Police pursuits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Police pursuits - Essay Example e inability to control pursuits resulting in problems to the public have become a common phenomena and it is high time that clearcut tactics, legislation and policies are formulated and executed in this regard. The question is whether the police pursuits add to public security or public misery. The moral question is whether the benefits derived from a successful chase would compensate for the concomitant risk to public health and safety. Lack of applicable standards to decide whether the police pursuit was for the right cause or to prove that the police officers have not shown any neglect of duty of care is the major drawback related to police pursuits. The policy pursuits very often result in liabilities for accidents, or litigation for injury to personal and property. Viola king in this regard remarks that â€Å"...officer liability in police pursuits arises only when the police vehicle actually impacts the other vehicles.† (King, Viola.) Thus, it is clear that the police do not have to take the liability for any accidents which are not directly caused due to their pursuits. But the officers have to be judicious enough to decide and employ high speed chases only when it is necessary. If the police ask a speeding car to stop and it doesn’t, it is well within the officer’s jurisdiction to pursue it. The high rate of crashes, injuries and deaths during police pursuits has not set a positive note for the department from the public. In a survey conducted by John Hill, it was found that, by and large, the public did not want to be passerby during high speed pursuits. Although 58 % of them felt that it was morally right for the officer to stop a speeding vehicle, and if the vehicle did not stop, it was well within their right to chase it. But when the question came as to whether the officer was justified in hot pursuit if it involved danger to public health and safety, the proportion who justified police pursu it, dropped from over 58 % to just 29%. (Karen, J.

The Great awakening Essay Example for Free

The Great awakening Essay The Great Awakening as a marker for a cultural and religious upheaval did not appear immediately, but in scholastic research on religion in the eighteenth century, the time reflects the complexity of attitudes toward, and consequences of, religious activity in the African American communities. Taken in total, the landscape of Black Christian images presented a vast picture, still incompletely realized, from the earlier and persistent view of a monolithic vision accepted by many. Possibly only to save a few rationalists or extremists could see a different scenario. After his own religious conversion, Richard joined the Methodist Society, began attending classes, and evangelized his friends and neighbors. Richard and his brothers attended classes every week and meetings every other Thursday. A. M. E. leaders began to use both written biographical materials and public commemorations of Allens life to instill a sense of history and tradition among the largely illiterate masses. Their complementary use of public commemorations and written accounts of Allens life during this period suggest a more general attempt among Black leaders to bridge the overlapping worlds of morality and literacy in order to establish a sense of tradition, an empowering historical memory, and a pantheon of Black heroes who might one day gain their rightful place in the national pantheon. (Conyers, 1999) Notwithstanding its name, the AME Church was clearly the most respectable and orthodox of black American independent churches. While some recognizably African elements surfaced in services, AME leaders tended to disdain if not actively to suppress those beliefs and practices that scholars today celebrate as signs of Africas persistence in the New World. The whole point of racial vindication was to demonstrate blacks capacity to uphold recognized standards in their personal and collective lives and thereby to hasten abolition and full inclusion in American society. Surely people interested in connections between black America and Africa should look elsewhere than the AME Church. Historically, the first separate denominations to be formed by African Americans in the United States were Methodist. The early black Methodist churches, conferences, and denominations were organized by free black people in the North in response to stultifying and demeaning conditions attending membership in the white-controlled Methodist Episcopal churches. This independent church movement of black Christians was the first effective stride toward freedom by African Americans. Unlike most sectarian movements, the initial impetus for black spiritual and ecclesiastical independence was not grounded in religious doctrine or polity, but in the offensiveness of racial segregation in the churches and the alarming inconsistencies between the teachings and the expressions of the faith. It was readily apparent that the white church had become a principal instrument of the political and social policies under girding slavery and the attendant degradation of the human spirit. In all fairness, without exception, Richard Allen embodied the assertive free-black culture that was maturing in the North by the 1830s. Despite criticisms of his domineering manner and personal ambition, Allen had attained by the time of his death in 1831, a position of respect among his people that was rivaled by very few of his contemporaries.

Themes of Prejudice and Tolerance in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. It is set in the 1930s, a time when racism was very prominent. Harper Lee emphasizes the themes of prejudice and tolerance in her novel through the use of her characters and their interactions within the Maycomb community. The narrator of the story, Scout, comes across many people and situations with prejudice and tolerance, as her father defends a black man. Racial prejudice is widespread in the county of Maycomb, and a prime example is the Tom Robinson case. Tom, a black man, was accused of raping Mayella, a white woman. Atticus puts forward all evidence from his witnesses that clearly proves Tom was innocent, Jem even says, ?and we?re gonna win Scout. I don?t see how we can?t? (pg 206), but Tom still received a ?Guilty? verdict. Atticus tried removing the prejudiced thoughts of the jurors by saying, the assumption - the evil assumption - that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings. (pg 208). Atticus? saying insinuated the point that all of God?s children were created equal. To the jury, the only important thing was that Tom was black and the accuser was white, he never stood a chance under those conditions. These racial tensions between blacks and whites had made their way into the courtroom, a place where everyone should receive a fair trial no matter what race or colour, but an unjust verdict was reached. The prejudice that was felt towards Tom made him lose all hope of freedom, and as a result, he died upon an escape attempt. Tom was victim of racial prejudice and loss of hope. The novel not only explores racial prejudice, but also prejudice against gender and social status. Maudie is a victim of prejudice agains... ... situation from their perspective, and in this case, Atticus reveals Mrs Dubose being a morphine addict. She wanted to die without having to rely on the drug and her escapades were what it easier. Jem and Scout understood the situation and learnt the importance of tolerance. The themes of prejudice and tolerance are conveyed strongly through the characters and their dilemmas. Jem and Scout learn of the prejudice of the town Maycomb to Atticus defending a black man, Tom Robinson. However, Miss Maudie, Calpurnia and several others show that not everyone in Maycomb are so judgemental. Jem and Scout also learn how to deal with situations sensibly from their father, they learn how to be tolerant. Thus, the novel?s characters demonstrate both prejudice and tolerance. Works Cited Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York City, NY: J.B.Lippincott Company, 2008.

Lucy Honeychurch: Motifs, Themes, Biography, Plot

â€Å"A Room with a View†, by Edward Morgan Forster, presents the story of Lucy Honeychurch, a young woman belonging to English high society. Forster places this young maiden in a state of conflict between the snobbery of her class: the â€Å"suitable and traditional† views and advice offered by various family members and friends, and her true heart’s desire. This conflict â€Å"forces† Lucy Honeychurch to choose between convention and passion and throws her into a state of internal struggle, as she must sift through the elements of her social conditioning and discern them from her true emotions and desires [Ford]. Forster develops and utilizes Lucy’s internal struggle as a means of transforming her from a pretty young woman, to a subtle heroine. Lucy Honeychurch is introduced to the reader as a somewhat pretty young woman, obviously ignorant to the ways of the world, who is being chaperoned by her cousin, Charlotte Bartlett, while vacationing in Italy. Numerous conversations over matters of dress, the acceptability of various pieces of furniture, and other vacations, suggest the snobbish nature of both Lucy and Charlotte. Relevant materials: Maru Themes In fact, matters of convention encompass Lucy’s life until George Emerson’s â€Å"caddish,’ yet passionate, display of affection takes over. Lucy and Charlotte are both very alike because they hold true the values of upper class English society. Lucy constantly struggles with how she is supposed to act, think, or even associate herself with: most conflictingly George Emerson, a railroad worker of the lower class (Ford). Their union is forbidden by Miss Bartlett by telling Lucy that he is a socialist, that she shouldn’t associate herself with him and just overall patronizing George excessively. Charlotte and Lucy also share the same renouncement of words when they are talking to people to seem more polite. At the beginning of the novel, Lucy is feebly trying to fit in with the members of the upper class by living by certain class values and rules of propriety but they all don’t form her with any opinion or route of action. By the end of the novel, she has formed her own thoughts, opinions, and actions and takes full control of her fate and breaks it off with Cecil to marry George, her true love. Lucy also encounters muddles, as pointed out by Mr. Emerson, which she realizes and fixes by the end of the novel. She wasn’t following her own heart and thoughts, but making decisions based on the wants of her social class, not her own. Lucy Honeychurch makes a dramatic transformation throughout the novel form a sweet, naive heroine to a strong, independent woman (Schwarz). In the novel the best representation of class snobbery is Miss Charlotte Bartlett, Lucy’s chaperon in her travels to Italy and Greece. Not only is Miss Bartlett unimaginative and patronizing to the Emerson’s but she is the hindrance to Lucy’s true happiness; being with George Emerson. Lucy is at first naive and dependent on others views for her own at the beginning of the novel. In the opening scene, Lucy and Miss Bartlett meet the Emerson’s who offer them a room with a view. In the text; Forster gives us insight into Miss Bartlett: â€Å"Miss Bartlett, though skilled in the delicacies of conversation, was powerless in the presence of brutality. It was impossible to snub any one so gross. Her face reddened with displeasure. She looked around as not to say, â€Å"Are you all like this? â€Å"(Forster 11). And two little old ladies, who were sitting further up the table, with shawls hanging over the backs of the chairs, looked back, clearly indicating â€Å"We are not; we are genteel†(11). â€Å"Eat your dinner, dear, she said to Lucy, and began to† toy again with the meat that she had once censured. †(6). Lucy replies in this manner to the apparent indifference between Miss Charlotte and the Emersons: â€Å"Lucy mumbled that those seemed very odd people opposite† (6). Furthermore, during the dinner conversation at the pension Miss Bartlett Commands Lucy To: â€Å"Lucy, dearest, let Mr. Beebe eats his dinner. â€Å"(7). This is the first instance of Miss Bartlett’s overbearing dominance of Lucy’s actions, Thoughts, and decisions. Finally, Mrs. Bartlett realizes her obtrusive manner toward Lucy at the end of their trip to Italy and confesses to Lucy, â€Å"I shall never forgive myself. †(89). Lucy then starts to truly find herself when Miss Bartlett starts letting Lucy become independent and pursue her own interests; letting her do what she wants; and think what she wants to think. But class snobbery is apparent all the way throughout the novel particularly by the provincial patronizing of the lower class repeatedly in a multitude of situations. Forster was born into an Anglo-Irish and Welsh middle-class family at 6 Melcombe Place, Dorset Square, London NW1, in a building that no longer exists. He was the only child of Edward Morgan Llewellyn Forster and Alice Clara â€Å"Lily†. His father, an architect, died of tuberculosis on 30 October, 1880. Among Forster's ancestors were members of the Clapham Sect. He inherited a lot of money from his paternal great-aunt Marianne Thornton (daughter of the abolitionist Henry Thornton), who died on 5 November, 1887†(Mcdowell). The money was enough to live on and enabled him to become a writer. Young Edward was raised by his mother, aunts, and governesses. He started writing stories at the young age of six at the Turnbridge high school in Kent County. Then later he started to study philosophy, and literature at Kings College in Cambridge. Then he joined a group called the Cambridge Apostles, devoted to protecting homosexuality and theology of the age. Forster began to become enthralled by the surrounding WWI and the beautiful, aspiring landscape of Europe (McDowell). He drew inspiration for his novel A Room with a View. When he traveled to Italy, Greece, And Rome. Forester would develop a deep love of Mediterranean culture he would grow to love and write about. Forster then traveled to Alexandria, Egypt where he met his first true love, Mohammed el Adia. He became well acquainted with the conflict between the British Taj and the Indian Independence Movement; from which stemmed an award winning book, A Passage to India (Britannica). The author’s tone throughout the novel, A Room with a View is: satirical, humanistic, and very particular in the conflict between the upper class and the lower class. Forster based his book around the passion of Lucy Honeychurch, the main character, and the internal conflict between Lucy and her decisions; in relation to the morals and values of her social class. It reflects snobbish British upper class during this time period and their effrontery to delegate mainstream tourists and Italians below themselves. Forester’s satirical views is portrayed in the title of his chapters where 16-19 are entitled â€Å"Lucy Lies† to† blank† and his chapter titles actually tell the big events of each chapter, in sharp contrast to novels of other eras which used titles to just foreshadow the possible. The title, A Room with a View is portrayed throughout the novel by the relationship between Cecil and Lucy Honeychurch. Lucy views Cecil as a room with no view and in retrospect; Cecil views Lucy as a view without a room (Mcdowell). Devote Love and compassion along with the belief of Georges belief in fate is what drives the plot of the story. Lucy can’t help feel compassion in love with George who sweeps her off her feet time and time again. While, George believes strongly in fate proving arduously stubborn throughout the whole novel, ultimately uniting Lucy and George in the end. An example of both the two main Components of the novel, A Room With A View: class snobbery and the independent transformation of Lucy Honeychurch is when Lucy experiences thinking for her own self and keeping her own secrets making her feel lonely (Literature Notebook). â€Å"After Mr. Eager leaves, Lucy expresses exasperation at the thought of the drive. They discuss the problems of the drive; for one, Miss Lavish has been invited by Mr. Beebe, and Mr. Eager does not like Miss Lavish. So Charlotte resolves that the two men will go with Lucy in the first carriage while Miss Lavish and Charlotte follow in the second carriage (Forster 120). They pick up their mail at the bureau; Lucy has letters from home. Mrs. Vyse, a friend of the family, is in Rome with her son. Lucy suggests going to Rome the next day, but Charlotte reminds Lucy of the country drive, and the two women laugh at Lucy's suggestions. At this point in the novel is the apex where Lucy thus changed by the secret of the murder of the Italian man, feels a new perspective on life, that of her own opinions and thoughts. The concealment of the murder thus drives Lucy toward the transformation of a more independent character. When Mr. Eager rolls onto more class anxiety or class snobbery of passing a rumor about Mr. Emerson murdering his wife, then Lucy takes a stand and defends the Emersons saying that they are nice people who would never do anything of that sort. This is a monumental change in the novel of Lucy forming her own opinions and developing into a strong woman. Forester outlines and enhances the concussive idea of fate, and the background elements that enhance the drama. Before the carriage ride it’s sunny and hot outside; but after when the story reaches the pinnacle and Lucy begins to display her independence and becomes stronger as the thunder storm develops. Forester is using the mood and background of the book to perpetuate the transformation of Lucy Honeychurch. The main characters transformation form delightful to strong and bold matches the presentiment of the mood while riding toward Windy Corner. George Emerson strikes up an argument with Mr. Beebe about what life is based on: fate or coincidence? George takes a standpoint that fate is the controlling influence in life which is portrayed by Forester in the way that George and Lucy seem to magically run into each other after Lucy is told by Miss Bartlett to not associate with the Emerson’s because they are â€Å"Evil. † This first instance is when Lucy comes across two Italians fighting when she is returning from touring the gift shops and is horrified to see an Italian man stabbed in the back over a debt of five schillings (Literature Notebook). She faints and when she wakes up she sees George who caught her when she fainted. Lucy immediately is startled at George being so close to her and makes a frantic escape for home. The second instance of fate bringing Lucy and George together is when Lucy encounters the Emerson’s at the Church. The Emerson’s give Lucy a nice lesson on medieval art and give her some interesting views on life to think about. â€Å"The thing about the universe is that it doesn’t fit,† remarks George which portrays his deep thought, sensitivity, and intelligence (Forster 25). A third instance is when the Italian clergyman leads Lucy to George when they are on the carriage ride to see the beautiful homes and landscape of the countryside. Instead of leading Lucy to Miss Bartlett, like she requested in Italian, He leads her to George Emerson in the field of violet terraces. George turns and sees her and immediately kisses her, caught up in the beauty of the moment. The final instance is when Cecil, Lucy’s supposed suitor, invites the Emerson’s over to the garden party to absolve Lucy’s snobbishness by introducing perspectives of the lower class. Really, Cecil ends up ruining his own planned marriage with Lucy and foils his own happiness (Schwartz). What Forster wants to portray in this novel, is the personalities and opinions of his characters and how your social background can both influence you positively and negatively. He incorporates so many different elements and personas into the story that it leaves the reader to be saturated the feelings and emotions of the characters very strongly. You get a strong feeling of the class snobbery, transformation of Lucy Honeychurch, influence of fate, and a real insight into the opinions of Lucy Honeychurch. Forester brings all of these elements and ties it together with the ongoing transformation of Lucy Honey church form a weak, naive woman to a sophisticated, strong woman. The intense influence of Miss Bartlett finally is broken when Lucy begins to go and explore Italy for herself and starts to have her own thoughts and secrets. Lucy Honeychurch, at first, finds herself constrained by the claustrophic influence of her Guardians, especially Miss Bartlett. However, Lucy takes control of her own fate and finds love with George Emerson, who views her as a â€Å"Room with A View. In Contrast, Cecil views Lucy as a View without a room, or just something to have and look at; like a piece of art (Ford). He tried to manipulate herself and work into a masterpiece, trying to contort her imperfections while George respected her thoughts and opinions and loved her for who she was. Not to mention Cecil’s struggle with any intimacy whatsoever toward Lucy, even a kiss. So, in conclusion Forster incorporates the oblivion of class control over Lucy Honeychurch and the prevalence of Lucy transforming into an independent woman to control her own fate and end up with George Emerson, despite her class opinion of him.

The Compititive Of Data Base Management

Information Management continued to be among one of the fastest growing aspects in Medicare and other facets in the business world. The article delves into the new found necessities that are incumbent in information management. There are integrated systems that have different modules for financial aspects, marketing, clinical, etc. , however that all share the same common data elements. The article goes further to advice what makes this system effective. This method makes it where no one has to take the time to enter data repeatedly, the data is collected up front and are distributed to other modules simultaneously. This in essence will save staff time and remove instances of possible errors. However even with positives there are negatives, Szatala (2000) does a wonderful job in this article describing the positive in the database. (Schultz, 1999) reports that there should be concern regarding financial aspects of the database. The government's chief watchdog for the year-2000 computer crisis yesterday disputed administration claims that Medicare computers would be fixed in time to prevent disruption of payments to hospitals and doctors after Jan. 1. Joel Willemssen, director of the General Accounting Office's accounting and information management division, said, â€Å"There is a high probability of system failures† in Medicare's computers that pay approximately $288 billion worth of medical bills for 70 million elderly people. His assessment contradicted Nancy-Ann DeParle, administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), who told the House Government Reform and Oversight subcommittee on government management, information, and technology that Medicare users should not expect any disruptions in their payment or services. Managed care organizations want understandable, reliable information to help them decide which long-term care facility is best able to provide cost-effective care, and the facility wants to be able to profit from the contract. Meanwhile, with PPS, Medicare wants to know especially what it is paying for, and why Errors can result in a facility losing money or, worse, being prosecuted for fraud (Szatala, 2000). This important aspect shows what is viewed as necessary and warranted by Medicare. Through the years that have been issues of what is covered and what is not covered, as well as for how long, not to mention if these processes were truly necessary. The data set incorporates so many aspects that at one time were singularly controlled. This allows the opportunity for a system to be more efficient, reduce timed errors, as well as reduce the amount of questions that are often created through all of the processes that were done individually at one time. An important aspect in the article explains how having a system that incorporates all of these aspects, can be nothing but an asset to any business. Facilities that are able to create patient profiles can effectively communicate with managed care organizations concerning the outcomes data i. e. length of stay, re-hospitalization, resident satisfaction, and clinical outcomes (Szatala, 2000). There are aspects in the article that create a strong impact , as well as drive even further the necessary aspects of having such a compiled system. Szatala (2000) does a great job of expressing what the database can do, as well as how much easier it makes the lives of staff and other personnel. Information systems can also support informed decision-making, as well as increase the operational efficiency of a long-term care facility. A marketing information system is most helpful in supporting decision making by tracking inquiries, actual admissions and discharges, and donors who support the facility. A facility can also use those data for trending, attempting to pinpoint the appropriate market area and customer profile. Judson has a marketing information system that tracks inquiries, prospective residents, admissions, and discharges. It also helps correlate data from marketing activities to create customer profiles, allowing us to capitalize on our marketing dollar. (Szatala, 2000) This only supports and gives further reason as to why this data system is necessary and proficient. A system that can incorporate daily activities as well as projected timelines and proficiencies is both a necessity and requirement for proficient data collection, and retrieval. Another program currently in use is a scheduling/staffing system that is linked to the payroll system. Employee schedules are computerized. Employees swipe the time clock with their badges, enabling the system to allocate benefits and generate payroll. (Szatala, 2000) here the writer expresses how this system is effective in another aspect of everyday business. A task that once had to handle individually can now be utilized as part of a bigger system. This also shows how this database is more efficient than current systems in use. Another innovative clinical system combines fall prevention with monitoring incontinence. The system is an ultra thin sensor that is placed in a brief worn by the resident, so that when the resident becomes incontinent, it detects the wetness. The sensor sends a signal to a beeper that the resident assistant carries. We tie this into a fall prevention program, since data show that residents often fall because they either have to go to the bathroom or they are already wet and trying to escape the wetness. The system also tracks the incontinence data and creates a graph tracking when the resident is incontinent, so that we can determine a pattern and develop toileting programs. (Szatala, 2000) Here is an example of how this database not only can be effective in paper processing and data compilation and retrieval. This system can give a more efficient way of helping patients, a way to make their lives a little easier as well as give caregivers an opportunity to know when certain things that are going on with their patient(s). There is also a bar code system. All resident equipment and supplies are swiped by a hand-held scanner. The equipment used for a resident goes directly to that resident's bill. We will use this system for inventory. Collecting and analyzing outcomes for managed care can be efficient and effective with or without a complex information system. We have learned over the years, for instance, that the resident's MDS is an absolute wealth of information; we have used these data for quality improvement initiatives, as well as for discussions with managed care. Most facilities, however, have not used these data fully. Now with the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) requiring the use of quality indicators and the fact that these data are used in surveys, everyone is getting smarter about the MDS. (Szatala, 2000) Again, this shows the versatility of the database. All of the positives depicted in the writing far outweigh the negatives. Computer malfunctions are possible in any situation; therefore, they should not be viewed as a hindrance in this situation or any others. This article truly gives insight into the ways that the lives of caregivers and patients can be improved and better maintained. Medicare is something that has become a growing concern; it has also become necessary to create effective ways of dealing with data i. e. financial, personal, or patients. This article truly expresses how a database of this nature can do nothing else but improve all aspects of Medicare and the individual. It is time for working more efficiently instead of harder. It is time to learn how to make technology work for us instead of against us, this article shows how that is possible.

Understanding the Bible Belt in the United States

Understanding the Bible Belt in the United States When American geographers map rates of religious belief and regular attendance at places of worship, a distinct region of religiosity appears on the map of the United States. This region is known as the Bible Belt, and while it can be measured in a variety of ways, it tends to include much of the American South.   First Use of Bible Belt The term Bible Belt was first used by the American writer and satirist H.L. Mencken  in 1925 when he was reporting on the Scopes Monkey Trial which took place in Dayton, Tennessee. Mencken was writing for the Baltimore Sun  and used the term in a derogatory way, referring to the region in subsequent pieces with such quotes as the Bible and Hookworm Belt and Jackson, Mississippi in the heart of the Bible and Lynching Belt.   Defining The Bible Belt The term gained popularity and began to be used to name the region of the southern U.S. states in the popular media and in academia. In 1948, the Saturday Evening Post  named Oklahoma City the capital of the Bible Belt. In 1961, geographer Wilbur Zelinsky, a student of Carl Sauer, defined the region of the Bible Belt as one in which Southern Baptists, Methodists, and evangelical Christians were the predominant religious group. Thus, Zelinsky defined the Bible Belt as a region stretching from West Virginia and southern Virginia to southern Missouri in the north to Texas and northern Florida in the south. The region that Zelinsky outlined did not include Southern Louisiana due to its preponderance of Catholics, nor central and southern Florida due to its diverse demographics, nor South Texas with its large Hispanic (and thus Catholic or Protestant) population.   History of the Bible Belt The region known as the Bible Belt today was in the 17th and 18th centuries a center of Anglican (or Episcopalian) beliefs. In the late 18th century and into the 19th century, Baptist denominations, especially Southern Baptist, began to gain in popularity. By the 20th century, evangelical Protestantism could be the defining belief system in the region known as the Bible Belt.   In 1978, geographer Stephen Tweedie of Oklahoma State University published the definitive article about the Bible Belt, Viewing the Bible Belt, in the  Journal of Popular Culture.  In that article, Tweedie mapped Sunday television watching habits for five leading evangelical religious television programs. His map of the Bible Belt expanded the region defined by Zelinsky and included a region that encompassed the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas. But his research also broke the Bible Belt into two core regions, a western region and an eastern region. Tweedies western Bible Belt was focused on a core that extended from Little Rock, Arkansas to Tulsa, Oklahoma. His eastern Bible Belt was focused on a core that included the major population centers of Virginia and North Carolina. Tweedie identified secondary core regions surrounding Dallas and Wichita Falls, Kansas to Lawton, Oklahoma.   Tweedie suggested that Oklahoma City was the buckle or capital of the Bible Belt but many other commentators and researchers have suggested other locations. It was H.L. Mencken who first suggested that Jackson, Mississippi was the capital of the Bible Belt. Other suggested capitals or buckles (in addition to the cores identified by Tweedie) include Abilene, Texas; Lynchburg, Virginia; Nashville, Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee; Springfield, Missouri; and Charlotte, North Carolina.   The Bible Belt Today Studies of religious identity in the United States continually point to the southern states as an enduring Bible Belt. In a 2011 survey by Gallup, the organization found Mississippi to be the state containing the highest percentage of very religious Americans. In Mississippi, 59 percent of residents were identified as being very religious. With the exception of number two Utah, all of the states in the top ten are states commonly identified as being part of the Bible Belt. (The top 10 were: Mississippi, Utah, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Oklahoma.)   The Un-Bible Belts On the other hand, Gallup and others have pointed out that the opposite of the Bible Belt, perhaps an Unchurched Belt or a Secular Belt, exists in the Pacific Northwest and the northeastern United States. Gallups survey found that a mere 23 percent of Vermont residents are considered to be very religious. The 11 states (due to the tie for tenth place) that are home for the least religious Americans are Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Alaska, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island.   Politics and Society in the Bible Belt Many commentators have pointed out that while religious observance in the Bible Belt is high, it is a region of a variety of social issues. Educational attainment and college graduation rates in the Bible Belt are among the lowest in the United States. Cardiovascular and heart disease, obesity, homicide, teenage pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections are among the highest rates in the nation.   At the same time, the region is known for its conservative values, and the region is often considered to be a politically conservative region. The red states within the Bible Belt traditionally support Republican candidates for state and federal office. Alabama, Mississippi, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas have consistently pledged their electoral college votes to the Republican candidate for president in each presidential election since 1980. Other Bible Belt states usually vote Republican, but candidates such as Bill Clinton from Arkansas have sometimes swayed the votes in Bible Belt states.   In 2010,  Matthew Zook and Mark Graham utilized online place name data to identify the preponderance of the word church locally. What resulted is a map that is a good approximation of the Bible Belt as defined by Tweedie and extending into the Dakotas. Other Belts in America Other Bible Belt-style regions have been named in the United States. The Rust Belt of the former industrial heartland of America is one such region. Other belts include the Corn Belt, Snow Belt, and Sunbelt.

Who Is Todd Spiewak 8 Must-Know Facts About Jim Parsons’ Partner

Who Is Todd Spiewak 8 Must-Know Facts About Jim Parsons’ Partner SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Who is Todd Spiewak? To the public, he's known as Jim Parsons' boyfriend. The couple has been together since at least 2003. We know a lot about Todd's beau, who plays the lovable, eccentric genius Dr. Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory. Like his television persona, Jim hails from Texas. He had an extensive background in theater before getting his big break playing Sheldon. On the other hand, Todd Alan Spiewak has managed to remain a mystery, despite being linked to one of Hollywood's most prominent actors. I couldn't even confirm his date of birth, which has been reported as January 19th, 1977. However, I did some digging and was able to learn quite a bit about this mystery man. Let's get to know Mr. Spiewak, who is an accomplished fellow in his own right. He's Educated Todd graduated from Boston University in 1999. That's rather impressive considering Boston University only accepts only about a third of its applicants and is among the top 50 National Universities in America according to US News. Furthermore, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, a major which requires both technical and artistic skills. He Has a Good Job He's employed as an Art Director. You may be wondering what an art director does- I know I was. An art director is responsible for the visual style and images in product packaging, magazines, newspapers, and movie and television productions. I would be terrible at that job. Some of Todd Spiewak’s clients include American Express, Barnes Noble, HP, KitchenAid, and The New York Times. Todd Spiewak is an artistic fellow. He Works With Jim Jim and Todd started a production company together called That’s Wonderful Productions. In 2015, they hired former Paramount Insurge development and production executive Eric Norsoph to be head of development and production. Let’s hope that Jim and Todd can be as successful together in business as they’ve been in romance. He Loves Dogs Jim's character, Sheldon Cooper, is a fan of the felines, but Jim and Todd are dog lovers. The couple lives in Los Angeles with their two dogs, Otis and Rufus. Here are Otis and Rufus wearing ties: They don't look like the best guard dogs, but they're kinda adorable. His Internet Presence Is Limited Even though dating a celebrity gives Todd fame and a platform, he has chosen to mostly stay out of the limelight. You can't find much information about him online. He's not posting on social media. He's not sounding off on any issues; he's basically an anti-Kardashian. So Todd Spiewak remains an enigma to the general public. I assume he's content with allowing his boyfriend to be the focal point. Good luck finding online info on Todd. Jim Gave Him a Shout-Out at the Emmys In his 2013 acceptance speech for winning Best Actor in a Comedy Series, Jim started thanking a bunch of people. Eventually he said thanks â€Å"to [his] favorite person on the planet, Todd Spiewak.† See for yourself. Jim's speech starts at around the 2:00 mark. Todd must have felt pretty special that night. I want somebody to tell me that I’m her favorite person on the planet in an acceptance speech at the Emmys. Sad face. Todd and Jim Are Not Engaged Despite rumors and reports to the contrary, Todd and Jim don't have plans to wed. In 2014, The National Enquirer, perhaps not the most reliable source, reported that they were in fact engaged. Then Jim posted this epic response on Instagram to clear up any confusion and let everyone know that they they're happy, but neither has put a ring on it: Also, on an Ellen appearance in 2014, Ellen DeGeneres asked Jim if he and Todd are going to get married. Ellen was pressuring poor Jim to get hitched and a flustered Jim said that he hasn’t â€Å"been enthusiastic enough about it and [he] feel[s] like a loser for the cause.† Awww. And Todd was watching. Todd and Jim Made Their First Public Appearance in 2013 At the 9th Annual Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Respect Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Todd and Jim made their very first public appearance when they were given the Inspiration Award. Todd’s parents even flew in from Philadelphia to attend. In his acceptance speech, Jim said this: I’ve never considered myself an activist. I’ve never considered my relationship with Todd to be an act of activism. Rather simply, it’s an act of love, coffee in the morning, going to work, washing the clothes, taking the dogs [out]- a regular life, boring love. After Jim finished his speech, Todd lovingly said, â€Å"Well, as always, Jim didn’t leave much for me to say.† They don’t need to be married to act like a married couple. Are Jim and Todd the Gay Brangelina? In 2015, US Weekly named Jim and Todd one of Hollywood’s gay power couples. Other â€Å"gay power couples† included Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita, Lance Bass and Michael Turchin, and Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka. I’m pretty confident that Jim and Todd were more honored to receive GLSEN’s Inspiration Award, but being part of a power couple sounds fun.

Definition and Examples of Memory in Classical Rhetoric

Definition and Examples of Memory in Classical Rhetoric Definition In classical rhetoric, memory is the fourth of the traditional five parts or canons of rhetoricthat which considers methods and devices (including figures of speech) to aid and improve an orators ability to remember a speech. Also called  memoria. In ancient Greece, memory was personified as Mnemosyne, the mother of the Muses. Memory was known as mneme in Greek, memoria in Latin. See Examples and Observations below. Also see: Bathtub EffectClassical Rhetoric Dissoi Logoi: Dissoi Logoi on MemoryMnemonicOratory Parable: The Invention of LettersWhat Are the Five Canons of Rhetoric? EtymologyFrom the Latin, mindful   Examples and Observations In general, Roman writers on rhetoric (and, according to them their Hellenistic predecessors) avoided deciding whether memory was a natural ability or a learned skill by dividing it into two kinds. There was what was called the natural memory, which was simply an individuals aptitude for recalling things. This natural memory could be supplemented by the techniques of artificial memory, a set of practices that enabled their user to remember more clearly, more completely, more systematically, or simply more than his natural memory would allow.(William West, Memory in Encyclopedia of Rhetoric, ed. Thomas O. Sloane. Oxford University Press, 2001) The Mnemonic Place SystemIt is not difficult to get hold of the general principles of the mnemonic. The first step was to imprint on the memory a series of loci or places. The commonest, though not the only, type of mnemonic place system used was the architectural type. The clearest description of the place is that given by Quintilian [in Instit utio Oratoria]. In order to form a series of places in memory, he says, a building is to be remembered, as spacious and varied a one as possible . . .. The images by which the speech is to be remembered . . . are then placed in imagination on the places which have been memorized in the building. . . . We have to think of the ancient orator as moving in imagination through his memory building whilst he is making his speech, drawing from the memorized places the images he has placed on them. The method ensures that the points are remembered in the right order.(Frances A. Yates, The Art of Memory. Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1966) Oral Memory and the Art of Memory: Orality and LiteracySome distinctions between oral memory and the art of memory (the fourth canon in classical rhetoric) should be articulated in future studies on memory. Whereas oral memory is a conception for cultural oral traditions and, specifically, for oral epic traditions, the art of memory is a reconceived view of memory that was articulated by rhetoricians and was clearly influenced by the increased acceptance and use of literacy in Greek culture. Thus, Frances Yatess seminal work, The Art of Memory, begins with a rhetorical, not a poetic, tradition. The very notion of memory as inner writing shows the early influence of literacy on the rhetorical tradition of memory. . . . The evolving art of memory shows orality and literacy working together.(Joyce Irene Middleton, Oral Memory and the Teaching of Literacy. Rhetorical Memory and Delivery: Classical Concepts for Contemporary Composition and Communication, ed. by John Frederick Reynolds. L awrence Erlbaum, 1993) Memory as a Creative ForceIn rhetoric, memory craft is a stage in composing a work; presupposed is the axiom that recollection is an act of investigation and recreation in the service of conscious artifice. Its practitioners would not have been surprised to learn what was to them already obvious: that recollection is a kind of composition, and by its very nature is selective and formal.(Mary Jean Carruthers, The Book of Memory: A Study of Memory in Medieval Culture, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2008) Kairos and MemoryIt seems paradoxical, but kairos and memory were partnered in several ways. First, both require a kind of attunement in that the rhetor who is gathering items for reserve in the memory must be thinking simultaneously about whats available now that might be useful later. Secondly, memory requires an attunement during the moment of speaking or composing, a recognition of the right time for recalling an illustrative example, an argument, and so on. . . . It is also of crucial importance to be aware of what events or knowledge might dominate the memories of a particular audience. . . . All of these aspects of memory , we believe, connect to kairos, the ancient notion of timing and attunement.(Sharon Crowley and Debra Hawhee, Ancient Rhetorics for Modern Students, 3rd ed. Pearson, 2004) The Suppression of Memory in Composition StudiesIt is crucial to an understanding of Western literacy at this millennium to recognize that the disappearance of memory and delivery is not a benign removal; rather, it is part of a larger movement in the United States to pablumize the humanities in general, and to vitiate writing in particular by behaving as if it were a mere skill, craft, or useful tool. . . .Many issues of culture, ideology, society, and the construction of public and private lives reside in the functions of memory and delivery; public and private realms are routinely and tacitly regarded not as construction, but as palpably, obviously separate entities. The elimination of memory and delivery in the majority of student writing textbooks constitutes the removal of student-written language from the larger public arena. The removal reinforces the common, dualistic idea that students live outside ideology if they choose to do so, just as they are outside language if they choose to be.(Kathleen E. Welch, The Suppression of Memory, Delivery, and Ideology. Rhetorical Memory and Delivery: Classical Concepts for Contemporary Composition and Communication, ed. by John Frederick Reynolds. Lawrence Erlbaum, 1993) Pronunciation: MEM-eh-ree

Engineering Professions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Engineering Professions - Essay Example Of all the fields that mechanical engineering offers, I would like to specialize and take up a job in the field of Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/M). Simulation is becoming the keyword for the success of most engineering projects. Every company, venturing on a large scale production would like to know whether the project is going to be successful or not. This was once an impossible task due to the limitations in fields of Computer hardware and software. But today, it is becoming a possibility. This is where CAD/M comes in to picture. According to Gerald Michael, CAD/M is the direct application of specialized hardware or software to product and manufacturing engineering and manufacturing operations (Michael, 1980). Architecture, Vehicle and aircraft design, Engineering design, Microchip design, Graphic design and Animated films are just few of the several applications of CAD/M (ICTSpecialist, nd). CAD/M engineers, also known as computer draftsmen work with specialized computer programs to generate blueprints and simulations for an engineering projects such as aircraft building, ship building, construction of a sky scraper and others. Some of the most commonly used CAD/M softwares currently are AutoCAD, SolidWorks, ProE, Cadence, Mentor, CADKey and Microstation. Some of the typical everyday duties of a CAD/M engineer include taking hand drawn plans and converting them into presentable and accurate blueprints using CAD/M softwares, generating simulations by specifying the parameters and answering 'what-is' questions and attempting to integrate the company wide data from different stages of production for easy work-flow management. Most colleges, private and public offer courses to train students on their specialized career paths in the field of CAD/M. However it must be noted that, design and simulation is as much an art as it is a science. Therefore many companies restrict their requirements in a prospective candidate. However, at a minimum a student must have a degree in Mechanical Engineering or Manufacturing engineering or any other branch closely related. The courses offered in these degree programs give students the basic theoretical knowledge of analysis and design that can be used in a real time setting later on. Although there are several certificate oriented courses that teach particular softwares with just sufficient theoretical knowledge, I feel that, to truly grasp the essentials of CAD/M, one must go through a professional degree program with courses such as Product Design, Product Optimization, Production Planning and Scheduling, Automation in Manufacturing, Computer Integrated Manufacturing Sys tems , Interactive Computer Graphics and Robotic Manipulators and Mechanisms apart from taking up certified courses in special CAD/M softwares like ProE, SolidWorks and AutoCAD. The job prospects for CAD/M Engineering profession is extremely bright. Drafters held about 254,000 jobs in 2004, Architectural and civil drafters held 43 percent of all jobs for drafters, mechanical drafters held about 32 percent of all job

Morrisons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Morrisons - Essay Example It also plans to train more than 12,000 people butchery and bakery skills as well as customer service are well behind that of Asda’s which intends to train 5,000 people (Berman, 2010). The company’s vision is to make its way to the â€Å"Big Three†, attain a higher market share than its three main rivals; 16.4pc at third-placed J Sainsbury, 16.9pc at Asda and 30.5pc at Tesco (Lancaster & Massingham, 2011). As far as the strengths are concerned, the retailer owns 89% of its store portfolio (Datamonitor, 2011). Hence, there is little threat of takeover and greater security to investors in terms of security. Secondly, the value of Morrison’s property, plant and equipment assets is around  £7.5bn, higher than its current market capitalization (Datamonitor, 2011) . Its debt to equity ratio is mere 19% which is lowest in the industry (Datamonitor, 2011). Its profits before taxes are up by 45 per cent to  £449 million indicating positive growth (Datamonitor, 2011). Morrisons enjoys an enhanced/ up-market image of a more sophisticated store frequented by celebrities such as Lulu and Alan Hansen. The company was bestowed with ‘Retailer of the year’ award in 2008 which earned the company high goodwill (Datamonitor, 2011). As far as the weaknesses are concerned, Morrison’s does not have an internet home shopping business unlike its three larger rivals Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys (Boddy, 2005). This could put the company on the backburner as e-commerce is an ever-growing business as it gives greater convenience to customers along with a potential to tap international markets. Secondly, it does not have a loyalty card scheme such as Club card which Tesco has uses to track consumer trends and offer lapsing customers discounts (Thompson & Martin, 2010). Third, unlike Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys, Morrison’s does not have a meaningful non-food offer (Thompson & Martin, 2010). The company is

The UK yoghurt market (marketing plan) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

The UK yoghurt market (marketing plan) - Essay Example Yoghurt is used to supplement the main diet. Various developments have been registered in the production and marketing of this product in different markets across the globe. Different production companies have developed different brands of the product leading to an increased competition in the market. Besides, other related milk products give stiff competition to yoghurt in the market. The company that is to succeed in the market has to be sensitive and able to respond to the changing market trends. It has to develop a product brand that meets the changing needs of the clients. The organization should develop a marketing strategy that ensures proper brand positioning in the market. There has been a significant growth in the UK yoghurt market in the recent years with 21% increase in the period 2006- 2011 (UK-June 2011 Report, 2011). One of the players in the UK yoghurt is Yeo Valley Organic. This is a farming and dairy company situated in the Yeo Valley of Somerset, England. The company deals in a variety of dairy products and other desserts. Initially starting with the natural yoghurt, the company has expanded its operations to produce more brands of the products to meet the customer needs in relation to tastes or costs of the products. Other companies offer similar products in the market leading to increased competition in the UK yoghurt market. The organization is then faced with the challenge to develop products that rank above those produced by the competitors in customer satisfaction. A good market plan will help the company to position its brand above the competing brands. This calls for an analysis of all the market forces in the UK yoghurt market and id entifying procedures of overcoming the forces. Due to the changing customer needs, the organization has introduced a new product that is of better medicinal value. Apart from the normal ingredients, this new product has a component that makes it suitable for relieving mid pain. The company is in the process of marketing this new product. This paper illustrates a market plan that is to be adopted by Yeo Valley Organic to help achieve its marketing objectives. It is a one-year program to market the new yoghurt products by the company. 2. Mission and Business objectives The management at Yeo Valley Organic has noted that the quality of the products can be improved through proper care given to the dairy animals. This requires proper environmental conservation initiatives. Thus, the organization is committed to providing quality products to customers while reducing the adverse effects of their operations on the environment to ensure sustainable production. The organization has set a numb er of objectives that are concerned with management of environment. It is concerned with ensuring sustainable production in order to survive in the future market. To reduce the production cost

Airline industry Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Airline industry - Coursework Example During off season the supply of air travel exceeds its demand. The airline industry has many positive effects over the economy. Airlines provide a fast and safe transportation method that allows humans to travel long distances in short periods of time. This method of transportation is perfectly suited to serve the needs of tourist. The tourism revenues of countries depend on the ability of airlines to bring tourist into their country. There are millions tourist coming into the United States every year. These tourists help the economy by spending money in the consumer markets. Another way the airline industry helps the economy is by carrying merchandise from one location to another. The international trade system depends on the airline industry to transport goods between countries. The airline industry also positively impacts the economy by generating thousands of jobs. The billions of dollars generated in revenues by the industry pay income taxes to local governments. The labor marke t for the airline industry is composed of different positions including pilots, stewardess, maintenance crew, security crew, engineers, ticket sales representatives, and management. The most important position in the airline industry is the pilots.

Films Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Films - Essay Example a result, some people who experienced only the earliest days of independent film, such as grandparents, have a view that these productions run hand-in-hand with grainy film images, bad sound, and convoluted storylines and production values. However, these misconceptions do not encapsulate the reality of modern independent film. Though financial interests do have an impact on the final product, it is the unwillingness to conform to traditional plot forms, a sense of aesthetic and artistic freedom, and a willingness to step outside of established film-making strategies and methods that truly characterizes the best films within the genre. Engaging in independent film means more than the product of willingness to work on a limited budget. It requires a brave, artistic soul and focused attention and dedication to creativity and innovation. How often would you consider the decision of a playwright to enter independent film rather than utilizing a large studio a result of artistic integrity versus an all-encompassing need to control the film produced? Or alternatively, at what point would it be better to compromise in terms of content or delivery in return for budgetary enhancement rather than attempt to create the film according to the writer’s vision

Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity Annotated Bibliography

Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity - Annotated Bibliography Example The researchers studied ADHD in children of pre-school age. They researched three parenting programs that showed promise in helping small children. The authors suggested that parents should have some type of parent training before they start treating their children with medication. They also discuss the barriers to using this method and give several ideas of how to work with preschoolers in addition to this model. The researchers state that medication should be used after they have tried parent training. The researchers present the dual pathway model. This research is important to a paper on ADHD because it provides information about alternative interventions that are working. They suggest that parents must be able to control their children before they send them to school. Many parents want to find alternatives to treating their children with ADHD because they do not want to use drugs. This article gives an understanding of ADHD from a doctor's perspective and it provides information about alternative nutrition that has been shown to help children and adults with ADHD. The researchers provided information on several studies, including a double blind, crossover controlled trial that was designed to understand whether artificial food coloring and benzoate preservative in children's food could influence their hyperactivity. The trial included 1800 three year olds. The conclusion from these researchers was that ADHD is complex, and it should be treated with a multi-faceted treatment program. This article is important to a paper on ADHD because it provides information in a very clear way without using a lot of medical jargon. Kravets, M.B. and Wax, I. (2010). The K&W guide to colleges for students with learning disabilities or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. IL: Imy Wax. This book is excellent because it describes colleges that work well with students who have ADHD. They provide information about getting into the college, what is important to do when the student is there, and how to approach classes. They also include advice from people who work in the field of ADHD. The book is invaluable to talking about the schools and how a student can approach college if they want to go. It gives hope to those students who may think they could not go to school at all. Kurtz, L.A. (2008). Understanding controversial therapies for children with autism, attention deficit disorder, and other learning disabilities: A guide to complementary and alternative medicine. PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers This book provides an overview of alternative therapies that can be used in several learning disabilities, some of these are effective and others are not, according to the authors. The book is easy to read and understand. Because ADHD has so many different facets to it, this book is valuable in providing a wealth of

Films Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Films - Essay Example a result, some people who experienced only the earliest days of independent film, such as grandparents, have a view that these productions run hand-in-hand with grainy film images, bad sound, and convoluted storylines and production values. However, these misconceptions do not encapsulate the reality of modern independent film. Though financial interests do have an impact on the final product, it is the unwillingness to conform to traditional plot forms, a sense of aesthetic and artistic freedom, and a willingness to step outside of established film-making strategies and methods that truly characterizes the best films within the genre. Engaging in independent film means more than the product of willingness to work on a limited budget. It requires a brave, artistic soul and focused attention and dedication to creativity and innovation. How often would you consider the decision of a playwright to enter independent film rather than utilizing a large studio a result of artistic integrity versus an all-encompassing need to control the film produced? Or alternatively, at what point would it be better to compromise in terms of content or delivery in return for budgetary enhancement rather than attempt to create the film according to the writer’s vision

Education mis in East African countries - Tanzania Dissertation

Education mis in East African countries - Tanzania - Dissertation Example The creation of the MIS model will serve the purposes of empowering decision makers and the creation of capacity to deliver better education services across the sector. In the area of requirements analysis, the creation of the specification for the MIS model was executed through incorporation of national and international standards of education, regarding the needs of the users of the Tanzanian education sector. Communication with the users was executed through interviews, as this model offered unbiased information on the viewpoints of the user population. Feedback surveys were also helpful towards reaching the desired information base, as collected from social networking and other ICT-related data sites. Areas of constraints included the vague knowledge of the specifications desired by the user population, the unreasonable timelines of the end-users, and the communication gap between implementation teams and the end-user population. The rationales for the choices made were based on rationale capture and rationale representation, which were verified using argument-based choices. The software requirements specification was designed to emphasize on and foster the usage of management information systems throughout the creation, processing and consumption of information. Performance indicators revolved around the service delivery of service personnel to the documentation of students, and offering a complete picture of the educations sector. The features of the model under implementation include capturing baseline statistics like the demography of users to school performance capacities. Data flow across the sector was created to improve the practice and quality of management across the different user groups. The schedule for the implementation of the model will extend across 2011 and 2012, prior to expansion depending on the depicted implementation needs and uptake capacity. Under design specification, the model was split into two sub-phases: the top level design an d the detailed design level. The implementation of the model covered the development of the model, creation of data collection forms, data entry models and checking of the quality of the application. In the area of testing, the MIS model was tested on a number of areas, including the presence of bugs, model usability, and model compatibility. The model will offer a platform from which the education sector can run in a more effective manner, following the more effective transfer and communication of relevant information across the sector. INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE MIS MODEL UNDER CREATION The education sector at Tanzania has historically faced numerous challenges, including the lack of basic infrastructure like electricity at local

Social Identity and the Service-Profit Chain Essay Example for Free

Social Identity and the Service-Profit Chain Essay MOS Article Review Social Identity and the Service-Profit Chain By Christian Homburg, Jan Wieseke Wayne D. Hoyer Journal of Marketing Volume 73(March 2009) It is very important to understand that if performance meets expectations, the customer is satisfied; if not, dissatisfaction results. Thus a core assumption is that by improving performance, firms can also increase satisfaction. Customers expect what they are now receiving and in a sense they keep upping the ante so it becomes increasingly difficult to meet or exceed customer expectations. Now there are two SPC paths: conventional and the social identity based path. Both of them are complementary. In other words firms that successfully manage both SPC paths tend to perform better than firms that are successful in only managing either the satisfaction or the social identity based path. The main elements of the social identity approach are self-categorization theory and social identity theory. Self categorization theory suggests that human beings have a need to simplify the social world by categorising people into groups. People perceive themselves as belonging to a particular group or category. According to social identity theory people strive for positive self-esteem and try to accomplish this by enhancing their social identity. Moreover it is true customers self-definitional needs can be partially fulfilled by the companies they patronise. For example users of Apple computers strongly identify with the company and this identification is related to how they define themselves as individuals. Thus customer-company identification helps a person clarify his or her self concept and to gain positive self-appraisal through a positive company appraisal. In today’s era of unprecedented corporate influence and consumerism, certain companies represent and offer attractive, meaningful social identities to consumers that help them satisfy important self-definitional needs. Strong identification occurs when company becomes personally relevant for consumers and personal relevance creates the potential for emotional reactions. Although some people perceive a close relationship between commitment and identification, there is consensus that identity and commitment are distinguishable in terms of their essential meaning. The key distinction is that identification includes both a self-definitional and an emotional meaning for a person while commitment does not reflect the cognitive element of psychological oneness and self definition that identification does. Hypothesis for the social identity based path of the SPC

Dreamworks Animation Skg Inc Overview Film Studies Essay

Dreamworks Animation Skg Inc Overview Film Studies Essay DreamWorks SKG was founded in 1994 by three entertainment enthusiasts, Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen (The Cornell Daily Sun). The SKG appended to the title is representative of the first letter of each of their last names. DreamWorks SKG is involved in a variety of entertainment segments such as film, music, and television. At the time of its creation, all three individuals were involved in film production. Jeffrey Katzenberg had been recently fired as a studio chairman at The Walt Disney Company, Steven Spielberg had temporarily suspended his lucrative directing career, and David Geffen was involved in film production as well as the record industry. Each of the individuals had something to offer, Spielberg with his experience in making live-action movies, Katzenbergs animation movies, and Geffen with his music background (Reference for Business). Financially, the company began with two billion dollars, supplemented with various high-tech partnerships. A portion of the initial money, $500 million, was contributed by a very interested Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. Spielberg, Katzenberg, and Geffen also contributed roughly $33 million to the initial funds (Reference for Business). During the first few years in business, DreamWorks success was like a roller coaster. Its first film, The Peacemaker, was released in 1997, and only reached $12 million on opening weekend. In the years to follow, DreamWorks released several more successful films such as Mouse Hunt, Deep Impact, and Antz. In an attempt to delve into other entertainment segments, DreamWorks released two television shows High Incident and Champs, which were failures. However, in 1996 DreamWorks released Spin City for ABC, which turned out to be quite successful (Reference for Business). By the late 90s and early 2000s, DreamWorks was pumping out very successful films, many earning multiple awards such as American Beauty, which received Best Picture at the Oscars in 1999. In 2000, DreamWorks created a new division called DreamWorks Animation, which produced animated feature films. With the release of Shrek in 2001, DreamWorks started competing head-to-head with Disneys animated movies. In 2004, DreamWorks Animation became its own publicly traded company (Reference for Business). COMPETITIVE STRATEGY The revenue generated by the film industry is massive, with very few players responsible for the total. In 2008, the U.S. box office generated nearly ten billion dollars (Ars Technica). The eight major film companies responsible for most of the gross revenue include DreamWorks SKG, Fox Entertainment Group, MGM Holdings Inc., NBC Universal, Paramount Motion Pictures Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Time Warner, and Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group (Motion Picture Access). Most of the previously mentioned film companies are involved in a variety of film production methods including live action, digital animation, animation/live action, hand animation, and stop-motion animation. Live action films account for the majority of the gross revenue generated domestically, at $8.6 billion with a little over 87% of the share. Digital animation accounted for $1 billion and held over 10% of the share. The other film production methods accounted for the remaining 2.4% (The Numbers). Many of the eight major film companies have a subsidiary that produces animated movies. The companies include Fox Entertainment Group with Blue Sky Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment with Sony Pictures Animation, Time Warner with Warner Bros. Animation, MGM Holdings Inc. with MGM Animation, and Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group with Walt Disney Pictures (Motion Picture Access). DreamWorks Animation, on the other hand, is its own publicly traded company, strictly dedicated to animated film production (DreamWorks Animation SKG). With this advantage, DreamWorks Animation is attempting to outperform some of the broadly-oriented rivals in that segment. DreamWorks Animation has accomplished this by partnering with various high-tech companies such as Pacific Data Images (PDI) (Reference for Business). These partnerships allowed DreamWorks Animation access to advanced imaging technology without the costs of recreating the technology in-house. In addition, DreamWorks Animation uses a unique system to create its animations that allows for lower costs (Linux.com). Lastly, DreamWorks Animation can better serve the animation market because of its primary focus on animation. Therefore, DreamWorks Animation is using a Focus Differentiation strategy to penetrate the film production market. STRATEGY EXECUTION In order to be successful in the animated film segment, DreamWorks Animation has made several strategic actions. To begin with, in 1995, DreamWorks SKG purchased a portion of Pacific Data Images, and collectively the two companies created the movie Antz, which was released in 1998. With the success of the movie, in 2000, DreamWorks SKG acquired most of PDI. The partnership with PDI created competitive advantage for DreamWorks; because of the cutting-edge technology they had available for use. DreamWorks has continued to make use of this partnership, and the conglomerate is often referred to as PDI/DreamWorks (Reference for Business). Several years later DreamWorks Animation was spun-off from DreamWorks SKG to become a separate company with the sole purpose of creating animated movies (Reference for Business). This action was to focus on a segment in which the other, larger, film companies only had subsidiaries. By creating a entirely separate publicly traded company, DreamWorks Animation has a unique advantage in that it can focus on what it does best, animated movies. In the film industry, the target market for animated films varies greatly from that of live-action. This creates an environment where DreamWorks Animation can avoid being trampled by larger companies and focus on a smaller market. DreamWorks Animation has exploited this niche to become a leading player in film animation. DreamWorks Animation has cut costs by creating a unique system for generating its animations. After analyzing requirements, the company decided that it needed a system that was easily upgradeable, reliable, and had advanced capabilities. To accomplish this, it selected to use a Linux based platform, which is an alternative Microsoft Windows or Mac OSX operating systems. Because computer generated animation is such a demanding process, it can be quite time consuming to develop. This, in turn, creates huge costs for producers because of the time necessary to make minor changes. With DreamWorks advancements, it was able to reduce the time necessary to create one scene, from three hours to real-time. Therefore, when changes to the animation were required, they could be made nearly instantaneously (Linux.com). In recent years, an increasing number of film production companies are releasing 3D movies because of their popularity. In addition, many companies are beginning to realize that 3D movies are cash cows as a result of their high ticket prices. With this in mind, Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation, stated that every film DreamWorks makes from now on will be made in 3D (CG Society). Katzenberg is betting that 3D films are here to stay this time around, unlike the 3D craze in the 1950s. One of the largest contributing factors to this renewed interest is the fact that 3D movies can now be produced in a more cost effective manner. This is largely due to the advancements in technology, which allows companies such as DreamWorks to use the latest stereoscopic 3D technology to build its movies from the ground up (CG Society). Katzenberg explains that 3D film production will be quite rewarding for DreamWorks Animation: I believe CG animation is in the best position to take advantage of the latest advancement in 3D technology, said Katzenberg. Since our films are made digitally, it presents numerous opportunities for our filmmakers. And by moving into this area now, DreamWorks Animation is developing expertise that will differentiate our films and provide a lasting competitive advantage (CG Society). FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE In spite of a tough economic climate the past few years, DreamWorks Animation has performed above and beyond expectations. In 2009, DreamWorks reported double-digit year-over-year growth in revenue and earnings per share (Market Watch). Revenue increased by 12% from 2008-2009, and earnings per share increased 10% (Market Watch). The following table demonstrates the performance of DreamWorks Animation for the past few years: Figure1. Adapted from DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. Morningstar Equity Research, p. 2. Copyright 2010 by Morningstar. In comparison to other film production companies, DreamWorks Animation is quite small in size. The following table compares DreamWorks Animation with the more broadly-oriented Walt Disney Company: Figure 2. Adapted from DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. Morningstar Equity Research, p. 2. Copyright 2010 by Morningstar. COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE / VRIO FRAMEWORK When DreamWorks SKG spun off DreamWorks Animation, this did not create a true first-mover advantage, because it was not the first occupant in the segment. However, it can be thought of as a first-mover strategy in the sense that DreamWorks Animations was an entirely separate company dedicated to animation, unlike the other broadly-oriented film companies. DreamWorks did this to become a significant occupant in the animation segment of the film industry, which created a competitive advantage. DreamWorks Animation partnered with high-tech companies such as PDI, which allowed access to important technology. As a result, this created a competitive advantage for the company. The capabilities that DreamWorks Animation has at its disposal are costly to implement in-house, and may be costly and/or difficult to acquire. In addition, because it has majority interest in PDI, DreamWorks Animation can readily employ the capabilities. With the necessary technology in its grasp, DreamWorks Animation is able to grow within its segment. Another capability advantageous to DreamWorks Animation is its custom system used to generate the animated films. Because the system environment has been modified to better suit the specific needs of the company, this capability is difficult to match. By using this capability DreamWorks Animation can reduce time-related costs that other industry companies are faced with. This allows the producer to focus on animations, without having to worry about the time needed to edit a scene. STRATEGIC FIT / FUTURE PERFORMANCE As a focus differentiator, DreamWorks Animation has penetrated the animation segment of the film industry and has become a pivotal player in that market. With the many supportive capabilities available to the company, it has successfully expanded within its niche, and continues to grow. Strategically, DreamWorks Animation fits seamlessly within the film industry, because of its focus on a single, smaller segment. The arrival of more advanced 3D technologies, and the associated cost savings definitely provides a promising outlook for the company. Because of its advanced capabilities, DreamWorks Animation will be able to fully take advantage of this opportunity. Therefore, in the next few years, the performance of the company should meet and possibly exceed expectations.

Lost Innocence in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne :: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, John Boyne

Evil can be glossed over by innocence but in the end subsumes it. This is vividly conveyed by John Boyne in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, a powerful narrative of lost innocence set in Nazi Germany. It all begins simply enough. Nine-year-old Bruno has to suddenly leave a familiar and beloved home where he could slide five floors down on a fine banister, and move with his parents and his twelve year old sister Gretel to a place called ‘Out With', where Father was going to be doing a very important job. ‘ The Fury' had dined with them the week before, and after that Bruno's father was given a brand new assignment, and as Bruno's mother told him, he would now have to wear a grander uniform than the one he had been wearing. So the family, with their entourage of staff and servants, leaves bustling Berlin. Sadly for Bruno, he has to also leave behind his three best friends, not to mention his beloved grandparents; he has to move far away to a much smaller, sequestered house with only Gretel (whom he thinks of as a Hopeless Case) for company. From his bedroom window, homesick Bruno can see groups of people in the distance, all in striped pyjamas moving about slowly behind a tall and endless wire fence. And because Bruno loves exploring, he soon sets out to find out more, although when he had asked his father who the people in the striped pyjamas were, his father had said that they were not people. The language and structure of this novel, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by the Irish writer John Boyne, labelled as young adult fiction in early editions, is deceptively simple. But this is definitely a book that adults must read; it is a fable set in living history that will jolt readers of all ages. Paradoxical While evil hiding among us is an ancient theme (as Agatha Christie once said), in this book evil is the base, glossed over by an innocence that is at one level redemptive, but at another level shocking. Bruno is the much loved child of a Nazi Commandant; but he is also an endearing little boy who adores his parents, is frustrated in typical sibling fashion with his pre-teen older sister, and in all aspects a solid little fellow; curious, full of energy and also trusting and innocent in a manner that sometimes seems a bit paradoxical for someone as intelligent as he is.

Types of Organizational Chart

Businesses come in many different sizes and forms. Organizational charts are used to visually summarize the structure of a business. By using charts to study the overview of a business' structure, owners can analyze how effective operations run. By identifying bottlenecks and redundancies, organizations ensure smoother operations and increased efficiencies. Organizational charts display businesses from different aspects depending on the nature of the business and the needs of the chart creators.When creating charts, it is essential to think ahead as to how the charts will be used, how they will be presented and to whom they are presented to. Hierarchical Hierarchical charts show the relationships between top and lower levels. These types of charts can show an organization's structure, key top-level personnel and areas or employees they are in charge of. Hierarchical charts show authority and can be effective in summarizing the chain of command and accountability within an organizatio n. Matrix Matrix charts display an organization as a group of teams with functions.Each box on the chart refers to the name of a team and its function or could display the team leader's name. In the latter case, each team's box breaks down into individual subteams of members and their subfunction. Flat Flat charts are used for companies that are owned, managed and operated with few employees. For instance, mom and pop stores are horizontal or flat organizations because there are few levels between these working the front line and management. Employees in flat organizations are often involved in key decision-making for the company.Flat organizational structures can be presented as a triangle which shows the owner at the top followed by a middle level and bottom level of departments. Geographic For very large companies with divisions dispersed throughout the world, a geographic organizational chart that shows the locations of divisions is beneficial. Typically, each box is used to dis play the division name, location and division head. The company's main headquarters is displayed on the top level with the other geographic locations given on the bottom level.

Martha Stewart Trial

Martha Stewart went on trial on January 12, 2004 for conspiracy, obstruction of justice, securities fraud and making false statements in the stock trading scandal at ImClone Systems. Stewart’s sale of almost 4,000 shares of stock in ImClone Systems created suspicions of insider trading. After investigating the matter, the federal prosecutors suspected that she deliberately tried to mislead their investigation. It is considered a Federal felony for someone to falsify or cover a material fact and to knowingly make any materially false statement.The trial was to determine whether Martha Stewart was a criminal who lied to the government about selling stock based on an inside tip or just an investor who saved money with a smart bet on the market. The Securities and Exchange Commission noticed an unusual coincidence between selling a large number of shares by the CEO of ImClone and Martha Stewart and began an investigation to determine if Martha Stewart was guilty of insider trading . Sam Waskal later confirmed that the sale of his shares was due to an advance word that the FDA rejected the application for the approval of the cancer drug. CNNMoney, 2004) The government said that Stewart saved about $45000 by selling stock in ImClone on December 27th, 2001. She said she sold the stock because she and Bacanovic, her Merrill Lynch & Co. broker, had a pre-existing agreement to sell when the stock fell to $60. (Answers. com) During the trial, Douglas Faneuil, Stewart's broker's assistant, testified that he tipped Stewart –on orders from his boss, Peter Bacanovic– about Waksal's sale of ImClone shares.Faneuil's testimony was important to the government’s contention that Stewart sold the ImClone shares after she received news from ImClone CEO Sam Waksal and she did not have an agreement with Bacanovic to sell the stock when it fell to $60 a share. In her defense, Stewart's attorney told the judge that Faneuil at various times had been advised to t ell the truth to investigators and the SEC, but then told later to keep lying. (CNN. com, 2004). Securities fraud was the most serious charge against Stewart, carrying a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and the U. S.District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum dismissed the securities fraud charge against Stewart, saying that â€Å"the evidence and inferences the government presents are simply too weak to support a finding beyond a reasonable doubt of criminal intent. †. (CNNMoney, 2004). The other four remaining charges she faced, each carried a sentence of up to five years. The trial lasted for five-weeks. Ironically, Erbitux, the drug that was produced by ImClone to treat cancer and was not considered to be reviewed in December 2007 when its application was rejected, recently was approved to treat certain forms of cancer. CNNMoney,2004).ReferencesChernoff, Allan. (2004). Closing arguments underway. Retrieved June 11, 2010, from http://money. cnn. com/2004/03/01/news/companie s/martha/index. htm? cnn=yesKey prosecution witness to take stand at Martha Stewart trial (2004). Retrieved June 11, 2010 from http://edition. cnn. com/2004/LAW/01/29/martha. stewart/index. html Sellers, Patricia (November 14, 2005).†Remodeling Martha†. Fortune, pp. 49–62. Retrieved June 11, 2010 from http://www. answers. com/topic/martha-stewart

Happy Loman’s Significance In Arthur Miller’s “Death Of A Salesman” Essay

The definition of the American Dream is an important theme that is woven throughout the attitudes and actions of Arthur Miller’s characters in his play The Death of A Salesman. Happy Loman, a character dominated by his material greed and desire to crush anyone standing between him and the almighty dollar, represents a skewed perspective of that Dream, a perspective shared by an increasingly large amount of Americans. Through his insatiable appetite for power, lust, and wealth, Happy Loman embodies the modern capitalist American Dream. And through his never-ending discontent and incessant feeling of unfulfillment, Happy also embodies the fallacy and shortcomings of that Dream. One could consider Happy Loman to be a success. He may not be the president of his company (in fact he is one of two assistants to an assistant buyer), but at roughly thirty years of age, he has a steady job and a place of his own. And he’s moving up in the world, he’s getting somewhere. And there’s nothing wrong with this. American society and capitalism in general is based on the Puritan individualist work ethic, which states that hard work breeds success and happiness. But Happy isn’t succeeding because he works hard, because he’s well liked, or because he’s exceptionally good at what he does. He’s succeeding through the neo-American shortcut to happiness, the modern American Dream, which encourages cut-throat competition at every level. Happy, much like millions of other Americans, is moving up in the world by defeating his competition, by destroying all of those in his way. On page 23 and 24, he says, â€Å"All I can do now is wait for the merchandise manager to die†Ã‚ ¦He’s a good friend of mine.† Happy desires more money, more power, and more responsibility strongly enough that he is willing to lose a good friend of his, just to get his job. His job. Not a job. Another reason why Happy symbolizes the new American Dream is his obsession with ruining the lives of others in order to better himself. â€Å"I don’t know what gets into me, maybe I just have an overdeveloped sense of competition or something†Ã‚ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  he says on page 25. Happy can get any woman he wants. Yet he deliberately chooses to sleep with the wives and  fiancÃÆ' ©es of his co-workers and bosses as a way of defeating them in some nonexistent competition for power. Therefore, despite the fact that they may be ahead of him in the business world, Happy can find solace in the fact that he â€Å"went and ruined† his bosses’ spouses. â€Å"Isn’t that a crummy characteristic?† he asks Biff. Of course it is, but it doesn’t stop Happy from doing it over and over. Happy may represent the quintessential American in the aspects mentioned above, but what truly cements his position as the epitome of the neo-capitalist is his pervading feelings of unhappiness and discontent. When Happy speaks of possibly becoming the new merchandise manager, he says that he would do the same thing that the old merchandise manager did: build a mansion of a house for himself, then sell in in two months. He says on page 23, â€Å"It’s crazy†Ã‚ ¦it’s what I always wanted. My own apartment, a car, and plenty of women.† Yet when Biff asks if he is content, Happy retorts, â€Å"Hell no!†. When speaking of women, whom Happy appears to be incredibly fond of, he says, â€Å"I keep knockin’ em over, and it doesn’t mean anything.† And why is Happy discontent? Because he defined the American Dream, his American Dream, in terms of money and power, instead of happiness and self-actualization. He will never be content, and nei ther will anyone else who shares his Dream. When goals are determined in denominations of currency, then they can never be reached, because no one can possess all the money that exists in the world. What’s better than a Toyota? A Lexus. What’s better than a Lexus? A Ferrari. What’s better than a Ferrari? A hovercraft? A yacht? 2 yachts? A goddamn jumbo jet? It never ends. And thus, the American Dream can be crushed under the weight of a dollar bill when it is improperly defined. The Dream becomes farce, a crock, a hoax, an old wives’ tale, an urban legend, an orange that consists of nothing but the peel, a person whose soul, whose brains have been sucked out of his nose by little aliens wearing wing-tipped shoes, carrying attachÃÆ' © cases, and driving hovercrafts with the future wives of their bosses in the passenger seat. But it doesn’t have to.

Hamlet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 5

Hamlet - Essay Example Hamlet feigns insanity to discover the truth, but his character can still be ascertained by closely examining what he reveals about himself through his many speeches and his interactions with others. The fact that he survives until very near the end of the play demonstrates his strength of character while his insane ramblings to some of the other characters reveal his sharp mind. While many have pointed to his lack of immediate action upon learning of the true nature of his father’s death as a sign of weakness, the reasons for Hamlet’s inaction are demonstrated as an intelligent man’s determination to do what’s right. Throughout much of the play, Hamlet’s speeches can be seen to indicate more than one aspect of his character, such as in the Player’s speech (Shakespeare II, ii). This scene has been interpreted as Hamlet trying to remind himself of the need for revenge, trying to prove the need for revenge or trying to stir himself into the action of revenge due to the nature of the play he suggests (Westlund, 1978). At the same time, it shows Hamlet’s tendency to approach life as if it were a play, constantly taking on new roles to fit the action he is confronted with. In his comparison of the roles available to him in this instance, he can be seen to relish neither one. His sense of duty and honor, while it prevents him from willingly taking on the role of a murderer, also prevents him from allowing a foul, underhanded murder go, not only unpunished, but richly rewarded should the ghost happen to be the true spirit of his father. â€Å"One part of him says that he must take revenge, another part finds it horrible; he attempts to reconcile these conflicting feelings by saying that he fears the Ghost may be a devil† (Westlund, 1978: 252). At this point, he can not find a role that allows him to both enact the revenge demanded and retain his own

Cyber Security and Cyber Crime Annotated Bibliography

Cyber Security and Cyber Crime - Annotated Bibliography Example This publication done for Deloitte by DeZabala and Baich, the National Managing Principal and Principal respectively acknowledge the rampant increase in cyber crimes in organizations following its CSO Cyber Security Watch Survey in 2010. It unearths some of the stealth techniques used by cyber criminals today. It points to future indicators with a disclaimer of the severity and complexity expected in future. The authors sum up this publication by giving a risk based approach and how to have an effective intelligence system to gather the necessary intelligence information. This is a law book aimed at giving the reader information on career opportunities in private security. In Part II of the book, Dempsey discusses the problem of computer crime, used interchangeably with cyber crime in the society and businesses. This book would be useful to that scholar seeking supportive surveys as the author documents surveys on cyber crime as conducted by the FBI and National Cyber Security Alliance, NCSA in the US. The book discusses most of the basic security procedure followed so as to mitigate cyber crime but is inclined more towards use of biometrics. The discussion on how to investigate cyber crimes has been used to market the various career opportunities that are a consequence of the same. This source would be important for citing examples of the effects of cyber crimes. It gives an example of how Russian crime gangs and civilians caused internet traffic in Georgia to stop by use of America’s software companies and websites. Though it lacks technical explanation as to the crime, it gives the needed information to document cyber crime as a potential national risk. This paper is an extension of the author’s earlier research paper on current challenges in cyber security and advocates for law to react proportionately to the rapid changes in internet usage and cyber crime. It advocates for an inclusion of various professions, both technical and non-technical in