An Uncreative Post

An Uncreative Post One day, fun things happened. I started blogging about them immediately… only to be interrupted by more excitement (which, naturally, I had to blog about). Post intros began piling up, losing their relevance and interest. As a result, I have not blogged for eternity. One day, I may complete all those hopeful post beginnings, reenact the thrill of days long past. But for now, in dreadfully uncreative bullet form, I’ll highlight the essentials of IAP and Spring semester. During IAP, I took two classes, 18.S097 Introduction to Mathematical Proofs and 20.219 Becoming the Next Bill Nye: Writing and Hosting the Educational Show, and spent most evenings toiling over script, storyboard, research, and editing of an educational video on fractals. I see fractals everywhere now. It’s pretty great. During the last week of IAP, the 20.219 instructor, Elizabeth C. ‘13 (who also happens to be an alum blogger, and has written about her awesome film-making job) and a visiting film crew from Washington, D.C. professionally produced my video. Through them, I learned that filming takes a ton of work (more on that in a separate post). Our video was only five minutes long, and took at least 12 hours just to film! I still haven’t seen the edited version, but am already beyond excited to appear in an actual YouTube educational video, as a host.  Here a preview of the final project (the non-professional version I made for the class final, actual video coming soon): IAP was also a time for exploration. Many on hall felt free and ready to mingle, and went out every week to fun locations, like Chinatown or the North End (“Boston’s Little Italy”). Out of these outings, Escape MIT, a new student group was conceived. Its purpose is “to promote mental health and community engagement among the students of MIT through off-campus cultural, culinary, and arts events.” That is the fancy constitutional definition. Simply put, Escape MIT is for the hosed students who want to “burst the MIT bubble,” that is, explore Boston and other parts of Massachusetts with friends. We’ve recently submitted a formal application and a constitution to be recognized as an MIT student group. So, those who plan to visit during CPW (and you definitely should if you have the chance), may see our table at the Activities’ Midway. I have started feeding myself, which is a daunting task. Mostly, I default to icky canned food and sometimes vegetables. I have become a connoisseur of Campbell’s canned soups. On a good day, I can find a nice stack of canned tuna and powdered mashed potatoes in my room. On bad days, I have to go out to buy a salad (or eat human food that looks suspiciously like dog chow). Still, all that is better than the dining hall experience. I pay less, even if I eat out multiple times a week. I set my own schedule. I don’t have to travel to eat (actually, I don’t even have to travel to shop Amazon Prime Pantry and Instacart are wonderful). I will soon make time to cook collaboratively with friends. Even though delicious home-cooked meals have become a burning desire, overall, self-feeding has been great. 10/10 would recommend. We have a lot of snow around here (which you’ve probably heard; if not, marvel here). We even have a new mountain on campus that people climb with a fervor of the first mountaineers (check it out here). We also have snow days. MIT doesn’t have those often, and I can see why. Students hate the snow days. Snow days here don’t imply a “get out of school free” permit. They mean that we have to study the material on our own, or attend make up lectures, or tune in for Google Hangout sessions, or just struggle through the homework with no understanding of the topic. Despite the snow days, professors’ syllabi don’t change and students’ productivity doesn’t increase. We do not like snow days. They mean more work for less knowledge. During snow days, hall residents gathered in the lounge often. We were all shut off from the world, and that was kind of great, because for a couple hours, we really didn’t have anything better to do. Together, we went out to test the snow. This was before the disgusting salty sludge replaced the white carpet, so we got to sink into the clean softness, get thoroughly soaked and cold and happy. The river was concealed by a cover of snow, so for once Boston and MIT were one entity, united under the royal purple sky. On Valentine’s Day, Boston was completely snowed in, so First East celebrated by watching a compilation of propaganda. But actually, it was a documentary called Atomic Cafe, which “cover[ed] the beginnings of the era of nuclear warfare, created from a broad range of archival film from the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s including newsreel clips, television news footage, U.S. government-produced films (including military training films), advertisements, television and radio programs” (says Wikipedia). We all loved the film. An indoor Valentine’s Day Saturday wasn’t bad at all with friends. This spring semester, I am taking five classes (because the credit limit is higher for second-semester frosh and no one wants to waste the precious A/B/C/No Record grading). They are, in numerical order: 7.013 Introductory Biology, 8.02 Physics II (Electricity Magnetism), 11.125 Introduction to Education: Understanding and Evaluating Education, 18.03 Differential Equations, and 21M.600 Intro to Acting. Three of those (7.013, 8.02, 18.03) are pretty standard frosh classes. My best friend and I share them and can pset together. 21M.600 is also quite a popular HASS-A (humanities arts class) among MIT students, and for good reasons, which I’ll reveal in another post. 11.125 will get a bullet point of its own because it has been life-changing. I am no longer a potential Course 18 (Theoretical Mathematics) major! Now I present myself as Course 11, which is technically Urban Studies and Planning, but Education is a possible concentration within the department (maybe Environmental Policy also). Theoretical math will be my minor. After much thought, I realized that mathematics had little application to my life plan. I love it still, but education is what thrills me the most, and I don’t want to miss out on the incredible education courses that MIT (and Harvard) offers. The choice was finalized during the first session of 11.125, where I drooled (metaphorically) at the prospect of discussing Common Core Mathematics, standardized testing, and curriculum/assessment tools. I’ve seen that reaction before, from my friends excited about their fields of study, so I guess education is a good fit for me. It brings out a wonderful feeling I had almost deemed impossible. My final point has come to an end, and with this, I’ll complete the two-month overview. Soon, I’ll get to more thorough blogging, but for now, I must rush to write an essay on education. It is my first MIT composition. Until later, which is hopefully soon Post Tagged #11.125 Evaluating Education

There Is No I in Government George Orwell´s 1984 Novel

There is No I in Government George Washington once said, â€Å"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.† With the ability to change society in vast directions, government is the controlling power of its people. Its power to control our nation’s economy and law are something to be feared. However, there are always more numbers in society than in government. Society is limitless, broad, and expanding. Government is small, limited, and finite. For this reason, the general population should hold no fear in guiding the government in its choices. 1984 written by George Orwell and V for Vendetta directed by James†¦show more content†¦For example, the head of the Mouth manipulates the newscast to report that V’s terrorism upon the Old Bailey is a planned demolition, to reduce the spread of revolution. However, contrasts still remain even within these blunt comparisons. In 1984, the Inner Party does not limit itself to watch every single move of residents. Cameras are installed in every location, even in houses, to make sure citizens do not revolt. In contrast, the government in V for Vendetta is more permissive on its surveillance. The Norsefire party does not set up cameras in the houses of citizens, but there are still cameras in public properties. Furthermore, the police forces act on a different level in 1984 and V for Vendetta. The Finger’s secret police tried to abuse their power by attempting to rape and possibly kill a lonely woman who was straying at night during the story. Conversely, the Thought Police show no such vulgar act as they are devoted to the Inner Party. Incidentally, Big Brother is a mysterious figure whose true nature is unknown to the reader. It is not shown if Big Brother is merely a fabricated idea or a tangible human being. In contrast, Adam Sutler is a real person as shown, which allowed him to be shot in the head during the final scenes of V for Vendetta. Most importantly, while the Norsefire Party and the Inner Party are representations of totalitarian commands, the government in V for Vendetta is incapable of constraining radical beliefs before they spark. SinceShow MoreRelated1984 Argument1249 Words   |  5 PagesGeorge Orwell’s book 1984 is a very interesting novel. The novel is set up in Airstrip One. In George Orwell’s book 1984 it has many situations. One of the many situations are that some people refer society as â€Å"Orwellian.† What does Orwellian mean? Orwellian means, of or related to the works of George Orwell ( especially his picture of his future totalitarian state.) People believe that Orwell is realistic and say his work part of our society now. George Orwell was a writer in the twentieth centuryRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s The Great Gatsby 1285 Words   |  6 PagesStudy of George Orwell George Orwell was a literary tactician who won two major awards because of hia advanced and intriguing use of propaganda. At first glance, his books appear to be stories about animals, however, they contain much deeper and influential meanings. Orwell is most recognized for his portrayal of dystopian societies and how they parallel present society. Through intense allegories, Orwell unintentionally crafted novels that are applicable to the totalitarian government systems prevalentRead MoreThe Literary Impact Of George Orwell . George Orwell, Born1375 Words   |  6 PagesThe Literary Impact of George Orwell George Orwell, born as Eric Arthur Blair, was a British journalist and author. His works were compelling, especially, when it comes to his strong political beliefs. He is considered one of the most widely admired English-language essayists of the twentieth century. As Elkins points out, he is best known for the two novels that were written toward the end of his life: the anti-utopian political allegory Animal Farm and the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-FourRead MoreAnalysis Of Alan Parsons s Eye Of The Sky 1071 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"Eye in the Sky† Performed by: The Alan Parsons Project The Alan Parsons Project s song â€Å"Eye in the Sky† is about surveillance. Someone is always listening and watching every move we make. When Alan Parson sings the following lyrics â€Å"Don t Say words you’re gonna Regret† (8). He is warning us that, we are always being watched and,Read More1984 Dystopian Society Essay1212 Words   |  5 Pagesday-and-night. George Orwell’s novel 1984, written in 1949, depicts and illustrates the future of the 1980’s. Orwell imagined the world in which totalitarianism reigned, individualism is dead, and history is just sentiment. The world diverged into three superstates: Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. With protagonist Winston Smith and the citizens of Oceania, they have experienced the impression, having to live life behind closed doors perpetually, also known as Big Brother. On top of this, the government directedRead MoreAnalysis Of Annabel s Annabel 1696 Words   |  7 PagesNovel Research Winter, Kathleen. (2010). Annabel. House of Anasi press Review Number 1: D’erasmo, Stacey. (2011). Announcing Her Existence. Retrieved October 24, 2017, from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/books/review/DErasmo-t.html Kathleen Winter’s, Annabel, takes place in 1968 in Croydon Harbor, Labrador, Canada. The plot starts off with a baby being born as an intersex and centers around the baby’s identity. It is decided at the baby’s birth that his birth gender will be kept a secretRead MoreEric Blair, Under The Pen Name George Orwell, Once Said,1462 Words   |  6 PagesEric Blair, under the pen name George Orwell,   once said, â€Å"Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand†. In May of 1946, Orwell liberated himself to the islands of the Hebrides with the desperate hope to expose himself to all the creative demons that crawled within his mind. His masterpiece struck the world with the waking fear ofRead MoreComparing 1984 And The Giver By George Orwell979 Words   |  4 PagesThe world has observed multip le authoritarian governments rise throughout history. These regimes have carried a faà §ade in front of their subjects to remain powerful and glorified. However, the true circumstances of the society are not perfect, in fact, they convey the opposite. Such governments, impose their ideologies amongst their innocent citizens. Citizens are unable to speak out against their government or hold political freedoms. To remain in power, the reigning party must utilize tactics toRead MoreLiterary Context Of Dystopian Literature1746 Words   |  7 PagesThomas Moore first explored the idea of a perfect world in his novel Utopia, many authors have been playing with that concept. This is namely seen in Jack London’s Iron Heel, published in 1906 or Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We, published in 1920 or even Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, published in 1932. However, it is in George Orwell’s 1984 that a truly horrific dystopian world is portrayed. Full of torture, misery, fear and repression, Orwell manages to manipulate and distort the idea of utopia and insteadRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Dangers Of Power Through A Totalitarian Government1186 Words   |  5 Pages When an author writes a novel, the theme is the recurring lesson or message that is either symbolically hidden or boldly stated throughout the story. While writing 1984, George Orwell strongly displayed the theme of the dangers of power through a totalitarian government. Not only were Orwell’s ideas of corruption in an all-powerful government portrayed in his novel, 1984, but comparisons can be made with the story’s points of a spying authority, keeping the lower class ignorant, and an unscrupulous

The Debate Over Organic Certification For Aquatic Animals

a) Becky Mansfield uses â€Å"the debate over organic certification for aquatic animals† (216) in order to enlighten the inconsistency of the organic movement’s ideas (230). The organic community creates standards that are supported by their ideas, but when the ideas become inconsistent and contradictory, it becomes very clear that their standards are not set up on stable grounds. b) The article was written in 2004, two years after the â€Å"first US National Organic Standards† was implemented (216). This would have given researchers and anyone involved in the agriculture world enough time to investigate the basis for the organic movements standards, and to judge whether or not the standards were consistent and fair. 2) Purpose of the article Becky Mansfield is arguing that it is difficult to distinguish whether a product of agriculture can have organic status or not. She has observed â€Å"the debate over organic certification for aquatic animals† (216) from every angle, and believes that the organic movement holds contradictory ideologies. These contradictions act as blockages for the attribution of organic status to wild fish, because the fish do not fall in any of the categories that the organic movement considers suitable for organic status. But as Becky expresses a dialogue between the organic movement and others involved in all realms of agriculture, it becomes obvious that it is not a problem of the inherent environments of the fish, but a problem of classification of theShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Organic Food On Organic Foods Essay2098 Words   |  9 Pagessubstantial increase in the demand for organic foods as opposed to the more common option of conventionally grown products. In 1990, the revenue sp ent on organic foods was only $1 billion, soaring to $21.1 billion in 2008, and reaching $26.6 billion in 2009 (Crinnion 4). This significant increase in demand is due to the environmental effects and the overwhelming benefits to our bodies. When addressing significant issues such as personal health and climate change, organic foods are a solution that can conquerRead MoreOrganic Food8071 Words   |  33 PagesContents 01. What is Organic Food?.........................................................04 02. History of Organic Food†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦04 03. Principles of Organic Agriculture†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.....05 04. How Can We Be Sure That our Food is Organic?...............07 05. Types of Organic Food†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.....07 06. Advantages of Organic Foods†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.......09 07. Organic vs. Non-organic†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.......11 08. Organic Food market†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....13 09. How can we market Organic Products?.......Read MoreAlgae Biofuel2508 Words   |  11 Pagesfuels used in the transportation sector requires development of an abundant source of TAGs. Algae – Part of Solution [pic] What Is â€Å"ALGAE† ? ââ€" ª Any of various chiefly aquatic, eukaryotic, photosynthetic organisms, ranging in size from single-celled forms to the giant kelps. ââ€" ª Microalgae are microscopic aquatic plants that carry out the same process and mechanism of photosynthesis as higher plants. Algaeoleum ââ€" ª Algae fuel (algal fuel),  algaeoleum  or  third-generation biofuel,  isRead MoreEcological Problems Facing United States Today2841 Words   |  12 Pagesfossil fuel, saving our endangered wildlife, and ensuring that we have safe and sufficient water. There is one environmental issue, however, that streams across all these areas, and threatens the safety of our country, and of many bodies of water all over the world, and that is the issue of Oil Spills. An oil spill can be defined as, â€Å"an unintentional release of crude oil or refined oil products into the environment.† Oil spills are considered to be a major source of chemical pollution. Most of theseRead MoreImpacts of Biopharming3388 Words   |  14 Pagestissue matrix to join root exudates, possibly adding to the soil burden. Biopharming in the open air will also impact life above ground and in the water. Insects and wildlife will pollinate, consume or otherwise interact with drug-growing plants, and aquatic life will be exposed to any persistent residues washed into lakes and rivers. Thus far, we have only considered the potential environmental impacts of biopharm crops in the plots of earth where they are grown, as if they were unable to propagateRead MoreConsumer Lifestyle in Singapore35714 Words   |  143 PagesVersus Private Healthcare ........................................................................................... 36 Attitudes To Health and Well-being ........................................................................................ 37 Over-the-counter Versus Prescription-only Medicines (otc Vs Pom) ...................................... 38 Sport and Fitness.................................................................................................................... 39 Obesity Read MoreBp Sustainability Essay28986 Words   |  116 Pagesshareholders by providing the energy that a growing population needs to generate progress and prosperity. Our recent projection of energy trends, BP Energy Outlook 2030, indicates in its ‘base case’ that primary energy use could grow by nearly 40% over the next 20 years, with more than 90% of demand growth coming from emerging economies. Whatever precise trajectory demand takes, all forms of energy will be required to meet rising demand, with fossil fuels remaining an essential part of the energyRead MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 Pagesor purchased software. Members of the Project Management Institute will find the text is well structured to meet the needs of those wishing to prepare for PMP (Project Management Professional) or CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) certification exams. The text has indepth coverage of the most critical topics found in PMI’s Project Management vii viii Preface Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). People at all levels in the organization assigned to work on projects will find the text usefulRead More_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 PagesRoxy likes to travel and spends her spare time reading mystery novels. She also collects Navajo rugs and heads to New Mexico whenever she can ï ¬ nd the time. CHRIS OLSEN has taught statistics at George Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for over 25 years. Chris is a past member of the Advanced Placement Statistics Test Development Committee and the author of the Teacher’s Guide for Advanced Placement Statistics. He has been a table leader at the AP Statistics reading for 6 years and since

Pakistan Media Free Essays

Media enhance the knowledge of public and communicates all the happenings to the public. Media industry of Pakistan is growing fast with much potential and seemingly bright future ahead. Media should not use negative tools to increase their viewership. We will write a custom essay sample on Pakistan Media or any similar topic only for you Order Now Role of media in Pakistan is getting quite irresponsible; as there are so many talk shows and political debates on the screen all the time and sometimes they seems to be crossing their limits. Media should work in its limits and according to some rules and regulations. Besides spreading exaggeration, Pakistani media should resolve the matters with positive attitude. Media is supposed to be responsible for the present society, trends, norms, values and so on. People are what they see, around them. Media reflects the society and it is the responsibility of media to expose the country to the whole world. Role of media in Pakistan cannot be neglected; Pakistani media relates dramas, movies, sports, news and entertainment and so many features to the people. Its dramas reflect society and happenings and issues in the society not only to the people of Pakistan but also to the whole world, news channels alarm the people about all the current happenings, within and outside the country. MASS MEDIA IN PAKISTAN 1. We are living in the age of information explosion, where the world has shrunk into a global village. 2. The vital function of Mass Media is that it is the thinking mode of any society. Following are the types of Mass Media: – (a)Print Media (b)Electronic Media (c)Interactive Media 3. Tools of Media. Since the media plays a war of words, the important tools Include ‘vocabulary’, being ‘vigilant about different developments’. (a)Reading. (b)Vigilant (c)Punctual (d)Alertness (e)Lingual Competence FACTORS FOR GROWTH OF MEDIA 1. Mass media is wholesaler of M. Communication. Pak inherited 05 radio channel son its birth. International Trend played important role in development of Mass Media in Pakistan. Initial decades of Pakistani Media’s history have been dominated by PTV. 2. Government was compelled to permit freedom of media (a)Liberalization of airway in India led to mushroom growth of TV channels (b)In Kargil war India was able to sell its viewpoint to the world and cashed on its version while Pak suffered since it had only the state channel. (c)Economic boom in telecom in Pakistan. Commercial nature of Media was discovered in the economic advantages related to it. Revenue generated by Media in 2002 was 2 billion and in 2007 this soared to Rs. 17 Billion. (d)Literacy rate / level grew in Pakistan and played a role in media Development. (e)Arrival of cable operators / network and its growth held vision. (f)Govt policies played vital role, especially of President Musharraf. Javed Jabbar. Said â€Å"Media is more powerful then nuclear devices† he worked on PEMRA 3. Private sector was involved and posed challenge to state media. State Media to compete with Pvt Media has to improve and become more open and provide realistic stories, this reformed the State Media as well _ since realistic input was being provided by the Pvt Media. 4. Pak Media Market was in raw form and was untapped; it had the potential to grow. Phenomenon of community based radio channels i. e. FM channel, community based Services (print / elect) have played important role in media development. 5. Number of Press Media / Printing groups were permitted and have launched their TV channels e. . Jang Group – Geo, etc. 6. Mass media is the major source of providing news and entertainment to the people who wants to know who is doing what and what is happening. Aristotle in his book â€Å"Poetics† has written that â€Å"Media is a means of catharsis and is must for normal living†. 7. The entertainment and news value of media has played very important role its development. However, electronic media enjoys larger scope over print media, since it has wider audience, is easily accessible and be understood by even illiterate people. The media provides wide range of entertainment / news according to interest of people of different age groups / liking / languages. Talk Shows Mania has brought more liberalization and has revolutionized the concept since erstwhile taboo issues are being discussed enhancing the awareness of people. 8. The realization in the people and Government about the role of media in society / economic development is there. Indian soap operas have a large viewer ship and their popularity has attracted lots of commercials / advertisement. The commercial aspects attached to the media have contributed to its rapid development. . The Infrastructure Development has taken place. Modern state of art studios /introduction of latest equipment / communication facilities like video conferencing, fax, electronic data transfer, chat / mobiles, etc have brought in a revolution and contributed immensely in the media development. 10. The advertisement / commercials have brought big money to media market. The co ntents of programmes are changing. The high economic stakes attached to the media have brought in Professionalism in all its related fields. Due open market, there is a Scarcity of professional media men 11. The abundance of media outlets has on one hand has created lot of employment opportunities but on the other has posed challenges to the media men to excel in their fields. Jang Group has more than 50,000 employees; media persons are getting enhanced wages. Today we have number of highly professional and well-known media persons who are stalwarts of Pakistani Media and form its backbone. 12. Dozens Of other factors have played role in the development of Pakistani Media. It has been a â€Å"watchdog† on actions of the state, people strengthened the media. Media has played important role in discussing un-touched subjects. It has helped harmonizing the nation on otherwise contentious issues. The competition among the channels is bringing in qualitative improvement in the content and other aspects of programmes MASS MEDIA IN PAKISTAN EFFECTS OF MEDIA 1. Level of Awareness. The level of awareness has increased. Media has contributed a lot in increasing the general knowledge, who is who and what is what, knowledge of current issues etc. The programmers having media discussions, current affairs, documentaries, etc have been instrumental in enhancing the common man’s awareness. How to cite Pakistan Media, Papers

Sarbanes

Introduction: The Sarbanes- Oxley Act 2002 The Sarbanes- Oxley Act 2002 is one of the federal laws in the United States of America that were established with a major objective of protecting investors by improving accuracy and dependability of the so-disclosed corporate information. All boards of directors in public companies, public management, and accounting companies have to comply with the Act with regard to laws of security.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002/Methods of Depreciation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Act was named after Senator Paul Sarbanes and Michael Oxley who were representatives in the lower house in the United States. Also referred to as Sarbox, the Act was passed on 30 July 2002. With its enactment, all managers of public corporations were charged with the responsibility of personally certifying the validity of any financial information to be reported (Surowiecki, 2005, p.46). The act also set very severe penalties for organization management that contravened it. In addition, the Sarbanes –Oxley Act of 2002 made it a requirement for all public corporations to ensure that independent external auditors audit their financial accounts. These auditors enable firms to have a clearer picture about the correctness of their statement of accounts (Baker Taylor, 2000 p.1). The report also recommended that managers and board of directors in public corporate organizations had to play an oversight role. Key Components of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 The key components of Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2012 include several titles with the first being the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), which is regarded as title 1 with the key responsibility of acting as a watchdog to all the accounting firms set up for the public. The title performs auditing duties. Title 1 is also the branch of Sarbanes-Oxley act that registers auditors before t hey can perform public and private auditing duties in the country. It is bestowed the authority of identifying special procedures that audits must conform to when examining auditing works. It is also supposed to perform quality assurance and policy control functions (Surowiecki, 2007, p.29) of auditing in the federation. With the implementation of title1, the United States is assured of uniformity in business standards. With such similarities, the member states can therefore trade at equal levels and be able to use similar and related business documents with ease hence promoting the level of interactivity in the auditing fraternity. Finally, the title also ensures that all public auditing firms in the federation are compliant to the directives of Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002. It is charged with the authority to guarantee the federation that the recommendations of SOX are implemented with by every auditing firm.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The next component of Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002 is auditor independence. This component is commonly referred to as title II. The title contains details of how auditors are supposed to work independently without influence from external forces. According to this component, auditors should avoid carrying out duties in areas or field that they are likely to have conflicts of interest (Baker Taylor, 2000, p.1). Title II acts as a barrier to conflicts of interest in duties performed by auditing firms in the whole federation. Conflicts of interest result in biasness. Therefore, the quality of auditing is compromised. The title also ensures that auditing professionalism is portrayed in all auditing works in the United States. It is therefore the mandate of title II to address the issue of admitting new auditors into the auditing profession. In such processes, all requirements should be verified in order to ensure that professionalism is upheld (Surowiecki, 2005, p.46). The component spells out the relationships that should exist between different auditors and or how they should collaborate in ensuring success of auditing as a profession. Such collaboration includes rotation of audit partners in a bid to ensure quality standards in auditing. This constituent also monitors auditing firms to ensure that they purely conduct auditing duties. Regulations of this nature bar the auditing firms from offering other related services to clients of auditing (Baker Taylor, 2000, p.1) implying that auditing firms are restricted from undertaking services like accounting consultancy and business advisory among others. The third component is corporate responsibility otherwise referred to as title III. The recommendation of this component is that auditing officers must take individual responsibility for their actions. Auditing officers should ensure the accuracy of all financial documents and reports. The componen t also recommends that auditors must take responsibility for the level of completeness depicted in their financial reports. This element spells out how internal auditors and auditing committees in various corporations should relate with external auditors. From such interactions, the level of accuracy in auditing reports is boosted. Title III ensures compliance with SOX. It goes beyond enumerating the standards to be complied with to listing of the penalties for forfeiture. According to Kuschnik (2008, p.92), section 302 of title III dictates that the chief executive officer and other executive officers must verify and consent to the level of reliability in their financial reports.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002/Methods of Depreciation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The fourth component is enhanced financial disclosure. This component states the requirements for financial re porting. The fifth component is the analyst conflicts of interest referred to as title V that aims at ensuring that investors have confidence in security analysts’ reports. The sixth component is the commission resources and authority. The component is regarded as title VI. It indicates the actions that corporations should take to ensure that investors are confident about the reporting done by security analysts. The seventh component is studies and reports. It is also called title VII. From this component, the comptroller general is supposed to research on the quality of auditing to make a report on it. The eighth component of SOX is corporate and criminal fraud accountability. It is also referred to as title VII or corporate and criminal fraud accountability Act 2002. Under this title, various penalties on auditing offenses are spelt out for example on fraud and report alteration. The ninth component is the white-collar crime penalty enhancement also called title IX or White Collar Penalty Enhancement Act of 2002. The tenth component is Corporate Tax returns, which is also regarded as title X that stipulates that the Chief Executive Officer of corporations has to append his or her signature on reports of tax returns (Surowiecki, 2005, p.46). The eleventh component is corporate fraud accountability also referred to as Title XI. This title categorizes fraud and tempering of records as criminal offenses. Objective of Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002 The objective of Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002 is to ensure investor confidence in public corporations in the United States of America. The Act targeted public corporations, public accounting organizations, and their management. The act also aims at ensuring that auditors perform their duties accurately, professionally, and independently. The Act also spells out the punishment for contravening auditing standards. In doing so, investor confidence is boosted and auditing uniformity is guaranteed in the United States. Criticism Although many people have attributed SOX with the high auditing standards in the United States, various critics discredit the Act. One of the criticisms of the act is that it is an indulgence into the management of companies by the government. Critics citing this loophole argue that it puts investors in the United States at a disadvantage point when trading with foreign companies. This hitch has made the United States lose business. In fact, various companies have deregistered from the stock exchange of the United States. Other critics have blamed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act as the reason for having minimal initial public offers in 2008. The critics therefore link SOX with the 2007 economic recession in the United States (Gore, 2010, p.714). The other criticism of Sarbanes-Oxley Ac of 2002 is that the laws have not been able to prevent fraud.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Wall street journal of December 21 2008 criticized SOX for not being able to implement its farness plan meaning that it had totally failed to achieve its major objectives. The Wall Street also criticized it for disabling young public corporations. According to this journal, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002 was responsible for the destruction of the entrepreneurship spirit that existed in the United States of America before its inception. It goes further to criticize SOX for the weakening of the stock exchange business in the whole federation (Strout, 2006, p.9). For example, in 2008, only six corporations became public meaning that companies in the United States fear turning public due to the stiff regulations posed by Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2008. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is also criticized for the high unemployment rate in the United States of America. This high rate of unemployment is attributed the increased fear by many investors to invest in the United States. Investors als o fear turning their companies from private to public due to the tight regulations set for all public corporations by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. As the number of employers decrease, the number of jobs for the employees decreases. Others have attributed the location of the world top security market in Hong Kong and not in the New York City as it had been before the inception of SOX (Gore 2010, p.715). The tight regulation set by Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has made many capital investors to turn to other economies thus avoiding the United States economy. Economic Consequences of Sarbanes-Oxley Act There are various economic consequences of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 on the economy of the United States. The first consequence is that, with the implementation of SOX, most investors have avoided the United States as a place to invest their capital as indicated by the low levels of companies that have turned public since its inception. For example, in 2001, only 87 companies turne d for initial public offer (IPO). The turnout was a very low ranking compared to the period when Sarbanes-Oxley Act was enacted. For example, in 2004, about 233 companies listed for IPO while there were more than 205 companies turning public in 2006. The other consequence of Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002 is that it has resulted in the decline of capital market in the United States because most investors have turned to other economies like those of London and Hong Kong in a bid to avoid the tight regulations set by SOX. The argument indicates that more and more wealth has been shifted to other economies (Strout, 2006, p.9). It is also worth noting that the Sarbanes-Oxley act was blamed for the economic depression that has affected the United States since 2007 (Gore, 2010, p.714). The attribution is that, since SOX has resulted in few investors being interested with investing in the United States of America, there has been an increase in unemployment in the US. With the increased unemployme nt, the purchasing power of the United States of America has gone down. The other consequence of Sarbanes-Oxley act is that it has led to a reduced number of companies listing for Initial Public Offer (IPO) in the United States because most of the corporations are small corporations that fear turning public. This fear is attributed to the high level of regulations that came with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The auditing procedures set for public corporations through this act are prohibitive for small investors. Investors from foreign corporations are also shying away from investing in the American economy. Instead of investing in the United States of America, they will invest in the United Kingdom and other economies. On the other hand, there are positive consequences of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The first positive consequence is that it has enabled shareholders of various corporations to become the owners of such companies. This advantage changed the old trend when manager s almost worked as the only legal owners of public corporations. Instead, managers work for the shareholders in public corporations in America today. Managers of public corporations have therefore become administrators of shareholders’ resources (Crook, 2006, p.150). The other positive consequence is that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has boosted the confidence of investors in public corporations. This case has been made possible by creation of trust through auditing procedures. The financial reporting procedures have been made more transparent and accurate (Surowiecki, 2007, p.29) acting as a major building block for investor confidence. The fact that auditors and corporate managers are required to take personal responsibility for their reports makes the management of public corporations more transparent to the public (Crook, 2006, p.150). Managers have also become keen, professional in their way of administration, and reporting. It is also worth noting that the financial r eporting procedures that have been put in place by Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are among the legal requirements for every public corporation. The procedures for financial reporting enabled many corporations to produce accurate financial reports. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has also enabled the United States to discover some fraudulent companies. For example, the fraud that was unveiled from Value Line company in 2009 saved the country about 24 million dollars hence standing out as an upward trend in combating fraud as crime. The whole of this process was made possible by the standards set in the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. Conclusion: Achievement of Sarbanes-Oxley Act goals The Sarbanes-Oxley Act has been able to achieve some of its goals because the Act aimed at increasing investor confidence in the United States. Today, most of the investors in public companies in the US have confidence in these corporations due to the increased transparency in financial reporting (Surowiecki, 2 005, p.46). The second aim that this Act had was to reduce fraud. The Act has been able to achieve this goal because it has already unearthed several fraudulent corporations thereby saving the economy huge sums of money. The Act aimed at restoring ethical standards in the United States’ business world. Managers and executive managers have to comply with auditing standards in administration, communication, and communication (Crook, 2006, p.150). Reference List Baker, L., Taylor, G. (2000). Author Biographies, Anthony Tarantino, PhD. Six Sigma Black Belt, Certified Sarbanes-Oxley Professional, 1(3), 1-1. Crook, C. (2006). Atlantic Monthly. Executive Privilege, 297(1), 150-153. Gore, C. (2010). The global recession of 2009 in a long-term development perspective’, Journal of International Development, 22(6), 714-38. Kuschnik, B. (2008). The Sarbanes Oxley Act: Big Brother is watching† you or Adequate Measures of Corporate Governance Regulation? Rutgers Business Law Journal, 5(1), 64–95. Strout, C., Fisher, S., Kneale, D. (2006). New Yorker. The Mail, 81(44), 9-9. Surowiecki, J. (2005). New Yorker. Sarboxed In?, 81(40), 46-46. Surowiecki, J. (2007). New Yorker. Over There, 82(48), 29-29. This research paper on Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002/Methods of Depreciation was written and submitted by user Princeton M. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. Sarbanes Introduction The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was enacted into law in 2002 to respond to the various financial scandals that were taking place in the for-profit corporate sector of the United States. The act was meant to address the abuse of finances and accounting standards by companies such as Adelphia, Enron and WorldCom where the executives of these companies defrauded their shareholders, their employees and the US economy of billions of dollars. Once it was enacted, SOX was meant to introduce major changes to the corporate governance and financial management of capital in many corporations within America.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sarbanes-Oxley Act specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Sarbanes-Oxley Act or the SOX act of 2002 was developed by Senator Paul Sarbanes and House Representative Michael Oxley and it contains eleven sections which outline the responsibilities of chief executive officers as well as financial controllers in managing the finances of a company (Morgan et al, 2008). Examination of the SOX Act of 2002 Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, companies that are publicly traded in the US are required to increase their internal financial and accounting controls after personal clarification with the chief executive and chief financial officers of the company. This is meant to strengthen the auditing, accounting and financial practices of the company. The act also requires for-profit corporations in the country to increase their external controls through enhancing the duties and responsibilities of the audit committee. The act also states that chief financial controllers and auditors need to provide supporting evidence that will be used to whistleblow on the abuse of company funds (Morgan et al, 2008). The SOX bill does not apply to privately held companies as many of the laws deal with the management of shareholder, corporate and public funds which are usually common in publicly traded companies. The new and enhanced standards within the SOX Act deal with additional responsibilities for the corporate board and chief executive officers of most organizations as well as the introduction of criminal penalties for managers caught defrauding corporations of public funds. Other enhanced standards within the act include auditor independence, enhanced financial disclosures, conflicts of interest and corporate fraud accountability. All these aspects are included within the eleven sections of the act where they analyse the specific mandates and requirements that managers need to have when conducting financial reporting (Kuschnik, 2008). Each of these sub sections are important and necessary in the financial management of publicly traded corporation as they ensure that there is accountability during the management of financial funds.Advertising Looking for essay on business corporate law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For example auditor independence which falls under the second title deals with limiting the conflicts of interest that arise during audit reporting while corporate fraud accountability which falls under the eleventh title of the act deals with the identification of corporate fraud and the various penalties that are served to deal with fraud. This section also revises the sentencing guidelines that were in existence before to deal with people who defrauded companies of billions of dollars. This review was seen to be important as it would enable the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to temporarily freeze any transactions or payments that were deemed to be unusual for the company (Kuschnik, 2008). In general, the act deals with ensuring the financial reports generated by auditors and finance managers within organization to develop internal control reports that can be used to determine the accuracy of the company’s financial data. The adoption of the S OX act is meant to establish a best-practice standard when it comes to the management of corporate funds. The act also changes how corporate management boards and executives interact with each other as well as with their corporate auditors and financial controllers. It also ensures that the top managers of a corporate organization are held accountable for the accuracy of financial statements released at the end of every company financial year (Litvak, 2007). Benefits and Costs of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act According to Bednanrz (2006), the costs of implementing the SOX act will exceed the benefits of the act when it is fully implemented. A survey conducted on the compliance costs of the act in various publicly traded corporations within the US revealed that the first year compliance costs would exceed $4.6 million dollars. This figure applied to all the large multinational and domestic companies in the US. Medium sized companies and smaller companies operating within the US were likely to incur significant additional costs that were projected to amount to $2 million during the first-year compliance with the SOX guidelines. These huge costs incurred during the first year would make it difficult to determine whether the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was actually working in managing corporate finances and auditing issues (Bernanrz, 2006).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sarbanes-Oxley Act specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With regards to the benefits of the act, various financial analysts and experts noted that the borrowing costs were lower for companies that had improved their internal control measures while corporate transparency had improved within many publicly traded organizations during the first year of compliance. Section 404 of the act ensured that companies had conservative reported earnings where financial reports and statements underwent verification to determine their accuracy before being pres ented to the various stakeholders of the company. Companies that had strong internal controls were able to experience an increase in their share prices and their financial statements were more reliable (Morgan et al, 2008). Reactions of Company Executives and Changes to Accounting Practices While many legislators have praised the Sarbanes-Oxley act to be effective in dealing with financial fraud within corporations, many business managers have expressed frustration with the act. The Federal Regulation Board has been faced with a lot of complaints about the high costs that are needed to implement the act in major public corporations within the country. Executives from General Electric, Lockheed Martin and Emerson Electric were among those who spoke about the various challenges of complying with the SOX act two years after it was implemented (Bednanrz, 2006). The executives agreed that while it was too soon to determine the benefits of complying with the act, there were considerable c osts such as audit fees which were expected to increase by approximately 40% during the first year of compliance. Business managers working for BP saw the duplicate testing of internal controls to dilute the business practices of the organization as they saw it to be a frustrating exercise. They instead preferred to perform a single internal control testing exercise which would enable them to identify and document any financial issues or problems (Bednanrz, 2006). References Bednanrz, A., (2006, May 11). Executives tell regulators Sarbanes-Oxley costs exceed benefits. Retrieved from:  https://www.networkworld.com/article/2311689/execs-tell-regulators-sarbanes-oxley-costs-exceed-benefits.htmlAdvertising Looking for essay on business corporate law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Kuschnik, B., (2008). The Sarbanes-Oxley Act: big brother is watching you or adequate measures of corporate governance regulation. Rutgers Business Law Journal, 64-95 Litvak, K., (2007). The effect of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on non-US companies cross-listed in the US. Journal of Corporate Finance, 13(55), 195-228 Morgan, D.F., Green, R., Shinn, C.W., Robinson, K.S., (2008). Foundations of public service. New York: M.E. Sharpe Incorporated This essay on Sarbanes-Oxley Act was written and submitted by user Kolton Sharp to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Should Ministry of Education Review its Corporal Punishment essays

Should Ministry of Education Review its Corporal Punishment essays The media has reported that a Principal who slapped a female student with a soft cover book was demoted. We were told that the Principal did the act, which is against the spirit of corporal punishment, in a fit of anger. According to the Ministry of Education, the solely form of corporal punishment that is acceptable is canning, where another disciplinary teacher must bear witness to prevent accusations of abuse by the student. However, canning is only imposed upon male students while female students are punished through other methods such as detention. Even though it seems that the Principal has to bear full responsibility for having slapped the student, violating the Ministry of Educations rules, it is an unknown what prompted the principal to do what he knows is wrong. Hence, before we condemn the Principal, we should consider the situation again. All naughty students who go against the school rules, behave defiantly, including female students as well, gives problems to teachers. However, the punishments meant for female students seem to be ineffective. Others might even deem it as the Ministry of Education is over-protecting the female students. As such, should the Ministry of Education review its corporal punishment policy? The Ministry of Educations corporal punishment policy has the propensity of stereotyping the boys to be naughtier than girls are. It also brings about the old fashion perception that girls are more vulnerable than boys are, and thus, the cane is spared upon the females. Nonetheless, I denounce such perception of girls being more vulnerable as we are currently living in the 21st century where there is equality in gender. Girls have claimed that they are able to do whatever the boys are capable of and even excel the boys. So should the corporal punishment not be imposed upon girls? We ought to take into consideration that some female students are as naughty and can get even naughtier th ...

Hindenburg Disaster

Hindenburg Disaster The suddenness of the disaster was shocking. At 7:25 p.m. on May 6, 1937, while the Hindenburg was attempting to land at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey, a flame appeared on the outer cover of the rear of the Hindenburg. Within 34 seconds, the entire airship was consumed by fire. Take-off On May 3, 1937, the captain of the Hindenburg (on this trip, Max Pruss) ordered the zeppelin out of its shed at the airship station in Frankfurt, Germany. As was usual, when all was ready, the captain shouted, Schiff hoch! (Up ship!) and the ground crew released the handling lines and gave the giant airship a push upward. This trip was the first of the 1937 season for passenger service between Europe and the United States and it wasnt as popular as the 1936 season. In 1936, the Hindenburg had completed ten successful trips (1,002 passengers) and was so popular that they had to turn away customers. On this trip, the first of the 1937 season, the airship was only half full, carrying 36 passengers despite it being equipped to carry 72. For their $400 ticket ($720 round trip), the passengers could relax in the large, luxurious common spaces and enjoy fine food.  They could play, sing, or  listen to the baby grand piano on board or just sit and write postcards. With 61 crew members on board, the passengers were well accommodated. The luxury of the Hindenburg was a marvel in air travel. Considering that passengers were not taken across the Atlantic in heavier-than-air crafts (airplanes) until 1939, the novelty as well as the luxury of traveling in the Hindenburg was astonishing. The smoothness of the ride took many of the Hindenburgs passengers by surprise. Louis Lochner, a newspaperman, described the trip: You feel as though you were carried in the arms of angels.1 There are other stories of passengers waking up after several hours aloft questioning the crew as to when the ship was to take off.2 On most trips across the Atlantic, the Hindenburg maintained an altitude of approximately 650 feet and cruised around 78 mph; however, on this trip, the Hindenburg encountered strong head winds that slowed it down, pushing back the Hindenburgs arrival time from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 6, 1937. The Storm A storm was brewing over the Lakehurst Naval Air Station (New Jersey) on the afternoon of May 6, 1937. After Captain Pruss had taken the Hindenburg over Manhattan, with a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, the airship was nearly over Lakehurst when they received a weather report that stated winds were up to 25 knots. In a lighter-than-air ship, winds could be dangerous; thus, both Captain Pruss and Commander Charles Rosendahl, the officer in charge of the air station, agreed that the Hindenburg should wait for the weather to improve. The Hindenburg then headed southward, then northward, in a continuing circle while it waited for better weather. Family, friends, and newspapermen waited at Lakehurst for the Hindenburg to land. Most had been there since the early morning hours when the airship was first scheduled to land. At 5 p.m., Commander Rosendahl gave the order to sound Zero Hour - a loud siren beckoning the 92 navy and 139 civilian ground crew personnel from the nearby town of Lakehurst. The ground crew were to help the airship land by hanging on to mooring lines. At 6 p.m. it began to really rain and soon after began to clear. At 6:12 p.m., Commander Rosendahl informed Captain Pruss: Conditions now considered suitable for landing.3 The Hindenburg had traveled perhaps a little too far and was still not at Lakehurst at 7:10 p.m. when Commander Rosendahl sent another message: Conditions definitely improved recommend earliest possible landing.4 Arrival Not long after Commander Rosendahls last message, the  Hindenburg  appeared over Lakehurst. The  Hindenburg  made a pass over the airfield before coming in for landing. Circling over the airfield, Captain Pruss tried to slow down the  Hindenburg  and to lower its altitude. Perhaps worried about the weather, Captain Pruss made a sharp left turn as the airship approached the mooring mast. Since the  Hindenburg  was a little tail heavy, 1,320 pounds (600 kg) of ballast water was dropped (often, unwary onlookers who had ventured too close to an approaching airship would get drenched from ballast water). Since the stern was still heavy, the  Hindenburg  dropped another 1,100 pounds (500 kg) of ballast water and this time did drench some of the onlookers. At 7:21 p.m., the  Hindenburg  was still about 1,000 feet away from the mooring mast and approximately 300 feet in the air. Most of the passengers stood by the windows to watch the onlookers grow larger as the airship decreased its altitude and to wave at their family and friends. The five officers on board (two were just observers) were all in the control gondola. Other crewmen were in the tail fin to release mooring lines and to drop the rear landing wheel. A Flame At 7:25 p.m., witnesses saw a small, mushroom-shaped flame rise from the top of the tail section of the  Hindenburg, just in front of the tail fin. The crewmen in the tail of the airship said they heard a detonation which sounded like the burner on a gas stove turn on.5   Within seconds, the fire engulfed the tail and spread quickly forward.  The mid-section was completely in flames even before the tail of the  Hindenburg  hit the ground. It took only 34 seconds for the entire airship to be consumed by flames. The passengers and crew had only seconds to react. Some jumped out of the windows, some fell. Since the  Hindenburg  was still 300 feet (roughly equal to 30 stories) in the air when it caught fire, many of these passengers did not survive the fall. Other passengers got wedged inside the ship by moving furniture and fallen passengers. Other passengers and crew jumped from the ship once it neared the ground. Even others were rescued from the burning bulk after it had hit the ground. The ground crew, which had been there to assist the craft in mooring, became a rescue crew. The injured were taken to the airfields infirmary; the dead were taken to the press room, the impromptu morgue. The Radio Broadcast On the scene, radio broadcaster Herbert Morrison captured his emotion-filled, first-hand experience as he watched the  Hindenburg  burst into flames. (His radio broadcast  was taped and then played to a shocked world the following day.) Aftermath Considering the quickness of the catastrophe, it is amazing that only 35 of the 97 men and women on board, plus one member of the ground crew, died in the  Hindenburg  disaster. This tragedy - seen by so many via photographs, news-reels, and radio - effectively ended commercial passenger service in rigid,  lighter-than-air crafts. Though it was assumed at the time that the fire was caused by a hydrogen gas leak ignited by a spark of static electricity, the cause of the disaster is still controversial. Notes 1. Rick Archbold,  Hindenburg: An Illustrated History  (Toronto: Warner/Madison Press Book, 1994) 162.2. Archbold,  Hindenburg  162.3. Archbold,  Hindenburg  178.4. Archbold,  Hindenburg  178.5. Archbold,  Hindenburg  181.