The Deadly Hazard of Avalanches

The Deadly Hazard of Avalanches Avalanches have always occurred in the mountainous regions of the world. With the growth of winter-time recreations, fatalities have been on the rise since the 1950s. Avalanches claim over 150 lives each year worldwide and hundreds more are injured or trapped following an avalanche. Ninety percent of all avalanches occur on moderate slopes with an angle of 30Â ° to 45Â ° (snow tends not to accumulate on steeper slopes). Avalanches occur when the gravity pushing the collection of snow at the top of the slope is greater than the strength of the snow itself. A change in temperature, a loud noise, or vibrations are all that are necessary to trigger one of these snowfalls that begin at a starting zone. The avalanche continues downslope along the track and ultimately the avalanche fans out and settles in the runout zone. What Country Gets the Most Avalanches? Internationally, the Alpine countries of France, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy experience the greatest number of avalanches and loss of life annually. The United States ranks fifth worldwide in avalanche danger. The states of Colorado, Alaska, and Utah are the most deadly. Avalanche Prevention and Control Avalanche prevention and mitigation involves a variety of methods. Snow fences are built to prevent the buildup of snow in starting zones, structures are built to stabilize snow. deflecting walls are built to divert avalanche flows away from buildings and even entire towns. Sheds build across roadways that pass through persistent avalanche paths can help to protect motorists from avalanches. Additionally, the reforestation of slopes with trees helps to prevent avalanches. Sometimes avalanche control experts actually desire to create smaller, controlled avalanches to prevent larger, uncontrolled ones. Percussion guns, explosives, and even artillery have been used to produce these controlled avalanches when people are kept away. Although a variety of recreationists spend time in snow-covered mountains - snowmobilers are those most often killed by avalanches in the U.S. Most avalanches in the U.S. occur during the months January, February, and March and on average, 17 are killed annually nationwide. Backcountry explorers are strongly advised to not only know how to identify avalanche hazard areas but also to carry an avalanche beacon/transceiver and a shovel in case of emergency.

4 Ways to Improve Your Resume

4 Ways to Improve Your Resume No matter how good your resume or C.V., it can always be better. Try the following four strategies to bump yours up into the category of greatness, and see if you can’t land that dream job. 1. Make it skim-ableEase of reading is key. Organize your document so that the hiring manager can find the information they need without effort or strain of any kind. Work hardest on the headers, eliminate unnecessary verbiage, and concentrate on putting the most important and relevant information in the first five words of each description. The faster they can get the gist of how great you are, the better.2. Tailor to the jobYes, tailoring each resume you send to the particular position is a pain- and requires a ton of extra work, but it’s a great habit to get into. It’s more important to do this than to have one resume that is formatted beautifully and fits perfectly on to one page. Figure out what the hiring manager wants from a candidate, and do your best to present yourse lf specifically in that light.3. Make it mobileWe never used to have to think about how our perfectly formatted resume would read on a smart phone or a PDA. This is, however, the world we live in now. Double check how your files open on these mobile devices and alter accordingly to make sure you’re not shortchanging yourself if a hiring manager reads your application on the run.4. Go liveMake a website for yourself for job search purposes. It doesn’t need to include much more than your resume, but it’s always useful to have a direct link in case a file is unreadable on one device or computer or the other. It’s also a very useful way to encourage people to look at your portfolio- without being asked for it directly.Endless tinkering of your resume is not the idea here. Just make sure you’re firing on all cylinders, then update it, and let it go. Get out there and get the job!

Online vs Traditional Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Online vs Traditional Education - Essay Example This paper draws a comparison and contrast between online education and traditional education. Online education and traditional education are similar in the syllabus and course structure but differ in the styles and patterns of communication between the students and instructors, flexibility in terms of schedule, extent of learning and development of skills, and the overall cost both for the school and the students. Communication on online education is very different from the way it is in traditional education. In online education, conversation is made through the exchange of messages. Messages are exchanged via keyboard, so typing errors are common to occur. Although online communication is a fairly effective means of communication, yet it is subjected to a lot of challenges. For example, the communicating parties may be interrupted in the middle of communication if the internet connection breaks. There is a lot of uncertainty in online communication. One never knows when the compute r starts malfunctioning or is attacked by a virus. However, when the computer is functioning properly and everything is set, communication is not only instant and effective, but is also time saving and cost effective. Nevertheless, a research conducted by SRI International found that â€Å"[o]n average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction† (Bits, 2009). On the contrary, traditional education provides an individual with frequent opportunities of socializing with peers. Students get to meet one another on daily basis. They make gossip, share views and discuss ideas both pertinent to the school education and other social and political matters. Such group discussions are very informative. Students get to learn about new opportunities. â€Å"Traditional college students are between the ages of 18-21 and benefit from the social atmosphere that a normal college campus provides† (Carron, 2006). The face to face interaction with peers and teachers has also many psychosocial benefits for the students. It inculcates confidence in the students and enhances their emotional intelligence so that they are more prepared to play their constructive role in the society in general and in the workplace in particular. Online education provides an individual with much more flexibility than the traditional education. Students that take online courses are provided with the facility to work along with carrying on their studies. Many students with great potential are not able to continue their studies just because they are not able to afford the fee and other expenses associated with education. Online education brings students back to the world of academia by providing them with flexible schedules. The students can adjust their studies according to their work schedule rather than having to adjust their work schedule according to their studies. Thus, an individual having online education is more empowered as c ompared to the students of traditional education. The freedom online education offers enables the students to optimize on their time management skills. â€Å"[S]elf-paced, independent learners are usually more disciplined in terms of preparation and time management† (Sanders, 2011). On the other hand, schedules in the traditional

The argument in The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith depends on the Essay - 1

The argument in The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith depends on the possibility of failure. Why is this so What implications does this have - Essay Example Smith has based his theories about opulence on the general principle that man is not by nature a benevolent creature but is rather motivated by self interest to seek the best benefits for himself, it also follows that viewed from the other side of the coin, such actions to promote himself and improve his own welfare arise out of a reluctance to fail. The extent of man’s industriousness and motivation are dependent upon the depths to which he expects to fall if he fails. Smith’s views were offered in the context of mercantilism where a protectionist policy on trade and a free market was preferred, under the mistaken notion that wealth could be preserved within the boundaries of rich nations only by preventing free trade. Smith contested the prevalent views that stated â€Å"England would soon be ruined by trade with foreign countries† and that â€Å"in almost all our commercial dealings with other nations, we are losers†, leading to the assumption that England would be drained of her wealth through such trade and this would lead to poverty.(Smith, 1775: I:18) Therefore the policy of protectionism was mooted by those who were afraid of failure and loss of the wealth and riches they had accrued. Smith on the contrary believed that money was not consumable and that the consumption of goods was the greatest source of wealth and also the source of man’s industry which led to additional wealth. Therefore, his views rebutted the belief that indulging in a free trade of goods would produce failure in that it would lead to a loss of wealth. He argued that inspite of the arguments that had been advanced by political writers for decades that â€Å"in a few years we would be reduced to an absolute state of poverty† , the realities of a system of free trade and exchange between nations actually demonstrated that rather than the feared loss of money actually coming through, â€Å"we find ourselves far richer than before.† (Smith, 1776, I:19). Therefore Smith’s arguments

What is your reflection on the role of design in business Essay

What is your reflection on the role of design in business - Essay Example Designers create the value of a business in several ways as discussed in this paper. These days, companies are investing a lot in understanding the needs of their customers. They adopt different kinds of strategies including feedback and surveys to retrieve information from the customers. Companies incur a lot of cost in introducing a new product in the market and if it doesn’t do well, it can be a potential threat to the business. It is for the designers to create the aesthetics and the functionality of the product in due accordance with the needs and desires of the customers. Design processes assess the challenges and propose solutions by understanding the needs of the customers, building information from a myriad of sources and using it in a meaningful manner (Rutter, 2008). Thus, designers have a big role in the successful functionality of a new product or strategy developed by a company. One of the most common reasons which cause the innovation to fail is that it is made before it is required. â€Å"Design is a process of synthesizing insights into a tangible offering in a way that addresses the goals of the company and the desires of consumers† (Sawhney and Prahalad, 2010). Companies that are able to show such a performance manage to integrate the design into the culture. Good design boosts a product’s market value and improves the brand image (dmi.org, 2006). In the past, a lot of brands that have been the leaders of the design have also been the top brands of the world. Design creates the brand image and shapes its experiences of tribal belongingness and luxury. Customers buy their products because they see their thoughts and imaginations materialized in them. Advertisement of the product is just one aspect of the product’s marketing and may not always return favorable results. It is fundamentally the product’s design that plays a decisive role in its public endorsement. Concluding, with the passage of time,

Gabriel Oak Essay Example for Free

Gabriel Oak Essay Thomas Hardy wrote the characters of Bathsheba Everdene and Fanny Robin with specific attributes and details. Both women have similarities and differences that either directly influence each other or other characters. The Victorian class system in the 1870s (which is where Far from the Madding crowd is based) had four distinct classes. Two of those were the upper working class and the lower [working class]. Bathsheba would have probably become upper working or middle, when she inherited the farm. We can see that Bathsheba regards herself as being higher up in the social order, from the first time we see her in the book, by the way she treats Gabriel Oak. (QUOTE (Gabriel Oak giving her money for the gate). ) This expresses her individuality and the way she respects those in a lower class to her, or those she wishes to impress her social stature on. The nobility in the 1870s didnt mix with those lower than them, although they did have responsibility for their workers. For instance, when Fanny Robin goes missing, Bathsheba is worried and concerned about her whereabouts. (QUOTE. Bathsheba asking everyone to keep an eye out for Fanny). Bathsheba has dark hair and bold clothes which represents her personality. As she highlights herself as bold and dark throughout the book (QUOTE). This is in stark contrast to Fanny Robin, who has yellow hair and (QUOTE to describe her appearance). This attire is that of a poor woman and shows that she, aswell as not being able to afford rich clothing, does not have as much esteem as Bathsheba. I think Hardy makes this contrast to show the difference in class and the fact that women are not all the same. (As many men assumed in the 1870s) A strong contrast between Bathsheba and Fanny is highlighted at the beginning of the book. As there is a social hierarchy between the mistress (Bathsheba) and the maid (Fanny) in all households. Bathsheba and Fanny both worked hard for a living. They were both pushed into situations where they were fighting in the wrong class and the wrong sex. For instance Bathsheba inherited a farm and money and had to purport herself as a man at the farmers market. (QUOTE of Bathsheba being at the market) Fanny Robin saw herself becoming the wife of an officer therefore moving herself up in the hierarchy. The Victorian Farming industry was male dominated and therefore Bathsheba was entering a traditionally male world. This allowed her to develop her character from an unpractised girl of Norcombe to a supervising and cool woman. This was noted by Gabriel Oak, who throughout the book acts as another pair of eyes, through which we can see Bathsheba. He speaks of her truthfully and helps the audience understand her and what she is doing. Bathsheba takes on the farming duties because she doesnt want yo fail and is constantly trying to impress herself. Whereas Fanny seems to be desperate just to survive. She was picking up a living of seampstering. By saying picking up I feel that Hardy is trying to express her need to simply get by. Also in the time that this book was written, seampstering was known to be a tough trade, which was very poorly paid, and not a line of work to take up unless it was the last resort. Fannys actions contrast Bathshebas will, not to survive, but to impress. I dont think Bathsheba would have allowed herself to be in such a position to have to take up seampstering, as she had too much pride and many more resources socially. Fanny Robin fits into the 1870s conventions a great deal better than Bathsheba does. I think that this can be related to their childhood and parentage. Convention in the 1870s was very much about women being seen and not heard. It was frowned upon for a woman to converse with strange men. Bathsheba broke this rule as soon as she met sergeant Troy, as she spoke to him and interacted instead of quickly leaving after she was untangled. (QUOTE. Bathsheba meeting Troy and flirting). A woman should always have used a soft voice. Fanny Robin was portrayed as a very quiet woman, and many of the local townsfolk described her as (QUOTE. Her quietness). Bathsheba, however, was very vocal and was able to take charge. For instance, when she took over duties as the bailiff. A woman was never expected to ask anything of a man in the 1870s. Neither Fanny nor Bathsheba fitted this rule totally. In some respects Fanny did, she was very grateful to Gabriel for his help, and wrote a letter of thanks to him (QUOTE. Fannys letter). In other situations Fanny was not as respectable, for instance, she pushed Troy until he finally set a date for their wedding, instead of waiting for him to make his choice. Bathsheba also defies convention when she doesnt thank Gabriel for paying her toll. This shows that she expects Gabriel to do it anyway, and considers herself higher than him. A woman was not to get onto a carriage or a horse. (QUOTE. Of Bathsheba riding horse alone). When Bathsheba rides alone and is, unbeknown to her, seen by Gabriel, she defies all convention. Even if she was alone, a normal Victorian woman would never take the same actions as Bathsheba. Fanny fits almost all convention, and is submissive to men. She would have been a model Victorian woman. This is in contrast to Bathsheba who simply had too much character to be a Victorian woman. For instance she travelled all the way to Bath, on her own, to find Troy. Which in the 1870s would have been unheard of. Bathshebas parents were not typical of the Victorian era. The father himself was (QUOTE. To describe Bathshebas father. ) He had to pretend that he was single so that he didnt have commit adultery to his wife. From this open and modern family, Bathsheba couldnt have been expected to be typical and average. From her parentage she is bold and probably taught not to fit in. Fanny Robin, however, was looked after financially by Boldwood. She was very much closed as a child. The simple fact that she didnt have a strong upbringing implies that she may not have a strong life, or character. The two womens views on marriage are possibly one of the strongest differences between their characters. Bathsheba is quoted to have said I hate to be thought mens property in that way when Gabriel asks her to marry him. This reflects her individuality and a slight insecurity about being tied down with another man. Perhaps because she doesnt know what is round the next corner, and doesnt want to have to be with her husband forever. Fanny Robin was very keen to marry Troy and when she finally had her date set she wrote a letter to Gabriel Oak saying I am happy to say I am going to be married This simple sentence shows the little girl inside Fanny. (That is shown many times during the book). This also shows another contrast between Bathsheba and Fanny. Bathsheba appears to be very much more mature than Fanny. For instance she doesnt like to cry (QUOTE. Bathsheba holding back tears). The rustic characters in Far from the Madding crowd act as narrators throughout the book. They are the comic relief for the audience, and contrast the other characters by having a common view on people like Bathsheba and her family. The other characters such as Liddy, Bathshebas maid, see her as almighty womanish.

Life Experiences Are What Makes a Persons Personality Essay -- essays

Life Experiences Are What Makes a Persons Personality An individuals experiences, past and present provide a significant basis for the type of person they will become. Relationships that are established during childhood and adolescence are important for the shaping of someone's personality, as most personality development occurs in the early stages of life. Experiences that someone must deal with in the present sense also contributes to their personality. Dominick Birdsey in Wally Lambs novel I Know This Much Is True, suffered his entire life experiencing every emotion humanly possible in his current stretch of forty five years. The sad and stressful episodes of his life began to take their toll sending Dominick began to grow into a depression and question his reason for living. Dominick Birdsey, his twin brother Thomas, his mother Connie, and stepfather Ray, "Ray is not our real father. We don't know who our real father is. I don't even know if Ma knows." (91) live in Connecticut. Dominick and Thomas had to form an alliance to stand up to Ray, as he had a tendency to use his belt rather than words to punish. He was extremely strict, clearly in charge of the house, and showed little or no emotion, not even towards his wife. As a child of about eight years old, Ray has Dominick and his brother believing that part of being a man is not showing emotion, so the two grow up as little boys feeling very lonely, resulting in a lonely adulthood. The way Dominick remembers his childhood is feeling obligated to frequently rescue his brother from Ray's abuse. Ray was always much harder on Thomas as he felt he was a mamma's boy and had to be toughened up. "These days they called Ray's kind of 'toughening up' child abuse." (63) D... ...realize that all they have is each other. Ray regrets not expressing love towards both his wife and his sons and vows to grow old with Dominick and be the best father he knows how to be for the remainder of his life. Dominick Birdsey was clearly the stronger twin. All his life, from a child to a middle aged man, he had to take care of someone, namely his brother Thomas. It is very difficult to be constantly giving and getting nothing in return as such was the case with Dominick. Finally, to be showed love by Ray, (the one man who Dominick thought was incapable of love) Dominick accomplished a sense of rest and settlement. Perhaps the reason why Dominick was so strong was because he had to be, as people were dependent on him. His childhood and his everyday battles made him the person that he thought he would never become. He was finally in control of his life.