Although it is an issue that I find myself torn on

Although it is an issue that I find myself torn on, if I have to support one position, I would have to say that ultimately I do not agree with capital punishment. There have been instances where I have supported the decision of the death penalty in relation to certain cases. I have learned of some heinous crimes in which I feel capital punishment was justified, or even should have been applied. However, the personal reasons that I am against capital punishment are strong enough to way my decision against it. One of the reasons that cause me to side against capital punishment is the issue of innocent people being put to death. Eric M. Freedman raises the point in his essay that Capital punishment inevitably will be inflicted on the innocent. Prisoners have been released off of death row that were found guilty in court, sentenced to death, and then found innocent. There are a number of executions that have been found to be unjustified after the fact, and Im sure numerous more that have and will go unfound. Capital punishment is the most permanent form of punishment we have. There is no room for error. If a mistake is made, it can never be rectified once someone is put to death. Humans are faulty by nature. Judges, jury panels, detectives, police, and the smartest lawyers are all fallible. When an innocent life is taken this is an irreversible, and unforgivable. A second reason why I am against capital punishment is not backed up in any publication. It is something drawn from my personal morals. People killing people is wrong. It does enrage me when I hear of horrific crimes committed against innocent people. At the moment I hear of it I find myself wishing that the person who committed this crime receives the same if not worse punishment. This I think is a natural human reaction driven by emotion. However, the result of one death that invokes such emotion in pe

Therizinosaurs - The Weirdest Dinosaurs

Therizinosaurs - The Weirdest Dinosaurs Therizinosaurs reaping lizardswere some of the strangest dinosaurs ever to roam the earth during the Cretaceous period. Technically part of the theropod familythe bipedal, carnivorous dinosaurs also represented by raptors, tyrannosaurs and dino-birdstherizinosaurs were endowed by evolution with an unusually goofy appearance, including feathers, pot bellies, gangly limbs, and extremely long, scythe-like claws on their long front hands. Even more bizarrely, theres ample evidence that these dinosaurs pursued a herbivorous (or at least omnivorous) diet, a sharp contrast to their strictly meat-eating theropod cousins. (See a gallery of therizinosaur pictures and profiles.) Adding to their mystery, only a few genera of therizinosaurs have been identified, most of them hailing from eastern and central Asia (Nothronychus was the first therizinosaur to be discovered on the North American continent, followed soon after by Falcarius). The most famous genusand the one that gave this family of dinosaurs its nameis Therizinosaurus, which was discovered in Mongolia a few years after World War II. In the absence of other remains, which were only discovered years later, the joint Soviet/Mongolian excavation team that unearthed the partial fossil of this dinosaur barely knew what to make of its three-foot-long claws, wondering if theyd stumbled on some kind of ancient killer turtle! (Some earlier texts reference therizinosaurs as segnosaurs, after the equally mysterious genus Segnosaurus, but this is no longer the case.) Therizinosaur Evolution Part of what makes therizinosaurs so baffling to scientists is that they cant comfortably be assigned to any existing dinosaur family, although theropods are certainly the closest fit. To judge by some clear anatomical similarities, it was once thought that these dinosaurs were closely related to prosauropods, the sometimes bipedal, sometimes quadrupedal herbivores that were distantly ancestral to the sauropods of the late Jurassic period. That all changed with the discovery of the middle Cretaceous Alxasaurus, a primitive therizinosaur equipped with some distinctly theropod-like characteristics, which helped put the evolutionary relationships of the entire breed in sharper focus. The consensus now is that therizinosaurs evolved in their unusual direction from an earlier, more primitive branch of the theropod family. From a biologists perspective, the oddest thing about therizinosaurs wasnt their appearance, but their diet. Theres a convincing case to be made that these dinosaurs a) used their long front claws to slice and dice copious amounts of vegetation (since these appendanges were too ungainly to slash fellow dinosaurs), and b) harbored an extensive network of intestines in their prominent pot bellies, an adaptation that would only have been needed in order to digest tough plant matter. The inescapable conclusion is that therizinosaurs (distant relatives of the prototypically carnivorous Tyrannosaurus Rex) were largely herbivorous, in much the same way that prosauropods (distant relatives of the protopically plant-eating Brachiosaurus) probably supplemented their diets with meat. A stunning recent discovery in Mongolia, in 2011, has shed some much-needed light on the social behavior of therizinosaurs. An expedition to the Gobi Desert identified the remains of no less than 75 therizinosaur eggs (genus undetermined), in 17 separate clutches of a few eggs apiece, some of which had apparently hatched before being fossilized. What this means is that the therizinosaurs of central Asia were social, herding animals, and may have provided their hatchlings with at least a couple of years of parental care before abandoning them in the wild.

Research methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research methods - Essay Example Contextually, enhancing and preserving customer loyalty is considered to be the key objective of CRM initiatives performed by modern day organisations, which is deeply rooted to the concept of relationship marketing. The objective of relationship marketing is to convert new customers into regular one through providing greater service quality that would generate greater sales and profits. Such an initiative can be observed apparently in the service industry, such as in the hospitality industry (Schneider & White, 2004). One of the major reasons for customer loyalty is delivering services of qualitative standards that could increase the proportion of loyal customers of the organization to a considerable extent (Arvato AG, 2013; Brink & Berndt, 2008). Another major factor identified in the modern day context of CRM initiatives adopted by hospitality organisations is service quality. Service quality, as a conceptual term, relates with the notion to provide services with due consideration to customer satisfaction by meeting their expectations with increased performances of employees (Khosrow-Pour, 2003). Emphasising on the relation between the concepts of customer loyalty, CRM and service quality, the research problem has been framed for this study. To be precise, the research problem to be considered in this study will focus on the impact of customer loyalty and service quality in 5 Star hotels in Thailand with relation to CRM initiatives taken by the hospitality organisations. 2.0. Literature and Secondary Data Many research studies have been conducted emphasising on the concepts of service quality and customer loyalty and their relationship. As stated by Rousan & et. al. (2010), customer loyalty occurs when repeated purchase in performed by the same customers. Furthermore, the willingness for loyal customers to render product/service recommendations irrespective of outright benefits and repeated usages play a vital role in generating positive and quantifiable res ults for the marketers over the long run. The economic benefits of customer loyalty can be identified as improvement in the retention of employees as well as in terms of the increasing market shares of the particular brand. It can be thus stated that customer loyalty is not simply swayed by inducing the prices from competitors but also by offering better quality services to the targeted customers in comparison to the major contemporaries of the business. It is worth mentioning in this context that a positive relationship is apparently witnessed between the two aspects of service quality and service loyalty (Rousan & et. al., 2010). As can be observed from Rousan & et. al. (2010), service quality deliverance capability of an organisation can be effectively identified with due significance to the behavioural results particularly in form of complaints registered by the customers, probability of effective word of mouth promotion spontaneously by the targeted customers, switching costs a nd frequency depicted in customers purchasing behaviour as well as the intention of the customers to recommend further alterations for the enhancement of the services delivered. Contextually, it can also be stated that methods of service quality assists practitioners in managing the delivery of quality services effectively

Movie comparison Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Comparison - Movie Review Example ew just Kung Fu but the army against which he was fighting was provided with latest weapons of that time so he tried to discover new techniques to beat this army (IMDb, 2014). This movie is based on the biography of Ip Man who was the legendary martial arts trainer and he was the man who trained the martial art legend Bruce Lee. The director took extreme care of the cinematography and the role of the hero was played superbly by Tony Chiu Wai Leung, the movies did not just revolve around martial arts tactics but also there is a family of the hero which he lost during the invasion of his country by the Japanese, then he settled in Hong Kong The fight scenes in this film are epic and especially the fight between the hero and the heroin is really entertaining (Zacharek, 2013). In this movie the director Wong has succeeded in extracting the best from the hero as well as the heroin, the costume designing as well as the cinematography is superb which make this film nominated for two academy awards this year in both of these categories. The movie is such a success in itself that it makes you forget the pathetic movie â€Å"My Blueberry Nights† which was the directorial debut of the director (Musetto, 2013). This is a film based mainly on the kung fu fighting and it is the biography of the legendary Ip man who was a great kung fu master and also the teacher of legendary Bruce Lee. Tony lung has done the justice with his role of Ip man, the movie is set in the middle of 1930s in china when Ip man is chosen to take the role of successor of the grandmaster Gong Baosen, the only individual who can beat Ip man is the daughter of the grandmaster â€Å"Gong Er† but she was a female so she cannot be the Grandmaster so in fighting with Ip man they both fall in love with each other so this movie is mainly based on kung fu and a lot of fighting sequences with a tinge of romance between the Ip man and Gong Er. Tony Leung, who has played the major roles in Wong’s multiple projects

Bill of Rights and Amendments Paper Essay Example for Free

Bill of Rights and Amendments Paper Essay The United States Constitution was ratified and made law September 17, 1789. For Americas yet-to-be history the Framers knew the Constitution had to have a way to grow and change with the people, and their needs. This paper will cover the amendment process, the need for the Bill of Rights, how the Bill of Rights has affected America, what the Bill of Rights have granted American’s, discuss the later amendments, and what effect the later amendments have had. Amendments In order for America to continue to grow and change with the needs of the people, the Constitution was created with an amendment process in Article V. Article V gives two ways in which the Constitution can be amended; first is by a two-thirds vote from both the House or Representatives and the Senate, it must be ratified by 38 of the50 states. To date this is the only method that has been used. Second method is to hold a Convention called for the sole purpose of amending and two-thirds of the state legislatures must attend. Then it must be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures. The Constitution The Framers of the Constitution were specifically concerned with creating a charter for a working government, of the people, for the people, but the Constitution covered very few rights for the American citizen. During the secret convention of 1787,there was some opposition to the Constitution because it was viewed as not  having enough protections for Americas’ rights. â€Å"A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth† Jefferson, T (1787). Including an agreement to add immediately the Bill of Rights, gave way for the Constitution to be ratified. James Madison argued that a declaration of rights for the American people would help the judiciary branch protect individual rights. â€Å"They have given the right of man and fair discussion, and explained them in so clear and forcible manner as cannot fail to make a lasting impression† Washington, G. (1791). The Bill of Rights The Bill of Rights has affected countless court cases on individual rights. Communities and states can become involved to push moral or financial standards on others, and the Bill of Rights stops neighbors, states, and the federal government from infringing on the rights of an individual. The Bill of Rights protects the civil liberties that Americans are granted with citizenship, but it also gives America something to strive to be. The Bill of Rights is an ideal, a powerful statement of what America is trying to be. Amendments beyond the Bill of Rights The Bill of Rights accounts for amendments one through ten. Each of the additional 17 amendments has come about because of clarification needed for the original mechanics of the first three articles or to ensure civil rights. Amendments 11,16, and 24 are for clarifications of Article III. Amendments 12, 17, 20, 22, 25, 26, and 27are for further clarification of Articles I and II. Amendment 23 is further clarification of Article I. Only six amendments are to provide or clarify civil rights, those are13, 14, 15, 18, 19, and 21. Amendment 18 is the only one ever repealed. As we take a deeper look at amendments 13,14, and 15 they were also known as the Reconstruction Amendments. After the Civil War in early 1865 amendment 13 to abolish slavery, was found to be lacking in clarification of what happened to the freed slaves, and the 14th amendment was proposed in 1866, to allow all slaves citizenship. After this the rights for freed Black men came into question, the 15th amendment was created, that race would not bar anyone from the right to vote. Effects of the Constitutional Amendments The amendments beyond the Bill of Rights have each come when needed for the political and changing human rights that America has faced in the past 224 years. Rights have been granted; laws passed and recalled when they were no longer applicable for the climate of what Americans wanted for themselves. Clarifications for the running of the United States government, what should happen in case of emergencies and representation of all citizens have come from a government for the people, by the people. Conclusion Article V of the United States Constitution provides for America to change. The Framers knew that a simple document that was black and white could not govern a people for all time. Our Constitution is alive; it grows with America, and allows changes to be made allowing it stay relevant

How to Select The Right Employees Essay example -- Employment Work Job

How to Select the Right Employees Hiring and keeping competent employees is critical to business success. However, you must develop a strategy to discover them. With the right employees you can accomplish many organizational goals. Fortunately, when a conflict arises in an organization, a good business team will know how to handle the situation. Whether a person is a manager, subordinate, or president, it is very important that you avoid a bad hire. The recruitment process must be handled carefully and taken very seriously. Objectivity, responsibility, qualifications, and a good offer make it possible to recruit potential employees. Recruitment in the public sector must be fair, open, and representative. Usually, the recruitment process involves a few steps. It includes advertisement, testing and screening, preparation, and decision- making. (Denhardt, Robert, Public Administration, Harcourt Brace and Co., Orlando, FL., 1999, pg. 213) The most scrutinized process of recruitment has been testing and screening. This process can happen through interviews, references, recommendations, and proper review of the applications. You can also use higher measures such as performance, assessments, job-related knowledge, and various tests. Without accurate screening, you are likely to hire someone that will not be productive to your organization. This is a fair process to attract prospective employees. Next, you must make sure that individual s have the appropriate qualifications that meet the job description. Then, after intense review you should be able to identify the best-qualified applicant. The standard recruitment process in the federal system has been described as "slow, unimaginative, and, unassertive. (Cohen, Steven and Eim... ...ring incompetent people. Bibliography Cohen, Steven and Eimicke, William. The New Effective Public Manager, Jossey-Bass Inc. San Francisco, CA, 1988 Denhardt, Robert. Public Administration, Harcourt & Brace Co., Orlando, FL, 1999. Falcone, Paul. 96 Great Interview Questions to ask Before you Hire, American Management Association, NY, New York, 1997 Greenberg, Jerald. Managing Behavioral in Organizations, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1999 Miner, Mary and Miner, John. Employee Selection Within The Law, The Bureau of National Affairs Inc., Washington, DC, 1978. Northcraft, Gregory and Neale, Margaret. Organizational Behavior, The Dryden Press, 1990 Stahl, O. Public Personnel Administration, Harper and Row, NY, New York, 1971 Whetten, David and Cameron, Kim, Developing Management Skills, Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 1998

Coleco Case

STRATEGIC FINANCE COLECO CASE TOY STORY Coleco INC. Profile †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Name – Coleco Industries Time – the end of 1980s Industry – toys Market – USA Market share – the fifth-largest manufacturer in the USA Head quarter – West HartFord, Connecticut Production line – Cabbage Patch Kids Plush Alf dolls and puppets Couch Potato Pals Play sets (The Flintstones,Sesame Street, Sylvanian Families) †¢ †¢ Company`s issue – annual sales were behind expectations egative equity position of $84 million The challenge – to determine whether the company’s capital could be restructured in a way that would satisfy its creditors without diluting the stock any further than was necessary Product line Economy and Industry Analysis 1988 †¢ the economy – raising †¢ unemployment and interest rates – low †¢ demographic factors favorable †¢ interest rate is decreasing †¢ debt is becoming cheaper Economy Industry †¢ favorable conditions toy industry †¢ approximately 800 toy companies in the United States †¢ diversification for reducing sales and profit volatility – only for the biggest companiesSales of Coleco and its Major Competitors †¢ In millions USD 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 Coleco Hasbro Kenner Parker Mattel Tonka 200 0 Company Analysis Sales growth 40,00% 30,00% 20,00% 10,00% 0,00% -10,00% -20,00% -30,00% -40,00% 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Company Analysis Current ratio 3,00 2,50 2,00 1,50 Very fluctuating 1,00 0,50 0,00 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Company Analysis Debt ratio 1,4 1,2 High dependence on debt 1 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Company Analysis Net profit margin 0,15 0,1 0,05 0 -0,05 -0,1 -0,15 -0,2 -0,25 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Negative profits in last yearsCompany Analysis Return on equity 20 15 10 5 Non meaningful figures (Equity is negative) 0 1981 -5 -10 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Company Analysis Return on assets 0,25 0,2 0,15 0,1 0,05 0 -0,05 -0,1 -0,15 -0,2 -0,25 High Volatility of ROA 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 SWOT Analysis strengths 1)Experience in past of recovery from company`s crisis 2) Current ratio is satisfactory weaknesses 1) Sales reduction has resulted in losses that contributed to its negative equity position. 2)Negative or near zero sales growth in recent years. 3)Escalating dependency on debt. 4)Coleco’s capital position was uncertain. )Huge reduction in stock price. 1)The economy was entering its sixth year of overall strength. 2)Unemployment and interest rates at their lowest in years. 3)Demographic factors also were favorable; birth rates were increasing. 4)The toy industry had begun to consolidate. 5) Basic and technology-enhanced toys did well. 1)Of the approximately 800 toy companies in the United States, only the largest were able to minimize sales and profit volatility throu gh diversification. 2)Each companies fortune rose and fell with the strength of its new products 3)Lack of exciting new toy introductions opportunities threats ALTERNATIVES . â€Å"drifting† approach – hoping that products will do well 2. â€Å"merge† approach – hoping that there might be some value in the company’s assets 3. â€Å"equity† approach – to issue more shares at market price 4. â€Å"debts† approach – to restructure debts 5. â€Å"disengagement† approach – to go for liquidation â€Å"Drifting† Approach †¢ †¢ †¢ Net income for Coleco is negative ($105. 4mln in 1987) Net worth is also negative ($84. 9mln in 1987). Huge amount of debt ($620mln in 1987) †¢ †¢ †¢ Equity deficit ($84,3mln in 1987) No any new â€Å"blockbuster† products Low prospects for increasing the company’s sales based on its current product line Low possibility to recover inappro priate decision â€Å"Merge† Approach Coleco is not attractive in the sense of M&A deals: – big debts (total assets < total liabilities) inappropriate decision â€Å"Equity† Approach †¢ The company could issue more shares but the stock price is apparently small (Ex. 1) †¢ Coleco’s equity is negative through last two years 1986 – ($7. 6) mln 1987 – ($ 84. 3) mln inappropriate decision â€Å"Equity† Approach Ex. 1 Stock price High 1984 1985 1986 1987 Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 1988 Jan Feb 14-Mar $22. 250 21. 500 20. 500 11. 625 10. 750 11. 25 11. 000 10. 375 10. 250 9. 125 6. 000 4. 625 4. 250 3. 500 Low $9. 625 10. 125 8. 125 10. 000 9. 875 10. 250 9. 750 9. 125 8. 500 4. 250 4. 375 3. 625 3. 125 2. 625 Close 12. 125 16. 000 8. 375 10. 375 10. 500 10. 625 9. 750 9. 375 9. 125 5. 500 4. 625 3. 875 3. 500 3. 000 2. 500 167. 24 211. 28 242. 17 288. 36 290. 10 304. 00 318. 66 329. 80 321. 83 251. 79 230. 3 247. 08 25 7. 07 267. 82 266. 37 S&P 500 Closing Bond Prices 11. 13% $81. 875 82. 000 77. 750 76. 000 94. 000 75. 625 76. 125 72. 000 55. 250 50. 000 41. 500 41. 750 27. 000 14. 38% $90. 125 101. 875 100. 75 99. 500 96. 500 95. 000 95. 000 98. 625 96. 000 94. 375 68. 875 63. 500 50. 000 54. 125 34. 250 S&P longterm gov bond 40. 29 48. 93 58. 04 60. 69 51. 55 52. 42 51. 89 50. 40 47. 39 47. 17 50. 31 49. 89 51. 28 53. 67 52. 50 â€Å"Debts† Approach †¢ Coleco is dependent on debt through years (also successful ones) †¢ The company has a huge amount of total liabilities (in 1987 about $ 620 mln) †¢ No resources to pay debts (Negative equity, Assets are generally composed of Accounts receivables) †¢ Company by the moment already does not comply with the creditors requirements nappropriate decision â€Å"Disengagement† Approach The first reason for liquidation 700 600 500 400 300 Stock based insolvency 200 100 0 -100 -200 Debt Assets Equity â€Å"Disengagementâ⠂¬  Approach The second reason for liquidation Zone of insolvency cash flow contractual obligations 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Conclusion We consider â€Å"disengagement† approach the best solution for Coleco INC, as the firm is a prime candidate for bankruptcy. THANK YOU FOR ATTANTION QUESTIONS

Emotionally-Charged Subjects Essay

Parents and teenagers need not always argue about issues that are manageable. The key to managing these issues is in understanding each other’s position and in finding a middle-way solution. If we can aim for a win-win solution, that would be best, but many times it may not be possible. So, adjusting our wants with regards to the other’s position may be necessary to solve our problems. Let us take the issues of friends, money and school for example. If we try to understand the problems facing each side, from the teenager and from the parents, we can try to negotiate our way to a solution. First, many teenagers today have friends that parents disagree with, but both sides can work on a solution. Proverbs 18:24 says, â€Å"A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother† (New American Standard Bible). The teenager has to understand that quality friends are more important than quantity. Bad company may lead to drug abuse, alcoholism, pre-marital sex, unwanted pregnancies and other consequences that are life-and-death situations. It is important then to choose our friends wisely and to refrain from others who are bad influences on us. So how do we choose our friends? Or how do we know that they are truly our real friends? Proverbs 17:17 asserts that â€Å"A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need† (New Living Translation). If our so-called â€Å"friends† are only there when we have money or if we are in good health or if we have a nice car and a beautiful house, then they are not our friends. A true friend will be there for you even in sickness, homelessness and poverty. Of course, parents also have to understand that nothing is perfect and that these ideals may not be realized all the time because of actual, instead of theoretical circumstances. So parents have to give their teenagers some room for error and imperfection. By learning from their mistakes, they will become better adults later. Second, many teenagers nowadays want more money, which their parents don’t have, so we need to find creative solutions to solve it. In 1 Timothy 6:10, it is mentioned that â€Å"the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs† (New International Version). Money is needed to satisfy many physical desires, but too many desires will lead to suffering. It is important to extinguish the flames of desire through moderation. If we don’t really need something, we don’t have to possess it. We also need to be wise with our money through investments and diligent work. By finding part-time work and learning how to invest our savings properly, a teenager will learn good financial skills that he will need later as an adult. As Matthew 25:18 mentions, we should not dig â€Å"a hole in the ground and [hide]†¦ the master’s money† (New Living Translation) even if we have only a little of it. We should invest it, and we can also find some work to earn more money that we can additionally invest. We should also not have sudden cravings to splurge once we have a lot of money. In Proverbs 7: 20, a prodigal man â€Å"took lots of money with him†¦ [and] won’t be home for a couple of weeks† (God’s Word Translation). Instead, we should learn how to control our emotions. Being wasteful in our expenditures will empty our bank account. Lastly, we should also be generous. As Exodus 22:25 says, â€Å"If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest† (New International Version). By learning how to give, we will receive payment in â€Å"kind† later on in the form of respect, the return of favors and other non-quantifiable intangible forms that we will appreciate later. Lastly, teenagers may need to confront their parents about their problems in school. Grades are one of the major problems that teenagers face in school. Low marks could be a consequential problem due to bad friends or the lack of money to buy learning resources. If our problem with friends and money are resolved, then we can solve our issues in school also. But sometimes, the cause may be something else. If our ancestors were not so bright themselves, then we shouldn’t expect too much on ourselves. Or if we take some mental aptitude tests, and we score poorly, we may be faced with a biological problem that requires specialized training. But more often than not, we can improve our brain power through proper nutrition, exercise and mental conditioning. There are many books and courses in the market that will teach us on how to increase our mental aptitude. So, it may be necessary to purchase a few for the benefit of our future. But parents should also consider that school and grades are not everything. Jesus himself was very learned, but he did not bother to prove his academic excellence by getting a respected degree from a well-known school. In John 7:15 â€Å"the Jews were surprised and said, How has this man got knowledge of books? He has never been to school† (Bible in Basic English). Indeed, school is not the only place to learn and thus, school grades are not the only proof of learning. While some people may be God-gifted, more often than not, many people learn from the â€Å"School of Hard Knocks. † Truly, there are many successful people today, such as Bill Gates, who never finished college. In the end, teenagers are not always wrong and parents are not always right. When a proper middle-ground is reached between the two, there is peace. References Hook, S. (ed. ). (1965). Bible in Basic English. Cambridge University Press. Holy Bible: New International Version. (1978). Grand Rapids: Zondervan. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. (1996). Wheaton: Tyndale House. The Bible: God’s Word Translation. (1995). Jacksonville: Baker Publishing Group. The Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1997). Anaheim: Foundation.

Mao Zedong and the Peoples Republic of China essays

Mao Zedong and the Peoples Republic of China essays Many today believe that China is on its way to becoming one of the worlds top superpowers. Increased diplomatic talks with the United States and its recent admission into the World Trade Organization only emphasize its growing political and economic importance. According to an article in TIME Magazine: the People's Republic is the buzz of all Asia as a candidate superpower of the next century. All this from a country that at the beginning of the last century lacked an effective central government, and was still holding fast to socio-political traditions that were centuries old. Today, China has achieved the unity that has so long been an issue in its history, and that eluded political leaders from 1912 to 1949. At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, no one could have imagined such progress, and it is possible that China would not have progressed at such a rate were it not for one man. Mao Zedong led China through a successful revolution, and instituted vital changes that allowed China to begin its journey to superpower status. At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, China was a land of tradition, mostly untouched by time. About ninety-four percent of the Chinese population lived in small rural villages. With a population of some 397 million, China had one-fourth of the Earths population, but only 6 percent the Earths arable land. There was also a serious lack of modern technology in China, and consequently the ratio of work to yield on the arable land was very poor. There was also a long tradition of feudalism in China that made the average peasants life even harder. The poor, who made up sixty percent of the population, owned only eighteen percent of the land, while the rich who made up only ten percent of the population owned forty-nine percent of the land. The peasant population either worked for wealthy landowners, or had their own tract of land and had to pay taxes to the regiona...

Spanish Flu Pandemic That Killed Millions in 1918

Spanish Flu Pandemic That Killed Millions in 1918 Every year, flu viruses make people sick. Even the garden-variety flu may kill people, but usually only the very young or the very old. In 1918, the flu mutated into something much more virulent. This new, deadlier flu acted very strangely; it seemed to target the young and healthy, being particularly deadly to 20 to 35-year-olds. In three waves from March 1918 to the Spring of 1919, this deadly flu spread quickly around the world, infecting hundreds of millions of people and killing 50 million to 100 million (upwards of 5% of the worlds population). This flu went by many names, including Spanish flu, grippe, Spanish Lady, the three-day fever, purulent bronchitis, sandfly fever, Blitz Katarrh. The First Reported Cases of the Spanish Flu No one is quite sure exactly where the Spanish flu first struck. Some researchers have pointed to origins in China, while others have traced it back to a small town in Kansas. The best recorded first case occurred in Fort Riley. Fort Riley was a military outpost in Kansas where new recruits were trained before being sent to Europe to fight in World War I. On March 11, 1918, Private Albert Gitchell, a company cook, came down with symptoms that at first appeared to be a bad cold. Gitchell went to the infirmary and was isolated. Within an hour, several additional soldiers had come down with the same symptoms and were also isolated. Despite the attempt to isolate those with symptoms, this extremely contagious flu quickly spread through Fort Riley. After five weeks, 1,127 soldiers at Fort Riley had been stricken with the Spanish flu; 46 of them had died. The Flu Spreads and Gets a Name Soon, reports of the same flu were noted in other military camps around the United States. Shortly thereafter, the flu infected soldiers on board transport ships. Although it was unintended, American troops brought this new flu with them to Europe. Beginning in mid-May, the flu started to strike French soldiers as well. The flu traveled across Europe, infecting people in nearly every country. When the flu rampaged through Spain, the Spanish government publicly announced the epidemic. Spain was the first country to be struck by the flu that was not involved in World War I; thus, it was the first country not to censor their health reports. Since most people first heard about the flu from its attack on Spain, the new flu was named the Spanish flu. The Spanish flu then spread to Russia, India, China, and Africa. By the end of July 1918, after having infected people all around the world, this first wave of the Spanish flu appeared to be dying out. The Spanish Flu Becomes Incredibly Deadly While the first wave of the Spanish flu had been extremely contagious, the second wave of the Spanish flu was both contagious and exceedingly deadly. In late August 1918, the second wave of the Spanish flu struck three port cities at nearly the same time. These cities (Boston, United States; Brest, France; and Freetown, Sierra Leone) all felt the lethalness of this new mutation immediately. Hospitals quickly became overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of patients. When hospitals filled up, tent hospitals were erected on lawns. Nurses and doctors were already in short supply because so many of them had gone to Europe to help with the war effort. Desperately needing help, hospitals asked for volunteers. Knowing they were risking their own lives by helping these contagious victims, many people, especially women, signed up anyway to help as best they could. The Symptoms of the Spanish Flu The victims of the 1918 Spanish flu suffered greatly. Within hours of feeling the first symptoms of extreme fatigue, fever, and headache, victims would start turning blue. Sometimes the blue color became so pronounced that it was difficult to determine a patients original skin color. The patients would cough with such force that some even tore their abdominal muscles. Foamy blood exited from their mouths and noses. A few bled from their ears. Some vomited; others became incontinent. The Spanish flu struck so suddenly and severely that many of its victims died within hours of coming down with their first symptom. Some died a day or two after realizing they were sick. Taking Precautions Not surprisingly, the severity of the Spanish flu was alarming. People around the world worried about getting it. Some cities ordered everyone to wear masks. Spitting and coughing in public was prohibited. Schools and theaters were closed. People also tried their own homemade prevention remedies, such as eating raw onions, keeping a potato in their pocket, or wearing a bag of camphor around their neck. None of these things stemmed the onslaught of the Spanish flus deadly second wave. Piles of Dead Bodies The number of bodies from the victims of the Spanish flu quickly outnumbered the available resources to deal with them. Morgues were forced to stack bodies like cordwood in the corridors. There werent enough coffins for all the bodies, nor were there enough people to dig individual graves. In many places, mass graves were dug to free the towns and cities of the masses of rotting corpses. Spanish Flu Childrens Rhyme When the  Spanish flu  killed millions of people around the world, it affected everyone. While the adults walked around wearing masks, children skipped rope to this rhyme. I had a little birdIts name was EnzaI opened a windowAnd In-flu-enza. Armistice Brings Third Wave of the Spanish Flu On November 11, 1918, an armistice brought an end to World War I. People around the world celebrated the end of this total war and felt jubilant that perhaps they were free from the deaths caused by both war and flu. However, as people hit the streets, gave kisses and hugs to returning soldiers, they also started a third wave of the Spanish flu. The third wave of the Spanish flu was not as deadly as the second wave, but still deadlier than the first. Although this third wave also went around the world, killing many of its victims, it received much less attention. People were ready to start their lives over again after the war; they were no longer interested in hearing about or fearing a deadly flu. Gone but Not Forgotten The third wave lingered. Some say it ended in the spring of 1919, while others believe it continued to claim victims through 1920. Eventually, however, this deadly strain of the flu disappeared. To this day, no one knows why the flu virus suddenly mutated into such a deadly form. Nor do they know how to prevent it from happening again. Scientists and researchers continue to research and learn about the 1918 Spanish flu in the hopes of being able to prevent another worldwide pandemic of the flu.

Current Event Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current Event - Article Example â€Å"We need an arsenal of functional facilities, and we are working over this now,† - The Guardian UK quotes Minister of the Armed Forces. The Minister stressed that the cyber-weapon will not replace traditional weapons, but he considers this type of weapon as an integral part of the armament of the country. Harvey said that the authorities are aware about all the fears associated with the using of such weapons. One of the main questions: when and who will make a decision about a possible counterattack on any object. Harvey said that the decision about cyber-weapon using will be made by the same rules that exist for conventional weapons. â€Å"Cyberspace - a relatively new territory, but the rules, norms, and logic that are used in decision-making in other areas, are applied here,† - the minister said. â€Å"I do not think that the existence of a new field - cyberspace - will force us to act more aggressively than in any other space. Legislative arrangements, under w hich we operate, are time-tested,† - he added. What kind of cyber - weapon is developed under this program, it remains a state secret.

Cyber Security Vulnerabilities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Cyber Security Vulnerabilities - Essay Example As per Gartner, 70% of security incident occur internally i.e. from the organization premises (Dickerson, 2004). Likewise, in September 2004, HFC bank that is one of the largest banks in the UK sent an email to their 2600 customers mentioning that an internal operational error has made recipients email address visible to everyone within the email. Consequently, ‘out of office’ feature was triggered from some of the customers and their personal phone numbers and other details were shared with each other (Dickerson, 2004). This shows that even simplest of mistakes can lead to an even bigger problem. As information systems are now considered as the fundamental function, every organization acquires information systems for business automation, better customer service and ROI (return on investment). Moreover, electronic commerce has also introduced many businesses that are only virtually present. For instance, Amazon that is an online store for selling books generates revenue from the Internet. Customers pay via credit cards for the purchased books that are delivered to them. In this scenario, any sort of security breach may inject an SQL injection or cross site scripting attack on the website can affect the business as well as customer confidence. ... It is the responsibility of the organization to protect and secure data privacy. However, there is not a single law that states how to handle customer information. For this reason, organizations sell or trade customer information with business partners and even to third parties. Likewise, sometimes the sole purpose of this personal data exchange is funds. Although, every online organization has a privacy policy which states how they will handle and secure customer data but at the same time there is no verification criteria. In the following sections, we will critically evaluate a single most cyber security weakness for IT managers within an organization. Likewise, our main argument will cover different domains i.e. the local area network, applications, hardware, transmission media, enterprise networking, intranet, extranet etc. As per (Libicki, 2009): â€Å"In theory, all computer mischief is ultimately the fault of the system’s owner if not because of misuse or misconfigurat ion, then because of using a system with security bugs in the first place. In practice, all computer systems are susceptible to errors. The divergence between design and code is a consequence of the complexity of software systems and the potential for human error. The more complex the system and they do get continually more complex the more places there are in which errors can hide† Association and Weakness The above mentioned argument is indicating to a vulnerability resides within the system that can be utilized for hackers to gain access and is known as exploit. Apart from this inherent risk resulting from inadequate coding practices, human element is also considered as a serious threat that is not limited to hardware,