The Most Important SEO Data Points for Your Website

by Sienna Luard Any online marketer will knowthe importance of analytics data for measuring website performance. Without these metrics, you have no way of evaluating different marketing strategies. But you don’t always have time to analyze everything – you just need to know the data that gives you a good overview. There are a number of important SEO data points that every marketer should pay attention to in order to optimize future marketing strategies. Domain Authority Created by Moz, a leading online SEO resource, Domain Authority is one of the most comprehensive and revealing measurements about your website. Basically, by combining various website statistics, including link counts and MozRank, this metric tells you how well your domain is likely to rank in Google’s search results pages. Measured on a 100-point scale, a high Domain Authority score translates into better search rankings and more organic traffic. Use Moz’s Open Site Explorer tool to compare your site with others and measure its authority over time. Number of Indexed Pages Put simply, the more pages you have indexed by search engines, the more opportunity you have to rank higher for certain keywords. Having more pages also allows you to build a more solid internal linking structure. But beware – just like backlinks, having more is not necessarily always better for SEO. The content still needs to be high quality and the keywords must be relevant and non-repetitive. Site Speed (Page Load Time) Do you know how many seconds it takes for your pages to load? Site speed is a critical factor in determining how your website ranks with Google and other search engines. Faster page load times also enhance the user experience. Check out your site speed statistics with Google’s PageSpeed tools, and use the tips to improve your site speed. Google has repeatedly stated the importance of page load time in rankings, so neglecting site speed is no longer an option. Organic Traffic Getting more organic site visits is one indication of a successful search marketing strategy. Unlike â€Å"paid† traffic, which comes from Adwords or other advertisements, the amount of organic traffic shows how successful your content strategy is. Make sure you are regularly publishing unique content. If the number of organic visits is steadily rising for specific keyword phrases, you’re on the right track. Use Google Analytics to find out which keyword phrases are attracting visitors to your site, and which web pages these visitors are landing on. Backlinks Backlinks are one of the most important factors in Google rankings. Quality backlinks from authoritative websites show Google that your site is useful and relevant, and you’ll be rewarded with higher search rankings. However, remember that quality counts. A high percentage of poor-quality links from untrustworthy websites is not good for SEO. Develop relationships with relevant, credible websites that add value to your website and try to get links to your site from these domains. Social Media Engagement Since Google’s Hummingbird update, social signals have become increasingly important to SEO. Boosting your presence on social media platforms not only promotes your brand to a wider audience, it also improves your credibility score with Google. Monitor the number of Facebook Likes, LinkedIn Followers, Twitter Followers, and Google+ Follows your site has and track these figures over time. Some effective ways to boost social media engagement include keeping an active blog (you can always look to outsource a freelance blog writer if you do not have the resources within your company to do this), creating polls or competitions and posting articles that are easily likeable/sharable. Bounce Rate Technically speaking, this is the percentage of visitors who navigate away from your site after viewing only one page. Along with other user metrics like organic click-through rate, Google measures the quality and value of your content, and adjusts your ranking accordingly. For this reason, it’s crucial to reduce your website’s bounce rate by delivering quality content that is relevant to the keyword phrases that drive people to your site. Now that you know some of the most important SEO data points for your website, you can take the necessary steps to improve your site’s ranking with search engines. You won’t see the results of your work overnight, but when you start to focus on the SEO metrics that really matter, you can maximize your online visibility in the long term and keep up with the competition.

Risk Management Plan for Outdoor Expeditions and Overnight Trips

Risk Management Plan for Outdoor Expeditions and Overnight Trips Trip overview and description This risk management plan will cover four day trip to Mount Whitney which is the highest summit in the US with an elevation of 14497 feet above sea level. Whitney summit is Among the Sierra Nevada highest peaks. The trail will follow the normal Mount Whitney route which is considered to be less strenuous to the summit.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Risk Management Plan for Outdoor Expeditions and Overnight Trips specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The beginning of the trail will at Whitney Portal situated 8360 feet. The increase in altitude is about 6,100 feet. Trail distance is 11 miles from Whitney Portal to the summit. At most, the trip will take 4 days to complete. All the members of the group will take train, bus or flight to Lone Pine and then driven to Whitney Portal where the trail will begin. The rest of the trail will be on foot covering at least six miles per day. However, this will depend on the distance between the camping sites as well as the day’s weather and other factors put into consideration. The main aim of the trail is to achieve the major objectives of the trail that includes health enhancement, recreation and improve quality of life. The other objectives are for the preservion of cultural heritage and natural resources, provide educational opportunities as well as boost the economic development of the region. Most of the team members are between the ages of 25 and 45 with the team leader being the oldest at the age of 45. The team of eight consist four pair of couples. Each of the team members has experience in the mountain trails with majority of the team having mountain hike skills. The team leader is the most experienced having guided most of the mountain trails in various parts of the world such as Alps in Europe. However, most of the group members are not new in the mountain trail.Advertising Looking for essay on health me dicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Leadership The group Leaders will have essential responsibilities especially in the management of the team. The leader will have to ensure that the team is safe, have enjoyment, are fully engaged and most importantly, educationally gain from the trips. Besides the group management skills, the team leader will be required to have possession of navigational and trailside maintenance skills (Martin, 2006). In addition, the trail leaders must have the capabilities of assessing risks and ways through which they can deal with emergencies. The leader will also be required to provide an alternative in case of any eventuality. The leader should be highly experienced and is expected to provide technical advice on weather changes, acclimatization levels, GPS directions and health conditions and hazards as well as other technical issues that may be encountered while on the field (Cook, 2007). The camp instructors are supposed to provide any assistance as well as providing directions. Moreover, the instructors have the responsibility of ensuring that the teams are safe and secure. Trip Itineraries Day Distance (Miles) Location Time Activity 1 0 Whitney Portal 5.00 am Wake up time 5.00 – 5. 30 am Readiness exercise 5.30 – 6.15 am Preparations including personal hygiene, filling backpacks, ensuring everything are in place. 6.15 – 7.00 am breakfast 7.10 – 12.00 pm Set off time, hiking up 2.8 Lone Pine lake 12.00 – 1.00 pm Lunch 1.00 – 3.00 pm Resuming the ascent, hiking up trail 3.8 Outpost Camp 3.00 – 7.00 pm Camp arrival, doing camping related activities, individual health check and all other individual related activities 7.00 – 9.00 pm Dining having fun and etc 9.00pm Bed time 2 3.8 Outpost Camp 5.00 am Wake up time 5.00 – 5. 30 am Readiness exercise 5.30 à ¢â‚¬â€œ 6.15 am Preparations including personal hygiene, refilling backpacks, ensuring everything are in place. 6.15 – 7.00 am breakfast 7.10 – 12.00 pm Set off time, hiking up 6 Trail camp 12.00 – 1.00 pm Lunch 1.00 – 3.00 pm Resuming the ascent, hiking up trail 8.2 Trail crest camp 3.00 – 7.00 pm Camp arrival, doing camping related activities, individual health check and all other individual related activities 7.00 – 9.00 pm Dining having fun and etc 9.00pm Bed time 3 8.2 Trail crest camp 5.00 am Wake up time 5.00 – 5. 30 am Readiness exercise 5.30 – 6.15 am Preparations including personal hygiene, refilling backpacks, ensuring everything are in place. 6.15 – 7.00 am breakfast 7.10 – 10.00 am Set off time, hiking up 11 Mt Whitney summit 10.00-10.30 am Taking photos, taking measurements, taking records GPS, Descent 10.30-12.30 pm Descending the trail 13.8 Trail crest camp 12.30 – 1.30 pm Lunch 1.30 4.00 pm Descent 16 Trail camp 4.00 – 7.30 pm Camp arrival, doing camping related activities, individual health check and all other individual related activities 7.30 – 9.00 pm Dining having fun and etc 9.00 pm Bed time 4 16 Trail camp 6.00 am Wake up time 6.00 – 6.45am Preparations including personal hygiene, refilling backpacks, ensuring everything are in place. 6.45 – 7.30am breakfast 19.2 Lone Pine lake 7.30 – 12.00pm Descent arrival at Lone Pine Lake 12.00 –12.45pm Lunch 22 Whitney portal 12.45 – 2.45 pm Descent, arrival at Whitney portal 4.00 onwards Writing report, evaluation resting, preparing for the following day departure Equipment The following are the basic equipments or gear that will be required on the trail. These types of equipment are needed especially during the average summer conditions. However, during winter special gear may be required such as the ice axe, snow helmet, crampons and snow shoes (Connally, 2004). But since this trail is planned during average summer conditions, these winter equipments will not be necessary. What is important to remember is that all the equipments will be carried for the entire 22 miles round trip journey. Therefore, they should be kept as light as possible (Goldenberg Martin, 2007). The equipment that will needed includes:Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Risk Management Plan for Outdoor Expeditions and Overnight Trips specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Backpacks at least with a capacity of about 30lt and can comfortably carry all the travelling gear, food, water and extra clothing Hydration system with at least 2lt of water Headlamp mostly the basic LED lamp with high quality lithium batteries. Starting the hike with a new pair is better and it is a good idea to have an extra set. The map the best map is Tom Harrison Mt. Whitney Zone. Each team member should have its personal map print outs and extra care should be taken to prevent any contamination with moisture. It is also important that the team members familiarize themselves with the map taking cognizant of important pints or stopping areas along the trail before setting out for the trail. The maps are very essential especially when the visibility is reduced to a few meters when the clouds roll in. The GPS navigation or compass. These are very essential when the weather turns to be very bad. It is also important to have lithium batteries for the GPS. The use of these equipments are essential for all the team members and should be learned during the prior trail trainings The First Aid Kit carrying band aids, tape, aspirin, mole skin, ibuprofen, antihistamine, blister ointment, portable aqua iodine tablets Reflective blanket which can be used as an emergency shelter. The blanket should be very light Fire starter or water proof matches. Though they are rarely required they can still be useful during emergencies. Small knife which should be simple and smaller. Probably it should be 51 piece multi-tool. Trekking poles that will be vital in saving the knees and in extra balancing on tricky terrain as well as stream crossing Clothing gear that includes under amour boxer brief and bra for women, Patagonia Capilene Crew Top, North Face Paramount Convertible Pants, Smart wool hiking socks, water proof hiking boots particularly the Merrell Outland Mid boots and the Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap. Extra clothing that includes light weight power dry long sleeve t-shirt, full zip fleece jacket, rain jacket, full zip rain pants, black diamond wind weight liner gloves, wind break beanie extra pair smart wool hiking socks and sunglasses Other extras may include sunscreen, lip balm, toilet paper, wag bag and wrist watches. Water sources Water is very essential during the hike particularly to stay hydrate d while acclimating. Various factors that range from environmental to physical body needs determine the quantity of water one should have at a particular time. In average, about 3 to 6 liters of water is required per person to stay hydrated during acclimation. Additives such as electrolyte drink mix and Gatorade can also be added to water or used along the trail to keep hydrated. Luckily, pure water will be found in many places along the trail and it is essential to refill or top up the water before moving on. The ponds along the trail are filled with streams that have clean water that can be used without further purification. There will be no need to carry more than two liters at any time. It is advisable to carry just the right amount of water otherwise it will be an extra load in the backpack. Much thought will only be on how to carry water. Water bottles are the best water container to use in this trail. Though most of the water points are fresh and considered pure, those who ca n’t take untreated water can use iodine tablets to treat their drinking water. Weather Related Information Mountain weather changes almost every time making it very unpredictable. Dangers arising from unpredictable weather are higher compared with other forms of danger. All characteristics of weather, sunshine, hail, snow, wind, rain and lightning will be possible at any time during the mountain trail. The team members will be required to pay extra attention to any development in the sky. However, the team must take precaution on sunshine, lightning, snow ice and hail.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sunshine at higher elevations makes people become susceptible to dangerous rays that may pose great danger to the hikers. The effect of the rays may also be intensified by the reflections from the snow therefore the team is advised to put on the sunshine protection gear most of the time during the day. Exposed parts of the body are very vulnerable to dangerous rays hence should be protected using sunscreen. The challenging parts are snow covered ground hence high precaution is needed. Mountaineering gear may be required at these points (Connally, 2004). It is advisable to end trails before noon since most of the thunderstorms develops from noon onwards. However the trail can continue when the weather is clear. Generally, mountain Thunderstorms develop very fast and are normally accompanied with lightning. Clouds that form thunderstorms can easily be observed. Once cloud forming thunderstorms are sported it is advisable for the team to immediately seek shelter in the nearby trail cam ps. Storm forming clouds are characterized by their Flat bases, White and gray color and their long vertical length. When these types of clouds appear early in the day, it is very likely that the storm will develop during the day. These clouds grow faster making the situation worse. Lightning create an electric radiations that has the capability of covering large area. The deaths that result from storms are caused by ground current. The teams are always advised to be in contact with the weather center at the starting point base after every half an hour to keep a breath of any weather changes. Transportation Transport to Lone Pine is very limited especially air travels since there is no large commercial airport. However, any air travel will require that one uses the nearest cities. Though air travel is limited, other means are available especially the bus. The Eastern Sierra interregional public transport is provided by the transit authorities. The buses operate several routs within the Eastern Sierra region. Other companies also offer bus services in most of the Eastern Sierra routs. However, private services are being made available by Mount Whitney shuttle. It is therefore advisable for the team members to organize with the Mount Whitney Shuttle Services for their transport prior to the trail. Rules and Regulations The trail team will have to adhere to the Mount Whitney zone rules and regulations that determine the conduct of the hikers. The rules and regulations concerns the permits, health of team members, environmental conservations, conduct of the team members, time regulations, safety measures, security, trail directions and camping regulations. Even though most of the rules that govern the trail are encompassed within the Mount Whitney zone rules, the team will also be required to have their own rules and regulations that will be used to regulate their conduct. The team will be required to stick together at all times, be at the camping sites before sun set, wake up by five in the morning, stick to the advice of the team leader and follow the required routs while on the trail. These rules are very essential especially during emergencies as well as enhancing the safety and security of the team members (MacInnes, 2005). Risk Assessment and Management There are several risks and dangers that will be inherently associated with this trail. Apart from dangers that are associated with injuries, there are those risks that are associated to weather conditions, healthy conditions and physical strains (Kosseff, 2010). Some of these risks will include Injuries resulting from boulder falls, falls, slipperiness, knee knocks as well as any other causes of injuries. Injuries may be simple or acute depending on the impact made with the object. Simple injuries may include cuts and abrasions as a result of falling on the gravel. Acute injuries may include severe cuts as a result of being hit by a falling bolder (Kosseff, 2010). Though the probability of their occurrence is small, the trail team will be required to wear the protective gear at all times as well as using the designated trail routs. It is also advisable that each team member take personal precautions in order to reduce the risks of having any injuries. Moreover, all the team members will be required to take physical training in order to be fit for this expedition. Acute Mountain Sickness is also another health hazard that is very likely especially when the team is approaching higher altitudes. In fact altitude is the major cause of the sickness. However, it will be accelerated by the rate at which the team will be ascending. The higher the rate of ascent, greater is the probabilities of developing the AMS. Higher ascending speeds destabilize the body functions before it adapts to higher altitudes. Other factors that may lead to higher chance of developing AMS are the degree of body exertion and dehydration. Therefore, it is essential for the team to acclimatize at higher altitudes twenty four hours before the beginning of the trail (Connally, 2004). All the team members will be required to be at Whitney portal a day before the hike. The team will be acclimatized at Meysan Lake, Horseshoe Meadows and Onion Valley which are 8360, 9200 and 10000 feet respectively a day before the trail. Moreover, during the ascent the team will keep a steady pace with short breaks to give the body a chance of acclimatizing. In addition, the team leaders will be required to constantly check the team members of any symptoms of AMS. The diamox will be among the First Aid Kit contents and used during these situations. In acute situations, the team leaders are required to call for emergency airlift to the nearest hospitals at Lone Pine The weather related risks are the most likely to occur during the trail (Connally, 2004). The ways to deal with weather related risks such as snowfall, hailstones, lightning will be extensively covered during the training process just before the trail. Dealing with hash weather conditions is integral part of pre trail training since weather related risks are the most likely to occur. Furthermore, emergency measures are also related to these risks. Emergency Action Plan The team will use the emergency services provided by the Sequoia National Park where the summit lies. The institution will also provide communication systems as well as any other emergency equipment as required by the regulations. Moreover, the trail team will be trained on possible emergencies and how to deal with such emergencies. In various points on the trail, the Sequoia National Park has put in place service centers to deal with minor emergencies. Contingencies Many things can go wrong in this trail, but probably, the risk hazards that have been mentioned such as altitude sickness, dehydration, environment related including darkness, hail, lightning, snow or ice, wind and sunshine. Others include injury, group separation, search and rescue op erations. Ways to deal with these eventualities have already been mentioned in the previous discussions. References Connally, C. (2004). The Mountaineering handbook: Modern tools and techniques that will take you to the top. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Professional. Cook, T. (2007). Outdoor leadership: The noble gift. London, UK: Deeper Vision Publishers. Goldenberg, M., Martin, B. (2007). Hiking and Backpacking. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics. Kosseff, A. (2010). AMC guide to outdoor leadership: Trip planning, group dynamics, decision making, leading youth and risk management. Boston, MA: Appalachian Mountain Club Books. MacInnes, H. (2005). International mountain rescue handbook. London, UK: Frances Lincoln ltd. Martin, B. (2006). Outdoor leadership: Theory and practice. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics. Appendices Appendix 1: Mount Whitney Zone Appendix 2: Mt Whitney Trail Map Appendix 3: Whitney Trial Campsites Appendix 4: Whitney trail topography Appendix 5: Weather related information WX6HNX-11 Sequoia NP (AT846) Lat: 36.60417 Lon: -118.73306 Elev: 6690 Last Update on 25 May 11:53 PDT Humidity: 54 % Wind Speed: 6 G 13 MPH Barometer: 29.66 in (N/A mb) Dewpoint: 20 °F (-7 °C) Wind Chill: 30 °F (-1 °C) Visibility: Miles

Letter of Interest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Letter of Interest - Essay Example My Case Study Project revolved around a woman with sickle cell anemia who exhibited deteriorated eating habits. Despite encountering challenges when handling patients, the spirit of ‘patients first’ kept me grounded throughout. It was with such motivation that I devotedly engaged nurses, doctors and his parents by constantly communicating with them in a bid to unveil his nutritional needs and enable him attain skills on how to contain his insatiable appetite so that he could significantly gain weight and eventually enhance his eating habits. I believe that this experience best serves to demonstrate how my education, persistence, passion, devotion and expertise have modeled me to be of assistance to others. Besides my dedicated work in the Dietetic Internship, I recently graduated from New York University; Steinhart School of Culture, Education, and Human Development’s, masters program in Nutrition. I attained my undergraduate degree from United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in Dietetics and was more than fortunate during the four-year B.S. degree to clinch tremendous knowledge from my professors and colleagues. Moreover, during my undergraduate years, I interned in various clinical nutrition departments in different hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah under which I had experience with different cases and patients. I was selected by food and agriculture faculty as 2009 Chair of the student-governed association and assisted in tutoring students in DPD courses. Following my educational background and extensive hands-on work experience, I was modeled into a well-rounded clinician, who will be an asset to the diverse clinical setting of your

Macro Written Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Macro Written Assignment - Essay Example The latter on the other hand, augments the overall money supply in the economy more precipitously. Expansionary policies are conventionally utilized in the attempt of combating unemployment in an economic downturn. This is achieved by depressing the rates of interest with the intention of allowing easy credit to entice business expansion. Contractionary policies are expected to decelerate inflation so as to prevent the consequential distortions combined with the relapse of the values of assets (Weale, 2013). The United Kingdom public might expect a change in monetary policies because of the falling unemployment and economic recovery that the country is experiencing. The change anticipated to happen is the overhauling or revamping of the interest rate policy of the Bank of England. The interest rates are to be determined by unemployment, among other indicators. The introduction of the forward guidance policy kept the bank from increasing interest rates to beyond 0.5 per cent. The bank governor, Mark Carney, however, asserted that the policy needed revising because of the outstanding strong growth in employment. This adjustment involves rising rates of interest. This is to be done following the observation of such indicators as spare capacity within the economy, wages as well as productivity. The bank is to provide predictions on these range of indicators based on expectations of the market of 1.5 per cent increase by the year 2017. The Bank of England outlined its stratagems for alterations in rates of interest in the future. This could probably mean more suffering for the saving population but there would continue to be inexpensive mortgage rates. The Bank would only consider increasing the current low interest rate levels if either inflation or unemployment or both was no longer manageable. The stratagem or change in monetary policy known as the forward guidance would affect the main indicators in

Review of 'The Moths of War' Assignment

Review of 'The Moths of War' - Assignment Example However, recent experiments have found out that the original experiments were never truly inaccurate and the scientist was not a fraud. In addition, there is no evidence that Kettlewell forged or manipulated his data to prove the hypothesis. Scientists normally fight back in order to review older science for continued credibility. They carry out exhaustive experiments aimed at repairing the tattered reputation of the older science and reverse the advances of the opponents. They carry out a series of classic experiments to help cement the status of the disputed fact. Such large experiments are conducted to iron out the problems with the older science and prove that it was indeed correct. Therefore, the scientists never throw away the older science and start a fresh. The scientists did not concede that something was wrong. They went ahead and carried out a series of experiments to prove that the works of the original scientist was not wrong but had some problems. The original experiments were never truly inaccurate and the scientist was not a fraud as claimed by journalist Hooper. Majerus discovered that the Hopper’s book was littered with factual errors. There is no evidence that Kettlewell forged or manipulated his data to prove the

The Purpose Of A Movie Analysis Film Studies Essay

The Purpose Of A Movie Analysis Film Studies Essay Film analysis is an important part of understanding films although this is overlooked by many people. There are various elements of films which are brought together to give the final outcome and enable the audience grasp the story. Some of these elements are very visible such as actors while others may not be clear such as the theme of the movie. Elements in films include actors, storyline, images, motion, time, background sound, composition, sequence, lighting and others (King, 2002). These elements usually undergo processes such as filming and editing among others. The overall quality of the elements and processing techniques in totality determines the success of a film. It is important to analyze all elements which are brought together in a film in order to assess the effectiveness of the film in achieving the objectives of the producers. This is also important since it helps explain why some films are more successful than others. This paper will discuss how movie analysis is done and how meaning is found in a film and how to interpret it. My personal criteria used in movie evaluation will also be discussed in the paper. The discussed issues will be summarized at the end of the paper. How to analyze an entire movie There are various strategies used when analyzing movies. Different movie analysts use different criteria although there are various elements which form the basis of movie analysis. This section of the paper will discuss how a movie is analyzed and the various aspects which are assessed during movie analysis. Effectiveness of storyline and dialog This is one important aspect of a movie used in analyzing the overall success of a movie. The storyline creates a platform for development of the movie. In a successful storyline, the audience should be able to easily relate with the theme and dialog between characters in the movie (Pollick, 2011). Successful movies use scenarios and dialog which actors are comfortable with. This makes it easier to convey the storyline to the audience. Movies which are considered less successful use scenarios and dialog which constrict the actors and make it difficult to convey the storyline. Less successful movies feature obscene language or poor conveyance of thought in a manner in which thoughts appear to be from the screenwriter as opposed to the character. A movie analyst asks themselves whether the dialog appeared to honest or whether there was a logical progression of scenes. The analyst should further ask themselves whether all scenes necessary to effectively give the storyline were present. Finally, they should assess whether the movie had any dialog or language which made it impossible to effectively understand the movie. These are basic questions which guide movie analysts when assessing whether dialog and the storyline in a movie are effective. Set pieces and background In any movie, the background plays a very important role in presenting the storyline and movie in general to the audience. The role pf photography in a movie is to enhance the characters and make the storyline more realistic to audiences under the circumstances. There is need to develop a proper atmosphere when presenting a movie to an audience. In order to analyze whether the set pieces and background is effective for the movie, one should ignore dialog and the actors for a brief duration. During this time, a movie analyst should assess the costumes used, sets, scenery, colors and shapes which have been used in the film. These elements are used to create the desired ambience or mood. In addition, the use of darkness and light as well as fog and shadow should not be overlooked since these play an important role in producing background effects. However, all these elements should be used sparingly and they should not overwhelm viewers. In general, the analyst should ask themselves whet her the background used distracted his or her to the storyline or whether it complemented the storyline. Performance of actors This is another major aspect which dictates the success or failure of a movie. Performance of actors should be judged both when they are acting in the main action and even when they are part of the background. In successful movies, actors roles push forward the plot of the movie or assist audiences develop particular characters in their minds. They should be judged even when they are part of the background since the audience feels the presence of such actors. Actors chosen should fit into the roles they play and they should complement each other as opposed to competing against each other. They should also portray the emotions which accompany the roles they play in different scenes in order to make the film appear realistic to the audience. When a film analyst is analyzing performance of actors, she or he should ask themselves whether actors fit into the roles they played and whether they complemented the parts played by other actors. They should also ask themselves whether their perf ormance made the movie more realistic to the audience or not. Editing This is one of the most important processes which any film undergoes. In fact, most critics are of the opinion that significant work in any movie begins at the editing stage. There are many movies which have good storylines and actors but they fail to capture the audience due to poor editing. Such movies feature many scenes which do not add to the plot or have those which are important left out. Others have poor editing techniques and audiences are exposed to obvious mistakes every time there is a transition to a new scene. Editing of movies should be done in a professional manner in which the audience is unable to notice any edited parts. When a film analyst is analyzing a movie, he or she should look for confusing parts especially when transiting to new scenes. He or she should also look for the synchronization between actors words and actions in order to judge the success of the editing process. In movies which have action scenes, these scenes should gradually build to climax with out losing the captivation and interest of the audience. Successful movies flow smoothly between scenes which gradually develop the theme or plot of the story. Directors fingerprints Most directors have distinct styles which characterize movies they produce. Directors understand the scriptwriters intentions, actors skills and how the crew operates. Due to this reasons, films usually leave a signature which is unique to directors. After a film is completed, it should have the feel and look of the director who directed the movie. In order to assess the directors signature in a movie, the analyst should research previous movies done by the directors and any distinct styles which she or he uses. The analyst should also analyze the reputation which the director has from the perspective of other directors and filmmakers. Signature elements which are unique to directors include edgy dialog, familiar actors, creative background music or unique camera perspectives and angles. These elements assist a film analyst to analyze a movie and conclude whether it was successful or not. How to find and interpret meaning in movies Finding and interpreting meaning in movies is usually challenging to audiences especially if the film is of low quality. Many people watch a movie and wonder what its theme or meaning was after it is over. However, there are various techniques which may be used to find meaning and some of them will be discussed below; Analyzing how characters react to conflict This is a common approach which should be used by analyst when finding meaning in movies. Many movies have simple concepts at the face level but once someone analyzes how characters react to conflict with other characters or events, it becomes clear the meaning or theme of the movie. Conflict in movies is usually represented as dramatic action or dialog. Dramatic action should be interpreted by watching characters actions in order to expose underlying meaning (Hagener TÃ ¶teberg, 2002). Action is usually interpreted through analyzing the unspoken. When searching for meaning, the changes which characters undergo as a result of experiencing conflict, exposes the underlying meaning in movies. Changes on the main character throughout the movie This is a similar approach to finding meaning in movies. It involves analyzing the character of the main actor at the beginning of the movie and at the end in order to view any changes which they may have experienced. Main characters usually change after experiencing certain events within the movie. They are usually faced with challenges and experiences which require decision making and choices. These decisions and choices change the character of the actor. Understanding the changes which occur to the main character and the factors which influenced these changes will enable a movie analyst to find meaning in film. Personal experiences There is consensus among many directors that movies may have different meaning to different people based on experiences. Some people may have different interpretations of the same movie based on experiences they have. In order to find meaning, the audience may therefore be forced to analyze their personal experiences and relate them to the movie. Many movies feature themes which relate to social norms and experiences and it is therefore easy for a movie analyst to find meaning within his or her experiences in society. Cultural influences Every film is based on a certain culture which may be real or fictional. Particular characters in the film either follow such cultures or rebel against them. This is the basis of creation of a villain and hero within the movie. When the actions of characters in the totality of the film are assessed based on the popular culture in the film, it is possible to derive meaning from the film. The presence of villains and heroes who either follow or rebel against the prevailing culture drives an analyst in finding meaning of the movie. This strategy works both for fictional or real life acts. Analyzing contradictions within the film Finally, another effective way of understanding meaning of film is through analyzing contradictions inherent in the movie. The major elements of a film include sound, editing, cinematography, settings, theme, character and narrative. By studying any contradiction which may be present between these elements, one can derive meaning from film. For instance, contradictions between actors actions and words or between soundtracks and images may present a deeper meaning in film. My personal criteria for evaluating movies When evaluating movies, there are certain steps which I follow and some of them are included in the strategies which have been discussed above. The first step involves watching the movie carefully and patiently in order to understand the storyline. This should be the first objective of any film analyst since the storyline provides the basis for analyzing a movie. Understanding the storyline involves connecting the sub-plots and scenes together in order to develop one overall story. After watching the film, the second step is finding meaning. I believe that any effective film analyst should first understand meaning of a film before he or she gives an opinion of whether it was successful or not. In order to understand meaning in film, I usually use two strategies. The first involves studying the behavioral changes in the main actor as a result of experiences in the movie. The choices and decisions made as a result of experiences which in turn alter their character is an effective way of understanding meaning. The second strategy involves analyzing the cultural influences on characters. The behavior of characters in the context of the dominant culture in the movie has helped me interpret meaning in film. Finally, any experiences which I may have relating to the storyline also help me in finding meaning of a movie. After understanding meaning of a movie, the third step is assessing the effectiveness of the various elements of the film. These include the sound, editing, cinematography, settings, theme, character and narrative. I usually analyze all these elements independently and judge whether they were effectively used or not. I also analyze the connection between various elements in order to make the overall movie. I usually use the guidelines which have been discussed in the paper when analyzing the elements. After this analysis, I consider the elements, storyline and theme of the film in totality, in order to give an opinion on whether a film was successful or not. I consider a film to be successful its storyline is interesting, theme relevant and if all elements have been effectively used in developing the movie. Summary and conclusion Various aspects of film analysis have been discussed in the paper. Film analysis involves analyzing film elements, the storyline and theme in order to develop a conclusion of the success of the movie. In order to effectively analyze a movie, various elements are assessed and these include effectiveness of storyline and dialog, set pieces and background, performance of actors, editing and the directors fingerprints. These elements should all be interlinked and they should flow to give the movie a clear storyline. In order to find meaning in movies, various factors are analyzed and these include analysis of how characters react to conflict, changes on the main character throughout the movie, personal experiences, cultural influences and analysis of contradictions within the film. Meaning and effectiveness of elements used should be taken in totality when determining the success of a movie. However, one should be careful when finding meaning since different people may have different mea nings to the same movie due to different cultural experiences.

The U.S. Constitution and The Patriot Act Essay example -- Government

George Washington once said, â€Å"The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.† The first President of the United States knew that the Constitution was and still is the greatest and most important document in America. He said that he would never abandon it and he would never deny it. He would follow it, like it was a guide. The Constitution is supposed to be a guide, which would never be neglected. However, the current government has deserted and almost discarded the United States Constitution. George Washington and the rest of the founding fathers would roll over in their graves if they knew that The USA Patriot Act was an Act now being followed. As Abraham Lincoln said, â€Å"Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties†. The Constitution should not be hindered, and it should never be disregarded. This country was built on the base of the Constitution and the founding fathers wo rked hard to come up with just the precise way to run a republic. The USA Patriot Act is a controversial Act that was made to prevent and penalize all terrorist acts in the United States of America as well as all around the globe. This act was made in order to improve law enforcement investigations, the tools used in those investigations and more. The USA Patriot Act stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. The USA Patriot Act was passed to create some sort of a huge surveillance superstructure. This act was signed into law in 2001 by President George W. Bush and then extended in 2011 by President Barak Obama (Electronic Privacy Information Center). The Patriot Act was largely passed becaus... ... May 2012. . Drucker, David. "Bipartisanship Forms on Both Sides of PATRIOT Act Extension." Roll Call. An Economist Group Business, 03 23 2011. Web. 13 May 2012. . Electronic Privacy Information Center, . "USA PATRIOT Act." Electronic Privacy Information Center (2010): n.pag. EPIC. Web. 13 May 2012. . Ramasastry, Anita. "Explaining the U.S.A. Patriot Act." CNN. (2002): n. page. Web. 13 May. 2012. . Savage, Charlie. "A Patriot Act Surprise." New York Times. (2011): n. page. Web. 13 May. 2012. .

Preparation Outline for Informative Speech Essay

Introduction As long as I can remember my family has always had food on the table and a family gathering on the fourth November in our home. We have all heard elementary stories of wood cabins and the Pilgrims and Indians celebrating thanksgiving. Though, I never knew the reason they were celebrating. Today as Thanksgiving is closely approaching, I am going to talk to you about the history of Thanksgiving, its traditions, and how our era and personal preferences influence the traditions in our celebrations. First let’s start by learning the origination of the Thanksgiving holiday. I. According to Caleb Johnson’s The Mayflower, â€Å"The pilgrim’s gave thanks in 1621 (the actual date unknown) for the first time.† A. In this article he has a published Plimouth letter. This letter gives us insight as to why they celebrated a day of thanks and with what foods. B. This being that the pilgrims had a scarce crop the years before that had led to sickness and death. The foods they celebrated with was a variety of foods from their crop, many fish, and wildlife animals. So because in the year of 1621 their crops group plentiful, the people of Plimouth decided give thanks to god for their year of blossoming crops. So they celebrated with food and thanks for 3 days. C. This is also the only known account of the Plimouth’s celebration for years to come. The next account was some twenty years later in a published article by William Bradford. So how did a National Holiday come into effect? Why the fourth Thursday? II. The years leading up to a National Holiday A. The Continental Congress proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving in 1777. Yet, Presidents Washington, Adams and Monroe proclaimed national Thanksgivings, but the custom fell out of use by 1815, after which the celebration of the holiday was limited to individual state observances. B. By the 1850s, almost every state and territory celebrated Thanksgiving. C. The plimoth.org site states, â€Å"In 1827, Sarah Josepha Hale began a campaign to reinstate the holiday after the model of the first Presidents. She publicly petitioned several Presidents to make it an annual event. Though her efforts did not succeeded until 1863, when she convinced President Lincoln that a national Thanksgiving might serve to unite a war-torn country.† D. According to History.com it was not until 1941 that the fourth Thursday of November be the permanent date for thanksgiving. Where does a turkey come into play? What are the traditions of this Holiday? III. Thanksgiving traditions and how they came into effect. A. The simplest tradition of Thanksgiving is to come together and give thanks. B. Thanksgiving is also known as Turkey Day. Why? Well according to slate.com, Turkeys just so happened to not have anything to do with the first Thanksgiving. They were fresh, affordable, and big enough to feed a crowd. Among the big birds, turkey was ideal for a fall feast. C. By 1863, when Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday, turkeys had taken center stage at Thanksgiving. IV. In this era we have added a few Thanksgiving traditions. A. Alder says, â€Å"Pro football has become as big a tradition at Thanksgiving as the turkey and if your Thanksgiving celebrations are like mine, most of the football fans head right for the television as soon as they hit the door.† B. According to USA today, â€Å"A little more than 60 years after the holiday’s formal recognition, another tradition was born: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Started in 1924, the department store’s first parade included actual animals from the Central Park Zoo.† C. Thanksgiving traditions don’t end on Thanksgiving Day. In the 1950s, the  day after Thanksgiving was called Black Friday by factory managers because so many workers called in sick and the Philadelphia Police Department took to calling the day Black Friday to describe the traffic jams, crowds and shoplifters during the start of the holiday shopping season. Black Friday signals the start of the holiday shopping season, but it may be a tradition that’s continuing to evolve as stores vie to be the earliest to open Thanksgiving Day. In conclusion, the history of Thanksgiving dates back to 1621. It takes many years before it becomes a permanent national holiday for the American society. Throughout the years Americans have in cooperated new traditions as well as maintained the old. As O. Henry says, â€Å"There is one day that is ours. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.†

Bilbo Baggins Essays - The Hobbit, New Zealand Films, Free Essays

Bilbo Baggins Essays - The Hobbit, New Zealand Films, Free Essays Bilbo Baggins The book begins with Bilbo Baggins enjoying a pipe after breakfast. Th is is one of his favorite pleasures and he feels quite content in doing so. He is middle-aged, and resides in a clean warm burrow in the ground. One morning Gandalf, a wizard stops by to chat with Bilbo. He informs Bilbo that he is looking for someone to go on an adventure with him. Although Bilbo is tempted he declines, but not before inviting Gandalf for tea the next morning. The next day Bilbo hears his doorbell and he recalls inviting Gandalf for tea, but instead of the wizard at the door, there is a group of dwarves... thirteen in all. Thorin son of the dwarf king starts to outline a plan on how to regain the tr easure stolen by the dragon Smaug. Bilbo is shocked to realize these plans involve him! He then realizes that Gandalf has tricked him by inscribing on his doo r that he was a burglar seeking a job with lots of excitement. With all this talk of quests and glory Bilbo decides to join the party after all. Gandalf reveals a key and a map of their journey which ends at the Lon ely Mountain. It is there that the treasure of Thorin's ancestors are kept-guar ded by Smaug. The quest begins and the party meets at the Green Dragon Inn. From there they venture into the Lone-lands. As heavy rains begin to fall, Bilbo notice s that Gandalf is missing. When it starts to pour they stop to investigate a light. There Bilbo finds three trolls grumbling about food. Bilbo decides to live up to title of burglar and attempts to pick one of the trolls pocket. However they quickly capture him. The dwarfs see what's going on and try to save poor Bilbo... yet all of them except Thorin is caught. Thorin formulates a plan of freeing them but fails. Gandalf returns and occupies the trolls till dawn, then the turn into stone. They group take the two swords and a knife the trolls were carrying. The travelers come across the Secret Valley. There they stop at Elrond 's Last Homely House. Elrond tells them the only way to use the key that Thorin possesses is to wait where the thrush knocks and the setting sun will shine up on the keyhole. The next morning the group heads toward the Misty Mountains. A storm has caused them to seek shelter in a cave. The cave however turns out to be an entrance to the goblin kingdom. Once again the group is captured. Only Gandalf is free, and he slays the Goblin King, and once again free the party from impend ing doom. During the escape Bilbo is knocked unconscious and is left behind. He awakes to find himself power which makes it's wearer invisible - the ring which Bilbo found. Bilbo slips the ring upon his finger and disappears. He follows Gollum stealthily toward the entrance to the outside world. He then bounds over Gollu m's head to freedom. Outside he is reunited with his dwarf friends. Later they encounter Wargs (large savage wolves). The Wargs chase the party into the trees. High in the branches Gandalf uses a spell to turn the pine cones a fire, in order to drive the wolves away. However the plan backfires and the very trees they took refuge in are now ablaze! Luckily for them the king of the eagles spotted them. He and his eagles swooped out of the sky and whisked our adventures to safety. The eagles dropped them off near Mirkwood Forest. This is where they come across Beorn, a bear like man who can indeed change into a bear. He puts them up for the night and outfits them with supplies for th eir trip into Mirkwood. He also warns them not to stray from the path in the fo rest. When they are ready to enter the forest, Gandalf announces he will not be accompanying them in this part of the journey. The group feels lost without him but yet they press on. They come across a black river. It is here that Bombur, one of the Dwarves falls in and is thrust into a sleep from which he cannot awake. Food is scarce now and the hungry travelers are lured off the path by visions of elves feasting in the forest. To their surprize every time they announce their presence to the elves...they elves vanish! Once again Bilbo finds himself seperated from the group. He stops for a short nap and awakes to find himself

Cortes essays

Cortes essays Cortes: The Life of the Conqueror was written by Cortes assistant, chaplain, and secretary, Francisco Lopez de Gomara. The text, an epic written in a courtly style that tends to simultaneously enumerate and generalize the presented accomplishments, follows the life of Hernan Cortes, briefly touching on his early life and spending the majority of its pages detailing the explorers various conquests in Mexico. The author, since he was a companion, advisor, and secretary to Cortes, and was also a secular priest, can be said to be biased towards the glorification of his subject, with whom he was allied, and against the native inhabitants, in his vehement disavowal of the indigenous populations culture and society. His point of view is one of unrestrained admiration mixed with the sureness that Cortes every action was inspired by the greater good of Christianizing the new land. The sources used by Gomara can be assumed to be a combination of direct reports from Cortes, recollections, reconstructions of events of which he was not a direct observer, and letters and receipts. In my opinion, the book is a formidable historical document that goes into great detail, but is also a presentation of a historical point of view that sees the unitizing force of a Christian God to be its ultimate goal, and thus, though it may list physiological and architectural descriptions of non- Christian cultures, it otherwise serves no other purpose than to disparage them, while assuring the reader that the actions of its heroic protagonist were universally just. Nonetheless, the history is very readable, is at times humorous, and does not shy away from the elaborate presentation of detail often found in epic poetry, of which it reminded Gomara describes Cortes youth very briefly, stating that he was an energetic child who sought wealth and glory by traveling to the ...

Violence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Violence - Essay Example These are the steps, which I think should be taken by the parents in order to guide the children towards a positive approach: 1. Parents should take care while communicating with their children, and according to child psychology parents should never impose any decision on children. That does not mean that parents should set their children free but they should explain every do's and don'ts to their children. It would be better to have friendly discussions with children and then softly explain your view to them along with the pros and cons of TV and video games. Tell them how video games can affect their personalities, how and in what ways these programs can cause harm to them and what would be the consequences of continuing these activities in near future. 3. Act like you have understood child's opinion, appreciate it and while appreciating gradually draw his attention towards the negative aspects of video games, like "anger" and "violence". ... 4. Draw his attention towards other useful activities and concerns to do like sports, music, picnic etc. This would help in maintaining a warm and friendly attitude. (Remember the most successful children are those whose parents are more like friends to them) 5. In most cases children can be controlled by adopting this attitude but if (in rare cases) they are unable to manage, parents should straight forwardly prohibit them from involving in such activities. Children should not be allowed to watch TV all the time or playing video games. Violent games are not only harmful to children psychologically but they also damage sensitive areas of brain tissues affecting long-term memory of a child. As we can see today video games not only comprise of games alone but also they have small movie clips in it, which often shows violence and aggression thereby inspiring and motivating the child towards such attitude. Now, who is responsible for such games, which portray pain and aggression Who to blame; society, parents or technology. I have seen "Max Payne" the game, which involves all the characteristics mentioned above. Children love to play and indulge in those games, which the technology has gifted us, so the best technique to save a child is to make him aware of the consequences beforehand. I think video games are like drugs, once you get in it becomes very difficult to remain aloof from drugs. In conclusion I would like to suggest that parents whether by hook or by crook should not allow their children in any circumstances to spoil their personalities by getting addicted to these drugs. Might be this is the way we can save our child, save a generation. Name: ____________ Course ID: ________ Student ID: ________ "Do TV and video

Deconstructing Leadership The Prince Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Deconstructing Leadership The Prince - Essay Example In 'The Prince' it is clear that Machiavelli is reflecting the form of rule he experiences being exerted by the leadership in Florence whilst also drawing general conclusions on other leaders. Machiavellian principle suggests that a leader must learn to deceive, lie and even act against one's own morality to achieve greatness. His central idea is that a leader who is not wicked should practice wickedness to rule effectively. In modern society we tend to have a great deal of contempt for our leaders and as events in recent history have proved, this has in many cases been justified. It is perhaps because of Machiavelli's provision for acceptable corruption within our political leadership that society now accepts that leaders are not so much humans themselves but an elevated acceptable form of undesirable that is nonetheless essential to our survival (Charles 2000). In the prince Machiavelli states, rulers must "make himself loved and feared by his subjects, followed and respected by his soldiers". (Machiavelli 1984 p27). The ruler, hence, is vindicated in doing whatsoever is essential to preserve the country, even if it is unfair. A Prince's most important duty is the protection of his rule and the protection of his subjects. Machiavelli states, "A prince thus, must comprise of no other object or idea, nor attain proficiency in anything except war, its organizations, as well as its discipline." (Machiavelli 1984 p 47) Another quality of a prince is that it is better to be considered merciful than cruel, but mercy must never be misused. Machiavelli said that the art of war was the subject of most importance to the ruler. A prince can be attacked in two ways: internally, by conspiracies, and externally, by enemies. Machiavelli states in the prince, "A prince ought to not be troubled if he incurs criticism for his unkindness so long as he keeps his subjects united as well as dedicated" (Machiavelli 1984 p 5). He can protect himself from conspiracies by means of avoiding extreme dislike. It is furthermore stated that no prince should neutralize his subjects or else he will have to make use of mercenary troops as alternative. Mercenaries are from foreign countries and are not fighting for their country so they are not loyal and they will not care whether they win or lose. Those leaders who follow a cause for money are not to be trusted. Those who are not after money (Federico 1958). Machiavelli felt that these were essential means in for turning into a successful ruler. He also felt protection had little significance and thought that the best fortress is to be created in the love of the people. He states in the prince that , "Men are unappreciative, indecisive, liars, as well as deceivers, they avoid danger and are gluttonous for profit; even as you treat them in a good way they are yours. (Machiavelli 1984 p 54) 'The Prince' was his key contribution to the theories for leadership in his day. To be a successful leader, Machiavelli believed that you primarily had to be able to deceive. A good leader has to appear to be good, but when necessary they must be