidaeFun Fact: Scorpion fish not aggressive. They only sting if they are threatened or injured. Description The scorpion fish has a compressed body with ridges or spines on its head, 11 to 17 dorsal spines, and pectoral fins with well-developed rays. The fish come in all colors. Lionfish are brightly colored, so potential predators can identify them as a threat. Stonefish, on the other hand, have mottled coloring that camouflages them against rocks and coral. The average adult scorpion fish is under 0.6 meters (2 feet) in length. Except for lionfish, scorpion fish have a mottled coloration that serves as camouflage. LITTLE DINOSAUR / Getty Images Distribution Most members of the Scorpaenidae family live in the Indo-Pacific, but species occur worldwide in tropical, subtropical, and temperate seas. Scorpion fish tend to live in shallow coastal water. However, a few species occur as deep as 2200 meters (7200 feet). They are well-camouflaged against reefs, rocks, and sediment, so they spend most of their time near the sea floor. The red lionfish and common lionfish are invasive species in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the United States. The only effective method of control to date has been NOAAs campaign of Lionfish as Food. Encouraging consumption of the fish not only helps control lionfish population density, but also helps protect overfished grouper and snapper populations. Reproduction and Life Cycle Female scorpion fish release between 2,000 and 15,000 eggs into the water, which are fertilized by the male. After mating, the adults move away and seek cover to minimize attention from predators. The eggs then float to the surface to minimize predation. Eggs hatch in after two days. The newly-hatched scorpion fish, called fry, remain near the surface until they are around about an inch long. At this time, they sink to the bottom to seek a crevice and begin hunting. Scorpion fish live up to 15 years. Diet and Hunting The carnivorous scorpion fish preys upon other fish (including other scorpion fish), crustaceans, mollusks, and other invertebrates. A scorpion fish will eat virtually any other animal that can be swallowed whole. Most scorpion fish species are nocturnal hunters, while lionfish are most active in the morning daylight hours. Some scorpion fish wait for prey to approach. Lionfish actively hunt and attack prey, using a bilateral swim bladder to precisely control body position. To catch prey, a scorpion fish blows a jet of water toward its victim, disorienting it. If the prey is a fish, the jet of water also causes it to orient against the current so that its facing the scorpion fish. Head-first capture is easier, so this technique improves hunting efficiency. Once the prey is positioned correctly, the scorpion fish sucks in its prey whole. In some cases, the fish uses its spines to stun prey, but this behavior is fairly uncommon. Predators While its likely that predation of eggs and fry is the primary form of natural population control of scorpion fish, its unclear what percentage of scorpion fish young are eaten. Adults have few predators, but sharks, rays, snappers, and sea lions have been observed hunting the fish. Sharks appear to be immune to scorpion fish venom. Although scorpion fish are venomous, they are gentle animals. This diver is feeding a lionfish. Justin Okoye / EyeEm / Getty Images Scorpion fish arent fished commercially because of the risk of stings. However, they are edible, and cooking the fish neutralizes the venom. For sushi, the fish may be eaten raw if the venomous dorsal fins are removed before preparation. Scorpion Fish Venom and Stings Scorpion fish erect their spines and inject venom if they are bitten by a predator, grabbed, or stepped on. The venom contains a mixture of neurotoxins. Typical symptoms of poisoning include intense, throbbing pain that lasts up to 12 hours, peaking in the first hour or two following the sting, as well as redness, bruising, numbness, and swelling at the sting site. Severe reactions include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, tremors, decreased blood pressure, shortness of breath, and abnormal heart rhythms. Paralysis, seizures, and death are possible, but are usually restricted to stonefish poisoning. The young and elderly are more susceptible to the venom than healthy adults. Death is rare, but some people are allergic to the venom and may suffer anaphylactic shock. Australian hospitals keep stonefish anti-venom on hand. For other species and for stonefish first aid, the first step is to remove the victim from water to prevent drowning. Vinegar may be applied to reduce pain, while the venom may be inactivated by immersing the sting site in hot water for 30 to 90 minutes. Tweezers should be used to remove any remaining spines and the area should be scrubbed with soap and water and then flushed with fresh water. Medical care is required for all scorpion fish, lionfish, and stonefish stings, even if the venom appears to be deactivated. Its important to be certain that no spine remnants remain in the flesh. A tetanus booster may be recommended. Conservation Status Most species of scorpion fish have not been evaluated in terms of conservation status. However, the stonefish Synanceia verrucosa and Synanceia horrida are listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List, with stable populations. The luna lionfish Pterois lunulata and red lionfish Pterois volitans are also least concern. The population of red lionfish, an invasive species, is increasing. While no significant threats face scorpion fish at this time, they may be at risk from habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. Sources Doubilet, David (November 1987). Scorpionfish: Danger in Disguise. National Geographic. Vol. 172 no. 5. pp. 634–643. ISSN 0027-9358Eschmeyer, William N. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N., eds. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 175–176. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.Morris J.A. Jr., Akins J.L. (2009). Feeding ecology of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Bahamian archipelago. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 86 (3): 389–398. doi:10.1007/s10641-009-9538-8Sauners P.R., Taylor P.B. (1959). Venom of the lionfish  Pterois volitans.  American Journal of Physiology.  197: 437–440Taylor, G. (2000). Toxic fish spine injury: Lessons from 11 years experience. South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Journal. 30 (1). ISSN 0813-1988

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Women Studies Rape

Women Studies Rape Introduction Rape is a misdemeanor offense in which an individual mandates to have sexual contact without his or her approval. Though majority rapes are never accounted for, the figure of occurrences documented in the United States tremendously increased between 1970 and 1986. It is not in fact acknowledged if the number of rapes is augmented or if additional victims are enthusiastic to report the cases. Indignity, terror of retribution or denial and the shock of a court audition are regular causes for refusal to testify against a sexual felony (Williams, 2002).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Women Studies: Rape specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More History of Rape The record of society’s appreciation to sexual aggression has its pedigree in English assets law. The problem of sexual attack did not come into the realization of the United States’ civil society until the feminist pressure groups of th e 1960s. Feminists perceived rape as an instrument for upholding patriarchy, a brutal technique of stirring up horror in women and strengthening their inferiority to men. This perspective has fashioned the approach in our culture in describing and conceptualizing sexual violence presently. Kids who are induced to hostility between their relatives are possibly caught up in brutal love affairs when they become adults. The configuration of the family appears to have effects on the feelings and conducts of kids brought up in them. Aggressive sex delinquents are known to be prone rape compared to other grownups that experienced deprived parental upbringing, unfortunate control, corporal violence, abandonment, and separation from their parents. The Causes of Rape Cultural Expectations and Rape myths Prospects conveyed by culture classically push men to believe they are greater, unrestricted and that they are supposed to be constantly on the sentry for and prepared to kick off sex in their affairs with women. Simultaneously, these sexual writings train women to believe that they are in charge of situating the confines and speed of sexual intercourse in their interaction with men. Rape folklores naturally reject the reality of sexual attack, justify it and lessen the gravity of its consequences. Virtually all cultures accept rape and have instruments that are responsible for sexual aggression. The Media and the School Since the beginning days of contemporary feminist’s pressure groups, women challenged that pornography facilitated sexual violence towards females depicts them as not anything apart from sex items, an outlook that is backed by research. Television and cinemas frequently pass the information that such brutality functions to demean women. Involvement in group activities could augment the danger of sexual violence. Peers are extra powerful in determining personality actions than environmental science, individuality, kin, faith, or traditions (Scott Glenna, 1994).Advertising Looking for research paper on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Psychopathology and Individuality Qualities Men involved in rape cases have been spotted with a broad range of psychiatric and character disarrays, mainly disruptive individuality confusion. However, personality gauging of rapists has established that there is no momentous variation between sexual delinquents and those confined for platonic felonies. The extent of participation in sexually coercive actions seems to be correlated to individual quantities of capriciousness, deficiency of collective sense of right and wrong and a worth course legalizing antagonism, predominantly against women. The largest part findings have summarized that there is much of heterogeneity amongst rapists and that sexual violence is caused by various dynamics. In fact, it has been alleged that the personality data of rapist criminals mor e directly counterparts the personality data of men in the broad populace as compared to any other forms of crimes (Hooks, 2000). Masculinity and Power Drives Research has established that drives of supremacy and rage are more famous in rapists’ justification of sexual violence than sexual wishes are. Sexually hostile men candidly confess that their sexual desires are antagonistic and brutal. The level of affiliation between a man and a woman may perhaps influence the likelihood of aggression. A number of researches propose that men who rape on initial or subsequent dates possibly will have connection to outsider raping while men who rape near the beginning in what or else materialize to be an increasing association may just misconceive their partners’ meaning (Allison Wrightsman, 1993) Feminist Movements Feminist movements refer to numerous attempts put in place to bring about change. For instance, they attempt to bring about an end to brutality against women, provid e the same chances for men and women, allow women sufficient motherhood leave and bring to a halt pestering of women sexually. Women have since time in memorial been fatalities of socio-cultural unfairness. The feminist lobby groups have managed to penetrate through inflexible socio-cultural structure in society primarily through backing female child education. The entire globe no longer practices female injustice by handing over minor roles to women. In its place, some women have raised to sky-scraping positions in politics and finance (Harris, 1990).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Women Studies: Rape specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Islamic Feminism Islamic feminism is apprehensive about the position of women in Islam and aspires for the complete egalitarianism among Muslims, despite of sex, in civic and personal life. Even though it is ingrained in Islam, the association’s founders have made use of worldly and Western feminist discourse. Campaigners of the lobby group try to underscore the extremely deep-seated experience of impartiality in the Quran and query the patriarchal explanation of Islamic philosophy through the Quran, hadith (maxim of Muhammad) and sharia (rule) towards the formation of a new, identical and fair society. Lots of ayaat (stanzas) of the Qur’an appear to pronounce gentleman/womanly sameness. Fundamentally, human beings are identical. They are merely differentiated among themselves on the origin of their legal observations or execution of the essential Quranic standard of integrity (Rhouni, 2001). Therefore, there is no disagreement between feminism and being religious. On one occasion, we identify feminism as consciousness of limits erected in front of women since sex, dismissal of restrictions erected on women, and attempts to create and employ unbiased gender structure are all patriarchal efforts meant to derail women efforts in the society (Bergen, 1996). Feminist movements in the Middle East employ three approaches. The approaches include first, reinterpreting ayaat of the Quran to rectify bogus information in frequent circulation. Secondly, it involves quoting ayaat that indisputably pronounce the egalitarianism of women and men and lastly, delink the section of ayaat conscientious to male and female variation that has been frequently construed in ways that rationalize male supremacy (Treanor, 2002). Conclusion In general, research on the roots of sexual brutality has paid attention to two forms of premises those entrenched in individuality of the delinquent, and those that spot distinctiveness of culture in which we exist. None the theories fully elucidates the occurrence of sexually brutal activities in our civilization. Modern research in the discipline of sexual hostility points out that an incorporated theory will possibly have the superlative ability of amplifying what causes sexual cruelty in our culture. The police officer, with little research information thought indecent dressing causes sexual violence. References Allison, J. Wrightsman, L. (1993). Rape: The Misunderstood Crime. California: Sage.Advertising Looking for research paper on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Bergen, R. (1996). Wife Rape: Understanding the Response of Survivors and Service Providers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Harris, A. (1990). Essentialism in Feminism legal theory. American Sociological Journal. 42, 35-71. Hooks, B. (2000). Feminist theory: from margin to center. Cambridge, Massachusetts: South End Press. Rhouni, R. (2001). Women and Gender, the Middle East and the Islamic world. Web. Scott, S. Glenna, S. (1994). Housework in Marital and Non-marital Households. American Sociological Review, 59(3), 17-31. Treanor, N. (2002).The feminist movement. Farmington Hills, ML: Green haven Press Williams, M. (2002). The Sexual Revolution. Farmington Hills, ML: Green haven Press

Monday, November 4, 2019

David Lynch's Inland Empire Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

David Lynch's Inland Empire - Movie Review Example It is essential to realize Lynch's work as an anticipation of the independent aesthetic which has assumed a superior position in Hollywood in the recent past. Lynch's entry into mainstream movie-making, from fine art and mixed media, happened at a time when film industry was in a state of economic and technological transformation. "After Eraserhead (1977) and The Elephant Man (1980), he took the opportunity of Dune (1984) to gain access to a system of production that has consistently appeared puzzled by or suspicious of his ways of seeing From the art-house avant-garde of Eraserhead, to the blockbuster Dune, the television serial Twin Peaks (1990), the porn video culture of Lost Highway (1997) and the 'Disney' family film The Straight Story (1999), Lynch's films give aesthetic form to the synergies of post-classical Hollywood in a way no other contemporary film-maker's work has done." (Sheen and Davison, 2) It is important to note that Lynch's work has been distinctively situated at the nexus of changing systems of distribution and exhibition since 1984 and these changes include the introduction of video and play television at the end of the 1970s and across the 1980s, the rise of the multiplex, with its extended market reach, and the growth of the regional independent cinemas. Most essentially, Lynch's works exhibit an intensely creative approach to the activity of production which can be compared to the classical directors' works which have brought European aesthetic traditions to the studio-system working practices. Inland Empire effectively illustrates Lynch's filmic style and cinematic message and this film significantly continues the director's commentary on Hollywood that he began with his previous works. In a reflective exploration of the film Inland Empire confirms that it very clearly illustrates David Lynch's filmic style and cinematic message, and the creation of this film has been in line with his previous films such as Eraserhead, Mullholand Drive, Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, and Wild at Heart. In this new film, the great eroto-surrealist David Lynch has offered one of the important imaginary orifices of pleasure, which is fascinating and enjoyable. Significantly, Inland Empire can best be comprehended as a supernatural mystery thriller, wherein a vanilla-wholesome Hollywood actress called Nikki Grace accepts the heroine's role in a passionate southern drama about adultery and murder, working with a mischievously handsome actor and an elegant British director. However, to the bafflement and terrified dismay of Nikki Grace, played with unyielding composure and intelligence by Laura Dern, she discovers that the script of the work is a remake of a lost, uncompleted Polish film, and she realizes that the project is curse. It is important to realize that Lynch's new film very well represents his filmic style and cinematic message. As Peter Bradshaw maintains, "Inland Empire is, as with so many of Lynch's movies, a meditation on the unacknowledged and unnoticed strangeness of Hollywood and movie-making in general, though I am bound to say that it does not have anything like Naomi Watts's marvelous 'audition' scenes in Mulholland Drive. The director's connoisseurship of Hollywood, his anthropologist eye for its alien rites, are however as keen as ever." (Bradshaw) Therefore, it is obvious that the new film by Lynch bring out various essential characteristics of a

Friday, November 1, 2019

Supply, Demand and Easyjet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Supply, Demand and Easyjet - Essay Example This project would talk about one component of marketing mix which is pricing strategies. The project is projected to address the pricing strategies that are followed by Easy Jet Airline and compare the price with the British Airways. Role of Pricing The fundamental rule of supply and demand states that when there is excess of supply over demand, the price tends to go down and when there is excess of demand over supply of products, the price tends to rise. Thus it can be suggested that prices moves upwards or falls in order to eliminate the risk of excess demand and to bring the supply and demand in the same equilibrium. Price is one of the most important components of marketing mix but also its importance does vary from product to products. Prices are based on certain calculation of cost providing the result in unit cost which tends to remain constant or reduces. The nominal price is determined by the prudence which is often experienced by a customer in the process of acquisition of their personal needs and human wants. It is actually the value that the customer expects from the price paid. The type is market price at which the products are sold off. Market prices rise and fall when the offers exceed the demand or stays below the demand. The price of the product thus depends on two forces the supply and demand (Papantoniou, 1992, p.167). Price is termed as an ingredient which a customer has to pay in order to obtain a product. It is most often regarded as the most flexible components out of the four marketing mix elements. It is one of the quickest elements which can change. Marketers have the ability to raise or even lower the prices more frequently than they change the other marketing variables. Price is regarded as an important competitive weapon and is essential for the organization because price gets multiplied by the number of units sold which equals to total revenue of the firm (Lamb & Hair &McDaniel, 2008, p. 47). In order to survive in the highly comp etitive market place, companies are going for the strategy of obtaining pricing objectives which are attainable, specific and measurable. Pricing objectives are divided into three categories which include profit oriented, sales and status quo. Pricing objectives of a firm often reflects the reality of the market. Pricing objectives are not always used to increase the profit of the firm. Sometimes a firm maintains the price to retain the position which is relative to the competition. This form of pricing objective is termed as status quo. When it comes to the basic law of supply and demand it does influences the pricing strategy. Although the inverse relationship between the price and demand is understood and well known, it is often seen on the perspective of supply side which means that the relationship between price and demand is usually seen from the marketer’s perspective. Another important issue with regards to supply and demand is the expectation of the customers with re spect to price. The customers often tend to have expectation when they purchase a product but in some case the customer expectation about price can be the driving force used in the pricing strategy. According to the situation demand, a marketer sets prices which are in accordance with what the market would pay irrespective of the cost, competition and other factors which affect the