Woolly Worm Caterpillars and Winter Forecasts and Folklore

Woolly Worm Caterpillars and Winter Forecasts and Folklore Every October, NOAAs Climate Prediction Center releases a winter outlook to give the public the best possible scientific prediction of how the winter may shape up across the nation; but in the pre-NOAA days, folks got this same information from a more humble sourcethe Woolly Bear caterpillar.  Ã‚   Called woolly bears in the Midwest and Northeast, and woolly worms in the Southern U.S., Woolly Bear caterpillars are the larvae of Isabella tiger moths. Theyre common to the United States, northern Mexico, and the southern third of Canada, and are easily recognized by their short, stiff bristles of reddish-brown  and black fur. How to Read a Woollys Colors According to folklore, the woolly worms coloring is said to indicate how severe  the coming winter will be in the local area  where the caterpillar  is found.  The Woolly Bear caterpillars body  has 13 distinct segments. According to weather lore, each one corresponds to one of the 13 weeks of winter. Each black band  represents one week of colder, snowier, and more severe winter conditions, whereas orange bands indicate  that many weeks of milder temperatures. (Some even believe that the position of the bands which part of winter. For example, if the tail end of the caterpillar is black, it means that winters end will be severe.)  Ã‚   Two other versions  of this folklore exist. The first relates the severity of winter to  the thickness of the caterpillars coat. (Thicker coats signal  colder winters, and a sparse coat, milder winters.)  The final  variation deals with the direction in which the caterpillar  crawls. (If a woolly crawls in a southerly direction it means hes trying to escape the cold winter conditions of the north. If he travels on a northward path, that indicates a mild winter.)    Significance of Solid-Colored Woolly Worms Not all woolly worms have alternating orange  and black markings. Occasionally, youll spot one thats all brown, all black, or solid white. Like their brown and black relatives, they too have : Orange:  Just as reddish-brown segments signal a week of mild temperatures, an all brown caterpillar  suggests  an overall mild winter with above-normal temperatures and insignificant snowfall.Black: An all black caterpillar  signals the onset of a very hard upcoming winter.White (sand-colored): White woolly worms are said to predict winter snowfall. Spotting one is supposedly a strong indicator that heavier than average snows   or even a blizzard   can be expected in the region during the winter season.   How Fame Found the Woolly Worm The woolly worms talent was first discovered in the late 1940s by Dr. Charles Curran, former curator of insects at New York City’s Museum of Natural History. As the story goes, Dr. Curran measured the coloration of woolly bear caterpillars between 1948 and 1956  at  Bear Mountain State Park. During those years, he found that 5.3 to 5.6 of the observed caterpillars 13 body segments were  orange. As his counts suggested, the winters for each of those years turned out to  indeed be  mild.  A reporter friend of Currans leaked his  forecasts to a NYC newspaper,  and  the  publicity the story  generated made woolly  bear caterpillars a household name. Is the Folklore True? Dr. Curran found that the width of reddish-brown fur correctly matched the winter type with 80% accuracy. While his data samples were small, for some people this was enough to legitimize  the folklore.  However, for the majority of todays  professionals, it isnt sufficient data. They argue that not only is a woolly bears coloring  based on its age and species, but also  that it would take researching an awful lot of caterpillars in one place over a great many years in order to make any conclusions about  woollys and  winter weather. One thing most can agree on is that regardless of whether or not the folklore is true,  its a harmless and fun autumn tradition to take part in. When and Where  to Spot  Woolly Worms Woolly worms are usually seen  in autumn  on sidewalks and  roadways.  If you do meet one, dont expect it to hang around for long. Woollys are busy creatures, always on-the-go  searching for a cozy home underneath a rock or log to overwinter in. They  move  pretty fast too (as worms go)!  Ã‚   One sure-fire  way to meet a woolly is to attend a  woolly worm festival. 2016  Woolly Worm Festivals Like  the  groundhog, woolly worms have become so  popular, several festivals have sprouted up across the United States to honor them. The  longest-running festivals are celebrated in:   Vermilion, Ohio. Ohios annual  Woollybear Festival  is one of the longest-running in the US. The festival started more than four decades ago, when  TV weatherman, Mr. Dick Goddard, proposed the idea of a celebration built around using the worm to forecast the upcoming winter. He still hosts the festival to this day.  This years festival is scheduled to be held October 2, 2016. Banner Elk, North  Carolina.  Held every third weekend in October.  This years 39th Annual Woolly Worm festival dates are October 15-16, 2016.   Beattyville, Kentucky. Beattyvilles Woolly Worm Festival is always the last full weekend in October.  This years 29th annual festival will take place October 21-23,  2016.   Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Currently in its 19th year, this years festival will take place on October 15, 2016. If youre a fan of woolly worm festivals, let us also recommend these weather-focused festivals.

Word Choice Effect vs. Affect - Proofread My Paper

Word Choice Effect vs. Affect - Proofread My Paper Word Choice: Effect vs. Affect Despite the fact that effect is usually a noun and affect is primarily a verb, many people confuse these words. To avoid making this mistake, you should try to learn which is which. Luckily, this is fairly straightforward. Effect The word effect is usually a noun and means consequence or result. It can be used in a sentence like this: The effects of sun damage are long lasting. Effects can also sometimes mean personal items, as in I will gather my effects and then we can go. You should be able to discern the correct meaning from the context. Less commonly, effect can be used as a verb meaning cause to happen, such as in: The changes were effected throughout the company. Affect The word affect is usually a verb, meaning change or influence. For example: New strings on a violin affect the quality of the tone produced. It can also be used to describe emotional response, as in: He was deeply affected by what he saw. As a related noun, affect refers to the observable manifestations of an emotion, but this is mostly confined to psychology. Be aware that the word affected can mean put on a display or pretend something. If someone doesnt want to show that they are offended, for instance, we might say that they affected a show of nonchalance to hide their real feelings. Effect or Affect? These terms are confusing because they sound so similar and both can be used when discussing a change. The vital thing to remember here is that effect is usually a noun and affect is typically a verb. As such, if youre referring to the change itself, the term youll need is effect (e.g., the effects of stress can be devastating to your health). On the other hand, if youre referring to the act of causing a change, the word youll usually need is affect (e.g., stress can seriously affect your health).

Introduction to Psycology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Introduction to Psycology - Essay Example Psychology is an amalgamation of knowledge acquired either through theories read, through education and logical and scientific connection of mental operations and behavior or performance. It is an understanding developed through knowledge and skills to numerous areas of human activities, encompassing concerns of daily activities viz. education, actions, populace and their task, employment, association, involvement, relationship as well as the treatment of mental health difficulties (Psychology and Its Importance). All this can never be attained through common sense unless an individual go through a proper training and accomplish methodical and systematic knowledge. Common sense is developed when we experience a situation, and is a gradual process unless an individual witness it but the judgment and insight to grasp the circumstances is realized when we have an in-depth awareness and background information about the reaction of the situation posed. It is here the psychology plays the role. Even if one is not exposed to the similar situation in past but still have immense potential to tackle the situation and reach the solution; because psychology engage various sub-areas of study and relevance related with different aspects of human development, sports education, physical condition, business, media as well as the regulation, investigation from the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. Psychology is imperative as it engross the study of behavior and mental processes. Each and every action performed is very much related to or with psychology. Psychology, primarily studies who and what we are, why we are like that, why we act and think like that and what we could be as a person (Psychology and Its Importance). Psychology is approved to have a firm place in the treatment of various diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and some other Neurological diseases. Researchers are conducting studies to develop an understanding to treat the patients through psychotherapy apart from medicines to alleviate different illnesses. Moreover, psychology teaches us to control mind, uncontrolled and unguided mind will drag us down (Psychology and Its Importance). The processes of social and family relations, career development and political organization take on new meaning when comparing the environmental influences on behavior. In examining the impact of environmental influences, explain how culture impacts behavior. In particular, describe how the differences between individualist and collectivist cultures manifest themselves when considering these three processes. Explain how these differences affect personal identity and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these two cultural perspectives. Psychology aids in building and strengthening relationship making everyday lives better, it improve daily communication, through effective speaking, comprehending the actions and gestures, builds self confidence and hence enriches careers, by understanding co-workers and their behaviors and dealings (Psychology and Its Importance). Various literatures on the psychological significance contribute to our understanding of the exchange relationship between employees and their employer. (Thomas, 2003). Individualism stands for a society in which the ties between persons are loose: everybody is predictable to look after himself or herself and his or her immediate family. Individuals belonging to this

Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 42

Leadership - Essay Example This kind of leader does not involve the employees in decision making and rather decisions are made at the top and followed by the employees. McGregor categorized second kind of leaders as leaders who follow theory Y. These leaders are those who believe that employees are interested in working. These leaders empower their employees and provide them with the responsibility as well as the authority to make decisions and implement them in order to complete tasks (Jewell et al., 1994). Unlike leaders who follow Theory X, these leaders do not believe in excessive supervisor of the followers and believe that followers should have the freedom to work on their own. Due to empowerment as well as lower level of supervision, followers feel motivated to work on their own and they solve problems as well as perform tasks in a creative manner. The leadership style that James Cain of Water Brands Group follows is open-minded leadership style. This leadership style is based on McGregor’s leadership theory called theory Y. McGregor proposed that, leaders who follow theory Y leadership tend to empower employees. Similarly, Cain who follows an open-minded leadership style provides empowerment to his followers and employees (Pandit, 2005). He does not believe in making decisions on his own. Instead Cain involves his employees in the decision making process by carefully listening to them and then involving their ideas in the making decisions and solving problems faced by the organization. Theory Y states that employees are naturally interested in working and are ready to take responsibility. Cain is following theory Y because he believes that the people working for him and his followers are the assets of his organizations. This means that he has immense trust in the followers and is quite confident about their knowledge, skills and abilities. Due to this

Currency War Between China and Usa Essay Example for Free

Currency War Between China and Usa Essay Currency War: Currency war, also known as competitive devaluation, is a condition in international affairs where countries compete against each other to achieve a relatively low exchange rate for their own currency. As the price to buy a particular currency falls so too does the real price of exports from the country. Imports become more expensive too, so domestic industry, and thus employment, receives a boost in demand both at home and abroad. However, the price increase in imports can harm citizens purchasing power. The policy can also trigger retaliatory action by other countries which in turn can lead to a general decline in international trade, harming all countries. Reasons of Currency War Between USA and China: Competitive devaluation has been rare through most of history as countries have generally preferred to maintain a high value for their currency,but it happens when devaluation occur. China keeps its dollar artificially low so that countries like the US will buy its goods. China is the USs largest trading partner and if they didnt sell their goods for super cheap, markets like India would be able to under cut the Chinese and then the US would buy goods from Indian instead of China. There is so much trade between China and the US that China profits immensely without needing its Yuan to appreciate. This of course hurts the average Chinese person in that their labour is devalued but it beneficial for the country as a whole as it has quickly become a super power economicaly. In 2008, a trader paid one Ghana Cedi for one U.S. dollar, but at the beginning of April 2012, the same trader travelling to Dubai paid GH ¢1.74 for one U.S. dollar. This means that year-on-year decline in the value of cedi against the US dollar was 74 per cent over a three-year period. A point to note is that during the global economic crises of 2008-2009, the cedi depreciated by 25 per cent against the dollar. Between 2010 and 2011, the cedi again depreciated 18.5 per cent against the US dollar. For last month, the cedi exchange rate depreciated 4.29 percent against the US dollar. So is the current downward slide in the cedi value as a result of the slowdown in the global economy or due to internal structural weaknesses? This question requires a detailed research work beyond the scope of this article but it is a very relevant question to ask at this time. In economics, depreciation is basically the symptoms of an underlying problem, specifically imbalances in the Balance of Payment (BOP), emanating from excess demand for dollars. So instead of discussing the depreciating cedi, I will rather focus my attention on the causes or factors that cause currency to depreciate and what the government can do to arrest this problem in special cases. Before then, I must let readers know the difference between currency fluctuation and depreciation. Fluctuations in currency value are a common event and are usually no cause for concern. The minor daily increases and decreases in value are generally due to â€Å"random walk† and not due to an economic event or fundamental problems. However, changes in currency value become significant when the decline in value of the currency is an ongoing trend. Technically, when currency depreciates, it loses value and purchasing power, with impact on the real sectors of the economy. Although, the economic effects of a lower cedi take time to happen, there are time lags between a change in the exchange rate and changes in commodity prices. Factors that determine the value of a currency include the current state of the overall economy, inflation, trade balance (the difference between the value of export and import), level of political stability, etc. Occasionally, external factors like currency speculations on the foreign exchange market can also contribute to depreciation of the local currency. Such being the case, a government can intervene into the foreign exchange market to support its national currency and suppress the process of depreciation. Currency depreciation can positively impact the overall economic development, though. It boosts competitiveness through lower export costs and secures more income from exported goods in a similar way devaluation does. On the contrary, depreciation makes imports more expensive and discourages purchases of imported goods stimulating demand for domestically manufactured goods. Globally, governments intentionally influence the value of their currency utilising the powerful tool of the base interest rates, which are usually set by the countrys central bank and this tool is often used to intentionally depreciate the currency rates to encourage exports. Factors that can cause a currency to depreciate are: Supply and Demand †¢ Just as with goods and services, the principles of supply and demand apply to the appreciation and depreciation of currency values. If a country injects new currency into its economy, it increases the money supply. When there is more money circulating in an economy, there is less demand. This depreciates the value of the currency. On the other hand, when there is a high domestic or foreign demand for a countrys currency, the currency appreciates in value. Inflation †¢ Inflation occurs when the general prices of goods and services in a country increase. Inflation causes the value of the cedi to depreciate, reducing purchasing power. If there is rampant inflation, then a currency will depreciate in value. What causes inflation? †¢ Printing Money. Note printing money does not always cause inflation. It will occur when the money supply is increased faster than the growth of real output. †¢ Note: the link between printing money and causing inflation is not straightforward. The money supply does not just depend on the amount the government prints. †¢ Large National Debt. To finance large national debts, governments often print money and this can cause inflation. Economic Outlook If a countrys economy is in a slow growth or recessionary phase, the value of their currency depreciates. The value of a countrys currency also depreciates if its major economic indicators like retail sales and Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, are declining. A high and/or rising unemployment rate can also depreciate currency value because it indicates an economic slowdown. If a countrys economy is in a strong growth period, the value of their currency appreciates. Trade Deficit A trade deficit occurs when the value of goods a country imports is more than the value of goods it exports. When the trade deficit of a country increases, the value of the domestic currency depreciates against the value of the currency of its trading partners. The demand for imports should fall as imports become more expensive. However, some imports are essential for production or cannot be made in the country and have an inelastic demand—we end up spending more on these when the exchange rate falls in value. This can cause the balance of payments to worsen in the short run (a process known as the J curve effect) Collapse of Confidence If there is a collapse of confidence in an economy or financial sector, this will lead to an outflow of currency as people do not want to risk losing their currency. Therefore, this causes an outflow of capital and depreciation in the exchange rate. Collapse in confidence can be due to political or economic factors. Price of Commodities if an economy depends on exports of raw materials, a fall in the price of this raw material can cause a fall in export revenue and depreciation in the exchange rate. For example, in 2011, a ton of cocoa sold for US4,000 per ton. Currently, it is going for US$2,300 per ton, translating into fewer inflows of dollars. Interest rate Differential I will use the International Fischer Effect to explain the relationship between the expected change in the current exchange rate between the cedi and the dollar, which is approximately equivalent to the difference between Ghana and US’ nominal interest rates for that time. For example, if the average interest rate in Ghana for 2011 was 24 per cent and for US was three per cent, then the dollar should appreciate roughly 21 per cent or the cedi must depreciate 21 per cent compared to the dollar to restore parity. The rationale for the IFE is that a country with a higher interest rate will also tend to have a higher inflation rate. This increased amount of inflation should cause the currency in the country with the high interest rate to depreciate against a country with lower interest rates. Market Speculations Market speculations can contribute to a process of spiraling depreciation after smaller market players decide to follow the example of the leading dealers, the so-called market makers, and after they lost confidence in a particular currency start to sell it in bulk amounts. Then only a quick reaction of the countrys central bank can restore the confidence of investors and stop the currency rates of the nations currency from continuous decline. When the currency depreciation is based on market speculations, in other words, not backed by fundamental economic factors, then the central bank comes to the rescue- intervene. A sterilised intervention against depreciation can only be effective in the medium term if the underlying cause behind the currencys loss of value can be addressed. If the cause was a speculative attack based on political uncertainty this can potentially be resolved. Because after a sterilised intervention the money supply remains unchanged at its high level, the locally available interest rates can still be relatively low, so the carry trade continues and if it still wants to prevent depreciation the central bank has to intervene again. This can only go on so long before the bank runs out of foreign currency reserves. In conclusion, currency depreciation is the result of fundamental deficiencies with the domestic economy which must be corrected over a period of time to restore balance. However, where the depreciation is out of speculative attacks on the currency, then the central bank can intervene to correct the temporary anomalies, which, often is short term in nature. Lastly, intervention in the foreign exchange market by the central bank to correct fundamental weaknesses, just like the Ghanaian situation will not work, because, very soon, the central bank will run out of international reserves; hence, the cedi must therefore seek its equilibrium level. The writer is an economic consultant and former Assistant Professor of Finance and Economics at Alabama State University. Montgomery, Alabama. Currency War in the Great Depression During the Great Depression of the 1930s, most countries abandoned the gold standard, resulting in currencies that no longer had intrinsic value. With widespread high unemployment, devaluations became common. Effectively, nations were competing to export unemployment, a policy that has frequently been described as beggar thy neighbour.[30] However, because the effects of a devaluation would soon be counteracted by a corresponding devaluation by trading partners, few nations would gain an enduring advantage. On the other hand, the fluctuations in exchange rates were often harmful for international traders, and global trade declined sharply as a result, hurting all economies. The exact starting date of the 1930s currency war is open to debate.[23] The three principal parties were Great Britain, France, and the United States. For most of the 1920s the three generally had coinciding interests, both the US and France supported Britains efforts to raise Sterlings value against market forces. Collaboration was aided by strong personal friendships among the nations central bankers, especially between Britains Montagu Norman and Americas Benjamin Strong until the latters early death in 1928. Soon after the Wall Street Crash of 1929, France lost faith in Sterling as a source of value and begun selling it heavily on the markets. From Britains perspective both France and the US were no longer playing by the rules of the gold standard. Instead of allowing gold inflows to increase their money supplies (which would have expanded those economies but reduced their trade surpluses) France and the US began sterilising the inflows, building up hoards of gold. These factors contributed to the Sterling crises of 1931; in September of that year Great Britain substantially devalued and took the pound off the gold standard. For several years after this global trade was disrupted by competitive devaluation. The currency war of the 1930s is generally considered to have ended with the Tripartite monetary agreement of 1936.

BARNEY FRANK: Truth, Lies, Privacy :: essays Papers

BARNEY FRANK: Truth, Lies, Privacy Throughout his eighteen-year tenure in the United States House of Representatives, Representative Barney Frank has received all types of criticism and praise, ranging from derogatory statements pertaining to his sexual preferences, to outstanding compliments similar to the ones received by the great orators in the history of our country. Many of these comments surfaced during the recent impeachment trial for President Clinton, where Representative Frank dazzled and enraged many of his political colleagues with his unique "laser-sharp wit and quips" (Alvarez, 1998). Throughout his political career and most recently, the impeachment trial, Representative Frank freely voiced his opinion of the President and his actions with an almost invincible aura emanating with each comment. It is true that Representative Frank emerged as one of Clinton’s strongest defenders, but Representative Frank did not assume the typical role of a completely loyal and faithful supporter. Representative Frank made exhilarating arguments in defense of the President, and he publicly denounced the President’s actions just as quickly when he did not agree with them. By supporting the President in such a fashion, it is hard to imagine why Representative Frank was not constantly under attack, but rather still able to clearly state his opinions to an audience that was still very eager to listen. Of course like any other politician, Representative Frank has his allies and his enemies, yet he does not seem to weigh them as heavily as other politicians appear to. Enemies or simply people who do not necessarily see eye to eye with Representative Frank, have branded Frank as: "very intimidating, harassing, with an ability to use humor that enables him to win debate on tactics alone, rather than substance,"says Jones."His style reminds me of a petulant adolescent who has to have his own way. He's a stand-up comedian in congressional clothes, a very funny guy in the Don Rickles/Jackie Mason mold"(Elvin, 1998). Another one of Frank’s rivals, Howard Phillips of Conservative Caucus, who began debating with Frank in their undergraduate days at Harvard, stated that Representative Frank is: "a person of great energy, and great passion, for the wrong causes. God gave him extraordinary talent and he's using it for evil rather than for good. Barney is a very capable fellow with a very distorted view of what's right and what's wrong"(Elvin, 1998). Along with the negative criticism directed at Representative Frank comes a great number of positive, uplifting compliments such as the following by Representative Henry Hyde: BARNEY FRANK: Truth, Lies, Privacy :: essays Papers BARNEY FRANK: Truth, Lies, Privacy Throughout his eighteen-year tenure in the United States House of Representatives, Representative Barney Frank has received all types of criticism and praise, ranging from derogatory statements pertaining to his sexual preferences, to outstanding compliments similar to the ones received by the great orators in the history of our country. Many of these comments surfaced during the recent impeachment trial for President Clinton, where Representative Frank dazzled and enraged many of his political colleagues with his unique "laser-sharp wit and quips" (Alvarez, 1998). Throughout his political career and most recently, the impeachment trial, Representative Frank freely voiced his opinion of the President and his actions with an almost invincible aura emanating with each comment. It is true that Representative Frank emerged as one of Clinton’s strongest defenders, but Representative Frank did not assume the typical role of a completely loyal and faithful supporter. Representative Frank made exhilarating arguments in defense of the President, and he publicly denounced the President’s actions just as quickly when he did not agree with them. By supporting the President in such a fashion, it is hard to imagine why Representative Frank was not constantly under attack, but rather still able to clearly state his opinions to an audience that was still very eager to listen. Of course like any other politician, Representative Frank has his allies and his enemies, yet he does not seem to weigh them as heavily as other politicians appear to. Enemies or simply people who do not necessarily see eye to eye with Representative Frank, have branded Frank as: "very intimidating, harassing, with an ability to use humor that enables him to win debate on tactics alone, rather than substance,"says Jones."His style reminds me of a petulant adolescent who has to have his own way. He's a stand-up comedian in congressional clothes, a very funny guy in the Don Rickles/Jackie Mason mold"(Elvin, 1998). Another one of Frank’s rivals, Howard Phillips of Conservative Caucus, who began debating with Frank in their undergraduate days at Harvard, stated that Representative Frank is: "a person of great energy, and great passion, for the wrong causes. God gave him extraordinary talent and he's using it for evil rather than for good. Barney is a very capable fellow with a very distorted view of what's right and what's wrong"(Elvin, 1998). Along with the negative criticism directed at Representative Frank comes a great number of positive, uplifting compliments such as the following by Representative Henry Hyde:

Physician Assisted Suicide

Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia is a widely debated and controversial topic in our society. It is believed that the principle of PAS and euthanasia portrays, â€Å"merciful acts that deliver terminally ill patients from painful and protracted death† (page 477, column 2). In the paper, â€Å"Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Tragic View,† John D. Arras discusses the subject and states that while he agrees with patients making decisions, implementing laws supporting PAS and euthanasia is a huge threat to our social order.However, John D. Arras also concludes that he does not disapprove with the possibility of having a legislative policy in favor of PAS/euthanasia, only if there is â€Å"sufficient evidence of reliability of various safeguards† (page 477, column 2). To begin, it is important to look at the possibility of PAS and euthanasia being a positive practice in our medical profession. John D. Arras looks at a situation which poses a patient suffer ing from uncontrolled pain by having the physician ignore their decisions amongst life and death.He mentions that physicians may contribute to â€Å"suicide and suicidal ideation† (page 478, column 1) which is statistically shown in over fifty percent of cancer patients who suffer from uncontrolled pain that is often brought on by untreated depression. In this situation however, if patient is given control of their own lives and obtain adequate psychiatric and palliative care to treat depression, it is assumed that most would lose interest in PAS/euthanasia. Using a similar example, there will always be a small amount of patients who may have pain that cannot be treated, for these patients J.Arras believes that present law on PAS/euthanasia can represent an impossible barrier to a distinguished and decent death. In comparison to the argument above, there are more objections towards the legalization of PAS and euthanasia because it is widely seen as â€Å"inherently immoral, as violations of the moral rule against killing the innocent† (page 477, column 2). With this being said, J. Arras argues that objections cumulate through having a patient decide if they should live or die and having liberalization occur.His first argument concludes that, the practice of PAS would be almost impossible to keep within reasonable boundaries and that there must be a line drawn between active euthanasia. Instead, legalization of PAS entails a â€Å"wholesomely modest policy agenda,† (page 478, column 1) that limits reforms to only a certain group of individuals therefore excluding those who are actually terminally ill and are suffering. In fact, legalization poses a threat towards how society looks at patient autonomy and mercy, because fatal illnesses would be hard to confirm. An example of this situation is mentioned by J.Arras as he evaluates the fact that if one individual does not find value to living his life how does that differ from a patient who is ill with cancer. Proving that situation, it is seen that legalization of PAS has many flaws, one of which includes discrimination against patients if active euthanasia is banned. It would also cause more harm than good if the physician does not take into consideration the patient’s state of mind. By allocating patients with suitable palliative care, physicians would be able to â€Å"distinguish fact from fiction in the ethics and law of pain relief† (page 482, column 2).

My Name

As per the Chinese tradition, I was named by my grandfather after the Princess of Wales, Lady Diana Spencer, who was well known for her grace, beauty, and generosity of spirit.   I was born in America, although my origin is Chinese.   My grandfather felt that it was necessary for him to give me a name that sounds American (or European) in origin.   The name, Diana, felt appropriate also because it is a popular name among the Chinese (â€Å"Chinese Culture†). This name was derived from an old Indo-European root with the meaning, heavenly or divine (â€Å"Diana†).   Perhaps this is the reason why I am never offended when my friends often call me â€Å"Dee† or â€Å"Di.†Ã‚   I know that Lady Diana Spencer, too, was often referred to as Lady Di.   All the same, it is perhaps the sacredness of the meaning of my name, Diana, that saves me from feeling insulted when I am called, â€Å"Di† (pronounced as â€Å"Die†). In short, I have never had a problem identifying with my first name.   It is only my last name, Ng, that has given me some trouble, seeing that it is almost impossible for a person with American (or European) origin to read it correctly, unless of course he or she has conducted some research on the pronunciation of Chinese names.   Hence, unfortunately, there are few people I know outside my family that pronounce my last name correctly. Chinese last names are patrilineal.   In other words, they are passed from fathers to their children.   Chinese women are also typically known to retain their birth surnames after marriage (â€Å"Chinese Surname†).   Although I may or may not retain my last name after marriage, the mere fact that the last name is traditionally known to be significant enough to be used throughout one’s lifetime, gives me the reason to respect my own last name unconditionally.   This is despite  the fact that many people mispronounce my last name, Ng, as â€Å"Nig† or simply call me Miss N- G.   People have additionally made fun of my last name by remarking that NG stands for either â€Å"no good† or â€Å"not given.†Ã‚   Even so, I continue to honor my traditions and my family name. I understand that Ng is an unusual last name in America, and difficult to pronounce because it lacks a vowel.   Moreover, I have felt annoyed at people’s mispronunciation of my last name, and their mockery of it.   Ng was translated from Cantonese, and in Mandarin it is Wu.   The name has various other dialect variants such as Wone, Wong, Bong, Huynh, Hoang, Hwang, Oei, Oi, Ooi, Uy, Wee, and Ong (â€Å"Family Name: Wong†). Unsurprisingly, all of the dialectical variants are transliterated and pronounced differently.   Furthermore, because of the different pronunciations and romanizations, it is generally easy for the people of Chinese origins to tell whether a person using a different dialectical variant of a last name is from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Southeast Asia including Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia (â€Å"Chinese Surname†). Many of my cousins in America have changed the last name to Eng in order to make it easier for others to pronounce.   I do not change it because I am quite attached to the idea of preserving good old family traditions.   According to Scott Edward Harrison, Chinese names in the original script are relatively problem free only for those who are familiar with the written language. But when those names are transliterated based on established standards of transliteration, some intelligibility may be lost.   This is certainly true with my last name.   So, even though my last name is often mocked or mispronounced, I do not overreact to the insult because I have perfect understanding of the nature of the problem. Had Chinese writing been popular in America, nobody would have had a problem saying my last name.   What is more, I have firm trust in the  fact that Americans do not mean to harm or humiliate me by saying my last name incorrectly, or using it inappropriately.   I do believe that the people I know respect and honor me as an individual.   Fortunately, in America one’s personal strengths are more important than one’s origins or name.   Hence, I have never really felt like a misfit, or suffered maladjustment in any way. One variant of my last name, Wong or Huang, is known as the seventh most common last name in China (â€Å"List of Common Chinese Surnames†).   The name is also used by many people in Vietnam, and almost one million in Korea.   Moreover, approximately two million Chinese people settled overseas are known to be using at least one dialect variant of my last name (â€Å"Family Name: Wong†).   According a 1987 study, there are more than four hundred and fifty surnames in use in Beijing (â€Å"Chinese Surname†).   Knowing that my last name, including its dialectic variants, is among the most popular Chinese names, makes it even easier for me to feel at ease with respect to my last name. Works Cited 1Chinese Culture. â€Å"Diana.† Retrieved from http://chineseculture.about.com/library/name/female/blna_diana.htm. (14 February 2007). 2.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Chinese Surname.† Wikipedia (2007, February). Retrieved http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_surname. (14 February 2007). 3.â€Å"Diana.† Behind the Name: The Etymology and History of First Names (1996). Retrieved from http://www.behindthename.com/. (14 February 2007). 4.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Family Name: Wong.† Retrieved from http://www.generasian.ca/roots_wong.html. (14 February 2007). 5. Harrison, Scott Edward. â€Å"Chinese Names in English.† Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, Volume 15, Issue 4 (1993, February). â€Å"List of Common Chinese Surnames.† Wikipedia (2007, February). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_Chinese_surnames. (14 February 20

Categories and Types of Evidence and their Use in the Courtroom

Categories and Types of Evidence and their Use in the Courtroom IntroductionCriminal law is referred to as that branch of law concerned with crimes committedagainst the public authority. It is very different from civil law. An example is murder. It is veryeasy to put murder under civil law because it is a crime committed against another human beingbut the crime of murder is against the public interests. An example of civil crime is when aperson does not honor a contract.Criminal law can be substantial or procedural. Substantial criminal law is concerned withvarious crimes covered with the criminal code but procedural criminal law deals with theprosecution of the crimes mentioned under substantial criminal law. The sentencingrecommendations are also stipulated for various criminal crimes under procedural law.Prosecution under criminal codes can only be done when there is proof beyond a reasonableshadow of doubt that the person accused committed the said crime.Felonies, misdemeanors and treason are the three broad types of crimes that show incourt. English: Category:International Criminal Tribunal ...Treason is seen as a crime that threatens the security of a nation and the well being of anation and this may explain why criminals charged with treason have such stiff and severepenalties. Under criminal law, misdemeanors are minor crimes but felonies are rather seriouscrimes and they are normally associated with mandatory sentences.How judges, parties and juries give out then closely inspect the different forms of proof ata court trial is all governed by the law of evidence. In a way, evidence forms an extension ofcriminal procedure. It also forms an extension of civil law. In the Unites States, the FederalRules of Evidence (FRE) are the rules the federal courts follow. Most of the laws of evidence areencompassed in the Federal Rules of Evidence. The Federal Rules of Evidence has played amajor role in the development of evidence law and most of this is...

Astronomers Count Galaxies in the Cosmos

Astronomers Count Galaxies in the Cosmos How many galaxies are there in the cosmos? Thousands? Millions? More? Those are questions that astronomers revisit every few years. Periodically they count galaxies using sophisticated telescopes and techniques. Each time they do a new galactic census, they find more of these stellar cities than they did before. So, how many are there? It turns out that, thanks to some work done using Hubble Space Telescope, there are billions and billions of them. There could be up to 2 trillion...and counting. In fact, the universe is more vast than astronomers thought, too. The idea of billions and billions of galaxies may make the universe sound much bigger and more populated than ever. But, the more interesting news here is that there are fewer galaxies today than there were in the early universe. Which seems rather odd. What happened to the rest? The answer lies in the term merger. Over time, galaxies formed and merged with each other to form larger ones. So, the many galaxies we see today are what we have left after billions of years of evolution. The History of Galaxy Counts Back at the turn of the 19th century into the 20th, astronomers thought there was only one galaxy - our Milky Way - and that it was the entirety of the universe. They saw other odd, nebulous things in the sky that they called spiral nebulae, but it never occurred to them that these might be very distant galaxies. That all changed in the 1920s, when astronomer Edwin Hubble, using work done on calculating distances to stars using variable stars by astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, found a star that lay in a distant spiral nebula. It was farther away than any star in our own galaxy. That observation told him that the spiral nebula, which we know today as the Andromeda Galaxy, was not part of our own Milky Way. It was another galaxy. With that momentous observation, the number of known galaxies doubled to two. Astronomers were off to the races finding more and more galaxies.   Today, astronomers see galaxies as far as their telescopes  can see. Every part of the distant universe seems to be chock full of galaxies. They show up in all shapes, from irregular globs of light to spirals and ellipticals. As they study galaxies, astronomers have traced the ways they have formed and evolved. Theyve seen how galaxies merge, and what happens when they do. And, they know that our own Milky Way and Andromeda will merge in the distant future.  Each time they learn something new, whether its about our galaxy or some distant one, it adds to their understanding of how these large-scale structures behave. Galaxy Census Since Hubbles time, astronomers have found many other galaxies as their telescopes got better and better. Periodically they would take a census of galaxies. The latest census work, done by Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories, continues to identify more galaxies at greater distances. As find more of these stellar cities, astronomers get a better idea of how they form, merge, and evolve. However, even as they find evidence of more galaxies, it turns out that astronomers can only see about 10 percent of the galaxies they know are out there. Whats going on with that? Many more galaxies that cant be seen or detected with present-day telescopes and techniques. An astonishing 90 percent of the galaxy census falls into this unseen category. Eventually, they will be seen, with telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope, which will be able to detect their light (which turns out to be ultra-faint and much of it in the infrared portion of the spectrum). Fewer Galaxies Means Less to Light up Space So, while the universe has at least 2 trillion galaxies, the fact that it used to have MORE galaxies in the early days may also explain one of the most intriguing questions asked by astronomers: if theres so much light in the universe, why is the sky dark at night? This is known as Olbers Paradox (named for the German astronomer Heinrich Olbers, who first posed the question). The answer may well be because of those missing galaxies. Starlight from the most distant and oldest galaxies may well be invisible to our eyes for a variety of reasons, including the reddening of light due to the expansion of space, the universe’s dynamic nature, and the absorption of light by intergalactic dust and gas. If you combine these factors with other processes that reduce our ability to see visible and ultraviolet (and infrared) light from the most distant galaxies, these could all provide the answer to why we see a dark sky at night. The study of galaxies continues, and in the next few decades, its likely that astronomers will revise their census of these behemoths yet again.

Meaning of Dance in Moving Midway by Godfrey Cheshire Essay

Meaning of Dance in Moving Midway by Godfrey Cheshire - Essay Example Traditionally, dance has been the means of communicating amongst the people there as they used this to tell stories about their cultural heritage. It is therefore pertinent to analyze the value of dance as non-verbal communication. Dance as a nonverbal means of communication played very significant roles in Moving Midway. Through dancing in the documentary, people usually expressed their emotions without having to make any verbal communication with other people. The dancers in the movie are seen using their facial expressions, eye contacts, touches and body languages of people to manifest their emotions and let people know how they feel about a particular situation or circumstance (Cheshire, Hinton & Silver). A dance was also a way that the characters in Midway Movie tried to teach the people their rich cultural heritage and historical background. It is clear from the film that dances, which is a non-verbal means of communication breaks language and cultural barrier when it comes to the expression of emotions amongst the people that take place in this dance. The documentary also brings one to the fact that a person’s expression of anger or sadness through the use of dance as a means of non-verbal communication is the same all over the world.