The Ever-Changing American Culture Essays - Organized Crime

The Ever-Changing American Culture The Ever-changing American Culture As Americans, we used to worry little about war, having enough to eat, travel, freedom, and our most basic everyday activities. The tragic events of September 11, 2001 have forever changed the American way of life. We have now become more concerned with our physical health because of the few cases of anthrax and the possibility of more biological warfare. We also worry about nuclear warfare and the effects it could have on our health and environment. Americans have certainly become more patriotic and involved with their families since September 11. Most of us watch the news diligently to learn of any defeat the United States has accomplished in Afghanistan. Many of us are avoiding the airlines and are not spending very much money. This has helped push the economy further on the downward slope. The stock exchange hit bottom on September 21 in the 8100 range and is now back over 9900, which is right at the cusp of being a bull market (Pellegrini). Oil prices have been dropping rapidly and are now around 17 dollars a barrel, which will help to boost our slowing economy. Unemployment rates will unfortunately probably remain the same. Manpower, Inc. said Monday that its survey of United States companies' hiring intentions for the first three months of 2002 barely registered a pulse, a weakness not seen since the recessionary early months of 1991. Unemployment numbers will continue to climb up through the winter and spring even as and if a recovery takes hold (Pellegrini). Our commitment together to boost the nation's economy will ensure a bright future. America's future seems to be based on our new ideas formed since September 11, but yet we still carry on the problems of the past. There is still many Americans living in poverty. There is still illegal drugs that infest our nation with addiction and crime that encircles the drug trade. There are many children not getting a good education and many of whom who are fearful of violence at our schools. It is up to us as Americans to face these problems head on now more than ever before. The nation's most important problems to tackle and change are our illegal drug problem, the lack of good education for those of all ages, and to end the terrorist situation. The United States War on Drugs has done little to stop the sources of the problem and has only persecuted the user. The nation's children are often trying these illegal drugs at early ages despite drug education. These children also happen to lack in nearly every subject when compared to other nations around the globe. Many of the free nations of the world are dealing with terrorism and we all hope for a solution that will prevent any further violent acts committed against innocent people. The situation in Afghanistan actually began in 1979 when the Soviet Union invaded their country. The United States funded money to the mujahedin, or holy warriors, in the name of stopping communism. From this support, Afghanistan was able to defeat the Soviet Union in 1989. Yet the country became very unstable after the war. Political power was fluctuating often and leaders came in and out of power rapidly. Farmers resorted to growing many drugs such as poppies and marijuana and sold them around the globe. Cities were annihilated. Over five million Afghanis fled to other countries in search of a better life. When the Afghanis turned to the United States for help in rebuilding our country, we refused. This caused great anger amongst the Afghani people directed toward the United States. This also lead to Mullah Mohammod Omar, the current leader of Afghanistan, to form a ground of men to rebuild his country. They are now known as the Taliban. Omar's personal description is, A simple ban d of dedicated youths determined to establish the laws of God on Earth and prepared to sacrifice everything in pursuit of that goal. The Taliban have many radical believes including the idea of the never ending holy war or, jihad. Since the original forming of the Taliban, they have taken over 90 percent of Afghanistan with some assistance from Pakistan. Now that

Unobtrusive Measures in Sociology Experiments

Unobtrusive Measures in Sociology Experiments In research, an unobtrusive measure is a method of making observations without the knowledge of those being observed. Unobtrusive measures are designed to minimize a major problem in social research, which is how a subject’s awareness of the research project affects behavior and distorts research results. The main drawback, however, is that there is a very limited range of information that can be gathered this way. One way to assess the effect of racial integration in schools is to compare the academic records of students educated in schools whose student populations vary in their degree of racial heterogeneity. Another way that one can determine the results of an experiment utilizing unobtrusive measures is to analyze data and behavior from a hidden camera or through a two-way mirror. In either case, privacy may come into play and a test subjects individual rights are in danger of being violated. Indirect Measures As opposed to obtrusive measures, indirect measures occur naturally during research and are available to researchers in pretty much limitless supply, depending on the researchers innovation and imagination. Indirect measures are naturally unobtrusive and are used to collect data without introducing any formal measurement procedure of which the subject is aware. Take for instance trying to measure foot traffic and item popularity in a fashion boutique. Although placing a person in the store to observe shoppers might give you great data on what people buy, it also has a chance of intruding on the study by letting the shopper know they were being watched. On the other hand, if a researcher installs hidden cameras and observes data collected from those to notice trend, the measure would be considered indirect or unobtrusive. Similarly, some cell phone apps now allow retailers to track the movement of cellular devices in the store if the customer is logged into a discount app for the store. This specific geolocation can measure exactly how long customers spend in different parts of stores, without being aware theyre being watched. This raw data is the closest one can get to understanding how a shopper spends his or her time in a store when he or she feels no one is watching.   Ethics and Surveillance Unobstructive measures come with their fair share of ethics concerns, primarily in terms of privacy and surveillance. For that reason, researchers should be careful with which methods they use and how they use them when conducting these types of sociological experiments.   By definition, indirect or unobtrusive measures collect data and observations without the experiment subjects knowledge, which could be cause for concern for this person being observed. Further, it could be a violation of the persons right to privacy by not using informed consent. In general, it is important to understand the laws governing privacy in the context of your experiment. Chances are, most will require consent from the participants, though this is not the case with certain public spaces such as museums or amusement parks, where buying a ticket acts as a contract for the patron which often times includes video surveillance and monitoring.

Wonders of The African World Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Wonders of The African World - Movie Review Example He gives us a clear insight into the history of celebrated monuments and buildings, the culture and tradition followed in the region, besides the rituals and architectural beauty of the places of the region. Then, with the showcasing of Timbuktu and The Lost Cities of the South, Gates extends his support to the factual capacities of the Africans in being able to create this kind of a cultural and learning setup. The cities of Zimbabwe, Kush, Mero , Axum, Lalibela, Asante, Timbuktu, Zimbabwe were great examples that have been given by Gates to place before us the African essence! These four aspects of the documentary clearly throw light on the richness of the African continent in terms of tradition, religion, architecture and learning. However, the other two important descriptive pieces of the documentary, which are the The Swahili Coast and The Slave Kingdoms are more on the verge of showcasing the 'dark' side of the Dark Continent. The two parts of the documentary clearly outline the violence, disparity and the cruelty of the same Africa, that has been portrayed as something rich in culture and tradition! Here, the gh

Discussing (Tata Steel) and its current approach to managing Essay

Discussing (Tata Steel) and its current approach to managing environmental drivers in their market. You should identify and an - Essay Example In this context, the discussion of this report critically examines the major influencing factors along with the responses made by TATA Steel while performing its steel manufacturing processes in the global countries. Additionally, the discussion would also incorporate the major drivers within the present steel making industry, their potential impact on TATA Steel and provide relevant theoretical implications in order to effectively address the key driving factors in the respective business industry. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 1. Introduction 4 2. Brief Description of the Company and its Exposure to Global Business 4 3. Introduction of the Chosen Framework and Evaluation of TATA’s Response 5 4. Analysing Major Influencing Drivers in the Steel Making Industry and TATA’s Response 6 4.1 Regulatory Process 6 4.2 Cost Reduction Strategy 8 4.3 Buyers’ Power 9 4.4 Suppliers’ Power 9 4.5 Competitive Rivalry 10 6. Conclusion and Recommendations 12 Referen ces 13 1. Appendix 18 1.1 PEST Analysis 18 1.1.1 Political Factor 18 3.1.2 Economic Factor 18 3.1.3 Social Factor 19 3.1.4 Technological Factor 19 1. Introduction The present business environment of global organisations is often identified to be influenced by various factors. In this regard, the influence of external environment is one of the major determinants for the modern business organisations, assisting them to successfully accomplish their desired business goals (Teodorescu & Costachie, 2011). Organisations are often recognised to highly comply with the influence of primary external environmental factors in performing various operational and corporate functions. In this regard, the political, economic, social along with environmental and legal aspects can be duly considered as the primary external influencing factors for any organisation, aiding it to build long-run sustainability in the competitive business market (Oxford University Press, n.d.). Keeping with the major influ ence of the external environmental factors in business, the primary objective of this report is to analyse the business operations of TATA Steel in the fiercely growing steel manufacturing and marketing business industry. In this regard, the report will identify the chief drivers of the steel industry and discuss how these drivers affect Tata Steel. Moreover, the report will also lay utmost focus upon evaluating Tata’s responses to the identified drivers along with providing appropriate actions to ensure sustainable success of the company. 2. Brief Description of the Company and its Exposure to Global Business Established during the mid of the year 1907, TATA Steel (TATA) is regarded as one of the leading steel manufacturing companies in the Indian and global business industry. It is one of the major subsidiaries of the TATA Group with a large number of market shares in producing and marketing of steel across overseas locations (Mahajan & Ives, 2003). The company attained gre ater success in the respective business industry due to its adoption along with execution of continuous diversification strategy in its various business fields. Currently, the organisation is involved in performing diverse operational functions that include motor vehicle manufacturing, steel production, chemical, financial service along with healthcare division and telecommunication

Richard Cory Essay Example for Free

Richard Cory Essay In the poem, Richard Cory is believed to be superior in contrast to the working people. The poem states, â€Å"Whenever Richard Cory went down town, we people on the pavement looked at him† (754). The working people had very little money and work consistently to survive, â€Å"So on we worked, and waited for the light, and went without the meat, and cursed the bread† (755). The people admired Richard Cory and wished to one day have the same wealth as Richard Cory, â€Å"And he was rich—yes, richer than a king† (755). Richard Cory is well-presented, and the people described Richard Cory appearance as â€Å"Cleaned favored, an imperially slim† (754). In the poem, the people also described Richard Cory as a â€Å"gentleman from sole to crown† (754) and â€Å"And admirably schooled in every grace† (755). Richard Cory symbolized everything a working man strived to accomplish, â€Å"To make us wish that we were in his place† (755). In the poem, the people represent the lower working-class and Richard Cory represents the higher level of society. The people hope to one day become like Richard Cory through hard work and determination. In the poem, clearly the people think Richard Cory has the perfect life and have no knowledge of the struggles Richard Cory faces. Throughout the poem, the reader believes that Richard Cory is a legendary man. Richard Cory is depicted as a man who kept to himself, the poem states, â€Å"He was always quietly arrayed† (754). In the poem, the people also portray Richard Cory as down to earth, it states, â€Å"He was always human when he talked† (754). Richard Cory did not believe he was better than anyone else; he was humble. Richard Cory is also noticeable, the people stated, â€Å"He glittered when he walked† (754). Everyone held Richard Cory as in higher figure, so ending of the poem is surprising. The last line of the poem states, â€Å"Went home and put a bullet through his head† (755). The ending of the poem is shocking to the reader; the reader is not expecting Richard Cory to commit suicide. The poem describes Richard Cory in a graceful manner, and t he reader would not assume the ending. The people describe a two-dimensional Richard Cory. Throughout the poem, the people simply analyze Richard Cory appearance and do not understand the inner being of Richard Cory. In the poem, the reader is concealed to the instability that Richard Cory encountered that caused his suicide. The reader perceives Richard Cory as an ideal man and is not aware of the difficulties Richard Cory battles internally. After Richard Cory’s suicide the poem ends, but the poem indicates that the people learn from Richard Cory’s death. In the poem, the people realize that Richard Cory’s life was not as fascinating as they expected, the poem states that, â€Å"We thought that he was everything to make us wish that we were in his place† (755). The people believe that Richard Cory is a magnificent man because of his appearance. However, the people never really understand what is going on in the life of Richard Cory; the people did not understand the struggles Richard Cory exp eriences inside. The reason Richard Cory commits suicide is insignificant because the reader still can interpret the message that the appearance of a person can be misleading. In life, there are always subject matters in which things seem better than what they are. Everyone in some aspect has impairments that halt their progression to find life’s satisfactions. Richard Corey had everything a person can dream of such as his class and wealth. He also had intangibles that many envied such as humility and appearance. These qualities do not guarantee instantaneous happiness, as depicted in the poem. Happiness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Meaning what a person may find satisfying or joyous, does not correlate with the rest of the population. Everyone has his or her own idea of happiness. In the poem, the working class admires what Richard Cory possesses. The process in which Richard Cory gained his wealth in unknown, along with what he may have loss within his conquest to establish his wealth. Success is impossible to measure because success varies from person to person. It is also impossible to draw conclusions on the reasons that he committed suicide other than each conclusion has an underlining theme of unhappiness. The people in the poem could not fathom on why he committed suicide. They viewed him as an icon and an epitome of success. Through his death, Richard Cory made the working people look at their lives in retrospect to see what would make them happy. The working people stated that he committed suicide on a summer night. Usually summer nights are filled with fun and extravagant things, for someone to commit suicide; they would have to feel as cold as winter on the inside. Wealth and stature did not have the same meaning to Richard Cory as wealth meant to the working class. Richard Cory found that he did not see the beauty of life and was not happy, so he committed suicide. Edwin Arlington Robinson wants readers to look at their lives and determine what makes his or her life joyful and learn from Richard Cory’s death. Social and financial status is not what determines happiness, but, rather the gift of happiness and life. We people on the pavement looked at him He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim. The poem is rich in language use. The poet does not employ many poetic devices, no metaphor, no simile, no symbolism, but still the words have resonance, even though the poem is quite literal. For example, in the first line, â€Å"Whenever Richard Cory went down town,† sets up the dichotomy that holds throughout the poem. If Richard Cory went down town, he must have previously been up town, indicating a wealthy residential neighborhood; whereas â€Å"down town† suggests the business district where apartment dwellers and the working class reside. The main thrust of this poem suggests the differences between the wealthy and the less-well-off. The speaker of the poem belongs to the latter class, and the poem clearly draws distinctions between â€Å"us† and â€Å"him† (Richard Cory). In the second line, â€Å"We people on the pavement† suggests a lower class: we looked up to him as well as merely staring at him as â€Å"looked at him† indicates. The third and fourth lines offer the first description of Richard Cory: the term â€Å"gentleman† continues the division being drawn between the two socio-economic classes. A â€Å"gentleman† belongs to the gentry or higher socio-economic class than simply â€Å"a man.† Then by claiming that Cory demonstrated this gentlemanly quality from â€Å"sole to crown,† the speaker is emphasizing how entirely kingly this Cory was. â€Å"Sole† simply refers to his shoes, but â€Å"crown,† meaning the top of his head, also produces a pun or a double meaning, including the kind of head-gear a king would wear. This pun is one of the few actual figurative uses of languages used in this poem. Second Stanza And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, Good-morning, and he glittered when he walked. The speaker of this poem is careful to make sure his listeners understand that Richard Cory was just a really nice guy. He did not look down on the common folk; he did not behave arrogantly; he spoke to people the way the speaker would expect him to, â€Å"he was always human when he talked.† Cory seemed very friendly, affable, happy, just like the common working-class stiffs only better looking and richer. Even though Cory was â€Å"quietly arrayed,† not arrogant or haughty, and even though he chatted like a regular guy, still he made people a little nervous when he addressed them, and he looked like gold as he passed by. We must remember that the speaker is a little obsessed with Richard Cory’s behavior and appearance, so while the speaker wants us to realize that Cory was a nice man who would chat with the common folk, still his manner and appearance had an effect on people. Third Stanza And he was rich—yes, richer than a king, And admirably schooled in every grace: In fine, we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place. In this stanza, the speaker tells us quite plainly that Richard Cory was rich, but the speaker also exaggerates Cory’s wealth by saying he was â€Å"richer than a king.† And at this point, we can be sure the speaker is, indeed, referring to money, not personality and a successful life, because in the next line, the speaker informs us that Cory was educated in every respect; Cory had knowledge as well as good behavior. The next two lines reveal again that it is the common folk, â€Å"we,† of which the speaker is part who are making these observations and drawing these conclusions about Richard Cory. They conclude that Cory had everything a human being should have and everything they were striving for. They wished they were Richard Cory. Fourth Stanza So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head. The first two lines of the last stanza once more demonstrate the differences between the two socio-economic classes appearing the poem: the common working-class folk who admired the wealth and style of Richard Cory struggled on and on, striving for the day when they too could be like him. Not only did they work hard, but they also sacrificed because they could not buy everything they wanted, and they complained about the low quality of the things they could afford. And then we come to the last two lines that shock and startle so: Richard Cory, the man who has everything, the man who was everything that these hard working folk wanted to be—this icon of success and happiness—kills himself. We can certainly take from this poem the old adage that appearances are deceiving, but we get much more than that, if we look closely. The poet, Edwin Arlington Robinson, has composed nearly perfect poem in its truth about life, its sense of the nature of human personalities, its rhythm , its rime scheme, and it does all this while remaining quite literal without one metaphor or simile. In the poem, Richard Cory is believed to be superior in contrast to the working people. The poem states, â€Å"Whenever Richard Cory went down town, we people on the pavement looked at him† (754). The working people had very little money and work consistently to survive, â€Å"So on we worked, and waited for the light, and went without the meat, and cursed the bread† (755). The people admired Richard Cory and wished to one day have the same wealth as Richard Cory, â€Å"And he was rich—yes, richer than a king† (755). Richard Cory is well-presented, and the people described Richard Cory appearance as â€Å"Cleaned favored, an imperially slim† (754). In the poem, the people also described Richard Cory as a â€Å"gentleman from sole to crown† (754) and â€Å"And admirably schooled in every grace† (755). Richard Cory symbolized everything a working man strived to accomplish, â€Å"To make us wish that we were in his place† (755). In the poem, the people represent the lower working-class and Richard Cory represents the higher level of society. The people hope to one day become like Richard Cory through hard work and determination. In the poem, clearly the people think Richard Cory has the perfect life and have no knowledge of the struggles Richard Cory faces. Throughout the poem, the reader believes that Richard Cory is a legendary man. Richard Cory is depicted as a man who kept to himself, the poem states, â€Å"He was always quietly arrayed† (754). In the poem, the people also portray Richard Cory as down to earth, it states, â€Å"He was always human when he talked† (754). Richard Cory did not believe he was better than anyone else; he was humble. Richard Cory is also noticeable, the people stated, â€Å"He glittered when he walked† (754). Everyone held Richard Cory as in higher figure, so ending of the poem is surprising. The last line of the poem states, â€Å"Went home and put a bullet through his head† (755). The ending of the poem is shocking to the reader; the reader is not expecting Richard Cory to commit suicide. The poem describes Richard Cory in a graceful manner, and the reader would not assume the ending. The people describe a two-dimensional Richard Cory. Throughout the poem, the people simply analyze Richard Cory appearance and do not understand the inner being of Richard Cory. In the poem, the reader is concealed to the instability that Richard Cory encountered that caused his suicide. The reader perceives Richard Cory as an ideal man and is not aware of the difficulties Richard Cory battles internally. After Richard Cory’s suicide the poem ends, but the poem indicates that the people learn from Richard Cory’s death. In the poem, the people realize that Richard Cory’s life was not as fascinating as they expected, the poem states that, â€Å"We thought that he was everything to make us wish that we were in his place† (755). The people believe that Richard Cory is a magnificent man because of his appearance. However, the people never really understand what is going on in the life of Richard Cory; the people did not understand the struggles Richard Cory experiences inside. The reason Richard Cory commits suicide is insignificant because the reader still can interpret the message that the appearance of a person can be misleading. In life, there are always subject matters in which things seem better than what they are. Everyone in some aspect has impairments that halt their progression to find life’s satisfactions. Richard Corey had everything a person can dream of such as his class and wealth. He also had intangibles that many envied such as humility and appearance. These qualities do not guarantee instantaneous happiness, as depicted in the poem. Happiness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Meaning what a person may find satisfying or joyous, does not correlate with the rest of the population. Everyone has his or her own idea of happiness. In the poem, the working class admires what Richard Cory possesses. The process in which Richard Cory gained his wealth in unknown, along with what he may have loss within his conquest to establish h is wealth. Success is impossible to measure because success varies from person to person. It is also impossible to draw conclusions on the reasons that he committed suicide other than each conclusion has an underlining theme of unhappiness. The people in the poem could not fathom on why he committed suicide. They viewed him as an icon and an epitome of success. Through his death, Richard Cory made the working people look at their lives in retrospect to see what would make them happy. The working people stated that he committed suicide on a summer night. Usually summer nights are filled with fun and extravagant things, for someone to commit suicide; they would have to feel as cold as winter on the inside. Wealth and stature did not have the same meaning to Richard Cory as wealth meant to the working class. Richard Cory found that he did not see the beauty of life and was not happy, so he committed suicide. Edwin Arlington Robinson wants readers to look at their lives and determine what makes his or her life joyful and learn from Richard Cory’s death. Social and financial status is not what determines happiness, but, rather the gift of happiness and life. To me the poem illustrates that it is important to be happy with the life your living and not assume that just because someone has money, they are better off.

Hydroponics Growing Without Soil :: essays research papers fc

Hydroponics: Growing Without Soil   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The science of growing plants without soil has been known and used for more than one-hundred years. The word “hydroponics';, however, is comparatively new. Dr. W.E. Gericke is usually given credit for coining the word, which translated from Greek, means “working water';. The famous hanging gardens of Babylon were probably on of the first attempts to grow plants hydroponically. The work of Dr. Greicke in the 1920’s and 1930’s in California, however, is generally considered the basis for nearly all forms of hydroponics. During the 1940’s at Purdue University, Robert B. and Alice P. Withrow developed another hydroponic method. Their process was called Nutriculture. Nutriculture varied from Dr. Gericke’s method in that gravel was used as a rooting medium.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After World War II a number of commercial installations were built in the United States. The majority of these were located in Florida. Most were out of doors and subject to the rigors of the weather. Poor construction techniques and operating practices caused many of them to be unsuccessful and production inconsistent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  How is the quality of the food today affected by the methods of Hydroponics of today? Body   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The growing media that is used for gardening greatly effects the production of the plants. If sand is used as a medium it should be tested thoroughly for any residue that might cause infected growing medium. The sand should be cleaned at least every three of four weeks. Leaching is also a major step, it is to be done at the end of each crop cycle ( Jones 69-70). Sand that is used for the medium should have sawdust mixed with it to allow for better drainage. The sawdust also makes the sand lighter and not pact together as easy ( Bridwell 86).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gravel is another medium, it is used more often because it is easier to clean. If gravel is used round, smooth, river-type is preferred. Granitic types are the best because of its hardness. Whatever type of gravel that is purchased must be thoroughly washed and cleaned to get rid of any calcareous on the gravel. The size is also a factor when selecting gravel. The pieces of gravel should be no smaller than a quarter inch in diameter and larger than a half inch. Crushed stone is not preferred because the sharp edges can injure the root system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The sterilizing process is an easy, but a long and tedious job.

Rant on Homework Essay

Homework†¦Why do we have homework? I know that it is the most essential part in kids life for education, at least that is what teachers would say. But, what is the reason for doing homework after school when you have been working hard all day. Therefore, I feel that homework isn’t necessary because all it does is that it cause stress. Solving problem after problem, reading chapter after chapter, and studying for tests, quizzes makes the students frustrated and that leads them to dropping out school as well. Moreover, homework isn’t only wasting the student’s time but the teachers time as well. By marking and grading homework, teachers are wasting their time. So teachers, please don’t blame us the we wasted your time. Some people assume that homework is useful for teachers to watch student’s progress but I firmly believe that homework is sent home to test the parents, not the children. I think that teachers can watch the student’s progress in school better because teachers don’t know that at home who did the homework, the parent, the student or the internet (Google) People also think that homework helps parents to understand that the school holds high goals for students. But, I consider that school work is harder than homework and that means that parents can understand that the school holds higher goals than they think. Furthermore, homework becomes terrible if no one can help you. If no one can help you then you are doing work that you don’t understand, and if you don’t understand it what’s the point having the work that you can’t even do. I really, strongly believe that more kids would stay in school and have a better learning experience if they did not have the stress of homework. Lastly, homework means more papers used, which also means more trees to be cut down, which will lead to the environment getting screwed over. To me, homework is the cause of global warming. You think I’m kidding? No I am not. I’m being logical here. Think about it.