Cambrian Explosion Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cambrian Explosion - Research Paper Example Parker defines it thus: â€Å"The Cambrian explosion is the evolutionary episode in which all animal phyla attained complex external forms.† (Parker, 2003, p. 9) The phylum is the body plan of an animal, and in the period before 543 million years ago, called the Precambrian era, there were only three distinct animal phyla, whereas at 538 million years ago, there were 38, and this phenomenal increase is what gives rise to the term â€Å"Cambrian explosion.† Some aspects of this theory are, however, disputed, and there are studies which support a much more gradual development of the 38 animal phyla over a much longer time, reaching back long before the so-called explosion period from 543 million years ago. This paper examines the key arguments in favour and against the phenomenon known as the Cambrian explosion concludes with some reflection on what the implications of the Cambrian explosion debate are for modern science. Most scholars agree that there is a step-change in the fossil record at around 543 million years ago. There are some problems, however, in assuming that this surviving record showing a sudden increase in phyla variation gives us a true and complete picture of what actually happened. As scientists discover and analyse further samples, and as new technologies emerge which allow different kinds of analysis, the picture can change dramatically. Above all, it must always be remembered that the preservation of specimens is largely a matter of chance, and there is always the possibility that key pieces of evidence have not survived, or have not yet been discovered: â€Å"While fossils provide the only tangible evidence for the origin of animals, some key early metazoan fossils are rare and many lack informative characters, making the derivation of a rigorous phylogenetic hypothesis based solely on fossil data difficult.† (Cartwright and Collins, 2007) Referring to new technologies such as comparative genomics , Cartwright and Colli ns conclude that â€Å"currently available genomic data supports the origin of a complex genome predating the Cambrian radiation, with the ancestral genome possessing the molecular toolkit necessary for an ‘explosion’ of body plans and complex traits.† (Cartwright and Collins, 2007) This position modifies the theory of the Cambrian explosion only slightly, since it theorizes a large number of evolutionary changes before 543 million years ago, at the molecular level, which then had the effect of causing a rapid divergence of organisms in the Cambrian explosion period. Factors external to the animals then prompt the adaptations that we see in the physical record. Some of the more popular science books propose single factors as â€Å"triggers† for the Cambrian explosion, such as changes in the way that light affected the earth which in turn prompte the evolution of sight, which had the effect of increasing pressure on organisms to avoid being seen and eaten b y other organisms (Parker, 2003). The importance of the Burgess shale deposits in British Columbia, Canada is recognized as a crucial piece of evidence and has been labelled as the indicator of a â€Å"Big Bang† in animal evolution. (Carroll, 2005, p. 138) The diversity of forms is explained in terms of adaptation to changes in the environment: â€Å"Genes in the tool kit are important actors in this picture, but the tool kit itself represents only possibilities, not destiny. The drama of the Cambrian was driven by ecology on a global

Social Security Program (SSP) Essay Example for Free

Social Security Program (SSP) Essay Summary As Social Security Program (SSP) is projected to be in deficit in the near future, there is a proposal to privatized SSP and giving workers the chance to invest their payroll taxes to investment opportunities with higher return.   However, it is barred by four major alternatives; namely, current system, tax increase, benefit cuts, and government-led investing.   It is found that privatization approach combined all the advantageous feature of the major alternatives and most importantly providing greater autonomy and worker satisfaction in the long-run.    As a result, it is recommended that further discussion must be opened to public, expert and politician debates to concretize privatization strength and also its weaknesses.   Introduction Officially referred as Old-Age Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI), SSP is a payroll tax funded social insurance program of the US.   In 2005, there is a proposal from President Bush to upgrade the current SSP by splitting the benefits to be shouldered by the Government and the benefits to be shouldered by the retirees themselves.   It calls for Thrift Savings Plan-like investment opportunities observed in Government workers which can be channeled to several investing options in bonds and securities market.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bush plan intends to divert part of payroll taxes to private social security accounts.   Democrats disagreed and assure that the Trust Fund is in good form until 2042.   Social Security and Medicare are two primary important national issues among voters.   The pay-as-you-go scheme is the current strategy of the SSP which makes current retirees beneficiaries of current taxpayers.   Also, due to this scheme, the proceeds from payroll taxes surpassed disbursements for two consecutive decades.   As a result, these surpluses are being diverted to other Congressional projects other than SSP.   As early as 2018, however, the surpluses would turn out to be deficits because of the fund diversion.   Analysis Creation of private accounts is argued to minimize long-term liabilities on one hand while this benefit could have short-run difficulties on the other.   The former is supported through the ability of private accounts to reduce payment to future retirees (e.g. the invested amount and interest).   The latter, however, recognized the tendency of those accounts to lengthen in the investment pot as prospective retirees suspend from going out the labor force.   As a result, the pre-retirement period will finance payment through a fund that suffers from a deficit (e.g. revenues/ payroll taxes are less than expenses/ retirement benefits).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The surpluses since1983 are invested in US Treasury Bonds and gained at least $1.8 Trillion in 2005.   The importance of this figure would supposedly be eminent as there are forecasts that expenses will exceed revenues in the coming years.   However, the truth is that the Government is merely borrowing those surpluses to reduce budget deficits.   When the Trust Fund demands redemption, this would result to problematic scenarios such as increase in taxes, postponing of projects, rising debt and selling state properties.   This is the cause of turmoil on how to curb SSP direction.   If no action is done, the Trust Fund is bound to exhaust between 2042 and 2052 with emergency financing is only capable to cover at most 75% of SSP expenses. There is also a lobby to increase quality of life of retirees by raising the rate of return of the SSP contributions in level with interest paid via Government borrowing.   Although the proposal of President Bush addresses part of this, there is suspicion that the privatization strategy is tarnished by libertarian principles against redistribution of state income.   In 1980s, a single-earner couple would receive at least 7% return to their SSP investment.   In contrast, similar couples who are bound to retire in 2010 would only expect an earning of 3.6% return.   There are three elements of such plunge; namely, the aging workforce, rise of total benefits and minimal investment exposure of the Trust Fund.   The third element is vital to the concept of conservative investing as SSP is a means for retirees to remain independent in terms of financial support and be empowered regardless of age.   Findings Privatization provides the future retirees to shoulder investment risks and channel their contributions based on their return expectation.   They are benefited because customized needs will be addressed and retiree satisfaction is optimized.   In macroeconomic terms, it can trigger increase in wealth of retirees that can trickle down to rise in consumer spending which can lead to economic expansion.   In contrary to the current SSP, however, privatization houses moral hazards because excessive risks that will be confronted by individuals can proceed to investment crash.   The current system is characterized by lower risks and management costs compared to the possibility of zero returns and reduction of principal in privatization.   As the current system is bound for bankruptcy, it is aggravated by high payroll taxes, poor return and discrimination against women, low-waged and minority workers.   However, it minimizes the issues of insolvency that privatization failed to r esolve. Along with the current system, there are three non-privatization alternatives with regards to SSP; namely, tax increases, reduction of benefits and obtainment of greater return by real capital asset investing.   Increasing tax rates is supported by the research that US citizens are willing to pay indefinite amount of tax as long as it targets appropriate programs in which apparently Social Security is inclusive.   Further, it is projected that in the near future gross domestic product or GDP will outgrow Social Security taxes by at least 10% caused by pressures of aging population. To save the solvency of SSP from 2016 forecasted deficit, tax rise should meet $103 per worker and by 2030 such increase is required to hit $1,543 per worker.   In this course, adverse effects of tax increase option will result such as reduction in jobs as well as slower economic growth.   There will be also less incentive for workers to work because their Social Security contributions are viewed as pure tax rather as investment that they will receive when they retire. The second option is benefit cut.   One advantage of this is that retirees would be able to receive greater face value even after the reduction of benefits because the payment is done periodically. The privatization alternative also offers benefit cuts but on extreme terms such as ad adjustment of benefit indexing formula with inclusion of adjusted wage productivity and setting a non-greater-than inflation rate ceiling for rising benefits.   The benefit cut option will most likely follow the economic growth to prevent adverse economic impacts.   Specifically, the current SSP plan of increasing the benefits should be lowered to 3%.   Considering excessive benefit cuts of privatization approach, some analysts believed that reduction or even eradicating spouse benefits can be employed.   This strategy is said to solve the issue of small-wage earners. The third alternative is government-led investing by which the state will have the discretion of putting the money from the SSP to private assets.   Privatization also allows this feature with the difference of decision-maker who will make the call which is the workers themselves through creation of private accounts.   Government-led investing reduces the probability of individual workers to manager their finances on sub-optimal and risky manner.   It addresses the lacking of the current system for higher returns with limitation of risks from private accounts.   Potential retirees can enjoy greater returns on one hand and minimal risks on the other.   However, there is bottleneck on this approach. One of the major hurdles is that the substantial finance eminent in SSP can buy a major stake on US companies.   In effect, the negative image of Government agencies and even politicians can mix in corporate world.   Conclusion There is what analysts called ostrich method that supports the current system.   It challenges the very extreme view in projecting the insolvency of SSP.   For example, the growing economy will pus wages and payroll taxes up that can sustain the needs of the Trust Fund.   However, not only solvency issues are important at this stage of US economy.   Apart from the fact that unmet levels of economic growth yet experienced by the country is required to maintain SSP in the decades to come, there are issues of higher rate of return, elimination of minority and women life expectancy-to-benefit inequalities, greater opportunities for wealth creation and absence of right to benefits (e.g. lack of property ownership of contributors). When workers are able to invest their Social Security taxes on their own terms and choosing, it provides sense of ownership and control to their finances and necessarily results to addressing the issues cited in the preceding statement.   Seemingly, privatization is a better option compared to the three alternatives including the option of retaining the current system.   Recommendation It is recommended that the Government should execute due diligence going to final decision on how SSP will be managed.   The public must get involve with deliberations of economic, political and historical experts with authorities and the President on top of the discussion.   This effort would not be very demanding to them as Social Security is one of the most important national issues for US citizens and can serve as the primary source of politicians vote in coming elections.   With relevance on the household and national levels, SSP resolution would be a mere part of US challenge to sustainable growth.   References Anrig, G. (unknown). 10 Myths abut social security, The Century Foundation. Cox, W. (2005). An alternative to the destruction of social security, Online Journal. Lochhead, C. (2005). Bush’s social security proposal takes a hit: GAO finds problems with privatization, Chronicle Washington Bureau. Tanner, M. (2002). No second best: the unappetizing alternatives to social security privatization [Internet].

Compare Contrast Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano Essay -- Comparat

There are various things that make up a piece of literature. For example: choice of diction, modes of discourse, and figurative language. Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano were great examples of authors that used these elements of literature. There are similarities and differences in A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson and From Africa to America. Though Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano shared similarities in experiences, they had different writing personalities, purposes, attitudes, tones, and relations with their communities. There are four main modes of discourse: expository, narrative, descriptive, and persuasive. In Mary Rowlandson’s A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, it is apparent in the title that it is a narrative. Like Mrs. Rowlandson’s literature, Olaudah Equiano’s From Africa to America is a narrative. A narrative form of literature is a story, account of events, or experiences, whether it is true or fictitious. In this case their stories were their real experiences and they gave the reader actual facts and information, also making it expository. "The closeness of the place and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us." (73) This is a perfect example showing that Olaudah Equiano’s narrative is also descriptive, giving the reader vivid images in his mind, whereas Rowlandson’s narrative rarely has descriptive content. These w orks of literature may also be portrayed as persuasive by the quote of, "..Overwhelmed with the thoughts of my condition.." (7) Mary Rowlandson was overwhelmed with her emotions. This quote may persuade the reader ... ...aves. Olaudah’s story may be seen as a reminder that people in the latest generation have things easy compared to the time he was alive. People should not take what they have for granted, for example freedom. The people of today have the most freedom than ever before. Although two different authors wrote these works of literature, A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson and From Africa to America, both stories possessed similar and different elements of writing. These tales were worthy of comparing because they had various things to review, contrast, and realize, such as the worship they had or didn’t have for God, their experiences, and their styles. Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano were remarkable writers whose works will always be a part of America’s history for the various styles and purposes they had to share with their readers.

Baby Pacifier: The Symbol of “Me” Culture

Baby Maggie of the Simpsons has contributed to the popularity of baby pacifiers, with her incessant sucking, which can speak volumes, depending on the situation of her family. Baby pacifiers have been part of the American culture for a long time that they have evolved into many names, â€Å"soothers, dummies, Binkys,† report Kalb and Whitford in â€Å"Big Binky Brouhaha. † Binkys seem like ordinary tools for calming babies to sleep or silence, but it can also launch some of the most glaring criticisms of American culture.The baby pacifier represents the overwhelming â€Å"me† culture of Americans, because it stands for autonomy, narcissism, and the paradox of social detachment-attachment. The baby pacifier represents the democratic principles of American culture, wherein parents give the autonomy to babies in choosing when and where to use their dummies. When American babies cry, mothers often interpret it as a sign of distress, and they immediately attend to the m.In a study of parenting attitudes among five ethnic groups in the United States, Jambunathan, Burts, and Pierce (2000) observe that European American mothers are most likely to interpret baby cries as calls for help, and so they respond more eagerly to these cries than Asian American, Asian Indian, and African American mothers. The latter ethnic groups are also concluded as possibly more detached to the needs of their infants, because they often live in extended family arrangements and attend to other needs.This article indicates that American parents tend to provide greater autonomy for their children. On the other hand, autonomy has its dark side, narcissism. A baby wants a pacifier, and because she wants, she gets it. The book â€Å"The Narcissism Epidemic† by Twenge and Campbell (2009) illustrate how narcissism is growing everywhere in America, which leads to hostility, materialism, and superficial values.In one example, they describe the Blinky and its connection to th e materialist and self-centered nature of modern parenthood, and modern American culture, as well: â€Å"Babies wear bibs embroidered with ‘Supermodel’ or ‘Chick Magnet’ and suck on ‘Bling’ pacifiers while their parents read modernized nursery rhymes from This Little Piggy Went to Prada† (Twenge and Campbell 2009). This is an example of how parents are subconsciously training their babies that they can have anything they want, just because they want it. Baby pacifiers can symbolize the revolution of the â€Å"me, me, me!† culture, which is levels higher than the simple and initial â€Å"me† culture, which only demanded what is due to the individual, such as basic civil rights. Baby pacifiers also signify the inconsistency and problems of social detachment-attachment in American relationships. In a news article, Kalb and Whitford interview a mother Janna Bosshardt, who would have preferred to not use a pacifier, but was forc ed to because her third child, Cale is â€Å"an Olympic-level screamer,† and she believes that â€Å"A pacifier was the only thing that would calm him down.It was for his sanity and mine. † A personal interview with a mother of two kids also confirms the tug-of-war between detachment and attachment. Bearns describes how pacifiers make her insane and sane all at once. It makes her insane, because she is allowing the pacifier to do her own job of paying attention to her baby’s needs. Still, the pacifier also makes her sane, because she will have more time to work. She says: â€Å"It’s hard to admit, but I am making pacifiers a pseudo-parent. I should breastfeed, but I don’t have the time.† These notions of what should be done with baby pacifiers embody the detachment and attachment in American culture. Americans want to give more love and attention to their children, because of the work-life balance they aim to pursue. Yet, they are still seei ng family-work conflict, as something they must do away with, by using easy and quick resolutions (Mortazavi et al. 2009). Baby pacifiers signify something gained and lost. Children learn autonomy, wherein they can get what they want.But they forget that they must also work hard for what they want, and they must also take time to reflect on their actions and its consequences. Baby pacifiers also embed narcissistic and detachment values and practices that weaken American relationships. What is lost in this hyper-individualistic culture is human bonding and the realization that every choice, no matter how small, can have grave consequences. Finally, fundamentally missing in the â€Å"me, me, me! † culture is the idea of being â€Å"We. † Works cited Bearns, Jennifer. Personal interview. 27 July 2010. Kalb, Claudia and Ben Whitford.Big Binky Brouhaha. Newsweek 146. 18(31 Oct. 2005): 33. Jambunathan, Saigeetha, Burts, Diane C, and Sarah Pierce. Comparisons of Parenting Att itudes among Five Ethnic Groups in the United States. Journal of Comparative Family Studies 31. 4 (2000): 395-406. Mortazavi, Shahrnaz, Pedhiwala, Nisreen, Shafiro, Maggie, and Leslie Hammer. Work-Family Conflict Related To Culture and Gender. Community, Work & Family 12. 2 (May 2009): 251-273. Twenge, Jean M. and W. Keith Campbell. The Narcissism Epidemic. New York, NY: Free Press, 2009. Web. 27 July 2010 < http://today. msnbc. msn. com/id/30312181>.

Givenchy

Luxury fashion brands that were established three or four decades ago were born out of passion fashion and to create a legacy that could be passed down from one generation to another. The items from the past speak of opulence, elegance and status that t remain ever popular in the present days – some call it classics while others deem it as collectors’ items. Whatever one chooses to name it, fashion houses are capitalising on fashion trends of today and bringing the trends from the past back to the runway. A fashion house that is creating ripples of admiration is Givenchy with its Fall/Winter 2013 collection for women.Hubert de Givenchy, one of the first and most important haute couture designers worldwide, set the trends of Parisian fashion and defined elegance worldwide and fast forward to the present and the Parisian luxury label currently designed by Riccardo Tisci, still preserves the code set by Hubert de Givenchy: playing with a palette of non-colours, grey, black , white and beige, to better outline an uncluttered silhouette while adding the personalised touch of Riccardo which is mainly dark romantic. Together they make Givenchy one of the most appreciated brands in the world.An array of bag collections was unveiled at recent preview of Givenchy’s FW 2013 collection, and among them, the HDG and Antigona – two of this season’s collections stand taller than the rest. It is fast becoming the IT bags to be seen on the arms of stars, celebrities and the likes of them. Creating a collection after iconic individuals is a way of immortalising these icons and to ensure their presence lingers with the brand for generations to come, and the HDG pays homage to the man who put Givenchy on the fashion map of the world.The Givenchy HDG Fall collection is Riccardo Tisci’s perception of a French couture house creating a bag for the dynamic urban woman. It is about class and elegance with a hint of sporty attitude that is easy to wear. All these fundamental notions are what the name Givenchy stands for. Its simple shape with pure lines is twisted with a chunky metal chain, adding a masculine feel. The HDG comes in a medium or small size in herringbone cotton, calf leather, eel, or sea-wolf. The printed version features ‘maison Givenchy' as a reference to what was written on the labels sewn onto haute couture creations.The House of Givenchy is thrilled to be bringing back the star of Fall/Winter 2010 – the Antigona collection. This collection designed by Riccardo Tisci first debuted on the runway in the Fall-Winter 2010 Ready-to-wear collection alas the nature of the Antigona collection is timeless, the fashion house felt it is apt to reintroduce it to fashion connoisseurs in the Fall/Winter 2013 collection. Its sharp details and boxy construction represent Riccardo Tisci’s love of the masculine and feminine contrast and with a recognizable, structured shape, this new design combines the f eminine aspects of a classic Boston bag with masculine features.Several references are made to its military spirit such as a large industrial zipper or a triangle padded leather patch. Exclusively designed metal hooks and loops were developed alongside a leather shoulder strap to allow the Givenchy woman to carry the Antigona in different ways. Inspired by â€Å"Antigone†, a strong female figure in Greek Mythology whose name stands for â€Å"unbending†, the Antigona is a modern bag that will remain a classic in Riccardo Tisci’s accessories collections for Givenchy.Some of the stars who have been spotted with this classic on their arms are Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Zoe Saldana, Kate Moss and Demi Lovato to name a few. Overall, the Fall/Winter 2013 women's collection marries the strength of gypsies and the romanticism of a Victorian feeling to celebrate women. Riccardo Tisci revisits the signature shapes and prints of his Givenchy archives to create bold feminine silhouettes. Looking at the gypsy aesthetics borrowing men’s clothes but adding femininity in cutting and mixing them with women’s pieces, Riccardo Tisci creates a collection constantly playing with the feminine and the masculine.Biker jackets, bomber jackets, sweatshirts and collar-less duffle coats are paired with under-the-knee skirts and flow-y balloon-shaped dresses. Delicate flounces, graceful ruffles and micro-pleats animate blouses, shirts and dresses. Graphic patchworks of fabrics and prints reveal elaborate techniques of construction and a contrasting take on textures. The sensuality of lace or silk chiffon is reworked in a mosaic-like geometry.Flower-printed flannel, rose-painted chunky tweed and paisley jacquard are paired with lumberjack checked shirts, Madonna-printed velvet and shark jaws men’s prints. Embroidered tulle and chiffon display stars, large sequins and crystals. Sharp boots show hand-stitched stripes of multi-coloured elaphe, python, whip snake or eel. Chain bracelets in palladium feature an engraved medal. Carrier straps are turned into braided leather or crystal pave belts. The Fall-Winter 2013 Women’s Givenchy collection is turning out to be a lust-worthy contender for your precious hard-earned salary.