Climate Change and the California Wildfires - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1252 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/09/13 Category Ecology Essay Tags: Climate Change Essay Did you like this example? Dominique Bowie Climate Change and the California Wildfires Your Class Instructor name August 13th 2010 The world around us is forever changing. Things don’t ever quite stay the same do they? Over the year there have been changes in politics, traditions, and even television. The list could go on and on. With that being said, there is one element of the world where change could drastically impact our futures and that of our loved ones. Our surrounding Environment is becoming more complicated and fragile on a yearly basis. Studies by scientist all over the world show that are world could be destroyed if we all don’t do our part to keep it clean and save energy. Decreasing fuels and recycling has to be done to limit the effects of climate change. The effects from not taking care of our surroundings is can be disastrous! No where has this been more apparent then in the state of California. California is The state of Glitz and Glamour. The state is known for having an A list of many of the biggest stars in America. The state is also becoming increasingly know for its wildfires. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Climate Change and the California Wildfires" essay for you Create order Every year you turn on your television set and during the summer months into September you see wild Brush Fires that ignite and rage out of control. The Results have been costly and tragic. Over the Years, Millions of acres of land has been charred and destroyed. Thousands of lives have been effected and changed forever by these fires Many have lost there homes to the fires unrelenting power. It seems that every year the fires are getting harder to control and require more manpower, which is costly to a state that has one of the highest unemployment percentages in the nation. The Wildfires of the year 2003 will be remembered as a nightmare for many. The California Wildfires of 2003 will long go down as one of the most catastrophic events that has ever taken place in California. During The month of October 2003 the Wildfires ravaged the state so bad that people were wondering if all the crews and fire fighters would ever be able to get the brush fires under control. The Devastation took the lives of 22 people, destroyed 3,500 homes and Charred more than 750. 000 acres of land. The continuous television coverage of the fires raised the awareness of some elements that played a role in the fires lasting so long. California has some glaring characteristics that make it more susceptible to Having these types of wildfires. California is has a climate that is forever changing and getting worse by the minute. One thing that has been noticeable is that California has been going through a drought of sorts in respect to precipitation. In other words the lack of rain makes the environment more combustible. This is where the climate change is coming in to play in regards to there being no rain. If they are getting less rain then the brush just continues to grow. It is so flammable that if the conditions are right, such as when dry hot winds blow in off the desserts. When that happens it don’t take much to start of a major brushfire. The fumes from a car, or lightening strike, or a cigarette could cause disaster beyond belief. California’s terrain is makes the state a hotbed for the fires as well. California’s mountainous terrain provides more ideal conditions for wildfires. The steep hill moving upward provide a great tunnel for the 70 mph wins. There is one thing that is hard to understand in all of this. Why do people continue to build on these steep hills. The complicate matters so much more. This property is making it that much harder for firefighters to contain the fires. People that have land on here will not be able to have access to there homes with them being in that position. These homes are adding fuel to the fire as well, so it makes it a up hill climb for the crews that are trying to contain the blaze. The climate in California is very arid. The forestation of California is very flammable. It contains pines and creosotes and vegetation that is nearly explosive when flame is applied. The real wildcard is the overpowering Santa Ana Winds. These winds make fires jump over mountains and highways to move on to land that is flammable. California need rain badly. The drought makes things worse and makes the vegetation and the ground ready for fuel for a impending fire. The many valleys and canyons make it very hard to clear out the brush. Its also makes it hard for firefighters and there equipment to get through to fight the fires. Mother Nature can be unforgiving. On top of that the general public actions on a everyday basis are adding fuel to the fires. Fuels and gases that are getting into our atmosphere will make these fires tougher to fight and also will put the future of the world at large as risk. There are things people everywhere can do to stop our world from over heating. California is has experienced events that have shown that we all have to try to do our part to prevent Global Warming. Scientists have determined that Global Warming is being fueled by a number of human activities (www. environment. about. com 2010). Our acts are releasing excessive amounts of Greenhouse Gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide accumulate in the atmosphere and trap heat that would normally exit out into outer space. Some Greenhouse gases are need for life. Without them the world would not be heated properly enough to sustain life. Are way of living is the main cause for Greenhouse Gases. Every day we drive cars to work and other places that we need to get to . We use electricity at home and at our jobs and other places of convenience. We heat our homes during the cold months and some states have many more of these months than others. Consequences of Global Warming can be ever lasting. The more Greenhouse gases that are trapped in the atmosphere the more the possibility of having fires and storms that can wreak havoc on our world. The increase in Gases trapped in the atmosphere changes the climate and makes weather patterns inconsistent. environment. about. com 2010). It can also make species go extinct faster. Make seasons be longer than usual, cause costal flooding, and cause severe storms. The future of our word is at stake. We can all do our world a lot of justice by changing out light bulbs and either car pooling or buy vehicles that have high per mileage on gas. The choice for a bright future is up to us. California has shown us that we have to take control of o ur own destiny. Fires like the ones there will continue to become more disastrous and take more lives and destroy more homes. Hurricanes and Typhoons will cause more destruction and grow in velocity. Global warming is a huge concern for all of the world. Citizens in every community have to do there part to make sure that our children and the next generation of people are able to live long and prosperous lives. References https://environment. about. com/od/faqglobalwarming/f/globalwarming. htm Fueling The WildFires. Warran Mass. The New American: Appleton: Dec 1, 2003 Vol 19, Iss, 24 P. 18- 22 https://gov. ca. gov/index. php? /press-release/15064/ https://www. epa. gov/climatechange/wycd/home. html

Camping Is A Outdoor Activity That Is Enjoyed By Many Each...

Camping is a outdoor activity that is enjoyed by many each year. Family, friends and strangers, come together to enjoy the great outdoors. Where the musical sounds of Mother Nature’s symphony orchestra sings you her lullaby as you fall asleep. The warmth from the fire warms your heart as you listen to stories of ghost, creatures, and goblins that the smoke seems to form into as it fades into the midnight sky. This is what I picture when I think about camping until I interview Ryan Oiler about it. Ryan Oiler grandparents introduce him to camping when he was just two years old. Ryan (now 20) has camped out at the Pocono’s, Valley Forge, and even the senator’s baseball field when he was in the Boy scouts. Ryan stated â€Å"he cannot imagine life without camping.† With a big smile as he first started the then it quickly want away as he finished the sentence, â€Å"life without camping†. Preparing for camping trips is not like packing for a weekend to y our grand mom’s house. When packing your tent make sure you spray it with waterproofing spay so it does not get wet from the morning dew or worst rain. As you pack your clothes keep in mind that the weather during the day and night can change drastically. The weather can be 90 degrees during the day and drop to the 70’s at night depending on the camp site. The food surprising just doesn’t consist of chocolate bars, marshmallows, and graham crackers. Some items can be pack are bacon, eggs, and bananas. Depending if you have a cooler and aShow MoreRelatedA Brief Note On Wildfires And Its Effects On The Environment2061 Words   |  9 PagesEvery year, thousands of forest or wildfires are caused by humans, which affect thousands and thousands of acres of land and wildlife all over the United States. Many of these fires that are caused by human error or negligence, occur at many of the beautiful camp sites, that are located around the country. 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That is how I will create the New Order. -- Adolf Hitler, 1933.[1] Naziism had a huge impact on German youth during Hitler’s reign of power over the state. The life of a German child changed dramatically during the 1920’sRead MoreCase Study : Happy Valley 2016 Mini Biome Report2070 Words   |  9 Pagescoastal scrub and grasslands bring native wildflowers in the spring. Natural Bridges is named for the naturally occurring mudstone bridges that were carved by the Pacific Ocean into cliffs that bulged out into the sea. They were formed over a million years ago when silt, clay, and diatoms were solidified into a mixture of stone that originally formed three arches on the beach. However, of the three arches, only one remains to this day as the other two collapsed during two different storms. Natural

Sauna pants Free Essays

The pants are simple to wear with adjust-ability in waists and thighs but still, since it has limited sizes to fit all types of body shape for both men and women, there are complaints grading inconvenience among users’ reviews. You have the option to dial your desired temperature, but by sacrificing the moving-around due to the 4- inch cord. On the other hand, it is guaranteed 100% money back in 90 days after purchase for the relatively reasonable price $29. We will write a custom essay sample on Sauna pants or any similar topic only for you Order Now 99 – $39. 95 (compared to a standard sauna normally around $40-$60). No matter how promising this product may sound, if you wish to lose real weight this is not a desirable equipment. One deficiency is no clinical test or patent being mentioned; hence, skin irritations or other health-related problems like infertility are upon your own risk. Like how the claim ingeniously claims, the user just gets rid of some extra water weight, a small amount of weight that will be easily gained back during a re-hydration session. No muscle workouts or any kind of physical activities is needed while the real weight loss plan lies in the reduction of fat volume, leaving muscle and water remained. Same heating mechanism to accelerate water weight loss, we have another apparel item, the sauna suit. Unlike the sauna pants, the sauna suit â€Å"features high insulation and low water vapor permeability, due to the thickness and the lit-layered fabric design†, then serves as a major physiologic defense against overheating through sweating during vigorous physical activity, which makes it by far a more effective product in support of weight loss according to a research about sport bra and integral fitted sauna suit. Regarding the warm, relaxed treatment for soothing sore joints or tight muscles, it is just a temporarily relieved feel due to the heat, which a light intensity of exercise or a heating pad can do the same with far lesser cost. Legend the discussed understandings, would not use it for the sake of losing weight, nor commend it to anyone. This product is no use in any perspectives, also promotes laziness towards work-outs and unrealistic crave for healthy well- being with no effort. How to cite Sauna pants, Papers

Dred scott Essay Example For Students

Dred scott Essay The Dred Scott DecisionThere have been several cases in the history of the Supreme Court that have had a powerful impact on both the highest court of the land and the history of the United States. The Dred Scott decision can definitely be included in this category of monumental cases that changed the course of American history. Until this decision the Supreme Court had a flawless reputation. Its prestige and credibility were beyond reproach. This high regard for the Supreme Court made people on both sides of the slavery issue turn to it in the hope that what could not be resolved in the political world could be solved in the legal world by the highest court of the land. But this was really expecting too much of judicial power. The major error associated with this case was the misguided belief that a flaming political problem,slavery, could become manageable by calling it a legal problem and handing it over to the courts to resolve.In the Dred Scott case the decision was based on expe diency not principle. The big problem was trying to use judicial power to settle a major political problem. Although the Dred Scott decision may have been the result of a trial , in reality it was a case of the court battling with the complex issue of slavery, especially in the territories, in the mid l800s.In order to tell the story of a slave you have to tell the story of his master.The slave does not have an identity or history of his own. In Virginia, Peter Blow and his family had many slaves. Among these slaves was a young man named Sam, or as we know him today, Dred Scott. Peter Blow decided to move his estate to Alabama and then to the thriving port city of St. Louis. During these years ,Dred married and had a child. After the death of the Blows, Dred was sold to Dr. Emerson, an army surgeon. He and Scott traveled through Illinois and Minnesota. When Dr. Emerson died , Dred Scott was sent back to St. Louis to Mrs. Emerson. This was when Scott argued that under the terms of the Missouri Compromise, the fact that he and Dr. Emerson lived in Illinois and Minnesota made him a free man. The Missouri Compromise did not allow slavery in whatever territory that remained from the Louisiana Purchase north of a specific line, 36o 30 of north latitude. At this time the issue of slavery was a major concern. The Mexican War provided the United States with a lot of new territory, and the question of the future of slavery in the territories was on everyones mind. The people of the North who were against slavery wanted Congress to prohibit slavery in the territories. John C. Calhoun, the spokesman for the South, said that Congress did not have the right to prohibit slavery in the territories. The Southern attempt to extend the line of the Missouri Compromise failed, so their only hope was Calhouns constitutional criticism of Congress attempt to prohibit slavery in the territories.This was why they plunged themselves completely behind Calhouns ideas. Calhoun argued that the territories were the common property of the states of this Union. They are called the territories of the United States, and what are the United States but the States united? Sir, these territories are the property of the States united; held jointly for their common use. This statement beautifully illustrates how extreme the Southern view of state sovereignty was. It was the Southern belief that the states should have the right to declare slavery in their states and it is beyond congressional power to prohibit slavery. Southerners believed that their very existence depended on an equal amount of slave and free states. They realized that if Congress prohibited slavery in the territories there would be no more equality of slave states and free states. The Northern view was based upon the Wilmot Proviso which expressed the view that Congress had not only the right but also the responsibility to prohibit slavery. The Northern view was also based upon the very constitution itself which said that Congress has the power to make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory belonging to the United States.Calhoun presented his ideas to Congress, telling them that the territories belong to the states and since Congress is merely the agent of the states, it has no right to prohibit slavery. It all came down to whether or not you believe that states rights are more important than federal rights or vice versa. Many debates, including the Lincoln-Douglas Debate, focused on this hot issue. Shakespeares Is One Of The Most Read Writers Ever And His Writing Was EssayIt would be very hard for Dred Scott to win this case. The court was Southern and pro slavery. There were nine justices. Taney, the Chief Justice, and four others were from the South. Two of the Northern judges were for state rights and one was pro slavery. Only one judge was against slavery. After hearing the case, the judges wanted to rule in favor of Sanford. This is an example of using the law to get the results that you want. The judges wanted to use the law to promote the view of the United States that they considered most desirable. They could not decide on what legal principle their decision should be based. Some judges wanted to override Scotts status as a citizen. Justice Nelson said that since this case was so controversial, and the election of l856 was so controversial, they should wait until after the election to hear new arguments. This request was granted. More arguments were heard and the judges decided upon a verdict. The decision, which Justice Taney presented ,had three main points: Negroes, even those who were not slaves, could not be citizens of the United States, according to the meaning of the Constitution. Scotts claim that he had become a free man because he lived in a territory from which slavery had been prohibited as a result of the Missouri Compromise, was not valid. This was because the Missouri Compromise which excluded slavery went beyond the constitutional power of Congress. Finally, Scott was not free because he had lived in Illinois. Once he returned to Missouri he was obligated to obey the laws of Missouri and was bound by the position he held in that state. In l86l-1862, two very important things happened : Abraham Lincoln was elected president and Congress prohibited slavery in the territories without judicial restraint. These two things helped the North gain power. People were very upset with the Dred Scott ruling, even after his death. Other cases received similar verdicts and were not judged by the merits of the individual cases, but by the issue of slavery. People were not getting fair trials even though they were insured fair trials by the Constitution of the United States of America. Calhoun continued to fight and remained a defender of slavery. He based his position on the right of states to regulate their own domestic institutions.There was still much debate and the issue was nowhere close to being solved. The hope of having it solved by the Supreme Court proved to be an illusion. The mood of the country was angry. Compromise was out of the question. The Dred Scott case made the common folk aware of slavery and its horrors. It added much more depth to the newly formed Free Soil and Republican Parties. But it was also used as a weapon for the Democrats. Every time the issue of judiciary involvement came up, they just pointed to the Dred Scott case. Republicans said it was just proof of Southern unfairness, and a good reason to fight against them. The South had extremists who stuck to their belief in their absolute sovereignty. This further isolated and separated the South from the rest of the country. The Dred Scott case bears directly on the Civil War. It not only strengthened the Republican Party but it also angered them to the point that they were ready to fight in a war. There was a war and the North prevailed. This war marked the end of slavery, but was one of the most traumatic events in the history of the United States. The Dred Scott decision was a major factor in dividing the nation beyond repair. It was the moving force for the Civil War that followed it. The Supreme Courts consideration of the case represented the last chance for a peaceful and legal solution to the issue of slavery. All prior political solutions proposed by Congress proved futile. Having exhausted both political and legal means for a solution, the fanatics took over and the bloodshed of war became inevitable.

Stereotypes of Native Americans in Film

Introduction Native Americans are the people who lived in the supercontinent of America before the Europeans went to settle there. They are the indigenous people of the continent of America. Some people also call them the American Indians. These people did not welcome the Europeans movement to their continent.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Stereotypes of Native Americans in Film specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Like any other society in the pre-colonial times, the Native Americans faced the Europeans with hostility in their attempt to prevent the whites from settling in their native land.  Their actions and nature made the Europeans develop a negative attitude towards them since they did not give them a chance to control the society. This became the platform for moviemakers in the film industry not only during those times, but also in the present time. It created the atmosphere of stereotypes in film s especially those from the West.  According to Lippmann, stereotypes are standardized mental pictures that members of a group hold in common and present a simplified opinion, prejudiced attitude and judgements that are not critical (24). Native Americans were simple people who based their culture more on mystery than science. North America had approximately six hundred different indigenous American societies speaking two hundred different languages. The whites treated all these societies as one entity in stereotyping the Native Americans (Barnett 72). The film industry has played an important role in bringing out the perceptions of the Europeans towards the Native Americans. According to Battaille and Silet, Native Americans have appeared in movies/films since the beginning of the industry in 1894 (14). It is important to note that the stereotypes held towards the Native Americans are negative and damaging and this underscores racism and segregation that this minor group has expe rienced throughout the history. Stereotyping of the Native Americans was not only by films, but also by other forms of art. The western community also used fiction and literature. However, films/movies earned masses of audience due to its ability to show moving images. The images in the films helped the audience to get a more precise image of the stereotypes than the other forms of art. However, the stereotypes of the Native Americans in films have exhibited a gradual change over the centuries. Films and perpetuation of Native Americans stereotypes There are several reasons why the media, films, stereotyped the Native Americans. The Western Community wanted to confirm their superiority. They viewed the Native Americans as people who had juvenile and unsophisticated minds (Tuska 18). They wanted the American Indians to embrace their civilized way of living-their social values, worldview, social structure as well as their beliefs.Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, the Native Americans had their own ways of living and did not find it necessary to adapt the ‘civilized’ ways of the Europeans. Stereotyping of the Native Americans was a type of entertainment. It is because the films have the ability to give an audio-visual presentation of events as well as people’s views.   Films and television presentations reach masses of audience. By presenting the stereotypical images of the American Indians in an entertaining manner, the Europeans were certain that the images would create the intended picture to the audiences’ minds. The impact of such films remained strong in most Americans’ minds to the extent of stigmatizing the indigenous Americans. The other major reason for stereotyping the Native Americans is that it was an approach for the white society to justify their stealing of land from the indigenous Americans. They a lso used stereotyping as a means of perpetuating the myths on how the western society built America. The Western Community used film images to present the Native Americans as savage, drunken, lazy, and heathen as well as people with who lacked family relationships. They portrayed the Native American man as an individual who was very primitive just like an animal (Delloria 3). An example of such a film is the â€Å"Wild West†. It depicts the Native Americans as haters who lack the least sense of morality. In this film, whenever a Native American character appears, he is involved in evil activities such as raping young girls or women, robbing and even killing people maliciously. Most of these films focused on the negative attributes of the Native Americans and the good traits of the western society. For instance, in the film ‘Wild West’, the western cowboys act as the good people who make relentless efforts to rescue the victims of the Native Americans’ acts . From the beginning of the Film industry to the end of the Second World War, all the scenes in films revolved around the negative perceptions that the Europeans had on the Native Americans. In some productions, the Europeans expressed their hatred of the Native Americans. This was evident on the movie, ‘The Searchers’ which centres on a young girl who was taken after the murder of her parents. During the search, one of the western men found one of the natives dead and shot him on both eyes. The shooting of the dead man is an expression of the western’s society hatred on the Native Americans.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Stereotypes of Native Americans in Film specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Other films that perpetuated Native American stereotypes are ‘Duel in Diablo’, ‘Redman and the Child’, ‘Ramona’ and ‘The Battle of Elderberny Gulc h’. In all these films, the directors/producers did not use Native Americans as characters. The stars of horror movies such as Bela Lagos and Lon Chuney represented the ‘savages’. However, there are some few cases where Native Americans appeared in the films to enhance the creation of an appropriate atmosphere. Native Americans who appeared in such movies include Will Rogers, Chief Dan George, Graham Green and Willie Sampson. By 1890, the Western Society had killed most of the Native Americans. Prior to these years most of the film producers had taken their plots. Since the settlement of the whites in America, producers created many films depicting the bad character of the Native Americans. Between 1951 and 1970, for example, western film producers produced approximately eighty-six movies based on stereotype themes (Delloria 4). The aspect that made these films to find an extensive market was the violence that they portrayed. The emotional aspect that the war fil ms bring plays a major role in engaging the audience thus attracting masses to these films.  The stereotypes fall under three categories. Based on time, the Europeans treated the Native Americans as creatures of a particular time-the time when they were devoted to fight for their land. During this time, the whites experienced the savage warrior in the Native Americans’ land. The second category of the stereotyping is that of the negative interpretation of the American culture by the Europeans. The Americans and the western society had very different cultural values. The Europeans attempted to interpret the Native American culture using their own cultural values through these films. It led to the creation of more stereotypes. The European view of the different American society as one identity is the final category of stereotypes. Different individuals as well as societies have different ways of doing things. The Europeans did not put this into consideration leading into the misconception of the American Indians. Modern day stereotyping of the Native Americans The increased use of films in stereotyping the Native Americans widened the gap between the Native Americans and the Europeans. As a result, the film producers decided to change the theme of most of their movies. The first film that they produced to make the audience sympathise with the Native Americans was the ‘Lone Ranger’ though Tonto, the main character representing the Native Americans was less intelligent.Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It opened a way of improving the image of the Native Americans in films. Another film by Delmer Daves, the ‘Broken Arrow’ treated the Native Americans in a sympathetic way. Tuska said that, â€Å"†¦It is the only movie that asked audiences to take the side of the Indians† (26).  It is the first film to win the Association of American Indian Affairs Award. The other films that played an important role in breaking the stereotypes were, ‘Tell them Willie Boy is here’, ‘Dancers with Wolves’, ‘Little Bigman’ and the ‘Soldier Blue’. The Americans produced these movies between 1949 and 1991. The image of the Native Americans portrayed in films changed gradually. Producers of such movies chose to major in uplifting the status of the Native Americans. The films no longer depicted the Native Americans as savages, primitive and lazy people. On the contrary, they were smart people who saved their country from the exp loitation by the Europeans.  A most recent film that has helped to paint a good picture of the Native Americans is ‘Dr. Quin Medicine Woman’. It is an example that brings out most of the good traits of the Native Americans. For instance, it portrays them as very helpful: Dr. Quin goes to look for a medicine to cure an illness of the whites. When the town people did not have food to hold a thanksgiving feast, the Native Americans gave them food for the occasion. The Native Americans, in this film, are very friendly as compared to previous films that portrayed them as beasts. They are also more intelligent than the white people are. It is evident that with time the Europeans have respectfully perceived the Native Americans.  Education is a factor that has played a major role in eliminating the Native American stereotypes. It made many people understand that the relationship between the Native Americans and the whites was solely human. Education made people to understa nd the history of the American Indians leaving them with no excuse to condemn their culture. It further explains that any other group of people would have acted just as the Native Americans. Most people now understand that stereotyping was an approach that the Europeans employed to justify the stealing of the Native Americans’ land and exploitation of their resources. With this understanding, the film industry has ceased from using misleading stereotypic films of the Native Americans. As a result, there has been a decline of such movies. In their efforts to restore their dignity and improve their image, the Native Americans have also found their way to the film industry. Unlike in the past, the film producers incorporate Native Americans as stereotypes of the good traits. This has been a major improvement in the industry. Conclusion Stereotypes of Native Americans in films initially portrayed the Americans as the worst people that have ever existed in the entire American hist ory. The stereotypes portrayed the American Indians as hostile, vengeful, immoral and savage. These films received great audience within the American territories. However, they exhibited a declining trend at the end of the Second World War. In this period, producers got a new plot for their movies. The first film that portrayed a good image of the Native Americans won the Association of the American Indian Affairs Award. The award played a major role of motivating the film industry producers to work on improving the image of the native Americans though their productions. Consequently, the industry produced more films that boosted the status of the Native Americans. The films changed the image of the American Indians, from the bad I to good. The good Indian was brave, simple, close to nature and friendly to the whites. Modern films and television presentations have embraced productions that portray the Native Americans as good people in their own perspective. The other aspect that ha s contributed to this achievement is education. It has made large populations understand the history of the Native Americans. Many people know that the Europeans treated the Native Americans with great hostility; therefore justifying the Americans’ reaction. Owing to this, we expect that in future the film industry will continue to present good image of the American Indians.. Works Cited Barnett, Louise.The Ignoble Savage: American Literary Racism. Westport,  Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1975. Battaille, Mathew, and Silet, Lester. The Entertaining Anachrosm. New Jersey: Jerome  Ozer Publishers, 1980. Delloria, Vine. Custer Died for your Sins: An Indian Manifesto. Norman, Oklahoma:  Lippmann, Walter. Public Opinion. New York: Macmillan Press, 1961. Tuska, Jon. The American West in Film: Critical Approaches to the Western. Westport,  Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1985. This research paper on Stereotypes of Native Americans in Film was written and submitted by user Marisol U. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Biography of Strom Thurmond, Segregationist Politician

Biography of Strom Thurmond, Segregationist Politician Strom Thurmond was a segregationist  politician who ran for president in 1948 on a platform opposed to civil rights for African Americans. He later served 48 years- an astonishing eight terms- as a U.S. Senator from South Carolina. In the later decades of his career, Thurmond obscured his views on race by claiming that he had only ever been opposed to excessive federal power. Early Life and Career James Strom Thurmond was born December 5, 1902 in Edgefield, South Carolina. His father was an attorney and prosecutor who was also deeply involved in state politics. Thurmond graduated from Clemson University in 1923 and worked in local schools as an athletic coach and teacher. Thurmond became Edgefield Countys director of education in 1929. He was  tutored in law by his father and was admitted to the South Carolina bar in 1930, at which point he became a county attorney. At the same time, Thurmond was becoming involved with politics, and in 1932 he was elected as a state senator, a position he held in 1938. After his term as state senator ended, Thurmond was appointed a state circuit judge. He held that position until 1942, when he joined the U.S. Army during World War II. During the war, Thurmond served in a civil affairs unit, which was charged with creating governmental functions in newly liberated territories. The position was not a sedate one: Thurmond landed in Normandy aboard a glider on D-Day, and saw action in which he took Germans soldiers prisoner. Following the war, Thurmond returned to political life in South Carolina. Running a campaign  as a war hero, he was elected governor of the state in 1947. Dixiecrat Presidential Campaign In 1948, as President Harry S. Truman moved to integrate the U.S. military and embark on other civil rights initiatives, southern politicians responded with outrage. The Democratic Party in the South had long stood for segregation and Jim Crow rule, and as Democrats gathered for their national convention in Philadelphia, southerners reacted fiercely. One week after the Democrats convened in July 1948, leading southern politicians gathered for a breakaway convention in Birmingham, Alabama. Before a crowd of 6,000, Thurmond was nominated as the groups presidential candidate. The splinter faction of the Democratic Party, which became known in the press as the Dixiecrats, pledged opposition to President Truman. Thurmond spoke  at the convention, where he denounced Truman and claimed that Trumans program of civil rights reforms betrayed the South. The efforts of Thurmond and the Dixiecrats posed a serious problem for Truman. He would be facing Thomas E. Dewey, a Republican candidate who had already run for president, and the prospect of losing the electoral votes of southern states (which had long been known as The Solid South) could be disastrous. Thurmond campaigned energetically, doing all he could to cripple Trumans campaign. The strategy of the Dixiecrats was to deny both major candidates a majority of electoral votes, which would throw the presidential election into the House of Representatives. If the election went to the House, both candidates would be forced to campaign for the votes of members of Congress, and southern politicians assumed that they could force candidates to turn against civil rights. On Election Day  1948, what became known as the States Rights Democratic ticket won the electoral votes of four states: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Thurmonds home state of South Carolina. However, the 39 electoral votes Thurmond received did not prevent Harry Truman from winning the election. The Dixiecrat campaign was historically significant as it marked the first time the Democratic voters in the South began to turn away from the national party over the issue of race. Within 20 years, Thurmond would play a role in the major realignment of the two major parties, as the Democrats became the party associated with civil rights and the Republicans veered towards conservatism. Famous Filibuster After his term as governor ended in 1951, Thurmond returned to private law practice. His political career seemed to have ended with the Dixiecrat campaign, as establishment Democrats resented the danger he had posed to the party in the 1948 election. In 1952, he vocally opposed the candidacy of Democratic nominee Adlai Stevenson. As the issue of civil rights began to build in the early 1950s, Thurmond began speaking out against integration. In 1954 he ran for a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina. Without support from the party establishment, he ran as a write-in candidate, and against the odds, he won. In the summer of 1956, he received some national attention by once again urging southerners to split off and form a third political party that would stand for states rights, which meant, of course, a policy of segregation. The threat didnt materialize for the election of 1956. In 1957, as Congress debated a civil rights bill, southerners were outraged but most accepted that they did not have the votes to stop the legislation. Thurmond, however, chose to make a  stand. He took to the Senate floor on the evening of August 28, 1957 and began speaking. He held the floor for 24 hours and 18 minutes,  setting a record for a Senate filibuster. Thurmonds marathon speech brought  him national attention  and made him even more popular with segregationists. But it did not stop the bill from passing. Changing Party Alignments When Barry Goldwater ran for president in as a Republican in 1964, Thurmond broke from the Democrats to support him. And as the Civil Rights Movement transformed America in the mid-1960s, Thurmond was one of the prominent conservatives who migrated from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. In the election of 1968, the support of Thurmond and other new arrivals to the Republican Party helped  secure the victory of Republican candidate Richard M. Nixon. And in following decades, the South itself transformed from a Democratic stronghold to a Republican bastion. Later Career Following the tumult of the 1960s, Thurmond forged a somewhat more moderate image, leaving behind his reputation as a segregationist firebrand. He became a fairly conventional senator, focusing on pork barrel projects that would help his home state. In 1971, he made news when he became one of the first southern senators to hire a black staff member. The move, his obituary in the New York Times later noted, was a reflection of increased African American voting because of legislation he had once opposed. Thurmond was easily elected to the Senate every six years, only stepping down a few weeks after reaching the ago of 100. He left the Senate in January 2003 and died soon after, on June 26, 2003.   Legacy A few months after Thurmonds death, Essie-Mae Washington-Williams came forward and revealed that she was Thurmonds daughter.  Washington-Williams mother, Carrie Butler, was an African-American woman who, at age 16, had been employed as a domestic worker at Thurmonds family home. During that time, the 22-year-old Thurmond had fathered a child with Butler. Raised by an aunt, Washington-Williams only learned who her real parents were when she was a teenager. Though Thurmond never publicly acknowledged his daughter, he provided financial support for her education, and Washington-Williams occasionally visited his Washington  office. The revelation that one of the Souths most ardent segregationists had a  biracial daughter created controversy. Civil Rights leader Jesse Jackson commented to the New York Times, He fought for laws that kept his daughter segregated and in an inferior position. He never fought to give her first-class status. Thurmond  led the movement of southern Democrats as they  migrated to the Republican Party as an emerging conservative bloc. Ultimately, he left a legacy through his segregationist policies and the transformation of the major U.S. political parties.   Strom Thurmond Fact Facts Full Name: James Strom ThurmondOccupation: Segregationist politician and U.S. Senator for 48 years.Born: December 5, 1902 in Edgefield, South Carolina, USADied: June 26, 2003 in Edgefield, South Carolina, USAKnown For: Led the Dixiecrat revolt of 1948 and embodied the realignment of the two major  political parties around the issue of race in America. Sources Walz, Jay. Carolinian Sets Talking Record. New York Times, 30 August 1957, p. 1.Hulse, Carl. Lott Apologizes Again on Words About 48 Race. New York Times, 12 December 2002, p 1.Clymer, Adam. Strom Thurmond, Foe of Integration, Dies at 100. New York Times, 27 June 2003.Janofsky, Michael. Thurmond Kin Acknowledge Black Daughter. New York Times, 16 December 2003.James Strom Thurmond. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed., vol. 15, Gale, 2004, pp. 214-215. Gale Virtual Reference Library.

Communiction Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Communiction Theories - Essay Example The standard journalistic practice of answering the four W’s and the how is comparatively mentioned with the philosopher’s dramatistic pentad which breaks down the content of a speech as act, scene, agent, agency and purpose. As answering the five important questions helps journalists compose effective reports, completing the aforementioned information in a speech helps a speaker to formulate well-versed and well-guided information expressed to his listeners so where they can picture events so that they would be able to identify with what is being said. In addition, Burke’s theory is also placed in juxtaposition with Martin Luther’s consubstantiation where the story of Ruth following her mother-in-law to a foreign land saying to her, â€Å"Where you go, I will go. Your people will be my people, your God will be my God† as an example of such identification. Indeed, when a person or group of people have similar sentiments as the speaker, they would spare there time to listen and join in the discussion of their beliefs as opposed to those who do not share the same conviction. This shows that there is much truth to Burke’s words that ‘without identification, there is no

Zara - The Fast Fashion Leader Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Zara - The Fast Fashion Leader - Essay Example The essay "Zara - The Fast Fashion Leader" explores the fashion leader, Zara company. Zara is also successful in ensuring barriers are established for new market entrants through self-operated manufacturing capacity and logistics strategies that cannot be rivalled without substantial capital investment. Weaknesses in the model were identified by conducting a comprehensive European/global environmental analysis of the competitive industry as well as through examination of Zara’s current business model. Weaknesses lie is in isolating the company from negative publicity, which has been a large problem recently with accusations of the company being supportive of sweatshop labour conditions with foreign suppliers. Additionally, research has identified weaknesses involving a lack of focus on more relevant, behavioural marketing strategy development as well as the company not maintaining proper focus on building more independent supply and logistics networks that would be owned by Za ra to improve its scope of control. Because of these weaknesses, it is recommended that Zara consider repositioning the business to a premiumisation strategy as a new business level strategy, diversifying self-managed manufacturing and logistics capabilities, and focusing on promotion that is more consumer-centric. It is further recommended that Zara differentiate its products with an emphasis on fashion-forward design in order to capture the attention of target markets that value exclusivity. These strategies will sustain Zara.’s future brand position and build more positive brand equity. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.0 Introduction..................................................................................................... 2.0 Strategic issues and competitive forces........................................................... 2.1 Industry Life Cycle analysis................................................................ 2.2 Porter’s Five Forces analysi s............................................................... 2.3 PEST framework................................................................................. 3.0 Internal strategic audit..................................................................................... 4.0 PR crises at Zara.............................................................................................. 5.0 Recommendations for future business sustainability....................................... 5.1 Improving supply capabilities.............................................................. 5.2 Better utilisation of marketing theory and practice.............................. 5.3 Premiumisation..................................................................................... 5.4 Differentiation as business level strategy............................................. 6.0 Conclusion........................................................................................................ References 1.0 Introduction The fast fashion leader, Zara, provides fashion and accessory products to a variety of profitable consumer markets in multiple international markets. Zara stands out from competition most distinctly for the retailer’s ability to restock in-store inventories with a lead time of only two weeks or less. This is unparalleled in the retail industry as most retail competitors require months in order to launch a

444 Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

444 Final - Essay Example Secondly, the author discusses the fact that job search trends do not operate in a vacuum and are intrinsically shaped by microeconomic factors specific to the job seeker. In particular, the chapter highlights the point that the job search market comprises people searching for various types of jobs for multiple reasons that are dependent on age, education, economic status and gender. Furthermore, the job search market is effectively a two tiered structure, namely: As highlighted above, the external search will be motivated by age, education, location and gender. Additionally, Figure 15.1 refers to the example of wage offers, the acceptance wage and unemployment status impacting job acceptance. In contrast, the internal search will be dependent on organisational needs, which can create demand in the labor market. The author argues that the relationship between the external search and internal search ultimately dictates the labor market through the wage structure and nature of the market. Additionally, it is posited that notwithstanding periods of unemployment, the relationship between job search and the structure of the labor market results in a continuous supply of workers and jobs, which in turn creates equilibrium between the supply of jobs and the demand for jobs from the unemployed. Therefore in summary, the central argument in this chapter is that numerous factors influence why people search for jobs and employer demand for specific job roles to be satisfied, and that it is the interrelationship between these factors that dictate the trends and shape of the labor market. Additionally, it is argued that the structure of the labor market creates a constant flow of workers as â€Å"stock†, which in turn ensures equilibrium in the supply and demand curves of the labor market. This Chapter discusses the macroeconomic factors within which the labor market operates

Dell Followed A Hybrid Focus Strategy Commerce Essay

Dell Followed A Hybrid Focus Strategy Commerce Essay Porters theory of generic strategies, the Ansoff Matrix, the strategy clock and the TOWS Matrix are the important tools that are needed to produce strategic options (Proctor, 2000, p 37) (Williamson, et al, 2003, p 78) Based on Porters generic strategies, it can be said that Dell followed a hybrid focus strategy. A hybrid strategy is a combination of both differentiation and cost leadership strategy (Johnson et al, 2008, p.230). Dell is constantly structuring its business to be seen more than a PC business and is focusing on different areas of business such as security, business logistics and applications as well as minimising on its costs as far as possible. Based on the Ansoff matrix, Dell can be said to have adopted market development mainly to encourage growth. Selling directly to customers enable dell to enter market development phase by selling new products through new distribution channels. The strategy is based on selling existing products in new markets by reaping the majority of market share. The Ansoffs will be used to suggest the strategic direction for Dell. By investing in RD can be beneficial to Dell as it can continuously develop new products with the latest technology on the market before its competitors, thereby benefitting from first mover advantage. Its strong brand name can enable Dell to impose insurmountable barriers to its competitors. Moreover, it can expand its customer base and retain its customers. As discussed above, people also want the latest technology, thus there is high opportunity of growth in this market. However, focussing on RD will mean diverging from the direct sales model as innovative products necessitate various channels of distribution to ensure speedy delivery. As a result, RD can move Dell away from its mass customisation which is one of its core competencies. Dell can move into business consulting which may be a good source of revenue streams. The biggest opportunity which Dell can leverage is its efficient value chain. Its efficient value chain enabled it to achieve lot of success and therefore by moving into consulting can further strengthen its reputation. By entering into consulting, it will enter a new market and reach new customers which will help it expand its customer base. However, Dell only has specific knowledge but it is not equipped with the necessary expertise to enter into consulting and serve the market profitably which can tarnish the image of the business in the future. This strategy encourages Dell to return to its core competencies and calls for the company to get back to basics. It pushes the company to improve upon those competencies. The strategic direction can be market development and method here can be strategic alliance and joint ventures. The company can form alliances with consulting companies. This method is good in the sense that it does not require much investment. Dell can reinvigorate on its core competencies and further integrate in the market. Dell can strengthen its core competencies further by including more suppliers, improving its customer service, engaging in more marketing and promotion initiatives and expanding the turnkey solutions. By adopting this strategy, dell can improve its value chain, concentrate on the existing market and expand its customer base. Moreover, this strategy do not require much investment as Dell does not have to reinvent itself and product new products. Dell is dependent on Intel processor gives it limited choice to satisfy all its customers. Therefore, by adding more suppliers, Dell can offer more configuration choices to its customers. The growth of enterprise solutions and service businesses has led to a change in the revenue stream of the business in 2010. Dell therefore can leverage on that important asset by providing more predictable solutions to customers and hence strengthen its position in the market. By following this strategy, dell can continue to maintain its position in the market as a pioneer and differentiate itself from its competitors. The proposed method here can be Strategic Alliances and Organic Development. Therefore, by engaging into alliances, Dell can make use of the resources of its alliances to provide new goods and services to its customers more easily. Using strategic alliances in the existing market will enable Dell to improve and increase its retailing of products. Financial position Dells financial position shows a stellar performance which can be shown by its ratios. Revenues in May 2012 fell below the forecast due to high fall in sales as new technologies tablets and iPad have taken a larger share of the market. Therefore to overcome this gloomy outlook, Dell is diversifying into other line of business so as to remain competitive in the market. This clearly explains its recent waves of international mergers and acquisitions it has taken over the last two years (The New York Times, 2012). Dells profits slid by 47% in the third quarter of 2012. This is because Dells business is considered to be a static one which is tied to the sale of PCs, while consumers want the latest technology. This has led  to the continuous increase in demand for tablets and smartphones which have spurred growth in the market (Bloomberg businessweek, 2012). Dell has recently adopted storage as part of its business. Coupled with that, it is now aligning its storage portfolio to provide non-stop, fluid data solutions. There was an increase in revenue of 16% from 2010 to 2011 mainly due to an improvement in the economy. During a recession, people usually decrease their demand for luxury goods which clearly shows the decline for 2009. The growth of enterprise solutions and service businesses has led to a change in the revenue stream of the business in 2010. There was an increase in revenue from 14.3% in 2009 to 18.7% in 2011. Compared to the poor net income performance in 2010 due to a big fall in revenue, that of 2011 was pretty good. There has been an increase of 84% in net income in 2011 from 2010. This resulted from an increase of 1.6% and 2.5% in profit margin and ROA respectively. The improvement in growth can also be attributed to the increase involvement of Dell in service operation. As a result, Dell continues to invest a lot in its service aspect of business (Part 2, Item 7, Form 10-K, Dell Inc. 2011). Dell has touted an increase in growth mainly from its acquisitions. There was an increase in current assets by $4,776 billion from 2010. This resulted mainly from due to an increase in cash and cash equivalents which represented 4.4% of total assets. Cash and cash equivalents rose mainly due to an increase in revenue and a decrease in cash in investing activities. There was an improvement in fixed asset turnover from 24.3 times in 2010 to 31.5 times in 2011 which shows clearly that Dell has used its fixed assets more effectively to generate revenue. This represents a shift in their revenue streams (Part 1 2, Item 2 8, Form 10-K, Dell Inc. 2011). Both current ratio and quick ratio improved from 2010 to 2011 which shows that Dell managed its assets efficiently so as to maintain a good liquidity position. Due to a rise in retained profits in 2011, equity rise to $2billion. Equity rose from 28.9% in fiscal 2010 to 39.3% in fiscal 2011 mainly due to the purchase of shares and stock price variations. (Part 2, Item 8, Form 10-K, Dell Inc. 2011) Based on the BCG matrix, Dells PC can be classified as a cash cow. Its market continues to expand. To maintain its position as a cash cow, Dell has to come up with products to meet the needs and provide value to its customers. The star can be its server business and needs to be upgraded continuously so as to maintain its position. The question mark can be its service business and to turn it into a star, Dells has to increase its market share in that sector. GE matrix- dell PC can be said in the high segment as it has earned high growth in both the US and other countries by now. Its server business also has earned consistent growth till now. The service business is growing but not as much as that of server and PC business. This sector needs to be developed more so as to have a greater portion of its portfolio. Dells peripheral business which includes printers has significant growth in sales but is facing competition from its competitors hence placing it in the medium growth segment. Evaluating strategic options Strategic options can be evaluated by using assessment of Johnson Scholes (1999) who had put forward three criteria mainly suitability, feasibility and acceptability. Suitability takes into consideration whether the strategic direction chosen by the organisation fit the issues in which the organisation is operating and its appropriateness to the strategic positioning of the organisation, (Johnson Scholes, 2008). To evaluate the feasibility of the strategy, it is necessary to assess the capability of the business in terms of competencies. Concerning the market penetration, it can be said the strategy is feasible in terms of resource deployment. This is because Dell is not doing anything new. It already has a high market share in the industry and is just expanding its customer base. Thus, it does not need extra manpower. Also, by engaging into alliances it has the possibility to use the resources of its alliance. Product development- Focussing on RD to produce new innovative products require a lot of investment and new competencies. This can prove to be costly in the long run. Market development- Dell will have to hire more resources and even employ more staff to monitor the new business and also recruit expertise in this field. As a result, it can be costly. ACCEPTABILITY It is concerned with the future outcomes and it can be measured in terms of risk and return and impact on shareholders. After analysing the financial position of the company, it can be said that Dell has a good performance and though the market and product development needs sufficient investment, the company is well placed to undertake the option. Market penetration- Dell has a high position in the market and thus by adopting this strategy will not need much investment in terms of financial and human resources. After analysing Dells strengths and opportunities, it is found that Dell can adopt this strategy without much risk and can use the resources of its alliances to serve the new market Product development can be quite risky for Dell as it has to invest a lot on RD and also its competitors have already move ahead with innovative products. Hence, its products can fail thereby tarnish its image. Dells return on investment (5 yr avg) is 18.64 compared to that of the industry which is 14.96 (Reuters, 2012). This shows

King Phillip :: essays research papers

King of Spain, only son of the Emperor Charles V, and Isabella of Portugal, b. at Valladolid, 21 May, 1527; d. at the Escorial, 13 Sept., 1598. He was carefully educated in the sciences, learned French and Latin, though he never spoke anything but Castilian, and also showed much interest in architecture and music. In 1543 he married his cousin, Maria of: Portugal, who died at the birth of Don Carlos (1535). He was appointed regent of Spain with a council by Charles V. In 1554 he married Mary Tudor, Queen of England, who was eleven years his senior. This political marriage gave Spain an indirect influence on affairs of England, recently restored to Catholicism; but in 1555 Philip was summoned to the Low Countries, and Mary's death in the same year severed the connection between the two countries. At a solemn conference held at Brussels, 22 Oct., 1555, Charles V ceded to Philip the Low Countries, the crowns of Castille, Aragon, and Sicily, on 16 Jan., 1556, and the countship of Burgun dy on the tenth of June. He even thought of securing for him the imperial crown, but the opposition of his brother Ferdinand caused him to abandon that project. Having become king, Philip, devoted to Catholicism, defended the Faith throughout the world and opposed the progress of heresy, and these two things are the key to his whole reign. He did both by means of absolutism. His reign began unpleasantly for a Catholic sovereign. He had signed with France the Treaty of Vaucelles (5 Feb., 1556), but it was soon broken by France, which joined Paul IV against him. Like Julius II this pope longed to drive the foreigners out of Italy. Philip had two wars on his hands at the same time, in Italy and in the Low Countries. In Italy the Duke of Alva, Viceroy of Naples, defeated the Duke of Guise and reduced the pope to such distress that he was forced to make peace. Philip granted this on the most favourable terms and the Duke of Alva was even obliged to ask the pope's pardon for having invade d the Pontifical States. In the Low Countries Philip defeated the French at Saint Quentin (1557) and Gravelines (1558) and afterwards signed the Peace of Cateau-Cambresis (3 April, 1559), which was sealed by his marriage with Elizabeth of Valois, daughter of Henry II.

The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon EPILOGUE TREATY

ALMOST EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMALTHE GOOD, pre-zombie normalin less time than I would have believed possible. The hospital welcomed Carlisle back with eager arms, not even bothering to conceal their delight that Esme had found life in L.A. so little to her liking. Thanks to the Calculus test I'd missed while abroad, Alice and Edward were in better to shape to graduate than I was at the moment. Suddenly, college was a priority (college was still plan B, on the off chance that Edward's offer swayed me from the post-graduation Carlisle option). Many deadlines had passed me by, but Edward had a new stack of applications for me to fill out every day. He'd already done the Harvard route, so it didn't bother him that, thanks to my procrastination, we might both end up at Peninsula Community College next year. Charlie was not happy with me, or speaking to Edward. But at least Edward was allowedduring my designated visiting hoursinside the house again. I just wasn't allowed out of it. School and work were the only exceptions, and the dreary, dull yellow walls of my classrooms had become oddly inviting to me of late. That had a lot to do with the person who sat in the desk beside me. Edward had resumed his schedule from the beginning of the year, which put him in most of my classes again. My behavior had been such last fall, after the Cullens' supposed move to L.A., that the seat beside me had never been filled. Even Mike, always eager to take any advantage, had kept a safe distance. With Edward back in place, it was almost as if the last eight months were just a disturbing nightmare. Almost, but not quite. There was the house arrest situation, for one thing. And for another, before the fall, I hadn't been best friends with Jacob Black. So, of course, I hadn't missed him then. I wasn't at liberty to go to La Push, and Jacob wasn't coming to see me. He wouldn't even answer my phone calls. I made these calls mostly at night, after Edward had been kicked outpromptly at nine by a grimly gleeful Charlieand before Edward snuck back through my window when Charlie was asleep. I chose that time to make my fruitless calls because I'd noticed that Edward made a certain face every time I mentioned Jacob's name. Sort of disapproving and wary maybe even angry. I guessed that he had some reciprocal prejudice against the werewolves, though he wasn't as vocal as Jacob had been about the â€Å"bloodsuckers.† So, I didn't mention Jacob much. With Edward near me, it was hard to think about unhappy thingseven my former besi fnend, who was probably very unhappy right now, due to me. When I did think of Jake, I always felt guilty for not thinking of him more. The fairy tale was back on. Prince returned, bad spell broken. I wasn't sure exactly what to do about the leftover, unresolved character. Where was his happily ever after? Weeks passed, and Jacob still wouldn't answer my calls. It started to become a constant worry. Like a dripping faucet in the back of my head that I couldn't shut off or ignore. Drip, drip, drip. Jacob, Jacob, Jacob. So, though I didn't mention Jacob much, sometimes my frustration and anxiety boiled over. â€Å"It's just plain rude!† I vented one Saturday afternoon when Edward picked me up from work. Being angry about things was easier than feeling guilty. â€Å"Downright insulting!† I'd varied my pattern, in hopes of a different response. I'd called Jake from work this time, only to get an unhelpfulBilly.Again. â€Å"Billy said he didn't want to talk to me,† I fumed, glaring at the rain oozing down the passenger window. â€Å"That he was there, and wouldn't walk three steps to get to the phone! Usually Billy just says he's out or busy or sleeping or something. I mean, it's not like I didn't know he was lying to me, but at least it was a polite way to handle it. I guess Billy hates me now, too. It's not fair!† â€Å"It's not you, Bella,† Edward said quietly. â€Å"Nobody hates you.† â€Å"Feels that way,† I muttered, folding my arms across my chest. It was no more than a stubborn gesture. There was no hole there nowI could barely remember the empty feeling anymore. â€Å"Jacob knows we're back, and I'm sure that he's ascertained that I'm with you,† Edward said. â€Å"He won't come anywhere near me. The enmity is rooted too deeply.† â€Å"That's stupid. He knows you're not like other vampires.† â€Å"There's still good reason to keep a safe distance.† I glared blindly out the windshield, seeing only Jacob's face, set in the bitter mask I hated. â€Å"Bella, we are what we are,† Edward said quietly. â€Å"I can control myself, but I doubt he can. He's very young. It would most likely turn into a fight, and I don't know if I could stop it before I k† he broke off, and then quickly continued. â€Å"Before I hurt him. You would be unhappy. I don't want that to happen.† I remembered what Jacob had said in the kitchen, hearing the words with perfect recall in his husky voice. I'm not sure that I'm even-tempered enough to handle that You probably wouldn't like it so much if I killed your friend. But he'd been able to handle it, that time â€Å"Edward Cullen,† I whispered. â€Å"Were you about to say ‘killed him? Were you?† He looked away from me, staring into the rain. In front of us, the red light I hadn't noticed turned green and he started forward again, driving very slowly. Not his usual way of driving. â€Å"I would try very hard not to do that,† Edward finally said. I stared at him with my mouth hanging open, but he continued to look straight ahead. We were paused at the corner stop sign. Abruptly, I remembered what had happened to Paris when Romeo came back. The stage directions were simple: They fight. Paris falls. But that was ridiculous. Impossible. â€Å"Well,† I said, and took a deep breath, shaking my head to dispel the words in my head. â€Å"Nothing like that is ever going to happen, so there's no reason to worry about it. And you know Charlie's staring at the clock right now. You'd better get me home before I get in more trouble for being late.† I turned my face up toward him, to smile halfheartedly. Every time I looked at his face, that impossibly perfect face, my heart pounded strong and healthy and very there in my chest. This time, the pounding raced ahead of its usual besotted pace. I recognized the expression on his statue-still face. â€Å"You're already in more trouble, Bella,† he whispered through unmoving lips. I slid closer, clutching his arm as I followed his gaze to see what he was seeing. I don't know what I expectedmaybe Victoria standing in the middle of the street, her flaming red hair blowing in the wind, or a line of tall black cloaks or a pack of angry werewolves. But I didn't see anything at all. â€Å"What? What is it?† He took a deep breath. â€Å"Charlie† â€Å"My dad?† I screeched. He looked down at me then, and his expression was calm enough to ease some of my panic. â€Å"Charlie is probably not going to kill you, but he's thinking about it,† he told me. He started to drive forward again, down my street, but he passed the house and parked by the edge of the trees. â€Å"What did I do?† I gasped. Edward glanced back at Charlie's house. I followed his gaze, and noticed for the first time what was parked in the driveway next to the cruiser. Shiny, bright red, impossible to miss. My motorcycle, flaunting itself in the driveway. Edward had said that Charlie was ready to kill me, so he must know thatthat it was mine. There was only one person who could be behind this treachery. â€Å"No!† I gasped. â€Å"Why? Why would Jacob do this to me?† The sting of betrayal washed through me. I had trusted Jacob implicitlytrusted him with every single secret I had. He was supposed to be my safe harborthe person I could always rely on. Of course things were strained right now, but I didn't think any of the underlying foundation had changed. I didn't think that was changeable! What had I done to deserve this? Charlie was going to be so madand worse than that, he was going to be hurt and worried. Didn't he have enough to deal with already? I would have never imagined that Jake could be so petty and just plain mean. Tears sprang, smarting, into my eyes, but they were not tears of sadness. I had been betrayed. I was suddenly so angry that my head throbbed like it was going to explode. â€Å"Is he still here?† I hissed. â€Å"Yes. He's waiting for us there.† Edward told me, nodding toward the slender path that divided the dark fringe of the forest in two. I jumped out of the car, launching myself toward the trees with my hands already balled into fists for the first punch. Why did Edward have to be so much faster than me? He caught me around the waist before I made the path. â€Å"Let me go! I'm going to murder him! Traitor!† I shouted the epithet toward the trees. â€Å"Charlie will hear you,† Edward warned me. â€Å"And once he gets you inside, he may brick over the doorway.† I glanced back at the house instinctively, and it seemed like the glossy red bike was all I could see. I was seeing red. My head throbbed again. â€Å"Just give me one round with Jacob, and then I'll deal with Charlie.† I struggled futilely to break free. â€Å"Jacob Black wants to see me. That's why he's still here.† That stopped me coldtook the fight right out of me. My hands went limp. They fight; Paris falls. I was furious, but not that furious. â€Å"Talk?† I asked. â€Å"More or less.† â€Å"How much more?† My voice shook. Edward smoothed my hair back from my face. â€Å"Don't worry, he's not here to fight me. He's acting as spokesperson for the pack.† â€Å"Oh.† Edward looked at the house again, then tightened his arm around my waist and pulled me toward the woods. â€Å"We should hurry. Charlie's getting impatient.† We didn't have to go far; Jacob waited just a short ways up the path. He lounged against a mossy tree trunk as he waited, his face hard and bitter, exactly the way I knew it would be. He looked at me, and then at Edward. Jacob's mouth stretched into a humorless sneer, and he shrugged away from the tree. He stood on the balls of his bare feet, leaning slightly forward, with his trembling hands clenched into fists. He looked bigger than the last time I'd seen him. Somehow, impossibly, he was still growing. He would tower over Edward, if they stood next to each other. But Edward stopped as soon as we saw him, leaving a wide space between us and Jacob. Edward turned his body, shifting me so that I was behind him. I leaned around him to stare at Jacobto accuse him with my eyes. I would have thought that seeing his resentful, cynical expression would only make me angrier. Instead, it reminded me of the last time I'd seen him, with tears in his eyes. My fury weakened, faltered, as I stared at Jacob. It had been so long since I'd seen himI hated that our reunion had to be like this. â€Å"Bella,† Jacob said as a greeting, nodding once toward me without looking away from Edward. â€Å"Why?† I whispered, trying to hide the sound of the lump in my throat. â€Å"How could you do this to me, Jacob?† The sneer vanished, but his face stayed hard and rigid. â€Å"It's for the best.† â€Å"What is that supposed to mean? Do you want Charlie to strangle me? Or did you want him to have a heart attack, like Harry? No matter how mad you are at me, how could you do this to him?† Jacob winced, and his eyebrows pulled together, but he didn't answer. â€Å"He didn't want to hurt anyonehe just wanted to get you grounded, so that you wouldn't be allowed to spend time with me,† Edward murmured, explaining the thoughts Jacob wouldn't say. Jacob's eyes sparked with hate as he glowered at Edward again. â€Å"Aw, Jake!† I groaned. â€Å"I'm already grounded! Why do you think I haven't been down to La Push to kick your butt for avoiding my phone calls?† Jacob's eyes flashed back to me, confused for the first time. â€Å"That's why?† he asked, and then locked his jaw, like he was sorry he'd said anything. â€Å"He thought I wouldn't let you, not Charlie,† Edward explained again. â€Å"Stop that,† Jacob snapped. Edward didn't answer. Jacob shuddered once, and then gritted his teeth as hard as his fists. â€Å"Bella wasn't exaggerating about your abilities,† he said through his teeth. â€Å"So you must already know why I'm here.† â€Å"Yes,† Edward agreed in a soft voice. â€Å"But, before you begin, I need to say something.† Jacob waited, clenching and unclenching his hands as he tried to control the shivers rolling down his arms. â€Å"Thank you,† Edward said, and his voice throbbed with the depth of his sincerity. â€Å"I will never be able to tell you how grateful I am. I will owe you for the rest of my existence.† Jacob stared at him blankly, his shudders stilled by surprise. He exchanged a quick glance with me, but my face was just as mystified. â€Å"For keeping Bella alive,† Edward clarified, his voice rough and fervent. â€Å"When I didn't.† â€Å"Edward,† I started to say, but he held one hand up, his eyes on Jacob. Understanding washed over Jacob's face before the hard mask returned. â€Å"I didn't do it for your benefit.† â€Å"I know. But that doesn't erase the gratitude I feel. I thought you should know. If there's ever anything in my power to do for you† Jacob raised one black brow. Edward shook his head. â€Å"That's not in my power.† â€Å"Whose, then?† Jacob growled. Edward looked down at me. â€Å"Hers. I'm a quick learner, Jacob Black, and I don't make the same mistake twice. I'm here until she orders me away.† I was immersed momentarily in his golden gaze. It wasn't hard to understand what I'd missed in the conversation. The only thing that Jacob would want from Edward would be his absence. â€Å"Never,† I whispered, still locked in Edward's eyes. Jacob made a gagging sound. I unwillingly broke free from Edward's gaze to frown at Jacob. â€Å"Was there something else you needed, Jacob? You wanted me in troublemission Accomplished. Charlie might just send me to military school. But that won't keep me away from Edward. There's nothing that can do that. What more do you want?† Jacob kept his eyes on Edward â€Å"I just needed to remind your bloodsucking friends of a few key points in the treaty they agreed to. The treaty chat is the only thing stopping me from ripping his throat out right this minute.† â€Å"We haven't forgotten,† Edward said at the same time that I demanded, â€Å"What key points?† Jacob still glowered at Edward, but he answered me. â€Å"The treaty is quite specific. If any of them bite a human, the truce is over. Bite, not kill,† he emphasized. Finally, he looked at me. His eyes were cold. It only took me a second to grasp the distinction, and then my face was as cold as his. â€Å"That's none of your business.† â€Å"The hell it† was all he managed to choke out. I didn't expect my hasty words to bring on such a strong response. Despite the warning he'd come to give, he must not have known. He must have thought the warning was just a precaution. He hadn't realizedor didn't want to believethat I had already made my choice. That I was really intending to become a member of the Cullen family. My answer sent Jacob into near convulsions. He pressed his fists hard against his temples, closing his eyes tight and curling in on himself as he tried to control the spasms. His face turned sallow green under the russet skin. â€Å"Jake? You okay?† I asked anxiously. I took a half-step toward him, then Edward caught me and yanked me back behind his own body. â€Å"Careful! He's not under control,† he warned me. But Jacob was already somewhat himself again; only his arms were shaking now. He scowled at Edward with pure hate. â€Å"Ugh. I would never hurt her.† Neither Edward or I missed the inflection, or the accusation it contained. A low hiss escaped Edward's lips. Jacob clenched his fists reflexively. â€Å"BELLA!† Charlie's roar echoed from the direction of the house. â€Å"YOU GET IN THIS HOUSE THIS INSTANT!† All of us froze, listening to the silence that followed. I was the first to speak; my voice trembled. â€Å"Crap.† Jacob's furious expression faltered. â€Å"I am sorry about that,† he muttered. â€Å"I had to do what I couldI had to try† â€Å"Thanks.† The tremor in my voice ruined the sarcasm. I stared up the path, half-expecting Charlie to come barreling through the wet ferns like an enraged bull. I would be the red flag in that scenario. â€Å"Just one more thing,† Edward said to me, and then he looked at Jacob. â€Å"We've found no trace of Victoria on our side of the linehave you?† He knew the answer as soon as Jacob thought it, but Jacob spoke the answer anyway. â€Å"Trie last time was while Bella was away. We let her think she was slipping throughwe were tightening the circle, getting ready to ambush her† Ice shot down my spine. â€Å"But then she took off like a bat out of hell. Near as we can tell, she caught your little female's scent and bailed. She hasn't come near our lands since.† Edward nodded. â€Å"When she comes back, she's not your problem anymore. We'll† â€Å"She killed on our turf,† Jacob hissed. â€Å"She's ours!† â€Å"No,† I began to protest both declarations. â€Å"BELLA! I SEE HIS CAR AND I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE! IF YOU AREN'T INSIDE THIS HOUSE IN ONE MINUTE !† Charlie didn't bother to finish his threat. â€Å"Let's go,† Edward said. I looked back at Jacob, torn. Would I see him again? â€Å"Sorry,† he whispered so low that I had to read his lips to understand. ‘†Bye, Bells.† â€Å"You promised,† I reminded him desperately. â€Å"Still friends, right?† Jacob shook his head slowly, and the lump in my throat nearly strangled me. â€Å"You know how hard I've tried to keep that promise, but I can't see how to keep trying. Not now† He struggled to keep his hard mask in place, but it wavered, and then disappeared. â€Å"Miss you,† he mouthed. One of his hands reached toward me, his fingers outstretched, like he wished they were long enough to cross the distance between us. â€Å"Me, too,† I choked out. My hand reached toward his across the wide space. Like we were connected, the echo of his pain twisted inside me. His pain, my pain. â€Å"Jake† I took a step toward him. I wanted to wrap my arms around his waist and erase the expression of misery on his face. Edward pulled me back again, his arms restraining instead of defending. â€Å"It's okay,† I promised him, looking up to read his face with trust in my eyes. He would understand. His eyes were unreadable, his face expressionless. Cold. â€Å"No, it's not.† â€Å"Let her go,† Jacob snarled, furious again. â€Å"She wants to!† He took two long strides forward. A glint of anticipation flashed in his eyes. His chest seemed to swell as it shuddered. Edward pushed me behind himself, wheeling to face Jacob. â€Å"No! Edward!† â€Å"ISABELLA SWAN!† â€Å"Come on! Charlie's mad!† My voice was panicked, but not because of Charlie now. â€Å"Hurry!† I tugged on him and he relaxed a little. He pulled me back slowly, always keeping his eyes on Jacob as we retreated. Jacob watched us with a dark scowl on his bitter face. The anticipation drained from his eyes, and then, just before the forest came between us, his face suddenly crumpled in pain. I knew that last glimpse of his face would haunt me until I saw him smile again. And right there I vowed that I would see him smile, and soon. I would find a way to keep my friend. Edward kept his arm tight around my waist, holding me close. That was the only thing that held the tears inside my eyes. I had some serious problems. My best friend counted me with his enemies. Victoria was still on the loose, putting everyone I loved in danger. If I didn't become a vampire soon, the Volturi would kill me. And now it seemed that if I did, the Quileute werewolves would try to do the job themselvesalong with trying to kill my future family. I didn't think they had any chance really, but would my best friend get himself killed in the attempt? Very serious problems. So why did they all suddenly seem insignificant when we broke through the last of the trees and I caught sight of the expression on Charlie's purple face? Edward squeezed me gently. â€Å"I'm here.† I drew in a deep breath. That was true. Edward was here, with his arms around me. I could face anything as long as that was true. I squared my shoulders and walked forward to meet my fate, with my destiny solidly at my side.

Free Essays on Laws Dont Control Guns

or with fewer arrows violence will decrease. Violence is not a function of the weapon. It is a result of temporary and/or permanent state of mind. A gun can trigger violence no more than a knife, a sword, or an arrow can. In an average year five times as many ch... Free Essays on Laws Don't Control Guns Free Essays on Laws Don't Control Guns "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Second Amendment (United States constitution). Irrespective of all arguments pertaining to the syntax of the above, the fact remains that the amendment guarantees the contination of the right to keep and bear arms to the people (Gun Week September 1991). The question is whether today's world can accommodate this 200- year-old article whose amendment requires a two-thirds majority of each house and three-fourths of the states' vote; whose amendment process can be totally ruined by just a small percentage of the U.S. population. It is essential to understand that the constitution is not etched in stone. With the dawn of technological industry and formulation of automatic weapons, the US Government has prohibited sales and ownership of such since 1934. In 1993 the Brady Bill was passed resulting in a very obvious Show-Gun Loophole. Again in 1994 an act was passed resulting in prohibition of weapons within a said radius of schools and government buildings. Still further acts of installing safety features in guns to prevent tragedies have been points of controversy. Experience and reason dictate that laissez faire and totalitarian rules are equally harmful and fine boundaries need be drawn to fully capture the essence of democracy. Supporters of further gun control argue that with fewer guns violence will decrease. Tragedies involving minors will reduce and America will be a safer place to live. The argument is like saying that with fewer swords or with fewer arrows violence will decrease. Violence is not a function of the weapon. It is a result of temporary and/or permanent state of mind. A gun can trigger violence no more than a knife, a sword, or an arrow can. In an average year five times as many ch...

The Iconic Egg-and-Dart Motif

The Iconic Egg-and-Dart Motif Egg-and-dart is a repetitive design that today is most often found on molding (e.g., crown molding) or trim. The pattern is characterized by a repetition of oval shapes, like an egg split lengthwise, with various non-curved patterns, like darts, repeated between the egg pattern. In three-dimensional sculpting of wood or stone, the pattern is in bas-relief, but the pattern can also be found in two-dimensional painting and stencil. The curved and non-curved pattern has been pleasing to the eye for centuries. It is often found in ancient Greek and Roman architecture and, so, is considered a Classical design element. Definition of Egg-and-Dart Egg-and-dart molding is a decorative molding in classical cornices that resembles alternating egg-shaped ovals with downward-pointing darts. - John Milnes Baker, AIA Egg and Dart Today Because its origins are from ancient Greece and Rome, the egg-and-dart motif is most often found in Neoclassical architecture, both public and residential, on interiors and exteriors. The Classical design provides a regal and stately feel to a room or facade. Examples of Egg-and-Dart The above photos illustrate the common ornamentation use of egg-and-dart design. The top photo is a detail of an Ionic column of the Great Court at the British Museum in London, England. This columns capital shows the volutes or scrolls typical of Ionic columns. Although the scrolls are a defining characteristic of the Ionic Classical Order, the egg-and-dart between them are added details- architectural ornamentation more ornate than found on many earlier Greek structures. The bottom photo is a piece of cornice from the Roman Forum in Italy. The egg-and-dart design, which would run horizontally along the top of the ancient structure, is underscored by another design called bead and reel. Look carefully at the Ionic column in the picture above, and youll notice the same bead-and-reel design beneath that egg-and-dart. In the egg-and-dart design on the ancient Parthenon in Athens, Greece combines both of these uses- between volutes and continuous design line on the entablature. Other Roman-inspired examples include the Temple of Saturnus at the Roman Forum in Italy and the Temple of Baal in Palmyra, Syria. What is Ovolo? Ovolo molding is another name for quarter round molding. It comes from the Latin word for egg, ovum, and is sometimes used to describe crown molding decorated with an egg-and-dart motif. Ensure that you understand the meaning of ovolo as used by your architect or contractor because todays ovolo molding does not necessarily mean its decoration is egg-and-dart. So, what is ovolo? A convex molding less than a semi-circle in profile; usually a quarter of a circle or approximately a quarter-ellipse in profile.- Dictionary of Architecture and Construction Other Names for Egg and Dart (with and without hyphens) egg and anchoregg and arrowegg and tongueechinus What Is Echinus and Astragal? This design looks very similar to egg-and-dart with a bead and reel below. The word echinus, however, is architecturally part of a Doric column and the word astragal describes a bead design more simple than bead and reel. Today, echinus and astragal is used by historians and students of Classical architecture- rarely by homeowners. Sources Baker, John Milnes, and W.W. Norton, American House Styles: a Concise Guide. 1994, p. 170.Harris, Cyril M. Dictionary of Architecture Construction. McGraw-Hill, 2006. pp. 176, 177, 344.

Documentary Credit Transaction Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Documentary Credit Transaction - Case Study Example As there is a risk of non payment by the importer, sellers can enter into an agreement with the importer's bank through a letter of credit ( lc).When there is a "documentary credit clause" in the agreement between the buyer and the seller, a letter of credit is issued by the buyer and the bank makes the payment to the seller.An lc is issued by the customer's bank naming the seller as the beneficiary, and as soon as the conditions mentioned in the lc are met by the seller, the payment is made by the bank. A bank in the country of the buyer issues the LC and is referred to as the Issuing Bank. A bank that advises the LC to the Seller is called the Advising Bank and is generally in the country of the Seller. While lcs are a safe, speedy and convenient method of payment for exporters, there might be a few pitfalls that the seller might have to consider before signing the contract.The risk shifts from the actual buyer to the bank.Since presentation of documents to the bank within the stripulated time frame is the only criteria for payment, the buyer runs the risk of not getting the goods in good condition, while the payment would already have been made through the issuing bank. A seller might run the risk of not being able to present the LC before the stipulated date. There could be delays in delivery and the LC migth expire before the issuing bank gets a confirmation from the buyer about the proper delivery of goods.A signature from the buyer's side migth also be required to honour the LC, but it might not be possible to obtain it before the expiry of the LC.The document itself might have some discrepencies which could render the document invalid, thus putting the exporter to risk of non payment for his goods. References 1. GERTRUDE NIMAKO BOATENG, ONUG, Documentary Credit Transactions : A Case Of Double Standards, accessed on 01-03-09. http://www.unspecial.org/UNS671/t41.html 2.EPASS International, Documentary Credit Transactions , accessed on 01-03-09. http://www.epassinternational.com/topics4.html 3. CreditGuru.com , Letter of Credit, accessed on 01-03-09 http://www.creditguru.com/guestarticleLC.htm Major Journals: - Journal of World Trade - Journal of International Economic Law - Journal of Business Law 4.Websites of Interest Name of Organization Web Site Address International Organizations United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) http://www.uncitral.org/ World Trade Organization (WTO) http://www.wto.org Int'l Trade Center (ITC) (UNCTAD/WTO) http://www.intracen.org Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation http://www.apecsec.org.sg Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) http://www.cec.org Commission for Labor Cooperation (CLC) http://www.naalc.org Int'l Court of Justice (ICJ) http://www.law.cornell.edu/icj/ Int'l Monetary Fund (IMF) http://www.imf.org/ MERCOSUR http://www.americasnet.com/mauritz/mercosur/ Org. for Econ. Cooperation and Dev. (OECD)