How to stop data warehousing and mining before they become more Essay - 1

How to stop data warehousing and mining before they become more trouble than they are worth - Essay Example y service, promote efficient business operations and maintain the organizational productivity, avoiding disclosure of sensitive information and fraud and complying with the legislation. It is essential that the organizations understood the major principles of secure information systems implementation. Jeff Angus (2005) clearly demonstrates that the wrong and excessive security practices do nothing but harm the work, causing losses of money, time, and human labor, without providing the security the organization wanted to reach. He explains that very often the complexity of the initiatives overcomes the efforts, while there comes a moment when people and systems simply cannot cope with it, weakening the stability of system and protection. Angus points to the major error that can be committed by an organization concerned with its security: its concentration on â€Å"what might go wrong† instead of on â€Å"how to cope with the inevitable changes to their operations and business model†. While the organization spends money, energy and time overhead, it can be undercut by the changes in the market, so that it may lack the resources as a result. Mark Miller (2005) tries to highlight the reasons of the erroneous practices taking place. To his mind, the major problem is that computer security field is building â€Å"perpetual motion machines†, without distinguishing possible and impossible goals. Permanent frustration caused by such practices leads to the perception that â€Å"true computer security is impossible†, the breeches in protection are inevitable. This, Miller warns, may result in decrease of demand for the security information systems. First of all, Miller explains, it is necessary to understand that the security issue in the pattern of commerce cooperation is â€Å"how to safely obtain the benefits of interacting with the entities you do not trust†. It is also important to realize which of numerous and various models fits the best for achieving the purposes of the

Economics Coursework - Demand Essay Example for Free

Economics Coursework Demand Essay Manufacturers and dealers want UK to follow Europe into scheme to give cash to drivers who scrap old cars to buy new The government was facing renewed pleas to bail out Britains ailing motor industry yesterday as figures showed sales of new cars had dropped by almost a third year on year. Only 313,912 cars were registered in March a 30.5% fall in sales from this time last year, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed, prompting fresh calls for the government to pay motorists to trade in their old cars for new ones. The motor industry and lobby groups are hoping this months budget will include a scrappage scheme, under which car owners are given a financial incentive of about à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2,000 to swap their old vehicle for a new greener model. Treasury officials have told the industry they are seriously considering including such a stimulus in the budget a fortnight tomorrow although ministers publicly insist that no decision has been taken. A scrappage scheme in Germany which offers car owners à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2,500 (à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2,263) for getting rid of any vehicle over nine years old has attracted more than half a million buyers, with sales soaring 40% there in March. The SMMT estimates that 280,000 Britons would take advantage of a similar programme over an 18-month period. This would cost around à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½560m, a figure the SMMT told the Guardian would involve a net cost of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½150-160m. The rest of the money would come from the VAT charged on new cars. But green groups counselled against such a knee jerk response and said the money could be better used to fund sustainable transport solutions. Some environmental organisations fear funds could be diverted from existing pots of money set aside by the government for investment in green technologies, such as the à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½400m earmarked in the pre-budget report for an environmental transformation fund, which supports the development of new low-carbon energy and energy efficiency technologies in the UK. Pro-motoring lobbyists argue that if the government does not move quickly to boost the industry, further jobs would be lost and some manufacturers may transfer their business to other countries. In Whitehall, the debate is still swirling over the wisdom of adopting a scrappage scheme. Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, said in February that his department was examining the experience of other countries, notably Germany, to see whether it would work in Britain and carmakers were asked to produce costed proposals, but no decision has been made. David Cameron told the Guardian in January that the Tories were looking at the idea but he was yet to be convinced. In the meantime, demand for cars has crashed across the world, throwing the global industry into its biggest crisis and forcing American giants General Motors and Chrysler to the brink of bankruptcy. Manufacturers in the UK have also been hit, with factories such as Hondas plant at Swindon mothballed and thousands of jobs cut. Last months decline in sales follows falls of 30.9% in January 2009 and 21.9% in February. March, when new number plates are issued, is a key period for the industry and traditionally accounts for nearly a fifth of annual sales. If things do not improve, the SMMT is forecasting that only 1.72m new vehicles will be sold in 2009, compared with 2.13m in 2008. However, there was one bright note with the rise of the small car segment, where sales increased 84%, indicating a trend towards downsizing among consumers. The top three best-selling models were the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Focus. Yesterday SMMT chief executive, Paul Everitt, said: March new-car registrations are a barometer of confidence in the economy, from businesses and consumers alike. The fall in the market shows that the government needs to do more to boost confidence. A scrappage scheme will provide the incentive needed and the evidence is clear that schemes already implemented across Europe do work to increase demand. The UK is the only major European market not to implement a scheme. Edmund King, the president of the AA, said: The latest figures show the stark difference between a country with a scrappage scheme and one without. A vehicle-scrappage scheme has the potential to reduce emissions, reduce accidents and their severity whilst giving a boost to the UK motor industry. There are many benefits from getting older gross polluters off the road. But green groups counselled against introducing such a scheme. Peter Lipman, policy director at Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, said it would be a really, really bad idea, wherever the money is coming from. There are so many better ways of spending government money if you are trying to deal with both the recession and climate change, he added. The RAC motoring strategist, Adrian Tink, said: The introduction of any car-scrappage scheme needs to be contingent on balancing the economic benefits with a concern for the environment. The scheme needs to be as much about getting old, high-polluting cars off the road as it is about stimulating car sales. The dire sales figures bode ill for the economic recovery because new car sales are seen as a key indicator of consumer confidence. When the UK went into recession in the early 1990s, new car registrations dropped for 27 successive months. At one point, sales that had reached an annual peak of 2.3million in the late-1980s dipped as low as 1.5million. IB Economics: Internal Assessment Commentary Car industry begs for budget boost from Alistair Darling The article Car industry begs for budget boost from Alistair Darling found on the web page of The Guardian discusses the effects of the current recession on the car industry, particularly in the UK. The article states according to the SMMT a 30 % fall in sales from the year before at the same time. In order to take a first step to solving the problem the motor industry hopes to impose the scrappage scheme.. The drop of demand for cars during the recession creates an example of the laws of demand and supply. Demand is the quantity of a good or a service that consumers are willing and able to purchase at a given price in a given time period. Supply is the willingness and ability of producers to produce a quantity of a good or service at a given price in a given time period. Consumers being aware of the recession will rather save their money than choose to spend it on luxury purchase. The fall in income due to the recession has, according to the laws of supply and demand and assuming that all other things stay equal (Ceterus Paribus), caused the fall of demand. Although the article doesnt state a percentage of the fall in income of the population, the income elasticity of demand for vehicles can be described as at least unitary if not elastic, the examples will make an attempt to prove this. Income elasticity of demand measures the proportionate response of quantity demanded to a proportionate change in income. The article gives two proves for that: First, the thought of the coming recession has already let people stop buying cars by 30.5% from one year to the other. People wont buy any luxury goods in bad times. And second, subsidising car buyers by about 2000à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ (scrappage scheme) will increase the purchases in a month by 40%. The fall in demand will also cause an excess supply even if the motor industry stops production directly. All car producers will hence have a massive amount of cars that are just not being bought because there is no demand. According to the rules of supply and demand, as demand falls, quantity supplied decreases as well. In this particular case, the quantity supplied decreases as well but probably not as much as it could to find a new equilibrium, the price at which supply equals demand. Why this is the case will be explained after the following The following graph will show how a fall in demand will cause the demand curve to shift to the left and therefore a fall in the quantity supplied of cars to find a new equilibrium. It can be seen that cars sales fell by nearly 25 % from 2008 to 2009 As stated above, this development is not quite that what happens in reality. According to the rules of unemployment, unemployment is a lagging factor and the demand for labour depends on the demand for, in this case, cars. That means that it begins to rise some time after the recession began. This is because of several reasons such as that firms want to keep skilled workers and will delay redundancies hoping that things might get better. Since firms want to keep skilled workers they would have to keep up the production to a certain extend. Of course production will decrease what will cause cyclical employment but to a certain extend production will be kept up to occupy the workers. The term cyclical unemployment can be defined as occurring when the economy is growing more slowly than estimated as the demand for labour is interdependent on the demand for goods and services. This situation cant be kept up for long because firms lose money spending more money on workers they try to keep than actually gaining through sales and go bankrupt if the recession doesnt end or if they are not being subsidized by the government. Hence the motor industry searches for ways of pushing demand. A possible solution could be the scrappage scheme which encourages motorists to swap their old cars against new ones by giving the buyer about 2000à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ directly. The effect of the scheme on the demand for cars can be seen on the following diagram: Demand rises again due to the encouragement and shifts the demand curve to the right again. Concluding one can say that the law of supply and demand is displayed in the real world. In the article Car industry begs for budget boost from Alistair darling it is clearly shown how recession can affect the demand for cars and how therefore demand for labour interdepends on demand for, in this case, cars. Furthermore it can also be stated that things like the scrappage scheme can encourage demand again.

Ida Tarbell the Muckraker: Digging up the Dirt Essay -- Essays Papers

Ida Tarbell the Muckraker: Digging up the Dirt During the late 1800's and early 1900's, change in American society was very evident in the economy. An extraordinary expansion of the industrial economy was taking place, presenting new forms of business organization and bringing trusts and holding companies into the national picture. The turn of the century is known as the "Great Merger Movement:" over two thousand corporations were "swallowed up" by one hundred and fifty giant holding companies.1 This powerful change in industry brought about controversy and was a source of social anxiety. How were people to deal with this great movement and understand the reasons behind the new advancements? Through the use of propaganda, the public was enlightened and the trusts were attacked. Muckraking, a term categorizing this type of journalism, began in 1903 and lasted until 1912. It uncovered the dirt of trusts and accurately voiced the public's alarm of this new form of industrial control. Ida Tarbell, a known muckraker, spearheaded this popular investigative movement.2 As a journalist, she produced one of the most detailed examinations of a monopolistic trust, The Standard Oil Company.3 Taking on a difficult responsibility and using her unique journalistic skills, Ida Tarbell was able to get to the bottom of a scheme that allowed the oil industry to be manipulated by a single man, John D. Rockefeller. Being a conscientious journalist, Ida Tarbell is known for the inauguration of muckraking. President Theodore Roosevelt had given the term ‘muckraking’ to this type of investigative journalism done by Ida Tarbell. Roosevelt did not fully support her work because of its "focus and tone." The President got this name from a c... ...s Press, 1994), 4. 2. Kathleen Brady, Ida Tarbell, Portrait of a Muckraker (New York: Seaview/Putnam, 1984), 140. 3. Ida M. Tarbell. "The History of the Standard Oil Company." 1904. Available [online]: http://www.history.rochester.edu/fuels/tarbell/MAIN.HTM. (15 February 2000). 4. Fitzpatrick, 2. 5. Mary E. Tomkins, Ida M. Tarbell (New York: Twayne Publishers, Inc, 1974), 15. 6. Brady, 136. 7. Tomkins, 15. 8. Brady, 121-124. 9. Brady, 133. 10. Fitzpatrick, 60-70. 11. Tarbell 12. Tomkins, 65. 13. Fitzpatrick, 77-79. 14. Tomkins, 59-65. 15. Tarbell 16. Tomkins, 66. 17. Lowrie, Arthur L. "Ida M. Tarbell: Investigative Journalist Par Excellence." 1997. Available [online]: http://merlin.alleg.edu/hmccell/tarbell/biobib.html (15 February 2000). 18. Brady, 160. 19. Lowrie

Big Love Essay

This article, â€Å"Big Love, from the set†, by Stanley Kurtz, is about an HBO domestic drama called Big Love. The reader is driven along a path of intrigue about the ever evolving change in people’s perspective on commonly accepted societal values, and the subtle way in which arguments for acceptance of these changes are delivered. The most fundamental institution, marriage, is in this drama, challenged and given, for all practical purposes, a timeline for survival. The co-creators, Will Schaffer and Mark Olsen, have used this show as a media to transform culture by portraying the polygamous Hendrickson family as your typical, good, loving neighbors. To all intents and purposes, Kurtz uses the slippery slope argument, that gay marriage can lead to polygamy. Although he does this with a captivating narrative, he however fails to offer any substantive data to back up some of his views or those portrayed in the drama. In his analysis, Kurtz offers various arguments to support the pro-polygamy view portrayed in the drama. At the very outset, he recounts a position taken by Ginnifer Bowen, one of the main characters. According to her, polygamy is a way out for many women, â€Å"and not a problem in and of itself†. Further, as an anchor to the subtle technique used to sway cultural beliefs, he mentions the effect a gay couple had on legal gay marriage after they appeared on a Dutch honeymoon show. The support polygamy enjoys from the American Civil Liberties Union, is also mentioned by Kurtz. Additionally, he cites the position taken by pro-polygamy advocates, whom he says support punishment of individual abuses, and not the institution itself. Clearly, Kurtz has gone to great lengths to convey the message portrayed in the drama. 2 He has, however, chosen to use aspects of the pro-polygamy view that are very contentious, and for which he does not offer substantive fact. Ginnifer Bowen’s view that polygamy is a solution for many women, for example, is debatable, mainly because it is not supported by any survey or research, and Kurtz should have hesitated before using it in his article, whose readership may include women. The Dutch honeymoon show is another area that Kurtz should have, at the very least, offered some facts and figures. A clearer picture of the subsequent effect the gay couple’s appearance on the show had on people’s position on gay marriage, would have been quite valuable to most readers. It is not enough to say that their appearance was a turning point for same sex marriage. Kurtz also notes the ACLU’s support of polygamy in principle. I believe that this is the kind of credible source that should not be trivialized. If indeed the ACLU supports polygamy in principle, then the author should have researched for an official quote from the ACLU, citing the date and venue such a position was taken. Similarly, the position taken by polygamy advocates on the prosecution of individual abuses and not the castigation of the institution itself, would have merited a quote from a credible source. Kurtz has, however, used the slippery slope argument quite convincingly to convey the hidden meaning behind the drama. He views the drama as an avenue to subtly alter cultural beliefs by staging a production that adulates a polygamous family. By quoting Will Scheffer and 3 Mark Olsen, the co-creators of the show, he lends credence to his article. Their belief in the value of a union, separate from its constitution, is a valuable inclusion in the article because it clearly portrays the whole premise of the drama. It is also obvious from reading the article that Kurtz clearly grasps the intentions of Scheffer and Olsen. He is able to read between the lines and acquaint his readers with the issues involved. The idea that if society can accept gay marriage then it should be able to embrace other types of union, including polygamy and polyamory, is a subject that the author presents quite well. He mentions Tom Hanks, the executive producer of the show, who believes in using â€Å"Big Love† to transform culture. This article is a great service to advocates of a basic, simple way of life, without misconstrued ideas about what is good and bad and who is responsible for telling who. The article educates the reader on the various ways being used by people facing challenging lifestyles and who seek legal acceptance. Using the media to attempt to change people’s beliefs on their culture and customs is dangerous because it works. The new laws that are pro gay all over the world are evidence of this and if not checked, new legislation may be passed to recognize polyamory relationships. Therefore, the advocates of these lifestyles do not seek to create a movement like Martin Luther King did, they intend to use the drug called media that is consumed by everyone all over the world. This then, is the intent of the drama, as portrayed by Kurtz. 4 Work Cited Kurtz, Stanley. â€Å"Big Love, From the Set†. National Review Online. 13 March, 2006. Web. 8 July, 2009.

Self-Motivation

Self motivation is paramount to success in life. You must learn how to motivate yourself. In the present situation now, it is difficult to keep our spirits up and high, but knowing the right way to focus on the positive outlook In life, we will be able to achieve our dreams. We need to encourage ourselves to accept opportunity,because If we stop beveling and trusting to what we can do In a particular situation, who else Why are we striving in life?What makes an individual work hard? I believe,each will respond,because we are all motivated with our â€Å"goals† in life,our aspirations,our dreams,all these give us the reason to stay and accept chances, for chances will always produce positive and fruitful life if it is done with trust,passion,encouragement,and willingness to improve and be successful. People think on the ways on how to make life better. One of these ways is through continued learning.If you're looking at adults going back to school whether in-campus or online,th e most successful one are those who are highly motivated. They understand that education Is a steppingstone to go far and reach the ladder of success. In order to be motivated. One must be dedicated to achieve the goals which are set as parameters in life. Life is short and there is no way we can fully enjoy it,only if it is taken care of and if we live our life in the best way we can and in the most productive way.

Padre Pio Essays - Capuchins, Padre Pio, Stigmatics, Stigmata

Padre Pio Essays - Capuchins, Padre Pio, Stigmatics, Stigmata Padre Pio Born in 1887, Padre Pio is not yet canonized. Francesco, named in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, was one of eight children of Grazio and Maria Forgione. Francesco was very devout even as a child, and at an early age felt drawn to the priesthood. He became a Capuchin novice at the age of sixteen and received the ?habit? in 1902. Francesco was ordained to the priesthood in 1910 after seven years of study and became known as Padre Pio. On September 20, 1918, Padre Pio was kneeling in front of a large crucifix when he received the visible marks of the crucifixion. The doctor who examined Padre Pio could not find any natural cause for the wounds. Padre Pio describes what happened in a letter that he wrote to his spiritual advisor, Padre Benedetto. ?On the mourning of the 20th of last month, in the choir, after I celebrated Mass, I yielded to a drowsiness similar to sweet sleep. All the internal and external senses and even the very faculties of my soul were immersed in indescribable stillness. Absolute silence surrounded and invaded me. I was suddenly filled with great peace and abandonment witch effected everything else and caused a lull of turmoil. All this happened in a flash. While this was taking place, I saw before me a mysterious person similar to the one I had seen on the evening of August the 5th. The only difference was that his hands and feet and side were dripping blood. The sight terrified me and what I felt at that moment is indescribable. I thought I should have died if the Lord had not intervened and strengthened my heart which was about to burst out of my chest. The vision disappeared and I became aware that my hands, feet and side were dripping blood.? He then goes on about the pain he experienced for the next week. These wounds never healed or festered and were still bleeding at the time of his death in 1968, fifty years later. The wounds of the stigmata were not the only mystical phenomenon experienced by Padre Pio. The blood from the stigmata had an odor described by many as similar to that of perfume or flowers. Padre Pio had the ability to read the hearts of the penitents who flocked to him for confession which he heard for ten or twelve hours per day. Padre Pio used the confessional to bring both sinners and devout souls closer to God; he would know just the right word of counsel or encouragement that was needed. Even before his death, people spoke to Padre Pio about his possible canonization. On Friday, September 20, 1968, fifty years after the stigmata, he celebrated Mass as he usually did at 5:00 A.M. He was extremely weak and was helped to the altar in a wheelchair. He celebrated the Mass while seated, with the permission of his spiritual son, Pope Paul VI. An unusual thing began to happen. Prayer groups and thousands of his Spiritual Children began to arrive in San Giovanni Rotondo on top of Monte Gargano in southern Italy. There had been no arrangement made by the Capuchins, no organized gathering had been planned, yet his "children" as he called them gathered as if for some special occasion. Despite his weakness he heard confessions until his superior ordered him to rest. On Saturday, he was so weak he had to spend the day in bed. The crowds gathered in Our Lady of Grace Church to pray for Padre Pio's recovery. ?God healed him before; surely he would heal him again,? people thought On Sunday, the 22nd, he celebrated his 5:00 A.M. morning Mass for all his prayer groups. Again he was wheeled into the church and celebrated Mass while seated. His voice was weak. It was apparent that he had little strength. In fact, at the end of the Mass he almost collapsed. He was helped from the altar by his brother Friars, and as he was wheeled into the chapel. Some of his ?children? realized he had just celebrated his last Mass. On that day, the crypt which had been made for Padre Pio was blessed by the

Overview of the Archaic Age of Ancient Greek History

Overview of the Archaic Age of Ancient Greek History Shortly after the Trojan War, Greece fell into a dark age about which we know little. With the return of literacy at the beginning of the 8th century, BCE came the end of the dark age and the start of what is called the Archaic Age. In addition to the literary work of the composer of the Iliad and the Odyssey (known as Homer, whether or not he actually wrote one or both), there were stories of creation told by Hesiod. Together these two great epic poets created what became the standard religious stories known and told about the ancestors of the Hellenes (Greeks). These were the gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus. Rise of the Polis During the Archaic Age, previously isolated communities came into increased contact with one another. Soon the communities joined to celebrate the panhellenic (all-Greek) games. At this time, the monarchy (celebrated in the Iliad) gave way to aristocracies. In Athens, Draco wrote down what had previously been oral laws, the foundations of democracy emerged, tyrants came to power, and, as some families left the small self-sufficient farms to try their lot in an urban area, the polis (city-state) began. Important developments and major figures connected with the rising polis in the Archaic era inclue: Four Tribes of AthensSolon the Law-Giver of AthensCleisthenes and the 10 TribesOlympic Games Economy While the city had marketplaces, business and trade were considered corrupting. Think: Love of money is the root of all evil. An exchange was necessary to fulfill the  needs for family, friends, or community. It was not simply for profit. The ideal was to live self-sufficiently on a farm. Standards for proper behavior for citizens made some tasks degrading. There were slaves to do the work that was beneath the dignity of a citizen. Despite resistance to money-making, by the end of the Archaic Age, coinage had begun, which helped promote trade. Greek Expansion The Archaic Age was a time of expansion. Greeks from the mainland set out to settle the Ionian coast. There they had contact with the novel ideas of native populations in Asia Minor. Certain Milesian colonists began to question the world around them, to look for a pattern in life or cosmos, thereby becoming the first philosophers. New Art Forms When the Greeks found (or invented) the 7-string lyre, they produced a new music to accompany it. We know some of the words they sang in the new ic mode from the fragments written by such poets as Sappho and Alcaeus, both from the island of Lesbos. At the beginning of the Archaic age, statues imitated the Egyptian, appearing rigid and immobile, but by the end of the period and the beginning of the Classical Age, statues looked human and almost lifelike. End of the Archaic Age Following the Archaic Age was the Classical Age. The Archaic Age ended either after the Pisistratid tyrants (Peisistratus [Pisistratus] and his sons) or the Persian Wars. The Word Archaic Archaic comes from the Greek arche beginning (as in In the beginning was the word....). Historians of the Archaic and Classical Period HerodotusPlutarchStraboPausaniasThucydidesDionorus SiculusXenophonDemosthenesAeschinesNeposJustin

Aaron Douglas, Harlem Renaissance Painter

Aaron Douglas, Harlem Renaissance Painter Aaron Douglas (1899-1979) was one of the pioneers of the development of African American art. He was a significant member of the Harlem Renaissance movement of the 1920s and 1930s. Later in his life, he promoted the development of arts education in African American communities from his position as the first head of the art department at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. Fast Facts: Aaron Douglas Occupation: Painter, illustrator, educatorStyle: ModernistBorn: May 26, 1899 in Topeka, KansasDied: February 2, 1979 in Nashville, TennesseeEducation: University of NebraskaSpouse: Alta SawyerSelected Works: Cover images for The Crisis (1926), Illustrations for James Weldon Johnsons Gods Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse (1939), Mural series Aspects of Negro Life (1934)Notable Quote: We can go to African life and get a certain amount of form and color, understanding and using this knowledge in development of an expression that interprets our life. Early Life and Education Born in Topeka, Kansas, Aaron Douglas grew up in a politically active African American community. His father was a baker and highly valued education despite his low income. Douglas mother was an amateur artist, and her interest in drawing inspired her son, Aaron. Following high school graduation, Aaron Douglas wanted to attend college, but he couldnt afford the tuition. He traveled to Detroit, Michigan, with a friend and worked in a Cadillac plant while attending art classes in the evening at the Detroit Museum of Art. Douglas later reported being a victim of racial discrimination at the Cadillac plant. In 1918, Douglas was finally able to enroll at the University of Nebraska. While World War I raged in Europe, he attempted to join the Student Army Training Corps (SATC), but they dismissed him. Historians speculate it was due to racial segregation in the military. He transferred to the University of Minnesota where he rose to the rank of corporal in the SATC before the end of the war in 1919. Returning to Nebraska, Aaron Douglas earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1922. Invincible Music: The Spirit of Africa for The Crisis (1926). New York Public Library / Public Domain Aaron Douglas fulfilled a dream of moving to New York City in 1925. There he studied with artist Winold Reiss, who encouraged him to use his African heritage for artistic inspiration. Reiss drew on the legacy of German folk paper-cuts for his work, and that influence is seen in Douglas illustration work. Soon, Aaron Douglas found his reputation as an illustrator rising quickly. He earned commissions for the National Urban Leagues magazine The Crisis and the NAACPs magazine Opportunity. That work also led to work for nationally popular magazines Harpers and Vanity Fair. Harlem Renaissance Modernist Painter By the final years of the 1920s, writers such as Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and James Weldon Johnson considered Aaron Douglas part of the movement known as the Harlem Renaissance. Early in the following decade, Douglas began painting mural commissions that brought him national fame. Aspects of Negro Life: The Negro in an African Setting (1934). New York Public Library / Public Domain In 1934, with funding from the Public Works Administration, Aaron Douglas painted his best-known set of murals, Aspects of Negro Life, for the Countee Cullen branch of the New York Public Library. For subject matter, Douglas drew on the history of the African American experience from slavery through the Reconstruction to twentieth-century lynching and segregation. The panel The Negro in an African Setting shows Douglas at the peak of his powers. It depicts life in Africa before slavery as joyous, proud, and firmly rooted in the community. Aaron Douglas became the first president of the Harlem Artists Guild in 1935. The organization promoted young African American artists and lobbied the Works Progress Administration to provide more opportunities for them. Arts Educator In 1938, Aaron Douglas earned a fellowship from the Rosenwald Foundation, a generous provider of stipends to hundreds of African American artists and writers. The funds allowed him to travel to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Virgin Islands and create watercolor paintings of life there. Aspects of Negro Life: Song of the Towers (1934). New York Public Library / Public Domain Upon returning to the U.S., Charles S. Johnson, the first African American president of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, invited Douglas to create the universitys new art department. Aaron Douglas served as head of the art department until his retirement in 1966. President John F. Kennedy invited Aaron Douglas to the White House to participate in ceremonies honoring the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1963. Douglas continued to appear as a guest lecturer after retirement until his death in 1979. Legacy Aspects of Negro Life: From Slavery to Reconstruction (1934). New York Public Library / Public Domain Some consider Aaron Douglas to be the father of black American art. His modernist style laid a framework for the development of art in African American communities. The bold, graphical style of his work is echoed in the work of many artists. Contemporary artist Kara Walker exhibits the influence of Douglass use of silhouettes and paper cut-outs. Source Ater, Renee. Aaron Douglas: African-American Modernist. Yale University Press, 2007.

Crime Rates in Qatar Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Crime Rates in Qatar - Research Proposal Example As the report declares USA, on the other hand, is another developed country, but experiencing a relatively higher crime rate than Qatar. In as much as this is a country with first-class police services like the FBI and the likes the level of crime rates still has not gone down as expected. Each day, shockers of news like armed robbery, murder rock the news. The country experiences a crime rate of up to 4.1% on average. From the essay it is clear that USA has very many factors that contribute to its high crime rates as researched prior by... One of the primary factors they can accuse is the high rate of immigration by other people from different countries who come to the US hopeful of better jobs. When some of these immigrants do not succeed in their goals, or they find the wages and salaries too small, they assume the role of burglars and bandits hence increasing the daily crime rate. This is despite the strict law enforcement mechanisms put across by the government. USA is a country experiencing rapid economic growth each year. Newer buildings are constructed each time. Due to this, the young and the able-bodied tend to move towards the construction projects in search of employment or wages. These areas are reportedly over crowded in terms of settlement. Crimes are more prevalent in these regions. The foreign workers also add to the congestion in these places. Drug use has been one of the factors influencing criminal offences in USA. Large amounts of drugs have been seized in USA in the recent past.

Strategic Marketing Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Marketing Proposal - Essay Example Executive Summary Salad Creations has been offering fresh and natural salads in different parts of United States for years. Considering the response of the customers in United States, the company has planned to expand its services in United Kingdom as well. There are lots of reasons behind the success of Salad Creations in United States and the company would be highly relying on the brand image and management expertise to make the brand successful in London as well as it plans to expand. Salad Creations offer fresh and healthy salads. Different variety is available for customers to choose from and even if they do not like any of these, then the company gives them the freedom to prepare their own salads. Although, in United Kingdom there are few competitors offering fresh salad but considering the market research and response of the target market, the management feels that London would be the best suited area for opening a new store in the European Union. The management plans to make use of different marketing channels and has devised different short term as well as long term objectives. Strategies have been devised to achieve these objectives by the management. The company would also be making use of traditional as well as latest marketing channels to promote the offerings of the company so that they are able to reach the target market. Also the company would be evaluating different marketing channels and then prioritising the investment on different marketing channels accordingly. Online marketing strategies, social media marketing and traditional promotional channels such as direct mail, advertisements on billboards and advertisements on newspapers would be ysed by the management to promote the brand in London and in United Kingdom. Marketing Budget has also been setup by the management however the management has pre-decided that this budget would not be fixed and it would be flexible. The management would be evaluating the marketing budget on a quarterly bas is so that they can invest more in activities that yield better returns so that it helps in the long run profitability of the company. 2.0. Situational Analysis Salad Creation is a renowned name in the food industry of United States offering fresh and healthy salads. Salad Creation offers spectacular taste at affordable prices and with the growing consciousness of the people around the world to have more fresh and natural foods, the demand of salad has increased to a great extent. The proposal analyses the situation of Salad Creation to start offering the fresh salad in United Kingdom as it plans to expand the idea of fresh and natural foods in other parts of the world besides United States. Salad Creation has been evaluating to offer its services in London, United Kingdom and then afterwards to other parts of United Kingdom. In London, the management has selected the Oxford Street where the company should be opening its first outlet in United Kingdom. There are several reasons for selecting this location; accessibility of resources, ease of customers to reach, an important area in the city, availability of transport etc. In the appendix section, a map has been placed identifying the proposed location of Salad Creations. Although, the demand for such products have been increasing throughout the world. However, there are few competitors already operating in London

Leadership Is Action and Not Position (The Enthusiastic Delegator) Case Study

Leadership Is Action and Not Position (The Enthusiastic Delegator) - Case Study Example Leadership can be viewed to be one of the imperative factors affecting the success or failure of an organization. Leadership plays a significant role in influencing and directing each member of the organization towards attaining shared vision and goals. At the present day context, leadership has become a key element in every part of human life. Contextually, it is recognized that certain leaders are born with the pertinent qualities and traits to be regarded as a born leader. However, certain leaders are required to develop the essential leadership qualities such as delegation, problem solving and efficient decision making among others to be regarded as a successful leader of an organization. True leaders can be regarded as those individuals who demonstrate positive attitude and intellectual speaking ability. These are the people who demonstrate their leadership traits through action and not by their position. An individual can possess a unique leadership style, however at times there is a requirement of altering the followed leadership style according to the situation in hand. In such scenarios, a leader needs to make pertinent decisions and properly delegate the required tasks among the subordinates to ensure proper flow of action in the organization. ‘Leadership is Action, Not Position’ is one of the famous quotes of Donald H. McGannon who operates ‘Westinghouse Broadcasting Corporation’ and also plays the role of President of ‘National Urban League (NUL)’. A person in order to become a successful leader needs to earn the respect of his/her followers by appropriate actions and not by the mere position of authority. . As a leader, an individual should realize that every action should reflect its reaction upon his or her attitude, integrity and ability (Bolden, 2004). Summary of the Pertinent Facts of the Case According to the case study, it has been observed that Charles Turner was promoted as a manager in the sales department at Universal Fibre and Textile Company. Moreover, the company had entered into the market two years before through selling a wide range of electrical insulation materials. The company’s entry into the market was quite successful through ‘High-ohm’ products. The company was going to launch its new manufacturing unit where production capacity was double than the previous manufacturing plant. The sales director of this company was still in doubt regarding Charles Turner’s position as a manager within the sales department. Moreover, sales director was also in doubt that how Charles Turner can manage the sales force of the company along with ensuring high ohm produ cts manufacturing within the new plant. Furthermore, the sales director was personally expected to initiate the service of â€Å"house accounts† in order to increase the High-ohm products sales by about 25%. In this case study, it has been observed that Jim Ferris was one of the successful sales managers who operated in Northern and Midwest Area’s operations. Jim Ferris was considered as a high reputed, brilliant and successful salesman regarding industrial products. Being a successful sales manager Jim Ferris effectively managed the entire operational activities of the company which can be observed from the increase of sales of High-ohm products by about 44% in Midwest Area. Conversely, being a manager of Electrical Insulation Materials Sales Department, Charles Turner managed only 28% of the sales of High-ohm products in Southeast region. According to case study, the basic fact that has been observed is that being a successful employee Jim Ferris was not promoted as a manager in northwest sales department. By taking into concern the scenario provided in the case study, an interesting fact that has been observed is that Charles Turner was quite suspicious regarding his own capabilities and skills. He was a methodical, painstaking and cautious person, which can be regarded as among the essential qualities for managing a sales

Interaction Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Interaction Theories - Essay Example Over the past few weeks, there has been some distance between the two, which Jade translated as diminishing interest and ignorance, not knowing that Mason was under job stress and pressure. One night over a phone conversation between the two, Mason was more silent and seemed disinterested in the conversation. This upset Jade, who quickly ended the conversation and sent him a text expressing her feelings. Mason’s reply was that since they were in a long distance relationship, they had little to talk about and that she was blowing his reasons for silence out of proportion. After several exchanges and arguments, the couple finally realized that they both lead busy lives, but they must ensure that they put positive efforts for their relationship to work. The argument was also a revelation for Mason. It presented Jade as a sensitive person who needs constant attention. She also holds her emotions within her when she gets upset. Eventually, the couple came to a mutual agreement. Mas on now understood her better and apologized to her. Application Evolutionary psychology is a biological approach that seeks to explain human behavior and interaction with other humans. The emphasis of the theory in human relations includes parenting, interactions within relatives and families, and interactions with unrelated people. According to this theory, most of the human behavior is explainable by internal psychological mechanisms (Chadee, 2011). In essence, this theory attributes human behaviors to adaption and psychological mechanisms, which are responses to particular contingencies in their environment, and their selection depends on their contribution to survival and reproduction. Jade’s father left at a very tender age. She therefore developed psychological mechanisms that made her sensitive, seeking attention for that fatherly love. This explains her past relationship problems, and the recent one with Mason. Her ideal romantic partner is one who cares and listens t o her. Luckily, Mason now understands her. Attachment theory explains the dynamics and principles of long-term relationships between people. The theory has an extension of adult romantic relations by Philip Shaver and Cindy Hazan. The attachment theory explains four styles of attachments in adults: anxious-preoccupied, secure, fearful-avoidant, and dismissive-avoidance (Chadee, 2011). Securely attached adults have positive views of themselves, their relationships, and their partners. They are comfortable with independence and intimacy. In the dismissive-avoidant group, adults seek independence, avoiding attachment completely. They consider themselves invulnerable to feelings and self-sufficient. They suppress their feelings and distance themselves when rejected. With fearful-avoidant adults, there is mixed feelings and reactions on emotional closeness. They desire the closeness, and at the same time feel uncomfortable. They consider themselves unworthy and mistrust their partners. A nxious-preoccupied individuals need approval, responsiveness, and high levels of intimacy. As a result, they become overly dependent on their partners (Chadee, 2011). These adults have less positive views of themselves and their relationship, are less trusting, and display high levels of impulsiveness, worry, and emotional expressiveness. Jade fits well in the anxious-preoccupied style of attachment. This is evident from her emotional

Capital Structure and Leverage Practices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Capital Structure and Leverage Practices - Essay Example The family dollar company is basically a chain of stores that offer different assorted products such as clothing, food, and other supplies that a common family needs. This fact about the company's standing as a proper resource of practical items that is needed by the common family gives it a bit of an edge in making specific name in the market. Refinements and Growth. Refinements have been made through the years but its marketing edge remains to be meeting the needs of its customers for good quality but low cost merchandise (Family Dollar). The company basically thrived within a basic improved growth during the 1980's but gradually the growth slowed down during the 1900's when particular retail store brands already entered the arena of modern business industries such as that of Wal-Mart. "Over the years, Family Dollar has matured into a highly sophisticated retailer while staying true to its roots. An efficient distribution system, astute management and adoption of new technology and systems have enabled Family Dollar to keep up its industry-leading metrics in new store sales productivity, return on invested capital and comparable-store sales" (http://findarticles.com) Today, although the Family Dollar company remains to be within the competition, it is surely in need of improving its ways to keep up with what other competitor organizations put up for the establishment of a better standing in the industry of international retailing. The company now belongs to the Fortune 400 and S&P 500. THE COMPANY'S CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND LEVERAGE PRACTICES During the 1970's it could be seen how the stock shares of the company grew to a level of competitive stand within the stock market. This was the time when it went public for at least $14.50 per share. From this particular standing, the business began to grow towards prosperity and increased rate of profits in an annual basis. As the business grew towards a more inquisitive sense of market control, the ways by which the business have seen their practical position in the industry as a particular competitive organization in the field of retail marketing and product distribution. The CEO's that come and go in the company have effectively managed the capital of the business. However, because of the preserved views towards earning more through establishing more branches, the balance of seeing matters clearly have placed the Family Dollar in quite a stable yet non-moving position in the industry as larger organizations come into the scene. This is the reason why there is a need to shift the focus from profit to customer satisfaction considerations. "Despite being the underdog in sales and store count, Family Dollar is still the favored stock of many analysts due to a strong growth outlook and best-in-class financial metrics that give it an edge over Dollar General" (http://findarticles.com) The company seems comfortable going public as it constantly declares dividends while also actively looking for investment opportunities. The company gives quarterly dividends to its investors and has specifically reported an 8% increase in dividends at the start of 2009. Recently, Family Dollar Company was reported to make a presentation "to the investment community at Barclays Capital Retail and Restaurants Conference" (Family Dollar). ANALYSIS OF THE COMPANY'S CAPI

Interaction Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Interaction Theories - Essay Example Over the past few weeks, there has been some distance between the two, which Jade translated as diminishing interest and ignorance, not knowing that Mason was under job stress and pressure. One night over a phone conversation between the two, Mason was more silent and seemed disinterested in the conversation. This upset Jade, who quickly ended the conversation and sent him a text expressing her feelings. Mason’s reply was that since they were in a long distance relationship, they had little to talk about and that she was blowing his reasons for silence out of proportion. After several exchanges and arguments, the couple finally realized that they both lead busy lives, but they must ensure that they put positive efforts for their relationship to work. The argument was also a revelation for Mason. It presented Jade as a sensitive person who needs constant attention. She also holds her emotions within her when she gets upset. Eventually, the couple came to a mutual agreement. Mas on now understood her better and apologized to her. Application Evolutionary psychology is a biological approach that seeks to explain human behavior and interaction with other humans. The emphasis of the theory in human relations includes parenting, interactions within relatives and families, and interactions with unrelated people. According to this theory, most of the human behavior is explainable by internal psychological mechanisms (Chadee, 2011). In essence, this theory attributes human behaviors to adaption and psychological mechanisms, which are responses to particular contingencies in their environment, and their selection depends on their contribution to survival and reproduction. Jade’s father left at a very tender age. She therefore developed psychological mechanisms that made her sensitive, seeking attention for that fatherly love. This explains her past relationship problems, and the recent one with Mason. Her ideal romantic partner is one who cares and listens t o her. Luckily, Mason now understands her. Attachment theory explains the dynamics and principles of long-term relationships between people. The theory has an extension of adult romantic relations by Philip Shaver and Cindy Hazan. The attachment theory explains four styles of attachments in adults: anxious-preoccupied, secure, fearful-avoidant, and dismissive-avoidance (Chadee, 2011). Securely attached adults have positive views of themselves, their relationships, and their partners. They are comfortable with independence and intimacy. In the dismissive-avoidant group, adults seek independence, avoiding attachment completely. They consider themselves invulnerable to feelings and self-sufficient. They suppress their feelings and distance themselves when rejected. With fearful-avoidant adults, there is mixed feelings and reactions on emotional closeness. They desire the closeness, and at the same time feel uncomfortable. They consider themselves unworthy and mistrust their partners. A nxious-preoccupied individuals need approval, responsiveness, and high levels of intimacy. As a result, they become overly dependent on their partners (Chadee, 2011). These adults have less positive views of themselves and their relationship, are less trusting, and display high levels of impulsiveness, worry, and emotional expressiveness. Jade fits well in the anxious-preoccupied style of attachment. This is evident from her emotional

New York Times Article Review in environment Essay

New York Times Article Review in environment - Essay Example New technologies, such as high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment in office buildings, pumps and motors in industrial settings, compact fluorescent bulbs and low-emitting diodes, etc., provide an opportunity to slash energy use, reducing emissions from electricity generation. However, high prices do not allow any considerable re-equipment of the US population. The new initiative offers a wonderful solution of the problem. The auction is to bring hundreds of millions of dollars annually. This money can be used to assist residential and business customers to upgrade their equipment. The author of the article fairly suggests that the initiative should become the foundation of federal-state partnership. Conducted by the federal government, the auction is likely to raise much more money, leading to a significant reduction of energy use and gas emissions. Set under a national cap and run by the federal government, the auction could bring tens of billions annually. The states could get funds for implementation of their decisions and regulation on utilities, the location of power plants, building codes and land use. Many states take steps in the direction of energy efficiency. So Massachusetts has cut the annual growth in electricity demand by nearly one-third. Rebates, low-interest loans and incentives allowed residential and business customers reequip their settings reducing the use of energy and saving their money. California promotes solar power installations and energy efficient building designs. Connecticut has issued a law making utilities to re-equip and inve st into energy efficiency projects. The International Energy Conservation Code and its equivalents for residential and commercial buildings have become the guidelines for action in many states. According to the Clean Air Act states should get federal funds to carry out their local strategies on pollution prevention. The federal-state

Impact of Government Restriction on Tobacco Smoking Essay Example for Free

Impact of Government Restriction on Tobacco Smoking Essay Introduction                      Tobacco smoking is known to be a major health problem among many since the product is known to have up to 60 carcinogens among them nicotine and carbon monoxide (Owing, 2005). Currently the smoking prevalence in the European region is estimated to be about 28.6% with the male having a higher percentage of 40% as compared to the female who rank at 18.2%. Health experts have always pinpointed smoking as one the killer habits contributing to high cases of mortality and many health hazards CITATION WHO07 l 1033 (WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2007). In that regard many government have put measures to curb the habit. In this presentation we shall focus on the smoking trends and limitations put by governments within the period 1974-1999 divided in 1974-1984 and 1985-1999. 1974-1984 Tobacco smoking in Britain has been on the decline in the past 50 years. It is believed that in the period beginning 1974 the country experienced the highest decline in smoking. This is compared to 1940s when prevalence was a high as 82%. Prevalence of smoking in the Great Britain for the period 1974-2012 % 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 1998 2002 2006 2010 2012 Men 51 45 38 35 31 28 28 30 27 23 21 22 Women 41 37 33 31 29 26 26 26 25 21 20 19 All 45 40 35 33 30 27 27 28 26 22 20 20 Note: Retrieved from ash.org.uk smoking statistics with information originating the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, 2012. Based on the above statistics it is evident that the period 1974-1984 experienced a slower decline in tobacco smoking as compared to the later period. The fact that this period was the first to experience such huge decline implies there must have been a general change in public attitude towards the habit. In this case the government played the role as a regulatory body to curb a common habit that had become a vice. To control smoking habit among the people the British government used price increase to keep tobacco prices high. This was done through the introduction of taxes. Due to addiction effect of nicotine contained in tobacco the decline in the number of smokers was not very large even the though the habit is concentrated among the low income earners (Ewles, 2005). Despite the low smoking prevalence in the period 1974-1984 as compared to earlier years, rights of non-smokers were not recognized. The government focused more of reducing smoking rates rather than reducing the effects imposed by tobacco smoke on third parties. Smoking in public was not regulated as smoking zones did not exist and not much research had been done of how the smoke can affect non-smokers without their consent. Individuals were free to smoke in public as no law enforced by the government was in place to control them. It is not just smokers who did not recognize that non-smokers have their rights but also non-smokers were not aware that they had rights to a smoke free environment. Generally the number of women smoking had also declined compared to earlier years. The trend continued to later years. Even though there was a decline still the number was high based on the statistics that by 1974, 4 in every 10 women were smokers. This figure dropped and by 1984 it was 3 out of 10. In this period of time smoking among women wasn’t looked from the negative side but it came to be a concern when it was done in pregnancy. Despite lack of much research about the effect of smoking in pregnant women in this period, there was general belief in the public that it was not ideal for a pregnant woman to smoke. A pregnant woman smoking was seen as irresponsible and not caring about the child she was carrying. The concern here was about the wellness of the child whom the woman was carrying since he/she was being exposed to the dangers of tobacco. However, such public concern did not affect the trend because smoking among pregnant women was common with women from low social class. The question whether decline in smoking was to the advantage or a disadvantage of all is an issue of concern. While tobacco industry was a big contributor to the tax revenue of the nation and created jobs, the same industry was linked to health and socio-economic challenges. In the period discussed many of the affected parties were the low class citizens who could otherwise used their funds in the right way rather than smoking. It problem worsened if they got health complications as this rendered them uneconomical. The efforts put by the government in this period to curb tobacco smoking were of great value because they focused on building the future nation rather than gaining tax revenues at the expense of the future. 1985-1999                      In this period of time the trend in tobacco smoking were in decline until 1994 when they remained constant. In general what this statistics imply is that the smoking prevalence in Britain may have begun to be constant at a rate of one smoker in every for individuals among the adults. The trends here show that the number of women smokers was also getting closer to that of their male counterparts of which stand at 28% as compares 29% in men by 1994. Smoking among the young too increased in this period especially among the teenagers. Despite the low prevalence percentage as compared to preceding periods, the worry was about the stability trend. The trend showed that unless action be taken the prevalence rate in Britain would have begun to rise again CITATION Roy00 l 1033 ( Royal College of Physicians of London. Tobacco Advisory Group., 2000)Smoking during pregnancy was an issue of concern especially among the young and unemployed ones. This is because during this time much awareness had been created about the negative effects of smoking especially in pregnant women. Smoking in pregnancy had been known to cause immature birth and the children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy risked â€Å"neo-natal mortality or sudden infant death syndrome, of asthma or wheezing illness in the first years of life CITATION Roy00 l 1033 ( Royal College of Physicians of London. Tobacco Advisory Group., 2000).† On the other hand there was public perception that smoking during pregnancy affected the normal growth of the child both physically and intellectually. With this kind of information within the public a pregnant woman smoking was seen as not caring of the wellness of her child. Although a large number of women continued to smoke during pregnancy, statistics by the Health Education Authority (HBE) in 1999 showed that 10% of women who were smoking before pregnancy stopped the habit. Much awareness was also created of how smoking is likely to affect people who are not smokers but come into contact with the smoke. It was well known that an individual smoking in public is likely to cause more harm to individual who inhale the smoke. In that regard the government came with rules meant to discourage smoking in the public. This was based on acceptance even among the smokers that non-smokers had rights to a clean environment. It is in this period that the government adopted policies that limited places where an individual could smoke. This was aimed at discouraging further increase in the number of smokers who could be easily influenced and also meant to protect the rights of non-smokers. To curb smoking the British government put more efforts in price increase through the use of taxes. However, this did not been seem to work due to various reasons attached to smoking among them being the addictive nature of the product. It is well known that nicotine substance contained in tobacco is addictive and price increase could not prevent individuals from continuing to use the product. On the other hand the legality of tobacco made it is easier for smokers to get it from cheaper sources that taxation didn’t affect.The government also turned to campaigns through the media that targeted the youth to discourage the habit among them being banning of cigarette adverts. However, such campaigns were known to have poor results in terms of outreach among the young people. The hurdle the government was facing here is that in this period the young were affected as compared to the later whereby focus was put more on the adult population. The actions by the government to put restrictions on smoking were of great importance to the society. Within this period of time most firms in the UK were manufacturing their products outside the country unlike in the 1974-1984 when tobacco products were produced locally. This meant that no jobs were created for the locals within the country unless in fields like sales, marketing and distribution. Looking into the retail sector cigarettes were sold as secondary products since retailers had other products they majored in hence low returns from the tobacco products. On the side of the consumer it is known that in UK tobacco products are priced in a way that most of the cost is excise duty. This implied that expenditure on the products did not stimulate the economy high as compared to other goods bought by the consumer (Ewles, 2005). Through the restrictions imposed the society benefited in terms of cost savings and a healthier population. This in turn benefitted both the government and citizens through saving on funds that could otherwise be used for health purposes. On the other hand the efforts to curb smoking were of great help to the future generation which could easily adopt to low smoking rates. Rules on public smoking also played an important role in societal wellbeing as they gave non-smokers their rights of a clean and healthy environment. References Owing, J. H. (2005). Trends in smoking and health research. New York: Nova Biomedical Books. Royal College of Physicians of London. (2000). Nicotine addiction in Britain: A report of the Tobacco Advisory Group of the Royal College of Physicians. London: The College. Ewles, L. (2005). Key topics in public health: Essential briefings on prevention and health promotion. Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone. Source document

Role of Politics in Police Decision Making

Role of Politics in Police Decision Making Should politics play a role in police administration decision making? This question has evolved over the years. Both concepts are interrelated but separate entities and yet they overlap in purpose. The term politics can mean a range of things depending on perspective and the situation. In terms of police politics the meaning of politics depends on the particular law enforcement organization or the size of the administration. In general, the term politics refers to the processes involved in governing a country or organization. Police administration â€Å"administration activities that control, direct, and coordinate police personnel, resources and activities in the service of crime prevention, apprehension of criminals, the recovery of stolen property and the performance of a variety of regulatory and helping services† (Schmalleger 97). Police administration is the delicate management and ethical leadership of a law enforcement organization. Administration involves selection and hire of officers and support staff, policy’s, relationships with the community, stress and health management, working with fellow agencies, and dealing with the political aspects of each. Politics and policing have evolved over the past century and a half from four main eras in American Policing. The Political Era, reform Era, Community Era, and the New Era. The Political Era occurred between 1840 and 1930 and was marked by a drastic changes in social order and by law enforcement doing the bidding of politicians. The Reform Era occurred between 1930 and the 1970s was known for traditional crime fighting and the removal of politics from law enforcement and from police being the lap dogs of the political elite. The Community Era occurred between 1970s and present day and it focused on community involvement in law enforcement. Finally the New Era overlaps with the Community Era between 2001 and present day focuses on large scale threats involving terrorism and political campaigns on mass surveillance (Schmalleger 100-101). Decision making is a main component of being an elected official or police chief and understanding the politics of the community is part of making the correct decisions. This due mainly to the how the leadership of city’s are structured. Society elects congressman, mayors and other political figures to create and put in place laws and policy’s to maintain order and make sure that public money is well spent in the process. One of the purposes of the law enforcement is to make sure those laws and policy’s are followed. Harold Lasswell defined politics as who gets what, when and how (Schaefer 196). Politics involves the controlling of power and with that power comes control and influence over people and organizations. Society often debates the approach of more police or less police. The deployment of more officers into high crime areas is a common political move. There are two main divisions of police politics personal politics and community politics. Personal politics deals mainly with internal influences in the law enforcement organization such as who gets promoted and why. The second is community politics which deals directly with the external control and delegation of the department. A fundamental value of our society is that policing should be subject to and under some control of the public. (Alpert, Dunham 96). Since the management above the Police Chief is generally the Mayor and city council both are involved in making decisions. The mayor of a city or town is elected by the community. The mayor then hires an impartial, outside firm, to interview and then hire the Chief of Police when the position is vacant. Below the Chief of Police in the chain if command is a deputy chief and various captains, in charge of patrol officers. A Police Chiefs actions are directly scrutinized by the mayor. Modern policing combines the local community and police officers into community policing. The purpose is to combine resources to combat and prevent crime and increase the level of everyday life. Many of these changes are are in response to community’s greater involvement in the political arena and the louder voicing of concerns (Carter 7). The internet has played a large part in these movements largely in part due to social media. People are able to voice a concern, spread an agenda, and even display police brutality throughout the world. A witness to a crime or abuse of power that can upload a video to Youtube for the whole world to see, brings a lot of attention to issues in the past might have been kept quiet or covered up. Most non-specific crimes occur without regard to race, ethnicity, age, gender or lifestyle and because crime is one political factor that everyone can agree on, many cities will spend money for crime prevention and incarceration even with tight budgets (Carter 8). If the mayor or campaigning politician of a city says that taxes need to be raised to hire more officers, or pay for equipment, its an easier sell than saying taxes need to be raised to decorate a city, or build a new stadium. In such a situation the tax raise would gain support, even if after the fact the money is used elsewhere, often the pockets of the political elite. Society is more likely to pay attention to a car accident or shooting as opposed to a rare bird flying over head. Violent crimes stand out, and that leads to more media exposure and curiosity. This also gives politicians more speaking ammunition for various political initiatives that are supposed to modify crime rates in some fashion. Politicians use community policing as another means to relate to their constituents, because by supporting various anti crime initiatives they are able to bond with the community, whether they actually are apart of the community or not. Its simply another measure to become elected and gain power. Political campaigns often use the guise of a new approach(s) on crime to gain support by promising to provide better services to the publicincreasing the quality of life (Carter 10). This is not to say that a politicians proposal isnt valid, but certainly if the approach doesnt succeed, their support will drop, and all that will be achieved is a politicians appointment, and subsequent battle for reelection against someone with similar promises. The police administration cant just make decisions that they feel are best without the taking into account the political views of the community. When or if they do they are either overridden by powers higher up, or state attorneys refuse to prosecute or simply override their decisions. Since political views and police administration are directly intertwined one will have an affect on the other. If a police administration failed to act or respond to a crime or issue under their purview, there would be a backlash from the community. Without political support, law enforcement decisions would fall flat. Decision making in police organizations is a tedious, often politically motivated and a very complicated process. The reasoning behind decisions must be sound and rational and free of bias. Whenever a decision in law enforcement administration is made, the chief or top level management has to be aware of different points of view, if the choice being made intuition or emotional feelings, w hat the ramifications will be, what will be accomplished. (Morreale 2) One of the most politically polarizing issues in recent years, and best examples of politics and police administration clashing, has been the New York Citys Stop and Frisk policy. The stop and frisk policy involves randomly detaining individuals, the majority of which are of non-Caucasian ethnic descent, on the street while police search them for contraband such as drugs and weapons. The NYC police department engages in the stop and frisk tactics without any legal motivation, such as genuine suspicion of committing a crime, but that is part of the problem (Peltz). The law allows police to engage in these tactics simply by believing someone has or will commit a crime, but that doesnt meet probable cause standards and â€Å"88 percent of the stops resulted in neither arrests nor tickets† (Peltz). Even if the political reason behind the crime was well intended, it has been used to racial profile people that haven’t committed crimes. This is an example of policing and polit ics that don’t mix because the practice was encouraged and set up by the mayor and carried out by police and in this particular case both sides were wrong since its an abuse of power on both sides. Generally it is against the code of a city or town to advertise or do campaign work of any type while on duty. Take a patrol officer for example, if he was campaigning while on duty, he wouldn’t be serving or protecting. Hed be using city taxes which pay for his salary to promote or bash a particular campaign. This behavior would should a bias for or against a candidate and would look as if the city supported that officers political views. An officer is certainly allowed to campaign while off duty, on his or her own time, as long as it does not breach a code of professionalism. Even when political campaigning is carried out while off duty there can be professional repercussions for an individuals beliefs and objectives. A couple examples of political campaigns and the retaliation suffered is apparent in the following stories. In Missoula County located in Montana, a $120,000 settlement was reached in favor of sheriff’s deputies who alleged retaliation because of their plans to run for sheriff and under sheriff. Detective Sgt. T.J. McDermott and running mate Detective Jason Johnson were subjected to a hostile working environment simply because of their campaign objectives (Haake). In another case in Cook County, Illinois, a $2.4 million lawsuit was settled between 21 deputies. The 21 deputies brought the lawsuit against Tom Dart because they were unfairly treated and even denied promotions when they backed his political opponent when he was running [for] sheriff in 2006 (Sun Times Media). Ideally politics shouldnt play a roll in police administration, but more often than not they do because its simply unavoidable. You cant really ever separate an elected or appointed official from the political machine because part of their position requires the taking of sides and support of an agenda. The sensitive nature of balancing the needs and values of a small community, city or large metropolis are always in flux. What was needed five, ten, or fifteen years ago may not work in todays society. Whats needed in a particular area of the community or by a particular culture may be different than what is required by others. Society evolves and changes and so do the types of crimes committed within them. The political landscape and the police administration must adapt to meet the needs of the ever changing people for which they serve. Works Cited Schmalleger, Frank. Criminal Justice: A Brief Introduction. 9th ed. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2012. Print. Schaefer, Richard T. Sociology Matters. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Print. Reed, Wilson Edward. The Politics of Community Policing: The Case of Seattle. New York: Garland Pub., 1999. Print. Alpert, Geoffrey P., Roger G. Dunham, and Meghan S. Stroshine. Policing: Continuity and Change. Long Grove, IL: Waveland, 2006. Print. Haake, Kathryn. Missoula County Pays $120K to 2 Deputies in Discrimination Settlement. Missoulian.com. Http://missoulian.com/, 14 Feb. 2014. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. http://missoulian.com/news/local/missoula-county-pays-k-to-deputies-in-discrimination- settlement/article_d28b2df4-9a9b-11e3-9fc4-0019bb2963f4.html>. Cook County to Settle Deputies Suit vs. Sheriff Tom Dart for $2.4M.89 WLS, Chicagos Talk Leader. Sun-Times Media, LLC, 14 Feb. 2014. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. http://www.wlsam.com/common/page.php?pt=Cook+County+to+settle+deputies %27+suit+vs.+Sheriff+Tom+Dart+for+%242.4Mid=85483is_corp=0>. Mahr, Joe, and Christy Gutowski. 7 DuPage Deputies Sue Sheriff, Alleging Retaliation.Chicago Tribune. N.p., 22 Nov. 2013. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-22/news/ct-dupage-sheriff-lawsuit-met- 1122-20131122_1_federal-lawsuit-16-year-sheriff-john-zaruba>. CARTER, DAVID L. POLITICS AND COMMUNITY POLICING: VARIABLES OF CHANGE THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT. JSTOR. Southern Public Administration Education Foundation, Inc. (SPAEF), 1995. Web. 01 Mar. 2014. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40861642>. Morreale, Stephen A. Join Academia.edu Share Your Research with the World.Elements of Decision-making in Police Organizations. Stephen A. Morreale, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. http://www.academia.edu/778699/Elements_of_Decision- making_in_Police_Organizations>. Peltz, Jennifer. NYC Stop-And-Frisk Controversy.The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 16 Oct. 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/16/nyc-stop-and-frisk-a-decade-rising- numbers_n_1970951.html>.

Kenneth Grahames The Wind in the Willows Essays -- Kenneth Grahame Wi

Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows is a satirical reflection of the English social structure of the late nineteenth century, during a time of rapid industrialization throughout Europe. Also considered a children’s story, this novel conveys Grahame’s belief in the ability of one to live an unrestrained and leisurely life, free of the obligations of the working class, and entitled to this life through high social status and wealth. The River Bank characters, especially Toad, represent those who live this idle life of the upper class. In contrast, the stoats and weasels of the Wild Wood resemble the proletariat, and an animosity between these two classes existed. The lower classes of the time were subject to poor standards of living, as well as exploitation by the factory owners and businessmen. They developed a resentment and hostile attitude towards the upper classes. In this book, Toad most prominently exemplifies Grahame’s ideal life of leisure and freedom and subsequently has his house taken over by the rebellious working class Wild-Wooders. More importantly though, Toad exhibits many qualities, â€Å"that make him, for most readers, the most memorable figure in this book†. Yet many of these characteristics displayed by the aristocratic Toad seem to undermine the author’s attempted, â€Å"legitimizing of extreme disparities of wealth and social position† (Keefer). Toad is shown to be a very rich and prominent figure in the River Bank society. He is well known in his community, and in the community of the Wild Wood, and is a dear companion to Mole, Rat, and Badger, the other three main characters. Toad displays many admirable qualities that make his figure a very memorable one. Rat describes him to Mole as being, â€Å"always good-tempered, always glad to see you, always sorry when you go†¦ He is indeed the best of animals. So simple, so good-natured, and so affectionate† (13). Toad is also a good friend, is a compassionate animal, and he demonstrates all of these qualities, and others, at numerous points in the story. For example, he invites Mole and Rat to come with him on his adventure (16). However, it seems that the author has made Toad’s ‘negative’ qualities more definitive and more memorable than his aforementioned ‘positive’ qualities. Toad is a very coercive and extravagant individual, he is presumptuous... ... about, and I know exactly what to do, and I’ll tell you† (131). Toad’s deceitful nature shown here and the way he takes advantage or tries to manipulate one of his friends for his own betterment, as well as the other aspects that show Toad in a negative light, is not consistent with Grahame’s allegory. Although in this novel and the context of the River Bankers, Toad’s actions are harmless and comical, they are representative of the upper class, and a poor representative in that respect if the author is attempting to validate the ideas of wealth and status. â€Å"Why should he have so much money?† is the basic question surrounding the issue of Toad’s social legitimacy in The Wind in the Willows (Keefer, 10/25/99). Toad, no doubt, is a very memorable figure because of the things that make up his character. However, when Grahame presents these qualities to the reader, it is inconsistent with his trying to justify the extreme separation and inequality of classes. The stoats and weasels resent Toad, and what he signifies, and take Toad Hall as an act of defiance or rebellion. However, in the end, it is the upper class that regains control of the house, and subdues the unruly society.

Facebook Essay

Size of this preview: 336 ? 600 pixels. Other resolution: 134 ? 240 pixels. Full resolution ? (434 ? 775 pixels, file size: 34 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons. Information from its description page there is shown below. Commons is a freely licensed media file repository. You can help. DescriptionAn Essay concerning Humane Understanding in four books (1690) by John Locke (1632-1704) Date2005-12-03 (original upload date) SourceOriginally from de. wikipedia; description page is/was here.AuthorOriginal uploader was Olaf Simons at de. wikipedia Permission (Reusing this file) This image is in the public domain. Other versions [edit]Licensing This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to Australia, the European Union and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 70 years. You must also include a United States public domain tag to indicate why this work is in the public d omain in the United States.Note that a few countries have copyright terms longer than 70 years: Mexico has 100 years, Colombia has 80 years, and Guatemala and Samoa have 75 years, Russia has 74 years for some authors. This image may not be in the public domain in these countries, which moreover do not implement the rule of the shorter term. Cote d'Ivoire has a general copyright term of 99 years and Honduras has 75 years, but they do implement the rule of the shorter term.This file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights. File history Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. Date/TimeThumbnailDimensionsUserComment current22:32, 1 September 2010434 ? 775 (34 KB)JuTaigher resolution from de:Datei:Locke Essay 1690. jpg uploaded by de:user:Olaf Simons at 2005-12-03 23:22:27 local time with comment (John Locke, 1632-1704. An Essay concerning Humane Understanding in four books (Londo n: Printed for Tho.Basset, a 08:55, 15 August 2009396 ? 732 (54 KB)Jack Merridewslight rotation to fix look; fixed a few speckles, too 15:33, 25 April 2007396 ? 734 (148 KB)W. C. Minor{{Information |Description=An Essay concerning Humane Understanding in four books (1690) by John Locke (1632-1704) |Source=Originally from [http://de. wikipedia. org de. wikipedia]; descripti File usage The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): An Essay Concerning Human Understanding Essay Facebook Essay In 2004 a 20-year-old man named Mark Zukerberg created a phenomenon that involves over 500 million people in this world. In fact today, there are more people on Facebook, than there were on the planet 200 years ago. Zukerberg created this website not knowing that it would become this popular to the world. The concept of Facebook that Mark Zukerberg envisioned is viewed positively and negatively throughout the world. Facebook is always described as a place to make connections. Every person that you accept as a friend can see what you are doing on your profile.This is used to make connections with your friends that you may not have realized before. This could include adding your favorite movie; all of your friends then know what it is and can agree/disagree with your choice. Facebook is a place that makes it easy and efficient to connect with your friends, whether they live 5 miles or 5 hundred miles away. Some say you can do this by Instant Messaging, video chatting, e-mailing or writ ing letters. All of those options are true but what makes Facebook so popular is that you can do all of those things in one place to so many different people at once.For family that you do not see often, you can post pictures to show them what you have been doing. In the same place you can write them a note or video chat with them. The reason Zuckerbergs site became so popular so fast is because people want one place where they have many options of things to do. Another advantage to Facebook is the grouping it creates. You can create or join a group that states a common interest. People go into the group to talk about this interest, share ideas, and events about that interest.For example, last year my whole senior class planned a trip together. It would have been impossible to make this happen over texting or the phone so instead we used Facebook. Everyone could post ideas about what we should do and where we should go in this group. When someone posts everyone else can comment back saying what he or she thinks about that specific post. Some people join Facebook if they are famous or looking to become famous. They can post their latest projects there and all of their fans can comment, like, and share what the artist put up.This allows many different people to see it and show it to their friends so the artist can become more popular, especially if they are new. Mark Zuckerberg is the kid who created an online empire without even trying. In his 2010 interview in The New Yorker, Mark Zuckerberg is portrayed as a person who does not indulge with all of the money he has. It says that on his Facebook page his interests include â€Å"Minimalism,† â€Å"Revolutions,† and â€Å"Eliminating Desire. † He also states in a Facebook status that he does not own a TV. I think this goes to show what kind of person he is.He has had the same girlfriend, now wife, since college and they do not live in an over-luxurious home like most billionaires do. At 12 ye ars old, Zuckerberg created a simple version of what is now Instant Messenger for his fathers dental business and his own home. In his New Yorker interview, the author Jose Antonio Vargas says, â€Å"In all of our talks, the most animated Zuckerberg ever got—speaking with a big smile, almost tripping on his words, his eyes alert—was when he described his youthful adventures in coding. † I think this perfectly shows how innocently Zuckerberg views his programming and making websites.He really just enjoys it, not for the money or the fame but for the love of programming. In the world today you can find many critics of Facebook and of Mark Zuckerberg. I do not think people take enough time to look at the positives and the amazing online world that Zuckerberg created. It is interesting to see how many of the â€Å"haters† of Facebook are actually on it. Considering about 1 of every 13 people is on Facebook currently, I would suspect many people who speak nega tively couldn’t get off of it. Work Cited Vargas, Jose Antonio. The Face of Facebook. The New Yorker, 2010. Facebook Essay Size of this preview: 336 ? 600 pixels. Other resolution: 134 ? 240 pixels. Full resolution ? (434 ? 775 pixels, file size: 34 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons. Information from its description page there is shown below. Commons is a freely licensed media file repository. You can help. DescriptionAn Essay concerning Humane Understanding in four books (1690) by John Locke (1632-1704) Date2005-12-03 (original upload date) SourceOriginally from de. wikipedia; description page is/was here.AuthorOriginal uploader was Olaf Simons at de. wikipedia Permission (Reusing this file) This image is in the public domain. Other versions [edit]Licensing This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to Australia, the European Union and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 70 years. You must also include a United States public domain tag to indicate why this work is in the public d omain in the United States.Note that a few countries have copyright terms longer than 70 years: Mexico has 100 years, Colombia has 80 years, and Guatemala and Samoa have 75 years, Russia has 74 years for some authors. This image may not be in the public domain in these countries, which moreover do not implement the rule of the shorter term. Cote d'Ivoire has a general copyright term of 99 years and Honduras has 75 years, but they do implement the rule of the shorter term.This file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights. File history Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. Date/TimeThumbnailDimensionsUserComment current22:32, 1 September 2010434 ? 775 (34 KB)JuTaigher resolution from de:Datei:Locke Essay 1690. jpg uploaded by de:user:Olaf Simons at 2005-12-03 23:22:27 local time with comment (John Locke, 1632-1704. An Essay concerning Humane Understanding in four books (Londo n: Printed for Tho.Basset, a 08:55, 15 August 2009396 ? 732 (54 KB)Jack Merridewslight rotation to fix look; fixed a few speckles, too 15:33, 25 April 2007396 ? 734 (148 KB)W. C. Minor{{Information |Description=An Essay concerning Humane Understanding in four books (1690) by John Locke (1632-1704) |Source=Originally from [http://de. wikipedia. org de. wikipedia]; descripti File usage The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): An Essay Concerning Human Understanding Essay

Smell a faint bit of smoke

Living room. A narrow hallway in the living room went to small winding Steps that took you to a great room on the second floor of the house, this is where my kids had their bedrooms. The house was surrounded with the most amazing yard. The white picket fence enclosed a grape arbor, as old as the house, and underneath the grapes there were two small rope swings attached to the arbor for my kids. Outside the fence was a large orchard filled with apples, pears and plums: and a lovely garden that I planted each summer with corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, blueberries and raspberries. I remember the day as if it were yesterday.We were getting ready for the long weekend, and my brother was coming down from Portland to celebrate my sisters birthday. The day started as a typical late summer morning. The sun was shining high in the sky, the birds were busy in the grapes and was busy in the kitchen. My son was in the large claw foot tub playing pirate ships with soap bars and my daugh ter was on the computer in the living room playing her favorite game. It was a lovely morning. With the warm breeze blowing through the open doors and windows I could smell a faint bit of smoke, but that was not unusual. Our house was tucked in between many mint farmers.They would harvest the mint in the late summer, then burn the fields afterwards for pest and weed control. In the kitchen I heard a car come down the gravel driveway honking loudly. It was too soon for my brother to arrive, so I went outside to see what was happening. Before even stopping he pointed at the roof and yelled, â€Å"Your house is on fire! † â€Å"Your house is on fire-get the hose! † popped into high gear and grabbed the garden hose, turned the faucet on the outside spigot and handed it to the stranger and went inside to grab my children. Once I new they were outside safer went back inside the house to call the fire department. New wasn't in eminent danger because the flames looked very sma ll from the ground and they were high above on the roof at the other end Of the house. After calling, I went back outside and realized more people had arrived. Many more, some offering help and others just staring. Could hear some of them say ‘Nathan a shame, this historic house is on fire. † That was when I felt my first twinge offer and anger at the same time. The fire department came after what seemed like a lifetime. They were so very positive, â€Å"Don't worry Miss, this can be stopped easily. Those reassuring words put me at ease.A stranger asked if would like to go down the street and use her phone to call anyone and let them know what was going on. She also offered up a t-shirt for my naked son. As I sat in this strange car, I felt as if time was going backwards. The clock tick-tock ever so slow. She took me back to my burning house to wait for my mom. As walked up towards the flames, my husband gave me the bad news that they couldn't stop the fire safely. One of the firemen had fallen, caught his leg in the narrow stairway and was injured so they made the determination of safety. My heart sunk back into my stomach.The fire chief started asking me where important things were in the house. As we spoke to him, he would describe the area to someone inside via handheld radios: â€Å"Photo Album, left window†, one yelled. â€Å"Purse, wallet, right window† another called out. And items were flying into the yard through the windows. The crew worked hard to save what they could for our family. They Were so brave to sacrifice through the smoke and heat. I stood there shaking and watching the fire grow bigger and bigger. Soon the beautiful summer day was surrounded by so much noise; people talking, owes going, emergency vehicles coming and going.And the stench had taken the beautiful smells of late summer morning and turned it into something that is etched in my brain for eternity. A smell of wet clothes, burning wire, smoldering woo d and melting plastic. A smell like no other. I watched the whole house burn to the ground. My biggest fear came to life right in front of me. Right in front of many people. The time didn't pass slow that afternoon, I finally sat down as the flames were starting to diminish, people were leaving and darkness was settling the fields around me. Not a tear came down my face that day. I was numb.I stood in the drive way and looked at the mess, wet wood, ashes, burnt mattress, my daughters rocking horse sideways charred in the back yard. At that moment, standing there, staring at the mess I realized we lost most of our belongings. Day to day things you don't think about, such as hairbrush, toothpaste, shoes, underwear, deodorant, dishes, bread, coffee, milk and snacks. I realized all my belongings, the material things were gone. I had lost everything in all the sparks that flew into once blue sky. But somehow, even though the flames took everything, had not lost what was truly important.

Award

Has anyone ever thought about being on stage at the MAT or Red Carpet Awards giving an award next to a famous person you would die to see laughing and making jokes? I HAVE, and I believe I would probably pass out cold. But honestly for me, standing here right now is a little bit better than that. It gives me great pride to be here today, awarding what must be the finest, most wonderful exponents of cheerleaders In this country. They say fortune favors the brave and It Indeed takes a lot for these girls here to go out on the competition floor ND give It all they have to bring home the medal.There are a select few that have gave 1 10 % on and off the mat to promote there name In cheerleader. The All- American Cheerleader award Is not easy to receive yet always goes to the most loyal one to the sport. Some of the many ablest the winner of this award must present to the table are: Standing tuck, triple toe back, a layout, and the ability to load a stunt with a full up and base a flyer wi th 3 body positions. She must also present many team corporation and outstanding sportsmanship.The young lady who is receiving this award this evening not only achieved all these skills but she went above and beyond with greater skills. She has presented leadership skills through working at the children's facility here at Brenan, carrying out many office positions in many organizations, and holding herself up to high standards to be a role model. She has many young cheerleaders wanting to follow in her footsteps just because of the way she presents herself as a well-rounded person, and her many achievements up to this point.Within her office positions, cheerleaders, and her Job she is dedicated and hardworking. She always has her tasks completed early and never fails to exceed thought everything. She has also already accepted many awards for group competitions and individual events to keep pushing herself to be better. Many of the award include: Top sportsmanship, Number one in stat e competition (Receiving a state ring), and all around best stunt group. This young lady has never failed to show excitement and interest in everything she has done.Even though sometimes she may e ready to throw her hands up and walk away she always pushes to the end. TLS one performer stood out because of her sheer determination, talent and energy In the performance and life skills that follow. So without further ado, the winner of this competition is Skylark Hawkins. Award By Chelsea-Holland Ladies and Gentlemen, wonderful exponents of cheerleaders in this country. They say fortune favors the brave and it indeed takes a lot for these girls here to go out on the competition floor and give it all they have to bring home the medal.There are a select few that have gave 110 % on and off the mat to promote there name in cheering. The All- American Cheerleader award is not easy to receive yet always goes to the most loyal one to the sport. Some of the many abilities the winner of this aw ard must present has many young cheerleaders wanting to follow in her footsteps Just because of the be ready to throw her hands up and walk away she always pushes to the end.