Monday, September 30, 2019

How Steroids Changed Mlb

Known as America’s pastime, baseball is a game in which generations of children of all ages grow up playing in parks, streets, and alleyways throughout America. These same children grew up idolizing names such as Cy Young, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, and Hank Aaron. These men, as thousands of men before and after them, played in a league simply named Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball is rich in history with statistics and records dating back to 1873. Baseballchronology. com (n. d. ) provides this fact. However, as technology has advanced, so have the men who play this game. In the last 15 years athletes have become bigger, faster, and stronger making a game that is so difficult to play,look relatively easy. As a result records that have stood for many years are able to be shattered. Attendance has increased to record levels. Team owners and players are making record amounts of money. Unfortunately, along with these record accomplishments Major League Baseball is enjoying, the use of illegal drugs known as steroids are running rampant among the league’s players. Therefore, although players have become bigger, faster, and stronger, rampant steroid use among players of the last 15 years has changed the face of Major League Baseball negatively. Although it is true that steroids cannot improve a hitter’s hand-eye coordination, balance, or reflex, steroids can affect how hard a hitter hits a baseball. The harder one can hit a baseball the better the chance a hitter has of a getting a base hit. More hits lead to more runs scored, home runs hit, runs batted in by a single player. High statistics lead to Major League Baseball records that have stood for many years to be broken. A player will earn a high salary because of his accomplishments. He will have more of a fan base. This not only affects his pocket book, but the pocket book of the owner of the player’s baseball team because of the increased attendance the player generates. Higher attendance leads to higher television ratings. High television ratings affect Major League Baseball because the higher ratings are, the more the league could demand in a network television contract. With all these factors to consider it is easy to see why a player would use steroids despite the health risk, and why owners would overlook rampant steroid use in Major League Baseball. Thompson, Vinto, O’Keeffe, & Red, 2009 provides interesting facts on this subject. Rampant steroid use has a profound effect on Major League Baseball’s home run record book. Major League Baseball dates back to the late 1800s. An astonishing five of the top 11 home run hitters of all-time either are confirmed or suspected steroid users including the top home run hitter of all-time Barry Bonds. Next is the single home run record. Barry Bonds also owns this record. He hit an amazing 73 home runs in 2001. Barry Bonds surpassed Mark McGwire whom alone with Sammy Sosa became the only players in Major League Baseball history to hit more than 61 home runs in a single season. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are both confirmed steroid users. Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs in 1998 and Sammy Sosa hit 66 that same year. Prior to 1998 only two players ever hit more than 60 home runs in a single season. They are Babe Ruth, who hit 60 home runs in 1927 and Roger Maris who hit 61 home runs in 1961. Sportscity. com/MLB/500-Home-Run-Club (2007-2010) provides homerun statistics. Neither, Babe Ruth nor Roger Maris are suspected or confirmed steroid users. Steroid use is a key factor in perhaps the greatest pitcher of all-time’s success. Roger Clemens pitched 24 seasons in Major League Baseball. He compiled 354 wins, ninth most in history, 4672 strikeouts, third most all-time, seven Cy Young Awards, most all-time, while winning two World Series. Clemens allegedly began taking steroids in 1998. His accuser, Brian McNamee, Roger Clemens personal trainer from the year 1998 through the year 2007, testified to a senate judiciary committee, under oath that Roger Clemens began taking steroids not only to bulk up his aging body, but to help aid recovery time in between games. For athletes, the benefits from steroids come in the form of accelerated recovery from injury and from workouts, allowing them to exercise harder and more frequently. For a pitcher, especially aging pitchers, steroids help them bounce back between games† (Thompson, Vinto, O’Keeffe, & Red, 2009, p. 32). Roger Clemens denies these accusations and even fi led a defamation lawsuit again Brian McNamee that was eventually thrown out of court. If Roger Clemens used steroids, would he have won 354 games, or struck out 4672 hitters? Would Roger Clemens have won two World Series championships and seven Cy Young awards? Unfortunately, baseball fans may never know whether or not Roger Clemens took steroids; therefore these fans will never know the answer to these questions. However, just the question itself brings doubt to the legitimacy of Roger Clemens’ records and accomplishments. Broken records are not the only way rampant steroid use changed the face of Major League Baseball. In 1994 a labor dispute between the players and the owners resulted in a work stoppage. For the first time in the league’s 123 year history, a player’s strike resulted in the cancellation of Major League Baseball’s playoffs and World Series. Prior to the strike of 1994 Major League Baseball’s popularity was at an all-time high. Attendance reached a record high 70,257,938 in 1993. The previous record was set in 1991 at 56,813,760. Unfortunately for Major League Baseball, attendance figures dropped dramatically following the strike. Attendance figures from 1995 through 1997reached an average of 57,911,768 per year. Nineteen ninety-eight was a completely different story. Attendance figures hit a record high of 70,601,147 in large part because of the homerun race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Baseballchronology. om (n. d. ) provides statistical attendance facts. Television ratings reached an all-time high because of the large number of fans who wanted to watch every Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa at bat. Major League Baseball’s popularity was again at an all-time high. Owners and players benefitted greatly because of the substantial increase in revenue. Although there were many rumors concerning steroid use among players in Major League Baseball; neither the Major League Baseball’s Players Association or Major League Baseball’s Owners cared to implement a steroid testing program. Rampant steroid use among Major League Baseball Players was just a rumor in 1998. If the two sides agreed to test for steroids and those test turned up positive results in some of the game’s biggest names, attendance would fall once again. This was simply too much of a risk. Owners decided to look the other way, hoping rumors would fade. Rampant steroid use among players has changed the face of Major League Baseball negatively. First, steroid use among players changed the face of Major League Baseball’s record book. Second steroid use among players help drive attendance up by captivating fans from around America who had no idea players were shattering records because of the use of an illegal substance. Third, steroids use among players helped players and owners line their pockets with millions of dollars in revenue this attendance increase generated. Finally, any accomplishment a player has achieved in the last 15 years is in question from fans of Major League Baseball because these fans do not know every player who used steroids. This is an unfortunate reality for players who achieved greatness through hard work; without the aid of any

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Differences among Corporate, Institutional and Government Procurement

The procurement strategies differ greatly in the government, corporate and institutional sectors. First and foremost, there are some key distinctions in the supply chain management (SCM), that is in the â€Å"process-oriented system of purchasing, producing, and delivering product to customers† that includes the complete supply chain, i. e. â€Å"demand, supply, manufacturing, transportation and distribution†(1, 2006).Recently the industrial sector has increased the SCM standards with emphasis on speed and turnover of goods. For example, the turnover of inventory in Wal-Mart is approximately 12 hours (2, 2006). The government sector is less efficient in the SCM due to legal, cultural or material complexities, not to mention the bureaucracy that can influence the speed of logistics and supply. However, in the military industry the big contractors and the Pentagon are theoretically able to interact through â€Å"the revolving door†.In practice, it can lead to the c onflicts of interests, when the businesses hire government officials with a view to influence the government procurement strategies – for instance, Darleen Druyun’s case, the deputy acquisition chief for the Air Force, hired by Boeing in 2003) (3, 2004). Government purchasing can be more large-scale in terms of allocated funds; however, it complies not only to the matters of immediate financial benefit, but also to the state-level concerns.For example, the Government Purchasing Project by the Center for Responsive Law is regulated by environmentally preferable purchasing policies on the federal, state and local government level (4, 2006). Institutional purchasing faces fewer barriers in the form of formalities and large-scale commitments. Government procurement is an effective process of supplying necessary goods and services because of its holistic quality. The government establishes its own rules in view of the internal and external state policy and economic conditio ns.This is a flexible procurement process, and if rules were adequate to the demand, it is highly effective. By administering contracts the government agencies can choose the most favourable deal for supplying the required goods and services. However, here is a danger of making rules for their own sake, i. e. bureaucracy. To sum up, the differences between corporate, institutional, and government procurement lie in SCM (turnover speed), purchasing strategies and long-term perspectives, as well as general economic and political context.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Business overview of Southwest Airlines Company

Business overview of Southwest Airlines Company Southwest Airlines Company is an American low cost airline. Although the airline industry is no longer experiencing the rapid growth it exhibited during the 1990’s; commercial air travel in the U.S. remains the preferred method of transportation for a majority of Americans due to cost-effectiveness and timesaving characteristics. Southwest is the largest airline in the world by number of passengers carried per year (as of 2009). Southwest maintains the third largest passenger fleet among all of the world’s commercial airlines. As of May 3, 2009, Southwest operates approximately 3,510 flights daily. Southwest has its headquarters on the grounds of Love Field in Dallas, Texas. Southwest Airlines has carried more customers than any other U.S. airline since August 2006 for combined domestic and international passengers according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Southwest Airlines is one of the world’s most profit able airlines, posting a profit for the 37th consecutive year in January 2010. Southwest’s successful business model involves flying multiple short, quick trips into the secondary (more efficient and less costly) airports of major markets, and using only one aircraft type, the Boeing 737. Key Issues Southwest’s most visible problem, as with all airlines, is the drop in demand for air travel the past 18 months. While fallout from the terror attacks gets part of the blame, Kelly (Southwest CEO) says more of it goes to general economic weakness and specifically the collapse of the late ’90s technology and telecom bubble. Environmental changes are also having effects on the Industry. Budget conscious business travelers used to love Southwest, not only for its prices, but because it was so easy to buy a ticket at the last moment, move from curb to gate in minutes and be on their way. New security procedures have taken away this added convenience and have even lengthe ned the lines. Southwest operates on a first come, first serve basis and the random gate screenings, which tends to target last-minute, one-way flight passengers (a description of most of Southwest’s passengers) places fliers in the position to have to fly in the much dreaded middle seat. Analysis Models The analysis of Southwest will cover an external analysis, an internal analysis, and a SWOT analysis. External models utilized will be The Five Forces Model of Competition, Driving Forces, and Industry Key Success Factors. Internal models utilized will be a Financial Analysis, and a Competitive Strength Assessment or SWOT Analysis. The Five-Forces Model of Competition Rivalry among firms (High) The extent to which rivalry exists will influence the overall profitability of the industry. Market concentration remains a significant factor affecting rivalry. In 1989, no single airline solely dominated the industry, but the eight largest carriers retained a total market share of 92 high traffic cities with high demand. In order to gain profits, airlines must beat out the competition by offering as much or more flights with time flexibility to a variety of destinations. Other factors contributing to rivalry include high fixed costs, excess capacity, low differentiation, price wars, and readily available prices via the Internet. Due to the nature of the industry, high fixed costs are expected. Contributions to fixed costs in the airline industry include the costs of planes, fuel, pilots, flight attendants, and additional staff for baggage and customer service. The need to meet government regulations and hire experienced employees can cost an airline company millions of dollars. Currently there has been excess capacity on many routes; as a result, airlines have been participating in price wars in order to attract customers at all costs. Minimal differentiation among airlines and switching costs for passengers also magnifies rivalry.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Relationship marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Relationship marketing - Essay Example It also entails additional risk when compared to domestic marketing. Many factors like culture, statutory obligations, working styles and environment, availability of technology and skilled manpower, and a host of other factors have to be taken into account. This paper is a study of relationship marketing in the context of retail trade in international markets. In the process it will provide a broad outlook on the various factors that a company has to take into account to be successful in international markets. Baker quoting Moller and Wilson defines this concept as â€Å"understanding, creating, and managing exchange relationships between economic partners, manufacturers, service providers, various channel partners, and final consumers† (Baker 2003, 33). In effect relationship marketing is just not about having profitable and mutually beneficial relationships between the retailer and the end consumer. Christopher et al, states that there are six different markets to be analyzed, referred to as the ‘six market domains’. They are customer, recruitment, referral, internal, influence, supplier & alliance markets (Christopher, Payne & Ballantyne 2002, 202). Most of these terms are self-explanatory and hence some examples of a couple of markets is given here. According to the authors, Mercedes, Rolex, and Dell are examples of products that benefit from referral sales. Influence markets are those where a company needs to exert influence on a person, organization, trade unions , or even government. The authors illustrate this with the example of how Johnson & Johnson managed the Tylenol disaster. The company managed to save its international reputation through practical and effective steps. International marketing can have different dimensions or approaches. According to Doole & Lowe, companies can just market their products internationally which is the simplest form of such marketing. In a more complex approach, companies set up their own manufacturing, and

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Hate Speech and the First Amendment Research Paper

Hate Speech and the First Amendment - Research Paper Example The United States First Amendment gives people the right to speak even if the listener of the conversation does not agree with you or feels that the speech is hateful or offensive. The protection also covers even the most offensive and controversial speech from any suppression by the government and permits only minimum regulation of the same through limited circumstances. The basis of this is the understanding by the government that free exchange of ideas encourages the proper understanding of the masses and prevents falsehoods, and embodies the fact that the freedom of expression by an individual without the fear of being punished by the government promotes liberty for better governance. By allowing the citizens to express themselves and their opinions no matter the disagreements, the First Amendment has helped in the promotion of transparency and social stability in the American society (United States and United States Supreme Court, 10).This means that under the First Amendment of the constitution of the United States, hate speech is constitutionally protected unless it can be proven that the speaker of the assumed hate speech intended to act violently or provoke an immediate act of violence. The implication of this legal provision in the United States constitution is that a person may be charged with an offence related to hate speech only if the statements uttered by that person constitute a threat or provocation of immediate violence. It also means that even in cases where the speaker of the intended hate speech threatens violence or intended violence, he may only be criminally prosecuted if there is a law that is drawn to apply to the situation in an appropriate manner. The United States government though faced with problems in the definition of hate speech has always endeavored to create laws and policies that discourage indecent behavior as well as creating laws that though do not define hate as crimes or acts. This means that the law tends to regulate acts rather than speech as was evident in the case of R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, 505 U.S. 377 (1992) where the US Supreme Court debated about the burning of cross by the radical Ku Klux Klan and whether it was a sign of hate speech (Gerstenfeld 10). The superior court in this instance overruled the Minnesota law which it found to be unconstitutional as it violated a youngster’s First Amendment free speech rights. In Wisconsin v. Mitchell, 508 U.S. 476 (1993) where a white boy was beaten by black teenagers, the debate about the magnitude of the penalty was ruled by the Supreme Court. It held that an increased penalty did not violate the free speech rights of an accused person and therefore the courts could enhance the penalty. From the foregoing discussion, it can be said that the United States constitution which defines hate speech as speech that maligns a person based on the parameters earlier mentioned receives the protection of the First Amendment. The upshot is that whil e the government restricts hate speech, it has a clear understanding that the most effective way of combating the vice is through tolerant and effective strategies to counter the hate speech. It therefore deploys an

The Importance Of Proper Healthcare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Importance Of Proper Healthcare - Essay Example With a grade point average of 96 percent, I can say that I am a highly viable and excellent candidate for your scholarship. I have managed to keep one of the highest grade point averages at my school even though I have to work to pay for my tuition fees, pay for my daily sustenance, and care for my parents and their own personal needs as well. Although my finances are quite tight. I have never lost sight of the fact that I cannot let my college education fall to the wayside. There are simply too many things and people at the stake for me to lose heart now. By completing a degree in radiologic technology, I hope to be able to train myself for a job opportunity that is in high demand within the medical field. The field of radiologic technology is one of the fastest growing fields of medical science due to the number of medical tests that are emerging which relies on the images of a person's internal structure to diagnose. It is my hope that I will be able to help assist those who requi re such assistance. Having grown up with only my parent's meager income to support our family, I have always strived to get ahead in life with as little to no help from them. That is why I have become an independent thinker and individual who values the importance and results of hard work. I apply all of my efforts in any activity towards completing it with a sense of personal satisfaction that comes from knowing that I owe the success I have achieved to my hard work and the assistance of those who believed in me.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Economics for Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Economics for Business - Essay Example (Monaghan, 2014) UK’s car market is the second largest market in Europe after Germany and therefore has a critical significance in terms of its contribution to the market. The market is however, dominated by the few but very large players in the industry. 2013 figures suggest that Ford emerged as one of the leading players in the market followed by Vauxhall and BMW. These brands are considered as the hottest selling brands with Ford Fiestas as the leading vehicle in the country purchased during 2013. Since the market is rebounding from its earlier levels, there are signs of price wars in the industry as one of the largest suppliers in the market i.e. Ford has started a fierce competition with the existing players in the market. It is also because of this reason that Ford Fiesta has registered highest number of growth in terms of units sold during 2013. Ford has been specifically offering deep discounts to the dealers on selling certain number of cars of its brands during the month. It suggests that Ford has been capitalizing on the growing opportunities and leveraging the same through the stronger incentives to the dealers. Other players such as Daewoo and Hyundai are also believed to be working towards matching such offers at EU wide level thus initiating price wars at the regional level. (News.bbc.co.uk, 2014) A closer analysis of the market would suggest that the market is being dominated by few but relative larger players in the market. UK Car market is dominated by both the local as well as international players. Local firms such as Vauxhall are also considered as the major players with firms like Ford, Nisan as well as Daewoo and Hyundai are also continuing to dominate the market. What is however, critical to note that none of these firms are actually the price makers as the overall demand depends upon certain other related factors such as availability of cheaper consumer credit and overall economic

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Hypotheses and evidence (SPSS) Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hypotheses and evidence (SPSS) - Assignment Example Most of the values (40%) were concentrated above the mode, which despite some other variables showing normal distributions, advised my use of non-parametric tests on the data. The sample comprised 30 participants, 56.7% being male and 43.3% females. 20% were engaged, 13.3% were married, and 3.3% were single. The majority, 63.3%, did not indicate to belong to any of these three categories. Most participants were college graduates (63.3%), 20% high school graduates, and 16.7% had attained post-graduate levels. 40% earned between $50001 and $75000, 20% between $25000 and $50000 and also $100000 and above, 13.3% between 75001 and $100000, and 6.7% below $25000. I sought to establish whether alcoholic drinks are popular with the participants, who are generally assumed to represent the parent population they have been drawn from. From the sampled population, 60% were consumers of hard drinks, which include vodka, whiskies (where scotch falls), and brandy among other drinks. Out of this population, 56.7% consumed wine, and 43.3% consumed mixed alcoholic drinks. The entire sample confessed to using other types of alcoholic drinks. Classified under this criterion, 3.3% consumed â€Å"Hard Lemonade† while the remaining 96.7% consumed â€Å"Long Island Tea†. The percentages for all four categories indicate high consumption rates of alcoholic drinks, with every participant indicating they consume them. I performed a Chi-square test to establish whether individuals reported to drink more or less at the time of the survey. 30.0% of the respondents reported to drinking more, with a similar ratio drinking less. 40% drank the same amounts of alcohol. The test showed that the proportion of those who drank more was not significantly different from those who drank less, and those who maintained equal drinking volumes (χ2 = 0.60, p = 0.741). I further performed a Chi-square test to establish whether more consumers of alcoholic drinks took their drinks over the

Monday, September 23, 2019

Mittal Steel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Mittal Steel - Essay Example Mittal steel announced a hostile takeover bid for its nearest rival Arcelor steel. Mittal has lead consolidation in the world steel industry and their strategy emphasises size and scale and well as product diversity and quality. This acquisition satisfies all those elements of their strategy. Since Arcelor is not only a very large producer, which would add to the size and scale of Mittal's operations but also a producer of high value steel which is not a strength of Mittal Steel, this would satisfy the range of product diversity and quality which they desire. The steel industry has in the past largely been dominated by domestic countries that supplied steel to their market and then exported an excess overseas. Recently however this has drastically changed. Going Global: The steel industry has now become a largely global industry as opposed to a domestic one, especially in with the emergence of Mittal steel which is built on acquisitions and companies such as Arcelor and ThyssenKrupp now actively pursuing acquisitions. According the Economist (2005, 72) "Until these deals, steel had largely been a national business, with America's traditional integrated producers serving chiefly the domestic market. The international steel business consisted of export trade, rather than the ownership of assets in several countries. The emergence of Arcelor and Mittal has changed all that, with steel groups that have an increasingly global dimension." Consolidation: Recent acquisitions and the new global nature of the steel business have helped to consolidate the industry. Instead of being fragmented, many companies, Mittal included have sought to achieve success through size and scope. The Economist (2005, 72) notes that, "the global industry will come to be dominated by a handful of big groups with production of around 100m tonnes a year." Privatisation: Many Eastern European governments in particular have privatised major industry, allowing for easier consolidation in the industry. Mittal itself was about to take advantage of this by purchasing major steel operations from Poland and the Ukraine. China: China's capacity for steelmaking has increased from 11% in 1994 to 25% of the world total in 2005 (Economist 2005, 72). While demand has gone up in the world and China in particular for steel, the worry is that if demand in China goes down they will export their steel and flood the market. PEST Political Anti-Competition Policies The EU has the right to make anti-trust allegations regarding the merger of Arcelor and Mittal. There is pressure from especially the French government to prevent this merger. Economic Market Trends The consolidation of the steel industry has brought about many cost efficiencies and has allowed Mittal in particular to become vertically integrated. According to D'Costa (1999, 13), the emergence of low cost firms makes sense because, "Most processing technologies connected with steelmaking were and continue to be characterised by strong economies of scale. Add to that the fact that large amounts of finance are needed to implement best-practice techniques on scales that yield

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Tom Robinson Essay Example for Free

Tom Robinson Essay When people talk about the ideal human being, the person that everyone aspires to be, they all think about different authors and sporting legends. But, the perfect human in my eyes is in fact a black man going by the name of Thomas Robinson. Tom Robinson was a man that was a great friend, excellent worker and now an inspiration to me. He was a person who had strong morals and he never went contradicted these. All these morals that he sustained throughout his short life were all ones that benefited the society, except for the fact that it was due to these morals that he died. He meant and did no harm to anyone in Maycomb and his services to the country were much greater than anyone would expect from someone like him. He did nothing but good to the community. We will all forever be in debt to his soul. Tom was a loyal worker of mine before he passed away. He has been my best worker within days from when I employed him. He would work as hard anyone else I had ever employed if not harder, even though he had only one good arm. When Tom was just twelve, he had gotten his left hand stuck in a cotton gin and tore all the muscles loose from his arm. His arm was destroyed in this accident and it had never been in use since. But remarkably, he still managed to pick cotton faster than many of my other workers. Tom worked so efficiently and in the eight years that he worked for me, not once did he cause any trouble. Not once. My other workers would cause all sorts of problems, but Tom did not cause one. He just ignored them and did the tasks that I had set him, and did them well. Tom was one of only a few men that I could trust with my life. When you asked him to a job for you, he would do it without hesitation and always did that job to an exceptional standard. But this is not why I truly admired him. What made Tom so special and contrast from the rest of society was his ability to not judge the people of Maycomb based on their colour, and this was very rarely found in this small town. He viewed people not as whites and blacks, but as equals. It was something that we as citizens of Maycomb struggled to grasp, but Tom was an exception. He was someone that respected everyone regardless of anything besides what was inside them. If the jury during the trial were like Tom, he would still be alive and with us today. Sadly in the end, Tom Robinsons morals and ethics outweighed his common sense. His will to help others clouded his thought process and he did not realise what he had gotten himself into, until it was too late. Befriending and helping Mayella Ewell was truly out of good will but it was not very wise. I constantly asked him why he was wasting helping her when he could be with his children. He would always say that his children had Helen, but Mayella had no one. This sympathy that he displayed was commendable. If Tom was thinking straight, he would have realised that associating with a white woman was undoubtedly going to end on a sour note. But I guess that was the Tom we all know, never refusing to help anyone, regardless of who they were. His death came as an absolute shock to all of us as we knew that Tom would never harm a fly. Though Tom is physically not with us all today, he will always be kept close to our hearts. His death should also cause the death of something else, prejudice in our country. His death has taught us that the race or colour of an individual does not say anything about an individual; it’s what is inside them. Tom Robinson may have been coloured on the outside, but it certainly did not mean that he was black on the inside. His death has made many more people in Maycomb realise that not all black people are bad. The view of coloured people being inferior needs to be changed and Tom’s death is step forward in achieving this. Hopefully, the death of one innocent man will prevent the death of many more men wrongly accused. This is where Maycomb needs improve to become a better town. Tom’s death will never be done justice, because he did nothing but good to this prejudice country. He was a great man and he did not deserve to die like this. All we can do now is wish Helen and her children the best for the future and hope they manage without the man in the house. Goodbye Tom, we will all miss you so much. May your soul forever rest in peace.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Rousseaus Argument on General Will

Rousseaus Argument on General Will Jean-Jacques Rousseau is one of the most influential thinkers during the Enlightenment in eighteenth century Europe. He was born on June 28, 1712 in Geneva, Switzerland. Rousseau won recognition as a writer, although the authorities make every effort to suppress Rousseaus writings. His notion of individual liberty and his convictions about political unity helped to fuel the romantic spirit of the French Revolution. Jean-Jacques Rousseau authored a series of philosophical essays between 1754 and his death in 1778 that had a decisive impact on political events in Europe and the world at large. A political and moral philosopher during the Enlightenment, Jean-Jacques Rousseau developed provocative ideas about human nature, education, and the desired relationship between individuals and the ideal society. Like Locke and Hobbes, Rousseau is a state of nature theorist. This means he starts his argument with individuals wandering about in a state of nature and then brings them together to show how society is created through their social contract. Rousseau published Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality in 1754, arguing that the natural, moral state of man had been corrupted by society. Rousseau saw a fundamental divide between society and human nature. Rousseau contended that man was good by nature, a noble savage when in the state of nature , History,for Russeau,is the story of corruption,wherebya healthy innocence gives away to a corrupt sophistication with the onset of farming and techonology . (Lecture notes) In Rousseaus philosophy, Men and woman in the state of nature are seen as simple free creatures at ease with themselves .To make this more clear men and woman in the state of nature are self -regarding, they feel a compassion for the suffering of others. Human beings in the state of nature experience a relatively healthy form of Self-love, amour de soi. This benign self -regard, though, is turned into more sinister form of self-love, amour proper in the development of more sophisticated societies. (Lecture notes) Jean-Jacques Rousseaus most important work is The Social Contract ,which coined the basis for a legitimate political order based on the social contract that is formed by the society from state of nature to civil society and state. The book was published in 1762, where it became one of the most influential works of political philosophy in the social contract theory. The book begins with the dramatic opening lines, Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains. One man thinks he the master of others, but remains more of a slave than they. Rousseau claimed that the state of nature was a primitive condition without law or morality. This is the basic principle that he tried to put forward in his writing. In the state of nature that describe by Rousseau is where men are possess with their personal liberty. In the state of nature there are no legitimate and political authorities. As society developed, division of labour and private property required the human to adopt institutions of law. Men lives in isolation and fear of conflict, but due to the motivation of self improvement, development of society to govern their rights that they possess men gave up the rights and liberty in order to form government. Rousseau thinks that the fear and the pressure made the people abandoning their natural rights to came and joins through the social contract into civil society. The problem Rousseau poses in the beginning of The Social Contract is how to reconcile individual liberty with civil society. His solution is to offer two conceptions of liberty, natural liberty and civil liberty, which is the superior of the two. The forming of societies involves a social contract in which individuals sacrifice freedom in the name of self preservation What a man loses by the social contract is his natural liberty and the absolute right to anything that tempts him and that he can take; what he gains by the social contract is civil liberty we must clearly distinguish between natural liberty, which has no limit but the physical power of the individual concerned, and civil liberty, which is limited by the general will man acquires with civil society, moral freedom, which alone makes man the master of himself obedience to a law one prescribes to oneself is freedom. (Rousseau, 1968:p 65) According to Rousseau, no one will give up his liberty without getting something in return. We all agree that people are born free, but for Rousseau they need to enter into social contract to achieve the natural freedom . Men by nature are possessed with individual liberty, but men gave up this liberty in order to enter into Social Contract .They giving up the liberty in order to receive social freedom , In giving up the liberty in order to form state with legitimate authority it is must the based on the condition of general will.. In other words Rousseau thinks that the natural independence of man in state of nature is exchanged for the public freedom of citizenship. General will is introduced by Rousseau as a foundation of a transition from state of nature towards civil state, Rousseau claims in The Social Contract to have solved a fundamental problem (Book 1, iv) Find a form of association which will defend and protect with the whole of its joint strength the person and property of each associate and under which each of them, uniting himself to all, will obey himself alone and remain free as before. (Rousseau the Social Contract p 54) the concept of general will used by Rousseau means the will by which a group of people enter into social contract ,it refers to the will of the citizen the state It tends toward the public utility (Rousseau, 1996: 477) The general will is always right and promote public interest. The general will can be seen as distinct from a sum of coinciding private interests. This does not however mean that the general will is not in the interest of each individual. It is, in so far as It is not the interests of others that we are to follow but rather the interests of all, all includes us.(Hall an introduction to Rousseau p.73) For Rousseau living according to the general will instead of individual will are namely that it is noble and good to do so, but also because a person achieves civil liberty by doing so. Obedience to the law one has prescribed for oneself is liberty. (Rousseau, Block 3, p.111) Rousseau believes that only general will can direct the society towards common good. The idea of the general will is at the heart of Rousseaus philosophy. When individuals have been transformed into a state by enter into social contract ,they are united by common goods .The general will is the will of a state as a whole . The concept of the general will is probably easier to understand as the will of all. Rousseau specifically makes distinguish between the two concepts about common will, the will of all and the general will: There is often a great deal of difference between the will of all and the general will; the latter considers only the common interest, while the former takes private interest into account, and is no more than a sum of particular wills: but take away from these same wills the pluses and minuses that cancel one another, and the general will remains as the sum of the differences Social Contract, (Vol. IV, p. 146). The general will is not the will of the majority. The general will is not the sum of all the separate wills of individuals who enter the social contract. It is not majority decision .It is the general will only when it aims at the common good and when it is supported by all citizens of good will. It is a moral, qualitative idea .The general will in action is sovereign. He therefore insisted on the sovereignty of the people, who are united individuals in the general will, because their common interest let them seek for the most suitable form of government and society to fulfil this basic need. Rousseau also argues that sovereignty should be in the hands of the people, he also makes a sharp distinction between sovereignty and government. The government is charged with implementing and enforcing the general will and is composed of a smaller group of citizens Rousseau theory of sovereignty differs obviously from those other political philosophers including Hobbes, Rousseau asserts that the people should exercise sovereignty rather than bend to the whims of an absolute monarch. Common interest of the public could not be preserve and protected of there is no medium of separation of power and check and balance in governing the state. The ideas of Rousseau that he coined in his book of Social Contract would gives an impact on modern form of democratic society based on his understanding of general will and theory of sovereignty would bring us the understanding of the power of people in modern society. His ideas are near to what we have today in understand the good government and democratic society. The importance of the will for Rousseau was not merely social, but also psychological. He knew that men behaved differently in groups than in isolation, but without a perfect knowledge of the inclinations of individuals one could not understand society (ibid.,p. 202). CONCLUSION For Rousseau the object of General Will is the common good not what individuals want for themselves. The common good is taken to be the aim of moral choices. The General Will is the will each person has as a citizen of moral agents. It is not that the common good is what we morally ought to aim at, but that this is what we really want. A person may want something that is not good for him or her. What is good for someone is what he would want if he had complete wisdom. For the General will theory a mans real good is what he really wants although he does not know it. Since the state aims at securing the common good the state or the law is the concrete expression of General Will. We ought ,therefore ,to obey the state, and if we do we are following our real will: the will that is the general or common to all members of the state If an individual does not realise what he really wants and is unwilling to fall into lines ,the state is justified in forcing him to conform .

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Bears Beware :: essays research papers

In our world today many animals and plants are loosing their fight against human intervention in their once well-balanced ecosystem. We are all aware of the extinction of the dinosaurs and the dodo birds, however most people do not realize that annually thousands of species of our flora and fauna are now becoming extinct. This on going trend is increasingly threatening our bio diversity and global ecology. To give a specific example of animal depletion I will focus on Canadian bears. The following factors are responsible for their decline. Hunting, loss of habitat, and just plain apathy on part of the public to preserve the bio diversity of our land. During 1994/95, a total of 19,430 bear hunting licenses were issued to both residential and non-residential people. There were 3,790 so-called legal bear kills in BC alone. It is estimated that out of every one legally killed bear be it grizzly or black two are killed illegally by poachers primarily just for their paws, head, gall bladder, and reproductive organs. These body parts are considered by Orientals to increase strength and rejuvenate male potency. Given these facts 11,190 bears were killed last year. Biologist estimate that to keep the bear population at a balanced figure only 4% should be allowed to be harvested annually. The current annual harvest rate it is more like 8-12%. In my opinion this is really outrageous. We are watching it in front of our eyes and little is being done to prevent it. We have already witnessed the rhinos, African elephants and the Siberian tiger go through the same process and now they are on the brink of extinction. Legal hunting and poaching are similar in the sense that they both result in the slaughter of animals be it bears or any creature. Having depleted the animals in their own countries, the rich flock here in the hundreds to go on big game hunting expeditions and kill; anywhere from one to who knows how many bears. I really don't understand what is going on with our government to allow this to happen. Soon grizzlies will be deemed endangered and when this happens the price for their head will skyrocket and encourage further poaching. The typical responses heard from hunters are: "We are the top of the food chain"; "That's why they are here, to satisfy man", "it don't hurt their numbers", "Its just a bear". Their ignorant attitude is very short sighted and self-indulgent. In my opinion if we want these magnificent creatures to be here for us, our children and their children we should not allow foreign game hunters to come

media :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In spite of all the freedom, technology, and human rights that some of the countries posses in this new era, the debating on media thought control and media filter is still floating around with some supporters and others opposing this fact. Although the argument by Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman was developed quite some time ago, but I believe this argument is still strongly valid at our time. Many examples to prove this argument can be given such as the media role during the war on Iraq, media coverage in the holy land for the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis, and last but not least, the strongly influenced, and hidden hand of some people that affect media.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We all have witnessed the media propaganda carried by the US media and especially by CNN before the war on Iraq to market this war and strengthen president bush position from this war. President G.W. Bush said before going to war that the Iraqi people will welcome the American soldier with flowers and smiles. However The New Yorker wrote in one of its release â€Å"In April 2003, CNN aired footage of a marine in Baghdad who is confronted with a crowd of angry Iraqis. He shouts back in frustration, â€Å"We’re here for your f*** freedom!† George Packer, The New Yorker, November 24, 2003. The media also focused on the possibility that iraq has weapon of mass destruction to brainwash people’s opinion on this war. However they government didn’t find any proofs â€Å" We all have witnessed the media propaganda carried by the US media and especially by CNN before the war on Iraq, however the press was unable to adequately cover every second and provide detailed information about the war due to the management of the news and information provided by reporters. â€Å"One key example of this media failure is worth examining in greater detail. In Octobor 1990, testimony before the US house of Representatives Human Rights Caucus told of Iraqi atrocities, particularly how Iraqi soldiers had removed babies from incubators in a Kuwait Hospital and talem the incubators back to iraq and leaving the infants to die in the hospital floor.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Emily Dickinson :: essays research papers

Delve into a world constructed from images and thoughts streaming along at the speed of light. Watch them flow as they for buildings, people, animals and objects. Streaming along at the speed of light, one can only catch glimpses of what is truly concealed within by the river. As it travels through the mind, it touches everything. Forming, altering, defining, nothing is truly what it seems or what we interpret it to be. Hidden within the stream lies powers that are truly incomprehensible to the human mind. In â€Å"Your thoughts don’t have words†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Emily Dickinson intertwines this realization within the constructs of her poem. Dickinson explores the complex world of the mind through her poem. She delves into the realization that what we know and what flows though are minds are truly two different things and that these two things are as different as night and day. In the first two lines â€Å"Your thoughts don’t have words every day, they come a single time† can be best put into an analogy. One’s thoughts come streaming into one’s mind, flooding and saturating ones thoughts. Because one’s thoughts come pouring in without any restraint, the mind must maintain itself in the only way it seems possible. Thus, our thoughts speak with words, sentences, images that we can comprehend and understand. The next two lines, lines three and four, further solidify this interpretation. â€Å"Like signal esoteric sips of the Communion Wine†¦Ã¢â‚¬  communicates the idea that what we are able to think and comprehend is only a fraction what truly flows through our minds. As fast as we can interpret our thoughts, thousands more stream by without us even realizing it. As the lines state, the thoughts that we interpret are as occasional as when we sip the Communion Wine, coming to us only once every so often because we are always preoccupied with so many other things. However, despite the fact that we only realize a tiny fraction of the thoughts that comes to us, they are truly as precious as the Communion Wine. Lines five and six bring the realization that all that is our thoughts are just the ideas and concepts that we are familiar with. Thus, making it easier for our minds to interpret the concepts with greater ease. â€Å"Which while you taste so native seems so easy so to be†¦Ã¢â‚¬  reiterates this concept. The lines are saying that the thoughts that we interpret are familiar, or native, to us and that is why they are so easy to comprehend.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Kanyon Information Technology Solutions

Kanyon Information Technology Solutions deals with CRM and ERP software, IT Tier 1& 2 Support, Security Solution (network security and such) and ITIL consulting services. The target consumers for these services are the other business houses. In this case, the best approach would be contacting the prospects or target consumers directly through company representatives. The best way for the company is to have a zero level or one level distribution channel.Business organizations can be contacted in various ways. The concerned people from the target organizations read business magazines and journals, IT magazine and journals, visit various websites, trade shows, technology shows, events and exhibitions and many others.   These marketing avenues can be capitalized in order to advertise and market these products.Print Media:Print media being traditional way of advertising and marketing are still acceptable people finding it convenient to carry a magazine and read it in their free time. Th ere are numbers of business journals, news papers, IT journals and others which advertise IT and business products. Companies can identify their target consumer and their reading habits and advertise its products and solutions in the same.WebsiteThese products are targeted for businesses. It will be beneficial for the company to advertise these on different websites. When a prospect consumer will start looking for IT solutions, he is most likely to check search engines first. The company can advertise as well as can have its own website. The advertising cost in website will be less.Trade shows and other Events:This is other important way to contact target consumers. Trade shows offers an opportunity to demonstrate your products and solutions to the prospective clients. The IT and industry specific trade shows will allow Kanyon Information Technology Solutions to develop their advertising material and business plan according to the industry specific needs.Competitive Sales Force:Comp etitive sales for can be hired and trained for the product demonstrations and selling. The sales team can comprise of experienced people from the industry or competitors. They can have aggressive sales targets and proper support and facilities to meet these targets.Retailers:KITS can also appoint retailers for marketing of their services. These retailers may have expertise of selling IT products and solutions to the market place. They can be dealing with products and solutions of other IT companies as well. This will allow company to have a retailer with experience and consumer data base. The retailer may contact its existing customers and cross sell or up sell KITS products.Using Wholesaler:Use of wholesaler for the IT products will increase the cost of final product. Wholesaler will contact retailers to sell the products and solutions to the market place. The control of KITS over the retailers would be less. The products may face the problem of different pricing and offers from di fferent wholesalers and their retailers. The channel conflict will be higher and company will have lesser control. IT products are prone to fast changes. It is dangerous for the company to have its product in the form of inventory. Higher the numbers of members in the distribution channel higher will be the inventory time. This will increase the risk of getting products and solutions out dated and out of market place.Reference:Kitchen, P.J. (1994), â€Å"The Marketing Communication Revolution: A Leviathan Unveiled?†, Marketing Intelligence and Planning, 12(.2) 19-25.Kotler, Philip (2001) Marketing Management, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc., 10th EditionLisa Hoecklin. (1995).Managing Cultural Differences: Strategies for Competitive Advantage. Wokingham:Addison-Wesley Publisher Ltd.Mà ¶ller, K. and Wilson, D. (1995), Business Marketing: An Interaction and Network Perspective. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Norwell.Shimp, T.E. (1997), Advertising, Promotion and Supplemental Aspect s of Integrated Marketing Communication, 4th ed. Fort Worth, Texas: The Dryden Press

Monday, September 16, 2019

Hsm Law Profile Paper

It is important for all health care recipients and health care providers to read information regarding HIPAA that way everyone will be informed of what rights are privacy they are entitled to and the workers are aware of what information needs to remain confidential. People can receive handouts regarding information about HIPAA, as well as the Internet. There are hundreds of online websites that people can go to in order to receive more information on how HIPAA works and what is required to ensure everyone follows the laws that go along with HIPAA.Breaking the law can have some major consequences so it is important to understand HIPAA and what privacy laws are enforced to protect a patient’s information. The information that is provided informs health care workers and organizations what rights a patient has and the consequences of breaking the rules, whether intentional or accidental. HIPAA affects the day-to-day operations within human service organizations. The reason it aff ects the human service organizations is because HIPAA has to be followed on a day-to-day basis.Every day an employee goes into work, they are to honor HIPAA and their clients by not reveling any personal patient information and to keep all information confidential. Once becoming employed, a person is informed of HIPAA and what the rules and regulations are according to HIPAA standards. HIPAA regulations state that they are to protect privacy so every worker knows not to reveal anything personal, even to family or friends. When a client comes to them in need, they must be there for the client and they client needs to know that they can trust the workers.If a person goes to a mental health clinic, they will want to know their personal issues will be kept in that room and it will go no further. An employee needs to go into work with a positive attitude of how they should helps those in need of their services, instead of invading their privacy and confidentiality; whether they intention ally do it for specific reasons or if they are just asking a fellow employee for help where others are able to hear the information as well. While many people supported HIPAA, there were some people and organizations that did not support HIPAA.In the beginning, the health care industry was against HIPAA and did not approve of the rules set by HIPAA. â€Å"Health care providers, health care organizations, and, to some extent, health plans thought of the proposed HIPAA rules as just another federal mandate that would cost the industry billions of dollars to implement and monitor† (Bowers, n. d. ). The health care industry is still having issues with HIPAA rules and regulations but more organizations are coming to terms with HIPAA and focusing on the positive aspects that HIPAA provides instead of focusing on negative issues.Even though it can be hard for some organizations to understand HIPAA, they are researching it and coming to terms on how to handle HIPAA in order to better serve their patients. There will be ramifications to clients and the organization if the law is not followed. If an employee allowed personal and private information to be released to other people regarding a client, then the client could feel betrayed and hurt. The client could, in turn, sue the company where the employee worked for personal damages in regards to their privacy being invaded. Both the client and employee would suffer from the law being broken.It is important to always follow the rules because the consequences could be severe. The client could be humiliated if the worker breaks the rules and releases private information and not trust the organization anymore. The organization could begin to get a bad reputation and there could be fewer people that go to the organization for help. The organization could suffer and be put out of business, all because of an employee who broke the law. The rightful thing to do to the employee would be for the employee to receive a stron g warning or, depending on how severe the law was broken, a leave of absence or termination from the job.I think that HIPAA has wonderful privacy laws that need to be used in human service organizations. In the technological world, it can be difficult for personal information to remain private, so it is great that HIPAA was established. HIPAA serves a great purpose, being that it protects a patient’s privacy. There are great resources that everyone could use to find out more information about HIPAA and what laws it provides, including the Internet. It is important that health care recipients and health care workers learn the rules and regulations of HIPAA because the laws will be enforced on a day-to-day basis and must be followed at all times.Even though some organizations were against HIPAA, it is important to enforce the rules of HIPAA for the best interest of the patient and their privacy rights. It is important to enforce strict punishment for those who break the rules o f HIPAA because it could cause humiliation if the patient’s private information was released to other people who did not need to know about it. I think it is great that HIPAA was established because there needs to be strict privacy rules for patients because too often, there is confidential information released to people who do not need to know the information.Reference Page Bowers, D, (N. D. ). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act: is it really all that bad? Retrieved from http://www. baylorhealth. edu/proceedings/14_4/14_4_bowers. pdf Highmark, Inc. , (2010). What is HIPPA? Retrieved from https://www. highmark. com/hmk2/about/hipaa/hipaaMain. shtml#whatishipaa Highmark, Inc. , (2010). Whom does HIIPPA affect? Retrieved from https://www. highmark. com/hmk2/about/hipaa/hipaaMain. shtml#whatishipaa

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Abuse in Nursing Homes – Essay

Unit 3 IP Leigh Ratliff There are reports of abuse in nursing homes every year. There are many types of abuse reported as well. Even though there are many reports there are also many cases that are not reported. Elderly being abused puts them in an even more vulnerable position that what they were in. They now have to fear for their lives from the people who should be taking care of them. With reported cases and non-reported cases the abuser is rarely punished which makes the situation much worse. Elder abuse in nursing homes has grown at an alarming rate and not being reported and I firmly believe that the punishment should be increased for these abusers such as licenses being pulled and state stepping in more to investigate. There are many different types of abuse towards elders. Types of abuse are neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and many more. There are more than an estimated 2. 1 million reports of abuse each year as found in the studies of American Psychological Association, 2011. Elderly abuse is often times overlooked especially when there is bruising of the skin. The elderly are frail and the bruises are often mistaken for normal care on a frail individual which can happen. M. Lachs and K. Pillemer, also studied the same abuse issues and reported that many physicians were un-familiar with the mandatory reporting of abuse. In fact many physicians could not identify a case of elder abuse (1995-2006). Neglect is one of the most common reports of abuse in nursing homes. Neglect occurs when a caregiver fails to take care of a patient the way they should. In example, a caregiver does not change an elderly person every two hours. Instead the elder is only changed every 4 hours. This can cause bed sores. Bed sores break down the skin and when urine and feces enter the wound the patient can become ill and even die. Another type of abuse is physical abuse. Physical abuse occurs when a care giver hits a patient. Physical abuse towards the elderly can have grave consequences as well. The elder are very fragile and when hit can easily cause broken bones and even death. It is very hard for the elderly to recover because they are so fragile. Many physicians do not recognize the signs of abuse. The injuries are often mistaken for common issues with fragile elder patients. This means most cases of abuse are not reported and the abuser continues the acts. For cases that are reported the abuse usually is not punished in a meaningful way. Usually the abuser gets a slap on the wrist and in worst case scenario fired from the job just to go to another job and do the same thing. If the state would come in to the nursing homes more often or even a regular weekly basis to inspect. The state has a larger impact than expected and could put the situation under control. The abusers should have their certifications and licenses revoked and should not be able to continue their work. Doing this would leave the patients with care givers who actually care and want to do the job correctly. There are many, many reports every year on abuse in nursing homes. The reports to not even come close to the actual number of cases since not all are reported. Abuse in nursing homes is a very serious matter and should be treated as such. The elderly deserve respect and great care. They have lived a long life and should not have to end it in tragedy.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Faith in Humanity

Faith in Humanity Essay Faith in humanity is when a person has a belief that humans cannot do something so terrible, like burning people in mass ovens, because they are humane. This belief was used against the Jews, as well as the public, in the time of the Holocaust for Hitler’s benefit to pull a blind over their eyes in early stages of the Holocaust. There are many examples of faith in humanity from what was presented during this unit as well as belief of faith in humanity in modern day Thailand.Faith in humanity was a practice that crippled the Jews into believing that the Nazis couldn’t, and wouldn’t, shoot mass numbers of people into mass graves. In Night, by Ellie Wiesel, the author talks about a person who disappears and comes back with injuries. The person tells a sad tale about his misfortunes in his disappearing. He tells of foreigners having to offer up their necks to the Nazis so that they may shoot it, little babies being torn from their mothers†™ arms, being tossed up into the air and shot down, as if they were just target practice and not actually living beings.In Night, also the author talks about being at the concentration camp and seeing the mass grave pile, patiently waiting in a heap for the incinerator, but at first, in the dark, he couldn’t and chose not to believe it because he didn’t think, even after the horrific cattle ride where an old woman was viciously beaten by fellow prisoners because she wouldn’t shut up, that that anyone could burn bodies that had been gassed or shot. He had a massive amount of faith in the Nazis’ hearts and consciences. The book Night and the book The Book Thief were both laced with faith in humanity.The Book Thief, written by Markus Zusak, has many forms of Faith in humanity intertwined through the pages. In the book, Liesel, the main character, has faith in the Nazis but when her family turns out to be storing a Jew, she hears stories that compromise her original faith. The Jew, Max Vandenburg, tells her stories of his family in hiding, some gruesome tales about when he was captured, what he saw when he was hiding within the shadows of an abandoned warehouse, and what forced him to hide. Her faith in the Nazis dwindled but she still went to Hitler Youth where she was subjected to the lies that she had put her faith in.She heard that all Jews that were not in hiding were deported and forced into horrible conditions when she got home but had to keep the picture of an innocent, oblivious German girl who goes along with the plan and keeps her faith in humanity. As well as Liesel, the main character in The Book Thief, and the Germans in the time of Holocaust, the Thai people also have a massive amount of faith in humanity in their own kind. The people in Thailand are, unless it has been committed near them, oblivious to the practice of sex and human trafficking.Many young girls every year are taken from their families and cities to be s old into slavery and bondage without knowledge of the public. The Thais have faith in the other Thais, so much that on the outside of the Reclining Buddha statue, there is a sign that says, â€Å"Warning: Not Thai Bandits and Pick Pockets around. † Thais are unknowingly giving up the younger generation of girls because they are hidden behind a curtain of faith in the wrong thing, humanity. Faith in Humanity is, and has been, practiced all over in the world. From the Holocaust to Thailand, modern day, it reins true, we cannot imagine life where anyone could be so cruel.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Compensation and Benefits Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Compensation and Benefits Paper - Essay Example For example, the same job might have different structures, meaning that the levels that the organization uses are diverse. In this case, the levels used by the organization determine the organization structure, since the different people report to different managers. In the example of software engineers in the Phoenix area, the type of job structures is best exemplified. In this case, there are three different job structures for the same occupation, each job structure attracting a different salary. The first job structure is Software engineer 1, which is the lowest level in the field. This job structure attracts an average salary of $58,001 (Salary.com, 2011), and from the job description, requires up to 2 years of experience in a similar position. An individual in this position is always under immediate supervision, and cannot exercise independent judgment in the job. The second job level is a software engineer 2, who makes an average salary of $73,539 (Salary.com, 2011), and is a l ittle higher than the software engineer 1. This job level requires between 2 and 4 years of experience, performs more tasks that the first job level. This employee reports to one manager, and is usually not under immediate supervision. ... The information described above can be used in the development of a pay structure in a simple way, since the factors that determine pay are already evident. The description of three job levels above indicates that two factors that determine the pay structure in an organization. The first factor is the experience that an individual possesses (Ranken, 2010). The educational level is usually constant, since an individual is expected to possess minimum qualifications before consideration for the job is done. In this case, the first level, which earns the lowest salary, possesses the least experience, and the third job level possesses the highest job experience. This indicates that the development of a pay structure should be dependent on the experience that an individual possesses. From the above information, it is also evident that the development of a pay structure is also dependent on the level of independence that an individual is accorded in an organization (RAnken, 2010). For examp le, a first level engineer is accorded the least level of independence, therefore, it is to be expected that the pay grade will be the lowest. Conversely, the third level engineer is accorded the highest level of independence; therefore, the pay grade is the highest. Benefits Benefit Description Value Reason for benefit Social Security Social security is a contributory program made by all employers to a government fund for the retirement, medical aid, and disability fund for employees. The employees are assured that they will get retirement benefits and medical care at the moment they retire. Required by law Disability Disability benefits are not mandatory since they are already covered by social security. This benefit is

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Constitutional Law of the EU Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Constitutional Law of the EU - Essay Example In this particular instance, Antonie has to prefer a claim under the law of Tort and /or other applicable law for redressal of his claim. The facts of this case pertain to losses accruing to the appellant due to misrepresentation and there is a question of compensatory damages, which would put Antonie in the same financial position as if the loss did not take place. Antonie needs to prefer an application for compensatory damages sustained on non-contractual liability. It would have to be done in the Court of the First instance, and this court would have to give its ruling based on its findings and the losses suffered by a EU citizen which were caused by the UK teaching Institute, Easytalk â€Å"The Court of first instance has jurisdiction to hear †¦ actions seeking compensation for damages caused by the Community institutions or their staff† 3 The relief measures adopted by Antonie should be, initially, to prefer an application to the Registrar for initiation of proceedings. The salient features of the action are to be reflected in a Notice, a copy of which would also be sent to the defendants for defense claims to be filed within a stipulated time. There are two aspects to the submission of appeal by the appellant- verbal and written. In a verbal part, a public hearing of the case is made. â€Å"The judges deliberate on the basis of a draft judgment drawn up by the Judge-Rapporteur.† trial is conducted and the judgment is delivered on public hearing. Although the court proceedings are free of court fees, the costs of the lawyers are to be borne by the litigants, with legal aid, if necessary.4 The International Court of Justice of the European Community is the premier legal institution of the community. It comprises of the following three Institutions: (1) The Court of Justice (2) The Court of the First Instance (for cases pertaining to the rights of the individuals) and (3)

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Media Production - This is England Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Media Production - This is England - Essay Example The continuous whisper of ‘war’, soulful blast, and meaningless foreign conflict, which are undertaken for hidden desires and the obscured racism, are a clear reminder of England’s past (Brussat 2013) Location This Is England was entirely filmed in the East Midlands, an irregular landscape of flatlands and estate buildings with poor infrastructure development. Most of the movie’s shooting was done in the residential areas at Nottingham, Lenton, and some parts of St Ann’s. Meadow’s movie production history demonstrates the utilization of countryside region to form spectacular film background. Similarly, Meadow’s in his movie â€Å"This Is England† concentrates much on the countryside as part of the flat landscape, which portrays much of unemployment and few chances of self-development. This environment gives the viewer a chance to meet Shane Meadow’s in his boyhood age of twelve years whose father perishes in the war agains t Argentina (Goldsmith 2006) Themes The death of Shaun father leaves him exposed to tyrants in the streets and school compound whereby one moment a garrulous skinhead schoolmate takes him off course. The fact that Shaun kept his own counsel worsens his anger making it tough for him to get well with other boys, which leads to a lonely self-life in the firsts scenes of the movie. With time, Shaun finds unusual friends who have no taste for education and spent most of their time in criminal activities such as excessive drinking and street fights. Shaun gets a strange haircut to please the gang of skinheads that was much focused on racial antagonism. Fortunately, a conflict arises over the leadership of the gang leading the head of the gang, Woody, to split. Combo an ex-convict takes the readership of the opposing group that seemed to possess racism. The arrival of Combo from prison changes the plot whereby Combo’s numerous fights with blacks in jail led to his acquisition of bel ligerency experience. Combo’s comeback draws boundaries in the gang’s union whereby he challenges the skinheads led by Woody to guard England against external influence and encourages Milky to behave more like an Englishman and not just like a Jamaican (IMDb 2007). During the leadership struggle of the gang, Shaun turns on the side of Combo with a conviction that his father did not die in vain after, which he is trained on combat as well as survival for the fittest techniques. Considerably, â€Å"This Is England† title of the movie and Combo’s entreaty reveal the actual nature of England’s politics and cultural background. A great embrace of English heritage, as brought out by the Combo, shows a sense of social purity and racism. On the other hand, the viewer is able to view England that is struggling to be recognized as being in a mixed state and assimilated by colonial influences, which erode the native English culture and mix it with that of the irs (Goldsmith 2006). However, Meadow’s plot concentrates on the theme where the struggle for heritage gives birth to racism. In a later scene, national front meeting attended by British farmers and factory workers is clandestinely arranged behind a pub, which becomes one of the most scaring parts of the film that is full of engraved terror on what would be the next scene (French 2006) The spilt gang leaders, Combo and Woody, are able to care for honest and bullying skinhead boy under their reign.  

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Buyer Behavior Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Buyer Behavior Proposal - Essay Example This research aims to evaluate and present the underlying reasons why the people are hooked to play video games. These reasons could be attributed by its ability to allow the players to perform real-life physical movements through using its unique, motion-sensing controllers.The game console is also purposely designed with compelling characters, different opponent as targets and incorporated with various challenges. To make the game more exciting, the players were required to make critical decisions at specific junctures and match a blend of action and strategies in order to win the game or to perceive their primary goals. The innovations of built-in voice technology in the video games such as voice chat and voice command also increased the fascination of the gamers to play even more console games because they could command and control the characters’ actions through dictation or voice-based their strategies. In addition, the voice technology also enables the player to interco nnect with other players and make it more easy and convenient to play as a team. The latter becomes the significant factor to consider video gaming as social and community –driven pastime. The evidence of this claim was proven by the research conducted by the International Digital Software Association in the recent year. The findings revealed that 60% of gamers were playing with friends, 33% were playing with siblings, and 25% were playing with spouses or parents. ... ideo games could be attributed by its ability to allow the players to perform real-life physical movements through using its unique, motion-sensing controllers (Limperos et al, 2011).The game console is also purposely designed with compelling characters, different opponent as targets and incorporated with various challenges. To make the game more exciting, the players were required to make critical decisions at specific junctures and match a blend of action and strategies in order to win the game or to perceive their primary goals (GamePro, 2011). The innovations of built-in voice technology in the video games such as voice chat and voice command also increased the fascination of the gamers to play even more console games because they could command and control the characters’ actions through dictation or voice-based their strategies. In addition, the voice technology also enables the player to interconnect with other players and make it more easy and convenient to play as a te am. The latter becomes the significant factor to consider video gaming as social and community –driven pastime. The evidence of this claim was proven by the research conducted by the International Digital Software Association in the recent year. The findings revealed that 60% of gamers were playing with friends, 33% were playing with siblings, and 25% were playing with spouses or parents (Mangis, 2003, p. 113). Due to the changing pastime or leisure of consumers, the market for digital playground has significantly increased. In 2002, the consumers’ expenditures for gaming had reached up to $ 6.9 billion, placing gaming as the number one industry (Mangis, 2003, p.113). Such in the case in the launching of the Nintendo 3DS in the UK market in 2011. The game console was abruptly sold out some

Monday, September 9, 2019

Managing in a mixed economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managing in a mixed economy - Essay Example This study deals with Private-Public Partnership (PPP) agreement between London Underground and Mertronet. The purpose of the PPP agreement was to acquire funds from the private sector. This paper begins with the background of London Underground and Metronet. Historical facts are also provided to understand the reason for selection of PPP as a means of financing. It also contains literature survey of the problems of London Underground and Metronet also the National Audit Office Report is presented. The paper has been concluded with a few causes and reasons for the London Underground failure and liquidation of Metronet and is followed by the recommendation for the improvement of the PPP agreement. London Underground has started its operation in the mid-19th century with the help of private venture capital. The Metropolitan line between Farrington and Paddington was the first construction, built by Sub Surface Line (SSL), which was one of the first construction sectors of London Underg round (Wolmar, 2002). Due to absence of governing body and corporation, the entire sector started working independently. Therefore, the London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) was formed in 1933 to control the road and underground transport. In 1948, it was undertaken by the British Commission. The five separate corporations including London Transport Board were restructured by British Commission. ... The tubes were disorganised, chaotic and systematically mismanaged since the early days. Hence, it was necessary to form a PPP. During the year 2002, due to inadequate investment and problem in managing public service and maintaining infrastructure, it was decided that maintenance and renewal of London Underground’s infrastructure would be undertaken through PPPs (Kellaway & Shanks, 2007). In PPP agreement, a contract has been signed for 30 years and the main purpose was to obtain funds from private sector. It was a partnership between two functions of business, i.e. finance and operation. Private sector is well-organised than public sector to complete a project in a cost-effective way. The renewal and maintenance of the tubes by public sector operations and private sector infrastructure were an arrangement that ensured the tubes would provide successful service more efficiently. The stations, train operations, signalling and safety was continued by the public sector, through London Underground Limited. The infrastructure companies such as Infraco BCV, Infraco JNP and Infraco SSL were formed for the purpose to manage station, trains, and signal and track infrastructure. Infra JNP was undertaken by Tube Line on 31st December 2002 and on 4th April 2003 other two companies were undertaken by Metronet. Metronet had invested ?17 billion amount for the PPP contract of 30 years (Finn & Et. Al., 2007). Metronet Rail Group is the group of Metronet Rail BCV Limited and Metronet Rail SSL Limited based in London, UK. Metronet Rail BCV Limited is involved in upgradation, replacement and maintenance of sub-surface deep tube lines that operates in the streets of London (Bloomberg

Multiple Topics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Multiple Topics - Essay Example There are certainly more preferences that he can keep track of. Develop a problem definition for Steve, as discussed in the Session Five lecture notes and readings (Chapter 3).   Problem definition: Steve wants to keep his customers happy and attract new ones. He thinks he needs a way to track customer behavior and mine the data from his restaurant operation. The method of data collection must not interfere with the normal operations of the restaurant. It should also store the data in a database so that it can be used by whatever means is devised. The data collection is simple and can easily be done by streamlining the ordering system. The main problem is that Steve has actually voiced a need for keeping customers happy and attracting new customers. It is not certain that mere data collection can do this. Part B:   â€Å"I think it’s only fair to write up all alternatives you’ve considered†, says Linda Smith (Steve Smith’s wife and Chief Financial Offi cer of his restaurant). â€Å"After all, you’ve been working on this systems thing for a while now and I think my husband would be interested to see what you found out.†Ã‚   Please explain to Linda Smith why your system proposal will not (should not) contain all the alternatives that your ITEC 630 team has considered with respect to solving Steve Smith’s information management problem. Also include in your response to Linda Smith the types of alternatives that will appear in your final systems proposal to Steve Smith.   Not all the alternatives we brainstormed are feasible and some just would be either over-kill or too expensive, creating a negative return on investment. Some solutions would have a negative impact on customers and others would not include increasing business. So these will not be included. The types of proposals we will include are those that will accomplish both the data collection and increase business, yes stay within the budget. We have fo ur alternative systems we will offer: an electronic ordering system which will collect all the data, a club card that will collect data and offer bonus points, a club card that will store cash, offer bonus points and collect data, and a fourth type will include all of these. All of the card alternatives will attract new business as they can be purchased as gift cards and loaded up front. A. Please label each question as either closed question or open-ended question.  Ppt 04 1. How many personal computers do you have in this department?  closed 2. How is this task performed?  open 3. Why do you perform the task that way?  open 4. How many hours of training does a clerk receive?  closed 5. How many customers ordered products from the Web site last month?  closed 6. What are users saying about the new system?  open 7. How are the checks reconciled?  closed 8. What added features would you like to have in the new billing system?  open 9. Is the calculation procedure de scribed in the manual?  closed 10. Is there anything else you can tell me about this topic? open 11. Do you review the reports before they are sent out?  closed 12. Are the user manuals produced by this department?  closed 13. Describe a feature you would like to see in the new system?  open 14. Who handles the invoices?  closed 15. How do you resolve accounts payable issues?  open B. You are going to interview the local manager of LDI, a national tire retailer, who has asked you to

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 15

Marketing - Essay Example Just low fares would not attract the required customer level, and so value for money is another objective of Southwest Airlines. So though the service offered is a no frills one, Southwest Airlines has targeted excellence in customer service to provide an extra boost to the value of the service. This has paid rich dividends, as can be seen from the accolades that Southwest Airlines has received consistently received, and is the only business enterprise in its sector of industry to do so. The Fortune magazine in its annual ratings has consistently placed Southwest Airlines among the most admired companies in the United States of America. In essence it is the understanding, and utilization of the human asset in an organization that provides the capacity to an organization to maintain low cost levels in its operation. This factor of this strength of the human asset in Southwest Airlines enables it not just to maintain low cost levels, but also to meet the challenges that come with adverse times. Southwest Airlines has employee strength of approximately thirty-two thousand, and in keeping with the philosophy of their founder Kelleher, remain an asset that is accorded the highest priority. Kelleher believed that a high employee morale, reduces employee turnover, and that helps to maintain low costs. The employees of Southwest Airlines enjoy facilities of profit sharing and stock purchases, and are encouraged to make the working environment more pleasurable. The result of these actions could be seen in the aftermath of the September 2001, when the airline industry went through a crisis. The support of the employees enabl ed Southwest Airlines to be the only airline that did not cut the number of its flights and lay-off employees, and surprisingly offer lower fares too, despite the sharp drop in passenger traffic. By November of that year, while the airline industry reported a drop of sixteen percent in comparison to the previous year,

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Theories of Communication Essay Example for Free

Theories of Communication Essay Argyles theory of communication is that to learn communication skills and social skills there is a certain cycle that needs to be used this therefore involves translating or decoding what others have communicated. Argyle believes that this gives the individual an opportunity to adapt on their person behaviour so that at the end of the process they are able to communicate effectively. The cycle has different stages 1. The cycle will start when an idea is thought of so that the message can then be coded and sent. This stage involves the individual thinking in their head what they are going to be saying and they then need to ensure they get the message to the other individual clearly so that they can understand what the message is about. 2. The next step is therefore when the other person receives the message and it can be decoded. This stage means that they will be processing the message in the head thinking about the message and understanding it so that they are then able to go onto the third stage 3. This stage is the part where the individual responds to the message they have received and decoded, they then respond and the whole cycle will be repeated. Example In My Placement: In my placement at Linden Lea nursery they have corner that the children are able to go and read in and pick a book each week, there are pillows down in the area so that there is a relaxed atmosphere and I can go and sit with an individual child and read a book with them. When reading with the younger children I am able to ask questions about the book for example ‘who is your favourite person in the book? or ‘what part of the book do you think is the best bit? ’ this therefore helps me to be able to see if the child is understanding the story or what parts they are understanding however they won’t feel pressured as they will be relaxed questions and it will be a relaxed conversation. Tuckman’s Theory Tuckman’s theory of communication was described as a group interact ion, as he believes that people work better together and interact better when they are working within a group. Tuckman’s theory of the group coming together and performing involves four key stages. Forming- This is when the group have come together and they are getting to know each other beginning to think of ideas and ask each other questions. An example of forming in my placement will be when the children at the nursery sit in groups with a teacher or a team leader and the groups can be based around their ability or specific needs. Storming- Storming is the second stage and this is when conflict can often flare up because the roles begin to be put in place for those in the group and a leader may begin to take control causing some arguments as the group is functioning. For the storming stage an example in my placement could be when the children have formed their groups and begin to play games it can mean that conflict will begin as some individuals may want to play the same role in the group as there will always be a leader to group this therefore means you often get many personality clashes. Norming- Norming is when the group properly comes together and start to develop strong sets of shared values and the group will start to work as one group together. For this stage in my placement you will begin to see the children coming together and working together in their friendship groups, this may involve them playing various games and taking part in various activities for them to come together and begin to understand eachother. Performing- After the stage of norming they then have a full understanding of the groups expectations and understand each individual’s values they then therefore are able to start working together to perform as an effective group. The relationships have become stronger within the and they are able to support each other. In my nursery placement I see this stage being shown when I see children taking part in an art activity this means they have a chance to all show off their own skills however they can work together and help in the groups their working in for example if they were doing a big display they can come together to decide who will do what part of the display. Schultz(1958) also had a different theory of communication which can be uses in group interactions. This was a different theory to Tuckman’s theory and instead of four stage is has three key stages. The first step is inclusion; this is the stage that the individuals spend time building relationships between the members in a group so they can choose which group they wish to belong to. The second step is control this stage is the part in which you see who has the power in the group, little groups are made and people will compete to be part of certain groups or in a role. The last stage is affection this is the stage in which it calms down as each member in the group will have their role and they are able to form effective group work. Example In My Placement: At the nursery I am working in the children are always playing and they are able to communicate with each other. I sit with the children and join in the games and they play together as a group. They were dressing up and they play with the dolls ‘mummy’s and daddy’s’ this therefore means they communicate together working out who will be who and then played together sharing all the toys. They are therefore working together to decide if they want to play in that group or choose to play something else. This type of interaction helps the children to communicate with all children and as games develop they begin to become more comfortable.

Friday, September 6, 2019

Sports and Resistance in the United States Essay Example for Free

Sports and Resistance in the United States Essay In his book entitled What’s My Name Fool? Sports and Resistance in the United States, author Dave Zirin presents a thought provoking and inviting glimpse look at the polluted industry of sports as well as the brilliant personalities who played significant roles in its history. The author utilizes the achievements of the black athletes and that of the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) in order to connect the problem of racial discrimination. All the black athletes are playing an important role in establishing their social status. Even though many people would rather not admit it, professional sports in the American scene are certainly more than just a piece of entertainment. Professional sports in the country are considered to be an institution. It also forms a fundamental element in the country’s popular culture. For a majority of men, sports, whether in the form of a plain discussion, as a spectator, or actually playing the game constitutes an integral part of socialization. For a guy who would not want to be dismissed as an odd or nerd, must have an interest in sports to the very least. This fascination in sports usually transforms later on into somewhat bordering a passion. Sports were in essence absurd. The audience is kept sidetracked, passive, and amused whereas issues of great importance are devoted little consideration. Even though there is a certain amount of truth to the following claims, what the author presents in his unique and captivating book is much more multifaceted than where the observation may lead to. Pulling from a source of significant milestones in the history of sports, for instance, the plight of the African American athletes during the Olympics held in 1968, summed up by the painful breaking of the color line at the Major League Baseball by Jackie Robinson, the stripping off the belt of Muhammad Ali for refusal to train for the United States armed forces, and John Carlos and Tommie Smith’s currently infamous â€Å"Black Power Salute† at the medal platform, the author details a political impact of professional sports that was usually being dismissed, overlooked, or utterly kept secret (Zirin, 2005; Green, 2008; Nader, 2005). The most important insight derives from the author’s outline and discussion of the significant milestones in sports history prior to the year 1990 (Zirin, 2005). His drawing out from the history of revolutionary undertakings in the struggle for communal and economic justice provides even for the most avid sports fanatic a novel insight. Zirin’s introduce to his readers the inspiring story of Lester Rodney as a sportswriter. This chapter gives a standpoint on the history of sports which is not often emphasized (Zirin, 2005). The boldness of stealing home to serve as a symbol of a potential for societal transformation in the following chapter likewise brings in fascinating insights concerning the one who destroyed the color barrier in Major League Baseball back in the year 1947. Although a great deal of literature has been afforded to Robinson, the author stresses about the relationship that existed between him and other leaders and athletes, in particular, Malcolm X, Joe Loius, Paul Robenson, and Martin Luther King, Jr. A reflective insight is presented about Robinson as a brave figure rather than as a activist in the latter years of his existence. The author illustrates the manner in which sports usually mirror the times besides being an agent of its change. It begins with a fascinating recount of the political history of American sports by stressing certain important milestones prior to presenting a compilation of his latest personal articles and interviews with the personalities who played a primary role to shape the American sports scene (Zirin, 2005). The personalities include Lester Rodney, Lee Evans, John Carlos, and George Foreman (Zirin, 2005). The author is a bold progressive and his book is visibly penned down from that stance. The parallelism between the subjects of politics and sports is conferred in the framework of the battle of the underprivileged for a more impartial society. It also speaks of the concessions triumphed over against the odds, as well as the struggles combating the evils of racial discrimination and sexism. The book presents a novel standpoint on different personalities who made an impact during their lifetime. For example, do a lot of people recognize that Rodney’s writings were instrumental in accenting the racially prejudiced nature of professional football and drove to integrate? Do a lot of people recognize how rebellious and conceited Jackie Robinson was and what how instrumental he is in the struggle for civil liberties before his death, or that among of his utmost disappointments was letting others use him to serve their purpose, and his bearing witness in opposition to Paul Robeson? Do they even grasp that boxers were yet to have union and be granted medical care? How about other than attributing the infamous black gloved power salutation at the Olympics held way back in 1968 that John Carlos even went barefoot to voice disapproval for the black destitution in the United States? Even so, George Foreman’s act of waving an undersized American flag after winning the gold medal at a boxing match be compared with Carlos and Smith though that he was simply politically unmindful to what was happening during that particular moment in history (). The author is evidently mocking those who conceal sports in nationalistic language to fulfill their personal interest but eventually throw stones at certain athletes whose beliefs and behaviors find faults in societal and economic inequalities. In a manner of speaking, the ones who sincerely work and trust according to the standards of democracy and echoes the most sacred of all values which is otherwise known as the right to dispute. Zirin’s book is sure to spark an interest in sports enthusiasts, history buff concerned with the American sports scene, or even aggressive journalists. It is also a good research material for sociology, culture, and history. The stories recounted are not plain feel good sports narratives. The accounts speak of invariable moral courage possessed by the athletes. They describe about the great tolls they confronted in their personal and professional lives. The stories remind the audience of how they made a difference in the sports scene for themselves as well as for their co-athletes and supporters who rely on their strength of character. Even for those whose interest in sports may have waned can still agree that the book does an excellent job in discussing a topic that is hardly ever mulled over but nonetheless is quite interesting talk about. Zirin’s work offers an interesting read for the American sports scene enthusiasts, but particularly those who have been or still are managing the shame of having an unfaltering interest in sports, though there are certainly more things of greater significance to divert their attention to. As the country progresses, it was clear that people are willing pay what it might cost them to witness sports played at its finest. The 20’s and 50’s, decades having comparable economic conditions witnessed this concept grow (Black, 2007; Sailes, 1998). These years were decades of urbanization and development (Black, 2007; Sailes, 1998). It was around these times when media technology delivered sports via the radio waves and later on to the television screens right the comfort of the audiences’ homes. Most significantly, these were the years following violent world wars that left the world seeking for help, diversion, and a form of relaxation. Besides developing into a lucrative form entertainment for the masses, professional sports in the United States turned out to be a successful tool for the financial and political leaders to endorse their standards and principles. This is the reason why American sports mirror a markedly American venture, originating from the hopes for excellence, triumph and oppression. The American sports are unique in its own right taking pride in calling their athletes as champions of their respective leagues. References Black, S. (2007). Talking Back Sports. Canadian Dimension, 41, 47. Green, J. (2008). Muhammad Ali: Champion of the World. Book Links, 17, 8-9. Nader, R. CommonDreams. org. (2005). What’s My Name, Fool? Sports and Resistance in the United States. Retrieved September 30, 2008, from http://www. commondreams. org/views05/0806-24. htm. Sailes, G. A. (1998). African American in Sport. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. Zirin, D. (2005). What’s My Name Fool? Sports and Resistance in the United States. Chicago: Haymarket Books.