Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Carbon Dioxide Emissions at Mammoth Mountain, California :: Nature Volcano Essays

Carbon Dioxide Emissions at Mammoth Mountain, California As indicated by Dr. David P. Slope and Dr. Roy R. Bailey of the United States Geological Survey, the most widely recognized topographical inquiry in Mammoth, California is Where is the fountain of liquid magma? Albeit Mammoth Mountain doesn't take after the traditionally perceived cone-formed well of lava, the mountain experienced noteworthy volcanic and seismic movement in the previous two decades, which have brought the mountain the acknowledgment as a possibly unsafe fountain of liquid magma. A huge volcanic blast 760,000 years back made the Long Valley Caldera in California. A development of magma underneath the world's surface caused an inspire of the outside layer which prompted the blast. Subsequently, the covering sank over a mile, into a downturn estimating 10 miles wide and 20 miles in length. A magma chamber despite everything exists underneath the caldera. The fumaroles and natural aquifers affirm the nearness of a magma body. The underground magma warms groundwater which ascends to the surface and discharges in natural aquifers or steam vents (Hill et al. 2000). Late inspiring caused the Resurgent Dome in the caldera to rise 2.5 feet in the course of recent decades. This volcanic distress, on a past stable volcanic framework, provoked the USGS to set up an Emergency Response plan and to intently screen the locale for additional indications of agitation (Hill et al. 2000). The Mono-Inyo Crater volcanic chain lines the southwest side of the Long Valley Caldera. Mammoth Mountain, a spring of gushing lava inside the Mono-Inyo chain, shaped 50,000 years prior from numerous dacite emissions (Sorey et al. 1999) Dacite magma is a middle of the road among rhyolite and andesite (Kearey 2001). In the course of the most recent 5,000 years, ejections in the Mono-Inyo volcanic chain happened occasionally every 250-700 years. The dynamic volcanic chain is in effect firmly observed for indications of future ejections which incorporate quakes, elevate of magma and gas emanations (Hill et al. 1998). Beginning in the 1980's various quake swarms occurred all through the Long Valley Caldera amassed in the southern area of the caldera. In May of 1989, seismic movement began in Mammoth Mountain, a well of lava on the southwest edge of the Long Valley Caldera, with a time of tremor swarms. Researchers gathered information demonstrating that a dam was ascending underneath the mountain and interfered 2 km beneath the outside of Mammoth Mountain (Sorey et al.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Strategic Accounting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Vital Accounting - Assignment Example Quality costing ought to subsequently be comprehended as the expense of not delivering an item, which bears the above parts that check a quality item or administration (Thompson, 2010). The part of value cost emerges from the third time of value where it rises as a device of value affirmation with its fundamental objective being to keep away from issues, by offering space to coordination of exercises. Quality control as a procedure of the executives bookkeeping has been improved after some time through the commitment of different researchers, who included more information and understanding to quality control. Crosby started the part of value testing through examination, quality administration, quality confirmation and improvement (Kilger, 2002). Deming then again shared his commitment by presenting the part of companywide quality control, which was later overhauled by Juran through his all out quality administration strategy (Nokes, 2000). Quality expenses are basically comprehended in four significant groupings which are usually alluded to as the four kinds of value costs. Counteraction costs is a sort of value control and is considered as commonly the best method to oversee quality expenses and stay away from imperfections of items and administrations (Sadler, 2003). Counteraction costs hang on a projection that it is smarter to keep an imperfection from happening at the primary spot than to address it when it has happened, as it will in general be increasingly costly. Avoidance costs utilize control exercises, for example, factual procedure control, quality designing and preparing, which decrease surrenders. Anticipation cost as a kind of value control likewise takes in exercises identifying with quality control, which comprises of individuals who meet to talk about and take care of value issues. Measurable quality control as a movement of value control is utilized to distinguish whether a particular item or administration is in or out of value (Samset, 2010 ). Counteraction costs in this manner take in the point of view of all exercises that are intended to forestall the underlying low quality of items and administrations (Commission for neighborhood administration, 2000). Evaluation costs are additionally alluded to as assessment costs and are brought about by an association with the point of recognizing damaged items in the creation procedure, to ensure that imperfect items are not transported to clients. Examination costs have the reason for assessing the creation procedure and guaranteeing imperfect items are distinguished and disposed of. Numerous associations anyway see examination costs as costly and incapable to clients (Cadez, 2008). Other than utilizing examination costs, numerous organizations urge clients to be progressively liable for their own quality control through planning items that permit basic assembling, which gives an opportunity for quality to be incorporated with the items (Morden, 2012). Interior disappointment costs then again allude to beds caused inside when a specific item neglects to fit in with structure particulars that had been recognized at first. Inner disappointment

Friday, August 21, 2020

Water Management On A Canterbury Dairy Farm Example

Water Management On A Canterbury Dairy Farm Example Water Management On A Canterbury Dairy Farm â€" Assignment Example > Managing Farm Dairy EffluentThat water is one of the essential needs in the life of all living things is a fact we cannot deny. This is to say the survival of man and other living organisms entirely depend on water. There is, therefore, a need to avoid any unnecessary wastage of water by all means. This task seeks to discuss the management of water in rural sectors over the past years and subsequently how changes can be accommodated in this contemporary with regards to water conservation. It seeks to draw its reference from both regional and national levels in New Zealand. Since dairy farming is considered one of the major contributors to the decline of water quality, the task will heavily link it in this discussion. Also accompanied will be the conditions of consents which ultimately led to the freshwater management solution. performance requirements of consent conditionsTo commence with, it is important to consider what a farmer needs to do in order to achieve compliance and of course what he will do with the achievement of the said agreement. The conditions are carefully channeled towards ensuring the pollution is minimized, and this allays fear of losing quality water in the event of its need. The first condition is that the liquid effluent must be diluted with wash down water. It should be solid affluent and also the odour from both robust and liquid effluent which emanate from sheds. A scraper may be used to remove this solid effluent (Clay, 2013). These shades are always compartmentalized into smaller parcels. This is in accordance with the legal description in PT RS 2803, and Pt Lot 1 DP6070A farmer must know that these are the major pollutants from dairy animals and for him to make the work easier, this effluent should not accumulate as managing with be hectic (Monaghan et al. 2008). While these affluent are considered pollutants, they should not be left to stay in the shades where animals graze for long since that will be tantamount to risking th e animals’ lives as well. It should also be considered these effluent occupy an ambivalent position as they have very high content of fertilizer as well. Nevertheless, both liquid and solid effluent should only be discharged in a restricted area which bears a label inscribed Discharge area A. The other one bears a name which is written as landfill space B. this forms a very essential constituent of the consent, and it is found in plan CRC 143396. It is of great importance that the effluent is discharged into an area which is designated for it as this helps in mitigating the entire farm from being messed up. With the provision of plan CRC, 143396 guarantees that the ultimate goal of management of water is taken care of because this will significantly reduce the risk of overflow. Storm water should also be prevented from entering these areas through digging drains around them. With the inevitability pollution, a farmer should always ensure that he observes all the recommendations and guidelines as this is not only good for the health of the dairy animals but to human beings as well. Healthy dairy cattle will, in turn, provide excellent quality and quantity of milk, which is the ultimate wish of all farmers (Clark et al. 2007).

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Enron And Its Impact On Enron s Corporate Bankruptcy Essay

Enron was founded in 1985 by Kenneth Lay and by the mid 90s under the tutelage of Jeff Skilling, it was being touted as a revolutionary company that was destined to change the face of business and the energy industry. However, by 2001 it became clear that Enron’s astronomical growth and sustained profitability was built upon fraudulent grounds. The company was stashing debt but continued to report profits. Employees were taking huge risk and gambling exorbitant amounts and many were outright stealing from the company for their own personal gains. By the end of 2001, Enron’s downfall resulted in the largest corporate bankruptcy in United States history at the time, and more than 20,000 employees were laid off. The company’s fall from grace wasn’t a result of incompetence, instead it was the inevitable consequence of the toxic culture which was incubated and disseminated by Enron’s top management to all other aspects of the company. Enron’s st rong culture became a liability because culture defines what is important to the organization and informs employees about how things are meant to be done. As I will demonstrate through various examples of Enron’s questionable business tactics, its potent corporate culture was low on attention to detail while being high on aggressiveness, risk taking and outcome orientation. This combination of factors created the climate for unethical behavior to become a deep-rooted norm within the organization. One dimension of Enron’s cultureShow MoreRelatedEnron Scandal And Its Impact On The Economy Essay1305 Words   |  6 PagesThe Enron scandal was the largest corporate financial scandal ever when it emerged. It took the economy the better part of a year to recover from the damage the Enron controversy caused to the US as a whole. Enron is not fully responsible, but it was a large contributor to the collapse of the stock market in the early 2000’s. In the year following the 9/11 hit to our country and economy the DOW lost close to 4500 points; down to 7500 from almost 12000, it did gain some back, but considering the greatRead MoreEnron And The Enron Scandal847 Words   |  4 PagesThe Enron scandal, discovered in October 2001, eventually led to the bankruptcy of the Enron Corporation, an American energy company based mostly in Houston, Texas, and also the dissolution of Arthur Andersen, that was one amongst the 5 largest audit and accounting partnerships within the wor ld. Additionally, to being the most important bankruptcy reorganization in American history at that point, Enron without doubt is the biggest audit failure. it s ever the foremost notable company within theRead MoreThe Impact of Ethics on the Enron Corporation2018 Words   |  9 PagesIn 2001, Enron was the fifth largest company on the Fortune 500. Enron was also the market leader in energy production, distribution, and trading. However, Enron s unethical accounting practices have left the company in joint chapter 11 bankruptcy. This bankruptcy has caused many problems among many individuals. Enron s employees and retirees are suffering because of the bankruptcy. Wall Street and investors have taken a major downturn do to the company s unethical practices. Enron s competitorsRead MoreEnrons Impact On Enron1417 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Æ' Many questioned how Enron made its money as no one could verify their revenue that they continually raised each quarter. Even with these questions in the back of people s minds, they continued to believe Enron s executives. Enron was an U.S. energy-trading and utilities company that housed one of the biggest accounting frauds in history. Enron s executives employed accounting practices that falsely inflated the company s revenues, which, at the height of the scandal, made the firm becomeRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility Of The Enron Corporation1124 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction We will look at the Enron Corporation and discuss its application of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or in actuality its irresponsible behavior as related to social responsibility. We will revisit what CSR is and discuss Enron’s philosophy regarding its use and function within the corporation. We will discuss the consequences of Enron’s irresponsible behavior and the far reaching effects it had on society. Corporate Social Responsibility are actions taken by a corporationRead MoreEthical Codes For Professional Accountants1470 Words   |  6 PagesHaving competent professional accountants are invaluable assets to the company because they are able to adopt a pragmatic and objective approach to solve issues. Accountancy professionals assist business executives with corporate strategies, provide advice with product cost, improve mitigate risks of the company. Public accountants not only serve the interest of the company but also have the duty to the general public. Therefore, they have a key role in helping organizations to act ethically. EthicalRead MoreEnron And Its Impact On Enron s Downfall Essay1492 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract recent collapses of high profile business failures like Enron,Worldcom,Parmlat,and Tycohasbeen a subject of great debate among regulators, investors, government and academics in the recent past. Enron’s case was the greatest failure in the history of American capitalism and had a major impact on financial markets by causing significant losses to investors. Enron was a company ranked by Fortune as the most innovative company in the United States; it exemplified the transition from the productionRead MoreManagement Planning Paper on Arthur Andersen1221 Words   |  5 Pagescompany supplied tax, consulting services and auditing for the large business, and itself had a position in the Big Five accounting firms. In 2002, this firm was found guilty for auditing an energy corporation, Enron and it surrendered back its rights of auditing. This led to Enron s bankruptcy and loss of 85,000 jobs. Any type of business development requires constant planning. The expression planning refers to defining the goals of the business and shaping the potential plans of action. This sortRead MoreEnron Was Formed In 1986 By Ken Lay (â€Å"Enron Case Study†,1439 Words   |  6 PagesEnron was formed in 1986 by Ken Lay (â€Å"Enron Case Study†, n.d). It was an energy and service company based in Houston. â€Å"The early years of Enron were modest, and despite suffering financial woes and tremendous debt for several years, Enron survived.† (Rafraf Haug, 2013). Enron was the 7th largest company on the Fortune 500 in the year 2000 with assets of $65 billion and revenue of over $100 billion (â€Å"Enron: Quality Assurance†, 2016, p 17). Despite of revenues in 2000, Enron filed for bankruptcyRead MoreThe Ethics Of Enron Oxley Act1309 Words   |  6 PagesThe Houston based corporation of Enron was once considered a top company, until its demise from a complex accou nting scheme. The company that was forced to declare bankruptcy and lay off many employees; also resulted in thousands of others losing a significant portion of their retirement funds that were invested in the company’s stock (Ferrell, Fraedrich, Ferrell, 2013). Additionally, the perceived scandal propagated concern of accounting practices of corporations and initiated new reporting practices

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Career Skills - 1454 Words

Individual Work Demetria Metoyer Everest University Online Professor Julie Eisenhauer SLS 1321-34_Week1 July 16, 2013 1. Why is the job search process a cycle rather than a series of steps? The job search process is a cycle rather than a series of steps because you have to prepare for your search and do a self-assessment of yourself regarding the jobs and positions you are trying to find. In the textbook, it says to be a job finder not a job seeker. The job search process is an organizational process that prepares you for short and long-term career goals. In order for a person to find the right job, a person needs to know what their skills are. They need to know what they can offer the companies they are trying to find employment†¦show more content†¦Managing and keeping my files tracker updated will assist me in my career development, time management, and interacting with other people. My career management files tracker will enable skills to communicate information, organize and understand my own personality and style that will aide in the making of the right career choices. Managing my fi les tracker means, I create a job search that benefits my schedule and style, it allows me to keep up-to-date information at all times throughout my career allowing me to add or subtract information that is needed or no longer necessary or needed to use without the hassle of starting all over from the beginning. 4. How is a career portfolio different from a career management files tracker? What items should you put in your career portfolio? A career portfolio is a collection of documents and other items that shows a person’s skills, abilities, achievements, experience, and qualifications, whereas a career management file is a binder that is organized for updating career development, job search information, self-assessments, experience, skills, draft resumes’, cover letters, and a list of job search aids. A career portfolio should have a final resume’, a list of references, letters of recommendations, and samples of their best work. Use items that that demonstrate your experience and qualifications for jobs you are interested. Decide whichShow MoreRelatedSkills And Skills Of The Career Success760 Words   |  4 PagesSkills USA. An organization that has given the opportunity to lead and hone the skills of both High School and College students. It has grown into a societ y that many people strive to be in to gain career and technical skills. It has a reputation for allowing students to learn the abilities necessary to be successful in adulthood. I am here today carrying out the task to talk about this year’s theme, â€Å"Connecting You to Career Success,† as way to help me develop my public speaking skills. As a memberRead MoreThe Employability Skills and Self-Perceived Competence for Careers in the Hospitality Industry1914 Words   |  8 Pageshire potential leaders who are skilled at stimulating people to take rational initiatives. Leadership skills are not the only skills needed by employers. In fact, leadership skills are some of the employability skills most desired by employers. Commission on Higher Education: This study will aim to provide factual ideas about the employability skills and self-perceived level of competence for careers in the hospitality industry of graduating students major in HRM at USM that can be used as a factorRead MoreCareer Salary : Career Skills1552 Words   |  7 PagesSummary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Career Salary Comparison Accounting Salary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Financial Analyst Salary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Career Skills Comparison Accounting Skills†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Financial Analyst Skills†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Career Growth Comparison Accounting Jobs Forecast†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Read MoreCareer Management : Skills And Skills1482 Words   |  6 Pagesfollowing task, a skills audit has been introduced, highlighting current aptitudes and capabilities against professional standards. Moreover, advancement needs have been identified and the exercises required to meet them have been expressed with the audit. At long last, a duplicate of my CV has been displayed highlighting my improvement opportunities made evident from undertaking this unit. Skill Area Description of Specific Skill Evidence of skill How I’m doing Action Career management skills Taking onRead MoreAnalysis Of Lynda Gratton And Erik Brynjolfsons Career1032 Words   |  5 Pagestheir careers. Emma Jacobs, who interviewed five individuals for the Financial times, demonstrates distinct perspectives on the most efficient method to approaching an obstacle in one’s career. Lynda Gratton and Erik Brynjolfsson believe that one must change as technology gradually develops by attaining certain skills and having a new perspective towards a career they adore. Meanwhile, Martin Ford believes that only the government can assist individuals on how to future-proof their career. NonethelessRead MoreCareer Counseling Plan For Katie Golanski825 Words   |  4 Pages This paper is a career counseling plan for Katie Golanski and examines her current skills, potential and as well as future goals. Several assessments will be examined and applied to this plan, such as the Kuder scale, and Meyers Brigg. Specific career counseling theories will also be appli ed to the output. Finally, recommendations for Katie will be made to best utilize her assets. Katie is a twenty-three year single Caucasian female with a bachelor’s degree in PsychologyRead MoreGender Differences Between Work And Life1026 Words   |  5 Pagesdifferences in answers. On another note the article by Stewart Friedman, Work + home + community + self, the main focus is on three key principles to focus on to be better at integration between work and life. Each article’s content can be a guide in career planning and to help with one’s professional development. The article Manage your work, manage your life discusses the popular topic of work and life balance. Interviews were conducted and researched with over 4,000 executives worldwide and 82 executivesRead MoreMy Current Level Of Responsibility And Contribution Of The Merchant Services Division925 Words   |  4 Pageswhich processes or performance indicators lend themselves to optimization. Executive management recognizes the strategic value that predictive and prescriptive analytics have on quantifying business decisions. What are your career goals for the next five years? My five-year career goals involve continuing to increase my knowledge and expertise in BBT Merchant Services while graduating from the UNC EMBA program. Being a student in the UNC EMBA program will allow me to participate in cohort-based coursesRead MoreThe Importance Of A Career For Myself1012 Words   |  5 Pages1) What s the most important thing for you to get from your career? This is a question I have been asking myself quite a bit lately as I approach postgrad life. I believe the most important aspect of a career for myself is meaningfulness and being able to further my knowledge. I find I work best when I can see a tangible outcome. If I am working on a project, it really helps to know that the work I am doing will affect someone or something in a positive way. Apart from meaningfulness, IRead MoreUnits 4 5 Career Guidance Interviews3378 Words   |  14 PagesUnit 4 and 5 Evaluate the purpose of different types of career guidance interviews Evaluate methodologies to explore the career guidance and development needs of clients Corney and Watts (1998) define information and advice as; ‘providing an immediate response to the needs of clients who present an enquiry or reveal a need that requires more than a straightforward information response. Advice is usually limited to helping with the interpretation of information and with meeting needs already

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

World War I Changed The World - 1115 Words

In four short years, 9 million men died and 21 million more had serious injures. World War I changed many lives around the world as eight European countries as well as the United States, fought against each other and formed allies. It the beginning, it was meant to be the war that ended all wars. This Great War was unlike any war before; there was new technology such as tanks and machine guns, as well as new tactics such as trenches and war at sea. The physical geography affected the outcome of the war in great measures, both on land and sea. Mountains, sea, and flat land made the countries develop new tactics and strategies to fight the enemies. All aspects of geography resulted in struggles, whether it is disease or warfare strategy.†¦show more content†¦Also, due to the new generation of modern warfare, different weapons were used on the battlefield. The most common weapon created in WWI was the machine gun. They were used to shoot from far away, which helps the operator stay away from man to man combat. Combined with trenches, these machines guns could make a deadly pair; they could mount on the inside of the trench while protecting the shooter from oncoming fire. The trenches were a very smart idea due to the fact that the land was flat. Although fighting was extremely violent on land, soldiers also faced deadly battles at sea. Back in the day, Britain had the most powerful navy around, but Germany wanted to test their strength. One of the most, if not the only, famous battle at sea was the Battle of Jutland, which changed the war at sea forever. The battle of Jutland was no ordinary battle at sea. Unlike battles on land, Jutland lasted only one day. The battle was between the British and the Germans. There were about 250 ships in attendance and about 100,000 men spread out on ships. Due to the fact that Britain had a more powerful Navy, they had almost twice as many ships and men. Many would think that with these odds, Britain had to have won, bu t that was not the case. The battle was split into two phases. The first phase was around 5:00 P.M. on May 31, 1916. Both

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Church Architecture of the Early Christian, Byzantine Essay Example For Students

Church Architecture of the Early Christian, Byzantine Essay The invention of the Christian church was one of the brilliant solutions in architectural history. This was achieved by a process of assimilating and rejecting various precedents, such as the Greek temple, the Roman public building, the private Roman house, and the synagogue. The Early Christian period saw the growth of Christianity. It was established as the state religion of the Empire under the successors of Constantine. Early Christian Architecture consisted of the basilica church developed from the Roman secular basilica. The sixth century was a time of growth for the Byzantine Empire. Many of the churches built during this time were of the basic basilica style. At least two developments began during this century. One involved small buildings with domed or niche interiors and the other the use of domed vaulting in the basilica. While it is difficult to generalize any architectural developments during this time, one of the most striking changes that can be found in many churches of this time is the use of the domed nave. The domed nave was usually used with a rectangular or Latin cross plan. The Carolingian and Atoning (merely a continuation of Carolingian period) periods consisted of mainly the basilica also. By the end of the pre-Romanesque period, Roman stylistic elements had fused with elements from Byzantium and the Middle East, and from the Germans, the Cells, and other northern tribes in Western Europe. These various combinations created a number of local styles, called Romanesque, meaning in the manner of the Roman. An outstanding achievement of Romanesque architects was the development of stone vaulted buildings. To support the heavy stone vaults, architects used massive walls and piers, creating a typical building plan that treated the entire structure as a complex composed of smaller units, called bays. A distinguishing feature of Romanesque style, bays are square or rectangular spaces enclosed by groin vaults and used by architects as the basic building unit. The nave in Romanesque churches was usually made higher and narrower than in earlier structures to make room for windows, called clerestory windows, in the sidewalls below the vault. Doors and windows were usually capped by round arches, and sometimes by slightly pointed arches. These openings were generally small and decorated with molding, carvings, and sculptures. The Early Christian architects looked to the Roman buildings of the time to find a suitable building for their needs. The idea of using the plans of Roman places of worship such as the temple was unacceptable on principle alone. For this reason they choose another type of Roman structure to satisfy their needs-the basilica. It utilized a rectangle centered on a longitudinal axis that was internally divided into three to five sections, one central hall-the nave, and one to two side aisles on both sides of the nave. At the East end of the building was a semi-circular apse that was usually set on the outside to the rectangular shape but occasionally remained inside. The greatest of Constantine churches was Old Saint Peters. Where it was built was believed to where Peter, the first apostle and founder of the Roman Christian community, and been buried. It was capable of holding three to four thousand worshippers. The plan of Old Saint Peters resembled those of Roman basilicas and audience halls. Like Roman basilicas, it had a wide central nave flanked by aisles and ending in an apse. An open colonnaded courtyard came first and worshippers entered through a narthexs. Old Saint Peters was not ornamented with lavish exterior sculptures, but had bland brick walls. The inside was, however, lavishly decorated with frescoes, mosaics and marble columns. The Early Christian basilica may be compared to the idyllic Christian, with a somber and plain exterior and a glowing and beautiful soul within. Among all the churches built during the reign of Justinian l, or the Byzantine period, Haggis Sophia is by far the most impressive and most unique. After rioters destroyed the original SST. .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e , .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e .postImageUrl , .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e , .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e:hover , .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e:visited , .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e:active { border:0!important; } .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e:active , .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6426b6317c1d1e9252e8d7b9b506973e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Church Going EssaySophia along with most of the hippodrome in 532, Justinian ordered the rebuilding of the church that was completed in 537. Fronted at the west end by a narthexs and exonerated, the church itself is squat and rectangular. The interior of the church resembles a three-aisled basilica. Columnar arcades separate the nave from the aisles, with a single apse opening off the nave at the east end. The nave is surrounded on three sides by a two-story structure because both the aisles and the narthexs have galleries that were accessible from ramps at every corner. A dome sided by half-domes allows SST. Sophia the breach the ordinary basilica style. This vaulting of the nave forms an almost rectangular area. The dome is held in place by four massive pillars and the half domes are held in place by curved niches in the arcade. The architects use of eventides unites the full dome to the square bay low. This is also possible because the building is made out of brick rather than concrete. This elegant solution provides additional curved surface for decoration, and enhances the effect of the whole ceiling structure opening up to the sky beyond and essentially creating a very mystic and heavenly feeling. Haggis Sophia is an example of two kinds of architecture developed during the sixth century. It was an attempt to meld the double-shelled domed church and the domed basilica, both of which appeared in Constantinople during the first quarter of the sixth century. The significant building, with its domed double shell and vaulting inside, marks the most striking architectural masterpiece in the Byzantine Empire during the sixth century. The interior was originally decorated, then much of it destroyed during Iconoclasm, then redecorated and then covered by the Muslim Turks. Haggis Sophias design became influential in all later Byzantine churches. The Palatine Chapel, built about 792-805 at Charlemagnes palace in Aachens, is the preeminent surviving Carolingian structure. A domed, double-shelled, two-storied octagon, it presents a type reminiscent of Early Christian and Byzantine architecture. Indeed, it is generally accepted that the Palatine Chapel was modeled closely after San Vital in Raven and was perceived as an antique revival. The main entrance to the Palatine Chapel is a large structure adjoining the west side. A square mass of stone containing narthexs chambers corresponding to the two levels to the chapel rises between twin cylindrical towers and is fronted by a huge entrance niche. Charlemagne imported porphyry columns from Raven to adorn his chapel. SST. Michaels, one of the most beautiful Atoning churches in Germany. It stands as a testimony to the creative energy of Bishop Bernhard. SST Michaels Church was built twine 1001 and 1031 on a symmetrical plan with two apses. Its interior, in particular the wooden ceiling and painted stucco-work, its famous bronze doors and the Bernhard bronze column, are considered Atoning masterpieces. The church has a double-transept plan, tower groupings, and a Westwood as well as massive walls only occasionally penetrated by arcaded windows. Lateral entrances leading into the aisles from the north and south make for an almost complete loss of the traditional basilicas orientation toward the east. The crossing squares were used as the naves dimensionsthree crossing squares long and one square wide. This was emphasized by heavy piers at the corner of each square. The piers alternate with columns as wall supports to form an alternate-support system. This became a standard element of many Romanesque churches. Although the naves proportions had changed from earlier churches, it retained the continuous and unbroken appearance of its Early Christian predecessors. The Pisa Cathedral Complex, with its freestanding baptistery and campanile, forms one of the most famous building groups in the world. Except for the upper portion of the baptistery, with its remodeled Gothic exterior, the three structures are stylistically homogeneous. The cathedral is one of the finest of the Romanesque period and has a strongly marked individuality. .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1 , .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1 .postImageUrl , .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1 , .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1:hover , .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1:visited , .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1:active { border:0!important; } .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1:active , .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1 .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u178e1bcacf9b28f7e2e49f6eff9af2e1:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Philip Larkin"s poem, "Church Going" EssayIt resembles other early basilicas churches in plan, with long rows of columns connected by arches, double aisles, and a nave, which has the usual timber roof. But at second glance the broadly projecting transept, the crossing dome, and the fates multiple arcade galleries distinguish it as Romanesque. So does the rich marble incrustation. The exterior has bands of green and white marble, which provides a nice polychrome, and the ground story is faced with wall relief by tiers of wall passages, which rise one above the other right into the able. The transepts, with each end containing an apse, were an advance on the simple basilicas plan. The interior also at first suggests basilica, but it is ultimately of Byzantine origin. Some divergences from the basilica form include the great vertically of the interior and, at the crossing, the markedly neoclassical pointed arch. The cathedrals campanile, detached in the Italian fashion, is the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Its stages are marked by graceful arcaded galleries that repeat the cathedrals fade motif and effectively relate the tower to its mother building. Church architecture changed a lot from its early beginnings during Constantine rule up to the eleventh century; however, at first glance the churches still appear to have many of the same elements. It initially began as a basilica, and then turned into a domed basilica then to a Latin cross plan and still many other variations of the basilica. Flat wooden roofs turned into domes, domes turned into round arches and then to the pointed arches. Later churches got many of their ideas from Early Christian and Byzantine church architecture and also impair upon those ideas.

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Peppered Moth Lab Report Essay Example

Peppered Moth Lab Report Paper Explain how natural selection relates to survival of the fittest concept Natural Selection is when organisms with better adaptations live longer and reproduce in greater numbers and the concept of survival of the fittest is the idea that production is the most important thing and the ultimate goal is to survive long enough to reproduce and pass on your genes because this means that your genes will stay in the same population. These two concepts relate because of their common idea of reproduction and the passing on of genes that better help the species to stay alive in their environment. . What determines whether a particular variation is an adaptation or not? A particular variation can be determined as an adaptation if you see the species with a certain variation better surviving than those without the specific variation. If this is seen then it can be determined that the variation is an adaptation because it helped the species survive better in their environment. 3. What changes are evident in the graphs from Pre-longitudinal Revolution (Part I) and Post-Industrial Revolution (Part Ill)? Use examples from your data (graphs and/or tables). Evident changes that occurred between the Pre-longitudinal Revolution and Post-Industrial Revolution were the number of Black Moths remaining at the end of the five trials went up in Part Ill compared to Part l. For example, in Part I at the end of the fifth trial there were nine black moths engaging and twenty-one white moths remaining but at the end of the fifth trial in Part Ill the numbers were reversed and there were twenty-one Black Moths remaining and only nine White Moths remaining. This shows how the Black Moths increased and the awaited Moths decreased. 4. What is the driving force that caused the number of white and black Peppered Moth in the Manchester, England population to change? The driving force that caused the number of white and black Peppered Moth population to change was the Industrial Revolution during the late sasss when smoke particles produced y developing industry began to blacken the trunks of the trees on which the moths rested. We will write a custom essay sample on Peppered Moth Lab Report specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Peppered Moth Lab Report specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Peppered Moth Lab Report specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This made the black moths blend in better with the trees so they were better protected from predators than the white moths who were more visible on the dark trees. As a result there was a change in the population and the black moth population increased and white moth population decreased. 5. Which moth had a higher fitness during the Industrial Revolution? Define fitness in your answer The black moth had higher fitness during the Industrial Revolution because it was able to survive long enough to reproduce and pass on TTS genes. Therefore the black moths genes will stay in the population. Overall, it was more fit than the white moth because it reproduced more and survived better than the white moth. 6. What is the independent (manipulated) variable in this activity (Parts l, II, and Ill)? (hint: this variable is graphed on the x-axis) The independent variable is the number of trials performed. 7. What is the dependent (responding) variable in this activity (Parts l, II, and Ill)? (hint: this variable is graphed on the y-axis). The dependent variable is the number of moths remaining after each trial. Extra-credit Question: . What aspect of natural selection (evolution) does the following step in the activity represent: At the end of each trial, replace each black moth removed with a white moth. Replace each white moth removed with a black moth. Explain your answer. Speciation is the aspect of evolution that best represents the white and black moths being replaced by each other. This activity shows how favorable adoptions gradually accumulate in the population and overtime the adaptation overtakes the entire population and a new species is eventually forms. This activity represents the process of speciation.

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Expressing Quantity in French - Zero, None - Pas De

Expressing Quantity in French - Zero, None - Pas De Theres a lot to keep in mind when expressing quantities in French. We have  studied  how to express unspecific quantities, du, de la, de l, des, then how to express specific quantities, numbers and expressions of quantity, so now for the last part: when there is nothing, zero, zip, not any! 1 - The Quantity Is None Aha! I bet you didnt think about that one! Well, zero is also a quantity. Which means when you say I dont have money (join the club), you are using a quantity. You could be saying I dont have any money, but the any is often left out in everyday speech.   So, if you wanted to actually say zero, well thats easy, its a number: - jai zà ©ro chat (I have zero cat). But where it gets complicated is when you use a negative. I dont have (any) cat.   In French, wed say something like I dont have none of cat. Please, dont think of it this way, because youd never say that in English, so translating doesnt work. I am just saying it to explain, but its more logical to think of it as pas being a quantity, therefore followed by de/d in French. Je nai pas de chat. (I dont have any cat)Je nai pas de fille. (I dont have a daughter)Je nai pas de lait. (I dont have milk)Je nai pas denfants (I dont have children) And of course, there is a main exception. This rule doesnt apply when your verb is à ªtre (to be). So with à ªtre in the negative, you say the same thing as in the affirmative. Je suis une fille. Je ne suis pas une fille. (I am a girl. I am not a girl). 2 - Adjectives of Quantity Are Not Followed by De/d Aucun/e/s and plusieur/s are adjectives. They dont need an article. Jai plusieurs chats - I have several cats.Je nai aucun ami - I have no friend, I dont have a single friend, I dont have any friend.. 3 - To Recap Some things are easy to quantify: one apple. It’s a whole apple. You usually buy, eat, need one, 2, 3 apples.  But you may decide to be vague, and say â€Å"des pommes† more than one, but I don’t know exactly how many. Now, some things are less easily quantifiable†¦ You don’t buy â€Å"one rice†. You buy either â€Å"one kilo of rice† (a kilo of, an expression of quantity), or â€Å"some rice† (unspecific quantity of an item which is not easily quantifiable). So you need to ask yourself: Am I talking about... A very specific  quantity (a number, or an expression of quantity : une pomme, 5 pommes, un kilo de pommes, une bouteille deau†¦).An unspecified quantity of an item (du vin), or an unspecified quantity of something that you cannot quantify easily (du riz, de la patience)More than one of an item, but a vague plural quantity (des pommes)No item at all (pas de pomme) This is a lot to take in. Read these  lessons over a couple of times and even read it out-loud so you really take the time to understand and process everything.

Friday, February 21, 2020

Pharmacology Practical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pharmacology Practical - Essay Example The experiment provided a uniform temperature (37 degrees) for the enzyme activity, whereas in living systems the temperature usually varies within a given range. According to Yun, crude extracts of orlistat also contain an inactive component, which is a possibility in the in vivo action of orlistat that leads to the disparities between experimental values and theoretical values of IC50 (2010). The suggested dose of Orlistat is one 120 mg capsule immediately before, during or up to one hour after, each main meal. From the statement, In general, at therapeutic doses detection of intact Orlistat in plasma is sporadic and concentrations are extremely low ( Orlistat’s systemic absorption is minimal because most of it is largely maintained in the gastrointestinal tract. This is why extremely low plasma concentrations are observed after the intake of the drug (Bryant et al. 2011). Systemic absorption of Orlistat is not necessary for its activity because it provides its therapeutic action in the stomach lumen and ileum. Orlistat binds irreversibly to the amino acid residues serine present in the active sites of gastric and pancreatic lipases through the formation of covalent bonds. This binding inactivates the enzymes making them unavailable for the hydrolysis of dietary fat (triglycerides) into fatty acids and monoglycerides (Orlistat STADAÂ ® 60mg/120 mg 2011). Consequently, a caloric deficit ensues because of failure of absorption of the undigested triglycerides. The caloric deficit has a helpful outcome on the regulation of

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Comparing Different Linux Vendors Research Paper

Comparing Different Linux Vendors - Research Paper Example It is based on Unix. Linux was developed in collaboration with many different companies, thus, all these companies are responsible for its development. The development and research costs are shared amongst the partners and other competitors. As many companies are involved, there is lot of innovation in this operating system. Here we will discuss three major distributors of Linux, namely: Ubuntu, Fedora and Linux Mint. It is also important to understand their advantages and disadvantages in servers and workstations. Ubuntu Server and Workstations – Installation of Ubuntu is easy which is beneficial for business. Its foundations are built on the bases of Debian. This server is fast and delivers high performance, which makes it highly reliable. It is composed of many new server based applications like â€Å"LAMP, file server, firewall and thin client support† â€Å"With LAMP it is easy to setup a web server, database applications and dynamics websites.† â€Å"It in cludes the use of thin clients using LTSP (linux terminal server project). Thus saving the cost on expensive hardware to keep up to date with the ever growing pc demands† (Ubuntu Server, 1998, para.4). Ubuntu is free. Strong firewalls prevent the server from any attacks, thus making it secure. It provides high security. It has a â€Å"bunch of applications like Open Office, alternative to Microsoft Office, web browsers, email clients, games, audio & movie players, image editors and many more† (Ubuntu Workstation, 1998, para.2). Applications can be downloaded free of cost. It is stable and there are rarely any errors or system crashes. It is a secure operating system as there are no viruses or any other applications that could harm the computer. Ubuntu is not easy to use. It has an online community, which offers support and provides updates for the improvement of the system. Updates of Ubuntu are available every six months. Ubuntu’s approach towards new technologi es is conservative, unlike Fedora, which rather supports new technologies. Ubuntu is found to have hardware complaints, which makes it less stable than Fedora. It requires a reasonable space to work efficiently as it is large. Fedora Server and Workstations – Fedora is an open source and, therefore, it can be downloaded, installed and shared for free. It has a wide range of free applications available. Free from virus, thus, no hassles with antivirus software and spywares. A powerful operating system, which is both efficient and secure. Consists of new features making it more flexible and stable. It is reliable as any kind of hardware failures are efficiently handled without affecting the entire operating system. Help docs are provided and there are communities that provide assistance when needed. Updates are released twice in a year, so no long wait is required to achieve latest software. Frequent updates are also a drawback as it makes it look less stable. It may be a good choice but a new user may find it hard to use. â€Å"Ruby,Python,Database Server: MySQL 5.0.67,Mail Server: Postfix ,DNS Server: BIND9 (chrooted) ,FTP Server: proftpd,POP3/IMAP server: Dovecot,Webalizer for web site† (Timme, 2012, para.2). If some issue arises, the user has to resort to the command line in order to complete the task In case of software updates with two packages, it is difficult to trace the unwanted package. There is a

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Ethical Arguments Of Electronic Surveillance Information Technology Essay

Ethical Arguments Of Electronic Surveillance Information Technology Essay 1.1 Introduction In his dystopian masterpiece, 1984, George Orwell portrays a society in which government surveillance has become all too pervasive with nightmarish consequences. Even though Orwell never envisioned the advent of the internet and how it has become part of our daily lives, he understood the dangers of a culture of surveillance and much of what he wrote has become startlingly true. Indeed governments have moved on from traditional spying to electronic surveillance, thanks to the internet and other electronic forms of communication. Corporations too have jumped on the surveillance bandwagon, though for different purposes. This has led to ethical concerns, as illustrated in the case of the research firm Phorm. 1.2 Ethical Concerns that Could Arise Phorm is a company in the United Kingdom that developed software that allows it to monitor users online activities without their consent. This has legal ramifications as allowing such activities has caused the European Commission to investigate the UK for breaching rules pertaining to consent to interception of online transactions. However, the issue has an ethical dimension as well. Phorm has tried to justify its actions citing the benefits to customers and the companies involved. However, is it morally and ethically right for a corporation, no matter how innocent its purpose, to secretly monitor the activities of internet users without their consent? Do the advantages, both in financial and non- financial terms warrant this seeming violation of basic human rights? These are some of the ethical dilemmas posed by this case and they will be critically examined in this report. 1.3 Ethical Arguments in Support of Electronic Surveillance Corporate surveillance is a new form of surveillance by companies of people and groups. The aim is to collect data for marketing purpose which is used by the corporation itself or as in the case of Phorm, sold to third party corporations or the government (Brooks and Dunn, 2010). From the companys perspective, this is an excellent form of business intelligence as the data collected can be used to refine marketing strategies to reach the target audience. Direct marketing also employs online corporate surveillance as evidenced by Google and Yahoo (New York Times, 2007). Governments also make use of corporate surveillance data to monitor the activities of users and collect information to do profiling. The U.S. government has used this approach more often in recent years to track down terrorists, and this may be good in a sense. The ethical argument in support of this type of initiative is that it benefits various stakeholders. Electronic surveillance can improve marketing activities and this leads to more revenue which in turn benefit shareholders and the employees of the corporation that uses the services of electronic surveillance company data. Supposedly, when shareholder and employee wealth is maximized, it elevates the standard of living and thus, benefits society as a whole. True, customers are literally spied on but there is no physical damage done. Most customers are oblivious and what they do not know would not harm them. In fact, such improved marketing could even help them make better decisions when buying products and services since they will receive advertisements on things that interest them. These are some of the arguments that are used to support electronic surveillance by corporations. 1.4 Ethical Arguments Against this Type of Initiative To answer why corporate electronic surveillance is unethical and unjustifiable, we need to frame it in ethical terms. Let us look at it from the theory of consequentialism. Consequentialists are intent on maximizing the utility produced by a decision (Ermann et al, 1990). For them, the rightness of an act depends on its consequences. Consequentialism holds that an act is morally right if and only if that act maximizes the net good. In other words, an act and therefore a decision is ethical if its favourable consequences outweigh its negative consequences. Moreover, some believe that only the act that maximizes the net benefit of favourable minus the negative consequences is morally right or ethical. Philosophers also debate what consequences should be counted, how they should be counted and who deserves to be included in the set of affected stakeholders that should be considered (Brooks and Dunn, 2010). Therefore, corporate electronic surveillance is morally wrong because it does not maximize the net good. True, it may improve sales slightly if done in secret but if customers are aware that they are being spied on, they will feel violated and alienate the company altogether. Other potential customers may shy away from the company as well. In the end, such a move could seriously backfire and negatively impact shareholders. The net disadvantages dramatically outweigh the advantages. It is also illegal since such activities constitute a breach of international laws on internet privacy. Deontology is different from consequentialism in that deontologists focus on the obligations or duties motivating a decision or actions that on the consequences of the action (MacKinnon, 1998). Deontological ethics takes the position that rightness depends on the respect shown for duty, and the rights and fairness that those duties reflect. Consequently, a deontological approach raises issues relating to duties, rights and justice considerations and teaches students to use moral standards, principles and rules as a guide to making the best ethical decisions (Caroll, 1991). Deontological reasoning is largely based on the thinking of Immanuel Kant. He argued that a rational person making a decision about what would be good to do, would consider what action would be good for all members of society to do. Such an act would improve the well-being of the decision maker and the well-being of society as well. Kant began to search for an overriding principle that would guide all action an imperative that everybody should follow without exception, which could therefore be considered universal or categorical (Brooks and Dunn, 2010). His search led to what is known as Kants Categorical Imperative, which is a dominant principle or rule for deontologists. Kants principal indicates that there is a duty or imperative to always act in such a way that you can also will the maxim of your action should become a universal law (MacKinnon, 1998). This means that if you cannot will that everyone follow the same decision rule, your rule is not a moral one. As a universal principle, everyone should follow it. Moreover, the Golden Rule do unto others as you would have them do unto you would readily qualify as a universal principal (Forrester and Morrision, 1990). Using the same approach could yield a universal respect for human rights and for fair treatment of all. This can be best achieved by adopting the position that one must fulfil obligations or duties that respect moral or human rights and legal or contract rights (Flaherty, 1989). Furthermore, it can only he achieved if individuals act with enlightened self-interest rather than pure self-interest. Under enlightened self-interest, the interests of individuals are taken into account in decisions (Verschoor, 1988). They are not simply ignored or overridden. Individuals are considered ends rather than used as means to achieve an end or objective. Actions based on duty, rights and justice considerations are particularly important to professionals, directors and executives who are exp ected to fulfil the obligations of a fiduciary (Wartick and Cochran, 1985). In classical management, it has been repeatedly argued that the only fiduciary duty management owes is to the shareholders of a corporation. Thus, if activities are disadvantageous to customers, it does not matter. However, such thinking has gradually gone out of favour as corporations now realize the importance of embracing all their stakeholders (Freeman, 1984). Hence, electronic surveillance would be deemed enlightened self-interest in the old way of thinking but it is now regarded as pure self-interest. Companies that spy on customers are violating their privacy and show them no respect, which is a breach of duty of care . Electronic surveillance also goes against the Golden Rule so there is no deontological basis in support of electronic surveillance. From the above discussion, it is obvious that the arguments against electronic surveillance far outweigh those in support of it. For every argument in support, there are a few against it. Hence, corporations should stop it and use other methods that are more respectable, ethical and legal to gather marketing data. 1.5 Conclusion The ethical arguments in support of corporate electronic surveillance are scant and specious. At best, it leads to improved sales and happy shareholders but it severely undermines the basic principle of respecting the privacy of others. The right to privacy is a right to be free from certain intrusions. It is highly intrusive to have all of ones online activities monitored and used to create a database about the users likes and preferences, especially when the user is an unwilling party. From all ethical perspectives, whether utilitarian, deontological consequentialism, there is little or no basis in support of such activities. Task Two 2.1 Introduction To Phorm, its monitoring software may be a legitimate form of business. However, as a software developer, it must abide by the professional code of conduct regarding professional responsibility. The question here is whether there is a conflict of interest between its business activities and its professional responsibilities. 2.2 Conflicts with software developers professional responsibilities Software developing and engineering is a profession. As such, it has professional associations which like all other professional associations have their own code of conduct regarding professional responsibility. This is done to safeguard the reputation of the profession and to maintain the highest standards of ethics. Among the professional associations for software developers are AMC, IEEE, APEGBC and the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP). To be a member of these associations, one must abide by the respective code of ethics and professional responsibility. Failure to do so would result in suspension or revocation of license to practice the profession. The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice states that software developers should be committed to making the design, analysis, development, testing and maintenance of software a respected and beneficial profession and that all engineers should adhere to eight basic principles. Principle 6 relates to professional responsibility. This clearly stipulates that software developers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession that is consistent with the public interest. Among other things, a software developer should not promote their own interest at the expense of the profession, client or employer (6.05), obey all laws governing their work, unless in exceptional circumstances, compliance is inconsistent with the public interest (6.06) and avoid associations with businesses and organizations which are in conflict with this code (6.10). Based on this principle alone, Phorm has made many breaches of professional ethics. Monitoring software such as the one developed by Phorm goes against this professional responsibility code. In fact, this action goes against the interest of customers since it monitors their online activities without their knowledge. Similarly, such an action is inconsistent with public interest as it is morally, ethically and legally wrong for companies to do surveillance on the public without their knowledge (Flaherty, 1989). Phorm should know better than to conduct business that is in conflict with a professional code of conduct. Even though its software developers may not be members of this specific professional organization, they are sure to be members of other organizations which would have similar guidelines. Phorms actions also conflict with principle one of this code which concerns the public. It states that software engineers should act consistently with the public interest. According to paragraph 1.03, software developers should approve software only if they have a well-founded belief that it is safe, meets specifications, passes appropriate tests and does not diminish the quality of life, diminish privacy or harm the environment. Phorms monitoring software diminishes individual privacy. According to Warren and Brandies (1890), privacy can be defined as a right to be left alone. It is widely regarded that privacy is a basic human right. Phorms case is a good illustration of the problems concerning internet privacy. This is because while most agree that internet privacy must be protected, there is debate on the extent it should be protected. Should privacy protection be accorded to email usage or to websites visited as well? Privacy protection is a vital part of democracy but many countries in the world, most noticeably China, are not democracies and therefore have no qualms about seriously undermining internet privacy. Nevertheless, such arguments are mainly about the rights of governments to monitor the activities of citizens for the greater good, for instance protection against terrorism. However, in terms of corporate surveillance, laws and professional codes explicitly prohibit it. 2.3 Suitability of an established code of computer ethics or an ethical decision making model There are many professional codes of ethics such as the one mentioned in the previous section that helps professionals make ethical decisions. The problem is that they are general and not company specific. Also, some employees in a corporation are not members of a professional organization and therefore do not feel obliged to follow the guidelines stipulated by these organizations. For example, software developers may be against developing monitoring software, but if the CEO compels them to do so, they have little choice but to follow orders or leave the organization. To overcome this problem, each corporation should have its own code of ethics and ethical decision making model to make the right choice. A decision making model must be designed to enhance ethical reasoning by providing insights into the identification and analysis of key issues to be considered and questions or challenges to be raised and approaches to combining and applying decision relevant factors into practical action (Brook and Dunn, 2010). A decision or action is considered ethical or right if it conforms to certain standards. One standard alone is insufficient to ensure an ethical decision. Consequently, an ethical decision making framework should be designed so that decisions or actions are compared against four standards for a comprehensive assessment of ethical behaviour. The ethical decision making model assesses the ethicality of a decision or action by examining the consequences or well-offness created in terms of net benefits or costs, rights and duties affected, fairness involved and motivation or virtues expected (Paine, 1994). The first three of these considerations consequentialism, deontology and justice are examined by focusing on the impacts of a decision on shareholders and other affected stakeholders, an approach known as stakeholder impact analysis (Caroll, 1991). The fourth consideration, the motivation of the decision maker is known as virtue ethics (Pastin, 1986). It provides insights likely to be helpful when assessing current and future governance problems as part of a normal risk management exercise. All four considerations must be examined thoroughly and appropriate ethical values must be applied in the decision and its implementation if a decision or action is to be defensible ethically. There are three steps for making an ethical decision (Velasquez, 1992). Step one is identifying the facts and all stakeholder groups and interests likely to be affected. Step two is to rank the stakeholders and their interest, identifying the most important and weighing them more than other issues in the analysis. The final step is to assess the impact of the proposed action on each stakeholder group interests with regard to their well-being, fairness of treatment and other rights, including virtue expectations, using a comprehensive framework of questions and making sure that the common pitfalls do not enter into the analysis. These pitfalls include conforming to an unethical corporate culture, misinterpreting public expectations and focusing on short term profits and shareholder only impacts (Paine, 1994). It may be helpful to organize an ethical decision analysis using the seven steps outlined by the American Accounting Association (1993) (Cited in Brooke and Dunn, 2010). One, determine the facts such as what, who, when, where and how. Two, define the ethical issues. Three, identify major principles, rules and values. Four, specify the alternatives. Five, compare values and alternatives and see if a clear decision emerges. Six, asses the consequences and finally make the decision. 2.4 Conclusion The development and implementation of involuntary electronic monitoring, such as done by Phorm conflicts with software developers professional responsibilities. This is because no professional association of software developers would ever sanction the creation of software that violates the privacy of users and goes against the best interest of society. To overcome such a situation, each IT organization must have its own corporate code of ethics. This should compliment the professional code of ethics of software developers and serve to ensure the highest ethical standards. Yet it is not enough for a company to create a good ethics policy. Implementation is the hard part and high ethical conduct must flow from top to bottom and there must be zero tolerance for breach of professional ethics. It is only by instituting such strict policies that activities like monitoring users internet usage can be curbed.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Macbeth And Lady Macbeth, A dealike Butcher And A fiend? Essay

"This dead like butcher and his fiend like queen" is this a fair description of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? Malcolm made the remark "This dead like butcher and his fiend like queen," when he was crowned as the king of Scotland, after Macbeth's reign of terror. It becomes questionable upon the fairness of this justification, whether or not Macbeth was really a "butcher" and whether or not Lady Macbeth was a "fiend." In some ways, Macbeth would have fit the description of being a "butcher," after all, he had taken the lives of many people, some of them were even close associates of Macbeth. He assassinated Duncan, the king, in order to gain the throne, as he says, "I have done the deed" He also murdered Banquo, who was his best friend, due to two different reasons. The first is the witches' prophecies, which predicted that Banquo's son is to become king, and secondly, there is a sense that Banquo has his suspicions on the assassinator of the king. Acting under the name of fear, he slaughtered Lady Macduff and her son, due to the prophecies made by the witches, "Beware the thane of Fife" Macbeth only resolved himself into a far more stereotypical villain when he felt that he had gone to far, as he says, "I am in blood stepped I do far." His ambition of staying king now begins to spur him toward further horrifying deeds, and he starts to disregard and even challenge fate and fortune. Each successive murder reduces his human characteristics still further, until he appears to be the more dominant partner in the marriage. Nevertheless, the new-found resolve, which causes Macbeth to "wade" onward into his self-created river of blood, is persistently alarmed by supernatural events, the ghost of Banquo, an evidence suggesting Macbeth isn't at the right state of mind, that his guilt has affected him deeply. Macbeth was also seen as a ruthless tyrannical king, as he is referred to by Malcolm and Macduff, as "tyrant," and "a devil." In order to protect his title, Macbeth had to murder those who get in his way, and he even planted spies in every household in Scotland. Near to the end, Macbeth has even, "Forgot the taste of fears" It's as if he had overcome fear, which had made him able to be ruthless, and murderous. On the other hand the j... ...an interpret Lady Macbeth as, the dominant, commanding wife with an ambition to be queen bigger that Macbeth's ambition of being King. Or the manipulative wife, whose ambition is just as big as Macbeth. Lady Macbeth may be described as a fiend by Malcolm, and may have been a fiend to an extent, that she manipulated her husband into doing the things Macbeth has done, which may have been against Macbeth's will. She also accused her husband on being a coward, showing that she could fit the description as a fiend. However, she is not what we would call as purely evil, or lacking humanity, because she, is after all, a woman, whose instinct still remains with her, despite what she had done. She was also washed over by guilt, and became mentally deranged, even before Macbeth. Overall, the remarks that Malcolm made may have their justifications, as to an extent, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are a pair of "butcher and his fiend queen". However, to an extent these justifications may not fit either Macbeth or Lady Macbeth, as they have had their own humanity within them, as if the "butcher" and "fiend" were just a part of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's alter ego.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Bag of Bones CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

At first the door wouldn't open. The knob turned under my hand so I knew it wasn't locked, but the rain seemed to have swelled the wood . . . or had something been shoved up against it? I drew back, crouched a little, and hit the door with my shoulder. This time there was some slight give. It was her. Sara. Standing on the other side of the door and trying to hold it shut against me. How could she do that? How, in God's name? She was a fucking ghost! I thought of the BAMM CONSTRUCTION pickup . . . and as if thought were conjuration I could almost see it out there at the end of Lane Forty-two, parked by the highway. The old ladies' sedan was behind it, and three or four other cars were now behind them. All of them with their windshield wipers flopping back and forth, their headlights cutting feeble cones through the downpour. They were lined up on the shoulder like cars at a yard sale. There was no yard sale here, only the old-timers sitting silently in their cars. Old-timers who were in the zone just like I was. Old-timers sending in the vibe. She was drawing on them. Stealing from them. She'd done the same with Devore and me too, of course. Many of the manifestations I'd experienced since coming back had likely been created from my own psychic energy. It was amusing when you thought of it. Or maybe ‘terrifying' was the word I was actually looking for. ‘Jo, help me,' I said in the pouring rain. Lightning flashed, turning the torrents a bright brief silver. ‘If you ever loved me, help me now.' I drew back and hit the door again. This time there was no resistance at all and I went hurtling in, catching my shin on the jamb and falling to my knees. I held onto the lantern, though. There was a moment of silence. In it I felt forces and presences gathering themselves. In that moment nothing seemed to move, although behind me, in the woods Jo had loved to ramble with me or without me the rain continued to fall and the wind continued to howl, a merciless gardener pruning its way through the trees that were dead and almost dead, doing the work of ten gentler years in one turbulent hour. Then the door slammed shut and it began. I saw everything in the glow of the flashlight, which I had turned on without even realizing it, but at first I didn't know exactly what I was seeing, other than the destruction by poltergeist of my wife's beloved crafts and treasures. The framed afghan square tore itself off the wall and flew from one side of the studio to the other, the black oak frame breaking apart. The heads popped off the dolls poking out of the baby collages like champagne corks at a party. The hanging light-globe shattered, showering me with fragments of glass. A wind began to blow a cold one and was quickly joined and whirled into a cyclone by one which was warmer, almost hot. They rolled past me as if in imitation of the larger storm outside. The Sara Laughs head on the bookcase, the one which appeared to be constructed of toothpicks and lollipop sticks, exploded in a cloud of wood-splinters. The kayak paddle leaning against the wall rose into the air, rowed furiously at nothing, then launched itself at me like a spear. I threw myself flat on the green rag rug to avoid it, and felt bits of broken glass from the shattered light-globe cut into the palm of my hand as I came down. I felt something else, as well a ridge of something beneath the rug. The paddle hit the far wall hard enough to split into two pieces. Now the banjo my wife had never been able to master rose in the air, revolved twice, and played a bright rattle of notes that were out of tune but nonetheless unmistakable wish I was in the land of cotton, old times there are not forgotten. The phrase ended with a vicious BLUNK! that broke all five strings. The banjo whirled itself a third time, its bright steel fittings reflecting fishscale runs of light on the study walls, and then beat itself to death against the floor, the drum shattering and the tuning pegs snapping off like teeth. The sound of moving air began to how do I express this? to focus somehow, until it wasn't the sound of air but the sound of voices panting, unearthly voices full of fury. They would have screamed if they'd had vocal cords to scream with. Dusty air swirled up in the beam of my flashlight, making helix shapes that danced together, then reeled apart again. For just a moment I heard Sara's snarling, smoke-broken voice: ‘Git out, bitch! You git on out! This ain't none of yours ‘ And then a curious insubstantial thud, as if air had collided with air. This was followed by a rushing wind-tunnel shriek that I recognized: I'd heard it in the middle of the night. Jo was screaming. Sara was hurting her, Sara was punishing her for presuming to interfere, and Jo was screaming. ‘No!' I shouted, getting to my feet. ‘Leave her alone! Leave her be!' I advanced into the room, swinging the lantern in front of my face as if I could beat her away with it. Stoppered bottles stormed past me some contained dried flowers, some carefully sectioned mushrooms, some woods-herbs. They shattered against the far wall with a brittle xylophone sound. None of them struck me; it was as if an unseen hand guided them away. Then Jo's rolltop desk rose into the air. It must have weighed at least four hundred pounds with its drawers loaded as they were, but it floated like a feather, nodding first one way and then dipping the other in the opposing currents of air. Jo screamed again, this time in anger rather than pain, and I staggered backward against the closed door with a feeling that I had been scooped hollow. Sara wasn't the only one who could steal the energy of the living, it appeared. White semeny stuff ectoplasm, I guess spilled from the desk's pigeonholes in a dozen little streams, and the desk suddenly launched itself across the room. It flew almost too fast to follow with the eye. Anyone standing in front of it would have been smashed flat There was a head-splitting shriek of protest and agony Sara this time, I knew it was and then the desk struck the wall, breaking through it and letting in the rain and the wind. The rolltop snapped loose of its slot and hung like a jointed tongue. All the drawers shot out. Spools of thread, skeins of yarn, little flora/fauna identification books and woods guides, thimbles, notebooks, knitting needles, dried-up Magic Markers Jo's early remains, Ki might have called them. They flew everywhere l ike bones and bits of hair cruelly scattered from a disinterred coffin. ‘Stop it,' I croaked. ‘Stop it, both of you. That's enough.' But there was no need to tell them. Except for the furious beat of the storm, I was alone in the ruins of my wife's studio. The battle was over. At least for the time being. I knelt and doubled up the green rag rug, carefully folding into it as much of the shattered glass from the light as I could. Beneath it was a trapdoor giving on a triangular storage area created by the slope of the land as it dropped toward the lake. The ridge I'd felt was one of the trap's hinges. I had known about this area and had meant to check it for the owls. Then things began to happen and I'd forgotten. There was a recessed ring in the trapdoor. I grabbed it, ready for more resistance, but it swung up easily. The smell that wafted up froze me in my tracks. Not damp decay, at least not at first, but Red Jo's favorite perfume. It hung around me for a moment and then it was gone. What replaced it was the smell of rain, roots, and wet earth. Not pleasant, but I had smelled far worse down by the lake near that damned birch tree. I shone my light down three steep steps. I could see a squat shape that turned out to be an old toilet I could vaguely remember Bill and Kenny Auster putting it under here back in 1990 or '91. There were steel boxes filing cabinet drawers, actually wrapped in plastic and stacked up on pallets. Old records and papers. An eight-track tape player wrapped in a plastic bag. An old VCR next to it, in another one. And over in the corner I sat down, hung my legs over, and felt something touch the ankle I had turned in the lake. I shone my light between my knees and for one moment saw a young black kid. Not the one drowned in the lake, though this one was older and quite a lot bigger. Twelve, maybe fourteen. The drowned boy had been no more than eight. This one bared his teeth at me and hissed like a cat. There were no pupils in his eyes; like those of the boy in the lake, his eyes were entirely white, like the eyes of a statue. And he was shaking his head. Don't come down here, white man. Let the dead rest in peace. ‘But you're not at peace,' I said, and shone the light full on him. I had a momentary glimpse of a truly hideous thing. I could see through him, but I could also see into him: the rotting remains of his tongue in his mouth, his eyes in their sockets, his brain simmering like a spoiled egg in its case of skull. Then he was gone, and there was nothing but one of those swirling dust-helixes. I went down, holding the lantern raised. Below it, nests of shadows rocked and seemed to reach upward. The storage area (it was really no more than a glorified crawlspace) had been floored with wooden pallets, just to keep stuff off the ground. Now water ran beneath these in a steady river, and enough of the earth had eroded to make even crawling unsteady work. The smell of perfume was entirely gone. What had replaced it was a nasty riverbottom smell and unlikely given the conditions, I know, but it was there the faint, sullen smell of ash and fire. I saw what I'd come for almost at once. Jo's mail-order owls, the ones she had taken delivery of herself in November of 1993, were in the northeast corner, where there were only about two feet between the sloped pallet flooring and the underside of the studio. Gorry, but they looked real, Bill had said, and Gorry if he wasn't right: in the bright glow of the lantern they looked like birds first swaddled, then suffocated in clear plastic. Their eyes were bright wedding rings circling wide black pupils. Their plastic feathers were painted the dark green of pine nee-dies, their bellies a shade of dirty orange-white. I crawled toward them over the squelching, shifting pallets, the glow of the lantern bobbing back and forth between them, trying not to wonder if that boy was behind me, creeping in pursuit. When I got to the owls, I raised my head without thinking and thudded it against the insulation which ran beneath the studio floor. Thump once for yes, twice for no, asshole, I thought. I hooked my fingers into the plastic which wrapped the owls and pulled them toward me. I wanted to be out of here. The sensation of water running just beneath me was strange and unpleasant. So was the smell of fire, which seemed stronger now in spite of the damp. Suppose the studio was burning? Suppose Sara had somehow set it alight? I'd roast down here even while the storm's muddy runoff was soaking my legs and belly. One of the owls stood on a plastic base, I saw the better to set him on your deck or stoop to scare the crows, my dear but the base the other should have been attached to was missing. I backed toward the trapdoor, holding the lantern in one hand and dragging the plastic sack of owls in the other, wincing each time thunder cannonaded over my head. I'd only gotten a little way when the damp tape holding the plastic gave way. The owl missing its base tilted slowly toward me, its black-gold eyes staring raptly into my own. A swirl of air. A faint, comforting whiff of Red perfume. I pulled the owl out by the hornlike tufts growing from its forehead and turned it upside down. Where it had once been attached to its plastic base there were now only two pegs with a hollow space between them. Inside the hole was a small tin box that I recognized even before I reached into the owl's belly and chivvied it out. I shone the lantern on its front, knowing what I'd see: JO'S NOTIONS, written in old-fashioned gilt script. She had found the box in an antiques barn somewhere. I looked at it, my heart beating hard. Thunder boomed overhead. The trapdoor stood open, but I had forgotten about going up. I had forgotten about everything but the tin box I held in my hand, a box roughly the size of a cigar box but not quite as deep. I spread my hand over the cover and pulled it off. There was a strew of folded papers lying on top of a pair of steno books, the wirebound ones I keep around for notes and character lists. These had been rubber-banded together. On top of everything else was a shiny black square. Until I picked it up and held it close to the side of the lantern, I didn't realize it was a photo negative. Ghostly, reversed and faintly orange, I saw Jo in her gray two-piece bathing suit. She was standing on the swimming float with her hands behind her head. ‘Jo,' I said, and then couldn't say anything else. My throat had closed up with tears. I held the negative for a moment, not wanting to lose contact with it, then put it back in the box with the papers and steno books. This stuff was why she had come to Sara in July of 1994; to gather it up and hide it as well as she could. She had taken the owls off the deck (Frank had heard the door out there bang) and had carried them out here. I could almost see her prying the base off one owl and stuffing the tin box up its plastic wazoo, wrapping both of them in plastic, then dragging them down here, all while her brother sat smoking Marlboros and feeling the vibrations. The bad vibrations. I doubted if I would ever know all the reasons why she'd done it, or what her frame of mind had been . . . but she had almost certainly believed I'd find my own way down here eventually. Why else had she left the negative? The loose papers were mostly photocopied press clippings from the Castle Rock Call and from the Weekly News, the paper which had apparently preceded the Call. The dates were marked on each in my wife's neat, firm hand. The oldest clipping was from 1865, and was headed ANOTHER HOME SAFE. The returnee was one Jared Devore, age thirty-two. Suddenly I understood one of the things that had puzzled me: the generations which didn't seem to match up. A Sara Tidwell song came to mind as I crouched there on the pallets with my lantern shining down on that old-timey type. It was the ditty that went The old folks do it and the young folks, too / And the old folks show the young folks just what to do . . . By the time Sara and the Red-Tops showed up in Castle County and settled on what became known as Tidwell's Meadow, Jared Devore would have been sixty-seven or -eight. Old but still hale. A veteran of the Civil War. The sort of older man younger men might look up to. And Sara's song was right the old folks show the young folks just what to do. What exactly had they done? The clippings about Sara and the Red-Tops didn't tell. I only skimmed them, anyway, but the overall tone shook me, just the same. I'd describe it as unfailing genial contempt. The Red-Tops were ‘our Southern blackbirds' and ‘our rhythmic darkies.' They were ‘full of dusky good-nature.' Sara herself was ‘a marvelous figure of a Negro woman with broad nose, full lips, and noble brow' who ‘fascinated men-folk and women-folk alike with her animal high spirits, flashing smile, and raucous laugh.' They were, God keep us and save us, reviews. Good ones, if you didn't mind being called full of dusky good-nature. I shuffled through them quickly, looking for anything about the circumstances under which ‘our Southern blackbirds' had left. I found nothing. What I found instead was a clipping from the Call marked July 19th (go down nineteen, I thought), 1933. The headline read VETERAN GUIDE, CARETAKER, CANNOT SAVE DAUGHTER. According to the story, Fred Dean had been fighting the wildfires in the eastern part of the TR with two hundred other men when the wind had suddenly changed, menacing the north end of the lake, which had previously been considered safe. At that time a great many local people had kept fishing and hunting camps up there (this much I knew myself). The community had had a general store and an actual name, Halo Bay. Fred's wife, Hilda, was there with the Dean twins, William and Carla, age three, while her husband was off eating smoke. A good many other wives and kids were in Halo Bay, as well. The fires had come fast when the wind changed, the paper said ‘like marching explosions.' They jumped the only firebreak the men had left in that direction and headed for the far end of the lake. At Halo Bay there were no men to take charge, and apparently no women able or willing to do so. They panicked instead, racing to load their cars with children and camp possessions, clogging the one road out with their vehicles. Eventually one of the old cars or trucks broke down and as the fires roared closer, running through woods that hadn't seen rain since late April, the women who'd waited found their way out blocked. The volunteer firefighters came to the rescue in time, but when Fred Dean got to his wife, one of a party of women trying to push a balky stalled Ford coupe out of the road, he made a terrible discovery. Billy lay on the floor in the back of the car, fast asleep, but Carla was missing. Hilda had gotten them both in, all right they had been on the back seat, holding hands just as they always did. But at some point, after her brother had crawled onto the floor and dozed off and while Hilda was stuffing a few last items into the trunk, Carla must have remembered a toy or a doll and returned to the cottage to get it. While she was doing that, her mother had gotten into their old Desoto and driven away without rechecking the babies. Carla Dean was either still in the cottage at Halo Bay or making her way up the road on foot. Either way the fires would run her down. The road was too narrow to get a vehicle turned around and too blocked to get one of those pointed in the right direction through the crush. So Fred Dean, hero that he was, set off on the run toward the smoke-blackened horizon, where bright ribbons of orange had already begun to shine through. The wind-driven fire had crowned and raced to meet him like a lover. I knelt on the pallets, reading this by the glow of my lantern, and all at once the smell of fire and burning intensified. I coughed . . . and then the cough was choked off by the iron taste of water in my mouth and throat. Once again, this time kneeling in the storage area beneath my wife's studio, I felt as if I were drowning. Once again I leaned forward and retched up nothing but a little spit. I turned and saw the lake. The loons were screaming on its hazy surface, making their way toward me in a line, beating their wings against the water as they came. The blue of the sky had been blotted out. The air smelled of charcoal and gunpowder. Ash had begun to sift down from the sky. The eastern verge of Dark Score was in flames, and I could hear occasional muffled reports as hollow trees exploded. They sounded like depth charges. I looked down, wanting to break free of this vision, knowing that in another moment or two it wouldn't be anything so distant as a vision but as real as the trip Kyra and I had made to the Fryeburg Fair. Instead of a plastic owl with gold-ringed eyes, I was looking at a child with bright blue ones. She was sitting on a picnic table, holding out her chubby arms and crying. I saw her as clearly as I saw my own face in the mirror each morning when I shaved. I saw she was about Kyra's age but much plumper, and her hair is black instead of blonde. Her hair is the shade her brother's will remain until it finally begins to go gray in the impossibly distant summer of 1998, a year she will never see unless someone gets her out of this hell. She wears a white dress and red knee-stockings and she holds her arms out to me, calling Daddy, Daddy. I start toward her and then there is a blast of organized heat that tears me apart for a moment I am the ghost here, I realize, and Fred Dean has just run right through me. Daddy, she cries, but to him, not me. Daddy! and she hugs him, unmindful of the soot smearing her white silk dress and her chubby face as he kisses her and more soot begins to fall and the loons beat their way in toward shore, seeming to weep in shrill lamentation. Daddy the fire is coming! she cries as he scoops her into his arms. I know, be brave, he says. We're gonna be all right, sugarplum, but you have to be brave. The fire isn't just coming,' it has come. The entire east end of Halo Bay is inflames and now they're moving this way, eating one by one the little cabins where the men like to lay up drunk in hunting season and ice-fishing season. Behind Al LeRoux's, the washing Marguerite hung out that morning is in flames, pants and dresses and underwear burning on lines which are themselves strings of fire. Leaves and bark shower down,' a burning ember touches Carla's neck and she shrieks with pain. Fred slaps it away as he carries her down the slope of land to the water. Don't do it! I scream. I know all this is beyond my power to change, but I scream at him anyway, try to change it anyway. Fight it! For Christ's sake, fight it! Daddy, who is that man? Carla asks, and points at me as the green-shingled roof of the Dean place catches fire. Fred glances toward where she is pointing, and in his face I see a spasm of guilt. He knows what he's doing, that's the terrible thing way down deep he knows exactly what he is doing here at Halo Bay where The Street ends. He knows and he's afraid that someone will witness his work. But he sees nothing. Or does he? There is a momentary doubtful widening of the eyes as if he does spy something a dancing helix of air, perhaps. Or does feel me? Is that it? Does he feel a momentary cold draft in all this heat? One that feels like protesting hands, hands that would restrain if they only had substance? Then he looks away,' then he is wading into the water beside the Deans' stub of a dock. Fred! I scream. For God's sake, man, look at her! Do you think your wife put her in a white silk dress by accident? Is that anyone's idea of a play-dress? Daddy, why are we going in the water? she asks. To get away from the fire, sugarplum. Daddy, I can't swim! You won't have to, he replies, and what a chill I feel at that! Because it's no lie she won't have to swim, not now, not ever. And at least Fred's way will be more merciful than Normal Auster's when Normal's turn comes more merciful than the squalling handpump, the gallons of freezing water. Her white dress floats around her like a lily. Her red stockings shimmer in the water. She hugs his neck tightly and now they are among the fleeing loons,' the loons spank the water with their powerful wings, churning up curds of jam and staring at the man and the girl with their distraught red eyes. The air is heavy with smoke and the sky is gone. I stagger after them, wading I can feel the cold of the water, although I don't splash and leave no wake. The eastern and northern edges of the lake are both on fire now there is a burning crescent around us as Fred Dean wades deeper with his daughter, carrying her as if to some baptismal rite. And still he tells himself he is trying to save her, only to save her, just as all her life Hilda will tell herself that the child just wandered back to the cottage to look for a toy, that she was not left behind on purpose, left in her white dress and red stockings to be found by her father, who once did something unspeakable. This is the past, th is is the Land of Ago, and here the sins of the fathers are visited on the children, even unto the seventh generation, which is not yet. He takes her deeper and she begins to scream. Her screams mingle with the screams of the loons until he stops the sound with a kiss upon her terrified mouth. ‘Love you, Daddy loves his sugarplum,' he says, and then lowers her. It is to be a full-immersion baptism, then, except there is no shorebank choir singing ‘Shall We Gather at the River' and no one shouting Hallelujah! and he is not letting her come back up. She struggles furiously in the white bloom of her sacrificial dress, and after a moment he cannot bear to watch her,' he looks across the lake instead, to the west where the fire hasn't yet touched (and never will), to the west where skies are still blue. Ash sifts around him like black rain and the tears pour out of his eyes and as she struggles furiously beneath his hands, trying to free herself from his drowning grip, he tells himself It was an accident, just a terrible accident, I took her out in the lake because it was the only place I could take her, the on ly place left, and she panicked, she started to struggle, she was all wet and all slippery and I lost my good hold on her and then I lost any hold on her and then I forget I'm a ghost. I scream ‘Kia! Hold on, Ki!' and dive. I reach her, I see her terrified face, her bulging blue eyes, her rosebud of a mouth which is trailing a silver line of bubbles toward the surface where Fred stands in water up to his neck, holding her down while he tells himself over and over that he was trying to save her, it was the only way, he was trying to save her, it was the only way. I reach for her, again and again I reach for her, my child, my daughter, my Kia (they are all Kia, the boys as well as the girls, all my daughter), and each time my arms go through her. Worse oh, far worse is that now she is reaching for ‘me', her dappled arms floating out, begging for rescue. Her groping hands melt through mine. I cannot touch, because now I am the ghost. I am the ghost and as her struggles weaken I realize that I can't I can't oh I couldn't breathe I was drowning. I doubled over, opened my mouth, and this time a great spew of lake-water came out, soaking the plastic owl which lay on the pallet by my knees. I hugged the JO'S NOTIONS box to my chest, not wanting the contents to get wet, and the movement triggered another retch. This time cold water poured from my nose as well as my mouth. I dragged in a deep breath, then coughed it out. ‘This has got to end,' I said, but of course this was the end, one way or the other. Because Kyra was last. I climbed up the steps to the studio and sat on the littered floor to get my breath. Outside, the thunder boomed and the rain fell, but I thought the storm had passed its peak of fury. Or maybe I only hoped. I rested with my legs hanging down through the trap there were no more ghosts here to touch my ankles, I don't know how I knew that but I did and stripped off the rubber bands holding the steno notebooks together. I opened the first one, paged through it, and saw it was almost filled with Jo's handwriting and a number of folded typed sheets (Courier type, of course), single-spaced: the fruit of all those clandestine trips down to the TR during 1993 and 1994. Fragmentary notes, for the most part, and transcriptions of tapes which might still be down below me in the storage space somewhere. Tucked away with the VCR or the eight-track player, perhaps. But I didn't need them. When the time came if the time came I was sure I'd find most of the story here. What had happened, who had done it, how it was covered up. Right now I didn't care. Right now I only wanted to make sure that Kyra was safe and stayed safe. There was only one way to do that. Lye stille. I attempted to slip the rubber bands around the steno books again, and the one I hadn't looked at slipped out of my wet hand and fell to the floor. A torn slip of green paper fell out. I picked it up and saw this: For a moment I came out of that strange and heightened awareness I'd been living in; the world fell back into its accustomed dimensions. But the colors were all too strong, somehow, objects too emphatically present. I felt like a battlefield soldier suddenly illuminated by a ghastly white flare, one that shows everything. My father's people had come from The Neck, I had been right about that much; my great-grandfather according to this was James Noonan, and he had never shit in the same pit as Jared Devore. Max Devore had either been lying when he said that to Mattie . . . or misinformed . . . or simply confused, the way folks often get confused when they reach their eighties. Even a fellow like Devore, who had stayed mostly sharp, wouldn't have been exempt from the occasional nick in his edge. And he hadn't been that far off at that. Because, according to this little scratch of a chart, my great-grandfather had had an older sister, Bridget. And Bridget had married Benton Auster. My finger dropped down a line, to Harry Auster. Born of Benton and Bridget Noonan Auster in the year 1885. ‘Christ Jesus,' I whispered. ‘Kenny Auster's grandfather was my granduncle. And he was one of them. Whatever they did, Harry Auster was one of them. That's the connection.' I thought of Kyra with sudden sharp terror. She had been up at the house by herself for nearly an hour. How could I have been so stupid? Anyone could have come in while I was under the studio. Sara could have used anyone to I realized that wasn't true. The murderers and the child victims had all been linked by blood, and now that blood had thinned, that river had almost reached the sea. There was Bill Dean, but he was staying well away from Sara Laughs. There was Kenny Auster, but Kenny had taken himself and his family off to Taxachusetts. And Ki's closest blood relations mother, father, grandfather were all dead. Only I was left. Only I was blood. Only I could do it. Unless I bolted back up to the house as fast as I could, slipping and sliding my way along the soaked path, desperate to make sure she was all right. I didn't think Sara could hurt Kyra herself, no matter how much of that old-timer vibe she had to draw on . . . but what if I was wrong? What if I was wrong?