The Hunter Gatherer Era Essays - Lithics, Tool, Bone Tool, Stone Age

The Hunter Gatherer Era The Stone Age was a time early in the development of human cultures before the use of metals when tools and weapons were made of stone, and human food was mainly produced from hunting and gathering. The dates of the Stone Age vary considerably for different parts of the world and even until very recently there were some cultures that lived in much the same way as the hunter-gatherers of thousands of years ago. In the Stone Age, the hunting and gathering of food was the norm. The males of this time specialized in hunting - usually with stone-tipped weapons, while the females gathered items. ?Incidental tools? were the first tools to be used. These tools were stones, sticks and other such items that the early humans found just lying about. Next came ?dawn stones? ? the first stone tools to be fashioned. These were usually crudely chipped pebbles or flaked stone implements that were used for many purposes, but dawn stones also included the stone and anvil which was used for breaking bones open to get to the marrow deep inside. Over time, a wide variety of tools were made for many purposes. By about 100,000 years ago, humans already had several types of stone tools and were using bone and wood implements as well. As time went by, these modern humans (Homo sapiens) made such specialized tools as bone needles, bone fishhooks, nets, hand axes, choppers, scrapers, backed knives, burins, points, spears, and wooden bows & sharp stone-tipped arrows. Needles were used to sew animal skins together for clothing using sinews as the thread. Fishhooks and nets were used to catch fish. Hand-axes could be used for cutting meat, scraping skins, chopping wood, digging holes, and hammering bone or wood. Choppers were used for smashing bones open to obtain marrow, hacking wood, softening meat, and possibly as a primitive hammer. Scrapers were deployed for dressing hides and possibly obtaining meat from bones. Backed knives were made for the ability to easily cut flesh. Burins were chisels used to carve and shape bone and wood. This would include creating sharp points on spears for hunting. Points, on the other hand, were hafted on to the spears. Rawhide and sinews were used to haft the stone points to the spears and other implements such as axes and arrows. Hafting was a major step in tool development as it enabled the user to put much more force behind his swing. Early humans participated in close range kills, meaning that they literally had to be within a foot of their prey when they attacked it. The Bow and arrow appeared after 20,000 BC. This amazing weapon, along with the spear, allowed the early humans to hunt and kill its prey from a distance. The bows were made from strong but flexible wood while the bowstrings were made from sinews. The arrows were made of wood, but the tips were made of sharp, pointed stones. The stones they preferred to use for their tools and weapons, like flint and obsidian, were very hard. These kinds of stones could be ?flaked? with a bone or antler to give flakes that look something like a human fingernail. In this process, removing chips from the top and sides made a carefully prepared stone core. Whole flakes were then struck from the core to be refinished into a variety of specialized tools. The flaked edges had a surface that is only a single molecule thick - sharper than a razor blade. In the Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, stone tools became highly polished and varied. Some Stone Age cultures, like the Aztecs, developed the art of tool making to a level unsurpassed elsewhere. They fashioned ceremonial cutting objects that were very ornate and artistically attractive in their functional form and symmetry. These ornate tools were probably used in religious ceremonies. Besides game caught from hunting, hunter-gatherers ate a variety of seeds, berries, fruits, roots, nuts and vegetables that they found growing wild. In fact, early humans, especially females and young children, were primarily gatherers. Plants, fungi and small animals were gathered for use mainly as food, but in some cases they were used for medicines, textiles,

Casinos Industry

Casinos Industry Introduction Background study Casino is an Italian word which means a small villa specifically built for pleasure. Casinos trace their origin in Italy in 1638 with the first casino being located at Venice (Fun Casino Gaming 1). Casinos are a major component of the global gaming industry (Economy Watch 2). Some countries such as India and other Arab countries consider the industry to be illegal.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Casinos Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, some countries such as Singapore are partially legalizing the industry (Economy Watch2). Over the years, casino industry has undergone a rampant growth (Persson 1). According to a report published in 2007 by PriceWaterHouseCoopers, the industry’s net worth averaged $101.6 billion. It is expected that the industry’s total net-worth will be $ 144 billion by 2011. The projection was based on the annual industry growth rate wh ich averages 7.2% (Onlinecasinotopic.com 3). The growth results from the high rate at which new casinos are built and also renovation of the old ones especially in the Pacific region and China. On a global scale, the industry generates a substantial amount of revenue and offers a wide range of employment. The table below gives an illustration of the total revenue generated from the industry today from the various forms of employment. Industry Gross Revenue Commercial casinos $34.11 billion Indian casinos $25.08 billion Card rooms $1.10 billion Legal bookmaking $191.0 million Charitable games $2.24 billion Pari-mutuel wagering $3.58 billion Lotteries $24.63 billion Some countries have got a well developed casino industry compared to others. The table below gives an illustration of the countries with the largest number of casinos. Country Number of casinos Country Number of casinos United States 1673 Lavtia 46 Canada 123 United Kingdom 366 Mexico 34 Spain 70 Germany 137 South Africa 47 France 460 Netherlands 88 Czech Republic 85 Australia 423 Estonia 123 New Zealand 58 Ireland 56 Macao 39 Croatia 51 Bulgaria 53 Aim The report is aimed at analyzing the global casino industry Scope Various sections are included in the report. An outline of the top five casinos in the world and the performance of the industry in the past 5 years is illustrated in the first part. The effect of trade patterns on the industry is evaluated in the second section. The third section entails an analysis of the industry using the porter’s five forces.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More An external analysis of the industry is conducted to identify the changes in the environment which will promote the growth of the industry. The firm which is expected to undergone significant growth and the factors which will contribute to the growth are also analyzed. Finally, a conclusion and a set of recommendations are given. Top five casinos The top five casinos in 2010 according to a recent rating by Hotel By City include; Foxwoods Resort Casino Tropicana Casino Resort The Peppermill The MGM Grand Macau Over the past years, casino industry has witnessed a rampant growth on a global scale. The table below gives an illustration of the revenue generated for the period ranging from 2005-2010. Casino gaming 2005 (Amount in 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Revenue million $). 442.0 677.9 983.1 1,241.3 1,445.9 1,597.5 Change in Trade patterns Trade patterns have had a significant effect on the industry (Walker 11). For example, as a result of the 2008 economic crisis, there was a general reduction in the consumers’ disposable income (Walker 11). The situation was worse in oil importing countries due to increase in oil prices. As a result of the trade patterns, the industry suffered due to a reduction in the level of consumer confidence. There was a decline in revenue especially due to reduction the level of disposable income amongst in-state customers and out-of-state travelers (Walker 12). Most of the customers considered gambling as a luxury. Tourism is one of the economic sectors which contribute towards the growth of Casinos. This arises from the fact that casinos enhance tourism by promoting other industries such as the hotel industry. As a result of the economic recession, there was a reduction in the volume of tourism across the globe. This culminated into a decline in the volume of foreign exchange received from the industry’s ‘exports’ (Seung Harris 109). Industry analysis The casino industry has become very competitive as a result of changes in business environment. The table below gives a competitive analysis of the industry using the Porter’s Five Forces model.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Casinos Industry specifically fo r you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Porters Forces Description Intensity Barriers to Entry Government Regulations. There has been a decline in government regulation towards the industry in various counties. Some of the regulation relate to reduction in tax revenue (Walker 167). Very Low Buyers bargaining power There has been a change in consumer behavior with regard to casinos. Consumers are incorporating casinos in their consumption patterns. Despite the change in behavior, consumers have little bargaining power. This means that they do not have a significant influence on prices. Medium Suppliers bargaining power There are a number of private and public institutions which supply facilities for casinos such as gaming tables and machines. This makes the casino industry to be highly. Low Competition A large number of competitors are venturing the industry due to its lucrative nature. This has greatly influenced the distribution of casinos across the globe (Hoyes Maccinis 475). The industry is also facing competition from other industries such as the hotel industry. A large number of hotels and resorts are incorporating casinos as one of their new ventures. Very High Substitutes As a component of the gaming industry, casinos are facing an increment in the number of substitutes. This is evident in that consumers are adopting other forms of games such as lotteries, horseracing, slots and online gambling. The pricing of the games is attracting a large number of customers. High External Analysis There are a number of external factors which will influence casino industry (Cheong 2). For example, various governments are legalizing operation of casinos. One of the countries which have legalized the industry includes Singapore (Cheong 2). However, there are strict regulations which are aimed at controlling operations of the firms. The objective of the regulations is to ensure that the industry does not have a negative impact on th e society. In addition, technological innovation is also contributing to growth of the industry. The 3 core technologies supporting the growth of the industry include; New gaming devices Customer data mining Surveillance systems These technologies are aimed at attaining maximization of revenue and also to ensure that there is sufficient security (Schwartz 1). For example, it is expected that development of slot machines will contribute towards attraction of new customers (Knightly 4). Marina Bay Sands Casino The casino which is located in Singapore is expected to undergo a rampant growth in the next five years. The casino is undertaking a significant amount of investment to ensure the growth of the casino. The investment is aimed at improving the casinos infrastructure (Portmann 1). Construction of the casino is expected to generate an annual profit of $ 1 billion. Various facilities will be incorporated in the casino so as to attract customers (Sign 9). Some of these facilities i nclude night clubs, restaurants and shopping mall. The growth of the casino is also expected to arise from incorporation of the acquisition strategy (Sign 10). The firm is also diversifying its operation by not only focusing on foreign customers but also on the locals. Focusing on the locus will increase the firm’s profitability potential considering the volatile nature of the tourism industry. This will further be enhanced by the company’s incorporation of corporate social responsibility which will improve the firm’s publicity (Marina Bay Sands 1).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Through corporate social responsibility, there is a high probability of a large number of Singaporeans patronizing the casino (Marina Bay Sands 1). Growth of the firm will further be enhanced by the fact that competition within the Singapore casino industry is minimal. This is evident in that only two firms are licensed by the Singapore government to conduct casino business. Conclusion From the analysis, it is evident that the casino industry is expected to undergo a significant growth. Some of the factors which will contribute to the growth include increased legalization of casinos as one of the major games, the high rate of technological innovation and change in consumer behavior. Growth of the industry will contribute towards growth of the global economy. This arises from the fact that casino industry creates various jobs. Recommendations In order for casino industry to have a positive effect on the economy, it is vital for the following to be considered. The industry should be regulated to ensure that it does not influence the society negatively. Firms in the industry should incorporate emerging technologies such as e-commerce so as to attain a wide market share and at the same time increase their customer base. Cheong, Simon. Competition, casinos and the city: an entrepreneurs’ perspective. Singapore: Singapore Institute of International Affairs, 2005. Economy Watch. Casino industry.New York: Stanley St. Labs. 25 Oct. 2010. Web. Fun Casino Gaming. History and origin of Casinos.2010. 26 Oct, 2010. Hoyer, Wayne and Macinnis, Deborah. Consumer behavior. New York: Cengage, 2009. Knightly, Arnold. Global gaming report: casino revenue forecast to increase. Ras-  Vegas Review Journal. 3(2): 1-3, 2007. Web. Marina Bay Sands. Marina Bay Sands launches youth inspirational internship  program. 2010. 26 Oct. 2010. Web. OnlinecasinonTopic.com.Casino industry to reach $144 billion in 2011, 25 July 2007. 26 Oct. 2010. Web. Persson, Anna. Sustainable develo pment in rapid developing casino: destination:  The case of Macau. Hogskolan: University of Hogskolan, 2008. Print. Portmann, Kai. Despite success, Singapore casinos face political risk. Cologne: Deutsch Press, 2010. Web. Schwartz, Dave. Center for gaming research, 2010. 26 October 2010. Web. Seung, Chang and Harris, Thomas. Impact of reduced gaming exports on the economy of Nevada. Review of Urban and Regional Development Studies. 12(2), 109-119, 2000. Web. Sign. Marina Bay Sands: Singapore casino makes sure bet Harris digital signage. 4 Sept. 2010. 26 Oct. 2010. Web. Walker, David. The economics of casinos gambling. Florence: Butterworth- Heinemann, 2007. Print.

Financial Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Financial Analysis - Essay Example The global systems insurance agency start-up budget was $2,345,000 which entails four critical sections that must be available for the implementation process of the project. Employees and payroll taxes amounted to $1,600,000 under administration costs. The start up of this sophisticated business project called for different kinds of skills and expertise in the field of technology to enable the implementation of this project successful. Their efforts and sacrifice of their time were compensated in monetary value. The computers, repairs, services, maintenance and depreciation accumulated to a cost of $98,000. Due to unfavorable conditions that some computers were in, more computers were purchased and upgraded to improve technology of the SYPRO softwares. Their implementation cost was $597,000 which was broken into specifications of online software cost $500000, testing cost $60,000, training cost $25000, and SYPRO support $12000. In the standard preparation of budgets, there is always a provision for miscellaneous expenses that might be incurred and, therefore, a total of $50,000 was catered for these expenditures. The above costs were only budgeted for the beginning year of 2014. The figure below shows the start up Budget for the first year. Our respective income and expense statements replicate our financial positions of a year before the implementation of the SYSPRO software. They also clearly show a year prior to the implementation and the financial positions of the three years to come. It should be known that the projection of the future financial positions of subsequent years was based on the present performance data for financial analysis. For an efficient and sufficient implementation of the SYSPRO softwares, an ample start-up capital is required for the research and development expenses. Our initial capital for the SYSPRO implementation was $597,700. The

Integrated Marketing Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Integrated Marketing Communications - Essay Example which carry leading brands in other product segments such as hair care and ladies skin care ranges. The product is currently having a 4% market share in the men's face lotion category and included in the top 10 brands in the market. Marketing Communication Process includes five elements. They are: sender, message, receiver, medium, and feedback.In developing marketing communications, the target audience needs to be identified, and a well-coordinated program should be shaped to derive a desired audience response. To have an effective Marketing Communication, Nolan Company should target the right audience. Once the target audience is selected suitable tools of marketing communication should be chosen from advertising, sales promotions, direct marketing, public relations and personal selling. SWOT that is strengths, weaknesses, opportunities; threats are the influencers of marketing communication process of the Black knight lotion. At most times, the communication process is based on sh ort-term objectives such as overcoming immediate awareness problems, image or preference problems in the target market. The achievement of the set MC 1 objectives can be realized through a well-planned MC program utilizing a mix of MC tools and execution of the programs with correct timing and frequency. Before starting the report on Marketing Communication, we should know what that is. ... 7 3.5 Feedback 8 4. Barriers of Effective Communication 8 5. Target Audience 9 6. Findings after Selecting Target Audience 9 6.1 Geographical Audience 10 6.2 Demographics Audience 10 6.3 Psycho graphic Audience 10 6.4 Behavioral Patterns 10 6.5 Viewer ship and Listener ship Patterns 11 7. Brand Analysis (SWOT) 11 7.1 Strengths 12 7.2 Weaknesses 13 7.3 Opportunities 13 7.4 Threats 13-14 8. Marketing Communication Objectives 14 8.1 Short-term 14 8.2 Long-Term 14 9. Conclusion 15 10. Bibliography Introduction Before starting the report on Marketing Communication, we should know what that is. Marketing is an organizational function and a set of processes for creating, communicating, and delivering values to the customers or clients and for managing customer relationships in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders.2 Communication is a transactional process between two or more parties whereby meaning is exchanged through the intentional use of symbols.3 So marketing Communication is an ever-changed field where new theories, new techniques, cultural changes and technological advances all combined to create a dynamic environment within which marketers try to ensure that, their messages get through to their target audiences. For Marketing Communications to be effective they should be aligned with the overall business and marketing strategies of the product and this is referred to as an integrated Marketing Communication approach. In today's intensely competitive markets, consume rs are becoming more and more sophisticated in terms of their needs as well as their purchasing process. Therefore, need

EU Reform Treaty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

EU Reform Treaty - Essay Example Basically, the union of the said countries is formalized on the basis of different aspects. Even through a flag and a currency the member nations are considered as one. The flag being a circle of 12 gold stars set on a blue background and euro being the official currency.2 The European Union is continuously being guided by the agreements and consensus of the different member nations. Due to the type of operation of the organization it is often referred to as a 'negotiated order' or a permanent negotiation institute' which is based in one decision making process that is undertaken to resolve different issues being faced by the organization. It is basically a common notion that one of the agenda of the said organization is the determination of the guidelines regarding decision making and consensus along with the application.3 In a consolidated view, it can be perceived that a constitution can be of advantageous effect if development can be undertaken. The said notion has both advantages and disadvantages, thus, there are opposing ideas that have proponents and critics. The view and conviction of the different groups and parties are based on the different effect that can be observed in the member nations.4 The EU is composed of different key institutions such as the Council of Ministers, the European Commission and the European Parliament. These are composed of different duties and jobs. When an issue is needed to be resolved the different institutions have different contributing duty. One of the issues that had recently been the issue being faced by the EU is the Reform Treaty. The said treaty is related to the issues on the establishment of the constitution for the whole EU. Basically, due to the fact that the EU is voting on the issues, the results of the vote were incorporated to the EU Reform Treaty. Aside form the said issue, there are other issues that are incorporated.5 The Reform Treaty then, which is aimed to be the guidelines and the guiding principles of the EU. Due to the specification of the policies the contradictions are inevitable. The importance then of the role being placed by the leaders of the said organization is the welfare of not only a nation but the whole region that had entrusted leadership to the EU. The highlights of the Reform Treaty include a no far reaching European constitution. Basically, this can be attributed to the fact that there are different criticisms that are faced. The majority voted against the notion, suggesting the Reform Treaty which was considered as a more practical solution since the changes compared to the policies that are being used is more utilizable. The Reform Treaty of 2007 had been a controversial event since the outlook of the people is the optimization of the organization through a constitution which was initiated and in even applied in 2004, although it had been expressed as a Constitutional Treaty. Basically, the policies needed ratification but through the Reform Treaty of 2007, changes had been undertaken.6 Basically the issues related to the Reform Treaty can be considered encompassing on the different aspects of the needs in governance of the region. These include then terms in

Brain-Imaging Techniques for Cognitive Functions Analysis

Brain-Imaging Techniques for Cognitive Functions Analysis Using examples of fMRI, explain how researchers use brain-imaging techniques and discuss what, if anything, these techniques can tell us about cognitive functions. Here is introduced the method of fMRI, how imaging data is gained and at what cost is involved in getting it. Further to this the experimental designs are discussed and how these might add to the toolbox available to the experimental psychologist. A study will be looked at, which has used fMRI imaging to add to the existing knowledge and psychological theories that exist around memory. Last of all some areas of concern are looked at as the structure-function data will continue to grow and expand. Before the use of imaging methods, such as that of fMRI and PET scanning, as Naish (2010) points out, it was possible to discover whether certain parts of the brain were responsible for certain cognitive functions. There were problems with this, often relying on accidental legions meant the more than one function could be damaged or it produced inconsistent findings. Lack of clear resolution resulted in the patient being tested through their life to only discover the underlying neurological damage after death. Kaye (2010) highlights a common critique that the current use of imaging techniques does not provide cognitive psychologists with much. The simple structure-to-function mapping does not improve our understanding of cognitive theories. This has been challenged in Henson’s (2005) review of Tulving (1985) ‘remember’ or ‘know’ memory experiment with the use of fMRI methods. Still, it is important to explore the way that imaging methods work for cont inuing psychological understanding. MRI and to an extent also PET imaging works based on the idea that when a cognitive task is being undertaken both glucose and oxygen will be carried to those area(s) of the brain, which requires it significantly over than that of resting or less activate areas (Johnsrude and Hauk 2010). The imaging technique is sensitive to that increased blood flow and that according to Johnsrude and Hauk (2010) this is used to study the functioning of the brain. This is often known as regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF): alongside this the level of oxygen that is left in blood can also be looked at known as the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast, as deoxyhaemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin produce different magnetic fields (Johnsrude and Hauk, 2010). Although there are some methodological problems with this, such as the lag between neural processing and increased blood flow, it is argued that with the correct design and computer analysis such problems can be dealt with (Henson, 2005). Function al MRI over PET is less intrusive in the sense that more participants can be involved, be studied over a longer time and it is generally easier to maintain. This is due to PET requiring the participant being injected with a radioactive substance which because of health issues rules out who can take part and how many times each participant can undergo PET imaging (Johnsrude and Hauk, 2010). Functional MRI has become the choice of many experimental psychologists. Johnsrude and Hauk (2010) also highlight other issues that make fMRI difficult, but not impossible, the first that the machine itself makes a lot of noise to the extent it can cause hearing damage, it can be constricting and participants cannot move their heads while imaging is taking place. Those with anxiety issues, for example, will find fMRI studies very difficult to take part in but when participants move their heads computers can adjust the images to match up with earlier ones and ear plugs can be worn. Johnsrude and Hauk (2010) present two types of experimental design. Subtractive designs such as that used by Klein et al (1995, cited and explored by Johnsrude and Hauk 2010) is based on the assumption that [cognitive] tasks can be broken down and by adding an additional task between two tasks, the extra load can be subtracted from the two tasks. This allows the extra task to be measured and Klein et al (1995) followed this design. Using native English speakers who later in life learned French, these participants were asked in either language to either repeat the heard word or create a synonym for that word. Speech perception and production would always have to be used, but when asked to create a synonym it would also involve semantic association and word retrieval (cited by Johnsrude and Hauk, 2010). Klein et al (1995) subtracted speech perception and production, allowing them to solely study semantic association and retrieval. They found activation in the prefrontal cortex, perhaps indicating the importance of this region in processing word meaning and response selection. Further to this activation in the basal ganglia in the French synonym task which is linked to motor action a previous known process. The second type of design is that of correlations which Johnsrude and Hauk (2010) highlight as examining the relationship between a presented stimulus or behavioural response along with the associated brain activity. They are relatively simpler than subtractive designs avoiding the interpretation or subtraction of tasks. For example, cognitive states can be examined so signal change in one area can be predictive of activity somewhere else in the brain. If the two areas correlate it could be assumed they are part of the same neural network for the cognitive function either directly or through another region. In this case it is not simple structure-to-function but rather exploring the areas of the brain that are required to perform one cognitive task. Adding or reducing theoretical components to such cognitive tasks. It could be argued that subtractive designs look for differences within known theoretical connected functions, whereas correlational designs look for explorative patterns without assuming such a strong known function-to-structure relationship. Henson (2005) distinguishes between two types of imaging inferences the first function-to-structure deduction and the other structure-to-function induction. The first inference is that of deduction, if one condition activates area one and the second condition activates area two it would be possible to assume that these two different conditions activate different areas within the brain. It does not matter which areas of the brain are activated only that there is a qualitative difference. In terms of function-structure mapping at the psychological function level according to Henson (2005) the only assumption is that the same psychological function (or task) will not give rise to different activation patterns within the brain. For function-to-structure induction the areas of the brain activated are important for each presented condition. Henson (2005) goes on to explain for each presented condition the same area of the brain is activated which can lead to experiments which conditions use the same area of the brain to explain that a certain area of the brain has more than one function but can operate differently depending on the processing task. Rather than there being a disassociation that you would find in deduction there is an association, Henson (2005) argues that in most cases the null hypothesis, therefore has to be accepted, although at the same time this could suggest the abilities and/or limitations of that area of the brain thus results in limitations of that cognitive ability and task. Through psychological manipulations it can be shown that there is a reliable regional dissociations (Henson, 2005). One experiment as mentioned above is that of the remember/know memory experiment that also uses function-structure deduction. The importance of this fMRI study is that it takes psychological theory and determines what the processes are occurring. This experiment presented by Henson (2005) and others is based around the argument that there is either a single-process model such as that presented by Donaldson (1996, cited by Henson, 2005) or a dual-process. Using Tulving (1985, cited by Henson, 2005) participants are asked to indicate if they have seen a stimulus previously and whether they think this because they remember the encounter (remember) or they just think the stimulus seems familiar (know). It was found that within the remember condition the left hemisphere was more responsive while the in the know condition other regions such as the right prefrontal cortex were more activated. The conclusion is that the imaging data support a dual-processing model over the single-process model. Functional MRI imaging was helpful here as behavioural findings could not agree and the debate was in part helped by imaging data. Both deduction and induction results in the function-structure mapping according to Henson (2005). It is important to follow the logic of Henson that imaging data is useful within itself for providing another dependent variable, such is the case if reaction time is being recorded alongside imaging data, that imaging data would provide additional information such as right/left activation of the motor cortex (Henson, 2005). This might not be relevant in all contexts, still it can provide information which could be necessary to the research if that research included or required such information. This is described as function-structure mapping. Henson (2005) argues that the systematic function-structure is an assumption, for deductive areas of the brain to perform certain functions whereas for induction a strong sense of systematicity is necessary. In this case there may be a function that depends on co-activation with at least one, perhaps more regions. In this case a network is what is being observed activated within a condition. Through subtraction analysis, it allows for this test of a ‘neural network’ and McIntosh (1999, cited in Henson, 2005) the function of the area or region of the brain depends on its interaction with other regions (Henson, 2005, referred to this as hot-wiring). Adding to this there might be an activation of a region or area which does produce suppression of other areas or regions. Nelson (2005) calls for the redundancy of networks, to summarize this within a brain damaged patient, it might be that although the function-structure mapping is incorrect for this person. There might be a d ifferent function-structure mapping present. Henson (2005) counter-argues for this position to say that if through trial to trial or from many experiments, it would not be observed that there are reliable or reproducible activations. Most psychologists are also content with the idea that there is a hierarchy of abstraction of functions. For example, visual perception occurs within a region which is divisible into sub-functions. Where colour, form perception and motion perception can occur (Nelson, 2005). However, there is agreement that there needs to be a one-to-one mapping or function-mapping before one can infer structure to function. Henson (2005) calls this the structure-to-function induction, the usefulness of this approach or paradigm will have to stand up by its success or failure. Henson (2005) further argues the fMRI is a recent invention, the computer mapping even so, with such new areas of technology it has to prove itself to be of benefit. So even if mapping critics have a point it will perhaps be years before the value of imaging technique come to be very useful. Currently they can be useful, though by using existing completing cognitive theories which can be settled using imaging data with caution. For Henson (2005) imaging data simply comprise another dependent variable along with behavioural data that can be used to test competing theories. Imaging can determine the circumstance under which a tactile stimulus produces activity in the visual cortex give clues about the mechanisms of sensory integration that are not provided by behavioural data alone (Henson, 2005). There are criticisms of using imaging data, one produced by Coltheart (2004, cited in Henson, 2005) that understanding the hardware does not mean that we then reach an understanding of the neuro software. Henson (2005) argues that it does provide information on performance and on the distribution of the processes while the software is performing. To finally say that once you have the performance data, through behavioural data, the knowledge of the hardware this then can tell you something about software (Henson, 2005). Henson (2005) argues that neuroimaging data can be informative to the experimental psychologist, although there is perhaps too much excitement around such data. No other technique comes close to this ideal of measuring brain activity, if we assume that ideal is measuring activity simultaneously the activity of many individual neurons, we currently are not there but MRI is the best that we currently have. This is still a developing technology, it may in future years wit h advances it can become something quite special. Functional MRI is a relatively safe method and it can be used to replace the more traditional method in the Neuropsychology of relying on accidental brain legions to discover the link between psychological function and structure. The two methods mentioned above, that of subtractive and correlational designs allows for the more traditional dissociations along with associations of areas or regions of the brain. Although fMRI does not study the neural activity directly it is currently one of the best methods for studying activity at levels of relatively high resolution. Still fMRI is relatively new and the computing software more so, so it is likely that in years to come these technologies will improve. This is not to say that such imaging should be a replacement for more traditional methods, above the example of the Remember/Know experiment imaging extends or made clear the already present psychological models. The mainstay of cognitive psychology is behavioural data and imaging should be used alongside. To what Henson argued that imaging data as another dependent variable. This is to say that it won’t always be appropriate to use imaging data still there is excitement about imaging data and as it improves it will become yet another useful tool in the experimental psychologist toolbox. Word count: 2204 References: Naish, P. (2010) Perceptual Processed in: Kaye (2010) ‘Cognitive psychology’ ed, The Open University, Milton Keynes Kaye, H. (2010) Foundations of cognitive psychology in Kaye (2010) ‘Cognitive Psychology’ ed, The Open University, Milton Keynes. Johnsrude, I. S. and Hauk, O. (2010) Neuroimaging: techniques for examining human brain function, ed in: Kaye (2010) ‘Cognitive psychology: methods companion, The Open University, Milton Keynes. Henson, R. (2005) What can functional neuroimaging tell us the experimental psychologist? The quarterly journal of experimental psychology, Issue 58A, pp. 193-233 Lewis Karl Flood

Slavery Essay -- American History

Slavery vs. Economics "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" --Declaration of Independence Slavery is a societal institution based on ownership, dominance, and exploitation of one human being by another and reciprocal submission on the part of the person owned. The owner may exact work or other services without pay and virtually without restriction and can deny the slave freedom of activity and mobility. Slavery is one of this country's most debated topics. In America's history slavery and economics go hand in hand. Most people think that the ban of slavery was a human rights issue in the south, where in fact it was a major economic one. The issue of slavery has been debated between the North and South since before the colonization of the thirteen colonies. It has been the instigator of many events throughout the history of the states. The North and the South obviously had very different views regarding the subject. The debate over the economic advantages of slavery in the South has raged ever since the first slaves began working in the cotton fields of the Southern States. Initially, the wealth of the New World was in the form of raw materials and agricultural goods such as cotton, sugar, and tobacco. The continuing demand for slaves' labor arose from the development of plantation agriculture, the long-term rise in prices and consumption of sugar, and the demand for miners. Not only did Africans represent skilled laborers, but also they were a relatively cheap resource to the South. Consequently, they were well suited for plantation agriculture. Whi... ... organizations which sprung up, as well as much bloodshed.(Abbott) Throughout the rest of time before the Civil War, slavery remained in the Southern states. Slavery was not abolished until 1865 when the 13th amendment was passed. Slavery has been around since the dawn of time, and it still exists today. Just because the Constitution says that slavery was outlawed, does not mean that the South followed the "rules" so to speak. If you look at society today, you can still see small types of slavery. In reference to the quote from The Declaration of Independence at the beginning of the paper, where it says that "We hold these truths to be self-evident", "all men are created equal", and "they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights", but do we as a society view everyone as it is put in the constitution? Everyone in society has his or her own answer.

The Bluesky Software Consulting Firm

People clearly are an organization’s most critical resource. Their knowledge and skills along with their commitment, creativity, and effort are the basis for competitive advantage. It is people that have creative ideas for new products or for process improvements that devise marketing strategy or take technologies to the next level. As consultant for Blue Sky, it is my obligation to develop recommendations based on issues addressed in the case, to ensure Willis can develop an effective management team in accordance with company’s requirements. Blue Sky is a fifteen year old software-consulting firm, however, has some obstacle to overcome. As the consultant, I will respond to four outlined questions pertaining to the case study. This analysis will provide areas of improvement for Blue Sky Software and the necessary management techniques to make for their organization to run functional and efficient. Question 1, in the case asked to address the differences in leadership style and approach today and in the recent past at Blue Sky. In the past, the leadership styles were lead by an autocratic leader. Autocratic leadership can be said to be synonymous to dictatorship where only one person has the authority over the followers or workers. Their decision has to be taken as the golden rule and should never be questioned. They plan out everything and order their subordinates to work according to their rules. Max Blue seemed to think meeting was not necessary and thought planning was a waste of time and no one questioned his authority. This type of leadership style unfortunately made employees at Blue Sky passive as they couldn’t make decision on their own. There seemed to be several types of leadership styles circulating throughout the company depending on the different department you were in. The organization structure was broken down by the CEO, VP of the division, director of marketing, CFO, and the regional directors being in the upper management levels. The regional directors were all younger and had been with Blue Sky relatively a short period of time. They seemed to be more aggressive, whereas, they wanted to expand clientele and product lines. The older manager mainly the vice presidents who had been with the organization for awhile, had a more passive approach because of the autocratic leadership style from Max Blue. Willis, the new CEO is more of a collaborative leader. When establishing collaborative relationships it is not always natural or easy, particularly because people have different lifestyles, backgrounds, and experiences. A collaborative leader takes a much different approach essentially suggesting that the most effective way to guide an organization, process, or project is through inclusion and consensus. Also, the â€Å"benevolent dictator† approach is highly efficient eliminating the wavering of many competing voices in the decision-making process. Even though, collaboration is the way people naturally want to work, because it builds teams through mentoring and coaching, building trust and mutual respect and beak down walls between people, teams, departments and division to accomplish goals. It was clear the others looked to Willis to solve the problem, so this left Willis not being able to come to a consensus as he had hoped. In question 2, of the case study there was a focus toward the organization looking at motivation being a critical element. Be sure to discuss and evaluate the approaches to motivation at Blue Sky now and the past. In the past, the approaches to motivation were to provide employees with big dividends. Many studies show that interesting work and sense of accomplishment are some of the greatest motivators for an employee. These rewards lead to the type of motivation known as â€Å"intrinsic,† which can be defined as causing â€Å"†¦ people to engage in an activity for its own sake† (www. reference. com). Studies show that intrinsic motivation is important for high job satisfaction, which can affect an organization's performance. Many different techniques exist to intrinsically motivate employees(Walker, 2008). Some include: job enlargement, job rotation, and job enrichment. As noted earlier, job satisfaction among employees is important for a company to attain, thus, the use of techniques that boost intrinsic motivation is key. However, the employees were happy because they were paid well. The flip side to that is those older employees are closes to retirement, and have no intrinsic motivation. They are not motivated in sharing to new ways in doing things for the organization, such as saving money and hiring new clientele as suggested by Hubres in her memo. Therefore, it has been suggested by Willis that James and Counts work together to develop a retirement package for senior employees in the division without any immediate replacement for retirees. This would be a start in saving money for the division. In question 3 of the case study, it relates to strategic plan and decision-making process. The question ask, if there has been a strategic planning and decision-making change at Blue Sky? If so, is this a positive change? Yes, there has been a strategic plan and decision-making process at Blue Sky and positive change. The strategy plan comes from an outside consultant that has been asked to help Willis to develop an organization plan. A strategy plan must be for an organization and not an analysis of the current plan. In the past, there was no strategic plan in place based on Susy Hubres, one of the newest members of the Executive team. In her memo, she is proposing a three-day retreat for Blue Sky executives, and her main agenda for the meeting is developing a ten-year strategic plan.

Explanation of the Five Themes of Geography

Explanation of the Five Themes of Geography The five themes of geography are as follows: Location: Where are things located? A location can be absolute (for example, latitude and longitude or a street address) or relative (for example, explained by identifying landmarks, direction, or distance between places).Place: Characteristics that define a place and explains what makes it different from other places. These differences can take many forms including physical or cultural differences.Human Environment Interaction: This theme explains how humans and the environment interact with each other. Humans adapt and change the environment while depending upon it.Region: Geographers divide the earth into regions making it easier to study. Regions are defined in many ways including area, vegetation, political divisions, etc.Movement: People, items, and ideas (mass communication) move and help shape the world.After teaching these concepts to students, continue with the Five Themes of Geography assignment. The following assignment is meant to be given after the teacher has presented the definitions and examples of the five themes of geography. The following directions are given to the students: Use the newspaper, magazines, pamphlet, flyers, etc. (whatever is the most readily available) to cut out an example of each of the five themes of geography (Use your notes to help you find examples.):Location Place Human Environment Interaction Region MovementPaste or tape the examples to a piece of paper, leave room for some writing. Next to each example you cut out, write what theme it represents and a sentence stating why it represents that theme.Ex. Location: (Picture of a car accident from a paper) This picture shows relative location because it portrays an accident by the Drive-In Theatre on Highway 52 two miles west of Everywhere, USA.HINT: If you have a question, ASK - dont wait until the homework is due!

Starting an Essay with a Quote - The Most Effective Ways!

Starting an Essay with a Quote - The Most Effective Ways! Are you staring at a blank page on the screen unable to write at least a single word? Wondering how to start an essay with a quote? Do you need advice on how to start a college essay and make it impressive to bring you an A-grade? Keep reading to find answers to all the above-mentioned questions. In this article, we will discuss general strategies on how to start a paper with a quote drawing attention. Discover various effective ways to make people want to read your story to the end.   Let’s start with general ideas. Key Rules on How to Start an Essay Have no idea how to start narrative essays for high school? Are you looking for good essay samples to follow when composing your paper? Don’t know how to start an analytical essay? Writing an effective opening paragraph that will inform, motivate your reader can be challenging for schoolchildren/college students. It is an important step in the writing process everyone should take. What strategy can help avoid mistakes? Remember that the most important purpose of your academic piece of writing is to persuade readers of your point of view based on evidence from in-depth research. Consider the following key points in order to succeed: At the essay’s beginning, tell the public about the main idea your paper covers. Introduce your essay’s subject in a clear manner Focus on your paper explaining your audience the central issue of your discussion.   You can do it in various ways. Pose a question, immediately suggesting answers that will be   argued; state a thesis; it is possible to combine these two approaches. It’s up to you to choose the most effective way Can you start an essay with a quote? Definitely, yes! This is one of the killer ways to hook the reader. Bear in mind that when you are thinking how to begin an essay, you should take steps to make your readers fully understand why they might want to continue reading. This is the key You have to catch your reader’s attention with a hook - encourage him/her to read the entire paper. Your goal is to persuade the audience that your text is worth reading You should orient your readers. You need to provide necessary information and explanations to help your audience follow your arguments. You can do it by answering basic questions of who, where, what, how, when, and why or by providing a short overview of the sources you’ll be analyzing ORDER YOUR ESSAY FROM EXPERT Do you wonder how these strategies work? Order a model paper on your topic that will be written according to your specific requirements. It will serve you as an example to help you learn how to start essay with quote and other effective ways able to attract the reader. You can get the helping  list of the best argumentative essay topics  online easily.   How to Start an Essay: Easy Tips to Help You Get Started College essays are long projects. Sometimes, many people find them overwhelming but if you break the writing process into small parts and try to complete your draft step by step, you can expect you will feel more confident and work more productively. Let’s discuss how to start a paper with a quote, taking manageable steps. First, choose a topic that you find intriguing. Define the purpose of your project and evaluate your options. The most successful strategy is to write about a subject that you are passionate about. Conduct research and study the available sources of information. Before you get started with your piece of writing, make a detailed outline to organize your thoughts, sort your ideas into certain categories, and determine natural links between your thoughts. Now, you are ready to write an introduction. Follow the tips below to create an impressive introduction. There are 4 simple tips that will help you to cope with this task quickly and easily. Let’s get started! 1.How to start an essay introduction? To attract your readers’ attention, begin with the killer language means. Brainstorm ideas on an attention grabber and add a couple of sentences that lead to your thesis. Use one of the strategies that we’ve already discussed. Beginning an essay with a quote is a good idea. Finally, use the outline or a mind map of your ideas and create a thesis statement – a sentence or a couple of sentences, the aim of which is to tell your audience about the point you will be arguing about in your paper. A thesis is the last sentence of your introduction. You may need to return to your introduction after you’ve finished the final draft to clarify the focus, change, and rewrite the beginning of your paper several times to ensure that you are able to engage your readers and establish your authority. 2. How to start essay with quote? Do you wonder â€Å" Can I start an essay with a quote?† Definitely, yes! It’s a rather popular way to begin an essay. You should find the right quote that fits your purpose and use it within the framework of your own words. How to begin an essay with a quote? Check the list with the most effective tips on how to put a quote in the beginning of an essay. Avoid the frequently used quotations and clichà ©s that are familiar to everyone because they will bore your target audience making them think that you have been lazy to search for the original quotes Explain how the quote connects to your point Select a quotation that your audience can understand and relate to Make sure the quote exactly fits the tone of your academic paper When introducing a quote, always acknowledge the source. Follow the requirements of a specific citation style These tips on how to start an essay with a quote will help you to pick the right quote that will impress your reader. No matter what sort of opening you choose, make sure it is related to the focus of your paper and serves a good tool for establishing the context, or plays a significant part in your thinking and analysis. Your opening should be clear, direct, and specific. Try to avoid too broad and general openings because they can make your paper look boring 3. How to start a paragraph in an essay? The next step is writing the body paragraphs. Talking about how to start a paragraph in an essay, we should say that all body paragraphs will have the similar basic structure. Write one of your main ideas in the outline as a topic sentence in a paragraph. Then, add supporting ideas. Back each supporting idea with relevant examples, statistics, and other details and make sure you provide enough information to link these smaller ideas together. You will have to write as many body paragraphs as you have main ideas in your outline. 4. How to start a conclusion for an essay? We’ve come to your paper’s final part. Let’s discuss how to start a conclusion for an essay. The length of a conclusion depends on the length of your paper and its complexity. There is no set formula how to do this the right way. Your task is to review the key points and provide a final perspective on your subject. Write 3 to 5 strong sentences. Make sure they reinforce your thesis statement and briefly remind your readers about the significance of your topic, and the research you have conducted. After writing your conclusion, check your paper’s organization and logical flow of ideas, paying attention to the smallest details. Fix grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes. As you see, writing high-scoring essays can be complicated and time-consuming but we hope that our simple tips on how to start a good essay will help you succeed in creating impressive beginnings for your admissions, argumentative, persuasive and other types of essays. ORDER YOUR PAPER HERE Key Things You Should Know When Picking the Right Quote for Your Essay Some students think that it is as easy as ABC to start with a quote. However, it is a misconception as you need to learn how to do this the right way. There are certain things you should take into account when looking for the best quote. You should be patient as the search may take you more than one day. You should look through a number of sources to find a saying of a person that will be exactly what you need. Most students give preference to the sayings of famous people. It may sound surprising but this is not the best way to impress the reader. It is better to find a quote of a person who isn’t well-known. You can use a part of a long quote not to bore your reader in the very beginning of your paper. If you have found an interesting saying, don’t rush to use it for your piece of writing. You need to conduct research on the history of the quote. Learn more about its origin to know what context it was first used in. Choose those sayings that were unexpected and creative. Need Professional Help to Understand How to Begin an Essay? Lack great ideas for a powerful introductory paragraph? Looking for the answer to the question â€Å"Can you start a paper with a quote?† Order a custom paper written by an experienced writer on our site and forget about your worries concerning academic writing.   If you face a problem with completing a difficult task assigned to you by your college teacher or university professor, take advantage of the well-written professional examples that we offer to students of all academic levels, regardless the complexity of the topic. Do you wonder how they can be helpful? Simply using them, you will get a perfect understanding of how to start an essay on your topic, write a good introduction, organize your argument in the three body paragraphs, create an impressive conclusion, back your points with appropriate evidence and quotes from the relevant sources.   We will provide you with the perfectly written model papers that can help you in creating your own pieces of writing. Our experts are ready to help you 24/7. Don’t hesitate to contact us whether you face a need to complete your paper urgently or just want us to review your work! Our team of professionals will wait for your order for assignment writing being ready to provide a helping hand and expert advice, which you may lack. Entrust us to write your paper and enjoy your free time, which can be spent on things that really matter to you now. You won’t regret choosing us as your reliable academic helper! Want to check if this is true? Read what our loyal customers say about our top quality services! 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The Existence of Plate Tectonics on Mars Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Existence of Plate Tectonics on Mars - Essay Example However, observations of the planet's current state shows Mars at much higher level of deterioration that that of Earth. NASA's latest Mars project, Phoenix, made a successful landing on Mars and spent five months collecting data that has yet to be fully analyzed on the planet's climate, soil, and atmosphere. This mission yielded further proof that there was a type of water on or near the surface of Mars. Soil samples collected prove that there could have once been sustainable life on the planet (Cowing). There have also been findings in recent years suggesting that Mars once had a molten inner core, much like our own. The presence of stripes along the crust layer of Mars, believed to be formed from the crust renewing itself through use of the molten core, lends further proof to the idea that there were once tectonic plates resembling those of Earth (Cain). "The theory of plate tectonics is based on the movement of rigid plates on the planet's surface. Plates are bounded a ridge wher e new crust is created, a trench or subduction zone, where the crust is consumed, and transform faults, along which plates slip" (Connerney, et al. 2005, p. 4). The question as to the existence of tectonic plates on Mars remains a very highly debated issues among scientists. In its current state, Mars is essentially a dead planet, meaning there is no life present and little to no activity on behalf of the planet itself. The lakes and riverbeds have dried up and what is left of the atmosphere is being blown away in chunks by massive wind shears (Cain). Though it is believed that Mars could have once supported life, that seems virtually impossible now. New theories are supported by scientific evidence which suggest that the layers of Mars once greatly resembled the layers of Earth, including a molten core, tectonic plates, and a changing crust layer. It is believed that the molten core of the planet slowly cooled, leaving the stripes currently observable in the hardened crust. Proof of the tectonic plates was recorded by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor in a 1999 (NASA Press Release). While the initial findings only showed the striping of Mar's magnetic field in the southern hemisphere, new data shows that the magnetic field covers the entire surface of the pl anet in a pattern similar to that of Earth (NASA Status Report).(NASA/JPL) Along the striped lines of the magnetic field there are also fault formations and other geographic signs that point toward the existence of a tectonic plate system similar to that of our own planet. As an example of this, the Tharsis volcanoes on Mars are actually aligned in a straight line and it is now believed that, like the Hawaiian Islands, these volcanoes formed over a hot spot in the mantle (Cain). Fault formations, similar to the Martian ones, can only be formed by tectonic plates shifting, pushing new molten crust up from the planet's mantle and changing magnetic polarity of the area as it hardens (Cain). Unfortunately an exhaustive analysis of the geology of Mars has yet to be conducted. Therefore many of the currently accepted theories of the inner workings of the planet are based on what has been observed and studied on Mars combined with what is known about its sister planet, Earth. Whatever plate tectonics previously existed on

Rhetorical Analysis of JFK'S Inaugural Address Essay

Rhetorical Analysis of JFK'S Inaugural Address - Essay Example Therefore, the speech encourages Americans that through him a torch of a new revolution has been handed over to them and all must participate. JFK feels that in unity Americans can achieve more. Therefore, he calls them to a pledge of allegiance to the nation. Additionally, JKF called for Americans to be proud of their nation and to give it the necessary support to climb ladders that other nations have not climbed. His speech lures Americans to believe in their great potential to bring about changes they want in their land and beyond. This paper will focus on rhetorical analysis of JFK’s inaugural address. The inaugural speech by JFK had several goals. First, JFK needed to pass a message of accomplishment in winning the presidential elections. Kennedy was nominated as the democratic candidate for presidency in 1960, defeating the republican’s choice, Richard Nixon. Therefore, JFK starts his speech with diction to show his celebration of winning and his belief in freedom gained through his election. To him, this day not only signifies victory but also is a celebration of freedom, because it symbolizes the end of poor leadership and a beginning of another era. JFK starts his speech by reminding Americans of the pre-existing sense of pride of their nation. Kennedy says, â€Å"For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago† (Kennedy). One reason that makes Kennedy revisit ancient achievements is to show that he is in line with American Vision and to build a good name for himself. To Americans, the day when they have received their independence means very much – it is one of the most significant moments in their history. Mentioning it, Kennedy is bound to get some followers who associate themselves with the independence. He later claims, â€Å"Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage † (Kennedy). By this, Kennedy shows, through words, a picture to the Americans – he has taken the mantle from leaders before him to fulfill certain tasks and responsibilities according to the collective wish of the Americans. Secondly, JFK seeks support for his presidency and uses the unification tool to lure Americans to support him. His speech is full of anaphora of â€Å"to† and â€Å"let both sides† to address both the republicans and the democrats present in this inauguration. JFK has a goal of uniting all Americans and fighting racism. To achieve this, he sates, â€Å"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man† (Kennedy). This statement inspires Americans and the world at large as they have so much they can do for their country. Additionally, it demonstrates them that if people collectively put their mind to something, they will achieve it. For instance, it will take unification to do away with racism, corruption, and achieve world freedom and world peace. Additionally, Kennedy unifies the public through the use of alliteration. For instance, he says, â€Å"Let’s go forth and lead the land we love†