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.  

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 â€Å"psychological perspective,† describing that perspective as one in which individuals participate in the act of terrorism for â€Å"[†¦] personal reasons, based on their own psychological state of mind (11).†The second perspective is ideological, the handout advises, â€Å"[†¦] the beliefs, values, and/or principles by which a group identifies its particular aims and goals.   Ideology may encompass religion or political philosophies or programs (11).†A third perspective is that of strategic significance, which the handout defines as â€Å"When people seek redress of their grievances through government, but fail to win government’s attention to their plight, they may resort to violence (11).†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).   When the rationale constitutes all three of the previously stated rationale, the rationale becomes obscured, or undeterminable.Von Clausewitz’s ArgumentVon Clausewitz’s analysis of war is useful in analyzing terrorism, and are evident in Stewart’s Analyzing Terrorism cited earlier in this discussion.   Von Clausewitz held that it was important to analyze who was conducting the war, or, in this case, the act of terrorism (French).   Identifying who is making the war helps explain the rationale.

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 ‘new realm of human activity’[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 governments’ 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 individuals’ 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 ‘closed code’ then the state’s effectiveness to regulate remains unchanged. If however, the Internet adopts an ‘open code’ then it will act as a check on the governments’ 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 ‘closed code’ has bothered many which believe that an ‘open code’ 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 Lessig’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 Internet’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 ‘regulation havens’ 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 state’s regulation should extend[11]. They ask the question whether it should extend to ‘businesses that are based in another state but which conduct business with consumers or businesses in the particular state?’ 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 ‘balance point’ 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 ‘country of origin’ 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 Lessig’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. ‘Law BordersThe Rise of Law in Cyberspace† (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. ‘International jurisdiction in cyberspace: a comparative perspective’. Computer and Telecommunications Law Review 13(8), 2007; 245-258. Zekos,G.I. ‘State cyberspace jurisdiction and personal cyberspace jurisdiction’. 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 ‘traceability regulation’ 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.

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 community—weather it is a town, a sport’s team, or a family. No one wants to be forced out of his or her comfort zone. Centralia is a town—created in the 19th century because of the invention of coal—filled 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 under—or should I say above—fire. 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 â€Å"Doc† Mussari and Kathleen â€Å"Kitch† 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 government’s help. There is also footage of the daily life of Centralians-riding dirt bikes, playing little league baseball, sitting on porches, or walking dogs—amongst the many pillars of pipes releasing toxins from beneath. The essence of community life was prevalent, so I agree with on of the town’s people who said, â€Å"You have to live in a small town to know how it is to live in a small town.† 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, You’ve been Caught on Candid Camera; the interviewees and people at the town meeting had no clue there were video cameras taping them. It’s like they video camera was hidden in someone’s shirt pocket or in someone’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 1992—30 years after the fire in Centralia began—it still picture perfectly depicts how the lives of the community members were altered forever and how their heart have been burned from the government.

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 pig’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: â€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 couldn’t stand it no longer I lit out† 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 isn’t long before he is on the raft and the island, escaping the â€Å"sivilized† world. Twain’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. â€Å"I was a-trembling, because I’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: â€Å"All right then, I’ll go to hell†? and tore it up† 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 wasn’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 â€Å"†Ã¢â‚¬ËœSee? He’ll be drownded, and won’t have nobody to blame for it but his own self. I reckon that’s a considerable sight better’n killin’ of him. I’m unfavorable to killin’ a man as long as you can git aroun’ it; it ain’t good sense, it ain’t good morals. Ain’t I right? ‘† 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.

The Marginalization of Aboriginals in the Canadian Justice System

The original people to live in Canada have adapted the name Aboriginals. They were here before the European settlers discovered the continent of North America. When the Europeans arrived in Canada they brought with the many technological advances and customs that the Aboriginals did not know. Although you might think that this would be a very great thing for Aboriginals, it was not very good. The Europeans thought that the aboriginals were very hostile and treated them very badly.The Europeans tried to assimilate the Aboriginal’s culture and force them to become like the Europeanss. The Canadian justice system has marginalized the Aboriginals of Canada for many years. For the first couple hundred years there were many wars between the Europeans and the Aboriginals. But then things started to stabilize and the Aboriginals and the European settlers began to trade amongst one another and become more and more dependent on each other.However, beginning in 1964, immediately followin g the Royal Proclamation, the British began to gain more control over the Aboriginals. They signed numerous treaties with the Aboriginals for them to give up their land in exchange for a sum of money and small reserve lands specifically for the Aboriginal people. However the land the aboriginals were given was very poor and had bad soil which made it hard to farm. The idea of residential schools set out in 1846 and was put into action in the late 1890’s by the Department of Indian Affairs.The whole point of residential schools was deculturalization of aboriginals. However the government didn’t put it so bluntly. They would say that the aboriginals are put in a â€Å"white society† to learn how to become â€Å"better† Canadians. Not only did residential schools commit culture genocide but there was also lots of abuse at the schools. For example, estimates suggest that as many as 60% of the students died (due to illness, beatings, attempts to escape, or sui cide) while in the schools.They would be punished if they did not speak English even though many of the children didn’t know how. The schools were also very poorly funded by the government and the children were usually taught physical labour. Many of these issues have been solved and the government is still doing things today to help mend what they have done to the Aboriginals in the past. However Aboriginals are still very affected at what has been done to them. First Nation communities experience higher rates of violence, domestic abuse, sexual abuse: rape, incest, etc. lack of family and community cohesion, suicide, addictions, alcohol, food, health problem: diabetes, heart disease, obesity, poverty, unemployment, high school dropout (63% do not graduate), despair, hopelessness and more. The Aboriginal community has been marginalized by the Canadian Justice system which has affected them greatly. Hopefully the government will do everything they can to help aboriginal peopl e become healthy members of society and keep their cultures and beliefs.