An organisational case study Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

An organisational case study - Assignment Example Strategic formulation which is a key component of organizational entrepreneurship entails â€Å"the development of business mission, decisions both long term and short term objectives, and prioritizing strategies† (Karami, 2003). Dana (2004) notes that it is associated with deciding which resource is for what and in what amount, the process of entering international market or issues related to mergers with suppliers or sales agencies to diversify operations. Strategic formulation in business thus involves the perception of any strategy formulation process which has marked phases that are time-bound. Focus on Southwest Airlines This paper examines Southwest Airlines using SWOT Analysis in understanding its market penetration and product development strategic frameworks. It also draws the way forward for the airline to remain competitive. Bohm (2008) agrees that SWOT analysis has been used to evaluate and identify a number of areas in project formulation and Southwest is not an exception. The framework is used in mapping out the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Indeed, it is used to formulate strategic plans and crafting solutions to control situations. All these predominantly follow an in-depth analysis of external environmental factors that affect the market and operations of Southwest Airlines (Bohm, 2008). ... outhwest Airlines One such is the organizational structure which focuses on the flow of information and responsiveness to client-related issues (Bohm, 2008). Southwest has often demonstrated quick response to client issues e.g. flight delays. Besides, the organizational organ gram is such that the pecking order is clear therefore the flow of information to those responsible in handling it is promptly facilitated for corrective action (Price, 2007; Mentges & Renga, 2010). Beyond this the strength in communication is further compounded by the fact that Southwest Airlines has an optimally utilized website. It was indeed one of the first airlines to have a fully fledged website to create widespread customer awareness on its services. However, one of the website’s weaknesses is that fares are not clearly outlined to enable customers make informed decisions just by the click of the mouse (Price, 2007). Regardless, it is reported that the airline has the largest pool of website visit s. It is also highly ranked with the best profitability record in the American market. The website also has a magazine that has caught the attention of many thereby bringing with it more customers (West, 2005; Joyner, 2006). In regards to the internet use Hoffman et al. (2001) believes that the company is on the right footing given that this is the information transformation age. The second way of examining internal analysis of strength and weaknesses is by looking into the organization’s planning. Daft (2008), states that the point is to examine the ‘feasible long and short term’ arrangement or map of action concerning for example the human resources. In this regards Southwest Airline is on top of its game. It also plans its flight operations well in advance and appropriately communicates

Bolivia’s Indigenous Political Voice Essay Example for Free

Bolivia’s Indigenous Political Voice Essay The full empowerment of the political voice of the indigenous people of Bolivia is symbolized by the election of Evo Morales, the country’s first Indigenous President. How did an Aymaran Indian coca farmer, the most marginalized, discriminated, and impoverished people in Latin America; finally won control of the political power to change the lives of all the peoples of Bolivia? How did the Indigenous people overpower the 500 year old political, economic and social institutions that exploited and degraded their country? The significance of this victory has implications not only for the Indigenous people and citizens of Bolivia but also to the other indigenous people around the world, other Latin American and developing countries, black African Americans and even to the U. S. and EU ‘majority’ citizens whose tax dollars pay for the implementation of imperialist policies but are ignorant or apathetic on how the ‘corporatocracy of America’ impoverish and kill other citizens around the world (Perkins, 2005). Petras (2004) has described the mass movement in Bolivia as one of the most important mass anti-imperialist movement in modern history, second only to Cuba. This is a big departure from the anti-globalization movements in North America by human rights activists, environmentalists and NGOs which only increases educational awareness but have no political or economic impact at all to the Imperialists. Due to the transformational impact and significance of the Political Voice of the Indigenous people, the paper aims to discuss the proactive actions of Indigenous people and the confluence of events which shifted the real power from the ‘white’ minority in Bolivia to the ‘Indigenous’ majority. Furthermore, it is significant to note that Petras’ (2004) insight to the sustainability of the mass movement in Bolivia can also be related to the sustainability of Bolivia’s New Indigenous government. Petras stated that the anti-imperialist movement in Bolivia is sustainable because inherent class struggles of peasants and urban workers are ‘embedded in the movement’. The mass-based leadership and its direct connection to the struggles of the people prevent the betrayal of the movement from ‘bourgeoise nationalists’ who are vulnerable to the seduction of the elite and foreign imperialist governments. Therefore, for the Bolivian Indigenous government to survive, it must stay anti-imperialist and create institutions, political instruments and polices that would make it secure against the attacks and at the same time strengthen its linkage to the struggles and daily lives of its people (Petras, 2004). This truth is affirmed by the current Indigenous president in his inaugural speech in 2006, â€Å"You have to control me. You have to control me. I may make a mistake but I will not betray you. † Most importantly, the paper highlights how the Indigenous knowledge and cultural values have provided Bolivia, an alternative framework for economic development, industrialization and management of natural resources. In addition, the solutions to promote solidarity and nationalism to Bolivia’s multi-ethnic and geographically divided population (which is also being attacked by the right-wing elite backed by the U. S. government) is found in the Indigenous Catholic Church. In the past, the church served as the catalyst for Bolivia’s mass movement. Today, the Indigenous Church continues to play a vital role in unifying Bolivian citizens. Lord Acton has noted â€Å"Christianitys capacity to transcend national differences, at least among believers. Its universalism, he noted, enabled nations â€Å"to live together under the same authority, without necessarily losing their cherished habits, their customs, or their laws. † (Jusdanis, 2001, p. 198) Another important source for the forging of ‘Bolivian Nationalism’ is the strong social democratic state led by Evo Morales which will assert its legitimacy and sovereignty, through equitable distribution of wealth and education and health reforms. As Lord Acton explained, â€Å"A nation is a moral and political being; not the creation of geographical or physiological unity but developed in the course of history by the action of the State. It is derived from the State, not supreme over it†. That the state should precede nationality was in his opinion essential for the maintenance of liberty and prosperity—the opposite of Herders belief that the state should grow out of the nation. (Jusdanis, 2001, p. 198) Furthermore, solidarity built through common experience of colonialism and imperialism has motivated Bolivia, South America, and Third World countries to create political instruments and institutions such as ALBA, Mercosur, Telesur, G22 to protect their respective countries’ sovereignty which is ‘necessary for the attainment of an equitable and balanced economic growth’(Morales, 1992). I. Background on Bolivia Bolivia is known for its extraordinary geography, the ‘Tibet of South America’; extreme poverty despite rich natural resources, ‘Beggar sitting on a throne of riches’; extreme racism and exploitation of the majority by few wealthy elites and by multinational corporations backed by an imperialist government, ‘Economic slavery and Apartheid lives in Bolivia! ’. However, these facts alone do not convey what is most significant about Bolivia, the extraordinary spirit of its Indigenous people. They never gave up and mounted 150 to 200 coups against oppression in its 160 years of independent history (Morales, 1992, p. 200). Furthermore, the Bolivian mass movement has been described by Petras (2004) as the most important anti-imperialist movement and second only to that of Cuba. The collective spirit or culture of the Indigenous people has proven its strength to endure 500 years of invasion and ‘dictatorship of individualism’ (Blanco, 2007). â€Å"Despite centuries of neglect, destruction of all cultural context or support, ethnic discrimination, starvation, cultural domination, religious conversion, racial bigotry, lack of education and health care, economic exploitation and destruction of their environment, the Andean Indian culture survives, smoldering in hearts and minds, towns and villages, streets and plazas† ( Dowbrigade. com, 2005). After more than 500 years, Highland and Amazon indigenous people still compose about two-thirds of Bolivias population. This is the highest proportion of Indians in the hemisphere. If this were true in the United States, it would be equivalent to ‘160 million Apaches, Hopis and Iroquois’ still living and embracing their culture despite being in a ‘white’ American society (Powers, 2005). Since the 16th century Spanish conquest, Bolivia’s Indigenous people and natural resources have been exploited first by colonizers and then by the elite minority in collusion with multinational corporations backed by the US Imperialist government. Silver was looted by the Spaniards, then the latter’s descendants, the wealthy urban elites or ‘whites’ looted the country’s tin and rubber. Bolivia is one of the most corrupt societies in the world according to a World Bank study. â€Å"Although Bolivia was long a major source of the worlds tin, the wealth from this irreplaceable resource went into the hands of a few absentee oligarchic families who lived mostly in Paris and New York† (Morales, 1992, p. xi). Moreover, the Spanish descendants or ‘whites’ which are only 5-15% of the population dominated and controlled political and economic life for centuries and was only halted by the election of Evo Morales in December 2005. The ‘white’ elites made a living as professionals, wealthy merchants, or high-ranking government officials. The racial term ‘white’ is chiefly associated with socioeconomic status in Bolivia (Morales, 1992, p. 14). On the other hand Indians comprise 60% of the population and they make a living as low-income subsistence farmers, miners, small traders or artisans (Country Profile: Bolivia, BBC News. com). The rest or 30% of the population are Mestizos who closely identify with the ‘whites’. The wealthy mestizos are also encouraged to marry daughters of impoverished ‘white’ families so they can have educated ‘white’ children and improve their status (Hudson and Hanratty, 1989. Powers (2005) aptly declares that, ‘Bolivian apartheid’ or ‘pigmentocracy of power’ continues to exist. In 1985, Father Gregorio Iriarte, published the following statistics: Bolivia has the highest infant mortality rate in all of Latin America (213 per 1,000) and the lowest life expectancy (47 years); half the nation is undernourished, with 70 percent of the children dying before the age of 15 of treatable diseases of poverty; more than 50 percent of the population is illiterate; and the country has one of the worst distributions of wealth in the Americas (the wealthiest 5 percent control 39 percent of the national income and the poorest 20 percent, only 2 percent)(cited in Morales, 1992, p. 204). In 2005, after twenty years of U. S. Aid and humanitarian programs, IMF and World Bank structural and neo-liberal economic policies, the Bolivia majority population still live on less than $2 a day (Powers, 2005). II. What are the factors that gave rise to the ‘Empowerment of the Political Voice of the Indigenous People of Bolivia? Support of the Catholic Church for the Indigenous People, Revitalization of the Indian Culture Waltraud Q. Morales in ‘Bolivia: Land of Struggle’ (1992) attributed Bolivia’s underdevelopment to the structure of powerlessness and lack of economic and political independence. She strongly advocated that the renewal of the nation and formation of a socio-economic model that would lift Bolivia from poverty lies in the Indian Culture (p. 202-204). Neither the defeated and decadent heritage of Spanish colonialism nor the declining, materialist imprint of North American imperialism can serve as the basis of moral renewal. The heritage that survives undefeated, whole, and vibrant is the Indian one. Unlike the Western system of wealth accumulation to the detriment of others, economic equality is integral to the indigenous vision of justice [italics mine]. The Aymara believe in Kuskachana or Pampachana, meaning the leveling or reestablishment of a balance. In the Aymara world view, uncontrolled growth as development is suicide, not progress; and development without respect for the earth negates the sense of themselves, their personal and cultural identity. The message from ancient voices is one not of greed or private property but of community and peoplehood† [italics mine] (Morales, 1992, p. 204). The revitalization of the ethnic Indian culture was initiated by the Catholic Church to stimulate indigenous political activism (Cleary, 2004). In 1968, Theology of Liberation was introduced in the Latin American Bishop Medellin Conference. The Church recognized that each culture has its own integrity and must be respected and given the freedom to develop their full potential. In addition, the Church advocated against the use of traditional church practices that foster the continuation of the domination of the ‘whites’ and ‘mestizos’ over the Indian peasants through paternalistic and accommodative practices (e. g. sponsoring of the fiestas and indebtedness of the peasants to the patron). The church recognized that the revitalization of the Indian Culture is central to transforming Bolivian politics and society. They trained native leaders as catechists and promoted the use of native language, ‘recovery of cultural memory’ and integration of the Indian cosmological view with Christian doctrines in the Bible which supported political self-determination (Cleary, 2004). Educational Centers were built and this helped raise the political consciousness of the Indigenous people; encouraged them to turn outward and ‘occupy their political space’, rather than show their resistance by isolating themselves in their communities. The Indian catechists also built their sense of citizenship; and recognition of their right and capacity to interact with the state instead of feeling inferior and staying outside of the political arena. They were also motivated to self-organize for their emancipation. This resulted in the flourishing of Grassroots organizations in Bolivia (Cleary, 2004). In the 1960s, Xavier Albo, formed CIPCA (Centro de Investigacion y Promocion del Campesinado) or Center for Investigation and Promotion of Peasants. He later helped young Aymara people establish the Tupac Katarista Center which helped develop young Aymaran leaders. Within a short span of time, these Aymarans occupied positions in several government peasant unions and also organized their own unions. Later on, these leaders were able to unite urban, mine, and rural workers to fight against unequal treatment and demand credit, education, and health services from the government (Cleary, 2004, p. 54). The Katarist movement and experience of other lowland grassroots organizations also influenced the Indigenous Center of Eastern Bolivia (CIDOB). CIDOB gained national prominence in 1990, when they organized the march of Indigenous people demanding â€Å"territory and dignity† over hundreds of kilometers across the country’s main highways to La Paz (Cleary, 2004, p. 54). Most importantly, the centers and the native church leaders through liberation theology aimed to develop ‘community solidarity’ among the Indians divided by plural ethnicities, cultures, geography and economic status (Cleary, 2004). Geo-political Reality in Bolivia Geography has been the more potent force, splitting the country in half, into a land divided. Communications and transportation systems have overcome neither the barrier of the high Andes Mountains cutting through the heart of the country nor the northeastern pull of the vast lowland rivers away from the highland and toward the undeveloped Amazon and Brazil. Nature itself seems in league with regionalist forces as this intricate system of waterways leads from nowhere to nowhere. Extreme topographical diversity encourages intense racial and cultural division between the Andean highlands and the eastern, tropical lowlands. Highlanders and lowlanders are aliens in each others world (Morales, 1992, p. 4). As further explained by Morales (1992), the Bolivian highlander identifies more with the other highlanders from Peru and Chile while the Bolivian lowlander identifies more with their fellow lowlander from Brazil or Argentina (p. 4). However, this affinity of Bolivians with people from neighboring countries can also be positive in the establishment of regional integration for the South American region to counter Imperialism. ‘Even within related Indian communities, wide differences in custom and dress persist. Within the Quechua nation, for instance, one can distinguish a variety of local groups: the Tarabucos, the Chayantas, the Laimes, the Ucumaris, the Calchas, the Chaquies, the Yuras Lipes, and the Tirinas. A highlander can readily identify the region of the country and the community of an Indian by differences in dress, custom, and music’ (Morales, 1992). Moreover, Bolivia is subdivided into nine regional departments or provinces administratively. These departments are La Paz, Oruro, Potosi, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Tarija, Santa Cruz, Beni, and Pando. Competition for political power and economic influence have historically characterized the relationships between these departments (Morales, 1992, p. 5. ). Furthermore, Chavez (2007) added that the division between the western highlands, and eastern lowlands is also racial, and socio-economic. The Western highlands is home to the impoverished indigenous majority while the Eastern provinces is home to wealthier people of mainly Spanish descent. The Eastern provinces also hold most of the countrys natural gas production and industry. Indian Culture and Values Central to the transformation of Bolivian Society Hugo Blanco, leader of the peasant uprising in the Cuzco region of Peru in the early 1960s explains how the Indigenous â€Å"cosmic vision is different from the Western outlook that views the creator as a superior immaterial spirit who created man in his image and likeness and created nature to serve him. For the indigenous cosmic vision, humanity is a daughter of and part of Mother Earth. We must live in her bosom in harmony with her â€Å"(Blanco, 2007). Blanco is proud of the Andean-Amazon culture and states that, â€Å"This culture is marked by deep knowledge of nature and is highly agricultural. Ours is one of the seven zones of the world to have originated agriculture†¦ For more than 10,000 years our culture domesticated 182 plant species, including around 3,500 potato varieties. Our people know 4,500 medicinal plants. Tawantinsuyos planned agriculture based on a system of watersheds and micro watersheds or basins. They built long aqueducts, taking care to avoid land erosion. Terracing was practiced on the slopes and â€Å"waru-waru† in the altiplano (highlands)]. Special technologies were used from zone to zone. Across the entire Tawantinsuyo territory they created storage buildings (qolqa) to supply food to the population whenever some climatic shift undermined agriculture †¦It’s true that the new forms of collectivism gave rise to privileged castes and wars of conquest. But in no part of the continent was production based on slave labor or the feudal system. Although there were privileged castes, hunger and misery did not exist. Orphans, persons with disabilities, and the elderly were cared for by the community† (Blanco, 2007). Cochabamba Water War 2000 Alturalde (2006) imparted that the indigenous people view ‘water as life and gift from Mother Earth’. When the World Bank and IMF in Bolivia imposed the privatization of water on the Bolivian government, Aguas del Tunari (ADT), the subsidiary the US-based Bechtel was awarded the contract which included sources of water that belonged to the Indigenous people since ancient times. When ADT announced an increase in water rates, which the Indigenous people could not afford, the latter in massive numbers went to Cochabamba to protest. Anger was already simmering due to the structural policies of the IMF which deprived them of much needed government services. The additional privatization of water which made it unaffordable to the poor indigenous people and the directive not even to save rainwater provoked violent reactions. Hundreds of people were injured in the ‘water war’. This disaster also made the people aware of the lack of recognition of the legal rights of the Indigenous people and their lack of strong political representation in Congress to defend their interests (Alurralde, 2006). Indigenous Alternative to Privatization In 2002, Bolivias Consejo Interinstitucional del Agua (interinstitutional water council) asked organizations for research on how to resolve the water conflict. The Comision para la Gestion Integral del Agua en Bolivia (commission for integrated water management in Bolivia) proposed a highly inclusive participatory process which would involve the use of the best possible science in determining the solution that would be in the best interest of the nation. (Alurralde , 2006). Numerous workshops for Indigenous communities in different parts of the country were held. To ensure that the new law would reflect the agreement on these meetings, the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Planning, and Parliaments Environment Commission were also included. The workshop organizers used Mike Basin, a computer simulation program to analyze the impact of the proposals. They used the data proposed by the government which is ‘assigning individual rights based on a fixed discharge’. The also used the data of the ‘daily water allocation by Indigenous communities under the traditional communal system. The results of the computer model showed that the traditional system allocated water much more efficiently and equitably, although it was not completely free of waste. The findings provided the foundation for key sections of Bolivias new irrigation law which was passed by Parliament in 2004 (Alurralde, 2006). ‘Many Indigenous peoples have a long history of using water wisely. By incorporating their views into the policy-making process, existing policies are strengthened’ (Alurralde, 2006). Nationalization of Natural Gas The ‘Gas War’ erupted from September to October 2003. These popular protests for the equitable distribution of the benefits of the country’s vast natural gas compelled the resignation of two presidents and the election of Evo Morales. The protests originated from the privatization of President Sanchez de Lozada of the gas and oil companies in 1996 under the orders of the IMF and World Bank. The proposal to sell liquid natural gas to the international markets through Chile, to whom their coastline was lost in the 18th century, further stoked the anger of the population. These people were already protesting the lack of transparency in the contracts and their impoverished condition compared to the visible wealth of the foreign companies and elites who controlled their country’s natural resources. In the National referendum on the gas issue on 2004, majority voted for greater state control and increased revenue for the state. In 2006, by Supreme Decree 28701, President Morales nationalized the country’s gas and oil industry (Hodges, 2007). This form of nationalization involved higher tax payments by petroleum companies and the renegotiation of contracts rather than expropriation. Due to these changes, income increased nine times from 2002 to 2007. In 2003 petrol companies paid an estimated $173 million US dollars in tax to the Bolivian government compared to 2007 payment of $1. 57 billion dollars (Hodges, 2007). These protests against specific issues of water, and gas and the visibility of the IMF and World Bank in imposing privatization and structural adjustment policies increased the growing awareness of the population of the direct linkage of their class struggles (urban workers and peasants) to macro-economic imperialist policies of the U. S. and the ‘white’ local elites (Petras, 2004). These united the multi-ethnic and diverse urban workers, miners, and rural peasants to a common struggle to oust the ‘puppet regimes’ of imperialist governments and install an indigenous President. Opening of Opportunities to Participate in the Political Process Aside from the Catholic Church’s role in encouraging political activism, other events and people contributed to the civic education of the Indians which built their political capacity to be able to install their own Indigenous President in Bolivia. The 1952 Bolivian National Revolution led by the MNR party, which was headed by the nationalist elite depended on the strength of the indigenous people to storm the Presidential palace. The Indigenous people began to recognize the strength of the alliance between urban workers and peasants (Cleary, 2003). Victor Paz Estonssoro, returned from exile as President and introduced reforms including universal suffrage, nationalization of tin mines and land distribution, and educational reforms, and improvement of status of indigenous peoples (Country Profiles, Bolivia, BBC News). These opened up opportunities to the indigenous people to participate in the national life (Cleary, 2004, p. 53). However, these reforms were interrupted by the intervention of the U. S. and the reversal of the nationalization program. In exchange for foreign aid, policies were instituted to promote foreign participation over the extraction of the natural resources (Lernoux, 1980). Under the Vice-Presidency of Victor Cardenas, an Aymaran Indian; laws were also passed to increase the political participation of the indigenous people in national life. In 1994, a Constitutional Amendment was passed to define Bolivia as a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural The law of Popular Participation also recognized the indigenous form of governments of ‘ayllu’ and ‘’imburvicha’. Public funds were channeled for the use of these government units. Furthermore, the 1995 Law of Decentralization, created stronger municipalities and generated synergy among the grassroots organizations of the indigenous people (Cleary, 2004, p. 55). The indigenous people proactively seized and enthusiastically embraced the opportunities for self-determination. They competed against entrenched politicians who even trucked voters during elections. After decentralization, 464 indigenous leaders were elected to local councils. More than 25% of those elected served as mayors and 9 out of 130 deputies were elected to Congress (Cleary, 2004, p. 57). Cleary (2004) attributed to the above elected Indigenous leaders the ‘widespread multicultural and bilingual educational system, establishment of new government agencies to serve the indigenous sector, acceptance of indigenous culture as part of the national patrimony, and the coming from shadows to prominence [of Indigenous peoples] in national politics’ (p. 57). National Unity against US Imperialism and Intervention. Waltraud Morales (1992) claims that foreign intervention undermines a country’s development because the ‘fragmentation of nationhood due to foreign control and intervention leads to extensive social, cultural, and moral disintegration (p. 202-204). Since culture and values plays an important role in the development of Nationalism in Bolivia, it is imperative that the state be anti-imperialist. This fragmentation takes place at the administrative levels, in the press, and in cultural activities; it is visible at the highest levels of population where little groups dispute the privilege of being friends of the foreigner; it descends to the people when the desperation of poverty causes one to consent to achieving an advantage by the sacrifice of dignity. †¦Extreme poverty facilitates colonization; men in Bolivia have a lower price. There is a certain level at which poverty destroys dignity; the North Americans have discovered this level and work on it: in their eyes and for their pocketbook, a Bolivian costs less than an Argentine or a Chilean. (Morales, 1992, p. 202).

Ludwig Van Beethoven The Incessant Sound Of A Fallen Tree Essay

There resounds a proverbial question, â€Å"If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear, does it make a sound as it falls?† Capricious as this query may appear I have had occasion to entertain just such a notion when, as a youth, I found an exploratory journey down a deep wood’s path abruptly halted by the greeting of an enormous fallen tree. The colossal obstacle lay across my path and presented itself a motionless, silent guardian that protected that which lay beyond from my further intrusion. What a monumental disturbance must have been witnessed by the forest as this giant came crashing down! I wondered how the tree came to be there in the first place or what of the countless forms of life that had sprang forth from its protective purview over the decades of the tree’s history. I wondered what might have led to the demise of the strong anchoring system that had so obviously sustained the uprightness of this tower for so long. Not to mention what a scurry for life itself must have taken place by the multitude of creatures that were no doubt within the danger zone as tons of falling wood rushed earthward. Notwithstanding the magnitude of this event and the obvious lasting effects that resulted, I still wondered if â€Å"the falling tree had made a sound?† When the life of Ludwig van Beethoven first encroached upon my path, much the same sensation was experienced. No doubt I had heard of the composer’s name, but then so had I foreknowledge of trees, both fallen as well as standing ones. However, what of this particular composer. Had I ever entertained conversation with him? Had I known of his particular work, achievements, or failures? What difference had been made by this long extinguished life, at least where I was concerned? So here I stood. Yet another fallen giant before me in an apparently posture of complete silence leaving me to contemplate what, if any, true sound had been made as it fell. Every inquiry has its beginnings and Beethoven’s began in Bonn, Germany on December 16, 1770 (Cross 45). Though he had somewhat of a musical heritage with both his father and grandfather being performers themselves, it appears to have been that the emotion of greed more probably served as the conduit for molding of the youth. Johaan Beethoven, Ludwig’s drunkard father, had become aware that his son possessed musical talent. Though apparently not particular... ...curried for cover and sun-light, no longer blocked out, reached new areas of the forest floor, resulting in a host of new life being brought forth from the decaying carcass of the wooden giant. Until I encountered the tree, no difference had been made to me. Yet now, as I could not pass by, the course I took was now forever altered. From this perspective I can truly say that, though I was not present at the time of the event, either in the case of the life of Ludwig van Beethoven or in the falling of the great tree, I am now aware and thus truly affected by both. BIBLIOGRAPHY Milton Cross and David Ewen (1962). Encyclopedia of the Great Composers and Their Music. Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc. Alessandra Comini (1987). The Changing Image of Beethoven: A Study in Mythmaking. New York, New York: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. Irving Kolodin (1975). The Interior Beethoven: A Biography of the Music. New York, New York: Alfred A. Knope. Alfred Einstein (1969). A Short History of Music. (4th ed.) New York, New York: Alfred A. Knope. Felix Greissle, eds. The International Library of Piano Music. (Album 14) New York, New York: The University Society, Inc.

Persuasive Essay on Positive Thinking Essay

Positive thinking is a skill that I believe everyone should master and use as a everyday way of life.First you need to know the law of attraction. From there you can start a new life style that can only really benefit you. The law of attraction is how positive energy attracts positive energy and negative energy attracts negative energy. There is a man named Morris Goodman I learned about in the book The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne. His story is amazing. Morris Goodman was in a plane crash march of 1981. Morris surrvived the plane crash but was left paralyzed, his spinal cord was crushed, and his diaphram was destroyed which left him unable to breath on his own. He lost the ability to do anything but blink and think*. No one thought he would be much of anything ever again because of the severity of his injuries. Morris did not believe this. He set a goal of walking out of that hospital by Christmas. All Morris did was focus on breathing, and walking, and being positive, not allowing anyone or anything distract him from his goal. He did, Morris achieved his goal. Doctors were at a loss for explanation, but Morris Goodman walked out of that hospital before Christmas. Morris Goodman is The Maracle Man. He proved that whatever you put your mind to you can do. The power of positive thinking can benefit everyone in countless ways; increase self esteem, increase confidence, and a more relaxed state of mind. Just to name a few. Â  You see the consequences of negative thinking everyday. You see it in war and violence, even on the local level. Depression and poverty are often consequences of negative thinking as well. Â  Could you imagine what the world would be like if the whole world believed they could achieve anything they dream of? Could you imagine what your life would be like if you truely believed you could achieve anything you want? If you are always thinking positive there is no room for the negative. Increase of self esteem, confidence, a more relaxed state of mind will all manifest from just that . This is a skill that I believe everyone can benefit from. * Some of this info taken from themaracleman.org run by Morris Goodman.

Genetically Modified Food Should Be Banned or Not? Essay

Nowadays a problem of genetically modified food is widespread all over the world. GM foods are genetically modified using biotechnology. More and more GM foods appear on the shelves of our stores and supermarkets nowadays, and make their way into our kitchens. GM foods are designed for greater resistance to viruses and pests, higher nutritional value and longer shelf life. However, their safety, potential risks and ethical concerns are still being debated. So, should genetically modified crops be banned or not? Proponents of GM foods ensure that these foods are safe for human consumption, but critics argue that their effects have not been studied long enough. First argument for banning GM foods is that it badly affects our health and well-being. Some studies have linked consumptions of GM foods to liver and kidney problems. The antibiotics and hormones given to cows and chickens are found in our bodies and we don’t know yet the extent to which these cause chronic disease. Moreover genetic engineering could introduce allergens into foods, causing allergic reactions in people who eat the foods. Another argument is that GM food does not benefit people, just large corporations that produce and sell them. In the most cases the vegetables are modified to look better and be larger so that these companies can make more money. They do not add to the taste or freshness of nutrition of the food. On the other hand GM products along with disadvantages have their benefits too. A lot of people believe that genetically modified foods can help to solve the food crisis in future, and so help humanity to survive. Firstly, all of sorts of GM plants are stable against illnesses and mean weather. Also, GM food is cold tolerant. An antifreeze gene has been introduced into plants such as tobacco and potato. With this antifreeze gene, these plants are able to tolerate cold temperatures that normally would kill unmodified seedlings. Secondly, they ripen fast and keep longer than usual plants. It is easier to transport them and keep fresh for a long time. In my opinion, genetic engineering should be banned because young generation will have different diseases because of eating unhealthful food. Of course, this is a huge industry nowadays that obviously can’t be stopped, but I believe that there are other ways to save people from hunger. References: 1. â€Å"Genetically Modified Crops Should be Banned† 2. Murphy, Tom. â€Å"The Arguments for and Against Genetically Modified (GM) Food. † N. p. , 15 06 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. 3. Gray, Louise. â€Å"Ten tweets for and against GM†. Environment Correspondent 4:04PM GMT 24 Jan 2011 4. â€Å"Should Genetically Modified Foods (GM Foods) Be Banned? – Facts & Infographic†.

Contract Law

Contract Law The case under discussion has all the hallmarks of a contract law dispute. The present paper demonstrates the reasons as to why the defendant’s motion on the case should be overruled. More importantly, it shows why the plaintiff should be compensated as requested for wrongful termination of services.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Contract Law specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As the judge in the case, I would rule in favor of the plaintiff and oblige the defendant to pay for the damages as requested. Available literature on such cases argue that there can be oral manifestations of assent in a contract (Barmes 437; Wilkinson-Ryan 2110), and that such oral manifestations mean that parties to a contract communicated to each other about their agreement (Estlund 381). This in effect means that a contract may not necessarily be delivered in writing as argued by the defendant when citing the stature of frauds. In consequence, the rights of the plaintiff to gainful employment were effectively violated when the defendant chose to terminate the employment even after orally assuring the plaintiff that employment would continue for a substantial period of time. Additionally, the ruling would be in favor of the plaintiff due to the fact that termination of employment was premised upon the wrong reason that was not listed in discussions for engagement. Here, it is important to note that â€Å"a contract is just a tool to procure a service, supply, construction or so on† (Page Krauer 12). However, the law that binds the contract gives it its life and vitality to guide relationships and covenants. The plaintiff’s contractual agreement with the defendant, it seems, was predicated upon the passage of the Madison State Bar examination. However, the defendant proceeded to terminate the services of the plaintiff before the lapse of the initial three years even after the plaintiff sat for the examination and passed. This scenario is aggravated by the fact that the plaintiff’s services were discontinued after one year due to budgetary constraints rather than failure to perform as originally agreed during the discussions. It cannot therefore escape mention that the plaintiff was wrongly terminated. Furthermore, the ruling would be in favor of the plaintiff due to the fact that she had not gone against any of the rules set by the defendant to warrant termination of services. Available literature demonstrates that â€Å"employment contracts may have post-employment obligations and covenants, including confidentiality agreements, noncompetition agreements, and nonsolicitation agreements† (Rashty 24).Advertising Looking for case study on business corporate law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The plaintiff fulfilled all these obligations yet the defendant proceeded to terminate her services to the law school in spite of the fact that the reason for termination was not of plaintiff’s making. It is therefore of essence for the defendant to compensate for the lost wages given that the oral agreement insinuated that the plaintiff would offer services for three years before a consideration for promotion was made. Fulfillment of employment obligations on the side of the plaintiff makes the defendant to carry the weight of blame. Lastly, an offer was made by the defendant through a letter and the plaintiff accepted the offer through writing. This in itself demonstrates that the parties entered into a contract. An offer can be described as an expression of willingness to contract on specified terms, while an acceptance can be described as the final and unqualified expression of assent to the terms of a given offer (Chapman Millbrook 1-2). The defendant, therefore, cannot argue that he did not enter into a contract when in essence his offer had been accepted by the plai ntiff in writing. This in itself demonstrates that the plaintiff is entitled to the damages sought. Overall, the defendant’s motion is null and void considering the above named reasons. The judge should rule in favor of the plaintiff and make the defendant compensate her for the financial damages caused due to termination of services. Barmes, Lizzie. â€Å"The Continuing Conceptual Crisis in the Common Law of the Contract of Employment.† Modern Law Review. 67.3 (2004): 435-464. Academic Search Premier. Web. Chapman, Millie and Glenson Millbrook n.d., At a Glance Guide to Basic Principles of English Contract Law. PDF file. Web. Estlund, Cynthia L. â€Å"Between Rights and Contract: Arbitration Agreements and Non-Complete Covenants as a Hybrid Form of Employment Law.† University of Pennsylvania Law Review. 155.2 (2006): 379-445. Academic Search Premier. Web.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Contract Law specifically for you for onl y $16.05 $11/page Learn More Page, John M. and James J. Krauer. â€Å"Basic Contract Legal Reviews.† Reporter. 41.2 (2014): 11-15. MasterFILE Premier. Web. Rashty, Joseph. â€Å"Employment Contracts with Post-Employment Obligations.† CPA Journal. 84.12 (2014): 24-27. MasterFILE Premier. Web. Wilkinson-Ryan, Tess. â€Å"Intuitive Formalism in Contract.† University of Pennsylvania Law Review. 163.7 (2015): 2109-2129. Academic Search Premier. Web.

Initial Peopling of North America

Initial Peopling of North America Introduction The question of how and when human beings reached North and South America is an interesting topic of debate (Muckle 2010). Some general understandings and consensuses are that the native populations inherited their genetic pool from Asian groups that initially occupied Siberia before the last glacial period (Jablonski 2002). However, the actual time and process through which these groups reached America remains unknown (Dixon 2003).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Initial Peopling of North America specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A number of theories attempt to address this question, but none of them provides adequate information to show how these groups reached the continents. In the recent times, genetic studies have proved to be effective in determining the relationship between the Native Americans and the Asian groups. In fact, these studies have shown that the American natives are closely r elated to a number of Asian groups. Several theories such as the Pacific Rim, Biringia, Solutrean and others have attempted to develop models that explain how the Asian groups reached America. The purpose of this paper is to analyze some of these postulates in order to draw some information that may provide a better understanding of the initial people of North America. Theoretical explanation of initial peopling in North America According to scholars in Linguistics, archaeology and evolutional biology, Native Americans moved from some places in Northeastern parts of Asia. During the last Ice Age, geographical conditions could not allow possible migrations of humans from Asia into America (Dickason 2007). Therefore, the most important task is to explain the route and time that allowed migrations from Asia to America. It is suggested that humans used two routes to reach America- the Bering Land Bridge (Beringia) and along the Northwest coast (watercraft methods). Based on this informa tion, a number of hypotheses have emerged to explain how the ancient people migrated into the New World, despite the large volume of ice. Two major hypotheses, the ice-free corridor and the coastal migration, tend to agree that the initial people of Americas had ancestral ties with populations that lived in Siberia and that the major route was via Beringia. Beringia, also known as the Bering Land Bridge, was a large ice-free area that connected north-west part of North America with north-eastern edge of Asia (Dickason 2007). Several Paleoenvironmental research studies have shown that the area on Beringia has a large volume of animals and plants, which acted as resources for the migrating humans. These resources supported the human populations during the entire late ice age, which suggests that the migration was in progress at this time.Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The ice-free corridor hypothesis The ice-free corridor hypothesis is considered one of the most effective models of addressing the migration question. This theory, which is based on the understanding that at various stages during the last Ice age, the northern part of America (Canada) was covered with two large sheets of ice (Burns 2006). The southern region of the ice sheets was approximately along the line that marks the modern boundary between the US and Canada. One of the sheets was covering most of the areas that lie to west of the Rocky Mountains while the other sheet was on the areas to the east of these mountains. It is believed that the sheets were joined during most of the last ice age, but they must have been separated, which provided a stretch of iceless land known as the ice-free corridor (Burns 2006). According to theorists, the ice-free corridor makes an important landmark during the migration into the new world. Proponents of this hypothesis believe that people from northeastern parts of Asia first reached Beringia and settled in this region for several years because the two sheets of ice had not separated. However, these populations increasingly moved closer to the areas bordering the ice as it increasingly became warmer. The theorists believe that the populations simply migrated down the corridor when it developed from warming up of the ice sheets (Dillehay 1994). Noteworthy, several animals were the first organisms to migrate down the corridor, which means that humans were following them. In fact, there is substantial information supporting this theory of migration, most of which tend to show that the increase in the human populations in Beringia must have forced some groups to move down the corridor in search of animal resources. For instance, Paleoenvironmental evidence suggests that this route was one of the most possible methods through which human and animal populations reached the northern part of the Americas. However, it is worth no ting that the theory is somehow weak because there is no archaeological evidence to support the hypothesis. In fact, there no archaeological sites in the ice-free corridor, especially the ones that older than 13,000 years, yet the theory attempts to explain that the migrations down the corridor must have taken place more than 15,000 years ago (Dickason 2007). This means that the theory cannot be relied on as the sole method of solving the migration problem. Nevertheless, the hypothesis provides some basic information as well as a platform for additional research to solve the question.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Initial Peopling of North America specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Coastal migration hypothesis Secondly, the coastal migration hypothesis attempts to use a different approach to the migration problem. Theorists argue that rather than depending on the large number of animals as resources, the ea rly populations in Asia were largely adapted to the maritime and mostly lived on the coastlines, where food security was assured (Dickason 2007). Therefore, populations spread along the coastlines rather than the interior. This means that the populations migrated along the coastlines. They went round southern margins of the land in Beringia before moving down the west coast of the American continent until they passed the two large sheets of ice (Erlandson 2004). According to some variations of the hypothesis, the earliest populations used boats to move across large water masses before reaching the continent. However, other theorists suggest that it was possible to move on land along the coastlines because the large glaciers did not cover the entire land in the coast (Fladmark 2000). In fact, it is worth noting that most glaciers in the ice ages did not cover the coastlines, which gave some good environment for the survival of animals and plants. This phenomenon must have given the p opulations a chance to maintain foot travel to other continents. In the case of migration into the Americas, a number of evidence supports the coastal migration hypothesis. For instance, locations with a lot of animals and plants needed to maintain the human populations have been found along the coastlines that dates back to 18,000 (Fladmark 2000). This is an important finding because the age falls within the period in which humans populations from Asia migrated into the northern parts of Americas. However, it is clear that the hypothesis lacks archaeological support because there are no archaeological sites along the coastal region, with the few one dating less than 12,000 years. The implication is that there is a gap in knowledge in this explanation and that the theory can only be used as a platform or basis for further studies. In the 20th century, most scientists disputed this theory based on lack of archaeological evidence. They thought that the number of locations of animal an d plant life on the coastlines, which meant that the human populations could not have used a route devoid of these resources. Nevertheless, environmental studies are increasingly providing new information to support this hypothesis, especially because the populations are thought to have achieved maritime adaptations few years after glaciations (Erlandson 2001). These studies show that human populations stretched from Alaska to California during the migration period (Erlandson 1994).Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These two hypotheses are largely based on the knowledge on the Clovis culture, a big-game hunting culture that archaeologists identify as the main way of life among the Asian groups of people during the last ice age. According to Erlandson (1994), artefacts that had fluted and projectile points mainly characterize this culture. The first evidence of these tools was found at Clovis region in New Mexico, USA, following an excavation in 1932. Subsequent excavations reveal that the culture was prominent in all parts of North America and later moved to South America with the migrating groups. In particular, the culture was designated by the use of Clovis, a typical set of tools that had flaked flint and a â€Å"speared† point inserted into a flute-like object. The flute allowed users to insert and remove the point from the shaft when travelling. The flute is one of the most important aspects of the tools in use during human migrations. Carbon dating for Clovis culture has produced substantial information regarding the migration patterns from Asia to North America. Carbon dating these tools has been done in association with animal bones, which has revealed that the tools were used some 13,000 and 12,000 calendar years ago (Stanford and Bradely 2012). Despite this, a number of studies have produced controversial evidence that seems to argue that the tools may not be the most important way of explaining the migrations. For instance, it has been shown that at least 11 out of 22 sites excavated have inherent problems. In fact, some studies indicate that even the sites at Clovis, New Mexico, are problematic. According to such studies, the datable samples in these sites have undergone contaminations due to their integration with earlier materials, rendering them useless in providing evidence to support the migration patterns. Noteworthy, the Younger Drayas Impact Event made an important and effective influence on the existence of the Clovis culture in North America . About 13,000 calendar years ago, the Younger Drayas event had a major impact on the populations, causing the decline of the culture. In addition, the Clovis culture is a relatively weak theory in explaining human migrations in North America. A number of problems are associated with this model. For instance, the model fails to explain why there was a short time between the time of human occupation in North America and their arrival at the south most tips of South America (Gruhn 2004). Humans radiated southwards from Asia to America and South America some 12,000 calendar years ago. This means that the time span used to propagate the populations from the northern end of North America to the southern tip of South America is very short, which shows that it was not possible, considering the geographical and environmental barriers at the time. In addition, evidence collected at the Monte Verde site in Chile has suggested that the Clovis model is relatively weak. Archaeological evidence f rom this site produced some radiocarbon evidence that predate Clovis sites found on the Midwest by more than 1,000 years (Erlandson, Graham, Bourque, Corbett, and Estes 2007). The evidence, however, provides support to the coastal migration model as the most possible route by which the human populations of the last ice age used to reach the south. It suggests that the populations that used the coastlines for migration were able to move fast than their counterparts who used inland migration routes. Noteworthy, a number of studies have shown that the populations had a wide range of food resources, including tubers, shellfish and turtles. This is an additional indication that humans did not rely on the big game culture that involved hunting mammoths, horses, longhorn bison and camels that were the primary food resources for the populations that followed the inland routes from Asia to North America. Charcoal evidence and other human artefacts have also led to confusions in explaining th e entry and existence of human populations in the New World. For instance, along the banks of River Savannah in Allendale, South Caroline, a site known as the Topper archaeological site shows that charcoal and other human artefacts were already in use some 50,000 years ago. Radiocarbon dating of these materials has shown that humans were already in existence some 40,000 years before the purported time of entry into the new world. In fact, it implies that humans already inhabited the New World years before the last glacial period. The implication is that the Clovis culture and the migration models based on it may be ineffective in explaining the migration of humans into Americas. Nevertheless, these new evidences have also been a topic of debate over the last few years. For instance, some studies indicate that charcoal could have resulted from wild fires while geofacts could be mistaken for human artefacts. In fact, it is evident that the region experienced several wildfires caused b y the natural processes years before the entry of first humans in the New World (Heaton 2005). Apart from the Clovis culture model, a number of other theories have been developed with the hope of providing alternative explanations for migration from Eurasia to Americas. The watercraft migrations models are important in explain how humans reached the New World from the populated regions in Asia and Europe. The Pacific coastal model argues that human populations travelled along the coastal regions, which made it possible to reach North America. According to the proponents of this theory, it is clear that coastlines provided the human populations with a good and friendly environment for humans because they support a wide range of resources, including plants and animals (Heaton 2005). Both terrestrial and aquatic lives were protected and maintained at the coastlines, which means that human populations depended on the coastlines for their food. The model attempts to show that humans move d along the coast both on land and on using watercrafts to reach various regions between Asia and America. It explains how the human populations colonised distant regions new Bering point, including the Taima-Taime region in Venezuela as well as the controversial Monte Verde region in Chile. Archaeological excavations have found two layers of cultural components at the Monte Verde site in Chile, which have led to the hypothesis that the Pacific coastal models must have been the most possible routes of migration. The youngest layer is dated about 14,000 years old. It contains various kinds of seaweeds that were used by the coastal inhabitants. The older layer was found to be more than 30,000 years, but it is highly controversial and not used as strong evidence to support the Pacific coastal migration hypothesis (Dixon 2005). The Solutrean Hypothesis A third theory attempts to provide some additional information regarding the migration of the Eurasian populations into the Americas. Kn own as the Solutrean hypothesis, the explanation suggest that the migration did not involve Asian groups, but rather the groups came from Europe across the Atlantic. In fact, the term Solutrean is derived from a culture that was existed in Europe some 18,000 to 20,000 years ago. The possible route must have involved boat and raft migration across the Atlantic before moving down beyond the periglacial environment in the eastern parts of the modern day Canada. Although this hypothesis provides an alternative to the Asia-America migration routes, it has a number of weaknesses. For instance, it lacks biological evidence because most of the indigenous people in North America are biologically related to Asian populations rather than European groups. In addition, the indigenous populations in North America and Asia have a number of general similarities such as cultural attributes. For instance, the stone tool technologies in these two regions are similar especially those developed between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago (Jones 2005). These have been located in various parts of Beringia and north-west parts of North America. On the other hand, there is little archaeological evidence linking the Indigenous groups in America with those of Europe, which suggests that the Solutrean migration theory is not viable. Most archaeologists argue that there are few similarities in stone tools and technologies between the Europeans and North American populations some 20,000 years ago cannot be used to explain the routes of migration into the new world. The Paleoindian hypothesis The Paleoindians of the coast (East Asians) migration model, attempts to show that the earliest humans to reach North America originated from East Asia and were largely boat builders (Stanford and Bradley 2011). Some scholars suggest that boast building communities used crude boats to reach as far south as Chile. For instance, the theory shows that in the coast of British Columbia, a human population known as the Haida that colonized Queen Charlotte Islands must have been one of the groups that used this migratory route from Asia. It is estimated that the group were descendants of early Asian miners that left Asia between 24,000 and 10,000 years ago. Like the Clovis migration models, the watercraft migration models have a number of weaknesses that make them less effective in determining the exact routes and processes of human migration from Eurasia to the New World. For instance, this theory cannot explain how humans and animals survived along the coastlines after the glaciations that submerged most coastal regions by more than 100 meters. For instance, it is clear that sea levels in the world have risen by more than 100 meters after the end of the last glaciations period, which has led to submergence of the old coastlines. These are the coastlines thought to have been used by the migrating groups, which make it difficult to explain how the migrations took place (Dixon 2009). Secondly, i t is worth noting that the theories lack archaeological evidence to support their claims. For instance, there are few sites associated with these migrations and it has become difficult for scientists to discover new sites along the coastlines. In addition, it is worth noting that the former coastlines are now submerged, which means that it is difficult to excavate sites under the water. In addition, genetic studies have shown that some of these theories do not apply at all because there is little evidence to link some European or Asian groups with the indigenous Americans. With genetic studies, it has been shown that some theories like the Solutrean are unlikely and wrong. In the next section, a review of genetic linkages will be developed to show the relationships between the indigenous Americans and some human populations in Asia (Jablonski 2002). Genetic evidence and population linkage theory The development of strong genetic studies, including the polymerised chain reaction and molecular markers improved the process of determining linkages between different organisms. In studying human populations and their relationships, these technologies have proved effective in solving some problems in anthropology and archaeology. Most genetic studies focussing on indigenous Americans are based on the human Y-Chromosome DNA halogroups as well AS HAPLOGROUPS OF Human mitochondrial DNA (Eshleman, Ripan and Smith 2003). These use these groups to determine the relationship between indigenous Americans and other populations in other parts of the world. For instance, according to Perego, Angerhofer, Pala, Olivieri et al (2010), a growing number of mitochondrial genomes from Beringia indicate that human populations migrated from Asia to America through the Beringian routes. Haplogroup C1 of human mitochondrial DNA for Asian and indigenous Americans were sequenced and found to have two C1 halogroups as the founder genomes foe the Paleo-Indians. This study indicates that the A merican natives are closely related with some Asian populations and not European groups. In addition, other studies have shown that several gene linkages, founding halotypes and a wide range of homozygosity and heterozygosity are evident. They indicate that human populations spread from Asia to America through Beringia and involved coastline and inland settlements. For instance, the Alaskans, Inuit and Na-Dene exhibit mutations in their haplogroup Q of their Y-chromosomes. This phenomenon is also evident in some Asian groups but missing in European or African populations. Conclusion This paper indicates that American natives are closely related to a number of Asian groups. Several theories such as the Pacific Rim, Biringia, Solutrean and others have attempted to develop models that explain how the Asian groups reached America. However, genetic studies appear to show that watercraft theories are unlikely, but Clovis migration patterns are important. References Cited Burns, J, 2006. V ertebrate Paleontology and the Alleged Ice-Free Corridor: The Meat of the Matter. Quaternary International 32: 107-112. Dickason, Olive, 2007.  Canadas First Nations: A History of the Founding Peoples from the Earliest Times. Oxford University Press, New York Dillehay, T. 1994. A Late Ice-Age Settlement in Southern Chile. Scientific American 25:100-109. Dixon, James, 2003.  Quest for the Origins of the First Americans. University of New Mexico Press, New Mexico. Dixon, James, 2005.  Bones, Boats, and Bison: the Early Archeology of Western North America. University of New Mexico Press, New Mexico. Dixon, James, 2009.  Bones, Boats, and Bison: Archeology and the First Colonization of Western North America. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. Erlandson, J, 1994.  Early Hunter-Gatherers of the California Coast. Plenum Press, New York, NY. Erlandson, Jon, 2001. The Archaeology of Aquatic Adaptations: Paradigms for a New Millennium. Journal of Archaeological Research, 9 : 287–350. Erlandson, Jon, 2004.  Early Hunter-Gatherers of the California Coast. Plenum Press, New York. Erlandson, Jon, Graham, H, Bruce Bourque, Debra Corbett, and James A. Estes, 2007. The Kelp Highway Hypothesis: Marine Ecology, The Coastal Migration Theory, and the Peopling of the Americas. Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2: 161–174. Eshleman, Jason, Ripan Malhi, and David Smith, 2003. Mitochondrial DNA Studies of Native Americans: Conceptions and Misconceptions of the Population Prehistory of the Americas. Evolutionary Anthropology, 12:7–18 Fladmark, R. 2000.  Times and Places: Environmental Correlates of Mid-to-Late Wisconsin Human Population Expansion in North America. Sage Publication, Beverly Hills. Gruhn, R. 2004.  The Pacific Coast Route of Initial Entry: An Overview. Method and Theory for Investigating the Peopling of the Americas. Center for the Study of the First Americans, Oregon State University, Corvallis. Heaton, T. 2005, Mid dle Wisconsin Bear and Rodent Remains Discovered on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. Current Research in the Pleistocene 12:92-95. Jablonski, Newman, 2002.  In The First Americans: The Pleistocene Colonization of the New World. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. Jones, Peter 2005. Respect for the Ancestors: American Indian Cultural Affiliation in the American West. Bauu Institute Press, New York. Muckle, Robert, 2010.  Indigenous Peoples of North America. University of Toronto Press, Toronto. Perego, Ugo, Norman Angerhofer, Maria Pala, Anna Olivieri, and Hovirag Lancioni, et al., 2010 The initial peopling of the Americas: A growing number of founding mitochondrial genomes from Beringia. Genome Research 20: 1174-1179. Stanford, D and Bruce A. Bradley, 2011.  Across Atlantic Ice: The Origin of Americas Clovis Culture. University of California Press, Berkerly Stanford, D and Bruce Bradely, 2012.  Pre-Clovis First Americans: The Origin of Americas Clovi s Culture. University of California Press, Berkerly

How to Find Your Birth Parent or Child

How to Find Your Birth Parent or Child It is estimated that 2% of the U.S. population, or about 6 million Americans, are adoptees. Including biological parents, adoptive parents, and siblings, this means that 1 in 8 Americans are directly touched by adoption. Surveys show that a large majority of these adoptees and birth parents have, at some point, actively searched for biological parents or children separated by adoption. They search for many different reasons, including medical knowledge, the desire to know more about the individuals life, or a major life event, such as the death of an adoptive parent or the birth of a child. The most common reason given, however, is genetic curiosity - a desire to find what a birth parent or child looks like, their talents, and their personality. Whatever your reasons for deciding to start an adoption search, it is important to realize that it will most likely be a difficult, emotional adventure, full of amazing highs and frustrating lows. Once youre ready to undertake an adoption search, however, these steps will help you get started on the journey. How to Begin an Adoption Search The first objective of an adoption search is to discover the names of the birth parents who gave you up for adoption, or the identity of the child you relinquished. What do you already know? Just like a genealogy search, an adoption search begins with yourself. Write down everything you know about your birth and adoption, from the name of the hospital in which you were born to the agency which handled your adoption.Approach your adoptive parents. The best place to turn next is your adoptive parents. They are the ones most likely to hold possible clues. Write down every bit of information they can provide, no matter how insignificant it may seem. If you feel comfortable, then you can also approach other relatives and family friends with your questions.Collect your information in one place. Gather together all available documents. Ask your adoptive parents or contact the appropriate government official for documents such as an amended birth certificate, petition for adoption, and the final decree of adoption.Medical historyHealth statusCause of and age at deathHeight, weight, eye, hair colorEthnic originsLevel of educationProfessional achievementR eligion Ask for your non-identifying information. Contact the Agency or the State that handled your adoption for your non-identifying information. This non-identifying information will be released to the adoptee, adoptive parents, or birth parents, and may include clues to help you in your adoption search. The amount of information varies depending upon the details that were recorded at the time of the birth and adoption. Each agency, governed by state law and agency policy, releases what is considered appropriate and non-identifying, and may include details on the adoptee, adoptive parents, and birth parents such as: on some occasions, this non-identifying information may also include the parents ages at time of birth, the age and sex of other children, hobbies, general geographical location, and even the reasons for the adoption.Sign up for adoption registries. Register in State and National Reunion Registries, also known as Mutual Consent Registries, which are maintained by the government or private individuals. These registries work by allowing each member of the adoption triad to register, hoping to be matched with someone else who might be searching for them. One of the best is the International Soundex Reunion Registry (ISRR). Keep your contact information updated and re-search registries on a regular basis. Join an adoption support group or mailing list. Beyond supplying much needed emotional support, adoption support groups can also provide you with information concerning current laws, new search techniques, and up-to-date information. Adoption search angels may also be available to assist with your adoption search.Hire a confidential intermediary. If youre very serious about your adoption search and have the financial resources (there is usually a substantial fee involved), consider petitioning for the services of a Confidential Intermediary (CI). Many states and provinces have instituted intermediary or search and consent systems to allow adoptees and birth parents the ability to contact each other through mutual consent. The CI is given access to the complete court and/or agency file and, using the information contained in it, attempts to locate the individuals. If and when contact is made by the intermediary, the person found is given the option of allowing or refusing contact by t he party searching. The CI then reports the results to the court; if the contact has been refused that ends the matter. If the person located agrees to contact, the court will authorize the CI to give the name and current address of the person sought to the adoptee or birth parent. Check with the state in which your adoption occurred as to the availability of a Confidential Intermediary System. Once youve identified the name and other identifying information on your birth parent or adoptee, your adoption search can be conducted in much the same way as any other search for living people.

Plans on How to Use the 15 by 15 Foot Office Space Assignment

Plans on How to Use the 15 by 15 Foot Office Space - Assignment Example Occasionally, other employees could join the interns in the entertainment rooms and motivate them to work hard and get employed some day. Moreover, the entertainment centers will also be a perfect space to conduct motivational talks where various motivational speakers can be invited to motivate these interns. This entertainment centers will act as recreational centers for these interns and a place that they can unwind after facing a lot of pressure at work. That is why it is necessary for it to be as comfortable as possible. The following are the purchases that are planned for the entertainment space: The reason for this choice is that most interns are often afraid of dealing with other employees in the organization. Since most this is the first internship for most of them, it is important to make them feel comfortable and cared for. As a result, they are able to be highly motivated to maximize on their potential (Chapman and Ward, 400). The purchases I made are the most cost-effective in the market considering the high-quality products they are and the likelihood of them to last long. I use some of these at home and I can assure you that they are among the best qualities there is in the market. Plans are also underway to create soundproof walls in the office space to reduce the disturbance to other employees in the organization. This is likely to cost approximately $ 10000 together with stocking the fridge with snacks, purchasing coffee, and other small kitchen appliances including some mugs and glasses. The room will also be stocked with various magazines and books on IT and ho w the organization works to enable the interns to peruse through whenever they get the chance. I hope that you will consider this plan and give a go ahead for me to start working on it.

Marketing Implementation, Evaluation and Control, and Monitoring Research Paper

Marketing Implementation, Evaluation and Control, and Monitoring Procedure - Research Paper Example This paper illustrates that KFC is a functional marketing organization. In KFC stores, each and every activity is grouped on the basis of function. All the functions in the KFC are sub-divided into different sub-functions. All the sub-functions are supervised by the different managers and all those managers are controlled by the marketing manager of the company. In the last 11 years, KFC has sponsored all the Twenty20 international cricket tournaments in Australia. For the last 5 years, the organization was the main sponsored by the Australian Big Bash. In between 1998 to 2000, the organization was significantly related to the different gaming and entertainment related companies. During this time KFC US tied up with Game Freak, Nintendo, and 4 Kids Entertainment. In the last 16 years, Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation has fulfilled different responsibilities. Starting from 2006 to 2012 the organization has continued with Colonel’s Scholars program. In this program, the organiz ation awarded $12.5 million educational grants. This responsible activity awarded scholarships to almost 500 brilliant students in the US. Since 2005 to 2013 the organization has donated almost 200,000 meals whenever any disaster struck the US. Sponsoring Twenty20 International in Australia has been significantly successful for the organization. This sponsorship has helped the growth of the company in Australia and it also has sparked the business growth in neighboring New Zealand. Overall performance standards are satisfactory and the company is considering continuing with it. The decision to tie up with the different gaming companies has increased the popularity of the brand among the children and youth. In the case of this activity also the company maintained superior performance standard. Colonel’s Scholarship program and donation of meals impacted the minds of the US people. Citizens of the country were emotionally attached to all these programs.

Case report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Case report - Essay Example As a leader and a manager, James Riady has not been able to completely professionalize the family business. This is a common challenge that faces family owned businesses. The effects of lack of professionalism can be very extreme if not taken care of in time. Smith & Cockburn (2014) argues that the problem of professionalism can only be solved from the top management since it is the source of all power in a business. Whenever the leadership of a business fails to create room for professionalism, it simply means that it is creating room for failure. The importance of professionalism is that it creates a more stable and reliable system of operation and structures that facilitate the incorporation of different expertise. Whenever a business is operated without professionalism, it becomes hard for accountability to be traced back to the leadership and management involved. This is because lack of professionalism creates loop holes for people to make mistakes that might be very harmful to the business. James Riady for a long time has been working based in transformational other than transactional basis. The decisions made by Lippo group were more based on instincts other than detailed analysis. This has therefore given the leader freedom to ma ke major decisions without much consultation among other members of the business. Professionalism if not taken care of, can easily lead to compromise of the ethical codes and standards. When the ethical issues start to rise in a business, the leadership of the business is often put on the spotlight to shun light on the issues. This becomes worse when it is one of the leaders involved in these issues. Professionalism gives a clear line and guideline on how to deal with ethical issues. According to Brooks et al. (2010), firms encourage their employees and the management to operate with the highest level of professionalism by ensuring that they do not violate the ethical issues and codes of

History short paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History short paper - Essay Example The primary source indicates that during this time period, religion was prevalent and almost all France citizens and residents could identify with some sort of religious belief. The edict was basically addressing religious issues. The law outlines that during this time period, Catholic was the recognized religion, with most of the French practicing or being expected to practice Catholic as a religion, as provided by the edicts and statues. The Edict of Nantes also brought out the fact that identifying with a particluar religion was a cause for religious discrimination. The Protestants were not permitted to worship freely and in public. In addition, it shows that during this time period, the government was biased and did not serve its subject as equals. Apart from denying them their religious freedom, the government did not recognize protestant marriages and termed them as illegal leaving the children to be branded as illegitimate. This, therefore, was a hindrance to property rights and property inheritance. The increased level of discrimination and conflicts among religions resulted into violence in various regions. In France, for example, there were a total of eight outbreaks of violence as a matter of religious differences. The greatest being St Bartholomew’s Day massacre in Paris (Bramlett 2-4). The greatest issue that the Edict of Nantes intended to address was religious freedom. It indeed o recognize that France had many subjects who had different interests. These interests included issues such as worship and it was crucial for them to be allowed to practice what they believed. The other issue that the edict clearly brought out was that marriage had to be legal, regardless of ones religion. This was beneficial for the protestants whose marriages, as indicated above, were not recognized as legal. Legalizing marriages for all religions ensured that all children attained the right to inherit property. The edict, however, still emphasized on Catholic

Persuasive synthesis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Persuasive synthesis - Essay Example They are treated as interesting subjects for study and they are not considered human beings anymore, but rather subjects for research. According to the guidelines set by Papadimos and his colleagues, patient care in the movie, â€Å"Wit† (2001), was partially effectively given because Dr. Kelekian discussed the treatment with the patient and was frank with her about the possible results of the extremely aggressive treatment that was presented. However, the doctors did not discuss with the patient her end-of-life plan. Although with Vivian Bearing’s wit, she was able to read between the lines and understand that the treatment was not working because the cancer cells were just spreading in other parts of the patient’s body, the doctors did not directly discuss things with her. Moreover, it took the courage of a nurse to consult with the patient about the issue of the patient’s dying for her to think about what she would choose the doctors to do in case her h eart stops. Since Dr. Kelekian and his partner were very interested in studying the patient’s case, one cannot help but question their interest in not discussing the patient’s end-of-life plan. Moreover, the doctors failed to recognize dying symptoms such as extreme agony. In one of the doctor’s visit to the patient’s room who was obviously in torment, the physician asked Ms. Bearing if she was in pain and the patient found it ridiculous. Nevertheless, the nurse observed such flaws of the doctors and did her best to provide the patient with the care that she deserved as a human being. Byrne claims that metaphors are also used not only in literature but also in understanding what patients go through. Since not all people go through the same circumstances, not everyone would be able to understand what patients would be going through. However, with the use of metaphors, one could perhaps have a glimpse of the agonies of sicknesses and therefore understand wh at the patient longs for. Henceforth, the caregiver could effectively provide the necessary care and understanding to the patient. On the other hand, metaphor can also be used by doctors to explain the jargons of the medical world to the patient. In the aforementioned movie, Dr. Jason easily used metaphors to explain Ms. Bearing’s health conditions to her and being a literary scholar, the patient was quick to understand the explanation. As a result, there was a point wherein the doctor and the patient had an intellectual sharing about their own professions which gave Bearing new perspectives. Pope Benedict in his speech in 2007 stressed that more palliative care centers are needed to â€Å"provide integral care, offering the sick the human assistance and spiritual accompaniment they need†. Indeed, hospitals should not be just a place where patients are admitted and studied like animals. Rather, they should be treated with all their dignity intact despite the possibilit ies of recovering or dying. In the movie, doctors were careless about the rights of the patient to be treated well because she was not give the care and spiritual assistance a human being needs. This made the patient look back to the times when she was strong and full of health. Like the doctors, she lacked sensitivity to human needs. She was disciplined in her manners and demanded the same from her students. She regretted how she treated other people and wished she would have been a little kinder to them. Eventually, this helped

Biological Basis of Morality (Animals) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Biological Basis of Morality (Animals) - Essay Example Animals in circuses can, through programmed behavior, produce incredible performances due to constant practice and strict regimen. These aspects have been discussed in detail in the article through which a reader becomes able to clearly understand the author’s perspective. In general, animals mainly cater to their biological needs like food, sleep, urge for procreation and fear. These are the four factors that the animals share with humans but when one considers the intellectual aspects animals are not bestowed with this faculty. Thus whatever they do depends on their biological needs as emerging from the article, without having an influence from psychological or philosophical needs as opposed to humans. It can be seen that animals do certain activity as discussed below which is common to humans; but how they do it is different because while all acts of animals stem from their biological structure, humans are also motivated and guided by their intellect. I will illustrate below how the arguments in the article are supported from examining the acts common to humans and animals, and how they differ in the context of morality in both groups: - Both animals and humans have to work for satisfying their hunger. While animals hunt for food, human beings work to earn their livelihood. The biological urges in animals force them to kill weaker animals and birds to satisfy their hunger. Therefore, it can be stated that the biological structure is what makes them do this activity. Humans, on the other hand, do not kill out of a biological need to satisfy hunger; if at all a human being kills, it is after a lot of meditation, for a specific purpose and not necessarily to quell his hunger. Sleep is essential for all living beings. It is during this period that they recharge their mental and physical capacities to prepare themselves for work to be performed during the next day. A human

Persuasive synthesis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Persuasive synthesis - Essay Example They are treated as interesting subjects for study and they are not considered human beings anymore, but rather subjects for research. According to the guidelines set by Papadimos and his colleagues, patient care in the movie, â€Å"Wit† (2001), was partially effectively given because Dr. Kelekian discussed the treatment with the patient and was frank with her about the possible results of the extremely aggressive treatment that was presented. However, the doctors did not discuss with the patient her end-of-life plan. Although with Vivian Bearing’s wit, she was able to read between the lines and understand that the treatment was not working because the cancer cells were just spreading in other parts of the patient’s body, the doctors did not directly discuss things with her. Moreover, it took the courage of a nurse to consult with the patient about the issue of the patient’s dying for her to think about what she would choose the doctors to do in case her h eart stops. Since Dr. Kelekian and his partner were very interested in studying the patient’s case, one cannot help but question their interest in not discussing the patient’s end-of-life plan. Moreover, the doctors failed to recognize dying symptoms such as extreme agony. In one of the doctor’s visit to the patient’s room who was obviously in torment, the physician asked Ms. Bearing if she was in pain and the patient found it ridiculous. Nevertheless, the nurse observed such flaws of the doctors and did her best to provide the patient with the care that she deserved as a human being. Byrne claims that metaphors are also used not only in literature but also in understanding what patients go through. Since not all people go through the same circumstances, not everyone would be able to understand what patients would be going through. However, with the use of metaphors, one could perhaps have a glimpse of the agonies of sicknesses and therefore understand wh at the patient longs for. Henceforth, the caregiver could effectively provide the necessary care and understanding to the patient. On the other hand, metaphor can also be used by doctors to explain the jargons of the medical world to the patient. In the aforementioned movie, Dr. Jason easily used metaphors to explain Ms. Bearing’s health conditions to her and being a literary scholar, the patient was quick to understand the explanation. As a result, there was a point wherein the doctor and the patient had an intellectual sharing about their own professions which gave Bearing new perspectives. Pope Benedict in his speech in 2007 stressed that more palliative care centers are needed to â€Å"provide integral care, offering the sick the human assistance and spiritual accompaniment they need†. Indeed, hospitals should not be just a place where patients are admitted and studied like animals. Rather, they should be treated with all their dignity intact despite the possibilit ies of recovering or dying. In the movie, doctors were careless about the rights of the patient to be treated well because she was not give the care and spiritual assistance a human being needs. This made the patient look back to the times when she was strong and full of health. Like the doctors, she lacked sensitivity to human needs. She was disciplined in her manners and demanded the same from her students. She regretted how she treated other people and wished she would have been a little kinder to them. Eventually, this helped

Remote Document Vault OCD (Operational Concept Document) Essay

Remote Document Vault OCD (Operational Concept Document) - Essay Example Even though there are existing document vaults that are used in various enterprise architectures, the core essence of this project was to bring on a new dimension of source code repository architecture document that is founded on the principles of remote sensing. As far uses are concerned, the remote document vault is built on a principle of user friendliness and easy interactivity. This means that the component features and technical dimensions of the system are made in such a way that one would not have to be technologically inclined to use the system. The rationale for doing this was to ensure that the architecture fits into as many enterprises as possible, where the need to use basic text files is not the sole prerogative of a reserved few within the enterprise. The structure of the remote document vault is designed as a cyclical framework that makes the exchange of data between users and the remote source a constant process. Within the process, there is constant insertion and ex traction of files to and from the remote with Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) serving as the vault server. Among the critical issues that the project addresses are performance issues, test server issues, data transfer security issues, and test result log issues. Introduction Document management is fast becoming a phenomenon with modern operational concept document (OCD). ... igation of this research work is therefore aimed at the development f Document Vault, which works from a client and server interfaces (Ambrose, 1998). The Document Vault shall be operational based on a remote tracking system, giving way for the core provision of operational concept document and document management system to be covered. In effect, a remote document vault will be needed to quicken the process of documentation within the enterprise by enabling insertion and extraction of text files to a remote location. In enterprises with such remote document vault OCD, it has been noticed that a twofold merit of processing and storage are all taken care of. What is more, text files that are stored within the remote system can easily display information about their properties and relationship with other files on the system. Indeed as this happens, it is certain that decision making on the text files will be easier and enhanced (Barber and Delwyn, 2001). This is where it is said that re mote document vault brings about efficiency as it enables architecture users to have more done within very short time frame. There are key organization principles and key architectural ideas that shall be incorporated in the remote document vault creation. First and foremost, there shall be a purpose to consider the impact of specific uses on design. This is meant to mean that there shall be different uses to be tested for a single design of the document vault. For the test of results, each specific use shall be critically tested for each design before making decisive choice for an approved design. Specifically, there is also expected to be document parent-child relationships where various software specification documents (SSD) shall be used as a child. Meanwhile, this software

Diffusion and Osmosis Shown In Solutions Essay Example for Free

Diffusion and Osmosis Shown In Solutions Essay This lab, title Diffusion and Osmosis, was centered around the diffusion across a cellular membrane and how exactly materials move and diffuse in concentrations. Both diffusion and osmosis are forms of movement that are part of passive transport dealing with cell membranes. Diffusion is where the solutes move from an area of high concentration to a low concentration. Water goes through the cell membranes by diffusion. Osmosis is specifically the movement of water through membranes. Since osmosis and diffusion are both part of passive transport, this means that they do not require energy or pumps. There are different environments created due to diffusion. There are hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic environments. Hypotonic is when the solution has a lower solute concentration compared to the water potential. The hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration and lower water potential. In an isotonic solution, there is no net movement and there is an equal concentration of solutes and water. In our lab, we modeled diffusion and osmosis with a hospital scenario. It is important for an IV solution to have salts in it so the water and solute can be equal to create an isotonic environment. If there wasn’t, there would either be a hypotonic causing the cell to burst, or there would be hypertonic causing the cell to shrink. We created models of living cells by using dialysis tubing. The dialysis tube represented the cell membrane to act as selectively permeable to water and some solutes. We observed different solutes (NaCl, Ovalbumin, Glucose, Sucrose, and Water) in the dialysis tubing. The problem was what environment the solutes would create and whether water would diffuse in or out of the cell. I predicted that all of the tubes will be in a hypotonic environment after the 30 minutes because there is a higher concentration of water outside the cell. The water will diffuse inside the cell, therefore the cell will gain weight. We took the initial weight of each tube with the solute inside, the final weight, and then after took the percent change in weight. The control of the experiment was the model cell where there was water  inside and outside the cell. My data proved my hypothesis and led me to conclude that all of the solutions were in a hypotonic environment. For the second part of the experiment we were to think of an inquiry. The purpose was to identify concentrations of sucrose solutions that we were given. We were to find what solution was closest to being isotonic in order to identify which of them was water. There were 6 different solutions that we observed. There were red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple solutions. For my individual inquiry, I used a potato to be placed in the solutions. I found that the potato does not shrink because it has a cell wall which supports and maintains a plant cells structure. I predicted that the potato would remain the same size in the blue solution because it would have an isotonic environment. I thought that if the potato was placed in a hypotonic environment, then the percent change in mass would be greater than if placed in a hypertonic environment. Materials and Methods My tested hypothesis was that all of the dialysis tubes (cells) would have a hypotonic environment. If the dialysis tubes were placed in the beaker for 30 minutes, then after the 30 minutes, the water would diffuse in the cell, causing it to gain weight. For the first procedure, I created model cells with different solutions to determine the rate of diffusion. The weights with the filled cell models can determine rate and direction of diffusion by measuring the percent change of mass and determining the environment after the experiment. A solid control for the procedure is to use water because that is in an isotonic environment, meaning that both concentrations are equal. There were four solutions that were used in the experiment: sucrose, NaCl, glucose, and ovalbumin and the control: water. I took the five dialysis tubings which were acting as cells and filled them with 10 mL of each solution. We knotted each end but made sure to leave enough space at the top for water to diffuse  in the cell. The initial weight was taken and recorded in a data table. The five cells were placed in a beaker filled with water for 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes, the cells were weighed, and the final weight was recorded in the data table, and then the percent change was calculated. The materials used in this procedure were beakers, water, sucrose, glucose, NaCl, ovalbumin, 20 cm-long dialysis tubing and balances. In the inquiry, I predicted that the blue solution was water and that it would have an isotonic environment, meaning there would be no percent change.I first cut the potatoes into 6 cylinders of the same size by using a cork. I got six beakers and filled each with 20 mL of the different color-coated solutions with different concentrations (orange, red, yellow, green, blue purple). The initial mass of each potato cylinder was taken before placing in the solution. I placed the potatoes in the appropriate labeled beaker (1-6) of each solution and let them sit there for 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes, I took the final mass of each cylinder and calculated the percent change in mass.The materials that were used in the inquiry were potatoes, corks, pipettes, balances, scalpels, beakers, and the color-coded sucrose solutions. In this inquiry, the solutions in a hypotonic environment were red, yellow, and blue. Those solutions all had final weights that were greater than initial weights. The orange and green colors both had final weights that were smaller than their initial weights, which means they were in a hypertonic environment. The purple color was in an isotonic environment because the initial and final weights are the same. Discussion and Conclusions In conclusion, my understanding for diffusion and osmosis has been sharpened. I observed the different parts of passive transport: diffusion and osmosis. They both go with the concentration gradient from an area of high to low concentration. My hypothesis for procedure 1, that all of the dialysis tubings would be in a hypotonic environment was correct. This occurred because the tubings were placed in a beaker of water. This means that there was a higher concentration of water than the solute, causing the water to diffuse in the cell after 30 minutes. When water diffuses into the cell, this causes the cell to be enlarged. Some errors I could have made in the experiments would be failure to pay attention to the timing when the tubes and potatoes were in the solutions, inaccurate measuring when gathering the solutions and the potatoes may have not been exactly the same size. This experiment relates to the AP Biology Big ideas and Science Practices because by observing the cells, I tried to maintain equilibrium or homeostasis by being in an isotonic environment, I also used representations and models to communicate scientific theories when I used the dialysis tubings to form as cells. I properly calculated mathematics by using the percent change formula. I feel I gained more knowledge by questioning and forming my beginning hypothesis for each step.