A Year To Remember Essay Research Paper free essay sample

A Year To Remember Essay, Research Paper After the 1994 work stoppage, Major League Baseball has had jobs acquiring fans interested in the game and into the ballparks. All that changed in 1998 when baseball enjoyed its greatest season of all time. From the place tally pursuit, the great pitching, and the unstoppable Northerners, there is no uncertainty about it. Even the 41 season, with Joe Dimaggio s 56 game striking run and Ted Williams run at a.400 batting mean pickets in comparing to the feats of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in 98. Because of all that was traveling on in 98, some immense achievements were overshadowed and became merely footnotes. Let s take a expression back at a most unforgettable season. MARK MCGWIRE: THE NEW SULTAN OF SWAT When people remember the 1998 season, they will intelligibly first think of the place tally pursuit. For most of the summer, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chased each other and the most august record in all of professional athleticss: Roger Maris individual season place tally record off 61 set back in 1961. We will write a custom essay sample on A Year To Remember Essay Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When jumping preparation began, McGwire was thrust into the limelight when asked if he thought he would interrupt the record. From twenty-four hours one, it was expected of him to at least excel his 1997 place run sum of 58 if non make Maris. And even when him and Sosa were neck and neck, Sosa was still in Big Mac s shadow. It is widely believed that without Sosa, McGwire might non hold passed Maris and neer would hold reached such a mind-boggling figure. A perfect illustration of McGwire and Sosa forcing each other is a Cubs-Cardinals series in mid-August at Wrigley Field. Both batters had been stuck on 47 for the past few yearss. In the underside of the fifth, Slammin Sammy slammed his 48th of the twelvemonth. Big Mac answered in the top of the 7th with his 48th. Then in the top of the 9th, McGwire bashed his 49th home run to once more lead Sosa. This, nevertheless, would non be the last clip that the two would traverse waies. A few hebdomads subsequently the Cubs came to St. Louis for a two game series that started on Labor Day. At the clip, McGwire had 60 while his Dominican opposite number had 58. In the first frame of game one, McGwire game the fans precisely what they wanted to see when he blasted his 61st home run to bind Maris. The full baseball universe and all of America was in expectancy for the following game. Even the Maris household was on manus for a game that was unimportant for the Cardinals as a squad. They were excessively far behind division-leading Houston and Wild Card taking Chicago to do a serious command for the postseason. Big Mac was 0 for 2 when he came to bat in the 5th frame. Cubs hurler, Steve Trachsel was fliping McGwire excess careful, but it did non assist. He belted a pitch merely hardly over the wall in left field. That sent the sellout crowd at Busch Stadium into exultation. By hitting figure 62 he had set the new individual season place tally record, but he still had three hebdomads to hit more. As he circled the bases, McGwire received praises from the full Cub baseball diamond, and even a clinch from former Cardinal, Cubs 3rd baseman Gary Gaetti. He even went into the first row of the bases and hugged the Maris household. Then Sammy Sosa came in from right field and personall y congratulated McGwire. There was so a address from legendary Cardinal broadcaster, Jack Buck, and even one from McGwire himself. After the exhilaration and the expectancy McGwire so went into a seven-day slack. In that hebdomad, Sosa was able to catch him. One twenty-four hours after Sosa hit his 62nd ; Big Mac crushed his 63rd. His chiropteran so came alive in a series in Milwaukee. In that series he hit Numberss 64, 65, and about 66. Umpire Bob Davidson ruled what could hold been 66 a two-base hit because a fan reached over and caught it ( Verducci, 4 ) . Thus the phase was set for a charming decision to the place tally race. On the last Friday of the season, Sammy Sosa took the lead in the pursuit when he hit his 66th home run. Big Mac answered with hit 66th merely 45 proceedingss subsequently. Luckily for McGwire, Sosa was confronting the N.L. Central title-holders, the Houston Astros, while the Card games were up against the humble Montreal Expos and their hapless pitching. On Saturday, Big Mac blasted Numberss 67 and 68 out of the park. On Sunday McGwire finished what he started with a expansive sweep on Opening Day ( Verducci, 1 ) . In his concluding two at chiropterans of the twelvemonth, in fact, on his two concluding swings, he hit his 69th and 70th place tallies, blowing off Maris 61 and Babe Ruth s 60. A unequivocal minute of McGwire s pursuit and even the baseball season in general came on that last twenty-four hours of the season. Right down the route from Busch Stadium, The St. Louis Rams and the Arizona Cardinals were playing a football game at the Trans World Dome. The Rams had the ball with 3rd and nine. All of a sudden, the TWA Dome s fans started shouting and heartening. This forced the Rams to take a delay-of-game punishment. The ground: nil that the Rams had done, but it was intelligence of Big Mac s 69th place tally that got the fans into a craze ( Verducci, 3 ) SAMMY SOSA: BASEBALL S BEEN VERY GOOD TO ME The other half of the place tally pursuit involves Chicago Cubs rightfielder, Sammy Sosa. Before 98, Sosa was a calling.250 batter, neer hitting more than 40 place tallies in a season, and striking out prolifically. 98 would turn out to be different. Many contribute Sosa s success in 98 to his adulthood at the home base. He kept his oculus on outside pitches and drove them to right field, alternatively of seeking to draw everything. He besides lowered his chiropteran and manus so it would travel through the zone quicker, and he even started to put off some bad pitches that he would hold swung at in the yesteryear. These apparently minor accommodations, were able to assist him hit for a better norm, have a higher place run possible, particularly to right field, and he struck out far less. The twelvemonth started out great for Sosa. After two months, he was batting.320 with 13 place tallies. By this clip, McGwire already had 25 home runs. Sosa still was on gait for 39 place tallies which is really respectable. June brought increased success for Sammy. He set a Major League record for the most place tallies in one month with 20. So by the All-Star interruption, Sosa was merely three dorsum of McGwire with 33. As the 2nd half of the season began, many saw assorted similarities between the pursuits that both McGwire and Sosa were set abouting. However, There was one chief difference between the two. Sosa put his squad above any single achievements. Not to state that McGwire did non, it is merely that the Cardinals were excessively far out of the crown race that McGwire and the record was the most of import thing traveling for the Cards. Sosa himself even said, If I didn t any more place tallies, I d be happy every bit long as the Cubs make it to the playoffs. Slammin Sammy s place tallies were one of the things that kept the Cubs in contention all twelvemonth. By early August, Sosa had already surpassed his season high in place tallies ( 40 ) and was taking the conference in RBI s. At the clip that McGwire broke Maris record, Sosa had 58 home runs, and with three hebdomads left in the twelvemonth, still had a good shooting at go throughing Maris himself. He stole the show in a late season series against the Brewers at Wrigley. In game one he hit his 59th dong in the Cubs 11-10 loss. Sosa hit his 60th the following twenty-four hours to shut the Cubs shortage to five. He was besides instrumental in the Cubs ligature and winning the game in the underside of the 9th. In the concluding game of the series, Sosa tied Maris by blaring his 61st onto Waveland Avenue in the 4th frame. With the Cubs down by two in the underside of the 9th, Sosa lead off. The full crowd was trusting to see Slammin Sammy s 62nd, but he merely wanted to acquire on to assist the squad win this really of import game. On the 3rd pitch, Sosa hit a long shooting to deep left field. Equally shortly as it left his chiropteran, there was no uncertainty to Sosa, his squad, and the 1000s of fans cramme d into the park and watching from the rooftops environing Wrigley Field. That blast went 480ft across Waveland, and traveled a ways down Addison Avenue. Unlike McGwire s 62nd, the game did non halt and there were no addresss. Alternatively the fans went brainsick and the Cubs stayed focussed on the game at manus. After the game, the fans stayed in the park and Sosa and the squad came out on the field to observe the milepost. Two games subsequently, Sammy hit his 3rd calling expansive sweep and 63rd home run in San Diego. Then, in McGwire-like manner, Sosa went into a seven-day slack. He came out of his slack where else? The same topographic point were McGwire had came out of his slack, against the same squad that surrendered home runs numbered 59-62: against the Milwaukee Brewers. In game one, Sosa went 0 for 3, but crushed one merely hardly disgusting. The following twenty-four hours, Sosa, succeeded in hitting figure 64 And 65. The following dark in Houston, Sammy Sosa held the individual season place tally record for about 45 proceedingss, after hitting his 66th off of Jose Lima. That, nevertheless, would be Sosa s concluding place tally. He did hold some cardinal hits in the concluding two games against Houston and contributed to the Cubs triumph in the Wild Card tiebreaker versus San Francisco. Though he was non able to put the place tally record, he could take consolation in the fact that the Cubbi es made the playoffs. His statistics ( .308 batting norm, 66 place tallies, 158 RBI s ) and parts were good plenty to gain him the National League Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) Award. CAL RIPKEN JR. : FINALLY SITS ONE OUT The one run in an all of athleticss that will neer even be approached is Cal Ripken Jr. s back-to-back games played run of 2632. That is over 16 old ages of playing in all 162 games. Ripken was able to go through Lou Gerig s old record back in 93. It came as a surprise to many. With one hebdomad to travel in the season, it was noticeable to the Baltimore fans that Ripken was non in the batting order. What is even more surprising is that he voluntarily ended the run. Afterwards Ripken said, It was clip. Alternatively of being saddened by the run s terminal, most fans celebrated Ripken and the run, merely as they had celebrated Maris run in the thick of McGwire and Sosa interrupting it. DAVID WELLS: ATTAINING Perfection Before 1998, David Wells was a no-name hurler for the great New York Yankees. That would alter early in the season. On May 17, merely a few hebdomads after Kerry Woods domination of the Astros, Wells stunned the full baseball universe by fliping merely the 3rd perfect game ( no smugglers allowed on base ) by a left -hander in history. Even after, most believed that Wells public presentation was a good luck, but it was non. He rose up to rule American League batters, and led the Yankees pitching staff. He had an 18-6 record and an ERA ( Earned Run Average ) under three to demo for his impressive work. Wells besides was a team leader on and off the field and greatly contributed to the Northerners regular season and playoff tallies. KERRY WOOD: THIS KID IS THE Real Thing Another participant that made 98 so particular was Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs. Through his first four starts, this cub showed tonss of promise. Wood s heater was clocked right around 100mph, and had a curveball and skidder to congratulate it. Then, In merely his 5th Major League start, Wood tied Roger Clemens record of 20 strikeouts in a individual game. He continued to rule batters throughout the twelvemonth, while merely fighting on juncture. By late August, Wood was 13-6 with a 2.60 ERA ( 1.20 ERA at Wrigley ) , and averaging a conference taking 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings. However, hurt would cut Kerry s season short. He strained a ligament in his throwing cubitus and missed the remainder of the season. Wood was able to come back earlier than expected, and started game three of the division series. Wood gave up two tallies in five innings, but had a strong excursion in the Cubs loss to the Braves. After the season, the Baseball Writer s Association rewarded Kerry for his work in 98 by giving him the National League Rookie of the Year award. OTHER Accomplishments There were so many other smaller achievements in the unforgettable twelvemonth of 1998. First, San Francisco s Barry Bonds became the first participant of all time to hit 400 place tallies and steal 400 bases. Seattle s Alex Rodriquez became merely the 3rd participant in history with 40 place tallies and 40 stolen bases in a season. AROD besides led the American League in hitting and along with New York s Derek Jeeter, and Boston s Nomar Garciaparria as the best three shortstops of all time to play at the same clip ( Verducci, 2 ) . Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays won his 5th A.L. Cy Young award, while being the co-holder of the individual game strikeout record with Kerry Wood. In Philidelphia, Kurt Shilling became the first hurler of all time to strike out 300 hitters three old ages in a row. 98 besides was the first twelvemonth in which more than two people hit 50 or more place tallies. They were McGwire ( 70 ) , Sosa ( 66 ) , Seattle s Ken Griffey Jr. ( 56 ) , and San Diego s Greg Vaughn ( 52 ) . Griffey besides became the youngest participant of all time to his 350 place tallies. He is considered the merely active participant who has the possible to interrupt Henry Hank Aaron s calling place tally record of 756. Thirty-nine twelvemonth old Rickey Henderson of San Diego at age 39, became the oldest participant of all time to steal more than 50 bases. NEW YORK Yankee: THE TEAM WITHOUT COMPARISON In 98, the New York Yankees were unstoppable. Their lone lucifer are the great Yankee squads of the past. Like the 27- 32 squads with Babe Ruth and Lou Gerig. Or the squads of the 40 s with Joe Dimaggo. Possibly it was the squads of the 50 s with the great participants like Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Their pursuit of Babe Ruth s place tally record in 1961 resembled the great pursuit of 1998 with McGwire and Sosa. After losing on opening twenty-four hours, the Northerners bulldozed their manner to the top of the American League East. The Yankees would put the American League record for most wins in a season while hardly losing the Major League record presently held by the 1906 Cubs. Their 114 wins would put them over 50 games above.500 and 18 game in front of second-place Boston. One astonishing fact about the Northerners is their absence of a ace. The Cardinals had McGwire. The Cubs had Sosa. The Red Sox ( Boston ) had Mo Vaughn. What the Yankees did hold was a squad of talented, difficult working participants led by shortstop Derek Jeeter, 3rd baseman Scott Brocious, centre fielder Bernie Williams, and pitcher David Wells. In the division Series of the playoffs, the Bronx Bombers destroyed the Texas Rangers in four. Then tragedy struck. Right fielder, Daryl Strawberry was diagnosed with colon malignant neoplastic disease. He would last. Even that was non able to change the Northerners obvious fate. In the American League Championship Series, the Cleveland Indians stood no opportunity and lost in five. Then in the World Series, the Northerners wholly dominated Kevin Brown and the San Diego Padres in a four game expanse, to make 125 wins including the postseason. However, unlike the 1997 World Champion Florida Marlins, the Northerners planned to support their rubric in 99 instead than hold a fire sale and dismantle the squad. CHICAGO CUBS: DEFYING THE ODDS Probably the most exciting squad to watch in 98 was the Chicago Cubs. Now it may look that I am biased because I am a Cubs fan, but no other squad in baseball had so much occurrence and so many cliff-hanging ballgames. When jumping preparation began, many North Siders believed that 1998 was eventually their twelvemonth. And why non? Over the winter the Cubs acquired 2nd baseman Mickey Morandini, shortstop Jeff Blauser and left fielder Henry Rodriquez. Henry was the left-handed batter the Cubs have severely needed to protect Sammy. Many Cub fans besides believed that they had deity on their side. In February, beloved Cub broadcaster and Hall of Famer Harry Caray passed off. In July the Cubs would lose another broadcaster, Jack Brickhouse. The two of them are believed to hold assisted in the Cubs many come-from-behind triumphs tardily in the season ( Rushin, 1 ) . The Cubs started the season strong, contending with Houston and St. Louis for the top topographic point in the National League Central. Then on May 5, cub phenom, Kerry Wood showed one of the most ascendant public presentations in baseball history. In nine innings pitched, Wood, 21, gave up no tallies on one baseball diamond hit and struck out 20. The Cubs would necessitate more great excursions from Wood and the remainder of the pitching staff if they were to content for the postseason. June would open another chapter to the Cubs charming season. They were still really much in the N.L. Central and Wild Card races. However, the limelight was on Sammy Sosa who powered his manner into the record books by hitting 20 place tallies that month. By the All Star interrupt the Cubs were merely three games behind first topographic point Houston and Wild Card taking San Francisco. September would alter that. With the Acquisition of Randy Johnson, the Astros opened a thirteen-game spread between them and the Cubbies. All was non lost nevertheless. The Cubs were still a game up on the Mets ( New York ) and three on the Giants ( San Francisco ) , for the Wild Card topographic point. On September 11, the Milwaukee Brewers came to Wrigley for an of import series for the Cubs. That series turned out to be likely the most exciting weekend in baseball history. After draging 8-2 in game one, the Cubs came back merely to lose 11-10. The following game would turn out to be even more exciting. The Cubs were down early 10-2 and later 12-5, after a Gary Gaetti home run in the fifth. In the 7th and 8th innings the Brewer lead was cut to 12-10 on place tallies by Sosa ( 60 ) , Glenallen Hill, and Tyler Houston. Sosa lead off in the underside of the 9th with the Cubs still down by two. He singled. Next Hill singled. Then Gaetti singled and Sosa scored. Hill so scored to bind the game on a Tyler Houston hit. Finally pinch-hitter Orlando Merced hit a three-run place to give the Cubs a immense 15-12 triumph. There was more of the same for the concluding game. The Cubbies jumped out to an 8-2 lead, in portion to Sosa s 61st place tally. The Brewers did come back and claimed a 10-8 lead. Same as the old game, Sosa led of the Cubs 9th, with them down by two. Alternatively of singling, Sosa sent his 62nd shooting to the street. However, the Cubs were still down by one. Not to worry, Hill and Gaetti were able to direct place the ligature tally. Then in the underside of the ten percent, first baseman Mark Grace came to bat. The fans were thirstily trusting that Grace could acquire on base so Sosa could bat once more. Sosa would non acquire his opportunity at figure 63 this twenty-four hours. Grace blasted his career-high 17th place tally, to give the Cubs an 11-10 win. The Cubs went on to San Diego to take three of four from the Padres, so returned place to Wrigley merely to lose two out of three from the Cincinnati Reds. They so went up to Milwaukee for two games. In game one Kevin Tapani won his 19th game of the twelvemonth. The following game had a promising start with the Cubs acquiring a 7-0 lead. Disaster struck in the underside of the 9th. Cubs closer Rod Beck, the Shooter allowed five tallies to hit before lading the bases, with the winning tally on first, and two outs. Beck was able to acquire Jeremy Bernitz to hit a everyday fly ball to left field. Cubs left fielder Brant Brown was about to catch the concluding out of the game to maintain the Cubs a game up on the Mets. Alternatively, Brown dropped the ball, leting the bases to clear and the Brewers to win. Sammy Sosa said it best of this traumatic loss. If he ( Harry Caray ) wasn t already dead, he d dice once more. It still wasn t the terminal for the Cubs. With three games left, the Cubs were still tied with the Mets and a game in front of the Giants for the Wild Card. In the concluding series the Cubs were in Houston. On Friday, the Cubs lost to Houston, and a eccentric event happened. Somehow, a black bird got into the Astrodome and began to circle Brown s caput in left field. Then it perched itself and starred at him. From first base, Mark Grace said, I would state Brant is holding a tough twosome of yearss ( Rushin, 4 ) . The Mets lost to the Braves and the Giants beat the Rockies on that dark, which created a tripartite tie for the Wild Card. On Saturday the Cubs and Giants won while the Mets lost. On, Sunday, the last twenty-four hours of the season, the Mets lost and were eliminated from the postseason while the Cubs lost in the ten percent frame. While the squad was sloging back to their cabinet room, the participants learned that Neve Perez had hit a place tally in the 9th frame to cr ush the Giants ( Rushin, 6 ) . Since the Cubs and Giants were still tied, there would be a one game playoff to be played the following dark at Wrigley Field. The Cubs sent right hander, Steve Trachsel to the hill. Trachsel if you remember, gave up figure 62 to Big Mac. Fate seemed to be on the Cubs side that dark. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by hoops great, and Cub fan, Michael Jordan. By the 2nd frame there was a 40-foot He filled caput of Harry Caray drifting over Waveland Avenue. Both hurlers were flawless through four innings. But in the fifth with a adult male on, Gary Gaetti hit a high heater into the left field bleachers. The crowd went wild, even to the extent of throwing rubbish onto the field. By the 7th frame, the Cubs had build a 5-0 lead that they hoped would stand. During the 7th frame stretch, native Chicagoan and histrion, Bill Murray, sang Take Me Out to the Ballgame, in award of Harry Caray. The Cubs went into the top of the 9th still taking 5-0, and Rod Beck in to shut it. He was able to acquire two outs, but allowed three tallies to hit, and the binding tally on first. Then Joe Carter, hit a dad foul on t he first base side. It was appropriately caught by Mark Grace. Grace, being the lone staying participant from the 89 Cub squad that won the National League East. After catching the concluding out, Grace fell to his articulatio genuss and wept ( Rushin, 6 ) . That dark belonged to the metropolis of Chicago and the fans stayed out all dark observing. The Cubs fortune would run out in the playoffs against the Atlanta Braves. In game one the Braves discourtesy pounded Mark Clark in an 8-2 loss. In game two Kevin Tapani was two outs off from winning before Javier Lopez got the Braves on the scoreboard with a solo place tally. Atlanta was able to win it in the ten percent. In game three Kerry Wood made his first start since August. His strong public presentation was non plenty to maintain the Cubs alive. The Braves won the game and the series 3-0, stoping the great season for the Cubs. Decision It is easy to see why 98 was such a particular twelvemonth. The place tally pursuit entirely made the season memorable, but at that place was so much more. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa made the mean individual attention about baseball once more, the manner it was back in the 50 s ( Verducci, 3 ) . Throw in a smattering of other great achievements and what do you acquire? The greatest season of all time, and likely the greatest there of all time will be. The memories of 98 will convey the fans back in 99 and beyond, trusting to see a glance of illustriousness 98 offered. Even though there will neer be a season every bit particular as 98, everyone will still hold the great memories of the greatest summer that Major League Baseball will of all time see. 32c

Habitat Loss, Fragmentation, and Destruction

Habitat Loss, Fragmentation, and Destruction Habitat loss refers to the disappearance of natural environments that are home to particular plants and animals. There are three major types of habitat loss: habitat destruction, habitat degradation, and habitat fragmentation. Habitat Destruction Habitat destruction is the process by which natural habitat is damaged or destroyed to such an extent that it no longer is capable of supporting the species and ecological communities that naturally occur there. It often results in the extinction of species and, as a result, the loss of biodiversity. Habitat can be destroyed directly by many human activities, most of which involve the clearing of land for uses such as agriculture, mining, logging, hydroelectric dams, and urbanization. Although much habitat destruction can be attributed to human activity, it is not an exclusively man-made phenomenon. Habitat loss also occurs as a result of natural events such as floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and climate fluctuations. Although habitat destruction primarily causes species extinctions, it can also open up new habitat that might provide an environment in which new species can evolve, thus demonstrating the resiliency of life on Earth. Sadly, humans are destroying natural habitats at a rate and on spatial scales that exceed what most species and communities can cope with. Habitat Degradation Habitat degradation is another consequence of human development. It is caused  indirectly by human activities such as pollution, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species, all of which reduce the quality of the environment, making it difficult for native plants and animals to thrive. Habitat degradation is fueled by a fast-growing human population. As the population increases, humans use more land for agriculture and for the development of cities and towns spread out over ever-widening areas. The effects of habitat degradation not only affect native species and communities but human populations as well. Degraded lands are frequently lost to erosion, desertification, and nutrient depletion. Habitat Fragmentation Human development also leads to habitat fragmentation, as wild areas are carved up and split into smaller pieces. Fragmentation reduces animal ranges and restricts movement, placing animals in these areas at higher risk of extinction. Breaking up habitat can also separate animal populations, reducing genetic diversity. Conservationists often seek to protect habitat in order to save individual animal species. For example, the Biodiversity Hotspot program organized by Conservation International protects fragile habitats around the world. The groups aim is to protect biodiversity hotspots that contain high concentrations of threatened species, such as Madagascar and the Guinean Forests of West Africa. These areas are home to a unique array of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Conservation International believes that saving these hotspots is key to protecting the planets biodiversity. Habitat destruction is not the only threat facing wildlife, but it is quite likely the greatest. Today, it is taking place at such a rate that species are beginning to disappear in extraordinary numbers. Scientists warn  that the planet is experiencing a sixth mass extinction that will have serious ecological, economic, and social consequences. If the loss of natural habitat around the globe does not slow, more extinctions are sure to follow.

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The History Of Water Pollution Environmental Sciences Essay

The History Of Water Pollution Environmental Sciences Essay Water is an important natural resource upon which all the living beings rely for their existence and growth. Nature has blessed the earth with uncountable water resources but usable quantity is limited. Hence, it is important to use water sparingly. The irony is, human activities result is high water pollution which further shortens the water supply for use. Water Pollution In an age when man  has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the  victim of his indifference (Carson, 2002, p. 39). Water is considered to be most crucial one among all the worlds natural resources. Although it covers the largest part of the earths surface (70%), yet it is the limiting factor most of the times. This is because most of this water is not available for use in agriculture or for other human needs due to the presence of significant amounts of mineral salts and heavy metals that make water unfit for use. In each home of an American in New York, 99 gallons of water is an average daily requirement (Fishman, 2012). Water consumption increases by a factor of 2-3% each year while the fresh water total supply remains comparatively constant (Dowdeswell, 1996). Thus, the demand of water is a big dilemma today. A major problem related to water is the issue of water pollution. It is basically the contamination of water with pollutants that may be from human, animal or industrial origin. Natural as well as anthropogenic activities lead to the spoilage of rivers, streams and ground water. This polluted water may also move from one place to another leading to water pollution at greater level (Chiras, 2012). Pollutants in surface waters can be of organic or inorganic nature. Processed or un-processed waste material from either animal or human origin can be released into water ways by waste disposal plants etc. Oil spills are also major contributors of water pollution that give rise to organic pollutants. When water gets saturated with this organic waste, bacteria begin to multiply rapidly. Because of the metabolic activity of the micro-organisms, oxygen gets depleted in such water reservoirs. Oxygen depletion may prove lethal to the life of bodies that rely on oxygen for living. The oxygen level in such bodies can be maintained if the organic influx in such water resources is controlled or minimized. The inorganic pollutants in surface water are basically the nitrates or phosphates which increase the plant growth that lead to inhibition of aquatic life. This is because when plants die, their decay leads to oxygen depletion which effects the aquatic environment greatly. Another important phenomenon related to water pollution is eutrophication which is the deposition of nutrients in lakes. These nutrients come from both natural and human sources and may result in aging of lakes prematurely (Chiras, 2012). Some man made products like plastics, medical wastes and sewage sludge also add significant amount of pollutants to the water. Plastic, because of being resistant to degradation is a great environmental hazard. Although direct dumping of sewage is controlled to a great extent, yet a lot of waste is being introduced into oceans and rivers by the sewage treatment plants (Chiras, 2012). Water may also contain infectious pathogenic micro-organisms that may lead to water-borne disease and ultimately deaths. Parasites as well as bacteria seeping into drinking water may lead to chronic diarrhoea, severe infections of ear and stomach diseases (Duhigg, 2009). Contamination of both ground and surface water through chemical pollutants such as pesticides increases production of carcinogens in the public water supplies. According to National Cancer Institute, the danger of cancer from the consumption of contaminated water will increase greatly in future. A study in Holland supported the view that cancer may be caused because of pollution of waterways. Cities which get water from the rivers have a higher mortality rate than those who use water from less susceptible sources like wells. Arsenic is the major pollutant in polluted waters that leads to cancer (Carson, 2002). Pollution control is the need of today to protect human and animal life from the disasters caused by water pollutants. The control can be imposed by two ways: either by the elimination of contaminants from various sources or by adoption of ways that prevent pollution. Legislative control for addressing the problem of water pollution is being applied on the factories and sewage plants. However, no significant improvement in pollution control has been achieved through this way as the pollution from the streets, farm fields and lawns equalizes the industrial pollution. Control of such wastes is although in infancy yet it is gaining popularity as many cost effective methodologies are present to deal with such wastes. The U. S. government as well as some other states have proven to be successful in addressing ground water pollution. This is because ground water is the major source of drinking water in most of the regions. One pollution control strategy is the treatment of the sewage water. In the first phase, larger particles and particulate organic matter is filtered out of the sewage water. The second stage involves the treatment of the sewage water to remove the organic matter that contains significant amount of nitrogen and phosphorus. This treatment involves the use of bacteria or other decomposers. The third and last treatment is ensuring that the sewage water quality is sustained to the level of drinking water (Chiras, 2012). This is accomplished by increasing the Biological Oxygen demand (BOD) and decreasing the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of the sewage water. Recently, a marine biologist Dr. Widder has come up with a technology to fight water pollution through the use of bioluminescent bacteria. These bacteria make use of light for food, predation and finding partners for mating as part of their normal activity. Dr. Widder performed a study in the Indian River Lagoon which according to scientists is valuable and at the same time the most threatened ecosystem of Florida. In her laboratory, she mixed the sediment samples from the estuary with a bioluminescent bacterium, Vibrio fischeri. The concentration of toxic pollutants in the sediments was monitored through the use of photometer that measured the light emitted by the bacteria. It revealed that to what extent and in what time the light fades away as the bacteria get killed by the chemicals. An estimate of the pollutant level in the sediments better indicates the estuarys health status as compared to direct measurement of chemicals in water. Greater concentration of heavy metals like phosphorus and nitrogen were observed to be present in the sediment samples which stimulate the algal growth. These algae affect the estuary life by depleting oxygen. Dr. Widder has also arranged sensors around the estuary that can provide data in real time which along with the sediment toxicity can trace the path of the pollution source. This method is far more cheap and robust than the traditional practice of taking samples to labs for purpose of analysis (Olsen, 2011). Other than these measures, there is a need of shift of human activities towards the ones that are eco-friendly. Biodegradable plastic should be produced by most of the factories and industries instead of non-degradable plastic that is toxic for health. Moreover, oil spills should be removed from oceans through use of bacteria which can degrade the organic compounds in those oil spills. Better and more economic water treatment strategies should be devised in the future to deal with polluted water. Moreover, ways should be discovered to overcome the shortage of water in near future.

Use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in the Workplace :: Workplace Privacy Essays

Use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in the Workplace Introduction The next generation approaching adulthood has a new challenge; growing up during the technological revolution and believing being monitored is way of life. Generation Y, as they are termed, will grow up thinking it is normal for video cameras to be on every street corner, at work, automatic teller machines, and one day in every home as a security device. They may grow up having â€Å"Big Brother† in the workplace applying constant pressure on them to prove they are productive. A 1998 survey of 1,085 corporations conducted by the American Management Association shows more than 40 percent engaged in some kind of intrusive employee monitoring. Such monitoring includes checking of e-mail, voice mail and telephone conversations; recording of computer keystrokes; and video recording of job performance (Doyle p. 1). My goal is to inform the working population about electronic monitoring. The question I strive to answer, â€Å"Will employees be monitored on closed circuit tele vision (CCTV) to determine their productivity or worth to the company and does this violate their privacy?† Information needed to understand the problem â€Å"Big Brother in the Workplace† â€Å"Big Brother† is the term used to describe the intent to monitor individuals for any potential wrongdoing. See Philip in Figure 1, who voluntarily installed a web cam in his office. What will it be like to live in a future where this is the norm? It is important to understand what closed circuit television is, what video surveillance is, and who is using the technology. What is closed circuit television (CCTV)? â€Å"Closed circuit television is defined as a television system that transmits images on a ‘closed loop’ basis, where images are only available to those directly connected to the transmission system. The transmission of CCTV images may involve the use of coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, telephone lines, infrared, and radio transmission systems† (CCTV – Definitions). What is video surveillance? â€Å"Video surveillance is defined as surveillance by CCTV for direct visual monitoring and/or recording of activities on premises or in a place† (CCTV – Definitions). Why is video surveillance used in the workplace? Most companies implement video cameras to prevent theft or corporate espionage; avoid legal problems due to employee actions, or to raise employee productivity. However, the potential for misuse is huge if the security staff does not implement guidelines. We rarely notice video cameras mounted near the entrances or exits of our offices, above coffee machines, or near copiers until we enter the security office and see the CCTV’s monitoring the places we frequent during a regular business day.

Enhancing Democracy in the United States of America Essay

Democracy: â€Å"1 a: government by the people ; especially : rule of the majority b: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections 2: a political unit that has a democratic government† (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary) With the 2008 elections fast approaching, and a highly fueled and hotly contested primary and general election campaign waning, the public is forced to consider the problems and opportunities in the American democratic system. Is there something wrong with the democratic system in the United States of America? If so, what? If there is a problem with democracy in America, what is it and how can it be fixed? The United States of America was born of an act of legislation designed to promote democracy. The United States has developed into a world superpower by enacting and enforcing legislation designed to enhance democracy. Today, legislation is passed by elected officials who then vote in national, state, and local legislative assemblies. In other words, voting and the electoral system, is the catalyst for maintaining democracy. The United States can improve democracy by improving the voting system that facilitates the democratic process. Federally mandated voter registration Today, many men are the beneficiaries of laws enacted giving their mothers the right to vote. All ethnic minorities are the beneficiaries of laws enacted giving African-Americans the right to vote. Voter registration is still optional, and considered a privilege. But now is the time to make voter registration a responsibility of all American citizens. Voter registration should be treated like Selective Service registration, a must for those who wish to receive any other benefits of citizenship including financial aid and government employment. It is not difficult to keep track of eligible voters, especially in this information age where all children are issued a social security number at birth. This process can be as simple as using the existing social security system to send registrations to those who have reached their 18th birthday and maintaining a national database similar to the social security and selective service rolls. Enforcement can be as simple as cross referencing social security numbers for registration upon application for jobs, financial aid, and public assistance. Compliance can be mandated by withholding benefits pending registration. This is a minimal effort and may not increase voter participation. But this registration plan could eliminate most existing barriers to voter registration. Federal authority over state and local elections This idea expands on the idea of the federal registration system. The Federal Elections Commission already exists. With electronic voting and reporting, federal authorities should require that all state and local elections comply with the same guidelines as national elections. This would work by applying residency requirements to both congressional elections and local elections. In other words, a person registered, residing, receiving benefits in Idaho cannot register to vote in local elections in Columbus, Georgia. This simply uses the wealth of electronic information captured on citizens to manage voting. This system would have to also account for citizens with multiple residences by requiring that everyone declare a primary residence which would be the location for their voting. If they know that they will be in a secondary residence at election time, the registration system should allow them to easily request absentee balloting which could be completed by mail or turned in at a local agency of the federal board of election. Citizen assemblies control re-districting activities Legislative assemblies and committees currently control political re-disctricting plans. In other words, elected officials decide when and how (and if) voters want, need, and get additional elected officials. Rapid economic development causes some districts to grow and change materially and demographically such that a single elected official cannot effectively serve the interests of the entire district. In that case citizens should have the right to send a message, at the voting booth, that they need additional representation. A citizen assembly should bring together elected and public officials, urban and economic planners, and affected citizens together to draw districting plans that represent the interests of all parties without compromising a sitting official’s position or ignoring a constituent’s special needs. A series of re-districting alternatives can be placed on the ballot for voters to decide. Voter responsibility education Schools should be required to include a course that teaches voting rights and responsibility as part of a social studies, American government, and civics curriculum. This course should be repeated at the university level to account for foreign students that will eventually become United States citizens. For older Americans who are beyond the educational system and for older immigrants, community based programs should be implemented that instill that voter registration is a responsibility of citzenship, not just an optional right or privilege. Tax deductible campaign donations Public financing for campaigns is generally not a tangible benefit for lower income voters. Many may see public financing as a way for candidates who do not have their interests in mind to advance their campaigns. Allowing federal and local tax deductions for small campaign donations can help to decrease feelings of disenfranchisement of lower income voters. They have the opportunity to directly support the candidate or issue of choice, and receive a ture public benefit (both the donation and the deduction). This could replace the current system and be managed at the federal level as well. Conclusion The United States can enhance democracy by modifying its election system. By placing activities such as deciding on political districts and adding value to campaign donations, voters are enfranchised in a greater way. Education makes citizens understand the benefits of voting. Consolidating the registration and polling makes the system as fair and not subject to less error. References democracy. (2008). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved October 13, 2008, from http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/democracy Gerkin, H. , et al. (2006). Six Ways to Reform Democracy. Boston Review, September/October 2006. Retrieved October 13, 2008, from http://bostonreview. net/BR31. 5/gerken. php

How to Speed Up Your Job Search and Find a Job Fast

How to Speed Up Your Job Search and Find a Job Fast Sometimes you have the luxury of spending months and months looking for your next job: plenty of time to fine-tune your resume and your interview handshake, lots of time to pick over jobs that don’t really feel right for you. Other times, you need a job now. Maybe you’ve just lost your current job, or things are so miserable at work that the thought of staying there six more months makes you want to curl into a ball under your desk and wait until everyone else goes home. Whatever the reason, you can take steps to accelerate your job search. It doesn’t guarantee a new job tomorrow, but if you’re willing to use every tool at your disposal, you can get an edge. According to a 2014 survey by Jobvite, 71% of Americans are either actively looking for a job, or open to switching jobs. That’s a lot of people on the market. Add that to the conventional wisdom that one should expect to spend a month for every $10,000 you earn in salary. ($60,000 = six months of sometimes-soul-sucking job search). With factors like that, the prospect of finding a new job quickly can be awfully daunting. So to help speed things along, you should be prepared to put all your energy into prepping yourself fast, and using a number of different tools to get to your outcome faster.1. Use Job Boards Wisely  2. Your Social Network  3. Self-Makeover  Use Job Boards Wisely  Online job boards can be extremely useful as a starting point. Jobs! Industry-specific jobs! At your fingertips! However, they can also complicate matters, so use them with savvy. Relying on job boards can take away from the urgency of your hunt†¦if you fall into a habit of waiting for the right job to pop up, you could be waiting a long time indeed. The Muse has some great tips on how to refine your job board search to keep your search active and hopping, including:Find industry-specific job boards, so you’re not slogging through truck driving jobs when you’re really looking for medical assistant jobs.Double-check the dates on job postings. Found the perfect job opening? Well, crap†¦it was posted and filled six months ago. Be wary of job postings older than a month, because they might be out of date.Use very specific keywords when searching job boards. Use filters to really drill down into what you want- and if possible experience level. You don’t want to have your heart set on a posting, only to find out that it’s out of bounds for your experience.Put robots to work for you. More specifically, set up saved searches and email alerts to let you know when postings come up that meet particular criteria.Do more than search for jobs on the sites. This applies especially if you’re using a niche job board, but general career sites also have a lot of useful content beyond the job posts. Whether that means specific company profiles or tips for your job hunt, maximize your time on the sites by pulling as much info as you can duri ng your daily checks.Pay Attention to Your Social Network  I can vouch for the power of your social network: for my two most recent jobs, I got notes from former colleagues/current friends who said, â€Å"Hey, there’s an opening at my company and I think you’d be great for it.† One came while I was actively looking, and the other came out of the blue. Both were great opportunities that I never would have found (or even thought to seek, really) via conventional means. So the moral of the story is this: never underestimate the connections you already have.RELATED:  The 7 Biggest Social Media Mistakes You Can Make During Your Job SearchThis is a trend that isn’t going away anytime soon. According to the 2014 Jobvite survey, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are some of the biggest social media drivers connecting people with job opportunities. [via Jobvite]The advantage of using your social network for your job search is also the benefit and curse of the in ternet in general: you get exposure and feedback pretty instantly. A quick private message (PM) to a friend at XYZ Corp. could get you an emailed link to an internal job opening the next day. Or maybe your former boss from three jobs ago is connected to someone at your dream job company- could she introduce the two of you? The advantages are there, but before you start leveraging your virtual cocktail party into actual career opportunities, you should make sure your digital footprint is in order.Vet your virtual selfThis means you should update your LinkedIn profile with your most recent resume points, areas of experience, and skills. For your Twitter feed that you mostly use to express how terrible the umpire was in last night’s game, and OMG, how terrible is the Post Office?, well†¦consider setting it to private and setting up a professional-only account where you share interesting links about your field.For Facebook, take a close look at your security settings, and ma ke sure that anything you wouldn’t want a recruiter or HR rep to see is well hidden behind an â€Å"only you† or â€Å"friends only† barrier (though that can still be risky). No profanity, no suggestive material, no extreme political opinions (no matter how much you might hate the Bull-Moose Party, sorry).For LinkedIn, make sure you’ve got your profile filled out, up-to-date, and looking professional. The place is crawling with recruiters and like-minded professionals, so you really want to make sure that you’re showing your most engaged, shining, professional self.Talk up topics related to your professionIf you don’t already do this, cultivate a professional voice with your social media accounts. Link to others in the field, and try to join (or start) conversations in comments sections. If you don’t get out there an engage, how will people know to engage with youFind your peopleLook for groups and communities devoted to your industry . It’s a great way to start connecting to people if your existing social media is mostly social friends from other parts of your life. According to U.S. News and World Report, becoming a social media â€Å"savant† is one of the most effective ways to speed up your job search, because that’s where employers are focusing their hiring energies these days.Perform a Self-Makeover Every Few Months  If you’re looking for a job right this minute, you don’t have time to slowly curate every detail in your professional package, so you need to have everything ready to go. Make sure you’re ready to go as soon as you hear about that opportunity via online tools or your network- you don’t want the hot tip to grow cold while you futz around with your resume. So before you even think about putting yourself out there like a press release, make sure things are all set behind the scenes.Update your resumeIt would be great to rebuild it from scratch, bu t if you don’t have the time, a good scrub of your current one will do. Make sure all of your work experience, accomplishments, and skills are up to date. Right before you submit, do a quick tailoring to make sure that your skills and experience dovetail with the job opening.RELATED:  The Ultimate Resume Guide for Every Job SeekerWork interview practice into your routinesIf you do find a great lead, you could move quickly through the process. If you’re asked to come in for an interview next week, don’t wait until the last second to get ready. Add a few minutes to your morning or bedtime routine by rehearsing your interview talking points (skills, anecdotes about your skills, even your interview smile) in the mirror.Prep your interview outfitIf your interview suit hasn’t seen the light of day since Justin Bieber was that nice young man from Canada, take it out and give it some love. Run it to the dry cleaner so that it’s ready to go if you have to move fast on an interview. Or, if it’s time to retire it and you have the resources, go shopping for a new, interview-appropriate outfit.  Knowing that you’re ready to mobilize whenever you need to can help mentally as well†¦even if you’re in a bit of a waiting period, you still have projects to work on in the meantime.If you’re looking for a job fast, being proactive is definitely the key. One of the drawbacks of the job search in general is that it can feel so stop-and-go, sapping your energy along the way and turning into a daily, demoralizing routine of â€Å"eh, anything available yet?† By taking control over your social media and networks, and making your online searches more targeted and effective, you’re increasing the chances that something will hit sooner than later. Good luck!

Gulf War essays

Gulf War essays On the 2nd of August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. Millions of trees, wildlife, marine life, humans and the environment in general, were destroyed. This invasion, was called the GULF WAR. The social, environmental and economic impacts will be felt for years. The Gulf War was a major environmental disaster. Wildlife and their habitat was destroyed both in Iraq and Kuwait. Grass, soil and trees were destroyed by bombing, oily particles (which was from the numerous fires, resulting in acres and acres of land being destroyed), acid rain, and the most major problem, which affected the environment enormously, was the oil slick in the Persian Gulf. The oil slick was totally disastrous. Both America and Iraq were to blame. The US led forces, bombed 2 oil tankers in Kuwait harbour, releasing large quantities of oil. Then several days later it was announced that Iraqi forces had opened the valves on several pipelines, allowing oil to spill directly into the Gulf. This 6 million barrel slick killed approximately 15,000 to 30,000 birds alone. Comorants, grebes and herons were hit very hard. Comorants would dive for fish and then get totally coated in oil and then they die very slowly and painfully as they ingest the oil while desperately trying to preen itself. The slick effected the whole food chain from the microscopic organisms to the turtles and dugongs. As oil is extremely hard to remove and is very expensive, and also because the Persian Gulf has a small inlet in which water flows in and out, the matter became worse, causing the oil to do an enormous amount of damage. The food chain will never ever be the same becau se of some humans silly and thoughtless actions. The impacts on the Iraqi and Kuwaiti population was devastating. The destruction of Iraqs electricity, health care, water and food supply systems has caused unemployment, hunger, disease and suffering for millions of ordinary people in Iraq ...

Reflection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reflection Paper - Essay Example At the same time, though most people knew what the laws called for, it was still too early to tell the measures their respective State governments would take. While some states adopted the laws as they were, others introduced to exceptions, making the laws almost unattainable. Eminent domain Eminent domain generally refers to the power of the government to control all the property within its territory and appropriate it for public use. In the United States, these powers have been delegated to the respective state governments (Weinstein, 2006). However, the government must undertake several steps before acquiring private property for public use. This applies regardless of whether the acquisition is complete, partial, temporary or right of way. In all the cases, the government is supposed to pay a fair price for the property, which is usually the fair market value or the highest price one can pay for the property in an open market. At times, the government may go further to ensure that there is fair compensation for the property taken. This includes for example, finding a premise for a going-concern business or paying relocation costs to individuals moving from their homes. After undertaking all the steps, the government must ensure that the acquired property is for public use, as any other purpose would make the process null and void (Larson, 2004). These powers vested upon the government vary from one state to another, based on the limitations placed over the use of the appropriated property (Larson, 2004). The three main factors that arose immediately after the Kelo ruling are responsible for these differences. These factors included the uncharacteristic dissent by the former justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the change in political and legal atmosphere in the country, and the outcry from both the media and the public concerning the ruling. Of the three, the dissent by O’Connor was the most unequivocal as she went further to document her thoughts, whi ch apparently rivaled those of her colleagues. In addition, she joined hands with a group of advocates from the property right movement, who argued that the law would not only replace homes with shopping malls, but also turn farms into factories (Weinstein, 2006). Like O’Connor, the Congress indirectly opposed the enactment of the eminent law by introducing limitation bills. The aim of the bills was to deny state or local government funds, which would necessitate the transfer of private property to other parties. However, it was very categorical in the ban, as it only prohibited those that benefited private investors. Consequently, although the laws vary among various jurisdictions, it is apparent that most of the states concur with the laws. The differences originate from the need of each State to be independent and protect the rights of its residents. Most of the states that enacted the eminent domain law introduced bills that restricted the use of the appropriated property for economic development. Others went further to define economic development as those activities that would create new job opportunities and generate revenue to the state. With this specification, it became apparent that any appropriation for private gain would be discouraged (Weinstein, 2006). Alabama serves as a good example of how States passed bills to prohibit the implementation of

Burns Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Burns - Essay Example The tissues involved are his skin and that of the oro- respiratory tract. Most of the burns are 2 and 3 rd degree burns. This patient has 45% burns along with inhalation injury. Damage to the tissues of the body as a result of heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight or radiation is known as burns. Burns can cause swelling, blistering, scarring, shock and even death (Burns, Medline Plus). The most common type of burns is thermal burns. Burns are a common cause of mortality and morbidity. Injuries due to inhalation and subsequent pulmonary complications contribute to the mortality. It has been estimated that 50-60% of fire deaths are secondary to inhalation injury (Nettina 2006). The response to burns is the one similar to inflammation. Burns causes the intact vessels to dilate causing redness and blanching with pressure. The vascular permeability of the vessels also increases. Cells like platelets and leukocytes adhere to the vascular endothelium in the early phases of burns, followed by influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes. There after, new capillaries, immature fibroblasts and new collagen fibrils appear within the wound as a part of regeneration activity (Nettina 2006). 1. Skin being the largest organ in the body is the most commonly and widely affected part in the body. Burns causes loss of functions of the skin. The main functions of the skin are thermal regulation, prevention of loss of fluid from the body by evaporation, barrier against infections from the environment, and perception of sensory information from the environment. Skin comprises of 3 layers, the dermis, epidermis and hypodermis. Epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and consists of cornified epithelial cells. The middle layer is the dermis which is made up of mainly connective tissue. Embedded in the connective tissue are the capillaries that nourish the skin, nerve endings, and hair follicles. The innermost