Wednesday, November 27, 2019

50 Idioms About Talking

50 Idioms About Talking 50 Idioms About Talking 50 Idioms About Talking By Mark Nichol Last week, I offered a roster of synonyms for talk and talking. This list expands on that theme by offering set phrases about talking and their meaning: 1. Beat (one’s) gums: to speak excessively and aimlessly 2. Bull session: a rambling group conversation 3. Chew the fat: to chat 4. Chew the rag: to chat 5. Diarrhea of the mouth: excessive talking 6. Dish out: to deliver critical comments 7. Flap (one’s) lips: see â€Å"beat (one’s) gums† 8. Gift of gab: a propensity for talking 9. (One) likes hear (oneself) talk: said of someone who is egotistical 10. Like talking to a brick wall: said of trying unsuccessfully to persuade or reason with someone 11. Run off at the mouth: see â€Å"beat (one’s) gums† 12. Shoot the breeze: to chat 13. Shoot the bull: to chat 14. Shoot the shit: to chat 15. Spill the beans: to divulge information, or to confess (see confess) 16. Speak out of turn: to say something inappropriate 17. Speak the same language: to be in agreement 18. Spit it out: to speak about something one is reluctant to discuss often used as an imperative 19. Talk a blue streak: to talk quickly and excessively 20. Talk a mile a minute: to speak rapidly 21. Talk around: to avoid (a subject) 22. Talk big: to brag 23. Talk dirty: to try to stimulate someone sexually by speaking provocatively 24. Talk (someone) down: to outdebate someone, guide someone through a difficult maneuver (especially a pilot flying a plane), or to successfully bargain for a better price 25. Talk down to: to speak condescendingly 26. Talk (one’s) ear off: to talk to someone excessively 27. Talk (one’s) head off: to talk excessively 28. Talk in circles: to speak in a confusing or indirect manner 29. Talk in riddles: to speak obscurely or with hints 30. Talk (one) into: to persuade someone 31. Talk on: to continue to speak, or to speak on a certain topic 32. Talk (oneself) out: to speak to the point of exhaustion 33. Talk (one) out of: to dissuade someone 34. Talk out of both sides of (one’s) mouth: to speak inconsistently about something depending on who one is talking to 35. Talk (something) out: to talk about something to reach a consensus or understanding 36. Talk (something) over: see â€Å"talk (something) out† 37. Talk sense: to speak reasonably 38. Talk shop: to speak about work-related issues outside the work environment 39. Talk some sense into: to talk to someone to persuade them to see reason 40. Talk the talk: to speak as if one is an authority or adheres to certain beliefs or values 41. Talk the talk and walk the walk: to act in accord with one’s stated beliefs or values 42. Talk through: to talk about something thoroughly to achieve a resolution 43. Talk through one’s hat: to speak insincerely, to talk nonsense, or to exaggerate 44. Talk to hear (one’s) own voice: to talk excessively, in an egotistical manner 45. Talk tough: to speak in an intimidating manner, or to bluster 46. Talk turkey: to speak frankly and/or with resolve 47. Talk until (one) is blue in the face: to speak exhaustively, especially in an unsuccessful effort to persuade 48. Talk (something) up: to promote something to draw attention to it 49. Talk (one’s) way out of: to say something so as to evade blame or avoid responsibility 50: You should talk: an admonition to avoid expressing oneself hypocritically Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with Heart50 Diminutive Suffixes (and a Cute Little Prefix)The "Pied" in The Pied Piper

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Control essays

Control essays The British new there was riches to be had in the new world. They werent happy with everyone getting a piece of the action. They wanted it all for themselves. In order to ensure that no one else was getting rich they put many rules and regulations on how things were to be done in the colonies. The British wanted to be in control of all trade that was going on though out the world. They started with the Navigation Acts saying at first the ships and crewmembers needed to be either English or Colonial. They later changed that to make it only the English. They set rules such as the Manufacturing Acts on wool and Hats they could not manufacture finish goods. All raw materials had to be shipped to England, and then back to the colonies in finished goods. In 1776 the British imposed the Currency Act, colonies were no longer allowed to have paper money. All because British merchants didnt like the idea. As if that wasnt enough the British were adding one tax after another. The Sugar Act was designed to make sure the sugar went only to England. Ships needed to carry prove of where the sugar came from. The Stamp Act really pissed the colonist off. It was the first internal tax directed right at the colonist. This tax meant that any documents of importance such as newspapers, playing cards, and legal documents needed to have a stamp on them, of course this cost the colonist money. The colonist where very angry, the believed they had helped the British in the French and Indian war, and this was unfair. They revolted in many ways, one being people where tar and feathered. The Townshend Duties Act was another way of getting more for their money out of the colonist. Because they didnt want to pay internal tax, England figured they could get them on external tax on things such as tea, paper, paint, lead, and glass. The colonist decided it was time to stop buying from Great Brita in, and ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

What were the major features of economic change in Europe in the Essay

What were the major features of economic change in Europe in the period 1500-1914 - Essay Example This period also marks a time of population growth which clearly impacted on the economic developments being experienced by many European nations during this time. This paper shall discuss the major features of economic change in Europe in the period of 1500 to 1914. The economic changes in United Kingdom and on Germany shall be highlighted for this paper. Body In general, from 1750 to 1914, economic changes in Europe included the introduction of railroad use in the transport of goods. These railroads also helped usher in urbanization and a continuity of the imperialism goals of Europe with the spread of their trade with other countries and with the expansion of political linkages (North Penn School District, 2002). Within this same time period, major economic changes were also seen, especially with the increase in commercialized activities ushered in by improved methods in the transport of goods. It also marked a time of improved communication, with common activities involving terri torial expansion and exploration (North Penn School Disrict, 2002). Europe’s economic activities also shifted from imperialistic goals to colonization activities as Europeans were now considering expansion as a means of gaining advantage over their competitors. This period also marked a time where the European economy shifted from agricultural activities to industrial activities. Homemade goods became factory made and more raw materials were transported from their various colonies. This led to a significant increase in their production of food, clothing, and other products. The motivation to expand at this time was a major goal for Europe and these goals also shifted towards the acquisition of more lands. The colonies also became major sources of raw materials for Europe and as such, Europe was able to rise as a major global economic power. Its attention now shifted from imperialistic to colonialist goals. And this shift in goals was seemingly dictated by its access to mercan tile goals (North Penn School District, 2002). Due to these shift in goals, Europe was able to concentrate its activities toward more industrial goals, expanding its economic activities beyond the ability to feed its population. As a result, it became a major player in trading with its neighbours and with the rest of the world. Two major events were seen from the 1500 to 1914 in Great Britain. This period saw the birth of Industrial Revolution and the manifestation of Demographic Transition (Clark and Cummins, 2009). The Industrial Revolution marked a time of rapid economic growth and the introduction of new innovations. Before the Industrial Revolution, the concern of the governments was to increase population, not to improve their lives. Before the industrial revolution, the higher income population had higher overall fertility rates. Without the industrial revolution, an even greater increase in the population would have been seen (Clark and Hamilton, 2006). Eventually, in Englan d, increased rates in marriage became apparent in the 1890s, however, substantial decrease in fertility rates were seen with the introduction of industrial activities. Hence, the focus of the people and of the government was turned towards decreasing population growth. After 1910, the focus also was turned towards improving the lives of the people – their standards of living – and this saw further possibilities for Britain in improving the potential of the population for more scholarly work (Clark and Cummins, 2009). The Demographic Transition Period was seen from 1870 to 1910. This marked a general decline in net fertility. What was started during the industrial revolution manifested during the period of demographic transition (Clark a

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

A piece of writing of Graphene Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A piece of writing of Graphene - Essay Example The interesting thing about graphene is that it has huge power along with adequate electrical conductivity and elasticity. Graphene is actually a significantly huge aromatic molecule. Graphite can get its crystalline form by combining a number of sheets of graphene together. Graphene is regarded as the most fundamental structural component of a few carbon allotropes. For example, graphene lays the basis of graphite, fullerenes, charcoal, etc. The discovery of graphene has immense significance as various new possibilities of research in the area of physics have opened up. Researches in graphene have also helped in opening up huge scopes of its application in high-tech fields. Graphene is considered to be one of the most potential and adaptable components that have ever discovered in the area of physics. (Geim; 2009; Sakamoto 2009). The production of Graphene: Graphene can be separated from graphite as an isolated plane of carbon atoms. People now know that a minute portion of graphene sheet can be produced by abrading graphite. For example, one can get a tiny piece of graphene sheet when one draws a line on paper with a pencil. (Geim; 2009). During the year of 2008, the production of graphene used to be done by exfoliation. This graphene produced through such exfoliation was considered to be one of the most costly components in this world as this component which so small that can be placed on a tiny portion of the cross section of human hair did costs around as much as $1000 in 2008. Since, 2008, the process of exfoliation has been increased and various companies are now selling graphene in huge amount. Researchers have also discovered cheaper version of graphene (Segal, 2009). For example, Korean researchers have produced cheap graphene through the process of transfer of nickel. Graphene can, in fact, be produced by employing different types of methods. Some of the production processes of graphene are listed below: Producing Graphene through Drawing Method: The drawing method is actually a modified version of exfoliation method. Earlier, in this method, a solid tape was used to repetitively divide crystals of graphite into more thin prices to form graphene. The extremely thin flakes of Graphene then used to be dissolved in liquid acetone and after a few steps they were to be sedimented. Over time, the technique of drawing graphene from graphite has been simplified. Particularly, major modification has been done in the step of disposition. Instead of making graphene floating in acetone, the scientists have started to use the method of dry disposition of flakes. (Geim and Novoselov, 2007) Production through heating silicon carbide: Another popular process of producing graphene is heating silicon carbide at a high temperature in order to reduce it to graphene. In this process silicon carbide is heated at more that 1100 degree centigrade. In this method, the dimension of the graphene produced depends on the dimension of the silicon wafer. The face of the silicon wafer which is utilized for the formation of graphene, has significant capacity to influence the density and the level of mobility of graphene. If graphene is produced using this method, then a number of properties of graphene can clearly be visualized. For example, in the graphene produced through heating silicon carbide a kind of feeble anti-localization of the component can be

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Brewing - Beer Essay Example for Free

Brewing Beer Essay The history of beer dates back hundreds of years prior to written history. Besides water and tea, beer is one of the most-frequently consumed beverages in the world. Contrary to popular belief, that all beers are typically the same, there are many variances in color, flavor, strength, production method, ingredients and origin. Beer can be divided into 2 broad sub-categories: ale and lager. Ales were the first type of beer ever created before brewers knew the role yeast played during the beer making process. Ale yeasts flocculate at the top of the fermentation tank and are brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation. The yeast ferments the beer quickly, which gives it a full bodied and fruity taste. They also contain hops, which gives the bitter herbal flavor that helps balance the sweetness of malt and preserve the beer. After fermentation, ales are usually aged no more than a few weeks or so. Most are served close to room temperature and contain rich aroma and flavor. There are many different types of ales including brown ales, pale ales, dark ales, mild ales, strong ales cream ales, Burton ales, German ales, Belgian ales, and more. Each type of ale differs in color, flavor, strength, and origin. The second type of beer is called a lager, the most popular style of beer in the world. Some have stated that lagers account for 90% of beers consumed across the globe. Many feel that this is attributed to the more watered down lagers produced in the United States. Lager is derived from the word â€Å"lagern† in German, which means, â€Å"to store†. A lager is a type of beer that is brewed using bottom-fermenting yeast at lower temperatures and is aged for a much longer time than ales creating a cleaner, clearer beer. The yeast used in lagers, Saccharomyces Uvarum, produces fewer ester by-products than seen in ales, allowing other flavors, such as hops, to become more noticeable. The range of flavors noticeable in lagers is more limited than ales. They are always going to be hoppy, malty, sweet, or dry. There is nothing wrong with these flavors, but there are fewer variations, which explains why many people insist that all beers taste alike. They are invariably served cold and can pair easily with a wide variety of food. There are some fundamental differences in the way ales and lagers are produced. There are three main discrepancies between the making of ales and lagers: types of yeast, temperature and time, and additional ingredients. In terms of the variances in yeast, ales typically use yeast that ferments at the top of the fermentation tanks. The yeast normally rises to the top closer to the end of fermentation. Also, there are chemicals that are produced in ales, called esters that inhibit a sweeter, fruity taste to the beer. However, in lagers, the yeast used is classified as â€Å"bottom-fermenting† yeast, meaning that the yeast ferments at the bottom of the fermentation tanks. One of the benefits of using bottom fermenting yeast is that brewers can reuse the left over yeast to produce more beer. Unlike the fruity, sweeter tastes of ales, the yeasts used in lagers do not add any flavor to the beer itself. Much of the taste in lagers can be attributed to other ingredients, including malts and hops. The second major differences between the production of ales and lagers are temperature and time. The yeast used in ales usually ferments better in warmer temperatures, usually around room temperature or close to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. One of the benefits of being able to ferment at this temperature is that ales can age and mature faster than lagers. While ales are best produced in warm temperatures, lagers are made primarily in colder temperatures, around 45 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. As stated earlier, lager is derived from the German word â€Å"lagern† meaning to store. Production of lagers is all about the â€Å"lagern† storing process. Lagers have historically been produced in more European countries where the climates are typically colder. The unique combination of cold temperatures and the bottom fermenting yeast, causes lagers to have much more of a mild, crisp taste. Something else that adds to the taste of a beer, are additional ingredients. The last major difference between ales and lagers are there supplementary ingredients. Ales typically have more of a malty taste, due to an elevated amount of hops, malts, and roasted malts that are added during production. Ale brewers, typically have more leeway with how they produce their beer, and tend to add a several different ingredients during brewing, like the ones mentioned above. These extra ingredients are referred to as, adjuncts. Brewers of lagers only have a few, simple ingredients: malted grain, hops, yeast, and water. The production method of lagers is somewhat due to the stringent Reinheitsgebot Law, also known as the â€Å"German beer purity law†. This law prohibits any adjuncts during the brewing process of lagers, only permitting water, barely, and hops as ingredients. Tea and water maybe two of the most consumed beverages in the world, but beer is right behind in a close third. Beer is gradually becoming more and more popular. This is evident through the new trends of beer companies that have begun to accommodate for the new low calorie beer trend. Corona, Heineken, and Anheuser-Busch have led the pack by producing â€Å"Corona Lite†, â€Å"Heineken Lite†, and â€Å"Budweiser Select†. With more and more companies attending to these trends, beer has broadened their target market. Overall, these companies are innovating the deeply historic production of ales and lagers, that will appeal to people now, and into the future. Although there are a variety of differences between ales and lagers, they do share one common trait, which is that people have enjoyed them across the world for centuries upon centuries. Works Cited Eddings, Bryce. Beer Styles 101 All Beers are Either Ales or Lagers. About. com 17 July 2010: n. pag. Web. 5 Nov 2010. http://beer. about. com/od/beerstyles/a/BeerStyles101. htm. Mork, Rachael. Understanding Different Types and Beer Pairings of Beer. Life123 04 March 2010: n. pag. Web. 5 Nov 2010. http://www. life123. com/food/cocktails-beverages/beer/understanding-different-types-of-beer-and-beer-pai.shtml. Thadani, Rahul. Lager vs Ale. Buzzle 29 May 2010: n. pag. Web. 5 Nov 2010. http://www. buzzle. com/articles/lager-vs-ale. html. Rich, Stephen. Ales vs. Lagers. Modern Gentleman 10 July 2010: n. pag. Web. 5 Nov 2010. http://themoderngentleman. ca/2010/ales-vs-lagers/. Viljanen, Susanna. Beer brands,types,styles and brewing. Did You Know? 06 February 2010: n. pag. Web. 5 Nov 2010. http://didyouknow. org/beer/. Zagata, Darlene. Lagers vs Ales. Livestrong 23 December 2009: n. pag. Web. 5 Nov 2010. http://www. livestrong. com/article/67308-lagers-vs-ales/.

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Green Mile by Stephen King :: Movies Film

The Green Mile by Stephen King is the story of man with god-given powers of healing sentenced to death and the change he cause in the prison guards. The themes of compassion and sacrifice can be seen in this novel. The theme of compassion is very much a part of this book. One part especially shows this truth. Percy, a prison guard, crushes a death row prisoner's pet mouse, which the prisoner loved more than life itself. This cruel act displays Percy's extreme lack of compassion and how little he cares about other people. Also, this action blazes the way for another heartless act of ruthlessness. When Percy is scheduled to be the executioner on death row, he "accidentally" does something wrong. Instead of taking the standard precautions to make death by the electric chair swift and painless, his mistake makes the death of Eduard Delacroix go slowly and painfully. After causing this agonizing death, Percy gets what he deserves and is never mentioned again. When a towering black man named John Coffey is sentenced to death by the electric chair, the prison guards assume that he was as guilty as any death row prisoner. But later, they start to believe that he is being punished for a crime which he did not commit. They learn that he was found holding two dead girls and thought to have killed them. The truth was that he was trying to use his god-given gift of healing to save the murdered children. The prison guards made it their mission to keep John Coffey from experiencing the cruel death which so many before had faced. They had a plan for Coffey's salvation all worked out. Surprisingly, when they asked Coffey if he wanted to escape, he replied that he could not stand all the misery and hate going on in the world, and that he wanted to die.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Mobile Repair

1. Mobiles basic Electronics Electrical parameters – Current, Voltage, Frequency Mobile electronic Components – Resistors, Capacitors, Diodes, Transistors and LEDs Use of Multimeter – Measuring resistance, capacitance, voltage, batteries 2. Mobile Phone Components Mobile Components – Speaker, Mic, Ringer, Vibrator, Charging Connector, Memory, Antenna Batteries – Types of batteries, Standby time, Talk time. Chargers. 3. Mobile Basic Introduction GSM / CDMA Technology Basic Working Different terms used in mobile phones – Bluetooth, SMS, Memory Cards Different services – GPRS, WAP, 2G, 3G Different Functions – Speed dialing, Call waiting, Call conference etc. 4. Basic Troubleshooting Tools used for opening mobile Phones Disassemble and Assembly of Mobile Phones. L2 Components testing, troubleshooting and replacement – Display, Speakers, Mic, Vibrators, ringers, Antennas, charging connector. Cleaning method of PCB. Replacement of panels. 5. Advance Mobile Hardware Different sections in mobile phone – PFO section, RF section, Baseband section Introduction to Various ICs and electronic components. – PA, Antenna switch, RAM IC, Cobb, Power IC, Charging IC, CPU (MAD / UPP),filers, Thavo IC, etc. Soldering/desoldering of mobile components. Using blower for removing mobile components. Study of Block diagram and PCB pictorial. Tracing and trouble shooting through circuit diagram. 6. Software Introduction Introduction to personal computers. Software features like downloading thru bluetooth, data backup etc. Connecting Mobile with PC. Introduction of flashing and software upgrades. 7. Software World Class Unlockers Flashing and unlocking with UFS – Nokia Flashing and unlocking with JAF – Nokia Flashing and unlocking with Cruiser – Sonyericsson Flashing and unlocking with Infinity – China and unlocking Flashing and unlocking with NSpro – Samsung Flashing and unlocking with Spiderman – China Flashing and unlocking with Setool2 – Sony Flashing and unlocking with Ultima box – Motorola Flashing and unlocking with Smart Clip – Motorola 8. Software Free Unlockers Unlocking Apple – iphone free ODM Unlockers Unlock HTCXDA Pocket PC Samsung Rocker software Nokia BB5 Unlocker MS-Tool Unlocker for Motorola Siemens Unlocker And many more†¦.. 9. Faults and Solutions – Hardware (L1 / L2 / L3) Circuit diagrams and PCB diagrams showing faults and solutions for Nokia, Motorola, Sony, LG, Samsung. Jumper Settings – Nokia, Sony, Motorola, LG, Samsung and China Phones

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Internship Final Paper

Gulf Overseas is a recruitment and Manpower outsourcing organization that offers professional domestic services. They deal with daily or post construction cleaning. They recruit cleaning staff that have specialized in different cleaning and organizing tasks that cover the sitting rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and even mosques. They guarantee quality-cleaning services from the team of dedicated cleaners at the preferred regular intervals the client will request. To ensure they maintain the same level of quality their staff will supervise the work regularly. Gulf Overseas provides the various kinds of skilled workers required to run homes and small businesses at the best rates while ensuring quality performance of the tasks. Gulf Overseas operates a well-established network of national offices that serves local, national and international organisations in all market sectors. The company provides placement opportunities aimed at successfully matching the requirements of our wide range of customers with those of the candidate’s choice of career. A board of management based at the head office runs the company. The board comprises of the General Manger, Finance Manager, Human Resources Manager, Operations Manager and Sales Manager. Team leaders, a majority of whom have grown through the various posts, run the satellite offices. In order to maintain its pole position in the industry the offices fall into three regions each with a Regional Sales Head. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) links the head office to the offices. The management has acquired state-of-the-art equipment to enable fast and efficient services to the clientele. Job Description: Intern-Human Resources Representative The role holder will assist the company achieve maximum profitability and growth within an assigned region by effectively selling the company’s services. Main functions: ââ€" ª Secures orders from new and existing clients through a relationship- based method ââ€" ª Assists clients to select the services that best suit them ââ€" ª Select the right candidates to be employed ââ€" ª Revise different types of training needed and to whom Details of functions ââ€" ª Sets up and sustains business relations with new and existing clients ââ€" ª Contacts, visits and conducts presentations to clients ââ€" ª Researches sources for new customers and determines their potential ââ€" ª Develops written proposals for clients ââ€" ª Expedites the resolving of customer complaints ââ€" ª Evaluates the market’s potential and establishes the value of potential and existing customers to the company ââ€" ª Organizes sales effort with the assistance of other core departments ââ€" ª Makes and manages a customer value plan for existent customer and hire towards customers desires (Regarding type of house keep etc) ââ€" ª Recognizes the benefits and links them to the company’s servicesââ€" ª Formulates and manages a sales strategy for the concerned market segment ââ€" ª Makes and supplies written and oral reports to the management ââ€" ª Keeps track of any internal and external changes that may affect the company’s offerings in the market ââ€" ª Takes part in exhibitions and trade shows Educational background: enrolled for a degree course or graduated within the last year with a degree in field of internship. Other qualifications: demonstrate aptitude in problem solving, capacity to establish solutions for customers. Must be results-oriented and able to work with minimum supervision and in a team environment Skills required: ââ€" ª Excellent communication, negotiation and organisational skills ââ€" ª Familiarity with MS Office Suite Applications ââ€" ª A valid driving license Schedule: 45 hours in a week Remuneration: a monthly salary of $250 1. WRITTEN REPORT ON TRAINING EXPERIENCE Benchmarking (Week 1): The intern-sales representative role aims at giving the role holder hands on experience at the workplace while practicing what he/she has learned in class. The intern is required to meet the set weekly target of two new clients who require the cleaning services. This accumulates to the monthly target where the management rewards the best performers. Interviews (Week 2): The Human Resources Manager, the Operations Manager and the Regional Sales Head conduct the interviews for these positions. The interviews last between fifteen to twenty minutes and cover personal attributes, educational background, work experience and situational analysis. They then contact successful candidates in a week, after which they embark on a training program before starting on their duties Compensation, staffing and bonus (Week 3): Gulf Overseas regularly receives applications and recruits for the various positions at the office level. The company pays its employees and interns on the 28th of every month. It also offers a comprehensive medical insurance cover for all engaged employees. To encourage high performance the company offers bonuses at the end of each year. Exit Interviews (Week 4): Gulf Overseas conducts exit interviews at the end of the internship period. Some of the things that they wish to know include whether the intern’s career goals have been met, what new skills has the intern acquired, what theoretical concepts has the intern practiced in the period, any positive and negative features in the period and suggestions for improving future programs. To vision such targets they sit the intern down as one of the panel, and he/she interviews a few interviewees.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Agent-Assisted Publishing An interview with IPSO Books

Agent-Assisted Publishing An interview with IPSO Books Agent-Assisted Publishing: Interviewing Robert Caskie from IPSO Books We started Reedsy around a year ago, thinking mostly about independent authors and hoping to give them, through our marketplace, access to a range of talent that has so far been exclusive to traditional publishing companies.Along the way, however, many different players have come to know about Reedsy, and agencies are one of them - and a very exciting one at that. While the role of the agent is often questioned in an increasingly disintermediated industry, we personally believe agents remain a key link in the publishing chain.Because agencies  are closest to the author, and have their best interests at heart, they are not afraid of the digital â€Å"disruption†. Some, like Peters Fraser Dunlop in London even see it as an opportunity to be seized. That is what agent-assisted publishing is all about.If you’re interested in digital publishing, this interview is a must-watch. It is, as of yet, one of the most innovative and thoroughly-developed propositions we have seen for a digital imprint. As usual, unconditional lovers of the written word will find the transcript of the key moments right below. Hi Robert, thank you so much for welcoming us in Peters Fraser Dunlop offices here in London, they’re really lovely! For our readers who don’t know about PFD, can you give us a bit of background on the agency?It’s lovely to have you, Ricardo. We’re one of the longest established and biggest agencies in London at the moment, and we represent a whole range of writers. We also have literary estates, which is one of the reasons we came towards digital publishing. We own and partially own mainly crime estates, and it’s through the interest of exploiting them further that we came to form IPSO.You’re a senior agent here at PFD and you’re also COO of the company, right?That’s correct, yes. I came to join PFD 8 years ago, and brought a list at that time a list of mainly journalists and fiction authors. Over the years I increased in seniority and four years ago I was made the COO, which basically means my role is to try to manage as effi ciently as possible the different roles of the company. I try to make sure everybody is happy, working hard, and generally try to create a positive work environment where everybody achieves the best they can.I try to do that too at Reedsy. But let me dive right into why we are here: PFD is about to launch their own digital publishing (or agent-assisted publishing) imprint: IPSO books. What was your thinking behind that?At the start of the year we were looking at these estates that we represent, like Eric Ambler, Margery Allingham and John Creasy, and we were seeing quite clear passion. There were traditional print publishers who, out of a collection of maybe 20 books, liked maybe 5, which they made into print, then they made 10 as ebooks, and then there’s a lot remaining which we believe is of equal quality. And still, I think, with print publishers, the ebook is the poor cousin of the print edition†¦So we thought we would take control of this, in a very agenting sort o f way, and we would be much more proactive. So we thought: why not, essentially, â€Å"assist† these estates in creating a higher profile for content that is not being exploited, but also so this can feed into the other print editions and other editions of the book. This is where I think we might be different from a digital publisher, because what we’ll be doing here (and we will be doing this for front-list authors as well), is we promote all books written in all editions.So we will have our digital publishing, or agent-assisted publishing arm called IPSO, and we will obviously promote IPSO books, but we will also promote other books by other publishers, even in print and in foreign language. We want to promote the brand of the author rather than just the books that we have.Obviously for the price promotions, we meet directly with Amazon, iBooks. We go in and talk about what we’ve got coming up. This week for example we’ve got Eric Ambler books as  "book of the week† both on Amazon and iBooks†¦ I think that because we have dealt with them previously through White Glove, which was the agent aspect of Amazon, we now have a good relationship with the retailers. That’s really important because I think iBooks, for example, are much more editorially-led so they like to choose books that they read and like.Alright, now to close this interview, I’d like to ask a more general question on the role of the agent moving forward. How do you see it, do you think it’s still going to be mostly about selling rights, or is there going to be more coaching, advising, or even publishing and marketing?I think for us the past few years have definitely redefined that author-agent relationship and made it much more symbiotic and much more equal. From what I see with IPSO we are actively and actually investing in an author before we make any money. I think that’s a very exciting prospect, and I am confident that th is will lead perhaps to much more interesting and much more varied content.Of course, we will continue to sell to publishing houses. Most publishers - all publishers - do certain things extremely well. But I think maybe the ebook is something that publishers have shied away from a little bit and don’t quite know what to do with, so I think that for agents, helping the author with that is a good opportunity. That will still potentially lead the author to a print publisher as well, and why not, we’d be very happy with that. So I think it’s just empowering the author at an earlier stage.I definitely think so, and that’s why I find this initiative so interesting. I think you’ve shown here at PFD a tremendous capacity to innovate and be creative about publishing, and I’m really happy to have been able to interview you for our blog, Robert.What are your thoughts about agent-assisted publishing initiatives? How does the IPSO  Books proposition sound? Let us know your thoughts, or any questions for Robert, in the comments below!

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Astronomy from Prehistory to Galileo

Astronomy from Prehistory to Galileo Astronomy and humanitys interest in the sky are almost as old as the history of intelligent life on our planet. As civilizations formed and spread across the continents, their interest in the sky (and what its objects and motions meant) grew as observers kept records of what they saw. Not every record was in writing; some monuments and buildings were created with an eye toward a link with the sky. The pyramids in Egypt, for example, not only housed the remains of their Pharaohs, but some were also aligned with certain star patterns and stars. Nearly every culture had a connection to the sky. Everybody also saw their gods, goddesses, and other heroes and heroines reflected in the constellations. The motions of the Sun, Moon, and stars had ritual meaning, and many tales invented during the ancient epochs are still told today. This fascination with sky objects may date back tens of thousands of years, and some primitive art examples, such as the caves at Lascaux, France, have paintings that appear to show constellations and star patterns. Beyond the ritual and sacred perceptions of the sky, however, people were moving from a simple awe of the sky to an understanding of the motions of celestial objects. They used a connection between the sky and the seasons, and ways to use the sky to create calendars.  Ã‚   Early Neolithic people are thought to have built Stonehenge in England as a connection to the sky. It seems to have a link to Moonrise and Moonset times throughout the year. Orion Lawlor Using the Sky What most historians find quite interesting today is how humanity moved from merely charting and worshipping the sky to actually learning more about celestial objects and our place in the universe. Theres plenty of written evidence of their interest. For example, some of the earliest known charts of the sky date back to 2300 BCE and were created by the Chinese. They were avid skywatchers, and noted such things as comets, guest stars (which turned out to be novae or supernovae), and other sky phenomena.   The ecliptic is the path that the Sun, Moon and planets appear to follow in the sky throughout the year. The constellations that appear along the ecliptic are called the zodiac constellations. These had special meaning to early astrologers, who used them in rituals and to attempt to predict events. Carolyn Collins Petersen The Chinese werent the only early civilizations to keep track of the sky. The Babylonians first charts date back to a couple of thousand years BCE, and the Chaldeans were among the first to recognize the zodiac constellations, which is a backdrop of stars through which the planets, Sun, and Moon appear to move. And, although solar eclipses have occurred throughout history, the Babylonians were the first to record one of these spectacular events in 763 BCE.   Explaining the Sky Scientific interest in the sky gathered steam when the earliest philosophers began pondering what it all meant, both scientifically and mathematically. In 500 BCE the Greek mathematician Pythagoras suggested that Earth was a sphere, rather than a flat object. It wasnt long before people such as Aristarchus of Samos looked to the sky to explain the distances between stars. Euclid, the mathematician from Alexandria, Egypt, introduced concepts of geometry, an important mathematics resource in most of the known sciences. It wasnt long before Eratosthenes of Cyrene calculated Earths size using the new tools of measurement and mathematics. These same tools eventually allowed scientists to measure other worlds and calculate their orbits. Aristarchuss calculations on the relative sizes of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. These were done in the 3rd century B.C.E. Public Domain. The very matter of the universe came under scrutiny by Leucippus, and along with his student Democritus, began to explore the existence of the  fundamental particles called atoms. (Atom comes from the Greek word meaning indivisible.) Our modern science of particle physics owes a great deal to their first explorations of the building blocks of the universe.   Our modern attempts to understand the structrure of the atomn (as shown in thise artists concept) are based on ancient Greek explorations of the nature of matter. Science Photo Library/Getty Images Although travelers (particularly sailors) relied on the stars for navigation from the earliest days of Earth exploration, it wasnt until Claudius Ptolemy (more familiarly known simply as Ptolemy) created his first star charts in the year 127 AD that maps of the cosmos became common. He cataloged some 1,022 stars, and his work called The Almagest became the basis for expanded charts and catalogs through the succeeding centuries.   The Renaissance of Astronomical Thought The concepts of the sky created by the ancients were interesting, but not always quite right. Many early philosopher were convinced that Earth was the center of the universe. All else, they reasoned, orbited our planet. This fit well with established religious ideas about the central role of our planet, and humans, in the cosmos. But, they were wrong. It took a Renaissance astronomer named  Nicolaus  Copernicus  to change that thinking. In 1514, he first suggested that Earth actually moves around the Sun, a nod to the idea that the Sun was the center of all creation. This concept, called heliocentrism, didnt last long, as continued observations showed that the Sun was just one of many stars in the galaxy. Copernicus published a treatise explaining his ideas in 1543. It was called  De Revolutionibus Orbium Caoelestium (The Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres). It was his last and most valuable contribution to astronomy.   The status of Copernicus in front of the Jagiellonian University of Krakow, Poland. photo muguette/Getty Images The idea of a Sun-centered universe didnt sit well with the established Catholic church at the time. Even when astronomer Galileo Galilei used his telescope to show that  Jupiter was a planet with moons of his own, the church didnt approve. His discovery directly contradicted the holy scientific teachings. Those were based on the old assumption of human and Earth superiority over all things. Galileos writings were extensive chronicles of his work, although they were suppressed for a time. That would change, of course, but not until new observations and a flourishing interest in science would show the church how wrong its ideas were.   Galileo Galilei began the era of modern astronomy when he turned a telescope to the sky. His actions unleashed events that reverberated into the 20th century. Library of Congress. However, in Galileos time, the telescopes invention primed the pump for discovery and scientific reason that continue to this day.  His contributions and those of other ancient astronomers remain important in modern astronomy. However, for astronomy to advance, it had to move beyond small telescopes and naked-eye observations. The centuries following Galileos lifetime would bring astronomy into its own as a separate scientific discipline. Key Takeaways People have been interested in astronomy as long as they have been able to look up.The first astronomers used the sky as a calendar and time-keeping device, following as the stars changed daily and over the seasons.Cultural interest in the sky led people to associate constellations and certain stars and planets with their gods, goddesses, heroes and heroines.The Greek, Babylonian, Chinese, and other early astronomers began charting the skies.The Greek astronomy was used by the Romans.The first parents of modern astronomer were Copernicus and Galileo. Sources Krupp, E.  Echoes of the Ancient Skies: the Astronomy of ..  Harper Krupp, 1983.Krupp, E. C.  Skywatchers, Shamans Kings: Astronomy and the Archaeology of Power. Wiley, 1997.â€Å"Prehistoric Cave Art Suggests Ancient Use of Complex Astronomy.†Ã‚  ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 27 Nov. 2018, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181127111025.htm.Tang, Yvonne. â€Å"The History of Astronomy.†Ã‚  Home - Curious About Astronomy? Ask an Astronomer, 17 Jan. 2015, curious.astro.cornell.edu/people-and-astronomy/the-history-of-astronomy. Edited and updated by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

An Introduction to the Globalization Debate Essay

An Introduction to the Globalization Debate - Essay Example There are four different types and levels of economic integration. One of the most popular in the post-globalization era and generally perceived of as the first step towards eventual regionalization or the formation of a regional economic bloc is free trade agreements (Held and McGrew, 2003). As Hill (2007) clarifies, within the context of free trade agreements, all types of internal barriers to trade, or the movement of goods and services between member countries, is removed. While in FTAs member country set their own trade and economic policies with non-members, policies towards members are determined by the agreement in question. As far as the impact upon business and market relations is concerned, it is important to clarify that the said level of integration has tremendous benefits for member states and businesses within as it effectively expands the market. At the same time, competition over markets is intensified and, needless to say, if the member states in question are unequa l, this can be a disadvantage. In simpler terms, within the context of NAFTA, Mexican businesses have to compete with U.S. ones over both the regional and the domestic markets without the protection they were once afforded (within the home market) by tariffs, quotas, and subsidies. Custom Unions are a second type and level of integration. Custom union agreements replicate all of the characteristics of FTA’s but take integration one step further through the adoption of common policies towards non-member states. The European Union has its genesis in this type of integration. Taking the concept of economic integration characteristic of customs unions one step further, Common Markets allow the free movement of both labor and capital across national borders. Post-1992 EU is an example of this type of economic integration. Economic Unions, as in post-2002 European Union, constitutes a deep form of economic integration and benefits for member states are quite substantial. Economic Unions possess all the features of Common Markets but are further characterized by economic policy harmonization.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Short Answer Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Short Answer Questions - Essay Example A mental status examination refers to an evaluation of a patient’s reasoning capability level, expressive mood, appearance and speech. Normally, a nurse evaluates the patient’s attitude and willingness to cooperate in answering certain questions. A mental status examination seeks to evaluate the degree and presence of an individual’s mental damage. The reasoning abilities examined engross an individual’s sense of place, time and personality identity, speech, judgement and problem solving. Mental status examination is mostly used on patients suffering from dementia (Fatemi et al., 2008). Tardive Dyskinesia disorder is an illness where an individual experiences involuntary movements particularly in the lower face. Tardive dyskinesia occurs as a severe side effect of taking neuropletics drugs. It occurs when an individual takes these drugs for a long period. The symptoms of this illness include finger movement, jaw singing and tongue thrusting (Australian Government Department of Health, 2015). Pica is an eating condition where an individual persistently eats substances with no nutritional value such as paper at an age that is developmentally unsuitable. It may be mild or may be life threatening (Sane Australia, 2014). This is an illness where individuals recurrently and involuntarily bring up undigested food from the stomach, re-chew it, and either spit it or swallow it back. This is caused by unintentional contraction of abdominal muscles (Sane, 2014). Catatonic disorder is an illness typified by instabilities in motor behaviour that may have either physiological or psychological basis. The most common symptom of this illness is immobility where an individual may have a rigid body position for hours (Reach out, 2014). Amnestic disorder is a psychological illness that engrosses disruption of the memory. This