Green Power

Cleaner electricity generation is on its way for full implementation as many of power consumers are now aware how could avail of it. In the official blog site of the US Environmental Protection Agency, many of its visitors had said in their comments that they had already installed or purchased from a private electric company a way how could they use green power.Some had also leaved a link to the sites of their energy provider that gives them an option for cleaner energy generation. But others still had said that they could not choose to opt to green power because of area and cost constraints.People who had said that they had installed solar panels and/or avail power generated through wind or geothermal admits that they pay more for their electricity consumption as compared when they were not using it. Since conversion into cleaner energy consumption would cost more to the people, they might rather ignore their wish to take part with a cleaner environment. Some even says that going in to cleaner energy generation is just propaganda of electric companies that would mean more profit on their part.Some still had said that they had no choice whether to use green power or not because it’s their individual power provider could only decide. As I had completed browsing all of the comments, I suggest that yes there is a need for a greener electricity generation but the problem is that people where afraid of their initial additional cost. Yes, it cost more than the regular energy we consume from burnt coal but like what one comment had said, people are not aware of the hidden cost the people might suffer if we continue using it because experts says that burning coal adds up to the air pollution.As we enter into the era of information age, ideas are now easy to disseminate through all of the high tech devices and technology the modern day gives such as the computers and the internet. But we should be careful of what would we should acquire of these ideas since some o f them cannot be fully relied on. Support of experts in such field such as EPA could give as a somewhat assurance that what we learn is what we should. References Greenversation, Question of the Week: Why are you or aren’t you buying green power? Retrieved May31, 2008 from http://blog. epa. gov/blog/2008/05/27/qotwgreenpower/

Knowledge, Love and Character Analysis on the Film “Last Night” by Don McKellar Essay

Knowledge is commonly defined as expertise and skills developed by a person out of an experience or from education. Basically, it is the theoretical or practical understanding of an issue or subject. It is what is known in a certain field or in other words, facts and information. It can also be defined as awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation (Kunii, Ramamoorthy, Ching, & Wu, 2007). Our brain is the one responsible for processing the data or information that a person receives. Aware or unconscious, everything that the brain encounters, is filtered and stored. For this reason, we acquire the knowledge and eventually learn new things. Learning is a huge part of human development. Knowledge is acquired through different means. It can be from learning or an experience. Learning can be stated as an acquisition and development of memories as well as behaviors which include skills, knowledge, understanding, wisdom and values. There is presently no agreed definition of knowledge but there are several existing theories about it. Knowledge acquisition involves a complex cognition processes like perception, communication, learning, reasoning, and association. The word â€Å"knowledge† is also used to define concrete understandings of a subject or context thus uses it for a specific purpose.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the movie â€Å"Last Night† by Don McKellar, this knowledge of possible future events are portrayed. The characters are subjected to a situation where they know that they only have few hours left to live. Their response on this issue changes their usual character trait making them do things they won’t usually do. Knowing that they only have six hours away from the very end, each character planned what they want to do with their remaining life. Like the case of Patrick Wheeler, an architect played by Don McKellar, after knowing that he’s only six hours away from death, decided to go home and face it alone in his apartment because of his wife’s death still hangs heavily upon him. Because his wife was already dead, it has greatly affected him and made him suffer in his solitude. It brought him the feeling of being incomplete. (Leong, 1998).   Patrick best portrays a type of love called Agape. It is often referred to as Divine Love and involves  Self-sacrificing love. Peter decided to sacrifice the chance of loving another woman. He only loved one woman – his beloved wife. Also, there are the characters like the young married woman (Sandra Oh), who rushed home planning to commit suicide along with her husband, but she got stuck across the town away from him and may not make in time fulfill the promise made. This portrayal of character exemplifies love where she wants companionship till her last breath. Her idea of true love is based whether they will end up together whatever happens. She believed that by doing this, she loves him that much that she is willing to die with him (Block, 1998). This type of love can be categorized as Mania. It is a kind of love could lead to obsession or craving. It can also lead to exaggerated feelings and excessiveness where one would willingly take his or her life because on the emotion. Patrick’s friend, Craig (Callum Keith Rennie), is a womanizer who intents on living out a compulsively detailed sexual wish-list. His character displays the love for pleasure. He wants to achieve his fantasies before his life come to an end. This symbolizes the type of love called Eros. It deals with sexual desires and considers that physical attraction is a way of expressing love. On the other hand, Duncan (played by director David Cronenberg) alertly calls each of his customers to assure them that their service will be continued until the final moment. On this part of the movie, Duncan displays the types of love called Philia or brotherly love. It represents the love that is generated or even related because of common goal or interest. It bonds every one in unity and cooperation. It also displays Storge, or friendship love, which expresses and involves respect and concern for another person’s interest and welfare. Patrick’s mother (Roberta Maxwell), after realizing the situation, insists that the family hold a pseudo-Christmas dinner (Block, 1998). She portrays love for her family and her satisfaction of seeing them together even at the very end. It can also serve as a celebration of the years of their life. Jennifer (Sarah Polley), Patrick’s sister, decided to go to a street party with her boyfriend Alex (Trent McMullen). This shows her love for her partner that she wants her last moments with him. This could portray Romantic love (venus). Each of the characters is trying to find a sense of achievement in their last hours, so that before their death they will be satisfied that they had not wasted their life. In overall, the movie emphasizes the human behavior towards the awareness of future events. It illustrates human response when one has the knowledge of what may occur. An individual, for the reason that his brain process the information, tends to think hard about it and make him draw conclusion, makes plans on what to do and others. This is because of complex learning and cognition which motivates the brain to function (Ormrod, 2007). There are still remaining types of love like Ludis or the flirtatious and teasing Love. This type of love is associated with a kind of love for teen agers. In this kind of love, game playing plays a big role of expressing love and it is like an outward expression of love. Furthermore, is most often intended to arouse another to physical attraction, which can lead to Eros â€Å"sexual Love†. Another is Pragma or the Logical Love which expresses unification though common goals and interests. It is the kind of love that is based on shared interests and common backgrounds. This love is influenced by a system of principles, and the application of reason, and deductions to common experiences that describe and define relationships among propositions in terms of implications, contradictions, and contrariety. (Records, 2007) References: Block, T. (1998). Last Night (1998) [Electronic Version]. Culturevulture: Choices for Cognoscenti. Retrieved October 20, 2007 from http://www.culturevulture.net/Movies/LastNight.htm. Kunii, T. L., Ramamoorthy, C. V., Ching, H., & Wu, T.-Y. (2007). Money, Health, and Happiness. Complete Automation Laboratory. Leong, A. (1998). Last Night Movie Review. Ormrod, J. E. (2007). Human Learning (5th ed.): Prentice Hall. Records, P. (2007). Love [Electronic Version]. Retrieved October 24, 2007 from http://proagency.tripod.com/love.html.

Ibs Report About Foreign Essay

Largest growers of agro products in the country * First company to introduce contract farming in Bangladesh to source the basic raw materials directly from the farmers * Over 54,000 farmers are working for us in different part of the country * Number of Food company in Bangladesh with a total market share of over 70% * Leading the market in all the category of food business in Bangladesh * Expanding business through setting up of production facilities in INDIA EXPORTING * 1997- First export to France 2010- PRAN exports all over the Globe * 77 Countries * 6 Continents Pran to build first foreign plant in India Pran, one of Bangladesh’s leading processed-food and beverage companies, is to build its first foreign factory in India, taking advantage of the country’s recent decision to lift its ban on Bangladeshi investment. The plant will be built in the north-eastern Indian state of Tripura. It will initially produce jelly and drinks and is expected to come into operation b y 2009 with an annual turnover of around Tk100 crore. The company chose Tripura due to its closeness to Bangladesh. â€Å"We will be able to transport raw materials for our products from Bangladesh to Tripura very easily due to the easy communications,† said Paramuddin. He said there is similarity in lifestyle, culture and economy between the people of Bangladesh and these areas of India, adding that this is one of the main reasons to choose Tripura. Negotiations have been going on between the parties concerned about acquiring land for the project. India will allocate a 10-acre industrial plot for the purpose. The Indian government has also assured Pran of banking, electricity and other infrastructure facilities. Initially Pran will employ nearly 200 people, including Bangladeshi and Indian nationals. Pran exports its agro-processed foods and drinks to nearly 70 countries, including USA, UK, Sweden, Cyprus, Australia, Malaysia, Italy, Germany, South Korea, and some Middle East, East and West African countries. The news of the new plant was announced at an ‘Export Sales Conference 2008’ of Pran Exports Ltd held yesterday in Dhaka. Deputy Managing Director of Pran-RFL Group Ahsan Khan Choudhury and other senior officials were present at the conference. ML Debnath, president of Tripura Chamber of Commerce and Industries, also spoke at the conference attended by hundreds of importers and dealers from different states of India and Nepal. Ahsan expressed his concerns over different types of tariff and non-tariff barriers that the Indian government is imposing on the export of Bangladeshi food products to Indian markets. He urged the government to help the business community solve those problems through bilateral discussions. CONCLUSION †¦ * We are a hard working professional company * We are extremely focused on customers need * Good management & strong HR helping us to grow * We are very much compliant with environment & labor issues * We are serving the nation while running our enterprises profitability. * Please give us the opportunity, we will be your trusted partner in the days to come.

Financial Management Fundamentals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Financial Management Fundamentals - Essay Example The company may face problems in meeting its short term obligations. The company has not raised long term debts and its long term liability is only pension liability. Accordingly the company is very low geared. Earning per share and dividend per share are so attractive that company will get oversubscribed whenever the company will go public. The detailed financial analysis follows: Profitability of Nichols Plc. have been analyzed from three angles, namely, Net Margins, Return on Assets(ROA) , and Return on Equity (ROE). Financial statements for Nichols Plc. have presented the profitability for 2006 (and restated figures for 2005) before and after taking into account exceptional items. Accordingly the profitability analysis have been made from both angles, i.e., before and after the exceptional effects on profitability. The following ratio calculations have helped in reaching an investigative analysis: Net profit margin â€Å"also called the Return on sales ratio, it shows after tax profit(net income) generated by each sales dollar by measuring the percentage of sales revenue retained by the company after operating expenses, creditor interest expenses, and income taxed have been paid.†(BDC)1. Net Profit Margins have shown a tremendous jump from 7.37 % to 10.01 despite the fact the sales revenue has been reduced from 63.336m in 2005 to 52.296m in current year 2006. That means Nichols has worked on some strategic issues and kept the qualitative business alive that generates the real profits for the company. This fact is clearer when a reference is made net profit margins after the exceptional adjustments; the increase in net margin is by huge 5.54%. Also the Chairman’s Statement makes the issue of profitability absolutely clear when it states that, â€Å"the progress made in underlying profitability is actually much greater than the headline figures suggest, due to di storting effects of Balmorals disposals completed in January 2006.† As

King County Comprehensive Plan (KCCP) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

King County Comprehensive Plan (KCCP) - Essay Example The county has done activities to preserve these forests through ensuring clean water, appropriate flood control, protecting wildlife and fish habitat, fostering recreation and appreciation of scenic beauty. The county also contributes to the reduction of global warming through carbon sequestration. Sustaining the forests is the primordial strategy of the King County Forestry Program. A string of economic incentives, technical advice, and information are provided by the county and its officials to forest landowners to safeguard the local forests. King County is one of the busy counties in Seattle. King County, with a population of 1,788,300, is the most populous county in Washington. Seattle is a middle class city which is highly unionized, and is home to manufacturing giants--Boeing, Kenworth trucks, Todd shipyards, Weyerhauser and US Plywood. It has the University of Washington, an eminent research university in the field of computer sciences and biomedical research. Seattle is one of America's hi-tech, digital, wired and computer-oriented cities. According to Atkinson's "Metropolitan New Economy Index", Seattle had ranked third as the most advanced in the digital economy. (Atkinson 2003) Seattle is a city which is very attractive to young people whose ages range from 17 to 45 years old. Its demographic profile reveals a high segment of working population. The city boasts of tolerance of alternative lifestyles, excellent educational institutions, superb environmental sites, and a tremendous degree of innovativeness that contributed to the start-up, growth and development of high tech and related sectors. Seattle provides a healthy balance of wealth and opportunity to its local residents. It is a pleasant home to highly educated professionals. II King County Business Services King County promotes the growth of businesses combined with a concern for environmental sustainability and urban quality of life. The County's business development goals are to retain, expand, create and recruit businesses within industry clusters which are essential to the region's economic base and provide the impetus for growth. King County's economic development policies has these goals: Long-term commitment to sustainable economic development; Retention and increase of local firms in various industries which generate income and increase the quality of life its residents; Substantial public funding in large projects to spread benefits for firms and employees; and Environmental preservation and protection as a an important economic value. The Office manages specific Business Development initiatives and partnerships inspired by the County Executive and County Council. It

Supply Chain Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Supply Chain Management - Essay Example Zara contributes a total of 2/3rd  of the total Inditex Group. With a turnover of more than $150 million, the success mantra for Zara is to offer the best quality at shortest time span possible and cheapest prices. 2.0 Supply Chain management at Zara With a rapid change in the market conditions, like every other sector, the fashion industry has been under immense pressure to efficiently manage its supply chains. It has become important for the companies to increase their capacities and better manage its operations in order to save costs and also remain competitive. Supply Chain Management has a very important role to play in the success of Zara fashions. The creation of the final product a d its final delivery to the customer involved the art and technology of Supply Chain Management (SCM) working to streamline the operational functions and styles of doing work. The Zara managers have clearly defined the role of SCM as a blend of a variety of procedures that begin from the prelimin ary stage of the product till the completed utilization of the same creation by the customer. It is a procedure which entails the development, execution, of these plans, and scheming of the product construct with the purpose of providing absolute fulfillment to the customer with regards to the quality of the product, (Abernathy, Dunlop, Hammond, and Weil, 2000/1). Subsequently, by the application of better management capabilities, Zara supply chain fashion has achieved the following: Greater operational flexibility Ability to expand geographically Focus on core competencies Ease of achieving economies of scale Sourcing Strategies of Zara and its Supply chain configuration As compared to its competitors, the fashion brand – Zara follows quite a different business strategy with regards to the sourcing and its chain structure. Unlike most of its competitors, Zara has not resorted to or given the slightest inclination towards outsourcing. Normally, most of the major fashion brand s, have outsourced more than 90% of the operations to cheaper economies like India and China. More than 80% of the material is manufactured at the in-house facilities controlled by Zara in Europe. Although the cost of manufacture is 20% higher in Europe than in Asia, Zara still possesses a competitive advantage over its competitors with relation to its operations. With the help of its business and strategic partners based in Europe, the company easily has a product throughput time of 3-4 weeks from the initial conception phase to the final distribution to stores. In order to achieve this time target of 3-4 weeks, as compared to 3-4 months by its competitors, Zara designs and cuts the cloth at its in-house design centers and colors the fabric in just four colors to keep the costs low. The process of dying and design printing is kept waiting till the fabric finally enters the manufacturing phase, thereby minimizing the waste and inventories. This allows Zara to adapt to the latest mar ket trends and customer requirements in minimal time. On the other hand, the competitors of Zara, who outsource their work to Asia, are not able to take advantage of this aspect – they are not able to offer flexibility to change orders as per ; attests trends and fashion requirements. The orders with these competitors are placed for the whole season in bulk and are kept as inventories in distribution facilities for much larger periods of time as compared to Zara.

Fibre Reinforced Plastics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Fibre Reinforced Plastics - Essay Example These set of additions impart a new identity to the composite in terms of heat resistance, strength and stiffness. Individually the mechanical properties of these additives might not be of an appreciable value but on combining to form a composite matrix these properties are magnified. The ultimate mechanical property of the composite of course depends upon the manner in which these fibres are arranged in the matrix and the manufacturing method followed in producing the composite. Both these applications; Aerospace and Formula-1 deal with mechanisms to reduce the weight of the body and increase the aerodynamic profile of the surface. These functions would ultimately define the fuel efficiency and the speed of the aircraft or the Formula-1 car. (Cripps David, 2000) Research currently being undertaken seeks to refine the existing manufacturing processes to reduce the weight of the composite further but at the same time maintaining structural integrity. Advantages of using FRP 1. This of fers a wide range of corrosion resistance over acids, chlorides and other oxidizers. 2. Since its offer no galvanic potential it negates the requirement of sacrificial anodes for cathodic protection. (The composite advantage, 2004) 3. The strength to weight ratio is quite large. 4. It can operate over a wide range of temperatures; from low temperature cryogenic temperature applications to high temperatures in the range of 350 to 400? F. (The composite advantage, 2004) 5. It provides safe working environment as it is fire resistant. 6. The inherent nature of the material and the adaptability of the manufacturing process make it suitable for creating large complex shapes in situ. 7. Both the installation costs and maintenance costs are lower. (The composite advantage, 2004) The Manufacturing Process There are number of manufacturing processes that are used in producing Fibre Reinforced Plastics. These include the 1. Hand Lay-Up process 2. Spray Lay-Up process 3. Vacuum Bagging 4. Fila ment Winding 5. Pultrusion However the manufacturing process that is usually used in the manufacturing of components and structural parts of aircrafts and F1 racing cars include the following (Cripps David, 2000) 1. Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) 2. Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Moulding (VARTM) 3. Prepegs 4. Resin Film Infusion. (RFI) 1. Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) - This is a closed moulding process done under low pressure. The volume of composite produced is somewhere between that generated in a contact moulding process and that of a compression moulding process. The strands of reinforcement that is completely dried out are neatly arranged in the lower part of the mould. Glass reinforcements of various shapes can also be used along with the fiber matrix to ensure that complex mould shapes can be generated. Source: Cripps David, 2000, Reinforced Transfer Moulding The mating part or the upper portion of the mould is then closed onto the bottom half of the bold leaving a cavity whi ch eventually takes the shape of the structure this process is trying to manufacture. The thermosetting resin is then injected into this cavity space. It is necessary to ensure that sufficient amount of this resin is used to avoid the formation of voids, cavities or edge imperfections caused due to low quantity of resin. (Rice Brian and Lee William, n.d ) To assist in this filling process and guarantee that all areas of this cavity are filled, vacuum can be used which draws the resin to all parts of the cavity and ensures a perfect fill. This process is also known as the Vacuum Assisted R

Man was born free but is everywhere in chains. Discuss this phrase, Essay

Man was born free but is everywhere in chains. Discuss this phrase, with reference to key course concepts - Essay Example Human beings also enters into social bonds, develop civilization and this makes them lose liberty (Chaurasia 2001, p. 308) Fromm (2001, p. 18-29) observes that freedom is what characterizes human existence. It changes as man gains awareness as an independent and separate being. Mans’ social history has its beginning from the interaction with nature to awareness as a separate entity from the surrounding nature and other human beings. The individual continued to be closely tied to the social and the natural world. Man also felt the world surrounding him. The processes of the emergence of the individual from nature and social world reached its peak in the modern era in the centuries between the reformation and the present. Fromm likens this to the same process, which is found in the history of man. Before a child is born, it is one with the mother. The child becomes a separate entity from the biological mother after birth. This separation marks the beginning of individuation. The child remains with the mother for only a considerable period. Fromm states figuratively that a child lacks freedom before it is born. However, the tie with the mother provides security and a feeling of belonging to the child. This is what he refers to primary ties. These ties are organic and constitute part and parcel of human development. The ties imply lack of individuality, but they provide an individual with security and orientation. The primary ties connect the individual with the mother and society in general. Once an individual completes his first stage of individuation, he is faced with a new task. This task is to orient and establish himself in the world and look for security in other ways similar to those before the pre-individualistic existence. This makes freedom to assume a different meaning to the one he had before individuation (Fromm 2001, p. 18-29). Fromm explains this by the analysis of the development of an infant. He says the independence of the foetus from the infants ends at birth. However, the dependence does not end here. The mother takes care of the child. With time, the child begins to identify that the mother and other entities are separate. The child through its own initiatives experiences the world. This marks a crucial point in the development of individuation. The process of individuation is advanced by education. This process is marked by frustrations and prohibition, which change the role of the mother as a hostile and dangerous person. This antagonism between the mother and child helps in the development of the self. The different authorities the child interacts with constitute the child’s universe and submit to the child. This has a different quality from that which exists when an individual separate complete from these authorities (Fromm 2001, p. 18-29). The freedom of a child during childhood enables him to develop and express his identity. This gives him security and reassurance. The increasing separation from thes e authorities results into isolation, which creates intense anxiety and insecurity. The child may develop the inner strength or a new kind of solidarity and closeness with others. If the process of separation and individuation are matched with the growth of the

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Research Paper Example Pollution, more so air pollution is China has become an epidemic in most Chinese cities in the recent past with a report stating that China lists sixteen cities out of the twenty most polluted cities in the world. It is no doubt that China is one of the fastest growing economies of the world and with this exponential growth, major institutions in the world including the United Nations have raised some concerns over what seems like little or lack of proper environmental management policies in China. The epicenter of this matter revolves around waste management since virtually every industrial and human activity leads to the production of waste. Since certain class of wastes can pose great danger to the environment, it is imperative that the Chinese government take proactive role in investigating the major causes of air pollution in china. China produces a variety of wastes ranging from electronic waste, industrial wastes, to nuclear wastes. Our major concern here is the rampant air po llution in China, how it has influenced the lifestyles of the Chinese citizens, and other neighboring countries like India. In the year 2012, the president of China Medical Association, Zhong Nanshan, raised his concerns over what he termed as one of the major medical disasters facing China at the time. He mentioned cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer as the main vectors through which air pollution manifests itself. Air pollution is specifically high in the urban areas of China like the major cites than in the rural areas due to the high rate of emissions from manufacturing industries and motor vehicles. A research conducted indicated that incidences of lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases were especially high in the cities because of the prevalence of air pollution. In major climatic conferences and seminars, China has always taken the blame as the world’s leading country in terms of carbon emissions. Many nations and recognized organizations have accused China of bei ng lenient to those whose emissions surpass the international standards within its jurisdiction. In addition, China has not fully embraced the thorny issue of air pollution with the seriousness that it deserves as seen in her standards of gauging the pollution levels. The government of China did not until lately include PM.5 and the Ozone in measuring the index of the air quality. This laxity in combating air pollution really tainted the image of the Chinese government and her products world over. It was the renowned environmentalists around the world that spearheaded a campaign that would see China change its course for the better, even if the final destination is still far. Rooij (2006) categorizes of air pollution in the People’s Republic of china into emissions from factories, motor vehicle emissions, and construction firms. By the end of 2006, the emissions of Sulfur dioxide in china had reached a maximum high after which it reduced significantly. Before the period, this chemical was responsible for the pollution of a considerable volume of air with it worst victim being the Ozone layer. The construction and furniture industries are prone to using formaldehyde in adhesion and preservation. Due to the volatility nature of these compounds, indoor air pollution has been inevitable in most Chinese

Pro and Cons for Electric Car Essay Example for Free

Pro and Cons for Electric Car Essay Out of the many different kind of cars on the road today, one car stands above the rest. With its zero emissions and sleek design, the General Mortars EV 1 was unstoppable. This car runs entirely without gas or oil of any kind. It runs only on electric power which makes it very eco-friendly. This car was the answer to the smog problem in California and would soon be able to help stop global warming and more of our planets environmental issues. So, why are there none of these cars on the road today? Who made sure that none of these EV 1’s where ever mass produced. Who killed the electric car? This act did not go unnoticed by the public. Consumers were outraged by the recalling of the EV1’s. They wanted to know why someone would get rid of a car that would help out the environment and would make things better for future generations. Someone is to blame for killing the electric car, but whom? Was it the big oil companies and their fear of losing money? Could it be the battery technology in the EV1’s that was faulty? Maybe it was the CARB (California Resources Board) who did not want to support the project. Or was it the consumers themselves who would not accept the idea of a seemingly unreliable car? Chris Pine, the director of the documentary, â€Å"Who Killed the Electric Car? † says that all these factors are to blame. But, there could only be one who could take the name of Car Killer. The car companies are the biggest suspect in killing the electric car. General Motors was the car company that started the EV1 project. They started leasing them publicly in 1997. All 660 that were available for lease, got leased. Then in 2000, tragedy struck as all EV1’s were recalled and the plant was closed down. In 2003 GM officially closed down the entire EV1 project despite the long waiting lists and positive feedback from EV1 drivers. Why would the company that started the project in the first place, decide to shut in down without even 20 years of usage? General Motors said that the reason for pulling the plug of the EV1 was the fact that no consumer was willing to drive a car that you have to charge every hundred miles or so (CBC News). But, since there was a huge demand for the EV1’s in California, I think that is not the only reason. I think the car companies were afraid to lose money from the EV1’s good sales. They wanted to make sure that no other car would sell better than theirs. My opinion that the car companies killed the electric car but, other people see it differently. With a problem this big, maybe many factors are to blame. The consumers themselves need to take some of the blame; many did not like the idea of a car that runs of batteries. In this fast paced world we live in, they though the car would be unreliable. The batteries that run the EV1 are lead acid batteries that would only last 100 miles or so. The consumers wanted a better battery and if there were electric cars all over the world, the oil companies would lose a lot of their profit. Whatever the cause may be, the death of the EV1 will no doubt have a huge impact on the future. Until someone else comes up with a better model of an electric car, the planet will still suffer from global warming. In the future I think we will see more electric cars starting to make it father than the EV1.

The Power Of Words English Literature Essay

The Power Of Words English Literature Essay My presentation is about Angel-Writer and his extraordinary writing. Not just any writer, but he or she belongs to the class of experts who tug at the heartstrings of people and leave their mark on the world. Power of words Words are amazing. Words can be powerful, influential and persuasive. Buddha said, Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill. Same applies to written words. Let me give you an example of the power of such angelic words and their good or ill influence. A Blind Man was begging with a board in his hand. I am Blind please help me A Guy took the board and changed the statement from that day he started Receiving More Charity.. He wrote: Today is a beautiful Day but I can not see it That is the power of words, If expressed in a right way..can change many things..! You just saw that when the girl changed the words on the signboard, people read it, felt it and started giving more charity to the blind man. Perhaps, its the ability of such a writer, through his or her words, to change the way the world thinks. Another example can be that of The Joker James Holmes is the perpetrator of a mass shooting that occurred on July 20, 2012 at a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado. Holmes allegedly set off several gas or smoke canisters and then opened fire on the theatre audience, killing 12 and wounding 58. According to two federal authorities, Holmes had dyed his hair red and called himself The Joker. Question is, Could someone really be so cold, calculating and bloodthirsty? Well certainly Holmess inspiration, the Joker, was just that. Joker is the character in Christopher Nolans Blockbuster, The Dark Knight. When Christopher Nolan wrote the screenplay, he never thought that his writing and script will have such a negative influence on someone. Brief Account of the topic Open a book and start reading it or listen carefully to the dialogues of the movie while watching it. In any piece of writing youll find words, of course, but examine by your senses and youll also find art, crafted, in detail, by a writer proud enough to sign his or her name to the work. In a book or a poem, a play or a short story, a script or even a song, everything is there for a reason: to show, to tell, to convey a message. Most works of writing are simply meant for reading. The great ones, those of Angel-Writers, are for learning. Learning to smile, to react, to get inspired and make life beautiful. Features of Angel-Writer Self- Actualization A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.   What a man  can  be, he  must  be.   He must be true to his own nature. Self-actualization is a term used in various psychology theories, often in slightly different ways. The psychologist Abraham Maslow created the term self-actualizing in the 1960s which was based on his assumptions about human potential and partially on his case studies of historical figures whom he believed to be self-actualized. He found that these individuals were very accepting of themselves and of their life circumstances; were focussed on finding solutions to cultural problems rather than to personal problems; were open to others opinions and ideas; had strong senses of privacy, autonomy, human values and appreciation of life. The term can be defined as the full realization of ones potential. As a writer one is of course good at writing but the intrinsic growth of this skill, which is already in him can lead him to become what he is actually capable of. A self-actualized writer is someone who is living creatively and fully using his or her potentials. Most of the similarities that he found in self-actualizers are the key attributes of an Angel-Writer such as: Realistic Problem-Centered Peak Experiences Solitude and Privacy Philosophical Sense of Humour Spontaneity Trust Yourself Once you know that writing is your life a bit of self-trust can make you unleash the writing skills most truthfully. The lady who won 30000 pounds in a short story competition laid emphasis on trusting oneself as a writer. Johann Wolfgang once said, As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live and that is when a writer can make the most of himself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement. Listen to your inner wisdom. Turn negative emotional energy into a positive Never let yourself feel condemned Write and write again Eventually words worth inspiring will come out Implement Inspiration Implement the inspiring thoughts and ideas of yours and those of exemplary people in your written work. Germinate your own seeds of inspiration to harvest a sapling of epic literature. Give your thoughts a way to stand amidst the most hilarious of works. You need not to copy them but develop a mindset that could interpret thoughts in a way your ideal does. This could be done by reading them or having much of communication with them. 4) Eloquence Over the years, authors have described eloquence in various ways. Shakespeare said, words sweetly placed and modestly directed. Cicero, the roman philosopher most notably stated, Eloquence has the power to sway mans mind and move them in every possible way. In particular, eloquent writing usually has a few properties: Deeply  persuasive: This doesnt necessarily mean that it is a an argumentative piece simple narration or description in fiction can be persuasive too, in the sense that it pulls you into a world and convinces you that that place is real and immediate Structured very carefully Structure is always a very important property of a piece of writing, and the structure you choose can vary based on the goal (clarity, brevity, persuasion, etc.) But writing that people describe as eloquent often has an unusually strong sense of rising action, climax, and denouement. This is  the reason that people talk about eloquent writing as something that flows. Effective use of literary devices It often makes  effective use of literary devices, such as metaphor, imagery, allusion, symbolism, and personification.  These devices can be hard to master but are very effective when used properly: just think how strong of an impression is left by Robert Frosts classic poem, The Road Not Taken. When read aloud, such writing leaves an impression beyond what is on the page. Ethos, Pathos and Logos The  Greek philosopher Aristotle  divided the means of persuasion, appeals, into three categoriesEthos, Pathos, and Logos. One philosopher who startles me with his ideas is Aristotle. He draws his philosophies from understanding the simplest things in life that happens daily, with pure sensibility. That alone explains how he has his ideas in myriads of subjects ranging from physics to poetry, music to politics, metaphysics to ethics, theatre to logic, rhetoric to biology, government and zoology. According to Aristotle, rhetoric is the ability, in each particular case, to see the available means of persuasion, that can be described in 3 main form, namely Ethos, Pathos and Logos. Ethos (Credibility),  or  ethical appeal, means convincing by the character of the author or speaker. Pathos (Emotional)  means persuading by appealing to the readers emotions. Logos  (Logical)  means persuading by the use of reasoning. Example of Pursuit of Happiness The Pursuit of Happiness is a film directed by Gabrielle Muccino and starring Will Smith. This movie tells the story of a man, who because of inevitable circumstances becomes homeless when he is participating in an exclusive unpaid internship at a brokerage company. His character must balance the demands of internship with keeping up with his old salesman job so that he may support him and his young son as they struggle to survive. Smiths character uses a healthy dose of logos, ethos, and pathos to appeal to superiors, landlords, and others to help him in his journey to chase after his dream. The audience goes through his difficult journey and comes out the other side just as excited as the main characters. This can be clearly explained with the help of this clip. There are a lot of people who got inspired after watching this scene and hearing this little speech and were motivated to achieve what they can. While reading the YouTube comments about this movie I realized how people got influenced to do well in life by the effect of such influential writing. Example of the Alchemist A living example of an Angel Writer is Paulo Coelho. One of the books he wrote was The Alchemist. It is one of the best- selling books in history and has been translated into 71 languages as of 2011.   The books main theme is about finding ones destiny. The Alchemist follows a young Andalusia shepherd boy named Santiago in his journey to Egypt, after having a recurring dream of finding treasure there. Along the way, he encounters love, danger, opportunity and learns a lot about himself and the ways of the world. He realizes that if he follows his heart, he shall find what it is he seeks. Coelho wrote The Alchemist in only two weeks in 1987. He said he was able to write at this pace because the story was already written in his soul. The Alchemist has inspired numerous bands and directors. It will soon be filmed by Harvey Weinstein. For me this book has a special importance. Ill tell you why. When I was in the middle of nowhere and was lost without a goal in life, one night, I by chance read this book in 4 hours and slept. The very next morning I felt so inspired that thoughts and ideas flung into my mind. I got stick to them and started writing. Journey to Destiny From the eyes of those There world is what I see But I have my own dreams to follow, To realize my destiny At times when the desert seemed nowhere close to far I sensed an oasis as I sighted that star This is when the omens played their part A wish, a blessing and a desire to start I flew with the wind, On that deserted land The song it sang, the music it had, Was the one that only I could understand. The quest for my treasure Began with the dreams in my mind As I looked for myself, I knew what I wanted in life. Wherever my heart lies There my treasure is supposed to be This is when the universe conspired, And I realized my destiny. This is how he inspired me to feelto write and most importantlyto discover. Conclusion Everyones life is governed by an internal code of conduct. Words, when skilfully controlled by a master, carries with them the power to alter this code. In simple words, Writers are those who are Good at Writing. They use experiences, knowledge and skill to pen down words. There are writers who with the power of their imagination, kidnap me and take me in a different world altogether, a world full of adventures, ghosts, princesses, elves, superheroes and what not. Then there are writers who give me the most wonderful learning experiences with the beauty of their writing. The songs, written with such great feel, bring me back to life in times of despair and also bless me with extra ounces of happiness when I am whooping with joy. The graph of my thoughts and emotions has shown significant variations by the impact of those words I listen. From that little fifty- second life-changing scene from Pursuit of Happiness to the much controversial last three lines of the last stanza of Robert Frosts Road not Taken, I have witnessed a change in myself every time I read and hear. I read their booksI watch their moviesI hear their songsand I learn their poems by heart. In return, I am entertained to a point where I tend to forget all my worries and touched so deep inside that I get the rare zeal to help others. Not only this, I also feel the guilt that stops me from doing bad deeds. I am a reader and I coin all such Master of Words as Angel Writers cause they change lives for better.

Organizational Behaviour And Employee Development Business Essay

Organizational Behaviour And Employee Development Business Essay Can managers create employee motivation? Discuss with reference to the theoretical material outlined in the module. Motivation is the driving force in which human being achieve their goals. Motivation is the power that strengthens behavior, gives the route to the behavior and it triggers the tendency to continue. Motivation is a course that is concerned with a kind of strength that boosts the performance and directs one towards accomplishing some definite target. Motivation is a force that helps individual to achieve their desires. It is a strength that helps individual to stay focus and determined. Over the years many authors have defined motivation but up till date there is no single definition for motivation. According to Goddard et al (2006) it is an accumulation of diverse routes which put across and manipulates our activities to attaining some particular ambitions. However, despite different definition of motivation there are some common concerns expressed such as the individua lity phenomenon. Individual can be motivated differently due to their behavior, attitudes, goals and values. Employee behaviors can be change toward achieving success in an organization by applying a sort of motivation. Employee motivation is one of the policies that managers use to increase the effectual job management among the employees in the organization. An employee who is motivated is responsive of the goals and objectives that she or he must achieve and she therefore directs her efforts towards that direction. Motivation usually formulates an organization more successfully because the provoked employees are constantly looking for the improved practices to do the work. It is therefore important for organization to persuade employees motivation. One key factor in employee motivation is the opportunity that the employees want to continue to develop and grow the job and career enhancing skills. According to Goddard et al (2006) training is the planned intervention which is designed to enhance the determinants of an individuals job performance. Managers are individuals that are responsible for heading organizations. Managers are also accountable for overseeing of the various departments within an organization. In any organization, the management of employees should be the first priority of all managers. How employees functions within the organization is highly dependent on the relationship that they have with the management. Managers thus play a vital role in motivating employees. A motivated employee will be more productive and effective in his work station than an employee with strained relations with the manager. Managers should strive to maintain a positive relationship as such productive relationships enable managers to accomplish the organizational goals and objectives. Effective management allows managers to capitalize on the strengths of individuals employees. A manager can motivate his employees to use their strengths to see a business venture succeed. The success of a manager in encouraging his employees to be pro ductive translates to success in the organizational operations as the company is able to attain its set goals and objectives. Managers who have a vision for their organization can create employee motivation that will see an organization soar and become successful. According to McGregory (1960), the management should strive to organize the element of productive enterprise which includes the finances, raw materials, resources and the people within the organization. It is only through the proper management of these elements of productive enterprise that a manager can effectively lead an organization towards reaching its economic ends. The people within an organization refer to employees. The management is responsible for the direction, motivation and control of the actions of its employees  [i]  . The behavior of employees within an organization is reflective of the kind of leadership and management that persists within the organization. The active intervention of the management in the functioning of employees within an organization reduces the risks of resistance among employees. According to McGregory (1960) employees need to be persuaded, rewarded, directed, punished and controlled by the management. Managers need to establish the ideal approach to use so as to motivate employees to work harder and efficiently within the organization. The hard approach of management involves the use of coercion, threats and extreme control to get functions of the organization operational. The hard approach to management of employees may bear result, but it breeds negativity such as demoralization of employee, high employee turn out and sabotage of organization objectives. Alternatively, employees can choose to select the soft approach of managing employees. The soft approach of management involves satisfying employee demands, and emphasizing on harmony. The soft approach may be the ideal strategy, though it can also lead to abdication of management and indifferent performance. Managers should thus strive to establish a firm but fair approach that adopts bits of the hard and the soft approach of management of employees. Managers can also motivate its employees by considering the diverse needs of employees as presented in Maslows theory of human motivation. Managers should ensure that employees are able to meet their physiological needs by working in the organization. The job description that an individual undertake should be satisfactory enough in terms of financial benefits. An employee would be motivated to perform if his job enables him to meet his basic needs. Other needs such as safety needs, love needs and esteem needs. The management can motivate employees by reviewing the esteem needs of employees. This can be done by giving recognition to employees for their efforts. Managers should also hold each of employees with equal importance so as to motivate each to work in their respective work stations. Employees must be able to work in organizations that allow self actualization. Employees need to have a sense of growth and development as they work in their organizations. Managers can achieve thi s by engaging employees in strategies such as training and development programs. Employees will be motivated to work for institutions that give them a chance to grow. Managers must strive to see their employees receive training and educational opportunities as they work in the organization. The ability of an employee to shift from one job description to another motivates them to remain productive and efficient. Managers should motivate employees to perform by creating career growth opportunities. Training program within the organization are indicators that a manager desires to retain its employees. It is also an indicator that the management desires to take its employees to greater levels of achievement. Managers should ensure that the organization embraces an elaborate training system from the time an employee is hired. How the organization orientate a new employee is critical on the success of the organization. An orientation activity can drive or destroy employee relationships, which in turn affect their motivation and performance within the organization. Alderfer (1972) presents an alternative look of the human needs rather than the one provided by Maslow in his hierarchy of needs. Alderfers theory is known as the Existence, Relatedness and Growth (ERG) theory. The existence category as provided by Alderfer refers to the basic needs that human begins desire for so as to survive. These are basic needs such as food and shelter as provided in Maslows physiological and safety needs. Just like in Maslows an individual will be motivated to work for an organization that enable him to satisfy these needs. With this in mind manager should ensure that they adopt a pay system that guarantees reasonable payment to employees. The second category refers to needs associated, with relatedness and ability to form personal relationships. Managers should be able to create an environment that fosters unity and a sense of belonging among employees. A sense of belonging leads to productivity and performance as employees considers themselves a unit. The em ployees, as a unit, strive to achieve the organizations goals as well as set targets. An employee will be motivated to operate in an environment with warmth rather than hostility and conflict. Vroom (1964) the expectancy theory looked at how individual perceived the attractiveness of reward and how to achieve it. Individuals work in an organization with the intention of benefiting in one way. The reward system covers the drive to acquire among employees within an organization. Managers should strive to establish an elaborate reward scheme that note high performers and low performance. Rewards in the form of commissions and compensation packages to high performing employees motivate the winners to keep up the exemplary work. Similarly, those identified as average or low performers will strive to work harder. Subsequently, the organization ends up with a highly motivated team that strives to achieve the overall goals of the organization. Rewards for performance motivate employees to achieve the target that managers set for the organization. It is the incentives that the managers offer to the employees that determines their levels of motivation to see the company achieve its targets. Some individual may also think that the target is unattainable therefore affecting their expectations of meeting the set target It is the responsibility of managers to ensure that they create a healthy relationship with the employees. Employees must be able to function where they can demonstrate their potential without barriers. Creating an environment where employees work at their level best means that there is minimal conflict. Conflict interferes with the work environment; managers should thus strive to ensure that all employees understand the need to avoid all forms of conflict and focus on working in unison. Employees must function in a scenario where they trust each other; where employees are comfortable working with each other. It is the presence of such environments that employees feel motivated to work and become fully committed to the responsibilities assigned to them. The manager plays a vital role in ensuring that employees have healthy relations at the workplace. The manger must take the role of the team leaders. As a team leader, he should strive to understand and know his employees well. It through understanding their employees well that the manager will understand the interests and specialization of each employees. He will then assign task and responsibilities based on the employees specialization. A motivated employee is one who is given an opportunity to demonstrate his potential, managers can encourage this by allowing employees to select task and responsibilities they believe they can perform best. Managers should also motivate their employees by being good role models. Manager should encourage team work and working towards one goal. He should also avoid negative subjectivism as well as partialities that strain relationships in the workplace. Acts of favoritism of some employees over others should be avoided. Managers should also strive to compliment employees when they perform exceptionally. Similarly, he should correct them when they fail to perform as expected. The model job characteristics which consist of five core dimension help to describes motivation in the context of job satisfaction. ( Hackman and Oldhams 1975). The five core dimensions that can be associated with job satisfaction levels of employees within an organization. The skill variety the extent to which an employee is required to used multiple or different level of skills. The core dimension is task identity this is where an individual is identifiable in completing a piece of work from start to finish. The third core dimension is task significance whether an individual job affect other people work which relate to the importance of the work. The fourth core dimension is autonomy the freedom or discretion for people to perform and organized work. The fifth core dimension the task feedback this is the feedback that employee receive after completion of task. It could also be feedback receive on job performance. The element of bonding within an organization determines the ability of employees to work together and achieve set goals. The sense of belonging that employees achieve within an organization determines their level of motivation. Managers can strive to enhance the motivation levels of employees by formulating an organization culture that promotes positive aspects of work such as team work, collaboration and friendship. Managers should strive to foster mutual reliance and friendship among employees. Employees must be able to recognize each other as not only co-workers, but also friends who they can entrust with their personal stories. The ability of implementing a strong culture that emphasizes on oneness encourages best practices within the organization. The third drive is the drive to comprehend events and situations that occur around human beings. It is by understanding different aspects of events that individuals are able to establish reasonable actions and responses. In the workplace, the drive to comprehend means that employees must be capable of making viable contributions. Manager should be able to create job descriptions that pose a challenge to the employees. Challenging job descriptions give employees an opportunity to learn and grow. It also eliminates the risk of monotony which discourages employees as they feel trapped and without any prospects of growth  [ii]  . Managers should also strive to give employees job designs that are distinct and give important roles for employees within the organization. The job designs must be meaningful so that employees get a sense of purpose within the organization. Employees must be able to see that there are integral parts of the organization due to the specific role they are under taking within the organization. Creating a feeling of security and confidence Manager should ensure that they participate in transparent performance management and resource allocation process. Employees who are certain of their job security regardless of business actions such as mergers and acquisitions are motivated to perform rather than employees that are unsure of their future within the organization. Managers should ensure that they engage in fair organizational process. If the management intends to engage in a retrenchment exercise for instance, they should strive to ensure all employees comprehend the need of the restricting exercise and the effects of the process  [iii]  . Manager should also be just and transparent in processes such as rewarding and recognizing employees for their efforts within the organization. According to Gitman, McDaniel, (2008) managers who desire to motivate their employees to perform exemplary must be able to detect talent among employees. A manager can detect positive traits among a few employees. Instead of picking out the exemplary employees from the rest, an ideal manager will formulate a strategy to capitalize on these unique traits. The manager must determine an effective strategy to capture a talent and turn it into performance. In any organization, it is impossible to find employees that function the same way. Employees exhibit different skills and talents that a manager must be able to tap and use to realize the company success. A manager that focuses on employee strength is able to lead the employee to success. The manager is also able to encourage employees to embrace the spirit of team work that they can rely on so as to achieve organizational objectives. Conclusion Employees are valuable assets of any institution; it is the responsibility of management, to ensure that he employees have the morale to work and see the organization soar to success. Managers should take a hand-on approach in their management efforts. Employees need to see their managers putting as much effort in seeing the company succeeds. Manager should be the role models of their employees by guiding them through hardships of employment. Managers can also select the ideal approach to handle the employees. The hard approach may appear too dictatorial, whereas the soft approach may lead to lack of seriousness on the part of the employees. A middle stand enables the managers to be strict, but helpful to employees to achieve their greatest potential. Managers should also consider having a training and development strategy to assist its employees grow. Employees will be motivated to work for an employer who takes the time to see their employees grow and develop in their career paths. Managers must also adopt reasonable pay and compensation packages that will motivate employees to perform. The pay and compensation package must be one that enables employees to meet their basic needs and also secure their future. Reference Alderfer, C. (1972). Existence, relatedness and growth: human needs in organizational settings. London: New York: free press. Bratton (2007) extract from motivation at work, in work and organizational behavior, pp257-269, 272-273 and 487-519. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Gitman, L. McDaniel, C. (2008). The future of business. ASTD Publishers Herzberg, F. (1962) work and the nature of man. London: staple press. Cengage learning Maslow, A. (1943) a theory of human motivation, psychology review 50:370-396. McGregor, D. (1960) the human side of enterprise. New York: London: Mcgraw-hill Lauby, S. (2005). Motivating employees. Cengage Learning Vroom, V. (1964) work and motivation, New York: Wiley

The Client :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I read the book The Client by John Grisham. This book was about a boy, named Mark Sway, and is younger brother who witnessed a horrible suicide. Before the suicide, he talked to the lawyer who was about to kill himself. This lawyer, Jerome Clifford, had a client in New Orleans who had murdered a United States Senator and hid the body at the lawyer?s house. Right before he shot himself, the lawyer told Mark everything about his Mafia connected client. When the lawyer took his life, the younger brother went into shock, but Mark realized that he had to tell the police something. He didn?t want to tell them that he knew the whereabouts of the body for fear of the Mafia coming after him. He just decided to tell the police that he and his brother were in the woods and they found the car and the lawyer?s body, not knowing anything about it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Later, the police found Mark?s fingerprints around and inside the car, where he had been talking to the lawyer, and even on the gun. FBI agents and local police all suspected that Mark knew more than he was telling them. Mark hired a lawyer, Reggie Love, to help him get out of the mess he put himself in. A couple newspapers got word of the fingerprints of the boy and they quickly made up stories that Mark was now suspected to be the killer of the lawyer. Mark realized that the best thing to do would be to let the police know where the body was and tell them the truth about everything he knew. The next day, he and Reggie had an appointment with some FBI agents. On the way to his lawyer?s office, Mark ran into a man obviously in the Mafia. He threatened to kill him if he told anyone about what Jerome Clifford had told him. He knew the man wasn?t joking because he was holding a switchblade to his face at the time. By this time, Mark no longer wants to talk to the aut horities. Through all this, Mark?s mother was still living at the hospital, worrying about her youngest son, who was still in shock and comatose.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eventually, the FBI gets annoyed with waiting for Mark. They decide that he should be put in a juvenile home until he agrees to talk to them. Mark knows that he should not be in the home.

Transformation of Global Technology :: essays research papers

The increase in the flow of information between nations has proven to be a critical part of the developing international community. Deficiencies in this field have lead to the ill-preparation by the United States during the Bombing of Pearl Harbor and the attacks on the World Trade Center in September 2001. In both cases, critical data was received from surveillance instruments but was not acted upon expediently enough to avoid disaster. With the transition from a state-based threat to non-state terrorist organizations, the need for more thorough scrutiny then before has become paramount to the national security of the United States. When the term â€Å"global surveillance† is mentioned, it is usually referring to what has been deemed â€Å"signals intelligence.† This is the analysis of the target’s communication signals and it consists of four distinct parts: collection, processing, analysis and dissemination. In 1952, President Truman established the National Security Agency (NSA) with the dual responsibilities of providing information security for the U.S. government as well as organizing and obtaining intelligence information. Most recently, a global communications cooperative between the U.S. and the U.K. known as ECHELON, has been implemented to collect national security intelligence and spread critical information to its members. This program monitors commercial communications both over phones lines as well as the internet. In 1978, the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was passed which limited the wiretapping of â€Å"U.S. persons† for national security purposes. This legislation developed out of concerns that the United States was abusing its power to unjustly listen to citizens’s conversations. In order to avoid the dissemination of personal as well as national information, cryptography can be implemented to specifically keep unwanted viewers from tampering with internet and mail transactions.

Vocab for Ap Human Geography

Acid DepositionSulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, emitted by burning fossil fuels, enter the atmosphere– where they mix with oxygen and woter to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid– and return to Earth's surface.Acid PrecipitationConversion of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides to acids that return to Earth as rain snow or fog Acitve Solar Energy SystemsSolar energy system that collects energy through the use of of mechanical devices like photovoltaic cells or flat-plate collectors AgribusinessCommercial agriculture characterized by integration of different steps in the food-proccessing industry, usually through the ownership by large corporations.Agricultural DensityThe ratio of the number of farmers to the total amount of land suitable for agriculture Agricultural RevoluionThe time when human beings first domesticated plants and animals and no longer relied entirely on hunting and gathering. AgricultureThe deliberate effort to modify a portion of the Earth's surface thr ough the cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock for sustenence or economic gain. Air PollutionConcentration of trace substances such as carbon monoxide, sulfur oxide, hydrocarbons, and solid particulates, at a greater level than occurs in average air.Animate PowerPower supplied by people or animals. AnimismBelief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, such as thunderstorms and earthquakes, have discrete spirit and concious life. AnnexationLegally adding land area to a city in the United States ApartheidLaws (no longer in effect) in South Africa that physicall separated different races into different geographic areas. Arithmic DensityThe total number of people divided by the total land area. Autonomous ReligionA religion that does not have a central authority but shares ideas and cooperates informally.Balance of PowerCondition of roughly equal strength between opposing countries or alliances of countries. Balkanizationprocess by which a state breaks do wn through conflicts among its ethnicities. BalkanizedA small geographic area that could not be successfully organized into one or more stable states because it was inhabited by many ethnicities with complex, long-standing antagonisms toward each other. Base LineAn east-west line designated under the Land Ordinance of 1785 to facilitate the surveying and numbering of townships in the United States.Basic IndustriesIndustries that sell their products or services primarily to consumers outside the settlement Biochemical Oxygen DemandAmount of oxygen required by aquatic bacteria to decompose given load of organic waste; a measure of water pollution. BiodiversityThe number of species within a specific habitat. Biomass FuelFuel that derives from plant material and animal waste. BlockbustingA process by which real estate agents convinced white property owners to sell their houses at low prices because of fear that black families would soon be moving into the neighborhood.BoundaryInvisible line that marks the extent of a state territory. Brain DrainLarge-scale emigration by talented people. Branch (of a religion)A large and fundamental division within a religion. Break-of-Bulk PointA location where transfer is possible from one mode of transportation to another. Breeder reactorA nuclear power plant that creates its own fuel from plutonium. British Received PronunciationThe dialect of English associated with upper-class Britons living in the London area and now considered standard in the United Kingdom.Bulk-gaining IndustryAn industry in which the final product weighs more or comprises a greater volume than the inputs. Bulk-reducing IndustryAn industry in which the final product weighs less or comprises a lower volume than the inputs. Business ServicesServices that primarily meet the needs of other businesses. CartographyThe science of making maps. CasteThe class or distinct hereditary order into which a hindu is assigned according to religious law. Census TractAn area delineated by the U. S, Bureau of the Census for which statistics are published; in urbanized ares, they correspond roughly to neighborhoods.CensusA compete enumeration of a population. Central Business DistrictThe area of the city where retail and office activities are clustered. Central Place TheoryA theory that explains the distribution of services, based on the fact that settlements serve as centers of market areas for services; larger settlements are fewer and farther apart than smaller settlements and provide services for a larger number of people who are willing to travel further. Central PlaceA market center for the exchange of services by people attracted from the surrounding area.Centripetal ForceAn attitude that tends to unify people and enhance a state. Cereal GrainA grass yielding grain for food. ChaffHusks of grain separated from the seed by threshing. Chain MigrationMigration of paople to a specific location because of relatives or people of the same nationality pre viously migrated there. ChlorofluorocarbonA gas used as a solvent, a propelant in aerosols, a refrigerant, and in plastics foams and fire extinguishers. CirculationShort-term, repetative, or cyclical movemens that recur on a regular basis. City-stateA sovreign state comprising a city and its immediate hinterland.Clustered Rural SettlementA rural settlement in which the houses and farm buildings of each family are situated close to each other and fields surround the settlements. ColonialismAttempt by one country to establish settlements and to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles in another territory. ColonyA territory that is legally tied to a sovereign state rather than completely independent. CombineA machine that reaps, threshes, and cleans grain while moving over a field. Commercial AgricultureAgriculture undertaken primarily to generate products for sale off the farm.Compact StateA state in which the distance from the center to any boundary does not vary sign ificantly. ConcentrationThe spread of something over a given area. Concentric Zone ModelA model of the internal structure of cities in which social groups are spatially arranged in a series of rings. ConnectionsRelationships among people and objects across the barrier of space. ConservationThe sustainable use and management of a natural resource, through consuming at a less rapid rate than it can be replaced. Consumer ServicesBusinesses that provide services primarily to individual consumers, including retail services and personal services.Contagious DiffusionThe rapid, widespread diffusion of a feature or trend throughout a population. CosmogonyA set of religious beliefs concerning the origin of the universe. Cottage IndustryManufacturing based in homes rather than in a factory, commonly found before the Industrial Revolution. Council of GovernmentA cooperative agency consisting of representatives of local governments in a metropolitan area in the United States. Counterurbanization Net migration from urban to rural areas in more developed countries.CreoleA language that results from the mixing of a colonizer's language with the indigenous language of the people being dominated Crop RotationThe practice of rotating use of different fields from crop to crop each year, to avoid exhausting the soil. CropGrain or fruit gathered from a field as a harvest during a particular season. Crude Birth RateThe total number of live births in a year for every 1,000 people alive in the society. Crude Death RateThe total number of deaths in a year for every 1,000 people alive in the society. Cultural EcologyGeographic approach that emphasizes human-environment relationships.Cultural LandscapeFashioning of a natural landscape by a cultural group. CultureThe body of customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits that together constitute a group of people's distinct tradition. CustomThe frequent repetition of an act, to the extent that it becomes characteristic of the group o f people performing the act. Demographic TransitionThe process of change in a society's population from a condition of high crude birth and death rates and low rate of natural increase to a condition of low crude birth and death rates, low rate of natural increase, and a higher total population.Demographythe scientific study of population characteristics DensityThe frequency with which something exists within a given unit of area. Density Gradientthe change in density in an urban area from the center to the periphery Dependency RatioThe number of people under the age of 15 and over age 64, compares to the number of people active in the labor force. DesertificationDegradation of land, especially in semiarid areas, primarily because of human actions like excessive crop planting, animal grazing, and tree cutting. DenominationA division of a branch that unites a number of local congregations in a single legal and administrative body.DevelopmentA process of improvement in the material co nditions of people through diffusion of knowledge and technology. DialectA regional variety of a language distinguished by vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation. Diffusionthe process of spread of a feature or trend from one place to another over time. DioceseThe basic unit of geographic organization in the Roman Catholic Church Dispersed Rural SettlementA rural settlement pattern characterized by isolated farms rather than clustered villages. Distance DecayThe diminishing in importance and eventual disappearance of a henomenon with increasing distance from its origin. DistributionThe arrangement of something across Earth's surface. Double CroppingHarvesting twice a year from the same field. Doubling TimeThe number of years needed to double a population, assuming a constant rate of natural increase. EbonicsDialect spoken by some African-Americans. Economic BaseA community's collection of basic industries. EcumeneThe portion of Earth's surface occupied by permanent human settlement. Edge Citya large node of office and retail activities on the edge of an urban area Elongated StateA state with a long, narrow shape.EmigrationMigration from a location. Enclosure MovementThe process of consolidating small landholdings into a smaller number of larger farms in England during the eighteenth century. Environmental DeterminismA nineteenth- and early twentieth-century approach to the study of geography that argued that the general laws sought by human geographers could be found in the physical sciences. Geography was therefore the study of how the physical environment caused human activities. EpidemiologyBranch of medical science concerned with the incidence, distribution, and control of diseases that affect large numbers of people.Epidemiological Transitiondistinctive causes of death in each stage of the demographic transition Ethnic CleansingProcess in which more powerful ethnic group forcibly removes a less powerful one in order to create an ethnically homogeneous reg ion. Ethnic ReligionA religion with a relatively concentrated spatial distribution whose principles are likely to be based on the physical characteristics of the particular location in which its adherents are concentrated. EthnicityIdentity with a group of people that share distinct physical and mental traits as a product of common heredity and cultural traditions.Expansion DiffusionThe spread of a feature or trend among people from one area to another in a snowballing process. Extinct languageA language that was once used by people in daily activities but is no longer used. Federal StateAn internal organization of a state that allocates most powers to units of local government. FerrousMetals, including iron ore, that are utilized in the production of iron and steel. Filteringa process of change in the use of a house, from single-family owner occupancy to abandonment FissionThe splitting of an atomic nucleus to release energy.FloodplainThe area subject to flooding during a given num ber of years according to historical trends. Folk CultureCulture traditionally practiced by a small, homogeneous, rural group living in relative isolation from other groups. Forced MigrationPermanent movement compelled usually by cultural factors. Fordist ProductionForm of mass production in which each worker is assigned one specific task to perform repeatedly. Formal RegionAn area within which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics. Fossil FuelEnergy source formed from the residue of plants and animals buried millions of years ago.Fragmented StateA state that includes several discontinuous pieces of territory. FranglaisA term used by the French for English words that have entered the French language, a combination of franfais and anglai. † the French words for â€Å"French† and â€Å"English,† respectively. FrontierA zone separating two states in which neither state exercises political control. Functional RegionAn area organized around a node or focal point FundamentalismLiteral interpretation and strict adherence to basic principles of a religion (or a religious branch, denomination, or sect). FusionCreation of energy by joining the nuclei of two hydrogen atoms to form helium.Gender Empowerment MeasureCompares the ability of women and men to participate in economic and political decision making. Gender-Related Development IndexCompares the level of development with that of both sexes. Gentrificationa process of converting an urban neighborhood from a predominantly low-income renter-occupied area to a predominantly middle-class owner-occupied area Geothermal EnergyEnergy from steam or hot water produced from hot or molten underground rocks. GerrymanderingProcess of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.GhettoDuring the Middle Aes, a neighborhood in a city set up by law to be inhabited only by Jews; now used to denote a section of a city in which members of any minority group live because of social, legal, or economic pressure. GISA computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data. GlobalizationActions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope. Global Positioning SystemA system that determines the precise position of something on Earth through a series of satellites, tracking stations, and eceivers. GrainSeed of cereal grass. Gravity ModelA model that holds that the potential use of a service at a particular location is directly related to the number of people in a location and inversely related to the distance people must travel to reach the service. Green RevolutionRapid diffusion of new agricultural technology, especially new high-yield seeds and fertilizers. GreenbeltA ring of land maintained as parks, agricultural, or other types of open space to limit the sprawl of an urban area.Greenhouse EffectAnticipated increase in Earth's temperature, caused by carbon dioxid e (emitted by burning fossil fuels) trapping some of the radiation emitted by the surface. Greenwhich Mean Timethe time in that time zone encompassing the prime meridian or 0 longitude Gross Domestic ProductThe value of the total output of goods and services produced in a country in a given time period (normally one year). Guest WorkersWorkers who migrate to the more developed countries of Northern and Western Europe, usually from Southern of Eastern Europe or from North Africa, in search of higher-paying jobs.HabitA repetative act by a particular individual. HearthThe region from which innovative ideas originate. Hierarchical DiffusionThe spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places Hierarchical ReligionA religion in which a central authority exercises a high degree of control. HorticultureThe growing of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. HullThe outer covering of steel. Human Development IndexIndicator of level of development for each coun try, constructed by United Nations, combining income, literacy, education, and life expectancy Hydroelectric PowerPower generated from moving water.IdeogramsThe system of writing used in China and other East Asian countries in which each symbol represents an idea or concept rather than a specific sound, as is the case with letters in English. ImmigrationMigration to a new location. ImperialismControl of a territory already occupied and organized by an indigenous society. Inanimate PowerPower supplied by machines. Industrial RevolutionA series of improvements in industrial technology that transformed the process of manufacturing goods. Infant Mortality RateThe total number of deaths in a year among infants under one year old for every 1,000 live births in a society.Intensive Subsistence AgricultureA form of subsistence agriculture in which farmers must expend a relatively large amount of effort to produce the maximum feasible yield from a parcel of land. Internal MigrationPermanent M ovement within a particular country. International Date LineAn arc that for the most part follows 180 ° longitude, although it deviates in several places to avoid dividing land areas. When you cross the International Date Line heading east (toward America), the clock moves back 24 hours, or one entire day. When you go west (toward Asia), the calendar moves ahead one day.International MigrationPermanent movement from one country to another. Interregional MigrationPermanent movement from one region of a country to another. Intervening ObstacleAn environmental or cultural feature of the landscape that hinders migration. Intraregional MigrationPermanent movement within one region of a country. IsoglossA boundary that separates regions in which different language usages predominate. Isolated LanguageA language that is unrelated to any other languages and therefore not attached to any language family.Labor-intensive IndustryAn industry for which labor costs comprises a high percentage o f total expenses Landlocked StateA state that does not have a direct outlet to the sea. Land ordinance of 1785A law that divided much of the United States into a system of townships to facilitate the sale of land to settlers. LanguageA system of communication through the use of speech, a collection of sounds understood by a group of people to have the same meaning. Language BranchA collection of languages related through a common ancestor that existed several thousand years ago.Differences are not as extensive or old as with language families, and archaeological evidence can confirm that these derived from the same family. Language FamilyA collection of languages related to each other through a common ancestor long before recorded history. Language GroupA collection of languages within a branch that share a common origin in the relatively recent past and display relatively few differences in grammar and vocabulary. LatitudeThe numbering system used to indicate the location of parall els drawn on a globe and measuring distance north and south of the equator.Less Developed CountryAlso known as a developing country, a country that is at a relatively early stage in the process of economic developement. Life ExpectancyThe average number of years an individual can be expected to live, given current social, economic, and medical conditions. Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn infant can expect to live. Lingua FrancaA language mutually understood and commonly used in trade by people who have different native languages. Literacy Ratepercentage of people who can read and write.Literary TraditionA language that is written as well as spoken. LocationThe position of anything on Earth's surface. LongitudeThe numbering system used to indicate the location of meridians drawn on a globe and measuring distance east and west of the prime meridian (0 °). MapA two-dimensional, or flat, representation of Earth's surface or a portion of it. Maquiladora Factories built by U. S. companies in Mexico near the U. S. border, to take advantage of much cheaper labor costs in Mexico. Market AreaThe area surrounding a central place, from which people are attracted to use the place's goods and services.Medical RevolutionMedical technology invented in Europe and North America that is diffused to the poorer countries of Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Improved medical practices have eliminated many of the traditional causes of death in poorer countries and enabled more people to live longer and healthier lives. Mental MapAn internal representation of a portion of Earth's surface based on what an individual knows about a place, containing personal impressions of what is in a place and where places are located. MeridianAn arc drawn on a map between the North and South poles.Metropolitan Statisical AreaIn the United States, a central city of at least 50,000 population, the county within which the city is located, and adjacent counties meeting on e of several tests indicating a functional connection to the central city. Micropolitan Statistical AreaAn urbanized area of between 10,000 and 50,000 inhabitants, the county in which it is found, and adjacent counties tied to the city. MicrostateA state that encompasses a very small land area. MigrationForm of relocation diffusion involving permanent move to a new location.Migration TransitionChange in the migration pattern in a society that results from industrialization, population growth, and other social and economic changes that also produce the demographic transition. MilkshedThe area surrounding a city from which milk is supplied. MissionaryAn individual who helps to diffuse a universalizing religion. MobilityAll types of movement from one location to another. Monotheismthe doctrine or belief that there is only one God More Developed CountryAlso known as a relatively developed county or a developed country, a country that has progressed in relativety far along a continuum of development.Multi-ethnic StateA state that contains more than one ethnicity. Multinational StateState that contains two or more ethnic groups with traditions of self-determination that agree to coexist peacefully by recognizing each other as distinct nationalities. NationalismLoyalty and devotion to a particular nationality. NationalityIdentity with a group of people that share legal attachment and personal allegiance to a particular place as a result of being born there. Nation-stateA state who's territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity that has been transformed into a nationality.Natural Increase RateThe percentage growth of a population in a year, computed as the crude birth rate minus the crude death rate. Net MigrationThe difference between the level of immigration and the level of emigration. New International Division of LaborTransfer of some types of jobs, especially those requiring low-paid less skilled workers, from more developed to less developed countries. Nonbasic IndustriesIndustries that sell their products primarily to consumers in the community. Nonferrousmetals utilized to make products other than iron and steel.Nonrenewable EnergyA source of energy that is a finite supply capable of being exhausted. Official LanguageThe language adopted for use by the government for the conduct of business and publication of documents. OverpopulationThe number of people in an area exceeds the capacity of the environment to support life at a decent standard of living. Ozonegas that absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation, found in the stratosphere, a zone between 15 and 50 kilometers (9 to 30 miles) above Earth's surface. PaddyMalay word for wet rice, commonly but incorrectly used to describe a sawah. aganA follower of a polytheistic religion in ancient times. PandemicDisease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects a very high proportion of the population. ParallelA circle drawn around the globe parallel to the equator and at right angles to the meridians. Passive Solar Energy SystemsSolar energy that collects energy without the use of mechanical devices. Pastoral NomadismA form of subsistence agriculture based on herding domesticated animals. PastureGrass or other plants grown for feeding grazing animals, as well as land used for grazing. PatternThe geometric or regular arrangement of something in a study area.Perforated Statea state that completely surrounds another one Peripheral ModelA model of North American urban areas consisting of an inner city surrounded by large suburban residential and business areas tied together by a beltway or ring road. Personal ServicesServices that provide for the well-being and personal improvement of individual consumers. Photochemical SmogAn atmospheric condition formed through a combination of weather conditions and pollution, especially from motor vehicle emissions. Photovoltaic CellSolar energy cells, usually made from silicon, that collect solar rays to generate electricity.Physiological DensityThe number of people per unit of area of arable land, which is land suitable for agriculture. Pigdin LanguageA form of speech that adopts a simplified grammar and limited vocabulary of a lingua franca, used for communications among speakers of two different languages. PilgrimageA journey to a place considered sacred for religious purposes. Placea specific point on earth distinguished by a particular character. PlantationA large farm in tropical and subtropical climates that specializes in the production of one or two crops for sale, usually to a more developed country.Polderland created by the Dutch by draining water from an area. PollutionAddition of more waste than a resource can accommodate. PolytheismBelief in or worship of more than one god. Popular CultureCulture found in a large, heterogeneous society that shares certain habits despite differences in other personal characteristics. Population PyramidA bar graph representing the distribution of population by age and sex. PossibilismThe theory that the physical environment may set limits on human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to the physical environment and choose a course of action from many alternatives.Post-Fordist ProductionAdoption by companies of flexible work rules, such as the allocation of workers to teams that perform a variety of tasks. Potential ReserveThe amount of energy in deposits not yet identified but thought to exist. PreservationMaintenance of a resource in its present condition, with as little human impact as possible. Primary SectorThe portion of the economy concerned with the direct extraction of materials from Earth's surface, generally through agriculture, although sometimes by mining, fishing, and forestry.Primate CityThe largest settlement in a country, if it has more than twice as many people as the second-ranking settlement. Primate City RuleA pattern of settlements in a country, such that the largest settlement has more than t wice as many people as the second-ranking settlement. Prime Agricultural LandMost productive farmland. Prime MeridianThe meridian, designated at 0 ° longitude, which passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England. Principal MeridianA north-south line designated in the Land Ordinance of 1785 to facilitate the surveying and numbering of townships in the United States.Producer ServicesServices that primarily help people conduct business. ProductivityThe value of a particular product compared to the amount of labor needed to make it. ProjectionThe system used to transfer locations from Earth's surface to a flat map. Prorupted Statean otherwise compact state with a large projecting extension. Proven ReserveThe amount of a resource remaining in discovered deposits. Public HousingHousing owned by the government; in the United States, it is rented to low-income residents, and the rents are set at 30 percent of the families' incomes.Public ServicesServices offered by the govern ment to provide security and protection for citizens and businesses. Pull FactorsFactors that induce people to move to a new location. Push FactorsFactors that induce people to leave old residences. QuotaIn reference to migration, a law that places maximum limits on the number of people who can immigrate to a country each year. RaceIdentity with a group of people descended from a common ancestor. RacismBelief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.RacistA person who subscribes to the beliefs of racism. Radioactive WasteParticles from a nuclear reaction that emit radiation; contact with such particles may be harmful or lethat to people and must therefore be safely stored for thousonds of years. RanchingA form of commercial agriculture in which livestock graze over an extensive area. RangeThe maximum distance people are willing to travel to use a service. Rank-size RuleA patte rn of settlements in a country, such that the nth largest settlement is 1/n the population of the largest settlement. ReaperAmachine that cuts grain standing in the feild.Recyclingthe separation, collection, processing, marketing, and reuse of unwanted material RedliningA process by which banks draw lines on a map and refuse to lend money to purchase or improve property within the boundaries. RefugeesPeople who are forced to migrate from their home country and cannot return for fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group, or political opinion. RegionAn area distinguished by a unique combination of trends or features. Regional StudiesAn approach to geography that emphasizes the relationships among social and physical phemona in a particular area study.Relocation DiffusionThe spread of a feature or trend through bodily movement of people from one place to another. Remote SensingThe acquisition of data about Earth's surface from a sate llite orbiting the planet or other long-distance methods. Renewable EnergyA resource that has a theoretically unlimited supply and is not depleted when used by humans. ResourceA substance in the environment that is useful to people, is economically and technologically feasible to access, and is socially acceptable to use. Retail ServicesServices that provide goods for sale to consumers.Ridge TillageSystem of planting crops on ridge tops, in order to reduce farm production costs and promote greater soil conservation. Right-to-work StateA U. S. state that has passed a law preventing union and company from negotiating a contract that requires workers to join a union as a condition of e3mployment. Rush Hourfour consecutive 15 minute periods in the morning and evening with the heaviest volumes of traffic. Sanitary LandfillA place to deposit solid waste, where a layer of earth is bulldozed over garbage each day to reduce emissions of gases and odors from the decaying trash, to minimize fi res, and to discourage vermin.SawahA flooded feild for growing rice. ScaleGenerally, the relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole, specifically the relationship between the size of an object on a map and the size of the actual feature on Earth's surface. Secondary SectorThe portion of the economy concerned with manufacturing useful products through processing, transforming, and assembling raw materials. SectA relatively small group that has broken away from an established denomination. SectionA square normally 1 mile on a side. The Land Ordinance of 1785 divided townships in the United States into 36 sections.Sector ModelA model of the internal structure of cities in which social groups are arranged around a series of sectors, or wedges, radiating out from the central business district (CBD). Seed AgricultureReproduction of plants through annual introduction of seeds, which result from sexual fertilization. Self-determinismConcept that ethnicities have the right to govern themselves. Serviceany activity that fulfills a human want or need and returns money to those who provide it. SettlementA permanent collection of buildings and inhabitants. Sex RatioThe number of males per 100 females in a population.SharecropperA person who works fields rented from a landowner and pays the rent and repays loans by turning over to the landowner a share of the crops. Shifting CultivationA form of subsistence agriculture in which people shift activity from one field to another; each field is used for crops for relatively few years and left fallow for a relatively long period. SiteThe physical character of a place. Site FactorsLocation factors related to the costs of factors of production inside the plant, such as land, labor, and capital. SituationThe location of a place relative to other places.Situation FactorsLocation factors related to the transportation of materials into and from a factory. Slash-and-burn AgricultureAnother name for shif ting cultivation, so named because feilds are cleared by slashing the vegetation and burning the debris. SolsticeTime when the Sun is farthest from the equator. SovreigntyAbility of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states. SpaceThe physical gap or interval between two objects. Space-time CompressionThe reduction in the time it takes to diffuse something to a distinct place, as a result of improved communications and transportation systems.SpanglishCombination of Spanish and English, spoken by Hispanic-Americans. SprawlDevelopment of new housing sites at relatively low density and at locations that are not contiguous to the existing built-up area. Spring WheatWheat planted in the spring and harvested in the late summer. Squatter SettlementAn area within a city in a less developed country in which people illegally establish residences on land they do not own or rent and erect homemade structures. Standard LanguageThe form of a language used for official government business, education, and mass communications.StateAn area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government with control over its internal and foreign affairs. Stimulus DiffusionThe spread of an underlying principle, even though a specific characteristic is rejected. Structural Adjustment ProgramEconomic policies imposed on less developed countries by international agencies to create conditions encouraging international trade, such as raising taxes, reducing government spending, controlling inflation, selling publicly owned utilities to private corporations, and charging citizens more for services.Subsistence AgricultureAgriculture designed primarily to provide food for direct consumption by the farmer and the farmer's family Sustainable AgricultureFarming methods that preserve long-term productivity of land and minimize pollution, typically by rotating soil- restoring crops with cash crops and reducing in-puts of fertilizer and pes ticides. Sustainable DevelopmentThe level of development that can be maintained in a country without depleting resources to the extent that future generations will be unable to achieve a comparable level of development. SwiddenApatch of land cleared for planting through slashing and burning.TabooA restriction on behavior imposed by social custom. Tertiary SectorThe portion of the economy concerned with transportation, communications, and utilities, sometimes extended to the provision of all goods and services to people in exchange for payment. TextileA fabric made by weaving, used in making clothing TreshTo beat out grain from stalks by trampling it. ThresholdThe minimum number of people needed to support the service ToponymThe name given to a portion of Earth's surface. Total Fertility RateThe average number of children born to a woman during her childbearing years.TownshipA square normally 6 miles on a side. The Land Ordinance of 1785 divided much of the United States into a serie s of townships. Trading BlocA group of neighboring countries that promote trade with each other and erect barriers to limit trade with other blocs TranshumanceThe seasonal migration of livestock between mountains and lowland pastures. Transitional CorporationA company that conducts research, operates factories, and sells products in many countries, not just where its headquarters or shareholders are located Transportation and Information ServicesServices that diffuse and distribut services.Triangular Slave TradeA practice, primarily during the eighteenth century, in which European ships transported slaves from Africa to Caribbean islands, molasses from the Caribbean to Europe, and trade goods from Europe to Africa. Truck FarmingCommercial gardening and fruit farming, so named because truck was a Middle English word meaning batering or the exchange of commodities. UnderclassA group in society prevented from participating in the material benefits of a more developed society because of a variety of social and economic characteristics. Undocumented ImmigrantsPeople who enter a country without proper documents.Uneven DevelopmentThe increasing gap in economic conditions between core and peripheral regions as a result of the globalization of the economy. Unitary StateAn internal organization of a state that places most power in the hands of central government officials Universalizing ReligionA religion that attempts to appeal to all people, not just those living in a particular location. Urban RenewalProgram in which cities identify blighted inner-city neighborhoods, acquire the properties from private members, relocate the residents and businesses, clear the site, build new roads and utilities, and turn the land over to private developers.UrbanizationAn increase in the percentage and in the number of people living in urban settlements. Urbanized AreaIn the United States, a central city plus its contiguous built-up suburbs. Value Addedthe gross value of the product m inus the costs of raw materials and energy. Vegetative Plantingreproduction of plants by direct cloning from existing plants Vernacular RegionA place that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity. Voluntary MigrationPermanent movement undertaken by choice.Vulgar LatinA form of Latin used in daily conversation by ancient Romans, as opposed to the standard dialect, which was used for official documents. Wet RiceRice planted on dryland in a nursery, then moved to a deliberately flooded field to promote growth. WinnowTo remove chaff by allowing it to be blown away by the wind. Winter Wheatwheat planted in the fall and harvested in the early summer Zero Population GrowthA decline of the total fertility rate to the point where the natural increase rate equals zero. Zoning OrdinanceA law that limits the permitted uses of land and maximum density of development in a community.