Reservoir Dogs

Reservoir Dogs Postmodernism theory when related to films can be described when the audience’s delay of skepticism is shattered, in order to free the audience’s grasp of the director’s work. Small changes are made to create a significant meaning in the audience’s mind. The director has created a piece of art that removes the audience from the conventional and emotional bond to the subject, creating a new perspective.Postmodern films apply the usage of four concepts: simulation, reusing styles, typically drawing irony to the new style; pre-fabrication, drawing a closer attention to already existing scenes and using them in the films narrative or dialogue; intertextuality, using text that has already been used and finally bricolage, creating a film based on a collage of various other film styles and genres. Quentin Tarantino, the famous film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor followed his passion from an early age. He did not watch m ovies as a child and adolescent, but he made the films a large part of his life.Tarantino, though he may deny his films to fall in the category of postmodernism, portrays various genres and styles from other movies, typically of his childhood very well. Tarantino draws upon the genres of martial arts, kung fu, grind-house, and spaghetti western films. Typically starting his films, Tarantino opens with â€Å"Our Feature Presentation† drawing immediate attention to the audience, transporting them in time to their days of childhood and adolescents. A director is an artist, Tarantino, though he recreated previous works of other artists, is one too.He adds his own twist to his films, in order to create a new, distinctive and pioneering film. Tarantino uses the concept of bricolage to fuse genres together in an original fantasy-like story with exaggerated confrontation scenes and violence. Reservoir Dogs, directed and written by Quentin Tarantino first premiered in October 1992. It is about a group of criminals who where hired for a job to retrieve diamonds from a jewelry store. Things do not go as planned during the heist and the gang thinks that there may be a police mole among the group. But who could it be? Mr. Pink, Mr. Orange, Mr.White, Mr. Brown, Mr. Blue, Mr. Blonde, Nice Guy Eddie, or even head gang leader, Joe Cabot? Strangers to one another, Joe (Lawrence Tierney) assigns each member a color code alias. The opening scene is in a diner with all gang members sitting around a table, eating breakfast, while Mr. Brown (Quentin Tarantino) explains his interpretation of Madonna’s song ‘Like a Virgin’. The men continue to discuss the importance and the meanings of popular songs, especially bringing up songs of the 1970s. Though this dialogue is rather unimportant, it shows Tarantino’s intricate eye to detail.It is ironic to see Tarantino the one explaining Madonna’s song, for it is his intention to set the stage for the au dience’s interpretation of the film. Mr. Brown explains Madonna’s sexual encounters, as she continues to remember the first time she lost her virginity and the pain she had to encounter. Tarantino intends for Reservoir Dogs to have many interpretations, and one may consider that the gang members have to be redeemed through pain and suffering. The styles that we can see throughout the film use exaggerated confrontations and violence.After the diner scene, the film continues with a â€Å"Men in Black† take of the gangsters walking towards the camera. Mr. White (Harvey Keitel) and Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) are now on pursuit away from the heist, as things did not go as planned as the cops showed up unexpectedly. Running on foot, they stop a car and the owner and driver shoots Mr. Orange in the abdomen. For the remainder of the film, Mr. Orange laid on the floor of the warehouse bleeding profusely in excruciating pain. The pain that Mr. Orange faced throughout the film is the interpretation that Tarantino had intended to compare to the suffering of Madonna.Mr. Orange (Roth) was the undercover mole that was ordered to bust the head of operation, Joe Cabot (Tierney). Aside for Tarantino’s significance of popular songs, he also used images inter-dispersed throughout the film; Silver Surfer comic and the Get Christie Love! TV show. These are a few examples of how Reservoir Dogs falls into the category of being a postmodern film through the usage of image and text, posing as in intricate part to media and society. Reservoir Dogs, a postmodern film, includes the usage of criminals falling; indicating a crime and gangster movie.It also uses the formula of a western movie. Though, usually in a traditional western there is one individual who upholds law and order, Tarantino put a spin on western genres when including the style throughout his films. Reservoir Dogs use of western is slightly different, instead of one individual; there is a group of me n who try to restore order that has spun out of control to arrange a logical explanation and conclusion of who the possible informant might be. Tarantino is specific about his films, he does not intend for them to represent real life, but rather mimic other movies.In Reservoir Dogs initial scene, the men are sitting in the diner, a very similar scene to Woody Allen’s film Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) when they are sitting in a restaurant. Woody’s film is considered to be a romantic comedy drama, where Tarantino, though not considering Woody when creating the scene, did not create a romantic comedy drama film, but rather a film that fell into the category of crime, mystery and thriller. Quentin Tarantino pulls from previous artists, not only text and images, but also styles, such as cinematography. In Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino uses extreme conflict and intense violent scenes.Aside from the acting, Tarantino creates a character, Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi), who is constant ly reminding the team that he is acting professional, while everyone else is fighting and not thinking of the future affects of their actions. Mr. Pink aside from being a â€Å"better† criminal, draws upon the belief that if you are not wearing a uniform you therefore fall into the â€Å"real person† category. Tarantino, throughout all his films, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction (1996) and Kill Bill (2003; 2004) the assassins, criminals, and law enforcements are all distinguished by their uniforms.Those who are â€Å"real people† wear real, daily, regular clothing, nothing that is out of the ordinary. The gang members who work for Joe Cabot are all dressed in the classic black suits with white button down dress shirts and thin black ties. The cops are wearing the typical blue uniform. It is interesting to notice that Joe and his son, though apart of the gang operation do not wear the â€Å"uniform†. The majority of Reservoir Dogs takes place in the dingy ware house, where no gangster becomes a â€Å"real person†; they do not undress from their uniforms, therefore staying as a gangster.Though they do not succeed in becoming real people, they are redeemed of being a gangster through death, unlike Mr. Pink who runs out after they go on a â€Å"trigger happy frenzy† shooting one another. The idea of the members, including the cop that was taken hostage is a similar idea to William Shakespeare, who was considered an outstanding poet and playwright during the 16th century. Typically, at the end of the plays, Shakespeare would conclude that the characters all be killed. Tarantino, a rather outstanding director and writer, pulls from these great artists to create an even greater piece of work.Quentin Tarantino, considered a postmodern filmmaker, uses references to earlier films. He blends genres from A-Z. In Reservoir Dogs, he uses many references from the French new wave directors, who were highly influential to his Production Com pany as well as his work. Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard were influential; he named his production company â€Å"A Band Apart†. In Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino named the jewelry store â€Å"Karina’s† after Anna Karina, star from Bande apart (Band of Outsiders, 1964).Postmodernism is a concept that pulls from many genres, and it is Reservoir Dogs that Quentin Tarantino first begins his voyage as an up and coming director to use this style of creativity and expression. Today, we entertain ourselves with concerts, movie theater, broadways, radio, and television. It is these social medias that people like Quentin Tarantino create for our enjoyment. Pulling on our childhood memories, familiarity, comfort, and most importantly clues to other important images of our past, bring a deeper appreciation to the work and creativity that has been produced.

Maya Angelou Essay

In Maya Angelou autobiography ‘I know why the caged bird sings’ many themes and issues are looked at. This autobiography shows the difficulty of a black woman growing up surrounded by discrimination and poverty, but also shows her determination, joy and hope. Maya Angelou describes her relationship with many character, this in it self is a theme of her writing, the way she sees people in her own light. Some characters that may be seen to be good people are changed by Maya’s opinion. A good example of this is the contrast between Maya’s mother and Maya’s father’s girlfriend. If both these characters were described, the father’s girlfriend maybe considers the better person. This is not the case after reading this book, as Maya has a way of making the reader see these characters as she sees them. After the separation of Maya Angelou’s parents she and her brother Bailey were sent away to live with her grandmother when Maya was only three. This must have been a terrible experience for a young child to go through, which some may think would have left Maya with resentment towards her mother. In fact this was quite the opposite. When Maya meet her mother again after she left her, Maya discarded the fact that she sent her away. She describes how as soon as she saw her mother, the nights she spent crying for her was forgotten. ‘I knew immediately why she had sent me away. She was too beautiful to have children. ‘(Maya Angelou, 1984, P58) This was Maya’s way of justifying her mother actions. Even if it maybe considered a bad thing what her mother did, Maya still thought she was wonderful. Later on in this book Maya’s mother did another bad thing. She shot someone twice, which again maybe considered a bad thing to do. ‘Since she had intended to shoot him (notice: shoot, not kill) she had no reason to run away, so she shot him a second time. – He had been shot, true, but in her fairness she had warned him. ‘(Maya Angelou, 1984, pages 202 and 203) The language used when Maya describes this event show she thinks that this is not a major or bad thing that has happened. Maya again shows her mother as not a bad person even though what she has done is wrong. Maya’s mother was also believed to be a prostitute; Maya believes this too but again discards the idea because she knew that if that were true then she wouldn’t be able to live with her, which she wanted to. Even though Maya’s mother could be considered a bad mother, Maya thinks extremely highly of her. This can be seen from the choice of lexis, Maya uses to describe her mother. Maya always used nice words such as ‘beautiful’, ‘warm’, ‘glorious’. Maya is also enthusiastic when talking about her mother. At one point Maya goes to stay with her father and his girlfriend. Maya believed that being her mother was so beautiful, any woman her father was with after her mother would have been just as beautiful if not more. This was the start of Maya’s disappointment when meeting her stepmother. Maya disliked Dolores (her stepmother); you could tell this from the contrast in tones, from the happy tone when see talks about her mother to the dull and spiteful tone used when describing Dolores. ‘If Dolores had been a little less aloof, a little more earthy†¦ – She was mean and petty and full of pretense. ‘(Maya Angelou, 1984, pages 222 and 223) Dolores theoretically was a good, honest person. She was a good, hardworking wife; she took Maya into her home and treated her well. Even though this, she is still seen as the bad one by the end of this part, from the way Maya talks about her. Maya uses mean words to describe Dolores, and is also sarcastic towards her when talking about her and their home. ‘She was on close terms with her washing machine and ironing board. ‘(Maya Angelou, 1984, P221) This shows one of the sarcastic phases used by Maya Angelou. It also shows that Maya was not the innocent party in her conflict with her stepmother. Maya went out of her way to irritate Dolores and to make her jealous of Maya relationship with her father. Dolores still comes of as the bad one at the end, after an argument with Maya. Maya tries to be nice to Dolores, but Dolores ends up calling Maya’s mother a ‘whore’. Even though this is possibly true and Maya questions this, she still defends her mother. It is Maya that makes the first attack on Dolores; Maya justifies her behaviour, which leaves her looking the better person. ‘What did she expect if she called my mother a whore? ‘ (Maya Angelou, 1984, P239) Another character who has an unexpected outcome is the dentist, Dr Lincoln. At one stage Maya, as a child was in a lot of pain with toothache. At the Maya was living with her grandmother in Stamps. The nearest Negro dentist to them was twenty-five miles away, which was too far for Maya to travel in such pain. As a result Maya’s grandmother took her to a dentist near by that owed her a favour. Many would believe a dentist to be a respectable, good, reliable person. This was not the case of Dr Lincoln. He refused to help a child in pain, even though Maya’s grandmother stopped him losing his business by lending him money. When speaking to Maya’s grandmother, Dr Lincoln was very abrupt and rude to her. He did not even acknowledge Maya, or the fact her face was swollen and she was in pain. ‘I’d rather stick my hand in a dog’s mouth than in a nigger’s'(Maya Angelou, 1984, P184) This was the harsh phase that Dr Lincoln used. This also shows discrimination and racism, another major theme in Maya Angelou’s autobiography. After Dr Lincoln refuses to help, Maya’s grandmother follows him in his office. When she later describes what happened she says that Dr Lincoln and the nurse were as ‘thick as thieves’. This is a simile used to accentuate Dr Lincoln characteristics. From the way Maya Angelou has written her autobiography ‘I know why the caged bird sings’ she has managed to successfully express peoples true characters. People that may be considered to have a good character such as Dr Lincoln have been shown for who they really are. This has been done by the choice of lexis and the tones that she has used to create different atmospheres when describing certain characters.

Cosi: Lewis Changes by Directing the Play

How are ideas about betrayal and loyalty explored through the structure of the play-within-a-play? The most obvious structural feature is the ‘play-within-a-play’, which highlights the parallels between the characters and themes in Mozart’s opera, and those in Nowra’s play. Both the opera and play revolve around issues of loyalty, fidelity and betrayal. The backdrop of war is also a significant feature of both texts: the Vietnam War in the 1970s (in Cosi) and the Albanian battle for independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1790 (in Cosi Fan Tutte).Wars also involve loyalties and betrayals, and their chaos on a grand scale underscores the chaos in the lives of the characters in the opera and the play. (Sue Sherman : English for Year 12) †¢According to Mozart’s  Cosi  Fan Tutte, the issue of fidelity is depicted to be an ideal that is never achieved. †¢Since ‘women are like that’ – the interpretation of ‘cosi fan tutte', Mozart encouraged the belief that men should simply accept women are indeed disloyal in relationships. Nowra illustrates this same idea about women and infidelity through Lewis and Lucy’s relationship. While Lucy is ‘sleeping’ with Lewis, she is also ‘having sex’ with Nick.When Lewis discovers Lucy’s betrayal, she waves aside his shock, defending that ‘it is not as if we’re married. ’ The revelation does indeed prove that Cosi Fan Tutte is correct in stating that, ‘woman’s constancy is like the Arabian Phoenix. Everyone swears it exists, but no one has seen it. ’ †¢Although the women in both Cosi Fan Tutte and Cosi are shown to be unfaithful, so are the men. While the men in Cosi Fan Tutte do not actively participate in adultery, they do fabricate their departure to the war and also disguise themselves as ‘Albanians. ’ Their deception is also a betrayal to their wives. Meanwhile , Don Alfonso manipulates everyone. As seen in Cosi, Lewis is unfaithful to Lucy as he kisses Julie during rehearsals. †¢Julie later reveals that she has a girlfriend who she would prefer to be with, confirming that both men and women are unfaithful in relationships. (source: VCE Study Guides) Quotes on Fidelity/Betrayal „Women are never true.? „Women like to pretend they don’t play around, but they’re just more secretive about it. They don’t brag about it like men.? „Women are flesh and blood too.? „I don’t like men’s double standards.? â€Å"Women’s constancy is like the Phoenix of Arabia.Everyone swears it exists, but no one has seen it.? Irony in the fact that Henry plays the part of Don Alfonso in Cosi Fan Tutte as Henry firmly believes in truth and fidelity whereas Don Alfonso is cynical about it. â€Å"This Cosi condones the corruption of innocence. Women are told to be tramps. Free love. † â€Å" Whether women can remain true is a tragedy. † â€Å"Don’t insult those pure men. They? re models of fidelity and perfect love. † (Cosi Fan Tutte) â€Å"Only mad people in this day and age would do a work about love and infidelity. † Lewis and Julie kiss demonstrating that men too can be unfaithful.In a way, Nick is also unfaithful in his friendship with Lewis. â€Å"You have enemies for life, but never lovers. † â€Å"Everyone blames women, but I forgive them. If they change their love a thousand times a day, some call it sin, others a drug, but I think it’s the necessity of women’s hearts. † â€Å"That’s how men want us to be – even though they’re not true and faithful themselves. † Wagner â€Å"foreshadows what is going to happen to the couples in the future. A life of torment and adultery. † Nick justifies his infidelity with â€Å"we’re mates, aren’t we? † Nick and Lucy „didn’t last long as both were not into love and fidelity.?

Marketing Ying Yang iPhone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing Ying Yang iPhone - Essay Example Hence, it has a wider market target. This paper will seek to market the Ying Yang iPhone to small business and other target segments. In doing this it will address itself to the listed market aspects as well as the Ying Yang iPhone SWOT analysis. The Ying Yang iPhone will considerably, but not exclusively, target small businesspersons and consumers who want to communicate and get entertained at the same time. Currently the market for this phone is relatively small because it is new in the market and is not available in all countries. The high cost of the phone is also another limiting factor to the market penetration of this classy phone. However, its strengths and opportunities coupled with a good market plan will ensure that this product penetrates the market. The Ying Yang iPhone target segments will consist of small entrepreneurs, medical users, professionals, students, and other probable users. However, as technology advances and competition rises from other smart phones, there is need to increase demand and expand the target segments. To achieve this we will seek to differentiate the Ying Yang iPhone from other PDA’s on the market as well as collaborating with large cell phone service providers and large enterprise software firms (Maxwell et al Web). This will effectively reduce the costs in marketing and increase sales turnover. This will ensure that the phone is available in the market for corporations, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. By differentiating the product from other possible competitors, we will position and promote the Ying Yang iPhone as a value-added and more convenient product for both personal and business use (Maxwell et al Web). In addition, we will package the phone in a beautiful pack for advertisement purposes. A full year warranty on the product will be given to attract more customers. We will use the iPhone business brand name for businesspeople in marketing Ying Yang iPhone (Maxwell et al Web). We will also divers ify the product into different levels of affordability and for special seasons. This will ensure that a wide range of Ying Yang iPhones is available and affordable. It will also serve the purpose of product-person attraction hence increasing sales. Regarding the pricing of the product, we will consider introducing the cheaper less advanced and the expensive more advanced Ying yang iPhone to accommodate the purchasing power of all consumers. However, in due time, we may consider lowering the price to quickly establish a market dominance that lacks now. In distributing the product, clear logistics are very important. We will focus on rollouts worldwide at all reputable retailers online and cellular phone providers. This will make sure that the product is available with all phone providers and online marketers. We will collaborate with major electronics retailers and Apple to provide product demonstrations in an eye-catching manner. We will additionally put a good number of products on display to lure customers. Consequently we will use the social media, E-mail marketing, Application updates, blog reviews, joining newsgroups and online forums to advertise the product (Maxwell et al Web). This is sure way of marketing the product to our online friends who will in turn market it to their friend, hence creating a marketing network that will promote the product sales. Press release on major

Writing for the Web Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Writing for the Web - Essay Example Our video and sound equipment is state of the art and of the highest professional quality. The videotaping and editing of each video is produced digitally. We offer a wide variety of video transfer services to our customers, including the following: You can ship your videos to us from anywhere in the United States or internationally and will put them on DVDs and/or encode them into computer files. We can transfer 16mm, 8mm, and Super8 home movies to DVD and video. We can also transfer video to various formats including VHS to MPEG, Quicktime to AVI, MPEG to Quicktime, AVI to Betacam, PAL to NTSC (foreign video conversions), and many more! Additionally, we can convert videos to web based video such as Windows Media and Flash so you can publish your videos to the web. Our duplication and replication services provide a professional look by including color-printed cases and labels. We will even instruct you on how to keep your DVDs from damaging your DVD players as well as your clients or friend’s DVD players. Need 100 copies with cases and sleeves in within 48 hours? Give us a call and we can help you with that as well! Sunray also offers video services for special events in your personal or business settings. We have produced a wide variety of videos for our clients such as marketing and demo videos, TV commercials, instructional videos and seminars, web site videos, videos for tradeshows, biographical tribute videos, and informational products for professional speakers. We have also videotaped and digitally captured live events including dance recitals and other stage performances. For more information on how we can â€Å"wow† you with our video and photo montages, please visit our montage web page. Also, if you need a big projection screen at your event we can provide one for you. We have tried to give you an extensive idea

Global Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Global Marketing - Essay Example As the essay declares the Starbucks Coffee channels of distribution include department store and work place environment, airports and hotel chains, coffee shops and coffee bars, etc. According to the company’s statistical data, in 2002, there were â€Å"a total of 4,247 coffee shops in the United States and Canada†. In order to grow direct sales, Starbucks has created Online Caffe to reach the global market. This paper stresses that new market entry is aimed to increase the level of sales, and maintain the firm ground for word wide market penetration. Liberalization, foreign ownership and mergers will have a major impact upon the future of the coffee industry, but many regulatory and ownership barriers remain in force worldwide. Organizational 'type' has been dramatically influenced by the rise of globalization. Coffee trade is seeking to maximize its 'global reach', in the belief that those that offer a global service will be in the strongest competitive position. For these very reasons the Asian market has been chosen as the potential one. The Asian market shows the highest rate of economic growth around the world. As for the coffee consumption, its growth rates are approximately 20-30% a year, and that is why it is very attractive for Starbucks Coffee company promising potential growth for coffee industry, in comparison with the European market forecast. Singapore was chosen by Starbu cks as the main business canter in Asia.

Group Post Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Group Post - Research Paper Example s not just about English being the first or the second language of the employees of a company, customers associate stereotypes and underestimate the foreign employees’ ability to understand their culture, and thus only want service from their local employees. Customer build their perceptions of a company’s corporate social responsibility based upon â€Å"all the information about a company that a person holds† (Brown and Dacin, 1997, p. 69). Drop in the number of American students that study Information Technology is a shocking fact and a strong reason for companies to stop outsourcing. This shows how deleterious outsourcing is for our society in the long run. I seriously doubt that outsourcing plays a role in increasing the quality of work. With outsourcing, employers have least control over the products’ quality since everything is being made abroad. Especially, when we talk about quality control, it means much more than just meeting the specifications to include the level of creation and innovation, and uniqueness in every item. It is so hard to keep all employees on one platform in outsourcing that such aspects are often neglected. To say that the talent employers get through outsourcing is not available in the local market is underestimation of American local workers. Had foreign graduates been more capable, thousands of students would be going from America to those countries for studying every year rather than the other way round. Outsourcing is a fundamental reason for unemployment in America (Converse et al., n.d.). It cannot be said with utmost surety that the outsourcing company would always maintain competitive advantage . These days, when economy has become very volatile and the value of currency is rapidly changing in different countries, if the value of currency of the foreign country starts gaining weight, the opportunity of outsourcing might eventually turn out to be a risk. While that is the definition of outsourcing, this definition is not

Why Duabi become a successful city in short amount of time compare to Research Paper

Why Duabi become a successful city in short amount of time compare to other cities - Research Paper Example The economy of the city has grown in double digits for the past decade with the GDP per capita growing from â€Å"US $ 19,000 in the year 2000 to US $ 33,500 in 2006† (Matley & Laura 2007, p. 5). In fact, Dubai city has grown in stature to compete with the world’s biggest players in sectors such as port operations, financial services, tourism and construction. This research paper will evaluate the factors that have enabled Dubai to become a successful city in a relatively short period compared to other cities globally. It is evident that oil revenues have played a significant role in the economic development of most Arabic countries. Notably, the boom in oil prices in the 1970s helped the oil producing countries to obtain a cash windfall. Although Dubai had just around five percent of the oil reserves compared to other cities in the United Arab Emirates such as Abu Dhabi, its rulers realized early enough that the oil revenue had to be invested wisely so as guarantee the city economic prosperity even after the oil was exhausted (Matley & Laura 2007). Sheikh Rashid Al Makhtoum laid down the infrastructural foundations that heralded the rapid growth of Dubai as a global metropolis. The political landscape in the Middle East is different from the governance structures in the Western countries. Dubai is a monarchical state that is ruled by a prince. In as much as the political regime may not be necessarily democratic, the political environment in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates is stable (Bagaeen 2007). Thus, the stable political environment has played a critical role in attracting and facilitating investments. It should be noted in the past decades, the government of Dubai has been the leading investor in Dubai. Private investors have played a secondary role in the development of the city and it is the government that has driven the growth in

Article Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Article Analysis - Assignment Example He has used metaphors and vivid descriptions to highlight what he sees wrong in the practice of chain ganging. His strong language has made his article very appealing. Staples has used some very strong language to bring out his intended message. He does not beat around the bush when he wants to make a certain point. In his opening statement, he gives an example of how an animal’s survival instincts will make it chew off some part of its body in order to free itself. This alone gets the reader’s attention to what the writer is trying to say. He uses similes to show how brutal the chain gang practice is. For instance, on the first paragraph, he says: â€Å"Beaten and driven like maltreated beasts†¦Ã¢â‚¬  while referring to the way slaves were treated while chained together. He also uses some vivid descriptions to further illustrate the cruelty of the chain gang practice. He says â€Å"†¦prisoners turned to self-mutilation to make themselves useless for work. They slashed their bodies, broke their own legs, and crippled themselves by cutting their tendons.† He gives this description to show that chain gangs were so dehumanizing, the prisoners could go to any lengths to free themselves from this ordeal. One of the obstacles I think the writer faced in critical thinking was his bias and total abhorrence for the practice that he thinks is reminiscent of the slavery years. he does not want to give the prison warders the benefit of doubt, so all he does is attack them as though they are the system that permits such practices in prisons. He has spoken nothing of the legislation bodies that made it legal to have gang chains in prisons. He should not have placed all the blame on Southern prison warders. The author’s bias is obviously with the prisoners who have to be chained when performing their menial work. He also makes it look like the chain gangs are meant for black prisoners only. I do

Price of gold Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Price of gold - Essay Example The world market has seen a sharp rise in need of keeping wealth in the form of gold. The increase in demand by business persons and central banks in different regions requires an increase in supply of gold. The demand has not been met with similar supply because of constant factors in the supply chain. The suppliers of gold are not increasing their mining capacities in purchasing additional machineries or identifying new mines. The rise in demand with no rise in supply eventually leads to sharp increase in the prices of gold (Wise 2012). The rises in prices can persist for two years before the supply matches up with the demand through an increase in supply. Different factors make the market supply of gold inelastic limiting on supply capacity of miners. Gold mining is an expensive undertaking that needs investors to put a lot of resource in building crushing and drilling machineries. The massive investment cannot be made in a short time to meet the enormous demand in the market lead ing to a constant supply being made no matter the increase in demand of product in the market. Increase in supply can be made through long-term investment that can extend to 10 years before production begins. The inability of suppliers to respond to forces of demand leaves the market volatility high. The huge numbers of speculators in the market contributes volatility in gold prices. ... The supplier will increase prices because they cannot meet the large demand in the market. The increase in supply price can get to 11% increase with regard to the increase in demand. Announcement of huge releases of gold to the market in large quantity on prediction prices will remain high leads to reduction in prices (Thomas, 2012). The large amount supply with no increase in demand means sharp decreases in prices sometimes totaling to 5% decrease from previous day’s prices. The world gold supply from recycling vendors has seen sharp decrease. People selling their gold ware during the global economic crisis caused the decrease. Statistic have shown recycling supply used to cater for 45% of the world market in 2008. In 2011 recycling source of gold contributed 2% of the world gold supply which was a small proportion compared to the previous 45% supply. The fall in the amount of recycled gold available in the market with demand increase has led to prices increases. This leaves the supply from the mines to cater for 98% of all the demands. Lack of ability by the miners to cater for the 98%has contributed to the volatility leading to a sharp increase in prices of gold (Jeff, 2012). The central banks from different countries were key suppliers of gold to the markets. The banks released large amounts of their gold to the market without making purchases to replenish the dwindling stocks. The exhaustion of gold in their bulk meant that the different countries bank start purchasing the gold in competition with the retail purchasers. The purchasing of gold by the central bank increases demand while their lack of ability to supply creates shortage (BBC, 2011). The two forces of demand and supply lead

Therachem Case Essay Example for Free

Therachem Case Essay Therachem is a pharmaceutical company created in 1950, and has a portfolio of 7 different products Performance: The company has a signi? cant revenue growth of 68% over the last 3 years, driven mostly by Arthroquell Salesmen team: the sales rep’s job is to visit physicians and encourage them to prescribe Therachem drugs for their patients For the past 3 years Therachem has been growing its sales force by about 40 representatives per year and has expected this year to increase the number of reps from 433 to 473. Therachem is wondering if it has to maintain its 40-rep hiring per year rhythm or invest in human capital: A consultant report is suggesting Therachem to increase its sales force by 322 rep over the next 3 years, however is it opportune to do such a signi? cant increase or is it too unrealistic? Context Executive summary Smythe model Consultant model Alternatives Recommanda tions/Limits Goals Find the optimal solution for Therachem, taking into account strategic dimensions on the hiring rythm Methodology Optimize number of reps and the allocation of reps between products Resource Allocation analysis of the zero growth model, the Smythe model and the consultant model Creation of alternative models Assessement Smythe model is not optimal The consultant recommandation may be optimal it shows some risks in terms of hiring a lot of new rep There is an alternative with an optimal net contribution per new rep compared to the zero growth model Recommandations Do not increase more than 40 person hiring per year Do a more optimal allocation of human resource through the products Context Executive summary Smythe model Consultant model Alternatives Recommanda tions/Limits Zero growth model Arthroquell Proxinil 144,0 $109,5 53% $51,5 $27,2 $30,8 Renora 135 150 77,0 $175,2 59% $71,8 $14,6 $88,8 Dermet Topisal 57,0 $157,8 59% $64,7 $10,8 $82,3 Mistalon 57,0 $33,6 53% $15,8 $10,8 $7,0 $448,2 $81,8 $6,0 $380,3 $583,3 Total 433,0 $1  119,3 98,0 $643,2 62% $244,4 $18,5 Sales Representatives Planned Revenue Unit Margin Cost of Goods Sold Direct Selling Cost Indirect Selling Cost Net Contribution Strategic option number one: Smythe model Arthroquell Proxinil 184,0 $124,7 53% 58,6 $34,8 $31,3 125,0 $734,4 62% $279,1 $23,6 $431,7 Renora 135 150 98,0 $191,4 59% $78,5 $18,5 $94,4 Dermet Topisal 73,0 $167,2 59% $68,6 $13,8 $84,9 Mistalon 73,0 $40,1 53% $18,8 $13,8 $7,4 Total 553,0 $1 257,7 $503,5 $104,5 $6,0 $643,7 Sales Representatives Planned Revenue Unit Margin Cost of Goods Sold Direct Selling Cost Indirect Selling Cost Net Contribution An increase of 120 new reps (an increase of 40 per year) = a gain of net contribution of $60,4m The Smythe model focuses its sales force mainly on Arthroquell and Proxinil with respectively 23% and 34% of the sales force. Context Executive summary Smythe model Consultant model Alternatives Recommanda tions/Limits Strategic option number two: Consultant’s model, the most pro? table Arthroquell Proxinil 167,1 $119,4 53% $56,1 $31,6 $31,7 Renora 135 150 120,7 $201,2 59% $82,5 $22,8 $95,9 Dermet Topisal 86,1 $172,3 59% $70,6 $16,3 $85,4 Mistalon 70,7 $39,3 53% $18,5 $13,4 $7,5 Total 755,5 $1  465,3 $582,3 $142,8 $6,0 $734,2 Sales Representatives Planned Revenue Unit Margin Cost of Goods Sold Direct Selling Cost Indirect Selling Cost Net Contribution 350 300 250 Effort 310,8 $933,2 62% $354,6 58,7 $519,8 An increase of 322 new reps (an increase of approx 100 per year) = a gain of net contribution of $151m Base vs. Recommended Scenario However the model doens’t take into consideration the time you need to train the new sales reps as well as the economic climate parameters. 200 150 100 50 0 Arthroquell Proxinil Renora 135 150 Base scenario Recommended scenario An increase as signi? cant as this one is risky (in terms of redundancy costs as well) which makes the management decisions dif? cult and slow. Segments Dermet Topisal Mistalon Context Executive summary Smythe model Consultant model Alternatives Recommanda tions/Limits How to combine the rythm of hiring from the Smythe model with the optimal allocation of sales force from the consultants’ model? Resource allocation with a limit of an increase of 120 new sales rep: Arthroquell Proxinil Renora 135 Dermet 150 Topisal 99 $192,0 59% $78,7 $18,7 $94,6 Mistalon 0 $5,0 53% $2,4 $0,0 $2,7 Total 553,0 $1  374,3 $542,5 $104,5 $6,0 $721,3 Sales Representatives Planned Revenue Unit Margin Cost of Goods Sold Direct Selling Cost Indirect Selling Cost Net Contribution 258 $912,0 62% $346,5 48,8 $516,7 130 $101,7 53% $47,8 $24,6 $29,3 66 $163,6 59% $67,1 $12,5 $84,1 An increase of 120 new reps (an increase of 40 per year) = a gain of net contribution of $138m However the new product Mistalon has an allocation of 0 sales rep, which is completely uncoherent with Terachem strategy to launch this new product! We need to ? nd a resource allocation that is optimal while taking into consideration a reasonnable increase in sales rep (40 per year) AND a minimum allocation for the launch of the new product Mistalon. Context Executive summary Smythe model Consultant model Alternatives Recommanda tions/Limits How to ? nd an optimal ressource allocation that also puts forward Mistalon? (1/2) Resource allocation with a constraint of 30 sales rep for Mistalon: Arthroquell Proxinil 120,7 $95,6 53% $44,9 $22,8 $27,9 Proxinil 130 $101,7 53% $47,8 $24,6 $29,3 Renora 135 150 93,0 $160,5 59% $77,2 $17,6 $93,6 Renora 135 150 99 $192,0 59% $78,7 $18,7 $94,6 Dermet Topisal 60,9 $160,5 59% $65,8 $11,5 $83,2 Dermet Topisal 66 $163,6 59% $67,1 $12,5 $84,1 Mistalon 30,0 $5,0 53% $8,4 $5,7 $3,8 Mistalon 0 $5,0 53% $2,4 $0,0 $2,7 Total 553,0 $1  368,9 $540,9 104,5 $6,0 $717,5 Total 553,0 $1  374,3 $542,5 $104,5 $6,0 $721,3 Sales Representatives Planned Revenue Unit Margin Cost of Goods Sold Direct Selling Cost Indirect Selling Cost Net Contribution 248,3 $906,6 62% $344,5 $46,9 $515,2 Arthroquell A decrease of $4m compared to the most optimal solution with 553 sales rep but the new product Mistalon is launched. Terachem can capitalize on the future of this product Sales Representatives Planned Revenue Unit Margin Cost of Goods Sold Direct Selling Cost Indirect Selling Cost Net Contribution 258 $912,0 62% $346,5 $48,8 $516,7 However let’s try and come closer to the initial idea of Smythe, who decided to allocate 73 sales representatives to Mistalon, a product which has a potential of future growth. Necessity to analyse the impact of allocating more than 30 sales representatives to Mistalon. Context Executive summary Smythe model Consultant model Alternatives Recommanda tions/Limits How to ? nd an optimal ressource allocation that also puts forward Mistalon? (2/2) Resource allocation with a constraint of 57 sales rep for Mistalon (today’s ? gure): Arthroquell Proxinil 184,0 $124,7 53% $58,6 $34,8 $31,3 Proxinil 112,2 $89,3 53% $42,0 $21,2 $26,1 Renora 135 150 98,0 $191,4 59% $78,5 $18,5 $94,4 Renora 135 150 88,4 $185,2 59% $75,9 $16,7 $92,5 Dermet Topisal 73,0 $167,2 59% $68,6 $13,8 $84,9 Dermet Topisal 56,7 $157,6 59% $64,6 $10,7 $82,3 Mistalon 73,0 $40,1 53% $18,8 $13,8 $7,4 Mistalon 57 $33,6 53% $15,8 $10,8 $7,0 Total 553,0 $1 257,7 $503,5 $104,5 $6,0 $643,7 Total 553,0 $1  366,3 $540,6 $104,5 $6,0 $715,3 Sales Representatives Planned Revenue Unit Margin Cost of Goods Sold Direct Selling Cost Indirect Selling Cost Net Contribution 125,0 $734,4 62% $279,1 $23,6 $431,7 Arthroquell Smythe’s initial plan Sales Representatives Planned Revenue Unit Margin Cost of Goods Sold Direct Selling Cost Indirect Selling Cost Net Contribution 238,6 $900,6 62% $342,2 $45,1 $513,3 Optimization with 553 sales reps while maintaining today’s sales reps allocated to Mistalon This solution allows to respect Smythe’s initial decision but at the same time maximise the pro? t: $715,3m (last alternative) $643,7m (Smythe) = $71,6m Context Executive summary Smythe model Consultant model Alternatives Recommanda tions/Limits The last alternative: Total Net Margins â‚ ¬Ã‚  800,00 â‚ ¬Ã‚  700,00 â‚ ¬Ã‚  600,00   500,00 â‚ ¬Ã‚  400,00 â‚ ¬Ã‚  300,00 â‚ ¬Ã‚  200,00 â‚ ¬Ã‚  100,00 â‚ ¬Ã‚  0,00 0 138,252165 276,50433 414,756495 553,0086601 691,2608251 829,5129901 â‚ ¬Ã‚  276,99 â‚ ¬Ã‚  540,15 â‚ ¬Ã‚  648,15 â‚ ¬Ã‚  686,68 â‚ ¬Ã‚  717,55 â‚ ¬Ã‚  732,80 â‚ ¬Ã‚  732,64 The maximum net margin seems to stabilize around $730m. The last solution allows Terachem to reach $715m total net margin. If we compare it to the consultant’s model the difference in net margin is -2,33%, however there is -62% new reps hired!

High Fidelity- Character anaysis Essay Example for Free

High Fidelity- Character anaysis Essay Rob is a morose person who needs this excuse to always complain. Hes a very pessimistic person, who cant seem to find a positive outlook in anything. Rob is also a very self-conscious person who is not content with himself. He believes that he lacks in the areas he views as important in his life. He depends on his woman to keep him happy, and judges his life according to the woman hes with. He simply cant manage to be happy without one. His unhappiness drives him to be very critical and judgmental to the world around him. He makes a jerky remark to everything he notices. All and all Rob has a weak character which depends on other things rather than himself to be happy. Rob seems to be a very pessimistic person. He sees everything in a negative fashion because he is not content with his life, and assumes it is impossible for things to improve. Once Rob returns home after seeing Marie sing with another man, he feels depressed and turns to his records for some sort of reassuring escape: Is it so wrong, wanting to be home with your record collection? Its not like collecting records is like collecting stamps, or beermats, or antique thimbles. Theres a whole world in here, a nicer, dirtier, more violent, more peaceful, more colorful, sleazier, more dangerous, more loving world than the world I live in; there is history, and geography, and poetry, and countless other things I should have studied at school, including music. (Hornby, 83) Rob seems to feel as though his records are the only thing he can rely on. Everyone has some sort dependence on certain sentimental things, be it a pet, friend or family member. In Robs case, his music is the only constant that will never let him down. He sees a whole different world inside his music, one which doesnt value the real worlds standards or values. It brings him somewhere else for a bit, somewhere which doesnt remind him of the depressing things in his life. It seems to me that with those discouraging thoughts it drives him to be very pessimistic. Without even  talking to Marie he assumed right off the bat that she was going to hook up with the man she was singing with. He didnt even try to show he cared in the least. His pessimism led him to give up on Marie very quickly, without even looking at the possible positive side. These actions show he has a very pessimistic outlook on life which is driven by his low self-esteem. Rob also seems unsatisfied with himself. Too inadequate to be happy in a world where he feels he doesnt belong. Im here , in this stupid little flat, on my own, and Im thirty-five years old, and I own a tiny failing business, and my friends dont seem to be friends at all but people whose phone numbers I havent lost. And if I went back to sleep and slept for forty years and woke up without any teeth to the sound of Melody Radio in an old peoples home, I wouldnt worry that much, because the worst of life, i.e., the rest of it, would be over. And I wouldnt even have had to kill myself. (74) Rob looks at every aspect of his life and feels so insufficient that he doesnt even see the reason for living. He feels like he has no substance in his life. From having no true friends, to a failing job. All the characteristics that he values to be a person worth living, have failed him. I think his mother plays an important role in Robs low self -esteem as she even degrades him and offers him no support. She doesnt even comfort him after the break-up with Laura, yet just criticizes and tells him that she would have left [him] to get on with it years ago. (48) She demeans his job, and adds to his low self-confidence. Parents are supposed to be supportive in times of unhappiness. Parents are the people who are supposed to love unconditionally, but in Robs case it seems that they only regard the negative aspects of his life which definitely cannot improve his situation. He feels so inadequate because he has no one to turn to or depend on. He wants to run [himself] down, feel sorry for [himself], celebrate [his] inadequacies. (72) Rob depends on a woman to keep him happy. He believes his woman defines him as a person, and each time he is without one he is miserable. Sometimes it seems as though the only way a man can judge his own niceness, his own decency, is by looking at his relationships with women- or rather, with prospective or current sexual partners. (68) He judges himself according to the woman hes affiliated with. He doesnt see himself as a full person without a woman. He believes that women are going to save [him], lead [him] through to a better life, that they can change and redeem [him]. (63) Rob is basically willing to be whatever his woman wants of him. Even his relationship with Sarah Kendrew was one of convenience because he had no one else, and wanted to feel equal to his companion. Charlie had made him feel inadequate and less of a person than her, so his relationship with Sarah was one where he had someone to lean on through his time of getting over her. Sarah made it easier for him because she was going through the same situation. They were just staying together to have someone to lean on, and not be alone. He was her moment just as Charlie was mine, and when they split, Sarah had sworn off men for a while, just as I had sworn off women. It made sense to swear off together, to pool our loathing of the opposite sex and get to share a bed with someone at the same time. Our friends were all paired off, our careers seemed to have hardened into permanence, we were frightened of being left alone for the rest of our lives. (29) Rob just couldnt handle being alone. It was easy for him to make the relationship with Sarah work because she felt the same, and had the same problems he did. His weak character leads him to depend on woman to keep him happy and satisfied. Rob was also a very judgmental and critical person. His views on music could not be challenged, as he also evaluated woman according to their musical interests and favorite movies. His views were a little harsh sometimes, and he believed he was quite educated in certain areas, which therefore lead to his many judgments. Id say there were millions like me, but there arent, really: lots of blokes have impeccable music taste but dont read, lots of blokes read but are really fat, lots of blokes are sympathetic to feminism but have stupid beards, lots of blokes have a Woody Allen sense of humor but look like Woody Allen. Lots of blokes drink too much, lots of blokes behave stupidly when they drive cars, lots of blokes get into fights, or show off about money, or take drugs. I dont do any of these things really; if I do OK with women, its not because of the virtues I have, but because of the shadows I dont have. (28) Rob makes a comment on every possible singer, songwriter, actress/actor he can. His critical attitude makes him look like a jerk. He acts above the people he criticizes to make him feel better about himself. He has a judgment on everything. Besides being critical to himself, hes critical to the world around him because he is miserable. He sees the negative in everything which makes him as opinionated as he is. His frustration makes him angry at everything and everyone around him. All and all, Robs depressive, dependent, self-conscious and critical attitudes demonstrate that he has a weak character. His pessimism leads to his depression, as his low self-esteem leads to his criticisms. He has a very miserable life because he doesnt even live up to his own standards. He depends on a woman to make him happy, which is completely unrealistic. Rob will never manage to be happy because he always manages to criticize and demean everything thats going on around him.

Malaria Disease: An Overview

Malaria Disease: An Overview Introduction: Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. Malaria is a very widespread disease in the tropics and subtropics regions of the world including Africa, South Asia, and South and Central America, affecting over 650 million people and killing 1 to 3 million. Over half affected and killed are young children in Sub-Saharan Africa. This disease is an enormous public-health problem because it only takes one bite by a mosquito infected with parasites that causes this infectious disease to become apart of a humans body. Malaria cannot be transmitted from one person to another by just standing next to them you have to have contact with them. Discussion: Malaria didnt just recently come about; it has affected on people for over 50,000 years. It could well have been a pathogen for the entire history but it has not been proven. The term malaria originated from medieval Italian and translated into â€Å"bad air†. Malaria has had a few names in the past like ague and marsh fever because of its association with swamps. Pioneer Discoveries: The first noted advance came in 1880 when Charles Louis Laveran, a French army doctor who worked in Algeria noticed parasites in the red blood cells of the infected people. He announced that malaria was caused by this protozoan and this was the first time that it had been known to cause a disease. The protozoan was later called Plasmodium by Ettore Marchiafava and Angelocelli. Some time later it was suggested that mosquitoes were transmitting this disease to humans by Carlos Finlay, a Cuban doctor. But it was Britains Sir Ronald Ross who finally proved it in 1898 by showing certain mosquito species transmitting malaria to birds and later isolated malaria parasites from salivary gland of mosquitoes that feed on infected bird. Sir Ross later became the Director of Malaria control effects in Panama, Greece, Egypt, and Macuitus. The works of Finlay, Ross, Marchifava, and Celli saved the lives of thousands of workers and helped developed methods used in future public health campaigns agai nst this disease. The bark of a cinchona tree that contains quinine was the first effective treatment for malaria. Global Initiatives: The Malaria Prevention Initiative spends over $1 billion a year to control malaria, the worlds largest health problem. In 2005 Bush launched the Presidents Malaria Initiative (PMI). He pledged to increase U.S. malaria funding more than $1.2 billion over five years in order to reduce death by malaria by fifty percent in fifteen African countries. He also challenged other countries to match him in things like private foundation and corporations that would help reduce the suffering and deaths caused by malaria. PMI had a goal and wanted it to be reached by contacting the child under 5 yrs of age and pregnant women. They will give these people proven and effective treatment measures. PMI also used a method that involved 4 keys components: indoor spraying of the homes with insectides, insecticide treated mosquito nets, lifesaving antimalarial drugs, and treatment to prevent malaria in pregnant women. PMI has impacted more than six million Africans just from the method with four key compon ents. PMI coordinates with national malaria control pregnancy and international partners including Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, The World Bank, and Malaria Booster Program to name a few. Diagnosing and Treating: The diagnosis and treatment of malarias severe form has become an important matter. The microscopic diagnosis of malaria requires skill, experience, and availability of everyone at all times. There are some tests that dont require as much skill but they havent been available in America for years. On June 13, 2007, the FDA approved the first malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for use of laboratories in the U.S. The test uses whole blood and takes only fifteen minutes. RDT is not able to detect if a patient has Malaria if they are infected with another disease. Malarial Statistics: The Center of Disease Control receives reports of one thousand to fourteen thousand cases of malaria every year. Some of these are as a result of international travel. Nearly seventy-five percent are acquired from victims who dont use the recommended preventive medications. During the 1800s quinine was used as the only drug to treat malaria until World War Two when more effective medicines were developed. Malaria control in war areas was created during World War Two to control the spread of this disease by mosquitoes in the south especially those surrounding military bases where troops could be affected. Prevention: There are ways to prevent malaria: such as using repellents, wearing protective clothing, and using netting. It has become a leading cause in death worldwide. If a person is diagnosed early and treated it can be cured. But a lot of people live in areas where the disease is common and get infected repeatedly and never recover. There have been programs aimed towards prevention of malaria by killing mosquitoes that carry the disease. If a person goes to the doctor they can ask for a vaccine and a drug used for anti-malarial infections. Malaria is at a low rate in the U.S. but it is widespread around. If a person travels on an airplane where malaria patients have been they should be tested three to four times back to back. Conclusion: In conclusion, malaria is a widespread disease affecting more people daily. So everyone needs to protect themselves. Scientist are looking for a cure but there is not one yet found. There are people out there giving money to those foundations whose main purpose is to help those affected with the disease. For those people out there infected by Malaria dont give up because help is on the way. Bibliography Deresinski, Stan. Rapid Diagnostic Testing For Malaria. Infectious Disease Alert 26(2007): 133,134. Unknown, U.S. AID Health Programs: Malaria and Child Survival. Congressional Digest 86(2007): 198-199. â€Å"Health and Disease.† Encyclopedia Britannica. 2007. Britannica Online. Retrieved and accessed on from 15 Oct. 2007 http://search.eb.com/eb/article-258139 Does homosexual parenting have negative effects? Does homosexual parenting have negative effects? This research paper tries to review the same sex couples relationships regarding the role they play in parenthood and the effects both negative and positive that they likely would have on their children whether biological or adopted. It also reviews the societys perception of the gay men and the lesbian community and their rights to raise their children. A comparison of the effects of lesbian and the gay men parenting and that of heterosexual parenting will also be brought about in order to bring about the positive or negative side of homosexual parenting. This research paper will also review the results of the researches done on homosexual parenting, the arguments, the outcomes and conclusions. Introduction According to Bozett (1987), lesbians and gay men form families which are identical in appearance like those of non-gay families. Within the last couple of years in the gay and lesbian communities, there has been increased awareness of the fact that the possibility of being a parent is not ruled out by being gay. According to Drescher and Glazer (2001), traditionally, when one came out as lesbian or gay, it meant that one had to abandon any hope of ever becoming a parent or even to keep ones children if one had them already. However, with homosexuality in the open, more and more same sex couples are having new babies, are continuing to raise previous heterosexual relationships children and also are adopting children (Drescher Glazer, 2001). As a result, after coming out many gay men and lesbians are considering parenthood. Parenthood in the lesbian and gay men community may come about from joining of a homosexual parent legally with a spouse of the opposite sex who may have one or more children who may be adopted or biological. On the other hand, children may be adopted by lesbians and gay men as single parents who may or may not have a lover who takes the stepparent role. Some of the gay men or lesbians may choose to provide foster care as a way of parenting. Lesbians on the other hand, can opt to become parents through alternative fertilization. Other ways for the homosexuals to become parents is where single or coupled gay men use a surrogate mother and also where a lesbian is inseminated by one or more than one gay man. And thereafter rear the offspring as if it were related to them biologically (Bozett, 1987). According to Kurdek (2004), homosexual parenting is when gay men or lesbians become biological or non biological parents to one or more children. Despite the controversy surrounding marriage of the same couples recently, there has not been established a reliable number of estimates of lesbian and gay couples. According to an American survey data, 40-60 (%) of gay men and 45-80 (%) of lesbians are currently romantically involved. Because when one presents himself or herself to the public as part of a lesbian or gay couple is subjected to abuse, discrimination and even violence, these numbers are likely to be underestimated as many do not come out in the open (Kurdek, 2004). Effects of homosexual parenting According to Patterson (2000), the gay and lesbians family lives have been a source of controversy for a long time. Due to the stigma attached to the same sex identities, the lesbians and gay men who declare their identities risk their original family relationships. However, the gay men and lesbians have always succeeded in creating and to sustain family relationships despite the discrimination and prejudice (Patterson, 2000). According to studies, children who have been raised by lesbian mothers tend to conform to gender role behaviors and careers that are stereotypical. In a census conducted in US 2000, 33% of lesbian couple household and 22% of gay couple household reported at least an under 18 year child living in that home. By 2005, the number of children living in the same sex couple households were 270, 313 (Patterson, 2000). In Stacey and Biblarz (2001) words, gay marriage today has become rampant in our society and many countries are endorsing for its legalization. It is therefore no surprise that family issues on lesbigay have turned into a rapidly growing industry in social science research. Such researches bear on family policies and marriage that predetermine the Western Cultures held convictions on parenthood sexuality, and gender. As opponents and advocates square off in cultural wars, legislatures, state and federal courts and in the electoral arena over efforts to extend equal rights to foster care, child custody, marriage, and adoption to nonheterosexuals, they heatedly debate the implications of a body investigating how the parents sexual orientation affects the children. The research bodys findings are such that there are no differences notable between children brought up by heterosexual parents and those brought by gay and lesbian parents. They also find the same sex parents to be as effecti ve and competent as heterosexual parents (Stacey Biblarz, 2001). According to most studies conducted about homosexual parenting, outcome of children of the same sex parents is no better, nor worse than other childrens in terms of self esteem, academic achievement, quality and warmth of family relationships, peer group relationships, or behavioral difficulties and no likelihood of being gay than other kids (Carpenter, 2007). According to traditional opinions, homosexual parenting will have the following effects on their children 1. Provide an associate, a model and experiences which make a child engage in homosexual activities. 2. The probability of sexual victimization in childhood will increase. 3. Due to the disturbed behavioral and standards of the parents, the child will likely be psychologically and socially disturbed than other children who have been raised by straight parents (Homosexual parents, 2010). However, in a 2002 AAP report on gay parenting, it found no meaningful differences of children who have been raised by same sex parents from those raised by heterosexual parents. The committee first assessed the adjustments, behavior, and attitudes of gay and lesbian parents and found more similarities than there were differences in the attitudes and parenting styles of gay and non gay fathers. At the same time, the lesbian mothers had the same scores in psychological adjustment, attitudes and self esteem toward child rearing with the heterosexual mothers. The second study looks at the sexual orientation and gender identity of children who have been raised by gay parents. The study reported that none of those children showed any confusion in gender identity, wished to be of the other sex or engaged in behavior of the cross gender. There were also no differences found in the boys or girls preference of toys, activities, games, friendship or dressing code with the same sex parents in c omparison with heterosexual parents, nor sexual attraction difference or identification of self as gay (Stacey Biblarz, 2001). The third area of study looked at the emotional and social development of children. It compared children who have been raised by divorced lesbians with those raised by divorced heterosexual mothers. There was no difference found in behavioral difficulties, quality of family relationships, peer group relationships, academic success, and personality measures. The study however, suggest one meaningful difference that children raised by lesbian parents are more likely to tolerate diversity and are likely to be more nurturing towards younger kids than those children raised by heterosexual parents (Hirsch Sears, 2004). Most of the researches conducted about gay parenting have the same conclusion that the suggestion that children raised by gay parents suffer has no base. The only significant difference as suggested by some evidence is that children raised by same sex parents are much freer in occupation and behavior explorations which are not hampered by traditional gender roles than children raised by heterosexual parents and thus a good thing (Stacey Biblarz, 2001). According to Stacey and Biblarz (2001), those who oppose to parental rights of lesbian and gay couples claim that children of these couples are at a higher risk of outcomes that are negative. Most psychological research however, concludes that the developmental outcomes of kids raised by same sex parents and those raised by heterosexual parents are no different (Stacey Biblarz, 2001). Several lawyers and activists who are struggling to defend adoption petitions and child custody by gay men and lesbians or attaining the marriage rights of the same gender have been successful on drawing on the research (Stacey Biblarz, 2001). In reference to Kurdek (2004), a comparison of both partners from cohabiting gay and lesbian couples with no children was done with those of married heterosexual couples with children. Of the 50 (%) comparisons, there were no differences between the heterosexual partners with the gay and lesbian partners. Differences were found on the 78 (%) comparisons, which indicated that the same sex couples functioned better than did the heterosexuals. According to Kurdek, since the same variables were used to predict the concurrent relationship stability and quality for both same sex parents and heterosexual parents, he concludes that there should be generalization across the heterosexual, gay and lesbian couples by those processes which regulate the functioning in relationships (Kurdek, 2004). There are a few studies purport to establish characteristics of children raised by gay couple which are negative, these negative characteristics tend to however be discounted as they are associated with researchers and organizations that are anti gay. While there is a need for further study of gay parenting, it is much clear that theres no reason found by the objective researchers to accept the idea that children of gay parents need protection (Hirsch Sears, 2004). According to Rekers (2004), the Arkansas regulation that denies foster parents licenses to those adults behaving in a homosexual way has a rational basis from three reasons. These are: From the inherent structure and nature of homosexually behaving adults households, foster children are endangered as they are exposed to a substantial harmful stress levels that are far above heterosexual homes levels of stress. There is normally a high psychological disorder incidence in children entering foster care ranging from 29-96 (%); hence in the presence of adults with homosexual behavior in the foster home they are vulnerable to increased maladjustment and psychological harm (Hirsch Sears, 2004). Same sex relationships are substantially short lived and significantly less stable compared to a man and a woman marriage hence the rate of household transition is high in foster homes with same sex couples (Hirsch Sears, 2004). Foster children in homes with members behaving in a homosexual manner are deprived of the vitally needed positive child adjustment contributions which are due to the inherent nature of their foster homes and which are present only in heterosexual foster homes which are licensed. Some of these contributions are a father or a mother model, lack of a father or mother childbearing contributions, and lack of a wife -husband relationship model (Rekers, 2004). According to Gerstmann (2004), it is clear that it has not been certainly established by the social science data that the lesbian or gay men households are not optimal environments for children to be raised. But this does not make it for the society to irrationally assume that the biological father and mother should raise a child for its best. According to Social science data, we should be cautious to assume that traditional families compared to families of the same sex are better environments for raising children. Again, we actually cannot say that hypothesizing that children being raised by both a father and mother benefit is irrational (Gerstmann, 2004). Conclusion Lesbians and gay men form families which are identical in appearance like those of non-gay families. Within the last couple of years in the gay and lesbian communities, there has been increased awareness of the fact that the possibility of being a parent is not ruled out by being gay. Homosexual parenting is when gay men or lesbians become biological or non biological parents to one or more children. Despite the controversy surrounding marriage of the same couples recently, there has not been established a reliable number of estimates of lesbian and gay couples. This is because when one presents himself or herself to the public as part of a lesbian or gay couple is subjected to abuse, discrimination and even violence, these numbers are likely to be underestimated as many do not come out in the open. Most of the researches conducted about gay parenting have the same conclusion that the suggestion that children raised by gay parents suffer has no base. The only significant difference as suggested by some evidence is that children raised by same sex parents are much freer in occupation and behavior explorations which are not hampered by traditional gender roles than children raised by heterosexual parents and thus a good thing. It is clear that it has not been certainly established by the social science data that the lesbian or gay men households are not optimal environments for children to be raised. But this does not make it for the society to irrationally assume that the biological father and mother should raise a child for its best. According to Social science data, we should be cautious to assume that traditional families compared to families of the same sex are better environments for raising children.

Why Shark Bay (Australia) is a World Heritage Site :: Biology

Why Shark Bay (Australia) is a World Heritage Site Shark bay is recognised as one of the worlds heritage sites as it fits into all four of the major categories they are: * â€Å" as an outstanding example representing the major stages in the earth’s evolutionary history; * as an outstanding example representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes; * as an example of superlative natural phenomena; and * Containing important and significant habitats for in situ conservation of biological diversity.† (June 4th Shark Bay World Heritage area: http://www.geology.ucdavis.edu) The shark bay region has a number of plant species that are threatened and the last of their kind.This contributes to the beautiful flora and importance of the area. Shark bay is well known for its beautiful marine fauna. The populations of animal life in this area are of great numbers. This contributes to its importance of being on the world heritage list. The region is also noted for the diversity of many reptiles and amphibians they have adapted very well to the stromatolites in this area and have used theses formations as there homes. There are in fact 12 species of sea grass in Shark bay which make it one of the most varied seagrass areas in the world. These Sea grasses have contributed significantly to the evolution of Shark bay and along side which the cyanobacteria have made many homes for the vast variety of organisms existing. The barrier banks associated with the growth of the sea grass over the last 5000 years as well as the low rainfall has contributed to the saline Hamelin Pool and Lharidon Bight. These very salty conditions are best for the reproduction and growth of the cyanobacteria which trap and bind sediments to produce a variety of mat and other structures including stromatolites. Stromatolites are found at shark bay and they represent the oldest form of life on earth. The saltiness of this area has the best conditions for the growth of cyanobacteria which trap and bind sediment to produce a variety of mats and structures including these

The Whiskey Rebellion :: essays research papers

The Whiskey Rebellion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On August 1, 1794, President George Washington was once again leading troops. Only this time Washington was not striking out against the British but rather against fellow Americans. The occasion for this was the Whiskey Rebellion. Various efforts had been made to diminish the heated opposition towards the tax on distilled liquors. However, there was only one man who has derived the best course of action. That man, President George Washington, deserves all the credit and recognition for his actions concerning the Whiskey Rebellion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In September 1791 the western counties of Pennsylvania broke out in rebellion against a federal â€Å"excise† tax on the distillation of liquor. After local and federal officials were attacked, President Washington and his advisors decided to send troops to assuage the region. On August 14, 1792, under the militia law, Henry Knox (secretary of war) had called for 12,950 troops. After this, many problems arose, both political and logistical. These dilemmas had to be overcome, and by October, 1794 the men were on the march towards Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. There, they contained the mob hysteria and anger. This event represented the first use of the Militia Law of 1792 enabling the militia to â€Å" execute the laws of the union, and suppress insurrection† (The Whiskey Rebellion of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is clear that George Washington was the source of success in the Whiskey Rebellion. When the militia, with Washington and Hamilton at its lead, reached western Pennsylvania, it became clear that there would be no armed resistance. Evidence of Washington's leadership in this rebellion took place when the â€Å"Representatives of the insurgents asked for clemency, and Washington granted it with stipulation that they comply with federal laws thereafter† (The Precipice of Power). This agreement forced the public to abide by the rules of the government and their taxes without any destructive rebellions. It was evident that Alexander Hamilton was not the backbone of this success. â€Å"His actions provided undeniable proof to Republicans that Hamilton was a monster who would stop at nothing to defend his corrupt policies, a budding Caesar bent on establishing monarchy† (A Biography of Alexander Hamilton). Hamilton did not care as much about the success of his government but of himself and his beliefs on the nation. Furthermore, Hamilton was planning on resigning, hence making it crucial to him to entrench the policies he had put into place. â€Å"For the remainder of his life Hamilton worried that his work would be destroyed, his

Employment Discrimination Essay -- Gender Discrimination

Issue 1. Did ABC advertising discriminate against Jean on the basis of sex when they failed to promote her? 2. Did ABC discriminate against Jean because of her religious beliefs and practices? 3. Did ABC discriminate against Jean because of her national origin? Brief Answers 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ms.Riyadh has not proved enough evidence to conclude that ABC discriminated against her because of her sex. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Yes, Ms. Riyadh has some strong evidence that a reasonable jury might conclude that she has been discriminated against because of her religious beliefs. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  No, Ms. Riyadh hasn’t any proof of being discriminated against because of her national origin. Pg3 Statement of Facts   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ms.Riyadh has been employed as a account executive by ABC Advertising since 1978. ABC Advertising is a national marketing and advertising firm specializing in domestic and international advertising. She was hired by ABC after receiving her M.B.A with honors from the University of Michigan. While being employed by this company she has won three national awards.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ms.Riyadh feels that ABC has illegally discriminated against her. She alleges that it is company practice to promote employees from within. She states that each year she has received â€Å"outstanding performance† evaluation ratings since she has been employed there ABC has never given her a promotion and has repeatly pasted her over for any.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ms. Riyadh claims that all the male employees hired between 1978 and 1988 in same classification as she is have received a promotion from one to four times, and they also earn higher salaries. None of these employees have won any awards and are marginal employees. Ms.Riyadh says only three women have been promoted since she was hired, but men do outnumber women in all positions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At a preliminary inquiry ABC’s response to Ms.Riyadh’s allegations were that she was not promoted because she doesn’t â€Å"fit the image† that is right for the higher positions. They claim that the higher positions have high visibility, require extensive travel and have increased client contact which include presentations before corporate and professional groups. Although ABC states that Ms.Riya... ...9 F. Supp. 2d 844, 855; 2000) Plaintiff did not show that his employers refusal to give him a light- duty assignment was because he was a Jew. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ms.Riyadh has proved that she is a good employee ABC doesn’t dispute this fact. She has shown that she is qualified for the administrative position. Ms.Riyadh has not proved enough evidence that she was discriminated against because of her sex or gender. Nor has she prove enough evidence that her national origin played a role in not being promoted . I feel that she has provided enough evidence of being discriminated against due to her religious beliefs and practices. A reasonable jury would likely conclude that ABC legitimate non discriminatory reason for not promoting Ms.Riyadh is merely pretext and that her failure to believe in drinking alcohol and eating certain foods would not interfere with a higher position with ABC. Pg11 Reference: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  www.lexis.com †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  www.eeoc.gov.com †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  www.findlaw.com †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals by Deborah E. Bouchoux

Chevrolet Corvette

Third generation-C3 (1968–1982) Main article:  Chevrolet Corvette (C3) [pic] [pic] 1971 Corvette Stingray Convertible The third generation Corvette, patterned after the  Mako Shark II  concept car, was introduced for the 1968 model year and was in production until 1982. C3 coupes featured the first use ofT-top  removable roof panels. It introduced monikers that were later revived, such as LT-1, ZR-1, and Collector Edition. In 1978, the Corvette's 25th anniversary was celebrated with a two-tone Silver Anniversary Edition and an Indy Pace Car replica edition of the C3.This was also the first time that a Corvette was used as a Pace Car for the  Indianapolis 500. [26] Engines and chassis components were mostly carried over from the C2, but the body and interior were new. The 350  cu  in (5. 7  L) engine replaced the old 327  cu  in (5. 36  L) as the base engine in 1969, but power remained at 300  bhp (224  kW). 1969 was the only year for a C3 to optionall y offer either a factory installed side exhaust or normal rear exit with chrome tips.The all-aluminum ZL1 engine was also new for 1969; the special big-block engine was listed at 430-hp (320  kW), but was reported to produce 560  hp (420  kW) and propelled a ZL1 through the 1/4 mile in 10. 89 seconds. [27] There was an extended production run for the 1969  model year  due a lengthy labor strike, which meant sales were down on the 1970 models, to 17,316. [28]  1970 small-block power peaked with the optional high compression, high-revving LT-1 that produced 370  bhp (276  kW). The 427 big-block was enlarged to 454  cu  in (7. 44  L) with a 390  bhp (291  kW) rating.The ZR-1 special package was an option available on the 1970 through 1972 model years, and included the LT-1 engine combined with special racing equipment. Only 53 ZR-1's were built. [29] [pic] [pic] 1973 Corvette Stingray Coupe In 1971, to accommodate regular low-lead fuel with lower anti-knock pr operties, the engine compression ratios were lowered which resulted in reduced power ratings. The power rating for the 350  cu  in (5. 7  L) L48 base engine decreased from 300 to 270 horsepower and the optional special high performance LT1 engine decreased from 370 to 330 horsepower.The big-block  LS6 454  was reduced from 450 to 425  bhp (317  kW), though it was not used in Corvettes for 1970; it was used in the  Chevelle SS. For the 1972 model year, GM moved to the  SAE Net  measurement which resulted in further reduced, but more realistic, power ratings than the previous SAE Gross standard. [12]  Although the 1972 model's 350  cu  in (5. 7  L) horsepower was actually the same as that for the 1971 model year, the lower net horsepower numbers were used instead of gross horsepower.The L48 base engine was now rated at 200  bhp (150  kW) and the optional LT1 engine was now rated at 270  bhp (200  kW). [12]  1974 models had the last true dual exhau st system that was dropped on the 1975 models with the introduction ofcatalytic converters  requiring the use of no-lead fuel. Engine power decreased with the base ZQ3 engine producing 165  bhp (123  kW), the optional L82's output 205  bhp (153  kW), while the 454 big-block engine was discontinued. Gradual power increases after 1975 peaked with the 1980 model's optional L82 producing 230  bhp (172  kW). [9]Styling changed subtly throughout the generation until 1978 for the car's 25th anniversary. The Sting Ray nameplate was not used on the 1968 model, but Chevrolet still referred to the Corvette as a Sting Ray; however, the 1969 (through 1976) models used the â€Å"Stingray† name as one word, without the space. [30]  In 1970, the body design was updated including fender flares, and interiors were refined, which included redesigned seats. Due to government regulation,[citation needed]  the 1973 Corvette's chrome front  bumper  was changed to a 5-mile-per- hour (8  km/h)system with a  urethane  bumper cover. 973 Corvettes are unique in that sense, as they are the only year where the front bumper was polyurethane and the rear retained the chrome two-piece bumper set. 1973 was also the last year chrome bumpers were used. The optional wire-spoked wheel covers (left) were offered for the last time in 1973. From 1974 onwards both the front and rear bumpers were polyurethane. [pic] [pic] 1974 Corvette Stingray Coupe In 1974, a 5-mile-per-hour (8  km/h) rear bumper system with a two-piece, tapering urethane bumper cover replaced the  Kamm-tail  and chrome bumper blades, and matched the new front design from the previous year. 975 was the last year for the convertible, (which did not return for 11 years) and  Dave McLellan  succeeded  Zora Arkus-Duntov  as the Corvette's Chief Engineer. [31]  For the 1976 models the fiberglass floor was replaced with steel panels to provide protection from the  catalytic converter's hi gh  operating temperature. Stingray 15 model years where the names Corvette, Sting Ray, and Stingray were synonymous. 1977 was last year the tunneled roof treatment with vertical back window was used, in addition leather seats were available at no additional cost for the first time.The black exterior color returned after a six-year absence. [32] The 1978 25th Anniversary model introduced the  fastback  glass rear window and featured a new interior and dashboard. Corvette's 25th anniversary was celebrated with the Indy 500 Pace Car limited edition and a Silver Anniversary model featuring silver over gray lower body paint. All 1979 models featured the previous year's pace car seats and offered the front and rear  spoilers  as optional equipment. [13]  In 1980, the Corvette received an integratedaerodynamic  redesign that resulted in a significant reduction in  drag.After several years of weight increases, 1980 Corvettes were lighter as engineers trimmed both body and c hassis weight. [8]  In mid-1981, production shifted from  St. Louis, Missouri  to  Bowling Green, Kentucky, and several two-tone paint options were offered. The 1981 models were the last available with a manual transmission until well into the 1984 production run. In 1982, a fuel-injected engine returned, and a final C3 tribute Collectors Edition featured an exclusive, opening rear window hatch. [8] 1980–1982 [pic] [pic] 1980 Corvette CoupeIn 1980, both front and rear bumper covers were restyled with integrated  aerodynamicspoilers that resulted in a significant reduction in drag and increased radiator air flow. The hood was also restyled. The crossed-flag emblems disappeared from the front fenders and were revised to a more elongated style on the nose and fuel door. L-82 emblems moved from the hood to the front fenders on cars ordered with the optional high performance engine. This was the finale for the L-82, now producing 230  hp (172  kW) but it could not be mated to a 4-speed, as the manual gearbox was offered only with the base engine.The speedometer in all cars read to a maximum of 85  mph (137  km/h), mandated by a new and controversial federal law. Air conditioning became standard, as did the tilt-telescopic steering column, power windows, exterior sport mirrors, and the convenience group. New was an optional roof panel carrier that would mount to the rear  fastback  deck. [31]  Many weight-saving components were introduced including thinner body panels and an aluminum Dana 44 IRS (Independent Rear Suspension) differential and crossmember.The new lighter unit replaced the arguably stronger cast iron GM 10 bolt IRS differential. [30]In line with further weight savings, the aluminum intake manifold associated with L-82 engines since 1978 was now installed in all cars. For the first time, due to California emission considerations, a unique engine application was installed in cars delivered to that state and was mandatory. T his motor was a 305  cu  in (5. 0  L)  V8 engine  rated at 180  hp (134  kW), fitted with new tubular stainless steel exhaust manifolds, and mated to an automatic transmission, also mandatory.The carburetor and ignition timing were controlled by Chevrolet’s new Computer Command Control system. The smaller displacement engine was not available in any other state. California buyers were credited $50 as consolation but had to pay for the California emissions certification which was $250. For comparison, the L-48 350  cu  in (5. 7  L) engine, standard in the other 49 states, was rated at 190  hp (142  kW). The base price increased four times during the model year raising the cost of the car by more than $1,200 to $14,345,24. [3]In 1981, there was only one powerplant available, a 350  cu  in (5. 7  L) engine that, like the L-48 base engine the previous year, produced 190  hp (142  kW), but was now designated the L81. The motor was certified in all states and available with manual or automatic transmissions. Chrome air cleaner lids and cast magnesium valve covers dressed up all engines. The stainless steel exhaust manifolds and computer control system introduced on the 305  cu  in (5. 0  L) California engines the previous year were now standard, as was an auxiliary electric engine cooling fan.This, the last C3 available with a manual transmission, so equipped, had a published 0-60  mph in 8. 1  seconds. This model year was the first to use a plastic rear spring, now a Corvette trademark. The spring saved thirty-six pounds, but was limited to base suspensions with automatic transmission. When equipped with Delco's new optional ETR (Electronically Tuned Receiver) radio with digital clock, the quartz analog instrument panel clock was replaced with an oil temperature gauge. The cast aluminum wheels, optional since ’76, were now ordered on 90 percent of the cars at a cost of $428. 3]  New options included a powe r adjustable driver’s seat and power remote outside mirrors. In mid-1981 production shifted from  St. Louis, Missouri  to  Bowling Green, Kentucky, and several two-tone paint options were offered. [pic] [pic] 1982 Corvette Coupe 1982 saw the debut of the â€Å"Cross-Fire Injection† fuel delivery system. This TBI (Throttle Body Fuel Injection) was not the type of  fuel injection  installed previously in some C1 and C2 Corvettes. It utilized two throttle bodies combined with Chevrolet’s computer control system. 3]  The engine produced 200  hp (149  kW) and was mated to a new four-speed automatic transmission with torque converters bypass in the top three gears. Compared to the previous  Turbo-Hydramatic  3-speed, the new 700-R4 transmission had a lower first and second gear for improved low-end acceleration, and a fourth gear  overdrive  that would reduce engine RPM by 30 percent at highway cruising speeds, resulting in better fuel economy. On the downside, the new transmission was not considered a strong unit and proved problematic. [32]  The final model C3 Corvette's published performance numbers were 0-60 in 7.   seconds-the quarter-mile in 16. 1 @ 85  mph (137  km/h). This was the last year for 8-track tape availability and new â€Å"cross-fire injection† emblems appeared on front fenders. Nose and fuel door crossed-flags emblems changed to a more squared design. Chevrolet knew this would be the last year of an entire generation of Corvettes and so commemorated the occasion by offering a Collector Edition with separate serial number sequencing, silver-beige paint, unique wheels patterned after the 1967 model's bolt-on alloys, and an operable rear hatch window. [33] [edit]Special models

Alexis De Tocqueville’s Thought On Freedom Of Press

The issues of the freedom of press and the freedom of speech have for long been discussed by scholars. Professionals in politics, sociology, communications, and public relations tried to distinguish, whether freedom of press was a positive notion. The book of Alexis de Tocqueville is interesting in terms of discussing the freedom of press through politics only. Besides, the author tended to assume that freedom of press could become a negative phenomenon in the life of society.These assumptions are surprising for us, who are used to freedom of press and freedom of speech, but Tocqueville's work should be analyzed in order to understand, in what state the freedom of press is currently found. Democracy in America: the freedom of press â€Å"I confess that I do not entertain that firm and complete attachment to the liberty of the press which things that are supremely good in their very nature are wont to excite in the mind; and I approve of it more from a recollection of the evils it pr events than from a consideration of the advantages it ensures.† (Tocqueville, 2006) Tocqueville did not conceal his attitudes towards the freedom of the press: he supposed that freedom of press could potentially produce political evils, but simultaneously, he also tried to be objective in evaluating the state of freedom of press in the two countries – the United States and France. Freedom of press should be considered in the light of the assumption, that press is the embodiment, and the means of expressing certain ideas.Press is the means of transferring the ideas to the masses, and the language is the instrument to convey these ideas to the public. It is relevant to state, and Tocqueville recognized this conflict, and no matter how negative or positive freedom of press could be, it did not impact the state of political affairs in the country. This may sound rather contradictory, but the author provides us with a very clear explanation of the subject: he refers to langu age as â€Å"the mere carcass of the thought†.Consequentially, the press becomes the mere form for expressing the ideas of certain political circles. In case the freedom of press is suppressed, the ideas themselves will not disappear and will continue their existence due to the fact that â€Å"the sense and the spirit of the work is too subtle for their [tribunals] authority† . Even in the case censorship is established the word of public in Tocqueville's understanding will be heard.In the attempt to objectively evaluate the state of press and its freedom in the world, Tocqueville refers to specific reasons of why some nations simply have to cherish freedom of press: among the major reasons the author discusses the liberty of press as the only source of justice in the countries, where judicial system lacks sound laws to prosecute those who violate laws, possessing legal impunity . In the case with the United States, the freedom of press is the direct consequence of the individual sovereignty, which American citizens exercise.In the political and legal environment, in which the U. S. citizens do exist, it would be not only inappropriate, but absolutely absurd to adopt the measures of informational censorship . â€Å"The sovereignty of the people and the liberty of the press may therefore be looked upon as correlative institutions; just as the censorship of the press and universal suffrage are two things which are irreconcilably opposed, and which cannot long be retained among the institutions of the same people.† (Tocqueville, 2006)Tocqueville determines the political situation in France and America in the similar revolutionary terms, acknowledging the fact that America did not possess a single germ of revolution, while the roots of the press and freedom of press development in France were mainly found in the social instability, through which that country had to go during that time. The freedom of press in both countries led to the situatio n, when it was already formed as a singular power, combining both goods and evils.The situation described in Tocqueville's work was really similar to that we face today: the freedom of press makes this press almost incompatible with that we call social and political order. Probably, Tocqueville was very predictive and could foresee that the freedom of press could potentially produce public disorder, but in any case he was very objective, recognizing the power of press in the United States. â€Å"In France the press combined a twofold centralization; almost all its power is centred in the same spot, and vested in the same hands, for its organs are far from numerous.â€Å"In those terms Tocqueville was trying to express the basic statements of what we currently call â€Å"ownership† in press . On the contrary, the American nation did not possess any centralized control over its press, which has become the direct consequence of the freedom of press in that country. According t o Tocqueville, America was initially keeping to the opinion, that the more journals it published, the more neutralized would be their effect on the public. However, the frequent situations we now witness are different from the way the author wanted to position them.The numerous publications are certainly the expression of the freedom of press, but they also tend to produce the clash of opinions, social attitudes and even disorders in the attempt to gain more economic profits. The press has turned to be the mere marketplace of ideas, which is the major discrepancy between the press now and the press then. According to Tocqueville, freedom of press is often the major cause of the situation, when neither of published sources is capable of convincing the public of this or that opinion.The countries which experience freedom of press also face the situation when â€Å"men are not very ready to die in defence of their opinions, but they are rarely inclined to change them; and there are fe wer martyrs as well as fewer apostates. † The freedom of press: Tocqueville’s theory vs. contemporary society â€Å"By press is usually meant all media of mass communication although the printed media, as the oldest, is treated as the exemplar in most discussions.† The press in democratic countries acts independently from the state power, and democratic governments do not have any centralized control over the contents of published texts or the journalists’ activity. The current situation in the freedom of the world press has somewhat changed with the development of globalized Internet resources, which do not make the press free, but rather make the press uncontrolled. One should agree that while these two dimensions determine one issue, they are completely different, and being free does not mean being uncontrolled.The situation which we observe in our society also possesses similar features described by Tocqueville: he referred to the role of the free pres s as the guarantee to those, whose legal system was too weak to protect its citizens. These principles are not changed and tend to acquire new stronger features. Volokh states that democratic governments are responsible for their actions ; this is why citizens expect that they will be informed about the decisions, which are taken by these governments on their behalf. Press fosters the realization of this right â€Å"to know†, and serves the means of tracking all governments’ actions.The free press appears to promote the government’s accountability, and is not as frequent source of social disorder, as Tocqueville assumed. However, Tocqueville was right in his assumptions as for the possible negativity of the freedom of press. This negativity is currently demonstrated through the facts of less control and less accountability of press in general. Surely, it is difficult to disagree that the press in the U. S. is free, but not everyone understands real implications of this freedom in the contemporary societal conditions.First of all, freedom of press is never absolute; our society is not an exception. We are frequently deceived, thinking that everyone has an opportunity to express his thoughts in press. However, â€Å"in societies like ours, freedom of press is far from just a facade. There are many possibilities to pressure the media, and there are openings within them. † Second, our press is not the only source of accumulating our ideas and thoughts; there are numerous expressions and discussions beyond press. A bright example illustrates our discussion. Haenngi spoke about the Multilateral Agreement on Investments.The conflict arouse from the negotiations held by OECD and the mentioned organization and was expressed in the article published by â€Å"Business Week†. The informational explosion has achieved so large scales that the negotiations were ceased, and the press proved its role as the largest carrier of the public bodie s’ accountability. This was a small, but a meaningful victory, though objectively, the press in that case was balancing at the edge between the social fairness and social disorder. The situation with the U. S. press is different from the rest of the states due to the American society keeping to high standards of social welfare.This means that the large portion of the U. S. citizens belongs to whom we call â€Å"rich people†. The whole American history proves that the rights to be free were not granted but were won by the citizens themselves. This is why it is possible to assume that â€Å"universal suffrage and universal schooling have at last made bourgeoisie stand in fear of the common people, for the masses promised to become king. † The masses could allow taking such leading positions only because the press could serve an effective instrument in not only expressing the will of masses, but defending their will.The situation is different in other countries: fo r example the state of mass media in India is mostly regulated by the narrow circles. The issue of ownership is very relevant for the Indian press . This is why the situation is very unbalanced, and as Tocqueville explained, different states need and use media with different purposes. Simultaneously, the effects of the freedom of press for every state are integrally linked to the level of the legal, social, political and economic development in this state.Freedom of press cannot exist separately from the mentioned development; otherwise it loses its power and risks being turned into the weapon of influential minorities. Doubtlessly, the press has acquired more opportunities for expression, but it still retains the older features described by Tocqueville. Even taking into account that the author of Democracy in America did not recognize the positive character of the freedom of press, he objectively acknowledged the need for it to exist. We have just entered the stage of social develo pment, when freedom of press is considered to be the sign of the democratic society.Yet, none of us ever looks inside to understand whether this freedom is genuine. Conclusion The book of Alexis de Tocqueville was very relevant for the time, during which it was being written. It has retained its relevance until today. The present-day society understands the importance of the freedom of press, but it is not rare that the press is being governed by outside factors or players, who wish to use it for the promotion of one’s interests. It is also difficult to distinguish, whether freedom of press is authentic and is not the cover of the political plays â€Å"behind the curtains†.The society has greatly changed since the time Democracy in America was written; the importance of the freedom of press has not changed, though. Its value was supplemented with the well-known processes of globalization and marketing, when the freedom of press is frequently confused with the press bei ng totally uncontrolled and used for the proliferation of certain ideas to obtain economic benefits.BIBLIOGRAPHYBernabe-Riefkohl, A. â€Å"Government Advertising Placement and the First Amendment: Freedom of the Press Should Overweigh the Rights of the Government as Contractor†. Communications and Law 22 (2000): 123-129.Haenggi, S. â€Å"The Right to Privacy Is Coming: Balancing Individual’s Right to Privacy from the Press and the Media’s Right to Freedom of Expression†. Houston Journal of International Law 21 (1999): 23-34.Tocqueville, A. â€Å"Liberty of the Press in the United States. † In Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Project Gutenberg, 2006. Volokh, E. â€Å"Freedom of Speech and Information Privacy: The Troubling Implications of a Right to Stop People from Speaking About You†. 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