Benjamin Banneker

Period Benjamin Banker was born In 1731 near Baltimore. HIS Grandmother, an Englishman, taught him to read and write. For several winters he attended a small school open to blacks and whites. There he developed a keen interest in mathematics and science. Later, while farming, Banker pursued his mathematical studies and taught himself astronomy. In 1753, he completed a remarkable clock. He built it entirely of wood, carving each gear by hand. His only models were a pocket watch and an old picture of a clock. The clock kept almost perfect time for more than fifty years.In 1791, Banker served as assistant to Major Andrew , the surveyor appointed by President George Washington to lie out the boundaries of District of Colombia. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson had recommended Banker to help In this work. From 1791 to 1796, Banker made all the astronomical and tide calculations and weather predictions for a yearly almanac. Banker sent Jefferson a copy of his first almanac. With it he sent a letter in which he called for the abolition of slavery and a liberal attitude toward blacks. Bankers skills impressed Jefferson greatly.Jefferson sent a copy of the almanac to the Royal Academy of Sciences in Paris an evidence of the talent of Negroes. Opponents of slavery in the United States and England also used the almanacs as evidence of blacks abilities. The Publishers of Bankers almanacs printed contributions by prominent Americans in addition to his material. In the 1793 almanac, for example, the famous surgeon and statesman Benjamin Rush proposed the appointment of a U. S. Secretary of peace. Banker himself probably contributed a few proverbs, essays, and poems. I think Benjamin Banker changed the world with his almanac.If It was not for this almanac people would not be able to keep records of certain things that go on astronomically. Such as the weather and the temperature. We would not know what weather to expect at what time of the year. We would not know what kind of moon to look for at night. Banker really showed people that blacks had more abilities than everyone thought. Benjamin Banker By Jay Benjamin Banker was born in 1731 near Baltimore. His Grandmother, an in this work. I think Benjamin Banker changed the world with his almanac.

Changes in Network Structure and Ownership of US Broadcast Television Essay

Changes in Network Structure and Ownership of US Broadcast Television - Essay Example Traditionally the US television industry was guided by the sheer ethical standards of good programming and content presentation. The networks adopted the basic principle of understanding the viewers as the owners of the air and had been providing them with programmes treating them as sovereigns.The United States Broadcast Television industry has undergone a tremendous change in the last few years due to various factors like shift in the viewers' media-consumption habits, technological advancements resulting in new digital products and reduction in the advertising revenue. Grabbing audience, holding on to them and to monetize on the audience have become tough jobs for the Broad Cast companies with the advent of Internet sites like YouTube that offer television programming including shows from NBC with little financial gain for the networks. Not only the net works but all the media companies are facing the brunt due to the uncertain future of the media business. Before the year 2006 te levision companies profited almost entirely from producing, distributing and selling TV content. Success in those areas meant higher profits and returns for the stakeholders. However this trend had changed with the intrusion of online stores and a variety of digital platforms with which the TV media had to compete. This paper makes a study as to how this state of affairs has necessitated changes in the network structure and ownership of US Broadcast Television industry.Traditionally the US television industry was guided by the sheer ethical standards of good programming and content presentation. The networks adopted the basic principle of understanding the viewers as the owners of the air and had been providing them with programmes treating them as sovereigns. Providing true entertainment was the sole business motto of the network companies. Principles of free enterprise system guided the network companies to broadcast programmes with values and commercial advertising formed a minor part of these entertainers. But with the advent of internet the situation stated drifting and the advertising revenues started declining "Faced with competition from an array of digital competitors, which produce content of their own and sometimes even carry network programming, TV companies have seen their revenues shrink, along with the confidence of traditional Wall Street investors". (Anne Becker 2007) The competition from the digital competitors was the major hurdle for the network companies to continue to survive healthily as this competition started eating up their advertising revenue. This echoed in the quality of the content and programming expertise of the network companies as even the larger ones had to resort to job cuts and were unable to retain real talents by paying hefty salaries and perks. 3.0 Effect of Reduction in Advertising Revenues on Network Companies: One of the major problems identified as leading to the reduction in the revenues to the net work companies is the reduction in the advertising revenues. As against the increase in the ad-spending for the internet was predicted to scale up to 13 percent in 2006 the network-TV advertising remained flat without any increase and newspaper advertising fell 3 percent according to a report by TNS Media Intelligence. Such drastic changes in the revenues had forced the major network companies to cut the jobs and thereby reduce the cost to increase the profitability. "NBCU announced its layoffs after its broadcast network dropped more than 15% in the adults 18-49 demographic over two consecutive seasons and the company saw its profit plummet 10% during third quarter 2006". (Anne Becker 2007) Similarly MTVN has also resorted to job cuts after the share price of its parent company Viacom fell over the past year. MTNV had removed all the staff from its two cable networks, giving their responsibil ities to other staffers at MTV and VH1. 4.0 Commercials and the Web sites: Another important factor which needs consideration in falling revenues of the network TV companies is the shift in the advertising sponsors resorting to internet media than the Television media. Alex Mindlin (2007)

Religions (two traditions) and the Modern World Essay

Religions (two traditions) and the Modern World - Essay Example However, almost all religions look for the spread of peace, justice, equality and freedom of thought and action for the sustenance of order in the world, as well as for the moral and spiritual uplift of the humans. Abrahamic religions enjoy very respectable status among the long list of prevailing faiths, which include Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Since all these three faiths regard Abraham as their ancestor and the source of spiritual guidance and inspiration, they are generally called Abrahamic faiths. (Hemeyer, 222) The fundamental set of belief, concept of the Creator, His angels, prophets and heaven and hell-fire etc are almost same in these religions, which distinguish them from the rests of the faiths of the world. Judaism is the oldest of these three faiths, while Islam is the last one among the three. Islam is the second largest religion of the present world, which seeks its origin in the Middle East like its predecessor Abrahamic religions. It has its unique ideology, teachings, methods and manners of worship and basic set of belief. Being the monotheistic faith, Islam vehemently lays stress upon worshipping of One God, the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe and each and everything existing in it. (Hemeyer, 224) Since God has created humans for His worship, declaring other gods as similar to Allah as well as worthy of adoration is the greatest sin according to Islamic thought. Islamic teachings command the followers of the religion to have unabated and unconditional belief in the Oneness of God, and revering the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the Seal of all the prophets sent by the Lord time and again for the guidance and welfare of humanity. Hence, belief in the Oneness of God, praying to God five times a day, keeping fast, paying Zakat (tax according t o the income), and performing of the pilgrimage of the Sacred House of God (Al-Haraam Mosque situated in the city of Makkah)