On Tortillas and Community

On Tortillas and Community Hello! One of the first things I wrote about as a staff blogger was my transition from pueblerina to big city girl. A year and a half has passed since that blog post and I’d like to give you an update. When I last checked in, I was just settling into my new life in Cambridge, MA. As a proud, first generation, Mexican-American woman, I found that there were a couple of things that I needed to ensure my happiness, sense of belonging, and community. I had already found the perfect coffee-shop, but there were still a couple of things missing from my list. Ahem: Tortillas. These round slices of heaven are revered in Mexican cuisine; for instance, a tortilla can either make or break a meal: corn tortillas bring out the flavors in tacos al pastor or enchiladas, while flour tortillas are better suited for burritos or just eating them by themselves with a bit of butter. With this in mind, I set out to find a tortilleria or in the very least, good quality tortillas in a super market. Not only did I not find a tortilleria, but I didn’t even find good quality tortillas in the supermarket. Y ahora, que sera de mi? One day a student told me how her mom regularly ships her treats from California and I thought to myself, “Well that’s something, ain’t it?” I quickly called my parents and two days later, I had two packages of freshly made tortillas from the local tortilleria and a package of my favorite chorizo. All of these seemingly small things: tortillas, chorizo, coffee, all of these things can make a person feel at home. But acquiring a sense of happiness, sense of belonging and community requires more than just material things, as cliché as that may sound. The interaction with people from my community is very important to me, as well, to be able to share and bond through stories of common experiences, such as attending quinceañeras, eating tamales, or being the first in your family to go to college. Sigue leyendo. The other day, I was having ice cream with a student I “mentor” (I really think it’s the other way around) and she was telling me she would be pulling an all-nighter studying for her neuroscience class and in the next breath, telling me she would be visiting her abuelita for Christmas break. As she was talking, I couldn’t help but feel so incredibly proud of her for having the fortaleza and coraje to leave her family behind and forge her own path at MIT. This, my friends, this is what makes Cambridge, MA feel like home to me, even if my parents have to send tortillas and chorizo via express mail.

Conservation of Energy Lab Essay - 1536 Words

FREE FALL AND CONSERVATION OF MECHANICAL ENERGY ABSTRACT Free fall is defined as the ideal falling motion of an object that is subject only to the earth’s gravitational field. To prove the law of conservation of energy, the free fall motion of an object can be represented through 3 different analyses; position of the object vs. time, velocity of the object vs. time, and acceleration of the object vs. time. It is observed in this ball toss experiment, at any point during the free fall period, the system contains the same total amount of mechanical energy. This amount is the sum of kinetic and gravitational potential energy. FREE FALL AND THE CONSERVATION OF ENERGY The law of conservation of energy states that the total amount of†¦show more content†¦Comparison – Position – Compare the coefficient of t ² to the actual value of  ½g | Coefficient of t2 (m/s2) |  ½ g (m/s2) | Percentage of Comparison | Trial 1 | -4.739 m/s2 | -4.9m/s2 | 3.3% | Trial 2 | -4.733 m/s2 | -4.9m/s2 | 3.4% | Trial 3 | -4.793 m/s2 | -4.9m/s2 | 2.2% | Trial 4 | -4.751 m/s2 | -4.9m/s2 | 3.0% | Trial 5 | -4.746 m/s2 | -4.9m/s2 | 3.1% | AVERAGES: | -4.752 m/s2 | -4.9m/s2 | 3.0% | ***There is a 3% difference when comparing the position vs. time value of ‘g’ to the constant of g. Comparison – Velocity – Compare the coefficient of t (value of s. timeifference when comparinght..represent the minimum f=e it was tossed - to Normal. in these systems remains consrepresented with ‘m’ slope) to the actual value of g | Coefficient of t (m/s2) | g (m/s2) | Percentage of Comparison | Trial 1 | -9.467m/s2 | -9.8m/s2 | 3.4% | Trial 2 | -9.385m/s2 | -9.8m/s2 | 4.2% | Trial 3 | -9.406m/s2 | -9.8m/s2 | 4.0% | Trial 4 | -9.421m/s2 | -9.8m/s2 | 3.9% | Trial 5 | -9.494m/s2 | -9.8m/s2 | 3.1% | AVERAGES: | -9.435m/s2 | -9.8m/s2 | 3.7% | ***There is a 3.7% difference when comparing the velocity vs. time value of ‘g’ to the constant of g. Comparison – Acceleration – Compare the consistency (represented as the median value) of the statistic line in each trial | ‘a’ from graph(m/s2) | g(m/s2) | Percentage of Comparison | Trial 1 | -9.444m/s2 | -9.8m/s2 | 3.6% |Show MoreRelatedThe Conservation Of Energy Lab Essay1158 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: For the conservation of energy lab three experiments were performed. Terrestrial Gravitation Acceleration, First Law of Thermodynamics and Centripetal Acceleration vs. First Law of Thermodynamics. Each of the experiments demonstrated the importance of the first law of thermodynamic and how its present on our daily lives. Therefore, reinforcing the importance of thermodynamics concepts and their role in our society. Objectives: Experiment A: Terrestrial Gravitational AccelerationRead MorePhysics Principles Of Dynamics And Rotational Kinematics882 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction In this lab, we used the physics principles of dynamics and rotational kinematics to calculate the acceleration due to gravity near the earth’s surface. Our calculations were based on Galileo’s ramp. Galileo hypothesized that a falling object would gain equal amounts of velocity in equal amounts of time, however, he was unable to test this theory, as he could not accurately measure an object free-falling through space. In order to rectify this, he attempted to slow down the objectsRead MoreEnergy of a Tossed Ball768 Words   |  4 PagesEnergy of a Tossed Ball Project PURPOSE: The purpose for the students of the Energy of a Tossed Ball Lab involved learning how to measure the change in kinetic and potential energies as a ball moves in free fall. Since there is no frictional forces working on the ball the total energy will remain constant and the students will see how the total energy of the ball changes during free fall. HYPOTHESIS: 1. The ball has potential energy while momentarily at rest at the top of the path. 2Read MoreLab Report Essay753 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Beginning with science : 06 Matter and Energy Kevin Edwards. Introduction :You will be exploring three scenarios and conducting observations on the physical and chemical changes in matter: The Iced Tea Debate, Salty Soup, and Fire Bug. Objective : To demonstrate the differences between physical and chemical changes while observing the laws of conservation of matter and energy. Procedure : Watch each part of the experimental demonstration and make predictions about what will happen inRead MoreBiography of Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand Helmholtz1046 Words   |  4 Pagesenlightening the world of science for generations. Conservation of Energy Early in his career, Hermann von Helmholtz developed a passion for sciences that would impact society and make the world a better place. One of the best ways he contributed to the world of science was providing us with his research on the conservation of force. Hermann von Helmholtz uses the term ‘force’ in place of the term ‘energy’. During the time period, theories of conserving energy to better sustain our land was unfamiliar andRead MoreThe Findings After Testing Quantized Inertia On The Emdrive971 Words   |  4 Pagestesting quantized inertia on the EmDrive. The authors predicted that the thrust produced by the EmDrive can be explained assuming that the inertial mass of the photons is caused by unruh radiation. Multiple experiments took place in several independent labs, and produced results that were similar to the predicted values for thrust. The computations of the results did not sufficiently model wave oscillations in 3D, thus the authors recomme nd further testing in order to produce more accurate findings. Read MoreKing s Theory Three System946 Words   |  4 Pagesby then the lab work should be back, the goal is to reduce blood glucose level below 200. The next stage is the is the evaluation stage, in this stage the nurse look at the care plan to see if what was in the care plan was achieved. For example, was the patient finger still the same or is the patient blood glucose level reduce. Case Study Myra Levine’s theory talks about the four areas of conservation which are conservation of energy, conservation of structural integrity, conservation of personalRead MoreThe Relationship Between Gravitational Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy And Total Mechanical Energy Of A Cart1452 Words   |  6 PagesPurpose: To find out the relationship between gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, and total mechanical energy of a cart as it rolls down a ramp Hypothesis: If the cart rolls down the ramp with constant speed, then the kinetic energy will get bigger, the gravitational potential energy will decrease, and the total mechanical energy will stay at the same constant value, because due to the law of Conservation of Energy, these are the estimated results. Materials/Apparatus: ramp (1) textbooksRead MoreThe Effect Of Cellulose On The Chemical Equation933 Words   |  4 Pagesis added, it causes a fire to burn hotter and faster. In this lab both wood and steel wool were burned in pure oxygen and air. Wood is mixture of many substances but for this lab we will focus on the cellulose aspect for the chemical equation. Cellulose has the same chemical formulation as sugar of C6H12O6. So, when combined with oxygen we have the balanced equation of: C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O. In accordance to the Law of Conservation the mass of the wood does not change after it is burned, itRead MoreLab Report On The Law Of Conservation Of Momentum1483 Words   |  6 PagesMMAN1300 Dynamics Lab Report 1 Made By: Krimil Patel Student number: z5076441 S2-2015 Impulse-momentum lab Tables of Content Introduction†¦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‚¬ ¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Pg-3 Theory†¦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‚¬ ¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Pg-4 Apparatus†¦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‚¬ ¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Pg-6 Method†¦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‚¬ ¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Pg-7 Sample Calculations†¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Pg-8 Results†¦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‚¬ ¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Pg-10 Discussion†¦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‚¬ ¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Pg-11 Conclusion†¦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‚¬ ¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦

How to Write Ethos

How to Write Ethos While working on ethos, you have to realize that it has to show the way the readers recognize the writer. Below we present the main features that the readers may find out about the writer. Note, that in the case with ethos the writer never mentions himself. So, among the features the readers may ascribe to you there are lazy, careful, educated, enthusiastic, dishonest, boring, etc. All these features may be ascribed by the reader to the writer after he says what he has to say and the way he says it. Readers have also an opportunity to describe the writer’s appearance, his gender, his fashion style and whether he speaks with an accent. It is highly important for you to set 2 specific aims to reach while building up your ethos. The first one lies in the fact that you have to make your readers trust you. The second – you need to make your readers respect or even like you. When you read â€Å"like you†, don’t think that it is necessary to make your readers go out with you for a date after they finish reading your paper. The point is that readers usually appreciate what you have done, that is they respect you for the interesting paper you have written. In order to create a strong ethos, follow these simple recommendations: You need to have good pathos/logos. You need to show your readers that you have performed a thorough research of your topic. You need to show your enthusiasm concerning your topic. You need to express empathy if it’s appropriate. Remember, in case you perform limited research for your ethos, your readers will definitely be less inclined to trust what you have written. Thus, your support of arguments won’t be convincing and valuable. Never forget to check your paper for grammar mistakes and typos. Otherwise, your readers will never respect you and won’t be interested in reading it at all. Show your readers that you care about what you are writing and be sensitive where it is appropriate.

Media Law in South Africa Free Essays

The Press Freedom Commission (PFC) was launched in July 2011 by the press industry representative body, Print Media South Africa and the South African National Editors Forum in order to set up a suitable regulatory media system for South Africa (Press Freedom Commission, 2012: 1). The Press Freedom Commission that was held earlier this year assessed all measures concerning co-regulation, self-regulation, independent regulation and state regulation so as to ensure that the media is accountable to the public that they serve and similarly to ensure the protection of press freedom (Press Freedom Commission, 2012: 1). This year, the PFC recommended that an independent co-regulatory system , which does not include State participation, would best suit the country. We will write a custom essay sample on Media Law in South Africa or any similar topic only for you Order Now This would mean that the press are accountable to serve in interest of the population (Press Freedom Commission, 2012: 1). With reference to Julie Reid’s and Julie Posetti’s article in the Rhodes Journalism Review, I aim to evaluate various contexts and henceforth provide reasons for why I am in accordance with the co-regulation of the media. Under the South African Constitution, in the Bill of Rights (1996) it is stated that every person has a right to freedom of expression, which includes freedom of press and the media, the freedom to receive or impart information or ideas, freedom of artistic creativity, academic freedom and freedom of scientific research (Act no. : 108 of 1996). Henceforth press freedom means the autonomy to communicate ideas, opinions and information without restraint. The media are a public trust with the ability to inform and influence and because of this power they should serve to represent the interests of the citizens without external institutional constraints. When analyzing freedom of the press with the current regulatory system, there are two powerful institutions in society which cannot be ignored, that is political and economic power. Under apartheid the freedom of the press was heavily restricted. The Newspapers Registration and Imprint Act of 1985, required that all newspapers had to be registered and conform to a strict code of conduct. In addition newspapers were also required to lodge R40 000 as a deposit before they could publish, as a result the act silenced many liberal newspapers (Manoim, 1996: 7). With the transition into a new democracy, self-regulation of the media was employed to uphold freedom of expression, a pivotal component of a true democracy. Self-regulation is a system that operates on self imposed rules by the media, it consists only of representatives of the media profession who use the Journalistic Codes and Ethics as a guideline (Reid, 2012: 1). The relationship between the government/ state and the media is one of conflict and dependency because on the one hand, the media are commonly referred to as the ‘unofficial opposition’ to the government. As ‘watchdogs’ they make public a range of issues concerning health care, education, corruption, unemployment etc and because of these disclosures the government repeatedly attempt to censor their biggest critic. As such, the government proposed a Media Tribunal, which could lead to the forced registration of all newspapers, the registration of all journalists and punitive fines(Reid, 2012: 1). The tribunal exemplifies the government’s hostility towards the media and it clearly epitomizes the Newspapers Registration and Imprint Act of 1985 . Another example constitutes as the Protection of Information Bill which will allow the government to classify specific information which is deemed harmful to the â€Å"national interest†. The government have suggested media-unfriendly laws which pose a threat to attack the heart of the struggle for democracy (Reid, 2012: 1). On the other hand, however, the media are dependent on the government for information and official materials and similarly the government depends on the media to produce important information to their citizens. It is evident that the media plays a large role in making public the successes and the failures of the government, however, I argue that a change in the regulatory system could improve the relationship between the two so that the media do not have their own agendas for the information they produce, but they produce that which of interest of the public that they serve. Although self-regulation of the press was once highly valued, examples like the Murdoch scandal have shown that the system is weak and does not assure the accountability of the press. Journalists from the News of the World were accused of phone hacking, police bribery and using unethical means to obtain ‘public interest’ stories (Posetti, 2012: 19). The self-regulatory system allows for journalists to operate freely without state interference and although there haven’t been any situations like the aforementioned unethical proceedings in South Africa, the regulatory system does not fulfill the democratic vitality of the inclusion of wider population (Reid, 2012: 18). For many years under the rapacious system of apartheid, the black population was silenced, their grievances and njustices undocumented. In this new democracy, the media are still seen to cater for the interests of the elite, this can be conceptualized in Noam Chomsky and Edward. S. Herman’s â€Å"propaganda model†. Granted the media does deliver information to serve the interests of its citizens, news coverage is frequently tailored to what suits the corporate. The med ia are a profit-seeking institution, funded by advertisers and are (sometimes) owned by private investors, this can henceforth lead to the media placing profit above public interest (Manoim, 1996: 4). An example of this can be seen in various newspapers during the apartheid era, particularly the Business Day. The Business Day embraced a conservative liberal take on the apartheid system. The reporting that the Business Day encompassed relied on keeping an apolitical stance and avoided negative consequences of full disclosure. The newspaper did not report on any issues negative aspects of the apartheid system or its effects on the population and the reason for this was to gain more revenue than to possibly create controversy (Manoim, 1996: 4). Another example of this was the recent Marikana shootings, wherein the first pieces of information distributed by the media through print and broadcast, told a story of a violent, armed and angry mob, charging towards apprehensive policemen who then shot the mobsters from afar, in fear of their lives (Johnson, 2012: 1). At least 36 miners were shot dead and because of the inadequate coverage by the media, many people were under the impression that the police action was proportional to the threat posed by the miners. It wasn’t until Greg Marinovich went on to publish shocking findings about the deaths of the Marikana minors, in his article â€Å"The murder fields of Marikana: The cold murder fields of Marikana† (Marinovich, 2012: 1). The article made public that some of the miners had been shot by close range (execution style) and others crushed by police vehicles, thus providing proof that the police did not act in fear, but instead hand the upper hand and viciously killed the miners. In many of the articles published, before Marinovich’s, statements were mainly one sided, comprised of policemen, the mining management and government official (Manoim, 1996: 7). It can be understood that many journalists and news firms did not accurately report on the Marikana shootings because they did not want to cause controversy and did not want to lose revenue. With regards to the aforementioned relationships between the media and political/ economic institutions within the self-regulatory system, I argue that the system is clearly weak. There is indeed more freedom of speech with this system, however, the press aren’t held accountable to the citizens that they serve, the press can be seen to accommodate only the elites and silence the people. For these reasons and the above examples, in my opinion it is clear that the self-regulatory system in inadequate for a new democracy such as ours. The proposed system of independent co-regulation without state or government intervention will best serve the freedom of the press in our country. The system will consist of members of the public (e. g: academics, civil society organizations etc. ) and members of the press industry therefore sufficiently creating integration between the press and the society that it serves (Reid, 2012: 18). The independent system as well as journalists will henceforth be accountable to the public. The co-regulatory system will allow regulatory rules to be created by more than one stakeholder and it will have independence from industries (Press Freedom Commission, 2012: 1). The system should sufficiently allow members of the public and the press to engage with reports made by the independent body. This nature of transparency will build a close relationship between the public and the media and henceforth it will encourage the media to be accountable to the citizens that it serves (Reid, 2012: 18). I believe that the increased integration between the public and the press will give the once unheard voices of the public a platform for their opinions furthermore it will directly assist the country on the road to true democracy. The PFC suggests that the system will introduce a more efficient framework for dealing with sensitive matters especially when dealing with children. There will also be a be a method of â€Å"space fines† which will consist of monetary fines, summons or rulings for any offences made by the press (Press Freedom Commission, 2012: 1). The co-regulatory system proposed by the Press Freedom Commission is not an attack at the freedom of the press, rather, it is very necessary to strengthen the system of the press in South Africa. Co-regulation will not only serve the public because of the system’s transparency and allowance for integration but it could also improve the quality and credibility of journalism in the country. The marginalized and excluded persons of this country need an environment where they are able to make public their discrepancies and regarding the extensive reception to the current self-regulation it is evident there needs to be a change in the system. In my opinion co-regulation will ensure the greatest independence from different influential institutions, it will reinforce the accountability the press should have for the citizens, it will allow for press freedom and furthermore it will assist to uphold the principles of a democracy. References: Manoim, I. 1996. You Have Been Warned: The First Ten Years of The Mail Guardian. Penguin Books: South Africa. Posetti, J. 2012. Media Regulation, Murdoch and the Journalism Wars of Oz. Rhodes Journalism Review. Press Freedom Commission, 2012. What the Press Commission recommends. Retrieved from http://www. politicsweb. co. za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71656? oid=294997sn=Detail on 11/01/1012 Reid, J. 2012. Press Freedom in South Africa and why self-regulation is best. Daily Maverick. Retrieved from http://dailymaverick. co. za/opinionista/2012-01-26-press-freedom-in-south-africa-and-why-self-regulation-is-best on 11/01/2012. Reid, J. 2012. What will co-regulation mean? The Press Freedom Commission report and its implications for the regulation of journalism. Rhodes Journalism Review. How to cite Media Law in South Africa, Essays

The Workings and Structure of the Heart Essay Example For Students

The Workings and Structure of the Heart Essay IntroductionFor homeostasis to remain balanced throughout the body millions of respiring cells need to discard carbon dioxide and waste products and also replenish with oxygen and nutrients. For this transaction to occur a complex transportation network called the cardiovascular system initiates. The cardiovascular system consists of the heart, arteries and veins. The heart is a double pumping organ which is the driving force of the cardiovascular system, although only weighing approximately three hundred grams the heart is powerful enough to beat over seventy times a minute pumping blood around the body. The heart is located on the left hand side of the diaphragm lying within the mediastinum in the thoracic cavity. Resembling a pyramid on an oblique angle the heart is hollow and composed of three layers, myocardium, endocardium and pericardium. Myocardium formulates the majority of the heart; this is composed of specialised cardiac muscle occurring only in the heart. Endocardium is a smooth delicate membrane, which lines the interior surface of the heart chambers and valves, and the pericardium; which is a connective tissue, this acts as a protective barrier, the fibrous pericardium fuses with arteries which pass through it to form attachments which help to anchor the heart to its surrounding structures The interior of the heart is divided into two sides the right and left, nearly mirror image of each other a few differences can be recorded (see conclusion).Figure 1As figure 1 shows there is a complex network of arteries and veins which branch into the heart. It is through these arteries and veins that blood is transported throughout the body. The arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart to tissues and cells throughout the body whereas the veins carry deoxygenated blood received to the heart. We will write a custom essay on The Workings and Structure of the Heart specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now As the heart is attached only by soft tissue it can change position in the diaphragm while it contracts and relaxes (diastole and systole) as in figure 2 and 3. Figure 2Figure 3For a better understanding of the structure and workings of the heart a heart dissection was performed, below are the conclusions gathered from the experiment. Conclusionso Distinguish between the dorsal and ventral sides of the heart. (The ventral side is more rounded than the dorsal side, and the thick walled arteries arise from this side). Note:The right and left atria (auricles) and right and left ventricles,Pulmonary artery and aorta arising from right and left ventricles,Anterior and posterior vena cava opening into right atrium,Coronary vessels in the heart wall,Figure 4 shows the ventral side of the heart clearly showing the pulmonary artery and aorta, the left and right atria and ventricles and the coronary vessels of the heart wall. Figure 4o Clamp posterior vena cava, then run water through anterior vena cava, from the water runs through the pulmonary artery, this is the route of the pulmonary circulation which receives deoxygenated blood from the systemic circulation and transported to the lungs to be oxygenated. Now run water through the pulmonary vein, which vessel does the water emerge?The water runs through the aorta, this is the route of the systemic circulation, the systemic circulation takes oxygenated blood away from the heart to oxygenise respiring cells throughout the body. Figure 5Figure 5 shows the systemic circulation in red and the pulmonary circulation in blue. o Expose the left ventricle by a longitudinal cut through ventral wall of the ventricle, note your findings. Through the cut in the left ventricle wall the following observations were recorded. (see figure 3) The left ventricular walls were visible, consisting of thick myocardium (cardiac muscle); the reason for the thickness of the left ventricle is because the left ventricle is responsible for the pumping of blood at high hydrostatic pressure throughout the systemic arterial system. .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07 , .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07 .postImageUrl , .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07 , .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07:hover , .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07:visited , .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07:active { border:0!important; } .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07:active , .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07 .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9db23aeec6cd0b14f572de3a19faaa07:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Innocence of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird EssayThe bicuspid valve, this valve is used to prevent backflow of blood from the left ventricle to the right atrium. Chordae tendinae, used to anchor the flaps of the bicuspid valve to the papillary muscle to prevent the valve turning inside out due to pressure. Papillary muscle, this is part of the myocardium of the ventricle and contains irregular shaped columns called trabeculane carnae. o Turn the heart upside down and run water into the ventricle through the slit you have cut, note your findings. The water ran through the aorta, as the left ventricle pumps blood into the aorta to be transferred via the systemic circulation. Figure 6 shows the interior of the heart. Figure 6o now turn the heart the right way up, run water through into the cut end of the aorta, note your findings The water appeared through the trabeculare carnae (irregular shaped columns in the papillary muscle) as a shower. o Cut open the left atrium and aorta by continuing your ventricular cut upwards, note your findings. Through the extended cut in the left ventricle the following were visible. Left atrium (auricle) this is the chamber which lies superior to the left ventricle, smaller than the right atrium (auricle) this houses the pulmonary veins which bring oxygenated blood from the lungs. The aortic valve (semi-lunar) this prevents backflow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle. The pulmonary vein which returns oxygenated blood from the lungs to be pumped around the body in the systemic circulation. o Expose the interior of the right ventricle by a longitudinal slit through ventral wall, note your findings. The cut in the right ventricle exposed: (see figure 3) The right ventricle wall was visible consisting of thinner myocardium (cardiac muscle) than the left ventricle this is due to less hydrostatic pressure required to push blood into the pulmonary artery, this is known as the pulmonary circulation. Tricuspid valve this is to prevent backflow of blood into the right atrium from the right ventricle. Chordinae tendinae used to anchor the flaps of the tricuspid valve to the papillary muscle this is to prevent the valve been turned inside out by pressure. Papillary muscle part of the myocardium and contain fewer trabeculare carnae than the left ventricle. The right ventricle has a larger funnel shaped area of smooth wall known as the conus arteriosus or infunibulum. o Slit open the right atrium and pulmonary artery by continuing your ventricular slit upwards, note your findings. Through the extended slit in the right ventricle clearly visible was: The right atrium, this is larger than the left atrium the two great veins (superior and inferior) vena cava deposit deoxygenated blood from around the body into the right atria. The pulmonary valve, this prevents backflow of blood into the right ventricle. Coronary sinus which returns blood from the cardiac veins to the heart. o Note the opening of the coronary vein on the left hand side of the atrium; it is possible you may see a small oval depression this is the fossa ovalis, what do you suppose this is? The fossa ovalis is situated in the interatial septum (dividing wall of atria). During the stage of foetal development the blood flow is different from a newborn. The blood passes from the right atrium directly into the left atrium to be pumped around the body, this is made possible by a connecting tube called the foramen ovale, when a newborn baby inhales its first breath of air the pressure closes the foramen ovale and leaves behind the fossa ovalis, on some occasions a gap may be left this is referred to as a hole in the heart. Figure 7 shows the depression of the fossa ovalis situated in the right atriumFigure 7o Do you expect the foetal heart to differ from the adult heart? Why? Yes the foetal heart differs from the adult heart. .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c , .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c .postImageUrl , .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c , .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c:hover , .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c:visited , .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c:active { border:0!important; } .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c:active , .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ueffedc032972b8f77bed3361b738fa8c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Legalize Marijuana EssayThe foetus although fully formed at twelve weeks is reliant on its mother until birth; the remaining twenty eight weeks are spent with maturation of the foetuss tissues and organs. The foetuss heart forms in the embryonic stage, beginning to beat at around week eight of gestation; although the heart is fully functional at this stage the lungs which play an essential part in the oxygenisation of blood in the cardiovascular system are not functional until birth. As the blood still needs to reoxygenise respiring cells a temporary substitute is the placenta, often referred to as the foetal lung it is responsible for filtering and supplying the foetus wi th oxygen and nutrients received from the maternal blood. For this process to take place the route the blood takes through the body needs to be diverted away from the lungs, as described above the foramen ovale passes blood through the interracial septum from the right atria to the left atria, this enables blood to bypass the right ventricle which intern stops the blood being pumped up the pulmonary artery. There is also a bypass system which connects the pulmonary trunk to the aorta; this called the ductus arteriosous which again enables blood to bypass the lungs. The ductus arteriosous and the foramen ovale close at birth with the first breath of the infant, this results in the two circulations of the heart (systemic and pulmonary) working alongside each other to bring homeostasis to the body.

Incorporation of Snake Cult in Indian Religion Essay Example

Incorporation of Snake Cult in Indian Religion Essay Example Incorporation of Snake Cult in Indian Religion Essay Incorporation of Snake Cult in Indian Religion Essay Evolution Deities Aspect Introduction: India has seen the birth of many cults and religions. A lot of factor governs the beginning of these cults. It is common knowledge that many deities in Indian religion were began to worship out of fear. As humans it is soothing for us to believe in a super power which is capable of giving as well as ridding us off our problems. This principle applied for animals too and it became the basis of animal worship in India, as all the existing creatures are either useful of harmful to humans so it is better to worship them. Naga clan of ancient India were the first clan to begin the snake worship. Not only Hinduism but also Buddhism and Jainism are worshiper of snakes. Worshiping the deities of natural elements like water, springs and rivers also are symbolized by the waving form of snakes. Snakes are mostly depicted as gigantic cobras with many hoods or human upper torsos and serpent body and are believed to live in patal loka. Different religions have adopted snake worship for their own reasons. But there has always been a fear of snakes in human beings as they were the reason of many deaths. People also believed that if angered and disrespected snakes will course them and that action may result in sickens or death, and so they started worshiping and offering milk to snakes to please them. Evolution: Worshiping sun and snake with prayers and rituals have been practised in India even before the Vedic times. Snake or serpent worship is one of the oldest â€Å"denominations† of Hinduism. There are various myths associated with the beginning of the snake worship in India. It is believed that the custom of worshiping snakes was incorporated from the â€Å"Naga clan† of ancient India, and the Indo-Aryans carried forward the tradition by continuing to worship various snake deities. According to Puranas, snakes were believed to be offspring of Sage Kashyapa and Kadru. Whereas according Brahmanda Purana snakes were produced from water. The Linga Purana has totally different say on this, it believes that the snakes were produced from the first tear Brahma shaded after realising his inability to create universe single-handedly. Having such a close contact of snakes with varies sages and deities can also be one of the reason of worshiping snakes and association it with mainstream deities. There is mention of snake worship in Atharva Veda too. In Rig Veda, there are hints of snake worship, where earth is considered as the Sarpa-rajni or the queen of the serpents or the queen of all that moves†. On the walls of temples of Medieval era were founded the engraved paintings of snakes. This shows the existence of snake worship from early medieval era and in fact it started 500 years before Buddha’s birth. This tradition is still alive in India and in its religions as well as it got spread across different countries of the world. There are eight pre-eminent snakes mentioned in Hindu mythology having their association with one or the other god or goddess. Sheshnaga, a snake with 1000 heads and a messive hood is believed to have been born of what was left after the universe had been created. She is the couch of Vishnu on which lord rests. It is even believed that earth rests on him. This snake is worshiped as manifestation of lord Vishnu. Ananta, a very long snake, and dark blue in colour is also considered as manifestation of lord Vishnu. This snake is endless, and believed to encircle the whole earth. Vasuki is also considered as one amongst the royal snakes and Naga king with 7 heads. Vasuki means the divine being. He was used as a Churning rope for sumndra manthan. Mansadevi is considered as a queen of snake. She is sister of snake king vasuki. She is goddess who can save mortals from snake bite. Takshaka, saffron coloured snake with 9 hoods is worshiped as lord of nagas. Kaliya, was a five headed demon serpent living in river yamuna. He was a curse for people of vrindavan and have had also troubled Krishna in childhood. But later Krishna subdued him. Padmaka and padmanabha are two snakes believed to guard the south side of the country. And the last snake kulia is a dusky brown snake with half moon crescent on his head. Deities: In India, snake gods are linked with health, wealth and great securities when one is in difficulty as believed by Hindus. Snake gods are believed to live in their separate world. Large numbers of deities like lord Shiva and Vishnu are associated with holy snakes or snake gods in one or the other ways, and so are many temples dedicated to the worshiping of snake. Abul Fazal (the court historian of Akbar) stated that there are 700 places sacred to serpents. Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva has many associations with snakes. According to Puranas, Lord Shiva was associated with Naga cult. Shiva has snakes around his neck, arms, hair and sometimes around his body, symbolizing the yogic power of him for destruction and creation. Snake is compared as yogi living on mountains and forests, who carries nothing, builds nothing, can stay without eating for months living just on air. The Vasuki snake shown curled 3 times around the neck of Shiva symbolizes the time cycle- past present and future. Shiva lingam is also associated with snake and covered with snake hood. In the text of Mahabharata Harivamsa, sheshnaga was connected with Shiva rather than Vishnu as son of him. Lord Vishnu: SheshNaga also called AnantaNag having 1000 heads is the couch of Vishnu, and is also worshiped as a manifestation of Vishnu. Lord is believed to rest on the Nag during the process of destruction and recreation. Earth is believed to respite on SheshNaga. The snake is believed to be a representation of time and symbol of eternity. This snake is manly worship during the sacred Hindu festival of Nagpanchmi. Balram: Balram, elder brother of lord Krishna, is believed to be personification of the snake Ananta. MansaDevi: MansaDevi is sister of Vasuki and snake king Shesha, and she herself is also considered as queen of the snakes, possessing the special powers over the snake venom. Her body is ornamented with snakes. She possesses the power of both destruction and recreation almost like the snake shedding its skin and being reborn. If believed some legends, she is daughter of Lord Shiva with a beautiful mortal woman. MansaDevi is worshiped all across the country as a snake Goddess, and is mainly worshiped during rainy season when snakes are most active, to prevent snakebites. She is believed to be a pre Aryan Goddess worshiped commonly in different parts of West Bengal. Lord Buddha: Snake has always been a vital part of Buddhist icons. The Buddha with naga is called naga Buddha. He is depicted with the coiled up snake serving as cushion with seven heads covering the head of Buddha. Snakes have vital association with Buddha, cause it is believed that during the initial days of Buddha, snake saved the life of lord. According to legend the cobra once tried to harm Buddha but instead saved his life and became his disciple. Parshwanath Parshwanath, the 23rd tirthankar of Jain is most of the time depicted with snake hood over his head. This deity has association with snake before his birth. He is named Parshwanath after his mother saw a black snake crawling by the side of her bed. Parshwanath had soft corner for snakes since childhood. Nagarajan and Nagarani: Nagarajan and Nagarani are the male and female snake gods. Most of the Hindu temples have idols of both Nagarajan and Nagarani. Sarpa yakshi and Naga yakshi are the consorts of Nagaraja. In villages of southern side of India people worship them in their live form. These gods are offered milk and raw eggs to please them. Mannarasala temple is ancient shrine and internationally renowned pilgrimage centre located near Harippad. . Shri Rahu and Shri Ketu: Planetary deities of Hinduism Rahu and Ketu are also worshiped as snake Gods and are mostly have their icons in Lord Vinayaka temple next to him. These deities are associated with the accidents and adversity in the life of people as Shri Rahu is both averter and creator of these adversities, whereas shri Ketu is deity of gnan (knowledge). Some people worship these deities out of fear and to maintain their distance from any hardship in life. If worshiped Rahu and Ketu, one can obtain all the desirable things and fortune in life as they are also associated with horoscopic conditions. Vasuki Vasuki, one of the great kings of Naga with a human head and a gem engraved in his forehead is considered auspicious in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology. According to Hindu mythology, Vasuki served as a rope wrapped around the mountain Mandara, to churn the ocean of milk to decide the victor of immortality between Devas and Asuras. This caused him immense pain which resulted in the exhale of his venom, considered most intoxicating venom ever and enough to destroy all the beings of the universe. To protect everyone from this lord Shiva had to swallow the venom keeping it in his throat. After which Shiva was named Nilkantha too. Vasuki with eight other snake kings were first one to be present during the first preaching of Lord Buddha and have always been even after that. They are considered responsible to save the life of Lord Buddha and are part of many of the Buddhist icons. Talking about snake gods, Sushavas and Padma Nagas were some tutelary snake deities associated with Wular Lake. Nila who is considered as lord of naga is worshiped in Kashmir (Muslim-Dominated city), specially during festivals and snowfalls. There are almost 527 Nagasworshiped in Kashmir itself. Vairoti devi, parshva yaksha, Janguli are some deities from Jainism showed with snakes. Kerala has many temples exclusively for snakes. Mpummaikatu and Mannarsala are some 2 main temples of Kerala worshiping snake gods. In some part of Karnataka and Kerala, Snakes are not associated with particular deities but have their own shrine under a neem tree, in corner of the garden. Killing snakes intentionally, especially cobra results in curse by snake till eternity. Sources: ecoheritage. cpreec. org/Viewcontall. hp? $mFiHPEyWNks6UXr4nWU indiancultureonline. com/details/Snake-Worship. html festivalsofindia. in/nagpanchami/Celebrations. aspx http://zenatrophy. blogspot. com/2010/06/buddha-and-snake-king. html koausa. org/Gods/God9. html http://hubpages. com/hub/THE-SNAKE-GODS-OF-HINDUISM bibliotecapleyades. net/sumer_anunnaki/reptiles/reptiles15. htm theholidayspot. com/nag_panchami/nag_panchami_history. htm indiamike. com/india/ yoga-spirituality-and-religion-in-india-f54/snake-worship-in-india-t8470/

Differences Between Hills and Mountains

Differences Between Hills and Mountains Hills and mountains are both natural land formations that rise out of the landscape. Unfortunately, there is no universally accepted standard definition for the height of a mountain or a hill. This can make it difficult to differentiate between the two. Mountain Versus Hill There are characteristics that we typically associate with mountains; for example, most mountains have steep slopes and a well-defined summit while hills tend to be rounded. This, however, is not always the case. Some mountain ranges, such as the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, are geologically old and are therefore smaller and more rounded than more classic mountains such the Rocky Mountains in the western United States. Even leaders in geography, like the United States Geological Survey (USGS), do not have an exact definition of a mountain and a hill. Instead, the organizations Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) uses broad categories for most land features, including mountains, hills, lakes, and rivers. Though no one can agree on the heights of mountains and hills, there are a few generally accepted characteristics that define each. An Attempt to Define the Height of a Mountain According to the USGS, up until the 1920s the British Ordnance Survey defined a mountain as a geographic feature rising higher than 1000 feet (304 meters). The United States followed suit and defined a mountain as having a local relief higher than 1000 feet. This definition, however, was dropped in the late 1970s. There was even a movie about the battle over mountain and hill. In  The Englishman That Went Up a Hill and Down a Mountain  (1995, starring Hugh Grant), a Welsh village challenged cartographers attempts to classify their mountain as a hill by adding a pile of rocks to the top. What is a Hill? In general, we think of hills as having a lower elevation than a mountain and  a more rounded/mound shape than a distinct peak. Some accepted characteristics of a hill are: A natural mound of earth created either by faulting or erosion.A bump in the landscape, rising gradually from its surroundings.Low altitude and elevation, often less than 984-1968 feet (300-600 meters).A rounded top with no well-defined summit.Often unnamed.Easy to climb. Hills may have once been mountains that were worn down by erosion over many thousands of years. Contrariwise many mountains- such as the Himalayas in Asia- were created by tectonic faults and would have, at one time, been what we might now consider hills. What is a Mountain? Though  a mountain is typically taller than a hill, there is no official height designation. An abrupt difference in local topography is often described as a mountain, and such features will often have  mount  or mountain  in their name; examples include Mount Hood, Mount Ranier, and Mount Washington. Some accepted characteristics of a mountain are: A natural mound of earth created by faulting.A very steep rise in the landscape that is often abrupt in comparison to its surroundings.High altitude and elevation, often higher than 1968 feet (600 meters).A steep slope and a defined summit or peak.Often has a name.Depending on the slopes and elevation, mountains can be a challenge to climb. Of course, there are exceptions to these assumptions and some features that would otherwise be called mountains have the word hills in their name. For instance, the Black Hills in South Dakota can also be thought of as a small, isolated mountain range. The highest peak is Harney Peak at 7242 feet of elevation and 2922 feet of prominence from the surrounding landscape. The Black Hills received their name from the Lakota Indians who called the mountains  Paha Sapa, or black hills.