An Interview with Publishizer Founder Guy Vincent

An Interview with Publishizer Founder Guy Vincent Putting Readers First - An Interview with Publishizer’s founder Guy Vincent Crowdfunding is possibly one of the evolutions in publishing that is most exciting to independent authors who are serious about their work. It turns the traditional publishing model upside down, with readers basically funding the books before they are published, and authors finding an audience before even finishing the manuscript. Last year, we hosted a fascinating interview with Maris Kreizman, from Kickstarter publishing, on how authors could use Kickstarter to, well†¦ â€Å"kickstart† their next book. Today, we’re interviewing a smaller player - but just as exciting!In the past few months, we’ve been impressed by the quality of the projects on the Publishizer platform, as well as the amounts raised (take a look at their â€Å"ended campaigns† here), so we’ve decided to interview the founder, Guy Vincent. He’ll tell you just as useful Publishizer can be for your next book!The print run of Mobile Ready, Publishizer’s first success storyDo certain genres work better than others on Publishizer?It’s still early days for our startup. We started out focusing on startup and business topics, since that’s the community where I had the most connection to writers. Early on we attracted cookbooks, children’s books and a few novels.We can see tha t business authors have a natural tendency to understand having a target reader, marketing plan and publishing strategy. Our business authors are paving the way to help us build our own audience, who we can eventually help to bring them books in other genres they might be interested in, such as fiction.Our authors are encouraged to think of their book as a startup. That means having an entrepreneurial and creative spirit when it comes to promoting their work, experimenting with different marketing tactics and learning what works best for their audience.Authors who have successfully completed a pre-orders campaign on Publishizer can either go on to self-publish, or submit their book proposal to traditional publishers. Now, if you have money and an established reader base, why would you want to sign with a traditional publisher? What more can they offer?Self publishing offers wondrous opportunities for authors, however, it can also be time consuming and some authors might prefer to ha nd over their work to a publisher who can take care of the nitty gritty details.Publishizer helps authors activate and expand their existing audience, and publishers can potentially take the book to the next level through wider distribution channels. There is also still a perceived credibility to having a traditional publisher. If we can help our authors attract the right kind of publisher to bring their book higher up the value chain, we’ll do our best to support this.You insist on the importance of quality cover art, and say it should be left to the professionals. Would you agree that the explosion of self-publishing, where authors have limited budgets, is endangering the quality of graphic design in books?We see a clear parallel with authors who insist on high quality cover artwork and the success of their Publishizer campaign. There are plenty of tools and resources available to allow authors to get a professional looking front cover, without spending much (if anything) u pfront.After a successful preorders campaign, with money in the bank, we notice our authors who go on to become bestsellers really invest in their editing and design, to make their book the best it can be. Professional quality editing and design often doesn’t come cheap, and this is where preorders makes it possible for authors to afford the best services for their book.I feel we’re heading into the golden age of self publishing, where authors have access to the world’s best editing, design and marketing talent. In the future, books won’t be ‘self published’, they’ll be the artistic creation of writers who activated their audience, and hired the best talent to bring their vision to reality. We hope Publishizer can be a part of that vision.And we share that hope. Thanks a lot for your time, Guy!  Follow Publishizer and Reedsy on Twitter:  @publishizer  and @ReedsyHQ  Have you tried a crowdfunding platform for a publishing projec t? Do you also feel like we’re heading into the golden age of self-publishing? Leave us your thoughts, or any questions for Guy, in the comments below!

Battle of Ia Drang in the Vietnam War

Battle of Ia Drang in the Vietnam War The Battle of Ia Drang was fought November 14-18, 1965, during the Vietnam War (1955-1975) and was the first major engagement between the US Army and the Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN). After a North Vietnamese strike against the Special Forces camp at Plei Me, American forces deployed in an effort to destroy the attackers. This saw elements of the air mobile 1st Cavalry Division move into South Vietnams Central Highlands. Encountering the enemy, the battle was primarily fought at two separate landing zones. While the Americans won a tactical victory at one, they took heavy losses at the other. The fighting in the Ia Drang Valley sent the tone for much of the conflict to come with the Americans relying on air mobility, air power, and artillery while the North Vietnamese sought to fight at close quarters to negate these advantages. Fast Facts: Battle of Ia Drang Conflict: Vietnam War (1955-1975)Dates: November 14-18, 1965Armies Commanders:United StatesColonel Thomas BrownLieutenant Colonel Harold G. MooreLieutenant Colonel Robert McDadeapprox. 1,000 menNorth VietnamLieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Anapprox. 2,000 menCasualties:United States: 96 killed and 121 wounded at X-Ray and 155 killed and 124 wounded at AlbanyNorth Vietnam: Approximately 800 killed at X-Ray and minimum of 403 killed at Albany Background In 1965, General William Westmoreland, commander of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, began utilizing American troops for combat operations in Vietnam rather than solely relying on the forces of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. With National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) and Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces operating in the Central Highlands northeast of Saigon, Westmoreland elected to debut the new air mobile 1st Cavalry Division as he believed its helicopters would allow it to overcome the regions rugged terrain. Ia Drang - Vietnam. US Department of Defense Following a failed North Vietnamese attack on the Special Forces camp at Plei Me in October, the commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Colonel Thomas Brown, was instructed to move from Pleiku to seek and destroy the enemy. Arriving in the area, the 3rd Brigade was unable to find the attackers. Encouraged by Westmoreland to press towards the Cambodian border, Brown soon learned of an enemy concentration near Chu Pong Mountain. Acting on this intelligence, he directed the 1st Battalion/7th Cavalry, led by Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore, to conduct a reconnaissance in force in the area of Chu Pong. Arriving at X-Ray Assessing several landing zones, Moore chose LZ X-Ray near the base of the Chu Pong Massif. Roughly the size of a football field, X-Ray was surrounded by low trees and bordered by a dry creek bed to the west. Due to the relatively small size of the LZ, the transport of the 1st/7ths four companies would have to be conducted in several lifts. The first of these touched down at 10:48 AM on November 14 and consisted of Captain John Herrens Bravo Company and Moores command group. Departing, the helicopters began shuttling the rest of the battalion to X-Ray with each trip taking around 30 minutes. Soldiers of the U.S. Amry 1/7th Cavalry disembark from a Bell UH-1D Huey at LZ X-Ray during the battle of Ia Drang. US Army Day 1 Initially holding his forces in the LZ, Moore soon began sending out patrols while waiting for more men to arrive. At 12:15 PM, the enemy was first encountered northwest of the creek bed. Shortly thereafter, Herren ordered his 1st and 2nd Platoons to advance in that direction. Encountering heavy enemy resistance, the 1st was halted though the 2nd pushed on and pursued an enemy squad. In the process, the platoon, led by Lieutenant Henry Herrick, became separated and was soon surrounded by North Vietnamese forces. In the firefight that ensued, Herrick was killed and effective command devolved to Sergeant Ernie Savage. As the day progressed, Moores men successfully defended the creek bed as well as repelled assaults from the south while awaiting the arrival of the remainder of the battalion. By 3:20 PM, the last of the battalion arrived and Moore established a 360-degree perimeter around X-Ray. Eager to rescue the lost platoon, Moore sent forward Alpha and Bravo Companies at 3:45 PM. This effort succeeded in advancing around 75 yards from the creek bed before enemy fire brought it to a halt. In the attack, Lieutenant Walter Marm earned the Medal of Honor when he single-handedly captured an enemy machine gun position (Map). Day 2 Around 5:00 PM, Moore was reinforced by the lead elements of Bravo Company/2nd/7th. While the Americans dug in for the night, the North Vietnamese probed their lines and conducted three assaults against the lost platoon. Though under heavy pressure, Savages men turned these back. At 6:20 AM on November 15, the North Vietnamese mounted a major attack against Charlie Companys section of the perimeter. Calling in fire support, the hard-pressed Americans turned back the attack but took significant losses in the process. At 7:45 AM, the enemy began a three-pronged assault on Moores position. With the fighting intensifying and Charlie Companys line wavering, heavy air support was called in to halt the North Vietnamese advance. As it arrived over the field, it inflicted major losses on the enemy, though a friendly fire incident led to some napalm striking the American lines. At 9:10 AM, additional reinforcements arrived from the 2nd/7th and began reinforcing Charlie Companys lines. By 10:00 AM the North Vietnamese began withdrawing. With fighting raging at X-Ray, Brown dispatched Lieutenant Colonel Bob Tullys 2nd/5th to LZ Victor approximately 2.2 miles east-southeast. Moving overland, they reached X-Ray at 12:05 PM, augmenting Moores force. Pushing out of the perimeter, Moore and Tully succeeded in rescuing the lost platoon that afternoon. That night North Vietnamese forces harassed the American lines and then launched a major assault around 4:00 AM. With the aid of well-directed artillery, four assaults were repelled as the morning progressed. By mid-morning, the remainder of the 2nd/7th and 2nd/5th arrived at X-Ray. With the Americans on the field in strength and having taken massive losses, the North Vietnamese began withdrawing. Ambush at Albany That afternoon Moores command departed the field. Hearing reports of enemy units moving into the area and seeing that little more could be done at X-Ray, Brown wished to withdraw the remainder of his men. This was vetoed by Westmoreland who wished to avoid the appearance of a retreat. As a result, Tully was instructed to march the 2nd/5th northeast to LZ Columbus while Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDade was to take the 2nd/7th north-northeast to LZ Albany. As they departed, a flight of B-52 Stratofortresses was assigned to strike the Chu Pong Massif. While Tullys men had an uneventful march to Columbus, McDades troops began encountering elements of the 33rd and 66th PAVN Regiments. These actions culminated with a devastating ambush in the vicinity of Albany which saw PAVN troops attack and split McDades men into smaller groups. Under heavy pressure and taking major losses, McDades command was soon aided by air support and elements of the 2nd/5th which marched in from Columbus. Beginning late that afternoon, additional reinforcements were flown in and the American position was appearance during the night. The next morning, the enemy had largely pulled back. After policing the area for casualties and dead, the Americans departed for LZ Crooks the next day. Aftermath The first major battle that involved US ground forces, Ia Drang saw them suffer 96 killed and 121 wounded at X-Ray and 155 killed and 124 wounded at Albany. Estimates for North Vietnamese losses are around 800 killed at X-Ray and minimum of 403 killed at Albany. For his actions in leading the defense of X-Ray, Moore was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Pilots Major Bruce Crandall and Captain Ed Freeman were later (2007) awarded the Medal of Honor for making volunteer flights under heavy fire to and from X-Ray. During these flights, they delivered much-needed supplies while evacuating wounded soldiers. The fighting at Ia Drang set the tone for the conflict as American forces continued to rely on air mobility and heavy fire support to achieve victory. Conversely, the North Vietnamese learned that the latter could be neutralized by quickly closing with the enemy and fighting at close range.

Evaluate the role of the line manager in managing under-performance Essay

Evaluate the role of the line manager in managing under-performance - Essay Example bination of interpersonal and technical skills while for medical doctors the term ‘performance’ is depended rather on specific financial and administration skills’ (Nelson and Quick 2010, p.196). It is assumed that under performance reflects the lack of the skills that are necessary for responding to the needs of a particular role. Dowling, Festing and Engle (2008) tried to identify the key elements of under performance in regard to expatriates. They came to the conclusion that for expatriates, failure, which incorporates under performance, means ‘the premature return of an expatriate’ (Dowling, Festing and Engle 2008, p.112). In accordance with this view, under performance can be used for highlighting the failure of an employee to complete successfully the tasks assigned to him. A similar definition of the term ‘under performance’ is included in the study of Scullion (2006). In accordance with the above researcher, the term ‘under performance’ should be defined as ‘assignment failure’ (Scullion 2006, p.60). This explanation of under performance may be inaccurate, i.e. it may not reflect the actual status of employee performance. Such risk exists in case that an employee failed to complete the tasks assigned to him but not because of his fault but due to facts or conditions that they could not prevented, like, for example, a strike. From a similar point of view, Werner and DeSimone (2008) noted that the term ‘under performance’, or else ‘poor performance’, is difficult to be clearly defined since it is likely to be related to different criteria. For example, the level of performance of an employee may be characterized as high in regarding to a specific position and as low regarding to another position. For this reason, it is suggested that... It is evident from the study that the development of the phenomenon of employee under performance in modern organizations has been related to many factors. In accordance with Hadikin and O’Driscoll employees are likely to under perform when the conditions in the workplace are hostile for them. Reference is made especially to bullying, as a problem expanded in most organizations worldwide. It is noted though that the response of employees to bullying is not standardized. Under certain conditions, bullying may not lead to employee under performance, if for example the employee involved decides to report the problem to the firm’s HR manager. From another point of view, Berman considers that employee under performance is not related to the conditions in the organizational environment but rather to the personal attitudes of employees. It is explained that employees who are likely to avoid taking initiatives in regard to critical organizational issues tend to under perform wh en having to face such conditions. Moreover, employees that believe in their capabilities and their potentials to respond effectively to the needs of all tasks assigned to them are not expected to under perform, in opposition with employees who believe that their performance can ‘be affected by factors outside their control’. On the other hand, Shields explained that when having to identify the causes of employees’ under performance managers should search both for personal reasons, such as the attitudes or the background of employees, and for external reasons, meaning the conditions of the organizational environment.

Sociology - Symbolic interaction and gay marriage Essay

Sociology - Symbolic interaction and gay marriage - Essay Example What is most significant is the fact that the society has to approve the same and not hold the gay men accountable for what they indulge within. There is a good amount of information available at hand which suggests the proper incorporation of the gay marriages within the society’s aegis. The other side of the issue suggests that the society does not quite accept such gay relationships. They believe that it is very strange to enter into such relationships because it would bring problems for the people who are spread in different areas of the world. The straight individuals feel that the gay relationships effectively mar their own linkages that they have with the people around them, and make the same look awry and skewed (Bell, 2009). This perspective has been reached upon with the passage of time as gay relationships have come on excessively in this day and age, and within different areas of the world more than anything else. The gay marriage is such an important part of the s ociety in the current times that one cannot look beyond the same. There have been immense comprehensions that have been reached upon which suggest the notion of people being against the same as well as the ones who believe it is the right of the individuals to pick and choose their own orientation.

Marxism and Education Essay Example for Free

Marxism and Education Essay The Marxist perspective of education in society can be very questionable because Marxist theorists such as; Louis Althusser, Bowles and Gintis, David Reynolds and Willis all seem to disagree with one another. The first thing I will write about are the strengths. The strengths about the Marxist view are it points out how ideology is transmitted within school via the hidden curriculum, how education legitimises class inequality, it points out the inequalities of both opportunity and outcome on the system and it exposes the myth of meritocracy. From these points I can tell that it tries to believe that teachers are a kind of agent who are trying to wrong the children. Louis Althusser believed that education is an ideological apparatus designed to control children by brainwashing them. Applying this idea allows the hidden curriculum to transmit values which are not intentionally designed to happen. With class inequality it shows that schools are planting a job title on children which will link to their background. For example, a kid from the working class may get a job working at a car manufactures, while a kid from upper class may get a job as a lawyer. But, this really exposes the idea of meritocracy where if you do well at school you will get a good job as a reward. Now, I will write about the weaknesses. The weaknesses are that many working class children do succeed in the education system. It overemphasises class and ignores other structural inequalities: ethnicity and gender, post-modernists would argue that education reproduces diversity not inequality and Marxists cant seem to agree with each other at all. From these points I can tell that Marxists believe that working class children are a lot less smarter than upper class people but actually this isnt true because you dont need to be a higher class to be smarter than anyone else it takes the person to be determined to do it themselves. Also, the teacher could show a lot more favouritism to a specific gender in the class like girls or just as easily be based on the colour of their skin. So, you could be the smartest person in the class but you may be a black girl and I may not pick on you. Post-modernists on the other hand also argue that education reproduces diversity meaning people may not be picked on because of their disability etc. Finally, my last point is that none of the Marxist theorists cant agree with each other because each theorist believes that their theory is correct and go out trying to criticise everyone else. For example, Bowles and Gintis were criticised by Willis stating that their research wasnt in depth enough but he could easily be criticised for only researching 12 boys.

Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome :: essays research papers

Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome is one of over 7000 known inherited diseases. It is an autosomal dominant disease that affects about 10% of the population.1 The history of VHL reaches back to 1864 when scattered reports of knots of blood vessels known as hemangioblastomas on the retina surfaced and were written up by opthamolagists. Eugene Von Hippel, a German opthamologist is credited with discovering the familial nature of the disease, however Swedish pathologist Arvid Lindau was the one who suggested that these hemangioblastomas are part of a larger "angiomatus [involving knots of blood vessels] lesion of the central nervous system." Additional reports of affected small families confermed Lindau's theory. In 1964, Melmon and Rosen summarized all knowlege of the disease and coined the name "Von Hippel-Lindau." The invention of ultrasound aided detection in the late 1970's, and by the mid 1980's, MRI was commonly used for detection of angiomas on the spine. In 1 993, the VHL gene was located by researchers at the National Cancer Institute. Patients with VHL suffer tumors known as angiomas (they are referred to as hemangioblastomas when discussing the retina, brain, or spinal chord and pheochromocytomas when discussing the adrenal glands) consisting of tiny knots of blood vessels. These angiomas can occur in the brain, spinal cord, retina, adrenal glands, kidney, pancreas, and very rarely in the epididymis is men and the fallopian tubes in women. Based on these manifestations, scientists have identified two types of VHL: 1) without pheochromocytoma 2) with pheochromocytoma. VHL type 2 has further been divided into two subcatagories: 2a) without pancreatic cysts 2b) with pancreatic cysts. VHL type 1 is the most common form of the disease. Scientists have also identified trends in race associated with manifestations of VHL: French families are most likely to have pancreatic cysts, German families are most likely to have pheochromocytomas, and Japanese families are more likely to have kidney tumors2. When hemangioblastomas form in the retina, they start out very small and difficult to detect. They tend to grow around the equator of the retina (See Fig 1), far from the area of central vision. A very indepth opthamological examination is required to detect hemangioblastomastomas of the retina. Once discovered, there are two main options for treatment: laser surgery or cryotherapy (freezing). The goal of these treatments is to keep the hemangioblastomas from growing. Hemangioblastomas in the brain and spinal cord can be a bit more dangerous. Early signs of a growth in these areas may include back pain, headaches, numbness, dizziness, and weakness or pain in the arms or legs.

Limitations of interviews Essay

Despite the advantages associated with interviews, a number of limitations must also be acknowledged. For example they are time-consuming; one of the biggest weaknesses could be the ability to interview only a sample population, raising concerns with the generalization of findings. As a consequence, in this investigation, the use of multiple sources of data has been conceived to validate qualitative data, as the degree to which archival data, interviews, and document analysis converge makes the conclusions about the phenomenon more convincing. The Method in which Conclusions will be derived The most important issue in research is that the process of arriving at conclusions is not a sequential one. No conclusion can be drawn until there is a clear data display. The process of arriving at conclusions will be as shown in Figure 6 below (Miles. Huberman, 1994). Consequently, after having administered the questionnaires and collated the responses, the findings will be compared with review of literature to analyze the banking system in China and UK. Figure 6 Chapter 3 – Literature Review Literature on Banking in China. Banking China – General. Modern banking in China commenced with the establishment of the first Chinese bank based on western pattern of banking in 1897. (Cheng, 2003). The Chinese banking system however has undergone turbulence over the years due to historical upheavals in the country such as the invasion by the Japanese in 1937, the Second World War, the Communist Revolution, communist party rule and there after opening of the economy in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The era of 1927 to 1937 is regarded as the golden era of Chinese banking under the government of Sun Yat Sen. There after there have been many changes until the emergence of the present banking system. (Cheng, 2003). Chow (1994) has indicated that the principal player in the Chinese banking industry is the People’s Bank which has played an important role in the Chinese economy even after liberalization though its role has been relatively passive. The Chinese banking reforms were undertaken after the landmark decision during the Third Plenary Session of the Fourteenth Congress of the Chinese Communist Party on 11 and 14 November. (Chow). These reforms reversed the processes undertaken almost five decades earlier in December 1948 when the People’s Bank was established after consolidating a number of local banks such as the Huabei Bank, Beihai Bank and Xibei Farmer Bank. The China Banking Regulatory Commission was established to supervise the financial industry in March 2003, thus diluting the hold of the People’s Bank as a central bank established in 1983. The People’s Bank is supported by four principal state controlled banks of which Bank of China (BOC) is one of the largest entities. The OECD Economic Survey on China 2005 indicates that the government policy has provided adequate space for the growth of market forces to influence the economy and is now determining the prices, trade, and investment by foreign companies as well as the overall financial system. (OECD, 2005). These reforms have impacted the level of savings in the Chinese economy while at the same time providing for greater foreign investment. The report has called for greater reforms in the banking sector to ensure that the process of growth is carried forward. (OECD, 2005). Thus broadly it would be seen that Chinese banking industry is on a threshold of transformation. Literature on Bank of China Bank of China – General The Bank of China is one of China’s oldest banks which has had a significant role to play in China’s financial history. The Bank was established in 1912 under the Sun Yat Sen regime. It had an important part to play in the turbulent period of China’s history to include a constant flux in the economy, political change and revolutionary periods including wars. (About Bank of China,. 2006). In the beginning of the Communist era, in1949, it was nominated as the primary bank specializing in foreign exchange. Thus it was at the fore front of development of foreign trade, providing currency and credit facilities to a large variety of individuals and firms. (About Bank of China, 2006). In 1994, the Bank was converted to a state owned commercial bank thus in 2003, when the Chinese banking sector assumed velocity it greatly benefited Bank of China. In 2003 another initiative to convert it into a joint holding bank was undertaken, a process which was finalized in 2004 when it was incorporated as a joint stock commercial bank, thereby providing it the ability and the regulatory authority to provide a wide spectrum of services across a vast geographic area to include 27 countries and regions. It is stated to have 10000 domestic and 600 overseas operations. (About Bank of China, 2006).

Ambassadors in Pinstripes

Review of Ambassadors in Pinstripes: The Spalding World Baseball Tour and the Birth of the American Empire Thomas Zeiler, the author of Ambassadors in Pinstripes: the Spalding World Baseball Tour and the Birth of the American Empire, entertains and enlightens the reader through a descriptive journey of Albert Spalding’s efforts to introduce a World Baseball Tour. The bulk of Zeiler’s book is based off of periodicals, newspapers, magazines, and guides; which serves as the groundwork for his book.Albert Spalding is known as a leader; a manager of the Chicago White Stockings, a very successful manufacturer of sporting goods, and predominantly as an organizer of tours designed to popularize America’s â€Å"national game† abroad. Spalding’s world tour mission was to send two teams of professional well known players to Australia, Ceylon, Egypt, Europe, and the surrounding areas. His marketing techniques and goals for his all American team to play worldwid e was a model for many industries seeking to establish abroad relations.Sports participation also provides a common ground and is a way to unite without discrimination, such as the warring people of South Africa during the Apartheid. Through this successful tour, Spalding established the pattern of baseball’s close connection with globalization and to let the world know of America’s increasingly ambitious exceptionalism in the world. Sports as a tool of diplomacy came of age in the post-World War I world when it caught the attention of politicians and governments as a channel through which to conduct international relations.Across the globe sports have personified the ideologies of political policies in the 20th century and as we enter the 21st century, sports are becoming an essential part of the toolbox of a country’s public diplomacy. Sport events that host numerous foreign visitors have impacts on a country’s relationship with foreign publics. It†™s why organizations and governments seek to attach themselves to popular figures, teams, and events that enhance their standings in the eyes of others.The Olympics for example serves as a way to bring world nations together through international sports competitions and encourages further engagement, often in the form of economic benefits through participation and hosting. London is currently hosting the Olympics this year and in preparation back in 2009 the event was predicted to â€Å"provide economic gold at a time of economic need,† however hosting the Olympics is an extremely costly business with the upgrades, new sports facilities, and security that it will cost much, much more than expected.Spalding’s World Baseball Tour laid the roots of the new empire and exemplified the United States onto the world stage. It highlighted our country’s economic growth, the search for overseas markets, improvements in communication and transportation, and the rising cul tural interactions. Thomas Zeiler’s main emphasis is on the baseball players and their entourage as â€Å"tourists† who helped disperse American culture abroad and brought global influences back to their homelands.Thomas Zeiler concluded that because of the immense impact of the World Tour, it was the process of globalization of baseball that laid the structure of the growing American identity. Baseball was used to sell and export the American way. The game associated itself with the values of the American dream. In America’s foreign diplomacy, baseball was used to promote patriotism and nationalism. Sports have shown it has the power to heal old wounds. Sport in South Africa during the Apartheid, kept the multiple races and cultures that make up South Africa apart for nearly a century.Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced by white Afrikaners, who were the minority, over the indigenous majority. Rugby was the sport that took a mental toll on all South Africans and played a larger part in the victory of the anti-apartheid movement. The Rugby World Cup was one of the key moments that shaped the world’s impression of the new South Africa. The Rugby World Cup contributed significantly to the return of foreign investment in South Africa and strengthening of trade and other economic links that had been destroyed through the policies of apartheid and the subsequent boycotts and restrictions.The development of the industrialization and the use of resources from across the world created a gateway for Americans. Spalding’s initial mission paved the way for global integration opened the door to the sensational play of foreign participants in America’s national pastime. The mass appeal of sports like baseball provides the United States with a social â€Å"olive branch. † Baseball diplomacy helps break the ice between nations that are separated by cultural differences, monetary discrepancies and educational v ariances.Sports are relevant to the study of foreign relations because it is fundamentally concerned with power, and our sports culture that is driven by the media, boasted by advertising, bankrolled by industrialists, that it’s reflective of American society. It has played a huge role in projecting American influence abroad. Sports purpose is no longer limitied to entertainment; it is often intermingling with trade, business, and politics. Hopefully sports will continue as a feature of modern life that connects people and continents together.

How Popping Your Knuckles Works

How Popping Your Knuckles Works Do you pop your knuckles or do your joints crack when you work out or even get up out of a chair? Theres a simple scientific explanation for the phenomenon. To understand how the popping sound is produced, its helpful to know how joints work. How Joints Work Joints are where two bones meet. The ends of the bones are protected from rubbing against each other by caps of cartilage. If the joints werent protected, bone would grind against bone, which is painful as well as destructive. The articular cartilage is cushioned by viscous, clear synovial fluid, produced by a membrane that surrounds each joint. Synovial fluid lubricates joints, much like oil lubricates metal parts in your car engine, preventing hard parts from grinding themselves up. What Makes Joints Pop and Crack? When you pop your knuckles or crack any joint, youre pulling the bones in a joint away from each other. This opens up the space in the joint, reducing the pressure inside it. The lower pressure pulls gases dissolved in synovial fluid out of solution. When the oxygen and carbon dioxide become less soluble, they form bubbles. The pop you hear is the sound of bubbles forming, much like you hear bubbles form when you crack open a can of soda, lowering the pressure inside the can, so the dissolved carbon dioxide can form bubbles. Interesting Facts If you take an x-ray of a joint right after popping it, the bubble is visible. It increases the size of the joint about 15%. The bubble doesnt last forever, though. After about half an hour, the gases dissolve back into synovial fluid. Once you pop your knuckles, you cant pop them again right away, because you need dissolved gases to get the effect. Other pops and cracks in your joints that you can do over and over again most likely are ligaments snapping back into place. Is Popping Your Knuckles Bad for You? In either case, the popping sound may sound scary and annoy others, but there is no evidence that repeatedly cracking your joints is harmful. However, it may lead to weaker grip strength, possibly from stretching out the joint repeatedly.

Your Guide to a Successful Second Interview

Your Guide to a Successful Second Interview You’ve survived your first interview. Congratulations! And the hiring manager has called you back in for a second round. Congrats again! You must have done something right, right? But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to prepare as arduously for your second interview as you did for your first. First, understand this is not a guarantee you’ll get the job. If anything, the competition has narrowed and become more fierce. You can’t rest on your laurels yet. You have to fight! You’ll probably be sitting down with someone higher up on the food chain- sometimes a lot higher up- as well, so your preparation and your game have to be top notch. There’s a lot more pressure. The stakes are higher. But you have another, more targeted chance to prove you are the right candidate for the job.Step 1: StrategizeMake sure you know exactly what the job is- what it entails, who you’d be reporting to, etc. Then make sure you know who exactly will be interviewing you- and read up as much as you can on who they are. You’ll want to impress your interviewer(s) with your expansive knowledge of the industry/company/role, but not scare them away. Strike a good balance.Be sure to prepare a brand new list of questions you should be prepared to ask when that section of the interview comes up. Tailor your research to this job in particular, and reach out to your contacts to see if you can chat with anyone who works or has worked in that office. It’s not a bad time to figure out what really matters to you in a job- and make doubly sure you want this one, as you move closer to potentially getting it.Step 2: PlanThere are three types of interviews: one-on-one interviews with a department head, director, or even owner; panel interviews with a group of higher-ups (think firing squad); and group interviews where you’re being interviewed alongside your competition. Each requires a slightly different strategy, so be sure to k now going in which scenario to prepare for. Mock interviewing with friends or current contacts is always a good idea to make sure you’re on your game.Step 3: Ask QuestionsWhether you’re talking to a supervisor, an HR manager, or a potential future coworker, you’ll absolutely need some questions to ask. Prepare a ton and then choose the one that makes the most sense when you’re on the ground. Make a list of questions for each type of person- that way you won’t run into an HR rep and only have questions prepared for your would-be immediate supervisor. When in doubt, ask about a typical day in the office, the work culture, or whether there is potential for professional growth.Your Top 5 Tips for a Second InterviewNo matter which sort of interview you’re facing, or with whom, here are five great ideas to keep you at the top of the heap.1. Be respectfulEven if you think you should be speaking with someone higher up on the food chain, treat whomev er interviews you with utmost respect. Make eye contact, be pleasant, shake hands firmly and warmly. And get a business card. You’ll thank yourself come thank you note time!2. Assess and analyzeRemember, a second interview is also a chance for them to start selling you on the job. Keep an eye out for red flags. Try to get a sense of your potential future coworkers. Ask yourself how you would feel in this environment, with this team. Do you respect the people who would be your supervisors?3. PrepareAs we said before, you have to prepare even more for a second interview than a first. You’ll need more information about the nitty-gritty details of the job, as specifics are much more likely to come up. Do your homework. Show how much you know about the job and about the company and industry.4. BreatheIt’s easy to get so stressed that you hold your breath. Don’t! Figure out what you’re going to say going in, and try to get through it. Take a moment to in ternalize questions before answering so you really make use of your preparation.5. Be honestThis should go without saying, but it bears repeating: no long-term good will come of you telling your interviewer what they want to hear. Be honest about your skills and your needs and you won’t end up in a job you don’t want or can’t handle.

Same Sex Marriages and the U.S.Constitution Term Paper

Same Sex Marriages and the U.S.Constitution - Term Paper Example By turning marriage into something decided on by the law, the civil rights of people stand the risk of being violated. The civil rights of people are perhaps the largest part of the argument on the side of people that approve of same-sex marriages. Civil rights allow all people to be treated equally in their political and social endeavors. By denying them the opportunity to marry whomever they choose, they are being denied their civil rights, based on the definition of civil rights. Equality is not being observed when same-sex couple is denied the chance to marry; therefore, the civil rights of people are not only being violated, but they are not being properly upheld. Furthermore, â€Å"the Constitution may already have embedded in its wisdom, equal rights for all people, including gay people who want to get married.† The Constitution does not mention marriage directly, but it does point out that everyone should be treated equally. The Constitution of the United States does n ot define anything in regard to what marriage is, nor does it discuss the specifics of the people that are allowed to be married or those who are not. The only thing even remotely close to marriage in the U.S. Constitution is the concept of civil rights, which states the equality of all peoples. (Gerstmann, pg. 44). The U.S. Constitution may be mum on the topic of marriage, but the introduction of federalism has given each individual state the ability to make their own constitutions. As such, each state is able to make their own sets of rules or amendments, ones that can go against what is already written in the U.S. Constitution, essentially overriding the original Constitution. This has prompted many state governments to put a ban on same sex marriage or to otherwise have these unions be called by something other than a marriage. These states are going against the civil rights of its people. In only a few cases, states have approved of same sex marriage. In 1996, former President Bill Clinton signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act, which stated that the federal government defines a marriage as being between a man and a woman. While states could decide for themselves if they would recognize same sex unions, this law made it so that a same sex couple married legally in one state would not be recognized in a state that banned same sex marriages or did not recognize them as being lawful unions. This would cause many same sex marriages to be invalid should a married same sex couple decide to move. Again, the decision was still left up to the states, but Clinton made it clear where he and the federal government stood. The equality of people was, once again, shunted aside over someone else’s discomfort. The approval of same sex marriage took a different turn in 2003, during the case of Lawrence versus Texas, when the Supreme Court announced a new Constitution that would â€Å"prohibit state legislatures from treating homosexuality any differently than heterosexuality (Taylor).† This allowed marriage to find its way into the Constitution, seeming to favor more those that are for same sex marriages. By forbidding states to distinguish or make any notice of difference between homosexuality and heterosexuality, they were approving same sex marriage, as well as acknowledging the civil rights of Americans, which has always been the main component of rights when it comes to marriage. Also in 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled