Joan of Arc essays

Joan of Arc essays In 1412, Joan of Arc was born to Jacques Darc and his wife Isabelle de Vouthon, in the town of Domremy, France. Her childhood was spent attending her father's herds in the fields and learning religion and housekeeping skills from her mother. At the age of twelve, she started hearing voices in her head that belonged to St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret. Joan thought that they were bringing her messages from God. These voices told her that it was her divine mission to free her country from the English and help the dauphin, or eldest son of the king, gain the French throne. They told her to cut her hair, dress in man's uniform and to pick up the arms. In 1429, the English had occupied Paris and all of France north of the Loire, which is Frances longest river. This capturing was due in most part to the lack of leadership within the French. It was a total sense of hopelessness among them. Joan then convinced the captain of the dauphin, and then the dauphin himself, of her calli ng from a higher power. After passing an examination, she was given the title of captain. At the battle of Orleans in May of 1429, Joan led the troops to a miraculous triumph over the English. She continued fighting the English in other locations along the Loire. The fear of the troops under her leadership was so formidable that when she approached Lord Talbot's army at Patay, most of the English troops, including a commander, fled the battlefield. Even with a good portion of her troops fleeing, she still went on to win this battle, capturing the Lord and killing 1800 of his soldiers. Charles VII was then crowned king of France, and at the coronation, Joan was given a place of honor next to the king. Later, she was ennobled for her services to the country. In 1430, Joan was captured by the Burgundy forces while defending Compiegne near Paris, and then sold to the English. The English then turned her over to the court, where she would be ...

Meaning and Origin of the Surname Roberts

Meaning and Origin of the Surname Roberts A patronymic surname translating to son of Robert, from the Welsh given name Robert, meaning bright fame. The surname is derived from the Germanic elements hrod meaning fame and beraht meaning bright. The origin of the name Roberts is  Welsh and  German and is the 45th most popular surname in the United States as well as the sixth most common surname in Wales. Quick Facts The nickname for Robert is typically Bob or Bobby while the feminine form is often Roberta or Bobbi.The Normans historically introduced the surname Roberts to Britain allowing it to be popular in places like England, Wales and Ireland.Roberts can also be attributed to the Italian root connected to Rupert and is connected to Flanders by the names Rops and Rubbens.The popular fictional character and childrens toy doll, Barbie, is also known by her full name as Barbara Millicent Roberts. Alternate Surname Spellings RobertRobartsRobinsRobartRopartzRobbertsRopertRuppert Famous People Julia Roberts:  American actress popular for films Pretty Woman, Steel Magnolias, and Erin Brockovich. She is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood.Rick Ross:  His real name is William Leonard Roberts II. Rick Ross is a rapper and label boss who was first signed to P. Diddys Ciroc Entertainment.Doris Roberts:  Famous television actress known for her role in the popular series Everbody Loves Raymond. She had also been on Desperate Housewives, Greys Anatomy and other TV shows. Genealogy Resources 100 Most Common U.S. Surnames Their MeaningsSmith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 census?Roberts Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Roberts surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Roberts query.FamilySearch - Roberts GenealogyFind records, queries, and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Roberts surname and its variations.Roberts Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Roberts surname.Cousin Connect - Roberts Genealogy QueriesRead or post genealogy queries for the surname Roberts, and sign up for free notification when new Roberts queries are added.DistantCousin.com - Roberts Genealogy Family HistoryFree databases and genealogy links for the last name Roberts. Check out the resource First Name Meanings to discover the meaning of a given name.  Suggest a surname  be added to the Glossary of Surname Meanings and Origins if you are unable to find your last name listed. Source Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German-Jewish Surnames. Avotaynu, 2005. Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia. Avotaynu, 2004. Hanks, Patrick, and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Critical Response to Article by Karl Hostetler Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical Response to by Karl Hostetler - Article Example This preamble marks the paper out as something a little different from the usual mainstream literature, and the impression of novelty is further enhanced by statements to the effect that researchers need to be playful and irreverent about serious subjects, and need to offend some people and annoy others. Hofstetler certainly practices what he preaches, since the article is full of provocative statements that could be taken as undermining the most fundamental values of academic research activity in most contemporary universities. The key problem that Hostetler identifies is a tendency for education researchers to focus on how their work is done, rather than undertaking a deep analysis of what they are doing and why they are doing it. Analogies such as debating which way to investigate the effectiveness of thumbscrews (Hostetler, 2005, 16-17) or herding lemmings toward the cliff (Hostetler, 2005, 17) or even sticking students with cattle prods (Hostetler, 2005, 19) are somewhat ludicro us, but the point important: too many researchers do not reflect enough about the fundamental aim of education and how far their work helps of hinders people who might be affected at some later date by the outcomes of this research. This line of argument flies in the face of standard notions of research which involve concepts such as objectivity and scientific rigor. Without the use of statistics and analytical methods, there would be very little beyond anecdotal evidence to inform policy making and practice. Hofstetler makes a valid point, but he overstates it with his deliberately â€Å"naughty† (Hofstetler, 2005, p. 17) examples, and he risks not being taken seriously by the vast majority of interested readers who are quite capable of combining scientific methods with careful ethical reflection, and see no necessary conflict between the two. A second problem that Hostetler describes is that of definitions, for example the very different ways that the conception of â€Å"c haracter† in school programs is constituted. Clearly there are quite fundamental variations in the ideologies that can underpin such notions, and Hostetler argues that this complexity is something that needs to be more fully taken into account by researchers. On this point the article is convincing, and certainly there is a case for more clarity in the way that abstract educational terminology is used, especially in government slogans and initiative titles. Hofstetler speaks up for the particular student experiences that are hidden within the data of randomized trial procedures, for example, suggesting that some of the generalizing theories that researchers produce may contain within them actual harm to individual students, since minority results tend to be lost in the bigger picture. Hofstetler questions whether the trade-off is justified, and this is a commendable observation because it highlights the dilemma of that section of the school population with behavioural or learn ing disorders who are so often lost in the drive for overall quality improvements. This article raises a number of valuable questions, and provides much material for reflection, but it is rather short on concrete answers to these questions. The conclusion which is reached is little more than a platitude expressing approval of the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and other moral giants of history and calling for a more

Human resource management and career management Dissertation

Human resource management and career management - Dissertation Example Since the beginning until today, human race has been able to ensure continuous progression in every aspect of the society from education to business, and from art to medicine.In such developments,business has remained an imperative component of every society;however,expertshave indicated that until few decades ago, business were only a meant of making profits, and employees were only instruments of ensuring that profit in the business. In other words, there was no difference between humans and animals and both were tools of carrying out work for the employers. However, in recent years, there has been noteworthy alteration in the process of business (Harris et al., pp. 56-60, 2003), and one can observe significant changes especially after the introduction of human resource management that has now become an imperative component of every business organization around the globe. Analysis of the literature (Hendry, pp. 20-22, 1995; Armstrong, pp. 71-78, 2006) has indicated that today in th e era of information and technology and in midst of thousands of qualified individuals lurking to acquire a job, career management has come up as a new aspect. It specifically involves provision of opportunities to individuals to explore their career possibilities, development of their career objectives, and provision of strategies to acquire their career. Experts (Miner, pp. 63-68, 2007) now believe that in the era of economic recession and increment in the unemployment, it has now become important for both career management and human resource management to integrate them, in order to ensure effectiveness at both workplaces, as well as in the marketplace (Ulrich, pp. 23-26, 1997). In the result, it is now a premise of this paper that human resource management should or even must be a component of career management in the future as such step will ease the process of recruitment, selection, and development of employees in the workplace. Additionally, it will allow the employers, as w ell as employees to acquire their targets easily in the marketplace. In order to understand the significance of making HRM a component of career management, the paper will now attempt to understand different current roles of HRM. Particularly, HRM is one of the tactical components (Lumsden et al., pp. 46-55, 2009) within a business entity, which ensures efficient handling of existing, as well as potential labor force. In particular, the major responsibility of HRM is to employ human workforce and make sure that they work in accordance with the identified goals and objectives of the organization, which HRM does by ensuring timely provision of all the required resources essential for such fulfillment. Experts (Briscoe & Schuler, pp. 50-54, 2004) have noticed that nowadays, HRM is also involved in dealing with factors, such as advantages, remuneration, efficiency of workers, productivity of employees, and most importantly, effective communication between employees and employers in the organization. From this brief understanding of the role of HRM, it seems that HRM can be very beneficial in ensuring effective implementation of career management. Unfortunately, nowadays, career has become a synonymous term to job, which is completely inappropriate and inaccurate. Particularly, career is a sequence of jobs, and job is a term that refers to a work that an individual takes to complete it (Grimshaw, pp. 20-25, 2009). In this regard, HRM should be a part of career management, as it can support the later to enable employees to manage their career in the most effective manner rather than sticking to a single job while changing different organizations, and considering it career management. Fortunately, nowadays, a huge number of business organizations are taking their workforce as basic pillars for the success of their organization (Mabey et al., pp. 25-30, 1998). In the result, employers are these days putting efforts to provide

Passwords adopted Essay Example for Free

Passwords adopted Essay In the use of password authentication systems, users are the biggest enemy. According to the second discussion article by Johnson, S, he realized that he needed a password strategy after forgetting his password three times thereby being forced to go through a process of creating a new password. To overcome this problem of forgetting passwords, he resorts to using uncomplicated passwords. The average password user rarely makes an attempt to remember a well constituted password. A well constituted password should be complex enough to prevent what are known as dictionary attacks i. e. passwords constituting letters that make up words that are easy to guess or deduce. Passwords are not foolproof as it is and poor passwords make the whole security measure weaker. Thus, poor password practices always undermine system security. Password reuse is another form of password abuse. Users usually adopt the same passwords or variations of the same password because they are easier to remember. Similarly, users will normally opt to use simple passwords on occasions where the repercussions of intrusion are relatively mild e. g. hat are generated for them. First, these passwords are often temporary and users are given specific instructions to immediately change the password to something different than what was generated. Secondly, people may want to reuse their password they could just change the generated password into something they commonly use for an unimportant website. To help ease the problems that arise in creation and remembering of passwords, password managers are used. A password manager is software that assists users to organize their passwords in a retrievable manner. A typical password manager has a database or files that store encrypted password data. Many password managers also work as form fillers whereby they fill the user and password data automatically into the forms. Unfortunately, many users keep a written record of their passwords. Users who are subjected to complex passwords generated by password managers either change them frequently or end up writing them down. This is itself creates another problem because some users write down their passwords on sticky notes etc. while others keep their passwords as text files n their computers or mobile device, where the passwords can be easily lost or stolen. Recommendations. Educating users on password security is effective. However, this should not deter efforts made at looking into security measures beyond passwords. An example is some companies that have branched into biometrics to increase security. Biometrics is the science and technology of measuring and analyzing human biological data. In the context of information technology and more specifically security measures, biometrics refers to technologies that measure and analyze human body characteristics. These characteristics include fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, voice patterns, facial patterns and hand measurements etc. These characteristics are unique to individual human beings and can thus be used for authentication purposes. Biometric authentication is becoming increasingly common in corporate and public security systems, consumer electronics and point of sale (POS) applications. In addition to security, convenience has been another attractive aspect in Biometrics. Biometric devices, such as retina iris scanners, consist of a scanning device, software that converts the scanned information into a digital format and finally compares the resultant match points with those stored in a database containing biometric data for comparison. Another recommendation is the implementation of a layered strategy. It could start out with one password to gain general access, then as the risk rises, the user should be required to provide combinations of something in their knowledge and which is a secret. It could be a smart card, a secure ID token, etc For systems that are limited to the use of keyboard based passwords, the following measures would greatly assist in strengthening the passwords adopted: 1. Avoid letters from familiar phrases. 2. Combine the use of uppercase and lowercase letters in the password. 3. Avoid abbreviations of common phrases or acronyms. 4. Use punctuation in the password. 5. Use a password of at least six characters. 6. Avoid common literary names. 7. Mix up two or more separate words. 8. Create an acronym from an uncommon phrase. 9. Avoid passwords that contain your login ID. 10. Use numbers in the password. 11. Use homonyms or deliberate misspellings.

A Tale Of Two Cities :: essays research papers

Throughout the book, A Tale of Two Cities the theme of sacrifice is used to help the reader realize the cost of life, as well as to develop the plot through the effects of those sacrifices. Through the characters of Sydney Carton, Dr. Manette, and Ms. Pross the theme of sacrifice is developed. The theme of sacrifice brings key aspects of the plot together, and Carton's sacrifice brings the novel to closer in the end. Sydney Carton paid the highest cost of sacrifice with his life, and in doing so he was very similar to Jesus Christ. Carton laid down his life for a man who had never done anything for him and who in fact had abused his relationship as demonstrated on page 191 when Carton describes himself in Darnay's view as "a dissolute dog who has never done any good, and never will." Similarly Jesus Christ let himself be beaten, abused, and killed for the same people who spit in his face. Other people in both cases thought that Jesus and Carton were not thought to be much more that dogs, while they both sacrificed their lives so these people who treated them like dogs could live. Both Carton's and Jesus' sacrifice was inspired by a deep desperate love for which they were willing to do anything. Carton was willing to die for Lucie because of his desperate, scandalous love for her, just as Jesus showed his love for man when he was willing to give up his life for every man. This level of love makes the sacrifice even more valuable and brings things to closure. Finally, Carton and Jesus both knew that through their sacrifice, others could have life. Carton's death breathed life into Darnay just as Jesus Christ's death breathes life into those who trust in him. The importance of their death is that it brings life. The role of Carton's sacrifice in the plot is that the cost of life is sometimes high. Through his sacrifice the cost and privilege of living can be measured, just as Christians can see the true cost and privilege of life through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. Dr. Manette also sacrificed much of his life by giving up his own personal goals and agenda for Lucie. On page 125 Dr. Manette says, "any fancies, any reasons, and apprehensions, anything whatsoever, new or old against the man she really loved†¦they

All About My Mother & Pan’s Labyrinth

How far do the narratives of the films you have studied rely on dramatic moments of confrontation and how far on a more subtle change over time? The two very different Spanish films All about my Mother (AAMM) and Pan’s Labyrinth use complex narratives and character representations to explore gender ideologies. I would suggest that both films rely in part on dramatic moments of confrontation but also demonstrate a more subtle change over time; in this essay I will explain this view. AAMM is a powerful melodrama, exhibiting many of Almodovar’s signature traits and exemplifying his exhuberant, challenging post-Franco style. As a melodrama, it is hardly surprising that there are many dramatic moments within the narrative and throughout the film we see various confrontational moments between the characters. For example, as Manuela enters Barcelona in a taxi there is a violently shocking scene which introduces us to Agrado as she is assaulted by a client. She is defiant in her response and in this way Almodovar sets his agenda: this is a film which challenges traditional gender roles and our perceptions of what is and what ‘should be’. The scene is perhaps all the more shocking because up until this point, in Madrid, there has been high drama in the sudden death of Manuela’s son but her reaction to it is subtly presented and gender representations are far more traditional and in line with the hegemonic view. As Manuela’s somewhat passive quest to find Lola continues, the narrative is punctuated by various melodramatic moments of confrontation but Almodovar’s intention is clearly not merely to present a set of over-exaggerated characters in improbable scenarios and it is perhaps his subtlety that allows the film to communicate its real meaning. Although Manuela is the main character and it is her actions which move the narrative along initially, it is perhaps through all of his characters and their intertwined experiences that Almodovar more fully explores gender and sexuality and questions hegemonic values. Each of his characters goes on a journey and whilst the overtly melodramatic narrative is what keeps the audience entertained (if somewhat disbelievingly) it is perhaps the more subtle undertones of change which we can only appreciate once the film is finished that contain its true message. Manuela, the eternal mother, has a chance to be so to an infant again; Agrado has found acceptance and purpose which does not rely on the sale of her body; Huma is free of the destructive and toxic Nina; Rosa’s mother, who represents perhaps more than any other character the hegemonic values of Spanish society that Almodovar is challenging, is shown to be uncaring in the worst way by rejecting her grandchild and thereby loses her right to have access to him. Rosa, of course, is dead but before her death she had seamlessly morphed from nun to earthly mother. I would argue that all of these changes are subtle and not reliant on moments of dramatic confrontation, and that actually it is these changes – these people – which are the film’s narrative. Although the dramatic moments are entertaining, they are the bass line and the subtler changes are the melody. In terms of narrative, Pan’s Labyrinth is of course quite different from AAMM but I would argue that in terms of the importance of dramatic moments of confrontation versus subtler changes, there are some similarities. As a gothic fairytale/fantasy film set during the Spanish civil war, we would expect dramatic confrontations as binary oppositions are a key convention of the genre and confrontations a symptom of conflict; and indeed, we are not disappointed. The villain of the tale, Captain Vidal, is at the heart of most of the dramatic confrontations within the film, with the Doctor, Ofelia, Carmen, the rebels and eventually, the ultimate confrontation with Mercedes which results in his death. As in AAMM, these moments are certainly key to the development of the narrative and serve to highlight del Toro’s representation of Franco’s hegemonic masculinity as violent, controlling and confrontational. But when we look at the female characters in the film, as indeed we must, there is a recognisably subtler and more sensitive approach both in their representation and in their roles and functions within the narrative. Mercedes, as the ‘helper’, grows in strength and courage as the film progresses, moving gradually from a somewhat sidelined observer of Vidal’s terror to a heroic central player and successful challenger, killing the villain and saving the rebels (who happen to be men). Ofelia of course, undergoes enormous change throughout the tale, losing her mother and confronting various creatures as well as Vidal as she goes but perhaps more significantly, failing to confront her own fear of growing up and instead opting to stay a child forever. Carmen is represented as weak and conforming to the hegemonic ideology that women should be subservient to their husbands and she dies during childbirth, perhaps to demonstrate that this view is outdated. In this film, the necessity for women to be mothers is thus challenged through both mother and daughter, as Carmen dies for it and Ofelia openly rejects it. One conclusion which could be drawn is that although there are many moments of dramatic confrontation in Pan’s narrative, they perhaps merely mask the subtler changes happening beneath them. Or that del Toro has intentionally constructed these confrontations within the world of the men and within Ofelia’s fantasy world to allow us to observe that subtler changes which they promote in our heroine and her helper. The eventual result, of course, being that the situation in Vidal’s ‘family’ mirrors that of the war with the rebels: he fails to recognise the subtle changes occurring around him and pays for it dearly. Because in actuality, it is the female characters who are in control and their experiences being explored. As I said, Vidal and the dramatic moments of confrontation that he is so frequently part of, are the cause and the subtler changes within the female characters the effect. In conclusion, I would say that as with most narratives, dramatic moments of confrontation help to move things along in both of these films but are by no means completely relied upon to create meaning and communicate with the audience. Both films, in different ways, are about women and their experiences and subtlely is also required to communicate these experiences with the poignancy and genuine feeling that they do.

Barley production in the United States Essay

Share of US in global barley production is decreasing and about 1% drop can be clearly seen from 2000 to 2005. Currently US produces about 3. 5% of the total global production. European Union, Russia, Canada and Australia lead the pack. In US the barley is produced mainly in North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Minnesota and South Dakota. These six states account for about 80% of the US barley production. The area under barley cultivation in these six states are 1. 05, 0. 80, 0. 56, 0. 21, 0. 12 and 0. 06 million acres for the states North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Minnesota and South Dakota respectively in 2006 (fapri. missouri 2006). In US the area under cultivation of barley and wheat is continuously decreasing while that under corn and soyabean is increasing. Total area under barley cultivation has decreased from 9 million acres in 1991 to about 3. 5 million acres in 2006 and accordingly the total production of barley has also decreased from about 9 million ton in 1991 to just 4. 4 million ton in 2005. US production averages 400 million bushels per year with an annual value of $923 million as a raw commodity (1988 – 1997). In USA production of the malt barley is mainly in the western states. Of the barley consumed domestically, approximately 55% of the barley crop is used for animal feed 39% for malt production 3. 5% as seed 1. 7% in food products Total value of the annual barley crop is $184 million for barley and milled products $48 million for malt and malt extracts $332 million for beer. US production represents 5-10% of the world production. Largest importers of US barley are Japan and Mexico. Malting and Brewing It is imperative to examine the malting, brewing and fermentation process in primarily to understand the quality requirements for the barley to be use for production of beer. Various unit processes in production of beer are – making malt, drying and milling of malt, producing wort, brewing, fermentation, maturation and bottling. We will examine each of the unit processes in somewhat detail. In the malt house, barley grain germination is initiated by the uptake of water in a steeping vessel. The grain imbibes water during controlled cycles of water spraying or water immersion followed by aeration, until the water content of the grain reaches 42 to 48%. Water enters the grain via the embryo, and after approximately 24 hours, the first visible sign of germination is the appearance of the root, as a white ‘chit’. The grains are then transferred to malting beds where germination is allowed to proceed over a period of around 5 days. The speed of germination is controlled by temperature and aeration of the malt bed, while moisture content is maintained by spraying. Further embryo growth, with the appearance of rootlets and acrospires, can lead to root entangling. The grain bed is regularly turned with a rotating screw to prevent grains matting together. Green malt, produced after five days of germination, is kiln dried and partly cooked in a forced flow of hot air. Hydrolases produced during malting are partially inactivated during this process. Malt color, enhanced by kilning at higher temperatures, may be desirable for production of darker beer, but it leads to further heat-inactivation of hydrolases. The brittle malt rootlets are separated from the malt and utilized in animal feeds. The kilned malt is stable for storage and has a friable texture suitable for the milling process which proceeds brewing. The brew house consists of brewery buildings housing machinery and equipment for the production of wort. Processes taking place here include milling of the kiln dried malt, mashing, filtration and wort boiling. The malt is milled into fine grits to ensure good access of water to grain particles in the subsequent phase of beer production. Milling energy is a good indication of malt quality, where homogeneously modified malt has a lower milling energy. Malt may be supplemented with solid adjunct, i. e. a sugar source such as flaked or roasted barley, in order to impart specific flavor or colour characteristics to the finished beer. Milled malt is mixed thoroughly with two to four volumes of water to yield mash, and subjected to a process – denoted mashing – that fundamentally is an extension of malting with the action of various enzymes. Boiled, gelatinized starch from maize or rice grains may be supplemented as adjunct during mashing to achieve a higher content of fermentable sugars. At the end of the mashing operation, soluble substances and residual solid particles are separated by filtration into sweet wort and spent grains, respectively. Factors influencing mash filtration are complex and range from physical effects, such as particle size, to high viscosity caused by gum and protein aggregates. In the next process in the brew house, hops are added to the wort as a source of bitter substances, which are solubilized during wort boiling (> 1 h) and give beer its characteristic taste and aroma. In addition, wort boiling serves to denature enzymes and other proteins, sterilizes the wort, and yields a darker liquid which is an excellent medium for subsequent fermentation with brewers yeast. During the primary fermentation, the fermentable sugars, mainly maltose and glucose are converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide. This action is performed by the brewing yeast, which during the brewing process also produces many of the characteristic aroma compounds found in beer. At the end of the primary fermentation, the yeast cells flocculate and sediment at the bottom of the fermenter and can be cropped and used for a new fermentation. Not all yeast cells sediment; some will remain in suspension, and these cells are responsible for maturation of the beer. During this process the off-flavor, diacetyl is degraded to below the taste threshold. The fermentation characteristics of brewer’s yeast are strain-dependent and are genetically inherited. Much of the genetics of Saccharomyces yeasts has been elucidated, and the knowledge gained, forms the basis for breeding of brewing yeast. Thus, new types of beer with altered aromas can be produced with yeast strains selected through breeding. After fermentation the temperature is lowered and the beer is maturated for a period during which the off-flavor component diacetyl is assimilated by yeast cells. Mature beer is then chilled to a temperature of -2 oC for a couple of days. By doing so the colloidal stability of the beer is greatly improved due to precipitation of protein-tannin complexes, which are only sparingly soluble at low temperature. The beer is now ready for final stabilization, which removes further amounts of proteinaceous matter and/or tannins, and subsequent filtration. The bright beer so obtained, and adjusted to the correct carbon dioxide content, is now ready for bottling. When the residual yeast cells have been removed it is of utmost importance that oxygen uptake is reduced as much as possible, since oxygen will damage the flavor stability of the beer and, despite intensive stabilisation, also impairs its colloidal stability. Finished beer is either bottled or canned or filled into kegs. It may be tunnel pasteurized, flash pasteurized or aseptically bottled. In either case the beer must appear fresh, bright and without faults to the customer and hence the quality is a matter of great concern. The beer must also be free from micro-organisms to ensure wholesomeness and biological stability. The ethanol content must obey fiscal rules but is also of major importance for the flavor of the beer. This is further influenced by a wide range of compounds that may be present in even very small amounts. Visually the finished beer must form nice foam on pouring; it must have an attractive colour. Despite use of the choicest raw materials and careful brewing performance the beer is a fragile liquid, especially when not stored cold. The fine balanced aroma of fresh beer is eventually replaced by a less attractive smell and likewise the taste deteriorates. The basis for this decay is a matter of intense research.

Principles of Ecotourism Analysis Essay

Principles of Ecotourism Analysis Essay Main Principles of Ecotourism Analysis Essay Example Main Principles of Ecotourism Analysis Essay Example Ecotourism is an environmentally stable form of nature-based tourism, which is primarily focused on life in the wilderness and learning the environment. It is organized in accordance with the ethical standards so as to minimize the impact on the nature, consumption, and costs, and focused on the local level (with control perspective, the benefits and scope). Normally, this form of tourism is developed in the protected territories and is intended for contributing to their conservation. It is generally accepted among the majority of nations that approximately 8 to 10% of their land area is to be preserved for maintenance of their native habitat (Ballantyne Packer, 2013). The major function of this policy is ensuring that the historic environment in the country is protected as part of its heritage, and a variety of flora and fauna within the state is stored. It is assumed that these conserved regions may function without undue human interventions. However, ecotourism can promote not on ly the conservation and development of nature; it also includes positive synergistic relationship between tourism, biodiversity, and the local population, which is supported with the appropriate organization and management of these activities. Ecotourism occurs in relatively undisturbed natural areas and does not lead to the destruction of the environment and deterioration of its quality. In opposite, it contributes directly to the protection and management of the used natural areas. Ecotourism should be a subject of adequate and competent management. Thus, the sphere includes three key criteria. Principles of Ecotourism The main destinations attractive for tourists are primarily natural (characterized with specific flora, fauna or geological features). The next important component is a feature of the cultural environment; the emphasis is put on the study and understanding of the resources themselves, and the activities of tourists and other participants have a mild effect on the physical and cultural environment in the visited region. Eco-tourism should be linked with the concept of sustainable tourism, without exceeding the recreational capacity of the visited areas by being acceptable to local communities and supporting them. Sustainability in this sphere implies a positive overall balance of the environmental, socio-cultural and economic impacts of tourism, as well as the positive influence of visitors on each other. Thus, those types of tourism activities that have the highest positive summary effect in terms of environmental, economic and social development can be considered more stable. Ecotou rism is an important component of the sustainable development of natural areas. It is easy to determine that the basis of most definitions of ecotourism are aimed at achieving sustainability or are the means of achieving this goal, whether it is minimizing the negative impacts on the natural and cultural environment, strengthening of economic returns for the benefit of nature protection or environmental education. Obviously, such travel, in which only a few principles of ecotourism are carried out, cannot be considered ecotourism. The direct result of ecotourism is not an improvement and the protection of the environment. This paper will examine the four ecotourism destinations Kangaroo Island in Australia, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Penang National Park in Malaysia, and Costa Rica, which present the perfect examples of proper compliance with the conditions of eco-travelling, and evaluate on these instances whether ecotourism can be considered sustainable with regards of its environmental, social, and economic aspects. The modern concept of ecotourism can be narrowed to a set of principles applicable to all types of tourism related to nature. The basic principles of ecotourism include: Travelling in nature. The main purpose of such trips is acquaintance with wildlife, as well as local customs and culture; Minimizing the negative environmental and socio-cultural effects; maintenance of ecological sustainability of the nature; Promoting conservation of nature and local socio-cultural environment; Environmental education; The participation of local residents and opportunity for them to receive income from tourism. It is creating for them the economic incentives for conservation; Cost-effectiveness and contribution to sustainable development of the visited regions (Ballantyne Packer, 2013). Demand on Ecotourism, Trends in Its Global Growth and Likely Impacts upon the Future Development of the Industry Increased demand for ecotourism is defined with the general growth of the number of tourists, an increasing popularity of the trips to special destinations, and rising of public awareness of environmental conservation. Another important trend which underlies the demand for ecotourism is the fact that the industrialized countries of the West have reached a point where the driving force of economic growth is not the desire of people to consume more goods, but their aspiration to real impressions and experiences (Cater, 1997). Recently, tourists from developed countries are increasingly looking for this form of travelling, which would contribute to their personal growth and enrichment of their knowledge of nature and human. Another important trend in the global growth of ecotourism is an increase of caring about health and maintaining physical fitness that resulted in active recreation in the open air becoming fashionable. This trend coincided in time with the saturation of the market w ith the traditional beach-resort areas (Chen, 2015). Thus, tour operators began to offer their customers new, exotic destinations and forms of recreation. Preservation of ethnic rural landscapes is directly linked with the development of landscape tourism. At present, this factor becomes the only real brake on industrial expansion in many regions. The development of ecotourism becomes an additional (or sometimes major) means of economic revitalization of depressed areas. The tendency of attraction the travelers to the best preserved natural landscapes is accompanied with changes in tourist specialization, development of the infrastructure of tourist zones, the creation of a network of national parks and game farms, introduction of special conservation regime of exploitation of forests. Unique Tourism Supply Kangaroo Island in Australia Kangaroo Island is situated on the southern Australian coast. The island is considered a classic example of tourism development involving local community and ecologists of the wild nature. Its natural resources were designed as tourist products in many ways. The market of the island changes constantly in order to improve access from the mainland of South Australia, ensure more foreign arrivals and a significant number of daily visitors. The destination is developing through the introduction of the innovative mode of planning and management of health, tourism industry, and resources of Kangaroo Island. Kangaroo Island is situated nearly ten miles away from the coast of Southern Australia. It offers for tourists to spend time in a rural location of pristine wilderness. Twenty four national parks or nature reserves embrace about a third of Kangaroo Island territory. The remaining part of the island is covered with well-watered woods and agricultural lands. The primary reason why people come to Kangaroo Island is to have an opportunity to see rare wild animals, national parks and the island itself (Moore, 2009). Neighboring Brownlow Beach offers diving, yachting sports and sea fishing from the pier. The main attractive point for tourists is kangaroos which come out to graze at sunset. One is able to observe most of them from a distance. Other rare animals still survive on the island. In addition, to the west along the south coast beaches there is a pretty Vivonne Bay, beach with pure white sand, known as the Little Sahara. Kangaroo Island also has Kelly Hill Conservation Park, which is famous for its limestone caves. It can be concluded that Kangaroo Island is a little business owned and operated by local naturalist experts. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates The government of Dubai is committed to the preservation of the ecosystem of the emirate. Within the new strategic development plan of Dubai, a special attention is paid to ecotourism, which will contribute to the conservation of nature, the Islamic cultural heritage, and local traditions. In 2003, the government adopted a policy of the development of ecotourism and has signed a number of legal acts, directing the activities of the country in this way. In this region, which has both desert and water ecosystem, there is plenty of opportunities to explore the local nature and fauna. The main focus of ecotourism activities was put on the creation of nature reserves and opening them for visitors. The biggest of them is called Ras Al Khor and covers six square kilometers. There one can admire a local flora and fauna, watch birds and enjoy the wonderful view from the high towers for bird watchers, two of which have been specially created for tourists. Besides, one of the best places for ob serving the nature is Dubai desert reserve which is called Al Maha Desert Resort. Al Maha has been designed with the key principles of eco-tourism in the framework of consolidation of its commercial success. In total, eco-zones in Dubai, including reserves, cover more than three hundred million square kilometers. They present eighty eight species of birds, three hundred and thirteen of fauna, and amazingly beautiful nature. However, eco-tourism in Dubai is not limited to the reserves and green areas. Those tourists who are interested can visit the desert for safari to observe rare Arabian Oryx. One can also fly over it in a balloon or take an off-road car tour. In addition, travelers can go to a pilgrimage to the mountain springs and use other opportunities. Moreover, Dubai officially announced the establishment of six new nature reserves in order to preserve the environment and promote ecotourism. These new measures will positively affect the nature. Creating of reserves will help to ensure the environmental safety of Dubai in the future and will have a significant impact on the development of ecotourism in the emirate. Penang National Park in Malaysia Penang National Park is the smallest of the national parks of Malaysia, which covers an area of two thousand five hundred sixty two hectares. Despite this, these park is the only one reserved territory in Malaysia, where one can found six different ecosystems: the seasonal lake, wetlands, mangroves, watts (coastal strip, drying during low tides), coral reefs and sandy beaches. There are about a thousand species of plants, one hundred forty three species of animals and forty six species of birds (Kaffashi et al., 2005). From April to August, green turtles and olive sea turtles swim to the beaches of the park to lay their eggs. This reserve, which lies on the northern tip of Penang Island at the end of the famous Jalan Batu Ferringhi over fishing village Kuala Bahang, offers visitors several hiking trails. National Park gives great opportunities for recreation and ecotourism, including climbing, hiking, swimming, wildlife watching or simply enjoying the unique natural environment. Local people are involved in touristic activities, too. Fishermen offer a ride on the boat and cooking dinner on the grill. Several companies of Penang organize regular trips to the park trails. A favorite place of tourists is a wide bay Teluk Duyung, which is also nicknamed Monkey Beach because of the large flocks of these animals that live here. In the district of the beach, there is a meromictic lake Pantai Kerachut. There are only several such lakes in the world. Water is clearly stratified in them: the upper layer of fresh water is fed from the 5 surrounding creeks and always stays cool; the bottom layer of salt water is fed from the sea and always keeps warm. In addition, tourists are offered to pass the suspended trail (Canopy Walkway). It is the shortest route connecting the two main trails of the national park. It is hovering at a height of fifteen m above the ground. The interesting fact which motivates tourists to see it is that it was built on the trees using ropes withou t a single nail, screw or bolt (Kaffashi et al., 2005). Costa Rica Costa Rica is Mecca of ecotourism. This is one of the few countries in Latin America, which made a bid for ecotourism. Forests and all animals are protected by law. Perhaps, it is the only country where any hunting is prohibited. And it gives the results: there is a large number of animals and they allow tourists to come close to them. The diversity of the country’s flora and fauna attracts tourists here. Seventy of a hundred per cent of the Earths plants are available in Costa Rica (Dasenbrock, 2002). In addition to the parks and reserves, tourists can visit one hundred and twenty active volcanoes. Seventy of them are acting. Arenal Volcano is acknowledged the most active. Here are also situated numerous hot springs, which attract tourists from all over the world. It is the perfect place to relax and unwind being surrounded by wonderful nature. In 1964, world-famous park of cypress sculpture of Evangelist Blanco Brenes appeared in Zarkero (Dasenbrock, 2002). He has been working on the maintenance of the ideal state of his masterpieces for 37 years. In Costa Rica, there are twenty four magnificent national parks, thus, it can be considered as the concentration of the world of ecotourism. Here, on a fair distance from each other, is a large number of ecologic houses. Many of them, in addition to standard tours, offer special programs of yoga and wellness treatments. These parks are supposedly the most prominent representatives of the natural diversity on earth. Tortuguero National Park is a complex system of canals and mangroves and is a haven for the four species of turtles, which chose this place for the annual egg-laying and are close to extinction. Santa Rosa National Park is very different from others since it is very dry in summer and very windy in winter here; this area is blown with severe winds Papagayo. It is the largest protected land of dry forest in Central America. Here, the extraordinary beauty of the flowers and heavenly beaches is presented (Dasenbrock, 2002). Sustainable Tourism Principles Sustainable tourism meets the needs of todays travelers and the local population and, at the same time, preserves and increases the possibilities for the future. This notion involves the ability to create long-term conditions for the proper development of both tourism and conservation of natural resources, social and cultural values of society. However, its goal is to achieve higher standards of living for the native population through economic growth and conservation of environmental benefits and natural capital for future generations. This approach fits into the global tourism trends, determining the formation of a new tourist brand, which involves the situation when the high preservation of natural and cultural complexes is a prerequisite for sustainable development. Sustainable tourism is the youngest concept of environmentally friendly tourism. It is essentially a particular application of the concept of sustainable development which implies the integration of social, economic a nd environmental aspects in decision-making and action. The concept of sustainable development has become the central idea of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) and has been recognized as an effective model for the development by an absolute majority of the countries whose representatives signed a number of international documents directly related to the practical implementation of the concept of sustainable development (Marzouky, Froger Ballet, 2012). The ten principles of sustainable tourism adopted by the Swedish Agency for Environmental Protection can help to understand better the essence of sustainable tourism concept: Inexhaustible, sustainable use of natural resources; Reducing excessive consumption and waste; Ensuring the preservation of natural, social and cultural diversity; Careful planning, an integrated approach, the integration of eco-tourism into regional development plans; Support for local economies; Participation of local populations in tourism development and sharing of financial and other benefits from such activities; Consulting stakeholders and the public; Training of staff; Responsible tourism marketing. Thus, one can say that ecotourism is at the crossing of nature-friendly and sustainable tourism (Higginbottom, 2004). Assessment on the Sustainability of Ecotourism in Terms of Environmental, Social, and Economic Aspects Economic Aspect of Ecotourism Kangaroo Island Charging fees on visitors is a method of capturing income that may be sent back to realization of environmental objectives. Visitor fees include park admission tickets and excursions fees on users of the district of or object. Sales and royalties are fees charged as a percentage of earnings received from using the activities or products on the site, such as crafts, souvenirs, photos and greeting cards and others. Taxation is an additional cost of products and services bought by tourists. Thus, the power supply inputs and other charges are added to the income of local labor and their total is added to the local tourism industry and estimated to be at least $ 1.5 to $ 2.0 million a year (Moore, 2009). Dubai Tourism is now the fastest growing sector of the economy of Dubai. It has become possible due to constantly increasing number of tourists. About 3.6 million people visited Dubai in 2003; more than seven million came in 2007. In 2008, Dubai received about 6.5 million visitors, which contributed to getting $ 3.5 billion for the local economy. Dubai is one of the few international destinations, which see an increase in the number of visitors compared to previous year, successfully maintaining its position as a world-class tourism center. Despite the complex economic climate, the number of visitors of Dubai has reached an unprecedented level of 11,996,449 in 2014, although the growth rate slowed (Hazbun, 2008). Penang National Park In cases where ecotourism is originally not a highly profitable enterprise on the local level, some states often stimulate its development through subsidies, taxes and other incentives since indirect benefits on the regional and national levels, makes its development preferable. That is the way Malaysia acts in order to maintain the growth of ecotourism in Penang National Park. Its socio-economic importance reaches the highest level primarily on the local and regional level since it provides jobs to the local population and revenue to the local economy. Among the channels and forms of financial flows the most common are: Allocation of tourism revenues to the local budget and special funds as compensation for the exploitation of natural resources; The fee for the transfer of rights of use from local governments to nonresident travel agencies (rent, and other); Providing a preliminary service for travel agencies (such as the supply of food, construction materials, handicrafts, and other); Employment (professional employees of travel agencies) (Kaffashi et al., 2005). Costa Rica The dynamic development of ecotourism brings the state large revenues. Nowadays, it is a major source of Costa Rica’s income. Ecotourism is especially popular among wealthy citizens of the USA and Canada. Since Costa Rica has no army, which in other countries is a significant part of public funding, its government has invested in the protection of a large part of the jungle and the other forests. Meanwhile the nearest neighbors of Costa Rica Panama and Nicaragua have sold their timber to the United States, Costa Rica nationalized nearly 25% of the territory, maintaining and ensuring the future of one of the most biologically diverse environments on the planet. Years of political stability and the success of the democratic process also served as the promotion of Costa Rica as the best country for tourism in the region of Central and South America. Now, ecotourism is overtaking coffee and banana business and plays a dominant role in the economy, bringing about $2 billion a yea r (Zambrano, Broadbent Durham, 2010). Social Aspect of Ecotourism Kangaroo Island The local people make a profit from tourism activities, such as the restaurants, souvenirs, transport, local guides, and other. In the Kangaroo Island, ferry services are operated by the local people. Kangaroo Island Regional Transport Strategy Report emphasizes that the majority of visitors travel to Kangaroo Island on the ferry (92%) and approximately 15% of the revenue is gotten from the Sea Links revenue from cargoes. In connection with the tourism, the local community receives more profit from the availability of labor, equipment and resources to provide assistance in the management of fire and economy, the use of infrastructure and services provided because of tourism and local employment opportunities (Moore, 2009). Dubai The positive impact of ecotourism in Dubai is based on changing the behavior of tourists and representatives of the tourism industry by increasing their level of environmental education, the use of the impact tools (environmental PR, branding strategy, and others), environmental education of the local population, developing a culture of dialogue between people of different social strata, the formation of respect for the local people, creating a culture of environmental recreation (Hazbun, 2008). Penang National Park Today, life on the island is in full swing mainly due to the development of tourism. There are many night clubs and places of entertainment, the streets abound with restaurants, shops, markets and night bazaars. Ecotourism provides a source of income for local communities, for example, it concerns the food services, services of hotel accommodation, work of guides and sale of handicrafts, which cause less environmental damage than other sources of income, such as slash-and-burn agriculture, extractive industries and industries that pollute environment (Kaffashi et al., 2005). Costa Rica A local community is actively involved in ecotourism. People own eco-hotels and restaurants for tourists. Developing of ecotourism created proper environmental behavior among Costa Ricans. They honor all the animals in the jungle and are proud of the abundance of birds in the woods. Every Costa Rican, even a teenager, is well-versed in plants and working in the garden. Even residents of large cities are working in the gardens and cultivating ecological products. Any tourist can enjoy an abundance of fruits and vegetables in the backyard of a city dweller (Gale Hill, 2012). Environmental Aspect of Ecotourism Kangaroo Island Kangaroo Island has been saved as eco land for centuries. There is an amazing variety and abundance of birds on Kangaroo Island. The state provides policies including plans for ecotourism in order to maintain the sustainable development strategy. These policies are dealing with the positive and negative impacts of tourism and making sure that this industry helps to protect areas. Such model is applied to the island managing and positioning it as relatively unchanged rural and natural landscapes, rich and highly visible wildlife, safe, clean, and healthy environment, and strong sense of community and unity to the land and its heritage in order to save the environment (Moore, 2009). Dubai The entire infrastructure is used for access to the natural objects, like the desert, Wild Wadi, a zoo, Al Maha Desert. The natural life of Dubai consists of desert and animals. Their protection is important so they will not be endangered or extinct. Hunting these species is not allowed due to development of ecotourism. However, the growing demand for tourism is a major threat to land and other resources in the country. Building in the desert will affect the habitat of many species, and their existence would be affected. Air pollution, whether dust, debris or the sound of tourists, will also show the failure of the local tourism council to prevent the negative impacts of tourism (Green Higginbottom, 2001). If the beaches and deserts are contaminated it will lead to the development of the hatred of the local population and conflicts will occur. Penang National Park Unfortunately, ecotourism does not quite live up to the ideals of preservation. Ecotourism is a highly consuming activity. Although it is proper for small groups, even slightly population growth leads to additional pressure on the local environment and creates a need to develop additional infrastructure and facilities. Due to the construction of sewage treatment plants, sewage systems, and using of non-renewable sources of energy the already limited local resources are used more actively (Kaffashi et al., 2005). Costa Rica Ecotourism provides a direct source of income for conservation of protected areas. Costa Rica, perhaps, is one of the countries in which ecotourism contributes to the preservation of the environment. If selected by the government of Costa Rica ecotourism course would continue to develop and bring considerable income to the country. The principles of conservation of environment always bring revenue to the state that seeks to live in harmony with nature (Henly, 2011). At the junction of the most important environmental, economic, and social problems of our time, the concept of ecotourism appears as one of the most important means of sustainable development of natural areas. Today, ecotourism is a comprehensive interdisciplinary direction ensuring the relationship of the interests of tourism, environmental protection and culture. Ecotourism has become popular as the form of tourism, which focuses solely on the wild or exotic cultures. Some examples show that such tourism can actually benefit native communities. Kangaroo Island in Australia, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Penang National Park in Malaysia, and Costa Rica are ones of the most popular ecotourism destinations in the world. Examining these examples in terms of environmental, social, and economic aspects, one can conclude that ecotourism creates a firm base for the sustainable development of environmental activities. It also can strongly contribute to economy of the country as well as ensure a more complete awareness of visitors and host communities in regard to the quality of the environment and its social, cultural and economic impact, which should lead to increased interest and support provided. Thus, ecotourism destinations under consideration reveal the progressive power of ecotourism and show that these touristic directions can be confiden tly considered sustainable and must develop all over the world.

How to Bypass Your Internal Editor

How to Bypass Your Internal Editor How to Bypass Your Internal Editor How to Bypass Your Internal Editor By Michael When you edit your first draft, youll have all sorts of ideas of what to change. But when you write your first draft, you want to turn off the internal editor in your mind, that super-ego that looks over your shoulder and criticizes everything you do. Editing is different from writing. Most people cant successfully do both at the same time. And when you do your first draft, you need to focus on writing. Here are some tips on disabling your internal editor until youre ready to hear from it: Make a personal policy to never hit the backspace key more than one. Then you will be able to fix typos but nothing else. If that doesnt work, refuse to hit the backspace key at all. Unless youre a really bad typist, you will still be able to recognize the word you typed. Ive actually written entire chapters in the dark, lying in bed with my ultra-light Alphasmart 2000 keyboard. And in the morning, almost everything I had typed was understandable. If you have to, dont write at all. Dictate onto a recording and type it up later. Dont edit yourself as you speak, either. Never stop talking. If you cant think of what to say next, just say anything until your train of thought returns to you. Start writing with the easy part. Write about what you know best or what you are most passionate about. For example, if youre writing a brochure or website for your business, start with the story of how and why you began the business or learned your skills. Before you know it, you may discover that youve also written about your product line and your unique selling proposition (USP). Set yourself a speed goal. Tell yourself that you have to write a certain number of words a minute. Dont judge the quality of your output. It may be hard at first, but it will get easier. What if you hate what you wrote, and cant stand to edit it? In that case, write it again. You wrote it fast the first time, right? You wont lose much by doing it again. Just start from the beginning, or from where you got off the path, and keep going. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Words with More Than One SpellingHow to Pronounce Mobile"Wracking" or "Racking" Your Brain?

A Favorite Pet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A Favorite Pet - Essay Example I hastily made my way through the dark to get to the light switch. OUCH. I bumped into the hardwood couch. Swearing, I got up and stepped on something unusually soft. I bent to pick up what I thought was a cushion. I felt its feathery softness and then, as if someone on the other end was pulling the cushion, it slithered from my hands. Now terrified, I reached for the light switch. In the pitch black of the room, shiny, wide yellow eyes with extremely dilated pupils stared at me. Horrified as I already was, I screamed. Somebody turned on the lights and I saw, sitting right in front of me, a feathery fur ball; a fusion of grey and white fur with long whiskers and a small adorable face set on which were huge, hypnotizing yellow eyes and an adorable pink nose. The creature stared at me, amazed, and I could only return the amazement. That was my first encounter with our new pet, Dimka. I have had a lot of pets throughout my life. From a chick, when we used to live on a farm, to a horse w ho I wanted for a horse race, my experience with pets has not been quite worth remembering. I never developed the bond that people talk about with any of my pets. The reason, probably being that none of them stayed with me for long or maybe that, they all faced a traumatic fate. Seeing Dimka that night, did not ignite that spark of excitement into me. However, there was something unsettling about her presence which I could not figure out. As I came to know later, that was the beginning of the bond that Dimka and I would soon come to form. Dimka was a cat of the Persian breed which is considered the elite class in the kingdom of cats. She had been born to a lovely cat couple in my Uncle Igor's house. They named her after the exquisite blend of grey and white that her body was. Seeing her now, I knew why they had named her that. Her fur reminded me of the haze that overrides the blue of a sky before a heavy downpour. Uncle Igor was leaving the country for a few months and he could not think of leaving Dimka, only a year old, alone. That is how we got Dimka. I have never been fond of cats. All those horror movies that associate cats with evil magic and witch transformations worked to create a bad image in my mind. The first few days, I did not even look at her. She would patrol the hallways and I would always change my path whenever I caught sight of her. At nights, I would refrain from getting my midnight snack just because I was afraid she might turn into witch. Looking back at those times, I can't help laughing because Dimka turned out to be the total opposite of the cliched bad image. It all happened on one fateful night. I was up till late studying for my high school final which I had the next morning. I decided to take a break. So I plugged in my headphones, closed my eyes and leaned back on my chair. After a few minutes I felt something soft brush past my leg. I opened my eyes to see Dimka sitting beside my chair brushing her fur against me. I freaked out and shifted unsteadily in my chair, unplugging my headphones. And that was when I heard her soft murmur, almost like a whisper. She looked at me with those huge eyes of hers; wide open and her face reminded me of a small, lovely infant trying to get his message across through facial gestures. I could not help patting her and at my touch she playfully brushed herself beneath my hand. She 'meowed' again and I knew what I had to do. I made my way downstairs to the kitchen, Dimka trudging along. I gave her some cat food to eat and watched as she devoured the whole bowl. That night, for the first time had I not only

Syria and United States of America International Relations Essay

Syria and United States of America International Relations - Essay Example Al-Assad since he there is evidence that he used chemical weapons against his citizens. The main challenge in this study is trying to predict the future actions of the two parties and also try to predict the future direction of Syrian internal conflict. In an attempt establish an answer to these questions; we are able to determine the possible answers to minor questions that rise during our investigations. Such questions include; will U.S involve itself in direct military action or will it settle to the use of diplomacy in relation to Syria? What security threats does Syria present to the U.S? And what is the likely conflict resolution action between the two nations?I developed an interest to this research topic since because Syria as a small country has been involved in reckless usage of chemical weapons in the 21st century. No other county has in present time has been involved in such action. Furthermore, the action and attitude of the Syrian president doesn’t seem to be apo logetic although he is openly going against the global policies on the protection of human rights. This becomes a place of interest to try and analyze what actions the world powers are likely to take in curbing this situationAccording to the united stated department, United States of America started advocating for diplomacy with Syria as early as in the 1944 but in 1967 Syria Severed the diplomacy during the time of Arab-Israeli conflict. The relationship between the two states soured as the U.S portrays Syria as a nation.