Friday, August 21, 2020

Santiagos Spirit In The Man essays

Santiagos Spirit In The Man expositions Dynamic: In the gallant novel The man and the ocean, the effect of the picture of Santiago on the perusers is amazing and great. His character and the intensity of brain research assume significant job in this basic plot novel. The writing works source from the life, however it implies more than life itself, during the portrayal of Santiago, the writer respected the soul of relentless man. In the mean time ,it likewise contain the yearning of the ideal future. Watchwords: self discipline, solid, profound quality and feeling, distress, battle Self discipline is the center of the people substance .The most noticeable pith and individual character of Santiago is resolve, which can establishing the more grounded and show the heroes incredible and solid. It is critical to cause novel to have motivation. Initially, the novel put the hero in the earth loaded up with solid difficulty. Through this, get the point of testing the quality of resolve .The epic shows the perilous setting incredibly: misfortune, depression, neediness, particularly the noxious shark. All are the image of life situation. Shockingly, Santiagos resolution stayed more grounded as a whelming capacity to battle against the trouble, regardless of whether confronting the demise compromise. His resolution vanquished the terrified brain science. He said to himself: You are slaughtering me, fish, however you reserve a privilege to, never have I seen a more honorable thing than you. Please, and execute me. I couldn't care less who murders who. From these words, we know the presence of life isn't the first. The presence of extraordinary character and the keeps an eye on pride are the first. Santiagos resolution caution him how to be an extraordinary man. He has the celebrated aphorism: Man isn't made for rout. A man can be wrecked yet not vanquished. This is the old keeps an eye on life percept. It is pregnant with significance: Man will in the long run bomb in the battle with the outside ,however man should show unique endurance. an... <!

Sunday, July 12, 2020

The Well-Readheads Go on Spring Break

The Well-Readheads Go on Spring Break RJS: I don’t know what it’s like up there in New Hampshire, but here in Virginia we’re in the middle of Very Dreary Days. You know what that makes me want? Warmer climes, endless sunshine, and a steady supply of frozen fruity beverages. Oh, and a cabana boy. I don’t need to explain why, right? Wanna come with, Lib? Wanna make our perfect vacation even better by reading about vacations gone awry? LH: It’s perfect timing: I just read The Ruins by Scott Smith this past weekend, and if being flayed by killer vines isn’t a sucky vacation, I don’t know what is. RJS: All I can think of right now is Little Shop of Horrors and “feed me, Seymour!” I’m not sure I know of any books that are specifically about vacation disasters, but there’s a plane ride to Hawaii in Adam Ross’ novel Mr. Peanut that is utterly gut-wrenching. In fact, the couple’s whole trip is something of a horror show. It’s been several years since I read the book, and I still can’t get on a plane without thinking about it. And that’s all I’ll say about that. LH: I think Audrey II might be the only good plant villain out there. (Hivemind, please make suggestions in the comments. No, not dirty things about good books with plant villains.) Moving on, another book with a vacation disaster: A little gem that I love, called Bear V. Shark by Chris Bachelder. It’s about a family who drive across the country to watch a bear and a shark wrestle in Las Vegas, after the youngest in the family wins tickets to the event in an essay contest. Very witty, biting (shark joke!) commentary on America. RJS: Your mentioning sharks got me thinking of Florida, and that got me thinking about Swamplandia!, in which there’s a Hell-themed amusement park called The World of Darkness. (Welcome to today’s episode of Free Association with Rebecca!) And the place seems to be nothing but disaster upon disaster. Puking on a rollercoaster at Disney World? Bad. Puking in a dark, spinny, demon-filled park? The worst. LH: Ooooooo, speaking of amusement parks have you ever read Kissing in Manhattan by David Schickler? It’s a fantastic book of connected stories and dark, dark, dark. There’s a horrible thing that happens at a Guppy the Wonder Fish theme park that (understandably) scars one of the main characters for life. Talk about a horrible vacation. I heart this book, so much. RJS: I read that soooo long ago that I remember loving it, but that’s about all I remember. Note to self: time for a re-read! What about disastrous roadtrips? While not *exactly* about a vacation, Thad Nodine’s Touch and Go is about a delightfully catastrophic roadtrip that turns into straight-up catastrophe (like, Act of God catastrophe) when the characters get stuck in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. And then there’s Drive Like Hell by Dallas Hudgens, when isn’t even about a roadtrip, but a kid who spends a lot of time driving over his summer vacation and causes all kinds of trouble. I know I’m getting a little off topic, but hot damn I loved that book. LH: One of the funniest books I’ve read is about a road trip: Handling Sin by Michael Malone. It’s about an insurance agent named Raleigh Hayes, whose dying father runs away from the hospital and tells Raleigh the only way he’ll return is if Raleigh completes several tasks his father needs him to do. Raleigh has to drive to New Orleans, and he meets all kinds of crazy characters along the way. It’s hilarious. And there’s a fantastic chase scene at Stone Mountain in Georgia. I don’t understand why more people haven’t heard of this one. RJS: Okay, it’s not a vacation book so much as a seasonal thing, but I have to squee some love out for Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan. About three generations of women that meet to spend every summer at the family beach house, it’s hilarious and so smart, and it goes right to the heart of the ways we love and love to hate our families. LH: That’s still a vacation! I’m going to jump back to road trips and mention The Dog of the South by Charles Portis. First I’ll tell you about the book: Ray Midge goes on a road trip in search of his ex-wife, Norma, who has run off with her ex-husband and all Ray’s credit cards. Hilarious hijinks ensue. It’s a great book. Now lemme tell you about Charles Portis: He is amazing. He should be president of the Awesome Writers Club. You may have heard of a little thing he wrote called True Grit? He’s the author of five novels, the last having been released in 1991. I was hoping everyone reading this could clap their hands together? Maybe if he feels our love, he’ll write another one. It worked for Tinkerbell. RJS: And we did TOTALLY wish a new Donna Tartt novel into existence. I mean, not a month after we pondered offering ourselves to her for the most literary of threeways, her fall release was announced. So yeah, clapping for Portis should work. That’s how this internet thing works, right? Are we still talking about books? I’m all twitterpated. LH: Sounds like you need a vacationShall I recommend a book? Sign up to Unusual Suspects to receive news and recommendations for mystery/thriller readers.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Service Learning Project Reflection - 1179 Words

Service Learning Project Reflection An Experience Like No Other In the past, I have participated in community service projects. It wasn’t until The Leadership and Professional Development (LPD) class in the fall of 2012 that I was introduced to the idea of service learning. This semester taught me the importance of reflecting on the community service that I performed and actually taking something away from the experience. This semester my team and I had the opportunity to participate in community service activities at The Village at Carver Family YMCA at 1600 Pryor Road. We had the pleasure of working with a wonderful and enthusiastic staff and mentoring some of the local youth. The youth that we mentored ranged from kindergarten†¦show more content†¦The group that I chose needed help in math. The problem with most of the kids was not that they were incapable of learning the material. It was that they didn’t find it interesting and did not understand how it would help them in the future. A method that I used with them, that was taught to me a apply math to making money. After I explained to how excelling in math would ultimately help them make more money, they were more enthused about the subject area. I personally never saw myself as a tutor but after helping the kids, it made me see certain qualities in myself that I did not know I had. Among other things, my team and I had the privilege of sitting down and talking with some of the senior citizens in the community. Besides helping the kids with their school work, this was one of the most beneficial things about my community service at the YMCA. In my conversation with some of the senior citizens, it allowed me to really appreciate the viewpoint of the elderly and in return sharing my insight on a few things. It made me feel good because they recognized us for doing something positive in the community and making a difference instead of getting into to trouble. Now that my time at the service learning site is o ver, I am glad that I had the opportunity to participate in it. It helped further myself in becoming a future leader. During the class we discussed a couple of frameworks to help is grow and become great leaders. One of those was the 21Show MoreRelatedSample Reflection Assignments1243 Words   |  5 PagesAssignments: COURSE: Going Local: Service-Learning to Link Entrepreneurship, Policy and Science (ASCI 297 and CDAE/NFS/PPS 195/295) INSTRUCTOR: Richard Schramm Written assignments are of two types: Reflections and Project Reports. Reflections: An essential element for student learning in service-learning courses is written and oral reflections on the field study experience, as well as on other elements of the course. To have an experience isn’t enough to ensure learning; you need to intentionallyRead More Service Learning in College Essay1641 Words   |  7 PagesService Learning in College Service learning provides college students with a whole new method of learning. This type of learning provides a student with an experience outside of the classroom in their area of concentration. Emily Knab, a college student at the University of Miami, has experienced service learning and found it very beneficial in her area of interest. Emily is studying education and wants to become a teacher in the future. She performed her service learning atRead MoreCommunity Engagement : A Form Of Experiential Education1520 Words   |  7 Pagespedagogies are synonymous with service learning. Engagement projects are the ones that combine learning goals and community service to enhance both student growth and common good. The National Service Learning Clearinghouse defines it with a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service combining instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen the c ommunities. (The National Service Learning Clearinghouse, n.d.) TheRead MoreThe Transformative Learning Project At A New York City Community College1084 Words   |  5 Pagesin a service learning project to earn college credits at a New York City community college. During this international service learning opportunity, students perform service work and conduct research to examine and address health and social problems in resource-poor communities. Students design and implement health education skits and workshops, conduct health assessments in local neighborhoods, and work at the local hospital. Program requirements include a daily journal, evening reflection groupsRead MoreReflection On Leadership Competency1453 Words   |  6 Pages â€Æ' Introduction This reflection on my leadership development was key to understand the fundamentals of leadership development. Having already acknowledged that leadership development is a self-development on-going process, I now realize that it requires deliberate practice based on a serious self-assessment to become a better learner before to become a better leader (Smith, 2017). As learning how to learn can be challenging, the NCHL Leadership Competency Model seems to be the perfect method to teachRead MoreReflective Reflection On Reflective Practice1332 Words   |  6 PagesPromoting Reflective Practices in Special Education through Action Research: Recommendations from Pre-service Teachers; Paula Wenner Conroy http://journals.library.wisc.edu/index.php/networks Research Problem and Purpose of the Study: What is reflective Practice? Reflective practice is when you reflect on what you have done to see how it has worked or improved your teaching practice. The reflection practice is very important to the instructional practice and helps the student teachers to developRead MorePersonal Statement On Self Reflection1726 Words   |  7 PagesSelf-Reflection Personally, I love being involved in service learning projects, and when I learned we were working with kids, I was very excited. A lot can come out of a two and half hour project, both rewarding and something to grow on. Unfortunately, I could not be in attendance for the duration of the event due to a conflicting work schedule. This was the biggest conflict I saw for myself. I had to choose whether to go into work, or to stay and fully participate in our activities. AnotherRead MoreAdult Literacy and Community Development Essay1724 Words   |  7 PagesAbout two years ago I took a class on individuals and organizations in Complex Organizations. Our first assignment was a learning paper in which we explored our learning history, what motivates us and what we hope to learn before working in an organization. This exercise allowed me to reflect on my values, how they have shifted and solidified and to predict the kind of learning experiences I hope for as I work and live in organ izations. Looking back, the concept of understanding the individual levelRead MoreWhy Are Academic Learning Projects Becoming More Popular At Universities?1166 Words   |  5 PagesTopic for Investigation: Why are Academic Learning Projects becoming more popular at Universities and what programs have contributed to impact students/nonprofits? In 2012 in was reported in an academic journal written by Karin Braunsberger and Richard Flamm it was stated that universities in the United States have been criticized for not contributing enough to the social well-being of communities within which they operate, and business schools have been accused of failing to prepare students adequatelyRead MoreEssay On Why Is Community / Service Learning Such A Strong Focus At CCA880 Words   |  4 PagesWhy is community/service learning such a strong focus at CCA? We have found that connecting young adults to their community can be extremely beneficial. It not only prepares students for their futures, but it promotes active engagement in the community. Through extensive research, the United Health Group found that volunteering in ones community boosts confidence, promotes friendship, lowers stress levels, and creates an overall sense of achievement. As a parent/guardian how can I get more involved

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Impact Of Neurobiology On A Person s Behaviors And...

Understanding Neurobiology As a social worker, it is important to be aware of neurobiology of the brain. A persons thoughts and actions can best be explained by neurobiology. Social workers work daily with people who seek therapy to address thoughts and actions that occur in their everyday life. In order to provide best practice, it is important to have understanding of how neurobiology plays a role in the development of a person’s behaviors and thought processes. Four aspects of brain development that are particularly important for a social worker to be aware of are affect regulation, implicit memory, attachment style, and co-construction of the social brain. A vignette about a 22 year old mother named Isabel and her 4 year old son named†¦show more content†¦It is through the earliest interaction between an infant and the caregiver that an individual’s affect regulation begins to be generated. The mutual affect regulation displayed by the caregiver and the inf ant allows the infant to learn and internalize how to regulate intense emotions. An infant’s brain structure and function becomes implicitly embedded with the modes of early affect regulation through the neuronal structures that allows the individual to have appropriate modes of relating throughout life (Applegate Shapiro, 2005). The goal of affect regulation is to increase the positive affects and decrease the negative affects. A mechanism in the brain that has contributed to the creation of Javier’s behaviors would be the limbic system. The limbic system is considered to be the center of emotion (Applegate Shapiro, 2005). The three key regions of this system are the orbitofrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate, and the amygdala. The amygdala is a part of the brain that is considered to be important to affect regulation. The amygdala is utilized to identify, understand, and interpret emotions. It plays a role in the automatic, rapid, and early detection of affect (LeDoux, 2000). It is considered to be important in regulating emotion and guiding emotion-related behaviors. Javier appears to have struggled with developing appropriate affect regulation due to the

Easy Cinema free essay sample

The cinema industry is primarily engaged in operating movie theatres and/or exhibiting videos at film festivals. The major products and services in this industry in the UK are single screen theatres, multiplex theatres (8 to 15 screens) and megaplex theatres (more than 16 screens). Cinemas in the UK typically operated at 20% capacity. Admissions in 2001 were at the highest level in decades – 156 million admissions generated ? 974 million in ticket sales – and were expected to continue to rise at an annual rate of 4% between 2003 and 2010. Key Success Fators The key success factors are ability to quickly adopt new technology. Indeed, customers expect latest digital visual and audio equipment, which increase entertainement. In addition, it can attract increased revenue. Cinema operators must have access to multiskilled and flexible worforce such as young casual workers who agree to work daily, weekly and annual demand peaks. Another key success factor is to be part of a group buying, prmotion and marketing scheme in order to obtain cost advantages and access to big-budget releases. Then, cinema operators have to guarantee supply of key inputs, that is, on-going supply of quality movies in line with local audience tastes and demand. Finally, they have to be close to key markets and offer easy access. For instance, shopping and town centres are the preffered locations for cinema operators since they are known as leisure destinations. PEST Analysis Macro Forces Political/Legal Blair’s centre-left Labour administration comfortably returned to power in June 2001. The business community has praised Blair’s administration for its macroeconomic policy framework including the transfer of interest rate policy to the Bank of England in 1997. However, some people have criticised its labour market policies including the adoption of European legislation governing working hours and the adoption of national Minimum Wage legislation in 1999. In addition, the imminent increase in National Insurance contributions early in 2003 caused concerns. The UK has been member of EU since 1973. The Blair’s administration tried to play a more pro-active role in the European decision-making. The UK also enjoys strong security ties with the US. In a nutshell, EU, NATO and G7 allow it to maintain a strong presence on the international stage. The United States continued to be the UK’s largest single trading partner in 2001, with exports to the US accounting for over 15% of total UK exports. The other 14 EU member states accounted for 58% of total UK exports. Implications for the cinema industry: Staff costs accounted for 21% of the expenses of cinema operators. This is the second highest source of expenses behind film rental. Legislation governing working hours and national Minimum Wage can significantly increase staff costs in the future since minimum wages usually increase with time. Economy The UK’s economic performance has been strong since the recession of the 1900’s. Its real GDP growth has been of 2. 9% per annum over the 1993/2001 period. In the UK in 2002, nominal GDP in dollar terms grew by 8% to reach US$1,548 billion. The economic expansion of UK has led to significant improvements in labour market performance; indeed, unemployment has been the lower ever seen in three decades. In fact, unemployment in the UK increased by 0. % in 2002 to reach 4. 2%, although this is down from 5. 7% in 1997. In addition, inflation was low due to low world inflation and effective monetary policies. However, economic growth was imbalanced between the South East (Capital: London) and the North East of the country due to the strength of sterling against Euro, which has led to the stagnation of manufa cturing exports, and to long term structural problems in parts of the country. Finally, despite its superior economic growth performance of the UK’s productivity gap remains compared to other advanced industrial nations. Implications for the cinema industry: Economic conditions, particularly trends in the real growth in household disposable income, which is affected by changes in the growth of employment and from tax and interest rate movements, as well as high gas prices. Social The UK is located in Western Europe. It is separated from France by the English Channel. The official language is English; however the official languages in Welsh are English and Welsh. In 2003, UK counted English (81%), Scottish (10%), Irish (2%) and a number of immigrant ethnic minority groups which tended to be concentrated in the main urban areas. Regarding religions, people were mostly Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Muslim. There is a strong correlation between the cinema market and the number of teenagers/ children and proximity to important urban areas. Children of baby boomers were in the most heavily targeted segment in 2003 that is people from 15 to 24 years old. In the UK, cinema is perceived as a leisure activity; however, British people feel time-pressured and allocate less time to entertainments than ever since 2000. Implications for the cinema industry: Major cinema operators own multiplex in the South East where economic conditions are better than in the North (economy) and where most people, including ethnic minorities that accounted for a large percentage of the UK population, live. Technology The UK is strong in the high-tech sector. Computer and Internet use has boomed in the UK since 2000. Britain excels in sophisticated niche markets such as computer components and gadgetry. British people are more confident in using new technologies such as Internet and computers due to online security, technological advancements, and huge investment in RD. Implications for the cinema industry: Cinema operators had to quickly adopt new technology. Indeed, customers expect latest digital visual and audio equipment, which increase entertainment. In addition, it can attract increased revenue. This is one of the industry success factors. Micro Forces Supply (Here we consider distributors as being the most imortant suppliers) The competition is intense in distributing films to cinema operators. There were two types of distribution companies in the UK: studio-owned and independent. The top-five distributors are 20th Century Fox, UIP, Buena Vista, Warner and Columbia Tristar. Each of these distributors was owned by one or more of the Hollywood studios. Market share of distributors fluctuated from one year to another, reflecting the success of individual films. Their role was to distribute films sent by their parent companies; as a result, they had access to an assured supply of films. Independent distributors, however, did not have access to an assured supply of films since they had to bid for distribution rights and finance part of the production. Power of supplier is extremely high since there are no much substitute inputs and they are the only ones able to provide quality inputs (films), which are one of the most important success factors in the cinema industry. Competition The competition was intense among cinema operators. Indeed, some of them had had to exit market due to competition, pressure on profitability and poor capacity utilization. In order to retain their market share, cinema operators tend to differentiate their service offering to each other. For instance, we notice an increase in multiplex, non-film programming, new technology use, direct marketers and internet use to interact with customers. In addition, some of them offer high quality service in order to attract a new segment, that is, premium segment. Major industry players in the UK are Cinevan, UCI, UGC Warner Bros/Village, Roadshow, Cine-UK National Amusements and Showcase. Cinevan (Odeon/ABC), a private equity firm, was the leading cinema operator in the UK in 2003 in terms of market share and number of screens. It had a strong proposition as the film-lover’s brand, tried to bring new niches and was considering non-film programming. UCI, which is an international specialist in multiplex operator, focused on technology, the use of the Internet to target children, and superior service to target premium segment. UGC Cinemas, owned by Vivendi and a private French multiplex operator, heavily invested in customer retention by offering unlimited pass at discount prices. Roadshow is a joint venture that owns a website and focused on Bollywood films. National Amusements, which is a subsidiary of a US company, operates under the Showcase brand and owns cinema that have more screens than the average multiplex in the UK. Cinema exhibitors faced high costs due to films rental -nut method, sliding scale method, datum scale method and flat percentage – difficulty of obtaining a site, labor, facility lease expenses, utilities, and maintenance. Demand UK usually operated at 20% capacity. Cinema admissions increased from 138. 9 million in 1997 to 155. 9 million in 2001 and are expected to continue to rise at an annual rate of 4% between 2003 and 2010. This growth was due to the emergence of multiplex which turned cinemas into a more spontaneous leisure activity. In fact, people were not looking for a homogenous product but for a package of services, which can be highly differentiated (new release movie, quality and sound presentation, comfort, location and ease of access). Basic motivations are the movie going experience itself as well as demand for a particular movie. Cinemagoers are price sensitive; however, there are also non price factors in demand such as taste and preferences, time of the year and session time. The release of blockbuster movies can also increase admissions and industry revenue. 15-24 year olds, who were the most prolific cinemagoers, represented about 15. 3% of the British population in 2003 and is expected to decline to 14. 2% by 2015 (children of baby boomers will get older). The number of children from 4 to 14 years old is expected to decrease as well (this is the second more important cinemagoers). Therefore, the audience profile will shift due to demographic changes. Cinema operators have to make sure that they are able to satisfy the demands of this older age group. In this industry, demand is affected by economic conditions, especially trends in the real growth in household disposable income, which depends on employment, tax and interest rate level. Buyer power is medium compared to the one of suppliers but it is pretty high since admissions account for a large percenatge of profit, switching costs, availability of substitutes and price sensitivity. Porter’s Five Forces Barriers to Entry Barriers to entry in this industry are moderately high and steady. The most important barrier is having access to the latest release movies in a timely manner. Indeed, cinema exhibitors must access to suitable movie products from the most famous distributors which have agreement with the most important Hollywood studios. In addition, major distributors are able to allow operators to screen a movie for a certain number of sessions per day for a specific number of weeks for a determined price (Film Distributors Association). Then, film rental paid to distributors can reach up to 55% of box office for new releases (nut method, sliding scale method, datum scale method, flat percentage). Finally, there are significant costs associated with establishing movie theatres including building a new cinema, labour, facility lease expenses, utilities and maintenance costs. The level of regulation is medium; however, under the Standards Conditions (established by FDA) exhibitors could only charge the admission price for a film that had been agreed upon with the distributor. Furthermore, cinema operators have to handle food distributions, disability access and public occupational health and safety regulations (one employee per screen to handle emergency situations). Other important barriers are FDA policies, brand/value identity and capital requirements. Degree of Rivalry Concentration in the industry is medium. In 2001, the top three cinema operators were estimated to control about 55% of total industry market share in the UK. The concentration level has increased since 2000 when Cinevan purchased Odeon Cinemas and merged it with ABC Cinemas. The level of industry concentration was expected to increase in the future since most industry participants expected consolidation in the market insead of expansion. Other major things to take into consideration are product differences and brand identity. Threat of Substitutes In 2003, movie theater substitutes mainly came from personal computers, DVD players, the internet and home theater systems. The industry revenue is affected by the rapid penetration of the in-home entertainment equipment into households which implies that consumers are inclining to these substitutes. Indeed, cinema is an entertainmentr activity not a necessity. Complementors It seems that cinemagoers are ready to pay a premium for a superior experience. For instance, cinema exhibitors that offer things such as tables and food for drinks, emphazied comfort and service are successful. These complementors provide customer with a high value. * Other forces (including supplier power and buy power), their impacts as well as forces previously introduced have already been discussed at some point in the analysis. Industry Life Cycle The life cycle stage is mature; indeed, competiton arose from in-house entertainment substitutes and financial returns as well as rationalization are poor. The growth in admissions occurred during the releases of numerous blockbuster movies. The industry’s revenue growth resulted from significant increase in ticket prices rather than increased demand. The cinema operators faced significant competition from the internet delivery of movies and other available video-on-demand services. The fact that the cinema instry is mature implies that entry barriers are high, that the demand is flat and that it will probably decrease in the near future (decline phase) unless a move occurs in either the external environment or the industry itself. Problem Statement The easyGroup was planning to extend its model to proceed with easyCinema. Alternatives 1)Go in the cinema industry by building a new cinema )Go in the cinema industry by acquiring an existing chain 3)Do not go in the cinema industry Recommendations In a nutshell, the alternatives 1) and 2) do not satisfy the criteria for idea selection. Indeed, in both cases it is not possible to grow the market through lower prices and to yield manage prices due to distributors power. Indeed, easyCinema will probably not have access to blockbuster movies since distributors will not agree upon the adm ission prices. In addition, direct sell to customers through the internet would not be profitable since going to cinema is a spontaneous activity. Then, frills are almost required in movie theaters by customers; in fact, easyCinema would face customer resistance. Again, barriers to entry the cinema industry are moderately high. For instance, the cost of buying or building a new cinema is extremely high. Finally, the alternative 1) requires that easyGroup obtains a site that fulfills the space and planning-permission requirements of a multiplex. In other words going in the cinema industry will require that easyGroup modify its â€Å"easy† business model to fit the cinema industry requirements. Despite the fact that the alternatives 1) and 2) have some advantages such as developing brand awareness and expending scope of products/services offered by easyGroup, I would recommend the alternative 3), not go in the cinema industry, based on my analysis of the UK conditions and the industry. Instead, easyGroup should invest in an industry that better fits its criteria. Sources: Datamonitor reports (Business Source Complete) and the case itself NB: The models that I used are explicitly developed in the paper so I did not include an extra appendix to avoid repetition and make you save some time.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Racial Discrimination Madison Community an Example of the Topic Government and Law Essays by

Racial Discrimination Madison Community Introduction Racial discrimination, ethnicity, sectarian violence, religious animosity, tribal clashes and nepotism are rampant forms of racial segregation in most communities. Where such kinds of vices are common, civil strife and animosity are manifested, and often-bloody clashes and tensions result. For peace to prevail in any given community tolerance amongst the different races in a given community is required. Barker, 2005. In addition the law enforcement agencies are required to keep vigilant as traces of racial strife still manifest themselves in my community. In this autobiographical paper I will discuss the challenges facing the Madison Community in terms of racial relations. Need essay sample on "Racial Discrimination Madison Community" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Our Customers Very Often Tell Us:Who wants to write paper for me?Professional writers suggest: We Write All Kinds Of PapersCustom Essay Order Best Essay Writing Service Review Cheapest Essay Writing Service Paper Writing Service I am a white living in Madison area, my community is predominantly white. There are however many race related problems in the Madison Community. The community of Madison Community is comprised of several races. About 80%, of the total population of my community comprise of whites. Therefore, the whites constitute majority of the residents in Madison. African Americans constitute approximately 11% of the Madison community, while Asians constitute about 8% of the total population. The other races which comprise the Madison Community include; American Indians about 1% and others which comprise of about 3.0%. The whites being the majority have at sometimes been accused of being discriminatory to the racial minorities, mainly the African Americans and American Indians. In Madison Community, opportunities in the social arena, political arena, educational opportunities and even economic opportunities have largely been disproportionate and based on race and ethnicity. Clearly, in the Madison Community, racial minorities have continued to be treated differently and unfairly. Where this happens, corrective action has been taken and culprits subjected to legal procedures, this shows that, despite presence of racial discrimination, efforts are being put at the community level to fight the problem. Racial minorities have been discriminated against for a very long time in almost all spheres of social life. Racial marginalization in the Madison is manifested in many ways and especially in the resource allocation. In other procession has the racial minorities been so underrepresented. The anomalies in racial minorities representation in many sectors such as education, and in the employment especially in professions such as law, dentistry and medicine in the my community has been occasioned by amongst other factors, social-cultural factors which impede the development of such communities. Albert and Ronald. 1990 The above can also be accounted for by the seemingly low entry in such schools such as law and medical. The above situation can be termed as pathetic on account of the fact that racial minorities constitute well above 20 percent of the American population. It makes a lot of sense to have every race represented well in aspect. Racism is still common in USA although it has significant dropped compared to the 1960s. Barker, 2005. Against such a background, it makes sense to have one of their own (the racists minorities) to represent them in all spheres of life. The surest way to guarantee fairness in the American society is the equal representation of race and ethnicity in the legal profession. The under representation needs to be addressed right from the community level, and every one, the leaders, the community members from various racial groups as well as the government agents must be well represented. The institutions of learning as well as agencies of the government such as the criminal justice department can play a big role by ensuring that they admit more and more minority group members into the institutions such as; schools which will eventually see such groups discriminated against. The US census bureau 2005, mentions Africans- Americans as well as the Hispanics as the largest minority groups. The understanding of the racial representation disparities is crucial in the issue of under presentation. Another problem being witnessed in my community is that, one race (the whites), control all the key sectors including the economy, political leadership as well as the administration in my community. This implies that, the whites control the resources and opportunities available. Consequently, the discrepancies result into skewed distribution of wealth. Poverty amongst the racial minorities has become evident and rampant as a result of the inequalities. Social capital theories associate the under presentation with the position of such groups at the bottom of the social economic ladder. Brown, 1931. This makes them be closed from outer world and therefore unable to access some privilege and opportunities compared to whites who in terms of social economic factors something which highly increases their chances of joining top notch careers. To solve the above problem in my community, there is a need for exposing of more minority group members to diverse networks. The under presentation witnessed in my community has been occasioned by the deficiency the racial minorities themselves posses in terms of high likely hood of the members of the racial minorities to drop from school compared to the whites. There is a need for affirmative action which will result into more minority groups members gaining equal access to opportunities such as in; health and education, hence increasing chances of a more balanced society. Social life in Madison Community has been boosted in that all residents regardless of their race have an access to common religious meeting places. In addition, recreational facilities are free to everyone regardless of their race. Although there is a high crime rate in Madison Community, the communities live in harmony and rarely are any incidences of racially motivated crime reported. There is a need for law enforcers to be firm in their implementation of the federal anti-discrimination laws so as to promote a mutually beneficial interracial existence. Such efforts in Madison Community have constituted the establishment of the Madison Community human rights and human services community groups that is solely concerned with resolving racially motivated human rights in the Madison area. This program has proved to be an effective way of promoting co-existence in the Madison Community. There is also a need for more programs from both the state and federal governments to such as race-based hiring quotas and race-based education programs. Although the above can be a cause for bias towards the white majority, it is nevertheless a right step towards correcting the racial discrimination currently being experienced in Madison Community. The leadership in my community is comprised of leaders from different racial background. However most of the leaders are whites given the fact that about 80% of the community members are white. Unlike in the past when leaders would openly downplay racial discrimination, today things are different and the leadership is keen to eradicate racial discrimination from the community. The leadership of the community continues to address the racial discrimination issue in that every time such cases are reported the leadership is committed to applying justice and condemning the act openly. This has been very helpful in the fight against racial discrimination in that leaders are viewed by many as role models and people are more likely to obey what they perceive as being the wishes of the leaders. If I were a leader in my Madison community I would put in place the following measures to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination, which continues to threaten the peaceful coexistence of members of my community. My winning strategy would involve; ensuring a discrimination-free community. I would also set up a special committee comprising of members from all races to investigate all cases and allegations of racial discrimination reported in my community. I would also start programs that would aim at creating public awareness in learning institutions and other institutions which is rampant in Madison. In spite of the efforts from the leadership in the community to fight racial discrimination, the vice continues to be manifested in the daily lives of people. I interviewed Debra who is an a Latino, about her efforts to secure a chance at a community college. The lady complained that despite the fact that she had all the relevant qualifications, she passed her admission test well but it has been over 2 years now and she has not heard back from the college. She suspects it is a case of racial discrimination since most of her colleagues from other racial backgrounds with whom they applied together have received a feedback from the college. Debra is worried because she was denied admission to the college. She is now worried that her dream profession. She blames all her misfortunes on what she terms as deep rooted racial discrimination in Madison Community. Debras case is an indication that a lot needs to be done in order to fight racial discrimination, tension and suspicions that exists in the Madison Community. Despite the isolated cases such as those cited above the residents of Madison community have continued to collaborate in many areas irrespective of racial backgrounds. There are many joint community projects whereby members participate regardless of ones race. There is a growing evidence that any member of the community can apply and get a job in any place in Madison as long as one possess basic qualifications. There are many interracial marriages happening, which all point to the fact that, the society needs the society is improving in terms of racial relations. In terms of the texts addressing the racial discrimination issue, there are many scholars from all races that have addressed the issue of racial discrimination. For instance, to carry out this research I referred to articles written by whites who condemn the vice. No single author seemed to support racial discrimination, a good indicator that this war is close to being won. Of all means of fighting racial discrimination the media is a strong avenue. In Madison Community, the media has shown great responsibility and professionalism. Most programmes aired are sensitive to all races. The FM stations and the print media have all shown commitment to diffusing racial tensions where they suffice and have tended to promote racial co-existence. Conclusion Efforts should be made to investigate all cases that are reported on racial discrimination. Where one is found guilty, proper legal steps should be taken to address the matter. More stringent laws should be introduced to fight remnants of racial discrimination. The Madison community is on the right track in terms of inter-racial relations, if the ongoing efforts are continued, racial discrimination shall be totally eliminated in the community in the foreseeable future. No meaningful peace in the community shall be realized for as long as there is a problem with interracial relations. References Albert, Peter J. and Ronald Hoffman. 1990. We Shall Overcome: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Black Freedom Struggle. New York: Pantheon Books in cooperation with the United States Capitol Historical Society Barker, Emily. 2005. True Colors: not all diversity is created equal. Minority Law Journal. Erickson, Bowne H. 1996. Culture, Class and Connections. American Journal of sociology. Vol.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Explaining the Invention of the Jigsaw Puzzle

Explaining the Invention of the Jigsaw Puzzle The jigsaw puzzle- that delightful and perplexing challenge wherein a picture made of cardboard or wood has been cut into differently shaped pieces that must be fit together- is widely thought of as an entertaining pastime. But it didn’t start out that way. Believe it or not, the birth of the jigsaw puzzle was rooted in education. A Teaching Aid Englishman John Spilsbury, a London engraver and mapmaker, invented the jigsaw puzzle in 1767. The first jigsaw puzzle was a map of the world. Spilsbury attached a map to a piece of wood and then cut out each country. Teachers used Spilsburys puzzles to teach geography. Students learned their geography lessons by putting the world maps back together. With the invention of the first fret treadle saw in 1865, the ability to create machine-aided curved lines was at hand. This tool, which operated with foot pedals like a sewing machine, was perfect for the creation of puzzles. Eventually, the fret or scroll saw came to also be known as the jigsaw. By 1880, jigsaw puzzles were being machine crafted, and although cardboard puzzles entered the market, wood jigsaw puzzles remained the bigger seller. Mass Production Mass production of jigsaw puzzles began in the 20th century with the advent of die-cut machines. In this process sharp, metal dies for each puzzle were created and, operating like print-making stencils, were pressed down on sheets of cardboard or soft woods to cut the sheet into pieces.   This invention coincided with the golden age of jigsaws of the 1930s. Companies on both sides of the Atlantic churned out a variety of puzzles with pictures depicting everything from domestic scenes to railroad trains.   In the 1930s puzzles were distributed as low-cost marketing tools in the U.S. Companies offered the puzzles for special low prices with the purchase of other items. For example, a newspaper ad from the period trumpets the offer of a $.25 jigsaw of the Maple Leaf hockey team and a $.10 theater ticket with the purchase of Dr. Gardner’s Toothpaste (normally $.39) for just $.49. The industry also created excitement by issuing â€Å"The Jig of the Week† for puzzle fans.   The jigsaw puzzle remained a steady pastime- reusable and a great activity for groups or for an individual- for decades. With the invention of digital applications, the virtual jigsaw puzzle arrived in the 21st century and a number of apps were created allowing users to solve puzzles on their smartphones and tablets.

Sunday, March 1, 2020

FGCU GPA, SAT and ACT Requirements for Admission

FGCU GPA, SAT and ACT Requirements for Admission FGCU GPA, SAT and ACT Graph Florida Gulf Coast University GPA, SAT Scores and ACT Scores for Admission. Data courtesy of Cappex. How Do You Measure Up at Florida Gulf Coast University? Calculate Your Chances of Getting In  with this free tool from Cappex. Discussion of FGSUs  Admissions Standards: Roughly two-thirds of all applicants to Florida Gulf Coast University will get in, and successful applicants tend to have grades and standardized test scores that are average or better. In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the majority of admitted students had high school averages in the B range or higher, combined SAT scores of about 1000 or better, and ACT composite scores of 20 or higher. Your chances of being admitted improve a bit if your numbers are above these bottom ranges.   Note that there are some red data points (rejected students) and yellow data points (waitlisted students) hidden behind the green and blue in the middle of the graph. Some students with grades and test scores that seemed to be on target for FGCU were rejected. Note also that some students were accepted with test scores and grades a bit below the norm. This is because FGCU admissions are not entirely numerical. The university wants to see that you have completed a strong college preparatory curriculum, and they will give extra weight to AP, IB, honors, and dual enrollment courses. And while the university does not use letters of recommendation or essays in the preliminary review of applications, holistic measures such as these may be employed for some students who dont meet other admissions requirements. To learn more about Florida Gulf Coast University, high school GPAs, SAT scores and ACT scores, these articles can help: FGCU Admissions ProfileWhats a Good SAT Score?Whats a Good ACT Score?Whats Considered a Good Academic Record?What is a Weighted GPA? Articles Featuring Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Gulf Coast University Photo TourAtlantic Sun Conference

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Business Entrepreneurship Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Business Entrepreneurship - Research Paper Example Department of State, n.d.). The definition of an entrepreneur nowadays is largely different from that in its initial stage. Today entrepreneurship is termed to be the art and science of creating a new business idea and construct it in a manner to be rendered to the targeted market. To be accounted in this context, the definition as stated by Small Business Advancement National Center in the publication, â€Å"Entrepreneurship is the process of creating something new with value by devoting the necessary time and effort, assuming the accompanying financial, psychic, and social risks, and receiving the resulting rewards of monetary and personal satisfaction and independence† (SBAER, 2005). The thought of entrepreneurship in the 21st century is classified into different categories as per the characteristics that entrepreneurs possess. They are the social entrepreneurship and the business entrepreneurship in a wider perspective. Social entrepreneurs are those who focus to serve the community in an innovative manner without the intention to generate profit. But business entrepreneurs tend to be focused on attaining profit margins by marketing their idea. Hence, it is certain that the philanthropy of business entrepreneurship is a constraint to many factors like the legal and regulatory frameworks, the macroeconomic environment, the macroeconomic environment, and the microenvironment as well. Therefore, the strategic planning from the end of the entrepreneur holds immense significance in the context. Earlier the business entrepreneurs were only the adults who were experienced people and acquired enough knowledge to direct their business. But today the sector of business entrepreneurship includes young people and even minors. To be further classified, there are women entrepreneurs, and there are entrepreneurs who are physically disabled. Therefore a considerable change can be easily forecasted in the outlook of business entrepreneurship.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Alessandro Boticelli's The Birth of Venus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Alessandro Boticelli's The Birth of Venus - Essay Example As David Alexander Scott maintains, the woman playing the role of the live nude goddess is assumed to have the properties of the image, i.e. substantially gratifying and monolithically sexual and the art of the period after the close of the medieval age has particular importance. "In the Western history of the Renaissance is the designated watershed that loosened the political power of the Christian church and allowed Eros a renewed, although circumspect, presence in art. Perhaps there is no greater icon of this age than Botticelli's painting The Birth of Venus in which the goddess, nude and unsure of herself, is blown to shore by the winds of change after an eternity of exile. The painting signaled a major breakthrough in one aspect of the medieval public policy on Eros, that of the inherent sinfulness of the naked body." (Scott, 197) Significantly, once the body as image had shed its ecclesiastical garments, the body's sensuality - the more heinous sin - was able to emerge by degre es in successive generations of renderings. Therefore, a reflective analysis of Alessandro Botticelli's painting The Birth of Venus brings out the obvious relationship between art and sexual values in the background of the society. In a reflective analysis of Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, one recognizes that the sexual values found in the society of the artist find expression in the popular art of the society and the painting brings out the obvious relationship between art and sexual values. Significantly, Venus is the goddess of love and beauty and she exemplifies physical perfection. She, lacking the quirky, individual features that distinguish one woman from another, looks like no one in particular but familiar nevertheless. "In the ancient Greek tale, Venus is both sexual and divine, flesh and spirit. However, in Botticelli's painting, she appears neither sensual nor seductive and far too chaste to be erotic. Having just been born, she exists apart from the real world of human experience. Even the landscape setting, with its pale green sea, mathematically scalloped waves and serrated shore, supports this impression of her as an abstract ideal." (Cohn, 73) Therefore, it is obvious that the sexual values f ound in the society of Botticelli had an essential influence on the painting and Botticelli has been careful in representing these particular values. It was in the background of the middle of 1480s that the famous painting by Botticelli was painted and there is apparent relationship between the painting and the sexual values of this period. In the painting, Venus is standing in the centre of the picture on a seashell floating in the water, in accordance with the classical mythology which says that she sprang from the floating waters of the sea. "The figure of Venus appears in Botticelli's painting almost like a classical statue. Botticelli has gone over the contours of the figure with a black line, causing them to stand out sharply from the surface of the picture and emphasizing their curious clarity and coldness." (Deimling, 52) The depiction of the goddess of lo

Friday, January 24, 2020

Exemplification Essay: Separation of Church and State -- Expository Ex

   Because of my strong beliefs, I have been called the Antichrist, a witch, an atheist, and a Satanist. Fervent Christians have told me that my â€Å"kind† is solely responsible for the downfall of American morals.    Actually, none of these labels fits me. I am not a witch because the only modern religion to practice witchcraft is Wicca (American Heritage 1381), and I am not a Wiccan. I am not a Satanist because modern Satanists do not believe in Satan as an actual entity; instead, they follow a "religion of the self," as the founder of the Church of Satan, Anton LaVey, put it. (LaVey 1) Satanists also belong to an organization such as the Church of Satan or the Temple of Set, and I do not belong to any such organization. I do not call myself an atheist because atheists tend to not have well-developed ethical systems. I am a secular humanist. This means that I have no belief in supernatural beings or forces (gods or goddesses, angels, demons, leprechauns, etc.); that rational thought is more important to me than blind faith; and that I value freedom of expression, belief, and inquiry.    Now, because I value freedom of belief, it doesn't bother me that people think these things about me. If they want to believe that I fly through the air on a broomstick to a Satan-worshipping orgy, that's their misunderstanding. If they want to think my life is more exciting than it really is, they're welcome. What bothers me is the way that religious bigotry extends to the highest levels of government. George Bush was quoted as saying, "I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God." ("Quotes" 5) The problem is that the first amendment states that "C... ... of the majority, the minority endures oppression. The quality of government suffers when it has been mixed too much with religion, and the quality of religious motives suffer when they have been polluted by political motives.    Let's move to a true separation of church and state.    Works Cited American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd. College Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982. "Blue Laws." Barron's Concise Student's Encyclopedia. 1993 ed. LaVey, Anton. "The World's Most Feared Religion." Cloven Hoof, Issue 127. Scott (Last name unknown). "Quotes." 6 pp. Online. Internet. 13 Jan. 1997. Available http://www.paranoia.com/~wcs/quotes.htm Worbois, Dean. "Founding Faiths." 3 pp. Online. Internet. 13 Jan. 1997. Available http://www.postfun.com/worbois.html [Note: this document has been moved here --webmaster, 11/25/97]   

Thursday, January 16, 2020

The Wholley Innocent Analysis Essay

Bruce Dawe one time said that. â€Å"we write out of a demand to come to footings with some concern. or something â€Å"bugging† us. † From this statement. it is blazing that he expresses his emotions and ethical motives through his poesy in effort to portion his positions and concerns on modern-day issues of the universe with the universe. act uponing readers to reconsider their values. The cosmopolitan entreaty of Bruce Dawes poems prevarication in the poet’s passion in talking for those who have no agencies of talking. In â€Å"The Wholley Innocent† . which is written in the 1980’s. Dawe. challenges his readers through a willful finding to end the gestation of a healthy fetus. Through the usage of poetic techniques such as character. graphic imagination. calculated repeat. and onomatopoeia Dawe reaches the moral scruples of his readers to the inappropriateness of ending life prematurely. â€Å"The Wholley Innocent† . through its usage of p oetic signifiers. efficaciously paperss the catholicity sing an highly controversial issue that is abortion. The rubric â€Å"The Wholly Innocent† . accurately reflects the capable affair. as the verse form involves an aborted fetus who has done no incorrect in this universe. and is hence â€Å"wholly innocent† . Consecutive. this places the reader in believing that the unborn fetus. which has done no unfairness to the universe. should be given the opportunity to populate. The foetus’s artlessness is once more reinstated in the line â€Å"Defenceless as a lamb. † . as lambs symbolise pureness. This induces the reader to sympathize with the guiltless fetus and therefore. places the reader to comprehend abortion as immoral. This besides suggests that the guiltless mustn’t suffer because person else someplace. the grownup. is guilty. On the whole troubled inquiry of when life starts and what we should make about when it has started. Dawe recognises that there is one thing which most people will profess. the point that those who are waiting to be born are holy inexperienced persons. in the dual sense of the word ; of being entirely guiltless because they don’t have any say in what happens to them. Dawe uses this to bring forth cosmopolitan entreaty as no 1 sympathises with the guilty but will nevertheless sympathize with the inexperienced person and defenceless. Through the usage of the poetic technique of repeat. Dawe establishes that the unborn fetus has the right to see these basic constituents of nature that we normally take for granted. The repeat of â€Å"never† and â€Å"Nor† in the first two stanzas describes the fact that the fetus has missed out on legion facets of life due to being aborted. In these stanzas the usage of repeat expresses the eternal list of things that the fetus has lost as a consequence of ne'er holding encountered life. This manipulates the reader into believing that abortion is unethical as you are non supplying person with the chance to see life. Further underpinning the poem’s cosmopolitan entreaty is word pick where Dawe foregrounds the subject of holding the right to life. The lines â€Å"Oh you within whose god-like power† â€Å"It lies to so make up one's mind. † establishes the fact that the female parent of this fetus has no right to take away his/her life as she possesses small power in comparing to that of god’s. The word pick in the last stanza of the verse form is besides effectual as it leaves the reader with a sense of guilt. The lines â€Å"Remember me the following clip you† . â€Å"Rejoice at Sun or star –â€Å"and â€Å"I would hold loved to see them. excessively. † reveal that the fetus is merely human and would hold besides enjoyed the things that other people take pleasance in. The concluding line of the verse form besides leaves anyone who has even undergone abortion experiencing guilty. â€Å"I ne'er got that far. † reinstates the act of corruptio n that has been committed further backing the construct of mindless life loss. a cosmopolitan subject. Dawe uses graphic imagination to underscore the fact that abortion is extravagant and unfair. The perforating imagination of a uterus that could go a grave if abortion is carried out in â€Å"The Wholly Innocent† will faze any reader contemplating ending a gestation. The lines in stanza five â€Å"For I was portion of that doomed race† and â€Å"Whose death–cell was the uterus. † uncover the fact that the unborn fetus is ashamed to experience a portion of its race which evokes untold commiseration for his/her defenceless life that is trapped. The fetus besides highlights that all he/she wants is to see the simple things in life like to â€Å"rejoice at Sun or star. † Most readers would hold that this is a cosmopolitan right for all persons to see these basic constituents of nature. In the line. â€Å"I ne'er cognize the autonomous touch of attention. † this suggests that he/she ne'er experiences parental love which in bend evokes untold feeli ngs of commiseration and understanding in the reader. A simile is besides used in stanza three that he/she will decease â€Å"anonymous as mud† if nobody protects him. The fetus besides compares itself to a defenceless lamb with surely evokes feeling of understanding in the reader. . Overall. Bruce Dawes â€Å"The Wholly Innocent† . which is an highly powerful verse form. successfully establishes the fact that the female parent of this fetus has no right to take away his/her life. This verse form besides establishes that there is perfectly no justness in killing a life and that the female parent has no entitlement in making so. as she possesses small power. With the assistance of the poetic techniques of repeat. word pick. and imagination he arouses understanding. carefully pull stringsing the audience to reflect upon his ain positions towards abortion. In this manner. Dawe has created a verse form that is non merely unambiguously Australian but presents issues of planetary concern which generates cosmopolitan entreaty.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

James A. Van Allen Biography

You cant see it or feel it, but more than a thousand miles above Earths surface, theres a region of charged particles that protects our atmosphere from destruction by the solar wind and cosmic rays. Its called the Van Allen belt, named for the man who discovered it.   Meet the Belt Man Dr. James A. Van Allen was an astrophysicist best known for his work on the physics of the magnetic field that surrounds our planet. He was particularly interested in its interactions with the solar wind, which is a stream of charged particles flowing from the Sun. (When it slams into our atmosphere, it causes a phenomenon called space weather). His discovery of radiation regions high above Earth followed up on an idea held by other scientists that charged particles could be trapped in the uppermost part of our atmosphere.  Van Allen worked on Explorer 1, the first U.S. artificial satellite to be placed in orbit, and this spacecraft revealed the secrets of Earths magnetosphere. That included the existence of the belts of charged particles that bear his name.   James Van Allen was born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa on September 7, 1914. He attended Iowa Wesleyan College where he received his Bachelor of Science degree. He went on to the University of Iowa and worked on a degree in solid state physics, and took a Ph.D. in nuclear physics in 1939. Wartime Physics Following school, Van Allen accepted employment with the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, where he studied photodisintegration.Thats a process where a high-energy photon (or packet) of light is absorbed by an atomic nucleus. The nucleus then splits to form lighter elements, and releases a neutron, or a proton or an alpha particle. In astronomy, this process occurs inside certain types of supernovae.   In April 1942, Van Allen joined the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) at Johns Hopkins University where he worked to develop a rugged vacuum tube and did research on proximity fuzes (used in explosives and bombs). Later in 1942, he entered the Navy, serving in the South Pacific Fleet as an assistant gunnery officer to field test and complete operational requirements for the proximity fuzes. Post-War Research   After the war, Van Allen returned to civilian life and worked in high altitude research. He worked at the Applied Physics Laboratory, where he organized and directed a team to conduct high-altitude experiments. They used V-2 rockets captured from the Germans.   In 1951, James Van Allen became head of the physics department at the University of Iowa. A few years later, his  career took an important turn when he and several other American scientists developed proposals for the launch of a scientific satellite. It was to be part of the research program conducted during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957-1958. From Earth to the Magnetosphere After the success of the Soviet Unions Sputnik 1 launch in 1957, Van Allen ¹s Explorer spacecraft was approved for launch on a Redstone rocket. It flew on January 31, 1958, and returned enormously important scientific data about the radiation belts circling the Earth. Van Allen became a celebrity due to the success of that mission, and he went on to achieve other important scientific projects in space. In one way or another, Van Allen was involved in the first four Explorer probes, the first Pioneers, several Mariner efforts, and an orbiting geophysical observatory. James A. Van Allen retired from the University of Iowa in 1985 to become Carver Professor of Physics, Emeritus, after having served as the head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy from 1951. He died of heart failure at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City on August 9, 2006. In honor of his work, NASA named two radiation belt storm probes after him. The Van Allen Probes were launched in 2012 and have been studying the Van Allen Belts and near-Earth space. Their data is helping the design of spacecraft that can better withstand trips through this high-energy region of Earths magnetosphere.   Edited and revised by Carolyn Collins Petersen