Why did Prohibition Fail Research Paper Example

Why did Prohibition Fail Paper The act of Prohibition was introduced within the American culture during the twentieth century, within the subject of alcoholic abuse and increasing establishments of saloon bars within rural and urban states. The act of Prohibition was introduced due to the strong temperance movements within the rural states present in the nineteenth century; which included Devout Christians and the Anti- Saloon League presenting their ideas and opinions on the effects of alcoholic abuse within the family environment. The members involved within the groups which created the stigma of alcohol, in the act of Prohibition, presented their case on a political view within their local state. The states were persuaded to prohibit the sale of alcohol, which lead into a wide spread National law on the purchase of alcohol. The Prohibition act came into effect on January 16th 1920, as Prohibition became a law under the Volstead act. Prohibition was set to improve the social, health and crime effects of alcohol within the country. The use of patriotic pride was used to decline the alcoholic abuse present within the country; as many German breweries were exporting alcohol which was being purchased by American citizens. The First World War boosted the amount of dries (non-alcohol consumers), due to the un-patriotic movement of drinking German products. The Bolshevism community within the Russian revolution thrived on the use of alcohol, which created lawlessness in society. Russia was one of many countries which introduced Prohibition, known as the Suhoy Zakon, but America wanted to prevent the act of communism within society, which created the final amendment stated. Politicians backed the Prohibition act due to the fears of communism, but with the added bonus of rural votes for the Politicians involved, as this was a strong view present in rural states. Prohibition was present from the 1920s up to the year of 1933, but why did Prohibition fail?. We will write a custom essay sample on Why did Prohibition Fail specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why did Prohibition Fail specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why did Prohibition Fail specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This question is a debatable topic within the subject of American History, as Prohibition did prove successful illustrating a decline of alcoholic drinkers, but in this essay I will discuss the problems which ended the law of Prohibition in the 1930s. Prohibition was seen as a successful law within rural states, but many urban states did not comply with the law; which was seen as a failure as a law should apply to all states or districts of a country. The state of Maryland did not introduce the law of Prohibition, which illustrated the first problem involved in the failure of the noble experiment. The poor presence of public support created a downfall for Prohibition which saw the birth of Prohibition agents, two successful agents Isadore Einstein and his deputy Moe Smith. These agents saw the closure of speakeasies within America, as they ordered drinks in the speakeasies, taking samples to arrest offenders. The agents made 4392 arrests within the illegal bars (speakeasies), but public determination on the consumption and purchase of alcohol saw the rise of illegal imports of alcohol, which proved too wide spread for the control of government agents. Enforcement of the Prohibition law proved impossible to keep under control, as illegal imports of alcohol from Canada-across the widespread border and the purchase of alcohol out of USA waters proved inevitable to prevent. The agents were concentrated within the city environments, to prevent the increasing consumption of alcohol in illegal speakeasies. Each agent was poorly funded in the law of Prohibition, which created the rise of illegal stills and bootleggers. Bootleggers produced moonshine, which consisted of a higher concentration of pure alcohol, which caused the deaths of many purchasers of the alcohol. The moonshine contained a high concentration of alcohol, due to the un-professional production of alcohol within stills. Bootleggers became rich people within society, with known fortunes from the Prohibition era, as in the case of Al Capone who earned a vast fortune of $60 million. The production of moonshine saw the increase in illegal stills, with many people making their own whiskey for sale in the speakeasies. Agents seized 280,000 distilleries, but this is only a proportion of stills in use within the period. The Prohibition act is thought to have created more interest in the act of alcohol drinking, as there were more speakeasies than saloons in many cities, due to the vast profit margins involved with selling moonshine. This is one stable reason to conclude the failure of Prohibition, but the factor of crime and gangs- which were supposed to be prevented through Prohibition- contributed to the failure of Prohibition, due to large scale violence within the St. Valentines massacre. The most common image of Prohibition is the era of the powerful gangsters who made their fortunes from the selling of illegal liquor, within local speakeasies of their city. Sources suggest that organised crime gangs made fortunes of about $2 billion out of the trade and sale of alcohol. The gangsters were present all over the USA, but the city of Chicago was closely associated with the presence of gangs. The gangsters on the whole came from poorer immigrant backgrounds, which are closely tied from the melting pot of American society. The concept of immigrants making a fortune off the country which gave them a better quality of life, against the law of the country; I believe is an ironic situation to have, as the guests of a country create fortunes against the political view. This was a large factor of the birth of the gangsters during the era, as they came mainly from Jewish, Polish, Irish and Italian backgrounds. The gangsters were full of cunning and ruthless ideas, which ended in the massacre of many gangs on St. Valentines Day. The gangs fought viciously with each other to control the liquor and Prostitution trade, within the speakeasies environments. The gangs made good use of new technology, with automobiles and the Thompson sub machine gun to concentrate the use of fear and violence on other opposing gangs. Dan OBanion, Pete and Vince Guizenberg, Lucky Luciano and Al Capone were some of the most ruthless gang leaders at the time of Prohibition. In Chicago alone, there were 130 gang member murders within 1926 and 1927 and not one arrest was made. This was the effect of the fear of the gangs, which proved successful in preventing law enforcement against their trade. Gangster leader Al Capone is one of the famous gangsters in relation to the prohibition law, as his tactics of violence and cunning intuition within society illustrated a strong profile in the public eye. Capone was a regular at sport games, with cheered applause of fans as Capone donated generously to local charities, with the case of $30,000 on a soup kitchen for the unemployed. The violent side of Capones leadership was illustrated with the beating of a betrayed member to his loyalty, which included the beating of a baseball bat, causing immense damage to his un-loyal members. The un-predictable behaviour of the gang member proved successful in his own right, with the control of the mayor (William Hale Thompson) under the generous pledges of charity. Prohibition led to a massive widespread corruption within the services of Law enforcement during this period, as fear of gangster violence and briberies persuaded the law enforcement officers to turn a blind eye to the law of Prohibition, which was one of the main reasons for the failure of the noble experiment. Large breweries were bribing many local government officials for their businesses to stay in production. Briberies included money and in some cases alcohol, which was creating a large corrupt police force within larger cities of the USA. The conviction of guilty bootleggers was seen to die out, as many judges accepted the bribe of payment from suspected criminals. A national cartoon from the Prohibition era named- The National Gesture, illustrated the large corruption involved in this time period, due to the illustrated hand behind the back picture incorporated into bribery. Many businesses thrived on the corruption of Law enforcement, but most importantly the law enforcers were making a profit out of the law they were supposed to be protecting, creating a mockery of Prohibition. In conclusion, I believe the most probable reason for the failure of the Prohibition era is the factor of the widespread corruption involved, as law enforcers were making a profit out of a law set by the national government. If the law is not being enforced by the enforcers, then the law is non valid, which was supposed to improve social benefits; but this proved incorrect, as large scale bribery increased the production of alcohol. The prohibition era caused national tax problems, which was successfully reversed in the re-introduction of legal drinking. This factor of tax could be a possible reason for ending the Prohibition on a political view, but I believe the corruption of law enforcement was the most important reason, as there is no law without law enforcement present.

Oreopithecus - Facts and Figures

Oreopithecus - Facts and Figures Name: Oreopithecus (Greek for mountain ape); pronounced ORE-ee-oh-pith-ECK-us Habitat: Islands of southern Europe Historical Epoch: Late Miocene (10-5 million years ago) Size and Weight: About four feet tall and 50-75 pounds Diet: Plants, nuts and fruit Distinguishing Characteristics: Longer arms than legs; monkey-like feet About Oreopithecus Most of the prehistoric primates that preceded modern humans led lives that were nasty, brutish and short, but this doesnt appear to have been the case with Oreopithecusbecause this chimpanzee-like mammal had the good fortune to live on isolated islands off the Italian coast, where it was relatively free from predation. A good clue to the comparatively trouble-free existence of Oreopithecus is that paleontologists have unearthed about 50 complete skeletons, making this one of the best understood of all ancient apes. As so often happens with animals restricted to island habitats, Oreopithecus possessed a strange mix of features, including strong, gripping, monkey-like feet, an ape-like head with teeth reminiscent of the earliest humans, and (last but not least) longer arms than legs, a clue that this primate spent much of its time swinging from branch to branch. (Theres also some tantalizing evidence that Oreopithecus may have been able to walk upright for short periods of time, which has thrown a wrench into the usual timelines for hominid evolution.) Oreopithecus met its doom when plunging sea levels connected its islands with the mainland, whence its ecosystem was invaded by the mammalian megafauna of continental Europe. By the way, the name Oreopithecus has nothing to do with the famous cookie; oreo is the Greek root for mountain or hill, though this hasnt prevented some paleontologists from affectionately referencing Oreopithecus as the cookie monster.

Distilled Doesnt Mean Pure

Distilled Doesn't Mean Pure Heres a comment a reader posted in response to my article on removing fluoride from water:Ive been taught that distilled water is the purest that one can drink. On the original article you write that this is not a safe assumption. How so?Distillation does purify water, but it cant remove all contaminants. Actually, distilled water can be very impure. Consider how distillation works. First, youre basically boiling water and then letting it cool to collect it again. Ideally contaminants with different boiling points will be removed, if you are careful to collect the distilled liquid at exactly the right temperature and pressure. Its not as easy as it sounds. Plus, there are contaminants that wont separate from the water just from vaporization. Sometimes the distilling process actually adds contaminants that werent originally present, from the glassware or metal components.For distilled drinking water, keep in mind even if the distillation process is scrupulous, impurities come from the container into which the water is placed. Heavy metals are used to stabilize packaging plastics and can leach into the water over time. For that matter, plastic monomers coat a new container and become a part of bottled water.Hard Soft Water | Distilling Ethanol for Your Car

Becton Dickinson Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Becton Dickinson Company - Assignment Example If the company were to have a global policy, it should state that company policy prohibits BD employees from soliciting or accepting gifts or gratuities from suppliers or any interest that the company works with. Connected to that, gifts and gratuities should not be sent to BD employees. Gifts and gratuities are either cash or non-cash awards that do not appear on supplier contracts. BD and its employees can only accept payments that are spelled out in such contracts; any other gifts, gratuities, or payments will be rejected. What is not clear from this policy, though, are business meals – which are a necessary part of doing business, but they should not be lavish or frequent. On the subject of â€Å"facilitating payments†, BD should not prohibit them unless the laws of the specific country do. If BD does need to make a facilitating payment, it must state that it will do so in its contract with the recipient of that payment. The process of dealing with distributors, con sultants, and other third parties should be transparent to leadership in each country such that individuals in charge of those relationships are held accountable for their dealings with these other parties. If wrongdoing is discovered, BD should act consistently with its policy to not tolerate corruption. Consistent with the approach of outlining a general, compliant global policy at a corporate level and then leaving much latitude to local entities in carrying it out, responsibility for communicating, monitoring, and enforcing the policy is shared between the corporate and local groups.

Research Paper Prospectus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Research Paper Prospectus - Essay Example The major economic concepts to be used in this research include the use of IS-LM curve analysis and how the money supply affects different variables in the economy. Further, this research will also focus upon exploring as to how Fed has used different policy tools such as cutting discount rates, increasing liquidity through open market operations as well as other non-traditional tools. The overall expected outcomes of this research may suggest as to whether Fed has been able to exercise different monetary policy tools wisely or not and whether different steps taken have actually resulted into achievement of Fed’s objectives especially during current economic crisis. This book provides comprehensive coverage and explanation of macroeconomic topics including the one on monetary policy and role of Federal Reserve. The book is co-authored by current Federal Reserve Chairman and Nobel Prize Winner, Ben Bernanke. Chapters on money supply and Fed critically discuss the role of Fed, how it performs and how it interacts with the economy. The overall treatment of the topics, specially the role of money supply in IS-LM curve analysis has been well defined. Apart from this, book also focuses on the impact of money supply on the major economic variables such as inflation, growth and unemployment level. This reference is quite good for introductory treatment of important macroeconomics topics. This book offers elementary treatment of different macroeconomic topics. This reference is quite comprehensive however, in discussing different topics of monetary economics at undergraduate level. Further, this book offers a critical insight into the impact of economics on the individual as well as government level choices. As such this reference provides a critical view of how the steps taken by Fed are going to have an effect on the consumers as well as government. This book further discusses

The function of catecholase Essay Example for Free

The function of catecholase Essay 5 mL of enzyme, and all of the trials were set up as two tubes to begin with. One tube had 3. 5 mL of water and 2. 0 mL of catechol, and the other had . 5 mL of enzyme. By keeping the enzyme and substrate separate, we were able to have more control over the starting point of the reaction, and were able to bring each individual component to the desired temperature before starting. The temperatures that our group tested were 37oC, 45oC, 50oC, 55oC, 65oC, and 75oC. Both our group and group A-4 tested 37 and 45 degrees. This allowed us to compare each groups results more accurately. The setup for the actual experiment was that each temperature had its own test tube rack. Four tubes of water and catechol and four tubes of enzyme were put into each rack, and these racks were then submerged into either a hot water bath or a circulating water bath, depending on which temperature was being tested. The tubes were allowed to sit in the water for approximately five minutes to allow the contents of the tubes to come up to the temperature we were trying to test. Then the tube of enzyme was poured into the tube of catechol, the tube was covered and inverted to mix the contents, and the timer was started. We allowed the reaction to run from three to five minutes, keeping track of exactly how long each set went for. Our method for ensuring that the reactions ran for the exact length of time stated was to start each reaction thirty seconds later than the first, and then take the measurements from the spectrophotometer exactly thirty seconds apart, keeping the tubes in the same order. Before measuring each tube, we again inverted it several times to make sure that the product was uniformly distributed throughout the tube. Results Results for Group A-5 Temperature (degrees Celsius) Trial 1. Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Mean Standard Deviation 3 (Table 2) (Graph 1 (Graph 2)According to our results, the optimal temperature for the reaction of catecholase is 45oC. We were able to determine this because the average reaction rate was highest at this temperature (see table 1). We were correct in assuming that the reaction would gradually speed up as the temperature increased until it reached a point where the enzyme began to denature, and then the reaction rate would slow after that. This gradual increase, peak, and then decrease can be seen in the graph 1 above. The bars above and below each data point are representations of the standard deviation associated with each value. This shows how much variation we had within each set of trials. When we compared our results to group A-4, it was clear that they too found the peak reaction rate to be at the 45-degree temperature. This served to further verify our results. It is interesting to note that in the graph of both of our data, although the actual values are not the same, the overall conclusions are. Discussion After analysis of the data, it is clear that our hypothesis was correct, because the found peak does fall within the range of 23 and 75. We can be fairly certain that our data are correct because we were able to control the fixed variables, such as the amounts of each component of the reaction, very well by having the same person measure out the same thing for each trial. We were fairly accurate at controlling the temperature because the baths were monitored at a steady temperature for the time the reaction was taking place, although it would have probably been to our benefit to actually take the temperature of the liquids inside the test tubes instead of only monitoring the environment outside of the tubes. Also, we could have increased accuracy by having the spectrophotometer nearer to the baths, because there was some heat lost during transport, which could have affected the tubes that were measured later. There was also some confusion at the beginning of the experiment about exactly what technique was to be used, which resulted in our having to repeat the trials for the 65-degree temperature. We assume that similar problems are to blame for the differences in the reaction rates for 37o and 45o between our group and group A-4. We also discovered after the experiment had been completed that the other group had left the catechol out in a separate tube during heating, while we left the enzyme out. This difference in method may have contributed to the differences. To make sure that these problems did not result in faulty conclusions, I looked up another experiment on the effects of temperature done by Pierre Greenway. Greenways findings indicate that the peak temperature for enzyme function is actually at 40oC, and not 45. This is an interesting discovery, since we did not test thoroughly in the range of 37o-45o. The next course of experimentation suggested by these findings would be to thoroughly test the reaction rates at temperatures between 35 and 45 degrees Celsius. Measuring at one-degree intervals would give the best results, but may require another collaboration to be achieved in a reasonable amount of time. It may also be interesting to test the reaction rate at even higher temperatures, and try to find the point at which all of the enzyme is completely destroyed. According to the results of Greenway, this temperature was around 60oC for him, but we tested beyond that in our own experiment and found the rate to still be decreasing. Any of these questions would be interesting to try to answer.   Show   The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Patterns of Behaviour section.

The Benefit of Low Nurse-Patient Ratios :: Nursing

For my research paper, I will be taking the position that low nurse-patient ratios (the number of patients a nurse is assigned to care for during their shift) are beneficial to patient safety and should be adopted on a larger scale. What made you interested in this topic? I am interested in this topic because when I graduated from nursing school last year, I accepted a job where I am comfortable with my workload, while many of my classmates ended up in work environments where they are responsible for taking care of as many as 9 patients at a time while working as the Charge Nurse on the unit. Several have expressed to me that they feel their patients aren't safe because of the workload they face as nurses. How is it related to your field of study, major, or to what you plan on doing after you graduate? This is directly related to my Nursing major and current practice as an RN. I have a personal interest in making sure I am practicing in a way that is safe for my patients. What exactly is the problem? The problem, as defined for my argument research paper, is that to cut costs, hospitals have been steadily increasing the number of patients nurses must care for. In many areas it's not uncommon for one nurse to have to assess, give medications to, and manage the care of as many as 12 patients. This puts tremendous strain on nurses. Many of the studies I have seen in my research indicate that a high ration of patients to nurses increases the rate of death or other poor outcomes for patients. It also leads to increased nurse burnout and higher turnover, though at this point I believe my paper will focus on patient outcomes. Who is most affected by the problem? Anyone who is a patient in a hospital is likely to be affected by these practices. What causes the problem? The problem is caused by finances. Hospitals claim they face declining reimbursements, and have chosen to cut nursing staff to lower their expenses. Has anyone tried to do anything about it? If so, why haven’t they succeeded? California has attempted to solve the problem by implementing maximum allowable legal patient ratios. In California (and Australia, where a similar set of laws has been passed), there has been success – but, obviously, this is limited to those areas and isn't widespread.

ESSAY- The Farewell Party Essay

Saying farewell to a person, or even the thought of doing so is quite a shuddering idea to look into. This is quite hard when deep bonds are forged and lifelong friendships are made between many people. Imagine the thoughts of some of the students in the school when they learned that the twelfth graders are to soon depart from their beloved school and go on to make their lives. Even though this is in fact a normal passage of life in all schools, this is in fact the first batch of students to leave the school, so this is quite a new thought in everyone’s mind, but nonetheless, the fact that someone is leaving and perhaps could not be seen again is an eerie thought, and something you don’t want to have. see more:how to write a welcome speech Students, not wanting to ponder upon the twelfth graders time of departure, but wishing to celebrate and enjoy every single second left with the departing, decided to give a farewell party, to give a grand exit with great hopes and lots of luck to those who will leave soon. The farewell party was already planned by some very initiative and foreseeing minds a few months before even people realized the vastness of the idea, and planning was already in speedy progress. There were obstacles like every idea or problem does but that did not deter the very determined students of other grades, who wish to give a great surprise to all those in twelfth. There were plans upon a beautiful cake to start off the event at hand, followed by playing games and organizing activities for the â€Å"guests† to endeavor into, and also lots of conversations would be started filling up some time. Then all the twelfth graders will be asked to give a small speech to make their peers from lower grades understand what they are up to face and what task could be done in which specific way, all which will stay as valuable advice. Soon plans for the location and time came up and everyone involved rushed off to dedicate themselves to their arduous but to be fruitful tasks. Even some teachers join in to give their beloved students a good impression of what they are setting forth to achieve in their live. After long and pained meetings, discussion and planning, the farewell party finally happened, and lots of people were there, friends and accomplices of those who are leaving. There was much activity in the room we were in. There were colors of all types floating across the room hanging from any equipment on the walls or ceiling, to give a vibrant impression. The drooling smell of cake and other snacks drifted through the whole room, lifting many hearts and attracting them like moths to a light. There was loud chatter amongst the occupants, but that ended as soon as the program commenced. There was a lot of reactions and emotions amongst the people there as one by one all the activities were done, after which the twelfth graders gave a speech, giving their thanks, and helpful advice, and also showing their deepest gratitude and kindness for all those there for thinking of something to lift their hearts as thy venture out into the world. After the party was over, there was a lot of chatter (and show of emotions) after realizing the enormous aspect of this thought. The twelfth graders were constantly giving thanks to everyone and patiently answering everyone’s questions, but most of all, they were controlling their emotions for, they too were sad about leaving a place so close to their hearts. The people who are staying are showing what they already feel: signs of happiness and sadness mixed with each other, and thinking upon what could occur. All in all, something like farewell has really stirred up any deep emotions within all, and has caused tightening of bonds and friendships and also the exchange of contacts like foreign currencies. But aside from that thought, in the end, everyone left feeling satisfied happy and excited about their futures, living in the moment and achieving their goal of giving a great farewell to those who are leaving.

Is Human Population Growth A Problem Environmental Sciences Essay

The universe population refers to the entire figure of life worlds on Earth at a given clip. For the past 10, 000 old ages, the universe has been sing a rapid addition in human population. Harmonizing to the most recent U.N. statistics, population has grown from several 1000000s back in the B.C. to over 6.6 billion in the twenty-first century. Even though the growing rate is bit by bit decelerating, the U.N. population Division still expect the world-wide population to really much hit 9.1 billion by 2050. With most of the addition in Asia and Africa, in peculiar, the poorer states that have no entree to proper family-planning programmes.Why wage attending to the lifting human population?We have all known for long that the human population is no uncertainty the main subscriber to environmental sufferings. However, what small know of is that the human population is merely one of the several factors that affect the environment. The extent to which population addition can be considered a job is still reliant on other factors. One widely used expression that could assist us understand what factors could really interplayed to do that important impact, would be the IPAT theoretical account that John Holdren from Harvard University came up with. This theoretical account represents how the entire impact on the enviroment consequences from the interaction among population, richness and technoloy. An Increased population intensifies impact on the environment as more persons take up infinite, usage resources, and generate waste. As the population gets older it gets more flush excessively, thereby demanding higher life criterions to fulfill their ‘wants ‘ . To run into the homo ‘s instatiable ‘wants ‘ , better engineering would hold to be developed to better mine fossil fuels, clear old-growth woods, or fish. Assuming that everybody has to be fed, clothed, housed and hopefully supported by paid employment. An increased population would really intend the intensification of the impact that the human population has on the Ecosystem. Hence, the job is non merely that the population is burgeoning. It is besides that the use of the resources, and environmental amendss are besides increasing at a phenomenol velocity.Impacts and EffectssAll of us would hold known by now that a lifting planetary population have devasting impacts on the Earth. It non merely erodes the life criterions of the universe population, consequences in poorness in already hapless states, affect a state ‘s economic system, but most significantly has a negative impact on the Ecosystem. We will in the undermentioned paragraphs, expression in deepness the assorted effects it has on the Earth. There are many environmental jobs associated with it, nevertheless, we will merely look into the chief and the most serious menaces that are being posed by it. They are viz. , urbanization, deforestation, nutrient security, H2O, energy, clime alteration and biodiversity. ( alter some of them )UrbanizationUrbanization is being defined as the physical growing of urban countries as a consequence of planetary alteration. Furthermore, It can besides be interpreted as the motion of people from rural to urban countries with population growing comparing to urban migration. The United Nations ‘ undertaking suggested that 60 % of the universe ‘s population would populate in urban countries at the terminal of 2030. Sing the limited resources of an urban metropolis, an increased in the population residing at that place would take to more nutrient, more land, more energy, and more H2O being needed to better suit to them. And when that happened, jobs like nutrient security, H2O scarceness, land deficit, and energy deficit will necessitate to be answered.DeforestationTo work out these issues states have come up with assorted manner like land reclaimation, †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.However, many states have been sing the uncluttering up forest to do manner for the enlargement of their metropoliss as the most convenient and congst-effective manner. As they cant afford the cost of land reclaimation And this procedure of glade of of course happening woods by logging and combustion is being known as deforestaton. The expanded district were normally used to turn more harvests, raise more animate beings, every bit good as The lone manner to ease these ballooning demands, is to take between the nature and homo. Eithe r the nature or homo has to give manner, which, in many case, the nature does. Food deficit Water scarceness The lone manner to ease these ballooning demands, is to take between the nature and homo. Either the nature or homo has to give manner, which, in many case, the nature does. ( add in facts form research ) All of the jobs were attributed to the deficiency of land, people started killing woodCausesUrbanization occurs of course from single and corporate attempts to cut down clip and disbursal in transposing and transit while bettering chances for occupations, instruction, lodging, and transit. Populating in metropoliss licenses persons and households to take advantage of the chances of propinquity, diverseness, and market place competition.Peoples move into metropoliss to seek economic chances. In rural countries, frequently on little household farms, it is hard to better one ‘s criterion of life beyond basic nutriment. Farm life is dependent on unpredictable environmental conditions, and in times of drouth, inundation or plague, survival becomes highly debatable.Cities, in contrast, are known to be topographic points where money, services and wealth are centralized. Cities are where lucks are made and where societal mobility is possible. Businesss, which generate occupations and c apital, are normally located in urban countries. Whether the beginning is trade or touristry, it is besides through the metropoliss that foreign money flows into a state. It is easy to see why person life on a farm might wish to take their opportunity traveling to the metropolis and seeking to do adequate money to direct back place to their fighting household.There are better basic services every bit good as other specializer services that are n't found in rural countries. There are more occupation chances and a greater assortment of occupations. Health is another major factor. Peoples, particularly the aged are frequently forced to travel to metropoliss where there are physicians and infirmaries that can provide for their wellness demands. Other factors include a greater assortment of amusement ( eating houses, film theatres, subject Parkss, etc ) and a better quality of instruction, viz. universities. Due to their high populations, urban countries can besides hold much more divers e societal communities leting others to happen people like them when they might non be able to in rural countries.These conditions are heightened during times of alteration from a pre-industrial society to an industrial 1. It is at this clip that many new commercial endeavors are made possible, therefore making new occupations in metropoliss. It is besides a consequence of industrialisation that farms go more mechanised, seting many laborers out of work. This is presently happening fastest in India.Environmental effectsThe urban heat island has become a turning concern and is increasing over the old ages. The urban heat island is formed when industrial and urban countries are developed and heat becomes more abundant. In rural countries, a big portion of the entrance solar energy is used to vaporize H2O from flora and dirt. In metropoliss, where less flora and exposed dirt exists, the bulk of the Sun ‘s energy is absorbed by urban constructions and asphalt. Hence, during warm d aytime hours, less evaporative chilling in metropoliss allows surface temperatures to lift higher than in rural countries. Additional metropolis heat is given off by vehicles and mills, every bit good as by industrial and domestic warming and chilling units. [ 13 ] This consequence causes the metropolis to go 2 to 10o F ( 1 to 6o C ) warmer than environing landscapes. [ 14 ] . Impacts besides include cut downing dirt wet and intensification of C dioxide emanations. [ 15 ]In his book Whole Earth Discipline, Stewart Brand argues that the effects of urbanisation are on the overall positive for the environment. First, the birth rate of new urban inhabitants falls instantly to replacement rate, and keeps falling. This can forestall overpopulation in the hereafter. Second, it puts a halt to destructive subsistence farming techniques, like cut and burn agribusiness. Finally, it minimizes land usage by worlds, go forthing more for nature. [ 12 ]Food securityWill at that place be plenty nutr ient to travel around? In 64 of 105 developing states studied by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the population has been turning faster than nutrient supplies. Population force per unit areas have degraded some 2 billion hectares of cultivable land – an country the size of Canada and the U.S. Massive population growing, lifting incomes and turning ingestion of meat are driving the demand for nutrient. Food production has increased well over the past century sustained by increasing outputs due to irrigation, fertilizer usage and enlargement into new lands. But there has been small consideration of nutrient energy efficiency or the ability to understate the loss of energy from nutrient during the harvest home, processing, devouring and recycling phases ( UNEP, 2009 ) . Over the past 10 old ages, nevertheless, the production of cereals has stabilised and the constitution of piscaries declined, due to miss of investing. This is despite the demand for an estimated 50 per centum addition in current nutrient production degrees by 2013 to maintain up with demand ( Millennium Project, 2008a ) . The effects of population growing, clime alteration, land debasement, harvest and cropland losingss to non-food production, H2O scarceness, desertification, resource-depleting subsistence schemes and urban enlargement agencies nutrient production could be every bit much as 25 per centum less than demand by 2050 ( UNEP, 2009 ) . Subsequently, universe nutrient monetary values, which late reached crisis degree, are expected to increase by a farther 30 to 50 per centum. Agribusiness histories for 70 per centum of human usage of fresh H2O. However, less than half of the universe ‘s land is suited for irrigation and the sum of irrigated land country is falling because of dirt eroding, salination, acidification, and alimentary depletion. By 2020, 30 per centum of cultivable land may be salinated and every bit much as 50 per centum by 2050 ( Foresight, 2009a ) . Genetic and scientific alteration of nutrient is likely to be necessary, for human and carnal ingestion, and for biofuel production ( DCDC, 2007 ) . New agricultural methods such as better rain-fed agribusiness and irrigation direction, familial technology for higher-yielding harvests, and preciseness agribusiness and aquaculture should be considered. To cut down the strain on fresh water agribusiness and set down the viability of saltwater agribusiness on coastlines should besides be assessed ( Millennium Project, 2008a ) . WaterWaterWater is progressively scarce. If current tendencies continue, 90 per centum of fresh water supplies will vanish by 2030 ( OECD, 2003 ) . Already, 700 million people face H2O scarceness. By 2025, this figure could turn to 3 billion, with two-thirds of the universe ‘s population confronting water-shortages ( Millennium Project, 2008a ; OECD, 2003 ) . EnergyEnergyWorld energy demands could duplicate in 20 old ages. Oil demand is projected to turn about 40 per centum from 2006 to 2030 ( Millennium Project, 2008a ) .BiodiversityChanges in land-use are impacting biodiversity. Activities include run outing wetlands, uncluttering woods and substructure enlargement ( OECD, 2003 ; Millennium Project, 2008b ) . Climate alteration is besides holding an consequence. The loss of biodiversity and renewable natural resources reduces stableness and resiliency, and leads to atomization, species loss, and the loss of ecosystem quality. All are critical for economic growing and human wellbeing.Climate ChangeGreenhouse gas emanations are expected to turn by 52 per centum by 2050 ( Millennium Project, 2008a ) . Progressive clime alteration will cut down land for habitation, as some parts experience desertification and others lasting implosion therapy from lifting sea degrees ( DCDC, 2007 ) . Regional conditions forms will be capable to alter, with i ncreased frequence and strength of utmost conditions events, such as heat moving ridges, drouths, storms and inundations ( OECD, 2003 ; Millennium Project, 2008b ) . These alterations will impact projected nutrient production as some parts will be unable to turn current nutrient basics. Furthermore, fish stocks will decrease or migrate ; and there will be increased force per unit area on H2O supplies and associated industries ( DCDC, 2007 ) .In the past decennary in every environmental sector, conditions have either failed to better, or they are declining:Public wellness:Dirty H2O, along with hapless sanitation, kills over 12 million people each twelvemonth, most in developing states. Air pollution putting to deaths about 3 million more. Heavy metals and other contaminations besides cause widespread wellness jobs.Sum of land lost to farming by debasement peers 2/3 of North America.Food supply:Will at that place be plenty nutrient to travel around? In 64 of 105 developing states studied by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the population has been turning faster than nutrient supplies. Population force per unit areas have degraded some 2 bi llion hectares of cultivable land – an country the size of Canada and the U.S.Fresh water:The supply of fresh water is finite, but demand is surging as population grows and usage per capita rises. By 2025, when universe population is projected to be 8 billion, 48 states incorporating 3 billion people will confront deficits.Coastlines and oceans:One-half of all coastal ecosystems are pressured by high population densenesss and urban development. A tide of pollution is lifting in the universe ‘s seas. Ocean piscaries are being overexploited, and fish gimmicks are down.The demand for forest merchandises exceeds sustainable ingestion by 25 % .Forests:About half of the universe ‘s original wood screen has been lost, and each twelvemonth another 16 million hectares are cut, bulldozed, or burned. Forests provide over US $ 400 billion to the universe economic system yearly and are critical to keeping healthy ecosystems. Yet, current demand for forest merchandises may tran scend the bound of sustainable ingestion by 25 % .2/3 of the universe ‘s species are in diminution.Biodiversity:The Earth ‘s biological diverseness is important to the continued verve of agribusiness and medicate – and possibly even to life on Earth itself. Yet human activities are forcing many 1000s of works and carnal species into extinction. Two of every three species is estimated to be in diminution.Global clime alteration:The Earth ‘s surface is warming due to greenhouse gas emanations, mostly from firing fossil fuels. If the planetary temperature rises as projected, sea degrees would lift by several metres, doing widespread implosion therapy. Global heating besides could do drouths and disrupt agribusiness.

What academic research tell us about service Essay Example

What academic research tell us about service Essay Example What academic research tell us about service Essay What academic research tell us about service Essay IT not only lowers the cost of service, it creates avenues o enhance revenue through service. Gone are the days of standardization, mass production, and mass marketing. Academic research has revealed that the service sector is now dominant in every developed economy. The goods sector is shrinking as a proportion of the overall economy; and as goods increasingly become commodities, service is becoming the key differentiator even in the goods sector. Thus, to compete effectively, all companies must become service companies. For over a century, technological development has driven an economic shift from a focus on goods to a focus on service. The rise of service in the economy has been reflected by an explosion of academic research on service. This research has tended to emphasize different themes over time (see Table 1 for a summary). In the sass the emphasis was on the differences between goods and services, recognizing that services had characteristics that made for new aspects to consider. Research then the sass resulted in service research of a different flavor?emphasizing service quality measurement, customer satisfaction measurement, and complaint management systems. This evolved in the sass into models for making service financially accountable. At the same time, the advances in IT in the sass resulted in academic research paying increased attention to direct contact with individual customers, storing and analyzing individual customer data, and then using that information to serve individual customers better. Since 2000, academic research has moved to using customer relationships as a foundation for a new approach to strategy, based on customer equity (the discounted cash flows expected from the current and future customer base). This requires managing the customer lifetime values of individual customers, a topic that has received considerable research attention in cent years. The explosion of service research has been facilitated by the introduction of several influential academic centers for service research. Notable centers currently include the Center for Excellence in Service at the University of Maryland, the Center for Services Leadership at Arizona State University (see the article by Bitter and Brown in this section), the Service Research Center at the University of Carlsbad (Sweden), the Masochist Academic Center for Research in Services (Netherlands), and the Center for Relationship Marketing and Service Management at the Swedish School of Economics (Finland). The progress of the service research field has been accelerated by international con- preferences?most notably the annual AMA Frontiers in Service Conference (which this year features speakers from 29 different countries) and the biennial Quality in Service (QUIZ) conference. The most prominent academic Journal in the service research field is the Journal of Service Research. More than many academic fields in business, service research is often influential in leading business thought and changing business practice. The breakthroughs in service research have typically resulted from considering the advances in technology, ND carefully studying their implications. Technological development has created many new services?especially information services?and has also made it possible to make physical goods more service intensive. Aside from individual products, technology has also made it much easier to track customer relationships over time, and to therefore link goods and services to serve the customer effectively over an extended period of time. With these trends, service research clearly implies that every business must become a service business, or it will fail to be competitive against competition that does. Successful businesses like MM, GE, and Struck all embrace The economic shift toward service has been ongoing as new products and technologies become available and others become cheaper to produce and transport. However, the information revolution has provided a particularly strong force. IT has advanced service, as previous technological contributions have aided mass production. Assembly line mass production lowered the cost of producing goods. IT likewise decreases the cost of providing and improving service. Thus, we witness the rise of mass service, driven by improved coordination and a greater availability of information. Whereas mass production focused on the product, the new philosophy is customer-centric. Since interacting with customers is now less expensive, it is easier to tailor communications to provide distinct information and service to distinct customers. Using IT, businesses have expensive to satisfy an existing customer than to invest improved communications both internally and with in advertising to attract new customers. Therefore, the customers. Different departments within the same road to profitability is to work hard to keep current accompany can easily share information electronically, tamers. Employee policies have an important impact on Susann businesses and customers can now contact each other via email. Firms now have the ability to collect tome satisfaction [70]. Businesses need to give the corona analyze information on customers entire purr- erect incentives to their service personnel to place emphasis on long-term profitability as well as immediacies and contact histories. Ate sales. By designing compensation schemes decreased the cost of culls sass Service is different from goods that reward employees atomization, marketing to Measuring customer service and service quality SASS not only for immediate smaller segments has become Complaint management sales, but also for service economically feasible. As Making service improvements financially accountable SASS laity, companies can technology continues to Direct marketing and CRM improve customer staircases the cost of consummating customer lifetime value and customer equity sass Profitable long-term relationships with customers faction and long-term atomization, the logical end is Basing corporate strategy on service profitability. One-to-one marketing, with Customer delight has businesses targeting each succubus suggested as an tome separately and providing individually customized Table 1 . Academic research in alternative focus to smartening. Over time, firms can build relationships service over time. Emmer satisfaction. Switch customers by inferring their needs and providing tome delight, a more extreme form of satisfaction, service to meet those needs. Information also gives the consumer power. Rust table 1 (7/06)level of surprise, and may not be possible Con- requires some summer can receive information about a broader range in contexts where there is little room for the customers of businesses, as well as perform their own searches to expectations to be exceeded [72]. Even when customer find the product that best suits their needs. Cones- delight is possible, however, it may not always be innocently, businesses are faced with greater competition sequential for future patronage, if customers suspect the and greater need to differentiate. Firms must provide level of service will not be duplicated in the future. The best value for better- informed consumers or fail to When feasible, however, the strategy of customer delight can lead to exceptional results. Attract them. Wrought improved service a more attractive strategy for success in the marketplace. SERVING THE CUSTOMER As technology has given consumers access to more information and choices, service has become increasingly important. Customer satisfaction is paramount, because customer perception is reality when it comes to buying decisions. In this viewpoint there is no such thing as actual quality except as perceived by the customer, and thus serving the customer better depends upon understandi ng how to increase quality perceptions and customer satisfaction. Expectations play a significant role in customer satisfaction. Customer behavior is affected by satisfaction relative to expectations [71 , 114]. Research indicates that when a customer perceives service quality to be below the desired level, increasing customer satisfaction Wrought improved service has a large positive effect on DESIGNING AND IMPROVING SERVICE The delivery of service is fundamentally different from the concept and design of the service. Delivery is an aspect of implementation, not of design. The service product is planning your work, while service delivery is working your plan. Whereas engineering focuses primarily on the product, service concerns itself primarily with delivery, largely because of the inherent variability of service delivery. Because product development deals only with the quality of the product, firms must measure and manage service livery to ensure the quality of the entire experience. To measure service, metrics on customer perceptions, attitudes, and behavior are essential. Businesses should understand what customers do and why they do it. Customer behavior may simply be observed, such as 51 when a customer repurchases the product or files a research had found that companies attempting to complaint, but customer perceptions and attitudes are achieve a dual emphasis of cost reduction and revenue enhancement simultaneously did not perform as well not as readily revealed. For a complete understanding of customers, firms as companies that focused solely n a revenue emphasis combine computer databases of customer behave- sis strategy, Metal [56] reached the conclusion that a ROR with survey data of customer perceptions and ATT- dual emphasis can be profitable in the long-run for the à ©tudes. Achieved it. However, but are still useful for a number of purposes. For exam- attempting to achieve such a dual emphasis usually plea, they have been useful in studying the profit-Max- doesnt work. Mining balance between customer acquisition and customer rotten- THEN NOW Zion efforts [82]. Although such Standardization Customization findings have significant manager- Transactions Relationships al implications, they do not Focus on goods Focus on service Revenue expansion through service explain the motivation behind Cost reduction through manufacturing efficiency Marketing to individual customers customer behavior. The complex- Mass marketing Improved ability to communicate, store, and momentary use of databases and sure- Limited ability to communicate, process information eves is necessary to get a complete store, and process information understanding. Table 2. Moving to a The manufacturing mind-set is also problematic in service paradigm. Pricing perishable services. It is useful to separate burglarproofing THE MANUFACTURING chase from consumption [96]. For example, rather MIND-SET Rust table 2 (7/06) To succeed in todays marketplace, firms must ban- than selling travel or event tickets at a single price, firms don the manufacturing mind-set and attach highest can take advantage of buyers uncertainty about the priority to customers rather than products. The man- future by offering different advance and spot prices. Factoring mind-set leads businesses toward standard- Advance sales can often more than offset a lower price action. Goods are easier to produce in higher quality and give firms the ability to price discriminate. IT has facilitated the automation and mechanized quantity when production is standardized. Thus, manufacturing is built around assembly lines and Zion of service. Traditional e-commerce focused on mass productio n, and success is defined as producing reducing service costs and increasing efficiency by take same good at a lower cost. As manufacturing Effie- inning advantage of the opportunities to automate service science nears its maximum, there is little room for offered by the Internet. However, this approach suffers businesses to differentiate themselves, making it dif- some of the same pitfalls as the manufacturing mindful to profit or find niches in the market. In contrast, set. Selling commodities online at low prices results in better service demands customization, rather than low profit margins due to competition because there is standardization. Each customer should be treated little room for differentiation from competitors. Expectations by many, this e-comply line. Customers varying needs and desires are not mercer strategy has largely failed (recall such losing all satisfied by precisely the same service product or efforts as pets. Com). Instead, a paradigm of e-service is becoming prevalent. Companies such as Dell and service delivery. Productivity and satisfaction are not always mute- Amazon that have succeeded in e- commerce have done ally compatible goals, especially in service firms [5]. O because they have taken advantage of IT to increase Businesses must often choose between the two, at least revenue through improved service rather than simply in terms of primary emphasis. Academic research to reduce costs. Clearly suggests that more attention must be focused on revenue expansion through service, rather than Just on USING SERVICE TO MAKE MONEY productivity and cost reduction. Cutting costs may Service was once thou ght of as an add-on to physical improve short-run profitability at the expense of service goods, an extra that could be used to enhance the and long-run profitability. For example, downsizing value of the product. Today, most of the economy may reduce costs but have a detrimental effect on cuss- consists of services, rather than physical goods. To a tome service, as remaining employees are spread too large extent, physical goods are now seen as part of the thin. Thus, while costs may be reduced, decreased cuss- overall service. Table 2 shows some of the elements of tome distraction may impose long-run losses in cuss- the paradigm shift from transactional to relationship tome loyalty and future patronage. Whereas previous marketing. The emphasis is now on the value off 52 continuing customer relationship, rather than the value of any individual sale. The inherently high variability in service presents an opportunity even in the goods sector. Although the goods themselves are increasingly commoditized, service levels can vary greatly. Instead of struggling to achieve profit through cost savings in the production process, goods companies can use service to set themselves apart from competition hat is virtually indistinguishable from a manufacturing standpoint. IT decreases the cost of service. This naturally presents an opportunity to profit from cost savings, but it also offers the chance to expand revenues by providing better service to customers at the individual level. Although service improvements bear short-run costs, they allow firms to attract and retain customers and build long-term relationships. Customer loyalty lit- completed because a dissatisfied customer represents a potential loss of future business. Firms can also use IT to identify valuable but potentially threatened customer TRANSFORMING COMPANIES The service revolution is changing the way companies do business. As physical goods increasingly become commodities, goods companies find it increasingly difficult to stay profitable. Service allows companies to escape the commodity trap by providing a means for businesses to differentiate themselves from the competition. Instead of relying on profits from individual transactions, service allows companies to build relationships with customers, using these relationships to enhance long-term revenue. Stead of relying on profits from individual transactions, service allows companies to lid relationships with customers, using these relationships to enhance long-term revenue. Mutely leads to a lifetime of sales from which a company can profit. Service also opens the door to improvements in customer satisfaction. Companies should focus on meeting the varied needs and expectations of individual customers, keeping in mind the caveat that some customers may not be profi table to serve. Higher levels of customer satisfaction can be achieved with customization, increasing customer lifetime value through greater willingness to pay, frequency of purchase, and probability of repurchase. Customer equity, the discounted future cash flow that will be obtained from the firms customers [89], is a very good proxy for the total market capitalization of the firm. Viewing the health of the business in terms of customer equity makes it possible for the firms strategic decisions to have greater financial accountability [88]. Research has taught us that companies should care more about their lifetime relationship with customers rather than standalone transactions. Thus, companies are concerned not only with the loss of a single transaction with a given customer, but with the loss of al potential future transactions with that customer. Service improvements can be justified by increased customer equity, driven by an increased ability to attract and retain customers. Companies have a compelling reason to fix problems even after a transaction has been To survive and thrive, every business must become a service business. Research shows the focus on goods, tangible resources, and transactions has been replaced by an emphasis on service, intangible resources, and relationships [108]. In this new dominant logic, service, not goods, has become the fundamental economic exchange. Consequently, focus has also shifted from the reducer to the consumer, who is now endowed with more power than ever before. Despite the need, it can be difficult to convert locked into the manufacturing mind-set, still focusing on cost reduction through efficiency improvement rather than revenue expansion through improved service and customer relationships. However, businesses embracing the service revolution are finding success and profitability where others are failing. Companies that fail to invest in service run the risk of falling prey to competition. THE FUTURE OF SERVICE Computing and IT provide a particularly strong support for a shift toward service by applying information and tools to facilitate communication and build customer relationships [90]. As the capacity to gather and process information grows, companies can use their new knowledge to offer customized service. 3 Thus, with more information available to improve service, information-driven service becomes necessary for customer satisfaction and profitability. Many businesses have focused on cost reductions made possible by technology, but concentrating only on cost savings is an outmoded vestige of the production mind-set, from which companies must escape to succeed. Academic research indicates that tunnel vision n productivity and efficiency can drive unintended servic e quality erosion, which may hurt revenues and profits despite cost savings. Instead, companies should utilize IT to expand revenues through better service as well as to cut costs via automation. Real-time communication with customers is becoming easier and more affordable. Companies can quickly identify customers desires, guide them to products that meet their needs, and provide the necessary level of service. Additionally, firms can promptly detect and fix customer problems, again increasing customer satisfaction and building long-term relationships. Companies are learning from relationships with their customers. Using computer databases in conjunction with information collected through surveys, businesses can better understand customer attitudes, perceptions, and behavior. Armed with this new knowledge, businesses can design and improve service to ensure long-term profitability. Finally, service gives firms a new tool for financial accountability. Customer equity is a measure of future return on investment for service improvements or any other business improvement. In addition, customer equity enables companies to compare prospective returns on investment from competing service strategies. A complete bibliography of the literature used in the course of preparing the articles for this special section on services science is available on page 33. Roland T. Rust ([emailprotected] Mud. Du) holds the David Bruce Smith Chair in Marketing and is executive director of the Center for Excellence in Service and Chair of the Department of Marketing, at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Carol MIM ([emailprotected] Mud. Du) is a doctoral student at Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.

10 Lead Element Facts (Pb or Atomic Number 82)

10 Lead Element Facts (Pb or Atomic Number 82) Lead is a heavy metal you encounter in everyday life in solder, stained glass windows, and possibly your drinking water. Here are 10 lead element facts. Fast Facts: Lead Element Name: LeadElement Symbol: PbAtomic Number: 82Atomic Weight: 207.2Element Category: Basic Metal or Post-Transition MetalAppearance: Lead is a metallic gray solid at room temperature.Electron Configuration:  [Xe] 4f14  5d10  6s2  6p2Oxidation State: The most common oxidation state is 2, followed by 4. The 3, 1, 1-, 2-, and 4- states also occur. Interesting Lead Element Facts Lead has atomic number 82, which means each lead atom has 82 protons. This is the highest atomic number for the stable elements. Natural lead consists of a mixture of 4 stable isotopes, although radioisotopes also exist. The element name lead comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for the metal.  Its chemical symbol is Pb, which is based on the word plumbum, the old Latin name for lead.Lead is a considered a basic metal or post-transition metal. It is a shiny blue-white metal when freshly cut, but oxidizes to a dull gray in air. It is a shiny chrome-silver when melted. While lead is dense, ductile, and malleable like many other metals, several of its properties are not what one would consider metallic. For example, the metal has a low melting point (327.46  oC)  and is a poor conductor of electricity.Lead is one of the metals that was known to ancient man. It is sometimes called the first metal (although the ancients also knew gold silver, and other metals). Alchemists associated the metal with the planet Saturn and quested for a way to transmute lead into gold. Over half the lead produced today is used in lead-acid car batteries. While lead does occur (rarely) in nature in its pure form, most of the lead produced today comes from recycled batteries. Lead is found in the mineral galena (PbS) and ores of copper, zinc, and silver.  Lead is highly toxic. The element primarily affects the central nervous system. It is particularly dangerous to babies and children, where lead exposure can stunt development. Lead is a cumulative poison. Unlike many toxins, there really is no safe exposure level to lead, even though it is present in many common materials.Lead is the only metal which exhibits zero Thomson effect. In other words, when an electrical current is passed through a sample of lead, heat is neither absorbed nor released.While modern scientists can readily distinguish most elements, it used to be difficult to tell lead and tin apart because the two metals share so many similar properties. So, for a long time the two elements were considered to be different forms of the same metal. The ancient Romans referred to lead as plumbum nigrum, which means black lead. They called tin plumbum candidum, which means bright lead. Wood pencils have never actually contained lead, even though lead is soft enough it could be used for writing. Pencil lead is a type of graphite the Romans called  plumbago, which means act for lead. The name stuck, even though the two materials are different. Lead is, however, related to graphite. Graphite is a form or allotrope of carbon. Lead belongs to the carbon family of elements.There are countless uses for lead. Because of its high corrosion resistance, the ancient Romans used it for plumbing. While this sounds like a dangerous practice, hard water forms scale inside pipes, lessening exposure to the toxic element. Even in modern times, lead solder has been common for welding plumbing fixtures. Lead has been added to gasoline to reduce engine knock, to face paints and paints used for toys and buildings, and even in cosmetics and foods (in the past) to add a sweet flavor. It is used to make stained glass, leaded crystal, fishing sinkers, radiation shields, bullets, scuba weig hts, roofing, ballasts, and statues. While once common as a paint additive and pesticide, lead compounds are less commonly used now because of their lingering toxicity. The sweet taste of the compounds makes them attractive to children and pets. The abundance of lead in the Earths crust is  14 parts per million by weight. The abundance in the solar system is  10 parts per billion by weight.

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED ABOUT PHILOSOPHY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED ABOUT PHILOSOPHY - Essay Example Philosophy has been in existence with the coming of the first human being, and was present even before the ancient civilisations of Greece, China, India Egypt, and Mesopotamia had come into being. It started when the first man questioned ‘what is life?’, and slowly took a definite shape, as this questioning initially entered the realms of religious traditions and mythical aspects; then evolved further to become abstract in nature (initially wisdom was more religion oriented, and the philosophers/high priests were held in high esteem, thought to be in direct connotation with the Supreme Being, and thus not questioned by the common people, out of fear and reverence). Later, came the more secular thinkers (that is, philosophy which is not anti-religious in nature; but merely independent of religion), in and around 6th BC, that based their questions on reason and observation, rather than religion and tradition. It was then that philosophy took on a more humanistic form and a ppeal, and came down from the abode of the high priests and the Almighty God, to touch the lives of all the common people. These secular thinkers were thus the first true philosophers, the first seekers of true wisdom. Thus we can say that philosophy in its early form can be said to be a sort of inquiry that was secular in nature, and based on reason and logic. Some of the early well known thinkers were Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, sages from the ancient Hindu philosophy, and Buddha. Middle-ages philosophy saw the replacement of religion by science, and soon two branches of philosophy came into existence which soon separated from the mainstream philosophy; mathematics and science (referred to as the ‘natural philosophy’ till the late nineteenth century). Modern day philosophy deals with questions that fall beyond the scope of these two branches of sciences and cannot be solved by them. Well known philosophers from the middle ages