Facts About Pygmy Seahorses

Facts About Pygmy Seahorses The common pygmy seahorse or Bargibants seahorse is one of the tiniest known vertebrates. This seahorse was named after the scuba diver who discovered the species in 1969 while collecting specimens for the Noumea Aquarium in New Caledonia. This tiny, expert camouflage artist thrives among gorgonian corals in the genus Muricella, which they hang on to using their long  prehensile tail. Gorgonian corals are more commonly known as a sea fan or sea whip.   Description Bargibants seahorses have a maximum length of 2.4 cm, which is less than 1 inch. They have a short snout and fleshy body, with many tubercles that help them blend into the knobby setting of the coral. On their head, they have a spine above each eye and on each cheek. There are two known color morphs of the species: pale grey or purple with pink or red tubercles, which are found on gorgonian coral Muricella plectana, and yellow with orange tubercles, which are found on gorgonian coral Muricella paraplectana. The color and shape of this seahorse nearly perfectly matches the corals on which it lives. Check out a  video  of these tiny seahorses to experience their incredible ability to blend in with their surroundings. Classification Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: ActinopterygiiOrder: GasterosteiformesFamily: SyngnathidaeGenus: HippocampusSpecies: bargibanti This pygmy seahorse is one of 9 known species of pygmy seahorse. Due to their amazing camouflage ability and tiny size, many pygmy seahorse species have only been discovered over the past 10 years, and more may be discovered. In addition, many species have different color morphs, making identification even more difficult. Feeding Not much is known about this species, but they are thought to feed on tiny crustaceans, zooplankton and possibly the tissue of the corals on which they live. Like larger seahorses, food moves through their digestive system quickly so they need to eat nearly constantly. Food also needs to be located close by, as seahorses cant swim very far. Reproduction It is thought that these seahorses may be monogamous. During courting, males change color and get a females attention by shaking his head and flapping its dorsal fin. Pygmy seahorses are ovoviviparous, but unlike most animals, the male carries the eggs, which are contained in an on his underside. When mating occurs, the female transfers her eggs into the males pouch, where he fertilizes the eggs. About 10-20 eggs are carried at one time. The gestation period  is about 2 weeks. The young hatch looking like even tinier, mini seahorses. Habitat and Distribution Pygmy seahorses live on gorgonian  corals off Australia, New Caledonia, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines, in water depths of about 52-131 feet. Conservation Pygmy seahorses are listed as data deficient on the IUCN Red List  due to lack of published data on population sizes or trends for the species.   Sources Feng, A. 2009. Pygmy Seahorses. Fusedjaw.com. Accessed January 30, 2016.Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall, 1999. Seahorses: an identification guide to the worlds species and their conservation. Project Seahorse, London. 214 p. In Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2015.FishBase(10/2015) .  Accessed January 30, 2016.McGrouther, M. Pygmy Seahorse, . Australian Museum. Accessed January 30, 2016.bargibantiHippocampus Whitley, 1970Project Seahorse. 2003.  Hippocampus bargibanti. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2003: e.T10060A3158205. Accessed January 30, 2016.Stockton, N. 2014. Baby Pygmy Seahorses Are Even Cuter Than You Think. Wired. Accessed January 30, 2016.

Three Domain System

Three Domain System The Three Domain System, developed by Carl Woese, is a system for classifying biological organisms. Over the years, scientists have developed several systems for the classification of organisms. From the late 1960s, organisms had been classified according to a Five Kingdom system. This classification system model was based on principles developed by Swedish scientist Carolus Linnaeus, whose hierarchical system groups organisms based on common physical characteristics. The Three Domain System As scientists learn more about organisms, classification systems change. Genetic sequencing has given researchers a whole new way of analyzing relationships between organisms. The current system, the Three Domain System, groups organisms primarily based on differences in ribosomal RNA (rRNA) structure. Ribosomal RNA is a molecular building block for ribosomes. Under this system, organisms are classified into three domains and six kingdoms. The domains are Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. The kingdoms are Archaebacteria (ancient bacteria), Eubacteria (true bacteria), Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. Archaea Domain This domain contains single-celled organisms known as archaea. Archaea have genes that are similar to both bacteria and eukaryotes. Because they are very similar to bacteria in appearance, they were originally mistaken for bacteria. Like bacteria, Archaea are prokaryotic organisms and do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. They also lack internal cell organelles and many are about the same size as and similar in shape to bacteria. Archaea reproduce by binary fission, have one circular chromosome, and use flagella to move around in their environment as do bacteria. Archaea differ from bacteria in cell wall composition and differ from both bacteria and eukaryotes in membrane composition and rRNA type. These differences are substantial enough to warrant that archaea have a separate domain. Archaea are extreme organisms that live under some of the most extreme environmental conditions. This includes within hydrothermal vents, acidic springs, and under Arctic ice. Archaea are divided into three main phyla: Crenarchaeota, Euryarchaeota, and Korarchaeota. Crenarchaeota include many organisms that are hyperthermophiles and thermoacidophiles. These archaea thrive in environments with great temperature extremes (hyperthermophiles) and in extremely hot and acidic environments (thermoacidophiles).Archaea known as methanogens are of the Euryarchaeota phylum. They produce methane as a byproduct of metabolism and require an oxygen-free environment.Little is known about Korarchaeota archaea as few species have been found living in places such as hot springs, hydrothermal vents, and obsidian pools. Bacteria Domain Bacteria are classified under the Bacteria Domain. These organisms are generally feared because some are pathogenic and capable of causing disease. However, bacteria are essential to life as some are part of the human microbiota. These bacteria preform vital functions, such as enabling us to properly digest and absorb nutrients from the foods we eat. Bacteria that live on the skin prevent pathogenic microbes from colonizing the area and also aid in the activation of the immune system. Bacteria are also important for the recycling of nutrients in the global ecosystem as they are primary decomposers. Bacteria have a unique cell wall composition and rRNA type. They are grouped into five main categories: Proteobacteria: This phylum contains the largest group of bacteria and includes E.coli, Salmonella, Heliobacter pylori, and Vibrio. bacteria.Cyanobacteria: These bacteria are capable of photosynthesis. They are also known as blues include Borrelia burgdorferi (cause Lyme disease) and Treponema pallidum (cause syphilis). Eukarya Domain The Eukarya domain includes eukaryotes or organisms that have a membranes include algae, amoeba, fungi, molds, yeast, ferns, mosses, flowering plants, sponges, insects, and mammals. Comparison of Classification Systems Five Kingdom System: MoneraProtistaFungiPlantaeAnimalia Archaea Domain Bacteria Domain Eukarya Domain Archaebacteria Kingdom Eubacteria Kingdom Protista Kingdom Fungi Kingdom Plantae Kingdom Animalia Kingdom Three Domain System As we have seen, systems for classifying organisms change with new discoveries made over time. The earliest systems recognized only two kingdoms (plant and animal). The current Three Domain System is the best organizational system we have now, but as new information is gained, a different system for classifying organisms may later be developed.

Developmebts in cyber techniques have tended to contribute to greater Essay

Developmebts in cyber techniques have tended to contribute to greater international tension and foreign policy conflict. Discuss - Essay Example curity programs have been developed by various states all over the world in order to protect sensitive data and other types of information from assaults that are made through the internet. Cyber security measures tend to involve various steps, the most important of these steps being a state’s understanding of the different forms of cyber attacks that it is likely to encounter. Once it has knowledge of this, then it is its responsibility to ensure that it has put in place the best security systems that it can get its hands on. There exist a diverse number of threats most of which exist at various levels and hazards to the information of companies and governments in their computers and other networks. It is because of this that the more superior the likelihood of there being a threat to cyber security, the more advanced the system designed to protect assets will be. The development of more advanced cyber techniques has over the years led to the development of higher internationa l tensions, especially between rival states which view cyber attacks against each other as a means of gaining an advantage over one another on the international stage.1 This has created a situation where the number of cyber attacks by government sponsored hackers from different countries have steadily increased; raising speculations that there is the possibility future wars will likely be fought on the internet. The development of better cyber techniques has led to a situation where a number of countries attempt to hack into other countries’ computer systems for the sole purpose of stealing trade secrets. This has recently been a cause of significant tension between the United States and China with the former accusing the latter of being responsible for stealing the trade secrets of various American companies in order to using these secrets to gain economic leverage. The tension between these two countries was further increased as a result of the United States declaring and showing the

Automobile Industry and Information Technology Essay

Automobile Industry and Information Technology - Essay Example Technology has been a part of automobiles, in one form or another, for quite some time now. In the 1960s and 1970s the typical 'backyard mechanic' could invariably be found tinkering on his pride and joy - his car. Whether it has brand new, or a collector's item, the fact was that just about anyone with any mechanical aptitude at all and a set of wrenches could do any number of standard repair jobs on a vehicle back then. But, times have certainly changed - and it happened before we even knew it. Where once, you could open a car hood and identify just about everything under there, today, you might just as well be looking at components of the space shuttle. It started small enough - a computer brain to control some of the car's basic functions. However, to even attempt to perform any repairs on a modern vehicle, practically requires a degree from MIT. Of course, technology has surpassed merely the practical applications to improve performance. The sagging automobile industry has also been turning to the field of information technology to find ways to improve sales. ... With so much competition, foreign and domestic, the consumer has more choices today than ever before - and they know it. A customer will not simply purchase the first thing they see, but will compare and contrast makes and models - as well as features and accessories. Not only do consumers want options on their vehicle, they are also demanding options in ways to make the purchase. Enter information technology. 1.1.2 Entering the auto industry's second century, there are clearly powerful signs of change that could foretell the next dominant production standard. At the core of many of these changes is the Internet, which is already transforming how information is used and how coordination is managed in this most complex of industries. According to Holweg and Pil, in a book published by MIT Press in 2004, E-business offers tremendous potential for reducing waste and inefficiency, redistributing activities along the value chain, and providing new means for collaboration. These benefits will become evident in product development, procurement, manufacturing, and distribution separately, but the greatest impact will result from end-to-end integration of the value chain, from the final customer back to initial product planning. Consumer desires for customization will challenge the industry's long-established push approach to distribution and sales. As expectations are raised by information technol ogy experiences in other parts of their lives, e-powered consumers will be drawn towards build-to-order models where they play a co-design role and production is pulled by real-time information about their preferences (MIT Press 2004). 1.1.3 For both the manufacturer and the dealer, this opportunity is substantial. By better

The Indian Ocean Essay Example for Free

The Indian Ocean Essay In 2004, the world most witnessed one of the most devastating natural disasters that had occurred in the last 100 years. On December 26th of that year, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean spawned an enormous tsunami that claimed the lives of thousands in the surrounding lands. In the months following the tsunami, many wondered what steps could be taken to minimize human loss in the event of such an unavoidable natural event. As a result, scientists began to seek an improved early alert system to detect tsunamis. Almost two years after the Indian Ocean earthquake, NASA’s Earth Observatory announced the development of a new seafloor pressure recording system that is designed to detect tsunamis shortly after their development. The new system is expected to extend alert times in addition to avoiding false alarms. The project is being supervised by the German National Research Centre for Geosciences, located in Potsdam, Germany. Scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research are directing the project. Additionally, Optimare and develogic are companies that are working on the acoustic-based portion of the system known as PACT. See more topics Road safety. The Zentrum fur Marine Umweltswissenschaft and the University of Rhode Island are also working on PACT. Though generally thought to be a single giant ocean wave, tsunamis are actually made of multiple waves. In many instances, the affected shoreline can be repeatedly hit by several large waves. Tsunamis are caused by a sudden motion in the ocean floor which can be the result of an earthquake, volcanic eruption, an underwater landslide, or the impact of a large meteorite. Most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes that originate in subduction zones, or areas where an oceanic plate is being forced into the earth’s mantle. Where there is a great amount of friction between two plates, the overriding plate can become distorted and as a result a large amount of energy is stored, often over decades of centuries. After the stored seismic energy exceeds the frictional forces between the two plates, the distorted plate suddenly returns to its original position and an earthquake results. The overlying water is displaced, generating large waves that spread outward from the epicenter. The newly developed system measures vibration and horizontal seafloor movements in order to locate seaquakes, which could possibly generate tsunamis. The measurements that are taken from the seafloor are obtained and analyzed with a matter of just a few minutes. Data is collected and analyzed every 15 seconds. Water levels are also measured off the coast using bottom pressure sensors to detect any rises in sea level before the large waves reach the shallower waters along the coast. So far the system has proven to be compact, reliable, and energy efficient. At this point, an acoustic modem sends information to a second modem, which sends a satellite message, or telegram, to the warning center, delivering notification of a tsunami. After two years of development, none of the telegrams were lost, which believed to be an early indication of the system’s crucial reliability. The new system will be implemented into the pre-existing global system which is used to detect tsunami events. Further testing will be conducted in the Mediterranean. The developers will also examine the reliability of the system’s ability to transmit under different weather conditions. The development of this improved system shows great progress in the effort to provide effective warnings for tsunamis, thereby reducing the number of casualties. The potential for the success of this system has been indicated in a series of successful tests and the fact that no telegrams have been lost to date. Much still remains to be seen, however, in determining the limits of the system and discovering factors like weather conditions may contribute to reduced efficiency of the system. The article does not mention the important aspect of how those who are in the path of a tsunami will be notified that they may evacuate in time to avoid the disaster. This is of particular importance in the case of remote villages and areas where technological infrastructure may not be developed to the level of more industrialized regions. No matter how quickly the data is collected and transmitted to the warning center, it is imperative that the information regarding the approaching tsunami be delivered to those who may be affected in a timely manner. Delivering information to remote regions may be a challenge that the developers will need to address as they attempt to meet the need for early warning in the areas that lie along the Indian Ocean. Though there are still potential concerns that need to be evaluated, it is promising that an advanced system has been put in place over a relatively short period of time. Furthermore, there is now an alert system in a region where previously no such mechanism existed. This may provide greater protection and preparedness to a region that has already seen the devastation that a tsunami can do. If the system continues to be successful and is implemented into the global system, it will eventually save many lives and it may also allow scientists to learn more about the seismic activity that occurs under the ocean floor. In conclusion, NASA’s article provides an informative report on an important milestone in the development of a system that will not only help people across the earth prepare for natural disasters, but that also may lead to groundbreaking discoveries that could allow scientists to additional important discovers that can help us to better understand our planet Works Cited Earth Observatory. Tsunami-recording in the Deep Sea. 25 November 2007. NASA. 17 November 2007. http://earthobservatory. nasa. gov/ Newsroom/ MediaAlerts/ 2007/2007111925951. html.

Investigation of the reaction between hydrochloric acid and marble chips :: GCSE Chemistry Coursework Investigation

Investigation of the reaction between hydrochloric acid and marble chips A chemical reaction is when two or more substance called reactants are chemically bonded to form a new product, as a result of the process, for a reaction to take place, the particles must have enough kinetic energy to collide and form new bonds , this is called a successful collision. The minimum amount of energy needed for a successful collision is activation energy, which is â€Å"The energy that an atomic system must acquire before a process can occur†. Chemical reaction is different to a physical reaction, chemical reaction are not reversible and results in a new product, however a physical reaction can be easily reversed as it only changed its state. The activation energy is able to loosen particles and enable them to from new bonds to produce new products. The faster the molecules are moving the bigger the chance of a successful collision, so the faster and stronger the reaction will be , the more kinetic energy a reactant has the easier it is for the new bonds the collide and produce new bonds. Variables that you could change Concentration of hydrochloric acid Surface area of chips Mass of marble chips Pressure Temperature Volume of hydrochloric acid Time allowed to measure oxygen given of Volume of gas collected Varying the concentration Higher concentration will make the reaction stronger, there will be more particles in the same volume so there are a lot more collisions, making the reaction faster and increasing the chance of a successful collision, lower concentration makes a weaker reaction, there will be fewer particles so less chance of a collision. Varying the pressure A higher amount of pressure will bring particles closer together making the reaction faster as there will be more collision with the energy, a lower amount of pressure will make the particles more spread put , making the reaction slower and reducing the amount of collision and energy. Varying the surface area A larger surface area will result in the number of particles to increase so there will be a higher chance of a collision increasing the rate of reaction , so the reactant broke into smaller pieces would react faster oppose to larger pieces. Varying the temperature An increased temperature will increase the speed of the particle so they collide more frequent as they have more energy. Therefore the reaction will speed up, a decreased temperature will have less energy it will move slower, collide less often slowing the reaction down. Varying the catalyst If I increase the catalyst , the particles will move a lot faster as the catalyst speeds up the rate of reaction, because they are moving

Poems From Other Cultures- John Agard and Sujata Bhatt Essay

Search for My Tongue by Sujata Bhatt and Half-Caste by John Agard, are poems that both explain the struggles of living with mixed heritages and being split between the two. They both express there opinion in different ways, Bhatt using symbolism and Agard using confrontational speech and metaphors. Agard’s poem portrays the racist connotations associated with the word Half-caste and he effectively puts across his true feelings on the subject. Agard was born in Guyana and like most Caribbean people Agard is bi-racial, being born of a white Portuguese mother and a black Caribbean father. Consequently, Agard is going to be dealing with several issues as he has to live between two languages, three cultures, and living in a country that comfortably uses words such as ‘half-caste’ without thinking about the negative undertones that can dampen his spirit and pride in being of duel-heritage. Similarly, Bhatt writes about her struggle of living between two cultures, but unlike Agard she is of one race, Indian. Bhatt and her family moved to the West when Bhatt was still young and there she learned English in addition to her first language, Guajarati. Bhatt’s poem explains the difficulty of having two languages, the fear of looses a native language when living abroad, and ultimately suggests that language is the centre of an identity. She does, however, comes to the conclusion that even though you may not speak your mother tongue on a regular, day-to-day basis it will always be with you and that you cannot loose who you are. Agard presents his words in a unique and abrupt method. He puts his poem into five stanzas that vary in length; this could be so it sounds like someone talking not a verse, showing that he wanted the fluidity of the poem to feel real, and not rehearsed. He also flaunts his poem by using short lines, â€Å"explain yuself† to maybe be abrupt and direct, giving his poem a confrontational feel but he also may do this as a symbolic gesture as he only has ‘half’ a line, half a self, half a human. By doing this he is challenging the term half-cast and highlighting its negative impact and connotations, he is also exploiting it and making the term seem ridiculous. Conversely, Bhatt presents her poem as one long stanza and has written it by using longer lines. It is written with fluidity, and ease, this is because she wanted the two languages, Guajarati and English, to mesh into one and almost become one language. By structuring the poem and putting the Guajarati in the middle of the poem this shows that it is the focal point of her life, and is in the middle of her mind and centres her thoughts. Having English on either side this could be to show that there is more English in her life but the language that holds it all together is her mother tongue, Guajarati. Both poems are multi-lingual with Agard mixing Patios and English. In his sentences he has casually overlapped colloquial English and patois; you could say that the poem is half English half patois showing that he is half of each, emphasising his original message of the poem. The language that Agard has used has made his poem read like a conversation. His use of colloquial English has added to this, but the way he opens his poem in very formal and polite, this could be to get the attention of the reader, or to mimic ‘posh people’. He also introduces the poem by saying â€Å"excuse me, standing on one leg, I’m half-caste† to say that the first thing people want to know is his race not him, his name, or his personality. Also the connotations with standing on one leg, saying that he is only worth to stand on one leg and that being half-caste mean he is half a man. Also by using metaphors such as â€Å"yu mean when light and shadow, mix in de sky, is half-caste weather?† he is accentuating the stupidity of the phrase half-caste and how observed the word truly is. His language also has hints of subtle humour. For example, â€Å"well in dat case, England weather, nearly always half-caste†. Here he is making fun of English weather saying that it isn’t good as it is always half light and half dark and he is saying that people are constantly surrounded by ‘half-caste’ images but never pick up on them so why should him and him only be subjected to this, what can be perceived as racist, phrase. As well as the above Agard emphasises the argument by constantly repeating words such as â€Å"explain yuself, what yu mean†. This fully drills the argument with full impact constantly asking the reader to change their attitude towards the term ‘half-caste’. Bhatt has a very blatant language variation in her poem as she has written in Guajarati and English two extremely different languages. This use of Guajarati shows that her life is mixture of both and that her Guajarati will near be lost and will always be in her thoughts and life. Also in this poem Bhatt uses the word ‘I’ allot, â€Å"you ask me what I mean by saying I have lost my tongue,† by doing this Bhatt is constantly referring to herself making it much more likely for other multi ethnic people to relate to the poem. What’s more Bhatt uses some very powerful lines for instance, â€Å"if you had two tongues in your mouth, and you lost the first one, the mother tongue, and could not really know the other, the foreign tongue†. In these lines Bhatt talks about their tongues being in conflict, never really fully mixing or complementing each other, but she also talks about how without each other they wouldn’t work. Furthermore Bhatt writes about how you will never lose the mother tongue, â€Å"†¦but overnight when I dream, it grows back†¦the bud opens†¦it blossoms out of my mouth†, this says and shows that the reinforcement of the mother tongue is unstoppable and by using the metaphor of a flower, it makes it beautiful. Agard has filled his poem up to the brim with many different metaphors and images. All of the images he uses like, â€Å"yu mean Tchaikovsky, sit down at dah piano, and mix a black key, wid a white key, is a half-caste symphony?†, emphasise the ridiculousness of the term, and it also highlights that if you use the term half caste for people then you need to use it for everything even things that are highly respected in society. In addition to these images Agard writes some very obscure and irregular images in the third stanza of the poem. Agard goes on to say, â€Å"an when I’m introduces to yu, I’m sure you’ll understand why I offer yu half-a-hand, and when I sleep at night I close half-a-eye†. These are very powerful images that Agard is writing and they are one final punch in the poem to try and truly highlight the complete stupidity of the term half-caste and also by making many references of half-a-human this can show that the term of half-caste can hurt and be offensive as well as not necessary. Finally in the last six lines of the poem Agard says that it is us who isn’t whole and we need to listen to his story with â€Å"de whole of yu mind† to truly understand the ‘other half’ of his story. These lines flip the racist connotations of the term saying that those who use it are the true ‘not whole’ people. Bhatt has one major image that carries the whole poem through the words and making the poem flow. She referees to languages as plants. For example, â€Å"it grows back, a stump of a shoot grows longer, grows moist, grows strong veins†¦it blossoms†. Bhatt does this to show clearly what she means by ‘loosing he tongue’ because plants die when in the wrong environment and they need nutrients of their home soil to live, so she is saying that so your mother tongue doesn’t die you need to feed it with culture of your home. Also Bhatt may use the idea of plants as this accentuates the fact that when you become comfortable with the fact that you have ‘two tongues’ you can grow, blossom and enrich yourself with confidence. She also uses lines that create strong images like, â€Å"your tongue would rot, rot and die in your mouth until you had to spit it out.† By saying that you must spit it out shows how disgusted she is by the fact that she thinks that she has lost her mother tongue. Throughout Agard’s poem there is a mixture of many tones. There is a slight angry tone; he is slightly warning those that use the word half-caste. He constantly says â€Å"explain yuself† and by doing so he is almost threatening the reader, he is challenging the reader to try and explain why this term should be acceptable. There is also a very slight apologetic tone to the poem, in the first stanza especially, as the poem begins with the line, â€Å"excuse me†, almost like he is apologising for being mixed race, again emphasising the utter silliness of the term half-caste. The entire poem has the tone of over exertion of all emotions; again i feel that this is just to highlight the ridiculous phrase that is half-caste. Unlike Agard’s poem half-caste, Bhatt has a much more peaceful and calm tone to her writing. Her poem flows of the tongue and is read very gently. This could almost be to emphasise the idea that sleep, a calm concept, unlocking the mother tongue, or is to make sure that the idea of anger isn’t brought across but it is more the idea of confusion and the idea of being lost without the mother tongue. I think that Agard is almost vulgarly blatant with his message that the term half-caste shouldn’t be used and demines people that are mixed race. He argues the idea that when two opposite are mixed it creates something better, new and exciting. For example he writes â€Å"yu mean when Picasso mix red an green is a half-caste canvas?† he is almost using reverse psychology as Picasso by mixing red and green created an amazing canvas. He is using this poem to make it clear to people how offending this term can be and that it can truly rip a man’s pride in half. Bhatt however, is conveying almost an opposite message. She is saying that no matter what you do, say, or for that matter what other people say, you can never lose who you are or where you came from or put in other words you can never lose your past. All in all I feel that the poems both convey the message that they set out to and did it with real passion but with two completely different massaged and two completely different styles, it really shows two completely different attitudes to dealing with a multi racial life.

Na’im Akbar is acclaimed as one of the leading writers today

He has produced some of the best works of his time. His readers have long appreciated him for his classical interpretation of human morality and several critical thematic concerns of race and society but yet in a most humorous, easy and light hearted representation.Some of his most praised and entertaining works involve the analytical issue of the disgrace of racism and the hideousness of being a slave. Akbar's book, Breaking the chains of psychological slavery, tells his desire to revolutionize social, political traditions.Akbar persuades the reader through a prejudiced vision of his existence, inducing in the reader compassion distress and negative depiction of the white. The writer in his storyline takes the reader on a ride to the past, into a darker and crueler world of his time that disliked, loathed and exploited the men and women with darker skins. He talks about the curse of slavery and its impact on the society, a society that was built around the disgraces of racism and th at only recognized the master and the slave, not the life within.The depiction of the brutalities and the inhumanity of the custom of slavery, in the very first chapter, â€Å"The Psychological Legacy of Slavery†, is remarkable in its own way, criticized as a work more important and brilliant in content compared to the several other works by slave writers.This is mainly because he incorporates several dimensions of the cult of slavery in his narrative, specially throwing light upon the impacts of slavery on the slaves and more importantly on the lifeless bodies who owned them.â€Å"The implication of this is that the mind’s possibilities are limited by its concept of its potential.† † (Akbar 1996) .The slaves were not allowed to own any property. Hence they were grieved and heart broken with their abandonment.Their birth was rather a calamity and they cursed themselves for having been born as slaves. They felt that the master’s house was one of the most hostile places. I agree with the author here as I feel that it was from them that they too learned to be vile and vindictive. Thus the slaves transformed themselves into jealous people with conflagration. However, their innocence and ignorance made them suffer from prejudice.The foremost procedure the author uses in the second chapter is sympathy. He writes about mental slavery and an unknown faith. â€Å"When young Black boys learn that there are no limits to our possibilities on the basketball courts, we create the athletic genius of Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson and in their genius, they recreate the game of basketball.When our young people know that there are no limits to their potential in the world of manufacturing, communication, physics, chemistry or the science of the human mind, then those same young Black minds who create dances on the dance floor or compose music on their bodies with the ‘hand jive’ will recreate these fields of human endeavor with t he same incomparability.† (Akbar 1996)I got an emotion of distress and wanted providential things to happen to the slaves. Unfairness is exposed all the way through the chapter. This new tactic, intoxicated with the velvety diplomacies of pity, care and tolerance, made things even worse for the slaves. In this chapter, Akbar also speaks of the disgraces of racism and the immoralities of slavery with a most light hearted and moderate appeal.This is a major part of the irony that clearly comes to light when observed carefully. â€Å"†You must first be a king of your own personal kingdom. If you can't lead that kingdom on your own two feet, you can't lead a bigger kingdom†(Akbar 1996) Very ironically and rightly, he criticizes the aspects of morality in terms of slavery, racism and other such critical social concerns. I read the author’s depiction of an unknown faith in a slave’s life, as an allegorical representation of the plight of blacks in the Unit ed States even in the post-slavery time.He tactfully   exposes the duplicity of freedom, enfranchisement and equality, demonstrating how racism distorted the oppressors as much as it did those who were oppressed, yet in a most humorous and easy flow. This brilliant use of irony again reveals itself when in a world of moral confusion, in which seemingly good and civilized   white people express no concern what so ever about the injustice and illegitimacies of cruelty towards a black.A marvelous creation of Akbar, the masterpiece best reveals his ironical blending of wit with reality. His personal and conversational style makes the reader involved in his tone and mood. He takes the reader into confidence through his easy and delightful pace.The analytical issue of the disgrace of racism and the hideousness of slavery is beautifully depicted. Akbar’s contention to transform the view of the society is substantiated when he desires to bring out his ideas about racial religious inquisition and emotional perplexity, in the third chapter of the book.I perceive that although Akbar wrote the book several years after the end of the emancipation proclamation and the civil war, America still struggled to emerge out cleanly out of the disgraces of racism and the aftermaths of slavery.When the book was written, although seemingly flowing in a positive direction, race relations were beginning to withstand new strains, trapped now in a cleverer and more civilized white society. These new forces were more social and personal than official. This new form of racism in the south was less institutionalized and monolithic but at the same time was more difficult to resolve or combat.The white society although outlawed slavery and racism, most certainly due to growing ethical, moral and international pressures, was beginning to learn to adopt a more hypocritical, self-defensive reason to hate the newly freed blacks, to keep them away. I feel the author employs a predisposed analysis to manipulate the mind and heart of the reader.The greater the power, the more dangerous is the abuse. The truth in the statement is well proved in the book. Akbar makes his political report in this twentieth-century book that could be relished as an exhilarating but heart grieving story about a black boy. He, very well comments upon the abuse of political power and how the poor and down trodden blacks fall prey to the diplomacy of the whites.The title is a symbol for the evil contained in human souls.   The author reigns high in the field of characterization. His works transact chiefly with the divergence of the intellect and impulse. All of his key works present humans as inherently belligerent and corrupt. It can best be described as a document that predicts the behavior of human mind under the influence of circumstances around him.Hence I do feel that the author takes the reader to a journey back to those years, when the world was a difficult place to life for those whose skins were black. And in doing so, he maintains a supreme calmness in his pace that is garnished with humor and adventure.In today’s highly materialistic society, there is just no place for modesty. Hence the writer in his storyline takes the reader on a ride to the past, into a darker and crueler world of his time that disliked, loathed and exploited the men and women with darker skins. I am mesmerized by the reality that the author brings to light. This not only gestures at the authority, status and power of dictatorship but also accuses the present society where crafty people exploit the innocence of the docile and submissive ones.Bibliography:Akbar Na'im, Breaking the chains of psychological slavery , June 1996, Mind Productions & Associates ,isbn 0935257055

Health Risks from Exposure to Phthalates

Health Risks from Exposure to Phthalates The non-profit Environmental Working Group launched the Not Too Pretty campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of phthalates, industrial chemicals that are used as solvents in many cosmetics. Most of the mainstream hair sprays, deodorants, nail polishes and perfumes that millions of people use every day contain these harmful chemicals. Phthalates are also employed as plastic softeners in many different consumer products, including children’s toys and medical devices. Why are phthalates dangerous? Shown to damage the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive systems in animal studies, phthalates can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled. Scientists at government agencies in both the U.S. and Canada agree that exposure to the chemicals could cause a wide range of health and reproductive problems in people. It has been very difficult, however, to determine the minimum level of exposure when these problems arise. For many of us, our exposure to phthalates may be low on any given day, but we absorb these small quantities of chemicals frequently, over decades.   Manufacturers use phthalates because they cling to the skin and nails to give perfumes, hair gels and nail polishes more staying power. But a recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that five percent of women between age 20 and 40 had up to 45 times more phthalates in their bodies than researchers initially hypothesized. CDC found phthalates in virtually every person tested, but the largest concentrations 20 times higher than the rest of the population were found in women of child-bearing age. Another study, led by Dr. Shanna Swan of the University of Missouri, identified developmental abnormalities in male infants correlating to high phthalate levels in their mothers’ bodies. More studies associated phthalates breast cancer and with hormonal disruptions in young girls and women. Currently, potential links to obesity and metabolic issues are being investigated.   Industry Group Denies Risk Meanwhile, the industry-backed American Chemistry Council asserts, â€Å"There is no reliable evidence that any phthalate has ever caused a health problem for a human from its intended use.† The group accuses organizations of â€Å"cherry-picking† results â€Å"showing impacts on test animals to create unwarranted concern about these products.† EWG spokesperson Lauren E. Sucher urges people- especially women who are pregnant, nursing or planning on becoming pregnant- to avoid phthalates. EWG maintains a free online database named Skin Deep, which list lotions, creams, and polishes that contain phthalates. It also provides information on many other chemical compounds found in products beyond just cosmetics, including sunscreens, baby products, and toothpaste. Banned in Europe, Not U.S. or Canada A 2003 European Union directive bans phthalates in cosmetics sold in Europe, but U.S. and Canadian regulators have not been so proactive, despite mounting evidence of potential harm. Health advocates were temporarily relieved when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would begin enforcing a 1975 law requiring labels on products with ingredients that havent been safety tested. But such labels remain to be seen, even though 99 percent of cosmetics contain one or more untested ingredients.

Carnaval Celebrations Worldwide

Carnaval Celebrations Worldwide The word Carnaval refers to the numerous festivities that occur in many Catholic cities every year prior to the Lenten season. These festivals often last several days or weeks and are widely popular celebrations of local history and culture. Residents and visitors prepare for Carnaval festivities throughout the year. Revelers both young and old can enjoy numerous organized activities or party in the city streets with their families, friends, community members, and strangers. Religious and Historical Significance of Carnaval Lent is the Catholic season that represents the forty days prior to Jesus death on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which usually falls in February. On certain days of Lent, Catholics are supposed to abstain from eating meat as a physical and spiritual reminder of Jesus sacrifices. The word Carnaval likely originates from the Latin term carne levare, or to remove meat. On the day before Ash Wednesday (Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday,) many Catholics ate all of the meat and fat in their home  and held large parties in the streets as one last celebration before the penitential Lenten season. It is a time when all social classes could disguise themselves, congregate, and forget their usual tribulations. Carnaval originated in largely Catholic Southern Europe and spread to the Americas during the age of exploration and colonization. Carnaval Traditions All places that celebrate Carnaval generally have the same activities, but each Carnaval is infused with elements of local culture. During both day and night, revelers in the streets listen to music and dance, eat, and drink. Many cities hold balls and masquerades. The main tradition of Carnaval includes parades through the city streets. Many cities hold parades with floats, which are enormous, decorated vehicles that can carry dozens of riders, who often wear very elaborate, colorful costumes and masks. Parades usually have themes, which often parody current local political and social problems. What follows are some of the worlds most famous and popular Carnaval celebrations. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is home to the worlds most famous Carnaval and what many people consider to be the worlds biggest and best party. The basis of Rios Carnaval is the samba school, which is a social club named after the famous Brazilian samba dance. Samba schools are based in different neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, and rivalry among them is fierce. Members work throughout the year to create the best themes, floats, costumes, and dance performances. Over the four day celebration, schools parade and compete against each other in the Sambadrome, a building that can hold 60,000 spectators. Millions of people also party throughout the city and on Rios famous beaches, Ipanema and Copacabana. New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana is home to Mardi Gras, the most popular Carnaval in the United States. Dozens of social clubs, called krewes, parade through the streets of New Orleans over a six week period. The people on the floats or on horseback throw small presents to the spectators, such as beads, plastic cups, and stuffed animals. Revelers party in the citys French Quarter. Mardi Gras still occurs annually, even after Hurricane Katrina impacted the city in 2005. Trinidad and Tobago The two small islands of Trinidad and Tobago are known for having the best Carnaval in the Caribbean Sea. Trinidads Carnaval has been influenced by African cultures due to the slave trade hundreds of years ago. On the two days before Ash Wednesday, revelers dance in the streets to the sounds of calypso music and steelpan drums. Venice, Italy Since the 12th century, Venices Carnaval has been well known for intricately created masks and masquerade balls. Throughout history, Venices Carnival was banned numerous times, but since 1979 the event has occurred annually. Many events occur in the citys famous canals. Additional Carnavals in the United States Although New Orleans has the most visited Mardi Gras in the United States, some smaller celebrations include those in: Mobile, AlabamaBiloxi, MississippiPensacola, FloridaGalveston, TexasBaton Rouge, Lafayette, and Shreveport, Louisiana Additional Carnavals in Latin America Besides Rio de Janeiro and Trinidad, many more cities in largely Catholic Latin America celebrate Carnaval. These include: Salvador, Recife, and Olinda, BrazilOruro, BoliviaBuenos Aires, ArgentinaMazatlan, MexicoSome cities in Colombia, Uruguay, Panama, and the Dominican Republic Additional Carnavals in Europe Many more cities still celebrate Carnaval on the continent where it originated. These include: Viareggio, ItalyTenerife Island, part of Spains Canary IslandsCadiz, SpainBinche, BelgiumCologne, GermanyDusseldorf, Germany Carnaval Entertainment and Imagination The activities of the Carnaval season, developed over centuries from religious and cultural rituals, have become enormously popular in several cities around the world. Large crowds congregate in the streets to enjoy the extravagant parades, rhythm of the music, and colorful costumes. Its an exciting, creative spectacle that no visitor will ever forget.

Food as Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Food as Culture - Essay Example Whether on the basis of taste, price or nutrition, people are driven by the values they place on food as well as by individual social standing, or current events or social conditions (xi-xii). The food industry through the media makes use of these factors to popularize a certain food. Take for instance the cover images of popular food magazines Gourmet, Good Food, and Cooking Light. A 2009 starter edition of the now-defunct Gourmet, which was part of the year-end collection, sported an image of a less Italianized spaghetti and meatballs. The edition included other Italian-style recipes as a tribute to American Italians. Good Food’s issue this Christmas Season promotes â€Å"Festive Cooking† with a matching picture of a roasted chicken soaked in spices and garnished with what looked like potatoes around the sidelines. Cooking Light, was all for the sweet tooth this Holidays and showed an image of a glass vessel full of various sweets. Though the magazines considered the Holiday Season, summer vacations, and American Italians, they all promoted recipes that do not necessarily sustain life. Not only do they appear complicated to regular persons, these recipes take time to prepare, and are not practical to eat in day-to-day meals. Desserts, for example, have high sugar content and too much intake of sugar could raise blood sugar levels, a condition called hyperglycemia which could lead to kidney failure or other health problems. Judging from the headings, these magazines have not emphasized on nutrition but on how quickly the recipes are prepared and how they appear to the consumers. Gourmet focused speed and being economical as evidence by one of its article entitled â€Å"Ten-Minute Mains,† which listed down all fast-cooking affordable foods like hamburgers (Knauer 52). Good Food was more on the aesthetic aspect of the food, which has to be as â€Å"festive† as Christmas like the thoroughly garnished roasted chicken. The heading â€Å"So Easy, So Elegant: Secret Shortcuts for Spectacular Desserts† suggests that Cooking Light compromised fast preparation and food appearance.

Case Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Case Evaluation - Essay Example Henceforth, Siemens Company and its challengers may at times have the temptation of using any possible means in persuading decision makers in signing contracts with their companies. Due to this persuasion, the company gets tempted to offer financial incentives that are not legal in closing the signed contracts (Stanwick, 2014). The illegal method used by Siemens Company to obtain orders from their customers was revealed when it was stated that six executives in Siemens Company had been detained for the actions they did. These actions related to offering bribes to German and different customers in the telecommunication industry. Additionally, these executives were blamed of stealing money from Siemens Company to pay for the offered bribes. Thomson Ganswindt was among the arrested executives. He was heading the telecommunications equipment unit in the company. The assessed bribes amounted to 200 million euros and supposedly incorporated using bribes to get the security systems contract. This was at the 2004 Olympic Games held in Greece (Stanwick, 2014). The concerns began after Michael Kutschenreuter, a senior executive in Siemens Company, stated that he received a very worrying phone call in the beginning of 2004 from Beit Al Etisalat. Al Etisalat was an employee of a consulting firm in Saudi that was Siemens business partner. Al Etisalat claimed that he be compensated 910 million dollars as commission payments by Siemens Company for the role he played in obtaining telecommunication contracts in Saudi Arabia. He went on to threaten the company that he would go to the United States Securities and Exchange with proof of bribes Siemens offered connected to the contracts if Siemens Company did not compensate him the commission payments (Stanwick, 2014). Due to this threat, Michael informed the company’s superiors, including the then present CEO Heinrich von Pierer and future CEO of the company Klaus