“The Veldt” Essay Essay

Technology and its Bad Effect on Families Imagine holding so much engineering that your childs start to believe of it as their female parent and male parent. The narrative â€Å"The Veldt† by Ray Bradbury uses many literary elements to demo the audience that excessively much engineering can destruct a household. In the narrative. two childs and their parents live in a Happylife Home that does their mundane undertakings for them. The children’s parents. George and Lydia. are traveling to larn that giving their kids excessively much engineering is traveling to take to bad events in the hereafter. Through the usage of struggle. scene. and characterization Bradbury conveys that excessively much engineering can destruct a household. By depicting the struggles between the Hadley’s. Bradbury conveys that excessively much engineering can destruct a household. In the narrative. Peter gets into an statement with his pa who wants to turn off the baby's room. It is a good illustration of the struggle between them two. He says to his male parent. â€Å"I wish you were dead† ( Bradbury 7 ) . This shows that Peter has so much engineering in his life and now that his pa threatens to turn it off. he wants his pa gone. In add-on to this piece of grounds. Bradbury explains the psychologist look intoing in with the baby's room and what he finds out about it. â€Å"You’ve Lashkar-e-Taiba this room and this house replace you and your married woman in your child’s fondnesss. This room is their female parent and male parent. far more of import in their lives so their existent parents. And now you come along and want to close it off. No admiration there’s hatred here† ( Bradbury 6 ) . This shows how Wendy and Peter have so much engineering in their lives. that it is replacing their parents and making a struggle between them. The childs don’t want their parents around any longer since they have this engineering. Through the descriptions of the struggles between the Hadley household. readers see how so much engineering impacts them throughout the narrative. Through depicting the scene of the narrative. Bradbury conveys that excessively much engineering can destruct a household. In the narrative. the scene is largely the Happylife place that the Hadley’s live in and is described by Peter kicking that he may hold to make undertakings himself. â€Å"That sounds awful! Would I have to bind my ain places alternatively of allowing the shoe grade make it? And brush my ain dentition and comb my hair and give myself a bath? † ( Bradbury 5 ) . This shows how the childs are so used to holding engineering do everything for them that when their parents endanger to turn it off. they are forced to believe about what they might hold to make and they don’t want it to go on. Furthermore. Bradbury explains the scene of the baby's room as being the African Veldt. â€Å"He stepped into Africa. How many times in the last year†¦with slaying in the heat† ( Bradbury 3 ) . This shows how this engineering is showing the childrenâ €™s ideas onto the walls of the baby's room which happens to be the African Veldt with hungry king of beastss. Besides. the usage of the word â€Å"murder† in the quotation mark is a mark of what is traveling to go on to the parents subsequently in the narrative. By puting the scene of the narrative with descriptions of the scene. readers can see how Bradbury expresses how excessively much engineering can destruct a household. Last. Bradbury demonstrates that excessively much engineering can destruct a household by depicting the character’s personalities. In the narrative. George shows that he can be serious when needed while in an statement with Peter about turning off the house. â€Å"I won’t have any menaces from my son† ( Bradbury 7 ) . This shows that Peter is so spoilt that when his pa wants to take engineering off from Peter. he threatens his pa which is traveling to take to more household struggles subsequently on. Additionally. Bradbury explains the psychologist’s visit to look into the baby's room and figure out what’s incorrect. â€Å"How come you didn’t feel this before? † ( Bradbury ) . This shows that since the last clip the psychologist checked the baby's room. the kids have gotten more destructive heads and ideas that create the African Veldt all because of how their parents have been handling them. The psychologist used the engineering to ca lculate out how the kids have bad ideas toward their parents. which is traveling to ensue in the ruin of their household. Through the descriptions of these characters’ personalities. readers see the negative impact engineering has on this household. Ray Bradbury demonstrates to the reader of â€Å"The Veldt† through the usage of struggle. scene and word picture that excessively much engineering they had in the baby's room and the whole house. In the terminal. the childs end up killing their parents in a surprise stoping. Bradbury makes a great point in composing about the hereafter to non let excessively much engineering into this universe because it could take over and take to bad events.

Night World : Witchlight Chapter 12

They were all on their feet by now. Keller's early warning system was screaming hysterically. â€Å"I can't stand it anymore,† Diana hissed. â€Å"What's going on?† Just then, Nissa said in a quenched voice, â€Å"All right, we will. Yes. â€Å"Bye.† She carefully replaced the handset. Then she turned very slowly to face the others. Or not to face them exactly. She was looking down at the floor in an unfocused way that scared Keller to death. â€Å"Well, what is it?† Keller growled. Nissa opened her mouth and raised her eyes to look at Winnie. Then she looked down again. â€Å"I'm sorry,† she said. â€Å"Winnie, I don't know how to say this.† She swallowed and then straightened, speaking formally. â€Å"The Crone of all the Witches is dead.† Winnie's eyes went huge, and her hands flew to her throat. â€Å"Grandma Harman!† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"But how?† Nissa spoke carefully. â€Å"It happened yesterday in Las Vegas. She was outside her shop, right there on a city street, in broad daylight. She was attacked†¦ by three shapeshifters.† Keller stood and listened to her pounding heart. Winnie breathed, â€Å"No. That's not possible.† â€Å"A couple of wolves and a tiger. A real tiger, Keller, not any smaller cat. There were human witnesses who saw it. It's being reported as some bizarre escape from a private zoo.† Keller stood rigid. Control, control, she thought. We don't have time for grieving; we've got to figure out what this means. But she couldn't help thinking about Grandma Harman's good old face. Not a beautiful face, not a young face, but a good one, with intelligence and humor in the keen gray eyes. A face with a thousand wrinkles-and a story to go with each one. How would Circle Daybreak ever get along without her? The oldest witch in the world, the oldest Hearth-Woman. Winnie put both hands to her face and began to cry. The others stood silently. Keller didn't know what to do. She was so bad at these emotional things, but nobody else was stepping forward. Nissa was even less good at dealing with emotion, and right now her cool face was sympathetic and sad but distant. Iliana looked on the verge of tears herself, but uncertain. Galen was staring emptily across the room with something like despair. Keller awkwardly put an arm around Winnie. â€Å"Come on, sit down. Do you want some tea? She wouldn't like you to cry.† All pretty stupid things to say. But Winnie buried her strawberry-blond head against Keller's chest, sobbing. â€Å"Why? Why did they kill her? It isn't right.† Nissa shifted uneasily. â€Å"Paulie said something about that, too. He said we should turn on CNN.† Keller set her teeth. â€Å"Where's the remote?† she said, trying not to sound rough. Iliana picked it up and punched in a channel. An anchorwoman was speaking, but for a second Keller couldn't take in what she was saying. All she could see were the words on the screen: â€Å"CNN SPECIAL REPORT: ANIMAL PANIC.† And the footage, rough video from somebody's camcorder. It showed an unbelievable scene. An ordinary city street, with skyscrapers in the background-and in the foreground ordinary-looking people all mixed up with†¦ shapes. Tawny shapes. About the same size she was in panther form, and sinuous. They were on top of people. Four of them†¦ no, five. Mountain lions. They were killing the humans. A woman was screaming, flailing at an animal that had her arm in its mouth to the elbow. A man was trying to pull another lion off a little boy. Then something with a white-tipped muzzle ran directly at the camera. It jumped. There was a gasping scream and for an instant a glimpse of a wide-open mouth filled with two-inch teeth. Then the video turned to static. â€Å"-that was the scene at the La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles today. We now go to Ron Hennessy, live outside the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Keller stood frozen, her fists clenched in helpless fury. â€Å"It's happening everywhere,† Nissa said quietly from behind her. â€Å"That's what Paulie said. Every major city in the U.S. is being attacked. A white rhino killed two people in Miami. In Chicago, a pack of timber wolves killed an armed police officer.† â€Å"Shapeshifters,† Keller whispered. â€Å"Yes. Killing humans openly. They may even be transforming openly. Paulie said that some people claimed to see those Chicago wolves change. She took a deep breath and spoke slowly. â€Å"Keller, the time of chaos at the end of the millennium†¦ it's happening now. They can't cover this up with a â€Å"private zoo† story. This is it-the beginning of the time when humans find out about the Night World.† Diana looked bewildered. â€Å"But why would shapeshifters start attacking humans? And why would they kill Grandma Harman?† Keller shook her head. She was rapidly approaching numbness. She glanced at Galen and saw that he felt exactly the same. Then there was a choked sound beside her. â€Å"That's the question-why,† Winnie said in a thick voice. Usually, with her elfin features and mop of curls, she looked younger than her age. But right now, the skin on her face was drawn tight, and her birdlike bones made her look almost like an old woman. She turned on Keller and Galen, and her eyes were burning. â€Å"Not just why they're doing it, why they're being allowed to do it. Where's the First House while all this is going on? Why aren't they monitoring their own people? Is it because they agree with what's happening?† The last words were snapped out with a vicious-ness that Keller had never heard in Winfrith before. Galen opened his mouth, then he shook his head. â€Å"Winnie, I don't think-â€Å" â€Å"You don't think! You don't know? What are your parents doing? Are you saying you don't know that?† â€Å"Winnie-â€Å" â€Å"They killed our oldest leader. Our wise woman. You know, some people would take that as a declaration of war.† Keller felt stricken and at the same time furious at her own helplessness. She was in charge here; she should be heading Winnie off. But she was a shapeshifter like Galen. And along with the ability to transform and the exquisitely tuned senses, they both shared something unique to their race. The guilt of the shapeshifters. The terrible guilt that went back to the ancient days and was part of the very fabric of Kellers mind. No shapeshifter could forget it or escape it, and nobody who wasn't a shapeshifter could ever understand. The guilt was what held Galen standing there while Winnie yelled at him, and held Keller unable to interrupt. Winnie was right in front of Galen now, her eyes blazing, her body crackling with latent energy like a small but fiery orange comet. â€Å"Who woke that dragon up, anyway?† she demanded. â€Å"How do we know the shapeshifters aren't up to their old tricks? Maybe this time they're going to wipe the witches out completely-â€Å" â€Å"Stop it!† It was Hiana. She planted herself in front of Winnie, small but earnest, a little ice maiden to combat the witch's fire. Her nose was pink and swollen, and she was still wearing those teddy bear slippers, but to Keller she somehow looked valiant and magnificent. â€Å"Stop hurting each other,† she said. â€Å"I don't understand any of this, but I know that you're not going to get anywhere if you fight. And I know you don't want to fight.† All at once, she flung her arms around Winnie. â€Å"I know how you feel-it's so awful. I felt the same way when Grandma Mary died, my mom's mother. All I could think of was that it was just so unfair.† Winfrith hesitated, standing stiffly in Diana's embrace. Then, slowly, she lifted her own arms to hold Iliana back. â€Å"We need her,† she whispered. I know. And you feel mad at the people who killed her. But it's not Galen's fault. Galen would never hurt anybody.† It was said with absolute conviction. Hiana wasn't even looking at Galen. She was stating a fact that she felt was common knowledge. But at the same time, now that she was off her guard, her expression was tender and almost shining. Yes, that's love, all right, Keller thought. And it's good. Very slowly, Winnie said, ‘I know Galen wouldn't. But the shapeshifters–â€Å" â€Å"Maybe,† Galen said, â€Å"we should talk about that† If Winnie's face was pinched, his was set in steel. His eyes were so dark that Keller couldn't distinguish the color. â€Å"Maybe we should talk about the shapeshifters,† he said. He nodded toward the kitchen table, which was still strewn with the parchments. â€Å"About their history and about the dragons.† He looked at Diana. â€Å"If there's any chance of-of a promise ceremony between us, it's stuff you ought to know.† Iliana looked startled. â€Å"He's right,† Nissa said in her calm voice. â€Å"After all, that's what we were doing to start with. It's all tied together.† Keller's whole body was tight. This was something that she very much didn't want to talk about But she refused to give in to her own weakness. With a tremendous effort, she managed to say steadily, â€Å"All right. The whole story.† â€Å"It started back in the days humans were still living in caves,† Galen said when they were all sitting down at the kitchen table again. His voice was so bleak and controlled that it didn't even sound like Galen. â€Å"The shapeshifters ruled then, and they were brutal. In some places, they were just the totem spirits who demanded human sacrifice, but in others†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He searched through the parchments, selected one. â€Å"This is a picture of a breeding pen, with humans in it. They treated humans exactly the way humans treat cattle, breeding them for their hearts and livers. And the more human flesh they ate, the stronger they got.† Iliana looked down at the parchment scrap, and her hand abruptly clenched on a tissue. Winnie listened silently, her pointed face stern. â€Å"They were stronger than anyone,† Galen said. â€Å"Humans were like flies to them. The witches were more trouble, but the dragons could beat them.† Iliana looked up. â€Å"What about the vampires?† â€Å"There weren't any yet,† Galen said quietly. â€Å"The first one was Maya Hearth-Woman, the sister of Hellewise Hearth-Woman. She made herself into a vampire when she was looking for immortality. But the dragons were naturally immortal, and they were the undisputed rulers of the planet. And they had about as much pity for others as a 7. rex has.† â€Å"But all the shapeshifters weren't like that, were they?† Iliana asked. â€Å"There were other kinds besides the dragons, right?† â€Å"They were all bad,† Keller said simply. â€Å"My ancestors–the big felines-were pretty awful. But the bears and the wolves did their share.† â€Å"But you're right, the dragons were the worst,† Galen said to Iliana. â€Å"And that's who my family is descended from. My last name, Drache, means ‘dragon.' Of course, it was the weakest of the dragons that was my ancestor. The one the witches left awake because she was so young.† He turned to Winnie. â€Å"Maybe you'd better tell that part. The witches know their own history best.† Still looking severe, Winnie thumbed through the parchment scraps until she found one. â€Å"Here,† she said. ‘It's a picture of the gathering of the witches. Hecate Witch-Queen organized it. She was Hellewise's mother. She got all the witches together, and they went after the shapeshifters. There was a big fight. A really big fight.† Winnie selected another piece of scroll and pushed it toward Diana. Diana gasped. The parchment piece she was looking down at was almost solid red. â€Å"It's fire,† she said. ‘It looks like-it looks like the whole world's on fire.† Galen's voice was flat. â€Å"That's what the dragons did. Geological records show that volcanoes all over the world erupted around then. The dragons did that. I don't know how; the magic's lost. But they figured that if they couldn't have the world, nobody else would, either.† â€Å"They tried to destroy the world,† Keller said. â€Å"And the rest of the shapeshifters helped.† ‘It almost worked, too,† Winnie said. â€Å"But the gathering of witches managed to win, and they buried all the dragons alive. I mean, they put them to sleep first, but then they buried them in the deepest places of the earth.† She bit her lip and looked at Galen. â€Å"Which probably wasn't very nice, either.† â€Å"What else could they do?† Galen said quietly. â€Å"They left the dragon princess alive-she was only three or four years old. They let her grow up, under their guidance. But the world was a scorched and barren place for a long time. And the shapeshifters have always been†¦ the lowest of all the Night People.† â€Å"That's true,† Nissa put in, her voice neither approving nor disapproving, simply making an observation. â€Å"Most Night People consider shapeshifters second-class citizens. They try to keep them down. I think, underneath, that they're still afraid of them.† â€Å"And there's never been an alliance between the shapeshifters and the witches,† Keller said. She looked directly at Diana. â€Å"That's why the promise ceremony is so important. If the shapeshifters don't side with the witches, they're going to go with the vampires-â€Å" She stopped abruptly and looked at Galen. He nodded. â€Å"I was thinking the same thing.† â€Å"Those animal attacks,† Keller said slowly. ‘It sounds as if the shapeshifters are already making their decision. They're helping to bring about the time of chaos at the end of the millennium. They're letting the whole world know that they're siding with the vampires.† There was a shocked silence. â€Å"But how can they decide?† Winnie began. â€Å"That's just it,† Nissa said. â€Å"The question is, is it just the ordinary shapeshifters who're doing it, or is it official? In other words, has the First House already decided?† Everyone looked at Galen. â€Å"I don't think so,† he said. â€Å"I don't think they'll make any decision yet, at least not in public. As for what they're doing in private, I don't know.† His voice was still flat; it made no excuses. He looked around the table, facing all of them. â€Å"My parents are warriors. They don't belong to Circle Daybreak, and they don't like the witches. But they don't like the vampires, either. More than anything, they'll want to be on whichever side is going to win. And that depends on which side gets the Wild Powers.† â€Å"I think they want something else,† Keller said. â€Å"like?† They want to know that the witches are treating them fairly and not just trying to use them. I mean, if they thought that Circle Daybreak had found the Witch Child but wasn't going to promise her to their heir, well, they wouldn't be happy. It's not just a matter of having a kinship bond with the witches. It's a matter of feeling they're being treated as equals.† Nissa's light brown eyes narrowed, and she seemed almost to smile. â€Å"I think you've summed it up very well.† â€Å"So what it all comes down to,† Keller said pointedly, â€Å"is what happens on Saturday night. If there's a promise ceremony, it means the witches have found the Wild Power and that they're willing to tie her to the shapeshifters. If not†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She let the sentence trail off and looked at Hiana. There, she thought. I've put it so plainly and simply, you can't deny it now. And you can't help but see what's at stake. Diana's eyes were like faraway violet storm clouds. Keller couldn't tell what she was thinking. Maybe that the situation couldn't be denied but that she herself wasn't involved. Winnie took a deep breath. â€Å"Galen.† Her face was still drawn and unhappy, but the burning anger in her eyes was gone. She met Galen's gaze directly. Tm sorry,† she said. â€Å"I shouldn't have said those things before. I know you're on our side. And I'm not like those people who don't trust the shapeshifters.† Galen smiled at her faintly, but his eyes were serious. â€Å"I don't know. Maybe you shouldn't trust us. There are things in our blood-you can't get rid of the dragon completely.† It was strange. At that moment, his eyes looked not only dark but almost red to Keller. Exactly the opposite of their usual golden-green. It was as if a light were smoldering somewhere deep inside them. Then Winnie abruptly extended her hand across the table. â€Å"I know you,† she said. â€Å"And there's nothing bad in your blood. I won't mistrust you again.† Galen hesitated one instant, then reached out with something like gratitude and took her hand. â€Å"Thanks,† he whispered. â€Å"Hey, if I were the Witch Child, I'd promise to you in a minute,† Winnie said. Then she sniffled, but her smile was much more like the old Winnie's smile. Keller glanced at Iliana almost casually and was riveted by what she saw. The girl had changed again. Now she didn't look like a princess or an ice maiden but like a very young soldier about to go into battle. Or maybe a human sacrifice who could save her tribe by jumping into a volcano. Her hair seemed to shine, silvery and pale, and her eyes were deep, deep violet in her small face. Her slight shoulders were back, and her chin was determined. Slowly, staring at something invisible in the center of the table, Iliana stood up. As soon as the motion drew their attention, the others fell quiet. It was obvious to everyone that something important was happening. Iliana stood there, her hands clenched by her sides, her chest rising and falling with her breathing. Then she looked at Galen. Finally, she looked at Keller. Tm not the Witch Child any more than Winnie is. And I think you know that by now. But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She took a breath, steadied herself. Keller held her own breath. â€Å"But if you want me to pretend to be, I'll do it. I'll go to the promise ceremony with Galen-I mean, if hell do it with me.† She gave a half-embarrassed glance at Galen, looking shy and almost apologetic. â€Å"Will he ever!† Winnie said enthusiastically. Keller could have kissed her. Galen himself didn't rise to the occasion properly at all; instead, he opened his mouth, looking uncertain. Fortunately, Iliana was going on. â€Å"Then I'll go through with it. And maybe that will be enough for the shapeshifters to join with the witches, as long as they don't find out I'm a fake.† She looked unhappy. She was so adamant that for a moment Keller was shaken. Could it be she wasn't the Wild Power? But no. Keller knew she was. She just hasn't awakened her power yet. And if she continued to deny it, she never would. She said, â€Å"Thank you, Iliana. You don't know how much, how many lives you're going to save. Thank you.† Then the excitement got the better of her, and she took Iliana by the arm and gave her a sort of shaking squeeze of affection. â€Å"You're a trooper!† Winnie said, and hugged her hard. â€Å"I knew you'd come through all the time, I really did.† Nissa smiled at her with genuine approval. Galen was smiling, too, although there was something in his eyes†¦ â€Å"There's just one thing,† Iliana said a little bit breathlessly, rubbing her arm where Keller had gripped it. â€Å"Ill do this. I said I would. But I have two conditions.† Keller's excitement deflated. â€Å"Conditions?† â€Å"You can have anything you want,† Winnie said, blinking away happy tears. â€Å"Cars, clothes, books†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No, no, I don't want things,† Diana said. â€Å"What I mean is, I'm doing this because I can't just stand around and not do anything when stuff like that is going on.† She shivered. â€Å"I have to do anything I can to help. But. I'm still not the right person. So the first condition is that while I'm pretending to be the Wild Power, you guys have somebody out looking for the real one.† Keller said smoothly, â€Å"I'll tell Circle Daybreak. They'll keep looking and checking other Harmans. They'll do it for as long as you want them to.† They would, too. It was a small price to pay. â€Å"And the other condition?† Keller asked. â€Å"I want to go to Jaime's party on Saturday.† Instant uproar. Even Nissa was talking over people. Keller cut short her own exclamations and gestured for everybody to shut up. Then she looked Diana dead in the eye. ‘It's impossible. And you know it's impossible. Unless you've found a way to be in two places at once.† â€Å"Don't be stupid,† Diana said. That small, determined chin was tight. â€Å"I mean before the promise ceremony thing. I want to go just for an hour or two. Because she's one of my very best friends, and she's gotten attacked twice because of me.† â€Å"So what? You're already making it up to her. You're saving her life and her twin brother's life and her parents' lives-â€Å" â€Å"No, I'm not. I'm faking being a Wild Power when I know it isn't true. I'm acting a lie.† There were tears in Diana's eyes now. â€Å"But I'm not going to hurt Jaime's feelings, and I'm not going to break my promise to her. And that's that. So if you want me to go through with your little charade, I'll do it, but I want to go to the party first.† There was a silence. Well, she's stubborn, I'll give her that, Keller thought. Once she decides on something, she absolutely won't be budged on it. I guess that will be helpful when the Wild Powers fight the darkness someday. But right now, it was simply infuriating. Keller drew a very long breath and said, â€Å"Okay.† Winnie and Nissa looked at her sharply. They hadn't expected her to give in so fast, and they were undoubtedly wondering if their boss had some trick up her sleeve.

Leap Motion: the Future Is Now Essay

The next destination on our path to creating technology beyond the current human comprehension; is it a massive super weapon to dominate our rivals? Is it a horde of medical nanobots, which can repair your body from the inside out? Nope. This little box, about the size of an iPhone, is the Leap Motion, a completely hands-free virtual reality mouse. It may not be as nice as the nanobots, but it’s definitely useful for the common nerd! When plugged into the USB port of your computer and its software installed, this device creates a 3D interaction space around it’s sensor bar, containing an area of approximately eight cubic feet. Leap Motion Inc. , the developer of Leap Motion, claims this device is able to sense and track your individual finger, hand, and arm movements within one hundredth of a millimeter. It can differentiate between fingers, thumbs, and pens/pencils, and react differently depending on which was moved. Though I personally feel this would take some practice to get used to, Leap Motion Inc. ssures on its website that the Leap Motion is â€Å"Intuitive and easy to use†, as well as saying â€Å"No one needs an instruction manual for their hands. † Leap Motion’s inspiration came from 3D computer modeling. The developers felt that the mouse and keyboard were impeding the process, and thus the light bulb flicked on. Leap Motion Inc. ’s target consumer group is â€Å"Everyone! † Several of the examples listed on the official site, linked in the footer, are artists, engineers, gamers, surgeons, and private consumers. This brand new technology has several possible uses, in addition to bringing Tom Cruise-esque1 control to our computers. Imagine if you will, a surgery room. A doctor is preforming a liver transplant on a patient, and right in the most critical part of the operation, the patient flatlines. The doctor is confused. He did everything right, and he doesn’t know what caused the complication. He turns around and, without removing his gloves, turns on a laptop computer and does a search of the patient’s medical files, to find that he/she is allergic to the particular anesthesia they used. A quick shot of adrenaline is enough to save their life-thanks to a speedy response. This scenario, though explained in detail by myself, was one of several featured by the Leap Motion webpage. I believe that this technology will quickly gain ground in the market, and improvements will be continued to be created. Perhaps Leap Motion Inc. will expand to be the Apple of the 21st century,2 eh? This might be a good time to invest in some stock, in my opinion (Actually, I attempted to find their stock, and they aren’t listed, at least not yet). Unfortunately, this is about all the information that’s been currently released on the Leap Motion. There is no Wikipedia page for it yet, and Leap Motion Inc. is being very selective about the information it releases. Currently, the Leap Motion is available for preorder, with an expected release sometime during the beginning of the 2013 year. The Leap Motion’s preorder for $69. 99 USD, and is available on the official website which is, again, linked in the footer. I hope to follow this, and to definitely purchase its stock when it becomes available.

Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 23

Education - Essay Example All this can be attributed to the grade inflation taking place in the countrys education system where students are credited with honours they do not deserve if the standard grading system was to be used. For example, according to a study done in1993, more students received grade A, while fewer students received grade B (Alfie, 2002). This was in comparison to the grading of graduates from the year 1969 and 1976. Does this mean that students graduating in1993 studied harder than those students of 1969 and 1976? This is not the case. This simply shows the diminishing quality of education over the years in the United States of America. This paper will examine the report of the committee on raising standards by establishing the fact that indeed grade inflation is present in the United States Education System It is evident that there is an increase in students grades while there is lacking a corresponding shift on achievement. However, the main issues concerning motivation and grading are being ignored or obscured. One major issue that contributes to grade inflation is the fact that substantiating such claims has been difficult. This is because reports revealing grade inflation are often self-reports, which are rendered unreliable by the government and stakeholders in the education sector. For example, in the study done to study the grades in 1993 and those in 1969 and 1976, the survey did not substantiate the grades that were gotten in 1969 and 1976, thus they cannot be compared to establish the true facts (Alfie 2002). However, other researches done have been used by the government and stakeholders to show the â€Å"accurate† scenario with regard to grade inflation. Clifford Adelman conducted such a study where, he compared over 3000 transcripts (Alfie 2002). According to this research, grades had actually dropped in the past two decades. The main question here is

Project Management Degree Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Project Management Degree - Assignment Example Therefore, the shop must look towards expanding its team of employees and creating a website that is comprehensive in terms of the details of products, purchase catalogue, and the like. The business, in its process of expansion, can include at least ten work packages, in order to breakdown the work into smaller areas of concentration. The business expansion can be broken down under these categories: The expansion of the inventory, which means the stock of each product must be expanded, in order to cater to the demand of the international market. The product quality, besides the indigenous tint needs to be maintained for an ethnic yet qualitative touch. The development of role of IT, in promoting the business. This needs to be done, keeping in view the revolution fo the internet and how e-communication sit he answer to distance-related woes! The expansion of the staff also needs to be done, by employing more professionals, to keep up the expansion plan and also to introduce more specialisation in the varied departments of the business. Physical expansion, in other words, the setting up of small offices in some important cities in regions in Asia and the United States, can be of great help in handling business in the areas. The laying down of a Product Catalogue, with the price list, by converting the currencies according to local currencies; and related operations need to be performed for better productivity. The business also needs to think about appointing local staff, in order to facilitate better penetration in local markets, across the globe. Risk Management is another area of working that needs concentration. A SWOT Analysis of the risks involved and the competencies possessed by the business to face these risks, is a must. Garnering knowledge of the markets and making the business alter according to these specifications. 3. Three work packages specifications. Environment: This is a crucial element that often affects work packages. The environment of operation of business must be altered according to the changing place of operation, to suit local markets. Human Factors: The human resources need to be managed, utilised according to needs and also channelized in the right direction, in order to cater to the demands of the busines

Fallacy Burden of Proof Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fallacy Burden of Proof - Essay Example Time and again the expression 'fallacy' is applied to assign some mistake whatever it is, but is maltreatment. Logic is occasionally mentioned as the capacity to rationalize accurately, but it is more appropriately described as the appraisal of the connections between declarations that are frequently given with the purpose of proposing a line of reasoning. Regulations of conjecture characterize appropriate derivability, that is, they assign the kinds of reports that may be derived from particular given kinds of statements. Usually the concluding statement is named as the conclusion, and the others are called premises. To state an argument or reach a conclusion that appears, on superficial examination, to follow these rules of inference but that actually breaks them is to commit a fallacy. 'Argumentum ad ignorantiam' denotes "Reasoning as of unawareness". This type of fallacy takes place there has been reasoning about truthfulness of something only on the ground that no one could evidence it as wrong. On the other hand, if an argument is made about falseness of something simply because it could not be confirmed as correct. For instance, accepting any holy book as true only on the ground you cannot prove it other way. Moreover if somebody says that there is no existence of telepathy as nobody has provided evidence. Within systematic examina... n an occurrence is recognized to turn out a particular proof of its incidence so the lack of that particular proof may dependably be utilized for concluding the non occurrence of that event. (Methew, 1997) Shifting the Burden of Proof The 'shifting of Burden of Proof' is a specific instance under 'Argumentum ad ignorantiam' and is usually over the individual making a statement. In other words we can say that it is a type of fallacy where the burden of proof is put on the individual who contradicts or interrogates about that statement. This type of fallacy is based on the postulation that any statement is regarded as true if there is no evidence to prove it wrong. (Methew, 1997) As stated by Bailenson and Rips (1999) while making arguments intimates put forward declarations and endeavor to support them with established confirmations. The legal structure in USA entails regulations administering 'the burden of proof' with potential conclusions based on proofs. Such as, that a person being not in attendance for around eight consecutive years and not being informed throughout this period can be accepted as deceased. In this case the burden of proof lies on group making effort to confirm that individual as living. Even though, law provides more than one denotations for the burden of proof, related regulations usually resolve the default result if there is no more proof for the concerned issue is expected. An associated example of burden of proof is frequent in political an educational field where the party having the burden of proof has to be defeated by default except additional confirmation comes out in its backing. Thus in terms of law, the burden of proof is apt to shift during an argument. On one occasion if a party completed its burden through providing persuasive

Qatar Airways Market Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Qatar Airways Market Research - Essay Example Qatar Airways is a reasonably recent provincial airline company that is heading toward becoming an international brand. It has insistently moved in the direction of accomplishing its growth strategy objectives. This has been possible to a certain extent due to growing brand acknowledgment as well as awareness. Qatar Airways had generated brand awareness by means of many conduits, for instance advertising via print media, radio, television, and the internet. This had helped the airline company in presenting its image in a range of formats. The image of Qatar Airline that has been built by its initiatives is that of a progressive and premium airline that provides exclusive and outstanding customer service. The company endorses customary Arabic hospitality at the same time as embracing the attributes of other cultures. This can be understood from the mix of employees that are on board of the airline, who come from a diverse range of backgrounds (Qatar Airways, 2012). In the year 2011, Qatar Airways attained a landmark by covering 100 destinations in its international route map. The Qatar Airways was also named the Airline of the Year 2011 at the yearly Skytrax World Airline Awards. It was observed that more than 18 million travelers across the world casted their votes for the Airline (Qatar Airways, 2012)... Domain Analysis In the present times, the airline industry is distinguished by an unstable, aggressively competitive and deregulated atmosphere. The existence of such a competitive atmosphere had transformed the business strategies and management practices in the domestic as well as the global airline business. Owing to rising customer awareness and customer expectations in addition intense rivalry amongst the various players in the airline business, the major challenge of the airline companies is to discover new approaches to accomplish sustained profitability by means of more efficient management tools and enhanced customer service. The airline companies across the world face significant amount of challenges to maintain and live up to their passenger’s expectations, opposition from new airways, rising passenger traffic, latest types of coalitions and associations across organizations as well as across borders, in addition to the necessity to provide exceptional safety and se curity to their passengers (Stanford University, n.d.). Market Analysis One of the most significant developments in the airlines industry during the eighties was the privatization of the government owned airways. However, as of early 2000, a large number of global airlines companies were still majority government owned (Stanford University, n.d.). Owing to the deregulation in the United States, the airline business became more and more concentrated. More concentration in the airline industry has been observed in the European region as well. In the last decade, the innovative low-cost value-based airways have emerged strongly. Simultaneously, during the same period, one had observed consolidation in the full-service airways as well.

Different Aspects Of Journeys Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Different Aspects Of Journeys - Research Paper Example Furthermore, Frost’s poem mainly describes the options of the speaker in taking one road over the other, thus, the focus is more on the roads themselves or the journey itself. On the other hand, Welty’s short story is more focused on the character of Phoenix, and how the journey she is taking is simply a means to show her qualities, convictions, and characteristics as a person. This paper will explore the different ways by which these two pieces tackled the topic of taking a journey. The poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost, tells of the speaker who happens to chance upon a fork in the road in the woods. The two roads that lay before him are both littered with untrodden leaves until finally, the speaker chooses one of the roads telling himself that someday he will take the other, though of this, he is also doubtful. The speaker further goes on to say that someday, he will be reporting about how his journey turned out to be. On the other hand, the short story â€Å"A Worn Path† by Eudora Welty talks about the journey of the main character, Phoenix, a very old woman who went on a trek to get medicines for her sick grandson. In this journey, she encounters and overcomes many challenges and trials that are representative of the challenges that she faces in society as a â€Å"colored† woman. Frost’s poem takes the form of rhyming quintains of iambic tetrameter. That is, it contains stanzas, four to be exact, of five lines each, consisting of four metrical feet (Hengreaves), with the ABAAB rhyming scheme. The metrical length of the poem is relatively shorter than most poems while the number of lines per stanza is longer. Thus, even this form of Frost’s poem is already an indication of what the poem wants to convey, which is nonconformity.

Contract management and Procurement management Essay

Contract management and Procurement management - Essay Example It is therefore, very important that the project managers must manager certain components of the whole project management and project life cycle in more details as compared to other components of the project. It is therefore of great importance that the project managers must find a perfect fit between the different components of the overall project. Contract Management and Procurement management are two most important concepts of project management where project managers tend to interact with external players such as vendors, suppliers as well as regulatory authorities. The management of contract and procurement processes therefore needs special skills to fit them properly into the overall process of project management as well as project life cycles. By law, a contract is "an agreement between competent parties, for consideration, to accomplish some lawful purpose with the terms clearly set forth" (Newell, 2005). The above definition of contract suggests that it is an agreement which is backed up by the legal consideration. Within the context of project management, contract management is a phased process which involves different stages. Project Managers first determine the requirements of the contract i.e. what is required to be obtained and acquired to complete the project. Once the requirements of the project are clearly identified, the project managers issue requisitions and than the next phase are of solicitation. When solicitation phase is over, the contract is awarded to the approved vendors. This whole process requires interaction between the external as well as internal parties to the project therefore there remain very strong chances of the project overruns If the process of contract management is not effectively managed. As the whole purpose of Project life cycle is to focus on how to manage the project therefore, contract management being one of the critical components of the project, requires that the project managers must find a perfect fit between the project management and contract management. As discussed above that the contract management starts at the time when project managers first assess the requirements of the project. In our case, we will be requiring software and hardware to implement our proposed email system, therefore once the requirements of the whole project are determined, the next phase in contract management and the project management requires that the project managers must start the process of solicitation and finally awarding the contract. This whole process is therefore the core process of the project management since it is through the contract management that the project managers tend to manage their schedules, costs as well as other associated activities of the project. It is also important to consider that the contract management, when properly fit into the project management life cycle, delivers very important benefits for the project itself. A good contract management would provide a system for centralized oversight of the whole project however with a degree of decentralized ownership of the different components of the project. Further, contract manageme

Philosophy questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Philosophy questions - Essay Example The other key responsibility of a CFO is to come out with such financial statements that accurately and in a transparent way reflect on the financial health of the firm (Korey 72). Though, the drafting of the financial reports happens to be the responsibility of all the executives, it is the CFO who has the eventual determining influence on such financial reports. So, while drafting such financial reports, I will always try not to be influenced by any other concern and be above board and professional in the discharge of my duties. One serious responsibility that I will be required to perform will be to honestly and accurately detail the board, if I feel that the CEO tends to differ with me regarding any reporting protocol, and one’s views are misplaced and faulty. No doubt, the board and the investors will look up to me for facts, and not basing my reporting on facts will amount to being unethical on my

Art museum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Art museum - Essay Example This essay discusses that Getty Museum is that it offered any viewer, who might not even have a definite or groomed sense of appreciation for art him/herself, a clear insight into the Byzantine culture and the monastic life that was a hallmark of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine. The way myriad historical objects were displayed in this exhibition took a viewer immediately into another part of the world, the part that was alive with all the vibrant colors of a rich culture about thousands of years ago. About fifty-three objects were transferred from the ancient monastery in Sinai from Egypt to Los Angeles for organizing this unparallel exhibition. Monks have resided at the foot of the Mount Sinai since the third century, and since then the various rare and historically and culturally important objects there have been tried to be preserved by the generations of monks at the monastery. The veneration of icons in the monastery continued uninterrupted by the monks because this place was left safe from the wild destruction of religious objects, which was a defining feature of the Byzantine emperorship.   An unprecedented look at some of the world’s oldest surviving icons that prove to be potentially capable of giving the viewers an insight into the ancient Egyptian culture was an ultimate goal of the exhibition held at the Getty Museum named Icons From Sinai. Another important goal of this exhibition was to bare the astoundingly marvelous aura of these ancient remnants for the eyes of the general public.            Ã‚  ... on held at the Getty museum is that it offered any viewer, who might not even have a definite or groomed sense of appreciation for art him/herself, a clear insight into the Byzantine culture and the monastic life that was a hallmark of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine. I am not stating this fact merely for the sake of empty appreciation, but the way myriad historical objects were displayed in this exhibition took a viewer immediately into an another part of the world, the part that was alive with all the vibrant colors of a rich culture about thousands of years ago. About fifty-three objects were transferred from the ancient monastery in Sinai from Egypt to Los Angeles for organizing this unparallel exhibition. Monks have resided at the foot of the Mount Sinai since the third century, and since then the various rare and historically and culturally important objects there have been tried to be preserved by the generations of monks at the monastery. The veneration of icons in the monastery continued uninterrupted by the monks because this place was left safe from the wild destruction of religious objects, which was a defining feature of the Byzantine emperorship. The viewers, including myself, got to appreciate a vivid picture of the cultural history of the Monastery of Saint Catherine and Mount Sinai via many priceless objects displayed in the exhibition. An unprecedented look at some of the world’s oldest surviving icons that prove to be potentially capable of giving the viewers an insight into the ancient Egyptian culture, was an ultimate goal of the exhibition held at the Getty Museum named Icons From Sinai. Another important goal of this exhibition was to bare the astoundingly marvelous aura of these ancient remnants for the eyes of the general public.

Court Report Essay Example for Free

Court Report Essay The basic division in the structure of criminal courts is between the lower criminal courts – the local courts, Children’s court and Coroner’s court – and the higher criminal courts – the District Court and the Supreme Court. In observing proceedings at the Local, District and Supreme Courts over a period of three days a number of aspects of the criminal justice system were made apparent. The administration, processes and practices of the criminal trial are extremely varied dependent upon the level of criminal court being observed. The distinctions between the workings of the two courts revealed a number of the differences between summary proceedings and trial upon indictment. The cases observed served to provide evidence for the â€Å"two tiers of justice† argument. Also the role of the judiciary was perceived as being particularly interesting especially the high level of discretion that they held in the Local Courts and even to an extent in the District Court primarily when there was no jury present. McBarnet’s discussion of the criminal court system focuses around the idea that the higher courts such as the District and the Supreme courts are for public consumption in which the ideology of justice is played up by the more elaborate court rooms, dress, and rigid rules of ceremony. On the other hand the lower courts focus on control. The local courts handle the vast bulk of cases with only a small proportion of criminal cases coming before the higher courts. For example the National division of cases between the lower and higher courts in 2003-2004 were 97% finalised in the lower courts while only 3% were heard in higher courts. Lower criminal courts – Absence of legality In arriving at the local courts, the waiting room was full of people who had been summoned to appear for their hearing. It was noisy and extremely busy. In observing the waiting room it was obvious that people were restless and were anxious to have their case heard. The majority of cases were listed to start by 10am and thus depending on the speed of the trial process many people may have had to wait hours before their case could begin. There are no estimates of how long each matter will take and not even an attempt to make a general time allocation. Mack and Anleu also further illustrate this concept. They said that primary objective is time management and getting through the list for that day. In general, the whole process in the local courts was a lot less formal than was expected with several of the magistrates even stopping proceedings to explain the facts of the case to the law students. Although Pat Carlen in her study of Magistrates Courts in England and Scotland described the court as a very formal and ritualistic social setting this is somewhat surprisingly not what was observed during Local Court visits. The court observations were more in line with those of McBarnet in that the lower courts did not uphold the strictures of â€Å"due process† and the ideology of justice. In one particular committal hearing that was observed in the Local Court, R v Sean Robert Kerr, the atmosphere was relaxed and the magistrate and the prosecutor were in constant discussion about the facts of the case and the admissibility of evidence. The accused was alleged to have carrying knife in public place. This downplaying of the crimes to less serious charges supports the emphasis on efficiency that underlines McBarnet’s analysis. Each time the prosecutor made a claim the magistrate would ask where the evidence came from. The magistrate was concerned with the nature of the evidence as they are required to determine whether there is enough evidence to commit the accused for trial as outlined under s 62 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986. It became obvious that they were short staffed and without a court clerk when the magistrate held no objection to the prosecutor approaching the bench to submit evidence. This case provides evidence for the process of the committal hearing and demonstrating judicial discretion in deciding whether the case should go to trial. Other cases that were observed through court visits further emphasised the nature of the judicial process in the Local Courts. The summary proceedings served in a number of cases to emphasise the triviality of the process. Cases involving minor offences such as traffic offences and petty theft were particularly trivial however other cases such as domestic violence and minor assault charges were not so inconsequential. They were of particular importance to the parties involved and it is thus important not to overgeneralise the process of the lower courts to being mere triviality. Whilst in the local courts there was an emphasis on speed and efficiency, this did not automatically mean that strict legality was disregarded. The importance placed on evidence and onus on the prosecutors in providing proof upheld important elements of the criminal justice system. Higher criminal court – Ideology of Justice On observing the District Court a number of distinctions from the Local Courts were immediately made apparent. Without going in to detail about the actual structure of the courts, they seemed to fit more closely with the traditional schema of a typical courtroom. In particular the larger courtrooms with more facilities combined with the barristers and magistrates wearing their wig and robes seemed to instantly uphold the ideology of justice. It is interesting to note how appearances can automatically provide an impression that justice will be upheld. The defendants were observed to be sitting in the dock with the corrective services officer sitting by the side. This is in contrast to the local courts where the defendant usually sat near their legal representative. An interesting comparison can be made between the roles of the judge in cases where there was a jury present and where there was not. Trial by jury is seen as an essential element of our criminal justice system. Juries are seen as a symbol of democracy and guarantee of fairness in a criminal trial however it is important to note that the majority of criminal trials are dealt with in the lower courts where juries are not available. Therefore by this simple fact the higher courts are upholding the â€Å"two tiers† analysis as they have the advantage of the jury trial, an essential element in the ideology of justice. In R v Veronica Salas Collard the jury was observed to be composed of eight men and four women of different ages and races. This supports the view that a group’s ability to be impartial is best achieved by ensuring diversity rather than uniformity. The role of the judge in jury trials was greatly diminished with the jury having sole responsibility in deciding the facts of the case and whether the accused is guilty or not guilty. The role of the jury to hear evidence was observed in the District Court. While observing R v Jessica Nguyen the jury had been adjourned and then returned to re watch sections of the police interview tape with the defendant. The Judge then proceeded to ask them if there was any more evidence that they wished to be reviewed. Similarly in R v Danny Price every time a new piece of evidence was submitted to the judge it was also submitted to the jury. In particular during proceedings on the day observed a number of photographs and diagrams were submitted to the jury. The judge asked the jury if the evidence was clear. The jury is thus seen as a vital element of the criminal trial. A number of bail and appeal hearings were also observed. These were particularly interesting as it again demonstrated judicial discretion. As opposed to when the jury was present the judge again had sole discretion in determining whether bail or the appeal should be allowed. Section 26 of the Bail Act 1978 outlines the power of the district court to grant bail. In R v Steven Astill the defendant was accused of fraud and was granted bail with conditions that he was to report weekly to his local police station on a weekly base. The power of the judiciary to determine proceedings was once again observed. There is however legislature in place which guides the courts to achieve consistency in sentencing. In general however judicial discretion may be seen as not upholding strict legality, the administration and practices of the district court criminal trial were much more in line with the ideology of justice. Thus in observing proceedings over a period of three days a number of aspects of the criminal justice system were made apparent. In particular the distinctions between the lower and higher criminal courts and the extent to which they could be seen to uphold McBarnet’s â€Å"two tiers† analysis. From observation the lower courts did focus on more trivial matters and through their general nature emphasised efficiency. Furthermore the higher court perpetuated the ideology of justice through its very nature of upholding the traditional view of the court process.

Impact Of Tourism On Penang Island Tourism Essay

Impact Of Tourism On Penang Island Tourism Essay Introduction The students of International Tourism and Hospitality Management from SEGi University College went on a case study research at Penang Island from the 12th November to the 15th November. In these 3 three days and two nights study, the students managed to interviewed as many as 60 local residents of the state to probe and investigate on the impact of tourism towards Penang Island. Literature Review- Penang Island, A Place for Tourism and Heritage! The main reason why our study trip chose Penang Island is because of the historical sites and heritage places. Penang incorporates modernity with a touch of traditions and old world charm that is sure to captivates the heart of many tourists and travelers alike. With George Town which was recently listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site makes visiting Penang an even more eventful trip. Penang also entices the tourists with its rich and plentiful scrumptious cuisines and mouth-watering food. Home to the Baba Nyonya descendants, this beautiful state is also rich with cultures and traditions all living harmoniously under the one same roof! Penang is located at the Northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Straits of Malacca. It is the second smallest state in Malaysia right after Perlis. The name Penang is actually derived from a tree called Pokok Pinang that is widely found along the sea side of Penang Island. Generally the state of Penang could be sub divided into two geographies; the Penang Island and also the Seberang Perai. Penang which is widely made out of hilly topography has a limited low land area for development hence the land reclamation project near the coastal area. In an average day, the temperature at this place varies from 27 degree Celsius to 30 degree during the day time while the night time promises a temperature from 22 degree Celsius to 24. Since Malaysia is located on the Equator line, this place has a very high humidity and the average annual rainfall is approximately 2670 mm. All in all, the students of ITHM find that Penang Island is indeed filled with abundant of cultures and traditions that many other places in Malaysia is definitely lack off. The culture and heritage sites at these beautiful places are still intact and maintained to perfection. Tourism undeniably has change the way of life for the Penangites vastly. Here I enclosed in the Itinerary of the whole 3D2N study trip of ITHM students. (*Refer to Appendix IV) Methodology Questionnaire- Method of Data Collection During the fieldtrip to Penang on the month of November, the students of ITHM manage to compile a total of 60 pieces of questionnaires per group on the impacts of tourism on Penang Island. Local residents of Penang were informed of the survey and requested to answer 10 simple questions regarding on the issue. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions divided into three parts: Impacts of tourism on local environment, impact of tourism on local people- socio-cultural, and impact of tourism on local economy. The answers to the questions are in the form of Yes or No and could be ticked in boxes. A total of 60 respondents were found and they agreed wholeheartedly to help us out on the mission to uncover the facts about tourism in Penang. Of the 60 respondents, the highest number of responses agreed that Tourism Penang has indeed brought about positive feedback on the economics of the state. Even though some respondents had difficulty understanding the questions given, but we manage to sort it out by slowly explaining to them on what the questions are all about. The analysis of the response was done in two ways. We divided our group member into two units, where one unit is assigned to complete the (i) 30 pieces of questionnaire by asking local hawker peoples opinion, whereas the remaining (ii) 30 pieces are distributed among the local residents whom are not working at the current moment. Nonetheless all of whom answered the questionnaire were from the local people of Penang Island. Discussion Tourism Development- Infrastructures   Unlike any other states in Malaysia, Penang is labelled as one of the leading destination in the country today and many tourists who visited Malaysia would definitely anticipate the visit to this very heritage site. The main reason why Penang has been where it is today is mainly because it also has a better and more developed infrastructure than most of the other places in the country.    Generally there are two stadiums located at Penang for the convenience of the locals as well as to attract tourists and outsiders to take part in any sports event over here. The City Stadium or more commonly known as Stadium Bandaraya Pulau Pinang is the first and oldest stadium which is still in use up till today. It was built by the British in 1932 and ever since then had become a popular spot for any football matches. The other stadium mentioned is the Penang State Stadium. This newly completed stadium back at the year 2000 has a capacity of 40, 000 spectators.    The next cutting edge design infrastructure built in Penang is none other than the Geodesic Dome located at Komtar.   This progressive and advance looking dome is a multipurpose hall used for official functions, performances, states events and many other event purposes. The design of this dome comes from the concept study by R. Buckminster Fuller who is the master mind behind this partial-spherical structure. The main entrance to this dome is through the level five roof top which only makes it even more appealing to the tourists and visitors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In terms of highways infrastructure, Penang is certainly quite commendable as well. Highways such as the Bayan Lepas Elevated Highway, Jelutong Expressway and Butterworth Outer Ring Road are the few expressways constructed for the convenience of the automobile users. And let us not forget about the advanced-looking Penang international airport. The Penang International Airport (PEN) is the main airport for the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. At present, the airlines flying to the Penang International Airport includes AirAsia, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Firefly, Jetstar Asia, China Southern Airlines, Kartika Airlines, Lion Air, Malaysia Airlines, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Sriwijaya Air, Thai Airways and Tiger Airways. This airport is also known as the fourth biggest airport in Malaysia after KLIA, Kota Kinabalu International Airport and Kuching International Airport. It has also been awarded as the Airport of the Year for 20 09 Frost and Sullivan Asia Pacific Aerospace and Defence for airports for the category of below 15-million-passenger. Economic Impact of Tourism The main economic development in Penang would most certainly relies on the tourism sector as it turns out that this sector yield major contribution towards the income and financial growth of the state. Based on the record by the Tourism Ministry, Penang has recorded a 40 per cent increase in the number of international tourist arrivals between January and June this year (2010). There were 405,932 tourists up till June, as compared to 244,146 in the same period last year. Of the tourist arrivals, Indonesians topped the list at over 92,000, followed by Singaporeans (51,392), China (16,000), Australia, Japan, Latin America and India (12,000 each), United States (10,000) and Middle East countries (1,360). The economic benefits of tourism were readily acknowledged by research participants in this study. Nearly everyone interviewed agreed that tourism led to the creation of jobs and it somewhat turns out to be the main source of income for most of the family as well. Residents of the communities commented that tourism often brings about positive feedbacks on the economics of the state and the standard of living too. A resident of the local neighbouring town said that, Without tourism, the economy would be stagnant. Another resident also noted, With the existence of tourism in Penang, we get to enjoy many top notch facilities and infrastructures such as the better public transportation system and the Penang stadium. For some there was a sense of certainty about the likelihood of tourism flourishing in this state. With so many demands from tourists all over the world, regardless of domestic or international, many believed that tourism was expected to take place whether or not local reside nts desired it. The Swettenham Cruise Terminal which was recently redevelopment has added an extra entry point into the island. Based on the statistic from Penang Economics Monthly April 2010 Issue 4.10, it states that in year 2009, a total of 680, 000 cruise passengers are recorded to have arrived in Penang. It has been estimated that this year at least 890, 000 numbers of tourists will turn up. The average cruise passenger spends anywhere between US$85 (rm280) to US$115 (rm350) a day when they come on land. Thats not bad considering they are in Penang for less than 12 hours. Penangs the perfect destination for cruise passengers with limited time, the minute they step off the pier, theyre already in a World Heritage Site, said Battistotti, PGT director, who is also the chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (Penang chapter) and the General Manager of G Hotel. Another factor that contributes to Penangs thriving economic from the tourism sector is no doubt the Tourism Malaysias active courtship of the Middle Eastern market. It has been clear that 11th September incidence is a significant factor influencing the increase of Middle Eastern tourist arrivals to Malaysia. There are however other factors such as tourist expenses in Malaysia, tourist income, travelling expenses and the standard of living in this country that affect vastly on the number of tourists arrivals as well. Based on the work done by Norlida Hanim Mohd Salleh (2010, pp. 37-52), she mention that, The importance of the Middle East tourists to the Malaysian tourism industry can be viewed from several indicators such as number of tourist arrivals, tourism receipts, the average length of stay and potential of future tourism market. She also mentioned that the average spending of the Middle Easterners have a higher purchasing power than other tourists over here. According to the c ase study, the average expenditure of the Middle Easterners was RM3, 503 during the year 2003 whereas tourists from other places only spent RM2, 013. In general, tourism has a variety of economic impact on the Penang Island. All these could be explained using the Multiplier Effects Theory. From the work done by Daniel J. Stynes (1997, pp. 11-14), he mentioned that; The most direct effects occur within the primary tourism sectors lodging, restaurants, transportation, amusements, and retail trade. Through secondary effects, tourism affects most sectors of the economy The study might use a sales multiplier of 2.0 to indicate that each dollar of direct sales generates another dollar in secondary sales in this region. This clearly shows us that tourism the main the effect of this Multiplier theory where with tourism it brings about the development of other industries as well such as restaurants, shopping malls, and theme parks. However there are still numerous negative impacts of tourism for Penang Island. For one, a country that relies on tourism industry alone as their main source of revenue could be risky and dangerous. Economic dependence should always be versatile and all-rounded in order for a state to prosper and flourish. This is because tourism business is very seasonal. During peak season, tourist arrivals will increase tremendously especially during the year end period. Conversely the number of tourist will dropped drastically during off-peak season. And this can post immerse danger to the states wellbeing as it might create a high rate of unemployment. Environment Impacts of Tourism    It is important to understand that although tourism has boosted the economics of Penang vastly but one shall never forget on the value of the environment and natural habitat of the very island. For what we know, land is a very scarce resource in Penang Island. This is mainly due to the fact that Penang is largely made up of hilly topography and most of the low land area has already been accommodated and developed.    Based on the research done by Ngai Weng Chan (1998, pp: 305-318), he also mentioned that the efforts at industrialization and the development of other economic sectors had bring about the improvement of the states urbanization. Unfortunately this had also caused greater pressure on the land usage. As a result, the Government act upon on the land reclamation as a solution but it is still not enough to satisfy the high demand for land in the island. At present, many developers have already resort to the remaining hill land and also the reclamation area on the island for their next huge projects. Example of such project would be the Waterfront City Project (*refer to appendix I), which represents one of the highest proportions of leisure-based services anywhere in South East Asia. Promising as it may seem, this project which is to be built on the 338 acres of reclaimed land along Penangs eastern coastline will majorly impact on the condition and status of the islands wellbeing. To begin with, placing fill in a reclamation area could disturb the water quality of the adjoining sea as well as threatening the flourishing existence of fish stocks and habitats found in coastal seas and connecting lochs and lagoons. Another example of project built without the heed and consideration of the environmental issues would be the Tanjung Bungah suburb which is situated between Georgetown and Batu Ferringhi. This village was built at the hill land areas which could post many dangers to the environment and also on the inhabitants over there. Based on the journal written by Adrian M. Steinberg (2010, pp. 318-340), he mentioned that, There are many environment risk by project at hill site areas in Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi. Tanjung Bungah used to be a peaceful village only lodged by small groups of families and fishermen. However over the years, many huge corporate chose this very spot to build commercial buildings for tourism purposes. Example of these recreational structures includes the Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque and also the Penang Water Sport Centres. Hence, the quality of the sea water deteriorates due to the discharge of raw sewage and the resulting pollution makes it a breeding ground for jelly fish. As a result, the sea all along the northern belt is no longer suitable for swimming anymore.   Penang Hill which is another famous tourist destination spot is an example of tourism development at hill land area. Located high above the land, Penang Hill is perfect as a holiday sanctuary due to the breezy and cooler environment. The state Government permitted this development because it brings forth higher monetary and fiscal policy to the states economy. Based on another case study by Ngai Weng Chan (1998, pp. 14-27), he mentioned that, Massive hill development, especially the clearing of vegetation and the cutting of hill slopes will bring about increased and accelerated run-off, increased soil erosion and a high probability of landslips and landslides. In the event of heavy rainfall, such as that which coincided with Tropical Storm Ryan on 18 September 1995, landslips and landslides would occur. In fact, a total of about 60 landslides were reported along roads on Penang Hill and its vicinity after the heavy rainfall during the above storm. This clearly shows that without a proper planning and preparation, many inadvertent events might occur. Paya Terubong used to be a predominantly agriculture area. As the years gone by, it slowly turns into a working-class neighbourhood in the central part of Penang Island. Based on a case study by Ngai Weng Chan (1998, pp. 14-27), he found that there is a total of 60 landslides reported along the roads of Penang Hill after the destructive Tropical Storm Ryan which happened back at 18 September 1995. Landslides not only harm the residents of an area but, in fact, it post tremendous dangers to motorists as well. In addition, it might pollute the river and in long-term run, may results in flood at low land area. The massive expansion project at Paya Terubong is the most apparent example of hill land development at Penang which is rather an impulsive and foolish action. The project which mostly accentuate on housing, infrastructure and a new township is actually one of the main tourist attraction at Penang Island at current. According to the Malaysian Law however, hill land with slopes of more than 20 degrees should be safeguard and conserved in its natural state, generally as a forest reserves. Ngai also stated in his case study that the Paya Terubong hill land development is a major failure of the state island by saying, According to the Consumer Association of Penang (in its April 1996 issue), the Paya Terubong housing project is an invitation to a disaster, possibly comparing the Majestic Heights as similar to the Highland Towers which collapsed in 1993. Soon after this report, the extensive mudflows occurred in early May 1996. Chan (1997) has demonstrated how rapid development on the hill slopes of the Paya Terubong valley in Penang has given rise to landslides, mudflows, sedimentation of rivers and downstream flooding. (*refer to Appendix II) Culture and Heritage Impacts of Tourism Even though the official religion of the country and state is Islam, the residents in Penang are all given the freedom and rights to follow on their personal beliefs. Buddhism is still the main religion over here. As such, the Peranakan or more commonly known as the Baba Nyonyas made 5% out of the 2 million residents of Penang. The Baba Nyonya is actually a descendent of the Chinese immigrants who partially adopt Malay customs with a touch of Chinese as well. This made the Penang Island rich with an abundant of cultures and traditions. For Penang Global Tourisms (PGT) new managing director Ooi Geok Ling, she exclaimed that if she were to describe Penang as a dish, she would go for the Rojak; All the individual fruits and veggies retain their individualism, and the rojak sauce brings everything together. This is what makes Penang so unique, our diversity and our pride in being Penangites. This clearly indicates that Penang has a presence of people from so many ethnicities and religions living together in harmony. All these could be reflected in the many festivities that are being celebrated throughout the year, ranging from the Chinese New Year to the Indian Festival, Thaipusam. Besides, Pesta Pulau Penang which is an annual carnival event makes the city all vibrant and vivacious. Besides that, Penang is also famous with the Dragon Boat Festival. Since 1979, it has been a culture to hold the International Dragon Boat Festival over the Teluk Bahang Dam. Besides attracting international tourists during the period of this event, this amazing festival also strengthens and tightens the bonds between the each and every citizen. Another remarkable festival held yearly over this state would none other be the Chingay Festival. This interesting event which all started back at 1919 to celebrate on the birthday of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy displays a wonderful act of skill in the form of a procession. (*refer to Appendix III) George Towns entry into the Unesco World Heritage Sites listing is a big recognition of Penangs unique history. This big recognition was declared back at July 2008. George Town which was one if the first British colonies to be established back many years ago is indeed filled with many historical sites. Besides that, Penang is also famous for many other historical sites that some even dated back at centuries ago. All these factors contributed to the rising numbers of tourist arrivals into the state regardless of domestic or non-domestic. Conclusion After all the investigations done on the impact of tourism on Penang Island, we found that tourism has indefinitely brought about many changes to the used-to-be-peaceful island. The most apparent changes would definitely be on the environment of the island. Noted as one of the best and most relaxing destination in Malaysia, Penang was once a very serene and calming place to holiday at. Currently however, many unplanned and unorganized development had cause many environment degradation. In terms of states economic, there is no doubt that tourism plays a major role in sustaining the monetary of the country. Tourism brings positive impact on economy by providing more job employment for the local peoples. With proper action and care from the Government and the residents of the state. Penang will definitely continue to flourish and blossom into a more majestic and magnificent state in Malaysia!

X-ray Crystallography Technique Analysis

X-ray Crystallography Technique Analysis 1 Limitations of x-ray crystallography From the first crystalline structure determination of table salt in 1914; whose structure elucidation proved the existence of ionic compounds (6), single crystal x-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) has been widening our view of the hidden world of molecular structures. Today, SC-XRD continues to be the only structural analysis method that offers direct structural information at the atomic level. As such, this technique has been vital for reliably solving many structures of small molecules such as neurotransmitters, antibiotics and industrial catalysts. SC-XRD utilises the ability of crystalline atoms to scatter or diffract a beam of incident x-ray into a series of amplified and spatially constrained beams (3). The angles and intensities of these beams can be measured and computationally processed by a crystallographer to produce a 3-dimensional image of the density of electrons in the crystal. Aside from the expertise required to process the reflection data produced, the fundamental requirement of crystals for this technique acts as major limitation, since single molecules scatter the incident x-ray to produce a weak, continuous beam that provides little useful information for analysis. While technological advances in recent decades including highly intense x-ray beams produced by synchrotrons and the development of more powerful algorithms for molecular structure imaging have allowed the size of the crystal required to be increasingly smaller, the need for a crystal has still not been eliminated. This poses a great issue as many t arget compounds are very difficult to crystallise, thus requiring experienced specialists; while others will simply not crystallise at all. In 2013, a new protocol, later coined the crystalline sponge method (CSM), was reported that attempted to bypasses this intrinsic limitation of the target molecule needing to be crystalline (1). 2 The journey of the crystalline sponge method Expectations Fujita and his team described the new method that promised to speed up SC-XRD drastically by eliminating the crystallization step of the target molecule. This was done using porous metal organic frameworks (MOFs) that act as crystalline sponges. Due to the high molecular recognition capability of their pores, these sponges can absorb target molecules from the sample solution into their pores.   In their study, Fujita and his team used two MOFs synthesised from tris(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (TTP, 1) and the appropriate metal salt as their crystalline sponges: {[(Co(NCS)2)3(TTP)4]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢x(solvent)}n (2) and {[(ZnI2)3(TTP)2]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢x(solvent)}n (3). In both complexes, the void spaces showed strong binding properties for incoming guest molecules making them ideal crystalline sponges. The as-synthesized complexesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °2 and 3 contained solvents in the void. By soaking the crystals of 2 and 3 in a guest solution, guest molecules slowly penetrate these wet cavities by guest exchange, and are concentrated at the molecular-recognition pockets surrounded by TTP. A characteristic of the strong host-guest interaction in the crystals of 2 and 3 lies in panel ligandà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °1, which attracts various guests onto its electron-deficient à Ã¢â€š ¬-plane. The slow guest exchange allows for the process to remain under thermodynamic control, rendering the geometry of the included guests to be regularly ordered and well equilibrated, thus making it possible to analyse the accommodated guests by crystallography since the molecular structure of the absorbed guest will be displayed, along with the host framework. Since theoretically, only one crystal is needed to perform the experiment, Fujitas team found that even trace sample amounts of the microgram-nanogram scale can be analysed in this protocol. When the team used only 80à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °ng of guaiazulene guest sample with a crystal of 3 (80à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °ÃƒÆ'-à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °80à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °ÃƒÆ'-à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °80à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼m3), they were surprised to see the guestà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °was still clearly observed. Considering that the experiment was carried out using a laboratory X-ray machine, it seemed promising to accomplish crystallography with synchrotron X-ray experiments even on a mass of In order to assess the scope of the method, the team carried out blind crystallographic analysis of six appropriate samples (Fig) with only ~5à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼g of each sample. In conjunction with mass spectroscopic data, all six structures were correctly assigned, with three of the structures solved solely from the crystallographic data. Additionally, the protocol was successfully used to determine the absolute stereochemistry of santonin 4, an anthelminthic drug bearing four chiral centres. Unlike common absolute structure determinations, this was achieved without the chemical introduction of heavy atoms on the guest skeleton since the host framework contains heavy atoms (Zn and I) that show enhanced anomalous scattering effects. (Expand The most impressive result of the teams protocol however was determining the absolute structure of miyakosyneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °A 5, a scarce natural marine product recently isolated from a marine sponge Petrosia sp. The structure contains three chiral centres on its main alkyl chain, two of which, C3 and C26, had been previously determined to be 3R and 26R respectively. However, since the difference between the two long alkyl groups on C14 is only one methylene unit, determining the absolute configuration at C14 was ineffective by conventional spectroscopic and chemical methods. As the amount of miyakosyneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °A was very limited, preparation a single crystal for X-ray crystallography would propose a huge challenge. The team were able apply their method to the full characterization of miyakosyneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °A to determine the absolute configuration at C14 and reported success. For its appraisers, it was this result that made this new protocol transformational (4) and understandably it led to a lot of excitement in the field. 1.3 The Fall The initial lustre of the protocol was dulled as Fujita and his team published a correction on the initial report later that year (1b). Previously unnoticed ambiguities in the crystallographic data, alongside further investigation of by the team found the initial assignment of stereochemistry at C14 of 5 to have been incorrect. Synthetic studies by the team determined the methyls stereochemistry was opposite to the original assignment reported. Poor data quality was concluded to be the cause of this errors. Additionally, more problems were met as other research groups tried to use the technique in their own labs. Although success with the technique was achieved for simple molecules, in the first few months, other groups found little success with any interesting structures, particularly large molecules or molecules containing alkaline chemical groups (8b). Fujitas team were able to aid other industrial and academic groups to master the technique in one to two weeks. Additionally, more of the issues in reproducibility were improved by the release of a more detailed report of the method (1c) that described the sponge synthesis, pore-solvent exchange and selection requirements for high quality single crystals for crystallography. However, this did not address the issue of poor data quality that led to the misassignment of 5. Since poor data quality can be attributed to all steps of the CSM, including cystal synthesis, solvent exchange, guest-soaking, data collection and crystallographic ref inement of the host-guest complex molecules; in order to move the CSM from the fascinating idea phase into becoming the transformational and reliable new technology it was envisioned to be, much work was required to optimise all these steps. 3. {[(ZnI2)3(TTP)2]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢x(solvent)}n: The most successful sponge to date 3.1 Andvantages of {[(ZnI2)3(1)2]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢x(solvent)}n In their initial paper, Fujita and his team reported using sponges 2 and 3. With further investigation, in the case of complex 2, it was observed that guest molecules absorbed in the sponge were prone to static disorder as they tend to lay on the symmetry elements of the cubic lattice (Fm3m). Additionally, complex 2 was shown to undergo unfavourable transformations when removed from solution (8c). This destabilising transformation, accompanied by a colour change from orange to green, resulted in a semiamorphous solid with a significantly altered coordination environment at the metal centre. As such, the less symmetric (C2/c) complex 3 has been employed as the primary host complex for the crystalline sponge. The versatility of 3 as a crystal sponge stems from several advantages in host-guest complexation in the pores. Firstly, the size of the pores is ideal for accommodating organic molecules of common sizes, while the hydrophobic nature of the pore cavities provides favourable bindin g of common organic molecules. Also, ligand 1 in the complex offers flat and electron-deficient binding site, appropriate for stacking with aromatic compounds and for CH-à Ã¢â€š ¬ interactions even with aliphatic compounds (9). Since the I atoms in the ZnI2 are good hydrogen-bond acceptors and the pyridyl protons of the ligand 1 are good hydrogen-bond donors, they provide efficient binding sites through hydrogen-bonding. Finally, the framework of sponge 3 is reatively flexible with the size of the guest not strictly limited to the pore size of the complex. Molecules larger than the portal are often accommodated by expanding the pore size. (1.3) 3.2.1 Synthesis of {[(ZnI2)3(1)2]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢x(solvent)}n and solvent exchange by Fujita method and updated Clardy method In their investigations, Fujita and co-workers prepared 3 by layering a solution of zinc iodide in methanol onto a denser solution of TTP (1) in nitrobenzene. The solution is allowed to stand for 7 days, over which crystals form at the boundary of the two solvents as they diffuse before dropping to the bottom of the test tube and being isolated by filtration. The as-synthesised crystals contain nitrobenzene molecules in the void spaces. However, since nitrobenzene has a high affinity to the pores, target guests are poorly absorbed into the as-synthesised crystal. As such, a solvent exchange step that replaces nitrobenzene with an inert, noninteractive solvent is required prior to soaking the crystal in the target guest solution. Cyclohexane can be adopted as the inert solvent, while pentane also proves useful for guest soaking at temperatures below 0oC. The solvent exchange step is carried out by soaking the crystal in the inert solvent for 7 days at 50oC. The success of the process can be monitered throughout by observing the disappearance of the signal at 1346 cm-1 in an Infrared (IR) spectrum, which can be assigned to nitrobenzene. Completion of the process is confirmed by SC-XRD by the presence of ordered cyclohexane molecules in the pores. The sponge may now be used for guest absorption. This solvent exchange process may complicate the refinement of the structure, since some nitrobenzene may reamin within the sponge structure after exchange (Vinogradova et al., 2014). This becomes an issue if the target guest molecule contains cyclohexyl or aromatic rings, as it may be difficult to distinguish the guest from residual solvent, especially if   the site occupancy is low or the data quality is poor. Accompanied with heavy use of crystallographic restraints, this increases the risk of misassignment of the desired guest molecule by using residual solvent electron density. Additionally, if the residual solvent and the guest interact similarly with the host, the likelihood of occupational disorder increases and making structure refinement much more challenging. Clardy and co-workers later reported a simpler and less timely preparation method for the synthesis of sponge 3 using similar conditions to those reported by Fujita and his team. (5sync) Instead of conducting the layer diffusion step with TTP in nitrobenzene, TTP is dissolved in chloroform. As such, the as-synthesised crystals of sponge 3 contain chloroform in the pores. Since chloroform has a much lower affinity for the solvent pores than nitrobenzene, the solvent exchange step can be omitted and the as-synthesised crystals used immediately. As well as saving 7 days of preparation by omitting the solvent exchange step, this method is also milder as it does not require the crystal to be heated for long periods of time. This reduces the chances of introducing imperfections in the crystal. This omission also minimises the number of solvents that the crystal is exposed to, reducing issues in structure refinement. Although some CHCl3 might remain within the sponge after guest inclusion, due to its longer C-Cl bond length (à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã‚ ¼1.7à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ãƒâ€¦) and larger Cl electron density, CHCl3 can still be observed. This greater electron density for CHCl3 exerts a larger influence on the structure factors relative to incorporated guest compared to nitrobenzene, however the benefits of CHCl3 usage override this issue. In addition to the desired crystals, this preparation method has been found to simultaneously form other crystalline structures. Firstly, a crystalline compound with the formula [{(ZnI2)3(TPT)2 ·CHCl3}n] (2), having a much smaller pore size has been viewed. Fortunately, this crystalline structure can be easily distinguished from the desired structure from its morphology (Fig). A second undesired crystal has more recently been observed with consistently distinct unit parameter, but having indistinguishable morphology to the desired structure from its morphology (Fig). Both these crystals are believed to form due to slight changes in humidity and temperature as well as variations in mixing in the initial stages of the layering process.   desired crystal. Both these crystals are believed to form due to slight changes in humidity and temperature as well as variations in mixing in the initial stages of the layering process.

Vietnam :: essays research papers

The country is approximately 331,688 square kilometers. The topography consists of hills and densely forested mountains, with level land covering no more than 20 percent. Mountains account for 40 percent, hills 40 percent, and forests 75 percent. The northern part of the country consists of highlands and the Red River Delta; the south is divided into coastal lowlands, Dai Truong Son (central mountains) with high plateaus, and the Mekong River Delta. The climate is tropical and monsoonal; humidity averages 84 percent throughout the year. Annual rainfall ranges from 120 to 300 centimeters, and annual temperatures vary between 5Â °C and 37Â °C. Land boundaries: Total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km In 1986, the Sixth Party Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam formally abandoned Marxist economic planning and began introducing market elements as part of a broad economic reform package called "Doi Moi" ("Renovation"). In many ways, this followed the Chinese model and achieved similar results. On the one hand, Vietnam achieved around 8% annual GDP growth from 1990 to 1997 and continued at around 7% from 2000 to 2002, making it the world's second-fastest growing economy. Simultaneously, investment grew three-fold and domestic savings quintupled. On the other hand, urban unemployment has been rising steadily in recent years, and rural unemployment, estimated to be up to 35% during nonharvest periods, is already at critical levels. Layoffs in the state sector and foreign-invested enterprises combined with the lasting effects of an earlier military demobilization further exacerbate the unemployment situation. The country is attempting to become a member organi zation of the WTO. Vietnam, however, is still a very poor country with GDP of around US$37 billion in 2004. This translates to merely US$450 per capita. The impressive growth is due to its low base and the government cleverly hide the fact that inflation in the country is high, estimated at 14% p.a. in 2004. This figure has been scaled down by the Government to 9.5% p.a. to avoid the ‘double digit’ classification. The high inflation rate effectively makes the growth rate negative. However, it is noticed that the spending power of the people has increased. The answer lies in the ridiculous property prices. In Hanoi, the capital, property price can be as high as that in Tokyo and New York. This has amazed many people because GDP per capita of this city is just around US$1,000 p.a. The booming has helped people with little piece of land or a tiny apartment, by selling them, realise their dream despite their pitiful monthly income. Vietnam :: essays research papers The country is approximately 331,688 square kilometers. The topography consists of hills and densely forested mountains, with level land covering no more than 20 percent. Mountains account for 40 percent, hills 40 percent, and forests 75 percent. The northern part of the country consists of highlands and the Red River Delta; the south is divided into coastal lowlands, Dai Truong Son (central mountains) with high plateaus, and the Mekong River Delta. The climate is tropical and monsoonal; humidity averages 84 percent throughout the year. Annual rainfall ranges from 120 to 300 centimeters, and annual temperatures vary between 5Â °C and 37Â °C. Land boundaries: Total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km In 1986, the Sixth Party Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam formally abandoned Marxist economic planning and began introducing market elements as part of a broad economic reform package called "Doi Moi" ("Renovation"). In many ways, this followed the Chinese model and achieved similar results. On the one hand, Vietnam achieved around 8% annual GDP growth from 1990 to 1997 and continued at around 7% from 2000 to 2002, making it the world's second-fastest growing economy. Simultaneously, investment grew three-fold and domestic savings quintupled. On the other hand, urban unemployment has been rising steadily in recent years, and rural unemployment, estimated to be up to 35% during nonharvest periods, is already at critical levels. Layoffs in the state sector and foreign-invested enterprises combined with the lasting effects of an earlier military demobilization further exacerbate the unemployment situation. The country is attempting to become a member organi zation of the WTO. Vietnam, however, is still a very poor country with GDP of around US$37 billion in 2004. This translates to merely US$450 per capita. The impressive growth is due to its low base and the government cleverly hide the fact that inflation in the country is high, estimated at 14% p.a. in 2004. This figure has been scaled down by the Government to 9.5% p.a. to avoid the ‘double digit’ classification. The high inflation rate effectively makes the growth rate negative. However, it is noticed that the spending power of the people has increased. The answer lies in the ridiculous property prices. In Hanoi, the capital, property price can be as high as that in Tokyo and New York. This has amazed many people because GDP per capita of this city is just around US$1,000 p.a. The booming has helped people with little piece of land or a tiny apartment, by selling them, realise their dream despite their pitiful monthly income.