Free Essays on Spanish

Span-301 I. Las à ©pocas principales y consecuencias de la romnanizacià ³n. La romanizacià ³n de la Penà ­nsula Ibà ©rica, y de sus pueblos fue el comienzo de la historia de Espaà ±a. Guerra Pà ºnica (264 – 146 a.C.), la victoria definitiva de Roma con la conquista y eliminacià ³n total de Cartago (146 a.C.) senalà ³ comienzo de la romanizacià ³n de los pueblos europeos. La guerra Pà ºnica se divide en dos perà ­odos, la primera duro 246-241 a.C., y la segunda duro desde 218 a.C. hasta 201 a.C.. La primera fue sobre el dominio sobre Sicilia, cual los cartagineses fue derrotado perdiendo las islas de Cà ³rcega y Cerdeà ±a. La segunda guerra fue la batalla entre Anà ­bal, uno de los mejores generales cartagineses, y Publio Cornelio Escipià ³n. La segunda guerra se termino con la victoria del general Escipià ³n trayendo victoria y extencià ³n del Imperio Romano, y con el conquistacià ³n de Carthago Nova, la capital cartaginesa de la Penà ­nsula. Aunque la Guerras Pà ºnica se terminà ³, conquista total no fue tan facà ­l. Domi nacià ³n se tomà ³ varios etapas. La primera etapa de la conquista romana fue desde el aà ±o 218 a.C. hasta 205. Tambien, la primera etapa coincidià ³ con la segunda Guerra Pà ºnica, cuando Cneo Escipià ³n desembarco en Ampurias. Durante estos aà ±os se nacieron Hispania citerior, este parte de la peninsula y ulterior, el sur de la Penà ­nsula Ibà ©rica. La segunda etapa de la conquista y dominacià ³n fue ms larga y difà ­cil. Para conquistar la Meseta Central, los romanos tenà ­a que derrotar o pelear contra rebelià ³n de las tribus lusitanas y celtibà ©ricas. El consà ºl Metelo se logrà ³ conquistar algunos regià ³nes pero no fue capaz de conquistar la ciudad de Numancia. Pero Escipià ³n Emiliano, el vencedor de Cartago logrà ³ a vencer Numancia, y asà ­, los romanos extendià ³ sus territorios por el resto de la Penà ­nsula. Exactamente dos siglos despuà ©s el desembarco de Escipià ³n en Ampurias (218 a.C.) los romanos se completà ³ la oc... Free Essays on Spanish Free Essays on Spanish Span-301 I. Las à ©pocas principales y consecuencias de la romnanizacià ³n. La romanizacià ³n de la Penà ­nsula Ibà ©rica, y de sus pueblos fue el comienzo de la historia de Espaà ±a. Guerra Pà ºnica (264 – 146 a.C.), la victoria definitiva de Roma con la conquista y eliminacià ³n total de Cartago (146 a.C.) senalà ³ comienzo de la romanizacià ³n de los pueblos europeos. La guerra Pà ºnica se divide en dos perà ­odos, la primera duro 246-241 a.C., y la segunda duro desde 218 a.C. hasta 201 a.C.. La primera fue sobre el dominio sobre Sicilia, cual los cartagineses fue derrotado perdiendo las islas de Cà ³rcega y Cerdeà ±a. La segunda guerra fue la batalla entre Anà ­bal, uno de los mejores generales cartagineses, y Publio Cornelio Escipià ³n. La segunda guerra se termino con la victoria del general Escipià ³n trayendo victoria y extencià ³n del Imperio Romano, y con el conquistacià ³n de Carthago Nova, la capital cartaginesa de la Penà ­nsula. Aunque la Guerras Pà ºnica se terminà ³, conquista total no fue tan facà ­l. Domi nacià ³n se tomà ³ varios etapas. La primera etapa de la conquista romana fue desde el aà ±o 218 a.C. hasta 205. Tambien, la primera etapa coincidià ³ con la segunda Guerra Pà ºnica, cuando Cneo Escipià ³n desembarco en Ampurias. Durante estos aà ±os se nacieron Hispania citerior, este parte de la peninsula y ulterior, el sur de la Penà ­nsula Ibà ©rica. La segunda etapa de la conquista y dominacià ³n fue ms larga y difà ­cil. Para conquistar la Meseta Central, los romanos tenà ­a que derrotar o pelear contra rebelià ³n de las tribus lusitanas y celtibà ©ricas. El consà ºl Metelo se logrà ³ conquistar algunos regià ³nes pero no fue capaz de conquistar la ciudad de Numancia. Pero Escipià ³n Emiliano, el vencedor de Cartago logrà ³ a vencer Numancia, y asà ­, los romanos extendià ³ sus territorios por el resto de la Penà ­nsula. Exactamente dos siglos despuà ©s el desembarco de Escipià ³n en Ampurias (218 a.C.) los romanos se completà ³ la oc... Free Essays on Spanish Question: What it means to be Hispanic. I'm very proud of my Hispanic heritage as I am of being an American citizen. I would like fellow citizens of the USA to look at Hispanics in terms of the contributions to this great country, instead of doing so in terms of statistics. I am who I am today due to the fact that I have good parents and friends. I feel that the richness of the cultures in Latin America has opened new avenues for me. It has made me to become a person who is able to have a better understanding of different situations. It means a great deal to be Hispanic. I take great pride in being Puerto Rican but I also always feel as though I have to defend my fellow Hispanics due to the fact that not a lot of people respect the Hispanic race as a whole. I continually explain that Hispanics, Puerto Ricans, come in all colors and that I am not an African American just because I have dark skin. I always protect my race and voice my opinion when I hear something about Hispanics that is not necessarily true and also when we are stereotyped. . It also gives me great pride to be a part of what has made this country great, which is a mixture of many nationalities. Being an American of Hispanic heritage makes me proud to know that I have a past as well as a future. For a quick note, as big as the Hispanic market is today, the real news is it's growing rapidly. By 2010, it's estimated that Hispanic-Americans will surpass African-Americans as the largest minority group. Also noteworthy is the Hispanic youth movement. Thirty five percent of Latinos are under the age of 18. This brings me great joy because it shows the up rise in the Hispanic world and how we have overcome all the obstacles to better our society and create a name for the Hispanic world. I will forever be grateful to all the Hispanics who set a precedent in this country and to the young leaders of today and that’s why I am proud to be a Hispanic and that’s what I ...

A Ways To Go

A Ways To Go A Ways To Go A Ways To Go By Maeve Maddox A reader wonders about the expression â€Å"to have a ways to go†: I thought this was just a California quirk and a recent one at that, but I found it used by Dashiel Hammet in one of his stories, so it has been used for nearly a century. He was of course a California writer, so maybe there is a California connection, although its use seems to have spread nationwide. Unlike anyways, which is viewed as nonstandard on both sides of the Pond, â€Å"a ways to go† seems to have achieved standard status in US English. And while that particular phrase could owe its modern popularity to California-speak, the following OED citation in the entry for way in the sense of distance is dated 1588: They..came vnto the gates of the cittie, after they had gon a good wayes in the suburbs. [They..came unto the gates of the city, after they had gone a good ways in the suburbs.] An OED note points out that the â€Å"origin of the use of ways for way is obscure† and that the usage is â€Å"now only dialect and U.S.† The Ngram Viewer shows the phrase â€Å"a ways to go† in use as early as 1884, but its present popularity seems to have begun in the late 1960s. The following recent examples show the phrase used in a variety of contexts to indicate that a person or entity has more work to do in order to achieve a desired goal: Their disconnect on the immigration reform issue suggests the party still has a ways to go in bridging the gulf between the two.- CNN. Ryan Mallett shows promise, but Texans QB has a ways to go- NFL site headline Some scientists share better than others. While astronomers and geneticists embrace the concept, the culture of ecology still has a ways to go. - Michigan State University site. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, 69 percent of Californians have broadband at home- a ways to go from the state’s goal of 80 percent by 2015.- Encyclopedia of Human Memory, 2013. 13 Years Later, Still a Ways to Go on Sharing Terrorist Threats With Public  - National Defense Magazine. The Navy has made great improvements in race relations, but weve still got a ways to go.- US Defense Department site. IRS has a ways to go before meeting e-file adoption goal- IT site headline. I think we have a ways to go as far as really explaining the value of the Common Core showing how data that is gathered is secure so parents dont need to worry about that.- Superintendent of a Vermont school district.   â€Å"A ways to go† has a more folksy sound than â€Å"a way to go.† It may also suggest that the remaining distance to be traveled is longer than what would be indicated by â€Å"a way to go.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Words with More Than One SpellingUse a Dash for Number Ranges150 Foreign Expressions to Inspire You

Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 22

Communication - Essay Example Paralanguage is a major factor in non-verbal communication. This is how the speaker’s voice comes out as he delivers the speech. The way the speaker delivers is believed to be as important as the actual message. This takes into consideration a number of factors involving tone, volume, emphasis, voice qualities, speech, and inflexion among others. Even though the message conveyed to the crowed is the same, the receiver understands and concentration is greatly improved when such items are well stressed. Kinesics is the body language of the narrator. Body movements are important concept in non-verbal communication. The viewer’s perception on eye contact, gesture and posture brings added concentration to the listeners. Experts in non-verbal communication field explained that people can pause up to 250,000 different facial expressions. Through this, we can understand intended message from the sender that number of times. A narrative was presented to the audience regarding a certain young man who went to the hospital with a problem in his leg and he needed an operation to enable him walk properly again. On getting to the hospital bed, the doctor starts surgery, unfortunately for him, the surgeon chopped off the wrong leg. The patient on waking up found the doctor surprised and did not know what was going on. He asked, â€Å"Doctor, what is going on?† the doctor replied to him, I have both good news and bad news for you. What is the bad news? The patient asked. I chopped off the wrong leg, but the good news is that the other leg is doing well, replied the doctor. This narrative uses a variety of non-verbal communication and the message was delivered appropriately. Observation is one of the major techniques of collecting data. A person attends any given function with only intention of collecting information on non-verbal communication which is used in those events. Questionnaires may also be formulated and distributed to practices

The Object-oriented Analysis - OOA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

The Object-oriented Analysis - OOA - Essay Example The School of Technology at Oxford Brookes University is undertaking the computerization of the process for preparing question papers for its various departments. The process involves communication between the Examination and Conferment Unit (ECU), module leaders, teaching staff, internal checkers, the exam secretary, and external examiners. The computerization project aims to improve the current system, which is considered quite tedious by the different parties involved. The new system, which shall be named â€Å"School of Technology Modular Examination and Coursework Preparation† (STMECP System), must address the issues associated with the current system while meeting quality assurance requirements in the preparation of question papers. An initial Requirements Elicitation and Specification has already been conducted. The project team elicited and analysed users’ requirements for the new system and identified both functional and non-functional requirements, as well as identified and analysed use cases and scenarios. The next step is to produce detailed requirements specifications using requirements modeling tools which help control the complexity, risk, and scope of the project. Requirements modeling also help and define goals and success criteria in an unambiguous manner for all the parties involved in the development and eventual use of the system. Complex requirements can be modeled with full traceability provided from each requirement, through to the final deliverables and system behavior (Sparx-Req Mgt, 2008). As defined during Requirements Elicitation and Specification, the functional requirements of the new system are divided into two areas: 1) the preparation of questions, solutions and other exam and coursework materials, and 2) the preparation and update of the TEO forms.Use cases are goal-oriented sets of interactions between actors and the system. For the STMECP system, the actors are the exam secretary (ES), module leaders (ML), memb ers of the teaching staff (TS), internal checkers (IC), and external examiners (EE).  

No Time to Think Essay Example for Free

No Time to Think Essay This week we were asked to analyse the following papers and a TED Talk presentation reflecting on how the accelerating pace of life and the distractions/noise in form of new means of communication are affecting our concentration and vanishing our â€Å"sanctuary† where we can dedicate time for thoughtful reflections. * â€Å"No time to think: Reflections on information technology and contemplative scholarship†, David M. Levy. (2007) * â€Å"Speed and the Unsettling of Knowledge in the Digital University†, Ray Land, (2011). TED Talk â€Å"5 ways to listen better†, Julian Treasure, (2011) Distractions serve anything but the knowledge It is true that today’s digitisation and networking tools speed up the pace of our communicative exchanges. In the other hand, these increasingly attractive tools are stealing our time and helping to distract us. These distractions serve anything but the knowledge because seriously limit our ability to focus and attention (and hence learning). Nowadays many people believe that reading an entire book is less attractive than commenting on their friends photos on Facebook or, open multiple tabs in a browser and quickly discover everything that is happening. It is precisely the possibility to access an incredible amount of information through the current digital technologies and encounter endless possibilities of knowledge that challenges our inability to build mental representations. Given the monumental supply of information obtained through the mass media, especially the Internet, the individual focuses his attention by very few moments in the data exposed on computer screens as they navigate through new links. However, the quality of these connections often contrasts with the amount of information, which are hardly assimilated because there is no time or effort to establish relations between concepts and thus, creating new meanings. As a result, individuals have habitual concentration difficulties, especially when connect with other people and at the same time read information in various news sites. It is not by chance the use of terms such as connect, Liked† and off to describe relationships between people. It is as if the email’s boxes or the tweets call us all the time so that messages must be read and answered immediately. The schools adopting the digital education model have already evidenced these concentration problems. The use of new technologies in the classroom econfigures everyday identities of their teachers and students and thus, their own teaching practice in the presence of the students’ limitless access to information through the Internet. I believe that the teachers, as the digital immigrants, and students, as the digital natives, are overwhelmed with the emancipatory potential of the Internet that in somehow they are experiencing a sense of loss as pointed out Ray Land: â₠¬Å"Paradoxically this may be experienced as a sense of loss as an earlier, more secure stance of familiar knowing has to be abandoned as new and unfamiliar knowledge is encountered†. The temporary downside of this digital turn is a viral pact of mediocrity, through which teachers and students pretend to teach and learn, to the extent that the contents of academic papers are copied and pasted in the text with less and less reasoning being developed. New teachers adapted to this modus operandi disregard ethical issues and do not refute the information that the student presents through consultation online. Improving concentration in the digital environment Considering the above scenario, I believe that we need to re-think our strategy to overcome distraction and increase our capacity to learn in digital environments. As David M. Levy mentioned: â€Å"It might well be possible to begin to explore different modes of thinking – routine and creative modes, as well as obsessive mind chatter – not only to develop more nuanced and refined understandings of these processes but to understand how to encourage or discourage them†. The starting point could be the understanding of the mechanisms of human attention, decode how it works and even how to develop it. I personally think that concentration is not innate to the human being, but a skill that can be taught throughout life and can always be improved. Recently I read an intriguing book called â€Å"The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force† (Jeffrey M. Schwartz and Sharon Begley, 2003) about the brain plasticity, which is the neurons’ ability to redistribute according to need and training. The conclusions regarding the brains ability to rewire itself and the idea that meditation may be driving neuroplastic changes are quite inspiring in the book. For J. Schwartz and S. Begley, the best way to ensure attention is to choose challenging activities. If the task is so hard that we almost cannot do it, will certainly require more focus. However, it is not always clear that we like or feel challenged by everything that we need to do. Sometimes the work is simply annoying, but still needs to be done. In these cases, the trick is to turn it into a kind of game, focusing on one phase at a time. Overcome steps, one by one, can leave the whole process more attractive. Something like the â€Å"gamification† strategies, i. e. points and titles that some programs or applications give each task is accomplished. Being totally concentrated has to do with the state of â€Å"flow† discussed in the week 4 of the IDLE course. The psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi tried to understand the phenomenon by calculating the amount of information that our neural networks are capable of absorbing. He reached a number: only 110bps (bits per second). Listening to someone talking, for example, requires the processing of 40bps. That means, there are 70bps left in to use for distractions around. So we can scribble on paper or think in others to-dos while listening to the conversation. Using the 110bps in an activity would be the equivalent of what Csikszentmihalyi calls flow† that state of absolute concentration that makes us not even notice the time passing. Finally, the schools should debate more about the negative effects of distraction, the importance of the â€Å"white space† (or the sanctuary as we call at IDLE, the creation of physical spaces or times on the calendar for uninterrupted, unwired thinking and connection) and encourage students to apply basic practices to promote personal â€Å"white space†. These practices include: create a student routine, make lists with the priorities of the day, learn to organize time and to collect relevant study materials, learn to book time to solve everything else outside of the studies (a good way to fend off distractions is to take them out of our heads) and learn to absorb and to reflect on what has been collected.

Southwest case analysis Essay -- essays research papers

Southwest has made an organization out of providing low-fare, short haul routes between city pairs. It has concentrated specifically on offering low-fares on all of its flights by maintaining its no frills attitude and high frequency of flights. This has afforded Southwest Airlines with the lowest cost structure in the industry. Southwest has created a niche for itself by flying a network of flights between smaller U.S. cities that average just one hour apart. This has differentiated them from their competition and avoided many clashes with industry giants who concentrate more on coast-to-coast flights. Kelleher, who is the president, chairman and CEO of Southwest Airlines is the companies single biggest asset and driving force. Kelleher runs the company very tightly and makes all the major decisions through a very centralized decision making process. This brings to light two potential problems. Firstly, how can a company such as Southwest airlines maintain such a centralized organi zation in the face of growth. Secondly, how is this company going to survive once Kelleher is no longer running it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The problem that Southwest Airline is facing, is how are they going to survive in an aggressive industry without Kelleher’s leadership. It is a significant problem as the company is a symbol of Kelleher. However, unlike the company, Kelleher has a limited life-span and therefore the company will likely outlive him. This problem therefore requires some urgency as the succession of Kelleher could be the airlines biggest problem. The consequences of Kelleher leaving could be that the company loses its corporate identity. Employees may not respond well to new management. Customers may perceive that the company will not be run in the same manner and will therefore lose its niche market. This could also apply to stakeholders, who will see the departure of Kelleher as a serious decrease in the value of the company. Competitors may also try to take advantage of the company during this unstable period.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kelleher is the face of Southwest airlines, even going as far as starring in most of their TV commercials. He also personally maintains an excellent relationship with a virtually all-union workforce. He has single handedly given Southwest the lowest employees turnover rate in the industry. Kelleher’s personal motiva... ...with the reality of the firm.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The implementation of this decision will require a marketing campaign that will be used to phase out Kelleher. The major resistance will be from the employees who will be fearful of new management. This will be addressed by the management team reinforcing the corporate strategies to the employees and reiterating the fact that Southwest airlines will remain the same company and the employees should expect things to stay the same. The ramifications of this plan is that power within Southwest could become to decentralized, therefore changing the core competencies of the firm.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In order for this plan to work it would require: Assembling a team to head the marketing campaign, restructuring of upper management, and decentralize decision making. The objective is to redefine and restructure the upper management in such a way that the loss of Kelleher is manageable. This plans effectiveness will be measured by employee and customer satisfaction throughout the transition. The project will be concluded when the new structure has been phased in and the reaction to Kelleher’s departure is under control.

Communication Worksheet Essay

In your own words, please answer the following questions. Each response should be written as an academic paragraph of at least 150 words. Be clear and concise, and be sure to explain your answers. If you cite any sources, use APA format. Paragraph QUESTIONS 1. WHAT IS THE TEXTBOOK DEFINITION OF COMMUNICATION? WHAT DOES COMMUNICATION MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY? GIVE AN EXAMPLE. (150 WORDS) Answers will vary. †¢ The textbook definition of communication is a social process in which individuals employ symbols to establish and interpret meaning in their environment (â€Å"West-Turner: Introducing Communication Theory,† 2004). With that being stated, communication is more than just speaking, typing, or texting and even signing. Real communication involves listening and paying attention to what the other person or group of people are expressing. Real communication is about response, give and take. In any real conversation we are all both teachers and learners. Real communication entails being open and honest. It shows the other person something about â€Å"who I am† on the inside. But if I really want the other person to pay attention and understand my message, I need to speak peacefully and quietly and directly. No one can really hear and understand anything when people are angry and shouting and looking all over the place. 1. Describe the differences between linear, interactional, and transactional. (150 words) Answers will vary. †¢ When it comes to communication, the differences between linear, interactional, and transactional communication are very different but are  also required for one another to work properly. Linear communication is a one-way street used for communication. It consists of the sender encoding a message and channeling it to the receiver in the presence of noise. There is an assumption that there is a clear beginning and end to this type of communication with no feedback from the receiver (â€Å"West-Turner: Introducing Communication Theory,† 2004). For example sending an email, text message, or giving a lecture. Interactional communication builds upon the linear communication model. It is a two-way street in which the sender channels a message to the receiver and the receiver becomes the sender and channels a message back to the original receiver(â€Å"West-Turner: Introducing Communication Theory,† 2004). This model has added feedback and field experience. Cultural b ackgrounds, ethnicity, location, and personal experiences play a major role in interactional communication. For example sending a text message to a receiver and the original sender having to wait for a text message back. Finally, transactional communication notices that each and every one of us is a sender and a receiver combined. It also notices that all parties involved in the communication are affected in some shape or form. The transactional communication method shows that communication is fluid and simultaneous (â€Å"West-Turner: Introducing Communication Theory,† 2004) and that most conversations are alike. It takes into consideration how each and every one of us interprets the data from the conversations, thus both parties being able to share the same meaning. For example friends talking and listening. While one friend is talking the others are constantly giving feedback on what they think or feel through facial expression or verbal feedback without stopping the original friend from talking.

Electronic Dance Music Essay

Electronic dance music (also known as EDM, dance music, club music, or simply dance) is a set of percussive electronic music genres produced primarily for dance-based entertainment environments, such as nightclubs. Dance music is generally produced for use by DJs and is most often presented in the context of a DJ mix.[1] So called â€Å"DJ producers† often perform live sets of their own dance music productions via a live PA.[2][3] In 2010, the acronym â€Å"EDM† was adopted by the American music industry and music press as a buzzword to describe the increasingly commercial US electronic dance music scene.[4][5] Other dance music communities have questioned the idea of EDM as blanket term for all electronic dance music and the term has instead been associated with specific dance sub-genres that became popular in the US, such as electro house and brostep.[6] A notable example of an early form of EDM is the 1977 collaboration between producer Giorgio Moroder and vocalist Donna Summer on the song â€Å"I Feel Love†, a groundbreaking dance/discothà ¨que hit with no traditional instruments.[7] The first era of electronic music comprises the instruments and music created prior to 1945.[8] The new field of information science inspired composers to explore the use of computers to compose and synthesize music, beginning in the 1950s.[9] The development of computer technology historically paralleled the development of the modern electronic music studio and synthesizer, leading to a cross-fertilization of the two fields that greatly benefited electronic music.[10] Birth of club music See also: Hi-NRG, Electronic body music, Euro disco, Synthpop, Italo disco, Electro (music), Garage music (North America), Post-disco and House music Hi-NRG (pronounced â€Å"high energy†)[11] is a style of uptempo disco or electronic dance music that originated in the United States and United Kingdom during the late 1970s. As a music genre, typified by a fast tempo (c. 140 bpm), staccato hi-hat rhythms (and the four-on-the-floor pattern), reverberated â€Å"intense† vocals, â€Å"pulsating† octave basslines, was particularly influential on the electronic dance music scene. Its earliest association was with Italo disco, which incorporated new American electronic sounds of post-disco and hi-NRG. Later, the genre became essential in the evolution of techno, and, to a lesser but important  degree, house music.[11] Artists like Daft Punk, Jus† ice or Calvin Harris represent only a small portion of those artists, coming mostly from a house music and electro-funk background, who gained a renewed interest in hi-NRG.[citation needed] Acid house and Rave See also: Acid house, Techno, Rave and Second Summer of Love Roland TB-303: The bass line synthesizer that was used prominently in acid house. Love Parade 1997 in Berlin. By 1988, house music had exploded in the UK and Germany with acid house becoming increasingly popular.[12] There was also a long-established warehouse party subculture based around the sound system scene. In 1988, the music played at warehouse parties was predominantly house. That same year, the Balearic party vibe associated with Ibiza based DJ Alfredo Fiorito was transported to London, whenDanny Rampling and Paul Oakenfold opened the clubs â€Å"Shoom† and â€Å"Spectrum,† respectively. Both night spots became synonymous with acid house, and it was during this period that the use of MDMA, as a party drug, started to gain prominence. Other important UK clubs at this time included â€Å"Back to Basics† in Leeds, Sheffield’s â€Å"Leadmill† and â€Å"Music Factory,† and in Manchester â€Å"The Haà §ienda,† where Mike Pickering and Graeme Park’s Friday night spot, â€Å"Nude,† was an important testing ground for American u nderground [13] dance music. Acid house party fever escalated in London and Manchester, and it quickly became a cultural phenomenon. MDMA-fueled club goers, faced with 2 A.M. closing hours, sought refuge in the warehouse party scene that ran all night. To escape the attention of the press and the authorities, this after-hours activity quickly went underground. Within a year, however, up to 10,000 people at a time were attending the first commercially organized mass parties, called raves, and a media storm ensued.[14] The success of house and acid house paved the way for Detroit Techno, a style that was initially supported by a handful of house music clubs in Chicago, New York, and Northern England, with Detroit clubs catching up later.[15] According to British DJ Mark Moore it was Derrick May’s†Strings of Life† that eased London  club-goers into acceptance of house, with Moore stating that: â€Å"I was on a mission because most people hated house music and it was all rare groove and hip hop†¦I’d play Strings of Life at the Mud Club and clear the floor. Three weeks later you could see pockets of people come onto the floor, dancing to it and going crazy – and this was without ecstasy.† [16][17] During the 1990s, events such as the Love Parade in Germany attracted large numbers of attendees, but this subsided after the start of the next millennium.[citation needed] One of the popular raves or EDM concert in the United States of America is Electric Daisy Carnival also known as EDC. EDC 2012 rave had over 85,000 people at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.[18] EDC at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has 6 stages for the DJ.[19] Not only there have 6 stages, they have amusement rides such as ferris wheel and numerous amounts of roller coasters.[20] Ever since EDC moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, they have been making more ticket sales.[21] EDC sold more than 230,000 tickets.[22] Also, another popular EDM concerts or raves in the United States of America is called Hard Summer.[23] Hard Summer is more an EDM concert that consist hip-hop, reggae, and rock that is infused with EDM style.[23] Los Angeles sold more than 40,000 tickets[23] North American commercialization of EDM Initially, electronic dance music achieved limited popular exposure in America when it was marketed as â€Å"electronica† during the mid to late 1990s.[24] At that time, a wave of electronic music bands from the UK, including The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and Underworld, had been prematurely associated with an â€Å"American electronica revolution.†[25][26] But, instead of EDM finding wider mainstream success, it was relegated to the margins of the industry.[25] Despite the domestic music media interest in â€Å"electronica† during the latter half of the 1990s, American house and techno producers continued to travel abroad to establish their careers as DJs and producers.[25] By the mid-2000s, a number of factors led to an increased prominence for dance acts in North America that was larger than previously observed. Daft Punk’s performance at the 2006 Coachella Festival—the first in the duo’s Alive 2006/2007 tour, which featured the introduction of a unique pyramid-shaped stage design and lighting rig, influenced what Spindescribed as an â€Å"arms race† for visual  effects in electronic music. Spin also considered the act to be a â€Å"tipping point† for EDM, as the appearance fueled nostalgia of the electronica era, and introduced the duo to a new generation of â€Å"rock kids†.[25] In 2009, French house musician David Guetta began to gain prominence in mainstream pop music after the 2009 release of â€Å"When Love Takes Over† (featuring the vocals of Kelly Rowland), which was internationally popular on both pop and dance music charts. The success of the song led to further collaborations with other pop and hip-hop acts, such asAkon (â€Å"Sexy Bitch†) and The Black Eyed Peas.[27] His collaboration with the latter, â€Å"I Gotta Feelin g†, was a major success for both The Black Eyed Peas and Guetta—in the U.S., the song achieved sales of 249,000 downloads and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number two, behind their previous single â€Å"Boom Boom Pow†.[28] The song eventually reached number 1 on July 30, 2009, and Billboard magazine reported that the song, along with â€Å"Boom Boom Pow,† helped the group maintain a 17-week run at the top of the Hot 100, the longest time period achieved by a single, duo or group.[29] The increased prominence of EDM was also fueled by concerts and festivals, such as Electric Daisy Carnival, that placed an increased emphasis on visual experiences (such as video and lighting effects), fashion (which The Guardian characterized as an evolution from the 1990s â€Å"kandi raver† into â€Å"[a] slick and sexified yet also kitschy-surreal image midway between Venice Beach and Cirque Du Soleil, Alice In Wonderland, Willy Wonka and a Gay Pride parade†), and the DJs themselves, who began to attain celebrity-like statuses. Websites such as YouTube and SoundCloud also helped fuel an increased interest in house and other types of electronic music, such as electro house and dubstep—both of which had also developed a hard rock-influenced sound popularized by producers such as Excision, Knife Party, Rusko and, most prominently, American producer Skrillex.[30][31] In 2011 Spin declared the start of a â€Å"new rave generation,† led by names such as Guetta, Canadian producer Deadmau5, and Skrillex, that was followed by a new wave of mainstream consumers.[25] Elements of EDM also began to emerge in songs by mainstream artists, as collaborations occurred with artists such as Afrojack and Calvin Harris.[25]EDM producers and DJs also began experiencing success playing club shows in U.S. cities such as Las Vegas; at the time, Diplo argued that promoters could generate higher profits from DJs  over other acts, stating that â€Å"a band plays, it’s 45 minutes; DJs can play for four hours. Rock bands—there’s a few headliner dudes that can play 3,000-4,000-capacity venues, but DJs play the same venues, they turn the crowd over two times, people buy drinks all night long at higher prices—it’s a win-win.†[25] Other major acts gaining prominence during this period, such as Avicii and Swedish House Mafia, elected to hold concert tours at major venues such as arenas alongside nightclub appearances; in December 2011, Swedish House Mafia became the first electronic music act to sell out New York City’s Madison Square Garden.[30] In November 2013, Music Trades magazine called EDM the fastest growing genre on the planet.[32] In addition to the growth of EDM through live events and the Internet, radio and television were also credited with helping to increase mainstream attention: analysts noted that sales of Calvin Harris’s â€Å"Feel So Close† and Swedish House Mafia’s â€Å"Don’t You Worry Child† dramatically increased after they began receiving contemporary hit radio airplay.[33] EDM songs and artists have been featured in television commercials and programs, while some artists have produced more pop-oriented songs to make their work more accessible to a mainstream audience.[34] In January 2013, Billboard introduced a new EDM-focused Dance/Electronic Songs chart, tracking the top 50 electronic songs based on sales, radio airplay, club play, and online streaming.[35] Corporate investment in EDM In accordance with the significant growth in mainstream popularity, EDM became increasingly attractive to outside investors, with some comparing it to the dot-com boom of the late-1990s. The beginning of corporate consolidation in the EDM industry began in 2012; especially in terms of live events. In June 2012, media executive Robert F. X. Sillerman (founder of what is now Live Nation) re-launched SFX Entertainment as an EDM-focused conglomerate, and announced his plan to invest US$1 billion for the acquisition of EDM-related properties. His purchases included a number of regional promoters and festivals (including ID&T, organizers of the annual Tomorrowland festival in Belgium), along with two nightclub operators in Miami, U.S., and Beatport, an EDM-oriented online music store.[36][37] The current Live Nation has also made investments into EDM, with its acquisition of Cream Holdings and Hard  Events, and announced a â€Å"creative partnership† with Insomniac Events in 2013;[38] CEO Michael Rapino believed that EDM was the new â€Å"rock ‘n’ roll† of the generation.[39][40][41] Advertisers have also increasingly associated themselves with the EDM industry; for example, alcoholic beverage companies such as Heineken and Anheuser-Busch have maintained marketing relationships with the Ultra Music Festival and SFX, respectively. Heineken also incorporated Dutch producers, such as Armin van Buuren and Tiesto, into their marketing campaigns. Avicii’s manager Ash Pournouri compared the increasingly commercial EDM industry to the transformation and commercialization of hip hop, which occurred in the early 2000s, arguing that the â€Å"corporate world† was beginning to â€Å"catch on† to EDM.[34] iHeartMedia, Inc. (formerly Cl ear Channel Communications), the largest commercial U.S. radio conglomerate, launched a dance radio format in Boston on December 20, 2012 under the brand Evolution 101.7. Marketed as the â€Å"first real EDM station† in the United States, the station, which changed its call letters to WEDX, was an extension of the Evolutioninternet radio channel on the company’s iHeartRadio service. The company also hired prominent British DJ and BBC Radio 1 personality Pete Tong to produce content for Evolution.[42] In June 2014, the dance/EDM format of WEDX was dropped in favor of country music; the format, however, was moved to the HD Radio subchannel of a sister station.[43][44][45] The 2014 business report by International Music Summit (IMS), estimates the EDM industry market worth $6.2 billion a year.[46] Criticism of commercial EDM Despite the growing mainstream acceptance of EDM, a number of producers and DJs, including Carl Cox, Steve Lawler, and Markus Schulz, have raised concerns that the perceived over-commercialization of dance music has impacted the â€Å"art† of DJing. Cox sees the â€Å"press-play† approach of a new generation of EDM DJs as not being representative of what he calls the â€Å"DJ ethos†.[30] Writing in Mixmag DJ Tim Sheridan questioned whether or not EDM was responsible for affecting the art of traditional DJing.[47] Sheridan contends that the emergence of â€Å"push-button DJs† who use auto-sync functions and pre-recorded sets featuring â€Å"obvious hits† rather than a diverse selection of music has led to a situation where â€Å"the spectacle, money and the showbiz [had] overtaken all—even notions of honesty.†[47] Some house  producers have openly admitted that â€Å"commercial† EDM required further differentiation and creativity. Avicii (whose 2013 album â€Å"True† featured songs incorporating elements of bluegrass music, such as its lead single â€Å"Wake Me Up†) stated that there was â€Å"no longevity† in the majority of EDM.[48] Deadmau5 has also criticized the homogenizationof EDM, stating that the music he hears â€Å"all sounds the same†Ã¢â‚¬â€he emphasized his diversification into other genres, such as techno and, in 2014, he released a techno song under the moniker â€Å"testpilot† for Richie Hawtin’s label, Plus 8. During the 2014 Ultra Music Festival, Deadmau5 made remarks attacking up and coming EDM artist Martin Garrix, and during his set later in the evening (where he filled in for Avicii, who was unable to attend due to medical issues), he played an edited version of Garrix’s song â€Å"Animals† remixed to the m elody of â€Å"Old McDonald Had a Farm†. Following the performance, Deadmau5 was also criticized on Twitter by fellow electronic musician Tià «sto for â€Å"sarcastically† mixing Avicii’s â€Å"Levels† with his own â€Å"Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff†, asking in response â€Å"How does one play a track sarcastically? â€Å"Am I supposed to sneer while hitting the sync button? Or is that ironic?†[49][50][51][52] In May 2014, the NBC comedy series Saturday Night Live parodied the stereotypes of EDM culture and push-button DJs through a Digital Short entitled â€Å"When Will the Bass Drop?†. The short featured a DJ named Davvincii—who is seen performing a number of unrelated tasks—including playing a computer game, frying eggs, and collecting money rather than actually mixing, and pressing a giant â€Å"BASS† button to cause the heads of attendees to explode.[53][54][55] Terminology The term â€Å"electronic dance music† was used in America as early as 1985,[56] although the term â€Å"dance music† didn’t catch on as a blanket term for the genre(s) until the second half of the 1990s, when it was embraced by the American music industry with their â€Å"Dance† charts (which continue to this day), as well as the consistent use of the term â€Å"dance music† in reference to artists in reviews.[56] In July 1995 Nervous Records and Project X magazine held their first award ceremony titled â€Å"Electronic Dance Music Awards.† [57][58] Writing in The Guardian journalist Simon Reynolds noted that music industry adoption of the term EDM was part of a drive to re-brand â€Å"rave culture† in the USA; an attempt to â€Å"draw line  between today’s EDM and 90s rave†.[59] While â€Å"EDM† has become the common blanket term for dance music genres in the USA, in many parts of Europe and online, in the UK the usage of â€Å"dance music† or â€Å"dance† is more commonly used.[60] What is widely considered to be club music changes over time includes different genres depending on the region and who’s making the reference, and may not always encompass electronic dance music. Similarly, electronic dance music sometimes means different things to different people. Both terms vaguely encompass multiple genres, and sometimes are used as if they were genres themselves. The distinction is that club music is ultimately based on what’s popular, whereas electronic dance music is based on attributes of the music itself.[61] Genres Main article: List of electronic music genres Just as rock, jazz and other musical genres have their own set of sub-genres, so does electronic dance music. Continuing to evolve over the past 30 years dance music has splintered off into numerous sub-genres often defined by their varying tempo (BPM), rhythm, instrumentation used and time period.[62] The broadest categories include house,techno, trance, hardstyle, UK garage, drum & bass, dubstep, progressive, electro, trap and hardcore. Electronic body music (EBM) is a music genre that combines elements of post-industrial music, EDM and synthpunk.[63] It first came to prominence in Belgium and was considered a part of the European New Wave movement.[63] Pure electronic body music is referred to as â€Å"old-school EBM† and should not be confused with aggrotech, dark electro or industrial music.[64] Production Typical tools for EDM production: computer, MIDI keyboard and mixer/sound recorder. In an April 2014 interview with Tony Andrew, the owner and founder of the Funktion-One sound system—considered a foremost model of audio technology and installed in venues such as Berghain, Output and Trouw—Andrew explains the critical importance of bass to dance music: Dance music wouldn’t be so successful without bass. If you think about it, we’ve really only had amplified bass for around 50 years. Big bass is only a couple of generations old. Before the invention of speakers that could project true bass frequencies, humans really only came across bass in hazardous  situations—for example, when thunder struck, or an earthquake shook, or from explosions caused by dynamite or gunpowder. That is probably why it is by far the most adrenaline-inducing frequency that we have. Bass gets humans excited basically. Below 90 or 100 Hz, bass becomes more of a physical thing. It vibrates specific organs. It vibrates our bones. It causes minor molecular rearrangement, and that is what makes it so potent as a force in dance music. The molecular vibration caused by bass is what gives dance music its power. It is what makes dance music so pleasurable to hear through a proper sound system.[65] Andrew also warns that too much bass, as well as too much sound overall, can be harmful and a â€Å"good sound engineer will understand that there is a window between enough sound to give excitement and so much that it is damaging.†[65] Festival goers, celebrate at the AustralianFuture Music Festival (2013) Festivals Electric Zoo Festival 2011 at the Hilltop Arena See also: List of electronic music festivals and List of Electronic dance music festivals Other festivals, including Lollapalooza and Coachella have increased the number of EDM acts represented.[citation needed] Coachella in particular took an adventurous path giving electronic acts a high profile in a time when they were seldom booked alongside rock bands, in the United States at least. Rawley Bornstein, an MTV music and talent programmer, described EDM as â€Å"the new rock and roll,†[66] as has Lollapalooza organizer Perry Ferrell.[67] Ray Waddell, touring editor at Billboard magazine, noted that festival promoters have done an excellent job at branding.[66] Tomorrowland, a popular EDM music festival in Belgium has amassed millions of followers through YouTube and other social media. Tomorrowland broadcast the show live over YouTube and over 16.8 million viewers tuned in. The 20 minute recap video of Tomorrowland in 2012 amassed over 90 million views on YouTube, a testament to the growing popularity of electronic dance music.[68]

The Future of Food Production Essays - Cuisine, Food, Sustainability

The Future of Food Production Essays - Cuisine, Food, Sustainability The answers for the given questions based on reading, The Future of Food Production by Sam Forman. 1.What is the text subject matter? The future of food production 2.Who could the writers audience be? How do you know? Common people who consumes food and government authorities. 3.What is the writers purpose? (Which of the six typical purposes that inform writing)? The writers general purpose is to show that something exists. In this article Sam Forman deals with the prevailing system of production of food production and challenges faced by consumers. 4.What is the writers claim or thesis? Restate it in your own words The main thesis of the article is that the American food production system needs to be changed in order to assure that common people can consume healthy food items and to protect the neutrality of the environment. 5.How does the writer organize his/her argument in the body of the text (meaning what are the major types of thought the writer uses to organise the argument)? In this article Sam Forman argues about the both advantages and disadvantages of local farming and industrial production of food. Though the local farms are good at producing quality products and well known for treating animals it is expensive and have only limited market opportunity. Local farms will never succeed in feeding the whole country. While industrial food production is cheaper and produce to feed the whole country, it is not sustainable and spread pollution and diseases. 6. What is the writers concluding thought, and what kind of conclusion is it? Sam Forman concludes the article by pointing the importance of achieving sustainability. The food production system should be able to operate in its current state. Food must be produced in manner that respects the plants and animals that we consume.

USS North Carolina (BB-55) in World War II

USS North Carolina (BB-55) in World War II USS North Carolina (BB-55) was the lead ship of the North Carolina-class of battleships. The first new design constructed by the US Navy since the early 1920s, the North Carolina-class incorporated a variety of new technologies and design approaches.   Entering service in 1941, North Carolina saw extensive service in the Pacific during World War II and took part in nearly all of the major Allied campaigns. This saw it earn 15 battles stars, the most won by any American battleship. Retired in 1947, North Carolina was taken to Wilmington, NC in 1961 and opened as a museum ship the following year.   Treaty Limitations The story of the North Carolina-class begins with the Washington Naval Treaty (1922) and London Navy Treaty (1930) which limited warship size and total tonnage. As a result of the treaties, the US Navy did not built any new battleships for the most the 1920s and 1930s. In 1935, the General Board of the US Navy began preparations for the design of a new class of modern battleships. Operating under the constraints imposed by the Second London Naval Treaty (1936), which limited total displacement to 35,000 tons and the caliber of guns to 14, designers worked through a multitude of designs to create a new class that combined an effective mix of firepower, speed, and protection. Design and Construction After extensive debate, the General Board recommended design XVI-C which called for a battleship capable of 30 knots and mounting nine 14 guns. This recommendation was overruled by Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson who favored the XVI design which mounted twelve 14 guns but had a maximum speed of 27 knots. The final design of what became the North Carolina-class emerged in 1937 after Japans refusal to agree to the 14 restriction imposed the treaty. This allowed the other signatories to implement the treatys escalator clause which permitted an increase to 16 guns and a maximum displacement of 45,000 tons. As a result, USS North Carolina and its sister, USS Washington, were redesigned with a main battery of nine 16 guns. Supporting this battery were twenty 5 dual purpose guns as well as an initial installation of sixteen 1.1 anti-aircraft guns. In addition, the ships received the new RCA CXAM-1 radar. Designated BB-55, North Carolina was laid down at the New York Naval Shipyard on October 27, 1937. Work progressed on the hull and the battleship slid down the ways on June 3, 1940 with Isabel Hoey, daughter of the Governor of North Carolina, serving as sponsor. USS North Carolina (BB-55) - Overview Nation: United StatesType: BattleshipShipyard: New York Naval ShipyardLaid Down: October 27, 1937Launched: June 13, 1940Commissioned: April 9, 1941Fate: Museum ship at Wilmington, NC Specifications: Displacement: 34,005 tonsLength: 728.8 ft.Beam: 108.3 ft.Draft: 33 ft.Propulsion: 121,000 hp, 4 x General Electric steam turbines, 4 x propellersSpeed: 26 knotsRange: 20,080 miles at 15 knotsComplement: 2,339 men Armament Guns 9 Ãâ€" 16 in.(410 mm)/45 cal. Mark 6 guns (3 x triple turrets)20 Ãâ€" 5 in (130 mm)/38 cal. dual-purpose guns60 x quad 40mm antiaircraft guns46 x single 20mm cannon Aircraft 3 x aircraft Early Service Work on North Carolina ended in early 1941 and the new battleship was commissioned on April 9, 1941 with Captain Olaf M. Hustvedt in command. As the US Navys first new battleship in nearly twenty years, North Carolina quickly became a center of attention and earned the enduring nickname Showboat. Through the summer of 1941, the ship conducted shakedown and training exercises in the Atlantic. With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the US entry into World War II, North Carolina prepared to sail for the Pacific. The US Navy soon delayed this movement as there was concern that the German battleship Tirpitz might emerge to attack Allied convoys. Finally released to the US Pacific Fleet, North Carolina passed through the Panama Canal in early June, just days after the Allied triumph at Midway. Arriving at Pearl Harbor after stops at San Pedro and San Francisco, the battleship began preparations for combat in the South Pacific. South Pacific Departing Pearl Harbor on July 15 as part of a task force centered on the carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) North Carolina steamed for the Solomon Islands. There it supported the landing of US Marines on Guadalcanal on August 7. Later in the month, North Carolina provided anti-aircraft support for the American carriers during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. As Enterprise sustained significant damage in the fighting, the battleship began serving as an escort for USS Saratoga (CV-3) and then USS Wasp (CV-7) and USS Hornet (CV-8). On September 15, the Japanese submarine I-19 attacked the task force. Firing a spread of torpedoes, it sunk Wasp and the destroyer USS OBrien as well as damaged North Carolinas bow. Though the torpedo opened a large hole on the ships port side, the ships damage control parties quickly dealt with the situation and averted a crisis. Arriving at New Caledonia, North Carolina received temporary repairs before departing for Pearl Harbor. There, the battleship entered drydock to fix the hull and its anti-aircraft armament was enhanced. Tarawa Returning to service after a month in the yard, North Carolina spent much of 1943 screening American carriers in the vicinity of the Solomons. This period also saw the ship receive new radar and fire control equipment. On November 10, North Carolina sailed from Pearl Harbor with Enterprise as part of the Northern Covering Force for operations in the Gilbert Islands. In this role, the battleship provided support for Allied forces during the Battle of Tarawa. After bombarding Nauru in early December, North Carolina screened USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)when its aircraft attacked New Ireland. In January 1944, the battleship joined Rear Admiral Marc Mitschers Task Force 58. Island Hopping Covering Mitschers carriers, North Carolina also provided fire support for troops during the Battle of Kwajalein in late January. The following month, it protected the carriers as they mounted raids against Truk and the Marianas. North Carolina continued in this capacity for much of the spring until returning to Pearl Harbor for repairs on its rudder. Emerging in May, it rendezvoused with American forces at Majuro before sailing for the Marianas as part of Enterprises task force. Taking part in the Battle of Saipan in mid-June, North Carolina struck a variety of targets ashore. Upon learning that the Japanese fleet was approaching, the battleship departed the islands and protected American carriers during the Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19-20. Remaining in the area until the end of the month, North Carolina then departed for the Puget Sound Navy Yard for a major overhaul. Finished in late October, North Carolina rejoined Admiral William Bull Halseys Task Force 38 at Ulithi on November 7. Final Battles Shortly thereafter, it endured a severe period at sea as TF38 sailed through Typhoon Cobra. Surviving the storm, North Carolina supported operations against Japanese targets in the Philippines as well as screened raids against Formosa, Indochina, and the Ryukyus. After escorting carriers on a raid on Honshu in February 1945, North Carolina turned south to provided fire support for Allied forces during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Shifting west in April, the ship fulfilled a similar role during the Battle of Okinawa. In addition to striking targets ashore, North Carolinas anti-aircraft guns aided in dealing with the Japanese kamikaze threat. Later Service Retirement After a brief overhaul at Pearl Harbor in late spring, North Carolina returned to Japanese waters where it protected carriers conducting airstrikes inland as well as bombarded industrial targets along the coast. With the surrender of Japan on August 15, the battleship sent part of its crew and Marine Detachment ashore for preliminary occupation duty. Anchoring in Tokyo Bay on September 5, it embarked these men before departing for Boston. Passing through the Panama Canal on October 8, it reached its destination nine days later. With the end of the war, North Carolina underwent a refit at New York and began peacetime operations in the Atlantic. In the summer of 1946, it hosted the US Naval Academys summer training cruise in the Caribbean. Decommissioned on June 27, 1947, North Carolina remained on the Navy List until June 1, 1960. The following year, the US Navy transferred the battleship to the State of North Carolina for a price of $330,000. These funds were largely raised by the states school children and the ship was towed to Wilmington, NC. Work soon began to convert the ship into a museum and North Carolina was dedicated as a memorial to the states World War II veteran in April 1962.

International experiences for Utilization of Solar Energy For Thermal Research Paper

International experiences for Utilization of Solar Energy For Thermal Desalination - Research Paper Example Therefore, there has been a considerable interest in the use of renewable or alternative energy sources to meet the demands of the industry (Eltawil, Zhengming, and Yuan 2009: 2245), since the supply of these renewable forms is potentially unlimited and the generation of energy is almost completely clean. That, and given their low cost of maintenance (Eltawil, Zhengming, and Yuan 2009: 2245), such energy sources, especially the harvesting of solar energy, has been getting much attention lately. The ultimate use of solar energy is for the desalination of brackish water in order to produce and supply WHO approved drinkable water to areas that are almost deprived of fresh water resources (Eltawil, Zhengming, and Yuan 2009: 2246). Water is the fundamental need of humanity, and a fundamental requirement for the functioning of industry and society. However, the overwhelming ratio of water is in the form of seawater or other forms of brackish water; it is estimated that only 3% if water is available as fresh water, and out of that, less than 1% is accessible (Eltawil, Zhengming, and Yuan 2009: 2246). ... Already, over a billion of the world’s population has no access to fresh water, and the demand is likely to increase by 40% of the present amount (Eltawil, Zhengming, and Yuan 2009: 2246). In light of these statistics, it has become imperative that new avenues be explored that should provide with an easy, cheap and clean method of fresh water production. To that end, the utilisation of solar energy is the most effective. This paper analyses three methods of harbouring this technology, namely Multi-effect distillation or MED, Multistage Flash Distillation or MSF, and Reverse Osmosis, the distribution for which is given below. Fig. 1: â€Å"Distribution of renewable energy powered desalination technologies† (Eltawil, Zhengming, and Yuan 2009: 2248). It explores which of these methods is the most efficient and cost-effective. It will start with a discussion of each of these methods, as follows, followed by a study of advantages of MED over the other methods. Multi-effect d istillation, or MED, is the most common and the oldest of all the techniques used for freshwater desalination (Bruggen 2003: 7). It harnesses the concept of evaporation-condensation, in that steam obtained from brackish water by evaporation is allowed to condense at a low temperature and pressure, and the heat thus given off is utilised to evaporate more water from the brine (Bruggen 2003: 7). The water produced upon condensation of steam is collected as non-saline fresh water; the ultimate goal of the set up. It is obvious that initially some energy from an external source would be needed in order to produce steam and start the cycle; the rest of the steps in the cycle are