Money Laundering Free Essay Example, 1750 words

According to it, the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering is to be implemented to make sure that money laundering does not take place at all. Article 2 of the Federal Act on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in the Financial Sector, also called as Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), defines the financial intermediaries that are at vulnerable end in money laundering business (Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation). These include banks, fund managers, investment companies, insurance institutions, security dealers, casinos, and persons who carry out credit transactions and provide their services for payment transactions. Stages of Money Laundering There are three stages of money laundering. Placement The first stage of the washing cycle of money laundering is placement. Being a cash-intensive business, large cash is generated from illegal activities which is then placed in the economic structure or is smuggled out of the country, so that the location of acquisition of that cash can be covered (Levy 2-5). In this way, the authorities cannot figure out the location. The cash acquired is also converted into other forms like postal orders. We will write a custom essay sample on Money Laundering or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Layering The first step in the layering phase is the concealment of the source of ownership of funds by way of creating such complicated layers of transactions that aim at impersonating the audit trail by providing inscrutability (Frank 256). The complicated mesh of financial transactions tends to dissociate the illegal money from its source. The audit trail, the source, and the ownership of source, all are concealed. We can never know how much clean or dirty is wire transfer which is an excellent way the launderers can move money in and out of the country. The risks of being traced are meager. Integration Integration is the final stage in money laundering in which the cash acquired through illegal means is integrated into the legal financial system of the country and is assimilated with the system’s assets (International Monetary Fund (Legal Dept) 146). This makes the illegal money appear as legal. This is the stage at which it is very hard to differ between legal and illegal money. For this purpose, anonymous companies are started which grant loan to themselves for future legal transactions. Money is also transferred to any legitimate bank through ETF (electronic funds transfer). Effects of Money Laundering on the Economy This section discusses the effects of money laundering on the economy on three different levels.

The Psychology Of Psychological Testing Essay - 1473 Words

Dynamics of Psychological Testing Psychological testing serves as a valuable tool, with various applications, pre-employment testing fitness for position and team building are excellent examples of these uses Crucial to the integrity of the test are cohesive administration of test protocols, accurate analysis of scoring and effective interpretation of results Any errors in the collection and analysis of data can adversely affect the test results. Common errors within the application, analyzing and interpreting a test include bias, inaccurate direction, data entry, and unqualified individual’s interpretation of results. When administering a test, it is beneficial to adhere to a script, this will serve as safeguard against exposing the individual to any bias. Relying on qualified professionals to enter data, analyze and interpret all tests. APA Ethical Principals The American Psychological Association has compiled, the ethical principles and codes to assure integrity within the generalized field of psychology. Psychological professionals are continually met with ethical quandaries both professionally and personally, the code of ethics serve as a valuable tool for psychological professionals. APA’s 9th code is Assessment: psychology professions are culpable to use, reliable and valid appraisal of tests to individuals in their native language. It is vital that the professional procure informed consent,Show MoreRelatedCultural, Ethical and Legal Considerations in Psychological Testing1400 Words   |  6 Pagesand Legal Considerations in Psychological Testing Cultural Considerations in Psychological Testing Culture differs in every part of the world and in these differences; psychology addresses the people who take part in the idea of culture and its practices. 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There are several different psychological tests that many psychiatrists, psychologistsRead MoreGenetic Counseling : A New Field Emerging From An Intersection Between Genetics, Medicine, And Psychology1249 Words   |  5 PagesGenetic counseling is a new field emerging from an intersection between genetics, medicine, and psychology. As with most counseling, genetic counseling is a process of communication intended to help individuals and their families. However, for genetic counselors, they must also be able to comprehend medical information, including the management for various disorders. These individuals must also have an in-depth understanding of how heredity contributes to the risk and occurrence of disorders. TheyRead MoreLegal Asp ects of Professional Psychology Essay1665 Words   |  7 PagesLegal Aspects of Professional Psychology George T. 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Cultural Problems in International Business Free Essays

Martinez Construction Company in Germany – Cultural Problems 2. 2. 1 PROBLEMS Cultural barriers to integration The considerable differences between the Spanish and German business practices could have been diminished through a sound pre-assesment made by Martinez Co. We will write a custom essay sample on Cultural Problems in International Business or any similar topic only for you Order Now Since this understanding process was not pursued, a cultural conflict occured which may significantly hinder the processes of strategic and operational management of the two companies as a whole. The most important barriers of cultural dimension include: Barriers to cultural integration| Suggestion for limiting the impact| 1. Cultural shock’ as a consequence ofstrong cultural diversity of companiesconstituting a holding group;| Cultural transformation, respectingcultural values and customs of a targetcountry. | 2. ‘Cultural maladjustment’ of boardmembers delegated by a parent company;| Management through values, systems formonitoring social feelings of the targetcompany. | 4. Management style differencesbetween companies. | Management through goals as a basisfor work appraisal of the managementpersonnel and employees| Financial issues Martinez Co. ’s representatives are involved in a process of Merger and Acquisition which they discover gradually. This means that they have allowed themselves to be unaware of the exact risks and implications, especially from the financial point of view, from the moment they accepted a contract that did not contain enough information related to this topic. Now they are facing unpredicted expenses, and the possibility of new ones to occur cannot be excluded. Ensuring that an acquisition is a good fit, not only on paper, but as an integrated business, calls for going beyond traditional financial assessments, to detailed value analysis, especially within an international business context. As Treuhandanstalt rushed the process and Martinez Co. imply went with the flow, requirements that should have been included in the contract are now threatening the Spanish company’s financial capacities. 3. 2 Causes of the problems The problem regarding cultural contradiction became difficult to cross due to the following errors: -Martinez representatives’ did not make an appropriate due diligence a s no research regarding business practices in Germany had been made. Juan Martinez was sent to conduct negotiation just because he was genuine and had a practical thinking, but his lack of information proved to have a great negative impact on the deal obtained. Their reasoning to expand in Germany is poor. Diego Martinez took into account only the fact that Germans enjoy Spanish atmosphere and often choose Spain as a target market for business. On the other hand, they did not take into account that differences in leadership approach and culture in general can affect their interest. It is very important to be aware that if companies from a specific country conduct successful affairs in your country, it does not necessarily mean that you will benefit from the same success there. The financial problem occurred mainly because some of the steps within negotiating the merger were skipped. Firstly, Martinez accepted to sign a contract without enough details about Konstrukt’s financial position. They requested, indeed, a Phase Contract which made Germans unclear and, moreover, gave them little perspective about future financial risks. In fact they bought a company without knowing exactly what they are getting. The second main contribution to the synergy’s financial issues was brought by Treuhandanstalt. Although THA must have focused on evaluating the firms, especially their financial soundness and the cost for the buyer, it had, in this case, as main concern the speed of transaction. Therefore, they pressured Martinez during this process, without focusing on future risks and arrangements for upgrade. 3. 3 Negative effects that occur If problems will not be solved The cultural dissonance will have the following consequences: * Management will face severe problems in providing incentives for employees, therefore their productivity will go downwards; * Employees will become confused about their role in the company so their lack of initiative and responsibility will worsen. In addition, this synergy attempt will face challenges caused by financial problems: * The plans of stability and progress will be severely hampered in the case of Martinez Co. ; if they fail now, they will find it extremely hard to expand even on another foreign market (a financial fiasco would make Martinez unconfident and the idea of international expansion would definitely be seen as a peril). * Company might become insolvent if the new expenses emerged are not handled at time and properly. 3. SOLUTIONS Cultural barriers – a first solution would be to map out the chain of command (employees must understand their exact role in the company and must be informed about the participative leadership approach specific to the Spanish company) –communication based * Strategic focus – agree on the goal (â€Å"enrichment†) and find the right cultural approach to achieve it ( certainty needed, more like Germans) * Mix useful elements from both cultures in such manner that leadership and employees can move together towards their goal ( keep the† all about work policy† but make them involve in decision making through incentives) Financial issues Cash injection , as expense on regulations is compensated by the opportunities offered on this new market ( raw materials at hand, low wages required and brown field investment advantages) * Assess the co’ future growth rate and profitability in order to understand if the acquisition is a good option * Require a renegotiation of the contract, which should imply these extra- expenses. 4. CHOOSING the OPTIMAL SOLUTION . Culture – Mix useful elements from both cultures in such manner that leadership and employees can move together towards their goal ( keep the† all about work policy† but make them involve in decision making through incentives) * b. Financial – Assess the co’ future growth rate and profitability in order to understand if the acquisition is a good option ( discuss with third parties and experts) . IMPLEMENTING the OPTIMAL SOLUTION a. Communication: employees must be informed about policies adopted, about their role exactly. This way, they will be less inclined to reject the new management and their approach. b. Studies of the market ( it has potential since raw materials are available an also is labor) , discussion with experts and third parties. How to cite Cultural Problems in International Business, Papers

A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Questions Example For Students

A Streetcar Named Desire Essay Questions Tennessee Williams play â€Å"Streetcar named desire† is the first serious American drama that has gained worldwide recognition due to the actualization of the conflict between man and society. It is the classic of the American theatre. This play defined the main topics, thoughts, and ideas of the author for many years in advance. Some of them are family and society, domestic violence, surviving conflict, sexual desire, etc.   It is, in fact, the only play that tells both about a person and about society, and it is a product of our present life. â€Å"Streetcar named desire† realizes the tragedy of the confused person, generated by the whole way of life in society. Existential insight drives him crazy; he can not withstand the all-round pressure of circumstances. Then all that is left for him is to run into a world of illusions that only upset the soul. The main plot It is a play about Blanche Dubois, the broken middle-aged aristocrat, who comes to New Orleans, supposedly to visit his sister. In reality, this is her only hope for shelter after losing the family manor through her promiscuous past. We will write a custom essay on A Streetcar Named Desire Questions specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In the past a reckless, difficult, unhappy life. Once upon a time, The Dream was a family manor. Stella, her sister, at one time went to New Orleans to seek her fate. Blanche remained in the manor and fought for him. But she was defeated: no The Dream, no money, no strength. Behind unsuccessful marriage (her husband turned out to be a homosexual, he had committed suicide, having learned that Blanche disclosed his secret) and the loss of honest name. She worked as a teacher, and, naturally, without knowing the practical side of life, she could not prevent the loss of the estate. Endless sorrows and disappointments prompt her to alcoholism and frivolous sexual behavior. As a result, she was forced to leave the city after a scandal with a young student, with whom she had an affair. In despair, Blanche comes to her sister. She does not have any hope to set up a personal destiny. But Stella became a stranger. When she leaves for the maternity hospital, her husband Stanley Kowalski rapes Blanche, and she becomes crazy. So, the violence that Stanley committed over Blanche sums up her warped life. However, Tennessee Williams makes it clear that Blanches loneliness is not a conclusion of her immoral behavior, but the irreversible impact of social conditions on a person. The aristocrat Dubois does not keep up with the rapidly changing world and realizes that there is no place for her. She does not accept the rude and vulgar Stanley Kowalski, the embodiment of limitation, violence, and aggression. His mind is clouded by resentment of the arrogant Dubois, who condemned Stella for her choice. Now he finds a way of revenge raping her wife`s sister and prove that he spits on this elite. Who is the main character The main character is sophisticated, clever, refined, beautiful, but a weak woman. In the introduction, the author tries to show his sympathy for Blanche before the audience. Williams describes the image of a thoughtless woman, but at the same time, he creates admiration for Blanche through his use of characterization, contrast, the conflict between heroes, key scenes and aspects of staging. He does not consider this a consequence of spoiled morals. The author sees in his creation the elegance and sophistication of a spiritually developed personality who has found freedom in herself and preferred a lonely, beautiful rebellion against conformism to the coward adaptability of her sister. The psychology of Blanches image is ambiguous; her image wakes up both sympathy and disapproval at the same time. .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872 , .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872 .postImageUrl , .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872 , .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872:hover , .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872:visited , .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872:active { border:0!important; } .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872 { 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; } .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872:active , .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872 .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; } .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872 .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2101ac2ad083f9265b2884080717b872:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Huck Finn: The Twisting Tides Of Portrayal - Racis EssayThe play gives the strong and dramatic example of a woman`s struggle with the impacts of destructive loss and with her own weak mental state.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Streetcar† is the symbolism of a journey and Blanche`s arrival, and the departure at the beginning and end of the play represent states of a journey that is both physical and psychological. H2: The essence of the conflict Through the conflict between Blanche Dubois and Stanley Kowalski the play shows Blanche`s tragic journey towards elimination, insanity, and her final destination, death: as she observes, death is the opposite of desire. When Blanche arrived, she made the remark: They told me to take a streetcar named â€Å"Desire,† and then transfer to one called â€Å"Cemeteries.† In this quote, the meaning of the name of the play is hidden: it is a desire that leads the broken woman into the grave. But our life is arranged in that way: always choose Desire, even if it leads to the cemetery. So, the idea of the play is much broader than the clarification of the relationship. The main question of ​​the play â€Å"Streetcar named desire† is that the culture is doomed to death in front of the face of a vulgar mass man, self-confident to adoration. This is a social conflict, where Blanche and Stanley are images symbols that personify two social layers, which are irreconcilable in alternate enmity. It is more than a clash of characters; it is the confrontation of human ideals and the routine truth of life. The deeper analysis of â€Å"Streetcar named desire† shows the contrasts of society, the huge gulf between classes, between men and women, married and lonely. And also about how the main heroine was burnt in her desire to live only for the sake of desire. Blanche and Stanley are two opposite poles, with exaggerated character traits, they are in endless conflict, and even an innocuous conversation ends in tragedy. The reluctance of the main heroes to show tolerance, compassion, and understanding for each other is Blanche Duboiss mind. And even, despite the blood ties, the sisters do not manage to overcome the gap between the two worlds. In conclusion, the primary place in the play â€Å"Streetcar named desire† is devoted to the problem of the coexistence of a refined, spiritually developed person and a brutal reality created by vulgar people like Stanley. The psychology of Williams is the manifestation of interest in the contradictory inner world of even the most unsightly hero. Blanches spiritual invincibility is in the fact that she, doomed to death in a pragmatic society, does not renounce her ideals, does not yield to her positions, unlike her apathetic sister who is content with movies and maps. The great ideals are manifested in psychological defense of people from the experience that have wrecked all their hopes.

SAMPLE LAW SCHOOL APPLICATION ESSAY - AFTER

significantly improves each essay using the same voice as the author. The only way to evaluate editing is to compare the original essay with the edited version. We significantly improve essays both for clients who write poorly and for clients who write well.Edited EssayBeing outnumbered twenty to one can intimidate anybody. This is especially true in Officer Candidate School. As one of only five female officers in a class of one hundred, I quickly learned to overcome sexual stereotypes and to assert my authority with finesse. At no other time in my life have I received so much training in loyalty, courage, and disciplinenor had to rely so heavily on my own perseverance. By the time I enrolled in this program, my determination had already been tested on numerous occasions, but Officer Candidate School did more than any previous experience to prepare me for academic excellence and intense leadership positions.Early in life, I realized that education often determines ones fate. My moth er, a Dutch immigrant, never completed the fourth grade, and my father barely passed the GED with the help of his Army recruiter. Neither of them went to college, and although they worked very hard, they had very little to show for it. I instinctively knew that I wanted more out of life, and I became determined to do whatever was necessary to get an education.After graduating from high school in Holland at age sixteen, I faced an important obstacle in my quest for a baccalaureate degree. My father felt that college was a waste of money and refused to support me financially. My mother could not assist me financially, but she did give me something more valuable: her encouragement. With her support, I moved into my own apartment, got a job working fifty hours per week, and enrolled in college full time. I worked from 4:30 A.M. until 3:30 P.M. every day, and I went to school from 6:00 P.M. until 11:00 P.M every night. I do not recall when I slept or did schoolwork, but my determination to put myself through school prevailed.As busy as I was between work and school, I still found time to do volunteer activities. When I turned seventeen, I joined the National Guard to make a more substantial impact on the community and to do something that would enhance my future. I firmly believed, and still do, that nothing in life is freeincluding our rights and freedom. Even though the National Guard swallowed an additional weekend each month, I still advanced quickly through school and received strong grades.By the middle of my sophomore year, I developed an intense desire to exercise my leadership ability. At that time, the National Guard was in need of officers, especially female officers. I applied to the Officer Candidate School weekend program and was accepted. As one of just a handful of women, I was singled out from the very beginning of the rigorous and demanding training process. Furthermore, at a time when female officers did not traditionally go into engineering, I o pted to enter the Corps of Engineers upon graduation.Fourteen months later, eleven of the initial one hundred soldiers received Federal Commissions as Second Lieutenants in the United States Army. I was the only female officer among them. The financial advantages of serving as an officer allowed me to cut back on my work hours and to focus more on school. Finally, after a very demanding journey, I received my bachelors degree in business.The perseverance required to pursue my degree and commission is the same perseverance that will ensure my success at the University of Maryland. I am guided not only by my desire to pursue an advanced degree but also by the same reasoning that led me to join the militaryI want to serve my community from a position of leadership. My background, which includes service in diverse leadership roles, will allow me to contribute a unique perspective to my class. Few individuals have experienced the responsibility of managing thirty soldiers at age nineteen . Equally few have led a 120-soldier unit in overseas deployment during a time of hostility.The Army has a saying: Train as you fight and you will fight as you train. I try to apply this philosophy to my education whenever possible. I have selected the University of Maryland because its law clinics, externships, and mentor program will give me valuable hands-on experience and opportunities to apply what I learn. In my quest to become a lawyer and more successfully serve the community, I will indeed draw upon all that I have learned about accomplishing personal goals. As in Officer Candidate School, I will be focused, motivated, and willing both to train and fight.Customers CommentsI am impressed. I have the strong background skills and knowledge to get into law school, but I have a hard time being able to write it down with intelligence. I was totally impressed by the revised version of my personal statement and feel like he captured what I wanted to say. I had reservations about do ing this online, but I researched your site, looked it over numerous times, and made the decision to try this service. My editor made a tremendous difference in my statement and it was obvious from the first sentence as he got my attention. I was very impressed at how good the whole essay was, from start to finish. I cant thank enough.CritiqueDear Jane,I enjoyed editing your essay for law school. You have an interesting background and will undoubtedly contribute a unique perspective to the school.Here are my specific comments on each individual paragraph of your essay:Paragraph 1It is essential that the first paragraph introduce your specific qualifications in a compelling manner. Your original first paragraph was full of excessively vague sentiments and allusions to abstract values. I have suggested a new, more potent introduction that illustrates your success at Officer Candidate School and thereby grabs the readers attention.Obtaining my baccalaureate degree and my commission as an officer in the Army are prime examples of how perseverance allowed me to overcome difficult obstacles in my life.This is a great point, but you need to make it implicitly through your examples rather than stating it explicitly. See the revised essay for my suggestion.Paragraph 2To make your essay easier to digest, you should break this paragraph into two parts. For the first, you should explain why you decided to pursue a baccalaureate degree, and for the second, you should explain how you did so.Your second paragraph also needs a strong transition sentence. I have provided a new sentence drawing on your observation that, Education was my opportunity to change my life.Be mindful of ways you can improve the sentence-to-sentence flow of your ideas. For instance, I have linked together two of your ideas in this paragraph as follows: My mother could not assist me financially, but she did give me something more valuable: her encouragement. With her support, I moved into my own apartm entParagraph 3This paragraph treats three very distinct ideasyour interest in extracurricular activities, your decision to join the National Guard, and your success in Officer Candidate School. As such, it makes sense to break your discussion into three separate parts.I still found time to do volunteer activities here and there.Avoid colloquial phrases like here and there in formal writing.I was still progressing in college at a decent pace and receiving decent grades.In subjective assessments like this, it is always desirable to use the most compelling words possible. I suggest the following: I still advanced quickly through school and received strong grades.Finally, five years after I started the journey for my degree I received my Bachelors in Business.You should omit the number of years you were in school since this information does not contribute to your essay.Paragraph 4This paragraph is a perfect example of the axiom that less is more. You have a number of concrete details th at are very compelling, but you obscure them behind extraneous, generalized statements. I have streamlined this paragraph to keep it focused.The difficult decisions I have made and ethical dilemmas I have endured have made me realize the importance of choosing the harder right rather than the easier wrong.'This sentence is superfluous since you have already explicitly outlined the positions in which you had to make hard decisions.Paragraph 5The conclusion of your essay sounded like a plea for admission, and that is not what your personal statement should be. To be more precise, you should not conclude your essay with a sentence asking the school to consider you. This is not a letter; it is an essay.Also, note that you should not address the reader in the second person singular (you) since this is too informal. Finally, referring to the school as the best in the nation was a bit gratuitous and clichà ©d.Overall, I really enjoyed reading about your experiences. You very interestingly outlined your unconventional background. In your future writing, be sure to avoid overused and clichà ©d phrases. (Some examples include overcome difficult obstacles and determined to succeed.) It is acceptable to use phrases like this when they truly fit, but using too many clichà ©s really waters down an essay.I believe you will find your essay much improved. Again, you have an interesting background that I agree is an important asset. I have done my best to accentuate the most compelling details in your writing and to help your essay to stand out. Good luck in the admissions process.Sincerely,Your EditorSee this essay before the edit.

The Difference Between Native and True Cedars

The Difference Between Native and True Cedars Cedar (Cedrus), also called true cedar, is a coniferous genus and species of trees in the plant family Pinaceae. They are most closely related to the Firs (Abies), sharing a very similar cone structure. Most true, old-world cedars seen in North America are ornamentals. These conifers are not native and for the most part have not naturalized to North America. The most common of these you will see are Cedar of Lebanon, deodar cedar, and Atlas cedar. Their native habitats are on the other side of the planet -   in Mediterranean and Himalayan regions. The Common North American "Cedars" This group of conifers, for the sake of taxonomy and easier identification,  are considered cedars. The genus  Thuja, Chamaecyparis, and Juniperus  are included because of their confusing common names and botanical similarity. Still, they are not taxonomically true cedars. The Common North American "Cedars" Atlantic white cedarNorthern white cedar  (eastern arborvitae)Port-Orford cedarAlaska cedarEastern redcedarIncense cedarWestern red cedar Major Characteristics of the Cedars Cedars have very typical scale-like leaves that can grow on flattened sprays or all around the twig. These small leaves are persistent, decussate, less than 1/2 inch and can be prickly on some species. Cedar bark is often reddish, peeling and vertically furrowed. When considering both our native cedars and old world cedar, bark identification  should be confirmed by using other botanical characteristics. Cedars have cones that can be variable in size, some are woody while others are more fleshy and berry-like. The cones can be oblong to bell-shaped to rounded but typically are less than one inch in size.

Breaking Into Features

Breaking Into Features Tired of the â€Å"1,000 words for $5† markets? Break out of them and into writing features. Editors pay good money for excellent writing. All it takes is solid ideas and unique angles. FEATURES AND WHERE TO FIND THEM Hard news is a magnifying glass, and features are an aerial view (i.e. CAR ACCIDENT CLAIMS 5 vs. CAR ACCIDENT VICTIMS SPEAK OUT). They present a different look at a topic with a unique spin. Word count varies, from 500 to 5,000 words, and there are many types. Interview pieces, profiles, how-to pieces and testimonials are all features. Your main market will be magazines (print and online), so your first step is research. As a practice exercise, pick out a feature piece and familiarize yourself with the topic, the content, the general style of the author and publication, the side-bars as well as the ads on the page accompanying it. Deconstructing another piece is a great way to learn to find out what makes a feature tick, or doesnt. Pick up a magazine and leaf through it, go online, or go here for a list of Pulitzer-winning features: (pulitzer.org/ Have a look at the Writers Market guide to find out who takes features. amazon.com/Writers-Market-2016-Trusted-Published/dp/1599639378 GETTING STARTED As feature writers, you are essentially selling ideas. When pitching, keep it to the point. Pitches should run no more than 250-700 words. An editor wants to know what you want to cover, how you want to cover it (including the facts and numbers!) and why you should be the writer to do it. Spell-check before hitting send (nothing worse than ending with kind retards), and learn the editors name and general style of the publication before you pitch. The writers guidelines, which are usually on the publications website or can be requested from the editor, should tell you everything you need to know. Don’t overdo it, and avoid trying to be â€Å"fancy†. Samples and ideas should speak for you. If you impress the editor, you’ll receive a brief, including your word count, rate (usually per word, and always better than a â€Å"content mill†), topic and deadline. Make sure that you and the editor are on the same page. Get everything in writing before you start. If you aren’t sure, ask! THE PROCESS My first feature was for the Afrikaans women’s magazine Vrouekeur (on endometriosis, an important topic for readers), and it was the first time I paid the rent with my writing. I pitched everywhere until I got it right, and when I did, writing was finally worth something. No more content mills! I went on to write many more features – including for Moneyweb, The Investor, People Magazine SA and Writers Write. The writing process differs, but here’s what works for me:   Ã‚     Pre-search Do your research first. Who can you interview, quote and source? Make sure your sources are reliable; cross-reference facts. Double-checking now is always better than an apology later.   Ã‚     Pitch Tell the editor more about you and your idea. Include examples, research and consider the famedâ€Å"Five W’s (and one H).   Ã‚     Putting it together Start off with an introduction that grabs the reader, then lead into the body. Stick to the word count; make sure it flows.   Ã‚     To the editor Send it to the editor who believed in it. Your article could be rejected, sent back for changes or accepted. Once your article gets accepted for publication, you can send your invoice. Congrats! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alex J Coyne is a South African freelance journalist, author, translator and language practitioner. He is available for hire through his blog. http://alexcoyneofficial.wordpress.com