Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Racism And Segregation And Voluntary Segregation Essay
College is a time of new experiences. Often times, once you enter college you enter a more diverse setting. We come in contact with people from of all types of different backgrounds, and many of which may not even be from this country. In a world of so much diversity, it is odd to see that some people still are so stuck in prejudice and voluntary segregation. The main experience I have had with these events were when I became a member of the CURLs club on this campus. Social comparison is greatly a part of this group in regards to ethnocentrism and prejudices, and I am going to discuss my motions to change it. Along with understanding social comparison, we must first understand social categorization. Social categorization aids us in expecting how other people should act, and how they should carry themselves. This goes into ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism is people looking at others and judging them, because they are different from their own. In a research study by, Terry F. Pettijohn II of Coastal Carolina University and Ginny M. Naples of Youngstown State University, they define ethnocentrism as ââ¬Å"Many Americans are ignorant of the various cultural differences and similarities that exist within our society and in the rest of the world. In addition to this lack of knowledge, Americans also possess varying degrees of beliefs of cultural superiority, otherwise referred to as ethnocentrism.â⬠This happens so often on college campuses. We often judge other people and their actions,Show MoreRelated21st Century Segregation: Are We Still Divided by Race?1642 Words à |à 7 Pages21st Cent ury Segregation: Are We Still Divided by Race? Racial segregation was a concept that began in early history and is still prevalent in some societies today. It is often seen as a destructive forceful tactic of separating individuals based on their racial background. However, many new immigrants voluntarily choose to live in a segregated society. Segregation can be easily seen in certain communities where there is a concentration containing a particular racial group. The area where oneRead MoreLate United States Case Study702 Words à |à 3 Pagesinvoluntarily brought to America as slaves during the eighteenth century. Additionally, many Mexicans became involuntary immigrants when the US annexed parts of Mexican territory in 1848. However, Hispanics have become one of the largest groups of voluntary immigrants when Latinos from other areas immigrated to America. Asians including those from Japan, China, and the Philippines also immigrated to America to find work during the industrial age of the West. They were later restricted and detained dueRead MoreThe Civil Rights Act Of 19641689 Words à |à 7 PagesThe Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended state and local laws that involved segregation, prohibiting legal discrimination based on ethnicity, color, race, sex, and religion. Now, after much time has passed, people can pose the question: how prominent is segregation in todayââ¬â¢s society? In particular, Chicago, the third largest city in the Unite d States, poses interesting dynamics concerning this question. For one, the city consistently has high crime and murder rates in specific areas, while other partsRead MoreThe Ideals and Philosophies of William Edward Burghardt Du Bois1487 Words à |à 6 Pageslearned. Immediately he began attacking the very concepts that had founded the United States. He found his biggest issues with the current paradigms in education and capitalism. For these he gave his sharpest critiques and even advocated voluntary segregation by African Americans. Du Bois saw many problems with how capitalism and education in a post-slavery world inherited significant aspects of that mentality. Capitalism, according to Du Bois, has the power and ability to increase disenfranchisementRead MoreRacial Segregation : Segregation And Segregation Essay1142 Words à |à 5 PagesRacial Segregation ââ¬Å"Segregation is that which is forced upon an inferior by a superior. Separation is done voluntarily by two equals.â⬠This is an important and powerful quote said by the late Malcolm X. From 1849-1950 segregation took place for a little over a century. Just 4 years after that, in Brown v. Board of Education the supreme court outlawed segregation in public schools. This was the starting point in putting an end to segregation nationwide. However, is segregation really abolished? OrRead MoreThe Strange Career Of Jim Crow862 Words à |à 4 Pagescrow laws In the 18th century the civil war had brought in end to slavery ,when the union beat the confederacy.Many people believe that slavery ended right there, and that anything else that happened to African Americans after that was due to racism of the people of that time.When in reality that change had caused ripples, that would shape history and the way people think all the way till today.Using historical ideas ,journals ,and such C.Vann Woodward in The Strange Career Of JIM CROW marvalasouleyRead MoreCivil Disobedience By Martin Luther King1077 Words à |à 5 PagesEncyclopedia of Philosophy, civil disobedience is defined as ââ¬Å"a public nonviolence and conscientious breach of law undertaken with the aim of bringing about a change in laws or government policiesâ⬠. Martin Luther King sought to end the unjust law of segregation in a nonviolent campaign. He outlines the four basic steps: ââ¬Å"collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-pur ification; and direct actionâ⬠behind the beauty of a nonviolent campaign. King also described the differencesRead MoreCanadas Chinatown and the Critical Race Theory2993 Words à |à 12 PagesChina Town Today in Canada there are a lot ethnic groups clustered away in their own areas giving rise to enclaves that are just growing. This segregation is taking away the entire idea of multiculturalism and diversity and rather pushing towards oppression and racism in the country. The Critical Race Theory basically states that the individuals are pushed around to change socially and individually due to pressures from the society. (Solorzano and Barnal p 311) This theory is based on the fact thatRead MoreThe Legacy Of Nelson Mandela1647 Words à |à 7 Pagescould even get you thrown into jail. Coincidently; this was the life, of black South Africans from the moment of Dutch colonization in 1652, to the first true democratic election in 1994. Apartheid, meaning ââ¬Å"separatenessâ⬠in Afrikaans; was legal segregation enforced by The National Party (NP) from 1948 to 1994. It legally imposed preexisting policies of racial discrimination on the Majority of the South African population. Th e entire basis of the racist policies, was the darker your complexion theRead MoreThe Civil Rights Act Did Not Happen Over Night1655 Words à |à 7 Pagesalmost twenty years. Starting in 1948 with Trumanââ¬â¢s executive order 9981 that gave equality in the military (infoplease.com, Brunner). Then in 1054 the case of Brown versus Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, was finalized with the decision that segregation within public schools was wrong. In august of 1955 the tragedy of Emmett Till occurred, where he was brutally murdered. There are many more effects of the Civil Rights act, but these were some of the turning points. Trumanââ¬â¢s Executive
Monday, December 16, 2019
Icloud Current Situation Analysis Free Essays
CURRENT SITUATION ANALYSIS Christopher Dobrinski Esra Arnaudova Evanzhelin Stoyanova Jora Cakuli Apple Inc. is an Americanà multinational corporationà that designs and sellsà consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company is widely recognized by its logo which is an apple that is bitten on the right side which symbolizes lust, knowledge, hope and anarchy. We will write a custom essay sample on Icloud Current Situation Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now Appleââ¬â¢s most famous products include the iPad, the iPhone, the iPod, and the MacBook series of laptops. All products offered by Apple use the iOS operational system. On August 20th, 2012 the companyââ¬â¢s value broke the world record which is 624 billion dollars. iCloud is one of the companyââ¬â¢s flagship applications, which allows its users to store data on remote computer servers, so that they can synchronize that data with almost every device that has the iOS system. The iCloud system provides its users with the ability to upload everything from music to books, photos, apps, and etc. Every iCloud account offers 5gb of free storage space, additional space be purchased in 10, 20 or 50 GB. Other features that the application has are Find My Phone which allows users to track the location of their iOS device or Mac. Find My Friends is another feature which allows users to share their location. Back To My Mac is a service on the iCloud that allows users to login remotely to other computers configured with the same Apple ID. iTunes Match is newest feature of the storage app, customers can match and scan tracks from CDs or other sources and listen to the same tracks on iTunes free of charge. Cloudââ¬â¢s main competitors include Amazon Cloud Drive, Box. net, Dropbox, and Microsoft Skydrive. Amazon Cloud Drive is a storage system much like the iCloud, it was launched in March 2011 by Amazon. com, just like the iCloud it offers 5 GB of free storage, any additional storage can be purchased, the cost is 1$ per GB a year, which is a lot cheaper than the product that Apple Inc. offers. Dropbox is a file hosting service operated by Dropbox Inc. which offers client software, file synchronization and cloud storage. Dropbox allows users to create a special folder on each personal computer that they have, which then Dropbox synchronizes so that the folder and its contents can be viewed on every PC or phone that it is synchronized with. Unlike Apple and Amazon, Dropbox only offers 2 GB of free space, while the paid Pro account offers up to 100 GB. Dropbox works with iOS, Android and Blackberry for mobile users and on Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. Which is amazing because itis one of the few storage services that can be used on multiple software platforms. Box. net has been on the market since 2005 and has been a powerhouse in the segment. The personal edition of Box. net offers 5 GB of free space, while the maximum that can be purchased is 500 GB for 15 dollars a month with enhanced features. Box. net just like Dropbox works on multiple platforms. Microsoft Skydrive is Microsoftââ¬â¢s cloud storage system. The system offers 7 GB of free space, users that signed up prior to April 22nd received 25 GB of free storage enhancement. The service uses HTML5 technologies which allows customers to upload files of up to 300 MB in size by dragging and dropping the file into the web browser. Microsoft Skydrive works only for Windows Home and Windows Phone users. How to cite Icloud Current Situation Analysis, Essay examples
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Combat Radicalization & Home Grown Terrorism-Samples for Students
Question: Critically analyze the Strategies currently in place to Combat Radicalization and Home Grown Terrorism and examine what can be done to reduce the threats. Answer: Introduction Terrorism has been growing and spreading amongst communities and countries like fire. Radicalisation is a never ending dispute that has no boundaries. The same can be encouraged in various ways such as behind the bars or at the training centres of al Quada or can even be born out of influence through the internet. Unfortunately one of the most striking reasons for the fast development of home grown terrorism is internet thereby blotching the stroke between the overseas and domestic intimidations. Before understanding the various strategies that are being put into place or for which efforts are being made to fight against such radicalisation and home grown terrorism, it is very crucial to understand these two terms. Radicalisation, the term means a procedure via which a person ends up adopting incremental and excessive political or social ideals which basically does not agree with the current ideas of the nation and does not always construe to be negative in nature. However, past has made it very evident that radicalisation has lead to terrorism and it is then when the same is termed as violent radicalisation. It is by all means the main factor and motivational stance towards creations of such conditions which are apt for the emergence of terrorism (Vidino, 2010). Further to this, it is radicalisation which has given birth to home grown terrorism. The home grown terrorism basically means a stage when people with such extreme thoughts and views meet with such other like minded people and in conjunction with them they end up carrying out such events and activities which ultimately lead to terrorism. Thereby these home grown terrorists might join hands and form sovereign groups, thus growing up to a certain level. More so, home grown terrorism can be looked upon as sociological occurrence wherein issues such as belonging, individuality, group dynamics and values are very crucial in the conversion process. Thus radicalisation has been posing threat towards development of such home grown terrorism and not from today but from the past as well (Precht, 2007). Religion has been one of the most important driving forces but for some people it is used as a weapon to serve other unacceptable goals. The said essay discusses the various strategies that can be adopted to fight against the growing radicalisation which in turn has led to increase in the home grown terrorism. Current Strategies Combatting Radicalisation The last decade has witnessed a sudden upsurge in the number of home grown Muslims turning into terrorists in countries such as America and Europe. Various strategies have been formulated to combat radicalisation such as mentoring and counselling the people, providing them employment in reputed job profiles, thereby making the ignored individuals feel that they are a part of the same society (Mulcahy et.al. 2013). Many programs are being formed to tackle with the issue such as the Living Safe Together Grants program and the Saudi Arabia Counselling Programs. These are two of the most sought after programs which aim at tackling radicalised persons. The Living Safe Together Grants Program is a program which was formulated basically to support community based non-government and local government organizations who would have the capability to provide such services which would help such persons who are impacted with radicalisation, to stay away from extremism. Thus the said programme is basically aimed at helping the already established organizations working towards de-radicalisation, by helping them strengthen the ongoing program or formulate a fresh one. The said program was formed as a part of the Australian Governments Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Strategy. However the said program has its own strengths and weaknesses. In the year 2015, one of the oldest and influential Islamic organization in Sydney named the Lebanese Muslim Association had made it clear that it would not sign up to the said program as it does not maintain balance while setting the priorities which is the main reason behind such radicalisation amongst the Muslim crowd. The said program has just $1 million to disburse within the Muslim community for coming ahead of idea and views which would help such radicalised individuals to move out of the same. Further to this the grant would be to a maximum of $50000 and that too only for a year and also not assurance for any future funding. The biggest weakness of the said program is that it is not sustainable enough and proposes such projects which are of a very short duration with no intention of continuing for a long time. Just by giving grants and that too a small share out of the big pool of resources that the government pos sesses weakens the Living Safe Together Grants Programme. However the biggest strength that this programme offers is that involvement of community led interferences which would basically help to give a long term solution to the issue of terrorism and radicalisation. For example the assessment of online movements which address towards promotion of non-violence of political activities or which aims at counter attacking the violent extremism prevalent within the young Muslims in Western Sydney has discovered that relative to government-badged campaigns, community-developed and funded and financed initiative get better response and are accepted in a better manner (Gaor Falk, 2013). Another very effective program is the Saudi Arabia Counselling Program whose main aim is to reintegrate those people again into the community who have expressed their view points in various situations with regards the acceptability of violence. Those who have been a part of any sort of terror attack are eligible to become a part of the said counselling program but their exit from the said program is not very easy which is in contrast to the other on going programs developed for combating radicalisation. The said program works in a formal manner and has full co-ordination from the Ministry of Interior. One of the most crucial part of the said program is to ensure that the radicalised individuals are de-radicalised in the prison itself by educating them religiously as well as psychologically. The said programs biggest strength was that it was not short term in nature and it had the capability of reinstalling the individuals after de-radicalisation successfully within the society. Since the inception of the said program, four thousand radicalised individuals have participated and are now a part of the society again. However, apart from such successes and strengths that the Saudi Arabia Counselling Program possesses, it has certain weaknesses also. After January 2009, it was found out that eleven of the detainees who were released after successfully completing the program curriculum, unfortunately returned back into the world of terrorism(Rabasa et.al. 2010). They fail to monitor them after release and also the trust that such counselling programs have on the society, nation and the family as well. Thus it can be rightly said that although such programs have helped to some extent in combating radicalisation, yet there is a long way to go ahead before the said progress can be determined in percentages. Thus these programs are being able to deal with radicalisation to some extent but the same can be of more use if proper resources are being dedicated towards the deve lopment of said programs and with equality (Horgan, Braddock, 2010). Thus the effectiveness fades away as the programs become old because the government fails to intervene and look into the changing requirements due to which the quality of such programs gets impacts thereby failing to fulfil the main motive of fighting radicalisation. Current Strategies Combatting Home Grown Terorrism Home grown terrorism has become even more dangerous than international terrorism and one of the most recent example of the same was the Paris attack that occurred in the year 2015. It was shocking to know that the attackers were non other than the European nationals who were basically Muslim immigrants. Various strategies are being formulated to deal such terrorists who basically are home grown and hence more dangerous (Cronin, 2010). For the same the Counter Violent Extremism (CVE) programs have become extremely important. In the year 2010, the Australian Attorney-General Department developed the CVE Taskforce. It offered two grant schemes- Building Community Resilience Youth Mentoring Programme and Building Community Resilience. The latter schemes main aim was to support the society based projects that would help develop buoyancy against violent extremism. Thus it can be rightly said that the main aim of CVE grant programs is to enlarge and increase labours at the societal level to defy aggressive extremist enrolment and radicalisation to violence (Lozano, 2014). The main strength of this grant program is that the said program is shared amongst the various Australian Governments. It addresses the various communities, understands their issues and thereby caters to those specific issues. It works with the state government to rehabilitate the ones who are already imprisoned and also ensure that the other prisoners are not influenced. CVE also ensures that the derogatory materials online are blocked and further extend grant towards such programs which are working towards pulling people out of early radicalisation. Unfortunately the CVE programs has many weaknesses too specially in the conceptual front. People often mix the two terms conflict violence and terrorism. It does not fulfil the promise of controlling militarised and such other difficult security approaches to counterterrorism and it does not pay heed to the various flaws which were prevalent in the past approaches such as that of demobilisation. Lastly, CVE stigmatizes the societies that are targeted to be dealt with. However even though CVE has been criticised on all the above mentioned grounds and has been considered to be weak, yet the same is not to fade away in the near future (Speckhard, 2011) The EU is witnessed to have been spending much more on CVE than ever before. So much that in the year 2016, the EUs external assistance budget had given a large share to CVE. Thus although CVE has been lending a very crucial hand in dealing with home grown terrorism, yet the same needs to be looked upon more vigour and depth so as to prevent any further weaknesses to crop in. Recommendations To Reduce The Threat Of Radicalisation And Home Grown Terrorism Thus it can be understood that radicalisation and home grown terrorism can be reduced basically by not only providing grants and conducting programs but also through various other measures which would basically point towards educating the masses about the truth of Islam and not what is being drilled into them. The family members of the individual also have a big role to play. They tend to get inclined towards such terrorist activities due to reasons such as lack of emotional and financial support and both are very important for ensuring that the path of a person is not diverted towards illegal direction (Koehler, 2013). Although it is not an easy task to de-radicalise a person as such people are very violent in nature until and unless they carry some sort of a doubt in their mind with regards their own acts and some disengagement as well. As per my recommendation, radicalisation and home grown terrorism is more concerned with individuals rather a group of individuals. Thus such threat can be reduced only if both the behavioural and the ideological side of it are dealt with simultaneously (Dandurand 2015). A persons behaviour should be moulded in such a manner that for him/her non-violence and love is what is important and such ideologies should be preached which talks about harmony amongst religions and what actually Islam means to say, rather than what people mean to say about Islam. One of the most recommended program to get over radicalisation and home grown terrorism is the one proposed in Saudi Arabia. Although the country has always been the centre for terrorism, but the event of 2003 shook th e country when it saw radicalisation and home grown terrorism responsible for the terror. Thus they targeted to brain wash the young people first as they were the one being attacked by these radicalised people (Ezzarqui, 2010). Thus similar to what Saudi Arabias Government had done, various steps such as educating people about the harms of violence and extremism, conducting various religious campaigns and conducting various tranquillity programs through the internet should be taken. Conclusion On a concluding note, it is can be rightly said that radicalisation and home grown terrorism is more dangerous than international terrorism. It becomes to trust the people of ones own country which gives way to more violence. Although various programs are being conducted and efforts are continuously being made via education, campaigning, bringing in reforms, getting support from government, yet the same is at a very nascent stage and more concentration should be given at this area. Terrorism birth within the country has to come to a halt for which the programs and their features and ways of implementation has to undergo changes. It cannot be single directional but rather has to be multi-directional in nature. References: Cronin,A.K., (2010), The Evolution of counterterrorism : will tactics trump strategy? International Affairs, vol.86, no.4, Dandurand,Y., (2015), Social Inclusion Programmes for Youth and the Prevention of Violent Extremism, Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303566026_Social_Inclusion_Programmes_for_Youth_and_the_Prevention_of_Violent_Extremism (Accessed 02nd August 2017) Ezzarqui,L.,(2010), De-Radicalisation and Rehabilitation Program : The Case Study of Saudi Arabia, Available at https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/553485/ezzarquiLeila.pdf?sequence=1isAllowed=y (Accessed 02nd August 2017) Gaor,B., Falk,O., (2013), De-Radicalisation in Israels Prison System, Studies in Conflict Terrorism, vol.36, no.2, pp. 116-131 Horgan,J., Braddock,K., (2010), Rehabilitating the Terrorists?: Challenges in Assessing the Effectiveness of De-radicalisation Programs, Terrorism and Political Violence, vol.22, pp. 267-291 Koehler,D., (2013), Family Counselling as Prevention and Intervention Tool Against Foreign Fighters. The German Hayat Program, Journal EXIT, Available at file:///C:/Users/E-ZONE/Downloads/49-217-1-PB.pdf (Accessed on 02nd August 2017) Lozano,M., (2014), Inventory of the Best Practices on de-radicalisation from the different member States of the EU, Available at https://www.terra-net.eu/files/nice_to_know/20140722134422CVERLTdef.pdf (Accessed 02nd August 2017) Mulcahy,E., Merrington,S., Bell,P., (2013), The Radicalisation of Prison Inmates : Exploring Recruitment, Religion and Prisoner Vulnerability, Journal of Human Security, Vol. 9, no.1, pp. 4-14 Precht,T., (2007), Home grown terrorism and Islamist radicalisation in Europe, Danish Ministry of Justice. Available at https://www.scribd.com/document/261299859/Home-Grown-Terrorism-and-Islamist-Radicalisation-in-Europe-An-Assessment-of-Influencing-Factors-2 (Accessed on 02nd August 2017) Rabasa,A., Pettyjohn,S.L., Ghez,J.J., Boucek,C., (2010), De-radicalising Islamist Extremists, National Security Research Division, Available at https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2010/RAND_MG1053.pdf (Accessed 02nd August 2017) Speckhard,A., (2011), Prison and Community Based Disengagement and De-Radicalisation Programs for Extremists Involved in Militant, Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271195266_Prison_and_Community_Based_Disengagement_and_De-Radicalization_Programs_for_Extremists_Involved_in_Militant_Jihadi_Terrorism_Ideologies_and_Activities (Accessed 02nd August 2017) Vidino,L., (2010), Countering Radicalisation in America, Available at https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/SR262%20-%20Countering_Radicalization_in_America.pdf (Accessed 02nd August 2017)
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Why Should Marijuana Be Legalized Many People, Old And Young, Everywh
Why should marijuana be legalized? Many people, old and young, everywhere in the world, partake in the activity of smoking this plant and buying paraphernalia. There are many substantial reasons to use this plant, besides for extra-curricular purposes. Marijuana should be legalized because it's the holder of many beneficial uses including suppressing pain, raising the United States out of debt, saving millions of acres of forests, and creating jobs for many people. Through the legalization of marijuana, the U.S. could benefit immensely. Marijuana is the most widely used controlled substance in the United States. Since it is used so often, why not take the money it could create by selling it and help the economy. For every 1/8 ounce sold, the U.S. government could take 40% of the $40 or $45 with the other 60% going to the seller. The seller would have to be monitored by the government and would have to have licenses and have their crops tested for harmful fertilizers. Crime would also be affected in a positive way. Illegal drug crimes would drop, allowing the police to turn their attention to more serious problems. There is a marijuana smoker arrested every 45 seconds in the United States. Normally, they receive large fines and small jail time but repeat offenders can get up to five years. Sadly, rapists and murderers are able to get only one year. Do you really think smoking a joint is worse that raping and killing someone If marijuana were to be legalized, the jail would have room for criminals that deserve jail time for their crimes. Tax dollars that go to prosecuting and jailing these so called ?criminals' could go towards programs in helping inform smokers of how to do it responsibility. Drug dealers that dealt illegally would soon go out of business and drug smuggling would drop to a low. They would still sell cocaine and PCP and the other illegal drugs but they wouldn't have the same profit that they got prior because marijuana brings in su ch a large profit. Not only would legalization benefit the jails but also the world. Thousands of acres of forest that are destroyed daily would be saved. One acre of hemp can produce up to 4 times more paper than one acre of trees. Before trees can be harvested for use, they must grow anywhere between 20-50 years; while hemp only needs 4 months before it can be harvested. With hemp growing faster than trees, forests would stay erected; in turn, many endangered animals would be taken off the endangered species list. Many things can be made out of hemp and hemp oil. Some items include; clothing, soaps, butter, and rope. By using hemp, we could save the environment while creating everyday items. Why are alcohol and nicotine legal while marijuana is not? Alcohol and nicotine, like marijuana, are considered drugs. Alcohol brings out violence and abuse in many people, while users of marijuana are generally easygoing and relaxed while on it. Nicotine, if consumed in large enough quantities, causes immense harm to the users' body. And both nicotine and alcohol are addicting, while few users of marijuana develop dependencies. A substance shouldn't be illegal because it is addictive. Sex and food can be addictive for people and they are not banned. Many people think that the only people that smoke weed are unemployed lazy potheads, but that is not the case. About 10 million people smoked marijuana habitually last year. Most of these people were law-abiding citizens. If marijuana were to become legalized, there would have to laws to follow such as smokers could receive a fine for smoking in public. Or the United States could follow in the Netherlands footsteps. In the Netherlands, they legally sell marijuana on the street corners in little shops. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is the marijuana capital of the world and because of that, many people refer to it as the most peaceful places in the world. Consumption of marijuana would also be much safer if the government regulated it. The government could easily control the amount sold and purchased, which would lower the percentage of drug abuse in the country. Also, if the government monitored marijuana crops, people smoking the plant
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Whipscorpions Look Scary But Cant Really Hurt You
Whipscorpions Look Scary But Can't Really Hurt You Whipscorpions look fiercely threatening, by some accounts. In truth, they may be the scariest looking creatures that cant actually do you much harm. They resemble scorpions, with enormous pincers and long, whip-like tails, but they lack venom glands entirely. Whipscorpions are also known as vinegaroons. What Whipscorpions Look Like Whipscorpions do look similar to scorpions but arent true scorpions at all. They are arachnids, related to both spiders and scorpions, but they belong to their own taxonomic order, the Uropygi. Whipscorpions share the same elongated and flattened body shape as scorpions and possess oversized pincers for catching prey. But unlike a true scorpion, a whipscorpion does not sting, nor does it produce venom. Its long, slender tail is likely just a sensory structure, enabling it to detect vibrations or odors. Although smaller than most true scorpions, whipscorpions can be impressively big, reaching a maximum body length of 8 cm. Add another 7 cm of tail to that, and youve got a big bug (though not an actual bug). Most whipscorpions inhabit the tropics. In the U.S., the largest species is Mastigoproctus giganteus, sometimes known as the mule killer. How Whipscorpions Are Classified Kingdom ââ¬â AnimaliaPhylum ââ¬âà ArthropodaClass ââ¬âà ArachnidaOrder - Uropygi What Whipscorpions Eat Whipscorpions are nocturnal hunters that feed on insects and other small animals. The first pair of a whipscorpions legs are modified into long feelers, used for locating prey. Once a potential meal is identified, the whipscorpion grabs the prey with its pincers and crushes and tears its victim with powerful chelicerae. The Life Cycle of Whipscorpions For a creature with such a frightening appearance, the whipscorpion has a remarkably tender love life. The male caresses his potential mate with his front legs before presenting her with his spermatophore. After fertilization occurs, the female retreats to her burrow, guarding her eggs as they develop in a mucous sac. When the young hatch, they climb onto their mothers back, holding fast with special suckers. Once they molt for the first time, they leave their mother and she dies. Special Behaviors of Whipscorpions While they cant sting, whipscorpions can and will defend themselves when threatened. Special glands at the base of its tail enable the whipscorpion to produce and spray a defensive fluid. Usually, a combination of acetic acid and octanoic acid, the whipscorpions defensive spray gives off a distinctive vinegar-like smell. This unique odor is why the whipscorpion also goes by the nickname vinegaroon.à Be forewarned. If you encounter a vinegaroon, it can hit you with its defensive acid from a distance of a half meter or more. Other Types of Whipscorpions The order Uropygi isnt the only group of organisms known as whipscorpions. Among the arachnids are three other orders that share this common name, briefly described here. Micro Whipscorpions (Order Palpigradi): These tiny arachnids live in caves and under rocks, and we dont yet know much about their natural history. Micro whipscorpions are pale in color, and their tails are covered with setae that function as sensory organs. Scientists believe micro whipscorpions prey on other microarthropods, or perhaps on their eggs. About 80 species are described worldwide, although many more likely exist, still undiscovered.Short-tailed Whipscorpions (Order Schizomida): The short-tailed whipscorpionsà are small arachnids, measuring less than 1 cm long. Their tails are (predictably) short. In males, the tail is knobbed so the mating female can hold onto it during mating. Short-tailed whipscorpions often have modified hind legs for jumping, and look superficially similar to grasshoppers in that regard. They prey on other small arthropods, hunting at night, despite poor eyesight. Like their larger cousins, short-tailed whipscorpions spray acid in defense but lack v enom glands. Tailless Whipscorpions (Order Amblypygi): Tailless whipscorpions are just that, and the name of their order, Amblypygi, literally means blunt rump. The largest specimens reach 5.5 cm in length and look somewhat similar to the larger vinegaroons. Tailless whipscorpions have strikingly long legs and spiny pedipalps, and they can run sideways at startling speeds. These features make them the stuff of nightmares to the easily spooked among us, but like the other whipscorpion groups, tailless whipscorpions are benign. That is, unless youre a smallish arthropod, in which case you may find yourself impaled and crushed to death by the tailless whipscorpions powerful pedipalps. Sources: Bugs Rule! An Introduction to the World of Insects, by Whitney Cranshaw and Richard RedakBorror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. JohnsonSpeciesà , Bugguide.net. Accessed online March 10, 2017.Mastigoproctus giganteusà - Giant Vinegaroon
Friday, November 22, 2019
Vitamins May Hurt Your Health
Vitamins May Hurt Your Health MSN ran a feature about ConsumerLab.coms investigation into the purity of multivitamins. The lab looked at 21 brands of multivitamins for sale in the U.S. and Canada and found only 10 of these brands met the labeled claims or otherwise met quality standards. That doesnt have to mean anything earth-shattering. It could have been the other brands were close to meeting standards or had minor problems. However, the quality issues were ones that could actually hurt your health. The Vitamin Shoppe Multivitamins Especially for Women were found to be contaminated with lead. Now, lets put this in perspective. Several calcium supplements run the risk of lead contamination, because lead and calcium participate in many of the same chemical reactions and are difficult to separate. That trace amounts of lead would be present might be expected. However, ConsumerLab.com reported a daily dose of this mulitvitamin contained a whopping 15.3 micrograms of lead (more than ten times the amount permitted without a warning in California). To make matters worse, though you got some bonus lead for your bucks, you only got 54% of the stated levels of calcium. Another vitamin posed a different risk. Hero Nutritionals Yummi Bears, a kids multivitamin, contained 216% of the labeled amount of vitamin A in the retinol form [5,400 International Units (IU)], which is considerably higher than the upper limit set by the Institute of Medicine of 2,000 IU for kids ages 1 to 3 and 3,000 IU for kids ages 4 to 8. Vitamin A is one of the vitamins where more is not better. Instead, too much vitamin A can weaken bones and cause liver damage. Are these quality control issues? Yes, but I would have been surprised if the lab had found the vitamins met their stated claims. Why? For two reasons. First, vitamins arent regulated by the same standards as medicine. They are considered supplements and not drugs. Your best defense against this is to buy a product from nationally-recognized reputable source with an interest in protecting its good name. The other reason I wouldnt expect vitamins to contain exactly what is listed on the label is simple chemistry. Vitamins, by their very nature, are reactive. The quantities listed in a product will change over the course of its shelf life. Your main protection here is to not take vitamins past their expiration date. Should you take a multivitamin? Ask yourself whether the potential benefit outweighs the risk. If you are taking a major name brand multivitamin, you are probably getting approximately what is listed. Even then, expect some variation within the product and some degree of heavy-metal contamination with products that include minerals. These vitamins generally are safe, but dont take them automatically assuming they will help you.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
The Literature Review and Final Reflection Assignment
The Literature Review and Final Reflection - Assignment Example Moreover, literature review helps an individual to both increase statistical knowledge in his or her search area and also generate new ideas that are original, thus avoiding duplication of other researchers. Also, according to Dawidowicz (2010), the context within which a study is placed is influenced by how full or good the literature search was done. Literature review also justifies the relevance of the proposed research. A weak literature review can diminish the research proposal because it often treats research claims equivalently (Anderson, 2000). Development of the hypothesis or research questions relies too much on the understanding of the topic one intends to investigate, and this understanding comes from a good literature search. Therefore, a weak literature review diminishes the development of the research problem. A weak literature review does not show the originality of the research problem, which means it involves only summarized publications. Therefore, for the literature review to show originality of the research problem, it must give potential evidence that the research will be relevant and original to research results (Oliver, 2010). In the result and discussion section of the report, the findings of a researcher are compared with those of the literature. In the case of any differences, their existence and meaning are discussed in this section. Therefore, the literature review and research questions connect the discussion section to the introduction (Labaree, 2013). In this section also, statements about how the researcherââ¬â¢s findings reveal new gaps in the previous literature are discussed (Hart, 1998). Weaknesses in other literatures are also presented in this section, and ways of improving them are discussed. Therefore, literature review plays an important role in the discussion and result section of a research report. The most valuable task in the research process is
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Change Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
Change Management - Essay Example Change Management Due to the unsteadiness of the business environment, companies around the world are trying to bring in some kind of changes in their functioning system so as to comply with the changing needs. These changes appear in many forms such as a change in the product portfolio of the company, alteration of the marketing and operations strategy, transformation of the distribution system and implementation of a new technology (Taylor, 2009). Furthermore, changes also appear in the external environment of the organization such as changes in the customer preferences, new rules and policies from the government, changes in the competitive landscape and industrial relations. Such changes in turn compel organizations to bring in internal changes so as to comply with the external factors (Cowan, 2005). Any such changes require effective management from the part of the company. This is the reason why change management is often defined as a structured approach for transforming an organization from its current position to a desired position for the future. A change in the organization is therefore deemed as an opportunity to embrace growth or an opportunity to survive in the market place (A. Mills, Dye & J. Mills, 2008). This study seeks to scrutinize the need for change in an organization and how the changes suggested will be achieved or implemented. In order to carry out the study and assess the need for organizational changes and present a plan to implement same, the study will choose an organization and will analyze it accordingly.... Virgin Australia Airlines: A Brief Overview Virgin Australia Airlines previously known as the Virgin Blue Airlines is an Australian based airlines service providing company. It operates under the brand name of Virgin. The company is considered as the second largest airline company of Australia in terms of the fleet size. The company was founded in the year 2000 by British businessman named as Richard Branson and Brett Godfrey. It is now based on Bowen Hills, Brisbane (Virgin Australia, 2013a). The company commenced its operation with only two aircrafts and both are operating on the same single route. Since, the inception the company has been recognized as one of the strongest aviation companies due to its sheer service offering and affordable pricing. Despite, affordable pricing the company has always focused on the leisure sector and tried to position itself as a carrier that offer high value for money (Virgin Australia, 2013b). In the year 2011, the company repositioned itself as à ¢â¬Ënew world carrierââ¬â¢. Since then the company has followed a business strategy in which it offers the ââ¬Ëguestsââ¬â¢ to avail no frill services in which they offer limited services and also offered customers with premium services in which customers need to pay a few extra bucks so as to get the additional services. With this strategy the company has been able to target a broader market. Currently the company caters to 50 destinations and serves 29 cities of Australia. The company remains highly proactive in the field of sponsorship and socially responsible activities. In the year 2011, the company again introduced certain new strategies where the employees are supposed to wear new uniforms, new
Saturday, November 16, 2019
No Child Left Behind Essay Example for Free
No Child Left Behind Essay The education policy that I chose is on education today and the influence of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. In 2001, President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act. The NCBL is a United States Act of Congress, which includes Title 1 (program for disadvantaged students offered by the government). This Act requires states to develop assessments in basic skills. Each state is required to give these assessments to all students to receive federal school funding. This Act does not set the standards nationwide; each individual state sets the standards. Diane Ravitch, an education philosopher was a supporter of this Act when it was being passed. She believed that every child had the right to a proper education. As the years passed she acquired more experience and knowledge on the Act, and is now completely opposed to the NCLB Act. Ravitch believes that the states dumb down the standards in light of the NCLB. The question now is: is the No Child Left Behind Act seeking to repair the problem, or is it the cause? Under NCLB, the accountability of a childs education is examined by the Federal government and turned into the hands of the state. This was the first time an American president has set a goal of universal proficiency in reading and mathematics for all children. The federal emphasis on literacy, reading, and mathematics emphasizes teacher and school accountability, with negative consequences when schools do not meet established improvement goals (U.S. Department of Education, 2002). Under NCLB the state must have accountability provisions that include how they will close the achievement gap. According to the Department of Education the achievement gap is defined as such; The difference between how well low-income and minority children perform on standardized tests as compared with their peers. For many years, low-income and minority children have fallen behind their white peers in terms of academic achievement (Department of Education, 2002). States must also monitor that every student not excluding the disadvantaged achieve academic proficiency. Yearly assessments must be produced to inform parents of the progress of both the state and theà community. Schools that do not meet the academic proficiency standards must offer supplemental services and take corrective action. If within five years the school is still not making yearly progress, than dramatic changes in the schools academic direction must be made. Dramatic changes according to the Department of Education are defined as follows; â⬠¦additional changes to ensure improvement. The definition raises the question of whether there is a plan for failure at all. The National Assessment of Educational Progress, in its National Report Card shows that these goals may be falling short. Students in fourth grade show temporary improvement in math right after No Child Left Behind became a law, but returned to pre-reform growth rate. The NAEP estimates that by 2014 less than 25% of financially challenged and African American students will achieve NAEP proficiency in reading. Using the same time frame less than half the financially challenged and African American students will obtain proficiency in math. With so much pressure on the states to perform well, a trend is becoming apparent that they are inflating proficiency levels of students. This causes discrepancies between the NAEP and state assessments especially among the financially challenged, African American, and Hispanic students. With no sufficient evidence shown on that NCLB is working, the question is as follows; is the federal government capable of running our school systems? There are undoubtedly dangers in the public school system teaching a federally mandated curriculum. When one controls peoples perception of history, one controls the present. There is, of course, a point to be made that if the nations children are kept in watered down public schools, positions of power will be opened to the children of the aristocracy, who without fail, are being sent to private schools. So many of those Politicians who stand in the way of allowing poor children to escape failing schools, send their own children to private schools (sic). In New York City, where I have spent most of my professional life, both the current and the past chancellor of schools sent their children to private schools. Six of the seven members of the now-defunct Board of Education hadà also sent their children to private schools at one time or another. One might add to the list other notables in New York-the governor, the mayor, the leaders of both houses of the legislature, and the junior U.S. senator (and former first lady). In fact, I cannot remember a mayor of the city who sent his children to public school (Viteritti, 2003). The reports of success of NCLB are encouraging to those who support the project. There have been schools in Sterling, Virginia and New York City that have received No Child Left Behind blue ribbons for their success in closing the achievement gap. Other schools have earned national praise for instituting such curriculum as Fit for the Future, a standards-based health and fitness curriculum for grades 1-10; and an anti-bullying intervention program in York, Pennsylvania (Department of Education, 2005). These programs are used to show the benefits of NCLB but are they academic necessities? The curriculum in a kindergarten class in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin included a lesson entitled The Little Convincer. In which a state trooper came into the classroom with a mechanism designed to simulate a car accident. In a discussion about car seat laws, a topic critics of the curriculum call too heady for kindergarteners, the students, ages five to six years old, were asked repeatedly which one of them were actively using car seats, and whether their parents wore seat belts as well. One child who innocently told the officer that his daddy did not wear his seatbelt was told by the trooper that his daddy could go through the windshield and the glass would cut his face and arms like ribbons, and once he hit the road, the car would roll on top of him. The dramatic lesson ended with each of the students taking a turn in the mechanism that simulated the car crash. The officer would speak softly to the child asking them questions about their class or the clothes that they were wearing and when the child began to speak would jerk them forward violently to teach them that an accident could happen at anytime. The question is, are these academic lessons that parents assume that their children are attending school for? Is placing the curriculum in the hands of legislators going to further our childrens grasp of the three Rs as most parents hope, or are they going to be taught how to become complacent law abiding citizens? The problem in purposing that the public school system is flawed beyond repair is offering an alternative that people are comfortable with. When a conversation about privatizing the school system begins many questions must be answered to abate the fears of the public. Would privatizing schools be affordable to all families? Many debates have waged on the validity of a voucher program, allowing families to choose any school they desire whether it is parochial, private, public, or chartered. Without public schools, there are no taxes necessary to support the program, and that money can be returned to the families of school aged children, creating extra funds for private education. In a system of free market education the individual and specialized institutions of learning would have to compete for students, because the money would be linked to the students themselves. Never in the history of the free market have advances been made without competition. When the monopoly on our childrens future ends, a true marketplace of ideas will be born. In an interview with US News, Ravitch was asked What needs to happen to make the law more effective for school? she responded I think the main thing to change is . . . to get rid of the remedies and the sanctions because the remedies dont work and the sanctions dont work. What No Child Left Behind has given the United States is an atmosphere of punitiveness. The word accountability has come to be a synonym for punish. If students dont learn, its the teachers fault. Fire the teachers. Close the schools. Were now on a wrecking mission to destroy American public education. Ravitch has completely rejected this Act, and believes we should do something to make our education system stronger. I questioned? Is the No Child Left Behind Act seeking to repair the problem, or is it the cause? I now have the answer. The NCLB Act sounded very tempting as it was passed by congress, and many like Diane Ravitch had hopes in such a great project for our education system, but everything is not perfect. The NCBL offers great support to schools, although standardized testing is not the correct way of determining the amount of financial support each school deserves or requires. After long hours of research I believe that the No Child Left Behind Act has taken a part in the cause of our problem in our education system today. Schools will not improve if the value is set only on what is tested. The tests we have now provide useful information about students progress in reading and mathematics, but they cannot measure what matters most in education. (Ravitch. The Death and Life of The Great American School System, pg. 226) In order to improve our public school system we must start by focusing on our schools, offering them an authentic and sincere education that encourages our students to learn.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
My Mom the Powerhouse Essay -- Descriptive Essay Examples
My Mom the Powerhouse One of the biggest influences in my life is my Mom. She is one of 10 children born to an Appalachian coal miner who could not read or write. Her family lived in the mountains of Kentucky in a little cottage that had no running water and no electricity. She read by kerosene lamp. As a child, she attended a one-room schoolhouse, which also had no electricity and no running water. There was one teacher for eight grades, and each row in the classroom was a grade. My mom says she liked listening to the lessons of the higher grades. There was a big, black potbellied stove in the middle of the room, between the fourth- and fifth-grade rows. My mom couldn't wait to get to the fourth grade so she could sit by the warm stove in the winter. She got her drinks of water from a big bucket in the back of the schoolroom. She would make a little cup by folding writing paper, and she would use a metal dipper to take water from the bucket and put it into the cup. She says the water tasted like the writing paper. At Christmas, my mom's family couldn't afford a tree o... ...She whispered softly, "I was 10." I try to fathom what it would be like if my mom had died when I was 10. I can't imagine, and I'm glad I haven't had to experience that. I must admit that my mom and I sometimes disagree because we're both so strong-willed. Actually, my father affectionately calls my mom "just plain stubborn." But now I realize that her will had to be powerful to pull her through tough times. I am thankful that she taught me to be determined and to focus on the positive. She says those two things can help everyone survive.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Salary of Professional Athletes
Professional athletes are among the highest-paid individuals in the world nowadays. Their salaries have catapulted to meteoric levels; and there are no signs of going down. Ridiculous amount of money is always in tow, whenever an athlete is signed by a team owner in order to bolster the team's popularity. This will generate revenues, and entice advertisers and athletic companies to sponsor the team as well. Team owners always mean business. There are no business ethics involved in transactions in order to augment the team's performance and popularity. Team managers are always at the helm of retaining their prized franchise players. Managers are more than willing to hand out heft contracts to their franchise and star players in order to match any other team offer. The minimum annual salary of athletes is beyond $100,000. This amount increases whenever an athlete is showing tremendous performance to help the team increase their popularity by winning games. Athletic salaries, exuberant and irrational as they may seem, are not crucial to economic requisites of a country, With this in mind, some people with blue-collar jobs have perceived that professional athletes are ridiculously making large amounts of money. In a society that people value hardwork, athletes are sometimes seen as complacent overpaid professionals who don't live up to the various expectations of the society. Ironically, this meteoric salary issue is the result of an awesome manic fan feedback to sports teams. People are the ones who shell out absurd amounts of money to buy team merchandise. Season tickets increase due to the fact that this is the way how team owners make money to pay their star employees. This only shows that sports are highly considered an important part of the society itself. People find professional athletes ridiculously overpaid, yet they tolerate such by buying merchandise and tickets, which fuels a team's funds. One must ponder how a country's government can use such exuberant amount of money to solve problems and to pay debts in world banks. Some athletes don't really value the worth of hard-earned money. However, some athletes are helping the society by engaging in charitable acts. This suggests that huge athletic salaries can either be a good thing or a bad thing. How are Sports Leagues Moderating Player Salaries? Obviously, basketball players have the highest average salary among all professional athletes. NBA teams are known for allocating large amounts of money to its players, which are very popular in an international scale. NBA players average more than $4 million on an annual basis. Former Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal has amassed an estimated $20 million in the 2005 season alone. Surprisingly, the minimum salary at that season for rookies was $398,762, which was more than the $1. 1 million that 10-year NBA veterans get (Woolford, 2007). This only shows that the average minimum salary has experienced its peak. With this in mind, non-sports afficionados have generate opinionated statements towards the exuberant salary that is tolerated by team owners. However, the most expensive sports contract handed out for a professional athlete was not in the NBA. Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees signed a 10-year $252 million contract in 2000. Derek Jeter succeeds him as the second highest-paid player in the MLB. Let us compare the salaries of baseball players to teachers. Baseball players make an average of $2. 9 million, while teachers were getting an average pay of $46,597 in 2003. This of course generates the notion that how matter you contribute to the society; it only shows that you are not worth the monetary value you deserve while contributing to your society. A teacher from South Carolina has this to say: ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t mind that athletes get paid so much,â⬠said Franklin Davis, a history teacher at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, S. C. ââ¬Å"I enjoy what I do and donââ¬â¢t do it for the money, even though it wouldnââ¬â¢t hurt to make more. â⬠(Woolford, 2007). Among the sports league, only the National Football League (NFL) implements an iron fist on its players' salaries. Teams from the NBA, MLB, and NHL all guarantee a contract, which grants its players a salary security due to the fact that an athlete will only play for a team that offers his desired salary. The only consolation an NFL player gets is a signing bonuses stipulation that aids teams if a certain player is inactive (Woolford, 2007). In order for the NBA to moderate team owners in spending exuberant amounts of money on player contracts, the league has proposed the system of salary cap that will limit these owners from handing out huge contracts. A salary cap helps maintains the balance in a much competitive league like the NBA. Teams can very well overwhelm and outspend some teams by handing out huge contracts to free agents who would augment their rosters. This concept suggests that a talented free agent can only sign for a team who will not exceed its salary cap. With this in mind, a team with much financial capability is playing in a level with the other teams (Coon, 2008). Statistics have shown that the salary cap system have moderate the league in terms of competitiveness. The correlation between team payroll and regular season wins was at a low 0. 12 (Coon, 2008). This suggests that there in no correlation between a team winning and the salary of its players (Coon, 2008). The salary cap system has been first introduced in 1947. NBA players were earning between $4000 to $5000 at that time. Salary cap limit was $55,000. The latest and modern salary cap proposal was ushered in 1984 at $3. 6 million (Coon, 2008). Eventually, it increased by $1 million each season. In 1994 it was halted at $15. 964 million (Coon, 2008). Salary cap increases are associated with the fluctuations of currency exchange as well. in 1995, salary cap increased again at $23. million acknowledging a huge television contract from NBC. In the 1997 season, it increased at $26. 9. In 2002, the much anticipated ABC/ESPN contract was imminent and generated a $4. 6 billion over six years, but less than what NBC paid in 2001. This salary cap was greatly affected with such. It shows that the salary cap system has its flaws as well, yet it aids in moderating a team's financial capabil ities in spoiling its players from getting large and irrational amounts of money. The Holistic Consequences of Athletic Compensation A myriad of economic issues has plagued the NBA for the 1998 season. A massive player lockout and other issues have seen NBA players union and the Commissioner arguing and debating about revenues and player salary restrictions. The lockout has caused a delay of the season and games suspended until a compromise is reached by both parties. During the negotiations between the two parties, Andrew Zimbalist, a consultant for the union, has asserted that the league has employed strategies in order to preserve the competitive balance of the league per se. Yet this move hampered the salaries of basketball players who want spontaneous salary increases in an instant. The lockout has generated a handful of rational amendments, which included the apt salary regulation of players. Amendments include: restriction of players salaries to a certain limit, evaluating the draft order of players in order to accommodate poorer teams, and revenue sharing among team owners (Kern, 2000). NBA team owners are the primary proponents of the massive salary cap restriction movement. The restriction will make financially weak teams secure in surviving in a widely competitive league. Arguably, this notion is not completely true. If such financially-challenged teams are complaining, then most teams are losing money and arena-hopping would be impossible. Yet those moves are easily initiated by most NBA teams. Ironically, the same teams who proposed such are the same teams who clamored for the omission of the ââ¬Å"Larry Bird exceptionâ⬠that augmented the maintenance of competitive league balance. This generated the not all owners are willing to pay exuberant amounts of money to their players; and their only goal is to raise more profits. With this in mind, compensation for basketball players is hampered. The notion that these athletes are overpaid is easily omitted, and brings about a favorable opinion about salaries of professional athletes (Ocampo, 2008). Arguably, if NBA team owners are really bent on promoting competitive balance; they must adhere to the NFL's method of revenue sharing. Yet such strategy would generate more complicated issues for basketball and baseball leagues alike. The best solution for such is to generate a new set of league rules in order to hamper to the increasing. Eventually, large market teams will be compelled to share their market with teams from competing leagues. Cities will not have to compete against each other by showcasing newly-built teams in order to attract teams (Kern, 2000) Player compensation are also affected by such moves on the part of team owners. Eventually, the issue of redundant salary of professional athletes are place in further scrutiny by spectators. In conclusion, most professional athletes are making excess amount of money in the most irrational way. Team owners are spoiling their players in giving in to their monetary demands. These athletes are supposed to be role models for children. Yet, in one way or another doesn't exemplify the apt behavior towards monetary issues. Arguably, they do not teach the youth to value hard-earned money, and earning in a proper way. Yet this is not the real issue per se. The real issue here is that how are professional athletes spending their salaries. It is good to know that some players use their monetary capabilities to put up charitable institutions; and involve themselves in community service as well. With this in mind, the debate on whether these professional athletes are overpaid or not are not completely answered. Professional athletes are either overpaid or underpaid depending on the economic state of the country they reside in.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Late payment/collections
Dear Sir/Madam, I found my credit rating to be really poor because of a few late payments and collections that happened on my accounts. Even though there were a few mistakes and over sights from my side, most of the recent late payments were due to technical difficulties faced by the concerned banks. I made payment arrangements for $3869 to clear the account with Citi Financial retail. But the payment was delayed since the concerned department could not locate my account in their system.I faced problems with payments to WEB Bank and Qwest, since I was out of town. However I had an arrangement to pay $100 per month to WEB Bank and settle the remaining amount by January 2011. I was never intimated by Qwest regarding any outstanding amount whatsoever despite updating them about the change of address. I am ready to settle with Telenational Communications, although I never maintained an account with them.I had rented out my house after clearing all the bills with Colorado Springs Utilitie s till July 2010. The outstanding amount of $55 was supposed to be settled by the tenant. I have missed few payment deadlines due to oversight. The PAID accounts to THD/CBSD, Colorado Springs Utilities and the credit card accounts with Chase and Service credit Union have been cleared and the recent late payment was in September 2008.The accounts with Service Credit Union, ENT Federal CU, USAA, Military star, Chase Mortgage and Capital One Note Loan have been settled completely and in many cases the payment was late by a couple of days. But the numbers of such instances are few and most of them have occurred during my re-deployment. Since all the above mentioned outstanding has been cleared and considering the circumstances under which many of the incidents happened, I request you to kindly re-evaluate my credit score and update my credit report with the relevant details.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Hygiene and Infection Control Essays
Hygiene and Infection Control Essays Hygiene and Infection Control Paper Hygiene and Infection Control Paper 1.What is the employerââ¬â¢s role in infection control and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)? 1.2/5.6 Employers must provide their employees with appropriate PPE and ensure that PPE is disposed or, if reusable, that it is properly cleaned or laundered, repaired and stored after use. Employer responsibilities: requirement for employer to provide appropriate PPE according to work activities without charge to employee; to train employee as appropriate in use of PPE, reporting mechanisms. 2.What is your role in infection control and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)? 1.1/5.5 To use the PPE that your employer has suppliedUsing gloves and changing your gloves when dealing with personal care, toileting and dealing with bodily fluids, also to protect an open wound on your hands.Using aprons to prevent contamination passed through your clothing on to or from a person to also protect your clothes and uniform.Using hand sanitizer after washing your hands for extra protection it may also be used if you feel unsafe to touch or the is no hand washing facilities 3.List and explain some current legislation and regulations or standards that are relevant to infection control and prevention. Include those relating to PPE 2.1/5.4 The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Both employers and employees are responsible for their own actions in the workplace. All reasonable steps should be taken when carrying out your work duties and all staff should have adequate health and safety training, and measures should be taken to ensure that policies and procedures are in place and adhered to. For example, it is the employersââ¬â¢ responsibility to provide adequate protective equipment and the employeeââ¬â¢s responsibility to use it appropriately The Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984 Provides information on the legal requirements for the reporting of contagious or infectious diseases, for example, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, HIV and Legionella. Food Safety Act 1990 The requirements of this act apply to any area where food is prepared, stored or eaten. Control is required to ensure that the risks of any infection, as a result of bad handling of food, are minimised. Keep themselves and their workplace clean Wear suitable clean, washable or disposable, protective clothing Protect food from any possible contamination Abide by regulations setting out safe temperature controls for storage, preparation and display of food Inform their employer of any illness which may affect their safe handling of food. 4,What is your organisational policy called? Describe the main points of this policy and some of the procedures that you have to follow. 2.2/3.1 Health and safety polices are in the policies and procedures it tell us about what to do to prevent infection control it tells us how to put gloves on and how to wash our hands also there are posters up in the toilets, how to tie our hair up, cleaning equipment, how to deal with waste and how and when to take special precautions and how not to spread infection. Organisational procedures are normally found in written form in the employeeââ¬â¢s manual and in the policies and procedures. 5.What would be the potential impact of an outbreak of infection upon individuals and the organisation? 3.2 Cost implication, staff sickness levels, reduction in patient and public confidence, litigation, not delivering regulatory standards ; on employees; loss of confidence in organisation, loss of earnings, fear of risk of infection and infecting family members. 6.List some potential risks of infection in the workplace 4.2 Potential risks of infection: risk of illness and death particularly (the very old, people with illness or health problems); risk to staff of illness especially those involved in high risk activities (nursing those with infection, contact with bodily fluids which may be contaminated), environments where food preparation is carried out or where the disposal of hazardous waste is carried outââ¬â¢ 7,Describe the process of carrying out a risk assessment. 4.3 Risk assessment process: idetifying hazards; assessing risks; eliminating risks where possible; reducing risks where they cannot be eliminated; recording the risk assessment process; disseminating findings to all concerned, regular reviews of risks to ensure suitable controls are in place; reporting of outbreaks of infectious or notifiable diseases; risk assessment as a continuous process which is the responsibility of organisations and individuals 8.Why is it important to carry out risk assessments in relation to infection prevention and control? Give an example of this in your workplace 4.4 Importance of risk assessment: legal requirement of health and safety legislation to carry out and document risk assessment; proven safe way to control infection if implemented properly by all staff Exanples of Gloves and Aprons Plastic disposable gloves aprons should be worn whenever there is a possibility of contact with blood/body fluids. A separate one should be worn for each occasion of care given to each individual resident. Never reuse or wash single-use disposable glovesaprons. Change gloves and aprons between caring for different residents, and between different tasks for the same resident, if necessary to prevent cross-contamination. Removal of gloves and aprons Remove gloves and apron promptly after use by turning the outer contaminated side inward and rolling into a ball. Dispose of immediately into a pedal operated bin. Wash hands. 9.What type of PPE do you use and when may be used? 5.2/5.3 Types of PPE: single use such as plastic aprons, gloves, face masks etc re-usable such as uniforms Reasons for PPE: protection of staff; protection of service users/patients; prevention of cross infection between individuals 10.Describe how you apply, use, remove and dispose of PPE? 5.5/5.7/5.8 Correct use of PPE including application and removal; using appropriate PPE for work activity; preparation for use Disposal: appropriate disposal of single use items e.g. in clinical/hazardous waste where appropriate; preparation of re-usable items for re-use e.g. sending to laundry appropriately labelled etc: following policies, procedures and guidelines. Example for the Using , Removing and Disposal of gloves- Putting on: Select correct glove size and type. Perform hand hygiene. Pull to cover wrists. Taking off: Grasp the outside of the glove with the opposite gloved hand and peel off. Hold the removed glove in the gloved hand. Slot your finger under the lip of the remaining glove and peel it off, taking care not touch the contaminated outer surface. Dispose of the gloves in the clinical waste bin. Perform hand hygiene. 11.List some good principles of personal hygiene? 6.1 Good personal hygiene: importance of personal hygiene in infection control; personal hygiene routines when preparing for work eg hair washing, fingernails; situations of personal and family illness which could increase infection risks at work; absence reporting procedure, and healthcare checks required before returning to work following illness; vaccinations required for work; appropriate clothing for different work areas; appropriate footwear; how to care for work wear; reasons for restrictions on wearing make-up and jewellery; effective hair care
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Chemicals That Could Make You Fail a TSA Swab Test
Chemicals That Could Make You Fail a TSA Swab Test If youre flying, you may get pulled aside by a TSA agent for a swab test. Also, your baggage may get swabbed. The purpose of the test is to check for chemicals that might be used as explosives. The test cant check for all the chemicals that might be used by terrorists, so it looks for two sets of compounds that can be used to make many types of bombs: nitrates and glycerin. The good news is the test is highly sensitive. The bad news is, nitrates and glycerin are found in some harmless everyday products, so you could test positive.Ã Getting swabbed doesnt seem to be particularly random. For example, some people get swabbed nearly every time they fly. This may be because theyve tested positive before (possibly related to a penchant for making smoke bombs and other small pyrotechnics) or because they meet some other criteria. Just expect to be swabbed and be prepared. Heres a list of common chemicals that may cause you to test positive. Avoid them or else be ready to explain the test result, because it can take a while for TSA to complete its evaluation of your belongings, which can translate into a missed flight. Common Products That Test Positive Hand soaps that contain glycerin (Rinse very thoroughly after washing your hands.)Lotions that contain glycerinCosmetics or hair products, which may contain glycerinBaby wipes, which may contain glycerinCertain medications (such as nitroglycerin and other nitrates)Lawn fertilizers (Nitrates: Wash your hands and especially your shoes.)MunitionsAccelerantsFireworks and other pyrotechnics What to Do If Youre Flagged Avoid becoming hostile and aggressive. It wont speed the process. Youre likely going to get patted down by an agent of the same gender who will also empty your bag for additional testing. Theres a chance your luggage may get pulled, although this rarely happens; its also unlikely that you will miss a flight because of the test. Be aware of chemicals in your environment and able to trace your steps to help TSA identify the source of the triggering compound. Sometimes you wont have any idea why you flagged the test. But, careful attention to hygiene may help you avoid the situation. The best advice is to arrive early enough before your flight to get through security. Try to avoid the problem, plan for it, and dont overreact if it happens to you.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Prepare a case analysis of Case 1, Facebook vs. Twitter Essay
Prepare a case analysis of Case 1, Facebook vs. Twitter - Essay Example as an energy source and rallying point for the organization to the extent that it could make that particular companyââ¬â¢s site more relevant than other social networking sites. Twitterââ¬â¢s mission reads: ââ¬Å"We want to instantly connect people everywhere to whatââ¬â¢s most important to them.â⬠Whereas this mission statement is 80 characters long Huffstetler (2011) argues that it need not be more than 40 because the keywords are four: instantly, connect, everywhere and important. Twitterââ¬â¢s mission statement is brief, easy to remember and the organisation can relate to it. However as we analyse these four keywords we realise that the company needs to add more precision and clarity so that anyone who reads it may be able to identify its core competence and also be able to distinguish it from its competitors. The way it is it could easily be confused with any of the other numerous social networking sites. Of the four keywords, we believe that the organisation identifies well with ââ¬Å"connectâ⬠, ââ¬Å"everywhereâ⬠and ââ¬Å"importantâ⬠but it needs to re-consider the use of ââ¬Å"instantâ⬠. Twitterââ¬â¢s real-time attribute is what makes it different from other platforms. This is Twitterââ¬â¢s competitive edge. Google and Facebook, the major rivals have tried to mimic this ability unsuccessfully. The problem though is that in modern technologyââ¬â¢s lexicon the word instant could imply speed or ease. Twitter therefore needs to consider what to tradeoff between ease and speed and then use the selected choice to replace the word instant on its mission statement. On the other hand, Facebookââ¬â¢s mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected (Facebook, 2012). Using Huffstetler (2011) approach we delineate the key words here as being: power to share, open and connected. ââ¬Å"Openâ⬠and ââ¬Å"connectedâ⬠are attributes that are provided by other social networking sites as well including Twitter. The key differentiator for Facebook lies in the
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Baseball in the United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Baseball in the United States - Essay Example Americans were not used to aristocracy and as a result, they had to choose from a wide range of activities that made them happy. It is of paramount importance to note that baseball can be played by everyone regardless of age, sex, or gender as opposed to soccer, which must be played by physically fit players. Although baseball balls are cheaper than soccer balls, the latter involves more players and spectators because it is played in an open space (Guttmann, 2012). Most modern sports are timed, but baseball can go on if there is competition because the weaker team tries its best to retire the better side. This makes baseball more interesting to American society because everybody is involved. American society is used to have a democratic way of life and they find this in baseball. Although admirers of golf, soccer, and football believe that the games are democratic, baseball fans see it as the most democratic game the world has ever seen. European and other societies view baseball as a boring game because of the interruptions, which occur during the game, but it has to be understood that the interruptions give the spectator enough time to calculate the arithmetic involved in the game. This is unlike other games such as soccer and football, which are continuous (Guttmann, 2012). According to Ross (2012), baseball is a pastoral game that creates a feeling of harmony to the spectator; it is worth noting that the game takes one from the bustle and hustle of city life to a traditional setting.Ã
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Terrorism as a Tactic of Warfare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7250 words
Terrorism as a Tactic of Warfare - Essay Example The United States Institutes of Peace, in handout number three of its International Terrorism: Definitions, Causes and Responses, tells us that the rationale behind terrorism falls into the categories of ââ¬Å"psychological perspective,â⬠describing that perspective as one in which individuals participate in the act of terrorism for ââ¬Å"[â⬠¦] personal reasons, based on their own psychological state of mind (11).â⬠The second perspective is ideological, the handout advises, ââ¬Å"[â⬠¦] the beliefs, values, and/or principles by which a group identifies its particular aims and goals.à Ideology may encompass religion or political philosophies or programs (11).â⬠A third perspective is that of strategic significance, which the handout defines as ââ¬Å"When people seek redress of their grievances through government, but fail to win governmentââ¬â¢s attention to their plight, they may resort to violence (11).â⬠Still, a fourth perspective on the use of t errorism is one in which the previously three stated perspectives together serve as the rationale for an act of terrorism (11).à When the rationale constitutes all three of the previously stated rationale, the rationale becomes obscured, or undeterminable.Von Clausewitzââ¬â¢s ArgumentVon Clausewitzââ¬â¢s analysis of war is useful in analyzing terrorism, and are evident in Stewartââ¬â¢s Analyzing Terrorism cited earlier in this discussion.à Von Clausewitz held that it was important to analyze who was conducting the war, or, in this case, the act of terrorism (French).à Identifying who is making the war helps explain the rationale.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Theories of Government Control of the Internet
Theories of Government Control of the Internet Critically analyse Lawrence Lessigs argument that the ability of governments to control activities within cyberspace is determined by the codes of cyberspace. The Internet enables individuals to access a ââ¬Ënew realm of human activityââ¬â¢[1] and has affected the lives of billions of people. Due to the effect that the Internet has on citizens of all states, many called for legal involvement. The increasing use of the Internet for commercial purposes sparked initiatives to attempt to legally regulate the system[2]. Internet traffic is carried over vast communications networks which are owned and controlled by public and private sector providers. The European Commission has had to step in on a number of occasions were a merger of providers would be a breach of competition laws, due to the stake of the market each provider has.[3] Ian Lloyd states that the internet is similar to other forms of communication as it is heavily regulated but it lacks specific legal provisions[4]. The Communications Act 2003 is said to have few provisions regarding internet regulation. At a national level, communication regulation has operated for years and international agencies like the International Telecommunications Union adopts a more functional role towards regulating. As the Internet is a global tool, policing and regulating it seems a considerable legal and political question. Some argue that the internet is governed by internet users as they reach a consensus. Regulatory structures are seen to evolve on their own rather than develop in an organised way. Lawrence Lessig believes that governmentsââ¬â¢ attempts to regulate the internet will fail. He concedes however, that governments may be able to regulate the architecture of the Internet and in turn it could develop into a form of regulation across all areas[5]. Lessig proposes that internet sites should have greater power to identify customers so as to recognise individualsââ¬â¢ credentials[6]. This form of indirect regulation would form a basis of self-regulation within cyberspace. He states that the state may affect Internet service providers (ISPs) from regulating an aspect which will make it more difficult for it to do business.[7] Further e-commerce will lead to greater involvement of the state due to the commercial nature of these transactions thus making identification of parties easy. Lessig continues by warning that if the Internet is regulated by a ââ¬Ëclosed codeââ¬â¢ then the stateââ¬â¢s effectiveness to regulate remains unchanged. If however, the Internet adopts an ââ¬Ëopen codeââ¬â¢ then it will act as a check on the governmentsââ¬â¢ power.[8] The internet is defined by a set of protocols (TCP/IP) which are rules for how your computer will interact with a server and vice versa. These protocols make interaction possible as users agree on simple protocol of data exchange. A ââ¬Ëclosed codeââ¬â¢ has bothered many which believe that an ââ¬Ëopen codeââ¬â¢ fits in with the values of the internet of free and easy file sharing. This code is a public code, which people may view without gaining permission of others and so facilitates transparency. Alternative views state that the rise in e-commerce will result in greater input of the state, but there are problems connected to regulating e-commerce. Rowland Macdonald point out there are inherent difficulties when regulating e-commerce as it is not geographically or jurisdictionally restricted and there are also competing pressures whether to regulate or not to regulate as seen in Lessigââ¬â¢s argument [9]. Lars Davis states that two dangers must be avoided[10]. The first danger is under-regulation, as this would lead to the perception that e-commerce is an activity that contains an unacceptable high element of risk and so it will prevent parties from people participating in commercial activity on the Internet. This decrease in commercial activity will be regardless whether they are commercial entities or they are consumers. The second danger is over-regulation. The market would become rigid and inflexible which can be said to be the Internetââ¬â¢s most appealing feature. This in turn would lead to a stifling in development and perhaps in commercial entities setting up in jurisdictions which have less rigid regulations. Davis states that these ââ¬Ëregulation havensââ¬â¢ which have a reduced or minimal control is a distinct possibility. The overly strong control could be detrimental to the attractiveness of parties conducting e-commerce. The benefits offered by e-commerce would be lost to markets with less rigid regulations and so economic development would suffer in those countries which have rigid regulations. Rowland Madonald note a further difficulty in deciding where the scope of a particular stateââ¬â¢s regulation should extend[11]. They ask the question whether it should extend to ââ¬Ëbusinesses that are based in another state but which conduct business with consumers or businesses in the particular state?ââ¬â¢ The geographical factors which usually make the scope of a jurisdiction easy to see are blurred when relating to internet commerce. They use the example of the EC Directive on Certain Aspects of Electronic Commerce in the Internal Market[12] to show an attempt to create a ââ¬Ëbalance pointââ¬â¢ between member states and regulating e-commerce. The Directive recognises the difficulties which commercial entities face when having to take into account different legal regimes. The ââ¬Ëcountry of originââ¬â¢ principle which EC member states adhere to, allow the regulations of one state the right not to be discriminated against the regulations of another. In other words, once marketed in the home state, it can be marketed in all member states. However, these regulations which provide a balance for e-commerce provide little help when dealing with commercial entities that are not based in the EU. By using the Directive as an example, we see that incompatibility with its clauses regarding e-commerce could result in an action being taken and a case being brought in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and a judgment against a party. If the commercial entities are not EC member states then there is no authoritative organ which can force a party to comply with the regulations. Amit Sachdeva proposes that rules governing private international law are inadequate to deal with e-commerce[13]. Sachdeva states there are four solutions to the problem of regulating cyberspace and its jurisdiction. First, the laws could be expanded to include the Internet. This suggestion is taken by Davies but as noted, the problem of an over-regulated system would be detrimental to many economies. Secondly, the establishment of a new international organisation to propose a set of rules appropriate for cyberspace jurisdiction would be beneficial to governments when attempting to legislate. Thirdly, these decisions need to take into account commercial entities acting as a decentralised body of various actors and stakeholder. Lastly, he proposes a treaty based international harmonisation model where rules are certain and predictable and at the same time flexible in order to ensure that the potential benefits of this technology are meaningfully consumed by individuals[14]. However, S achdeva warns that a comprehensive treaty based solution on all possible issues is an unrealistic target as the apparent youth of the Internet suggests that a number of complex issues are yet to be seen[15]. Georgios Zekos believes that new terminology, which recognizes the complexity of the Internet relationship and state, is necessary[16]. He suggests that a cyberspace jurisdiction should be used for cyberspace actions as their actions are only felt in cyberspace. Zekos proposes that cyber courts and cyber arbitral tribunals could have jurisdiction to solve all actions taking place on the net and the enforcement of their awards and decisions will be made according to international conventions on internet enforcement and e-awards[17]. Therefore, cyberspace does not owe sovereignty to any state but only to cyberspace itself. Conclusion Before adopting any model or any combination of different models, it must be remembered that the internet is here to stay, and so is the potential to commit and facilitate unlawful acts, and the resultant litigation by commercial entities or individuals. We have heard of Lessigââ¬â¢s argument, but have also seen acts made by the EC in order to regulate internet use. Certainly, with growing numbers of Internet users and the growth of e-commerce, more breaches of law will arise and it is for the states to find an appropriate balance between over-regulating and under-regulating the Internet. Bibliography Johnson, D.R. and Post, D. ââ¬ËLaw BordersThe Rise of Law in Cyberspaceâ⬠(1996) 48 Stanford Law Review Lessig, L. The Code and other laws of cyberspace 1999. New York, Basic Books. Lloyd, Ian J. Information Technology Law 5th ed. 2008. New York, Oxford University Press Reed, C. Angel, J. Computer Law: The Law and Regulation of Information Technology 6th ed. 2008. New York, Oxford Universtiy Press. Rowland, D. Macdonald, E. Information Technology Law 2008. London, Cavendish. Sachdeva, A.M. ââ¬ËInternational jurisdiction in cyberspace: a comparative perspectiveââ¬â¢. Computer and Telecommunications Law Review 13(8), 2007; 245-258. Zekos,G.I. ââ¬ËState cyberspace jurisdiction and personal cyberspace jurisdictionââ¬â¢. International Journal of Law Information Technology 15 (1) 2007. pp 1-37. Footnotes [1] David R. Johnson and David G. Post, (1996)p.1367 [2] Liability for breach of the statutorily implied terms as to the quality of goods in s.14 of the Sales of Goods Act 1979. [3] Proposed merger of MCI/Sprint and Worldcom. Case No. COMP/M.1741-MCI. [4] Lloyd (2008) p.457 [5] Lessig (1999) p.49 [6] Lessig p.50. [7] P51. He uses an example of a mandatory ââ¬Ëtraceability regulationââ¬â¢ where software could trace the user when he provides minimal level of identification. The state could then legislate, making it mandatory for banks to do business with ISPs which have traceability software. [8] Lessig p 100 [9] Rowland Macdonald (2008) p.243. [10] Lars Davies- www.scl.org/content/ecommerce, s1.3.2. Report funded by the Society for Computer and Law. [11] Rowland Macdonald (2008) p.244. [12] 2000/31/EC [13] Sachdeva (2007) p.245. [14] Ibid p. 255. [15] Ibid p.256. [16] Georgios Zekos (2007) p.2 [17] Ibid p.36.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Hearts Under Fire in Centralia Fire :: Film Movies
Hearts Under Fire in Centralia Fire If you want a community interest story portrayed through a film, then Centralia Fire is the one. Centralia Fire relates to anyone that is connected to at least one type of communityââ¬âweather it is a town, a sportââ¬â¢s team, or a family. No one wants to be forced out of his or her comfort zone. Centralia is a townââ¬âcreated in the 19th century because of the invention of coalââ¬âfilled with diverse communities threatened from poisonous gas and toxin (deadly carbon monoxide and dioxide) after a trash burning fire spread underneath the town beginning in 1962 and is still underââ¬âor should I say aboveââ¬âfire. The documentary is about how the communities within Centralia were stripped of their lives and families from a place they called home. The producers, Anthony ââ¬Å"Docâ⬠Mussari and Kathleen ââ¬Å"Kitchâ⬠Loftus-Mussari, set the tone an individual tone through no use of music or dissolving of pictures. Viewers are able to establish their own separate opinions and understandings about the community of Centralia. If dissolves and music were incorporated the message of Centralia would have been dissolved itself. If you want to know what small time life is like, then Centralia is the place where you can find the answers. You see video of town meetings where the committees disputed the inefficiency of the governmentââ¬â¢s help. There is also footage of the daily life of Centralians-riding dirt bikes, playing little league baseball, sitting on porches, or walking dogsââ¬âamongst the many pillars of pipes releasing toxins from beneath. The essence of community life was prevalent, so I agree with on of the townââ¬â¢s people who said, ââ¬Å"You have to live in a small town to know how it is to live in a small town.â⬠Doc pulls you in and makes you one of the community members within Centralia with his atmosphere exposure through not zooming. It seemed as though the film was following the lead of the television show, Youââ¬â¢ve been Caught on Candid Camera; the interviewees and people at the town meeting had no clue there were video cameras taping them. Itââ¬â¢s like they video camera was hidden in someoneââ¬â¢s shirt pocket or in someoneââ¬â¢s glass frames. I am amazed not one person in the film looked at the camera. In 2002 only fifteen people in ten homes are keeping their fires ablaze with their strong determination and love for Centralia. Even though the film was finished in 1992ââ¬â30 years after the fire in Centralia beganââ¬âit still picture perfectly depicts how the lives of the community members were altered forever and how their heart have been burned from the government.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Final Essay Essay
Many people view character as the most important thing in a man. Others often look past this and see their social or economic status as deciding who they are. They think these things are what define a person. In reality it is things like ingenuity, free will, and morality that make a great man. In contrast such characteristics like hypocrisy, greed, and cruelty are what bring someone down. Through his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain displays the characteristics of a man he admires, and those he is contemptuous of through the actions of his characters. One admirable characteristic Twain shows is Ingenuity. Like most positive qualities in the novel this is shown through the main character Huck. He displays great ingenuity when he is being held by his father in the cabin. Being able to escape showed much of this trait, but Huck took it one step further. He knew his father would be able to track him very easily if he just left and ran off into the woods. By taking an axe to the front door and spreading the pigââ¬â¢s blood around made it seem as if Huck had been murdered. He also took many items from the cabin to fake a robbery as well. Up to this point in the book Huck is shown as being very child-like, and immature. After this incident though, the readers become aware of his resourcefulness and ingenuity. Another example of this characteristic is shown through Jim. This is another character that Twain wants his readers to identify with as being admirable. He shows ingenuity by suggesting to Huck he should dress as a female to gain information in the town. Although Huck fails to convince the women he meets for then entire time, it is because of his own slip up, and he still gets the information he needs. Free Will is something Twain does not take for granted in every person. In the novel he shows right from the beginning how much free will a character like Huck can have. On the first page of the book he says: ââ¬Å"The Widow Douglas she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways; and so when I couldnââ¬â¢t stand it no longer I lit outâ⬠Although it seems like a normal thing for a thirteen year old boy to say we soon realize that Huck has made this decision based on some rather mature observations. Although he eventually goes back to the Widow, it isnââ¬â¢t long before he is on the raft and the island, escaping the ââ¬Å"sivilizedâ⬠world. Twainââ¬â¢s views here are obviously that this sort of free will is what makes people individuals. Another characteristic in the novel is morality. The main display of this is shown through Huck at the end of the novel when he has a big decision on his hands. ââ¬Å"I was a-trembling, because Iââ¬â¢d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: ââ¬Å"All right then, Iââ¬â¢ll go to hellâ⬠? and tore it upâ⬠He forced to choose between tearing up his letter to Miss Watson and freeing the slave Jim, and sending the letter, telling her of his whereabouts. This choice wasnââ¬â¢t about getting caught or not, it was about morals. At the time it was considered morally wrong to help free a slave. Huck realized this, but also thought about the time he spent with Jim, and the friendship they had acquired. Twain clearly shows us through the actions of Jim in the whole novel that he feels slavery is wrong. So in choosing to help free his black friend, and go to hell if that be the consequence, Huck shows us his high morality. As well as admirable traits, Twain also uses The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to display traits he is contemptuous of. It is clear which of these traits were thought of as good and bad by looking at which character displays them. In the case of Huck and Jim only characteristics in which Twain was fond of are shown. In contrast the characters who show the opposite traits are those of the antagonist type. The first of these is antagonist traits is hypocrisy. It is shown in the form of the robbers on the river boat. Obviously these characters do not display any virtuous traits, and are quite hypocritical when they say ââ¬Å"â⬠ââ¬ËSee? Heââ¬â¢ll be drownded, and wonââ¬â¢t have nobody to blame for it but his own self. I reckon thatââ¬â¢s a considerable sight betterââ¬â¢n killinââ¬â¢ of him. Iââ¬â¢m unfavorable to killinââ¬â¢ a man as long as you can git arounââ¬â¢ it; it ainââ¬â¢t good sense, it ainââ¬â¢t good morals. Ainââ¬â¢t I right? ââ¬Ëâ⬠We do not have to look to deep into this to find that they simply trying to justify their actions, when really all they have accomplished is condemning them. Another trait Twain finds equally disreputable is greed. This is shown mainly through the King and Duke who will stop at nothing to sap money from the unknowing people. The Last quality is Cruelty. This is shown through the worst of the characters, Pap. He ruthlessly beats his son Huck and goes on drunken rages throughout the whole book. In a time of much hate and racism Mark Twain used his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to show what characteristics make a virtuous person, and which ones make the opposite. He showed traits such as ingenuity, free will, and morality through his protagonists, and hypocrisy, greed, and cruelty through his antagonists. This way the reader not only identifies with the character they are fond or not fond of, but the traits that that they display as well. Twain proves that it is not what a man has that defines him, but who he is.
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