Media Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Media - Assignment Example Any story that sells means that the advertisers have a field day. Prior to the 2008 US presidential elections, Mr. Obama’s religion was questioned. There were claims that the former senator was a Muslim (Smith et. al., 2009). The media made this such a debate, so much so, he had to lay the issue to rest. Pundits viewed the scandal as a propaganda meant to derail his presidential ambitions then. The media have always capitalized on such scandals to cash in money (Smith et. al., 2009). Although the issue of religion is a â€Å"public issue†, one wonders why it did not generate endless debates prior to the campaigns. For instance, does one have to account for their middle names? Such was the case with Obama’s â€Å"Hussein† middle name. Politicians, like the rest of us, deserve to a fair treatment by the media (Marion, 2010). Some scandals were able to expose the mistakes and ‘evil’ sides of the politicians; majority of them were ‘created’ by different media houses so that they could make more money selling the stories to curious citizens (Marion, 2010). The pubic have a right to know the integrity of their leaders or would-be leaders; however, the politicians are entitled to their privacy. The media must ensure they expose only the scandals that touch of the politician’s integrity and efficiency concerning their public

Other Cosmic Quandaries Essay Example for Free

Other Cosmic Quandaries Essay Even readers with no prior experience with theoretical physics, cosmology, or astronomy, will find Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries (2007) by Neil deGrasse Tyson, very accessible. In fact, it may very well be the ideal starter manual both for aspiring cosmologists and non-specialist readers who are curious about the history and ultimate destiny of the universe. The vast majority of cosmology books are dry and overly laden with mathematical equations and technical jargon. While such information is very useful for specialists, it would instantly put off a non-scientific audience. Tyson, on the other hand, keeps his presentation engaging and fun by introducing each topic clearly and concisely, successfully simplifying complex astronomical concepts and making them easy to understand. On the subject of black holes, he helps us understand them by asking us to visualize certain phenomena with each of our senses. He also uses funny analogies and examples to explain physical principles. First, in seeking to prove that the laws of physics are universal, he suggests the use of science as a sort of universal Esperanto in gaining the peaceful acquaintance of alien cultures: â€Å"You don’t even know whether shaking their hands – if indeed they have hands to shake – would be considered an act of war or of peace. Your best hope is to find a way to communicate using the language of science†(p. 33). A few pages later, he proves the universality of physics by ordering a hot cocoa in a dessert shop in Pasadena, California. He ordered whipped cream with his drink, however, the chocolate mix did not show any evidence of it, in spite of the waiter’s assertions to the contrary: `Since whipped cream has a very low density and floats on all liquids that humans consume, I offered the waiter two possible explanations: either somebody forgot to add the whipped cream to my hot cocoa or the universal laws of physics were different in this restaurant†(p. 37). If the latter explanation was correct, perhaps said dessert shop could become a tourist site where patrons can hurriedly dine on entrees that disappear at random intervals. To introduce concepts such as x-rays, he cites popular shows such as Superman and Star Trek to give the audience a familiar point of reference. However, the most interesting part of the book was chapter 23, when he used the children’s classic ‘Goldilocks and the Three [Planets] to compare the habitability of Venus, Earth and Mars. Who knew one could compare planets to porridge? `Once upon a time, some four billion years ago, the formation of the solar system was nearly complete. ` `And among the dozens of planets that had formed, some were on unstable orbits and crashed into the sun or Jupiter. Others were ejected from the solar system altogether. In the end, the few that remained had orbits that were `just right` to survive billions of years† (p. 207-8). Of course Venus was much too hot with its oppressive atmosphere of carbon dioxide with an atmospheric pressure 90 times that of the earth. Even though it has a reputation for being the planet of love, the climate is most reminiscent of Hell. Mars, on the other hand, is much too cold. Even though there is water at the poles, the average surface temperatures are on par with the Antarctic†¦sometimes it can get even worse than that. Earth is just right because of its distance from the sun, a wide range of habitable areas (for a wide variety of species), and enough water to sustain them. Another enjoyable chapter was â€Å"Hollywood Night†, which highlighted many of the myths and misconceptions the film industry uses to entertain people. Overall, the book was lively and engrossing. Placing his work in the context of Galileo, James Joule, Jacob Cornelius Kapteyn, and Pierre-Simon Laplace, he brings the excitement of new discoveries closer to us. It is almost as though we are there with the great scientists of the time. After one semester of Astronomy, I was already familiar with most concepts Tyson introduces and could therefore very easily follow his arguments. The outline of the book was comparable to many philosophers because he would pose a question at the beginning of the chapter and try to present a compelling argument for each section. The only part that merits criticism is chapter five, which in my opinion is redundant. There are many experiments a reader can carry out with a stick and a patch of mud to measure time and the position of the sun, but the chapter does not introduce any new information or arguments. While Tyson successfully manages to infuse humor, unfortunately, the jokes tend to repeat and reappear in different chapters. For example, he twice mentions that if the sun were yellow, snow would also be yellow â€Å"whether or not it fell near fire hydrants. † Recently, there has been much discussion among many scientists and philosophers that mysticism and empiricism are not as separate as most people seem to think. The concluding section of Tyson’s book gives a strong and coherent description of the relationship between religion and science. Ultimately, Tyson concludes that there is no such relationship. In the future, I am looking forward to learning much more about life, the universe, and everything, but this is a good start for now. References Tyson, N. D. (2007). Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries. NY: W. W. Norton.

Meeting at airport :: English Literature

Meeting at airport Ali had just driven through the rush hour traffic of London with his mother. He had arrived several hours earlier than necessary for the arrival of his wife’s return flight from India. His wife and son had been on holiday in India. He knew he had a couple of hours before his wife arrived. He had been married for two years. His wife was born in India. He had gone to India after completing his studies. He travelled to India with his parents to visit relatives, and to have a holiday before he started his new job. While he was on holiday, he made many friends. It was while staying with his grandparents that he met his future wife. His wife was the daughter of one of his neighbours. He was in India for only two months and within two months he had met, someone with whom he wanted to marry. During his walk around the arrivals area, he bumped into Ali a friend from his school who he had not seen for many years. Ali said to Sanjay†Hello, how are you, I haven’t seen you for ages!† Sanjay replied, â€Å"It’s you Ali, my old friend we have a lot of catching up to do.† Ali said† I have been married for a couple of years and I am waiting for my wife and son to return from India.† Sanjay replied, â€Å"I am waiting for my second wife to return from India, her job involves a lot of travelling.† Sanjay continued, â€Å"We’ve recently been allowed to adopt a child by the local authority.† Ali was surprised that Sanjay had been previously married. Sanjay said, â€Å"I was married to my first wife for about a year before we separated† Sanjay continued, â€Å"I wanted my wife to stay at home, and for us to start a family,† â€Å"my wife didn’t want to stay at home, she wanted to continue with her career.† Sanjay continued, â€Å"I believe that a woman’s place is in the home and it is important for her to look after the house and the children after these responsibilities she can pursue a career.† Ali said, â€Å"I don’t completely agree as the maintenance of the house and children nowadays are a joint responsibility between Husband and Wife.† Ali’s eye caught the flight arrivals board, which indicated that their flight had landed.† Ali told Sanjay that their flight had arrived. Sanjay said, â€Å"I expect my wife to leave her job when she becomes pregnant.† Sanjay continued, â€Å"I wouldn’t want her to work again until our child was at least three years old, and starting nursery.† Ali said â€Å"Goodbye!†

Tracking Tv Programs :: essays research papers

Tracking TV Programs Since its invention, television has been an important part of American life and culture. In our modern society, there are even those who would argue that it has become an absolute necessity. Recently, many people have been debating whether or not television content is corrupting our youth and Americans in general. In spite of this, I believe that the networks do an adequate job of providing programs that appeal to the different categories of viewing audiences. In the early evening, one can find a variety of programs that connect with a large audience spanning children to adults, however as the night progresses the program content changes in order to target mature audiences only. When the early evening programming begins at around five o'clock the viewer has various selections to choose from. It is about this time that many people are returning home from work, so news programs are a staple of these early time slots. Following this is a barrage of comedy sitcoms, movies, and dramas, such as "Home Improvement" and "Melrose Place". Their viewers include children, families, and single adults. Therefore, these time slots draw larger audiences than any other. As the evening dwells on, one can start to see a gradual change in program content as they begin to lose the younger viewers and start focusing on more mature audiences. The content becomes more violent and sexually explicit. The comedy also follows this pattern and becomes more adult oriented, such as HBO's "Def Comedy Jam". This is also the time of night that those famous infomercials begin airing. The reason for this is that these are the cheapest time slots to buy and broadcast on.

The Concept and Practice of Depreciation

The concept and practice of depreciation plays an integral part in a company†s cash flow situation and funding. The two main reasons this occurs are that firstly depreciation is a for of self finance, and secondly because a company does not have to pay taxes on depreciation, hence excluding taxation from a cash amount which enlarges the cash flow of a company. As a term, depreciation is defined as a loss in value, a diminishment in market price, always taking the time factor into account, because the view point of depreciation is always a rate of change in value in an asset (fixed or current) compared to the present value of that asset. If a company purchases or rents machinery, or any sort of equipment used for production purposes, it has to take into account the purchased or rented good†s production life span, meaning that everything has a certain period of time in which it contributes to production before it is rendered useless. I use the term useless in the sense that what is produced does not bring profit to the company due to wear and tear resulting in production time loss and a lower standard of quality. The time based usefulness of an asset of course varies depending on what the asset is. If it is a van for example, its usefulness might be seven years before the van needs replacing, but if it is a building we are talking about, its usefulness may be forty years. For example, is a JCB digger were to be purchased in 2000 at the value of  £15000, and its productive life span were to be eight years, this would mean that in eight years time, the digger purchased would cease to be of any productive use to the company which purchased it. If it were to be resoled in 2008 though, its value would have depreciated drastically due to the time lapse from the initial purchase. Its depreciation, hence its devaluation, is its year zero value less an annual percentage of the devaluation process updated annually. Depreciation does not only apply to current assets, but also is applicable to fixed asset as well. Buildings for example lose their value too taking the time scale factor into account. If a building is purchased in 1970 as a newly built structure, its value will have definitely decreased in 2025 by the depreciation rate estimated. The way depreciation is worked out is by subtracting the rate of depreciation (of the year in question) from the present value. The rate of depreciation varies from year to year by its power (in the process of the annual 1 multiplied by the percentage rate of depreciation) being the year number of its depreciation and its depreciation rate possibly varying from year to year. Because depreciation is subtracted from the assets of a financial statement, it is not subject to taxation, therefore the company has automatically achieved a higher cash flow status by depreciating its assets, the worth of its capital value. We can see this in the following mock cash flow calculation (Last Page). In the first and second row, because depreciation is included, the cash and accounting sum of depreciation is not taxed, this leaves the company with more cash flow compared to the third column of the calculation sheet where depreciation is not included. This form of saving, or investing, not only allows a company to have a greater financial mobility in the market it is involved in, but also ensures the replacement of necessary current and fixed assets needed for production purposes. The best way for a firm to be financed it through self finance, and since depreciation is retained cash for future asset replacement, it is a form of self financing. This saves the company paying out interest rates on bank loans for example, an external source of finance which demands a price for the service provided to the company.

How a Daughter Grieves the Loss of a Mother

How a Daughter Grieves the Loss of a Mother A son’s a son till he takes a wife, a daughter’s a daughter for the rest of her life. By and large, this old folk saying still rings true. Generally, young men are raised to become autonomous beings, and the act is regarded as mandatory to their adult development. On the other hand, young women are raised to become moms themselves and remain close to their mothers, setting off what many psychologists maintain is the most intense relationship in a woman’s life. The mother-daughter bond is essential, and 80-90 percent of women report good relationships with their mothers during their midlife, despite wanting an even stronger relationship. What Happens When a Mother Passes When her mother dies, the adult daughter loses her security touchstone. As long as her mother is alive, even if she’s halfway across the country, she’s often only a phone call away. Even if a daughter doesn’t always reach out to her mother when she has a problem, knowing her mother is around can be reassuring. Alternatively, when mom dies, the daughter is starkly alone. Women with close mother-daughter relationships may feel the loss more acutely, but the dynamics are the same for women who report conflicted relationships with their mothers- there is a prevailing tendency to feel unmoored. According to a 2016 article by psychologist Susan Campbell, 92% of daughters say that their relationship with their mother is positive, and over half of women say their mother was more influential than their father. Coping With a Mother Who Has Died Many adult daughters hold a story of their mothers that is based more on the daughters’ wounded memories than on the real truth of their mothers’ lives. For the brave at heart, the immediate aftermath of a mother’s death can be an opportunity for a more objective, compassionate understanding of her and, in turn, a resolution of long-standing differences. Clues to a mother’s true narrative can be found by listening attentively to stories told at the funeral, studying her letters and personal writings, and reviewing her choice of reading materials and entries in her calendar. Even the contents of her closet can help to fill in the gaps of her life. Daughters can take this time to learn more about their mother, and cope with the grief by expressing their feelings, remembering and cherishing their mom, and allowing themselves to grieve properly. Learning About Mom Through Memories Often, there can be a real disparity between a mother’s public self and her private self, or the one portrayed in the family. Many women lead much more accomplished lives than their mothers, which can mask their gifts. A mother’s death can be an excellent time to revisit her teachings. For example, Hillary Clinton’s mother, Dorothy Rodham, was cast off by her parents and sent to live with harsh grandparents. She never got the opportunity to attend college, but when Hillary phoned home from Wellesley, worried that she wouldn’t make the grade, Dorothy encouraged her to stick it out, something she had learned the hard way. Theres no doubt that Hillary Clinton’s reputation as a tenacious candidate and negotiator owes a lot to her mother’s support. Embedded in this example is the knowledge that mothers want the best for their daughters. We can return the favor by rediscovering our mother’s stories and honoring them.

Free Essays on The Cast Of Amontillado

The Cask Of Amontillado It is Edgar Allan Poe’s intense use of intense irony throughout the cask of Amontillado that establishes the short story as an indeed interesting candidate worthy of thorough analysis. The skill full use of these devices are utilized by the author to create this horrific a suspenseful masterpiece. The Cask Of Amontillado is a horror short story, which revolves around the themes of revenge and pride. The plot involves two men: Montresor, the narrator, who is an Italian aristocrat seeking revenge against the second main character: Fortunato, a proud man that boast about his connoisseurship of wines and who finally walks into his own death. From the very beginning we notice the apparition of irony in the story. The very mane Fortunato would clearly imply that this is a man of good fortune, when the actual case is that he is about to suffer an untimely demise: the end of his life. The setting in which the story takes place again shows an ironic element. It is during Venice’s Carnival that the characters meet. Carnival is supposed to be a time of celebration and happiness for everybody. However, in the tale it is a time for revenge and death. The atmosphere changes drastically when the two protagonists leave the gaiety of carnival for the gloomy and desolate catacombs beneath Montresor’s palazzo. We learn from the narrator that when he first meets Fortunado the latter has apparently been drinking and is dressed in many colors, resembling a jester. His costume suggests that he will be the one playing the fool. On the other hand Montresor is dressed in a black colored cloak and has his face covered in a black mask. At this point one can mention the presence of symbols: the black mask and outfit might be a representation of Death or the devil. Such figure foreshadows the events taking place later that night in the damp catacombs. More memorable lines in the story are given by Montresor in response to Fortuna... Free Essays on The Cast Of Amontillado Free Essays on The Cast Of Amontillado The Cask Of Amontillado It is Edgar Allan Poe’s intense use of intense irony throughout the cask of Amontillado that establishes the short story as an indeed interesting candidate worthy of thorough analysis. The skill full use of these devices are utilized by the author to create this horrific a suspenseful masterpiece. The Cask Of Amontillado is a horror short story, which revolves around the themes of revenge and pride. The plot involves two men: Montresor, the narrator, who is an Italian aristocrat seeking revenge against the second main character: Fortunato, a proud man that boast about his connoisseurship of wines and who finally walks into his own death. From the very beginning we notice the apparition of irony in the story. The very mane Fortunato would clearly imply that this is a man of good fortune, when the actual case is that he is about to suffer an untimely demise: the end of his life. The setting in which the story takes place again shows an ironic element. It is during Venice’s Carnival that the characters meet. Carnival is supposed to be a time of celebration and happiness for everybody. However, in the tale it is a time for revenge and death. The atmosphere changes drastically when the two protagonists leave the gaiety of carnival for the gloomy and desolate catacombs beneath Montresor’s palazzo. We learn from the narrator that when he first meets Fortunado the latter has apparently been drinking and is dressed in many colors, resembling a jester. His costume suggests that he will be the one playing the fool. On the other hand Montresor is dressed in a black colored cloak and has his face covered in a black mask. At this point one can mention the presence of symbols: the black mask and outfit might be a representation of Death or the devil. Such figure foreshadows the events taking place later that night in the damp catacombs. More memorable lines in the story are given by Montresor in response to Fortuna...