Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Everything You Need to Know About Sandstone

Everything You Need to Know About Sandstone Sandstone, simply put, is sand cemented together into rock - this is easy to tell just by looking closely at a specimen. But beyond that simple definition lies an interesting makeup of sediment, matrix,  and cement that can (with investigation) reveal a great deal of valuable geologic information. Sandstone Basics Sandstone is a type of rock made from sediment - a sedimentary rock. The sediment particles are clasts, or pieces, of minerals and fragments of rock, thus sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock. It is composed mostly of sand  particles, which are of medium size; therefore, sandstone is a medium-grained clastic sedimentary rock. More precisely, sand is between 1/16 millimeter and 2 mm in size (silt is finer and gravel is coarser). The sand grains that makeup sandstone are aptly referred to as framework grains. Sandstone may include finer and coarser material and still be called sandstone, but if it includes more than 30 percent grains of gravel, cobble or boulder size its classified instead as conglomerate or breccia (together these are called rudites). Sandstone has two different kinds of material in it besides the sediment particles: matrix and cement. Matrix is the fine-grained stuff (silt and clay size) that was in the sediment along with the sand whereas cement is the mineral matter, introduced later, that binds the sediment into rock. Sandstone with a lot of matrix is called poorly sorted. If matrix amounts to more than 10 percent of the rock, it is called a wacke (wacky). A well-sorted sandstone (little matrix) with little cement is called an arenite. Another way to look at it is that wacke is dirty and arenite is clean. You may notice that none of this discussion mentions any particular minerals, just a certain particle size. But in fact, minerals make up an important part of sandstones geologic story. Minerals of Sandstone Sandstone is formally defined strictly by particle size, but rocks made of carbonate minerals dont qualify as sandstone. Carbonate rocks are called limestone and given a whole separate classification, so sandstone really signifies a silicate-rich rock. (A medium-grained clastic carbonate rock, or limestone sandstone, is called calcarenite.) This division makes sense because limestone is made in clean ocean water, whereas silicate rocks are made from sediment eroded off the continents. Mature continental sediment consists of a handful of surface minerals, and sandstone, therefore, is usually almost all quartz. Other minerals- clays, hematite, ilmenite, feldspar, amphibole, and mica- and small rock fragments (lithics) as well as organic carbon (bitumen) add color and character to the clastic fraction or the matrix. A sandstone with at least 25 percent feldspar is called arkose. A sandstone made of volcanic particles is called tuff.​ The cement in sandstone is usually one of three materials: silica (chemically the same as quartz), calcium carbonate or iron oxide. These may infiltrate the matrix and bind it together, or they may fill the spaces where there is no matrix. Depending on the mix of matrix and cement, sandstone may have a wide range of color from nearly white to nearly black, with gray, brown, red, pink and buff in between. How Sandstone Forms Sandstone forms where sand is laid down and buried. Usually, this happens offshore from river deltas, but desert dunes and beaches can leave sandstone beds in the geologic record too. The famous red rocks of the Grand Canyon, for instance, formed in a desert setting. Fossils can be found in sandstone, although the energetic environments where sand beds form dont always favor preservation. Grand Canyon National Park. Dean Fikar / Getty Images   When sand is deeply buried, the pressure of burial and slightly higher temperatures allow minerals to dissolve or deform and become mobile. The grains become more tightly knit together, and the sediments are squeezed into a smaller volume. This is the time when cementing material moves into the sediment, carried there by fluids charged with dissolved minerals. Oxidizing conditions lead to red colors from iron oxides while reducing conditions lead to darker and grayer colors. What Sandstone Says The sand grains in sandstone give information about the past: The presence of feldspar and lithic grains means that the sediment is close to the mountains where it arose.Detailed studies of sandstone give insight into its provenance- the kind of countryside that produced the sand.The degree to which the grains are rounded is a sign of how far they were transported.A frosted surface is generally a sign that sand was transported by wind- that, in turn, means a sandy desert setting. Various features in sandstone are signs of the past environment: Ripples can indicate the local water currents or wind directions.Load structures, sole marks, rip-up clasts, and similar features are fossil footprints of ancient currents.Liesegang bands are signs of chemical action after burial of the sand. The layers, or bedding, in sandstone are also signs of the past environment: Turbidite sequences point to a marine setting.Crossbedding (truncated, tilted sandstone layering) is a rich source of information on currents.Interbeds of shale or conglomerate may indicate episodes of different climate. More About Sandstone Noppawat Tom Charoensinphon / Getty Images As a landscaping and building stone, sandstone is full of character, with warm colors. It can also be quite durable. The majority of sandstone quarried today is used as flagstones. Unlike commercial granite, commercial sandstone is the same as what the geologists say it is. Sandstone is the official state rock of Nevada. Magnificent sandstone outcrops in the state can be seen at Valley of Fire State Park.   With a great deal of heat and pressure, sandstones turn to the metamorphic rocks quartzite or gneiss, tough rocks with tightly packed mineral grains.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

10 Rewards and Risks of Self-Publishing

10 Rewards and Risks of Self-Publishing 10 Rewards and Risks of Self-Publishing 10 Rewards and Risks of Self-Publishing By Mark Nichol Some time ago, I wrote a highly skeptical post about self-publishing. I stand by my concerns, but I realize my initial assessment could have been more open-minded. Here’s a more neutral evaluation of the pros and cons. Rewards 1. Autonomy In self-publishing, writers control the publishing process. In traditional publishing, the final edit, the cover design and cover copy, and the manner in which marketing and rights are handled are the publisher’s prerogative. 2. Marketing Traditional publishers focus most of their marketing efforts (and other attention) on established authors, attending little to most of the writers whose works they publish. However, writers with an established audience bloggers, speakers, and experts can inexpensively market their self-published books themselves. 3. Timeliness Self-published books can be completed and distributed in a matter of weeks or, at most, months. A traditionally published book usually comes out more than a year after it is accepted for publication. 4. Compensation On average, self-published writers collect roughly half of the sale price, as opposed to ten percent or less for authors of traditionally published books. In addition, self-publishers can deduct many of their expenses when figuring their taxes (but so can other writers). 5. Dress Rehearsal Writers can self-publish to help them determine whether they can succeed through traditional publishing. Armed with one or more successful self-published books, they might have a better chance at getting noticed by a literary agent or a publisher. Risks 1. Isolation The good news is that self-publishers have control over all aspects of publishing, carrying out or outsourcing, as they see fit, the many tasks involved in producing a book. The bad news is, they have to acquire the skills and knowledge to complete the tasks, or find others to do them. 2. Selling Among these tasks is selling the book. It takes time and effort to identify and target your audience, to produce publicity materials, to schedule events and appearances, and so on not to mention actually getting people to actually buy books. 3. Workload Whether you carry out all the steps involved in producing, marketing, and selling your book or delegate some or all responsibilities, doing so will take time and effort. 4. Expenses Self-publishers have to invest in their books up-front, whereas traditional publishers bear the risk of producing a book. (They also often provide an advance and pay out royalties.) One hidden cost is finding a distributor not always essential, but often advised because booksellers seldom buy books directly from an author. 5. Prejudice Despite some major and minor self-publishing successes, the do-it-yourself approach is still stigmatized and rightly so. Most self-published books are poorly written and/or designed, and many readers (and agents) assume again, with some justification that if traditional publishers have rejected your manuscript, there’s a good reason for that decision. (Furthermore, traditional publishers may not consider a self-publishing success a valid reason for considering producing a new edition of that book or accepting another by the same author.) As I mentioned in my previous post, I’m not hostile to self-publishing. (I encourage readers of this post to also check out not only that article but also the comments written in response to it.) But I strongly urge prospective self-publishers to carefully examine their motives and their goals before investing in the endeavor. And though reading about others’ successes is encouraging, it can also be misleading; don’t overvalue anecdotal accounts of lucrative self-publishing at the expense of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:4 Types of Gerunds and Gerund Phrases8 Proofreading Tips And TechniquesPunctuation Is Powerful

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Individuals with disabilities education act Assignment

Individuals with disabilities education act - Assignment Example Inclusion does not merely mean to make children with disabilities participate in the general education setting; instead, it means that all students are being treated as active members of the learning environment where they can make decisions about the utilization of appropriate institutional setting with fair access and self-respect. Natalie must also be included in the fair and respectful inclusive educational practices so that she may feel that she is not being disadvantaged by any means. Providing her with a sense of self-respect will boost her individual competencies, and she will better be able to meet her individual needs as mentioned in her IEP. This can only be achieved if she will be provided with all sorts of environmental modifications in her neighboring school where her sisters are also studying. She will feel secure in this setting, and will better be able to respond to the learning process. It is a main suggestion in IDEA that children with disabilities should be provid ed with appropriate environmental modifications in their neighboring schools. These modifications include considering general physical education class as first placement option, relevant modification of equipment, and involvement of the support personnel in implementing the equipment in the most beneficial way possible. Natalie’s IEP document must be reviewed regularly so as to ensure her inclusion in the general physical education program. Natalie’s individual needs must also be assessed so that she may be able to achieve the aims and objectives mentioned in her IEP.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Role Of Vision In Managing Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Role Of Vision In Managing Change - Essay Example A vision is a realistic, credible and attractive plan for the future of an organization. A vi sion describes a set of ideals and priorities depicting a picture of the future that makes the company special and unique. A vision defines a core set of principles by which the company abides in order to achieve success. A clear vision today is indispensable for organizational success.† How could any group or individual strive toward greatness and mastery without a vision? That's exactly the point. They can't. They can maintain they can survive; but they can't expect to achieve greatness†. (Mapes 1991) . A clear vision attracts commitment and energizes people; the motivational effect of vision. Vision generates enthusiasm about the course the organization intends to follow and the change it is implementing and increases the commitment to work toward adapting to the change effectively. It gives a meaning to the change. A vision allows people to accept the challenge and move on an d get better. It establishes a higher standard of excellence. Considering the example of a bank where the old hand written trend of file making and documenting is replaced by modern technology and computers, a vision serves a very important function in establishing a standard for mastering the change. A clear vision bridges the present and the future. The right vision takes the organization out of the present, and focuses it on the future. A good vision orients the workers on the future, and provides positive direction to the change. .Without a vision, the organization will have difficulty understanding and cooperating with the new plans and procedures. A vision is a road map on which, it has to be identified where the organization is currently and where it wants to be, in the future. A clear vision is critical for any project. It addresses the overarching goals of the initiative and is relevant and meaningful to all people being affected by the change. A clear vision enables to ach ieve a consistency of beliefs and actions among those responsible for implementing the change.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Civil Rights vs Public Order Essay Example for Free

Civil Rights vs Public Order Essay Civil Rights means that people have the right to be treated no better or no worse than any other of their fellow citizens. It is the rights to personally liberty for everyone. Most importantly, it’s their freedom. Here in recent years, we have been giving up many of our civil rights in the name of public order. I’m going to present evidence to back up my opinion. Whereas I must first define what public order is. Public order is the idea that everyone in the public behaves themselves. It’s the lack of crimes being committed and everybody obeying the laws and rules. Public order itself means everything is safe and secure. This in itself is a great thing, but at what cost? My example would have to be 9/11 and the after effects of terrorist threats. Our nation was attacked by terrorists that had hijacked airplanes. Flights are grounded for a while after this event. Flights once again resume. Every so often, there is a threat of terrorism involving an airplane. To maintain public order in the airports and on the planes themselves, new rule about flying had to be implemented. Airport security now has the power to see inside of our clothing, they get can conduct the most invasive of searches, and can even pull you out at random for additional screening. In the wake of these events, many people have been outraged about all of the invasive procedures they need to undergo just to make a flight to see someone. This has also affected the sale of airline tickets, as a lot of people are no longer willing to put up with it in order to fly. Many civil rights taken away right there in the name of safety. My opinion on this matter is actually quite simple. I honestly believe things were better in a pre 9/11 world. Flying used to be such a great experience. Not only has security changed, but what you can and can’t take on board an airplane has as well. They want to pull out things as harmless as video games, cigarettes, and a bottle of water. Our society functions a lot better when it didn’t have to be constantly watched.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Letter from Sidney to Shakespeare: A Comparison of Two Sonnets :: 81 Play Essays

Letter from Sidney to Shakespeare: A Comparison of Two Sonnets My Dearest William, I have just returned from seeing your marvelous new tragedy Romeo and Juliet, and I wish to offer my sincere congratulations on another stupendous success! One particular passage from the play has stuck in my mind. In the first act, scene five, Romeo and Juliet exchange a dialogue about a kiss which is in the form of a sonnet. This reminded me of one of my own sonnets: Sonnet #81 of Astrophil and Stella. Your views on the subject of kissing are very interesting, and in many ways parallel my own. For instance, you compare kissing to a holy and prayer-like act, where as I compare it to a union of souls. There was one aspect of your sonnet that reminded me very much of my own. Your Juliet is very clever and quick-witted in speaking to the lovesick Romeo in the same way that my Stella is in her response to Astrophil. In your poem, Romeo believes he is being very clever, but Juliet consistently turns his quick-witted statements around on him. Romeo tries to flatter Juliet by calling her hand a â€Å"holy shrine† which he hesitates to â€Å"profane with [his] unworthiest hand† (Shakespeare, I.v.95-6). Juliet later insisted that he does not give himself enough credit: â€Å"you do wrong your hand too much† (I.v.99). Romeo compares his lips to â€Å"two blushing pilgrims† with which he offers to remedy his rough touch by giving her a kiss. This begins an extended metaphor of the relationship between saints, their supplicants, and in a roundabout way, God. As Juliet explains, pilgrims show their devotion when they appeal to saints in prayer. A â€Å"holy palmer’s kiss,† is a prayer, â€Å"palm to palm,† to the saint (I.v.102). In much the same way, Romeo places his hand together with Juliet’s hand in a sort of prayer. Romeo tries to use this analogy to his advantage by asking, â€Å"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?† (I.v.103). However Juliet replies to his apparent cleverness by explaining that both saints and pilgrims use their lips in prayer, not in simple kissing as Romeo is suggesting. Romeo then makes a last effort to obtain the kiss he desires. He calls her a saint, implying that he intends to be her pilgrim.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Thirteen Ways of Self-Questioning

Thirteen Ways of Self-Questioning The poem â€Å"Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird† is written by Wallace Stevens. It contains thirteen sections; each section provides us a picture that is centered by the element of blackbird. Blackbird in the poem signifies people’s consciousness. So this poem wants to tell us that every person has a perspective to look at the world. It questions our process of thought to understand the world, and reminds us realize the problem of it. In â€Å"The Language of Paradox† by Cleanth Brooks, he introduces the notion of paradox and its application in poetry.In Stevens’ poem we can also find how he uses the device of paradox to raise the question for many times, and also the use of paradox leads us to reconsider our thought. Stevens displays several common understanding in human being. According to Brooks’ viewpoint, â€Å"Our prejudices force us to regard paradox as intellectual rather than emotional, clever rathe r than profound, rational rather than divinely irrational† (Brooks 58). The first section is an introduction of the whole poem: â€Å"Among twenty snowy mountains, / The only moving thing / Was the eye of the blackbird† (I).This is to tell us the nature is huge, but with it the only existence that is conscious about it is human consciousness. Twenty snowy mountains stand for the broad natural environment, but they are still and seem lifeless. Then he transferred the focus to the eye of the blackbird which is the only moving thing. Stevens uses â€Å"the† instead of â€Å"a† when he refers to blackbird because he wants to make it very clear that he refers it particular to human’s consciousness.In section twelve, he says â€Å"The river is moving. / The blackbird must be flying† (XII). This section responds to section one, because he uses the modifiers â€Å"moving† and â€Å"flying† in two sections respectively to express the sam e notion that our consciousness is changing over time. Cleanth Brooks describes paradox this way: â€Å"Paradox is the language of sophistry, hard bright, witty† (Brooks 58). In Stevens’ poem, in order to make readers realize the problem in the process of our thought.He narrates: â€Å"It was evening all afternoon. / It was snowing / And it was going to snow / The blackbird sat / In the cedar-limbs† (XIII). Afternoon is before evening, but he says â€Å"it was evening all afternoon†. This should signify a passive attitude to life. Evening is the time that near to death in people’s lives, and he tells us even during the afternoon which is their declining period someone already live in the status of evening. It’s a typical instance of paradox in the last section of the poem.The language seems contradictory and not logical, but actually it is to draw our attention to the awareness of our thought. â€Å"It was snowing / And it was going to snow † shows us people’s foresight through their experience and observation of nature. So Stevens put the result before the foresight. After that he refers to the blackbird sat still in the cedar-limbs to indicate that in people’s old age the consciousness is not as active as its youth time. However, the experience we get in the whole life becomes precious possession and provides us the insight.The last section has a relation with section two: â€Å"I was of three minds, / Like a tree / In which there are three blackbirds† (II). The blackbirds in the tree always refer to our minds. So I am a tree, and I have three minds which are represented by three birds. In this section, Stevens probably suggest the three levels of people’s mind according to Freud’s â€Å"Id, ego and super-ego† theory. In section four, Stevens says: â€Å"A man and a woman / Are one. / A man and a woman and a blackbird / Are one† (IV). This is another application of paradox.In â€Å"The Language of Paradox†, when Brooks analysis Wordsworth’s poem he says â€Å"It is not my intention to exaggerate Wordsworth's own consciousness of the paradox involved† (Brooks 60). Here we really can dig out how the narrator maybe unconsciously applies the paradox. When we say two or more than two distinct existents are one, it obviously sounds not acceptable and will bring a consideration of this idea especially when we partly repeat the narrative but add another subject at the second time. Section four might try to discuss some religious thought in this world.He suggests every human being, no matter man or woman, is from one source. As objective existence, we and our consciousness are all developed from one. In this poem, Stevens applies paradox through both audible and visible experiences. Brooks suggests: â€Å"But I am not here interested in enumerating the possible variations; I am interested rather in our seeing that the paradoxes spring from the very nature of the poet's language: it is a language in which the connotations play as great a part as the denotations† (Brooks 61).From a broader vision, we may find the mastery of paradox language by Stevens via analysis of his work. In section five, he narrates: â€Å"I do not know which to prefer, / The beauty of inflections / Or the beauty of innuendoes, / The blackbird whistling / Or just after† (V). When the blackbird is whistling, there is a beauty of inflections along with it, but just after that we will see the beauty of innuendoes. Here the blackbird signifies the poem.While we are reading or reciting the poem, the pronunciation is similar to inflections of bird because of the rhythms and structure. Nevertheless, after reading it we can realize the innuendoes implied from it. A good poem is not only to let readers enjoy its inflections, but also cause us to rethink in our mind. Moreover, this section has a interesting connection with section eight. Similarly, the narrator refers to accents and rhythms to suggest the composition and recitation of the poem which creates the audible enjoyment for readers.Then he tells us his thought is also inescapable involved into the poem. Those two sections provide us how Stevens applies paradox with our sensory from hearing. Moreover, he creates the metaphor from visual aspect. Brooks states that â€Å"I have said that even the apparently simple and straightforward poet is forced into paradoxes by the nature of his instrument† (Brooks 62). We can see this situation in section eleven where the narrator describes a picture which jumps into our imagination: â€Å"He rode over Connecticut / In a glass coach. Once, a fear pierced him, / In that he mistook / The shadow of his equipage / For blackbirds† (XI). The phrase â€Å"In a glass coach† tells us he is in a fragile status, and more than that glass is transparent. An illusion of blackbirds reflects his fearful emoti on. Section three is another example of usage in this sensory respect. The narrator says â€Å"The blackbird whirled in the autumn winds. / It was a small part of the pantomime† (III). It begins with the only image of the blackbird that is overwhelmed by autumn winds.He sketches a close-up of the blackbird, and then tells us it is a small part of the pantomime. This enlarges our vision from close-up to the panorama, and indicates us that the blackbird is just a symbol of our life which is always out of control and encounters uncertainty. Brooks suggests that â€Å"there is a sense in which paradox is the language appropriate and inevitable to poetry. It is the scientist whose truth requires a language purged of every trace of paradox; apparently the truth which the poet utters can be approached only in terms of paradox† (Brooks 58).In Wallace Stevens’ â€Å"Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird†, he actually displays thirteen types of interpretation fro m which people develop their understanding of consciousness. The application of paradox provides the poem a further explanation of the theme. Through the usage of the symbolic technique and various aspects of sensory, the narrator discusses different levels of social and cultural thought. The most important function of paradox in this poem is to arouse people’s awareness of our consciousness and the ability to question our inherent understanding of our thought.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Globalisation on Service Economies in the Uk Essay

MacKinnon & Cumbers (2011) defined globalisation as â€Å"†¦ the increased connections †¦ in flows of goods, services, money, information and people across national and continental borders. â€Å". The globalisation process may be decomposed into constituent processes in order to explain the impacts it has had, which will be discussed more later. In turn, a service economy is one, or part of one, that is based on trade in services. A service is characterised by its intangibility, inseparability (the simultaneous production and consumption of services), heterogeneity and perishability over time and space (Regan 1963; Rathmell 1966; Shostack 1977; Zeithaml et al 1985, cited in Wolak 1998). Alternatively, services are economic activities which have no direct involvement with agriculture, mining, or manufacturing (OECD 2000). Both macro and meso-scale impacts will be examined, starting with the macro; how the service sector as a whole has changed and how globalisation may have fundamentally changed the concept of what a service might be. Inequality as a result of globalisation will then be discussed with particular reference to the North-South divide, before examining market structure changes in terms of levels of competition in the service sector. Finally, meso-scale impacts will be considered, emphasising wage differences in the UK’s service sector. Figure [ 1 ]: Percentage share of employment in the UK by sector, 1980-2008 Source: ONS 2009, cited in Faulconbridge 2010 The most profound impact has been the expansion of the service sector since the onset of globalisation in the mid-20th century. Figure 1 shows the increase in service employment from 1980 – 2008. Further to this, the %GDP generated by the service sector in this same period rose by approximately 20% (OECD 1996, cited in Julius ;amp; Butler 1998), closely mirroring the data in figure 1. Explanation for this can be found in the international division of labour (IDL) that has occurred, in which agriculture and manufacturing have moved abroad to areas that have a comparative advantage over the UK in these sectors. Bryson (2008) referred to this process as the first global shift. The result is, as Figure 1 shows, that as agriculture and manufacturing decline in the UK, services ‘fill the gap’ that they have left behind. But what led to the first global shift? Offshoring, the act of transferring (predominantly lower-skilled) operations to least-cost locations abroad, is a relatively new concept which has occurred with globalisation (Coe et al 2007). In particular, the rise of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) that are involved with multiple economic sectors, has created a pronounced IDL with East Asia as a dominant choice of location for outsourcing and offshoring. An example of this is Primark Ltd, a subsidiary of Associated British Foods plc. Primark’s retail stores -the service part of its operations- are predominantly in the UK, but it sources its products (manufacturing that would otherwise be done in the UK) from East Asia (Primark 2011). This split encapsulates one way in which services in the UK have grown; at the expense of other sectors. Another explanation for the expansion is the liberalisation of the UK economy. As globalisation took hold, the view that free trade was the most efficient way to trade became dominant, a philosophy termed neoliberalism (Peet et al 2011). The result was the formation of trade blocs and international organisations, for example the development of the European Union into what it is today. Flows of capital, labour and goods between constituents of the EU are uninhibited by tariffs and quotas, leading to a disproportionate increase of trade in services between the UK and Europe as the costs of trade fell. Evidence for how liberalism has worked is found in the ‘Big Bang’ in London. In 1986 the UK government attempted â€Å"the most rapid, and most comprehensive regulatory relaxation ever attempted by an exchange† (Clemons & Weber 1990: 233). By abolishing trade restrictions such as the minimum scale for commissions and opening the exchange to outsiders, deregulation made the City more attractive as a marketplace, thus regaining its competitive advantage which it had lost to other cities such as New York (Clemons & Weber 1990). But as London’s capital-intensive sector grew in size and scale, so did the whole service sector. Wages were pushed upwards and created a mood of optimism (The Economist 2011), increasing the demand for lower-paid services such as cleaning, which are vital for a city to function (Sokol 2011). As well as this, knowledge-based services such as accountancy or stock broking also flourished due to the increased volume of trade. Globalisation, more specifically the spread of technology, has also changed the fundamentals of a ‘service’. The earlier definition of service comes from literature from the mid-to-late 20th century, but more recently services have begun to transcend the characteristics of being inseparable and perishable, allowed by technological advancements (OECD, 2000). An example of this can be found by examining the relatively new concept of internet search engines; it is a service produced at one point in time, yet it is available for use at almost any point in time and space, and by virtually unlimited amounts of people. Through technology, a whole host of different types of services have arisen, contributing to the expansion of the service sector. One particular new type of service is a business service (BS). Shown in figure 1, the increase in employment in BS’s since 1980 is due to firms externalising and outsourcing work (Faulconbridge 2010), for example employing an accountant from a specialist accountancy firm rather than one in-house. Externalisation can be explained by the concept of the spatial division of expertise (Bryson & Rusten 2006, cited in Daniels et al 2008), which exploits the theory of comparative advantage for knowledge and expertise, at a meso-scale. As such, the demand for BS’s has increased, pushing forward BS’s prominence in the UK economy. Another impact is the widening of the North-South divide in England, observed at least as early as 1988 (Green 1988), during the Thatcher government’s implementation of neoliberalistic policies. Evidence for this is found in much literature (Martin, 2010; French et al 2010; Mackinnon ;amp; Cumbers, 2011; Bryson, 2008), arguing that the spatial shift to services in the UK has been uneven; growth in knowledge and capital intensive services have been concentrated in the South-East and London, whilst labour-intensive (and therefore likely to be lower-paid) services developed in the rest of the UK, in particular the North. This spatial inequality of the UK service economy can be attributed to a number of globalisation factors, but one of importance was the already-established spatial division of expertise between London and the rest of the UK. London had been the capital of the ‘workshop of the world’, thus established as a centre of knowledge, so as global markets became more integrated, and with events such as the Big Bang, the size and scale at which London’s knowledge economy operated increased disproportionately relative to the rest of the UK’s. Further to this, the divide is exacerbated by exposure to world market forces that results from liberalisation. The financial crisis of 2007 which started in the USA caused the collapse of Northern Rock, RBS, and HBOS, major banks whose headquarters were based in Newcastle and Edinburgh. French et al (2010) argued that their fates signalled the end of Edinburgh and Newcastle as regional financial centres, thus further eroding the spatial equality of types of services in the UK. Indeed, Newcastle is increasingly being known as being a location of choice for outsourcing call centres (Richardson et al 2000). Exposure to world markets was mentioned when discussing spatial inequality caused by globalisation. But exposure has also meant an increased level of competition in the service sector as TNCs expand their operations. An example of this has been the inward foreign investment in the supermarket industry by firms such as Aldi since 1989, creating competition and adversely changing the market structure from the view of domestic firms. Aldi hoped to create 1500 new jobs from 2008-2013 (Wallop 2008), implying that inward foreign investment has brought positive impacts for service sector employment. On the other hand there are some service industries for which increased competition has had very few positive impacts, notably the coastal tourism industry. Blackpool’s local economy is based heavily upon services related to tourism, but with the advancement of travel technology exposing this market to international competition, the tourism sector has declined considerably in recent years (Singleton 2009) along with its related industries. Figure [ 2 ]: Index of rise in Gross Weekly Real Earnings for full-time males 1978 – 2008 Source: Lansley (2009) Inequality can also be found at a meso-scale, in particular, the increase in the difference between the highest paid and lowest paid workers. Figure 2 shows that the rate of increase at the 90th percentile in the male wage distribution has been far higher than that at the 10th percentile. Although figure 2 does not isolate service wages from other wages, this rising inequality is still significant as services made up almost 90% of the UK economy in 2008 (figure 1). Van Reenen & Bell (2010) showed that the increase in the top end of the wage distribution has been mostly in financial services. Much recent media coverage has indeed focussed on high bankers’ bonuses. The causes of this may be partially explained with by theories which do not fit in the context of globalisation, for example the decline of trade unions being responsible for lowering wages at the bottom of the wage distribution (Van Reenen ;amp; Bell 2010). However, in a globalisation context, offshoring plays a major role. Offshoring, as explained before, moves lower-skilled jobs to least-cost locations. This means that domestic labour supply is now competing with labour supply abroad. If labour can be supplied abroad for cheaper, the domestic price of labour (i. . UK wages) is depressed, thus explaining the low rate at which low-skilled wages are rising in the context of higher-skilled wages. Alternatively, domestic demand for unskilled labour has fallen, resulting in the lowering of unskilled wages (Slaughter ;amp; Swagel 1997) Furthermore, influxes of migrants, particularly from the EU, have contribu ted to the impacts on the labour market. Whilst skilled migrants help to tackle the UK skills shortage, unskilled migrants provide excess labour market supply; lowering unskilled wages and raising unemployment figures. An alternative explanation is the migrant division of labour (Wills et al 2010), where foreign-born workers are more likely to take lower-paid jobs in the UK because the wage is still higher than what they might get paid in their home country, so driving down wages of lower-paid jobs in general. At the other end of the scale, the highest-skilled wages are being pushed upwards disproportionately because as global markets become more integrated, the rate of increase in global demand for skilled labour outstrips that of the global supply of skilled labour. Evidence for the concept of demand outstripping supply comes from Richardson (2009, p. 326): â€Å"†¦ even in times of relatively high unemployment, employers frequently cite skills shortages as one of the business difficulties that they face†. In conclusion, explanations of impacts of globalisation on UK services tend to be constituent processes of globalisation which are inextricably linked: the exposure to world markets due to trade liberalisation, offshoring, technology, and migration, but the impacts they cause vary greatly. Explanations may also rely on economic theory, for example, the impacts on the labour market. Exposure to world market forces, such as the current Eurozone crisis, may mean London’s position within the UK is compromised like Newcastle’s and Edinburgh’s was. Additionally, as shown by the contrast between supermarkets and tourism in the UK, impacts and their explanations are industry-specific. However, it must be realised that globalisation offers only partial explanation of the impacts discussed.  Politics, economics, sociology as well as wider geography play a fundamental role – in particular, UK governments have played a vastly important role in shaping outcomes of globalisation.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Character Sketch in Composition

Character Sketch in Composition In composition, a character sketch is a brief description in prose of a particular person or type of person. In writing one, you go into the characters manner, distinct characteristics, nature, and the way that person behaves him or herself. Its also called a profile or character analysis and doesnt necessarily have to be about a fictional character. How to Approach a Character Sketch Even though its an informative type of essay, a character sketch doesnt have to be dry and only descriptive. It can also impress or entertain the reader or praise the subject, notes author R.E. Myers. The facts, traits, idiosyncrasies, and accomplishments of the subject provide the fabric of the character sketch. Anecdotes and quotes are also helpful in portraying the subject. You can stress the subjects personality, appearance, character or accomplishments.  (Figures of Speech: A Study and Practice Guide. Teaching Learning Company, 2008) If analyzing a fictional character, you can also go into the persons conflicts, how the person changes, his or her attitude toward others, and role in the story. You can list the persons likes and dislikes and how you feel about the character. If the character is the narrator, you can discuss whether the person is an unreliable narrator. A character sketch can also be satiric, as in work by authors such as Evelyn Waugh (1903–1966) and Thomas Pynchon (1933–) or modern-day television sit-coms. As a composition, a satiric sketch would likely need to be written in the characters voice and point of view to work. Use of a Character Sketch Besides being an essay type that students write in composition classes, fiction authors can use character sketches in their prewriting or drafting stages of short stories or novels as a means to develop the people wholl inhabit the world theyre creating. Writers who plan series (or even those who just end up writing a sequel to a successful story) can find character sketches useful as a reference  for maintaining consistency of detail or voice, if the character ends up being a narrator in the subsequent work or has a particular vocal tic, slang vocabulary, jargon use, or accent. Often the act of taking on the characters voice in a sketch will assist the author in discovering aspects of the character and fleshing him or her out to be more realistic. Character sketches can also be a task to work on when stuck for a plot point, characters motivation to move the plot forward, or attitude/reaction toward a conflict or event. In nonfiction writing, character sketches can be useful for biographers or feature article writers as a prewriting tool and as descriptive material to mine for the finished work. Examples Annie Dillards Sketch of Her Childhood Friend Judy Schoyer My friend Judy Schoyer was a thin, messy, shy girl whose thick blond curls lapped over her glasses. Her cheeks, chin, nose, and blue eyes were round; the lenses and frames of her glasses were round, and so were her heavy curls. Her long spine was supple; her legs were long and thin so her knee socks fell down. She did not care if her knee socks fell down. When I first knew her, as my classmate at the Ellis School, she sometimes forgot to comb her hair. She was so shy she tended not to move her head, but only let her eyes rove about. If my mother addressed her, or a teacher, she held her long-legged posture lightly, alert, like a fawn ready to bolt but hoping its camouflage will work a little longer. (An American Childhood. Harper Row, 1987.) Bill Barichs Sketch of a Publican The publican, Peter Keith Page, lives with his family in a flat on the second floor. Page is a fiftyish man, slender and well-tailored, whose manner might be described as studiously charming. His mustache and hair are tinged with auburn, and this, along with a sharp nose and chin, makes him look a bit like a fox. He enjoys jokes, subtle conversations,  double entendres. When he takes one of his turns behind the bar, he works at a measured pace, often pausing to ask after his patrons health and well-being. (At the Fountain. In Traveling Light. Viking, 1984.) Sources David F. Venturo, The Satiric Character Sketch. In A Companion to Satire: Ancient and Modern, ed. by Ruben Quintero. Blackwell, 2007.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to Make Invisible Ink With Baking Soda

How to Make Invisible Ink With Baking Soda Follow these easy instructions to make non-toxic invisible ink, in just a few minutes, using baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). The advantages of using baking soda are that its safe (even for kids), simple to use, and readily available. Invisible Ink Ingredients Baking sodaPaperWaterLight bulb (heat source)Paintbrush or swabMeasuring cupPurple grape juice (optional) Make and Use the Ink Mix equal parts water and baking soda.Use a cotton swab, toothpick, or paintbrush to write a message onto white paper, using the baking soda solution as ink.Allow the ink to dry.One way to read the message is to hold the paper up to a heat source, such as a light bulb. You can also heat the paper by ironing it. The baking soda will cause the writing in the paper to turn brown.Another method to read the message is to paint over the paper with purple grape juice. The message will appear in a different color. The grape juice acts as a pH indicator that changes color when it reacts with the sodium bicarbonate of baking soda, which is a base. Tips for Success If you are using the heating method, avoid igniting the paper; dont use a halogen bulb.Baking soda and grape juice react with each other in an acid-base reaction, producing a color change in the paper.The baking soda mixture can also be used more diluted, with one part baking soda to two parts water.Grape juice concentrate results in a more visible color change than regular grape juice. How It Works Writing a secret message in baking soda solution slightly disrupts the cellulose fibers in paper, damaging the surface. When heat is applied, the shorter, exposed ends of the fibers darken and burn before the undamaged sections of paper. If you apply too much heat, theres a risk of igniting the paper. For this reason, its best to use either the grape juice chemical reaction or else apply a gentle, controllable heat source.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Shows that Your Kids Watch Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Shows that Your Kids Watch - Personal Statement Example When Alyssa pushed the bowl and threw away her spoon, April got exasperated, scolded the little girl with her voice raised a notch, and gave her little hand a slight spanking. "That's not good, Alyssa!" she said as she cleaned up the mess that her little girl made. Then, in between sniffs, she heard Alyssa say "I hate you!" very clearly. She was shocked at what her little girl had said. She softened up a bit and asked Alyssa, "Why did you say that baby Where did you learn that" And with her round and innocent eyes looking straight into hers, the little kid answered "From TV." April was alarmed at her daughter's answer, and so was I when she told me this story. "It's impossible for her to pick up such a line from Sesame Street or Playhouse Disney," I told her. "It could be the soap operas that her nanny watches," April concluded, and we proceeded to discuss what kind of behaviors were often shown in soap operas and how the highly receptive minds of three-year-old children retain the information that they get from watching these shows. It is clearly very important that we have to choose the kind of shows that our children watch. Little children mimic what they see around them, such as the behaviors that adults around them display and expressions that they often hear.

Friday, November 1, 2019

The freedom I value most. is the freedom of speech Essay

The freedom I value most. is the freedom of speech - Essay Example It is through the freedom of speech that tyrannical leaders who defy and maltreat their subjects are brought to account. In addition, freedom of speech is such an important human right in that it provides an avenue for business transactions. Freedom of speech has also enabled individuals negotiate and seek for peace in cases of misunderstanding among parties. Moreover, freedom of speech provides a favorable channel through which citizens of particular countries participate in decision making and ensure continued existence of democracy within their societies (Allport 14). Freedom of speech has been integral in shaping global politics as journalists use it as a tool to unravel hidden or corrupt activities of politicians (Kenneth 5). Freedom of speech has also assisted in the efforts to reduce corruption and discrimination within various societies. Additionally, freedom of speech has led to the development of equality across all genders as the interested parties are free to air their views and follow up to the achievement of the missions. In conclusion, the freedom of speech is the mother and foundation of all rights enjoyed by human beings. It is the foundation of every development in various spheres of life from political, social and cultural spectrums. Freedom of speech is the main liberator of human kind. It is also the factor of evolution and revolutions currently witnessed in parts of the world where human free will is