Biography of Annie Jump Cannon, Classifier of Stars

Annie Jump Cannon (December 11, 1863–April 13, 1941) was an American astronomer whose work in star cataloging led to the development of modern star classification systems. Along with her groundbreaking work in astronomy, Cannon was a suffragist and activist for women’s rights. Fast Facts: Annie Jump Cannon Known For: American astronomer who created the modern star classification system and broke ground for women in astronomyBorn: December 11, 1863 in Dover, DelawareDied: April 13, 1941 in Cambridge, MassachusettsSelected Honors: Honorary doctorates from University of Groningen (1921) and Oxford University (1925), Henry Draper Medal (1931), Ellen Richards Prize (1932), National Womens Hall of Fame (1994)Notable Quote: Teaching man his relatively small sphere in the creation, it also encourages him by its lessons of the unity of Nature and shows him that his power of comprehension allies him with the great intelligence over-reaching all. Early Life Annie Jump Cannon was the eldest of three daughters born to Wilson Cannon and his wife Mary (neà ¨ Jump). Wilson Cannon was a state senator in Delaware, as well as a ship builder. It was Mary who encouraged Annie’s education from the very start, teaching her the constellations and encouraging her to pursue her interests in science and math. Throughout Annie’s childhood, mother and daughter stargazed together, using old textbooks to identify and map out the stars they could see from their own attic. Sometime during her childhood or young adulthood, Annie suffered major hearing loss, possibly due to scarlet fever. Some historians believe she was hard of hearing from childhood onward, while others suggest that she was already a young adult in her post-college years when she lost her hearing. Her hearing loss reportedly made it difficult for her to socialize, so Annie immersed herself more completely in her work. She never married, had children, or had publicly known romantic attachments. Annie attended Wilmington Conference Academy (known today as Wesley College) and excelled, particularly in math. In 1880, she began studying as Wellesley College, one of the best American colleges for women, where she studied astronomy and physics. She graduated as valedictorian in 1884, then returned home to Delaware. Teacher, Assistant, Astronomer In 1894, Annie Jump Cannon suffered a major loss when her mother Mary died. With home life in Delaware becoming more difficult, Annie wrote to her former professor at Wellesley, the physicist and astronomer Sarah Frances Whiting, to ask if she had any job openings. Whiting obliged and hired her as a junior-level physics teacher—which also enabled Annie to continue her education, taking graduate-level courses in physics, spectroscopy, and astronomy. To continue pursuing her interests, Annie needed access to a better telescope, so she enrolled at Radcliffe College, which had a special arrangement with nearby Harvard to have professors give their lectures both at Harvard and Radcliffe. Annie gained access to the Harvard Observatory, and in 1896, she was hired by its director, Edward C. Pickering, as an assistant. Pickering hired several women to assist him on his major project: completing the Henry Draper Catalogue, an extensive catalogue with the goal of mapping and defining every star in the sky (up to a photographic magnitude of 9). Funded by Anna Draper, Henry Draper’s widow, the project took up significant manpower and resources. Creating a Classification System Soon into the project, a disagreement arose over how to classify the stars they were observing. One woman on the project, Antonia Maury (who was Draper’s niece) argued for a complex system, while another colleague, Williamina Fleming (who was Pickering’s chosen supervisor) wanted a simple system. It was Annie Jump Cannon who figured out a third system as a compromise. She divided stars into the spectral classes O, B, A, F, G, K, M—a system which is still taught to astronomy students today. Annie’s first catalog of stellar spectra was published in 1901, and her career accelerated from that point on. She received a master’s degree in 1907 from Wellesley College, completing her studies from years earlier. In 1911, she became the Curator of Astronomical Photographs at Harvard, and three years later, she became an honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society in the U.K. Despite these honors, Annie and her female colleagues were often criticized for working, rather than being housewives, and were often underpaid for long hours and tedious work. Regardless of criticism, Annie persisted, and her career flourished. In 1921, she was among the first women to receive an honorary doctorate from a European university when the Dutch university Groningen University awarded her an honorary degree in math and astronomy. Four years later, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Oxford – making her the first woman to receive an honorary doctorate of science from the elite university. Annie also joined the suffragist movement, advocating for women’s rights and, specifically, the extension of the right to vote; the right to vote for all women was finally won in 1928, eight years after the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. Annie’s work was noted for being incredibly rapid and accurate. At her peak, she could classify 3 stars per minute, and she classified around 350,000 over the course of her career. She also discovered 300 variable stars, five novas, and one spectroscopic binary star. In 1922, the International Astronomical Union officially adopted Cannons stellar classification system; it is still used, with only minor changes, to this day. In addition to her work on classifications, she served as a sort of ambassador within the astronomy field, helping forge partnerships among colleagues. She assumed a similar role for the astronomy field’s public-facing work: she wrote books presenting astronomy for public consumption, and she represented professional women at the 1933 World’s Fair. Retirement and Later Life Annie Jump Cannon was named the William C. Bond Astronomer at Harvard University in 1938. She remained in that position before retiring in 1940 at the age of 76. Despite being officially retired, however, Annie continued to work in the observatory. In 1935, she created the Annie J. Cannon Prize to honor women’s contributions to the field of astronomy. She continued to help women gain a foothold and gain respect in the scientific community, leading by example while also lifting up the work of fellow women in science. Annie’s work was continued by some of her colleagues. Most notably, the famous astronomer Cecilia Payne was one of Annie’s collaborators, and she used some of Annie’s data to support her groundbreaking work that determined that stars are composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. Annie Jump Cannon died on April 13, 1941. Her death came after a long illness and hospitalization. In honor of her countless contributions to astronomy, the American Astronomical Society presents an annual award named for her—the Annie Jump Cannon Award—to female astronomers whose work has been especially distinguished. Sources Des Jardins, Julie.  The Madame Curie Complex—The Hidden History of Women in Science. New York: Feminist Press, 2010.Mack, Pamela (1990).  Straying from their orbits: Women in astronomy in America. In Kass-Simon, G.; Farnes, Patricia; Nash, Deborah.  Women of Science: Righting the Record. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1990.Sobel, Dava.  The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars. Penguin: 2016.

Domestic Violence And The Scary Truth Behind It - 1439 Words

Domestic Violence and the scary truth behind it Each year an estimated two to four million women in the United States are abused by their male partners. Many of them are severely physically assaulted, and thousands are killed. Domestic abuse appears not only with physical violence, but it is very prevalent in psychological abuse. When growing up many children will grow up in a violent home and see the abuse that their parent suffers from their spouse. Due to this they come to have these same actions towards their future spouse. They, the abuser, at times come to believe the abuse is justified. Eighty-five percent of women are victims of domestic violence, and are most likely to suffer from a form of mental or physical illness. Many kids†¦show more content†¦Abusers typically play into this by putting the mother down in front of her children and telling them that their mother is â€Å"crazy† or â€Å"stupid† and that they do not have to listen to her. Seeing their mothers treated with enormous disrespect, teaches children that they can disrespect women the way their fathers do. Most experts believe that children who are raised in abusive homes learn that violence is an effective way to resolve conflicts and problems. They may replicate the violence they witnessed as children in their teen and adult relationships and parenting experiences. Boys who witness their mothers’ abuse are more likely to abuse their female partners as adults than boys who were rose in nonviolent homes. For girls, it may result in the belief that threats and violence are normal in relationships. Children from violent homes have higher risks of alcohol/drug abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and juvenile delinquency. Even though the abuser at times comes to believe the abuse was justified, many young ladies suffer from a form of illness being physical or mental .Domestic violence can take place in many different forms, such as physical, emotional, verbal, economic and sexual abuse. The abuse often happens because the abuser believes that the abuse is justified and acceptable. There is often a cycle when being

Deception Point Page 93 Free Essays

POTUS. She felt a sudden surge of hope. Something about POTUS struck Gabrielle as being a perfect Sexton password. We will write a custom essay sample on Deception Point Page 93 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Simple, positive, self-referential. She quickly typed in the letters. POTUS. Holding her breath, she hit â€Å"return.† The computer beeped. Invalid Password – Access Denied Slumping, Gabrielle gave up. She headed back toward the bathroom door to exit the way she had come. She was halfway across the room, when her cellphone rang. She was already on edge, and the sound startled her. Stopping short, she pulled out her phone and glanced up to check the time on Sexton’s prized Jourdain grandfather clock. Almost 4:00 A.M. At this hour, Gabrielle knew the caller could only be Sexton. He was obviously wondering where the hell she was. Do I pick up or let it ring? If she answered, Gabrielle would have to lie. But if she didn’t, Sexton would get suspicious. She took the call. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"Gabrielle?† Sexton sounded impatient. â€Å"What’s keeping you?† â€Å"The FDR Memorial,† Gabrielle said. â€Å"The taxi got hemmed in, and now we’re-â€Å" â€Å"You don’t sound like you’re in a taxi.† â€Å"No,† she said, her blood pumping now. â€Å"I’m not. I decided to stop by my office and pick up some NASA documents that might be relevant to PODS. I’m having some trouble finding them.† â€Å"Well, hurry up. I want to schedule a press conference for the morning, and we need to talk specifics.† â€Å"I’m coming soon,† she said. There was a pause on the line. â€Å"You’re in your office?† He sounded suddenly confused. â€Å"Yeah. Another ten minutes and I’ll be on my way over.† Another pause. â€Å"Okay. I’ll see you soon.† Gabrielle hung up, too preoccupied to notice the loud and distinctive triple-tick of Sexton’s prized Jourdain grandfather clock only a few feet away. 113 Michael Tolland did not realize Rachel was hurt until he saw the blood on her arm as he pulled her to cover behind the Triton. He sensed from the catatonic look on her face that she was not aware of any pain. Steadying her, Tolland wheeled to find Corky. The astrophysicist scrambled across the deck to join them, his eyes blank with terror. We’ve got to find cover, Tolland thought, the horror of what had just happened not yet fully registering. Instinctively, his eyes raced up the tiers of decks above them. The stairs leading up to the bridge were all in the open, and the bridge itself was a glass box-a transparent bull’s-eye from the air. Going up was suicide, which left only one other direction to go. For a fleeting instant, Tolland turned a hopeful gaze to the Triton submersible, wondering perhaps if he could get everyone underwater, away from the bullets. Absurd. The Triton had room for one person, and the deployment winch took a good ten minutes to lower the sub through the trap door in the deck to the ocean thirty feet below. Besides, without properly charged batteries and compressors, the Triton would be dead in the water. â€Å"Here they come!† Corky shouted, his voice shrill with fear as he pointed into the sky. Tolland didn’t even look up. He pointed to a nearby bulkhead, where an aluminum ramp descended belowdecks. Corky apparently needed no encouragement. Keeping his head low, Corky scurried toward the opening and disappeared down the incline. Tolland put a firm arm around Rachel’s waist and followed. The two of them disappeared belowdecks just as the helicopter returned, spraying bullets overhead. Tolland helped Rachel down the grated ramp to the suspended platform at the bottom. As they arrived, Tolland could feel Rachel’s body go suddenly rigid. He wheeled, fearing maybe she’d been hit by a ricocheting bullet. When he saw her face, he knew it was something else. Tolland followed her petrified gaze downward and immediately understood. Rachel stood motionless, her legs refusing to move. She was staring down at the bizarre world beneath her. Because of its SWATH design, the Goya had no hull but rather struts like a giant catamaran. They had just descended through the deck onto a grated catwalk that hung above an open chasm, thirty feet straight down to the raging sea. The noise was deafening here, reverberating off the underside of the deck. Adding to Rachel’s terror was the fact that the ship’s underwater spotlights were still illuminated, casting a greenish effulgence deep into the ocean directly beneath her. She found herself gazing down at six or seven ghostly silhouettes in the water. Enormous hammerhead sharks, their long shadows swimming in place against the current-rubbery bodies flexing back and forth. Tolland’s voice was in her ear. â€Å"Rachel, you’re okay. Eyes straight ahead. I’m right behind you.† His hands were reaching around from behind, gently trying to coax her clenched fists off the banister. It was then that Rachel saw the crimson droplet of blood roll off her arm and fall through the grating. Her eyes followed the drip as it plummeted toward the sea. Although she never saw it hit the water, she knew the instant it happened because all at once the hammerheads spun in unison, thrusting with their powerful tails, crashing together in a roiling frenzy of teeth and fins. Enhanced telencephalon olfactory lobes†¦ They smell blood a mile away. â€Å"Eyes straight ahead,† Tolland repeated, his voice strong and reassuring. â€Å"I’m right behind you.† Rachel felt his hands on her hips now, urging her forward. Blocking out the void beneath her, Rachel started down the catwalk. Somewhere above she could hear the rotors of the chopper again. Corky was already well out in front of them, reeling across the catwalk in a kind of drunken panic. Tolland called out to him. â€Å"All the way to the far strut, Corky! Down the stairs!† Rachel could now see where they were headed. Up ahead, a series of switchback ramps descended. At water level, a narrow, shelflike deck extended the length of the Goya. Jutting off this deck were several small, suspended docks, creating a kind of miniature marina stationed beneath the ship. A large sign read: DIVE AREA Swimmers May Surface without Warning – Boats Proceed with Caution- Rachel could only assume Michael did not intend for them to do any swimming. Her trepidation intensified when Tolland stopped at a bank of wire-mesh storage lockers flanking the catwalk. He pulled open the doors to reveal hanging wetsuits, snorkels, flippers, life jackets, and spearguns. Before she could protest, he reached in and grabbed a flare gun. â€Å"Let’s go.† They were moving again. Up ahead, Corky had reached the switchback ramps and was already halfway down. â€Å"I see it!† he shouted, his voice sounding almost joyous over the raging water. See what? Rachel wondered as Corky ran along the narrow walkway. All she could see was a shark-infested ocean lapping dangerously close. Tolland urged her forward, and suddenly Rachel could see what Corky was so excited about. At the far end of the decking below, a small powerboat was moored. Corky ran toward it. Rachel stared. Outrun a helicopter in a motorboat? â€Å"It has a radio,† Tolland said. â€Å"And if we can get far enough away from the helicopter’s jamming†¦ â€Å" Rachel did not hear another word he said. She had just spied something that made her blood run cold. â€Å"Too late,† she croaked, extending a trembling finger. We’re finished†¦ When Tolland turned, he knew in an instant it was over. At the far end of the ship, like a dragon peering into the opening of a cave, the black helicopter had dropped down low and was facing them. For an instant, Tolland thought it was going to fly directly at them through the center of the boat. But the helicopter began to turn at an angle, taking aim. Tolland followed the direction of the gun barrels. No! How to cite Deception Point Page 93, Essay examples

Accenture-Using-Mergers-And-Acquisitions free essay sample

Herd, Ken Dickman, Joey Lantus and Natalie Francis Table of contents Introduction 3 Key Strengths of Consumer Goods and Services Leaders 4 Strategic Category Leadership 6 Consumer Focus 9 Flexible and Low-Cost Operations 12 Conclusion 14 2 | Using Mergers Acquisitions to Achieve Strategic Objectives and High Performance in the Consumers Goods and Services Industry The consumer goods and services (CGS) industry†whose primary product categories are household, personal care, and t nd beverage† constantly evolves to address market and customer trends while positioning itself for future growth and profitability. Historically, it has been a rather fragmented industry, with only a few clear category leaders that dominate on a global scale. Furthermore, CGS high performers have consistently focused on building number-one or number-two positions in a limited number of innovation-sensitive categories or niches. However, recent years have brought changes to the dynamics of this landscape. Most significantly, a US economic recession has strongly impacted all industries. We will write a custom essay sample on Accenture-Using-Mergers-And-Acquisitions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page CGS companies have been forced to reevaluate their product lines, operating models, and target markets, seeking to align their portfolios of businesses and products to recover from recent industry challenges and pursue high performance in the future. In this paper, Accenture explores how CGS companies are turning to merger and acquisition strategies to address key industry challenges and market trends, and pursue market leadership in an increasingly competitive landscape through constant reevaluation and realignment of their product portfolios. Specifically, we review three areas in which high-performance usinesses in the CGS industry excel: strategic category leadership, consumer focus, and flexible, low-cost operations. We also discuss how CGS companies are using buy-side and sell-side transactions to improve their performance in these areas and meet investors increasingly demanding expectations. Key Strengths of Consumer Goods and There are specific qualities that separate high-performance consumer goods and services companies trom others. In fact, Accentures ongoing Highperformance Business research has identified four distinctive capabilities and one market focus and position in hich these industry leaders excel: High Performance Management, Market Focus and Position While all of these contribute to the pursuit of high performance among leading CGS companies, the first three†strategic category leadership, consumer focus, and flexible and low-cost operations† are the ones that such organizations seek to achieve through mergers and acquisitions. Strategic category leadership, which Accenture defines as the ability to ensure investments are focused on categories in which the company can win and, in the process, drive value creation. Distinctive Capabilities Consumer focus, also known as Solution Marketing, which enables companies to respond to trends that could disrupt their product portfolio with appropriate and differentiated new offers that meet consumer needs. Flexible and low-cost operations, which centers on achieving scale efficiencies in the companys back office and supply chain while maintaining strong local commercial functions, such as sales and marketing, which are critical to gaining share in local markets. Customer Channel Management, which is a companys ability to drive financial goals in performance measurement and to multiply talent to generate superior levels of effort. When pursuing excellence in these three areas, CGS companies often find that internal efforts only take them so far and do not enable them to meet investor expectations. Thats why MA has become increasingly important to, and prevalent among, leading CGS companies. For example, when valuing a consumer goods company, investors place at least as much importance on the companys future value as on its current value. Inherent in that valuation is the expectation the company will continue to innovate and create more offerings that capture consumers attention and meet their needs. However, in most cases a CGS company annot meet investors growth expectations by tweaking or organically innovating its existing business. Even if management pulled all available levers to enhance the companys return on invested capital (ROIC), the result may not be enough to close the gap between actual and expected performance. In other words, companies must do more than improve upon their existing business to satisfy investors. And that more is enabled by MA: It allows companies to close the gap between their current financial performance and where investors expect them to be. MA can help consumer goods companies substantially improve in ocus, and flexible and low-cost operations, either by expanding upon existing capabilities or by acquiring entirely new capabilities that can help the company achieve its growth goals. which includes a laser focus on key customers, channels and optimal product availability in the marketplace. Using Mergers Acquisitions to Achieve Strategic Objectives and 5 Strategic Category Leadership The core of strategic category leadership is based on building a strong, dominant brand portfolio in specific categories. It entails leveraging the scale of global brands, while introducing local items in high-potential merging markets to augment those brands. How does MA help CGS companies achieve these goals? In addition, companies should invest in selective MA and in the rigorous disposal of non-core businesses, as well as establish a vision and strategy that focuses on the new business and target brands. For example, Kraft strives to hold a #1 or #2 market position in every category and, as a result, divested Post in 2007 because the brand did not consistently maintain a market position that met the companys objectives. Similarly, Procter Gamble narrowed its focus as a category leader in household roducts by systematically divesting its food businesses such as JIF, Planters, and most recently, Pringles. Investment in strategic companies is one half of the equation, while investment in post-merger integration leadership, strategy, and execution When executed properly, acquisitions can empower a company to create a portfolio of is the other half. l brands that build off each others strengths Acquisitions also can enhance strategic without cannibalizing one another. For category leadership by giving acquirers instance, Reckitt Benckiser, the worlds first-mover advantage in emerging markets, hird-largest home care company and as well as access to affordable real estate fifth-largest OTC drug company, continues and assets while prices are still low. In to add nome and personal care products some instances, MA provides companies to its portfolio through acquisitions. It with access to pre-existing licensing deals has identified a group of 19 key products as Powerbrands, which range from dish held by the target companies. For instance, soap to air freshener to cold medicine. when J. M. Smucker acquired Folgers, the Through this portfolio of acquired brands, latter brands licensing and distribution he company provides consumers with agreement with Dunkin Donuts gave Smucker multiple products that meet home and accelerated access to new points of personal care needs, without taking share distribution and partnership relationships. away from its other product categories.

About the Roman Historian Livy

About the Roman Historian Livy Name: Titus Livius or Livy, in EnglishDates: 59 B.C. - A.D. 17Birthplace: Patavium (Padua), Cisalpine GaulFamily: Unknown, had at least one child, a sonOccupation: Historian The Roman annalistic [year-by-year] historian Titus Livius (Livy), from Patavium (Padua, as its called in English), the area of Italy in which Shakespeares Taming of the Shrew took place, lived about 76 years, from c. 59 B.C. to c. A.D. 17. That hardly seems long enough to have finished his magnum opus, Ab Urbe Condita From the Founding of the City, a feat that has been compared with publishing one 300-page book each year for 40 years. Most of Livys 142 books on the 770-year history of Rome have been lost, but 35 survive: i-x, xxi-xlv. Division of Ab Urbe Condita Contents of Ab Urbe Condita Libri I-XLV I-V: Origins to Gallic sack of RomeVI-XV: To beginning of Punic WarsXVI-XX: First Punic WarXXI-XXX: Second Punic WarXXXI-XLV: Macedonian and Syrian Wars After dispensing with 365 years of Roman history in only five books (averaging ~73 years/book), Livy covers the rest of the history at the rate of about five years per book. Livys Morality Although were missing the contemporary portion of his history, there seems little reason to believe that Livys Ab Urbe Condita was written as an official Augustan history, aside from the fact that he was a friend of Augustus, and that morality was important to both men. Although Livys status as the official Augustan historian is debated, Paul J. Burton (following T.J. Luce, The Dating of Livys First Decade, TAPA96 (1965)) dates the start of Livys historical writing to 33 B.C. before the Battle of Actium and the year (27 B.C.) Octavian conventionally qualifies as emperor.Livys role in the history of literature and the theater for which see Heroes and Heroines of Fiction, by William Shepard Walsh and the visual arts, especially Botticelli, comes at least in part from Livys moral stories of The Abduction of Virginia and The Rape of Lucretia. In his preface, Livy directs the reader to read his history as a storehouse of examples for imitation and avoidance: What chiefly makes the study of history beneficial and fruitful is this, that you behold the lessons of every kind of experience as upon a famous monument; from these you may choose for your own state what to imitate, and mark for avoidance what is shameful.... Livy directs his readers to examine the morals and policies of others so that they can see how important it is to maintain standards of morality: Here are the questions to which I should like every reader to give his close attention: what life and morals were like; through what men and what policies, in peace and in war, empire was established and enlarged. Then let him note how, with the gradual relaxation of discipline, morals first subsided, as it were, then sank lower and lower, and finally began the downward plunge which has brought us to our present time, when we can endure neither our vices nor their cure. From this moral perspective, Livy depicts all non-Roman races as embodying character flaws that correspond with central Roman virtues: the Gauls are factious and headstrong, and lack staying power; while the Greeks are better at talking than fighting, and immoderate in their emotional reactions [Usher, p. 176.] Numidians are also immoderate emotionally since they are too lustful: above all barbarians the Numidians are steeped in passionsunt ante omnes barbaros Numidae effusi in venerem. [Haley] Historical Evaluation of Livy With history as his vehicle, Livy displays his rhetorical flair and literary style. He engages the attention of the listening audience through speeches or emotive description. Occasionally Livy sacrifices chronology to variety. He rarely explores contradictory versions of an event but selects with an eye to championing Romes national virtues. Livy acknowledged a lack of contemporary written records from which to verify facts from Romes beginnings. Sometimes he mistranslated Greek literary sources. Without a background in practical military affairs or politics, his reliability in these areas is limited. However, Livy supplies myriad mundane details that are unavailable elsewhere, and, therefore, he is the most important source for Roman general history for the period to the end of the Republic. Sources Include: Stephen Usher, The Historians of Greece and Rome The Last Republican Historian: A New Date for the Composition of Livys First PentadPaul J. BurtonHistoria: Zeitschrift fà ¼r Alte Geschichte, Bd. 49, H. 4 (4th Qtr., 2000), pp. 429-446. ï » ¿Livy, Passion, and Cultural StereotypesS. P. HaleyHistoria: Zeitschrift fà ¼r Alte Geschichte, Bd. 39, H. 3 (1990), pp. 375-381

How to Get a Letter of Recommendation After Graduation

How to Get a Letter of Recommendation After Graduation Letters of recommendation can be hard to obtain if youve been out of college for a while. Many applicants use professional contacts, college alumni, and even long-lost professors to fulfill this important requirement. Using Professional Contacts Graduate school typically is a way for a student to get in-depth experience on a topic of interest and often relates to the current job the applicant holds. As such, a professional contact can be a practical candidate for writing a recommendation letter. Ask your supervisor to support your application to graduate school, and the letter can directly address your workplace skills and how you can contribute to the field in the future, especially once you complete your studies. If youre not able to use your supervisor, you might reach out to a mentor or a colleague in the same position as you to complete the letter of recommendation. In any case, the colleague needs to write about knowledge of the applicant in a professional context, discussing relevant skills such as reasoning, problem-solving, communication, time management, and so on. College Alumni If youre not able to use a professional contact, consider asking a graduate of the school to write on your behalf. A LinkedIn profile can be a helpful resource for finding connections who went to the college in question. Assuming this individual knows you well, you can simply reach out and ask. Provide some details on the program youre applying to, achievements youve had in your career, and your goals coming out of the program. This can help the letter be more personal. If you dont know the person that well, ask to meet for coffee and to get to know each other better. This can be a risky move because the alum might not be comfortable writing on your behalf if youre not close. However, you can ask to still meet to get more information on the program and the college. You may wish to share your resume before the meeting and give some background on why youre interested in the program, and your career goals. Be prepared to ask questions, learn about their experiences, and share your own qualifications. Then you can ind out if the alum she would be willing to write on your behalf. If youre applying to graduate school well into the future, you might consider reaching out to someone from the school to be a mentor. Then youll have time to develop a working relationship and youll be more likely to get a recommendation when the times comes. Plus, you might learn something from your new mentor along the way. Former Professors Although many students fear that their professors from years ago will not remember, theres a good chance that they will, and it never hurts to reach out and ask for a small favor in the long and difficult process of getting a professional career.   Regardless of whether they remember the particular students winning personality or personal details of their lives, professors keep records of grades that will help them evaluate whether they can write a helpful letter on the students behalf. Professors are used to hearing from former students years after graduation, so although it may seem like a long shot, it may not be as difficult as some might think. Even if the professor has left the institution, applicants can contact the department and request contact information like an email address or simply run an internet search on the professors name. Many students opt to connect with professors on social media, particularly LinkedIn, which allows you to reach out to past contacts and stay connected over the years. A student contacting a former professor should mention what classes were taken, when, what grades were earned, and anything that might help the professor remember that particular student. Applicants should be sure to give the professor enough information to write a good letter, including CVs, copies of papers the student has written for classes, and the usual materials. Other Options Another alternative is to enroll in  a graduate course or continuing education course (as a nonmatriculated, or non-degree-seeking student) before applying to a full program. If you perform well, youll be able to ask the professor to write on your behalf to apply to the full graduate program. This approach can also help demonstrate your ability to succeed in the program.

How to Stop Nuclear Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

How to Stop Nuclear Terrorism - Essay Example High grade traditional explosives and electrical and mechanical equipment are used to set off a nuclear bomb. Hydrogen bomb, which is thousands of times much more powerful than an atom bomb has not been used in war anywhere. A nuclear explosion, deliberate or accidental, would lead to release of energy millions of times greater than that of dynamite or RDX, causing so much of heat and pressure, called as 'thermal radiation', that all materials are converted into compressed gases accompanied with a tremor wave. The explosion produces highly penetrating gamma rays, which would travel long distance in seconds, cannot be felt by human beings, causing fatal long term effect on human bodies or those of other living beings. In first ever use of nuclear bombs by America in second world war, it is estimated that as many as 140,000 had died in Hiroshima by the bomb and its post explosion effects, with the estimate for Nagasaki roughly 75,000., majority of the deaths were those of civilians. In estimating the number of deaths caused by the attacks, many victims died in the following months or years after the bombing as a result of radiation exposure. Today's nuclear bombs are thousand times much more destructive than those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The world's first nuclear explosion was achieved with plutonium, a man-made element produced in nuclear reactors. Plutonium is created when an atom of uranium-238 is hit by a neutron and becomes plutonium-239. Nuclear reactor, which is used to generate power or propel marine vehicles generates the neutrons in a controlled chain reaction. For the neutrons to be absorbed by the uranium their speed must be slowed by passing them through a substance known as a "moderator." Graphite and heavy water are used as moderators in reactors fueled by natural uranium. Heavy water contains an atom of deuterium instead of an atom of hydrogen. 4 kilograms of Plutonium would be needed to make a bomb with a beryllium reflector. Countries producing plutonium for weapons have generally operated their reactors to maximize the production of plutonium-239-the isotope most useful for nuclear weapons. Weapon-grade plutonium contains less than 7 percent plutonium-240. Under normal nuclear power plant operation, the plutonium in spent reactor fuel contains roughly 24 percent plutonium-240; such plutonium is often referred to as "reactor-grade." However, essentially all isotopic mixtures of plutonium-including reactor-grade plutonium-can be used for nuclear weapons. In order to use plutonium in nuclear weapons or nuclear fuel, however, it must be separated from the rest of the spent fuel in a reprocessing facility. Plutonium separation is easier than uranium enrichment because it involves separating different elements rather than different isotopes of the same element. It uses well-known chemical separation techniques. Relatively large amounts of plutonium-240, as would be contained in reactor-grade plutonium, can cause a weapon to detonate early and "fizzle," causing a smaller explosion than intended. However, even a weapon that fizzles would cause an explosion roughly equivalent to 1,000 tons (1 kiloton) of TNT. A weapon of this size could kill tens of thousands of people if detonated in a city, which clearly demonstrates that even reactor-grade plu

Independent Creative Writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Independent Creative Writing - Essay Example I have created my time capsule keeping this fact in mind. It would be difficult to write about the culturally diverse American society and for this reason, a DVD should be made that would record the different aspects of the American society. These different aspects would be personal, business and recreational society. For this purpose, the video recorder will have to visit different homes, business centers including the White House and popular recreational spots including fast food joints such as McDonald’s. This DVD would be the main object of the time capsule. To ensure that the DVD is playable, a DVD player would also be included in the time capsule. Along with the DVD, an album of pictures will also be put in the time capsule. This album will have pictures of popular spots that are idolized by the society including Hollywood, fast food joints, stadiums, and theaters etc. The composition of the pictures would be such that the essence of the place is captured, that is, stadium during a football match. I would also include a recent newspaper. This newspaper will cover most aspects of the contemporary American society including the most recent headlines and the opinions of leading journalists on the pressing problems of today’s society.

Six Degrees Could Change the World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Six Degrees Could Change the World - Essay Example One scene from the movie seemed harmless enough. It was merely a vineyard estate producing wine-quality grapes in England. It may seem harmless, but in reality, this is a compelling evidence of global warming effects already occurring around the world. Only a few years ago, it was truly impossible to cultivate wine-quality grapes in a weather environment such as ones in England. As favorable as this weather transformation is for English wine industry, such a transformation signals the end of the world for observers of universal weather modifications. Wine grapes budding in England is a clear indication that its regular daily temperature has augmented perhaps by a couple of degrees already. The documentary brings forward numerous actual examples and instances of early global warming. In addition, Bowman's direction is most solid in this part of the film. Baldwin's telling together with these illustrations of global warming in addition to the end of time situations of what might and wi ll happen if temperature continues to increase make Six Degrees Could Change the World among the best of 2008's ecological documentary films.With this, the film has definitely moved and changed the perspective and outlook of its viewers such as myself about the reality the world is facing right now. Without any remarkable change from our own selves, with the determination and will to actually save our planet, our home, the world will be destroyed. We must be the change that will stop the destruction of our only beautiful and amazing world.

Categorising Hamlet as a Tragedy

Categorising Hamlet as a Tragedy Shakespearean scholar A.C. Bradley states that tragedy concerns itself with one person, the hero. The second key aspect of tragedy is the death of a hero. As Bradley points out, tragedy is essentially a tale of suffering and calamity conducting to death. Hamlet by William Shakespeare closely follows the dramatic conventions of a revenge play in Elizabethan theatre. Plays belonging to this genre are typically centred upon a protagonists attempt to avenge an evil deed, often including prompts from the supernatural. Mental instability of the hero, scenes of carnage and mutilation and an eruption of general violence towards the denouement are elements common to this genre. Thomas Kyds The Spanish Tragedy and William Shakespeares Titus Andronicus are classic examples of revenge plays, often being classified as tragedies of blood due to their explicit presentation of premeditated violence. Hamlets focus is primarily on the fall of a hero rather than on the execution of a pledge to revenge, therefore, it is more a tragedy than a revenge play as Prince Hamlet just doesnt avenge his fathers murder, he contemplates it before hand. In Hamlet, Shakespeare complicates the theme which makes the play difficult to compartmentalise, giving the play psychological depth, whereas Titus Andronicus is the straightforward narration of a pledge to revenge. The play narrates how Prince Hamlet gains revenge on his uncle Claudius, who is responsible for the foul and most unnatural murder of the late King, Hamlets father. Hamlet vividly charts the course of feigned madness, overwhelming angst and seething rage; whilst exploring themes such as regicide, treachery, reprisal, incest and moral corruption- the classic conventions of an Elizabethan tragedy. The setting of the play is crucial in determining the plays genre, thus, Shakespeare uses Castle Elsinore and its environs to depict a sordid, depressing place where alleged incest and murder are a part of everyday life, where revenge is commonplace motivation, and where the feigning of madness is a normal strategy to dissemble ones feelings. As I previously said, the multiple subplots and psychological depth Shakespeare adds to characters give context to the events taking place within the play, taking it beyond the realms of a mere revenge play. In Hamlet, Shakespeare takes the theme of reve nge beyond the hero of the play. He adds several sub-plots (Fortinbras of Norway is getting ready for possible combat with Denmark and Laertes seeks to avenge his fathers murder), making the genre of revenge consistent throughout the course of the play whilst also adding to the atmosphere of anxiety and doom already created. Shakespeare employs the use of certain gothic conventions which are typical of tragedies, thus, establishing the plays genre. The curtain opens to a bitter cold night, instantly creating a dark, chilling atmosphere. Conversely, Shakespeare could have employed the use of this metaphor to symbolize the political unsettlement in the state of Denmark as their King has just died. The plot itself is complicated but Shakespeare adds further depth to the atmosphere of chaos and unease by employing the use of conventional aspects of Elizabethan tragedy such as the clock that has struck twelve, opening the play in a sinister, perilous hour usually associated with the supernatural, a dead hour. We are also told that the spirit of the late King is roaming the walls of the castle, creating a sense of foreboding within the audience. I have established the conventions of Elizabethan tragedies, but to ascertain the generic conventions of Revenge plays, we must look at some paradigmatic examples such as Shakespeares Titus Andronicus or Thomas Kyds The Spanish Tragedy. Critic S. Clarke Hulse describes Titus Andronicus as a play with 14 killings, 9 of them on stage, 6 severed members, 1 rape (or 2 or 3, depending on how you count), 1 live burial, 1 case of insanity and 1 of cannibalism- an average of 5.2 atrocities per act, or one for every 97 lines. The play narrates the story of a Roman general who by the end of the play has taken his revenge by murdering his enemy Tamoras sons and then cooking the deceased in the form of a pie, which he later feeds to their mother. The play is by far Shakespeares bloodiest work and is undoubtedly classified as purely a revenge play. In Hamlet; Hamlet, Ophelia, Laertes, Polonius, Gertrude, Claudius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern all die within the course of the play, which is possib ly why it is often categorised as simply a revenge play. What distinguishes Hamlet from most revenge plays is that the action we expect to see, particularly from Hamlet himself, is continually postponed. We must keep in mind that in this play, it is Hamlets own conscience that leads to his procrastination, acting as his hamartia. S.T Coleridge states that Hamlet procrastinates from thought, and loses the power of action in the energy of resolve. The audience of a revenge play expect a fast pace that gives them an adrenaline rush, thus keeping them engaged. Procrastination is a highly uncommon trait amongst the protagonists of revenge plays as can be seen in the character of Titus Andronicus who seemingly has no ethical values, Titus Andronicus being a play that is described as Shakespeares bloodiest work. Instead of killing Claudius when he is in prayer, Hamlet delays the action further, preferring to murder him when he is drunk or in the incestuous pleasures of his bed. Although, Hamlets hesitation to kill Claudius can also be seen as a p lot device used by Shakespeare to prolong the action of the play, hence, increasing the tension within the audience. As Aristotle said, the tragic hero is a man who is a mixture of good characteristics and bad characteristics and by exposing Hamlets tragic flaw, (teamed with his pardon to Laertes), Shakespeare makes him seem righteous to the audience, allowing us to empathise with the character despite his bad characteristics, a feeling that is definitely not associated with most revenge heroes. Critic William Hazlitt says that we can relate to Hamlet if we have had sadness in our lives as he is open with his emotions and allows the audience an insight into his feelings. Aristotles definition describes tragedy as an imitation of an event that is serious, complete, and possessing magnitude. Hamlet is undeniably a play that is of great enormity as we consider the scale and scope of the play. Keeping in mind that the protagonists of the play are in fact the rulers of Denmark in whose hands lies the fate of millions of people simply elevates the tension created even further. Aristotle also states that the character has the second place in importance meaning simply that the character should support the plot i.e. personal motivations will be intricately connected parts of the cause-and-effect chain of actions producing pity and fear in the audience. Hamlet fits into this description of tragedy as it is Hamlets desire to avenge his fathers murder that drives the plot forward and leads to the unfolding of events that form the play. Shakespeare adds unexpected depth to the character of Claudius, which is not common for the antagonist of a revenge play. The playwright makes Hamlets contempt towards his uncle apparent as he claims they are a little more than kin and less than kind. Claudiuss soliloquy in Act III scene III relays his stronger guilt on a brothers murder, showing a possible good characteristic (as said by Aristotle) of his character. My fault is past. But O, what form of prayer can serve my turn? Claudiuss apparent desire for retribution defers from the preconceived notion of a villain in Elizabethan theatre as it evokes sympathy within the audience. In a stage production of the play, this scene could be played with Claudius on his knees with his hands folded before him, maximising any sympathy the audience feels towards him. However, Shakespeare keeps his antagonistic manners consistent as [Claudiuss] crown, [his] own ambition, and [his] queen win over his guilt. Conversely, this soliloquy could be used to show that despite his villainous nature, Claudius is a character suffering from the heavy burden of guilt. Even though Claudiuss character is not developed to its full potential, Shakespeare has crafted a full rounded human being out of the adulterate beast, making even his character psychologically plausible. This fact in itself defers Hamlet from being merely a revenge play. Reviewing all the points I made during the course of this essay, I would like to conclude that to categorise Hamlet as a revenge play would do the play great injustice. The plays dramatic structure and in-depth characterisation allow the play to be interpreted from many perspectives. In my opinion, Hamlet is not more a tragedy than a revenge play as it contains elements of both genres, but it is a revenge tragedy. Professor Kiernan Ryan remarks on Hamlet being subcategorized into a category of its own as it problematizes the whole revenge tragedy form and the assumptions and values about life, which a revenge tragedy would smuggle through unchallenged.

Solange De Santis - Job design :: essays research papers

Introduction: Solange De Santis joined a General Motors van assembly plant in 1991. During her eighteen months at GM she suffered from boredom, strain, psychological distress, job dissatisfaction, a feeling of distrust and a lack of job security. All of these factors had a detrimental effect on her health, safety and productivity. What job re-design opportunities are available to foster a healthier and more productive workplace? In order to answer this question we adopt job and work design theory that will analyze her role and provide tangible solutions. The following three  ¡Ã‚ ®Job Design Approaches ¡Ã‚ ¯ will be explored: 1) Job rotation 2) Job enrichment 3) Teamworking. The article outlined below elaborates on three small psychological changes to make working conditions for De Santis much better, improving her job safety and productivity. We hope that ¡Ã‚ ±Little changes make a big difference in the long term. ¡Ã‚ ±(Julian Barling, Topic 9, slide 3) Job Rotation: De Santis is an autoworker on the van assembly line at the General Motors plant. She performs the same simple task, and repeats the same procedures everyday. There are no opportunities for her to learn new skills or face any new challenges. It is easy to imagine how boring and frustrated anyone in her position would become. In addition to the challenge of her routine she also works on high stress and overload because of the non-stop, always catching up nature of the assembly line. According to research, boredom can cause daydreams and strain which together can threaten her safety. These negative experiences impact her job satisfaction and motivation. What we should do is reduce boredom, strain and dissatisfaction. Through job rotation it is possible to re-design her job and make it much more interesting and fun which should reduce her current levels of boredom and stress. How is this possible? Job rotation can reduce De Santis ¡Ã‚ ¯s boredom, relieve her from repetitive movements, and increase motivation by diversifying her experience; job rotation provides the kind of flexibility and experience that will allow her to feel much more control of her work and develop important skills that can help to off-set feelings of uncertainty; job rotation also helps to improve morale, increases ownership and should enable her to reach her potential; it is also shown to lower fatigue and helps to produce greater satisfaction that reduces absenteeism/turnover problems. Therefore, job rotation can make her job healthier and more productive How to implement job rotation?