A Veteran Banned From Military Housing - 974 Words

Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherd dogs mark 100 years with the AKC. Both German Shepherds and Dobermans were the Devil Dogs in WWII (Mahood). Both dog breeds have given years of service to the military. Both dogs have been faithful loyal companions and incredibly intelligent. Both dogs are ranked in the top five for obedience and working intelligence (â€Å"Dog intelligence rankings†). Yet, the German Shepherd is currently the military police’s working dog and its veteran companion, the Doberman Pinscher, is currently banned from living in military bases. How is breed banning fair or even effective? In January 5th 2009, the Department of the Army released a memorandum announcing a new pet policy for families living on military base†¦show more content†¦U.S. Army Veterinary Command (VETCOM) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) as well as many other organizations, believe that breed bans are not the answer and is an inadequate solution to reducing dog bite fatalities on military installations. They believe that â€Å"a comprehensive approach versus breed bans is a more realistic method of controlling dog bites within a community† (Rolfe). Banning breeds is a knee-jerk response that is inappropriate and ineffective. Any breed can be dangerous; there was a case where a Dachshund was involved in killing an 87-year-old woman (â€Å"2005 dog bite fatalitiesâ€Å"). This policy assumes that all dogs of a certain breed is considered dangerous and will bite, instead of acknowledging that most dogs will not. Another issue is breed identification. According to the memorandum, the dog will be not be allowed if officials think it looks like one of the banned breeds. That makes the policy unfair even to dogs that are not from the so called â€Å"dangerous† breeds. For example, a Labrador-Boxer mix, the result looks a lot like a Pit Bull, but are in no way related. Or certain black and tan Labradors that look like Rottweilers. The deciding factor is not breed, it is ownership. Irresponsible ownership in the form of poor care, neglect, etc. results in a potentially dangerous dog. Irresponsible owners will just get a dog that is not bannedShow MoreRelatedA Dog Is A Man s Best Friend1501 Words   |  7 PagesOver the years it has been said that a dog is a man s best friend. A friend that has been domesticated ever since the beginning of time, bringing about many different breeds throughout the world from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier. The connections received from these loyal animals have proven to be a huge benefit physically, emotionally, and socially. It is no surprise that we have trained dogs to perform complex tricks to entertain the public or train them to save lives. Dogs that are trainedRead MoreThe War Of A National Highway System1463 Words   |  6 PagesFrontier, unemployment benefits were expanded, aid was provided to cities to improve housing and transportation, funds were allocated to continue the construction of a national highway system started under Eisenhower, a water pollution control act was passed to protect the country’s rivers and streams, and an agricultural act to raise farmers’ incomes was made law. The bay of pigs invasion was a failed military invasion of Cuba. Brigade 2506, the group that attempted to invade cuba, was made upRead MoreThe Events Of The World War II986 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican participation in World War II? (Chapter 22) After World War I legacy the Great Depression brought isolationism. The best work produced by President Roosevelt was the Four Freedoms; freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. President Roosevelt was the leader of the Allies, he used this statement as part of his Allies aim. The Soviet Union joined the Allies after being invaded by Germany. Millions of art were sold and reprinted as it publicizes the FourRead MoreHarry Truman Essay477 Words   |  2 PagesCommunists from taking over South Korea, and sent troops to fight in the war. The Korean War asked the whole nation to become involved in production and mobilizing troops, and the US involvement in the war proved to affect many people. Truman also made many decisions affecting the American people domestically. After World War II, he passed the GI Bill, which provided the returning war veterans with cash, education, housing, and unemployment benefits. After the war, the nation switched from war productionRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage1294 Words   |  6 Pagesprincipality of equality. The United States believes that it is a place of freedoms and liberties, but if that is so, why are we one of the last Western countries to legalize it? The Legalization Protected by the Constitution Less than a third of states had banned same-sex marriage before the Supreme Court overruled those bans, and in over half of the states where it was legalized it was because of court cases that ruled that it was unconstitutional to deny marriage to same-sex couples (ProCon.org, 2015). TheRead MoreAnimal Experimentation Should Be Used For Research1600 Words   |  7 Pagesessential part of a scientist’s job to prevent diseases from spreading. In addition, animals are biologically similar to humans. Human beings have similar organ systems and body processes which is easier for scientist to determine which medicine is more effective and what they need to work on. Animals and humans carry many similar diseases and illness. For example cats suffer from some of the same visual impairments as humans and dogs suffer from cancer, diabetes, cataracts and ulcers which makes themRead MoreThe Berlin Wall Of World War II1626 Words   |  7 PagesThe Berlin Wall symbolized many things for different people. For the Germans it served as their punishment from World War II, this punishment divided up their country and separated many people from their families who might have lived in different parts of Germany. Everyday things that were accessible to them like going to the grocery store or visiting family members were now made harder since in order to cross to the other side of the wall people would have to go through security checks. The WallRead MoreEmerging From The Restrictive Culture Of The 1950 S Essay1765 Words   |  8 PagesEmerging from the restrictive culture of the 1950’s, the counterculture of the 1960s challenged the prescribed norms, roles and expectations of the previous generations that outcasted youth found restrictive and alienating. Baby Boomers retained the abstract goals of mainstream society; they sought individual freedom and opportunities for self-determination. But their vision of the American dream widened the traditional definitions of freedom to include bodily, psychological, and political freedomsRead MoreThe s Favorite Flea Markets2772 Words   |  12 Pagesa roof over their head, means to keep from going hungry and sick, the more likely they are to be able to work. Instead of peoples’ well-beings having ownership of funding toward departments that actually matter (Dept. of Education, Housing Urban Development, Health Human Services) departments such as Department of Homeland Security, which robs us of some of our civil liberties of privacy and contributes to discrimination, are receiving no complaints from its champions. Though, in an ideal governmentRead MoreThe s Favorite Flea Markets2772 Words   |  12 Pagesa roof over their head, means to keep from going hungry and sick, the more likely they are to be able to work. Instead of peoples’ well-beings having ownership of funding toward departments that actually matter (Dept. of Education, Housing Urban Development, Health Human Services) departments such as Department of Homeland Security, which robs us of some of our civil liberties of privacy and contributes to discrimination, are receiving no complaints from its champions. Though, in an ideal government

Video Games And Virtual Reality - 2170 Words

Imagine if there was a way to immerse someone to another world that was once thought it was impossible to do due to limitations. A world where can play extracurricular activities such as tennis indoors without having the need to go outside and enjoy it. That is how virtual reality came to be. It is a computer-generated simulator that would show three-dimensional images or environments that can be interacted or be felt in some way for the individual. Back around the days during the time where video games were starting to become a dominant presence in the societal aspects of the world. It has brought a new age of entertainment that was never thought of and improvements have been done over time in how to get children more immersed in these games. This is where the idea of using virtual reality came to be as a way of using this for video games. The video games company Nintendo, then decided to make a new console that would bring in something that has never been combined before. Video gam es and virtual reality were starting to be brought into something that will bring children into a new experience. Nintendo created their first product that would bring virtual reality as a means of entertainment. This would be called the Virtual Boy. Little did Nintendo know that it would end up unquestionable be their â€Å"dirty little secret†. The Virtual Boy was released on July 21, 1995 in Japan and August 16, 1995 in North America. There was a commercial that included what the Virtual Boy couldShow MoreRelatedViolent Games And Violent Video Games1122 Words   |  5 PagesAs video game images become increasingly more realistic and graphic. Therefore, is there any link between the violence depicted in those games and violence in real life? Students are the main group people who played violent video games very often. Also, losing a game causes many people to have a negative impact. Last, the attitudes on violent game and antisocial. Games are everywhere around us, such as cellphones, televisions, or computers, but violent games are the most popular type of game. TheRead MoreThe Effects Of Video Games On The Video Game Industry791 Words   |  4 Pagesis the future of the video game industry. Imagine looking through the eyes of your favorite video game character but in reality, you are actual sitting on the couch. Look to the left and you see R2-D2 trying to communicate to you. To the right, you have rebel fighters shooting at storm troopers that are attacking your home planet. Virtual reality lets you do all of this from the comfort of your home. However, Augmented reality lets you do this as well, but it is less virtual and more technologicalRead MoreVirtual Reality Is Defined As The World Wide Web1625 Words   |  7 PagesVirtual reality is defined as the electronic simulations of environments experienced through head mounted goggles and wired clothing to enable the user to interact in realistic three-dimensional situations (Biocca). It has rece ntly gained attention throughout the gaming subculture in the form of the Oculus Rift, a new console that allows users to interact with a constructed 3D environment. However, its potential does not end there. It is already being applied to provide hands on training for surguriesRead MoreVirtual Reality : History, Applications, Technology And Future1634 Words   |  7 Pages Effects of Virtual Reality Virtual reality has become easily accessible and goes beyond our wildest imagination, but it has older origins than one may think. Virtual reality programs, or devices, allow anyone to see an interactive world in a different dimension and experience events that may not be accessible in real life. One of the earliest attempts at virtual reality was a 360-degree mural like the one in The Sistine Chapel. â€Å"These paintings were intended to fill the viewer’s entire field ofRead MoreNegatives of Television and Video Games728 Words   |  3 PagesWith television and video games entering a whole new level of popularity in the 2000s, serious and necessary questions need to be answered regarding the negative aspects of these new technologies. The technologies have perhaps caught people in such bewilderment and dazzle that the negatives have been given a blind-eye. The positives no doubt are countless, however whether they outweigh the negatives or not is another question. Nowadays, with TV programs becoming many and TV channels and digitalRead MoreInformative Speech Evolution of Video Games Essay945 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿INTRODUCTION Do you wish you could escape the world sometimes? Free your mind of all thoughts on reality and just get away. Well lucky for you, there is one way you can do this. It’s been around since the 1970s and it’s the wonderful world of video games. Ever since then technology has grown incredibly now making a fun hobby out of it that people can really enjoy. I myself have made it a hobby and try to keep up with all the latest devolvement’s in the gaming world. Some of my fondest memoriesRead MoreFor Ages, People Have Been Misunderstanding The Meaning1466 Words   |  6 Pageswell-built character and a wide-range of knowledge. The tool with the utmost potential to help people reach their dreams nowadays is video gaming, thanks to its unmatched popularity and the immense power of its virtuality that can not only entertain people but also build their personalities, reinforce their knowledge, and influence the reality they live in. The video gaming industry has already proved itself to be one of the biggest and fastest-growing industries in the world. From about 10 billionRead MoreEssay On Video Game Violence1377 Words   |  6 Pages Have you ever had the urge to harm or kill someone after playing a game of football? People of all ages love to play this sport whether it be for fun or bragging rights. We watch two people almost tear each other apart in boxing or Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Chances are you probably just looked at these events and went on with your day afterwards. We have faced dangerous events such as wars, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks. What these events have in common is that they are actuallyRead MorePersuasive Essay On Virtual Reality1114 Words   |  5 PagesVirtual reality is slowly creeping its way into the lives of every day Americans. Whether it be training a new employee for a job, teaching students, or assisting in military applications, virtual reality is all around us now. Virtual reality is not only putting a pair of fancy goggles on and going on a beachfront vacation. Video games and social media are both forms of virtual reality. Video games allow you to enter a different world. Social media allows people to be totally different charactersRead MoreVideo Games And Its Effects On Children1519 Words   |  7 PagesVideo games in the 21st century have transformed from friendly competing into guns, explosions, and major violence. Video games are getting away with more violence every year and the games are becoming more extreme. The consistence and severity of violence is at an all-time high leading the most popular games in the gaming community to have a ‘mature’ rating due to the considerable amount of violence involved. For example, one of the highest selling video games of all time grossing one billion its

Baseball Free Essays

Imagine you saw a professional hitting a home run. Then you wonder how the ball got that far. You ask yourself â€Å"should I go ask the coach how the player hit the home run?† Do you know who Dave Winfield is? Do you want to know more about baseball for young and old? What a Baseball Made of? A baseball is made up of 4 main layers. We will write a custom essay sample on Baseball or any similar topic only for you Order Now At the center of the ball is a rubber core. Around the core is a layer of cork. Then twine is wrapped around the core. Over the twine is stitched a layer of leather that makes up the cover of the ball. They stitch the ball because that way the twine part of the ball does not come out like stuffing from a pillow. The ball is made the same for both of the leagues except for the tee-ball league. The middle of the tee-ball is made up of this soft component so it will not hurt as much when you get hit by it because you are just beginning of your baseball career if you want that to be your career. The Rubber Core The rubber core is at the center of the baseball and is the first material needed to make a baseball. This is so because without it you will not have a sturdy baseball. I know this because on one of my baseballs I took out the core and remade the baseball. When I was finished I threw the ball to my friend and it fell in mid flight to where my friend could not catch it. I never did that again because it was a waste of the materials because we could not find a way to use it. The Cork Layer The cork is a hard material. The cork is after the rubber core layer at the middle. It is a hard material because that way it will turn into a sphere so it will be easier to catch when you are playing the game. Another reason you need the cork layer is because it helps with the weight to be even to where it go through the air correctly. The Twine Layer The twine layer is after the cork layer. The twine layer is next because that way you will not feel the cork since it is a hard substance and the twine is a little softer than the cork. [pic] You do not want to touch the twine a lot because it is sharp enough to cut the skin when you push it hard against your skin. The Leather The leather layer is the layer after the twine layer. There is a leather layer because that way the twine will not cut into your hand. The twine is sharp enough to cut your skin a little and not a lot. The leather is also a kind of soft layer. It also helps you get a better grip on the ball to throw it to another friend or player. Baseball Facts One baseball fact is that Jackie Robinson led the Dodgers to six World Series and one World Series Championship in a 10-year span. Another baseball piece of information is that people think Abner Doubleday invented baseball. A myth is that Dave Winfield threw a baseball that killed a sea gull in midflight. How to cite Baseball, Essay examples

Activity essay free essay sample

On July 20th, 2008, Chengdu airport, a gray rainy day, the scenes along the road shocked me. The buildings and trees were razed to the ground. Miserable and despondent people wandered along the road. A subtle dirge can be heard in the quiet street. There was a smell of death in the air; the atmosphere was depressing. On May 12th, 2008, a disastrous earthquake erupted in China, which caused 69,197 people to die and wounded another 374,176 people. When I heard this shocking news, I could not help worrying about Sichuan. I once travelled to Sichuan. I memorized the cloudless sky. I memorized the clear Min River. I memorized the happy sounds of talking people. Now everything was broken. The donation of money could not satisfy me – I wanted to provide my help directly and assume my social responsibility. To my surprise, the camp was not as bad or as rough as I thought: many families lived in houses built with special plastic boards. We will write a custom essay sample on Activity essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I started my volunteer work with registering the information of the victims. When I was typing the information, I was shocked – almost every family lost some members. I felt depressed for the victims, especially for the children. How can they grow up happily? It made me want to help more for the victims. So I decided to work with the students of East China Normal University because one volunteer’s power was negligible, but with thousands of people we can do great service for the victims. I easily melded into the team and became friends with the students; we had the same goal and willingness to help. We rented one of the board houses and decorated the room into a kindergarten. We were designated to a certain child – mine was Xinyue Hu – and tried to make them forget about their depression by telling stories, playing games and teaching English. After several days, when I was telling the Snow White story to Xinyue Hu, she interrupted me at the end and invit ed me to her house. I suddenly felt depressed and sympathetic toward her because nearly all the buildings in the city had been damaged. She didn’t notice the strangeness in my face; instead, she just kept talking, â€Å"I had two houses. One is here. The other is in the process of rebuilding. My family will move back soon.† When I heard this, I began to feel hope and confidence. The houses and buildings could be destroyed, but we would rebuild them even better. Although one Chinese cliche states that, â€Å"Each one sweeps the snow from his own doorstep and doesnt bother about the frost on their neighbor’s roof,† we held together and made a donation of nearly 76.7 billion RMB when we were challenged by the natural disaster. Many volunteers from different provinces and jobs flocked into Sichuan for help. Some people even moved their entire families to Sichuan. The experience gave me a chance to assume social responsibility but also to contribute to the re building of Sichuan, also a mental inspiration. By telling stories, playing games and teaching English to the children, I gained a true happiness. We were like a big family and treated the children as our brothers and sisters. I miss them all and would definitely return. It also made me believe the individual’s power is little when faced with huge disasters and problems; only through cooperation and teamwork can we change the situation and succeed. By the way, the camp’s name was Happy Family.

Killer Whales Essays - Megafauna, Baleen Whales, Apex Predators

Killer Whales The scientific order of all types of whales is Cetacea. This large order is broken down into three further groups as well: the toothed whales or Odontoceti, which includes killer whales, dolphins, porpoises, beluga whales, and sperm whales, the baleen whales or Mysticeti, which include blue whales, humpback whales, gray whales, and right whales, and the Archaeoceti order, which are all now extinct. The genus of these species is Orcinus orca. Family. The killer whale is the largest in its family of delphinid. Bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, and Pacific white-sided dolphins are included in this group as well. The scientific name for this family is Delphinidae. Fossil Record. Modern forms of both odontocetes and mysticetes can be seen in the fossil record of five to seven million years ago. Scientists believe that early whales arose about fifty-five to sixty-five million years ago from, now extinct, ancient land mammals that happened to venture back into the sea. Habitat And Distribution: Distribution. Killer whales can be found in all oceans of the world. They are the most numerous in the Arctic Ocean and the Antarctic. However, their distribution is limited by seasonal pack ice. Habitat. The main living environment for killer whales is open oceans but they can also be found in coastal waters as well. Migration. Killer whales are very important in the oceans because they cause much of the migration of many fish and other prey. The movements of the killer whale to and from certain areas cause the other prey to move as well. Population. The worldwide population of killer whales is unknown, however they are not endangered whatsoever. Specific populations in a few areas have been estimated in recent years and some areas of the Antarctic alone have about 180,000 killer whales. The population can be distinguished because killer whales travel in pods, or groups. The resident pods can vary from as few as five to as many as fifty whales. The transient pod size varies from one and seven individuals. Physical Characteristics: Size. Male killer whales average about twenty-two to twenty-seven feet and usually weigh between 8,000 and 12,000 pounds. The largest male ever recorded was thirty-two feet and weighed about 21,000 pounds. As a male approaches adulthood, it acquires the typical male characteristics: it gains weight, and its pectoral flippers, dorsal fin, and flukes grow larger than those of females. Female killer whales average about seventeen to twenty-four feet and usually weigh between 3,000 and 8,000 pounds. The largest female recorded was twenty-eight feet and weight about 15,000 pounds. Body Shape. The killer whale has a sleek, streamlined body. Its physical characteristics are adapted for life in an aquatic environment. Coloration. Killer whales are easily recognized by their distinct coloration. The dorsal surface and pectoral flippers are black, except for the area below and behind the dorsal fin. The ventral surface, lower jaw, and undersides of the tail flukes are mostly white and the undersides of the tail fluke are lined with black. A white "eyespot" is located just above and slightly behind each eye and a gray saddle is located behind the dorsal fin. The distinctive coloration of killer whales is a type of disruptive coloration, a camouflage in which the color pattern of an animal contradicts the animal's body shape. By the flickering, filtered sunlight of the sea, other animals may not recognize a killer whale as a potential predator. Thus, making it easy for the killer whale to get to its prey. Body Parts. A killer whale has distinct pectoral flippers, or forelimbs. They have the major skeletal elements of the forelimb's of land mammals, but they are foreshortened and modified. They are rounded and paddle-like and are used mainly to steer and, with the help of the flukes, to stop. The flukes are the lobe of the tail on a killer whale. They are flattened pads of tough, dense, fibrous connective tissue, completely without bone. A large male killer whale may have tail flukes measuring up to nine feet from tip to tip. All traces of hind limbs have disappeared except for two reduced, rod- shaped pelvic bones, which are buried deep in the body muscle. These reduced hind limbs are not connected to the vertebral column however. The dorsal fin, like the flukes, is made of dense, fibrous connective tissue with no bones. It acts as a keel, stabilizing a killer whale as it swims. The arteries in this fin help to maintain body temperature. In males, the dorsal fin is tall and triangular and in females it may by

Dreams of Aviation essays

Dreams of Aviation essays Ever since I was just a youngster I have always had a fascination with airplanes. When I took my first trip on an airplane I was really uneasy about it. Then they brought me into the cockpit and let me see all the instruments and we talked about how planes worked. My fears all turned into fascinations and I realized how relaxing being in the air really was. After that I was almost sure that I wanted to get involved with planes. I found out about a program that could help me become more involved with planes and maybe help me get a career in an aviation field of work. The program I got into is called Civil Air Patrol. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is an Air Force auxiliary that carries out non-combat missions on behalf of the U.S Air force. The average age of members in my squadron is 15. The group has grown from 14 enrollees last year to 20 directly after the 9-11 disaster. The program teaches Aerospace, leadership, and general skills necessary in emergency situation. For example, the CAP is responsible for most search and rescue mission in the United States. We learn skills in mock missions called SAREXs. (Search and Rescue Excercises) I joined CAP because I wanted to develop personal discipline. CAP allows me to receive as well practice personal discipline. I earn medals when I complete assignments and tests. These medals prove that I have completed the basic skills needed to attempt more advanced aviation training programs in the near future. The program has helped improved my self-esteem and I know that I am a part of a valued team in my community. I also joined because someday I aspire to be a pilot with my own charter airplane company. In the future, joining the Air Force could help me by allowing me a chance to further my knowledge of aircraft and also experience aircraft first hand, and also help me earn flight hours. The Air Force would be a benefit to me because I would be around many others with s ...

Outline and discuss the evolution of CSR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Outline and discuss the evolution of CSR - Essay Example This paper explores the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility, tracing its evolution and how businesses implement it as well as how it affects them. II. Definitions of CSR Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) may be perceived in a variety of ways depending on one’s perspective. One commonly accepted definition is as follows: â€Å"The continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of local community and society at large.† - World Business Council for Sustainable Development, 2005 Another definition created by the European Commission (2003) is: â€Å"Responsible business practices that support the three principles of sustainable development: economic growth and prosperity, social cohesion and equity and environmental integrity and protection.† (p.5) III. Principles of CSR The United Nations is the main promoter of CSR. On December 31, 1999, then Secretary General Kofi Annan declared its principles at the World Economic Forum in Davos (Madrakhimova, 2013): 1. Human Rights – Commercial organizations should maintain support and respect for internationally recognized human rights in the creation of their standards of work. The rights to bargain collectively of workers must be upheld. Forced labour and child labour should be eliminated along with any form of discrimination in the workplace. 2. Ecology – Corporations should be conscious of the prevention of environmental problems and diligent in carrying out a more responsible attitude towards the care of the environment. They need to promote technologies and know-how in the reduction of negative impacts of some systems on the environment. 3. Anti-corruption – Corruption in all forms which include extortion, bribery and red tape must be prevented. 4. Legal responsibility – Legal frameworks bound in the territories where the businesses st and must be enforced. 5. Global responsibility – Compliance with international standards of social responsibility 6. Environmental Responsibility – collaboration of businesses and society in the rational use of natural resources, effective management of the environment and public health from the production of environmentally-friendly products. 7. Cultural and ethical responsibility – Compliance with relevant territorial cultural and ethical customs and traditions as well as moral norms followed by employees and other stakeholders. 8. Philantropic responsibility – support and development of the society and of individual marginal groups through voluntary participation in social programs and social and financial investment. IV. Benefits of CSR In a study of Lithuanian development of CSR practices, Spukiene & Urbonien (2011) report the following internal benefits in adopting CSR practices have been recognized: business sustainability; competitive advantage; e asier compliance with legislation; employee loyalty; attraction and retention of qualified employees; increase in productivity, quality and sales; financial improvement and access to capital; and reduction of costs. External benefits from adopting CSR practices were acknowledged as well: improved image and reputation; preservation of the environment; intangible benefits; contribution to Lithuania?s sustainable development; increased visibility; promotion of solidarity in the community; clients? loyalty; and

Evaluating the success of the tutoring program Case Study

Evaluating the success of the tutoring program - Case Study Example Unlike other programs that are assessed only on the basis of their outcomes, the success of this program will be assessed right from the way it aims to identify the need to its design and finally to the way its objectives and goals defined. According to Richards and Lassonde (2009) a successful tutoring program can be evaluated right from goal setting to curriculum development. The need The success of tutoring program is one that begins by identifying the need for which the program is being designed. For instance, the targeted person may already have some assessment information like retention rates, test scores, and even anecdotal reports from teachers and family. In such a case, the assessment is likely to entail a clear inventory of up-to-date reading aspects, with a clear indication or identification of their scope and nature, in order to effectively measure the need against existing services, as well as to identify the gaps that the new program is intended to fill. This process h elps at minimizing duplication, mobilize resources, build on experience, and avert the tensions that are likely to arise when the new program is rolled out. Most importantly, this information is aimed at helping the planners to concentrate on the kids whose needs are very high. Research shows that, on average, four out of ten kids are at a high risk particularly in terms of developing their level of literacy (Fashola, 2002). The tutoring program in this case was a success as it captured all the aspects mentioned. For instance, picking a child and administering an informal reading inventory. Analyzing and synthesize the results to know the need of the child. Interviewing the student by asking information about her and her family background such as age and language they speak at home. This initial stage was a big success as it helped the teacher to know the need and also to effectively measure the need against available services. Defines the mission A successful tutoring program must have a well-defined overall mission. According to Morrow and Woo (2001) when developing the mission of the program, planners are supposed to take into consideration significant contributions to supporting the child’s literacy development made by institutions such as child care centers, as well as other out-of-school community programs. Therefore, the mission statement must describe what the tutoring program intends to do in order to effectively address the needs identified. In this case, the tutoring program will be successful if its mission is based around the identified needs. In this case, the assessment will want to establish if the need is well identified: the student is female and bilingual. She does not do much reading at home, she like basketball, like Latin music just to mention but a few. In spite of all these, she wants to learn. When some words list and reading stories, started from 3rd grade word lists to 12th grade to read were administered to test her reading s kills, She did well until 6th grade word lists. The instructor was able to notice that she needed instructions and have comprehension problems. Generally, the need for the tutoring program was about reading. Therefore, the mission would read like: The mission of this Tutoring Program is to encourage the student to develop an attitude for reading, to learn, to help the student become an engaged reader, as well as to ensuring that the student has access to high quality reading materials. If the instructor developed a mission statement like this, he could easily proceed as it sets objectives and goals that the tutoring program is expected to deliver. Therefore, a successful tutoring program is assessed on whether or not it has a well-defined mission statement.

Hart's Hotel Nottingham Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hart's Hotel Nottingham - Essay Example An organization always aims at giving quality service to the customers. This is meant to attract more customers thus leading to profit maximization and business expansion. This paper discusses in depth about Harts Hotel Nottingham, its accommodation and front service management. Hart’s hotel is said to be a magnificent place for exploration. It’s a classical 17th century mansion owned by Tim and Stefa Harts and under management of Rupert Elliot. The hotel maintains high standards of modernization with light and airy modern space. It presents beautiful scenery with walls decorated in a range of bright abstract canvasses and no echoes of its previous incarnation (Vickers, 2005:42). Not only is the place fantastic to the viewer’s sight but also a very clean environment with friendly and helpful staff. Scholar depict that the restaurant advocates for excellent service and delicious menus. The hotel is located approximately a 3-minute walk form the city centre hence c onvenient enough for visitation. Moreover, it portrays a quiet environment away from noise of traffic and nightlife thus relaxing and comfortable for stay (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g186356-d292105-r14432692-Hart_s_Hotel-Nottingham_Nottinghamshire_England.html). Hart’s hotel has quite a pleasant accommodation service. The rooms have high ceilings thus making the place light airy, contemporary, and comfortable. The top quality beds are neatly and stylishly equipped with goose down pillows and duvets, and Egyptian cotton bed linen. Once, a customer visited the

History of terrorism

History of terrorism Terrorist acts or the threat of such action have been in existence for centuries. Historical examples of terrorist events can be traced, in writing, to biblical times; the Romans were known to have both practiced and been the recipients of terrorist activities. (Carr, 2003). The earliest known organizations that exhibited aspects of modern terrorism were the Zealots of Judea, and the Sicarri, theand Jewish groups active during the Roman occupation of the first century Middle East. The preferential weapon of the Sicarri (literally, Dagger Men) was the sica, a short dagger which they used it for murdering those those (mainly Jews) they believed to be traitorsy deemed apostate and, thus, selected for execution.The Zealots, who generally targeted Romans and Greeks, gave the modern term Zealot, one translation of which is a fanatical partisan.. (Merriam-Webster, 1984). Such killings usually took place in daylight and in front of witnesses, with the perpetrators using such acts to send a message to the Roman authorities and the Jews who collaborated with them. This tactic was adopted by subsequent generation of groups which are now known as terrorists. The Assassins, also deemed as a terrorist organization, were an eleventh century offshoot of a Shia Muslim sect known as the Ismailis.They also perhaps also recognized the significance of high publicity as do contemporary terrorists. Like the Zealots-Sicarri, the Assassins were also given to stabbing their victims (generally politicians or clerics who refused to adopt the purified version of Islam they were forcibly spreading) (Bugress, 2003; Rapaport, 1965). The term Assassin (from where the modern term assassination is derived) literally meant hashish eater- , -which is in reference to the ritualistic drug-taking, they were perhaps falsely rumored to indulge in prior to undertaking their murderous missions. (Bugress, 2003; Rapaport, 1965). Often, the Assassins deeds were carried out at religious sites on holy days a tactic intended to publicize their cause and incite others to it.Similar to the numerous religiously motivated terrorists nowadays, they also looked at their deaths on such actions as sacrificial. Even though both the Zealots and the Assassins operated in the past, they are relevant today: First as forerunners of modern terrorists in aspects of motivation, organization, targeting, and goals. Second ly, although both were eventual failures, the fact that they are remembered hundreds of years later, demonstrates the deep psychological impact they caused. Sacrifice was also a central element of the killings carried out by the Thugees (from which the word thug is derived). They were the followers of an Indian religious cult which ritually strangled their victims (usually travelers chosen at random) as an offering to the Hindu goddess of terror and destruction, Kali. In this case, the intent was to terrify the victim (a vital consideration in the Thugee ritual) rather than influencing any external audience. The Thugees were active from the seventh until the mid-nineteenth centuries. They were known to have committed as many as one million murders. Perhaps they were the last example of religiously-inspired terrorism until the phenomenon re-emerged a little over 20 years ago. According to David Rapport, Before the 19th century, religion provided the only acceptable justifications for terror. (Robespierre, 2009). Probably all holy texts (not just the Quran) have been conveniently interpreted to justify violence against others. Robiespierre described terror as the emanation of virtue. An additional tendency at the end of 19th century was the ever-increasing wave of nationalism throughout the world, which incorporated the nation (the identity of the citizens) and the political state. Simultaneously, the states began to stress upon the national identities of the citizens who were conquered or colonized, much like the Jews during the period of Zealots who either chose to integrate or fight back. Over the last several decades, the most well-known, Irish nationalistic struggle has still been unresolved. Nationalism, similar to Communism was the most ideological force of the 20th century. (Burgess, 2003). Nationalists and Anarchists The English word terrorism comes from the regime de la terreur that prevailed in France from 1793-94. In the beginning it was a device of the state, and was intended to strengthen the authority of the new-found radical government, shielding it from elements thought to be subversive. Always value-laden, terrorism was, initially, a positive term. The French revolutionary leader, Maximilien Robespierre, viewed it as vital if the new French Republic was to survive its infancy, and proclaimed in 1794 that: Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible; it is therefore an emanation of virtue; it is not so much a special principle as it is a consequence of the general principle of democracy applied to our countrys most urgent needs.(Hoffman, 1988). Under such rationalization, some 40,000 people were executed by guillotine, a fate Robespierre and his top lieutenants would themselves suffered. In the meantime terrorism started to take negative undertones which it carries today. (AltThough the terrorists themselves do not consider themselves to be unconstructive or harmful to society). Edmund Burk, who demonized the French revolutionary practitioners, made the term popular in English writings. As a result of the French Revolution,new distinct concepts of nationalism and citizenship were evolved, which also led to the development of a new form of primary secular terrorism. The Italian revolutionary Carlo Pisacanes theory of the propaganda of the deed, which recognized the utility of terrorism to deliver a message to an audience other than the target, and draw attention and support to a cause was a hallmark to this new form of terrorism. (Laqueur, 1999). Pisacanes thesis was first put into practice by the Narodnaya Volya (NV), which was not in itself new and would probably have been recognizable to the Zealots-Sicarri and the Assassins. In 1878, a Russian populist group, (which was described as to Peoples Will) was formed to be in opposition to the Tzars regime. The groups most famous decisive action was the assassination of Alexander II inon 1 March 1881, which also effectively sealed their fate by incurring bringing upon themselves, the full wrath of the Tsarist regime. Unlike most other terrorist groups, the Volya went to great lengths to avoid innocent deaths, carefully choosing their targets; usually state officials who symbolized the regime. Often compromising operations rather than causing what would today be termed collateral damage. It is also called bluecalled blue on blue by the military. Volya actions inspired radicals in different places. Anarchist terrorist groups were particularly enamored by the example set by the Russian populist Volya. Nationalist groupslike the ones in the Balkans and Ireland decided to resort to terrorism to meet their goals. As the 19th century gave way to the 20th century, terrorists attacks were carried out as far as India, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire. Two US presidents and a succession of other world leaders were victims of assassination by various radical elements often affiliated to groups but operating without their explicit knowledge or support. 9 (Stern, 2001). As in Europe , terrorism arrived on American shoresalso arrived in America before the twentieth century Not only were Anarchists active in America throughoutall through the 1880s, but during the American Civil War;, had seen acts deserving of the name, committed on both sidesAnarchists as were also instrumental in the formation of the Ku Klux Klan to fight the reconstruction effort which followed. (Hoffman, 1988). Terrorism and the State Sponsored Terrorism Long before the outbreak of World War I in Europe in 1914, what would later be termed as state-sponsored terrorism had already started to manifest itself in Europe. For instance, many officials in the Serbian government and military were involved in supporting, training and providing arms to the various Balkan groups which were active prior to the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand inon 28 June 1914 in Sarajevo; an act carried out by an activist from one such group, the Young Bosnians credited with setting in progress the chain of events which led to the war itself. (Guelke, 1998). Similarly, the Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (MRO) survived largely because it became for all intents and purposes a tool of the Bulgarian government, and was used mainly against Yugoslavia as well as against domestic enemies. ( Walter Laqueur )that it became for all intents and purposes a tool of the Bulgarian government, and was used mainly against Yugoslavia as well as against domesti c enemies. Such examples clearly illustrate that state-sponsored terrorism is not a new phenomenon. The events in 1930s led to a fresh wave of political assassinations which justified the word terrorism. This led to proposals at the League of Nations for conventions to prevent and punish terrorism as well as to the establishment of an international criminal court (neither of which came to being as they were overshadowed by the events which eventually led to World War II).12 (Volkan, 1997). Simultaneously, in between years of war, state terrorism increased; a reference to the oppressive measures imposed by various totalitarian regimes, particularly in Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Stalinist Russia. While terror from above, from the states ruling elite, was the predominant form of terror from Roman times through the French Revolution up to the present, even in the twentieth century, terror from above, such as the Hitlers Holocaust, Stalins purges, Pol Pots Killing Fields, the Rwandan massacres, and ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, has clearly claimed many more lives than the terror exerted from below. (Volkan, 1997). In the beginning of twentieth century, the term terrorism started to become synonymous with terror acts from below that attempt to disrupt, overthrow, or simply express rage against the existing political order. 14(Reich, 1990).Generally, academics agree that modern terrorism from below first surfaced as an identifiably notable entity with the emergence of the Narodnaya Volya (the Peoples Will) in Russia, at the close of the nineteenth century. This particular group harboured intellectual ideologies, and they believed that by creating an institution of the state, they could ferment a revolution to completely cleanse the existing system. They tried to accomplish this by terrorist acts such as assassinating numerous Tsarist officials, including, in 1881, the Tsar Alexander II himself. (Parry, 1976).Even though they possessed an enduring hatred for their victims, this group showed remorse and regret for their actions, inflicting self-torture and beatings as punishment for taking the liv es of their victims. In fact, they were so concerned, selective and meticulous about only killing their intended victim that if their target was accompanied by a family member, or if there was a danger that innocents might be killed, they would call off the attack and wait for a better situation to present itself. (Laqueur, 2001). But they continued their actions because they comprehended that, political terror is unavoidable, moral and effective and that organized terror movements are the preferred alternative to a blind, witless insurrection of dumb people. (Ivianski, 1987). More recently, other governments, such as those of military dictatorships which ruled some South American countries in recent years, or the regimes in Zimbabwe, have also been open to charges of using such methods as instruments of state. Some commentators, such as Bruce Hoffman, argue that, such usages are generally termed terror in order to distinguish that phenomenon from terrorism, which is understood to be violence committed by non-state entities. (Hoffman, 1988). However not everyone agrees that terrorism should be considered a non-governmental undertaking. For instance, Jessica Stern insists that states in deliberately bombarding civilians as a means of demoralizing enemy, states have indeed resorted to terrorism. According to Stern, such instances include not only the Allied strategic bombing campaigns of World War II, andbut the American dropping of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended the Pacific phase of that conflict. (Stern, 2003). This issue remains controversial, with individuals such as the World War II British Air Chief Bomber Harris was simultaneously defended and despised for his belief in the utility and morality of strategic bombing. It bears similarity to the modern-day concept of collateral damage. Terrorism Sincesince World War II In By contrast, the predominanceprevalence of non-state groups active in the terrorism that emerged in the wake of World War II is less arguable. The immediate focus onfor such activitiesty primarily mainly shifted from Europe itself to various colonies in the continents.Across the Middle East Asia and Africa, emerging nationalist movements resisted European attempts to resume colonial business as usual after the defeat of the coalition Axis powers.As the colonialists had been recently expelled from or subjugated in their overseas empires by the Japanese, it provided psychological support to such indigenous uprisings by dispelling the myth of European invincibility. Often, these nationalist and anti-colonial groups conducted guerilla warfare, which differed from terrorism mainly in that it tended towards larger bodies of irregulars operating along more along towards military lines than their terrorist partners in the other regions.Similarly in China and Indochina, such forces conducted insurgencies against the Kuomintang regime and the French colonial government respectively. In other places, like the Algeria, campaigns were fought, in both rural and urban areas, using guerilla warfare, for independence from French rule Struggle for independence against British and French rule also took place in Kenya, Malaysia, Cyprus and Palestine. (Both the French and the British bore the brunt of this new wave of terrorism, a consequence of their large pre-war empires). These struggles were conducted by groups who can more readily be described now as terrorist. These groups quickly learned to exploit the mushrooming globalization of the worlds media. According to Hoffman: They were first to recognize the publicity value inherent in terrorism and to choreograph their violence for an audience far beyond the immediate geographical loci of their respective struggles. (Hoffman, 1988). Furthermore, in some cases (such as in Algeria, Cyprus, Kenya and Israel) terrorism perhaps helped such organizations in the successful realization of their goals. As such these nationalist and anti-colonial groups are notable for any wider understanding of terrorism. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, terrorist numbers swelledincreased to include not only nationalists, but also those motivated by ethnic and ideological considerations. Nationalists groupslike the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), and its several affiliates came into existence. Moreover, other groups mushroomed such as the Basque ETA and the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The IRA also comprised of organizations such as the Italian Red Brigade, and the Red Army faction in Germany (then West Germany). With As with the emergence of modern terrorism almost a century earlier, the United States couldwas not remain immune from this latest wave of terrorism, although there the identity-crisis-driven motivations of the white middle-class Weathermen starkly contrasted with the ghetto-bred malcontent of the Black Panther Movement. (Lacqueur, 2001). Many of the terrorist groups of this period readily adopted methods that would allow them to publicize their goals and accomplishments internationally.The Palestinians were among one of the well-known groups who pioneered the hijacking of a jet airliner as a mode of operation and publicity. One such group, Black September, staged what was (until the terrorist attack of 9/11, 2001) perhaps the greatest terrorist publicity coup then seen, with the seizure and murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games.Such incidents resulted in the Palestinian groups providing the inspiration, in some cases, mentorship and training, for many of the new generation of terrorists organizations. Most of these organizations today have reduced their operations or ceased to exist altogether, whileothers, such as the Palestinian, Northern Irish and Spanish Basque groups, motivated by more enduring causes, remain active today, although some of them now have made moves towards political rather than terrorist methods.Meanwhile, by the mid-1980s, state-sponsored terrorism re-emerged, the catalyst for the series of attacks against American and other Western targets in the Middle East. Countries such as Iran, Iraq, Libya and Syria came to the forefront came to be supposedly believed to be the main sponsors of terrorism as a popular belief. Falling into a related category were those countries, such as North Korea, who directly participated in covert acts of what could be described as terrorism.[xviii] (Guelke, 1998). In the recent years the re-emergence of the religiously inspired terrorist attacks are common. But the state-sponsored terrorism remains a concern of the international community today (especially its Western constituents), although it has been somewhat overshadowed. The latest manifestation of this trend began in 1979, when the revolution that transformed Iran into an Islamic republic; the West blamed Iran to use and support terrorism as a means of propagating its ideals beyond its own borders. (Hoffman, 1988). Very soon the trend had spread to places as far as Japan and the United States, and to other major world religions as well as many minor cults. Sarin gas used in Tokyo subway attack in 1995 may not have been the first breach of the psychological barrier in the use of toxic/chemical agents becausesmallpox-infected clothing was used by the Pilgrim Fathers against the indigenous tribes of North America. Also, plague-infected bodies were launched into besieged cities and used to pollute water supplies in the fourteenth century. The same year Oklahoma bombing took place in USA. At this stage, the complex mix of motivations included religion. But it was the 9/11 al Qaeda attack which made the world realize, particularly the United States, just how risky this latest transformation had become. Contemporary Terrorism At present, terrorism influences events on the international level to a degree which was not previously achieved. This was primarily the outcome of the 9/11 attacks in 2001 on the World Trade Center, which destroyed the symbolic Twin Towers; and threatened the Pentagon. It thus dented the stronghold of America. Most Americans came to believe that an unmatched era of terrorism had erupted and the world had changed forever. Some observers of the event even believed that the daring, yet tragic, events of this particular day should be considered as an epochal moment in the history of the world. (24) (Carr, 2002). Soon after 9/11, US President George Bush declared the start of a Global War on Terrorists: an open-ended war with an undefined terminal objective. In a speech to the Congress, he committed all resources at his disposal, every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, and every necessary weapon of war (Bertrand, S, 2003) to defeating Am ericas newest adversary in that nations first war of the twenty-first century. (26)(Mandelbaum, 2001).However, for most people in the world, terrorism was not new and these events, while spectacular and disturbing, did not constitute the dawn of a new era in terrorist activities. On the contrary, the attack became a continuous and developing reality for the world, which was present in different forms for centuries. Hence, for most of the world, terrorism was familiar and acceptable as an additional form of traditional warfare. (Henrichon, 2003). Still, for most North Americans and many other Western observers, the radical novelty of the 9/11 terrorist attacks represented a new form of terrorism for the 21st century. (Deschenes, 2003). Since then, in the United States at least, terrorism has largely been equated to the threat posed by al Qaeda, a threat inflamed not only by the spectacular and deadly nature of the 9/11 attacks themselves, but by the fear that future strikes might be even more deadly and perhaps employ weapons of mass destruction. The worldwide threat of terrorism by al Qaeda and its franchises, to a large extent remained egocentric, and were seen as the rhetoric of the US administration concerning a so-called Global War against Terrorism. This was far from unique, considering the implications that al Qaeda in fact intended to start a global revolution. For instance the general public of countries such as Colombia or Northern Ireland that had long faced terrorism was more preoccupied with when and where the next FARC REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA ( FARC or FARC-EP, is a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia. They have fought in the ongoing Colombian Civil War for more than 40 years)or Real Irish Republican Army attacks would occur rather than where the next al Qaeda hit will descend. Thus, the above reflections indicate, terrorism goes beyond al Qaeda, which it not only predates but will also outlive. Hence if terrorism is to be tackled efficiently, any consideration of handling it must be seen beyond the threat which is presently posed by this particular organization. Consequently, without a broad-based approach, this threat of terrorism will not only be difficult to resolve, but may become uncontrollable. The Evolution of Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Terrorism is continuously changing. While at the surface it remains the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fearit is fast becoming a major strategic tool of the opposing forces. In the twenty-first century, it has become the most predominant irregular warfare strategy. It is easily adaptable to changes in facilities available to the terrorists, in order to operate, acquire finances, and evolve new capabilities; thereby developing a different relationship with the world at large. Two major events in the first half of the twentieth century predisposed the nature of present-day conflicts. The effects of two World Wars inflamed passions and hopes of nationalists throughout the world, and severely damaged the legitimacy of the international order and governments. During the earlier decades of the twentieth century nationalism and radical political ideologies were the major developmental forces acting upon terrorism. After World War I the Treaty of Versailles redrew the map of Europe by breaking up the Austro-Hungarian Empire and thus created new nations. It recognized the rule of self-determination for nationalities and ethnic groups. The minorities and ethnicities not receiving recognition to campaign for independence or autonomy were thus encouraged. Nevertheless, in most cases self-determination was limited to European nations and ethnic groups and deprived the others, especially the colonial assets of the major European powers, creating bitterness and setting the stage for the long conflicts of the anti-colonial period. The Arab nationalists particularly felt that they were betrayed. Believing they were promised post-war independence, they were doubly disappointed: first when the French and British were given authority over their lands; and then especially when the British allowed Zionist immigration into Palestine in keeping with a promise contained in the Balfour Declaration. In the last two decades, terrorists have committed tremendously violent acts for so-called political or religious reasons. Their political ideologies range from the extreme left to the extreme right. For example, the far left can consist of groups such as Marxists and Leninists who propose a revolution of workers led by revolutionary elite. On the distant right, one finds dictatorships which typically believe in an amalgamation of state and business leadership. Consequently, all Arabs have been united in their opposition to the State of Israel and to the Western Powers, particularly the United States. The Western world feel f eels equally a sense of guilt and remorse for the treatment of the Jews during the Second World War. (Berman, 2003). Consequently, the Western powers, under the patronage of the United Nations, have championed the Israeli right to a homeland at the expense of the Palestinians. (Hoffman, 1988). On the other hand, equally important has been the growth of Wahhabism in the Arab World. The indignation of the Wahhabis was initially directed, not against Western and colonial sources, but against those practitioners of Islam whom they believed were degrading and betraying the religion from within. The Wahhabi sect became true Islamic zealots who sought to eliminate anything or anyone who failed to meet the strict standards of their belief of purity and Islamic authenticity. (Hoffman, 1988). Even though initially a creation of eighteenth century Arabian Islam, Wahhabism has flourished because of its association with the ruling parties in most Arab countries. These particular regimes were ins talled by the Western powers when the various countries were created, because these particular Arab leaders had either granted the European powers with legitimacy during their colonial rule of the region; or had supported the Allied armies during the two World Wars. Under the old Arab system, social injustice and power were limited. However, with the new structure of states, the oil wealth, and the prevalence of modern communications, the inequality gap has been widened and the discrepancies have become much more obvious.Hence, lacking any other outlet, new and growing discontents find expression in religious extremist movements (Hoffman, 1988), like the so called Islamic Fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood and terrorist groups like Al Qaeda. In contrast, for the Palestinian movements, which had concentrated and limited their efforts in the Middle East against Israel and for the repossession and recreation of an independent Palestinian state, these new organizations have a worldwide r each. Their supporters believe that the remedy for all of the ills of modernization is to return to true Islam. This thought process, included the abolition of all laws and social borrowings from the West and the restoration of the Islamic Holy Law, the Sharia (Berman, 2003). Their aim was not only to remove the Western intruders from their homelands; they also wanted to transport their message through violent means into the heart of the Western nations, especially the hegemonic United States, their most dangerous enemies, as they see it, are the false and renegade Muslims who rule the countries of the Islamic world and who have imported and imposed infidel ways on Muslim peoples. (Lewis, 2003). In addition to the traditional terrorist groups, the nationalists, and the religious, the 1980s and 1990s also saw a growth of terrorist groups with a variety of motivations, such as narco-terrorists, eco-terrorists, anti-abortionists, and animal liberationists. Some terrorists were simply m otivated by common criminal activities. (Laqueur, 1999). Religious inspired terrorism has a universal theoretical basis. The patterns of religious violence of the Sikhs could be exactly that of Irish Catholics; or Shiite Muslims in Palestine; or a fundamentalist Christian bomber of abortion clinics in the United States. (Juergensmeyer, 2001). Special interest groups include people on the radical fringe of many legitimate causes; e.g., people who use terrorism to uphold antiabortion views, animal rights, and radical environmentalism. These groups consider that violence is morally justified to achieve their objectives. With the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the end of Cold War in the early 1990s, the features of international terrorism took on a new face. The changing geopolitical situation, following the end of the East-West conflicts, a third radical concept has evolved in the form of twentieth century terrorism. There was no Soviet Union, no Warsaw Pact, no Cold War, and no consensus on what came next. (Lacqueur, 1999). However, it was now clear that the Soviets were no longer available to provide financial support or ammunitions to terrorist organizations or to their sponsoring states. (Bell, 1999).However, instead of retreating into their own nationalistic or religious cocoons, some of these terrorist groups adapted and evolved into truly global transnational organizations. As a result, counter terrorist organizations are not confronting a specific state, nor are they confined to their old norms of understanding and operations. In addition, todays terrorist groups are very well-financed. (Kushner, 1998). Such transnational groups no longer rely on handouts from sponsoring states, but, instead, have developed exceptional methods of gaining and handling their financial resources. Today robbery and ransom are replaced by high-tech criminal businesses, such as growing drugs; fine processing and distribution operations; and, finally, money laundering through legitimate businesses. (Combs, 2003). The modern terrorist is also very well-trained and well-educated. They have not only learnt from their past experiences, but also from military and criminal training methods, and integrated them into their own training programs. The former independence and isolation of many terrorist groups has given way to complex, multilayered, transnational organizational structur es, resembling the corporate hierarchy of a multinational corporation. Lastly and most significantly, todays terrorist groups are said to have access to the knowledge of highly sensitive destructive weapons; and have the ability to use Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), such as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weaponry, although use of this type of armaments is still abhorrent to many terrorists. (Schweitzer, 1998). The use of terror has, throughout history, been known as an effective technique to achieve political, criminal, religious and ideological aims. The underlying objective to use the terror was aptly captured by the fourth century BC Chinese strategist, Sun Tzu, kill one, frighten ten thousand. The Anatomy of Terror (Sinclair, 2003) indicates that history is replete with examples of the use of terror in the pursuit of religious aims (e.g. the massacres by the Crusaders); material aims (e.g. the Stranglers of Southern India who terrorized road travellers, and the Mafia); quasi-moral, and ideological aims (e.g. General Bedfords supremacist Ku Klux Klan and the Shining Path); state and political aims (e.g. the Tzarist Okrhana and the Nazi Geheime Staatspolizei); and in the current context, religio-political aims (e.g. Al Qaeda and Hamas). Terror is easier to define than terrorism. Over 100 definitions of terrorism have been evolved. Sinclair gave interesting examples of the early use of biological and chemical agents as means of inducing fear and terror. These include the use of poison gas by the Spartans during the siege of Plataea in 428 BC; the use of smallpox infected materials by the Pilgrim Fathers from England to conquer the indigenous population

Understanding Ones Culture :: essays research papers

Introduction: Cultures in American Samoa Because of its history as a growing populated area of the Pacific, American Samoa has provided a huge experiment in multicultural understanding not only in the Pacific but also worldwide. Settlers from literally every neighboring Pacific Islanders as well as settlers from all around the continent have joined this country's indigenous inhabitants. These days, American Samoa is said that it would be a "melting ice " where diverse cultures would mingle and lose their distinctness as they came together, Instead, though cultures have mixed here, they have never "melted". Some have been strengthen in their distinctiveness. So, instead of a "melting ice ", we could see American Samoa as a kind of tile mosaic. On its useful surface, the bright focus of each culture contributes to a pattern in which all elements work together. It appears that this is how cultures work all over the world. They have a power in themselves, which resists dilution and homogenization. This power is based on the close relationship between the cultures and their members. In this identity lies strength; this strength is the reason we should celebrate, rather than challenge, diversity of culture in every group and individual. Culture is adaptive, integrated, and always changing. It shares these characteristics with organic life. In other words, with systems oriented towards survival. Customs that diminish the survival chances of a given society are not likely to persist. Those which enhance survival chances of a given society are not likely to customs are tried and honed as aids to survival, the mechanisms of human understanding move them constantly into integration with other facets of society. Thus change occurs in culture in an organic way. Humanities and its Cultural Explanation The humanities are involved in cultural understanding in ways with roots as deep as humankind. The mental capacity of humans today connects us absolutely with the mental capacities of our remotest ancestors. We share not only our ability to think and reason, but also the capacity for aesthetic and moral sensibilities. The humanities, the storehouse of values and traditions that form the foundation of society, work to make clear these shared capacities, these shared understandings. The humanities, in effect, help us to understand other cultures, including the cultures of the past. They do this by showing the shared intellectual and artistic heritage with which people of all cultures have made sense of the world.

Supporting Young Children through Family Loss

Because she was the primary caregiver hile you were at work, the baby may feel a bit disconnected or vulnerable. Possible ways that an infant may respond to a family death. You may notice a bit of a change in the babys personality while she adjusts to the change, but maintaining consistency is going to help her immensely. We want her to feel safe and secure. Specific advice from experts on how to help an infant through a family loss. Because children of this age do not understand the concept of death, you may not have to get into much detail. The most crucial thing is going to be to make sure that the baby keeps a constant routine.Keeping ner routine as normal as possible will help get back that feeling of being safe and connected. Part II: Supporting a Toddler Developmental information about what a toddler may feel, believe, or understand about a family death. A lot like the baby, Toddler may not understand the concept of death but will undoubtedly experience a sense of loss from hi s life. He knows that grandma was a constant, daily fixture. Normally at this age, there is a large component of â€Å"out of sight, out of mind† however once Toddler realizes that there is a prolonged and consistent absence, he will experience grief.Also be aware that he ay be sensing and picking up your feelings and reacting to them, or become irritable, this is quite normal. There are also some other signs of grief that Toddler might experience. Possible ways that a toddler may respond to a family death. Some toddlers do experience a shift in personality or are irritable. Most of the time this is temporary, however some personality changes may happen and this is part of the coping process. Sometimes a child's view of the world is altered by trauma and causes the changes to be permanent.You may also notice that there is a loss of appetite or he may even select only certain types of food. He should work his way back to normal eating again. If it persists for more than a coup le of weeks, see your doctor. Sleep might be affected, either not sleeping or being afraid of falling asleep alone. This problem should diminish over time. Specific advice from experts on how to help a toddler through a family loss. The best advice for helping Toddler is going to be to maintain his sleep, feeding and activities routine as much as possible.This will help him regain his sense of connection and balance. If you do notice a decrease in activity and see him Just lying limply be aware that this is a normal part of the process. Try to offer opportunities for activity and play every day until he responds. Be patient with him. You may also see him regressing to previous activities. Being patient is going to be crucial for him. Part Ill: Supporting a Preschooler Developmental information about what a preschooler may feel, believe, or understand about a family death. Preschooler may experience a couple of things to be on the look-out for.Letting Preschooler know that she didn't do anything to cause grandma's death and that there is nothing that you can do to bring her back. Sometimes children develop something called â€Å"magical thinking† where they think hat they either caused the death, could have prevented it or that the person who will come back like a cartoon character. It is not uncommon for a child to continue to believe that the family member is still alive. It is absolutely 0k for you and your family to show emotion around her. This is healthy for her to see. I know how hard this time is for you.Do not add on the extra burden of trying to hide your feelings around the children. Possible ways that a preschooler may respond to a family death. Using the proper term for death is appropriate for Preschooler, so that she can understand and begin get on the road to acceptance. Take cues about attending the funeral from Preschooler. She will let you know. If she is frightened of going, do not force her. Grief is often cyclical and Preschooler ma y show grief now, and as she enters into her teenage years, she may grieve again. That is perfectly normal when a child loses a loved one in their early years.Three specific ideas or activities the family can do at home to help a preschooler through a family loss. You can offer her an alternative way to remember her like a memorial in grandma's house, releasing balloons with messages or writing a letter. She will show you how she can best grieve right now. Let Preschooler talk as little or as much about grandma as possible, keep in mind that she may be non-verbally communicating her feelings about the death through play. Acknowledge her and let her communicate in the way that she knows how. References: KidsAid. (n. d. ).Young children and grief. Retrieved February 13, 2009, from http:// kidsaid. com/dougypage. html Hecker, B. (2005). Magical thinking: Children may blame themselves for a parent's illness and death. Retrieved from http:// medicalcenter. osu. edu/viewer/Pages/index. as px? p=413 The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. (n. d. ). Infant and toddler grief. Retrieved February 13, 2009, from http://www. tlcinst. org/toddlergrief. html EDUC 1006 Application Assignment Evaluation Criteria Application Assignments are worth a maximum of 400 points for the entire course.Note: For privacy purposes, you may not include the actual name of any student, parent, or professional referenced in the assignment. In this course there are five graded Application Assignments. Each is worth a maximum of 80 points, which will be awarded as follows: 64-80 points Response demonstrates a full understanding and correct use of the concepts and/or strategies as presented in the Learning Resources. Response follows directions and includes all components indicated in the instructions. If requested, references are included and properly cited.Writing demonstrates mastery of all criteria for high academic literacy standards as indicated in â€Å"Writing Across the Cu rriculum† (see below). 41-63 points Response demonstrates a general understanding and correct use ot the concepts and/or strategies as presented in the Learning Resources. Response follows directions and includes most components indicated in the instructions. If requested, references are included and properly cited. Writing demonstrates mastery of most riteria for high academic literacy standards as indicated in â€Å"Writing Across the Curriculum† (see below). 0 or fewer points Response demonstrates a minimal understanding and correct use of the concepts and/or strategies as presented in the Learning Resources. Response does not follow all directions and is missing components indicated in the instructions. If requested, references are not included and properly cited. Writing is unclear and/or disorganized. Thoughts are not expressed in a logical manner. Few criteria for high below) are followed. Writing Across the Curriculum Walden University is committed to high acade mic literacy standards.To develop these skills in students, this course has a strong emphasis on written assignments which may include content review questions, application assignments, case study analyses, observations, and online discussions. All assignments are expected to meet the following standards: 1 . Clear central idea carefully and coherently developed and with intended emphasis 2. Correct grammar; no persistent mechanical errors 3. Neat appearance with evidence of having been carefully proofread 4. Academic integrity and honesty 5. Full documentation of research work 6. References cited using APA style (except in discussion postings)

History of the Atari Video System

History of the Atari Video System In 1971, Nolan Bushnell together with Ted Dabney created the first arcade game. It was called Computer Space, based on Steve Russells earlier game of Spacewar!. The arcade game Pong was created by Nolan Bushnell (with help from Al Alcorn) a year later in 1972. Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney started Atari (a term from the Japanese game Go) that same year. Atari Sold to Warner Communications In 1975, Atari re-released Pong as a home video game and 150,000 units were sold. In 1976, Nolan Bushnell sold Atari to Warner Communications for $28 million. The sale was no doubt aided by the success of Pong. By 1980, sales of Atari home video systems had reached $415 million. That same year, the first Atari personal computer was introduced. Nolan Bushnell was still employed as president of the company. Sold Again Despite the introduction of the new Atari computer, Warner had a reversal of fortune with Atari with losses totaling $533 million in 1983. In 1984, Warner Communications unloaded Atari to Jack Tramiel, ex-CEO of Commodore. Jack Tramiel released the somewhat successful Atari St home computer and sales topped $25 million in 1986. Nintendo Lawsuit In 1992, Atari lost an anti-trust lawsuit against Nintendo. That same year, Atari released the Jaguar video game system as competition to Nintendo. Jaguar was an impressive game system, however, it was twice as expensive as Nintendo. The Fall of Atari Atari was reaching the end of its legacy as a company. In 1994, Sega game systems invested $40 million in Atari in exchange for all patent rights. In 1996, the new Atari Interactive division failed to revive the company which was taken over by JTS, a maker of computer disk drives that same year. Two years later in 1998, JTS sold Atari assets as intellectual property scraps. All copyrights, trademarks, and patents were sold to Hasbro Interactive for $5 million.

WHO AM I Example

WHO AM I Example WHO AM I – Coursework Example Death of the Salesman. Character Analysis by I suppose I can identify myself with Happy Loman. He is the youngest son in the family, raised in the shadow of more attractive and more perspective Bill. He is the one who tries to create positive and friendly atmosphere in the family since he does not like any conflicts. Happy`s name is the worst joke made up by his parents. Happy is not happy at all since he perceives life in a simplistic way, I do not share this view of life but creating illusionary world in which his family lives seems even more unreasonable to me. He obviously has less illusions and dreams of success than all the other members of his family. It seems that Happy does not understand how the world works as he perceives it from kind of animalistic perspective so that it reminds jungles where the faster and the stronger always wins:â€Å"That’s what I dream about Biff. Sometimes I wanna just rip my clothes off in the middle of the store and outbox that goddamned m erchandise manager. I mean I can outbox, outlift and outrun anybody in that store, and I have to take orders from those petty, common sons of bitches till I can’t stand it anymore†.Happy is still a bit infantile since he cannot figure out why the world does not work according to his perception. His success with women only proves his burning desire to suppress his frustration of success and substitute it with at least some achievements. It seems to me that then death of his father could influence Happy in a positive way as he can grow up, though it may sound ironical. Since the whole play Death of the Salesman is about painful world of illusions I believe that Happy is the only one from the family who has chance to stop fooling himself and start living.

Climatic Variability in the Old Testament Essay - 1

Climatic Variability in the Old Testament - Essay Example Moreover, people before accounted too much of climate changes more to the works of the gods rather than to scientific explanations. So what is climatic variability? Probably, the most efficient way for us to understand the topic is to look first of all to the definition of this episode. According to J. Murray Mitchell (482), climatic system is the combination of atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice masses and the biosphere interacting with each other, causing the changes either physically or chemically. In the physical aspect of the change, rainfalls can cause landslides that could change hills to plains and could also bring much water to rivers and seas which could wash away land areas. On the contrary, mountains can be created through the meeting of tectonic plates, pushing each other and making a fold on each other’s surface (Grimm, Hahn, Hellenbrand, Kunkele, Laumanns & Leinburger 214). Chemically speaking, lands can become acidic through acid rains and other chemical changes brought about by the increase of carbon dioxide production. This then requires us, human beings to be interested to the study of such phenomenon because it does not just affect our environment but affects our lives directly as well. One of the greatest climatic variability that happened in the 1930’s is the so-called Dust Bowl in the United States that affected not only the farmers of affected areas but the people worldwide. This could have been the modern picture of the Joseph story mentioned earlier. Hopeful migrants settled in the states where there were vast plains which were very productive for the raising of wheat, making these states the primary sources of food during the First World War.

Immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Immigration - Essay Example 1). â€Å"Immigration is driving America's demographic change, demographers and others who work with immigrants and refugees reported at the APA Expert Summit on Immigration held in San Antonio in early February† (Farberman, 2006). Immigration does not provide the immigrants with a high standard of living until many years after settlement in the host country. Most of the immigrant families fall below the poverty line in terms of living and their children are disadvantaged in terms of poor educational opportunities. This can be estimated from the fact that 30% of the children belonging to the Mexican immigrant families, 29% children of the Dominican Republic immigrants, 34% children of the Cambodian immigrants, and 29% children of the Afghan immigrants in the USA live below the poverty line (Farberman, 2006). While the initial few years are tough for the immigrants, they yield many economic benefits for the nationals of the host country. ... Nevertheless, â€Å"the total gains accruing to some U.S.-born workers are larger than the total losses suffered by others† (Peri, 2010). According to Hirschman (n.d., p. 1), the social perceptions towards immigration are shaped by its economic outcomes as well as an emotional dimension that a vast majority of the Americans feel more comfortable socializing with people they know than with strangers. There is an inherent fear that the immigrants would show reluctance to give up their original values and culture for the sake of integrating in the American society and culture. This fear might be a potential hurdle in the way of native Americans extending the hand of help to the new immigrants to help them overcome the obstacles of assimilation in the new culture. â€Å"This trend in immigration has and will continue to have a significant impact on all U.S. institutions, from schools to the labor force, to media and politics, to health care† (de las Fuentes cited in Farberm an, 2006). To date, most of the research discussing the factors affecting the immigrants or the natives of the host countries is either about old immigrants or their children or the immigrants in general. There is gap in literature about the effects of immigration on the life of new immigrants and the factors affecting the new immigrants’ integration in the host country. This research will particularly focus the population of new immigrants to study these factors. Knowledge of the factors affecting the new immigrants is fundamental to the development and implementation of strategies to remove the hurdles in their way so that they can settle as quickly as possible and start

Domestic violence Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Domestic violence - Research Paper Example In this paper is illustrated one of the most popular, but in the same time - the most reticent problem of society - violence in the family. It is important to note that domestic violence does not always manifest as physical abuse. Emotional and psychological abuse can often be just as extreme as physical violence. The researcher will apply mailed questionnaire for the present study. Twenty males and females each will be taken as the units of analysis in order to accept or reject the hypothesis. The researcher will select the respondents from different socioeconomic classes in order to give representation to all social strata. After the completion of the research process, the data will be tabulated and results would be interpreted, in the light of which conclusion and suggestions would be made. Domestic violence refers to the antagonism, aggression, and anger practiced by the family members against their own family in one way or the other. Domestic violence not only creates differences and hatred among the family members but also turns the most secure place i.e. home as the most unsafe and dangerous zone on the very face of the earth. The researches also view poverty and financial problems also cause domestic instability and invite hostility and aggression in the family. Though it is not only pecuniary problems that bring violence in the family, yet people’s inability to keep the wolf from the door certainly aggravate the uneven situation and cause the increase the mental agony of the individuals. ... at domestic level, which creates serious problems within this basic and most important social institution. Domestic violence not only creates differences and hatred among the family members, but also turns the most secure place i.e. home as the most unsafe and dangerous zone on the very face of the earth. The report presented by the UNICEF describes the same by stating that the domestic violence inflicted by the males aptly put women and children in great danger in the place where they should be safest: within their families. For many, ‘home’ is where they face a regime of terror and violence at the hands of somebody close to them – somebody they should be able to trust. Those victimized suffer physically and psychologically. (Unicef-irc.org) The researches reveal the very fact that domestic violence is the outcome of belligerence and haughtiness observed by the males at home. Ingkintja Congress of Male Health suggests that over 95% of reported violent offences ar e committed by males. This is a male problem—it's up to men to take the lead in fixing it. (creativespirits.info) The dominant role played by male stratum is actually the main reason behind their being responsible in domestic violence. Another reason behind men’s displaying violence at home is partly due to the strong desire for maintaining their supremacy and authority over women and children at large against the financial support they are rendering for the family. The researches also view poverty and financial problems also cause domestic instability and invite hostility and aggression in family. Though it is not only pecuniary problems that bring violence in family, yet people’s inability to keep the wolf from the door certainly aggravate the uneven situation and cause in

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams Essay Example for Free

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams Essay Over the last few lessons in drama we have been working on a number of tasks to do with Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire. These tasks involved using movement as well as words; some were naturalistic and others were much more abstract. Our first task was to walk like different characters from the play, focusing on the way they used certain parts of their body to show their personalities. First we had to walk like Stanley. Most of us walked with a confident swagger, sticking our chests or pelvises out to indicate his masculine pride. When we were asked to sit down in character, we sat back in a relaxed manner, opening our legs and perhaps loosely crossing our arms or draping them over the back of our chair, indicating total self-assuredness. Next we were asked to play Blanche. I decided to portray her as a fidgety person, constantly smoothing her clothes, fixing her hair or touching her face, to show her insecurities and lack of confidence. I also walked with short, dainty steps, to show how fragile and slight she is. When we sat down, I leaned forward slightly, with my shoulders slightly hunched, to show her vulnerability. Finally we were asked to portray Stella standing upright, slightly tense as if waiting to heed to Stanleys latest demands and Mitch big, awkward, slightly more hunched and less confident-looking than Stanley. After this task, we were asked to depict Stanley and Blanche as animals. For Stanley, nearly everyone acted like a wolf or a fox strong, territorial, sly, always hunting and watching. For Blanche, I chose to act like a small bird, which would preen and look pretty but would be fidgety and nervous and would fly away when frightened. Our next task was to get into groups and act out scenes taking place before the play begins, which would reveal something interesting about our characters. I was in a group with Emily, and we were told to act out a scene from when Blanche and Stella still lived at Belle Reve. Emily played Stella and I played Blanche. Our scene began with Blanche climbing through the window of the room she shares with Stella, late at night. Stella, who has been studying, admonishes her for being so late and tells her how worried she has been. Blanche, who has been drinking but claims she limits herself to one, has just met a young man who reads poetry, who, as we know, will later commit suicide. It is revealed that Stella is the clever sister, who has the potential to make something of herself, and Blanche is the wilder, worldlier sister who relies on her beauty to have fun. This explains why Stella left Belle Reve and had the ability to get a husband and a home of her own, and why Blanche was left be hind, unwilling to grow up and surrender her beauty. Millie and Genna also played Blanche and Stella at Belle Reve. Their scene involved Blanche taking Stella out on the town for the first time. Blanche is very domineering and worldly, and Stella is naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve and nervous about the shortness of her dress. Stella wears white, showing her innocence, and Blanche wears red, showing her corrupted virtue. Jack and Owen played Mitch and Stanley. They gave Mitch a deep personality, having him hint about wanting to settle down with a wife and worrying about his mother. They also showed Stanleys love for Stella, as he talks about her in a very loving and tender way to Mitch. Next Felix and Flick, playing Stanley and Stella, showed how Stella was very like Blanche when she first met Stanley, unused to this more working class environment, yet being excited by Stanleys attentions. Finally, Angelika and Hugo, playing Stella and Stanley, show Stella as being naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve and Stanley being mysterious and inquisitive, trying to figure her out . In our next task we did Hot Seating. One by one, we were asked questions in character about our views on different events in the play. I chose to be Eunice, because although she is not a main character in the play, she is good friends with Stella and her husband is friends with Stanley, and she lives in the flat above them, so she would have a very clear idea of what life would be like for them. I chose to give her the opinion that Stanleys hitting Stella isnt good, but is acceptable, and is just a part of marriage that cannot be avoided. I was particularly impressed by Emilys portrayal of Stella after having her sister taken away. She made it clear that Stella was heartbroken, and although she claimed to believe Stanley, she let on that she had no choice but to believe him. I also liked Alex as Blanche, gushing and acting pleasant and sweet to try and cover up her past, but when difficult questions were brought up her act fell and she would refuse to talk about it. Our final task was to act out the scene where Blanche has been stood up by Mitch on her birthday and use freeze-frames to mark the most important moments in that the scene. I was in a group with Felix and Alex. Felix played Stanley, Alex played Blanche and I played Stella. The moments we marked were: Stanley throwing plates off the table; Stella and Stanley on the porch with Blanche on the phone, trying to reach Mitch; Stanley giving Blanche a ticket back to Laurel; and Stella going into labour. For each of our important moments, we froze in position for four seconds, before doing an action and moving onto the next moment. There were subtle differences between each groups piece; instead of using an action, as we did in ours, Millie, Flick and Jack used an important line of text in each of their moments, which I found very effective. Although I found these tasks challenging (especially as I knew we were on camera), I enjoyed interpreting different characters in new ways. I also worked with different people to whom I normally would, which was a good experience and made me enthusiastic and eager to work with them again in future lessons.

The Ethics Of Sex Appeal In Advertising Media Essay

The Ethics Of Sex Appeal In Advertising Media Essay Every media consumer is alert to sex in advertising. Its pervasive use and misuse are constantly before us, and typically elicit strong criticism (Richmond and Hartland, 1982, p.53). As anyone can see, the employment of sex in advertising has been in our midst for several decades and the reason for it? It works. Advertisements with sexual undertones are remembered over and over again than advertisements that are not. The question to ask though is, how ethical is it to make use of sexual appeals in advertisements? Does sex sell? Actually, sex does not sell, but sexiness does (Cebrzynski, 2000, p. 14). By means of sex appeals in advertising is a good way to aim at specific market segments but not all. Questions like what is identified as sexual appeals in advertising? Where and when should sex be used? Does the use of sexual appeals lead to an advantage for brand remembrance? must be addressed exhaustively. Sex and the Media Today, sex permeates advertising in the United States and in many countries all over the world as contemporary society is extremely fixated with the demonstration of sex in the media as never before. The issue of whether sex sells could be countered by screening the massive quantities of billboards and classified ads which integrate some form of sex appeal or nudity (Pynor, 2004, p. 42). Several reasons have been provided with the use of sexually oriented themes, among them are to achieve product and brand attention, recognition, recall, and sales (Alexander and Judd, 1978, p. 47). Observably, sex is utilized to sell a wide array of products from cars to fashion products, and is meant to attract not only the male customers, but female, consumers as well. The employment of sex as an instrument in advertising can be traced back to the 1800s when the advertising industry noticed the beneficial effect of using degrees of sexuality in their advertising drives. These economic gains include above all else an increase in revenue due to the point of difference that sexual schemes provide for the product. Sometimes, the use of sex also affords shock-value that frequently triggers social debate and helps in the product promotions continuing recall. Author of The Erotic History of Advertising Tom Reichert has this to say Many real-life examples from the 1800s to the present exist to suggest that it has worked, and does work, to inflame not only consumers libidos but their motivations and desires to make purchases. In some cases, sex in advertising contributes to the building of strong, vibrant and long-lasting brands (Reichert, 2003, p. 9). As it is, the incessant use of sex in advertising from the 1800s until these days is a demonstration of the fact that it is an effective tool that works for advertisers. Literature Review Sex Appeal in Advertising Advertising is one of the most prolific and all-encompassing forms of communication in the world (Reichert, 2003, p.20). This type of company to customer communication lifts several concerns about the ethics of advertising because its practice is very convincing and powerful (Treise and Weigold, 1994). Advertising has turned to become an excellent way for business firms to create a positive image for them and for the public to easily adapt to such image. Image creation is a public relations approach that has increasingly aimed young adults and teens because they are not interested on conventional direct advertising (Goodman and Dretzin, 1999), obviously, advertisers target the demographic group of young adults and teens because they account for a huge amount of American consumer spending. The practice of utilizing sex appeal in advertising is nothing new. Sexual images (nudity) can be found in advertisements as far back as the late 1800s and in the early 1900s, it was used to sell soaps, perfumes and creams. These advertisements claimed to transform any woman to become sexier for a mans pleasure and as sex advertising boomed in the 40s and 50s, controversy abound. Until today, a lot of business enterprises find sex appeal as an effective tactic in advertising. When Maidenform bras began to use models with their shirts off, it became the number one bra company and when Jovan fragrance used sexuality to sell its product, company revenues soared from $1.5 million to $77 million in just seven years (Reichert, 2003). In a 1981 study conducted by Reid and Soley, advertisements were more likely to be appealing and immediately recognized if an attractive endorse is used (Severn and Belch, 1990). In another survey, 32% of consumers confessed that there is strong likelihood of them buying a product if it uses an advertisement with strong sexual undertones (Fetto, 2001). Capitalizing on the idea of sex appeal, people sell their products with the notion that such product is for sexy people and to own that specific product can make any person sexy. Such sexiness can be depicted through the clothes being worn, the models poses, the lighting being used in the advertisement, positioning of the models or in their facial expressions, location used, and interaction. Likewise, companies employ this idea to connect the company image with allure and prestige. As it is, sexuality associates brands with sexual activities and increased attractiveness, something desired by consumers (Reichert, 2001/2003). Although the argument that wanton sexual appeals generate off-putting results because of perceptions of disreputable and scheming practices is basic and extremely valid, it also assumes a deliberative, cognitive mechanism. Past research investigations have found that the process of judging whether a persuasive message infringes ethical standards or not demands cognitive effort (Campbell and Kirmani, 2000). Yet end users characteristically spend little time and effort when viewing an ad (Sengupta and Gorn, 2002; Burnett and Moriarty 1998; Kassarjian, 1977). Hence, it is imperative to understand reactions to improper sex appeals under thin slice processing (Ambady, Bernieri, and Richeson, 2000), such as when consumers view ads under constricted cognitive capacity. Without a doubt, unstructured, spur-of-the-moment, uncontrolled responses may be quite different from more cautiously considered responses in the sphere of sex-based advertising. Recent research by Sengupta and Dahl (2008) examined non-deliberative reactions to the gratuitous use of sex in advertising. Men and women in these experiments were placed under high cognitive load while viewing an ad that showed an unequivocal sexual image and a nonsexual image. Unlike previous research that has found that both men and women abhor the gratuitous use of sex in advertising, a gender difference surfaced under constrained conditions, that is, men preferred more the advertisement containing a sexual image (compared to the nonsexual image) whereas women reported considerably adverse mind-sets toward the overtly sexual ad compared to the nonsexual advertisement. Basically, sexual imagery sets off an emotional response or reaction. In other words, viewers are, all things being equal, favorably energized by sexual information (Reichert, 2007, p. 6). With this in mind, advertising organizations employ sex in several different ways to try and convince and influence end users to purchase a product. Individuals seek out and are willing to pay for sexual content in mainstream media (Reichert, 2007, p. 7), an example of this reality is the sale in millions of copies of Cosmopolitan and Maxim each month. These magazines ads have become more competitive and risquà © due to the idea that an ad needs to be noticeable and must draw attention. Some advertisers may push the boundaries of acceptable sexual content because of direct competitive pressure. Certain product marketers utilize a higher proportion of sexual appeals than other marketers because of the nature of the product and the relevance of sex to product benefits (Reichert and Carpenter, 2004). Another approach being used to draw customer attention is the idea that upon purchasing a product, such will make the buyer more sexually attractive, or can have more sex or can have a better sex life (Reichert, 2007), thus, people who are seeking for such qualities are more likely to pay for a product if the ads are sexually evocative. Gender Expression, Sexuality and Advertising This rather outmoded depiction of gender and expression of sexuality continues to be exploited in modern-day advertisements principally because it is an unbeaten prescription that brings in financial incentive and this will continue as long as women believe even if only for a brief moment that acquiring the advertised product will bring them one step closer to attaining the unattainable. As what was pointed out: those who are dissatisfied with their looks, their bodies, their status, make great consumers (Lee, 2003, p. 134). Furthermore, Nancy Etcoff (2000) sums it up well: to tell people not to take pleasure in beauty is like telling them to stop enjoying food or sex or novelty or love. This is an impracticable likelihood because to like and to want is instinctive in human character. Advertisers are intensely conscious of this as they create advertisements filled with representations of dazzling, extremely sensuous women. Women as Primary Focus? For many decades, numerous people believed that women are the major focus of sex appeals employed in advertising, however, this is not necessarily correct. It is true that women look as if they are the target most recognized in sexual appeals, but men have been targeted more recently. If women have often been the targets of sexual advertising, it is because it appears to work in many cases. As it is, sex is a potent and a convenient method of obtaining male attention and making a product desirable and in advertising, it is easy to get a mans attention by using womens bodies and associate it to the idea of getting the women as well if he buys the product (Taflinger, 1996, p.8). The most well known target of women as sexual appeals has been in beer commercials. Usually the ads go something like this a beautiful woman is sitting at a bar and a man comes up and she does not notice him at all. Then he orders a certain kind of beer and all of the sudden, he is desirable to this woman. They then get caught up in the moment and ultimately the man gets this woman (because of the beer). Another example of the man getting the hot woman because of a particular product that supposedly makes the man more desirable to the women is the AXE advertisement. AXE is a body spray for men. In the commercial, the men who use AXE get beautiful women. In fact, AXE is so effective that if in any way you come in contact with this body spray, you will be instantly wanted. There is also a commercial which features an old man getting a young, hot woman because of the AXE effect. Women are exploited repeatedly in advertising as sex appeals. But, some do not become conscious that these advertisements are often aimed at women as well. Victorias Secret is a classic example of this. Advertisers obviously want women to think that if they purchase Victorias Secret products, they could look like those stunning, sexy endorsers on the commercials seen on television or in the print ads. Obviously, these bra and panties are not going to look very good on just anyone, however, at first glance, a woman could think, wow, she looks splendid; I should get that outfit so I can look that good too. In truth, women are not the only focus in sexual appeal advertising. Men play a huge part as well. According to Taflinger (1996), It is rare for advertising to use sex as an appeal for women. Women are often less interested in the sex act itself for its own sake. They are interested in sex for what it can mean in the future. They may enjoy it as much as men, but for them it has far greater significance. Advertising cannot take advantage of a womans instinctive sexual desire because advertisings job is not to build for the future-it is to sell a product now (p. 6). Here, Taflinger attempts to elucidate the fact that women are not interested in sexual appeals on television, rather, they are interested in sex for their future. Although this seems to be correct in some instances, it is questionable when thinking about all of the ads that target men as the sex selling object. Sex Appeal and Product Branding Sex in advertising can also produce positive mind-sets and sentiments about the ad or product brand. Using catchphrases are huge in the industry along with sexual overtones. A popular example is Las Vegass tagline what happens here, stays here (Reichert, 2007). This is very indicative and interesting; people want to go to Vegas so they can find out for themselves what its all about. Sex in advertising is controversial and it is vital to reflect on consumers outlooks and points of view. While many feel there is too much sex in advertising (Treise and Weigold, 1994), most people feel that if sexual commercials are crafted with relevance and aptness, these are more likely to be accepted (Gould, 1994; Treise and Weigold, 1994). Innately, concerns and apprehensions crop up when sex appeal usage are viewed by unintended (Gould, 1994). Similar disquiet appears when advertisers target teens and young adults with these advertisements. There are concerns that these advertisements are venerated by young people and teach these young adults improper conduct (Reichert, 2001). Negative facets of this target audience advertising consist of women idolizing the sexual models being used to endorse a product and compare themselves to the advertisements (Gould, 1994). In a survey, 55.2% of respondents agreed sexual advertisements influence a teens decision to be sexually active (Tre ise and Weigold, 1994). However, the idea in advertising is give and take; the media learns from teens and teens learn from the media (Goodman and Dretzin, 1999). One cannot exclusively say who manipulates whom, so much so that even though end users anxieties arise, sex continues to be used as an powerful advertising approach. Reichert and Carpenter found that the level of sexual advertisements has remained constant from 1993 and 2003; the only thing that had increased was the females level of dressing as it has become more provocative and sometimes offensive (2004, p. 828). It is fascinating to note that some research investigations found the degree of sexuality actually increased over time. Reichert and Carpenter (2004) conducted an extension of a study that evaluated the degree of sex in 1983 and 1993. Magazine advertisements particularly were content analyzed from 2003 and compared with the issues of the previous years. The general outcomes signified that women not only persisted to be represented in a sexual manner, but that the degree of sexuality increased over time. For instance, advertising became extensively more overt from 1983 to 2003 and clothing (or lack of it as the case may be) largely contributed to this. Results revealed that in 1983 only 28% of female models wore sexually explicit clothes. This rose by 75% in 2003 when 49% of models were dressed in sexual attire. Thus, in 2003 virtually half of the models featured were shown with less rather than more clothing to be exact, in 2003 almost 4 out of 5 women who appeared in ads were sugge stively dressed, partially clad, or nude (Reichert and Carpenter, 2004)). Moreover, the images of women that were most sexually explicit were featured in mens magazines. As Linder (2004) found, general interest magazines, such as Time contained the least degree of sexualized images, when compared with magazines aimed predominantly at men and women. The increase of sexuality over time could be associated with the likeness of products that are available today. It is presumed that in 1983 there was not such an immense collection of products available on the market, and therefore did not need to be distinguished from each other to such a great degree. Furthermore, in those years, advertisers were rendered inadequate by the capability of computer graphic technologies. This is definitely not the case today and advertisers frequently resort to stimulating images to make a distinction between similar products. Particularly, according to Reichert and Carpenter, specific merchandise are promoted in a more sexual manner due to the character of the product, such as fragrance and clothing (although clothing is also often used as a means to sexualize other products). Theoretical Framework People are continuously evaluating themselves with others and this is certainly no exception when addressing advertising, particularly among women. According to Stapel and Blanton (2004), an important source of self-knowledge comes from other people. Human beings maintain a sense of who they are by contrasting their own capabilities and characteristics to other people. This so-called social comparison theory was instigated in 1954 by Festinger, who hypothesized that individuals have a longing to appraise their views, judgments and abilities that can be satisfied by social comparisons with other people. Using this premise as a scaffold, many studies have been carried out, predominantly in reference to females which raise the question does advertising take advantage of consumer tendencies to alter their body or image of themselves by creating anxieties and discontent with the self? Relative to its effect on adolescent girls which Martin and Gentry (1997) studied, the answer is yes, advertisers especially of young fashion magazines do exploit this mindset among adolescent girls, who evaluate their physical beauty with that of models in the advertisements. Martin and Gentrys study has proven that, consistent with the social comparison theory, female pre-adolescents and adolescents self-perceptions and self-esteem can be destructively impinged on when self-evaluation takes place. Other studies have suggested that advertising can have a vital role in creating and highlighting a fixation with physical charm (Downs and Harrison, 1985), and may manipulate consumers awareness of what is an adequate level of physical attractiveness (Martin and Kennedy, 1993). This conception of advertisers taking advantage of consumers perception of themselves is unswervingly associated with sex appeal in advertising. Recently, advertisers have endeavored into a contentious area with their use of female sexual images and a focus on distinct body parts, language and sex-role portrayals. These advertisers are profoundly conscious that sex appeal in an advertisement has the capacity to exert a pull on women on the premise of social comparison. In a study conducted by Craik, Clarke, and Kirkup (1998), women who were sensitive of stereotypes and were even aware of the spuriousness of the industry still desperately want to imitate these images. Such is the explanation why advertisers reportedly pay huge amounts of money every year to have their products endorsed by alluring and well-admired women, since their beauty or personality is assumed to add dazzle to the products they promote (Langmeyer and Shank, 1994). Recommendations For media and advertising practitioners, it is important to apprise the audience who will be viewing the ads before putting sexual innuendos into the advertisement piece. Advertisers need to recognize the moral intricacy of sexual appeal in advertising and integrate that understanding in their strategic thought and when designing their commercial pieces. As what Henthorne and LaTour, (1994) stated, as the ethical considerations of society change over time, what is considered appropriate and acceptable in advertising must also change (p.88). Hence, it is imperative to incessantly reassess what society would consider suitable and consider the full level of consequences of their actions before considering for what they make out as ethically acceptable.