The Case Against Giant Sharks

Does anyone remember when Shark Week used to be about sharks--the biology of sharks, the lifestyles of sharks, fun facts about sharks and the people who watch them? Well, those days are long gone: now we have made-up documentaries about giant prehistoric sharks like Megalodon and endlessly recycled exposes of humongous, mythical, 40-foot-long Great Whites that swallow other sharks practically whole. (Lest you think  Im unfairly picking on The Discovery Channel, bear in mind that no less an eminence than The Smithsonian Channel has aired dreck like Hunt for the Super Predator.) But before we go any further, heres an important caveat. There are, in fact, gigantic predators lurking beneath the oceans depths, some of which have only rarely been glimpsed by humans--the classic example being the Giant Squid, which can grow to over 40 feet long. But even the Giant Squid isnt as giant as its cracked up to be: this elongated invertebrate weighs only a few hundred pounds, and its cousin, the Giant Octopus, is only about the size of a well-fed fifth-grader. If these real-life cephalopods are nothing like the monsters depicted in movies and unscrupulous TV shows, imagine how much license producers take when it comes to the long-extinct Megalodon! Everyone clear on this? OK, time for some questions and answers. Q. Isnt it conceivable that a Great White Shark could be 30 or 40 feet long? After all, there are well-documented examples of 20-foot-long Great Whites, and 30 feet isnt that much bigger. A. Lets put it this way: the late NBA star Manute Bol was one of the tallest human beings who ever lived, at seven feet and seven inches. Does the fact of Manute Bols existence mean that human beings can potentially grow 10 or 11 feet tall? No, it doesnt, because there are genetic and physiological constraints on how large any given species, including Homo sapiens, can grow. The same logic applies to all animals: there are no 40-foot-long Great White Sharks for the same reason there are no five-foot-long house cats or 20-ton African elephants. Q. Megalodon swam the worlds oceans for millions of years. Why is it so impossible to believe that a small population, or even one individual, has survived into the present day? A. A species can only prosper as long as environmental conditions are conducive to its continued existence. In order for, say, a population of 100 Megalodons to thrive off the coast of South Africa, their territory would have to be stocked with the kinds of giant whales these sharks feasted on during the Pliocene epoch--and theres no evidence for the existence of these giant whales, much less for Megalodon itself. As for the persistence into modern times of one lone, ornery individual, thats a tired cultural trope directly traceable to the original Godzilla movie, way back in the 1950s--unless youre willing to believe that Megalodon has a million-year life span. Q. Ive seen reasonable-looking people on nature shows who insist theyve seen 40-foot-long sharks. Why should they go out of their way to lie? A. Well, why would your Uncle Stanley lie when he said that Bluefin Tuna ​that got away was seven feet long? Human beings like to impress other human beings, and they arent very good at estimating the sizes of things that lie outside a human scale. In the best cases, these people arent intentionally trying to deceive anyone; they just have a misplaced sense of proportion. In the worst cases, of course, they are intentionally trying to deceive the public, either because theyre sociopaths, theyre out to make a quick buck, or theyve been instructed to misrepresent the truth by TV producers. Q. The Loch Ness Monster surely exists. So why cant there be a living Megalodon off the South African coast? A. As Lois Griffin once said to Peter on Family Guy, Hold on to that thought, because Im gonna explain to you when we get home all the things that are wrong with that statement. There is absolutely no reliable evidence that the Loch Ness Monster (or Bigfoot, or Mokele-mbembe) actually exists, unless you want to credit the kind of fuzzy, forged photographs that shows like Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives traffic in. In fact (and Ill probably be wildly misquoted here), Im inclined to say that theres LESS evidence for the existence of Megalodon than there is for the Loch Ness Monster! Q. How can the Discovery Channel lie about the existence of Megalodon, or giant Great White Sharks? Isnt it legally required to state the facts? A. Im not a lawyer, but based on all the available evidence, the answer is no. Like any TV channel, Discovery is in the business of making a profit--and if hogwash like Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives or Megalodon: The New Evidence brings in big bucks (the former shows 2013 premiere was viewed by five million people), the networks executives will gladly look the other way. In any case, the First Amendment makes it nearly impossible to hold broadcasters like Discovery to account: they have a constitutional right to spew half-truths and lies, and the public has the responsibility to doubt all of the evidence presented on these shows.

Venezuelas Revolution for Independence from Spain

Venezuela was a leader in Latin Americas Independence movement. Led by visionary radicals such as Simà ³n Bolà ­var and Francisco de Miranda, Venezuela was the first of the South American Republics to formally break away from Spain. The decade or so that followed was extremely bloody, with unspeakable atrocities on both sides and several important battles, but in the end, the patriots prevailed, finally securing Venezuelan independence in 1821. Venezuela Under the Spanish Under the Spanish colonial system, Venezuela was a bit of a backwater. It was part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada, ruled by a Viceroy in Bogota (present-day Colombia). The economy was mostly agricultural and a handful of extremely wealthy families had complete control over the region. In the years leading up to independence, the Creoles (those born in Venezuela of European descent) began to resent Spain for high taxes, limited opportunities, and mismanagement of the colony. By 1800, people were talking openly about independence, albeit in secret. 1806: Miranda Invades Venezuela Francisco de Miranda was a Venezuelan soldier who had gone to Europe and had become a General during the French Revolution. A fascinating man, he was friends with Alexander Hamilton and other important international figures and even was the lover of Catherine the Great of Russia for a while. All throughout his many adventures in Europe, he dreamed of freedom for his homeland. In 1806 he was able to scrape together a small mercenary force in the USA and Caribbean and launched an invasion of Venezuela. He held the town of Coro for about two weeks before Spanish forces drove him out. Although the invasion was a fiasco, he had proven to many that independence was not an impossible dream. April 19, 1810: Venezuela Declares Independence By early 1810, Venezuela was ready for independence. Ferdinand VII, the  heir to the Spanish crown, was a prisoner of Napoleon of France, who became the de facto (if indirect) ruler of Spain. Even those Creoles who supported Spain in the New World were appalled. On April 19, 1810, Venezuelan Creole patriots held a meeting in Caracas where they declared a provisional independence: they would rule themselves until such time as the Spanish monarchy was restored. For those who truly wanted independence, such as young Simà ³n Bolà ­var, it was a half-victory, but still better than no victory at all. The First Venezuelan Republic The resulting government became known as the First Venezuelan Republic. Radicals within the government, such as Simà ³n Bolà ­var, Josà © Fà ©lix Ribas, and Francisco de Miranda pushed for unconditional independence and on July 5, 1811, the congress approved it, making Venezuela the first South American nation to formally sever all ties with Spain. Spanish and royalist forces attacked, however, and a devastating earthquake leveled Caracas on March 26, 1812. Between the royalists and the earthquake, the young Republic was doomed. By July of 1812, leaders such as Bolà ­var had gone into exile and Miranda was in the hands of the Spanish. The Admirable Campaign By October of 1812, Bolà ­var was ready to rejoin the fight. He went to Colombia, where he was given a commission as an officer and a small force. He was told to harass the Spanish along the Magdalena River. Before long, Bolà ­var had driven the Spanish out of the region and amassed a large army, Impressed, the civilian leaders in Cartagena gave him permission to liberate western Venezuela. Bolà ­var did so and then promptly marched on Caracas, which he took back in August of 1813, a year after the fall of the first Venezuelan Republic and three months since he had left Colombia. This remarkable military feat is known as the Admirable Campaign for Bolà ­vars great skill in executing it. The  Second Venezuelan Republic Bolivar quickly established an independent government known as the Second Venezuelan Republic. He had outsmarted the Spanish during the Admirable Campaign, but he had not defeated them, and there were still large Spanish and royalist armies in Venezuela. Bolivar and other generals such as Santiago Marià ±o and  Manuel Piar  fought them bravely, but in the  end,  the royalists were too much for them. The most feared royalist force was the Infernal Legion of tough-as-nails plainsmen led by cunning Spaniard Tomas Taita  Boves, who cruelly executed prisoners and pillaged towns that had formerly been held by the patriots. The Second Venezuelan Republic fell in mid-1814 and Bolà ­var once again went into exile. The Years of War, 1814-1819 During the period from 1814 to 1819, Venezuela was devastated by roving  royalist  and patriot armies that fought one another and occasionally amongst themselves. Patriot leaders such as Manuel Piar, Josà © Antonio  Pà ¡ez,  and Simà ³n Bolivar did not necessarily acknowledge one anothers authority, leading to a lack of a coherent battle plan to  free Venezuela. In 1817, Bolà ­var had  Piar  arrested and executed, putting the other warlords on notice that he would deal with them harshly as well. After that, the others generally accepted Bolà ­vars leadership. Still, the nation was in ruins and there was a military stalemate between the patriots and royalists. Bolà ­var Crosses the Andes and the Battle of Boyaca In early 1819, Bolà ­var was cornered in western Venezuela with his army. He was not powerful enough to knock out the Spanish armies, but they were not strong enough to defeat him, either. He made a daring move: he  crossed the frosty Andes  with his army, losing half of it in the process, and arrived in New Granada (Colombia) in July of 1819. New Granada had been relatively untouched by the war, so Bolà ­var was able to quickly recruit a new army from willing volunteers. He made a speedy march on Bogota, where the Spanish Viceroy hastily sent out a force to delay him. At the  Battle of Boyaca  on August 7, Bolà ­var scored a decisive victory, crushing the Spanish army. He marched unopposed into Bogota, and the volunteers and resources he found there allowed him to recruit and equip a much larger army, and he once again marched on Venezuela. The Battle of Carabobo Alarmed Spanish officers in Venezuela called for a cease-fire, which was agreed to and lasted until April of 1821. Patriot warlords back in Venezuela, such as Marià ±o and Pà ¡ez, finally smelled victory and began to close in on Caracas. Spanish General Miguel de la Torre combined his armies and met the combined forces of Bolà ­var and Pà ¡ez at the Battle of Carabobo on June 24, 1821. The resulting patriot victory secured Venezuelas independence, as the Spanish decided they could never pacify and re-take the region. After the Battle of Carabobo With the Spanish finally driven off, Venezuela began putting itself back together. Bolà ­var had formed the Republic of Gran Colombia, which included present-day Venezuela, Colombia,  Ecuador, and Panama. The republic lasted until about  1830  when it fell apart into Colombia,  Venezuela, and Ecuador (Panama was part of Colombia at the time). General Pà ¡ez was the main leader behind Venezuelas break from Gran Colombia. Today, Venezuela celebrates  two independence days: April 19, when Caracas patriots first declared a provisional independence, and July 5, when they formally severed all ties with Spain. Venezuela celebrates its  independence day  (an official holiday) with parades,  speeches,  and parties. In 1874, Venezuelan President  Antonio Guzmà ¡n Blanco  announced his plans to turn the Holy Trinity Church of Caracas into a national Pantheon to house the bones of the most illustrious heroes of Venezuela. The remains of numerous heroes of Independence are housed there, including those of Simà ³n Bolà ­var, Josà © Antonio Pà ¡ez, Carlos Soublette, and Rafael Urdaneta. Sources Harvey, Robert. Liberators: Latin Americas Struggle for Independence. 1st edition, Harry N. Abrams, September 1, 2000. Herring, Hubert.  A History of Latin America From the Beginnings to the  Present.  New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1962 Lynch, John.  The Spanish American Revolutions 1808-1826  New York: W. W. Norton Company, 1986. Lynch, John.  Simon Bolivar: A Life. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2006. Santos Molano, Enrique.  Colombia dà ­a a dà ­a: una cronologà ­a de 15,000 aà ±os.  Bogota: Planeta, 2009. Scheina, Robert L.  Latin Americas Wars, Volume 1: The Age of the Caudillo 1791-1899  Washington, D.C.: Brasseys Inc., 2003.

What Experts Are Not Saying About Popular Essay Topics and How This impacts You

What Experts Are Not Saying About Popular Essay Topics and How This impacts You What You Don't Know About Popular Essay Topics Life is much better than it was 50 decades ago. Deciding upon a topic for the research project may be a challenging undertaking for pupils. Children should be asked to read more. Reading Since you're attempting to write better essays, go for essays by men and women that are already superior than you. If you are in need of a superior essay but have zero opportunity to write it yourself, visit our site and purchase it. When you write this kind of essay, you should offer the reader with a specific statement and stick to it throughout the text. If you've got to compose your whole essay in 1 day, do your very best to give yourself breaks so you don't burn out. There are just a few things that define whether an essay you're working on is going to be a good one. It's interesting how it's applied to gaining writing skills. Our crew of professional writer s with the required experience and writing skills is always prepared to fulfill your demands and exceed your expectations. New tests, methodology, classes, thoughts and concepts happen each and every day on the planet of education. The Nuiances of Popular Essay Topics In order to reach fantastic outcomes, you should learn to persuade. One of the greatest methods to change anybody's mind is with an emotional investment. When you're picking your topic, bear in mind that it's much simpler to write about something which you currently have interest ineven in case you don't know a great deal about it. When you're show my homework on the internet to select an excellent idea for your work, learn with something you're working with. The Basics of Popular Essay Topics There are several steps that you should take as a way to write a superb essay. You don't need to find super technical with legal argumentative essays, but make certain to do your homework on what the present laws about your favorite topic actually say. All you need to do is select a topic from the list of persuasive essay topics above and we'll write the paper for you in almost no time. There are just a few good controversial topics which may be written easily on. Instead of just immediately writing about your argumentative essay topic, you should first think about what it is you're likely to put back on your paper through a procedure of brainstorming and pre-writing. Thus, it's important to read corresponding formatting guide. If you aim to compose a great essay, you ought to take into consideration that any bit of writing has its hidden obstacles. The only thing we recommend to do before you begin working on your expository essay is to make a suitable outline. Moral argumentative essay topics are a few of the simplest to get carried away with. All persuasive essays are like argumentative essays. An argumentative essay is a certain sort of academic writing. It requires you to decide on a topic and take a position on it. Following are some simple ideas to direct you in deciding on the ideal persuasive essay topic for you. Each style differs in two ways. Thus, for instance, you can't pick a topic as the very best book I have ever read. Quite frequently, the ideal topic is one which you truly care about, but you also will need to get ready to research it. The entire idea is to receive your audience thinking and when you opt for an interesting topic to write about, you do precisely that. The ideas you'll find here will surely inspire you and provide you some new ideas. It's not sufficient to settle on a topic which everybody agrees on. If you select the wrong subject, you might get stuck with your writing and have a tough time moving forward. Things You Won't Like About Popular Essay Topics and Things You Will If you didn't figure out how to locate a very good idea among the TOP-10 persuasive essays topics that agree with your style, make certain to produce your own, by focusing on something you wish to produce people believe in. Figure out which of the topics, you presently have a fairly good background on which will make it possible for you to have a relative edge. Some people may think that the excellent content could be written on any topic and the paper success is dependent just on the mastery of the writer. Many surveys a re conducted in the effort to ascertain the most popular programming languages. Writing a college argumentative research paper isn't as simple as it may appear at first. Expository essay is a kind of paper that's super common for all degrees of education. It is not hard to locate an excellent exploratory paper topic for college. As long because you can discover an interesting academic paper subject, you will almost surely receive a very good grade. The War Against Popular Essay Topics Finding the most suitable arguments can help you prove your point and win. When you are requested to select a great topic for your argument, start with something you're familiarized with. If you get a valid issue and you may offer sufficient arguments on it, then go with this. There are lots of problematic issues to discuss.

Describe sources of internal and external finance for a selected business free essay sample

The bank I will use is NatWest as it is the bank I am currently with, therefore, I am more familiar with them then another bank. Starting a sports business there is a number of things to take into account such: whether or not you are better off leasing a building instead of buying, business insurance, how you are going to obtain the money to enable the business to get up and running without lack of funding, assets and how you are going to make payments. Location of leasing Located in Priory Quarter, Havelock Road, Hastings. High quality building that has a floor space of 24,500 Square feet. This would be ideal for the business to use and renovate due to the size allowing products to be stored on site. The cost of this would be ? 18,000 pa. The cost could be covered by a fixed business loan; this would allow the business to become operation and pay the use of assets such as: delivery transport and staff wages. We will write a custom essay sample on Describe sources of internal and external finance for a selected business or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The fixed business loan would offer a loan of ? 25,001 to ? 250,000 with a fixed payment over a ten year period, if the loan is paid off before the ten years interest will be expected dependent on payment. Storage facilities the size of 80,000 Square feet costing ? 30,000 pa, which will allow suitable storage for vehicles and products. Insurance The insurance of the business depends on the business type, size and if it currently is existent, therefore, there is no set quote without going through the process. Because the business will be new NatWest offer 15% of the first year on the insurance which would make the first year cheaper and more profitable. Obtaining money Personal savings from previous job and the loan from the bank should cover the money needed to start the business. Wages will be covered by taking out the full loan and with good sales and expansion the total earning of the first year should cover all payments. Payments will be paid promptly with each month including all employees, assets and storage. Also setting up a separate account for the business will enable you to keep track of money whilst knowing what can be spent and what payments have to be made. This will prevent you from over spending. Gaining public awareness Advertising, from the use of advertising the business can gain some public awareness to enable growth of the business quicker than what it might without it. Television advertising will be quite expensive and will be rather pointless to start with unless the business expanded and owned a chain of store, therefore, local advertising in newspapers, posters, leaflets and local radio advertising should be better suited. The first year would not be the most profitable by any means but allows a good premise to start and work from. Property ? 18,000 Storage ? 30,000 Advertising ? 500 Insurance ? 2000 ? 5000 Total ? 53,500 Estimated total including vehicles and staff ? 150,000 Once vehicles have been brought it will become cheaper. Brief description of internal sourcing of finance and external sources: Internal sources Owners savings, the portion of disposable income not spent on consumption of goods but accumulated or invested directly in capital equipment or in paying off a home mortgage, or indirectly through purchase of securities. An advantage of this is it should be available to the business quickly and no interest should be paid. Capital from profits is a type of profit that is realised when a capital asset is sold. While there is some difference in application from one nation to another, the sale of any asset that is defined by law as a capital asset has the potential to generate capital profit. External sources Bank business loan, funds offered to business owners through banks. Borrowers are usually required to have excellent credit scores and collateral. Bank overdraft, balance of a bank account when funds withdrawn exceed funds deposited. Bank commercial mortgage, helps you buy property, extend or develop your own business premises. Venture capital, capital invested in a project in which there is a substantial element of risk, typically a new or expanding business. Hire purchase, a system by which one pays for a thing in regular installments while having the use of it, for example, building construction may hire three JCB Diggers for use and other machinery. Leasing, a lessor will lease a building or property to a person or building to allow them use as long as they pay the lessor monthly installments usually. Basic example; would be someone renting a building for their own personal business such as a gym or clothing store. Factoring, A firm that buys a businesss open-book accounts and customarily absorbs all losses if the debtors do not pay. Share issues, Issued shares are a term of law and finance for the quantity of shares of a corporation, which have been allocated and are subsequently held by shareholders.