Investor Psychology and Return Predictability Essay

Investor Psychology and Return Predictability - Essay Example To do so, we start with a traditional constant relative risk aversion utility function. This type of utility function is a standard criterion for choices under uncertainty. This function is expanded in a Taylor approximation up to the fourth order. The first two moments correspond to mean and variance. The third and fourth moment correspond to a directional measure of extreme events and to a symmetric measure respectively. A negative third moment indicates that there are more extreme negative realizations than there are positive ones. The fourth moment measures how the tails of the return distribution compare with the tails of the Gaussian distribution. From a technical point of view, in our paper, a numerical optimization takes place where the allocation involves higher moments. More pronounced results expected in the case one consider portfolios of individual stocks. Our findings are the following: a) When an investor may allocate his wealth to the indices and to the risk-free asset, then the weights corresponding to the risky assets are essentially unaffected by the introduction of a concern for the third or fourth moments. c) As the third moment comes to play a role, Asia (except Japan) gets less weighted because it contains large negative returns, whereas the importance of Japan is increased. The strong weighting of Japan comes from the fact that the Japanese returns contain several very large positive outliers generating a positive third moment. The implication of this research is that the traditional utility functions or expansions thereof may not sufficiently weigh realizations of extreme nature. This brings up the question how to adapt a utility function so that more weight is given to extreme realizations. A further question is how the allocation would change in a conditional setting, or with individual stocks rather than with portfolios, since in such circumstances, one may expect that higher moments take larger values than in the present setting. These questions are left for future research. Abstract Investment strategy is the first issue that investors should consider. At the outset, investing is an act of faith, a willingness to postpone present consumption and save for the future. Investing for the long term is central to the achievement of optimal returns by investors. Unfortunately, the principle of investing for the long term-eschewing funds with high turnover portfolios and holding shares in soundly managed funds as investments for a lifetime- is honoured more in the breach than in the observance by most mutual fund managers and shareholders. This proposition for investor's psychology affect the return predictability can be shown to be precisely true in several popular mathematical models of the portfolio decision. If returns are independent over time, then the mean and variance of continuously compounded returns rises in proportion to the horizon: The

Southwest vs. Jetblue Airlines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Southwest vs. Jetblue Airlines - Essay Example Southwest Airlines was first incorporated as Air Southwest Company on 15, March 1967. Its mission is to provide air transport to passengers within Texas State. However, Southwest Airline is currently operating in six states. It is serving over seventy cities, which enables the airline to make about three thousand three hundred flights daily. The porter’s five forces of the Airline industry with reference to Southwest Airline The first factor is the new entrant’s factor. Air industry is critical to economic growth and development. It is critical in any economy. Therefore, it is an industry perceived by many as highly lucrative. However, huge amount of capital is required to start air transport business and industry is riddled with high level risks. The industry also experiences complicated licensing, certification and regulations procedures, which makes it hard to penetrate. Furthermore, increasing cost of fuel makes it difficult for many people to venture it. The second factor is threats of substitutes. The substitutes to air transport are road, rail and water. Southwest Airline faces competition from road because most (80%) of its customers are domestic customers. If road transport improves, the airline may lose bulk of its domestic customers. Southwest Airline has been lobbying against the introduction of high speed rail transport services in the State of Texas. This is to prevent competition from substitutive high speed train services. Third factor to consider is the bargaining power of customers. Customers do not have a strong bargaining power in the air industry. As a result, they do not have a collective bargaining power to influence air prices. The fourth factor is the bargaining power of suppliers. Suppliers of aircrafts and spares are influential to prices making it difficult for operators to bargain. This is due to the standards on aircrafts and its spares that FAA imposes on operators. The operators must purchase genuine parts that are mostly expensive. The suppliers of fuel are few; therefore, they largely influence the prices of fuel. Airline operators do not have powers over the fuel suppliers and are left to develop ways of improving fuel efficiency. For example, Southwest Airlines introduced use of high pressure water to clean the engine, an exercise that improves fuel efficiency by 1.9 percent. The company has also managed to contain its employees through strong team coordination, open communication and promotion of work-life balance. Furthermore, the employees are also supported by top management. This has made employees proud of the company. Fifth factor to consider is the level of rivalry within the industry. This is among the real threats that can bring the industry down. Southwest Airline faces direct competition from JetBlue and AirTran Holdings, which are also low cost carriers. To minimize competition and increase its revenue base, the company acquired Muse Air in 1985, Morris Air in 1993, ATA Airlin es in 2008 and Air Tran Airways in 2011. Acquisitions enabled Southwest Airline to absorb key routes in the Pacific Norwest and acquire operating certificate as well as landing slots in LaGuardia Airport. However, the company failed to acquire Frontier Airlines thus lost Denver market. Strategic valuation method The strategic valuation method that is useful in valuing the company is the shareholder Value Analysis. Shareholder value analysis refers to financial analysis, which estimates the

Story of Aged Mather Essay Example for Free

Story of Aged Mather Essay Long, long ago there lived at the foot of the mountain a poor farmer and his aged, widowed mother. They owned a bit of land which supplied them with food, and their humble were peaceful and happy. Shining was governed by a despotic leader who though a warrior, had a great and cowardly shrinking from anything suggestive of failing health and strength. This caused him to send out a cruel proclamation. The entire province was given strict orders to immediately put to death all aged people. Those were barbarous days, and the custom of abandoning old people to die was not common. The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender reverence, and the order filled his heart with sorrow. But no one ever thought a second time about obeying the mandate of the governor, so with many deep hopeless sighs, the youth prepared for what at that time was considered the kindest mode of death. Just at sundown, when his day’s work was ended, he took a quantity of un whitened rice which is principal food for poor, cooked and dried it, and tying it in a square cloth, swung and bundle around his neck along with a gourd filled with cool, sweet water. Then he lifted his helpless old mother to his back and stated on his painful journey up the mountain. The road was long and steep; then arrowed road was crossed and re crossed by many paths made by the hunters and woodcutters. In some place, they mingled in a confused puzzled, but he gave no heed. On path or another, it mattered not. On he went, climbing blindly upward A– ever upward towards the high bare summit of what is known as Obatsuyama, the mountain of the â€Å"abandoning of aged†. The eyes of the old mother were not so dim but that they noted the reckless hastening from one path to another, and her loving heart grew anxious. Her son did not know the mountain’s many paths and his return might be one of danger, so she stretched forth her hand and snapping the twigs from

Lab Report: Diffusion and Osmosis

Lab Report: Diffusion and Osmosis Hypothesis and Prediction: This lab was done to examine and comprehend how diffusion and osmosis works in diverse molarity of sucrose. Also how the solutions permeates through different mediums. Methods: Part A: Diffusion and Osmosis: A 30 cm piece of 2.5 cm dialysis that has been soaked in water was obtained. The beginning of tubing was tied off, forming a bag with an open end that was rubbed between the fingers till separated. 15mL of the 15% glucose and 1% starch solution was placed into the bag and the ending of the dialysis bag was tied off, leaving some space for the development of the content within the dialysis bag. The color of the solution was recorded and was tested for the presence of glucose. Distilled water was poured into a 250 mL beaker (two-thirds of a cup) with about 4mL of Lugols solution (IKI). The color of the sucrose in the beaker was recorded and was tested for glucose. The dialysis bag was then submerged into the beaker of solution and left to stand for about 30 minutes (or until there was a color change in the dialysis bag or beaker).Once the bag was done soaking in the beaker, the final color of the solution in the bag and the beaker was recorded. The liquid in the bag and the beaker was then tested for the existence of glucose. Part B: Osmosis Six strips of 30 cm presoaked dialysis tubing were obtained. For each strip, an end was tied and roughly 25 mL of different solutions (distilled water, 0.2 M sucrose, 0.4 M sucrose, 0.6 M sucrose, 0.8 M sucrose and 1.0 M sucrose) was poured into their individual bags. Most of the remaining air was then removed from each bag by bringing the bag between two fingers and tied off at the opened end. The outside of each bag was then bathed to wash away any sucrose that spilled when filling the bag. The exterior of each bag was then blotted and the initial mass of each bag was weighed and recorded. Distilled water was then filled into six 250 mL beakers. Each bag was then emerged into one of the six filled beaker and the beakers were labeled by which bag of solution was emerged in it. The bags stood in the beaker for half an hour. When the time was up, each bag was removed, blotted and the mass of each bag was recorded. The mass difference was calculated and then using the equation: Percent change in mass = Final Mass – Initial Mass/Initial Mass x 100. The individual and the class average of the percent change in mass were then graphed. Part C: Water Potential 100 mL of the given solution was poured into six different labeled 250 mL beaker. The potato was then sliced into discs that were just about 3 cm thick. A cork borer (about 5 mm in diameter) was then used to cut four potato cylinders for each beaker, a total of 24 potato cores. Until the mass of cores were weighed by fours and recorded, the potato cores were kept in a covered beaker. Four cores were then put into each beaker of sucrose solution. Plastic wrap was then given to cover the beakers, preventing evaporation when left to stand overnight. The next day, the cores were then removed from the beakers and were blotted gently on a paper towel. Their total mass was then determined and recorded. The mass difference was calculated and then using the equation: Percent change in mass = Final Mass – Initial Mass/Initial Mass x 100. The individual and the class average of the percent change in mass were then graphed. Part D: Calculation of Water Potential from Experimental Data Determine the solute, pressure and water potential of the sucrose solution given and answer the questions about the possibility if zucchini cores were used with the sucrose solutions. Results: Part A: Diffusion and Osmosis Table 1.1-Presence of Glucose in Water through a Dialysis Bag Initial Contents Solution Color Presence of Glucose Initial Final Initial Final BAG 15% GLUCOSE and 1% STARCH Clear Clear Yes Yes BEAKER H20 + IKI Yellow (an olive oil color) Clear No Yes Part B: Osmosis Table 1.2: Individual Data of Change in Mass of Six Different Dialysis Bags Contents in Dialysis Bag Initial Mass Final Mass Mass Difference Percent Change in Mass a) distilled water 18.15 g 14.76 g 3.39 g -18.68% b) 0.2 M 19.40 g 17.33 g 2.07 g -10.67% c) 0.4 M 18.87 g 19.37 g -0.5 g 2.65% d) 0.6 M 19.83 g 19.68 g -0.15 g -0.5% e) 0.8 M 21.91 g 20.05 g -0.869 g -8.2% f) 1.0 M 18.78 g 18.07 g -0.71 g -3.7% Table 1.3: Class Data of Percent Change in Mass of Dialysis Bags Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6 Group 7 Group 8 Total Class Average Distilled Water -18.68% -2.2% -7.0% -7.2% -35.1 -8.8% 0.2 M -10.67% -22.3% -5.2% 1.8% -36.4% -9.1% 0.4 M 2.65% 6.2% 2.5% 3.9% 15.3% 3.8% 0.6 M -0.76% -3.8% -4.0% -6.55% -15.2% -3.8% 0.8 M -4.1% -26.3% -1.6% -3.78% -35.95% -8.95% 1.0 M -3.78% -3.27% -8.7% -29.4% -45.2% -11.3% Group 2, 4, 6 and 8 do not have any data for distilled water, 0.2M Sucrose, and 0.4M Sucrose and group 1, 3, 4 and 7 do not have any data for 0.6M Sucrose, 0.8M Sucrose and 1.0M Sucrose because of the lack of time. So, group 1 and 2 were paired up, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7 and 8 to exchange data. Part C: Water Potential Table 1.4: Individual Data of Change in Mass of Potato Cores in Six Different Sucrose Solution Contents in Beaker Initial Mass Final Mass Mass Difference Percent Change in Mass Class Average % Change in Mass a) Distilled Water 2.39g 2.95g 0.56g 23.4% 23.3% b) 0.2M Sucrose 2.41g 2.69g 0.28g 11.6% 8.4% c) 0.4M Sucrose 2.47g 2.38g -0.09g -3.6% -3.7% d) 0.6M Sucrose 2.33g 1.98g -0.35g -15.0% -13.5% e) 0.8M Sucrose 2.46g 2.05g -0.41g -16.7% -19.9% f) 1.0M Sucrose 2.49g 1.95g -0.54g -21.7% -20.8% Table 1.5: Class Data of Percent Change in Mass of Potato Cores in Six Different Sucrose Solution Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6 Group 7 Group 8 Total Class Average Distilled Water 23.4% 18.9% 23.2% 27.5% 93% 23.3% 0.2M 11.6% 6.8% 5.0% 10.1% 33.5% 8.4% 0.4M -3.6% -3.7% -7.0% -0.4% -14.7% -3.7% 0.6M -15.02% -13.5% -11.16% -14.3% -54% -13.5% 0.8M -16.67% -22.5% -20.33% -20.2% -79.7% -19.9% 1.0M -21.69% -24.3% -24.39% -12.9% -83.3% -20.8% Group 2, 4, 6 and 8 do not have any data for distilled water, 0.2M Sucrose, and 0.4M Sucrose and group 1, 3, 4 and 7 do not have any data for 0.6M Sucrose, 0.8M Sucrose and 1.0M Sucrose because of the lack of time. So, group 1 and 2 were paired up, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7 and 8 to exchange data. Part D: Calculation of Water Potential from Experimental Data Analysis: Part A: Diffusion and Osmosis From table 1.1 in this part of the lab, it is seen that IKI is flowing into the bag and glucose is flowing out of the bag. That is because of diffusion and osmosis. Knowing of this process is due to the color transformation of the bag, therefore showing that IKI has penetrated the bag. By testing the beaker for the existence of glucose, it was found that the glucose permeated through the dialysis bag, mixing with the IKI and H2O in the beaker. This is possible because as stated osmosis is a branched off form of diffusion, in which it is the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane and glucose is one of the substance that is able to go through. IKI along with glucose is tiny enough to enter and exit the dialysis bag. Part B: Osmosis Both the individual and class data of percent change in mass is shown in graph 1.1. To receive the percent change in mass, the initial mass was subtracted from the final mass. The difference is then divided by the initial mass and 100 is then multiplied to the quotient. The product is then the percent change in mass. Osmosis is present due to the change in mass of the dialysis bag. The mass is different for each bag because of the sucrose in the bags different molarity. That establishes the amount of water that progresses in and out of the bag, which then changes the mass. Part C: Water Potential From testing the potato cores in different sucrose solution, graph 1.2 illustrates that on the best fit line, the molar concentration of sucrose, the sucrose molarity that shows the mass of the potato cores does not change, is 0.4M. So the lower the concentration of the molar concentration of sucrose, the percentage of the potato cores mass increases and anything with a higher concentration of the molar concentration of sucrose the percentage in the potato cores mass decreases. This is all because molecules of any sucrose with a higher concentration of 0.4M are too great to enter or exit into the potato cores. Part D: Calculation of Water Potential from Experimental Data It is given that the solute potential of the sucrose solution is calculated by using ψs= iCRT. ÃŽ ¨s is the solute potential, the variable â€Å"i† represents the ionization constant, variable â€Å"C† signifies the molar concentration, variable â€Å"R† standing for the pressure constant (R= 0.0831 liter bars/mole oK), T is the temperature oK (273+ oC of solution). Since it is the solute potential of sucrose that must be found, â€Å"i† is 1.0, due to the fact that sucrose does not ionize in water. From the information of â€Å"i†, â€Å"C† is determined to be 1.0 mole/liter. So the problem that has 1.0M sugar solution at 22 oC under atmospheric conditions would be answered like this: Since the formula is ψs= iCRT, then when filling in for the variables the equation is now: ÃŽ ¨s= -(1)(1.0mole/liter)(0.0831 liter bar/ mole oK) (273+22) à   ψs =-24.51 bars The water potential can then be figured out by the formula: ψ = ψp + ψs. By being able to solve for the solute potential, the product would then be used to solve for the water potential. And from the knowledge of knowing that the water pressure, ψp, is equal to zero the formula filled out would turn out as: ψ=0 + (-24.51 bars) à   ψ = -24.51 bars From the graph of the percent change in mass of zucchini cores in different sucrose solution at 27 oC after 24 hours it can be concluded that the molar concentration of solute within the zucchini cell is 0.35 moles. From knowing the molar concentration of solute within the zucchini cell, the solute and water potential can be answered. Solute Potential= -1(0.35moles/liter)(0.0831 liter bar/mole oK)(273 +27) à   = -8.73 bars Water Potential= 0 + (-8.73) à   = -8.73 bars This is an important piece of information because by knowing the water potential, it is possible to predict the direction of the flow of water. Water flows from an area of a higher water potential to and area of lower water potential; so if the information of the water potential of the solution in the beaker which the zucchinis were soaked was given, the information of where the water flows would be known. Conclusion: This lab was to understand how diffusion and osmosis worked. The data that was received was consistent at some times. For part A and D of the lab, the results and calculations were consistent, but part B and C showed little consistency. That is because part B and C when comparing the percent change in mass with others, the numbers varied. The difference of the mass was changed, for it maybe misleading, into percentage, there eliminating any size factor and to compare the results. Though when comparing the percents with one another, some of the difference was too great to receive any accurate data. Some possibilities that may have altered the outcome of the results include the ends of the dialysis bags not being tied correctly, the inaccuracy of pouring the solutions, not a thorough cleaning of the outside of the dialysis bag and incorrect calculation and measurements. This lab can be modified to get a more consistent data by wearing gloves when working with the solutions, so when one is done pouring and tying the dialysis bag, gloves can be removed to reduce any chance of the solution being on the outside of the bag. A more accurate and precise measurement of the solution and the tightness and method of tying the ends of the bags can be arranged to be the same. With those alterations to the lab, the chance of a more consistent data is higher. Should Humans Be Blamed For Global Warming? Should Humans Be Blamed For Global Warming? Global warming is the next big impact that will bring about a change in the weather patterns. By definition, Global Warming is the increase in average temperature that gradually warms the Earths atmosphere. It is a phenomenon, which has been on the rise but in the last century, the increase in the levels have been alarming (George Christodoulou, 2006).Global warming has caused a lot of changes to the environment in a negative manner. According to the study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it is observed that the increase in global average temperature has been caused due to an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations (Slashman, 2007). Global warming can have many causes, but it is most commonly associated with human interference, specifically the release of excessive amounts of greenhouse gases (EPA, 2006).It is either caused by humans or natural causes. Global warming is no more a myth but a fast approaching reality, which in the long-term will bring the much feared ice age that will wipe out all living organisms on Earth. The latest IPCC report states widespread mass losses from glaciers and reductions in snow cover over recent decades are projected to accelerate throughout the 21st century, reducing water availability, hydropower potential, and changing seasonality of flows in regions supplied by melt water from major mountain ranges (e.g. Hindu-Kush, Himalaya, Andes), where more than one-sixth of the world population currently lives (Geneva, 2010). Global warming has caused a major increase of heat towards the earths atmosphere and it is still affecting us till today due to numerous human activities. Although some people think that global warming happens due to natural factors, it is scientifically proven that humans are responsible for global warming. The purpose of this paper is to point out the irresponsible people causing global warming and not to blame the natural factor for global. There are many scientific and logical factors of global warming that are caused by human activities. The main factor is due to the depletion of ozone layer of the atmosphere which happens in the stratosphere which is 30 miles above the earth. What is the function of the ozone layer? The ozone layer protects the earth from radiating ultraviolet (UV) rays. The ozone is made up from oxygen molecules named triatomic oxygen. The ozone molecules or the triatomic oxygen will absorb the UV rays. Eventually the triatomic oxygen will split into diatomic oxygen and a monoxide. This process is repeated as the monoxide combines with diatomic oxygen to produce ozone molecules back and protects. Thus, this helps to protect UV rays from entering the earths atmosphere. The UV rays will heat up the earth as it penetrates through directly without the shield of ozone layer. Every time 1% of the ozone layer is depleted, 2% more UV-B is able to reach the surface of the planet (Miller, G. Tyler Jr., 1987). The thinning of ozone layer happens due to human activities on the earths surface by burning and releasing harmful gases. As the ozone layer becomes thinner the UV rays will be trapped inside the earths atmosphere, therefore our earth becomes hotter. The shine of UV rays may cause skin cancer. In addition, it also dries up the earth and causes drought. Moreover it is because of the release of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases the ozone layer depletes. Human being use air conditioners to make the hot environment cooler, but what they dont seem to realize is that they are making the atmosphere even hotter. Air conditioners releases CFC gas when it is turned on. Besides that, refrigerators also release CFC gases when the doors are opened. The CFC gas will react with the ozone layer. The triatomic oxygen will be split and the chlorine atom from CFC will combine with the diatomic oxygen gas. This will produce chlorine monoxide. Referring to the statement above, there will be no chance of the oxygen to recombine to form ozone molecules. As a result a hole is created in the ozone layer. Slowly they start infiltrating into the upper layers of the atmosphere and soon reach the ozone rich stratosphere, where they undergo major chemical changes (H. Khemani, 2010). The CFC gas will soon disintegrate and the chlorine atom will react with the ozone molecule and changes to oxygen molecule. As soon as the ozone layer changes to oxygen molecule the ozone layer will be depleted. The most shocking fact about CFCs is that they have exceptionally long atmospheric life which, in certain cases, even extends to 100 years. This means that if CFC refrigerants are leaked in the atmosphere, they will keep depleting the ozone layer for the next 100 years to come (H. Khemani, 2010). There are other materials used by humans that release CFC gas such as chemical sprays and the burning of Styrofoam materials. Furthermore, the increase of carbon dioxide level leads to climatic changes. Humans are the main people to emit green house gasses to the environment. They emit them in a variety of ways. The combustion of fossil fuel by human activities releases green house gases which is carbon dioxide and others. When there is an increase in the percentage of carbon dioxide in the air, the amount of heat captured by the carbon dioxide also increases (Bidisha Mukherjee, 2010). As the amount of carbon dioxide level increases in the atmosphere, heat is trapped inside the atmosphere and causes warming of the earth. Moreover, coal-burning of power plants also increases the carbon level in the atmosphere. Burning coal produces about 9 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year which is released to the atmosphere, and about 70% of this is being generated from power plants (World-Nuclear.org, 2011). In addition factories emit more smoke and harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and oxide. These g ases do not only increase the temperature of the environment but causes harm to humans and animals. In addition to that, the burning of gasoline from transportation also contributes to global warming on a large- scale. Burning of gasoline will increase the amount of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a very harmful gas that it can cause death to living organisms on earth. This gas can react with other atoms to be more harmful. For example, it can combine an oxygen atom to produce carbon dioxide. By combining energy is needed and heat is produced. Dusts are also accumulated in the atmosphere which can trap the heat. Smog is another form of cloud of carbon which is also related to accumulation of heat in the atmosphere. Besides that, Brazil and Indonesia, which contain the worlds two largest surviving regions of rain forest, are being stripped at an alarming rate by logging, fires, and land-clearing for agriculture and cattle-grazing (NationalGeographic.com, 2011). Human activities of depleting forest illegally have caused a major climate change to the environment. Men nowadays are selfish and do things on their own for selfish benefits. They want to upgrade the economy of the country with the improvement of technology. The usage of land for development of buildings makes them to cut down forests uncontrolled. Besides, illegal deforestation for exporting logs to other countries for business purpose causes global warming. Trees are needed to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the environment. By deforestation, the land is barren and exposed. Therefore, the earth will eventually get hotter. Excessive cutting of trees in forests for urban use and other purposes like buildings is detrimental to the environmental balance (Manali Oak ,2011). Another point related to this argument is the role of politicians who carry activities for the nations benefits that politicians play a role in global warming too. Even those politicians who are courageous enough to fight for action on the issue are not telling us the whole truth (Mark Jeantheau, 2004).The government is not responsible for the occurrence of global warming. They do not take any action towards illegal people who cause global warming and are mostly money minded. On their mind they always think of bribery and do not think about the effects of global warming. Public are not aware of this phenomena and take it easy. Government should be blamed for this for not educating the public about the effects of global warming and point out the consequences. So global warming happens due to the irresponsible activities of humans can lead to negative consequences. On the other hand opponent argues more by supporting that carbon dioxide released are not by human activities but natural phenomenon. Carbon dioxide is a natural source from the environment itself. As a natural phenomenon volcanoes rupture and emit carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide to the environment and causes a lot of negative impacts regarding global warming. Water vapors are also released which is the most hazardous gas to humans and the environment. Our studies show that globally, volcanoes on land and under the sea release a total of about 200 million tonnes of CO2 annually (hvo.wr.usgs.gov ,2007 ). Besides volcano eruptions, natural burning of forest or called forest fires release carbon dioxide in a drastic level to the environment. Forest fires happen spontaneously due to overheat and not by people. Sometimes forest fires can be spontaneous due to hot and dry weather (Chandramita Bora,2010).Moreover, forest fires happen when the weather is thundering and storming. The lightning carries high voltage current. As the current hits the trees a small spark created would light up a leaf and spread the fire to the whole forest. There are no ways for fire fighters or other rescue teams to put out the fire due to high temperatures. The carbon level of the environment increases drastically and causes haze also. The heat of the earth goes up tremendously. It can increase the level of greenhouse gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and chlorofluorocarbons), and thereby increase pollution and global warming (Chandramita Bora,2010). The opponent says humans are not the only people who emit carbon dioxide by exhaling them but animals do too. It is wrong to say humans are to be blamed alone for global warming. Humans are not responsible for the increase of the concentration of carbon dioxide on global scale. Furthermore, carbon dioxide does not have a long life time. Instead of pinning an absolute value on the atmospheric lifetime of CO2, the 2007 report describes its gradual dissipation over time, saying, About 50% of a CO2 increase will be removed from the atmosphere within 30 years, and a further 30% will be removed within a few centuries due to the plants and others (Mason Inman, 2008).It is only temporary and if it would be blamed that it is going to affect the future generation which is wrong. In addition to that, a meteorological scientist named William Kininmonth (2004) explains that climatic change occurs due to natural phenomenon and not by human activities. The assumption of a climate system forced primarily by the radiation effects of greenhouse gases is a limited perspective of the complex climate system. (William Kininmonth ,2004). Climate scientists cannot prove that the current warming is not due to natural processes and therefore cannot claim with certainty that the warming is due to human interference. However, the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) disproves global warming by human activities. MWP is a natural phenomenon and the MWP was a time of warm climate in Europe. So, human activities have nothing to do with the global warming, as evident from the Medieval Warm Period (MWP). The ice age is not due to global warming as mentioned by scientist. There will be a new prediction of ice age where it is a natural phenomenon not caused by humans that contributes global warming. The supporter refutes the opponents argument by giving explanations that very little carbon dioxide is caused by volcanic rupture. There are no proves that volcanoes emit more carbon dioxide and it is a myth. There have been volcanic eruptions so massive that they covered vast areas in lava more than a kilometre thick and appear to have released enough CO2 to warm the planet after the initial cooling caused by the dust ( Catherine Brahic , 2007). Volcanoes emit carbon dioxide naturally as it a natural cycle of the phenomenon. Furthermore, there are not many volcanoes around the world and it only ruptures after a long period. Besides that, the supporters argue more on the point of forest fires. Forest fires are mainly caused by human activities like clearing and burning for starting plantations to produce cash crops like oil palm , rubber and sugar cane. Throwing of cigarettes by hunters or campers, creating camp fires and picnics causes light ups of fire and would put up fire on the forest. Even though, carbon dioxide has a life-time, it still can contribute heat to the environment for a certain period. Climate changes are due to human activities on a large-scale. Humans burns fossil fuel like coals openly, followed by spraying aerosols which could damage the environment, cement manufacture factories releases smog and artificial harmful gases which changes the climate and causes global warming. As a conclusion of this argument about should humans be blamed for global warming, it can be strongly mentioned that humans are to be blamed mostly. Natural factors do contribute to global warming but it is minimal. In order to prevent global warming from occurring, governments should take more drastic measures on this matter and do awareness campaigns among their countries. As a concluding statement for this topic humans are to be blamed for the cause of global warming. (2282 words)

Freaks of the Core :: Essays Papers

Freaks of the Core Wherein lies the odd attraction and power of the freakish? Just as often as it introduces us to expressions of common human experience, study in the Humanities also introduces us to the decidedly uncommon--to writers, artists and thinkers who push conventional limits of language and narrative, vision and imagination, memory and history, or logic and rationality. For our Freaks of the Core colloquium, we explored the outer limits of human expression and experience. What, we asked, defines the abnormal or the outlandish? the fanatical or heretical? the illusory or the grotesque? Why are we commonly drawn to the very uncommon? "Nothing, indeed, is more revolting," wrote Thomas De Quincey in his famously freaky Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, "than the spectacle of a human being obtruding on our notice his moral ulcers or scars, and tearing away that 'decent drapery' which time, or indulgence to human frailty, may have drawn over them" (1).[1] But De Quincey chose to tear away tha t drapery in his Confessions nevertheless, believing that his outlandish experiences with addiction, poverty and illusion would teach his readers valuable lessons that outweighed any offense. "In that hope it is that I have drawn this up," wrote De Quincey, "and that must be my apology for breaking through that delicate and honorable reserve, which, for the most part, restrains us from the public exposure of our own infirmities" (1). The essays below also tear away the "decent drapery" which covers the sometimes unsightly extremes of human experience, and they do so with similar hopes and reasons. Kimberly Tsau, for example, follows De Quincey's lead in her analysis of T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land, suggesting that among the violence, apathy, and disjointedness of the poem is a call to face and learn from suffering. Her essay, "Hanging in a Jar," examines how Eliot collects a variety of "cultural memories," cutting and pasting them together to form a collection that is both terrifying and edifying. In "Per Repitio Nos Studiare: The Struggles of Abraham and God," Ryan Priester also explores how one learns through repeated suffering. Instead of examining human apathy or submission in the face of pain, however, his examination of the binding of Isaac introduces us to the role of human rebellion and resistance. Both The Waste Land and the relationship between Abraham and God revolve around the human response to excess and extremity.

Electronic Democracy Essay -- Politics Internet Web Elections Essays

Electronic Democracy Today, people go online and instantly communicate with others all over the world. Given this technology, is it possible to revolutionize our current political process and enable online users to cultivate their own political group to affect change? Jon Katz article, The Netizen: Birth of a Digital Nation suggests that young, educated, affluent people make up the new Digital Nation who can and should build a more civil society utilizing online computer technology. On assignment for HotWireds The Netizen Katz was supposed to write about how the media was affected by the Web during the Presidential election of 1996. However, Katz found early on that the Web was not an influence in 1996 politics. Instead, he found an online culture that used chat rooms and web sites to communicate their political positions. Katz began to post his own positions online, receiving innumerable feedback on them. He found his opinions were just that---ideas that other people challenged, changed or agreed with. He gave ideas, but smarter people improved them or showed him why he was incorrect. There was much to be learned on the Internet believed Katz. He discovered the net could be the tool to bring about change in the political arena and even our culture. The net offers individuals the ability and freedom to voice their opinions; yet it is a distinct group of young people who are taking the opportunity to interact with one another creating a new political ideology (217). Katz believes these individuals are utilizing the Stomel 2 Internet to produce their own political entity. These are people who work on the Internet, created the Net, and whose business, social, and cultural lives (217) revolve around it. In essence, a new soc... ... also physically within their communities. It is doubtful this can happen when this group uses words to attempt change rather than action. Stomel 6 Works Cited DeLuca, Tom Jr. Two Faces Of Political Apathy. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. 1995. Katz, Jon. The Netizen: Birth of a Digital Nation. Composing Cyberspace: Identity, Community, and Knowledge in the Electronic Age. Ed. Richard Holeton. Boston: McGraw-Hill Inc. 1998. 214-225. Phillips, Kevin. Wealthy and Democracy: A Political History of the American Rich. New York: Broadway Books. 2003. Tatchell, Peter. Direct Action For Democracy. Guardian Unlimited. January 30, 2003. http//politics.guardian.co.uk/apathy/comment/0,12822,885318,00html (3 Oct. 2003). What Influence Does Wealth Have Over Politics? Geocities.com (3 Oct. 2003).

Chpl 500 Writing Assigment 1

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY WRITING ASSIGMENT ONE a RESEARCH paper sUBMITTED TO Dr. Charlie Davidson iN PARTIAL FULFILMENT oF THE REQUIREMENTS chpl 500 lIBERTY Baptist THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BY wILLIAM nESTOR LAGRANGE GA March 24, 2013 When we think of a chaplain we think in of those who sever in the military providing spiritual comfort to soldier’s hospital. This role of spiritual leader can be traced back to the Roman imperial period where the Roman emperor was not just in charge ruling the empire but also was in charge of the state religion.Since the emperor was head of the state religion he was known as the â€Å"pontifex maximus† and it was his job to maintain the â€Å"pax deorum (peace of the gods)† to ensure welfare of the state. Those who served in Roman army religion were important, in every camp there was a shrine called aedes signorum which was locate at the headquarters. Within military there were personal that held different religious responsibilities such as victimarius and turarius who were the incense keepers. It was not until the fourth century when Christian clergy began to emerge in the Roman army.The source that is often looked at about the use of Christian clerics comes from Eusebius of Caesarea. In his report Life of the Emperor Constantine when he engaged in war he would make his tent in shape of a church to have sacred edifice to worship God in which the priests and deacons would provide the service according to the law of the church. Other group soldiers that practice religion was the Barbarians who professed Arian from of Christianity and these soldiers were attached the Roman army and were the first examples of Christian’s clerics being attached to an army unit.The Arian clerics would follow the barbarian armies for practical because when the armies would travel they could not find any Arian churches to meet the spiritual needs of the soldiers at the time. As stated earlier Christian clergy started to be used by the Roman army by Emperor Constantine who had vision of a cross which lead him to paint the symbol on his legionaries shield. This would also lead to other rituals to help Romans soldiers moral they would eventually use Christian relics and litanies and on the sails of the ships they would paint pictures of the Virgin.As move from the Roman imperial period to the Middle Ages religious leaders took continue to maintain the moral of the men who were fighting and facing imminent death. Chaplains gather their flock and provided liturgical services like penitential rites of purification and supplication because they believe war was the result of sin and the outcome was divine judgment. During the Crusades the fighters would fast three days and only take the Eucharist.They would bless the standard of the forces and would lead the soldiers with a processional cross or a prized relic. Chaplains would provide special blessings to provide protection on things like The Crusader’s Holy Lance because it was used a tool to communicate during chaos of combat. Just by looking at two different time periods religion was very important to people and the spiritual leaders had their hands full to maintain moral of people especially those who served in military units.They have to deal with stress of war and the toll it would take on the soldiers, this is the same thing that modern chaplains or religious leaders deal with today and it is not an easy job. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Doris L. Bergen, ed. , The Sword of the Lord: Military Chaplains from the First to the Twenty-First Century (Notre Dame, Ind. : University of Notre Dame Press, 2004), 29. Chpl 500 Writing Assigment 1 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY WRITING ASSIGMENT ONE a RESEARCH paper sUBMITTED TO Dr. Charlie Davidson iN PARTIAL FULFILMENT oF THE REQUIREMENTS chpl 500 lIBERTY Baptist THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BY wILLIAM nESTOR LAGRANGE GA March 24, 2013 When we think of a chaplain we think in of those who sever in the military providing spiritual comfort to soldier’s hospital. This role of spiritual leader can be traced back to the Roman imperial period where the Roman emperor was not just in charge ruling the empire but also was in charge of the state religion.Since the emperor was head of the state religion he was known as the â€Å"pontifex maximus† and it was his job to maintain the â€Å"pax deorum (peace of the gods)† to ensure welfare of the state. Those who served in Roman army religion were important, in every camp there was a shrine called aedes signorum which was locate at the headquarters. Within military there were personal that held different religious responsibilities such as victimarius and turarius who were the incense keepers. It was not until the fourth century when Christian clergy began to emerge in the Roman army.The source that is often looked at about the use of Christian clerics comes from Eusebius of Caesarea. In his report Life of the Emperor Constantine when he engaged in war he would make his tent in shape of a church to have sacred edifice to worship God in which the priests and deacons would provide the service according to the law of the church. Other group soldiers that practice religion was the Barbarians who professed Arian from of Christianity and these soldiers were attached the Roman army and were the first examples of Christian’s clerics being attached to an army unit.The Arian clerics would follow the barbarian armies for practical because when the armies would travel they could not find any Arian churches to meet the spiritual needs of the soldiers at the time. As stated earlier Christian clergy started to be used by the Roman army by Emperor Constantine who had vision of a cross which lead him to paint the symbol on his legionaries shield. This would also lead to other rituals to help Romans soldiers moral they would eventually use Christian relics and litanies and on the sails of the ships they would paint pictures of the Virgin.As move from the Roman imperial period to the Middle Ages religious leaders took continue to maintain the moral of the men who were fighting and facing imminent death. Chaplains gather their flock and provided liturgical services like penitential rites of purification and supplication because they believe war was the result of sin and the outcome was divine judgment. During the Crusades the fighters would fast three days and only take the Eucharist.They would bless the standard of the forces and would lead the soldiers with a processional cross or a prized relic. Chaplains would provide special blessings to provide protection on things like The Crusader’s Holy Lance because it was used a tool to communicate during chaos of combat. Just by looking at two different time periods religion was very important to people and the spiritual leaders had their hands full to maintain moral of people especially those who served in military units.They have to deal with stress of war and the toll it would take on the soldiers, this is the same thing that modern chaplains or religious leaders deal with today and it is not an easy job. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Doris L. Bergen, ed. , The Sword of the Lord: Military Chaplains from the First to the Twenty-First Century (Notre Dame, Ind. : University of Notre Dame Press, 2004), 29.