Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Ssocial media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ssocial media - Essay Example Social media refers to any of the many online tools that allow people to share information and learn from others through a communication network in an open process. Social media thus refers to online contents that are created and consumed by regular people for communication. As Singh and Diamond (10) noted, it may be comments a person adds at the end of a website- article or family photograph he uploaded to a photos-sharing site or a video he uploaded to a video-sharing site. From some years ago to now, business communication for most of the business had a huge impact, because social media brought tremendous changes in business and marketing communication. It has not only brought greater opportunities for many businesses, but also posed bigger challenges for many to survive in competing with others. It thus becomes very important for a small startup firm to also realize that it needs to utilize the power of the social media well in order to prosper against the big companies that are already established. The marketing and advertising needs to be very sharp; website interface must be very catchy and most importantly, it must be able to gather a large customer base. For a new business to be set up successfully, marketing communication is an extremely important function since its ultimate plan to reach its customers will be successful only if it can communicate with its people about the business and its goals. When introducing a new brand or the existing brand with new product or service to the market, it needs to be communicated to the general public in order to make them aware about it, to inform or persuade them to buy or to keep on reminding them about the goods or brand (Kitchen 21). This can be done by displaying catchy captions and promotional logos of the brand... The paper describes the social media in competitive business contexts. Almost all Fortune 500 and world’s largest multinational companies have established relatively much stronger stance in social media to use it for marketing communication purposes, and they proclaim that social media helped them a lot. A best example is Wal-Mart because as recent reports and studies revealed, social media played a significant role in Wal-Mart’s success. Large numbers of business organizations and government firms use private as well as public social networks. Turban, Bollojuand and Liang (203) found that almost all Fortune 500 firms keep on encouraging its employees to use an internet social media by creating its own applications and social discussions. It proves that social media helps businesses not only for marketing communication, but also to enhance knowledge and experiences of employees and other people by knowledge share of social media networks and thus to improve overall prod uctivity of its people. Websites like Twitter and Facebook allow companies to form their own forums and groups where they can keep in touch with one another and discuss important matters. Such an exchange of ideas is healthy and keeps employees at their toes. Moreover, since everybody checks their notifications from time to time, companies need not worry about the message not going across. For any new or existing business, consumers are the biggest concern. Almost all the businesses today are required to be consumer-centric.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Is Animal Testing Really Necessary Essay Example for Free

Is Animal Testing Really Necessary Essay Animal testing is a phrase that most people have heard but are perhaps still unsure of exactly what is involved. Whether it is referred to as animal testing, animal experimentation or animal research, it means the experimentation carried out on animals. Experimental animal testing has been one of the highest debated issues for many years. Animal testing is used for numerous products and applications. Everything from toiletries to medications has likely been tested on animals at some point prior to their distribution (Murnaghan). Animal testing can be conducted anywhere from a university to a military defense establishment, wherever there is a need for testing a product. Products to be tested will range from cosmetics to pesticides and anything in-between. Animal testing has been around for over 500 years, since the early 17th century, though testing for cosmetic purposes did not start until the 1930s. Animal testing has been highly debated for many years for whether it is moral, ethical, humane, right, wrong, just, fair, etcetera. Many people stand against animal testing because they feel that it is unfair treatment to animals since animals do not have a say in the matter. On the other side of the argument, people fight for animal testing because it allows for prescription drugs and medicines to be tested. Both sides have their valid points, animal testing can be seen as cruel, especially when there are alternatives that can be used, but also, even with alternatives, testing on animals is still sometimes necessary in order to get the needed results. In a debate between Laurie Pycroft, one of the founders of Pro-Test, and Helen Marston, head of Humane Research Australia, the two go back and forth about animal testing and its potential alternatives. Pycroft starts out the debate by explaining the complexity of the human body and how no investigative tool can â€Å"fully replicate the intricacy of a living organism† (Pycroft). Marston returns fire by talking about why animals are not good models for human medicine. She makes the point that animals are â€Å"anatomically, genetically, and metabolically† different from humans (Pycroft). Pycroft continues to bring up different examples of how using animals for research has helped make medical advances for humans, while Marston seems to continue to revolve around the same idea of there being alternatives, but she does not really expand on any one topic, just that there are alternatives. Thomas Hartung talks about the alternatives to animal testing. One of the things Hartung mentions is an experiment done in 2006, â€Å"when the TeGenero anti-CD28 antibody, after testing safe at 500-times higher concentrations in monkeys, [it still] led to multiple organ failure within hours in six human volunteers† (Hartung). Thus, providing an argument against animal testing because sometimes, even when animal testing provides positive results, it does not mean that the same result will be present when human trials are done. Many people believe that animal testing is only about testing cosmetics or new drug therapies, however, there are many different uses for animal testing, and Timothy Musch et al discuss some of those uses. â€Å"Animal studies play a part in the initial development of candidate drugs, and the development and testing of medical devices and surgical procedures. Even more crucial, animal research informs clinical research by building the foundation of biological knowledge† (Musch et al). There are so many things that the testing of animals can help to improve. Some things, such as the development of insulin, antibiotics, vaccines, and drugs with high mortality rates, are all because of high contribution from animal testing (Murnaghan). On the flip side though, Alison Abbott points out, â€Å"Every time you reach for an eye drop or reapply a lip salve, you do so confident that the chemicals they contain are safe to use. But the toxicology test on which regulators rely to gather this information are stuck in a time warp, and are largely based on wasteful and often poorly predictive animal experiments† (Abbott). Abbott talks about a legislation called REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals) and how it planned to â€Å"make registration mandatory for both future and existing chemicals – even those that have been on the market for decades† (Abbott). As a result of reach, it was expected that millions more animals would be used in order to meet the necessary requirements. 5,000 animals – that is up to how many test subjects could be used for each chemical; if it is a pesticide that number jumps to 12,000. The estimated cost of running these tests on the unregistered (approximately 30,000) chemicals is between â‚ ¬5 billion (US$6 billion) and â‚ ¬10 billion (US$13 billion) (Abbott). In order to test one single chemical for cancer causing potential, it takes five years, involves 400 rats (each of which is treated with the maximum tolerated dose), and more than 50% of the results are positive, even worse, of that 50%, 90% are false positives (Abbott). In looking more at the argumentative side, there are two general views: in favor of animal testing or against animal testing. Many people lean towards being against animal testing because they feel it is cruel, inhumane, and unfair to the animals. Now on the other hand, a lot of people are in favor of animal testing because it helps to test medicines, medical procedures and other necessities. Animals do not have a voice of their own; they need people to speak for them, to fight for them, and to protect them. Many companies, while attempting to verify their products are safe for humans, will perform various tests on animals. Animals are used for testing a wide variety of chemicals and products such as drugs, vaccines, cosmetics, household cleaners, and pesticides. As written by Delmas Luedke, â€Å"Animals are exposed to too much suffering; especially when there are many alternatives to testing on animals† (Animals and Research). If there are alternatives for research, why test on animals? There are new alternatives being created, such as realistic software models. The first realistic software models of human and animal organs are starting to emerge – potentially replacing some of the 50 to 100 million animals used each year for scientific research† (Biever). With different types of software emerging, it is very possible for other software to be produced in future years and animal tests could be completely replaced. When doing medical, cosmetic, or any other type of re search, animals should not be used or abused because it is cruel and harmful to the animals being used for testing. On the opposing side, some people believe that it is okay to harm animals in order to discover cures and generate medicines, although animal testing can lead to antibiotics, vaccines, and other treatments being produced, there are other ways that those same products could be produced – without harming animals. According to Cynthia Pekow, â€Å"Although polls say that most Americans accept that research animals are needed to advance medical science, many people feel squeamish thinking about animals used in experimentation†(â€Å"Animals in Research†). People do not feel squeamish because their medicines are being tested on animals; they are squeamish because animals are being harmed in the process. While good things have come from testing on animals, it is just not worth the pain and torture that they are put through. One reason why testing on animals should be illegal is because it is a cruel and inhumane way to do research, and it is unfair because animals have no voice of their own. Jackie Powder states that, â€Å"It was a furor over the alleged mistreatment of rabbits by a cosmetics giant that set the stage for the creation of the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing† (Powder). CAAT works with scientists, government regulators, and other advocates to identify alternatives to the use of animals in testing thousands of chemicals. Humans are capable of giving their consent in order to be tested on, while animals are not. Animals have no voice of their own to speak with. They cannot tell anyone when something hurts; they cannot tell anyone when something does not feel right; they cannot tell anyone if they do not want to participate in the testing anymore. A second reason for not testing on animals is because there is no moral reason to test on animals when the results may not even be accurate. There have also been many alternatives that have proven to be more accurate than using animals. â€Å"Using animals is unreliable and inaccurate because of great differences between animals and humans. Non-animal tests take less time to complete, cost only a fraction of what the animal experiments the non-animal tests replace costs, and are not overwhelmed with species diversity that make inferring results difficult or impossible† (Stop the use, ). Virtual models, such as the ones at Insilicomed in Lo Jolla, California, are being created. At Insilicomed they are using a virtual heart to simulate the interaction between the organ and a pacemaker, on behalf of a manufacturer. The device is initially tested in both animals and software to ensure that the models accurately replicating what happens in real life, but subsequent test to refine the properties the pacemaker’s leads are done in software alone† (Biever). With these models being produced, fewer animals will b e used in experiments. Whenever there is a chance to replace animal tests, those chances should be pursued so that fewer animals will be used. On the alternative side of the argument, there are multiple reasons why animal testing is a good thing. For starters, animal testing has helped to create many of the medicines in our world. The kinds of benefits from animal research that researchers have made in understanding and treating diseases would not have been possible without animal research. Many people argue about how it is cruel and inhumane to animals; well would they rather it was humans being tested? Maybe they would like to send their brother or sister in for experimental testing? While animal testing may seem cruel, the hypothetical alternative is even worse. Scientists are attempting to develop worthy alternatives to testing on animals, but some things are not quite as easy to come up with an alternative. Both sides of the argument have very good points, however, despite the fact that it can be seen as cruel and inhumane to the animals (from a person’s perspective), animal testing is, at this point in time, a necessity. There are many drugs and medical procedures that may not be here today if it were not for animal testing. Testing on animals may be inhumane to them, but it is better to be inhumane to an animal than to a human.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

William Blake :: English Literature

William Blake William Blake was born in 1757 in London. This city influences most of his work. For example, the depressing poem ‘London’. As Blake grew up it became harder and more painful for him to act like normal people, he hung around with a selection of rebels and reformers and he considered every form of oppression as an act of evil. He got into trouble with the law for saying, â€Å"Damn the King and damn all his subjects!† (From a biography of Blake). Blake was also influenced by the religion Buddhism in the verse: ‘He who bends to himself a Joy Doth the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the Joy as it flies Lives in Eternity’s sunrise.’ One of Blake’s favoured poems is ‘The Tiger’ of the ‘Songs of Experience’. The well-remembered lines are, ‘Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright; in the forests of the night’. Blake is comparing the creature, the tiger, to the Devil; he mentions fire a lot and also a furnace and anvil, hammer and chain, like in a blacksmith’s it is as hot as Hell. He also questions whether the Lord, who made something so tame and sweet as the Lamb, could ever have created the Tiger, or was it Satan? ‘Did he who made the lamb make thee?’. The final verse is the same as the first verse except for one word. He replaces ‘could’ with ‘dare’. It’s no longer ‘Who could frame thy fearful symmetry?’ but now you would have to ‘dare’ rather than be able to. ‘The Lamb’ is a song of innocence. In theory it is completely opposite to ‘The Tiger’. It is really sweet and innocent. In the first verse he is asking the lamb if he knew who made it and in the second verse he is telling it that it was God, ‘For He calls himself a Lamb’. The entire poem is informing the lamb where he came from in the eyes of an innocent little boy. As I mentioned before, ‘The Tiger’ is completely opposite to ‘the Lamb’. One is a ‘Song of Innocence’ and one is a ‘Song of Experience’. In ‘The Lamb’, Blake talks about how God and the lamb have so much in common, ‘we are called by His name’, and in ‘The Tiger’, he talks about how God and the tiger have so little in common, ‘Did he smile his work to see? Did he who make the Lamb make thee?’. He talks about how God and the heavens are ashamed of the creation of the tiger: ‘When the stars threw down their spears; and watered heaven with their William Blake :: English Literature William Blake William Blake was born in 1757 in London. This city influences most of his work. For example, the depressing poem ‘London’. As Blake grew up it became harder and more painful for him to act like normal people, he hung around with a selection of rebels and reformers and he considered every form of oppression as an act of evil. He got into trouble with the law for saying, â€Å"Damn the King and damn all his subjects!† (From a biography of Blake). Blake was also influenced by the religion Buddhism in the verse: ‘He who bends to himself a Joy Doth the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the Joy as it flies Lives in Eternity’s sunrise.’ One of Blake’s favoured poems is ‘The Tiger’ of the ‘Songs of Experience’. The well-remembered lines are, ‘Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright; in the forests of the night’. Blake is comparing the creature, the tiger, to the Devil; he mentions fire a lot and also a furnace and anvil, hammer and chain, like in a blacksmith’s it is as hot as Hell. He also questions whether the Lord, who made something so tame and sweet as the Lamb, could ever have created the Tiger, or was it Satan? ‘Did he who made the lamb make thee?’. The final verse is the same as the first verse except for one word. He replaces ‘could’ with ‘dare’. It’s no longer ‘Who could frame thy fearful symmetry?’ but now you would have to ‘dare’ rather than be able to. ‘The Lamb’ is a song of innocence. In theory it is completely opposite to ‘The Tiger’. It is really sweet and innocent. In the first verse he is asking the lamb if he knew who made it and in the second verse he is telling it that it was God, ‘For He calls himself a Lamb’. The entire poem is informing the lamb where he came from in the eyes of an innocent little boy. As I mentioned before, ‘The Tiger’ is completely opposite to ‘the Lamb’. One is a ‘Song of Innocence’ and one is a ‘Song of Experience’. In ‘The Lamb’, Blake talks about how God and the lamb have so much in common, ‘we are called by His name’, and in ‘The Tiger’, he talks about how God and the tiger have so little in common, ‘Did he smile his work to see? Did he who make the Lamb make thee?’. He talks about how God and the heavens are ashamed of the creation of the tiger: ‘When the stars threw down their spears; and watered heaven with their

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Marketing Changing Essay

Along with the changing business world, customers change as well, becoming more demanding and knowledgeable than before. In turn, company management had shifted their focus on their clients or customers so as to stay successfully in business. This transition meant that Estee Lauder have to completely reformulate their conventional business aims and purposes from being process-focused to customer-centred. Rethinking and reformulating the organization on the other hand, entail the consideration of several factors such as various processes, technology, the environment as well as the success factors of people (Cohen and Moore, 2000). Hence, in order to bring out exceptional customer services within the company operations, the management should employ fine-tuned organizational restructuring. Moreover, employing proactive customer commitment involves the consideration on culture and infrastructure (Lowenstein, 1997).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The creation or formulation of a marketing communication plan is essential for all industries. In most cases, communication is necessary to mobilize support, remove uncertainty, establish acceptance, and most importantly, reduce the risks. Oftentimes, the implementation of marketing communication strategy through for example, new product or new initiative, requires enormous allocations for both staff and financial resources. Hence, all efforts and resources must not go to waste; they must all be directed towards the objective of the company (Neumann and Sumser, 2002). Several disadvantages can be obtained due to inadequate planning of the marketing communication strategy. For instance, it could lead to productivity losses, including loss of both existing and new staff and economic loss. The absence of a marketing communication plan may also lead to false starts and personal losses, which can occur as stakeholders become frustrated and disappointed over the general mission (Neumann and Sumser, 2002). On the bright side, these losses are avoidable. In support of the creation of a marketing communication plan, Shimp (2003) had noted that the efficacy of marketing communication lies on four major aspects. These aspects state that marketing communication should be clearly positioned; directed to a particular target market, created to achieve a specific objective; and undertaken to accomplish the objective within the budget constraint. According to Byron in 2006, Estee Lauder debuted its first-ever online campaign for its flagship brand, with ads promoting its newest anti-aging product, Advanced Night Repair Concentrate. The campaign includes a dedicated site at www.thelittlebrownbottle.com, advertisements on blogs and a sponsored MSN.com site called `Night Spa.` The company declined to quantify the cost, although it said the online budget was coming out of money normally spent on traditional media. Està ©e Lauder spent about $60 million advertising its namesake brand last year, according to a person familiar with the matter. Under the marketing plan, clear positioning is identified through the determination of the Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Concentrate, its image to the customers as well as its competitors. In terms, of market communications, these aspects are also related. Marketing communication must be clearly positioned in such a way that its objective and strategy places the product over all other competitors. An advertisement for instance, must be able to stand out to the consumers so as gain a stronger foothold within the market. Popular commercial statements for instance, also create clear positioning out of marketing communication. Estee Lauder for example is known for its main mission, which states that the company’s purpose is to create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty. Through this popular slogan, Estee Lauder clearly positions itself in most retailers that provide everything the customer needs so as to gain their patronage.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By means of studying the competitors, Estee Lauder can apply a marketing communication strategy that will clearly position its product to the target market. This aspect of marketing communication can be explained further by understanding customer relationship management. By establishing good relations with the company’s customers, clear positioning of marketing communications can be attained. The implementation of customer relationship management (CRM) through the comprehensive approach can provide the company considerable competitive advantage. This aspect is very much essential to this time considering that most services or products offered by companies have certain similarities (Lowenstein, 1997). Strategy perhaps, is the most important key to the successful implementation of customer relationship management. In order to do so, company management must realize that, either directly or indirectly, the achievement of its goals contributes much to the customers’ or clients’ general experience with the company. Successful incorporation of people, process and technology is probably the most efficient strategy in CRM implementation. This system begins with the purposeful and dedicated alignment of the processes employed by the management. These include the planning, organizing, directing and controlling procedures, which are all geared towards the customers (Cohen and Moore, 2000). Thus, customer management relationship, also referred to as customer service management, encompasses more than the attainment of customer satisfaction. This change management is a balance between enhanced company processes and renewed objectives. In other words, customers should also feel that the companies and businesses they support and patronize give due importance, essentiality and vitality to their operations (Cohen and Moore, 2000).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marketing communication must be created to achieve specific objectives. Upon the identification of the target market, the company must then formulate the message it wants to relay to its audience. This is also referred to as the company’s value proposition. The creation of the objectives of marketing communication is important so as to cause an impact or effect to the each member of the target audience in spite of the extensive communication noise (Neumann and Sumser, 2002). In a way, the identification of the objectives will help the company come up with communication methods that will it stand out or different from the rest. The consumers need to understand fully how the communication message will affect them. If it is a relevant message, and they are able to decipher its effect on them, the company will be able to successfully communicate the message.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The objectives of marketing communication are interconnected with the activities the company can apply for effective communication as well as its target market. For instance, the company aims to improve and broaden its services to its customers. In order to do this, the company applied a strategy through the use of the internet. Considering that some customers are working on the field, this strategy will only work for customers who work on online environments. Hence, the company must apply a marketing communication strategy that is applicable for all targets. In addition to the consideration of the total target market, each individual must be exposed to the company’s message several times so as to establish a stronger connection. This can be achieved through the use of several strategies such as the conduction of various events, online marketing, direct mail or advertising.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Basically, the objectives of companies for employing marketing communication are concentrated on the enhancement of customer services, augmentation of market coverage, increased company profit or introduction of a new product or services. In order to achieve these objectives, companies apply various forms of strategies. The tremendous growth of technological advancement has become the driving force of contemporary industries.   The diffusion of the internet has revolutionized the business arena.   The use of the Internet is changing high-tech marketing overnight while different industries have been trying to use it as part of their marketing strategy. It has not only reconfigured the way different firms do business and the way the consumers buy goods and services, but it has also become an effective instrument in transforming the value chain from manufacturers to retailers to consumers, creating a new retail distribution channel (Donthu and Garcia, 1999).   E-marketing is a powerful tool used by different business organizations around the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   E-marketing is also known to be the online marketing strategy utilized by different company whose objective is to be the best company in their field.   In various countries worldwide, more and more business firms have been using e-marketing strategy in order to be competitive.   From books, foods and beverages, automobiles and other products and services, various firms, irregardless of their company sizes, are trying to survive by means of e-marketing strategy.   Aside from being a promotional medium, the internet is a tool for marketing communications as well. Due to its interactive nature, the internet is an efficient method used in communicating with the consumers. Hence, several companies are beginning to realize the advantages of using the internet as a tool for communication. Companies then started to concentrate on designing web-related strategies and employing interactive agencies that will facilitate their development of specific company web sites as part of their integrated marketing communication strategy. There are companies however, that are effectively using the internet by incorporating their web-related strategies with the other areas of their IMC strategies. The approach now becomes integrated and more strategic. On-line marketing is considered to be the most expensive yet seems to be the most comprehensive marketing strategy that every company wants to implement and apply. At present, people, particularly those in the business arena, tend to engage themselves within the trend of rapidly growing technology so as to stay competitive. Upon surfing the internet, various companies have put up their official sites online for customers and potential consumers to view. Online or e-marketing is the latest marketing approach for any firm who wants to effectively market its products and services. In addition, e-marketing enables the company to be known worldwide since more and more people are able to access information derived from the internet.   Within the business world, where competition is strict, internet marketing is one essential marketing strategy applied by most industries. Marketing is indeed a complex combination of several factors. Within the concept of effective marketing communication, an effective plan must involve clear positioning, identification of the target market, establishment of specific objectives and strategy implementation within budgetary constraints. In order to successfully apply marketing communications, companies must be able to integrate all these factors, such as the ones exemplified by Estee Lauder to its retailers. References Cohen, S. & Moore, J. (2002). Today’s Buzzword: CRM. Public Management, 82 (4), 10. Donthu, N. & Garcia, A. (1999). The Internet shopper. Journal of Advertising Research, 39 (3), 52-58. Lowenstein, M.W. (1997). The Customer Loyalty Pyramid. Westport, CT: Quorum Books. Neumann, E. & Sumser, R. (2002). Marketing Communications: A Vital Element of Achieving Change. The Public Manager, 31 (4), 9+. Shimp, T.A. (2003). Advertising, Promotion, & Supplemental Aspects of Integrated Marketing Communication. Sixth Edition. Southwestern: Thompson.   

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

America’s Failure at the Bay of Pigs

Cuba was a US-controlled isand since 1898 when it won Cuba from Spain after the Spanish-American war. While itofficially controlled Cuba only until 1902, it established itself on the island with a long-term lease on Guantanamo Bay for a naval base. Up to the time before Castro was seated in power, the US ambassador to Cuba was the second most pwoerful officail after the President. (Lafeber, 19 Aril 1986, p. 537). President Truman inn March 12, 1947 called the Truman Doctrine recomended to Congress to halt the Russian aggression in Europe.â€Å"I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting atempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. † (cited in Ismael, 1965, p. 3212). Regular battles with the threat of communism and in 1948, the Belrin blockade where the Russian tries to starve out the Western sector but the US responded by airlifting a tremendous amount of food and other supplies. The US assistd the Na tionalistas versus the Communista in the civil war in China which the Communists eventually won in 1949.In 1950, the US gladly responed to the call to end the Communists North America aggression towards South Korea by sending troops under Gen. Douglas McArthur. While the Korean war became inetnsely unpopular aong many Americans as casualties were heavy and the Truman administration was blamed for not foreseeing the attack. There was a general agreement nevertheless that the cuommunist leders had to be shown that the US would, if necessary, use force to stop the expansionist plans. In 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president.Anti-cmmunist sentiment was still going strong as McCarthy continued his unproven charges â€Å"that the government payrll included communists†. Through his charges, teh Sneator speread fear and dissension throughout the countyr. In 1954, Cimmunist China threatened the islands held by the Nationalist government. The US announced that it would defen d Taiwan against any atack and pledged itself to aid any fellow Sout East Asian Trety Organizaton member in fighting communist advances. Communist influence in Latin America became more and more apparent especially in Cuba. In 1959, Fidel Castro ended the island’s totalitarian governemnt.Soon, Caro was displaying dictatorial tendencies and strong leanings towards communism. By 1960, it was evident that Cuba was trying to implant communism in other Latin American nations. (Book of Knowledge) Castro first attracted international attention and national history when he led an unsuccessful attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago, Cuba on July 24th 1953 hoping to overthrwo the dictatorship of then President Fulgencio Batista. Castro was pardoned in 1955 and sailed to Mexico but returned in 1956 and instigated a guerila wafare against Batista’s regime.In the early hours of 1st January 1959, Batista and the former Prime Minisster and newly–elected President Dr. Andre s Rivero Aguero fled Cuba (Telzrow, 2006). On Jan. 6th, an official note proclaiming â€Å"the sincere goodwill of the government of the United States towards the new government† was sent to Castro (Welch, 1982, p. 29). Career diplomat Philip Bonsal was then appointed as the new US Ambassador to Havana with the hope that Bonsal will be able develop good raltions with Castro replicating his sucess in Bolivia where he was able to establisg good relationships with the left-leaning incumbent adminsitration.On April 19, 1959 after a 3 ? hour meeting with Vice President Richard Nixon in Washington D. C. , Nixon was convinced that Castro was indeed a communist. Castro was determined to transform Cuba led to radical reforms and other economic changes that brought him closer to the Cuba communist party and put him on a collisison course with the Eisenhower Adminsrtration. When in early 1960, the US tried to strangle Castro with tough economic sanctions, he turned to the Soviet bloc fo r help. (Lafeber) Free lections were suspended, private business was socialized, US property was confiscated, On Oct.12, the Cuban government nationalizes 382 big businesses including manufacturers of sugar, liquor, beer, perfume, soap, textiles and milk products as well as bank. (Blight & Kornbluh, 1999, p. 161). As early as Oct. 1959, programs had been proposed by the Department of State in agreement with the CIA to support elements opposed to the Cuban government while making Castro’s downfall seem to be the result of his own mistakes. In Dec. 1959, J. C. King, the CIA’s head of its Western Hemisphere division outlines a series of covert and propaganda operations to overthrow Castro.On March 17, Preseident Eisenhower approves a CIA policy paper title â€Å"A Program of Covert Action Against the Castro Regime†. (Blight & Kornbluh, 1999, p. 159). In the History of Cuba as compiled and written by J. A. Sierra (2007, par. 14), the plan was siad to have included: 1) the creation of a responsible and unified Cuabn opposition to the Castro regime located outside of Cuba, 2) the development of a means for mass communication to the Cuban people as part of a powerful propaganda offesnive,3) the creations and development of a covert intelligence and action organization within Cuba whioch would respond to the orders and directions o the exile opposition, and 4) the development of a paramilitray force otuside of Cuba for future guerilla action. These goals were to be achieved ‘in sucg a manner as to avoid the appearance of U. S. intervention. ’ In July 1960, Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khruschev openly declared its support for Castro by speaking of â€Å"figurative rockets that would protect Cuba from teh U. S. † to which Pres.Eisenhower announced that the US would no â€Å"tolrate the establishment of a regime dominated by international communism in the Western hemisphere. (cited in Sierra, 2007, par. 7). On Oct. 28, Amb. Bons al was permanently recalled to Washington. On Jan. 3, 1961, all diplomtic relations were broken off with Cuba. The year 1960 was also the year for the campaign period for the the presidential elections. Vice President Richard Nixon was running against SenatorJohn F. Kennedy. The Kennedy campiagn rode on the American voters anti-Castro sentiment and their restlessness towards the resolution of the Castro issue.On the eve of a candidate’s debate, Kennedy attacked Eisenhower’s Cuba policy. He called for U. S. support for the â€Å"non-Batista anti-Castro forces in exile, and in Cuba itself, who offer eventual hope for overthrowing Castro. † Stated further, â€Å"thus far these fighers for freedom have had no support from our government. † Nixon attacks Kennedy’s position on Cuba as irresponsible and reckless since he knew that CIA Director Allan Dulles himslef briefed Kennedy some months back on intelligence amtters including the training of Cuban exi les for operations against the Castro government.(Blight & Kornbluh, 1999, pp. 160-162). Meanwhile, the program for covert action was being put in place. Radio Swan goes on the air in May 1960. The programs were taped in Miami and routed throught the Swan transmitter, An airport was built in Guatemala, a cuntry whose president was beholden to the CIA-led U. S. support in overthrowing the reformist government in 1954. The Cuban exiled forces called Brigade 2506 who were being trained in Useppa Island off the coast of Florida were transferred to a camp in Guatemala.Eventually, the size of the brigade grew to about 1,500 soldiers and were called Brigade 2506. A few months later, Castro charged â€Å"that the U. S. has taken over Swan Island and has setup a very powerful broadcasting station there, â€Å" during an address to the UN General Assembly which the US refuted claiming that there is a private commercial broadcasting station in Swan Island . Foreigh Minsiter Raul Roa addresse d the UN a month later providing details on the recruitment and training of the Cuban exiles wherein he referred to them as mercenaries and counter-revolutionaries.The CIA recruits were paid USD400 per month to train and an additional USD175. 00 for their wives and more for their children. (Sierra, 2007, par. 19) NOTE: In a historic meeting of the participants of both sides in 2001, Castro himself pointedly referred to them as brigadistas. President Eisenhower approves a budget of USD13 million for the covert antCastro operation as well as the use of the Department of Defense personnel and equipment. However, it was specified that no US military personnel are to be used in combat status. 2ND PLAN The CIA changes the conception of the plan in Nov.8-9, 1960 from a guerilla infiltraion to an amphibious invasion Blight & Kornbluh, 1999, p. 162). Why? – Cuban accustaion of propaganda via Radio Swan – First attempt at droping weapons and supplies to the internal Cuban resist ance was a failure having missed the drop zone by seven miles, lands on a dam, picked up by Castro forces and the gound agent caught and shot – Young officers revolt in Guatemala due to the presence of the Cuba expeditionary force which the US helped to quell – The operation is no longer a secret as it is known all over Latin America and was being discussed in UN circles.The Joint Chief of Staff were consulted for the first time on Jan. 11th 1961. A working committee including representatives from the CIA, Defense and the JCS resulted which the Pentagon code names Operation Bumpy Road. On Jan. 28th, newly-elected President John F. Kennedy receives his first CIA briefing on the Cuban operation. The concept of the plan as outlined in the memorandum prepared by two senior CIA official in charge of the brigade, Jacob Esteline and Jack Hawkins is as follows: The initial mission of the invasion force will be to seize and defend a small area.There will be no attempt to break out of lodgment for further offensive operations unless and until there is a general uprising against the Castro regime or overt military intervention by the US forces has taken place. (Blight & Kornbluh, 1999, p. 164). The landing would be in the vicinity of the old colonial city of Trinida, Cuba in the southern coast of Cuba. This is approximately 400 km. Southeast of Havana at the foothills of Escambray mountains. The Trinidad site provided a number of options that the exile brigade could exploit during the invasion.The popiltaion of Trinidad was generally opposed to Castro and the rugged mountains outside the city provided an area into which the invasion force could retreat and establish a guerilla campaign were the landing to falter. Throughout the 1960, the growing ranks of Briagde 2560 rained throughout for the beach landing and possible mountain retreat (Wikipedia). Richard Bissell, CIA Director of Plans, assessed the plans as having â€Å"a fair chance of success – success meaning ability to survive, hold ground and attarct groing support for Cubans and get a ful-fledged civil war in which the US could then back the anti-Castro forces openly.At worst, the invaders should be able to fight their way to the Escabray and go into guerilla action. (Bight & Kornbluh, 1999, p. 164). The military plan for d-day of Macrh 5 is put back until April after examination of all possible alternatives. Why? – State Department point out grave effects on US position in Latin America – No way to disgusie US complicity However, Bissell argued for the invasion on the grounds of â€Å"disposal† problem if the mission is aborted: â€Å"brigade members will be angry, disillusioned and aggressive† (in fact a revolt did occur in late Jan.1961 among the Cuban exiles in Guatemala and almost half of the more than 500 en in camp resigned. ) (Blight & Kornbluh, 1999, p. 164). Bissell concludes that this is the last opportunity for the US to bring do wn Castro without overt US military intervention or a full embargo. National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy recommended to institute a trade embargo first and let internal oppositon build for several months and then launch â€Å"Bissells’s battalion†. Ther Trinida plan is rejected as the President prepfers a quiet landing, prefereably at night with no basis for American military intervention.CIA presented three alternatives. The first is a modification of the Trinidad plan, the second targets an area on the northeast coast of Cuba and the thrid is an invasion at the Bay of Pigs codenamed â€Å"Opertion Zapata†. The pPresident orders modifcations of the Zapata Plan to mak it appear more like an inside, guerilla-type operation. It was modified to a night landing (instead of a dawn landing) and air drops a t first light. Kennedy questions the necessity of the air strikes, A compromise is agreed upon limited air strikes two days pror to d-day simultanoeus with a di versionary landing of 160 men in Eastern Cuba.These strikes will give the impression of being the action of Cuban pilots defecting from teh Cuban air force and thus supproting the fiction that air support for the invasion force is coming from within Cuba. Bissell also reassures Kennedy that the Cubans on the island will join in an uprising. Sen. William Fulbright, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations describes the venture as ill-considered and predicts that it will be impossible to conceal the US hand. After polling a dozen advisers, all vote in favor of moving ahead ecept for Sec.Of State Dean Rusk who remained noncommittal. Defense Sec. Requested the JCS to reconsider the rules of engagement to ensure that the US would not become oertly engaged with Castro forces. Seven days before d-day, Esterline and Hawkins, two of the leaders of the invasion call on Bissell to tell him that they want to quit. They say that the project is out of control. Bissell asks them to stay and they d o. Three days before the invsion, â€Å"Kennedy rules outm under any condition, an intervention in Cuba by the US Armed Forces.One day before the invasion, the number of plane were reduced from 16 to 6 planes as ordered by Kennedy in order to keep it minimal. On April 16, Kennedy formally approved the landing plan. However, fearing international condemnation, Kennedy cancels the dawn air strikes until the beachhead airfiled is in the hands of the aldning force and completely operational and capale of supporting the raids. Bissel argued that the ships as well as the landings will be seriously endangered without the dawn strikes,In early morning, aboard the Blagar, CIA agent Grayston Lynch receives a message from Washington: â€Å"Castro still has operational aircraft. Expect you to be hit at dawn. Unload all troops and supplies and take ships to sea as soon as possible. † On learning that the invading troops will meet resistance in the landing area, due to failure to destroy all of the Cuban air force, the Blagar moves in close to shore and delivers gunfire support. Brigade troops commence landing at 0100 hours. Later that morning, the Houston comes under air attack and is hit.It goes aground with about 180 men on the west side of the Bay of Pigs—about five miles from the landing beach. At 9:30 AM, the freighter Rio Escondido is sunk by a direct rocket hit from a Sea Fury—with ten day's reserves of ammunition on board, as well as food, hospital equipment, and gasoline. All crew members are rescued and transferred to the Blagar. Fighting rages throughout the day, with the brigade freighters withdrawing 50 miles out to sea. That evening, President Kennedy discusses the deteriorating situation with his advisers.(Blight & Kornbluh, 1999, p. 168). On April 18, the Brigade Commander refused a call for evacuation. While at the UN on the same day, Ambassador Adlai Stevenson continued to deny that the United States had intervened militarily in Cuba . Bissell, in direct violation of Kennedy’s instructions, authorized American pilots to fly combat missions when a number of the Cuban pilots at Pueto Cabezos refused to fly. On April 19, two planes flown by U. S. pilots were shot down and the pilots killed. The invasion force were captured.About 130 were killed and 1,189 were taken prisoners. Cuba’s casualties were about 157. Mass trial were held and each was sentenced to 30 years in prison. After 20 months of negotations, most were released in echange for USD53 million in baby food and medical supplies. (Sierra, 2007). Lymann Kirkpatrick, the CIA Inspector General, issued a report that pointed to Bissell and his aide Tracy Barnes as not having firm plans for the invasion and failed to advise Kennedy that a covert action is not at all possible.Bissell rebutted by issuing a memorandum of his own and putting the blame on Kennedy’s withdrawal of the air strikes. On June 13, 1961, General Taylor, head of the Taylor Commitee composed on Gen. Maxwell taylor, Atty. General Robert Kennedy, Adm. Arleigh Burke and Dir. Gen. Of CIA Allen Dulles to investigate why the operation failed submits their report to President Kennedy: A paramilitary operation of the magnitude of Zapata could not be prepared and conducted in such a way that all U. S.support of it and connection with it could be plausibly disclaimed†¦. By about November 1960, the impossibility of running Zapata as a covert operation under CIA should have been recognized and the situation reviewed. If a reorientation of the operation had not been possible, the project should have been abandoned. (Blight & Kornbluh, 1999, p. 169). Apart from the reports of Kirkpatrick of the CIA and the Taylor Committee, and after more documents relating to the Bay of Pigs invasion surfaced and were declassified, the following can be concluded:– the CIA made decisions on mere assumptions that the people would spontaneously assist in overthrowing Cast ro (Lafeber, 1986). – they failed to see that the exiles and the supporters were the loud minority while the majority were straddling the fence in a wait-and-see attitude inasmuch as Castro’s government was still at its inception and already seemed to have eben serious about its reforms in distributing the wealth concentrated on the few during the previous regime which was openly supported by the U.S. – the United States could have lost sympathy from the locals since from 1898, they have exerted great influence over Cuba’s internal affairs seemingly to the point of meddling in order to favor American businessees and the invasion was undeniably a US-backed operation – the US did not trust its own invading force, not even telling the Cuban exiles the actual day of the invason. One aganet admitted that, â€Å"I don’t trsut any goddamn Cuban.† (Lafeber, 1986) – aside from being trapped by his own campaign statements, the ongoing co ld war forced Kennedy to take immediate if undecisive action in battling Cuba’s Castro and ultimately the USSR’s Nikita Kruschev for the Western hemisphere – there were tactical errors such as mistaking the coral reefs in the Bay of Pigs for seaweed which ran the exile craft aground and made easy targets – the US underestimated the Castro’s security and defenses.In a historic meeting in 2001 between the antagonists and the protagonists in the invasion which was held in Cuba, it was divulged that â€Å"a vast security network had been established and about 20,000 suspected dissidents were rounded up† which effectively squelched US expectations of a mass rebellion. Moreover, the Cuban air forces’ better planes were camouflaged and the ones that were destroyed by teh pre-d-day strike were decoys. (Dinges, 2001, p. 6).– the CIA strategy is rooted on another assumption that no president, Kennedy included despite his statements again st overt operations, will allow the United States to â€Å"go down in ignominous defeat† and will send in the Marines (as related by Whote House adviser Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. In Dinges, 2001). – There were no CIA broadcasts to announce the invasion (Telzrow, 2006). It would seem highly improbable that the world’s greatest superpower would be defeated by a revolutionary government barely over a year in power. However, that is exactly what Cuba did did under Fidel Castro’s leadership.On April 19, 1961 Cuba was able to repulse an invasion led by 1,400 commandos of Brigade 2506 who arrived at Playa Giron (Giron Beach) from Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) Brigade 2506 was US-backed all the way. The planning and training was done by the CIA. They were armed and supplied by the US. It was not a failure of the men of the invasion force who fought valiantly and refused to be evacuated. Given the circumstances surrounding the invasion, it was a â€Å"perfect fai lure† as it has now been dubbed for the spectacular defeat of the US.Overall, this is mainly due to the arrogance displayed by America and has now been immortalized in the Bay of Pigs. ? References Blight, J. G. & Kornbluh, P. (Eds. ) (1999). Politics of illusion: The Bay of Pigs invasion re-examined. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner. Dinges, J. (2001, April 23). Back to the Bay of Pigs. The Nation, 272, 6. Ismael, F. L. (1965). The United States as a world leader. The Book of Knowledge, vol. 9, pp. 3206-3224. New York: Grolier Incorporated. Lafeber, W. (1986, April 19). Lest we forget the Bay of Pigs; the unlearned lessons. The Nation, 242, 537-539. Sierra, J. A. (2007).History of Cuba. Retrieved August 15, 2007, from http://www. historyofcuba. com/cuba/htm. Telzrow, M. E. (2006, August 21). Bay of Pigs betrayal: The batrayal of the Cuba people by the CIA, State Department and staff members of the New York Times ranks as one of the America’s darkest foreign-policy moments. T he New American, 22, 37-39. Welch. R. E. (1985). Response to revolution: The United States and the Cuban revolution, 1959-1961. Chappel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press. WIKIPEDIA. 2007. Bay of Pigs invasion. Retrieved August 15, 2007, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Bay_of_Pigs_Invasion.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Barium essays

Barium essays Barium (BAR-i-em) is the fifty-sixth element on the periodic table. The solids melting point is 1340.6 degrees fahrenheit while its boiling point is 3446.6 degrees fahrenheit. Its density is 3.62 grams per cubic centimeter. The name barium came from the word barys, which means heavy in Greek. The element barium was first isolated by Sir Humphry Davy, a British chemist, in 1808. Davy founded it through the electrolysis of molten baryta. It is never found free in nature since it reacts with oxygen in the air (which forms (BaO)), water which forms (Ba(OH)2)), and hydrogen gas (which forms (H2)). Barium is most commonly found as the mineral barite (BaSO4) and witherite (BaCO3) and is primarily produced through the electrolysis of barium chloride (BaCl2). The element can combine and mix with many other elements including sulfate, zinc oxide, carbon, nitrate, chloride, peroxide, and titanate. Barium has many different uses, especially when combined with other things. For example, when you combine it with sulfate to make barium sulfate, you can use it as a filler for rubber, plastics and resins, or if you combine it with carbon, making it barium carbonate, you can use it to manufacture creamics and some types of glass. Stones made from impure barium sulfate glow when exposed to light and will glow in the dark for up to six years if intensely heated in the presence of charcoal. These stones, were discovered near Bologna, Italy in the early 1500s and were thought to possess magical properties. All barium compounds are poisonous, but barium sulfate can be safetly ingested since it doesnt dissolve in water. It is also a good absorber of X-rays and, when swallowed, can be used to produce X-ray images of the intestinal tract. Finally, you can use barium in making rubber and creating rat poison. ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

12 Crude But Funny South Park Quotes

12 Crude But Funny South Park Quotes South Park is not for the faint-hearted. It could offend the sensibilities of those who cant handle in-your-face, raucous humor. South Park humor is racist, sexist, chauvinistic, and offensive. Despite the vulgarity, South Park scores high with fans. What Makes South Park Such a Popular Series In the words of some die-hard South Park fans, it is the only intelligent show that takes jabs at hypocrisy and the pretentious world we live in. Be it politics, social structures, or family values, the animated series has something to say about everything. When you look at the world through the eyes of social misfits like Eric Cartman, you see how our beliefs are based on a bunch of misplaced values. South Park Characters Take for instance South Parks most loved (and most obnoxious) character, Eric Cartman. He resembles that kid at school whom everyone loves to hate. He is a narcissistic, foul-mouthed, devious kid who has little regard for society or people. Yet, Eric Cartman is known for his biting truth. Stan and Kyle are best friends, though they often disagree. Stan is a knowledgeable friend, and he often ponders life issues. Kyle is a Jewish boy, who, though proud of his roots, often displays self-doubt. Eric Cartmans anti-Semitic views are targeted to make Kyles life miserable. The whole TV series has profanity galore, with crude language, abusive words, and politically incorrect jokes that are projected as humor. Despite its negative energy, South Park has managed to create waves in viewership. South Parks debauched satire has won many awards, including five Primetime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. In 2013, TV Guide ranked South Park the 10th greatest TV cartoon of all time. Crude But Funny South Park Quotes   The humor is bizarre and often repugnant, but if you dont mind the politically incorrect language, you will have a wild time. Season 1, Episode 4: Big Gay Als Big Gay Boat Ride:Sportscaster Frank:  I havent seen an Englishman take a blow like that since Hugh Grant!Season 1, Episode 7: Pinkeye:Eric Cartman:  Kenny’s family is so poor that yesterday, they had to put their cardboard box up for a second mortgage.Season 1, Episode 2: Weight Gain 4000:Wendy: Dude, dolphins are intelligent and friendly!Eric Cartman: Intelligent and friendly on rye bread, with some mayonnaise.Season 5, Episode 11: The Entity:Jewish Kid: Is anyone else having problems concentrating on this? I just cant seem to concentrate.Eric Cartman: Maybe we should send you to a concentration camp.Season 10, Episode 7: Tsst!:Eric Cartman:  Ive lost almost 10 pounds now. You see what I mean? I totally know what its like to be a Jew in the Holocaust now.Season 4, Episode 6: Cherokee Hair Tampons:Eric Cartman:  Hippies. Theyre everywhere. They wanna save Earth, but all they do is smoke pot and smell bad.Bigger, Longer Uncut:Satan:  Without evil there could be no good, so it must be good to be evil sometimes. Season 17, Episode 10: The Hobbit:Stan:  There have been malicious rumors started at this elementary school that my beautiful fiancà ©e is a Hobbit. That is not funny and it is not true. Yes, she is heavier than most of her pictures show her to be. Yes, she gets her hair lasered off her body and yes, she has a friend named Gandalf, who happens to be a wizard.Season 16, Episode 12: A Nightmare on FaceTime:Eric Cartman:  Its Stans stupid Captain America costume, thats what throwing everybody off! Hows people supposed to get that Im the Hulk when Captain America is on freaking FaceTime?Season 1, Episode 4: Big Gay Als Big Gay Boat Ride:Chef:  You know what they say: You cant teach a gay dog straight tricks.Season 16, Episode 11: Going Native:Butters:  Youre all fake and stuck up, and none of you have the courage to tell Jimmy his jokes arent funny! The only kid here with a sense of dignity is Kenny, and the rest of you have heads up your butts!Season 4, Episode 3: Timmy 2000:MT V Announcer:  Youre watching MTV, the cool, brainwashing, 12-year-old-and-younger station that hides behind a slick image. Were so cool that we decide whats cool. And now MTV News. The news that is single-handedly dumbing-down our country, which is cool.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Pointing Fingers

Pointing Fingers Recently I was on a chat consisting of published writers. They were bitching. They had been with publishers for years, going back before self-publishing was a serious thing. The books they had with their publishers were no longer selling well, and they wanted their rights back. The conversation turned churlish, and I just hushed. To speak up wouldve meant being turned upon, and while I can handle debate, I sensed a high level of emotional angst. So instead, I just watched and listened. Once upon a time, these authors were thrilled to be published with a traditional press. They collected royalties. They held book signings. They made money. But along came self-publishing with a roar. Many of these authors jumped on board with new books, hungry for the higher returns, no longer wanting the traditional publisher. Now, even self-publishers are hurting. So many people got on board that train that authors on both sides, traditional and indie, struggle for the income they once collected. Its called supply and demand; too many books for the same number of readers, and the new authors settle for less, never having known the higher incomes of those who preceded them. These upset authors bashed the traditional publishers, but of course, the publishers werent in the room. The  complaints were these: 1) The old books are not selling. The royalty checks are small. Therefore, the publisher is doing nothing. 2) The authors asked for their rights back to these books, with the publishers pointing out the books were still under contract, and the publisher wanted to continue selling those books. How selfish of the publisher. 3) The authors werent being heavily promoted 4) They then said, without proof, that the publisher did nothing for authors, at all. Yet I and several others remained quiet. . . those of us who were being promoted. . . but who also fought hard to self-promote. Theyd totally forgotten the joy of landing their contracts, the royalty checks they received when their work was fresh, and the promotion done on their behalf once upon a time. Theyd forgotten being chosen. Instead, the industry changed on them, and they chose to blame it on the publisher. Publishers have been victims in this industry, too. Authors now make less, but those who promote more make more. Those who write more, make more. Publishers took leaps of faith with those authors, and at the time the authors were thrilled. What they never expected was this: being indie means taking full responsibility for your creative and entrepreneurial sides. Not blaming others. Its all on the author now, and a lot of them dont see that yet.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Toxicology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Toxicology - Essay Example At the same time, new methods may be able to point out where chemicals interact to produce disease. But because of human safety numerous animals are used for experiments and testing. Most of them are killed or subject to unacceptable pain and distress. This state of affairs shook the scientists conscience. A movement was started within the scientist community to change the conditions. During World Wars nations were more involved in producing chemical weapons. These chemical agents were tested on animals in many warring countries. The shocking results of these tests initiated the thought process in scientists to do something for the welfare of animals. The first proposal in this regard using three R's term was presented in 1954 by Charles Hume, founder of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW). He proposed that UFAW start a scientific study of humane technique in laboratory animal experiments. Christine Stevens, founder of the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) also contributed financially from U.S. Soon this movement gathered momentum and spread all over the world. Legislators in Europe and the United States proposed use of laboratory animals under certain regulations. Laws were introduced for restraining use of animals in laboratories. The three R's stand for replacement, reduction and refinement. ... Various organization were established for safe guarding and monitoring the matters related to animal usage in laboratories. The proposed use of three Rs is described here briefly. First R Reduction The reduction proposes some alternative methods for getting similar level of information by using less number of elements. Thus reducing the number of elements used in laboratories. It was observed and proved that poor experimental methods and inadequate information leads to increased usage of animals. It was proposed that measures should be taken to reduce repeated experiments. The data gathered previously should be used. The revolution in information technology has made it easy to access variety of information available at far off places so that experiments may not be repeated and thus number of animals used in laboratories may be reduced. Second R Refinement Refinement means to use such methods that lessen pain and distress and increase animal wellbeing. The pain and distress can be reduced or removed by using various drugs like anesthetics, analgesics etc. It can be materialized by a program of animal care to find and reduce animal sufferings. It was proposed to evolve ways and methods of assessing animal suffering during various experiments. Accomplishment of refinement depends on the ability of scientists and experts willingness to contribute and coordinate for refining the methods and quality of their experimentation. They should realize that any method that inflicts suffering on animals should be avoided. It is unfortunate that not much funding is provided to investigate and refine experimental techniques and

Twenty-First Century Images of Nurse and Nursing Essay - 1

Twenty-First Century Images of Nurse and Nursing - Essay Example This has had the effect that the nurses are uncertain about their responsibilities which lead to impaired judgment and poor decision making which has an impact to the quality of nursing care that the patients receive (Burton and Ormrod, 2011). In order to avoid the uncertainty among nurses, there is need to develop a nurse training program that will equip all nurses with the necessary skills to run a nursing unit. Nursing educators should ensure that all student nurses have undergone the training therefore, when hospitals choose nurses randomly he or she will be able to run the unit effectively. The responsibilities bestowed among nurses, especially in managing other nurses in patient care, make it one of the factors that define nursing in the 21st century. Emergence of nursing school in the late 19th century is another factor that has influenced contemporary nursing. The way that nursing schools were run at the beginning has remained in most of the nursing schools worldwide with very little modifications. An apprenticeship model was involved in training the nurses, which would take about two months; they started with making beds before progressing to other more complicated tasks. The length of the program, was initially one year, however, it was later increased to 2 to 3 years depending on the location; this duration of training has remained up to date with the longest duration of training graduate nurses being four years in some countries. Without the establishment of the nursing training schools, the field of nursing would not be as what we know it today. Another very popular historical event that shaped nursing is the World War I and a nurse by the name Florence nightingale who took care of the wounded soldiers in the war. Florence nightingale who is idolized world over for her selfless efforts defined the course that nursing should take as a profession that is fully dedicated to caring for the sick and aged and in

Friday, October 18, 2019

OCBC Bank Case Study Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

OCBC Bank Case Study - Research Paper Example In this organization, employees are provided with the opportunities to enhance their skills through on job training, in house training programs and various management courses and development programs. The OCBC bank has a program ‘career best’ that helps employees to determine their career choices. It helps employees to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and match their talents to that of OCBC’s organizational requirements. Additionally, the company has internal job posting mechanism through which the company intimidate employees about job openings in local and overseas locations prior undertaking external hiring. Overall, the company focuses on employees’ talent and skills and allocates jobs accordingly (OCBC, 2014a). In HSBC, four areas in terms of talent management are focused upon, namely, reward and recognition, work life balance, career and development and work environment. The company has talent relationship management system where managers are responsible for employees are engaged through job rotation and various international assignments. Contrastingly in HSBC, job opportunities are allocated on the basis of seniority and experience. HSBC has different talent acquisition and training programs in different countries. Apart from short term training, the company also provides long term training similar to that of OCBC bank. Additionally, HSBC as well as OCBC sponsor various university programs related to finance and commercial banking, from where they recruit fresh bankers as well as provide internships to students from different educational programs. One contrasting as well as interesting factor that was noticed about OCBC in this study that the company continuously monitors health and security issues in different countries so that if and when employees travel in these countries, do not face any kind of problem therein (HSBC, 2014; OCBC, 2014b). It has already been highlighted that employees are asset for every organization and are

History and purpose of BLM Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History and purpose of BLM - Research Paper Example However, during the 19th century the Nation’s land base increased further west , therefore congress was forced to enact a variety of laws including mining and homesteading law of 1872 to ecourage settlement of the land (BLM, 2010). During this period the country was young and therefore these two policies formed part of the major policy goals in the history of U.S. However, with the exception the Desert Land Act which was passed in 1877 and Mining law passed in 1872 by the congress, all the laws have been amended and replaced by other statutes. During the late 19th centuary important events yet again took place, the congress saw the need of creating national game parks, wild life refuges and forests. Therefore, this meant that the land which was occupied by wild life refuges, game parksand forests had to be excluded from the land allowed for settlement (BLM, 2012). This is because the congress had realized that the lands could be set aside for other important activities. In connection to this, the congress saw it fit that these lands should be held in public ownership instead of individual people. During the early 20th century, Congress realized the value of that management of public land is important towards achieving transparency in land use. Therefore, additional steps were taken by congress, where they directed the Executive branch to manage activities paternaing to public lands. However, the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 allowed leasing, exploration, and production of selected commodities, such as coal, oil, gas, and sodium, to take place on public lands (BLM, 2010). In 1934 the congress passed Taylor Grazing Act laws that paved way for the formation of U.S. Grazing Service to manage the public rangelands. While, California and Oregon Act of 1937 required sustained yield management of the timberlands in western Oregon. This led to the

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Week 4 class discussions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Week 4 class discussions - Essay Example You can then figure out how that point moves based on different decisions (say, price point). I like it because it’s a very easily understood concept, and can be easily visualixed and internalixed for decision making purposes. I do agree to the post of the student regarding breakeven analysis. As the student has written the post in his own words, therefore, he has not able to represent the exact concept of the breakeven analysis technique. I think I will choose Breakeven Analysis.   It is a technique used by accountants and management.   It determines the point which revenue equals the costs that are associated with receiving revenue.   Break-even analysis analyzes the costs of the sales.   If something costs $50 to produce a widget and the fixed costs are $5000.   The break-even point will be: From what I have read in the book, and from what I have learned in previous classes, the difference between a procedure and a function is the fact that a function will return a value while a procedure does not. In my previous classes, we just called them all functions. If I am missing some finer point of the difference during my discussion on them, Professor, please let me know. A procedure is a piece of code that will, when called, execute a piece of code without returning and values back to the place where it was called from. A procedure may, or may not take any parameters. Example of procedure prototypes (are they called that as a function is?) would be: A function on the other hand would return a value when it is done executing its code back to where it is called from. What we have been writing on every piece of code so far is an example of a function: The above post is well organized description of difference between the â€Å"Procedure† and â€Å"Functions†. The student has clear concept and sound knowledge regarding the topic. The student has discussed the topic with simple and high-quality explanation of the

Lessons 17-20 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Lessons 17-20 - Essay Example The best solution involves building of more lanes to cater for the high demand of use in the highway. The five creeks are Wood Canyon Creek, Sulphur Creek, English Canyon Creek, Diary fork, and Alison creek. The major contaminants of the creeks include bacterial pollution as well as chlorine. Most of the creeks empty their water at mouth of Laguna Beach basins. Translation refers to the process by which protein is synthesized from the messenger RNA through the reading of the mRNA sequence by a genetic code. Transcription on its part refers to the transfer of genetic information from a DNA to an RNA, which is then used to form proteins. The theory of how life began in the RNA world describes that self-replicating ribonucleic acid molecules (RNA) are the originators of the life lived today. The theory bases RNA in terms of DNA, RNA, and proteins. Despite the fact that the current life originates from RNA, it is evident that the theory has it that RNA world was never the first life to come into existence. Question 1: If you were to scuba dive in Jamaica, 50 feet under the surface of the water, how would the temperature, pressure, light and salinity change when you are 50 feet deep? What kinds of animals would you see at that depth? About 50 feet into the ocean in Jamaica, the temperatures are slightly warm at about 25Â °-28Â °C. The area is also highly saline being an area with high levels of coral reefs. The watercolor at this point is blue-green to green, thereby allowing fair light to penetrate and high pressure. Some of the animals found in this area are the green sea turtles and manatee. Chinook salmon life cycle involves the laying of eggs by the females, who then guard the eggs for between four to twenty-five days before their death. The eggs then hatch approximately 90-150 days after deposition depending on water temperatures from which fry emerge. The fry then stay in fresh water for 12 to 18 months before travelling downstream into

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Week 4 class discussions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Week 4 class discussions - Essay Example You can then figure out how that point moves based on different decisions (say, price point). I like it because it’s a very easily understood concept, and can be easily visualixed and internalixed for decision making purposes. I do agree to the post of the student regarding breakeven analysis. As the student has written the post in his own words, therefore, he has not able to represent the exact concept of the breakeven analysis technique. I think I will choose Breakeven Analysis.   It is a technique used by accountants and management.   It determines the point which revenue equals the costs that are associated with receiving revenue.   Break-even analysis analyzes the costs of the sales.   If something costs $50 to produce a widget and the fixed costs are $5000.   The break-even point will be: From what I have read in the book, and from what I have learned in previous classes, the difference between a procedure and a function is the fact that a function will return a value while a procedure does not. In my previous classes, we just called them all functions. If I am missing some finer point of the difference during my discussion on them, Professor, please let me know. A procedure is a piece of code that will, when called, execute a piece of code without returning and values back to the place where it was called from. A procedure may, or may not take any parameters. Example of procedure prototypes (are they called that as a function is?) would be: A function on the other hand would return a value when it is done executing its code back to where it is called from. What we have been writing on every piece of code so far is an example of a function: The above post is well organized description of difference between the â€Å"Procedure† and â€Å"Functions†. The student has clear concept and sound knowledge regarding the topic. The student has discussed the topic with simple and high-quality explanation of the

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Profit And Loss As Index Of Company Success Assignment - 12

Profit And Loss As Index Of Company Success - Assignment Example The business had total expenditure of $20,756 which includes non-cash expenses of $175 for depreciation on equipment. Although depreciation does not involve the movement of funds it represents a charge for the use of the asset. This charge should not be deducted for income tax purposes. However, the charge is reflective of the use of the asset in the company. The charge was calculated for two months based on a 5-year straight-line method of depreciation. It is expected that the useful life of equipment which includes a computer, fax machine and a copy straight-line longer than 5 years. The Internal Revenue Service (2012) indicates that businesses must prorate depreciation deduction based on the months in use. The items of equipment were in use for 2 months and so the charge in the accounts is based on this fact. Other expenses of note include bad debt expense which includes write-offs as well as provisions made for debts that may not be collected. The two bills representing a total o f approximately $11,000 and due from Delta Company is not collectible since the company is bankrupt. A total of 25% of the debt of $8000 (that is $2,000) due from Baker Company for consultancy fees and $763.86 for reimbursable are also not considered to be recoverable based on previous experience with the client. Additionally, $432.78 for costs may not be recovered from Charlie Company. These amounts have been included as a provision for doubtful debts and included in Bad debt expense. The total amount of bad and doubtful debts expensed represents 40 per cent of income. The company made a net profit of $15,686 which represents 41 per cent of total income. Depreciation of $175 will be added back to the net profit figure. Income tax has not been accounted for since the proprietor’s will include this profit when filing his personal income tax returns. This will be filed on the appropriate form for business proprietors.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Consider knowledge issues Essay Example for Free

Consider knowledge issues Essay â€Å"That which is accepted as knowledge today is sometimes discarded tomorrow.† Consider knowledge issues raised by this statement in two areas of knowledge. Nowadays, due to for example technological development, every day can bring us a new knowledge. Something that yesterday was unthinkable, today turned into reality. Does that work in the opposite way? Does knowledge from hundreds of years ago is still considered as truth? Does knowledge have a period of validity? I found it very interesting considering the fact that most people believe in everything what famous scientists say. They are learning things, which are written in books or newspapers and they consider it as truth. But how do we know that something is truth? There are various of theories which are created every day and overturned after few days or even hours. While thinking about all knowledge theories, one question is coming to our mind, how do we know that previously accepted knowledge is timeless, and when it is accountable to be inverted as new thinking emerges? On those questions I will try to answer in my essay. To accurately answer the question posed in the task, areas of knowledge to which I am going to relate my work are history and human sciences. Technological development which was mentioned before allowed us to verify whether created theories are true or false. Theories from which we obtains our knowledge are changing constantly. Some of them could be overturned after they were assessed as unreliable. Such assessment can be done due to development which we already obtained. However, technology can also be used to improve the reliability of such knowledge. As an example of such theory I will use biological cell theory. In 1590, Hans and Zacharias Janssen invented a microscope under which in 1665 Robert Hooke firstly discovered cells, the basic units of structure and function of all living organisms. There was not many informations about this new discover. For years, scientists have expanded their knowledge about cells and they are doing it even now. Thanks to technology, now we know almost everything about cells. How they replicate, what they contain inside of them. The theory has been improved so this is still considered as reliable knowledge. Another example of improvement in sources of knowledge could be found in physics. In ancient Greece, Democritus discovered the smallest unit of matter atom. Due to  many various experiments performed till now, theory about atom has changed many times and it is still not over. Scientists are always looking for new informations, therefore they are collecting new knowledge. From this knowledge new theories are created and then, by new technologies those are considered as true or false or improved. Another example of knowledge which was discarded after a long time is psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is a method of understanding and treatment of human psychology and the theory allows to explain the different social and cultural phenomena. It was begun in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century by the Viennese physician Sigmund Freud. For many years, psychoanalysis was considered as the best method of treatment of mental disorders based on assumptions psychoanalytic theory. It assumes that the primary cause of the symptoms is unconscious memory, which involves strong emotions, resulting in a traumatic situation. Goal of psychoanalysis as a therapeutic method is to restore the consciousness of those memories. Critics of psychoanalysis as a scientific theory argue that it cannot be verified experimentally, so it cannot be classified as science, but only to literature, pseudoscience or para-science. In addition, many authors believe that Freud in many places falsify his observ ations to confirm his theory. Karl Popper took example of psychoanalysis as a theory unfalsifiable, and therefore unscientific. Unfalsifiable of psychoanalysis can be represented by the following example. A person smokes a cigar. Psychoanalysis claims that in this way this person satisfies his oral needs. If this person confirms, it would constitute proof of the veracity of the claims of psychoanalysis. If, however, deny that the reasons for the denial of that to be found in ignorance and denial. Thus, it also confirms the truth of the claims of psychoanalysis. Except Freud, there are many other psychoanalysts. As an example I will use Alfred Adler. Alfred Adler was an Austrian medical doctor and psychotherapist who found school of individual psychology. Different case in point how knowledge can be discarded we can find in case of penicillin. It was the first antibiotic found in 1928 by Alexander Fleming. Firstly, it was considered as the best known to humanity treatment for almost all the diseases. The mechanism of action of penicillin as  antibiotics by blocking the activity of bacterial enzymes. It lend a hand to a lot of people with their diseases and sufferings and it brought a great success to scientists which found it. They even got the Nobel Prize in 1945 for inventing penicillin. However, after a few years when penicillin was on the market, many people started to complain on side effects of penicillin. It turned out that a lot of them are allergic to penicillin and therefore they have huge problems with their health. Some people even had anaphylactic shock after first dose. Moreover, users of penicillin were complaining from fever, chilling, profuse sweating, cyanosis or hypotension. These facts have rejected the recogniti on of penicillin as the best antibiotic and therefore knowledge that penicillin is the best antibiotic was discarded. Nowadays due to technology we have much better kinds of antibiotics. Many of them are antiallergic and therefore may be used by all people suffering from different diseases. Except science, knowledge changes also on historical ground. It mainly refer to revisionist historians. History we learn is changing all the time, as revisionist historians change things so as to fit the truths more likely than it is. As it is known, history is always incomplete. There are many facts about we do not have a clue or we dont know why something happened. Thanks to revisionist historians, old theories are in fact changed into the new ones, which are considered as better and therefore more accurate truth of the world is created. In this case, old theories are not discarded, but evolved to adjust to the flow of time and new informations possessed. Therefore, theories created by earlier generations are accepted but changed in future to fit the truth more likely. This brings us to consensus that even though a few years ago something was considered by historians as truth, today due to technology and revisionist historians it may be considered as totally different. As we can see, nothing stays forever on our planet. Everyday everything changes, new knowledge is discovered and new theories are created. World is constantly evolving and brings us new technology by which we can discover new informations and therefore knowledge. Psychoanalysis, discover of penicillin, cell theory, revisionist historians and discover of atom are all  an examples of how can knowledge change due to the passage of time and technology development. Taking this into consideration, the statement mentioned in the subject That which is accepted as knowledge today is sometimes discarded tomorrow. perfectly represents the idea and speed of development of modern world. Even though today we think that something is true and different theory is unacceptable, in few years or centuries it could be discarded or evolved into the new theory.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Supraglacial Environment Analysis

Supraglacial Environment Analysis Some places on Earth are so cold that water is a solid—ice or snow [1]. These frozen places of our planet are called the Cryosphere by our Scientists.The term â€Å"Cryosphere† comes from the Greek word â€Å"kryos† which means cold, frost or ice and â€Å"sphaira† which means globe. Those regions of the Earth’s surface where water is in the solid form, including sea ice, lake ice, river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets and frozen grounds (which includes permafrost) are referred to as cryosphere. The cryosphere is an integral part of the global climate system with important linkages and feedbacks generated through its influence on surface energy and moisture fluxes, clouds, precipitation, hydrology, atmospheric and oceanic circulation. Through these feedback processes, the cryosphere plays a significant role in theglobal climateand inclimate modelresponse to global changes [2]. Cryosphere is believed to be at the top and bottom of our planet, in the Polar Regions by most of the people. The area around the North Pole is the Arctic region and the area around the South Pole is the Antarctic region. Snow and ice are also found at many other locations on Earth, other than these two Polar Regions [1]. Located at the Earths South Pole, Antarctica is an icy continent. A huge ice sheet covers the land mass of Antarctica and, in some places, shelves of floating ice extend into the ocean. The outer sections of ice break off or calve from these shelves and form icebergs. The icebergs float in the oceans, melting and falling apart as they drift into warmer waters [1]. The Antarctic Ice Sheet is the largest mass of ice on Earth. Supraglacial Environment Literally, supraglacial means of, relating to, or situated or occurring at the surface of a glacier. Supraglacial environment consists of Supraglacial lakes and ponds, supraglacial streams and, supraglacial dust and debris. Supraglacial Lakes and Ponds Any pond of liquid water on the top of aglacier is called a supraglacial lake. Although these pools aretransient, they may reach kilometers in diameter and could be several meters deep. They usually last for months or even decades at a time, but can vacant in the course of hours. The lakes usually emerge from the assembly of summer meltwater in catchment basins. Supraglacial Streams A stream that flows over the surface of a glacier is called supraglacial streams. Most supraglacial streams descend viaMoulin into the depths or base of a glacier or originate from melting snow, ice fields and glacial ice. Supraglacial Dust and Debris Debris that is carried on the surface of a glacier is called supraglacial debris. It is also known as supraglacial moraines. It is normally derived from weathering processes that occur during seasonal precipitation, melt/ refreeze cycles or supraglacial activity (i.e. transport) rates and tends to be blocky angular boulders and sediments in character.Heavy volcanic supraglacial debris is composed of fine grained volcanic ash, tephra or large ballistics that is ejected during eruptions. The Polar Regions, are remote and often inaccessible, in terms of their location. Investigations based on field of the entire Polar Region are very strenuous, and rarely possible. Satellite remote sensing is a low cost solution to obtain excellent coverage of the Polar Regions from a view point in space. By using remote sensing data and techniques it is now possible to investigate the high latitude regions in a way that was unimaginable even a few decades ago. Over the past two decades, the Polar Regions have homogenously shown the first distinctive evidence of human industrial activity on Earth’s atmosphere and climate (Luban and Massom, 2007) [5]. The first was the 1985 discovery of the ozone â€Å"hole,† an annual disappearance of most of the ozone layer over Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, whose cause was quickly identified as an interaction between industrial chlorofluorocarbon pollutants and unique ice clouds that form in the extremely cold Antarctic stratosphere. More recently, both satellite data and submarine research cruises have documented the dramatic decrease in both geographic extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice, such that if no action is taken to curb industrial greenhouse gas emissions, Arctic sea ice could disappear altogether in the summer season by the end of this century. In 1981, India undertook its National Antarctic Program within the aegis of Department of Ocean Development (DOD) of the Government of India. ACentre dedicated to Antarctic Expeditions, named as ‘Antarctic Study Centre (ASC)’ was established at Goa in 1988.The ASC was eventually upgraded into an autonomous institute ‘National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) under DOD (now known as Ministry of Earth Sciences). Maitri station was built in 1989 on the Schirmacher Oasis in Queen Maud Land. India previously operated the station Dakshin Gangotri from 1983 – 1989 which was abandoned after being buried in ice. Around 3,000 kilometers from Maitri station, India extended its Antarctic presence by building a new station named Bharati in the Larsemann Hills region.The Bharati station has been operational since 18th March 2012. Ordinarily, resolution is thought to be as the ability to separate and differentiate adjacent objects or items in a scene, be it in a photo, an image or real life. Frequently resolution is specified in terms of the linear size of the smallest features we can discriminate (often expressed in meters). But contrast impacts our ability to resolve between objects: if two items are the same color, they may be tough to separate, but if they are sharply different in color, tone, or brightness we can recognize them more clearly. Remote sensors estimate differences and variations of objects that are often reported in terms of four main resolutions, each of which affect the accuracy and functionality of remote sensors to habitat mapping. The details noticeable in an image are dependent on the spatial resolution of the sensor and refer to the size of the smallest possible feature that can be identified. Spatial resolution of passive sensors depends essentially on their Instantaneous Field of View (IFOV). The IFOV is the angular cone of visibility of the sensor (A) and determines the area on the Earths surface which is seen from a given altitude at one particular moment in time (B). The size of the area viewed is determined by multiplying the IFOV by the distance from the ground to the sensor (C). This area on the ground is called the resolution cell and decides a sensors greatest spatial resolution. For an analogous feature to be detected, its size generally has to be equal to or larger than the resolution cell. If the feature is smaller than this, it may not be detectable as the average brightness of all features in that resolution cell will be recorded. However, smaller features may sometimes be detectable if their reflectance influences within a particular resolution cell allowing sub-pixel or resolution cell recognition. Images where only large features are visible are said to have coarse or low resolution. In fine or high resolution images, small objects can be identified. Military sensors for example, are designed to for detailed view, and so have very fine resolution. Commercial satellites provide imagery with resolutions differing from a few meters to several kilometers. Usually finer the resolution, the less whole ground area would be visible. The ratio of distance on an image or map, to actual ground distance is called scale. If a map is with scale of 1:100,000, an object of 1cm length on the map would really be an object 100,000cm (1km) long on the ground. Maps or images with small map-to-ground ratios are referred to as small scale (e.g. 1:100,000), and those with larger ratios (e.g. 1:5,000) are called large scale. Spectral response and spectral emissivity curves specifies the reflectance and/or emittance of a feature or target across a range of wavelengths. Dissimilar classes of features and details in an image can frequently be distinguished by contrasting their responses over distinct ranges of wavelength. Extensive classes such as water and vegetation can generally be separated using very broad ranges of wavelength (the visible and near infrared). More specific classes like rock types may not be easily distinguishable using only these broad ranges of wavelength and require comparison at much finer ranges of wavelengths to separate them. Hence we require a sensor with higher spectral resolution for such specific classification. Spectral resolution describes the ability of a sensor to define fine intervals of wavelength. Finer is the spectral resolution, narrower will be the ranges of wavelength for a particular channel or band. As the spatial structure of an image is described by the arrangement of pixels, the actual information content in an image is described by the radiometric characteristics. The sensitivity of the image to the magnitude of the electromagnetic energy is determined by the radiometric resolution, whenever an image is captured on film or by a sensor. The radiometric resolution of an imaging system describes its ability to differentiate very slight contrast in energy. Finer the radiometric resolution of a sensor, more sensitive it is to detecting small differences in reflected or emitted energy. When a 2-bit image is compared with an 8-bit image, there is a large difference in the level of details observable depending on their radiometric resolutions. The concept of temporal resolution is also important to consider in a remote sensing system, in addition to spatial, spectral, and radiometric resolution. It is the concept of revisit period, which refers to the length of time it requires for a satellite to finish one complete orbit cycle. The revisit period is usually several days for a satellite sensor. Thus the absolute temporal resolution of a remote sensing system to image the exact same area at the same viewing angle a second time is equal to this period. Still some areas of the Earth tend to be re-imaged more frequently because of some degree of overlap in the imaging swaths of adjacent orbits for most satellites and the increase in this overlap with increasing latitude. Also, some satellite systems are able to point their sensors to image the same area between different satellite passes parted by periods from one to five days. So, the actual temporal resolution of a sensor depends on a variety of factors, including the satell ite/sensor capabilities, the swath overlap, and latitude. WorldView-2 is the first high-resolution 8-band multispectral commercial satellite launched in October 2009. It operates at an altitude of 770 km and provides 50 cm panchromatic resolution and 2 m multispectral resolution. The average revisit time of World View-2 is of 1.1 days and it is also capable of collecting up to 1 million km2 of 8-band imagery per day. Every sensor is narrowly concentrated on a specific range of the electromagnetic spectrum that is sensitive to a particular feature on the ground, or a property of the atmosphere. They are designed together to improve the segmentation and classification of land and aquatic features beyond any other space-based remote sensing platform. The agricultural growth, increased urbanization and natural processes all contribute towards the reshaping nature of land use and land cover around the globe. Remote sensing is recognized as an essential tool for understanding the changes over a large and small scale. Presently various satellites are being engaged to observe and study the globe. WV-2 brings out a high degree of detail to classification processes, with 8 strictly focused spectral sensors ranging from visible to near infrared, combined with 2 meter spatial resolution, enabling a finer level of intolerance and improving decision-making in both the public and private sector. The table given below explains the various characteristics of the important high resolution satellites. The World Viiew-2 is the satellite, which is having 0.5 m spatial resolution which has been used for this particular study. Features of World View-2 satellite are: Very high resolution The most spectral diversity commercially available 4 standard colors: Blue, Green, Red, NIR-1 4 new colors: Coastal, Yellow, Red Edge, NIR-2 Bi- directional scanning Orbit altitude: 770 km, sun-synchronous Dynamic range: 11-bits per pixel Swath width: 16.4 km at nadir Benefits of World View-2 satellite are: Provides highly detailed imagery for precise map creation, change detection, and in-depth image analysis. Geo-locate features to less than 5 m to create maps in remote areas, maximizing the utility of available resources. Collects, stores, and downlinks a greater supply of frequent update global imagery products than competitive systems. Stereoscopic collection on a single pass ensures image continuity and consistency of quality. Provides the ability to perform precise change detection, mapping and analysis at unprecedented resolutions in 8-band multispectral imagery. In addition to dedicated satellite instruments and programs that have monitored critical manifestations of climate and atmospheric change, such as the retreat of Arctic Sea Ice, the motion of the Antarctica Ice Sheets and the evolution of the ozone ‘hole’ in both polar regions, many serendipitous applications of satellite remote sensing have come forward for polar research. A survey of polar remote sensing accomplishments is particularly useful at this point in time, as the earth science community is experiencing a transition to a new generation of satellite remote sensing instruments with an order of magnitude greater capability than their predecessors. The Antarctica ice sheet alone covers an area of ~12.4Ãâ€"106 km2, and averages ~2.4 km in thickness, with a maximum of ~4.7 km (in the Wilkes sub-glacial basin between Casey and Vostok) and a volume of ~25.7Ãâ€"106 km3. It stores ~90% of the world’s ice, equivalent to ~70% of its freshwater or an approx. 65 m rise in global sea level was it to melt. This Antarctica Ice sheet play a central role in the global climate system, interacting in a complex fashion with the atmosphere and ocean, acting as major hemispheric heat sinks as a result of the radiatively induced Equator to pole temperature difference, and dominating the high-latitude radiation balance by virtue of their high albedo. Ice sheets have profound direct and indirect impacts on patterns of oceanic and atmospheric temperature and circulation and also biogeochemical cycles [11]. Studying and analyzing Antarctica using satellite remote sensing is not an old practice. It started way back in 1972 with the launch of Landsat-1(formerly ERTS-1). It kept on growing since then with the use of microwave and thermal remote sensing datasets. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) datasets have played a vital role in understanding this remote continent. In this research we have applied a combination of existing image processing methods and a novel feature extraction workflow to DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-2 (WV-2) satellite imagery, in order to study Antarctica at maximum achievable spatial resolution. Our protocol also compares widely used image fusion algorithms all over the researcher’s community. During the past 30-40 years, satellite and other remote sensing methods have provided a massive wealth of new data to transform understanding of the Antarctic. While important, field measurements are logistically demanding, expensive, and scanty. Satellites can measure and monitor remote and vast areas in a sustained, consistent, systematic, repetitive, and cost-effective fashion and on a variety of scales alone. Using high-spatial resolution data is the only practical approach for generating detailed and accurate information on the landscape and land cover in the Antarctic, where field measurements are laborious. The capabilities of these state-of-the-art satellites have not been thoroughly explored for mapping land cover in cryospheric regions. Widely, sea-ice spectral reflectance (ratio of radiant energy reflected by a body to that incident upon it) depends upon its age and thickness, and the presence/absence of a snow cover. Snow reflectance depends on the refractive index of ice, grain-size distribution, density, depth, and liquid-water content. Maps of surface albedo (the ratio of upwelling to down welling radiative flux at the surface) can be retrieved from satellite radiance data after accurately masking cloud, correcting atmospheric effects, and converting angular measurements to the ‘‘full hemisphere’’ angular distribution of the surface (the bidirectional reflectance distribution function [BRDF]). While the broadband albedo of ice-free ocean is ~0.05-0.1 that of sea ice ranges from ~0.1 to ~0.9 enabling ice-ocean discrimination and ice type classification. The strong sensitivity of NIR radiation to snow grain-size growth with melting further enables the detection/monitoring of seasonal mel t/refreeze. Ice-sheet surface grain size is itself retrievable from 1.6 mm data (e.g., from the Global Imager [GLI] aboard ADEOS-II [operational from 2002–2003]). High and very high resolution sensors acquire data over a narrow swath (