Bias in the Media essays

Bias in the Media essays News broadcasters have a basic job , that of supplying their viewers with the facts. With this occupation news anchors and reporters can remain seen as human beings, humans with feelings and opinions. However, their job is not to reveal these to the public. Viewers should be able to feel confident that a program will be sharing factual information on subjects and then they will be able to form their own opinions and judgments. Unfortunately with many of todays newsmakers this ideal can not always be made possible. The number of democratic party members is very high in journalism. In fact in a 1996 survey, as reported in a book titled Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News by Bernard Goldberg, a considerable eighty nine percent of journalists voted for Bill Clinton in the presidential election compared to only a forty-three percent vote from the general American population. In particular primary news sources, CNN, CBS, NBC and ABC have long been viewed my many people as possessing and distributing a liberal tone (1). Many viewers are easily swayed to more liberal ways of thinking due to the structure of the reporting by these newscast stations. Many viewers however can realize that the women and men of television are political partisans. They take the facial expressions, aside comments and tone of voice, used by these professionals light heartedly and it has been accepted. However it becomes unaccepted when their political opinions bring about falsities delivered to the public as facts. On September 8th of this year CBS news anchor, Dan Rather, reported documents concerning President George W. Bushs Air National Guard service during his nightly show 60 minutes. Details of the documents included that Bush had been receiving requested special treatment in order to avoid his service commitments. Mr. Rather spent most of the following week defending his sources and the l...

Rainbows and Blue Skies

Rainbows and Blue Skies Introduction When we look around, there are many questions one would want to ask. Although most of the answers are found through academic approaches, the truth is that the broadness of this discipline makes it challenging to exhaust every natural phenomenon. Among the many questions asked is the explanation for the color of the sky. Have you ever imagined why the sky is not another color but blue? Is it natural or there are contributing factors which make it blue?Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Rainbows and Blue Skies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Could it be as a result of our natural color blindness that makes us perceive it to be blue? Definitely the questions are countless. This research paper explores reasons, findings, theories and the truth, which surrounds the blue color of the sky and the occurrence of rainbows. In order to achieve this, the research mainly analyses findings, gathered from reput able sources, including but not limited to online articles and books. Blue sky When observed on a clear day, without clouds, mist or dust, the sky always appears blue. Although there are several theories, which explain this concept, it is believed that the blue color is as a result of atoms of oxygen and nitrogen found in the atmosphere (Jacobs 1). Due to the presence of these particles, the white light from the sun is separated into several colors, which are then scattered all over in the atmosphere. Additionally, based on scattering properties of these colors, it has been found that blue light has a wavelength that scatters in the atmosphere better than any other color. This means that blue light dominates the atmosphere, making the sky to appear blue when observed by the human eye (Rea 10). On the other hand, the sun appears orange and red during sunset because the blue light is usually scattered far away from the visible line. This scientific phenomenon that explains light scatt ering and the appearance of the sky is commonly referred to as the Tyndall effect or the Rayleigh scattering. Tyndall effect This theory was put forth by John Tyndall in 1859, explaining the color of the sky. According to his discovery, blue wavelength is shorter and gets scattered better than other wavelengths, when light is passed through a fluid with particles. From a real life perspective, this can be illustrated by shining white light through water that has soap or milk. When observed from the side of the container holding the water, it is possible to observe the beam of white light by the blue light, which is scattered (Mara 23). However, the light that is observed at the end of such an experiment appears red after the beam has passed through the entire vessel of water.Advertising Looking for research paper on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A filter of polarized light can also be applied to i nvestigate the scattering nature of light. This can be compared to the deep-blue appearance of the sky, when viewed through sun glasses. Although the concept is commonly known as the Tyndall effect, many physicists refer to it as the Rayleigh scattering, based on the studies that were done by Lord Rayleigh a few years after it was proposed by John Tyndall in 1859 (Rea 10). In their explanations, Rayleigh and Tyndall argue that the blue color of the sky is attributed to the presence of water droplets in form of vapor and dust particles in the atmosphere. However, if this were true, color variation in the sky would be a common occurrence due to ever-changing humidity. Based on this argument, it was agreed that the presence of nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere is the most appropriate explanation for the blue color of the sky (Jacobs 1). This was fully backed by Einstein in 1911 when he developed a formula applied in determination of scattering light in different molecules. The resu lts were acceptable as they had experimental evidence. From this discovery, it was also observed that the scattering of light by molecules is made possible because light waves have an electromagnetic field, responsible for dipole moments in these molecules. Even though the sky is blue, it is clear that clouds appear white in color when observed. This is based on the fact that they contain particles, which are believed to be greater than the wavelength of light (Mara 23). As a result, all wavelengths are scattered equally, a concept that is commonly known as the Mie scattering. However, the possibility of smaller particles in the atmosphere cannot be ruled out. This explains why some regions are famously known because of their blue haze. It is believed that the interaction between terpenes and ozone leads to the formation of tiny molecules that are approximately 200nm in diameter (Jacobs 2). Importantly, these particles give an explanation for the blue color. Nevertheless, an eruptio n or forest fire may emit particles into the atmosphere, which end up scattering the red light. In such cases, the results would depict the opposite of the Tyndall effect. Consequently, the moon may appear blue since red light is commonly scattered out. However, it is important to note that blue moon is a very rare phenomenon (Rea 10). Rainbows Besides observing a clear blue sky or clouds, human beings equally get fascinated by rainbows. How are rainbows formed? From Greek mythology, rainbows were believed to be the path for a messenger of gods known as Iris. On the other hand, Norse mythology proposed that a rainbow acted as a link between human beings and their gods (Lee and Fraser 33).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Rainbows and Blue Skies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More All these myths make the understanding of the rainbow quite fascinating to human beings. Are they natural in existence or they are fo rmed? These questions have been answered by scientists who spent their time analyzing the scientific explanation for the existence of the rainbow. A rainbow can be described as arc that appears in the sky with colored light. A fact to note is that rainbows have a relationship with water droplets and light. It is believed that this arc forms due to reflection and refraction of light, mainly from water droplets, arising from rain or mist in the atmosphere (Lee and Fraser 322). In other words, rainbows occur when there is splitting of white light into different colors, caused by water. In this line of thought, it is important to underscore the fact that when light falls on a drop of water, it enters into the drop. This penetration allows refraction of various light colors, depending on their respective wavelengths (Dwyer 4). Additionally, this separation of refracted light is similar to the analogy of the glass prism effect. Furthermore, the position of a rainbow is very important with regard to its relationship with the sun. Under whatever circumstances, a rainbow naturally occurs on the opposite direction of the sun as viewed by an observer (Dwyer 10). This position is crucial in explaining why rainbows mostly appear in the afternoon, when the sun is slightly low in the sky. If this occurs in the afternoon, the arc usually appears to the east of the person observing it and to the west if it occurs in the morning. On the other hand, the shadow of the observer is always at the center of the arc, with the rainbow forming the upper segment of the circle. Besides the position of the rainbow, it is worth noting that the angle of reflection of its light to the eye is 42o to the initial ray of light. Its bow-shape is believed to be a portion of the cone of light that is blocked by the horizon (Dwyer 10). Another important fact about rainbows is that no one can move ahead of it. If you tried to overtake the rainbow to be on the other side, it would appear moving, thus m aking it impossible to see the end of a rainbow. Moreover, every person sees a different rainbow since the angle measured is based on the observer’s eye contact with the refracted light from the sun through a drop of water (Lee and Fraser 322). This therefore means that every rainbow observer is usually at the center of the cone formed by colored light. It is sometimes possible to observe a complete circle of the rainbow when flying or at the top of a mountain.Advertising Looking for research paper on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More From the above analysis, it is clear that the blue sky and the rainbow are fascinating natural phenomena, whose existence has an array of scientific and traditional explanations. However, the two are closely linked to properties of light, with regard to the scattering effect. Nonetheless, contributions of John Tyndall, Lord Rayleigh and Einstein remain paramount in the understanding of this concept. Dwyer, Jacqueline. Rainbows. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2001. Print. Jacobs, Marian. Why Is the Sky Blue? New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 1999. Print. Lee, Raymond, and Fraser Alistair. The rainbow bridge: rainbows in art, myth, and science. Pennsylvania: Penn State Press, 2001. Print. Mara, Wil. Why Is the Sky Blue? Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2006. Print. Rea, Thelma. I Wonder Why the Sky Is Blue. New York: Rosen Classroom, 2000. Print.

Art in Context - Andy Goldsworthy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Art in Context - Andy Goldsworthy - Essay Example Background and Philosophies of Goldsworthy Goldsworthy was born and grew up in Britain and is best known for his naturalistic work in photography, sculpture and site – specific art. Goldsworthy was born in 1929 and lived until 2001. His earlier life was spent by the green belt, a community specific for the naturalistic elements which were a part of the area. This was combined with the work which Goldsworthy began at the age of 13 as a farmhand. In 1974, Goldsworthy studied fine arts at the Bradford College of Art followed by his studies at Preston Polytechnic. He became a professor of applied mathematics at the University of Leeds and remained in Scotland and England for the rest of his life. His works continue to carry the same influences with the installations of the natural settings as well as the belief that nature is one which is not only based on the natural reflections and settings, but also has forms of artistic elements combined with the setting, all which are disturb ing and should be noted with his works (Malpas, 2008: 15). The artistic elements that are throughout Goldsworthy’s work are combined with the philosophies which he carried throughout his life. The main component which was the basis of Goldsworthy’s work was from what is now considered eco – art. This used the natural elements, patterns and frameworks of nature to combine into the main ideologies of the art works. By highlighting the natural patterns that were in nature, there was also the ability to show the values which were in society. The aesthetics were combined with this by focusing on the geometries, natural patterns and the elements of nature which stood out because of the values seen in ecological systems. Goldsworthy found pride in his works by showing how nature was one which shouldn’t be considered as an element of sameness, but instead, was based on the understanding that noticing the patterns also allowed one to notice art (McLean, 2002: 1). Works of Goldsworthy and Contextual Relevance There are several elements of Goldsworthy which were noted not only for his personal thoughts, but also which were relevant to the context of the time. The work of the time was one which was based on the growing of industrialization, factories, machinery and construction jungles of the cities that were emerging at a rapid rate. The work of Goldsworthy rejected the unnatural status which most were referring to. This came from the rebellion against artists such as Andy Warhol, who represented the artistic works of the time through concepts such as Campbell’s Soup. The take which Goldsworthy represented was one which sent the message that nature should still be looked into and considered as a main component in nature. The ideal was to move back into nature and to release the wild, as opposed to constructing the new out of the machinery which was quickly emerging at the time (Adams, 2003: 5). An example of the works which showed a reb ellion against the machinery was in â€Å"Reed Screen† as seen in image 1. Image 1: Reed Screen This particular installation piece was inclusive of the reeds of a tree which were intertwined like a spider web. In the middle of this was the shape of a tree from a sculpture which Goldsworthy

Coronary Heart Disease Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Coronary Heart Disease - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that coronary heart disease is caused by a waxy substance named plaque forms up inside the coronary arteries. The arteries which carry oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. If the plate breaks, a blood clot will be formed on its surface, which will block the flow of blood into the coronary artery causing heart failure. The research will emphasis on the possible causes of the coronary disease as well as its prevention mechanisms. In line with the research carried out by the national institute of health in Merced country California, coronary heart disease is one of the diseases that cause most deaths in the city. In relation to the quantitative data, Merced is rated to be the 46th in the number of death used b coronary heart disease basing on the age, the mortality rate in the year 2006-210, 25 deaths per 110,000 of the population caused by coronary heart disease. Moreover, 16,000 people in Merced County alone diagnosed with coronary heart di sease which 9% of the total population of Merced County. In addition, obesity being one of the causes of coronary heart disease is also ranked top have affected 29% of the total population of Merced County, showing that greater possibility of an increase in death rates caused by coronary heart disease. Most of the research conducted has got a positive impact on the people of Merced County at large. Because the facts gathered apparently shows the causes of coronary heart disease, and how it can be avoided and prevented at the same time.

Receptors in Intestinal Muscles

Receptors in Intestinal Muscles The experiment was conducted in order to gain better understanding of the function of the receptors in the guinea pig ileum. For this reason, various agonists and antagonists were used and the muscle reaction was monitored. The results of our experiment are summarized in the following table. As we can see acetylcholine and hexamethonium both have a triethylamine at one end and a straight chain of carbons. The basic difference is that hexamethonium has two tertiary amines, one on each end of the chain, whereas acetylcholine has the group -O-C(=O)-CH3 on one end. According to the SAR theory (Structure Activity Relationship) similar molecules in structure tend to have similar biological activity. As we know, both acetylcholine and hexamethonium bind to the nicotinic receptor, the first one to trigger a response and the second one to prevent acetylcholine from binding. Hexamethonium, having two active groups, can probably bind more easily to the receptor, effectively blocking the acetylcholine action. b) Histamine and mepyramine have less similarities in structure. Both of them have three nitrogen and an aromatic ring. Histamine has the two nitrogen inside the aromatic ring whereas mepyramine has only one nitrogen bound in the ring. Both compounds bind to the H1-Histamine receptor, to trigger different reactions. The difference in structure can be explained by the different action of the two compounds. Histamine causes contraction of the muscle and mepyramine causes its relaxation. The drugs tested were classified as agonists and antagonists. Acetylcholine: Acts as neurotransmitter. It binds on the muscarinic and nicotinic receptors and causes muscle contraction. Histamine: Is also a neurotransmitter. It binds on the H1-Histamine receptor and causes smooth muscle contraction. Nicotine: It acts on the nicotinic cholinergic receptors and mimics the neural transmission. It stimulates the muscle, then blocks stimulation. Isoprenaline: Although isoprenaline was apparently an antagonist, it is actually a selective agonist for the ÃŽÂ ²- adrenergic receptors that causes muscle relaxation. It is a sympathomimetic drug that mimics the effect of stimulating the postganglionic adrenergic sympathetic nerves. Hexamethonium: It is a nicotinic antagonist and a ganglionic blocker. It binds to the nicotinic cholinergic receptors and blocks the actions of acetylcholine or cholinergic agonists. It has no effects on muscarinic (mAch) receptors. Mepyramine: It is a histamine H1 antagonist and targets the H1- Receptor. Although it was believed to be an antagonist merely to block the actions of endogenous histamine without activating the receptors, it has recently been classified as an inverse agonist decreasing the spontaneous activity of gp-H1r. It also inhibits histamine induced inositol phosphate (InsP) production and intracellular calcium mobilization. It causes a marked decrease in the maximal response to histamine at high concentrations. Atropine: It is a competitive antagonist for the muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mAch). It binds to the receptor without activating it, thus blocking the actions of endogenous acetylcholine or exogenous agonists. a) The drug in this experiment were acting on three receptors. H1-Histamine receptors, muscarinic (mAch) receptors and nicotinic (nAch) receptors. Each agonist was acting on a different receptor and that is apparent from our results. When using an antagonist that blocked a specific receptor it only inhibited the action of the drug acting on that particular receptor, and had no effect on the rest of the drugs. b) The receptors were obviously located on the surface of the muscle, so that the access of the drugs would be possible. The first apparent antagonist which turned out to be an agonist was isoprenaline. It acts on the ÃŽÂ ²- adrenergic receptors causing muscle relaxation and antagonized all the three agonists who acted on different receptors. This type of antagonism is called a physiological antagonist and describes the interaction of two drugs who cause opposing actions in the body and tend to cancel each other. In this case, the isoprenaline acts on the ÃŽÂ ²- adrenergic receptors and causes relaxation of the muscle, whereas the agonist act on the histaminic, nicotinic and muscarinic receptors and cause contraction of the muscle. The second apparent antagonist was mepyramine, which acts on the histamine receptor and blocks the action of histamine. It has recently been classified as an inverse agonist, causing muscle relaxation. This type of agonists show selectivity to the resting state of the receptor. Atropine acts on the muscarinic receptors and blocks their action. Thus it prevents acetylcholine from binding to the receptor and stimulating it. Nicotine though activates the nicotinic receptor that apparently has nothing to do with atropine. The reversal of nicotine action indicates the presence of inhibitory postganglionic (terminal) neurones, which respond to stimulation of their ganglion-cells by inducing relaxation of the gut. It is also suggested by other experiments [Phillis York, 1968] that an intermediate type of receptor is involved. Assuming specificity of the antagonist these studies are explained by a non-classical cholinergic receptor with mixed pharmacological properties. Such receptors are the newest members of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) family, encoded by the ÃŽÂ ±9/ÃŽÂ ±10 subunits, that possess a combined nicotinic-muscarinic sensitivity. Barium Chloride is a water soluble salt. Once in contact with the muscle it induces release of intracellular stores of calcium, and causes the contraction of the muscle. If barium chloride comes in contact with sodium sulphate it loses its potency. That is explained by the chemical reaction between the two compounds. Molecular equation: BaCl2(aq) + Na2SO4(aq)> BaSO4(s) + 2NaCl(aq) ionic equation: Ba+2(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + 2Na+(aq) + SO4-2(aq) > BaSO4(s) + 2Na+(aq)+2Cl-(aq) These reactions show that once in contact with sodium sulphate, the barium chloride dissolves into BaSO4 which is an insoluble substance and NaCl. Thus, it can no longer act on the muscle. That type of antagonism is called Chemical Antagonism and it refers to the situation when two substances combine in solution; as a result, the effect of the active drug (in this case the barium chloride) is lost. The drugs were tested on guinea pig ileum which is a smooth muscle.

Ermo Essay

Ermo, directed by Zhou Xiaowen in 1994, takes place in the 1980’s when China first began to actively accept the concept of globalization. â€Å"Ermo, where the title character as the strong-willed wife of an emasculated husband† (Tang 654), explores the issues of being a matriarch as well as an individual with her own interests and desires. Compared with traditional Chinese women who were relegated to taking care of the household, Ermo is drastically different because she is the one who attends to the financial needs of her family by selling twisty noodles. Although she is a poor, peasant woman whose life revolves around the responsibilities of taking care of of her family, Ermo harbors secret ambitions which she longs to someday achieve. Fueled by her ambitions, Ermo works day and night to fulfill her aims even as she attends to her loved one’s needs. Her characteristic as responsible matriarch can also be seen when she risks her health by selling large quantities of her blood in order to earn quick money. In the film, every action that Ermo takes is a result of her free will; she is not forced or coerced to do so. Everything that she does, she does for the love of her family. The female lead in the movie is willing to do anything to support her family, which is a marked characteristic of contemporary Chinese films. The role of Ermo is a strong departure from the traditional roles of women in Chinese society. Ermo’s profession is examined in two ways: Noodle seller during the day and noodle maker during the night. In the very beginning of the film, the shot shows her as a noodle-seller on the street, peddling bunches of twisty noodles that she herself made. She yells â€Å"mai mahua mian lou† (twisty noodle for sale) (Ciecko 2) constantly. This scene particularly emphasizes her profession and skills for selling twisty noodles. There are also several close-up shots of her foot while she is making noodle dough. Ermo kneads flour with her feet, and she does it expertly, never dropping any of flour. This shot makes a statement as to the technical skills her work requires and the passion and dedication with which Ermo does her job. While generally regarded as a lowly job, it is actually a very demanding job requiring sophisticated skills. The opportunity to pursue a rewarding career among Chinese women is a fairly recent development because the women in China never had the opportunity to choose their job. Ermo’s desire can be read in various ways: desire for a better life, desire for a fulfilling sexual relationship, and desire for self-determination. Ermo’s â€Å"wish for a new life with a [Blindman, the richest guy in the town] after an amorous night halfway between town and village, expresses her desire to desire and constitutes an inspired revision of reality† (Tang, 668). This satisfies both her sexual desire and desire for better life. She also desires for having the biggest TV in her town, which at first may seem materialistic, but may actually be construed for her need to achieve and be acknowledged for her accomplishments. Although she says that she needs to buy the TV for her son so that he does not have to go to their neighbor’s house to watch, it is really her own aspiration to show people who she really is. Based on strong Confucian society, Chinese women have been traditionally relegated to the sidelines, but as China begins to open itself to changes, so do Chinese women begin to evolve and come out into their own. As examined above, â€Å"the central events in Ermo reflect a new stage in the development of contemporary Chinese society† (Tang, 663). As portrayed in this modern Chinese film, women are able to attend to their family without necessarily having to sacrifice their own dreams and ambitions in the process.

Liberal and Conservative View About the Role of Government

As long as there have been politics in the United States, there has been a productive tension between liberal views and conservative views. These differences are most clearly demonstrated by the disparate views on subjects such as education, taxes and public health care. Liberals and conservatives have different views about the role of government. While liberals; currently represented by the Democratic Party; and conservatives; currently represented by the Republican Party; both believe that education, tax policy, and public health are important issues for the United States; they have different beliefs about the best approach for these policies. Liberals tend towards policies that empower the central government through large all encompassing programs. On the other hand, conservatives prefer locally run programs that are not the same in all communities but may produce results more consistent with community preferences. Currently, no topic provides a better example of the difference between conservatives and liberals than education policy. The liberal belief is that education policy is best when dictated from Washington D. C. with federal education subsidies contingent upon state and local government compliance with federal mandates. Conservatives believe that federal money should not be based on specific agendas developed in Washington D. C. but instead should be granted to state and local governments in the form of grants. These grants do not have strings attached and can be used for state and local education priorities. Conservatives and Liberals also disagree about where education dollars should be spent. The liberal view is that children should go to public schools regardless of quality, they believe that public education efforts and money should be directed towards public schools. Conversely, conservatives believe that children in non-performing schools should have the option to go to private school at public expense. Their view is that competition between public and private schools will improve both. Nobody likes tax time. Liberals and Conservatives both agree that taxes are unavoidable. Their beliefs about the use of taxes and tax policy are very different, though. Liberals seem to believe that taxes are a federal entitlement. They believe that tax money should be spent by the government on large government programs that provide services to people instead of by the taxpayer themselves. Furthermore, liberals believe that tax policy should be used to provide wealth distribution from the rich to the poor. This is most clearly demonstrated by the Earned Income Credit (EIC); the EIC is a tax provision that allows people to receive more in tax refunds than were paid in actual taxes. Conservatives on the other hand truly view taxes as a tool to provide for the common good; they differ from liberals in their approach. They believe that free market forces can more efficiently run large programs than the government can. They believe that large government programs are not inherently productive and taxpayers should be given wide latitude about the use of their money for services that directly affect them. Healthcare is another area where conservatives and liberals find very little common ground. Both sides agree that everyone needs health care, but they disagree what the government†s responsibility should be. Liberals believe that it is the government†s responsibility to provide cradle to grave health care. They believe this should be provided by government regulated quasi-HMO organizations funded by tax dollars. Conservatives think that the government has limited health care responsibility. They believe that the government should provide tax incentives to people so they can buy their health insurance; additionally, they believe that the government should provide limited health care to the poor and the aged. Two statements can best sum up the differences between conservatives and liberals. Conservatives believe in limited government and that government†s responsibility is to create an economy and environment where people can earn decent wages thereby making them self-sufficient. Liberals believe government†s responsibility is to provide for the people and conversely, the people should provide for the government. The truly interesting thing is that the extreme conservatism or fascism and extreme liberalism or communism, have both fallen into disfavor in the last few decades. I believe that this country was founded on conservative principles. Conservatives and liberals have very different views about the way this country should be run and the role of government, which everyone should listen to carefully.