Friday, November 29, 2019

How to Watermark Images in WordPress Automatically

Want to know how to watermark images in WordPress? Then read on, as todays short tutorial shows you howIf original images, photographs, and artwork are a focal point of your WordPress website, youd better find a way to protect them.Online piracy is rife these days, and if you dont take the appropriate steps to protect your images, someone could come along and steal them. This is especially concerning for photographers and artists who make a living from the quality of their portfolios.Fortunately, the solution is simple: watermark images in WordPress your images.Watermarking overlays a faint, branded design onto your images, which tells the world that the work is yours. This wont impact your visitors enjoyment of the pictures, as the watermark is only visible when examined up close. However, the watermark makes it considerably more difficult for others to pass your work off as their own.You can see a watermark in action on the image below:Today, Ill be showing you how easy it is for WordPress users to add watermarks automatically to any images. All you need is the Easy Watermark plugin available for free on the official plugin directory.Watermark images in WordPress using Easy Watermark pluginLets start by installing the plugin. Log in to the WordPress dashboard, then navigate to Plugins / Add New. In the top-right, type Easy Watermark into the search bar, then hit enter.Easy Watermark should be the first plugin returned its the one by Wojtek Szałkiewicz. Proceed to install the plugin by clicking Install Now, and then Activate Plugin.With the plugin activated, we need to configure it by navigating to Settings / Easy Watermark. The settings screen includes three tabs: General, Image, and Text. Lets go through each in turn, starting with General.At the top of the General tab, the first field gives you the opportunity to watermark images in WordPress automatically when uploading any new image. If you require this feature, make sure the checkbox is ticked.You can also select which image types should be watermarked choose from JPEG, PNGs, and GIFs. Further down the screen, there is an extra setting for JPEG quality, which I recommend setting at around 80 this ensures the images are high quality, without adding too much file size.Next, we have the Backup setting. Selecting this option results in the plugin creating two versions of each image: one, the original version, sans watermark; the other, a duplicate, with the watermark applied.Scrolling further down the screen, there are several other settings to configure, including:Which size images to watermark do you want to watermark full-size images, or large, medium, or thumbnails, too? Be cautious when watermarking full-size images, and be certain you have a copy of the original backed up on your hard drive.Which users can apply watermarks select which WordPress user roles have the authority to watermark images.The type of watermark displayed image, text, or both? (More on this coming up.)When youre done, save changes. Now comes the exciting part, as you get to design your watermark, starting on the Image tab.However, this step is remarkably straightforward you simply select an image to act as your watermark graphic. I recommend choosing a watermark thats distinctively yours, such as a logo or any other heavily branded image.If you dont want to use an image as a watermark, you can use plain text instead. To configure watermark text, move on to the Text tab:At the top of this screen, type your watermark text again, choose something instantly recognizable as you. As you scroll down, youll be given the chance to customize your text fully, with fields for:Text alignmentFontText colorText sizeText angleOpacityThe final field, specifying your watermarks opacity level, is arguably the most critical field of all. After all, choosing the wrong opacity level can ruin your image or make the watermark practically redundant. Ill demonstrate some watermarking best practices below.Watermark too opaque (around 70% opacity and upwards).Watermark too transparent (around 15% opacity and below).Personally, I think the plugins default setting of 60% is too opaque. For me, the sweet spot appears to be around 40%, as demonstrated below.Remember to Save Changes again before finishing, then its off to the WordPress text editor to check the watermarks are working simply upload an image to confirm the watermark is being stamped on correctly.Adding watermarks to existing imagesBut what if you want to watermark images in WordPress when working with existing images? Not a problem; Easy Watermark handles this too.To start, navigate to Media / Easy Watermark. Now, all you need to do is click the blue Start button to apply your watermark in bulk to your entire media library:Removing watermarksIf youve changed your mind about watermarks and you forgot to create backups of your original images you neednt worry. Easy Watermark also comes with an option to remove all tra ces of watermarks and restore your images to their original form.Removing watermarks is as simple as navigating to Media / Easy Watermark, then hitting the Restore button. Easy peasy:Adding watermarks manuallyPerhaps you dont want to apply a watermark to every image on your website. Fortunately, you can use the Easy Watermark plugin to apply watermarks manually, to one image at a time.First access the media library, then click the image you want to watermark. On the right-side of the screen, press the Edit more details link.On the next screen, look for the Easy Watermark Meta box, then click the Add Watermark button:You can also remove watermarks manually this way just click the Restore original image button from the Easy Watermark Meta box (visible above).Final thoughtsIf you want to protect your WordPress websites images by applying watermarks, the Easy Watermark plugin is the best free option available. Todays tutorial demonstrates just how easy the plugin is to setup and use, p lus it has plenty of useful features such as automatic watermarks, bulk watermarks, and the ability to remove watermarks.How do you watermark images in WordPress? Care to recommend an alternative to Easy Watermark? Why not share your thoughts in the comments section below!Free guide5 Essential Tips to Speed Up Your WordPress SiteReduce your loading time by even 50-80% just by following simple tips.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Converting Cubic Inches to Cubic Feet

Converting Cubic Inches to Cubic Feet Converting cubic inches to cubic feet is a common problem. Here is the conversion factor and a worked example. Conversion Factor 1728 cubic inches 1 cubic foot 0.000578704 cubic feet 1 cubic inch Simple Example Convert 54.9 cubic inches into cubic feet. You can multiply by the conversion factor: 54.9 cubic inches x 0.000578704 cubic feet per cubic inch 0.0318 cubic feet or you could simply divide  the value in cubic feet by 1728: 54.9 cubic inches / 1728 cubic feet per cubic inch 0.0318 cubic feet Worked Example You measure a box and find it is 12 inches long, 5 inches high, and 3 inches deep. The volume of the box is length x width x height so the volume of the box is: 12 x 5 x 3 volume in cubic inches 180 cubic inches Now, to convert this to cubic feet, you know there are 1728 cubic inches in 1 cubic foot: 180 cubic inches x (1 cubic foot / 1728 cubic inches) volume in cubic feet 180 cubic inches x 0.000578704 cubic feet/cubic inch volume in cubic feet 0.1042 cubic feet

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Why are tropical Countries so poor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Why are tropical Countries so poor - Essay Example As a point of clarity, in this case the term Institutions are in reference to establishments such as hospitals, schools, the military, as well as civil and media services that have been set up usually by the government to help in the everyday activities of the nation. Having given these examples, one can see how development cannot be achieved without the presence of proper institutions in place (Komives, 2005). For example, a country without efficient medical facilities would be hindered in the process of development as they fought against diseases that would no doubt attack and ravage their nation as a result (Blastland, 2009). Tropical countries are a good example of how poor institutions have hindered the progress of certain parts of the country and as a result left many of the members from that area languishing in poverty (Ravallion, Chen & Sangraula, 2008). The lack of well ground institutions such as schools especially of the higher learning category (that is, colleges and universities) in rural areas have left the members of those societies unable to match up to their counterparts in the cities and thus as a result they are unable to get well paying jobs and are limited to minimal career roles that hardly have a valid future in their prospects such as janitors and messengers (Greif, 2006). Their inability to climb up the professional ladder due to a lack of sufficient education ensures that they are not able to get higher paying jobs and better their lives in the process all as a result of a lack of proper institutions for education. The lack of proper institutions in these tropic countries have led to only a chosen few (being the financially wealthy) being able to get ahead and better their lives (Kristof, 2009). In a country like Haiti, for example, statistics show that over half the population live below the poverty line, this can be said to be because of lack of properly set up institutions in the country (Solley, 2005). The establishment of good

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Jewish art history Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Jewish art history - Assignment Example c tradition of providing lavish and elaborate cloths as dowry, wherein the cloths were originally used in the home for ceremonial reasons but eventually became incorporated into synagogue use due to the motifs and designs used in association with rituals and ceremonies practiced under Jewish customs and traditions (â€Å"Art and Ceremony† 197). Lastly, another example of adapting the surrounding culture and assimilating it into Jewish culture is the use of a printing press in publishing the Haggadah, along with the incorporation of related or unrelated illustrations beside the texts, resembling non-Jewish medieval scriptures and texts (â€Å"Jewish Texts† 109;Yerushalmi 18).Possible reasons for the gradual incorporation of iconography can come from the need to appease the empires or the majority of the population, as well as the acceptance of later generations to its use in religious contexts. In essence, based on the level of tolerance and the sophistication of the maj ority of the population surrounding Jewish societies, the gradual introduction of iconography through various aspects within the Jewish culture steadily grew as the result of an incorporation of non-Jewish customs or traditions that strongly-support the use or incorporation of images or stylized texts into religious settings, along with the changing ideals of the succeeding Jewish generations. Despite seeming very different and cut-off from one another, the relationship between Jews and Christians is actually strong. Apart from the incorporation of Jewish ancient texts into the holy books of Christians, with regards to the contributions of Christians into Jewish traditions and cultures, this relationship is better expressed seen through influences in the visual cultures of each one. For example, around the Renaissance era there have been many changes observed with the synagogues built during those times, wherein the buildings became larger and more elaborate, which can be compared to Christian

Monday, November 18, 2019

Liability for personal injuries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Liability for personal injuries - Essay Example In the given example, the sales contract entered by the car dealer (seller) and Smith (buyer) contained a provision wherein the seller expressly disclaims any liability for personal injuries caused to the buyer, as a result of defects in the car and limiting the remedy for breach of warranty to repair or replacement of the defective part. As it turns-out, one month after purchasing the car, Smith was seriously injured when the car swerved off the road and fell into a ditch as a result of a defect in the steering mechanism of the car.   Here, the limitation given to the Smith to recover from a breach of warranty for personal injury or for the repair or replacement of the defective part of the car should be declared as unconscionable by the court. Therefore, the contract disclaimer shall be disregarded by the court and shall allow the buyer to recover damages from the seller, based on the breach of warranty for the personal injury suffered by buyer. A person who is injured by a defec tive product can seek recovery for damages based on breach of warranty.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Influence of the Media on Society

Influence of the Media on Society CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2. THE AUDIENCE 3. THEORIES AND IDEAS BEHIND PERSUASIVE STRATEGIES. 4. CONCLUSION 5. REFERENCES 1.0 INTRODUCTION We live in a world where the media dictates the way we dress, look and behave. Our society is becoming more and more materialistic, where we desire goods, products and spend money on items that are unnecessary. The media portrays the celebrity lifestyle as the ideal way of living and distributes masses of magazines that contain:- Celebrity gossip Dress sense Interfere into their personal life. Emphasise less glamorous pictures of them. Weight loss/gain. Display images of perfect celebrity bodies. Magazines such as Heat and Vibe target the young female population who are very impressionable and encourage the onset of anorexia and other eating disorders. Such media information results in the readers feeling less confident, experiencing body dismorphia and believing that coming out in spots etc is unnatural, (Vincent, 2001). The youth today are trapped in a society greatly influenced by media and are unable to distinguish between reality and normality exposed by media components. Media constantly reminds society of human perfection seen in celebrities, which can be perceived on billboards, magazines, TV and on the net. The society is becoming obsessed with image and particularly weight; we can view reality shows for weight loss and plastic surgery, which are components that further corrupt the minds of young adolescents, (Sproule, 1997). The mass media has now become a form of communication between cultures, global locations and most importantly as a means of advertising products and services that companies offer. The prominent expansion of globalisation has helped communication process between countries all over the world, where barriers such as language and cultural differences have been overcome or accommodated for. The role the mass media plays in our society is phenomenal, media communication components have expanded as technology has advanced, if we refer to electronic media and the accessibility of global news with the click of a button. Media is continuously making the society believe that luxury items are necessities, it should be highlighted that media shapes the society to such an extent, that individual opinions are also affected so that they are in agreement with the mass media, (Robbins, 1999). The major concerns in society are weight conscious young females and children who are being bullied, however the media does not facilitate enough for such important issues, instead we are in constant reminder of problems celebrities face and other unnecessary information. 2.0 THE AUDIENCE Society has not acknowledged the full potential or power of mass media. Society’s mind has changed considerably where industries/companies cannot rely on customer loyalty, as the competition between multinational companies is too big. The most powerful tool is the mass media that are paid large sums of money by industries and companies to capture the attention of potential or existing customers. For example if we consider the battle of Coca Cola and Pepsi, which has been going for years; Pepsi have employed a different approach by using popular celebrities to appear on their adverts and also used sport to make drinking Pepsi more â€Å"trendy†. It should be mentioned that mainstream media is driven by many market forces. For many companies such as the newspaper industry, the product (information provided) is regarded as the audience and the customers considered as the corporate advertisers (Chomsky, 1997). Many may be in disagreement with Chomsky’s statement, because it is not a normal manner of perceiving such customer and product relations. It would appear normal to consider the newspaper as the product and customer as the audience. The newspaper example can be generalised to assess the information and the reasons behind purchasing the magazines with celebrity and soap information. However if we analyse the scenario, where customers/readers conform to a demography where valuable information interpreted will be passed onto other members of society, and depending on the interest of subject topic will encourage the purchase of the paper. If this is true then the customer who has purchased the paper, has advertised what he/she has learnt/read. We refer to the paper as the audience; primarily it is the product that attracts the customers, hence the advertisers bring income to companies, (Vincent, 2001). The media has portrayed the need of knowing about celebrity lifestyle a necessity and has made society more addicted to TV programmes by providing future storylines in magazines or newspapers. In conclusion to Chomsky’s theory, the audience is also the consumer. The audience demographics are essential for media industries, where we should be aware that the content of media invasion/persuasion in our society is not as important as the target audience. It is a misconception to believe the notion of satisfying the customer, because in reality industries target audiences who able to afford the products on offer and in advertisements. Bagdikian (2000) proposed that magazine advertising has a major impact on society’s conception of products and views of global issues. Bagdikian believes that impact of magazine influence and advertising reached a stage where editors chose articles containing adverts, which were thought to have the most influential impact on the readers as apposed to the article content itself. 3.0 THEORIES AND IDEAS BEHIND PERSUASIVE STRATEGIES The communication used by the mass media includes predominantly TV, magazines and books. Such mediated messages are perceived as packaged commodities and perceived or presented in such a form that the target audience is forced to return to these goods and services, (Jankiewicz, 2004). Society and media influence has come so far along that separation of thoughts, opinions and way of living in the world today is impossible. When we refer to the media, we automatically assume that their advertising techniques are blatant and visible to us. However the mass/mainstream media disguises many adverts in the form of news and advertorials (which may be critical analysis of current issues). The characteristics of the mass media can be summarised, as presented (Sproule, 1997):- 1. Audience remains unknown to the source. 2. Message is transferred through so many media channels which are   technological and involve a lot of time and effort. This insinuates that   immediate feedback is not available. 3. The source is most probably a complex organisation that decides when   and where a particular product should be available in the market. The major issues faced by the mass media are propaganda and the impact of globalisation especially where cultural differences are less and less detectable and we are dominated by â€Å"Americanism†. The domination of the mass media in the society is successful because the means of persuasion that are employed to attract target audiences, (Prestage, 2002). The term persuasion refers to a method/process by which we influence the behaviour, physical or mental status of others by influencing them to adopt a particular manner or perception that is in agreement to ours. The persuasiveness of the mass media constitutes of two key points, which are the Direct-Effects Perspective and the Limited effects Perspective. The Direct-Effects Perspective assumes that media has direct effects on the audience and can be explained if the message-model (refer to Figure 1.1) is acknowledged as well as the cultivation theory. The Limited-Effects Perspective proposes that we are selective to media coverage and information. It postulates that we ignore messages that do not accommodate/suit individual needs and remain in focus of reality, which can be explained better using the cultural studies theory, (Underwood, 2005). The two-step flow model (message-model) was introduced by Katz and Lazarsfield in the 1940’s when they researched into the effects of political mass communication. Many valuable theories and conclusions were found by the researchers, one important aspect highlighted in their investigation was the change in votes (5% of sample group) as a result of media exposure. Their findings helped coin the term Limited Effects Paradigm of media influence. The general idea behind the two-step flow model is that opinion leaders play a vital role in the portrayal of media messages. Their theory is based on some assumptions deduced from their investigated, and are summarised below, (Chomsky, 1997):- There are limitations to effects of media messages which may be influenced by interpersonal relational and group membership. Misconception of the term â€Å"mass audience† as this instigates that all have equal say and input into the effects experienced through media influences. However it is clear that some individuals play a more active role than others where others simply conform. Opinion leaders in the â€Å"mass audience† are in constant interaction with the mass media and regard their selves as highly influential to others (refer to Figure 1.1). The Cultivation Theory developed by Professor George Gerbner during the 1960’s, when he began his investigation into the effects of TV on viewers in relation to their perception of everyday life. Many theorists believe that TV has long term effects and cultivates our attitudes to normality, (Vincent, 2001). The Cultivation Theory can be interpreted in two components, which are the first and second order effects. The first order effects refer to the beliefs that may emerge towards prevalence of violence and the second order effects may have developed in having particular attitudes where you may be conscious about personal welfare. Much cultivation research investigates the viewers’ perception of TV reality in comparison to reality of our society, (Chandler, 1995). Professor Gerbner proposed that TV dominates our symbolic environment, where TV can be perceived as a more attractive or realistic world to viewers. He also suggested that the exaggeration of violence on screen provides mixed messages to viewers; the younger audience are most likely to be affected, (Robbins, 1999). Professor Gerbner summarised the theory by postulating that if a viewers surrounding is similar to that shown on TV, then the effects of cultivation are the greatest. The Rhetoric Theory is based on three important aspects, which are:- Logical Emotional Ethical The Rhetoric Theory is mainly concerned with the available means of persuasion; it is regarded as using symbols to produce effects and involves use of either language or symbols. Advertisements come in so many forms, where the motive of the advert or message influences the form of persuasion. Sometimes images/symbolism such as logos is more appealing than literature, (Prestage, 2002). In conclusion to this section, it can be said that there are many theories of media persuasion towards target audiences, a few common theories have been mentioned to give the reader a broader thought process towards media domination, which is continually growing in our society. 4.0 CONCLUSION Media influences our society to such an extent that many have become obsessed with image, luxury items and especially weight. The media persuasive strategies have become stronger and stronger and more widely available which a result of globalisation. We live in a world where we are constantly exposed to the mass media and cannot help but become influenced by products and services that are unnecessary and become lost in the media reality and the reality of our society. Although there are many theories that try and explain the persuasive strategies of media domination and techniques employed to target certain groups. As with all theories, the hypotheses mentioned in the previous section are not without criticism; however they provide a more in depth insight into the media components and how literature such as that found in magazines in very influential. Magazines are convenient on long journeys and celebrity gossip and detail makes it very appealing especially to the young female population. The mass media does not realise the negative effects publicity of weight concern has on young impressionable adolescents, who may portray media images as a normal perception. REFERENCES Bagdikian, B., H. (2000). The Media Monopoly (6th edition). Beacon Press, 2000. Chandler, D. (1995). Cultivation Theory. Accessed online, URL: http://www.CultivationTheory.htm Chomsky, N. (1997). What Makes Mainstream Media Mainstream. Z Magazine. Jankiewicz, H (2004). The Concepts of Rhetoric. Accessed online, URL: http://www.RhetoricTheory.htm Prestage, J. (2002). Mainstream Journalism: Shredding the First Amendment. Online Journal, URL: http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/WarOnTerror/Shredding.asp Robbins, R. (1999). Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism. Allyn and Bacon 1999. Sproule, J.M. (1997). Propaganda and Democracy: The American Experience of Media and Mass Persuasion. New York: Cambridge University Press. Vincent, R., C. (2001). Transnational Media and the Survival of Democracy. Department of Communication. Accessed online [google], URL: http://www.communication.indstate.ed/transnational_media.html Underwood, M. (2005). Katz and Lazarsfield: Two Step Model. Accessed online [google].

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Geoffrey of Monmouths Life of Merlin Essay -- Geoffrey Monmouth Life

Geoffrey of Monmouth's Life of Merlin Geoffrey of Monmouth’s â€Å"Life of Merlin† is a text that makes its readers struggle with finding criteria for madness. What does it even mean to be â€Å"mad?† Madness seems to define a person only when he or she does something to stray from the normality of any given group of people. Breaking societal norms often leaves people open to criticism and suspicion. In order to be sane and mentally healthy, one has to abide by all explicit and implicit rules of society. â€Å"Life of Merlin† is about a man that abandons feudal society, and all of its rules, in hopes of finding a better place to live. A better place to live, for him, is one that is purely good. Violent and deceitful people are ultimately the factors that drive him away, causing him to be termed as â€Å"mad.† I argue that Merlin is a character with extreme extra worldly perception. Many would think extra worldly perception to be a privilege, but this essay serves to contradict the positive effects that extra worldly perception can have. I will show why he is perceptive, rather than mad, as well as explain why this type of perception can be detrimental to one’s life. When a person has too much perception he can often live in a world of fear and discontent, one that is only curable by the restructuring of an entire society. To begin, Merlin’s reasons for leaving feudal society are too logical to call him â€Å"mad.† One place where logic can be heard is where Merlin says, â€Å"Surely a malignant fate cannot have been so vindictive as to take from me all these my companions, men such that many a king and many a distant kingdom have stood in fear of them till now† (55). What Merlin is addressing is the fact that someone is to blame fo... ...s left with after reading the text. While Merlin seems to have a good start towards creating a more peaceful society, it does not seem that it will prove to be completely peaceful. Of course anything is better to him than living in the city, and it only seems to get better when he is encountered with people much like himself. A text like â€Å"Life of Merlin† makes me question whether a peaceful society is within grasp. Even in current times, countries are at war and people lie to and cheat one another. Have we become more violent and deceptive with time? In order to create a peaceful environment, the idea of competition might have to be removed. Competition, one thing that is instinctive in all creatures, is a driving force of all human action. Merlin seems to strive towards the ideal, but it remains questionable as to whether or not his ideal is within grasp.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Ben & Jerry’s Case Study Essay

Team building was not the most effective way to launch an Organizational Development effort, in the case of Ben and Jerry’s. There are two critical issues that must be dealt with before any kind of team building should be attempted. The first issue would be creating more of a consensus between the founders and the Board about the vision of the ideal organization and the goals of the OD effort. The second issue is the interpersonal conflict between Ben and Chico. The consultant may have used Ben and Jerry’s idiosyncratic personalities to his advantage in order to gloss over the lack of agreement on the company vision between the founders and the board. The board members were asked to write down their differing visions on paper and the consultant performed a ritual of burning these to represent transformation and coming together of management and the Board. This is only a metaphor, and did not have the intended effect on either the Board or Ben and Jerry. Both Ben and Jerry still felt a separation in values between themselves and management after the team building retreat. This was demonstrated by the managers wearing â€Å"we are weird† buttons after the team building. Rather than the ritual burning of the ideas, the consultant would have better served the clients with an intergroup conflict resolution process. The division over the vision of Ben and Jerry’s had become dysfunctional and was creating conflict which polarized the two groups. The groups being the free-wheeling, hippy minded founders and the more business minded managers. This problem was affecting the productivity and effectiveness of the organization at large and must be dealt with and resolved before any interventions are carried out and lower levels of the organization. Management must buy-in to the OD effort, and if they feel that the founders are flawed in their business strategy, it will be impossible for management to carry out their wishes for the way they want their business to grow and prosper. The consultant has acknowledged the problem, yet performed no real interventions to try and resolve it. There was also no mention of a consensus on the focus of the OD effort. It seems that the consultant just tried to make everyone happy without any real conflict resolution interventions.   The next issue that should precede any team building exercises would be an intervention for Ben and Chico. The two men have a large presence and influence over the entire organization. They also represent the larger groups which are in conflict over the fundamental philosophy of the organization. The employees consider them to be two titans of power with legendary arguments. The consultant should have focused on a third-party intervention between these two change agents. If these two powerful and influential men could come together and resolve some of their conflict, that would be the next logical step in properly motivating and developing the organization. This is a basic skill that OD practitioners should have, yet the consultant made no effort to address the conflicts between the two. It’s also very likely that the conflict between Ben and Chico could be the root cause of the polarization of the two groups in the entire organization. If that is the case, you would have to address this issue in order for team building to be effective. The teambuilding efforts of the consultant were appropriate and needed, but only after the two more primary issues are dealt with. The effectiveness of this OD intervention was thwarted by the lack of attention to conflicts in ideology.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Eating Gilbert Grape

What's Eating Gilbert Grape? is a rich, memorable and stunningly acted story of desire colliding with responsibility. It catches many an eye with its dramatic, yet solemn storyline and creative technical features. The films major themes are well presented throughout the plot, largely due to the marvellous talents of the majority of the cast. Many people are drawn to this film because of their ability to relate personally to the major themes and issues raised. It is obvious that the target audience for this film is the average teenager in a family situation. At some point in family life, every teen is going to feel as if they are suffering. Whats Eating Gilbert Grape? allow its teenage viewers to compare their so-called hardships with that of a truly dysfunctional family. The use of creative technical features throughout the film adds greatly to its appeal. The mid-western sunsets and sprawling fields are beautifully photographed, making the atmosphere of the town intensely real. One of the most perfectly realised scenes focused on the grand opening of a burger franchise, Burger Barn, attended by the entire town and accompanied by the off-key high school band. Not a single note in the depiction of Endora rang false. Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) is a young man living in rural Endora who faced incredible responsibilities. As the man of the house since his father's suicide, Gilbert was forced to support the family by working at the local grocery store. He also had to watch over his mentally handicapped brother Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio) and help care for his extremely overweight mother (Darlene Cates). Gilbert seemed destined to spend the rest of his life in the small town until the arrival of Becky (Juliette Lewis) to Endora, a free spirit passing through with her grandmother when their truck broke down. As he spent time with Becky, Gilbert began to think about all the things...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Acid Rain Essays (1227 words) - Inorganic Solvents, Mineral Acids

Acid Rain Essays (1227 words) - Inorganic Solvents, Mineral Acids Acid Rain Acid rain is a serious problem with disastrous effects. Each day this serious problem increases, many people believe that this issue is too small to deal with right now this issue should be met head on and solved before it is too late. In the following paragraphs I will be discussing the impact has on the wildlife and how our atmosphere is being destroyed by acid rain. CAUSES Acid rain is a cancer eating into the face of Eastern Canada and the North Eastern United States. In Canada, the main sulphuric acid sources are non(c)ferrous smelters and power generation. On both sides of the border, cars and trucks are the main sources for nitric acid(about 40% of the total), while power generating plants and industrial commercial and residential fuel combustion together contribute most of the rest. In the air, the sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can be transformed into sulphuric acid and nitric acid, and air current can send them thousands of kilometres from the source.When the acids fall to the earth in any form it will have large impact on the growth or the preservation of certain wildlife. NO DEFENCE Areas in Ontario mainly southern regions that are near the Great Lakes, such substances as limestone or other known antacids can neutralize acids entering the body of water thereby protecting it. However, large areas of Ontario that are near the Pre(c)Cambrian Shield, with quartzite or granite based geology and little top soil, there is not enough buffering capacity to neutralize even small amounts of acid falling on the soil and the lakes. Therefore over time, the basic environment shifts from an alkaline to a acidic one. This is why many lakes in the Muskoka, Haliburton, Algonquin, Parry Sound and Manitoulin districts could lose their fisheries if sulphur emissions are not reduced substantially. ACID The average mean of pH rainfall in Ontario's Muskoka(c)Haliburton lake country ranges between 3.95 and 4.38 about 40 times more acidic than normal rainfall, while storms in Pennsilvania have rainfall pH at 2.8 it almost has the same rating for vinegar. Already 140 Ontario lakes are completely dead or dying. An additional 48 000 are sensitive and vulnerable to acid rain due to the surrounding concentrated acidic soils.? ACID RAIN CONSISTS OF....? Canada does not have as many people, power plants or automobiles as the United States, and yet acid rain there has become so severe that Canadian government officials called it the most pressing environmental issue facing the nation. But it is important to bear in mind that acid rain is only one segment, of the widespread pollution of the atmosphere facing the world. Each year the global atmosphere is on the receiving end of 20 billion tons of carbon dioxide, 130 million tons of suffer dioxide, 97 million tons of hydrocarbons, 53 million tons of nitrogen oxides, more than three million tons of arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, zinc and other toxic metals, and a host of synthetic organic compounds ranging from polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) to toxaphene and other pesticides, a number of which may be capable of causing cancer, birth defects, or genetic imbalances. COST OF ACID RAIN Interactions of pollutants can cause problems. In addition to contributing to acid rain, nitrogen oxides can react with hydrocarbons to produce ozone, a major air pollutant responsible in the United States for annual losses of $2 billion to 4.5 billion worth of wheat, corn, soyabeans, and peanuts. A wide range of interactions can occur many unknown with toxic metals. In Canada, Ontario alone has lost the fish in an estimated 4000 lakes and provincial authorities calculate that Ontario stands to lose the fish in 48 500 more lakes within the next twenty years if acid rain continues at the present rate.Ontario is not alone, on Nova Scotia's Eastern most shores, almost every river flowing to the Atlantic Ocean is poisoned with acid. Further threatening a $2 million a year fishing industry. ? Acid rain is killing more than lakes. It can scar the leaves of hardwood forest, wither ferns and lichens, accelerate the death of coniferous needles, sterilize seeds, and weaken the forests to a state that is vulnerable to disease infestation and decay. In the soil the acid neutralizes chemicals vital for growth, strips others from the soil and carries them to the lakes and literally retards the respiration of the soil. The rate of forest growth in the White Mountains of New Hampshire has declined 18% between 1956 and 1965, time of increasingly intense acidic rainfall. Acid rain no longer falls exclusively on the lakes, forest, and thin soils of the Northeast it now covers half

Monday, November 4, 2019

Chapter 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Chapter 4 - Essay Example There is a distinct difference between a team leader and a team manager. A leader gives direction to the time and, at times, plays a spokesperson to represent the team and their actions. The leader can play as a moderator between members and keeps operations running smooth, whereas a manager allocates resources and watches over the team. While a leader is more personal with the team and keeps it working, a manger watches over the team and all others involved in the ultimate structure which the team is a part of. Group practices in 1970’s and 1980’s were based off of a naive notion that if a group was confronted with a problem, the group mentality would solve it. However, while people accepted they were part of a functioning group, they would not act in a way that would benefit a company because a group does not do away with the human factor. This was not the only self-destructive business practice. In the 1930’s, managers who felt that workers, such as those on t he production line, were prone to cause major accidents would suggest them to be watched closely and be treated in a fashion which suggested they could not be trusted. Managers would subconsciously relay this information, letting workers know they were not being trusted and would act in such a way.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Financial Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial Accounting - Essay Example Turnover 21,134 Cost of sales 15,345 Gross profit 5,735 Distribution costs 2,520 Administrative expenses 1,417 Operating profit 1,798 Investment income 80 Finance costs 11 Profit before taxation 1,867 Taxation 581 Profit after taxation 1,286 Â   Â   Profit attributable to: Â   Parent 1,206 Non-controlling interest 80 Â   1,286 Â   Â   A consolidation schedule is provided Appendix 1. It shows how the figures for turnover, cost of sales and gross profit were arrived at. The Statement below represents the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position of Chambers and Subsidiary for the period ending 2012. The relevant calculations are shown. ... In fact, internally generated goodwill cannot be recognised as an asset while goodwill that has been acquired is recognised as an asset (IFRS.org 2012a). If a self constructed asset is constructed to be used in the business it is treated in the same manner as an acquired asset. However, self constructed assets which are produced for sale as part of the normal activities of a business are dealt with under IAS 2 Inventories. The two assets are not quite comparable as one set is something you can see and touch physically while the other is not. However, there is no reason why goodwill that is internally generated should not be recognised as an asset. Goodwill is something that a business generates internally, although it can only be recognised when someone acquires it. We are all aware that when a business is sold goodwill is the excess over the fair value of the separable assets that the buyer/acquirer is willing to pay. The fact that someone is willing to pay for it means that they ha ve placed a value on it. That value could be anything and the fact that someone places a value on it and is willing to pay means that it is measurable – whether objectively or subjectively. Casta et al (2011) indicates that some of the models that have been created to value internally generated goodwill cannot explain how goodwill was created. However, the fact that we know from the definition that goodwill arises from the reputation that has been built up a business over time means that the creation of goodwill can be explained. There are also other factors such as the area in which the business is located; the employees as it relates to their experience, competence, efficiency and reliability; and a host of other factors (Wood and Sangster