Free Essays on United States Presidents

The Presidents of the United States  · Washington- only president to be unanimously elected by Electoral College. had teeth made of hippopotamus ivory. acted like a king.  · Adams- first election under real two party system. Graduate of Harvard. First president to live in the White House. Only father-son presidency. Died July 4th same day as Jefferson  · Jefferson- wrote the Declaration of independence. Designed his home. First president to take the oath in Washington, D.C. Very talented. Died July 4th same day as Adams Never spoke in public because of voice.  · Madison- graduate from Princeton. Was the first president to wear trousers. Very short, always wore black.  · Monroe- first president to ride on a steamboat. The only president to have a foreign capitol named after him. Died on July 4th  · Adams- graduated from Harvard Helped establish Smithsonian Institute. Kept a diary for over 60 years. First president to be photographed. Seemed hard and cold as ice.  · Jackson- joined the SC militia at age 13 and was captured by British in War for Independence. Opened the White House to crowds for his inauguration. First president to ride a train while in office. Lived with a bullet in his chest. First president to have an assassination attempt.  · Van Buren- first president not born a British subject. Got new upholstery in the Oval Drawing room, and created the Blue Room.  · Harrison- served the shortest presidential term- one-month. He was the oldest president until Regan. Longest inauguration address in history. Died of pneumonia.  · Tyler- graduated from William and Mary College. Almost killed twice while in office. First vice-president to run office. First president to marry while in office.  · Polk- expanded American boundaries to the Pacific. Worked 14 hours a day and ... Free Essays on United States Presidents Free Essays on United States Presidents The Presidents of the United States  · Washington- only president to be unanimously elected by Electoral College. had teeth made of hippopotamus ivory. acted like a king.  · Adams- first election under real two party system. Graduate of Harvard. First president to live in the White House. Only father-son presidency. Died July 4th same day as Jefferson  · Jefferson- wrote the Declaration of independence. Designed his home. First president to take the oath in Washington, D.C. Very talented. Died July 4th same day as Adams Never spoke in public because of voice.  · Madison- graduate from Princeton. Was the first president to wear trousers. Very short, always wore black.  · Monroe- first president to ride on a steamboat. The only president to have a foreign capitol named after him. Died on July 4th  · Adams- graduated from Harvard Helped establish Smithsonian Institute. Kept a diary for over 60 years. First president to be photographed. Seemed hard and cold as ice.  · Jackson- joined the SC militia at age 13 and was captured by British in War for Independence. Opened the White House to crowds for his inauguration. First president to ride a train while in office. Lived with a bullet in his chest. First president to have an assassination attempt.  · Van Buren- first president not born a British subject. Got new upholstery in the Oval Drawing room, and created the Blue Room.  · Harrison- served the shortest presidential term- one-month. He was the oldest president until Regan. Longest inauguration address in history. Died of pneumonia.  · Tyler- graduated from William and Mary College. Almost killed twice while in office. First vice-president to run office. First president to marry while in office.  · Polk- expanded American boundaries to the Pacific. Worked 14 hours a day and ...

NFPA 704 Chemical Storage Color Codes

NFPA 704 Chemical Storage Color Codes This is a table of chemical storage code colors, as devised by J. T. Baker. These are the standard color codes in the chemical industry. Except for the stripe code, chemicals assigned a color code generally may be stored safely with other chemicals with the same code. However, there are many exceptions, so it is important to be familiar with the safety requirements for every chemical in your inventory. J. T. Baker Chemical Storage Color Code Table Color Storage Notes White Corrosive. May be harmful to eyes, mucous membranes and skin. Store separate from combustible and flammable chemicals. Yellow Reactive/Oxidizer. May react violently with water, air or other chemicals. Store separate from combustible and flammable reagents. Red Flammable. Store separately only with other flammable chemicals. Blue Toxic. Chemical is hazardous to health if ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Store separately in a secure area. Green Reagent presents no more than a moderate hazard in any category. General chemical storage. Gray Used by Fisher instead of green. Reagent presents no more than a moderate hazard in any category. General chemical storage. Orange Obsolete color code, replaced by green. Reagent presents no more than a moderate hazard in any category. General chemical storage. Stripes Incompatible with other reagents of the same color code. Store separately. Numeric Classification System In addition to the color codes, a number may be given to indicate the level of hazard for flammability, health, reactivity, and special hazards. The scale runs from 0 (no hazard) to 4 (severe hazard). Special White Codes The white area may contain symbols to indicate special hazards: OX - This indicates an oxidizer that allows chemical to burn in the absence of air. SA - This indicates a simply asphyxiant gas. The code is limited to nitrogen, xenon, helium, argon, neon, and krypton. W with Two Horizontal Bars Through It s of chemicals that carry this warning include sulfuric acid, cesium metal, and sodium metal.

Business Plan Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Plan Analysis - Assignment Example 2. What are sections-in-common in these plans? Describe the style used in the business plans, and discuss what you believe to be an appropriate style for a business plan (i.e., first-person narration, contractions, level of formality, citing references, etc.) In the two business plans, the following sections were common: Executive Summary General Company Description Products and Services Marketing Strategy Operating Plan Management & Organization Financial statements and financial plan Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, Break Even Point, Capitalization Required The writing styles that were used were formal, direct to the point and business like. It also adhered to the academic style of writing that avoided using contractions, euphemisms and figures of speech. Numbers were also utilized through a financial statement to illustrate a point. There is, however, noticeable difference between the referencing of a business plan and an academic essay. Compared to an academic essay wh ich requires data to be referenced by any of the writing styles (Harvard, APA, MLA, etc.), business plan is not that strict about it. Instead, it uses appendix such as the business plan of Fresin Fried Fast Food Restaurant (â€Å"Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan: Fresin Fries†) where the details of sales forecast, personnel expense and cash flow were enumerated to provide clarity in the financial statements of the business plan. It can also be skipped if it is not deemed necessary in a business plan such as in the case of American Management Technology (AMT) sample business plan (â€Å"Sample Business Plan for American Management Technology (AMT)†). I believe that this is the appropriate writing of a business plan. It is direct, simple, clear and formal. Business plans should be written in this manner because they are intended to serve as a blue print on how a business can make money and not to show literary genius. Writing directly and concisely is also an efficient way of utilizing the time of the one who prepared it and the people who would read and implement it. The saved time and energy in deciphering a complicated business plan can be used in other money making activities of a business. Furthermore, a clearly written business plan avoids confusing interpretation that would render the plan ineffective. In addition to general description, numbers shown in financial statements are equally important if not more important than the written texts. It is because these numbers determine whether a business can make money or not, when and what is the needed capital, and the break-even point where the business can start making money. These numbers can also serve as targets and benchmarks when a business is already operational to ensure that the business plan will profit according to plan and schedule. 3. What are the critical ideas/plans that must be communicated in a business plan? The critical ideas/plans that must be communicated in a business pla n are the following; First are the vision and mission of a company. They serve as a signpost or a compass of where a business is going and what it intends to do. It is the idea or any intangibles that animate or motivate a business to be profitable. Second are the objectives. Having a plan without a goal is pointless. The very essence of a business plan is to achieve certain goals which should be enunciated in the objectives section. A brief

EVM and Project Procurement Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

EVM and Project Procurement - Research Paper Example This management system provides trends of cost, value and risk. EVM uses a uniform unit of measure of project performance which may either be dollars or work hours but for different tasks it may require different measure of performance. Functional Difference Procurement is often required in every project; therefore procurement management is a crucial step in the execution of a project plan. Procurement means the use of external vendors and service providers for a particular facility. Procurement management itself involves extensive planning. Procurement process can be broken down into various steps which are widely used in the following order: Planning and requirement, requisition, vendor selection, contract administration, delivery and contract closure. Procurement process starts with the analysis of the goods and services required for the execution of a project. The management has to take a make or buy decision which ultimately decides whether there is a need for outsourcing or not . This is done through cost benefit analysis. For example leasing a piece of equipment costs $800/day and making it costs $12000; in this case the use of that equipment in terms of time would allow the management to compare the two costs and ultimately allow them to take an informed decision. Difference in Cost Variance and Measurement In order for the successful completion of a project the management needs to answer certain questions repeatedly. These questions are mostly related to cost variance, risks, over or under expenditure, schedule and project performance in terms of value, cost and schedule. In a research study has proven the link between project success and earned value management. The study treats the principles of EVM and project procurement as two different variables. The third variable is the project success itself. The results of their study and surveys supported their hypothesis with exception which is â€Å"There will be no significant difference between fixed-pri ce and cost-plus contracts on the use of EVM’s performance metrics during contract administration† (Marshall, 2007). Fixed-price contracts and cost plus contracts are two prevalent contract types which are undertaken during the contract administration step of procurement management. So the study has proven that contract type does not significantly affect the performance metrics of EVM. Earned value minus actual cost gives the cost variance and earned value minus planned value gives the schedule variance in earned value management. These variances are dependent upon the accuracy of estimates, time required for the project and life-cycle phase. All of these factors may fall under the category of procurement process so procurement management may affect the performance metrics of earned value management. Procurement involves market knowledge on the basis of which estimates are driven. So if for example the management provides unreliable estimates then it would greatly affec t the EVM measures such as planned costs. Secondly the length of the procurement project and total approved budget effect the capacity of EVM to accurately predict the trends of cost and

The affect of Caffeine on pulse rate Essay Example for Free

The affect of Caffeine on pulse rate Essay Stimulants are a class of drug that boosts, alternates and increases your energy levels and they activity of the nervous system. Caffeine is in drinks, such as; Coca-Cola, tea and coffee, these are called caffeinated drinks. Caffeine is not normally recognised as a drug to most. Caffeine has an effect on your heart rate, (this is how fact your hear beats) Caffeine is able to change the way your body and mind works Chocolate is known to have traces of caffeine in it also The aim What is the point this experiment;- My aim in this experiment is to see what effects caffeine is prone to on the heart rate, Also to compare someone’s heart rate who has consumed caffeine to someone’s who hasn’t. This should give us a developed idea to the effects of caffeine. In this experiment there will be several variables;- The independent variable;-this is the variable I will be changing, this is the number of people of which are drinking the caffeine and the ones who are not. The Dependant variable;-This is the variable we measure, I’m measuring the persons heart rate, then working out the difference to show what effects caffeine is likely to have on the heart rate. Controlled variables;- The following variables I am keeping the same;- Room temperature The volume of the drink No-one will consume caffeinated food or drinks beforehand. From what information I have collected I predict that the pulse rate of the people drinking the caffeinated drinks will have an increased pulse, because as research shows, caffeine is a stimulant. Therefor the prediction of an increased heart rate when caffeine enters the blood stream seems reliable. I also think after a certain period of time, when the caffeine has left the persons system that the heart rate will lower again. Caffeinated Or Not? What will I do? How will I do it? Method;- you will need†¦ Six cups A bottle of a caffeinated drink A bottle of a de-caffeinated drink Heart rate monitor or a simple stop watch A table of results to record your data Steps;- What am I going to do? 1) Prepare 6 people to take part in the experiment. 2) Make each person sit down for 15 minutes in order to calm their heart rate. 3) Pour the caffeinated drink into three cups of a 300 cm cubed volume. 4) Pour the de-caffeinated drink into another 3 cups of the same size. Making sure that the people participating in the experiment do not see which drink they are being given( Blind testing) 5) Take each person’s heart rate and record it in a table. This is the starting point 6) Give each person their drink, still making sure you carry out a blind test. 7) Take each person’s heart rate every 30 seconds; continue to do this for a further 5 minutes. 8) After 5 minutes, take one final heart rate, this will help with your results. 9) Create a table of results to hold your information in, make sure the table is clear to read and easy to understand. 10) Work out the difference between everyone’s heart rate Method 2;- Shortened version;- 1) Prepare six people for the experiment by making each person sit down for 15 minutes to calm their heart rate. 2) Pour a caffeinated drink into 3 polyester cups of a 300cm cubed volume. 3) Do the same with the de-caffeinated drinks. 4) Label the caffeinated drinks ‘a’ and the de-caffeinated drinks ‘b’, so you won’t mix them up, but don’t let the participants know which label represents which drink. 5) Take each person’s heart rate; this is your starting point. 6) Give each person their drink, at random. 7) Take each person’s heart and record it in a table of results, do this every 30 seconds for a further 5 minutes. 8) With your results fill in your table and work out the difference between the heart rates, this should indicate the heart rates affected by caffeine. About my graph;- The graph I used for this experiment is a line graph; it shows various results of different pupil’s heart rate. The lines on the graph are all unique; some have a sudden increase in heart rate whilst others have not. Pupil one;- which is the pink line had a base rate of ‘72’ this remained constant throughout the experiment, only rising and falling by a small few. However pupil two had a base rate of ’78’ but after drinking the drink at around 8-9 minutes the heart rate increased dramatically. Overall 3 results (pupils 1,3 and 5) practically remained the same, whilst the other three (pupils 2,4 and 6) had several increases whilst the drink being in their system. Summing up my results;- We know from research that caffeine is a stimulant and stimulants affect the pace of your heart. So the three results that have a big increase in their heart rate, seem to show that they had caffeine in their system. However we did discover an anomaly, after 8 minutes pupil two’s heart rate had a dramatic increase. This may well have been the caffeine but it’s more likely to have been caused by something called a ‘placebo’ effect. This is when the pupil consuming the drink in the experiment got excited and this is what made the sudden increase in the pupil’s heart rate. After two minutes pupil four’s heart rate increased also, however this time, the increase remained constant for a further two minutes before starting to drop again. This state a more obvious term of the effect of caffeine. The graph clearly shows which results are the ones effected by caffeine, and the ones which are not. Amendments;- what I can I do better next time? In future experiments like this one, I think I would make sure that no-one involved in the experiment eats or drinks any caffeinated products before taking part in the experiment. This ensures us that their heart beat is at its normal pace. Because talking and movement can affect how our hearts beat I would also make sure that everyone in the experiment sits down for a longer period of time that was done before. This helps the heart lower to its base rate. Our results weren’t really valid because we were unable to control our controlled variable, this may be because the person who had consumed caffeine insisted on talking to everyone else, so this would have increased the other people’s heart rates also. In future experiments we can delay this by keeping people apart after taking part in the experiment, this way they cannot influence each other’s behaviour. Research has shown us that caffeine on average takes around 45 minutes to enter the blood stream, so we cannot be certain our results were due to the effects of caffeine. This could be amended by measuring the pulse rate over a longer time span, so the caffeine had longer to affect our pulse. In the experiment I chose to measure my pulse over a period of two minutes, next time to show more valid and reliable results I would measure my heart rate over shorter intervals. Finally one more improvement would be to test more caffeinated drinks with our pulses, so then we can rule out the thought off the results being due to glucose or so on, we then can be sure its definitely caffeine that’s increasing out hear rate. Conclusion;- what do I think? From this experiment I can conclude that caffeine can affect different people in different ways, depending on their diet, sex and size. Whether they are used to drinking caffeine constantly and how much their body can take of it. My prediction on average was correct as I suggested that the people with caffeine in their system were most likely to have a higher heart rate. This was mainly correct, but I was shocked to find out that my results were not valid due to the length of time caffeine takes to enter the blood stream. An example of caffeine being used may be when an athlete drinks a caffeinated drink before they take part in their sporting event, the effect would be the increase in their pulse and more energy would be dispersed in the body. Personally I don’t think this is fair, as I previously said caffeine effects different people in different ways, so caffeine could have a strong effect on certain people, whilst it has a less strong effect on others. This affects the balance of the game and it’s not natural energy being used in the event. This could be classed as cheating.

Japanese literature :: essays research papers

Vernon McCalla Japanese Literature Question #2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2. Individualism has been seen as a characteristic feature of the modern world. How do we see the issue of individualism being dealt with in the works we have read? Discuss examples of individualism in both modern and pre-modern texts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the works we have read, the characteristic of individualism has played a strong role in the lives and decisions of three characters in particular. The characters Basho, Chockichi, and Okada all display similar acts of individualism in their own stories as they depart not only from their homes but also the traditions that have helped shape their lives for many years. These characters leave behind the familial and societal values that were vastly present in Japanese tradition. With their decisions to be individuals, they obtain new attitudes and standards that relate to, money, education and security. The new values attitudes are what brought Japan into a modern way of thinking and left old values and traditions behind.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Individualism is the belief in the primary importance of the individual and the virtues of self reliance and personal dependence. Basho shows his independence by leaving his home front and traveling north. He does this in order to see new places, visit sites of earlier poets, and to spread his views. For Basho traveling is a way of life, and because he travels alone one could say that Basho is very much an independent individual. Throughout Basho’s Narrow Road it seems as if there is a lack of people he encounters on such a long journey. The reader does not know if this is because Basho chooses to leave out the people he meets from his story or because he truly does not encounter many. In any way, the lack of people in the story puts the spotlight solely on the main character, Basho. With this, Basho rejoices in his individualism by going against traditional Japanese values and the unknown. Basho can be described as a pre-modern individual. His journeys are not for money or to enhance his social status; they are for his own personal benefit in order to see more of Japan and to become inspired by nature and its beautiful surroundings. Traveling for Basho is his life, unlike many traditions of Japan where supporting a family and working are a way of life, he chooses a different path. By this Basho chooses a life that is centered around himself and based on personal dependence and happiness.

Forensics as a Crime Scene Investigator Essay

Thesis Statement Forensic is a field of that deals with psychology and the law. Forensic is defined as the intersection of psychology and the law. Forensics is the application of science to questions which are of interest to the legal system. For example, forensic pathology is the study of the human body to determine cause and manner of death. Introductory Paragraph Forensics will be my area of study where I will have to determine the cause and manner of death. As a Crime Scene Investigator, I will be scouring a crime scene for evidence. This is a science, and a field that has a growing in importance. Michigan State University has the nation’s oldest and largest forensic science program. As a Crime Scene Investigator you have to collect, analyze, walk through a virtual crime scene where a murder has occurred, and estimate when the victim was murdered. Then construct a report dealing what I have uncovered and offer an estimated time of death. After I graduate from EVC University I will pursue a career as a Crime Scene Investigator. I will be in charge of investigating Crimes scenes, collecting and analyzing evidence and testifying in court in when needed. I will have to go through law enforcements organizations that have been trained or gone through special certification courses. As a CSI investigator I will be specializing in areas of forensic science. Crime Scene Investigators have to be able to collect and analyze evidence. CSI have to be able to work in a stressful environment hazardous work conditions. You must be available at all times no matter what time of the day. CSI have to perform technical forensic analysis. I will have to be thorough and accurate to document a crime scene including evidence that I have collected so that officers and attorneys can use that evidence for solving and prosecuting crimes. CSI has to work regular hours sometimes they have to work longer hours if not overnight to solve a crime scene. (Hineman, 2011) Crime Scene Investigators annual salary $55,040 which means they make $26.46 hour. Some agencies offer bonuses which mean that another $5,000 can be added to your salary. Some agencies require a four year degree but not all. CSI requires educational requirements in chemistry, and anatomy, and criminal law. (Hineman, 2011) References Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary with Thesaurus. (n.d.). Zane . Zane Publishing. Google. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wikipedia.com Hineman, G. (2011, July 10). MSN. Retrieved from ehow.com: http://www.ehow.com/info_8715626_forensic_scene investigator-job description

Compare and Contrast Essay Essay

Placing a cigarette between his lips, he struck a match, inhaled smoke, and hurriedly put out the light. Almost immediately a bullet flattened itself against the parapet of the roof. This scene is from â€Å"The Sniper,† a story that is suspenseful throughout. Another story that is suspenseful throughout is â€Å"The Most Dangerous Games.† â€Å"The Most Dangerous Games† and â€Å"The Sniper† have many similarities and much differences such as the authors of the stories who are from different parts of the world, but write using a similar setting, plot, theme, and characters that overcome adversity. Richard Connell, the author of â€Å"The Most Dangerous Games,† and Liam O’Flaherty, the author of â€Å"The Sniper,† have many similarities and many differences, such as where they were born, when they started writing and what they wrote. Liam O’Flaherty was born on one of the Aran Islands in 1896; on the other hand Richard Connell w as born in 1893. Both of them were born in the 1890’s. Richard Connell started to write when he was 10 years old. To contrast, O’Flaherty wrote his first novel in 1923 so when he was 27. O’Flaherty had originally planned on being a Roman Catholic priest. Unlike O’Flaherty, Connell started to write when he was a child. Richard Connell is American; O’Flaherty is an Irish author. The authors might be from different parts of the world, but they have many similarities. There are many differences and similarities between â€Å"The Most Dangerous Games† and â€Å"The Sniper,† such as the setting, the plot, and the theme. Richard Connell and Liam O’Flaherty both write about the consequences of killing people. Some differences in the theme are that O’Flaherty presents the character as a fanatic which ends up getting someone he loves killed. On the other hand, Richard Connell presents a character with wicked uncanny thoughts of killing humans as a game, with the theme of killing others which eventually gets you killed. The setting in â€Å"The Most Dangerous Games† is on a remote island. In contrast, â€Å"The Sniper† takes place in the city of Dublin, Ireland. They both take place in the 20th century, and both take place outdoors. Both plots have suspense throughout the whole story. â€Å"Zarroff,† a main character o f â€Å"The Most Dangerous Games,† and the â€Å"sniper† of â€Å"The Sniper† have many similarities and many differences, such as their war history, and why and how they killed. Zarroff is Russian and fought in the Russian Revolution.

The Railway Essays - Landscape, Topography, Free Essays, Term Papers

The Railway Essays - Landscape, Topography, Free Essays, Term Papers The Railway The thesis for Schivelbuschs book The Railway Journey seems to be that the railroad altered the travelers perceptions of space, time, distance, nature and the senses. Although the means of a quick and reliable mode of transport was and is an important part of industrialization, it denaturalized and desensualized the passengers (Schivelbusch 20). Shrinking and reshaping the world it touches with industrial fingers and alienating the riders to the world around them. With fast and reliable steam power engines replacing previously expensive and unreliable natural sources of energy such as water or animal man is released from the constraints of nature. These engines do not succumb to the whims of weather or exhaustion and are reliable enough to keep and daily regulated schedule despite wind or rain. Yet, by replacing the age-old use of the horse and carriage and through sheer speed they have made the world smaller and more accessible to the people. Where in the olden days people experienced every step of the way with their senses now all they have to do is step on a train and step out onto a different place. The railroad has annihilated the space and time, which were characterized by the old transport technology (36). To the perception of the people who had previously experienced every step of their journeys the world seemed to have shrunk. The detachment of man from nature and his perception of nature is finalized in the construction of the railways (20). Since the ideal railway is hard, level and straight, they were not laid out sympathetically to the landscape but instead cut and carve their way through in a straight line. Nothing gets in their way, not river mountain or canyon. The riders of these straight speeding bullets see nothing but a disorienting sight of the landscape shooting past to quickly for them to focus on. The train creates a barrier between themselves and the landscape making them detached viewers of an untouchable scene. This barrier is later enhanced by the telegraph poles that began to be widely used to regulate railway traffic. Now the traveler perceived the landscape as it was filtered through the machine ensemble (24) The use of railways to transport goods began to be felt in the very architecture of the time. With the use of availability of previously hard to acquire items, such as glass and steel, the railroad reorganized space (45). These new materials bent the contrast between light and shadow making it uniform and absent of contrast, a disorienting combination to people used to rock and wood. In the very beginning of the book, culture is described as having an organic quality, if so it is now an inorganic culture. This culture is now detached from the organic. As the railways expanded their reach they began to affect the special presence (40)of various commodities and towns which were once associated with a certain region. This desensualization of the regions is described as losing their auras and so no longer have the special qualities that it once has. No longer do people have to travel long and rugged distances for a certain fruit or to visit a certain town, now they only have to hop on a train then hop off. Thus the perception of individuality is lost. The changes of perception that the railway caused are precursor of the denaturalization and desensualization that is abundant is modern industrial society. Schivelbuschs book gives interesting evidence to this thesis. By its manipulation of the world by the railways which altered the old world views of travel and nature it changes the definition of mans world view and the place man sees himself as being in the landscape around him. Bibliography Shivelbusch. The Railway Journy

Learn More about the Bright Star Sirius

Learn More about the Bright Star Sirius Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, is the brightest star in our night-time sky. Its also  the sixth closest star to Earth, at a distance of  8.6 light-years. (A light-year is the distance that light travels in a year). The name Sirius comes from the ancient Greek word for scorching and it has fascinated observers throughout human history because of its brightness and colorful twinkling. Astronomers began seriously studying Sirius in the 1800s, and continue to do so today. It is usually noted on star maps and charts as alpha Canis Majoris, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (the Big Dog).  Sirius is visible from most parts of the world (except for very northerly or southerly regions), and can sometimes be seen during the day if conditions are right.   The Science of Sirius The astronomer Edmond Halley observed Sirius in 1718 and determined its proper motion (that is, its actual motion through space). More than a century later, astronomer William Huggins measured the  actual velocity  of Sirius by taking a spectrum of its light, which revealed data about its speed. Further measurements showed that this star is actually moving toward the Sun at a velocity of about 7.6 kilometers per second.   Astronomers long suspected that Sirius might have a companion star. It would be hard to spot since Sirius itself is so bright. But, they kept looking for it. In 1844, F.W. Bessel used analysis of its motion to determine that Sirius really did have a companion. That discovery was finally confirmed by telescope observations in 1862. The companion is called Sirius B, and it is the first white dwarf  (an aged type of star) with a spectrum to show a gravitational redshift as predicted by the general theory of relativity.   There are stories floating around that some early civilizations saw this companion without the aid of a telescope. It would have been very hard to see unless the companion was very bright. So, its not clear what the ancients saw. However, current scientists are quite interested in learning more about Sirius A and B. More recent observations with Hubble Space Telescope have measured both of the stars, and revealed that Sirius B is only about the size of Earth, but has the mass close to that of the Sun.   Comparing Sirius Itself to the Sun Sirius A, which is what we see with the naked eye, is about twice as massive as our Sun. It is also 25 times more luminous than our star. Over time, and as it gets closer to the solar system in the far distant fugure, it will also increase in brightness. Thats part of its evolutionary path.  While our Sun is about 4.5 billion years old, Sirius A and B are thought to be no more than 300 million years old and so their story is yet to be told. Why is Sirius Called the Dog Star?   This star has earned the name Dog Star from an interesting time in Earths past. One reason its called that is that its the brightest star in Canis Major. However, theres a more interesting idea about its name: it was also incredibly important to stargazers in the ancient world for its prediction of seasonal change. For example, in the time of the Pharoahs in Egypt, people watched for Sirius to rise just before the Sun did. That marked the season when the Nile would flood, and bathe the nearby farms with mineral-rich silt.  The Egyptians made a ritual of looking for Sirius at the right time- it was that important to their society. The rumor goes that this time of year, typically late summer, came to be known as the Dog Days of summer, particularly in Greece, when people began looking for the Dog star just before sunrise. The Egyptians and Greeks werent the only ones interested in this star. Ocean-going explorers also used it as a celestial marker, helping them navigate around the worlds seas. For example, to the Polynesians, who have been accomplished navigators for centuries, Sirius was known as Aa and it was part of a complex set of navigational star lines the islanders used to voyage up and down the Pacific between Tahitian islands and Hawaii.   Today, Sirius is a favorite of stargazers, and enjoys many mentions in science fiction, song titles, and literature. It appears to twinkle madly, although thats really a function of its light passing through Earths atmosphere, particularly when the star is low on the horizon.      Edited and updated by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Media Audiences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Media Audiences - Essay Example There is also the importance to differentiate between mass audiences that are broadcast to and the niche audiences involved in narrowcasting. In terms of subjectivity, there is the impact on the audience members by the membership of the pre-existing group including gender, religion, education and nation. It may also be defined in regard to a mainstream audience for the narrowcast media. This imagined mainstream is what elite and sub-cultural forms do define them. It is a socially constructed phenomena. In contrast to the critique of mass society, the culture of mainstream is not addressed to an audience that is homogenized as it is diverse and made of different multiple audiences that come from various demographic groups whose mode of engagement might have. This makes it appealing and also commercially lucrative. It may be hard to define, and its meaning normally shifts in accordance to its usage. Appreciating mass audiences will offer that opportunity of resisting adoption of the media’s terms as our own. Audience size together with commercial profitability is construction factors in mainstreaming though it should be understood independently. Though mainstream media are known as an object of passionate feelings, it is what that moves most of consumers to participation (Newma n, 1). Mass audience as included in the definition for the mass communication has distinguishing factors that include: it is heterogeneous in composition, composition of individuals is that of those who do not know each other, members of the mass are spatially separated, and the mass has a loose organization and leadership that is not definite (Napoli, 7). The new mass audience considers the mass audience as both the receiver and the sender of the message. An economist Dalls Smythe 1977 stated that the act of consuming media included a form of labour that is wageless engaged by